LotR Legend Dies - David Comer

thanks DEBBIE JAMIESON
Last updated 11:53, December 28 2014

'WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE': Queenstown film location scout Dave Comer passed away on Christmas Day.

Dave Comer, the man who helped redefine New Zealand as Middle-earth, lost his battle with cancer on Christmas Day.

A still photographer with a huge love of Fiordland, he was instrumental in selecting the spectacular locations for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Comer, who may be considered New Zealand's first film location scout, was involved in numerous Kiwi and overseas commercials and was the director of celebrated Fiordland film Ata Whenua - Shadowland .

Dave Comer was instrumental in selecting New Zealand locations used in Sir Peter Jackson's films, such as the Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro Crossing and the Anduin Reach and Mt Tolkien in Fiordland National Park.

The 58-year-old passed away on Christmas Day after suffering a rare form of cancer.

His wife, Peta Carey, said Dunedin-born Comer called Queenstown and Fiordland home after studying fine arts and photography at Canterbury University.

He was "sidetracked" into wilderness guiding and jet boating in Fiordland but continued work as a freelance photographer. He moved into shooting stills for commercials in the 1980s, and eventually sourcing locations, a job previously undertaken by directors.

It was his photographer's eye coupled with a logistical and geographical sensibility that worked for filmmakers, he told Pro Photographer magazine earlier this year.

"I knew the terrain, but I also had a curiosity. What seemed to be useful was a beach-combing mentality; finding treasures."

Thanks to his advertisement for car company Jaguar in 2000, he was credited with developing a technique to convert still frames to motion picture film, creating a dream-like effect with the car crisp and in-focus and the background motion blurred.

The advertisement went on to win the prestigious Kodak AICP Award for Cinematography in New York, and the commercial took its place in the permanent collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art.


It became a much-lauded piece of film and the techniques were "borrowed" thereafter by directors of photography around the world. Comer's stills graced the pages of Vanity Fair, Esquire, Vogue and billboards throughout North America.

Other examples of his work include the Mainland Cheese commercials, Toyota "Crumpy", National Bank and BNZ advertisements in New Zealand as well as numerous overseas assignments in South America, South Africa, Europe and Asia.

He is credited with selecting much of Middle-earth for Sir Peter Jackson's Tolkien narratives.

"I loved it. I'd stored away a whole array of locations, previously glimpsed, and it was a wonderful excuse to be able to pull them out and investigate them further," he said.

The making of the 35mm cinematic film Ata Whenua - Shadowland was perhaps his greatest challenge and a deeply personal one, capturing the aesthetics and physical enormity of Fiordland.

He had been associated with the area since the age of 17,  working in the venison recovery industry and on jet boats. His family owns a house in remote Martin's Bay, which 9-year-old daughter Billie refers to as "home".

It was his first role as director and the 32-minute film still attracts thousands of tourists every year to the Te Anau cinema it plays in.

"That was the acme of Dave's work. It combined his extraordinary visual creative skills with his love of the most beautiful place in New Zealand," Carey said.

"He is still considered the most respected and qualified location scout in the country."

Carey said he was also a "good, concerned citizen generally".

"He always made submissions on things that affected the wilderness and affected Queenstown."

Film Otago Southland Trust executive officer KJ Jennings said he had worked closely with Comer while Comer was chairman of the trust.

"I think it was a part of him that wanted to give back to the industry and that he had such a wealth of knowledge that he wanted to pass on and was also just really passionate about seeing things done right. He was old school."

The pair shared a belief that filming could be a completely sustainable industry and worked together to increase access for filmmaking in the Department of Conservation estate.

"The outcome of that now is that the industry and DOC now have a fantastic relationship."

Jennings said Comer was held in extremely high regard in the film industry.

"No matter where I went or who I met, everybody held him in such high regard. He had such an incredible wealth of knowledge, not only of the region but the mechanics of film. A good location only works if it works to film in it and he just inherently knew that."

Comer will be farewelled at Paradise under the Iconic Mt Earnslaw, near Glenorchy, at 2pm on Tuesday.

 - The Southland Times

Alfs 2nd Battle of Christchurch

NZ Appology - Christopher Tolkien

posted 3rd December 2014 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

 Sir:
Speaking on behalf of the Lord of the Ring Tourist Industry...

Now that Sir Peter Jackson has the Hobbit “Done and Dusted” I think it’s time to mend some fences with Christopher Tolkien, JRR Tolkien’s Son
It seems in the 1980s the NZ Government Snubbed the Tolkien’s when they removed his Father’s Names from the Map of New Zealand without so much as consulting him.
It was especially if you read the demeaning reasons for the action in the first place, followed decades later by the Anduin Reach Saga and then Tolkien’s Mountain.
It’s clear Christopher has been shown pretty poor treatment by NZ Government representatives considering all the economic benefits His Fathers Works have brought us.
As the Steward of the Tolkien Estate he deserves better respect.

At this point in time a Prime Ministerial Apology would be a great gesture as Christopher is not that happy with New Zealand and that is truly a sad thing.
We don’t need to restore the Lost Tolkien Mountains of Fiordland but I’d love to see Mr Key and young  Royd Tolkien one day Climb JRR’s Mountain together, but that’s not going to happen without a bit of humility on our collective behalf.

Terry Jones Crusades Series Pulled

Posted 27th November 2014 to the San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper.

