Terminology - Allbirds®

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

If you are wondering where the name 'Allbirds®' comes from, here is the myth of its origins.  Tim Brown, one the company founders, and no longer CEO, is from New Zealand. The name  Allbirds® is a nod to New Zealand, and the fact that when the island was first discovered, no land mammals lived there. New Zealand was “all birds”. All birds including some species that do not fly, such as the kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird. Other flightless birds inhabiting the island include penguins and the kakapo. The mao, also flightless, became extinct.

Reference

Allbirds® (website)
https://www.allbirds.com/

Santa Baby redux!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The following Xmas message was delivered at the New Zealand Parliament, earlier this month, by New Zealand Maori Party co-leaders Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell, playing the ukulele.

In Marama Fox’s own comment: “There is often a lot of doom and gloom in parliament. We wanted to enlighten everyone with a little vibrancy”.  Plus, as you can see, there is also a real message in this take on the American, Eartha Mae Kitt, 1950's classic, Santa Baby -- about poverty, homelessness, and children, to whom the future belongs, not to mention the call for joining the Maori Party!

In any event, you might all agree that Marama Fox has a great voice!

Merry Xmas everyone!

References

Eartha Mae Kitt - Original Santa Baby song (1953)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE

Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell take on Santa Baby (Dec. 14, 2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vetlqheAphA 

Marama Fox interview at Radio NZ Checkpoint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2tEj0mQ_oA