Celebrate Pasifika Month 2009

Yes yes Celebrate Pasifika is Back again!!!

So much is happening. To me Celebrate Pasifika is every day because I am Pasifika - its also about celebrating the spirit and the culture of what Polynesians have brought to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

So much is happening like Polywood films, Vibrant South Auckland Poets, Music and Artists and not to forget the most massive and rich event Pasifika. Check out the Sounds, the Food, the arts and plays, the richness of the flavourism creativity of the bountiful Pasifika.
Check out www.celebratepasifika.com you can also find more through www.aucklandcity.govt.nz

Choo hoo!

NZ Music Month

Yes that's right May is here and it's NZ Music Month...

What is NZ Music Month?

NZ Music Month began back in 2001 when, despite the good music that was out there, Kiwi tunes were woefully under-represented on our airwaves, TV screens, and charts – barely reaching a double-digit percentage of content on air. Aiming to correct this reliance on imported music, NZ Music Month gave our media a chance to showcase homegrown talent that may not normally have reached the public. In the process a bunch of stars were uncovered, and New Zealanders' taste for their own musical heroes confirmed. Over the past couple of years the focus has moved to include the public as much as possible in what has become a truly national celebration of our favourite artists.
NZ Music Month is a partnership between the NZ Music Commission and a number of other organisations including songwriters' association APRA, Independent Music NZ, NZ On Air, the Radio Broadcasters Association and the Recording Industry Association of NZ. Whether they are hearing Kiwi music on the radio, seeing it on TV, or – better still – live in person, New Zealanders across the country experience more of our very own homegrown talent on our airwaves and stages throughout the month, showing their support for local music by coming to one of the official events, buying a Kiwi CD, attending one of the hundreds of other gigs that take place, or pulling on a NZ Music Month t-shirt from Hallensteins.
So this May check out our gig guide (thanks to Mukuna) to see what's going on all around the country, hit up your local record store for new releases or shop online, start soaking up the massive amount of local tuneage that'll be all over TV and radio in coming weeks!

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a

Another new poem,
This talks about journeys of those polynesians who travelled from island to island. Searching for new land, new homes. This also reflects of My Vaka and where I have travelled and future sites..
enjoy.



My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
carries my ola from mystical shores
as far as the east
as deep as the south

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
is of wood from the motherland Samoa and Tonga
an island surrounded by wild fish,
Exotic perfumed flowers growing towards the la

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
carries the hopes and dreams of my people
in search of more land,
in search of new homes,
following the bright stars

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
arrives to a place of the Long white cloud...
where my aiga nestles in the nu'u of Magele, Aucklani
metal vechicles puff out black smoke and drive on painted cement and rail way lines.

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
I carry in me. I am the canoe that floats amongst the streets of Aukalani
I have three baskets for all my journeys
A basket full of aiga for support in doubtful moments
A basket full of culture tattooed on my left arm
A basket full of alofa for moments where love does not exist at all

My Vaka, My Waka, My Va'a
Follows the stars of polynesian sky
Travelling back and forth to the Nu'u of Wellintoni , Nelsoni and back to Aukalani
Breathing in the cultural richness of the diversities in others
Appericating my lines of culture and all that it has to offer.

Crossed Cultures: Blackmail Press Launch

Friday 18th April 2008

Friends, family and poetry lovers joinned us for the launch of "Crossed Cultures", a Blackmail Press special issue.

Blackmail Press, edited by Doug Poole (Samoan and European descent) is a dedicated e-zine dedicated to spreading the voice of established emerging poets.

The Crossed Cutlures issue, guest editied by Renee Liang, is an exploration of the diverse voices heard in our international community today, 47 poets from 15 countries explore the theme of crossing cultures, weaving a tapestry of shared experience and reaching out over cultura divides.

A fab evening of poetry. It was my first ever poetry performace as well, so I was really nervous. Kicked off with DJ Kamali - who sung. He totally rocks, and then followed by Doug sharing a few words and making the official Launch! I'm looking forward to out next poetry performance, it was really inspiring.

Thanks to my possie: Katie, Susie, Karen, Samantha, & Johnny for coming along - you guys rock! Next time remember to bring the Banners! lol

Web #23 The End! Fa!

Runs to the finish line .... woo hooo!

I've made it to the finish line and man what a cool joy ride. I did learn quite a lot. Web 2.0 is an execrise I think would help a lot of information services and in schools too. There are so many fun and cool ways of reading and sourcing information. I must say Web 2.0 has defintely got our staff in the department puzzled and stressed out. But not me! LOL.

nah but seriously. There are a sites I would use again and again. RSS feed I will continue to use, its a good tool use and getting updates on your selected topics. Del.icio.us Which I just love. I think i'm an addict lol.

