Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Dull
Make of this what you will.
The dullest blog in the world
I find Dave Walker's writing sublime.
The comments from readers considerably less so.
The dullest blog in the world
I find Dave Walker's writing sublime.
The comments from readers considerably less so.
Straightening the doormat
Sunday, February 7th, 2010 I noticed that the doormat was at a slightly crooked angle. I reached down and moved the mat back into its correct place. The edge of the mat was then perpendicular to the door.
Robert Winter's Guide for Voters
Robert Winter clears away any confusion there might remain over National's post-election plans:
"No-one will be able to enter the voting booth in November without a clear idea of what a Key-Brash government will do. They are laying out their wares in bold:
"No-one will be able to enter the voting booth in November without a clear idea of what a Key-Brash government will do. They are laying out their wares in bold:
- driving people out of welfare into non-existent jobs
- the promotion of a low-wage, low skill labour market in a low quality economic model
- a debilitated and increasingly stretched state sector
- privatisation from ACC to Air New Zealand
- reduced real expenditure in Health, Education and the like
- "mates' rates" for the business sector and farmers
- eroded workplace rights for workers
- a "dog in a manger" approach to climate change
- the arrogant misuse of parliamentary process
- the erosion of local democratic functions
- the subordination of foreign policy to US interests
- a "trust us and hope" economic policy"
Another day at Mullet Bay
Popular tourist spot Mullet Bay, basks in the benefits of the dairy boom. Human visitors to the unique site yesterday frolicked amongst the splattered cow shit and pock-marked soil, excitedly discussing the panache shown by the farmer in encouraging his cows to wander freely - no 'herd homes' for this devil-may-care guardian of the land!
Ebullient Environment Southland staff joined in the merry-making, driving all the way from Invercargill to see what all the excitement was about, taking photographs, writing in note-books (poetry?)
Perhaps they'll publish something for us all to enjoy.
I wonder who collects the milk from these sea-side-lovin' cows?
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Brethren are back!
Don Brash hadn't met the Brethren and he doesn't know about the attack on MMP.
Crikey Don, you're a bullsh*tter!
Orcs, Wormtongues, Slitherins and assorted nasties are gathering their vile forces to make an assault on MMP and Don's quite unaware of it all. So's John Key no doubt, much in the same way he didn't know about the Brethren's sneaky machinations some time back.
Lusks, Farrars, Slaters and other lowly creatures are scuttling about as I type, wheedling and scheming, gathering in the vast piles of money they'll need to con the public into thinking that MMP's no longer 'what they want'. The Shirtcliffe FPP hasn't a snowball's chance of returning from the crypt (though Brash did, and Douglas, so who really knows?) and Key will begin to lay his favoured alternative onto the public like honey on toast until its sickly sweetness will completely mask the tongue-rasping reality underneath. Getting lurid now, but you get the picture.
Fight to retain MMP I say. Then iron out its blemishes.
Oh, the Brethren. Bound to be supporters of a campaign like this and they're not short of a dollar. They proved that last time.
Two Dunedin women - one blind, the other mad.
Justice sits in a green space near the Dunedin railway station, scales in one hand, sword in the other, her blind eyes turned to the sun...and a massage parlour come house of ill-repute across the way. The building is owned by Act MP Hillary Calvert. Hillary has had a giant image of her own eyes printed and attached to the top face of her building, for reasons known only to her.
It's really quite bizarre.
I was walking below the building yesterday and took this photo, after having shot Justice a minute or two earlier.
I could have named this post 'Act of Madness.'
It's really quite bizarre.
I was walking below the building yesterday and took this photo, after having shot Justice a minute or two earlier.
I could have named this post 'Act of Madness.'
Cosy Nook
Cosy Nook is a special place. Its sheltered bay has great historical significance to both Maori and Pakeha. The huge rocks that form one of the islands in the bay are a spectacular sight on a calm day, unforgettable during a storm. Tourists and locals love to walk the stony beaches. Recreational fishermen catch greenbone from the shore, using seaweed as bait on their hooks. It's picture-postcard pretty at Cosy Nook.
Here's a photo showing the stony beach.
Watch this space.
Here's a photo showing the stony beach.
Watch this space.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Dunedin images
Just back from a visit to Dunners, a meeting with organic growers, a visit to a peninsular garden a Ravensbourne flat - all good fun.
