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Emblematic Antarctica
* Subject to availability.
- New: explore the magic of Antarctica with a sea kayak adventure. Led by experienced, State-Certified kayak guides, you will skim the water's surface amid the ice. Full professional equipment is provided, including tamdem kayak, carbon paddle, full-body drysuit, lifejacket, AIS beacon. For more information and to book your kayak tours, please contact your cruise advisor.
- Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
- Hiking opportunity: Neko Harbour, Port Charcot, Port Lockroy, Deception Island.
- Visiting research stations and former whaling stations.
- Landscapes: a multitude of drifting icebergs, ice floe, imposing icebergs, tall snow-covered mountains.
- Wildlife: Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, Minke and humpback whales, Weddell seals, sea leopards and sea birds.
- Educational discovery in the respect of environment.
- Exclusive 4-night programme before the cruise Patagonia, a land of contrast to discover in "Pre/Post & Overlands" tab. For more information and reservation, please contact our travel agents.
- Staterooms & Suites
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Theme
- Important information
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.
Designed in 2013 and loyal to the PONANT spirit, Le Soléal like her sisterships embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is Ponant's signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 132 staterooms and suites)make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.
Interior Design
With her fluid lines and a modern colour scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white, Le Soléal presents references to a nautical theme.
Port of call & excursions
UshuaiaEmbarkation 14/02/2019 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 14/02/2019 at 18H00 .
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed "El fin del mundo" by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
15 February 2019▸16 February 2019 – Crossing the Drake PassageArrival 15/02/2019. Departure 16/02/2019.
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
17 February 2019 – Neko HarbourArrival 17/02/2019. Departure 17/02/2019.
A little corner of paradise in the shadow of a towering glacier, Neko Harbour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful sites on the Antarctic Peninsula. It was discovered by Belgian navigator Adrien de Gerlache during his 1897-1899 expedition. Mountains, ice and wildlife combine to form a truly unique landscape. Animals are as abundant as they are exotic: among others, you'll encounter seabirds (gulls, Cape petrels, cormorants) and marine mammals (seals, orcas and other whale species). Head out on a Zodiac® excursion to get up close to the icebergs, stop over near a penguin colony, watch a leopard seal sunbathe between dives and enjoy an impromptu aerial show from passing Antarctic terns.
17 February 2019 – Paradise BayArrival 17/02/2019. Departure 17/02/2019.
With its spectacular landscapes composed of towering glacial peaks plunging down into the icy waters of the Antarctic, Paradise Bay is true to its name. Discovered and named by whalers in the early 20th century, this protected natural site is currently home to a wide variety of fauna, from Antarctic cormorants and leopard seals to sheathbills and gentoo penguins, who mingle on the long stretch of rocky beaches. With some luck, you'll even be privy to an unforgettable underwater dance between passing humpback whales. During your excursion, head off to discover the old Argentine base Almirante Brown, which is only occupied for a few weeks each year, during the austral summer.
18 February 2019 – Pléneau IslandArrival 18/02/2019. Departure 18/02/2019.
Named after talented photographer Paul Pléneau, who accompanied Jean-Baptiste Charcot on his 1903 expedition, Pleneau Island has become a refuge for gentoo penguins, elephant seals and fur seals. A 'fleet' of imposing ice formations sit like anchored ships along its shores. Like works of art, these unusually-sculpted icebergs range in colour from white to blue and every shade in between. On land, red algae provides a striking contrast against empty swathes of snow that alternate with gentoo penguin nesting sites, strewn all across the island.
18 February 2019 – Port Charcot, Booth IslandArrival 18/02/2019. Departure 18/02/2019.
This cove, a natural harbour located in Salpêtrière Bay, was discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Named for the explorer's father, famed neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, this tip of Booth Island still holds vestiges of Charcot's 1903-1905 anchoring aboard his ship, Le Français. A brisk walk through the snow will take you to the remains of Charcot's stone cabin where he conducted studies on magnetism. Right nearby, you'll notice a colony of gentoo penguins. If you continue on to the summit, you'll pass by the remnants of a cairn and enjoy an unobstructed view of the vast field of icebergs scattered over the bay like white tombstones—an eerie, mystical site like none other.
