Blueskin Bay FM 88.2

21 May 2011

'Bossy' students help others

By Isaac Francis

BBOSI (pronounced "bossy", short for Blueskin Bay Open Source
Initiative) based at Warrington School are working on a project to
recycle computers and give them away to those who need one.

Our aim is to spread the knowledge of Open Source software such as
Ubuntu, teach digital independence and recycle computers.

Last week we sent a free computer to a man in Dunedin so he could go
on Gmail to video-chat to his grandchildren in Auckland. It was
awesome that we could give him a computer ready to go, we also gave
him some music applications on the computer.

We have got a lot more computers to give away. If you would like one
come and talk with one of our BBOSI team - Isaac, Shea, Finn, Indy and
Joshua or phone Warrington School on 482 2605.

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Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

SCIENCE: How does rain fall?

SCIENCE

How does rain fall?

There is always water vapour in the air. During the summer there is
more because the temperature is higher. When there is so much vapour
in the air it only takes a small drop in the temperature to make the
vapour condense and form small droplets of water, so we say the air is
saturated.

So what happens when all these water droplets in a cloud meet a mass
of cooler air? If the air is very moist the droplets cannot evaporate.
Instead they get bigger and bigger as more and more condensation takes
place. Soon, each small droplet has become a drop and it starts to
fall downward, so we have rain.

Regan Burrell (10)

20 May 2011

WAITATI OPEN ORCHARDS (column)

Photo caption: Keita Ross, 1-year-old fruit tree mulcher. Photo by Jason Ross.

WAITATI OPEN ORCHARDS

By Jason Ross

We are getting excited about winter gardening. We had a good meeting
last month, with great discussion about what fruit trees we would like
to see growing in the streets near us and which would suit the four
locations that we have to plant this winter. Planting will be in July.

Before planting more trees though, on 11 June at 10am we are going
around last years' plantings and giving them some love and attention.
They will be re-fertilised, mulched, pruned and re-tied to their
stakes. Some keen folk are oiling their secateurs already! So please
join us, there will be hot drinks and cake along the way at one of our
great WOO patches. Meet at the Orokonui Rd patch, that's down Orokonui
Rd, past the footbridge and on the left. Bring secateurs, gloves,
mulch, compost, newspaper, warm clothes and companion plants for the
trees.

A couple of funding applications have gone in, so fingers crossed that
we can keep running our popular workshops.

In your home garden

Pruning can commence in June for apples and pears, black currants and
gooseberries (stick berry cuttings in the ground to produce new
plants) although I prefer to leave it till the spring side of winter
if possible. Always choose a dry period to avoid the risk of
silverleaf disease. Winter pruning encourages strong growth the
following summer, so is essential for newly planted and establishing
trees. As a rule of thumb reduce the new growth at the ends of
branches that you wish to encourage by a half. Other unwanted growth
crowding the tree is reduced to 1-2cm fruit spurs or cut out if its
too crowded. It is a good time to order fruit trees and pre-dig
planting holes, incorporating lime (for clay soils) and other minerals
if needed along with well rotted compost.

Waitati Open Orchards is a group of keen folk on a mission to plant
fruit trees in public spaces around Waitati for all to enjoy. Email
waitatiopenorchard@gmail.com to join our mailing list or phone Jason
Ross, 4822625.

BLUESKIN GARDEN CLUB column

BLUESKIN GARDEN CLUB

By Lyn Hastie

Our May meeting was enjoyed by 21 members with a meal and get together
at the Tall Poppy, Port Chalmers. Members enjoyed a good old get
together, a delicious meal and a quiz which had us all thinking.
Amazing how much there is to know about gardening - always something
to learn.

We elected our office bearers President Glenys Clements, Vice
President Lyne Carlyle, Secretary Lyn Hastie, Treasurer Marilyn
Richardson, Committee members Lesley Smith, Daphne Henderson, Norma
Dick, Marg Meder and Rowena Park.

