General Debate 8 February 2009

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Glutaemus Maximus

England beat Italy in the six Nations. The score flattered both teams. I have seen better Varsity games!

We were rubbish, apart from a few sterling opportunist breakouts.
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February 8, 2009 6:04am
Glutaemus Maximus

The Irish and the French at 9 minutes played, look as inept as the other two teams playing earlier.

The Southern Hemisphere will be laughing down their sleeves!

Damn.
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February 8, 2009 6:15am
OECD rank 22 kiwi

It’s good to have the Six Nations starting up again.
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February 8, 2009 6:39am
expat

I won’t be watching it until the decent games start.
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February 8, 2009 7:16am
bobux

The NYT has an interesting article on the Japanes experience with stimulus packages.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/asia/06japan.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Key points:
– Japan spent US$2.1 trillion in 15 years, largely on useless stuff
– A lot of the spend was pure vote-buying for interest groups
– It didn’t lift the economy out of recession
– Some economists think it may have stopped things getting worse

Interestingly, most of the Japanese quoted thought the programme a failure, while the Americans believed it worked. Given that it happened in Japan, I know who I would back.
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February 8, 2009 8:18am
big bruv

Short of beating the Ockers at cricket nothing warms my heart more than seeing the Poms thrashed in a test match.

What’s more the Windies dismissed England for a paltry 51 to win by an innings.
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February 8, 2009 9:30am
Redbaiter

Hooray- an article in the Sunday Star Times attacking the politically correct bullshit behind the Halberg award. The awards council should be sacked for such a blatant display of both racism and sexism.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4841341a1823.html

An Islander, a woman, and an olympic shot putter, took the supreme award over Scott Dixon, who won not only the IndyCar series but also the world famous Indianapolis 500, and both in the same year.

From the article by Richard Boock-

Quote

To equal the record for the number of wins during the championship, ensuring his name will be remembered alongside legends such as Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt and Al Unser Jr, was nothing short of remarkable.

The only New Zealand sporting achievement to rate as highly in recent years has been golfer Michael Campbell’s shock win in the 2005 US Open. And that was merely an isolated success story. As well as winning the prestigious Indy 500, Dixon also set the pace throughout the 2008 series, in the process boosting his career wins to 16, second only behind Sam Hornish Jr. He is arguably the biggest thing on four wheels in the US; indeed one of the biggest names in world motorsport.

Unquote

Jezuz I’m sick of this politically correct bullshit working its way into so much of NZ’s culture.
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February 8, 2009 9:56am
big bruv

Red

I am surprised that you read anything written by that self confessed pinko Richard Boock, the man is a committed socialist and a complete idiot.

As for the award, IMHO it went to the right person, Vili won her event on the largest stage, Dixon is not good enough to compete at the highest level of his chosen event.

Anyway it beats me how anybody can call sitting on your arse steering a car “sport”, an “event”yes, a “sport” no.
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February 8, 2009 10:03am
Fred

Bobux, I think that there’s only one form Government stimulation that can produce positive results; investments in infrastructure/assets that will generate a return, anything else will either create dependency or result in a white elephant. There is a danger that these initiatives get hijacked by and turned into pork barrel projects. The kind of projects that qualify are those that have a longer term timeframe of return, or lower rate of return, than would normally get off the ground. Hydro dams, irrigation projects, marine farms, aquaculture, anything else ends up being welfare of one sort or another.
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February 8, 2009 10:20am
Redbaiter

“Red I am surprised that you read anything written by that self confessed pinko Richard Boock, the man is a committed socialist and a complete idiot.”

I seldom do read his stuff, and am not aware of his politics. However, I reaffirm, I was pleasantly surprised to see an article to at least some extent echoing my own views on the matter in a commie rag like the Sunday Star Times. I don’t see how something as obscure as woman’s shot putting at the olympics can win out over something as internationally acclaimed as the Indy 500 and the Indy car series, and I say that the fact that it did is just political correctness gone mad.

If there is a school of thought that maintains motor racing is not a sport, (I don’t agree) then maybe it should not be included in the awards at all.