Just want to say Google’s youtube has been striking off liberal Political and Religious humor Clips on a large scale
Micheal Palin, Terry Jones, William Boroughs, Jon Stewart, even anti “war on drugs” opinion have been getting the Big Red Block
From Google’s Video Service gate keepers and As Google has been deemed the closest thing to Artificial electronic Intelligence
There is no visible Human interface to ask what is going on. There is a Joke getting around down under: They gave google “A I” to
Ask it the Question is there a God ?

After a short pause google answered, “there is now”.

Odd too, how during the Last Presidential election clips of Ron Paul suddenly became un available for technical reasons...

Is this a Bias pattern or a coincidence ? I wonder ?


------------------

No, word is it that Monty Python's Terry Jones History of the Crusades series might be construed as sympathetic to Islamic Fundamentalists by putting Christianity in a bad light and the evidence is BBC has pulled it from youtube along with other historical BBC documentary Clips on Christian History.

NZ Population Growth & Zombie Towns

Posted 25th November 2014 to Jim Mora and the Panel Radio New Zealand National

Wow the Panel Got the Big One,
Massey University wants the Government to think ahead about what kind of Country we are turning into?
Join the Cue. this is EXACTLY why we pay their Salaries to keep one step ahead of the game.
Sadly only the Greens are tuned into Future Shock but they are not ready to take control of the Country by a long chalk.

Any Chance National Can Rise to the Challenge? Or are THEY the Zombie Makers?
Capitalism turns our people into the living Dead workers
and Eats the Brains of Intellectuals to feed their Apocalypse.

And Auckland is a regional Concentration hub for the Globalization Zombie Jet Set.

I don’t think there is a plan other than that at the moment...

...as our elected Leaders are short on Grey matter for some reason!

New Zealand Banknotes & Ten Pound Austin

Posted 21st November 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill NZ

The News that the Bank of England is reviewing it Banknote design and will be putting Jane Austen on the Ten Pound Note
And now our NZ Banknotes will be getting a make over But where are our New Faces?

There are a few more Kiwis that could have a go so to speak  Personaly I would nominate John Clarke (aka Fred Dagg) in a Black Singlet for the $5 Maybe Beatice Hill- Tinsley for the $10 perhaps,  Erueti Te Whiti or Kiri Te kanawa on the $50 and Sir William Pickering for the $100. Great KIWIS All.

I would also like to see our Iconic Scenery on the Notes, the View of Mitre Peak, Queenstown from Bob’s Peak, Wellington from the Cable Car, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge
the Volcanic Plateau from the Desert Road, Lake Manapouri’s Panorama, Lake Tekapo & Mt Cook, Lake Waikaremoana, Otago Harbour... We can go on... The point is There are lots of cool options we can use if we fancy a change in our change..

And I would Love to see the $1 coin have the old 1c Silver Fern on it and the old 2c Kowhai on the $2

(Or perhaps some one-off Tolkien Coins for Hobbit Fans)

Why should Poms have all the fun!



Published with misprint 23rd of November 2014 in Public Opinion section

Dom Post - New Banknotes 2014

Posted 21st Nov 2014 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

Here is my 2 cents so to speak

The News is out that the our NZ Banknotes will get a make over.. But no new Faces!
What? do we only have 4 Kiwis worth celebrating...?

However There are a few more Kiwis that could have a go so to speak  I Nominate John Clarke in a Black Singlet for the $5 Maybe Beatice Hill- Tinsley for the $10 perhaps,  Kiri Te kanawa or Erueti Te Whiti on the $50 and Sir William Pickering for the $100.

I personally would also Like to see our Iconic Scenery on the Notes, the View of Mitre Peak, Queenstown from Bob’s Peak, Wellington from the Cable Car, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge
the Volcanic Plateau from the Desert Road, Lake Manapouri’s Panorama, Lake Tekapo & Mt Cook, Lake Waikaremoana, Otago Harbour... We can go on... The point is There are lots of cool options we can use if we fancy a change in our change..

And I would Love to see the $1 coin have the old 1c Silver Fern on it and the 2c Kowhai on the $2

Lou Sanson's Doc Shakeup

Posted 19th November 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper.

I hear the new Director Lou Sanson on the Radio Saying that He wants to Straighten out the Department of Conservation
Because they are in a mess after restructuring and internal cooperation is under stress and so are safeguards set up after the
Cave Creek Disaster...

I suppose 1080 is like Cave Creek viewing Platforms as it has a level of danger attached to it if not done right.
I was asked recently why 1080 drops are Illegal in the USA and not here... I suppose the answer is that Nobody in
America would ever want to open them selves up to litigation if a drop went wrong because that could be massive.

In New Zealand we don’t need to care about collateral damage, that is why there are few warning signs posted
Around our lakes and Parks about possible man made Toxins and low level effects.

Personally I think it’s a branding problem, 1080 sounds more toxic than Bird Restoration Sprinkles or Eco Balancing Agent.

Southland Times - Otago Daily Times Merger

Posted 13th of November 2014 to the Otago Daily Times

  Hey here is a Crazy Idea for all those people outside Dunedin who get the ODT delivered..
Why not  remove the Dunedin Real-estate Pages and Put in the Southland times as a bonus
Which on most days thinner and would save on News Print... Considering you Print the Southland Times anyway
You could wrap them together as “ODT Rural” Some of us like the ODT but live in Southland as well.

