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Thursday, June 30, 2005 / 20:09
aaahhhhhahahahahhhhhh i need to write mi speech
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i need to write mi speech but i hav no idea on wad to write it on and ooooooohhh the tragic tradeties! i jus ddunnowad todo mi speech on... i dunno.. chicken grease? balloons? bananas? the plastic thingy on the end of pens? wad about mcchiken huger busters frm mcdonalds? i dunno Oo.aaaaahhh i am soo stuck and sooo buggered! Oo wad shall i doo???
hmm... i know i can write a real good speech and everythin, i jus need a real good topic!!!!
ahhhhhh well im off tryin to find somethin to talk about (for mi speech that is)
and rememebr: I AM NOT SCREWED!
Monday, June 27, 2005 / 18:58
Mondaay da uhh.... 2-somethin-ith of June... or is it July?
hiyas!rite now i'm... doin nuthin.... i actually quite like doing nothing...
yaa.
so bye! ^_^
Saturday, June 25, 2005 / 20:42
saturrrrrday da 25th of june in da big '05!
didn't play netball today coz it was raining...umm we had another band come and play at our fri assembly only this time it was a band frm res of devon!
they were really good!!!
hmm i'm trying to write mi speech but i just dont hav enough juice in me to start! arrrggghhhh where has mi mojo gone?????
hmm the only problem is that i cant find a good topic... i just need that spark of inspiration....
on the other hand, my other project (aka mi new website) is coming along quite well... I've started planningforit, and i fianlly have a topic! i'm going to do it on the BLACK DEATH dundundunnnnnnn!!!! and its gonna bee real kewl!
gaaahhhhhh i was FINALLY able to download java and i played on runey for soooooo lonnngg!!!!! i was a lvl 8 but now imma lvl 15!!!! three more lvls and i wont bee a noob anymore!!! i played forsuch a long time!
and thn afta that, i jus sat infrontof the heat and started to defrost myself! gee its tru i'm tellin ya mi fingers are like ice!
and that is why i amgoing to be going rite now.
byebye
Thursday, June 23, 2005 / 17:49
Thusday 23rd of June... we had da sports exchange today
weeeeee we had a sports exchange wit highlands today! I was gonna play netball but bowls had no reserves [and our team did] so i had to play bowls! wahh i had no chioce but oh well i guess it is my fault bcoz i only told mrs moore today but oh well we only lost by seven points and our team had won all our games! ^_^ and the yr8 A grade netball team had won their fgame, and the 1st and 3rd fifteen had won their games also! yaya! and we also won chess too! i'm not sure about hockey.... oh well but the final result looks pretty even!oh yeah and i've added HEAPS of new songs to da jukeboxx..... kewl!
uhh... i'm not actually sure wad to say rite now...
ummm ohyeah thats rite stacey told me that we have NO HOMEWORK so yipppppeeeeee weeee i'm sooo happy! ^_^_^_^_^_^
well, not much happened today except for the sports exchange... so thats all for now folks! ^_~
lol
Monday, June 20, 2005 / 20:36
Mondiwaaa o da Juni 2oo5
whoa! the 20th of june already! seriously......!!!well, i haven't got much to say... hoestly i'm just trying to stall for hw.... but oh well... mee got a waaay kewl new layout upfor my own webiste ... no, not mctta, my own sitey! ^_^ it's at
http://serena350.tripod.com
plz visit!
the writing is a bit hard to read becoz of the transparency scripts, but there's an identical jukebox on mi site, and some of mi works too! ^_^
hmm gee sarah are you reading this??? if you are notsarah than WHO are you?????
well, i guess i musnt get too caught up inmyown websites.. likka SS and MCTTA... i betta start on mi webchallenge one... but i dunno whichsubject to do iton.... hmm which subject SHOULD i do it on???? talking about subjects... wad about my speech??? pplz would expect it to bee funni and all, so this time it has to be extremely good.... waiut not not good i am not capable of that the only thing i am capable of is absolutle OUTSTANDING!!!! mwahahahahahahahahahahaha
the MEEK will INTERNET the world!!!!!!!!!
O.o
yeah.
so anyways i betta go and get started on uhhh..... homework??? nah.
oh well cant think so laterz!
and rememebr kids: MCTTARIANS UNITE TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!!
