It’s been two weeks since I officially launched Pacific Empire, although I’d been working on it on and off for months. Since that time we’ve had several hundred visits, and incoming links from Not PC, Kiwiblog, New Zeal, Crog’s Blog, tdaxp, Pukeko, and of course Lovelee. Thanks all. I also thank the anonymous donors who are funding and hosting us in return for our participation in the pledge card debate

Seriously, though, I am proud of our contribution to the pledge card debate, which included Luke emailing every MP and minister about the proposed “validating” legislation and reporting back on their responses – in summary, the standard party line from Labour MPs, spineless fence-sitting from Peter Dunne, and wholehearted support of our position from National MPs. Nothing at all from ACT or the Greens… interesting. Also, I went through Helen Clark’s biography, which cited the pledge card as the decisive feature of the 1999 campaign, with a discussion of the reasoning behind it as a way of communicating “election promises”. I hope it’s a sign of what’s to come in terms of Pacific Empire’s NZ political analysis.

We will be back to regular posting this week – I have posts planned on Libertarianz conspiracies, super-Auckland, the death of nationalism, the King of Tonga, genocide, September 11, and many other topics, and will be hassling Luke and Jordan for even more. All to keep, you, our audience, supplied with delicious and stimulating fresh content. So stay tuned!

Below the fold is a completely gratuitous personal blog entry, if you’re interested…

Last Tuesday we all attended a VUWSA meeting and helped defeat the hypocritical and unjustified VUWSA levy increase, from $99 to $120. We also torpedoed the AGM. Well, we didn’t completely defeat VUWSA, because the meeting was declared inquorate and postponed (although they might not have enough time to hold it again before exams). It was a remarkably poorly run meeting, which should have been in the quad with the controversial motions at the end, to maintain quorum. Anyway, congratulations to Student Choice and Act on Campus for the successful counter-campaign. Visit Kiwiblog, Gareth Robinson’s blog, Vuwsa Has-been’s Bench, or the Salient blog for more discussion, if you’re interested.

Thursday I had a 2-hour test and a presentation in the same morning, which was rather tiring. I wrote about fairly boring NGO, IGO, TNC, etc stuff in the test, but the presentation led to interesting dscussion about nationalism and whether nationalism is dying out. More on that later.

Friday I started a major sort-through, tidy and rearragement of my room in preparation for a much larger bed. This was made more difficult because I am a hoarder, with a habit of storing stuff in floor piles, and because I like to have two desks and multiple bookshelves. Also I have a collection of house plants which need access to light.

Saturday I had an absolutely awesome time with Luke, Jordan, Craig and Leanne at the Mini New Zealand Beer Show, in the Old Bank Arcade. We got half-cut in the afternoon on a variety of fantastic beers while paying compratively very little for the privilege. Later we met up with Aenertia and had curry, before heading off to the Lido for live jazz, coffee and cocktails. Craig and Jordan began a rather hilarious feud involving Shirley Temples and Buzz Bars. A wonderful day. And also, I found out that some of my favourite beers, Epic Pale Ale, Mac’s Sassy Red and the Mayhem festive brew all won gold in their categories at BrewNZ. I guess I just have excellent taste!

And on Sunday I had the new bed delivered, and completed the process of rearranging my room. Eventual total was 2 and a half sacks of junk thrown out. I was tired and stressed out, but seeing my new (it seems) room afterwards, all tidy and well laid out was most excellent. And Monday has been my day of rest. Tomorrow I’m back to the old university + work routine…

Posted by Phil on Monday, September 11th, 2006 at 6:58 pm.