cruel cruel city

NEW BURAKA MIXTAPE - Blood Diamond

2009-07-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Funny, I only watched the movie "Blood Diamond" for the first time last night.

Definately was no Black Diamond.

Progressive kuduro artists Buraka Som Sistema have given us some more hard-ass dancing to do, feat Zomby, Rusko, Lykke Li, Radioclit and Afrikan Boy and that remix of Oxide and Neutrino's "You're No Good for Me" that Laneway punters will remember well.

Download the Mixtape

Thanks Mad Decent.

XLR8R Steps On It

2009-07-13T03:16:00.000-07:00

An average day at the office for the lucky employees of XLR8R Magazine includes a guided tour from Zizek Club's staple DJ Villa Diamante of Buenos Aires' best places to chow down, sit down and get down, chatting to Major Lazer, a fictional producer with a convincing Jamaican accent, and mediating ~~smackdowns~~ discussions between pro-copyright fiend Renee Scroggings of ESG and sample-swiper Girl Talk.

XLR8R ("accelerator") is a multi-format magazine centred around culture, fashion, technology and music. XLR8R TV, podcasts and free weekly downloads, not to mention the fact that readers can choose to download the magazine as a PDF rather than subscribe, combine to bring the magazine to the forefront of music and culture newsgathering.

Recently featured artists include Mr Oizo, Zomby, Animal Collective, Dan Deacon, Junior Boys and the Juan Maclean.

Episode No. 106
DJ /rupture, Cumbia Detective

Purr...

2009-06-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Not only am I lusting over Lover's 'White Moon Rising' SpringSummer 09/10 collection, but I am totally cat-crushing on their gosh-darned gorgeous little fluffball 'Miss Potato'. I'm inspired to take some photographs of my own little ragdoll. Stay tuned!

"Miss Potato" portrait by: Todd Selby. Exhibition: Monster Children Gallery.

Mount Glorious, Mother's Day in Manly and 4zzz

2009-06-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Looking at these photos makes me sad because I'm so busy with exams that I can barely take time to get some exercise or go to the park let alone the mountains. Mount Glorious was pretty and misty and cold...I felt like I was in a fairytale.

Last Sunday I went to 4zzz for the last broadcast of Forcefed Fistfuls Radio. Sukkafish P Jones is flying off to Europe to join fellow co-host Prince Nod, who skyped in from Barcelona for on-air chats. K08 will take over for next four weeks and after that the guys will be podcasting fistfuls of bass and love from wherever they decide to escape to next. In the meantime, make sure you stream.

I can't let it go...

2009-05-19T01:13:00.000-07:00

Reeling from my recent post on Limedrop's Autumn/Winter collection, I asked Thea from Blonde Venus (the Outpost's sister store) why they decided to limit themselves to Limedrop jewellry. She said that the clothing wasn't 'quite what they were looking for', and fair enough - if it wasn't for the specific vision of storeowners like Matt and Thea we'd all be shopping at Universal. But these new snaps of Limedrop's Spring/Summer 09-10 'Places I've Never Been' reminds me very much the liquid, floaty, washed-out, tailored but sometimes slouchy look similar to that of the Arnsdorf, Lover and Karen Walker labels found at Blonde Venus. The dress on the bottom left even looks a bit like the Carly Hunter 'Mountains Dress' I bought from the Outpost and wrote about last year. Nevertheless, 'Places I've Never Been' is bound to make an impression once those of us still thawing our hands in the fire clad in tartan dinner jackets and cable-knit pants see the first signs of spring. But right now I'm freezing!

Sexy Swine Flu?

2009-05-19T01:06:00.000-07:00

From Fashionindie.com

Harmonic 313 - Megan Cullen

2009-05-18T04:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night we took ourselves downtown to Barsoma and had another soul-cleansing bass experience with Harmonic 313.

Photos are by Brisbanite Megan Cullen, who has worked with Triple J and Frankie Magazine, done press photos for my brother and is really on to a good thing here. She's photographed Ladytron, Flying Lotus, Trashy club kids in Berlin, Bushfire Survivors, the Hell's Angels and now us. Represent!

Tim and I - the only ones in focus!

Me!