Sunday, June 19, 2005 / 17:44
ERROR 406: file corrupt: config.earth -- reboot universe? (Y/N)
lol lmao rotflmao so you wanna reboot universe (Y/N)?oh gosh i'm so full i just had heaps of JUNK FOOD yippeeeee weeee yeah it was good but ohhhhhh my stomache!!! u noe, they should rename the hunger buster 'heart attack in a pack'!
yesterday we played netball against sacred heart in the rain and oh it was so cold and yet so fun coz we splashed in da puddles!
Goodness homework is due tomorrow and i seriously havent even started! like no nothin at all! well, like they say: all good homework consists of 10% inspiration, 15% persperation, and 75% desperation! teeheehee! ^_^
The minsterel [sry cant spell his name] is gonna bee on monday,but i'm not going which is kinda a good thing coz thn i can accompany stacey [if shes at skool tomorrow] but otherwise i can just hav timeto catch up on work bcoz i'm likka waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind.
so how doo ya like mi new layout??? it's called mist and it's made by some dudette named kyoyx [kewl name!] so all my thanx go to her! i really like the way how it scrolls sideways, not up and down. if u don't hav broadband thn it might take a while to load coz therrs like heaps of pictures.
speeches are our nxt writin topic... hmmm... wot should i be rambling about this time??? u noe its quite sad the number of pplz whoo didn't think that mi flying machine would work... you see, the trick to flying is throwing yourself at the floor and somehow missing. anthony said that he was thinkin of doning a sequel to his roadkill speech... i don't think i'll do asequal coz that'll look like i'm copying or somethin, and i HATE being unoriginal. I hate having to repeat simial speeches too, so this year mi speech will hav to be somthin COMPLETELY different frm all the other popplz, and yet COMPLETELY different to mi UFM [umbrella flying machine] speech frm last year as well... hmmm... this may get a bit ... tricky.
hahaha i was jus on ze internet and i found somethin really weird that george w bush said:
"they mis-underestimated me."
hehaheha that is just a crack up!
oh government these days - they think they're so up there and all - i mean no offense to da NZ beehive pplz - theyre at least remotely doing a good job... on the other hand... usa pplz... [i mean i really don't mean to be racist, it's just that they get all the bad media and all] well, lets just say that for every action, there is an equal and oppisite government program.
hmm... i'm bored and i wanna stall for as long as possible so i don't hav to start homework for as long as possible... let's think of somethin random.... shal weee? uhhh... oh yes! duct tape! you know, duct tape is kinda like the force - it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together! lol
well, i haven't got much else to ramble on about, so c yas!
and remember boys and girls:
therapy is expensive - popping bubble wrap is cheap!
Saturday, June 11, 2005 / 17:50
everyday's a saturday...
gee i wish! ^_^weeeeeeeeee as you can see i've added heaps of kewl as new stuff tomi blogg but noone hard eva comes here and i jus spent da whole day (yes, the whole day) on mi blog! O.o i wonder why. well i'm satisfied.^_^
weeeee i gotta new tagboard soif anyone IS actually here pls tag me! ^_^ weeeeee geee whiz i think i say that too much. but weeeeeeeeeee oh its so fun it say!
yawn** no much happened today. i hope tomorrow will be so much more interesting.
well, i've got like nothin much to say (i'm talkin to jeremy frm mi class rite now) (damn he just logged off)
okay so i've got nothin todo again. oh yippee.
NO WAIT!!!!! I have sooooo many things to do!!!!!!!!! (?!?!)
I've got to layout ze MCTTA magazine!!!
I've got about three websites to work on!!!
I've got to EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
byebye c yas!
Friday, June 10, 2005 / 21:37
Friday 10th of mmm uhh i mean june (I'm hungry and bored and i feel like nuking somethin)
Geeee whizz these months hav gone by f-a-s-t! I mean it's the middle of the year already!We went to the art gallery today, and we looked at abstract art and landscapes (well, more like both) I'm thinkin of doing all these wicked as kewl new things for mctta, but only a few pplz hav visited it... i need to promote it more! teeheehee! ^-~
I few hours ago i was sendin emails to oliver and lookin back on them, they were all very short! and yet i think i sent like 45 msgs to him or somethin... haha must of flunked his inbox (thn again maybe not coz he has 2.2gbs worth of storage)
uhh... i was gonna say somethin else too, but now i forgot... (oh doncha just hate memory loss! aaarrrgghhh)
thn i breifly chatted to jeremy, but he was really mean and he called me a retard which was just not nice so i stopped talkin to dat pwerson!
