Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Mighty Indeed

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  • Testcard,

    If in the early 1980s you have been a member of the 1480 Kroozers, what would you have been?

    A skateboarder.

    Ah yes, I saw 'No More Heroes' (excellent flick about pioneer Kiwi skateboarders). Amazing use of Doublehappys' 'Joe 90, kids skating at the Hunua dam, Muldoon giving his seal of approval to skateboarding...

    As I recall, one of the skateboarding heroes in question - Elroy Ainsley, I think - is mentioned as having skated down Liverpool Street (the incredibly steep street behind Real Groovy. If only there was footage of that.

    Didn't Chris Stapp/Randy Cambell go down it on rollerskates for an early Back Of The Y thing as well?

    Since Nov 2007 • 23 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    The quiz was fun - I totally pwned my table by knowing what the 1480 Kroozers were and the bonus question with that one.

    There was a woman sitting down by the bar who apparently knew the answer to everything. I talked to her friend who said "It was freaking me out! How can she know this stuff? She's only 34!"

    I thought it was pretty funny when Roger Shepherd didn't spot 'Pink Frost' in the backwards-music round. And also that the Gordons' 'Coalminers Song' sounds almost exactly the same backwards as it does forwards ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Ah yes, I saw 'No More Heroes' (excellent flick about pioneer Kiwi skateboarders). Amazing use of Doublehappys' 'Joe 90, kids skating at the Hunua dam, Muldoon giving his seal of approval to skateboarding...

    Indeed. It's the work of my homeboy Andrew Moore. The Auckland Star ran a picture of him (aged about 10) with Muldoon at Skatopia at the time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Scribe, Che Fu and Nesian Mystik's Feleti Strickson-Pua are all, of course, local rap artists. But what did their fathers have in common in the late 70s? Brown Panthers

    I think the local variant was Polynesian Panthers. The Brown Panthers were the... Mexican version of the Black Panthers in USA weren't they?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • stephen walker,

    "Joe 90" is by Bored Games.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    Man... the thought of skating down Liverpool street scares the heck out of me....

    Although I personally dont like speed without the protection of a vehicle around me, I know that others do, so I can see how that might appeal..... its just the fact that at the bottom, theres only about 20-30 metres of flat before walls + fences mean there's NOWHERE to slow-down... the ONLY way to slow/stop would be crash or slide, and you'd know that before you start

    I guess that's why this chicken arse isnt a daredevil?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Testcard,

    "Joe 90" is by Bored Games.

    True. I genuflect before your greater knowledge of Shayne Carter's
    works.

    Anyway... I demand that 'No More Heroes' be screened on free-to-air television. The kids need to see it.

    Was it Kelly Johnson and Don Selwyn that were in both 'Utu' and 'Goodbye Pork Pie'?

    Since Nov 2007 • 23 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Walls and fences slow you down plenty fast. I know when I skated I'd prefer slamming into a wall than the ground any day.

    Unless you're going seriously fast, stopping a skateboard is as easy as jumping off and running for a little bit. Over 30km/h your legs just can't keep up.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    keep them coming...

    The Edge of Reason?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Joanna,

    You know how at Live8, it started with U2 and Paul McCartney playing 'Sgt Pepper's' and afterwards Bono, the usual douchebag was like "Did that just happen???" all in awe and stuff? Yeah, that was me last night, and this morning. Our little website went huge, and MOTHERFUCKING BLAM BLAM BLAM played our ceremony. Woah!

    Unlimited thanks go out to everyone involved. You guys rock my word.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Mark Graham,

    But where are the answers???

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • Hayden Wilson,

    keep them coming...

    The cutting edge?

    Postcards from Edge-Comb?

    Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    (And yes, I have an idea about refreshing our gender and ethnic balance too.)

    I wonder (either fulfilling one or both of those roles), or in addition to, there is a space and a person to fill it from a NZ indigenous perspective, or at least active in those issues.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    a bloody great night!!

    big congratulations to all the wellingtonista to worked so hard on this. (all i contributed was the toby jug, which i now see is firmly in the possession of mr. farrar)

    and huge regard to blam blam blam.

    maestros!!

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    That's more than I contributed I think . And I note that I have one of the awards at home (but no freeview decoder) :) I'll bury it in some secret place in the Bot Gardens.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Chockasunday,

    Cheers everyone for a great night.
    Very impressive organisation, and a treat to see the Blams for the first time.

    I really should have said hello to Robyn as well!

    There's another big Wellington event tonight, when the Phoenix take on Perth at the Stadium, 7.30.
    (No, Jo, I wasn't one of those people who voted for Terry Serepisos in both categories!)

    Bevan.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 62 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    NZ Herald seem confused with the definition of the word unanimous in their lead story;

    <i>It has been revealed Graham Henry was unanimously reinstated as All Blacks coach by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). Henry was reappointed as coach for two more years today with the NZRU board voting 7-1 in his favour. </i>

    Wait... damn, the sub must have spotted it and fixed it.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Righto ... back in muggy Auckland and I'll post the answers in about an hour.

    And also decide who gets a $50 digital voucher to spend with our current advertisers, I Want That.

    Who also have a bunch of specials until midnight Sunday, including 33% off thinking putty and 10% off morphing eggs ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    Kerry ("deadpossum") has some photos of the Blams on Flickr. We hope to get some more photos of the night up soon.

