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• Post #4484154

  I recall less than 10 years ago when Taika Waititi said that New Zealand was, “racist as fuck”, and thinking to myself, "Yes, but...". Now I know there is no "but". I read this Substack post by Ganesh Ahirao and wept inside. There are many things this government has done that deserve condemnation, but the deliberate and not-so-deliberate normalisation and fanning of racism in Aotearoa is the most contemptible and unforgivable. https://ganeshnana.substack.com/p/go-home-t...

• Post #4457955

  We went and saw The Odyssey this morning in Lower Hutt. First time I've been to the cinema for ages so it felt almost like a new experience. (My, the buckets of popcorn are large these days!) You can only but admire the scale and execution of The Odyssey as a film. Some scenes are absolutely amazing in the way they are portrayed on the screen, especially the one with the Cyclops. But the film is rather charmless in many ways. I felt it was hard to become engrossed in it as I was conscio...

• Post #4425779

  Repülj, Madár, Repülj (Fly, Bird, Fly) - Trad. sung by Martá Sebestyén with Muzsikás A beautiful Hungarian folk song sung here by Martá Sebestyén. She actually performed this song at the opening of the Hungarian Garden here in the capital back in August 2003. 🎵Fly, bird, fly Fly to Menaság Sit on the shoulder Of my sweetheart Take my letter, bird, And carry it To my father and mother And to my promised spouse If they ask you how I am Tell them I am a prisoner In the prison of love I'm...

• Post #4382563

  A fascinating article about how a group of journalists working for the Hungary state news agency quietly documented all the ways the news was manipulated under the Orbán regime. They have now released a detailed report. Among many things, this is a terrific example of resistance during the rule of authoritarian regimes. Document, document, document the abuses because one day the sun will shine and the truth can be revealed. #Hungary #resistance #PressFreedom #journalism https://telex.hu/e...

• Post #4367427

  For political tragics like me, it is good to see today's edition of Bernard Hickey's The Kākā newsletter is now open to all, not just subscribers. Highlights include: - A deep dive look at the disenfranchisment of a generation. Enrolment of 18-24 year olds for Nov 7 election collapses to 53% from 70% - A senior figure in New Zealand First’s youth wing, Nicholas Newport (also known as Nicholas Wells), has been linked to a neo-Nazi group - The Post-$ published an editorial this morning...

• Post #4366700

  @BobLefridge@mastodon.nz I see The Post's editorial today, aka Hooton, is withering in his assessment of Luxon: "With Winston Peters able to remove Mr Luxon from his job at any time, but Mr Luxon having proven himself unable or unwilling to assert authority in the other direction, the charade is unveiled: it is Mr Peters who is the de facto prime minister and controls the government, and may have done from the moment the coalition agreements were signed on November 24, 2023. Politicall...

• Post #4346342

  Paks, 1979 Workers on the construction of Hungary's only nuclear power plant located in the town of Paks on the Danube river, some 120 kilometres south of Budapest. The plant is about to be shut down for the first time its 44 year history due to low river levels, meaning there isn't enough water to cool the reactors. Source: [89226] / Tamás Urbán #fortepan #Hungary #Paks

• Post #4344471

  Today's edition of Bernard Hickey's always excellent The Kākā newsletter is now available for all. Lots of reaction to Luxon's recent speech to the Rotorua's Chamber of Commerce. Matthew Hooton, now editor of The Post, can't help himself from poking into the National party leadership issue. I mean, we all know Luxon is a numpty, but it is all laid out for everyone to see in this newsletter. Must be tough being a National MP these days knowing Luxon is so useless and widely d...

• Post #4321851

  I enjoyed this lovely video of my old home town, Dunedin/Ōtepoti and its heritage buildings in the central city. Great to see the Vogel Street Kitchen shown - always my favourite port of call for a breakfast when I am visiting. I must admit the word 'heritage' can be a bit triggering sometimes as it is so often associated with white privilege in suburbs like Thorndon or Mt Eden where it is used as a justification for keeping the poors at a distance. That doesn't seem to be the cas...

