Word of the day

Corrade – to abrade, erode or be eroded or wear down by abrasion;  gather together from many sources; scrape together.

Rural round-up

Could have done better – Hugh Stringleman:

Fonterra’s operational review of the botulinum food-safety scare has identified opportunities when the mess might have been avoided.

Group director of strategy Maury Leyland and her in-house team have also come up with several ways of preventing something like this happening again.

Fonterra said its world-class manufacturing facilities, quality systems, and robust testing regimes were all stress-tested by the incident.

“Overall our systems worked well, while some aspects showed room for further improvement,” Leyland said.

Chief executive Theo Spierings said many innovative actions had resulted from the review and Fonterra remained well-placed as the world leader in dairy nutrition but with no room for arrogance. . .

Primary role push for deer markets :

Dan Coup’s heart lies in New Zealand’s primary sector.

Mr Coup in July took over as chief executive of Deer Industry New Zealand, replacing Mark O’Connor, who stood down after 13 years in the position to run his family-owned investment business.

Less than two months into the role and Mr Coup is excited about the opportunities for the industry, while being realistic about the challenges it faces. . .

Young farmers’ CEO experienced – Sally Rae:

Terry Copeland has been appointed chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers.

Mr Copeland’s background includes management, sales and marketing, supply chain management, tertiary teaching, journalism and being a brand ambassador.

His latest post was with Treasury Wine Estates, the second largest wine company globally. He led the export strategy and the supply chain team for four years. . .

Satisfaction in seeing improvement :

Colinswood Bush is alive with birdsong and has the feel of forest, a tribute to Conservation Award finalist Nigel McPherson’s stewardship. Mr McPherson (84) talks about 20 years leading the volunteers responsible for the restoration of the biodiversity of the native forest remnant on Otago Peninsula.

What is it about the project that got you involved and kept you interested?
Colinswood Bush is on private land at Macandrew Bay and has been protected by a Department of Conservation covenant since 1993. Here was a native bush remnant in the early stages of recovery previously neglected, but still with damage from grazing animals, wind, muehlenbeckia and other weed vines smothering lower growing trees, weeds and weed trees in plenty; but also the results by others to restore the original forest and some remaining good specimen trees such as broadleaf, kowhai, lacebark, a matai and nearby two substantial totara pointing to the possibilities that restoration was a realistic goal. . .

Farmlands Acquires NRM:

Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited has announced they have acquired the brand and business of NRM, an iconic New Zealand agricultural brand in the animal nutrition business. Farmlands, in partnership with commercial pig and poultry feed producer Mainfeeds, bought the New Zealand feed milling assets of Viterra, which became available for sale following the global acquisition of Viterra by Glencore.

The purchase will be completed over the next two months.

Commenting on the acquisition, Farmlands Chairman Lachie Johnstone said, “The purchase of NRM will deliver significant benefits to shareholders as part of the co-operatives animal nutrition strategy. Nutrition and water are increasingly recognised as two of the keys in furthering the development of agricultural production. . .

10 Reasons to be at the NZB Ready to Run Sale:

With catalogue production in full swing for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs here are 10 great reasons to consider making a trip to Karaka in November for this flourishing Sale:
RTR Cat Cover

11 Individual Group 1 winners in the past 6 seasons

15 Group 1 victories in the past 6 seasons

6 Derby winners since 2010

7 Cups wins in NZ since 2009 . . .

The answers

John Clarke’s blog has the answers to his Election Special Quiz.

1. True. Australia is a democracy. Some conditions apply. Please note the position of the exit nearest your seat.
2. False. The people cannot vote for the person they want as Prime Minister. They must vote for a candidate in their electorate. Party Leadership is a matter for the parties themselves. This is going well.
3. True. The best way to ensure the defeat of the party you least prefer is to vote for the other one. This is called ‘choice’.
4. False. Neither of the parties is led by the preferred prime minister. The preferred Prime Minister is Malcolm Turnbull. One of the reasons he is preferred is that he cannot become Prime Minister.
5. False. You cannot vote for Tony Abbott’s daughters or for Therese Rein, Jessica Rudd, Antony Green, Dami Im or Cyril Rioli. They are not candidates.
6. True. The first week of the campaign was between Kevin Bloke and Tony Knackers about who is fair dinkum. The second week was about the economy, which is run by Treasury. Since then it has been about remaining awake.

