It is a good read. Not quite a rollicking yarn given it is an academic work but the language is accessible and it does roll along so you dont get bogged down in dryness… shhhhhhh dont tell me how ot ends đ
Yes and the missive from on high to not kill the natives and how hard he tried to stick to it. Even when locals saw him as losing mana cos of it, especially Maori.
I’ve got two weeks with no internet which is going to be pure bliss with sat tv only until the storms roll thru at my bushblock and heap of 1980’s incl NZ& Oz 80’s music. In between work/ fishing etc hopefully some reading with John Le Carre’s second George smiley book, the Rhodesian war 50yrs on and two books on the Royal Navy post war warship design which should go well with a good single malt whiskey.
I’m picking two seats to the left tomorrow which should give us a wee small buffer to form government and Skywave to win the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in Melbourne at fixed odds of 300/1 with Sir Isaac Newton coming second at 28/1 for a place.
Fine weather please! Very late getting properly started in the garden this year, planting to do. If it rains I will probably work – late on a major project – as usual…
Great time to plant tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces, I always throw abit of mulch around this time of year also, helps the soil retain moisture and keeps weed growth down. Hope its sunny for you.
Calm and warm in Riverton, perfect conditions for planting the rest of the French sorrel I grew from seed in pots, in the autumn and is now big enough to go out into the forest garden, alongside of the paths, within easy browsing distance. The perfect day also, to spend time with my grandsons; we visited the pond to see how the tadpoles are developing (well) and walked around the paths here, listening to the cooing of the kereru and the what-ever-it-is tƫī do.
Is French sorrel the same as common garden sorrel Robert? I have that in the veg patch and it’s one of the first things to start growing in the spring. I use it mostly in omelettes. The chooks totally adore it (which means I’ve had to net it).
It’s too early in Queenstown yet for tomatoes.
Got lots of tƫī this year too.
You’re in Queenstown, Scott? Did I meet you last weekend? I’m not good with names. French sorrel is bigger, less dark and very delicious! Omelettes are lifted muchly by the addition of French sorrel. Have you seen “blood sorrel”? Awful name, wonderful plant.
I’m reading 1st book of three of James (Jan) Morris’s Pax Britannica. I will be reading it along with other shorter ones, and expect to finish the three by Christmas 2018.
It is a very concentrated tracing of England’s times and turmoils.
Out to mow lawns. The grass grows green to my knees. It is very rough and tough grass. Will be replacing some of it with veg garden and giving any excess to the local Kai Rescue and lunch-time meals for the precariat and the lonely.
WH Auden was very critical of his work and finished his poem about WW2 –
September 1 1939 with line –
‘We must love one another or die.’
Later he decried that saying it should be,
‘We must love another and die.’
The difference of these two short words has many meanings to me. But either is relevant.
âIâm reading 1st book of three of James (Jan) Morrisâs Pax Britannica. I will be reading it along with other shorter ones, and expect to finish the three by Christmas 2018.
It is a very concentrated tracing of Englandâs times and turmoils.â
I read those books over 35 years ago. My wife bought me the whole Pax Britannica Trilogy for my birthday. Great books with incidental snippets of info like how the word âPoshâ came about. I still have these books along with hundreds of others that never ever seem to get culled out for the local Red Cross book fare. If that is your type of reading, can list some others that you may be interested in if you have not already read them like Neville Shutes autobiography called âSlide Ruleâ The author of the Flashman novels George MacDonald Fraser two good books âQuartered Safe Out Hereâ and âThe Lightâs On At Signpostâ
Then there is Pakenhams âScramble For Africaâ and âThe Boer Warâ two highly detailed books. All these are now available as ebooks, At the time I had to buy hard copies.
Thanks Half Crown the books you mention sound good. There are so many books that have passed me by, and so much to read and wonder at. I have always been impressed by Neville Shute’s humanity and how he can explain technical matters in a way that holds interest.
First I will search for them on TradeMe as keeping books in circulation, keeping bookmakers in business, appreciating the value of physical, hand-made things is one of the things that will save us from becoming machine fodder.
Have you read Joseph Needham, China academic. He opened the eyes of the West to what an amazing place China is, and its scholarship etc.
Trademe has listing: Genius of China: 3000 Years of Science, Discovery & Invention Robert Temple
Based on the immense, authoritative scholarship of the late Dr Joseph Needham, the world’s foremost scholar of Chinese science, and authorised by him, The Genius of China is a captivating introduction to the astounding and unparalleled achievements of ancient China.
Undisputed masters of invention and discovery for 3,000 years, the Chinese were the first to discover the solar wind and the circulation of the blood and even isolate sex hormones. From the suspension bridge and the seismograph to deep drilling for natural gas, the iron plough and the parachute, Robert Temple captures the spirit and excitement of centuries of ingenuity in this highly accessible, lavishly illustrated volume.
Also there is The Man Who Loved China.
The blurb has points that would intrigue anybody. In sumptuous and illuminating detail, Simon Winchester, bestselling author of “The Professor and the Madman,” brings to life the extraordinary story of Joseph Needham–the brilliant Cambridge scientist, freethinking intellectual, and practicing nudist who unlocked the most closely held secrets of China, once the world’s most technologically advanced country.
While I was looking at Simon Winchester details I saw about another and looked it up on google. The storyline sounds fantastical, whimsical but is based on a true story. Theres a film now The Professor and the Madman.
Thanks for that Grey. I think you will enjoy Shutes book He was a mathematician designing Airships during the 20/30’s This book will also explain why his novels are based on Australia and Aircraft Industry.
âFirst I will search for them on TradeMe as keeping books in circulation, keeping bookmakers in business, appreciating the value of physical, hand-made things is one of the things that will save us from becoming machine fodder.â
I have got to agree with you there I like the tangible feel and smell of the books and although I have an ereader I would not like to see the demise of the printed word in book form.
One of the best sources of books for my wife and I is the Red Cross Book fare, They hold a large one in Hamilton every year so we drive to Hamilton if we can on the Friday when it starts. We use it as a sort of large lending library. We return to the Red Cross when we are finished reading any books we buy from there. You can always find good quality books there. Last year we found âSpy Catcherâ by Peter Wright I think it was banned in Britain when first published very revealing if you haven’t read it.
“Too many books have passed me by,” That has been my problem also, and as I said before too many books and too few years to read them all.
