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November 12, 2010 7:29am by David Farrar

General Debate 12 November 2010

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starboard

ooohhh yeah…
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November 12, 2010 7:32am
Pete George

The US are a bit behind the times, but it’s their remembrance day “today”.

Veterans Day provides us with the chance to mark the debt of honor we owe to all those who have worn the uniform of the United States. We remember those who gave their lives beneath our flag, in service of our freedom.

And with so many still fighting, we owe special thanks to the courageous families of those who serve.

Because when our servicemen and women deploy overseas, their loved ones are left to undertake heroic battles of their own at home. The unique challenges they face in support of men and women in uniform allow us all to enjoy the freedoms of our democracy.

Every time I have a chance to meet with these families, I’m struck by their strength and their quiet dignity — they are truly some of the most selfless, courageous people I’ve met.

And today is also a day to acknowledge the sacrifices these brave men and women make every day, and pray for the safe return of those they love.

I’ve felt their calling personally, and I want to encourage Americans across the country to step up and do more for our military families. Take the time to stay informed about the concerns and activities of the families of service members in your community. Let them know you recognize their struggles and appreciate all they do.

You can help by finding out the needs of the military families in your community and volunteering, from working with your local school’s PTA to hiring a military spouse.

Today and every day, I am moved by the personal sacrifices made by service families. And I’m humbled by the patriotism of those they support — our soldiers and airmen, our sailors and Marines.

Today, if you can, please take a moment to offer your gratitude for the families of the veterans and active service members that you know. Or go online to serve.gov to find out how you can serve military families in your area.

Sincerely,

Michelle Obama
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November 12, 2010 7:42am
Jonse

This made me laugh.

The people who made the cake for the legalise cannabis protest yesterday should have waited till after they had iced it before getting stoned.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Legalise-Cannaibs–the-message-is-out-there/tabid/423/articleID/185891/Default.aspx#top
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November 12, 2010 7:59am
hj

“You have to seriously ask the question, what is the National Party getting from the Liquor Industry that prevents it taking the obvious and necessary steps to seriously address the widespread demand from New Zealanders for genuine liquor reform”, says Jim Anderton.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1011/S00230/govt-out-of-step-on-alcohol-reform.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1011/S00240/will-nats-decline-liquor-money.htm
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November 12, 2010 8:05am
hj

Peters bad for business:
Immigration Pushes Up House Prices (no one else sees a link).
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0301/S00171.htm
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November 12, 2010 8:10am
Murray

Well hj they’re actually doing somethign which is more than Labour did with their decade of oportunities so why isn’t jum all over them with his geriatric conspiaracy theory?
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November 12, 2010 8:11am
hj

They could can the (liquor) advertising.
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November 12, 2010 8:18am
jcuknz

It is sad that the left are so pre-occupied with conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory instead of getting to grips with real problems such as Matt McCarten did the day before yesterday. That immigration pushes up house prices is nothing new, particularly when government are not building as many as they could, or repairing those it has quickly so they can be used … obviously they are in collusion with private renters, particularly those with leaky garages.
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November 12, 2010 8:19am
hj

“”I remember, with some anger I must admit, the huge effort put into lobbying Members of Parliament before the 1999 law change which radically liberalized alcohol retailing and cut the alcohol purchasing age to the social detriment of young New Zealanders.
“That’s why when I saw this person from the Beer, Wine & Spirits Council wandering around Parliament with an official parliamentary pass around her neck earlier this year, as if she were some kind of official staff member, I asked my staff to make enquiries.

“The way I saw it was that if the Chief Executive of the Hospice Association, or the Chief Executive of Save The Children Fund, who often appropriately come to Parliament to lobby MPs to outline their concerns, aspirations and hopes, aren’t entitled to an official photo ID allowing them to walk around Parliamentary offices any time of the day or night as they like, then why on Earth should a Liquor Industry official?”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0301/S00171.htm
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November 12, 2010 8:27am
jcuknz

It is sad that we are so much a socialistic mentality that we expect the government to solve the problem when it is really something we need to do ourselves. I heard at the weekend of the situation in Italy who drink on average twice as much as Kiwis but have a culture of drinking drunkeness should not be a public thing … to the degree that a group of bus passengers removed a drunk from a bus before he reached his destination …. struck me though laudable in some respects to be something of the lynch mob mentaility.

