AmeriNZ 43 – Votes and Books

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 43 is now available.

You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

First up, I have some bits of good news to report. Then I talk about our local elections, which are drawing to a close. We’ve already mailed in our ballots, but there’s huge concern that many people won’t bother. Why is the turnout low? I talk about that and also about how hard it is to get information about candidates. A little computer talk, then the puppy update.

I then talk about the New Zealand authors who were on the poll on my blog. It asked what authors, if any, people had read at least in part (this last part was for me, because I often fail to finish books).
The results were: Janet Frame: 2, Elizabeth Knox: 2, Witi Ihimaera: 4, Owen Marshall: 2, Frank Sargeson: 3, Peter Wells: 3 and None of these: 12. I talk about all these authors. Then on to comments and we’re done.

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AmeriNZ #43 - Votes and Books [ 35:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 42 – Compromise

Posted on October 2, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 42 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I begin today by jokingly talking about changing my podcast’s name to get higher in rankings (yes, I was kidding…).

I’m tired. The clocks have changed, which I say is unrelated. Still, things are going well. Mainly, today I talk about ENDA, compromise with conservatives, and troubles within America’s fundie right wing. I tell you a little more about my past, as well as my political beliefs.

The rest of this episode is apparently the Eric Cast, sort of, as I talk about our war, uh rivalry, uh fellow podcastship-ness. Or whatever. Maybe I’m just tired. Comments let me comment, too. There might not be a podcast on Friday. I’ve now passed six months of podcasting.

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AmeriNZ #42 - Compromise [ 33:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 41 – Saturday Subjects

Posted on September 29, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 41 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, and I put together a short podcast to keep up with things. First up it’s a brief look at Dominion Day and the evolution of New Zealand from colony to country. Bush’s bonehead promise to veto S-Chip leads me into a short talk abut healthcare in New Zealand. Then it’s comments and a new Frappr Mappr. Shownotes with links at my blog,

This past week New Zealand had its sort-of birthday. Dominion Day was Wednesday the 26th and marks the date 100 years agao when NZ became a dominion, not a colony. New Zealand now steers a pretty independent course.

One day, New Zealand will become a republic, as the leaders or all the main parties agree.

I added a poll here on my blog asking which, if any, of the NZ authors listed you’ve actually read. You don’t need to have FINISHED what you were reading, just started it. If you haven’t read any of them, put that.

This week I heard in the news that Bush has promised to veto the extension of the S-CHIP insurance programme. Yet another example of why that man is an idiot. One month of the spending on his Iraq war would more than fund S-CHIP.

Here in New Zealand, no one needs to go without healthcare, and no one will ever be bankrupted because they get sick or have an accident.

Also: 6 die from brain-eating amoeba in lakes

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AmeriNZ 41 - Saturday Subjects [ 19:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 40 – No Way

Posted on September 24, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 40 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I’m FINALLY back, after no Internet access and some other barriers to podcasting. I talk about that first. Then, after a few things going on around here, it’s on to some things in the news–climate change, wacky christians and indigenous rights. The issues just keep coming! After comments, it’s a couple things leftover from epsiode 39. If you’d like to comment by email send it to me at amerinz(at]yahoo.com and put “Comment” in the subject line so I’ll know to read it on the podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

NZ Emissions trading system announced

UN resolution on indigenous rights and also “NZ indigenous rights stance ‘shameful’ – Maori Party”

Confessions of a Southern Boy In Yankee Land

PodcastSoup.net

ArcherRadio YouTube Channel

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AmeriNZ 40 - No Way [ 33:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 39 – Friends and Neighbours

Posted on September 11, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 39 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

It’s been a very busy few days since Episode 38. Among other things, I was a guest on CallBox7. I also made my first-ever guest post on another site, Slap Upside the Head.

Today, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the Australian Parliament, the first Canadian Prime Minister to do so. He made some comparisons of Canada with Australia that were more apt as a comparison of Canada with New Zealand. He also talked about 9/11.

Meanwhile, NZ and the US have taken small steps toward closer relations.

Also, a foreign government hacked NZ government computers. Some famous people died. Results of my movie poll, feedback and more.

Update: Podomatic did something odd with the upload of this episode, starting the file again after about three minutes. So, feel free to skip the first three minutes to avoid hearing it again. It’s not often that the uploaded file turns out different from the finished version sitting on my computer, but it has happened before. Not my fault, exactly, but probably in keeping with my luck lately.

Update 2: Australian Prime Minister John Howard has avoided a challenge to his leadership of his party and will remain prime minister. Pundits say it’s likely that Howard will lead his right wing coalition government into the upcoming Australian elections in which he will face the Australian Labor Party under Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd. Opinion polls currently have Howard’s team running about 15 points behind the ALP.

Mentioned in this episode:

CallBox 7

Slap Upside the Head

Archerr’s toaster crumbs video

US-NZ relationship on table

NZ spies uncover cyber attacks

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AmeriNZ #39 - Friends and Neighbours [ 28:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 38 – Here and There

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 38 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today’s episode is probably the last of the shortened ones. At the end of a bad week, I talk about the loss of our cat at 3:22, then go on to things in the news at 6:50. Finally, it’s comments at 10:49, and I give more details about some of the topics raised. I also add a couple last minute topics of my own. Didn’t have time to double check this episode—hope it’s okay! (Update: Okay, I listened and I screwed up the comments section. Sheesh!)

