Kia ora everybody, this is just a quick check-in with you, because I’m still on my mid-winter break. I know, how selfish of me! The world is still turning, with Spain conquering the world, bird flu is spreading, Trump and the United States have become the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, and Nigel Farage is slowly regretting his decision to resign. It takes a special person in the House of Commons to rally against you.
Bin for the Win
Before I go back to playing board games with UMC1 and UMC2, I want to quickly acknowledge the death of Sam Neill, as he was one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s favourite sons. In all seriousness, I never met him, but his passing still saddens me, as he was one of our proudest exports to the world.
Whenever I saw him on screen, I would often think, “Hey, what’s that Kiwi boy doing there?” He was a fantastic actor, and again, having never met him, I always held the impression that he was a fantastic person as well. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to re-watch some of his films, as I have already started with Sleeping Dogs. Sam, cheers mate.
Clockwise from top left: ‘Dead Calm,’ ‘The Hunt for Red October,’ ‘The Piano,’ ‘Possession,’ ‘Peaky Blinders,’ ‘In the Mouth of Madness,’ ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Event Horizon.’ Everett Collection; BBC
I also want to quickly acknowledge the death of Sir Garfield Sobers, the great West Indian all-rounder cricketer. He retired before I was born, but I’ve seen footage of him destroying teams, including New Zealand. He was an idol for millions, and in New Zealand, he was highly respected, since he was so damn good.
I’m glad he wasn’t born later on, because I would have had mixed feelings watching Sobers take New Zealand apart. As a New Zealander, it would have been awful to watch, but as a cricket fan, he would have been glorious to see live.
Thanks, Garry, you were amazing.
Credit: Cricket West Indies
And with that, I’ll leave you, but my Twitter and Mastodon accounts are still operating, because what else am I going to do?
So, that’s it for today, and I’ll be back next Monday for a much longer blog, which will be in the form of The Odyssey Movie Preview. Take care, and I’ll see you next week.
So… did anything interesting happen last week? To start with, the biggest hypocritical political leader of any far-right party in the United Kingdom has sadly resigned as a Member of Parliament.
This has triggered a by-election in the Clacton constituency, and the last time I checked, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK Party (Formerly known as the Brexit Party) leader, will be contesting his own vacant seat against two other far-right parties (British Democratic Party and Reclaim Party), the Forward Party, Monster Raving Loony Party, and Rejoin EU, as well as six independent candidates, who inlcude a fox, a fish finger, a conspiracy theorist, and everybody’s favourite intergalactic warlord, Count Binface.
New Zealand has a general election this November, but I think I’m more invested in a by-election on the other side of the planet.
If there is any sense of justice left in this world, Farage would lose to the Count. To me, Nigel Farage is the British equivalent of New Zealand’s Winston Peters, so Farage losing would be glorious.
Make your Vote Count
Oh, I nearly forgot, apparently the Islamic Republic of Japan has been firing missiles at the US Navy. Not the smartest thing to do, so I hope Wakanda doesn’t attack the US Air Force, or Narina deploys its centaurs against the US Marines. These woke nations think they’re better than the rest of us, don’t they?
Flooding will cause greater damage to road networks in future. Pictured is the Tyntesfield bridge, in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley, destroyed this week by a flooded river.Photo: Gavin Hadfield
Anyway, I want to remind everybody that I’m on my Mid-Winter break currently, just in time to watch the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final. This also means that since the country is deep into winter, our annual environmental disasters are in full bloom, with floods, storms, landslides, power cuts, snowfall, and destroyed bridges. Cool bananas.
To add to that insightful piece of current affairs, I need to address two points.
1.) I’ll be publishing another blog post next Monday, but just like this one, it will be greatly reduced in size and length.
2.) I’ll still be posting daily nonsense on Twitter and Mastodon, so that won’t change.
Thank you to all my readers, followers, and subscribers. Your support of New Zealand’s 5th least favourite is immense.
Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, Bin for the Win, and I’ll do a small check-in with you next week. Take care.
Since this beautiful planet has an axial tilt of about 23.5°, the Northern Hemisphere is currently roughly halfway through Spring. In contrast, in the Southern Hemisphere, we are in the middle of autumn, and it’s really starting to show. The winter pyjamas and slippers have come out, but we haven’t lit the fire; yet. It will happen, you can count on it.
