The trailer for Peter Jackson’s King Kong is out. They are also running a post-production diary in blog and video format. This could well have happened before, but its the first time I have come across it, as opposed to releases of a few stills and clips. Jackson has always embraced new avenues in the media, and I think this is another example.
Letting it rip!
Rebound Designs takes old books and turns them into bags. I’m not a handbag user, so in a practical sense they are lost on me, but they are really cool. I took a spin past a couple of the op shops the other day, and came home with a few books to experiment with. Maybe I can make a few Christmas presents this year?
Strange how it feels naughty to rip the pages out, even for books I don’t feel any relationship with. I found four Reader’s Digest condensed book volumes with pretty covers that I don’t feel too bad about remixing. I think they must be in the same series as this one.
I doubt I could have done it to this one. I did get a Dean & Son abridged Pride and Prejudice, with an amusing gaudy cover, but I escape any dilemma because its spine is too thin.
Did you ever do that thing of cutting a secret compartment in the pages of a book? I remember it taking a lot of grunt to cut through all the pages!
Coo!
The neo-natal manager at a hospital special care baby unit says “Cooing should be a thing of the past because these are little people with the same rights as you or me.”
I can see the thinking but it just makes me laugh because babies are designed to be cooed over! It’s a cunning part of the process of interaction which allows babies to survive, engage, learn, talk and become social beings. When I was involved with public radio in the early 80’s, the sound engineer at the station remarked that the soundproof studio doors would hold out all sounds except a baby’s cry, because their cries are designed to get our attention no matter what. It’s the same deal. Go to Goodhappyfun and mouse over the main links. I bet you can’t help smiling. I even get those spine tingles at the back of my neck that I was speaking of before.
I don’t particularly buy the infection argument either. In normal circumstances I would go with the ‘boosts natural immunity’ outlook.
Updated links 2015
Spine Tingles
You know when you hear something that sends tingles up the back of your neck? This is one of those – Ray Lamontagne‘s song Trouble. I also found it as a video.
I’ve had two other such experiences recently. One was Antony and the Johnsons‘ song Fistful of Love. The snippet you hear there is mostly the schmaltz talk at the beginning (I am a bit dubious about that aspect of the mp3s there), whereas most of the song isn’t like that. As someone said, his voice nails you to the wall.
The other was an Australian group called Aajinta. They are a trio who make atmospheric or ambient music with cello, clarinet, didgeridoo and harmonic voices. On 6th October they are launching a CD called Harmonic Spheres which will be featured on Lucky Ocean’s ‘The Planet’ on the same night. Their address for ordering is aajinta.
Did you ever see Janis Joplin’s wonderful Maybe on the Ed Sullivan Show? I only saw it recently. It is so absolutely intense that every time I see it I get tingles and goosebumps and feel like a wrung out rag after watching it.
Updated links 2015
The Scott Parkin Case
Last week an American non-violent activist, Scott Parkin, was arrested and removed from Australia, after having his visa revoked. The Federal Attorney-General, Ruddock, said that the Minister for Immigration, Vanstone, revoked Parkin’s
visa based on an ASIO Security assessment. “I understand the decision was based upon a security assessment, and security assessments are notsomething about which I can comment in any detail.” SourceWatch has a detailed account.
According to a radio piece on the ABC’s The Deep End on Thursday 15th (which you can listen to) Parkin uses street theatre and puppetry. For instance, his groupdoes an act called Hallibacon, which features a large inflatable pig, and protesters wearing snouts and pig masks being fed cash from a trough of public money by Cheney.
Such protests have for a long time been regarded as freedom of speech here. In the absence of other reasons, we have to be worried that is being curtailed. On the other hand, there is speculation that our government was doing someone else’s bidding. Crikey outlines the scenario. On the ABC’s The National Interest on Sept 18th, Terry Lane claims that Kellogg Brown Root, subsidiary of Halliburton, donated $50,000 to both major political parties here, suggesting both a question mark over the opposition’s acquiescence, and an alternative avenue for foreign corporations to exercise power. The Law Report, broadcast Tuesday 19th, will talk to Parkin’s lawyer about the case.
Update: Scott Parkin’s own account of his experience
Updated 2015 – most links outdated.
Artforce designs
I’m thinking again about the Colour-in Canberra traffic control box designs, as entries are due by the 23rd. The idea is based on a similar project, Artforce, an initiative of Brisbane City Council managed by Queensland Urban Ecology. They have a gallery of their images, and you can see which are regarded as most popular.
Among my favourites is this one by Annique Goldenberg:
‘On the way to the waterfront at Manly – a traditional turtle migration area’.
Updated links 2015
Mr Squiggle – Who’s pulling the strings: The Art and Life of Norman Hetherington
Mosman Art Gallery is hosting an
exhibition titled Mr Squiggle – Who’s
pulling the strings: The Art and Life of Norman
Hetherington from Sept 3rd to
October 9th.
‘This exhibition explores the career of Norman Hetherington, the originator, creator and puppeteer of the popular children’s ABC program, ‘Mr Squiggle’. Norman Hetherington has lived in Mosman for over 40 years and made a significant contribution to Australian television history and culture. The exhibition presents a variety of original puppets, drawings, cartoons,
promotional material and memorabilia, and ABC television program segments.’
Associated with the exhibition there will also be performances at the gallery on Sunday 25 September, 11am & 2pm. These will be a short and rare performance by Norman with Mr Squiggle followed by A Package for Granny by Sydney Puppet Theatre and Puppetease by Ross Browning. Bookings: 02 9978 4178
Norman was recently interviewed on ABC Radio National’s The World Today. You can read the interview here, or listen to it by following whichever format you prefer linked at the top of that page. It’s refreshing to hear someone recommending fun so much! At the Puppetry Summit a few years ago Norman was kind enough to do an upside down squiggle (Mr Squiggle’s particular thing) for me and others. I come across it in my notebook every now and then and it makes me smile.
Updated 2015: broken links
Swamped
Deep Peace
I heard a lovely Gaelic blessing at yoga tonight:
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace to you, deep peace to you.
