Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#142374 04/24/05 07:02 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
sjmaxq Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Tomorrow is April 25th, known in Australasia as ANZAC day. It's probably the closest thing to a holy day either country has, and has long been touted as an example of how the trans-Tasman sniping masks an underlying fraternal affection, forged in the fires of war. As a committed supranationalist, I've long believed this to be un crock de merde, and today, the hominid(?) currently serving as OZ PM confirmed my cynical suspicions.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3258475a10,00.html.

Worthy of note in this sorry story is that, despite the generally low esteem in which Howard is held in the prisoner isle, no word of outcry has been heard from that side of the ditch.


#142375 04/24/05 02:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Referring to Air Marshal Ferguson, the news story to which Max refers us sez:

"He said it was an emotional time and Gallipoli was becoming a right of passage for young people, particularly those going there for the first time."

"Right of passage"? I always thought they spoke English is New Zealand.





#142376 04/24/05 06:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Actually it is right of passage. This comes from the instructions that were posted in the crowded corridors of troop ships to prevent collisions in the dark between those who were used to keeping to the left of the passageway and those who grew up keeping right of passage(way).


9



TEd
#142377 04/24/05 07:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
There's a particularly uncomfortable rung of Purgatory reserved for guys like you, TEd.



#142378 04/24/05 07:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
I went to a gig by June Tabor a few weeks back - she was in great form with her customary excellent musicians playing tightly - but by half time it was apparent that she was playing a new set, with no reruns of older material. I slpped backstage in the interval (taking advantage of my privileged position in the theatre I founded!) and made a special plea in the name of Zild friends that she sing the spine tingling lament by Eric Bogle And the Band Played Walzing Matilda.

I have her version of this playing now in honour of all the pain and suffering of those times; may we never forget, as you say max, the supranational lessons.

http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/matilda.html


Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Subtle, Fr. Steve, very subtle. I can feel my ears burning.



8


TEd
#142380 04/24/05 10:50 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
There's a particularly uncomfortable rung of Purgatory reserved for guys like you, TEd.

Ooo, ooo, can we watch, please? From a suitable height, of course. Harps optional.

Actually, Mav, Eric Bogle was one of those enigmas wrapped up in a riddle. He was actually Scottish. We saw him in concert at some point (or at least I did). My wife loves his music and has several tapes of his stuff.




Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
TEd writes: "Subtle, Fr. Steve, very subtle."

Sometimes my thoughts and their expression are so subtle that even I miss all of the nuances contained therein. It is a blessing or a curse?






#142382 04/25/05 05:42 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
google has recognised ANZAC day, at both google.com.au and google.co.nz


#142383 04/25/05 08:27 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
> actually Scottish

Yes, I know, Pfranz - the page I linked to gives his potted bio. It seemed particularly appropriate to me, given that many try to conjure nationalistic fervour out of these kind of occasions, that I could use the music of a guy who was born in one country, settled in another and who can empathise with the experiences that were also common to young Zild men of that far away era. I also like the title to his other famous song, also on that link: No Man's Land.


#142384 04/25/05 08:56 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
This thread seems to be much ado about nothing. I'm sure that once Mr Howard realises that he may have upset or offended NZ, he'll say sorry.


#142385 04/25/05 10:17 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
sjmaxq Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Gallipoli was, of course, a famous Aussie defeat. It seems that at least some Aussies have conceded defeat in another long-running war. The truth will out:
http://maxqnzs.com/pav.jpg


#142386 04/25/05 10:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Oh, come on, Maxie, not a chance. They don't give up that easily ...

Vernon, you're exactly right. Of course John Howard, that fair-minded and liberal individual, will say "Sorry!" once he realises that he may have, in the heat of some moment, somewhere, given some slight offence to his friends across the ditch. And it will be raining $1000 notes and pigs will fly. What a day it will be!


#142387 04/25/05 11:06 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
$1000 notes

Would they be enough for me to buy the emoticons I ought to have used to clarify my post?


#142388 04/25/05 11:08 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
don't worry Vern, I recognised your tone :)

But a 'flying pigirony' emoticon would be handy, wouldn't it?!


#142389 04/25/05 11:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
In reply to:

don't worry Vern, I recognised your tone :)


Thank you. At times I almost get an eery feeling that you somehow know the real me, as it were.


#142390 04/25/05 01:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
> as it were

So shall it be...

hey, speaking of pigs have you joined in our occasional games of Hogwash? ~ I bet you'd do twice as well as most of us :)


#142391 04/25/05 03:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Umm ... Vernon, I was agreeing with you and reinforcing your view ...


#142392 04/25/05 04:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Very nice, Mav. Wish I had the kind of ability to make a pun like that.


4



TEd
#142393 04/26/05 04:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
I got an unasked-for apology for Howard's boorishness from an Australian colleague today. I was very appreciative!


#142394 04/26/05 07:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
In reply to:

I got an unasked-for apology for Howard's boorishness from an Australian colleague today. I was very appreciative!



It seems that a lot of Australians do a quite a lot of apologising for Howard's being. Maybe he's their revenge for our giving them Joh Bjelke?


#142395 04/26/05 11:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 399 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5