The other comment was that our problem is not just ‘boy racers’ but those in the older age brackets who display and accept drunkeness as acceptable behaviour and set a bad example to their children.
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November 12, 2010 8:27am
jcuknz

It doesn’t matter what the legal drinking age is set at if society treats it as a useful drug to be taken in moderation. That is the lesson New Zealand needs to re-learn after the disasterous indocrinations of “drink as fast as you can” introduced by 6pm closing.
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November 12, 2010 8:31am
Murray

What an utter load of shit jcuknz. Try looking at some elementary stats before you try bull that bullshit out of your ass.

Binge drinking is a recent addition to the long list of shit that young people get up instead of going off to war at getting shot at, which frankly might do them some bloody good.
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November 12, 2010 8:34am
hj

“It is sad that the left are so pre-occupied with conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory ”
It’s called incentive analysis. That’s what Gareth Morgan suggests we do with people on the DPB. It cuts both ways.
hj is slightly left of center. There are a lot of dots between the never reaches of the left and right.
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November 12, 2010 8:35am
Pete George

The other comment was that our problem is not just ‘boy racers’ but those in the older age brackets who display and accept drunkeness as acceptable behaviour and set a bad example to their children.

I think most of us have been guilty of laughing at how drunk, how stupid people have been, and laugh at how crook someone is the day after. It displays and teaches acceptance of ritual abuse on a society wide scale. It is our problem, and ours to try and solve.

Murray, binge drinking is not a recent addition, nor is it just a young people’s curse – maybe it’s a bit more open and more public but it’s been around as long as I can remember, and I suspect much longer.
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November 12, 2010 8:35am
Brian Smaller

Leave the alcohol laws as they are – there are enough restrictions already. and jcuknz – you are right about Italy. – I am half Italian and have lived in Italy. They drink like fish but it is mostly done at home. The bar culture is not as it is in English speaking countries.

Just change laws to actually punish those who drink to excess AND cause a fracas.
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November 12, 2010 8:36am
Manolo

(Ne)Anderton says: “Heavy drinking affects the combined population of Wellington and Christchurch and is costing this country billions every year. You’d think the government would be sitting up and taking notice, yet this bill is a recipe for the status quo – which is a recipe for more disaster”.

What an imbecile and a wowser! The failed Stalinist would love to control every aspect of our lives.
Fuck off senile Jim!
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November 12, 2010 8:44am
Pete George

I agree Brian – and somehow we need to change the common idea that getting pissed is an excuse for doing dumb, an excuse for doing vicious.

But it isn’t easy to change a county’s culture.
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November 12, 2010 8:44am
Falafulu Fisi

Glen Becks’ excellent shows on exposing about George Soro’s global operations.

Glenn Beck – Puppet master part 2 : George Soro

It is a multipart show. You can find the rest of the show on the same youtube page.
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November 12, 2010 8:47am
Pete George

It’s particularly difficult when people become gripped with addiction. I’ve just seen what the end result of this can be, young person becomes alcoholic, gets into petty trouble over the years when pissed, escalates, ends up in prison for a few months, comes out with new “friends” and gets into drugs, two years later accidentally overdoses.

Tragic, but that may beyond a bit of advertisement banning.
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November 12, 2010 8:50am
Sarkozygroupie

Absolutely, I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy too and you just don’t see drunken louts out on the street at night causing havoc. You do see heaps of people out eating and drinking at trattorias and bars having a really good time.

In Europe everyone drinks all the time, starting with breakfast in Geneva, drinks at 10am on the trains (wider Europe) but especially in Italy wine at lunch is a good time to start! One time I was there, I saw live the France-Italy final FIFA World Cup. I was out from about 7pm down at Circo Massimo just past the Colosseum, in Rome with 10,000 happy Romans. I finally got home at 4am the next morning. All the streets in Rome had been closed to traffic and there were thousands upon thousands of people out walking the streets celebrating. I did not see one drunken out of control person in all of the time – even the Brits were behaving themselves! People wrere drinking but it was controlled and they were in control. What a refreshing change from NZ cities. I’ve been all over Europe on a number of occassions – I’ve never struck the binge drinking culture over there ever. I hate going out here; it is hardly cosmopolitan.
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November 12, 2010 8:58am
hj

Russian journalist who had leg amputated after beating found guilty of slandering local mayor (who incidentally was a prime suspect in ordering the beating).