I have read âsomeâ books on China, as an engineer I was mainly interested in their ancient technology and sciences., They had highly sophisticated methods of casting metals and making alloys long before it was perfected in the west, so thanks for suggesting those books which I have not read. They will on the next to buy list.
b waghorn
You sound disbelieving even perhaps hostile. We definitely do need to expand our industries from being so reliant on farming. Unfortunately the minds of so many are on speeding us faster to oblivion as brilliant humans, instead we are becoming obsolete with the learned helplessness that the RW like to tattoo as a wrong on the heads of pesky beneficiaries.
If we get the Greens in, we will be on the way to developing some new techniques and methods that will require sharp brains, along with a good dose of ethics and integrity. Only the Greens can give us the valuable outcomes we need with that combination.
i asked a simple question . hows that hostile .
it’s far more telling that i put up a little fun vid and it’s turned into a bit of farmer subtle farmer bashing ,
You wanted a simple back up to the claim. Why I wondered? And really nothing to do with farmers but everything to do with getting more design industry going re Greens.
But sorry to upset you. Perhaps it happened because I am upset at the election and can’t get politics out of my system while it looks as if we never will be able to get along with each other in this country.
Another way to spoil time spent in nature. The guy says he likes cycling so that led him to developing a water motorised cycle. I don’t see the connection. It seems that machines are everywhere: on the roads, skies, on ourfootpaths, and now in the river, in the sea. and under the sea.
That is the next logical extension, a mini personal submarine.
Just finished reading World War Moo the sequel to Apocalypse Cow both I can recommend, zombie blood and guts with shit loads of crass and blunt pommie humour.
Thanks, BM That has also gone on my list. I have found books recommended by posters on here are far better than some of the book reviews.
The only problem I can see in the future, as a silly old sod (SOS) with other things I do I will run out of years before I read all the good books recommended by others.
Went to see The Changeover tonight. Earthquake ravaged Christchurch a star of the movie. Strong performances and some interesting ideas, but overall a bit too much Twilight vibe for my liking.
On to the epilogue of the story of B by Daniel Quinn. Reading B’s speeches. Is a sequel to Ishmael. Very interesting books that turn everything on its head. We are the takers -(civilized) the rest of life is leavers (primitive).
If you can get over the telepathic ape it has some really good ideas. Ishmael’s explanation of the Genesis story in the Bible makes more sense than any I have read. His story is that the story of the Garden of Eden is a leaver story. It is the story of people who were at one with nature, who were part of nature. Takers cannot understand what is wrong with having knowledge of good and evil or the knowledge of who will live and who will die. That is what we are about. We believe that is what makes us human. The story of Cain and Abel is one of the agriculturalist taker people killing the leaver hunting people. Very interesting and it has really changed a lot of my perspective.
I’ve read others’ theories about agriculture and the shift in human culture as a consequence. Large scale warfare being one of them. And colonisation. There’s an anthropologist who says that nomadic peoples are in fact connected to one area, they just move around in it, but they get to know it extremely well over many generations.
Whereas pastoral cultures increase in size perpetually, therefore always need more land and more resources, and tend to move on once they get too big for a place, so their relationship with place is not that of living in nature, but of taking the resources needed to perpetuate the empire.
It’s a generalisation, and it can be argued that many pastoralists have deep connection with the land, but like you I see clear distinctions in both values and practice in relationship to the natural world, and how that is bringing us to the brink of ruin.
Daniel Quinn talks about “totalitarian agriculture”. That is there is only one way and the purpose of all life is to serve humans. Therefore it is ok to destroy a forest and all the life in it to serve humans. Everything must bow down to humans as that is their purpose. This is the premise of most of the Taker religions. Leaver or animist religion sees the Gods in a place – in the trees and in the river for instance. The place a people live in is sacred. They would also see their neighbours who are sometimes their adversaries as also having Gods in their place. A lot of interesting ideas that I am still digesting.
I think it’s also about the difference between people who visit nature vs those who are part of nature. That’s a values and perception issue but it takes quite a lot to decolonise the Western mind. I see lots of PÄkehÄ NZers upset about what is happening to nature here, but we lack the cultural framework to express that in or that would enable us to take more effective action to change it.
I had a bit of a head start as in the 80’s and 90’s I was part of a Woman’s Spirituality group and we explored some of these other ways of looking at spirituality. I do believe that the whole of nature is magical and marvelous. At the moment I am feeling very uneasy at plastic decorations for instance flowers I see in some early childhood centres when real plants and flowers are so amazing and beautiful. I would like to see all children spending a lot of their time outdoors in nature as this would be a way to change the mindset for future generations.
Raining here, my babies are away for the weekend so I’m working from home, without interruptions woo hooo, it’s been a tricky week with work/kids balance because of school holidays. Super grateful to live in Motueka, it sure makes raising children easier living in a friendly safe community with free entertainment around the corner (the beach, park, bike tracks, animals in the paddocks next door etc), it’s a good life here.
Can anyone recommend some good documentaries to LISTEN to please? My eyes will be to busy to watch, but I really enjoy listening to wisdom as I get things done. Thankies.
Ohhh and.. it’s 2nd hand Sunday tomorrow, gosh I hope the weather breaks for it. If you are in the Nelson region and want to go Treasure Hunting tomorrow, here is the list.
Confession: I used to follow US politics and UK politics - never as closely as this - but enough to identify the broad themes.I stopped following US politics after I came to the somewhat painful realisation that my perception was simply that - a perception. Mountain Tui is a reader-supported ...
Life is cruel, life is toughLife is crazy, then it all turns to dustWe let 'em out, we let 'em inWe'll let 'em know when it's the tipping point. The tipping point.Songwriters: Roland Orzabal / Charlton PettusYesterday, we saw the annual pilgrimage to Rātana, traditionally the first event in our ...
The invitation to comment on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill opens with Minister David Seymour stating â[m]ost of New Zealand's problems can be traced to poor productivity, and poor productivity can be traced to poor regulationsâ. I shall have little to say about the first proposition except I can think ...
My friend Selwyn Manning and I are wondering what to do with our podcast “A View from Afar.” Some readers will also have tuned into the podcast, which I regularly feature on KP as a media link. But we have some thinking to do about how to proceed, and it ...
Don't try to hide it; love wears no disguiseI see the fire burning in your eyesSong: Madonna and Stephen BrayThis week, the National Party held its annual retreat to devise new slogans, impressing the people who voted for them and making the rest of us cringe at the hollow words, ...
