tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99271252009-07-04T11:43:17.850+12:00Michael Ellis is a political junkie. He OD's on Parliament. His favourite hit is National.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.comBlogger856125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-29542419207154614792009-07-04T11:41:00.002+12:002009-07-04T11:43:14.564+12:00

A hoax Twitter post announced the death of Jeff Goldblum, killed in a fall in New Zealand. Stephen Colbert allows him the oppurtunity to give his own eulogy!The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cJeff Goldblum Will Be Missedwww.colbertnation.comColbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorJeff Goldblum

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-71531422596282226532009-07-04T10:58:00.002+12:002009-07-04T11:09:12.914+12:00

There is one thing I can't stand, it's the argument that cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use. The idea that a harmful drug can be used to relieve some Medical studies for the tobacco industry have found that smoking helps keep body mass down and relieves the symptoms of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's - but you would never expect a doctor to prescribe cigarettes to a patient because of the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-89199274048743344662009-06-21T16:04:00.003+12:002009-06-21T16:10:13.900+12:00

There are some things that are just wrong - this is one of them:Americans couldn't make a movie about Rugby, any more than New Zealanders could make a movie about LaCrosse.After all, New Zealanders have already tried making a decent movie about rugby and failed:

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-24632015788574388322009-06-20T16:20:00.002+12:002009-06-20T16:25:37.904+12:00

Yes, I'm actually quoted in the Herald today - the journalist rang up asking about ticket prices, specifically if I thought it was excessive to pay $300+ for a concert.So I explained that I was happy with the price, knowing that it was in line with concert prices overseas, and that if prices were kept low in NZ then the acts would bypass us and go to Australia or Asia instead. I also explain

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-35621891867152039132009-06-15T18:45:00.002+12:002009-06-15T19:19:52.002+12:00

This weekend, I managed to:Have a drink at a the Kingslander bar, and have David Bain walk in. One of the guys I was drinking with actually asked him if he did say 'I shot the prick' in the phone callBe on live TV, then again in a 6pm news item (trying to hide in the background.)See Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform their only their second concert in the last few years - the first being the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-90689996046305587442009-06-12T12:54:00.001+12:002009-06-12T12:57:11.128+12:00

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-77261788240040247232009-06-04T20:23:00.002+12:002009-06-04T20:28:38.975+12:00

Kiwirail seem to be making a habit of upsetting me - just today there are two major irritations to commuters.Firstly, this morning trains on the Hutt Valley line were running 10 minutes late. I knew this because:1. It was 9 and a half minutes after the train was due.2. The Waterloo station manager announced trains were 10 minutes late.3. I could see the train pulling into the station at the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-20134568480128648252009-06-01T08:38:00.003+12:002009-06-01T08:45:22.767+12:00

Last night on the news, Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman claimed that the National Party was "racist". And to prove that Russel never lies, I've prepared the following graph showing the percentage of Green MPs versus National MPs by ethnicity:Oops Russel, turns out the National Party obviously aren't as racist as the Greens.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-91320790379494914182009-05-30T14:14:00.002+12:002009-05-30T14:23:16.286+12:00

Phil Goff is worrying about a $35 billion shortfall for baby-boomers superannuation payments becuase of . I agree it's a big problem - in ten years time there will be double the number of people over 65 able to claim superannuation.However, I think this chart should put Phil's worries to rest. Bill English's budget has increased spending on core services like hospitals and schools, and has

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-89942163957049643422009-05-12T20:24:00.003+12:002009-05-12T20:58:40.018+12:00

I have no doubt that South Acukland Lawyer Catriona MacLennan sees heartbreaking stories daily of families who get themselves into too much debt for car and other loans. Often the people involved were not 100% sure of what they were signing up, but in New Zealand it's buyer beware, and there is no obligation to take on a loan if you don't understand.MacLennan's response is to suggest 10

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-34401883621794079922009-05-10T16:51:00.001+12:002009-05-10T16:53:02.512+12:00

It's a bit odd seeing Wellington Station being passed off as a British one!

