tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61818622012-01-21T18:06:19.207+13:00Where it might go, or where it might not. It is whether it interests me that counts. If it doesn't interest you then come back again because I never know what the next post will hold... Comments if you want to; the_probligo (where he lives) @yahoo.com.au <br> <br><br> 别丢华人的脸，检点一点。 请别在读不懂华语的老外的部落格上留言和留龌龊网页的网址。The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.comBlogger8151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-56128310014837118082012-01-19T14:22:00.004+13:002012-01-19T15:41:46.831+13:00

From Sydney Morning Herald -Mitt Romney, one of the richest men to run for president, says he "probably" pays an effective federal income tax rate of about 15 per cent - little more than most American workers struggling to make ends meet in the toughest economic conditions for 70 years....Capital gains in the US are taxed generally at 15 per cent; likewise earnings from investments, such as

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-51294933021283583422012-01-07T08:56:00.003+13:002012-01-07T09:05:58.879+13:00

... and his latest post featured pictures of his family Christmas. I promised him I would set up the probligo's moko's. So, in order of age -Alexia and Mikaela...Emily, Blake, and Hannah.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-12121984762291328582012-01-04T06:30:00.003+13:002012-01-04T06:41:31.322+13:00

Clive Matthews-Wilson (of dog and lemon guide fame) reckons that median barriers will save lives on our roads.Yes of course they will, idiot. Simply because there will be no opportunity for overtaking, for travelling any faster than the slowest vehicle ahead...His comment about children in 100 years not believing the present opposing traffic conditions on our roads? Those children will

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-60601850371247147082011-12-18T12:09:00.003+13:002011-12-18T14:39:10.594+13:00

There was a time, within my lifetime, that "occupied" had meanings ranging from "being used" as in a house or toilet, to "doing something" deriving from the idea of "occupation". The active meaning of the latter has now transmogrified to include the first, so that the idea of "occupation Wall St" and its international derivatives has made a profession of inhabiting a space to prevent its use

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-58094183256330537332011-12-13T20:25:00.003+13:002011-12-13T20:30:07.502+13:00

...an idle moment at the office desk found this interesting juxtaposition.Chance? Or intended?

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-2747288923169097112011-12-12T20:12:00.001+13:002011-12-12T20:16:25.492+13:00

Now here’s a thing. This article humped into the ol’ probligo’s scanners a short while back, a propos of nothing very much at all. I think it was from following sub-links. Anyhoos, I picked up the address and saved as it is an interesting topic and has some useful potential. I dropped off the net and then tried to find it again a short while later. Nothing! Search Granny Herald with their

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-56734413432341826832011-11-27T16:57:00.007+13:002011-11-29T18:43:04.851+13:00

From Spiegel, by way of ALDaily comes thoughts on the state of politics and, directly from that, of democracy as a political form.Habermas is an 82 y-o "philosopher" who has some considerable standing in Europe in particular and his name has passed my way on occasion in the past as well.Jürgen Habermas, 82, wants to get the word out. He's sitting on stage at the Goethe Institute in Paris. Next

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-51416849857050382152011-11-25T13:32:00.003+13:002011-11-26T08:37:27.299+13:00

I quite enjoy reading Deborah Hill Cone in the busyness section of Granny Herald. Not because I necessarily agree with her POV, but simply because it is often one of the better writes in the paper.And so it is this morning with her take on elections and electorates. In fact I think that I can sympathise with her personal agony of being an Epsom Saltie.What caught my eye was her wave in the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-20809161574174396112011-11-23T13:05:00.004+13:002011-11-23T18:45:55.875+13:00

... in the future of democracy in this country MUST go read this!!!

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-81458794615490888172011-11-18T18:29:00.001+13:002011-11-18T18:31:32.122+13:00

It begins with all of the anticipation - …will he won’t he will he join the dance… - but not a sign of a lobster at all. For two weeks the media waited agasp for their invitation to the event of all electoral events; the expected invitation for Banksie to share a pot of tea with none other than the PM and the acknowledgement that Banksie was in fact a Nat in all but name for electoral purposes.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-27010446090674141082011-11-02T20:14:00.003+13:002011-11-03T17:57:48.937+13:00

Wednesday -RNZ on Morning Report as I was avoiding the rush traffic between here and there included a “debate” between the leaders of the “minor parties”. Quote of the 20minute duration; Dunny himself with “Tureia is right up to the point where ideology steps in.”.Thursday -SMH this morning is trumpeting the fact that the UN has rated Australia only 0.1 points (on a 0 – 1 scale) behind

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-68034105528939501942011-11-01T12:15:00.002+13:002011-11-01T19:11:57.409+13:00

No, I did not watch the “Leadership Debate” on the tv last night. I had a few better things to do. No, I am not sorry. (That is the same kind of answer as “I am not going to raise GST”.)From the reports, seen and read, I have the impression that it was pretty much as scripted. The Jonkey was not surprised by anything that the Gofer raised, though there is a suspicion that he was

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-22864309376332362692011-10-30T19:39:00.003+13:002011-10-30T20:05:28.471+13:00

