On Castle Howard, the guide said: “Stately homes may be two a penny in England but you’ll have to try pretty hard to find one as breathtakingly stately as Castle Howard.” The setting was used as the home of the fictitious …
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Stately home proves one of the sights to see – Entertainment …
It happened right there, in the middle of the square, full of people queuing at the store. Zuze Paraza, a retired painter, spat out bits of his two-a-penny cigarette. Then he coughed, shaking the gauntness of his body to its bones
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One writer's life » Blog Archive » Mia Couto and Mozambique fiction
One a penny, two a penny …
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The Me Show: Head to Head: 80's Cinematic Homoeroticism
One a penny two a penny . Posted by something about us at Sunday, January 30, 2011.
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something about us: One a penny two a penny
Even in a small country like New Zealand, intelligent, attractive, bright, breezy television presenters are two a penny .
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Now come on, admit it, you're missing him, aren't you? You know …
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AFP – French lawmakers on Tuesday opened debate on a bill allowing more Sunday trading, a measure championed by President Nicolas Sarkozy but fiercely contested within his right-wing party.
The proposed legislation is a watered-down version of a bill that was pulled from parliament in December, dealing a major setback to Sarkozy who had promised to allow Sunday selling during his election campaign.
The bill would set up special tourist areas and commercial zones where shops could open on Sundays.
Supporters say it will affect mostly retailers in Paris and France’s second city of Marseille, where many big-chain stores openly defy the current laws and pay hefty fines for opening their doors on Sundays. Employees would be paid double for working on that day.
Darcos said 500 tourist towns, 30 commercial zones and cities with more than one million residents would be concerned by the measures, which have come up against opposition from the church and unions.
It’s time to put an end to the jungle that exists today, Labour Minister Xavier Darcos told RTL radio.
French laws on Sunday commerce are far more restrictive than those in the United States and Britain but less so than in Germany, where special permission is needed for shops to open in Berlin.
Recent polls show that while the French believe shops should have the freedom to open on Sundays they also are opposed to extending work on Sundays.
In France, no Sunday trading has been a rule since a 1906 law consecrated the day of rest, although bakeries, butchers and other small shops are allowed to open until noon.
Richard Mallie, a deputy from Sarkozy’s right-wing party and one of the authors of the bill, has said 15,000 jobs could be saved by allowing more shops to open on Sundays.
The government has argued that allowing more Sunday trading would help cushion the blow that the recession has dealt to the job market. .
A vote on the bill was expected on Friday or Saturday
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Judge puts boot into boot camps
Friday, 27 February 2009
The traditional "boot camp" for young offenders was "arguably the least successful sentence in the Western world", the principal Youth Court judge says.
"It made them healthier, fitter, faster, but they were still burglars, just harder to catch, " Judge Andrew Becroft said.
"It was a spectacular, tragic, flawed, failure," he said.
He said physical programmes backed up by mentoring and family support could work, but New Zealand's corrective training camps, which ran up till 2002, found 92 per cent of young attendees reoffended within a year.
Judge Becroft made it clear he was not commenting on government policy, but said any debate on the merits of a so-called "boot camp" must be clear on what was being discussed. .
Kim Workman, of Reducing Crime and Punishment, said American experience showed that when the military-style "short, sharp, shock" approach was combined with mentoring and after-care, it still made no difference at all.
An outdoor, physically challenging programme run by quality instructors, combined with intense family therapy, drug and alcohol counselling, education and other support could be beneficial.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett agreed the old boot camps lacked the necessary follow-up support to work.
A physical programme based on a therapeutic model could be beneficial, he said, and there were already a handful of outdoor-based programmes in the country that were working well.
"At no point are we going to throw them in there, get them fit, beat them around a little bit and send them back on the street, that's just not it at all.
But the Government's proposed military-style activity camps would be followed by six to nine months of intensive mentoring, she said.
Ms Bennett agreed the proposal was contentious and welcomed healthy public debate."
Ms Bennett has said the three-month camps for the country's 40 most dangerous young offenders would use army-type facilities and training methods to teach self-discipline, personal responsibility and community values as well as literacy, numeracy and drug and alcohol support.
