Have you lost the will to live yet? Don't bother answering. That's a rhetorical question. We have all lost the will to live. At the time of writing - having to write that is the very definition of having lost the will to live - we have been waiting a month for something, anything, to happen. We are all still locked in that room with the clock that stopped on election night.
As political tactics go, it's not a bad strategy. If we've all lost the will to live we won't care about the outcome of National's cobbled-together government, as long as something, anything, happens. Oh, they all agreed Winston Peters can be President for Life? Whatever. Now, can we go back to our lives?
Scoff not. Stranger things have happened in politics. Donald Trump became the president of the United States, and may yet be president again. Meanwhile, in Britain, former Tory prime minister David Cameron has just been made foreign secretary. Cameron was arguably Britain's most divisive leader since Margaret Thatcher because of his bonkers Brexit referendum on leaving the European Union.
Cameron is not even an MP any more. He had banked on Britain voting to stay, and went off in an almighty huff after the vote didn't go his way. No matter. Cameron can be in the Cabinet again, though not in the House of Commons, by being made a peer and sitting in the House of Lords. Political commentator and associate editor of Britain's The Spectator, Rod Liddle, said Cameron's appointment was like "pulling a dead rabbit out of a hat". So there you go: why not Peters as President for Life?
WHERE'S WINSTON?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 25 - December 1, 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 25 - December 1, 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
