Peter

theguardian.com‘It’s the smell of freedom’: Belgrade cleans up after Student List triumphBinbag-wielding volunteers clear encampment used by thugs to intimidate opponents of deposed government

A dictator type NOT calling for violence on defeat and accepting the result??? What's going on! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

nzherald.co.nzGreens blast ‘backing the gangs’ election billboard adsThe Greens have lodged an ASA complaint over the election ads.

Pathetic. Does National have anything to *actually* campaign on? They have dragged campaigning into the gutter. America style. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

Peter reposted

A longer form explanation of the wacky and interconnected world of sectoral surpluses and deficits - including the usual lurid charts and jibes. musicalchairs14.substack.com/p/sectoral-b...

Why are most outlets reporting Russian casualties of Ukrainian drone strikes lately but making scant mention of the ongoing attacks by Russia on Ukraine?

Peter reposted

Replying to @musicalchairs.bsky.social

But, rural recovery, dual speed something or other, right? Nah, regional areas also turning. Sorry. The ecomomy runs on oil and credit. The former is fking expensive, and the latter is getting choked by RBNZ. [3/3]

Peter reposted

Replying to @musicalchairs.bsky.social

Here's the actual job ads index. Even Canterbury is on the turn. [2/3]

nzherald.co.nz'Level playing field': MMA backing Peters plan for Combat Sports CommissionNZMMAF helped NZ First develop the commission's initial framework.

Illegal fights?? Wow. The problem you never knew existed, yet alone wanted fixed www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/electi...

The most useful idiot Putin has ever had.

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com

🚨NEWS: Trump just WAIVED sweeping sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia under the Lindsey Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act, which he signed just LAST MONTH. The executive order suspends 500% tariffs on Russian goods and 100% tariffs targeting major buyers of Russian energy.

rnz.co.nz'The power is in our hands': Young people aim for biggest youth voter turnout yetYoung people are mobilising across Aotearoa, calling on their generation to enrol and vote in November's general election.

Please vote.

Jolisa Gracewood@nzdodo.bsky.social

"18-24-year-olds are the second-largest voting age group in Aotearoa. We've got the numbers, and the power is in our hands," campaigners said. "What if we all showed up?" 👏🙌🙏👊 #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Peter reposted

It was a busy week for sad face data. Here's electronic card spending per capita - adjusted for inflation. Continued slump. Worth a look under the hood... [🧵 1/n]

npr.orgThe new Elizabeth Holmes film blends fact, fiction and fraudNathan Fielder's new film about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes blurs the lines between reality and fiction. The film can be genuinely gripping — but the truth might not be so ambiguous.

Reads like a propaganda work to me. www.npr.org/2026/10/16/n...

How much milage is Stanford going to get out of improvements that began before she went tinkering.

theguardian.com‘I am still a child, it cannot be good to be married’: how drought forces Afghan families to sell girls as bridesAs climate breakdown pushes families to starvation, many feel forced to ‘sacrifice’ daughters to save siblings, with girls as young as eight and 10 engaged or married to repay debts or pay for food

If we ever wonder what international aid is trying to prevent. This is it. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

apnews.comFIFA will propose $6.3 billion funding for soccer development, AP sources sayFIFA will propose to its members a $6.35 billion fund for soccer development between 2027 and 2030, including a boosted amount of $25 million for each national association, two people with knowledge o...

Bungs for the 3rd world. apnews.com/article/fifa...

