I find it quite ironic that quite a
August 25, 2009
I find it quite ironic that quite a few two-faced Act supporters are annoyed at John Key’s undemocratic stance in ignoring the smacking referendum, but are quite happy for Rodney Hide to run roughshod over the select committee process – and treat a Royal Commission report like it didnt exist – with regards to Maori seats on the Auckland City Council.
On 26 May, Rodney Hide said
I have faith in parliamentary democracy and the select committee process. I have made it plain what my views are, but ultimately the decision will be made by Parliament.
He had faith in Parliamentary democracy because he knew that Parliament would not be making the decision on the seats: Cabinet had already made it on 6 April 2009 as noted in Cabinet minute 0912/7, [PDF] that Māori representation should not be provided for within the new Auckland governance structure. At that stage the select committee hadn’t even looked at submissions. A week later Hide told John Key that he would resign if Cabinet changed its mind and Maori seats were introduced in the Auckland City Council.
The select committee has not even reported back, yet Cabinet has already made its decision not to include the seats and Key knew for more than two months that he would lose a Minister if the seats were included. I believe that Key and Hide had always intended not to include the seats even before the select committee process started, and that is simply disgraceful.
Rodney Hide is a two-faced hypocrite. Tau Henare has called him a jerk-off. Hide urged National to listen to the public after Key told the country he’ll ignore the referendum results. But Hide had effectively just told the public he would be ignoring their submissions on Maori seats in Auckland before they even submitted to the select committee.
It’s a shame that Act supporters are not outraged about Hide’s blatant unwillingness to agree to anyone that disagrees with him on one issue, while at the same time being outraged that people don’t agree with him on another. For Act supporters, democracy is only under attack if their views are attacked.
There is absolutely no way Act can be taken seriously in this government.
Oil hits 10-month peak, sugar hits all-time high – Taipei Times
August 8, 2009
Oil hits 10-month peak, sugar hits all-time high – Taipei Times
The price of oil raced to a 10-month peak in London this week and metals futures rallied strongly as the US dollar retreated on positive economic data, traders said. Sugar meanwhile struck an all-time high in London, aided by a weaker dollar amid more positive signs of economic recovery and the
MLB, union: List doesn’t mean positive steroids test – USA Today
NEW YORK (AP) — At least eight players — and possibly more — on the list of 104 names seized by the government did not test positive for steroids, Major League Baseball said Saturday. In statements ahead of a news conference at Yankee Stadium, the commissioner’s office and union general
South Dakotans, others may have been sickened by tainted California beef – Rapid City Journal
Health officials in three Western states said Friday at least 28 people have reported illnesses tied to recalled ground beef that may be tainted with salmonella. On Thursday, Fresno-based Beef Packers Inc. recalled nearly 826,000 pounds of ground beef produced from June 5-23. The U.S. Department of
Pa. health club victim ‘left loving imprints’ – Worcester Telegram & Gazette
BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. — One of three women gunned down at a Pittsburgh-area health club is being remembered by her pastor “as a devout Christian woman who left loving imprints on our hearts.” The funeral for 46-year-old Heidi Overmier, of Carnegie, was held Saturday at the First United Methodist Church
BofA Charged With Misleading Investors In Merrill Merger, Penalized $33M – ABC News
August 3, 2009
BofA Charged With Misleading Investors In Merrill Merger, Penalized $33M – ABC News
Bank of America will pay a $33 million penalty for making misleading statements to investors about billions of dollars in bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch during their merger last winter, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced Monday. (Getty Images) The thrust of the civil complaint is Bank
NTSB issues final report on ’sleeping pilots’ case – Seattle Times
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its final report in the case of a go! airlines flight from Honolulu that overflew Hilo International Airport by 30 miles. The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its final report in the case of a go! airlines flight from Honolulu that
PayPal Users Hit by Global Service Outage – Wall Street Journal
EBay Inc.’s PayPal unit experienced a world-wide system outage on Monday, leaving millions of customers of the online payments service temporarily unable to complete transactions. The outage began around 1:30 p.m. EDT, and affected all PayPal customers for about an hour, said spokesman Anuj Nayar
Billy Joel-Elton John concert postponed – Times Union
July 27, 2009
Billy Joel-Elton John concert postponed – Times Union
ALBANY — Billy Joel and Elton John postponed today’s “Face 2 Face” concert at the Times Union Center in Albany because Joel was said to be suffering from flu-like symptoms, promoters said over the weekend. Friday’s show slated for Buffalo also was postponed. Organizers are working to establish new
Cambridge Police: Race Not Mentioned in 911 Call – Washington Post
