Archive for November, 2008

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  NZ red-faced over climate change

  
  
  
  Why would someone who believes climate change is a hoax and human activity is not contributing to climate change, want a carbon tax? Why would you tax fossil fuels if you don’t believe they are doing any harm? Why would a party that has campaigned on a carbon tax since 1993 and accepted [...] read more
  November 30, 2008 4:31 pm - 89 Comments
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  Focus on Pharmac

  
  
  
  Rarely are so few asked to do so much with so little for the benefit of so many, who are ungrateful. That’s how I would describe Pharmac’s calling. Today’s Sunday Star Times spends an inordinate amount of column inches discussing the challenges Pharmac faces. Or does it? The unattributed comment piece on A11, “Pharmac’s $635 million [...] read more
  November 30, 2008 1:45 pm - 37 Comments
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  The Singularity

  
  
  
  I thought I would kick off the weekend with a topic that is sure to challenge the imagination and bring all sorts of ideas – good and crazy – out into the open. So just what is The Singularity? The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) describes it thus: The Singularity is the technological creation of smarter-than-human [...] read more
  November 29, 2008 4:58 pm - 10 Comments
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  National snatches electoral reform back from the people

  
  
  
  The Green Party initiative to have electoral reform reviewed and managed by a citizens’ jury has been scrapped by the National government today. While not surprising, it does mean that electoral reform falls back into the hands of the politicians – putting the wolves back in charge of the hen house. The press release came [...] read more
  November 28, 2008 4:18 pm - 90 Comments
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  Imminent extinction for august snail

  
  
  
  The Department of Conservation says that the powelliphanta augustus snails are not faring so well in their new homes. Up to 40% mortality is evident in the new populations established just within the last 2 years.Over 6000 snails have been gathered up and thrown in DOC fridges for the crime of daring to live on [...] read more
  November 28, 2008 3:39 pm - 13 Comments
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  David Tennant uses pianist’s skull in Hamlet

  
  
  
  A lovely story from the Telegraph to lighten your Friday: When André Tchaíkowsky died of cancer in 1982 aged 46 he donated his body for medical science. But he added the proviso that his skull “shall be offered by the institution receiving my body to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in theatrical performance.” Since then it has [...] read more
  November 28, 2008 2:41 pm - 7 Comments
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  Another week, another GE approval

  
  
  
  There it was again this week, nestled into a little side bar on A3 of the Dom Post. “GE onion field test” Once again, while most of the media is busy watching the new masters of the Executive Wing, ERMA is quietly saying ‘yes’ to a GE future for New Zealand. It can only end in [...] read more
  November 28, 2008 2:26 pm - 23 Comments
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  Dr Indecision

  
  
  
  I am utterly dismayed after reading a quote from Dr Wayne Mapp in today’s Dom Post, with regards to the NZ response to Japanese whaling: I’m not really sure what we will be doing. It doesn’t get any more wishy washy than that from a Defence Minister. Not that I blame Mapp for the sentiment. A decade [...] read more
  November 27, 2008 12:27 pm - 46 Comments
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  Help the Hurunui

  
  
  
  The Royal Forest & Bird Society is calling out for submissions in support of a Water Conservation Order: The NZ Recreational Canoeing Association and Fish and Game have jointly applied to the Ministry for the Environment for a Water Conservation Order on the Upper Hurunui River to protect the river and keep it in its [...] read more
  November 27, 2008 10:06 am - 2 Comments
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  White Ribbon windup

  
  
  
  Another day, another coloured ribbon. Yesterday, many kiwis spent the day adorned with a white ribbon to show that they don’t condone violence against women. Raising awareness is a key objective of such days and I was disappointed that I did not see any particularly overt press on the subject. For me, the most salient information [...] read more
  November 26, 2008 12:08 pm - 65 Comments