Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: If you can't say something nice ...

337 Responses

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  • Dylan Horrocks,

    Actually, I quite like CUPcake. I might start calling my wife that...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2008 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Sargent,

    I am well aware that Judith Tizzard could be a fantastic person, but if her performance on the portfolios was not up to what the voters expected, they are well within their rights to not vote for her.

    And I guess thats what the Auckland Central voters thought, right or wrong.

    I didn't see any advertising of any sort as to why I should vote for her, I received no information about what she had done for Auckland Central as the MP, and also as the Minister of Auckland.

    The Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill.

    Since Nov 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Labour has a number of very capable young people who've done their apprenticeship in unwinnable seats and would give everything as candidates in a seat like that.

    Phil Twyford would be one possibility, but he may be the candidate for Mt Albert in three years' time.
    But wonder if the word will go out to the affiliated trade unions about the humdrum candidates they've offered up -- and supported to little avail.

    Chris Yoo could be another shoo-in for AKL Central. Plus, he could also garner a lot of the emerging Pansy Wong vote.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    For a long time, I referred to my partner as my lover. For some reason, that seriously weirds people out

    I wore out my first wife.

    So now I refer to my upgraded significant other as either Wife 2.0 or (much more commonly) Mistress.

    Gets great responses. And is technically correct for her, as she comes from Catholic stock...

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    For a long time, I referred to my partner as my lover. For some reason, that seriously weirds people out.

    I also hate the word "partner", as it makes the two of you sound like a law firm. And I also like the term "lover", since it makes no assumptions about gender, seriousness or exclusiveness, and also encapsulates what it's all about: loving.

    The only trouble is that unless you are French or having an affair, it comes across as unbearably pretentious. Not a problem for me, but others don't feel comfortable with it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    I have a picture of you walking away from the computer only to be mysteriously dragged back to just make a tiny point, honest!

    Ever seen or read a(n in)famous play by Jean-Paul Sartre?

    I strongly recommend it to anyone participating in a blog thread.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    I can't believe no-one has responded to Ian's story, which is very funny and perfect for a sunny afternoon.

    I'm told there are Blue Penguins nesting at the wharf at Matiatia on Waiheke, but have yet to see them. Will keep you posted :)

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    We had our neighbour's stereo confiscated before lunchtime today. Now they're working on losing the second one.

    Sounds like the move is going great then :-)

    main purpose of a heterosexual civil union was to avoid the clichéd, tacky multi-million dollar industry

    It's easy to avoid the tacky wedding industry, if that's what you want. You can even have a religious ceremony with only 4 people and the minister. Or, you can have the full blown, majorly expensive, OTT gala. Your choice.

    I thought the main purpose of civil unions was to keep gay people from being allowed to get married.

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Hmmmmm cupcake just got me slapped.......

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    In any case - which law precisely says you can't call someone your husband unless you're married?

    There isn't one.

    The law just won't refer to you as married, or husband or wife.

    Let's assume there was a law which says that a husband or wife is entitled to control over his or her husband's or wife's dead body. The law will now say that a husband or wife or civil union partner is entitled to control over his or her husband's or wife's or civil union partner's dead body.

    If the law (or another one which referred to a husband or wife) wasn't changed, it wouldn't cover a civil union partner.

    Legally, if a law is talking about a husband and wife, it's not talking about a civil union partner.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I can't believe no-one has responded to Ian's story, which is very funny and perfect for a sunny afternoon.

    Paul, thanks for alerting me to my error.

    I just read the story, I bet all kids wish to have done what Stuart did. Fantastic, thanks Ian.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    "I’d have thought the main purpose of a heterosexual civil union was to avoid the clichéd, tacky multi-million dollar industry as preached by those ghastly magazines."

    Actually, the friends with the bridal magazine were gay and male. And the party was great.

    Those magazines suck you in a bit - my sister is getting married, and it's tempting to read them. However, for an antidote nothing works like
    lEtiquette hell with its stories of bridezillas, groomonsters and beastmen.