BOSTON — The 911 caller who reported a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. did not mention race in the call, according to a statement issued by her attorney and backed up by Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas. Lucia Whalen placed the 911 call July 16
France’s Sarkozy leaves hospital after heart check – Chicago Sun-Times
July 27, 2009
France’s Sarkozy leaves hospital after heart check – Chicago Sun-Times
PARIS—- French President Nicolas Sarkozy was discharged Monday from the hospital where he spent the night after collapsing while jogging. Doctors said his illness was due to heat and overwork and ordered the 54-year-old to rest but prescribed no further medical treatment, his office said. Sarkozy
Cambridge Police: Race Not Mentioned in 911 Call – Washington Post
BOSTON — The 911 caller who reported a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. did not mention race in the call, according to a statement issued by her attorney and backed up by Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas. Lucia Whalen placed the 911 call July 16
Astronauts open mission’s last spacewalk – Houston Chronicle
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — After a week-and-a-half together, astronauts aboard the linked shuttle and station are taking their last spacewalk. Christopher Cassidy and Thomas Marshburn ventured out Monday morning on the fifth and final spacewalk. They will rearrange some power cable hookups, fold
12 people wounded at backyard cookout, 4 others hit in string of Baltimore shootings; 2 killed – Minneapolis Star Tribune
BALTIMORE – Sixteen people were shot, two of them fatally, in three separate incidents in a two-mile radius in east Baltimore Sunday night, police said. Detectives were searching Monday morning for a gunman who opened fire at a backyard cookout, wounding 12 people, police department spokesman
Microsoft to let users pick browser – Delaware County Daily Times
July 26, 2009
Microsoft to let users pick browser – Delaware County Daily Times
BRUSSELS — Microsoft Corp. will offer computer users a choice of rival Web browsers to ward off new European Union antitrust fines, EU regulators and Microsoft said Friday. Microsoft said its proposal, if accepted by the European Commission, would “fully address” antitrust worries over its browser
Questions won’t stop as Sarah Palin exits Alaska politics, promises to keep speaking her mind – Hampton Roads Daily Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sarah Palin gained fame — and to some infamy — since she embarked on a vice-presidential bid less than a year ago. Her surprising departure from Alaska’s top office is gaining her something else: questions over her motives and next big move. She leaves office
Contador all but locks up Tour de France – The Chronicle Herald
MONT VENTOUX, France — Alberto Contador all but sealed his second Tour de France victory by keeping the yellow jersey after Saturday’s punishing penultimate stage, and Lance Armstrong remained in third overall. Today’s final stage is a largely ceremonial ride into Paris that
Mass. Cops Point to Favoritism in Harvard Prof Case – ABC News
July 22, 2009
Mass. Cops Point to Favoritism in Harvard Prof Case – ABC News
Black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. refutes the police account of his arrest. The incident began when Cambridge Police Sgt. Joseph Crowley Crowley had responded to a call about someone apparently trying to break into Gates’ Cambridge, Mass., home. Crowley said Gates called him a “racist cop” after
NFLPA: Michael Vick met with union leader on Tuesday – USA Today
George Atallah, assistant executive director for external affairs of the player’s union, says Vick and Smith met one-on-one on Tuesday. Atallah gave no additional details. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Vick indefinitely, and said Tuesday that he’ll decide whether to reinstate Vick “in
Taco Bell ad star Gidget the Chihuahua dies at 15 – WTOP Radio
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Handlers say Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell commercials made her a star, has died. She was 15. The owner of Studio Animal Services in Castaic says Gidget suffered a massive stroke late Tuesday at her trainer’s home in Santa Clarita and had to be euthanized. Gidget was the
Jetstar rules This post has been updatedNo, Jetstar
July 6, 2009
Jetstar rules
This post has been updated
No, Jetstar does not rule. But it does have rules.
Many people have been complaining that they have booked flights with Jetstar and the airline is not letting anyone check in 30 minutes before boarding time. But these are the rules, and the rules are on every ticket,including mine.
The problem is that the ticket discusses arrival time.
If you are not checked in at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure, you will not be able to check in for your flight. Arrival after this time may result in you forfeiting the entire fare paid.
Arrival where? To the airport, check in, queue to the check in? What if you “arrive” at the queue 35 minutes before the scheduled departure time and there is a six minute queue at the checkin?
You don’t fly. Nor do you get a refund.Legally, I believe you should get a refund, if you have “arrived” after “this time.” i.e. stood in a queue 30 minutes before scheduled departure. I also happen to believe that if you arrive before that time you should also be checked in.
Jetstar needs to get its administration into gear to effectively administer these rules in such a way that everyone gets on the plane. Given their recommendations that everyone aims to check in 1 hour prior to scheduled departure, this means checking everyone in during a 30 minute period.
