WHALE OIL ON THE MONEY

Whale oil appeared to have been distracted over the wee scrap in Gaza but we were mistaken. He was still hunting arsewipes. And today the Herald on Sunday has a pic of Winston's crown supplied car being taken back. The only bit we don't get is how the Herald swallowed the weasel words of Internal Affairs over the ins and outs of the vehicles return. We don't want weasel words from government departments.

Well done Whale.

Update - and the story is the lead in the Sunday Star Times. At least they acknowledge the story appeared first on the blogs.

Saving The Whale

Cactus Kate has written piece in support of legendary blogger Cameron Slater aka Whale Oil.

Cameron has a mental illness and he doesn't hide it. He has blogged extensively about his battle with his insurance company who have cutoff his income protection insurance payments.

Cameron has chronic depression. I don't know Cameron as well as Cactus but I have met him few times, had coffee, chewed the fat. Cameron is a nice guy. As Cactus says he doesn't drink, on the cocktail of drugs he is on you wouldn't want to.

Cameron is clearly depressed and heavily medicated. He is very intelligent, with a wikipedia like knowledge of many topics. He also has the droopy eyelids and facial puffiness that comes with long term use of psychoactive drugs. Cactus says he can be argumentative: whenever I have been with him he is pleasant and rational. There is a world of difference between Cameron Slater and Whale Oil.

Cameron pisses people off. He writes blog posts that on occasions are extremely offensive, even to those who like him. I personally have a problem with his homophobic posts.

I worry about Cameron. I think his campaign to flout name suppression orders and therefore commit contempt of court is stupid. A person with a mental illness ( and a family ) doesn't need any more stress in his life.

I have no idea what Cam's diagnosis is. From what I know about Cameron from my personal conversations with Cam, and talking to his friends, some of the symptoms sound like bipolar affective disorder.

I have read a number of comments in the blogosphere accusing Cameron of being a malingerer. That is ludicrous, why would anyone want to have either chronic depression or bipolar or any other other biological mental illnesses ? Life with is a mental illness is not one you would choose.

I know because I have bipolar affective disorder. It is a real bitch. 15% of people diagnosed with it kill themselves. It destroys marriages, kills careers, breaks up families, obliterates savings. I have had bipolar since I was at intermediate school but was only diagnosed last year at the age of 47.

I know several people with bipolar and everyones story is different. I have people I love so I don't feel comfortable telling my story but here is a story that seems fairly typical of a bipolar life:

If you have been reading bipolar stories you are probably getting used to some common elements like spending sprees and hypersexuality.

I sure hope so because this is still very hard for me to tell people about.

As soon as I started my PhD I discovered online adult chat.

This was far more compelling to me than any PhD research. I was suddenly obsessed with sex yet completely uninterested in my partner. In fact, I was almost always angry about the stupidest things. I fantasized about living alone so that I would have total control over the contents of the fridge and kitchen cupboards.

Any little thing enraged me and my sexual needs were off the chart. Using the need to be online for my PhD research (which conveniently centered on cyberspace) as an excuse, I spent hours having virtual sex with men and women all over the world.

I even travelled internationally to hook up with some of these people, betraying the best partner in the world and squandering thousands of dollars that by rights belonged to both of us.

Out of shame, respect for my ex, and the constraints of good taste I won't go into details, but my sex, spending and travel spree cost me not just a fortune in cash - it cost me my marriage, home and self respect.

Just another train wreck in the many - too many - bipolar stories you can find.

Bipolar-Lives

I have no idea of the ins and outs of Cameron's battle with his insurance company but I do know that the challenge Cameron is facing is real, in fact probably a life and death struggle.

JOINING THE DOTS - WINSTON AND THE ARTFUL TAX AVOIDERS

While we were baking biscuits and hosting dinner parties in the provinces, Whale Oil, a key member of the VRWC investigative team, has uncovered some very interesting facts.
Read here at Whale Oil
Expect more dots to be joined in coming days.

WHALE OIL TAKES HOAX LETTERS TO POLICE

Bloody good job. - Will be interesting to see if the police have the forensic ability to track down the little shits who were going to smear an MP as part of a campaign to undermine the centre right and right wing bloggers.

