You Must Be From Away

Teabowl of the Month (to the power of 2)

Posted on 13 September, 2015 by jb

Both by Michael Sälzer, inspired ceramicist and friend.

The one on the left is an example of the work for which he’s renowned (he’s a member of the – by invitation only- International Academy of Ceramicists).

Salt-glazed stoneware.

The bowl on the right wasn’t for sale.

His wife (equally renowned ceramicist and painter) Beate Thiesmeyer (in the background) took it out of the dishwasher to show me a new body of work he’s experimenting with, this being the first piece.

Earthenware, low-fired, white slip base with a delicate green glaze.

It was mine the second I saw it.

It flows.

You can feel the way that he threw it.

You can sense the dynamics and the way that the lip decided that it wanted to be JUST LIKE THAT.

The glaze is almost like a veil.

This is such a fucking good pot.

Fucking GREAT pot.

Posted in Art, Ceramics, Mug of the Month | Tagged beate thiesmeyer, Kaub, Michael Sälzer, Viktoriastollen | 2 Comments

Playing to infinity

Posted on 13 September, 2015 by jb

I watched this game as the only New Zealander surrounded by Irish supporters in an Irish pub in Mainz.

Ireland was 19-0 up after 18 minutes (which itself put me into a state of shock that was only relieved by a couple of quick pints and hyper-ventilating…) but the All Blacks just kept pushing and pushing and pushing.

Into extra time. (In rugby, the clock runs until the ball goes into touch, points are scored or if there’s an infringement)

Bayern Munich’s the team known for getting jammy penalties (as in: yesterday against Augsburg) or scoring in the last seconds of a game.

Manchester United is the same.

Without the jammy penalties.

What makes these teams different?

And successful?

They all play as if the game lasts 10 minutes longer than regular time.

In fact, they don’t even KNOW what the time is.

They’re actually playing to infinity

Posted in Cool stuff, sport, Too good to miss | Leave a comment

A day in Southern Germany

Posted on 13 September, 2015 by jb

Posted in A day in, iPhone 6, Nikon D7000, Photography | Tagged Hüfingen, Jürgen Strohm, Judith Radl, Kloster Maulbrunn, Maria Meyer | 1 Comment

British racists

Posted on 9 September, 2015 by jb

Posted in Too good to miss | 1 Comment

As specifically requested…..

Posted on 4 September, 2015 by jb

……by Ms Mura and Mr Houghton

Crab cake. Legal Seafood

Posted in Away, Yum | Leave a comment

I always figured you had to be a bit unbalanced to tip in the first place….

Posted on 4 September, 2015 by jb

Until I found out what waitresses earn in the US.

Which is fuckallandthreepence an hour…..

Posted in This is America | Leave a comment

A stroll down Chauncey Creek Road, Kittery, Maine

Posted on 4 September, 2015 by jb

Chauncey Creek Road peels off from Pepperell Road, US 103 which runs from Kittery to York.

You’ll first stumble over the Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier (BYOB, which around here can mean either “Bring Your Own Booze” or “Bring Your Own Boat” – I brought a squealer (0.95l) of Tributary Pale Ale..) and then the turn-off to Pocahontas Rd that leads to Gerrish Island and Fort Foster, a derelict military fort dating back to the beginning of the last century.

But if you continue down towards Seacoast Road and the public beach, you’re likely to meet Bill Hackett of the York Police Department who’ll show you where you can park without getting a ticket and tell you about places to go and see.

Not really what you expect from law enforcement officers over here…..

Posted in A day in, iPhone 5, Nikon D7000, Photography | 1 Comment

Why the USPS will die.

Posted on 3 September, 2015 by jb

The US Federal Gummint sent me a cheque (they call it a “check”, but anyway..) a while back in compensation for TSA wilfulling damaging stuff during their security checks.

Local bank wanted pretty much the face value to process it, so research came up with option of cashing it in the USA at a post office.

Printed out the USPS website and fronted up at the post office in Kittery, Maine the other day.

“I don’t think we cash those” looking with grave suspicion at a US Treasury cheque.

“I’m sure you do” I said ” It says so here and it tells you what to do. I endorse the cheque….”

“That’s CHECK” she butted in. “With CK”

“I endorse the CHECK, you compare my signature and give me the money”

“Less the $4 cheque cashing fee” she says.

So ONE federal agency charges money to process a cheque from ANOTHER federal agency?

And they charge more than WALMART charges…..?

Need to send off a package, too.

Go on their website and prices start off at $65 or something stupid for a small, light package.

Mind you, it does get there yesterday….

But if you’re not time-sensitive (but price-aware), you can work your way through drop-down list after drop-down list to where common-or-garden shipping costs around $9.

And takes about a year.

Now, if I see $65, I’d think “Well, I might as well use FedEx” and most folk won’t get past the $30 service and think “Well, I might as well use UPS”

These people are so stupid……

Posted in Fools I have met, This is America, WTF | Leave a comment