Thursday, August 26, 2010
Day 19, August 25th, Rarotonga
Last day of my holiday - can't say enough about what a lovely place this is. I've been lying on a beach, sipping cocktails, having nice meals and looking around this beautiful island. The highlight of the trip.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Day 18, August 24th, Rarotonga
I was going to write something today about getting old as it is my birthday. I am 44 which seems closer to being old than young.
Yet for whatever reason I still feel a lot younger. I feel as if I am closer in age to a 29-year-old than a 59-year old. I suppose it is the lack of family responsibility.
There are things you think about on a birthday, but I guess I still feel as if my best days are ahead of me.
For all those who wished me a happy birthday, you'll be glad to know that I did. A fruity breakfast was followed with some sunbathing and reading, a 4WD run around part of the country here admiring the beautiful countryside, and a show in the evning featuring Cook Islands singing and dancing. It could hardly have been a better day.
I am very lucky to be here... I wonder if they need any aged radio producers here.
Yet for whatever reason I still feel a lot younger. I feel as if I am closer in age to a 29-year-old than a 59-year old. I suppose it is the lack of family responsibility.
There are things you think about on a birthday, but I guess I still feel as if my best days are ahead of me.
For all those who wished me a happy birthday, you'll be glad to know that I did. A fruity breakfast was followed with some sunbathing and reading, a 4WD run around part of the country here admiring the beautiful countryside, and a show in the evning featuring Cook Islands singing and dancing. It could hardly have been a better day.
I am very lucky to be here... I wonder if they need any aged radio producers here.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Day 17, August 23rd, Rarotonga
It's different to arrive at an international airport that is about the size of the two RNZ broadcast studios, and where there's a man singing, complete with guitar and sound system. This is Rarotonga which looks set to be the highlight of my trip.
Let me try and describe this place - paradise.
I have only ever once attempted a "lounge on the beach" type holiday before and that was in Honolulu where it was so crowded that I never actually once sat on the beach - no room! I'm not really a "lie about and do nothing" sort of person - just get bored. So I only booked three days here - thought I might just get over itg if I had say a week.
But I can honestly say this is the nicest place I have ever been to.
My hotel room is about 10 steps away from this beautiful beach. Gorgeous yellow sands, a deep blue sea with nothing to look out at other than sea and the occasional fishing boat. The beach has a few sort of lie-back type chairs but is deserted other than the dozen or so guests who are soaking up the sun. Right beside us a restaurant nested in sand which produces beautiful food - by a distance the best meal I have had on this trip was last night's - and specialises in cocktails. Not really a spirits drinker but as I'm here I have tried a couple - what a lovely way to ease myself off to sleep.
And it's so peaceful. I write this at 1015am local time (the next day) and all I can hear is a few birds and animals in the distance. I've just been listening tgo some comedy via my computer and reflecting on whether anything could be better - the wit of Paul Merton and Graham Norton, a cocktail and this idyllic spot.
I did go into town, mainly to convert currency. It's a town that is less than the size of Johnsonville. Yet it does the business - all the things you would want are here and the people are so nice and friendly.
I am sending a message to Don Rood to tell him I would be happy to stay on and cover all the major stories that are going on here.
I can't remember being as relaxed in my life.
By the way if anyone thinks I am getting slow at updates - I am actually 22 hours behind New Zealand time at the moment. So my birthday is still to come. I couldn't think of a better place to spend it.
Only two more days here though.
Let me try and describe this place - paradise.
I have only ever once attempted a "lounge on the beach" type holiday before and that was in Honolulu where it was so crowded that I never actually once sat on the beach - no room! I'm not really a "lie about and do nothing" sort of person - just get bored. So I only booked three days here - thought I might just get over itg if I had say a week.
But I can honestly say this is the nicest place I have ever been to.
My hotel room is about 10 steps away from this beautiful beach. Gorgeous yellow sands, a deep blue sea with nothing to look out at other than sea and the occasional fishing boat. The beach has a few sort of lie-back type chairs but is deserted other than the dozen or so guests who are soaking up the sun. Right beside us a restaurant nested in sand which produces beautiful food - by a distance the best meal I have had on this trip was last night's - and specialises in cocktails. Not really a spirits drinker but as I'm here I have tried a couple - what a lovely way to ease myself off to sleep.
And it's so peaceful. I write this at 1015am local time (the next day) and all I can hear is a few birds and animals in the distance. I've just been listening tgo some comedy via my computer and reflecting on whether anything could be better - the wit of Paul Merton and Graham Norton, a cocktail and this idyllic spot.
I did go into town, mainly to convert currency. It's a town that is less than the size of Johnsonville. Yet it does the business - all the things you would want are here and the people are so nice and friendly.
I am sending a message to Don Rood to tell him I would be happy to stay on and cover all the major stories that are going on here.
I can't remember being as relaxed in my life.
By the way if anyone thinks I am getting slow at updates - I am actually 22 hours behind New Zealand time at the moment. So my birthday is still to come. I couldn't think of a better place to spend it.
Only two more days here though.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Day 16, August 22nd, Washington to Rarotonga
I once asked a top American airlines executive why air travel hadn't moved forward at all in terms of speed. It takes as long to get from New Zealand to the US as it did 40 years ago. He was very sniffy. "Our customers aren't saying they want to travel faster," he said.
I didn't believe him. One only has to be around Americans a short time to hear "oh I'd love to go to New Zealand... but it's such a long way."
The true reason of course is the commercial flop that was the Concorde speedy planes between the UK and the US, and the reality that for all its glamour the airlines business is not a profitable one. They have little to spend on R&D and less inclination to enter into anything that might turn out to be another Concorde.
Still you do wonder. It took me abt 24 hours to travel from Washington to rarotonga. Should it be that long? I have my doubts.
Still I am now in Rarotonga where it is a slice of paradise...
I didn't believe him. One only has to be around Americans a short time to hear "oh I'd love to go to New Zealand... but it's such a long way."
The true reason of course is the commercial flop that was the Concorde speedy planes between the UK and the US, and the reality that for all its glamour the airlines business is not a profitable one. They have little to spend on R&D and less inclination to enter into anything that might turn out to be another Concorde.
Still you do wonder. It took me abt 24 hours to travel from Washington to rarotonga. Should it be that long? I have my doubts.
Still I am now in Rarotonga where it is a slice of paradise...
Sunday, August 22, 2010
day 15, August 22nd, Washington
Beginning to feel a bit tired - may have got too much sun on my bald head! Was the hottest it has been all trip today and it seems to have sapped my strength. Still tomorrow is the day I leave the US so will quietly pack my bags and fill in time till it is time to get to the airport.
Yesterday I slept in for once and made a very late start. Wandered round a book shop, Barnes and Noble, and bought some books. Then went out to Arlington National Cemetery which is genuinely hallowed ground. It's hugely impressive and the memorials to the great and the soldiers are interesting and in cases moving. But gee it was hot! I'm afraid I started to wilt walking in the hot sun around a large location.
I've said before in this blog that I love the way Americans care so much about their history. I'm sure it is something we could learn from.
This is my last full day in the US - for now at least - and I cannot emphasise too much how much I've enjoyed being here. I really feel I could move and work here and be entirely at home. Not sure if anyone wants an aging radio editor of course.
