urbanstone hits the bottle...

or rather I'm hitting the wine label :)

A cafe in Bronte is putting out a small run of its own wine, and is using one of the urbanstone photos for the Botrytis Semillon label (pictured left). I think I'll have to check with my culinary consultant Prof Crawford as to what goes with such a sweet wine as this one?

Regardless, this is definitely a lucrative side-trade I'll be very happy to develop. If I could just figure out what photos would be in demand for a good shiraz label from N-E Victoria? Hmmm...

what's in my coffee?

Great article - interesting movie. Hope it makes it to Australia. Read the article all the way through - nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

"Bean counting

50 Number of countries where coffee is grown.

2bn Number of cups of coffee consumed each day.

42 Number of beans needed to make one espresso.

80-140 Milligrams of caffeine per cup.

£40bn Amount generated by annual sales.

3 cents Amount received by an average coffee farmer for a $3 cup of coffee."

Hoodoo broken

The 'woods finally break their 12 year run of losses at the Gabbatoir - despite the best efforts of the white maggots. Beating Brisvane in Brisbane must be one of the greatest feelings in footy (other than a GF or beating "pigs-arse" Carlscum). Like an oasis after 12 longs years of denial, last night would have been magical - unless your name was Bootsy, and at 3 quarter time the call comes through that your daughter is ill and needs you now! Dave your reward must be great in heaven for resuming fatherly duties - or atleast, write this one down for the history books. So that when we're in our 60's at the MCG, Beth knows that she needs to come and ferry us home again - singing victoriously all the way of course.

Junmo

Junmo, originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Reconciliation service at college - Junmo reading, with Pearl (Our aboriginal elder) and Anita (Lecturer in theology and liturgy) behind.

Sydney Film Festival

Yes, the Sydney Film Festival is back again and it looks like an impressive line up of styles and genres. Everything from a "behind the scenes with Pixar animators", a cluster from contemporary Turkey, a doco on Australian hip hop that I'm very keen to see, and a cracker from Samuel L. Jackson. Plenty to see - even for fans of the Bruckheimer style (ronaldo? rossy?) - so hop to it and see something different.

BTW I'm definitely going to see "Words from the city" on June 22nd, so anyone wanting to join our little group is most welcome.

winged critter

winged critter, originally uploaded by urbanstone.

"Can we hold the cup of life in our hands? Can we lift it for others to see, and can we drink it down to the full?" - Henri Nouwen

the godfather of soul

For those of you with a love of all things funky (yes, bootsy I'm looking at you), then this is a must. Solid Steel is a record label/radio station/podcasting outfit from the UK that puts out a podcast every fortnight of some emerging DJ's mixing up some great music. The latest one from solid Steel regular DK is a James Brown tribute and is an absolute gem.

So, either download Solid Steel podcast #56 from iTunes (it's free!), or visit the Solid Steel website and hunt around for the DK "James Brown" mix.