Posts by Christopher Dempsey
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What a numpty.
A numpty alright and all out mad as batshit but I'm thankful he's there; proves that we really are everywhere.
Regardless, Australian proposals to 'filter' the big bad foreign interweb have the air of Don Quioxte about them; quaint and entirely unworkable to my supremely un-techie like mind. What on earth is the point then?
As I said to one wingnut many moons ago who was railing about marijuana smokers taking over the local park, for their annual J day festival, thereby corrupting the young that a) they probably knew more than we give them credit for and b) people are far better making sure that the young are cared for, and loved to the n'th degree by their guardians - this more than anything else will 'filter' alot.
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And it's on one my list of magazines to avoid buying at all costs as it loudly proclaims every second week "Live to 100 by boxtoxing a do-up Villa, plant 20 veges that will save your heart, find out why your Gen Z children are likely to die before you do and twenty new makeup tips for the over 60s".
(But it doesn't stop me from reading the wine/recipe/ecologic and Easton's columns in the store).
ACT has never been a party of particularly high standards (a hangover from privilege hunting Roger Douglas). ACT stalwart Stirling demonstrates this as editor of said magazine.
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Ok, so I guess we could agree that a) part of China's environmental problems is the result of us exporting pollution, and b) another part, which I hadn't actually thought about, is caused by their own actions not linked to our consumerist demands,
And my undies are made in China, sadly. I will have to hunt down NZ made ones, or at a stretch, Aussie made. (Which is difficult as often NZ 'made' ones means the base garment comes from China and then 'transformed' here).
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China has fucked huge amounts of that country's environment and that is the matter that will destroy current government.
No, actually, we did.
The computer you are reading this on either was made in China or has components made in China. We demand these products for our lives, along with a whole heap of other products, right down to the undies that you are wearing.
If we manufactured those products ourselves, our environment would be fucked. All we have done is come to some nice arrangement with China whereby we export that pollution and import consumer goods from there.
And given their particular political and governance arrangements, and general worldview they are pretty happy to have come to this arrangement. Undoubtedly, we are very happy with it; shiny Apple computers and a clean(ish) environment - what more could we want?
It's not about merely importing consumer goods; it's about us exporting pollution to China.
And to be fair, China exports pollution to us in return for their imported NZ milk; just ask the many fish and other fauna that inhabit the many streams on dairy farms.
Given our exporting of pollution to China, I suspect that they have every right to change the terms of the arrangement and charge us more for their goods to help clean up our exports.
Get the right perspective and the problem becomes much clearer.
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As an aside how much was the Hero Parade costing to put on if anybody can remember?
Not much. I attended an Auckland City Council meeting in the newly opened Town Hall in the late 90s, where the agenda item was how much was Council going to support the Hero Parade.
They were asking for $10K, made up of donation in kind really, of barriers, and cleaning crews.
The Xian fundamentalists on Council weren't having a bar of it, but were outvoted at the last minute.
From memory most of the Hero Parades were only ever supported by private sponsors (Qantas for example), and Council only chipped in a minimal amount for street cleaning.
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but when my employees are spraying around corporate welfare -- and too often doing it without proper scrutiny or due process -- I've got a very big problem indeed.
Yes it's a problem. It's actually quite well known; rush-of-blood-to-the-headitis is its name. Happens every time when something 'big' and 'worldclass' by whatever means swoops into town.
I have seen many an officer with this symptom. I've yet to find the cure.
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"You people are bastards because that's what you people do! I'm gunna go home and I, and I'm gunna bite my pillow!"
LOLnui.
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my suspicion is the WCC is concerned about cost-blow-out for the RWC. a ciy councillor used to be my land-lady and she indicated pretty clearly that rates would be increasing in the near future to fund "stuff".
In much the same way every ratepayer in Auckland city is paying an extra $23 in targeted rates to help pay for the RWC2011 works funded by Council.
Fortunately its just for this rating year. But you don't hear a CitRat council imposing a targeted rate to help fund restoration of the St James for instance.
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but $3m for artistic paving seems somewhat rich. Nice work if you can get it. Would be good to see the concept, but can't find any reference to it, apart from briefly in AkCity meeting minutes.
I don't have actual numbers, but the actual art work component would cost around say $200k - to Billy Apple. The rest of the money is simply creating an unnecessary road, which I suppose supports the artwork. I guess you could call it the frame for the artwork.
There is one (not so good) image. A black and white 'checkerboard' paving treatment although its not strictly a checkerboard - the 'squares' are based on the golden mean (a favourite Billy Apple motif).
He is also doing another installation on the corner of Sandringham Rd and Walters Rd - this has a strong rugby influence - it is the corner of a rugby field, sort of, with a single solitary rugby post at the corner of the field.
And really, Billy Apple versus something from Weta Workshop? Give me an apple to admire while I watch something from the workshop.
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Someone more cleverer than me could figure out Eden Park's new nickname - in Montreal the Olympic Stade is known as the Big O (for Owe). The City is still paying off the construction cost.