Silly and very nasty people.

Heres more at Whale Oil

Whale oil is back - good job the little spotties have have it easy for a few days

Go hard whale oil

Get in there - go for the krill. Its gonna be a tough few weeks and we need you big guy...

WHALE OIL THINKS GOOGLE IS CLEVER - WE THINK MUTTONBIRDS ARE

Whale oil waxes on about how cool it is that Google data is now so extensive it is being used as a tool to predict flu epidemics.

It is clever but muttonbird harvest also provide us with unique predictions on weather patterns.

You see Titi ( muttonbird) harvests fluctuate . some years they are fat and abundant - and other years skinny and scarce. A birder had a diary that went back 50 years that recorded the harvest and it showed a clear correlation between the arrival of El Nino and El Nina Weather patterns.

This is all I could find on the Net - its from Otago University who have been studying Titi for about 15 years.

Climate-related patterns in titi harvest rates: Birders' diairies have been

analysed for trends in harvest rates and practices. Analysis of a 20-year plus

record of harvest information from a birder's diary led to the very significant

discovery of a strong link between titi harvest rates and ENSO weather

patterns. This statistical analysis was corroborated by birders' traditional

knowledge regarding long-term trends in titi abundance. Other diaries and

data sources are being examined to confirm the large-scale nature of this

finding.

Since then the correlation has been corroborated further.

So wee fluffy yummy birdies are just as good as bigger than big google at prediction.

FRIDAY ROUND UP

We were among some of the nations finest journalists and ex journalists and bloggers last night and we all wanted to know - Where is Allison Dine - the kindy teacher bonk of the Mr Asia drug ring big wig Terry Clark? Apparently its a very popular programme among old scribes.

What happened to the Panama of Tailor Street Blog that gave us such gems as this?

We reckoned that it was either a spook or someone from MFAT who was a little bored.

Will we meet Barnsley Bill in Mongonui this weekend?

And does it really only take a late night shared subway for a well known blogger to get into some young things frillies?

And does this mean that a cheap but successful date will now be known as a Subway?

And wasn't it kinda funny to see Gimli in person at the PJ O'Rourke gig?

And how come Matthew Hooton is way funnier since he stopped drinking ?

And how many Whale Oil Teeshirts does Whale Oil own?

Finally, why do so many Auckland men take their mistresses to Euro?

WHALE OIL DIGS AND HITS SEWER PIPE CONNECTED TO NINTH FLOOR

Whale Oil and kiwiblog have worked out the links from the limp National party conference tapes straight to the Ninth floor of the Beehive -

Clark called the tape a "cracker" today - then denied knowing anything about it.

We think that showing she is clearly a liar is a " cracker"
Silly boys.

WHALE TO GET FIRST BLOG QANTAS AWARD?

Now Whale is not noted for his subltly and he is not that whalish anymore - in fact he has lost so much weight he is in danger of having to rename the Whale Oil blog the Norwegian Racing Sardine News.

Anyway today he has a pearler of a story - it has all the right ingredients. Winston Peters , government departments and leaked emails.

Its a story he broke and has doggedly followed for weeks.

And wait theres more! Apparently he has more revelations tomorrow .

WHEELY BIG BOTTLE ON WHALE WINNING -DUCKS F**CKED

We have been watching the lycra lads Mallard and Whale Oil shape up for the New Zealand Tour de Auckland. Cactus is putting up $1000 dollars ( she has been off the grog so thats equivalent of her spending money for a couple of days) to the winner.

We cant help but be in. We still have 62 bottles of Veuve cliquot in storage. So we are taking out the magnum and will give that to the winner - We reckon that there is a fair chance that Cactus could be here for the race. She likes skinny blokes in tight shorts – although its a big stretch to call Whale Skinny. He calls me fat – but he is definitely at the lard arse end of chubby.

And its time that Mr David Farrar dipped into his savings and put a buck up as well.

And yes we reckon that Cactus will be here for the race because its about the same time as the ACT selection . So if she comes back she will have the rights to hand over the magnum to the winners – as sadly - we are attending to matters of great import and cannot be in Auckland for the Wheely big Challenge.

