It's not OK unless...

So it's not OK to beat the mother of your child unless you work at Te Papa. 

Now what I don't get about this is it's not OK at my place, it's not OK at your place but it is OK at our place.

In my experience I have found most Te Papa staff to be arrogant, superior, anal, and obsessed with being politically correct and they get really uptight if anyone threatens their international travel privileges. 

If we had a violent, drunk wife beater arrested in our work place it wouldn't matter if he were a personal friend of Richard Branson, he wouldn't be flying anywhere but if you are a well educated white collar worker and you are a member of the same inner rectum that the judge belongs to you get to keep your air miles and clock up more thanks to Big Monied White judges eh?

Here's a photo of the vicious prick with the inability to handle his piss.

National 56% - Labour 28%

Yep that was the headline on the front page of the dom post today.

How embarrassing.  If Goof-E was a horse then right now he would be looking at the inside of a glue factory.  What a loser, the gift to National that just keeps on giving. Well done Labour, keep up the good work, you are a party that is definitely going places, right to the knackers yard as it happens....couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of sniping, carping, back stabbing, feather nesting bunch of two faced nannas.

Here's A Heavy One For Ya

International Banking and American foreign policy....read all about it here

Here's a wee taste:


In a free economy, the banks that invested trillions in risky mortgages and other fool’s gold would have taken the hit. Instead, however, what happened is that the American taxpayers took the hit, paid the bill, and cleaned up their mess – and were condemned to suffer record unemployment, massive foreclosures, and the kind of despair that kills the soul. 
How did this happen? There are two versions of this little immorality tale, one coming from the "left" and the other from the "right" (the scare-quotes are there for a reason, which I’ll get to in a moment or two). 

The "left" version goes something like this: 

The evil capitalists, in league with their bought-and-paid for cronies in government, destroyed and looted the economy until there was nothing left to steal. Then, when their grasping hands had reached the very bottom of the treasure chest, they dialed 911 and the emergency team (otherwise known as the US Congress) came to their rescue, doling out trillions to the looters and leaving the rest of America to pay the bill.  
 
The "right" version goes something like the following: 
 
Politically connected Wall Streeters, in league with their bought-and-paid-for cronies in government, destroyed and looted the economy until there was nothing left to steal. Then, when their grasping hands had reached the very bottom of the treasure chest, they dialed BIG-GOV-HELP and the feds showed up with the cash. 

The revolution will not be televised...Fox has gone off air....

Adultery

Woo hoo...what a fuckin gig...Too Good...Full House...Went Off...The one single stunning highlight of this show for me was how they were able to so brilliantly balance the level of the pre-recorded backing tracks with the on stage live sound...this is the new direction, these guys have set the new benchmark, they have raised the bar...well done the A Team - you are the shit... no contest...

Just About to Head Off

And check out the Adults at the Garden Club, tonight in Welly, check back soon for post gig review.

Terry the Piss...

So Tel gets some more breathing space, something his unpaid contractors never got  but hey what can ya do?

Got two words for ya. like his country of origin, it's BASKET CASE.

Got my ticket for the premiere

Booked my ticket today for the premiere, on Weds August 17, of the Billy T movie that comes out next month, got a feeling it's gonna be a goody.

Ngai Tahu doin alright cuz

Well NT Corp are doing very well, displaying very clever financial acumen and bloody good on them, JC has done a very thorough profile, well done however I don't like to be the spanner in the works but what happens when they as a corporate tribe come up against this

No worries, all good, removing trade barriers is what's all about cuz.  Not quite bro, this is one treaty that is definitely not Kapi.

Went to a presentation tonight at the Wellington Library where Jane Kelsey was giving a very thorough run down on the deal they won't let us see.  Who's they?  Who know's? Do you know? And if you do let us all know eh cuz.

This is the Corporation Part 2.

Freshly Cooked and Straight Out of the Lab

Now I had to laugh at this sourced from here

All that is required now is to find their owners (given the theory that the longer you have a dog, the more you start to look like it, right?).

Film Festivals and the Internet

Are Film Festivals still relevant when a title that they have featured as an exclusive screening can already be obtained from here.

There was a time when if you attended a festival premiere it actually meant something but now with the advent of the internet and all things being digital and therefore equal and duplicable it ain't possible to claim exclusivity anymore.

The only purpose a festival serves now is to use the programme to select what you wish to purchase or download for viewing and then re-sell once you have viewed it right?

