THE UNDYING ART OF TAXIDERMY

The animals may be not be alive and well, but the art form definitely is.  Anna Bradley-Smith delves into the weird and growing world of taxidermy. Coco holds out a dead duckling on a tray. Its small, fluffy body stands upright, ready to waddle away; its eyes are open and unblinking. Coco’s eyes are also open, unblinking, fixed on something to his right. Standing with … Continue reading THE UNDYING ART OF TAXIDERMY

A UNION FIT FOR A GODDESS

We know when one door shuts, another opens; but two Bed-Stuy businesses have gone one up by sharing an entrance and letting the old and new come together. People are sitting under a leafy peach tree, some have wine, some coffee. Hanging shells swing in the breeze as the sun slices across the garden; J Dilla’s voice floats softly outside. You’d be forgiven for ordering … Continue reading A UNION FIT FOR A GODDESS

A TRIP FOR THE SENSES

Two years ago I wrote this, pretty much to the day. Go to India. Do it. When people say India is in your face, they aren’t joking. Wafts of pollution, rubbish, excrement and delicious spice get up your nose. Tooting, shouting, music, calls to prayer and constant chattering permeate your ear drums. The extremes of poverty and wealth, colour, dirt and people spread as far as the eye can … Continue reading A TRIP FOR THE SENSES

FINDING A JOURNALISM JOB IN NEW YORK AIN’T EASY

It took me four months and five days to get a journalism job in New York. This isn’t an exceedingly long time to be jobless, but it is enough time to: Start to wonder if you might, in fact, be worthless to the world Make some observations about the job climate for journalists So, since I’m over the other side and again feeling like I’m on … Continue reading FINDING A JOURNALISM JOB IN NEW YORK AIN’T EASY

A NIGHT TO BE BRAVE

India is a country filled with colour and light, but like everywhere – there are shadows. Anna Bradley-Smith tells about being caught in the dark.

I could feel him beside me, driving slow enough to stay in line.

It was dark and there were only a couple of other men scattered on the street. One put out his rubbish and stepped back inside his gate. I wanted to call out, I could feel something wasn’t right. Less than a kilometre from home, I couldn’t have felt further away from locking my front door.

Continue reading “A NIGHT TO BE BRAVE”

PASHING, POT AND POLICE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Jessy Edwards

I travelled to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week, spending the day soaking up the highs and lows of a healthy democracy: smoking weed with Bernie Sanders supporters, walking in a Black Lives Matter march and pissing off a Fox News reporter. But I was left wondering if I’d been a rubbish citizen in my own nation – New Zealand. This story originally appeared on The Spinoff.

Continue reading “PASHING, POT AND POLICE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION”