Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

It's that time of year again when many RR readers are suffering SAD. This is Seasonal something Disorder. We are so sad, we can't even remember what the A stands for.

It's something to do with too much winter and not enough sun. Whoa, hang on, you're reading the Sun, so there goes that theory. So it must be just the winter.
Not much we can do about that, whanau, except maybe wait. The Government should do something about it. But they never do. Self-help is the only option, and that's why you have me.
So to cure SAD, here are some ideas:
Get outside, go mad. Run on the beach, roll down a hill. Fly a kite, chase a dog.
Go fishing. That way, you can catch some sun, a few nicely angled reflected rays off the water and maybe put a feed on the table at the same time.
Great idea, except the Government is talking about cutting the snapper limit by a third. That is the most stupid thing I've ever heard, especially considering there is no proposal to cut commercial limits, and we've all seen the indiscriminate dumping of snapper that goes on in the commercial world, especially when it is by-catch or over their 'quota”.

Something fishy
Personally, I think it's a bit of bluff going on here. Gummint really just plan to cut the recreational limit to six, but are banging on about two or three, just so when they bring in six, we'll all say 'Phew, that was close”.
A more sensible idea: increase the minimum size limit from a puny 27cm to 35cm. And stop targetting the biggest. We've banged on about this many times before.
It will put more juvenile fish back in the sea and leave the big breeders. And besides, a 27cm fish just isn't worth filleting. Many fishos already have a voluntary size limit of 35-40cm.
Anyway the fun is in the outing, not the body count. Best way to fight SAD: Wrap up warm, get outside and get moving. Catch some winter sun or rattle an old bike along Harbour Drive. Just not on the footpath, okay? Man, is that a story for another day.
Meanwhile, isn't it ironic that the same people protesting about the GCSB bill are likely the same ones lambasting a Southland man for racially abusing a taxi driver.
Invercargill had a major dose of the SAD, and hit the headlines this week thanks to a passenger. If the event, filmed in private wasn't distributed on the internet and breached Mr Shuttleworth's privacy, there wouldn't have been half the fuss. Yes it was a racist rant. Yet when you think about it, the passenger has had some serious violations of his rights. He has not broken any law, but has been hung out to dry by public criticism.

Breach of privacy
The cameras are in place to deter and identify violence, yet there was none.
We see plenty of cases of racial abuse every day toward all New Zealanders but for some reason it isn't news.
Right or wrong, Mr Shuttleworth has had his privacy violated by having a private conversation, recorded in a private situation, released without his approval to be judged in the kangaroo court of public opinion. Yet, he has broken no law.
Isn't this exactly the sort of breach of privacy and rights that the anti-GCSB bleaters object to?
So in case you are being filmed in a cab, and unknowingly have it broadcast nationwide, here's our PC guide to avoid embarrassment.

Communicating with cabbies
Here are some politically correct options to consider.
We'd recommended starting the conversation with a polite, unassuming question to set a pleasant, non-confrontational position and tone for the duration of the trip, such as: 'Good evening, how are you?”
We do not suggest calling the driver an 'Islam prick”. Avoid discussions about religion or race. Even if you have firm ideas about suitable religions for cab drivers, those thoughts are probably best left aired between you and your KKK pals.
'We don't require your Muslim bull**** in this country” could be better phrased:
'We appreciate that your religious beliefs may not necessarily concur with our own or our rights to adopt an atheist stance on these matters and the nation can function satisfactorily without such influences.”
Or if you really want to put the boot in:
'You particular deity is ugly and his mother dressed him funny.”
Do not discuss immigration issues. This will only lead to trouble, especially if one of you has recently had dealings with immigration (or if you're German, had your mansion raided by the SIS and the AOS and the LOL.)
'F*** off back to where you come from” is probably not the best way to suggest your cab driver has taken a wrong turn somewhere. Try this:
'I feel perhaps your journey may have taken a wrong direction, geographically speaking. At some point it may be advisable, in my humble opinion, for you to consider backtracking on your current course soon.”

Other options
Another option: 'Your country of origin, while I'm sure it's lovely at this time of year, does not rank highly on my list of preferred sources of personnel responsible for my transportation requirements.”
We are confident if you learn some of these PC phrases and use them during your travels, you will successfully avoid the unwanted attention of the race relations office and becoming an overnight Youtube sensation.

Parting thought
Timely, this letter from one of our regulars, which sums up the situation well:

'All the uproar over the drunken remarks to a Pakistani national is most amusing. Simply the uproar is PC in action again. What the country should be up in arms about is things like the spy bill and the attack on the fourth estate by the security system of the Beehive and its drones.
Good God When I came to NZ in 1949 I was often called a Pommie bastard and told to go back the where I came from, when my reaction was to either deck the idiot or just ignore him rather than run snivelling to the press or police. Are we no longer a race of real men and women? What would the same PC brigade of scavengers of today's society have said if someone made similar remarks to a German or Japanese person at the start of the second world war.
Come on NZ grow up and move into the real world.”

Alastair Bourne, Bethlehem.