I'm also enjoying writing this. I've always thought of myself primarily as a writer. I used to write long letters as a kid and I got into journalism primarily becauser they would pay me to write. Ironically I now no longer write anything longer than three or four sentences as an introduction, but I still feel my main skill is as a writer. I don't suggest these blolg posts are especially well-written, but I've found that once I have started to sit down and write the words have flowed very easily.
It makes you think whether I might be better in a role where I did more writing. RNZ doesn't care very much about writing - or perhaps more accurately, has a very narrow idea of what good writing is. And yet the airwaves are a wonderful forum for wordsmiths.
One notices in the papers here that different styles of writing are encouraged. Sometimes experimenting works, sometimes it doesn't - but it at least gives a variety of reading experiences. I wonder if back home, and not just at RNZ but in the media in general, we might be writing ourselves into a corner where we put formula ahead of the need to mix it up.
In that spirit, i will write the next post as a series of limericks...
Yesterday I slept in for once and made a very late start. Wandered round a book shop, Barnes and Noble, and bought some books. Then went out to Arlington National Cemetery which is genuinely hallowed ground. It's hugely impressive and the memorials to the great and the soldiers are interesting and in cases moving. But gee it was hot! I'm afraid I started to wilt walking in the hot sun around a large location.
I've said before in this blog that I love the way Americans care so much about their history. I'm sure it is something we could learn from.
This is my last full day in the US - for now at least - and I cannot emphasise too much how much I've enjoyed being here. I really feel I could move and work here and be entirely at home. Not sure if anyone wants an aging radio editor of course.
I'm also enjoying writing this. I've always thought of myself primarily as a writer. I used to write long letters as a kid and I got into journalism primarily becauser they would pay me to write. Ironically I now no longer write anything longer than three or four sentences as an introduction, but I still feel my main skill is as a writer. I don't suggest these blolg posts are especially well-written, but I've found that once I have started to sit down and write the words have flowed very easily.
It makes you think whether I might be better in a role where I did more writing. RNZ doesn't care very much about writing - or perhaps more accurately, has a very narrow idea of what good writing is. And yet the airwaves are a wonderful forum for wordsmiths.
One notices in the papers here that different styles of writing are encouraged. Sometimes experimenting works, sometimes it doesn't - but it at least gives a variety of reading experiences. I wonder if back home, and not just at RNZ but in the media in general, we might be writing ourselves into a corner where we put formula ahead of the need to mix it up.
In that spirit, i will write the next post as a series of limericks...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
day 14, August 21st, Washington
did a fair bit of sightseeing today, starting with the National Portrait Gallery, tremendous, then wandered through the Gallery of African Art, and the Spy Museum. There's something uplifting about art. I say this as someone who flunked 6th form Art History. Portraits in particular are very interesting to me. Then some reading. Retired earlyish. Washington still seems remarkably quiet to me, almost dreamy... about to head off to breakfast and wake up a bit...
Friday, August 20, 2010
day 13, August 19th, Washington
wow - slept in till 830am and only just feeling awake now (writing this Friday morning).
Okay, the latest and final instalment in the bath saga. Today I went to have a shower and all the water gushes out of the bath tap. Could it be that the hotel staff are following my blog? Great. But I still can't get the drain plug to block the sinkhole. So I try to turn the water back to coming out of the shower. And I can't!
So I have no alternative to getting the hotel engineer to come up because "I can't run a bath"!!!
Anyway nice man arrives and pokes the pluggy thing with a steel pokey thing and gets it to go in. He was nice but I imagine he thought I was a moron. Anyway the long and short of it is - I had a bath!!!!!!!!
Yesterday I went to the Newseum. I expected to be there for two hours - was there four and a half - so long in fact that I ran out of time to do anything else. This is a museum about journalism and the first amendment which among other things protects the freedom of the press. In a way it was just as much about history as the media, but it was all done very very well, and very interactive. There is even a sort of game where you can discover whether you'd make a good journalist - I scored very badlly - "I think you could have done much better", the video machine scolded me. There was an interesting exhibition on the Oklahoma bomber, Timothy McVeigh, who took to writing letters to reporters before being executed. And a very moving film on 9-11 - I had tears in the eyes. Front pages from around the world... I loved it and don''t regret spending so much time there.
In the evening I had dinner with my Washington chat friends Flo and Bill. We were at a fondue restaurant where the food was cooked at the table. I hadn't realised until now that this is a very gay part of town, lots of same sex couples up and about. There was a nice yoing waiter with an interesting hairdo. The closest thing I can describe it as is like Marge Simpson's - it sort of went up in the air like a plump sausage. I wish I had enouugh hair for that... Anyway meal was great and it was very nice to catch up with Flo and Bill.
Today I am making a very late start - I want to try the Portrait Gallery and after that I might try and find a bookstore to browse in - I will need some books for the next tranche of my holiday.
Front page of USA Today - the number of reality TV stars who are running for Congress. Of couse they all say their reality TV fame won't matter to the voter, teehee. And the article didn't disappoint - yes the Republicans are making a reality TV show based on some of their candidates. It's impossible to overstate the success of reality TV here - the top rating shows by a mile are America's Got Talent and Big Brother. I saw one edition of the talent show and the performers were woefully bad - the important thing about so many of these reality shows is the opportunity to humiliate some poor slob....
Okay, the latest and final instalment in the bath saga. Today I went to have a shower and all the water gushes out of the bath tap. Could it be that the hotel staff are following my blog? Great. But I still can't get the drain plug to block the sinkhole. So I try to turn the water back to coming out of the shower. And I can't!
So I have no alternative to getting the hotel engineer to come up because "I can't run a bath"!!!
Anyway nice man arrives and pokes the pluggy thing with a steel pokey thing and gets it to go in. He was nice but I imagine he thought I was a moron. Anyway the long and short of it is - I had a bath!!!!!!!!
Yesterday I went to the Newseum. I expected to be there for two hours - was there four and a half - so long in fact that I ran out of time to do anything else. This is a museum about journalism and the first amendment which among other things protects the freedom of the press. In a way it was just as much about history as the media, but it was all done very very well, and very interactive. There is even a sort of game where you can discover whether you'd make a good journalist - I scored very badlly - "I think you could have done much better", the video machine scolded me. There was an interesting exhibition on the Oklahoma bomber, Timothy McVeigh, who took to writing letters to reporters before being executed. And a very moving film on 9-11 - I had tears in the eyes. Front pages from around the world... I loved it and don''t regret spending so much time there.
In the evening I had dinner with my Washington chat friends Flo and Bill. We were at a fondue restaurant where the food was cooked at the table. I hadn't realised until now that this is a very gay part of town, lots of same sex couples up and about. There was a nice yoing waiter with an interesting hairdo. The closest thing I can describe it as is like Marge Simpson's - it sort of went up in the air like a plump sausage. I wish I had enouugh hair for that... Anyway meal was great and it was very nice to catch up with Flo and Bill.
Today I am making a very late start - I want to try the Portrait Gallery and after that I might try and find a bookstore to browse in - I will need some books for the next tranche of my holiday.