Wiki - you gotta love the wiki. Its the most interesting and contervisal site to be in. Also keep in mind to always do research the information produced especially if you're a student and wanting to quote something.

Online generators using imagechief.com I've showed this site to my nephew who just thought it was the coolest thing ever. E-books I will always continue to use especially since i've got free membership (thanks to ACL). I think I'll keep my face book page and continue getting vampire bites and free gifts from my friends.. hehehe

I think this programme was a good execrise especially in developing our interest in new sites and way of searching and sourcing out information weather it be for leisure or for academic reasons!

Owesome stuff!!!

Island flavour signing out! Fa!

Web 2.0 #22 e-books

#22 NetLibrary, e-books

Woo Hoo...
I've always had a netlibrary account. I consistently use it because of my studies on New Zealand education. It's a great tool to know how to use and read online. Because most of my books I was looking for were older publications finding them on NetLibrary was like someone had just saved my life. I have a long list of my favourites list. One being Vailima Letters by Robert Louis Stevenson which is a gem, makes me think of my great great grandparents and how they use to live their lives before Samoa was exposed by the Germans, British and the New Zealand government. Best thing about it. Is that its in full eContent which was fantastic!
You can also listen to audiobooks on this site which is avaliable to you, and journals as well.
Another thing to note is that if you're thinking that you can copy and paste the answer is you can't! I had a customer say that they wanted to copy and paste but couldn't. I would recommend this site to anyone especially if you're studying!

Web 2.0 #21 Podcats

Podcats are cool! and no you don't need a ipod.
Really simple to add. I visited podcastalley.com and yahoo podcasts (which I already use). I've stumbled across podcast which i thought would never exsist. There's the chess club. One really cool one i've subcribed to is Learn French with daily podcasts and then there's a the religious podcasts ie Jesus Geek, and also podcasts related in subject interests. There's also one called 'Lube it up or loose it' which ummm sounds a bit dodgey lol. So it does cater for all. There's so many so go crazy I say. When I did joing bloglines I added RSS feed to podcasts so I constantly get updated material of podcasts. I've been brushing up on my spanish that I've subcribed too. And there are a few african american poetry podcasts you should check out!! I would recommend!

Web 2.0 Youtube #20

#20 Discover youtube and a few sites


This is another one of my favourite sites. The fact that you're able to view anything and everything on this site.
Man I'm so amazed what you can find on this site. From clips of bad karaoke to bloopers to people's personals diaries. lol. Just shows some people have too much time on their hands.

Subcribing to other peoples clips as well is cool and organizing your list of favourite clips.
Companies and Celebs have defintely taken advantage of making their own youtube channel, for instance Oprah.. a huh she's on here too! Shesh I thought like having your own show isn't enough LoL!
I'm defintely digging the stand up comedy! Just a snippett from one of my favourite shows
The Kings of comedys.






I also checked out other sites like yahoo videos, and google videos.
I started watching old tv adverts ie anchor butter, the old yellow mellow drink add. Just brought back memories.

Web 2.0: Online Applications & Tools 18 & 19

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools

Off course I'll look straight for anything to do with music and checked out last.fm .
what I like about it, its very simple to use and search through as well. I searched for a few of my favourite 80's rnb artists and what do you know my whole line-up was nothing but gold.
Also giving you an event gig guide as well. Liam Finn our own kiwi and his dates of his gigs which are coming up pretty soon. Also Top Video clips and albums, weekly charts etc.. Another site to put on my favourites!


#18 (Week 8). Take a look at some online productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) tools.

Zoho Rocks! Man its so handy to know that you're got your documents online. It'll defintely make life easy for those people who don't have word and use different computers on a daily basis. I went browsing through and it's a good way of setting up CV's as well. They have quite a good range of templates from reports to spreadsheets which I've used for my youth group! I would recommend this to people and also to save their work as well and carry it with them. It doesn't hurt to have backup!
What i've also done is Zoho Planner, which allows you to type in all your planning and appointments. Online diary of your day to day tasks which is great! I've been writing notes on what not to forget to take on my long weekend to Omaha!

