Wellingtonians may remember last year's Cuba Street Carnival, when all political groups were banned after the Anti-Bypass group threatened to disrupt proceedings (as it was, the protesters managed to insert themselves into the night parade anyway). I had just moved down from Orkland and ran a NORML stall in Lower Cuba Street, unaware of the draconian ban. No-one seemed to mind, no-one (official) told us to stop the stall.
Fast forward to 2005. Summer is allegedly upon us, and there's not only the NORML business to attend to, but also the nzflag.com petition to get signed. Citzens Initiated Referenda rely on physical signatures. You cannot sign a referendum online. They must be filled in precisely, or the signature is invalidated. It is very labour-intensive work, especially when it relies on volunteers donating spare time.
Over the last month, I have been ringing around seeking permission to collect nzflag signatures at various places where people might be found. Thanks to the Public Places Bylaw, anything in a public place (except commuting) requires council permission. After repeated phonecalls and emails, permission was granted to collect signatures in most of the Wellington CBD (Civic Square is still being hummed over, in spite of Mayor Kerry Prendergast's support for the cause).
Increasingly, Kiwis are turning into Americans. They drive to Malls, Plazas and Supermarkets instead of hanging out in the streets. If you're wanting to collect signatures, you are not welcome there.
Charities are OK. Pity increases consumer demand. "I'm so glad that we didn't get hit by a tsunami, I'll go and buy a DVD player." However, political material may antagonise consumers, associating the venue with the cause. Everyone remembers how the Enough is Enough March led to a boycott of Lambton Quay (not).
Retailers don't want politics anywhere near their merchandise. Consumers might start thinking. Is that hoodie made in a sweatshop? Am I contributing to New Zealand's fucked-up Balance of Payments record? Such matters are on a want to know basis, and retailers have rightly surmised that consumers do not want to know. Ignorance is strength.
Johnsonville Mall and Queensgate Plaza refused permission for nzflag to collect signatures on their property. North City Plaza went so far as to warn us not to accidentally wander through their territory or park in their carpark. Pak n Save Kilbirnie learnt the hard way not to let politics near their store. When Helen Clark opened the store a couple of years back, rowdy protesters spoiled the opening. It's just not good for business.
The pro-business part of me understands all this. It's their property and they have the right to say who's allowed and who's not allowed. The pro-citizen in me, the one who read Naomi Klein's No Logo and nodded at the parts where she decried the extinction of public space, weeps.
It really hit home yesterday. I was wearing my NORML hat and seeking permission for a presence at the One Love Concert next month at the Velodrome. One Love is a celebration of Bob Marley's birthday, and was started by NORML at the Auckland Domain in the late '90s. One Love organiser, student station Radio Active, has advised that NORML is not allowed at One Love. "It's a fun event and we don't want to spoil that with politics."
This is largely thanks to generous sponsorship from Smokefree, the people who take cigarette tax and turn it against smokers. With a cash cow like that to milk, NORML is out of its league. There is no ill will with Radio Active. Events require money and if a government quango (who would tell Bob Marley to stop smoking and get a job, if he were alive and living in New Zealand) wish to sponsor a commemoration of his birthday, so be it.
For a moment, I saw the abyss. Abandon all hope. We are re-writing our past to suit the present. We can't see the wood for the fake plastic trees.
Welcome to the '00s (the zeros). We stand for nothing.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Monday, January 10, 2005
I'll drink to that
The Liquor Licensing Authority has ruled that asking under 25 year-olds for identification is unreasonable and unlawful. The LLA has pointed out that selling booze to under 18s is illegal, not under 25s.
There is no law against 18 to 25 year-olds buying booze. A scheme started in Orkland a few years' ago suggested identifying anyone who looked under 25 to ensure they weren't under 18. Why was 25 used as the cut-off? Oh, it sounded like a nice round figure. This recommendation somehow snuck into dogma, becoming commonplace around the country.
The upshot of this was that anyone who could have passed as a 25 year-old was asked for ID. Those who didn't have ID were refused alcohol on the grounds that they might be 18. Is that clear?
For example: Late last year I (34 year-old) was at the Metro New World in Willis St with a friend (23 year-old). We each got a bottle of wine and went to the checkout. Even after presenting her 18+ card, she was refused the purchase (the automaton said her ID looked fake). I volunteered to buy it for her and was asked for ID too. I refused. "Do you really think I'm under 18?" I asked incredulously.
