Popular Posts
-
Search blog.co.uk What peeves you off the most? I'll tell you one... -
Image via Wikiped It is as a grandparent that I see everything in context, the trials and tribulations of being a parent and the need...
-
GBE 2 Expectations and Plan B... Expectations and Plan B. Expectations: The act or state of expecting the prospect of fu... -
Cover via Amazon Review: The Soloist : Steve Lopez. In 2005, LA Times Columnist Steve Lopez ran into a homeless man pla...
-
Inaugural Address Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You speech Vice President Johnson , Mr. Speaker , Mr. ... -
Image via Wikipedia Working for the man We have all had to work for the man in one category or another in our lives to su...
-
I recently discovered this little gem, and just had to post it for you dear readers: The Princess and the Queen... My flight was being... -
GBE2: Blog on: Picture Prompt - Money Tree... This week's blogging exercise is a picture prompt - Money Tree. I have already read a... -
Wild flowers and wild things... Wild thing...you make my heart sing... You make everything Groovy I said wild thing... Wild thi... -
The buffalo theory of beer... The "Buffalo Theory" of Beer... A herd of buffalo can move only as fast as th...
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
GBE2 Blog on: 15 Minute free write exercise...
GBE2 Blog on: 15 minute Free write exercise...
Christmas
is coming and I'm looking forward to the family coming home for Christmas
dinner. The grown-up children and grandkids from 3 years to 22 years. All that
cooking, but not all here at home this time. Sharing it around this year.
Thinking of two of my elder grandchildren. Pride, my 16 year old grandson, the professional rugby league recruit with the Melbourne Storm NRL club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. First Christmas away from home. Danielle my eldest granddaughter, 18 years old and also first time away from home at Christmas. We'll see Pride at the end of January when he comes back to New Zealand on leave. Danielle will be back in a week.
Oh dear Jesus, two days before Christmas and more earthquakes in Christchurch. Two in 80 minutes over 5.8 and 26 aftershocks in twenty four hours. No serious injuries luckily - but the mess in the eastern suburbs - the liquefaction that oozes out of the ground like stinking mud if its mixed with sewerage. It dries out to silt and sand - and has to be shovelled into wheelbarrows and dumped on the side of the road for contractors to collect. But look at all those volunteers of all ages helping out again? The fourth time. Now this is Christian charity of effort - helping out your neighbors and other people you may not even know.
Now this is Christmas! My family are coming, my family are coming! Christmas is real again, not just some commercial enterprise. Long live the people of Christchurch my home town. My people, my family too! Merry Christmas everybody!!
http://anzacbloggersunite.blog.co.uk
Christmas
is coming and I'm looking forward to the family coming home for Christmas
dinner. The grown-up children and grandkids from 3 years to 22 years. All that
cooking, but not all here at home this time. Sharing it around this year.Thinking of two of my elder grandchildren. Pride, my 16 year old grandson, the professional rugby league recruit with the Melbourne Storm NRL club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. First Christmas away from home. Danielle my eldest granddaughter, 18 years old and also first time away from home at Christmas. We'll see Pride at the end of January when he comes back to New Zealand on leave. Danielle will be back in a week.
Oh dear Jesus, two days before Christmas and more earthquakes in Christchurch. Two in 80 minutes over 5.8 and 26 aftershocks in twenty four hours. No serious injuries luckily - but the mess in the eastern suburbs - the liquefaction that oozes out of the ground like stinking mud if its mixed with sewerage. It dries out to silt and sand - and has to be shovelled into wheelbarrows and dumped on the side of the road for contractors to collect. But look at all those volunteers of all ages helping out again? The fourth time. Now this is Christian charity of effort - helping out your neighbors and other people you may not even know.
Now this is Christmas! My family are coming, my family are coming! Christmas is real again, not just some commercial enterprise. Long live the people of Christchurch my home town. My people, my family too! Merry Christmas everybody!!
http://anzacbloggersunite.blog.co.uk
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Merry Christmas to my friends and readers..
