Spanblather

So long and thanks for all the fish

2007-10-06T14:26:00.000+13:00

And so Spanblather ends, and I think I ought to explain some of the why.The slow down here started because I simply did not have much time or health to spend on blogging. When that situation improved I found I no longer had the inclination to write here, or indeed anywhere, as Span.*The simple fact is that I'm just not Span anymore. Span was a part of me rooted in my student activist days and

Uncertainty

2007-08-12T16:51:00.000+12:00

There is so much I want to write about at the moment, but I'm having some problems finding much time, and then I feel like the moment has passed. I had hoped that the low level of posting of the last few months was over, but it seems that is not the case. Sorry to be slack - and I have no promises I can realistically make about when this might change.It seems a real shame because Spanblather is

Here's one for Apathy Jack

2007-08-05T17:34:00.000+12:00

Just like buzz and hum, I am indeed:Well that's a relief.

Linky Love - Volume 21

2007-08-05T13:29:00.000+12:00

Standard intro - Linky Love is basically a cobbling together of posts I've noticed around the traps that have set off little tiny sparkles inside my head, and which I would possibly write about or comment on if I didn't need to sleep, eat, work, that kind of stuff. I usually put Linky Love volumes up weekly. I hope you like it.As always if you have a post of your own, or some else's, that you'd

Bloggage - July 2007

2007-08-01T17:39:00.000+12:00

I know, I can't believe I got these up today either.And in Breaking Blog Stats News - Kiwiblog NOT the most prolific posting blog this month for the first time since records began!As is now the status quo, those who have nominated a best post have it linked from their blog name, and are denoted by an asterisk. Thanks to everyone who sent their stats in, despite my slackness.JULY 2007Fly (1 post)(

Good News in Fanland

2007-07-31T14:49:00.000+12:00

Paul Scoones has revealed, over on PASystem, that the third season of (the new) Dr Who will begin on Prime on Sunday 19th August at 7.30pm!Rejoice! Rejoice!(No spoilers please - some of us don't have puters capable of taking part in the bittorrent revolution :-( )(Pic Via)

Reminder - Bloggage stats due Wednesday folks!

2007-07-30T20:16:00.000+12:00

Don't forget, the start of a new month is almost upon us, which means it's time to email me with your blog stats. If you can't remember, or have no idea, what I am on about, check out last month's stats.Send them to spanblatherATgmailDOTcom, and include:your blog url your total number of posts and comments for July your pick for your best post of the month if you are so inclined.Deadline is 6pm

Further thoughts on the Setchell Affair

2007-07-30T09:25:00.000+12:00

Last week I posted about David Benson Pope, Madeliene Setchell and conflicts of interest. I've now had the unique experience of having Kiwiblog commenters praise me for my principled approach* and being castigated in my own comments section by some people I respect (yes, including you Craig R) for not being principled about DBP, not being a feminist unionist about Setchell, and generally not

A McEnroe Moment*

2007-07-29T11:55:00.000+12:00

Sometimes, on the inter tubes, you find something that you just don't think can possible be serious. For example, Josh at Brain Stab alerted me to this discussion about whether women "girls" can/should play rugby at NZ Conservative. It depressed me, because sadly I know that many of the participants are serious about their views of women (and men) and how limited we supposedly all are in our neat

Linky Love - Volume 20

2007-07-28T15:28:00.000+12:00

Harry Potter and the Final Book

2007-07-28T13:57:00.000+12:00

I've finished it at last. What can I say, I'm a slow reader and this has been a busy week.I'm going to put my spoilerific points in comments, so as not to ruin things for anyone who hasn't finished yet. I'm not going to be like the complete stranger who came up to me in a cafe where I was reading The Deathly Hallows, the day after it came out, and said "oh, yeah, someone dies in the end." Luckily

In the Memtime

2007-07-24T19:51:00.000+12:00

Taking One for the Team

2007-07-24T09:43:00.000+12:00

I'm of the opinion these days that David Benson-Pope should go. Too many scandals, and too much taint, fair or unfair. He's a distraction and a liability, and even though he could be doing a good job as a Cabinet member he is doing a bad job as part of the public face of this Government, and by extension of the Centre-Left.Sometimes in politics you have to step back from a fight even though you

Linky Love - Volume 19

2007-07-23T19:11:00.000+12:00

Sorry this is late. Real life gets in the way of geek life sometimes. Consider yourselves lucky you don't have to wait until I've finished The Deathly Hallows ;-)Standard intro - Linky Love is basically a cobbling together of posts I've noticed around the traps that have set off little tiny sparkles inside my head, and which I would possibly write about or comment on if I didn't need to sleep,

