In my early 30’s but having grown up in a household with this album (as I am sure every NZer did. As well as with copies of Brothers in Arms, Bat out of Hell, Dark Side of the Moon and Jethro Tulls’ Aqualung) I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see it on stage.
I had that as well up until 2 years ago. Like the books 16 weeks ago the boxes of vinyl didn’t survive the thought of trying to transport and find room for them.
I could never ditch my vinyl and books. I am a book fiend in particular.
What I didn’t note about this particular weekend is that I have a date with my wife tonight, in my study with a bottle of wine where we are going to, without bad feeling or rancor, go through my large volume of books with a view to discard some of them.
This is not going to end well…if she goes over my old Detroit techno 12” records and rare white-labels there’ll be trouble…
Somewhere I have Yellow Brick Road on clear see through blue vinyl…the oldest one I have still since childhood is a battered copy of Let It Bleed (Stones) and an equally rat eared copy of Space Oddity (Bowie)…..sad really, dont even have the kit to play them on anymore.
Hey Contrarian, I have an idea for an alternate weekend plan if yours fall through. Take every record mentioned in this thread except DSOTM and Let It Bleed, and put them in a pile on the lawn and set fire to them, and dancing on the ashes as you meditate on what you’re going to do with the rest of your life.
There is of course a serious answer to the problem of storage of vinyl records. When I had a lot of spare time after an operation before returning to work, the application Audacity recorded all my vinyl and cassettes to hard drive and MP3. I can now play them whilst working. Noisy vinyl could be cleaned up too, if important enough.
I’m deadly serious about my solution to the storage problem of War Of The Worlds, Yellow Brick Road, Aqualung, Bat Out of Hell, Brothers In Arms, Sgt Pepper’s, and all of TC’s Detroit techno. I think storing them in a pile of molten plastic in the bin is ideal.
I don’t know. Â But I was out earlier around midday getting some groceries. Â There seems to be extra cars everywhere. Â And its still weeks away from Xmas.
We had a hell of a weather week in Wellington, it ripped the hell out of the garden, freak wind, so there is a bit of fixing to do. Chickens will be in attendance proffering advice and demands for beet.
The budgie chicks’ arrival was delayed one week due to neighbour being called away on family business. In the meantime, have purchased some budgie toys like ‘ropes’ and ‘ladders’ which have been hung from the roof and, hopefully, will keep them occupied and out of the oldies’ feathers.
Seriously though, we are involved in a local volunteer planters group charged with the mission of jazzing up the dreariness and encouraging biodiversity and will be out in force tomorrow morning.
And yep, E In R, looks like we’ve got a southerly coming in, down our way tomorrow. Might be a nice change from a boistorous northerly eh? My tenacious tomatoes are hanging on which is a miracle given the week we have had.
Our ducklings have grown and left the nursery that we provided. It was a joy watching them learn to fly.
The northerly knocked over some broad beans but the most annoying bit is the way it stunts growth. My toms are rubbish except those in the hot tunnel (tres bon, looking fabulous). What kind of ducks?
Happens sometimes. Usually when you get an dynamic IP that has been previously delivering spam. If it persists try turning off your modem/adsl router and starting it again.
On another note: Strength to those of you who are spending your Friday and your weekend cleaning up in West Ak after your tornado. I hope you get the help and support you need.
I’ve jumped in and bought some Dave Brubeck – now that the old guy is dead. I liked his popular stuff and now have those plus some less well known. Did you know that he wrote a piece called Maori Blues or such when he was visiting here at one time?
Listening to Bowie live in New York on vinyl courtesy of the nice people at Vinyl Countdown in New Plymouth. Any posters above who want to recycle their rekkids rather than melt them down are welcome to send them my way. But definitely no Eagles, ta. Ditto Queeen, AC/DC and the various MOR dinosaurs who blighted the seventies and eighties. We didn’t fight the punk wars for nothing, people.
We saw Bowie live in the pouring rain at Wellington stadium a few years ago. One of the most sincere artists I have every had the privilege to see. I was amazed to realise I remembered all the words from way back when, even though I hadn’t played the songs for years. My favourite
Lucky to have seen him twice Rosy, once at the Welly show you were at and also at Western Springs in ’78. The latter is still the best stadium gig I have ever been to, brutally loud, harshly lit and cathartic from start to finish. Just a monster of a show.
Â
The NYC LP is the recording of his 50th birthday party, lots of mates guesting, including Robert Smith, Sonic Youth and his American equivalent Lou Reed, who is also in fine, fine form. Could have stolen the recording from the net, but you never love what you get for free. And the vinyl just sounds better, anyway.
  Â
Here’s a taster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbxp1hC8vts
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I’m told the song is about Lou, but I’d suspect its more likely to be about another of Warhol’s special friends, perhaps Holly Woodlawn (who Lou also namechecks in song – Holly comes from Miami, F.L.A. etc).
Ta. Heâs just âŚ. awesome, isnât he? And Lou Reed is not so bad either. Interesting about Holly Woodlawn. Definitely on the to buy list – might try for the dvd.
Te Reo and Rosy: David Bowie is a God. Thank You for bringing him into the craic.
It’s good folks are getting into vinyl again/never left it behind. We’ve got a couple of decades worth here, over 1000 at last count but also gazillions of cd’s. When we bought our first house a few months ago we planned to set up an epic music room/book library but there has been too much other stuff to do. All the gear is sitting there in waiting to be set up and for now we just use some good computer speakers. Transferred 750 music files, with 30 of them having sub directories on to the hard drive last weekend and just play everything from there for now.
