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Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz |
Have you noticed there seems to be more cars on the road?
That's because there are more cars on the road. At least according to the Motor Trade Association.
They've worked out the national fleet is growing by more than two per cent a year and that if all the extra cars added to the fleet were lined up, nose to tail, they'd stretch from Wellington to Patea.
I'd warn against a roadie to the Wanganui region, if the MTA people decide to try this. Finding a park will be pretty darn impossible.
So we had 2,482,513 cars by the end of last year and the total is expected to grow, they say. A strong Kiwi dollar means imports are accelerating ahead.
Another factor is a reduction in scrappage. This not a measure of the kids fighting in the back seat. It's a term for the cars that are wrecked. The number of old clangers hitting the scrap pile has reduced from 174,000 in 2005 to just 131,000 last year; the lowest in four years.
This is despite an alarming number of people deciding to scrap their cars while they're still in them.
Judging by the number of hair-raising crashes making the news on SunLive in recent weeks, it seems more people are opting to trash their cars while at the wheel.
Here at RR, we advise you to get out of the car before it hits something hard, or another car. If you MUST crash into another car, do it between Wellington and Patea.
You can't miss.
Fight for freedom of speech
The Gate Pa battle commemorations went off with a bang, literally, with plenty of musket-waving and cannon fire. Great to see so many people interested in our local history and the events that shaped our region and nation.
As expected there's been a fair amount of vigorous commentary, some of it verging on extreme. It's worth remembering not all of us will necessarily agree with other's views and everyone is entitled to their opinion, and to air it. However, there's no place for personal abuse, potentially defamatory remarks or death threats to either the commentator or the media carrying the message.
Such attitudes confirm to me that despite all we should have learned in the last 150 years, some people still think its okay to solve their differences with violence and abuse. Some of you just keep missing the point.
Our forebears fought and many died – not just in this battle but many since, all over the world – to defend our futures from violent oppression, bullying and for the right to freedom of speech. If we learn nothing else from the last century-and-a-half, at least we should acknowledge everyone is entitled to their opinion and the right to air it, freely and peacefully.
Thanks Jasmine!
In other news on SunLive, alert readers of this column might have noticed the song ‘Our Kiwi Favourite Things' (words in last week's column) was subsequently recorded by the lovely Jasmine Poole, and quickly rocked into the third most-viewed story on SunLive this week. And the most-viewed on our Eastern Bay SunLive site. Many thanks to Jasmine for putting her amazing songstress talents into our parody.
If you missed it, go to SunLive and search ‘The hills are alive.'
The vanishing act continues
This week the NZ Orion crew helping in the search for flight MH 370 have returned home. We salute their commitment to the cause, in a terrible tragedy. For all those families torn apart and left with so many questions, we can't imagine what they are going through.
We seriously wonder how a plane with that many people can just vanish. In this age of technology, you'd think there would be a clue somewhere, somehow.
If my wife can detect the exact moment I enter a boating or sports shop and liberate my credit card, how can we not track an entire aeroplane?
Nuttink
Speaking of war stories, those who remember the ancient TV series ‘Hogan's Heroes' will appreciate this.
We have our very own version of Sgt Schultz ... 'I know nuttink, nuttink about New Zealand politics.”
Parting shot
Finally our parting shot, thanks to astute reader Peter.
He says researchers have identified a new phobia common among young women.
brian@thesun.co.nz