Seven Mary Three to base

Finally! The greatest show in television history is coming to DVD on 12 September!!

That's right baby - "CHiPs" series one with Jon and Ponch laying the smack down on Californian criminals.... well those on the highway at least. Issuing traffic infringement notices has never been more exciting.

I am literally buzzing with excitement to see the opening credits again. (Yes I know they are on You Tube, but its not the same). I had a "CHiPs" bike when I was a kid, it had a clip-on plastic 'petrol tank' to make it look pretty much exactly like a California Highway Patrol issue motorbike. Well I thought so anyway.

So exciting!

Oh and for the amateurs amongst you, 'Seven Mary Three' was of course Jon's call sign.

Where's a good protocol droid when you need one?

I have (against my better judgement) joined the Face Book "phenomenon". I still don't really get it. I guess since I have a blog, I feel that my self-indulgent-web-quota has been filled and that I don't really need a Face Book profile - but after much encouragement I joined anyway.

However, since joining I have been vexed by the protocols surrounding the whole thing. Today's copy of the Bulletin has an article on 'poking' people and asking people to be 'friends'. It suggests that just because someone was next to you in the queue at your supermarket, it doesn't mean you should be Face Book buddies. Quite right. But what point is the cut off? At what point do you approach people? Do you make like a wallflower and wait for people to approach you? Or do you go nuts and just start sending off invitations to your intermediate school classmates?

And if you see people you know, you then ask yourself - well why haven't they added me themselves? Did I piss them off? Has my mind deleted some 'incident' where I 'wronged' this person? Or was it them, who crossed me? Do I actually hate this person? Have I simply forgotten my deep-seated hatred for their existence? I can't remember - I haven't seen them in nearly 8 years!

This has just added another complex layer to the lives of the socially awkward.

Those Crafty Hutt people

Yesterday I popped over to the glorious Hutt Valley to check out Craft 2.0 at the Dowse and I was mighty impressed.

Showcasing local crafters, is a fantastic idea and its fair to say I spent some moolah. Now before I go on, these weren't crafts of the drift-wood-coat-rack-come-shoe-rack variety... no no this was much cooler.

There were loads of great stalls, but for me one stood out - Trixie Delicious and their Vandalised Vintage range. Pictured is the one I bought - theyre old school plates that they have 'vandalised' with words like Fuckface, R16, Pervert, Marnus and so on - but I couldnt go past 'Retard'.

I was thinking about putting it up in my office, but im not sure my co-workers could handle it!

Peter Kay's Universal Truths

Just got forwarded this on 'the email', too good not to share. It's UK comedian Peter Kay (Phoenix Nights) Seinfeld-esque universal truths. enjoy

PETER KAY'S 35 UNIVERSAL TRUTHS:
1) Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones.
2) At the end of every party there is always a girl crying.
3) One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger.
4) You've never quite sure whether it's ok to eat green crisps.
5) Everyone who grew up in the 80's has entered the digits 55378008 into a calculator.
6) Reading when you're drunk is horrible.
7) Sharpening a pencil with a knife makes you feel really manly.
8) You're never quite sure whether it's against the law or not to have a fire in your back garden.
10) Nobody ever dares make cup-a-soup in a bowl.
11) You never know where to look when eating a banana.
12) Its impossible to describe the smell of a wet cat.
13) Prodding a fire with a stick makes you feel manly.
14) Rummaging in an overgrown garden will always turn up a bouncy ball.
15) You always feel a bit scared when stroking horses.
16) Everyone always remembers the day a dog ran into your school.
17) The most embarrassing thing you can do as schoolchild is to call your teacher mum or dad.
18) The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the first given opportunity.
19) Some days you see lots of people on crutches.
20) Every bloke has at some stage while taking a pee flushed half way through and then raced against the flush.
21) Old women with mobile phones look wrong!
22) Its impossible to look cool whilst picking up a Frisbee.
23) Driving through a tunnel makes you feel excited.
24) You never ever run out of salt.
25) Old ladies can eat more than you think.
26) You can't respect a man who carries a dog.
27) There's no panic like the panic you momentarily feel when you've got your hand or head stuck in something.
28) No one knows the origins of their metal coat hangers.
29) Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their arm broken by a swan.
30) The most painful household incident is wearing socks and stepping on an upturned plug.
31) People who don't drive slam car doors too hard
32) You've turned into your dad the day you put aside a thin piece of wood specifically to stir paint with.
33) Everyone had an uncle who tried to steal their nose.
34) Bricks are horrible to carry.
35) In every plate of chips there is a bad chip.

How good is the Phoenix?