Godzone? Hmmm...maybe...maybe not

Remember when they told us this was Godzone
Before Muldoon was gone
When they put on a concert party for every tourist
When the real kiwi bloke only ate meat
and slapped one up the sheila when she was on heat
When the old man was watching sport on tv
and the old lady was wishing she was free
when the boy would clean the car
before he hit the tar
and the daughter would be in her pre heat curlers
before her heavy date
with her skin tight wranglers
when the baby's nappies were full of piss
and 2.7 kids would guarantee suburban bliss
a time when all your nightmares
were washed in a horrible, deep dark blue
the sheep would go to church
on a Sunday, and pray
that the shitheap would be cleansed one day
When Bowie pulled as big a crowd as the Blacks vs the Boks
In the land of Rugby, Racing and Beer
Sat nite smash over a queer
When molesters started making the news
but not the one wearing the catholic shoes
bless another bottle of port
he's never gonna get caught
when at eleven pm the country was dead
the goodnight kiwi having put
the sane and normal slaves to bed
And giant liquor junkies
could buy up beehive flunkies
when dickheads would give bastards knighthoods
for milling the native woods
and remember when it was
compulsory gym frocks
and sand paper shorts
when the race would start with school reports
It was fucked but that's taken as read
got to get to work, need more money,
the Joneses are getting ahead
If this ever was Godzone
then God must be fucken bent
what are we?
God's little experiment.

copyright: PK Publishing 1984

All Grown Up Eh?

Ahh the perfect rock and roll dream team, the wise old bastards eh?
All grown up and mature like but still very bent, I really really like this album and let's face it there are a million ways to enjoy this album.

I mean, admittedly, there is a part of me that wants to be all cynical and shit and just call it a star fuckfest but that would be somewhat churlish and mean spirited given the talent that is in abundance on this project.

So a new beginning then? A chance to reunite, after all whaddya gotta lose?  Nothing right? When they go out on tour, on a most important journey, you must see them live before they are up and gone....

Every day I wake up and think, `am I the only one that gets it?'  But no, Jonny -Shayne - Gary - the Girls - they get it too, if you're gonna do this it has to be your A-game, right Jon?

The best music is never a long way off, most of the time it is just near here, bitta Dunedin, bitta Wellington, bitta coastal, bitta lounge on anniversary day innit?

So Please fucking wake up, I implore you, and check out this fascinating body of work from the Adults, who are very fucken grown up now alright.

Just Downloading it Now

In the process of scooping up the whole album now from amplifier and I must say Jonny and the crew do not disappoint. When they play here live next month they will go off, gonna b a primo gig no doubt about it.

At Last - A Monday to look forward to.

The Adults Album Will Be Released On MONDAY 20 June

After 22 years at the helm of New Zealand's most loved rock band, Shihad frontman Jon Toogood has built up a treasure trove of musical connections. Lucky for us, they have now collided, resulting in one hell of a project.
With a vast collection of musical ideas and a bit of downtime, Jon began work on a project which has now become The Adults, a celebration of his work with some of New Zealand's brightest talents and an iconic Kiwi album in-the-making.
The Adults are Jon Toogood (Shihad), Tiki Taane, Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits/Dimmer), Anika Moa, Ladi6, Julia Deans, Gary Sullivan (Jean Paul Sartre Experience/Dimmer), Nick Roughan (Skeptics), Ruban & Kody Nielson (The Mint Chicks), Warren Maxwell (TrinityRoots/Little Bushman), Ricki Gooch (TrinityRoots), Redford Grenell (Shapeshifter) and Steve Bremner.
With their debut, self-titled album set for release on 20 June, The Adults have given us a preview of what is to come with the tasty sweet soul of Nothing To Lose which has gone on to become a number one Alt Radio hit.
One Million Ways (the first official single) is one of the many standout tracks - infectious and epic in equal measure. Other highlights include the Anika Moa lullaby-esque Sleep Me Tight, good friend Julia Deans on the optimistic New Beginning and co-pilot Shayne Carter on Most Important. The result is a collection of songs - beautiful in its eclecticism.

The Wave Spreads

Well the stupid incompetent IT staffers working for the Labour Party are certainly managing to get the word out regarding their incompetence, it's gone international now.


The Whale harpooned them good and proper this time.

Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jonny in this episode of the Daily Show has a wee dig at NZ politics. Good show considering it's fronted by an American.

Good example of Hypocrisy

Now here's a perfect example of hypocrisy for you.

Catholic fathers, balls, and banning same sex dates, hmmmm - is it just me or is there anybody else who sees the gaping hole here?

