Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: My Mum and other good things

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  • Jackie Clark,

    Much as I regard anonyms, or whatever they are called, with much disdain being used outside texting, that was LOL, Gio.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Jack having been chosen by his older brother.

    So, you went to the baby shop then? or did you mean he chose the name?
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    He chose the name. It would have been hard for us to purchase Jack at the baby shop, but somehow not Ambrose.

    (I will note in passing that in some parts of the Italian northeast you say "I'm in the process of purchasing a baby" to mean "I'm pregnant")

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    Happy Birthday Mrs Russell's Mum!

    I'm so glad you posted that Rhythm and Movement clip, if only so I can boast that it was directed by my Granddad Michael Forlong. He went on to make some reasonable good feature films in the UK and the rather enjoyable Rangi's Catch (featuring the first film appearance of a very young Temuera Morrison) but I think that clip stands out as something rather special. Especially given the Lilburn music and bra-less freedom of it all.

    Also, I was super impressed by those young ladies winning the Hiphop dance champs, I was rather surprised that it was treated by the media a bit swiftly and as an 'entertainment' story. Surely it is a high profile sporting achievement.

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Claire Bennett ==> Soul On Ice.

    Claire was / is a wonderful voice.

    Thanks, and yes, indeed.

    Much as I regard anonyms, or whatever they are called, with much disdain being used outside texting, that was LOL, Gio.

    And there's where I may undo all my good work. Parody titles (?) are de rigueur round here.

    And that, as you say, was a doozy.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Exercise is up my alley. I've been doing that all morn. from the bench to the oven past the wine, and the brandy via the garlic mint and rosemary. With all this rain how are 30 people gonna fit in our house? It will be cosy, kinda squash and gymnastics all rolled up in alcohol.
    yummmmmmm.
    Exccuse me whilst I race past that wine again....

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Samuel Scott,

    Claire Bennett...like as in the cheerleader in Heroes?!?!

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I will note in passing that in some parts of the Italian northeast you say "I'm in the process of purchasing a baby" to mean "I'm pregnant"

    Hey, hang on... where are you originally from?

    (Yuk yuk, etc.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I will note in passing that in some parts of the Italian northeast you say "I'm in the process of purchasing a baby"

    I've heard they use that term in Hollywood also.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I've heard they use that term in Hollywood also.

    The implications, as always, are far ranging.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Claire Bennett...like as in the cheerleader in Heroes?!?!

    No, she's Bennet with one T. </pendantry>

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    The implications, as always, are far ranging.

    'Friends' with benefits?

    [My coat, good sir, I perambulate forthwith].

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Claire Bennett...like as in the cheerleader in Heroes?!?!

    Lemme check with my 15 year old......







    .....no

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    Happy Birthday to your Mum, Russell, and I'm glad to hear your sister is responding well to chemo.

    Your Mum's traits of kindness and a lack of malice are well and truly evident in you. An ability to listen coupled with a sense of decency and compassion make you better than almost anyone at your line of work. I have been a fan for decades... time goes fast. But happy birthday to your Mum and best wishes to anyone in your clan.

    70 sounds younger than it used to. My sister (I think you met her) turned 64 this year and as I speed through my 50s I'm increasingly conscious of how life telescopes up to nothing as you get older.

    My Grandfather (on my Dad's side) was both my oldest grandparent and the only grandparent alive when I was born,. He was born in 1876 - or 1878. Either way, when he was born the Bronte sisters' father was still alive and Darwin was still publishing. I bet I'm the only person here whose grandfather's christening was attended by people born in the 1700s.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    It might be my second diversion of the day but you do have to love it when Waikato beats Auckland (21-18, after the final hooter)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Do you have to, do you? Ok, well done, but I don't feel quite the same, for some strange reason.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Lea Barker,

    I remember rhythmic gymnastics at primary school in the 50s--love, love, loved it. For some reason, the NFU short made me think of my favorite TV ad of all time. It's 3 minutes long, and has disappeared from our screens now that the bank has a new logo and a new ad campaign that consists of account managers meeting up with their clients in trains, glass elevators, and on ferries in Hong Kong harbor. (All of which smacks of shady deals, if you ask me.)

    Hula is, of course, a class of rhythmic gymnastics all its own.

    URL:

    Oakland, CA • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I don't feel quite the same, for some strange reason.