I have a real problem at the moment.Do I vote for the Jonkey, the Nats?Or do I vote for the Gofer, the Labourlites?Of the minor parties; ACT has self-obessessd on the occupiers; Winnie the Pooh has ressurrected for the third time; the Greens have taken a jump to the left; Maori will lose their Mana with the departure of Pita and Tariana; Tamahere is making a joke of the idea of mana; the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-35529065434096576712011-10-19T08:13:00.002+13:002011-10-19T08:25:54.492+13:00

...probably not intended for a moment, but I get a strong sense of appropriate justice from the exchange of 1 Israeli held by the Palestinians for the return of roughly 1000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.It is not just a passing, fleeting idea. It grows with thought and further threads attach.Consider, and this is where I started, that the ratio is very roughly reflective of the number

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-45380696448209799112011-10-06T10:47:00.006+13:002011-10-07T06:32:14.120+13:00

At the age of 64 I am beginning to learn how to recognise those who are true politicians, and that vast majority who have not grown out of their kindergarten sandpits. Associated with those latter are the political groupies.Let me illustrate.Cactus Kate’s most recent item sings the praises of Tau Henare who in the past few days gave “…an hilarious speech in the general debate where after giving

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-31225454928318535452011-09-26T06:15:00.003+13:002011-09-26T06:48:20.424+13:00

First the legalisation of marihuana...That has resulted in Cactus Kate thrashing in the undergrowth for something good to say about anything.Followed by Boscowen fleeing the party...Implosion time. Will anyone really notice?Oh, and the teaser on the Herald this morning -"Vote BrashGet hash"CLASSIC!!!

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-76490590077521029922011-09-25T10:25:00.002+13:002011-09-25T10:48:31.913+13:00

One of the most recent links offered by ALD is to the New Humanist, a correspondant by the name of Johnathon Re'e (there is supposed to be an accent on the first e). He is offering yet another repatitive and boring rationalisation on the relationship between atheists, atheism, and the Christian religion.Why is it that 99% of the modern atheists (I can not in truth say 100%) follow the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-83899792501909423352011-09-20T21:05:00.004+12:002011-09-20T21:14:35.329+12:00

It is around about now that the truth of what was behind the cancellation of charges against the Urewera 17 is coming to light.That truth lies in a piece of legislation currently before the House, and being pushed through under urgency.The legislation has the effect of allowing Police powers they as the law had interpreted them prior to a couple weeks ago; the date of the Supreme Court’s decision

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-54659470136051121782011-09-18T14:22:00.005+12:002011-09-18T14:48:06.572+12:00

I picked this one up through the new old mates who are running ALD these days.The experiment helped to change John-Dylan Haynes's outlook on life. In 2007, Haynes, a neuroscientist at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience in Berlin, put people into a brain scanner in which a display screen flashed a succession of random letters1. He told them to press a button with either their

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-774297899030313272011-09-09T08:43:00.004+12:002011-09-12T06:37:06.224+12:00

This comes after dropping in at TF's place and leaving a couple of pertinent (if unwanted) comments.The post relates to the inability of red-light cameras to give evidence in Court.I can not help but wonder how that reconciles with him happily marching into a booth in November next year and happily pulling his vote for the Tea Party on a machine.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-72575044024303094222011-09-06T15:07:00.004+12:002011-09-06T18:36:45.801+12:00

... one of the most shameful episodes in NZ criminal justice is quietly coming to an end.I have no connection with those charged, other than the fact that for two years I lived in a similar community where my father was headmaster at the local school. I was 8 at the time.That it has taken so long for the Justice system to pull its thumb from its collective arsehole is beyond belief. That it

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-23401742484567126202011-07-24T10:11:00.003+12:002011-07-24T10:18:02.678+12:00

My previous post (June 18) has been echoed several times since, not by (known) reference by other commenters but by actual events. Readers might like to return and refresh their memories, but essentially I spoke of three factors –. The US approach to “Free Trade” agreements;. The role of Minister Tim Groser;. The desire of US negotiators to make NZ’s

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-61569689519152864162011-06-18T10:21:00.002+12:002011-06-18T10:28:48.059+12:00

There is a strange flavour to NZ politics, and it is one which could cause considerable confusion to those from outside looking in and it certainly makes (in the ol probligo’s case at the very least) looking outward over the border difficult as well.Using the American categorisation as a guide, one would get the impression that the right wing – the far right of the Republicans as example –

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-40040865667790799202011-06-09T09:24:00.001+12:002011-06-09T18:30:44.765+12:00

The last post was when? April?Actually, it is bad because we do have the parliamentary general election coming up; there has just been (well, a couple months back) a by-election resulting from the departure of Pansy Wong; there has been the reasons for her “retirement” as the local MP; there has been the consequential vacancy and by-election for the Council; and there has been a total

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-43723406680219604292011-04-17T17:29:00.004+12:002011-04-17T17:34:04.689+12:00

The SST today has its front page taken (almost entirely) with the following story...Grieving parents who lost children to repeat offenders are being stonewalled by "heartless" government departments they won the right to sue. Lawyers, taking on Police and Corrections, say the families they represent believe they are being bullied in a "David versus Goliath" battle. The parents of Debbie Ashton

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-34943368139187693192011-03-18T11:22:00.003+13:002011-03-18T11:24:34.070+13:00

Thanks Wiley...

