“In the 1920s O G S Crawford invented aerial archaeology, one of many services this eccentric Marxist misanthrope performed for the study of antiquity.”
- Jonathan Meades: Link

Bloody Old Britain: O G S Crawford and the Archaeology of Modern Life

By Kitty Hauser

Granta Books, 286pp

Amazon: Link

“Future archaeologists will perhaps excavate the ruined factories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the radiation effects of Atom bombs have died away.”
- O. G. S. Crawford, from Archaeology in the Field (1953)

O. G. S. Crawford @ Wikipedia: Link.

~ Karl Jones

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Rome: It’s beautiful and it’s not. Kinda like everything else in life.

“La prossima fermata è Roma Termini.”

I moved to Italy to live at the end of September last year. I lived in Brescia (a medium-sized city in Northern Italy) until March 1, when I moved to Siena.

(I am once again back in Brescia, but that’s a story I’m going to save for another day.)

I picked up some vocabulary during those first five months in Italy, but it wasn’t until I started attending an Italian class for immigrants in Siena that I really started learning the language.

Now, finally!, I understand much of what is being said either to me or around me. The language no longer sounds foreign or like pretty sounds flowing forth from people’s mouths. Although I’m more motivated to learn the language–because it finally seems like an achievable goal to converse fluently–the glossy veneer of the nonsensical musical sounds has dulled. I don’t know, there’s something about understanding when somebody complains about the weather (or conversely, the ease in which I can complain about it) that makes any language sound less romantic.

Shiny glossy veneers are so overrated. Don’t you think? I mean, a veneer is just a thin expensive sheet of wood (or metal) with layers upon layers of unusually toxic clear varnish. If it wasn’t for the common cheap material beneath (like pine or regular mild steel), the veneer would have nothing to attach itself to.

And I’ve always preferred the look of a dull, used or aged finish anyway…and now that I’ve exhausted my analogy I’m finished with this post.

But one more thing before I go to bed on this hot summer night: it is nice to know that you can simply listen to the conductor to know when your next stop is and not have the nervous wondering of whether you’ve missed it or have yet to arrive.

Arrivederci a dopo.

~Janelle Renée

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Natural Touch is a Non Governmental Organisation based in Calabar the Eastern part of Nigeria.The inspiration come from a point of observation of handicapped people and Children roaming the streets of some citites in Nigeria mostly in Calabar begging for alms.
Most of them at the end of the day retired to uncompleted buildings to pass the night,It was a very gory site when a reported case of ritual dehumanising killing of two of such people in a street close to my residence.These two were killed and some part of them remove for rituals activities or some other things not quite known to us.

So touched by such inhuman treament to people because of their inability to defend themselves or provide proper accomodation for themselves,and even a source of livelihood was traumatic,hence,my decision to get the NGO (NATURAL TOUCH) started,with the aim to provide food and shelter for the hanicapped.Make sure there is a future for them and security of life for them.

Upon our inception,we had limited our intention to mostly the young ones and average aged.Although we could not provide accomodation for them but we  provide the basic needs which is food for them atleast once a day.

It is our aim to increase the feeding arrangement to twice a day and also build a home for them.It is our aim to accomodate at least 2000-5000 handicapped people of difiers ages in the home,and Animals too.
With support from other Organisations/Individauls that are touched just as we are.We will establish a school or a handicraft centre for them to study and become independent of their own in future.
Suffice to say here that most of them roam the street with torn cloths and look unkept,We also provide clothing where necessary and affordable to them.
Based on our inability to sustain the financial burden,we are looking forward to Groups or Individuals with similar passion as we have towards uplifting the living standard of these hadicapped and also thinking of ensuring their future.

We are planning of building a home for them in Calabar to accomodate the handicapped and also recruit personnels to take care of their cooking and tranining.
We look forward to support  from passionate groups and individuals.
Thanks,
Dennis

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Technology for human needs:

• The Outquisition
• Engineers Without Borders
• MIT International Design Summit
• Free/Open Appropriate Technology
• Transition Towns
• Technology for Humanity

(...)
Read the rest of Technology for Humanity (735 words)

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Screen 1.  "Bee" System Provides Connectivity in Emergencies

Screen 2.  Feeding Children During "Rat Flood" in Bangladesh

Would you like to explore the possibilities for volunteer, professional, and/or career involvement in civic action, community service, and other constructive developmental efforts in countries that are of greatest interest to you ??

Take a little time to acquaint yourself with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are currently engaged in programs of this sort.  Link up and learn from them if you can find opportunities to do so.  Use the directories below:

TakingITGlobal Organizations Directory

InterAction Membership Directory

USAID Private Voluntary Organizations Directory

Visit and explore the growing International Civic Action, Community Service, and Development Film Clip Collection, at:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/civactnet.htm#FilmClips

>>>  If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:

http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/536415

Best wishes to all,

Dave Matthews,  Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building:  Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address:  civact6@yahoo.com


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Screen 1.  Scouts Fight Bird Flu in Indonesia

Screen 2.  Rebuilding Ugandan Communities Through Sport

Would you like to explore the possibilities for volunteer, professional, and/or career involvement in civic action, community service, and other constructive developmental efforts in countries that are of greatest interest to you ??

Take a little time to acquaint yourself with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are currently engaged in programs of this sort.  Link up and learn from them if you can find opportunities to do so.  Use the directories below:

TakingITGlobal Organizations Directory

InterAction Membership Directory

USAID Private Voluntary Organizations Directory

Visit and explore the growing International Civic Action, Community Service, and Development Film Clip Collection, at:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/civactnet.htm#FilmClips

>>>  If you want to forward this material to others, the correct URL is:

http://civact6.tigblog.org/post/535879

Best wishes to all,

Dave Matthews,  Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
"Nation-Building:  Are You Serious ??"
E-Mail Address:  civact6@yahoo.com


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Max and the Fairies by Michael Orwick - Oil on Canvas, 16″ x 20″

Whimsical, sweet and beautiful. I really relate to this painting. Poor Max is being tormented and cajoled by the fairies. They want him to play and he looks like he is saying, “Just leave me  alone, not again.” I’ve seen my cat often playing with or being poked by fairies. But he usually doesn’t look forlorn like Max. Sometimes he turns around and swats at them, sometimes he runs and every once in a while he looks surprised and jumps. The dreaded fairy poke. Got ya! The photo right is the ‘Naah aw’ look before he pounces or runs after them. It’s a great good game. Max and the Fairies is in Michael’s Whimsical collection. Lovely work!

Michael says, “There is a reason we are drawn toward beauty, it is the language of God and nature. To me there is nothing more provocative than beauty, it inspires deep reflection and motivates me to create.”

Michael Orwick born 1975 in Astoria, Oregon. Traveled to Australia where he began drawing. Graduated with a major in Illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon. You can see more of Michael’s beautiful work, buy paintings or prints, and read his light hearted ramblings at his website michaelorwick.com.

~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

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‘Angel’ - Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban, live duet

Absolutely beautiful! This lovely song about being held with love in the arms of angels gave me chills and brought tears. I love Sarah and Josh separately, but together, here, now… Wow!

Live duet by Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban at Live8 in Philadelphia, PA singing Sarah McLachlan’s song: Angel. From the album: Surfacing 1997, which won three Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards; Soundtrack movie: City of Angels 1998.

Sarah McLachlan singer/songwriter was born January 28, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Growing up she took voice lessons, and studied classical piano and guitar. At 17 she fronted for the band The October Game, following their first concert she was offered a recording contract by Nettwerk. Listen to her amazing music, read news, buy CDs and learn more at www.sarahmclachlan.com.

Josh Groban singer/songwriter was born February 27, 1981 in Los Angeles, California. In 1997 and 1998 he attended Interlochen Arts Camp, majoring in musical theater and voice. He graduated in 1999 with a major in theater from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Soon after graduation he was offered a recording contract at Warner Brothers Records. His recording debut was singing “For Always” with Lara Fabian on the soundtrack to A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001). Read news, listen his wonderful music, watch videos, see photos and read his blog at www.joshgroban.com.

~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

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Mário Quintana


Se tu me amas, ama-me baixinho
Não o grites de cima dos telhados
Deixa em paz os passarinhos
Deixa em paz a mim!
Se me queres,
enfim,
tem de ser bem devagarinho, Amada,
que a vida é breve, e o amor mais breve ainda...

Jorge de Lima

Mulher proletária — única fábrica
que o operário tem, (fabrica filhos)
tu
na tua superprodução de máquina humana
forneces anjos para o Senhor Jesus,
forneces braços para o senhor burguês.


Mulher proletária,
o operário, teu proprietário
há de ver, há de ver:
a tua produção,
a tua superprodução,
ao contrário das máquinas burguesas
salvar o teu proprietário.