All Over Again
Four straight hours already spent online, repeatedly perusing the blog roll in search of outrageous revelations, as well as camping on the Trade Me site in the hopes of finding something to recklessly fritter my much-needed cash reserves away on, and also making futile attempts at getting my stressed message across via IM, appears to have not been enough. Hence, I am now back on the computer, steaming steadily towards my fifth hour of Internet usage today. The synopsis with which I have just provided you would have been identical to that which I would have entered into my blog yesterday. In effect, this is, yesterday's blog entry, today.
It would appear that there were no major revelations to be found amongst my extended network's commentaries today. This is probably attributable to the fact that it is exam season, and that consequently it is only sensible for one to be making intelligent use of one's time. It doesn't really make sense that I'm not doing the same thing; unlike others, I have engaged in no preliminary study. Technically, I would have done myself a favour by doing that. At least I would have something to fall back on in the event of these last two exams actually being a challenge.
The MPs are back in attendance at their place of work and, unsurprisingly, Winston Peters has been one of the first individuals to get a rocket. The article clearly describes that as Rodney's big guns came out (do pardon me for the unintended pun), Winston sat back in his seat grinning, which of course serves to suggest that questions as to Winston's legitimacy post-taking-up-of-the-baubles are not going to be taken seriously by the man himself. He wishes to show no visible doubts that what he did was the right thing. As Rodney points out, some of Winston's supposed teammates may beg to differ. It's going to be an interesting parliamentary term for New Zealand First, an organisation in which fractures are already beginning to emerge.
Winston has been swift in his attempts to shift the negative political limelight onto other individuals that are part of the opposition to the government. Immediately after Rodney criticised him in the House, Winston responded, arguably rather feebly -- but nonetheless quickly -- with the stock response of accusing Rodney of overspending in his Epsom electorate campaign. He also dug his claws into National Party deputy leader Gerry Brownlee today, in light of the opposition MP's criticism of the Governor-General that was spurred on by the decidedly messy way in which this government came together.
Also today, Parliament paid tribute to the late politicians David Lange and Rod Donald. On that note, for me personally it is a cause of concern that so much focus is being placed, by both the media and casual political observers, on speculation as to who will be the Green Party's new co-leader and whether Nandor Tanczos will re-enter Parliament. Some leftists are excited by the prospect of hearing that Nandor is to return, whilst their right-wing counterparts are feeling a degree of apprehension. I absolutely understand that one of the central tenets of politics is that one should look to the future. However, I find it disheartening that people seem so keen to speculate what is going to happen that they have virtually shouldered aside the notion that a great New Zealand politician and citizen has just passed away. The Greens are going about it the right way -- they're not rushing anything; they are taking the time to grieve. A lot of other people seem inappropriately wrapped up in speculative self-interest to me. For those of you who have the day free tomorrow, TVNZ will air a live stream of Rod's funeral service from half past ten in the morning. You may also wish to sign a condolence book at one of the Green Party's regional offices.
The notion that there may be a lack of unfairness in the world today is further dismissed by the sheer horror that appears to be taking place in France right at this very moment. The violence that has been rife in that country for the past twelve days is continuing to rage, with the last thing I heard about the events being that they have apparently crossed over into Germany -- cars there are being torched now as well. If you are not aware as to what is going on, the riots in France were triggered as a result of two suspects, who were being chased by police, running into an electric sub-station to hide and ending up being electrocuted. As Dad put it, in a way that I find disagreeable, "they happened to be coloured." This has led to widespread accusations of racism. While they're at it, people have raised the concerns that they have about other problems too, including such things as unemployment. With France looking as if it might be on the edge of civil war, things are, unfortunately, bound to get even worse. Such is the way things tend to go.
On an exponentially more light-hearted note, it has emerged today that there is a distinctly increasing degree of likelihood that veteran rock band Genesis -- the outfit that took the two pop stars Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to international fame -- is going to indulge in a reunion in the near future, to the delight of the old band's fans all over the world. So far the vocalist, flute-player, dancer and actor Peter, as well as the drummer Phil, and the band's greatest guitarist Steve Hackett, are already on-board. With bassist Mike Rutherford having previously declared the intention to take part in a reunion, this leaves only keyboardist Tony Banks to be roped in before we are finally in action. If the reunion goes ahead it will be the second recent high-profile reformation of a rock band that reached its artistic height in the progressive area of the seventies, with Pink Floyd having got back together for the Live 8 charity cause in July this year.