Scott Dixon’s achievement was memorable from an international viewpoint. He won a major world event against all comers. How many people are aware that Vili won the women’s shot put?
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February 8, 2009 10:22am
big bruv

Red

Sometimes the people of these islands embarrass the crap put of me, top level sport is about winning at the HIGHEST level, Vili did just that, whereas Dixon is NOT GOOD enough to compete at the pinnacle of his chosen sport (and lets call it a sport for the sake of this discussion)
You may well be right when you say that few would have heard about her but that is not relevant, when we as Kiwi’s use that argument it just proves that we have not yet shrugged off our suffocating inferiority complex or got over our desperation to be noticed on the world stage.

Who cares that the rest of the world do not know about her, we do and that should be all that matters.
The Aussie’s are great at this, for instance they know the rest of the world does not get or care about AFL yet they do not give a shit, they love it and that is all that matters, the sooner we develop that mindset the better.

We also insist on heaping praise on losers, lets look at that god botherer who finished up as second loser in the Olympic 1500 meter race, the adulation he received was ridiculous, the man DID not win yet we treated him like he did, we imagine that the rest of the world watched the race and said to themselves “good to see the black singlet back in it” when they would not even know what nation wears black.
Another classic example was the way we as a nation voted for another second loser to win the fans choice award (a new vehicle) how on earth anybody could think that Mahe Drysdale deserved to win a brand new car over the efforts of Tom Ashley, the Twins or Vili just says so much about our loser mindset.

I travel often, when I am overseas I am often mistaken for an Aussie, it is a mistake that I do not often correct.
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February 8, 2009 10:33am
pdm

Redbaiter – I don’t think Campbells US Open win was an isolated success story. If my memory serves me correctly he finshed tied for second in the British Open the same year. A shame he has completely lost that sort of form over recent years.
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February 8, 2009 10:37am
Redbaiter

Vili only won the woman’s division, not the “highest level”. The Indy is open to men and women.
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February 8, 2009 10:41am
big bruv

Oh come on Red, we both know that Shelia’s cannot drive.
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February 8, 2009 10:43am
Redbaiter

..or read maps..
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February 8, 2009 10:45am
Jack5

The NZ Herald today in reporting on the Swiss yacht Alinghi flying the Maori sovereignty flag says the flag will fly on the Auckland Harbour bridge on Waitangi Day next year.

Did I miss something? I thought Minister Sharples said it would take time to decide which Maori flag will be flown.

In the meantime, affronted Team NZ members might comfort themselves with the famous quote from the film The Third Man (words generally attributed to Graham Greene but actually penned by Orson Welles, according to the New York Times) when Harry Lime says to Holly Martins: ”For 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love and 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”
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February 8, 2009 10:56am
Tauhei Notts

I hope this is not too far off topic,
BUT
When the Westpac Economic Commentary came out a year ago I stuck it away for twelve months. It now makes interesting reading so I will quote one sentence;
“Although the US economy will slow in 2008, it should skirt recession.”
The thought occurred that the wages of the person who wrote that crap should properly be classified as “Charitable Donations”, rather than Employees’ Remuneration.
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February 8, 2009 11:01am
calendar girl

“Vili only won the woman’s division, not the “highest level”. The Indy is open to men and women.”

Come on, BB, admit that that’s unanswerable! (Foiled by your own logic.)
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February 8, 2009 11:20am
kiki

Tauhei Notts

I agree I believe that you are paid what you are worth and from our current predicament most economists and financial forecasters should be on minimum wage.

I find it interesting that Garth Morgan and Don Brash are giving very negative forecasts for the future and prescribing saving money to live within our means but Bollard and economists employed by banks are giving relatively mild forecasts and in Bollards case telling us to keep borrowing and spending.

My conclusion is that Garth and Don are their own men and not under the influence of other money so can tell us what they see as the truth and those employed by the government or banks don’t want to see it get worse or for us to find out how bad it will get so only give moderate or even positive predictions.
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February 8, 2009 12:17pm
Viking2

Apart from both being deserving of their individual trophies Vili deserved the top honour for doing the job from here in NZ. Now I know Dixon can’t and I would also point up the $ difference in terms of sponsorship and rewards. One essentially amateur while the other definitely professional.
Enough to tip the scales for a fabulous role model for a section of the community that needs all the positive it can get.
If it causes others in her sphere to lift their game the we all benefit.
Be magnanimous guys.
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February 8, 2009 12:22pm
Redbaiter

“Enough to tip the scales for a fabulous role model for a section of the community that needs all the positive it can get.”

