Guide to pants off living
September 2006
Consumer :: Bovine
Thursday, 28 September 2006
I feel like I'm standing on the edge of an existential precipice; who am I, what's my purpose, where am I going, what is my life course; live, love, consume, cease.
This feeling has been brewing. But it really started to crystalize into an idea when a friend (who recently moved into a new and beautiful house) mentioned a book she'd finished reading a book called Affluenza - The All Consuming Epidemic. I haven't even read this book, but the idea of it has started to resonate with me in a strange way.
I've been bugging the hell out of Melissa with nagging requests to buy stuff - a new computer, an electric piano, a plasma TV, a digital sound projector, new toys, crap, garbage. What's the point of all this stuff!? Some of it is for pleasure, enjoyment and relaxation. Some of it is to stimulate a deep and entrenched part of my being that wants to create.
But all of it is nonsense.
I work and I earn good money. I live very well. I have a beautiful soul-mate whom I love with every cell in my heart. I know she loves me equally. We have a cat. We have some beautiful friends and we love spending time with them.
What more do I need?
I need to think that I'm more than a cow, that goes to work, munches on hours to make money, to buy 'stuff' and then has to go back to work, to munch on hours...
I love having projects. Hey! - I just finished producing a DVD. It's been a great project, it is a real and tactile thing. I have collaborated with people who have shared an equal or greater passion to produce that DVD. It's been great. It's been fulfilling.
I've been a part of making something people want. Not wanting something people make.
How do I bust this cycle?
Posted by travo at 6:55:35 PM | Comments (6)
Masani's Restaurant
Sunday, 24 September 2006
Masani's will be the location of my wedding - to the beautiful Melissa - later this year. It is an excellent restaurant and will be a warm, friendly and enjoyable place for us to share our nuptials with our friends and family.
Posted by travo at 7:44:07 PM
Kids with guns.
Saturday, 23 September 2006
At the supermarket the other week, a kid maybe 4 or 5 years old with a toy gun passed me in the isle, aimed and blew my head off its shoulders with a quiet "bang".
I grew up in a house were guns, toy guns and gun play was strictly discouraged. My father (and today is his birthday) was a Vietnam vet. The picture is clear.
As I've grown older, I've kinda followed this through; kids playing with guns just shouldn't be encouraged. Parents should find some other meaningful way for kids to interact and play with one another. Screw cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, marines and militant jihadi... kids should be able to engage in genuine fist fights, that have real consequences like blood noses and broken bones.
Seriously though, in the supermarket though, what should I have done?
What do you say to a parent who doesn't share the same wholistic view as I about the implications of children with guns? Do you tap the parent on the shoulder, then form a pistol with your hand and point it at their childs head and scream "BANG!"?
This post was prompted by a similar question in this mornings papers, in some touchy-feely ethics / modern life column. The problem remains; parents nowadays don't like other people telling them how to raise their kids, and we live in Melbourne - guns aren't cool. Knives are though...
Posted by travo at 8:25:21 AM | Comments (1)
The worst things to happen to Rock
Wednesday, 20 September 2006
This is a golden top fifty list of all the worst things to happen to rock music. Did they miss anything?
Posted by travo at 11:12:06 AM
Paris Hilton : Walkin' Talkin' Livin' Doll
Wednesday, 20 September 2006
I liked this article illustrating what bloggers and online-marketing type people can learn from Paris Hilton. I am convinced that she is an embodiment of the most vicious and vapid characteristics of our current dominant culture, but I also recognise that she is a curiosity. Hilton, and those like her seem to be completely oblivious to their environment.
A very good friend suggested that some of the most important things you can remember are; who you are, where you are and where you're from. I like this mantra, it tells me that I must consider my conscience, my current context and my historical context.
Paris Hilton, fails on all accounts; she cares little for which-ever environment you place her in, I'm not sure she fully understands her historical context (what does heiress really mean to her) and worst of all, her conscience is a barely acknowledge voice in the back of her self-absorbed and self-gratifying mind.
Does it mean anything to her when she name drops? Is it because food is not an real or physical thing anymore - is it because it's merely a brand? Branding has created such a strong association between a gratification or need that she no longer considers the physical need, just the gratification of the brand.
For her it's no longer the base needs of food, water, shelter, sex - it's McDonalds, Perrier, Hilton and Timberlake.
I think...
Posted by travo at 9:49:15 AM
1967 Mosrite Vintage Strawberry Alarm Clock Guitars
Friday, 15 September 2006
These guitars are far and away the most amazing instruments I've seen in a long time. And I've been lookin' at guitars obsessively for a lil' while now, and thought I'd seen everything.
They were recently auctioned on eBay - I'm not sure how long this link will remain active for though...
How exquisite!
Posted by travo at 2:10:43 PM
Powerhouse Blues DVD Launch!
Monday, 11 September 2006
Busy? Yup, flat out - I've been pulling together the final pieces of an 18 month project that captured the Powerhouse Blues Band performing and celebrating their 25th Anniversary. The DVD has been pressed and the package is a beautiful thing; a beautiful slick, a great looking DVD with a high level of production not seen too often in local independant roots and blues bands, a bonus CD which features the Powerhouse Alumni performing five tracks together and a tidy little booklet in which each member gives their take on the formation of the band and how it started for them.
It's been a great project and as usual, I've learnt heaps. Heaps. Event production, working with a video team, lighting production, audio production and recording, DVD authoring, DVD ripping and not to mention managing a project over such a protracted period.
One thing helped to make it heaps easier - Basecamp. I can not sing the praises of this web-app loud enough. It enabled me to communicate with different and disparate groups remotely, upload important files for review and discussion, and collaborate with the guys in the band. My daily work environment is very prohibitive and prevents me from using my email over the web. Using Basecamp for all the messaging ensured that I could stay in the loop and keep things on track during the day. Sweet!
So, head on over to the Powerhouse website, sign up for news (I promise there will be some forthcoming), keep up with the news and download some videos for your iPod. It's all good.
Oh - and as for the launch, make sure that you keep Saturday the 23rd of September in your diary. We'll be launching the DVD is spectacular fashion at Seibii's Bar and Cafe in Newborough.
Posted by travo at 12:48:55 PM