Tom Isaacson (@parsley72) · DIRTY

Tom Isaacson

@parsley72

Known in Taiwan as The Tom. Immigrant, Pākehā, he/him. Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa.

1.495 Folgt1.240 Follower9.078 Posts

YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir parsley72.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 12

Monday tomorrow. #DogsOfBluesky

Tyga the Bull Mastiff not feeling it.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 12

The hell is going on at Katharina and Daniel’s house?

Air quality in Takapuna
79 US AQI*
Moderate
Main pollutant: PM2.5 24.2 ug/m3

Data attribution
1 station from Katharina & Daniel

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 11

Peak UK politics.

Clacton on sea community hub
Stephen Wood

There's a chap on Clacton sea front giving away free black bin bags for people to use as Count Binface flags in their windows. GENIUS!

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 10

Have to say I’m intrigued.

Principal Architect job trends from the past week
2 Principal Architect roles were hired this week in your country
Companies hiring for your role
Kiwifruit Breeding Centre

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 9

This is second worst. I can’t find the worst one right now.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 7

Obviously you have more panels than we do.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 6

FFS, I just saw their latest newsletter (I didn’t choose to subscribe) and it’s absolutely mental. Apparently the markets saved us from the evil Iranians, along with the American/Israeli response. Deranged.

Free Markets: 1, Government Intervention: 0.

It’s hard to see Adam Smith’s invisible hand of the market, perhaps that’s why media don’t report on its many successes. They’re first to complain when things go wrong, but who’s around to praise the market when it works? Free Press, that’s who, and this week we look at the crisis that wasn’t.

So, what happened to the fuel crisis? Only two months ago, it felt like we could be digging in for a COVID-level crisis. Shock jock commentators seemed to hope so, as they made scarier forecasts and called for deeper Government interventions.

Former Herald columnist Matthew Hooton wrote that we were entering a Mad Max scenario, and the Prime Minister should go overseas and trade food for diesel, immediately. Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold appeared to be auditioning for the role of Michael Baker for this crisis, calling for dramatic controls on diesel and forecasting $150/bbl oil.

At various times the opposition stood up in Parliament and demanded the Government copy the most extreme version of every rationing or subsidising policy they could find overseas. There was some wild stuff to find.

The Australians made public transport free and halved fuel excise taxes. Various countries started down the path of rationing, others got into buying fuel by the billions.

In New Zealand we refurbished a tank, bought nine days’ diesel to fill it, just in case. We also raised per-kilometre reimbursement rates for low-income care workers who need to drive from house to house.

We gave low-income working households with kids $50 extra per week on the Earned Income tax Credit. The $50 will cease when petrol is back under $3 for a month – an ACT idea – that will probably save the taxpayer $250 million.

And the crisis? Now on Auckland’s Manukau Road, the super competitive strip of upstart fuel retailers, Unleaded 91 is going for $2.75. Diesel has been spotted at $2.10. The market has worked, but the media won’t thank it.

High prices stimulated supply. Ships started travelling new routes as Asian refineries started buying feedstock from Africa and the Americas, instead of the Middle East. Canadians started pumping their oil sands like there was no tomorrow (which could be true for them, now oil is back to $72). The price stabilised.

Prices also put political pressure on those fighting. Trump couldn’t do a summer before mid-terms with gas over $5 USD per gallon. The futures price dropped through May and June as it became clear everyone needed a deal.

What about the New Zealand Government plans to restrict fuel use or go up a ‘level’ in COVID fashion? Well, they just melted away without ever really seeming like a serious possibility. Prices were already giving people more reason to save than bureaucratic rules ever could, so it got hard to see the point.

None of this denies high prices caused financial pain. It hurt when yet another light at the end of the tunnel went dim before we could even see it properly. The lift in mood since energy prices fell back has been noticeable lately.

It would be better if the Iranian Government wasn’t run by mad men fixed on destroying everything beautiful in the world. But they were, and the American/Israeli response stopped them from destroying more.

But, the crisis happened, and the invisible hand sprung into action. We never ran out because prices raised new supply, and the prices shrunk as soon as the problem reversed. It’s almost a miracle that will never get any attention from the press because it didn’t involve the drama of Governments telling people what to do.

Here at Free Press, though, we are thankful the market was allowed to work.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 5

He’s right here.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 5

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 4

There’s a story here.

Found these track pants lying on the pavement while walking the dog this morning.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 2

Finally, time to start living again.

Meri Jaan
@maryaamsss_

People who vaccinated for COVID-19 won't live up to June 2026. BBC confirmed.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 2

Alan Tudyk

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jul 1

Am I doing this right?

Cerebus the Aardvark.

Phineas and Ferb

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 30

Society (1989)

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 27

I guess I’ll never know, but I’ll always wonder.

iOS showing an empty notification.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 26

Monty the Huntaway looking concerned

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 23

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 23

What did you do with the last Brexit we got you? Have you broken it already?

DAILY EXPRESS

Today marks 10 years since Britain voted to leave the EU. As Starmer finally falls on his sword and Britain faces a lurch to the left under Burnham we call for politicians to finally believe in Brexit and deliver the will of the people.

EXPRESS CRUSADE
GIVE US A PROPER BREXIT

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 21

Joe Rogan is like some barbarian Khan from the steppes that took an interest in intellectual things and his show is basically him bringing slightly nervous scholars and magicians to come before him to explain how the world works "glasses man, you explain to Joe why sky big, and how tree grow" but he
will also believe almost anything you tell him, and only recently (in the past few years) does he clap back like
"Tiny hat man say otherwise, do you lie to Joe? Tiny hat man say fat not bad for you, that sugar is enemy, so which is truth? Joe thinks you are wrong" and people just nervously go "oh-oh ok h-Haha yah I guess so"
"Joe spend many moons on horseback and training with bow and sword, but joe also wonder why skyfire rise from mountains every morning, you will explain this to Joe."

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 21

Took some time out this weekend to try a local noodle place. They’re handmade!

Shredded chicken noodles

Noodle Heaven 川味小吃
3114 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland 0600

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 18

Mayor Vaughn assures us the spare bedroom is safe.

Belle the cat in her shark head bed.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 17

Dougal and the Blue Cat. Terrifying when you’re stoned.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 14

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 14

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 14

He says thanks.

Monty the Huntaway.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 13

Just imagining these two fighting in a ring outside 10 Downing Street.

Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 12

12 Monkeys

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 9

Was it something we said?

Monty the Huntaway spurning us.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 7

I was in New Delhi recently and saw the India Gate. I thought that was pretty large but it’s only 42 metres (148 feet). This thing would be an absolute monstrosity.

Tom Isaacson@parsley72· Jun 6

Is this sport or kink?

Radio NZ
England edge All Whites 1-0 in tightly contested friendly.