Pressing question solved
It's a 2004 Cabernet from Northern Victoria and, yeah. it's good but not as good as the 2002 I've also been drinking.
Anyway, I've been drinking these wines for around 12 years and occasionally wondered about the image on the label. I'd imagine they were exotic buildings, perhaps temples.
Is 'Fairview' a haunted house?
There are many stories at Pioneer Park Museum but I thought I'd share a recent one.'Fairview' cottage is the oldest of the buildings in the collection at the Museum. It was built by Alfred Hill in 1887 at 'Tabbita'. Working with his sons and a carpenter they used cyprus pine in the 'drop log' style using hand-fashioned nails.
The name 'Fairview' came from Alfred, who said there was a fair view of the work ahead of him when he looked out from the front porch. Presumably the landscape was covered in cyprus pine to clear, along with a few grey box trees too I'd guess.
Three of Alfred's eight unmarried sons lived most of their lives at the house, with the last dying in 1952. The building was brought to Griffith in 1969 with the Rotary Club numbering every piece of wood and reconstructing it on the site of the Museum, which opened in 1971.
The layout is a long corridor with bare uneven floorboards and rooms off to the sides before a bolted backdoor. It's lit though.
It seems my reaction wasn't alone. Many school kids visiting the Park believe it is haunted and, as I asked the volunteers and staff about their experiences, I heard stories of shadowy figures and tapping sounds.
Then last year I heard the story of a visiting psychic who claims to have seen a ghost at Pioneer Park. She described a large bearded man who was hanging around and, when led to 'Fairview', identified him as the eldest of the Hill children. James had lived at the house all his life, so in a way it makes sense that if his spirit were to hang about it would be here.
On the way to the cottage the psychic experienced breathing difficulties and asked if someone had drowned or suffered from asthma. It turned out that a son named Daniel died from pneumonia.
I like the stories, especially since this one freaks me out a bit. I'm going to enjoy scaring myself when closing the Park in cooler months when the sky darkens in the afternoon. The building provides an atmospheric glimpse into life in Australia.
Woolies ice-cream
The vanilla flavour is nice with honeyed nuts but the salted caramel was irresistible. I ate half the tub one night and awoke from dreaming about it the next morning, when I finished it off and found it was all sold out at every Woolworths I could visit -- which isn't many.
It was half-price over the festive season, which makes me think that Woolies are using their inhouse brands to drive an improvement in their profits.
Make history with your story
Griffith Pioneer Park Museum invite you to put yourself into the bigger picture on Wednesday 20 January 2016, with the Museum Selfie Day.
Pioneer Park Museum Curator, Jason Richardson said Museum Selfie Day is aimed at encouraging visitors to take a self-portrait (selfie) at their local cultural institution.
"In 2015 a British blogger named Mar Dixon promoted the hashtag #museumselfie and it became a phenomenon on social media," said Mr Richardson.
"I think it's a great opportunity for people to explore photography, as well museums, and feel part of something much bigger - which taps into an emotional response that's central to the experience of studying history."
It's as simple as taking a photograph of yourself and using #museumselfie to ensure it reaches a wide audience on your platform of choice.
"Pioneer Park is on Facebook and Instagram and we'd love to see your photos, so please tag us when you post them," added Mr Richardson.
“The challenge is to find a location that provides context for your photograph. Obviously there are many fantastic buildings at Pioneer Park Museum and we hope that, while exploring for a great backdrop, you will learn about the history of Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area too."
With many activities to celebrate the centenary of Griffith planned at Pioneer Park during2016, this is an opportunity for residents and their visitors to share their creativity in interpreting the collection.
"Come and see some of the history of the region and show it to the world," said Mr Richardson.
"In 2015 a British blogger named Mar Dixon promoted the hashtag #museumselfie and it became a phenomenon on social media," said Mr Richardson.
"I think it's a great opportunity for people to explore photography, as well museums, and feel part of something much bigger - which taps into an emotional response that's central to the experience of studying history."
It's as simple as taking a photograph of yourself and using #museumselfie to ensure it reaches a wide audience on your platform of choice.
"Pioneer Park is on Facebook and Instagram and we'd love to see your photos, so please tag us when you post them," added Mr Richardson.
With many activities to celebrate the centenary of Griffith planned at Pioneer Park during2016, this is an opportunity for residents and their visitors to share their creativity in interpreting the collection.
"Come and see some of the history of the region and show it to the world," said Mr Richardson.
Comparative mythology
This piece by Detritus Tabu for the Disquiet Junto this week is very funny and a beaut discussion of comparative mythology in how the conversation drifts from Christmas to Star Wars. Makes me wonder about the significance of the blockbuster openings at holiday times.
It's also a beaut for capturing one those conversations with kids where the sense of wonder and digression is surprising.
My response to the Junto was to accompany sounds from my neighbour's party with samples of festive music.
Cicadas
Visitors to Australia during summer will often ask the origin of the drone heard in bushland. Cicadas make a buzzing drone to attract a mate, after sometimes spending years buried as grubs.
Here's what a mature adult cicada looks like and here's the exoskeleton they leave behind during metamorphosis.
I was stoked to hear musical interpretations, such as Lee Rosevere's, as well as improvising my own piece about the soundtrack to an Australian summer.
