Pacific Magazine > Magazine > December 1, 2002

Stuff We Like

Stuff We Like

Regime Change In Kiribati

Spinner is a viciously funny mock news Web site that caused a furor in September when it ran a story in their International News section with the headline, “Bush to Invade Kiribati Islands.” The five-paragraph story declared that “Bush today announced the departure of the 7th Fleet to Kiribati. An invasion of the 810 sq km archipelago is expected to begin within the next 2 weeks.” Apparently some people in Tarawa, the Kiribati capital, thought the item was serious news. There was enough public consternation that the office of Kiribati President Teburoro Tito—who the Spinner story called an “evil dictator”—had to run public announcements on Radio Kiribati assuring people that the country was on good terms with the U.S. Check out the Spinner Web site at www.worldsworstweb.com/spinner.htm.

Pacific Hotel

A DJ named Electromana, alias Daniel Masson, is responsible for this follow-up to his electronic/ethnic musical fusion CD called Jet Lag, also produced by the French recording company, Oceania Records. Masson’s mix blends the authentic sounds of Kanak, Maori, Hawaiian and Aboriginal traditions with a Paris-accented avant garde electronic inflection. This is music, Pacific music at that, on the cutting edge of sound. Pacific Hotel can be found at music stores in the region, or can be ordered at: www.amazon.fr. Price varies, but is in the range of 23 to 28 euros.

Polynesia

Now into his ninth productive decade, Douglas Oliver is the dean of Pacific anthropologists. Throughout his teaching and writing career he has always been a superb synthesizer of Pacific knowledge. Here, he updates us all on the state of our knowledge of Polynesian pre-history—that time horizon where the old ways dropped into dim memory and a new story of mixing and clashing cultures begins. Oliver has not lost his observer’s edge or his writing skill. This is an intelligently produced and richly illustrated book about a people who explored a third of the earth’s surface before Columbus was even born. Polynesian Pre-History, Bess Press. www.besspress.com. $29.95.

Micro Music

This past summer’s Micro Games in Pohnpei were a huge success. One of the ways to remember the sporting competition is the CD Spirit of Micronesia that was released when the Games got underway. It is produced by Unisound Studios, an innovative recording studio located on Pohnpei. The five artists featured sing a wide range of songs, all contemporary, some in English, others in Chuukese or Pohnpeian. It is a great introduction to contemporary Micronesian music. www.unisound.fm.