Postcards from the Urban Abyss

Toying around

John — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:28:04 +0000

'pulling the trigger - Alabama style'

…Alabama is one of a handful of states, including Texas and Georgia, with laws restricting sales of sex toys. The Alabama “anti-obscenity” law bans the sale of sex toys but not their possession. It is a crime to distribute “any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value.” The law does not criminalize masturbation – Oddly enough, you can purchase and carry a gun, regardless of how much pleasure it provides…

Outside the penalty area

John — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:05:13 +0000

'reflecting the values, culture and aspirations of the nation'

…Australia has launched its bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the unveiling of its new kit. Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy described the new look Socceroos outfit as contemporary and ‘reflecting the values, culture and aspirations of the nation’. The player’s reaction has been mixed. ‘My thong chaffs’, said Mark Schwarzer…

Wayang Kulit

John — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:01:29 +0000

007 Bahasa - The Puppeteer

…the Wayang Kulit is a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity. It’s a very unique form of theatre employing the principle of light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen…

Masters Collection

John — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:05:43 +0000

Bellini circa 1597 - The Virgin on the Mount

…one immediately notices that his approach to color was very different. Not that the picture is particularly bright or shining. It is rather the mellowness and richness of the colors that impress one before one even begins to look at what the picture represents. I think that even the photograph conveys something of the warm and gilded atmosphere which fills the niche in which the Virgin sits…

Dorset Wildlife Sanctuary

John — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:55:47 +0000

A Bird with an Insatiable Appetite

…nocturnal by nature, the Wide-Eyed Barn Owl, of Dorset, emerges from its roost at sunset. These birds are solitary hunters that prey primarily on Bogans. They are renowned for its ear-piercing screech and insatiable appetite for the naturally fermented liquor of the local orchard fruit, and are easily attracted by bright lights and shiny baubles…

The Zhlobin Exchange Building

John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:45:52 +0000

The Rose in the Baltic Garden

….the Zhlobin Exchange Building was designed and built in 1872 by renowned Norwegian architect, Gustov Knackersen, and has been described by critics as the ‘rose in the Baltic garden’ – primarily because it is widely regarded as a prickly eyesore, covered in shit. In 1924 the building was inducted into the UNESCO list of ‘Historic Buildings’ and granted a protection order. Nowadays, the Exchange Building houses an old tractor, three barrels of diesel fuel and an old vagrant…

Frisian Spa

John — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:23:06 +0000

Careful...I think you spilt some

…continual substance abuse can lead to chronic health disorders. Binge drinkers, in particular, can suffer from a significant reduction in motor neurone mechanics, rendering them incapable of some of the most basic tasks…

Smugglers Cove

John — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:48:20 +0000

…warmer weather signals the return of the migrating birds from their winter hiatus. A small flock, resting by the shoreline, is startled into a spectacular flurry of colour and noise. Some of the Budgies become entangled in the smuggler’s traps…

Mount Elizabeth

John — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:49:56 +0000

The twin peaks of Mount Elizabeth

…the view from the summit has been described as breathtaking. Twin peaks tower over a high, undulating plateau that gently meanders into a cascading ravine of tangled forest. Unfortunately, its natural beauty is threatened by the ravages of overexposure and erosion caused by deforestation and urban development…