Colin James 

This year has been one of transitions, in the world economy and energy options, in the orthodoxies by which the rules are made and, here at home, in politics, policies and preferences.

Pranks - the very word sounds light-hearted. But not now, not after it has been buried under the weight of tragedy. By now the world knows what a hoax gone wrong can do, following the apparent suicide of   nurse Jacintha Saldanha.

...There’s a huge gulf between these hoaxes and what goes on in modern media. Now a prank is often not so much a joke as an abuse of on-air power...

Chris Horan

Doctor Steven Kelly, general practice surgeon of Surgical Associates, Christchurch, said 80% of obesity was due to genetics and that, “Diet, drugs, and psychotherapy don’t work when you’re morbidly obese. Only surgery works.” (Sunday Star Times, 18/11/2012)

Two thirds of the article was devoted to positive patient stories. Nothing was mentioned about risk. Sound like another promotion to anyone else out there? According to Dr Kelly, about 1000 weight loss operations are performed in New Zealand each year. And the number is expected to grow as “New Zealand is in the middle of an obesity epidemic”.

Paul Smith

“Credit where credit's due” wrote journalist Richard Boock in Stuff earlier this year. He added: ‘This might not be the most deceitful New Zealand Government of the past 50 years but it's certainly the most brazenly deceitful.

‘… If there were to be awards for sneering-in-your-face dishonesty; for being deliberately misleading and for sweeping inconvenient truths under the carpet, the Class of 2012 would already be assured of the silverware. Seldom, in the field of shameless chicanery, has one Government achieved so much.’ 

Aw Richard, that’s a bit harsh isn’t it?

Colin James

Climate negotiators are in Doha for two weeks. The symbolism is grim: Doha gave its name to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) global freer trade talks which have frozen, giving way to regional bargaining: a United States-based deal will be talked over in Auckland next week and an Asia-based deal was kicked along last week in Cambodia.

Not much, if anything, will be done at Doha these next two weeks that will actually (as distinct from putatively) slow greenhouse gas emissions. Our government is in synch: this month it diluted its watery emissions trading scheme by replacing a near-valueless "pledge" under the Kyoto Protocol with a safely undefined (but, John Key has said, firm) future pledge under the bottom-up, sanction-free general convention.

“I'm going to buy a chain saw” I said.

“Why?” I was asked “you already have one”.

“It’s electric and I want to get a proper grunty one”.

“You've been watching that disgusting video again haven't you?”

“It’s not disgusting, it’s a cult movie.”

“Come off it, it’s the Texas Chain Saw Massacre and it’s disgusting.”

Chris Horan

Separated by 15 years, it is not only in the names that similarities are to be found in these man-made disasters. The owners, and here the terms private individuals, corporate, or government are interchangeable, were concerned with money, not safety.

Colin James