Support my work through a paid subscription, a coffee or reading and sharing. Thank you - I appreciate you all.Luxon’s penchant for “economic growth”Yesterday morning, I warned libertarianism had penetrated the marrow of the NZ Coalition agenda, and highlighted libertarian Peter Thiel’s comments that democracy and freedom are unable to ...
A couple of recent cases suggest that the courts are awarding significant sums for defamation even where the publication is very small. This is despite the new rule that says plaintiffs, if challenged, have to show that the publication they are complaining about has caused them “more then minor harm.” ...
Damages for breaches of the Privacy Act used to be laughable. The very top award was $40,000 to someone whose treatment in an addiction facility was revealed to the media. Not only was it taking an age for the Human Rights Review Tribunal to resolve cases, the awards made it ...
It’s Friday and we’ve got Auckland Anniversary weekend ahead of us so we’ve pulled together a bumper crop of things that caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers ...
Long stories short, the six things of interest in the political economy in Aotearoa around housing, climate and poverty on Friday January 24 are:PM Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nationspeech in Auckland yesterday, in which he pledged a renewed economic growth focus;Luxon’s focused on a push to bring in ...
Hi,It’s been ages since I’ve done an AMA on Webworm — and so, as per usual, ask me what you want in the comments section, and over the next few days I’ll dive in and answer things. This is a lil’ perk for paying Webworm members that keep this place ...
I’m trying a new way to do a more regular and timely daily Dawn Choruses for paying subscribers through a live video chat about the day’s key six things @ 6.30 am lasting about 10 minues. This email is the invite to that chat on the substack app on your ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on Donald Trump’s first executive orders to reverse Joe Biden’s emissions reductions policies and pull the United States out of ...
The Prime Ministerâs State of the Nation speech yesterday was the kind of speech he should have given a year ago.Finally, we found out why he is involved in politics.Last year, all we heard from him was a catalogue of complaints about Labour.But now, he is redefining National with its ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and ...
Aotearoa's science sector is broken. For 35 years it has been run on a commercial, competitive model, while being systematically underfunded. Which means we have seven different crown research institutes and eight different universities - all publicly owned and nominally working for the public good - fighting over the same ...
One of the best speakers I ever saw was Sir Paul Callaghan.One of the most enthusiastic receptions I have ever, ever seen for a speaker was for Sir Paul Callaghan.His favourite topic was: Aotearoa and what we were doing with it.He did not come to bury tourism and agriculture but ...
The Tertiary Education Union is predicting a âbrutal yearâ for the tertiary sector as 240,000 students and teachers at Te PĆ«kenga face another year of uncertainty. The Labour Party are holding their caucus retreat, with Chris Hipkins still reflecting on their 2023 election loss and signalling to media that new ...
The Prime Ministerâs State of the Nation speech is an exercise in smoke and mirrors which deflects from the reality that he has overseen the worst economic growth in 30 years, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff. âLuxon wants to âgo for growthâ but since he and Nicola ...
People get readyThere's a train a-comingYou don't need no baggageYou just get on boardAll you need is faithTo hear the diesels hummingDon't need no ticketYou just thank the LordSongwriter: Curtis MayfieldYou might have seen Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's speech at the National Prayer Service in the US following Trump’s elevation ...
Long stories short, the six things of interest in the political economy in Aotearoa around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday January 23 are:PM Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech after midday today, which I’ll attend and ask questions at;Luxon is expected to announce “new changes to incentivise research ...
I’m trying a new way to do a more regular and timely daily Dawn Choruses for paying subscribers through a live video chat about the day’s key six things @ 6.30 am lasting about 10 minues. This email is the invite to that chat on the substack app on your ...
Yesterday, Trump pardoned the founder of Silk Road - a criminal website designed to anonymously trade illicit drugs, weapons and services. The individual had been jailed for life in 2015 after an FBI sting.But libertarian interest groups had lobbied Donald Trump, saying it was “government overreach” to imprison the man, ...
The Prime Minister will unveil more of his economic growth plan today as it becomes clear that the plan is central to Nationalâs election pitch in 2026. Christopher Luxon will address an Auckland Chamber of Commerce meeting with what is being billed a âState of the Nationâ speech. Ironically, after ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2025 has only just begun, but already climate scientists are working hard to unpick what could be in ...
The NZCTUâs view is that âNew Zealandâs future productivity to 2050â is a worthwhile topic for the upcoming long-term insights briefing. It is important that Ministers, social partners, and the New Zealand public are aware of the current and potential productivity challenges and opportunities we face and the potential ...
The NZCTU supports a strengthening of the Commerce Act 1986. We have seen a general trend of market consolidation across multiple sectors of the New Zealand economy. Concentrated market power is evident across sectors such as banking, energy generation and supply, groceries, telecommunications, building materials, fuel retail, and some digital ...
The maxim is as true as it ever was: give a small boy and a pig everything they want, and you will get a good pig and a terrible boy.Elon Musk the child was given everything he could ever want. He has more than any one person or for that ...
A food rescue organisation has had to resort to an emergency plea for donations via givealittle because of uncertainty about whether Government funding will continue after the end of June. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Wednesday, January 22: Kairos Food ...
Leo Molloy's recent "shoplifting" smear against former MP Golriz Ghahraman has finally drawn public attention to Auror and its database. And from what's been disclosed so far, it does not look good: The massive privately-owned retail surveillance network which recorded the shopping incident involving former MP Golriz Ghahraman is ...
The defence of common law qualified privilege applies (to cut short a lot of legal jargon) when someone tells someone something in good faith, believing they need to know it. Think: telling the police that the neighbour is running methlab or dobbing in a colleague to the boss for stealing. ...
NZME plans to cut 38 jobs as it reorganises its news operations, including the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk, and Newstalk ZB. It said it planned to publish and produce fewer stories, to focus on those that engage audience. E tƫ are calling on the Government to step in and support the ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that inflation remains unchanged at 2.2%, defying expectations of further declines, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. âWhile inflation holding steady might sound like good news, the reality is that prices for the basicsâlike rent, energy, and insuranceâare still rising. ...
I never mentioned anythingAbout the songs that I would singOver the summer, when we'd go on tourAnd sleep on floors and drink the bad beerI think I left it unclearSong: Bad Beer.Songwriter: Jacob Starnes Ewald.Last night, I was watching a movie with Fi and the kids when I glanced ...