Yet to even play a proper A-League match, the Phoenix has (according to todays Dominion) booked David Beckham and the LA Galaxy to play an exhibition match in Wellington in November.

After spending stupid amounts of money on getting Beckham, the Galaxy are taking him on a world tour playing exhibition matches to make some dosh. One of their first stops is Sydney, to play A-League side, Sydney FC, and apparently Wellington legend Terry Serepisos has jumped on this and is in talks to chuck in a Wellington leg. By "in talks" I mean theyre determining how much cash the Phoenix will have to stump up.

What better way to promote football and the Wellington Phoenix, than getting David Beckham to town? Fantastic. This is great for football and great for Wellington.

This is all the more better as the biggest Beckham fan that I know, wont actually be in New Zealand. As Cartman would say - Oh your tears, they taste so good!

Chekhov's Seagull

I went and saw the Royal Shakespeare Company's version of Chekhov's The Seagull last night at the St James Theatre.

Of course the 'star' of the show (and reason most people were there) was Sir Ian McKellen, as the old man Sorin. It was a masterful performance by Gandalf, who appeared to be having the time of his life playing with the character. But out of the 20-30 strong ensemble cast it was Madame Arkadina (Sorin's sister) that stood out for me. She was hilarious and even sounded a little like Dame Judy Dench at times.

Wasn't all daisys though - there were six cell phone rings (three were from one person), and an annoying woman in front of me who leaned forward so far that she actually covered half my view of the stage - not to mention her slugging back water in a pump bottle (with full sucking and bottle scrunching sounds). Heathens.

Not too worry though as the RSC performance was so good that it didnt really matter.

Tony Wilson

It needs to be noted that Tony Wilson passed away last Friday.

Wilson was a revolutionary figure in the music industry, he arguably discovered the Sex Pistols in 1976, after seeing them at a small gig in Manchester he invited them on his TV show - which basically launched them.

He set up Factory Records and managed several acts that changed the face music including Joy Division, the Happy Mondays and of course New Order. He also co-owned the infamous Hacienda night club in Manchester - "where the white man learnt to dance". You could argue that through his exploits, Wilson invented the rave and club culture as we know it. The club has has been demolished and replaced by appartments. I still remember the bemused looks on the faces of Chris and Bridget when I stayed with them in Manchester, after I took a photo of the very plain looking block of appartments!

The movie 24hr Party People is all about his career - you should check it out.

Little bit apples and oranges

I went and saw a preview screening of Michael Moore's new doco - Sicko. Its all about health services in the US and how crap they are. It made me think of a couple of things.

Moore really annoys me at times through his generalisations and see-no-evil approach to European countries - and Canada. Yes the NHS is great, and is held in very high regard in Britain - but its not perfect. Same with Canada, in fact they have they much the same issues we have here - long waiting lists etc, staff retention issues, but yes it is a pretty good system.

Then there is France, one of the most subsidised countries in the world. Economically, France has underperformed in the last 20-30 years - arguably because of the heavy state involvement in the economy (their farmers are still subsidised at pre 1980s NZ levels). The French are now largely reliant on Govt subsidies. So its apples and oranges to compare the US health system with these countries, they are all structured differently and all have their own issues.

In saying that, the US system is an absolute disgrace. It is based on the good old Tory myth that there is no such thing as bad luck - if something goes wrong in your life, its because you fucked up (hence no need for a safety net - you should have worked harder).

At the very least the state should provide free emergency health services. What kind of country bills someone for ambulatory and emergency department care related to a car accident??

I was pleased that Moore chose to travel to Cuba as well. The most maligned country in the world, just happens to have the some of the best health and education services in the world. In fact for the large part NZ's Primary Health care Strategy and PHOs are based on Cuba's approach. Essentially its about cheap/free primary care (doctors/nurses visits) - catching illnesses early rather than putting prohibitive costs between patients and care (meaning illnesses get worse/need surgery etc etc).

But the policies of the US were the model for the Bolger National government in the 1990s - user pays. Which is the second thought I had. Tony Ryall has made no secret of National's plans to re-privatise ACC (despite it being a failure the first time). So who will be surprised if ACC providers start denying people coverage on the basis of some fine-print clause in your agreement?

While we may not always get it right with health care, there are fundamentals that need to be upheld. As the US shows us, most people will choose to make their basic ends meet (power bills/mortgages/food for your kids) before putting money into health insurance on the off chance they will one day need it. This is why the state MUST provide coverage.

I don't believe for a second that National has changed their spots on health care, and Sicko, for all its flaws is a timely reminder of what will be at stake in 2008. Go and see Sicko, take Moore's comparisons with other countries for what they are, but reflect on what sort of country we want here. National, like the US, will use health as a revenue gathering machine to make up for their cuts to taxation. Health should be solely about making people better, not making a buck. Unfortunately this is again the choice we will be facing in 2008.

