Posts by Ken Sparks
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Hard News: The Ides of Epsom, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,
I miss Rodney in his yellow jacket! I remember one morning during the campaign cycling along Market Rd (yes, Market) and there he was standing at the intersection in his eye catching attire appealing to the passing commuters. I wanted to heckle him but he rendered me speechless...
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Hard News: Two roads lead to the city, in reply to Sacha,
Where's the problem they are trying to fix, exactly?
In their heads I suspect...
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it's hardly ideal to have to ride on the footpath
No it isn't but it's also quite easy not to mow down pedestrians on your bike too!
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Thanks for this Russell - as a fellow Pt Chevian and cyclist I share your concerns. I hope the pohutukawas can stay (I signed and shared the petition yesterday) even if they do need to be trimmed a little. Meola Rd is a problem alright, especially that hill below the roundabout - when cycling up it I routinely take to the footpath to get out of the way of vehicles.
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Speaker: Levelling the Playing Field, in reply to Sacha,
A friend of mine in her early 20's has just completed the one year post grad scriptwriting course offered by the Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria Uni. She has found it challenging but stimulating and enjoyable and she was full of praise for Ken Duncum's input. It'll be really interesting to follow her progress from here on - I'll certainly be full of encouragement.
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surveillance
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The main attraction for me with regard to a public service TV broadcaster is the way it respects its audience. Commercial TV channels are predominantly designed to trick an audience into watching ads when what that audience is actually trying to do is watch a programme. Sure there are some people that enjoy watching ads or don't mind the constant interruption but I suspect most would prefer an uninterrupted viewing experience. Of course we can time-shift and fast forward through the ads but it's still an interruption. Public service TV is able to have a totally different relationship with its audience where the programme content is paramount. Even if that programme is time-shifted it'll still be a more rewarding viewing experience. A public service channel can still carry advertising but ideally only screen it between programmes - if the ads are engaging enough then the viewers will watch.
I really miss TVNZ7 and hope that if we elect a Labour led government next year they will manage to once again establish a public service channel that offers an alternative free-to-air TV option and a platform for the kind of local content that is increasingly being shunned by the commercial channels. -
I still remember Black Sabbath at The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in 1973. There was a burning cross up on the hill behind us and the audience lit up big time too. I don't remember the music so much but the atmosphere was great. Split Ends, Dragon and Blerta were the musical highlights for me - oh and Corben Simpson complete with a striptease!
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Really good to see Kay and Annie's doco just now - always a pleasure seeing Jake Bryant's camerawork too. I have huge respect for Jon Stephenson and it was fascinating seeing him at work in the field. Maybe our army should only be used for national emergencies and actual overseas aid and reconstruction projects - a truly pacifist force...
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Anzac Day just makes me sad and I've never felt moved to join a dawn parade and stand around with people who generally think war is either honourable or at least unavoidable. Call me an idealist but I'm with the conscientious objectors. Didn't stop me from taking my son to see 'Lawrence of Arabia' in glorious 4K last Sunday though...