Sailing Away - All Of Us - Who Sang The First Line?

A question from the Dominion Post five minute quiz asked who sang the first line in the New Zealand classic song Sailing Away by All Of Us. Did you get it right?

I was disappointed because I can remember the music video, but only remembered that Billy T James sang the second line. I was a bit upset when I realised who sang the first line. For the answer, go down to the bottom of this post.

This song was sang for the 1987 America's Cup challenge KZ7 which brought New Zealand together and the song included great kiwis including Suzanne Prentice, Precious McKenzie, Barry Crump and Jeremy Coney.

It is funny how back then we thought that the America's Cup was all about bringing a nation together, this is ironic given the nature of America's Cup yachting these days which is a sport for the rich and elite rather than the people.

There was a phase in the 1980s of coming up with songs sang by groups of celebrities for great causes, like Band Aid, USA 4 Africa and United Artists Against Apartheid. I don't think people would get behind a new America's Cup song given how most people don't care about it anymore. I used to love this song!













 Dave Dobbyn sang the first line - "Here we come and we are sailing".

Cleveland Rescuer Charles Ramsey Gets Free Hamburgers For Life

Charles Ramsey who famously put down his Big Mac to rescue three women held captive in a Cleveland house for a decade has been offered free hamburgers for life from 15 restaurants in Cleveland. He has plenty of personality and after giving McDonalds a free plug, Ramsey is set to live the dream for the rest of his life!

He has become an internet sensation!

 http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/8712543/Rescuer-gets-free-hamburgers-for-life

The NRL Footy Show In Trouble - Get Over It!

The NRL Footy Show which I consider to be the best variety type show in Australia and New Zealand is in trouble for featuring the photo of a baby in their "Look-alikes" segment. This is ridiculous given that the point of that segment is to make fun of the hosts or former hosts of the show Paul "Fatty" Vautin and The Big Marn are the main targets because of their hair colour or weight. The photo in question was of a babe who has a resemblance to former host Peter "Sterlo" Sterling. The photo was supplied by a family friend of the baby and they put it up on the show. Now the parents of the baby are upset.

I think whoever sent it in should have asked for permission from the parents first, rather than it being the Footy Show's fault.  I don't think the NRL Footy Show did anything wrong.

This is off the NRL Footy Show's Facebook page

Regarding recent articles in News Ltd papers, the Look-A-Likes photo was sent into The Footy Show by a friend of the family and not taken off Facebook. We chose not to make a statement to News Ltd yesterday but we did not refuse to apologise to the family and we did speak to the family on Friday and will do so again today to reassure them we never intended to cause hurt to them or their child and of course apologise if it did. 

Do you think this family deserve to be upset? Should the NRL Footy Show have to apologise?

Latest Tui Billboard - Arise, Prince Byron Kelleher - Yeah Right

Here is the latest Tui Billboard - Arise, Prince Byron Kelleher - Yeah Right. This is based on the latest rumours that the former All Blacks rugby halfback is romantically involved with Princess Charlene of Monaco. She is the wife of Prince Albert 2 of Monaco.

Viktor Troicki's Italian Open Tennis Tantrum Against Ernsts Gulbis - Poor Sport, Psychology or Comedy?

The exaggerated tennis tantrum by Serbian Vikto Troicki in the Italian Open is psychology, even though it comes across as poor sportsmanship or a lame attempt at comedy. I can't believe by the end of John McEnroe's career that fans would find his tantrums funny, but I just find it lame comedy and believe that since Troicki was a set and a potential break down against his opponent Ernsts Gulbis that this ploy was a ridiculous attempt at breaking the match open through psychology. He couldn't buy a trick, so he may as well try to break his opponent's rhythm. It didn't work as Gulbis won 6-1 6-1 and Troicki was left with egg on his face in my opinion.

Scotty Presents : Spring Ball 2013 - A Good Idea?

Scotty Presents : Spring Ball 2012 was a great success as a Christian friendly ball in Wellington with about 170 people dressing up and having a great night.  Organising such an event starts early and I am wondering if people would be keen for a repeat dose of ball magic with Scotty Presents : Spring Ball 2013?  Let me know by voting anonymously down the side of this website. 

