To all my American friends...

Olympics – it's almost over!

Did you enjoy keeping an eye on the London Olympics?  I sure did.  It is the one time every 4 years that I get to look at sports that I would never otherwise see like – gymnastics, equestrian, diving and weightlifting.  The weightlifting in particular is quite compelling tv.  It is quite amusing how we all become instant experts!  My better half pronounced that a diver had "over-rotated" even before the announcer said anything about it.

But apologies to any enthusiasts, I just can't get into handball or judo.  I did catch myself glued to one of the race-walking events and some really clever synchronised swimming– clearly a sad case of Olympicitis.

And even better the Kiwi's did well for a country of only 4 1/2 million people.  Yay!

Queen’s Birthday Today

It’s Queen’s Birthday here in New Zealand and it’s a holiday – yay!  We don’t have another long weekend now until the end of October.

It’s not her actual birthday but her official one here.  They do it on a different day in the UK.  

So a big happy birthday to Her Majesty in this Jubilee Year.

May Day

May Day is a Northern Hemisphere day celebrating spring.  In my part of the world, as we head firmly into winter, it doesn’t carry that connotation.  It has also been adopted by the union movement as a Workers’ Day.

Anniversary of the Cave Creek disaster in 1995

We remember the 14 people that were lost in this disaster and think of their families.

Anzac Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Is Debt Weighing You Down?

For another cartoon, click here

Diamond Jubilee Year

Sir Paul Callaghan - RIP

Sir Paul Callaghan

Sir Paul Callaghan, who was New Zealander of the year in 2011,sadly died today from cancer.  He was an important scientist with the unusual ability to be able to powerfully communicate to lay people.  He wrote from Wool to Weta.

For a link to another post about a famous New Zealander, click here

Anniversary of Japanese tsunami

It’s the first anniversary of the devastating tsunami in Japan today.  A reminder of the real power of nature.  And the risks of man- made development.  All our thoughts go out to those who were affected – many of whom will still be trying to rebuild their lives.

Tsunami are often referred to as tidal waves.  The word is Japanese from tsu meaning harbour and nami meaning wave.  Out in the ocean the tsunami are usually not more than half a metre in height, but when they come close into shore they can reach heights of 30 to 35 metres.  In 1971 one measured at 85 metres occurred in Japan.  Most tsunami are caused by earthquakes.  They can travel huge distances such as right across the Pacific Ocean. 

The most effective mitigation against tsunami is to evacuate all people who are likely to be affected.  It was striking that not many Kiwis were killed in the Boxing Day tsunami in Asia – we are brought up knowing that unusual drawing back of the waves is a sign to head for the hills.

Leap Year day

It is Leap Year day today.  I thought leap years occurred every 4 years but looking it up on Wikipedia I find that it is more complicated than that.  Years that are divisible by 100 are not leap years unless they are also divisible by 400 – so 1600 and 2000 were leap years but not 1900!  So having thought that every Leap Year would also be an Olympic year is not right.

I was going to list famous leaplings (yes, that’s what they call people born on this day) but actually found them to be a pretty nondescript lot.


This is a link to an article in The Telegraph about ladies popping the question http://www.telegraph.co.uk/relationships/9103884/Pop-the-question-now-ladies-before-he-humiliates-you-with-his-proposal.html

Lloyd Geering and Helen Clark - there's a pairing for you!

A couple of controversial New Zealanders have their birthdays today.  Sir Lloyd Geering (1918) and Helen Clark (1950).  While we are all pretty familiar with Helen’s activities, I had forgotten some of the circumstances around Lloyd Geering.

He faced charges of heresy by the Presbyterian Church in 1967 largely because he disliked and spoke out against fundamentalists.  Having survived that challenge he was later knighted by the Queen and later was awarded the Order of New Zealand.

1st Anniversary of Christchurch Earthquake

Today is the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch.  My thoughts go out to all those who suffered and who are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

On a less serious note, we must thank Mayor Bob Parker for bringing “munted” firmly into the New Zealand lexicon.

Yeah right!

Looking after the elderly - HoS article

I may not always agree with Deborah Coddington but her article in today's Herald on Sunday raises an important and pressing issue: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/deborah-coddington/news/article.cfm?a_id=271&objectid=10786476

Happy Valentine’s Day to All You Romantics out there

 

Valentine’s Day  - this day was first established by the then Pope in 496 – so at the very least it has real history even if it has now descended into hopeless saccharine schmaltz.  Red roses on the day is not only naff but is the ultimate rip off.  But notwithstanding all that I still find myself looking for a nice card plus a small present to give my better half.

Waitangi Day

Another Waitangi Day comes around to mark the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.  This day was not officially commemorated until 1934 and only became a public holiday in 1974.  Even Wikipedia suggests that the treaty was actually signed on 6 February.  But over 500 chiefs signed over a period of months at many locations throughout the country.  It is typical of the Western view of things that the date that seems to count with historians is the one on which the document was signed on behalf of Queen Victoria and about 40 chiefs – with the great bulk of them only signing later.  Not all iwi signed the treaty with notable exceptions including Tuwharetoa and Tuhoe.

The treaty is an incredibly important foundation for New Zealand but also causes division simply as a result of the English and Maori versions differing in meaning.  No one suggests this was deliberate.  But one of the key differences is whether Maori were ceding sovereignty or not.

Here’s to a peaceful and enjoyable Waitangi Day for all.

Another article on the inequality issue

This is a link to a Cactus Kate view on the inequality issue sparked by having just watched Djokovich win the Australian Open:

http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2012/01/inequality-examples-they-wont-mention.html

Article discussing the inequality issue

I enjoyed this opinion article about inequality as an issue.  Won't be popular with the lefties! 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10776730

Ralph Hotere was awarded the Order of New Zealand in the New Year Honours

Being awarded the Order of New Zealand is a big deal in NZ terms.  Only 20 living people at any one time can hold the order.  While it doesn’t carry a title it is New Zealand’s top honour.

Ralph Hotere is, of course, one of New Zealand’s best known and loved artists.  His works mostly had biographical or political origins.  Much of it has a dark palette.  Some of the ones I like include:

 

"There are very few things I can say about my work that are better than saying nothing." - Ralph Hotere 


To see another post about New Zealand art click here 

The other current holders of the honour are (in order of appointment):

Lady Blundell

Dame Miriam Dell

Margaret Mahy

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

Sir Miles Warren

Jim Bolger

Ken Douglas

Cliff Whiting

Mike Moore

Cardinal Thomas Williams

Jonathan Hunt

Sir Lloyd Geering

Sir Kenneth Keith

Sir Don McKinnon

Sir Murray Halberg

Helen Clark

Sir Bob Charles

Ralph Hotere takes one of the spots left vacant as a result of the deaths of Ivan Lichter, Dame Doreen Blumhardt and Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan.  I didn’t even know who 2 of these people were!  Talk about flying below the radar – Ivan Lichter was a surgeon specialising in palliative care and Dame Doreen was a potter and art educator.