Things are warming up at Sea World

Well Whale is certainly carving a wave inside the beltway tonight.

There will be a few labour party staffers and donors singing the old Enz song, `I see Red, I see Red, I see Red' by now I reckon, 2 nil to the Whale so far....

Sweden, all good with Ponytails, Profits, and 6.4% growth

Finally some good news from Europe that doesn't involve bankruptcy, bailouts or bunga bunga.

Finance minister with a pony tail, wonder if he knows Steve Jobs?  If not he should.

This Guy's got an Interesting Story

Kimmy had this guy on her show yesterday, had a very interesting life so far and his story about giving the fingers to the evil cigar smoking, whiskey swillin record exec whores and walking out on the contract negotiations was a good yarn.

Douggie never sold out man but boy could he play a wicked guitar.

Snookered

It would seem Whaleoil has been able to breach the inner sanctum of the Labour Party's data base and pull some very juicy info out before they were able to lock down  access.

This could cause some severe sphincter rictus amongst the chosen ones in days to come.

Good time to go Whale watching I reckon:)

Meet the Harawiras

The Jono Project was quite a surprise last night.  


Designing, conceptualising, scripting and then negotiating a guest comedy appearance from one of the scariest families in the country was a masterstroke on Jono's part, much better than the appearance on stage by Hone last week at the huge Destiny Stage Show.


Best line of all was when Hone said to Jono, shaking his head, `And taxpayers money is paying for this rubbish!'
Comedy is all about timing and that was the perfect time for that joke.

Hughsey and the News....

Dazza eh – liv­ing, breath­ing proof that the Big Bang The­ory is true as it per­tains to the micro­scopic galaxy that is pol­i­tics in NZ.

The time has come for Gin­gas to go Global, Off to the Big Apple for you Dazza…He, Helen and the Princess might run into Dom­mied Strauss-Kahn and his mis­sus and they can all check out the real seat of power.

The Story So Far: What We Know About the Business of Digital Journalism

Here's an interesting link for anyone interested in the Business of Digital Journalism.

consumer.org.nz
interest.co.nz
scoop.co.nz


are three local examples I can think of, of where it's headed.

Hastings, Napier, and WellWood

Turns out there's a lawyer in Hastings who is all for Hastings merging with Napier and his name is Guy Wellwood!!!

Apparently he's about as popular as a hippie at an art deco party.

After he has finished convincing the 14 empirical minions of Hastings to fold up their tent and secede to Napier maybe he could turn his attention to the name Wellywood and secure copyright on it eh?

The Flying Bus Theory

                                                                       CHRIS SKELTON/Dominion Post



How easy is it to hit George W Bush with a bus fired from a catapult? A group of Wellington artists staged an unusual performance on the grounds of Parliament this afternoon to find out - and to bring attention to the case against the Urewera 18.
Ben Knight, part of the Concerned Citizens artists' collective, said the act was staged to comment on some of the allegations surrounding the so-called ''terror raids'' of 2007.
Using a Bush impersonator, a mocked-up catapult and pillow ''buses'', they fired on the former president in front of onlookers at the Beehive.
''We wanted to test the feasibility of the assassination plot that police were so concerned about - a catapult, designed to launch a bus onto the head of former US president George Bush.
''We tried using real buses at first but they performed even more poorly than the pillows.''
People had reacted positively to the performance, Knight said, although Bush received some sour glances.
Knight said it might sound ''pretty silly'', but the charges laid against 18 people after the 2007 raids had seriously affected their lives for four years.
A number of prominent figures have also spoken out against the handling of the case, including civil rights lawyer Moana Jackson and Professor Jane Kelsey.

Sponge Bob Carter eh?

See princess snout trougher is off to biggest trough of all.  Most intersting quote in the article was this one:

`Until it's in the hand, it's not in the bag'

Now what exactly does he mean there? I mean I don't want to read too much into it and I don't know whether it's just me but I'm sure that sounds a bit gay?

Is the international food system in crisis?

Very good item on Nat Rad this morning about that thing we all need regardless of race, culture, creed - FOOD. Goes along with my theory that if you put shit in the dirt you end up with E-coli in your veggies, fascinating stuff.

11.05 Ideas:
Earlier this week Oxfam made headlines around the world with the release of a report claiming food prices for staple commodities would double over the next 20 years, potentially resulting in an unprecedented reversal in human development. Ideas talks to: Oxfam New Zealand’s campaign and advocacy director John Stansfield; Otago University professor of sociology Hugh Campbell, and Dr Karen Cronin of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
Presented by Chris Laidlaw

Operation 8 Update

Kimmy had Errol and Abi on her show this morning.