There’s something else you can count on: the Artemis II mission upsetting our favourite conspiracy theorists: the Flat Earthers, and their wayward siblings, Space deniers. I know the last few weeks have been chaotic, with Eastern European elections, AI Trump/Jesus images, cyclones, blockades getting blocked, and of course, conspiracy theorists becoming very upset. The last time we discussed Flat Earthers, it was concerning the Midnight Sun, but they brushed that off like Daredevil brushes off the Hand.
Just to briefly clarify and to make sure we are all on the same page, Artemis II refers to the second mission of the Artemis lunar program, and its first crewed mission. The four astronauts orbited the Moon, which was the first time humans have done this since 1972, with the Apollo 17 mission.
Their flyby of the Moon resulted in the astronauts setting the record for the greatest distance humans have been away from Earth, at a distance of 406,771 km, which broke the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, of 400,171 km. That was a quick outline of it, but you get the idea.
So, you can imagine that the launch of Artemis II has ruffled the delightful feathers that Flat Earthers and Space deniers wear in their tin foil hats. Call it tantrums or meltdowns, call it desperation, call it mental gymnastics, but the people who believe that space is a hoax, coupled with the ones who believe the Earth is flat, are having a very hard time defending their theories; but at the same time, they are trying to tear the Artemis II mission apart.
Why are they doing this? At least to me, it comes down to various points. It could be that the job of promoting Flat Earth and Space disbelief is a lucrative one, so they need to keep doing it; it’s how they make a living.
Another idea is that they believe they are helping the public to see the truth, because they are honestly trying to look out for people. They don’t like the idea of governments and companies lying to the public, so they believe they are helping us, by exposing the lies.
And finally, they believe they are special because they think they have discovered a truth about the world, and in their eyes, it makes them smarter than all of the experts.
It could be all of them combined, or none of them. Regardless of the true situation, Flat Earthers and Space deniers are not happy, and I feel like a terrible person reading their statements and watching their videos, struggling in vain to prove that their conspiracy theories are still valid and real. In some ways, I do feel sorry for them, but, as I said before, I also feel terrible that I’m finding it entertaining.
Credit: Vice Magazine
Their problems with the Artemis II mission vary because this mission has also drawn out the Moon Landing deniers, as well, to nobody’s surprise. I swear, like Avatar: The Last Airbender is a gateway drug into anime, Flat Earth is the gateway drug into wider conspiracy theories.
Overall, the evidence provided by conspiracy theorists who have criticised or incorrectly debunked the Artemis II mission includes, but is not limited to:
Creating AI images of the Moon to pass off as real images taken by the Artemis II crew.
Complaining that Artemis II’s launch was at the wrong angle, therefore it’s fake.
Creating AI images of the crew in front of a green screen to prove it’s fake.
Talking about the number of edits of the launch, which is supposedly happening live.
The capsule is too small to house four people for 10 days.
The public filmed the astronauts standing outside a building with their phones, but the astronauts were not on the screen.
Creating footage of Artemis II filming some type of vehicle moving on the Moon’s surface, to prove it’s fake.
Insisting it was a meta-joke, that Artemis II launched on 1st April, April Fool’s Day.
Claiming any glitches in transmission signals proves that the footage is fake.
Passing off previous images of the Moon as proof that NASA is reproducing Artemis II’s images.
And one of the best excuses was that Artemis II was a balloon.
The launch proves a Flat Earth, because the rocket did not keep going straight up; it curved, otherwise it would have hit the dome.
Of course, some of these insane statements clash and contradict each other, but let’s not let a silly thing like reality get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.
I’m not stunned by the quantity of conspiracy theorists moaning and complaining about Artemis II; it’s rather the quality of their shenanigans, mainly through the use of AI. These images, which have been passed off as real, are of such high quality that the media have had to push back on them and correct the disinformation.
That is scary as hell, but at least there is pushback on the “AI slop”; otherwise, we would believe it. Though, to be fair, I think that’s the conspiracy theorists’ point, not to trust anything. The AI images are so convincing that anybody could be fooled by them.
I have found some videos of various people pushing back against the conspiracy theorists, because it needs to be done. I have mentioned him before, but SciMan Dan has made a few videos concerning their Artemis II nonsense, among others like Creaky Binder and Dave McKeegan.
Before I go on, I need to mention that Sciman Dan also reacted to my favourite Flat Earther, CC from New York, Westchester County, and his work van. In my humble opinion, he’s my favourite conspiracy theorist, not because he brings well-thought-out ideas that are logical and researched, but rather because of the opposite. He’s a buffoon, a lovable buffoon, with no evidence to back up anything he says. Also, I think he’s the angriest man on the internet.