Obama's Darkest Day - Midterms

Posted 6th November 2014 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I have to say if If I where Barak Obama this Morning I would seriously think about doing a Pope Benedict and go into retirement.
He must feel more than tired tired of all the rubbish he has had to put up with because of his parents and bringing Health Care to the ungrateful. Now he deserves a nice break and maybe a nice job at the UN with Helen Clark.
I am sure Joe Biden can mind the Whitehouse while the country falls apart.  Just let the Republicans deal with ungovernable Planet that is the United States of America World.
Frankly if Republicans seriously want every one in their World to live to their standards there will have to be a LOT less people living on it. I for one totally wouldn’t like to be the President when that comes to pass!

Around the Mountain Cycleway Comment

Posted 2nd November 2014 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I see your Paper has done a Story on the Around the Mountains Bike Trail for People with Artificial Hips
Did I detect a note of Sarcasm in the Pictures of Cows in a Paddock as Stunning Scenery ?
If it wasn’t Sarcastic it’s going to make it harder to Find Superlatives to Describe the scenery on the Manapouri - Te Anau Cycleway
Which has legendary wilderness scenery viewed by Millions in the Fellowship of the Ring Movie Shot there in 2000 by Peter Jackson and Alfie Speight.
Still, Perhaps Mike Barnett can Include Peter Jackson’s Dead Orc Pile in Stage two of the Barnett ATM Trail (not a pun about it being a money machine).

Radio NZ - The Decline of the Print Media

Posted 2nd November 2014 to Colin Peacock of Mediawatch Radio New Zealand.

Colin,
The Real Reason why Newspapers are collapsing and People are not Voting is the very real fact that
Mainstream News today is mostly propaganda and not raw fact. I Blame Rupert Murdoch for using
The system to allow the Very Rich to buy political outcomes they like, this has poisoned both the Media and
Politics. No one can fight it the Billionaires have all the cards and all the money in the world, the fact the US Fed
Can print them as much money as they need is hardly mentioned but it effectively means people who work for a living
Have no real chance to have any financial power in this world and political power has slipped from their hands.

Our own Government is showing signs that it is disconnected from the People it supposedly represents
And our Representatives are obviously being influenced by Big Money yet the Media is acting like it is under sedation at best
Or cheering this nonsense on.

The Romans of old had Bread and Circuses to keep control of the population. I am sure if they had Media it would be a lot like ours is today
In many aspects.

Many Americans now get their news from the Comedy Channels Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver are the New Age Anchormen
For the Younger Viewers.

And you can’t get them on air in NZ for love nor money it seems.

The NZ Flag Debate 2014

Posted 30th October 2014 to Alex Fensome Fairfax Media NZ

Interesting Conversations about the Cost of Changing of the Flag today..
Our design has the upper hand as it is so similar it could be used simply as an alternative or phased in as needed : )

Ch Ch Press - Child Poverty Debate

Posted 29th October 2014 to the Christchurch Press Christchurch NZ

Why is the West really straining under the Burdon of inequality at the moment?
I Blame the Threat of Socialism, or should I say the Lack of it on our political system..

Our Big Fear is now Islamic Militants where as in the past our Masters feared totalitarian Socialism
and they had to keep poverty levels down to avoid fueling Revolution. Now our Masters are totally
Paranoid with Religious extremists they have no tools to deal with it save Blunt Force when it is Ironically
Actual Socialism that is the Religious Fundamentalists biggest Enemy.

Our whole 9/11 reaction has given our politicians a case of “Economic Ebola”, they are so shaken up that
They have been and still are Hemorrhaging Money and shitting all over people causing mass destruction and Death
With the help of Airplanes which just makes matters worse.

As for Child Poverty, our Nation States now don’t follow the Unwritten Code to Feed, House and Care for their Population instead those in power
are obsessing on on “what if” Terror scenarios.. Politicians have become the puppets of fear, electoral financing and Lack of accountability
And so unfetterd Capitalism will now be allowed to go on unimpeded to destroy all poor people (aka losers) and then finally go on to hang itself on its own Rope.

Poor old Politicians have to tear their own Nations apart and and give away chunks just to get friends just to stay in office, fixing Child Poverty is not going to help
Them what so ever, but it IS a handy smoke screen.


Publishing Unconfirmed.

NZ Regional Airports & Ebola Questions

Posted 26th October 2014 to the Otago Daily Times Dunedin NZ

Just a Question for the Experts.
If let’s just say for example an African  Hemorrhagic Virus came in to Queenstown on an aircraft would the Lakes District Heath People have a
Plan in action?
If it became common place (for some weird reason) Would Flights have to Go through Dunedin?
Would Dunedin have any Quarantine facilities other than an Island in Otago Harbour?
Are we complacent or paranoid?
Who can Say?
Perhaps we have had it too easy for so long we just don’t know?


Publishing Unconfirmed

New Zealand Child Poverty Debate 2014

Posted 29th October 2014 to Morning Report, Radio New Zealand

Why is the West really straining under the Burdon of inequality at the moment?
I Blame the Threat of Socialism, or should I say the Lack of it on our political system..

Our big Fear is now Islamic Militants where as in the past our Masters feared totalitarian Socialism
And they had to keep poverty levels down to avoid fueling Revolution. Now our Masters are totally
Paranoid with Religious extremists they have no tools to deal with it save Blunt Force when it is Ironically
Actual Socialism that is the Religious Fundamentalists biggest Enemy.

Our whole 9/11 reaction has given our politicians a case of “Economic Ebola”, they are so shaken up that
They have been and still are Hemorrhaging Money and shitting all over people causing mass destruction and Death
With the help of Airplanes.

