Well, on 20 Feb I went under the knife at Middlemore for a L3, L4, L5 decongestion. Was discharged 25 Feb and confined to bed. The result will lead to a pain free future life, they say. The leg pains and some back pain leading up to the op were quite bad, and even with a walker, the use of bench tops, table tops and the like caused annoyance for SHMBO. Anyhow, It is over but the pain in the buttocks and hamstrings remain and makes getting out of bed and standing up a real difficulty. Also, guys, Young Willy has become so small he is quite hard to find and like the young, just when you NEED him so urinating into a Pee Bottle is fraught with anxiety. So, I now have 4 -6 weeks recuperation - such fun.

I did try not to laugh....


https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/35018...e#cxrecs_s

"Forty complaints were lodged against Wellington councillor Teri OÔÇÖNeill, who distributed posters featuring Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters and David Seymour inside a drawing of a penis.


In late November, OÔÇÖNeill┬ácreated a storm┬áwhen she took photographs of the billstickers and then posted the images to social media with the captions ÔÇ£Some Friday night arts and craftsÔÇØ and ÔÇ£xoxo to the incoming GovernmentÔÇØ.
Publicly, OÔÇÖNeill defended her actions as legitimate protest and said she was challenging ÔÇ£entrenched power structuresÔÇØ. But in an email to fellow councillor Tim Brown, she admitted it was ÔÇ£not my wisest moveÔÇØ.
Brown had messaged ÔÇ£tut tutÔÇØ after being copied into a complaint. He replied: ÔÇ£without seeing the picture, I still think its funny.ÔÇØ
Documents released to The Post show the council received a flood of complaints following news reports about the posters."

From another thread where this was off-topic....

Oh_hunnihunni Wrote:
"You had me intrigued with the gender changing thing, but it seems more likely that apparent sex changes are in fact just late developers, though hermaphrodite fish are occasionally seen. They are usually sterile though, so I think I can just focus on the youngsters who start showing male colouration and separate them out till I can select the best one to go back with the females. "



There are a number of fish that routinely change sex as part of their normal life cycle, eg clown fish, spotties, etc. Here's a general article about it https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles...change-sex.

For guppies, when you do a Google search you get lots of fishkeepers on forums asking the questions related to what they have observed and "experts" coming in saying guppies can't change sex/gender. And you will get an occasional person saying "no, that is wrong" but most of the links they provide are old and gone.

I think the explanation that I have always gone by came from the book Sex, Color, and Mate Choice in Guppies by Houde. I had interloaned the book through my library so don't have it at hand, and Google Books doesn't provide the preview of the right chapter. It was a long time ago (my notes show 2009) so I might be remembering the wrong book. Anyway, what I have always understood is that guppies have XX/XY genes like we do and that when there are no males present (eg in the wild they have been eaten by a predator ÔÇô they are smaller and more prominently coloured than the females after all) the population can continue by male hormones being triggered in a female so that she can breed with the other females and produce babies. The babies are all XX (ie female) and any that function as male will be less colourful than XY males because many of the guppies' colours are Y-chromosome linked. But it's a temporary survival strategy that helps to prevent extinction until the all-female group gets a chance to meet up with a normal group with access to males again.

It's rarely seen in hobby fishkeepers because no one really keeps groups of females on their own. Usually a tank of sexually mature females will have male fry with them, or already be fertilised by a male from the past (one insemination can last for months worth of broods - the more common "population survival" strategy). So usually when people think they have observed an apparent sex change it is mistaken, but it is occasionally seen. Usually the gravid spot disappears as any developing embryos are reabsorbed, but if the change is late enough in their development a "male" can give birth. Somewhere along the way I have seen a photo of a fish with a gonopodium giving birth.

There are also all sorts of stories about the trade practices in Asia, where most of our imported fish come from, that include a few weeks of use of (reversible) synthetic testosterone to get females to show their genetic colours to facilitate line breeding, and also the practice of somehow manipulating XX-only fish so that the fish bought by the customer are sterile. I have no idea how true that is.

