Posts by JohnAmiria
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to new federalists this means that the federal government gives grants to different states to do with as they will, so they're more powerful and separatist.
Yes, but that's all just code for Neo-cons/Religious Right. Because they know they can't win by overt means they try to win by stealth. 'Intelligent Design' has only succeeded because they've taken over the School Boards one by one. And so they try the same tactic/strategy with 'Federalism' - get control of the State legislature and then push for more 'self determination' for each state. And once that's through you overturn Roe Vs Wade state by state. It will be easy to get thru because there will always be that wink and nod: "we're not banning abortion per se, just banning it in our state - if you want one you can always go to California".
Until of course ... -
Every lane of the harbour bridge will be a cycle lane.
Further proof (as if needed) as to just how selfish the Cycling Lobby are. Six cycle lanes across the Harbour Bridge? You sir, have a fight on your hands! We DEMAND our right to cross the bridge in safety, without fear of being run over by hoons in lycra on bicycles! And we want the outside lanes so we can enjoy the view, which you boy racers don't appreciate as you whizz by on your tricked out Raliegh Twenty's.
~ John Amiria
Pedestrian Action Group -
Can't we send someone over to the US to help them out? Show them how we 'fixed' the BNZ, and then sold it for a 'profit'?
this paper was written in 2004, revised in 2005, and online in 2006:
This situation is exemplified through two case studies documenting an extraordinary recurrence of financial mal-management in the case of the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ). Twice, the BNZ fell into the hands of forceful individuals with political connections who were able to control its management and influence lending policy with disastrous results. In both instances separated by nearly a century, creative accounting masked poor performance, and the government was persuaded to rescue what was once affectionately known as ‘The People's Bank’. Such rescues represented a socialisation of losses, not least because the BNZ was shareholder-owned and those responsible escaped largely unscathed. Reliance upon the possibility of rescue may even promote riskier behaviour.
And, on a tangent, here's a trip down memory lane I can recommend - about the Muldoon years, and his 'control' of the nation's finances.
Muldoon dictated that no-one could buy a new car who had less than a 60 per cent deposit, and the maximum term of any loan was 18 months.
A used car had to have a 60 per cent deposit and be repaid over 12 months. ...
... Muldoon figured his rules would stop the "wrong" people from borrowing for a car they could not afford. In fact he simply made finance companies less vulnerable to bad debts.
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On that point, where are all the NZ promoters?
Australia has for some time now been enjoying an endless supply of quality acts that no one here is piggy backing on.
Most of the NZ promoters are now really just front offices for the Aussies, working on percentage deals, or a flat fee. The Aussies often secure the Australasian rights and can't be arsed sending 'em over. It's cheaper to add an extra show in Sydney or Melbourne than promote a single gig in NZ.
By and large NZ promoters are left with promoting NZ acts. Brent Eccles' most recent act was a Peter Urlich Dine N Dance combo...
I'm guessing CRS will be promoting the post-BDO Headless Chickens Tour ...
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Aaargh! Me got punk'd!?
Erroneous Claims
All of the sites claiming or inferring John McCain’s campaign owns the domains and registered them privately to dodge the possible scandal are making up what they think is news without actually checking the facts. The truth is it could be anyone that registered the domains (including Sarah Palin herself) but the proof can only be obtained with a subpoena to the Private Registration holder DomainsByProxy. DomainsByProxy happens to be used by GoDaddy and Network Solutions, the biggest domain registrars on the internet. I have used DomainsByProxy for a couple of my domains in the past (and on a somewhat unrelated note I started receiving credit card offers in the mail shortly after I discontinued using their services). That doesn’t mean that my domains were once owned by John McCain’s campaign does it? edit: For the record, I DO NOT OWN THE DOMAIN, contrary to what some forums are already saying. It is still unknown who purchased the domain.
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I recall I asked yesterday whether his campaign could get anymore weird and erratic.
Yes. Yes, it could.
Yes, he's crazy alright. But we'll find out soon if he's crazy like a Fox. Just as the leaves fall in Autumn, I always get despondent around election time - wondering if democracy is wasted on some people. Sadly some voters (on all sides) just take whatever is served in front of them and accept it as fact/true.
Which is why we just know the Biden / Palin debate is going to be a blast.
Hopefully Biden will ask her about how, as a woman, and as a person who believes in 'family values', she feels about her party buying the domain name "voteforthemilf.com".
According to a blogger on HuffPo:
it was discovered yesterday that the McCain campaign owns voteforthemilf.com. The URL was purchased via the McCain campaign's Go Daddy account. Furthermore, McCain's camp is not denying ownership at this point. Even more telling is that upon entering the URL, the site immediately redirects you to a personal video message from Gov. Palin on McCain's official website. A video posted to YouTube shows the redirect in case the campaign changes it, as seems likely:
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you call this leadership?
The Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged Congress to get back to work today and renegotiate a massive Wall Street bailout package.
The White House hopeful also suggested raising the limit on bank deposits guaranteed by the Federal Government to $250,000 from its current level of $100,000, to help shore up confidence in the financial sector.
The problem is banks not lending to each other. not small time investors holding 100k under the mattress.
A quick refresher Sage:
Yes, the problem is banks not lending to eachother. But why aren't the banks lending to eachother? Because they're worried the bank they lend to will fall over and not pay it back.
Okay, but why do banks need to lend from eachother? Because they don't have enough money deposited with them to lend out to their customers. So they borrow (when they can) from other banks with money. And then lend it to their customers at a higher rate than they borrow it for, thereby making a 'profit'.
So if a bank wants to lend money to customers but doesn't have enough and can't borrow it from other banks ... what do they do? They need to increase their deposits. But how do they get their customers to deposit more money when their customers (Joe Public) are freaking out about banks falling over?
Well, one way is for the Govt to increase the Govt guarantees on deposits fro $100k to $250k. That will encourage people with more than $100k to put it into the bank, instead of gold bars under the bed. (BTW - I don't agree with your assertion that someone with $100k is a small time investor. But then I don't live in the UK where coffee is NZ$10+ a cup)
But anyway, if you think Obama is wrong that's your prerogative. But what has McCain proposed instead, and ... more importantly ... can he deliver? Evidently not, based on yesterday's example.
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Note for Aucklanders:
First Presidential debate: Triangle TV, 10:30pm SundaySky had it 5pm this afternoon via their Fox News network.
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you're right david. there are many churches who are open supportive and welcoming of their gay flock.
odd then that so many of the 'redneck' churches often ask WWJD? (what would jesus do?) but then ignore the obvious
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But it's one that did not escape practically all of my high school students when they heard about the scholarship last week.
"How do they know that you are gay?"
Dude. Gaydar.(But, actually, interesting point.)
How do they know? It's all there in the Application Document:
All applicants must write a 1000 word essay on the subject of 'Twinks'. All shortlisted applicants will then be required to read their essay in person before the judges, wearing short shorts and an oversized singlet so that they may receive further marks for public speaking and athleticism
Yes, of course I'm joking. But (seriously) has anyone on the rightwing blogs been 'brave' enough to state the obvious* (GABA can't be trusted with schoolboys because ...y'know...) or are they happy speaking in code?
*obvious, as in from their Christian/'family values' POV.