Marking time in July 2005
How the other half lived
My thanks to Paul Giambarba for a link to an online version of Jacob Riis’s How the other half lives.
Jacob A Riis, a police-court reporter on The New York Tribune, believing that the camera is a mightier weapon than the pen for attacking the bad conditions that lead to crime, took between 1887 and 1892 a poignant series of photographs to point out to society its obligations to the poor. With his books How the other half lives (1890) and Children of the poor (1892) Riis awakened the conscience of New Yorkers and influenced the Governor of New York State, Theodore Roosevelt, to undertake a number of social reforms, including the wiping our of notorious tenements at Mulberry Bend, Today the Jacob A Riis Neighbourhood Settlement comemorates the photographer’s great work. [Helmut and Alison Gernsheim, A concise history of photography (London: Thames and Hudson, 1965), page 148.]
More awards for the Illustrated Burra Charter
Today Margie and I attended the National Trust of Queensland’s 2005 heritage award presentation. On behalf of Australia ICOMOS I carried away these two awards for The Illustrated Burra Charter: Good Practice for Heritage Places:
The Bendigo Bank Gold Award for excellence in heritage conservation works of action (top award for works by community organisations).
The John Herbert Memorial Award (the top award overall).
Sewer history
On sewerhistory.org you’ll find writings and images illustrating the history of sewerage systems. It’s based on the work of Jon Schladweiler, historian of the Arizona Water & Pollution Control Association. (Thanks to Pruned for pointing this out.)
The well-dressed mower
Among the accessories offered by the Scythe Supply Co (Maine, USA) is this cow horn whetstone holder. Not keeping your scythe sharp is the way to frustration. Tradition (and good sense) dictates that you carry a sharpening stone in a holder on your belt, and stop from time to time to touch up the edge. If you find a galvanised steel holder too plain, and a plastic one too gauche, consider this alternative. As the blurb says:
It will make a marvelous accent to your mowing costume. A frivolity, but a pretty one. You will be the envy of your mowing friends.
