So, I'm speaking at a big utopias conference in Melbourne next week.  But what with the move and everything, I haven't written my paper yet!

Here's my abstract:

Geographies of Hope - the Desire for Place in Californian Science Fiction

This paper applies a critical geographical perspective to recent utopian theory and practice.  With reference to the ( Read more... )

Every big project that finishes leads to a new one, right?  And I think I have worked out why my honours thesis has been troubling me (beyond that dull awareness of the lack of detail or finesse, all the things that, due to lack of time and attention, led to me produce dreadful scholarship).  Beyond all of that... I think I have worked out what was ( Read more... )

I <3 The Eastern album that my friend Kathryn sent me from NZ recently, mainly because when I listen to it I find myself thinking about braided rivers and their cold glacial melt, sitting on car bonnets on chilly mornings, tussock and lupins, grey lyttleton harbour, corrugated rooves, telegraph poles, industrial towns that are slowly dying, the ( Read more... )

I have a disclaimer to make.  Mainly for myself.  So I can work out what I am doing.

I grew up with a Mars enthusiast.  My father trained as a Hydrologist, and was always obsessed with the idea that there was (or had once been) water on Mars.  So I grew up with the idea that Mars was a very real and concrete place.  I was constantly exposed to ( Read more... )

 ... from the back door of the cottage my parents just bought, overlooking Karitane.


( Read more... )

I keep coming across new place and space theorists and am having trouble keeping them all straight in my head...

So I am going to start building a master list here.  I apologise for this -  it will be of little interest to anyone but myself.  I'll keep adding to it as I learn more.

I am really interested in phenomenology, but am also starting to ( Read more... )

I met these people when I was in Dunedin last month.  Two bands: The Eastern, and Chelsea Motel.  They have the hard but envious job, at the moment, of touring around the South Island (and I think now the North Island) playing in all kinds of strange places for food and board and sometimes even actual money.

They were beautiful people and played ( Read more... )

I want to write a huge post about lexicons of belonging, but I am too tired.

Instead, I will leave this.  These are some of the things that are calling me home:


( Read more... )

When I go to New Zealand in February, I am catching the train down the South Island from Picton (where the ferry gets in, from Wellington) to Christchurch.

This is going to so spectacular.  I don't know the east coast north of Christchurch very well, because we always spend our time in the top part of the South Island over on the west coast.  But ( Read more... )

I am beginning to understand the desire to flee the country.

Suddenly, more than anything else, I just want to go home.

So I think I am going to fly out of Sydney straight after AULLA (okay, maybe on the Sunday - so that my travel plans don't get in the way of Friday night post-AULLA celebrations) and will probably be away for about 10 days or so ( Read more... )