Got an email this morning from these researchers asking for us to spread the word seeking more volunteers to take part in their weekly surveys to monitor the trends of covid and flu as the season progresses. Cases are on the rise and data is important. It takes a couple of minutes on a Monday morning to respond and is a genuine research project with no hooks for participants - I've been doing it for ages now so can recommend. Check it out and participate if you can...

https://www.flutracking.net/Join/NE/inv84

Now that Covid deaths have topped 1000, what does everyone think about the covid strategy NZ is applying?

For a long while we were able to keep it at bay with double digit total deaths well into March...

But now eight weeks later, we are over a 1000 deaths and daily double digit deaths more often than not 

I know there is a lot of covid apathy nowadays and we are getting a little bit of normality back, but this does seem to be coming at a cost in deaths.  Ultimately it seems to come down to a trade-off between 'life as normal' versus people dieing...

Have we got the balance right?
Are we still comfortable with the covid strategy?  
Would more restrictions and/or lockdowns have saved some of those lives?
Is it ok to tradeoff covid deaths for economic reasons?

A Russian with the guts to speak against Putin & his war on Ukraine. I hope all his family is safely out of Putin's reach. He's apparently not the first to resign but is the highest level diplomat to do so & the only one to make it public.
I hope some country offers such a brave man asylum - just NOT Australia, since the world knows how they treat asylum seekers. Perhaps we could do it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/m...e-invasion

"A veteran Russian diplomat in Geneva has resigned over his countryÔÇÖs invasion of┬áUkraine┬áin a rare political protest from within the Russian foreign policy establishment.

Boris Bondarev, a counsellor at the Russian permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva, wrote in a public statement: ÔÇ£Never have I been so ashamed of my country.ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy,ÔÇØ wrote the diplomat, a 20-year veteran of the Russian foreign ministry. ÔÇ£It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred. It serves interests of few, the very few people thus contributing to further isolation and degradation of my country."

Thanks to Putin & his antics. I expect this annoys him considerably though, so not without its good points.
Sweden has been neutral for more than 200 years, Finland for almost 80.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/30059448...neutrality

"The Russian president has stampeded both Finland and Sweden, two neutral countries of long standing (almost 80 years for Finland, over 200 for Sweden), into joining the Nato alliance, the very ÔÇÿthreatÔÇÖ that Putin claimed he was trying to drive away from RussiaÔÇÖs borders.

Finland has a 1300km border with northern Russia."

Those of you guys familiar with EOTI back in the day will recognise the name. Word is that he
has passed away.
He was also on Trade Me and NZ Issues but I can't remember his username. He used to fly
off the handle on a regular basis and had an issue with school kids kicking Balls round on the
road outside his house.

Anyway - just passing on the message.

For young men. it sounds interesting, could work but is highly unlikely to ever happen there. I don't agree that it should be mandatory thought, it should be an option.


https://www.politicsvideochannel.com/dem...young-men/

Oklahoma State Rep. Mickey Dollens (D) floated an idea to other state legislators this week ahead of the passage of Oklahoma bill HB 4327 which bans abortion at the point of conception, leaving only exceptions for rape, incest, or in cases where the motherÔÇÖs life is at risk.

And this idiot wants contraception banned!

Interesting article from The Economist (image is link):


This situation was threatening originally due to climate change, then COVID exacerbated the situation, then Ukraine happened. NZ isn't likely to starve as such but expect food shortages and increasing prices for the foreseeable future.

Who's gonna win?

I'm wondering because I've noticed that I seem to be. I'd like to see this country emulate as far as possible, those Nordic countries which have high taxes which cover stuff like Health, welfare, housing etc. & whose people feature at the top of those 'happiest people lists.'

Just stop prancing about slapping on a band aid here & there while trumpeting how wonderful your political party is, stop mucking about it & do it.

And I'd really also love to see more education about crime - what leads to it & how to prevent it as far as possible, rather than banging on about 'lock 'em up & throw away the key' which doesn't work & in some situations may make it worse.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_f...ef=m_notif

Don't think I have ever had so many responses to a single post, and no doubt other commentators could say the same. And mostly positive!

The topic, for those who loathe farcebook, is the adopting of Aotearoa New Zealand as the official name of our nation...