An evening of contemporary Australian poets presenting new, recent and developing works.
Our poets include acclaimed and multi-published poet and author Peter Rose, also editor of Australian Book Review; Margaret Vandeleur, a master of the short piece, and author of the novel The Catch; the superb young poet Lia Incognita; the multi-award-winning Maria Zajkowski; queer crip activist and occasional poet, Kath Duncan; award-winning West Indian-Australian political writer and poetry slam champion, Maxine Clarke; the prolific and much published Tony Page, who has carved a reputation as a poet in Asia over the past decades; and the unforgettable young poet Rhys Rodgers, recently returned from performing in Europe and the USA.
Where: Hares & Hyenas
Date: Monday 30 January
Time: 7:30pm
Price: Full $15; Concession $10
Respect to all Australian Indigenous peoples on this Invasion Day.
Terra Nullius was bullshit.
Check this awesome interactive map of Indigenous languages
Wind Energy Without the Blades?
What if we could harness wind energy without the fields of enormous blade turbines that have come to be associated with modern wind farms. It would certainly help eliminate the “spinning blades of death” that many birds have to deal with, as well. Levant Power of Cambridge, MA turned to nature for an inspired alternative:
The proposed design calls for 1,203 ““stalks,” each 180-feet high with concrete bases that are between about 33- and 66-feet wide. The carbon-fiber stalks, reinforced with resin, are about a foot wide at the base tapering to about 2 inches at the top. Each stalk will contain alternating layers of electrodes and ceramic discs made from piezoelectric material, which generates a current when put under pressure. In the case of the stalks, the discs will compress as they sway in the wind, creating a charge.
Not to mention that I wouldn’t mind having one of these near my house at night … just beautiful. If this doesn’t work, then all we have to turn to is purple turbines.
(via DiscoveryNews)
2141. Imperial Chinese Clothing. Elegant and beautiful.
What dynasty is this? Would we say Tang? I’m guessing Tang.
WOMEN OF HISTORY | CHING SHIH (1775–1844) (Gong Li)
For ten years, Ching Shih commanded a pirate armada of around four hundred ships and several thousand men. She’d been brought on board by the captain as little more than a spoil but soon married him and with her wits and fearlessness they rarely lost a battle and terrorised the China Sea. She was as strict and ruthless on her own crew as she was on other ships, with punishments of death for looting towns that already provided tribute, for stealing from the pirate treasury, or for raping prisoners.
The Chinese government sent the Imperial fleet to stop her and Ching Shih sailed to meet them head on, not only winning but capture sixty-three of their ships as well. After that, the government gave up on trying to defeat her and instead offered all pirates amnesty if they would give up their ships and arms. Instead Ching Shih brokered her own deal: on top of amnesty they got to keep all their loot and any one of them that wanted to join the navy would be allowed to do so.
She retired at the age of thirty-five, opened a casino/brothel, and lived out the rest of her life in comfort and luxury.
FAVOURITE
BEING SOBER ON SURVIVAL/INVASION DAY IN AUSTRALIA
I don’t really drink alcohol. For heaps of reasons. But I definately won’t be drinking on Invasion/Survival Day this year. I guess I hope to be one less Anglo/white persyn putting money into/supporting this booze-fueled day of false nationalism. Getting drunk can make people less aware of their behaviour, and more prone to aggression and violence. Energetically and literally speaking, I don’t want to participate in getting wasted or celebrating this day as it represents the beginning and perpetuation of genocide, rape, colonisation and assimilation in this country by white people towards Indigenous people. And more recently, a growing sense of “white pride”/patriotism, violence and hatred directed towards people of colour/people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in this country.
Maybe this could be something other white people could do to take the “celebration” of invasion out of this day. To focus more on remembering and continued recognition of Australia’s first people’s, and acknowledging what it means to be a white persyn in this country and the effect our morals and behaviour has on everyone around us who is not profiting from white supremacy. By taking steps to create positive actions both mentally and physically, maybe we could make some real changes. Or at least I hope so.
if there was just one day where I support a complete ban on intoxicants for white people, it would be invasion/survival/sovereignty day. the amount of drunken nationalist aggression is often frightening. if you’re white, even if you personally aren’t particularly racist or nationalistic, if you’re on the streets drunk on this day, think about how that affects people around you, especially people of colour and especially Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. fuck, I would definitely cross to the other side of the street if I saw some drunken fool in flag face paint, how do you think people who are actually targeted by racism are gonna feel?
while I’m on the topic, some other things to do on this thurs jan 26th:
it is the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, an amazing achievement. the Embassy is having a huge gathering.
if you’re in melbourne there is an afternoon Survival Day concert in Belgrave. later that evening it is POC the Mic. do. yourself. a favour. you will not regret going to either of these events, it won’t be an act of dutiful penitence or anything like that. I mean, let it be noted that I am not opposed to dutiful penitence. but I am also in favour of seeing really accomplished feminist musicians like Lou Bennett for free, or for consistently getting my socks knocked off by the amazing array of multidisciplinary talent at POC the Mic.
one other thing that is worth doing is donating to the Ruby Hunter Foundation. Ruby Hunter was a renowned Ngarrindjeri musician who died last year aged just 55. the Foundation needs $40,000 for the production of an album of songs Ruby wrote for and about Aboriginal children called “Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard and Chalk” and an accompanying picture book and dvd. considering the appalling pay gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, making a donation to a grassroots Aboriginal organisation is probably a better use of my semi-hard-earned money (I had to really sweet-talk that Matchworks lady, ok!) than fancier pillows. I still really want new pillows though.
by Goro Fujita
I stumbled upon his work on one of the art tumblr’s I follow and I am blown away by his talent. Fujita was born in Japan and was raised in Germany, where he graduated from film school. He’s worked on both Megamind and Madagascar for Dreamworks and has done a lot of work on his own.
His lighting and colors are brilliant and reflect the style of artwork that I aspire to have someday. From one simple image you get the essence of an entirely different world. Even though the things he draws are not “realistic” they exist soundly inside of the artwork.
I am going to be engrossed in his drawings and tutorials all morning.
His Gallery | Website | Blogspot | Facebook
lovelovelove
