Posts by Russell Brown
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Hard News: BRB, at UNGASS, in reply to Alfie,
As it’s the declared “outcome document” for the session, what chance is there that large chunks might be amended or even better, discarded?
Probably very little. But it's still interesting:
http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/the-place-where-things-happen-strangely/
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Hard News: BRB, at UNGASS, in reply to Alfie,
It’s not the most readable document – 24 pages of text with no index. I note that the word “cannabis” only appears once (3c, page 10) in the context of increased cooperation to “measurably reduce or eliminate” drug production; and while the word “health” is scattered about, the phrase “harm reduction” ain’t there at all.
It was always on the cards that "harm reduction" might be absent, just out of sheer factional pissiness. But also absent: a condemnation of the death penalty for drug offences. It's a horrible document in a number of ways.
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Hard News: Labour's medical cannabis…, in reply to Alfie,
It’s taken an unemployed sociologist named Steve Dawson several years to determine that the Police report exagerated the reality by a factor of at least ten
Good work that man.
There was a commenter here called Shulgin, who I think I banned after he got obsessive about that and other issues – he knew Maxwell's name and the details of the nonsense the police pulled, but just wanted to talk about it all the time, angrily.
Anyway, just had my first day at UNGASS, blog post coming up. After dinner, naturally.
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Up Front: Cui bono?, in reply to Kumara Republic,
And those individual employment agents have far too many people on their books to really be able to do much. You’d almost think the overall priority wasn’t really to get everyone a job,
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Our son had his benefit stopped on the second day of his first solo travelling (to Wellington). He handled it – and we got some money into his account – but it could easily have caused serious anxiety.
W&I insist they sent a letter (they didn't) saying that he not only had to pay to see our doctor to confirm he’s still autistic (done, filed, etc), he had to come in for an interview with someone who wouldn’t have a damn clue about autism. I really have no idea what this interview will consist of.
The thing is, he really wants more work. It would be nice if someone helped him with that.
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Hard News: BRB, at UNGASS, in reply to Ross Bell,
They’re approving the minutes at the start of the meeting rather the end. Go figure.
So the conclusions of the meeting are written before the three-day meeting and approved on the first morning? That's ... interesting.
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Hard News: BRB, at UNGASS, in reply to Ross Bell,
Shit! Is UNGASS next week?
Sorry – should have reminded you!
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Note that two days after I return I'll be on the panel at the Tuesday April 26 Table Talk with Ali Mau: Cannabis - Beyond Prohibition, part of Ika restaurant's Salon series. I expect I'll have plenty to tell.
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Alan Perrott on The Spinoff: Bum note: how Record Store Day lost its cool
I kinda agree and disagree. It's notable that stores in Auckland have downplayed the international RSD releases in favour of just one or two local ones – or none. Why wouldn't you drop into Flying Out to see Peter Jefferies and Jed Town play? Delaney Davidson and fresh baking at Southbound? Dubhead and friends, chips and discounts at Rebel Soul? Band and face=painting for the kids at Real Groovy? It seems like a nice day to visit those places.
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Hard News: Media Take: The Panama Papers, in reply to Ross Mason,
So this money comes into the country. Sits in a trust. No income is made in NZ therefore no tax is paid. So….other than somewhere to put the money away from home….but pardon my ignorance, remind me where the fudge is the benefit to NZ? Oh…wait a minute….are we subsidising lawyers and money-go-rounders again?
About $20m income annually is made here from fees. So for all the reputational damage, we get $8m tops in tax revenue.
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