Front page of USA Today - the number of reality TV stars who are running for Congress. Of couse they all say their reality TV fame won't matter to the voter, teehee. And the article didn't disappoint - yes the Republicans are making a reality TV show based on some of their candidates. It's impossible to overstate the success of reality TV here - the top rating shows by a mile are America's Got Talent and Big Brother. I saw one edition of the talent show and the performers were woefully bad - the important thing about so many of these reality shows is the opportunity to humiliate some poor slob....
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 12, August 18th, Washington
Bah! The bath here doesn't work. One of those plug-on-a-pole things that says "push". and even standing on the damn thing won't push it in. And then the typical shower - you spend five minutes at the side trying to get the temperature right. After that I forgot to pull the shower curtain aside so gave the bathroom a good watering too. Why do so many people like showers? Apart from anything else the shower flow always makes me want to pee which isn't a nice thing to be thinking in the shower.
It's election time in Washington - but no, not the Congressional mid-term elections. In a strange quirk of American history, Washington DC residents are not represented in Congress.
It's not even the general election for the Washington Mayoralty, but a primary to see who will be the Democratic Party candidate. But as 75 percent of Washingtonians are registered Democrats, in effect this is the vote! Signs are everywhere. The incumbent is being challenged and as often happens with intra-party struggles it's all getting nicely nasty.
Another interesting fact - 13 percent of Americans are black - but 57 percent of the Washington population. It certainly gives a different feel to the city.
I woke up feeling sick - barely touched breakfast. Wandered around Georgetown which isn't far from the hotel - swanky shops and cafes but a nice feel to the place. Cruised down the Potomac, then bussed round the city. Gave me lots of ideas for places I want to explore further. Tomorrow (actually today as I'm writing this in the morning) I am going to try and get to see some of the main attractions here.
Again - compared with New York, this place is so quiet and orderly. Almost too orderly. Do Washingtonians have much fun here? A third of the people are Government employees - and you'd imagine another good number are contracted to the Government. The other big earner is tourism. But there don't seem to be many tourists around at the moment.
The weather gods are playing games. The lead local news item was about bad flooding! It wasn't where I was though it did rain on and off all day. And we had thde coldest temperature in months. It really did feel a bit like home...
It's election time in Washington - but no, not the Congressional mid-term elections. In a strange quirk of American history, Washington DC residents are not represented in Congress.
It's not even the general election for the Washington Mayoralty, but a primary to see who will be the Democratic Party candidate. But as 75 percent of Washingtonians are registered Democrats, in effect this is the vote! Signs are everywhere. The incumbent is being challenged and as often happens with intra-party struggles it's all getting nicely nasty.
Another interesting fact - 13 percent of Americans are black - but 57 percent of the Washington population. It certainly gives a different feel to the city.
I woke up feeling sick - barely touched breakfast. Wandered around Georgetown which isn't far from the hotel - swanky shops and cafes but a nice feel to the place. Cruised down the Potomac, then bussed round the city. Gave me lots of ideas for places I want to explore further. Tomorrow (actually today as I'm writing this in the morning) I am going to try and get to see some of the main attractions here.
Again - compared with New York, this place is so quiet and orderly. Almost too orderly. Do Washingtonians have much fun here? A third of the people are Government employees - and you'd imagine another good number are contracted to the Government. The other big earner is tourism. But there don't seem to be many tourists around at the moment.
The weather gods are playing games. The lead local news item was about bad flooding! It wasn't where I was though it did rain on and off all day. And we had thde coldest temperature in months. It really did feel a bit like home...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day 11, August 17th, New York to Washington
DC - I've been here twice before and hugely enjoyed it and so it's great to be back here. It's such a contrast to New York. Everything is so orderly and quiet in comparison to New York, and the place seems almost deserted as you drive through the streets. Still it's not like that everywhere of course and I am looking forward to getting round the various things I want to see and do. A bonus surely is that the weather here is a fair bit hotter than anywhere else so far.
The train ride was again fine but indistinguished. It can be interesting seeing the backside of the various twons you go through as no-one cares what it looks like from a train. From that vantage point, the US seems a bit old and rundown - lots of old deserted-looking buildings. The recession is still a major factor here of course and the main reason I think for Obama;s continuing unpopularity.
Washington itself is very unpopular too. An article in Vanity Fair concludes the city is broken and unfixable. Perhaps. It puts some of the blame on the growing influence of non-mainstream media. There are some interesting stats such as 39 percent think Obama wasn't born in the US... 24 percent think he could be the anti-Christ! I find this sort of stat very hard to swallow - can there be that many gullible people?
I think I haven't written enough about Americans. I love them and am finding myself drawn to African-Americans in particular. The accent is wonderful... sadly they don't seem to think much of my accent...
So a travelling day. But the hotel is possibly the best I've been at. And yes it includes a bath! I must go and see if I can get it to turn on and off properly.
Hoping to see the Newseum today but my sleep patterns are really screwed up and I slept very little last night.... Still I have only four days here so I don't want to waste them.
The train ride was again fine but indistinguished. It can be interesting seeing the backside of the various twons you go through as no-one cares what it looks like from a train. From that vantage point, the US seems a bit old and rundown - lots of old deserted-looking buildings. The recession is still a major factor here of course and the main reason I think for Obama;s continuing unpopularity.
Washington itself is very unpopular too. An article in Vanity Fair concludes the city is broken and unfixable. Perhaps. It puts some of the blame on the growing influence of non-mainstream media. There are some interesting stats such as 39 percent think Obama wasn't born in the US... 24 percent think he could be the anti-Christ! I find this sort of stat very hard to swallow - can there be that many gullible people?
I think I haven't written enough about Americans. I love them and am finding myself drawn to African-Americans in particular. The accent is wonderful... sadly they don't seem to think much of my accent...
So a travelling day. But the hotel is possibly the best I've been at. And yes it includes a bath! I must go and see if I can get it to turn on and off properly.
Hoping to see the Newseum today but my sleep patterns are really screwed up and I slept very little last night.... Still I have only four days here so I don't want to waste them.
Monday, August 16, 2010
day 10, August 16, New York
Quiet bookish day... wandered around the Museum of Modern Art which was spectacular, then went to the Public Library where I skimread three books. Had dinner, went to bed early. Feeling a bit down...
I probably haven't described New York enough. It has an aroma - an aroma of sweat... and exotic countries ... and dope... It's busy busy busy... bustle is the word I guess. It is diverse but I feel the various races largely keep to themselves and do their own things. Lisa said to me the various races keep to their own and this is true in so far as I can see. Perhaps that is why the mosque issue seems such a hot button issue - no-one really understands the other races, despite the optimism that surrounded the election of the first African-American President.
It costs an arm and a leg to be here but I will be sorry to leave anyway. There are so many more things I would like to do. I had a visit to Coney and Staten Islands on my list. More moving outside Manhattan generally I guess. Still it has been a busy time and I feel like I've made a reasonable use of my time.
But I am bit down tonight... not sure why... sorry it's a bit short today but there it is...
I probably haven't described New York enough. It has an aroma - an aroma of sweat... and exotic countries ... and dope... It's busy busy busy... bustle is the word I guess. It is diverse but I feel the various races largely keep to themselves and do their own things. Lisa said to me the various races keep to their own and this is true in so far as I can see. Perhaps that is why the mosque issue seems such a hot button issue - no-one really understands the other races, despite the optimism that surrounded the election of the first African-American President.