19 February 2019 – Port Lockroy, Goudier IslandArrival 19/02/2019. Departure 19/02/2019.
During your cruise, you'll have the opportunity to stop over at Port Lockroy, a spectacular natural harbour nestled in the very heart of the Antarctic Peninsula on Goudier Island. Discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot in 1903, the site has served over the years as a stopover for whaling ships, a British military base and later a research station. The port is currently one of the most visited sites in the Antarctic, thanks to its tiny museum which allows visitors to experience the base as it was in the 1950s and to take home a souvenir from its gift shop. While you're here, don't miss the chance to send your loved ones a post card from the southernmost post office in the world!
20 February 2019 – Deception Island, South Shetland IslandsArrival 20/02/2019. Departure 20/02/2019.
Situated just above the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, Deception Island is easily recognisable thanks to its distinctive horseshoe shape. The crater of this former volcano caved in 10,000 years ago and the resulting caldera was flooded, creating a natural harbour. Deception Island still bears traces of its past as a longtime hub of the whaling industry. The vestiges of abandoned sheds that line the black sand of its volcanic beaches share space with the island's spectacular fauna: it is home to the Antarctic Peninsula's largest colony of chinstrap penguins, as well as numerous elephant seals and fur seals.
21 February 2019 – Sailing on the Weddell SeaArrival 21/02/2019. Departure 21/02/2019.
Amidst the eerie stillness of the Weddell Sea, you'll wend your way through a veritable labyrinth of majestic table icebergs. Sweeping ice platforms sculpt a landscape unlike any other, populated by fur seals, penguins, wandering albatross and other imposing seabirds. The Weddell seal, king of this realm, will welcome you to his territory with a haunting cry that pierces the surrounding silence. You'll recognise him by his dark grey coat and spotted belly. Weddell seals have the impressive distinction of being able to stay underwater for more than an hour.
22 February 2019▸23 February 2019 – Crossing the Drake PassageArrival 22/02/2019. Departure 23/02/2019.
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
UshuaiaDisembarkation 24/02/2019 at 07H00 .
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed "El fin del mundo" by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot's licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
We remind you that all our ships have a doctor on board and medical facilities. However, these cannot, under any circumstances, be compared to any medical structure on land. Given the remote areas in which we will be sailing for a number of days, safety requirements mean that we are obliged to ask each passenger signing up for this program to provide us, no more than 45 days before departure, with a medical certificate from their GP, as well as the completed medical questionnaire received during registration.
Argentina: should you require a visa to travel to Argentina, we recommend you apply for a double-entry visa as a technical stop in Chile might be scheduled.
Polar Expedition
Discover the unique concept of PONANT polar expedition cruises: explore the world's extreme regions while enjoying luxurious comfort and service.
A luxury expedition voyage
Choosing a PONANT expedition cruise means choosing a state of mind: the alliance of elegance and authenticity, of exploration and comfort, of adventure and refinement… The comfort of your ship and your stateroom, personalised and attentive service, refined gastronomy: a very special atmosphere that we take great care to maintain. In the heart of the ice floes of the Arctic and the Antarctic, our luxurious services will ensure that your expedition cruise is an unforgettable experience.
PONANT, polar specialists
With almost 20 years of experience in the extreme regions, PONANT, the world's number 1 polar cruise company, is a real polar specialist. PONANT will take you to the most remote regions in total safety: our Captains and crew are professionals, specially trained to sail in icy waters. Our latest-generation fleet has the most modern technology to guarantee both your safety and respect for the regions visited. The size of our ships means we can get as close as possible to areas that are difficult to reach, offering a privileged access to preserved sites. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the surprises inherent to these expedition itineraries.
Professional expedition teams, varied activities
After scouting missions in the field, our Expedition Leaders and their teams of naturalist guides design exceptional itineraries in the polar regions. During the cruise, they organise daily outings and shore visits in Zodiac® dinghies and hikes on land so as to get as close as possible to nature and wild fauna. In the Arctic and in Alaska, the close relationships that our teams have been able to build with the local communities will enable you to understand the life of these peoples of the Far North, and to share it for a few hours. On board, the naturalist guides will share their knowledge during various conferences on fauna, the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology…
Important information
Expedition programmes include activities such as Zodiac® outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board for all departures with the logo "Free Parka" (no children sizes, in case of consecutive cruises, only one complimentary parka).
- Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to go ashore in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. Boot rental will be offered onboard (for adults only) on Expedition cruises where the logo "Free Boot Rental" appears. Book your boots up to 7 days prior to departure, on our dedicated website https://boutique.ponant.com/, boots section. You will find them on board after embarkation. For more information, please contact us.
- Comfortable trousers: classic Winter trousers, warm cotton tracksuit, wool leggings
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Winter trousers with waterproof over trousers are the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort of trousers are essential
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- Woollen or thermolactyl Thermal underwear
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- MANDATORY
- Wool or silk glove liners, water-resistant and supple gloves
- Thick warm socks (ideally woollen)
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water).
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing).
- Highly protective sunglasses.
- Walking poles (highly recommended).
Do not hesitate to visit the online PONANT store which offers a selection of equipment and accessories adapted to our destinations, at the following address: https://boutique.ponant.com
Benefits of the PONANT store:
- Advice on equipment from our experts to help you prepare for your polar expedition
- A wide range of technical equipment for polar expeditions, approved by our experts
- Two delivery options: delivery to your home or directly to your cabin on board the ship
- Duty Free shopping for cabin delivered items
Pre/Post & Overlands
Before your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy


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The Ashington Group first met in October 1934 through the Workers' Education Association to study 'something different': an art appreciation course. The group was largely made up of men and women working in the local area and none had experienced galleries or real works of art. Their tutor, professor Robert Lyon encouraged them to learn art by producing it themselves. The men painted a record of a mid-20th century mining community, focusing on realistic, everyday subjects drawn from their own perspective. Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall was inspired by the Ashington Group story and wrote the play 'The Pitmen Painters' which has now been performed around the world.
This is a high quality art print of a painting from the Ashington Group Collection. The group's work is on permanent display at Woodhorn Museum, and is the first collection by an amateur art group to go on permanent display anywhere in the world.
- Based on the original painting by Len Robinson, c.1950
- Full colour Giclée art print
- This is a print to order item supplied rolled in tube
- Choice of two sizes: Medium (frameable size of 11 inch x 14 inch / 179 mm x 356 mm) or Large (frameable size of 16.5 inch x 23.4 inch / 420 mm x 594 mm)
- Note that due to varying sizes of the original artworks, the frameable size you select creates a print that is to scale with the original painting, and the print you receive will have a variable surrounding border (refer to image 2 for an example of how this could look)

subset: commoncrawl


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Forms Jobs
For Emergencies, Dial "911"
Location: 4548 Shattalon Drive
Fire Station Fifteen is home to Engine Company Fifteen. Station Fifteen is located in District One. Station Fourteen is a single-story, two-bay station and was placed into service in 1985. Station Fifteen is assigned 4 personnel each shift.
Station Fifteen's response area includes residential and commercial structures on Reynolda Road, Yadkinville Highway, and Shattalon Drive. Station Fifteen is also responsible for ordering and supplying the department with medical supplies for the department's Medical Program.
Square Mileage of Home Territory: 8.6 sq. mi.
Call Statistics:
Engine 15
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Unitrends to Expand Customer Support Ranks in South Carolina
Unitrends, the leading provider of all-in-one backup, archiving, instant recovery and disaster recovery solutions, today announced it will expand its customer support ranks in the company's Columbia, S.C., headquarters. The announcement comes amid unprecedented growth for the company. Unitrends achieved 88 percent growth in sales 2012 over 2011, and its performance in service and support was equally enviable: The company's customer satisfaction rate exceeded 98 percent for the year.
"Many technology companies view customer support as a cost center, one that can be transformed into a consulting engagement by holding customers' feet to the fire when they need help the most," said Mike Coney, CEO of Unitrends. "That's an awful practice, and at Unitrends, we feel strongly that no matter how effective our technologies are, the people behind them are our most powerful asset. We want our customers to sleep well at night knowing that if they find themselves in a disaster – one that jeopardizes their data and their jobs – help from a knowledgeable and dedicated Unitrends employee with the authority to make things right is one phone call or email away. That contrasts sharply with those who employ call centers that give the appearance of providing customer service – which, unfortunately, is all too common in the industry today."