Clicking on the link above will take you to the other 14.

 

The Mark

The New Zealand Olympic team is sharing the Mark.

The athletes asked for a mark that would unify them, a mark that they could freely use and share. They wanted to show New Zealand and the world where they were from and where they were going and asked for a mark that would inspire them on this journey.

THIS is that mark. #makingusproud 2014-2016

This clip explains what each part of the Mark symbolises:

Familiarity doesn’t make foul fine

Be warned, if you click on the link you’ll find bad language.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority’s fourth survey on the acceptability, or not, of foul language has shown a slight softening in attitudes to swearing.

The survey, What not to Swear: The acceptability of words in Broadcasting,has been conducted four times since 1999 and is aimed at measuring any change in public attitudes. . .

The survey found that half the respondents found the eight most unacceptable words totally or fairly unacceptable if used in a television movie after 8.30pm.

“We are seeing a slight softening of attitudes for some of these words but they still remain high on the list of unacceptability,” said Chief Executive

Susan Freeman-Greene.

Five words were regarded as less acceptable than in 2009.

In total, 31expletives were measured in the survey and they are ranked from the most unacceptable to the least unacceptable (Table attached).

The report notes that interestingly, there has been a slight decline in the acceptability of less offensive words like balls, bullshit and bloody since 2009.

That surprises me, balls and bloody are used very freely,

Respondents were also asked to consider the acceptability of the 31 words in scenarios other than a television movie after 8.30pm.

There are some patterns emerging, for example the words and phrases are less acceptable when used by radio hosts in breakfast programmes and talkback, when used by real people as opposed to actors and in music videos, but more acceptable in stand-up comedy and dramas after 8.30 and in reality television where there is spontaneous content.

There has also been an increase since 2009 in the number of people who find the words retard, whore, faggot, nigger and slut unacceptable when used in all ten scenarios.

The survey also showed that males and younger people tend to be more accepting of the words and phrases, along with those who have no religious beliefs and households on high incomes.

Māori were generally more accepting than those of other ethnicities, while Pacific peoples were less accepting.

Susan Freeman-Greene says the survey is one of the ways the BSA determines community norms which helps guide their deliberations when considering complaints about language.

“The extent to which people are offended by swearing varies markedly across different groups of society, and from individual to individual. This survey is a way for us to get a contemporary view on which words are taboo, and which ones are least unacceptable,” said Susan Freeman-Greene.

I was surveyed on this and, as with most surveys, found that answers had to be black and white where sometimes there are shades of grey.

Foul language is a lot more prevalent than it used to be but familiarity doesn’t make it fine.

I walked past a group of secondary school pupils in town one day and heard an outpouring of expletives. I thought it was being directed at me but when I looked round, realised they were just conversing among themselves.

There are times when a word with short vowels and hard consonants expresses pain and anger in a way softer words don’t but my mother always told me that foul language was for fools with limited vocabulary.

Certainly the Elizabethans had ample ways to express anger and disdain without resorting to expletives.

Tastefully Offensive has a Shakespeare insult generator which could come in handy.

I’m not sure exactly what beslubbering clapper-clawed puttock means but it conveys sufficient disdain to offend without being offensive.

Waiting for cries of ‘corrpution’

Imagine if Federated Farmers, Chambers of Commerce, and other business and employers’ organisations were affiliated to the National Party.

Imagine then that this affiliation enabled them to not only influence the leadership and policy but buy it.

Imagine what would happen if the party leader said that their support would be rewarded with “radical” employment law changes.

There would be an uproar and cries of corruption.

Thankfully it wouldn’t happen.

Business and employers’ organisations have the good sense to remain non-aligned, seeking to work with governments of any colour.

Besides, National Party  members wouldn’t countenance that sort of membership let alone one which gave the affiliates more power in and influence over the party than any individuals.

