This week three things that I read and heard have been coalescing in my brain: Small pieces of gib board can be sold for the former price of whole sheets, or more. Inflation has hit a 30 year high in New Zealand, at just under 7%. ‘Manifesting’ is a very popular trend where people ferventlyContinue reading “Manifest inflation”
Author Archives: janecshearer
FB – my actions & reactions
I have participated in Facebook for a number of years, for a variety of reasons, including: It is informative to participate in some form of social media because social media is an important current form of communication. Staying away from social media entirely because of its potential for harm, is about as sensible as stayingContinue reading “FB – my actions & reactions”
Good or Bad?
We ordered a new electric vehicle this week (the Kia EV6). We should all shift to electric vehicles rather than fossil fuel powered vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), right? I have been watching electric vehicles for about the past three years as our Toyota Rav4 has become more expensive to service and significantlyContinue reading “Good or Bad?”
Views
I was cycling up Coal Pit Road listening to a replay of Will Smith abuse and slap Chris Rock at the Oscar award ceremony. When cycling up Coal Pit Road you are looking for anything that will take your mind off the job as one goes up 572m in 4.8km – if you aren’t aContinue reading “Views”
The other side of tourism
Having ranted about tourism last week I am recanting, but only a little. I like it when my friends come as tourists, I just don’t want everyone else! Clearly that’s hypocritical – everyone else wants their friends to be able to visit Queenstown, or New Zealand, not just my friends. OK, I will allow everyoneContinue reading “The other side of tourism”
Tourism saves the economy, or not – a rant
We have just finished a mini cycle tour from Gibbston to Milford Sound via Queenstown and Mavora Lakes. We stayed two nights at an Alpine Club hut near the Homer Tunnel, partly to miss the rain, and partly to be able to go up to both Homer and Gertrude Saddles for their wonderful views. TheseContinue reading “Tourism saves the economy, or not – a rant”
The weight of absence
Absence can be a positive or a negative and its weight is totally relative to the person feeling the absence. For me, absence of people in the back country is a huge positive, as is a relative lack of people where we live. Why do I love places where there aren’t people, when I spendContinue reading “The weight of absence”
‘Real’ scary as an antidote
The world can feel like an insecure place at present. A New Zealander on National Radio was hypothesising that the combination of COVID with Putin’s threats make this the worst time ever for humanity. There have been some pretty bleak times for humanity. I wouldn’t want to try out the early 20th century, experiencing WWI,Continue reading “‘Real’ scary as an antidote”
Relativities
We went to a house concert last night in Hawea. House concerts allow musicians to continue to earn a living from live music, at a time when most larger concerts are being cancelled. It was a lovely evening with around 30 people sitting on the grass outside. It was hard to imagine that, as weContinue reading “Relativities”
Do vaccine mandates work?
Given the depth of feeling at present around vaccine mandates, it seems timely to consider their effectiveness. The Economist had a look at this and suggested, based on Canadian and European data, that they can be effective. Here’s what happened after Canada, France and Italy and Germany introduced vaccine mandates. France barred unvaccinated people fromContinue reading “Do vaccine mandates work?”