Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Now It's On

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  • 3410,

    "Brit" is semi-insulting

    Who knew?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    $2 every time a politician claims to know what I think on an issue because I have children, and $5 if it's the exact opposite of what I actually believe.

    Golly, we're going to tax cuts for Africa personally funded by candidates at this rate. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    My tutorial students were surprised to find that I don't regard 'Kiwi' as insulting, and nor do any NZers, so far as I know.

    Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

    Possibly they associate it with being a bit "fruity" (an wholly amorphous term if ever there was one), on account of kiwifruit generally being known as "kiwis" overseas ?

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    No, I'm going to vote for the first party that comes up with an entirely fanciful solution to The Schleswig-Holstein Question.

    Well, you're pretty stuffed then, because the three people who reputedly understood the question have long since shuffled off this mortal coil

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

    You mean, apart from being a blind chook with a big arse?

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    You mean, apart from being a blind chook with a big arse?

    You could try a little lipstick with that...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • JohnAmiria,

    Over there, on the other hand ... I worry that there might be a nutjob a heartbeat away from the big job.

    Nut job? Et Tu Russell? Another sexist smear from the Liberal Media Elite? For shame!




    ;-)

    hither and yon • Since Aug 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • Political Animal,

    I actually got a scoop on the date of the election at my blog yesterday:

    http://darrenrickard.blogspot.com/2008/09/breaking-news-election-day-date.html

    It was leaked accidentally by The Standard Blog:

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=2995

    I cant wait for the big day :)

    Auckland • Since Sep 2008 • 1 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    My tutorial students were surprised to find that I don't regard 'Kiwi' as insulting, and nor do any NZers, so far as I know.

    Makes you wonder what 'bad' things they associate with 'Kiwi' for them to assume that it's an insult.

    S'funny, cos I don't actually know any Brits who would regard 'Brit' as an insult, either.

    But the proud and noble residents of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland tend to refer to themselves by sub-nationality anyway: 'English', 'Scottish', 'Welsh', 'Londoner', 'Northerner', and so on.

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

  • Duncan McKenzie,

    I went to the Gillian Welch concert a couple of years ago. As she chatted to the audience, she revealed that she had eaten her first ever kiwi that day. There was something of a gasp from the audience, before we worked out that she was not talking about people or endangered birds.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 53 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    It was leaked accidentally by The Standard Blog:

    Sorry to burst your bubble, PA, but by your logic Kiwiblog is closer to the PM than The Standard.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Golly, we're going to tax cuts for Africa personally funded by candidates at this rate. :)

    Thus neatly solving the dilemma of our under-funding (by GDP-based measures) of foreign aid, no?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    S'funny, cos I don't actually know any Brits who would regard 'Brit' as an insult, either

    I don't know of any Brits who think of themselves as British. They are English,Scottish, Welsh or Ulstermen. In any case, if Brit is an insult, it is a pretty lame one.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    Actually, it occurred to me that it doesn't matter that much who wins here, in that we'll still have a modern economy run along conventional lines by people who aren't total nutjobs.

    Hey Russell! What about the workers?

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

    Probably about ten seconds after he mentions 'common sense'.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    If not, expect an uptick among annelids after 'common sense' arises in the leaders' debates.

    Sorry Tim - bit previous there. Came in late. No other excuse.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    Well actually it does matter who wins the election if you agree that the “Nats” job is same as it ever was-redistributing wealth upstairs.

    The indicators speak–minimum wage frozen 1991-4, $1 increase over 9 years under Nat led governments vs. 70% increase since 1999 under Labour led governments. Repeat for other indicators.

    Taser proof vests and coreflute sign stock sales will go through the roof if slippery John wins. They will not be Labour Lite.

    Couldn't agree more Alec.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    would help if the bird were more famous than the fruit

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Possibly they associate it with being a bit "fruity" (an wholly amorphous term if ever there was one), on account of kiwifruit generally being known as "kiwis" overseas ?

    I'm running a very small-scale campaign to change that. Annoys the hell out of me when friends overseas call the fruit 'kiwi'.

    If everyone else joined in, we'd reach maybe a whole 10 people, no problem.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Labour have lost it. Truly, they've got to get out to get in.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report

  • Mike Graham,

    Seriously, the way those warty assemblages of 2x4 and posterboard spring up like mushrooms scares and offends me every election season.

    I know that this was posted hours ago, but I agree! Driving home tonight I saw billboards for Richard Worth - he must be serious about winning Epsom back. Those particular billboards (and the others that will no doubt appear) block a grass footpath that is well used by joggers, dog-walkers and many others.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • sagenz,

    McCully says it best:

    But one thing we must give her: If Helen Clark is prepared to mention the word “trust”, after Owen Glenn’s revelations about her and her party president this week, she clearly still has a sense of humour.

    uk • Since Nov 2006 • 128 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    I don't know of any Brits who think of themselves as British. They are English,Scottish, Welsh or Ulstermen. In any case, if Brit is an insult, it is a pretty lame one.

    Precisely my point. If asked 'what nationality are you?' the answer would be 'English', 'Welsh', Scottish', or whatever.

    If pressed (and possibly given a hint by pointing at their passport), one might eventually get 'oh yeah. British' as an answer. But it would be a poor second.

    On the other hand, my xenophopic fellow countrymen (for I am, alas, a filthy 'Brit' ;) ) have absolutely no difficulty coming up with ethnic slurs for every nationality outside the borders of the UK, and everyone inside it who lives further than one street away, as well.

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

  • Paul Litterick,

    I, too, am a Brit, although I always prefer to think of myself as a European. The xenophobia of our compatriots is one of the reasons I came here and stay here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

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