Last night I spoke about the second inauguration of Donald Trump with in a ‘pop-up’ Hoon live video chat on the Substack app on phones.Here’s the summary of the lightly edited video above:Trump's actions signify a shift away from international law.The imposition of tariffs could lead to increased inflation ...
An interesting article in Stuff a few weeks ago asked a couple of interesting questions in it’s headline, “How big can Auckland get? And how big is too big?“. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t really answer those questions, instead focusing on current growth projections, but there were a few aspects to ...
Today is Donald J Trump’s second inauguration ceremony.I try not to follow too much US news, and yet these developments are noteworthy and somehow relevant to us here.Only hours in, parts of their Project 2025 ‘think/junk tank’ policies — long planned and signalled — are already live:And Elon Musk, who ...
How long is it going to take for the MAGA faithful to realise that those titans of Big Tech and venture capital sitting up close to Donald Trump this week are not their allies, but The Enemy? After all, the MAGA crowd are the angry victims left behind by the ...
California Burning: The veteran firefighters of California and Los Angeles called it âa perfect stormâ. The hillsides and canyons were full of âfuelâ. The LA Fire Department was underfunded, below-strength, and inadequately-equipped. A key reservoir was empty, leaving fire-hydrants without the water pressure needed for fire hoses. The power companies had ...
The Waitangi Tribunal has been one of the most effective critics of the government, pointing out repeatedly that its racist, colonialist policies breach te Tiriti o Waitangi. While it has no powers beyond those of recommendation, its truth-telling has clearly gotten under the government's skin. They had already begun to ...
I don't mind where you come fromAs long as you come to meBut I don't like illusionsI can't see them clearlyI don't care, no I wouldn't dareTo fix the twist in youYou've shown me eventually what you'll doSong: Shimon Moore, Emma Anzai, Antonina Armato, and Tim James.National Hugging Day.Today, January ...
Is Rwanda turning into a country that seeks regional dominance and exterminates its rivals? This is a contention examined by Dr Michela Wrong, and Dr Maria Armoudian. Dr Wrong is a journalist who has written best-selling books on Africa. Her latest, Do Not Disturb. The story of a political murder ...
The economy isn’t cooperating with the Government’s bet that lower interest rates will solve everything, with most metrics indicating per-capita GDP is still contracting faster and further than at any time since the 1990-96 series of government spending and welfare cuts. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short in ...
Hi,Today is the day sexual assaulter and alleged rapist Donald Trump officially became president (again).I was in a meeting for three hours this morning, so I am going to summarise what happened by sharing my friend’s text messages:So there you go.Welcome to American hell — which includes all of America’s ...
This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkI have a new paper out today in the journal Dialogues on Climate Change exploring both the range of end-of-century climate outcomes in the literature under current policies and the broader move away from high-end emissions scenarios. Current policies are defined broadly as policies in ...
Long story short: I chatted last night with ’s on the substack app about the appointment of Chris Bishop to replace Simeon Brown as Transport Minister. We talked through their different approaches and whether there’s much room for Bishop to reverse many of the anti-cycling measures Brown adopted.Our chat ...
Last night I chatted with Northland emergency doctor on the substack app for subscribers about whether the appointment of Simeon Brown to replace Shane Reti as Health Minister. We discussed whether the new minister can turn around decades of under-funding in real and per-capita terms. Our chat followed his ...
Christopher Luxon is every dismal boss who ever made you wince, or roll your eyes, or think to yourself I have absolutely got to get the hell out of this place.Get a load of what he shared with us at his cabinet reshuffle, trying to be all sensitive and gracious.Dr ...
The text of my submission to the Ministry of Health's unnecessary and politicised review of the use of puberty blockers for young trans and nonbinary people in Aotearoa. ...
Hi,Last night one of the world’s biggest social media platforms, TikTok, became inaccessible in the United States.Then, today, it came back online.Why should we care about a social network that deals in dance trends and cute babies? Well — TikTok represents a lot more than that.And its ban and subsequent ...
Sometimes I wake in the middle of the nightAnd rub my achin' old eyesIs that a voice from inside-a my headOr does it come down from the skies?"There's a time to laugh butThere's a time to weepAnd a time to make a big change"Wake-up you-bum-the-time has-comeTo arrange and re-arrange and ...
Former Health Minister Shane Reti was the main target of Luxon’s reshuffle. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short to start the year in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate: Christopher Luxon fired Shane Reti as Health Minister and replaced him with Simeon Brown, who Luxon sees ...
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Simeon Brown picking up the Health portfolio as it’s been taken off Dr Shane Reti, and Transport has been given to Chris Bishop. Additionally, Simeon’s energy and local government portfolios now sit with Simon Watts. This is very good ...
The sacking of Health Minister Shane Reti yesterday had an air of panic about it. A media advisory inviting journalists to a Sunday afternoon press conference at Premier House went out on Saturday night. Caucus members did not learn that even that was happening until yesterday morning. Retiâs fate was ...
Yesterdayâs demotion of Shane Reti was inevitable. Retiâs attempt at a re-assuring bedside manner always did have a limited shelf life, and he would have been a poor and apologetic salesman on the campaign trail next year. As a trained doctor, he had every reason to be looking embarrassed about ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 12, 2025 thru Sat, January 18, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
After another substantial hiatus from online Chess, I’ve been taking it up again. I am genuinely terrible at five-minute Blitz, what with the tight time constraints, though I periodically con myself into thinking that I have been improving. But seeing as my past foray into Chess led to me having ...
Rise up o children wont you dance with meRise up little children come and set me freeRise little ones riseNo shame no fearDon't you know who I amSongwriter: Rebecca Laurel FountainI’m sure you know the go with this format. Some memories, some questions, letsss go…2015A decade ago, I made the ...
In 2017, when Ghahraman was elected to Parliament as a Green MP, she recounted both the highlights and challenges of her role -There was love, support, and encouragement.And on the flipside, there was intense, visceral and unchecked hate.That came with violent threats - many of them. More on that later.People ...
It gives me the biggest kick to learn that something I’ve enthused about has been enough to make you say Go on then, I'm going to do it. The e-bikes, the hearing aids, the prostate health, the cheese puffs. And now the solar power. Yes! Happy to share the details.We ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Can CO2 be ...