Very illuminating and it sounded to me like Kim also suspects it may have been a fit up to quell dissent or she may have been quite cynical, hard to tell really but that's what makes her so good.

Concerned Exhibition with a Citizens Auction

Went to the exhibition in Garret St last night, very good turnout.  Some I expected to see there but got a surprise when Duncan Sarkies showed up.

Put a bid of three hundy on this work by

Mercedes Webb-Pullman

called Tame the Iti.

 

 

Think I might have got it, must find out when the silent auction closes. Auction closes tomorrow night (Mon 6/11) at 8 o'clock but it's already up to $350 so that's me out.

Big Fitzy has finally seen the wood for the trees

The Airport have stepped away from the `SIGN', keep thinking of that song,`I saw a sign, it opened up my mind, I saw a sign'

Anyway somebody who gets paid a shitload for their PR counsel have finally twigged that it's Ixnay on the Ignsay, bit like when Dubbya was told to go easy on the word crusade post 9/11.

And of course we can always rely on Lyall Bay to nail it precisely, after all it's important to nail everything down if you live in Lyall Bay.

This morning (June 1) an anti-Wellywood sign was put up at Lyall Bay.
The "Backwood" sign was mounted on the wall along The Esplanade and was in the style of the Hollywood sign.
It could be seen on a webcam that is pointed toward Wellington International Airport.

Surfies who know where the web cams are, who woulda thought?

Gil Scott-Heron is dead, but his unique voice and inspiring words will live forever

Poet, novelist, musician, spoken-word guru, campaigner, thorn in the side of the establishment, victim of his own weaknesses: Gil Scott-Heron, who died in New York at the weekend, was a multi-faceted figure, one of the definitive African American voices of the past 50 years, alongside James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Toni Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Prince.

For more go here 

Check out `The revolution will not be televised'

  

Oh the Irony

Here's a weird one for ya.  How is it that a company that produces a product if used as directed will fuck your lungs has got one of the most rigourous, as opposed to rigor mortis, health and safety policies I've ever seen. 

In BOLD words it states: We care about the health of our employees.  What it doesn't say is We couldn't give a fuck about the health of our customers, but I guess you can take that as read right?

Some recent builds

This is what me and the boys knocked up last week, if you're looking for a solid erection, we're your guys.

Attention All Concerned Citizens (gotta be at least 3 of ya)

There are very many talented people around us who make amazing art. At the same time, 18 people in New Zealand are currently being bankrupted by the cost of fighting questionable charges following the ‘Operation 8’ raids conducted around the country on October 15th, 2007. To address these concerns, more than 50 artists from around New Zealand are exhibiting their work in the hope of raising funds (and awareness) to support the victims of the raids and their families. 

Go to this link to find out more:  

https://sites.google.com/site/concernedcitizensexhibition/

 

Yahoo

Yahooxtra need to be shouted some top quality piss for this slideshow, give the photographer(s) a raise coz it gave me one:).

A Wee taste...you wish, not so sure how slide 15 got in there though.

Stunners in the stand - ultimate edition

Now that NZ have wrapped up another Sevens title we take a look back at some of the stunners who lit up the stands.

Photo by Getty Images

You know it's bad when...

Uh  Oh the lawyer has jacked it in, that can only mean one of two things:

either he sees the writing on the hill, or Tel hasn't paid his bill, AGAIN.

maybe the new airport sign should be BROKEARSEWOOD

Wallywood

And that's all I have to say  about that.

Didn't occur to me first time I read it, however...

Annette King said this yesterday:

“It still astounds me that in New Zealand we have a min­is­ter for race horses, a min­is­ter of the Rugby World Cup, a min­is­ter for senior cit­i­zens but no min­is­ter for the most vul­ner­a­ble in our com­mu­nity, our kids.”

Whaleoil pointed this out today: 


While it may astound Annette King that we have a min­is­ter for race­horses it must have escaped her, or per­haps she will­fully ignored the fact that she was a key mem­ber of cab­i­net that vastly increased sub­si­dies to the blood­stock indus­try and rac­ing clubs so that Win­ston peters could con­tinue to sup­port them. It prob­a­bly also escaped her that Winston’s secret back­ers were all race horse fanciers. So while she is astounded we are not.

1 nil to the Whale.