Our Nation States now don’t follow the Unwritten Code to Feed, House and Care for their Population instead those in power
are focusing on on “what if”Terror scenarios.. Politicians have become the puppets of fear, electoral financing and Lack of accountability
has meant that unfetterd Capitalism will now be allowed to go on unimpeded to destroy all poor people (aka losers) and then finally hang itself on its own Rope.

Radio NZ - Thomas Picketty

Posted to Nine to Noon Programe Radio NZ

Thank You for discussing
Wealth Re-Distribution and Thomas Picketty Yesterday...
Inherited Wealth and Lotto Wealth are not Good things for the average Human to deal with.

And inherited wealth has strings, I know because I have a 81 year old Mother who got hold of all the Family Money when My Father Passed away
and has turned our once happy family business into a nightmare as she get’s older and Meaner, we are made to follow every mad order or we
Risk getting cut off. So Inheritance is also a double edged sword and a wicked trap.

Lotto Money is potentially evil too, It numbs peoples desire to try and fit in to society as they think it a magic ladder to the top.
It is Doubtful that Lotto Winners contribute much at all to the general happiness of the Nation yet we inflict this madness on the Nation
every week turning People against each other and Distorting the Property Market as it is the only good place to invest a Lottery Win these days.

And to this day nobody knows what Collective Damage Lotto money has done the Nation especially when it gets in the wrong hands,
bringing out Humanity's dark side or giving the masses fraudulent hope.

Dom Post - Ebola's Airline Headache

Posted 26th October 2014 to the Dominion Post Wellington NZ

Reading between your lines, as Ebola cranks-up in Africa Many Cities in the West are having to think about Quarantine Facilities near their Airports..
I hear Fonterra is stressed about loosing Sales in East Africa but the World’s Airlines must be getting a bit worried now if Virus Paranoia gets out of hand,
They know they will be in for the Financial Chop and Tourism will by default go Belly Up and Paranoia spreads into the fickle Stock market, we all might end up on Prolonged Holiday with no where to go. Worse yet we will have to play sport at home.

Yes, Welcome to the Global Economy where everything effects every thing else Let’s Hope it’s not a House of Cards as Well.
Perhaps Old Norman Kirk’s Idea of a self-sufficient New Zealand wasn’t such a crazy joke after all.


Publishing unconfirmed

Kiwi Workers Returning Home 2014

Posted 23rd of October to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

James Weir Wrote in this Newspaper Oct 22nd that New Zealand had an Influx of 45,400 people in the last 12 months
and a lot of them returning Kiwis, but where do they all plan Fit?

All the good Jobs are in Auckland and they can’t cope with their infrastructure with the population they have.

Christchurch is wasted after those quakes with thousands of houses gone forever. Wellington and Dunedin
have very little room to expand and Invercargill has a few clouds hanging over it literally and figuratively....

The Heartland seems to be sparsely populated but I wager our returning sons and daughters from high paying overseas gigs are not looking for service Jobs that don’t pay.
Let me Guess, they will all want Trophy Homes on Trophy Properties.... In or around Auckland... Failing that, a Queenstown style B&B of their own.

Yes it’s another kick in the guts for the kiwis who stayed on scratching out a living who see their property dreams disappearing over the Horizon because they “stayed on” here to support Family & friends or because they did not have the cunning luck to have inherited wealth. Now it seems the National Party with it’s inherited base has to fix this mess because the Labour Party is out to Lunch with it’s internal power struggles.  So just what is the answer from the Beehive?  Hard Work! More Growth and More People they say!

I fear pretty soon the Whole Country will be out to lunch if this is the extent of our political vocabulary because in stark reality they are telling us to shut up and find more luck.

Published in the Southland Times as Lucky Get Homes page 6 Oct 27 2014

Ebola Will Beat Capitalism?

Posted 17th of October 2014 to the Southland Times, Fairfax Media, Invercargill NZ

I see the Republicans of the USA are having a hard time getting their heads around Hemorrhagic Ebola,
You can’t cut its Taxes to keep it happy, you can’t Bomb it or Shoot guns at it and you can’t Gerrymander it
Or strangle it in Red Tape, nor can you pray it away it seems. The Mightiest Capitalist System ever seen on Earth
Appears to be unable to close the stable door until after the Ebola Horse has bolted.
The Quest for Profit Driven Globalization appears to have made us all Slow and Stupid
and we all think our good luck will protect us from our Biological Vulnerability...

But on Economic Flip side think of all the Money the Survivors will have and how they will send it.
That certainly changed the European Economies after the great plague for the better.


Published 20th October 2014

Auckland 1080 drinking water 2014

Posted to the 12th October 2014 to the Southland Times, Fairfax Media, Invercargill NZ

The other day I overheard a comment on TV comparing the Auckland Council to ISIS when it comes to 1080..
I think the comparison was a bit misplaced.

On reflection perhaps the War on Isis has some comparisons to our 1080 Strategy.
As in they both involve Ariel Bombardment on an industrial scale that targets every thing and everyone.

In Both Cases the answer is boots on the ground and Both are Battles against Nature.

In the Hunua Ranges it’s Mother Nature that needs to be brought to heel, and in Iraq it’s Human Nature that is the Problem.

One war protects a Branch of Islam the other protects a Radical Belief in Bird Genetics.

Nature of course has all the time in the World and will no doubt have the last say, if we interfere or not.

Newt Gingrich vs Doug La Follette 2014

Posted 7th October to the New York Times Newspaper.

