New Words for 2007

* SALAD DODGER.
An excellent phrase for an overweight person.

* SWAMP-DONKEY
A deeply unattractive person.

* TESTICULATING.
Waving your arms around and talking bollocks.

* BLAMESTORMING.
Sitting round in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a failed Project, and who was responsible.

* SEAGULL MANAGER.
A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

* ASSMOSIS.
The process by which people seem to absorb success and advancement by sucking up to the boss rather than working hard.

* SALMON DAY.
The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.

* CUBE FARM.
An office filled with cubicles.

* PRAIRIE DOGGING.
When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on. (This also applies to applause for a promotion because there may be cake.)

* SITCOMs.
Single Income, Two Children, And Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a "home business".

* SINBAD.
Single working girls. Single income, no boyfriend and desperate.

* AEROPLANE BLONDE.
One who has bleached/dyed her hair but still has a 'black box'.

* PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE.
The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it
to work again.

* ADMINISPHERE.
The rarefied organisational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the "adminisphere" are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve. This is often affiliated with the dreaded "administrivia" - needless paperwork and processes.

* GOING FOR A McSHIT.
Entering a fast food restaurant with no intention of buying food, you're just going to the bog. If challenged by a pimply staff member, your declaration to them that you'll buy their food afterwards is known as a McShit with Lies.

* 404.
Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found" meaning that the requested document could not be located.

* AUSSIE KISS.
Similar to a French kiss, but given down under.

* OH - NO SECOND.
That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake (e.g. you've hit 'reply all').

* GREYHOUND.
A very short skirt, only an inch from the hare.

* JOHNNY-NO-STARS.
A young man of substandard intelligence, the typical adolescent who works in a burger restaurant. The 'no-stars' comes from the badges displaying stars that staff at fast-food restaurants often wears to show their level of training.

* MILLENNIUM DOMES.
The contents of a Wonderbra, i.e. extremely impressive when viewed from the outside, but there's actually naught in there worth seeing.

* MONKEY BATH.
A bath so hot, that when lowering yourself in, you go: "Oo! Oo! Oo! Aa! Aa! Aa!".

* MYSTERY BUS.
The bus that arrives at the pub on Friday night while you're in the toilet after your 10th pint, and whisks away all the unattractive people so
the pub is suddenly packed with stunners when you come back in.

* MYSTERY TAXI.
The taxi that arrives at your place on Saturday morning before you wake up, whisks away the stunner you slept with, and leaves a 10-Pinter in your bed instead.

* BEER COAT.
The invisible but warm coat worn when walking home after a booze cruise at 3:00am.

* BEER COMPASS.
The invisible device that ensures your safe arrival home after booze cruise, even though you're too drunk to remember where you live, how you got here, and where you've come from.

* BREAKING THE SEAL.
Your first pee in the pub, usually after 2 hours of drinking. After breaking the seal of your bladder, repeat visits to the toilet will be required every 10 or 15 minutes for the rest of the night.

* TART FUEL.
Bottled premixed spirits, regularly consumed by young women.

* PICASSO BUM.
A woman whose knickers are too small for her, so she looks like she's got 4 buttocks.

Heroin on Prescription!

Wow - did anybody else read this in the NZ Herald

Heroin on prescription

It is not something we like to think about really, and I agree that drugs are bad, but how much longer are people going to go on IGNORING FACTS like this, and pretending to feel good because they are trying to stop people taking drugs while all the time it JUST DOESN'T WORK.
People are just fooling themselves - just wanting to selfishly feel good about doing the RIGHT THING, while all the time having the exact OPPOSITE effect!
Well, at least SOMEBODY has pulled their head from up the sheeps bum and is talking about it.

Heroin Facts

Freedom for ALL (except the minority)

I had to read R Jordans letter twice - the first time in surprise, and the second time to check that I hadn't written it myself, and he had signed it! - That is until the bit at the end where he spoilt it by the following "unprincipled" sentence:

When is Government going to become democratic - administering the country for the good of the "MAJORITY INSTEAD OF ERODING INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS?"

The fault in this sentence is that those who are NOT in the majority ALL have their individual freedoms eroded! (exactly what R Jordan doesn't want - or is it OK for the freedoms of those not in the majority to be destroyed?)

