Just a quick question

Premonition

2011-10-31T10:53:00.002+13:00

It's a fascinating time to be alive in the world at the moment. The politics, the weather, the geology; its all shaping for a most awesome Apocalypse next year.

Not even Nostradamus in his wildest dreams could imaging a world like we're living in now. Maybe through some obscure quatrain could he predict a future of so much and yet so little. The suffering and the ecstasy they all all contribute to a human condition that will be recorded forever and yet like all history miss-told and again repeated.

I find my refuge in reading, it's like watching a painter putting the finishing touches on a canvas, the finer details explained and left to the observers interpretation. It compartmentalises my thoughts, helps me expel my misconceptions and biases. Reading also gives me the ability to see other worlds, other realms where people exist and offer their realities to me. This is a gift from God, not in a dust old biblical sense, but it allows me to more enlightened while leaving my baggage at the door of at the proverbial cover of the book, which up until that stage I have judged the contents.

I am not a sponge soaking up my environment regardless of the emotion. I am a still, filtering the contents.

Another Martini anyone?

Guilt is a Useless Emotion.

2011-08-30T10:11:00.003+12:00

It's a warm in day Auckland, at least 16 deg. I've just got back from checking the letterbox after washing millions of spiders webs off my car and I can safely say it's almost tropical.

I like the transition of the seasons. Spring is great. It reminds me of my youth. Hanging out at Oriental Bay, watching the world go by. Listening to music as loud as my ears could handle from my Walkman. It's a reminder of the past and a promise of the future. Something that wasn't that assured as teenager. I do long for those days though, life was much simpler. My responsibility was limited to myself and even then that was more of an obsession than any duty of care. The air smelled sweeter, music felt like it lived in my bones and friends were always at arms length.

Now I rinse cobwebs off my car after checking my own letterbox for bills and other unreasonable demands. Life is more cluttered, friends are more fickle; worried too about externalities that demand more immediate attention.

I'm conscious too that life is passing me by, what I want and need are now gulfs apart. I want security, freedom from my fears. Belonging is no longer as important as position. My life moves at the speed of sound and I'm glimpsing back at what it was. Depressing.

Self help and pop-psychology manuals tell me to make a plan. Create a routine and life will fall into place, is that any different from being young again?

Come Together

2011-08-03T16:30:00.001+12:00

Struck down by a cold, more blogging soon. I promise. Thanks Rob for the link.

All My Colours

2011-07-14T10:20:00.001+12:00

It's wet and cold in Auckland today. Not freezing, but the heater is on low to keep the nip out of the air.

My leg is still weak and slowly I feel my body being dragged down by the pain. I just want to walk again. Even to the letter box, where there will be a bill for warming my house. No, it's no a woe is me situation, more a cry of frustration that becomes louder each day. How I long to be normal again.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Zimbo and zimbo and zimbo and zimbo and zimbo and zimbo and zimbo.

Slippery People (or Everybody Hurts)

2011-07-09T20:30:00.001+12:00

No one likes pain except for a few emo's and religious nutters.

How we deal with pain defines us. It's said that some of the poorest people in the world are also the happiest, or at least smiliest. This maybe true because a lot of what we have in our western world disconnects us from what is real.

Pain therefore is more than just an inconvenience it reduces our consciousness to a feeling of being below our expectations. It makes us weak and to be weak is to lose.

Maybe I've been lying around with my feet up for too long. It's got me thinking though, there are worse things in life than pain.

Take my advice watch out for slippery rocks (and people).

More blogging soon.

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

2011-03-04T14:49:00.002+13:00

Ok, so yesterday's post wasn't that nice. Funny, but not nice.

For something a little lighter check out my 80s music blog. Two new videos added daily. Requests taken.

More quick questions answered soon.

Who's Zoomin Who?

2011-03-03T21:34:00.004+13:00

One of these is a right wing fascist. The other bleed his country dry. Not so different.

Dirty Laundry

2010-10-11T16:41:00.001+13:00

Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere

***Language warning the F bomb is dropped a couple of times***

Reminds me of the coverage of Paul Henry recently. A new season of blogging will resume shortly.

