Ralph McQuarrie (1929-2012) was an American conceptual designer and illustrator. He had a keen sense of aesthetics and imagination that set him apart from other illustrators. So he was a natural choice for George Lucas, who looked to him for inspiration for the Star Wars trilogy. McQuarrie was responsible for designing many of the film’s…
Introducing the Sky Bastard who terrified the shit out of my Maori ancestors in New Zealand... Common Name: Haast's Eagle Scientific Name: Harpagornis moorei (Discovered and named by Julius von Haast in the 1870s) Traditional Name: Te Pouakai or Te Hokioi (Meaning the 'Old Glutton' in Maori) My Name for him: Sky Bastard (Why? Because he was…
Continue reading ➞ The Sky Bastard Who Ate My Ancestors in New Zealand
Here in the southern hemisphere, we have a spectacular variety of ecological conditions, mammals and birds. From tropical and sweaty to arid and tinder dry. From swampy and sea level to sky-skimming and alpine. Aussie and Kiwi gardens are just blooming wonderful at any time of year. Here's some award-winning and well-loved private gardens in…
Continue reading ➞ Australia and New Zealand’s Coolest Gardens
Be transported into a different reality. With these floating, untethered words and music that I’ve curated or stumbled upon accidentally. They are evocative and inspire deep escapism and magical voyages into the history of the world. Enjoy! There will be more Historic Jukebox to come! Instructions 1. Play Video. 2. Read Text. 3. Daydream. Blue…
Continue reading ➞ Historic Jukebox: Henry David Thoreau & Fleet Foxes
Daniel Hashimoto is probably the coolest dad who ever lived. Why? He placed his young son into a rocket that blasted off from the McDonald's playground into outer-space. He temporarily opened up the worm hole between The Matrix and boring reality, while his kids jumped around bemused on the couch. Daniel is responsible for after-effects wizardry…
Continue reading ➞ DreamWorks Wizard Gives Lucky Kid Magical Powers
Be transported into a different reality. With these floating, untethered words and music that I’ve curated or stumbled upon accidentally. In any case they are evocative and inspire deep escapism and magical voyages into the history of the world. Enjoy! There will be more Historic Jukebox to come! Instructions 1. Play Video. 2. Read Text.…
Continue reading ➞ Historic Jukebox: Jamie XX & Edgar Allan Poe
This striking and odd meteorite section looks like an email from space or a painting sent to earth by an alien race. For those who are curious (all of you!) these mystical, geometric markings are formed by post-atmospheric cooling. Although these striations and patterns are made by nature, they are reminiscent of a flyer for…
Continue reading ➞ Stunningly Beautiful Meteorite Section Looks Like An Email From Space
Sydney has some nefarious and idiosyncratic history. Nowadays it's presented with a shiny, modern patina of progress. Although little more than a century ago the story was less chirpy and cheerful and more like a bad episode of Survivor. 1. Cockatoo Island This island has a somewhat grim intriguing history, matched by its demeanor –…
Do you think that volcanic places make the most beautiful and dramatic destinations? I believe they do. Volcanic places are the crossroads of the earth's crust! Where the techtonic plates of the earth combine and form mountains, volcanic activity, thermal lakes and more. Think of Iceland and New Zealand, two of the most remote and…
Continue reading ➞ New Zealand: An Ode To Young Volcanic Countries
In a global landscape, many smaller businesses get lost amongst all of the competing voices. Rather than focus on the gargantuan global picture, in many cases it's a lot more effective to focus on the local. Here's a couple of ways to target the local community in your posts. 1. Create A Geo-Location Strategy…
Continue reading ➞ Six Tips For Tailoring Your Blog To Local Search
Be transported to a different time. With these floating, untethered words and music that I've curated or stumbled upon accidentally. In any case they are evocative and inspire deep escapism and magical voyages into the history of the world. Enjoy! There will be more Historic Jukebox to come! Instructions 1. Play Video. 2. Read Text.…
Continue reading ➞ Historic Jukebox: Sigur Rós Óðin’s Raven Magic & Viking Epics
This gorgeous selection of detailed drawings will be shown at the State Library of New South Wales' TAL & Dai-ichi Life Derby Collection. The drawings come from the private collection of Australian art collector Kerry Stokes, among other collectors. Some of these treasures haven't ever been seen before by the public! Anybody with an interest…
Pinterest is the third largest social media network in the world. It's where quirky, unusual or weird images flirt, cavort and eventually make babies. If you have images that convey a story in a spectacular or unique way – these images will do well on Pinterest. Here are ten tips for getting the most out…
Continue reading ➞ Ten Lessons To Learn About Pinterest From Top Storytellers
Sharing stories is a ritual as old as time itself. Now immersive storytelling is set to radically change how we produce and consume stories, with the addition of images, video, audio in clever new ways. 2014 will usher in a brave new world of storytelling for those offering copywriting services or any other creative field. The technology…
Continue reading ➞ Four Great Immersive Storytelling Tools For Writers and Designers
By Dimitri Verhulst Translated from Dutch by David Colmer Portobello Books 2010. Enduring love in a remote Flanders village is given a quirky twist, in this novella by Dimitri Verhulst. Translated from Dutch by David Colmer, it doesn't lose any of its magic or immediacy in English. The story opens with the beautiful and forlorn…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: Madame Verona Comes Down The Hill
The Red House by Mark Haddon is a domestic drama that gets right under the skin of family life. The idea of 'family' takes on an intimate, shockingly beautiful and grotesque patina in this book. The story centres around a brother and sister and their respective families, who take a seemingly innocuous trip to stay…
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Red House by Mark Haddon
Constable & Robinson (2011). This fictional novel by Jennifer Egan is an insight into American life from the 1960's onwards. A kaleidoscope of relationships, strong personalities and memories all jolt back and forth in time. Themes covered in the book include family dysfunction, communication breakdown, desire and love, death and ageing. All of these grim…