The old bastard left his ties and his suitA brown box, mothballs and bowling shoesAnd his opinion so you'd never have to choosePretty soon, you'll be an old bastard tooYou get smaller as the world gets bigThe more you know you know you don't know shit"The whiz man" will never ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Numbers2024 could easily have been National’s “Annus Horribilis” and 2025 shows no signs of a reprieve for our Landlord PM Chris Luxon and his inept Finance Minister Nikki “Noboats” Willis.Several polls last year ...
This Friday afternoon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal.The government has effectively cleared house - appointing 8 new members - and combined with October’s appointment of former ACT leader Richard Prebble, that’s 9 appointees.[I am not certain, but can only presume, Prebble went in ...
The state of the current economy may be similar to when National left office in 2017.In December, a couple of days after the Treasury released its 2024 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HEYFU24), Statistics New Zealand reported its estimate for volume GDP for the previous September 24 quarter. Instead ...
So what becomes of you, my love?When they have finally stripped you ofThe handbags and the gladragsThat your poor old granddadHad to sweat to buy you, babySongwriter: Mike D'aboIn yesterday’s newsletter, I expressed sadness at seeing Golriz Ghahraman back on the front pages for shoplifting. As someone who is no ...
It’s Friday and time for another roundup of things that caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and fans. If youâd like to support our work, you can join ...
Note: This Webworm discusses sexual assault and rape. Please read with care.Hi,A few weeks ago I reported on how one of New Zealand’s richest men, Nick Mowbray (he and his brother own Zuru and are worth an estimated $20 billion), had taken to sharing posts by a British man called ...
The final Atlas Network playbook puzzle piece is here, and it slipped in to Aotearoa New Zealand with little fan fare or attention. The implications are stark.Today, writes Dr Bex, the submission for the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill closes: 11:59pm January 16, 2025.As usual, the language of the ...
Excitement in the seaside village! Look what might be coming! 400 million dollars worth of investment! In the very beating heart of the village! Are we excited and eager to see this happen, what with every last bank branch gone and shops sitting forlornly quiet awaiting a customer?Yes please, apply ...
Much discussion has been held over the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB), the latest in a series of rightwing attempts to enshrine into law pro-market precepts such as the primacy of private property ownership. Underneath the good governance and economic efficiency gobbledegook language of the Bill is an interest to strip ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Green Party has welcomed the provisional ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and reiterated its call for New Zealand to push for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestine. ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. âOur diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealandâs interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,â Mr Peters says. âIt is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi â without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. âThe Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. Itâs so great to be here and Iâm ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges â CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. âInvest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. âThe reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealandâs economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Ministerâs State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealandersâ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. âIn the previous governmentâs final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. âThat is completely ...
The Governmentâs welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. âThere are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âI am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. âJon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. âIâm pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has delivered a refreshed team focused on unleashing economic growth to make people better off, create more opportunities for business and help us afford the world-class health and education Kiwis deserve. âLast year, we made solid progress on the economy. Inflation has fallen significantly and now ...
Veteransâ Affairs and a pan-iwi charitable trust have teamed up to extend the reach and range of support available to veterans in the Bay of Plenty, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. âA major issue we face is identifying veterans who are eligible for support,â Mr Penk says. âIncredibly, we do ...
A host of new appointments will strengthen the Waitangi Tribunal and help ensure it remains fit for purpose, MÄori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. âAs the Tribunal nears its fiftieth anniversary, the appointments coming on board will give it the right balance of skills to continue its important mahi hearing ...
Almost 22,000 FamilyBoost claims have been paid in the first 15 days of the year, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The ability to claim for FamilyBoostâs second quarter opened on January 1, and since then 21,936 claims have been paid. âIâm delighted people have made claiming FamilyBoost a priority on ...
The Government has delivered a funding boost to upgrade critical communication networks for Maritime New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand, ensuring frontline search and rescue services can save lives and keep Kiwis safe on the water, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. âNew Zealand has ...
Mahi has begun that will see dozens of affordable rental homes developed in Gisborne - a sign the Governmentâs partnership with Iwi is enabling more homes where theyâre needed most, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka attended a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of earthworks for 48 ...
New Zealand welcomes the ceasefire deal to end hostilities in Gaza, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. âOver the past 15 months, this conflict has caused incomprehensible human suffering. We acknowledge the efforts of all those involved in the negotiations to bring an end to the misery, particularly the US, Qatar ...
The Associate Minster of Transport has this week told the community that work is progressing to ensure they have a secure and suitable shipping solution in place to give the Island certainty for its future. âI was pleased with the level of engagement the Request for Information process the Ministry ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he is proud of the Governmentâs commitment to increasing medicines access for New Zealanders, resulting in a big uptick in the number of medicines being funded. âThe Government is putting patients first. In the first half of the current financial year there were more ...
New Zealand's first-class free trade deal and investment treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been signed. In Abu Dhabi, together with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and accompanying investment treaty ...
The latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, which shows the highest level of general business confidence since 2021, is a sign the economy is moving in the right direction, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. âWhen businesses have the confidence to invest and grow, it means more jobs and higher ...
Events over the last few weeks have highlighted the importance of strong biosecurity to New Zealand. Our staff at the border are increasingly vigilant after German authorities confirmed the country's first outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in nearly 40 years on Friday in a herd of water buffalo ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee reminds the public that they now have an opportunity to have their say on the rewrite of the Arms Act 1983. âAs flagged prior to Christmas, the consultation period for the Arms Act rewrite has opened today and will run through until 28 February 2025,â ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by KÄinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âNew Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealandâs most popular baby names for 2024. âFor the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.âA new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. âThe death of a ...
ACT leader David Seymour is being slammed for his "extreme right-wing policies" after saying Aotearoa needs to get past its "squeamishness" about privatisation. ...
By Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, RNZ Pacific manager RNZ International (RNZI) began broadcasting to the Pacific region 35 years ago â on 24 January 1990, the same day the Auckland Commonwealth Games opened. Its news bulletins and programmes were carried by a brand new 100kW transmitter. The service was rebranded as RNZ ...
If you believe Prime Minister Chris Luxon economic growth will solve our problems and, if this is not just around the corner, it is at least on the horizon. It wonât be too long before things are âawesomeâ again.  If you believe David Seymour the country is beset by much greater ...