We look forward to planning our next year's programme when the
committee meet next week. We meet monthly, usually on the second
Thursday night of the month. However sometimes we go out and about and
during the winter we often have a hands-on making day (or two) on a
Saturday.

Last year some of our activities included a visit to the Ecosanctuary,
a speaker from the Hawksbury Lagoon, plant propagation, flax weaving,
necklace creating, flower arranging, stone pot making, garden visits
and a posh picnic to celebrate the end of the year.

As you see, our activities are many and varied and you don't need to
be a gardener to join us. We are a friendly, welcoming group so if you
would like to meet some folk from the Blueskin Bay area feel free to
join us. You can contact any of the above officers or call Glenys 482
2640 or Lyn 482 2896.

We will be hosting our annual Spring Flower Show on the last weekend
of September. Look in the Blueskin News for what's on each month.

PS: We have a committee meeting on Monday 23rd.

19 May 2011

Coast Road Retreat and Seacliff Market

by Liz Abbott and Rudie Verhoef

The Coast Road Retreat has been sold as a private residence and we wish
the new owners every happiness in Seacliff.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the retreat, the Art Shed and
the Seacliff Market. The market has gone into hibernation over the
winter and we will reopen in spring at a new location – keep an eye
open in the Blueskin News for the latest update. Liz's artwork and
Rudie's woodwork are available by appointment, ph 027 781 1799.

+64 3 465 7990 or +64 27 7811799
732 Coast Road, Seacliff, RD 1 Waikouaiti, Dunedin 9471

18 May 2011

THE BLUESKIN BAYLEAF: Muesli

THE BLUESKIN BAYLEAF

Muesli

By Rowan Holt

Breakfast is a bit of a blur for me most of the time. If it's a day
I'm working, I still have eyes half focused at 6am. Other days I
simply eat the discarded vegemite toast scraps left on the bench, or
found under the high chair. But, I'm trying to make an effort lately.
I can't do a whole bowl of porridge: by the time I get to the end it's
cold and the lumps of brown sugar have gone.

So, lately I've been trying this recipe and it's delicious! I like it
with greek yogurt and sliced banana.

Home made muesli

1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey (Blueskin Honey of course if you can)
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup bran flakes
1/2 sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 - 1 cup dried fruits chopped (raisins. apricots, prunes, figs...)

Heat oven to 150 degrees on fan bake

Put oil, sugar and honey into sauce pan. Heat gently until sugar dissolves.

In a bowl, combine combine all ingredients except fruit.

Pour honey mixture over and mix thoroughly.

Turn into a large oven proof dish and bake for 20 minutes or until
lightly browned. Stir occasionally.

Leave to cool for a few minutes then add dried fruit.

Store in an airtight container.

Get creative. Add whatever you fancy. Try:

almonds and raisins

dried mangos

macadamia nuts

linseed

blueberries

instead of sugar and honey, use passionfruit pulp

WAIKOUAITI COAST COMMUNITY BOARD column: Rugby World Cup

WAIKOUAITI COAST COMMUNITY BOARD

Rugby World Cup

By Andy Barratt

There is probably no need to remind anyone that the Rugby World Cup is
not far away now. The Dunedin City Council has been busy preparing for
the event for many months now. The Waikouaiti Coast Community Board
has been doing its bit too. A working party has been set up to ensure
that the Cup brings as much benefit as possible to our local area. The
working party recently held a meeting with the DCC Rugby World Cup
team to discuss the event and its potential impact on our communities.

Following the Canterbury earthquake, the original schedule had to be
reorganized, meaning that Dunedin will now host four matches. These
are: England v Argentina (Sept 10); England v Georgia (Sept 18);
England v Romania (Sept 24); Ireland v Italy (Oct 2). The big change
is the presence of England and up to 15,000 team supporters
accompanying them. All matches are in the evening (starting at either
6pm or 8pm).

