Book Notice: Culture Heist, Judith White
All posts by Paul Costigan
MIT and Climate Change
MIT Speaks for Science & Climate Change
A message from the MIT President in which he reacts to the Trump announcement on how Trump is yet again out of touch with the rest of the world. Yah for our scientists!
Lyle Lovett
Review: Lyle Lovett Greatest Hits 2017
It has been a while since we have seen a ‘greatest hits’ by Lyle Lovett – and this collection is one to have.
George Monbiot
George Monbiot on how dark money is subverting democracy in the UK.
Click on the banner above
Monbiot on Terrorism
Sgt Pepper turns 50
Sgt Pepper’s at 50 – the greatest thing you ever heard or just another album?
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band : is this the best popular music has to offer? Paul Townsend, flickr, CC BY
Frank Hurley and Australian Native Plants
INFORMATION CALL-OUT: FRANK HURLEY
Searching for Frank Hurley along our northern beaches
Did you know that Frank Hurley was a very keen gardener and photographer of wild flowers?
In April 2018 The Manly Art Gallery and Museum will be launching a very special exhibition titled: Frank Hurley – Sydney Harbour photographer: From Circular Quay to Collaroy.
Willie Nelson
The Future of Books
Has the print book trumped digital? Beware of glib conclusions
What will an eBook be 20 years from now? What will a book be? Voyagerix/shutterstock
Nick Earls, The University of Queensland Continue reading The Future of Books
Architecture – on local TV
Do we have examples of good residential architecture in Canberra?
Architecture – addressing the climate
Real sustainability arrives in Canberra
A wonderful sign of things to come.
Apple MacBook Pro 2016
This is a follow up to a previous post back in 2016 – when I questioned some of the ‘innovations’ being offered in the new MacBook Pros.
Architecture
a note to the ACT Chief Minister
About the architecture along Northbourne Avenue
Architecture
How to waste public money
The saga of the proposed Garden Bridge over the Thames in London has been well covered in the UK press. It is indeed a saga. It is about a folly.
Books and Reading
click on the banner – and bookmark the page by Jan Bridges.
Anzac Parade – public art doing service
There is no doubt that Anzac Parade is very special.
Photographing Singapore’s public housing
Photographing Singapore’s public housing
There’s an article in Straits Times about photographer Koh Kim Chay and his decades of photographing the ubiquitous government flats of Singapore.
Rhiannon Giddens
Music Review: Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway, February 2017
My comments have nit changed much from my previous post on Rhiannon Giddens: This 2017 album features a woman with a strong and beautiful voice – singing folk songs of America – making very beautiful Americana music.
Neoliberalism has run its course
A few stories on this topic – and the world needs more people to identify this and to lead the change away from this nasty ideology.
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder – Jesus on the Mainline (Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017)
Wonderful music from Ry Cooder – see Youtube below..
Bob Dylan
Review: Triplicate – 3 CDs, 2017
Here’s a challenge – Bob Dylan in slow swing doing this set of 30 songs. I recommend listening to these with the volume up – not soft.
I enjoyed 2015’s Shadows in the Night & also the 2016’s Fallen Angels. I recommend both of those albums.
plundering the west – in photographs
Nice online exhibition of photographs – from The Washington Post – click here.
Inappropriate letterboxes to be replaced
Following the resignation of their highly paid CEO, it seems that our postal services need to recover some of the revenue it has been paying out in the last few years.
The National at the AGNSW 2017
Exhibition Review: The National at the AGNSW 2017
To link to a review of The National at the Art Gallery of NSW – click here.
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt Pepper’s 50th birthday
I cannot be! That it is 50 years since at around 11pm when I was suppose to be asleep in bed, that I heard this music coming from the lounge room.
church sign
seen in Ipswich – where the cyclonic rains had descended
Philip Bentley and Group M
A history of Group M photographers by Philip Bentley
Back in 1996, Philip Bentley, Melbourne historian, wrote a thesis on the history of the Melbourne photographers, Group M.
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Oh how we wish for more voices to be critical of the current political class and their hangers-on – and I include many journalists as being hangers-on.
Scientists say – what?