Unitrends plans to hire a significant number of customer-facing technical support engineers and senior customer support engineers. The hiring push is the most recent in a year that saw the company create numerous jobs. Last month, Inc. Magazine recognized Unitrends as one of the top five job creators in South Carolina in its inaugural Hire Power Awards. All of the new support engineers will be based in Columbia and will work in a team that has already distinguished itself within the IT community and in communities like Spiceworks. The company's also hiring across a variety of functional areas.
Recent customer comments directed to Unitrends' leadership regarding the quality of the Columbia-based customer support staff – notable because they represent the norm, not the exception, include:
- "Just wanted to share our gratitude for all the assistance, guidance and wealth of information that Joel was able to provide us in a time of need." – Mohamed A., Tri-State Consumer Insurance
- "Support is always great from Unitrends. Probably the best support I receive from any vendor. I like that you always get a live person when calling a support number. The technicians are always patient and eager to help." – Patrick V., Maryhaven Center of Hope
- "John rocks. He is technically very sound. Also, he is very patient when dealing with complicated issues." – Scott D., BPI Information Systems, Ohio
- "Jonathan was the support engineer. He quickly diagnosed and resolved the issue. Couldn't have asked for more." – Jeff S., Summit Medical Center
- "Chris was very persistent in finding a solution. This paid off in that we were able to recover the system without reinstalling the application." – Bill B., Saddle Creek Corporation
- "Please convey my gratitude to Shaka. As always the dialogue is always professional and he communicates all technical aspects clearly. Unlike other vendors' support analysts, Shaka seems to always bring his good nature to each session and shares his knowledge so that I can address and remediate similar problems should I encounter them…" – Victor M., Aluminum Ladder
- "Aaron was great to work with. He took ownership of my issue and resolved it very quickly." – Patrick S., Alere Home Monitoring
- "Kimberly has given me outstanding service every time I have been assigned her for new Unitrends 712 appliance questions. Not only is she knowledgeable and quick to solve any issue or question, but she's also a pleasure to work with. I make many technical support calls to other hardware and software companies and I can easily say that I wish all support engineers show such excellent attention to detail." – Jeanine P., Midwest Precision Too & Die
- "My issue was resolved quickly. Unitrends' support tech Damian was great!" – Kerry M., Blue River Valley Schools
Unitrends' technical support engineers gauge their success by a wide range of criteria. This includes how long it takes to fix any problems the customer encountered in the course of disasters, such as natural events like hurricanes, or when addressing any technical questions that arise in their networks – for example, when they deploy new virtual assets or move to the cloud. Unitrends' technical support engineers also track customers' questions to proactively determine where they can eliminate problems before they happen. In addition, customer support calls, on average, are answered in three rings or less.
"Today's networks are more complex than ever and require virtualized, cloud-based and physical assets to work together flawlessly," added Coney. "The reality in data protection today is that you will need help at some point, and when you do, who answers that call or email is very important."
For more information on available positions, please visit http://www.unitrends.com/company/careers.html, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 803 454-0300.
About Unitrends
The trusted provider of all-in-one backup solutions, Unitrends enables its customers to focus on their business instead of backup. The company's family of scalable, all-in-one appliances and software solutions for backup, archiving, instant recovery and disaster recovery protects corporate data, over 100 different versions of servers, operating systems (including Windows, Hyper-V, VMware, Mac OS, Linux, AIX, Solaris and many others), SAN, NAS, hypervisors (including Hyper-V and VMware) and applications (including Exchange, SQL, Oracle and many others). Unitrends is the preferred choice of IT professionals because the company sets the standard in virtual, physical and cloud server data protection with instant recovery that enables complete system recovery in less than five minutes while Unitrends' pricing offers the lowest TCO in the industry. Unitrends' U.S.-based support team boasts a 99% customer satisfaction rate. Visit www.unitrends.com


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Attorneys for Charlie Sheen and his wife say they want to reconcile even though Brooke Sheen told police her husband put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.
Attorney Yale Galanter, who represents Brooke Sheen, said Wednesday the couple is "very much in love" and "they want to try to work it out."
Charlie Sheen's lawyer, Richard Cummins, confirms that the 44-year-old actor wants to reconcile.
Sheen was arrested on Christmas Day in Aspen, where the couple was on vacation. The 32-year-old Brooke Sheen told police he threatened her during an argument that started when she said she wanted a divorce.