The policy is a favourite of Prime Minister John Key, who raised it in his state of the nation speech last year, talking about the "1000 ticking time bombs" of youth offenders on the streets. She said she had been congratulated by police and army personnel who strongly support the scheme. He said the Defence Force would need support to deal with the highest-risk youths, and more skilled clinical psychologists and social workers were needed.
Auckland University psychologist Ian Lambie agreed boot camps alone would not work but could be effective with long-term follow-up. "There's no specialist training in child and adolescent psychology in New Zealand and it's a gap.
"At the end of the day, we've got an inadequate workforce," he said."
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editor departs
The Wednesday, 25 February 2009
/The
DEPARTING EDITOR: Tim Pankhurst has been editor of The since 2002. He is leaving to become chief executive of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association.
Mr Pankhurst, 54, has been editor of The since shortly after its founding in 2002.
editor Tim Pankhurst is leaving the newspaper after seven years to become chief executive of the Newspaper Publishers' Association.
His 14-year tenure running those four titles made him New Zealand's longest-serving daily editor.
He previously edited The Evening Post, and the . .
In his new role – which he will take up in mid-April – he will represent the newspaper industry, andmanage the New Zealand Press Association () and the National Advertising Bureau (NAB).
"His work on stories such as the Louise Nicholas investigation and The 's work last year on funding questions around NZ First have had a significant impact on New Zealand society.
"Tim is an exceptional editor and with The in particular has carved out a reputation second to none in New Zealand," she said.
"We did not want Tim to leave his post with Fairfax but we accept his decision to take on this significant role with the industry body and we look forward to working with him in that capacity. They are among the most significant newspaper investigations of the past 20 years and are testament to Tim's skill and courage as an editor.
"Tim will leave a legacy of strong journalism and deep community relationships at The ."
general manager Paul Elenio said the hunt for Mr Pankhurst's successor as editor would begin immediately."
. We are looking for a superb editor to take the paper forward to future success
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Babies stillborn as signs missed
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Twobabies stillborn in public hospitals had their heart readings misread by midwives – one of whom admitted responsibility and left the profession, the health and disability commissioner has found.
The babies died in separate incidents of complications during induced deliveries in 2007.
Both mothers were overdue and the midwives decided to admit the women to hospital to induce the births.
One woman gave birth to a stillborn baby, while the other mother was sent home, only to return the next day and give birth to a stillborn child. In both cases, the midwives failed to pick up signs of distress from heart-monitoring equipment.
"I am devastated that I observed the .
The midwife in the first case admitted having misread the readings to commissioner Ron Paterson's inquiry.. monitor through the day and failed to identify the seriousness of the readings," she said..
"I felt responsible and accountable for my actions, which I believe contributed to this tragedy.
A midwife with nearly 40 years' experience, she stopped practising after the baby's death. . I cannot begin to express my personal sadness and grief for [the parents] and their family and friends. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the report highlighted confusion over referral procedures when self-employed midwives brought their patients to hospitals. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the report highlighted confusion over referral procedures when self-employed midwives brought their patients to hospitals.
"[We will work with] related maternity professional bodies to improve the referral guidelines and communication so women and their families can be assured of teamwork between maternity practitioners to ensure safe care," Dr Gibson said. While midwives could use public hospitals, there were no consistent care standards or guidelines over co-operation with hospital staff, she said.
In his report, Mr Paterson said the ministry review was "a step in the right direction".
The midwives concerned had been referred to the Midwifery Council of New Zealand for possible disciplinary action, New Zealand College of Midwives adviser Norma Campbell said.
"That belief is illusory if there are barriers (including fraught relationships) to [midwives] communicating important information to fellow health professionals who may be called to assist.
"Women in New Zealand believe that a safety net is in place if they choose to deliver their baby in a public hospital."
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Auckland Mayoral chains attract the celebrity vote
By ESTHER HARWARD – Sunday, 15 February 2009
Mayoral possibility Blair Strang. .
"I think a super-city is the answer.
Holmes, who left Newstalk ZB in December, told the Sunday Star-Times yesterday that he would consider running for mayor."
