Bloggers, lift your game, not your hit rates

I used to read a lot of blogs. I don't read so many now. Some of the ones I used to read a lot have lost their mojo, others are way better than most of the top 20 of the Tumeke Rankings. I have adjusted my blogroll and, on the top of that blogroll have highlighted 10 good political blogs that I think are are worth reading. The list will change. Some are not on that list because they dont blog often enough. Many are not in the Tumeke top 10.

Here they are in alpha order:
david.farrar
frog.blog
kiwipolitico
liberation
lindsay.mitchell
no.minister.
no.right.turn
pundit
red.alert
tumeke!

SO, who do you think should be in that list that is not?

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SHOCK RESULT IN MEL JACKSON MEMORIAL RACE

Your eyes do not deceive you - that is Andrew Stroud on the grid on an F4 or "bucket" race bike, taking part in the inaugural Mel Jackson Memorial Bucket Extravaganza. Mel's not actually dead, merely resting, so some cunning individuals from the VMCC organised a tribute "race" and asked the Bucketeers to provide bikes. Despite pining for the fjords, Mel was entered along with some of New Zealand's top racers, including Hayden Fitzgerald, Glen Skachill, and of course the ever green Andrew Stroud.



And now a word or two from the VMCC Vice-President, Clive Banks, VMCC Secretary Andrew Presant, and Bucket Race Meeting Organiser Chris Cattermole.



Over to you chaps:



Clive:

"Some bright spark on the VMCC exec had decided that it would be a bit of a laugh to entertain the punters with an invitational bucket race as part of our farewell to Mel Jackson. Departing Club President and stalwart Clerk of Course for many years. Knowing of my pathological fear of buckets it made sense that I would be invited. Sadists the whole bloody lot of them.



Now, I've never ridden one of these things but am convinced that people make a fundamental error when they assume that they are safe because they are small and slow. Trudi (one of a growing number of female bucketeers) talked me out of my hiding place by offering me a ride on the mighty Rangi. The term life-changing doesn't really do the experience justice. I swear that the last time my perineum had such an expert workout was in Thailand. I can now honestly say that I have raced Andrew Stroud and come in a credible fifth."



Andrew:

"Dee (VMCC Vice President - Social and Clerk of the Course) decided we should give Mel Jackson a send off he won't forget. We arranged a few Bucket's from the Wellington Bucket Group (thanks to Nigel, Trudi, George, Chris, Andy, myself and Glen Skachill). How we kept it quiet from Mel I'll never know but we did. Lunch was called; then a call for a few riders... Andrew Stroud, Hayden Fitzgerald, Aria Lawrence, Glen Skachill, Mel Jackson... etc. We had a true 'bucket' entry from Steve Bagshaw of Moto Academy. Unfortunately he forgot to fill it.

Everyone enjoyed themselves - especially Mel who 'beat' Andrew Stroud to second place. I think the crowd enjoyed it too."



Chris:

"An email went out to us "bucketeers" asking if we would be so kind as to lend our buckets out for some top riders to have a go on at Manfield for Round 5. I heard Andrew Stroud would be one of the riders but never figured he’d end up on my bucket. After all, he’s an NZ Championship-winning racer who’s more used to a GSXR1000 (or even a Britten) than a 92kg 14hp bucket racer made from 24 different bikes.



How did he cope with the finicky handling or the method of starting it that can be tricky at times?

Plus the fact that it vibrates your hands to sleep when you’re pulling top revs all day.

Still, I guess the Britten issues were never solved in one day,…oh hang on, am I comparing my bucket to the Britten….???

I am honoured that Andrew Stroud rode my bucket racer to a third place at Manfield, even though I think Mel was supposed to come first."



Results:

1st Glen Skachill

2nd Mel Jackson

3rd Andrew Stroud



Photos used with the kind permission of Nigel Manning and Avalon Pictures.