There continues to be good new music being produced. Its a great time to be keeping your ears out and its good to have access to free downloads, which more bands seem to be doing these days.
Rosy: Hope you’re having a wonderful time in your winter wonderland:-)
To be honest we’re hibernating today – brunch in our thermally efficient, double-glazed home ;-). Although we might venture out to the markets a bit later, seeing as the temp has gone above the expected max of -3 (it’s -2 right now). Punsch is looking like a good option. Actually I do miss Wellington at this time of year – Enjoy it for us…
And yes, Bowie is right up there. A music room is such a good idea – we’re not settled enough for that, surviving on downloads and I miss the touch and sight of all the paraphernalia that comes with records & CDs.
As for new music, I’ve been intrigued by this young man – Jake Bugg recently. He seems to be a very musically mature 18 y.o.
That sounds like a life affirming sort of a chill! Would love to experience a northern Europeon winter one day:-)
Hey, that Jake Bugg is indeed on to it for his young years. That was a good sound early this Sunday morning. Its interesting how the country sound has become respectable and acknowledged over the last decade or so. Ditching the rhinestones and bouffy hair, tweaking the sounds and finding a new audience seems to have worked for that genre. And rag time is making a comeback! One band I’m going to look into is the Roseneath Centennial Ragtime Band, just to check it out. Sounds fun.
Right now though it the roots and culture show on good ol radio active.
Watching the 6 star wars dvds with family in the order they were released – may take 2 weekends to complete. How do you tell kids that we start at episode 4 then progress to 6 then go to one. đ
Pt 4 still holds up after all these years !!! And the special effects are still great.
Regarding records – where do you find stylists ?
To build a large society a book of common
understandings were required, some say this
book cannot change. Once first written, as
it had no errors, enlightenment never need
happen since. There are others that believe
a hair ape, pushed out by climate change
onto the savanna, learnt to standup, and
adapt to eating bone marrow. Eventually the
plains filled up with hairy apes, and some
shifted to the sea shore, where they were
nolonger dependant on kills from other beasts,
as they found sea food. There they became
the naked humans of today, unable to use
body gestures, or hand gestures, in the sea
they resorted to speach gestures. They of
course did this to reach the apex of their
existence writing a holy book that never could
be questioned again. The Pope has no problem
with evolution, my pinky fat near hairless behind.
This Sunday morning spent on the Labour Party stall in he Lion’s Market Cambridge. Received a positive response from people /For Tory Cambridge that’s a good sign. This Wednesday off to the Met Opera iat the Lido Hamilton ,Verdi’s Otello . The next best thing to being at the real Met .
Up early with baby, then more baby stuff, walk with baby, baby slept, changed baby, wife feed baby after coming home from farmers market, more baby stuff, another walk in sun, changed nappies and feed baby, visitors yeh, coffee beer and then played with baby in garden in the sun, baby eat a leak and choked, wife beside herself, more visitors and more visitors….baby asleep yeh, rest make tea for wife and myself thennnnn rinse and repeat.
Life of a new dad…all good and rewarding
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I tÄnei tau i Waitangi, I whakahua ake te Tira o Te MÄtÄwaka o te PÄtÄŤ KÄkÄriki i tÄ rÄtau aronga matua, ki te waihanga I tÄtahi ManatĹŤ Hauora MÄori, mÄ MÄori te kawe, mÄ MÄori ngÄ whakahaere. Ko tÄ te tira; Kua rongohia ngÄ karanga a ngÄ Tangata Whenua, ...
During Waitangi this year the Green Partyâs Te MÄtÄwaka caucus announced their priority for an independent MÄori Health Authority. We have heard the call from Tangata Whenua wanting any authority to be independent, and properly resourced. ...
The Greens welcome $6.6 million from the Governmentâs $455 million programme to increase access to mental health and addiction services for our Pasifika communities in Auckland and Wellington. ...
The Green Party is putting a Memberâs Bill into the ballot today which will be a significant step towards overhauling the Social Security Act by embedding a tikanga MÄori framework into the welfare system. ...
The Green Party have reaffirmed their strong commitment to the union movement in Aotearoa New Zealand by renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with E TĹŤ. ...
Soon, more kids in Aotearoa will have access to the in-school mental health support that has boosted the resilience of tamariki and whÄnau in Canterbury. ...
The Green Party supports the open letter released today by a cross-sector coalition calling for the Government to treat all drug use as a health issue, to repeal and replace the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. ...
Small businesses are not only the heart of our economy â theyâre also the heart of our communities. They provide important goods and services, as well as great employment opportunities. They know and love their locals. And after a tough year, they need our support! ...
Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Teanau Tuiono MP, supports the demand from Pasifika communities fighting for climate action as their homelands are more at risk in the Pacific region. ...
The Green Party supports the six demands for climate action put forward by School Strike for Climate NZ, who are striking across the country today. ...
The Ministry of Justice MÄori victimisation report, released today, reinforces what we already know about the impact of systemic racism in Aotearoa and that urgent action is needed. ...
Ricardo MenĂŠndez Marchâs Members Bill to ensure that disabled New Zealanders do not face discrimination for having a disability assist dog was today pulled from the biscuit tin to be debated in Parliament. ...
New Zealandâs first government funded space mission has taken a âgiant leapâ with Auckland Universityâs Te PĹŤnaha Ätea-Auckland Space Institute announced as the permanent host of the New Zealand based mission control centre for a global methane tracking satellite. âMethaneSAT is a really exciting opportunity to showcase New Zealandâs science ...
