AmeriNZ 21 – In the News

Episode 21 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 episode is a bit longer than I’d planned, but it’s been a busy week in our household, with a new puppy and new heating system. And, I haven’t recorded “live” in a week and a half, so there are a lot of comments to get through. They give me the chance to tell a few stories from my past, including a sordid one from my only trip to Atlanta.

In the main news, apparently the White House is “seriously considering” a stopover in New Zealand for George Bush at the conclusion of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum in Sydney in September. I have mixed feelings about it. An online poll of 1,977 people (at the time I visited) who chose to participate at the New Zealand Herald website had 71% of respondents against a visit, and only 29% for it. The poll is totally unscientific, as the Herald admits, since it includes only people who choose to participate. Nevertheless, it’s a huge spread between the two.

A special shout-out to a listener and MySpace friend. I’m also on Facebook, among other things. Friend me if you want.

Update 30/6/07: There was some sort of problem with this episode, so I deleted it and re-uploaded it. It seems fine now.

Update 2: I had to upload the file and re-post the episode a second time because the first time it was serving up only half the file.


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AmeriNZ 20 – Cabbages and Kings

Episode 20 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

Work is being done at the house today, so I can’t record a regular episode. Instead, I’m posting a chat I had with my friend Jason (his blog is here). We’ve been friends for many years. Is such a long-term friendship as rare as it seems to us? We also talk about moving beyond high school, which is related to us still being friends after all these years. Jason also talks a bit about his travels, especially his trip to New Zealand last year.

Leave a comment, or send an email to me at amerinz[at]yahoo.com. Feel free to comment at Jason’s blog, too.

The title for this post is by Lewis Carroll (from Through the Looking-Glass): “The time has come,” the Walrus said / “To talk of many things: / Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax– / Of cabbages–and kings– / And why the sea is boiling hot– / And whether pigs have wings.”


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AmeriNZ 19 – A Special Guest

Episode 19 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

Joining me today is my very special guest—my partner Nigel! Mike Hipp of podcastsoup.net wins the imaginary prize for guessing correctly.

We begin by talking about Nigel’s childhood in small-town New Zealand and what it was like. What was the first thing Nigel bought with his own money? And what was the first record he bought? He then explains some of how New Zealand has changed, sometimes radically, in his lifetime.

What’s it like for Nigel being Maori in modern New Zealand? Is there racism? What about friction between Maori and other Polynesians?

Nigel also shares his impressions of the US, a place he loves to visit. What were some of the things he noticed? What American thing would he like to have in New Zealand?

Then we talk about some silly stuff, including shout outs to Archerr, Tom the Ramble Redhead and Kalvin of Hello Waffles, whom Nigel doesn’t even know. Of course Nigel was just kidding about Nik in Paris’ comment on Episode 18.

Leave a comment, or send an email to me at amerinz[at]yahoo.com. You can send an email to Nigel there, too, and I’ll forward it. Probably.

Update: I’m also on the special Friday Group Chat on ArcherRadio, which you can get here.


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AmeriNZ 18 – Tuesday Ketchup

A power failure tonight delayed this podcast. Very rare, but it happens.

Episode 18 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

This episode has nothing to do with ketchup (or catsup, or tomato sauce, as it’s called in New Zealand). It’s a miscellaneous show. I talk about how local governments are elected, and about what Kiwis mean when they talk about a city like Auckland or whatever. Lots of comments, including some I missed from the Podomatic site. A few odds and ends at the end of the podcast. Did I mention that I have a very special guest on my Friday podcast?

Read the article about White House emails I mentioned here.

The list of New Zealanders’ favourite and most hated films can be seen here (forgot the link last time).


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AmeriNZ 17 – Happy Birthday Magna Carta

Episode 17 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

Today is the792nd birthday of Magna Carta. On this day in 1215, King John signed Magna Carta, which went on to become one of the influences for constitutions throughout the English-speaking world, including the US. The version we usually think of is the version from John’s son Henry III who reissued it in 1225. His son, Edward I, had his Parliament reissue it again in 1297.

Magna Carta established the right to habeas corpus and the right to due process. Most of the rest dealt with feudal issues relating specifically to the Middle Ages. George Bush has pushed America back toward the Middle Ages with his assault on both habeas corpus and due process.

From there, it’s on to an overview of New Zealand’s government as I get ready to start talking about how Parliament is elected. What are Kiwis’ most popular movies of all time? The worst? Check out the lists at flicks.co.nz. Comments are followed by my take on personal responsibility as the flipside of personal freedom. Should drugs be legalised? Finally, I have an announcement about an upcoming episode.


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AmeriNZ 16 – Feedback Interaction

Episode 16 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

Today I talk mostly about feedback, both by email and the comments from Episode 15.

First, though, I clarify a couple things about the “No Nukes” topic, inspired in part by the summary on podcastsoup.net

An expat American emailed me with some confusion over the extent of poverty in New Zealand. There isn’t homelessness in New Zealand as Americans understand the word, but there are poor people. I explain how the request for donations addresses that (or doesn’t). Overall, the poverty in New Zealand is different than in America, but in New Zealand cities it may be similar to American cities of a similar size.

After that, there’s an extended discussion of the comments from Episode 15, one of which is quite long. These provide me with the opportunity to go into more detail about the topics discussed.

What about personal responsibility? Do people who bring harm onto themselves through bad deeds still deserve the full support of society?

New people on my Frappr! I also give a little more info about what’s coming in future podcasts.


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AmeriNZ 15 – No Nukes

Episode 15 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

Twenty years ago today New Zealand became the first country in the world to go nuclear-free. Had the US acted differently, this may not have lasted. The French government used blackmail to change New Zealand policy, the US could have done that, too. There’s a weird audio glitch about half way through—I didn’t edit it to make it weird.

I was on two other podcasts this week: ArcherRadio and There Are Some Who Call Me Tim.

I also go over comments from the past two episodes, adding a bit more. Then I give a strong endorsement: If you’re Liberal or progressive, you must give a listen to Callbox 7. Please check out my friend Jason’s blog at jasonsviewfromdc.blogspot.com. The Bloomberg debate is at The Occasional Fag (or, for part one go here, for part two go here).

The column in the New Zealand Herald by John Armstrong is here.

Another podcast on Tuesday of next week.


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AmeriNZ 14 – Every Queen’s Birthday

Episode 14 is now available. You can also listen to it through the player on the right hand side of my blog, or on my MySpace page.

I recorded this episode early so that I could post it on Friday. I’ll talk about comments on Episode 13 and this episode next time.

Monday is Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday in New Zealand, even though her real birthday is April 21. It’s the only public holiday between Easter Weekend and Labour Day at the end of October.

Queen Elizabeth, as Queen of New Zealand, is Head of State. She’s the only person in the world who is monarch of more than one independent nation. Parliament actually runs the country, which is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is represented in New Zealand by the Governor General, who is appointed by Parliament.

It’s probably inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic, but the new head of state is unlikely to be a US-style president. There’s no urgency to any change however, which is probably many years away

Queen’s Birthday was a kind of gay holiday, a kind of second birthday for everyday queens. That’s probably less common than it used to be. But it’s still a day off for everyone.

Matt Blender’s AIDS Marathon donation page.


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