The great thing about your Endlers is that, unless they have been hybridised with guppies, they will be a "pure" population. I have no idea if they can change sex, but surmised that it might be possible because they are so closely related to guppies. Not a worry for you though. You can just sit back and enjoy them so long as you have a means of controlling the numbers, which is what you are doing. Have fun.

Getting fed up with the all too constant intrusion of sports into virtually everything  on TV; most often the news but just now I switched on to catch The Chase - & there were two people standing in what was a sports ground of some kind, discussing the just played game which was over!

Fgs - this seems to be happening more & more often. Not content with an extremely high percebtage of sports of all kinds (even, this year the American bloody superbowl for pity's sake!!) already all over television, we're apparently heading for a time when little, or  nothing else can be seen on TV.

I have a cunning plan to fix this:

1) Give sports their own channel - nothing but sports, of all kinds, 24 hours sports from everwhere in the world.

2) Ban all mention of sports from all other channels, apart from a brief (5 mins maximum) summing up of the day's sports events at the end of the evening news.

Which will make govt & the police look as if they're 'getting tough'  on gangs - & it has to be said, that a large-ish group of gang members all wearing their insignia can definitely be daunting  - but you have to wonder how long its going to take the gangs to come up with some sort of alternative.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/35019150...-crackdown

"Police would be given the power to issue dispersal notices, requiring gang members to immediately leave an area. They would then not be allowed to see each other for seven days.
Courts would be able to issue non-consorting orders, "which will stop specified gang offenders from associating or communicating with one another for up to three years", Goldsmith said.
"The law will also be changed to give greater weight to gang membership as an aggravating factor at sentencing, enabling courts to impose more severe punishments."

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/21/analy...ady-exist/

"We also need to ask whether the new anti-gang measures breach fundamental principles such as human rights.
These are part of New Zealand law, through the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the common law. They also reflect international standards that New Zealand has agreed to respect.
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes proclaiming gang affiliation. There is also the right to associate with others, and to assemble peacefully.
But all of these rights have to be balanced against other interests.
The Bill of Rights Act sums this up by allowing ÔÇ£reasonable limitsÔÇØ that ÔÇ£can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic societyÔÇØ.

Essentially, legislation that restricts rights requires a legitimate purpose. This is usually easy to show. But it is also necessary to consider whether such restrictions work and do so in a way that is proportionate to the breach of rights.


We have an idea what the courts might say. For example, in Morse v Police, the Supreme Court decided burning the New Zealand flag during an Anzac Day parade to protest New Zealand involvement in Afghanistan was not offensive behaviour, because it did not go beyond what people should be expected to tolerate in a democracy.
And in Schubert v Wanganui District Council, the High Court decided the ban on gang patches in all public places in the district went too far; the evidence did not show that something more tailored would have been as effective."

We have water dishes at two of our external doors but I had also noticed our cat drinking from the lotus containers as well so I gave him an ice cream container of water nearby. It's also near a gap in the fence that several neighbours' cats come through from time to time. Our outdoor camera has shown that the number of cats coming through has increased and every one stops for a drink on the way past. I'm not sure that our guy really wants to share, or that he appreciates so many visitors, but it looks like word has got around that there's a free drink to be had.

According to this writer yes it does; but not in the way this govt claims.


https://www.msn.com/en-nz/health/other/y...cf29&ei=35

"Yes, the welfare system does need a ÔÇÿresetÔÇÖ ÔÇô in favour of beneficiaries
OPINION: I have lived in the borderlands between work, study and the benefit all my adult life.
Because of my disability, cerebral palsy, I receive a Supported Living Allowance, or the Invalids Benefit as it was called before.
IÔÇÖve studied for degrees in maths, computer science and theology, and am now working toward a PhD in the latter. At times, I have worked part-time and studied part-time.
Only once have I been on the benefit while neither working nor studying, which coincided with a severe bout of depression 15 years ago.

