Thanks for this Autumn summary. I listened to the first two speeches in Parliament relating to the "Government Motion Recognising the safe restoration of Parliaments grounds and the selfless service of the Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Wellington Free Ambulance, Parliament Security, and many others, in returning Parliament to the people." I was very impressed (as usual) with our Prime Minister's clarity, perspective and fortitude. The Leader of the Opposition said all the appropriate things to begin but then claimed that many good people had legitimate reason to be unhappy with the way the government has handled the pandemic - so much so that we are now a nation divided, etc, etc. Does he think we have not noticed how diligently his 'team' has worked to relentlessly manufacture confusion and distrust in the hope of scoring a political point or two?
Sorry to be pedantic... no I'm not... but they weren't rubber bullets. They were sponge bullets. I know the diff 'cos I've been where rubber bullet use was common. I think I picked some up and have them somewhere . .. I had to look up allodial.
I was in a florid frame of mind sorry :) I actually looked them up this morning and left with the sense that the terminology is a bit fluid, but fully defer to your experience
Rubber bullets can be nasty and can actually kill if they land in the right place on the body... sponge ones are a few steps below in the less lethal list. I agree it can be fluid... I'm not up to date but the Geneva Convention didn't used to specify how much rubber had to be in a rubber bullet - they often have a bit of metal inside so that as projectiles they can go further... but some places took the metal part to the maximum with just a sliver of rubber on the outside... and those were mean bullets..
Rubber bullets were all in the news when I was a kid in the 70s because of“The Troubles”. I always naively imagined something fun like the super bouncy balls we coveted. Fortunately relatives in Belfast put me right. No fun at all.
Also, I don't wish to tempt fate, but I was relieved that yesterday's 'finale' did not turn into a full-blown riot with smashed shop windows and upturned cars set alight. That may be too much of a corny cliche for the Q-Anon / Counterspin puppeteers.
Maybe because this all happened on the Front Lawn of Parliament, but I reckon this piece should be set to music and the musical could be called Less Miserable (now that you've burned your tent and left).
Do you think Amelia's dad is stuck in Welly 'cos it's $540 to get the Ford Ranger out of impound ? Old Gilda Kirkpatrick said she'd stand him the bucks but when he rang her she'd already buggered off to Queenstown. Cow! I think it's time for Miss Barry to call the mum actually.
Great summary, worthy of Te Ara. One to keep and look back on.
I’ve been running a thought experiment. How would I feel if the main issue was one I actually agreed with, say Climate Crisis? Would I excuse a few nazis and poo throwers?
Also if this had been a more conventional protest, with some order and leadership - would I have changed my opinion about mandates? I’m not as certain on either of these as I feel I should be.
It may depend of whether you were thinking for yourself or were in thrall to a malevolent force whose actual aim is to destroy democracy rather than address a legitimate concern.
John Minto's getting a bit of blowback on Facebook for his call for the PM to apologise to protestors. Many including me semi-apologising for disagreeing with him but doing so cogently anyway. The nutters have jumped to his defence of course. Strange seeing John Minto of all people proceeding so as to facilitate the embrace of himself by the comparatively dark forces and otherwise anarchic forces as were obviously present in some measure.
The frustrating part about this classic School Journal entry is that none of the people who need to read it will read it. I thought Police did a determined, restrained, well-disciplined finale, and was sorry to see them criticised today for co-opting fire service hoses in an emergency.
I have never seen the cops so restrained in my life, and I would love to know why. Of course, the Camp Covid freedumb campers are still portraying them as brutal.
Thanks for this Autumn summary. I listened to the first two speeches in Parliament relating to the "Government Motion Recognising the safe restoration of Parliaments grounds and the selfless service of the Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Wellington Free Ambulance, Parliament Security, and many others, in returning Parliament to the people." I was very impressed (as usual) with our Prime Minister's clarity, perspective and fortitude. The Leader of the Opposition said all the appropriate things to begin but then claimed that many good people had legitimate reason to be unhappy with the way the government has handled the pandemic - so much so that we are now a nation divided, etc, etc. Does he think we have not noticed how diligently his 'team' has worked to relentlessly manufacture confusion and distrust in the hope of scoring a political point or two?
