Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: The World Is Full of Cu*ts

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  • Juha Saarinen,

    Why did you put the new Telecom logo into "Cunts"?

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    I'll thank you not to bring your dour Finnish obscurantism into the discussion. Feel free to keep cussing, though.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Why did you put the new Telecom logo into "Cunts"?

    Especially when it so closely resembles a clenched arsehole -- which deserves some kind of award for truth in branding, but otherwise...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Tax Cu*ts Now!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Cuasterisknts is really hard to say after a few beers. Lucky I had coffee this morning instead.

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Ah, Breakfast of Champions!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Gifts may not ordinarily be taxable, but there is a wonderful case in NZ's tax history that goes by the title G v CIR. It's been over a year since I studied G, so my memory is a little rusty, but a quick precis of the facts (and surely subject to correction by our legal readers) is roughly as follows:

    G was an itinerant preacher. He relied largely on donations from the groups to whom he preached in order to survive. Being donations, G did not declare them as income. These donations reached fairly significant proportions, as G's reputation grew and he spoke to ever-larger groups of people, to the point that G was able to acquire a house and raise a family.
    Eventually the Revenue took a look at G's affairs and proceeded to chase him for unpaid tax. At the end of the legal wrangling, it was held that, because the donations were regular and expected and were given as thanks for his spiritual guidance, they were of the nature of income and must be declared as such. G was allowed to pass a few clear gifts (along the lines of Christmas and birthday presents) as untaxable, but most of the donations were deemed to have actually been income.

    I wouldn't be too concerned about Pope Brian getting a huge increase in income that's right out of the reach of the IRD, to be honest. G fits so very nicely that you can be sure there are investigators at the Revenue who're busy sharpening their best HB pencils as I type. I imagine they're quite interested in that half-mil he got from the "first fruits" collection, too, since that sounds like it's a regular occurrence.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    Thanks for that Matthew. I meant to say, but see now that I haven't, that for all I know, he may well be declaring it as income. However if he isn't, that case law, as you say, gives the IRD a pretty good foundation to work on.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    It took me a moment to register the silence; another to realise that he was waiting for me to apologise, and finally another in which I deduced that the apology was expected for uttering a profanity in the presence of a holy man.

    Hehe, it was hilarious watching Brian Scamaki on Close Up.
    I cant seen to find a working link at the TVNZ site tho'.

    The man from Cu*twatch spoke for a solid 10 mins laying the scam bare.
    Brians reply when he had finished talking.
    "I didnt hear a word he said"
    Cu*twatch man was two chairs to his right.
    Now that is selective hearing par excellence.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Juha Saarinen,

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Especially when it so closely resembles a clenched arsehole -- which deserves some kind of award for truth in branding, but otherwise...

    I am reminded of an anagram for "information superhighway" coined during the Netscape age:

    "Oh oh, wiring snafu. Empty air."

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Tax Cu*ts Now!

    Tee shirt gold.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Could you clarify what your gripe is, if you in fact have any, with the sign outside of that church in Carcassone?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    No gripe. I was just tickled that they gave it that tag. And then I thought: well maybe it is.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Ah, that. Yes, cult means worship/religion in Italian so by parentage I think probably in French as well. It's a word used in several official denominations - a priest is a minister of the cult, for instance.

    I think you can quite safely put it down to the translation being done by a non native speaker of English.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Could you clarify what your gripe is, if you in fact have any, with the sign outside of that church in Carcassone?

    Speaking for myself, the bit about no animals. Once you restrict the possibility of having a soul to the potentially monied, you reveal your religion for the racket it is.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    We all know that Saint Francis spoke to the animals, but few are aware that what he said to them was: "Nahhh-naaaa... you are not going to heaven..."

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    So all those pigeons are part of the branding?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I was really disappointed by Campbell's interview with the Destiny guy last week - he clearly hadn't done his homework, and made some charitable assumptions about the church (e.g. that they have open membership) which allowed the guy to avoid answering anything.

    But, honestly, the fact that religious groups get away from tax on the presumption that all religious activity is charitable is the real issue that needs to be addressed. Pity no-one will touch it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    David this post has really come in below what I normally see from you.
    It's a bit of an Anti-Clerical whinge with little substance, so pointing fingers at Brian as being hollow, falls flat.

    There is plenty wrong with both organisations, but an older middleage man who has quite a few pretensions not wanting a swear word said infront of him or his wife isn't an issue.

    As for silence, its about respect for others & the sign so that those who are not familiar with church etique can move through without causing offence, as I'm sure they generally don't want to do.

    St Francis & the blessing of animals happened last month, normally gets a human interest story on TV, pet lambs, dogs, etc. Anglicans & Catholics do this - great fun for the kids.

    The gifts for Brian are gifts after all. It's the contracted tithings and there inforcement, along with the imposed excile to South Auckland that are of concern.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    religious groups get away from tax on the presumption that all religious activity is charitable

    I thought it was something to do with separating church and state, historically. I agree it doesn't really stand up these days.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    It took me a moment to register the silence; another to realise that he was waiting for me to apologise,

    nah, he was waiting for you to surprise him with a gift.

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    rofflenui

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    St Francis & the blessing of animals happened last month, normally gets a human interest story on TV, pet lambs, dogs, etc. Anglicans & Catholics do this - great fun for the kids.

    In their arid and pitiably limited theology, orthodox Anglicans and Catholics deny the possibility of souls to animals. It's no surprise to have it confirmed that the 'blessing' of a few token creatures is little more than pandering to the media.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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