This is where the concept of democracy is flawed.
Democracy is the COUNTING of heads, and NOT the CONTENT!
Democracy is 2 wolves and 1 sheep voting on what to have for dinner!

A more principled or moral concept is that we have the right to sustain and pursue happiness - not by permission from god, society or government, but by virtue of our nature as thinking, human beings.

To advocate the elimination of compulsion from human affairs and promote the belief that all adult interaction should be voluntary.

The only act that may be properly banned in a free society is the initiation of force or fraud by one party against another, and that the only laws that may be properly imposed are those which ban the use of force or fraud, eg murder, assault rape and theft, and that the SOLE function of government is to define and enforce such laws.

Poripori Road Picnic area - a tragedy of the commons?

What is the tragedy of the commons? I guarantee that we have members of the council who wouldn't have a clue what this condition is, so how on earth can they be expected to fix or remedy the situation - something that effects us all, and is happening around us on a daily basis!

The Poripori Road waterhole car park/layby area is owned and promoted by the Western Bay District Council, which means it is owned by everybody - and nobody (when it comes to being responsible that is!)

This is a prime example of what happens when there is not a clear set of property rights in place, and when everybody has the right to use something, but has no responsibility for the upkeep or maintenance of it.
This area is open to the public at all times with no restrictions.
People frequenting this local beauty spot park in the carpark (Layby) and frequently leave mountains of garbage, bottles, cans, nappies, condoms, wheels and car tyres etc, which are promptly used as missiles by the next lot of visitors, to be thrown and smashed on the rocks below, and the wheels and tyres rolled over the edge down into the previously beautiful bush.
Lowlifes visiting the area have recently been on a graffiti spree, covering the rocks at the previous beauty spot with unsightly tagging.
The Western Bay District Council happily consent to remove the garbage from the carpark, but once it has been hiffed into and onto the water and rocks below, their responsibility apparently ends, and it becomes the responsibility of Environment BOP! (Call me old fashioned, but I call this PASSING THE BUCK!)

New Zealanders used to have a pride in their country - a clean, green paradise! But now as the population increases, and more and more children are achieving a lower standard of education in government-run factory schools and consequently fewer taught the real meaning of property rights and personal responsibility, we have legions of low-lifes, hoons animals and losers without a conscience, and a total disrespect for the environment, and the property of others trashing the place without a care.

In the past, when there were fewer people using the resources (parks etc) there were fewer problems, but with the population growing without limit, the values that visitors seek in the parks are steadily eroded. Plainly, we must soon cease to treat the parks as commons or they will be of no value to anyone.

The council have been approached on numerous occasions to provide rubbish bins, and have refused (excuse the pun!) They have also refused to put in place speed humps, or other deterrants to the boy racers who cannot resist the opportunity to do donuts in the loose gravel, and burnouts on the adjoining tar seal.

By taking ownership on behalf of everybody for this area (and every other one like it) and neglecting to take good care of the resources as if they were privately owned they have relinquished the responsibility from a private property owner to look after, manage and take pride and care of it. This previous beauty spot is slowly and gradually turning into what resembles a toxic waste dump!

What shall we do?

There are several options. We might sell them off as private property. We might keep them as public property, but allocate the right to enter them. The allocation might be on the basis of wealth ie an entry fee or bond, by the use of an auction system. It might be on the basis of merit, as defined by some agreedupon standards. It might be by lottery. Or it might be on a first-come, first-served basis, administered to long queues. These, I think, are all objectionable options. But we must choose—or accept reluctantly with no complaint the destruction of the commons that we call our National Parks.

A very interesting and authoratative study on this subject was written in 1968 by Garrett Hardin, which can be found at the following link, or just by googling "Tragedy of the Commons"

This is what Aristotle (384-322BC) said: "what is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it"

Was he right or WHAT!