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New Zealand will open a new Trade Commission in Fiji later this year, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien OâConnor has announced. Â âFiji is New Zealandâs largest trading partner in the Pacific regionâ, Damien OâConnor said. âPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, annual two-way trade between New Zealand and Fiji was ...
HON ANDREW LITTLE SPEECH Morena tÄtau katoa. TÄnÄ tÄtau kua karahuihui mai nei i tÄnei ata, Ki te whakarewa te rautaki hauora matua o Aotearoa, Kia hua ko te oranga pai o te motu. Tena tatau katoa. Â INTRODUCTION Welcome. Today, I am laying out for you a plan to ...
All DHBs will be replaced by one national organisation, Health New Zealand A new MÄori Health Authority will have the power to commission health services, monitor the state of MÄori health and develop policy New Public Health Agency will be created Strengthened Ministry of Health will monitor performance and advise ...
We talk a lot about being a transformational Government. Some imagine this statement means big infrastructure builds, massive policy commitments all leading up to a single grand reveal. But this is what I see as transformation. Something quite simply and yet so very complex. MÄori feeling comfortable and able to ...
On Wednesday morning, Minister of Health Andrew Little and Associate Minister of Health (MÄori) Peeni Henare are announcing major health reforms. You can watch the announcement live here from 8am Wednesday. ...
New research into the probability of an Alpine Fault rupture reinforces the importance of taking action to plan and prepare for earthquakes, Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi says. Research published by Dr Jamie Howarth of Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington today, shows there is a ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Defence Minister Peeni Henare today announced that New Zealand is deploying a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft in support of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea. The Resolutions, adopted unanimously by the UNSC between 2006 and 2017, ...
The Transmission Gully Interim Review has found serious flaws at the planning stage of the project, undermining the successful completion of the four-lane motor north of Wellington Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Transport Minister Michael Wood said. Grant Robertson said the review found the public-private partnership (PPP) established under the ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today that Australian Foreign Minister Hon Marise Payne will visit Aotearoa New Zealand for the first face-to-face Foreign Ministersâ Consulations since the COVID-19 pandemic began. âAustralia is New Zealandâs closest and most important international partner. Iâm very pleased to be able to welcome Hon Marise ...
Hundreds more families who were separated by the border closure will be reunited under new border exceptions announced today, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said. âThe Government closed the border to everyone but New Zealand citizens and residents, in order to keep COVID-19 out, keep our economy open and keep New ...
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Foreign Minister 8.30am, 19 April 2021 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Speech to the NZCC Korihi PĹ, Korihi Ao E rongo e turia no Matahau NĹ TĹŤ te winiwini, NĹ TĹŤ te wanawana TĹŤ Hikitia rÄ, TĹŤ Hapainga mai Ki te Whai Ao, Ki te Ao MÄrama Tihei Mauri ...
The Government is supporting a new project with all-wool New Zealand carpet company, Bremworth, which has its sights on developing more sustainable all-wool carpets and rugs, Agriculture Minister Damien OâConnor announced. Â The Ministry for Primary Industries is contributing $1.9 million towards Bremworthâs $4.9 million sustainability project through its Sustainable Food ...
New Zealand is providing further support to Timor-Leste following severe flooding and the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. âOur thoughts are with the people of Timor-Leste who have been impacted by the severe flooding and landslides at a time when the country is ...
A ceremony has been held today in Gisborne where the unclaimed medals of 28 (MÄori) Battalion C Company soldiers were presented to their families.  After the Second World War, returning service personnel needed to apply for their medals and then they would be posted out to them. While most medals ...
The Government is committed to increasing the number of mothers who breastfeed for longer to give babies born in New Zealand the best start in life. The Ministry of Health recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six month but only about 20 percent of children at this ...
New Zealand has today added its voice to the international condemnation of the malicious compromise and exploitation of the SolarWinds Orion platform. The Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau, Andrew Little, says that New Zealand's international partners have analysed the compromise of the SolarWinds Orion platform and attributed ...
An expert consenting panel has approved the Queenstown Arterials Project, which will significantly improve transport links and reduce congestion for locals and visitors in the tourism hotspot.  Environment Minister David Parker welcomed the approval for the project that will construct, operate and maintain a new urban road around Queenstownâs town ...
Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says a landmark deal has been agreed with Amazon for The Lord of the Rings TV series, currently being filmed in New Zealand. Mr Nash says the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) secures multi-year economic and tourism benefits to New Zealand, outside the screen ...
The Government welcomes the findings from a rapid review into the health system response to lead contamination in Waikouaitiâs drinking water supply. Sample results from the townâs drinking-water supply showed intermittent spikes in lead levels above the maximum acceptable value. The source of the contamination is still under investigation by ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood today marked the start of construction on the New Zealand Upgrade Programmeâs Papakura to Drury South project on Aucklandâs Southern Motorway, which will create hundreds of jobs and support Aucklandâs economic recovery. The SH1 Papakura to Drury South project will give more transport choices by providing ...
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY E ngÄ mana, e ngÄ reo, e ngÄ karanga maha o te wa, tÄnÄ koutou, tÄna koutou, tÄna tÄtou katoa. Ki ngÄ mana whenua, ko NgÄi Tahu, ko Waitaha, ko KÄti MÄmoe anĹ nei aku mihi ki a koutou. NĹku te hĹnore kia haere mai ki te ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood today marked the completion of upgrades to State Highway 20B which will give Aucklanders quick electric bus trips to and from the airport. The State Highway 20B Early Improvements project has added new lanes in each direction between Pukaki Creek Bridge and SH20 for buses and ...