See- that’s what I mean by PC bullshit. Its sport. Not politics.
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February 8, 2009 12:43pm
mara

It was the priceless WAY Vili won that impressed me and, most probably, many of the judges.
This big, brown, Kiwi sheila strode into the “colosseum” among the bearded ones, withered them with a glance, and did the business. No messing about. We like that.
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February 8, 2009 12:46pm
Viking2

Its sport. Not politics.

that’s absolutely right, Vili won.
Get over it.
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February 8, 2009 12:50pm
Viking2

I see today that Key has labeled Housing NZ as the biggest slum landlord we have. Music to my ears and I hope he also realizes that he will need to fix the Residential Tenancies Act as well as the houses.
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February 8, 2009 12:52pm
Bullitt

To me Villi beating Dixon was a minor error. The big issue for me was the twins beating the Kiwis for team of the year.

As for Bollard hes either a complete idiot or hes hoping he can jawbone the economy out of recession. I suspect its the latter but either way his policies will make things alot worse and he will eventually be condemned for it.
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February 8, 2009 12:55pm
pdm

Bullitt – I assume from your comment that you thought the team award should have gone to the Kiwis. Why???

In pool play they were beaten by both Australia and England (or Great Britain or whatever they are called). So in what was essentially a three team competition they won one game that mattered. Hardly the stuff that Halberg winners are made of.
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February 8, 2009 1:07pm
big bruv

Bullitt

What on earth are you on about?, the Twins victory far outweighs the effort of the Bulrush team.
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February 8, 2009 1:09pm
big bruv

“Vili only won the woman’s division, not the “highest level”. The Indy is open to men and women.”

Come on, BB, admit that that’s unanswerable! (Foiled by your own logic.)

Rubbish, Vili won HER event in the highest stage, anybody can sit on his or her backside and steer a car.

If Dixon (who is an Aussie) was to win the formula one title then you may have an argument.
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February 8, 2009 1:13pm
MT_Tinman

I knew some halfwit would have to eventually whinge about the oft defeated bullrush team.

Winning one game after lulling your opponent into a false sense of security by rolling onto your back and playing dead regularly through the year, and that in a three team “sport”, does not constitute a team-of-the-year performance.

Vili deserved the title out of those selected although Dixon should have pushed her bloody close.

The joke of the awards was not that Vili won or Dixon didn’t but that the countries best sportsman, best team and best coach were not even nominated.
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February 8, 2009 1:16pm
grumpyoldhori

How can motor racing or three day eventing be sports when women can compete on equal terms.
Since they both involve sitting on one’s arse while the gee gee or car does all the bloody work.
Christ you can be a real old bastard and still be competitive in a motor racing events and gee gee riding.
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February 8, 2009 3:59pm
wikiriwhis business

I see by Bill Ralstons article in the HOS today we may be looking at a slight turn to the right from the man.

He made absolute common sense this morning and lately I have been looking for a hint of vitriol of the left from him.
Nothing substantial, just something that says ” I think I might have been wrong all these years”.

Methinks he has discreet lunches and BBQ’s with National supporters and not for a short time. His mood certainly took a reflective glance shortly before the election.
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February 8, 2009 4:45pm
mattyroo

Viking2 Says:
“Enough to tip the scales for a fabulous role model for a section of the community that needs all the positive it can get.”

Agree with Red – That is PC bullshit. Why can’t Dixon be a role model to that section of community too?
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February 8, 2009 4:47pm
wikiriwhis business

“I see today that Key has labeled Housing NZ as the biggest slum landlord we have.”

Outstanding, but what does the statement mean.

JK certainly spent a lot of time in the low decile areas during his campaign and he proved to the locals his appearances were more than cosmetic. Are these areas going to get some kind of bail out? Is the National govt looking at working from the bottom up?

