Posts by Hugh Wilson
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Not sure if this was posted already (haven't read all comments!) but this is a good read on the overall picture for Uber viz some reported heavy losses during 2016:
http://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/1/9/14194202/uber-lost-22-billion-9-months
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For me theres progress being made on an infamous 'missing link' in Melbourne's bike network - a path several K's long linking the Yarra & Darebin trails, helped by some compulsory (golf club) land acquisitions and $18m public funding. Once this is completed I'd be able to ride from my house to the city (~8k as the crow flies) via path for all but a few hundred metres (admittedly a 20k or so run if you follow the rivers all the way) ... More broadly it's going to create fantastic access for many
Five bridges being built ... some codger shot a drone clip a few days ago, which gives an excellent idea of the terrain:
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I’ve vague memories of Doug Hood’s name being in the press late 90’s in the articles that used to accompany the Big Day Out. Don’t want to sound old but the early tours were great – things were less ‘robust’ I guess then, as I can recall me and some mates managing to wonder thru to the Offsprings dressing room and help ourselves to come of the many cold beers which were in there! Also remember the ubiquitous large topless sweaty guy in the mosh pit, who no one wanted to be near!
Among the many anniversaries of late, its been 20 years since Endtroducing came out – Solid steel featured a tidy tribute mix which might be of interest to some:
And Dinosaur Jr were never big on my radar, but some of my friends were fans. Here’s a review from a show they did in NYC recently – it takes a nice angle, and perhaps serves as a reminder about how shows can be great relief from everyday hullabaloo:
http://www.mtv.com/news/2961817/dinosaur-jr-concert-nerds/ -
I would think there is potential for e-bikes to ease congestion, but some serious scale is needed for that to occur – that said, and I don’t live in Auckland, Auckland’s traffic does have a terrible reputation and is certainly at the stage where a number of options need to be pursued (rail, bike lanes and the key one, road pricing)
E-bikes seem to growing in popularity here, and seem like a great option for people with longer commutes, hills and/or limited appetite for arriving at their destination super sweaty. Like all things their design, weight and performance seem to have improved quite a lot in recent years
Culturally there is quite a bit to be learnt from Japan – its not uncommon there to see bike parks ~ equal in size to 30 ‘carparks’, and they are totally full. Many Japanese bikes have a commuter style build making them more accessible for females, basket on the front and they have a built in lock on the rear wheel (along with stands) so theres none of that perpetual search for a pole, repositioning and then repositioning again because the bike slips, and then finally locking which happens here. Within cities like Osaka you can see entrances to bike parks on main thoroughfares, much like carparks here. And on entering train stations, there are gentler gradients to the stairwells with ramps than people can ride/wheel their bikes down – on the way up you can use a little travelator specially for your bike
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Tangential, but as people are commenting on possible causal phenomena this Pulitzer winning piece on the expectations for the US northwest may be of interest:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one
From afar two positives seem to be the quick reactions of people to move to safety & technology aided family/friend check-ins working well
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Cool stuff, stuff of urban mythology … I can’t recall experiencing anything closely similar myself, although the Datsun’s did doss a night at an old flat in Fitzroy early 2000s (before they hit the big time) thru a Tokoroa connection who was renting a room for a few weeks
And you are spot on re: photos in the pre digital/mobile phone era … I used to do a lot of SLR snapping, but really lost the urge so to say when every person had a camera and every moment was a kodak moment … 10 odd years on I’ve some nostalgia for the photos I did take, and desire to share them should I manage to resurrect the ol blog! P-Money in Dj battles with real records, Che Fu at Revolver in Melbourne, Madlib at the Prince of Wales and so on
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Special post Russell, words other than that elude me ..
I’ve thought a bit about records and covers that are important or significant for me following first hearing of that exhibition, the two being quite seperate. In terms of covers Blerta’s ‘This is the life’ might be my favourite, thanks to the confluence of the artwork, the music and the story behind the band, not to mention my own somewhat sheltered middle class upbringing in AKL. I know Bruno Lawerence was a contentious, moody character but I’ve always liked the larrikan side of him, and the fact he was a talented stick man / drummer (not to mention his many visits to Oz, and appearances in movies like Spotswood). Moreover, the fact there was a bunch of folks who decamped to the Hawkes bay/East cape area in the 70’s before touring the country in that bus, performing for school kids, doing ‘Dance all around the world’ and experimenting with pyrotechnics really captured my imagination. By the time the 80’s and my childhood really kicked in, that had all passed. It might not have been “the life”, but I hope it had some great bits while it lasted.
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My wife and I have just welcomed twins so a bit more challenging to post comments right now (but all good!) – nice to see some TBG love, and that Pitchblack live on. They camped next to us at the first Gathering, many moons ago :)
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A bit before my time, but do have this in the shelves - features a few live prank calls, certainly an outdated gimmick these days ..
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Thee ol Blue Mountains, home of Hermitude !