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-57982652749992833782011-03-17T14:51:00.003+13:002011-03-17T15:04:05.300+13:00

Investors are being warned of a fresh round of "shocker" low-ball share offers from companies linked to trader Bernard Whimp.TrustPower and DNZ Property Fund are warning shareholders off yesterday's unsolicited offers, which are being investigated by the Securities Commission.In two-page letters, TrustPower and DNZ shareholders are being offered above-market prices for their shares but in the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-79439655068570853462011-03-07T12:41:00.004+13:002011-03-07T13:02:19.061+13:00

One of the "lighter" (the pune will become clear...) moments in the days following the Christchurch earthquake involved TV3 and John Campbell's "news and views" programe.He had invited Ken Ring along to talk about the predicition of the Christchurch earthquake. (I hope that picks up the cache copy :) ) I openly confess that I missed the interview but did see Campbell's apology the following

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-4320265815511989452011-03-07T10:04:00.004+13:002011-03-07T10:08:47.384+13:00

I referred in the recent past to Tracey Barnett's column on Kiwis and their attitude to the Christchurch earthquake.Here it is.That makes me feel quite humble.Really.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-87820079488372598362011-03-06T13:54:00.003+13:002011-03-06T14:12:50.561+13:00

I had an interesting, if brief, debate with a mildly right-whinged character signing himself "PhilBest" in the course of which he opined that -I strongly object to the stereotyping of white NZ-ers, as Habersham also helpfully pointed out. "We" are not "racists". "We" did NOT "defraud" Maori (except in minor cases provable in court). "We" abolished slavery before anyone else. White Europeans

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-29546911344076821612011-03-02T13:10:00.002+13:002011-03-02T13:25:17.504+13:00

As I was driving in to work (through the sewer) this morning just before the 0800 Morning Report news, Kim Hill (temporarily running the studio end until the Christchurch earthquake is passed by some greater event) was doing the “next hour” promos. These included an interview with a gent who puts the cause of the earthquake down to “rogue seismic waves” apparently. There is another very learned

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-76353520383726817922011-02-25T09:56:00.004+13:002011-02-25T10:08:17.901+13:00

Get the title of "The Student Army" in your ears and what does it conjure? In my mind flickers of Tim Shadbolt, Helen Clark, the many many others at Auckland U in the early 1970's demonstarting (usually at the drop of a hat), drinking to excess (well, nothing has changed there), capping parades...Here is a totally different picture for you...From Grany Herald -First, the power of nature.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-29872544377980178322011-02-22T16:24:00.002+13:002011-02-22T16:28:13.360+13:00

Pick any of the major news outlets - TVNZ, TV3, nzherald, even yahoo.com.au or just google "christchurch"I have tears in my eyes, an ache in my heart.Canterbury, what can we do?

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-63302102535169421422011-02-22T09:11:00.004+13:002011-02-22T09:25:26.066+13:00

This is THE best article I have seen on the people behind the popular uprising that led to Mubarack resigning.Early in 2008, workers at a government-owned textile factory in the Egyptian mill town of El-Mahalla el-Kubra announced that they were going on strike on the first Sunday in April to protest high food prices and low wages. They caught the attention of a group of tech-savvy young people an

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-18755868226275987872011-02-18T10:17:00.004+13:002011-02-22T09:24:48.826+13:00

Isn't it curious to revisit blog posts like this one, five years after the event?The news this week - best summary I have found comes from the Guardian...The defector who convinced the White House that Iraq had a secret biological weapons programme has admitted for the first time that he lied about his story, then watched in shock as it was used to justify the war.Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi,

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-62750002924508380412011-02-18T09:38:00.003+13:002011-02-18T09:42:13.745+13:00

There have been a few strange stats coming through in the past year or so. I have just found out why!I don't know if this is a case of sincere flattery or not, but there y'go! There are now two probligos.I hope that he/she is not expecting to feed traffic off of the probligo name. 'Twill be very sadly disappointed if he/she is...

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-84376969461537267552011-02-17T15:23:00.003+13:002011-02-17T15:28:16.861+13:00

In the header to an online Herald article (link in title) is this photo -Intentional?LOL!!