Miles

Sukkafish P Jones

Harmonic 313 AKA Mark Pritchard

Winter cuteness from Limedrop

2009-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I heart Limedrop. Everything they produce is bold, playful, 100% Aussie and downright cute. All of their clothes are produced ethically, making them them extra super crush-worthy. My Limedrop crush began about two years ago when I got my cube cherrywood necklace. But it's been bittersweet - Limedrop isn't stocked anywhere in Brisbane except at the Outpost, which for a while now has only carried its accessories. It's just not fair - Melbourne is spoilt rotten with choice at Pussycat Black, Kids in Berlin and Lady Boutique. Even Indonesia stocks more than we do in Brisbane. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone (maybe Violent Green?) will eventually bring me the goods, but in the meantime I can be satisfied with the opening of the Limedrop's new online store. Although I won't have the sweet touch of Limedrop fabric on my skin, it means we can finally be together, even turns out to be a long-distance thing.

Photos are from 'The Huntsman' Autumn/Winter 09 Collection.

Sigur Ros - Eva Vermandel

2009-05-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

Eva Vermandel has also done press shots and album artwork for Portishead, Square Pusher and Cat Power.

Bruce Davidson's Subway

2009-05-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Bruce Davidson’s Subway is a series of photographs magnifying the the colour and variety of the New York City subway in the late 1970’s. He depicts everyone from the girls, the kids and the couples to the junkies, the gangs, the homeless and the insane with truth, beauty and admiration. Clearly (and fortunuately) his view of New York isn't one of Carrie Bradshaw flitting around her rent-controlled apartment in nothing but her underwear and a pair of Manolo’s.

Kitsune and cute French models in their underwear (and outerwear)

2009-04-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Kitsune is part of the reason I risked death at the hands of fluoro-clad morons at Parklife to see Digitalism, and is the sole reason I got into Tom Vek, Au Revoir Simone, Thieves Like Us, Appaloosa and the Teenagers. With a backlog of compilations featuring Architecture in Helsinki, Hot Chip, Boys Noize, Air, Friendly Fires, Heartsrevolution and Etienne De Crecy, it's likely that if the French indie electronic record label were a Last FM user it would have super compatability with everyone. Add Phoenix to that list and you get Kitsune Maison 7 and a remix of 'Litztomania' by LA's Classixx into an eighties dance track circa 1986.

Not only do the kids at Kitsune have impeccably good taste in music, they also have a damn fine wardrobe. Preppy but chic and adorable but wearable, Kitsune's Spring/Summer 09 Collection 'Somebody Somewhere' is available at its Parisian Flagship Boutique as well as throughout Europe, the USA and Korea. It is soon to be succeeded by 'The Graduate' Fall/Winter 09 Collection launching alongside Kitsune Maison Compilation 7 (teaser below). Yes, Kitsune has proved that it can only get sexier, and I would brave ten thousand Parklifes to get my hands on some of these rags (especially those Pierre Hardy shoes!).

KITSUNE MAISON 7 - 'THE GRADUATE' FW09 COLLECTION TEASER
Uploaded by MaisonKitsune

Tween love

2009-04-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

A great track from one of my favourite bands when I was 12 or 13. The video is pretty bad quality but the song still sends shivers down my spine!

Destiny's child Is She the Reason.avi
Uploaded by favoritething

The Peronists

2009-04-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Peronists are cool for three reasons:

(a) They take their name directly from ex-Argentine President Juan Peron and his wife Eva Peron, who fought to end poverty and promote labour rights.

(b) They are part of the expanding 'neo-cumbia' movement in South America which combines traditional cumbia made by destitutes and slaves with contemporary genres like dancehall, reggaeton, techno and electronica.

(c) They are from Buenos Aires, which means they are probably requested nightly by the kids at the coolest club in the Southern hemisphere - - Zizek Club.

(d) They have remixed Notorious B.I.G. and the Mario theme in cumbia-style - - totally danceable!

The Peronists VS Biggie Smalls - Big Poppa Flow us From the Sky. mp3

The Peronists - Mario Cumbia.mp3

Fish eye shots of Sydney

2009-04-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the photos we took in Sydney with the fish eye I bought Dave for Christmas. We had a lovely time at Taronga Zoo - we saw a pair of two male lions 'making love' and a pack of monkeys terrorise another poor monkey to the point that he lost control of his bowels. We were teased by some amazing vintage stores in Newtown and took some very pleasant ferry rides. None of the photos from the Star Wars exhibition came out because it was apparently too dark (which is heartbraking because there were some great shots of us posing with star destroyers, wookies and sand people) and some of the better ones didn't scan properly, but here is a taste...