The First XV Mentality

2007-07-18T13:27:00.000+12:00

And so once again we have an All Black "Great" called to defend the character of a man charged with a serious crime, as if an All Black's ability to judge the criminality or otherwise of someone was better than the average bear.Last time it was Steve McDowell attempting to back-up his dear friend Clint Rickards*, now it's Sean Fitzpatrick defending his mate Richard Kroon who is accused of

Locked Out but not down

2007-07-17T17:10:00.000+12:00

I've been itching to write about the Spotless lockout at hospitals around the country but haven't had time. Luckily the following bloggers have:the gossip - when industrial action initially seemed likely, Spotless begins its lockout, and Finsec lends its supportCapitalism Bad - Maia has written heaps of good stuff, including embedding footage of the pickets. Earliest to latest, her posts are here

Harry Potter and the Open Thread

2007-07-16T17:18:00.000+12:00

In honour of the release of the fifth film (Order of the Phoenix), and of course the impending arrival of the seventh book (The Deathly Hallows), here is an open thread for us all to dispute and discourse.Some reading too:Webweaver on her plans to avoid finding out the final ending for Harry Potter and his friends prematurely.Reviews/comments on HP and the Order of the Phoenix (film) from Maia,

The Stupid Internet Quiz I Couldn't Believe I Hadn't Already Done

2007-07-16T12:24:00.000+12:00

Ford PrefectDON'T PANIC Congratulations, you hoopy frood! The world is your pan galactic gargle blaster. Even when you think the Man is getting you down, you can rest assured that it is only the prelude to another favorable adventure. Link: The Hitchhiker's Guide Personality Test written by donquixotic on Ok CupidBig

Linky Love - Volume 18

2007-07-13T09:48:00.001+12:00

Some of these are pretty old, but worth it! Hopefully this is the return of regular Friday Linky Loves.Standard intro - Linky Love is basically a cobbling together of posts I've noticed around the traps that have set off little tiny sparkles inside my head, and which I would possibly write about or comment on if I didn't need to sleep, eat, work, that kind of stuff. I usually put Linky Love

Waking up is hard to do

2007-07-12T12:52:00.001+12:00

An appeal to readers - what are your tricks for waking up when really tired?I'm struggling to get out of bed in the mornings lately, and feel like I may have to resort to keeping my eyelids open with toothpicks.Help me avoid that icky eventuality, please!(Pic Via)

Hateful

2007-07-12T12:52:00.000+12:00

I've been unable to blog until today, which has been a pain because I've had to sit and watch the hate unfolding, again, at Maia. I strongly recommend that readers check out Maia's post on the completely unacceptable hateful comments made at Clint Heine's blog towards her, including a threat of rape from a commenter called James. Recent venom at Kiwiblog is less violent, but still shows an

At Black Rock

2007-07-08T17:57:00.000+12:00

Blog Spots

2007-07-08T17:29:00.000+12:00

I think I'm back to blog, but I'm not likely to be blogging at the same frequency or intensity as earlier in the year. Thanks for your patience over recent months.Also back to blog is Make Tea Not War - yay!New to me is the excellent Take Back the News, focusing on critiquing the reporting of rape and sexual violence. On the other side of the political coin the Sir Humph's crowd have largely

Bloggage - June 2007

2007-07-07T15:36:00.000+12:00

Better late than never?!As with last month, those who have nominated a best post have it linked from their blog name, and are denoted by an asterisk. Thanks to everyone who sent their stats in, despite my slackness.JUNE 2007Fly (1 post)(no one yet)Bantam(2 - 9 posts)Born on State Highway One - 3 posts, 3 commentsTake Back The News* - 5 posts, 2 commentsJoe Hendren* - 6 posts, 16 commentsAnarchia*

June Bloggage due soon folks

2007-06-28T09:19:00.000+12:00

Just a gentle reminder that your blog stats for June will be due soon. Best idea is to email them to me, spanblatheratgmaildotcom, including:your blog urlyour total number of posts and comments for Juneyour pick for your best post of the month if you are so inclined.These will be up a little later than 1st July, but they will go up later in the same week.Hoping to be back to blog proper like in a

