from the studio floor

Still Life - dried chilli on platter (about 2008) - the 'studio floor' being a bit of black foam on the kitchen floor..

Don't start singing Leonard Cohen songs

even if it is a bird on the wire...
(Fig Bird with Lillypilly berry on the wire outside our front door Jan2009)

Grave Moments #2

Camperdown cemetery Friday 13th March 2009 (cross-processed slide film)

The cats are still in the bag

see:

ACP reading room Paddington Sydney

I've been wondering if I should have the cats in the bag made into a postcard...  so many photos...so much fun.

And, letting the cat out of the bag - my other blog is no longer neglected - I've just uploaded a couple of previously-unpublished-on-the-blog rock shots. 

check them out & get on down & then get back up again

Fleeting moments - painted walls 10 years ago (Postcards of my photos)

From 10 years ago (gosh time goes by and all that):

Wilson Lane (near Redfern) 1999

This laneway runs between Abercrombie Street (sometimes called Applecrumble Street coined in the late 1980s-early 1990s because of all the earthy lesbians renting cheaply there, just around the corner from "the block" Redfern) & Wilson Street.  This piece of communal work (meaning someone painting over someone's tag over someone's comments...) was like this for less than a month so I am glad I had a camera in my pocket that day. 

I had Wilson Lane 1999 made into a postcard in 2008 along with:

"Doorbell"  Australia Street Newtown

I took this at the end of 2000, to finish off a roll of film a week after arriving back from Ireland & Germany and the day before I broke my ankle.  "Doorbell" is of course gone - the house sold long ago.  A band lived here when this was taken - they would often spray paint their next gig a little further up on the white wall.  This is an image I really like - it is a good statement about living in Newtown 10 years ago.  Makes a good postcard too.

Sunday afternoon playing records

I was going to blog yesterday about little Saturday thoughts like getting dippy in the head (oh, ok, neurotic then) over the women's tennis final - really, really wanting to watch it but oh, it was just too exciting.  Instead I made us a late dinner and popped my head in the room with the telly to catch glimpses of Justin Henin's clever playing against Serena Williams but I really can't put up with either of the Williams sisters, especially Venus's ego carry on and porn film outfits designed, I'm sure, partially to put off their opponents but it's mostly it's ego. As if we can't see her??   As SW won, I'm glad I missed the last set.

One of the best games I've ever seen was a semi-final in New York between Martina & Chrissie - one time when the tennis was rained out, they repeated it (even though it was already a couple of years old) and it was still gripping second time around even knowing who won.  Guess I blathered Saturday today...

---------------

Sunday afternoon - it's a bit yuuky-muggy & the fellow next door is drilling next to the wall of the room I am in - he is trying to get his house finished as its completion is now 7wks overdue - makes it a bit iffy to really focus & do good productive work so...
why not play some records!

Loud
yaye

On top is this favourite - crisp & clear like it was made this week rather than over 30 years ago.

Patti Smith has just released a memoir of her early years with Robert Mapplethorpe & I've just put it on the shopping list. Just Kids

Now, what's next...  a little Nina Hagen me thinks...
But first - hooray for Laurie Anderson, hooray!:

1986 Home of the Brave (check out the 80s hair dos - not Laurie, she is always cool)


I've been having an enjoyable Laurie Anderson fest these last weeks - listening to all the music of her I have, (and that's a lot if not all...) along with reading her Stories from the Nerve Bible. Very cool, clever and funny - laugh aloud funny at that..

Holy stairs

Now I'm absolved (1 Jan 2010 -St Johns, Newtown NSW Australia)

Is John Howard still in power? What? No? THEN GET THE F*&K OUT OF MY COMPUTER!!

Stop Internet Censorship in Australia

The Australian Federal Government has a plan to force Internet Service Providers [ISPs] to censor the Internet.
The reason given is to stop child abuse (it may make it harder for say, the amature but hard core nasty toxic abusers will always find a way, they always have - it's up to the police to catch them, not ISPs) The banned list includes material that has been 'refused classification' includes websites about euthanasia, controversial movies such as 'Ken Park' and 'Baise-moi', and many games that are designed for people over 16 years of age.

Just when we thought we were a civilised free country, we are thrown back into a John Howard 1950s mentality.
 http://www.internetblackout.com.au/profiles/

where does it stop? what else will the government filter? who decides what gets banned and for who's benefit?

Open the Totalitarianism box and you can never close it.

shells of their former selves

They all once housed living creatures... (Sunday walk 24 Jan 2010 Camperdown Cicada shell & Sydney University Darlington Campus)

It doesn't matter how long you've lived with someone, if it's working there is always something new to find out about 'the other'.  I showed AH the cicada shell photos who replied with an eeuww & when I asked, don't you like cicadas? she replied that she doesn't particularly like them!

Gosh, said I. Really?

ah huh.

