Toothbrushes and evolution

I bought a bamboo toothbrush. I remember buying one before and being disappointed with its brushing power, but I can't bring myself to use a plastic one-I keep having flashbacks to the Himalayas where I saw them embedded in the ground, a revolting talisman of my Oil Dynasty. Anyway I had the thing in my back pocket as I got into the car.When I felt a crack! 

Boo hoo for bamboo but the birth of a new and improved toothbrush!

I love the waves of fashion that toothbrush makers create. Remember the bent handle? The one that somehow allowed you to brush in places and ways you never thought possible. The computer graphics which showed close up versions of Dante's hell in your mouth. The myriad of bristle shapes which all superseded one another. The nonslip handles. Imagine if you slipped while brushing your teeth! OMG! Surgery to remove the toothbrush from where it is embedded in your brain. Then the bend in the brush (which I just created in the Peugeot) got out of hand- it started to get a sort of shock absorber to no doubt reduce the impact of hard brushing. Pan to computer generated animation of seismic activity of the earths crust. I'm eagerly awaiting nanotechnology to enter the toothbrush wars. "Nano-particles to make a protective shield around your teeth" - switch to CGI animation of an army of soldiers holding shields and spears and swords and warding off glancing blows(representing bacteria) The same goes for razors. Looking at the packaging in Foxton New World last week, I saw "titanium technology" on one and all sorts of bullshit written over others.
Do we really need toothbrushes? Can we survive or evolve without them?Did humans evolve without toothbrushes?Where are all my used ones? I reckon, if we use one every 6 months,that makes around several million toothbrushes from New Zealand per year going somewhere, probably into a hole in the ground.I walked on several in the Khumbu Valley, Nepal, last year.
Apparently our dietary reliance on grains rots our teeth. Phytic acid. Raised blood sugar levels. I always thought that grains were once a survival food for the cold winter months in the colder regions now turned into a staple thanks be to barrels of cheap oil. My theory is that brushing introduces as much bacteria as it purports to wipe out. What with your scabby brush (zoom to CGI microscope view of festering battalions of bacteria) sitting out in the air all day........It's probably wrong but it pales in comparison to the bollocks and pseudo science that's on TV commercials.
We'll, I'm off to bed. After I brush my teeth of course.

YODO

Last night we got a late call.The after 11pm call.The time of day when you instantly think: something's happened. Alice's dad was taken to hospital with a painful leg, possibly a blood clot,this morning.
Next morning I get a call from a Margaret Jones from Henderson, sister of Carl Sim, Foxton's Goldie art forger. She has seen my profile in Organic New Zealand magazine where I have recently been added as a contributing cartoonist. She thought she would phone me to tell me she used to live in Himatangi from where she biked to and from school in Foxton every day, a round trip of 40 km probably.And on a heavy one speed bike. "I don't know how I did it" she says, "I was such a skinny little thing" she says wistfully- "still am!". She tells me the story of one day, how she and a friend swam across the then Manawatu river while it was in flood.(It used to pass through the town) She adds, almost nonchalantly, that her friend had lost 4 of her 5 sisters by drowning. The town 'madmen' (who was mad?) received them on the other side, took them in and fed them and then returned them by dinghy, after a dam good scolding!
"I don't know what we were thinking" she reflects.
By contrast, let's witness the cutting down of trees in the nation's school playgrounds for safety reasons. I witnessed, at a school outdoor camp, a young person walking across a low suspended log, supported on either side by two other young people! We are seeing whole cultures of people waiting for life to happen.
You only die once.
This isn't a 'lesson'- its a celebration of life and the indomitable human spirit. Be afraid and do it because you will feel amazed, satisfied, terrified, confident, joyful, electrified.

get your gang patch

Get your gang patch.Be one of the new outlaws-a free person.Hand cut from wood and hand printed with honesty on heavy recycled paper with genuine muscles and hands. Only $30 which includes packaging in a cardboard tube and postage.(Or $20 from me directly)T-shirts coming soon;watch this blog
No swindles, no hidden costs, no gst

another reason why we need help

Seen at a unnamed school. It's an art project. You gotta have sympathy for the teachers too.
 Its what computers were invented for.

Nelson Mandela,John key, Don McKinnon, John Minto etc

I invite you to the Art Nature Retreat,Sixtus Lodge, Ruahine ranges 10th Jan-14th Jan 2014

Art Nature Retreat Sixtus Lodge, Ruahine Range      

Friday 10th - Monday 14th January

Guided by artist and tutor Duncan Hill
Cost: $300- 3 nights accommodation with fresh, delicious meals prepared on site

          Earlybird cost: $270 (paid in full before 14th December)

For artists who have begun their creative journey and want to extend or deepen their confidence and competence, who love nature and the outdoors and who want time to get into art without interruption-a three day creative 'workshop' in the foothills of the pristine and magnificent Ruahine mountain range.
It will be a relaxing time to devote to your love of drawing or painting spent with others of like mind and heart.

For an information pack and registration form contact: badi@slingshot.co.nz or phone 06 3637575 cell 0272623666

"I would love you to be there". Duncan

 Check out sixtus lodge online

To Sir Hans! Visionary of the Grey Lynn Festival

Was up at Grey Lynn for their annual festival created by the awesome Hans who has done this without Council backing, and gained by not having their interference and their protection of the Big Boys who demand that no one else sells anything that will compete with their products. For that I salute you Hans.These are the guys who need public awards; not the ruthless competitive sociopaths with ruined childhood backgrounds who run many of our businesses and get awards for having made lots of dough and/or employing lots of people. I have nothing against making lots of dough-I'm trying to emulate that-I just don't think its worth a Knighthood.
As a result of Hans putting himself forward, a real diversity is experienced at the festival. You see amazing crafts and food.
I was selling my posters up there. I am going to put a photo up shortly so you can see my latest.The other poster is also featured on this blog (go to older posts). Also, hi to you fokes who grabbed my card on your way past, it was great to meet you and i had some real good yaks with you that went straight to the heart. Love you all! Keep it close my brothers and sisters!

Grey Lynn Festival