It costs an arm and a leg to be here but I will be sorry to leave anyway. There are so many more things I would like to do. I had a visit to Coney and Staten Islands on my list. More moving outside Manhattan generally I guess. Still it has been a busy time and I feel like I've made a reasonable use of my time.
But I am bit down tonight... not sure why... sorry it's a bit short today but there it is...
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Day nine, August 15th, New York
John Cleese, as inventor of Fawlty Towers, gets told a lot of stories about bad hotels. One of my favourites that he tells is of mistakenly getting a wake-up call at some ungodly hour, assuring the person it wasn't he that requested the call, drifting back to sleep, and then being woken again by someone apologising for the first call. I just mention this because something similar happened to me today. I shouldn't really complain as I am in an expensive hotel, but you do sort of feel sometimes that as Basil Fawlty once said "I could run this hotel perfectly well if it wasn't for all these damn customers..."
In the US I sometimes meet people I have known in the past only through the Internet. This always worries me a bit as I'm not a great conversationalist really and you wonder if you'll like each other in person. Today I met Lisa Shirley who I haven't even been a very regular chatrter with for many years so I wondered if we'd get it on. But we got on like a house on fire. Chatted for three hours non-stop. She's very engaging and it seems our interests in politics and history, comedy, books etc are very similar. We even seemed to have a similar boss! I got the impression Lisa isn't following this blog - and who can blame her - but if she does look in, Lisa I really enjoyed our chat and it was great to meet you.
You fear being lonely when travelling alone so it's always nice to meet people and have a chat. I haven't really been lonely at all though - I guess this blog in part os taking the place of someone to pour out my thoughts to.
Went to see Jersey Boys this afternoon. Great show. It's the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and of course all the many hits got a good airing. But it wasn't just a musical where the storyline was incidental - you learnt a lot about the background and history of the group and some of their personal problems. They got a standing ovation at the end and thoroughly deserved it.
A reminder again of the magic of live theatre. The two shows I have seen have cost me an arm and a leg but I don't regret it (much). I remember there was a time when i wanted to be an actor. Sadly the shifts I am on don't even allow me to tread the stage even at the amateur level. I can't say I am a huge loss to the New Zealand drama scene, but to act remains something of an unfulfilled ambition.
It was raining again tonight... it was a very overast day. I may have to book into one of the many tanning lounges here, it seems.
The story of the last few days is the Islamic centre planned for a couple of blocks away at Ground Zero here in New York. The arguments against it seem to be that this is hallowed ground (even though a porn shopp will be closer) and that it will be a breeding ground for terrorism (does it make sense that terrorists would centre their activity on one of the most scrutinised Islamic bases in the country?) Obama jumped into the debate, saying they should be able to base the mosque wherever they like - and then saying the decision was for New Yorkers. Which shows I suppose that this is one of those emotional hot button issues that is resonating with the public more than you might think.
Tomorrow is my last full day in New York... will have to think about what I still want to do.
I feel like a burger...
In the US I sometimes meet people I have known in the past only through the Internet. This always worries me a bit as I'm not a great conversationalist really and you wonder if you'll like each other in person. Today I met Lisa Shirley who I haven't even been a very regular chatrter with for many years so I wondered if we'd get it on. But we got on like a house on fire. Chatted for three hours non-stop. She's very engaging and it seems our interests in politics and history, comedy, books etc are very similar. We even seemed to have a similar boss! I got the impression Lisa isn't following this blog - and who can blame her - but if she does look in, Lisa I really enjoyed our chat and it was great to meet you.
You fear being lonely when travelling alone so it's always nice to meet people and have a chat. I haven't really been lonely at all though - I guess this blog in part os taking the place of someone to pour out my thoughts to.
Went to see Jersey Boys this afternoon. Great show. It's the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and of course all the many hits got a good airing. But it wasn't just a musical where the storyline was incidental - you learnt a lot about the background and history of the group and some of their personal problems. They got a standing ovation at the end and thoroughly deserved it.
A reminder again of the magic of live theatre. The two shows I have seen have cost me an arm and a leg but I don't regret it (much). I remember there was a time when i wanted to be an actor. Sadly the shifts I am on don't even allow me to tread the stage even at the amateur level. I can't say I am a huge loss to the New Zealand drama scene, but to act remains something of an unfulfilled ambition.
It was raining again tonight... it was a very overast day. I may have to book into one of the many tanning lounges here, it seems.
The story of the last few days is the Islamic centre planned for a couple of blocks away at Ground Zero here in New York. The arguments against it seem to be that this is hallowed ground (even though a porn shopp will be closer) and that it will be a breeding ground for terrorism (does it make sense that terrorists would centre their activity on one of the most scrutinised Islamic bases in the country?) Obama jumped into the debate, saying they should be able to base the mosque wherever they like - and then saying the decision was for New Yorkers. Which shows I suppose that this is one of those emotional hot button issues that is resonating with the public more than you might think.
Tomorrow is my last full day in New York... will have to think about what I still want to do.
I feel like a burger...
Saturday, August 14, 2010
day 8, August 14, New York
Today it was sunny.
So I walked down to Central Park, wandered round for a bit, read my new book. Wandered back to the hotel, arranged show tickets.
Then I went to see the latest Julia Roberts movie, Eat Pray Love. It's about a middle-aged woman who can't really decide what she wants. Marries a guy, divorces him, gets into another relationship with another guy, breaks that off. Goes on a trip round the world - to Rome, to eat, to India, to meditate, and then to Bali where she has a gap-toothed guru. Along the way she meets other blokes but can't commit. Eventually the guru tells her love conquers all so she goes off into the sunset with her Brazilian beau.
To me it didn't work. It's hard to get a film to work that is really entirely about the most basic questions - what life's about? what is true happiness? I found it all a bit awful. Julia Roberts herself is as gorgeous as she was 20 years ago in Pretty Woman. But after that the movie sucked. Everyone in the film kept telling her that love was the answer - she even complains at one point "I'm sick of people telling me to find a man" - but she only believes it when gap-toothed guru tells her this in the penultimate scene. I wishe he'd saved us some time and told her that in the first scene. And yes I know that Roberts is an Emmy Award winner - but really she just wasn't a good enough actress to pull off the part. And most of the supporting cast seemed disinterested. She didn't seem conflicted enough. No it just didn't work, I'm afraid.
Made up for though by my first Broadway show. Kelsey Grammer (of Cheers and Frasier) in La Cage Aux Folles. You'll remember the mid 90s film with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, The Birdcage - this is the show it was based on. Well it really was terrific and the entire cast brilliant. Unlike the film this was a musical. Lots of great songs and wonderful comedic performances.
I continue to be amazed by the aggression on the streets. Witnessed a fistfight tonight as I came out of the theatre, but I'm surprised I haven't seen more as people always seem to be arguing here.
The big news continues to be this altercation between the flight attendant and the passenger. The news shows are all debating this like it raised great meaningful issues. It is mid-summer I suppose, but still - two tired people had an argument and one got very silly. That's about all you can say about it. Perhaps this proves my poor news judgement that I can't egt at all interested in this.