More information on the Victoria Motorcycle club can be found here: Victoria Motorcycle Club

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Political blogging and the media

Early this morning over breakfast, political journalist Fran O’Sullivan addressed a decent size group of people on the topic of the Accidental Empire of Political Blogging.

The hosts were Rural Women NZ – although there were a good number of urban males present.

She was pretty critical of bloggers who blog anonymously – but did not extend this criticism to anonymous MSM editorial writers. She contrasted two left wing blogs, effectively claiming The Standard is left for dead by the authoritative Red Alert blog. Writers on the former blog do so anonymously, the writers of the latter do not. She seemed to think that those who do not blog under their own name cannot be as accountable. But anyone who wants to know who run most of the anonymous political blogs, such as No Right Turn and Roar Prawn, can find out who they are. Indeed, O'Sullivan herself appeared to know who many of them are. She also noted that some bloggers have lost their mojo, while most bloggers can "get away with more" as there is not the same requirement for balance, deadlines or fact checking as in the MSM.

I changed my blog recently and took out my name after getting stalked online after something I wrote.Yet as with the blogger at Ethical Martini,nearly everyone who lands here can quickly find out who I am – and I am certainly accountable for what I write. O’Sullivan even questioned whether a blogger would be sued. I know of only one political blogger who has been threatened with legal action – and if the blogger was with the media, the media outlet would defend any action, not the writer.

O’Sullivan was critical of some of the NZ on Air funded current events shows and questioned why bloggers couldn’t get some funding from a revamped organisation - NZ on Media - and also saw no reason why some bloggers could not get membership of the Press Gallery. After all, university newspapers can, and most of their writing is worse than many political blogs.

But, overall, the mainstream media see political blogs as positive.

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HARLEY ROLLS OUT NEW MODELS FOR 2010

Words & Pics: H-D
Bringing customised affordability to the New Zealand market

Harley-Davidson roars into 2010 with six new motorcycle models, one of the most expansive new-product introductions in the history of the Motor Company. Across four model platforms, Harley-Davidson achieves a fusion of tradition and technology in a motorcycle product line that offers more power, luxury, and style, and more value.

“This ambitious new-product roll-out is simply an expression of our enthusiasm for motorcycling,” said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson vice president of core customer marketing. “Like everyone, we are working and living in a challenging environment these days, but our passion for creating and riding great bikes is still at full throttle.”

Highlights of the 2010 Harley-Davidson line include:

• The most anticipated Sportster, the Iron 883, is finally hitting New Zealand shores. As the latest of the Harley-Davidson Dark Customs, the Iron 883 is stripped down and ripe for custom creativity. Soul mates of the Iron include the Nightster, Night Train, Cross Bones, Fat Bob, and Street Bob. Providing a pure riding experience that gives its owner a platform for personalisation, the Iron 883 is a ‘steel’ at NZ$12,750 RRP (NZ$13,250 ride away).

• The American motorcycle legend that is Harley-Davidson Sportster offers even greater value in 2010 with the XL883 Custom, XL1200 Custom, XL1200 Nightster, and XR1200 all under NZ$17,250 RRP (NZ$17,750 ride away).

• Based on a new chassis designed specifically for this three-wheel application, the Tri Glide offers the classic styling and popular touring features of the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide. The Tri Glide’s frame and associated chassis structure is engineered specifically to handle the loads generated by the steering forces and weight of a three-wheel vehicle. The Trike is priced NZ$49,750 RRP (NZ$50,500 ride away)

• With its blacked-out finish, refined styling, and sport-tuned suspension, the new XR1200X™ is the ultimate in racing-inspired elegance and performance. Priced at NZ$17,250 RRP (NZ$17,750 ride away) the XR1200X combines American racing heritage with European style.

• Dressed in satin chrome and denim black, the new Fat Boy Lo presents a darker and lower interpretation of the motorcycle that still defines the fat-custom segment. Delivering affordability, the Fat Boy Lo is priced from NZ$28,995 RRP (NZ$29,745 ride away).