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-66528881580418023232011-02-05T18:30:00.008+13:002011-02-06T09:21:02.897+13:00

Today's Herald caught my eye with an article about an Inuit woman - Tagaq - who is appearing at the WOMAD in New Plymouth this year. Because the article described her singing style as "deep throat" as well as "throat singing" it grabbed my interest so the old dial-up was despatched to pull in a track of her music.It transpired - some 45 minutes later - that what Tagaq does is not throat singing

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-45396021349130490052011-01-21T13:07:00.001+13:002011-01-21T13:10:05.940+13:00

This piece of news is the biggest and best hoot to have come out of the good ol’ USofA in a very long time!Last year, Jeffrey R. Immelt of G.E. complained to a meeting of business leaders in Rome that it was getting harder for foreign companies to do business in China, and he expressed a growing irritation that China was protecting its own national companies at the detriment of American companies

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-39569386997765043792011-01-15T15:41:00.004+13:002011-01-15T15:49:33.149+13:00

In view of my opines regarding "minimalist photography" I should perhaps follow up on that with an example of my own.I grabbed this when I was leaving the Manukau Photographic Soc meeting, after I had made up my mind that it was not really what I was looking for. I went to the car for the camera (the Lumix) and was returning to get the image set up when one of the members walked past and asked

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-60068161060237791092011-01-04T19:55:00.003+13:002011-01-04T20:02:13.386+13:00

Dutton was best known to me through the 'Net. It was he who started Arts and Letters Daily, and while he may have "disposed" of the page some years back his format, and I think influence on the content, has remained. It is a page which holds new challenges every day. I only wish that I had the time to check out all of the links.But this is only one small facet of the man.His obit from the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-88154124421267203482010-12-25T06:25:00.004+13:002010-12-25T06:37:01.527+13:00

I am going to close this year with a straight and total c&p from Granny Herald. It is the op-ed from yesterday's paper and it says much that I have been striving to get others to realise over the past five years the probligo has infested the blogiverse.Tracey Barnett has excelled herself -Sometimes it can be difficult to find coverage of the really important stories. Nobody likes getting played.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-86795154484439747112010-12-19T11:47:00.004+13:002010-12-19T11:52:41.431+13:00

My thanks to Metservice for the map. It is theirs and I have knicked it. Just this once.For those who know weather maps this should need no explanation. The high off to the east there graced our shores for about two weeks. It goes nowhere fast.So there are no prizes for guessing the weather for this Christmas.One thing - it is NOT cold...

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-34788909656068433142010-12-18T12:44:00.006+13:002010-12-18T14:44:57.997+13:00

This past week saw the release of the government's Budget Policy Statement; this is the first step toward the Budget for 2011 and sets out "where we are at present" and "things the government wants to do". That the statement carried "bad news" is not an understatement. A deficit was forecast for the current year. The bad news is that it is in fact considerably more then forecast, and greatly

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-28787457547317004272010-12-15T13:06:00.004+13:002010-12-15T14:56:04.248+13:00

I had an email from a very good friend concerning my passing comments back here on minimalist photography. He was kind enough to include a photograph of his own that I would count as being a worthy example.His communication had the effect of twisting the probligo's tail just a bit. Out of that I have taken yet another run around the traps of the various webpages that google throws up. The

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-38762660525575227192010-12-13T08:27:00.003+13:002010-12-13T16:21:07.399+13:00

The blubberman has an on-going lovehate relationship with Auckland's Mayor Len Brown.His latest series of expostulations centres on "dishonesty" surrounding the use of a trust to keep the identity of donors to Browns "war-chest" secret. It is a technique used by virtually every prospective politician in this country.So to illustrate we have the Blubberman quoting at length from the Dom Post and

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-57692454975900537982010-12-12T15:17:00.005+13:002010-12-13T08:45:56.367+13:00

The blubberman (well, he calls himself "Whaleoil" so...), and a great range of other right whingers (by my count the first 60 at least of the sites picked up by Google on the topic if you put 'NASA Bounoua "Forrest Hill"' as the search) have picked up on a recent paper from NASA. You can find the NASA summary of the article here.In the Blubberman's case, he has lighted his confirmation bias

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-21712828461643133342010-12-08T12:53:00.002+13:002010-12-08T12:58:17.239+13:00

Karl du Fresne writes about “A ruinous and oppressive ideology” to which I have commented that what he is really speaking of is the appellation and interpretation of labels.If he is going to get too righteous about that comment, there is another – totally independent but equally contentious in its own community – example that I have come across in recent times; though the debate has been going

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-67651634816964957602010-12-06T06:16:00.002+13:002010-12-06T06:31:58.352+13:00

This week's Listener has a really good wash-up of the mine disaster. OK, so that is my confirmation bias talking I will admit. It comprises a sseries of articles including -Bill Munden, ex Strongman miner and one of the first down after that explosion. He describes conditions which pretty much support my thoughts.David Faikert, "mine safety expert", who supports my contention that any

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-24877250286779343182010-11-24T09:44:00.002+13:002010-11-24T09:50:09.705+13:00

Ok, it is time to stop pissing in other peoples’ pockets and make my position very clear on the Pikes River Mine disaster.No, I am not going to pull my punches. It is, and has been from day one, a disaster. It is NOT a disaster because of anyone’s incompetence, however much other people might like to make it so. There are aspects of the handling by police, mine company, et al that I

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-67759438397118332842010-11-12T08:22:00.004+13:002010-11-12T09:13:45.984+13:00

