Radio NZ - Gorbachev vs Reagan

Posted to Sunday with Chris Laidlaw 29th September 2013

Thank you for going over the Mikhail Gorbachev story on you Program..
It’s odd how the Republicans in the USA are convinced Ronald Reagan brought down the end of the
Soviet Union using astrology and voodoo economics...

Where as in reality Reagan pushed the Human Race to the edge of Oblivion and wrecked the US Economy
When he could have easily done nothing. But as a trained actor he certainly knew all about timing.

What was odd was how the Iranian Hostages got released just as Reagan took office and he basked in glory then as well.
What was that all about? Oh No, don’t mess with him he is an actor !

I often Wonder what if... Carter got a second Term... Reagan was assassinated... Or Gorbachev was allowed on to finish his reforms...

How would it have worked out.. I know there are Writers who Speculate on such things but it would be hard a daunting task

As for the US They probably would need to start with an earlier flash point like:

If Lincoln had not Been Shot.. Or Turtledoves musings on what if Robert E Lee was advised by a Military Logistic Expert from the Future..

Radio NZ - Americas Cup Feel Good

Posted to Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan 27th of September 2013

I have to smile when I hear Camp Followers of the America’s Cup Crying to the Media that the Tax payer should fork out for another Challenge in four Years time
Especially because of the Feel good aspect of it... Well Yes, I can see why they Feel Good, but Ironically there are a lot of people who pretty Feel Lousy right now.

It’s not just the dark feeling of un-fair play. It’s when we blew 35 Million on money that could have helped save so many other slightly less Feel Good jobs around the Country.

What Surprises me is that Both the NZ Boat and the US boats where built in NZ and Both where made by the same People and yet the Yacht Builders tell us that they need welfare because despite building the top 2 Boats in the World, one of them lost the race!

What is not surprising is that some Economists are not impressed with these big windfall events and their trickle down effects. Yes they Fill the Beds and Bars for a few nights.

But how do we know the “Windfall Money” doesn't just go into Tropical Holidays and Real-estate Speculation. Then some ask that thorny question, How can we sleep after a Feel Good Big Party when People are suffering all around us?

Or where was the 35 million Bonus for the Government Owned Hillside Railway Workshops that are slightly less feel good on the National Pride hype machine? Why are People falling through the Cracks and taking their own lives in alarming numbers ? And Just How are all these Fell Good Schemes going to stand up when the Climate Change Debate Shifts it gears to the next level?

No Sorry I don’t “Feel Good” thank you very much.

Fiordland Advocate - Battle of the Lakes

Posted 26th September 20113 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau

It was interesting that Gerry Forde’s people picked the Real Journeys Event Centre Stadium For their Fundraising  Battle of the Lakes event
To help the Manapouri Hall, as the Manapouri Hall would have been able to handle this event better, it would have been warmer and Acoustically Better as well as much better suited for lighting. And it has a stage.. It was great everybody pulled together on the night to make “The Battle Work” and Te Anau did pull the Hardest in the Tug of War. As for Technical Problems... I heard it described as a Marx Brothers Farce, but I have to hand it to my Wife Pauline, Who Worked the Fiordland Players stage lights that despite suffering from a fracture in her foot from a badly placed cable, the lighting did not fail, and despite severe pain she manage to make it right through to 2am! As they say, in any Battle there will be casualties.

Mountain Scene - Kelvin Heights Tunnel

Posted to the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown 22 September 2013

Thanks Bryan Wilkinson Revisiting the Old Suggestion of a Perspex Kelly Tarlton Underwater Walkway to Kelvin Heights in this weeks Opinion Column.
It Remains the Best Tunnel Idea For Queenstown So Far!  Though an Underground Convention Complex near the Gondola
would be nice, Cool in Summer and Warm in Winter... Just like those Tunnel Shops in Salzberg Austria, another Tourist town short on space.