"That's not the point," the checkout robot said. "Anyone under 25 must be ID'd." I wasn't permitted to buy the wine until I showed them my drivers' licence. Through gritted teeth, I flicked my ID at the checkout crone and her supervisor. "No need to be rude," said the troll. "I'm just following policies and procedures." Ja, ich weiss. Seig Safety!
It is with no small satisfaction that the do-gooders and wowsers have been knocked back by the Liquor Licensing Authority's ruling. It's just a pity that some expensive lawyer had to argue in defence of common sense.
There is no law against 18 to 25 year-olds buying booze. A scheme started in Orkland a few years' ago suggested identifying anyone who looked under 25 to ensure they weren't under 18. Why was 25 used as the cut-off? Oh, it sounded like a nice round figure. This recommendation somehow snuck into dogma, becoming commonplace around the country.
The upshot of this was that anyone who could have passed as a 25 year-old was asked for ID. Those who didn't have ID were refused alcohol on the grounds that they might be 18. Is that clear?
For example: Late last year I (34 year-old) was at the Metro New World in Willis St with a friend (23 year-old). We each got a bottle of wine and went to the checkout. Even after presenting her 18+ card, she was refused the purchase (the automaton said her ID looked fake). I volunteered to buy it for her and was asked for ID too. I refused. "Do you really think I'm under 18?" I asked incredulously.
"That's not the point," the checkout robot said. "Anyone under 25 must be ID'd." I wasn't permitted to buy the wine until I showed them my drivers' licence. Through gritted teeth, I flicked my ID at the checkout crone and her supervisor. "No need to be rude," said the troll. "I'm just following policies and procedures." Ja, ich weiss. Seig Safety!
It is with no small satisfaction that the do-gooders and wowsers have been knocked back by the Liquor Licensing Authority's ruling. It's just a pity that some expensive lawyer had to argue in defence of common sense.
Monday, January 03, 2005
A morality act
Just going through my mail. Apart from the usual fanmail (Genesis power bill looks more like Revelations, motor vehicle licensing demands an ACC levy without the chance of a no-claims bonus), there was the annual Act Members' poll.
Each year, the poll asks members to rank the importance of general issues from a national and personal perspective. There are two new issues to choose from in the poll this year; constitutional arrangements and... public morality. I had to double-take when I read that. At first, I thought some fool had signed me up to United Future for a laugh. Nope. Act's logo, complete with the catch-cry The Liberal Party, sat at the top of the page.
What on earth is happening when the Liberal Party thinks public morality is a concern up there with Health, Education and Welfare? My guess is the conservative liberals insisted on putting it in. After all, polls are self-fulfilling prophesies and including public morality is a way of inserting the concept into the political subconscious.
Just as Labour can be divided into wets and drys (sic), Act can be split into two camps which I call the Libz and the Rabids. The Libz are the principled Act members who accept that liberalism is a coin with two sides. Personal freedom and responsibility is consistently supported whether it is social or economic in nature. Richard Prebble was the leader of the pack, until Rodney took over the helm last year. Other members include Deborah Coddington, Heather Roy, and Ken Shirley.
The Rabids are headed by Muriel Newman. Her elevation to Deputy Leader was obviously a power-play to keep the Libz in check by the Rabids. Other members include Stephen Franks and Gerry Eckhoff (Donna Awatere Huata's position in the Rabids has been transferred to Kenneth Wang). They are characterised by a strong theory of liberalism that is not reflected in practise. For example, see how they voted on social issues here.
This split in the party is the one thing that may fatally damage Act's election chances this year. While the Labour and National parties are broad churches, niche parties such as Act, the Greens, NZ First and United Future cannot afford the luxury of ideological dysfunction. It confuses the punters.
When public morality appears on the annual poll, I start to seriously ponder what direction Act is heading. I would like to vote Act and keep the experienced, vocal and hard-working team in parliament. However, unless it can get its shit sorted and work out what it stands for (liberalism or Nats-in-drag), Act will not survive.
Each year, the poll asks members to rank the importance of general issues from a national and personal perspective. There are two new issues to choose from in the poll this year; constitutional arrangements and... public morality. I had to double-take when I read that. At first, I thought some fool had signed me up to United Future for a laugh. Nope. Act's logo, complete with the catch-cry The Liberal Party, sat at the top of the page.