WHALE DESERVES THE SUPPORT OF EVERY KIWI PARENT

We have been open in supporting Whale Oil in his bid to get some movement on the laws governing supression. They are being misused. We are sure of that. And last week a case which saw a judge put a blanket suppression order on a citizen who has downloaded kiddy porn shows that it really is time for the government to sort this issue out.

The Manawatu Evening Standard has socked it to the Judge for being a liberal wanker and protecting a criminal.

What ever happened to protecting society???!!!

And today the Maori Party came out against the Judges ruling.

We agree and its time to lend support to the Site that is central to the campaign SHAME

we have put a widget up linking directly to SHAME - we urge all bloggers to do the same...



Hail to the Whale!!!!

WHALE HAS A BIG SWINGING DORK

Geez - we waited today with baited breath for the post we knew would come from Whale Oil. Sadly we know the MP who is rumoured to be at the centre of the latest sex allegations as reported here at the Herald.

We find this one very sad ( if its true) because we have had a bit to do with him over the years and thought he was one of the good guys.

We think that Whale is bloody brave, but in this incident the victim could be a family member and if that is the case we can see some justification for suppression.

However, we have also read the post of Lisa Lewis today, who writes about being abused at a young age and wished that at the time the name of the perpetrator was made public.

Its clear to see that this debate will continue for some time and its a hot issue - Gotcha - Whales website has crashed and our site is getting many hits searching for anything we have published on the MP who is alleged to have been charged with sex offences.

WHALE OIL STARTS A CRUSADE - ROARPRAWN IS ON BOARD

Whaleoil says the little Autism Intervention Trust needs our support. They were offered $1o,000 of Taxpayers money by Winston Peters but they are saying no to it.

We, like Whale, want everyone to say thanks to them for being honest, and donate some money.

So send donations to Autism Intervention Trust, PO Box 83052, Johnsonville, Wellington.


and thanks Whale - its a bloody good idea.

And email this link to all your mates - lets get the ball rolling - especially all the rock lobster boys out there - we know you are getting some good dosh at the moment- so did deep.

WHALES TALE

Bustedblonde has been a mate of Whale Oil, Cameron for quite some time now. She has told us that Cameron is a unique individual whom she proud to call a mate.

Now we don't know him that well but BustedBlonde has asked that we re -post Cactus Kates column about the shock blogger and his current troubles. BustedBlonde says many people who have a tough exterior, also have big hearts and that's Cactus to a T. She has written a poignant post about Whale.

Cactus and BustedBlonde may not always condone what Whale has written but I am pretty confident they will remain forever loyal to him.

BB says that what Cactus has written is very true.

You will find it here

with a growing number of comments.

And Kiwiblog has some comments

as does Keeping Stock

And here Cactus's post for you to read as per BustedBlonde instructions .

HoS appears to have been reading the sad plight of my mate and the mate of many bloggers, Whaleoil aka Cameron Slater.

Today is probably the most truthful article yet on Whaleoil because it was written with cut and pasted words from his wife and best mate aka Spanish Bride from his blog.

I've only known Cameron for a few years and all the time I have known him has been under the mantra of Whaleoil. Unlike SB, I have not known him as Cameron, before his spiral into depression.

I don't know all the background of his fight with Fidelity and what led up to his depressive state, because I wasn't there. SB was. She remarks that he was a different man before the events leading to his illness. I believe that now totally.

There is no one else I have ever met quite like Cameron as Whaleoil. His behaviour is outrageous. Friends compared notes and said that this is just him. It is not. What makes me astonished though with Fidelity's conduct is that they do not seem to have at any stage lead him to get help. That is medical help and counselling for rehabilitation. It used to be humourous watching Whaleoil be outrageous. It is now not so fun anymore once everyone has worked out he has a genuine problem.

The answer with Doctors has always been to prescribe more bloody pills. Whaleoil is on more pills than patients at mental homes. I know this because unknown to him I checked his dosage on his pillpackets and asked someone I know who works at an actual mental hospital. He is sedated by a cocktail of these pills which leave him tired, moody and disconnected with the world. When I realised his dosage, I knew the seriousness of the black hole he had fallen into. He's tried to come off the pills, that too has had bad consequences.