So Newt Gingrich is backing a young Black Man to take on the Old School Democrat Secretary of State For Wisconsin
Doug La Follette this Election Cycle..

Wow I didn’t know Newt was such a Revolutionary person  that Julian Bradley guy must be some Amazing fellow to
Get a Old White Conservative like Newt to go to bat for him.

Or is our Newt Gunning for La Follette for nodding to the Occupy Wall Street Movement and for being a green Democrat?

On Youtube the Debate Between La Follette and Bradley show that La Follette is happy to do his job well where as Bradley wants
To pimp the Office of the Secretary of State ride as a vehicle to Political Power..

Hey Newt, Isn’t this the fundamental reason why country is falling apart?

John Key's - Public Surveillance bonus

Posted 7th October to the Southland Times Invercargill

Here is Hoping that Prime Minister John Key can use his new Homeland Security Position to look into peoples thoughts and
Find out why there is such a loss of faith in our Political System.

Our Whole Global Economy is held together by Pseudo Science and Blind Faith, if People Refuse to Believe In it, it will simply fall down.
And as we are liking in the Modern Equivalent of the Roaring 20s we should be really aware of that danger.

If Our Election numbers are taken seriously then the Majority of Voters seem to be loosing faith in the Global Pyramid Scheme of
Finance and Paranoia that holds us all together.

Mr Key NEEDS to know why People are thinking this, and also figure out the concept of what truly makes People Happy.

Or is he just thinking, If the Sky Falls everyone will be wearing National Party Coloured Hats?

Kathryn Ryan - Isis Copies Nazi Plan

Posted 8th October 2014 on Nine to Noon at Radio New Zealand.

Interesting details about the current Conflict in Iraq and Syria on your program this AM guys..

So Islamic State is really a reboot of the German National Socialist Party with Religious Purity replacing Racial Purity!

Blitzkrieg funded by Paranoia Rich People...

At Last a foe the USA can get emotional about!

And I was wondering what kind of trouble that Huge Growing Pile of Saudi Money was going to cause
Without Russian Socialism Darkening their skies anymore..

What a Fascinating Game.

So just who is the New Hitler of Islam and why do we not hear more about him ?

Kathryn Ryan - Age and Wisdom

Posted 7th October 2014 on Nine to Noon Radio New Zealand

It is my opinion that older Skilled People are wasted in this Society doing Young Peoples Jobs
When they Should be Valued by Society as Teachers and Mentors.

Not all People Age the same, some are not as strong in body as others but still retain a store of valuable
Experience to share...

My Brother in Law started working with Telecom Faults in the 1970s He Now suffers from Back Pain but the Young Guys Treat him
With Special Reverence because he knows so much detail about his job, it’s History and also the People in the Industry.

This is something no University Degree can help with...

We tend to undervalue Empathy and Experience in our manic Modern World..

Pike River Mine - Crime Scene

Posted 26th of September 2014 to Nine to Noon at Radio New Zealand

Hi Kathryn
Let’s not forget that the Mine is a Crime Scene, the Place of a case of Horrible Criminal Neglegence
They have to go in to report on what happened there for justice to be seen.
To have excuses not to is to show contempt for the rule of Law in this Nation.

Seriously!

Invercargill - Stonehenge connection 2014

Posted 28th September 2014 to the Southland Times

The Ancient UK Monument known as Stonehenge is in the news, its had a multi million dollar makeover and
even It’s own TV Series but Invercargill in its way helped encourage this neolithic inspired renaissance because in the 1990s
A group of ordinary Southlander and some extra ordinary ones went to English Heritage and Said we could do a better Job!
Using our local Stone Slabs and our Unique Geographic Location New Zealand Could have gone back to the original complete
Henge as designed by the Ancient Britons...  As mentioned by Stu Oldham in the Southland Times Jan 11th 2003.
English Heritage was supportive of Stonehenge Awarua and the need to have a better interactive arrangement with the public
So I’d like to thank the forgotten members of the Stonehenge Society of New Zealand for there input all those Years ago.

Backstory - Fiordland 1080 scare

FIY Backstory Southland Times News Desk 28th September 2014

I read on your Front page yesterday that Fish and Game are arguing with DOC about the public eating fish from 1080 effected areas in Southland.
I have been expecting to see a front page headline POISONED judging from local Fiordland gossip but I thought it would read Lake Manapouri POISONED, not Toxic Swedes.
There are some in DOC that think warning signs should be posted about toxic Trout but they are not allowed to break rank and talk to the media or they will loose their jobs

As a Person in the Tourist industry we get a portion of our income from the lucrative Fishing business generated by our pristine near perfect wilderness and If we get a bad wrap
Over 1080 it will never go away, DOC dose not understand, Toxins like 1080 are Feared no matter how diluted they get or how long they have to dissipate...

And they Plan to do this every time there is a Beech Mast ? BTW locals agree there was NO sign of a massive Beech Flowering this time around so is DOC incompetent or doing some thing sinister?  History says almost all evil from Government Departments is from incompetence... But I will let you decide on that.

To me It seems more like blind arrogance.

I asked and they do not know how many Yellowheads they are protecting in the Iris Burn Valley... they might have cost the Taxpayer 100k
Per Bird ! Or More

There is a chance the 1080 can kill them all as well as the Bats, and definitely Hawks and Falcon WILL die as well as any Weka in the area as will they all eat dying rodents,
This is all known to DOC but they also know in the Wilderness there is no one to hold them to account.