Opinion: New Zealandâs universities are failing to prepare students for the entrepreneurial realities of the modern economy. That is a key finding of the Science System Advisory Group report released Thursday as part of the Governmentâs major science sector overhaul.The report highlights major gaps in entrepreneurship and industry-focused training. PhD ...
I first met Neve at a house party in Mount Maunganui. She was tall, blonde and tanned. An influencer typecast. She wore a string of pearls and a shell necklace that sat around her collarbones, and a silk dress that barely passed her crotch. Her hair was in tight curlsâI ...
The Angry LeftSummer in New Zealand, and what does Christopher Luxon do about it? He goes fishing. Unbelievable.And worse, he does it in a boat. How tone-deaf is that? There he is, fishing, at sea, in a boat that would be better put to some practical use, like housing. How ...
A Complete Unknown may be fictionalised but it gets the key parts right. What is biography for? Especially the biopic, in which years and people and facts must be compressed into a mass-audience-friendly, sub-three-hour format. And what does biography do with an artist as immortal, inimitable and unwilling as Bob ...
The pool is a summery delight for swimmers and a smart move from the mayor. Last week I walked through Aucklandâs Wynyard Quarter, commando and braless. After smugly setting off that morning for my second swim at the Karanga Plaza pool, dubbed Brownyâs Pool by mayor Wayne Brown, I realised ...
Following his headline act in the Christchurch Buskers Festival, Alex Casey chats to Sam Wills about spending two decades as the elusive Tape Face. Itâs a Thursday night at The Isaac Theatre Royal in Ćtautahi, and the fly swats, rubbish bags, and coat hangers littered across the stage make it ...
In my late 50s, I discovered long-distance hiking â and woke up to a new life infused with the rhythms of nature. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members.It began innocuously, just before my ...
The comedian and actor takes us through his life in television, including the British sitcom that changed his life and the trauma of 80s Telethons. You may know him best as Murray from Flight of the Conchords, or Stede Bonnet from Our Flag Means Death, but Rhys Darby is taking ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Nearly every piece of advice or social trend can be boiled down to encouraging people to say âyesâ more or ânoâ more. Dating advice has a foundation of saying yes, putting yourself out there, being open to new people and possibilities. The ...
Asia Pacific Report The Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network (FPSN) and its allies have called for âjustice and accountabilityâ over Israelâs 15 months of genocide and war crimes. The Pacific-based network met in a solidarity gathering last night in the capital Suva hosted by the Fiji Womenâs Crisis Centre and ...
Analysis - There needs to be recognition of the significant risks associated with focusing on mining and tourism, Glenn Banks and Regina Scheyvens write. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Andriana Syvanych/Shutterstock Most of us are fortunate that, when we turn on the tap, clean, safe and high-quality water comes out. But a senate inquiry ...
Analysis: Try as they might, Christopher Luxon and his partners in NZ First have been unable to distance themselves from the division caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, hampering the potential for further progress in areas where the Prime Minister believes the Crown and tangata whenua can collaborate.While the celebration ...
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dog the National Party despite Luxon's repeated efforts to communicate the legislation will not go beyond second reading. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Richardson, Professor of Human Resource Management, Head of School of Management, Curtin University Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump has called time on working from home. An executive order signed on the first day of his presidency this week requires all ...
The prime minister says he can mend the relationship with MÄori after the bill is voted down, and he would refuse a future referendum in the next election's coalition negotiations. ...
Forest & Bird will continue to support New Zealanders to oppose these destructive activities and reminds the Prime Minister that in 2010, 40,000 people marched down Queen Street, demanding that high-value conservation land be protected from mining. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn Banks, Professor of Geography, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki PĆ«rehuroa â Massey University Getty Images Prime Minister Christopher Luxonâs state-of-the-nation address yesterday focused on growth above all else. We shouldnât rush to judgement, but at least ...
RNZ Pacific Fijiâs Minister for Health and Medical Services has declared an HIV outbreak. Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu announced 1093 new HIV cases from the period of January to September 2024. âThis declaration reflects the alarming reality that HIV is evolving faster than our current services can cater for,â ...
Acting PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the ACT proposals would take money from public services and funnel it towards private providers. Privatisation will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing services for all to pay profits ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University Shutterstock On his way to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to officially open a new US$3.6 billion (A$5.8 billion) deepwater ...
A new poem by ZoĂ« Deans. Fleeced just call me Hemingway because Iâm earnest get it? Iâm always falling for it, always saying âreally?â mammal-eyed me, begging for the next epiphany, gagging for the magic, hot for sweetness and spring. tell me the stories of the world bounding along all ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Booksâ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Piatkus, $38) âGet your leathers, we have dragons to ride,â goes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toby Murray, Professor of Cybersecurity, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne Before the end of its first full day of operations, the new Trump administration gutted all advisory panels for the Department of Homeland Security. Among these was ...
Pacific Media Watch The Al Jazeera Network has condemned the arrest of its occupied West Bank correspondent by Palestinian security services as a bid by the Israeli occupation to âblock media coverageâ of the military attack on Jenin. Israeli soldiers have killed at least 12 Palestinians in the three-day military ...
More plantings, gotta love spring!!
Fresh seedlings under clear cover.
Dry week to work garden, sowing the following two, before full month is through.
Has anyone read Trial of the Cannibal Dog? What did you think of it? Am 3/4 way through.
Yes, gives you a great perspective on Captain Cooks journey doesnt it.
Yes a while ago. I enjoyed it. I was in tourism then and did a speal on cook. I read a lot about him.
It is a good read. Not quite a rollicking yarn given it is an academic work but the language is accessible and it does roll along so you dont get bogged down in dryness… shhhhhhh dont tell me how ot ends đ
Yes and the missive from on high to not kill the natives and how hard he tried to stick to it. Even when locals saw him as losing mana cos of it, especially Maori.
I finished it in a weekend, I was thoroughly engrossed in it, enjoy the rest of it.
Thanks Mickey. Am getting through a few pages each night
Thanks, Tracey and Mickey for that very brief review I am always looking for good reading material so it has gone on my list of books to read.
I’ve got two weeks with no internet which is going to be pure bliss with sat tv only until the storms roll thru at my bushblock and heap of 1980’s incl NZ& Oz 80’s music. In between work/ fishing etc hopefully some reading with John Le Carre’s second George smiley book, the Rhodesian war 50yrs on and two books on the Royal Navy post war warship design which should go well with a good single malt whiskey.
