Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It would be polite to ask

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  • Russell Brown,

    Then again, I've just checked and there's no sign of spleen in the '3 interact' section so a) it didn't work, or b) I was completely wrong...

    there's spleen-a-plenty under the Sunrise story.

    And the news version.

    Although one viewer does make the very sound point that Canada seems to have loads of Eskimo pies of its own.

    But they seem to have been invented in Iowa.

    On Eskimo Pie Day.

    Who knew?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Reeves,

    (related to Paul's question...)

    Historical question: in books from some time ago the islands are called "North Island" and "South Island"---capitals and no determiners.

    Does anyone know when these (clearly unofficial) names dropped the capitals (usually) and gained the "the"?

    Near Donny Park, Hamilton… • Since Apr 2007 • 94 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    Graeme Edgeler: "10% is a lot to have sign a petition. And I'm not amazed, because the law requires that once 10% of people sign that petition that the LGC looks at it.
    That only 10% signed it does not imply that 90% are opposed. You have a reasonably hard time getting 10% of a population to sign a petition for something supported by 90% of the population."

    Getting 10% of Waihekeans to sign is precisely a great indicator that the 90% other islanders are opposed. Remember that this is a very politicised island, 1 in 6 submissions to the Royal Commission came from Waiheke despite being on 0.5% of the Auckland population!
    The LGC would do democracy a great disservice by indulging this minority and, frankly, barmy proposal. A petition against the move has been submitted to the LGC too.

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Out of interest, what's the objection of Waiheke Islanders to joining T/C?

    I can see advantages if I was an islander, as I almost became at one stage:
    - no Banks
    - no being part of the supercity
    - more influence on a smaller local body
    - being part of a similar semi-rural area

    I guess the disadvantages are:
    - lack of communication with the rest of the council area (one passenger boat a week, or a 4 hour drive)
    - less subsidy dollars
    - lack of coordination with Auckland

    Independence would make sense, apart from the huge rates bill.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    If there were 10,000 Waiheke Islanders independence would be a third (and my preferred) option.
    Some points against:
    - loss of ARC transport subsidy for Waiheke Bus Co
    - probable loss of SuperGold card subsidy on ferry (only city areas get this, not rural areas)
    - loss of tourism promotion now via Auckland Tourism
    - unknown rates increases due to a different policy at TCDC

    There is an extensive outline of possible pitfalls here: http://bonfireoftheinsanities.blogspot.com/2009/03/here-are-arguments-against.html

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Of course, the correct names for the islands are New Leinster, New Munster, and New Ulster.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    there's spleen-a-plenty under the Sunrise story.

    God those comments are hilarious. For weirdest counter example:

    ...If there was Kiwi Pie and all Kiwis had a sheep attached to their genitals would it cause a stir ...

    For kiwi class:

    Thanks for buying the lollies you dont like the name of so much, not a bad looker though, if your down my way in your holiday drop in and see me :)

    For tolerance:

    Is she still here? Please escort her to the nearest airport. No room in NZ for her.

    and best of all:

    I could understand is they were actually made from Eskimos but it`s an ice cream for crying out loud.

    !!!

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Eh, if a Maori girl went to Canada and found some `cannibalistic south seas tribals' lollies I bet she'd be legitimately pissed, or if the Aussies found `kokoda trail white devils' candy in Japan, or whatever...

    Can someone explain to me how the use of Eskimo in this context is offensive? And how will the outraged Canadian tourist send Eskimo bars to her Prime Minister, as she vows to do? Will they not melt on the journey? Or will she send them in an Esky?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I can understand the name "New Munter" - they must have spent a few nights out in Christchurch eh!

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    If Christchurch gets to be New Munter can Auckland be New Ulcer?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Maaaaat-loooooocckkk!

    If Banks gets in, I forsee a Matlock Expressway runing along the East Coast Bays.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Can someone explain to me how the use of Eskimo in this context is offensive?