What on earth is happening when the Liberal Party thinks public morality is a concern up there with Health, Education and Welfare? My guess is the conservative liberals insisted on putting it in. After all, polls are self-fulfilling prophesies and including public morality is a way of inserting the concept into the political subconscious.
Just as Labour can be divided into wets and drys (sic), Act can be split into two camps which I call the Libz and the Rabids. The Libz are the principled Act members who accept that liberalism is a coin with two sides. Personal freedom and responsibility is consistently supported whether it is social or economic in nature. Richard Prebble was the leader of the pack, until Rodney took over the helm last year. Other members include Deborah Coddington, Heather Roy, and Ken Shirley.
The Rabids are headed by Muriel Newman. Her elevation to Deputy Leader was obviously a power-play to keep the Libz in check by the Rabids. Other members include Stephen Franks and Gerry Eckhoff (Donna Awatere Huata's position in the Rabids has been transferred to Kenneth Wang). They are characterised by a strong theory of liberalism that is not reflected in practise. For example, see how they voted on social issues here.
This split in the party is the one thing that may fatally damage Act's election chances this year. While the Labour and National parties are broad churches, niche parties such as Act, the Greens, NZ First and United Future cannot afford the luxury of ideological dysfunction. It confuses the punters.
When public morality appears on the annual poll, I start to seriously ponder what direction Act is heading. I would like to vote Act and keep the experienced, vocal and hard-working team in parliament. However, unless it can get its shit sorted and work out what it stands for (liberalism or Nats-in-drag), Act will not survive.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Physics 1, Teenager 0
The Herald reports how a teenager was shocked to death when he climbed through a barbed wire barricade and up an electricity pylon. Just goes to show that imbecilic morons cannot be stopped, no matter how many laws you threaten them with.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Requiem
(STR/AFP/Getty Images)
When the night shows
the signals grow on radios
All the strange things
they come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction we cannot
even choose a side.
I took the old track
the hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
they were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
and as the nail sunk in the cloud, the rain
was warm and soaked the crowd.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.
When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll
use up what we used to be.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.
Words: Peter Gabriel
Monday, December 27, 2004
Reasons to be Cheerful
2005's movie listings are making quite a few freaks and geeks go apeshit in anticipation.
1. King Kong - A Christmas without a new Peter Jackson movie seems odd. Thankfully, King Kong will brighten next year's Seasoned Madness.
2. Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith - The final prequel to the 1977 classic hits theatres around the globe in May. Expect retro-70s design and lots of heavy breathing.
3. Batman Begins - Forget the camp crap of Batman Forever or Batman and Robin. Memento director Chris Nolan steers the American Psycho star through a labyrinth of dark places. Mind-buggeringly good support cast (Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Rutger Hauer)
4. Sin City - Frank Miller, inspiration behind the Batman Begins grit, penned this noir comic back in the 90's. He teams up with Robert Rodriguez to put three of the stories onto film; Sin City, That Yellow Bastard, and The Big Fat Kill. Another gob-smacking cast, and Tarantino directs a story.
5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams is dead but, before the dolphins took him, he wrote the screenplay for this movie.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - not my thing, but Miss Ann Thrope made me include it.
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I'm not throwing out the Gene Wilder DVD yet, but Depp and Burton are the right people for the job.
8. Aeon Flux - If this movie is half as kinky as the TV4 show, I'm in. With Charlize Theron in the lead role, I might be in twice!
9. War of the Worlds - Having grown up with the spooky soundtrack and a vivid imagination, this film will have some strong preconceptions to improve upon. Spielberg and Cruise did a good job on Minority Report, so here's hoping there's not a friendly ET in sight.
10. The Brothers Grimm - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas director Terry Gilliam returns to the big screen after The Man Who Killed Don Quixote washed out.
11. The Rum Diary - F&L in Las Vegas stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro twist one of HST's tales into celluloid.
12. The Fountain - Darren Aronofsky has been linked to many almost-movies since Requiem for a Dream shattered people in 2000. There's been Batman: Year One, Watchmen, and Kazuo Koike's Lone Wolf and Cub. Although they are currently filming this post-modern masterpiece, I'll wait til the trailers start popping up before getting too hopeful.