Best SSTimes headline ever

Front page of the Sunday Star Times today, print version only, bugger.

The story stated that science says we blokes have to relax on the couch after a hard days graft, we go to an early grave if we don't, however the missus goes to an early grave if she ends up doing all the work.


So science is on our side guys but the missus ain't gonna be if ya try this one on.

Comedy Review

Jan Maree live at the most unpleasant venue you could ever put a performer of her stature in.  Jan is FILTHY, FUNNY and FABULOUS lucky fucking Bitch.

If I was ever to set  myself up as a com-prom (comedy promoter) she would be my first booking - playing somewhere classy like the Matterhorn or the Roxy, perfect.

Unfucking believable

So this is yet another example of Labour's brilliant political strategy eh?
The clown who is in charge of their interweb thingy unleashes this, really!!!
Self fulfilling prophecy or simply going arse to mouth. Just like voting for labore, you just don't do it.

Operation 8 update

It's getting an even higher profile now...what did the policeman say to the artist?  What's that coming out of your arts?

Crusher's right into Boxing

Judith is very pleased to announce that the idea she had to put 2 prisoners in her box has really taken off.

Milking It

Whale has a very good post on his blog today about Dairy Farmers who pay fuck all in tax.

The aver­age dairy farmer is pay­ing less tax than a cou­ple on the pen­sion – rais­ing ques­tions about whether the sec­tor touted as the back­bone of the econ­omy is pay­ing its fair share.
As the Gov­ern­ment pre­pares one of the tight­est Bud­gets in recent years, cut­ting into middle-class fam­ily ben­e­fits and KiwiSaver sub­si­dies, new fig­ures sug­gest those cuts will hit peo­ple who are also shoul­der­ing the great­est tax bur­den – wage and salary earners.
Inland Rev­enue Depart­ment fig­ures pro­vided to Labour rev­enue spokesman Stu­art Nash show that, in the lat­est full year for which fig­ures were avail­able, the aver­age tax paid by dairy farms was $1506 a year. The 17,244 reg­is­tered as being in the dairy sec­tor, includ­ing com­pa­nies, trusts and indi­vid­u­als, paid only $26m in tax.
The fig­ures also show that more than half – 9014 – reported a loss for the 2009 year and another 2635 reported trad­ing income of between $1 and $20,000.

This is a major hit for an up and com­ing Labour MP. An issue that mat­ters, and for fol­lowers of global pol­i­tics a straight copy of the Uk Uncut protests that are rail­ing against cor­po­rates dodg­ing tax while the state sec­tor is being cut. The Farm­ing sec­tor are really cor­po­rate bludgers. If it rains they want hand outs, if it snows the hands come out, when prices are low they cry poor and when prices are at a record high they struc­ture their affairs to appear to be pau­pers. Mean­while they fill our rivers with cow­shit and expect to get water for free.

More on Planking

N.Z.'s Navy seals go planking in Wellington

82% want to see it

Can't get box office figures but this certainly looks favourable.

Oh no the great beast has awoken

So Goof-E has finally latched on to something he might get some traction with, but no, he's the Goof not Tame-iti so no one is even going to take any notice, must have a look at how Operation 8 is doing at the box office.

And as Whale has pointed out:  Intersting his position on it since he was Justice minister when they were arrested...has he forgotten that?

My reply to that?  `when your whole career has been constructed around a terror cell of hypocrisy you soon learn to assume the position if you know what I mean?'

Bizarro World

This was written in 2002, right on Justin, right on.

Decking

Meanwhile on the other side of town they're spending money like there's no tomorrow, hey maybe there isn't

Planking

How long is it going to take for this to catch on here?  Young, dumb, full of cum and flat on the ground, dead-wood, thick as two short planks.

Yay finally  testosterone fueled, pimple headed, pissed as, small town dick-heads  sail to their deaths in pursuit of 15 seconds of internet fame. 

Good on them, least their having a go eh?

Kim Hill & Jim Hansen

Kimmy was talking to Jimmy this morning about the state of the planet and it took exactly 8 mins 15 secs to get that one sorted.  But then as usual nothing was sorted and nothing will get done because if you adhere to the completely unscientific proposition that I do that the planet is just one big toilet, the humans represent the turds in that toilet and nature is in charge of the flush button and according to Jimmy climate change is all about nature flushing that button hard out and if politicians don't do something then we face the ultimate flush and future generations get to swim in the sludge, Yay, C U Jimmy.

