AmeriNZ 58 – A Busy Friday

Episode 58 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. 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 have a lot of work to do right now, so this is just a short catch-up episode.

Differences are emerging following the Australian election. Australia plans on withdrawing combat troops from Iraq by the middle of next year (New Zealand has never had combat troops in Iraq). The new government also plans to formally apologise to Aborgines for the Stolen Generation, something that defeated Prime Minister John Howard steadfastly refused to do.

In talking about the Aussie elections, I compared Australia with New Zealand and I said that it was more likely that New Zealand’s Labour Party would be better positioned to form government than the National Party because Labour has more potential coalition partners. The next day, the New Zealand Herald published a front page story claiming that a new poll had found that if the election were held then, the National Party would win enough seats to govern alone—but does it really mean that? A week and a half earlier, a poll from rival Fairfax Media showed Labour up and National down.

All opinion polls are mere snapshots of one fleeting moment, but some are more worthy than others. For example, in the US the mainstream news media made a big deal out of a Zogby poll that claimed to show that Hillary Clinton would lose to any Republican. However, the poll was a worthless online poll and a Gallup poll released about the same time showed the opposite—that either Clinton or Obama could beat the Republicans. The Gallup poll was a real poll and had credibility, but the mainstream news media ignored it.

Since I’m an expat, it makes sense I should talk about that, so on Fridays I’m going to give you the Expat Briefing, telling you one thing about being an expat that I haven’t really talked about before. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, too.

Mentioned in this episode: Ramble Redhead

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 57 – Aussies and expats too

Episode 57 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.

The Australian election was held this past Saturday, and the changes were huge. But for GLBT people, the changes may not be so big. I also tell you a few more things about being an expat. Then, it’s on to comments, including an audio comment from Nik-in-Paris, then the results of the latest poll on my blog. Finally, a listener tells me about a new sweepstakes where US listeners can enter to win a trip to New Zealand.

The results from my latest blog poll are in, answering the question: Regardless of what you actually have, do you think Christmas is better in hot weather or cold? Among 22 responses, 2 people or 9% favoured Hot weather, Cold weather was chosen by 15 (68%), I don’t care by 3 (13%) and “What’s this, a trick question promoting New Zealand summer?” by 2 (9%).

Take part in the new poll question about NZ alcoholic beverages.

Also mentioned in this episode:
My blog post Election lessons UPDATED
My blog post Howard’s End
Nik-in-Paris Podcast #64.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 56 – Kiwi Thanksgiving

Episode 56 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 I mostly tell you about my odd Thanksgiving Day in New Zealand, which was unusual, even for me. This gives me a chance to tell you about Auckland’s poor public transport system. The US Ambassador to New Zealand is a good one. Then there’s a visit to The Commonwealth: It suspended Pakistan until democracy is restored. Then, the Queen visited Uganda to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and visited people with HIV/AIDS. Finally, there’s even something about the Australian elections, which will be held tomorrow. No comments today, but those will return on Tuesday, along with a wrap-up on the Australian election.

The closing music today is “Regifting for the Holidays” by The Alice Project from the Podsafe Music Network.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 55 – Being an expat

Episode 55 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 I talk about being an expat, based largely on my own experience. I tell you some things a new expat can expect to feel, both good and bad. I also tell you how it resolves itself, eventually turning into “home”. I also share some of my general feelings about being an expat and what that all means. After comments from Episode 54, I say a little about my Kiwi Thanksgiving. Finally it’s a slightly revised version of my 30 second podcast promo. There may not be a podcast on Friday. We’ll see.

Leave a comment here or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Mentioned in this episode, posts from my blog:

Twelfth Anniversary

Eleven Years an Expat

Ex but not ex-


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AmeriNZ 54 – Big Giant Head

Episode 54 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 with a few words about Tuesday’s podcast. Then a couple domestic news items. It’s confirmed: I’m a Big Giant Head, or I write like one. Then I talk a bit about the Australian election, and then how some Maori activists need to study public relations. I tell you about Episode 55, which will be largely based on a listener request. There probably won’t be a podcast on Fridayof next week.

Be sure to vote in the poll on my blog!

Leave a comment, send an email to me at amerinz(at}yahoo.com, or ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Closing music: “Bill O’Reilly: The Legend of the Big Giant Head” by David Ippolito from the Podsafe Music Network.


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AmeriNZ 53 – Politics with Jason

Episode 53 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.