Very Grumpy YOUNG Man Vs Thieving Chardonnay Socialist old BAG

This is a letter in the BOP Times aimed at me, after my letters concerning drugs and alchohol (see Ban Jim Neanderton below)
This letter was sent in by Mry Brook - the same woman I have been contesting in regards to the museum.
Below is my letter to her in reply:

Not only do we have murder and mayhem caused by alchohol and drugs in the news, we have BOP Times columnists and letter writers who show the forces of ignorance and selfishness are alive and kicking.
Please grumpy old men of Tauranga stop your grizzling and lighten up
Show vision and sense of altruism and write positive letters to better Tauranga for ourselves our grandchildren and their children.
Mary Brook
Tauranga

*********************
My Reply

I have an acute dislike of chardonnay Socialists - a term used to describe those on the political left with comfortable middle-class (or better) incomes, tertiary education, and a taste for the finer things in life, who want to save the world, hug trees and use force upon others (for their own good of course) to get them to do things THEY think are good for them, but only when it suits them, or they benefit from it! They are the most unprincipled of all socialists, and they show a constant disregard for the rights and property of others. They often have the right goal at heart, but are extremely misguided in attaining it, as they do not care whose rights are compromised in achieving it.
I have found that these individuals get most upset when the likes of myself put up a struggle in an attempt to prise their theiving fingers and their interfering minds from my property and private life.
How dare I try to defend my wages when it could be much better spent by some bureaucrat or another on a museum, art gallery, or whatever else they think is good for me. Well I'm sorry to be an inconvenience, but I shall continue to fight the looters off at every opportunity for the sake of my children, grand-children and their children - they get no quarter (or a POSITIVE letter in their regard) from me!

A Libertarian's New Year's Resolutions

This is a copy and paste from "Liberator Online - an email newsletter to which I subscribe:

THE LIBERATOR ONLINE

Thursday, January 04, 2007. Vol. 12, No. 1
Circulation: 69,142 subscribers in over 100 countries.
The world's largest-circulation libertarian publication!

Published by the Advocates for Self-Government
Edited by James W. Harris | Email: james@TheAdvocates.org

Want to read the enhanced HTML version of this LIBERATOR ONLINE? Just click on:

http://www.theadvocates.org/liberator/vol-12-num-1.html
___________________________________________

by Harry Browne

1. I resolve to "sell" liberty by appealing to the self-interest of each
prospect, rather than "preaching" to people and expecting them to suddenly
adopt my ideas of right and wrong.

2. I resolve to keep from being drawn into arguments or debates. My purpose is
to inspire people to want liberty -- not to prove that they're wrong.

3. I resolve to "listen" when people tell me of their wants and needs, so I
can help them see how a free society will satisfy those needs.

4. I resolve to identify myself, when appropriate, with the social goals
someone may seek -- a cleaner environment, more help for the poor, a less
divisive society -- and try to show him that those goals can never be achieved
by government, but will be well served in a free society.

5. I resolve to be compassionate and respectful of the beliefs and needs that
lead people to seek government help. I don't have to approve of their
subsidies or policies -- but if I don't acknowledge their needs, I have no hope of
helping them find a better way to solve their problems.

6. No matter what the issue, I resolve to keep returning to the central point:
how much better off the individual will be in a free society.

7. I resolve to acknowledge my good fortune in having been born an American.
Any plan for improvement must begin with a recognition of the good things we
have. To speak only of America's defects will make me a tiresome crank.

8. I resolve to focus on the ways America could be so much better with a very
small government -- not to dwell on all the wrongs that exist today.

9. I resolve to cleanse myself of hate, resentment, and bitterness. Such
things steal time and attention from the work that must be done.

10. I resolve to speak, dress, and act in a respectable manner. I may be the
first Libertarian someone has encountered, and it's important that he get a
good first impression. No one will hear the message if the messenger is
unattractive.

11. I resolve to remind myself that someone's "stupid" opinion may be an
opinion I once held. If *I* can grow, why can't I help *him* grow?

12. I resolve not to raise my voice in any discussion. In a shouting match, no
one wins, no one changes his mind, and no one will be inspired to join our
quest for a free society.

13. I resolve not to adopt the tactics of Republicans and Democrats. They use
character assassination, evasions, and intimidation because they have no real
benefits to offer Americans. We, on the other hand, are offering to set people
free -- and so we can win simply by focusing on the better life our proposals
will bring.

14. I resolve to be civil to my opponents and treat them with respect. However
anyone chooses to treat me, it's important that I be a better person than my
enemies.

