Tech week in Palmerston North

Kia ora,

Tech Week was last week in New Zealand. If you don’t know what Tech Week is, it is a time to celebrate technology in New Zealand. Throughout the country, there are plenty of events related to technology.

Palmerston North, with the support of ManawaTech, had a few events on:

• Women in Tech panel

• Leveraging Deep technology

• Mega meetup

Initially, I didn’t think Palmerston North had a technology community, but these events show that the Manawatū fosters technology. It’s not a sleepy farming town like I thought.

I spoke with the Mayor briefly and made the point that big cities have plenty of career opportunities, but if you can work remotely, you can work anywhere.

Palmerston North is easy to get around and it’s decently sized to do multiple things. For example:

1. Be a part of a weightlifting club.

2. Learn dancing.

3. Learn to fly.

4. Learn golf.

5. Learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

6. Be a part of a technology community.

Could Palmerston North become a remote tech working hub?

What I am consuming?

Movies

Friday night (and Saturday night) is movie night at the Sivakumaran household. Here are some movies I have watched.

• Devotion (2022) is a story about comradeship and brotherhood. Something that we are missing in our current world. This movie is based on the real-life story of Jesse Brown, the first-ever black naval aviator. The story focuses on the engagement around the Korean War.

• Pelé (2021) is obviously a movie about the great footballer’s childhood and first world cup, but we also learn about not giving up one’s self. Brazilian football is known for the ginga style, which is frowned upon after the 1950 and 1954 World Cup exits. Brazil when trying to play like the Europeans didn’t play as well compared to playing like their true selves.

• Entebee (2018), another based on a true story movie, entails the rescue, where two revolutionaries take hostage a plane with many Israeli nationals.

Podcasts

After reading, “The Case Against the Sexual Revolution” by Louise Perry. I am sceptical about Cox’s occupation as a sex communicator. Sex is a good topic to get social media clicks. But I don’t think it’s as important as people make it out to be in a relationship. I’m constantly drawn to this phrase: sex is 1% of a good relationship; problems about sex are 99% of a bad relationship. In order words, if you are in a bad relationship, you may think fixing the sex is the bandaid, but in a great relationship, good sex isn’t the reason it is great.

I’m looking for feedback on these newsletters, so please let me know.

Other than that, thanks for reading.

Stay focused,

Shivan