Charlie Sheen has denied threatening his wife with a knife. He faces charges including felony menacing and domestic violence.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen
PLAY IT NOW: Charlie Sheen 911 Call (December 25, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: 2009 Emmys Backstage: Charlie Sheen - 'Just To Be Here Is A Victory'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Charlie Sheen - Couples - TV - Arrests


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Yo Majesty are about to release their debut album
Fans of electro rap should check out Yo Majesty if you haven't already! After dropping singles Club Action and Kryptonite Pussy they've got a whole bunch of new songs and are about to release their first album. I'm loving the lead single, Booty Klap! So catchy!
Here's an interview in Nylon magazine and their MySpace.
Listen to the track here!
Posted 4130 days ago | By Katie | Comment [3]
A further thought on the previous post...
Can I just say though, that there are some amazing art initiatives happening in South Auckland, particularly at the Fresh Gallery in Otara…Curated and run by Ema Tavola, this gallery supports local and Pacific artists, bringing visual art into the context of the Otara shopping centre. This project is Council funded, and despite my rant below about the sting being taken out of street art by its connection with Council & corporate funding, I do realise what a boost it can give to artists, particularly artists who don't have parental money to fund their projects etc etc. Fresh Gallery, in my view, is about bringing art in line with the community, and not imposing ideas of "what art is" onto the community. Particularly inspiring for me was the initial "Art Takeaway" self-published magazine produced by Ema and others which featured art by local Pacific artists, and was handed out at the Otara markets. Some people who would never bother going into the city to visit the Auckland Art Gallery now had some art to take home and think about, and the artists featured in the magazine would have the opportunity to have their work viewed by their own communities and families.
I mean, perhaps similarly, as Art Takeaway and Fresh Gallery challenge traditional curation and exhibition, "street art" appearing in galleries act as a challenge to traditional notion of what good art is. But I remember reading something by Elliot Askew a while ago, perhaps in a NZ hip hop magazine, where he was saying how frustrated he was when people tried to seperate the taggers from the street "artists", how he felt that you couldn't just dismiss tagging and love aerosol art. And it's really annoying when people think they're edgy cos they've got a piece by Misery in their front room. A public art becomes private.
Check out Ema's blog which features info about Fresh Gallery and other community based art projects.
Posted 4139 days ago | By Melissa | Comment [2]
How is it street art if it's not on the street?
This is not strictly about anything to do with music at all, but it happens to be the thing that is most on my mind at the moment, and this link that Linden forwarded to me this week just really made me wanna talk about it.
So you checked out the link and read what it was about right?: a group of "pixadores" in Brazil who were protesting against "the marketing, institutionalization and domestication of Street Art" by the galleries and media… And they didn't even bother covering their faces…swoon…
This issue has bugged me for ages, probably mostly intensely around 5 years ago when in Auckland a company by the name of Phantom decided to "own" all the spaces in Auckland usually used by posterers to advertise their DIY gigs and events etc. Where you'd normally see layers of black & white A4 flyers pasted up with a mixture of lumpy flour and water or perhaps wallpaper paste for the more discerning, suddenly there appeared huge A1 sized coloured posters advertising products and large corporate bands and signs advising you that you would be prosecuted or your poster would be torn down if it was put up in any of the spaces "owned" by Phantom, which happened to be the side of every abandoned building, electric box, busted fence etc in the city.
Similarly, there has recently been a huge crack down on graffiti in targeted areas of the city, (i.e the poor parts) and while there has never been a better time for graffiti artists who want to make money in the corporate world (just look at ads for Vodafone etc), suddenly your average kid on the street, for whom graffiti has always been something outside of the system, can get more screwed over by the police than ever before, especially if they live in South Auckland and if they are brown. I lived in the privileged central city, and worked with youth in under-privileged Otara (a suburb on the edge of Auckland) for a number of years, and I don't think I'm exaggerating to say that they seemed to be getting more and more ghettoised for behaviour that was perfectly legitimate in my eyes, me who doesn't want to have to watch planes pulling large advertisements for Qantas across the sky while I'm sitting in the park, who doesn't ask to be bombarded by sexist and heterosexist and racist advertising everytime I step outside the door in central Auckland….What the hell do I care if these kids want to tag everything up? I'm glad they do, the graffiti that many of those kids do in Auckland is vital and exhilirating in my opinion, cultural terrorism that resists being co-opted by being "ugly" in the eyes of society. And I'm not talking about Otis Frizzel either.