Dalliances with the Dalai Lama

2007-06-20T13:33:00.001+12:00

I'm still not really back to blog, but I'm perplexed by the Dalai Lama Fever that seems to be gripping our politicians - to meet, not to meet, to meet with this hat on or that one.Maybe I've been watching too much Penn & Teller*, but what's so fabbo about shaking the hand of a man who wants to return Tibet to a repressive theocratic state? I mean sure, some self-determination would be ace, and

Cheating cheaters and their cheating ways

2007-06-15T14:08:00.000+12:00

Jeremy has mentioned the kerfuffle about cheating at Canterbury in a footnote, and it seems to me that's about all it deserves - oblique mentions on ex-student politician blogs, like I'm about to do.I sat on a university disciplinary committee for about two years. Most of the cases we dealt with were cheating, but almost all were on assignments rather than exams, and in fact I always had the

Sometimes the Sky Tower can be pretty

2007-06-14T13:53:00.000+12:00

Mt Eden to the City, April 2007

Bugged

2007-06-11T21:00:00.000+12:00

Well isn't this always what drives me back to the blog - I'm bugged. Specifically I am bugged by three things right at the moment:1. Those stupid Clever Toys adverts - quite aside from the lame-o racial and sexual stereotypes (gay character is a lion with a lisp, female is an empty-headed bunny rabbit, Maori is a gorilla of below average intelligence) they are immensely irritating. And

Bloggage - May 2007

2007-06-06T12:46:00.000+12:00

Once again, here are the NZ Pol Blog stats for the last month. Apologies for lateness, I haven't been at a puter since Friday morning.As with last month, I've indicated the blogs that have selected a post of the month by afixing an asterisk at the end of the blogname. If they haven't nominated one then it will just go to their front page.MAY 2007Fly (1 post)(no one put their hand up)Bantam(2 - 9

Prepare to repent, the end of the month is nigh!

2007-05-29T09:39:00.000+12:00

Well it's nearly that time of the month again - when nz pol bloggers count up their posts and comments, choose their best post of the month, and email them to me so that I can tally them up in the May Bloggage post.To ensure publication in the first attempt at the May Bloggage post please be sure to email in your stats (to spanblather at gmail dot com) as follows:Subject: May Bloggage Blog Name

Topsy Turvy

2007-05-28T17:09:00.000+12:00

Things are a little off kilter at the moment, as evidenced by the lack of posting. Hopefully I'll be back regular like in a couple of weeks, or maybe even sooner. In the meantime Linky Love will probably be on hiatus, but I will do the monthly bloggage for the end of the month (post up on that soonish).Ka kite ano, and thanks for your patience.Span

Banding together for blogger freedom in Fiji

2007-05-22T09:19:00.000+12:00

You may have seen the following release around a few blogs yesterday:*New Zealand Bloggers Offer Support For Freedom Of Speech In Fiji New Zealand bloggers from across the political spectrum are offering material support for Fijian blogs in the face of violence and censorship by the country's military regime. They are also calling on the New Zealand government to condemn, in the strongest

Super!

2007-05-21T14:03:00.000+12:00

Well I was a little shocked to end up 8th (417 points) in the Bloggers Challenge for the Virtual Super 14.I did very badly indeed at the start of the season, but I think two factors helped me gain form at the right end of play:Strictly following my strategy of picking whatever the TAB gave the best odds (except the first week, which was before I thought of this)Remembering to make picks every

Blah Blah Budget

2007-05-21T11:50:00.000+12:00

Well I didn't really write anything about the Budget. To be honest I found it all a bit blah.Again with the not doing anything to reverse the 1991 benefit cuts, again with the not really doing anything except tinkering with funding in education and health. Four percent for school operation grants was a slap in the face, although it's been trumpeted by some as one of the significant parts of

Sometimes the tide is just out

2007-05-20T19:04:00.000+12:00

Karaka Bay, May 2007

Candidate-itis

2007-05-18T16:30:00.000+12:00

I wanted to write something about Gordon Copeland going all Splitsville, but it seems I'm a bit slow off the mark. Joe Hendren has written about possible caucus friction that may have been a motivation for Copeland, while Bryce Edwards has an interesting post on the history of Christian parties in NZ (and how many Christian MPs have been splitters). Maramatanga also looks at the possibilities for

Linky Love - Volume 17

2007-05-18T16:27:00.000+12:00

Sorry this is so late - I've hardly been at a computer all week. Standard intro - Linky Love is basically a cobbling together of posts I've noticed around the traps that have set off little tiny sparkles inside my head, and which I would possibly write about or comment on if I didn't need to sleep, eat, work, that kind of stuff. I usually put Linky Love volumes up weekly, on Friday mornings,

Busy busy busy

2007-05-16T09:27:00.000+12:00

Sorry I haven't been able to post since Monday and realistically I'm not going to get a proper chance until tomorrow at the earliest. Here are some recently commented on posts, several with arguments still going on in the threads:Invisible Mothers - on the parents we don't see but can hurtStop. Go. Stop - on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - you might want to have a read to laugh at a certain

And to be flippant for a moment...