Here are some of my pics.
Here are some of my pics.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Lizard King
I've been cycling around lately, building up my cycling legs. I told my wife that my thighs are now like those of a Tyranosaurus Rex. She replied, 'Like the T-Rex arms you mean!'
Disappointing.
In Tolstoy's footsteps
Leo Tolstoy loved chopping firewood. He regarded it as a form of meditation. A reflective, instructive activity. Swinging an axe is very different from weilding a pen.
I'm a little like Leo in that, only I saw. As in, 'I saw my firewood up with a hand-saw.'
I've so many trees now in need of pruning; apples, alders, beech, koromiko, makomako, totara etc. that the limbs I remove for the sake of ease of access to the forested parts of my garden pile up and block paths, unless I process them further into logs for the fire. I use a pruning saw for that, and I love doing it.
Here's a shot of yesterday's barrow-full of wood.
I'm a little like Leo in that, only I saw. As in, 'I saw my firewood up with a hand-saw.'
I've so many trees now in need of pruning; apples, alders, beech, koromiko, makomako, totara etc. that the limbs I remove for the sake of ease of access to the forested parts of my garden pile up and block paths, unless I process them further into logs for the fire. I use a pruning saw for that, and I love doing it.
Here's a shot of yesterday's barrow-full of wood.
Progress, my eye
"We need to keep our foot on the pedal of progress," says Eric Roy in Wednesday's paper.
Talk about putting lipstick on a pig!
Not only are National content to fiddle while Rome burns, they insist on painting the situation rosy at the same time.
Like his leader, Eric is bouncing from cloud to cloud.
Robert Guyton
(Southland Times - "Your View" Friday 27)
Move! Move!
Yesterday the papers carried a minor article that revealed that police no longer need to seek permission to pack a taser.
Today this.
What could the force be preparing for?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Campbell does Waituna
Oh dear!
John Campbell featured the Waituna Lagoon on his show tonight and some people came out all covered in effluent.
The messiest was the hapless DairyNZ CEO, speaking from somewhere in Egypt (deep in denial), totally missing the point, the message and in action, if you can unravel all that. He was dreadfully out of the picture and will be in for a roasting when he rocks up at Environment Southland HQ tomorrow. How he could have it so wrong we may never know, going by the imperviousness of the three DairyNZ representatives who addressed the council today, seemingly unable to articulate any opinion at all that wasn't prefaced with 'the science isn't in yet, the science doesn't...the science, the science.
Ali Timms did her level best to not drop the council in the muck and partially succeeded, though a couple of the questions from the interviewer hung in the air a little longer than they should have. She has the difficult role of blurring the culpability of past councils whose decisions helped create the mess the lagoon is now in. Te Ao Marama's Dean Whanga didn't drop anyone in what he described as 'yucky' stuff, but then again, didn't express any outrage on behalf of tangata whenua, as I expected he might. Perhaps any rage was edited out, though Dean's a level-headed guy.
The emails that flew in were not supportive of the dairy industry, judging by those that Campbell read out and I'm guessing there will be some that didn't paint the ES councillors as heroes as well! No doubt some of those will make it to the letters to the editor column over the next few days.
The plot, like the water of the lagoon, thickens!
John Campbell featured the Waituna Lagoon on his show tonight and some people came out all covered in effluent.
The messiest was the hapless DairyNZ CEO, speaking from somewhere in Egypt (deep in denial), totally missing the point, the message and in action, if you can unravel all that. He was dreadfully out of the picture and will be in for a roasting when he rocks up at Environment Southland HQ tomorrow. How he could have it so wrong we may never know, going by the imperviousness of the three DairyNZ representatives who addressed the council today, seemingly unable to articulate any opinion at all that wasn't prefaced with 'the science isn't in yet, the science doesn't...the science, the science.
Ali Timms did her level best to not drop the council in the muck and partially succeeded, though a couple of the questions from the interviewer hung in the air a little longer than they should have. She has the difficult role of blurring the culpability of past councils whose decisions helped create the mess the lagoon is now in. Te Ao Marama's Dean Whanga didn't drop anyone in what he described as 'yucky' stuff, but then again, didn't express any outrage on behalf of tangata whenua, as I expected he might. Perhaps any rage was edited out, though Dean's a level-headed guy.