I also emailed cardinal frm runey about mctta... i hope he doesn't think it's spam or somthin...
weee msgngr is so fun i think i'm gonna get heaps of pplz email addys so i can talk to thm ova msgr! ^_^
gee i jus absolutely HATE this keyboard! i mean the spacebar is sooooo dead! likka i hav to press down on it real hard!
oh yeah and i added this new thing to mi blogg... it's this email me thingy but i'm not sure if it works or not... i'm pretty sure it doesn't work but hey it still looks cool! ^_^
whoo today was a day 5 but we still had tech which i find weird i mean why would thry be giving us another tech day on day 5??? huh weird. and mr mcleod said he'd hav a meeting wit da young leaders hoo were doin da ppt on our welly trip, today, but he didn't put that in the notices, and he said he was also gonna be calling for pplz hoo wanted to enter the netguide web challenge today, but he forgot that as well! if he forgets on monday, i'll just walk straight up to him and ask to be registered!
The devon idol pplz also forgot stuff today, or maybe they were just too busy to fit it in, coz we only like had three days of skool this week. they said that the devon idol auditions were gonna start this week but nooo they were wrong! mwahahahahaha! yaa.
hey and also alotta pplz don relise that we hav a mccta msg board as well, it's at http://mctta.proboard38.com
pplz should visit there coz we can all talk about tomatoes and random stuff likka that...
gee i dunno y i really feel like nuking some weird crazy unfortunate place (on the net) weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee KAPLOOIE! yay! ^_^ [gee i'm strange, but thn again, so is everyone else on this planet]
oh yeah that's right, i was gonna add other stuff to mi blog as well! well, i betta speed of into the sunset and get busy!
--reenie
Saturday, June 04, 2005 / 16:09
Saturday weeeee today has been gr8! ^_^
whoo we completely whipped Highlands Rata at netball today - the score was 30-11 to us! ^_^yay i felt soo happy and then i felt happier when i came home and check mi email and campbell visited mctta yaya weeee hooary so many pplz r visitn mctta! ^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
heres a list of pplz whoo hav visited mctta:
sarah
stacey
paul
racheal
winnie
anita
tahn
oliver
max
campbell
wwhooo and, stranger, if u wanna visit mctta too pls go to http://mctta.tripod.com it'sa real kewl site dat me and mi fwends made! ^_^ it's got tomatoes everywhere ow!
and we hav NO australasian tests nxt wk! whippeee! and we only hav 3days of skool! ^_^
also, ze devon int website takes aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssss to load, so i've made a whole new layout and it's sooo kewl! ^_^ I'm gonna show it to mr. mcleod on tuesday! ^_^
I'm also gonna make a new layout for mctta so keep on visitin da site to see if there're any changes! ^_^
gee whiz hav u realised dat mi posts hav bn gettin shorter and shorter????? last year iused to write likka loooong as posts! but dis year i dont hav as much time.
sooo... how r u? WHO ARE YOU?!?!?! teeheehee gee i miss going on runescape i'm liikka runey deprived... i'm still a lvl 7...
whoo gee i'm sittn here eating suga... well i haven't got nethin else to sayso laterz!
--Serenie
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Kids, Stay In School.
“This is stupid.”
“Ya think?”
Two teens stood in the dark, one keeping a lookout while the other worked on a lock.
The roads were empty and the streetlights were out, which was for the best. However, a deafening silence rang in their ears like roaring thunderclouds on the horizon, reminding them that sooner or later, someone would awaken.
“Dammit, I can’t see a thing. You got a torch on you?” The lock-picker whispered, voice brimming with frustration. The other teen rolled her eyes.
“Of course - I always bring my torch with me. Along with my First-Aid kit and diorama collection.”
The neighbourhood was obviously suffering from a blackout. There is night - when it is dark and hard to see. True darkness, the total and complete absence of light, makes the skilled lock-picker a blind rat, and forces her to feel around for the lock after every failed try.
Suddenly, a small snap rang through the shadows. The lock-picker took a step back from the door as she swore under her breath.
“You better have another hairpin along with that collection of yours - this one just broke,” she announced as she prodded her partner in crime with the sharp end of the broken pin, as if it confirm that she wasn’t lying. “Oi, I’m outta ammo here.”
