Posts by Carol Stewart

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  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    That is indeed a good overview of climate change. I particularly like the measured tone and the point made about the costs of denialism:

    But there are some genuine uncertainties in the details of global warming, just as there are in any other science. Such sceptical views are important, as they force the scientific community to seek carefully for flaws in the analysis. A similar debate occurred about AIDS, where a minority of scientists maintained for a long time that the disease was not caused by a virus. This view was manifestly wrong in the eyes of most scientists, but nevertheless some distinguished scientists, albeit usually not experts in virology, took different views until the science became irrefutable. The political consequences of this denialism had tragic results in some African countries.

    Calling it 'denialism' is fighting talk. I wonder if Wishart will sue?

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Island Life: The Guilt of Clayton Weatherston,

    My mistake, Craig. I thought you were judging the Elliotts harshly rather than the media.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Island Life: The Guilt of Clayton Weatherston,

    Meanwhile, could the papers (and the rest of the media) stop posturing about the appealing trauma Sophie Elliot's family went through

    I'm hoping you meant 'appalling' there, Craig.

    while you've got her parents performing like dancing grief monkeys, and you still can't stop yourself publishing every salacious titbit you can dig up?

    No fair. I don't think anyone else should judge how other people handle grief.

    But I completely agree with you about the media's complicity in character assassination. Interesting to see the Herald today have gone all out to cover Ms Elliot's talents, accomplishments and potential. It seems a bit craven to me that they waited until after the verdict.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    My grandparents, who lived in a small village in the Peak District in northern England, never owned a car and walked all over the countryside to go to church, visit friends and to the local shops. I think they were fairly typical. It wasn't that they couldn't afford it - they did go on holidays to Norway quite frequently - it just didnt' figure into their lifestyle.

    I don't think this way of life was ever a goer in New Zealand as our countryside is developed quite differently, but it's still interesting how totally our rate of car ownership has changed (harking back for a minute to the six car garaging offered by the Fairburn house in Devonport).

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Up Front: Any Port in a Storm,

    I don't think there's anything useful I can say on this topic. But there's something useful I can do, and I'll be donating my $20 right away. Thanks for enabling it, Emma.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    Oops, heritage.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    Rather a nice pamphlet from North Shore City Council about the North Shore's literary heritate ..

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    It's interesting that a rather itinerant sort like Fairburn could have afforded that house back then, but now it would only be within reach of someone who makes money from money.

    Apparently the opening of the harbour bridge in 1959 had a major effect on real estate values on the North Shore - it used to be a sleepy bachy kind of place before that. Although the Fairburn house was clearly never a bach ..

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    More pics for the property pervs among us.

    Interesting that the real estate blurb doesn't mention the literary connection but instead waxes lyrical about the indoor outdoor flow, six car garaging and spacious decks on which to sip one's G&T. Philistines!

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Busytown: Cry me a river,

    It was a while ago now that I lived in Auckland with a kayak and enough leisure time to enjoy it - around 1990-92. It was great fun to ride the tides around - I discovered that on a rising tide you could paddle almost all the way to Albany!
    I can also report that from a sea kayak you get quite a different perspective on the ferry fleet! Crossing a channel you feel a bit like a possum crossing the road.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

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