A Russian journalist who had to have a leg amputated after a punishment beating has been found guilty of slandering the government official he claimed was out to get him.
Mikhail Beketov, 52, was working for a small Moscow newspaper called Khimkinskaya Pravda in 2008 when unidentified attackers savagely beat him in front of his house in northern Moscow.

He had been campaigning against the felling of a local forest to make way for a new road between Moscow and St. Petersburg, a project backed by powerful business and political interests.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8123629/Russian-journalist-who-had-leg-amputated-after-beating-found-guilty-of-slander.html
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November 12, 2010 9:01am
Lance

Manalo wrote;
“Heavy drinking affects the combined population of Wellington and Christchurch”

That I can believe…. explains everything :-p
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November 12, 2010 9:01am
KiwiGreg

jcuknz do you just post random shit?

“It is sad that we are so much a socialistic mentality that we expect the government to solve the problem when it is really something we need to do ourselves” @ 8:27

“particularly when government are not building as many as they could, or repairing those it has quickly so they can be used ” @8:19
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November 12, 2010 9:05am
pdm

Murray (6547) I don’t agree with you that binge drinking is a new phenomenon.

As a teenager growing up in the mid 60’s (1963-1967) we used to binge drink most Saturday nights. Usually in cars parked up some quiet street or down at the river. The differences between then and now are:

* There were only boys and we only drank beer – never ever spirits.
* It was extremely rae to see a drunk girl, even at a party.
* We had respect for the police and there authority.
* Never ever in our group did anyone get into a fight or cause trouble. Sure we peed in a few rural letter boxes and on a few front fences but there was no vandalism and we did not break beer bottles or flagons and leave broken glass.

We also used to drive but not one of our group had any type of accident while driving after drinking. Sure Hillman Minx’s, Austin of Englands, Morris Minors etc did not have the speed or acceleration of modern cars although I did get the family Hillman Minx up to 80mph one day when stone cold sober and on a lonely stretch of country road.
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November 12, 2010 9:06am
James Stephenson

I’ve been all over Europe on a number of occassions – I’ve never struck the binge drinking culture over there ever.

I assume your definition of “Europe” means the continental bit and excludes the UK then?
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November 12, 2010 9:09am
hj

Whatever happend about the naming of that reserve: they were going to name it after the CE who opposed it (he wanted to see it developed)? I heard them discusting it on Afternoons with Jim Moira.
http://www.manukau.govt.nz/EN/News/NewsArticles/Pages/ReservenamingrecognisesChiefExecutive%E2%80%99scontributiontocity.aspx
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November 12, 2010 9:10am
Fale Andrew Lesa

LOL or Germany for that matter.
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November 12, 2010 9:10am
Falafulu Fisi

Simon Power-lust More Harmful than Alcohol

There were 3 ACT MPs who voted against the bill, Heather Roy, Hillary Calvert and Roger Douglas , saying it does nothing to reduce harm. These are 3 courageous MPs. Our freedom is slowly being eroded by National Party wowsers as Power-lust. Geez, this fucking lot of National MPs are no different to the last Labour lot.
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November 12, 2010 9:12am
Sarkozygroupie

Sorry James, yes I was referring to Continental Europe. I’ve been in the UK a lot too, and I agree that is the exception to what I was meaning.
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November 12, 2010 9:15am
hj

May 20th, 2010
Australian house prices are rising and will continue to rise unless the Australian government steps in, warns the Housing Industry Association.

In news that will alarm those thinking of emigrating to Australia this year, house prices rose by 13.9% in the past year and it shows no sign of stopping. According to data released by the HIA, rising interest rates are making mortgages unaffordable and it is predicted that by June, Australian housing affordability will have reached record lows.

Critics of the Australian immigration program will warn that the housing crisis is a sign that Australia is struggling to cope with a rapidly growing population. Whilst others blame a demand and supply mismatch in the housing market.

City dwellings are amongst the most expensive in Australia because of high demand. Just a few months ago we reported on the trend of expensive suburban properties being snapped up by wealthy Chinese parents keen to give their children an Australian education. So widespread was the practice in cities like Sydney and Melbourne that new estate agents started popping up to offer their services for these buyers only.
http://www.embraceaustralia.com/rising-house-prices-in-australia-mean-tighter-restrictions-for-expats-7087.htm
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November 12, 2010 9:17am
dime

We are we even discussing alcohol?