So, with that in mind, enjoy some of the best and worst humanity has to offer.
Sadly, there’s so much more, but you get the point. My family loved watching the launch, but also tracking the mission, ogling at the footage and images, and watching the splashdown live. Artemis II was amazing, and it clears the path for Artemis III, which is tentatively planned for mid-2027, where humans will once more walk on the Moon.
If the Midnight Sun or Artemis II haven’t broken the Flat Earth/Space Deniers/Moon Landing disbelievers, then Artemis III will break their minds, bodies, and souls; physically, mentally, and emotionally. That should be entertaining. Did you follow the Artemis II mission? What was your favourite moment from the mission, or the funniest conspiracy theory about it? As always, please let me know.
The clock has struck again, and the veil of sleep is descending, so it is time to visit the Dreaming. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, try not to shed a tear for Viktor Orbán, and I’ll see you next week to discuss my wife’s reading habits. Sound interesting, doesn’t it?
Hi, and welcome back. After last week’s mammoth undertaking of writing six entries for We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1961, I thought I might take it easy and discuss something light, like the Epstein Files. My wife asked me what I was blogging about this week, so I told her. “That’s a can of worms, isn’t it?” she replied. It certainly is.
I know, it’s not the most positive and uplifting story, now is it? However, this blog has been rattling around in my mind for some time now, so I apologise because I needed to get it out.
As usual with the hard-hitting journalism you have come to expect from yours truly, today’s blog post will not cover Jeffery Epstein per se, as in his crimes. His convictions for sex trafficking and child sex offences have been thoroughly covered and documented by seasoned and professional writers and reporters, not some part-time blogger from the South Pacific.
No, I would like to discuss the obvious aspects of the Epstein Files, which I believe need attention. Clear? Great, let’s see how I go with this.
Redacted documents are shown in a photo illustration in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 19, after the Justice Department began releasing records from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Even in New Zealand, the Epstein Files continue to garner attention. Case in point, with my ugly mug. Now, if you don’t know what the Epstein Files are, then you have been either living a lonely lifestyle or living with the bliss of ignorance, and I don’t know which is better.
The best way for me to explain the Epstein Files is, sadly, to go back to Epstein himself. In a nutshell, for decades, Epstein was a high roller investor who, among other things, operated a sex trafficking business, where he located underage boys and girls, as well as adult women, and transported them to his ultra-elite friends/associates for sex crimes. Epstein died of suicide in 2019, while awaiting trial.
As for the Epstein Files, here is another crash course. They are a collection of records, numbering over six million documents, that relate to Epstein’s activities and crimes. They contain videos, documents, images, and emails that connect Epstein to some of his ultra-elite club of mates. There is more to it, but these are the bare bones of the situation.
Recently, the United States Department of Justice released over three million documents from the Epstein Files, where some were heavily redacted, while others were not redacted enough. With me so far?
Some of the names in the files were not a surprise, because they have been linked to Epstein for decades. The media and the public have known about the connections, just not what those connections were exactly. Essentially, just what their relationship to Epstein actually involved.
In the public court, any person named in the Epstein Files is guilty of sex crimes. However, before people are lynched because their name appeared in the Epstein Files, it pays to remember two things: under the law, people are innocent until proven guilty; and just because someone’s name is mentioned in the files, it does not mean they are automatically guilty.
To my understanding, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and even Pikachu were mentioned in the Epstein Files. However, at least to me, there is a colossal difference between being mentioned in Epstein-related emails, like the three above, versus being connected to Epstein’s activities, or at the very least, being in some way associated with him.
Epstein survivors are seen holding photos of their younger selves, as some of them recite their ages when they met first met Jeffrey Epstein in a video from World Without Exploitation published on November 16, 2025. (World Without Exploitation)
Over the last two weeks, we have seen several people resign from their jobs because of internal and external pressure applied to them over their connection to Epstein, no matter how innocent, benign, or small that connection was. Just the fact that they were in some way linked to Jeffrey Epstein means they are trying to save their image by resigning. Fair enough.
Some of these people I feel quite bad for, as they may not have done anything wrong. You are welcome to disagree with me, but I haven’t finished my rant. There’s another group of people I feel sorry for, and that is the survivors. Which, of course, guides us to the other names in the files; the real names of the people we really should care about.
Like the difference between being mentioned in emails versus being involved with Epstein’s activities, there is also a difference between being mentioned three times in the files versus being mentioned 3,000, 30,000, or even 300,000 times. For me, it’s the number of times they are mentioned in the files, which is the concern.