2007-05-14T21:32:00.000+12:00

Here's an invisible mother of my own daily acquaintance. I'm sure Mara won't mind me telling you, 'cos she's a cat and she can't read. The SPCA estimated she had at least two litters before we adopted her started living with her, but of course we've never seen them and from her kittenish nature many assume she's never bred.She looks a bit grumpy in this shot. Two options; 1. I'm projecting;

Invisible Mothers

2007-05-14T20:32:00.000+12:00

Yesterday was Mothers' Day here in Aotearoa New Zealand*, and you could hardly have missed the commercial onslaught of the last month even if you lacked any sense but smell.I've been thinking recently about many of the assumptions that we make about who is, and who isn't, a mother. In the last two years I've had several friends lose pregnancies, and I've become aware of other miscarriages and

Happy families

2007-05-13T11:10:00.000+12:00

Bitch PhD has posted about an intriguing American quiz on contemporary families. It reminded me of David Slack's quiz on Treaty issues, as it's all about debunking common conservative myths. Although it's obviously American I suspect there's a certain amount of safe extrapolation for our culture too. Have a go and decide for yourself!(Pic Via)

Stop. Go. Stop.

2007-05-12T13:11:00.000+12:00

I did not know, until just this minute, that today is International CFS Awareness Day. Thanks to tigtog at Larvatus Prodeo for blogging about it, otherwise no doubt I'd still be none the wiser.CFS, aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, aka Myalgic Encephlaitis (sp?), aka "yuppie flue" or "tapanui flu," basically ruled my life for over three years and still plays a bit part in proceedings. I had it

Waiting for time

2007-05-12T13:02:00.000+12:00

Musee d'Orsay, Paris, May 2006I kind of feel a bit like I'm in stasis at the moment - life keeps going but I feel as if I'm waiting, waiting, waiting.

Linky Love - Volume 16

2007-05-11T09:01:00.000+12:00

Standard intro - Linky Love is basically a cobbling together of posts I've noticed around the traps that have set off little tiny sparkles inside my head, and which I would possibly write about or comment on if I didn't need to sleep, eat, work, that kind of stuff. I usually put Linky Love volumes up weekly, on Friday mornings, although sometimes I sneak them in on Thursday for various reasons. I

A Fair Go for Fair Trade

2007-05-10T08:06:00.000+12:00

This Saturday, May 12th, is World Fair Trade Day, and this year the theme is Kids Need Fair Trade. Joanna has already blogged, at the start of Fair Trade Fortnight on April 28th, about how to find local fair trade coffee in Wellington.Fair trade kind of sounds like one of those really earnest causes lefties harp on about, but one of the things that has struck me about these campaigns is the slow

She glows

2007-05-09T21:23:00.000+12:00

Three guesses who this is.

That taxing pay gap

2007-05-09T09:13:00.000+12:00

I've had a couple of commenters (or maybe the same one twice) draw my attention to a Sydney Morning Herald article proposing that the pay gap between men and women could be bridged by cutting taxes to XXers. Here's the article's explanation:Basically, their argument boils down to this: the supply of labour of women is more responsive to their wage post-tax, so a reduction in taxes would increase

Subway subtract worker's rights

2007-05-08T18:31:00.000+12:00

When a Dunedin Subway manager fired Jackie Lang for sharing a staff drink with a friend and then laid charges with the police for theft I'm not sure he quite realised what a dick he would look. I hope the Subway chain realises how silly it's making them look, and thinking about how they might make it all go away in a manner that leaves Lang feeling happy...One of the key principles of natural

At the end of the day

2007-05-08T18:22:00.000+12:00

While I can't compete with satsumasalad on the beautiful sunset pics, here's the view from my place earlier this evening.Hopefully as long as this good weather keeps going so will the fab sunsets.Is it just me or is it a lot warmer (and drier) this autumn and winter?