Has the Zachbot not *seen* any recent White House pressers? Seemingly she's not 100% with peddling total lies yet. 🤦‍♂️

theguardian.comUK asks Interpol to reject Argentina’s ‘politically motivated’ requests for Falklands oil arrestsExclusive: Caution urged over Javier Milei government’s ‘red notice’ requests for arrest of individuals linked to oil project

The clearest signal you can get an Argentine government is struggling. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comTrump donor accuses ‘grifter’ Kimberly Guilfoyle of $100,000 quid pro quoEric Deters says US ambassador to Greece asked him to pay off American Express credit card bill in return for access

Only Trump's favorites are allowed to enrich themselves... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

The major irony of "free markets" and railing against Government, when the US Gov underpins the entire thing. 😆

Musical Chairs@musicalchairs.bsky.social

This is owner-occupier mortgage payments as a % of GDP for the US and NZ. Again, the US just rolled on through. Why? Because the US Govt backs 30-year fixed rate mortgages that can be refinanced at any time. Existing mortgagors are insulated from rate hikes unless they move home / refinance. [8/n]

1news.co.nzFormer Ardern staffer recalls back-seat argument in new book“I was suggesting, in fact, that I thought the Government was doing too much. It needed to do less. We needed to focus on the economy,” he said.

Needed to 'do more for the economy'? Well what they did do was criticized as "over spending". Do people not realise that protecting jobs and getting money into people's hands was the best thing? Unless they meant shorter lockdowns to kill more people...👀 www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/11/f...

stuff.co.nz‘Let’s fight hard’, Ardern says in rallying call to Labour faithfulFollow the election campaign live.

When everything is framed in terms of a dollar "cost" it becomes the only focus. Whatever the perceived dollar amount is irrelevant compared the the outcome here. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361...

rnz.co.nzACT sets out plan to raise retirement age, cut debt, spending and disability benefitsThe ACT Party's fiscal plan promises to cut debt and spending, raise the superannuation age by three months every year, and cut disability benefits by $653 million.

Horrible people. Who does cutting help for those with disabilities resonate with exactly? www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Peter reposted

Latest NZ balance sheet data is out. Always a pleasure. We can start with our apparently perilously indebted government. Errrm, see those blue bars? They're higher than the yellow line, right? Yep, the private sector is in net debt to the Govt. Daft. [🧵1/n]

Should be immediate and for ALL. However it's a start.

Musical Chairs@musicalchairs.bsky.social

Simply the best socio-economic policy anyone can vote for this election. If I was splitting hairs, I would say that the six months wait is about six months too long, but it's still a great start.

theguardian.comA replica of Donald Trump’s Oval Office goes for the gold in Washington DCThe tourist attraction just unveiled an elaborate, full-scale overhaul to match Trump’s second-term aesthetic

Fit for a King or a Roman Emperor. That's the bit people seem to be missing. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

stuff.co.nzNational releases fisheries plan, but Hipkins says they ‘can’t be trusted’ to protect Hauraki GulfFollow the election campaign live.

MAGA BS. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361...

theguardian.comControversial vaccine trial touted by RFK Jr gets go-ahead in Guinea-BissauRecommended dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be withheld from thousands of newborns by Danish researchers

Not going to try this in DC are they....disgusting. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Peter reposted

I mean, it is not actually funny, but good grief. When you hear Lux-out talking about the 220,000 jobs on the way, getting the economy back on track, and the return to slurplus (whatever), remember that the numbers rest on assumptions that are frankly bollox.

Peter reposted

No, untrue, do not take these ghouls seriously.

Ahh all praise the billionaires. Billionaires are not the same as sports people. Some sports people *become* very wealthy though but it's not from their prize money. Find me a billionaire who became one making the world a better place? There must be some?

theguardian.comChrista Pike ‘angry, confused’ and unable to move arms after failed execution, lawyers sayAttorneys say Pike was set to be taken off life support before she woke up, as judge orders officials to preserve evidence

The US takes such delight in gruesome ways of killing it's own people. From the ICE murders to executions. These things won't look so different to the activities of the worst regimes in history when we look back. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

rnz.co.nzNational promises random drug testing for jobseeker beneficiariesNational is promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're "ready for work".

Presumably smoking and alcohol is out too...more virtue signaling again... www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Policies!!!

nzherald.co.nzPeters keen to revisit conversion-practices law, likens abortion to murderThe NZ First leader aired his views but stopped short of announcing new policy.