    I'd presume that most same-sex couples wouldn't call each other 'husband' and 'wife' if married so that wouldn't change, legalised same-sex marriage or not.

    Not sure about that - I've heard both lesbian friends refer to their "wife" and gay friends to their "husband". Both with and without a legal union.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    The law just won't refer to you as married, or husband or wife.

    Thanks Graeme - that's what I thought.

    I imagine that we'll eventually see some slippage on that when it comes to interpreting wills and so forth, where the person describing their own relationship - e.g. "All to my husband" would go to the civil-union or de facto (hetero or homosexual partner)

    From recollection, the shortest valid will ever contained 3 words: "All to Mother". And he was meaning his wife.

    There's something that's sparked discussion - partners calling each other "Mum" and "Dad". And not just to their children.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I’d have thought the main purpose of a heterosexual civil union was to avoid the clichéd, tacky multi-million dollar industry as preached by those ghastly magazines."

    Actually, the friends with the bridal magazine were gay and male.

    That makes more sense.

    It's easy to avoid the tacky wedding industry, if that's what you want. You can even have a religious ceremony with only 4 people and the minister

    True, but I bet one of them would turn up with either an unnecessarily over-priced card or one of those barely edible cakes with way too much icing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    I <3 the penguin story.

    In slightly more grim news, perhaps a personal experience of the credit crunch, I've just had a debt collection agent chasing me for the debts of someone else with whom I share a name...

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    Loved David Haywood's Book, "My First Stabbing."

    In it he writes of his own wedding in Chicago, where:
    Jennifer's friends....was a mail-order vicar who had paid fourteen cents for his religious qualifications. "I'd have to describe myself as agnostic rather than atheist," Rev Scott mused, "because of the Burt Reynolds analogy."

    You would have to read the rest in the book. A great buy.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I've just had a debt collection agent chasing me for the debts of someone else with whom I share a name...

    James Green, I've found you at last! You'll be hearing from my lawyers.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    And I also like the term "lover", since it makes no assumptions about gender, seriousness or exclusiveness, and also encapsulates what it's all about: loving.

    The only trouble is that unless you are French or having an affair, it comes across as unbearably pretentious. Not a problem for me, but others don't feel comfortable with it.

    And it also implies quite strongly that you are having sex with them (although maybe not at the time of the introduction). But I like the word too (despite having never used it)

    I had a workmate tell how she was embarrassed to tell her in-laws that she was pregnant because it (rather strongly) implied she had been having sex with their son.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    I had a workmate tell how she was embarrassed to tell her in-laws that she was pregnant because it (rather strongly) implied she had been having sex with their son.

    I'd have thought the implication would have been worse if she hadn't been having sex with their son.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    I'd have thought the implication would have been worse if she hadn't been having sex with their son.

    Ha!
    I'm pregnant...don't worry, it's his

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Your claims to leave this alone, while still commenting intrigues me. I have a picture of you walking away from the computer only to be mysteriously dragged back to just make a tiny point, honest!

    Kyle: My "claim" was that perhaps this could be one subject I'm passionately invested in that didn't turn into an occasion for an all out brawl. And while I'd love to be out in the garden, there's some paying work I've just finished.

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

  • LegBreak,

    The only issue I have with the term “lover” is that it implies pretty strongly you back yourself.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    James Green, I've found you at last! You'll be hearing from my lawyers.

    There's got to be a reasonable chance that Hadyn's middle name is James, so it might be him you were after...

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Your claims to leave this alone, while still commenting intrigues me. I have a picture of you walking away from the computer only to be mysteriously dragged back to just make a tiny point, honest!

    And how is something of a mystery, because someone has the attention span of an ADHD mayfly. "Ooh... I could murder a cup of tea and a...someone really should dust that lampshade...I before E except after... chocolate biscuit. Chocolate biscuit?"

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    There's got to be a reasonable chance that Hadyn's middle name is James, so it might be him you were after...

    Do you think he's deliberately misspelling his name to flee a shady past? That's entirely plausible. He, and the whole population of Feilding.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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