Two people could be mentioned in the files, with one person being mentioned four times, while the other person’s name appears 38,000 times. In my opinion, out of the two, I would want to know why the second person is mentioned 38,000 times in the files connected to a children’s sex trafficking network.
Should the person whose name is mentioned five times in the files be investigated? Sure, by all means, yes. However, before we do that, we should talk to the person mentioned 38,000 times first.
This transition brings us to the bulk of my blog: Are any people ever going to be prosecuted, or at least investigated for possible sex crimes, related to the Epstein Files? I could be wrong about this, but Epstein’s operation lasted for decades, and in all of that time, only Epstein himself, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jean-Luc Brunel have been prosecuted over the crimes. In saying that, over the new information release, Thorbjørn Jagland (Former Norwegian prime minister) and Peter Mandelson (British politician) are now facing charges.
Sources: Getty Images; Medium; US House Oversight Committee Graphic: Alex Leeds Matthews, CNN
The sheer scale of the operation, and the famous and ultra-rich people involved in it, just boggles my mind that it went on for so long. It’s a stain of accountability that the perpetrators of these crimes have managed, potentially, to hide their crimes behind wealth, titles, and friends, believing that laws and rules do not apply to them.
That, because of their positions in the world, their belief that they can prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, children, and suffer no consequences or punishment, flies in the face of every adult trying to teach children about consequences.
The Epstein Files remind us of the worst of humanity, on what fame, money and power can bring to a person, to create a concept that they are untouchable; beyond the law, because laws don’t apply to them. They are like a real cabal of supervillains that Batman or Daredevil have finally unmasked to the world.
It also reflects the best of humanity. This is taken in the form of the survivors, their families, and other people supporting them, and advocating for justice, regardless of who and what they are up against.
They are some of the new role models for the 21st century; they are unrelenting in their crusade for the truth, and they are bringing all of the people involved with Epstein’s sex trafficking activities to justice. Because if we can’t, then what’s the point of retelling stories of good triumphing over evil, if we can’t make it a reality?
Maybe I’ve read far too many comic books and watched far too many movies, but I still have hope for us as a society that these people will not be able to hide and cover up their crimes, no matter who they are. Even though a lot of things still amaze me in this world, it’s staggering that releasing survivors’ names and redacting possible abusers’ names, somehow, in the eyes of the DOJ, is bringing justice to the matter, and not the other way around.
Again, just because someone’s name has appeared in the files does not mean they are guilty of anything; it’s the number of times they are mentioned that is worth our attention. Because of this, at the very least, these people whose names appear thousands of times, whether they were abusers or enablers, need to be investigated.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, younger brother of Britain’s King Charles, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaves Aylsham Police Station on a vehicle, on the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after the U.S. Justice Department released more records tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Aylsham, Britain, February 19, 2026. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters
This web of corruption needs to be untangled, and this poses an interesting question: What if someone you have admired for years, for whatever reason, is directly linked to Epstein’s criminal activities? A few months ago, I saw a video with a woman on a panel with two other people, and she explained the reality of the situation. I can’t remember her exact words because I couldn’t find the clip again, but I’m going to paraphrase what she said, mixed with some of my own.
It shouldn’t matter whether we admire the people in the files or not, but the names of the abusers and enablers need to be released. Whether they are Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, actors, politicians, models, CEOs, scientists, musicians, writers, professors, or sports stars, it doesn’t matter; burn the whole house down. Release the names, or at the very least, law enforcement agencies around the world need to start doing something with the information, and to show people that these crimes will not go unpunished.
With the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Former Duke of York), it pays to wonder if his investigation will bring about more charges levelled against him, but also, will other abusers and enablers be taken down as well?
These horrible threads need to be followed, regardless of where they lead, whether to a CEO’s office or the Oval Office; this needs to happen, for the sake of our own collective morality. The world will never move on from the Epstein Files until every single abuser and enabler has been found, investigated, and if need be, prosecuted and convicted. Nothing, absolutely nothing short of this will be any closure to survivors and their families.
And after that wonderful and positive thought, I shall take my leave of you, amazing people. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, keep watching the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup, and I’ll see you next week for some running. Cool bananas.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.
All of the staff at Some Geek Told Me are ready and raring to go for 2026. Another Gregorian Calendar year is spread out like a large, inviting beanbag, tempting us with comfort to trap us.
Many things are coming out this year that will evoke a range of emotions and feelings, filling therapists’ offices. Well, not all of them. There are things I’m looking forward to, and some that will make me squint my eyes and cross my fingers.
