Hadiwist – the awareness that, if only one had known, one must have acted otherwise; a vain regret, or the heedlessness or loss of opportunity which leads to it. Also had-i-wist, literally, if I had known.
Ah, it’s social democracy
January 27, 2014Wondering why families earning well above the average wage need welfare?
Here’s an answer:
Quite how that works, remains moot.
Lorde’s a winner – tiwce
January 27, 2014Kiwi singer Lorde appeared shocked and overwhlemed as she accepted the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance.
The 17-year-old from Auckland’s North Shore was up against established superstars Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars in the category.
Lorde had performed her smash hit Royals earlier in the ceremony, and it was that song which secured her the award. . .
This probably isn’t the appropriate place for a confession – I’ve heard snatches of Royals, but haven’t knowingly listened to it, or any of her other songs, in full.
I have enjoyed what I’ve heard and intend to listen properly soon.
Update:
Lorde has now won a second Grammy:
Lorde has won her second Grammy for Song of the Year, after earlier winning the award for best pop solo performance.
She and producer/co-writer Joel Little – joint winners of the prize – took to the stage to say their thanks to their families, managers and record labels.
“Thanks to everyone who let this song explode,” she said. . . .
Labour wants more welfare for wealthy
January 27, 2014One of the worst aspects of Labour’s failed policies of the noughties under Helen Clark was extending welfare to the wealthy.
Policies announced today by the current leader, David Cunliffe, show they haven’t learned from that welfare should be targeted at those in need, not greed.
. . . I am announcing that for 59,000 families with new-born babies, they will all receive a Best Start investment of $60 per week, for the first year of their child’s life.
The payment will go to all families with a combined income of $150,000 or less, and will give them more choices around how they juggle the pressure of work and care for their baby. . .
Since when have people on incomes anywhere near $150,000 been in need of government assistance to help with the costs of a new baby?
This is bribing people with their own and other people’s money.
Welfare is supposed to help people in need to pay for necessities.
It is neither sensible nor sustainable to extend it to people who aren’t in need to pay for luxuries.
People earning well above the average income who can’t cope with the expenses of a baby don’t need welfare, they need budget advice.
Labour divided in Invercargill?
January 27, 2014When Invercargill MP Eric Roy announced he was retiring from politics at this year’s election, Lesley Soper who has contested the electorate for Labour in the past confirmed she will be the Labour candidate for Invercargill.
That was just a couple of weeks ago but the grapevine tells me that Labour has re-opened selection for the electorate.
Is that right and if so does it mean there’s division in Labour’s ranks in Invercargill, or between the locals and head office/unions which have a big influence in the party’s candidate selections?
National hasn’t opened selection yet but its candidate will start with a very strong foundation thanks to the hard work done by the sitting MP who even his opponents admit is one of the most likeable men in parliament.
UPDATE:
This advertisement on Keeping Stock confirms what came through the grapevine:
Has anyone seen summer?
January 27, 2014There’s nothing unusual about water skiing in January – but there is something unusual and unseasonal about snow skiing.
Avid skiers are heading to Canterbury’s mountains this morning after an unexpected dumping of snow overnight.
Staff at the region’s biggest ski field, Mt Hutt, say the dumping has left around 20cm of snow on some parts of the mountain.
“In the base area, we’ve got around 10cm on the balcony,” ski area manager James McKenzie says. “We think there’s probably a little bit more up high, we’re just heading up there on the snowmobile now.”
There was fresh snow on the mountains around Wanaka when I was there last week.
We had heavy rain at home yesterday and the autumnal feel in the air when I walked round the farm this morning had more than a little to do with the fresh snow on the Kakanui mountains.
Day after day of warm sunny weather we enjoyed last summer is a distant memory.
If anyone’s seen summer, please send it this way.