Mentioned in this episode:

No iTunes and coffee combo for Kiwis

International Gay Rugby

The Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Trophy (The Bingham Cup)

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AmeriNZ 38 - Here and There [ 17:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 37 – Games

Posted on September 4, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 37 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

This is a relatively short episode, in part because this is the busiest week of the month for me. I recorded this in Garage Band, and there were a few “issues” I noticed when I was done. Anyway, I have two topics. First, at 1:30, I talk a little about the meeting of APEC in Sydney, including some audio. Then, at 11:55 I talk about the Rugby World Cup, that starts this week. It’s a Very Big Deal in this part of the world. Finally, it’s comments at 16:12.

Take part in the new poll on my blog: What’s your favourite movie made in New Zealand? There’s no significance to the movies listed, by the way.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz@yahoo.com.

Links for this episode:

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

APEC – Australia 2007

John Howard’s YouTube video

Rugby World Cup

Official site of the New Zealand All Blacks

USA Rugby official site

International Rugby Board (world governing body)

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AmeriNZ #37 - Games [ 19:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 36 – Forever Young

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 36 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I had some computer issues this week, and I was a little under the weather earlier in the week. So, this episode is a bit of a mixed bag. First up, there’s a new tourism commercial for NZ coming soon to highlight New Zealand as the newest nation on earth (geologically speaking). It’s sparked a small controversy. I talk about that at 4.28. At 6:32, I talk about the poll on my blog for your favourite Kiwi, and tell you who those people were. Around 10:23 I give a little more—and simpler—information about the structure of local government. What do Australians think of America and Americans? At 11:59 I’ll tell you. Comments are up next at 15:37. Then I tell you why I didn’t podcast on Tuesday; that’s at 23:06.

Leave a comment, or send an email to me at amerinz[at)yahoo.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Controversy over the new commercial promoting New Zealand. See the new commercial here. For more about Dave Dobbyn (who wrote the former commercial song), go here.

To read biographies about New Zealanders from the past, go here.

A higher turnout is expected in this year’s local elections.

Australians like Americans and America, but not George Bush. A fundamentalist preacher in South Australia had a bizarre excuse for molesting his daughters.

AmeriNZ 35 – Election

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 35 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I begin today by updating earlier topics. That’s at 1:58. Then at 7:47 I talk about the extended topic for today, New Zealand’s local elections. Finally, it’s comments at 15:05.

The opening track today was by a terrible new recording artist. Bridge music is the same.

On Tuesday I talked about how staff at Air New Zealand apparently edited Wikipedia to make the airline look better in an entry about the 1979 crash at Mount Erebus in Antarctica. According to the Sydney Morning Herald (via Stuff), it turns out that people in Australia’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet made 126 changes to Wikipedia articles to remove things that were damaging to the government of current Prime Minister John Howard. But people in Australia’s Defence Department made 5,000 edits! The article says:

Other curious—though apparently non-political—edits by department employees include adding sentences on various sites, including the additions “Freemasonry is the work of Satan”, “Mormonism is the work of Satan” and “Jesus is god”.

Meanwhille, in Canada it’s been revealed that Parliamentary computers were used to add anti-gay comments to Wikipedia articles.

Back in episode 33, I talked about the religious right in New Zealand, and I mentioned that a secretive right wing christianist group tried to influence the 2005 NZ general election by spending over a million dollars on an advertising smear campaign against Labour and the Greens. That group is called the Exclusive Brethren, and they’re back in the news. Australian Prime Minister John Howard met with them recently, as have other members of his government. He defended doing so, calling them, basically, an “ordinary Christian” group. Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has called the group and extremist cult and refused to meet them.

The extended topic for today is the start of the campaigns for local government elections.

Leave a comment or take part in the current poll. You can also send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com.

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AmeriNZ 35 - Election [ 24:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

AmeriNZ 34 – Knocks

Posted on August 21, 2007 by Arthur

Episode 34 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today was a warm, sunny, beautiful late winter day in Auckland, and I’m back—and probably back on my normal schedule, too. I’ll talk a little bit more about that, and other things going on with us, starting at 1:19.

Tony Orlando is touring New Zealand at the moment for the first time in his career. At 3:10 I’ll update a couple of the things I talked about last week. New Zealand and Australia have issues at the moment. I’ll tell you about that in the extended topic, at 5:58. Finally, it’s on to comments at 10:35.

I put a new poll on my blog, “Who’s your favourite Kiwi?” Vote for as many as you want. It’s completely anonymous.

Leave me a comment and take part in the poll. You can send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com.

AmeriNZ Podcast

One guy, two countries.

Category Archives: Podcasts

AmeriNZ 43 – Votes and Books

AmeriNZ 42 – Compromise

AmeriNZ 41 – Saturday Subjects

AmeriNZ 40 – No Way

AmeriNZ 39 – Friends and Neighbours

AmeriNZ 38 – Here and There

AmeriNZ 37 – Games

AmeriNZ 36 – Forever Young

AmeriNZ 35 – Election

AmeriNZ 34 – Knocks