Posted on June 22nd, 2008 by Sparkle
Thank you, to Otago regional councillor Bryan Scott, for an interesting article published in The Otago Daily Times on Monday 16 June 2008. Thank you to all the councillors that voted against council funding for the stadium. I have been sceptical right from the start and now that there is no anchor tenant for the stadium, I can’t understand how it can still go ahead. With the downturn of the economy and uncertainty this is just not the time to start such a massive expensive project. With increase cost of everyday items, an increase in rates will be just too much. Maybe if times were more wealthier then something like this could be looked at, but this is just not the time. There is allot of people that have disagreed with the stadium being built, it’s a pity the DCC has not considered their views. Of course the councillors are well paid and can afford the increase in rates but a majority are not as fortunate and they are the ones that will suffer. I have read the letters to the editor on the same day as the article and all oppose the stadium being built. One letter made me sad that a family with ancestors arriving here in Dunedin in 1862 are leaving the city due to the increase cost a stadium would impose on them in rates.
The councillors wanted a positive vision for Otago, hmmmm would a big building do that, I don’t think so. I know if I go travelling a big massive stadium is not something I would say yeah I’ll go to Dunedin to see. What would be positive is helping more businesses to establish itself in Dunedin. More employment must be good for the city. Better broadband services, could bring IT companies to the city as well.
Years ago, family drove me around Christchurch and I was told that’s the swimming pool they built for the Commonwealth Games. I couldn’t believe it it was all run down and derelict. Even though I was still at school then, I can still remember it. Not sure what’s happened now though as I haven’t been to Christchurch for a while. I hope some kind sole has rebuilt it to its glory days. Will this stadium suffer the same fate in several years time.
I think all those that support it should be the only ones that get the increased rates.
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Posted on June 18th, 2008 by Sparkle
I’ve downloaded and installed the latest version. Have read that there were downloading problems with the servers being swamped but I had no trouble. The installation also went without a hitch. I did go on and check to see whether I had to uninstall the previous version before installing the new version. Found out I didn’t have to as long as the files are installed in the same place. Pity some of the add-ons don’t have versions suitable but they should eventually get updates hopefully.
I’m so glad it was so simple to do, all my bookmarks and tabs I had opened remained.
Well done Firefox! 
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Posted on June 17th, 2008 by Sparkle
Sorry nothing has been written for a while, real life problems always takes precedence. Also been hooked on playing Lord of the Rings Online Shadows of Angmar as well. The day is just too short to fit everything in. But hopefully I’ll have more time to write on here.
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Posted on June 18th, 2007 by codenexus
Here are some more that I have added some comments on.
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Posted on June 18th, 2007 by codenexus
Recently we have been totally addicted to playing Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). I have been taking screenshots throughout of my many adventures and enjoying every second of it. I thought it was about time I posted some of these screen shots for you all to enjoy.
You will see some of my Kinship members involved. All of which are awesome players and make playing the game really enjoyable.
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Posted on May 8th, 2007 by Sparkle
After all the bad news of dog attacks recently it is great to read a good dog story but this one is also a little sad. George a Jack Russell dog risked his own life to protect a group of children from two vicious pitbulls. After reading this story Jerrell Hudman of Texas sent his Purple Heart he earned in Vietnam to George. This is the good part, the sad part was George had to be put down due to injuries he received from the attack.
Read the article here
The story continues, SPCA has also honoured Georges bravery act with a ‘Medal for Bravery’. I am so glad to hear this, as George is truly a hero.
As for the two pitbulls they also received what they deserved, they were put down.
Read the article here
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Posted on May 6th, 2007 by Sparkle
I read this story and it nearly brought tears to my eyes. Poor Leo the guide dog being attacked is so senseless. Being shot by an air rifle, come on what point is it, what do you achieve from it? I’d like to see the person who shot the air rifle just pretend to be blind for a day and see how they feel or shoot themselves in the leg. Also Leo was attacked by a pitbull, sure hope that pitbull was put down. In the story it is common for guide dogs to be attacked, this is not on, these guide dogs are doing a good job of guiding their owners. If people are attacked by dogs, the dogs are usually put down, what about the guide dog, does the dog who attack it also get put down?
After so many dog attacks recently, I have come to agree with others who have voiced their opinion about banning various types of vicious dogs. I’m sorry for owners of these dogs who think their dogs are good, but unfortunately there are others who have these dogs and they do not train or control their dogs properly. With so many incidents recently, it’s hard to justify not banning these dogs.
Read the article here
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Posted on May 6th, 2007 by Sparkle
Well, this was not something I was planning on joining the furore over. I can see both sides of the argument, but I think the Government should spend more time in teaching new parents as I have heard from some people that they didn’t know what to do as a parent or how to raise a child. Being a parent is a tough job, like most work places people get training when they are starting a job why not a new parent.
The Government also needs to try to help businesses so they don’t close and people become unemployed, being unemployed and new parents would be so stressful. These are the areas I think the Government should look into. The Police also needs to put their attention to crime and not light smacking.
What about the parents rights. I know from working part time at a school that trying to talk to kids and explain things to them what they are doing wrong, does not always work. Kids just turn off and it’s just like talking to a brick in a wall. How about sending these kids to Sue Bradford to discipline.
I agree against child abuse that is something we have to STOP, but those who lightly smack in trying to teach and discipline a child are most likely not the ones that abuse children. So parents doing high-fives with children does this look like they are smacking? Remember everyones perception is different.
We have to get this right for the sake of the children.
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Posted on May 6th, 2007 by Sparkle
Just read a news article which a link is below. Which has infuriated me, a death threat on a four and a half month old polar bear cub. What is the world coming to, isn’t there better things to do with our lives then to assassinate a polar bear cub.
Geeze this is unbelievable! Plus so called animal rights campaigners wanting the bear to be put down rather then being raised by humans. What about the bears right to live, have these campaigners asked the bear if it would rather die than be raised by humans, I don’t think so. These animal rights campaigners should step back and have a look at what they are proposing. I mean putting a bear down is mean and cruel and most likely not for the bears best interest. The bear does have a right to live, and looks like its well fed with good accommodation so what is the problem?
With the polar ice caps currently shrinking it might not be long before these beautiful creatures may become extinct unless we try our best to save them.
Read the article here.
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Posted on May 4th, 2007 by Sparkle
I’m sorry, when I read news that really frustrates me I have to say something. This is concerning the article from Computerworld regarding “Copyright liability a free-trade ‘bargaining chip’?” I agree with InternetNZ with their “notice and notice” approach to copyrite violations. I really don’t believe it should be on the shoulders of ISPs to just take a site down. I know if my websites were taken down without being advised I would be really peeved off. It just sounds an invasion of peoples rights when they are not approached first of any copyrite violations. These violations might have been an accident and people not knowing something was copyrited. Who has time to check what is and what isn’t copyrited, so mistakes can easily be made. But at least if informed, website owners have the ability to fix the problem to an agreed outcome with all concerned. Website owners should have a choice to fix the problem, and if the website owner doesn’t do anything then maybe the next step is for the ISP to take the site down.
I hope the government doesn’t follow the American view of the “notice and take-down” approach. I always thought America was land of the free. What is so free when an ISP just takes the site down without letting the owner of the site know the problem. Doesn’t sound like free rights for the site owner.
I was thinking the National party were trying to be more in the now, but from Gerry Brownlee opposition to InternetNZ really shocks and disappoints my view on the National party.
Yes, some sites may need to be taken down but at least give the owner of the site some rights first.
Read the article here.
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