If I can say one thing about relying on a benefit, itÔÇÖs that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) does not make it easy for you.
And I fear that this weekÔÇÖs announcement of a ÔÇ£resetÔÇØ of our welfare system, which will see beneficiaries closely monitored and sanctions more readily imposed, will only make things harder.

Last year, I found out that sanctions for beneficiaries were very much already in place. I left the country for three days to attend a conference in Sydney related to my studies, and because IÔÇÖd forgotten to let the MSD know, my wife and I faced a total benefit loss.
This was an honest mistake, and thankfully it was able to be sorted out upon my return to New Zealand. But it was incredibly stressful to go from depending on money to suddenly losing it, and the experience served as a sobering reminder that one slip-up could result in the loss of my livelihood.

In my view, the MSD scales are already weighted in the GovernmentÔÇÖs favour, and tightening up on sanctions will just make a difficult system more unjust.
In announcing the ÔÇÿwelfare resetÔÇÖ, Social Development Minister Louise Upston said that, compared to when Labour came to power in 2017, ÔÇ£70,000 more people are on the Job Seeker benefit at the same time that we've seen a 58 per cent reduction in the use of sanctions.ÔÇØ

The impression this gives is that sanctions are a last resort ÔÇô and that only those ready for work, but not attempting to find work or get training, are being targeted.
But if sanctions are the last resort, it makes no sense that they are the first measure deployed to reduce welfare dependence. The first step that should be taken is to make it easier to transition from the benefit to work or study.

Any responsible person starting a new job will ask what it will do to their weekly income. Good luck working that out if you are on a benefit.
If youÔÇÖre lucky, the information you need to work it out might be buried deep in the MSD website. But then there is often ÔÇÿcase manager discretionÔÇÖ, which clouds things further.



Showing the working should be among the most basic components of what they do.
If the Government wants to help people off benefits, the first step is to make the process to determine how income from work will affect your benefit as streamlined and straightforward as possible.
The second step is to ensure that overall, people are rewarded in their back pocket if they do the mahi to get work ÔÇô and then, crucially, to make sure people are supported at work.
So my message to the Government is simple: If you are serious about getting people into work, clear the pathway through the borderlands between the benefit and work by making the system work for them.
If you donÔÇÖt, then stop putting pressure on beneficiaries who find it too hard or too scary to get work. Perhaps they donÔÇÖt know if they will be better off."

It seems this govt simply cannot wait in their rush to make things worse.


https://www.msn.com/en-nz/health/other/c...9ca1&ei=15

"M─üori health campaigners say the Crown acted in bad faith when a last-minute date change to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora M─üori Health Authority put their chances of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry in jeopardy.
Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka were granted an urgent claim by the tribunal whether axing the agency went against treaty principles of tino rangatiratanga.
The hearing was previously set to begin on February 29, in recognition of the governmentÔÇÖs plans to bring the legislation in by March 8.
But a memo from Crown lawyers on the night of February 22 alerted claimants the legislation could be tabled in Parliament as soon as Tuesday of next week ÔÇô potentially cutting the hearing off at its knees. If a Bill is before the House, the tribunal is prevented by law from conducting an inquiry into it.
ÔÇ£Notwithstanding the recent events that have impacted Parliament, counsel is instructed that introduction of the Bill could occur as early as 27 February 2024,ÔÇØ wrote Crown Law.
A Friday hearing was assembled quickly to determine whether the claimants could make their case before this new deadline, with Waitangi Tribunal Judge Kaiwhakawaa Damian Stone directing the Crown to give an update on whether the date can be delayed.
ÔÇ£I acknowledge that these matters may be out of the CrownÔÇÖs hands and veer into the political sphere, especially given that the order that Government bills are introduced into the House is determined by the Office of the Leader of the House,ÔÇØ he said.

