Sunflower seed carpet fills Tate

A carpet of more than 100 million "sunflower seeds" has been laid in a new art installation at Tate Modern.

The seeds - which are in fact made of porcelain - were created by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei for the Tate's annual Unilever Series. Visitors to the vast Turbine Hall can walk on and pick up the seeds, but are asked not to take them away. The exhibition will run until May 2011.Each imitation seed was sculpted and painted by specialists working in small-scale workshops in the Chinese city of Jingdezhen. Work on the project began two years ago. Covering 1,000 square metres of the Turbine Hall, walking across the porcelain seeds is like crossing a pebbly beach.

China currently has a population of 1.4 billion - imagine how many more "small seeds" that would be? Makes you really appreciate the population of not only China but of our planet. No wonder Mother Nature is exhausted.  

BBC News - Sunflower seed carpet fills Tate (BBC Video available on link) 

Dikshit Hypocrisy

It's all over the News. India this and India that and I'm not just talking about the obvious international screening of the Commonwealth Games. For now, they seem to have taken a back seat - well, here in New Zealand anyhow. We're far more obsessed with tip-toeing around the so-called sacred image of India itself. God forbid you say anything untoward about the poverty stricken nation as Paul Henry found out earlier this week - he was "forced" to resign from his morning talk show after openly criticising Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name. Whether what he said was classed as "racist" or not, the fact that it caused an international scandal and almost jeopardised diplomatic relations just goes to show how fragile the situation really is. 

It's all about public image apparently - first of, having one and then protecting against someone trying to take it away. But in here begs the question - pun intended. What happened to 1.4 million homeless people that simply vanished from Delhi? 

International Media states that about 30 per cent of the city has either been ousted out or been made to hide behind "massive hoardings announcing the games or ringed by hastily planted bushes, most of which were already wilting". 

Mainstream media can't find any of the so-called 1.4 million homeless. A rather large number of people to kind of loose really, unless, of course, they're not there any more - something that Ms Dikshit not so much as denies but, literally "shrugs" off:  "New Delhi's chief minister Sheila Dikshit has shrugged off accusations that the city is trying to hide its underclass from Games visitors. Dikshit denies hiding slums ". 

Well so much for that self serving image. 

The so-called lucky ones were moved out of their "dwellings" of more than 25 years. To where? Who cares right, as long as it's not within sight of the approximately 71 visiting countries and specifically Media. Some of those that have been "evicted" face not only a three hour commute by bus in order to maintain what jobs they do have but also have incurred the extra travel expense - and for what? Image. That precious fluid-like thing that India seems so dead set on ensuring everyone else maintains (New Zealand included) while they busy themselves hiding their shame behind makeshift billboards.

The pithy Games federation motto of 'Humanity, Equality, Destiny' is barely evident in India.  There is a level of compassion among the people but it comes from those in the lower castes of Indian society, who have few if any resources that will ever come out of the Commonwealth games that are set to cost India approximately $6 billion. Games Federation Motto

“If I was poor I would abuse the games,” said retired Maj Gen Sheru Thapliyal. “I am not [poor] but I still find no merit in them and the chaotic and wasteful preparations that have gone into making them happen.”

Reductil withdrawn from NZ market

"Reductil has also been recently withdrawn from sale in Australia, Canada and the United States after a study found it raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

A New Zealand study by the Medicines Monitoring Programme at Otago University followed and found the drug to be safer than the initial study had reported." 

So what does this mean then - Australia, Canada, and the United States are over-reacting  or New Zealand possesses lower standards? The whole article, only a few paragraphs long, does nothing to address the questions that someone taking this would have. I understand that there is a need to "report" these issues but where is the "journalism" here - where is the debate, the statistics, the papers' conclusion or... is that up to the advertisers as well?

Reductil withdrawn from NZ market - Health - NZ Herald News:

Paul Henry Resigns

The attached picture, dated August) comes from Stuff.co.nz with the caption "Top Rater" and yet Paul Henry resigned from TVNZ today amidst pressure that his seemingly "racist" comments, this time, went a little too far. 

But did they?

Not according to 27,000 fans on one of the many "Bring Paul Henry Back" Facebook page . This group is outraged that New Zealand has become so incredibly PC and I have to admit, it does make you wonder just what the hell a TV production team want from a host. Sure, they want ratings to increase but Paul Henry did that. In fact, he doubled their ratings and forced a competitive morning show off the air. He was a Media delight as far as the advertising department were concerned. Sure he rattled a few cages but that was what attracted his audience - a lot of New Zealand's morning audience in fact. Now it seems as if you need to be a popular TV host but when a small minority get offended, you're out on your "Arrrrrrse". 

Not that long ago Steve Gray, Good Morning Show co-host for years, found his contract not being renewed unless, of course, he could tone down his gayness. Whatever next? Pippa not allowed to look pregnant? 

I preferred when New Zealand stood out from the crowd - being anti-nuclear didn't come without controversy and I'm pretty sure when women were "allowed" to vote there were more than a few die-hards ready to run them into the ground with pitchforks. What on earth has happened to New Zealand? 

Paul Henry's Press Release: 

I have resigned from TVNZ, effective immediately.

It is no longer practical in the current environment for me to do the job I was employed to do, and have so enjoyed doing. It is also difficult for TVNZ to get on with the business of being a first class broadcaster as long as I remain.

I have apologised twice, and have meant every word. I again apologise to all those who were genuinely hurt by what I said.

However, it is clear that things have now reached a point where my actions will have to speak louder than my words.