Dolls

2009-04-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

I went to the library to get away from
the lunch rush the other day and came
across a collection of porcelain dolls
clothed in traditional and old-fashioned
miniature outfits. The dolls are made
by Gladys Bush and are part of the
"Dreams of Children in Australia and Japan"
exhibition at the Brisbane Central Library
until 30 April.

I have always loved china dolls - I have
four and would have loved to take these
lovely creations home!

They remind me a little bit of Lover's "Sacred Hearts" A/W 09 collection. It's got something to do with the schoolhat and uniform dress, the plaits, the poses and the pretty simplicity of it all.

Tony Amado, Jean Claude Van Damme and the Creation of Kuduro

2009-04-06T18:04:00.001-07:00

Tony Amado - Boa Noite.mp3 (as featured on 4ZzZ's Forcefed Fistfuls)

Argentina has no reason to cry

2009-04-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Buenos Aires has grown ZZK Records into a full-fledged outlet of mayhem. From long nights of party heat in the capital of South American culture, Zizek brings a blend of old and new, rural and urban, where the first and third worlds share the dancefloor and make plans to hook up after the party."

It has been apparent since the opening of Zizek Club in Palermo that the streets of Buenos Aires aren't just home to the the tango and many a fine futbolista. They are also the proud parents of a new breed of South American electronic music. Zizek, a self-proclaimed 'sonic blender', is at the forefront of global street music, offering to its punters a mix grande de hip hop, cumbia, dancehall, reggaeton, dub(step), bastard pop, mashups and more.

It's from this club in the Argentinian capital, between the ice fields of Southern Patagonia and the steamy home of corned beef in the Pampas Plains, that ZZK Records was born. Hailing from a country whose weather patterns range from sub-antarctic to that of a sauna, it's not surprising that the ZZK concept (which includes such artists as El G, Fauna and Douster [pictured below]) is a collision of cultures, genres and challenging new sounds. The grassroots label has been internationally acclaimed in NME and Rolling Stone and is this month set to give the US a run for its money at Coachella and Miami's Trans Atlantic Festival before moving on to Mexico as part of the ZZK North American Tour.

ZZK Myspace / Facebook

***ZZK Mixtape Vol. 6 - Douster***

The China Project

2009-02-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

In Sydney I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art at which one of A h X ian's Porcelain Busts is being featured among the museum's New Acquisitions. I am fascinated by Ah Xian's work not only because it is beautiful but reclaims the traditional Chinese patterns stolen and distributed among European dinner tables by the likes of Spode and literally gives them a human face. His work is a statement about the value of tradition and culture to both society and the person in a post-colonial context.

Another of Ah Xian's porcelain casts will be shown as part of the Three Decades: The Contemporary Chinese Collection exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. While you're there, GoMA is already home to to the lotus flower decorated 'Human human' figure as pictured below. The exhibition opens on 28 March and features a number of contemporary Chinese artists who are more than likely to give the term 'made in China' a whole new meaning.

China China - Bust No. 3 1998

Human Human - Lotus Cloisonne Figure 1 2000-01

toys to cuddle (instead of boys) + etsy bushfire appeal

2009-02-11T03:02:00.000-08:00

How can this little owl help some very sad people? By being purchased by YOU!

Etsy has set up an online store with proceeds going to the Red Cross to support the victims of the recent bushfires in Victoria. I hope that not too many owls got burnt.

Otherwise you can vote for the item that inspires the most "Aww" in you.

These little creatures are too cute! And the idea of a plush bento box? Genius.

For Valentines Day:

Etsy store: rosieok

Etsy store: lmdalton

Brisbane's dubstep scene no longer a snail but a slug

2009-02-09T04:12:00.001-08:00

It's been a long time since I was a wide-eyed indie girl in Manchester, the home of drum & bass, who thought that any song lacking guitar was as relevant to me as a foreign language. Three years later in Sydney I found myself dissapointed about not being able to attend a sold-out Rusko sideshow at Spectrum. I am, however, no longer sheltered from the fact that dubstep is becoming big thing in the real world. And despite hiding underground in Brisbane until now the genre finally seems to be coming out of its shell. This is all thanks to a number of talented and interesting young people who won't let Brisbane stop moving in 2009.

Experience Philly's Starkey at the Step Inn on 7 March and see some local talent with the return of Suckafish P Jones of 4zzz's Forcefed Fistfuls supporting.

