D Young V x Eddie Colla Momento Mori

It's no secret how much I love Eddie Colla's stuff. Ever since I laid eyes on his 'If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission' print, I was a goner. THis video is from an exhibition he put on with D Young V, another favourite of mine I discovered through Eddie (I like to refer to him in the first name basis and pretend that we're friends, creepy but true).

THe blurb goes:

Memento Mori, a Latin term for ‘remember death’, is an artistic symbol for remembering the inevitability of death, and is a continuing theme throughout Eddie Colla’s and D Young V’s work. The artists’ installations depict the end of the world juxtaposed to the rising up of a new world from ashes, and a future reduced to the tasks of survival and memory. (source)

d young v x eddie colla - memento mori from Eddie Colla on Vimeo.

IT's warlike, apocalyptic, industrial... all the things I like. It makes me want to make my art more, to do more and be more. That's what an awesome artist should do. When I finally take over the world, he's totally going to be my official War Artist.

The video below explains a lot of what you are seeing in the exhibition and the linkages between the objects. IT's a pretty cool little film too...

Epilogue from Eddie Colla on Vimeo.

Fucken wicked.

In the arena...

I know this comes from an American President but to be honest I really like reading about the Roosevelts and his speeches are amongst the best (take note future dictators of the world). Elenor Roosevelt (his wife) was the genius behind the quote where 'no one can make you feel inferior without your consent' (or something like that). But Teddy's (as I like to call him) quote below... this is the one to take with you to a fight and silence all those weak beings who criticise because they lack the strength or courage to do it themselves.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

F#@k it.

So after a brief sojourn "campaigning" against ants I have returned to my all consuming destiny of taking over the world and blessing faithful minions all over the world with my genius. Firstly though, we need a bit of a soundtrack. This is one of my favourite songs. I love to crank it up loud where ever I am and shimmy. The film clip is actually pretty good too, it's done with projections on buildings, old skool style. The song is also short, like punk songs of old. 2:20 mins of pure radness. Play it, you know you want to....

Do you like it? What I don't like is that there is a 'safe' version without the swearing. It's better with the swearing. Personally I love to swear, nothing quite makes a sentence rock than a well placed "f#%k". Yep, we're the HiiRagi 'f*@kin' Army. I like it.

Five Favourite: Vintage War Images

This is probably a very obvious statement to make but I love vintage war images. Even the worse of the worse images because they evoke emotion in me. In a time when we are bombarded with imagery and advertising without even realising it or recognising the propaganda being forced down our throats as soon as we wake up until we go to bed (see Banksy's rant about that here, it's pretty good), vintage war images still have the power to make me stop and consider.

Often all I can say is F#@k, imagining going through that, or living that, or even just seeing that in real life. The horror of war is evident. Despite this there are those war images that show how resilient people can be, the hope that never fades and that goodness can be found in the most arduous of conditions. And sometimes evil has to be done in order to do good (see The Fog of War [thanks 'Jon']).

Here are some of my current favourites:

I think I may have seem some stoners from my youth doing a very similar thing to be honest...

You can never have too much ammo, that's what I always tell the army.

This is for those minions who complain about work conditions.

And one for the ladies....

For some reason, these two guys made me think about the Recon Unit and all their skulking, maybe a future drawing?!

Germ warfare strikes HiiRagi HQ

Alas, I have returned my faithful minions! For those of you wondering where your almighty leader had gone I regret that I must inform you of a heinous germ warfare attack on HiiRagi HQ. There were no warning signs, except perhaps a slight cough and a sore throat, then breathing began to become difficult. This is a bad sign. It could only be a biological warfare attack on HQ - Dammit! How could we have been taken unawares?! There was only one thing to do: go into lockdown and pop on the gas masks.

Yep, gotta keep an eye out for them germies...they could come from ANY direction!!!

I won't say that I am disappointed in the security around HQ (even though I am) but it serves as a timely reminder to always be on your guard (remember the US and the whole Anthrax thing?). Actually it got me thinking about how maybe biological warfare may be the thing to get into, I mean tanks and helicopters and amphibious vehicles are all well and good, but germs are potent. I'm thinking Secret Death Lab rather than a Secret Death Ray... Mmmmmmm.... And gas masks are pretty cool...

And speaking of germs and gas masks, here is a cool gas mask suitcase thing that I found while rummaging for supplies through someone else's workshop. I did try to prise it off the wall but the person whose workshop it is threatened to call the police. Their time will come. They will rue the day they said no to me. But as usual I digress...

So HiiRagi HQ is back with more security than ever, so stay tuned!

Pinky and the Brain

"What will do do tonight Brain?"
"Same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the WORLD"

source

I love Pinky and the Brain. I don't think there's any need to say why....
If you can't see the video below, just go here

Terrain Training Tuesday: Move like a Commando (Part 3)

Oh yeah, it's the "rush". Sounds rather exciting doesn't it?! and that's because it is.