    Er, same way as the above examples would be offensive, I imagine.

    (Imagine the reaction Taig candy would get, frex.)

    Of course, it is also possible that Eskimo wasn't really offensive originally, but apparently it has offensive overtones now, and really, what's the added value. Call 'em Arctics or somesuch.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    It may also be that "Eskimo" was simply naive in a big unwired world but is now insensitive in ours smaller wired one ...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Richard C,

    Out of interest, what's the objection of Waiheke Islanders to joining T/C?

    What Uroskin said...

    Plus, I think the, um, oblivious manner in which Mr. Ceramalus has ploughed on really irritates people.

    We expect that from our Overlords at City Hall, but not from one of our own - the shame of it!

    Waiheke Island • Since Oct 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Historical question: in books from some time ago the islands are called "North Island" and "South Island"---capitals and no determiners.

    As late as 1874, Anthony Trollope was still using 'the Northern Island' and 'the Southern Island,' but 'the Southern Island' was Stewart Island. What is today the South Island was called 'The Middle Island' for much of the nineteenth century.

    By the 1880s, George Rusden was using 'the North Island and 'the South Island' consistently, although Aureretanga features an instance of 'the Northern Island on page 74. As you can see, he equivocates on 'the Middle Island'/'South Island' question.

    I haven't looked in the 1898 edition, but by the time William Pember Reeves' Long White Cloud (Ao-Tea-Roa) came out in the 1899 edition, 'the North Island' was completely standard.

    Man, I wish I had google books when I wrote my MA thesis.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    "Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks."

    Nice one Stuart - way back on page 1. I get it.

    Honestly, how much could it cost to get someone from the US of A to do a bit of rendition on Messrs Watson and Hotchin, waterboard them for a few weeks and, bingo!, all the info you need to send those nasty bastards off to jail. Then we could move on to our friends at Blue Chip. Once the word gets around a bit, they finance company "gurus" might start being a straighter in their accounting.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    To follow up on my own post, if we, just for lawhs, reverted to the nineteenth century names for the islands, would Wellington have to relinquish its claim to the title 'Middle Earth'?

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    I never understood why the pirate on Zig Zag papers lost his fag. Mind you, they're taking away Jacques Tati's pipe. Just as pipes are making a comeback at college too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Er, same way as the above examples would be offensive, I imagine.

    No, because the other examples were obviously derogatory, while Eskimo is simply the name for the indigenous people of the polar regions: the Yupik and Inuit peoples.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Except apparently Eskimo is derogatory -- according to people the name is used to refer to, anyway.

    I have no idea if it objectively/historically is or not, but who really cares? Do the polite thing and call 'em something else, why the hell not ?

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    (And they aren't particularly indigenous any more than the Norse are.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Is anyone really indigenous, apart from Africans?

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Is anyone really indigenous, apart from Africans?

    Yes. For example, Maori are all descendents from Polynesian settlers, yet "Maori" as a culture is indigenous because it has evolved here as a uniique response to the land and the generations of history that have passed since then.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Regards the exchange between Paul L and Keir, this post from Dyan from another thread seems relevant:

    Dyan, I'm intrigued. How did the Inuit get to do that for the Yupik, who are Eskimo but not Inuit and don't want to be called Inuit? Were the Yupik there?


    I don't know how many attended, but they would certainly have had representation.

    The Central Alaskan Yup'ik are by far the most numerous group of Yupik. The Central Alaskan Yup'ik who live on Nunivak Island call themselves Cup'ig (plural Cup'it). Those who live in the village of Chevak call themselves Cup'ik (plural Cup'it).

    Those apostrophes represent that pretty cracked consonant sound that is so common in North American languages. It's a nice sounding language.

    Part of the problem with the word "Eskimo" or "Esquimaux" or however it is spelled, is that it is French in origin and is extremely offensive to the people that it is used to describe. Or so my Inuit friends tell me, anyway.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

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