Posts by RaggedJoe
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I am pretty lucky and generally sleep well, better at 50 than 30 interestingly. One factor is that I handle stress better now, more stability in life, kids grown out of health issues and better work environment. BUT, if I do wake, it can be a problem, especially when overseas and dealing with time differences. My standard response at home is get up, turn kitchen light on, make a glass of cold milk with milo. Drink that pretty quick and head back to bed, the milk settles the stomach (deals with alcohol instigated acid feeling) and the cold (milk and kitchen floor on bare feet especially) makes the bed snugly and inviting. 80% success rate. However for the 20% failures it is not good! because I know I have fired my only shot and I will be restless for ages, dropping into deep sleep 30 minutes before the alarm goes off!
When overseas (no kitchen, milk or milo :-(), I will often give in, open phone/tablet and deal with work, but that can escalate as people start replying. My mental exercise is counting breaths. Concentrate on deep regular breaths and count steadily. I rearely get past 50 or so before either sleeping or getting mentally distracted and having to start again.
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I have a daughter and a son, late teens and early twenties. I cannot imagine the world the young people involved in this issue inhabit as it seems so distant from what I see.
I am horrified and disgusted and scared about what this implies for our society. As a reaction to the helpless dread I feel, I have written to Anne Tolley expressing my deep concerns.
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Psychedelic Pill is as good as if not better than anything Neil Young has done for years, (in some cases not a high bar I admit) and he rocked the recent concert in Auckland, good energy for 67!
A world without Lou..not so good...at least I can still play Rock and roll Animal at will (and at volume!). The intro to Sweet Jane remains a personal fav.
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Wow, what a cool documentary, Russell, and Fiona, you must be very proud. Well done Jimmy!,
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The Missing Stair sure resonates with me. In one close relationship in particular. in the positive side I am fortunate not know anyone who would think a rape joke was either funny or acceptable.
However casual racism is not unknown. Mostly it is born of ignorance IMHO. I travel widely and cross culturally for work. I know how different the interpretations of personal space and traffic rules, for example, can be. When translated to an East Auckland supermarket or arterial route, these behaviours can set off the "bloody Asians" noises. My reaction is to try and explain the cultural mores that exist in other countries, however it is not necessarily effective (sigh). Frankly the "bloody Maoris" comment is harder to explain or to forgive. Some of it is born of some tough secondary school experiences, but that is a possible cause not an excuse, because it is frankly inexcusable.
The collateral damage is to great to contemplate a full on confrontation, so I am counting on wearing away the stone drip by drip....
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Great post thanks Russell. Sadly Avondale is way the wrong side of town for us southerners. The mere mention of Cook Street Market provokes strong memories of weekend city afternoons in crowded passageways filled with incense, tie dye, Indian cotton shirts, knock off "ugg" boots and the best hand made leather boots I have ever owned (long since worn out). It was fantastic and still sorely missed.
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Aldermans again, in the faaar distance, playing with panorama mode on iphone
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Alderman Islands, Jan 2013
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Maz,
We all have our own experiences. I drive in Europe and USA often once a year. Driving, can be good or bad. I generally find NZ pretty good in comparison, not great, but then neither is Naples.
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PS
On visibility, my cycling jerseys are chosen purely on being seen at a distance, dayglo yellow in preference, fashion and brand has no value. I also drive my car with the lights on 24/7. Who doesn't want to be seen easily? Cycling in black? Just plain stupid sorry.I figure it only has to save my life once.
