Crypt Stitch

Flashback Friday...

Flashback Friday is going obscure, Dear Reader. Underneath What. Bet you've never heard of them. Nor would I have heard of them but for my constant watching of Countdown Revolution and Rage when I was 16. Obscure metal-ish Brit band, with an American or Canadian lead singer. All with the requisite copious amounts of hair, and tight, tight jeans. As far as I know, they only released one album, which I proudly bought from an awesome little heavy metal obsessed shop in Martin Place, Sydney, whose name now eludes me. And yes, it is an album I own, real vinyl, like much of my collection. Such a shame I am bereft of a turntable! One day, Dear Reader, one day. They had a great song "Eggs, Bacon and Suicide", but alas there is no film clip. We shall settle instead for the equally worthy "Firebomb Telecom". I recall them telling of a rather crazy Australian fan of theirs that kept trying to blow up Telecom phone boxes (back when it was called Telecom here too) as a way of, lets say punctuate, his adoration of their song. Kooky.

Metallica in Lego

This has to be the funniest thing I have seen all week. I know they are supposed to be wildling thrashing their guitars, but that DOES NOT look like what they are doing. And Lego-James' vacant smile and helmet hair. And the stubble. And the moshing crowd. Too funny, I say, Dear Reader.

An Intervention for Arachnophobes...

I have a thing for spiders. Any type of spider. I think they are utterly amazing, and will spend way too much time watching a spider make its web or suck the life out of it's prey. I am especially enamoured of jumping spiders (which I am sure actually interact with you), and large creepy crawlies like wolf spiders and huntsmen, all of which inhabit my house or yard. Spider-phobes are warned on entry that there are daddy-long-legs in the bathrooms, and yes, they are pets. Which is why I spent over an hour pouring over these photos from Opo Terser as featured in Dark Roasted Blend.

Can you even believe the beauty? Uh, speechless. Tiny, tiny hairs, iridescent colours - nature is the ultimate perfectionist. So next time you reach for the bug spray, remember these pictures and spend some time studying your creature instead. As a reward she'll catch flies and roaches for you and be a very considerate house guest!

The Narwhal.

So I learned about a new creature today. Well, the creature itself is far from new, of course, just that I am new to it. Or if I had heard of it or seen it previously I have forgotten. Thing is, it's not a creature easily forgotten. Ergo, it is new to me.
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The Narwhal.
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According to Wiki, "the Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a medium sized toothed whale that lives year round in the Arctic...distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their upper left jaw". It has a tusk that looks remarkably like a unicorn horn. Why didn't I know about this amazing creature? Well thanks to Dante's Heart I do now. And I feel all the wiser for it. You should go watch Sir David tell you a little about the Narwhal (their name even makes it sound as though they come from another realm, you know, where "Narwhals roam free") - their swimming so close together looks like it would be an occupational hazard. Some clever little crafter has even made a plushy! The whole thing puts me in mind of one of my favourite regular columns in Fortean Times on cryptozoology. This is definitely something we should discuss further, don't you think Dear Reader?
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Go! Become wizened.

Link

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Flashback Friday...

Metallica. Oh how I loved thee. Up until the Black album. Oh sure, I liked a couple of the songs on Load and Re-load. And the Mission Impossible song was alright. But for me, Metallica is Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightening and ...And Justice for All. I'm not going to even acknowledge St Anger (which, thanks to JJJ will forever be "stanga" to me), lets just forget it ever happened. And I haven't bought the new one yet, might work my way up to it (once bitten, twice shy). But back to the 'good' Metallica, the Metallica of my youth. I was so excited when the film clip for "One" was made, Metallica's first ever film clip! Because they hadn't previously bowed to commercial giants request! You guys, so cool. But then they didn't stop did they, oh god why didn't they stop? Who told them "Some kind of Monster" was a good idea? Have you ever heard so many grown men whinge and moan and bitch and feel so self important? I mean really, Lars? James? And poor ostracized Jason. And honestly, Dave get over it, it has been 20 years, move on! I wish I could erase it from my memory, my rock gods were really just, well, men. Whiny, petty little men. And don't get me started on James hunting bear. Shudder. So in my mind, I am forgetting all Metallica after the black album, and just remembering the metal giant that was! Prepare to don some skin tight jeans, black of course, and fling your hair around!

Galahs in the Shower (Bat Style)...

Ever seen Galahs shower? Up-side-down? Like they are bats? Before this wonderful rain it had been hot. I'm talking cook an egg on the lawn hot. Then it started raining. You should have heard the noise in the backyard. The Galahs thought it was THE. BEST. THING. EVER. After weeks of dusty and dry, who doesn't need a little sprucing up in their under-wing-feathered-area?

Killer smile...

Macabre Glassware...

Andy Paiko makes the most amazing glass sculptures - conversation starters indeed. Perfectly at home in either a Gothic mansion or a mad scientists lab, I covet thee:

Absinthe Fountain:

Oh and Bell Jars, shelves and shelves of bell jars... I am especially enamoured of the 'vessel ware'.

And spine jars. I know, but no more maudlin than hanging the head of a dead beast on your wall (ew). I love the dear spine, 
        "This is a deer spine. The vessel is about 48" tall. It is hand-etched with an entry             regarding one's CHARACTER and personality... someone's "backbone"... They have         also been made using coyote spines, which are preferable (see canis auribus                 tenere)..."
Yes. Of course Coyote spines are preferable. What was I thinking.

It has been raining here all week, and I love it. It is supposed to rain again all next week. How is it this amazing country can have severe floods in the north, mild weather on the eastern coast and devastating heat and fires in the south?

In other breaking news...my Women For Women International sister Olive has graduated! Yay Olive! She is joining a co-operative and staring her own business, which is very exciting. So I have a new sister, also from Rwanda, to whom I was 'introduced' this last week, a mother of four, Epihpanie. I look forward to corresponding with her for the next twelve months.

One more thing, I know don't drop dead with shock, I picked up my paint brushes and had a little play yesterday. And you know what, I might just pick them up again today. And who knows, in a month or more I might have something to show you. If you are well behaved Readers that is.

No Words.

There are just no words to describe the horror, the grief. There are no words to describe what should be done to those responsible. There are no words to describe how compassionate the human race can be, how strangers give all they can to help another. Please don't forget about those outside our human race as well, donate to the RSPCA Victoria - every single cent you donate will go towards helping our beleaguered animal brethren.

No more words. The pictures say it all.

Flashback Friday...

WASP. Surely one of the most misunderstood bands by the fun that was the PMRC in the 80s/90s. What happened to the PMRC? Do they still exist? Remember the warning labels that used to come on albums and tapes? Their misguided antics were a source of amusement anyway, their sensationalism and scare tactics serving only to confuse and concern uneducated grandparents, and perhaps parents who hadn't bothered to listen to the music their children thought was awesome. WASP copped a lot of their brunt, and while Blackie was a consummate 'Wild Child', his performances harked more to Alice Cooper than Satan himself. We salute thee, Mr Lawless, and we honour your ever present spandex pants and drop-saw-blade bracelets! This was my fav WASP song with accompanying video (so many good ones not released as singles), we'll wind it down with a wee ballad then shall we?