Posts by Russell Brown
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One last thing whens the next great blend and can I pre register now?
We've been a bit delayed through one thing and another, but I'll hopefully announce the dates (Wellington Feb 8, Thursday week and Auckland Feb 11 at the new Auckland museum events centre - and yes that really is next week) on Wednesday morning. So stay tuned - and Reece, seeing as you asked, I'll make sure you're in.
Cheers,
RB -
I agree with the first part, and what appealed most to me [about London] is not what most people would call "beauty", but the messy everyday reality, the people, the mix of cultures, and the layers of history; and certainly in the sorts of places you mention rather than the cold orderliness of Whitehall. That's why I mentioned Spitalfields, as that was my neighbourhood for a couple of years not long ago. Not "pretty", but endlessly fascinating and to me, beautiful.
Part of London's glory is its centres of power. The other part is the vitality of its margins. So much seemed to spring from marginalised or even actively suppressed cultures there. That's where the cultural energy came from.
It was interesting returning to a somewhat gentrified Brixton in 2001, 10 years after I left. A row of restaurants on the Frontline!
One great thing in London, especially south of the river, is the big parks and commons - home county custom that became urban planning by default, I guess. OTOH, probably because I never lived there (southside for life, etc) parts of East London were always a bit stark and desolate for me ...
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I find it worthwhile in the following circumstance: whenever DPF and Russell agree on something, then it must be the absolute truth.
We have occasionally been known to agree on ordering another bottle of wine in the course of a lunch. So that must be the absolute truth too. I feel so ... vindicated.
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The question that must be answered is "who wrote this crap?" It doesn't even make sense: how can a pseudonym be inarticulate? What is a belief of self-freedom? I wouldn't read a blogger who wrote so badly.
I was trying to be all measured and reasonable and shit, to confound the insane blogger stereotype, but you're right, the writing is appalling.
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Yes, the whole High St/Vulcan Lane/Lorne St was my refuge when I lived in Auckland: now that feels like a city!
Actually, a small part of it was made to pass for New York City when Mick Jagger filmed his cameo for 'The Knights of Prosperity', which recently debuted on US TV. There's one shot in his "luxury apartment" (ie: Metropolis) where you can totally see familiar High Street buildings out the window. Freaky.
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It would be interesting to know whether Sharples is actually familiar with the arguments. Perhaps he'll change his mind, the way he did over Wayne Mapp's probationary employment bill.
Anyway, the Maori Party isn't a party of the left and won't be while Turia is there.
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Hills don't really matter if you do all your travelling by car, but if you do a fair bit of walking, you soon come to realise just how hilly Auckland is.
I recall being quite shocked at that very fact when my bike finally arrived from London. There are hills where you don't even feel them in a car ...
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I have this theory that because so much of New Zealand's national identity is based around mountains, rivers, and oceans, we tend to ignore cities. They aren't considered important, so we just build any old crappy buildings.
Our colonial planners did try in some cases. They had a lovely design for Auckland, which was roundly ignored. But urban design requires theory, which is not something we've been so hot on over time.
Anyway, here's a thought: imagine how cool it would be to still have a tramway connecting K Road, Ponsonby and Queen St ...
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in food anyway....best in Australasia by a fair wack.
Gotta go with you there, big guy. I haven't been to Melbourne a lot (and one time our plonker hosts insisted on taking us to the Hard Rock Cafe), but the best Italian restaurant I've ever dined at, by miles, was there. Great markets too.
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How could anyone see Davies' clips and not think they were satire.
I do realise that it can be hard to tell with the fundy crowd sometimes.And how. When Ted Haggard was outed, people posted pictures of his New Life Church management team. You could hardly hear yourself think for the sound of gaydars going off.
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