With great Gusto

On the weekend I checked out Craft 2.0 over in the Hutt. I almost bought a pair of cufflinks - but credit-card guilt set in and I though better of it.

However, while over there we discovered a new (11 days old) brunch option - Gusto Bistro on Jackson St. I don't normally do the whole cafe review thing - but this was outstanding.

The coffee was fantastic - which for Petone is a big deal - I had the damn fine Eggs Benerizo with a Rosti, which was basically Eggs Benedict but with chorizo instead of ham, and a hash brown. The chorizo will blow your mind, and by all accounts the french toast was a taste sensation!

Its in an old dental chambers, but it looks more like an old bank, with wood panelled interiors. It seemed like a place that would be great for an evening meal too.

If I had a top 5 brunch spots (watch this space) this would make it. Check it out.

100 000 strong for the Phoenix

The Herald has a good article on how the Phoenix have gone. It covers how, for the first time, a NZ team's crowd figures have passed 100 000 for the season (excluding the Beckham game and training - another 47 000).

In drawing on Friday night, the Phoenix can no longer qualify for the play-offs (it was a long shot anyway), and I was worried that our dopey media organisations would stand back and moan that this is just like the Knights. It clearly isnt. The Phoenix had not much more than two months to pull a competitive side together - and they managed it. The crowd numbers have bettered what the Wellington Lions were getting for Air NZ Cup games, and have been, on average, ten times greater than what the Knights achieved.

What is most interesting in the article is that 14 December (the date the Phoenix passed the 100k mark) was the date in 2006 when the Knights had their League Licence revoked. Which captures the stark contrast perfectly.

So it was nice to see some recognition of what has been achieved - especially from the Auckland paper!

Huckabee's first family

How disturbing is this? Its new Republican front runner, Mike Huckabee's Christmas Card... this time next year - that could be the new first family.



Suddenly the Mormon and the adulterer aren't looking so bad!

Quality innit

There are a couple of great new shows on UKTV for the summer.

Jam and Jerusalem is Jennifer Saunders new show, and it features a who's-who of British Comedy in the cast - Joana Lumley, Dawn French (obviously), Sue Johnston, and Sally Phillips. Its about the Womens Guild in a small british town - Clatterford St Mary - and its crazy characters - French is outstanding as a sorta-slow-semi-retarded-but-well-meaning local. Its kind of like League of Gentlemen in many ways - but not anywhere near as dark.


Another outstanding pick is Steve Coogan's excellent show Saxondale, about his new character Tommy Saxondale - an ex-roadie who now runs a pest control company called "Simply the Pest". It screens Thursday nights at 9ish and is worth giving a shot - even though its nothing like Partridge. Plus after you've watched that hang around for the fantastic repeats of british drama/comedy Shameless at 11.

Also its good to note that Catherine Tate has hit the mainstream here with her excellent show screening on TV2, Friday nights.

And another thing - if you get bored - for those who remember the game show Shooting Stars on TV4 (Matt Lucas' first tv gig) check out their online games here on the BBC site. Uvavu!

The Obama/Oprah show

Ok I promise this is my last post this week on the US Elections!

But I had to mention the Obama/Oprah roadshow and what looks like a surge in support for Obama. Obama is a Bobby Kennedy style figure - gift of the gab, talks about 'hope' a lot and is the sort of person you would be proud to have as a leader.

However, till recently he has been well behind the Clinton machine - so he called in the big guns - namely Oprah. Oprah is able to make a book a best seller just by giving it some profile - and it may well be that her endorsement is a crucial moment in the Dem campaign.

In South Carolina, they had booked out an 18 000 seat indoor arena for their roadshow - it was too small, so they moved to a baseball stadium - and 29 000 people came to hear Obama and Oprah. In key battleground state of Iowa - 18 500 came out. Huge numbers in anyones language.

Below is a video of the "highlights" - if you want to watch their whole speeches go here

Bush Makes Surprise Visit To Work

In a fantastic piss-take, The Onion, has done a parody of Bush's visit to Iraq - with a piece on him making a surprise visit to the White House to do some work.

The article says that opponents have claimed that the trip was staged as a "media ploy" intended to convince the public that the administration's occupation of Washington, D.C. was not a lost cause.

"President Bush wants us to believe that he is in touch with the Bush administration," political analyst Garry Wills said.

