Two hits from Singapore last week.  One hit from Zurich today.  You’ve arrived!  Congratulations and enjoy your first day at work tomorrow!  You’re lucky that I don’t have a current pix to post …

Marc Broad left the office with camera, arrived back with this booty.

If you’re not familiar with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, you’ve just got to check out Haere mai. Dug out thanks to Alan at Wellingtonista. Don’t miss them in the Wellington City Library, 12.30pm, this Thursday. See you there.

Tom Beard has posted on the high density of workers in the Wellington CBD vs Auckland CBD, calculating that Wellington’s CBD has more workers than Auckland. This illuminating fact is based on 2006 Census data and shows considerable rise of workers in both cities since he used the 2001 Census last year. I guess that explains why the cafe and bar scene in Wellington is much more lively than Auckland!

Here’s an amusing cursor …

The similarity between our All Blacks and the National Party is disturbing. The Nats, who could govern alone if elected today, are now downplaying any talk of peaking too early. Perhaps the Rugby World Cup outcome in October will be a harbinger …

Ann Summers is going to have a busy week. Advertising for her iGasm, a vibrating tool which plugs into MP3 players is getting attention from Apple. Stuff reports that Apple reckons “the iGasm ads, which show a female silhouette listening to an iPod with a cord snaking into her underwear, are a rip-off of its own iPod ads”. I’m siding with Apple on this one.

My blog competition is entertaining a few people. Today, the Google Adword was ‘Sunday’. I’ve changed it now. The clue was: what day did the Allied troops land at Gallipoli? Of course it was April 25th 1915. ANZAC Day, many of you thought. It fell on a Sunday that year. Although after reading about the update from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian (no relation) calendar, adopted by the Turks in 1927, I’m not sure anymore. The British Colonies switched in 1752 so we’ll run with their version.

Local singer, Hollie Smith, signed a multi-album deal with Blue Note (ex-EMI Jazz) last week. They took Norah Jones to the world; let’s hope they do an even better job with Hollie!

I’m glad Peter Griffin is back at his home blog again, as well as blogging for the NZ Herald. The recent rise of ‘Publogs’ feels more like editorial written by paid journalists, masquerading as Publisher Blogs.

Andrew Mayfield’s adventure with Silverstripe this weekend is worth reading if you’re a geek wanting a local CMS. Finally thank you to Sagat for scooping my Shepherd’s Tale last week. It made Scoop front page for a day.

Well, that’s another week gone. Goodnight Kiwis. This will make you homesick if you’re reading from overseas.

Scoopit!

The opening of the Wellington South Coast Kupe/Kevin Smith Marine Reserve in mid-October will acknowledge the persistence of conservator and local resident, the late Kevin Smith. Kevin will be remembered by some [pdf] for being accused by then Minister of Trade, Lockwood Smith, of “economic treason” for his work on border biosecurity.

The 840 hectare reserve extends from the old quarry past Owhiro Bay, through Island Bay and past Houghton Bay to the edge of Princess Bay - 3.8km wide and around 2.3km out into the Cook Strait as the crow flies.

It appears the Freeview launch has been plagued with technical problems. Peter Griffin has posted blunt correspondence between an installer and the Zinwell MD outlining problems with their satellite receiver. Fascinating reading.

A fascinating conversation about Alex by Tessa Duder has inspired me to address my ignorance of home-grown women writers. Google suggested A Celebration of Women Writers as a suitable starting point. Hmmm, should I read their texts alphabetically or chronologically? I suspect getting hold of the earliest titles is out of the question anyway. The New Zealand Book Council has an excellent review of New Zealand authors. I figure I’ll pick them off one at a time - any suggestions most welcome …

During a brief online chat with Elizabeth Knox earlier this year, I pushed her on her next release. She hinted at a title of “Clover Field” and suggested it would be set in California and in Hell, during the period 1926-1942. Can anyone update on this? I can’t find anything new online.

Anyway, I’m going to find out more about Tessa as a starting point. Her site is fabulous. I’ve decided I’m going to give HOT MAIL by Tessa Duder and William Taylor a scan first. This along with much of her writing targets adolescents so you may not have seen it. It’s about “two unlikely e-mail pals [who] share their lives and find friendship” and was published in March 2000.

Prize giving for the Wellingtonista Bowling League is this evening, Southern Cross, 7pm if you want to come down. You’ll recall that Clemenger BBDO entered a team. I don’t want to jinx anything before the big night but I’m feeling like we might just be in the clover. We bowled really well for six straight games, were polite, friendly and gained all available drinking points.

I’ll update later with the outcome.

Update:  We won - first place in the league and best dressed team.  Yay and huge thanks to Joanna for her most excellent organising.