• Post #4267514

  In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (David Mann / Bob Hilliard), sung by Frank Sinatra The ultimate song about waiting, and longing, for that special person to call. 🎵 When your lonely heart has learned its lesson You'd be hers if only she would call In the wee small hours of the morning That's the time you miss her most of all 🎵 #Waiting #JukeboxFridayNight #FrankSinatra https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kALlrxJ3LqY

• Post #4267419

  Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen / Yip Harburg), sung by Judy Garland Perhaps one of the most well-known songs about waiting for better days. 🎵 Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me 🎵 #Waiting #JukeboxFridayNight #JudyGarland https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=oW2QZ7KuaxA

• Post #4267022

  Car on a Hill, Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell at her best. Love this album. 🎵 I've been sitting up waiting for my sugar to show I've been listening to the sirens and the radio He said he'd be over three hours ago I've been waiting for his car on the hill He makes friends easy He's not like me I watch for judgement anxiously Now where in the city can that boy be Waiting for a car Climbing Climbing Climbing the hill 🎵 #Waiting #JukeboxFridayNight #JoniMitchell

• Post #4266795

  The White Cliffs of Dover (Kent-Burton), sung by Vera Lynn - who else? An oldie for sure, but I think it fits this week's theme perfectly. 🎵 There'll be bluebirds over The white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow, just you wait and see 🎵 #Waiting #JukeboxFridayNight https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=we5hKqf-zsA

• Post #4212089

  I see Metlink are getting very defensive about the continual delays and disruption to the capital's train service. It is all just too hard and there is so much beyond their control. Anyone who spent any time thinking about how to be effective in daily life or at work, knows that you focus on the things you can control, rather than the things you can't. Or you can just read the Serenity Prayer every day. #Metlink (Feel free to mute that hashtag when you are tired of my grumpy-old-ma...

• Post #4211497

  Budapest,1961 These images are another example of how Mácsai used his photos of everyday life on the streets of Budapest to form the basis for his painting. Here we can elements from these three photos in the final artwork: the street cleaner in one, the phone box and bus stop sign in another, and the woman in the plaid skirt, and the trams in the background. He has added different elements and people as well to form one of his most distinctive works. Source: Fortepan [313715] [313719] [3137...

• Post #4191080

  The Danube is at record lows at the moment. A family member sent us this recent photo taken at about 30 kilometres north of Budapest. Usually the river is close to the embarkment. Amazing - and frightening. #ClimateCrisis #Danube #Hungary

• Post #4189683

  Budapest,1963 Many of Mácsai's photos would form the basis for his paintings. This photo is a fine example - it would become the painting Young People of Pest a few years later in 1965. The double-necked guitar and the young man in the foreground are painted as is in the photo. Source: Fortepan [313612] / István Mácsai #fortepan #Budapest #painting #StreetPhotography

• Post #4123316

  Everything I read about The New York Mayor, Mamdani really impresses me. I think he provides a model for the left about to be both popular and get stuff done that makes ordinary people's lives better. Here he is cutting red tape for small business owners - something you would think that would be ACT policy - but Mamdani's focus is on everyday business owners, rather than big business. And the article also illustrates that most people don't think in left-right terms in politics, t...

• Post #4123012

  It's a stunner of a day in the capital. Pure blue sky, not a breath of wind - so far - but a bit chilly for sure. That's too much for Metlink, our providers of public transport - who have thrown their hands up this morning, saying, "Too hard for us, best you drive yourself to work or school today." I get that the issues are systemic and are the result of years of poor decision-making - neo-liberalism, I'm looking at you - but here we are. I ended up driving a family mem...

• Post #4080593

  I see that Dr Claire Achmad has not been reappointed Childrens Commissioner, despite reapplying for her role. She was a fearless, articulate advocate for children in Aotearoa and wasn't afraid to speak truth to power. For that, she clearly paid the price. I haven't seen anything yet as to who was appointed in place, but given there is ACT Minister for children, we can only guess as who will replace Dr Achmad. The article below is paywalled but you can see the essence of it nonethele...