The emails that flew in were not supportive of the dairy industry, judging by those that Campbell read out and I'm guessing there will be some that didn't paint the ES councillors as heroes as well! No doubt some of those will make it to the letters to the editor column over the next few days.
The plot, like the water of the lagoon, thickens!
Open letter to John Key from James Hansen
* Hat-tip 'The Standard'
Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Dear Prime Minister Key,
Encouraged by youth of New Zealand, especially members of the organization 350.org, I write this open letter to inform you of recent advances in understanding of climate change, consequences for young people and nature, and implications for government policies.
I recognize that New Zealanders, blessed with a land of rare beauty, are deeply concerned about threats to their environment. Also New Zealand contributes relatively little to carbon emissions that drive climate change. Per capita fossil fuel emissions from New Zealand are just over 2 tons of carbon per year, while in my country fossil fuel carbon emissions are about 5 tons per person.
However, we are all on the same boat. New Zealand youth, future generations, and all species in your country will be affected by global climate change, as will people and species in all nations.
New Zealand’s actions affecting climate change are important. Your leadership in helping the public understand the facts and the merits of actions to ameliorate climate change will be important, as will New Zealand’s voice in support of effective international actions.
The fact is that we, the older generation, are on the verge of handing young people a dynamically changing climate out of their control, with major consequences for humanity and nature. A path to a healthy, natural, prosperous future is still possible, but not if business-as-usual continues.
The state of Earth’s climate is summarized in the attached paper, whose authorship includes leading world scientists in relevant fields. The bottom line is that Earth is out of energy balance, more energy coming in than going out. Thus more climate change is “in the pipeline”.
Failure to address emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of human-made climate change, will produce increased regional climate extremes, as seen in Australia during the past few years. But young people, quite appropriately, are concerned especially that continued emissions will drive the climate system past tipping points with irreversible consequences during their lifetimes.
Shifting of climate zones accompanying business-as-usual emissions are expected to commit at least 20 percent of the species on our planet to extermination – possibly 40 percent or more. Extermination of species would be irreversible, leaving a more desolate planet for young people. They will also have large effects on New Zealand’s principal export industry, agriculture
Sea level rise is a second irreversible consequence of global warming. Some sea level rise is now inevitable, but with phase down of fossil fuel use it may be kept to a level measured in a few tens of centimeters. Business-as-usual is expected to cause sea level rise exceeding a meter this century and to set ice sheet disintegration in motion guaranteeing multi-meter sea level rise.
Prompt actions are needed to avoid these large effects. Phase-out of coal emissions by 2030 is the principal requirement. Also unconventional fossil fuels, such as tar sands, must be left in the ground. These conditions, plus improved agricultural practices and reforestation of lands that are not effective for food production, could stabilize climate.
I have had the opportunity while in your country to meet your science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman and your climate change ministers, Hon Nick Smith and Hon Tim Groser, and discussed these issues with them. If I can be of any help with the science of climate change I am very willing to assist your government. Implications for New Zealand are clear.
First, New Zealand should leave the massive deposits of lignite coal in the ground, instead developing its natural bounty of renewable energies and energy efficiency. If, instead, development of such coal resources proceeds, New Zealand’s portion of resulting species extermination estimated by biological experts would be well over 1000 species. Most New Zealanders, I suspect, would not want to make such ‘contributions’ to global change.
Second, New Zealand should lend its voice to the cause of moving the global community onto a path leading to a healthy, natural, prosperous future. That path requires a flat rising carbon fee collected from fossil fuel companies domestically, with the funds distributed uniformly to citizens, thus moving the world toward carbon-free energies of the future.
Prime Minister Key, the youth of New Zealand are asking you to consider their concerns and exercise your leadership on behalf of their future, indeed on behalf of humankind and nature.
With all best wishes,
James E. Hansen,
Adjunct Professor
Columbia University Earth Institute
Cc Sir Peter Gluckman
Hon Nick Smith
Hon Tim Groser
Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Dear Prime Minister Key,
Encouraged by youth of New Zealand, especially members of the organization 350.org, I write this open letter to inform you of recent advances in understanding of climate change, consequences for young people and nature, and implications for government policies.