A small grumble came from the other teen, followed by the sound of various items being shoved around as a hand waded through them, searching with increased agitation.
“What do I look like, Hammer Hardware?”
“Hammer Hardware doesn’t sell hairpins. C’mon Lisa, they’re going to be awake and full of caffeine soon. Lisssaaaa.”
“MJ,” Lisa mock-whined back.
Mary-Jane shuffled around impatiently while rubbing her arms. The icy, pre-dawn air was subtle, but there nonetheless. Her kitten heels made little clip-clop noises against the hard, cracked cement, which echoed through the night. Stopping abruptly, she figured the racket the she was creating was very unlikely to be singing lullabies to the people inside, and was very likely to be earning more death-glares from Lisa.
“Aha!” Lisa plucked a small, thing object from her handbag and held it in the air like a trophy.
“Gimme!” MJ’s voice snapped through the empty streets like bombs exploding on a mini-golf course. Spontaneous windmill combustion. It happens.
“Shhh!” Lisa flailed her arms about wildly as she scanned the streets for movement. Her head snapped back to face MJ, who had now covered her mouth with both hands, eyes wide in shock.
Frozen in place, both girls could hear their blood racing through their ears. MJ held the hairpin tighter in her damp, clenched fist. Senses now heightened, both could detect the slightest movement.
And they did.
Their hearts skipped a beat when a single floorboard creaked inside the house.
Crap. Caught. Neither dared to breathe.
A few more moments of uncertainty hung in the silence before Lisa decided it was safe to breathe, and then threw a fist at MJ.
“Sorry.” MJ whimpered with a sheepish smile. Quietly turning to avoid the mental darts that were being hurled in her direction, MJ soon realized that she didn’t have to reach out like a blind man. She could even make out a dim outline of the lock. Dawn was approaching.
Lisa sensed this too as MJ expertly inserted the pin in the lock, and continued working. Looking up, Lisa could define the telegraph wires from the murky, blue-grey backdrop. A gust of wind swept through the streets as the trees danced and the sky howled. Lisa’s limbs were numb and stinging from the cold. She began shifting anxiously.
“MJ, I swear, if you don’t hurry up, I’m gunna take that pin and sh-”
“Oh ho!” Mary-Jane gave a small laugh, careful not to be too loud. “You’re going to try and pick this? After knocking back shots of vodka in glasses made by elephants, I’m surprised you’re even conscious.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Elephants?”
“Elephants, giraffes, industrial trucks; it’s a metaphor - work with it.” MJ shot back. “You know - ‘go with the flow’.”
“Funny coming from someone who doesn’t even know how to have fun.”
“I have fun.”
“Yeah, I heard you had some planned for July.”
MJ stayed silent as she found the right groove to press inside the lock,
“You, on the other hand -” she started with a slight grunt as she tried getting the pin further into the lock, “- are completely borderline irresponsible.”
“Yeah right,” Lisa muttered as she took a seat on the steps.
“Your lips say no - your shoes, on the other hand, say yes.”
“They’re French; can’t believe a word they say.”
Ever so slowly, with almost microscopic care, MJ began turning the pin in the lock. Lisa rolled her eyes.
“You know, Beckett was going to call his play Waiting for MJ to Pick the Damn Lock, but thought it was a bit too dull.”
“Wasn’t Beckett French?”
“Well -”
Click.
Both parties shut up quickly as MJ slowly opened the door and tip-toed in. Lisa soon followed suit, then shut the door ever so carefully behind her.
“Next time we sneak out, remember the damn key.” MJ whispered as she made her way down the hallway.
“What? You were the one who forgot.”
MJ gave a slight look of irritancy.
“I was right; this was stupid.”
“Hey, you’re the slow-poke, taking hours to pick a single lock.”
“I am not a slow -”
“It’s a metaphor.” Lisa stood in the comfort of her own room and began to shut the door.
“Work with it.”
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__//mysites;
[timetravel]
[mctta]
[rrrfofes!]
[solsucker]
[deviantart]
[thegreatdepression]
[newtrialsgirfts]
[livejournal]
[bebo]
__//credits;;
[dynamicdrive] [jssource] [blogger]
__//otherblogs;;;
[silly sheeba] [homie] [anita]
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You guys. You guys. ♥ Sealing the Time Capsule. 48HOURS 2009!! And here we go again. That's a wrap! Now to symbolise my academic and personal rebirth ... spend too many hours watching manufactured realiti... Christmas at the Bowl 2008! :( OMFG I JUST WATCHED SIN CITY IT IS AWESOME
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R a m b l i n g s ;
Hear thee, hear thee pouring rain
Why must the sky weep so?