Labour is different.

It not only allows unions to become affiliate members of the party it allows them power and influence over the party and its leadership.

That leads to statements like this:

. . . Mr Cunliffe said the union support would be rewarded with “radical” employment law changes.

I won’t hold my breath waiting for cries of ‘corruption’ in reaction to this promise to unions.

Tweet spotlights division

Labour’s two Dunedin MPs Clare Curran and David Clark came out in support of Grant Robertson before the leadership meeting in the city on Sunday.

A couple of polls have shown their candidate is well behind and yesterday Curran tweeted:

“The “NZ’s not ready for a gay PM” is prob the biggest dog whistle I’ve ever heard. Extraordinary that it’s also coming from within the Party.”

And that tweet is not prob(ably) but definitely an illustration that Labour’s big problem is lack of unity compounded by MPs’ ability to keep their thoughts on internal problems internal.

A leadership race like this always had the potential to expose divisions in the party and this tweet has shone a spotlight on at least one of them.

September 10 in history

506  The bishops of Visigothic Gaul met in the Council of Agde.

1385 Le Loi, national hero of Viet Nam, founder of the Later Lê Dynasty, was born (d. 1433).

1419  John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy was assassinated by adherents of the Dauphin, the future Charles VII of France.

1509 An earthquake known as “The Lesser Judgment Day” hit Istanbul.

1547 The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, the last full scale military confrontation between England and Scotland, resulting in a decisive victory for the forces of Edward VI.

1659 Henry Purcell, English composer, was born (d. 1695).

1798 At the Battle of St. George’s Caye, British Honduras defeated Spain.

1813  The United States defeated the British Fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

1823  Simón Bolívar was named President of Peru.

1844 Abel Hoadley, Australian confectioner, was born (d. 1918).

1846 Elias Howe was granted a patent for the sewing machine.

1858 George Mary Searle discovered the asteroid 55 Pandora.

1897  Lattimer massacre: A sheriff’s posse killed 20 unarmed immigrant miners in Pennsylvania.

1898  Empress Elizabeth of Austria was assassinated by Luigi Lucheni.

1898  Waldo Semon, American inventor (vinyl), was born (d. 1999).

1914 – An eruption on White Island killed 10 people.

1914 Robert Wise, American film director, was born (d. 2005).

1918 Rin Tin Tin, German shepherd dog, was born (d. 1932).

1919 Austria and the Allies signed the Treaty of Saint-Germain recognising the independence of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

1932  The New York City Subway’s third competing subway system, the municipally-owned IND, was opened.

1933 Karl Lagerfeld, German fashion designer, was born.

1939  The submarine HMS Oxley was mistakenly sunk by the submarine HMS Triton near Norway becoming the Royal Navy’s first losss.

1942 World War II: The British Army carries out an amphibious landing on Madagascar to re-launch Allied offensive operations in the Madagascar Campaign.

1951 The United Kingdom began an economic boycott of Iran.

1956 Johnny Fingers, Irish musician The Boomtown Rats, was born.

1960 Colin Firth, English actor, was born.

1961 Italian Grand Prix, a crash caused the death of German Formula One driver Wolfgang von Trips and 13 spectators who were hit by his Ferrari.

1963  20 African-American students entered public schools in Alabama.

1967  The people of Gibraltar voted to remain a British dependency rather than becoming part of Spain.

1974 Guinea-Bissau gained independence from Portugal.

1976 A British Airways Hawker Siddeley Trident and an Inex-Adria DC-9 collided near Zagreb, killing 176.

1977  Hamida Djandoubi, convicted of torture and murder, was the last person to be executed by guillotine in France.

1984 The Te Maori exhibition opened in New York.

1990 The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire – the largest church in Africa was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.

2001 Charles Ingram cheated his way into winning one million pounds on a British version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

2003 Anna Lindh, the foreign minister of Sweden, was fatally stabbed while shopping.

2007  Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after seven years in exile, following a military coup in October 1999.

2008 The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, described as the biggest scientific experiment in history was powered up in Geneva.

Sourced from NZ History Online & Wikipedia.