Posts by Ken Sparks
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There's nothing silly about wanting to be as visible as possible or wearing head protection when riding a bike, particularly in Auckland traffic, but to make it a legal requirement is dumb - it should be a personal choice. As we all know, many other countries don't have any dress requirements for cyclists. What many of those other countries do have is a cycling culture which is generally embraced by all road users - cyclists are respected by car and truck drivers as having little to protect themselves with and those drivers will do everything possible to avoid an accident. I think things are improving slowly here. I've done quite a bit of riding around Auckland over the years, so far without mishap and I've seen faults from both drivers and riders but I think there's a growing tolerance of cyclists - especially as there are more and more of us out on the streets. The question of what a safe distance for vehicles to pass bikes should be is tricky because for me it depends on a number of other factors - mainly speed and road layout - and to set it at a mandatory 1 or 1.5 metres would be too rigid. I do like the sound of side guards on trucks though - some of those big rigs have scared the shit out of me!
A couple of tips for what they're worth: When the road does narrow at any point try to put yourself in the middle of the lane and make vehicles wait behind you (rather than try to squeeze past) then get left again as soon as the road widens.
I was given a bright red lightweight running shirt for Christmas which is great for commuting on the bike. Then I change into a fresh shirt of any damn colour I like when I get to work. -
I walked 40 kms around the Wellington hills (mostly on tracks but some streets also) with some friends who are training for the Oxfam 100 km walk in April. A rewarding day with the clouds progressively retreating. The tracks weren't particularly busy but Wilton Bush was a popular picnic destination. We had a really pleasant walk with a mixture of good conversation and quiet, reflective time. It's a great city to walk in...
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It seems to me that having supported the Save TVNZ7 campaign from the outset and heard many of the views for keeping it or ditching it that it's actually not the best model for a public broadcast TV service. For a start, TVNZ obviously aren't interested in keeping it going because it earns them no revenue and they are probably thinking it robs them of audience who would otherwise be tuning into their commercial channels. They've never promoted it or provided programme listings for publication. The National government will shut it down because the funding that Labour provided has run out and they see no economic benefit in the channel. Once that has happened I think those of us who believe in public broadcasting need to start campaigning for a stand alone channel, independent of any commercial TV company, similar to the Radio NZ model. Maybe there could even be a sharing of resources with Radio NZ, particularly with regard to news gathering. It can't be that hard, we just need a government that sees television as something more than a revenue earner...
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Hard News: Te Rerenga Wairua, in reply to Joe Wylie,
A big hi back at you Joe – I wasn’t sure if you were the same Joe Wylie I used to know so it’s really nice to know you are. So sad to hear you've been whacked by some more quakes and I hope you're coping ok.
I loved seeing the film again, especially the kaleidoscopic ending – a real blast from the past. As far as I recall your memory serves you correctly regarding the edit – rather than just compiling the various scenes and chopping out mistakes we did do some judicious pruning here and there. The Schoolhouse was a great place to work out of – I still remember your beautifully built rostrum camera and desks full of drawing boards. Sam Pillsbury (director of ‘The Scarecrow’ among many other things) was also there and Ian John (editor of ‘Sleeping Dogs’) was right next door – there was a great buzz in Federal St back then, totally opposite to the monument to greed that occupies that site now. Ah well – that’s what they call progress I suppose.
I finally made my first visit to Cape Reinga last year on a mid-winter camping trip and was blown away by the power of that landscape – there was a real sensation for me of its place as a spiritual conduit and if I had been able to sprout some wings I reckon I would have taken off there and then. Of course that didn’t happen but it was a pleasant enough fantasy… -
My heart goes out to all those Cantabrians who have been whacked yet again. The interviews I'm hearing on RNZ National are revealing incredible courage and amazing spirit. Many are saying they're 'over it' but still have no intention of leaving. Stay strong good people...
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I often admired your house (identified by the snowy photos you posted here) on my morning runs along Avonside Drive while I was down there working on 'When A City Falls.' Every few days I witnessed yet another house being demolished - I didn't see any being moved offsite - and just couldn't imagine this entire area being cleared of houses. And isn't the nearby Avonside Girls High undergoing extensive repairs? It seems to me that a huge amount of disruption is being caused by a somewhat arbitrary Red Zone assessment - who really knows what's going to happen next underground? Did you ever consider doing a Joe Bennett or do you agree that it's too unsafe to stay?
Anyway, I'm pleased you've found a solution at last and that your lovely house will be saved- good luck with all that and may the ker-thump, ker-thump be replaced by a steady beat soon enough.
Also, +1 re the OGB you showed great spirit (and humour) in the face of adversity... -
I liked Bryan Bruce's idea that we should have a Minister for Children and that it should be the Prime Minister. It might help the person in that very important role to get a longer term perspective. We certainly don't have much to be proud of when it comes to looking out for kids from low income families and that needs to change - quickly...
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Hard News: Walking upright again, in reply to Jackie Clark,
+1
There is no reasonable excuse that I can think of for delaying diagnosis and treatment of an injury that is in all likelihood getting worse. The ACC should urgently address this matter but I suspect it's not on their to do list... -
The same facebook page that I just noticed Russell has already linked to - duh...
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In reply to Isaac Freeman
All the subjects you mention are addressed in ‘When A City Falls’ albeit quite briefly in some cases but the film does look toward the future in an interesting way. There are also plans to release a DVD at some stage which will include extended interviews and other stories that didn’t make it into the cinema version. I’m hopeful that the film’s director, Gerard Smyth, who also shot most of it, will continue to shoot aspects of the recovery and rebuild but he probably needs a bit of a rest before that – it’s been a busy time for the wonderful team that have put it all together.
For more info this is the facebook page.