I am astonished and dismayed that my comments have created a diplomatic incident. My style is conversational and of course unscripted. I walk the finest of lines and accept that I have inadvertently crossed it from time to time.

But I recognise the realities of the situation.

I do not want to continue to be used as a lightning rod for racial disharmony in this country. Likewise, I certainly do not want to have my elderly mother staked out at her nursing home by tabloid media, as has happened this weekend.

I will miss the professionalism and friendship of the brilliant production team I have worked with, and I will miss the fun and satisfaction of having doubled the audience for Breakfast in the last few years. The programme is great – and I’m sure its success will continue.

To be honest, most of all I’ll miss Pippa.

I am grateful to the many thousands of people who have offered their support to me. I hope they will understand and accept that an extraordinary convergence of circumstances has made this action necessary

I am saddened by this whole episode – sad that I crossed the line in the first place, and sad that an employer I have always served with pride has had to suffer slings and arrows.

To all those who have enjoyed Breakfast – thank you. It has been a privilege to have been part of your mornings for the last seven years.

Danube toxic sludge - death toll rises

Incredible to think that two companies - yes, just two companies - (This chemical waste reservoire and BP) could be responsible for the two most horrific pollution accidents this Earth has ever had to endure. It never ceases to amaze me that a small handful of people have the power to ruin so many lives. 

And I am not just talking about people's lives here. What about the animals? This poor dog, caught in the sludge spewing out towards the Danube will, no doubt, be dead by the time anyone reads this. Rumour has it, this reservoire had toxic levels way above those allowed on an international level, according to Greenpeace. What is the point of these international guidelines if people don't give a stuff about following them? 

And now there are fresh concerns have emerged that toxins from the drying sludge could be spread through the air.

The death toll from the disaster rose to five on Friday as one of those injured died in hospital. Three people are still missing after the reservoir at an alumina plant in Ajka, western Hungary, burst.

BBC News - Danube toxic sludge fears calmed as death toll rises: 

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to China dissident Liu Xiaobo

Mr Liu, 54, who was a key leader in the Tienanmen Square protest in 1989, was jailed for 11 years in Christmas Day last year for drafting Charter 08, which called for multiparty democracy in China.

A lot of people, namely Chinese, are claiming the award is a personal attack on the Chinese culture and demanding (in fact, warning) the Nobel Peace Prize judges to not grant the award..or else. 

China has already warned Norway that prospective trade agreements will be somewhat 'taut' if they proceed with the award while others, some not Chinese, are questioning whether a "convicted criminal" should even be awarded such a prominent prize. 

To answer the latter, doesn't one have to define "crime" beforehand? Is it criminal for someone in any country to simple write about a possibly better future? If so, I have seriously cooked my goose. Furthermore and in answer to these trade agreement threats - this is the second time I have referred to them today. India is up in arms with New Zealand over a TV host's comments (posted previously) and threatened the government with 'taut' trade agreements as well, and now this. Is it possible to separate the two? Sure, be pissed off about something but keep the trade thing out of it? I certainly hope so because otherwise this entire world will turn into a bunch of sniffling weasels all too scared to maintain their individuality at the risk of offending someone holding a cheque book. 

Good on Norway for sticking to its guns on this issue and well done to Liu for winning this award. I can only hope China comes to their senses and release this man so, at least, he can collect the award and maybe live in peace with this family and that handsome sum of money. 

Footnote:

The prize comes with a $1.5 million award which, if he's allowed out of jail, will be presented to him, along with the award in December. Last year's winner was Barack Obama. 

BBC News - Nobel Peace Prize awarded to China dissident Liu Xiaobo: 

Paul Henry - Most unpopular man in India

Paul Henry is the most loathed man in India right now following remarks he made about India's Chief Minister Shelia Dikshit. He persisted in pronouncing her name "as you see it" as opposed to the proper pronunciation of "Dixit".

The result was India calling for a governmental apology and a rethink on any potential trade agreements. 

Is this for real? I looked at the woman's name and pissed myself laughing. Then I noticed her surname was Dikshit - double whammy. For goodness sake, to not think something untoward about her name is like trying to not mention the elephant in the room. It's blatantly obvious. If someone was called Pooh or Arsewipe, would we all not wonder why the hell they haven't changed their name? I think Sheila owes a great deal of service to Paul. It's pretty bloody obvious no one else thought to mention this wee discrepancy with her. And I am pleased to see that 82% of viewers on Close Up (Current Affairs Programme) also thought the Government was a bunch of crawling weasels to have "officially apologised." 

As if that's not enough, people are now asking for Paul Henry to be sacked from his morning hosting programme. I don't think this will happen. Not because I think TVNZ reconsider his remarks as funny but because where else are they going to find an insomniac presenter who can pull in 1 million new viewers from India alone? It's Media folks. 

Some comments from various websites:

• This has all been blown totally out of proportion. What Paul Henry said was wrong but so many people were also thinking it! Most of us would not deliberately hurt someone yet we all are prepared to watch movies that have violence in them. Paul Henry may have had 100's of complaints but lets not forget that THOUSANDS watch Breakfast in the morning because of Paul Henry (myself included) he is prepared to say what most of us only think. Yes sometimes he may take it too far but don't we all.
• This is all getting way out of hand. Paul Henry is an egotistical, self-centred idiot who breaks the rules of being PC, but for another country's government to lay a complaint over it is going overboard. Heavily reprimand him yes, involve the government?, overkill.
• The guy has always been a first class, self centred w**ker and utterly cringeworthy to watch/listen to. The fact that he is either cruel or unbelieveably insenstitive comes as no surprise. Can him now!

Media commentator calls for perspective on Paul Henry | NATIONAL News: