Changing sides
Deciding on who to support in this years tour has been a difficult task, eternal bridesmaid Jan?, just stepped out of tha salon Basso?, A patriotic vote for Cadel Evans?, the crab Mancebo?
As of yesterday it became crystal clear. Liberty Seguros. Why? Because they have Avlexander Vinikourov who has the cycling equivalent to ADHD and now the manager and doctor have been done for drugs.
Allez Liberty Seguros
Have you seen this man?
This man has been missing for a few weeks. We suspect that he has fallen off a cliff face or has a severe case of vegetable poisoning.
If you know the whereabouts of this man can you please contact us!
The Zen of kitchen maintenance
My workplace has been having a little trouble keeping the kitchen as clean as it should be.
First an email goes round asking people to keep the place tidy, then a sign goes up and if all else fails a roster is implemented. It is an all too common thread.
However today I noticed one of my workmates taking a more spiritual and philosophical approach to the situation by sticking the passage below above the sink.
…If while washing the dishes we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we are not…alive during the time we are washing the dishes. In fact we are completely incapable of realizing the miracle of life while standing at the sink. If we can’t wash the dishes, the chances are we won’t be able to drink our tea either. While drinking the cup of tea, we will only be thinking of other things, barely aware of the cup in our hands. Thus we are sucked away into the future – and we are incapable of actually living one minute of life.
Zen master Tich Nhat Hahn
I got quite a lot from that passage. It is not often you become enlightened on a domestic and philosophical level simultaneously.
Pull ‘em up, lads
ok, the gals have just about grown out of wearing trousers that allow bulging bits up, out and over the top of their duds. Now it seems to be the fellas’ turn.
Don’t get me wrong, I like a good set of buns as much as the next girl, but where’s the mystery? And the challenge?
Not good: Studded belt and large expanse of grey standard-issue (probably washed by yer mum) jocks yawning above low slung jeans.
Go on, fellas, give them a tug, pull up yer pants.
I am off to TAFE: Semester roaring to a close
Whoever said students are slackers? As well as avoiding brain tumours and filling out survey after survey issued by universities trying to prove that students don’t want student union facilities (little things like dentists, counsellors, solicitors), we are deep in the throes of the latter, assessible (I don’t know how to spell that word) half of semester. By stuff I mean designs, prints, drawings, reports on exhibitions visited and practicing artists interviewed and lots of colours wheels painted in gouache.
Here are my latest screen printing efforts. Note traces of past lives coming out in the designs created:
Drawing life
Partially inspired by one of my peers here on the Chimney (hmm, should that be capitalised?) I recently attended my first life drawing class. A 15 minute walk from work is enough time to send the worries of the day tumbling down the street amongst the expiring leaves of Autumn. In their place comes apprehension, self conciousness - memories of school, the legacy of home made trousers and skivvies, a feeble physique and poor hand eye coordination. Shuffling nervously through the door (late) I am anticipating the Tutors empathetic advice. ‘I think you’re in the wrong room Poindexter, Memory enhancement through Sudoku is down the hall.’
Having stumbled through my response to the inevitable and almost patronising question of ‘And so why are you here, what are you hoping to get out of the class?’ I take my place behind the easel. I am seperated from my fellow students by 10 years, a shirt with a collar and approximately 2.5 feet. Oh, and there is a complete stranger casually disrobing in the middle of the room. No, this is going well, really it is.
With a thin sliver of burnt willow in hand we make our first corruption of the virginal butchers paper. Exactly 120 seconds later the torment ends. Staring back at me is a bloated and distorted human form, a series of clumsy marks and corrections. I search for signs of hope, an interesting change in line, the serendipity of breaking charcoal. I find nothing.
With the spell of white broken time is lost to multiple poses, a flurry of mark making, emphasis and erasure. Three hours pass. It intrigues me that the observation and recording process is free of judgement. The figure is neither perfect or imperfect. It has no flaws only different shapes, changes in proportion lightness and shading. We reflect on our peers work. Momentarily we are all the model, nude, the central figure examined by all in the room. Unlike her our bodies slump, we look down and avoid the searching eyes.
I have absolutely no idea where this post is going. It seems to be some sort of waffling philosophical reflection, maybe the subtle reversal in the title pointed me in that direction or maybe I just felt like banging on about something, anything to no one for a while. Anyway it’s not - intelligent or thought out I mean - It’s just some words about pictures.
Paolo Savoldelli wins prologue of Giro 2006
On of my favourite cyclists Paolo Savoldelli has won the prologue of this year’s Giro de Italia. Paolo won the Giro last year and I hope this year he can do it again.
Another one of my favourite cyclists, Australian Brad McGee had a fantastic ride to grab second place. So far I am having an excellent Giro!
Here’s Paolo enjoying the spoils of victory. Mmm, Italian sparkling wine!
Control arms
From 1998 to 2001, the USA, the UK, and France earned more income from arms sales to developing countries than they gave in aid.
Control Arms - Take action now.