Some of the best bits below -

"Am I late?" Bush joked to the group of approximately 200, who were led to believe they would be attending a ceremony to honor Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. Bush's entrance received a standing ovation.

"It is incredible to see firsthand what you brave men and women do every day," Bush said to rousing applause. "You are all heroes."

Telling the group he wished he had the time to work alongside each and every one of them, Bush made general inquiries about conditions at the executive mansion, recruitment of new personnel, and where everyone was eating for lunch.

According to sources close to the president, Bush barely had time to rest during the four-hour visit. He first met face-to-face with several high-ranking U.S. officials, who briefed him on the situation in Washington. Bush then signed a number of documents, took a guided tour of the facilities, and in a symbolic show of support for the current administration, shook hands with the vice president.

and

"For most members of the White House staff, it was their first chance to meet the president. Many said they were "overcome" with excitement.

"When I was getting ready for work this morning, the last person I ever thought I'd see was the president of the United States," said Alexander Mistri, special assistant to the president for legislative affairs.

"I actually got to shake hands with the president," Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said. "He seems like a very nice man in person.".

Read the article here

Haven't we had enough?

The Huffington Post has launched a series of great posters/billboards attacking the Republicans.

They list either people (Bush, Cheney, Libby, Rove etc), events (Abu Ghraib, Katrina etc) or the Bush Administration's slogans (pictured). I think they're a great way of capturing everything that people are sick of and framing the debate. The Huff Post are also calling for peoples ideas for future editions.

Stormin Morman

Republican Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, made his big "don't fear me because im morman" speech recently, replicating Kennedy's catholic speech. But unlike Kennedy, who by talking about his faith - shut the issue down, Romney appears to have made matters worse.

While in most countries I don't think it would matter too much that you were Morman, it does in the US - with some states taking a particularly dim view of it. However, Romney had been competitive in most polls till uber-Christian, Mike Huckabee stormed ahead of Romney and the morally liberal, Giuliani. Hence, Romney is trying reach across all faiths in attempting to court the religous vote.

In this very good article, Matthew Yglesias rips into Romney following the speech -

It's hard to see this as anything other than an effort to trick people; the Mormon emphasis on Gethsemane rather than the crucification is not a trivial theological difference, nor is the fact that Mormons believe in "another," more important, Testament of Jesus Christ in addition to the Christian Bible. I don't personally have a stake in that quarrel but I paid enough attention in Bible class at Grace Church School to know that this isn't some nothing to be papered over.

However, my main issue with Romney is actually his flip-flopping. When he ran for Governor of the liberal state of Massachusetts he was pro-choice and pro-gay rights. Now he is running for President and trying to get the red-neck vote - he's pro-life and anti gay rights. Be one thing or the other and stick to it.

What is most pleasing is that while he may be polling well within the Republicans, he trails the leading Democrats in head-to-head polling according to the latest Curia newsletter.

Romney v Clinton (Clinton by 11 per cent)
Romney v Obama (Obama by 13 per cent)
Romney v Edwards (Edwards by 15 per cent)

Is this wrong

Im kind of comforted that im not the only person who wants to pash their new Mac!

Yes people it is official - after the whole Noel Leemings debacle, I have gone out and bought a new Mac (from Dick Smith - I am honouring the Noel Leemings Trade Embargo). I have flirted with the idea of getting a Mac for years, but always thought changing OS would be more trouble than its worth - its not - I love it, its ridiculously easy and I will never buy another PC again.

I even have the whole Skype whatsit downloaded! (or whatever you call it)

I guess this is one small step for man, one giant leap for Blackbird Singing.

My god I agree with Kerry!?!?!

Mayor Kerry has said we need to build a second Terrace Tunnel and a second Mt Victoria Tunnel. I have been harping on about this for ages!

We shouldnt be encouraging more cars into Wellington via Transmission Gully till the bottle necks have been dealt with! The Mt Vic tunnel especially is diabolical at peak times - as is the single southbound lane in the Terrace. We have major roading issues within the city - and encouraging more cars in without fixing existing problems is daft. (Also where will they all park?!?! There aren't enough parks now!)

