Australian and NZ EDMusos sing Te Aroha

Posted on By Vienna Richards

“Languages, just like people, are worlds within themselves. They have the incredible ability to provide us with a clearer, more profound and detailed perspective of a culture and its views on life, nature, and death.” Orge Castellano Listen to the harmonies. Apparently, if you listen to it with your earphones, you’ll hear the harmonies ( I can hear them without the earphones too). Singing during Melbourne’s lockdown has been a balm, for many including myself. Te Aroha, which means love in te reo Māori, is a well known waiata (song) in Aotearoa New Zealand. It sings about love and peace (rangimārie). Many in Aotearoa sung Te Aroha publicly after the tragedy and loss of life on Friday 15 March 2019. in solidarity with the Muslim … Continue ReadingAustralian and NZ EDMusos sing Te Aroha

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Melbourne CBD’s Oldest Home, 330 King St

Posted on By Vienna Richards

It’s overshadowed by Melbourne’s modern day buildings. Still, this historic house stands silently on the corner of Melbourne’s La Trobe and King Street doing its best to stay. It’s almost 200 years old. Propped up by scaffolding on one side, it is scarred by graffiti tags on the wall facing La Trobe Street. I took the photos during the permitted walks outside of the home in August during Melbourne’s Stage 4 Lockdown. Despite its neglected state, this tiny building is one of the remaining glimpses into Melbourne’s frontier beginnings. When it was built around 1850/1851, it must have been quite the house. Some interesting things in Melbourne’s archives. 1800s Map of West Melbourne showing Spencer, La Trobe, King Sreets and Flagstaff Gardens. The green mark … Continue ReadingMelbourne CBD’s Oldest Home, 330 King St

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“Always Goodnight” by Scott Alan, Sung by Cynthia Erivo

Posted on By Vienna Richards

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Aldous Huxley Today is 11 September in Australia and New Zealand. Tomorrow it will be the 11th September in New York City. That’s the day many of us will never forget. On that morning in 2001, New York Time, I was working as a foreign news TV producer at TVNZ’s Auckland bureau. It was the most emotional and heart-shattering day I’ve ever had as a journalist in a newsroom. That morning, actually it was long day and night, on shift. I still remember it and think about it every anniversary. I felt differently about journalism after that day. The world and the skyline suddenly felt dangerous in a way that I’d never considered … Continue Reading“Always Goodnight” by Scott Alan, Sung by Cynthia Erivo

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This Anti-Fog Face Mask Idea Works

Posted on By Vienna Richards

This works. Not Mona Lisa’s mask. But the idea in this tik tok video works. I’ve tried it and now use this when walking outside during the permitted time we’re allowed out during Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions. During the first half of Melbourne’s second wave of COVID-19, I walked without my glasses until I found this. For one, I can see clearly, no fog, no ascending cloud formations appearing on my glasses. The first time I tried this, it felt like an earth shattering revelation. So if you’re loving your walks during the permitted time we’re allowed outside the home during Melbourne’s Stage 4 Restrictions, and you need your glasses to see, give this a go. You can’t leave home without wearing your face mask … Continue ReadingThis Anti-Fog Face Mask Idea Works

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Stage 4 Melbourne CBD on Monday 31/08

Posted on By Vienna Richards

Stage 4 Day. It’s a sunny Monday. Hallelujah. I’m loving the sun, the sight of Melbourne on a warm day. I live in the Melbourne CBD so I take these photos during walks within a 5 km radius of my apartment. Spencer Street. It’s a day off work today so I’m out doing essential things and managing to do a walk with it. These snapshots are taken in a moment while walking. They’re not perfect photos but they capture the day, and as I mentioned. Stage 4 Melbourne CBD on Monday 31/08 Mask wearing outside of home is mandatory in Victoria. I always wear a mask outside of my apartment, including when I am in the foyer of my apartment building. Melburnians are permitted out … Continue ReadingStage 4 Melbourne CBD on Monday 31/08

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A Speech only Former First Lady Michelle Obama Could Give

Posted on By Vienna Richards

The first minute of former First Lady of the USA’s speech from the heart went like this. “Good evening everyone. It’s a hard time and everyone’s feeling it in different ways. And I know a lot of folks are reluctant to tune into a political convention right now, or to politics in general. Believe me, I get that. … Continue Reading >A Speech only Former First Lady Michelle Obama Could Give

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Melbourne’s La Trobe and Spencer Streets, Friday Lunchtime

Posted on By Vienna Richards

Stage 4 in the city. Melbourne’s La Trobe and Spencer Streets at Friday lunchtime. Even though I have been living in the Melbourne CBD since March, when the first stay at home orders were introduced, there are some days when the road traffic feels or looks emptier than usual. Lunchtime traffic on the road and footpaths of La Trobe on Friday 28 August was one of those days. I was standing in the sun at the pedestrian crossing when I first noticed the emptiness across all the roads at the intersection. I was walking out of the home for one of the permitted essential reasons. And this is a snapshot of what I saw. Pre-pandemic, lunchtime would normally be busy and bustling. Melbourne has a … Continue ReadingMelbourne’s La Trobe and Spencer Streets, Friday Lunchtime

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