I recognize that New Zealanders, blessed with a land of rare beauty, are deeply concerned about threats to their environment. Also New Zealand contributes relatively little to carbon emissions that drive climate change. Per capita fossil fuel emissions from New Zealand are just over 2 tons of carbon per year, while in my country fossil fuel carbon emissions are about 5 tons per person.
However, we are all on the same boat. New Zealand youth, future generations, and all species in your country will be affected by global climate change, as will people and species in all nations.
New Zealand’s actions affecting climate change are important. Your leadership in helping the public understand the facts and the merits of actions to ameliorate climate change will be important, as will New Zealand’s voice in support of effective international actions.
The fact is that we, the older generation, are on the verge of handing young people a dynamically changing climate out of their control, with major consequences for humanity and nature. A path to a healthy, natural, prosperous future is still possible, but not if business-as-usual continues.
The state of Earth’s climate is summarized in the attached paper, whose authorship includes leading world scientists in relevant fields. The bottom line is that Earth is out of energy balance, more energy coming in than going out. Thus more climate change is “in the pipeline”.
Failure to address emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of human-made climate change, will produce increased regional climate extremes, as seen in Australia during the past few years. But young people, quite appropriately, are concerned especially that continued emissions will drive the climate system past tipping points with irreversible consequences during their lifetimes.
Shifting of climate zones accompanying business-as-usual emissions are expected to commit at least 20 percent of the species on our planet to extermination – possibly 40 percent or more. Extermination of species would be irreversible, leaving a more desolate planet for young people. They will also have large effects on New Zealand’s principal export industry, agriculture
Sea level rise is a second irreversible consequence of global warming. Some sea level rise is now inevitable, but with phase down of fossil fuel use it may be kept to a level measured in a few tens of centimeters. Business-as-usual is expected to cause sea level rise exceeding a meter this century and to set ice sheet disintegration in motion guaranteeing multi-meter sea level rise.
Prompt actions are needed to avoid these large effects. Phase-out of coal emissions by 2030 is the principal requirement. Also unconventional fossil fuels, such as tar sands, must be left in the ground. These conditions, plus improved agricultural practices and reforestation of lands that are not effective for food production, could stabilize climate.
I have had the opportunity while in your country to meet your science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman and your climate change ministers, Hon Nick Smith and Hon Tim Groser, and discussed these issues with them. If I can be of any help with the science of climate change I am very willing to assist your government. Implications for New Zealand are clear.
First, New Zealand should leave the massive deposits of lignite coal in the ground, instead developing its natural bounty of renewable energies and energy efficiency. If, instead, development of such coal resources proceeds, New Zealand’s portion of resulting species extermination estimated by biological experts would be well over 1000 species. Most New Zealanders, I suspect, would not want to make such ‘contributions’ to global change.
Second, New Zealand should lend its voice to the cause of moving the global community onto a path leading to a healthy, natural, prosperous future. That path requires a flat rising carbon fee collected from fossil fuel companies domestically, with the funds distributed uniformly to citizens, thus moving the world toward carbon-free energies of the future.
Prime Minister Key, the youth of New Zealand are asking you to consider their concerns and exercise your leadership on behalf of their future, indeed on behalf of humankind and nature.
With all best wishes,
James E. Hansen,
Adjunct Professor
Columbia University Earth Institute
Cc Sir Peter Gluckman
Hon Nick Smith
Hon Tim Groser
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Key appoints two ambassadors
Prime Minister John Key has announced the appointment of Sarah Ulmer as ambassador for his flagging cycleway project, in the hope that Ulmer's celebrity profile will obscure the poor progress of the idea Key touted at the now infamous 'Jobs Summit' talkfest of the first term of the NActional Government.
Key's second appointment, that of ex-Prime Minister Mike Moore, as Ambassador for Pandas represents a desperate effort by the now-Prime Minister to cover the failure of his 'swap an icon with China' project. The 'panda to the Chinese' miscall was a spectacular failure for Key, but we should all thank our lucky stars his cloud-bouncing mind hadn't settled on, say, an elephant!
Stork scissors! Who knew??
Visiting this afternoon (to view the ripe bananas - this is Southland, remember) I spied these tiny scissors lying on the table. "You've not heard of stork scissors?" asked my host, incredulously. Nope. I hadn't. But now I have.
