Come Together

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

All My Colours

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.

Who's Zoomin Who?

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

Wrong (or I should Be So Lucky)

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.

Fat Of The Land

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.

Meat is Murder

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.

Planet Earth

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.