No real polices. Just culture wars. Is NZ politics at it's lowest ebb? www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

rnz.co.nzOne of NZ's most educated people: we need to 'crank up the intensity'We’re far too chilled when it comes to education, says 31-year-old Jamie Beaton, who boasts 12 degrees from various universities - so far.

I do agree on the point we need to really invest in our local skills. However he misses the fact that the hollowing out of the civil service in NZ is not an accident but by design. www.rnz.co.nz/life/people/...

Yeah all well and good "hustling" mate but you've become a billionaire based on the propagation of elitism. You need to hustle to have any hope of becoming one of the increasing few getting a slice of the concentrated wealth. The entire premise is wrong. www.rnz.co.nz/life/people/...

1news.co.nzProvider selected for New Zealand citizenship by grant testAspeq Limited has been chosen to work alongside the Department of Internal Affairs to design the service, including the booking, payment and delivery of tests nationwide.

I wonder how the selected provider is related to these people. Something is always crooked. So after living here for 7 years , 20 multiple choice questions is supposed to determine what ?? 🤦‍♂️ www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/07/p...

theguardian.comArgentina will stop Falklands exploiting offshore oilfields, foreign minister saysPablo Quirno says move is part of Argentinian government’s strategy to peacefully assert sovereignty over the islands

Argentina has controlled the Falklands for TWO months in the last 193 years. Move along. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comChrista Pike is conscious and speaking after botched execution attempt, lawyers sayThe prisoner received two doses of pentobarbital last Wednesday as authorities tried to put her to death

Barbaric. 30 years in prison and tortured half to death. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

nzherald.co.nzLabour promises to reinstate pay equity, but only costs one claim, leaving $8.5b out of planThe Labour Party published its fiscal plan, reiterating a pledge to restore the old pay equity regime, but declining to include a specific cost for this in its spending plan.

The "cost" is $8.5 billion back in OUR hands. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

I don't like that people are burning National signs. I also don't like they have over $7 Million in their warchest from a handful of mega donors.

tomshardware.comCalifornia bill requiring 3D printers to block firearm printing becomes law — existing machines are exempt, but mandate hinges on unwritten ASTM standardAssuming a standard is published, that is.

Yet one can legally a firearm and there are over 300 million in circulation...hmmm....priorities people! www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/...

1news.co.nzGovernment secures land for new south Auckland hospitalHealth Minister Simeon Brown announced the future hospital will be on Karaka Road in Drury.

Butcher Brown should focus on making the existing health service work... www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/03/g...

Peter reposted

The Post is running one of those 'ignore the austerity hyperbole' stories. A few things to note... 1. The article uses unadjusted figures throughout. If you adjust the $ for inflation and population, Govt operating expenditure in 2026/27 is below 2023/24 levels (by $144 per capita), and.... [🧵 1/n]

The continued presence of the barbarism of capital punishment in America speaks volumes on the underlying mentality their

punchng.comFalkland Islanders seek ban on Argentine visitors over flag rowSome Falkland Islanders are calling for restrictions on Argentine visitors after reports of tourists displaying Argentine flags and messages rejecting

You know an Argentine regime is in trouble when they start agitating over the Falklands. 🤣 punchng.com/falkland-isl...

Peter reposted

Always worth a reminder of what investing in the country looks like.

rnz.co.nzLabour, Greens show some support for David Seymour's Epsom school proposalThe Epsom candidates for Labour, the Greens and National have thrown some support behind ACT leader David Seymour's campaign to buy land in the electorate for a new school.

He will want to be a Charter school and given to a pal to run no doubt. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Peter reposted

Wonder if anyone willask whether govt has simply given up on people who can't find work in this low demand, sale at briscoes, profits above wages economy? Yesterday's benefit forecasts suggest we will miss the govt's target by over 60,000 people!