Only to soak and drown in vain
In pools of tears and woe.
As droplets fall from the heavens above
Into the world below
It rests in hopeful spirits
For there to be a rainbow.
We are but mere mortals
Mere against our world
And though we think and read and write
We discover unlikely pearls
Like a little thing called love
Only a fraction of our lives
And yet could strike down the greatest man
Through its piercing eyes.
For love is like the passing wind
To be free - and yet to belong
An unseen spirit that comes and goes
Accompanies the winter's song.
And when we die - that very same wind
That filled our souls with beautiful lies
Will come in truce, and finally, then,
Carry our ashes to the skies.
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S l e e p
Sleep, child, and dream
for night is dark and sweet
be not a soldier of the living day
to fall, to fear and weep
Spin, child, a cobweb
of kingdom and a throne
cathedral slant of eternal light
hung on this new home
Fade, child, away
for you live now within your mind
to be captive, but content
drinking immortal wine
Now wake child, and see
a life you used to know
of innocence, rebellion,
euphoria, resignation,
clarity, stupor,
and then the letting go.
And sleep.
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Contributors
Currently I'm...
feeling: AWESOME
wearing: AWESOME
listening to: COMPUTER HUM (WHICH IS AWESOME)
reading: SOME QUANTUM SHIT (THAT'S AWESOME)
watching:: MY OWN AWESOME TYPING
consuming: AWESOME MEDALS VIA IV INJECTIONS
wanting: NOTHING BECAUSE EVRYTHING'S AWESOME
chatting to: DEATH.
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Time Is A Fixed Constraint, But Sometimes I Wish It Wasn't.
5.
Falling had always been a familiar sensation in dreams; comforting, even. The knowledge that one could defy the realities of fear, pain and even death itself sat alongside the sharp, and yet somehow, gentle wind, reminding one that there was nothing beneath for support, and nothing above to hang on to.
If one were to embrace all these sensations and just forget, then maybe, just maybe, one will reach a state of weightlessness and be at peace with the world.
4.
The cliff-edge was supposed to be a dare of sorts. Both where living their days over and once again, and needed the fear; the adrenalin --
(You scared? She was ten steps out.
You suicidal? He was nine steps behind.
Only in the mornings.
Oh, well that's okay then.)
-- rush. The overwhelming overload of the senses to remind them that they were still youthful (and alive).
(Race ya to the top?
If you don't mind getting beaten, sure.)
3.
They were silent in the car. But sometimes, silence isn't such a good, social thing.
(Why the hell did you rent a four-wheel-drive? He said, sounding positively pissed.
Wow, that was random. Mind filling me in on the imaginary hypothetical conversation that took place before this?
He paused.
I'm just saying, these things are dangerous.
Four-by-fours have good mileage.
Four-by-fours kill people.
Four-by-fours don't kill people, stupid; people kill people.
Sure - people driving four-by-fours.
You don't need people.
Are we still talking about the car?
Do you need people?
No.
Neither.
Good.)
Other times, silence was best.
2.
One hour and forty-five minutes after meeting --
(You're not scared? He piped up after another moment's silence.
What's there to be scared about? She kept a tight leash on her voice, as it cannot (will not) falter.
"Nothing," he lied.)
-- he knew her favourite sport, favourite food and what she wanted to be later on in life.
Dancing. Blueberry pancakes. Alive.
1.
"SHUT UP! Both of you, out!"
"But she started it-"
"I don't care! Out!"
The bus screeched to a halt, stopped, then drove off - leaving two people behind with angst-ridden faces.
Now what? The girl dropped her backpack.
It's got to be something like 10 kilometres to the next town.
Whoohoo.
He rolled his eyes.
Oh - look at the time, he said without bothering to look at his watch, I really have to get going.
Wait up - I'll come with.
Another eye roll.
Look, you're annoying and you got us thrown off the bus. Now go away.
She pouted.
Has anyone ever punched you lately?
It's been a month. Two more weeks and I win a set of steak knives!
Not if I have anything to do with it.
Ow!
She laughed as he protested further.
"Go away!"
0.