So I walked down to Central Park, wandered round for a bit, read my new book. Wandered back to the hotel, arranged show tickets.
Then I went to see the latest Julia Roberts movie, Eat Pray Love. It's about a middle-aged woman who can't really decide what she wants. Marries a guy, divorces him, gets into another relationship with another guy, breaks that off. Goes on a trip round the world - to Rome, to eat, to India, to meditate, and then to Bali where she has a gap-toothed guru. Along the way she meets other blokes but can't commit. Eventually the guru tells her love conquers all so she goes off into the sunset with her Brazilian beau.
To me it didn't work. It's hard to get a film to work that is really entirely about the most basic questions - what life's about? what is true happiness? I found it all a bit awful. Julia Roberts herself is as gorgeous as she was 20 years ago in Pretty Woman. But after that the movie sucked. Everyone in the film kept telling her that love was the answer - she even complains at one point "I'm sick of people telling me to find a man" - but she only believes it when gap-toothed guru tells her this in the penultimate scene. I wishe he'd saved us some time and told her that in the first scene. And yes I know that Roberts is an Emmy Award winner - but really she just wasn't a good enough actress to pull off the part. And most of the supporting cast seemed disinterested. She didn't seem conflicted enough. No it just didn't work, I'm afraid.
Made up for though by my first Broadway show. Kelsey Grammer (of Cheers and Frasier) in La Cage Aux Folles. You'll remember the mid 90s film with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, The Birdcage - this is the show it was based on. Well it really was terrific and the entire cast brilliant. Unlike the film this was a musical. Lots of great songs and wonderful comedic performances.
I continue to be amazed by the aggression on the streets. Witnessed a fistfight tonight as I came out of the theatre, but I'm surprised I haven't seen more as people always seem to be arguing here.
The big news continues to be this altercation between the flight attendant and the passenger. The news shows are all debating this like it raised great meaningful issues. It is mid-summer I suppose, but still - two tired people had an argument and one got very silly. That's about all you can say about it. Perhaps this proves my poor news judgement that I can't egt at all interested in this.
Friday, August 13, 2010
day seven, August 13, New York
The big American looked at me, baffled.
"New Zealand - that's about four hours behind us, right?
"No, actually we are 16 hours ahead of New York."
He looked at me again, like I was an idiot.
"You mean 16 hours BEHIND New York."
"No, we are ahead of US time - it's already tomorrow there."
And the punchline - "It's already tomorrow? But America is first!"
Wherever I go, people comment on my strange accent. When i say I am from New Zealand, about half the people say "oh that's in Europe, isn't it?" I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything different but it is all slightly dispiriting to learn just how insignificant our country is.
I don't feel at home at New York, not sure why. Perhaps its just the hotel which is not as friendly as the one in Boston. Perhaps being robbed has me wary - I think that's part of it. Or perhaps I'm just tired. I've being waking up at 3am every day - even though that is 7pm in New Zealand so it really makes no sense at all. Today I did manage to get to sleep again after waking early, but it has been ruling out ideas of going out at night - just too sleepy. I am trying to decide whether to try the comedy club round the corner tonight... Have had an early dinner in the hope of rejuvenating myself as i am determined not to waste time here.
Today I was very much the tourist. I did bus tours of the city. In part because the feet are still very sore - not sure what the issue is there. A bus tour is very touristy - but of course you do manage to see a lot of things that way and learn about them and it was one of those ones where you hop on and off. So I saw a fair bit and I know the things i want to return to.
Had a preliminary wander round Central Park but hadn't realised it is quite as big as it is, so will return tomorrow.
If it is nice I might just find a spot there to sit in the sun for a bit - so far it hasn't been especially sunny. Perhaps the weather will change.
Had a lovely meal tonight - the best I have had while i have been away. New York seems to be a city of restaurants - I am sure 50 percent of the businesses here must be eating places. I am going to try a few diffferent things I think...
Am really looking forward to the rest of my time here - just hope the feet hold up as I'd much rather walk than be driven everywhere.
Oh and Brett will be interested if he reads this - have yet to have a really good beer. Wuish I could have a cool Speights.
"New Zealand - that's about four hours behind us, right?
"No, actually we are 16 hours ahead of New York."
He looked at me again, like I was an idiot.
"You mean 16 hours BEHIND New York."
"No, we are ahead of US time - it's already tomorrow there."
And the punchline - "It's already tomorrow? But America is first!"
Wherever I go, people comment on my strange accent. When i say I am from New Zealand, about half the people say "oh that's in Europe, isn't it?" I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything different but it is all slightly dispiriting to learn just how insignificant our country is.
I don't feel at home at New York, not sure why. Perhaps its just the hotel which is not as friendly as the one in Boston. Perhaps being robbed has me wary - I think that's part of it. Or perhaps I'm just tired. I've being waking up at 3am every day - even though that is 7pm in New Zealand so it really makes no sense at all. Today I did manage to get to sleep again after waking early, but it has been ruling out ideas of going out at night - just too sleepy. I am trying to decide whether to try the comedy club round the corner tonight... Have had an early dinner in the hope of rejuvenating myself as i am determined not to waste time here.
Today I was very much the tourist. I did bus tours of the city. In part because the feet are still very sore - not sure what the issue is there. A bus tour is very touristy - but of course you do manage to see a lot of things that way and learn about them and it was one of those ones where you hop on and off. So I saw a fair bit and I know the things i want to return to.
Had a preliminary wander round Central Park but hadn't realised it is quite as big as it is, so will return tomorrow.
If it is nice I might just find a spot there to sit in the sun for a bit - so far it hasn't been especially sunny. Perhaps the weather will change.
Had a lovely meal tonight - the best I have had while i have been away. New York seems to be a city of restaurants - I am sure 50 percent of the businesses here must be eating places. I am going to try a few diffferent things I think...
Am really looking forward to the rest of my time here - just hope the feet hold up as I'd much rather walk than be driven everywhere.
Oh and Brett will be interested if he reads this - have yet to have a really good beer. Wuish I could have a cool Speights.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
day six, August 12, New York
I think that I shall never see
A thing as lovely as a tree
Until some bastard chopped them all down - Spike Milligan
In comparison with Boston's trees and green space, New York is all buildings and roads. That's impressive of course, in a different way. But you do miss the greenery.
Lots of walking today. About three hours of it and the feet are a bit sore though I'm not tired otherwise. I started in jandals, but it was actually raining when I went outside today and has rained on and off all day so had to change footwear. It's humid here but not exactly hot. Actually the coolish wind reminds me a bit of a Wellington summer!
Started doing a long walk around the area to try and get my bearings. I am essentially in the heart of Broadway. Times Square is a few blocks away and David Letterman's theatre literally around the corner. I would have got tickets but he's on hiatus. Still I'm also around the corner from all the big shows. Al Pacinmo in The Merchant of Venice looks enticing. Several big musicals around too, including such names as Sean Hayes and Bebe Neuwirth. I would probably try to get tickets to something tonight, but have decided to bathe the feet instead and try again tomorrow.
