Worst landing in Wellington?

I've been through a few rough landings in Wellington, but nothing as bad as these:

Should we have Intelligent Design in the classroom?

A group of Christians are trying to have their pet scientific theory of
"Intelligent Design" promoted in schools.

I'm not opposed to Intelligent Design in schools - but the intelligent design I want is in a good curriculum that teaches kids reading, writing and arithmetic - all the intelligent things needed to set them up for thriving in society as adults.

As a Christian, I accept that God created the Universe and everything in it - it's a personal, philosophical belief that can't be easily explained, or proved conclusively. The Science of Evolution is an understanding of the universe and everything in it, not a contradiction any supernatural beliefs.

The Theory of Intelligent Design at best can be called lazy science, but I'm more likely to say it is more an exercise in propaganda than science. And it doesn't belong in any school.

Cricket

Then ...



Maybe the rules for accidental collision need clearing up - possibly "dead ball" is called when players from opposing teams collide accidentally and one side gains an advantage. This would also cover the fielding team conceding a run if their player is impeded accidentially.

My Unsolicited Advice to United Future

If I was in Peter Dunne's brains trust, there would be one line I would use at the up-coming election - "If you usually vote Labour, you should vote for United Future to keep National from the extremists."

It's a message I would be trotting out a lot - arguing that United Future with seven to ten MPs will have influence over National and keep ACT and NZ First away from Government. And I wouldn't be shy about explicitly attracting Labour voters.

Their conference this weekend was a good step for United Future in this type of strategy by sticking to just three key messages - moderately lower tax, electoral reform and getting more elective surgury done in the private sector - that are likely to be non-controversial with Labour voters.

National's high poll ratings will not survive the scrutiny of an election campaign and other parties big promises (knowing they don't have to implement them). And as the election campaign gets to it's end it should be clear that National will not be able to govern alone.

By capitalising on it's strengths of being considered a reliable partner for any Government, and if United Future stays on message it could very well be attractive to Labour voters - especially the conservative working class Labour voter - wanting to ensure a moderate National Government.

Criminal Procedures Act

The dispute over removing of depositions hearings in the Criminal Procedures Act is one I find both simple and complex. While there is a need to protect the rights of victims, such as in the Clayton Weatherston murder case, there is also a need to protect the accused from unnecessary prosecution and allowing them to have their side of the story explained to ensuring there is a fair process leading to any conviction.

I would like to see a compromise where there is a presumption that a Depositions Hearing is to be held - but that this can be dispensed with when the written evidence is overwhelming and there is a strong likelihood that the hearing will result in a determination that there is a case to be answered, or if the defendant acknowledges there is a case to be answered.

A final reason would be if the defendant has indicated they are going to use the hearing to enter a guilty plea, rather than having to go through the process of assembling a jury or otherwise. As a safeguard if the defendant changed their mind, this would automatically mean that there is a case to be answered.

There would also need to be provision where the JP or Judge presiding in the case would be able to speak to witnesses as part of determining whether a Deposition hearing is necessary.

In Clayton Weatherston's case, media reports say that the accused admitted killing Sophie Elliot to Police, and that Sophie's mother also saw the stabbing, so there would be no doubt that there is a case to be answered.

But in a case such as the upcoming David Bain trial, where there are no witnesses and the main evidence from the prosecution is technical, a depositions hearing would be necessary to ensure that the evidence is strong enough.

Queue Jumping

News that former Green Party MP Mike Ward has had a change of heart and will not seek to re-enter Parliament if Nandor Tanzcos resigns is nothing more than twisting of election rules to suit the needs of the party. Green MPs need to remember that they are there to represent those who voted for the Green Party in 2005.

It was the Party List in 2005 that electors voted on so Mike Ward who is the rightful replacement of any Green MP who leaves Parliament, not Russel Norman. While the circumstances in which the Green Party finds itself were not forseeable, putting pressure on candidates to stand aside for the party interests, not the voters interests, is undemocratic.

(I must admit a small admiration for Mike Ward - he is a genuine model of the low environmental impact lifestyle the Greens lecture us on, even going as far as catching the bus from Wellington Airport to Parliament rather than a taxi. And I have developed a strong dislike for Russel Norman, who seems more intent on attacking large corporates for being large corporates - rather than for their actions - and comes accross to me as a bit slimey and fake.)

Bishop Viard is 40!

Not Bishop Phillipe Viard, the French Bishop who arrived in Wellington in 1849, but the college in Porirua.

It's interesting going back to your school after 20 years, and interesting to see the changes. The classroom I did third-form maths in is now the Home Economics room, and the Home Economics room now teaches French. The library has moved and become two classrooms and a woodwork/metalwork shop.

And it was really pleasing to see some old friends - especially the one who said "sorry" for something foolish that teenagers sometimes do and I had forgetten about!