Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Three months after

211 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 Newer→ Last

  • Sacha,

    Chch City Council releases map of the eastern suburbs' sewer/portaloo status (page has linked PDF).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    Wow, those islands of green look pretty small, don't they. But I know it's been such a mammoth task getting them going. One of the wastewater workers in our street told us that there were 16 breaks in the main sewer line in our (short) street, plus many silt blockages that required repeated waterblasting and pumping. And the sewer line wasn't where they expected it to be when they dug for it. It's 2.5m down, and they dug to 3.5m where they thought it would be...nothing. Apparently the older pipelines aren't well documented and they've had to hunt for them.

    So you can imagine the scale of the work that's been done.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Lilith __,

    I’m not looking for advice

    heh this is the number one reason I'd be a crap counsellor. I cannot help but give advice, even though I know all I should be doing is listening and sharing someone's problems I have this compulsion to give advice, it's a like a disease. Maybe I should start a self help group "advice givers anonymous".

    Meanwhile you have my sympathy Lilith, can I suggest ... no .. no ... must resist

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Lilith __,

    John Barrowman may burst in

    Don't tell Emma she'll want to steal it from you in the hopes of trapping him.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I have this compulsion to give advice, it's a like a disease.

    Classic masculinity (how we're helpful)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    Classic masculinity (how we’re helpful)

    I'm a recovering advice-giver myself. Other people's problems always seem so much simpler than one's own!

    But if people want advice they generally ask for it.

    And if they don't, then listening respectfully, sending good wishes, hugs, flowers, gifts, telling jokes or funny stories (depending on circumstances!)...these are ways of showing you care without alienating the person you're trying to help.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    Maybe I should start a self help group "advice givers anonymous".

    Heh, everyone sits there biting their tongue the entire time? Telling their own story - "It's been 9 months since I gave advice <applause>, I used to do it all the time because it made me feel powerful and worthy, but actually it destroyed my job and my marriage <sympathetic awww>, now when I feel the urge to give advice, I remind myself that I'm actually a know-nothing bum <nods and smiles>, and that no one will ever listen to me anyway, present company excepted <puzzled frowns>".

    It's quite a tough thing to avoid, when people tell you about their problems. Particularly when you actually can see a solution. It's quite an art to realize when the giving of advice will be helpful - even when people actually directly ask for it, it's often not a good idea to give it.

    A good example is when someone is thinking of breaking up with their partner and asks you if they should. If you answer with an honest yes, they will think you don't much like their partner, which could be bad in the long run if they want to stay with them. If you give an honest no, then they could resent you for making it harder for them to break up if that's what they really want to do. If they agree with you, and follow your advice, they could come to blame you if it turns out that it was actually a bad choice. Advice is something you have to own.

    OTOH, good advice is something that is very good to get, at the right time. I'm eternally grateful for some of the good advice I've received over the years. So it's not set in stone that advice-giving is bad. Even unasked-for advice - how else are interventions ever going to happen for people who are destroying themselves? How else can hard truths be delivered? Do you refrain from giving advice to a person considering suicide, when they ask you straight up if they should do it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    [and I realise I'm giving advice about how not to give advice. Heh! :-D ]

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    good advice is something that is very good to get, at the right time.

    Agreed. There are (often gender-related) differences in what we want to receive as well as give - folk can work things out in ways other than talking. Sometimes a simple answer is what we want, or just time sharing an unrelated activity. Sometimes it's listening. They're all support.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Brownlee announces more govt money for an "entertainment village" in Hagley Park (for the rugby world cup, naturally).

    It will host the World Cup Fanzone along with other major events such as the Christchurch Arts Festival, Carnival week and Buskers' festival.

    Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the $650,000 is in addition to $1.1 million already contributed by the Government's New Zealand 2011 office and the Lotteries Commission.

    "That $1.7 million is coming from Government sources with around about $700,000 to $1 million coming from the Christchurch City Council," he told Newstalk ZB.

    Gerry Brownlee says there may not be any Rugby World Cup games in Christchurch now but it doesn't mean Cantabrians can't have fun.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    Gerry Brownlee says there may not be any Rugby World Cup games in Christchurch now but it doesn’t mean Cantabrians can’t have fun.

    As long as it's rugby-themed fun, right?!

