I'm not the adventurous type.

But I want to do this one day. Something about cars - I feel invincible. Don't worry mum, I drive safely.

via The Barstool Romantic

A reminder

Via All Plaid Out and taken from a 1975 catalogue for Patagonia's parent company.

More on Henry David Thoreau here.

via Waxin & Milkin

Aspirational living

I've been doing a lot of introspection of late. I suppose this is due largely to my spectacular failure to secure even one interview during the current flurry of graduate program applications, coupled with a growing sense that the economy, environment and society in general are all about to implode. I don't like my job - I have to work five nights a week and usually both Saturday and Sunday, completing mindless data entry - and I find it especially galling to be told that I should be grateful for having it, as if an economic meltdown is an argument for self-enforced contentedness.

I'm not the most driven person, truth be told. I marvel at people who wake up early and go for a run, make themselves a full breakfast, respond to their e-mails on the way to work and are sitting in their office before 8am. I just can't do this. I lose focus too quickly, and have trouble expanding on ideas. Sure there are stories about the underachiever as hero, but inevitably their eventual success is dependent upon a healthy mix of luck and timing, with considerable persistence and great intelligence. I doubt that one in a million has the chance to hit upon a single great idea like these people. But I seem to be experiencing an epiphany of sorts right now, which is acting as a consoling force.

This epiphany goes something like: I don't need to succeed... at least not conventionally. Rather, I can choose to pursue happiness. But, what makes, and will continue make, me happy? I honestly can't answer that, beyond the material or the short-term. Hence, the introspection. So which of life's many paths to take? Is there one best option for happiness, or is it the very presence of options that will bring me contentment? I wouldn't mind some advice on this matter.

Kinda looked like this yesterday...

But sans bike. The mini behind, however, I have sitting in the drive. I still think it's the coolest thing I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with.

Anyways, selvedge denim, plain white tee, Clarks desert boots. I need only the icy blue eyes.

It's suddenly getting cold up in here.

Was just catching a small bite to eat and happened to hear a news piece on SBS about Scott's failed expedition to Antarctica. Apparently Herbert Ponting's photos from this trip, taken using a very old fashioned glass plate system, which in truth I don't understand, had just recently been digitised and put online. Only problem was, they didn't say where. So off this intrepid net explorer went, and with great luck and persistence, I found the images at the Royal Geographical Society.

And what a jackpot, I say! Yes, there were a lot of pictures of penguins and seals, but the images of grizzled old and young men swathed in woolen sweaters, either on the ice or their ship the Terra Nova, are amazing. Very sad, though, when coupled with the phrase "ill-fated expedition" and the knowledge that

Unfortunately, they're watermarked, but can be ordered for a fee without. Have a closer look, as they're also often amusingly titled - something that I haven't bothered to replicate.

Link to Royal Geographical Society.

More on Robert Falcon Scott, which also points you helpfully in the direction of the Terra Nova Expedition.

The daily question.

To dress for comfort:



Or to dress for style:



Apparently, these young men took exception to the casualisation of men's fashion, even back in 1955. Starting their very own Gentlemen's Club. Not a bad idea, I say.



Find more images from LIFE magazine on Google Images.

Looking for a better job.

I'm a unionist too, but I ain't getting no dough to loaf around.



via driftglass

Been wondering?

I'm sure many people have found the global financial crisis a little confusing, so this is a really nice way to come to grips with the situation.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

What is missing is where Australia sits in all of this and why, if it is mainly the result of inappropriate lending in the States, our economy is also so wack. I don't even profess to know that...

It nice to see there's still some fun

via A Cup of Jo

Variations on a theme

Detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights - Heironymus Bosch


A nifty little feature has just been added to Google Maps. Their team has taken several of the finer works from Madrid's esteemed Prado Museum, and put them on the site in amazing high definition. Zoom in on these as much as you want, and there will still be an allowance to zoom some more.

See the paintings at their molecular level.

Google Maps

To have true style.

Le Danseur - Henri Matisse


As I'm sure most of you know, Yves Saint Laurent recently passed away. While it was clear that he was a man of impeccable taste when it came to fashion, what has only recently become apparent is the extent to which his style was imbued in everything he collected.

What is amazing about this collection is just how much of it I would genuinely want, as opposed to simply appreciating in some abstract and disinterested sense. His taste is so timeless, and either he was a remarkably prescient purchaser, or he dropped a LOT on these works. With prices on individual paintings by Picasso, Leger and Mondrian expected to fetch well up into the millions of Euros, this is sure to be the most talked about art auction in for 2009, if not the decade.

Now we just have to hope that the Felton bequest can once again bring another masterpiece to the NGV.

Christies Link

Instruments de musique sur un guéridon - Pablo Picasso


Composition avec bleu, rouge, jeune et noir - Piet Mondrian


La tasse de thé - Fernand Leger


Compotier, Quotidien du Midi - Georges Braque

Damn Size 10.5 feet

If these were a half size bigger, I'd be all over them like a powerful moss. As it is, they are destined to go to someone smaller of foot, but sartorially richer for it. If they go for anything under $120Aus, they'll be a bargain. No bids yet, and starting at $49US. Get on it.

Ebay Link

C.W. Stoneking

A Melbourne-based "composer of blues, hokum and jungle music". Wonderful.

C.W. Stoneking's Myspace

The more things change...

...the more they stay the same, it seems.

Between 6-8 years ago, around the time I was turning 21, my self-imposed uniform consisted of jeans or chinos, a flannel shirt and simple brown leather boots. In fact, the boots were from Rivers I believe. I probably paid $20 for them, and stupidly threw them out when the sole split. I spent years trying to find a replacement, before giving up and moving into a (possibly ill-advised) streetwear phase.

Now I have an embarrassment of riches, as I find myself with a brand new pair of Clarks desert boots, and a vintage pair of Red Wing 875's. The girlfriend, let's call her M from now on, is not a fan of the latter, but was kind enough to gift the former to me this Christmas past. In addition, I have acquired some rather nice shirts in plaids and checks.

To go with this, I also have several pairs of nice new jeans: a pair of APC New Standards, some Engineered Garments, as well as an older pair of Edwin Blue Trips. Now all I need is some chinos, and I'll be back where I started. Looking forward to the colder months so I can throw it all together with the peacoat I am yet to have tailored.

This time it's for real

I have tried this before, and it hasn't worked out quite right. This time... well, I'll give it my best shot.

I've been really inspired by a lot of blogs out there at the moment. Time I threw my ideas out there, too.