Comedy Review Fringe Bar

Went to a couple of shows last night, Sat 14th.  The first was Nick Rado's show, Brilliant, the boy form Titahi Bay has made good.  Loved the story he told about chasing his one night stand all the way over to England, putting up with a shit job for three months in his quest to track her down, and then when he finally found her one night in a bar she informed him that she was now with another bloke and they were engaged to be married. Bugger.  As a final appeal he described the dream she had always had to sing karaoke in a bar across the road from Flying Burrito Brothers and opposite the longest running branch of Peaches & Cream in NZ.


She replied, `no Nick that's your dream not mine.'  And there he was on the stage of that very karaoke bar playing to a full house and living the dream, most excellent, very good Nick, very good.


The second show was Sarah Harpur's and it wasn't great. Maybe she was having an off night or something but she was struggling to get laughs.  I have seen her many times in the last three years and she has progressed from the 7 p.m. slot up to the late night slot and she has always been very funny but like a lot of performers in this modern age a perfectly adequate sound system and a few lights are not enough.  Sarah has decided to pad out her show with a newly acquired Mac Book and some pre prepared video's.  Weird how you can add a multi-media component to your show and it all goes a bit flat.  Need to work on that mate.

Karl Du Fresne had a column that was right on the money in todays Dom Post.

For example.  I detect a mood of growing public scepticism and disenchantment, even among rugby fans. You know something has gone seriously wrong when a high- profile sports writer, the New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue, declares we were sold a pup.

and this:   But as Sydney rugby guru Spiro Zavos warns, nothing can be taken for granted. Promoting his book How To Watch The Rugby World Cup 2011, Zavos - a former journalist on this newspaper - says there are half a dozen teams that are capable of winning "on the day".

The All Blacks may be rated the best in the world, but when it comes down to the RWC final, assuming they make it that far, the result may turn on something as fickle as the bounce of the ball or a referee's call.

I like Zavos's laconic response when people ask him who's going to win. "We're having a rugby match to find that out," he tells them.

In the same paper today which may or may not be RWC related this story

It will be five years since they were charged if the trial is delayed until next year, lost forever in the black (pun intended) hole of the NZ justice system, you can check out any time you like but you can never leave.

This from Whaleoil today,  truly a solid pearl of wisdom:)

Gen­er­ally the Police do a great job, but occa­sion­ally they fluff stuff.

Brilliant insight from the Whale but the list of fuck ups by the NZ Police even as recently as the last five years is getting pretty fuckin long my friend, pretty long indeed....starting with the B's there's Bell, Burton....

Operation 8 update

By Graeme Tuckett Dom Post Sat May 7 (print only) Pg A28

The aftermath of the 2007 police raids in the Ureweras, and of various households around Auckland and Wellington, is about to play out in our courts.  Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones' film on the background to these raids, and of how it came to pass that black-clad and masked, heavily armed police found themselves holding women and children hostage without access to food or outside contact, is as timely as it is shocking.

Operation 8 carefull and rigorously advances the theory that if you tell a group of police investigators to go and find some terrorists, then after a year of two they will feel duty-bound to at least point the finger - if not the assault rifle-at someone.

whether or not anyone in the Ureweras was actually planning murder and mayhem is for the court to decide.  Having seen operation 8, you will seriously doubt it.

Interviewing ex-Red Squad member and National Party MP Ross Meurant was a coop for Wellington's Wright and King-Jones.  That he provides the most damning commentary of all on the actions of our police and government should be enough to convince most viewers that this film needed and deserved to be made.  Operation 8 is a terrific piece of NZ film-making.  Go see for yourself.

and Tracey Watkins, same paper, same day, Pg A25 under the headline Black and White Don't Make Grey. (Not Governor Grey surely?)

After worrying that the upcoming election was going to be shades of grey, suddenly it looks as if we're going to get fireworks instead.

Shayne P Carter - Last Train to Brockville

Went to a fucking blinder on Fri nite at the Bod. Packed house - it was going off, best  live gig for 2011 no contest.  He can now lay claim to most real rock star over 40 in this country and to think he was writing some of that shit at 15 and it was good shit then and it is truly international now, you da man Shayne, you da man.

Comedy Review Fringe Bar

Went to four comedy shows at the fringe bar on Thurs nite (May 5).

They were:

Logical Oddity Cameron Murray

Top To Tail Matiaha Paku

Sex, Religion & Politics Jerome Chandrahasen & Jim Stanton & TJ McDonald

Greg Proops

Cam must have been having an off night, not nearly as funny as he used to be three years ago when he had the fire in his belly and he was hungry to make it.