    OK, it sounds like it'll be reused for other stuff...but maybe the Public Library could get a few tens of thousands to buy extra stock for those of us desperate for new things to read? A relatively small amount of money would help a lot of people that way, and particularly the poor, elderly and less able among us.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I'm sure plenty of people have advice for Mr Brownlee.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Lilith __,

    and I realise I’m giving advice

    The first step ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    If I am happy that the Arts Festival and the Film Festival and Kidsfest are still going ahead (and i am deliriously happy about those) then I can reluctantly admit that some kind of rugby based festivities will probably make a fair few people happy too. I'm sure there are lots of people who would have seen live games had they been played in Christchurch who will not be able to now so I think we should have something really good for rugby fans.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    There"s a Movie in this.
    Cantabria perhaps...

    Homeless Cantabrian: Heh, you know, watching you just now with the Deutsche Bank, one would think you've been doing this all your life.
    John Key: Oh, what makes you think I haven't?
    Homeless Cantabrian: Oh, n-n-n-nothing, but when you first came to Christchurch, I thought...
    John Key: You thought what?
    Homeless Cantabrian: Hm, what right do I have to think, huh?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Isabel Hitchings,

    If I am happy that the Arts Festival and the Film Festival and Kidsfest are still going ahead (and i am deliriously happy about those) then I can reluctantly admit that some kind of rugby based festivities will probably make a fair few people happy too.

    Absolutely.

    Christchurch is home to the Crusaders, the best rugby team below international level in the world. (Actually, the Crusaders' fully-fit first XV would beat all but two or three international sides.) That organisation’s ability to develop young players, on the field and off, is remarkable and should be a source of pride. Tens of thousands of Cantabrians will have been planning to go to the RWC matches, and to welcome guests to the city.

    And even though there was never a chance that the matches could be held in Christchurch after the February earthquake, that being confirmed really hit many people’s morale – and their economic confidence.

    The city needs a sense of things happening, and this will be a boost to the many people who care about the city’s rugby heritage.

    Which is not to say that people who use and treasure libraries shouldn’t ask for some support too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    steaming down the Sewers...

    Wow, those islands of green
    look pretty small, don’t they.

    How come I'm in the pink
    yet they're shitting pretty?

    3 cheers for the loan arrangers...

    A lot of people are missing the
    public libraries really badly.

    Having Shirley Library back open is
    fabulous, walking distance, with
    no mall distractions, excellent.
    - though petrol, post and banking
    would be useful...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    How come I’m in the pink
    yet they’re shitting pretty?

    It’s a pisser, innit,
    having only a potty in lieu of loo?

    But better, perhaps, than a drop in a bucket.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Lilith __,

    Midnight in the Zen Garden...

    But better, perhaps, than a drop in a bucket.

    something to read before
    the long drop into sleep?:
    I've Been Tinkling
    by Wretched Pebbles

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Ian, you made me laugh til I cried. Puns, pathos and toilet humour!

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Councillor Sue Wells reports CERA/Brownlee briefing, including matters like abandoning/remediating land.
    (note blog theme is identical to Dimpost; may be disorienting at first)

    The Minister made it very clear that one of the key considerations for him is making sure all participants are on the same page and heading in the same direction before decisions are made. He wants homeowners equity protected. My perception is that the final hurdle is getting consistency across the insurers – no easy task.

    EQC alone has 40 reinsurers. Each of them has subsequent reinsurers. Cats to be herded. A phenomenal challenge for the world’s largest ever insurance event. (After the May 23rd deadline passed, EQC had received 344,364 claims, with 510,000 individual claims in that. Those numbers are far higher than Hurricane Katrina, higher than lowly insured Japan.)

    On that scale issue, I have now heard repeated comments that Art Agnos who was mayor of San Francisco during their terrible quake was astonished at the enormity of ours. Theirs was confined to a relatively small area. Ours is huge.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    If I can be trivial….

    I was charmed by a photo caption in today’s Press claiming that “steel gentry” was holding up the front of the cathedral.

    I looked, but couldn’t see any iron ladies or bowler-hatted caryatids in the picture. Sad.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    (note blog theme is identical to Dimpost; may be disorienting at first)

    Especially given the way Danyl's verging on losing his shit today.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Especially given the way Danyl’s verging on losing his shit today

    Just you get back to your invisible show! How dare you criticize the omniscient Danyl? If it wasn't for him (and Chris Trotter), how would we know what to think at all?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Have a look at this, just posted by Chch councillor Sue Wells: straight up stuff that the city needs to know: http://suewellsnz.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/what-the-minister-told-the-councillors-about-land-retreat-eqnz-chch/

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.