The Ultimate in Pointless Internet Memes

2007-05-07T20:32:00.000+12:00

Thanks to Blogthings I now know what kind of pie I am.I cannot believe I have gone all these years without knowing this!And no it is not Mud.You Are Lemon Meringue PieYou're the perfect combo of sassy and sweet Those who like you have well refined tastesWhat Kind of Pie Are You? Updated 8th May 8.52am: Fixed link on quiz so you can do it too.

Politics and progeny and general irrelevance

2007-05-07T10:36:00.000+12:00

So it seems that the judgement heaped on political women on this side of the Tasman over their parental status is being paralleled in Oz. When I heard that there was the possiblity of a female Deputy PM after the next Australian elections I did wonder what kind of extra crapola she'd have to put up with on the way there (and beyond). Julia Gillard is now getting what Helen Clark has had to put up

Blogspots

2007-05-06T15:14:00.001+12:00

Sometime commenter on a few left blogs around the traps, zANavAShi has set up a great site called The Watermelon and is blogging there herself. It's designed to be a welcoming home for those who identify as green and left liberal.Zana and another commenter are also in conversation about how to host a safe space for a s59 survivors forum there, so those interested may want to check out the site

Transgressing

2007-05-06T14:59:00.000+12:00

After writing up my thoughts for Take Back the Blog Day, I've been thinking about how much worse it seems to be online for those who were XY and are now XX. Specifically I've been astounded with the abuse and bile spewed whenever Georgina Beyer is mentioned on some blogs.Beyond her contribution to the Civil Union debate, which I think was at times courageous and also of strategic importance to

Birdie

2007-05-06T13:40:00.000+12:00

Taken at Panmure Lagoon, May 2007

Asking for it

2007-05-04T07:25:00.000+12:00

In yesterday's Central Leader, Pat Booth had his usual column and this time I actually agreed with something in it.Booth gives a very clear example of exactly how rape survivors are treated differently from other victims of crime. Here are his words: The scene is a robbery trial with the victim, a man, being cross-examined by the defence:Counsel: So you have told the court that you were held up

Linky Love - Volume 15

2007-05-03T20:02:00.000+12:00

This is early 'cos I'm not sure I'll get a chance to put it up at all tomorrow.Standard intro - if you have a post of your own, or some else's, that you'd like to highlight please feel free to add it in comments, or to discuss the above posts, or indeed most anything else.Alas (a blog) - Sexism Against (and For) Men on TV Sitcoms - Ampersand on why even when men's telly roles seem to put them

Clean dirtiness

2007-05-03T12:05:00.000+12:00

As our world warms up, and the debate about how to address it gets even hotter, our power companies have come up with diverting strategies to exploit the impression of a clean, green New Zealand to benefit their own public images. Pukeko and pohutukawa are recruited in 30 second sells which shy away from showing us smoking stacks or coal mines.Greenpeace have come up with a humdinger of a spoof

The Trouble with Lichen

2007-05-03T07:50:00.000+12:00

Well there's no trouble really, I just like both the book and the flora.Taken on the Mangere Bridge waterfront, March 2007

All thrashed out - an end to debating s59?

2007-05-02T17:56:00.000+12:00

Well, what an interesting day in NZ politics! Idiot/Savant has great coverage of the Parliamentary debate on the committee stage of the Bill repealing s59 of the Crimes Act and thus removing from our statue books an archaic defence for assaulting children.Cross-party consensus on a highly controversial issue that had mobilised a large amount of public support and opposition. That's a sentence I

Last minute "compromise" on s59?

2007-05-02T11:02:00.000+12:00

Just picked up this Newstalk ZB story via Scoopit:...Prime Minister Helen Clark and National leader John Key are about tomake an announcement over an amendment that their parties have agreed to.It is understood the amendment will prevent police from prosecutingparents for a smack to a child which is deemed trivial or trifling...I have a bad feeling about this. I'd feel less foreboding if the

(Sl)ac(k)tivist

2007-05-02T09:39:00.000+12:00

Like Maia I was a bad leftie yesterday and didn't do a May Day post (the April Bloggage doesn't count by any stretch of the imagination). Here's a poster I rather like in lieu.Luckily brownfemipower has up an amazing array of protest posts, Our History of Protest. Also the gossip blogged about the difference between May Day in Europe and the way that New Zealanders celebrate workers' day - it's

Bloggage April 2007

2007-05-01T17:45:00.000+12:00

The observant may note I've put these up 15 minutes before the deadline for submission - sorry, I had forgotten an appointment and so I can post it either now or tomorrow - I figured now would have to do. Instructions for inclusion are towards the end of the post.Once again, here are the NZ Pol Blog stats for the last month.This month I've also asked people to choose their top post for

Fun and sun

2007-04-30T14:58:00.000+12:00

Well after my isn't-it-nice-and-warm-and-sunny Autumn post it appears I have broken the Auckland weather.Sorry about that. To make amends here is a pic to remind us all what summer is like, before we forget it entirely.Taken at the Orpheus Festival, 6th Feb 2007.