While also actually finishing highway one by duplicating the tunnels, we should also improve public transport - so people don't feel they have to drive from areas like Paraparaumu and Waikanae. If we had fast, reliable rail (say a 20-25 minute trip) to the Kapiti Coast - then the need for Transmission Gully in the immediate future would greatly reduce. There is quite a good argument that the Gully would provide an alternative route out of Wellington - which is currently at risk of being cut off in a major disaster (if there are slips along Centennial Highway or Paekakariki or on highway 2 in the Rimutaka's).

What I would also love to see would be the revitalisation of the Railway Station - with a light-rail service link to the Airport - and why not have check-in kiosks at the Railway Station if you only have carry-on?

I just think spending a billion dollars on Transmission Gully before doing these things is stupid.

Beckham for sale.... well his leftovers

There's a really odd story on Stuff today about how Beckham's half finished glass of cola, half eaten corn-cob and the cuttlery he used during his now famous visits to Nandos are available to buy on Trade Me.

Apparently the waitress heard cash-registers ringing in her head and nicked off with it all to sell. The manager is in full support of this too.

In a sign that there is some sanity in the world - there havent been any bids yet. If you're nuts (or a stalker - not pointing any fingers... Gus) the starting bids for the cuttlery is $50 and $100 for the fucking corn cob.

I just hate think what else would be for sale if he used the bathroom!

NZ's actual best soul singer

I bought Whirimako Black's new album, the imaginatively titled 'Whirimako Black Sings' as a Christmas present for my old man (along with a pair of Man Pants screenprinted with a weta from the very excellent Wanda Harland store in Petone - he said "he always needs new underwear" when I asked him what he wanted."). So I gave it the obligatory listen - and I absolutely love it.

Black beats the pants off the highly touted Holly Smith. Smith is young and great and funky and all that - but for absolute cool factor, Black is fantastic. She comfortably pulls off a traditional soul style - while dropping in phrases of Te Reo. If you dig soul music at all (or think Holly Smith is great) - check it out, you're bound to dig it (or buy it for your parents and take a listen).

Nando's??

Well Beckham came and conquered the Phoenix in their friendly kick about on Saturday night. We did manage to see some fantastic passes and cross balls - and of course his goal (well penalty - which was a dubious call (the guy tripped himself) - fairly sure since he hadnt had a free kick they decided he needed to score a goal).

The other stuff he did was interesting - dinner at Monsoon Poon on Thursday night - but it was his lunch at Nando's that really surprised me - all that money and he still goes for the fried chicken sandwich!

Regardless of what people think of the guy - no one else could have got a crowd of 32 000 along to a football game in New Zealand.

When you add on the 15 000 strong crowd for the public training the Galaxy did on Friday and the nearly 19 000 at the Phoenix/Adelaide A-League game on Friday night - around 66 000 people attended football events at the stadium on Friday and Saturday. Only Rugby could normally attract a crowd like that here - so IMO it was definitely worth bringing Beckham and the LA Galaxy to Wellington.

Don't shop at Noel Leemings

Below is the text of my complaint email I sent off yesterday to Noel Leemings Head Office, and which I cc'd to Erin Brockovich. (she is currently front NL's campaign telling everyone how they are 'the real deal' and act with such wonderful 'corporate responsibility')

Full credit to Brockovich also - she actually replied - and not just a generic reply - she said she would take it up with NL. Noel Leemings have not replied.

To whom it may concern at the Noel Leemings Group NZ Ltd,

I wish to register a complaint regarding the after-sales service provided by Noel Leemings.

Around two years ago I bought a Sony Vaio lap-top computer from Noel Leemings in Wellington - and till a couple of months back - it worked fine.

However, it recently lost power and stopped working. So I took it in to your 'Technology' branch in Wellington for repair. It was outside its warranty period, so I expected a cost would be involved.

After a month or so, it was returned to me 'fixed' and I paid out around NZ$300. But, a month and a half later the same thing happened again - so I took it in, again. I was told that "If it was the same problem, it would be fixed under a three-month service warranty". I said 'great', to which your staff member replied "hehe but they normally find something else wrong and charge you for that, hehe." Naturally, to which, I raised my eyebrows. He then said - Oh only joking I'm sure they're really honest - in a slightly sarcastic tone. I dismissed this assuming he was joking.

Turns out he wasn't. I received a call yesterday telling me that it would cost an additional NZ$400 to have it repaired - as it was, you guessed it - "a different issue". I said well I'm not throwing 'good money after bad' I would sooner buy a new one. And now - just to get the thing back I have to pay what is essentially a NZ$95 ransom/service fee!

