MUCH GIVEN TO OPPROBRIUM

I know the pickins have been slim here; and now they may disappear entirely for a couple of weeks while my wife and I are in Australia. This little jaunt is necessary that I may fulfil certain prophesies regarding the Sydney Opera House, Federation Square in Melbourne, and Cairns. Aprés moi, le crocodil. Read all about it. God and technology willing, illustrated posts from the excursion will appear here. Any suggestions from old hands about how a tenderfoot might best approach this wild and alluring country would be much appreciated.

JUST CORNY AS HELL

They are in the most remote avenue. When you see their surroundings you will sanction this crime.

THOSE BYGONE FROGLET DAYS RECALLED ANEW

After much arduous toil in life's rich laboratory Brad Keech of Pressure Printing has succeeded in creating a heart-meltingly beautiful new print of my drawing THE PENSIONER, now available in a limited edition of 50.

Unlike computer-generated gyclée reproductions, which are composed of infinitesimal spatters of electronically tortured dyes arranged on plasticised papers, this intaglio impression is printed on antique machinery using oil-based printer's ink on luxuriously thick hand-made 100% cotton rag paper paper created specially for this purpose. Every grain of charcoal is reproduced with perfect fidelity, resulting in a print with warmth, depth and uniformity of chroma obtainable no other way. Find out more about these and other Pressure Printing triumphs, including the new SQUEAKER IN THE WOODS copperplate print here.

GREAT LITTLE TOWN, DO A LOT WITH IT

Thanks to the indefatigable Larry Reid the Fantagraphics Book Store in Georgetown has become a place where events of a certain admirable magnitude occur with wonderful frequency. Ivan Brunetti and Bruce Bickford are coming there soon; Lazy Robinson just left.

Here's a link to the Fantagraphics blog FLOG so you can see what you've already missed and what's bearing down on you. And while you're there, enjoy some state-of-the-art hyperbole about the Lazy Robinson performance and a 45 second clip from the show in which Bill Frisell's always-perfect-for-the-moment guitar playing competes with my untuned-calliope-of-a-voice. Thank you for your interest-if-any.

And thanks to Nibman First Class Bob Rini for the snap.