Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: A Rat At My Table

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  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Spare a thought for the rats of Raglan (and my mum). One of my parents' cats not only brings the gift of rats inside, but thoughtfully disembowels them, saving my mum the trouble.

    I'm sure there's a political metaphor in there somewhere.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    No doubt Mr. Cook will find an opening waiting for him at "Investigate".

    I wonder if Helen Clark harbours similar feelings of mixed emotion towards Sue Bradford and her little gift of socially progressive legislation.

    It is ironic given Clark has made GW the main policy plank of this Government that it is the Greens of all people who have managed to side track the vision.

    There is a certain self-indulgence and lack of strategic discipline about the Green Party that must really get under the skin of those that are, at least on paper, their natural allies.

    Which is not to say the Section 59 amendment is not a good thing, its just not all that important.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    I wonder if Sue Bradford will be getting a call?

    any day now i'm sure. i expect best she could hope for from the msm would be slighly fewer dead rats

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    ironic given Clark has made GW the main policy plank of this Government that it is the Greens of all people who have managed to side track the vision.

    There is a certain self-indulgence and lack of strategic discipline about the Green Party that must really get under the skin

    further to that Don, anyone remember the farce of 'Corngate' published by Green list candidate Craig Potton? Jeanette said she knew nothing of its release just before the 02 election. it too damaged Labour and the Greens.

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    One of our cats brings them in & leaves them alive, the young one found a rat curling up in the jersey she'd casually tossed beside her on the couch - her squeal disturbed it & I came up the stairs to find an indignant rat descending to the cat door & freedom.

    Another was spied peering from behind the fridge - unbelievably, the Mrs, quicker than a ninja, shot an arm in & caught it by the tail, it was unceremoniously hurled out into the bush.

    We were awestruck - it must have been adrenaline because normally she'd shreak & run away.

    Meanwhile, I may steal your observation that the police won't attend burglaries so chances are they won't attend smackings... and use it ... somewhere else!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    No prize for guessing the most common topic of Cook's stories...

    Wonder how this will end? Sharon Shipton says quite unequivocally that she didn't speak to Cook. However, Cook's story says the HoS received a statement from Shipton, and it has direct quotes from her.

    I think the HoS needs to say something here as clearly one of the parties isn't telling the truth.

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I recall that dumb-assed story about your book, but I hadn't made the connection. That and the Mark Burton story. What a piece of work he is.

    I'm now wondering exactly what Cook said to the Auckland Zoo management when he called them ....

    The Herald does a lot of lofty sermonising in its editorials. I bloody well hope its considering its position now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Those stories and accusing a Takapuna Grammar teacher of being a history revisionist along the lines of David Irving. Funny thing is, her students don't agree that she is a revisionist or a conspiracy theorist at all, as Cook's story says. (Yes, I know, ratemyteachers.co.nz isn't particularly authoritative or anything, but the comments bar one say she's a good teacher.)

    This is starting to smell like a major media scandal.

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    oh that classic marketing motto hyper-blunder

    The New Zealand Herald - there's a lot more to it!

    they should've just stuck with The New Zealand Herald - do as we say, not as we do!

    any other suggestions?

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    oh i see what you mean Juha abouot the ratemyteacher and scandal

    xactly if the cook reporter hates her so much why is his dawter still in the class

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • merc,

    NZ Herald,
    Never complain, never explain. (Henry Ford)

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Marcus Neiman,

    Don: I do think it is a bit of a stretch to imply that Labour has made climate change a major area of substantive policy change as opposed to rhetoric.

    Furthermore, the odds are so stacked against a substantive policy change it might make more strategic sense to go after Section 59 where a win does seem possible.

    Sydney • Since Feb 2007 • 107 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    "Dawter" indeed. Could've forgiven Cook for a story about slipping standards of English amongst Taka Grammar students, but...

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Marcus

    Don: I do think it is a bit of a stretch to imply that Labour has made climate change a major area of substantive policy change as opposed to rhetoric.

    Yes, and therein lies the Green's opportunity and obligation. They should be forcing the Government to stick to the rhetoric.

    Instead they are cashing their chips in over a bill that may or may not change a hell of a lot and is just a small part of what should be a co-ordinated and well thought out strategy about child abuse in this country.

    Surely this is a bit of a betrayal of their support base.

    By the way David, I can't get a certain UB40 song out of my head today. Thanks.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Marcus Neiman,

    Don: The Greens know that they are not in a position to force Labour to take on all the other parties in parliament, the business community, and most NZers habits and aspirations to own bigger cars, houses, have cheap holidays overseas.

    They also know that Labour, National, and the business community are not going to do anything until either the big players in the international community - ie. the largest national governments and media firms make it an imperative. All they can do is keep the issue on the agenda and hope for little wins until a crisis moment comes along or the US or China or Mudoch etc. shift their position.

    Until that time they may as well go for little wins that can be achieved with the current parliament and political environment.

    Sydney • Since Feb 2007 • 107 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    After numerous lizards and birds and finally one night waking up to because the cat was playing with something furry (and dead) on the bed, we finally figured out how to stop the cats showing their love with animals.

    We taught our cat to hunt, kill, and bring in -- grass.

    It turns out he loves chasing long bits of grass (round and round in circles till he gets dizzy and can't run straight).

    After a session of play he'd often bring the grass in and we'd pat him and make a fuss of him and generally reward him for the "kill". Dead animals were greeted with silence.

    It's still annoying to be woken up as he announces a kill at 2 am but it's a lot easier to cleean up now.

    cheers
    Bart

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Juha Saarinen,

    I don't like it when they bring in skinks and geckos, or birds for that matter (have paid my dues several times over to Sylvia the Bird Lady up in Mairangi Bay) but I really start to worry when they eye up the neighbour's dog to see if it fits through the cat flap...

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    "After a session of play he'd often bring the grass in and we'd pat him and make a fuss of him and generally reward him for the "kill". Dead animals were greeted with silence."

    So you didn't see fit to smack him?

    heh - sorry, was just reminded of some goon that told me all dog owners beat their dogs to house train and so he should be able to smack his kids.

    for the record, I have never beat any dog I have owned.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • merc,

    Humans are Machine Dogs.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Marcus Neiman,

    Merce, have you been skim reading Deleuze recently?

    Sydney • Since Feb 2007 • 107 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Instead they are cashing their chips in over a bill that may or may not change a hell of a lot and is just a small part of what should be a co-ordinated and well thought out strategy about child abuse in this country.

    Somewhat. But it's also a private members bill, and the green party would I guess allow a fair bit of independence on what bills private members put forward. And it's taken out by ballot, so it could have turned up last year, this year, or next year.

    Lots of minor issues get shoved through around 'big' issues. This minor issue has just ended up being a big issue through the contention over it.

    My impression is that the greens haven't really been tagged with it much, that many more people have complained about 'the government' and Labour than about any Greens beyond Sue Bradford.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Jonty,

    'My impression is that the greens haven't really been tagged with it much, that many more people have complained about 'the government' and Labour than about any Greens beyond Sue Bradford.'

    The right never miss an opportunity to kick shit out of the government - and the Bradford bill was a golden opportunity. Wind up the smackers with wads of misinformation and stand back and watch the fun.

    Katikati • Since Mar 2007 • 102 posts Report

  • merc,

    Marcus, like Oscar Wilde, if I want to read something really interesting, I read my diary. I can't skim read anyway, I'm too retentive.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    I really start to worry when they eye up the neighbour's dog to see if it fits through the cat flap...

    Our friends' cat solved this problem by simply ripping the cat door off. Resultant hole was then big enough for rabbits to fit through.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

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