New Zealand Listener Issue 44, 2022

Sixty years ago – on Monday evening, October 22, 1962 – I watched the most riveting speech I’ve ever heard and seen. I was an 18-year-old American Field Service (AFS) international exchange student in the United States. Given that I eventually became a political science professor, it’s not too surprising I was keenly interested in learning as much as I could about US politics. Four days earlier, for example, my AFS host father had taken me to Cleveland, Ohio, to see President John F Kennedy campaigning on behalf of his Democratic Party candidates in the US mid-term elections. On October 22, I’d been invited to have dinner with the chairperson of the AFS committee in the town in which I was living. Knowing my interest in politics, Mrs Spelman told me when…

WINNING CAPTION Jean Ros, Hamilton FINALISTS Kwasi Kwarteng: “Shh Liz … We’re not singing from the same songbook.” – Sorrel Bovett, Kerikeri Man on right: “What are you two planning to wreck next?” – Joe Baker, Dunedin Caption: Liz Truss and colleagues on the site of the new Ministry of Magic building, which Truss says will be a key player in the fight to avoid a recession. – Bernard Harris, Palmerston North Kwarteng: “Okay, Liz, you’ve had your hour of power, now it’s my turn!” – Mike Hamblyn, Dunedin Liz Truss: “So, if I press this button, we go back to before the funeral.” – Michael East, Christchurch Truss: “There. I’ve totally demolished our tax policy.” – Rex McGregor, Auckland Caption Competition {listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo at right to listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 484” in…

Nikola Tesla (“Beam me up”, October 15) is most remembered for two inventions: the transformer and the three-phase induction motor. These, along with synchronous generators, have formed the backbone of the worldwide AC electric power system that is arguably the largest technology industry in the world. It mostly operates at 50-60Hz, extremely low frequencies (ELF) on the electromagnetic spectrum. This system has stood the test of time and allowed economies all over the world to develop. In 2000, the US National Academy of Engineering compiled a list of 20 marvels of science and engineering that had the greatest influence on quality of life in the 20th century. The first item on the list was electrification. Tesla is also remembered for his “Tesla coil”, which transmits electrical energy at radio frequencies. It is more…

“The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children, so you could be watching them in 50 years’ time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will.”– Robbie Coltrane“I relate to the moon because I look amazing in person and terrible in pictures.”– seen on Twitter“The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvellously.”– Henry Kissinger“There is a fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.”– Maya Angelou“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”– John W Gardner“A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad.”– Samuel Goldwyn“I think I’m constantly in a state of adjustment.”– Patti Smith“Marriage is one person forgetting where they put something and the other accusing them of throwing it out.”– seen on Twitter“Rational…

1. How many times was Hilary Mantel nominated for the Booker Prize? ❑ Two❑ Three❑ Four❑ Five 2. What year was the British Commonwealth created under the Treaty of Westminster? ❑ 1928❑ 1931❑ 1936❑ 1939 3 Who said, “I don’t think life is absurd. I think we are all here for a huge purpose. I think we shrink from the immensity of the purpose we are here for.” ❑ Winston Churchill❑ Margaret Thatcher❑ Norman Mailer❑ Oprah Winfrey 4. A day on Mars is slightly longer than one on Earth. True or false? ❑ True❑ False 5. An ailurophile is a lover of what? ❑ Shoes❑ Cats❑ Gold❑ Herbs 6. The most difficult ski trails are marked in most countries by which colour marker? ❑ Blue❑ Green❑ Black❑ Red 7. A “moment” in medieval times amounted to: ❑ About 30 seconds❑ About 60 seconds❑…

A pilot study to look at improving environmental performance for the production of pasture-grown premium beef is under way in Hawke’s Bay with funding from McDonald’s. McDonald’s has long been a leader in tackling sustainability issues. As part of its commitment to decarbonise all of its operations by 2050, the company has announced its intention to champion sustainability efforts across its worldwide supply chain. In Aotearoa, McDonald’s has been working with the beef-farming sector for more than a decade on more sustainable production. New Zealand is one of the top 10 beef export markets to McDonald’s internationally, and beef and dairy farming make up a significant portion of the company’s global carbon footprint. The farming trial in Hawke’s Bay is a collaboration between New Zealand science provider AgResearch and the fast-food giant, which…