Posts by Ian Dalziel

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  • Hard News: Music: What the Flying Nun…,

    All this, of course, is not to underrate the important fact that the Turnbull is a research library.

    Compare and contrast to what's happening at Te Papa

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: They want to blow it all up, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    What struck me was how our two politicians were made up to the max for their interviews – whereas none of the working poor folks they were there to represent had any make-up on at all. Made me think.

    Good governance needs strong foundation?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: They want to blow it all up,

    Just so you all know:
    THE 5TH EYE on Māori Television!
    Rāhina 2 o Hōngongoi, 8.30 i te pō
    Monday 2 July, 8.30pm

    from NZ on Screen

    This documentary questions New Zealand’s involvement in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance. The examination of contemporary intelligence gathering takes in NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden, entrepreneur-in-exile Kim Dotcom, and NZ Prime Minister John Key. It is framed around the 2008 sabotage of a Blenheim spy station by a priest, a teacher and a farmer: the 'Waihopai three' cut open a plastic dome protecting a satellite dish, in protest at the base’s role in the US-led 'War on Terror'. Directors Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones made 2011 terror raids documentary Operation 8.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: Let Canada do our cannabis homework,

    A brush with the law?

    These days, it’s a risky business being a contemporary art dealer. And it's a whole lot riskier when the artworks you are selling are made from an illegal substance.

    https://www.theartnewspaper.com/blog/mary-jane-paintings

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: Let Canada do our cannabis homework,

    Attachment

    and an ad for a ‘smoke in’ in Vancouver’s Maple Tree Square – in the area known as Gastown – which became Grasstown

    ...and let's not forget http://www.veryimportantpotheads.com/trudeau.htm

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: Let Canada do our cannabis homework,

    Attachment Attachment Attachment

    Snapshots from the past...
    Back in the ’70s Vancouver’s Georgia Straight and their resident comic and cover artist Rand Holmes contributed mightily in the push for changes to marijuana laws.
    (Above: – Harold Hedd comics and
    the coin Holmes designed to commemorate legalising Medical Marijuana back in 2001

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: They want to blow it all up,

    Knap sackers...
    https://www.techtimes.com/articles/26388/20150113/evolution-of-human-language-linked-to-tool-making.htm

    and
    American swamp sparrows may have sung the same songs for more than a thousand years. This shows that passing traditions on for generations isn’t unique to humans.
    https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article213585634.html

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: They want to blow it all up,

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: They want to blow it all up, in reply to Neil,

    a short lived spandrel.

    Architectural features aside - is a spandrel a cross between a spaniel and a scoundrel - Trump definitely has the 'flyaway hair' for it!
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hard News: The next four years, in reply to WH,

    do you have any ideas as to what’s causing the occultation?

    It's the physics of the affair...
    ...and galactic and intra-solar system alignments
    Saturn is in opposition to Earth and the Sun, and is lined up with the constellation Sagittarius - one of the 'bright stars' there will pass behind the moon Titan (well technically Titan will pass in front) so the plane flies in two 'shadows' the shadow of the Earth from the Sun and the shadow created by the 'unnamed' (and no star catalog number given) star created by Titan. They will observe the thick atmosphere of Titan for two minutes.

    I wrote to NASA asking which particular star was being 'eclipsed' - and they replied:

    Typically the stars that are occulted only have catalog names, which are meaningless to the general public.

    to which I replied:

    thanks for your reply - but to be frank I found it dismissive and patronising.
    If you want to excite the 'general public' about things beyond our thin layer of atmosphere why not give them something to work with - even a mere 'catalog number' gives one a hint as to the enormity of the endeavour - and in this case why not mention that Saturn and Titan have a backdrop of the constellation Sagittarius at the moment, a constellation that has many bright, named stars (and possibly a central galactic black hole!) - It would be interesting to know if you were using one of the binary stars that make Sagittarius (which I'd have thought may cause possible 'ghosting' - but what do I know.)
    Even the fact that you are doing this flight while Saturn is in opposition gives us mere mortals a glimpse into the mechanics of our solar system - I'm assuming saturn will also be in the shadow of the Earth at this point - so many photons, so little time, win win!
    Sorry to appear rude, but I tire of bad or lacklustre science and missed opportunities to enable people to feel the awe and wonder of such an endeavour, to suddenly realise the applications of the principles of math and mechanics - it's the physics of the affair!

    I await their response...

    I think I am now officially a 'curmudgeon'!
    albeit one made from stardust...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

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