Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Will this Democratic defeat trigger another batch of wilderness years for the party? And if so, how long will this period last? · The recently concluded presidential election is not without its historical parallels and ironies, both of which speak to the country’s immediate future, as well as to the future of the Democratic Party. At the same time, both return us to the only Democrats elected to the presidency between the Civil War and the…

Binge drinking in early adult years fundamentally changes how the brain's neurons communicate, in what scientists equate to a faulty gas pedal in a car that needs more pressure applied to "go." What's more, it remains unchanged for decades, raising the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life. While there's not much we can do about the past, it may help earlier intervention and treatment to target this area of the brain. · The…

The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself when injured, but of course it has its limits. Now scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a way to improve on the natural process, making implants created from a patient’s own blood to regenerate injuries, even repairing bone. · Bodily tissues can heal small cuts or fractures pretty efficiently. It starts with blood forming a solid structure called a regenerative hematoma (RH),…

Progressivism began as a movement for workers’ rights and social reforms but today’s progressivism is often linked to “woke” or identity-based politics. · Critics say it’s more about branding, pushing ideology and high taxes over practical solutions. · In New Zealand, progressivism creates tension within the Labour and Green parties as they try to balance mainstream appeal with progressive values. · The shifting definition of progressivism ·…

We’ve long been told that “you are what you eat”, but only in recent years has research revealed that the gut – and its health – is key to almost every aspect of our wellbeing, from mental clarity to mood, and from the appearance of your skin to your energy levels and sleep quality. Even more compellingly, poor gut health may also contribute to chronic disease, such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes and even cancer. · The latest research…

In investigative journalist Ian Wishart’s 2012 book The Great Divide, the chapter “The Tino Rangatiratanga Question” hones in on the interpretation of terms central to the Treaty of Waitangi like tino rangatiratanga and taonga. · He argues that linguistic and historical evidence suggests Māori signatories understood they were ceding sovereignty to the Crown, countering the contemporary view that they only gave up limited governorship. ·…

It's ironic that TV1, RNZ, and similar media outlets so strongly support the current hikoi process, opposing David Seymour’s call for a discussion of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – so much for the impartial and investigative press. These mainstream media organizations face severe economic challenges: TV1 lost $85 million NZD in 2023, and RNZ lost $1.4 million NZD(1, 2). Meanwhile, the Māori groups they champion are thriving, though…

While billions of people believe Jesus of Nazareth was one of the most important figures in world history, many others reject the idea that he even existed at all. A 2015 survey conducted by the Church of England, for instance, found that 22 percent of adults in England did not believe Jesus was a real person. · Among scholars of the New Testament of the Christian Bible, though, there is little disagreement that he actually lived. Lawrence…

By winning the light-heavyweight championship, Timaru boxer Bob Fitzsimmons became the first man to have won world professional boxing titles in three weight divisions on November 25th 1903. · Fitzsimmons came to New Zealand with his family from Cornwall as a 10-year-old. Working his father’s blacksmith’s forge developed the powerful arms and shoulders which made him a devastating puncher. · Fitzsimmons arrived in America in 1890. The following…

23 November 1918 · No other event has killed so many New Zealanders in such a short time as the 1918 influenza pandemic. · The second and more deadly wave of a new strain of influenza arrived in New Zealand in October 1918. By the end of the year around 9,000 people across the country had died. Half as many New Zealanders lost their lives in little more than two months than during the entire First World War, and worldwide the pandemic was…