• As the new king of the Harley-Davidson Touring line, the Electra Glide Ultra Limited delivers the performance upgrade of a Twin Cam 103 engine, unique paint scheme and colours, contrast chrome wheels and so many other standard features that the only decision required at the time of order is choosing the colour. The Electra Glide Ultra Limited is priced at NZ$37,750 RRP (NZ$38,500 ride away).

• The Wide Glide returns as an all-new Dyna model done in old-school chopper style, with black laced wheels, a chopped rear fender, black “wire” sissy bar, 2-1-2 Tommy Gun exhaust, and an optional flame paint scheme. Prices starting at NZ$27,250 RRP (NZ$28,000 ride away), the Wide Glide also offers great value.

• The new 2010 Street Glide gets even more hot-rod soul, with a larger front wheel, slimmed-down exhaust, and a new tail light assembly. Coming in at NZ$30,250 RRP (NZ$31,000 ride away), the Street Glide takes a classic Harley-Davidson Touring profile to a low, light and lean extreme.

For more info visit h-d.com

Check out Big Dave's Aus & NZ launch photo report here

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More irrelevant research from the Families Commission

Family First has alerted the media - unfortunately embargoed til Friday - about the latest research from the Families Commission. It has labelled a report on gay and lesbian parenting as unnecessary, advocacy research, a complete waste of taxpayer money, and reveals nothing new that isn't faced by other blended families.

They 're right on one thing. It is advocacy research. So who are the two researchers who compiled this report?

One lesbian researches queer theory from Canterbury University, the other has published many journal articles on challenging heteronormativity and is doing a thesis on experiences of lesbians and gay men who create family through assisted reproductive technologies - no doubt this tax-payer funded research has helped with her research towards her PhD, despite the Blues Skies Fund that funded the research noting that grants do "not fund degrees".

So this is not unbiased research - it is insider advocacy research, conducted by those who say they live lives "outside the norms of heterosexuality" [whats wrong with the word "lesbian"] with a pre-determined agenda - to normalise gay relationships and to advocate for a change in adoption laws, and laws surrounding how many parents can be on birth certificates. Nothing wrong with that, but some people would not be happy with their taxpayers dollars being spent on this.

I'm more concerned that they interviewed just 19 families. And of those interviewed, just three were gay men, one of whom was a multiparent with a lesbian couple in another family, although treated as one family for the purposes of the research.The other couple were not even actively parenting children. Obviously gay men who parent are not as worthy of being researched as are lesbian parents. Why? Perhaps if they had gay men researching this they may have struck a more gender-neutral balance.

The research was done via snowball sampling which, crudely put, is getting an interviewee to recommend their mates. Surely lesbian parents have gay male friends who parent?

And your taxpayer dollars paid for it. Thanks, Peter Dunne.

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Happy 21st, Shihad

Shihad turns 21 this year. They are the local group with the most appearances on the New Zealand singles charts. And they are still going strong, as I put my clock forward for the summer....

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ACT on Campus and democracy

It is no surprise that ACT on Campus supports voluntary membership of student unions. Even if 51% of students want compulsory membership, the group believe that a " fundamental human right" should not be taken away from the rest of students.

So, I expect a statement from ACT on Campus advising that the select committee listening to submissions on the VSM bill should take no notice of submissions that do not support voluntary student membership of unions - akin to the attitude of Rodney Hide with regards to the Maori seats in the Auckland supercity. Substantive democracy doesn't come into it for these people.

Democracy for ACT on Campus means people should be encouraged to have a say - provided that their views are ignored if they don't agree with ACT policy - with the majority of politicians voting accordingly.

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Sue’s legacy

Sue Bradford reminds me a little of Tim Barnett. Both politicians were very effective, listened to people, pissed off the Christian Right, and were easy to get hold of – even though both knew that some of the core values held and promoted I did not agree with. But they would always listen. Both championed members bills and got the Government to adopt them.