I saw Matiaha Paku's show during the fringe festival and it has endured well, Really good show that would tour the whole country very successfully iPredict.

Jerome, Jim, and TJ, well what can I say the leaps and strides they have all made in 3 quick years speak for themselves, full house and the audience loved them.

Great comedic menage e trois.

Greg is going to post his Proopcast in the next couple of weeks, well worth the wait, it was fucking hilarious and maybe you had to be their but you should be able to get the idea with just the audio recording.

http://antiwar.com/

I've always found this site right on the money as far as predicting the outcome of any military action the States have taken over the last few years.

Wanted Dead not Alive

So Obama vs Osama, and B comes before S or maybe it's BS.

Well this will seal (navy seal?)l a second term for the Big O, gonna be lots of loud American chest beating now, go Team America...well let's see how quickly the dust settles eh?

But even better news was this roasting that Obama gave the Don at the annual foreign correspondents dinner. go the Big `O'

The Mighty Jah - Rastafari

Reggae dance! Heavyweight UK reggae sound system 'The Roots Odyssey' hit Wellington for the first time, so pick up ya skankin feet and come join us for a night of upbeat conscious reggae music!

The Roots Odyssey are lucky enough to be supported by some of Wellington's finest selectors and vocalists:

DJ Art (NZ)
The Colonel (NZ)
Manaia Toa (NZ)
Fari (uk)
Desta (vocal genius)

With just a $5 door charge this event isn't to be missed!

Went to this last night, met Reggae Rick the UK DJ and the gorgeous Cini, dancehall princess, it was a fantastic night, got to be herbalizin, yeah Jah rastafari, or as we say in the Cuba Quarter, a bloody good night.

Comedy Review

Went to a superb comedy gig tonight:

http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/apr/wellington/wellington-raw-comedy-quest-finals

The winner was Sam Smith but I preferred the runner up Aaron Pike, did some very edgy stuff, try Hitler, BBQ retail chains 100 years into the future and horrendous gas bills and something to do with `Droppin it while it's Hot!'

Dan Shen -Ton was very cool - he definitely ventured over to the dark side, made even more humourous given his hutt valley bent on dodgy porn, big future for Dan, any small town pub in the country - he will go off...

Jim Stanton was the MC and boy has she got some style now, she also has a dark side, but dressed so nicely and done so tastefully, see you Jimmy.

Jerome Chandrahasen

is doing the business alright, Wellington comedy has never been in better shape at the fringe level, bloody good son.

Solicitor General in the Ureweras.

The solicitor-general is not commenting on a request for him to stop the prosecution of 18 people accused of taking part in camps where firearms were allegedly used in the Ureweras.  Law Professor Jane Kelsey and lawyer Moana Jackson say they have the backing of 150 prominent Maori, academics, and social justice campaigners in asking Dave Collins QC, to halt the trials. A spokesman for Dr Collins said he had received the letter and did not want to comment on it as he was still smelling it.

source: Dom Post

Wonder who the other 148 are?  Possibilities include, Nicky Hager, that greenpeace chick with the mustache, Syd and Willie maybe? Any ideas? 

ACTing Up

You can Rod but you can't Hide.  The Rod or the Brash, hard call - might need to kick the tyres on this one eh Sharkey.

Cuts signal end to global dominance

Outstanding article in the Dom Post today (print only) from the Times detailing how the Trillions that the U.S. now owes China are having an impact - FINALLY - on Pentagon budgets.  

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, (always liked the use of the word joint for that very reason) stated, `The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.'

Now they just gotta learn how to say that in Chinese and make sure y'all keep up with the weekly payments or there's gonna be a lot more Crouching Lackey, Hidden Trumpy going on.

The Line Up

1. Annette Sykes has never been far from the front-line of Maori activism.

    Ms Sykes is Tame Iti's lawyer in the upcoming Tuhoe terror raids trial. 

    She advised activist Mike Smith after he chopped down the tree on 

    One Tree Hill.

2. Veteran activist Angeline Greensill. Ms Greensill learnt the trade off her 

    mother Eva Rickard, who once declared their tribal area near Raglan 

    an independent state.

3. Harawira loyalist Merana Pitman – a long-time activist for Maori 

    sovereignty – is   good to go in Ikaroa-Rawhiti. 

So it really will be a war between the Mana and the Maori parties this election – the so-called truce, where they wouldn't stand against each other is all but over.

