Content Catnip
Quirky Internet Wunderkammer
Comforting Thought
Bite-sized comfort and spirituality in a turmultuous world
Comforting Thought: Don’t be afraid of repetition and obligation in our lives
“Without cyclical repetition, our lives dissolve into empty noise devoid of content. Without repetition, there is no obligation. Repetition is getting up every morning and making pack lunches for the kids. It’s visiting old friends, even though they may be depressed and not that fun to be around. “It is absurd to be eternally mobile,Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Don’t be afraid of repetition and obligation in our lives”
Powerful proverbs from Mesopotamia about fate, luck and fortune
If you were born lucky, even your rooster will lay eggs. ~ Assyrian Proverb Don’t pick things ahead of time; some bear fruit later. ~ Sumerian Proverb If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. ~ Assyrian Proverb The rich would have to eat money if the poor did not provide food.Continue reading “Powerful proverbs from Mesopotamia about fate, luck and fortune”
Comforting Thought: Whistling in the dark
“Art would not be important if life were not important. And life is important. Most of us, no matter what we say, are walking in the dark, whistling in the dark. Nobody knows what is going to happen to them from one moment to the next, or how one will bear it. This is irreducible.Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Whistling in the dark”
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Ancient Word of the Day
Words dredged up from the pelagic zone of language
Ancient Word of the Day: Bhleu
Bhleu: ‘To Blow or to swell’ from Proto-Indo-European Life flows and leaves, wind, clouds, fire and storms bhleu/blow. From this ancient word comes many other beautiful nature words we know and love today, such as: Blossoms Bulbs Bellows Blast Bleat Belly Bells Ball Balloon Bladder Blót, an ancient Norse rite of blood sacrifice, also derivedContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Bhleu”
Ancient Word of the Day: An
An: ‘To breath’ from Proto-Indo-European If you empty your lungs you make an AHHHH sound on the exhale. The Proto-Indo-European word for this onomatopoeic sound is An. The word an remains the same in Anglo-Saxon, Old English, Icelandic, Swedish and Dutch. The ancient sound of an even exists within the word Human and Anmal. AfterContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: An”
Ancient word of the day: Celandine
This pretty yellow star-like flower is from the buttercup family. It is common to see it flourishing at the beginning of spring in new grasses, hedges and in at the banks of rivers. It blankets forest floors. Commonly thought of as being a weed, it is still absolutely beautiful to behold.
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10 Cool Things I Found On the Internet
A weekly palate cleanser of quirky wonder
10 Interesting Things I found on the Internet #33
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of coconut water, welcome to another dimension-coasting, mind-contorting journey into the weird and wonderful world of the internet. Featuring some guest stars and some of the same old cast you know and love. I hope you will join me… A bee-faced mushroom shaman from 9,000 years ago on a cave wallContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I found on the Internet #33”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #32
Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kids! Memento Mori by High Dependency Unit A sweeping and melodramatic post-rock album by Kiwi band High Dependency Unit that’s filled with light and dark. A bustling sushi city by the creative genius in miniature Tatsuya Tanaka A Journey to the Big Cat Sanctuary with Heather SmallContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #32”
10 Interesting Things I Found On the Internet #31
Here are some flotsam and jetsam that I found floating around the river earlier on, I’ve let it all dry out and it will make a nice wall display later… This cat that feels dejected and jealous of his cat friend Animals experience jealousy, anger, love, confusion, excitment in the same way that we do.Continue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found On the Internet #31”
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Book Reviews
Mind-expanding fantasy, quirky history books and more
Book Review: Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono
Genre: Non-fiction, business, psychology. Publisher: Little, Brown and Company. Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 If you have ever attended a team building event, a motivational psychology course or some kind of HR mandated business workshop then you will have encountered the ideas of Six Thinking Hats. This is a classic book that came out inContinue reading “Book Review: Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono”
Book Review: Animals Make Us Human: Edited by Leah Kaminsky and Meg Keneally
Genre: Non-fiction, nature, animals Publisher: Penguin Life Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 The Christmas/New Year of 2019/2020 bush fires scorched through enormous swathes of land across the whole of Australia and killed many millions of native animals. Afterwards, there was a huge outpouring of collective grief from people not only in Australia, but throughout theContinue reading “Book Review: Animals Make Us Human: Edited by Leah Kaminsky and Meg Keneally”
My All Time Favourite Top-Ten Non-Fiction History Books
Here’s a collection of some of the non-fiction I have reviewed in the past, ranked as a top ten. The subject matter and time periods vary, but I really like the history of medicine, psychology, symbolism, medieval history, animals and more. 1. The Book of Symbols by the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS)Continue reading “My All Time Favourite Top-Ten Non-Fiction History Books”
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Artists, Writers & Musicians In Their Own Words
Unique and inspiring art by interesting people
Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Jarod K Anderson AKA The Cryptonaturalist
The Cryptonaturalist podcast is the creation of Jarod K Anderson. It’s a completely unique, poetic and quirky fictional podcast in the genre of a classic nature documentary. Yet that’s where its similarity with the known world ends. This is David Attenborough meets The X Files, or Jane Goodall meets Big Foot. In the lingering shadowsContinue reading “Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Jarod K Anderson AKA The Cryptonaturalist”
Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Jari Österberg AKA Liuos
Jari Österberg AKA Liuos first became a techno producer in the early 90’s. He became a one-man band with the help of the Amiga 500 computer and produced vast swathes of interesting and experimental techno albums. As years went by, he started to use more hardware and his production started to lean more towards minimalistContinue reading “Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Jari Österberg AKA Liuos”
Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Evaldas Azbukauskas AKA Giriu Dvasios
Evaldas Azbukauskas AKA Giriu Dvasios makes completely unique and haunting music that ranges through different terrains of dub techno, ambient, techno, Lithuanian folk and much more. His genre-shuffling music was too unusual to be noticed by other record labels, so ten years ago he created his own label and ever since then has been championingContinue reading “Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Evaldas Azbukauskas AKA Giriu Dvasios”
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The Natural World
Organisms, real, imagined, extinct and extant.
My new project: Palm Oil Detectives & Creatives for Cool Creatures
Hello my friend I hope you are going well… I have been busy with creating a new online community. It is driven by passion and was inspired by a deep love of animals and nature. Two months ago, I watched a David Attenborough documentary and sobbed because what’s happening to the natural world right nowContinue reading “My new project: Palm Oil Detectives & Creatives for Cool Creatures”
An Anatomical Guide to Godzilla and other Gigantic Japanese Monsters
These amazing diagrams showing a medical cross–section of Godzilla along with other Japanese monsters such as Mothra, Gamera and Agurius. These illustrations were created in 1967 by Shogo Endo for a book called ‘An Anatomical Guide to Monsters’. This cult book was crafted by Shoji Otomo (writer) along with Shogo Endo (illustrator) (1967). An AnatomicalContinue reading “An Anatomical Guide to Godzilla and other Gigantic Japanese Monsters”
10 Hours of Aliens from a Sea Shanty of the Deep
Here is 10 hours of BBC deep ocean footage in 4K without narration or music. Bliss out and enjoy these wondrous and cute creatures that dance on the ocean floor. No need to watch news just escape to the world of the ocean. No wonder people in ancient times mistook these animals for monsters!