It had to happen. According to recent reports – roast potatoes were in the frame for causing cancer. Science says…
Dogs
This post will probably upset a few dog owners. Unfortunately, that is also part of the story – being that whenever you raise the problems you have with dogs, many dog owners (not all) go into denial.
Singapore
New book profiles Singapore’s Malayalees
Click on the image for the story about a book on one wonderful aspect of Singapore culture
Ballarat Foto Biennale – Portrait Prize
Martin Kantor Portrait Prize Entry
Applications close: 31st May 2017
click on image for more….
Ballarat
A place where good things happen
click on the image
Suburban life– you have to chuckle
George W Bell
Special presentation on George W Bell
George Bell (1920 – 2008) was member of Group M – in Melbourne.
Holy Crime!
Clive Hamilton on Turnbull
being Turnbulled!
Author Clive Hamilton has been engaged in the climate debate for more than 20 years, with books selling worldwide.
The Medicare barn
Medicare was great. Having a universal health care system was the envy of many other countries.
International Women’s Day 2017
Celebrating with visual art and music
click on image for more….
Women Photograph
click on the image for the website – Women Photograph
Climate change – it’s happening
Climate change’s signature was writ large on Australia’s crazy summer of 2017
Frank Hurley
photo-essay on Frank Hurley images
A selection of photographs taken from one of Frank Hurley’s books…
The Art of great window display
photography
one of the pleasures of life – relaxing and watching the birds..
Randy Newman
Randy Newman on PUTIN
Time for some fun – and a new song from Randy Newman…
GIRT
Book Review: Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia -David Hunt
My knowledge of Australian history is patchy – I know the basics and much more. History interest me but usually most history books are far too dry. Then along comes this book with that title: GIRT.
The Rolling Stones
Review: Blue & Lonesome
Once upon a time thought The Rolling Stones were one of the great rock’n’roll bands – who also occasionally sang the blues. In between those early years and now there was not a lot of great music from the Stones – loads of concerts and a mix of music – some good and some ok. Would they ever make great music again?
Footpath recycling takes over Dickson
As a person who walks for exercise around the local area, I get to observe the changes through the suburb.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Very good article about this event – click on the image
Rebecca Huntley Still Lucky
Book Review
Still Lucky, Rebecca Huntley, 2017. This is a good book. The message is clear – Australians are far more optimistic than we have been led to believe by our governments and the media. This researcher has done the research, travelled the country, talked to loads of people over many years. If you are interested in her reports on her research and comments – this book will give you all that and more.
Shopping in Sydney
Recommended gift shopping: Made On Earth
The Place in Sydney for all manner of gifts and good buys – recommended.
ACT politicians and planning?
It was several months ago that the suburbs were being infiltrated regularly by ACT politicians trying to get attention – anyone’s attention.
Jonathan Jones
Jonathan asks the question of Barack Obama
How can Barack Obama smile at a time like this? I think he knows something. Click on the image for the story by The Guardian.
Chuck Prophet
Review: Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins
Released February 2017. Rating 4/5 – highly recommended.
Helen Garner
Review: Everywhere I Look, Helen Garner
Here’s a good read. Being a selection of essays and diary notes based on many events and sometimes those quite happenings that one observes.
I have not read any Helen Garner’s work but have a reasonable awareness of the topics she writes on. Other reviewers have related this work to previous writings – for me I had to take it all on face value.
MoMA protests Trump
Note to Australian Galleries – how to easily make a statement
click on the image for the story of how art galleries could make a stand against the Trump actions on equity and immigration.
Trump and the Climate
Trump Orchestrates Major Shift on Climate and Environment
click on the image for the story on The Dirt.
Trump and 1984
Trumpland gets even weirder
OMG – is this really 2017 – or 1984. Click on image for the story
Trump and the media
click on the image for the wise words about dealing with Trump
Rebecca Solnit
Click on the image for the Guardian article
Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey‘s new posters
click on the image for the story behind these ‘we the people’ posters
Climate Change, Trump and language
George Monbiot on Trump and the climate
click on banner for the Guardian article by George Monbiot Continue reading Climate Change, Trump and language
The Media
Did Media Literacy Backfire?
click on the image for the article
Cherry-picking the Griffin’s legacy
At the meeting in August 2016 on the government’s proposals to redevelop the West Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, the main line taken by the government was that their proposals were based on the Griffin Legacy.