Sorry to be pedantic... no I'm not... but they weren't rubber bullets. They were sponge bullets. I know the diff 'cos I've been where rubber bullet use was common. I think I picked some up and have them somewhere . .. I had to look up allodial.
I was in a florid frame of mind sorry :) I actually looked them up this morning and left with the sense that the terminology is a bit fluid, but fully defer to your experience
Rubber bullets can be nasty and can actually kill if they land in the right place on the body... sponge ones are a few steps below in the less lethal list. I agree it can be fluid... I'm not up to date but the Geneva Convention didn't used to specify how much rubber had to be in a rubber bullet - they often have a bit of metal inside so that as projectiles they can go further... but some places took the metal part to the maximum with just a sliver of rubber on the outside... and those were mean bullets..
Rubber bullets were all in the news when I was a kid in the 70s because of“The Troubles”. I always naively imagined something fun like the super bouncy balls we coveted. Fortunately relatives in Belfast put me right. No fun at all.
No... less lethal is how they are described in the Convention
Also, I don't wish to tempt fate, but I was relieved that yesterday's 'finale' did not turn into a full-blown riot with smashed shop windows and upturned cars set alight. That may be too much of a corny cliche for the Q-Anon / Counterspin puppeteers.
Maybe because this all happened on the Front Lawn of Parliament, but I reckon this piece should be set to music and the musical could be called Less Miserable (now that you've burned your tent and left).
What happened to Amelia’s parents? Enquiring minds must know!
I thought about having characters but decided to wait until we're back at Kia Kaha primary :)
Fair x
Do you think Amelia's dad is stuck in Welly 'cos it's $540 to get the Ford Ranger out of impound ? Old Gilda Kirkpatrick said she'd stand him the bucks but when he rang her she'd already buggered off to Queenstown. Cow! I think it's time for Miss Barry to call the mum actually.
Great summary, worthy of Te Ara. One to keep and look back on.
I’ve been running a thought experiment. How would I feel if the main issue was one I actually agreed with, say Climate Crisis? Would I excuse a few nazis and poo throwers?
Also if this had been a more conventional protest, with some order and leadership - would I have changed my opinion about mandates? I’m not as certain on either of these as I feel I should be.
It may depend of whether you were thinking for yourself or were in thrall to a malevolent force whose actual aim is to destroy democracy rather than address a legitimate concern.
Great point! I get all my influences from MTAF these days so as long as David doesn’t go rogue I should be jake.
Sometimes when his spelling wanders off track I wonder....
nun taken
😊😊
Hahaha
John Minto's getting a bit of blowback on Facebook for his call for the PM to apologise to protestors. Many including me semi-apologising for disagreeing with him but doing so cogently anyway. The nutters have jumped to his defence of course. Strange seeing John Minto of all people proceeding so as to facilitate the embrace of himself by the comparatively dark forces and otherwise anarchic forces as were obviously present in some measure.
The frustrating part about this classic School Journal entry is that none of the people who need to read it will read it. I thought Police did a determined, restrained, well-disciplined finale, and was sorry to see them criticised today for co-opting fire service hoses in an emergency.
The Counterspin summary 👌
Wonderful! Soooo funny. Thanks DS
"The protestors have got to Wellington!
They are at the home of Democracy and Mr Speaker Trevor.
They are here to tell the government they are angry at them for being monsters.
They want the government to come out and apologise for being monsters and possibly get hanged.
Also some of the yoga mums want to show them how to do a better Tree Pose.
But mostly they want the apology and the hangings."
I have never seen the cops so restrained in my life, and I would love to know why. Of course, the Camp Covid freedumb campers are still portraying them as brutal.
Outstanding David, thank you.