The Bug and Laneway

2009-02-09T03:46:00.000-08:00

London dubstep and a little bit dancehall artist Kevin Martin (otherwise known as The Bug) was unleashed onto the Step Inn on Australia Day. Dank Morass brought in extra speakers to cater for the breathing-difficulty causing amount of bass expelled from Martin’s laptop (so much so that vibration replaced sound and those who lost 50% of their hearing in the first 10 minutes as a result of not wearing earplugs didn’t need it anyway). Martin showed off his dark, distorted, synthy instrumental work in 'Skeng' while staying true to themes of adversity featured on his latest album 'London Zoo'. In ‘Angry’ Tippa Irie discusses the rape of Africa and Bush's poor response to Hurricane Katrina and Warrior Queen does her own version of 'Mad World' in 'Insane'. The set was eventually invaded by dancehall champion Warrior Queen who asked for cock, had an argument with her own pussy, humped an audience member on stage and, in a throw-back to the ‘lip my stockings’ prostitute from Lost in Translation, flung herself onto the ground, her legs in the air and rode an imaginary bicycle whilst shrieking for help. This tended to fragment the set, particularly when coupled with a few rewinds. But Warrior Queen's mania is a show in itself - and only a naïve audience member could possibly expect the conquerer to behave.

A week later we all trotted off to Laneway. It was a wonderfully homegrown, well-organised and un-crowded affair. Luckily for me all of the electronic acts were situated under the one roof, which helped avoid the usual one-hour-and-i've-got-heat-exhaustion-and-my-legs-hurt-and-I-hate-everyone-here festival routine. I arrived in the late afternoon and had surprise first encounter with Dorian Concept. Later I jerked around to Harmonic 313 and got especially excited when he played ‘Skeng’ by the Bug. Rusko was dressed like a moron but made up for it by playing an awesome set featuring 'Cockney Thug', and Stereolab and Four Tet were nothing less than beautiful. El Guincho (despite having some teething problems) provided a relaxing tropical break from all the noisy dubstep while Buraka Som Sistema ended the night with some body-jolting Angolan techno courtesy of Lisbon, Portugal. I once believed that I would never like techno and there I was having my socks knocked off and being convinced that to do his or her job an MC only has to say two words every five minutes as long as the beats are amazing and he or she is outrageously good-looking (oh, and do an extended remix of Oxide and Neutrino's 'No Good 4 Me').

I don't have any photos yet because my camera is broken and my brother has conveniently popped over to Japan without uploading any of the photos I took on his. So stay tuned.

For the love of all tea-related things

2009-02-09T02:33:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Dave and I went on a day trip to Montville, a quaint little town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with a real vintage feel. It's a lovely drive from Brisbane and there are plenty of things to do. As lovers we chose at one point to enjoy a quiet moment in a deserted farmer's lane, but with one store containing enough fine china to fill the windows of my converted shop front and another devoting itself entirely to doilies it was the perfect place for a refined girl to indulge in a simple afternoon tea (and a BIG slice of cake).

Boycott Israel

2009-01-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

If you feel strongly about the Palestinian cause you may find this and this interesting.

It should be remembered that the suffering in Gaza continues despite a ceasefire as disease spreads in the midst of crippled infrastructure and the Palestinian people mourn the losses of more than 1300 people who have been killed by the IDF.

The Obama Way

2009-01-19T18:18:00.000-08:00

Bad news. Due to an unfortunate scheduling clash, Daedelus is no longer playing Laneway. With no annoucement to be found on the website, it's not surprising that most of us failed to notice his absence in the timetable. Thanks for letting us know, guys!

It's hardly a substitute but check out this video in which Daedelus features. You can see why Obama got the youth vote. As of tomorrow, yay for President Obama!

Lotus Flies High

2009-01-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

Warning. If you attend a Flying Lotus gig you may experience the following:

- Time travel
- Space flight
- Distortion of the world as you know it

And that's before the synthetics kick in. Flying Lotus immediately made up for an absence of originals from his latest album on Friday night with his ability to create a monstrosity of atmosphere and sound. As is evident from photos, FlyLo had half of the Moon Bar in awe and the other half jerking, gyrating and dub-stepping to everything between grimey mancunian drum & bass and parisian-chic Mr Oizo remixes and the soundtrack to an intergalactic war between the future indian empire and some aliens from Jupiter. Those who missed out definately missed out - you've probably never heard anything like it.