Wishing all my blogging friends and their families from around the world a very Merry Christmas and a most happy New Year.
http://www.ruthann1.com/MerryChristmasMyFriend.htm
http://www.ruthann1.com/MerryChristmasMyFriend.htm
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
British men losing their reputation as beer drinkers...
It has been claimed that Britain is losing its reputation as a nation of beer drinkers.
Beer consumption has apparently fallen by a quarter since 2006, because many men have stopped going down to the local pub, preferring to stay at home with their wives and girlfriends, sharing a bottle of wine, cider or spirits.
I wonder how true this really is? Or has it to do more with economics? Read on:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10774796
Kiwipete
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Graffiti tagging can be a dangerous artform...
 |
| Image via Wikipedia |
 |
| Image via Wikipedia |
 |
| Image by Franco Folini via Flickr |
 |
| Image by epSos.de via Flickr |
 |
| Image by NguyenDai via Flickr |
For many decades tagging has been a problem in NZ cities and towns, but was mainly confined to central and local government buildings and usually didn't affect private dwellings.
But about a generation ago, there was a mindset change probably brought about by a growing lack of empathy for even private property by disaffected and bored youth and young adults towards society, triggered perhaps by the advent of hard drugs such as methamphetamine or P, (and local gang prospects trying to prove a name for themselves), as it is known in NZ, Since then the fences of private homes have become fair game and targets of taggers.
Most city councils have carried out their own dedicated campaigns of action to combat taggers and their graffiti. The general belief is that tags should be painted out within 24 hours before there is much public exposure - most tags have a signature to their style. Here in Lower Hutt city in Wellington there has been a team of painters who patrol the city in their van with their paint equipment, deleting tags as they appear. It is very well organised and keeps new graffiti under reasonable control. They have been sponsored by local companies who have often been targets of taggers themselves.
While they can control tagging of public buildings, it can often be more difficult to control that of private buldings because permission is necessary and owners cannot always be contacted.
I think most councils run similar programs to that of the Hutt City Council in Lower Hutt city. Some years ago the Auckland City Council decided to go a step further and keep a record of graffiti by digitally photographing tags and storing them on a council website. When taggers were arrested evidence was much easier to be gathered by referring to what was stored online. As I mentioned earlier taggers have their own style and signature and evidence is much more forthcoming when a comparison can be made. Some say there is a difference between graffiti and tagging. If it is mural painting I would agree. Some murals underneath bridges look quite artistic and seem to discourage random tagging.
Graffiti costs councils and businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in deletion costs. The Auckland City Council lays charges of wilful damage against any taggers who have been caught painting graffiti.
There is concern at the potential violence that could be metered out against taggers if they are caught, and by taggers themselves if they are caught in the act. A 15 year old boy in Auckland was killed by a property owner who caught him and his accomplice in the act. The man chased the boy and killed him with one blow from his 13 cm knife blade. The man was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for his actions in 2009. Extenuating circumstances apparently downgraded the charge to manslaughter. But why confront a tagger with a knife in your hand? Why not a broom or a 4x2?
Overseas taggers have been run over or hit by vehicles when tagging by freeway overpasses and one man fell and broke his back when tagging on an overpass itself; he was still clutching his spraycan when rescuers got to him. Other taggers have been shot at, stabbed and attacked members of the public who witnessed their grafitti tagging. The potential for violence is always present. Australian councils have had their own problems and have come up with their own solutions which have often mirrored the NZ experience.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Actual classified ads...
 |
| Image via Wikipedia |
Our
experienced Mom will
care for your child. Fenced yard, meals, and
smacks included.
Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
Stock up and save. Limit: one.
Semi-Annual after Christmas Sale
3 year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.
Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with round bottom for efficient beating.
Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting off head illusion. Blue Cross and salary.
Dinner Special -- Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00
For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.
Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.
We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
For sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
Great Dames for sale.
Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful condition.
Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again
Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
Stock up and save. Limit: one.
Semi-Annual after Christmas Sale
3 year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.
Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with round bottom for efficient beating.
Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting off head illusion. Blue Cross and salary.
Dinner Special -- Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00
For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.
Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.
We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
For sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
Great Dames for sale.
Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful condition.
Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)