Kosciuszko
Ashby Hanson
postnationalism
Australia continues to be Turnbulled – and is being led by dud politicians.
trump
irony on the streets of Mumbai
click on the image for the story
Architecture
Architectural vandalism at Parliament House
They have tried before and have failed–but this time they have got their way.
Journalism
A word or two on the media and journalism – click on the image above
trump
Jane Fonda on Trump
Journalism
What’s wrong with journalism today?
Picking up on an online article by Dr Martin Hirst where he lays out some of the problems with journalisms – I offer the following additional thoughts.
Michelle Obama
Paul Thorn
Review: best of Paul Thorn (2016)
Here’s a highly recommended album for those who want to hear good Americana with a touch of rock. This is a best of Paul Thorn-2016 album – two discs. Rating 4/5
climarte
Acland Street Public Art Commission
Expressions of Interest are due by 5pm on 3 February 2017
Spugs
The Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving
click on the image for the story
Architecture
Click on the image for the story about the Arts District development along L.A. River
Shopping in Sydney
Recommended gift shopping: Made On Earth
The Place in Sydney for all manner of gifts and good buys – recommended.
It must be Christmas
Travel around Canberra and/or many cities anywhere and there is now evidence that we all love to light up our days and nights to celebrate Christmas.
What is this landscape about
Jonathan Jones on cherishing the landscape
Click on the image to see the point being made – it’s a good one!
Howe Gelb
Music Review: Howe Gelb, Future Standards
Feel like some laid back almost soporific songs as if you had wandered into a quite bar or club. And some music that does not quite follow current americana, rock, blues or jazz trends.
Here’s an album of all of that and a little more. Admittedly I am a fan of Howe Gelb and Giant Sands music – but this is not his usual fare. Yes it still has that Arizona feel but it is very laid back – and enjoyable.
Air Travel
Travel: Flying is no longer a human experience
We have reached the point that flying anywhere is no longer an human experience we should consider unless you are able to book business class seats.
photo-essay
Camarade – The Earth
Louise Grayson, Queensland University of Technology (this essay was originally published in The Conversation)
The climate is Turnbulled and now Trumped
Here’s a worrying view on Trump and the efforts to deal with climate change.
The Arts – after Trump
Trump’s win shows how vital the arts and humanities are
Julianne Schultz, Griffith University (This has been reprinted from The Conversation)
The Australian suburb
Reinventing density: overcoming the suburban setback
Grace Mortlock, University of Technology Sydney and David Neustein, University of Technology Sydney; republish from The Conversation
Paid work in Australia
First they reduce it, then they lie about it
Click on the image for an article from Independent Australia.
Lies, lies and the NeoCons
There’s so much wrong with the democracy experiment at the moment. But is good that a few journalists are seeing the issues that must be dealt with.
Architecture
Parliament House lawns again!
They have tried before and I am sure they will keep trying till they get their way.
Megalo
The visual arts in Canberra is a very active scene. It has been thus for several decades.
Suzanne Vega
Review Suzanne Vega: Carson McCullers Lover Beloved
One very nice recording just out by Suzanne Vega.
The Guardian on globalisation
Dickson – a surprise house sale
A curious thing happened last weekend in the Dickson neighbourhood when a house went up for auction. This was a very ordinary house.
Versailles at the NGA–a summer of glitz, cake and unsettled staff
Usually at this time of the year, I am looking forward to the coming visual arts exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA).
Continue reading Versailles at the NGA–a summer of glitz, cake and unsettled staff
Clive Hamilton on Trump
Trumpism as Whitelash
Clive Hamilton, Charles Sturt University (republished from The Conversation)
( a note from Paul Costigan – Before you read the Clive Hamilton article below from The Conversation– – have a look at the photograph above. It is scary!)
Leon Russell
George Monbiot
Neoliberalism: the deep story that lies beneath Donald Trump’s triumph–click on image
Australia’s shame
Singapore visual arts
For many years tourists regarded Singapore as a stop over to somewhere else. Most spent a night or three but rarely much more.