    Oh, well. There is consolation in the ABs win tonight ;-)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    Speaking of threadjacks; when I was growing up, I never, ever, ever met anyone else called Jack. The first other person I met called Jack was a Japanese bloke living in Christchurch who'd picked the name because he thought it was pretty generic and no-one could pronounce his real name properly. At the time, I was 22. Every class I had growing up was guaranteed at least three Michaels, two Katherines and a Scott; never a Jack. Jack had clearly been pigeonholed as an archaism; it was, indeed, your grandfather's name.

    And then it happened.

    Titanic.

    And after the fluttering hearts left the movie theatre, people starting thinking "hey, that protagonist had a cool name - somehow combining an unpretentious old-world charm with thrusting practicality, can-do vigour and throbbing sex appeal." And one or two families started to choose the name Jack for their newborns. Then it spread - oh, you know that Sandra's mate named her son Jack? It's a nice name, isn't it? It snowballed, and lo: Jack has been the most popular boys name in the UK and NZ for quite a few years. Several of my friends have even named their children after me; they have a flimsy story about a beloved grandfather, but I reckon it was my speech at their wedding that kicked it over the line.

    So all through my youth, any time someone called out "Jack!", I could be sure it was for me. Then for the last decade, it's bloody everywhere. It's taken quite a mental adjustment to stop snapping my head around anytime I hear someone call my name; these days, in the vast majority of cases, it's to call over some tow-headed little moppet to have their nose wiped or summat.

    Which was nowhere near as confusing as the time that I started a job in a company of 800 people, sharing an office with the only other person there also called Jack... with only one phone line. Oh, the hilarious hi-jinks that resulted. Less than you'd think.

    But I digress. Though, in context, I'm not sure if there's really a gress anyway.

    Recordari: I probably wasn't drinking in the same clubs as you - at the time I was 15, so was mainly drinking in some of the more sedate clubs in Roppongi (Gas Panic and the like). Ah, a misspent youth.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    'Jack' has never been a family name but I have 2 grand-nephews called 'Jak.'
    With any luck the next generation is going to be called "Anything But"

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    @ jack I empathise. I've only met one other person my age with my name (and we don't share a spelling) but these days it seems like every other girl under around five is an Isabel(le) or Isabella. I have a lot of horrible moments where I'm sure it's me being growled at in the mall.

    Also, if we're on the subject of parental awesomeness, could everyone please pause to praise my father who, on Tuesday, drove down from Nelson to babysit so we could go to the Pixies gig after our babysitting arrangements fell through and who kept the children happy for the evening by playing them Tom Baker era Doctor Who

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Peter Ashby: osteoarthritis is NOT just caused by people being overweight. It is majorly caused by
    *family disposition (genetics: osteoarthritis has been in my family for at least 200 years, with some extremely skinny people (e.g. my Nanna who never weighed over 7 stone) being subjected to it)
    *a joint/bone being damaged by accident. All the joints I have osteoarthritis in have been earlier damaged: would you like to explain why I have osteoarthritis in my pubic inferior & ixial rames except by the fall from my outside balcony that landed me on my right side, breaking those bones and severely stressing my right shoulder & hip & knee? Which is where I have severe osteoarthritis.

    (I will not bore people with other sites of osteoA - except to say, the commonality is earlier bone damage and I cant see any fucking way that my neck vertebrae - I got knocked off my bike by a car when I was 16, and have the x-rays- have anything to do with being overweight.)
    Peter- I respect the fact you scientifically view things - but sometimes you get it so bloody wrong.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    (o rats & phooey - that is ischial rames)
    hirples off to bed, still arthitically-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    @Russell

    Shoehorn? One thread after another? (two in the last month by my reckoning, both relevant in response to posted material or other poster's comments).

    The truth is you do not want to hear my message. You posted a video containing evidence that my point that we do less exercise than people used to is true. Someone else commented to that effect, I responded. If that is your definition of 'shoehorning' then may I buy you a dictionary?

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    Another in addition. If argument using examples, reason and evidence results in NZ in personal attacks on the messenger instead of dealing with the points raised then I may rethink my desire to return home. At least here in the UK I can have a discussion about ideas and facts with many people without them mistaking criticism of an idea with a personal attack.

    In fact I reminded of when joined a religious usenet group and was the culture in other groups posted evidence and links to back up an argument and got a resounding silence instead of a good discussion. They had no idea how to respond to actual evidence.

    I am not going to apologise for writing with reason and evidence instead of simply emoting. If you have a problem with reality, I suggest you deal with it instead of turning it back on me.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

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