tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:33:19 +0000Michael Ellis is a political junkie. He OD's on Parliament. His favourite hit is National.http://www.ellisnz.com/noreply@blogger.com (Michael)Blogger886125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2881197048177410427Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:30:00 +00002009-11-27T21:14:39.658+13:00http://www.casadozezinho.org.br/ (In Portugese)http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/two-children-different-result.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-6578795402545182925Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:12:00 +00002009-11-23T20:14:16.118+13:00In case you missed Top Gear last night, here is Jeremy Clarkson trying to find a way to emphasis the Volkswagen Scirocco Deisel's fuel economy in a new advert:http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/jeremy-clarksons-great-volkswagen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-3272321316363452794Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:08:00 +00002009-11-19T21:16:16.479+13:00One of the great things I've found in my role on the North East Community Committee is the enthuiasm amongst local groups and the pride they have in their local areas.As an example, the last two years about 50 or so volunteers have turned out to repaint the Naenae Shopping Centre. Last year I couldn't help (It was on polling day, so I had already committed to helping a friend) but this year I http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/big-splash-naenae.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-6677383537889906756Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:59:00 +00002009-11-17T22:05:30.681+13:00I went along to the Bikoi today and talked to a couple of people. I asked them if they felt they were subsidising the drunks, the risky riders, and the incompetent drivers. They both felt it was unfair for them to have to pay for other peoples' mistakes in riding when they didn't cause a burden on ACC.So I asked them if they thought paying based on individual risk would be a better system. Onehttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/bikoi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-795422005723049112Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:43:00 +00002009-11-15T17:07:11.374+13:00Rory Falloon reckons Soccer (no, I'm not calling it by the F word) doesn't get a fair go in the media. "We just want a decent chance to be in the headlines."If there is one thing that this week has proven, you have a decent chance to be in the headlines. In fact, you've dominated them to the point that the Rugby Test in Italy was hidden in the middle of the sports section on Friday, while http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/why-soccer-fans-in-new-zealand-dont-get.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-6370894376873313357Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +00002009-11-15T08:05:39.877+13:00We're the All Whites and we're marching off to SpainWe'll score goals goals goalsAnd we'll score some more againWe're New Zealand let's put soccer on our mapSo come on all New Zealanders let's sing and shout and clapKiwis clapclap clapclapclapAll Whites clapclap clapclapclapWe're New Zealand let's put soccer on our mapSo come on all New Zealanders let's sing and shout and clapKiwis clapclap http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/11/were-all-whites-and-were-marching-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2870676439191299379Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:41:00 +00002009-10-20T21:58:22.973+13:00I've been following the ACC debate with some interest - and the debate boils down to should ACC be pay as you go, or fully funded? There are some questions about whether the liability should have been disclosed in the Pre-election financial update, and whether having competition for employers insurance is acceptable, but it's not a wholesale idelogical debate.What I find odd is the shrillness ofhttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/10/when-you-believe-your-own-proproganda.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2514956211808696786Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:27:00 +00002009-10-20T21:29:05.443+13:00No children were harmed in the making of this video - it actually was for the BBC Christmas Party and not intended for public consumption.http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/10/one-skin-two-skin-three-skin-four.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-7206945699315919944Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:23:00 +00002009-10-16T21:36:11.485+13:00.. those Aussies, who stole our favourite bands: Dragon in the 70sSplit Enz in the 80s and Crowded House in the 90sAre now trying to tell us Ladyhawke is not Australian!Here's the deal - you guys got Russell Crowe, we keep all the good ones.http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/10/after-all-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-6874148449614696520Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:32:00 +00002009-09-20T15:37:18.460+12:00What an impressive display by the All Blacks last night, and a win that derserves credit going to the players, but also the coaches.It may have taken the debacle against the Springboks to make them realise that time was up for several players, but the changes they made were inspirational. One only hopes that last week was the last ever test for Stephen Donald. And that players who are there on http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/if-coaches-learn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2364246927403067343Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:53:00 +00002009-09-19T15:56:25.359+12:00"Cougar alert at Microsoft campus"I had a picture in my mind of an article about middle aged women trying to snare the rich, geeky young men of Microsoft. But they actually meant a real cougar!http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/article-not-what-i-thought-of-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-5486970555801541988Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:43:00 +00002009-09-17T20:43:56.190+12:00http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/good-call-mr-president.