Recent Posts
What are your views on graffiti as art?
Eyesore or Urban Art, a prominent mural on Erskineville Road was removed from a terrace wall yesterday. Personally, Ive never really liked this mural but it had been there for as long as I can remember and Im sure its removal will surprise a number of locals and commuters traveling along the busy back streets linking East to Inner West this morning.
Living in a graffiti heavy suburb, I enjoy watching new art emerge, literally overnight. Political statements or quirky stencils, theres always something new to spot on the way to the park or day care. My favourite local artist has painted signature Kill Pixies all over Newtown. One of the best Kill Pixie site was recently painted over with some great fluro tags, but it made me wish Id taken a picture of it for Graffiti Archaeology.
Graffiti Archaeology is a movement dedicated to recording the ever changing urban art landscape by photographing well known graffiti locations over time and posting them online.
Grafarc.org claim to be the originators, starting in San Francisco in the late 1990s. Now there are hundreds of thousands of sites, with a Flickr photo pool boasting over two thousand members. Flickr Graffiti
I remember the fabulously dreadful 80s movie Beat Street. Ramon was a gifted graffiti artist whose work is routinely vandalized by a tagger named Spit. In a desperate underground struggle with Spit, Ramon dies, giving his mate Kenny the motivation he was otherwise lacking to focus his own musical talents. Gangs unite and stop their rumbles then everyone break dances the night away at a tribute showcasing Ramons art and the Rock Steady Crew.
If only Graffiti Archaeology was around in 1984, this tragic onscreen death could have been avoided.
Does graffiti deserve appreciation as art?
Jean-Michel Basquiat, as Robert Hughes said, was one "dead hot" artist, who started out with graffiti. Here is an imitation of his signature "Samo Shit" graffito.
Less than artistic imitation of Jean-Michel Basquiat - image from Wikipedia
Is this graffiti imitating art or an artistic imitation of graffiti?
Shared on
With work Christmas Parties starting up, this is my list of the three worst WCP regulars to avoid like the plague. Get stuck with these guys and youll wish you had the plague, if only to pass it on.
1. The Drunk Nanna
Theres always an older lady at the WCP, usually from middle management. She claims she prefers it there, but doesnt have a lot in common with the rest of the late twenty to mid thirty middle management posse. Shes been repeatedly overlooked for promotion as her attention to detail is dismissed, correctly, as anal petty attempts to discredit everyone else.
Come WCP, this monument to judgmental sensibility and sobriety will be in a corner, nursing a years worth of disregard with a grudge, a bottle of the hard stuff and her friend that strange, quite woman with the cats, whose name no one remembers. By third drinks, shell have consumed eight. Dont be fooled by the happy festive smile, the tinsel and curling ribbon hanging from her hair or the drunken camaraderie. Shes always got a nasty little secret lurking under that smile, which shell share for one night only. Could be a racist streak, a story about her abusive ex-husband or childhood molestation trauma. Whatever the hell it is, you certainly dont want to hear it. And shell never forgive you if you remember her behavior at the Party, which usually ends in tears, a fake resignation and someone from HR escorting her to a waiting taxi before youre even slurring.
Recommended Action keep plying her with drinks.
2. The Limpet
The Limpet, generally male, 40 something. He may spend his working day in the cubical next door but clearly lives on another planet. The Limpet starts off the evening smiling at everyone, afraid to talk. As preparation to joining in conversations, hell study others, slowly, attentively. Your conversation and interests are alien to him. And by nine oclock, youre going to find out why.
The Limpet is an expert in a very small and obscure field. Were not talking about your garden variety socially inept nerd who plays D& . Were talking weird. The kinda weird the self proclaimed office eccentric could only dream of (mostly because the self proclaimed office eccentric is essentially a shallow dud with no interests other than itself). Before you know it, youll be trapped at a back table finding out just why the pike men were of more strategic importance than the archers at the Battle of Agincourt, in graphic detail, with a full list of the dead. Or how the Oronteus Finnaeus map of 1532 proves Antarctica is Atlantis (he may have a copy of the map on him). Or the teaching of David Icke.
Escape there is none. Hell follow you to the bar, to the toilet, all the way to your waiting taxi, oblivious that youre trying to ditch him.