I’m picking two seats to the left tomorrow which should give us a wee small buffer to form government and Skywave to win the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in Melbourne at fixed odds of 300/1 with Sir Isaac Newton coming second at 28/1 for a place.
So keep cool till after School
Fine weather please! Very late getting properly started in the garden this year, planting to do. If it rains I will probably work – late on a major project – as usual…
Great time to plant tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces, I always throw abit of mulch around this time of year also, helps the soil retain moisture and keeps weed growth down. Hope its sunny for you.
Fingers crossed!
Calm and warm in Riverton, perfect conditions for planting the rest of the French sorrel I grew from seed in pots, in the autumn and is now big enough to go out into the forest garden, alongside of the paths, within easy browsing distance. The perfect day also, to spend time with my grandsons; we visited the pond to see how the tadpoles are developing (well) and walked around the paths here, listening to the cooing of the kereru and the what-ever-it-is tƫī do.
Is French sorrel the same as common garden sorrel Robert? I have that in the veg patch and it’s one of the first things to start growing in the spring. I use it mostly in omelettes. The chooks totally adore it (which means I’ve had to net it).
It’s too early in Queenstown yet for tomatoes.
Got lots of tƫī this year too.
You’re in Queenstown, Scott? Did I meet you last weekend? I’m not good with names. French sorrel is bigger, less dark and very delicious! Omelettes are lifted muchly by the addition of French sorrel. Have you seen “blood sorrel”? Awful name, wonderful plant.
Is that the red-veined one? I’ve not been able to find any seeds of that yet.
I’m reading 1st book of three of James (Jan) Morris’s Pax Britannica. I will be reading it along with other shorter ones, and expect to finish the three by Christmas 2018.
It is a very concentrated tracing of England’s times and turmoils.
Out to mow lawns. The grass grows green to my knees. It is very rough and tough grass. Will be replacing some of it with veg garden and giving any excess to the local Kai Rescue and lunch-time meals for the precariat and the lonely.
WH Auden was very critical of his work and finished his poem about WW2 –
September 1 1939 with line –
‘We must love one another or die.’
Later he decried that saying it should be,
‘We must love another and die.’
The difference of these two short words has many meanings to me. But either is relevant.
Thanks for sharing. I am about to try the Biography of London, again.
âIâm reading 1st book of three of James (Jan) Morrisâs Pax Britannica. I will be reading it along with other shorter ones, and expect to finish the three by Christmas 2018.
It is a very concentrated tracing of Englandâs times and turmoils.â
I read those books over 35 years ago. My wife bought me the whole Pax Britannica Trilogy for my birthday. Great books with incidental snippets of info like how the word âPoshâ came about. I still have these books along with hundreds of others that never ever seem to get culled out for the local Red Cross book fare. If that is your type of reading, can list some others that you may be interested in if you have not already read them like Neville Shutes autobiography called âSlide Ruleâ The author of the Flashman novels George MacDonald Fraser two good books âQuartered Safe Out Hereâ and âThe Lightâs On At Signpostâ
Then there is Pakenhams âScramble For Africaâ and âThe Boer Warâ two highly detailed books. All these are now available as ebooks, At the time I had to buy hard copies.
Thanks Half Crown the books you mention sound good. There are so many books that have passed me by, and so much to read and wonder at. I have always been impressed by Neville Shute’s humanity and how he can explain technical matters in a way that holds interest.
First I will search for them on TradeMe as keeping books in circulation, keeping bookmakers in business, appreciating the value of physical, hand-made things is one of the things that will save us from becoming machine fodder.
Thinking about machine fodder I haven’t forgotten Soylent Green as an outpost of our inner space.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green
and
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=soylent+green
Have you read Joseph Needham, China academic. He opened the eyes of the West to what an amazing place China is, and its scholarship etc.
Trademe has listing: Genius of China: 3000 Years of Science, Discovery & Invention Robert Temple
Based on the immense, authoritative scholarship of the late Dr Joseph Needham, the world’s foremost scholar of Chinese science, and authorised by him, The Genius of China is a captivating introduction to the astounding and unparalleled achievements of ancient China.
Undisputed masters of invention and discovery for 3,000 years, the Chinese were the first to discover the solar wind and the circulation of the blood and even isolate sex hormones. From the suspension bridge and the seismograph to deep drilling for natural gas, the iron plough and the parachute, Robert Temple captures the spirit and excitement of centuries of ingenuity in this highly accessible, lavishly illustrated volume.
Also there is The Man Who Loved China.
The blurb has points that would intrigue anybody.
In sumptuous and illuminating detail, Simon Winchester, bestselling author of “The Professor and the Madman,” brings to life the extraordinary story of Joseph Needham–the brilliant Cambridge scientist, freethinking intellectual, and practicing nudist who unlocked the most closely held secrets of China, once the world’s most technologically advanced country.
While I was looking at Simon Winchester details I saw about another and looked it up on google. The storyline sounds fantastical, whimsical but is based on a true story. Theres a film now The Professor and the Madman.
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity – Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25019.The_Professor_and_the_Madman
Rating: 3.8 – â76,714 votes
Start by marking âThe Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionaryâ as Want to Read: … With riveting insight and detail, Simon Winchester crafts a fascinating glimpse into one man’s tortured mind and his contribution to …
AND
http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/08/30/reviews/980830.30walt.html
Thanks for that Grey. I think you will enjoy Shutes book He was a mathematician designing Airships during the 20/30’s This book will also explain why his novels are based on Australia and Aircraft Industry.
âFirst I will search for them on TradeMe as keeping books in circulation, keeping bookmakers in business, appreciating the value of physical, hand-made things is one of the things that will save us from becoming machine fodder.â
I have got to agree with you there I like the tangible feel and smell of the books and although I have an ereader I would not like to see the demise of the printed word in book form.
One of the best sources of books for my wife and I is the Red Cross Book fare, They hold a large one in Hamilton every year so we drive to Hamilton if we can on the Friday when it starts. We use it as a sort of large lending library. We return to the Red Cross when we are finished reading any books we buy from there. You can always find good quality books there. Last year we found âSpy Catcherâ by Peter Wright I think it was banned in Britain when first published very revealing if you haven’t read it.
