An ageing pākehā with middling sensibilities. Embracing the new Aotearoa. Born in Ōtepoti, educated in Tāmaki Makaurau, living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Worked at IBM for decades. Currently employed at an Unnamed Government agency. Left-wing. INFJ. Liverpool fan. Strong Hungarian links. I post a fair bit on politics. Not afraid to say, "I love Excel".
Public Key
npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Profile Code
nprofile1qqsqr9wz5sz84j6feqr6mplhaylpyeg897exvkkcggj7uaarlpk4hxspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsgcl8km
Show more details
Published at
2026-08-18T05:02:47Z Event JSON
{
"id": "3b22645d882e55c5d5eeeb2921876b7818e028b4f2b2352b65ad6d83e31616ed" ,
"pubkey": "0195c2a4047acb49c807ad87f7e93e1265072fb2665ad84225ee77a3f86d5b9a" ,
"created_at": 1787029367 ,
"kind": 0 ,
"tags": [
[
"emoji",
"flag_tino",
"https://files.cloudisland.nz/custom_emojis/images/000/218/982/original/a87b11246247df92.png"
],
[
"proxy",
"https://cloudisland.nz/ap/users/116412982975886890",
"activitypub"
],
[
"client",
"Mostr",
"31990:6be38f8c63df7dbf84db7ec4a6e6fbbd8d19dca3b980efad18585c46f04b26f9:mostr",
"wss://relay.ditto.pub"
]
],
"content": "{\"name\":\"Paul Hellyer\",\"about\":\"An ageing pākehā with middling sensibilities. Embracing the new Aotearoa. Born in Ōtepoti, educated in Tāmaki Makaurau, living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Worked at IBM for decades. Currently employed at an Unnamed Government agency. Left-wing. INFJ. Liverpool fan. Strong Hungarian links. I post a fair bit on politics. Not afraid to say, \\\"I love Excel\\\".\\n\\n🇳🇿 🇭🇺 :flag_tino:\\n\\nHashtags I often use.\\n\\n#Ōtepoti #Aotearoa #INFJ #YNWA #Hungary #Fortepan\",\"picture\":\"https://files.cloudisland.nz/accounts/avatars/116/412/982/975/886/890/original/d488884ad4adbf7f.jpg\",\"banner\":\"https://files.cloudisland.nz/accounts/headers/116/412/982/975/886/890/original/af69fa1c73ee4baa.jpg\",\"nip05\":\"[email protected] \",\"fields\":[[\"Header\",\"Kāpuka-taumāhaka, the mountain that watched over me\"],[\"Metafilter\",\"https://www.metafilter.com/user/24606\"]]}" ,
"sig": "ea270a1804a87a9fb8c369155b21d1a3e0811315374be99a3f1c123017c55becf1dbf6e06646d357a1c9dc6d7b528c77dc9051e6e3bd69e925b0cc9f82774f1d"
}
Last Notes npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer A fascinating article about how a group of journalists working for the Hungary state news agency quietly documented all the ways the news was manipulated under the Orbán regime. They have now released a detailed report. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…fh5u This YouTube clip about the impact of data centres in the US was a bit of an eye opener for me. There is real and widespread opposition, not to say rage, against the seemingly unchecked building of these massive data centres and the impact they are having on local communities. This rage seems to be across the political spectrum. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 When you are a follower of Trumpism, this is how you do politics - brazen, naked corruption right out in the open for all to see because there are zero consequences. The social fabric tears a little more and people's faith in our democracy diminishes again. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…tkzw So picturesque! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…fh5u It still staggers me that in the reporting of all these weather events, there is never any mention of climate change. It's especially galling when farmers tell their undoubtedly distressing stories of the impact of floods, etc. without any sense of their impact on it. To be fair, all of us who use fossil fuels in one way or another are complicit, but farmers, especially under this government, appear to have a pretty much a free hand not to face up to their role in the climate crisis. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer There is a story in today's Otago Daily Times* that the University Bookshop is downsizing to basically just textbooks as well as moving location. We always visited the bookshop whenever we were in Dunedin. Mum and Dad were also regularly visitors and many of the children's books were bought there. It is/was the most wonderful bookshop. It will be very much missed and I feel quite sad about it to be honest. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…xpw3 This is a very good, but chilling, article. I couldn't help thinking that the attack on "leftwing political terrorism" especially by Miller, reminded me of Peter's recent "snivelling wokesters" comment. It is part of the same pattern of denigrating, labelling, and belittling someone who thinks differently to you. His comment is part of the some broad trend of the right to demonise perceived enemies. And we all know where that leads, don't we? Chilling indeed. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer It is so weird to me that the response from National to its declining poll results is the need to "work harder". npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Landlords eh? Some of the worst people. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer We watched Under Salt Marsh (TVNZ+) this week. It's a moody crime/thriller drama about two child murders in coastal a fictional Welsh town facing fooding and extinction due to rising ocean levels. Lots of finely drawn, imperfect characters, especially the two leads, Detective Eric Bull, played by Rafe Spall, who leads the investigation and ends up having to work with a former police partner, Jackie Ellis played by Kelly Reilly. There is bad blood between them and their relationship is a key theme. But there are others, not least is the question of whether the town can survive. Some viewers said it was slow, and while there are lots of moody drone shots of the salt marshes and coastline, we were engrossed in it and enjoyed the not-frenetic pacing. Anything that involves crime and children can be pretty dark but this was handled with sensitivity and nuance. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…3eqn The thing about the scenario you paint - which I don't disagree with - is that it is very much how the world was in the 1990s/2000s. But we are beyond those times now. We need radical change if we are to survive the oncoming return of feudalism and the effects of climate catastrophe. Business as usual won’t cut it anymore. Maybe I am part of the problem by supporting Labour - which is very much a "business-as-usual" party. Dunno. Feels pretty grim sometimes. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer A fascinating blog post (Substack - you have been warned) about the decline in the share price of Netflix which is down some 50% over the past few months. The author, Ted Gioia, argues that the 'audience capture' strategy - get people hooked, spend less of programming, then raise prices - pursued by Netflix is no longer working. This mirrors my own experience as we no longer subscribe to Netflix because there is little worth watching - for the price they now charge. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…2gg0 @nprofile…fh5u From a policy perspective yes, National is aligned with ACT. But MPs are ambitious creatures and National MPs, especially any 2 term ones, won't take too kindly to having to make way for ACT and NZF getting too much of the spoils of office. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…fh5u This is, I think, the worst possible result in many ways. A weakened National Party vote and a rising NZF vote. ACT appears stable around the 8% mark. It is within the margin of error that these three will form the next government - again. But the minor parties, especially NZF, will be to carve out even more portfolios/policy concessions. Luxon is, as we know, too weak and lacking in political nous, to be able to manage any coalition, let alone one in which his party has only 28% of the popular vote. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…r769 And as someone observed on Bluesky he seems completely oblivious to any impact of H5 on our native birdlife. Because, you know, that something "other people" are concerned about. As you rightly observe he has no curiosity beyond dairy farming. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer In case you are wondering why ACT announced a former broadcaster as one of their candidates today of all days. Just the *worst* people. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…xpw3 @nprofile…5w5c I agree with most of your assessments, Leigh, but I struggle to see the Greens having the personnel to see through their policies. I think that when party members elect their candidates you don't get a broad enough cross-section of people. That's fine for a minor party - like ACT and NZ First - but I don't think it works when you want to be a main player. Don't get me wrong, I like and agree with their policies and think Swarbrick has PM written all over her. She is by far the most intelligent, charismatic - and effective - politician we have across the entire political spectrum. But as I have said before, I carry a lot of water for Labour for all their faults, many and manifest as they are. But I genuinely think a vote for Labour is the best way of getting rid of this government. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Speaking of organisations that attract the worst sort of people, this description of a former senior executive of Wilsons Car-parking does not surprise me one bit. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer They just attract the absolute *worst* people, don't they? npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer There is an article in The Times [paywalled] yesterday with the headline, "Trump administration declares war on bike lanes" and contains the paragraph, "The Trump administration plans to reject miles of dedicated cycle lanes in favour of improved roads and bridges for motorists as part of a war on “diversity, equity and inclusion”." npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…5w5c Lol. We watched it last night too, but we had roast chicken tonight! We liked the movie a lot: a bit silly but with a good heart. Some really funny bits and it was nice knowing you wouldn't need to avert your eyes. Lovely. Oh, and the chicken was nice too! I hope your Irish Stew was as well. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer In my opinion, a high-profile political figure like Modi, should not be visiting a country within a few months of a general election, even if the visit is only for a short time. It inevitably helps shape the narrative the Modi is seen to be in support of the current government. Which given his general right-wing philosophy I am sure he is. I don't think it is a good look. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This looks well worth watching. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 My worry is when the next pandemic strikes - and experts are saying it is a matter of 'when' not 'if' - and this lot are still in power we will have a disastrous Trump/Johnson-like response and thousands of people will end up dying. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Some terrific/terrifying drone footage of the flooding taking place in Kaikōura today. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…5w5c Those here on Mastodon who have chosen to boycott this World Cup have more than a measure of vindication because of this. I am assuming Trump only got involved because he was asked to by the USMNT management which in itself stinks. The corruption so blatantly on display by both FIFA and Trump will at the very least ruin this game. Maybe Infantino was, in Charlie Dempsey's immortal words, "under intolerable pressure"! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…xpw3 @nprofile…g4xt I have had a couple friends recently return from spending time in the Dolomites. They loved it. Sounds like a wonderful trip you have got planned. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 @nprofile…69x8 @nprofile…7760 You take care, Bob. From what you have said I think you are close to the sea. Hope you are not adversely affected by the weather and any flooding. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 @nprofile…69x8 @nprofile…7760 Looks pretty bleak according to this live webcam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EhuILHPmY npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer I have been quietly impressed with Iris, a macOS photo viewer/explorer. It can handle large numbers of photos with ease - my folders of photos has over 140,000 images. You can also point it to your photo library and external disks as well. Its real strength is that surfaces metadata to provide insights in your photo collection. For example you can set locations and then see all photos within a certain radius of that location. You can also tag faces/people in a similar fashion to Lightroom. A favourite feature of mine is 'photo trails' which map out photos from a particular day. But there are many other features available as well. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This is a great news story and should be celebrated as such. It's big tech I know, but some things just need to be acknowledged and appreciated as such. And it's telling that big tech is doing more for te reo Māori than this government. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…dt95 He just so, so very bad at his job. I can remember Ardern was piled on because she "just" had a degree in Communications implying she was a lightweight. But this guy, he just the worst. He would be lucky to get a job running a petrol station in Piako (no slight intended on either the job or the town, but it is about Luxon's level.) npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer PapersPast has a fresh addition of several smaller provincial newspapers in June. These include publications such as the Hawera Star (1936-1950), Hutt News (1949-1960), and the Matamata County Mail (1953-1965), but there are a number of others as well. Happy researching! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…tkzw Happy birthday, Shayne! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Came across this interesting blog post on my morning wander through the inter-webs. The post describes how , "the girly wellness aesthetic as a white supremacist dog whistle" and it makes a strong case for how the whole 'body beautiful' movement is really just a form of white racism in the end. It argues, "What this content is after is somewhat an image of the Übermensch - the one basically never sick, always strong, beautiful, fertile, white or white-passing, disciplined, hardworking.". npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…5w5c @nprofile…k8p2 I am with you on this, Bill. But I know there are a number of people here on Mastodon whose views and opinions I respect who see it otherwise. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This is the Greek Orthodox Churches’ Sacred Monastery npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer I just saw the New Zealand Gazette Index from 1840 to 2017 is available with full text searching. This really is a goldmine for anyone researching genealogy here in Aotearoa. The site is fast and very accurate. An absolute must to bookmark. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer My contract at the Department of Conservation, aka my Unnamed Government Agency, has now ended. Government departments typically off-board a number of us so-called contingent workforce just before the end of the financial year, i.e. 30 June. Especially these days😒. Things might pick up again in July/August for those of us happy to take contract work. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Hungary, 1980 npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Good grief! Or should that be 'good grifting'. More wearing of the social fabric as the rich and powerful help their rich and powerful mates with taxpayers' money. Like slavery once was, this increase is perfectly legal. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer An intelligent, thoughtful and nuanced article on public sector reform by Jo Cribb, former Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women. It deserves a wide audience. It is in stark contrast to narrow, arbitrary, and ill-thought-out, cost-cutting focus of Luxon/Willis. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer "Something is rotten in the House of Representatives npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This echoes Orban's Hungary in the sense of a legal framework being put in place to faciliate corruption. It is defintely mirrors the US where the donor class buys and writes legislation to suit itself that is then williningly enacted by Congress. Money and politics have always gone together, but it is now on full display, openly and brazenly here in Aotearoa. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 Like you Bob, I rarely quote toot. I recall when I first joined Mastodon there was a conscious rejection of quote tooting because it was used in places like Twitter to dogpile on some poor user. It was seen as a tool for harassing users. When that feature was introduced into Mastodon recently, it was done very carefully with safeguards built in so it would not become a tool to harass others. I think they got the balance about right. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer So Willis walks back her comment about those in social housing winning lotto. I wonder if she has the capacity to understand where such a heartless, wicked and cruel sentiment springs from? She can regret all she likes but deep within her there must lie such an emptiness and profound lack of humanity, that would lead someone to say such a thing. Until she understands that and addresses her moral and spiritual failure, her words of regret as empty as her heart. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Luxon attempting to rewrite history. Remember for the right, every accusation is a confession. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer One of the highlights from the opening session of the new Hungarian Parliament - and confirmation of Péter Magyar as the new Prime Minister, was the playing of the Roma anthem by the Sugo Trambura Band, a group of young Roma. Magyar had promised he would invite them to Parliament if he won the election. It was a very inclusive act and a clear sign that things are different now. It was very moving and several MPs wept openly. The band also sung the much-loved Hungarian folk song, "Tavaszi Szél/The Spring Wind" with many MPs joining in. Everyone looked so happy and even the odd FIDESZ MP sang too, even though the song is sometimes regarded as the theme song of the Tisza Party. The boys left to a rousing, standing ovation! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…pp76 I think this issue should be positioned as "Pay Your Fair Share". Tax has a negative connotation to some but the real reason we support increasing tax is to ensure people pay their fair share, especially those who are not doing so. Income equality has got so far out of whack in Aotearoa these days that I think the vast majority of us think a small percentage of people aren't paying their share of the burden, and should in fact pay more. These people are never going to vote for progressive parties of any colour anyway. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer A big shout-out to Lesvos Shoe and Bag Repairs at the main Wellington railway station. I have walked past there for years and never had a need to go inside. But I had a tricky repair of my wind jacket so I thought I would give them a try. They fixed it OK but their shop/workshop was a joy to behold. They must have been in the same location for decades and it shows. Old-fashioned sounds a bit patronising but the shop/workshop was how shops used to be: quirky, crowded, idiosyncratic but everything in its own place and a system that just works. Most of the four of five workers there looked like they have been there as long as the shop itself. It was like a step back in time and felt very refreshing to be honest. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This music video, by GENER8ION - STORM, has popped up a few times on my feed. While it is definitely not my type of music, I can see why the choreography, which states at about 4' 19", is highly rated. It's probably appeals to young men of a certain age and type, but is nonetheless quite masterful. I didn't enjoy much up until then - far too much male testosterone for my liking but the dance section is worth it. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 Finalyson can't stand Peters - their anomosity goes way back, and I think has a strong personal aspect to it. He berates Peters just about every episode of the podcast, Cross Party Lines. And sadly, Finalyson doesn't carry much, if any, sway with the National Party these days either - which he himself rather wittily alludes to at the end of the article. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Rob Campbell lays into Willis who is without doubt our worst Minster of Finance since Richardson. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer @nprofile…wj33 Oh no! That's terrible. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer I thought this much-liked post on BlueSky by Eddie Clark, a Senior Lecturer in Public Law at Vic, is particularly apt. We here in the capital know what this government thinks of us, but in the current circumstances, a little humanity from Luxon isn't a lot to ask. Actually, it appears far too much to ask of him. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Watched Luxon's reading his prepared statement outlining how he had moved a formal vote of confidence in his leadership, which passed, although by how much he didn't say, and how he talked about "everyday Kiwis" and what they are focussed on. Not that he has any idea of what it means to an "everyday kiwi". And of course his sniping at the press who are, apparently, the only ones interested in questions about his leadership. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer In my view Goldsmith is one of the most dangerous and destructive Ministers in this government. This is an appalling piece of legislation that will achieve precisely nothing except harm to the social fabric, give aid and comfort to the racists among us, and strain even further Crown-Māori relations. On the News last Goldsmith simply announced, King Canute-like, that he "disagreed" with the expert advice he has received that this is harmful legislation. There are a 1000 reasons to get rid of this government at the next election, but this is right up there near the top of the list. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Wellington Emergency Management issued this warning within the past hour: npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer I am going to continue posting some of my favourite photos from the Fortepan website here on my new Mastodon home. Fortepan.hu is a website with nearly 220,000 copyright-free photos of the 20th century, either of Hungary or taken by Hungarians. Most, but not all, are taken by amateurs. They provide a rich and detailed portrait of everyday Hungarian life. The value of these photos lies in their ordinariness and portrayal of everyday life, not necessarily their photographic qualities or merit. That said, there are many remarkable gems in the collection from very capable photographers whose talents, in a different time and place, would be more well-known and recognised. Examples include Anikó Gazda, Károly Vajszada, Sándor Kereki, and Zofia Rydet. They, in their own ways, are part of the tradition of Hungarian photographers such as Kertész, Capa, Brassai, and Moholy-Nagy, Fortepan is a remarkable site of Hungarian history and culture. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer There is a bit of chatter this morning of more political trouble for Luxon and his leadership of the National Party. I doubt anyone else the numbers to replace him but the continued speculation about National's leadership must be corrosive. It runs the risk of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy as people turn off an apparently threatened leader and poll numbers continue to decline. Oh well. Never mind. How sad. npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer This is my more formal introduction on Cloud Island. I am a 70-something semi-retired HR professional living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Currently, I am contracting to an unnamed Government Agency. I retired in 2018 after a long career at IBM and started contracting in the public sector shortly afterwards, which I have done, off and on, since. As I have become older, I have become much more left-wing and angry about the state of the world - some might even say I am 'woke'. Although I have lived in the capital for nearly 50 years, my hometown of Ōtepoti (Dunedin) still retains a warm place in my heart. I have strong Hungarian connections, through marriage, including being a Hungarian citizen. Our children are completely bi-lingual, one of our proudest achievements. I had four years (and over 11,000 posts) on mastodon.nz before moving here. So, probably an over-contributor! npub1qx2u9fqy0t95njq84krl06f7zfjswtajveddss39aem687rdtwdqjpjk4a Paul Hellyer Kia ora koutou katoa/Hello Cloud Island! I am a new member of Cloud Island. I know some of you from my time at mastodon.nz and I'm in the process of moving from there to here. I'll post a more formal introduction as I go through the migration process. Might be a bit bumpy for a while so let's see how we go!
