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Day After Tomorrow & Happy Feet Combo

 

An icy double-header of forgotten classics. Happy Feet is one of the better movies from 2006 that you haven’t watched in ages, directed by George Miller between his Mad Max movies (meaning, canonically, Mumble and Furiosa are on the same timeline). Both movies have strong environmental themes and genuinely incredible animation of the natural world. Speaking of climate: Day After Tomorrow is excellent, even if it has Jake Gyllenhal in it. It also has discount Harrison Ford (Dennis Quaid). It’s from 2004, and is very depressingly filled with a bunch of climate denialism that was meant to be written as “oh-so-bad” but is eerily similar to what’s being said on the television at this very moment. It’s kinda sad. Both of them are, actually, but they’re a great back-to-back. Chuck in Snowpiercer if you want to complete the icy trifecta.

 

 

 

The instruction manual for your appliances

 

They're probably lying in a drawer somewhere, or maybe you or your landlord threw them out already. Fear not, usually you can Google your model and find a pdf online. When something eventually goes wrong later in the year, especially as we come into winter and you rely on your dryer more and more, you'll be able to flex on your flatmates and be the hero who fixes it. Plus, if you read that manual you'll usually find a feature you didn't even know about. The rest of your year is going to go a whole lot better if you figure out now how to actually use the microwave timer (there's a silent mode??) and realise you're putting your laundry detergent in the wrong place.

 

 

 

 

 

The podcast ‘Sounds Like A Cult’

 

Let's admit it, we’re all part of some kind of cult, whether it's law school, Selwyn College, or being a breatha. The podcast ‘Sounds Like A Cult’ delves into the everyday activities or groups we’re all familiar with and asks the question: Is this a cult? Or, is it something totally normal and not weird? It also helps shed a light on the contours of a cult, and makes you realise that maybe you are part of one. The episodes look into the cults of the Kardashians, astrology, academia, and veganism, so there’s something for everyone. 

 

Go To

 

Somewhere dark to look for Southern Lights

 

We sometimes forget that Ōtepoti is one of the best places in the world to see Aurora Australis without leaving the city. Also called tahu-nui-ā-rangi in te reo, the Southern Lights are not usually quite as spectacular as their northern counterparts (aurora borealis) but are still well worth a search. They are pretty unpredictable, so your best bet is to have an alert set up on your phone or email or to check the forecasts regularly. Even if there is a good geomagnetic storm, with a kp level above 5 or 6, you still have to pray for a clear sky and not too much moonlight. If all that lines up though, and you’re on a dark, south-facing beach (Tunnel Beach, Second Beach, Hooper’s Inlet, etc) then you’re in for a real treat. If you do go out looking and aren’t lucky enough to see tahu-nui-ā-rangi, you’ll still see our awesome night sky. Try to find Matariki while you’re at it.

 

 

 

Your creative friend’s Instagram or Etsy shop

 

You’ve been politely liking their Instagram posts showing off homemade earrings or crochet gloves for long enough, why not actually buy one? Maybe for yourself or another friend, or maybe your mum would like it for her birthday – it’s certainly cooler and more sustainable than something from the Warehouse. If you’re mates, they’re normally willing to make something custom to your liking, but don’t try and skimp on paying – there’s nothing wrong with mates rates at their discretion but show your support by paying what they believe their art is worth. 

 

 

 

Paying for streaming

 

Pirating is bad because people should get paid for their work right? What if the only people getting paid aren’t the people putting in the work either way? With all of the information coming out recently revealing that even big name tv shows on streaming platforms earn their stars literal cents in residuals, there is no longer any moral argument to pay for streaming services over pirating. It’s no wonder both writers and actors are striking in Hollywood, but what about in little old New Zealand? Well, it’s actually illegal for local actors to strike because of a Peter Jackon tantrum, controversial “hobbit laws”, and subsequently inadequate new laws in 2022. So, go watch your favourite movies in cinemas, watch TVNZ on demand, support the actors and writers in strike in the US, support our local actors and writers, but fuck feeling bad for multi-million-dollar studios and streaming companies for not giving them your money.