Sunday, 30 December 2007
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
69 Pontiac
Darren's head jerked up with a start. His eyes were glazed and his forehead hot; the car swerved slightly and then straightened up as he shook the sleep out of his head. Jason looked up from where he sat in the passenger seat of the 69 Pontiac GTO convertible. "Do you want me to drive mate?". Darren looked straight ahead, accelerating steadily past the 80mph mark on the speedometer. "Pass the thermos". Jason balanced his Portege R400 laptop on one knee as picked up the red Thermos from where it lay on the floor at his feet. "You just keep working away there..." Darren flicked the lid of the thermos and it unscrewed itself and fell into his lap. "How far've you got?" He carefully took a sip of the hot, double-strength coffee. "Yeah, just about there". Jason was busy building a program that they could use to hack into the security system at the place that they were heading for. The twelve-foot solid concrete walls topped with electrified barbed wire would have been just about doable, but the addition of the half-dozen German shepherds which were driven half-mad by torture and starvation as well as the unknown number of armed guards - who were in not much better condition, made for a big ask.
"I need to go to the toilet" called out a young voice from the back-seat of the fast-moving car. Why did we have to bring them... it's just another thing to go wrong. "Can you hold on a bit?" Asked Jason - "We're almost at the next town, and we can have a stop there - ok Darren?". Darren cleared his throat, nodded and reached for the coffee again. Neither of the two brothers were excited when they received the message that there were three children who needed to be relocated to another city where they would stay with their grandparents until fighting died down in their home-town of Wellington. Emmy, 17, Jono 15, and Holly who was just 10. Holly fell asleep again, her head resting on her big sister's shoulder. The two older children were watching The Fellowship of the Ring on Darren's laptop.
The children's grandfather - fit and full of hope had just passed his 58th birthday and the two brothers planned to pick him up when they dropped the children off at his home. He would be a useful asset to the operation, as he had more experience in combat than both of them put together. He had acted as junior commander of a small skirmishing party attached to New Zealand forces posted in Vietnam.
Two hours later found the 69 Pontiac pulling into the driveway of a cozy looking, well-kept section somewhere in Palmerston North. Nana walked quickly out of the house, almost tripping over the spoiled long-haired cat. Grandad spun the lid on his hip flask and dropped it in his pocket as he made his way out to greet the grandkids. Emmy brought her grandmother up to date on the turmoil back in her home-town. Holly knelt by the cat and scratched it's neck. Oh, liddl puddi cat. Jono stood with the men, discussing the car. He kicked the tyre as Darren had done, and nodded now and then to show that he understood.
The children's bags were brought in from the car, and while Emmy helped Nana put the finishing touches on an excessively generous afternoon tea, the four men made themselves comfortable in the lounge. Grandad pulled the hip flask out of his pocket with a furtive glance over his shoulder. Jason nodded, a knowing wink. Grandad took a sip of the whiskey and passed it on to Jason. Darren had a couple of gulps and then passed the flask on to an ecstatic Jono. Jono took a gulp and breathed heavily, like a dragon breathing out fire as he passed the flask over to his grandad, who half-stood and dropped the flask into his pocket. For a full five minutes the men sat back in their chairs, saying nothing - occasionally letting forth deep sigh which were met by grunts of agreement. Men don't need to talk the whole time as some women appear to do. They can sit, contented for long periods of time saying nothing, but understanding everything - and learning.
Jason had his laptop open again, rapidly typing, occasionally pausing to rub his forhead with his hands, giving his face a bit of a rub - always woke him up a bit. He was just running over his new program one last time, to make sure it was all ok. Darren usually steered clear of asking his brother to explain to him what he was doing. He just told him their situation and left it to Jason to find a solution. They were just resting off their large afternoon tea. One too many strawberry-jam and cream sconnes, washed down with two or three good cups of tea.
"Riiiiight..." Darren sat up and straightened his back out. "We'd better be off". Grandad entered the room, a long black canvas bag over his left shoulder; an aluminium "brief-case" in his right hand. "Jono's not here... he's probably gone down to the shops or something..." Nana stood up and embraced her husband who responded with a tense one-armed hug. Emmy glanced at her grandfather and noticed the hand holding the brief-case, the knuckles were white, his jaw was set, his eyes looking straight ahead - at nothing. He kept the steely gaze as he walked out to the car and still looking straight ahead he opened the boot of the vehicle and dropped his canvas bag inside.
