The future of print?

A few issues ago Fluro explored discussions surrounding the future/death of print. There are valid arguments on both sides of the debate, as although the Internet is changing the way we interact, there will always be a market for media one can touch, cut and keep. 

Personally just the smell of print excites me and I savour retreating to my room, or laying under a tree, to pour over fresh pages. 

Somewhat ironically however, and rather typical of many, most of my time is spent reading new information on the web. So where does this leave the future of print? Enter : The online Mag. This new format, although much less prolific than the blog, is popping up everywhere. Here are a few of my fav's..

1. *ANTLER magazine*, a Canadian fashion, art and music focused mag that's really informative and rather beautiful too!  

2. 

Dummymag.com, a former music magazine which re-launched as an online mag earlier this year. Based in London and full of great reviews, interviews and rants! 

3. Last but not least, AucklandFuckingCity.com. I'm not actually sure if this is still in action ( the intention was merely to exist for a few months), but nonetheless it's still relevant. Embracing the belief that objectivity is for the 'dull and spineless', AucklandFuckingCity presents interviews that, despite their length, are impossible not to finish. 

What are yours? 

WASTE NOT...

Most of us are aware we should learn to re-cycle and re-use a little more...Oliver Bishop-Young is just a bit more inventive than the rest of us...

Beware of the Zombie's this weekend..

Oh Lordy. So this Friday our ram-shamble team will gather to devise a plan of action for the 48 hours we have....to produce a film! Yes last minute we have submitted (and devised a team) who hopefully have what it takes to be, New Zealands Next Top...Film Wankers?I really do hope so. I've done this once before, but with an advertising team who provided food ( let me sleep) and even gave me a whole new wardrobe.This time we will be 'creating' on absolute peanuts, but like the tag line insists ' creativity costs nothing.' Thank goodness!!
Luckily I hit up a burger joint today who is going to hook is up ( phew)...and hopefully, we will be able to beat ( or realistically compete) with the 100's of teams who will also be taking to the streets.
The finalists will be screened 27th May at Embassy Theatre. If you're keen to get a seat, buy a ticket fast as they always sell out and are well worth it. Watch out NZ - the nation is going to be littered with sleepy zombie's!!!
Now who knows how to work while they sleep?

If you live in Wellytown...

Chances are you already have plans for tonight because there is just sooo much going on!
Tonight at Happy is Dynamo Go, The Sing Songs and Family Cactus...at The Adelaide - The Hairdos, Angeldust, Panda Battle Battle Panda, at San Fran The Phoenix Foundation and at Mighty the line up is Lil Pictures, Tommy Ill and Tourettes!!!
My pic of the bunch....

Tourettes I've never seen and it's his album release party. Also he describes himself as a 'failed rapper and chronic masturbator' which immediately has me intrigued.
I must also give the guy credit for keeping me entertained weekly with his online magazine AucklandFuckingCity.COM
Despite having seen a lot of Tommy play recently I'm keen for more as his sets are strong and his standard is jumping leaps and bounds....
And last but not least, Lil Pics will play too. Due to 'sound issues' at the gig I saw last, I'm really keen to see their music done justice! These two are about to head overseas so I think we all ought to monopolise on their presence and enjoy them as much as.... while they're here!
I know it's freezing, but life's too short to sit inside and moan....
So whatever your plans are for tonight- get gone!

A 'culturally relevant' blog????

THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE COMMENTARY I HAVE READ ON THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BLOGGING.
THE INTERNET IS CHANGING US...HOW ARE WE USING IT? DO WE CARE? DO YOU?
IS HIPSTER RUNOFF IRONIC? INTELLIGENT COMMENTARY? OR SELF PERPETUATING BULL SHIT??

READ MORE HERE....

( ASIDE: Wikipedia says 'Many bloggers, particularly those engaged in participatory journalism, differentiate themselves from the mainstream media, while others are members of that media working through a different channel. Some critics worry that bloggers respect neither copyright nor the role of the mass media in presenting society with credible news........One consequence of blogging is the possibility of attacks or threats against the blogger, sometimes without apparent reason......)

WHAT ARE BLOGGERS GETTING THEMSELVES INTO?

Sugar and spice and all things nice....

Since the birth of a blog called AntonieHates I have kept my distance. The name is a play on another very popular blogging site...and to be honest I couldn't decide which one I liked more. Not that it matters. Antonie doesn't care what I think. Or you for that matter.

The endlessly witty Antonie has now decided to launch full throttle into the world of blogging and provide his view on ..well everything. Everything 'hipster' that is.

Yes he treads a fine line....a very fine line..and despite the fact that he tears down almost everything I hype, I must say...he does it rather well.

While everyone ( including myself) is busy being a rater, AntonieHates sets out to do exactly what blogs ought too.... provoke conversation, debate, say whatever the hell they want to without worrying about an 'audience' and of course...provide a truly modern and democratic new kind of space....a 'public forum' if you will.

