Looking like a cross between a surreal computer game and an alien planet, Socotra is a relatively unexplored and remote island off the coast of Arabian Peninsula. It’s a sparkling diamond of natural diversity and rugged wildness, with over 700 endemic species of flora and fauna. Only a small number of countries have more endemicContinue reading “Welcome to a strange and forgotten alien world: Socotra”
Author Archives: Content Catnip
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 188
How the ancient Egyptians made dazzling faience amulets Archaeologist and sculptor Zahed Taj-Eddin shows how to make this ancient and mysterious form of art, it’s incredible! Orbital – Halcyon On and on (Faster Horses Edit) [1993] I shared this one ages and ages ago but I just heard it again and it chilled me toContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 188”
What’s some movies everyone else loves but you hate?
I’ll go first and give you my reasons…which nobody asked for haha… The Green Mile: Ultra sad and overly dramatic, it seemed to fetishise the poor guy who was on death row, which I didn’t like. The English Patient: Loved the book but hated the movie. Glacially slow and the acting was a bit pompous.Continue reading “What’s some movies everyone else loves but you hate?”
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”
Book Review: Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
A sexy dark and glittering jewel of a novel featuring Sapphic vampires and crumbling old Victorian estates with a cast of believable and enjoyable characters. You will want to get drawn into this one, but you may not be able to stop!
All About Māori Kite Making
There are 17 types of Māori kites. Traditionally made from strong timber framing like manuka wood they were woven with flax and the paper and bark of the mulberry plant until the plant went virtually extinct. Birdman kites have a powerful symbolism for all Māori iwi including for my own, Ngaī Tamanuhiri and Ngā Puhi.Continue reading “All About Māori Kite Making”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 187
The mind replays what the heart wants to heal Iconoclast and Rebel Peaches opens up her mind on Amoeba’s channel One of the most singular and outre artists in the world Peaches visits the Amoeba shop and picks out her fav albums and films. This was interesting because she has some pretty wild choices includingContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 187”
Gig review: Massive Attack at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 11th August, 2026
Gig review: Massive Attack at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 11th August, timeless iconoclasts and rebels deliver once-in-a-lifetime magic 2026 #music #triphop #review #musicreview #music #MassiveAttack #Melbourne #events
Quirky insights into lost worlds: Ex Libris book plates
Passionate devotees of books from throughout history share a common thread with all of us modern-day bibiophiles, they longed to celebrate their books and mark their ownership with an Ex Libris book plate. Ever since Pharaonic Egypt, marking one’s ownership of a book has been a thing. Ex Libris bookplates are more than the stamped or printed marks denoting ownership. They represent the taste, values of their owner, how they saw themselves and the aesthetic styles of the eras when they were made.
Book Review: Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan by Shikibu Murasaki
A life-affirming collection of Japanese writing and poetry from the 11th Century AD. Written by aristocratic ladies in waiting to the empress of Japan they reflect the preoccupations, passions and obsessions of women born long long ago.
Content Catnip 