Now the rush is the fastest way to move from one position to another. It's a quick movement where each rush should last from 3 to 5 seconds. The rushes are kept short to keep enemy from tracking you. However, do not stop and hit the ground in the open just because 5 seconds have passed, this is a stupid thing to do if you are trying your hand at rushing. Always try to hit the ground behind some cover. Before moving, pick out your next covered and concealed position and what is the best route to it.

When you're ready, make your move from the prone position as follows:

 Slowly raise your head and pick your next position and the route to it.
 Slowly lower your head.
 Draw your arms into your body (keeping your elbows in).
 Pull your right leg forward.
 Raise your body by straightening your arms.
 Get up quickly.
 Run! Run! Run to the next position.

Whooooooooooossssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you are ready to stop moving and maybe feel the need to do a bit of attacking, you should be carrying a rifle or other weaponry (preferably something that can cover some distance, if I have to explain why a knife is no good you do not deserve to be a HiiRagi minion), and do the following:

 Plant both of your feet.
 Drop to your knees (at the same time slide a hand to the butt of your rifle if you are carrying).
 Fall forward, breaking the fall with the butt of the rifle.
 Go to a prone firing position.

However, if you have been firing from one position for some time, the enemy may have spotted you and may be waiting for you to come up from behind the cover. So, before rushing forward again, roll or crawl a short distance from your position. By craftily coming up from another spot, you may fool an enemy, who as well all know is a fool and is aiming at your previous spot spot, waiting for you to rise.

Yeah, I'm not convinced by the flower pots as adequate cover either....

Got no cover? When the route to your next position is through an open area, rush by zigzagging. If necessary, hit the ground, roll right or left, then rush again.

Rush minions, rush minions, rush, rush, rush!

Fear not, next week we go all stealth.

Terrain Training Tuesday: How to drive a Tank (Part 1)

I really love tanks. Nothing says I'm kings*#t like the tank. With this in mind and considering the continuous threat that stupidity brings to us in our lives I thought wouldn't it be great if all minions could drive a tank. Doesn't matter if you don't have one, just so when the time comes and you find one, just like MacGuyver, you will instinctively know what to do. HiiRagi minions are awesome like that.

See, once you know how it will be easy to just take the tank out for a Sunday arvo drive, what bliss....

Firstly a brief history of the excellent Tank.

Tanks are heavily armed combat vehicles that move on two continuous metal chains referred to as tracks. They are usually equipped with a cannon mounted in a revolving turret and automatic weapons as machine guns. During the First World War, crafty British engineers developed tanks to satisfy the need for armoured attack tracked vehicles that could cross the muddy, uneven, and dangerous terrain of the trench warfare battle zone. The first tanks participated in combat operations at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

This is a random Japanese tank that no one really knows what was going on with it, awesome isn't it?!

In the Second World War, Germany's tank forces were the most effective in Europe because they were organized into fast-moving massed formations with great striking power. After the Second World War, tanks became larger and more heavily armoured. A few modern battle tanks weigh more than 60 tons and they are capable of road speeds of 60 to 70 km per hour. The modern battle tank’s standard main armament fires armour-piercing projectiles, laser range-finders, and infrared heat imaging devices designed to aid in sighting the enemy’s heat emissions. Driving a battle tank requires months of training before a soldier can be qualified to drive these modern weapon systems.

However HiiRagi minions are a clever bunch and I think that the following information on basic tank driving should be all you need, apart from actually finding a tank. Remember... it’s all about confidence.

Step 1: Begin by surveying your area. Assess your immediate surroundings before entering your tank because your field of vision becomes limited when you are inside. Understand that you will be part of a three or four person tank crew, but fear not, you are the driver. Remember to avoid obstacles, unstable ground, steep slopes, and banks until you are more experienced because these objects may cause your tank to turn over and I don’t like the idea of trying to turn it back over either.

Step 2: Enter your tank by using the step on the left front of your tank to climb onto the front of your tank. Find your driver’s escape hatch, which should be below the Tank turret. Raise and swing the hatch to the side before locking it in the open position. Climb inside your tank, lock the hatch and feel the power. Remember how to unlock the hatch quickly because if your tank is penetrated by a projectile or missile weapon system, you need to leave quickly if you survive the hit. Not that this will happen, but just in case someone stupid gets their hands on a heat seeking missile. Weirder things have happened...

Step 3: Take a seat. The driver’s seat is located in the centre of the interior tank space and it is tilted backwards as a dentist’s chair because of the driving area’s low ceiling. Change the height and the angle of your seat until you become comfortable where you can see through the periscopes in front of your seat and you can reach the controls easily. So many controls....

Now that we've settled in, take a break because next week we fire this baby up. Hurrah!

Terrain Training Tuesday: When the INVADER comes (Part 3)

Continuing our theme of the Invasion, here are the final rules for when THEY come.....

