Maybe they should get off their arses and do something about the Radical clerics teaching in their mosques or maybe they should be much more vocal and public with their condemnation IS/ISIS/Islamic Terrorism.
Its easy to play the victim card, but not one wants to admit that while they sit idly by are complicit in raising the next generation of Terrorists
So I think that your comments are testament to the ignorance that Dame Susan comments on in that article. Maybe that's presumptuous of me. But I'm guessing you've had little to no interaction with the Muslim community nor have attended mosque? What qualification do you have to make generalisations about 89,000 people, apart from the Government saying they've got ~80 assorted persons on watchlists (albeit without stating whether that 80 are Muslims or not)?
In any case...
The vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims are not extremists and seem to be vocal in opposing that sort of behaviour (as referenced in the article). Your accusations that these people 'sit idly by' is germane to the sort of prejudice and vile actions that in my estimation push vulnerable people towards extremist views and actions. It's just like the New Brunswick housewife who advocates unethical treatment towards Muslim people. That same type of treatment is the genesis of the problem. Other than making statements which condemn extremism (which they have done) what is fairly expected of these people? Should I reasonably expect you to make statements condemning gamers who do bad stuff just because you share some common behaviour? And isn't part of the problem that their statements of condemnation don't get picked up on by the media because it's not conducive to selling papers or adspace? I'm not saying that papers actively choose not to publish these things, it's just that there's no particular demand to see that type of content.
Muslims who face discrimination spurred by the actions of extremists ARE victims. They're not 'playing the victim card'. That logic would be like saying I can treat you like shit on the basis that you bear some resemblance to other 'bad guys' and then accuse you of playing the victim card when you protest!
"For no reason suddenly you are told to 'Go home', 'you are horrible, you're a killer or a murderer or to get our of here' or to 'be careful because we are going to take care of you.'"
Well I certainly wouldn't advocate doubling the Defence Force budget at the expense of Unemployment support - given that the Defence Force seemingly is just a very expensive form of Unemployment relief!
Also you need to do your further reading bearing in mind that it's now 2014 - that document you linked is outdated. We've had significant welfare reform and population changes since then.
This provides some infographics without breaking down sections into too much detail. They key point i would make here is that the 4.5bn figure on p.5 is made up about 5 benefits - and the Unemployment benefit is the smallest of those.
'idiot' in the truest sense of the word - An Athenian too ignorant to contribute to or participate in public affairs (the opposite of the ideal Aristotelian citizen).
There's also the correlation between intelligence and voting, but let's park that can of worms.
I'm advocate voting because it's the simplest means of exercising political agency (and the impact is marginally greater when turnout is low - your lack of voting makes my vote stronger). Also Democracy goddamnit! Democracy and Capitalism. These two things are super important for prosperity. And the thing about capitalism is that needs good governance, sound enforcement of property rights and competition. Democracy is a great foil for market failure.
Systems are only as good as their inputs. Democracy needs public participation (voting and more). There is no viable alternative to democracy that I can see would provide the same level of prosperity in the long term.
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I would put forward that national psyche and allocation of natural resources has far more to do with the prosperity of a country than voter turn out.
These things are determined to some extent by voters.
Another question - Do any of you political peoples watch parliament TV?
Does it answer any questions or is it just a big room filled with big children trying to see who can say the best come back?
It's good for a giggle, and it can be quite enlightening insofar as you can see the faces MPs (under pressure or on attack). But it's really just the rubber-stamp to make law. Therefore, it's only really interesting when it manages to hold up laws that the Government wants to pass or when parliament passes laws that weren't on the Government's agenda.
You should familiarise yourself with our constitutional arrangements if you want to understand what's really going on. Scan over the Cabinet Manual and learn about the process of government. Process and timing determine the political agenda.
I might yet come back to pick apart some comments about both politics and political systems generally. That tl;dr of those comments probably amounts to: don't focus on the PM - there's a whole caucus behind him that shapes policy and; for God's sake, vote - you're a fucking idiot if you don't.