Here they are and here's the banana hand.
Here they are and here's the banana hand.
Boxing on
Here's what's demanding my time at the moment - boxing up our apple crop. I've stacked box after box of Gloria Mundi, Jonagold and Kid's Orange in our temporary apple house, after wiping the wet leaves and bellbird poop from a percentage of them, setting aside the bruised for stewing of a winters morn, carefully placing the remainder onto the purple pressed paper-pulp trays in their recycled cardboard apple boxes then lugging them to the cool shelter of the afore-mentioned store-house.
It's great work if you can get it.
It's great work if you can get it.
Two mysteries
For those who like to puzzle over images, here are two.
The first is of a section of tree, the 'twigs', only they're the strangest twigs I've ever seen. I have no idea what this tree is and would very much like to know its name. It grows in a park in Blenheim, if that's any help. I swiped a sample as I passed through recently.
The second image is more mundane, but puzzling perhaps.
The first is of a section of tree, the 'twigs', only they're the strangest twigs I've ever seen. I have no idea what this tree is and would very much like to know its name. It grows in a park in Blenheim, if that's any help. I swiped a sample as I passed through recently.
The second image is more mundane, but puzzling perhaps.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
1st Congregation
Exciting times at the Church of St Estuarine the Brackish.
My first experience with the 'flock'.
Their presence, and their unasked questions, caused me to reflect on the place of the church in my town.
My first experience with the 'flock'.
Their presence, and their unasked questions, caused me to reflect on the place of the church in my town.
Glowering skies
The estuary looked mercurial, leaden and phosphoric this afternoon (only one of those words is true - the others I couldn't resist because of their metalic connections. Ironic, isn't it.)
Here are two views.
Here are two views.
National sells Southland
In fact, Frank MacKasky says they want to sell the whole of New Zealand, that the election is a de facto referendum - voting National will mean giving them the go ahead to flog off our valuable possessions.
Frank's not alone in writing anti-Nat, anti-sale letters today. The 'Your View' column is heavily weighted with them.
James Wilson rips Mr English a new one, as the indelicate say, and gives Key the thumbs-down. James is deeply unimpressed by the pairs ability to see into the future and their plans to hock off our valuable assets.
Hugh Gardyne writes a thoughtful and intelligent letter of some length, in protest of the selling-off of Southland farms. He's no 'average Joe', being an active player in the farming industry. He warns over and over that land ownership is slipping rapidly from the hands of New Zealanders and calls the guidelines for overseas investment are a 'whitewash'.
Quite so.
English, Key and the National Government take a real pasting in the Southland Times today. Let me draw your attention to one word there. SOUTHLAND.
Have a nice day!
Frank's not alone in writing anti-Nat, anti-sale letters today. The 'Your View' column is heavily weighted with them.
James Wilson rips Mr English a new one, as the indelicate say, and gives Key the thumbs-down. James is deeply unimpressed by the pairs ability to see into the future and their plans to hock off our valuable assets.
Hugh Gardyne writes a thoughtful and intelligent letter of some length, in protest of the selling-off of Southland farms. He's no 'average Joe', being an active player in the farming industry. He warns over and over that land ownership is slipping rapidly from the hands of New Zealanders and calls the guidelines for overseas investment are a 'whitewash'.
Quite so.
English, Key and the National Government take a real pasting in the Southland Times today. Let me draw your attention to one word there. SOUTHLAND.
Have a nice day!
Stiffening resolve in the South
Environment Southland has been getting it in the neck from the public for being too accommodating to the hopes and dreams of dairying.
Nice opener there Mr Editor. Your piece in today's Southland Times delivers both briquettes and bouquets (I know, brickbats already but lignite is always on the table these days) and describes the relationship between dairying and ES pretty well.
Worth reading.
Nice opener there Mr Editor. Your piece in today's Southland Times delivers both briquettes and bouquets (I know, brickbats already but lignite is always on the table these days) and describes the relationship between dairying and ES pretty well.
Worth reading.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Goff jabs and feints
He's coming out of the Red corner, swinging, that Phil Goff!
First, he upper-cuts the employers with a promise to raise the minimum wage, causing them to fume and pontificate about youth unemployment, seemingly their greatest concern, then it's the farmers turn, with the spectre of having to pay their share for the emissions that result from their industry giving them conniptions!