Spent part of the day with my RNZ colleague Duncan Wilson who is studying here. We went on a cruise around the Hudson River seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero among other things. It is 369 steps to the top of the Statue so I may have to give that a miss. All very impressive though. Duncan has yet to start his course in Journalism, but has been on an induction - in Nashville! And is off to Minneapolis tomorrow. He was very kind as always.
I am also in the heart of the media hub that is New York. The big TV networks are all nearby. My Mum will be pleased to know that the Fox News Channel is just a block away. I may get up early and wave through the glass at the Fox and Friends as I know that will please Mum, a fan of that breakfast show.
Hotel is huge, and - I have a bath. I hate showers and the previous hotel had only a shower. It was though the first shower I have been in a hotel that worked properly. Normally hotel showers are hard to get the right temperature in, so you keep jumping in and out of the water as the temperature changes. And they're positioned oddly. I am shorter in height than average but in Hobart, the hotel's shower head was positioned for a dwarf. And then at the end... they drip. But the Boston one worked well. Having said all that, here the bathwater all comes out of one tap and is hard to get the temperature right for! Most annoying! Is there anyone who wants a lukewarm bath? So why have that? I don't get it.
The thing I notice so far about New Yorkers is their aggression. They drive aggressively, they shout on mobile phones aggressively, they smoke aggressively - no furtive puffs as is the way in New Zealand these days. And they swear aggressively. They know how to use the F-word to such good effect that it becomes a pleasure to listen to. Back home, I remember we had a persistent complainer who wanted Sean reprimanded after he asked someone if they were pissed off. "My seven-year-old boy was listening", he bemoaned. I hope he doesn't bring the boy to New York...
A thing as lovely as a tree
Until some bastard chopped them all down - Spike Milligan
In comparison with Boston's trees and green space, New York is all buildings and roads. That's impressive of course, in a different way. But you do miss the greenery.
Lots of walking today. About three hours of it and the feet are a bit sore though I'm not tired otherwise. I started in jandals, but it was actually raining when I went outside today and has rained on and off all day so had to change footwear. It's humid here but not exactly hot. Actually the coolish wind reminds me a bit of a Wellington summer!
Started doing a long walk around the area to try and get my bearings. I am essentially in the heart of Broadway. Times Square is a few blocks away and David Letterman's theatre literally around the corner. I would have got tickets but he's on hiatus. Still I'm also around the corner from all the big shows. Al Pacinmo in The Merchant of Venice looks enticing. Several big musicals around too, including such names as Sean Hayes and Bebe Neuwirth. I would probably try to get tickets to something tonight, but have decided to bathe the feet instead and try again tomorrow.
Spent part of the day with my RNZ colleague Duncan Wilson who is studying here. We went on a cruise around the Hudson River seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero among other things. It is 369 steps to the top of the Statue so I may have to give that a miss. All very impressive though. Duncan has yet to start his course in Journalism, but has been on an induction - in Nashville! And is off to Minneapolis tomorrow. He was very kind as always.
I am also in the heart of the media hub that is New York. The big TV networks are all nearby. My Mum will be pleased to know that the Fox News Channel is just a block away. I may get up early and wave through the glass at the Fox and Friends as I know that will please Mum, a fan of that breakfast show.
Hotel is huge, and - I have a bath. I hate showers and the previous hotel had only a shower. It was though the first shower I have been in a hotel that worked properly. Normally hotel showers are hard to get the right temperature in, so you keep jumping in and out of the water as the temperature changes. And they're positioned oddly. I am shorter in height than average but in Hobart, the hotel's shower head was positioned for a dwarf. And then at the end... they drip. But the Boston one worked well. Having said all that, here the bathwater all comes out of one tap and is hard to get the temperature right for! Most annoying! Is there anyone who wants a lukewarm bath? So why have that? I don't get it.
The thing I notice so far about New Yorkers is their aggression. They drive aggressively, they shout on mobile phones aggressively, they smoke aggressively - no furtive puffs as is the way in New Zealand these days. And they swear aggressively. They know how to use the F-word to such good effect that it becomes a pleasure to listen to. Back home, I remember we had a persistent complainer who wanted Sean reprimanded after he asked someone if they were pissed off. "My seven-year-old boy was listening", he bemoaned. I hope he doesn't bring the boy to New York...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
day five - Boston to New York
Lois wanted more exciting posts so how about this - the first thing to happen to me in New York was - I was robbed!
Unfortunately the tale doesn't get much more exciting than that. I come out of the train station, a big guy says he has a taxi... we get to the car, there's another driver there, big guy says I have to pay before I ride, I question that but he says that's right, I pay seven dollars, off he runs.
The taxi driver - the real one was very nice, even called a cop and I wandered round trying to spot the guy. But long and short of it is there goes seven dollars.
At least that livens up a dulllish post. I came by train which took four and a half hours. It was a nice trip but I am not one of those who find train travel romantic.
I was going to write about showers... perhaps tomorrow.
Anyway I am on the 36th floor of a huge hotel... Gulp!
Unfortunately the tale doesn't get much more exciting than that. I come out of the train station, a big guy says he has a taxi... we get to the car, there's another driver there, big guy says I have to pay before I ride, I question that but he says that's right, I pay seven dollars, off he runs.
The taxi driver - the real one was very nice, even called a cop and I wandered round trying to spot the guy. But long and short of it is there goes seven dollars.
At least that livens up a dulllish post. I came by train which took four and a half hours. It was a nice trip but I am not one of those who find train travel romantic.
I was going to write about showers... perhaps tomorrow.
Anyway I am on the 36th floor of a huge hotel... Gulp!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
day four, Boston, August 10th
I'm not sure if this blog is going to sustain interest for the reader (I suspect not!). But at least it gives the people who care an idea of what I'm up to...
I had scheduled four days here but in effect it is now just two days for reasons that can be read below. Which is a shame, but there it is.
Today I did the tourist thing and did two tours, a coach ride around Boston and a river cruise. Both were interesting enough but probably don't transfer to a blog post. So I thought I'd put down some thoughts on the city.
I must say I really love the city. It's genuinely beautiful, especially the river and the harbour and has some interesting architecture. I got something like 22 in 6th form Art History so I can't claim any great knowledge of this sort of thing but I just found it fascinating. Very red, very bricky, very old and new...
It comes across as a very well planned city, lots of trees and green areas. The exception is the traffic which is very poor. Rush hour extends over three or four hours and is commonly recognised as an issue that hasn't been solved.
I hadn't realised Boston was such a student town. Students - I mean university students - make up a third of the population. Among the well-known universities are Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts. According to Wikipedia there are 52 institutions of higher learning here - 52! We saw from the river one of the largest tower blocks in Boston - and were told this was a University dorm! It must affect the culture of the city to be quite so based on students - gives it a young, but maybe also transitory feel.
There's a very bookish feel too to the city - perhaps that's why I feel at home!
I will be sad to leave Boston. Tomorrow I travel by train to New York.
I had scheduled four days here but in effect it is now just two days for reasons that can be read below. Which is a shame, but there it is.
Today I did the tourist thing and did two tours, a coach ride around Boston and a river cruise. Both were interesting enough but probably don't transfer to a blog post. So I thought I'd put down some thoughts on the city.
