Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Getting Across

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    Any collapse of the national government for wasting money will only help Act however, since they're the party of tub-thumping about such things. And a collapse in the national vote will also likely help them, as there's no centrist party in parliament at present for national voters to move to.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    It would require much more than just wasting money to bring down this government. Fucking with ACC could do it, and in that case Act would be even further out in the cold. Depends if Labour can get the message through that ACC's not actually in straits as dire as has been portrayed, except by the magic of accounting jiggery-pokery, and that applying some different accounting jiggery-pokery will present a rather different picture. So far they're not doing a very good job, though, and one does have to wonder if it's not partly aided by Goff's known right-wing proclivities.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    A spanner in the works...
    ...how about a fleet of aquada taxis and ferries...
    and turn the old bridge into accommodation?
    (a la William Gibson in all tomorrow's parties )

    or even a life-size Lego© or Meccano© bridge, or one made from recycled ice-cream sticks or matchsticks... kiwiana - for the tourists...

    Surely Hundertwasser left plans for an "earth bridge" of some sort - after all he invented transautomatism - it would be a quintessential kiwi artefact - a Gaudi tribute to the "Schiele be right" ethos...

    or a rainbow bridge like the one to Asgard,
    light engineering is only in its infancy...

    or just better bandwidth so one only need send an avatar to town (oooh Ruby, don't....)

    <aside>- there's a thought - an expanded Public Address/Second Life/Sims interface - somewhere to wander round and chat, and interact, while in the system... I mean we now have an edit function - dreams are free </aside>

    I guess we need to ask the tough questions:
    - just where are all these people going to,
    and coming from?
    is that trip necessary?

    yrs Berry Rydell

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    The electricity could be used to power a travelator (not as cool as one under the harbour but still better than walking.

    Don't you worry: Simpson's plan envisages a wave-powered travelator. His plan has everything, except engineering and costing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Depends if Labour can get the message through that ACC's not actually in straits as dire as has been portrayed, except by the magic of accounting jiggery-pokery, and that applying some different accounting jiggery-pokery will present a rather different picture. So far they're not doing a very good job, though, and one does have to wonder if it's not partly aided by Goff's known right-wing proclivities.

    Maybe all they have to do is invoke the spectre of American-style HMO's.

    And the 'corporate welfare for polluters' angle is fertile ground too.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Depends if Labour can get the message through

    Currently I don't have much faith in labour to get much of a message through. Flailing, badly.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Kyle, quite. Their current performance as opposition raises serious questions about their collective capability to organise an orgy in a brothel.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    On a semi-related note, this is pretty cool, and could be very useful in a country like NZ which is petroleum-poor but has very widespread electricity generation from renewable sources.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    An 'ultra-capacitor'!? Quick, where's my DeLorean?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    What would a new bridge be actually for? (i.e.what the current bridge can't provide already) A faster way to Omaha Beach? Even more North Shore boy racers in Queen Street? A more convenient route for Northland dope to reach its market?
    A good part of that new harbour real estate could be financed by putting a congestion charge on the current bridge years in advance of construction of the new link.
    How is the Victoria Tunnel going to be linked up with both bridges? Will the double penetration of the Vic tunnel even excite Steve Crowe?
    There is no need to have a really high bridge, deliveries to and from the sugar factory can go by road (or rail) to the port - much cheaper than a high span!

    If we want Auckand to be more like Copenhagen (shared streets and all) we should look at its elegantly combined Øresund Bridge/tunnel to Malmö.

    The newly planned cross-river bridge in Antwerpen (Belgium) has been voted down in a citywide referendum, in favour of a tunnel project in some form.

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    I'm assuming you're joking.

    I never joke Russell :-)

    As I said. Out of left field.

    But I'm sorry to keep harping on about it since I recall these conversations in an earlier piece. But I cannot help think that the vast amounts destined for more motorways could be spent to at least rip up probably only a few more houses and lay lots of track. At least those close to it will be able to sleep, have a station close by and it will in the end take up less space per km than 4 and 6 lane roads that are destined purely to speed up the jam into and out of the city.

    Am I the only one who is astounded that the Auckland CBD is truly an island in the middle of tarmac? The gaggle and sprawl of the aptly named Spaghetti Junction, the jamming of the bridge approaches and the annihilation of Grafton Gully all contribute to the prison like fence.