Growing profits through diminishing workers

2007-04-30T09:21:00.000+12:00

I'm a bit late to this party, but the EPMU Our Media campaign is still just warming up, to protest the redundancies at TVNZ and in other parts of the NZ media.Andrew Little makes a good point in a media statement about the out-sourcing of sub-editing at APN:"This is a dark day for our members but also for news and democracy in New Zealand. APN already makes tens of millions of dollars in profit

Across the universe

2007-04-29T17:27:00.000+12:00

In honour of The Actor Most Commonly Known as Scotty's ashes being sent into space, here's a shot of a dejected pretend cosmonaut.Just 'cos I can.

Compromised

2007-04-29T17:14:00.000+12:00

Recently we have had the strange spectacle of John Key, National party leader, pretending to make nicey nice with Sue Bradford, sponsor of the bill to repeal s59 of the Crimes Act, and Helen Clark*. Ostensibly this was all about finding a "compromise" on the issue of child discipline - one that would put at ease all those parents scarified by National and others into thinking that they were going

Work shouldn't be a death sentence

2007-04-28T18:12:00.000+12:00

Today, April 28th, is International Workers' Memorial Day. As I'm sure you already know, it's the day when we remember all those killed or hurt on the job, and also highlight the importance of health and safety in the workplace because so many of those incidences are in fact preventable.What's that? You didn't know? But it was all over the papers! On every telly station they covered the alarming

Autumn

2007-04-28T16:59:00.000+12:00

Taken on Oakley Creek Walkway, April 2007It has been like an extended summer here in the Queen City,* as the good weather has gone on and on and it still isn't even that cold. The horrible rainy days have largely been restricted to times when I have had out-of-town people visiting. But surely the sunshine can't last much longer...*I actually don't know if Auckland is the Queen City. But it ought

Reminder - your Blog Stats due Tuesday!

2007-04-28T13:18:00.000+12:00

This month I'd like to start encouraging people to contribute not only their stats but also what they consider their best post of the month. This is a chance for you to highlight your proudest moment in your April blogging, so please do send the URL of your best post along with the other stats. If you choose not to that's fine as well, I'll just put in a link to your blog instead. To ensure

XX in an XY world - Take Back the Blog Day

2007-04-28T11:51:00.000+12:00

For Take Back the Blog Day, 28th April 2007. You can visit the host page of this blogswarm here, and my past post on the point of it over here. In the New Zealand political blogosphere women are few and far between. There's more than there were when I started in 2004, but still as bloggers and commenters we are vastly outnumbered, whether left, right or something else entirely.Mentioning the

Kindly help out a city-bound blogger

2007-04-27T13:11:00.000+12:00

Further to the discussion here about liking sheep, and not cows who run at you...Is this a cow or a bull? Cos it wasn't very happy with me, and then my arm wasn't very happy with its head. Thanks in advance for your assistance with this matter. CheerioSpan

Hate something? Change something!

2007-04-27T11:37:00.000+12:00

And so it has come to pass that there is an internal political battle within the youth wing of one of New Zealand's political parties. Because that never happened before, in the history of Aotearoa's politics, it is being reported and discussed far* and wide.Many moons ago, when I was up to my ears in student politics, I knew a really quite nice young man who was a Young Nat. For some time I

Linky Love - Volume 14

2007-04-27T09:50:00.000+12:00

Standard intro - if you have a post of your own, or some else's, that you'd like to highlight please feel free to add it in comments, or to discuss the above posts, or indeed most anything else.a bird and a bottle - On the Feminization of Poverty - Bean unpacks an Alternet article which states that 70% of those living in poverty, worldwide, are female.the blonde canadian - Pure intentions? - -k

Not a bird, not a plane, no it's Super Earth!