But they are so ancient and gentle and have little sticky legs that tickle & hook onto your finger... (- her face told me that I'm not winning the cicada cause)

It does explain why I'm the one who has to rescue them out of the house.

She admitted they are "quite fascinating"

These birds rock

New commission for The Curve by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot

Go all the way, I dare you

Your challenge - watch AND LISTEN to this clip in its entirety - isn't that use of synth catchy!   This is exciting - who is the choreographer? (and why weren't they shot)
That's Tommy Seebach on keyboard - A Pop Legend in Denmark it has been said (but noone is owning up to who said it)

Check you later Roland S Howard - thanks for "Shivers"

When I read about people who die of cancer or other drawn out terminal diseases others say, he/she was serene, s/he accepted their fate are philosophical even... but Roland Howard who wrote one of my all time favourite songs (Shivers) wasn't ready yet according to Mick Harvey (fellow Birthday Party member) - Roland S Howard wanted to live.  but his liver didn't let him.  Bugger that, hey.

A rather harsh sounding version was the original 1978 version by his first well known band, The Young Charlatans and then there's the very smooth Nick with The Boys Next Door in '79 with some lovely guitar work from Roland but the best version of the song for me is Marie Hoy (and friends) performing it on the Dogs in Space soundtrack 1986:

(This was so utterly cool, I bought the record just for this one track (sadly the "White" cover LP - with the band Marie Hoy was a part of - Thrush & the Cunts censored - I wonder how much the "Black" cover LP is worth! I'm yet to see one)  but Iggy doing Endless Sea is pretty neat too)

Of course there's 30 years of guitar playing, song writing & performing - lots of excellent songs and he made a difference and by writing that one song that enriched my life -  cheers Roland S Howard, check you later.

Shivers - the smooth blokes version:

Roland S Howard 24 October 1959 – 30 December 2009

Day trip to Manly - photo mag moment

Yesterday AH & I went for the best ferry ride to be found in Sydney: Circular Quay to Manly.

Manly - from one of the docks.

From the ferry on the way back to Circular Quay - if you keep sailing toward the horizon you will eventually hit New Zealand
The sailboat on the left had a bit of strife & blocked the path of the ferry we were on.  Ferry staff had to stop & sound the horn.

seagulls worked hard to keep up with the ferrry so they could snatch food from these young men's hands.  The gulls  also caught  thrown grapes in their beak against a strong breeze - we were impressed.

Revisiting for fun

The first time I saw this reworked literal version of the 1983 video & song I laughed so much I was close to hysterical.  This is so good, it's worth revisiting - not to be confused with revisiting the actual 1980s that's punishable by holding you down and styling your hair into a mullet or perm... or both!

Just now

on a short round trip walk to pick up the mail & some bananas (along with a loaf of that scrumptious apricot bread for toast)
as follows:

1. Waiting to cross at the traffic lights

2. Texting in front of The Hub (out of shot is 1/2 doz youngers with their clipboards taking a break from hassling people for charity & over a bit further out of shot some folks that looked as though they were waiting for their AA or NA meeting at the Newtown Community Centre)

3. Home again - looking out the side door to see if the stray who came to stay is here yet - snuck this shot through the grotty mesh of the door  - the bright bit is part of the little verandah - it's very sunny out there
He's called Boyfriend because he loved our now deceased elderly cat & would call to her through the window.  Being wild, he learnt to eat what he could when he can but now he has a yard to live in and daily food he still continues to do so around the neighbourhood & is a right fatty and a very nice natured animal.

notice

Ready for the new year - Notice board, Sydney University Grounds 3 January 2010

free to a good home - well, free to any home -

Free stuff put out in the back lane, (Newtown 28 Dec 2009.)
The owners couldn't quite bring themselves to putting it in the bin to rot, so they put it in the laneway where it will rot.

happy new year

Love at the laundromat

it's magic

(out for a walk the other day - King St Newtown -Sydney)

Let them know it's *&^%$#@() time - 25 year anniversary - old favourites - some lovely music to listen to - scroll down first, hit play... any play, pop on your old Koala suit and have a read

"I heard the news today oh boy"  It's 25 years since a who’s who of should-never-have-been (soon to be has-beens) utterly boring popsters sang that annoying song about all the starving people - Look at us boring rich popsters making you feel guilty about gorging yourself at Christmas time - let them know it's Christmas by donating all your money to their despot governments and corrupt officials... Oh, go get Knighted will you! (song - Let Them Know It's Christmas time by Band Aid - in case you want reminding!)

I think it was with that song and all that yelling at crowds when the clever guilt-trip scripting began.  Psychologically refined, it is now employed by backpackers on holiday working as charity collectors....
Smiley healthy young things that call to you as you walk toward them, next to them and away from them saying, "Do you care about the environment / refugees / eyesight ...?"