In the mean time however, I would just like to point out that 'dole bludgers' are typically conceived as being those on unemployment benefits (and sometimes the DPB).
In reality, the overwhelming majority of spending on social welfare goes to Superannuatants. Without picking through the Crown Accounts, I recall that Superannuation expenditure was approximately fourteen times that expended on the Unemployment benefit (although its probably worth noting that Accomodation Supplements may also be received by those on the unemployment benefit - and that expenditure is about 13% of that of Superannuation).
There's also about 640,000 people receiving Super versus 295,000 receiving some form of Unemployment or job-seeker benefit.
What's pertinent here is that we know the Government has repeatedly made comments that it was not willing, in spite of overwhelming evidence about the increasing strain on the Crown's finances, change Super eligibility. Currently, it's not means-tested and the age of eligibility is, arguably, becoming further and further out of touch with the new reality of working lives which can go far beyond 65 (with the assistance of better medical care). That policy position has rested on the tenuous argument that the Prime Minister made an electoral commitment to not raise the age of eligibility. Given that this same Prime Minister has proven himself willing to break similar promises in the name of fiscal responsibility (remember the promise of no increase to GST?), it seems a matter of politics alone that prevents us reducing the pressures of Super on the Crown Accounts (and by logic, our tax system).
Remember this is all occurring in the context of a seven-fold increase in public debt under this Government. Of course, that's not a comprehensive indicator of the quality of fiscal policy, but it's also something that we should bear in mind when we start crediting this government with being sound managers of the economy.
I bet more over-protective parents shop at the Warehouse than gamers. If this means more business for the Warehouse then the no r18 policy is a smart one to pursue that is rewarded by consumers in a market. I doubt they make much money from DVDs and games these days.
Marketing or Censorship - whichever the perspective, the net result is the same - a Company deciding to remove my ability to purchase an item that I am legally entitled to purchase, thereby artificially restricting my choice.
Which I think sucks the hairy fat cock
There is a fundamental difference in state censorship versus private censorship.
State censorship undermines freedom of expression and information: it is an active subversion the citizen's ability to do something.
Private censorship, in this particular instance, is passive. The Warehouse is not stopping you from purchasing an item you are 'legally entitled to purchase' in general terms.
The Warehouse, unlike the State, is actually unable to remove your ability to purchase R18 games or media because it operates in a competitive market. Part of the the market is incentivising the Warehouse to stop selling these games. Another part of the market is incentivising it's competitors to keep selling these games. You are more than able to take your money elsewhere. The Warehouse is not limiting your freedom at all. On the contrary, if you were to argue that the Warehouse should not be able to choose which products it does or does not sell, you would be limiting its freedom.
The issue worth pursuing is probably not to do with the Warehouse but more to do with the what is clearly a strongly-held view in some segment of the population that r18 content poses some danger to their concept of the moral society.
Quote from: Pyromanik
Also, for those confused... The thread says "don't bother shopping at", not "lets boycott". Subtle differences in the English language I know, but if you study hard you too could make it to this level of understanding.
I think the problem is that 'don't bother' infers that I would ever actually bother to shop at the Warehouse for these items. I'm confident that the overwhelming bulk of Warehouse sales are not comprised of, and thefore affected by this ban on, r18 items.
I bet more over-protective parents shop at the Warehouse than gamers. If this means more business for the Warehouse then the no r18 policy is a smart one to pursue that is rewarded by consumers in a market. I doubt they make much money from DVDs and games these days.
More importantly why don't you buy your TP from pak n save / new world / count down like normal people
I wasn't clear that I don't purchase my TP and laundry baskets there exclusively, it's just that that laundry baskets and toilet paper were two things I got the last time I went.
It was cheaper though (same brand as super market).