The Government is putting in place a review of the work being done on animal welfare and safety in the greyhound racing industry, Grant Robertson announced today. âWhile Greyhound Racing NZ has reported some progress in implementing the recommendations of the Hansen Report, recent incidents show the industry still has ...
The infringement fee for using a mobile phone while driving will increase from $80 to $150 from 30 April 2021 to encourage safer driving, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. Michael Wood said too many people are still picking up the phone while driving. âPolice issued over 40,000 infringement notices ...
Pacific people in New Zealand will be better supported with new mental health and addiction services rolling out across the Auckland and Wellington regions, says Aupito William Sio. Â âOne size does not fit all when it comes to supporting the mental wellbeing of our Pacific peoples. We need a by ...
New measures are being proposed to accelerate progress towards becoming a smokefree nation by 2025, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced. âSmoking or exposure to second-hand smoke kills around 12 people a day in New Zealand. Recent data tells us New Zealandâs smoking rates continue to decrease, but ...
More children will be able to access mental wellbeing support with the Government expansion of Mana Ake services to five new District Health Board areas, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Health Minister made the announcement while visiting Homai School in Counties Manukau alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate ...
The Governmentâs COVID-19 response has meant a record number of people moved off a Benefit and into employment in the March Quarter, with 32,880 moving into work in the first three months of 2021. âMore people moved into work last quarter than any time since the Ministry of Social Development ...
A stocktake undertaken by France and New Zealand shows significant global progress under the Christchurch Call towards its goal to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. The findings of the report released today reinforce the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, with countries, companies and civil society working together to ...
Racing Minister Grant Robertson has announced he is appointing Elizabeth Dawson (Liz) as the Chair of the interim TAB NZ Board. Liz Dawson is an existing Board Director of the interim TAB NZ Board and Chair of the TAB NZ Board Selection Panel and will continue in her role as ...
The Government has announced that the export of livestock by sea will cease following a transition period of up to two years, said Agriculture Minister Damien OâConnor. âAt the heart of our decision is upholding New Zealandâs reputation for high standards of animal welfare. We must stay ahead of the ...
WORKSHOP ON LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS Wednesday 14 April 2021 MINISTER FOR DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL OPENING REMARKS Good morning, I am so pleased to be able to join you for part of this workshop, which Iâm confident will help us along the path to developing New Zealandâs national policy on ...
For the first time, all 18 prisons in New Zealand will be invited to participate in an inter-prison kapa haka competition, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. The 2021 HĹkai Rangi Whakataetae Kapa Haka will see groups prepare and perform kapa haka for experienced judges who visit each prison and ...
The Government has introduced the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill, designed to boost New Zealand's ability to respond to a wider range of terrorist activities. The Bill strengthens New Zealandâs counter-terrorism legislation and ensures that the right legislative tools are available to intervene early and prevent harm. âThis is the Governmentâs first ...
Coal boiler replacements at a further ten schools, saving an estimated 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next ten years Fossil fuel boiler replacements at Southern Institute of Technology and Taranaki DHB, saving nearly 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next ten years Projects to achieve a total ...
Catherine Woulfe’s son’s school is nothing fancy. But it’s theirs. Auckland’s new zoning rules will mean her daughter, when she turns five, will have to go to a different one – and that’s heartbreaking.I just saw a map that puts us 100 metres out of zone for the primary school ...
Greenpeace is today condemning a large-scale irrigation consent as âlocking in overstocking of the land with dairy cows which is bad news for our climate, a guarantee of more water pollution and a risk to human health.â Environment Canterbury has ...
They might be the most popular companion animal in New Zealand, but cats are not so popular in the wild. Stray and feral cats are a widespread problem across the country, with numbers estimated to be in the millions. At this scale, they not only ...
Those of us who govern are acutely aware of the problems inherent in the requirement to mind our own patch, not everybody else’s, writes Auckland DHB chair Pat Snedden.This week’s health announcements signalled a big day in a number of ways. Health minister Andrew Little took time in a thoroughly ...
Some parents are starting petitions to send their kids to their closest school; others are beating down the doors of government to be allowed to drive across town. ...
Health Minister Andrew Little says  the reforms the government has announced this week will mean for the first time New Zealand will have  âa truly national health systemâ. The new system will consist of a national health organisation, a Maori health authority, and a new public health authority to centralise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona McLeod, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland The revival of interest in Anzac since the 1980s has depended in part on the repositioning of soldiers as victims. We rarely celebrate their martial virtues, and instead note their resilience, fortitude and suffering. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne On Anzac Day each year, Australians remember those who served and died in wars and conflicts. We may attend a dawn service, go to a march or lay a wreath at a war ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Adams, Professor at the Centre of Policy Studie, Victoria University The European Union has committed to very significant emission cuts â 55% on 1990 levels by 2030, and zero net emissions by 2050. To help it get there without too much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Breaking down the old boysâ club in business, government and other organisations is intrinsically important. Ensuring greater diversity in organisations â on gender, racial, ethnic and other lines â is, simply put, the right thing to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By VĂŠronique DuchĂŠ, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, The University of Melbourne Modern warfare produces both trauma and boredom in equal measure. During the first world war, one way troops found solace was by writing and reading magazines created by soldiers, for soldiers. ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for April 23, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz8.00am: High risk arrivals will be kept together in MIQ as India flight ban tipped to endThe government is tipped to end the ban on flights from India ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: India’s Covid situation and the travel ban decision, lockout hit for striking Wellington bus drivers, and Australian PM to visit NZ. Plus: A feature on a major carbon-farming landowner that is quietly growing.There will be an announcement today on the ...
