Chief Stipe

Have I missed something over the years (well I know I've missed quite a bit generally) but why is RITA driving this?

I haven't had time YET Mardigras. The first 3 hours of my day are spent doing BAU chores on BOAY. Today I slept in which is not surprising as I've been putting in some long hours. My posts are generally leisure activity. I will admit that they are coloured at the moment by personal experience. Contrary to what you may have assumed I spent a few years working in the government side of Health and quite frankly it doesn't take much to get me pissed off with the faceless risk adverse bureaucrats that run the show. I'll get back to you in due course.

I can't find it on the NZTR website. Must still be in draft for "internal" discussion.

Posts related to Covid-19 not Bernie's Blog.

Covid-19 posts shifted from Gallops - Te Akau thread.

Posts from the Gallop Topic "Bernies Blog" that are Covid-19 yarns.

No we don't. 152 countries have a lower number of recorded cases per head of population. At last count there were about 198 countries so 75% of them are lower than NZ.

Muldoon won't be turning with angst but delight. After all he loved intervening in the economy and throwing money to the masses.

I was working off the same stats as you. Stats not opinion. But then you are referring to the gradient are you not? I misquoted Adern. She said "We have amongst the lowest number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the world." My bad.

Another thing to consider is Ireland has a high number of cases per population relative to other countries but a lower number of deaths relative to those cases. Again Dublin has the majority of cases in Ireland.

They do largely don't they. But they are not immune from swallowing the hook of BS are they? For example how many of the population believe that we have one of the lowest rates (levels of infection per population) of Covid-19 in the world? Australia is doing better. I gave up counting when I got to 100. As for leaving the "wagering stuff to someone who knows what they are doing" they can be excused for thinking that's what they had done.

Oh and another factor that may have made a difference is Ireland had a bad flu season with Covid-19 coming hard right after. Note the deaths per million are well short of Spain and Italy.

The median age of those who have died is 83. Mostly in Dublin. 1.9 million people. The population density is 5 times that of Auckland. 14% of population are aged over 65. Average temperature for April is 13 high - low 4.

David Ellis is a stockman and a pretty good one at that. He can be excused for believing the crap that was dished out. Geez there are still prominent people in the industry that believe Racefields Legislation will be the saviour.

Wasn't the only one who got it wrong however Ellis has made it quite clear one of the reasons is the lack of clear direction from the NZ Industry managers.

Maybe the 50% spare capacity reported by the Ministry of Health isn't enough for the experts. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121126159/coronavirus-41-canterbury-dhb-staff-isolating-after-contact-with-confirmed-cases

If you are wondering if I made it up I assure you I didn't. However it is not the first time that information has "disappeared." I may have taken a screenshot of it.

What have I said that isn't fact? What we do know is that our hospitals are half full or even less. To go back to your bread bakery analogy that you have often used in the past. You have known demand and you know your average throughput. You have an unknown variable in terms of the quantum of extra demand caused by an event. However you are receiving data on that extra demand. Do you operate your bakery at 50% capacity and keep paying all the fixed costs and staff costs? Leaving a substantial part of the demand unsatisfied? Yes we do normally live in a parliamentary democracy but at the moment that has been suspended. FFS our Deputy Prime Minister is in his own bubble in North Island. If the underpaid teenager at the supermarket checkout is required to work why isn't Parliament?

I would but I can't. I did a search for it yesterday and I can't find it!

If "The Programme" is adhering to the Level 4 Lockdown rules and requirements then I've "got with the programme." I don't buy into this "Masterclass" in politics bullshyte. Fairly easy to do things in this country compared to the rest of the world. Given the complexities involved in Australia you would have to say they have done extremely well. If "getting with the Programme" means: Accepting that Parliament should be suspended and far-reaching decisions should be made by two individuals without the scrutiny of Parliament then NO I'm not on board; That certain sectors of society should have to carry the burden of "the programme" more than others. Then NO I'm not onboard. We talk about the number of employees at RITA earning over $100k a year but did you know that there are 3,000 MPI employees with a total salary/wage cost in 2019 of $300m. I'll do the math for you - that's an average salary for 3,000 people of $100,000. These are the people telling us how fast we can ride horses. How many government employees have been laid off or taken a pay cut? Remember it is the other 55% of the workforce that fund them; If a bank is an essential service why is it closed and not open like the supermarket? Does it mean that I will become a snitch and ring the RIU when I see the trainer down the road working some of his horses faster than a canter? NO. Didn't you advocate doing that?; Will I voluntarily sign up to letting the Government track my movements and contacts? NUP; Do I accept the Government mortgaging the country and my young daughters future to the tune of $100 billion (and rising) and spending it the way they are? NUP; Does it mean accepting the nonsense directive that "attending school isn't voluntary if your child has someone to look after them at home"? Definitely not. I could go on. We are not hearing the truth instead we are hearing outright propaganda coated with syrup such as unity, we can do this, we are saving lives.....and on and on and on. Meanwhile our hospitals are half empty and that isn't just because "elective" surgery has been cancelled. There are people out there who are paying with their future health to save people who are already sick. Is that a fair price to pay?

Just heard that Te Akau have acquired 12 boxes at Flemington.

What programme is that?

How many public servants have taken a pay cut?

We have had a very warm summer and in most of the country a very mild autumn. With the latter the normal flu season has not yet kicked off. Covid-19 kicked off in the Northern Hemisphere late-winter and early Spring. There is very strong science indicating that Covid-19 is adapted to the same seasonal temperatures as the flu. Why did we go into Level 4 Lockdown when we did? Another question: Why are we contemplating coming out of Level 4 if the virus season is yet to start? I have my views - I'd love to hear yours.