I hate pills as a solution for depression. They are not and they are over-prescribed. I hate watching all too many friends zombie around on them. They are not real people while sedated under the latest and greatest profit minded cure to make everyone "happy". The underlying problem still remains and I can't see any joy on being reliant on a pill to be happy, or even stable enough to get out of bed. It takes away the human nature of being happy and sad and managing both states.

Whaleoil does not think consequences, SB has highlighted that all too clearly. He will be fine sitting with you in a bar watching you drink (contrary to popular opinion he does not drink regularly and I've only seen him drunk once) then the slightest irritant across the bar and he will be talking about smacking another person's head in. Change the topic and his attention away and he's forgotten five minutes later of even being angry.

While medicated and unassisted emotionally with any form of therapy, he simply cannot work. The easiest question for doubters that he can be integrated into the workforce for a 40 hour week is this: would you want Whaleoil working in your office? Five minutes with him and any HR representative would instantly dismiss his job application. Fidelity's treatment has turned an otherwise creative, intelligent mind into a zombie who now firmly believes he cannot work. At the moment I am on the side of stating that he cannot.

Whaleoil is a great friend because he cares about his friends, but an unreliable one. That is, even the slightest task you know he may not do it on time. As the reliable party in the relationship you have to organise everything around Whaleoil not being able to perform his part. This frustrates him when he realises what has happened.

Insurance companies are not paid to care. I feel however they are paid to follow contracts and assist their clients back into the workforce so they are not made to rely on payouts. There's no doubt in my mind that Cameron Slater as Whaleoil is one of the most clinically depressed people I have ever met. While the original event leading to this depression may have been minor in the scheme of things Fidelity and the medical professionals who treated him from that point in time have failed miserably and created Whaleoil as we all read him today on his blog.

Fidelity created the monster that is Whaleoil. There is no doubt about that after watching him the past few months. Even when Fidelity were still paying him, the posts were written when he wasn't actually getting better. On a few good days, a Whaleoil post can be brilliantly coherent, well-reasoned and rational. On a bad day a Whaleoil post can be the most offensive thing on the internet.

There is only so much that friends and family can do for Whaleoil. The frustrating thing is that no one can wave a magic wand and make him better. It has gone past that and I've seen everyone try. His close family we can see have tried everything. His wife and kids are amazing in the circumstance, their love is unconditional.

Whaleoil needs serious medical attention from medics without a conflict of interest from working for an insurance company or more medics who border on being criminals in my view - the depression script writers. They should be given Oscars for their script writing abilities. He needs a time out, away from the stresses of modern life getting back to basics of routine and normality. But most of all he needs help and therapy to re-connect with himself, his old self. The one that his wife speaks of but most bloggers would never have seen.

Cameron Slater.

Heard that he is a fucking great bloke.

If Fidelity Insurance found that bloke, I'm sure they would have a case closed and not look like the bunch of cunts they will be made to look like when it is disclosed they haven't done a single thing, other than medication, to try and find him.

Busted reckons that Cactus is on the button.

WHALE WANTS BLOOD

We could not agree more - .Whale oil has some very good reasons why.
Have they no shame ?

National wimps on the ETS

Whale oil
This from the Blue whale who is suddenly changing colour.



I was reading stories to my kids when I was called by a friend, a long-serving MP, who told me that the National Party had voted to support the Emissions Trading Scam (ETS) by stopping it from going back to Select Committee.
Obviously this can’t be true, but I thought I would tell you what my source told me anyway.
Apparently, some parties in parliament thought that the Bill involves very significant Treaty of Waitangi issues that should be considered by the Select Committee, but which haven’t been so far.
I think they are right. The ETS will destroy at least $2 billion of Maori wealth, and even more of Pakeha wealth.
But my source told me the National Party didn’t care about this. Apparently, the National Party VOTED WITH LABOUR, against the Maori, ACT and Green parties, to push through the legislation tonight. If National had voted with the Maori, ACT and Green parties, the legislation would have failed.
According to my source, the National Party’s residual Don-Brash-perspective on the Treaty of Waitangi issues means they would prefer to vote with Labour, in favour of the ETS, rather than vote with other parties, like the Maori Party, to stop the ETS. Bashing Maoris is more important than protecting our economy from Labour/Green madness.
Surely this is not true. If it is, then fuck them. It would mean National was even worse than Labour and that we should all vote ACT. Right now, I still plan to vote for my local National candidate but I am not voting for a party that supports the ongoing taxation of people based on dodgy un-proven science and the support of a corrupt, morally bankrupt party lead by a proven liar.


shame on the nats.... I suggested today that the National party today had a chance to create a point of difference...

