Waitangi Day

Otherwise known as "The Day it's Okay to be Racist."

I'm not going to go into the whole politics of the situation because that's really not my point. I am just completely appalled and frustrated at the amount of racism still in this country. And if I'm being honest, it's not just racism, it's just a general hate that seems to divide this country.

Last night before I went to bed I was listening to Newstalk ZB. It was Bruce Russell's show, and there was a caller on. You could tell from the caller's voice, and what he said, that he was an elderly white man. I'd just turned it on when I heard him talk about the controversy over Maori carrying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag over the Harbour Bridge, but he didn't describe the people as Maori. He didn't even describe them as people. No, what he did was degrade the entire Maori population by calling them "apes". That's right, bloody apes.

Now, I know there is always going to be racism, and racists, so while I was offended by the comment it rolled off the back pretty easily. What really offended me was the fact that an employee of a high-profile, New Zealand radio station wouldn't correct this ignorant man. No, all he had to say was "If you call people apes, you might get compared to a Cricketer." What the hell is that supposed to mean? Yes there's the controversy over racism in Cricket, but that doesn't tell this man that he's wrong to compare Maori to apes. And to top it off, the caller just laughed, and Bruce joined in.

And then on top of all that, I read this over at D.J. Sir-Vere's blog:

Introducing Mr Barry Corbett, a Christchurch councillor who when questioned about the prosecution of Bruce Emery, the 50 year old who stabbed to death 15 year old Pihema Cameron, he said 'If I was on the jury, I'd let him get away with it, but thats me.' It was reported here in the Herald.

I mean what the f***?

So, I just want to send a big

F*** YOU!

to Bruce Russell, his caller, Mr Barry Corbett and Bruce Emery.

I know it won't do anything, but I don't care.

Lost

So, Lost is back. For those of you in New Zealand, you won't see the episode for another week or so unless you happen to watch it online. If you don't plan to watch it online, though, then it's probably best to give this post a miss unless you want it spoiled.

All I can say is "Wow." What an amazing episode. It was emotional, it was creepy, it was confusing. All things that make up a great episode.

It was Hurley centric, and we find out that Hurley is one of six who have managed to get off the Island via a flashforward. We know that Kate and Jack are also off the Island, so that leaves us with 3 people unaccounted for.

In the flashforward, Hurley keeps on seeing visions of Charlie, and ends up back in a mental institute. While in the institute, he sees Charlie again, who basically gives him the message "They need you," before Hurley makes Charlie disappear. He's also visited by a man calling himself Abbadon asking if "they" are still alive, and by Jack who, while he says is there just to check up on Hurley, seems to have ulterior motives. Hurley, mentions to Jack that he's sorry for going with Locke, and that he should have gone with Jack. He also says that he thinks they (him and Jack) made a mistake, and that he thinks "it wants [them] to go back" to the Island.

So from that, we're introduced to a new character, Matthew Abbadon. Charlie seems to imply that people are still left on the Island, and that they're alive, and in need of help. So Ben's prophesy of everyone dying are false. We also learn that the people who went with Locke aren't necessarily excluded from the Oceanic 6 (Hurley being proof), and we get a brief glimpse that the Oceanic 6 are hiding something from the rest of the world.

Back on the Island, Naomi isn't quite dead as she crawls off into the jungle. Jack is still pissed at Ben and Locke, but is happy that people are coming.
Meanwhile Desmond gives us the Losties at the beach Charlie's message, but they're afraid to radio Jack incase the boat people are listening, so they go trekking to tell him.
Jack takes off to find Naomi with Rousseau and Ben, who unhelpfully neglects to tell Jack that Kate took the satellite phone and is actually off to find Naomi herself.
While trekking, Hurley starts to fall behind, and eventually gets lost and comes upon Jacob's hut. While peeking inside, he sees Christian Shepherd sitting in the rocking chair, just before an eye comes out of nowhere (possibly Jacob's?), causing him to run for help until he came to a clearing where Jacob's hut appears again. He makes it disappear by counting, and encounters Locke.
Kate finds Naomi who's managed to pull herself up a tree and drops in on her. The satellite phone calls and Naomi doesn't tell them about Locke throwing a hunting knife in her back just before she dies.
Hurley and Locke find the rest of the group. The exodus group meet up with the beachies, and then Jack comes and spoils the party by trying to kill Locke. Locke and Jack say there piece, then the voice of reason, Hurley (who ironically enough believes he's going crazy), tells everyone about Charlie's message. And because of that, some people (including Hurley and Sawyer) decide to go with Locke to the Dharma barracks, while the others stick it out with Jack (there it goes again, that theme of there being "Others").
To finish it off, a helicopter (that looks in serious danger of crashing) drops off a dude who asks if Jack is Jack.

And that's it. I really hadn't intended to give a recap, but there you go.

Questions:
What the hell is Christian Shepherd doing in Jacob's hut?
Why was Locke so close to Jacob's hut?
If Hurley did indeed see Jacob, then is he the chosen one Ben was talking about?
Was Ben talking about a chosen one? (:D)
Why the hell must their only be 8 episodes this season?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Anyway, it was a great episode.

And in order to fully appreciate what happened with Hurley and Jacob's hut with Christian Shepherd in it, you need to see the very last mobisode.



Courtesy of DarkUFO.

WTF? Am I right?

Superbowl XLII Winners: NY Giants

Well they did it. They did what few people thought they could do. They defeated the New England Patriots, and in doing so, overcame destiny. The New York Giants are your Superbowl Champions.

And what a way to win. On the drive that literally defined the whole game, Eli Manning stepped out of his brother's shadow and began his own legend. Breaking out of the grasp of two defenders to throw up a ball that in all honesty looked like it should have been dropped but for the determination of Tyree to hold on to that damn thing. Just one play, but a magnificent play, that led to Eli connecting with Plaxico for the winning touchdown.

But with a glorious win for the Giants comes a crushing defeat for the Patriots. An historical season brought to a bitter end. Throughout the regular season the Patriots dominated most of their opponents, or had things go their way that would really make you think it was their destiny to go 19-0. But while destiny had brought them to the big show, it couldn't win it for them.

Congratulations to the New York Giants, Superbowl Champions, 2008.

On a Sunday Afternoon

Keeping with the music kick for a bit, I just came across this oldie. I remember listening to this with the cuzzies back when I was a kid. Cruising up north to see the whanau (family) in the back of the van. Stopping off to get some fish and chips for lunch. Some good times.

Trippy

This is some cool as, trippy stuff. I found this through Fosfor Gadgets, it's this site Nikon has that compares the sizes of various things from the size of the universe to the size of sub-atomic particles. The way they do it, it almost gives you a sense of the infinite. Great descriptions about the various size ranges, very poetic. Give it a look, even a quick one, it's definitely interesting.