ÔÇ£However, to enable the Government to have the benefit of the outcomes of the TribunalÔÇÖs inquiry, and any associated findings and recommendations, the Crown may consider deferring the introduction of this legislation until the week ending 8 March 2024.ÔÇØ
Judge Stone said he was concerned the shorter timeframe could negatively impact the hearing process.
ÔÇ£I am concerned that any further effort to truncate the hearing process in order to release a final decision by 27 February 2024 would risk the inquiryÔÇÖs ability to conduct a reasonable and just hearing process.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£There is no good faith in what the Crown has done,ÔÇØ she said.
ÔÇ£The Crown were asked by the Waitangi Tribunal in its directive as to when they anticipated that the Bill would introduced to Parliament.
ÔÇ£The Crown basically said anytime between now and 8 March, so they didnÔÇÖt indicate it was imminent at all, or give the Tribunal a courtesy heads-up until last night right on the eve of giving evidence due today, when they sent the memo saying that it will be┬áFebruary 27.ÔÇØ

She said there had been no transparency from the Crown despite the tribunal being open in its communication.
ÔÇ£I believe that theyÔÇÖve been very dismissive of the whole claim from day one and they havenÔÇÖt really provided the information that the Waitangi Tribunal have asked for,ÔÇØ she said.
The National-led GovernmentÔÇÖs intention to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora was outlined in the 100-day plan released by the coalition Government on November 29, 2023. The GovernmentÔÇÖs first 100 days in office ends on March 9, a day after the initial deadline it set itself to axe Te Aka Whai Ora.


ÔÇ£ThereÔÇÖs no justice, thereÔÇÖs no good faith, thereÔÇÖs no transparency,ÔÇØ Moxon said.
ÔÇ£This whole process has engendered distrust in the Government. TheyÔÇÖre just going ahead, irrespective of what anybody else thinks, yet we are their treaty partner, and they need to be reminded of that and shouldnÔÇÖt be just ignored.ÔÇØ

It just seems to go on & on...

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/02/23/donal...raud-debt/

"Donald Trump could be at risk of losing some of his prized properties if he canÔÇÖt pay his staggering New York civil fraud penalty.
With interest, he owes New York state nearly NZ$732 million ÔÇö and the amount is going up NZ$141,177 each day until the former US president pays.
New York Attorney General Letitia James told ABC News that she will seek to seize some of the former president's assets if he's unable to cover the bill from Judge Arthur Engoron's ruling.
Engoron concluded that Trump lied for years about his wealth as he built the real estate empire that vaulted him to stardom and the White House. Trump denies wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal.
"If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets," James, a Democrat, said in an interview with ABC reporter Aaron Katersky.

Trump's ability to pay his mounting legal debts is increasingly murky after back-to-back courtroom losses.

Trump claimed last year that he has about NZ$645 million in cash ÔÇö reserves that would get eaten up by his court penalties.
The rest of his net worth, which he says is several billion dollars, is tied up in golf courses, skyscrapers and other properties, along with investments and other holdings.
Trump's promised appeal is likely to halt collection of his penalty while the process plays out.
Seizing assets is a common legal tactic when a defendant can't access enough cash to pay a civil penalty.
Trump could avoid losing assets to seizure if he has enough cash ÔÇö or is able to free up enough cash ÔÇö to pay his penalty and mounting interest."

This is a real eye opener on what the spike proteins are doing to your body, it appears that these blood clots were appearing even before any of the vaccines were available, but the numbers surged during the rollout of them.
Really makes me wonder what this spike protein does to your body.
Its not actually a "blood" clot at all, but more of a cellular mass made up of misfolded proteins, it appears that in a small percentage of people, the body produces them in the cardiovascular system.
These types of clots have never been reported before in humans.


Also some good advice thats emerged on how to rid them out of your body.
Could be useful for anyone suffering from long covid.


https://youtu.be/CuaMPNGG7Nk

and an updated video to follow

https://youtu.be/djqn4HJWEBs