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-4322797314717573722009-05-09T21:58:00.001+12:002009-05-09T22:00:01.548+12:00

Amazing what you find when searching for information on trains:

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-71988674796325718982009-05-05T20:04:00.002+12:002009-05-05T20:18:09.899+12:00

A National Party official accidentally called Melissa Lee the candidate for Mount Albert hours before the official selection process.It's not like any party official has ever made a mistake before.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-10688856651044977992009-05-03T09:58:00.002+12:002009-05-03T10:32:17.472+12:00

At the end of Round 12, teams are stacking up in the top 9 positions with a chance of making the semifinals. Here is how I see the season ending:Hurricanes, 39 Points, to play Chiefs and Reds. Should win both games, end with 48 points.Chiefs, 37 points, to play Hurricanes and Brumbies. Will lose to Hurricanes and beat Brumbies, end with 43 points.Bulls, 37 points, to play Cheetahs and Sharks.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-62171967404504437872009-05-02T14:58:00.004+12:002009-05-03T09:22:29.696+12:00

Remember in 2005, the $800,000 spent on the pledge card and other campaigning material? After the lashing Helen Clark and the Labour Party got then, you would think that Labour would know not a produce glossy brouchures and then campaign with them. After all, it was from that moment on that Labour lost connection with it's own voters.But what's this that was being handed out at Wellington

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-61038699911796834072009-04-23T18:39:00.002+12:002009-04-23T18:49:40.733+12:00

When you run a railway mechanical failures happen - you can't predict them, or plan for them. But how you deal with the effected passengers tells you a lot about where the focus of your organisation is. And Kiwirail's focus is not on its customers.When the electrical power failed on the Hutt Valley line yesterday there was a train stuck at Waterloo packed overflowing with people, plus many more

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-80829724661782127892009-04-15T21:11:00.002+12:002009-04-15T21:31:42.200+12:00

Why did the Scooter that was riding on the cycle lane this afternoon have a Green Party sticker on the side? I thought Greenies wanted cycle lanes for cyclist only, not motorised traffic.Speaking of Greenies, you can tell the watermelon greenies by asking if they support water metering - those interested in conserving resources are, those that are really socialists aren't. (Although not many

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-38897507156184264762009-04-12T17:52:00.003+12:002009-04-12T17:59:56.314+12:00

Fair Go covered this last week - people renting cars and then getting charged obscene amounts for damage they don't think they caused, or for minor damage only.I've only had one experience of renting a car and having it damaged - and it was overseas, in the UK. Someone kicked off a wing mirror while the car was parked in Manchester, but the rental company couldn't have been nicer about it.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-36120432739490644452009-04-12T16:21:00.002+12:002009-04-12T16:24:42.599+12:00

"It's not lke some great force is going to move the stone or the body is going to come back to life." The LEGO Resurrection Story

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-21016148967221679952009-03-30T19:01:00.000+13:002009-03-30T19:02:25.911+13:00

Spot the kid!

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-77502323827111135152009-03-28T10:12:00.002+13:002009-03-28T10:22:50.481+13:00

In the past, I've not been much of a Jesse Ryder fan - I thought he'd just try to bash every ball out of the park to get an IPL contract. And his arrogant behaviour at Christchurch Hospital turned me right off.But I've grown to admire Ryder more over the last few months. In one-day games his plan is to use his strength to bash the ball out of the ground, but that's the gameplan set for him.In

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-55358385253665266452009-03-23T17:17:00.000+13:002009-03-23T18:42:01.915+13:00

Also valid 31 November, 30 February, 43 October and 15 Sevembter.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-73289256613734825612009-03-22T12:44:00.003+13:002009-03-23T10:28:20.769+13:00

From the NZ Herald.There has been much condemnation of Pope Benedict's recent pronouncement that the spread of HIV in Africa cannot be stopped by encouraging use of condoms. Instead of focusing on what Pope Benedict said, which was that the spread of HIV will eventually stop if there is no extra-marital sex, so-called Anti-AIDS campaigners and media have instead focused on their prejudices - that

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-63497529601277526572009-03-22T11:17:00.002+13:002009-03-22T12:43:41.156+13:00

ACT MP John Boscawen wants a Select Committee Inquiry into the mass failure of Finance Companies becuase of the millions lost. The inquiry will then come up with recommendations aimed at preventing mass collapses from happening again.While I have some sympathy for those who lost their money, they should have followed some basic investing rules - knowing what you are investing in, spreading the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-36655957857825929262009-03-21T11:51:00.002+13:002009-03-21T14:07:35.286+13:00

John Boscawen's move to re-amend the Crimes Act over the anti-smacking issue based on one opinion poll is a little premature.There is still the Referendum triggered by Larry Baldock's petition that has to be held by August this year - and while I think it will be in favour of a pro-smacking point of view, it probably will not be as large a majority as most people would think. It will most likely

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143204319427258454noreply@blogger.com0