https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886
RIP 'Ma'am'

HP ProBook 450 G5 five years old. 8GB RAM and 7.89 usable. 64 bit operating system.
Using Windows 11 Home and Norton Safe Search through Chrome.
Spark modem is about 3-4 years old.

Laptop is used for internet, email, Word.

Web pages are now slow to load or time out and sometimes a message states the internet connection is lost, even when the Internet connection icon says the connection is working.  Turning the laptop internet connection on and off works but sometimes only briefly. No problems with internet on the mobile phone.  I regularly use the clean-up function to remove web site history etc.

Options: a/ pay Spark $100 for a new modem b/ buy Norton's registry cleaner (Norton scan states that there are registry issues but I don't want to pay for their registry cleaner when it's possibly their bloatware that is the problem) or c/ time to replace the laptop?

Thanks. 
PS: Recommendations for alternative to Norton?

About 7 months ago, we complained to the Council about a neighbour building a shed right next to the shared boundary fence, not 2 metres away as per Council regulations.  A Council guy spoke to the neighbours and they agreed to move the shed but it's been 7 months and it's still there. 

We know it's been winter plus Covid plus building supply issues (although he only has to move the shed and reuse the materials) so we waited a few months before asking the Council guy what gives. Council guy says neighbours are cooperating (ie they are saying they will do something but not doing it) so he's not willing to give them a deadline.  In the meantime, the neighbours have worked on their landscaping.

We plan to follow up every six weeks or so but wonder when it's better to either a) use the Council's formal complaint process or b) have a lawyer write to the Council.  And when should we take these other steps? Advice please?

Been following Ukraine for ages, I have to go to BBC, or Al Jazeera for anything even remotely up to date.
For instance, Ukraine have been on the counter offense for about a week now but not a word ive heard (as far as TVNZ goes anyway)
Only thing ive seen or heard is all the fear of the nuclear plant being shelled and leaking radiation.
Seems most decent updates ive found are on social media from locals living behind enemy lines.

So possibly not too much to concern us from Adolf's little friends, then. Although - if they should happen to read the article (unlikely as apparently the 'master race' don't appear to read much from the sound of things) they might feel some need to try to disprove the impressions the writer gained from knowing them.
Slightly concerning that a few are in or have been in the military though.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...cher-finds


"A researcher who infiltrated New ZealandÔÇÖs largest neo-Nazi group, Action Zealandia, says its members are unfit, ill-disciplined and wary of committing violence after attracting public attention.

Bloody hell - 10 people killed & about 15 injured.


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/s...n-province

"A manhunt was underway in western Canada on Sunday night as police searched frantically for two men suspected in a series of stabbings that have killed 10 people and wounded at least 15 others.

The bulk of the attacks targeted residents of James Smith Cree Nation, an Indigenous community of 3,400, with other injuries reported in the neighbouring village of Weldon, north-east of Saskatoon.

Rhonda Blackmore, the assistant commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted police (RCMP) in Saskatchewan, told reporters on Sunday evening that police believed some of the victims were targeted and others were attacked randomly.
ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs horrific what has occurred in our province today,ÔÇØ she said.
Police identified Damien and Myles Sanderson as the two suspects in the killings. Damien is is 31 years old, five feet seven inches (170cm) tall, weighing 155 pounds (70kg) with black hair and brown eyes.




Blackmore said the relationship between the suspects was unclear. She said there was no motive yet ÔÇô but the men were presumed to be armed and dangerous.
Police began receiving reports early on Sunday morning from James Smith Cree Nation of a stabbing in the community. Within two hours, a dangerous persons alert was sent to residents in the area, asking them to shelter in place.
More alerts were sent as the scope of the attack, spread over at least 13 sites, became clearer."

Just heard this on the radio.
About time, since they have been shown not to work and less people are wearing them.

Fonterra have put the cat among the pidgeons with this announcement. With synthetically produced milk knocking at their door it is probably a wise move, if not a little late. The reliance on cows for milk protein products is fast coming to an end.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming...f23aa6f286

Apparently she was at one time a potential environmental activist who spoke against islamophobia. Before she went down the rabbit hole. These people are not, apparently happy with life in the 21st century & would clearly be far more comfortable in the 19th century.

And again, that particular aspect of only the role of home & motherhood for women  isn't new; it was something beloved of the Nazis & its also very common among the religious right wing in America. Scary stuff for anyone familiar with history, or The handmaid's tale.


https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/1297653...ah-spierer

"She was once Auckland UniversityÔÇÖs campus co-convenor of the Green Party who spoke out about Islamophobia ÔÇô so what happened to Counterspin co-founder Hannah Spierer? NADINE PORTER investigates.

I said this ages ago and was rubbished.
Now we have a study to back this up!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/08...ple-covid/