Anyways…So now I'm living in London, and where's all the graffiti? The only concentrated amount I've seen so far is in this tunnel that was set aside for a "street art" exhibition, featuring the work by some public school guy called Banksy…I mean, what the hell is the point of street art sanctioned by the council? What is the point of street art that some public school guy called Banksy sells for thousands of dollars and allows to be sold off on little canvases in the Camden markets to tourists etc, or has his pieces out on the streets put behind perspex so no nobody can tag over them? And has CCTV got such a hold on this city that there are no kids or activists or anyone wanting to spray all over the walls? That's a shame if it's so… And I can't say I'd risk it either.
So what the hell is up with commodifying street art? And posters and flyers and zines that are brought out on shiny coloured paper featuring advertising for Coke or whatever, disguising themselves as being "street" and therefore appealing to some youth market. Same as commodifying riot grrrl or punk or hip hop, middle class art school kids wearing "bling" and adopting some lingo outside of their experience as an expression of irony towards a group of people they don't think would ever understand the joke.
I've read a few message boards about what happened in Sao Paulo. The overriding opinion seems to be, good intentions, but bad choice of target. Why target an independent gallery featuring work by artists who do actually do stuff on the street, who maybe even came from the "street", and now are legitimately trying to make money off their skill. Dumb taggers, people are saying, who are still wearing Nike and trying to be revolutionary. Spray an adidas billboard, people reckon, if you want to make a statement.
Well you know what? What's gonna get a bigger reaction and get people talking about this issue more? Spraying up a gallery or tagging some billboard where the company can afford to put a new ad up to cover it at 6am so nobody ever sees or knows or cares? And plus, what do the artists exhibiting at the gallery in question care? No doubt their works were insured, so they'll still get money anyway, and what does it matter to them whether their work was used in this way or bought by some rich person to put up in their rich person's "edgy" lounge room? So they want to make legitimate money from their skill….well that's fine and understandable, but is it still "street art"? Is it still a zine if it's a monthly gig guide put out by Barfly? Do we need to waste paper making posters advertising Katy Perry when everyone who likes her has a TV anyway and watches it avidly?
The kids that I knew back home when I worked in South Auckland are going to end up either with huge fines, jail time or maybe even death (e.g the situation that happened last year), OR they are going to be commissioned by the mayor who will sanction them to do a piece on some politician on the side of one of their buildings in their neighbourhood who has never done a damn thing for them. And you can be damn sure the mayor will make sure that he gets into the photo with those kids in the papers.
This is an unapologetic rant. What do you think?
Posted 4143 days ago | By Melissa | Comment
Magic Johnson
A band I love, from the good ol' PDX...
Posted 4144 days ago | By Melissa | Comment
X-Ray Spex Sat 6th Sept @ the Roundhouse
Mainly, I was going to see Poly Styrene and hear her voice in true life, that was how come it seemed ok to pay £30 for a ticket to see a band who was known for their anti-consumer lyrics (I mean, I paid only $20 or something to see the Slits, and they'd come all the way to New Zealand!). Poly Styrene, when she was young and wearing plastic bag dresses is my ultimate inspiration: so weird, and so astute and so strident. Plus she was multi-racial with braces and said things like "yammer yammer yammer, yammer yammer yammer, boredom boredom, boredom boredom!" which is a phrase that seems to be appropriate for so many situations. X Ray Spex was one of the most important bands of their era for punk music, but Poly transcends even that for me.
Anyway, to be honest it was a mixed show. I'm gonna start with the downside at the risk of being negative: the sound was bad, she sometimes sang way out of time and had to drop whole lyrics to catch up and at times the band seem to be falling apart, which seems like it'd be just the ticket for X Ray Spex fans, but it just didn't have the same charm or riotous rebellion it would've had in '76 when played in some shitty punk club…No, this was the Roundhouse, there were coloured lights and a big stage and lots of people, so it was a bit weird. Also, Poly was dressed pretty conventional and a couple of songs were performed twice, which was odd.