Recent studies reveal surprising changes in the Ross Sea region, a choke-point in ocean circulation. David Williams reports As the three-masted British ship Erebus sailed south in Antarctic waters with the slightly smaller Terror in January 1841, commander James Clark Ross, the worldâs most experienced polar explorer, saw a low ...
Business & Investing:Â NZ to join other OECD nations with a substantive deposit guarantee scheme, Plus: Australia's diplomatic standoff with China worsens ...
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has asked for three emergency funding top-ups because it had blown the $56 million budget- meant to last another two years. ...
Hanging out in central Christchurch, waiting for a mate, St Bedeâs teenager Jamayne Feast and his two friends filmed and posted a short music clip. Now they are famous.A moment of boredom, a 15-second capella, and #FliFlaFlo has hurtled one Christchurch teenager into instant fame.It was school holidays, ...
Jane Patterson, COO for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in NZ, talks to Ashley Stanley in part three of LockerRoomâs video series, The Big Four, with the women leading the four global sporting events here over the next two years - three World Cups and the IWG Women and Sport conference. Jane Patterson ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve BrauniasFICTION 1 Inside the Black Horse by Ray Berard (David Bateman, $34.99) "The TAB made me the area manager in South Auckland, supervising 50 gambling outlets...My book Inside the ...
As long as we make decisions on the basis of discretion or intuition, like the banning of flights from India, many of these decisions will invariably fall prey to bias - no matter how well-meaning we are, writes Ananish Chaudhuri In the aftermath of New Zealand banning flights from India, I have been ...
A year ago, Justin Giovannetti left Canada to join his fiancée (and The Spinoff) in New Zealand. Today, his home country is confronting another debilitating wave of Covid-19.In the year since I left Canada I’ve been asked if I miss home. I don’t, and the reason is simple: The home ...
Australia Week: There’s no contest quite like New Zealand vs Australia, no matter the sport. Alex Braae runs through some of the most and least exciting trans-Tasman rivalries.To mark the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, The Spinoff is casting an eye across the ditch all week – read our ...
New Zealand’s approach to migration has helped create a low-wage, low-productivity and low-wellbeing society for most. Bernard Hickey looks at why a quadrupling of temporary work visas in 15 years caused such grief, and how these visa rules should be changed to make everyone better off.In the latest episode of ...
The Government's newly announced health plan heralds a massive change in the system. But commentators say its success depends on what's in the detail. Work is starting immediately to overhaul the health service in the first stage of three-year reforms aimed at dealing with a system under stress. Health Minister ...
Joe Biden's international climate summit and the UK's big new commitment to cutting emissions puts the heat on New Zealand to get serious about our climate commitments, writes Rod Oram ...
Cooks PM Mark Brown agrees to postpone inbound travel, as visiting NZ health officials inspect delays to in-country PCR testing New Zealand has put the kibosh on Cook Islands plans to unilaterally open its borders to tourists next week. The firm message to the island nation's bullish new leader has been condemned by ...
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk A West Papuan envoy who was gagged while addressing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues two years ago is due to speak again today. For six years, John Anari, leader of the West Papua Liberation Organisation (WPLO) and an âambassadorâ of the United Liberation ...
By Lagi Keresoma in Apia Samoa could end going back to the polls should a tie of 26/26 between the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the Faâatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party ensue. The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Saâilele Malielegaoi, told the media yesterday of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The numbers of Australian citizens and permanent residents allowed to return from India and other COVID âhigh riskâ countries are to be restricted. With COVID surging in India, the cases in quarantine among people arriving ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra We shouldnât be surprised at the Kevin Rudd-Malcolm Turnbull bromance. After all, we saw the same with Malcolm Fraser and Gough Whitlam. The stronger the earlier political antipathy, it seems, the closer the later collaboration. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Clarke, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Morrison governmentâs decision to scrap Victoriaâs Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement with China was based on Australiaâs new Foreign Relations Act, which says the foreign minister may ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stefan Broer, Head of molecular nutrition group, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University From time to time, generally when thereâs a public case of a hunger strike, people ask me how long a person can survive without food. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shams Rahman, Professor of Supply Chain Management, RMIT University The 2013 Dhaka garment factory collapse, killing more than 1,100 workers and injuring 2,600 more, is the clothing industryâs worst ever industrial incident. It is not just the body count, though, that made ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Mark, Professor, Faculty of International Studies, Kyoritsu Women’s University As tensions with China continue to grow, Japan is making moves to join the âFive Eyesâ intelligence-sharing alliance. This week, Japanâs ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, told The Sydney Morning Herald he ...
In a judgement released yesterday , the Judicial Control Authority for Racing fined greyhound trainer Angela Turnwald $3,500 and disqualified them for four months in a doping case. The case was bought by the Racing Integrity Unity after the greyhound ...
The Council of Trade Unions is shocked and appalled by the behaviour of NZ Bus, owned by Next Capital, which has today issued lock-out notices to Wellington Bus drivers for an indefinite period. CTU President Richard Wagstaff said, "this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology The recent crash of a Tesla car in the United States, in which two people died, has reignited debate about the capabilities and safety of todayâs âself-drivingâ technologies. Tesla cars include ...