Georgie Pie To Return To New Zealand - Will It Be As Good As We Remember?

McDonalds will announce the return of Georgie Pie tomorrow, will it be as cheap and as good as we remember?  I think like 1980s movies and other products like Joy Bars, Mello Yello and now Georgie Pie, it was good for its time, but our expectations and standards are higher these days.  Some things are better left in the memory bank.  Georgie Pie, pies used to be only $1.  Expect an announcement tomorrow!

Charles Ramsey interview, rescuer of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight in Cleveland - This Guy Has Personality!

Charles Ramsey the neighbour who helped Amanda Berry escape has got some real personality, watch this interview!  This won't be the last time you see this guy.

After going missing more than 10 years ago, Amanda Berry shouted to a man from a Seymour Avenue house on Monday. Charles Ramsey and Angel Cordero broke down the door and freed Berry, who was 16 when she disappeared in 2003. Cordero told NewsChannel5's Stephanie Ramirez that he recognized Berry from posters and that she was with a 4 or 5-year-old child. Other victims Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus. 

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/cleveland-man-who-found-missing-woman-amanda-berry-i-thought-that-girl-was-dead#ixzz2ScUmj9qm

Is Wellington A Dying City?

New Zealand Prime Minister has come under attack for suggesting that Wellington is a "dying city".  Do you agree?
Here is an interesting video.

http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/wellington-really-dying-video-5431013

I think that Wellington is an amazing city with so many things to see and do like Te Papa, Cable Car museum, Pencarrow, the Basin Reserve, Zelandia, Mt Kaukau, Macra Beach, Oriental Bay, the cafes, the amazing movie theatres, restaurants, waterfront bars and of course it is the capital of Middle Earth.  Wellington also get plenty of the big acts that bigger cities get, but I don't think this is what John Key is getting at.

In John Key's defence, there are plenty of old buildings which since the Christchurch earthquakes are now earthquake zones and therefore unable to be used to their potential.  There are heaps of old damp houses which some would say add character, but people used to more modern cities feel these buildings seem old.  I am from Invercargill, but in Invercargill most people I know have warm and modern homes compared with Wellington.

The History of Joaquin Phoenix and His Family

During the weekend I was looking up information on whatever happened to some movie stars.  I was actually looking up information on River Phoenix who died in 1993 and was intrigued to find that Joaquin Phoenix is his brother and found him outside The Viper Room which is a bar half owned by Johnny Depp and called an ambulance for help, but to no avail.  It ends up they were in a big family who were part of the Children of God cult and hence why Joaquin Phoenix was once called "Leaf" and born in Puerto Rico. 

Anyway, the details are below.  River Phoenix was the oldest brother.


Phoenix was born Joaquín Rafael Bottom in Río Piedras, a sector of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he lived until he was six. He is the third of five children, including River (1970–1993), Rain (1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer (1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964) from a previous relationship of his father's.^[2]
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic^[3] from Fontana, California.^[4] His mother, Arlyn (née Dunetz), was born in The Bronx, New York, to Jewish parents whose families emigrated from Russia and Hungary.^[3] In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitchhiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult the Children of God and began travelling throughout South America.^[4]
His parents eventually became disenchanted with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a nature-related name like his siblings and inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his father. (In a Jay Leno interview, Joaquin said he had originally called himself Antleaf as a child; it is unclear if he was being serious).^[5] Leaf became the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to Joaquin.^[6]
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments.^{[citation needed]} In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC, and his father worked as a landscaper. Phoenix and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances.^[7] Joaquin went on to establish himself as a child actor before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and travel to Mexico and South America with his father.^{[citation needed]}
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances: on October 31, 1993, his brother, River Phoenix, suffered a drug overdose and died, outside the Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room, which was co-owned by Johnny Depp at the time. Joaquin's call to 911 to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television.^[8] The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Phoenix reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix

Heavy Rain Floods Wellington - Tell Me Your Stories Please!