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Te Ao Māori
All about the indigenous culture of Aotearoa, New Zealand
Words of a Kaumātua: When you want a smile, give yours away
When you want a smile, give yours away When you want affection, you give affection When you help people, they help you When you want love, give your love Kua rongo ake au… Tuku whakamoemiti, āta haere ki te ākau Mā te wā koe e tiaki e manaaki e kākahu Ki ngā hua o ōuContinue reading “Words of a Kaumātua: When you want a smile, give yours away”
Comforting Thought: Rangimārie
Kua rongo ake au… Mā te karakia me te inoi Me te noho puku Ka tau te rangimārie ki a tātau katoa I have learned that… everyone can do a karakia Kua rongo ake au… Mā te āta katakata āta harikoa anō Mā te hiki ake i te wairua E tau tonu ai te māramatangaContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Rangimārie”
Words and Music: Earth the slumbering pūriri
In the Beginning Earth Breath on me Earth the cool breath of life Earth the slumbering pūriri Earth the misty valley Earth the departed sun Earth the tingling blue sky Earth the dark sheen of a woman river Earth the mottling tides tumbling ashore Earth the sweeping godwits Earth our home Earth the giving landContinue reading “Words and Music: Earth the slumbering pūriri”
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Content Catnip TV
Transportative videos made by Content Catnip
Content Catnip TV: Team Lab Borderless, Tokyo
TeamLab Borderless in Tokyo is a remarkable audio-visual attraction in Tokyo and a must-see in the city if you ever visit. It’s on expansive, harbour-facing area of Odaiba which is encircled by the very scenic train ride, along with excellent shopping centre Diver City, which features a showcase level of award-winning ramen restaurants from throughoutContinue reading “Content Catnip TV: Team Lab Borderless, Tokyo”
Travel: Oeshiki Festival of Light, Ikegami Tokyo
Oeskiki is an annual buddhist festival held on the 13th of October that commemorates the death of Nichiren in 1282. He was a revered buddhist teacher who lived during the Kamakura period, about 700 years ago. Although celebrated throughout Japan, the main Oeshiki festival is held at Ikegami Honmonji Temple located in the Ota wardContinue reading “Travel: Oeshiki Festival of Light, Ikegami Tokyo”
Travel: Arashiyama boat ride, Kyoto
This boat tour is definitely a must-do when you go to Kyoto. Hozugawa River Cruises (保津川下り, Hozugawa Kudari) are sightseeing boat rides down the Hozugawa River from Kameoka to Arashiyama. The cruises feature traditional style, flat bottomed boats piloted by boatmen who guide the craft with oars and bamboo poles. The boats take about twoContinue reading “Travel: Arashiyama boat ride, Kyoto”
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Travel Tales
Nostalgic travel from the time before ‘you know what‘ happened
Travel: Napier’s remote beaches and wineries by bike
Napier is one of the sunniest and most lovely places in New Zealand. The Bear and I love to explore this region on a regular basis by bike, the area is almost completely flat. The wide open spaces seem to stretch out forever. Although the ocean is tumultuous and not safe for swimming, there isContinue reading “Travel: Napier’s remote beaches and wineries by bike”
Travel: Affordable and Mind Blowing Places to Eat in Wellington New Zealand (from a local)
Here is the cream of the crop for mind-blowing food (now available again) in Wellington
Travel: Roaming in the gloaming in the land of soft colours and dramatic firmaments
Around ten years ago, I had the best trip of my life when I went to the Isle of Skye, Scotland with the Polish bear. We cozied up in the most comfortable little croft in all of the Scottish isles. Located in Borreraig, the farthest point of the Isle of Skye and as far awayContinue reading “Travel: Roaming in the gloaming in the land of soft colours and dramatic firmaments”
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Obscure Music
Unusual little-heard music to inspire creativity
Awesome low-fi / house / ambient / psychedelic artists from New Zealand
Skip to the end for an amazing playlist of these artists on Youtube Aldous Harding From Christchurch, Aldous Harding is known throughout the world for her strange, unnerving stage presence and her delicate and yet raw brand of folk. She’s quite enigmatic and unlike any other artist. You may take a while to warm toContinue reading “Awesome low-fi / house / ambient / psychedelic artists from New Zealand”
Laid back self-isolation mix #1
Hi my friends. I am going to start doing semi-regular playlists of music that are laid back, joyful, soul warming. Music that will help you to get through hard times in self-isolation, particularly if you are separated from those you love, or if you are feeling lonely. These mixes will be eclectic styles – house,Continue reading “Laid back self-isolation mix #1”
On silence and idleness
“Happiness is in the quiet, ordinary things. A table, a chair, a book with a paper-knife stuck between the pages. And the petal falling from the rose, and the light flickering as we sit silent.” Virginia Woolf, The Waves Time Moves Slow by Bad Bad Good “Nothing thicker than a knife’s blade separates happiness fromContinue reading “On silence and idleness”
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