Web 2.0: Wikis

#17- Playing around with PBWiki

I finally logged and started editing my Favourite Books... adding in Stories I wouldn't tell nobody but God by Rasheed Clark, a few of Albert Wendt's books and Karlo Mila's Dream Fish Floating poetry collection. I've added my name to favourite blog. When I've got more time I'll add my favourite recipe and hoilday! check it out http://acllearn.pbwiki.com/Favourite-blogs

#16 - Wikis

Wikis are fantastic! Information produced and the fact you can edit and but on any revelant information. But one thing to know is on Wikis is never take their word. For assignments I'm consistantly discovering new information on my conducted search but always having to double check if their source of information is correct.
I love browsing through wikipedia. the great thing about it is that one search can lead to another and related topics.
Once again use the tags and links! it cuts your searching time to more than half!

Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati Tasks 13 - 15

15# On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0 ...

Just reading on a few blogs from the recommended sites and came across a librarian saying 'The library is human'

Which I liked. Issues about how techanical we're gona have to be in order to keep up with information and the way information is preserved. But sharing tips and hints on searching is defintely something that's come out on top with using web 2.0 for me.

14# Technorati

I like the different ways I can search for blogs on Technorati. Doing a search for web 2.0 ...man talk about Information overload. Really loving the popular search. Did a search on a few music artists. Just loving the fact that I now have a lot more pod casts and news casts to add to my list, thanks to the search! woo hoo!

13# del.icio.us
first thing that came to mind was ummm..food! lol
It defintely is a tool i would recommend can cut your searching time in half! And man I've defintely got information overload. Tagging defintely cuts your time in half! I did a search for chocolate cake and man did i get a good recipe on how to make a chocolate lava cake! keep you informed if i do venture to making that! lol

Web 2.0 - Play Week: task 10,11,12

Task 10: Play around with Image Generators

Okay - I'm back on the train doing what I'm meant to do.

logged on http://www.imagechef.com/ and played around!

Pretty cool i must say..

Here's my Bling! and my B-ball shirt! Represent!! lol

Task 11: Library Thing

Just looking at this site. Shesh its a Ulgy site! I logged in and added books that've read . I'm already signed into http://www.goodreads.com/ which I would recommend rather that librarything, maybe because i'm being bias.

But you can add yourself to groups and add a blog and so forth. Here's my link http://www.librarything.com/catalog/lei you can view my books that've read.

Task 12: Rollyo your own search engine with Rollyo

Hey this is a primo site. It lets you set up a list of search engines from a topic of your choice. Its a quick directory. I've put in a list of 'Kiwi recipes & food, Online auction sites. Pretty useful for all sorts, like quizes and if you're just wanting a search. ie a list of celebrities favourite hoilday places (another idea! lol)

I've created a rollyo quick search on the side for my many fans of my blog. LOL!

But here's my link http://rollyo.com/island_flavour/

Hint: if you're going to create a list I suggest you pick a popular topic!

recommends

Stories I wouldn't tell nobody but God by Rasheed Clark.

A story of four friends, Sista, Brian, Day and Nikki and the rollercoaster ride that they call their lives. Sista, who will lose the only man she ever loved, as she allows her weight to determine her self worth. Brian, who learned the hard way that a good woman isn't hard to find, he just has to be man enough to keep her. Day, who must learn to accept himself for who and what he is. Nikki, whose perfect world is shattered when she loved a man more than she loved herself and it almost cost her, her life, because of her man's infidelity and lies. I read this book twice and finished it in 3 days because I was so caught up with the book. Rasheed's style of writing is very fluid. Feel free to check out your local library, book stores. Check out Rasheed Clark's website for more details.

Do you : 12 laws to access the power in you to achieve happiness and success / Russell Simmons ; with Chris Morrow.

Russell Simmons is no stranger to hip-hop. He’s helped create such groundbreaking ventures as Def Jam Records and Phat Farm, in the process becoming known the world over as “the CEO of hip-hop”. Russell might have helped introduce hip-hop to the world, but he credits his success to his belief in a strong set of principles - or laws - which he shares for the first time in this book. In 12 straightforward steps, he demonstrates how to get the right mindset, find the motivation to start, surround yourself with the right people, and understand the power of karma. But most importantly, this book will demonstrate how it’s impossible to receive any sort of lasting success from the world without giving something of lasting value to the world first. That’s a practice that is reflected in Russell’s own work as a mentor and philanthropist and one that he promotes as being fundamental to empowerment and success on every level.
Also Check out Librarians choice on Auckland Libraries Website



Josefa and the Vu by Tulia Thompson.