The difference between the two of them was that Bradford never had any constituents as she was elected of the back of the list. Her problem was that, unlike the Maori Party and the current Green leadership, she had a distaste for the Right of politics, picked a certain battle at the wrong time and lied about it. Her legacy is the anti-smacking legislation. That legacy and her lefty persuasions was one of the main reasons she was never going to co-lead the Green Party, and, like Barnett, was never going to be a Minister in a Labour-led government. Some have said that Barnett was the most effective MP that never got to be minister. Bradford would come pretty close had she been a little more honest.

Although she worked really hard, the anti-smacking legislation did nothing significant apart from pissing people off and creating more work for parliamentarians,the Electoral Commission, CYFS, the police and people on both sides of the debate such as Family First, Larry Baldock and and Barnardos. Kids are still getting killed. Kids are still getting smacked. Police are doing nothing more than administering parliamentary intent and writing more reports as a result of the anti smacking legislation. Welfare still needs reform.

But now Sue Bradford can put that MA in Chinese she has to good use. Or she can do a PhD.

Oh, and for those of you who are interested, you may remember Bradford got threatened via Twitter a few weeks ago. Henk Van Helmond, whom I outed as the Twitter threatener, has just put up a post with the "real reason Sue Bradford quit", erroneously claiming that his death threat – which the police were investigating – was one of the reasons.

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Sue Bradford to resign from Parliament

Not long ago, Sue Bradford wrote this message on her Twitter account, breaking her own embargo.

Media conference 10am to announce I'm standing down from Parliament at end October - but am not resigning from Greens or political activism

Dave Clendon is the next on the list. He stood against John Key in Helensville but lives in Mt Albert- formerly held by Helen Clark.

Looks like the loss of the leadership to Metiria Turei really hurt. But, despite Bradford being one of the most effective backbenchers, in terms of getting legislation passed, this is the best thing that has happened to the Greens this year. Watch for a rise in the polls for the Greens.

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Backbenchers was a lot of fun last night

I was at Backbenchers last night. I haven’t been for a while but decided to go, not even knowing who was on the panel. Parliament was out as members day finished early

It was one of the best ever- so many MPs. There were at least 25 MPs, mainly Labour, but every party was represented apart from Dunne and Anderton. Best comment of the night was when Hone Harawira - in the audience at the time a few metres away from me - was handed the microphone asking for his views on putting the H in Wanganui. His response:

Shane was just telling me that spelling Wanganui without an H is like Cunliffe without a T

David Cunliffe was just behind him. Shane Jones arrived just before the programme started. The pub was in hysterics. It's an old joke, but I think that’s the first time that has been said in any media – let alone live on TV. Backbenchers is broadcast live by TVNZ7. Not sure what Cunliffe thinks of having his name spelled Cunliffte...

Anyway the place was packed, although it started thinning out after 10.30pm. The good thing about Backbenchers is no matter what political stripe you are, everyone gets on. I'm sure I saw Victoria University student president Jasmine Freemantle having a good chin wag with Sir Roger Douglas – their politics are poles apart.

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Voluntary Student Membership and freedom of association

updated
As the Government is not going into urgency today, it is members day, and the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill to allow for voluntary membership of student unions will have its first reading. I am in two minds about the bill. I see merits in both arguments.

Many have argued that people should not be compelled to belong to any union. In fact no-one is compelled to belong to a student union. Those who don't want to belong to a student union don't have to study. Those who must study don't have to take part in the services provided by student unions if they are opposed, in principle to membership. I don't see any reason why students can't pay the fee and campaign to opt out of membership.Opting in means having a choice to pay a fee for membership in most cases, opting out means having a choice whether to be a member, thus exercising freedom of association.

But despite the bill's title, VSM proponents -many of who are not students - are not focused on freedom of association nor are they opposed to student union membership per se. It's the fact that students must pay a membership fee that they are opposed to, and it is this that the bill would remove, by amending Section 229 of the Education Act.

