Farmer and weird associates to protest decade-old land dispute

3 News ran a rather analysis free report on Northland land dispute.  While stating that the Crown Law Office is investigating farmer Allan Titford’s claims around problems with the sale of his land, the nature of these problems wasn’t clear.  

The story’s bizarre twist is that the farmer and his spokesman, Ross Baker, are members of the One New Zealand Foundation, which believes in pre-Maori Celtic occupation of New Zealand and the validity of the Littlewood version of the Treaty of Waitangi.  Their website also links to articles from former National Front leader, and alleged occultist, Kerry Bolton. 

Journos can’t cross the road

Today’s DominionPost trotted out the old anti-inner city bypass line that communities have been divided.

Is there really anyone who’s found themselves cut off from another part of town by the bypass?  Can people really be that bad at crossing the road?  I’ve found Cuba St, in particular, more pedestrian friendly since the bypass opened.

Indeed, does the Dom have any basis for the claim that there have been any communities divided by the bypass or was this a journalist just too lazy to do more than regurgitate a slogan?

Neo-fascists on TV3

Tomorrow night’s Campbell live will feature neo-fascists at play.  The survivalist club of former National Front members leader Kyle Chapman and Anton Foljambe will be showing us all how they are preparing for the apocalypse.   The trailer for tomorrow’s show didn’t show Kyle those two but did include his their chum Jason Orme (Rangiora’s least desirable Mayoral candidate)

It’ll be interesting to see if Campbell Live quizzes them on their politics, given they’ve started a new political party, and why they’re so convinced that the end is nigh.

Edits as per comments.

Mother’s investment choice crushes a sick boy’s dream

The trouble with Hanover Finance has set off another round of investor sob stories.   While Hanover’s advertising claims of their ability to “weather any conditions” will make an interesting fair trading case, the Dominion Post has again glossed over one of the greatest contributors to the current finance companies’ meltdown – stupid decisions by investors.  

Nowhere in this article is the foolish decision to put money that could not afford to be lost into junk bonds questioned or even noted.  Surely this isn’t an irrelevant point?

100 Word Blog threatened with defamation and defamed

Unfortunately my post on the Psychwatch site has descended into legal threats. 

While my attendant bush lawyers have only been amused by the entire episode, it has got me wondering about whole blogging thing again.   I’ve never been terribly troubled by the blog-o-sewer issues that had Poneke bow out briefly, but my Psychwatch post does seem to have highlighted the issues of expressing opinions on the internet. 

While blogs offer information and comment on subjects that might not otherwise be published, there is a cost to the bloggers.

Then again, that’s why I’m staying anonymous.

Supporting truckers, killers and stupidity in general

Why does the media give Garth McVicar the time of day?  Surely they can’t be that desperate for rent-a-quotes. 

While he certainly reached a moral rock bottom when suggesting frustration was an excuse for killing people, yesterday’s trivialising of his own cause is plain stupidity.   Are you showing respect for your own constituency by saying, “Wouldn’t it be great if all victims of crime were prepared to show a little of the passion these truck drivers intend showing tomorrow.”

There must be someone sensible amongst the hang ‘em higher brigade the media can run to for a quote.

Tens of thousands unemployed – meh

I’ve been a bit surprised at the lack of fuss over the Reserve Bank’s forecast of 6% unemployment in 2011 in the June Monetary Policy Statement. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Given how a couple of hundred lay-offs usually makes the news, I’d have thought the possiblity tens of thousands out of work might have caused a stir.

I guess there are two possiblities it hasn’t been news.  Perhaps 6% unemployment is seen as a particularly surprising outcome, the current rate is historically low.  Alternatively  there are few people taking the RBNZ seriously.  The Treasury seem to think the RBNZ’s going to be proven wrong.

 

 

Checking experts, spotting nonsense.

One thing I love about the internet is how you can instantly background or fact check things.   You don’t have to rely on other people’s choices of experts; you can check someone’s credibility yourself.  

I stumbled across a great example this week.  Real estate commentator Kieran Trass is one of the first people the Herald runs to for a quote.  While looking for a bit more on Mr Trass, I found a few of his comments on a property forum.  Turns out he talks total nonsense at times and has business associations with some suspect types.  Some expert.  

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.