It would appear that there were no major revelations to be found amongst my extended network's commentaries today. This is probably attributable to the fact that it is exam season, and that consequently it is only sensible for one to be making intelligent use of one's time. It doesn't really make sense that I'm not doing the same thing; unlike others, I have engaged in no preliminary study. Technically, I would have done myself a favour by doing that. At least I would have something to fall back on in the event of these last two exams actually being a challenge.
The MPs are back in attendance at their place of work and, unsurprisingly, Winston Peters has been one of the first individuals to get a rocket. The article clearly describes that as Rodney's big guns came out (do pardon me for the unintended pun), Winston sat back in his seat grinning, which of course serves to suggest that questions as to Winston's legitimacy post-taking-up-of-the-baubles are not going to be taken seriously by the man himself. He wishes to show no visible doubts that what he did was the right thing. As Rodney points out, some of Winston's supposed teammates may beg to differ. It's going to be an interesting parliamentary term for New Zealand First, an organisation in which fractures are already beginning to emerge.Winston has been swift in his attempts to shift the negative political limelight onto other individuals that are part of the opposition to the government. Immediately after Rodney criticised him in the House, Winston responded, arguably rather feebly -- but nonetheless quickly -- with the stock response of accusing Rodney of overspending in his Epsom electorate campaign. He also dug his claws into National Party deputy leader Gerry Brownlee today, in light of the opposition MP's criticism of the Governor-General that was spurred on by the decidedly messy way in which this government came together.
Also today, Parliament paid tribute to the late politicians David Lange and Rod Donald. On that note, for me personally it is a cause of concern that so much focus is being placed, by both the media and casual political observers, on speculation as to who will be the Green Party's new co-leader and whether Nandor Tanczos will re-enter Parliament. Some leftists are excited by the prospect of hearing that Nandor is to return, whilst their right-wing counterparts are feeling a degree of apprehension. I absolutely understand that one of the central tenets of politics is that one should look to the future. However, I find it disheartening that people seem so keen to speculate what is going to happen that they have virtually shouldered aside the notion that a great New Zealand politician and citizen has just passed away. The Greens are going about it the right way -- they're not rushing anything; they are taking the time to grieve. A lot of other people seem inappropriately wrapped up in speculative self-interest to me. For those of you who have the day free tomorrow, TVNZ will air a live stream of Rod's funeral service from half past ten in the morning. You may also wish to sign a condolence book at one of the Green Party's regional offices.
The notion that there may be a lack of unfairness in the world today is further dismissed by the sheer horror that appears to be taking place in France right at this very moment. The violence that has been rife in that country for the past twelve days is continuing to rage, with the last thing I heard about the events being that they have apparently crossed over into Germany -- cars there are being torched now as well. If you are not aware as to what is going on, the riots in France were triggered as a result of two suspects, who were being chased by police, running into an electric sub-station to hide and ending up being electrocuted. As Dad put it, in a way that I find disagreeable, "they happened to be coloured." This has led to widespread accusations of racism. While they're at it, people have raised the concerns that they have about other problems too, including such things as unemployment. With France looking as if it might be on the edge of civil war, things are, unfortunately, bound to get even worse. Such is the way things tend to go.
On an exponentially more light-hearted note, it has emerged today that there is a distinctly increasing degree of likelihood that veteran rock band Genesis -- the outfit that took the two pop stars Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to international fame -- is going to indulge in a reunion in the near future, to the delight of the old band's fans all over the world. So far the vocalist, flute-player, dancer and actor Peter, as well as the drummer Phil, and the band's greatest guitarist Steve Hackett, are already on-board. With bassist Mike Rutherford having previously declared the intention to take part in a reunion, this leaves only keyboardist Tony Banks to be roped in before we are finally in action. If the reunion goes ahead it will be the second recent high-profile reformation of a rock band that reached its artistic height in the progressive area of the seventies, with Pink Floyd having got back together for the Live 8 charity cause in July this year.
posted by Gary at 9:28 pm
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