In the spirit of Antonie Hates I will not finish this blog post with 'check this site out it's great!'

I will simply say. Antonie you make me cry, giggle and gasp. I don't know how long hating will sustain a level of rating, but for now at least

Lucy likes.

BEEF TACO

A solo exhibition by Imogen Taylor and Final Liberty Gallery show in Auckland!

Preview on Thursday 16th of April at 5pm @ 448 K' rd

Liberty Gallery will remain online here....

The Flaneur

Auckland photgrapher Lydia Cowpertwait has just begun a cute new fashion blog....

Oh how great it is to find another interesting place to trawl on the wonderful world that is the web.

FROM THE STREETS OF PARIS

Heidi Neubauer-Winterburn has been documenting the recession by photographing sale signs in Parisian store windows. It's not much of an 'upper', but her pics are insightful and she has a good sense of humour too...

"Everything is on sale but love!"
'........to which I say: surely you are joking! I have absolutely seen women walking these streets on the arms of men who speak to the contrary'
View more HERE

'Spicing up your movie diet'

This is the ambition of the world cinema showcase which is now on in Auckland ( The Academy ), Wellington ( Paramount), Dunedin ( Regent ) and Christchurch ( Rial).
Last night I was taken to see The Class.... This film was AMAZING.
It tells the story of a French teacher, François Bégaudeau, who, in 2006, published a book describing a year in a Paris Public School. He plays himself ....and the featured students are 'real' also.In terms of acting and performance, The Class is truthful, compelling and utterly intense. Despite sitting 2 hours, the movie flew by.
The Class explores the day to day difficulties of urban multi-ethnic eduction in France.
We follow Francois, a well meaning and passionate teacher, who attempts to re-ignite, or simply ignite, a desire to learn amongst the students. Like any class there are those who succeed, but as is often ignored, these students are held back by the hustle and bustle of everyday class room politics.
Kids talk back, gossip, refuse to learn and for Francois, teaching becomes more of a disciplinary play pen than it does an exercise in learning and creativity. In a sad series of events the film exposes the failure of the education system to encourage those who are finding life tough as it is.

The Class questions the education system, the role of parents vs. teachers and the place for commentary on the way we teach as a whole. When surviving the year is hard enough, how open are educators to reforms and 'positive encouragement' when it seems the only way to send a message is by sending kids home?
It's a relief ( and source of inspiration) to know that people are not only producing films like this, but that their being well received too.Film is such a powerful medium and all too often ( in my opinion) this quality is lost in the repetitive and tired formats re-produced in Hollywood.
Go and support the World Cinema Showcase....
I implore you!!!!!

it's all a bit eco friendly up here

I'm visiting my mother... and today as I entered her home I noticed stacks upon stacks of plants. She's very worried about climate change/peak oil/Monsanto etc ' so she's growing everything her tiny apartment can fit. She informed me that ' the future is all about sustainability and whether we can actually provide for ourselves...' Apparently Monsanto is responsible for producing one cycle seeds ( you know seeds that don't reproduce. ) FREAKY!It was all very confronting, but bloody interesting also and she put me onto these guys..... Deep Green. They run a transition town up in Orewa....I had know idea these existed so found it....well, bloody interesting.

Wiki (my bible) explained that 'The aim of the project is to equip communities for the dual challenges of climate change and peak oil....Transition towns are all about shifting our mind set so people can actually recognise the coming post-cheap oil era and use it as an opportunity rather than a threat.....'

Ahhh thanks ma. I always rely on you to both freak me out and get my consumer psyche back in check.

Tribal warfare

NEONSLEEPS 3RD bday party was rad last night. For those who came early to enjoy some punch and pick up a Mag- Thanks!!
Anyway, there were castles, warriors, owls, 'intelligent survivors of the recession', inspired tribal futuristic Indians ( thanks Courtney) and gangsta/rocker/hipster rappers.
It was awesome!
But back to the point of this post: Welfe showed me the up and running 'Look' feature of his site. You should check it out...it's rad....
Can't wait to see the rest!

Plan C

before you jump up and make fake clouds and fake trees let's fix a few other big issues.

You may have read recently that a negative consequence of declining car crash fatalities (you thought this was a good thing didn't you?) is that there are less organs available for transplant. Yup, healthy people don't die that often.... car crashes were like a veritable feast of good organs and now that those horrible ads are working on the national psyche and cars and roads are getting safer - we have a problem.

Well there are a few Chinese whispers that you can grow these things (you know, hearts and lungs and livers) in a laboratory. You may also have heard that cute little piggies have compatible organs with humans - which reminded me of something I read once. This is basically how my brain works... you tell me some crap and I find the excuse to rant on a slightly associated tangent (and then when you look bored you know I'm gonna say "well you bought it up!").

Utility Pets:

I'm not going to explain it better than the artist so follow the link and read for yourself. Genius.

The artist is Elio Caccavale - he's pretty cool.