Half A Minute

2010-07-20T12:00:00.001+12:00

Today I'll introduce the 30 second book review, that's 30 seconds for you to read, not for me to to type. It won't be an analysis of the themes, story or plot; just my thoughts on the book. If you want a more in-depth review of the book I suggest Amazon.com, where everyone's a critic. Occasionally I may give a book stars, but lack of stars doesn't suggest 0/5, just my reluctance to put a book on a scale.

The Luck Factor,
Why some people are luckier than others and how you can become one of them.
Max Gunther, Harriman House Ltd. 2009

This is one book that can be summed up by it's subtitle. The operative word is 'become'; you become lucky, it's not something you can search out and get. In a sense the old axiom 'you make your own luck' is true. Lucky people put themselves out there and they become lucky. In a scientific age this may seem obvious, however this book shows that luck is more than just chance.

There is always randomness which to an extent can be backed up scientifically, outlier events do happen. What most interested me was the authors ideas on physic theories and synchronicity. Ok the review is getting to deep for 30 seconds. I will say that the last chapter titled "The pessimism paradox' was the most enlightening.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's an easy read and took my brain down some provoking paths (not hard to do). Like does God really answer prayer and why do good things happen to bad people? (and vice versa)

Ouch, my brain hurts.

That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

2010-07-15T21:30:00.000+12:00

For David and Nick. Book review next week, if you're lucky.

Fade to Gray

2010-06-25T09:55:00.004+12:00

Boy, what a week that that was. Soccer, Aussie PM's, movie piracy. They all featured on the front pages (or should that be homepages) of newspapers across the country.

The issue of stealing other peoples stuff always interests me, so I'll make that today's topic. I will say that I haven't seen Boy yet, I want to see it though. I won't be downloading it like the hundreds of others that are right now.

I saw the director of Boy, Taika Waititi interviewed on Campbell Live a couple of nights ago. He was responding to questions about piracy. We said he was disappointed, but also complimented by the fact that people wanted to steal something he made. In contrast the FACT guy (who represents the Motion Picture Ass., suggests that people are suffering because of piracy. 70 million dollars.... blah, blah, blah.

Firstly it's not piracy. There's no Johnny Depp or canons or parrots called Poly. There's just a few geeks with laptops siphoning zeros and ones of the internet. OK, some some Islanders flog a few DVDs off at 5am in a freezing car park, somewhere in Otara. Most of these people would have never bothered normally, it's more of a snatch and run. A crime yes, ruining other peoples lives, NO.

Secondly, this is more of an indictment on our society that says that intellectual property is owned by rich bastards (like Sony Music et al.) who can afford to have it nicked. The current models are not working. Neither party, copiers or rich bastards should not be taking the moral high ground. Digital content is here to stay, let's work at getting a fairer system for sellers and buyers. The thieves will always be around.

Have a great weekend.

Wrong (or I should Be So Lucky)

2010-06-22T10:14:00.011+12:00

I'm reading a book called The Luck Factor, by Max Gunther at the moment. It's an interesting read that explores the role of luck in measuring the outcome of our lives.

Luck is a concept that interests me. Not the superstitious kind of luck; rabbits feet and crossed fingers. No, I'm thinking more of the make your own kind of luck. Like right place right time or even that wonderful word serendipity. People who have 'lucky' lives have to extent made good decisions. They haven't necessarily planned their lives out, although at points along their journey they have taken the better path.

The Protestant work ethic is based on luck, it suggests that if you put yourself out there, work hard, then God will bless you. In fact most religions have an aspect of luck to them. One theme is constant and that is to live a good life. This doesn't explain why bad people are lucky, except to say that luck may be indiscriminant.

I'll share more insights once I've finished the book.

It's Tricky

2010-04-20T08:30:00.002+12:00

There's a story in today's NZ Herald that reads:

Two failed finance company directors have been suspended from the Institute of Chartered Accountants after being found guilty of conduct unbecoming to an accountant and breaching its code of ethics.

I find it interesting that the NZICA suspend its members on the grounds of breaching ethics, however an ex-partner of law firm DLA Phillips Fox (and banned Five Star Finance director), Marcus MacDonald still practices law from his waterfront home in Greenhithe.

