The Internal - Newsletter 8/04

Nobody is leaving us this week, but two new interns will arrive. Lothar is coming on Wednesday, but already leaving to Napier on Thursday to visit his family over there. And Kristian will arrive on Thursday early in the morning and it is his birthday on Friday. Remember that!!!!

WOX ACTIVITY

It is Rugby time again, so let’s check out a game all together and experience the atmosphere in the stadium. As part of the Super 12 Rugby, Blues (Auckland) are playing against Stormers (Cape Town) on the 16th of April at 7.35pm at Eden Park. At the moment, Stormers are 3rd at the Super 12 points table and Blues are only 10th – they seem to need some support for their home match! We could meet at the WOXA house about 6.30pm – I will give you some more details next week. The tickets are about $10.

Short guide to Rugby

Rugby is a continuous game whereby two teams carry, pass, kick and ground the ball in order to score as many points as possible, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner.

The first law of rugby is that they are called laws, not rules. Rules are for the other codes of football. There are just 22 laws of rugby, but they contain enough sections and sub – sections to fill 162 pages. It is not all about laws – to understand the heart, soul and tradition of rugby is something different.

In Senior rugby (and under 19s), 15 people play at a time per side, each of which have specific duties as a player. Players are usually talked about in respect to two categories. Members of the first group are called the forwards, or the pack, and consist of the first eight players. Members of the second group are called the backs, and consist of the remaining players, numbered 9 to fifteen.

If a player is tackled to the ground they must release the ball, which usually results in a ruck. If a player is held while standing, a maul will usually be formed. The purpose of the ruck or maul is so that the game can continue without any stoppage in play.

The line-out and scrum are two key distinguishing factors that make Rugby unique and restart the game. A scrum occurs when there is an accidental infringement It is a cult and a mystery, understood only by forwards, who regard pushover tries from a scrum as better than sex. Rugby scrums bind, pack and push, the ball is fed into the middle and contested by the opposing hookers. If a hooker secures the ball after the rival scrum-half has fed it in, yell “Great tighthead!” When in doubt about an infringement, yell: “Get ‘em onside ref!” When the whistle blows, follow up with: “He’s been doing it all day!”...

The line-out occurs when the ball goes out of bounds. Then the hooker stands on the sideline and throws the ball down the middle of two lines of forwards. Using a complicated secret code (but not too complicated because they are forwards) they throw to one man, who jumps meters in the air, lifted by his team mates. All going well, the ball tapped down to the scrum-half who feeds it out to the back line, and a try is scored.

A try is scored when a player places the ball in the opposition's in-goal area. It is counted as 5 points and can be converted to an additional 2 points with a successful place kick or drop kick. Points may also be awarded from a drop kick in general play and a penalty kick. Both are worth 3 points.

Rugby players are, without exception, ruggedly handsome (some are more rugged than handsome), and unlike other codes, rugby men come in all shapes and sizes.

Frontrowers: If they’re built like kegs with eyes, they’re props or hookers. Their workbench is the scrum, too many of which can trigger an unsightly affliction known as scrum pox.

Second rowers are extremely tall timber who get nicknames like “SkyLab”. Number 8s are the hard, mobile men of the forward pack, the ones at the back of the scrum.

Flankers are the pack’s fighter pilots, always on a seek-and-destroy mission for the ball. The centres are the Brad Pitts of the team – athletic and good-looking. Scrum-halves are small, perfectly formed and tough as teak. Cheeky and aggressive, they love starting fights as long as they’re not in them. Wingers are the Pierce Brosnans, often derided as blouses who hang around with footballers. They are distinguished by their perfect hair and spotless jerseys. Rugby is trying to change this image by putting former league stars on the wings. Fullbacks and fly-halves are fleet-footed, and blessed with great ball skills. They prefer not to tackle anyone unless they really, really have to.

Now you are specialists – I don’t wanna hear any questions on the 16th of April!

Check out www.nzrugby.com for more information about the games!