Now watch for the Maori Party to fight back.

Their words not mine and yea it shall cometh and I will strike down with great vengence and fuuurious anger.... those who attempt to destroy my brothers...

And while they are staunch activists, Mr Harawira says Pakeha have nothing to fear.  Cue Tui Billboard.

source: http://www.3news.co.nz/Harawira

Hone's new crew

Wooh Hoo Hone's bringing it.  Fierce line up so far for the new party - now I'm looking forward to this election, this could definitely be the last MMP election I reckon.  Tino rasta tira tanga.

Feeding Frenzy

Maybe the Roxy should think about a pre featurette, Weta could make the piranhas dressed as parkwise wardens having a feeding frenzy while they are parked up in the theatre.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4907565/Miramar-moviegoers-ticketed

And then we get this from the Wellington ratepayer funded Grow Wellington web site

Screen and Digital

Wellington is home to world-class screen industry talent and technology.  We lead or contribute to sector-wide projects that: connect our industry to global markets, assist in project or corporate financing, provide infrastructure and coworking facilities and enhance our region’s educational offering.
We support a range of  initiatives including industry event, AnimFX NZ , and the NZSO’s orchestral scoring stage developments. Our aim is to double the revenue of the industry by 2025 and to make Wellington globally recognised as a centre of excellence in the screen and digital sector.

Except when you open a new suburban cinema where you are supposed to be able to park after 6.00 p.m. for free, unlimited time right? No, no no this is a fleecing opportunity, go the Wellington Parking enforcement contractors, got the best revenue figures in the country, now that's something to be proud of eh?

Royal Fucking Wedding

'Ere's a laff for ya.  On the Telegraph today the invites are all out and a wide spectrum of  guests have received an invitation, including the postman, pub landlord and butcher but not Blair and Brown - brilliant fuckin news bet Squishy Bushy won't be there either:)

.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/

Anzac Day

Yep it's Anzac Day and this year especially I think these lyrics seem very fitting, almost like some kind of prophecy maybe - jah rastafari.

War lyrics by Bob Marley
What life has taught me
I would like to share with
Those who want to learn...

Until the philosophy which hold one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war

That until there are no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war

That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
Dis a war

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
[-  -]
To be persued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique,
South Africa sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war

War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war

And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory

Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
(From http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/bob-marley-lyrics/war-lyrics.html )

Oh and another Thing

While Pascoe was being given the budget to spend up large on his special wee operations group in the Ureweras there was an actual gunman with actual bullets running around actually shooting people and his name is Graeme Burton...Painting with Broad brush stokes indeed....

Taika's joining the Fray

So Taika has decided to fight the good fight.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/4916738/Enter-the-taniwha

Good that he's chosen an issue close to home thereby giving him a great deal more cred than others in the movie business that attach themselves to the cause du jour believing their `star' power will somehow influence the great unwashed to jump on board - where's that Tui billboard when you need it?

Operation 8 - Deep in the Forest

This is the review the Whale chose not to publish.

I have just watched the world premiere of Operation 8.

http://www.cutcutcut.com/Operation8.html

This trial has the potential to divide this country in the same way that the 81 tour did dovetailing so nicely into the lead up to the RWC.  When you can get John Minto and Ross Muerant to agree on the complete abuse of State Power you know you're on to something really big.

The theatre was full of the usual suspects, the left wing mal-contents, the leading Wellington politeratti, a fair chunk of  white middle class suburbanites and one police plant. He was the only one that didn't clap at the end and asked the only contrary question in the Q&A at the conclusion of the screening.

Remember when we all became familiar with the term `to cherry pick intelligence' remember when Rumsfeld wanted us all to know more about the known unknowns?  Or was it the unknown unknowns' I can't remember but anyway he got his special operations group to cherry pick enough lies to make up a nice we power point presentation for Colon at the UN.

Well Detective Sergeant Alan Pascoe is guilty of exactly the same offence and Broad was our Rumsfeld in the whole affair.

So why do I believe that this could be as big as the 81 tour?  Because this is not a Taika Waititi movie about some hard case kids on the coast that we can all laugh at, this is going to divide Maori in this country like nothing else since 81.  On one side you will have Tama, Hone, Moana Jackson and everyone else who thinks those white mofos have been ripping them off for years and on the other side you will have Parata, Solomon and all the other toadies who want to protect their suction rights within the state trough.

Very well made doco that will have the same cinematic significance as PATU.

review by Gaskranken