China girl woes

2009-01-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

I was probably the only person I know to be upset by the news that Waterford Wedgwood are in danger of going bust. And in order to bolster themselves against a threatening debt of several million euros, the centuries-old English china producer is moving its production to Asia. This shift means not only that thousands of English and Irish workers will lose their jobs but opens up the possibility of the company using and abusing cheap labour in Indonesia and China. It at least means a significant drop in sales as collectors are likely to turn their noses up at the “Made in China” sticker on the bottom of the plate. I for one am relieved that the company isn’t erupting into flames just yet. If we lost Wedgwood we would loose such and beautifully crafted pieces as the famous "Willow" pattern below (a personal favourite of mine) and all the history that goes with them.

DUBSTEP IS HERE

2008-12-25T02:12:00.000-08:00

With the help of promoters White Rhino and Dank Morass as well as the boys from 4zzz radio's Forcefed Fistfuls (Sundays 8pm), Brisbane's underground dub-step and grime scene has flourished this year with artists such as Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Joker taking over Barsoma and the Step Inn. And it won't die with 2008. The new year will see Flying Lotus swinging by the Moon Bar and London's The Bug and Warrior Queen (who was featured on Diplo's latest mixtape with Santogold) playing Step Inn on January 26.

Daring to be different, Laneway has again pushed its own boundaries by adding two more dub-step outfits to its bill. Hermitude and Rusko join robotic hip hop act Harmonic 313 and the African-techno inspired Portuguese Buraka Som Sistema, not to mention a plethora of electro-pop geniuses such as Stereolab (my personal favourite), Four Tet, Daedelus and newcomers Girl Talk and El Guincho. Laneway has indeed proved that it is ahead of its time and is well-placed to keep those wankers wearing nothing but boardshorts and the Australian flag well clear of the festival gates.

Yah! - Buraka Som Sistema feat. Petty

Hunter Happy

2008-12-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

It only takes one fantastic Australian designer to prove that the the world's most exciting fashion isn't just found in Paris, Milan, New York, or even Sydney and Melbourne. In the case of Carly Hunter, you'll find it in Perth, a city most East-coasters cast off along with Adelaide as little better than Canberra. But Hunter's 'Temporary Shelters' collection has caught the attention of Brisbane's ever reliable fun fashion culprit the Outpost and its loyal customers. The collection is perfect for summer and can be added to in all number of different ways (I love the dad socks in the photos below). Hunter represents womanly elegance as hiding behind girly simplicity by contrasting alluring textures such as pure silk and lines that highlight womanly curves, with soft, natural colours, simple shapes and the odd cheeky tassle. Temporary Shelters is a manifestation of the youth, sass and creative style of the truly sexy Australian lady, and proudly shows that from little towns big things can grow.

This Year.

2008-12-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

I have accomplished many things this year of which I am rightfully be proud of. I got a boyfriend who I'm crazy about and have managed to keep around for a whole year, a new job earning me sweet dollars and giving me a step up in my career, impressive uni results and a brand new house in which I am living away from my parents for the first time. Only a couple of shit things happened, our 20 year-old cat had to be put down, and the law school didn't approve my exchange because I hadn't completed a couple of core subjects. Shit happens. But one thing I'm dissappointed about is the fact that I have hardly been able to keep any decent friends. I'm not usually one for proclaiming the details of my personal life to the entire blogging community, but today I want to say something. I am finished with those individuals who claimed to be my 'friends' but who repeatedly excluded me from social gatherings because (a) they forgot about me, (b) I couldn't be reached via facebook event invitation or (c) they just didn't want me there. I'm finished with the friends who made bets about how long my boyfriend and I would last (whom I proved wrong). And I'm finished with the friends who were too self-indulgent and lazy to acknowledge my moving out of home, congratulate me on my new job, show some empathy when my cat died or when my exchange got knocked back, or to even call me for the occasional chat. I'm finished with kissing asses and feeling like I'm not good enough. I'm an awesome individual and it's my resolution to find some friends who actually share that view. Happy New Year!

Money money money

2008-12-03T18:53:00.000-08:00

If you're like me and know almost nothing about economics or from where in hell this so-called 'financial crisis' has sprung, this article by Herman Daly might help you form a basic understanding, by using an analogy involving pigs.

Bombs, ect.

2008-12-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

It seems silly to be writing about things like tea pots and china figurines when there's stuff like this going on.