Dont fall for the lefts trap. Dont even enter into the debate.

Screw em.

Dime binge drinks and enjoys it 🙂
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November 12, 2010 9:32am
david

Seeing the vodka fuelled breakfasts enjoyed by Russian truck drivers at a Polish truck stop was enough to scare me off the roads.
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November 12, 2010 9:37am
Inventory2

@ pdm – I agree. My experiences of binge drinking from the 1970’s were of drinking as much beer as one could in as short a space of time. Spirits were never on the menu. We looked after our mates, and took them home if they got too plastered. Fights were rare. We too had respect for the police, although a few years later when work got me into the Police Canteen every now and again, some of that respect was eroded when we saw policemen “unwind” after a stressful day!

The availability of cheap spirits and especially RTD’s has changed the landscape, esoecially with regard to the drinking habits of young women. The government is doing the right thing by making this one of its areas of focus.

As for the lowering of the blood alcohol limit to .05; if Darren Hughes was so passionate about this, why was he unable to persuade his Labour colleagues to change the law when they were the the government?
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November 12, 2010 9:38am
James Stephenson

Dime binge drinks and enjoys it 🙂

What is “binge drinking” though? Is it a wowser’s definition of drinking a fair bit in one sitting or is it drinking with the sole intention of getting absolutely smashed?

I don’t see anything wrong with ending up a bit pissed, I do it frequently, but only as an eventual side-effect of the fact that I enjoy what I’m drinking. I’ve never, even as a 20-something, headed out with the attitude “right, let’s get so plastered we can’t walk straight”….I don’t believe anyone drinks “Woodstock” for pleasure, do they?
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November 12, 2010 9:51am
pollywog

blog pimp…

http://pollywannacracka.blogspot.com/2010/11/beats-to-rhythm.html

…beats for your asses
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November 12, 2010 9:52am
Sarkozygroupie

“Seeing the vodka fuelled breakfasts enjoyed by Russian truck drivers at a Polish truck stop was enough to scare me off the roads.”

David, it’s just hash browns served another way!

James, shamefully I have to admit I know someone who drinks Woodstock RTDs for pleasure. She was most affronted and somewhat surprised when a mutal friend suggested it was pretty LC behaviour especially for someone not in their 20’s anymore. Still, she’s not the brightest star in the night sky, nor is she particularly discerning even though she is university educated.
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November 12, 2010 10:05am
pollywog

is it Ok if your mum’s mate gives you a woody ?

or

how about your girlfriends mate ?

hmmmmm…
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November 12, 2010 10:07am
Manolo

“..if Darren Hughes was so passionate about this, why was he unable to persuade his Labour colleagues to change the law when they were the the government?”

A very pertinent question, indeed. It is also proof of the hypocrisy of the delicate ginga and his socialist colleagues, who are control freaks and meddlers extraordinaire.

Drinking should be limited to half a glass of Chardonnay per week according to these bastards.
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November 12, 2010 10:13am
pollywog

drinking should be treated as tobacco has.

health warnings on labels, no sponsorship, zero advertising and taxed the fuck out of

then reduce the age for buying, consumption and the alcohol limit for driving
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November 12, 2010 10:19am
James Stephenson

Sarkozygroupie – she knows that it’s just ethanol made from whey (ie cheese-making by product) and flavouring syrup right?

Ah well, each to their own I suppose. I’m looking forward to another few iterations in the refining of my Martini recipe this evening…
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November 12, 2010 10:20am
Manolo

“health warnings on labels, no sponsorship, zero advertising and taxed the fuck out of.. then reduce the age for buying, consumption and the alcohol limit for driving”

pollywog, what the hell are you doing in this country and why don’t you to move to North Korea, the country of your dreams and aspirations?

The notions of personal responsibility and freedom of choice escape you altogether, so the DPRK seems to be your natural home.
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November 12, 2010 10:30am
kaya

“Why the Fed bond-buying plan is raising trade tensions”

So Bernanke’s grand “plan” is to drive interest rates even lower (almost zero anyway) so consumers will borrow and spend more to solve the US debt crisis?????? WTF???

“A bigger hope is that lower rates will lift stock prices. That’s because, as Bernanke has suggested, investors will shift money out of low-yielding bonds and into stocks. Higher stock prices make people feel wealthier – and more willing to spend.”