That reminds me, there is still no long term parking available in Central Queenstown for People using the Around the Mountain Bike Trail...
You might need to look at Kelvin Heights anyway...

Bathhurst Denniston Supreme Court Coal Debate

Posted to Busyness Day 20/9/13  stuff.co.nz

I don't want to Burst the Bubble but the Capitalist Economy is ONLY A GAME, it is not based on any Science at all.

To think for one moment that exploiting every last crumb of energy is going to save this insane system of wealth distribution is dangerous nonsense. Money is NOT made from Coal, it is manufactured electronically by the US Federal Reserve. Our Environment is REAL and as President Obama said,
Climate Chgange Denial is real Flat Earth Stuff.


Yes we should be honoured to dig coal with our bare hands for our Glorious Chinese Overloards.
I don't want to Burst the Bubble but the Capitalist Economy is ONLY A GAME, it is not based on any Science at all. 
To think for one moment that exploiting every last crumb of energy is going to save this insane system of wealth distribution is dangerous nonsense. Money is NOT made from Coal, it is Manufactured electronically by the US Federal Reserve. Our Environment is REAL and as President Obama said Climate Change denial is real Flat Earth Stuff,

I don't want to Burst the Bubble but the Capitalist Economy is ONLY A GAME, it is not based on any Science at all.
To think for one moment that exploiting every last crumb of energy is going to save this insane system of wealth distribution is dangerous nonsense. Money is NOT made from Coal, it is Manufactured electronically by the US Federal Reserve. Our Environment is REAL and as President Obama said Climate Change denial is real Flat Earth Stuff,

don't want to Burst the Bubble but the Capitalist Economy is ONLY A GAME, it is not based on any Science at all. 
To think for one moment that exploiting every last crumb of energy is going to save this insane system of wealth distribution is dangerous nonsense. Money is NOT made from Coal, it is Manufactured electronically by the US Federal Reserve. Our Environment is REAL and as President Obama said Climate Change denial is real Flat Earth Stuff,don't want to Burst the Bubble but the Capitalist Economy is ONLY A GAME, it is not based on any Science at all. 
To think for one moment that exploiting every last crumb of energy is going to save this insane system of wealth distribution is dangerous nonsense. Money is NOT made from Coal, it is Manufactured electronically by the US Federal Reserve. Our Environment is REAL and as President Obama said Climate Change denial is real Flat Earth Stuff,

Fiordland Advocate - Murder Mystery Night

Posted 9th of September 2013 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau.

I have to thank the Te Anau Lodge People for Putting on the Murder Mystery Gold Rush Event on August 24th.
Though it felt More like theatre sports Team Building with drinks, it proved to be an Interesting Night out..
My Wife and I got in at the last minute to Join Rosco’s Mexican Desperado band but Rosco’s Part as a Large, Garishly Dressed Bandito who not only Robbed the community but hid the Money from his gang ended up getting him the proverbial Bullet!
Most of the characters had serious flaws but one Hero Stood out who wasn’t even present, Margo Shaw the Costume Mistress for the Fiordland Players who supplied the bulk of the Fine Victoriana Outfits was given a great Toast at the Conclusion. And that being said some scouts from the Fiordland Players where surprised at some of the little known acting talent there was about that night. We hope the talented Te Anau Lodge cleaners where not too taxed the next morning for the tidy up.

Southland Express - Skateboard Parks

Posted 9th September 2013 to the Southland Express (Invercargill)

On Petrina Wrights Article.. Sep 5th
The Park Plans by Splash Palace are nice but It would be nice if Southland could do something unexpected and unique..

Like a Skateboard Luge track at Riverton? Or the Ultimate, Bluff Hill.  A Machine that lays a convex concrete skating surface may not be invented yet but it can’t be much different than a curb making machine. All you need is a Hill with a road to the top and let gravity do the rest.. Just don’t make it too steep and it could be fun for the whole family.. Or maybe a mounded area in the Forth Street Reserve would be a start?