I was in Pak N Save this morning and the amount of idiots not wearing masks was disturbing, even the very old who should have known better were not wearing them. When there is a sign at the door stating masks must be worn why is this not policed by the supermarket staff? Why are these people still allowed to shop and go to the checkout maskless? I wear a mask to protect myself and to protect others from me just in case I become positive, It just makes my blood boil these fuckwits getting away with it.  Ok rant over.

NZME admitted to spreading "baseless lies" about him.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/29...eless-lies

For the second time, a mailed purchase has not arrived.  I bought a postcard on Trade Me. As it was only $1 and the trader didn't offer delivery options other than NZ Post standard mail (yes, I could have asked but, as stated, it was a $1 postcard so that's what I chose). 

Two weeks later, it hasn't arrived. The seller said he sent it.  How long is the delivery time  for NZ Post mail at present? I have looked on their website but could only find info about parcels.  It's almost as though NZ Post doesn't want to be involved in standard mail delivery any more. 

Not really interested in filling in a missing mail form because it's low value. I'm going to email the seller to check he sent it to the correct address but I'm just disappointed and no more untracked mail for me.

Not the best look but  hardly crime of the century - & more or less what's expected from our politicians these days.


https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/...5ZicG8q5L4


"National's Christopher Luxon admits social media posts shared last week suggesting he was in New Zealand when he was actually holidaying in Hawaii were a "mistake" and the videos should have been captioned differently.

That's likely to cause problems especially in winter. What an utter bastard Putin is.


https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62291458

[b]"Russian energy giant Gazprom says it will once again drastically cut gas supplies to the EU through its main pipeline due to maintenance work.[/b]
Gazprom said stopping another turbine at the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would cut daily gas production to 20%, halving the current level of supply.
The German government said there was no technical reason to limit gas supply.
It is likely to make it more difficult for EU countries to replenish their stores of gas before winter.


European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the prospect of Russia cutting off all supplies to the EU is a "likely scenario".

On Tuesday energy ministers will meet in Brussels in an attempt to sign off the plans.

Wholesale gas prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, with a knock-on impact on consumer energy bills.

Reacting to Gazprom's announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this was "an overt gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe - this is exactly how it should be perceived".

The Pope has asked forgiveness from First Canadians & apologised for the years of abuse in residential schools. Around 3,000
 are thought to have died as a result of these schools.

I suppose it's a start, which is better than nothing at all. It will be a fine day when humans stop oppressing & abusing others in the name of their particular brand of religion.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62296834

"[b]In his first public remarks in Canada, Pope Francis has asked indigenous residential school survivors for forgiveness.[/b]
"I am deeply sorry," the Pope said on the grounds of a former residential school in Maskwacis, near Edmonton.
He said his apology is a first step, and that a "serious investigation" into abuses must occur to foster healing.


The government-funded schools were part of a policy meant to destroy indigenous cultures and languages.

The papal apology was received by applause from survivors in the audience, some of whom travelled far to hear the Pope speak.



Pope Francis expressed "sorrow, indignation and shame" for the actions of many members of the Roman Catholic Church, who ran and operated majority of residential schools in Canada.
The 85-year-old Pope called the schools system a "disastrous error" and asked for forgiveness "for the evil committed by so many Christians" against indigenous peoples.


The Pope said he travelled to Canada with a small pair of moccasins gifted to him by an indigenous delegation in the Vatican earlier in the year.
The moccasins, which the Pope was asked to return, serve as a symbol for the children who attended residential schools and never came home.


He said the moccasins also "speak to us of a path to follow", - that of justice, healing and reconciliation.



The schools operated from the 1870s, with the last one closing in 1996. In that period, around 150,000 First Nations, M├®tis and Inuit children were taken from their homes and placed in those schools."

Have been active across the country today & managed to cause problems in Auckland for the traffic. Which seems unlikely to win them many friends.
They like to use the term 'we the people' a lot, which could be said to imply that they don't see those not agreeing with their views as people.

You have to wonder at the mentality of those protesting about poverty here; they seem  not to understand that both our main political parties have caused it over several decades rather than just the present govt. And also whether these protests are a means of gaining publicity for the political party financed by Destiny 'church'.
It tends to look rather as if there's more than a whiff of misogyny involved, too given their particular American right wing style of 'religion.'

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeala...ather.html

"On Friday, the group known as the Freedom and Rights Coalition announced it intended to carry out protests across New Zealand on Saturday.

The group is linked to Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Tamaki is known for his involvement in controversial anti-lockdown protests during last year's Delta outbreak and his vocal opposition to COVID-19 mandates.


In a statement on Friday, the Freedom and Rights Coalition said it had planned marches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday against "the declining quality of life and the incompetence of this Government".

"We the people are fed up with the present political system and its incompetent politicians who are destroying the lives of everyday hard-working Kiwi families."

Probably not his best move, I suspect. Exaggeration isn't usually, in politics anyway.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/...tment.html

"But ACT's associate finance spokesperson Damien Smith says there are other factors causing hurdles to new players coming to New Zealand.

Crikey, the Brits really know how to pick 'em.

Sunak with his £730m shared wealth or Truss and her imported cheese. Quite the choice for the Conservatives...

It's a shame that ex-magician's assistant Penny Mordaunt got knocked out of the running, but they're always going to go with the big names.

Seems to be happening across the world - Europe & the UK & Australia have all had or are having fires due to rising temperatures. The time has come to take climate change more seriously, & do whatever we can to combat/ halt  it as far as is possible

Heatwave across Europe.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62231646

[b]"Records have tumbled and firefighters faced new blazes as much of Western Europe baked in a gruelling heatwave.[/b]

The UK, normally used to milder climates, saw temperatures of more than 40C (104F) for the first time.
Germany saw its hottest day of the year so far while Portugal raised its death toll after days of excess heat.
Deadly wildfires have swept the continent. The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned there was worse to come.
Heatwaves have become more frequent and more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.
"In the future these kinds of heatwaves are going to be normal, and we will see even stronger extremes," WMO chief Peterri Taalas said.



UK fires.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62217282

[b]The UK has recorded temperatures of over 40C (104F) for the first time.[/b]
Thermometers hit 40.3C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, while 33 other locations went past the UK's previous highest temperature of 38.7C, set in 2019.
Several fire services declared major incidents after a surge in fires. A major blaze in Wennington, in east London, left homes gutted.
Some rail services were cancelled after tracks overheated or buckled and overhead cables failed.Hundreds of firefighters tackled fires across London, including in Wennington, where a grass fire spread to properties.

Residents, who had to be evacuated, told the BBC about eight homes and possibly a local church had been destroyed in the fire, while one firefighter at the scene described it as "absolute hell".



And the Australian environment is said to be in a shocking state. They've lost more species than any other continent.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-62217390

"[b]Australia's environment is in a shocking state and faces further decline from amplifying threats, according to an anticipated report.[/b]
The survey of Australia's ecological systems - conducted every five years - found widespread abrupt changes.
These can be blamed on climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and mining, it said.
The threats are not being adequately managed - meaning they are on track to cause more problems."


Extreme heat & climate change
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58073295