Episode 68 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 the post here, 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.
New Zealand’s clean and green is a bit faded. A NZ website has a bout of homophobia, while an American comedian will go pink for New Zealand. If you’re happy and you know it, you’re probably not 44. I give you a chance to make fun of me. And, John Ong is everywhere.
The NZ government’s newest report on the environment, Environment New Zealand 2007, has found that things aren’t all that great with NZ’s environment (read the NZ Herald story or the Stuff story).
In NZ we have a press agency called the NZPA for news-sharing among New Zealand media, and sometimes overseas. The main news websites carry the reports—sometimes exactly the same.
There was an NZPA report that a man was sexually attacked at a public toilet in Christchurch. The NZ Herald website correctly headlined their story, “Man sexually attacked and robbed in toilet block”. But rival stuff.co.nz headlined their version, “Manhunt for toilet block gay sex attacker”.
I fired off a complaint to Stuff, pointing out that there’s no such thing as a "gay sex attack" (or even a "homosexual sex attack"); sex attacks are the actions of violent, depraved individuals who may or may not be heterosexual or homosexual. Sex attacks are crimes of violence, not sex. I said that by using the word "gay" they reinforced negative stereotypes of gay men generally, including the myth that they prey on "innocent victims".
On the brighter side, an American comedian will be turning pink for New Zealand.
Speaking of happiness, did you know there's a sort of universal path of happiness over a lifetime? Does it relate to my life?
Two new podcasts are starting up.
I'm going to put a link to my Frappr map, but take away the map widget because my blog is taking too long to load, so I'll be removing most of them. So, leave a pin while it's still easy to do! To round-out the tech talk, I give an iTunes update plus give two new email addresses you can use.
I’m recording a new political discussion via Skype on Thurday, February 7, at 7:30pm EST (US) time. You're welcome to join us.
Please leave a comment. Or, you can email a comment to comment(at]amerinz.com, or send a personal email to me (won’t be read on the podcast) to arthur{at)amerinz.com. You can also still use my other address, amerinz[at) yahoo.com or ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.
Links for this episode
We're Mean Because You're Stupid
There Are Some Who Call Me Tim episode on Big Fatty's new podcast
Big Fatty Online
John Ong's Ongline Podcast
Blue Savannah by Erasure iTunes USA Store or iTunes NZ Store. You can also buy Blue Savannah
through Amazon.com.
Get AmeriNZ Podcast for free on iTunes
4 comments:
Hey Arthur-
Can I assume you find Stuff.co.nz to be the more sensationalist of the online news outlets for NZ? Is the Herald a more even-handed bet?
(Thanks for the book rec- the history is remarkable reading!
patrick
Your audio sounded so clear and crisp!
I heard about that study about happiness later in life. I don't know that I agree. I'm pretty happy in my forties. I have a job I love, a partner that's long term, and hobbies that keep me interested. I can't imagine being happier unless I had more income.
Thank you for removing those widgets from your website. I had noticed lately that your page was loading slowly. It should load faster now.
Arthur! Thank you so much for your comments regarding our new show. I am glad that you enjoyed it! Episode two should be of some interest to you. ;)
We will not be on the first page anytime soon! Sit, stay awhile!
You are welcome for the review.
Patrick: Not necessarily. Either one can be bad (and I criticised the Herald just today). A lot of the websites' stories are the same, like the NZPA story I mentioned. These days I take all mainstream news media sites with a healthy dose of scepticism. Glad you like the book!
Archerr: Thanks! Still working to improve the sound.
I think the happiness study is basically saying that there's this universal age-curve, but it doesn't and can't say that a particular person WILL have waning and waxing happiness. Some won't, some will, but at different ages. And some people are never happy at any age. Lucky we're not them, eh?
Widgets will continue to disappear and the blog will get cleaned up and reorganised, both to make it load faster and to make it easier to find things.
Nessa: I'm glad to promote what I like! Yes, I found episode 2, um, interesting...yeah, interesting. Seriously, I'm sure I'm not talking about your show yet!
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