What defense?

"A man who accidentally shot dead his girlfriend with a sawn-off shotgun last year may avoid imprisonment.

Justin Paul Goldstone, 21, admitted the manslaughter of his partner of six months, Samantha Joanne Henderson, 20, when he appeared in North Shore District Court today.

He also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a cut-down shotgun..."

Do I even need to start explaining why this is utter bullshit?

I doubt I would have to go past 'aiming a loaded firearm...'

The colour of the sky on your planet is...?

"Associate Corrections Minister Pita Sharples rates the Christmas meal prisoners will eat next Thursday in 20 jails as better than basic average lunchtime restaurant fare..."

If I got a restaurant meal worse than prison food, someone would be washing it out of their hair shortly after!

I know all too well what prison food is like. Nutritious, adequate and that's about it. Way behind army rations and hospital fare.

As it should be.

In fact, it's too good for most of the filth that receive it.

I have dined in Nz's finest restaurants- and a few at the other end of the market. Never have I been served up anything like prison food, with the possible exception of 1965 Army canned rations that were handed out during the late '70's. And while those trailed on the quality side, they were ahead in quantity!

Pita Sharples, you don't know what you are talking about- if you find Corrections food that good- you would be more of an ascetic!

Bullshit Alert

"...The survey found one in four Kiwis say the poor quality of their home has made someone living in them sick, and indicated the severe cost of poorly performing homes..."

If we were such a pathetic weak species we never would have made it this far.

MOST OF THE WORLD would love to have houses like the million supposed sub-standard ones mentioned in this beat-up.

So modern houses are better than those made thirty-plus years ago? Is that not how it should be? My house is 1960's. It isn't cold or damp. The previous owners fitted ceiling insulation, bathroom ventilation and a log burner, I have added a heat pump and low energy lighting. AT OUR OWN EXPENSE and without some government directive.

This is what you do if you want to be a bit more comfortable, pay for less power and want to cut maintenance costs due to damp. If you chose not to heat, ventilate or wear a friggin' jersey when it's cold- that is your outlook.

So stick the mandatory energy standard for houses where the monkey hides his nuts!

This all smack of the 'won't you think of the children!' cry heard when some group has an axe to grind.

Or some prick is after regulations that will drum up trade for HIS business- this being the more probable scenario.