• Post #4080485

  I posted a few weeks ago about Google Maps now having the ability to pronounce te reo Māori words correctly. So on our way up the coast today, I turned on the voice on Google Maps - something I never do. It was so great to hear 'Raumati' and 'Paraparaumu' pronounced as they should be. I mean, it shouldn't feel emotional, but it kinda was. I can only imagine how a fluent te reo speaker would react.

• Post #4077301

  Spent the morning helping sort out a storage shed load of household items for an elderly person now in elder care. She has spent a lifetime acquiring beautiful things from her many travels, especially to Europe, and now it is time to deal with her stuff. She has very good taste and so her porcelain, artworks, Persian carpets and so forth are lovely. And all have a story, a memory attached. But Dunbar Sloane came and said, nah, nothing of any real value. Maybe a few hundred for the carpets, but...

• Post #4073277

  There is a story in today's Otago Daily Times* that the University Bookshop is downsizing to basically just textbooks as well as moving location. We always visited the bookshop whenever we were in Dunedin. Mum and Dad were also regularly visitors and many of the children's books were bought there. It is/was the most wonderful bookshop. It will be very much missed and I feel quite sad about it to be honest. [Paywalled but accessible via Pressreader with Library card] https://www.odt.c...

• Post #4027996

  If there was ever a skerrick of doubt left that Henry is a complete tosser and utter scum, this should remove that doubt for evermore. "You've got to shoot Hipkins, haven't you?" Henry responded. "You've got to shoot Hipkins. You've given me three choices, to be fair." [For reference there was a was red alert/headline above the same story in the NZ Herald that read, "Police-issued Glock pistol allegedly stolen as man faces theft, firearm charges"]...

• Post #3995693

  Paris*, 1957 A wonderful portrait of four women who are of an age and demeanour that suggest that are not to be taken lightly. Source: Fortepan [313582] / István Mácsai #fortepan #portrait #StreetPhotography * The location isn't given on Fortepan , but there are many other photos of Paris by Mácsai at this time so I have made an assumption this photo was also taken in Paris.

• Post #3974780

  It is so weird to me that the response from National to its declining poll results is the need to "work harder". "Senior National MPs are not happy with another bleak poll result, saying the party must work harder." The Protestant work ethic is so ingrained into the capitalist/neo-liberal paradigm that working "harder" must inevitably bring its own rewards. Working harder usually means working longer of course. Ask a South Auckland mum about her two cleaning jobs...

• Post #3972902

  Landlords eh? Some of the worst people. Mega landlord has eight firms in court-ordered receivership "Eight companies controlled by so-called Wellington mega-landlord Matthew Ryan are in court-ordered receivership." But wait, there's more. "Previous charges Ryan appeared in court last year facing multiple serious criminal charges, including firearm possession, strangulation, and making and distributing intimate visual recordings. " As someone on Reddit noted, this is...

• Post #3968710

  PapersPast has added a fresh batch of magazines to its collection. Most interesting to me is Broadsheet (1972-1997), a feminist magazine based in Auckland. It was everywhere when I was at Auckland University in the 1970's. Fascinating to read issues from that time again. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals

• Post #3953894

  Hungary, 1952 Quiet contemplation. This is something jarring about the clean high quality traditional folk clothing the woman is wearing, and the cigarette. No doubt 70-odd years ago it wouldn't have seemed so. Source: Fortepan [313562] / István Mácsai #fortepan #Hungary #smoking #portrait

• Post #3953753

  Hungary's Prime Minister is asking the world's greatest ever female chess player, Judit Polgár, if she is prepared to be Hungary's next President. [The Hungarian Parliament recently voted to effectively remove the current President from office several years before his term was due to expire. ] Polgár is an absolute legend not only in Hungary but throughout the chess world for her ground-breaking play and struggle, as a woman chess player, to be taken seriously. A remarkable person f...