I wrote on the Search and Surveillance Bill just on a week ago.Quite gratifying to read the Editorial in this morning's NZHerald -New Zealanders stand to lose some hard-won freedoms under a bill moving largely under the radar through Parliament. The Search and Surveillance Bill will remove an important civil liberty and expand state liberties for authorities ranging from the police to the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-78725746040633917102010-11-10T13:38:00.003+13:002010-11-10T13:44:52.307+13:00

I have to say that GWB’s acknowledgement of the distinct lack of WMD’s in Iraq has a sad feeling of ennui to it; a tired feeling of “better late than never” is completely overwhelmed by the fact that he truly believed the lie. I must add my personal acknowledgement that there is no joy – on my part at least – in knowing that along with a great many others I was right all along. The saddest

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-2484575825327671172010-11-05T14:58:00.004+13:002010-11-05T15:05:51.149+13:00

Something to remember when "negotiating" your next contract with a movie mogul...The value of your labour is set by the market. To find out what that might be worth, ask for the moon and see what you are actually offered. It is an approach which is commended to all those who wish to earn their living in the arts.If you, or any other budding actor, wants security there might be better ways of

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-7383120981543165692010-11-05T08:43:00.004+13:002010-11-05T09:05:01.612+13:00

... about over-regulation and over-legislation by the State, and the loss of freedoms. So here y'go to all those Brer Wabbits out there. Get stuck in to this piece of State sponsored removal of the individual's right to privacy and justice and I will walk every step with you.I never thought I would see the day that I was on the same side as the Greens. It shows the dangers of the word "never".The

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-15799893838141946692010-11-01T09:00:00.003+13:002010-11-01T09:05:03.354+13:00

Snipped from the heading of a google search...Oh, click on the image to get it to a reasonable size.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-29529586712029788622010-10-29T14:12:00.002+13:002010-10-29T14:15:48.943+13:00

Its funny (peculiar) sometimes how things pan out in life. The letter I sent to SST was published (with some fairly injudicious editing. At least I can thank my lucky stars that they published it without (as TFS is always complaining) leaving out all of the sense of it. They did remove the “potty jockey” crack I had at Michael Laws. All in all it was about a half of what I had originally

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-57031268113777498322010-10-20T13:41:00.003+13:002010-10-20T13:47:23.214+13:00

Another of those missives that the ol' probligo shoots off to get lost in the ether. This time to Sunday Star Times in response to idiot (without the savant) columnist and correspondents...Your correspondents John Foote and Peter Foreman as well as potty-jockey Laws are all quite correct. Paul Henry does have freedom of speech; as do they; and I hope so too do I.There is a point to which

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-87389008718223896512010-10-10T21:02:00.006+13:002010-10-10T21:45:26.095+13:00

"The modern world has removed all barriers to education; there are no longer the class and craft divisions; there is an almost infinite increase in the complexity and depth of the knowledge required to “survive”.The removal of those barriers has created challenges which are still not resolved; they are not unique to NZ; they are the foundation of this debate; they are the “who gets what, why, and

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-2791723597300666752010-10-08T12:11:00.004+13:002010-10-08T12:23:49.387+13:00

Karl Du Fresne raised the topic of “education vouchers” in the course of presenting his views on the current state of wage negotiations between teachers and the state. That started an interesting (for me at least) debate with another of his readers and it is in the spirit of that debate that I wish to present my thinking on these matters educational.The first point that I need to make is (and I

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-87306652741386383212010-10-05T10:49:00.005+13:002010-10-05T12:56:38.252+13:00

The following is the text of a letter I have sent to the Editor of old Granny Herald.No, I do not expect that it will be published.Sir,He has apologised? Any apology from that man has the dignity and worth of the seven year old who knows that in better times he would have been facing a goodly walloping from the old man, but that now he might get a couple of hours peace and quiet in his

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-77967654412668145932010-10-03T14:13:00.002+13:002010-10-03T14:26:10.209+13:00

Al the bourgeouis philistine had a couple of quite colourful Fall shots from round his place.About a couple months back yt had to act as chaffeur to SWMBO when she had a cataract op. Went for a walk around some of the local streets during the couple of hours she was in theatre and found a tree absolutely overflowing with silvereyes.I have no idea what the tree is; it is large, deciduous and

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-63716137609386883612010-09-29T12:51:00.004+13:002010-09-29T13:06:35.367+13:00

Just down the road from us, about 5 minutes by car or 25 minutes on foot, is a Presbyterian church.This one is notable for the fact that it originally resided some distance from its present location. I also consider it somewhat notable for its advertising. So it was two weeks ago when I drove past, in a somewhat foul humour and saw their latest offering. Regrettably, I missed getting a

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-4210269689114159112010-09-26T18:58:00.002+13:002010-09-26T19:03:06.671+13:00

... the (often difficult to understand and appreciate) Chinese commentors.They might be peddling unwanted wares. That was not difficult to detect. They might have been incomprehensible.The question is, WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?Is this a policy being imposed by Google, on their own behalf? Or at the persistent request of their clientele?Or is the result of their acquiescence to pressure from the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-16372372725311759242010-09-26T16:51:00.001+13:002010-09-26T16:51:00.474+13:00