I bet more over-protective parents shop at the Warehouse than gamers. If this means more business for the Warehouse then the no r18 policy is a smart one to pursue that is rewarded by consumers in a market. I doubt they make much money from DVDs and games these days.
The last game I bought from the Warehouse was Half Life 2 in 2004. Why would this policy stop me buying from them again? I get my media online. I get my laundry baskets and toilet paper from the Warehouse - these are not R18 products.
Without wanting too sound harsh and without having been witness to the events:
I can't see how the fault could be anywhere other than with the following car. Even if the guy in front didn't indicate until after he started braking, the brake lights would make it clear he was slowing.
My understanding is that following distance is always meant to be sufficient that if the car in front has to stop suddenly (e.g. if a hazard unexpectedly occurs on the road) then the following car must be able to stop without making contact.
In any event, glad you're (reasonably) ok.
If this is your first offence, you may be eligible for diversion - although I am not sure if this applies in instances where other parties have been injured: this can usually be helped by being proactive in sorting out reparations for damages etc.
I purchase ~90% of my clothing and footwear from online shops like asos.com. It's much, much cheaper than shopping at home. Partly because of the GST (I have never been charged GST for an online order), but also because the cost-structures work out much better the the larger scale of online stores. The only things I purchase here in NZ are suits and business-wear because of sizing.
I also have purchased lots of camera gear, like light stands etc from eBay, simply because the availability isn't great here at home.
For electronics, mainly I purchase domestically because of warranty issues.
Yeah, but nah. The alps are quite far away; you'll only see them clearly from an elevated vantage point really or on the South-western edge of town (Hornby). The distance from chch to the alps is the same as the Viaduct to Wellsford.
Fuck all going along the coast because earthquake (unless you head Akaroa ways).
What do you mean? Nice architecture or nice view? Nice views are hard because there's only one hill in Christchurch - and it's all residential except maybe a BnB or two. Or maybe the George (for river view).
I suppose all the big hotels in the city will have nice views from the upper storeys.
Nicest architecture, probably the Heritage (smack bang in the Cathedral Square), across the road is the Novotel (just revamped). Close by the new Rydges on Latimer Square.
Looking to finally upgrade my camera body. Not interested in Full frame (too many crop lenses and too little $) nor looking at anything other than Canon (because lenses).
My rebel t3 has been a good little camera, but it's unusable above ISO400 and 2.9 FPS is a bit of a drag.
I have a budget of $1500-2000. The options I am considering are: - second hand 60D ~ $600 - 70D ~ $1200 - second hand 7D ~$750 - 7D MKII ?
I do a lot of street and landscape photography, so the 7D was a real contender - but the older sensor doesn't seem to be worth it given the lack of articulating screen of the 60 and 70d. And CF cards really seem a pain given I already have a collection of SD cards.Further, the 8FPs is much faster than the 70d's 7FPS. On the other hand the 7DMKII really seems to be specialised towards sports / wildlife photography and doesn't have wifi or touch screen [which seems quite stupid?].
I haven't done much video (given the 1100d only does 720p and no mic-in), but the articulating screens of the 60 and 70d really appeal. The 70d has twin-diode sensor which means continuous autofocus when in live view / video; that's a big appeal. The 20mp sensor and 19 x-type autofocus seems to be the deal.
The touch-screen, wifi and 7FPS is a knockout blow for the 60d I think (and worth the $600 premium although that's offset somewhat by also coming with a warranty).
So really the 70D is the best option I can see so far. The big question I'm trying to figure out is about timing. I can purchase the camera now (from a parallel importer for $1200) but the 7DMkII is due to drop mid-November. Do you guys think this will have any impact on (e.g. lower) the price of the 70D?
Is anyone suspicious of the fact early voting without approval was opened up this year - do you think JK knew that there was something coming out that could sway most nzers?
The administrative side of the elections is handled by the Electoral Commission. I e-mailed them to ask about changes to advance voting and they said these changes date back to decisions made in 2010.