2007-04-26T21:11:00.000+12:00

I always get absurdly excited about the prospect of frontier adventures. These days space is the place*, although of course we can only really think about it - look but don't touch.I think my eagerness comes from the idea of being able to go somewhere new and create something from scratch. It's probably one of the reasons I'm so attracted to Battlestar Galactica's new series, and have really

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2007-04-26T20:51:00.000+12:00

Over on What We Said Emily has written about the thought processes behind women changing, or not changing, their names when they marry.I have to say this is one custom I sincerely hopes dies a death as civil unions become more prevalent and the old marital traditions, based on the transfer of ownership of the bride, fade into the past. I've heard a lot of arguments about why women should change

Please pledge

2007-04-26T09:22:00.000+12:00

Idiot/Savant has started a pledge-bank for lobbying the Government in favour of the repeal of sedition. You can read his original post here, or you can just go straight to the pledge-bank and sign up to write a letter to the relevant Government Minister, Mark Burton. What a fine idea, I haven't exercised my political letter-writing muscles for a while!(Pic Via)

Not Forgetting - Anzac Blogging Roundup

2007-04-25T14:59:00.000+12:00

Herein lie all the blog posts I've found so far for this Anzac Day, 25th April 2007. All NZ unless otherwise noted.Reports on various events:ANZAC Day in Devonport - Juha was thereAnti war protest in Auckland - John has pictures from the Dawn Ceremony at the Auckland War MemorialANZAC Day - welly_girl was watching the telly coverage of various dawn services.ANZAC Dawn Service - Chris was in

Union Myths #6 - Unions just go on strike all the time

2007-04-24T16:26:00.000+12:00

We've all heard it, at some point in our lives, possibly from our parents or at our workplaces; all those bloody unions do is go on strike all the time, bunch of useless troublemakers.Well I beg to differ. (Don't act all surprised now.)Unions, and union members, do a lot more than strike. There are many unionised workplaces who probably haven't been on strike in the last decade. In fact, the

It's not kitty porn, it's art I tell you!

2007-04-24T08:33:00.000+12:00

Lordy lordy, I cannot believe that with all this yapping about cat blogging I've only posted one pic of Mara this month! I must be suffering from a strange affliction, I shall take myself immediately off to bed with a lemon honey drink and a hot water bottle, I assure you all.

Tricky Trackbacks

2007-04-23T21:05:00.001+12:00

Many's the time that I've linked to another post and then I go look at it and my post isn't coming up in the Links to this Post section, even after a few days. Here's an example, where a commenter says they found the post through this blog, but there's no automatic linky love down the bottom of the page.This is starting to get me down. I don't expect the blogger to notice I've linked to them and

Gore to run for White House?

2007-04-23T09:18:00.000+12:00

Nickname Pending has long had a theory that Al Gore will make a bid for the Democratic nomination for 2008, and Craig at Celsias has a newspaper report that may prove him right...As I suspect Hilary Clinton and Gore do not get on, that would rather scupper the possibility of that VP-P combination, but Obama and Gore, who knows?

Abstinence or Bust!

2007-04-23T08:49:00.000+12:00

Over at Pandagon, Amanda has applied herself to the weird reasoning that some anti-choice people seem to have, specifically that those who perform abortions are in it for the moolah.It's a great post, and I strongly encourage you to read it. Amanda points out that most of those who perform abortions also deliver babies, and that, in the USA at least, they receive much more dosh for deliveries

A beautiful day in Auckland

2007-04-22T19:49:00.000+12:00

Even towards the end of the day, when this shot was taken from near Achilles Point.Nice to know my talismans sometimes work.

Blog Spots

2007-04-22T18:54:00.000+12:00

It's been quite a while since I last did a Blog Spot post, but here we go...First up, the exciting news that About Town is back in action, with trs blogging about all sorts of things.Red 'Fec, who tipped me off about the above, have added a number of new bloggers, including a boy. This should be interesting...A makeover is in progress at stanselen (which is making me think about doing one too)

Thinking twice

2007-04-22T12:09:00.000+12:00

Recently there have been a lot of things going on in regard to violence towards women.*There's been the case of the All Black who got a discharge without conviction for assaulting his wife, the 12 year old girl who was raped walking back from a party late at night, and internationally the Virginia Tech shootings media coverage horrifyingly ended up focusing for a while on a young woman who was

The Anzac Spirit

2007-04-21T17:44:00.000+12:00

anarchafairy has an interesting post up entitled ANZAC Day must be opposed. He is of the opinion that Anzac* Day is a celebration of the NZ military and a source of growing nationalism in our country. I can understand his points, but I guess it's just not what I see in Anzac Day.When I hear the words "lest we forget" I do think of the violence and destruction that characterises war. I can't help

I give the finger to this Stupid Internet Quiz

2007-04-21T17:37:00.000+12:00

Ok I think this quiz result is so totally and utterly wrong that it nearly makes me want to not post this in disgust. Nearly, but not quite.You Are a Ring FingerYou are romantic, expressive, and hopeful. You see the best in everything.You are very artistic, and you see the world as your canvas. You are also drawn to the written word.Inventive and unique, you are often away in your own inner

Weather Talisman the Fourth

2007-04-20T13:31:00.000+12:00

I would really rather like to be able to go for a walk this weekend. It's been a while.