3. The Desperate Flirts
In the female younger, but still not fuck worthy, even for the most pathetic. Shell hit on young and old, fall out of her top and say Whoops! a hell of a lot. Shell just go on and on about shit all night in the hope someone finds her interesting enough to go home with. Do not, I repeat, do not let her put an arm around you. Those octopus tentacles are hard to dislodge.
Escape tell her the Limpet has been talking about her all night.
In a male older, lecherous and so drunk hell think his life experiences are interesting enough for him to embark upon an impromptu tutorial for the younger women at the WCP. He may sing, recite Tennyson, or even try dancing. He will certainly offer someone a massage. The special one he was taught in Bangkok.
Escape ask if this is why his wife left him.
Ah, December! Drunken colleagues telling you crap about their lives. Praise be that it only comes around once a year.
Image from Wikipedia
Shared on
Yes - another list
The Good.
1. The Iron Chefs
Whats better the theme ingredient, the dubbing or Chairman Kagas wardrobe? Who is your favorite Iron Chef? My ultimate Iron Chef is Hiroyuki Sakai, the foie gras fiend. Soccer Dad favoures Chen, the Sichuan Sage. We started holding Iron Chef dinner paries when the show first aired on SBS and now, three years later, Saturday night at our house is a regular for friends and family. My sister does a mean commantry. Iron Chef has to be one of the best shows Ive ever seen, and Im just sorry I didnt mention it on Best Show Ever post. This show has it all.
2. Floyd
We love Floyd. We love watching him stagger and slur his way through each show. Accidentally pouring wine into a dish then taking a swig of the brandy he intended to use. The suspense of waiting for Floyd to either keel over or flambé himself. Keep away from the naked flame, Floyd! Soccer Dad tries to warn him. Some of Floyds quotes are hysterical too You should always have a bottle of wine when cooking, and sometimes use it to cook with. In November 2004, Floyd lost his drivers license for being three and a half times over the limit. And sadly, it looks as if the years of alcohol are taking their toll. Reports are in that he was nearly incoherent during a recent interview.
3. Two Fat Ladies
"Take a pound of duck liver, a pound of pork mince, a pound of diced steak, a pound of butter, wrap it in bacon, smear it with goose fat and gently simmer in butter and cream. Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright cycling around the British countryside, leaving a trail of cholesterol and impending heart disease in their wake. Watching Jennifer digging her bling laden red claws into the food was the best part of this show sad she is no longer with us, but really, who isnt surprised she didnt croak earlier than 71. I also adore the incidental banter, launching into Tennyson or Shakespeare. And watching them eyeing off the meat while its still walking.
4. Geoff Jansz
Geoff is the ultimate nice guy in the celebrity chef circuit. Hes cooking is simple and straightforward, like so many out there. But what puts Geoff head and shoulders above the posers is the down to earth charm he brings to his show. A charm others can only emulate, and rarely pull off. He views recipes as a starting point only, from where one can build on an idea and create their own version of a meal, to hand down in family traditions. I also believe Geoff had an over the limit incident once on a bike.
5. Bender
When worlds collide our two favorite shows came together with Futurama and Iron Chef. Bender challenged Futurama celebrity chef Elzar to an Iron Cook Battle in Kitchen Coliseum. The theme ingredient was Soylant Green. Futurama got Iron Chef down pat, complete with the commentary.
Hiroki: Aki, whats Elzar making?
Aki: Well, Hiroki-san, when I asked him, he asked what business it was of mine and conjectured that my mother was a prostitute.
And Bender won with the help of a secret ingredient. LSD.
Image from Wikipedia
The Bland
1. Jamie Oliver
I cant stand Jamie Oliver. In fact, I cant even go on writing about him. Puck Off, Arse Clown.
2. Ian "Heuy" Hewitson
I know when Heuy is on because Soccer Dad starts yelling at the TV. Im making leak and chicken soup. Im using leak, but you can use anything. Now while I love Geoff Janszs attitude, you have to draw the line somewhere. Heuys food is nothing more than an adventure into the Bi-Lo boring aisle. But what we hate the most is Heuys use of his trusty tea towel. The towel spends most of the show firmly wedged down Heuys backside. Then he pulls it out to tidy up the plate with, his bum crack sweat. Why dont you just throw the ingredients into your pants and go for a jog!!! Soccer Dad yells.