Gone are the days in which 'terrorist' insurgents would only take a few officials hostage and carefully target government buildings to avoid civilian casualties. Today, passenger planes are shot down, olympic atheletes are murdered, entire villages are desecrated by suicide bombers and great buildings containing thousands of civilians are destroyed. The events in Mumbai are scary not only because they resulted in huge civilian losses but because they kept an entire city paralysed for days. I recently moved into a new house and the guy whose room I've taken (who is also a good friend of my brother's) flew to Mumbai a few days before the attacks. He was staying 100 metres from the Taj, and a tourist being chased by an insurgent with a gun ran into his hotel. His 'holiday' in India was sadly cut short, but he did make it out alive on a flight to Barcelona, so big up to John. Killing 200 people is such an unfortunate way to go about achieving change, especially considering India's past victories under Ghandi.

Meanwhile, the kids in yellow at Bangkok airport have shown themselves to be an example of the power of (mostly) non-violent resistance, not to mention how to piss off thousands of tourists. Thailand's Supreme Court recently ruled in their favour by deposing the country's corrupt Prime Minister.

On the home front, the Federal government is deliberating the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Australia. I think it's a great idea, seeing as we are pretty much the only country in the Western world that lacks one. But having gone through a semester of Public Law with Professor Jim Allen, I'm not going to spend another second of my life talking about the pros and cons of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy, and I hope anyone who has had his crazy Canadian views against bills of rights hammered into their brain stem will sympathise.
One thing I will talk about though are the discussions to exclude 'contentious' rights (like the right to abortion) in favour of more 'settled' rights like freedom of speech. Freedom of speech, the right to vote and other basic political rights are already enshrined in the Constitution, legislation and the common law. It would be unnecessary to simlpy restate them in a bill of rights, unless they form part of a document that incorporates rights never-before protected in Australia. Such a document would perform a more meaningful function if it included, for example, the right to abortion (which is unfairly and outdatedly unlawful in certain States) as well as other economic, social, environmental and cultural rights.

In lighter news, the Prodigy will be playing Riverstage on 20 January with Simian Mobile Disco and Hot Chip. I have also just discovered that Lick It have booked Metronomy for 16 January at Empire. It's been a while since I've been but I always have a good time at Empire. Boys Noize was especially fun.

I really want to go and see Swan Lake at QPAC. My mum used to take us every year at Christmas. I also want to see the Paris Opera Ballet perform La Bayadere next year in July.

Water, Dan Deacon, Karen Walker and Peggy Davies

2008-11-26T04:07:00.000-08:00

Anna Bligh today announced that recycled water will indeed be incorporated into South-East Queensland's water supply once dam levels fall below 40%. I think this is a positive step forward for Queensland, a state that is behind most of the developed world in areas like water recycling and flouridatation, both of which have been around for a long time in the UK, parts of Europe and Singapore. Having been born and raised in the UK and still alive and kicking - and not having suffered from a serious illness in my life (apart from pneumonia, which I most likely picked up from an infested fountain while I was on holiday in Rome), I know that water recycling is a completely safe and a really good way to save water. The conservative-minded Queenslanders against this initiative need to open their eyes, get their facts straight and maybe do a little bit of research before flying off the handle.

In other other news, Dan Deacon (yay!) is playing at The Zoo on Friday 6 March with High Places. 2009 is definately looking up.

In other other news these cute owls designed by Karen Walker have a starting price of $75 NZ. Adorable but muy expensivo!

Lastly, check out these gorgeous Peggy Davies for Royal Albert china figurines. Quite unlike such Royal Albert traditional china patterns as Lady Carlyle and Old Country Roses Chintz, these Art-Deco inspired designs go well with the the Polka Rose cup and saucer pattern below as was popular in the 1930s. Yes, there are times that I miss working in the china section of a David Jones.

Not the only expensive thing referred to in this blog, these babies go for 195 pounds, yes POUNDS a pop.

My personal favourite:

Magazines

2008-11-20T20:05:00.001-08:00

It's only last night since I did my last post, but I'm going through a glorious period of nothing to do at work-ness and I've been doing some browsing that has gotten me a little bit excited.