Nana and the two girls stood at the end of the driveway and waved as the car tore off down the empty road in the late afternoon. "She's pulling a bit heavy". Sitting in the passenger seat, Grandad's left eyebrow twitched impulsively. Darren's brow was creased as he concentrated on the road and he did not notice. Jason pulled his laptop out of it's bag and set it on the seat beside him. Firing up Winamp, he plugged the 3 1/4 jack into his laptop and the car reverberated with Coldplay's majestic song The Scientist. The 69 Pontiac GTO merged with the traffic on the highway up to Hastings.
To be continued...
"I need to go to the toilet" called out a young voice from the back-seat of the fast-moving car. Why did we have to bring them... it's just another thing to go wrong. "Can you hold on a bit?" Asked Jason - "We're almost at the next town, and we can have a stop there - ok Darren?". Darren cleared his throat, nodded and reached for the coffee again. Neither of the two brothers were excited when they received the message that there were three children who needed to be relocated to another city where they would stay with their grandparents until fighting died down in their home-town of Wellington. Emmy, 17, Jono 15, and Holly who was just 10. Holly fell asleep again, her head resting on her big sister's shoulder. The two older children were watching The Fellowship of the Ring on Darren's laptop.
The children's grandfather - fit and full of hope had just passed his 58th birthday and the two brothers planned to pick him up when they dropped the children off at his home. He would be a useful asset to the operation, as he had more experience in combat than both of them put together. He had acted as junior commander of a small skirmishing party attached to New Zealand forces posted in Vietnam.
Two hours later found the 69 Pontiac pulling into the driveway of a cozy looking, well-kept section somewhere in Palmerston North. Nana walked quickly out of the house, almost tripping over the spoiled long-haired cat. Grandad spun the lid on his hip flask and dropped it in his pocket as he made his way out to greet the grandkids. Emmy brought her grandmother up to date on the turmoil back in her home-town. Holly knelt by the cat and scratched it's neck. Oh, liddl puddi cat. Jono stood with the men, discussing the car. He kicked the tyre as Darren had done, and nodded now and then to show that he understood.
The children's bags were brought in from the car, and while Emmy helped Nana put the finishing touches on an excessively generous afternoon tea, the four men made themselves comfortable in the lounge. Grandad pulled the hip flask out of his pocket with a furtive glance over his shoulder. Jason nodded, a knowing wink. Grandad took a sip of the whiskey and passed it on to Jason. Darren had a couple of gulps and then passed the flask on to an ecstatic Jono. Jono took a gulp and breathed heavily, like a dragon breathing out fire as he passed the flask over to his grandad, who half-stood and dropped the flask into his pocket. For a full five minutes the men sat back in their chairs, saying nothing - occasionally letting forth deep sigh which were met by grunts of agreement. Men don't need to talk the whole time as some women appear to do. They can sit, contented for long periods of time saying nothing, but understanding everything - and learning.
Jason had his laptop open again, rapidly typing, occasionally pausing to rub his forhead with his hands, giving his face a bit of a rub - always woke him up a bit. He was just running over his new program one last time, to make sure it was all ok. Darren usually steered clear of asking his brother to explain to him what he was doing. He just told him their situation and left it to Jason to find a solution. They were just resting off their large afternoon tea. One too many strawberry-jam and cream sconnes, washed down with two or three good cups of tea.
"Riiiiight..." Darren sat up and straightened his back out. "We'd better be off". Grandad entered the room, a long black canvas bag over his left shoulder; an aluminium "brief-case" in his right hand. "Jono's not here... he's probably gone down to the shops or something..." Nana stood up and embraced her husband who responded with a tense one-armed hug. Emmy glanced at her grandfather and noticed the hand holding the brief-case, the knuckles were white, his jaw was set, his eyes looking straight ahead - at nothing. He kept the steely gaze as he walked out to the car and still looking straight ahead he opened the boot of the vehicle and dropped his canvas bag inside.
