Author Archive
On our way back to summer
Some of my Northern hemisphere friends are grumbling about a less than convincing summer so far. But here in New Zealand we’ve just had the longest night and I took this pic (above) out my kitchen window at 7:22 this morning — the morning of the shortest day. Yay — we’re on our way back […]
Tedeschi Trucks Band – ‘Anyhow’
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Anyhow” (Live in Studio) via Horus @real_Deity
Apparently this choir boy and his glove puppet are being sued for defamation
It’s hard to believe, I know, that such an innocent looking guy (above) could possibly be involved in a protracted, commercially motivated series of smear campaigns, taking advantage of a half-wit and his website to personally and repeatedly demean and attack public health advocates. But look: And here it is in the news, citing Carrick […]
On arrogance and credulity
I’ve had cause to think about privacy issues recently, and situations where people and organisations can fairly be said to have ‘interfered’ with someone’s privacy (well, mine, in fact, but that’s a story for later). Today I stumbled across a 2012 non-apology letter from then Social Development Minister Paula Bennett who faced an adverse finding […]
Wow. A rocket landing
One of my interests is rocketry and photography. This, from Space-X, is amazing.
Why are whistleblowers being prosecuted as spies?
Whistleblowers are a ‘check’ on government, corporate or organisational secrecy and malfeasance. I recently read Tim Shipman’s preview of the Chilcot report into the origins of the Tony Blair-led UK engagement in the US’s invasion of Iraq, which looked at the ‘sexed-up dossier’ and manipulation of dodgy so-called intelligence about Sadam Hussein’s alleged Weapons of […]
9/11 Saudi links. “Let the evidence be seen.”
“Let the evidence be seen.” Hard to argue with that, but whether a link to the ‘Saudi Government’ can be made seems questionable. The sovereign immunity angle is also messy. Good on Terry Strada and the other 9/11 families for pushing for legal accountability. It’s their right. – P
What is Privacy?
Nice 3 minute overview from Privacy International … A chilling line: “…Even the fact that you’re watching this video right now. All of it.” Oh great! Then read this: Even basic phone logs can reveal deeply personal information, researchers find | The Guardian Here’s a link to Privacy International’s website. – P
A message to Cameron Slater’s enablers – please think again
Those who are encouraging and enabling the National Party’s disgraced, now largely abandoned liar and propagandist Cameron Slater in his latest demented hate campaign need to look into the future and see where the road they’re on is leading. It’s not new for me to say Cameron Slater’s worldview is marked by hot resentment, bitterness, dark […]
A worthwhile primer on why & how government moves to undermine/ban encryption are so dangerous
Access Now’s Amie Stepanovich just delivered this useful overview of the important issues around the latest moves in The Crypto Wars. And this article, by Mark Wilson at betanews.com re President Obama effectively backing backdoors, is instructive (if a disappointment). Privacy and security killer: Obama supports backdoors to bypass encryption “If technologically it is possible […]
Strange fixations. What Judith Collins told the Chisholm Inquiry – Part 2
To recap: We’re working our way through a tranche of witness transcripts and other evidence which was part of the proceedings of the Chisholm inquiry. Previous posts on this topic have been: The Judith Collins Chisholm inquiry: Who was actually on trial? What the Chisholm inquiry revealed about managing the media narrative ‘Taking […]
The oily old gang is getting together again
Amusing that after this John Palino (a) thought he might stand for Auckland mayor again, (b) thought he would be able to brush off the unanswered questions about the last election, (c) is apparently working with the Dirty Politics gang of smear artists. If there’s some Simon Lusk-esque ‘humiliation’ going on, so far it’s John Palino […]
RIP David Bowie
I actually, literally staggered when I was told yesterday that David Bowie had died. ‘Have you heard about David Bowie?’ someone asked me. ‘What? About his new album?’ I replied … then what a crash. Bowie was a hero to me, an artist whose influence was enormous in my life. I have written about him […]