When Josefa is met by a giant mysterious warrior claiming to be an ancestral spirit, everything gets chaotic. Meanwhile Jack Bucksworth, the school bully, has stolen the sacred tabua and to get it back, Josefa and his friend must embark on a terrifying and dangerous adventure.
Tulia Thompson is of Fijian decent. Vu is actually a spirit for Josefa who is

Flying-fox in a freedom tree and other stories / Albert Wendt.

This is one of my favourite Authors Albert Wendt. His way of telling of mythical and also legendary fables of the samoan and new zealand culture, always captures his audience. This collection is a must to have read on your list. Discovering Albert Wendt in high school, it took me a while to really appericate his work when I took Pacific Studies at Victoria University, Wellington.



Purple heart: A funny, touching, inspirational memoir of growing up Samoan and proud in New Zealand
by Ta'afuli Andrew Fiu

Andrew Fiu came to Ponsonby, Auckland as a three-year-old, part of the wave of immigration from Samoa that turned Auckland's inner city suburbs into a vibrant cultural melting pot. At 14 he was misdiagnosed as having flu when in fact he had rheumatic fever, a disease endemic in Pacific Island communities. As a result of the damage to his heart he was rushed to hospital. Since that time Andrew has had five open heart surgeries, a record anywhere. He has spent so much time in hospital that he says he grew up there, experiencing tender and expert care from doctors and nurses but also enduring appalling racism. This memoir is the story of his hospital years, his clashes with his parents' traditional attitudes, the wisdom he learnt from his fellow patients and the medical miracles perfomed on his heart by famous surgeon Alan Kerr. It's also the story of growing up Samoan in Auckland in the 1970s and 1980s, a reminder of the bad old days when schools made Pacific Island children anglicise their names and hospitals did not have translators, an insight into the inter-generational tensions in Pacific Island migrant families, and a testimony to love and deep friendship, written with grace, insight and bucketloads of humour.


Dream fish floating by Karlo Mila

Karlo's work introduces a fresh and poetic voice. Reading her work gives me comfort that she also sees what I see. Her roots in Pakeha NZ, Samoa and Tongan Karlo Mila writes with flair, engry and passion, creating a direct, accessible poetry. Unafraid of the truth as she sees it, Mila's poetry resonates with wit, insight and empathy. The winner of the New Zealand Society of Authors Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry. Published by Huia.

DVD
Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Don’t you wish you were Dave Chappelle? The guy is funny, rich and famous for it. What’s more, he’s socially conscious and has impeccable taste in music. Thanks to Michel Gondry’s triumphant, uplifting film. We get to see Chappelle live out his personal fantasy, a “Block Party” in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy ‘hood. Chappelle handpicked his favourite hip-hop and R&B artists to participate, and the roster includes some of the most significant names of the past 10 years of “urban” music, including the Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Common, and the reunion performance of the Fugees and many more!
You don't have to be a hip-hop fan to appreciate it, whatever your taste, the music and energy becomes infectious. This is one party that shouldn't be missed!
* * * * * Rating: 5 stars - Check out youtube.com you can view clips: Dave Chappelle's Block Party VostFr-Talib Kweli Get By (my personal favourite song)

Rugby World Cup Updates!

Australia 10 - 12 England

The English Fowards powered through the Wallaby defensive line.

It was a massive England effort that nullified Australia's attacking edge, limited their scoring opportunities, slowed their possession and allowed fly half Jonny Wilkinson to kick penalties when the chances arose.

NZ 18 - 20 France

History repeats itself. France playing what I would say the impossible game.

Huge upset for the All Blacks. They kicked the ball away far to many times in the 1st half and then having Luke Mcallister sent off. New Zealand defintely went into morning on Sunday!

Mistakes were made and the forward pass that allowed the French to score the final try of the game.

South Africa 37 - 20 Fiji

South Africa have booked a spot in the world cup semi-finals with a 37-20 defeat of Fiji at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
However, Fiji's brilliant attacking play and brutal defence pushed South Africa all the way.
The Springboks did just enough, with tries to Jacque Fourie, John Smit, JP Pietersen, Juan Smith and Butch James. Percy Montgomery added three conversions.

Argentina 19 - 13 Scotland

Argentina created history on Sunday night by qualifying for their first world cup semi-final after defeating the bravehearts from Scotland 19-13 at the Stade de France.
Both teams played a similar brand of rugby but the dominance of the South Americans' forward pack gave them the edge for victory.

Stand with the Burmese people!

Have you heard about the crisis in Burma?