Double standard, of course not. Law is about money, not ethics. Just because he's a liar shouldn't stop him from being a lawyer.

Little Lies

2010-03-16T14:50:00.005+13:00

This story has to be the most poorly reported item I've seen in a while.

Childless homosexual MP utters to his partner "I wish they would shut up".

Right wing blogger takes offense. Fairfax put their own spin on a non-story.

Fairfax are so desperate for stories, they now trawl blogs. Report the news loosers!

It reminds me of this skit on The Extras.

Fat Of The Land

2010-03-03T10:58:00.005+13:00

The marketing geniuses at McDonald's and Weight Watchers have struck a deal.

McDonald's are going to pretend to be healthy and Weight Watchers are going to take the backhander. Boy does that suck, big time. Often people loosing weight confuse less calories for better nutrition. Anyone who has read Fast Food Nation will know that McDonald's is total crap. If they can save a half cent but it compromises the nutritional value, they will. McNuggets are the worst of all their products. Deep fried beaks and a**holes.

Shame on you Weight Watchers.

Revolution

2010-02-10T20:00:00.000+13:00

Real blogging stuff coming soon.

It's now official, there is nothing Lego can't do.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

2010-01-20T21:58:00.005+13:00

Click on the image if you want to get a better look!!!!!!

For Dave. Daves 4 Life!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for the Sirens Call

2009-12-18T16:21:00.003+13:00

Just because I love rambling, angsty Britpop.

So This Is Christmas

2009-12-18T10:30:00.002+13:00

When I saw this this picture, I literally laughed my head off. That's what us non intellectuals do.

Forget conservatism, it is literalism that is killing the Christian faith. Weak minded, shallow thinking sheep who never challenge what they think and need an Anglican Archdeacon to show them the way. That's right, literalism is a fundamentalist's blunt instrument.

It's easier to think that everything in The Word happened exactly as it's written verbatim. The universe was created in six days, Satan appeared as a serpent, Mary's conception was immaculate. To question what's in the Bible is to question the foundation of your faith. Hopefully the outcome will be a more liberal thinking, open minded 21st century Christian.

Thankfully the Church of England, the highly relevant and non symbolic denomination is able to set us straight. The story of Christmas is not a romantic fairly tale as told in the Bible. It's one of a black Jesus, born to a promiscuous mother in a dirty, stinking barn.

What is most important is that we 'think' about the things rather than having a misinformed faith. A Virgin birth may or may not have happened. Jesus might not have literally risen from the dead. Who cares?

The message is muddled, although somewhat well meaning. The sentiment to challenge our thinking is helpful, but it contradicts itself by insulting those who's faith is based on the very foundations of a traditional (read medieval) Bible.

2009 has been a very challenging for me. I'm left finishing this decade feeling a little lost and disillusioned. Hopefully the next ten years will be more enlightening.

Merry Christmas. Have a safe and enjoyable season.

Make it Mine, or Ideas as Opiates

2009-11-20T09:20:00.005+13:00

Poor old Witi. Every sour faced, four eyed, crossed legged academic (which is all of them), is laying down the hate on what has been defended as an accident.

Call it envy, call it racism, I don't care; plagiarism is what makes the world go round. Without free moving ideas societies would (and have) fall(en).

In today's NZ Herald the headline reads 'Plagiarists like drug cheats'. Excuse me! Just google that phrase and see that is not a unique idea, in fact one article (which I can't be bothered crediting) says 'Performance Enhancing Drug Users are Guilty of Athletic Plagiarism'. A stolen idiom, not tabled and cited correctly. Shame on the doyen of New Zealand literature for making such allegations, (the alligators).

One of the most frustrating aspects to study in the electronic age (not my phrase), is the requirement to credit all the good ideas that you've nicked out of textbooks and journal articles. In fact this scientific approach to study has been a two edged sword.

