entertainment, Music, Reviews, Technology

Childhood Nostalgia: 90s Tech Rewind

What makes you feel nostalgic? Music from my childhood. Specifically, almost anything by Crowded House, Bic Runga’s Get Some Sleep, Goldenhorse’s Northern Lights, and Tim Finn’s Before & After album. Oh, and Fat Freddy’s Drop. https://youtu.be/ag8XcMG1EX4?si=00gH2zkpuLkrVDOm https://youtu.be/qzTUSR3fbfU?si=Ay7nHSie9A_lerOg https://youtu.be/2aDG82wZUHs?si=_1ur3a2-eaxs49Wo https://youtu.be/Y7QQS5V3cnI?si=TdXdcO9hMxVA9h2y Beautiful Collision If I’m speaking a different language, you’re missing out. These are just some of… Continue reading Childhood Nostalgia: 90s Tech Rewind

autism, entertainment, Movies, Neurodiversity, philosophy, Politics

Painful Politics, Indigenous Rights and Climate

It has been more than a little bit heartbreaking seeing the fear and frustration from students post-NZ election. Many of my students are fierce climate activists, proud tangata whenua, queer, trans and/or advocates against social injustice. One came up to me after class recently and said in a panic, will National really get rid of… Continue reading Painful Politics, Indigenous Rights and Climate

Education, Politics

Open Letter to the Ministry of Education

During our second teacher strike recently, I met with other kaiako and wrote letters to politicians about our desperation, frustration, and why we are advocating for change. Initially, I wondered whether I was overstating things. Upon second glance, I realised the opposite is true - we are absolutely always understating our workload, day to day… Continue reading Open Letter to the Ministry of Education

Health & Wellbeing, travel

Windwhistle Adventures

The other weekend, some pals and I made our way to a little walking loop track by the name of Washpen Falls. It is a marvellous wee nature walk in a place called Windwhistle, if you can believe. Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the Bench of Gratitude, but I did manage too come away… Continue reading Windwhistle Adventures

entertainment, Music, travel

Adventures in Tāmaki Makaurau

Entirely due to a steep incline in my obsession with Remi Wolf, I did something ~highly spontaneous~, at least by Abby standards. They Cool, They Tight Somewhat late to the game, I hadn't an inkling that she was touring the Antipodes until my mate gave me a heads up. Unfortunately, The Babe Herself had sold… Continue reading Adventures in Tāmaki Makaurau

Ex-Christianity, Health & Wellbeing, philosophy, Politics, Religion

Ex-Christianity Revisited: God is ___

We're throwing it back hardcore, to my first ever blog post on this site, God is Good?. I was still living Bahrain when I wrote this. God is _______. Fill in the blank for me. Seriously, do it. I'm interested in this as an exercise. As a part-time boat-rocker and full-time philosophiser, I would like… Continue reading Ex-Christianity Revisited: God is ___

Education, Health & Wellbeing, Technology

Qualified, Medicated, Elucidated.

Despite numerous drafts on the back burner, none have quite made it live for quite some time. I would say must do better, but this is my playground, not homework. There are no deadlines, quotas or gradebooks. I'm not letting anyone down by not posting - at most I'm just barn-egging my free range-destined ideas.… Continue reading Qualified, Medicated, Elucidated.

Education, Favourites, Food, Health & Wellbeing

Karen Carpenter, Fatphobia and Cultivating Self-Love

On Karen Carpenter When I was about six or seven, I learned that my favourite singer in the world at the time had passed away at a young age. In age appropriate language, my mum explained anorexia to me: about how Karen Carpenter (vocalist of the 70s brother sister duo The Carpenters) got told that… Continue reading Karen Carpenter, Fatphobia and Cultivating Self-Love

Food, Health & Wellbeing, Other, Politics, Technology

The Covid19 Diaries: Isolation Staycation?

I'm all Coronavirused out, so I'm fully not going to talk about it - other than to say it has been a weird, chaotic and uncertain last few weeks, has it not? I hope everybody is staying safe, well, and being nice to their flatmates/family/partners during this stressful time. Sparing a thought for all the… Continue reading The Covid19 Diaries: Isolation Staycation?

Education, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Other

Mahuru Māori

Kia ora glorious humans! This month, I have decided to get involved in Mahuru Māori, which is all about normalising te reo, and participants can opt to pledge the whole month or a day per week. For me, it will involve pledging to speak, sing, and write solely in te reo Māori for every Tuesday… Continue reading Mahuru Māori