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2010/11/general_debate_12_november_2010.html#comment-764889

This is too easy! Sell everything and put it in the stock market, shares are going up and apparently feeling wealthier is the economic silver bullet. FFS this theory makes the flat earth society look rational.
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November 12, 2010 10:33am
pollywog

WTF are you Manolo ?

do you not care about the health and welfare of NZers ?
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November 12, 2010 10:37am
joe90

The US-China currency battle animated.
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November 12, 2010 10:39am
Sarkozygroupie

James,

I doubt she particularly cares either whey.

(sorry, that was really dreadful).

As for your martini escapades – shaken not stirred I presume?
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November 12, 2010 10:43am
Fletch

@ “Remembrance Day”…

It’s telling that neither Obama or the White House remembered the anniversary of the Fort Hood massacre a year ago on November 5th. They still don’t even acknowledge that the attack was Islamic in nature. Obama said again from Jakarta the other day, “America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.” Wake up buddy! Islam is definitely at war with America.

Obama is a modern Neville Chamberlain; all about appeasement and conciliation with an enemy that will not be appeased.
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November 12, 2010 10:52am
Lance

@pollywog
Important issue……………………… drinking in moderation does not harm you.
In fact it is GOOD for you.

This is not true of tobacco.

Gross personal irresponsibility is the FAULT of the grossly irresponsible individual involved and they should be punished accordingly.
Anything else is nanny state bullshit
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November 12, 2010 10:52am
MT_Tinman

# pollywog (336) Says:
November 12th, 2010 at 10:37 am

WTF are you Manolo ?

do you not care about the health and welfare of NZers ?

Can’t answer for Manolo but I’ll state now categorically my answer to that bloody silly question is NO!

It is the responsibility of ALL New Zealanders to care about their OWN health and welfare not interfering busybodies like you.
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November 12, 2010 11:05am
Shunda barunda

Catherine Delahunty is outraged that a Principal told a student “she looked like a slut” for wearing a very short school skirt.
I asked the question on frog blog whether a ‘slut’ actually exists and if so how would one identify one.
It would appear that some people strongly believe that there is no such thing as inappropriate female sexual behaviour, anything goes and so long as a woman is doing it, nobody is allowed to criticise.
I had no idea that people were this deluded!.
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November 12, 2010 11:10am
Manolo

“Do you not care about the health and welfare of NZers?”

Your silly question deserves an emphatic NO for an answer.

I do care about my own health and expect everybody else to do the same. If others wish to abuse drinking and smoking and that damages their health, that’s entirely their problem no mine.

You make your choices in life and pay for the consequences.
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November 12, 2010 11:11am
Ryan Sproull

Joe90,

Have you seen this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYzU3wSfoq8
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November 12, 2010 11:13am
OECD rank 22 kiwi

If you watch one documentary this year watch Britain’s Trillion Pound Horror Story”
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November 12, 2010 11:20am
pollywog

responsibilty regarding alcohol can only come from making informed choices and freedom comes at a price

if you want to drink then you should pay shitloads for the luxury, otherwise you have the freedom to brew/distill your own

as it stands there isn’t enough advertising/information to suggest kids can die from skulling a bottle of vodka or that a good time is not had by all when drinking in a social setting and that there is no link between alcohol and violence or rape but there is and it happens on the regular, consequently they/we make bad choices

in much the same way as we treat tobacco so should we treat alcohol.

it is the responsibility of the govt to ensure steps are put in place to guarantee the health and welfare of its citizens and not expose them to undue risk, even more so when it put impressionable and ignorant youth at risk.

raising the legal age and targetting alcopops for youth is just bullshit tinkering on the fringes again ( just like national standards) and doesn’t address the real problems

but with ‘smile and wave turning a blind and trusting eye to the alcohol industry and having part ownership in a vineyard means he ain’t gonna do shit but tinker and play dumb.

and FWIW i loved my nana she had some sage advice. shit taste in music and fashion but…
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November 12, 2010 11:25am
joe90

Ryan, aye, and lots more here.
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November 12, 2010 11:33am
Augustus

There is some evidence that anti-drinking campaigns do more damage than good, and might to some degree be responsible for the very “culture” they are trying to demonize.

“Researchers from the Kellog Institute of Management, Northwestern University have claimed that the ads which concentrate on prohibiting people from over drinking actually provoke them to do so.