Falling had always been a familiar sensation; comforting, even.
It didn't matter how it happened; just that it happened. It was not like how it always is in books and movies - time does not slow down. It's a simple trip, a simple fall; a simple end. Your life does not flash before you. There simply is no time. No time to focus on the past; nor any time to think of the future. All there is, is a moment. A moment of bittersweet emotions and familiar sensations. Of nothing above and nothing below. Of weightlessness. No thoughts. Just peace.
She did not have time to react. No time to scream out his name or make a desperate grab at thin air. All she could do is crawl towards the cliff edge (oh please, please, please not him, not him, not there, not fallen, no,) and look.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this." She couldn't bring herself to say.
"I know." He didn't reply.
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New Zealand: Clean, Green, Polluting Machine; Choose Two.
Out along the beautiful and unpolluted beaches of New Zealand are friends, families; lying in the sun and breathing in the cool, fresh air – taking a much needed rest after their flight with Air New Zealand, or Qantas, depending on which brochure you’re reading.
Our country's 'clean and green' image does wonders for our exporting and tourism industries. However, the rise of a hot new topic, global warming, has forced us all to consider: are acts of propaganda in play? Is this statement still valid? How do we know who to trust? Is there any way I could cash in on this?
"But Serena! I reduce, reuse and recycle everyday! Plus, my front lawn is totally clean and green and very well trimmed! How dare they question our image!"
Well, you are not alone. There is a group of people who are not politicians, but are still questioning the validity of 'global warming'. They suggest that global warming was an idea concocted by government officials to fool the public and keep them under control. I'm not sure how panic equals control, but hey, who knows what the men in suits feed themselves with these days.
With all these different views and opinions, it can be confusing, and sometimes traumatizing; to research, investigate and pull apart truth from lies, and make an informed decision. I advise therapy. For those who are much too cheap to afford it, read on.
The Facts
It was mid-2003 when Statistics NZ released its shiny new Energy, Economy and Emissions report. The highlights in change between 1997 and 2003 include:
- New Zealand's total carbon dioxide emissions have increased by over 21%
- Total carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions increased at a pace greater than economic growth (as measured by the GDP)
- The petroleum and chemical industries were New Zealand's most energy intensive.
- Emissions from refining petrol increased by over 27%
- New Zealand's food and beverage industry's carbon dioxide emissions increased at a rate greater than its contribution to our economy
- The mining industry's carbon dioxide emissions went up by 20%
- The fishing industry's energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions increased at a rate greater than its contribution to our economic growth
"So what does it all mean?"
In two words: bad news. Our greenhouse emissions are clearly rising at quite an impressive speed. This constant but booming rise is further confirmed by the NZ Meteorological Service's 1991 Emissions report, in which that shows New Zealand's carbon dioxide levels increasing over 25% since the 18th Century. Also, our methane emissions have more than doubled.
In addition, households were found to be the largest users of energy, accounting for approximately 32% of total consumer demand. Energy import volumes (crude oil, refined petroleum oils and coal) increased by nearly 48%, while the proportion of consumer demand of non-renewable resources increased to nearly 82%. Our energy use per capita has also risen by 13%.
Furthermore, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) 2007 Environmental report for New Zealand shows that our GDP has risen a whopping 30% in the last decade (yay). Our carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide levels, however, are rising faster than that (nay). Long story short; we pollute air faster than we get rich.
In 2003, households - from the use of private motor vehicles alone - emitted 78% of total carbon monoxide emissions. Now let me tell you something about carbon monoxide - it's crazy-scary stuff. It is so scary; I've pulled it out of the footnotes altogether and given it a paragraph to itself. Yeah, wow.
Not only is carbon monoxide a greenhouse gas, it is too, a suffocating gas like its brother, carbon dioxide. Only difference? It's worse - much, much worse. You know how "you can't live without love"? Oxygen is even more important. As carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream, it kicks off the oxygen molecules and hitch-hikes a free ride on the red-blood cells, eventually suffocating the body. During this, the body turns a cherry pink colour. You sure wouldn't want this stuff floating in the air.
"Okay, okay - we get it. Our environment is heading downhill and deteriorating fast. But no way are we as bad as larger countries; i.e., the United States."
Yes, in fact, you would be correct. According to the CIA World Factbook, New Zealand only ranks as the 62nd highest country of oil consumption. For natural gas consumption, we are ranked 60th.