2. Bill Granger
Australias Jamie Oliver. Bill Granger makes a sandwich. Bill Granger BBQs prawns. Bill Granger uses nice crockery. Bill Granger smiles a lot. Bill Granger tosses a salad. Honestly, a hat stand with a blond wig and an alarmingly camp shirt could cover for Bill while hes off having his teeth whitened.
The Ugly
1. Beverly
Cooking Cleverly With Beverly was a community access programme that ran on Channel 31 several years ago. Vegan Cooking. We caught it once. Now the gimmick was that Beverly didnt exist, but that didnt make the show anymore watchable than the vegan cooking did. Beverlys assistant was the real chef, boiling free range potatoes from what looked like a filthy share house kitchen. At the end of the show, she treated her vegan friends one of whom looked suspiciously like Jay from Frenzal Rhomb to her feast. Eerily emaciated and grinning manically, the vegans failed to convey the true taste of the food, but looked like they were just happy to get a meal out of a kitchen rather than a dumpster. And I use the word kitchen with trepidation
2. Community Access Possum Guy
Another gem from Channel 31. Covered in Long Bay tats and complete with missing teeth, we watched this guy cook Possum, with a sick fascination. Way past creepy. You got the feeling possum was something he regularly treated backpackers to by the campfire, all alone. With his twelve gauge. So very ugly.
Tell me all about your favourite TV culinary viewing. The Good, The Bland and the Ugly!
Shared on
If youve stopped by my blog, youll know that I am a Bad Mother. Im underachieving. I lie to my child. I let him stay up late. I will sit him down in front of his favourite computer games just to get some peace. When I need to talk on the phone, I paralyse him but putting Pixar on.
Worst of all, his hero is Bender. Go Bender Go Bender he dances. We love Futurama. Its our very favourite. Number One Son knows every episode from the first frame, but there are two episodes he is scared of and we skip through the ones that feature the Futurama Santa
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
Dreamfest - The 2006 Newtown Festival
My favourite calendar event - The Newtown Festival is on again this Sunday, 12th November, at Camperdown Memorial Park, from 9am 5.30pm. Boasting over 80,000 attendants last year, with a rich cultural and ethnic eclecticism, no one feels out of place in Newtown. Its a great day out with something for everyone, especially at the Writers Tent
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
Virgo
Just because you want to clean doesnt mean you have to. Put down the mop, click your Spray and Whip down from kill to stun and repeat after me Theres no place like mould, theres no place like mould, theres no place like mould.
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
Surprise Surprise The Wiggles win Best Childrens Album.
Sadly, there was little competition. They were up against The Hooly Dooleys who just suck, there are no two ways about it The Fairies and High Five bands created for the sole purpose of marketing merchandise. There was one dark horse in the running, Justine Clarke, poising the only real threat
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
I loved John Birminghams book He Died With A Falafel in His Hand. The movie sucked, but I guess thats what you get when you cast Noah Taylor. Sorry Slem, but you should never have sold the movie rights to Richard Lowenstein*.
The dreadful horror of shared houses. I lived in my unfair share as a Uni student in Glebe and Newtown. Thankfully, those years are well behind me. But when an old flat mate asked for asylum two weeks ago, we had to give it. He went on a six week trip to England to meet his natural father for the first time. And came home to find that his flat mate had sold his bike, TV, laptop, lounge, white goods and set of Mundial Knives. The police said that there was little they could do as most of the items are considered Communal Property. Naturally, the daily topic is Flatmates From Hell
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
You get asked a myriad of idiot questions when you have a new born.
Was it an easy birth? Yes. I was disappointed that it wasnt harder
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
Advertising on your Blog.
For those of you who pop by and read my blog, youll know that its mostly about parenting. The advertising I generally attract is related to children, pregnancy, humour and poetry
[ Click here to read more ]
Shared on
|
|
|
Comments (40)
Add Comments
Read More
Comment by Little Angry Doll
on Missing Paint.NET - moving from MS paint - mind set - good for the brain
Falling Haiku Leaf
I'm not surehow to send you an email message - Orble has changed a bit since I was here last - but I'd like to...
Let me know.
LAD