Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open

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  • 3410,

    I would like to discuss frogs.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Robert Urquhart, in reply to 3410,

    I would like to discuss frogs.

    Mine ears have heard the croaking of the Giant Barded Frogs.
    They are swimming through the marshes, they are leaping over logs.
    They are eagerly devouring people, vampire bats, and dogs,
    As they go hopping on!

    Glory, glory, ribbit ribbit!
    Glory, glory, ribbit ribbit!
    Glory, glory, ribbit ribbit!
    As they go hopping on!

    http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/songs/rana.shtml

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2009 • 163 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Robert Urquhart,

    Oh, an ear-worm for the plane. You shouldn't have.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    Brekekex, koax, koax.

    On that tip, did anyone else get annoyed reading this article in the Express? It's the sort of faux-journalism that we have to put up with these days. An entire piece blathering on about how reptiles are vile, people who like them are vile, and the whole thing is simply beastly - but amphibians, man, amphibians are awesome! Pfft. Anyone with half a brain knows that reptiles and amphibians are both awesome. (ObXkcd)

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to ,

    I have a steam punked commercial espresso machine.

    I can testify to this.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Marcus Turner,

    Oh, I can't wait 'til Friday. Here it is:

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to ,

    I have a steam punked commercial espresso machine.

    OK c'mon, this requires elaboration / pics (or it didn't happen etc.).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Peter Calder,

    apropos of nothing much, can anybody detect any flaw in this analysis? I'll be damned if I can ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report

  • James Butler,

    Also, I saw this on BoingBoing. I have yet to parse it fully (I am at work, after all), but the one flaw I have found so far is that it doesn't attempt to put any SF film/TV in context like it does with written lit - it just lumps them together as "Film", which seems simplistic. But otherwise a good time-sink, if you like this kind of thing.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    I'm fed up with the celebrification of politics. Why it is necessary for a handsome prince to alight here briefly in order to distract the populace from the huge and complex issues facing Christchurch and the country at large. Real people are hurting and traumatised and jokey blokey stuff for nice media pictures and poll ratings is just not appropriate.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I’m fed up with the celebrification of politics. Why it is necessary for a handsome prince to alight here briefly in order to distract the populace from the huge and complex issues facing Christchurch and the country at large. Real people are hurting and traumatised and jokey blokey stuff for nice media pictures and poll ratings is just not appropriate.

    Does this count as "celebrification"? In times gone by this would look like a pretty normal duty of minor Royalty - to be seen by their subjects every now and then, esp. in times of hardship. Perhaps the fact that it happens so seldom here, thus making this visit more noticeable, is a sign of the "de-monarchation" of NZ politics. Which I would say is a good thing.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Proud frogs?

    A Puddock sat by the lochan's brim,
    An' he thocht there was never a puddock like him.
    He sat on his hurdies, he waggled his legs,
    An' cockit his heid as he glowered throu' the seggs
    The bigsy wee cratur' was feelin' that prood,
    He gapit his mou' an' he croakit oot lood
    "Gin ye'd a' like tae see a richt puddock," quo' he,
    " Ye'll never, I'll sweer, get a better nor me.
    I've fem'lies an' wives an' a weel-plenished hame,
    Wi' drink for my thrapple an' meat for my wame.
    The lasses aye thocht me a fine strappin' chiel,
    An' I ken I'm a rale bonny singer as weel.
    I'm nae gaun tae blaw, but the truth I maun tell-
    I believe I'm the verra MacPuddock himsel'."

    A heron was hungry an' needin' tae sup,
    Sae he nabbit th' puddock and gollup't him up;
    Syne 'runkled his feathers: "A peer thing," quo' he,
    "But-puddocks is nae as fat as they eesed tae be."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Joanna,

    I'd like to invite y'all to ride the #OGB party bus. It's the #23, and it leaves Wellington Station at 5.25pm, and it'll be at Blair Street at 5.37pm. Join us! PARTY BUS!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Tom Ackroyd, in reply to 3410,

    "I will get some worms and go fishing and catch a dish of minnows for my dinner," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "If I catch more than five fish, I will invite my friends Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise and Sir Isaac Newton. The Alderman, however, eats salad."

    - from "The Tale Of Mr. Jeremy Fisher"

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to 3410,

    I would like to discuss frogs.

    I've noticed this about you.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • James Francis, in reply to Peter Calder,

    Nope, that pretty much sums it up.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Tom Ackroyd,

    - from "The Tale Of Mr. Jeremy Fisher"

    That was always my favourite Beatrix Potter, even more than Peter Rabbit. It's probably because of that book that I'm careful never to dangle my foot in the water when I'm fishing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    Paging Mr Anthony Rowley, Mr Anthony Rowley.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • 3410,

    I've noticed this about you.

    Which reminds me... The preponderance of evidence, whilst far from conclusive, appears to indicate that you are likely more correct than I was about moa.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Glenn Pearce,

    Perhaps we can, as the old chaps say, have a roll

    I think the correct terminology is "a roll up" *

    * Grandfather Life Member @ Grey Lynn BC

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to 3410,

    I think the correct terminology is "a roll up" *

    Wow so I was having 2 roll-ups at the same time last time I played...spooky.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    I know you guys don't much like the Standard, but for a moment I thought this post was true and there was going be a massive coordinated rebuilding/upskilling effort much like that behind the state house building of the 1940s.

    But no, instead of essential equipment, the prince is still coming here much too early for a manufactured set of emotionally manipulative photo ops. Why can't it wait till a more appropriate time when the families have all claimed and buried their loved ones, and the dust has literally settled?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    The preponderance of evidence, whilst far from conclusive, appears to indicate that you are likely more correct than I was about moa.

    Scary. My opinion was hardly erudite - I just considered it unlikely something with a drumstick that size would last very long at all if there was no such thing as zoos or farming.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    That was always my favourite Beatrix Potter

    A question that has been troubling me for some time: what the hell was Ms Potter on when she wrote Pigling Bland?

    The two bad mice was always my favourite. Smahsing up the doll's house always appealed to me as a lad. Can't think why...

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I know you guys don't much like the Standard

    I value some of the content they surface; just their management of commenters leaves a lot to be desired.

    a massive coordinated rebuilding/upskilling effort much like that behind the state house building of the 1940s.

    Totally different times - especially with an explicitly pro-market government in power. The closest you'll get is an explosion of contract pork for friends of the party.

    And does this country really need any more house builders? If we're going to invest in mass training, make it in this century's high-value export industries.

    Actually, isn't this topic meant to be on the other thread?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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