This blog will be on hold for a while. Not that anyone other than me is reading this.
Q: So Tim why do you like talking to yourself?
Me: Who said that? Show yourself!
Q: Never mind.
Posting back here in 2008 - post-treatment.
08 May 2006
I believe 911 was a plot led by Al Queda and not George Bush.
There I said it - I'm clearly an idiot. Well according to a sales pitch on NZ's own Trade Me website.
I saw this post on the Trade Me the other day about this thing being a great deal "and if you don't believe that you'll be one of those idiots who think that George Bush had nothing to do with 9/11". Well actually I don't believe either of them. Which puts me in 'camp naive' according to another post I saw on a blog 6 months ago.
The growth in consipiracy thinking and the rejection of science and rationality is, in my opinion, one of the great issues we face. 'How do we know what is true' is an issue which has always had considerable debate and intellectual enquiry, but it seems post-modern 'perception is reality' has overturned the enlightenment. With the enlightenment and the growth in scientific (observable and verifiable) approach there was a major leap forward in getting an agreed basis for action.
I spose the irony is while we're debating how to deal with fundamentatist views in the Islamic world where science is outright rejected, our western conspiracists are agnostics or atheists. That is when if comes to science, that is they might believe science exists but don't believe anything it says, or if atheists they've heard of science but don't believe in it.
I saw this post on the Trade Me the other day about this thing being a great deal "and if you don't believe that you'll be one of those idiots who think that George Bush had nothing to do with 9/11". Well actually I don't believe either of them. Which puts me in 'camp naive' according to another post I saw on a blog 6 months ago.
The growth in consipiracy thinking and the rejection of science and rationality is, in my opinion, one of the great issues we face. 'How do we know what is true' is an issue which has always had considerable debate and intellectual enquiry, but it seems post-modern 'perception is reality' has overturned the enlightenment. With the enlightenment and the growth in scientific (observable and verifiable) approach there was a major leap forward in getting an agreed basis for action.
I spose the irony is while we're debating how to deal with fundamentatist views in the Islamic world where science is outright rejected, our western conspiracists are agnostics or atheists. That is when if comes to science, that is they might believe science exists but don't believe anything it says, or if atheists they've heard of science but don't believe in it.
04 May 2006
On professional arts in New Zealand
I have this growing sense that art in New Zealand shouldn't be professional. Kiwis are better at being generalists and professional rugby seems to have worked much better for the Australians and English than for us. Professional art also seems a way for some people to shut out others from participating.
One pro theatre has recently suggested that 'only professionally trained' actors should be on their stage. How does that get defined? Many of the grads from the drama schools are crap with no stage craft. Is acting like accountancy and requires standardised training?
The real reason for this entry criteria is trying to determine who's good and who's not. Not all the paid people are good and not all the unpaid are worse than the paid ones (look at Shortland Street!). Being trained or being paid are not the best determinates of good art. There are many famous painters who never made a living at it when they were alive, our greatest actors weren't trained.
More seriously though it's the money thing. Most NZ actors, painters, writers are on some form of government subsidy, New Zealand On Air, Creative NZ or creative communities, the unemployment benefit, or another grant which directly or indirectly goes into their pockets.
These are the very people trying to shunt out others from getting into here or there.
Maybe we should just accept that 98 per cent of NZ creative arts people are going to need some other form of income? What's wrong with that? If you are self supporting - that's fab. But if you're not - what did you expect from a country of 4 million people that worship rugby?
The latest insult was NZ actors voting to join Australian equity. This is likely to keep out many young actors from getting into productions based on their merit. Writers have tried similar moves.
Salman Rushdie in his book on Nicaragua noted that all Nicaraguans are poets. It doesn't mean that they all earn a full time wage writing poetry, but that many Nicaraguans write poetry.
Perhaps New Zealand could be a nation of artists and writers. Some earning money at it, most not. Where the market determines who is good, not those who have got to the top pulling up the ladder, by inventing more rigorous standards, or training requirements for everyone else.
I'm of the opinion that the govt should fund venues not wages for theatre. Let the audiences and private sponsorship pay the wages but let government funding allow opportunities for talent to bloom.
One pro theatre has recently suggested that 'only professionally trained' actors should be on their stage. How does that get defined? Many of the grads from the drama schools are crap with no stage craft. Is acting like accountancy and requires standardised training?
The real reason for this entry criteria is trying to determine who's good and who's not. Not all the paid people are good and not all the unpaid are worse than the paid ones (look at Shortland Street!). Being trained or being paid are not the best determinates of good art. There are many famous painters who never made a living at it when they were alive, our greatest actors weren't trained.
More seriously though it's the money thing. Most NZ actors, painters, writers are on some form of government subsidy, New Zealand On Air, Creative NZ or creative communities, the unemployment benefit, or another grant which directly or indirectly goes into their pockets.
These are the very people trying to shunt out others from getting into here or there.
Maybe we should just accept that 98 per cent of NZ creative arts people are going to need some other form of income? What's wrong with that? If you are self supporting - that's fab. But if you're not - what did you expect from a country of 4 million people that worship rugby?