A View from Afar:Â In this weekâs podcast Selwyn Manning and Paul Buchanan debate: How this week, New Zealandâs minister of foreign affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, delivered a significant speech detailing how this Labour-led Government defines its foreign policy. BACKGROUND: In short, Mahuta anchored New Zealand within the Asia Pacific region ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Douglass S Rovinsky, Associate research scientist, Monash University The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, is an Aussie icon. It was the largest historical marsupial predator and a powerful example of human-caused extinction. And despite being extinct since 1936, ...
Sexual harm using images will earn up to three years imprisonment if the proposed amendments to the Harmful Digital Communications Bill go through. The amendment would deem the individual distributor of intimate recordings without consent liable to ...
Support groups and experts in the rise of sexual abuse are rallying behind amendments to the Harmful Digital Communications Act. People have until midnight tomorrow night (April 23) to comment on the Harmful Digital Communications Act (Unauthorised Posting ...
The foreign ministers of New Zealand and Australia have faced questions on Five Eyes, China and deportees at the first face-to-face meeting since the pandemic Statecraft has trumped spectacle at a meeting of the trans-Tasman foreign ministers, with Nanaia Mahuta and Marise Payne downplaying recent conflicts between New Zealand and ...
In this week’s episode, Simon Pound talks to Dr Robert Feldman, CEO of Covid-19 Vaccine Corporation, about the fascinating science behind developing a vaccine.Since the onset of Covid-19 last year we’ve seen a huge global effort to develop vaccines. An amazingly successful effort, with new breakthroughs in technology that we’re ...
The Parole Boardâs decision to grant an early release from prison for a man found guilty of a brutal and unprovoked attack is yet another example of the justice system failing at its core, says Darroch Ball co-leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust. âEmilio ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, The University of Melbourne After the Bank of Queensland agreed to buy ME Bank from Australiaâs industry superannuation funds in February, it needed to raise A$1.35 billion quickly. The way it did it depleted the wealth ...
RNZ Pacific Papua New Guineaâs parliament has adjourned for almost four months, dashing an attempt to oust Prime Minister James Marape. The adjournment allows Marape to avoid a no confidence vote. Earlier, the opposition had tabled a motion of no confidence against Marape. The opposition listed the former prime minister ...
The Governmentâs inclusion of finance companies in its announced deposit insurance scheme opens the risk of Ponzi schemes receiving insurance payouts, courtesy of responsible savers, warns the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke ...
Australia Week: A poem by Sydney poet Omar Sakr.To mark the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, The Spinoff is casting an eye across the ditch all week – read our Australia Week content here.UncoveredThe train shivers my body over the rails. Whole swathes of country become unseen. I ...
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has thanked New Zealand for the warm and heartfelt welcome, arriving soon after the trans-Tasman bubble opened. ...
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has thanked New Zealand for the warm and heartfelt welcome, arriving soon after the trans-Tasman bubble opened. ...
South Auckland leaders are cautiously optimistic the government’s new health reforms can be a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to get on top of the region’s chronic health issues.“It’s about time,” said Auckland councillor Fa’anana Efeso Collins. The outspoken South Auckland politician isn’t alone in his endorsement for the dramatic health reforms revealed by ...
In a few months’ time, Auckland Zoo’s two elephants will be travelling across the Tasman to their new homes. The decision to relocate the pair was a difficult one, but promises to give the elephants a happier and healthier long-term future. With their dexterous trunks and powerful feet, Burma and ...
Great â a statement from Damien OâConnor that wonât (or shouldnât) frighten the horses or our allies. At least, not in terms of signalling a greater fondness for China  than for friends in the democratic West.  It was a trade statement: New Zealand will open a new Trade Commission ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University As part of a major overhaul of the health system, health minister Andrew Little yesterday announced a new MÄori health ...
Childrenâs Commissioner Andrew Becroft has today welcomed the correction of child poverty figures by Stats NZ but reminds New Zealanders to remain focussed on whatâs really going on for tamariki and rangatahi. Stats NZ today released updated poverty ...
Every stitch of Lema Shamamba’s embroidery tells a part of her story – and brings her closer to her homeland.CW: Violence, sexual assaultWhen Lema Shamamba fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she took just one of her three children. While the other two were at school, her youngest, Pasifique, ...
Australia Week: Calum Henderson looks back on the pinnacle of Australian television: the time a dog had a dream on Neighbours. To mark the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, The Spinoff is casting an eye across the ditch all week – read our Australia Week content here.Can dogs dream? ...
Australia Week: Trans-Tasman commerce has always been a big deal. So we take a look at some of the New Zealand companies that have successfully expanded across the ditch and cemented their place in the hearts, and malls, of Australia.To mark the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, The Spinoff ...
Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling on the Austrian Government to explain why OMV, a state controlled oil company, has been using the notorious Thompson & Clark spy agency to actively thwart legitimate climate protests in New Zealand. This comes ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta was probably expecting her speech this week on New Zealandâs policy towards China to be widely read, but not to have  produced the savage  reactions it did in some quarters. In our examination of the speech,Point of Order drew attention  to how Mahuta had delivered ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.  Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwardsâ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s contentHealth reforms: Analysis Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Labour’s health reforms: Boldly going where it might ...
Toi Tangata welcomes the announcement of the major health reform revealed by Minister Little and Minister Henare on Wednesday morning. The establishment of a MÄori Health Authority is a bold and courageous move in the right direction. This new MÄori Health ...
Early morning flight to Auckland for the weekend.