This is all a seriously stupid game to play.

Southland Times - Sad Election 2014

Posted 23rd September 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill.

I don’t know why John Key is so Happy about Election 2014, Seriously if 1 out of 4 Million  New Zealander don’t desire to take part in the Process
Than it’s a hollow victory.

No Doubt these voiceless people will be treated like they are invisible by the system just as all those who voted for change or a better way of living
By “the Victors” as we drive full tilt over the “Carbon Cliff”.

As for the American NSA Spying on Kiwis turning into positive Votes, I think some are flattered that we are getting the attention from Uncle Sam..

So long as the NSA guys are not dishonest...

Published as "Hollow Victory" page 6 September 29th 2014

N Y Times - Isis / Letter to George W Bush

Posted 23rd of September 2014 to the New York Times Newspaper

My Letter to George Bush Jnr

Hey Mr G W Bush,
You started a fire in the Middle East and you left it for some one else to put out...
At least You and your Friends should fork out some money to the UN to put up some Camps in
Turkey for those poor sods who got caught up in the Resulting Lunacy that has swept the region
America has to learn that Being the only superpower means that if you break something you will pay for it
Eventually, one way or another. As you seem to have made so much money from this debacle it seems only fitting
You should be seen to fork a liitle something out to help the refugees form this great misadventure.

And as for your old political partners who also profited, Perhaps they could do with some atonement too.
Heck, Maybe it’s time to Dust off the Words of Lincoln from another great Human upheaval.

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

What Mr Lincoln was trying to say was, We are NOT an Empire of Heartless Gangsters.


PS: (You Broke it, You fix it)

Stonehenge - the Invercargill Connection

The Stonehenge Society of New Zealand Inc .


In 1991 the Southand Times printed a letter of Intention that set off a little known series of events
that have largely been forgotten, but had the succeeded the Far South of New Zealand Would Have become a Very Special Place on the planet.

In 1991 it was discovered that there was only one place outside England that Stonehenge could be Rebuilt to its Original Specifications and so a group of ordinary and some extraordinary Kiwis decided to find out if it could in fact be done.

The Farthest South of New Zealand would be the equivalent opposite latitude to the Salisbury Plains in England a site South of the City of Invercargill was found to Ideal for this location.

http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-46.515524,168.344364&z=13&pin=1&lbl=Stonehenge%20Awarua%20%2F%20Southenge

Armed with this knowledge, a measure of local support and a letter of approval from English Heritage UK a charitable Society was set up to see if dramatic Southern Henge could in fact be
built using the Natural Stone Slabs and Chalky White Gravel Soil of the Awarua Plains.

In the years before its Final Demise in 2003 the Project had Supporters around the Globe
and interest from National and Local Politicians, Celebrities, Print and Television Journalists
both in New Zealand and The United Kingdom.

At its height the Southenge looked like it was almost certainly a done deal It was the objective of Tapping into the Millions offered for Millennium Projects that was to lead the project down the road to failure along with the self imposed Local Media Blackout.

One independent MP in charge of the Y2k funding got it in mind to slight the project as being a Joke of sorts thrown up quickly to grab public money.

A spate of Bad luck with key supporters didn't help and then the Phoenix Astronomical Society  announced plans to put up Stonehenge Wairarapa at the same time the prime English Heritage contact retired causing an awkward moment for the visiting Southenge representative to the UK.

In May 2002 the last ever meeting was held of the Stonehenge Society of New Zealand in Invercargill
after a very effective Government culling of small Incorporated Societies of New Zealand.

In Jan 2003 Stu Oldham of the Southland Times wrote an Article about Great Tourism opportunity lost to Wairarapa after The Otago Daily Times had done a piece on the Stonehenge Society of New Zealand. and that was the first and last news ever printed in New Zealand of the Project.  

By 2004 all the members & supporters moved on and where forgotten. 

However in 2013 echos of the Society are evident in the New Refurbishment of the Stonehenge site in the UK which has been upgraded with a bit of gentile help from down under.







  

Election 2014 - The Econmomic Rapture NZ

Posted 21st September 2014 to Radio New Zealand Sunday Morning Feedback.

This Election is a bit of a downer, It feels like this Country has lost control over its political process to the powers of Globalism
And that 60 percent of the population are waiting for a kind of “Economic Rapture” that will take them off this doomed planet
And worse only 10% actually appear to think we Humans need to get our act to geather and save our collective arses form Climate-gedon that looks to be
Deadly serious by 2035. That’s if the multitude of disaffected poor people don’t go mental on us first.

I wonder what Nigel Latta thinks of this Election Result, He must feel like nobody paid any attention to his warnings, What Sucks about being a Visionary
Is the point when you have to say “I Told you so”

Personally I think we might as well have a Nine Year Term because it takes about 9 years for Kiwis to get utterly sick of the sight of their Leaders and
desire to get some fresh ones. We probably don’t even need an election it could even be mandatory... think of all the money that would save!

We Could just vote with our feet... That is if there is any where left in the World to go!

Te Anau's Silly Sewage Sceme

Posted 20th September 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau NZ

 If you think about it Te Anau Sewage Answer is staring at it in the face.. Native Beech Forest is Idea suited to absorb Nutriments for waste water and there are No People there to be offended by it.

Clearly if we can Dump 1080 all over it then Waste Water should be far less environmentally intrusive to wildlife and after all we got’ta put the National Park to use for something if you cant fish shoot or safely walk through it.
The Kepler Mountains would be Perfect and if you play it right  any surplus waste water could drift safely out to sea via the Manapouri Power Station and make some extra electricity Into the bargain !

