Good morning Coromandel

Let's go surfing!

Rock n Roll

Spike Jonze: Mourir Auprès de Toi

Spread the love

Every day I drive past a shopping mall and it appalls me how busy it is. Cars narrowly swoop past people and dive for car parks already claimed. People draw hundreds of dollars on their cards and ruthlessly follow an age old tradition of greed and expectation.

Fortunately I only have to endure the fast paced, stressful and ugly shopping situation from a distance. And as I pull up to the traffic lights amidst the hustle and bustle of a consumer Christmas, I have a moment to reflect on a quote from Buddha:

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

Don't get caught up with your wallet this year - just give your positive energy, laughter and smiles. It goes further and is definitely more valuable than anything you buy from a mall.

Into oblivion

Jay Reatard

Grains of rice the same length and shape

Stomping grounds

Taranaki is the place my dad calls home and the place I call WOMAD. Can't wait till March.

Roll on summer

We are in trouble

New Zealand should be very concerned with all of what follows. Our education system is in demise and it's no thanks to the National Government. We're in trouble thanks to all you idiots who voted blue. 

Click the links below for an overview on my most recent disgust:

1.  National Standards put learning at severe risk for both teachers and students.

The plan.

The problems.

From the principals

From the parents

More resources.

2.  Charter schools are a terrible idea. 

What are they?

In simple speak, this means businesses can set up schools, answer to private boards and the government or rather, public money will pay the admission fees for kids who go there. Needless to say competition will run rife and like any other commercial business, if schools can't compete, they will drop from the chain. Unlike other businesses, they take the kids with them. 

The problems.

Read about them

Listen to them

More resources.

You should be very disappointed New Zealand. 

A love that breathes

Portrait by Christian Espinoza

A beautiful afternoon at The Getty

Portishead - Vector Arena, November 10th

Haunting, intense and dangerous.

Portishead absolutely smashed the Vector last night, filling our ears with gold. It was the percussive chaos of Silence that led the way with Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley owning the stage staunch with passion.

We were standing about five rows from the front; right in the centre so had a great view of the entire band. Beth was front and center opposite us, visually sharing the stage with a large video screen projection. A combination of live images, pre-recorded digital artwork and illustrations morphed in and out, perfectly synced with the band – it was magic. A special thanks to both John for the visuals and the sound technicians - it was without a doubt the best sound I have ever heard at the Vector.

The show really kicked in with the space-age Mysterons, seamlessly followed by The Rip. Hearing ‘White Horses’ howled through the microphone whilst grinning with my girlfriend almost melted me to the floor. Another highlight of the night for me was the quiet, and eerie performance of Wandering Star, performed seated by the band. It was followed by a song I like to dance jerky to - Machine Gun from Third, with Gibbons’ delicate vocals mashed into industrial beats to create a fierce little number. Clive Deamer who recently featured on Radiohead's King of Limbs did an excellent job of drumming in this song and actually, I was impressed by Geoff and his drumming throughout their whole set.

With plenty of incredible tracks to fill the spots between my favourite tunes, Portishead remained poised and powerful to the end, closing the curtains with a favourite of Geoff Barrows and mine - a terrifying version of Threads.

The crowd went crazy, throwing all our appreciation into hands. Whistles and shouting followed with people in the seats drumming their feet for an encore. About a minute later, the talented Beth Gibbons and her entourage appeared onstage, notably overwhelmed by their warm reception. Straight into Roads, a number the audience had been waiting to hear, Portishead played out their encore with what they do best, eerie intensity. It was so beautiful; the whole evening was like nothing I’ve ever heard before. 

True Love

Living in the land of the plenty - Occupy Auckland

The memorial service

5 years of love has now retired to a box.

Last night, I decided to make a short video to celebrate a favourite pastime of swinging my locks.

Dinner with the Yaws

Spring in New Zealand

Good morning!

My best friend

I love Patti Smith

http://www.ubu.com/sound/smith.html

Common Ground

Drenched in beauty without speaking a word

I'm drawn to your space in an effort to know more

Your eyes invite me to a place unknown 

Where love is paramount and kindness a given

As we explore natures untouched surprises

Walking beside our own reflections

And together making sense of our surroundings

Such a simple composition impresses all elements

The exposed rock solidifies any uncertainty

Eyes closed I can see your smile from within

It blankets my body with content and 

I'm instantly consumed by your presence

Enveloped with your understanding 

Ever hopeful these feelings will last -

You're one of the best spells ever cast.

Finding the way

My journey is a road less travelled

A different but normal maze unraveled

In yer face

The business meeting

All types meandering tight, we stand together waiting for what's next. Where are you from, who's your company? What do you do? And who are you again? All of us listening yet no one hearing, like a melting pot of convenience no one really cares.
We stand tall, pretending to be interesting and interested, some of us better than others. Those failing miserably, only saved by the fleeting line of text beneath their name describing their position within the company. Thankfully that line of text coupled with a glossy business card is a get out of jail free card. And if it didn't exist, they'd be in the corner downing the wines double speed with plenty to see.

Breslart, don't forget

It's not empty

 

One day our laughter will mingle with the steam of many espressos. Wave your wand and think large.

How did shopping become so important?

With its out of scale concrete sides and obese roof, this spectacle in front of me certainly doesn't fade into the landscape. I'm overwhelmed yet curious as to what's behind those mammoth doors. 

As we step inside Walmart I pause for a moment. Only now can I really take in the threshold of 2-3 acres of brand new goods piled to the ceiling. 

Walking through the chaotic isles I'm struck by a plethora of people, all buying more than they need at lower prices. Everyone is a slave to their impulse for a good bargain. And it's all thanks to one brilliant obsessive focus on one core value, delivering low prices. 

As I battle my way through the shelves randomly stocked and the captive Walmart community, I start to realise that this isn't just a store, company or phenomenon. It's an institution that shapes where people shop, the products they buy and prices they're prepared to pay. It changes their sense of quality and ideas about what a good deal is.  

The most complex question I call to mind appears at first very simple, should we shop at Walmart? While searching for the answer it becomes obvious I don't even know whether the question is a political, moral, economic or value based question. That's how infuriating Walmart is. 

But the real problem is how irresistible Walmart is. 

And as the bored associate scans my goods I throw all my inhibitions away and consciously think to myself; 'checkmate, the corporate monolith has won'. 

Wall street blinging

4th of July Fireworks

I'm gay and I'm proud

City structures

Some of my favourite characters in NYC

Coffee break at the US Postal Service waiting to discover the incredible drum tone of the stacked crates

More than just vegetable life at the Union Square farmers market

I got the feeling he also didn't know what his job role was

Smoke box cooking and eating on the street

Mix Master Scratch Meister ripping it up handmade

American dreams in Brooklyn

Captivating Battery Park with strength, energy and impressive tricks

Filling the subway station with rhythm

Beautifully situated in the commerce of Times Square

Little Italy's finest array of sleazy waiters and table hustlers

An evening with Black Thought at Brooklyn Bowl

Gary Mayor, the unofficial gatekeeper to John Lennon's memorial

I'll throw you a Hot Dog

Travelling badasses in the city of cool