Posts by Tony Parker
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Why are so many of these bands touring NZ all of a sudden? Is it a combo of strong NZ dollar and bands playing live coz they can't sell any CDs?
I think you're right. A lot of the mildly successful/indie/up and coming acts probably make nothing from selling cd's now and playing live and selling merch is the only way to make a living. There also seems to be a ready market here for alternative/indie/alt country artists and we seem to be lapping it up at the moment due perhaps to a paucity of touring acts over the past years. I know I've been to more gigs in the last 2-3 years than I have in the previous 10-20 years-due also in part it must be said to kids leaving home and a better financial position.
but some sort of international act overkill has set in.
I can see how this can happen and hope I don't get to that point myself. That being said I'm not going to Wilco this time around for various reasons-the main one being it's hard to see how they can top the Opera House gig last time.
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I really enjoyed the BDO last year but my whole day was sprinkled with the happy knowledge that I was going to see Neil Young at the end of it. Without a draw like that the half dozen bands I like a fair bit (but would rather see at a small venue) are not that attractive a reason to be stuck in a sun baked sound prison for 10 hours.
My feelings too. It was my first and probably last BDO. The small venue/concert hall does it for me these days. That's why I'm looking forward to Marianne Dissard and Grant Hart at the Cabana here in Napier, Neko Case at the SFBH and Calexico at the Welly festival over the next couple of months.
Oh and Mr Scott-it's time you played Napier again!! -
Meant to post this one earlier. Kind of wraps things together-Doug Myers/libraries/drinking.
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On sad note to end the year it appears Vic Chestnutt has died after taking an overdose. A sad end to a hard life. He produced some great music and I'm glad I made the effort to go and see him earlier in the year down in Wellington.
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Today I drove down to Welly and back again to pick up my 28 yr old son who's coming back home for a while before deciding what next. While there I went to see my 101 grandmother who is still physically able and with a mind as sharp as a tack but can't see much so she's in a resthome. My mum(her daughter) is in Nelson and can't be with her for christmas and neither can I so she'll spend it in the resthome. It felt bad that I can't do much about it but was good to see her. This is the sad side of love I guess.
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Thanks to all PAS contributors for an interesting year. I am awe of your writing and it's a privilege to read everybodies thoughts and ideas.
Also loved Rosie Tin Tea Caddy, who we were lucky enough to see in the flesh at The Lounge in Carterton.
I was lucky enough to see them also at a private function for Mr Teacaddy's mum's 60th birthday at The Paper Mulberry Cafe in Central HB. Great stuff. Other great gigs this year-Ryan Adams, John Doe/Jim White, Vic Chestnutt/Victoria Williams, Lucinda Williams, Lloyd Cole at Napier's Cabana.
Favourites for me this year have been mainly in the Americana area-Chuck Prophet, Jay Farrar and Ben Gibberd, Justin Townes Earle, Wilco, Son Volt, Guy Clark, Dylan, Neko Case, Eels, Levon Helm, Richmond Fontaine.
Reissues-Neil's Archives and the Beatles remasters.
Locally-Don McGlashan and just got Stroke which on first listen is fantastic. -
I love my kids coming home at holiday time but I also love seeing them go again.
I love the sound of my Fender Precision bass-it's what a bass should sound like.
I love sitting in our boat talking shit with my father as we troll for trout on a sunny day in the middle of Lake Rotoroa with the dark green beech clad hills all around us. -
Of course this has be done. How can we not have a post about Love without Tom T Hall
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And I love him 100 times more than when I married him. That's what they never tell you when you fall in love with someone - that if it's a love that's going to last, you will never know, unless you stick around.
So true and a remarkable story Jackie that makes my marriage sound quite ordinary. Yes if we stick at it through all the ups and downs our love for each other becomes something else. I love my wife much more and in different ways than when we first met over 30 years ago and it feels odd whenever we are apart for any length of time. It's not always easy but worth it in the end.
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How does importing the data into a spreadsheet and then coming up with a (likely dubious) set of league tables going to compromise the base data ?
Probably because the data when put into league tables will be taken at face value with no knowledge of what learning progress has been made over the year and how the data is going to inform further learning which is what good assessment is all about. Putting it into a league table takes away the opportunity to use the data to help make decisions about improving children's learning.
Is it because schools will start "adjusting" their data so they can improve their position in the tables ?
You didn't hear it from me but I'm pretty sure that this goes on already in the secondary area with NCEA.