Come on Southland District Council, where is your plucky spirit, a true Heath Robinson sewage system Is like the Movie “Field of Dreams” Let’s Build it and People will Come to use it.  let Nature deal with the pesky microbes.

RNZ - Voter IQ testing Fijian Style

Posted 17th September 2014 to Morning Report Radio New Zealand National

Wow, listening to RNZ this morning I understand Fiji has turned its voting system into a rudimentary Intelligence Test.
Perhaps the USA should take notice  They are having real trouble with too many Idiots involved in the Democratic Process.
Not all countries are the same though when it comes to the Idiot Vote, in NZ they actually form into parties...

In the Middle East they even form Armies. We should never underestimate the Power of Stupidity it has and will be
The Single Most Cause of Violent Death and Destruction on the Planet especially when Cleaver People enable it.

Fiordland Advocate - Wishing and Wishlists

Posted on 8th of September 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Hot Topic Te Anau NZ

Interesting Devil’s Advocate piece  4th September about Cycleway Dreams vs Reality for Te Anau, plus your feedback on Fiordland’s Future is a good discussion point.
Our region has a real struggle with direction vs stagnation because for many here it is perfect the way it is and any more prosperity will just ruin it... But it can get a little dull if things never change and the rest of the world moves on while you sit still.

I had long ago targeted projects that would bring pleasant change without wrecking the ambience of the area but they mostly involve the Great Fiordland National Park or the DOC Estate and there lies the Rub, because that great wilderness on our doorstep is a huge asset.  If managed wrongly it would bring way too much prosperity to our fragile community and we could be over run!

It is a well known fact that too much money to spare is more destructive to a happy community than having none.  But that being said we could do with a special WINTER Kepler Track for the off season to show off our new Bird Sanctuary's and a Scenic Cycleway between the Lakes to take in our special Lord of the Rings Sites. That’s not going to upset our prosperity adding another couple of attractions for locals or tourists to make use of. If we keep reasonably quiet about them.

On the other hand If the Park ever needs a Big Ticket Item DOC can always build a Grand Fiordland Track link up, but are probably not capable of managing it under current constrictions. Winterizing the Kepler they could do in there down time... If they want to work for free...  Hey, who knows...  perhaps John Davies will inject some of his Queenstown Zing into the Kepler and kick start a new era for Te Anau and maybe bring us back the Milford Track as well.


Published  page 7  11th September 2014 titled Interesting.

Stephen Hawking vs Yuval Harari

Posted 8th September 2014 to Afternoons at Radio New Zealand

In regard to the Interview with Dr Yuval Harari about his book a brief History of Mankind

I wonder what Dr Harari would say about Stephen Hawking saying That the way things are going in the 21st Century Conflicts
We might have to reconsider describing our species as “Intelligent” especially if you throw in Climate Change to the mix..
We seen positively Suicidal..

The Other Thing Stephen Hawking said was that we should fear artificial Intelligence as it will most probably wipe us out
(perhaps when it figures how dangerous we are)

Personally I think that as the brain of the stupidest Human has more computing power than all the World’s computers together
It will be Re engineering Human Biology that will be the easiest way of creating super intelligence and most a race of Supermen

Though I have to say we probably have enough Geniuses in the World today to be getting on with, It’s the Rich Idiots that seem to be in charge of Society that are a
Rapidly becoming Logistical Problem!

Radio NZ - Youth Vote / No Confidence

Posted 7th of September to Sunday Mornings at Radio NZ

Interesting discussion this AM

I would like to see a Vote of Confidence / No Confidence in the whole System being placed on the Ballot

And BTW I could make a better system for Modern Times with out taxing my brain too hard!

If we want a proportional System it should be proportional seats... Not Just Maori & European but Women. Youth, Immigrants and Small Business People

all getting their own seats, they in turn could select a proper Leader or co Leaders for the Nation.

Currently the System seems to be run by the Australian Media and the fundamental Idea of any real Political change seems to be limited to the People with the Most Money

or the ear of Media Moguls. Students and Youth honestly have little purchase or empathy in either camp.

But if you gave them a Vote of No Confidence, they might just show up!

CH CH Press - Work and Income Shootout

Posted 5th September 2014 to the Christchurch Press NZ

What Happened at WINZ Ashburton Is one of those absolutely horrid events that we hope will teach us as a Nation a few lessons.

Firstly That Work and Income should not be a Place of fear, or Shame. We all as Tax Payers should have the right to Get WINZ Assistance if we
find ourselves in a difficult Financial Situation From Bad Luck and we don’t need to feel like we are entering a War Zone to get a service we have paid for.

Reading This story I must say if it cost the Tax payer $100,000 a Year to keep one Person in Prison then getting them a decent House to live instead looks like a total bargain!

But also Politicians are not blameless for this sad story because they have made our society Blind to Mental Illness Issue and Insist that every Hopeless Human Being is the result of personal bad Morals, Narcissist or criminal evil mindsets,  where as Statistics show us that those types are in-fact more at home running Society, the Bulk of Hopeless or Desperate People are just the Result, and yes a small percentage are Dangerously Delusional.

They are not unique to WINZ offices... but Desperate People sure are.

Perhaps All Sane, Hard Working Law abiding Tax Payers should get there own WINZ Express card for quicker processing to avoid unnecessary Cross Fire ?