Even though we emit 8.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita (according to the OECD Environmental Data Compendium 2004), our 75.09 million tonnes of greenhouse gases can hardly compare with USA's staggering 7067.57 (million tonnes).
The plain truth is, we are in a country of four million (versus the 6.6 billion - the approximate world population estimated for July 2007), with 268,680 square kilometres of land (versus the 510,072,000 square kilometres in the world) - there is only so much we can affect. One cannot deny the fact that if you light a bonfire in New Zealand today, the world will not flood tomorrow.
Putting it in Perspective
So, is New Zealand's clean and green image true or false?
Answering this question correctly all depends on which way you view it. If one is comparing New Zealand's environment to that of the rest of the world, the yes, we are undoubtedly "cleaner". Also, whatever horrible substances that we could emit, probably won't do much damage at all on a global scale (unless we tried really, really hard).
However, this doesn’t mean that we truly are ‘clean and green’ - it just means that everyone else is, well, dirty and… brown. Compared to how our country used to be, it's clear that our environment is indeed growing more problematic. This needs to be addressed.
To put it simply, environmentally on a world-wide scale: we rock. We are the clean-and-green New Zealand and nothing can stop us! Nothing but ourselves, of course. Our image does not excuse us from our duty to save our environment.
Off those couches you go!
Saving the World 101
Climate change is funny in that there'll be all these people debating over who's right or wrong, plus all these other people who are just simply befuddled. Then there'll be all these riots, stampedes and Internet discussion forums going crazy. Meanwhile, it's raining acid and the ice caps are melting! Oh, and Mars is laughing at us too.
"But that's horrible! How on Earth can we stop it?"
Glad you asked, as I have compiled a simple, foolproof, 9-step guide to save the world.
Step 1: Reduce, reuse and recycle. If you have never heard of this before, then shame on you.
Step 2: Change a light bulb. Heck, change them all. But make sure to change your regular incandescent to a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). CFLs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, but use two-thirds less energy. Nifty.
Step 3: Insulation is your friend. Then you don't have to use so much power on heating the massive fridge (a.k.a. your house in winter).
Step 4: Turn off that air conditioning! Too hot in summer? Ah, yes, but that's why God invented windows.
Step 5: Hot water is for wimps. Okay, I'm not saying "NEVER HAVE A HOT SHOWER EVER AGAIN", but do cut down on hot water usage in general.
Step 6: The holy "off" switch. Amazingly, that "use it or lose it" saying only goes for your brain and your muscles. Your appliances, however, could use a break.
Step 7: Energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly products are totally radical. Avoid products that come with excess packaging.
Step 8: Plant a tree. In fact, plant three.
Step 9: Walk/bike/scooter/roller-skate whenever possible. Driving a car to school when it’s only a couple of blocks down the road is like sending a text message to a friend who is already in the same room.
"Foolproof?"
Well, foolproof if you get each and every person in the world to do the same thing. It's a bit like that trick with influencing the Earth's spin - if you get each and every person in the world to jump at exactly the same time, there's bound to be some disturbance.
"But how is this jumping relevant to global warming?"
Funny, you always seem to ask the right questions.
Global warming is exactly what its name suggests: it is a global process. Thus, reversing this process will also require global effort. Getting our (and not just our country's but our world's) climate back to the status quo will require the co-operation of every country.
Even though our 'clean and green' image is technically true compared to other countries, it is not true compared to our past, and does not excuse us in any way of helping put a halt to (or at least slow down) climate change. We may be the "clean and green" New Zealand, but our environment needs protecting.
Now go hug a tree or something.
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\\blogspot\schen\chicken
Why did the chicken cross the road?
DR. PHIL :
The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.
OPRAH :
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
GEORGE W. BUSH :
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here!!
COLIN POWELL :
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...
ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
JOHN KERRY :
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
NANCY GRACE :
That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
MARTHA STEWART :
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR SEUSS :
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY :
To die in the rain. Alone.
JERRY FALWELL :
Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boy-cott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side'. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.
GRANDPA :
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
BARBARA WALTERS :
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.
JOHN LENNON :
Imagine all the chickens, crossing roads in peace; eeee EEE eee-eee eee.
ARISTOTLE :
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
BILL GATES :
I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% ....... 'Reboot'.
ALBERT EINSTEIN :
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
BILL CLINTON :
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken.