“Too many books have passed me by,” That has been my problem also, and as I said before too many books and too few years to read them all.
I have read âsomeâ books on China, as an engineer I was mainly interested in their ancient technology and sciences., They had highly sophisticated methods of casting metals and making alloys long before it was perfected in the west, so thanks for suggesting those books which I have not read. They will on the next to buy list.
Regards.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/innovation/90820686/hydrofoil-water-bike-to-launch-before-christmas
check this bad boy out
I saw a clip on tv. Apparently our design industry is already earning more than agriculture
thats a big claim can you back it up ?
b waghorn
You sound disbelieving even perhaps hostile. We definitely do need to expand our industries from being so reliant on farming. Unfortunately the minds of so many are on speeding us faster to oblivion as brilliant humans, instead we are becoming obsolete with the learned helplessness that the RW like to tattoo as a wrong on the heads of pesky beneficiaries.
If we get the Greens in, we will be on the way to developing some new techniques and methods that will require sharp brains, along with a good dose of ethics and integrity. Only the Greens can give us the valuable outcomes we need with that combination.
i asked a simple question . hows that hostile .
it’s far more telling that i put up a little fun vid and it’s turned into a bit of farmer subtle farmer bashing ,
You wanted a simple back up to the claim. Why I wondered? And really nothing to do with farmers but everything to do with getting more design industry going re Greens.
But sorry to upset you. Perhaps it happened because I am upset at the election and can’t get politics out of my system while it looks as if we never will be able to get along with each other in this country.
sorry about that b waghorn. Why did you want
“No politics, no aggro, why canât we all just get along?”
As I said it was on the tv last night. Prime or TV 1 news
Another way to spoil time spent in nature. The guy says he likes cycling so that led him to developing a water motorised cycle. I don’t see the connection. It seems that machines are everywhere: on the roads, skies, on ourfootpaths, and now in the river, in the sea. and under the sea.
That is the next logical extension, a mini personal submarine.
All work for me this weekend.
then planning to read A Tale of Two Cities – don’t think I’ve ever read it, and we seem to be living in equally troubled times.
Just finished reading World War Moo the sequel to Apocalypse Cow both I can recommend, zombie blood and guts with shit loads of crass and blunt pommie humour.
Both good reads.
Thanks, BM That has also gone on my list. I have found books recommended by posters on here are far better than some of the book reviews.
The only problem I can see in the future, as a silly old sod (SOS) with other things I do I will run out of years before I read all the good books recommended by others.
Went to see The Changeover tonight. Earthquake ravaged Christchurch a star of the movie. Strong performances and some interesting ideas, but overall a bit too much Twilight vibe for my liking.
Grinding my way through “Debt: The First 5,000 Years” by David Graeber.
Sounds cheery! Want to post a mini review when you’re done?
Shall do. Late October at current progress.
On to the epilogue of the story of B by Daniel Quinn. Reading B’s speeches. Is a sequel to Ishmael. Very interesting books that turn everything on its head. We are the takers -(civilized) the rest of life is leavers (primitive).
Haven’t managed to read Ishmael, but Beyond Civilisation was an influential read for me.
If you can get over the telepathic ape it has some really good ideas. Ishmael’s explanation of the Genesis story in the Bible makes more sense than any I have read. His story is that the story of the Garden of Eden is a leaver story. It is the story of people who were at one with nature, who were part of nature. Takers cannot understand what is wrong with having knowledge of good and evil or the knowledge of who will live and who will die. That is what we are about. We believe that is what makes us human. The story of Cain and Abel is one of the agriculturalist taker people killing the leaver hunting people. Very interesting and it has really changed a lot of my perspective.
I’ve read others’ theories about agriculture and the shift in human culture as a consequence. Large scale warfare being one of them. And colonisation. There’s an anthropologist who says that nomadic peoples are in fact connected to one area, they just move around in it, but they get to know it extremely well over many generations.
Whereas pastoral cultures increase in size perpetually, therefore always need more land and more resources, and tend to move on once they get too big for a place, so their relationship with place is not that of living in nature, but of taking the resources needed to perpetuate the empire.
It’s a generalisation, and it can be argued that many pastoralists have deep connection with the land, but like you I see clear distinctions in both values and practice in relationship to the natural world, and how that is bringing us to the brink of ruin.
Daniel Quinn talks about “totalitarian agriculture”. That is there is only one way and the purpose of all life is to serve humans. Therefore it is ok to destroy a forest and all the life in it to serve humans. Everything must bow down to humans as that is their purpose. This is the premise of most of the Taker religions. Leaver or animist religion sees the Gods in a place – in the trees and in the river for instance. The place a people live in is sacred. They would also see their neighbours who are sometimes their adversaries as also having Gods in their place. A lot of interesting ideas that I am still digesting.
That’s beautiful.
I think it’s also about the difference between people who visit nature vs those who are part of nature. That’s a values and perception issue but it takes quite a lot to decolonise the Western mind. I see lots of PÄkehÄ NZers upset about what is happening to nature here, but we lack the cultural framework to express that in or that would enable us to take more effective action to change it.
I had a bit of a head start as in the 80’s and 90’s I was part of a Woman’s Spirituality group and we explored some of these other ways of looking at spirituality. I do believe that the whole of nature is magical and marvelous. At the moment I am feeling very uneasy at plastic decorations for instance flowers I see in some early childhood centres when real plants and flowers are so amazing and beautiful. I would like to see all children spending a lot of their time outdoors in nature as this would be a way to change the mindset for future generations.
Will look at Beyond Civilisation. Will see if it is in Auckland Libraries.
Raining here, my babies are away for the weekend so I’m working from home, without interruptions woo hooo, it’s been a tricky week with work/kids balance because of school holidays. Super grateful to live in Motueka, it sure makes raising children easier living in a friendly safe community with free entertainment around the corner (the beach, park, bike tracks, animals in the paddocks next door etc), it’s a good life here.
Can anyone recommend some good documentaries to LISTEN to please? My eyes will be to busy to watch, but I really enjoy listening to wisdom as I get things done. Thankies.
Ohhh and.. it’s 2nd hand Sunday tomorrow, gosh I hope the weather breaks for it. If you are in the Nelson region and want to go Treasure Hunting tomorrow, here is the list.
http://nelson.govt.nz/assets/Services/Downloads/recycling/secondhand-sunday/second-hand-sunday-participation-list-oct-2017.pdf