If they can’t do that, the rules are worthless, and their recommendations meaningless. I suspect that people are turning up 10 minutes before the check in deadline – which they can do. Jetstar should up its administration and/or staff levels quick smart so it can meet its own rules and check everyone in 30 minutes before departure if that’s what it wants to do.Or else not be so stringent and maintain that everybody must be at the boarding gate 25 minutes prior to departure merely to sit around and wait. This means that if you are last at the checkin you must be able to get to the boarding gate within five minutes. Hope you don’t want to go to the toilet. But Jetstar has had problems in Aussie, too as A QC writes in Crikey: “Jetstar: They lied and stole my money”.
Anyway, was in contact with Mike Earley, the subject of the highest rating story in today’s Herald. He was the one who kicked up a fuss and got on Twitter. He has told me that a middle aged man who was behind his group in the queue was served – perhaps it was deadline time and it was easier to get an older man on before the deadline than checking in a group of young people – or else the airline had overbooked people. Earley has already complained to the Commerce Commission.
Academics and wasting moneyI have a lot of
July 1, 2009
Academics and wasting money
I have a lot of respect for academics like Brian Roper and Andrew Geddes but find it interesting that on one hand they state that the smacking citizens initiated referendum – which has no legal impact whatsoever - is an “absolutely appalling waste of money” and the money should be given to CYFS, but on the other hand the question should be better worded.
If the question was better worded, wouldn’t the referendum still be a $9 million waste of money if direct democracy has no legal impact?
For that matter, is the Families Commission a waste of money – its budget is $9 million – if it has no legal impact? Have I just identified some reallocation that could go to CYFS so that more real families can be investigated for smacking their kids?
Update Family First’s Bob McCoskrie has the answer. The money can come from the MSD in the first place. It’s all budged for. Now all we need to do is fire the nosy CYFS managers who tell their social workers to investigate alleged smacking.
Media provides clues to the identity of Richard Worth’s Korean woman
Not too long ago, the NZ Herald may well have inadvertently provided a clue as to the identity of the Korean woman who spent the night with Richard Worth and, I was told, apparently had a karaoke session with him at A Taste of Korea.
This report notes that the Korean woman was part-owner of several companies. One of these companies was put into liquidation this year, at the request of creditors who were owed $245,000 A private investigation firm had wanted to serve court documents on the woman relating to mortgage non-payment to the Bank of New Zealand for four homes, each valued at around $600,000. That’s well over $2 million.
The woman was also a subject of an investigation after a run in with another man, a Korean business leader. This news was reported in a Korean newspaper at the time. The Korean newspaper also published this article on the Worth hotel liaison the same weekend as the NZ Herald article and mentioned her surname and the fact that her friend went the the police station with her to lodge a complaint, and according to this report, also went to National list MP Tau Henare so he could inform John Key. Worth subsequently resigned as a minister and then from parliament.
A check of the Companies Office records under the woman’s surname as listed in the Korean article provides a record of a certain businesswoman who is part-owner in a number of companies, one of which was put into liquidation in February of this year with arrears to a number of suppliers. I was advised that this woman’s business partner is apparently fairly well-known in the Indian community. His last known address is a pretty comfy place; but two, not one, of his companies were placed in liquidation – one last year as he was unable to pay a $1 million loan and an $800,000 liability. He was the sole director of the trust that held the shares in both companies.Both him and his female Korean business partner are currently running companies.
To date nobody has publicly named the woman. But Richard Worth seems to get involved with some dodgy people…..
update …. like Labour activist Neelam Choudhary, who with her husband also owned companies – one of which the latter signed off as director after he got convicted, but David Farrar has covered this.
Thread of pain ran through Jackson career – Washington Post
June 27, 2009
Thread of pain ran through Jackson career – Washington Post
 ABC News |
Thread of pain ran through Jackson career
Washington Post AP — It was the last day of shooting for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take … Jackson Fam — Debbie Rowe Can See Her Kids Jackson family wants second autopsy Police to Question Jackson's Doctor Again |
Northern Ireland Protestant paramilitaries to disarm – Los Angeles Times
 CTV.ca |
Northern Ireland Protestant paramilitaries to disarm
Los Angeles Times Holdouts Ulster Defense Assn. and the Ulster Volunteer Force say the time has come for peace and that they have decommissioned or will soon all their weapons. By Henry Chu Reporting from London — Lasting peace in Northern Ireland took another step … 'Historic day' as loyalist groups finally lay down their arms Groups in Northern Ireland Say They've Disarmed Reaction to loyalist weapons move |
