The farmer next door was busy yesterday. This morning I got up to see this and thought: rural idyll. 😁
Sigh. By the end of next year this will be our Council: Whangārei District Council votes 7-6 against adding fluoride to water supply | RNZ News.
Double sigh, as if following the US were a good idea, especially these days:
A spokesperson for Fluoride Free, a group against fluoridation, praised the decision.
Mary Byrne and WDC councillors cited recent court rulings in the United States as justification for their concerns about fluoride in water.
Kiwis : Submission Opposing Treaty Principles Bill:
Submission template created by lawyer, author and educator, Roimata Smail.
She also has a book — Understanding Te Tiriti:
Leveraging her two-decades of legal expertise in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Smail presents the facts in this short book in a way that is easy to digest. The handbook uses accessible language and beautiful design to make it easy to understand
Aargh, between anti-Money Laundering Measures and anti-scam and anti-fraud measures, trying to do anything relating to money these days, like paying for a piece of land, is a nightmare. Lots of proving identity, getting signatures witnessed, calling the bank and so on. 💲💲
I've been benefiting from these books for years. If you use Mac, iPhone, iPad etc do yourself a favour and learn something new. The Take Control Books Black Friday Sale 2024:
Black Friday sale, which runs through Tuesday, December 3 at 11:59 PM CST. For this one-week period, 24 of our books—that’s half the titles currently in our catalog—are half off. No coupon codes or special links are required; just visit our catalog page and look for books with a “Sale” tag (regular price crossed out, sale price next to it).
A shout out to JPs: we had to sign a paper form today and have it witnessed. Our local JP who lives not far away did a stellar job, with very friendly service. No cost either.
I think someone on Micro.Blog mentioned Derelict: Halcyone Space, book 1 by LJ Cohen. 📚
Although I enjoy watching sci-fi I don't always enjoy reading it. This book though kept my attention and I enjoyed the characters and the story.
I'll definitely be reading more.
I was already awake when this little shake came through. Seemed quite long. 〰️
They seldom have earthquakes up north, and funnily enough I'm going to miss them when we move.
New fish rite of passage for Ruakākā:
A multi-agency partnership is paving the way for migratory native fish to be able to navigate their way past a Ruakaka weir used for a public water supply. …
“We now know some fish, particularly those with climbing abilities, do get past the weir and its associated rock ramp …
“However, the numbers for fish that do not climb, including smelt, inanga and common bully, are severely reduced upstream …
NIWA and AFPS are working together to design and install a 25-metre long rock ramp fishway.
So many documents to sign when buying a house and land package. Luckily we can do most electronically. For that, Docusign is a blessing: the lawyer sets it up then it's just a matter of clicking on the yellow box to initial or sign, then clicking Next to move on.
Today's Pacific Wave Appreciation Society photo post. A busy sea. 🌊
Whale update: most were saved.
Most of the 40 pilot whales that were stranded on a Northland beach have been refloated following a mammoth effort from volunteers.
Whale rescue organisation Project Jonah received calls about 4.30pm Sunday that the whales were in trouble at Ruakākā beach …
About 200 people raced to the beach to help, and the majority of the whales were refloated and were being monitored by 8pm, Project Jonah said on Facebook.
Four whales died in the stranding.
Via: Rescuers race to help 40 whales stranded at Northland beach | RNZ News.
So sad the whales have stranded; so glad so many people are helping — Rescuers race to help 40 whales stranded at Northland beach | RNZ News:
About 40 pilot whales have stranded on [Ruakākā] beach, and hundreds of locals and volunteers are trying to help them as the tide goes out.
You probably don't want to read the this gripping psychological suspense
, The Door at the Top of the Stairs by Alison Naomi Holt. 📚
I nearly stopped early on but persevered through the descriptions of terrible torture relived by a young woman.
The whole book was problematic, with key characters who were bullying and coercive. The fox hunting that went on in the background also didn't help.
The following disclaimer at the end of the book probably reflects one reason why I was so uneasy while reading:
Another in a series I really feel comfortable with, and an author whose writing I enjoy. This particular book seemed a little less than the others though and didn't quite grip me as much — A Poisoned Chalice (Sister Agnes Mysteries Book 8) by Alison Joseph. 📚
St Bruno’s church is burning. … Was this the hiding place of the fabled Judas chalice? A priceless heirloom that’s been missing for decades.
The other day there was a hawk circling right by the house. 🐦
I'm thinking a lot lately about what makes identity. Saving this para for future reference — Japan’s gender-bending history:
Although the gender-bending look appeals equally to young Japanese women and men, the media have tended to focus on the young men who wear makeup, color and coif their hair and model androgynous outfits. In interviews, these genderless males insist that they are neither trying to pass as women nor are they (necessarily) gay.
Well, at long last it's official — all signed up for a land and house package at Ruakākā on the east coast, a 20 minute drive south of Whangārei.
We expect to be living there by this time in 2025. 🏡
So interesting! How we developed sign language for ten of the trickiest climate change terms:
Carbon offsetting … This sign visually represents the concept of reducing atmospheric carbon to sustainable levels. The sign begins with a “C” handshape to represent carbon. Then, using both hands, it demonstrates the carbon imbalance in the atmosphere.