Needless to say, it is very difficult to predict actual numbers, but
it is certain that a sizeable number of visitors to the city will be
coming from the north, which means that Waikouaiti and Blueskin Bay
will function very much as the northern gateway to the Rugby World
Cup. Work is progressing on setting up an information facility in
Waikouaiti for the duration of the Cup. This will provide us with an
excellent opportunity to "showcase" our area. The Community Board is
considering a local map for visitors with basic information about the
settlements and places of interest.

Arrangements have been made for the Excursion Train to run to and from
Waitati to serve each of the matches, which means that Waitati may
well become something of a "hub" on game days. The Board has asked
that the train run further up the line, perhaps even as far as
Palmerston, but we don't know yet if that is a possibility.

The DCC team expect that most Cup visitors will be accommodated in the
central city, but it is likely that some will look for somewhere to
stay a bit further out. If there is anyone wishing to make
accommodation available for the Cup period, the DCC advise to work
through their recommended booking agency, www.80minutegame.com

The most important message from the DCC team is for local communities
to take the initiative. Such events come our way very rarely and
provide a wonderful opportunity for businesses, groups and
organizations to "do their thing". The day before and the day after
each game are times that may be particularly well suited for putting
on shows and events of all kinds. The DCC will be producing a special
Events Calendar and are keen for as many events as possible to
advertise in it.

So, the challenge is on and it is up to us to make the most of the
opportunity that this event presents. We will certainly be looking for
volunteers to look after the Information Site. Other than that, it is
a case of everyone getting on with the job themselves. Do the local
schools want to "adopt" a second team and perhaps arrange some
competitions? Do sports groups want to run "open" events with an
invitation to visitors to participate? Do local groups and small
enterprises want to put on special market days?

For those considering making the most of this opportunity the official
website for the rugby world cup is www.rugbyworldcup.com. This website
provides event specific information including a guide to the Major
Events Management Act 2007, the act which effectively gives control to
Rugby World Cup Ltd (who are responsible for running the event for the
NZRFU and the IRB) over advertising, associated events, and branding
among other things.

(Andy wrote this article on behalf of both Progress of Waikouaiti Area
(Powa) and the Community Board.)

17 May 2011

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU: Clinic in Waikouaiti

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Clinic in Waikouaiti

Waikouaiti Library, Monday 13 June, 2pm-3pm

Our advice is free, helpful and unbiased. It doesn't matter what your
query is about we'll work it through with you and if we can't we will
find you someone who can. Our service is confidential and is an
independent community organisation. Our advice is not influenced by
government or politics. We raise issues with government when it is
clear that policy needs to be changed. You can give us a call at any
time on 471 6166 or 0800 367 222 or visit our website on
www.cab.org.nz.

Our Clinic in Waikouaiti is held at the same time on the first Monday
of each month, except this month: Monday 13 June (the second Monday of
June because the first Monday is a holiday) at the Waikouaiti Library.

WAITATI FILM SOCIETY: Programme for second half of 2011

WAITATI FILM SOCIETY

Programme for second half of 2011

Waitati Film Society membership only $60 - for 27 nights of entertainment!
Half-year memberships are now available at $35. See drama, comedy,
history or just plain entertainment in a warm, pleasant environment with
convivial company. Membership allows you free entry to Film Society
screenings as well as discounts at Film Festivals and some Dunedin cinemas.

For more information, ring Brigitte 4822 829 or Leonie 4822 508 or visit
our website: www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/waitati.htm

Tuesday Aug 9

THE STRANGEST DREAM (Canada 2008)

For the Manhattan Project the USA government teamed up scientists with the
aim to build the first atomic bomb. Joseph Rotblat was the only scientist
to leave the Project on moral grounds. He moved on to investigate the
medical uses of radiation, create a peace movement with Bertrand Russell
and become a Nobel Peace Laureate. This film covers the Pugwash Conferences
that he co-founded and which have achieved so much in reducing nuclear
proliferation and defusing tense moments during the Cold War. 89 minutes.

