Is this dodgy?

If it’s claimed an official edict or document says a certain thing, you’d expect that one which currently applies to be quoted.

The advertisement below surprised me because it makes much of the property’s rates valuation, but references one that doesn’t yet apply.   

Sure, the value quoted was assessed in September last year, but we all know those are largely overvalued given the current market.  However, there are two relevant rate valuations and the one furthest from the asking price is being used as a selling point without qualification.

Is this a fair trading issue?

 

icount: a Web 2.0 take on politics

Rather than putting forward policies and candidates the icount party offers remote control of its MPs via party members voting on electronic polls.  This model seems driven by some rather ‘talkback’ views on the parliamentary process.

On a practical level the concept is horribly flawed.  Law making isn’t a yes or no process – how would icount cope with a 400 clause piece of legislation?

Then the voting membership would certainly become dominated by interest groups. If the issue’s smacking, Family First will pile in.  Immigration – xenophobes.  GE – hippies.  Superannuation – oldies.

But generally it’d just do what’s popular. Hardly inspiring leadership.

 

Family Party conference ignored

The Family Party have been churning out the press releases both prior and following their inaugural party conference.  Unfortunately for them no one’s been listening.  They generated only a single media spot, on Radio NZ (audio - 3:35m).  If they have visited nearly every house in Mangere twice then the lack of coverage may be a bit unfair, this is a serious campaign.  

Then again, no-one seems to think they have a chance.

While the speech by Ian Wishart might have been amusing for non-fundamentalists, there doesn’t appear to have been any surprises. Their truck has gang colours though.

Political blogs survey

Andrew Cushen (Ex-OUSA president?) is writing a thesis on political blogs for a MA in Political Studies at the University of Auckland.   As part of his research he’s conducting two surveys that can be found at the links below:

• New Zealand Political Bloggers,
• New Zealand Political Blog Readers.

Go on…they’re both a decent way to waste five minutes. 

 

Herald on Sunday advocates for war

The Herald’s editorial advocating sending a multinational military force into Myanmar to distribute aid is stunningly foolish. 

First, starting a war is not the way to relieve suffering in the Irrawaddy Delta.  Aid work would stop.  No military junta, unless militarily defeated, would accept an invading force.  Second, the claim that the “whole word” would support such an intervention is nonsense.  Few Asian or developing countries would support such an action.  China in particular would likely veto any measure should it go to the Security Council. The Herald grossly overestimates that world’s enthusiasm for another war.

 

In case you were wondering…

…Smurfs are dishwasher safe.

Real estate agent’s website oversells blame

As well as losing the Vietnam War the media are now responsible for the property slump.  Real estate agent-owned realestate.co.nz states, “the media impacts the state of the property market is in fact proven.”  The ‘evidence’ is that visits to real estate websites reduced immediately after the reporting of January’s sales figures. 

Aside from correlation not proving causation, and that the visits jumped back toward the historical norms quickly, there’s one major point realestate.co.nz ignores.  REINZ’s January figures showed the market had already slumped; the media didn’t cause that or high interest rates for that matter.

Shouldn’t front page news be news?

The SST’s front page story on a tax rebate can’t really be described as news.  The entire story is based on speculation of one individual.  While Mr Shewan is an expert on tax, he’s not particularly well placed to guess the Government’s Budget tactics in an election year.  If he has any special insights into the Beehive they’re not apparent.

The story doesn’t seek comment from anyone but Shewan and doesn’t consider other options open to the Government to achieve the same aims.  That this superficial filler passes for front page news says much about the SST itself.   

The next fascist failure

Fascism in New Zealand has been a litany of failure and inconsequential squabbles.   The most recent failure was the Kyle Chapman’s National Democrats Party giving up on the coming election.   The once high profile National Front now only manages a couple of punters outside the Chinese Embassy every now and then.

Unfortunately a history of constant failure and general incompetence isn’t enough for some to give up entirely.  The National Democrats are now joining the Nationalist Alliance, which also includes the National Front and the New Right. There’s no reason why this venture will be more successful than the last.

 

Tame’s tempest

While Tame Iti may have had his bail conditions relaxed so he may travel to Europe to star in a play, what sort of welcome will he receive from European Immigration? 

Not having been convicted (yet?) of anything doesn’t guarantee entry to other countries.  His high, and international, profile over the “terror raids” may have put him on some country’s watch-lists.  If he was deported from Fiji recently, he’ll definitely be unwelcome in some places.

A cynic might say that being refused entry to Europe might be helpful publicity for the production.