1. King Kong - A Christmas without a new Peter Jackson movie seems odd. Thankfully, King Kong will brighten next year's Seasoned Madness.
2. Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith - The final prequel to the 1977 classic hits theatres around the globe in May. Expect retro-70s design and lots of heavy breathing.
3. Batman Begins - Forget the camp crap of Batman Forever or Batman and Robin. Memento director Chris Nolan steers the American Psycho star through a labyrinth of dark places. Mind-buggeringly good support cast (Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Rutger Hauer)
4. Sin City - Frank Miller, inspiration behind the Batman Begins grit, penned this noir comic back in the 90's. He teams up with Robert Rodriguez to put three of the stories onto film; Sin City, That Yellow Bastard, and The Big Fat Kill. Another gob-smacking cast, and Tarantino directs a story.
5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams is dead but, before the dolphins took him, he wrote the screenplay for this movie.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - not my thing, but Miss Ann Thrope made me include it.
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I'm not throwing out the Gene Wilder DVD yet, but Depp and Burton are the right people for the job.
8. Aeon Flux - If this movie is half as kinky as the TV4 show, I'm in. With Charlize Theron in the lead role, I might be in twice!
9. War of the Worlds - Having grown up with the spooky soundtrack and a vivid imagination, this film will have some strong preconceptions to improve upon. Spielberg and Cruise did a good job on Minority Report, so here's hoping there's not a friendly ET in sight.
10. The Brothers Grimm - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas director Terry Gilliam returns to the big screen after The Man Who Killed Don Quixote washed out.
11. The Rum Diary - F&L in Las Vegas stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro twist one of HST's tales into celluloid.
12. The Fountain - Darren Aronofsky has been linked to many almost-movies since Requiem for a Dream shattered people in 2000. There's been Batman: Year One, Watchmen, and Kazuo Koike's Lone Wolf and Cub. Although they are currently filming this post-modern masterpiece, I'll wait til the trailers start popping up before getting too hopeful.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
It was 90 years ago today
Around the western world, credit cards are warming down from the Mad Christmas Shop and preparing for the Post-Christmas Sale. For their owners, it may be worth taking some time to remember one past Christmas present beyond the reach of cash.
Ninety years ago, the armies fighting World War I had their first Christmas in the trenches. On the Frelingien-Houplines part of the front line, German and British soldiers met in No-Man's Land for a game of soccer.
Have a very Human Christmas.
Peace, Love and Understanding,
Will, aka Zippy
Ninety years ago, the armies fighting World War I had their first Christmas in the trenches. On the Frelingien-Houplines part of the front line, German and British soldiers met in No-Man's Land for a game of soccer.
Have a very Human Christmas.
Peace, Love and Understanding,
Will, aka Zippy
Friday, December 24, 2004
Elgoog beats Chinese Govt restrictions
Here's something. Go to Google and type in "elgoog". Click the first link in the results. You can now search any subject you like, as long as it is entered backwards. eg. sgniR eht fo droL. This is a great tool if you live in China, as the government restricts access to subversive sites such as BBC News. The (literal) Google mirror circumvents this censorship completely. Have a look in New Scientist for the details.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Silly Season Headlines
You can tell the silly season is upon us by observing our media. Today's headlines are no exception. Auckland City Councils are looking at banning aerosol paint to under 18 year-olds in a hopelessly naive effort to stop taggers from defacing property. Never mind the article points out that taggers are diversifying with marker pens and window gouging. Banning spray paint will fix the problem.
The Councils shouldn't bother. For one, Chairman Jim wants every aerosol labelled, signposted and restricted to adults soon, as three or four people died from huffing the fumes off them a while ago. His SOP aims to ban everything that might possibly maybe hurt stupid teenagers. (Note: one of the deaths that brought this SOP into daylight was a 27 year-old).
Secondly, no-one in the Auckland Councils seems to suggest mentoring these taggers in their artistic skills is a Good Idea. Auckland is one of the most boring places to grow up in, and it is no surprise kids are making their own fun. Although their talents might be better aimed at becoming the new Colin McCahon, the designated mantra of government to everything is: if in doubt, ban it.