Oscar sings BitFinity
This year it was fun to start recording with Oscar. We recorded a few Smooth McGroove-style covers of videogame soundtracks and, yesterday, this video based on BitFinity's Waluigi-themed Carol of the Waa.
Haiku over screen door
My interests in music and poetry come together in different ways. Sometimes I write haiku and sometimes I write music responding to haiku and sometimes I write lyrics for songs, which I consider a form of poetry.
Last week I had an idea to write lyrics in the form of a haiku for a Junto project. It followed from a week where I'd written a haiku most days and my partner sang the verse for me, accompanying a melody played on the bass.
The Junto version (below) ended being a bit of a mess, but the remix (above) turned out good. Both use an old and previously unused recording of a screen door from another Junto.
Level up
We're nearing the point of looking backward, so I thought I'd comment on a couple of things that changed for me in 2015.
In previous years I've felt somewhat dismissive about the funding of artists. It was an opinion that developed from conflict with people who felt their art was important because they got money from the government to make it.
I've never wanted to put myself in a position where something external to me determines the enjoyment I get from making music and the like, so I'd always taken the view that if I couldn't do it with the resources I had then I wouldn't do it.
Then, earlier this year, there was an opportunity to apply for funding for a project and that was successful. And, soon after, I was knocked back from attending a workshop and realised I could organise my own workshop if I sought funding.
This week I heard that this funding application to run the workshop in 2016 was successful, so I can see there's been a significant change in my attitude towards funding.
I think it's important since I will be looking to develop more funded projects through my role at Pioneer Park, which was another significant development for me this year.
In previous years I've felt somewhat dismissive about the funding of artists. It was an opinion that developed from conflict with people who felt their art was important because they got money from the government to make it.
I've never wanted to put myself in a position where something external to me determines the enjoyment I get from making music and the like, so I'd always taken the view that if I couldn't do it with the resources I had then I wouldn't do it.
Then, earlier this year, there was an opportunity to apply for funding for a project and that was successful. And, soon after, I was knocked back from attending a workshop and realised I could organise my own workshop if I sought funding.
This week I heard that this funding application to run the workshop in 2016 was successful, so I can see there's been a significant change in my attitude towards funding.
I think it's important since I will be looking to develop more funded projects through my role at Pioneer Park, which was another significant development for me this year.
Julie Montgarrett at Wagga Art Gallery
Review On Common Ground
Last October RealTime Arts asked I write about The Cad Factory's On Common Ground, an explosion of art in Narrandera's Common.
That review is now online and here are photos from the Saturday night performance of The Haunting and the sculptures on the Sunday. Please see the file names for artist and title details, cheers.
That review is now online and here are photos from the Saturday night performance of The Haunting and the sculptures on the Sunday. Please see the file names for artist and title details, cheers.
2015 on Bassling's Youtube
Excuse me but this is a quite a good collection of music videos, if I do write so myself. I'm pleased with the diversity of styles and instruments, as well as visuals since watching disembodied hands can start to feel a bit weird.
Not in my name
The lyrics reflect on a sort of paternalism, linking the personal to the political:
When you see injustice
when you feel pain
when conflicted in a way
with feelings of shame
Don’t steal for me
Don’t kill for me
Not in my name
All it takes to acknowledge
and to step away
make it clear you are not at fault
take a step to clear your name
Don’t steal for me
Don’t kill for me
Not in my name
When your country claims a right
when your friend starts a fight
can not stand by unmoved
support inaction proves
Trans-Pacific Partnership favours US corporations
After years of secrecy Australians are now able to read the
text for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. One of the key
concerns for our democracy is the investor-state dispute settlement
(ISDS) mechanisms, which allow our country to be sued for policies that
harm foreign business interests.
Despite the claims of Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment, there is no exemption for public health from ISDS litigation. Article 9.15 of the investment chapter explicitly makes such matters dependent on their conformity with the TPP itself:
The result will be that corporations will pursue litigation and add to their statement of claims that the policy change they are seeking compensation for is inconsistent with the TPP.
Australian policy will be further limited by the annex on expropriation, meant as a guide to what can be the subject of ISDS processes:
The TPP is an assault on
Australian democracy. Once again I ask that our local member Michael
McCormack ensures that the Productivity Commission are able to review
and report on the text of this agreement in advance of it becoming law.
Despite the claims of Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment, there is no exemption for public health from ISDS litigation. Article 9.15 of the investment chapter explicitly makes such matters dependent on their conformity with the TPP itself:
"Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent a Party from adopting, maintaining or enforcing any measure otherwise consistent with this Chapter that it considers appropriate to ensure that investment activity in its territory is undertaken in a manner sensitive to environmental, health or other regulatory objectives."That is, unless Australian health regulations are consistent with the TPP, they can be subject to a lawsuit brought about by a multinational corporation under ISDS.
The result will be that corporations will pursue litigation and add to their statement of claims that the policy change they are seeking compensation for is inconsistent with the TPP.
Australian policy will be further limited by the annex on expropriation, meant as a guide to what can be the subject of ISDS processes:
"Non-discriminatory regulatory actions by a Party that are designed and applied to protect legitimate public welfare objectives, such as public health, safety and the environment, do not constitute indirect expropriations, except in rare circumstances."
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