The latest insult was NZ actors voting to join Australian equity. This is likely to keep out many young actors from getting into productions based on their merit. Writers have tried similar moves.
Salman Rushdie in his book on Nicaragua noted that all Nicaraguans are poets. It doesn't mean that they all earn a full time wage writing poetry, but that many Nicaraguans write poetry.
Perhaps New Zealand could be a nation of artists and writers. Some earning money at it, most not. Where the market determines who is good, not those who have got to the top pulling up the ladder, by inventing more rigorous standards, or training requirements for everyone else.
I'm of the opinion that the govt should fund venues not wages for theatre. Let the audiences and private sponsorship pay the wages but let government funding allow opportunities for talent to bloom.
08 April 2006
False economies
I've recently become aware of two false economies that strike at the heart of our way of life.
1 Wrapping paper. Cheap wrapping paper is a disaster and rips as you wrap. Not only that but it's immediately obvious as soon as you see a present wrapped in the stuff that it's cheap. Wrapping paper orginated as the industrial revolution started and mass produced goods started to replace home made ones. The orginal wrapping paper was decorated with designs by the giver to add some sort of personal contribution to the gift. Over time this too became mass produced and now very very tacky. It's all down hill from here....
2 Incense. There was a time incense sticks from Asia were relatively more expensive, hard to get and high quality. As demand has increased and large factories have taken over we now have incense which is fragrancy and worker pay 'lite'. Cheap incense smells cheap, doesn't linger and burns quicker. Originally of course incense was used to hide smells and to worship gods. We still have the smells but not the beliefs to go with them. So we're not just going down hill but to hell as well.
1 Wrapping paper. Cheap wrapping paper is a disaster and rips as you wrap. Not only that but it's immediately obvious as soon as you see a present wrapped in the stuff that it's cheap. Wrapping paper orginated as the industrial revolution started and mass produced goods started to replace home made ones. The orginal wrapping paper was decorated with designs by the giver to add some sort of personal contribution to the gift. Over time this too became mass produced and now very very tacky. It's all down hill from here....
2 Incense. There was a time incense sticks from Asia were relatively more expensive, hard to get and high quality. As demand has increased and large factories have taken over we now have incense which is fragrancy and worker pay 'lite'. Cheap incense smells cheap, doesn't linger and burns quicker. Originally of course incense was used to hide smells and to worship gods. We still have the smells but not the beliefs to go with them. So we're not just going down hill but to hell as well.
21 March 2006
Other recent thoughts
Very pleased to see that Sam and crew made more for the sale of Trade Me than Anita Roddick did for the sale to L'Oreal of The Body Shop.
Why? Something about Anita's preachy arrogance that turned out to have feet of clay when a giant cosmetic company opened their chequebook to her. Oh and the fact that Sam Morgan and team seemed so nice and deserving.
Why? Something about Anita's preachy arrogance that turned out to have feet of clay when a giant cosmetic company opened their chequebook to her. Oh and the fact that Sam Morgan and team seemed so nice and deserving.
09 February 2006
Cartoons
World War 3 could still break out over some cartoons. I do remember reading there was a European war that was started by someone spilling some water on someone else. And there was that one that started over train timetables.
Ok they were gravely insulting cartoons. And they were needlessly reprinted by idiots like the NZ newspaper editors that persisted. I was interested to hear of the Arabic newspapers intending to publish cartoons gravely insulting to the west. Problem is there's nothing they can say about George W Bush and his remarkable resemblance to a chimpanzee or Tony Blair or any European custom, institution or ideal that hasn't been done before. You can insult some Christians pretty easily, but then really it's not the same. Cartoons on the holocaust are the closest they'll get. But then it won't really get the west as upset, really, Israel yes, and the Jewish lobby. And many of us will be a little uncomfortable with them, as much as we would over cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed. Personally I just don't like needlessly upsetting people.
In reality we are a godless people with very few things we hold dear anymore. Any remaining taboos are being wiped out by 'reality' TV.
Oh there I go, on about TV again. Stupid given the age of TV is nearly over.
Ok they were gravely insulting cartoons. And they were needlessly reprinted by idiots like the NZ newspaper editors that persisted. I was interested to hear of the Arabic newspapers intending to publish cartoons gravely insulting to the west. Problem is there's nothing they can say about George W Bush and his remarkable resemblance to a chimpanzee or Tony Blair or any European custom, institution or ideal that hasn't been done before. You can insult some Christians pretty easily, but then really it's not the same. Cartoons on the holocaust are the closest they'll get. But then it won't really get the west as upset, really, Israel yes, and the Jewish lobby. And many of us will be a little uncomfortable with them, as much as we would over cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed. Personally I just don't like needlessly upsetting people.
In reality we are a godless people with very few things we hold dear anymore. Any remaining taboos are being wiped out by 'reality' TV.
Oh there I go, on about TV again. Stupid given the age of TV is nearly over.
20 January 2006
There's nothing like a good dose of food poisoning
Warning.