Blowin in the Wind

Given todays weather I think the title is very appropriate!

Last night was Bob Dylan at Queens Wharf, pretty much kicked ass. Before the concert I had read a Chch Press review of his Christchurch gig, which highlighted how Bob doesnt really interact with his audience.... turns out thats true, although he did introduce the band at the end.... well kinda - "Meeh neh meh he from tennessee" sorta thing.

Anyway it was a great concert. His backing band ruled - the dude on lead guitar was fantastic - as Wayne and Garth would say - he could wail! It was kinda like five or six old dudes jamming the blues.

Lay Lady Lay was a highlight, as was My Back Pages and Highway 61 - but of course it was the very appropriate closing - Blowin in the Wind that stole the show for me.

Bob is still the epitome of cool!

A Question

Im a fan of the redevelopment of our major sporting facilities ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the 2015 Cricket World Cup, but I have a question.

Auckland's Eden Park is getting a big flash new Buck-Rogers-Stand and will be the main stadium during the Rugby, and the newly named AMI Stadium (Previously Jade/Lancaster Park) is also getting an Athfield designed new eastern stand (pictured).

The budget for Eden Park is approx NZD190 million. The budget for AMI Stadium is NZD60 million. Now granted the Eden Park stand is about 7000 seats bigger (24000 compared to 17000), but surely there can't be that much difference??

Why is there a NZD130 m difference between a Christchurch project and an Auckland one? This of course begs the question - why not get more bang for your buck and spend your NZD190m between Wellington and Christchurch? - you would get a hell of a lot more.

Clear choices

The chart below is taken from the 2decide.com site and covers the positions of the various candidates for the Presidency on several key issues including, abortion, Iraq etc etc.

The candidates to look out for are - Clinton, Obama and Edwards for the Dems and Giuliani, Thompson, and Romney for the GOP - the others will likely fade.

Click on it to make it bigger etc

(Update: Just realised that this is the same night as Bob Dylan - d'oh!)

Hot

The new Apple iMac is out now, picture says it all really

Luggage

Ive been meaning to put this down since the weekend, but hadnt got around to it - What is wrong with people?

Why do people insist on taking so much carry-on luggage on flights? Any flight you go on, I guarantee that half of those on board will have those small bags with the extendable handle and two wheels that they then have to force into the overhead locker - why not just check it on? What could you not possibly do without during the flight? They never seem get anything down mid flight - so why do you need it?

There's always that person too, who tries to roll their bag down the aisle - and it generally takes them till the fifth row before they realise the 30cm aisle gap isnt really wide enough for what they are trying to do.

Carry on luggage - its up there with comic-sans font for sheer annoyance factor

Money, money, money

Of late a few people "in the know" had talked up former Tennessee Senator and Law and Order TV star, Fred Thompson, as a real contender for the GOP presidential nomination, going so far as to say he could actually beat Clinton or Obama.

So I raised this with a few people including a friend of mine who is based in New York and works for a polling company - he put it bluntly - "he hasnt formally announced, and he doesnt have the cash. At the moment he has nothing." My initial thought was that, well once he announces, the cash will come - its not like there is a shortage of cash in the Republicans.

Last night Thompson's "exploratory committee" (its what you set up to lay the foundations for tilt at the nomination) announced what they had raised over their first two months - USD3 million. Now by our standards that would be enormous... but when Clinton has raised USD46m and Obama is in the 40s as well, Thompson is soooo far behind that it isnt funny. This is at a time when previous GOP favourite, Senator McCain's team is falling apart having only raised USD12m!

And while time is on Thompson's side - he's going to be pushing it up hill from here and will need to quickly build momentum.

I guess this leaves one huge problem for the Republicans - who else? Giuliani is too liberal (pro-choice, anti gun, pro gay) and allegedly has soo much crap in his closet he is going to have to do extensions. Mitt Romney is a hypocrite (pro choice while running for Governor in the liberal leaning state of Massachusetts/pro life now he is trying to woo the red necks) also (with due respect to certain readers) he is a mormon which doesnt go down well with many given its minority status (he also wears the underwear). John McCain is bleeding senior staff, who seem to be jumping ship, and he is strugling to raise money.

So it may be that Thompson comes through as the best of a bad bunch, but with the huge funding headstart that the Dems have, the GOP are going to have to really pick it up and unite behind a candidate to stay in the game. As an indication of how huge the Dem war chests are - USD20m was considered a "large" campaign in the 90s and early 2000s - as I said, both Clinton and Obama are plus 40m.