Burma is ruled by one of the worst military dictatorships in the world. Last month Buddhist monks and nuns began marching and chanting prayers to call for democracy. The protests spread and hundreds of thousands of Burmese people joined in -- but they've been brutally attacked by the military regime.
I just signed a petition calling on Burma's powerful ally China and the UN security council to step in and pressure Burma's rulers to stop the killing. The petition has exploded to over 500,000 signatures in a few days and is being advertised in newspapers around the world, delivered to the UN Security Council, and broadcast to the Burmese people by radio. We're trying to get to 1 million signatures this week, please sign below and tell everyone!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK


Thank you so much for your help!

for more reading : New Zealand Hearld

Staging the Spirit of Samoan Heritage

Pacific Theatre is back in full-force this November with Lena, a play recounting ‘old’ Samoa during the Samoan Independence, through a story of family, tradition, and spirit.



In a time when New Zealand’s relationship with Samoa was being founded, the story of Lena revolves around an afakasi (mixed race) family torn apart by bitter sibling rivalry, where tensions arise between traditional Samoan values and the emerging spirit of individualism.




The story is written by Jason Greenwood and directed by Justine Simei-Barton, and is based on Greenwood’s own experiences of family, culture and growing up in Samoa. Greenwood, who is of Samoan and Pakeha decent, finds the basis of his play from his mother's own characteristics.


The play draws on her interpretations of living back in the ‘old’ days on the plantation, as well as the struggle of finding herself.Lena debuts on 3rd November and is playing through to 10th November, at the Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre in Auckland City.

Swoop coming to Auckland!!!

World famous dance veteran and choreographer Swoop is about to arrive in Auckland for a two-day workshop from October 13-14 at the Dziah Studios in South Auckland.

As one of the world’s most renowned Hip Hop choreographers, Swoop has earned it through winning Hip Hop Choreographer title of the year in 2000, and has won numerous MTV Music Video Awards for dance choreography.

He has starred in Hollywood blockbusters with You Got Served, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Austin Powers: Gold Member, 13 Going On 30, and Ali and Jericho.

He has also done numerous commercials for Pepsi, Nike, Adidas, Visa and Burger King, as well as choreographing routines for music videos like Aaliyah’s ‘Try Again’, Backstreet Boy’s ‘Larger Than Life’, Will Smith’s ‘Jiggy Wit It’ and ‘Wild Wild West’, including many others by Brandy, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blidge, Jessica Simpson, Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, P. Diddy, Enrique Iglesias, Mya, Sisqo, Dr Dre, and many more.

Swoop released his own DVD titled ‘Hip Hop Get Down’ which has been selling out in the US. His latest dance creation, the ‘Boogaloo’, is the latest hip-hop fitness craze in the USA.

His workshops have sold out all over the USA and Australia, so don’t miss your chance to learn six routines over two days from the best in the business! All classes will be available for Beginners of all ages through to Advanced Pros and an overseas dance scholarship will be awarded by Swoop to lucky participants during the workshops.

Article from Spasifik Magazine for up and coming events happening around NZ.

http://www.spasifikmag.com/

Scribe donates proceeds...

Scribe real name Malo Luafutu travelled back the the motherland Samoa where he peformed at the South Pacific Games closing ceremony and headlined an all-star concert during the Teuila Festival last month.

But his greatest feature was donating the profit his apperance fee to IHC school Aoga Fiamalamala in Alafua, Apia. The funds will help the students with classroom resources and also help for transportation for those who live further around the Island.

Scribe is back in the national conscience after the release of his comeback single my Sh*t last month, and on October 1, his much anticipated album Rhyme Book was launched in New Zealand.

For more updates on Scribe check out his myspace, bebo page or view him on Artists at music.net.nz

ACL- Learning Task 8 - 9

Well the discovering the world of 'Real Simple Syndication' or RSS. I've got myself a bloglines account and added about half a dozen feeds to my page like: Art Deadlines List, A phrase a week, About Web design/HTML ....


I havn't found much New Zealand feeds yet, but will do another search when I get a free mo. Another word of advice is be careful on how many feeds you subscribe to because I had an influx of them when I last checked.

I've been reading quite alot of feeds and adding my 50cents to questions that may help others in some way!

Yeey!!!

I'm also meant to Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds, which I have and I came across
Design Better Libraries. Pretty interesting if you tell me!!

Rugby World Cup Updates

Rugby World cup Updates:

28 September

England 36 - 20 Tonga

It was a do or die game for tonga! Driving through South Auckland seeing all these 4WD's with Tongan flags. But unforunately the game didn't go there way. England gainned most of the possession in the game. Even thou Tonga has been knocked out.