Over the past few years, I’ve published a version of this blog, and while it may not be entirely original, I believe it’s important to have things or events to look forward to. I also hold onto the hope that it’s all going to work out. Just to clarify, these are not New Year’s Resolutions, but rather Great Expectations for 2026.
And just like anything that happens on this wonderful corner of the internet, there are some rules. I have discussed them before, but let’s go over them.
1.) Just because an event is on the list does not mean I will get to experience that event in 2026. A book might be released in April, a movie might come out in July, or a TV show might be released on a streaming platform that I don’t currently subscribe to, so I may not read and watch them until 2027 or whenever. Also, I can’t watch every single sports game either; I wish.
2.) Some dates could be confusing because of time zone differences, but they are subject to change.
3.) Against popular belief, I don’t know everything. There will be information about an event that hasn’t been released yet, which I could be interested in, but if I don’t know about it, I can’t add it to the list.
4.) Hopefully, Sour Cream and Chives will finally be banned and labelled a plague on humanity. Dreams are free, aren’t they?
Two last things to note: I know the world is a crazy, but beautiful place. People are suffering for different reasons all over the planet, so this post is not ignoring that fact, but rather highlighting some positive and/or interesting things that are coming up in 2026, at least to me.
It also pays to remember that I’m a middle-aged, weird, straight, married white male, living in the South Pacific. The things you’re looking forward to could be very different from mine, and that’s alright.
So, what is there to look forward to in 2026? Let’s begin now, shall we?
Credit: Suncatcher Studio
Let’s start with you, the reader, and what you can expect from New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website in 2026.
More spelling mistakes.
More grammatical errors.
More badly chosen topics.
More comic and manga blogs.
More blogs that are arguably not funny.
More movie previews/reviews.
More We Didn’t Start the Fire historic references.
More Tour of the Solar System posts.
Images and photos that are loosely connected to a post.
Possibly more Trump posts.
Hopefully, more science-related content.
The annual posts about Star Wars Day and Free Comic Book Day.
Fingers crossed, to finally start the animals blog posts.
Continue to increase subscribers (At the time of writing, I have 242 followers/subscribers across three social platforms. Jealous much?)
I’m sure there are more things, but my media spokesperson said any more information could incriminate myself.
With that, let us move on to other subjects.
Politics
All general elections around the world are important, but these elections I will be following very carefully. Listen to me, talking like an expert.
Nepal: General Election (5th March)
Vietnam: Parliamentary elections (15th March)
Republic of the Congo: Presidential elections (22nd March)
Hungary: Parliamentary elections (Expected on 12th April)
Peru: General elections (12th April)
Libya: Presidential and parliamentary elections (Expected in April)
Colombia: Presidential elections (31st May)
Lebanon: Parliamentary elections (Expected in May)
Ethiopia: General elections (1st June)
Haiti: General elections (30th August)
Russia: Parliamentary elections (Expected in September)
Brazil: General elections (4th October)
Israel: Parliamentary elections (Scheduled for 27th October, but will likely happen earlier)
United States: Midterm elections (3rd November)
New Zealand: General Election (To be confirmed, but no later than 19th December 2026)
South Sudan: General elections (Expected on 22nd December)
Sport
There are always watching and following the teams that I support, and one day I’ll write about that, but these single games don’t count. It’s just tournaments and competitions that I’m focusing on, because they include my four favourite sports. I am a New Zealander after all.
Rugby Union:
Men’s and Women’s Six Nations Championship (February-March and April-May)
All Blacks’ Tour of South Africa (August-September)
Women’s Pacific Four Series (Dates to be confirmed)
Black Ferns Home Series against France (October)
WXV Global Series (Dates to be confirmed)
Rugby League:
NRL (National Rugby League) Competition
Rugby League World Cup (October-November)
Cricket:
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (February-March)
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (June-July)
New Zealand Men’s Tour of India (January)
South Africa Men’s tour of New Zealand (March)
South Africa Women’s tour of New Zealand (March-April)
New Zealand Men’s Tour of England (June)
Football:
African Cup of Nations (December 2025-January 2026)
2025-2026 UEFA Champions League
2025-2026 English Premier League
2025-2026 A-League
FIFA Men’s World Cup (June-July)
Movies
These movies are all coming out this year, and I’m going to hopefully watch them at the cinema or at a later date on a streaming service. Maybe. I’m also very aware that a lot of these entries are adaptations, remakes, or sequels. There are a lot of superheroes and science-fiction choices, sorry.