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\\blogspot\schen\soundtrack
Opening Credits: Massive Attack - Everywhen
Waking Up: Delta Goodrem - Born to Try, Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning, Aqua - Good Morning Sunshine, Massive Attack - Protection
First Day At School: OMG - How Bizzare, Hairspray - The Nicest Kids in Town, Relient K - Chap Stick, Capped Lips and Things Like Chemistry,
Falling In Love: Damien Rice - Delicate, Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis - Crusin', A Fine Frenzy - You Picked Me, Garbage - #1 Crush, Sugarcult - Bouncing Off The Walls Again, Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Something Stupid, Liz Phair - Why Can't I Breathe, Breaking Benjamin - Rain, Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me, Yellowcard - Only One
Fight Song: MCR - Mama, Shihad - Bullitproof, Three Days Grace - Home, Evanescence - Lies, 300 Soundtrack - The Hot Gates
Breaking Up: Three Days Grace - Gone Forever, Goodnight Nurse - My Only, Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover, Three Days Grace - It's All Over, Delta Goodrem - Lost Without You, Linkin Park - Don't Stay
Prom: Lily Allen - LDN, Bowling For Soup - 1985, Goodnight Nurse - Death Goes to Disco
After Prom Party: KoRn - Word Up, Fast Crew - I Got, Disturbed - Stricken, Nickelback - Favourite Damn Disease, Frou Frou - Holding Out For A Hero, Goldfrapp - Crystalline Green, Patea Maori Club & Dalvanius - Poi E, Pink - U + Ur Hand, Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get Retarded, The Chemical Brothers feat. Fatlip - The Salmon Dance
Anthem: MCR - Teenagers
Life: Goodshirt - Sophie, The Corrs - All In A Day, Seether - Fake It, Spidey Soundtrack - Hero, Creed - With Arms Wide Open, Audioslave - Like A Stone, The Used - Pretty Handsome Awkward, Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton - Big Yellow Taxi, Lemon Demon - The Ultimate Sowdown of Ultimate Destiny, Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia, Charlene - I've Never Been to Me, Rooster - Come Get Some
Mental Breakdown: Runescape music player, The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism, Eminem - Just Lose It
Breaking Out of Jail: Chicago - Cellblock Tango, Nickelback - Savin' Me, Evanescence - Eternal, Lemon Jelly - Soft, Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack - When Doves Cry
Chase Scene: Rob Dougan - I'm Not Driving Anymore
Driving (ROADTRIP!): Radiohead - House Of Cards, Bic Runga - Get Some Sleep, Kora - Burning, Fall Out Bot - Bang The Doldrums, Michael Penn - Walter Reed, Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
Flashback: Alien Ant Farm - Glow, Big Brovaz - Nu Flow, Creed - My Sacrifice, Sophie Ellis Bextor - Take Me Home, Aqua - Turn Back Time, Fall Out Boy - A Little Less 16 Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me', Daniel Powter - Bad Day, Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart
Getting Back Together: Radiohead - All I Need, Seether feat. Amy Lee - Broken, Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long, The Chordettes - Lollipop, Cascada - Everytime We Touch, Tori Amos - 1000 Oceans
Taking Over The World: Garbage - The World Is Not Enough
Wedding: Shania Twain - From This Moment, Tom Jones - Thunderball, Wannadies - You And Me Song, JerryC - Canon in D (Rock Version), Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
Birth of Child: Train - Ordinary
Revisiting Old Places: The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright
Final Battle: Evanescence - Sweet Sacrifice, Europe - The Final Countdown, Breaking Benjamin - Unknown Soldier, 30 Seconds From Mars - From Yesterday, Dave Matthews Band - When The World Ends (Paul Oakenfield Mix)
Death Scene: Lemon Demon - The Song You Hear When You Die, Avril Lavigne - I'm With You, Vienna Boys Choir - Ave Maria, Three Days Grace - Time of Dying
Funeral Song: Massive Attack - Teardrop, Linkin Park - What I've Done, Linkin Park - Valentine's Day, Kelly Clarkson - O Holy Night, Garbage - Afterglow, Bob Marley - Three Little Birds, Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
End Credits: Spirited Away Soundtrack - One Summer's Day, Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood, Brahms - Trio In A Minor For Viola, Cello And Piano - Op. 114 - Allegro, Arethra Franklin - Respect, Foo Fighters - DOA, Ravel - Bolero
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