There was heavy rain in Wellington today causing flooding.  I haven't seen rain like I saw on my way to work today and this photo taken by Transit Media sums up the situation.  The rain hit between 8am and 9am.

Drains were overflowing throughout town as the rain bucketed down and the water level was up to the door entrances of shops around town.  It was impossible to avoid arriving at town in wet jeans and socks, although thankfully it wasn't too cold or windy which means I could use my umbrella!  That is a rare thing in Wellington.  We have hardly had any rain in the last six months, so that makes this deluge so impressive.

There were also impressive thunder and lightning strikes last night.

It makes for an entertaining trip to work.  I should have warn some gumboots!  I realise this is minor compared with life threatening floods overseas, but it definitely made for an interesting Monday morning trip to work!  Wellington buses had to be diverted from the Basin Reserve roundabout as traffic stalled nearby and the water level rose.

Tell me your stories of how you found your trip to work this morning.

 https://twitter.com/TransmitMedia/status/331162534700781570

The 21 Most Awkward Handshakes - Should We Return To The Traditional Two Way?

Buzzfeed has done it again with the 21 Most Awkward Moments in Handshake History.  It is great to see the John Key handshake at the Rugby World Cup final in 2011 make the cut. 

Should we return to the traditional two way up and down handshake?  The problem tends to arise when there are more than two people involved, when people go for high or low fives and when some people go for the fist pump.  You also need like minded people going for the same way of the shaking.  Maybe the traditional two way up and down two and a half shakes is considered too formal these days.  Or is the problem that people go for the high or low five or fist pump because they have sweaty hands or a wart?  For those people it could be better going for the two and a half shake, traditional two way with fingers not quite committed as one party is trying to get the other person to mind the wart.

I especially love the link, the Number 7 Masters is great given how formal the situation is and the way that the guy who gets shot down tries to hide it by scratching his face.  What is your favourite handshake?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-most-awkward-moments-in-handshake-history

Anchor Milk Tui Billboard - Yeah Right

Here is the latest Tui Billboard in response to the new Anchor milk bottles.  "Quick, close the curtains, the milk is out!" Yeah Right!

Cool Runnings - The Real Story of the Jamaican Bobsled Team

I watched the heartwarming classic Cool Runnings last weekend.  It is the story of the Jamaican Bobsled team which qualified for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympic Games after being eliminated at the Jamaican Summer Olympic Games trials.

It is always difficult to know how much of the plot gets changed with these "based on a true story" movies, but I found this on Wikipedia, so it must be true.  Here are the differences between the Cool Runnings movie and the real Jamaican Bobsled team.  I can see why they changed things to make the movie more dramatic!

Differences between real life and film

Characters

The bobsledders portrayed in the film are fictional, although the people who conceived the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team were inspired by pushcart racers and tried to recruit top track sprinters. However, they did not find any elite sprinters interested in competing and instead recruited four sprinters from the army for the team.
Irving "Irv" Blitzer is a fictional character; the real team had several trainers, none of whom were connected to any cheating scandal. At the time of the movie's release, the United States had not won a gold medal in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics in the four man event since 1948.
In the film, the team is formed by Jamaican sprinters after failing to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics. In real life the 1988 Winter Olympics preceded the Summer Olympic trials.

Organization

A fictional sports governing body, the "International Alliance of Winter Sports" appears in the film (In reality, every winter sport has its own separate governing body.)

Competition

Completely unlike the story in the film, the Jamaican team was not in conflict with any of the other international bobsledding teams. Other teams were, in fact, supportive of the Jamaican team. One of the other teams even lent the Jamaican team a backup sled so they could qualify.
The bobsled competition in the film consists of three individual runs, whereas in reality the Olympic bobsled competition is two runs a day held over a two-day period.
In the film, the Jamaicans are on world record pace during the final run of the competition when their sled crashes. They emerge from the sled and carry it across the finish line. In real life, however, the crash occurred before the finals (eliminating the Jamaicans) and Jamaica was not on a world record pace. However, real-life footage of the crash was used in the film. After the crash, the team walked next to their sled as track officials slid it down the track. They received sporadic applause, though less than the crescendo response as in the movie.^[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Runnings