Wuthering Heights (11th February)
Hoppers (6th March)
Project Hail Mary (20th March)
Animal Farm (1st May)
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (22nd May)
Supergirl (26th June)
Minions 3 (1st July)
The Odyssey (17th July)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (31st July)
Coyote vs. Acme (28th August)
Clayface (11th September)
Sense and Sensibility (21st September)
Digger (2nd October)
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (20th November)
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (26th November)
Dune: Part Three (18th December)
Avengers: Doomsday (18th December)
Television
Like the movie entries, I would like to watch these shows; it just depends on which streaming service they are on, because we don’t own a television. Basically, what I’m saying is that whether or not I can watch the TV show, it’s on the list because I want to watch it. As you can see, these TV shows are aimed at me.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (January)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (January)
Wonder Man (January)
Lanterns (Mid year)
VisionQuest (Date to be confirmed)
Spider-Noir (Date to be confirmed)
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (Date to be confirmed)
Star Wars: Visions: The Ninth Jedi: (Date to be confirmed)
Music
I have no idea. Seriously, I suck.
Literature
Comics
Apart from the monthly titles and mini-series I’m already reading; which don’t count, there aren’t a lot of choices.
Saga is returning with #73.
The Crown: A Tale of Hell#1-2 (Hellboy mini-series)
Any Marvel/DC crossovers like Superman/Spider-Man and Spider-Man/Superman.
Manga
Just like the comics, I read some manga titles, so they don’t count.
Star Wars: Visions: Tsukumo (July)
Fiction and Non-Fiction
I am embarrassed to admit this, but my to-be-read piles have grown out of control. I now have four piles of books, so because of this, I have not researched any fiction or non-fiction books that are being released this year. I’ve become a dragon hoarding treasure, except the treasure is books. I’ve decided I need to read more books from my piles before purchasing any new ones this year. However, I might still give in if something truly captures my attention.
Honourable Mentions
The Commonwealth Games (July-August)
Free Comic Book Day/Comics Giveaway Day (2nd May)
Star Wars Day (4th May)
Any new species discovered.
I know the list is boring, and I also know there are more important things in life than movies, sports, and comics, like capturing a leader of a sovereign nation. Don’t be like the United States, I’m looking at you, Russia and China. It could just be me, but I’m starting to think Donald Trump doesn’t take the FIFA Peace Prize seriously at all.
Have I missed anything? What are you looking forward to in 2026? As always, please let me know. Thank you for reading, subscribing, and following Some Geek Told Me in 2025, and may it continue in 2026. Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, the Earth is not flat, and I’ll see you next week.
Welcome back, I’m so glad you could join me today. This week’s incoherent and mysterious blog is a follow-up to my Superman: Movie Preview/Review posts.
Superman has been out for over 10 days now, and it’s been receiving a lot of praise, as well as negative attention, particularly in conservative and right-wing circles. I noticed this when the first reviews came trickling in, but it exploded over James Gunn’s statement about Superman:
“Superman is an immigrant” and that, “Superman was the story of America”.
“An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost,
These words, coupled with superhero movie fatigue and Snyderverse enthusiasts, have led to criticism of the movie for various reasons, with the main argument being that the movie is woke, and it has turned Superman into a woke character. It’s been hilarious watching them decry Superman for being woke, even though he’s been woke since 1938.
Wait until the MAGA crowd discover that Clark Kent’s son from the comics, Jon, is bisexual, or the fact that Superman fought the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis. They won’t recover from that!
I have no problem with anybody praising or criticising a movie, or any other form of art. However, that statement can only take me so far, because over about two weeks, I have seen and heard some hilarious and ridiculous arguments and comments, especially from people who have ever seen the film. Haters have to hate, I guess.
Having seen the movie and being a fan of Superman, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I find it entertaining to watch conservatives and right-wing individuals overreact to minor and absurd topics. I’ve gathered some of the most ridiculous responses to the new Superman movie for your enjoyment.
Before I go on, you may have noticed the title of the blog included the phrase, Pocket Universe Monkeys. No, that’s not the name of my autobiography, but it’s a term used to describe some characters from the movie. In one scene, Luthor is monologuing to Superman about his plan to defame and destroy him, while they are in a pocket universe that Luthor created.
While Luthor was talking, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of monkeys posting anti-Superman propaganda online; hence, the new term for Superman haters: pocket universe monkeys. I’m talking about people jumping on the “Superman is woke” train.