The phenomenon, known as “defensive processing,” which triggers the viewer to react in a resentful manner towards the guilt-laden messages in the ads, is said to be more prevalent in the youth.”

http://www.themoneytimes.com/featured/20100306/antidrinking-campaigns-hardly-any-usestudy-id-10102654.html

Someone mentioned before about drinking being a health issue rather than a social one, which IMO it is not. Moderate drinking has health benefits. Binge drinking treated as a social (health?) issue roughly co-incides with with the onset of televised anti-alcohol propaganda (the last 20 years), even though it’s not a new phenomenon at all. To try and make it a public health issue is and always has been the approach of temperance groupies (TGs), who see no benefit in alcohol for themselves and want to deny others the right to judge for themselves.

We have seen the result of enforced temperance moves in the past and the outcome was far from beneficial for society. TGs know that, as they do about the ineffectiveness of these dumb “tell them to lay off” ads. They pursue this course anyway, because their stated aim is to marginalise alcohol consumption and to drive it from “mainstream” society.
http://www.alcohol.org.nz/OurVision.aspx

These aims are identical to those of American temperance organisations, the successors to those raging successes in the 1930s, for example the Robert Wood Johnson Society, which spends billions on anti-alcohol propaganda each year. Presumably that is where ALAC gets it’s information from.

There are ample examples of alcohol being served and drunk responsibly in New Zealand, they all have an absence of hysteria in common.
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November 12, 2010 11:43am
James Stephenson

As for your martini escapades – shaken not stirred I presume?

Good god, no. I’m definitely a follower of Somerset Maugham in that regard (“Martinis should always be stirred, not shaken, so that the molecules lie sensuously one on top of the other”).

Plus shaking a) makes the thing cloudy and b) dilutes it far too much. It does make it colder, but that’s easily solved by keeping the Vodka in the freezer.

I feel an early knock-off coming on 😉
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November 12, 2010 11:44am
david

Bloody dyslexia had me worried James. At first reading I thought you were talking about the Rugby as in ” an early knock-on coming off” then realised that it is today and not tomorrow and the match is on Saturday there but that is not tomorrow here anyway. All too confusing. I think I need a drink and a little lie down.
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November 12, 2010 11:48am
Inventory2

Beaking news on the Herald website – Pansy Wong is standing down as a Minister …more to follow
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November 12, 2010 12:06pm
Sarkozygroupie

“I feel an early knock-off coming on”

OK, I have nearly recovered from my fit of laughter. But not quite. TGIF!

And, I had no idea molecules could be so sensual. This idea intrigues me greatly though. Do you think when the molecules lie down together they fight over who has which side of the glass?

P.S. I would like to be able to do that cut and paste thingy instead of using quote marks (so last century). Someone pasted the instructions about two years ago, but I was lost. If you wouldn’t mind to teach me I would appreciate it. Words of one syllable please.
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November 12, 2010 12:10pm
Manolo

I’d rather that England should be free than that England should be compulsorily sober. With freedom we might in the end attain sobriety, but in the other alternative we should eventually lose both freedom and sobriety.

— W.C. Magee, Archbishop of York, Sermon to Peterborough [1868]

Hat Tip: Lindsay Mitchell
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November 12, 2010 12:11pm
pollywog

Thats all good Augustus but how about taxing it beyond the reach of the hardcore and treating the problem socially by addressing the culture of acceptance that alcohol is good for one and all, of all ages and across all cultures, which is what advertising suggests.
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November 12, 2010 12:11pm
Pete George

[blockquote]Quoted text[/blockquote]

Use less than and greater than symbols instead of square brackets.
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November 12, 2010 12:12pm
James Stephenson

Sark (if I may be so rude as to abbreviate)

Just put blockquote and /blockquote inside pointy brackets at either end of the quoted passage.

Edit – PG explains much more elegantly.

Now, what gives bold and strikethrough on here?
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November 12, 2010 12:15pm
Rodders

Radio NZ have also said that Pansy Wong could be in trouble.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/61672/pansy-wong's-future-role-in-doubt
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November 12, 2010 12:17pm
big bruv

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4338458/Police-chase-driver-in-hospital

Why is this news?

Some low life attempted to evade the Police, endangered the public and smashed his car into a power pole, who cares?
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November 12, 2010 12:17pm
Inventory2

Herald story on Pansy Wong is up now

http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2010/11/breaking-news.html
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November 12, 2010 12:18pm
big bruv

Wong should not stand down as a minister, she should resign from the house immediately.