Tuesday Aug 16

ELDER BLOSSOM (Germany 2007)

A poem by Prussian poet Bobrowski pays homage to elderflowers, regarded as
patron saints of houses and children. Yet East Prussia is still a land of
troubled people following the major disruptive social upheavals during and
after WWII. This film by Volker Koepp traces the fate of the still young
generation born in the 1990's who are only familiar with the past through
history books. Their parents and grandparents were forcibly re-settled so
never felt at home, became unemployed and many have succumbed to
alcohol. 89 minutes.

Tuesday Aug 23

THE CENTER (Germany 2003)

This handheld-filmed travelogue wanders over a vast area, more than
2,000Km long, within which many villages and towns consider themselves as
the "Centre of Europe". Polish director Stanislaw Mucha meets and
questions an array of people with many stories, histories and experiences,
but some of them seem far from identifying themselves as Europeans. But who
can define "Europe" and so pinpoint its centre? 85 minutes.

Tuesday Aug 30

THE WOMAN WITH THE 5 ELEPHANTS (Switzerland/Germany 2009(

The title refers to the five great novels of Dostoyevsky, one of the many
Russian authors whose works were famously translated into German by the now
86-year-old Ukranian Svetlana Geier. Her personal past, in a no-man's-land
between Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany, and passion for literature,
gave her the drive and language skills for her life's work. The film not
only reviews her work, which encompasses a key period in European history,
but also movingly covers her own survival in politically turbulent
times. 93 minutes.

Tuesday Sept 6

MEMORIES OF MURDER (South Korea 2003(

Unlike its USA counterparts, this thriller from South Korea uses the story
to make an indictment of the politics and society that incubated the
perpetrator of a series of rape-homicides. It would seem that the crimes
remain unsolved because of police sexism and brutality, a culture of
prejudice and suspicion rife during the late-80's military dictatorship of
Chun Doo-hwan. 127 minutes.

Tuesday Sept 13

I DON'T WANT TO BE A MAN / THE OYSTER PRINCESS (Germany 1919)

Two vintage silent films starring Ossi Oswalda - the "German Mary
Pickford" - under director Ernst Lubitsch. In the first, Ossi plays the
tomboy, drinking, smoking and indulging in other blokes' things, unfazed by
the presence of a male guardian charged with cutting her down to size.
44 minutes.

In the second, she is the daughter of an American who buys her a Prussian
prince of her very own. Unfortunately the chosen bridegroom does not
fulfil Daddy's expectations. 60 minutes.

Tuesday Sept 20

COMPANY LIMITED (India 1972)

Satyajit Ray, an old favourite of our Society, returns to our screen with
a typical powerful comment on the corrupt values easily acquired in Indian
society. Shyamal begins as a well motivated marketing manager with
ambitions to become a director of his company. When one consignment of
product is defective, he has to find ways of not losing the vital export
order. His progress is watched by visiting sister-in-law, Tutul, who was
originally jealous of her sister for having married the idealistic Shyamal.
Black and white, 112 minutes.

Tuesday Sept 27

WILDCAT (Germany 1921)

For our second Ernst Lubitsch film, he turns his perceptive cinematic eye
towards the army for this wildly satirical anti-militaristic comedy.
Rischka, the Wildcat, like many women around the fort, is in love with the
handsome Lieutenant Alexis (indeed most children wave flags at him and cry
"Papa"!). But en route to his new outpost, the lieutenant is kidnapped by
a band of rogues. The gang's leader doesn't know that his daughter has
fallen for the captive officer. 81 minutes.

Tuesday Oct 11

BALLAD OF A SOLDIER (USSR 1959)

As a reward for bravery in battle, a young soldier, Alyosha, is allowed
six days leave from the Eastern Front to return home. This film is about
his journey, the devastation of warfare he sees and people he meets. Though
set within the horrors of WWII, it is about love in various forms - love
between a disabled soldier and his wife, a mother's unconditional love for
her child and love between Alyosha and a homeless girl he happens to
meet. 94 minutes.

