Binocular Football

Remembering murdered Kent songwriter/busker Taigh

Over the years, this young guy became a very popular busker in my hometown of Canterbury, Kent. His voice would carry far down the high street, and he became a regular and welcome part of the furniture. Someone took his and a fellow busker’s life a couple of months ago. His younger brother released this song on iTunes and all the proceeds will go to Taigh’s infant daughter. It’s a powerful piece, and of course, the message takes on a new poignancy now.

Irina Werning’s Back to the Future photo series

Argentine photographer Irina Werning has complied this beautiful and poignant collection of portraits of adults re-enacting images of themselves as kids. From what I gather, she has asked people to submit photographs of themselves and then returned with them to these same spots at the same times in their lives. She’ll take this project round the world, from Baghdad to Eurodisney, and is looking for willing participants. Read more

Bug fighting in South East Asia

Of all the little idiosyncratic activities I’ve come across since living in Southeast Asia, this nears the favourite. The bug fights are held in a cemetery about half an hour outside of Chiang Mai late in the year when the stags are at their randiest. It pulls an impressive crowd who bet some hefty dollars on the winner, claimed by the beetle who throws its opponent off the revolving log and struts (or crawls) to victory. Read more