On one hand writing an essay or a dissertation is more like colour by numbers. Find the pre-written material that answers the question exactly as the academic institution expects it to be answered. Just make sure all the citations and the bibliography are written in the correct style. Pepper in a bit of biculturalism for good measure and bingo!, A+

On the other hand (or side of the sword, you pick the metaphor), this clinical approach shows nothing of of the students or authors writing ability or retention. Even worse it show them to be crafty googlers and nothing else. The fact that science has taught us that ideas aren't always best kept in the lab, proves empirically that theories need to be exercised in the real world.

OK so that sentence was a little long winded, but think about it. Theories are researched, often based on a hypothesis. For example, people are generally honest. Think about the results of the lost wallet in street experiment that Readers Digest does occasionally. Now take that experiment back into a lab, scientists watching with clipboards and video cameras. I'd bet the contents of the wallet that 100% of the eager test subjects would hand it back. Humans perform differently when they are watched under scrutiny.

So what does that have to do with the medias word of the week, plagiarism? Everything. Our obsession with who had a good idea first is ridiculous. People have had good ideas for ever, the wheel, the light bulb; I could go on. That fact that Witi Ihimaera took a couple of pages out of some old and irrelevant book without citing it was technically an incorrect thing to do. Especially with the way academic institutions are fixated on plagiarism. It wasn't a crime though.

My point is this. The book is a novel, a wallet on the street experiment if you like. In the real world ideas flow freely, we sing 'Happy Birthday' without acknowledging the copyright holders. Witi would have done well to have credited his research in a bibliography, but he's no thief. The only thieves are those who seek the attention to get their boot in. Shame on them.

Oh, and the last word is for the media. No industry is based more on plagiarism then your's. Reading newsfeeds all day and republishing them in your own words is not journalism. Get off your chairs and go into the real world and investigate some real stories.

Meat is Murder

2009-11-19T16:30:00.004+13:00

For the past couple of years our family has dramatically reduced the amount of meat we eat. It's made a huge difference to our overall health. Less illness, no stomach bugs and both parents have even lost a bit of weight.

Part of the decision was made for us after a dodgy lamb experience from the Mad Butcher's. Apart from tasting like lanolin cream it cost us $30. That buys a lot of fresh fruit and veges we thought. The meat malarkey was over.

Some people have said it's dangerous for the kids, that they're not getting the protein and iron they need. Someone even said that it was no wonder our daughter was so small for her age.

Please. The health benefits have spoken for themselves.

We're not vegetarians, we have meat and fish about once a week. New Zealanders have had meat consumption pushed on them as a patriotic duty. Support the farmers, because they support you.

Farming is killing New Zealand's clean green image. It's a disgusting industry; fertilisers and effluent running into our freshwater supplies everyday. Sure farming is a necessary evil, but the way we do it in New Zealand is revolting.

So join the revolution, become an occasional meat eater and feel better for it.

Black Coffee

2009-11-14T16:00:00.002+13:00

Passive aggressive picture of the day.

Personally I think you obviously don't care if you're a coffee drinker, but hey that's just my opinion. Do what you want.

Planet Earth

2009-11-12T14:00:00.009+13:00

In today's NZ Herald, Brian Fallow writes an enlightening column on New Zealand's commitment to reducing climate change.

The headline shouts that taxpayers will be stuck with 84% of the financial responsibility when the emissions trading scheme commences in 2011. In real terms this is billions of dollars a year, the exact amount is not clear yet. Like the numbers the whole scheme seems a little foggy (or smoggy, if you prefer). The intentions are admirable, but analogous to most big schemes directed by the government, it seems destined for the scrap heap.

I'm not wanting into wade in the whole Climate Change debate. My opinion is just that. No doubt I'll be on the earth for a few years to come, my children for a few more. I am concerned that any any scheme that involves borrowing money is not sustainable. It's inevitable that we need to take a long term view of pollution and our responsibilities as global citizens. What isn't so clear is why we need to spend taxpayers money, or worse borrowed money, to resolve the problem.

I say make the polluters pay. If the product or service emits heat or worse, burns stuff, tax it. If it's unhealthy, tax it again. If we're serious about reducing emissions then the cost must start with the polluters, otherwise our responsibilities will be paid for by future generations and that simply isn't fair.