The celebrity appointments may not end with the top job: Auckland City Council mayor John Banks last week told the Star-Times he wants to run the new super-city, but would also like to pull together a ticket of top performers from the worlds of business, sports and the media. I think it presents amazing opportunities for the region -yes, it might cause me to do some real thinking. Banks says he hasn't actually approached Holmes about the idea, but pointed out that the broadcaster is at a loose end in the Hawke's Bay.
Banks was cagey about whom he might invite to join his super-city super-team, but praises Holmes.
"Councillor? Why stop there?" he said.
When the Star-Times called Holmes yesterday he said he had been thinking about "a whole lot of things", including campaigning for a super-city seat.
Auckland is tipped to become a city of 1. He had "tremendous admiration" for Banks, but it was too early to say whether he'd join a Banks ticket. It is expected that seven territorial councils – Rodney District, North Shore City, Auckland City, Manukau City, Waitakere City, Papakura District and Franklin District – and the Auckland Regional Council will be dissolved, with most councils merging into a single authority and the rest joining existing councils to the far south and north.3 million people after the Royal Commission releases the results of its inquiry into the region's governance on March 31.
Tabron and Brash last week told the Star-Times that while they hadn't considered seeking office to run the new city, they wouldn't rule it out.
Other high-profile Aucklanders who might fit the bill – whether or not they fancy the idea of joining forces with Banks -include All Blacks Michael Jones, Andy Dalton and Wilson Whineray; restaurateur Judith Tabron; former National leader Don Brash and businessmen such as Stephen Tindall, Alasdair Thompson and Peter Huljich. "I think there has to be, with all due respect to the incumbent, a youthful approach, a 30-something approach.
Strang, who used to play hunky ambulance driver Rangi on Shortland Street, thought his friend Tim Shadbolt was joking when the Invercargill mayor mentioned his name last year as a potential super-city leader, but now he's taking it seriously. He won't name names until he has talked to them."
If Strang does launch a campaign – which would be mid-year, when he finishes filming a drama for Maori Television – he would gather a team of advisers: Shadbolt, solicitor colleagues, and a couple of actors.
Auckland University of Technology sociology lecturer Charles Crothers said big-name candidates with no political experience might do well at the polls, but would struggle with the job. What he wants for Auckland is a big arts centre on the CBD waterfront, better public transport, and more arts and sports opportunities to distract young people from crime..
"The voters really go for names, irrespective of any political track record that people have. They'll certainly need to be creative and come up with a vision of Auckland. They'll certainly need to be creative and come up with a vision of Auckland.
"You could say at least they'll have a clear, clean vision without being encumbered too much, but that's being a bit hopeful."
Crothers said that if the ward boundaries were realigned with national electorate boundaries, as some commentators expect, it would create even more pressure for Auckland politics to follow party politics.
"Once you've got supporters for the national elections, all the things that party machines do they might do for the local elections. I can see there would be a temptation to exploit electorates for that purpose."
More conventional contenders to lead the new Auckland super-city include Auckland Regional Council boss Mike Lee, Manukau mayor Len Brown, Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey and businessman Alex Swney. Former Labour MP Judith Tizard is also rumoured to be interested now that she has no electorate or list seat.
While the real battle is many months off, North Shore mayor Andrew Williams – who has criticised the super-city option from the outset, but won't rule out running for mayor -last week had a few jabs at his prospective rivals. Tizard was a "political has-been", said Williams. "She was not overly fantastic in her results as a minister for Auckland issues."
Williams said Banks had a "my way or no way" approach which went down like a cup of cold sick on the North Shore.
"You just learn nothing from that gentleman; he doesn't even want to have dialogue."
He said Aucklanders should also watch out for an unholy alliance between Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and Banks. "John Banks has been a very staunch supporter of Act."
Banks last week said he would raise $500,000 for his own campaign, including $100,000 from his own pocket. If he wins, he wants executive powers to hire and fire department managers, not just the chief executive.
SUPER-CITY TIMELINE March 31: The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance presents a four-volume report on its recommendations for Auckland's new council structure to the governor-general, who passes it to the government. April: Ministers are expected to have closed-door discussions for one to two weeks before releasing the report and their response. May-July: A draft law change goes to a select committee, which has up to six months to examine it and seek public feedback. October 2010: Auckland's first election under the new council if, as widely expected, the super-city is approved. This would merge up to eight councils into a single authority governing 1.3 million people.