When I first started sketching out this series of ideas back in June, I resolved that I would try very hard not to drag the US into the debate; at least not until toward the end. I am trying hard to maintain that resolution.O'Brien introduced me to the uncertainties of diplomacy and the risks involved with taking position between parties internationally.One of the very first instances he gave was

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-76037221871991098442010-09-26T10:49:00.005+13:002010-09-26T11:16:18.752+13:00

Be clear on one thing. I have even less time for Ahmedinejad than I had for GWShrub and his cohorts. With that perspective clear, I can continue.Ahmedinejad uses fora such as the UN General Assembly in exactly the same way as America's uber-right uses Fox and the internet. That gives rise to the first difficulty. He has to try and cram as much condensed invective and hatred into his annual 15

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-75409201084271485622010-09-24T14:36:00.003+12:002010-09-24T14:46:48.819+12:00

Mr du Fresne,As it is Friday, my copy of the Listener has been retrieved from its hiding place on top of the fridge giving me the opportunity to read your article.I am not going to disagree with you in any way. In fact I am somewhat disappointed that you left out what might be seen as possible solutions to the complaints of the neo-wowsers.We agree that the "booze problem" exists, driven as

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-17936676220256627502010-09-18T15:45:00.002+12:002010-09-18T16:34:04.602+12:00

No, the ol' probligo has not been breaking the law, getting on the wrong side of the law or anything else with the law.The police in these parts have been copping a fair bit of flak in recent times - like the past three or five years - for the number of road deaths "caused by police pursuit".In the most recent example - last night - the Herald at least has taken a slightly softer line but they

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-64885488553819922762010-09-16T13:43:00.005+12:002010-09-16T14:03:17.089+12:00

The most “right wing” of NZ’s right wing political parties is a small group represented in Parliament by 5 MPs. The party stems from what was originally called ”Association of Concerned Taxpayers”; now known just as ACT.The party was started by a group led by two of the more right wing movers out of David Lange’s Labour (left Wing) government by then Finance Minister Roger Douglas and Minister

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-81338678173170520052010-09-13T09:44:00.000+12:002010-09-13T09:45:32.194+12:00

For the past four weeks (nearly) we have had a houseguest. This would not normally be a problem given that the commitment to a houseguest, the hospitality, the inconvenience, the reduction in privacy is finite and (in the normal course of events) expressed in the invitation.It is in that last word that the problem begins – the present houseguest was uninvited, unbidden, very nearly unwanted

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-54232252279520591012010-09-12T11:54:00.002+12:002010-09-12T11:59:44.201+12:00

On my bedside table these past two weeks has been (courtesy of my local library) a slim volume of speeches given by Terence O'Brien in various fora in NZ between 2002 and 2009. (I recommend it to anyone interested in why things happen the way that they do - ISBN 978-0-908772-31-5)His name would mean little to most NZers let alone further afield, but he has been a man of some import in the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-16309976335818509132010-09-06T12:22:00.002+12:002010-09-06T12:26:29.185+12:00

Photo pageNo words can add to that...Thus far, it seems that the response (at all levels) has been prompt and appropriate.But we are so lucky. Christchurch is so lucky.Just imagine the scale, the catastrophic impact, had that earthquake struck just twelve short hours prior.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-83495487548265424862010-09-06T06:27:00.002+12:002010-09-06T09:39:31.474+12:00

Let me introduce the Duzgo...

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-1371211309711074522010-08-29T07:42:00.003+12:002010-08-29T07:58:02.574+12:00

It is amusing - in that disquietly unsettling way - to read the kind of invective the the "new uber right" of the US uses in its opposition to "new" government policies.There are few, a small number, expressing concern at the impact some of these changes are having, will have, on the US economy.The BIG number I want to draw attention to - I don't know the exact value - is the cost of keeping

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-89226299657781806282010-08-19T08:49:00.000+12:002010-08-19T08:50:31.524+12:00

A little bit of “news” for all of those who have difficulty connecting with the concept of “global warming”. I say “news” because it is not really news; it is one of those obvious things that people going about their everyday business have not noticed because it seems to have “always been so”.But that is really the point.First, this piece of “news” came to light through the farming community.

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-7027749483072777522010-08-15T15:56:00.003+12:002010-08-15T16:19:34.630+12:00

Thanks to my old mates at ALD this interesting little essay appeared in The Wilson Quarterly.Since Asimov wrote The Naked Sun, Americans have been engaged in wholesale flight from one another, decamping for suburbs and Sunbelt, splintering into ever smaller households, and conducting more and more of their relationships online, where avatars flourish. The churn rate of domestic relations is

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-26760210703710691362010-08-04T19:27:00.003+12:002010-08-04T19:43:32.223+12:00

Killed in action this day.He is the first NZ Serviceman killed in Afghanistan.*He was awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration for an action in Timor L'Este. The citation for the award reads -"Lieutenant O'Donnell, in the rank of Second Lieutenant, served as Platoon Commander in Timor Leste from November 2006 to May 2007, as part of the NZDF contribution to the Australian-led International

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-21924086689668121422010-08-03T14:40:00.001+12:002010-08-03T14:57:54.225+12:00