Banning things only works if you can enforce it. Who will do that? Another Council Business Unit perhaps, like the Brothel Patrol, the Smoke Police, the Health Inspectors, the Dog Poo Crew, or the Noise Control Killjoys (first The Temple, now the Speedway. Who is next?). I know! Let's get our police to enforce it, along with the gazillion other things government heaped on the under-funded, resource-scarce and crap moraled police force.
Meantime down in Christchurch, the highly-competitive herbal high market is causing concern. Drug Foundation Exec. Direc. Ross Bell said there was "hysteria" from some Christchurch doctors who said young people were checking into A&E after eating too many pills. There are reports that Christchurch Hospital has been getting a 'cluster' of admissions; six people a week. Are they the same six people each week?
Even if they aren't, I'm certain more people get admitted to hospital with gardening injuries. The media aren't seeing this as a cause for concern. Legal party drugs sold without labels dangerous: watchdog, screams the Herald. Where's the danger? "People might not know what they are taking and might not know the recommended dose." Gee, sounds like they're talking about homebrew. I suppose the Herald must maintain the same level of proportion they used for the P epidemic, just to be consistent.
The Councils shouldn't bother. For one, Chairman Jim wants every aerosol labelled, signposted and restricted to adults soon, as three or four people died from huffing the fumes off them a while ago. His SOP aims to ban everything that might possibly maybe hurt stupid teenagers. (Note: one of the deaths that brought this SOP into daylight was a 27 year-old).
Secondly, no-one in the Auckland Councils seems to suggest mentoring these taggers in their artistic skills is a Good Idea. Auckland is one of the most boring places to grow up in, and it is no surprise kids are making their own fun. Although their talents might be better aimed at becoming the new Colin McCahon, the designated mantra of government to everything is: if in doubt, ban it.
Banning things only works if you can enforce it. Who will do that? Another Council Business Unit perhaps, like the Brothel Patrol, the Smoke Police, the Health Inspectors, the Dog Poo Crew, or the Noise Control Killjoys (first The Temple, now the Speedway. Who is next?). I know! Let's get our police to enforce it, along with the gazillion other things government heaped on the under-funded, resource-scarce and crap moraled police force.
Meantime down in Christchurch, the highly-competitive herbal high market is causing concern. Drug Foundation Exec. Direc. Ross Bell said there was "hysteria" from some Christchurch doctors who said young people were checking into A&E after eating too many pills. There are reports that Christchurch Hospital has been getting a 'cluster' of admissions; six people a week. Are they the same six people each week?
Even if they aren't, I'm certain more people get admitted to hospital with gardening injuries. The media aren't seeing this as a cause for concern. Legal party drugs sold without labels dangerous: watchdog, screams the Herald. Where's the danger? "People might not know what they are taking and might not know the recommended dose." Gee, sounds like they're talking about homebrew. I suppose the Herald must maintain the same level of proportion they used for the P epidemic, just to be consistent.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Speedway, Schmeedway
I can't understand what the fuss is all about with the Western Springs Speedway. If you live in the city, expect noise. If you live in the country, expect shit on your car tyres.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
The Art of Circumlocution
Interesting comparing the TV headlines tonight. TV3 had Judy Bailey firmly in their sights, headlining the news of her stratospheric salary. Much talk of "heads will roll" and other sound and fury.
TV One had time to show two news headlines in the time it took to show TV3's headliner. Watching Judy Bailey announce how her salary package got her bosses into political hot water was an exercise in pokerface. The news item, covered chivalrously by Mark Sainsbury, glossed over Bailey's involvement. It seemed a mere technicality in the political shitstorm that followed.
TVNZ, bringing meta references into the mainstream.
TV One had time to show two news headlines in the time it took to show TV3's headliner. Watching Judy Bailey announce how her salary package got her bosses into political hot water was an exercise in pokerface. The news item, covered chivalrously by Mark Sainsbury, glossed over Bailey's involvement. It seemed a mere technicality in the political shitstorm that followed.
TVNZ, bringing meta references into the mainstream.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Doing the Cuba Mall Shuffle
Just got home after collecting signatures in Cuba Street for the nzflag.com referendum. Absolutely stoked by the level of support for a new flag. If this level of interest continues, Kiwis will get to have a say on election day next year in a Citizens' Initiated Referendum on the issue.
The people in Wellington never cease to amaze me. A diverse bunch of ethnicities and eccentricities, styles and smiles. Even the few people who disagreed with the 'change the flag' idea did so in an amicable way. No wonder I moved back here.