The Labour Party have stirred, it seems, from their torpor, and are landing punches Left, Right and Centre!
Newest church
Support for Riverton's (and probably the country's) newest church is ballooning.
Already, prime pews are booked for the first service, tagged for this coming Sunday, (provided it is a sunny day, though we are an all-weather church: subject to all weathers. On rainy days we praise umbrellas, on days that are windy, we give thanks for kites. The gulls are our friends and we accept their offerings gratefully.), and sewing machines are whirring-out frilled collars and curl-toed slippers in preparation for Sunday's Great Walk.
For those of you travelling from afar (I hesitate to say 'pilgrims'), here are some of the architectural features that will great you when you arrive.
Firstly, the Approach. This very fine bricked path leads directly to the entrance to the Church of St Estuarine the Brackish, in a round-about sort of way.
Our spire, set slightly apart from the church for reasons of modesty, has recently been re-clad in copper. We are immensely proud of it and want to thank the steeple-jacks here and now for their craftsmanship.
We'll fly our flag, known as The Rag of St Estuarine, from this pole, thoughtfully provided for us by the local town council, probably in the full knowledge that many of the councillors would become members of the Congregation (known as 'congruents').
And finally, the pièce de résistance, our Holey Stone, the core of our movement and touch-stone for the church and its followers. The Story of the Stone is a moving one and will enthral the swarms of children who will attend our 'Sunday School' (held on the foreshore beneath the floor or the Church Proper, whilst the adults discuss the Cataclysm overhead), while the Stone herself will provide guidance to those who know how to listen, how to really hear.
Already, prime pews are booked for the first service, tagged for this coming Sunday, (provided it is a sunny day, though we are an all-weather church: subject to all weathers. On rainy days we praise umbrellas, on days that are windy, we give thanks for kites. The gulls are our friends and we accept their offerings gratefully.), and sewing machines are whirring-out frilled collars and curl-toed slippers in preparation for Sunday's Great Walk.
For those of you travelling from afar (I hesitate to say 'pilgrims'), here are some of the architectural features that will great you when you arrive.
Firstly, the Approach. This very fine bricked path leads directly to the entrance to the Church of St Estuarine the Brackish, in a round-about sort of way.
Our spire, set slightly apart from the church for reasons of modesty, has recently been re-clad in copper. We are immensely proud of it and want to thank the steeple-jacks here and now for their craftsmanship.
And finally, the pièce de résistance, our Holey Stone, the core of our movement and touch-stone for the church and its followers. The Story of the Stone is a moving one and will enthral the swarms of children who will attend our 'Sunday School' (held on the foreshore beneath the floor or the Church Proper, whilst the adults discuss the Cataclysm overhead), while the Stone herself will provide guidance to those who know how to listen, how to really hear.
The Church of St. Estuarine the Brackish at Riverton
Services begin this coming Sunday. All welcome.
Mihazou, High-Chief of the Yopu will preach on the Rapture.
Mallard's cheesy comment
Trevor Mallard is honing up his skill at making clever throw-away lines. Blogging will do that for you.
Here's his latest barb.
"Fed farmers tells us that paying tax or for their pollution will cause prices to go up.
Funny they have been telling us for years that prices are set by international markets."
Booyah as John Stewart would say.
Here's his latest barb.
"Fed farmers tells us that paying tax or for their pollution will cause prices to go up.
Funny they have been telling us for years that prices are set by international markets."
Booyah as John Stewart would say.
Gluttony
 | ||
| Prime Minister John Key at the Bluff Oyster Festival this weekend |
"My goal is to eat my own body weight in oysters."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Scum and Rubble - Partners in Law
Nah, just two more images from around the town - the first, bubbly scum on the incoming tide (thanks Fonterra) and the second, a pile of rubble that prevented the lazy painter from finishing his wall!
Maimai, that's a big cigar
Whimsy from the estuary. It looks like a big cigar!
Kinda. And this shot of a duck hunters maimai - how'd you like that stuck in the middle of your vista!