Linky Love - Volume 13

2007-04-20T09:14:00.000+12:00

Standard intro - if you have a post of your own, or some else's, that you'd like to highlight please feel free to add it in comments, or to discuss the above posts, or indeed most anything else.Alas, a blog - Roundup of posts about Gonzales v Carhart - Amp gives us all a link farm all about the recent Supreme Court decision in the US to undermine a woman's right to choose.Aucklander at Large -

Span's inner bookedness

2007-04-19T20:38:00.001+12:00

Violet has posted about which books on her shelves she'd like people to think reflect her, and which she'd rather they attributed elsewhere, or didn't notice at all. It got Make Tea thinking, and me too.Perhaps the reason this idea resonates so strongly with me is that I spent a lot of time at university buying hoarding books that were rather aspirational; I wanted to be the kind of person that

Here we go again

2007-04-19T19:18:00.000+12:00

Ok, so I wrote about this already but it seems that a repeat attempt at explanation is necessary:1. Only a very small number of unions are affiliated to the Labour Party. I can only think of four; EPMU (aka The Engineers), SFWU (Service & Food), Meatworkers and DWU (Dairy Workers). While EPMU and SFWU are amongst the bigger private sector unions these four are still couldn't reasonably be counted

A Trolling Stone Gathers Much Dross

2007-04-18T20:35:00.000+12:00

After recent discussions about the interactive nature of political blogging, in particular codes of conduct and trolling, I've decided that this blog probably should have an explicit comments policy. Or rather, that it probably should have had a policy a while back.To date my approach to comments has been pretty lax. I haven't banned anyone, I haven't edited anyone (in fact I don't know if you

I like sheep

2007-04-18T20:13:00.000+12:00

Unlike cows, they don't run at you. Much.

Stuff to go to in Auckland

2007-04-17T09:02:00.000+12:00

Making a Song and Dance about Freedom, April 21, 7:30pm, at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.Tickets are available from Ticketek for just $20 each (service fee charge will apply). The evening's line-up includes performances by Caitlin Smith, Tama Waipara, The Shades, Banda Latina and Latin Fever dancers, Tango Tiempo dancers accompanied by a tango sextet, a Flamenco duo, Bollywood and

Quiet time

2007-04-16T14:32:00.000+12:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging, I hope to start posting again soon.In the meantime you may wish to contribute to the live discussions on trolling, abstinence "education" or indeed any other thread. You could also peruse the latest volume of Linky Love.CheerioSpan

Linky Love - Volume 12

2007-04-12T21:47:00.000+12:00

Hard to believe Linky Love has been going for nearly 3 months now! Any feedback welcome either in comments or by email. Linky Love is a few hours early this week because I won't be at a puter again until Saturday probably. This is the third week in a row that it's been on a Thursday, so maybe that should be the new day. We'll see how I feel next Thursday I guess!Standard intro - if you have a

Conduct Code Collections

2007-04-11T20:55:00.000+12:00

It seems that my Bloglines feeder has a whole lot of overseas posts I'm yet to read properly on codes of conduct for blogging, as a result of the Kathy Sierra furore I mentioned in a past Linky Love. Given that local Blog God Russell Brown has blogged on it today it seems a bit topical so I'm going to spew them all out here and see what happens next:The Civility Code - Russell Brown at Public

Caution: side effects ahead

2007-04-11T08:47:00.000+12:00

Feministing has the buzz on the 11th Annual Abstinence Leadership Conference. This year they have the snazzy theme:Abstinence: It's a Black and White Issue -Purity vs PromiscuityThey even kind of have a blog, and there's a post up there where the writer responds to a feminist criticism of Purity Balls and the like. The Abstainer includes this gem in their brief critique: ...a person might choose

Resorting

2007-04-10T17:15:00.001+12:00

This one's for Idsy who seems a little down on cat-blogging. Methinks he is just jealous because he doesn't have a cat of Mara's extreme photogenity to share with you all. :-P