Week in review, quiz style
1. How much is it likely to cost to build the 4-lane expressway to Whangārei this government is proposing?
a. 1 million dollars but said in the way Dr. Evil says it
b. 1 billion dollars but Dr. Evil etc etc
c. 5 billion dollars
d. 22 billion of our hard-earned Kiwi mum and dad dollars
2. What show does this 4-lane expressway that will get you to Kamo a quarter of an hour sooner have of getting the volumes the project would require to make some kind of sense?
a. Two shows
b. Sweet FA
c. Tell them they’re dreaming
d. All of the above
3. In a phone call between the chair of TVNZ and a senior Minister, what was said about editorial matters?
a. “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
b. You don’t even think to call me Godfather
c. Are you my new Daddy?
d. Thank you Sir, please may I have another
e. We don’t know
4. Today’s Curia Poll shows National polling at what level?
a. All of the below
b. Way below the last election
c. Lower than poor old Pop-Up Leader
c. Lower than poor old Simon
d. Almost as low as the 2020 election
5. Winston Peters has compared NZ’s situation in 2023 to what?
a. Britain after the war
b. Peter Snell after setting a world record
c. The crew of Apollo 13 after splashdown
d. Myanmar and Venezuela
6. The Swedish Central Bank recommends each adult keep how much cash on hand in these uncertain times?
a. One hundred kronor
b. One thousand kronor
c. One million kronor, but said in a Dr. Evil voice
d. 94,000 NZD — you can’t go wrong with the Kiwi
7. What makes the attacks on Iran lawful?
a. The vibe
b. Announcing it with his fingers crossed
c. The Supreme Court said I can do anything
d. Nothing — we’re supposed to uphold a rules-based world order all the time, not just when it suits you
8. Which of these forms of transport is the most efficient?
a. Ford Ranger
b. Centurion Tank
c. Bullet Train
d. Tesla
e. Bike
9. What does Ukraine have too much of right now?
a. Peace
b. Joy
c. Support
d. Landmines
10. What could you not expect to see on NZ TV half a century ago on Sunday nights?
a. Disneyland
b. Ed Sullivan
c. Country Calendar
d. The Apprentice
Answers
1. How much is it likely to cost to build the 4-lane expressway to Whangārei this government is proposing?
d. 22 billion of our hard-earned Kiwi mum and dad dollars
2. What show does this 4-lane expressway that will get you to Kamo a quarter of an hour sooner have of getting the volumes the project would require to make some kind of sense?
d. All of the above
Current volumes are well below the capacity of an upgraded two-lane road, and even optimistic projections suggest a four-lane expressway may not be warranted for decades—if ever. Fully explained here at Greater Auckland in glorious and compelling detail by Connor Sharp.
3. In a phone call between the chair of TVNZ and a senior Minister, what was said about editorial matters?
e. We don’t know. We only know, from the account of Broadcasting and also Justice and also keep-Seymour-sweet Minister Paul Goldsmith that the TVNZ board chair discussed concerns about its journalists’ reporting of crime statistics, in a private call days before the outlet ran a follow-up story to outline the Government’s successes.
Reader Russell of Pt Chev puts it best here.
4. Today’s Curia Poll shows National polling at what level?
a. All of the below
b. Way below the last election
c. Lower than poor old Pop-Up Leader
c. Lower than poor old Simon
d. Almost as low as the 2020 election
5. Winston Peters has compared NZ’s situation in 2023 to what?
d. Myanmar and Venezuela
This country was saved from being a Myanmar or a Venezuela in 2023 and that mission is still required in 2026, he intoned ominously, as is his Panto won’t. Fuck me, Grandad, have another double.
6. The Swedish Central Bank recommends each adult keep how much cash on hand in these uncertain times?
b. One thousand kronor
The Swedish Central Bank’s new recommendation is that each adult keep one thousand kronor in cash at home, citing “the deteriorating global situation.” They say the one thousand Swedish kronor in cash should cover payments for a week’s worth of essential goods. “However, the amount may need to be adjusted to the specific needs of different households.”
Cheers to reader Karren for this. She feels we would always do well to be so-prepared for global digital meltdown, digital networks being what the hell they are and the world being where the hell it is.
7. What makes the attacks on Iran lawful?
d. Nothing — we’re supposed to uphold a rules-based world order all the time, not just when it suits you
8. Which of these forms of transport is the most efficient?
e. Bike
A human on a bicycle is the most efficient. More here.
9. What does Ukraine have too much of right now?
d. Landmines. Cheers to the very good people doing the very helpful work of demining. Click here for a story to restore your optimism about humanity a little.
10. What could you not expect to see on NZ TV half a century ago on Sunday nights?
d. The Apprentice
This is really just a pretext for alerting you to the really good Netflix doco about Ed Sullivan: an admirable voice of support for the civil rights movement and for justice for the oppressed, and of course for great music.
Also greatly recommended: Taylor Tomlinson’s new Netflix special, Prodigal Daughter. Huge fan, and she just keeps lifting her work.
Off to Auckland airport now with our daughter. She’s been home for a month, first time in two and a half years and it’s been just wonderful. (Going the other way back now, if you’re wondering. Had to move fast. Such times.)