National MUST hold their Ministers and MP’s to a much higher standard than Labour and the Greens.
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November 12, 2010 12:18pm
Inventory2

@ big bruv; you have to feel sorry for the innocent power-pole 😉

Quite frankly, anyone who runs from the police is wholly responsible for whatever happens from that point. At least no-one else was killed or injured as a result of this driver’s bad decision.
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November 12, 2010 12:20pm
Pete George

Look around here for html tags: http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_formatting.asp
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November 12, 2010 12:21pm
Augustus

Myth
Alcohol advertising increases drinking problems.
Fact
Hundreds of scientific research studies around the world have clearly demonstrated that alcohol advertising does not lead to increases in drinking abuse or drinking problems. Alcohol advertising continues because effective ads can increase a brand’s share of the total market.
Fisher, J. C. Advertising, Alcohol Consumption, and Abuse: A Worldwide Survey. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood, 1993.

Don’t believe everything ALAC throws at you. Did you know that the Ku Kllux Klan was the most fervent supporter of Prohibition in the US? It’s about controlling people’s lives, not health.
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November 12, 2010 12:21pm
Sarkozygroupie

Thanks Pete George and James,

You may call me Sark; better than Sarky.

I have to admit I still have no idea how to go about it – though I thought long and hard about what it could all mean. What is blockquote? Sorry. I’m just technologically inept!
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November 12, 2010 12:29pm
edhunter

Any attempt to introduce policies that increase the life expectancy of the average kiwi should be knocked on the head right now. In fact the govt should be encouraging policies that decrease the average life expectancy.
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November 12, 2010 12:34pm
Rodders

Stuff say Pansy Wong has already been stood down http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4337061/PM-tackles-Pansy-Wong-affair.

Will be interesting to hear the PM’s statement to see whether it is an honourable stand down (like Phil Heatley’s) or a dismissal.
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November 12, 2010 12:36pm
cabbage

Samoan community leader Paula Masoe said Ms Parata had won over a lot of Pasifika supporters. “She’s a hard worker and we respect people who work hard for our community. I’m really happy that someone like Kris put their hand up. But it’s not time for him yet. I don’t want the sweat of our people to be put on someone who’s not ready yet.”

In the past, people in the community voted Labour “because it’s better the devil you know”.

“With Hekia and [union leader] Matt McCarten in the ring, it’s making people think. Before, we didn’t have many choices.”

Experience was valued in the Pacific Island community, she said. “It’s not about having someone who is Pacific Island there, you’ve got to have somebody who is able to carry the huge responsibility and he probably will. But not yet.”

There was a “strong feeling” among local voters that Mr Faafoi was imposed on the community by the parliamentary Labour Party.

“Labour needs to look at themselves because we don’t want to be treated like the poor relations. When they look at putting someone in to speak up for us I’d like to think that they’ve considered a whole lot of other people of our community that have been involved in Labour.

“I’m hearing Kris get a lot of knocks from the community but I don’t think it’s Kris on his own.”

Mrs Parata appears to have won some high-profile support from the Left – including former Labour MP John Tamihere and former Alliance MP Willie Jackson, both now radio hosts. They were appearing at a fundraiser with her last night.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4338259/Nats-Parata-deserves-to-win-in-Mana-says-Porirua-deputy-mayor

I think a few people might be a bit surprised come Nov 20th.
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November 12, 2010 12:38pm
Inventory2

@ Sark – if a technical neanderthal like moi can learn basic HTML, there is hope for you; be assured!
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November 12, 2010 12:43pm
Pete George

Rightful self-examination.

Nothing wrong with being right
Don Brash gave a witty speech: “Perigo has a fierce intensity and doesn’t care what people think.” Brash was correct on the first point but wrong on the second. I think right wingers care desperately about what people think. There is a shameful secret the right doesn’t want you to know.

Most so-called “right wing” people are actually soft-hearted and super-sensitive.

The right wing might be more successful at preaching their excellent doctrine of reason and freedom – if they started off by understanding themselves a bit better.

Doesn’t mean that being right is always right.
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November 12, 2010 12:47pm
Pete George

What is blockquote?

It does just that.
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November 12, 2010 12:48pm
kaya

OECD rank 22 kiwi – That doco you linked to isn’t available in NZ dammit. Any idea where else to get a look? I’ve tried searching for a torrent with no luck. Found this quote in a blog that referred to the doco.