Going to see this:
http://www.stardome.org.nz/the-war-of-the-worlds/
I thought you were a young chap not an old git like me ?
In my early 30’s but having grown up in a household with this album (as I am sure every NZer did. As well as with copies of Brothers in Arms, Bat out of Hell, Dark Side of the Moon and Jethro Tulls’ Aqualung) I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see it on stage.
Ah… fair enough.
I still have the original war of the Worlds vinyl at home – in perfect condition with the booklet.
I had that as well up until 2 years ago. Like the books 16 weeks ago the boxes of vinyl didn’t survive the thought of trying to transport and find room for them.
I could never ditch my vinyl and books. I am a book fiend in particular.
What I didn’t note about this particular weekend is that I have a date with my wife tonight, in my study with a bottle of wine where we are going to, without bad feeling or rancor, go through my large volume of books with a view to discard some of them.
This is not going to end well…if she goes over my old Detroit techno 12” records and rare white-labels there’ll be trouble…
Somewhere I have Yellow Brick Road on clear see through blue vinyl…the oldest one I have still since childhood is a battered copy of Let It Bleed (Stones) and an equally rat eared copy of Space Oddity (Bowie)…..sad really, dont even have the kit to play them on anymore.
I have two copies of Yellow Brick Road for some reason. Became parted with my Shine on you Crazy Diamond somehow – which I am still pissy about.
I have an early pressing of Sgt Peppers though. I think it is worth something these days though haven’t checked it out yet.
At half your age I saw Jethro Tull play a small venue, brilliant. Enjoy Saturdays gig, even if it is packed with oldies trying to groove!
Enjoy yourself mate. I still have my double album c/w book. In very good condition and gets played a lot.
Hey Contrarian, I have an idea for an alternate weekend plan if yours fall through. Take every record mentioned in this thread except DSOTM and Let It Bleed, and put them in a pile on the lawn and set fire to them, and dancing on the ashes as you meditate on what you’re going to do with the rest of your life.
There is of course a serious answer to the problem of storage of vinyl records. When I had a lot of spare time after an operation before returning to work, the application Audacity recorded all my vinyl and cassettes to hard drive and MP3. I can now play them whilst working. Noisy vinyl could be cleaned up too, if important enough.
I’m deadly serious about my solution to the storage problem of War Of The Worlds, Yellow Brick Road, Aqualung, Bat Out of Hell, Brothers In Arms, Sgt Pepper’s, and all of TC’s Detroit techno. I think storing them in a pile of molten plastic in the bin is ideal.
Well, I did say that noisy vinyl could be cleaned up, Felix………… đ
Well if you got to spend 50 bucks thats a bloody excellent way of spending it.
Another ‘old’ git lolz
Well the show sucked so bad. So fucking bad.
And there is no way I am destroying my techno, Felix. That shit is gold.
You seem surprised. Had you not listened to the record?
Is it weekend social time of the week already?
faaaarrk
The xmas party season is about to start with the work do. So does the annual question. Drive, designated driver, take taxi, or get Lyn to pick me up.
The latter is impossible as she is is in the Himalaya’s watching the bold mice in her accommodation (while worrying about the shoot).
Taxi I think…. What are other people doing?
Anything but drive Lynn, those xmas parties can quickly turn into a 21st re-run in my experience.
I don’t know. Â But I was out earlier around midday getting some groceries. Â There seems to be extra cars everywhere. Â And its still weeks away from Xmas.
Public transport. And snow boots – because it’s looking like a very cold and white Christmas here.
We had a hell of a weather week in Wellington, it ripped the hell out of the garden, freak wind, so there is a bit of fixing to do. Chickens will be in attendance proffering advice and demands for beet.
Wondering how Annes budgie chicks are getting on?
The budgie chicks’ arrival was delayed one week due to neighbour being called away on family business. In the meantime, have purchased some budgie toys like ‘ropes’ and ‘ladders’ which have been hung from the roof and, hopefully, will keep them occupied and out of the oldies’ feathers.
Time to Plant Up! Heavy and deep
Seriously though, we are involved in a local volunteer planters group charged with the mission of jazzing up the dreariness and encouraging biodiversity and will be out in force tomorrow morning.
And yep, E In R, looks like we’ve got a southerly coming in, down our way tomorrow. Might be a nice change from a boistorous northerly eh? My tenacious tomatoes are hanging on which is a miracle given the week we have had.
Our ducklings have grown and left the nursery that we provided. It was a joy watching them learn to fly.
Oh and it’s delicious Indian feast night! Yay!
The northerly knocked over some broad beans but the most annoying bit is the way it stunts growth. My toms are rubbish except those in the hot tunnel (tres bon, looking fabulous). What kind of ducks?
Testing. Site thinks I’m spam………..
Happens sometimes. Usually when you get an dynamic IP that has been previously delivering spam. If it persists try turning off your modem/adsl router and starting it again.
Thanks for the tricks Lprent:-)
No go Ennui. 2 trys and both replies to you vanished in the mist.
Ducks are mallards. Very short answer.
On another note: Strength to those of you who are spending your Friday and your weekend cleaning up in West Ak after your tornado. I hope you get the help and support you need.
I’ve jumped in and bought some Dave Brubeck – now that the old guy is dead. I liked his popular stuff and now have those plus some less well known. Did you know that he wrote a piece called Maori Blues or such when he was visiting here at one time?
Just finished season 2 of Boss, now to catch up on American Horror Story. I live such an action-packed life.