Opposition Finance Spokesperson Russel Norman
POLITICAL STOCKS
UP: Russel Norman. The Greens co-leader was privately anointed by some as the real opposition finance spokesman this past week after a strong but not hysterical performance on the Budget. Norman, a new father, is emerging as the single strongest asset his party has.
john.hartevelt@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
Twitter: @jhartevelt
- Sunday Star Times
UP: Russel Norman. The Greens co-leader was privately anointed by some as the real opposition finance spokesman this past week after a strong but not hysterical performance on the Budget. Norman, a new father, is emerging as the single strongest asset his party has.
john.hartevelt@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
Twitter: @jhartevelt
- Sunday Star Times
Key bugged
The Sunday Star Times is reporting that the Government Communication Security Bureau staff found a bug in John Key's home during their recent security sweep. The Diplomatic Protection Squad, bulging with muscle and wild-eyed with the prospect of having something to do, arrived with a flurry of flashing badges and whistling ear-pieces to protect their PM, only to be stood down as soon as it was discovered that it was just Don Brash making a surreptitious visit.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Smokin'
Saw this fire a'burnin' over a fence and wondered if someone was burning autumn leaves.
Not quite, it transpired, but twigs and branches.
I liked how the smoke hung in the beech.
Not quite, it transpired, but twigs and branches.
I liked how the smoke hung in the beech.
Armed with my camera...
When I'm out and about with my camera, I feel like a butterfly collector with net in hand, though I can't claim to catch jewelled treasures the way a lepidopterist might.
Here's today's eclectic collection.
This chunk of glass lay on the exposed bed of the estuary nearby to the dolphin, shown in the next shot.
The dolphin looked particularly exposed this morning, with the extra-low tide.
I wonder what happened here in the cycle lane in Yarrow Street - was it indecision or artistry?
And finally, a plastic fly-screen (because it was there.)
Here's today's eclectic collection.
This chunk of glass lay on the exposed bed of the estuary nearby to the dolphin, shown in the next shot.
The dolphin looked particularly exposed this morning, with the extra-low tide.
Mongrel Mob creates opportunity
Louis Crimp owns a house. He probably owns many houses, but this one has been in the news lately. It was occupied by the Mongrel Mob for many years, but burned down just recently. Louis ran a competition for the public to decide what should happen to the bare section left behind. A 10 year-old girl won the competition by suggesting that an orchard should be established where the gang headquarters once stood. Louis liked her idea but instead donated the land to Habitat for Humanity to build on. That's a fine idea, but we were disappointed that the girl's great idea seemed to fade away, so we sent the following letter to the journalist who wrote the story that appeared in Saturday's paper. I'll post any response that might be forthcoming.
Hi Evan
I read with great interest, your story on the ex-Mongrel Mob house and the competition that was run to decide what to do with the now-bare land. I was happy to see that Habitat for Humanity will be the benefactors of the Mr Crimp's largess but was also very impressed by the idea from the girl who said she would like to see an orchard on the site. Orchards in the city and in towns around Southland are a tremendous idea and Open Orchard would like to donate 10 Southland heritage apple trees to the girl to help her achieve her aim. I know they won't be planted on the site where the gang headquarters once stood, but she might be able to find a space for them at her school or in some other part of her neighbourhood where everyone could share the apples. If you could pass on our offer we would be very grateful, then we could arrange for the apple trees to be delivered and even help plant them if she needs a hand.
Robert Guyton
Chairman
South Coast Environment Society Inc.
Riverton
Friday, May 20, 2011
Cows, cows and cows
Bioneer alerted me to this astonishing youtube clip featuring ...cows?
I especially loved the final seconds.
I recommend you watch this, but if you are an arachnophobe, hold someone's hand.
I especially loved the final seconds.
I recommend you watch this, but if you are an arachnophobe, hold someone's hand.
Game on for Fish and Game
Dirty Dairying is back - not that it ever went away but the campaign to expose dirty dairying practice has risen into the public consciousness again due to the unacceptable behaviour of many Southland dairy farmers, the resounding silence from Fonterra and the active and public criticism of all concerned by Fish and Game NZ CE Bryce Johnston. Writing in today's paper, Bryce describes Fonterra's 'wishy-washy rhetoric', and rips into Environment Southland for its 'fence-sitting nonsense'. He calls particularly for ES to 'bare its teeth'. I suspect he really means 'bite'. Baring teeth is still only symbolic after all.
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