“Ravi Batra, professor of economics at SMU and author of several books, has predicted that there will be a socio-economic revolution and a new Golden Age based on a revaluing of, well, value and this kind of stuff is primed for such a revolution. I think it will look like those who have the knowledge of the means of production will walk away from those who have exploited this productivity to leverage more and more credit and capital while producing nothing themselves (banksters). Money is worth nothing, and real value will at last be placed on resources and systems facilitating the sustainable use of them. An economy of wisdom rather than greed.”

I agree with this, the flaw we have is that the system has moved from being a means of exchange with administrators running it to an “industry” in it’s own right which trades money as if it were a real commodity. This is plainly nuts. I hope the transition is a peaceful one but those that run it are unlikely to give up without a struggle. Or else we simply find more and more ways to bypass the middlemen.
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November 12, 2010 12:51pm
kaya

Thanks for the HTML link Pete. Always wanted to know how to do that
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November 12, 2010 12:54pm
Pete George

<blockquote>
Paste text to be quoted in here and you’ll get:
</blockquote>

Paste text to be quoted in here and you’ll get:

blockquote is just an html instruction, like:
<b> for bold </b> bold
<i> for italics</i> italics
<strike> for strikethrough</strike> ~~strikethrough~~
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November 12, 2010 12:54pm
James Stephenson

Thanks Pete, I was trying to use “s” and “del” to get the strikethrough.
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November 12, 2010 12:59pm
Pete George

Haha, this happened one other time where a format wouldn’t turn off through different posts.

How did you do the global bold kaya? Now this post is back to normal??
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November 12, 2010 1:04pm
pollywog

pardon my scepticism Augustus but…

i’m reminded of the protestations and studies by the tobacco lobbyists of old who ensured findings met with their goal of increasing market share with no associated health risks.

while advertising perhaps doesn’t lead to drinking abuse, it does increase the number of consumers by suggesting that if you drink there are no negative side effects…lifes one big party in the sun

only trouble is the more consumers who buy into that through ignorance, the more problems, the greater the cost to society.

it’s what the advertisers are not saying or putting on their labels that creates uninformed choices leading to tragedy
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November 12, 2010 1:05pm
kaya

PG – I wouldn’t have a clue???? Am I in trouble????? Can I take two months off on full pay like Chris Carter and then say you’re all picking on me?????? lol
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November 12, 2010 1:06pm
Sarkozygroupie

This is a long quotation. This is a long quotation. This is a long quotation. This is a long quotation. This is a long quotation.

PG I practised on that HTML website you sent me to – tks! It works! I’m a computer geek at long last!
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November 12, 2010 1:06pm
Pete George

Big bold trouble kaya. But sorry, DPF is National, not Labour.

Nice one Sarkozygeekie.
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November 12, 2010 1:07pm
kaya
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November 12, 2010 1:10pm
Ryan Sproull

Hmm. Testing 😉
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November 12, 2010 1:10pm
Ryan Sproull
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November 12, 2010 1:11pm
Ryan Sproull

And… testing.
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November 12, 2010 1:11pm
Ryan Sproull

And… And…

And one last try…
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November 12, 2010 1:11pm
Ryan Sproull

Can’t seem to replicate it. Maybe… this.
How’s that?
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November 12, 2010 1:13pm
kaya

you know what they say about a little knowledge being dangerous….
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November 12, 2010 1:13pm
Ryan Sproull

I think I have discovered the problem.
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November 12, 2010 1:14pm
kaya

Fuck……this is getting worse.
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November 12, 2010 1:14pm
kaya

This is probably the best fun we’ve had on kiwiblog all year……right, now where are the computer geeks to fix this???? 🙂
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November 12, 2010 1:15pm
Ryan Sproull

And will stop it?
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November 12, 2010 1:17pm
Ryan Sproull

I don’t suppose the blink tag works here 😉
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November 12, 2010 1:19pm
pollywog

this failed web geekery shit wouldn’t happen at The Standard 🙂
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November 12, 2010 1:23pm
Ryan Sproull

Never know, maybe it would!

I once had a blog where a friend commented, “Hmm, I wonder if this will work,” and his comment included style sheets that turned every character on the page into Wingdings.

Well, I say “friend”.
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November 12, 2010 1:27pm

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