Most of you probably know Alan Duff’s awesome novel (or the movie) “Once were Warriors”. Actually, it is on stage as a hard hitting musical drama at St James Theatre from 10 – 28 April. It tells the story of urban Maori life and the Heke family, whose patriarch, Jake, is dragging his loved ones into a world of violence, booze and drugs.

What about visiting the musical at the 23rd of April at 7.30pm? Tickets are about $12. Whoever wants to join, please send me an e-mail until Monday, 12th of April and I will book the tickets.

For a short review of the movire check out:

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/o/once_warriors.html

WHATS ON IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND

MONTANA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ AND BLUES FEST 04    

Easter 8 – 12 April

Over 30 international and 60 NZ musicians are going to perform on five days of Jazz and blues, at 15 venues Waiheke Island wide. Relax and soak up the atmosphere at vineyards, cafes and scenic outdoor places. Just 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland City. Concerts in the evening also take place in Auckland, e.g. Auckland Town Hall.

Check out www.waihekejazz.co.nz for more details and early bird specials!

NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2004 – THE BEST OF BRITISH

Until 22 May 2004

Featuring Ross Noble, Lee Mack, Russel Howard, Andy Parsons ....

The Classid, 321 Queen Street, Auckland

Check out www.comedy.co.nz

LATIN MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL

Every week on Sunday from 4 April – 20 April, noon – 5pm, Princess Wharf, Quai St

Free dance lessons from noon, 3 latin bands performing each weekend

DEEP, HARD N FUNKY –

8 April 2004, 8pm, St James complex, Queen St

NZ’s favourite party night featuring Junior Jack & Kid Supreme (Belgium), Muguai (Germany), Declan Lee (Australia) and others – a diverse dance-floor selection of local and international talent ($46.90)

NBL BASKETBALL

15 April, ASB Stadium, Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama

Auckland Stars v Nelson Giants

PROPECIA RALLY OF NEW ZEALAND

15 – 08 April 2004

Venue: Auckland City and Manukau City, Kaipara and Raglan

Rally New Zealand will open with a Super Special Stage in Manukau City on Thursday 15 April, with the first full day on Friday including five stages in the Kaipara region north of Auckland, with a total of 142km. It concludes with a second night of Super Special Stages at Manukau City. Saturday’s stages are again in Kaipara with eight special stages over 144.5km. The final day on Sunday sees a return to the Raglan region in Waikato with six special stages over 115km, finishing the event with the spectacular Whaanga Coast stage. The drivers return for a ceremonial finish at the Viaduct Harbour in downtown Auckland on Sunday 18 April at 5pm.

Website: www.rallynz.co.nz

MESSAGE FROM JONATHON

Hi everyone! Hope you plan on having a great Easter! 

In NZ a lot of people spend Easter weekend in the garden.  Kiwi’s love their gardens – for a while one of the top rated shows on TV was a prime time gardening show! 

While gardening isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it is nice to drive around town and see what other people have done to make their properties look nice.  There are also some very beautiful public parks and gardens which are worth seeing.

There is a Botanical Gardens which is open to the public right off of State Highway One going south on the motorway.  It’s just past Manukau, in a suburb called Manurewa.  It’s very easy to find if you are driving.  Also, while it’s not the ideal time for viewing (or is it? I don’t know much about roses!), there are rose gardens in Parnell which are worth a look.  The Auckland Domain (where the Museum is located, in Newmarket/Parnell) also has some special gardens to go with the large park and leisure area.  Even if you can’t tell a rose from a daisy, it’s a peaceful and tranquil way to spend a few hours.  Why not invite that cute workmate out for a romantic stroll and picnic?

And speaking of work, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you.  It makes our jobs easier here at WoX if companies are satisfied with their interns – and so far we have had very positive reviews about you!  Our latest intern to finish, Christine, was a very big hit at the TV station and they can’t wait for the next intern!  So thanks for being such diligent employees and good workers.

Happy Easter!

Jonathon