My complaint - is that I paid NZ$300 for a repair - that did not work. Now Noel Leemings want another NZ$400 to fix what is essentially the same problem - or NZ$95 just to get my unfixed computer back. Either way I am going to be at least $395 (or at worst NZ$700!) out of pocket with a computer that does not work!

For a company that has just launched a series of TV adverts endorsing their 'good corporate practices' and "doing the right thing" by customers - personally, I think this is shameful customer service.

Over the years I have spent literally thousands of dollars at Noel Leemings and Bond & Bond stores on TVs, stereos, white ware - fridges, washing machines etc, 2 computers and all sorts of other stuff. And yet when I actually tried to get some sort of reasonable standard of after sales service - I basically got shafted.

By contrast, a friend of mine had trouble with his Apple iBook - not only did the Apple outlet, Magnum-Mac, actually fix the problem, they also lent him a laptop for two weeks while his machine was being repaired. That is 'the real deal' - that is what I consider good customer service.

I intend to raise this with your store manager at Noel Leemings Technology - fully realising that it is likely to be a futile act (much like this email). But I want it known that I do not take being ripped off lightly - especially by a company that preaches that it does the right thing by customers, and is 'the real deal'.

Regards

Im waiting for them to call to say its ready for me to pick up (and pay their ransom). It will be all on like donkey kong that day.

From the Campaign Trail

As we count down to a possible change of government across the tasman, I thought I would share this gem from the campaign trail.

Australian Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, has been busy appearing on Rove and student radio etc - to appear to be down with kids. But unfortunately it turns out that Rudd is still just a 50 year old conservative Christian at heart - and like Rowan Atkinson in Four Weddings and Funeral can't bring himself to say 'condom'.

Asked on youth radio network 'Triple J' whether he supported condom use as a safe sex message for young people he broke out an absolute corker example of bureaucratise.

"In terms of effective aids prevention mechanisms, contraception along the lines you described are appropriate," said Rudd before doing a silly giggle.

Good grief. Wouldnt "Yeah absolutely" have been a better answer?

Still, it should be all on for young and old this weekend. Labor are well ahead, but my only fear is that they will over-capitalise in their safe seats, and not pick up enough votes in the marginals. I guess we will see on Saturday night (well the early hours of Sunday morning).

It's a Sony

Just a couple of weeks away from Beckham touching down in Wellington now, and the Phoenix have announced their new main sponsor - Sony.

Sony are relative newcomers to sponsorship in New Zealand - we're more accustomed to Banks, Beers, Phones and Fridges. Also means that everyone will have to go and buy the playing strip again!! lol

In other news Stuff had a dumb article on one of their 'blogs' on how we are witnessing the "death of the suit". Rubbish. Im all for suits and ties and I would go as far as to say we should ban casual Fridays. Hardly anyone does business casual - we just do casual. It can't be good for productivity.

Maybe as a compromise we could "Phoenix Fridays" and all wear our Sony Phoenix strips??

Couple of things

Well the Melbourne Cup was a bit of a dud from my amateur punters point of view - all the horses I was backing finished mid-field - bugger. I did go through a run of picking the winner four years in a row - 2002, Media Puzzle and then 2003, 04, and 05, Makybe Diva. I did pull out the big guns for our Melbourne Cup event though - making a huge comeback was my old Ozwald Boateng tie for one last dash!

Also big ups to One Moment Caller - with One Moment Caller junior set to join the team next year!

And to finish, I have an oddspot. Prince, (who has been mentioned on my blog before) is actually crazier than we all first thought. The Seventh Day Adventist (I love saying that) has apparently threatened the people who run fan websites - dedicated to him! - with legal action, unless they remove images they have of him on their sites. You would have thought his bizarro actions in the last few years would have put them off already - but this may be the last straw?? I guess this is what it sounds like when doves cry?

Festivas for the rest of us

The Documentary Film Festival has just got under way. The standout in the line up has to be Spike Lee's four hour epic When the Levees Broke. The film was originally shown on HBO in the states in four parts. Lee goes around interviewing residents of New Orleans post-Katrina. By all accounts it is an incredibly moving picture.

Also, the International Festival of the Arts has launched their programme. The free projection show (Body Moves) on the city-side of Te Papa looks great, and I hope it works as well as the Waitangi Park outdoor exhibition at the last festival.