I must say I really love the city. It's genuinely beautiful, especially the river and the harbour and has some interesting architecture. I got something like 22 in 6th form Art History so I can't claim any great knowledge of this sort of thing but I just found it fascinating. Very red, very bricky, very old and new...
It comes across as a very well planned city, lots of trees and green areas. The exception is the traffic which is very poor. Rush hour extends over three or four hours and is commonly recognised as an issue that hasn't been solved.
I hadn't realised Boston was such a student town. Students - I mean university students - make up a third of the population. Among the well-known universities are Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts. According to Wikipedia there are 52 institutions of higher learning here - 52! We saw from the river one of the largest tower blocks in Boston - and were told this was a University dorm! It must affect the culture of the city to be quite so based on students - gives it a young, but maybe also transitory feel.
There's a very bookish feel too to the city - perhaps that's why I feel at home!
I will be sad to leave Boston. Tomorrow I travel by train to New York.
day three, August 9th, Boston
Went to the JFK Museum. This is a museum all about John F Kennedy, US President from 1961 to 1963. I'm a history buff and I loved it. It was exceptionally well done, lots of film, static exhibitions, recreations. You could see why he charmed so many people, and he had a wonderful wit.
It does make you think about our own politicians. There has been the odd pollie with a wit, but people like Lange and Muldoon were more into sarcasm than anything else - JFK seemed more engaging. And the wonderful phrases he coined - can anyone recall anything memorable said by John Key or Helen Clark.
The 1960 election between Kennedy and Nixon was a sort of passionless campaign in some ways. The main issue was dealing with Communist aggression but both candidates took similar lines. Nixon emphasised his experience as veep. JFK emphasised the need for new policies. He only just won in the end. Interesting to consider history if Nixon had won.
I rather thought the Museum might have a fair bit on Ted Kennedy who died about a year ago, but strangely it didn't have much. I rather think he was the most productive of the three brothers in some ways. Part of the museum was about the civil rights movement. Interesting to have a black man as President today.
Why don't we have museums in New Zealand about our leaders. I wonder how many history students in our schools could even name a PM other than Key and Clark.
The Museum is right beside Massachusetts University so I had a look around there.
then of course I got totally lost trying to find my way back home. Tried to get on a bus but eventually had to reverse my steps and go back to the Museum. Struck the same bus driver who looked at me oddly and offered her help. Americans are so helpful I find.
Have been swimming in the big pool here. I must look a sight with my pale winter skin and fat belly... oh dear!
Today was Museum day, I also wandered around the Museum of Science which is right next to the hotel and that was very impressive too. the centrepiece is a section on whales... I had hoped to get away from that subject!
It does make you think about our own politicians. There has been the odd pollie with a wit, but people like Lange and Muldoon were more into sarcasm than anything else - JFK seemed more engaging. And the wonderful phrases he coined - can anyone recall anything memorable said by John Key or Helen Clark.
The 1960 election between Kennedy and Nixon was a sort of passionless campaign in some ways. The main issue was dealing with Communist aggression but both candidates took similar lines. Nixon emphasised his experience as veep. JFK emphasised the need for new policies. He only just won in the end. Interesting to consider history if Nixon had won.
I rather thought the Museum might have a fair bit on Ted Kennedy who died about a year ago, but strangely it didn't have much. I rather think he was the most productive of the three brothers in some ways. Part of the museum was about the civil rights movement. Interesting to have a black man as President today.
Why don't we have museums in New Zealand about our leaders. I wonder how many history students in our schools could even name a PM other than Key and Clark.
The Museum is right beside Massachusetts University so I had a look around there.
then of course I got totally lost trying to find my way back home. Tried to get on a bus but eventually had to reverse my steps and go back to the Museum. Struck the same bus driver who looked at me oddly and offered her help. Americans are so helpful I find.
Have been swimming in the big pool here. I must look a sight with my pale winter skin and fat belly... oh dear!
Today was Museum day, I also wandered around the Museum of Science which is right next to the hotel and that was very impressive too. the centrepiece is a section on whales... I had hoped to get away from that subject!
day two, August 8th, Boston
A very quiet day. I am very tired after my 43 hour trip where I didn't really get much sleep at all...
Do some wandering around the area where my hotel is and sun-drenching and reading and the rest sleeping. I'm in Cambridge and the hotel is right beside the Charles River. It couldn't be more beautiful really and I enjoy sitting by the river, and walking around it.
On the other side of the hotel is a huge shopping mall so I wander round that. It is described in a guidebook here as "exactly the same as every other large shopping mall in the United States" and so it is. There is a big Borders bookshop so I linger there for a bit but I don't buy anything other than two Sunday newspapers.
With papers in New Zealand so thin these days, and the well-known problems with the newspaper industry worldwide I was wondering if the papers might be thin. They are a bit thin - it is summer holidays here to be fair. But there isn't much advertising.
Still there's a depth of reporting in the papers here that you just don't get in New Zealand. I've seen The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Boston Globe and USA Today - all to be fair, among the best papers in the country. But all are great reads, full of real reporting. What do I mean by this? Well it's three months to the mid-term elections here, and the papers are full of politics, but not the political reporters are out around the country giving you a feeling for what is troubling voters, not just the spin from Washington. The other thing I notice is that though Americans are said to be insular, international news gets a big run here. Changes in the Kenyan constiutution - the sort of story I doubt we would do on Morning Report - are on page 3 of thhe LA Times one day and prominent in the NYT too.
And the design! The Herald has gone for two-story front pages under its latest rethink. The NYTimes had NINE stories on its front. It was a bit of a jumble compared with the fronts you see in New Zealand - but you did get a feeling that you are getting a bit to read here.
Did some TV channel surfing. There are about 100 channels here but as I channel-surf there seems to be a lot of ads and infomercials. And religion and politics. You can see a fair bit of politics on TV here and its at a reasonably high level.
There are oddites though. I watched for a bit a religious talk show. There were two people, a woman interviewer, and a man who did most of the talking. He was very persuasive, articulate, charming even. His message though was startling. Obama is a socialist who dreams of a "new world order" where the US will be merged, firstly wuth Canada, then with the European union. He will become the socialist dictator of the world. It's all laid out in Revelations in the Bible. But it's all good news really because that will be the time Jesus will return to Earth. Although he didn't say it specifically, he was saying Obama is the anti-Christ or "the Beast". It was all argued very persuasively too, with lots of Bible references and news clips. We'll have to start planning our coverage on Report, I guess. I wonder if Obama ever watches this type of programme.
Do some wandering around the area where my hotel is and sun-drenching and reading and the rest sleeping. I'm in Cambridge and the hotel is right beside the Charles River. It couldn't be more beautiful really and I enjoy sitting by the river, and walking around it.
On the other side of the hotel is a huge shopping mall so I wander round that. It is described in a guidebook here as "exactly the same as every other large shopping mall in the United States" and so it is. There is a big Borders bookshop so I linger there for a bit but I don't buy anything other than two Sunday newspapers.
With papers in New Zealand so thin these days, and the well-known problems with the newspaper industry worldwide I was wondering if the papers might be thin. They are a bit thin - it is summer holidays here to be fair. But there isn't much advertising.