Nana and the two girls stood at the end of the driveway and waved as the car tore off down the empty road in the late afternoon. "She's pulling a bit heavy". Sitting in the passenger seat, Grandad's left eyebrow twitched impulsively. Darren's brow was creased as he concentrated on the road and he did not notice. Jason pulled his laptop out of it's bag and set it on the seat beside him. Firing up Winamp, he plugged the 3 1/4 jack into his laptop and the car reverberated with Coldplay's majestic song The Scientist. The 69 Pontiac GTO merged with the traffic on the highway up to Hastings.
To be continued...
Monday, 24 December 2007
Christmas Broadcast 1957
50 years ago, the first televised Christmas Broadcast. I was highly impressed by the comments that our Queen had to make, moved by her unashamed conviction.
God save the Queen.
Christmas Newsletter 2007
Hi, welcome to my blog if it's your first time here! This is the web, so theoretically I can be a little more informal. I would have posted this newsletter to you - but opted out, and saved about 0.731% of a tree in a sustainable eucalyptus forest somewhere in Australia.
University. As if first-year Statistics wasn't enough to put anyone off going back for more, I found myself highly involved in a political battle, so in January this year I decided not to continue at Canterbury University. In 2006 I had started a BCom, a double major - marketing and computer science. As it turned out, I was ok at marketing, and ok at computer science - I just couldn't write 3 hours worth of java out on paper for them at the exam. I had entered this particular political battle around about September 2006 - and this "diversion" was hardly conducive for good results at the exams. So it was with a sense of duty to God, my country, and the next generation - as well as with a growing disillusionment with the very concept of University that I "dropped out". Who knows... I may go back some time.
Section 59. This year I have spent a lot of time fighting Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill. In May, the Government went ahead and passed the bill into law - though 83% of New Zealanders were vehemently opposed to the bill. In a word, the new law criminalises parents who choose to discipline their child with a smack - no matter how light, or how naughty the child might have been. In September 06, I started up the Section 59 blog, and towards the end of March I helped organise a protest march against the bill in Christchurch as well as setting up a new lobbying website, www.politik.co.nz. Most recently, I have been working with new group Unity for Liberty, to collect signatures for the petition for a referendum on the anti-smacking law. 300,000 signatures are required for a referendum to be held; currently we have 245,291 signatures.
Equipbiz. Shortly after the anti-smacking bill passed into law, I started up a business. It is called Equipbiz LTD, and our main service is offering websites to small businesses and individuals. I'm working on building the business to a sustainable level of growth. This is proving to take much time, energy and thought. Click here to view the website of our first client. If you are interested at all in getting a website for yourself, get in touch with me!
During the year I have been involved in quite a few different things. Around July I headed down South to Waihola where I helped out as a leader at a boy's camp. I worked for a bit at Toyworld, where my younger brother Simon is the manager. Early in November I went up to Auckland for the Forum on the Family which was put on by Family First. Later on that Month I headed up again to visit Gran who lives in Tauranga, and also to help collect signatures for the petition on the anti-smacking law. Another highlight was heading up to Wellington to touch base with the volunteers up there who were collecting signatures. We also joined in the march against the Electoral Finance bill. Just recently, I've got a job at a computer shop, Affordable Computer - it's part-time at the moment and is a pretty dream job as far as jobs go. It's great just while I establish my business, to have a bit of extra money coming in.
Also in November, a friend Simeon and I started a political blog, nzdebate.blogspot.com. At the end of November, I turned 21 and we had a party at our place. It was fantastic catching up with a whole lot of people, and I was pretty overwhelmed with people's generosity. Our Church, Grace Baptist Church had been without a pastor for just over a year, so it came as great news on the first of December that an Australian man, Rob Harrod had agreed to become our pastor. Mid-December I caught up with a good friend from the US - this was an excellent time of encouragement.
As we remember the true story of Christmas, let's not be content to go along with the World's view that "Christmas is all about giving". Of course, it is a fantastic time to help out poor people, and send goats to people in Africa. However the most important thing is that at Christmas time we remember that God sent His only Son Jesus into the World to pay for the sins of those who put their trust in Him. If you are a Christian yourself - thank God for saving you, and get out there and take the opportunity this Christmas to share the Gospel with others. If you're not a Christian, then you need to stop and think seriously about what it's all about. God made us all, and one day, Jesus is going to come back to earth - but not this time as a cute little baby. The next time He comes it will be to judge everyone who ever lived. People who put their trust in Christ will be with God forever in Heaven. Those who have refused God's free offer of salvation will be justly punished for eternity in hell.
I might be sounding a bit negative - but really, it's great news, so with that, I'll sign out and say...
Click the envelope to see your card
University. As if first-year Statistics wasn't enough to put anyone off going back for more, I found myself highly involved in a political battle, so in January this year I decided not to continue at Canterbury University. In 2006 I had started a BCom, a double major - marketing and computer science. As it turned out, I was ok at marketing, and ok at computer science - I just couldn't write 3 hours worth of java out on paper for them at the exam. I had entered this particular political battle around about September 2006 - and this "diversion" was hardly conducive for good results at the exams. So it was with a sense of duty to God, my country, and the next generation - as well as with a growing disillusionment with the very concept of University that I "dropped out". Who knows... I may go back some time.
Section 59. This year I have spent a lot of time fighting Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill. In May, the Government went ahead and passed the bill into law - though 83% of New Zealanders were vehemently opposed to the bill. In a word, the new law criminalises parents who choose to discipline their child with a smack - no matter how light, or how naughty the child might have been. In September 06, I started up the Section 59 blog, and towards the end of March I helped organise a protest march against the bill in Christchurch as well as setting up a new lobbying website, www.politik.co.nz. Most recently, I have been working with new group Unity for Liberty, to collect signatures for the petition for a referendum on the anti-smacking law. 300,000 signatures are required for a referendum to be held; currently we have 245,291 signatures.
Equipbiz. Shortly after the anti-smacking bill passed into law, I started up a business. It is called Equipbiz LTD, and our main service is offering websites to small businesses and individuals. I'm working on building the business to a sustainable level of growth. This is proving to take much time, energy and thought. Click here to view the website of our first client. If you are interested at all in getting a website for yourself, get in touch with me!
During the year I have been involved in quite a few different things. Around July I headed down South to Waihola where I helped out as a leader at a boy's camp. I worked for a bit at Toyworld, where my younger brother Simon is the manager. Early in November I went up to Auckland for the Forum on the Family which was put on by Family First. Later on that Month I headed up again to visit Gran who lives in Tauranga, and also to help collect signatures for the petition on the anti-smacking law. Another highlight was heading up to Wellington to touch base with the volunteers up there who were collecting signatures. We also joined in the march against the Electoral Finance bill. Just recently, I've got a job at a computer shop, Affordable Computer - it's part-time at the moment and is a pretty dream job as far as jobs go. It's great just while I establish my business, to have a bit of extra money coming in.
Also in November, a friend Simeon and I started a political blog, nzdebate.blogspot.com. At the end of November, I turned 21 and we had a party at our place. It was fantastic catching up with a whole lot of people, and I was pretty overwhelmed with people's generosity. Our Church, Grace Baptist Church had been without a pastor for just over a year, so it came as great news on the first of December that an Australian man, Rob Harrod had agreed to become our pastor. Mid-December I caught up with a good friend from the US - this was an excellent time of encouragement.
As we remember the true story of Christmas, let's not be content to go along with the World's view that "Christmas is all about giving". Of course, it is a fantastic time to help out poor people, and send goats to people in Africa. However the most important thing is that at Christmas time we remember that God sent His only Son Jesus into the World to pay for the sins of those who put their trust in Him. If you are a Christian yourself - thank God for saving you, and get out there and take the opportunity this Christmas to share the Gospel with others. If you're not a Christian, then you need to stop and think seriously about what it's all about. God made us all, and one day, Jesus is going to come back to earth - but not this time as a cute little baby. The next time He comes it will be to judge everyone who ever lived. People who put their trust in Christ will be with God forever in Heaven. Those who have refused God's free offer of salvation will be justly punished for eternity in hell.
I might be sounding a bit negative - but really, it's great news, so with that, I'll sign out and say...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
If you didn't already get your Christmas card...