Credit: Warner Bros./DC Studios
And with that delightful thought, let’s crack on and enjoy reading some foolish Superman-bashing comments.
Credit: Warner Bros./DC Studios
Credit: Fox News
Credit: The Guardian
I’m going to leave you with two things I have said before, plus something new.
1.) So when someone starts talking smack about things that I love or have an interest in (whatever it is), I listen. Basically, it’s so I can determine if there is any truth to what they are saying, because I may agree with them, or to see whether they are just talking through their arse.
Everybody on this list is entitled to their opinion, but sadly, when discussing Superman, they are indeed talking out of their arses.
2.) For the record, comic books have always been political, by exposing readers to important social issues, from Superman being an illegal immigrant to the X-Men fighting for civil rights. Comic books have always been political.
When was the last time anybody on this list read any comic book? Superman has been talking about inclusivity and diversity since 1938; that’s why he’s the good guy; he’s Superman. That’s the point.
3.) Superman is a fictional character who does not exist in real life, no matter how much we might wish he did. However, just because a character is created in literature, movies, TV, or any other medium, it doesn’t mean we can’t relate to them or learn valuable lessons from their stories.
Yes, creators can make characters do whatever they want, because it’s business to make money from them, but also to tell stories. In every single story that has ever been passed on, there is a message. That message could be laced with positivity, or it could be a warning. And Superman’s message is simply hope. From my point of view, what’s wrong with that?
And with that, I’m done. Did you enjoy the comments from the pocket universe monkeys? If you have seen Superman, what are your thoughts? As always, please let me know.
Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to read a banned book, please adopt a dog, stay away from red kryptonite, and I’ll see you next week for The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Preview. Take care.
So, if you have been living in a dumpster that’s been on fire, firstly, I don’t blame you. Secondly, you may not know that this is the second week of my Winter Break from New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website. If I work hard enough, it may reach the dizzying heights of 6th; but we have to wait and see.
Temperatures here have dropped to -3°C, which is just so… delightful. That being the case, today’s blog is as small as the charities that Mr. Charles Montgomery Burns donates to, because I need to keep warm.
In other news, I hope Viktor Orban’s anti-LGBTQIA+ legalisation works wonders for Hungary. It’s not like over 200,000 people would ever participate in a Gay Pride march in Budapest, in defiance of said legalisation. I mean, that wouldn’t happen, would it?
Snow in the South Island, New Zealand, Early June. (Source: Gavin Martin)
And that’s it for this week. I’ll be back next Monday for a longer blog because Superman opens very soon, so I need to do one of my world-famous movie previews.
Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, and enjoy the last day of Pride Month. I know Viktor Oban, Donald Trump, and Christopher Luxon will.
The June Solstice has passed, and now we are heading towards aphelion. For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, winter has arrived. The Starks will be relieved, as all hope, warmth, and light have been fading away.
Because of this positive and uplifting event, I am officially on my first break of the year. Yes, I am taking two weeks off from running New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website, because it’s difficult to manage low-quality content for the masses.
It’s a bittersweet break since I found out I was not selected for the All Blacks again. However, I recently registered with Hoopla, so my break will involve catching up on a lot of books.
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, has already been hit by heavy snow. Photo: Supplied / Tanja Clauberg
Just like last year, I need to address two things.
1.) I’ll be publishing another blog post next Monday, but just like this one, it will be greatly reduced in size and length.
2.) I’ll still be posting daily nonsense on Twitter and Mastodon, so that won’t change.
Thank you to all my readers, followers, and subscribers. Whether you are new or old, your support for this vanity project means a lot to me.
Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, don’t bomb nuclear facilities, and I’ll quickly check in with you next week. Take care.
It’s been a while since I’ve discussed my wife and her quirky traits, so I thought I would remedy that. For previous insightful entries about analysing her, please see here about her choices of books, TV shows, and movies.
To set the scene, I shared some ideas with her, but she considered my suggestions and proposed a topic that was far better than what I had originally come up with. Like anyone else, she often talks to me about various unusual topics that pique her interest, and these interests have evolved over the years.
This includes when I’m watching rugby or reading, she will start discussing some new or crazy topic. I love her, but the All Blacks would be playing, and she decides now is the best time to talk to me about her new interest in following Mongolian throat singing, or something to that effect.
I have compiled a collection of her new and random interests, along with the rationale behind each one, presented in her own words whenever possible. Additionally, my wife has noted that she has interests beyond just watching things; these are simply her latest random pursuits. She believes that this makes her pretty cool.
