Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Four years ago, The Economist magazine asked me to construct a model for forecasting the results of the US presidential election. My colleagues and I did a pretty good job of capturing the uncertainty — we predicted that Joe Biden would receive between 259 and 415 votes, and he gained 306. · This year, we’re back at it, for an even closer race. We currently estimate that the two candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, have roughly equal…

Ridden by Jimmy Pike, the New Zealand-bred (but Australian-owned) wonder-horse beat Second Wind by two lengths to claim one of his greatest victories on the 4th of November 1930.  · The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing in Australasia and is widely regarded as the most prestigious two-mile (3200-m) handicap in the world. Having finished third in 1929, Phar Lap started as the shortest-priced favourite in the history of the…

Since April Fool’s Day falls in the middle of the Autumn Festival, we thought what better theme for this year’s competition! We hope you enjoy this theme – we know the judges are looking forward to judging the stories. Feel free to interpret the theme in whatever way you wish, but your story has to be a work of fiction. · We know the hard work that goes into each and every story, and we can’t wait to see the entries. As well as writing a great…

Western civilisation is crumbling before our very eyes, yet so few dare to acknowledge it. · This daunting reality is not a sudden occurrence but a mixture of complex issues that have been festering for decades. · The symptoms of this decline are evident in many aspects of today’s society, including the erosion of traditional values, the decline of religion, and the impacts of multiculturalism and mass immigration. · To truly grasp the…

New Zealand’s new free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council is a major win for both sides. · Todd McClay, New Zealand’s trade minister, announced the long-awaited deal on Thursday with his counterparts in Doha, Qatar. It is a remarkable, yet also surprising sudden success: the genesis of the agreement lies in talks that began in 2006. · The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is made up of six countries that are among the world’s…

The Old-age Pensions Act that came into law on November 1st 1898 gave a small means-tested pension to elderly men and women with few assets who were ‘of good moral character’ and had been leading a ‘sober and reputable life’ for at least the previous five years. · In the early 1880s Colonial Treasurer Harry Atkinson had proposed a needs-based insurance scheme funded by levies on workers topped up by income from Crown leases. This would have…

Every year around October and November, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, or Deepavali—a festival of lights that stretches back more than 2,500 years. Diwali 2024 falls on Thursday, October 31 to Friday, November 1. In India, the five-day celebration traditionally marks the biggest holiday of the year. · Like many Hindu festivals, there isn’t just one reason to celebrate the five-day holiday. Pankaj Jain, a professor of anthropology,…

Politicians should recognise that rising levels of political abuse are often framed as being driven by gender or race, but this perspective may misrepresent the issue. In today’s climate, if abuse is gendered or racial, it might be as equally directed towards white males as it is towards anyone else. · In 2009, former Prime Minister John Key was physically assaulted by a radical activist at Waitangi. Recently, New Plymouth councillor Murray…

Need a quick Halloween treat for the kids or the kids at heart!! This recipe for Easy Halloween Eyeball Jelly Cups is pretty eye-catching!  It is easy to make, fun and tasty too!!  The perfect Halloween treat! · You will need-  · Ingredients · - Lime jelly - 170 g - Marshmallows, to decorate - Smarties, to decorate - Black and red writing icing, to decorate · Method · 1. Put the jelly crystals in a large measuring cup, add 2 cups of boiling…

Rapid weight loss can cause a greater loss of muscle mass than losing weight slowly. The popularity of newer weight-loss drugs that shed pounds quickly has raised concerns among researchers about how this will affect the health of our muscles, which do more than just give us strength. · Skeletal muscles, the ones attached to bones, have a dual role. First, they provide structure and function and are essential for physical movement, maintaining…