Click the envelope to see your card
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
mention in the house
On Wednesday 21 November, I was in Wellington for the day, to attend the protest march against the Electoral Finance Bill . Also on the agenda, was collecting signatures for the petition for a referendum on the Anti-Smacking law, and to touch base with some team-members of the "feet on footpaths" group, Unity for Liberty. The next day, the bill passed it's second reading, 65 for, 54 against.
Following the march, I was looking forward to going up to the gallery for an hour or two, to observe the house in session. The security guards at the metal-detector turned me away saying that I was not allowed in due to having taken part in a protest march. I rang Larry Baldock and he gave Gordon Copeland, co-leader of the new Future New Zealand party a call. Thanks to Simeon Brown of nzdebate.blogspot.com for bringing this excerpt of Hansard to my attention.
Thursday 22 November 07 - Points of Order - Parliament Buildings - Public Access
GORDON COPELAND (Independent): I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. On returning to my office yesterday immediately after question time, I discovered that a young man from Christchurch, who is known to me, had been in touch to say that he had been denied access to the parliamentary complex and therefore to the gallery to observe question time. Security had intervened to prevent his entering the parliamentary complex, on the basis that he had participated in yesterday's march in opposition to the Electoral Finance Bill, and because of a ruling from your office, which stipulates that people in that situation are denied entry to the parliamentary complex for 24 hours. I was able to vouch for the young man so that following contact with your office he was eventually admitted to Parliament Buildings and to the gallery late in the afternoon.
However, I found through this incident yesterday that I would like to ask you to reconsider your ruling in regard to that matter—or the ruling of your office, because I am not sure whether it is your ruling or one by one of the former Speakers of the House. I want to suggest to you some reasons why the reconsideration should happen. Firstly, the security arrangements for Parliament Buildings are now far more stringent than was the case, say, 12 months ago. Secondly, I think the application of the ruling is very arbitrary. I had to ask that young man how parliamentary security knew he had been in yesterday's march. He said that he guessed they must have recognised him. You will appreciate that there are sometimes hundreds—if not thousands—of people on such marches. Therefore, a blanket ban of that sort must always be arbitrary in its application. Thirdly, I hold the view that, subject to normal security checks, etc., access to Parliament Buildings should be the right of all New Zealand citizens as part of the fundamental freedom that is a cornerstone of our democracy.
Madam SPEAKER: I would just note that this is a matter that I am prepared to look at. It is not normally a matter for this Chamber. It is not appropriate to bring it up here, but I can indicate that, yes, I am happy to look at the matter, and to get back to both members.
KEITH LOCKE (Green): Madam Speaker, you will remember that I sent you a note on this issue months ago. There is a problem, I think—
Madam SPEAKER: As I indicated to the member, we are taking time from the House at the moment. I have already indicated I am happy to look at the issue. If any other member would like to make a representation on it to me in writing, would he or she please do so, so it can be thoroughly looked at.
Saturday, 1 December 2007
Kill the Bill
Around 6,000 Aucklanders marched down Queen Street in Auckland yesterday to show their anger at the Government's arrogance in ignoring the Human Rights commission and shoving through their draconian so called "Electoral Finance Bill".
It is not an Electoral Finance Bill - it is a "you can't say that about the Government bill", essentially shutting down freedom of speech in the year leading up to the election.
This new law will increase the difficulty for challengers (the opposition, minor parties) to the current Government, as the Government has a strong "brand name" as well as a lot of money.
Strange isn't it, that they intend to pass this bill into law less than 3 weeks from when it will have effect!
In this photo (left to right): John Boscawen, Bob McCoskrie, Christine Rankin, Judith Collins, Simeon Brown
Click here for more images of the march
It is not an Electoral Finance Bill - it is a "you can't say that about the Government bill", essentially shutting down freedom of speech in the year leading up to the election.
This new law will increase the difficulty for challengers (the opposition, minor parties) to the current Government, as the Government has a strong "brand name" as well as a lot of money.
Strange isn't it, that they intend to pass this bill into law less than 3 weeks from when it will have effect!
In this photo (left to right): John Boscawen, Bob McCoskrie, Christine Rankin, Judith Collins, Simeon BrownClick here for more images of the march
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