The uber-right have been blatting for a few days now about the actions of Rep Charles B Rangel. Just what they were on about was a mystery; there was certainly a large amount of heat, quite a bit of smoke, but little to be seen of the cause.Until now...So why are Representatives Charles B. Rangel, a New York Democrat, and Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, facing the rare spectacle of

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-46557165305869374442010-07-30T09:03:00.004+12:002010-07-30T09:44:04.839+12:00

The Pink Rabbit has some contact with Kiwiland, has some mates here, and I must confess trots a worthwhile line of debate on occasions; well as far as everyone agrees with him that is. One of the latest asks the question whether NZ has a "Journolist". For those who have not yet come across the term, it relates to journalists with whom the uber-right-whingers "have issues". It is just

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-34175386163324455052010-07-27T20:15:00.003+12:002010-07-28T06:30:35.179+12:00

..if it were not for people like these. I do not know what it is about human nature but there is obviously something in the human genome that gives rise to extremists; whether they be Muslim or Christian, be white or black, sane or not. I came across the Pink Rabbit — oh, sorry Crusader Rabbit by chance — following other people’s links is always such good fun. So too is the practice of trolling —

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-6795110345451197922010-07-26T09:57:00.001+12:002010-07-26T09:59:45.795+12:00

Me old mate Fraser Stern is trying so hard, especially now that he has his syndication writing established.This time around it is another of his formulaic pieces; take very small idea - generally from the alternative universe that Rush Limbaugh lives in, make a hash of it with another very small idea and then try to blame it all on Obama.This time around it is the word “apparatchik” he (or

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-55502574479401710472010-07-24T15:04:00.004+12:002010-07-24T16:12:22.618+12:00

Al the Old Whig's latest post is little more than a link to a rah-rahview of one of the lesser movies out of the '70's, a sci-fi non-epic "The Collossus" which I think fortunately I have never heard of before let alone bothered about. The review that Al has linked to follows the plot-line of an "artificial intelligence" threat of world domination by a computer or computer systems.There is a

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-6777812355973802782010-07-13T09:47:00.003+12:002010-07-13T09:55:31.275+12:00

Watched the Football World Cup in the comfort of a well heated lounge in New Plymouth Monday morning accompanied by wife, daughter, s-i-l, grandson, and a very large German Shepherd named Druss.Spain deserved to win; for two reasons.First they were the better team, primarily because their level of ball control both in the semi-final and final was superior to the opponents.Second, they were

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-29119511648747368992010-07-10T11:34:00.003+12:002010-07-10T11:49:42.735+12:00

Those who bother to read the comments on my posts will have seen my attempts at translating to and from Chinese, and Eugene's very helpful comments to that end.Today's news brings a charming little tale of the dangers of using another of Google's free facilities.The lesson - don't use Googles voice-generated subtitles unless you have an American accent. It is obvious from the Jonkey's experience

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-22871223108818299132010-07-04T11:44:00.005+12:002010-07-04T15:41:37.144+12:00

...just very briefly now that the World Cup is close to reaching its very expensive conclusion.First, New Zealand deserved to be there. Not because we drew 1-1 with Italy, or ended with three draws in the elimination series. NZ deserved to be there simply to show the true spirit of the game, and the dedication of (comparative) amateurism. Our top players earn less than 20% of most of the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-73641153422531527422010-06-28T06:21:00.002+12:002010-06-28T06:43:56.133+12:00

With the G20 or whatever the most recent international economic talk-fest is being called in Toronto this past few days - along with the obligatory silly-shirt day - thoughts are filtering through the ol probligo's neurones carrying tags like "growth", "recession" and the like.And I keep coming back to the same brick wall.How can there be continuing "economic growth"? What is the basis for the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-57620606480258292852010-06-25T06:14:00.003+12:002010-06-25T06:43:59.941+12:00

It is just amazing me how the truth of a matter can be rotated on an imaginary axis in order to “prove” (or support) a preconception that has nothing more than personal opinion in its foundation.Take the raruraru about Gen McChyrstal as an instance in point.As I have heard it, the facts are –1. Rolling Stone magazine approached DoD for permission to interview McChrystal. That permission

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-36898135592511629882010-06-23T16:07:00.002+12:002010-06-23T16:20:48.090+12:00

Financial Post have just released their 12th annual Rubber Duckie Awards and as usual there are the real good'uns amongst them. (Link in the header)I wonder, how many read of the saving of Afghanistan not by military action but through the discovery of a "trillion dollar mineral wealth". Certainly the likes of NZ Herald fell for it - their search engine links directly to this and I know it

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-6258426844793926452010-06-23T10:08:00.001+12:002010-06-23T10:10:19.300+12:00

News out last night that it is now possible to buy DVD copies of “Boy”, Taiko Waititi’s film that we enjoyed so much (see my earlier review).“Good ho!!” You might think.I don’t.These are pirated, cheap, stolen copies.They are being sold by cheap, thieving pirates.The copies are bought by cheap nobodies who have no morals and even less sense of property.It took less than 6 hours for the number of