    And wow, what a night! I think in retrospect that "24 hour diner" should have been higher up the list of things Wellington needs, after the last bunch of us got kicked out of a kebab shop at 4am. There was a wonderfully surreal "Soup Nazi" moment though:

    "You eat here or take away?"

    "Eat here, please"

    "No! We closed! You take away!"

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I forgot to mention that Giovanni Ribisi was at our party last night too, and enjoyed the Blams. Some of the Wellingtonista have photographic evidence.

    Plus ... I walked past this guy on the street yesterday who was a dead ringer for Hiro from Heroes. Even the same glasses. I had to snap myself out of the impulse to address him in character. Freaky.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • stephen clover,

    There was a wonderfully surreal "Soup Nazi" moment though:

    "You eat here or take away?"

    "Eat here, please"

    "No! We closed! You take away!"

    I'm totally going to add that to my Kebab Shop Guy routine.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • stephen clover,

    the Gordons' 'Coalminers Song' sounds almost exactly the same backwards as it does forwards ...

    I wouldn't be surprised if that was true of most of their catalogue!

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • stephen clover,

    big congratulations to all the wellingtonista to worked so hard on this.

    ditto. work kinda took me awol about 4 weeks ago, but yous all did a grand job. roll on 3AWA-2008.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Plus ... I walked past this guy on the street yesterday who was a dead ringer for Hiro from Heroes. Even the same glasses.

    Me too. I'm seeing them everywhere. I'm a bit worried about what that says about me though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Okay, here are the answers. Give me a little time to decide who gets the voucher for I Want That ...

    ---

    POLITICS

    The 1975 election was also remarkable for the fact that a Maori candidate was elected to a general seat for the first time since 1893. In fact, there were two. Name me at least one of them.

    A: Ben Couch and Rex Austin
    For a bonus: Three years later, another Maori was elected to a general seat. Who was that?

    A: Winston Peters

    In 1978, the Westland MP Paddy Blanchfield retired and made his farewell speech in Parliament. What was unusual about the speech?

    A: It was partially in the form of a poem that Blanchfield had written himself.

    For a bonus: In 2002, one MP's maiden speech included the performance of a version of a song that was a hit in the early 1980s. Who was the MP and what was the song?

    A: Metiria Turei, 'There is No Depression in New Zealand -- in Maori!

    What, by legend, was found in the briefcase stupidly left by an SIS operative on a journalist's fence?

    A: A Penthouse magazine and a pie.

    For a bonus: What was really in there?

    A: Sandwiches and a copy of the Listener. Which is, in its own way, more tragic. NB: This appears to be a matter of debate …

    The plastic Rob Muldoon piggy bank had a unique feature -- what was it?

    A. You could put money in, but there was no way to get it out.

    What was the marketing slogan for that product?

    The piggy bank -- not just a pretty face.

    One of the 'Double Standard' billboards popular in Wellington during the Muldoon era read 'Rooting Pig Shot in Ngaio'. What were the last two words of the Billboard?

    A: PM Safe

    ---
    CULTURE

    Scribe, Che Fu and Nesian Mystik's Feleti Strickson-Pua are all, of course, local rap artists. But what did their fathers have in common in the late 70s?

    A: They were all members of the Polynesian Panthers.

    If in the early 1980s you have been a member of the 1480 Kroozers, what would you have been?

    A: A skateboarder.

    If you had been at an event in the company of 75,000 other New Zealanders over Auckland anniversary weekend in 1979, where would you have been?

    A: The Nambassa Festival in Waihi.

    What, in late 1970s, was the Sportronic?

    A: A New Zealand-made TV games console.

    Which two actors starred in both Goodbye Pork Pie and Utu?

    A: Kelly Johnson and Bruno Lawrence.

    Who did Tineke Bouchier replace in the televised version of 'It's In the Bag'?

    A: Heather Eggleton

    What was a Blue Lady, as immortalised in the Hello Sailor song, 'Blue Lady'?

    A: A blue glass syringe made in Germany, much prized by heroin addicts

    We all know that 'Gutter Black' is the theme song of Outrageous Fortune. But what Sailor song was featured in that other tale of Westie mayhem, Savage Honeymoon?

    A: Lyin' in the Sand

    MULTI-CHOICE

    1. What was the top tax rate in New Zealand in 1983?
    (a) 50%

    (b) 56%
    
(c) 66%
    
(d)70%

    A: (c) 66%

    2. In the 1981 general election, Mana Motuhake and the Values Party finished fourth and fifth respectively in the popular vote. Which of the following parties came in sixth?

    (a) The Wizard Party
    
(b) The Socialist Unity Party

    (c) Economic Euthenics
    
(d) No Confidence.

    A: (a) The Wizard Party

    3. How many computers were there in New Zealand workplaces in 1982?

    (a) 25
    
(b) 370
    
(c)1500

    (d) 4000

    A: (d) 4000

    4. How many modems were connected to the telephone network in 1980?

    (a) None

    (b) 800

    (c) 1800

    (d) 2700

    A: (c) 1800

    5. Which of the following was not the acronym of a interest group active in the 1970s?

    (a) SPCS

    (b) SPUC
    
(c) SPCA

    (d) SPCL

    A: (d) SPCL

    6. Of whom did Muldoon say: 'He can stew in his own juice.'?

    (a) Derek Quigley
    
(b) Abraham Ordia
    
c) John Minto

    (d) David Lange

    A: (b) Abraham Ordia, President, Supreme Council for Sport in Africa

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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