Composer Philip Glass', new work, Book of Longing, based on the 'poetry and images' of Leonard Cohen looks great. Giselle, the dance work by the 'Fabulous Beast Dance Company' of Ireland looks so crazy that it must be fun to watch!

Of course Blackbird will attract a lot of attention as a result of being directed by Cate Blanchett, but the blurb does make it look interesting. Might be hard to get tickets though given Blanchett's involvement (and the fact that its name is similar to my blog!)

If the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are half as good as Wellington's International Ukulele Orchestra - then this show is an absolute must-see. Apparently they play songs by Tchaikovsky, Nirvana, Kate Bush, The Sex Pistols, Otis Redding and many others - sounds like a great night. Also good to see that they are taking performances out to the provinces, with shows in Masterton and Pram.

Finishing it off, the excellent David (possibly the funniest man in NZ) Fane probably makes going to the Bro'Town live stage show worthwhile.

Check it out - its festivals like these that make Wellington great.

Meh

Meh - is my reaction to this week's Cabinet reshuffle. One of the commentators (Espiner?) were close to the mark when they said the reshuffle was like painting the walls and cupboards and replacing the taps without doing anything else to the kitchen - fundamentally its still the same beast.

For all his previous great work, Finance Minister Cullen now appears arrogant and seems to have come down with what Jane Clifton called i-know-best-itis. I think at the very least he should have been shifted to a shared Treasurer/Minister of Finance role with the popular and very electable Phil Goff.

In saying that, I didn't really expect that to happen anyway. I only hope Labour hasn't missed yet another opportunity this year. Rightly or wrongly, people in New Zealand and Australia have been attracted to their respective fresh and enthusiastic opposition leaders. I think the reshuffle was a chance to neutralise that in the NZ case by promoting someone like Goff to the pivotal Finance role.

Anyway, you will remember that earlier in the year I gave my suggestion for a reshuffle - now I was almost entirely wrong - but I was saying what I wanted rather than what I thought would happen. Regardless, of the five people I suggested be promoted to the Ministry (Jones, Street, Chadwick, Chauvel and Hughes), only Chauvel missed out. I guess four out of five ain't bad. Although I'm still not sure why Chauvel didn't get in - at least to a role outside the Cabinet? He is clearly as capable as Hughes or Chadwick.

Its good to see new blood all the same though. I was also happy with how Law and Order has been shut down - King/Goff vs Power will be a much better contest than Burton/O'Connor vs Power ever was. Cunliffe has performed well in Immigration and Comms and IT, and although he will be outside his comfort-zone, I think the Health portfolio could make him. I worry about Carter in Education - he was controversial in the junior Housing and Conservation portfolios - I hope he gets it together now. King running Electoral Finance (EFB) could be something to watch too. She failed to get any sort of cross-party consensus on the ANZTPA (Therapeutics) - which is what is needed now on the EFB. I really hope she can turn that Bill into something that at least upholds Labour's values.

So on the whole, there are some great bits, and well, some 'other' bits - hence my reaction: meh.

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Last couple of days Ive been listening to Radiohead's seventh album - In Rainbows. Its a little hard to review as I have no idea what the track names are and the computer shat itself, so my burnt copy doesnt have the last two tracks.

Before youre outraged at me owning a burnt copy - this is of course the album that they released via their website for "however much you want to pay". In my case that meant nothing.... shut it, Ive spent more than enough over the years on EPs, Singles etc by Radiohead to make up for it - and frankly giving, like a buck, would be insulting. Thats my line and im sticking to it.

Anyway the album follows on nicely from Hail to the Thief. I always thought that Hail was the album that should have come out after OK Computer, before Kid A. I think that may have provided a nice link for those who felt Kid A and Amnesiac (which of course features my favourite Radiohead track - Pyramid Song) were a bridge too far.

In Rainbows, while still pushing the boundaries, is again along the lines of Hail to the Thief. Tracks 2, 5 and 6 are all outstanding and Im really loving Track 4 - toe tapping goodness! Despite missing the last couple of tracks, I think this is a fantastic album.

Like Hail to the Thief, this could bring a lot of the OK Computer crowd back to, arguably, the most important band in the last 15 years.

Download a copy here (feel free to make a donation in lieu of my download).

You can read about all the background etc etc and even see a track listing here