Unlike the coin collecting Koalas, it's hard to ridicule these nice acting  English / Irish / American folks - likely part of a guilt-trip brainwashing conspiracy because suddenly we all have to be nice, don't we - maybe it's the folate they add to flour...

I measured my not having owned a car or motorbike for 15years, turning off all appliances at the power-point, been using those bloody light saver globes for years (- they save money but they're a bit dim and if you don't see the booger on your face, you walk out of your house with that booger on your face
in public -)
 ...footprint  and said "Fuck off" to someone.
I didn't want to say fuck off... Now that I think about it you know I didn't actually say fuck off, I really said "Oh, get fucked".
I said it as I walked past a visiting clipboard carrying man who spoke to me even though I didn't make eye contact but he didn't ask if I cared, he said, "DON'T you care?" **

But what should a person really do when faced with feeling helpless (refer**)??
SING. 
Yes, that's right, get out a cake tin, give it a tap and have yourself a singalong.
You can simply clap your hands... or not.

It's been a long time since I took some leisure time at RatherGoodDOTcom - close to 5 years - gosh.
 An old favourtie AH and I often sing around the house is La la la la Football - we mess up the words and only sing the easy bits but it's a jolly song (oh except we didn't barrack -am I supposed to spell that Barak from now on lest the lightening comes for me - for England - we cheered on all the underdogs and then the Germans and mostly the women's finals anyway...):


I really like the totally unsound one by those naughty hedgehogs... but I've chosen one of AH's favourites to show here - it really tickles her and for me, well it's another jolly and catchy singalong (and maybe a little nudge about GM and adding things to food and water for the good of the public):





**I'd just heard a report that some scientists have suggested that due to global warming, the carbon monoxide in Eucalyptus trees may become so high that nutritional levels in leaves will drop drastically and Koalas will die out. There really will be drop-bears - dropping out of trees, dead (insert unhappy face made of semi colons and brackets).  The report really shook me up and I figured I would continue to donate independently and when I can to the Australian Koala Foundation rather than give my personal banking details or credit card number to a foreigner standing on a street corner with a carefully scripted set of words.
- "when I can" meaning, oi! EVERYONE, stop being so Nihilist and buy art.
buy my art!  then you see,  I can donate to worthy causes... wow, that's a trip!


A classic sing-a-long:

I’m the Zoology Dragon,
I drive around in my Dragon Wagon,
I invent animals,
(that are) MADE OF CUBES

I’m the Zoology Dragon,
I’m always buzzing and I’m never flagging,
I’ve made more animals than you can imagine,
SO PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR SURFACE TENSION

COW! CUBE!
COWUUUUUBE!
COW! CUBE!
COWUUUUUBE!
I’m the Zoology Dragon,
Making animals is my passion,
I made the elephant and the donkey,

BUT BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOT INFINITE DENSITY
COW! CUBE!
COWUUUUUBE!
COW! CUBE!
COWUUUUUBE!

The Queen Comes to Katoomba NSW Australia 12 February 1954

(watching the parade - photographer unknown)

In 1954, the year after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to tour Australia.  The tour included  70 country towns and in Katoomba, an unknown person took photos of the event from the crowd.  These snaps are now a part of my small photography collection.

My Mother was 22 years old and working in a photo development shop in the Blue Mountains with her best friend.  One of the other girls working there, after processing & printing 18 Brownie shots of someone's day during the Royal Visit, printed a set each for her co-workers. 
Mum is good fun when she tells me of slightly naughty things in her younger, pre-marriage years (this week is her 55th wedding anniversary) - normally well spoken, she gets a twinkle in her eyes and with not quite a full giggle tells me stories with the punch line or main anecdote spoken through one side of her mouth, putting on an earlier Australian accent.

The Queen's visit was a huge event for many Australians and remains the most popular Royal Visit to Australia of them all.

A few years ago when visiting my Mother, she showed me the photos and told me about the fun they had at the shop - sometimes there wouldn't be any work* so they'd take corny posed shots of each other, hand to forehead - glamour puss at lunchtime.
Wondering why I'd want those old things that weren't very good anyway, she gave me the unknown photographer's snaps.

One of my activities is restoring old photographs & here is the original scan of the above scene:

It's hard to see all the splotches & scratches here but you get the idea about the exposure & straight-forward development (no dodging, these are direct contact prints from the negatives).  Taking photographs during a bright day in February would always be tricky.

- especially if the photographer appears to be short:

can they see anything? 

* in another shop where my Mother worked in main street of Leura (- she lived midway between Katoomba & Leura -) her kind boss kept her and her friend on the payroll during Winter even though there was hardly any work.  "You could let off a gun in the middle of the main street and you wouldn't even hit a dog"  - on ya Mum

Australia is not a Repulic yet but it may get its independence one day - I do hope my Mother gets to see it happen.

Oh, by the way, none of the photos shows even a tiny glimpse of QEII or even her car!