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2395235383517840089Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:02:00 +00002009-09-14T21:02:27.146+12:00http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/steyn-or-thorburn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-1260277222330649659Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:15:00 +00002009-09-12T10:40:23.693+12:00Wellington won 19 years in a row, then loses once - so why are the 'naki boys celebrating? The last time Wayne Barnes was a referee in a game involving New Zealand teams, he made sure the weaker team won.http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/excuses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-369465558627981239Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:17:00 +00002009-09-01T20:22:59.804+12:00Hot Horse, Ljubljana.Illegal meat trade, Aucklandhttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/09/they-dont-eat-horses-do-they.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-8419783006149652031Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:03:00 +00002009-08-30T09:07:52.434+12:00So, you want to convince NZ that a light smack is okay. But you:Say whacking your kids with a wooden spoon or a ruler is a good idea.Threaten to kill your opponent to prove you have good family values.Stupid.http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/how-not-to-win-argument.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-1385724008046589097Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:42:00 +00002009-08-28T20:45:07.668+12:00Tau Henare has got himself into trouble with his colourful description of Rodney Hide. At school we were told Shakespeare is the very peak in the use of English Language - so then it is alright to use the 'C' word just like he did:Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2HAMLET Lady, shall I lie in your lap? OPHELIA No, my lord. HAMLET I mean, my head upon your lap? OPHELIA Ay, my lord. HAMLET Do you thinkhttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/tau-has-plenty-of-precedent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-1675898244802763490Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:23:00 +00002009-08-26T19:29:45.155+12:00A recent Law Commission report has sparked debate on whether the drinking age should be returned to 20, or even raised to 21. To me, the problem isn't 18 and 19 year olds drinking to excess, it's drinking to excess at all ages. The serious question that needs to be asked are why are so many young people drunk in the party areas of town (E.g. Courtenay Place) when there is an alcohol ban and http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/its-not-how-old-you-are-when-youre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-8396403049727570254Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:37:00 +00002009-08-23T10:39:10.540+12:00Does anyone still think Robbie Deans would have been a better choice than Graham Henry?http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/henry-5-deans-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-5723451769520663964Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:44:00 +00002009-08-23T09:49:12.249+12:00That Guy takes on racial quotas and shows how ludicrous they are in sport, where the determining factor is always how fast/strong/skilled/good you are. As he says:"Perhaps it is easier just to stick with the fastest times for now."Although he forgets that the best way to determine if you're 'white' is to judge the dancing ability of people claiming to be of European descent. If you can dance, http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/that-guy-takes-on-racial-quotas-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-6611223255535216543Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:36:00 +00002009-08-23T09:56:24.955+12:0088% of New Zealanders voted No to the question and already the excuses are coming:Only 54% of voters returned a form - so only 48% of registered New Zealand electors voted No.On that basis, only 7% of New Zealanders voted Yes - which makes it look more pitiful. And most Local Body elections have turnouts around 40%, but we ratify those quite happily. Well, perhaps reluctantly, but not voting is http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/nyet-nein-non-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-5291454513219863788Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:44:00 +00002009-08-16T11:00:41.905+12:00Six Years"The Korean self-styled pastor convicted of manslaughter after an exorcism went wrong, has been jailed for 6 years and will be deported upon his release." - NZ Herald, 20th December 2001.Community Based Sentence"In the High Court at Wellington today eldest brother John Tahana Rawiri, 50, and eldest sister Glenys Lynette Wright, 52, were each sentenced to six months of community detentionhttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/spot-difference.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-2380737180945800393Sun, 09 Aug 2009 06:14:00 +00002009-08-09T18:20:24.183+12:00Those that are threatening Judith Ablett-Kerr are misguided about what defence lawyers job is - a job not just for the criminals they represent but for society as a whole.By providing a strong defence to the accusations, by ensuring all avenues which could prove innocence or provide reasonable doubt are test, they ensure that when a conviction is entered it is a sound decision that cannot be http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/those-that-are-threatening-judith.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-8049303576261155822Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:41:00 +00002009-08-06T21:51:53.706+12:00There is one simple way to sort out Ministerial Housing that is transparent to all, and resolves the problem for ever.First, sell all the Ministerial Houses except Premier House. This would probably net quite a lot of money, as the houses include a large home on a very large section in Bolton Street, several Thorndon townhouses, and prime apartments. Or at the least, it would save a lot on the http://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/sorting-out-ministers-housing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9927125.post-4378642390759187780Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:52:00 +00002009-08-04T20:57:04.256+12:00I have a Freeview decoder and the high definition shows are great. There's also a range of channels available, although the TVNZ 7 news channel is a bit of a disappointment with it being pretty clogged up with old documentaries of dubious quality.But becuase it's such a hassle to change back to regular TV, plus the loss of picture quality, I hardly ever watch Prime TV. So I couldn't work out whyhttp://www.ellisnz.com/2009/08/prime-on-freeview.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael)0