6. New section 229 substituted
Section 229 is repealed and the following section substituted:Section 229 is repealed and the following section substituted:
229 Voluntary membership of students’ associations
1) No person, including any tertiary institution or any association of students, may require any student or exert undue influence on any student—

(a) to become or not become a member of any association of students; or

(b) to pay any money to any association of students, or to any other person in lieu of such fees.

So this debate is not about membership, it is not about provision of services, it is about being forced to pay money for the membership that provides those services, and the bill frames this in the context of student union membership, not its financial component.

If section 6 (1)b of the bill was deleted, it would not restrict freedom of association - but the same freedom would not apply to payment of student union fees. So this freedom of association argument is a bit of a red herring when the real issue is the freedom to pay a student union fee. The bill also conflates ACT's concern with freedom of association with student service provision and membership of the university community.

What I find ironic in this debate is the very people who support VSM, predominately students, will read the fully funded student media -Salient, Critic etc, utilise Student Job Search, which is fully funded co-funded by the student union fee with the balance being paid by the Government - or go on Debating Society trips which are funded with a contribution from a membership fee they don't want to pay. They even support compulsory unionism of a kind.

Before you pro VSM debaters get a little horrified, I'll declare that I have bit of time for the Victoria University Debating Society - I took part in a recent debate it organised. So I'm most pleased to advise that their next public debate is going to be on this very issue of VSM on Monday 6.30pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Old Government Buildings in Pipitea Campus.Entry is free - and you can choose whether you want to be there or not.Political party representatives will be Peter McCaffrey (affirmative - supports VSM) and Max Hardy (negative). Student debaters are Stephen Whittington (affirmative)and Seb Templeton (negative). MPs are David Garrett and one other to be confirmed.

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Don't be too hasty to report potential child abuse to CYFS: Children's Commissioner

Children's Commissoner John Angus believes that too many people are ringing up CYFS to report potential child abuse. Speaking at the Family First forum, Angus said that about 100,000 incidents are reported a year to CYFS - a huge increase in recent years - but the number of substantiated cases - around 13,000, nearly half being emotional abuse - has not had a anywhere near corresponding increase.

Instead, Angus says people should offer help, and socially interact more. Those who get involved in community groups such as play groups, sports groups and church communities are less likely to need the assistance of CYFS or draw the attention of the police -consequently limiting the number of referrals, and possibly the number of substantiated cases of child abuse - most of which are emotional abuse. Emotional abuse, Angus said at the Family First Forum, caused the most long term harm and results often from " bad choices about the company ( parents) keep and the relationships they form".

So Angus wants to support people to take action - not simply to ring CYFS as a last resort. So who is to run the parenting courses that have the potential to reduce family violence. Groups like Parents Inc. Such groups get no government funding at all, and at yesterdays Family First Forum, John Key was asked, for the second consecutive year, whether he supports - and would now lead - a Government that would provide some funding for groups such as Parents Inc.

I think you can guess what the response was. The verbal equivalent of a middle finger - but said in a very polite manner with a trademark smile.

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If you can't be a stable parent - don't have children

There. The statement is made. By Phil Goff. Yesterday.If you cant be a stable parent, don't have children. We as a community have to find ways to protect our children and give them the best start in life.. By implication, this means that if you cant give the kids the best start in life, don't give them a start at all.

It is appalling that 12,000 CYF kids are found to be abused and neglected every year - this really does have serious consequences. We should be outraged, we have to look at what we are doing as a community.

Oh, and abortion is not the answer. It is better to prevent conception than abortion, particularly when 2000-3000 people suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome(each year) . So kids, be careful when you have sex., don't get anyone pregnant - and if kids go off the rails don't blame CYFS. The main problem is the parents, not CYFS -and part of the context is the increasing stress in families.

If we reduce the number of disadvantaged kids we will reduce the number of criminals of tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Your comments are welcome.

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PM says it is ok to smack your kids

I was at the Family First forum in Auckland today. John Key was one of the speakers. He said it was "ok to smack your kids", and the law is administered "the way I want it to be". Therefore in some situations it is fine to break the law provided it is the intent of parliament that the law be disregarded, particularly as Key himself has said that the law is a "dogs breakfast" and that " no-one knows what 'correction' or 'good care and parenting' is".