Tuesday Oct 25

PATU! (New Zeaalnd 1983)

The rugby tour by the South African Springbok team in 1981 divided New
Zealand society like no other issue before it and gave rise to the greatest
civil unrest since the waterfront dispute of 1951. Those who objected to
the acceptance of a team from a country governed by a minority on the basis
of racial apartheid were match against those who, perhaps naively, objected
to sport being tainted by politics. Large numbers of news cameramen,
filmmakers and photographers recorded the ugly confrontations and from
their contributions Merata Mita edited this compilation. (Note: This is the
full version before she re-cut it for international audiences.) 113 minutes.

Tuesday Nov 8

ERNST LUBITSCH IN BERLIN (Germany 2006)

Having screened two of Lubitsch's films this season, we are now going to
be treated to an analysis of his life's work. Despite the director's death
in 1947, Robert Fischer was able to assemble this visual biography through
interviews with both Ernst's daughter and granddaughter as well as calling
upon personal anecdotal stories from friends and contemporaries, facts from
historians and historical documents, all illustrated by clips from 20 of
his films. 110 minutes.

Tuesday Nov 22

CAREFUL WITH THOSE KIDS (New Zealand Shorts)

Recent New Zealand short films on Kiwi kids who get up to no good in
amusing and disturbing ways. Careful with That Axe (Jason Stutter); Little
Angel (Suzi J Featherstone); Licked (Dan Salmon); The Winter Boy (Rachel
House); Roof Rattling (James Blick); Careful with That Power Tool (Jason
Stutter); The Six Dollar Fifty Man (Mark Albiston, Louis Sutherland);
Careful with That Crossbow (Jason Stutter). 68 minutes.

Tuesday Dec 6

STATE AND MAIN (USA 2000)

This is a really funny spoof on the fantasy nature of film town Hollywood,
a place seemingly divorced from the real world. A film crew takes over a
rural town in Vermont to make a period feature called The Old Mill, only to
find that the mill, illustrated in the local brochure, had in fact been
burned down some 50 years previously. Writer/director David Mamet
amusingly explains the success of the movie industry in the US - a country
where everybody is full of fantasies and reality comes a poor second.
102 minutes.

16 May 2011

Notes from the president

As Blueskin Media approaches another "end of year" with our AGM coming
up, it is time to acknowledge a few of those who have helped us over
the past months (a fraught process; there's the danger of leaving
someone out, for which I give extra special thanks and apologies to
whoever you are).

A very big thank-you to my fellow co-editors Craig Marshall, Laurence
Hay, Lynnaire Johnston and Rosemary Penwarden. It is great to have
such a big team involved, which helps prevent any one of us getting
burned out.

Our treasurer, Coleen Hastie, keeps us focussed and maintains friendly
relations with our advertisers.

Our contributors who send in columns and articles keep our newsletter
(and our community) lively.

Our distribution team of Bev Lyon, Brent Bell, Heather Bell and Kelvin
Lyon and our printers at the Hamraki Rag do their best to get it all
out there on time.

Our donors, dropping off donations at Blueskin General Store and
Blueskin Bay Library, and those advertisers who regularly 'round up'
their bill payments, have helped us provide a whopping total of
$2,770.00 worth of free advertising to charitable community groups in
the past financial year.

Our readers and community are important too. You can help by coming
along to our AGM: get involved or just ask awkward questions to hold
us accountable.

I have been in Blueskin News the longest of our team and I'm moving
aside now to let newer members take over. I'd like to be thought of as
'outgoing' rather than 'retiring'. It remains for me to thank my
former team-mates Michael Hurley, Polly Higham, Louise Booth and
Louise Burnside: Blueskin News is still benefiting from their past
efforts.

Peter Dowden
president/co-editor
Blueskin Media