In fact, if the bottom was mended, wouldn’t that stop the country from going through it.

A radical and novel approach that hasn’t been tried before because too many people knew best and look where it’s got us.

A favourite saying of the US right is that money doesn’t solve problems. They’re helping to throw a lot in to their economy now. A move started from the right.
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February 8, 2009 4:55pm
Bullitt

I did see the Kiwis final as I happened to be at a party where other people were watching it but Id hardly call myself a league fan certainly not to the point of being biased. Im basing my comments on the fact the Kiwis won the game that mattered and bet the best the world had to offer even if that was only three credible teams and some also rans. An achievement that very few people including most New Zealanders thought was possible. Surely timing your run so if you only win one game its the one that matters and by doing that become the world champions is worthy of recognition.

I acknowledge the twins was also a great effort however New Zealand is well known as a successful rowing nation, The twins have previously won a gold medal and a halberg award. If they hadnt won the race alot of people would have been surprised/dissapointed. If the twins were a previously unheard of team who came out of nowhere theyd be more deserving winners but maintaining the status quo is less of an achievement (even if the ultimate result is the same).

Also I think its significant theyre only two people compared to a team of around 20?(more than 13 on the field anyway). Sure they have to go in the team category as its not an individual achievement but its still relatively easier to coordinate the training and effort of two people than a larger team.

So what if they only won the final. The All Blacks may have been the best team at their world cup but they didnt win the game that mattered. When people look back on this years from now people will remember who won the world cup but they wont remember how they got to the final.
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February 8, 2009 5:26pm
joeAverage

CAREFULL posters headmaster Mr Farrar could give you demerites,watch your posts???????
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February 8, 2009 5:33pm
wikiriwhis business

joeAverage,, tufa bird

I have nearly 400 comments and no demerits

simply shape up or ship out
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February 8, 2009 5:48pm
joeAverage

DONT MENTION RACE ,or post real life events DEMERITES follow ,TREATED LIKE KIDDIES , ready to delete kiwiblogg again SAMEOLD SAMEOLD same plebes, back maybe
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February 8, 2009 5:51pm
wikiriwhis business

“ready to delete kiwiblogg again ”

don’t hit your ass on the door on your way out.
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February 8, 2009 6:01pm
joeAverage

wikiriwhis(fuck thats hard) i expect you are a public servant a uni person ,a drone a lickspittle going with the flow AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, never GOING AGAINST THE FLOW NEVER will say the maori shouldnt bash their kids to death (thats a generalizion,ownly a few maori bash their kids to death but i could say i love poodles over and over gain, headmaster MR Farrar would love that no problem but if i said poddles hate university graduates who post on KIWI BLOGG you would get demerites, ps i dont care , , i will delete Mr farrar again, IM DELETED??? MR FARRAR is deleted, its all the same
post
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February 8, 2009 6:07pm
joeAverage

I WILL BE BACK, one day( maybe back in 4 weeks) dont sigh,
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February 8, 2009 6:10pm
big bruv

wiki

“Nothing substantial, just something that says ” I think I might have been wrong all these years”.

Yep, what a pity this transformation did not happen when the prick was running TVNZ, we might not have had to put up with our major TV station being the mouthpiece and cheerleader for the Labour party.

Or…..perhaps Bill is now a tad embarrassed that he allowed himself to be bullied by Klark for all those years.
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February 8, 2009 6:23pm
wikiriwhis business

“…. i expect you are a public servant a uni person ,a drone a lickspittle going with the flow AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, never GOING AGAINST THE FLOW ”

Mayyyyte,,

It’ s not easy being Maori on a right of centre white orientated blog.

I mean, I stick up for Ron Mark. where do you think that gets me???? Huh?????

And you don’t have much insight to read between the lines. Uni students and tutors are by far socialists and I don’t blame the students. As I have said socialism is a childs philosophy. How old are you? The perception you give is that you’ll be forever 16 for life.

Go home to the trolls paradise at the standard where fantasy and meaningless hyperbole is appreciated and you can be a legend in your own mind with their kind permission.
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February 9, 2009 8:45am

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