-- Harry Browne

Devil take the hindmost

I recently had the following letter published concerning government rationing of education (Zoning rules and boundaries) to which I had a response from Mr Orsulich with whom I have had previous exchanges with.

Eddie Orsulich's letter is as follows:

Like many others, Graham Clark appears to claim expertise in judging good schools and the best education.
An earlier minister of education Sir Ron Algie used to say "If a brick fell off the top of a high building in Wellington and killed a pedestrian, that pedestrian would surely be an expert in education."
How many of us in hindsight conclude that what we once perceived to be a poor educational experience proved to be very valuable in our molding
Pleasing experiences do not always lead to positive development, while harsh ones sometimes do.
All learning experiences add something to our education - schools are not like rubber bands, able to contract or expand at the whims of parents.
Instead of following Mr Clarks view of self-interest and the devil take the hindmost, it is better to ensure that all schools are equally well endowed and resourced and that teachers and pupils both with their mixes of human frailties and strengths can pursue sound educational goals in an increasingly complex and uncertain wor5ld. Their task is not just the education of individuals but also of future communities.

**********************

To which I have replied:

Eddie Orsulich's letter has the stench of communism about it! ie - you get what you are given by the government, and think yourself lucky you get anything at all, and do not question their authority or superior intelligence!
I am not - as Mr Orsulich suggests - an authority on education, but you don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows!
The ironic thing I have noticed about Mr Orsulich''s letters, is that ideally we both would like to achieve the same ends - ie better education, clean environment, protected wildlife etc its just that I suggest a different way of achieving them, and it is this to which he objects. He advocates the tried and failed beat-them-with -a-stick till they submit method, whereas I prefer the more civilised individual choice and free market approach.
His ideal appears to be to dumb everybody down to the lowest denominator - those who would strive to achieve must be held back to be fair to those who dont care!
It is not self-interest of which I speak - it is in the interest of my childrens education that I am concerned, and that I would prefer to be responsible for it rather that leaving it to mindless socialist morons like the (previous) minister of mis-education Trevor Mallard, whom I wouldn't trust to be in charge of my dog, let alone something as important as my childs education!

In the free market good businesses manage to stretch like a rubber band because more business is a good thing - only in government-run organisations is more business a bad thing!
As for his remark - the devil take the hindmost - the devil is socialism and communism - it's in a supercharged V8, and it's coming to get you!

***********
My original letter

Government school Rationing
"Zone cheats."

That is what some parents in Auckland have been labelled for simply trying to get the BEST EDUCATION for their children.

When I pay money for goods and services, I always attempt to get the best service or best quality goods for my money that I can.

I do not believe it is wise to purchase damaged, faulty or worn out goods for TOP PRICES

When I go out to a restaurant I only go to a restaurant where I know the food is GOOD - I will not on purpose go to a restaurant where the food is BAD, ill prepared, STALE, or of BAD VALUE.

So WHY are schools any different?

Why should I NOT attempt to get the BEST education for my children that my money can buy?

THIS is how the government run school system works! Parents are FORCED into paying TOP PRICES, and FORCED into receiving what they are given, with NO OPTION to change or exchange!

Break the rules (rules about which no one is really too sure) and you, sir and madam, are "zone cheats."

Can you imagine being called a "zone cheat" because you've been to the "wrong" supermarket; or the "wrong" book store; or the "wrong" service station?

What's the difference? Why do we have arbitrarily-drawn zones for schools when we don't have them for supermarkets, stores or service stations?

Why?

Simply because for the privately-delivered services we have something called a market, a place in which people can freely bid for the services they wish to purchase, and pricing and supply are set by entrepreneurs looking for a place in the market by meeting the needs and wishes of the customers they hope to attract.

There is no market in New Zealand's factory schools. Instead we have rationing.

In the absence of a market, we have government-imposed rationing -- rationing by zone; if you want to send your son to Auckland Grammar you will either have to pay $50-100-200,000 more to live in the zone, or you'll have to be a "zone cheat." If you're a "zone cheat," expect to be pilloried.

In a market, extra customers are a good thing.

Without markets ... extra punters are a bad thing ... a bloody nuisance ... cheats!

Good thing we don't have markets for our schools, huh? Rationing is so much more civilised than the way we buy our groceries, isn't it.