V
You may be asked by a HiiRagi Army officer or minion to help in many ways. For instance, the time may come when you receive orders to block roads or streets in order to prevent the enemy from advancing. Never block a road apart from the one you have been told to. Then you can help with falling trees, wiring them together or blocking roads with cars. Here, therefore, is the fifth rule:-

5. BE READY TO HELP HHIRAGI IN ANY WAY. BUT DO NOT BLOCK ROADS UNLESSED ORDERED TO DO SO BY THE ARMY.

VI
If you are in charge of a factory, store or other works, organise its defence at once. If you are a worker, make sure that you understand the system of defence that has been organised and know what part you have to play within it. Make certain that no suspicious strangers enter your premises.
You must know in advance who is to take command, who will be second in command, and how orders are to be transmitted. The sixth rule is therefore as follows:-

6. IN FACTORIES AND SHOPS, ALL MANAGERS AND WORKMEN SHOULD ORGANISE SOME SYSTEM NOW BY WHICH A SUDDEN ATTACK CAN BE RESISTED.

VII
The six rules you have now read give you a general idea of what to do in the event of an invasion. More detailed instructions may, when the time comes, be given to you by HiiRagi; they will not be given over the wireless or internet as that might convey information to the enemy. These instruction must be obeyed at once.
Remember always that the best defence is the courage of the HiiRagi minions. Here is your seventh rule:-

7. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. BUT ALWAYS THINK OF HIIRAGI BEFORE YOU THINK OF YOURSELF.

Terrain Training Tuesday: When the Invader comes (Part 2)

Continuing on our theme from last week, the War Office and HiiRagi HQ are looking for your safety when the Invader comes....

II
There is another method that stupidity adopts in its invasion. It makes use of the civilian population in order to create confusion and panic. It spreads false rumours and issues false instructions. In order to prevent this, you should obey the second rule, which is as follows:-

DO NOT BELIEVE RUMOURS AND DO NOT SPREAD THEM. WHEN YOU RECIEVE AN ORDER, MAKE QUITE SURE THAT IT IS A TRUE ORDER AND NOT A FAKED ORDER. IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD, YOU CAN ALSO TELL WHETHER AN OFFICER IS REALLY FROM HIIRAGI OR ONLY PRETENDING TO BE SO. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE.

III
The HiiRagi Army, though diabolical, sometimes cannot be everywhere at once. Minions must be on the watch. If you see anything suspicious, do not rush around telling everyone about it. Go at once to your nearest HiiRagi outpost or minion and tell them exactly what you saw. Train yourself to notice the exact time and place where you saw anything suspicious, and try to give the exact information. Try to check your facts. Be calm, quick and exact. The third rule, therefore, is as follows:-

KEEP WATCH. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, NOTE IT CAREFULLY AND GO AT ONCE TO YOUR NEAREST HIIRAGI OUTPOST, OFFICER OR MINION. DO NOT RUSH ABOUT SPREADING VAGUE RUMOURS. GO QUICKLY TO THE NEAREST AUTHORITY AND REPORT THE FACTS.

IV
Remember is a stupid person lands or comes near your home, they will not be feeling brave. They will not know where they are, they will have no food, they will not know where the other stupid people are. They will want you to give them food, means of transport and maps (even if they do not know how to read them). They will want you to tell them where they are, where their companions are and where the HiiRagi Army is. The forth rule, therefore, is:-

DO NOT GIVE ANY STUPID PEOPLE ANYTHING. DO NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. HIDE YOUR FOOD AND YOUR BICYCLES. HIDE YOUR MAPS. SEE THAT THE STUPID PEOPLE GET NO PETROL. IF YOU HAVE A CAR OR MOTORCYCLE, PUT IT OUT OF ACTION WHEN NOT IN USE. IF YOU ARE A GARAGE PROPRIETOR, YOU MUST WORK OUT A PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR STOCK OF PETROL AND YOUR CUSTOMERS CARS. REMEMBER, BEYOND THEIR LIMITED MENTAL FACILITIES, TRANSPORT AND PETROL WILL BE THEIR MAIN DIFFICULTIES.

More to come next week, you WILL be prepared (even if it kills me).

Terrain Training Tuesday: Training Montage!

I know that I left off stranded on an island looking for treasure and trying to figure out who we were going to eat but I've lost interest in that. It's all turned just a little bit too Lord of the Flies. So when all else fails, what do you do? You pop in a training montage, well, a series of training images! Cue an 80's power ballad (I will always have a soft spot for 'Eye of the Tiger', it's obvious I know but hey...). All images from the NZ Army Site (aren't they ace?! The middle image in the dive suits is an interesting one....) Hopefully there will be a HiiRagi Army Training Montage soon!

Getting Ready for War

I found this image as part of an article of war propaganda in my great History of WWII series.  I just reminds me of knitting and old fashion catalogues, only thing is this image probably precedes them...

Now that's A LOT of bullets to carry...doesn't he look happy?

Parachutes

I recently found a whole box full of WWII Historical magazines (so many I don't think I'm going to have to buy anything else for a long long time).  One thing I noticed going through is the beautiful photographs, black and white, hand-coloured and colour.  I'm currently a bit obsessed with parachuting so I thought I'd share a few with you.

I just love them, particularly the second image with the blimp, such delicate colours!  Actually I love them all.