Jason’s back (he was last on Episode 20) for an extra-long episode where we have a wide-ranging talk about all sorts of things relating to politics. We begin by talking about a theme Jason sometimes writes about on his blog, namely the way soldiers in Iraq tend to be forgotten, and about how if this is a war, how come only the soldiers and their families are called to sacrifice? The poor treatment of the soldiers is the fault of both Bush and Congress, and this has nothing to do with supporting the war itself.

Then it’s on to a talk about Bush’s assault on the Constitution and the foolishness of their actions. This leads into talk about torture and the “war” on terror.

After a brief interruption, it’s on to the 2008 election, first up Ron Paul and his weird use of Guy Fawkes to raise money. Are Hillary’s “negatives” real? Guiliani and others get a mention, too. I’m not a big fan of the presidential selection system, but I see some positive possibilities with the change in primary dates. Jason’s less convinced. I tell you what I think historians will say is the great tragedy of the Bush administration.

We leave on a hopeful note, about how we can steer the world to a better place in many ways by moving away from fossil fuels and toward energy independence. Hey, I said it was a wide-ranging talk!

Leave a comment, or ring my US-based listener line, 206-339-8413. You can also send an email to me at amerinz[at}yahoo.com. Join my e-mailing list to find out when episodes are released.

Mentioned in this episode: Jason’s “Those We’ve Lost” series of posts.


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AmeriNZ 52 – Fast Friday

Episode 52 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.

Finally, a shorter episode! I recorded today during my lunch break (don’t worry, there aren’t any eating sounds). Today I catch-up on the things I didn’t time for over the past week, like comments, but I also give you updates on some things I’ve talked about on earlier episodes.

Any Australians want to take part in an episode? Let me know. I tell you about some upcoming episodes, and a couple things about earlier ones. What’s my most-downloaded episode to date? I’m planning another guest show for Tuesday.

I’m also a guest on ArcherRadio Group Shows for Thursday and Friday of this week.

Leave a comment, or ring my US-based listener line, 206-339-8413. You can also send an email to me at amerinz[at}yahoo.com.


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AmeriNZ 51 – Mark from Slap

Episode 51 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.

Oh! Canada! It’s an extra long episode today, as I talk with Mark from one of my favourite sites, Slap Upside the Head. Mark is Canadian, currently living in Montreal. We talk about all sorts of things, like his growing up in Canada, and something of what the country is like. Are gay rights really better in Canada? What can the Canadian experience teach American activists? We fit in some talk about terrorism, the influence of right wing religionists, and even sports! Canada, the US and New Zealand all get some compare and contrast action.

Leave a comment or call my US listener line on 206-339-8413. And, you can always send an email to me at amerinz(at]yahoo.com. Join my e-mailing list to find out about new episodes as they’re released.

A couple Slaps we talked about:

Peace Activist Ejected By Church

Point/CounterPoint: The Dumbledore Controversy

My “Guest Slap” on Mark’s site called It’s All About Maps


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AmeriNZ 50 – Fabulous

Episode 50 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 the 50th episode of the AmeriNZ Podcast! I also commemorate the twelfth anniversary of my arrival in New Zealand to live, and it’s the date Nigel and I take as our anniversary, too.

Today, I share some memories of my arrival in NZ. I also give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into the creation of my podcast. I then have comments, before moving on to some time with Nigel. Intermixed are phone messages I received, plus plenty of things I’ve never played publicly before.

I also move the curtain so you can see some of the behind-the-scenes magic. The jet landing sound effect has been part of the intro since episode one, as has the Morse Code. I also tell you about some of what led to the creation of the podcast.

Thanks for your support over the first 50 episodes! I hope to make the next 50 better and better.

Mentioned on this episode:

Ramble Redhead where I was a guest (part one)

Ramble Redhead where I was a guest (part two)

WinMorse code generator

The Holiday Time post from 2006


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AmeriNZ 49 – HalloweeNZ

Episode 49 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.

A short special extra episode today (so that Friday’s is episode 50, to be honest). Do we have Halloween in New Zealand? What about trick-or-treating? Or, is it all just “creeping Americanism”? People still try to promote Halloween in NZ, but, as I wrote last year, I think it’s probably already peaked in New Zealand.

After that, I tell you about the cabinet reshuffle and the promotion of a gay cabinet minister. Comments, a couple announcements, and that’s it.

Be back tomorrow with episode 50.

You can leave a comment on my lister line: 206-339-8413, or here.


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