Bored on my lunch break, I wandered down to the News Agent's on George Street to look for a magazine of the interesting (not 'how to suck your boyfriend's cock properly') variety. Yen and Frankie are increasingly similar these days and I also find them both a tad tedious. I bought the latest issue of Oyster the other week and enjoyed it, but the intellectual stimulation gained from reading it is unsurprisingly low. Adamant, I wandered further and, to my delight, came across a pile of Monster Children back issues in the Entertainment section. Last time I was in Sydney we trekked our way up and around Oxford Street in the summer heat to visit the Monster Children Art Gallery only to find it closed. After a quick flick through, it's obvious that the Monster Children guys like art that incorporates boobs, but from what I saw overall I was pretty impressed.

Back at work I discovered a heap of cool mags online, including Amelia's Magazine from (yep, you guessed it) Amelia's apartment in London's Brick Lane, and Dumbo Feather Pass it On, which has on its website a funky little Ecard service.

A subscription to any of these cute little productions would make a fabulous Christmas gift (hint).

Hugh Jackman is not the sexiest man alive.

2008-11-20T03:38:00.000-08:00

I watched 2001: Space Odyssey on Sunday night as part of Kubric Week on SBS. There is something so eerie about Space Odyssey that makes me feel uncomfortable every time I watch it. Every night since I've expected to awake suddenly, dying in my bed, a monolith towering over me, howling at me and turning me into a massive foetus the size of earth. Of course, it doesn't help that that my Dad (bless him) named our computer server after the HAL 9000 Computer. Now every time my computer slows down a little bit I worry that it's going to start singing 'Daisy' to me.

Christ, I haven't even seen the Shining yet!

I also saw Baby Mama last week. It was hilarious. I think I have a little tiny girl crush on Tina Fey. She's a genius, even more so since those Sarah Palin spoofs.

I'm going down to Sydney in February and I'm looking forward to checking out the works at the Art Gallery of New South Wales by artists depicting the Shining Prince in Japan's oldest novel 'The Tale of Genji'.

Also at the Gallery in February is 'Half Light: Portraits from Black Australia'. It will be refreshing to see some contemporary photography by Indigenous Australian artists.

Model speeders, droids and Chewbaccas in glass cases is also likely to be a laugh at the Star Wars Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Yay!

I'm sitting here listening to stupid Australian actors making an attempt at creating drama in the background and their whining is starting to get on my nerves, so I'm going to head to bed. But before I go I would like to say something about these sweet little docs - that they're cool az!

freedom ow

2008-11-13T01:33:00.000-08:00

Studying law and journalism (but not enough journalism) full time and working almost full time makes for a very busy Robby. Having survived the academic year, it's high time to extract myself from exam notes and invest in something a little more colourful. I hope it's the beginning of a brilliant blogging career.

I recently had a birthday on which I was lucky enough to be given a whole pile of gorgeous jewellry by designers including Karen Walker, Princess Tina and Limedrop. I was also lucky enough to have in my bank account the funds to pay for the most expensive (although relatively cheap according to many a hipster's standards) item of clothing i have ever purchased - a dress from Carly Hunter's Temporary Shelters collection. I have always been a lover of vintage but I have recently developed a hunger for designer clothing and spend my new found spare time not reluctantly trawling through collections on the internet and starting passionate love affairs with brooches and skirts. Not my first love, but a love nonetheless, is Stretsis, or this sweet thang below.

I'm also excited to say that after quite a dry spell during which all I thought the end of good music was nigh, I have discovered some great albums including Flying Lotus' 'Los Angeles' and Cibo Matto's 'Viva! La Woman'. Also, thanks to the Laneway Fesitval, for which I am eternally grateful (especially after Parklife), I am loving Daedelus' 'Fairweather Friends' EP, Buraka Som Sistema's 'Black Diamond' and El Guincho's 'Alegranza'. I must also commend the SUPERB Laneway lineup that includes one of my all-time favourites STEREOLAB, as well as Four Tet, who's Everything Ecstatic album is keeping me sane on my train ride to work in the mornings.
I always want to talk about how much I love Laneway because it's the most charming, original, intelligent and eclectic festival I've ever been to. Its organisers seem to share all my favourites - having chosen Yo La Tengo to headline in 2006 and Broken Social Scene, who I regrettably missed, to headline in 2007. I definately can't wait until February.

I'm also going to Barsoma this weekend (15/11) to check out Hudson Mohawke. My brother (Prince Nod) is supporting, who is my hero for the week for playing the Cool Kids, MIA and Rye Rye within 20 minutes of each other on his Sunday night radio program on 4zzz. See you there!