A highlight was getting former mayor and National candidate for Wellington Central Mark Blumsky to sign the petition. OK, it was a soft sell. He pointed out the nzflag.com flag he was flying from his apartment roof further up the street.
Couldn't resist name-dropping David Farrar into the conversation. Old habits die hard!
The people in Wellington never cease to amaze me. A diverse bunch of ethnicities and eccentricities, styles and smiles. Even the few people who disagreed with the 'change the flag' idea did so in an amicable way. No wonder I moved back here.
A highlight was getting former mayor and National candidate for Wellington Central Mark Blumsky to sign the petition. OK, it was a soft sell. He pointed out the nzflag.com flag he was flying from his apartment roof further up the street.
Couldn't resist name-dropping David Farrar into the conversation. Old habits die hard!
Friday, December 10, 2004
The unbearable dangers of safety
You'll find more children playing Virtua Cricket on PS2 than the real thing these days. No wonder the Black Caps still rely on Chris Harris and Cairns. The joy of riding a bike has become a chore ever since bike helmets were made compulsory, yet the Health freaks gasp in surprise at rising obesity problems.
'Behold the wholly sanitized childhood, without skinned knees or the occasional C in history. "Kids need to feel badly sometimes," says child psychologist David Elkind, professor at Tufts University. "We learn through experience and we learn through bad experiences. Through failure we learn how to cope." ' So writes Hara Estroff Marano in A Nation of Wimps.
'Behold the wholly sanitized childhood, without skinned knees or the occasional C in history. "Kids need to feel badly sometimes," says child psychologist David Elkind, professor at Tufts University. "We learn through experience and we learn through bad experiences. Through failure we learn how to cope." ' So writes Hara Estroff Marano in A Nation of Wimps.
Interesting times
A big congratulations to Tim Barnett, David Benson-Pope and all the others who persevered in the face of the Chicken Little wackos and nosey do-gooders to pass the Civil Union Bill into law yesterday.
Some years ago, I made a promise never to get married. The Civil Union Bill will allow me to circumvent this pact without condemning me to a life of solitude. OK, there are a few things to sort out still, such as finding a woman who can tolerate my highly-strung antics. But it's a start!
My prospects in finding a suitable partner will not be increased by the anti-smoking law that came into effect last night. Another attempt at extricating free will from human nature, the smokefree law provides one more reason to stay at home. L'enfer, c'est les autres!
Not content with banning doubleplusungood habits indoors, the anti-smoking lobby is now looking at putting age restrictions on movies which feature smokers. I can just imagine it; Winston Churchill's memoirs rated R18 due to gratuitous cigar smoking. Casablanca has no sex or graphic violence but will be adults-only viewing because Bogie likes his ciggies. Steven Spielberg will re-release Saving Private Ryan, digitally inserting carrot sticks where cigarettes used to be. Never mind the horrors of war. Think of how many Allied soldiers died from passive smoking!
It is bad enough that live theatre performances will make all roles non-smoking whether it suits the character or not, thanks to another stupid law. The Safety Nazis will not be happy until they curse all art with their presence too.
Some years ago, I made a promise never to get married. The Civil Union Bill will allow me to circumvent this pact without condemning me to a life of solitude. OK, there are a few things to sort out still, such as finding a woman who can tolerate my highly-strung antics. But it's a start!
My prospects in finding a suitable partner will not be increased by the anti-smoking law that came into effect last night. Another attempt at extricating free will from human nature, the smokefree law provides one more reason to stay at home. L'enfer, c'est les autres!
Not content with banning doubleplusungood habits indoors, the anti-smoking lobby is now looking at putting age restrictions on movies which feature smokers. I can just imagine it; Winston Churchill's memoirs rated R18 due to gratuitous cigar smoking. Casablanca has no sex or graphic violence but will be adults-only viewing because Bogie likes his ciggies. Steven Spielberg will re-release Saving Private Ryan, digitally inserting carrot sticks where cigarettes used to be. Never mind the horrors of war. Think of how many Allied soldiers died from passive smoking!
It is bad enough that live theatre performances will make all roles non-smoking whether it suits the character or not, thanks to another stupid law. The Safety Nazis will not be happy until they curse all art with their presence too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)