Still there's a depth of reporting in the papers here that you just don't get in New Zealand. I've seen The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Boston Globe and USA Today - all to be fair, among the best papers in the country. But all are great reads, full of real reporting. What do I mean by this? Well it's three months to the mid-term elections here, and the papers are full of politics, but not the political reporters are out around the country giving you a feeling for what is troubling voters, not just the spin from Washington. The other thing I notice is that though Americans are said to be insular, international news gets a big run here. Changes in the Kenyan constiutution - the sort of story I doubt we would do on Morning Report - are on page 3 of thhe LA Times one day and prominent in the NYT too.
And the design! The Herald has gone for two-story front pages under its latest rethink. The NYTimes had NINE stories on its front. It was a bit of a jumble compared with the fronts you see in New Zealand - but you did get a feeling that you are getting a bit to read here.
Did some TV channel surfing. There are about 100 channels here but as I channel-surf there seems to be a lot of ads and infomercials. And religion and politics. You can see a fair bit of politics on TV here and its at a reasonably high level.
There are oddites though. I watched for a bit a religious talk show. There were two people, a woman interviewer, and a man who did most of the talking. He was very persuasive, articulate, charming even. His message though was startling. Obama is a socialist who dreams of a "new world order" where the US will be merged, firstly wuth Canada, then with the European union. He will become the socialist dictator of the world. It's all laid out in Revelations in the Bible. But it's all good news really because that will be the time Jesus will return to Earth. Although he didn't say it specifically, he was saying Obama is the anti-Christ or "the Beast". It was all argued very persuasively too, with lots of Bible references and news clips. We'll have to start planning our coverage on Report, I guess. I wonder if Obama ever watches this type of programme.
day one, August 7th, Los Angeles-Newark-Boston
The flight from Auckland to LA had gone so well. Twelve hours flew by. I had a good seat. Air New Zealand's inflight entertainment service had six eps of Outrageous Fortune which I watched. A long wait at LA Airport but we boarded plane to Denver on time.
Then you hear them trying something. I don't suppose of course it was the same as a car engine. But it sounded like the noise you hear when the car engine is not turning over.... choofa- choofa-choof.... choofa-choofa-choof. Men appear (why are there are no women mechanics still?) and huddle together. They try again and the sound is repeated. The announcement: "This flight has been cancelled."
I had never had a flight cancelled before. I guess I thought it a reasonable decision. After all you could HEAR something wasn't right, and you don't really want to risk a plane failure in mid-air.
Coincidentally, I'd just been reading in the airport, a story in The New Yorker mag about cancelled flights and how it brings out the worst in people. There are many cancelled flights in the US, according to the mag. So I expected the negative reaction, loud swearing and shouting and so on. I guess though I also expected there to be a process - I rather thought we'd be delayed maybe two or three hours while a replacement plane was found.
But United Airlines really had no idea. No extra staff brought out, no plan as such. An announcement is made that we should go to the customer service counter - suddenly everyone starts sprinting to get there. Again, I'd have thought people would have been prioritised on need, but no - if you're at the frfont of the queue, you have the best chance of making another flight. A plea is made by one of the staff (there are only two most of the time to work throgh abt 200 people) that locals go home and ring Reservations as everyone will be able to get a flight tomorrow. She says the people they want to see are those that have no home to go too AND need to make connecting flights. That's me both times but literally NO-ONE leaves the queue.
The woman in front of me in the queue rings Reservations. She's a local. She is quickly booked on a flight the next morning, but they won't give her overnight hotel accomodation because she's a local. She therefore decides to stay in the queue to argue with the counter staff. I did wonder about all the people behind me with needs more urgent than hers, but she's determined to get her due.
After about two hours I reach the front. The smiling Asian woman tells me the next flight I can get on is 1045pm TOMORROW, about 28 hours away. My jaw drops open. "Oh that's a great idea, you can spend the day at Disneyland or whatever you please!" A day in LA in the same hot sweaty clothes. Then some luck. She is called away and someone else takes over. She manages to get me on a flight to Newark that night and a flight to Boston the next morning. That's more like it. She even manages to get my suitcase on the same flights. After that I hold out my hand and thank her. She's very grateful - clearly not many others were thanking her.
Still it does all mean a lot more time wasted at airports. Airports must be the most people unfriendly places of mass transit. You get the feeling airport companies know they're on an earner so really don't care at all about the customers.
So imagine my glee when at Newark I hear my flight to Boston is being delayed. Anyway I eventually get on, and worry about where my luggage is. I'm now on Continental... I am looking forward to running between Continental and United trying to persuade them to take an interest in my luggage. Magically my suitcase is second off the plane and off I go to my hotel.
Then you hear them trying something. I don't suppose of course it was the same as a car engine. But it sounded like the noise you hear when the car engine is not turning over.... choofa- choofa-choof.... choofa-choofa-choof. Men appear (why are there are no women mechanics still?) and huddle together. They try again and the sound is repeated. The announcement: "This flight has been cancelled."
I had never had a flight cancelled before. I guess I thought it a reasonable decision. After all you could HEAR something wasn't right, and you don't really want to risk a plane failure in mid-air.
Coincidentally, I'd just been reading in the airport, a story in The New Yorker mag about cancelled flights and how it brings out the worst in people. There are many cancelled flights in the US, according to the mag. So I expected the negative reaction, loud swearing and shouting and so on. I guess though I also expected there to be a process - I rather thought we'd be delayed maybe two or three hours while a replacement plane was found.
But United Airlines really had no idea. No extra staff brought out, no plan as such. An announcement is made that we should go to the customer service counter - suddenly everyone starts sprinting to get there. Again, I'd have thought people would have been prioritised on need, but no - if you're at the frfont of the queue, you have the best chance of making another flight. A plea is made by one of the staff (there are only two most of the time to work throgh abt 200 people) that locals go home and ring Reservations as everyone will be able to get a flight tomorrow. She says the people they want to see are those that have no home to go too AND need to make connecting flights. That's me both times but literally NO-ONE leaves the queue.
The woman in front of me in the queue rings Reservations. She's a local. She is quickly booked on a flight the next morning, but they won't give her overnight hotel accomodation because she's a local. She therefore decides to stay in the queue to argue with the counter staff. I did wonder about all the people behind me with needs more urgent than hers, but she's determined to get her due.
After about two hours I reach the front. The smiling Asian woman tells me the next flight I can get on is 1045pm TOMORROW, about 28 hours away. My jaw drops open. "Oh that's a great idea, you can spend the day at Disneyland or whatever you please!" A day in LA in the same hot sweaty clothes. Then some luck. She is called away and someone else takes over. She manages to get me on a flight to Newark that night and a flight to Boston the next morning. That's more like it. She even manages to get my suitcase on the same flights. After that I hold out my hand and thank her. She's very grateful - clearly not many others were thanking her.
Still it does all mean a lot more time wasted at airports. Airports must be the most people unfriendly places of mass transit. You get the feeling airport companies know they're on an earner so really don't care at all about the customers.
So imagine my glee when at Newark I hear my flight to Boston is being delayed. Anyway I eventually get on, and worry about where my luggage is. I'm now on Continental... I am looking forward to running between Continental and United trying to persuade them to take an interest in my luggage. Magically my suitcase is second off the plane and off I go to my hotel.
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