They didnt - Im not sure if I am angry or sad but I want some answers....

KORDIA DELIVERS DEAD BIRD TO SOE MINISTER

Whale Oil often has us laughing out loud - he adds spice to some fairly meaty issues and this morning is no exception. Today his target is Kordia - the old Broadcasting Communications Ltd.

Now we have been doing a bit of delving into the performance of the SOE's, the government owned companies that often have some interesting monopolies. Some are ready for a bit of pruning.
Kordia is no exception. So its looks like some of the bloggers are going to put the heat on underperforming SOE's.
Kordias NPAT was $838k - a wee bit less that their expected $12mil and a lot less than the previous years $14mil.



Whale has made an excellent start.

Expect more to come.

Read here for the sad tale of a company delivering up a dead bird

UPDATE: NBR has just posted a story on the fact that Joyce wont be making an announcement on the broadband funding today as tipped by the Herald.
It mentions that Kordia is looking for a handout though - We suppose its expected when they are a bit short of the readies.

BILL GETS THE BLOG BASH

First Cactus gives Bill English a broadside, then Whale oil takes exception to Fran O'Sullivan's column where Bill dribbles on a bit. Bill and John are shaping up to be the ying and yang of National. Is that a bad thing? We think not. It is clear from Fran' s column that Key leads and English then sets about giving his ideas legs. That's got to be good. So unlike Cactus and Whale we are pleased that Key is okay with English's gentle chiding about his creativity. Every ideas man, every visionary needs a solid bugger in the engine room to do his bidding and that's where English shines.For once we see a team that is so solid that they can gently take the piss out of each other in public. That is very cool.

AROUND THE BLOGS

MacDoctor and Whale vie for top honours today.

Macdoctor has a very interesting take on what the problems are with child cancer treatment. His view may surprise you.

Whale Oil is calling for the axe to fall on the neck of Richard Worth and he hint darkly there is more to come. He is also outraged at the performance of Bill English on Q and A this morning. He is convinced that Bill did not do a very good job of backing up his boss. MWT also agrees

As does No Minister

So we reckon they will be right - he will have to go. And then the spotlight turns to who will pick up the protfolios... Hekia Parata? Paul Hutchinson? Tau Henare?



and if you are looking for a good place to go to look at interesting blogs try condron.us

TREVOR "DONT TOUCH ME " MALLARD

We have just been watching Close Up which tonight is being hosted by the irreverent Paul Henry.

He is doing the story on the Supreme Lodge motel in Palmerston North that has banned all Wainuiomata residents from staying there because they keep wrecking the place.(We have stayed there.. We had a Cactus weekend there about 8 years ago- no names)

Anyway....
Henry invited Trevor Mallard MP and defender of the high culture of Wainuiomata , to chance his arm at getting a booking at the said Motel. However Mallard was met at the door by a burly Scotsman, asnd joint owner who sent the dork on his way- telling the poleaxedMP, in no uncertain terms that he was banned. The motellier lifted his arm to nudge him out the door and Mallard squeaks " don't touch me don't touch me !"

What??!! is this the Minister who biffed Tau Henare and got done for it ?

He looked an utter wanker - we can see a Whale Oil U tube vid coming to a computer near you soon.

And good on Supreme Motor Lodge. Its time for Wainiuomata's good citizens ( apparently there aren't many of them) to clean up the town image.

Mallard would have been better to have called a meeting in Wainuiomata and looked at some solutions - instead he will be ever remembered as an attention seeking yesterday politician with a lithp.

Update Whale has the goods here on vid