    I lived there - or close - for a few years. I watched the sprawl develop. Moved stock in the wide open paddocks of Wiri with the 'ol man in the 60s. And still the Mway kept coming. I too have sat crawling literally from Papakura to K road. Wifey and i ventured forth on a holiday north last year and came back through Wellsford on saturday. Passed a queue at Warkworth that stretched all the way to Puhoi and thought of the horrors we were to meet at spag junction.

    Well.

    Unbelievably, the road was clear to the bridge, through the junction and on past Greenlane. I have never ever cruised through so easily in all my life. 30 minutes and we were in and out.

    I hate the place. But as usual there are nice people who live there and one is tempted to come back and visit. Sigh.

    But I am only saying.....and I feel better :-)

    It will take an "out of body" experience to make a change up there. Someone is going to have to suffer and I am afraid it will be all of us. All because some bureaucratic bastards and their political mates (or the other way round) wanted to make sure their job and votes will still be there.

    but...IF and it is an IF...if these bastards want to carry on the way they have been then the crazy idea of "my bridge" would certainly clear the way for those who want to "pass through".

    Surely you have to agree.

    And no, I don't have any shares.

    So there ya go. Now I AM confirmed to be in Noddy Land.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    ultra capacitors!
    this could be the charge of the light-rail brigade...
    and what happened to fly-wheels?
    Tesla - what did JP Morgan (ergo Rothschilds) do with your paperwork?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    I hate the place

    Then I'm sure you'll understand when we suggest you aren't the sorta person we want to tell us how to sort out the place. Which we actually kinda like.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    What would a new bridge be actually for? (i.e.what the current bridge can't provide already)

    Well, for one thing the current bridge can't provide anything more than an aerial nuisance and a pathway for light (think bicycles and motorcycles) vehicles in the long-term. Structures like that have a finite life, and it's being babied along as it is. Already its capacity for heavy trucks has been halved.

    Also, it can't provide for pedestrians and cyclists without potentially shortening that finite life even further. It's good for automotive traffic and that's all. If there's ever to be a rail connection onto the North Shore, the current bridge can't be the carrier.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Brickley Paiste,

    I hate the place.

    Word, Ross. Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we have to have a discussion, as a country, about whether we want to be a country with high levels of public services or a country with low taxes.

    Looking around, I'd say that conversation is decidedly over.

    Since Mar 2009 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Which we actually kinda like.

    Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    Wow. I know I'm not the last, so trying to work out which of the first two I must be?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    Oh good gravy. Do I now have to make a joke about a priori conceptions of what a city should be like?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I hate the place. Word, Ross. Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    Yikes! I really like the place and I don't live there. Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth, pick up my white cane and adjust my incontinence nappies!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Then I'm sure you'll understand when we suggest you aren't the sorta person we want to tell us how to sort out the place. Which we actually kinda like.

    Sigh. I know......It is more the line of a "Love Hate" relationships but.

    PS Where the hell WOULD be Big Key cycle way go through anyway?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Brickley Paiste,

    Wow. I know I'm not the last, so trying to work out which of the first two I must be?

    Probably wilful blindness. I read an article recently on the psychology of self-depection. It was really interesting.

    Do I now have to make a joke about a priori conceptions of what a city should be like?

    Yes.

    I really like the place and I don't live there.

    Yet you repeat yourself.

    Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth, pick up my white cane and adjust my incontinence nappies!

    I didn't say a full-on munter. I said subnormally intelligent.

    Like Forest Gump with a bit more going on. What my mum calls "dim-dull".

    Someone who for all intents and purposes seems normal but is only a fraction away from being classed as handicapped.

    These people are usually public school teachers or actors.

    Since Mar 2009 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Oh Brickley...I'm stuck on you!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I know 'provocative cynicism' is your schtick, Brickley, but... you're kind of just being an asshole now.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Danielle, I'm glad you found polite words for him. I'm just going to nod in agreement.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    I read an article recently on the psychology of self-depection.

    Is self-depection turning yourself into an 80's New Wave electronic act?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I hate the place.

    Word, Ross. Anyone who likes it is either subnormally intelligent, wilfully blind or hasn't travelled much.

    Trolling.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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