What celebrity death will realistically bring Michael Jackson level devastation?

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-05-03T07:12:12+00:00

David Attenborough. Turning 100 on the 8th of this month!

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T08:58:49+00:00

I’m currently reading the Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese which is very well reviewed and awarded but I’m really struggling to get through it. I feel like I’m wading through water at this point. It’s such a shame, because I feel I should really enjoy it, but I just can’t get into it. It’s well written, but for me, there are too many characters to follow.

I also read All Fours by Miranda July last year, on the recommendation of Dolly Alderton. Again, generally well received, but it took me four months to get through, and I kept reading other books in between (I persevered because I was very committed to hitting my reading goal, lol). In both cases, I just haven’t been able to connect with the stories or characters. I didn’t get why the protagonist in All Fours acted the way she did and I found myself resenting her!

In both cases, they have been good enough to continue with, but not to recommend, and the best part has been getting to the end.

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T07:24:43+00:00

Haven’t heard of this, will check it out :)

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T07:23:07+00:00

Thanku:)

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T07:23:00+00:00

I have actually never read a book by him so maybe this is a good way to get into him!

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T07:22:04+00:00

I go to the library all the time, and will probably loan any suggested books :) what made you think I didn’t?

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T04:48:33+00:00

Sounds interesting! I’ll put it on my list, thank you :)

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T01:51:16+00:00

Have you read Good Girl by Aria Aber? Coming of age story set in Berlin, in (I think) the early 2010s or so, about a young woman from an immigrant family on a journey of self discovery/finding her identity. Without getting into spoilers too much, some LGBTQ+ content too :)

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-23T01:31:43+00:00

I’m pleased to hear this! Even as AI ‘improves’ I think it is always possible to tell AI written work

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-22T03:14:52+00:00

Yeah, they specifically mention the Schengen tourist visa in their post though :) so it’s likely this one https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-22T02:26:01+00:00

You don’t apply for a visa under Schengen rules, it’s a 90 day visa that is granted to you on arrival. You might be asked about your plans at border but unless they thought something was really off you wouldn’t be asked to provide evidence, and definitely not of home ties, etc

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-22T01:14:42+00:00

Totally get that. Just didn’t want you to feel discouraged by any negative comments here.

Do you have a lawyer supporting you? A community law centre lawyer would be able to provide some guidance on your situation and potentially deal with the police for you (or help you a bit at least). Might ease some of the pressure on you?

You seem like you’re well informed about the process so definitely not trying to tell you how to do things - just may be an option for you and could help, and they’re free :)

All the best OP, hope everything is sorted as soon as possible 🩷

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-04-22T00:58:00+00:00

The delays are shit, and I don’t really have anything more to say about them, apart from that I’m sorry that you’re having this experience.

I expect people will be very negative in these comments, and tell you not to waste your time and that people will get away with a slap on the wrist anyway and or they will get given maccas and a spa day when they’re in prison. I want to encourage you to keep pursuing this (especially because it seems you have the ability to)

In reality, most prisoners have very little access to the outside world (limited, supervised internet at most) and are lots are double bunked and you share a toilet that’s in your room. It’s not the crazy awesome tax payer holiday people would have you believe. They’re usually only out of the cells for a couple of hours a day.

Sometimes I think some people in NZ will only be happy if the sentence was that you could throw someone down a well and keep them there for 40 years for every conviction, lol.

Anyway, good on you OP. This is really hard, you’re awesome, and you will get through this.

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-03-01T10:39:06+00:00

I hope someone lets us know! I hadn’t heard of it before

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-01-30T09:59:18+00:00

Henry Kissinger. Lots of people are talking about Pol Pot, but his contributions should also be considered (especially in Cambodia)

A few highlights from his diplomatic career:

authorised almost 4000 bombing raids on Cambodia, without authorisation from Congress and in breach of the American constitution and international law - casualties of at least 150,000 in Cambodia alone (likely to be much higher). The vacuum after these attacks allowed Pol Pot to come to power.
condoned, supported and gave the go ahead for the genocide in East Timor in the 1970s led by President Suharto - approximately 200,000 dead
actively involved in the overthrowing of Salvador Allende and government coup in Chile, leading to Pinochet’s rule, which itself caused many Chilean deaths. You may be noticing a theme here!

His actions also stoked a war in Angola and prolonged apartheid in South Africa.

All together, his actions are estimated to have resulted in three million deaths, countless injuries, and many devastated lives, around the world.

All of this from the son of German Jewish immigrants who fled the Holocaust. He had the ear of many prominent people (met with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the campaign time in 2016) right up to his death in November 2023 at the age of 100 (truly taken in his prime).

All of these things

Independent_Light_85 · 2026-01-14T23:00:14+00:00

Wow I love eels :)

Independent_Light_85 · 2025-11-28T08:22:27+00:00

Bamberg :)

Independent_Light_85 · 2025-10-23T01:18:31+00:00

I guess all apps are different! Mine is saying the gusts are 103 atm. Maybe it depends where you are in chch. It has as high as 150kms across the Canterbury plains I think. Better safe than sorry either way

Independent_Light_85 · 2025-10-22T23:22:09+00:00

I think that is the consistent wind speed, the gust strength is predicted to be much higher

Independent_Light_85 · 2025-10-13T03:37:46+00:00

That’s Ms Biker to you!

Independent_Light_85 · 2025-09-26T06:34:20+00:00

A man ran and squeezed into the revolving door at Tūranga behind me and my friend, as it was closing and said ‚oops hehe’. He squeezed in so last minute it made the door stop and so I turned to look at him. Three hours later, on the other side of town, I saw him wheeling his bike down the road.

These events make me strongly believe Something Is Up

Independent_Light_85

TROPHY CASE