I do.

Key, commenting on administration of the anti-smacking legislation by Child, Youth and Family, said that "CYFS would not say 'do not smack a child'". Meaning that CYFS workers, although now told not to investigate cases of light smacking, would never tell parents that they could not smack.

Unfortunately for Key there was a woman in the audience - who so happened to be sitting behind me - who is on a CYFS care and protection panel. She told Key that social workers were in fact telling parents that they should not be smacking their kids. Key said he had a problem with that, and it needs to change.

He should talk to CYFS bosses about this, rather than telling family organisations that things need to change and doing absolutely nothing about ensuring that change occurs.

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COLUMB AND HURLEY FORM TWO-PRONGED ASSAULT

Queenstown's Scotty Columb, spearheading the Suzuki assault in the MX2 class at the nationals this season. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Team Suzuki is fizzing to go racing at this year's New Zealand Motocross Championships.

With Kiwi internationals Daryl Hurley and Scotty Columb to head the yellow brand's assault on the Demon Energy-sponsored four-round series, there's no reason to doubt it will again be a glorious campaign for Suzuki.

Hawera's Hurley showed his versatility by winning the MX2 crown last season, after dominating the MX1 class the previous year, and Columb is also a rider very capable of switching from bike to bike with ease.

Queenstown rider Columb raced a Suzuki RMZ-450 with outstanding success in the United Kingdom this season, constantly featuring as one of the leading riders in the British Motocross Championships.

While Hurley returns to the big-bike MX1 class this season, Columb was happy to accept the role as the team's MX2 rider.

"We are very pleased to have both these riders in the team," said Suzuki New Zealand sales manager Simon Meade.

"It's a high quality team and both riders have a proven history. With his experience racing in Europe this year, Scotty will have no problem at all with the new three 30-minute race format in New Zealand this season."

Hurely and Columb are no strangers to the winners' circle -- they teamed up to race away with both the MX1 and MX2 supercross championship titles in New Zealand last summer.

With additional backing from Sports Pro, Fox, Scott goggles, Elf Oils, FMF pipes, Asplundh and Demon Energy, the two men present themselves as very strong contenders in challenging for the MX1 and MX2 motocross titles this year.

The two-pronged Suzuki assault kicks off with round one near Timaru on October 11, while the second round is just a week later, at Rotorua on October 18. Round three is set for Patetonga, near Morrinsville, on November 8, with the fourth and final round in Taranaki on November 15.

However, Columb will be cutting it fine. He is in New Zealand's three-man team to contest the annual Motocross of Nations in Italy on October 4 and only arrives back in the country from Europe on the Friday night before racing begins in Timaru.

"I'm excited about the season ahead," said Hurley. "With Scotty's results, and mine too, over the past few seasons, we've got a very good chance of taking titles.

"I feel very motivated right now. I feel rejuvenated and fresh."

In his first ride on the new 2010-model RMZ-450, Hurley reaped instant results, running away with all three races at the inaugural Sand Prix in the Manawatu recently.

"The new bike is awesome. I can't say enough about it. Bring on the nationals … let's go racing."

Suzuki NZ

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Baldock's petition question has been acknowledged

Larry Baldock's petition question has been formally acknowledged. It is:

Should Citizens Initiated Referenda seeking to repeal or amend a law be binding?

Binding on WHOM? On this wording the Government can ignore it on the grounds that the question does not specify who or what is to be bound.

OK, lets take a wild guess and say binding refers to the Government. But even if referenda are binding, isn't it worth stating what you want the Government to do - like state in the question how referenda should direct the government to change the frigging law?

Like, the question should address HOW the government should respond.

The Clerk of the House is now inviting comment on this wording.Send three hard copies to:
The Clerk of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

The deadline for comments on the wording of the question is 5pm on Friday, 16 October 2009.

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