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-92001600105187434822010-06-20T11:40:00.002+12:002010-06-20T12:07:42.472+12:00

... of a "good" political story.Me ol' mate TF Stern has taken to cross-posting his blog to a page called "The Moral Liberal". Comment there is "moderated", but to his credit TF has responded to rather than censored my latest contribution (below) to truth and honest presentation of fact.“This past week BP supposedly volunteered to fork over $20 Billion Dollars to the Obama Clean up the Gulf

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-84656930382305705522010-06-09T06:16:00.002+12:002010-06-09T06:43:59.163+12:00

I have every sympathy with those affected by the pollution caused by the sinking of the Horizon platform. However, it does come with a strong tinge of poetic justice.There is no question that this is an event without precedent, if you limit the measure to oil spills in the Americas.It is not without global precedent however. And it is from that the justice comes.The Russian experience in

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-83705051507872763872010-06-08T12:53:00.004+12:002010-06-08T15:03:25.335+12:00

One of the distinct drawbacks of a very wet weekend is that it allows far too much time for thinking. To be honest, this and another topic have been exercising the ol' probligo grey mush for the past few weeks, several different drafts have been written, considered and discarded in that time.The first in these topics is the vexed question of Israel.I am NOT going to debate it here, again, ad

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-25454353165527064452010-06-08T06:15:00.003+12:002010-06-08T06:48:18.909+12:00

Had a weekend up in Opo, where lack of 'net access - and lack of desire as well - prevented the recording of a number of events ranging from weather and the trivial to the more important.The weather was crap, the trivial was finding a very pissed cockroach on the dregs of a kahlua drink.The more important was the news that some petty little bureaucrat was criticising as "potentially illegal" the

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-73292540800034632482010-05-29T09:14:00.005+12:002010-05-30T09:28:15.449+12:00

Fat Freddy's Drop is a NZ band with its roots in South Pacific reggae which is evolving its style into its own jazz and techno. We had promised ourselves a night out if ever they had left the comforts of the Wellington hovels of Manners St and Cuba Street Mall.As soon as the ads appeared for a national tour we booked. Stalls only available on the 'net so we were more or less compulsorily

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-21353643897709491112010-05-29T09:03:00.003+12:002010-05-29T09:13:15.758+12:00

Al the Bourgeois Philistine has written a very good and most readable start to a "spiritual autobiography". That led me to thinking what the ol'probligo's version of the same journey might look like.I guess that the landscape has to begin with the family; my father of Anglican stock, my mother Methodist at best. Other than the usual family events was always "home work", chores and preparing

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-85704985861287469742010-05-26T06:22:00.002+12:002010-05-26T06:45:47.829+12:00

About a month ago, a tennis-friend of the Mrs probligo joined up with Facebook. There was no need for her to publicise this, nor did she do anything more than follow the process of form-filling to get her page set up.The first that we knew of it was an email - through Facebook - saying the the Mrs probligo should join up and become a "friend".That would also explain how Facebook got a hold of our

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-36793878041927464672010-05-23T11:47:00.004+12:002010-05-23T12:20:16.047+12:00

Eavesdropped over at TF's place.The glimmer of hope, that he might see through the falsehoods of the "Clinton has signed a treaty with the UN to stop arms sales in the US", has gone. He found "confirmation of the fact" in some obscure little on-line European rag. Der Spiegel it is not.Now the topic du jour is a speech by Mexican President Calderon to the US Senate. Apparently (I have not yet

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-77722895914396855642010-05-09T11:33:00.003+12:002010-05-09T11:54:42.468+12:00

How many times have these words of Adam Smith been quoted in support of the neo-capitilist ideals of disaffected Americans -"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love." Me old mates at ALD tagged a commentary at New Statesman that

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-54481951896721676942010-05-09T11:20:00.003+12:002010-05-09T12:12:32.363+12:00

... at the moment is "Affluenza" by one Oliver James.Having read the Prologue and Part One it seems to me that there is little point in reading much further. I do not suffer from Affluenza. It is not likely that I ever will - given that various members of the family have described my as "stingy" and "old" and "expletive" at different times. Therefore there seems no real future in reading how

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-44419108774767216662010-04-27T19:50:00.004+12:002010-04-27T20:11:47.073+12:00

... and add to the ol' probligo's worries as well. And, TF, you do not need to "read between the lines" with this story. The only thing puzzling me is how it has missed the right-whinge news feeds in the US. At least until now (19:50 27/4/10 NZST)that is and I have not yet been across to TF's place for a read.Today's Herald had this article reprinted from Telegraph UK -Iran and Venezuela

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181862.post-84166131027809441212010-04-25T08:31:00.003+12:002010-04-25T08:52:34.705+12:00

Today is ANZAC Day.It is the day that NZ and Australia join in remembrance of those who gave their lives in war.It is not a celebration of victory.It is not a commemoration of any particular military action or battle.It is significant (at the very least to me) because it is for the memory of those many who gave their lives on the cliffs and beaches of Gallipoli. That action was conceived by men

The probligohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com0