Heading back South from Chch again Saturday – Mai Thai restaurant in Timaru – yum.
Listening to Bowie live in New York on vinyl courtesy of the nice people at Vinyl Countdown in New Plymouth. Any posters above who want to recycle their rekkids rather than melt them down are welcome to send them my way. But definitely no Eagles, ta. Ditto Queeen, AC/DC and the various MOR dinosaurs who blighted the seventies and eighties. We didn’t fight the punk wars for nothing, people.
We saw Bowie live in the pouring rain at Wellington stadium a few years ago. One of the most sincere artists I have every had the privilege to see. I was amazed to realise I remembered all the words from way back when, even though I hadn’t played the songs for years. My favourite
Lucky to have seen him twice Rosy, once at the Welly show you were at and also at Western Springs in ’78. The latter is still the best stadium gig I have ever been to, brutally loud, harshly lit and cathartic from start to finish. Just a monster of a show.
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The NYC LP is the recording of his 50th birthday party, lots of mates guesting, including Robert Smith, Sonic Youth and his American equivalent Lou Reed, who is also in fine, fine form. Could have stolen the recording from the net, but you never love what you get for free. And the vinyl just sounds better, anyway.
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Envious, I am. I’ll look up that LP.
Here’s a taster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbxp1hC8vts
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I’m told the song is about Lou, but I’d suspect its more likely to be about another of Warhol’s special friends, perhaps Holly Woodlawn (who Lou also namechecks in song – Holly comes from Miami, F.L.A. etc).
Ta. Heâs just âŚ. awesome, isnât he? And Lou Reed is not so bad either. Interesting about Holly Woodlawn. Definitely on the to buy list – might try for the dvd.
Te Reo and Rosy: David Bowie is a God. Thank You for bringing him into the craic.
It’s good folks are getting into vinyl again/never left it behind. We’ve got a couple of decades worth here, over 1000 at last count but also gazillions of cd’s. When we bought our first house a few months ago we planned to set up an epic music room/book library but there has been too much other stuff to do. All the gear is sitting there in waiting to be set up and for now we just use some good computer speakers. Transferred 750 music files, with 30 of them having sub directories on to the hard drive last weekend and just play everything from there for now.
There continues to be good new music being produced. Its a great time to be keeping your ears out and its good to have access to free downloads, which more bands seem to be doing these days.
Rosy: Hope you’re having a wonderful time in your winter wonderland:-)
To be honest we’re hibernating today – brunch in our thermally efficient, double-glazed home ;-). Although we might venture out to the markets a bit later, seeing as the temp has gone above the expected max of -3 (it’s -2 right now). Punsch is looking like a good option. Actually I do miss Wellington at this time of year – Enjoy it for us…
And yes, Bowie is right up there. A music room is such a good idea – we’re not settled enough for that, surviving on downloads and I miss the touch and sight of all the paraphernalia that comes with records & CDs.
As for new music, I’ve been intrigued by this young man – Jake Bugg recently. He seems to be a very musically mature 18 y.o.
That sounds like a life affirming sort of a chill! Would love to experience a northern Europeon winter one day:-)
Hey, that Jake Bugg is indeed on to it for his young years. That was a good sound early this Sunday morning. Its interesting how the country sound has become respectable and acknowledged over the last decade or so. Ditching the rhinestones and bouffy hair, tweaking the sounds and finding a new audience seems to have worked for that genre. And rag time is making a comeback! One band I’m going to look into is the Roseneath Centennial Ragtime Band, just to check it out. Sounds fun.
Right now though it the roots and culture show on good ol radio active.
Have fun:-)
Very cool! If they’re around in Feb, I think I might too… you’ll need to update me if you manage to go see them.
Watching the 6 star wars dvds with family in the order they were released – may take 2 weekends to complete. How do you tell kids that we start at episode 4 then progress to 6 then go to one. đ
Pt 4 still holds up after all these years !!! And the special effects are still great.
Regarding records – where do you find stylists ?
To build a large society a book of common
understandings were required, some say this
book cannot change. Once first written, as
it had no errors, enlightenment never need
happen since. There are others that believe
a hair ape, pushed out by climate change
onto the savanna, learnt to standup, and
adapt to eating bone marrow. Eventually the
plains filled up with hairy apes, and some
shifted to the sea shore, where they were
nolonger dependant on kills from other beasts,
as they found sea food. There they became
the naked humans of today, unable to use
body gestures, or hand gestures, in the sea
they resorted to speach gestures. They of
course did this to reach the apex of their
existence writing a holy book that never could
be questioned again. The Pope has no problem
with evolution, my pinky fat near hairless behind.
This Sunday morning spent on the Labour Party stall in he Lion’s Market Cambridge. Received a positive response from people /For Tory Cambridge that’s a good sign. This Wednesday off to the Met Opera iat the Lido Hamilton ,Verdi’s Otello . The next best thing to being at the real Met .
Up early with baby, then more baby stuff, walk with baby, baby slept, changed baby, wife feed baby after coming home from farmers market, more baby stuff, another walk in sun, changed nappies and feed baby, visitors yeh, coffee beer and then played with baby in garden in the sun, baby eat a leak and choked, wife beside herself, more visitors and more visitors….baby asleep yeh, rest make tea for wife and myself thennnnn rinse and repeat.
Life of a new dad…all good and rewarding
Nice. I miss those days!
Well Friday I haddd to work from 9am till 11pm basically no breaks so glad for the weekend and Xmas coming up.
Ah the joys of parenthood ah.