nostalgia for the mud

Our thanks to Digg for having us circle back around and dally, indulge in the surreal treasury of the self-conscious captured in this series of composite images from Chase Middleton.
These intersectional collages are strange and random but all seem to evoke this feeling of awkward incantation—a conjuring as we imagine it in our heads informed by on-screen depictions but that we pull off ham-fistedly and manage to muddle through somehow. See a whole gallery at the links above or at the artist’s website.

where are they now?

Via TYWKIWDBI, we are treated to a brief profile of the schoolboy band known as The Hectics, formed by five pupils of an English boarding school called St. Peter’s in Pamchgani, outside of Bombay (Mumbai) and active from 1958 through 1962.  One might recognise at least the centre lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist as Farrokh Bulsara, whom later adopted the name Freddie Mercury (*1946 – †1991, previously). Far left is Derrick Branche who had starring roles in My Beautiful Laundrette, Blake’s 7 and Father Ted Mysteries.

flora, fauna, fire

Via Maps Mania, we are directed to an engaging and impactful look at the devastation that Australia’s wildfires brought at the beginning of 2020 in the form of this interactive scrollytelling presentation that shares stories of recovery, prevention and links to the toll it has taken on 119 representative plants and animal species, whom may face extinction without human intervention. Though 119 is the number for firefighters and emergency services in many other jurisdictions, it’s triple zero you want to dial on the continent.

stays these couriers

Though never an official motto, the phrase from Herodotus about another determined set of postal workers, the Persians, unparalleled in Antiquity, the words are stirring and befitting such a beleaguered though indefatigable group.
Knowing that he cannot win honestly and outright or retain a controlling majority of the legislature, Trump is dismantling the US mail to stop postal balloting—with the added bonus of ensuring knock-on delays downstream, for people that need to receive rent or pension cheques through the mail and potentially deadly deferrals for those refiling prescriptions. Though there was turmoil beforehand over the United States’ leaving of the Universal Postal Union, this new phase was not a necessary consequence and the actions being undertaken now could not be characterised as anything else but sabotage.

gumball machine

Spoon & Tamago direct our attention to a train station in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo, famed for its electronics stores and tiny speciality stalls selling anything and everything with the same microcosm of offerings contained in this massive wall of gachapon vending machines—see previously.

Designed and branded as Kenelstand by Akira Mabucho, these surreal souvenirs are targeted towards adults with some practical items and many more tiny, collectible keepsakes like miniature versions of bespoke furniture, other luxury goods—at times bordering on the surreal—and a range of domestic and international tourist attractions. Much more to explore at the links above.

blogoversary – we are twelve

As we at PfRC enter our thirteenth year, we wanted to take the chance again to thank our readership express our gratitude for your sustaining interest and hope that we’ve managed to impart a just a bit of curiosity and inspiration to carry forward into the blogosphere.

Since we last checked-in, here are the most popular posts:

10: An article about the US Bill of Rights—originally twelve amendments to the constitution.

9: The wardrobe department on one of the Star Trek franchise’s latest iterations.

8: Public reception of the avante garde 1913 New York City Armory exhibition 

7: A look at the self-inflicted wounds of the Anglo-Saxons

 6: Once again—extreme points across the globe 

5: The Japanese practical, special effect called tokusatsu 

4: Live-tweeting revolutions, from last year’s top ten.

3: More US State Flags that could need an update—again from last year’s top ten.

2: A comparison of emoji renderings for ringed planets

1: For I think the second year in a row (wrong—it just feels like I have been seeing it for a whole year and change)—speculation about the etymology of OK.


I am curious to see how this list might stack up to the next. We love you all and best wishes for a happier and more auspicious balance of 2020.