If you go to Timaru there's a small indian restaurant takeaway near the Pak'n'save. Don't eat there. Just don't. You don't want to hear why, let's just say I will be contacting the Timaru District Council.
Today watched some TV where some Brits twittered on about improving their houses and makeovers. While I watched the despair egged away and I had this flash of what life is really about. Well isn't, but maybe this might lead to some truth about what the answers to life, the universe and everything are.
While Glenys talked to Denise about how a 'beige' carpet was really her (and believe me, it was) I wondered about people who collect teaspoons. We struggle to make meaning from these things, if I just collect the right thing, or my house is ever complete and just right, or if I get a play turned into a TV show and then I can become famous - then and only then will I have transcended how I feel and become right. It used to be when I fell in love and found 'her'. Now I have fallen in love with 'her' and married 'her' and although it makes life better it still leaves us where we were. Which is, if you get food poisoining,- go to bed and don't wake up till it's gone. It makes you very depressed and think about things. And really beige carpet may indeed be the answer to it all, but I was too sick to appreciate it.
If you go to Timaru there's a small indian restaurant takeaway near the Pak'n'save. Don't eat there. Just don't. You don't want to hear why, let's just say I will be contacting the Timaru District Council.
Today watched some TV where some Brits twittered on about improving their houses and makeovers. While I watched the despair egged away and I had this flash of what life is really about. Well isn't, but maybe this might lead to some truth about what the answers to life, the universe and everything are.
While Glenys talked to Denise about how a 'beige' carpet was really her (and believe me, it was) I wondered about people who collect teaspoons. We struggle to make meaning from these things, if I just collect the right thing, or my house is ever complete and just right, or if I get a play turned into a TV show and then I can become famous - then and only then will I have transcended how I feel and become right. It used to be when I fell in love and found 'her'. Now I have fallen in love with 'her' and married 'her' and although it makes life better it still leaves us where we were. Which is, if you get food poisoining,- go to bed and don't wake up till it's gone. It makes you very depressed and think about things. And really beige carpet may indeed be the answer to it all, but I was too sick to appreciate it.
17 January 2006
New Years resolution update
Well still no progress on the word 'bling' and other than that a total failure to date.
04 January 2006
What a blogging waste of time
Why write a blog? Waste of freaking time really.
Why is anyone interested in what I think? Why wouldn't you simply write a diary? My aim is to get a newspaper column (or whatever the furture cyber equivalent is) and I'm blogging to get in practise and have something to show people.
Some people send me blogs and they are ... tedious. Who cares what Janelle thought or why Chris wanted another sort of mueseli?
What is really interesting is that the sort of people to blog, based on my very limited survey, are not the sort of people who keep diaries. (by people I mean those over 20) They're more the reality TV participants than the watchers. Meanwhile those people I have talked to who keep diaries, aren't blogging, and if they are, they're doing it very privately and not showing it to anyone.
Conclusion?
There are two types of people (those who divide things into two groups and those who don't)... their are extroverts who think what we say is profound and people should take notice, and intorverts who record things for their own development.
Will having extroverts writing about history affect the way we look at it?
Why is anyone interested in what I think? Why wouldn't you simply write a diary? My aim is to get a newspaper column (or whatever the furture cyber equivalent is) and I'm blogging to get in practise and have something to show people.
Some people send me blogs and they are ... tedious. Who cares what Janelle thought or why Chris wanted another sort of mueseli?
What is really interesting is that the sort of people to blog, based on my very limited survey, are not the sort of people who keep diaries. (by people I mean those over 20) They're more the reality TV participants than the watchers. Meanwhile those people I have talked to who keep diaries, aren't blogging, and if they are, they're doing it very privately and not showing it to anyone.
Conclusion?
There are two types of people (those who divide things into two groups and those who don't)... their are extroverts who think what we say is profound and people should take notice, and intorverts who record things for their own development.
Will having extroverts writing about history affect the way we look at it?
01 January 2006
New Years Resolutions 2006
This year:
- I'm going to remember 90 minute movies on free to air TV last for 3 hours, and will get them from the video shop instead. Ninety minutes of my life is worth at least $10.
- My backyard will be less like an obstacle course.
- When I see something I really like under a hundred dollars I'm just going to buy it. The obsession and stress about whether I should have bought it and leaving it till someone else gets it, just isn't worth it.
- I won't be surprised when TVNZ fails to programme good shows (like 'Extras' made by 'the Office' team) and I'll remember TVNZ staff are really in the pay of Sky hired to ruin free to air TV.
- On the subject of TV, I'll remember reality TV isn't.
- I'll give everyone a voucher for Christmas and buy their presents half price in the boxing day sale.
- I won't say 'there's nothing worse than....' I always say it about very trivial things and there are many things much much worse. EG there's nothing worse than eating a cold meat pie.... (there is; for example dying of beriberi, children's musical toys or eating a hot meat pie).
- When asked how I am, I won't reply 'can't complain'. I can, and do complain. Frequently.
- I'm going to find out whether bling is an adjective or a noun. And where it came from.
- I'm going to write an entry in a blog a minimum of two times a week, well, try to.
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