Posts by Mike O'Connell
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Hard News: Fact and fantasy, in reply to Warren Clark,
Exactly. We do not internalise our environmental costs, our 'externalities' and I’m not sure any nation does successfully, Germany and Sweden perhaps?
Leading up to Mike Joy’s work and comments now, some excellent, strongly-backed research and findings going back to Morgan William’s days as the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (and other sources e.g. the Business Council for Sustainable Development) invariably end up on the shelf gathering dust. Often they were hard hitting but even Labour took PCE reports with a grain of salt. Look how David Parker back-tracked in 2005 away from the proposed carbon tax. Too much of an imposition on business, as it is now. It was arguably a much better bet than the lousy diluted emissions trading scheme we have now but we’ll never know. As Sir Nicholas Stern has said (for climate change, but could be applied to range of environmental problems), the cost of doing nothing (20% above annual GDP) is going to exceed the cost of doing something (5% of annual GDP ), something now.
Lincoln University’s public perception of the environment survey shows that management of farm effluent and runoff are perceived to be the least well managed of the environmental problems investigated (in their survey – covering all natural resources). The electorate does appear to notice (a random off the electoral roll audience) but are not challenging the government over it.
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Hard News: The Velvet Underground Etc., in reply to Sacha,
Indeed sad to see Marbecks go. This was the original wasn't it? The closest Christchurch had to Marbecks was Radar, sadly gone, a quake victim like Real Groovy (who got hit in both big quakes). And with wretched timing, Evil Genius opened in Lyttelton a week before the Feb 22 quake. I see they've re-opened in Wellington. Fortunately, Galaxy (next to the Darkroom) and Penny Lane (in Sydenham) were able to re-open and going strong by all accounts.
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Hard News: The Velvet Underground Etc., in reply to Doug Hood,
Mutti oder Muttl vielleicht! That was 1986. One of those 'wish I'd gone to' gigs. As most know, she tragically died in 1988, falling off her bike in Ibiza, precipitated by a heart attack. She may have survived if the diagnosis (sunstroke!) was correct.
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Hard News: The Velvet Underground Etc., in reply to Kumara Republic,
Buzzcocks, Joy Division...but duds too - Simply Red. Mick Hucknall (supposedly one of the 42) was taken to the cleaners (...coz God 'ates gingers...) by Steve Coogan's Tony Wilson character in 24 Hour Party People!
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The old saying that hardly anyone bought it, but everyone who did went out and formed a band is true in spirit, if not in fact.
Indeed, e.g. Jonathan Richman (and Modern Lovers) who reputedly attended more VU gigs than Lou Reed himself! The Velvet Underground and Nico is an absolute classic - my fav is the Nico-led All Tomorrow's Parties.
I heard Graeme Hill (Humphreys - Able Tasmans) at a Kings Arms kiwi music night quiz earlier this year relate an amusing anecdote about 'meeting/ John Cale when he was in the Bfm studio, probably on the same day you were there Russell – it didn’t end well!
By the way, Clinton Heylin’s ‘From the Velvets to the Voidoids’ is an excellent look at the Velvets and others crucial to the the foundation of American punk and there is reference there to that April 1967 Gymasium set. Sister Ray could sometimes come in at 40 min live but that 18 min version is a killer. By comparison, Joy Division’s version is one of their few lesser moments.
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Well done Russell, a significant anniversary. As a relative newbie, I'm seeing what a great community PA is with its many quirky and idiosyncratic contributors. I just love the way a thread starts at A and will say end at B - but it can go all the way to Z at times if you get my drift.
Love to see you in Christchurch again some time when time and finances allow, bringing the Great Blend, Media3 or any other forum you're involved with.
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Hard News: Why did Stephen die?, in reply to BenWilson,
Wise. You were unlucky – I’ve never been pinged for no helmet, despite coppers directly observing me. They must have really had nothing to do, and probably didn’t like the cut of your jib. Did you get demerits against your driver’s license?
No demerits fortunately. But I reckon if I'd said anything, from their less than friendly tone, it could have gone in that direction. I've been rather circumspect on the roads today and feeling a little jittery when spotting cop cars - while behaving perfectly legally. But absolutely no comparison to what poor Stephen must have experienced.
I know guys who many years after various accusations will receive calls saying that the police are going to re-open a case they dropped.
I thought after a certain time - six years? 10 years? - a case couldn't be re-opened, the double jeopardy situation. Or in the cases your refer to, was there no acquittal or conviction and the case was still 'open' and new evidence 'found'?
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Hard News: Why did Stephen die?, in reply to BenWilson,
In relation to my experience yesterday for not wearing a helmet, I had the distinct impression the two coppers were looking for a backchat comment or similar as they said too I could have been fined for riding on the footpath - FFS! I said nothing more than I had to and accepted my fine. Sign of the times? I just don't know as just three days earlier, I had an entirely different experience where the police responded quickly to and headed off a nasty domestic incident erupting next door to us.
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Hard News: Why did Stephen die?, in reply to Graham Hughes,
This really needs to be picked up on in the wider media. Having just this last hour been pinged by the boys in blue (in this case with nothing better to do) for not wearing a cycle helmet down a back street, yes a bit silly admittedly, I've come home, seen this blog and responses and feel a growing sense of unease about what's happening in this nation, underlined by Stephen's tragic case. I'm waiting too to see what else comes out.
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A great sampler. I have to return to Auckland to see this. The Bow Wow Wow print is surreal, doesn't look 31 years old - and those snakes in the grass are by the way absolutely free!