Though, in all honesty I was glad Oh Bondage! was played twice, because they opened with it and it took me by surprise so I didn't have time to take it in. When they played it the second time Poly Styrene's daughter joined her on stage which was so great (her daughter's band opened that night, but unfortunately I missed them). It reminded me of when the Slits played and various "daughters" played with the original members. Aside from the dodgy technical stuff (I can't believe I really even cared about all that actually) I was having these weird brain flips thinking, oh my god, that is the Poly Styrene I'm looking at, and her actual voice singing those songs: it was just one of those moments that I thought could never happen just cos I wasn't born in time, but there it was right in front of me, and I know I'm gonna sound like a hippy, but it was pretty magical to have that occur.
They pretty much played all their songs off Germ Free Adolescents, apart from Plastic Bag. I think I probably enjoyed I Can't Do Anything the most, as it was my first favourite X Ray Spex song ever ("Freddie tried to strangle me,with my plastic popper beads, but I hit him back with my pet rat!"), and she really sang that song like she meant it (whatever it means!?). All in all the show was great, at times a little like a family sing-a-long combined with moments of pure punk abandon, and I felt very privileged to have been able to go.
Posted 4148 days ago | By Melissa | Comment [1]
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Sugar Cookie Bars
Happy Halloween! I'm so excited it's Halloween this weekend!! My favourite holiday and time of year. I've wanted to make Halloween sugar cookies and decorate them for years but this year was the first I actually did it! It was fun but stressful because I have never worked with royal icing really. I made some of the "flooding" icing too thin so it had air bubbles and didn't harden properly. But I've learned some things that will make next time easier. I was really wanting to make these creepy coffin cookies but I didn't plan very well and thinned my white icing before I had the chance to draw out skeletons. Next time! Anyway I just wanted to share a photo of these with you to spread some Halloween cheer.
I also want to share this other sugar cookie bar recipe with you. I'm sure many of you have seen it around on other blogs and there's a reason for it. It's really good and so easy to make. The cookie part is really thick and soft, not like a regular sugar cookie that's thinner and more crisp/hard. The frosting is good but very messy. Well messy in the sense of if you want to travel somewhere with these, you can't just throw them all into a container, you have to carefully layer them with parchment. But it's worth it! The most exciting part for me was definitely buying animal sprinkles to put on top.
If this sounds good, you might also like:
Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars
Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies
Snickerdoodle Blondies
Peanut Butter Squares with Milk Chocolate and Oats
Sugar Cookie Bars
Adapted from Anissa's Kitchen
I would omit the milk in the frosting next time - it made it look kind of weird (though it tasted fine).
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and frost.
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
5 tbsp milk
food coloring (if desired)
For frosting cream butter until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Add food coloring, if desired. Spread over cooled cookies.


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Healthy Heart Advice from Cardiologist Moms
Find Reasons to Move
Sharonne Hayes, M.D., has a demanding schedule as director of the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, which leaves scant time for hourlong workouts. So she makes an effort to get her physical activity in shorter increments throughout the day. "Studies show you reap the same health benefits in 10-minute bursts of activity," she says. She shuns the elevator for stairs, and you won't find her cruising the mall parking lot looking for a spot close to the entrance. "I'm an opportunistic exerciser. I fit it in whenever and wherever I can," she says—and so do her kids. This summer Dr. Hayes' 13-year-old son skipped the carpool and rode his bike to swim team practices. In the evening the entire family catches up on favorite TV shows while lifting weights or using cardio machines in their exercise room. "When the kids see my husband and me being active, it inspires them to join in," says Dr. Hayes. "Plus, it's a great way to spend time together as a family."
Skip the Kids' Meals
Slow-cooker meals and dishes prepared on the weekends make it easier for Stephanie Coulter, M.D., associate director of noninvasive cardiology at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, to get dinner on the table in a hurry during the week. But eating at home isn't always practical when one of her daughters has an evening sporting event. On those nights, the family makes it an occasion by dining at a restaurant, not a fast-food joint. Her 11- and 9-year-old girls will split a salad and grilled chicken from the adult menu. "I steer the girls away from the kids' meals, which are usually fried and loaded with fat, calories and salt," says Dr. Coulter. "Having them share the generally healthier adult entree is a smarter, and often more economical, way to go."
