The Good, the Bad and the downright Ugly.
At long last, the weary hiatus of an election is coming to an end. For weal or woe, we got Albo at the helm, a white paper and not too much to look forward to in the way of serious reform from La'King ensconced in the ministerial privy. But, on the plus side the RRAT committee band has been cobbled together, led by G. Sterle Esq. Even better is the appointment of Mat Canavan as deputy dog.. Both sensible, honourable, honest men. Somehow, I can't see either buying too much snake oil from any of the 'safety' agencies or accepting too much in the way of happy horse feathers from those they have a 'chat' with. Reform may not come from the Senate committee, not directly, but at least they will keep the game honest and maybe even score a few runs. Don't forget the committee for scrutiny of delegated legislation; a quiet but important voice. Who knows: but I'd lay odds on some progress being made, even if it just reduces the level of pony-pooh spouted at Estimates. We shall see....
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
The stultifying effects of the Spence administration in combination with soppy mothering prose seems set to continue; ad infinitum. Half a year gone by and the 'work-plan' - is being 'worked on'. Wow! Lets see; there are what, five months left of this year; take away week ends, long weekends, flexi-days, sick days, stress days, and other work that needs to be done; the time spent in 'meeting' etc, that don't leave too many days to work on a work plan. Then what with Christmas, annual leave and etc, by this time next year the grand plan may be near completion. It leaves one wondering how long will it take to draft the plan into a working model and how much longer it will take to implement the bloody thing. Its all BOLLOCKS - CASA know what needs to be done - it would take less time, cost a lot less money and would get industry back to tors in jig time - simply adopt the NZ regulations, harmonise with the real world, hire some professional help and stop pissing about. Step one - be shot of Spence, a ministerial puppet is not required. What is needed is someone who will tell the minister what must happen, how to do it; and, be gifted the power to do it. I couldn't care less how 'nice' or smart a person is; if they don't know what they are about, then they become a liability and an impediment. With Spence in combination with a labour government track record the future looks grim; we are stuck with this government, but we can change the administrator; the sooner the better IMO.
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
Not going to bang on about 'the ugly' or the cronyism, or the attendant stench to appointments being made under the new minister's tenure. Murky Mike, Hoostoblame and the Hooded Canary have all crept back into notice and prominence, feeding at the government tit. Rien va Plus - those who made the right bet may collect their Choc Frogs from the banker. No more said, quiet disgust rules - OK...
“I’m trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across—not to just depict life—or criticise it—but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can’t do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can’t believe in it. Things aren’t that way.”
"Can you build me a staircase here?" asked the man; "Yus" say's I. The happy idiot set to work, lovely Tasman Oak by the mile to work with, took until morning tea to 'sort' out the right boards. Stairs are one of the most satisfying jobs; the maths, the guile and cunning needed to get it all just right, cutting the stringers, birds mouth and plumb cuts test skill and demand patience. But, Friday @1530 hrs I took 18 steps from floor to landing, not a squeak, groan or a dreaded rasp could be heard. I'd have done the job for free, just for that satisfaction - thank you Grand Papa. Aye well, the kitten seems to have made a close friend, I held my breath while she helped the big dog to eat his dinner. All quite dainty, a gentle nudge a long hard stare the he shuffled across a bit and the moggy dined at top table. But, MTF little dog was watching very closely - soon or late, there will be a 'sorting out' there; no bets taken on that result.
“If nothing worse than Ale happens to us, we are well off.”
Selah...
At long last, the weary hiatus of an election is coming to an end. For weal or woe, we got Albo at the helm, a white paper and not too much to look forward to in the way of serious reform from La'King ensconced in the ministerial privy. But, on the plus side the RRAT committee band has been cobbled together, led by G. Sterle Esq. Even better is the appointment of Mat Canavan as deputy dog.. Both sensible, honourable, honest men. Somehow, I can't see either buying too much snake oil from any of the 'safety' agencies or accepting too much in the way of happy horse feathers from those they have a 'chat' with. Reform may not come from the Senate committee, not directly, but at least they will keep the game honest and maybe even score a few runs. Don't forget the committee for scrutiny of delegated legislation; a quiet but important voice. Who knows: but I'd lay odds on some progress being made, even if it just reduces the level of pony-pooh spouted at Estimates. We shall see....
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
The stultifying effects of the Spence administration in combination with soppy mothering prose seems set to continue; ad infinitum. Half a year gone by and the 'work-plan' - is being 'worked on'. Wow! Lets see; there are what, five months left of this year; take away week ends, long weekends, flexi-days, sick days, stress days, and other work that needs to be done; the time spent in 'meeting' etc, that don't leave too many days to work on a work plan. Then what with Christmas, annual leave and etc, by this time next year the grand plan may be near completion. It leaves one wondering how long will it take to draft the plan into a working model and how much longer it will take to implement the bloody thing. Its all BOLLOCKS - CASA know what needs to be done - it would take less time, cost a lot less money and would get industry back to tors in jig time - simply adopt the NZ regulations, harmonise with the real world, hire some professional help and stop pissing about. Step one - be shot of Spence, a ministerial puppet is not required. What is needed is someone who will tell the minister what must happen, how to do it; and, be gifted the power to do it. I couldn't care less how 'nice' or smart a person is; if they don't know what they are about, then they become a liability and an impediment. With Spence in combination with a labour government track record the future looks grim; we are stuck with this government, but we can change the administrator; the sooner the better IMO.
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
Not going to bang on about 'the ugly' or the cronyism, or the attendant stench to appointments being made under the new minister's tenure. Murky Mike, Hoostoblame and the Hooded Canary have all crept back into notice and prominence, feeding at the government tit. Rien va Plus - those who made the right bet may collect their Choc Frogs from the banker. No more said, quiet disgust rules - OK...
“I’m trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across—not to just depict life—or criticise it—but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can’t do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can’t believe in it. Things aren’t that way.”
"Can you build me a staircase here?" asked the man; "Yus" say's I. The happy idiot set to work, lovely Tasman Oak by the mile to work with, took until morning tea to 'sort' out the right boards. Stairs are one of the most satisfying jobs; the maths, the guile and cunning needed to get it all just right, cutting the stringers, birds mouth and plumb cuts test skill and demand patience. But, Friday @1530 hrs I took 18 steps from floor to landing, not a squeak, groan or a dreaded rasp could be heard. I'd have done the job for free, just for that satisfaction - thank you Grand Papa. Aye well, the kitten seems to have made a close friend, I held my breath while she helped the big dog to eat his dinner. All quite dainty, a gentle nudge a long hard stare the he shuffled across a bit and the moggy dined at top table. But, MTF little dog was watching very closely - soon or late, there will be a 'sorting out' there; no bets taken on that result.
“If nothing worse than Ale happens to us, we are well off.”
Selah...