Sideswipe: Jan 1: Word to the wise from 2012
This for sale card found on the public notice board at Countdown Rotorua Central. ``We, too, hope that the item is unused!'' says our reader. Photo / Supplied
Word to the wise from 2012
Happy New Year!
London-based CollinsDictionary.com has released its top words of 2012.
January - "broga," a combination of bro and yoga used to describe yoga geared toward men.
February - "legbomb", describing a photo of Angelina Jolie posing with her leg jutting out of her high-slit dress at the Academy Awards.
March - "Eurogeddon", describing the economic situation in countries using the euro.
April - "Mummy Porn", a phrase invented to describe erotic literature such as the 50 Shades of Grey book series.
May - "Zuckered", named for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg when the website's shares plummeted.
June - "Jubilympics", a term for British excitement surrounding both the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July - "Romneyshambles", a British term for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's gaffes while visiting London.
August - "Games Makers", a term for London's team of Olympic volunteers.
September - "47 per cent", referring to Romney's comments about how 47 per cent of US voters would back President Barack Obama because they are dependent on the government.
October - "Superstorm", the distinction given to Hurricane Sandy.
November - "Gangnam Style", a song by South Korean musician Psy that has become YouTube's most viewed video of all time.
December - "Fiscal Cliff", a decrease in government spending and an increase in taxes that some fear could put the US economy back into recession.
Germans also enjoy a holiday
A reader writes: I was surprised to hear a reader rant about New Zealand's relaxed holiday practices. The ranter mentions Germany but apparently his/her experience is from a part of Germany I've never visited, because one of the things that strikes you about German businesses is how fiercely protective they are of the right to close, whether on public holidays or during publicly popular holiday periods such as August. I support the European outlook on life, but having lived overseas for 12 years, if I draw a comparison between New Zealand's work practices and anything I've seen in London or on the continent, I'm left thinking that Kiwis work admirably hard and maintain relatively good access to shops and businesses during holiday periods. Try finding a pharmacy in a German town on a Sunday or booking a restaurant in Paris around Christmas. Meanwhile, enjoy the "go slow", hanging out in the sun with family and friends.
Getting cross over early Easter
Regarding finding Easter eggs in a Hamilton Warehouse ...
I can remember being in a Countdown late January one year and they had hot cross buns on display. I said to the bakery manager, "Hang on, He's just been born and you're trying to crucify Him already?"
Da-boom-ch!"
Meme: 'My Mum's a pole dancer.'...The truth behind this famous internet kid drawing...
Science: According to a study in the Journal of Food Science asparagus may prevent a hangover...Oh, maybe I shoulda had this story yesterday)
Picture this: Odd picture of school balls...
Video: This shopping channel presenter will make you run from the room...literally!
Apparently, those Easter eggs were out in some Warehouses BEFORE Christmas. Yep, it's convenient consumerism at it's best. Or worst.
And it's not the first time I've heard people moaning that Kiwis don't work as hard as other nations. Some people pointing out that a lot of our immigrants will work much longer hours and harder then us, and maybe we could learn something from it. But honestly, we have a good global reputation for working hard, and what on earth is wrong about making time for family, and to enjoy life. Because there is far more to life then money. And who is going to get to the end of their life and say "I wish I'd worked harder" "I wish I'd seen less of my children and had spent more hours at work" "I wish I hadn't seen so much of my friends when I could have been busy working". Money isn't everything. And money should be much less important then we make it. Quality of life please!