Buy Farm-Fresh Fare
Once a week Rita Redberg, M.D., director of women's cardiovascular services at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco, and her family receive a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with occasional eggs, meats and dairy products, from local farmers via a community supported agriculture program (CSA). "We get seasonal produce that's bursting with great taste and nutrients, yet low in pesticides and other additives," she says. There are more than 1,000 CSA programs nationwide and those numbers keep growing. (If one's not available in your area, Dr. Redberg suggests patronizing your local farmers' markets instead.) Her daughters actually look forward to seeing what new or unusual veggies are included in the weekly CSA package.
Part Ways with Some Family Traditions
Ileana Pina, M.D., has always cooked meals her daughter Victoria loves. But what Dr. Pina, professor of medicine and cardiology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, serves isn't exactly what you'd find in her family's homeland of Cuba. "Traditional dishes are heavy on starchy vegetables and fatty meats like salt pork and bacon. I make things healthier by loading up on different veggies, using less fatty meats like lean chicken or turkey bacon and cooking with olive oil," says Dr. Pina. "Just about any meal can be made better for you—and still taste great—with the right substitutions." Because Dr. Pina's family has a history of high blood pressure and heart disease (her father died from a heart attack at age 43), both she and Victoria are careful about their salt intake. "I prefer to season foods with spices, garlic and onions," she says. And to avoid any unnecessary temptation she now stores the salt shaker in the pantry rather than smack-dab in the center of the dining table.
Help Your Picky Eater
If it were up to the daughter of Jennifer Mieres, M.D., chicken fingers would be on the menu every night and veggies would be outlawed. "I've talked to Zoe one-on-one and spoken at her school about how food choices affect heart health, but it's still tough," says Dr. Mieres, director of nuclear cardiology at New York University School of Medicine. To keep the dinner table from becoming a battleground, Dr. Mieres allows Zoe to choose her meals, but within limits. "I encourage her to at least try some of what we're having." Then she gets to pick from her own menu, which typically includes some protein options (roasted turkey or grilled chicken), carbs (whole wheat pasta or soba noodles), vegetables (edamame and carrots are tolerable) and fruits (apples, kiwis or pears). Dessert is usually low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt—but Zoe's only allowed to have some if she's eaten at least three servings of fruit or vegetables that day.
Be a Role Model
No one in the family of Karol E. Watson, M.D., can afford to be a couch potato: Her grandmother died in her 50s from heart disease and her father had his first heart attack at 59. "I don't want this to be my destiny or my children's," Dr. Watson says. "Kids tend to become inactive during their teens and remain sedentary as adults. And it's in adolescence when problems with weight gain and diabetes arise," says the codirector of preventive cardiology at University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine.
"Doing something physical every day is as important as buckling up," Dr. Watson says. She uses herself as an example, squeezing exercise into her jam-packed days. She's a big fan of family walks and bike rides. Her husband plays in an adult basketball league and coaches some of the kids' sports teams. "If your children don't see you making physical activity a priority," Dr. Watson says, "then it will never be important to them either."
Originally published in the February 2009 issue of Family Circle magazine.


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7 Comments " {cheers to the new year}: shades of teal, green gold + white "
- The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills December 19, 2012
Love the teal drink and matching sugar rim! It is so much fun when you have a signature cocktail.
- December 19, 2012
- A Crimson Kiss December 19, 2012
What an amazing year it's been–to a wonderful, colorful 2013 for you and yours!
- December 19, 2012
- Rings December 20, 2012
Wow, just seem perfect
- December 20, 2012
- Anonymous
Wow!! I've been looking at gold wedding stuff for the past few days and looked at it with coral, green, or turquoise. I had just decided I wanted blue shades with some green. I logged on here to pick some blue shades and this pops up. Everything is falling into place!!
- December 20, 2012
- Brenda's Wedding Blog December 21, 2012
This inspiration board is so pretty and a perfect way to ring in the new year. How is it already so close to 2013? I don't have any specific changes lined up for the new year yet - other than to hope it's a healthier one than 2012 and that I get to spend many hours with our now family of 4 :)
- December 21, 2012
- Bridal Jewellery December 22, 2012
fabulous inspirational boards!
- December 22, 2012
- Nyfika 2013 January 02, 2013
stunning colors, thanks for sharing
- January 02, 2013
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