ODT - Stephen Hawking on Isis & Syria

Posted 2nd September 2014 to the Otago Daily Times Dunedin

One of our great scientific minds Stephen Hawking  said something very interesting about The Crisis in Syria recently
He questioned that perhaps we can not really call our Human Species intelligent because no intelligent Species Exterminates itself.
I think Dr Hawkin has a valid point but probably more relevant when it comes to Climate and the Environment than Islamic factions.

The situation in Syria is really a modern version of the Musket Wars fought now between a mix of tribes all Heavily Armed By the good old US of A.
The only thing missing now is Smallpox and we have a perfect storm!

Meanwhile Russia Today commented that this was all the fault of the USA.... It seems Uncle Sam gave Russia a Headache a few Years ago in Afghanistan playing a similar game.
RT might be gloating Mr Putin more public support for “proper” warfare than Mr Obama who has to kiss up to this Congress and his base who put him in because they got a bit tried
Of seeing American Body Bags piling up.

But Let’s face it Annexation is out of the question and with all due respect to Mr Hawkin it’s not a problem that can be fixed by Astrophysics...

Southland Times - 1080 Conspiracy 2014

Posted 30th August 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill NZ

To sooth the concerns of Southlanders about the unprecedented 1080 Drop in the Iris Burn Valley in Fiordland I took the liberty of
Channeling a Conspiracy Theorist to find out what is really going on.

As I discovered Years ago the Department of Conservation is a perfect Cover for a
Sinister Secret Government Agency, doing Secret X file type project disguised as harmless Bird Recovery Projects.. Projects that no one questions... Or Monitors..

The recent 1080 Drop has got to be one such event. In-fact the so called Beech Mast has not happened as no one has seen the trees flower this last summer
And the Rodent Emergency is something to do with an unexplained Explosion that literally Vaporized a large area of Trees in the Valley in 1984 .

The 1080 Drop is a cover for a urgently conceived “Sweep Up” operation before the Tourist come back and it also has the Benefit of Discouraging Sportsmen from the area.
The Black Radio Mast on top of Mount Tinsley is another interesting feature that DOC Staff claim to have no knowledge of.. But it is more than likely to be part of a Clandestine
Mountain Top Research Facility or for Monitoring of some unexplained phenomenon such as Bats that suddenly appeared from nowhere in the Valley in 2012 Near the Site of the
Vaporization also known as “the Big Slip” A name that has never been explained properly, a Slip in Time or a Dimensional Slip? I think there are some Dark Secrets to this story : )

Notice the harmless Pre-Drop of Bait too place under tight security at the Airport and took ages, the Actual Poison Bated took place on a cloudy day for flying with less Helicopters in less time and from an run down Barn Off the Supply Bay Road... What was that all bout? And why was the Mayor apparently not informed that the Council Airport was sealed off to the Public?  Why has DOC never acknowledged the visit of top Texas Scientist Brian Tinsley and his Son from Washington to the Valley in Dec 2011? All Good fodder for Conspiracy Guys!

Dominion Post - Fiordland 1080 Drop

Posted 29th August 2014 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

As some people in Wellington may be aware Fiordland National Park has had a Massive load of 1080 Poison dropped on it this week.
This sparked a community debate down South about our National Branding. Should Our National Parks go Organic to keep up with our %100 percent Pure
Brand?

Nature Should be used to sort out our Rodent Problems and if the Department of Conservation thinks it a fair trade killing off our Hawks and Falcons
In order to save a few Yellowhead Birds then Man will have to take the place of our apex predators forever in a day.

Overuse of Chemical Pest Control is a Serious Problem to the Natural Balance of the Planet and the Department Should be a little more aware of this.
And unintended consequences to the Economy as well.

All Venison from Fiordland is now suspect as is our World Famous Trout Fishing.
Our Brand has been tarnished on a Fontera Level.

Fiordland Advocate - 1080 Te Anau Meeting ?

Posted 28th August 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau.

There are a lot off issues about the Massive 1080 Drop in Fiordland we have just been hit with..
I really think it would have been nice if the Experts could have held a Public Meeting in Te Anau though
To answer Questions and fill us in on the Yellowhead Economy that DOC is offering us, Clearly
There are some downstream benefits? After all the Taxpayer has forked out a lot of money to help Yellowhead Birds
Of late And they must expect a dividend. BTW has anyone got a ball park figure of Yellowheads in the Iris Burn?
Or do we have to wait a week or so before we do a final count..
Speaking of the Local Economy it hasn’t escaped the notice of some people that the 1080 Drop price tag would have
Easily Paid for a World-Class Cycle Network in the Fiordland National Park...
Oh,Sorry, I forgot Bike Wheels have a negative impact on the Environment.

Radio NZ - Honest Bill English

Posted 25th August 2014 to Kathryn Ryan Nine to Noon Radio NZ

Why can’t Bill English admit
That this IS a land of plenty, capable of Keeping every one here in Comfort and gainful employment.
It is plain that the People are poor because Our Modern Politics demand that some people are punished
And some are rewarded.

In the past we made a point of not leaving people behind,

Now people HAVE to win lotto just to keep afloat...
We have Developed a huge Failure Rate in our population

Its not just the poor that are failing society its the Rich too
To Succeed they have to give up making jobs and move to
Speculation and gambling.

Meanwhile Scientists tell us that this can’t go on much longer
As our Planet will be wrecked.

Mr English seems to be blind to not only Science but Morals as well !

And really, offers no way out of the spiral!