56/365: Sad pigeon

56/365: Sad pigeon, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 25th

He was huddled against the wall, though it is not at all cold today. Maybe he was sick- maybe he was just feeling gloomy. He had very pretty colours.

The rest of the post comes with apologies to Piotrek, I know how much you hate pigeons.

Though there may be some disagreement on the difference between a pigeon and a dove, the terms are used interchangeably, except where romance is involved. In those cases the bird is always a dove- you would not want a hundred white pigeons released on your wedding day, would you?

The fact is they are both Columbidae, and all of their species prove to be prodigious excreters, regardless of the colour of their plumage.

By sheer numbers the Columba livia domestica

takes first place in the ranks of nuisance; interbreeding with wild and domestic species this feral bird has well earned its conservation status of 'Least Concern'. I've heard people call the city doves 'winged rats'. They're filthy, messy, carry diseases, and nest in any available urban crevice. They are noisy in spring.

For all that, they have a certain charm. What would any great city square be without its pigeon population? A lot cleaner, one might say, but also a great deal less vibrant. What would old town cobblestone be without the cluck and flutter that so preoccupies tourists of all ages? What would city skies be like without these birds, so resilient to pollution and adapting perfectly to our rough, urban environment?

I like pigeons. The grey ones, the dappled ones, the ill ones with only one leg left. I don't really mind that they poop, if they coo as well, I don't mind if they fly at me, if they do so when I'm taking a picture. Feral animals in cities can be a nuisance and a health hazard, but if they were to disappear, a great deal of character would leave the city right along with them.

53/365: The Orange Alternative

53/365: The Orange Alternative, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 22nd

On December 13th 1981 Poland was put under Martial Law. In protest, citizens began to paint slogans of freedom on buildings, but these were promptly painted over by the military. It was not long before the cities were covered in dark blotches hiding the slogans- and it was on these blotches that members of the Orange Alternative painted, in turn, little dwarves. We call them 'krasnoludki', and they are something like a gnome or pixie, coming from old folklore with pointy shoes and hats and an unquenchable spirit of freedom and mischief. Over a thousand such gnomes were painted across the country.

The krasnoludek preserved under this sign was painted on a blotch of paint meant to cover up the anchor-like symbol of Fighting Solidarity, an anti-communist organisation. As the sign itself says:

"It is the only remaining mark of the originality and courage of the Orange Alternative, and proof that regardless of the times we live in, humour and laughter can prevail over the saddest reality."

Indeed. If you read up on the movement you will find such fantastic stories as that of the Revolution of Dwarves, when more than ten thousand people wearing orange gnome hats marched through the city of Wrocław. That was in 1988, a time when you did not have to do much more than that to get arrested- certainly carrying a leaflet that said 'Citizen, help the militia, beat your own self up' would not help your cause.

The Orange Alternative still exists today and still organises surrealist happenings meant to mock the absurdities which can stem from any system, and encourage independent thinking.

50/365:Word Canyon

50/365:Word Canyon, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 19th

In a room in the back of a little store selling religious items hides a fantastic bookstore...I brought home a Lexicon of Explorers, Paul Herrmann's "Zeigt Mir Adams Testament" or The Great Age of Discovery and Georges Blond's "Grands Navigateurs". I have too many books already, and no money at all, but honestly, who could resist?