I think its fascinating and the eggs are soft and just so un-egg like (Molinaro Snake Lab to be precise).
Watching restoration videos:
The rustier the better, I just like all the steps and processes involved. (Chip Channel Restorations and The Fabrick to be precise)
Manufacturing videos:
Like food factory stuff. It’s just great what people have come up with to make life easierand I find it exciting.
Prop making:
I like watching other people make stuff, while I’m making my own stuff. It’s great to understand their thought processes around problem-solving. It’s like you’re working with an arts and crafts buddy. (Rachel Maksy to be precise)
Bardcore music:
I have no explanation for this, I just like it because it’s cool. (Hildegard von Blingin’ to be precise)
British Football chants:
So hilarious, unexpectedly funny and just really creative.
Keith Richards memes:
Another illogical one because I’m not even a fan of his; they are just funny.
Comedy music artists:
Music + humour. What’s not to like? They tickle my brain. I really like Tom Cardy, Rhett and Link, and Flight of the Concords. Also ERB (Epic Rap Battles of History) has the bonus of learning stuff too.
That is just what’s happening with her in the first half of 2025. I’m anxious about what the remaining months of the year hold for her.
Do you enjoy any of these interests like my wife? Is she correct, and agree that she’s cool? As always, please let me know.
This blog is shorter this week, but I’ll make up for it next week because we’re going back to 1958. Yes, Billy Joel would likely be disappointed in me.
Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and I’ll see you next week.
Also having two conservative billionaires having a very messy public break-up, at the beginning of Pride Month, via their own social media platforms, is catty, petty, and bitchy. I’m ashamed that I love it.
I’ve never dedicated an entire blog post to updating you with news before, at least about me. But, there’s a first time for everything, like trying Sour Cream and Chives for the first time. Your brain wants to shut down to stop feeling the vile taste.
Anyway, this blog post is slightly shorter, because of three main reasons. No, it’s not 20 questions, so I’ll tell you.
1.) I’m writing this before Easter because I will be busy over the weekend. Yes, I’m doing something at Easter, so the chances of me sitting down to work on New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website are slim. Not impossible, just slim, so I thought I would be prepared.
2.) As New Zealanders, we generally don’t boast about our achievements. This tendency stems from our history of being an isolated and pragmatic people. I’m not one to discuss my accomplishments or lack of. However, I feel compelled to share something significant that happened last weekend.
Long-time followers and subscribers of this wayward blog will know that I like running. To be honest, it’s somewhere between walking and jogging, but I pretend it’s running. Last weekend, I ran in one of my favourite half marathons, and something odd and wonderful happened.
2014 was the last time I ran a half marathon in under 2 hours. I’ve come close, dangerously close to that time, but that target has alluded me for over 10 years. In all honesty, I accepted the fact that I would probably never run another half marathon under 2 hours again. I thought my body had said, “To hell with that, we can’t do that anymore!”
By now, you can see where this is headed. For the first time since 2014, I ran a half marathon in under 2 hours. I know that in the grand scheme of things, it may not seem significant, but honestly, I thought I would never achieve this again. It’s surprising to realise I’m faster than I was in 2015, which feels almost unbelievable to me. In that sense, I feel proud of myself, which is a bizarre feeling.
It will sometime before that happens again. Maybe.
3.) For us, we are well and truly into Autumn, with Winter popping its ugly head up now and then. And just like the inevitability of the seasons and an Australian Prime Minister changing, we all change. This brings me to the biggest update, I’m changing jobs. I resigned in February, and the 24th of April will be my last day.
I’ve been there for nine years, and in the field for 16 years, but I’m going to be working for myself. I’ll be in the same industry, just adjacent to what I had been doing, which is equally exciting and horrifying, given how New Zealand and the world are currently.
Over the last few weeks, my emotions have felt like they are on a rollercoaster, and with my last day arriving soon, I’m sorry to report those emotions will probably just intensify. No doubt I’ll shame Chuck Norris by shedding a tear by the end.
I have no idea if this will work out, or even if it’s a good idea, but if the world’s most famous 78-year-old convicted felon has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t take anything or anyone for granted. I’m trying to look at the world differently, but also to try and do things differently.
I’ll let you know how things went on for the last day, but also how the new job is working out. Oh, look at me being all hopeful and positive!
Ok, that’s it for today. I promise I’ll get back to writing pointless posts like doing a Thunderbolts* Movie Preview next week.
Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, go fly a paper airplane, and I’ll see you next week.
SOME GEEK TOLD ME 
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