Last October, I took a beginners’ class in the historic art form of blacksmithing. During the course of the two day class, taught by Rachel David, a New Orleans resident and blacksmith, I discovered a lifestyle entirely foreign to me involving heavy metal. I was fascinated by the seemingly static metal becoming a fluid medium during the process of heating and shaping. Never before had I realized the versatility and plasticity of metals and I became enamored of the art form.

Well, tuck your pants into your socks and hold the cat over your head. Things are getting a bit more serpentine than we’re used to; something new has joined the ranks of environmentally detrimental factors heading into a new decade: Pythons.

It’s not that I’m in favor of killing them; it’s really the only solution. The fact that I’m terrified of them just makes it easier to digest. But truly, it’s not the pythons’ fault. They’re not from the Florida area. They’re some asshole’s “exotic pet,” the novelty of which wears off after a year at best. Trapped in a cage between bookshelves to be ogled by the brave visitors ignorant enough to find it “interesting,” these pythons couldn’t be more out of place.

One of my new favorite pastimes these days is going to various market towns around Wiltshire, England, where I live. Market towns have weekly exchanges, in which fruit, vegetables, meat, and a various array of items old and new are sold. One aspect of antique markets I find especially charming is the story behind each item. As though each piece is a little history lesson or a walk through the past in someone else’s shoes. Let me take you along on my most recent “history lesson” through my trip to Devizes Market.

Christopher Kadish is a free-lance, professional photographer from the Philadelphia area. He has immortalized images from California to Europe, and provides an array of services from fine art to headshots and weddings. I sat down with Christopher to catch up on some of his new ideas and get an insight into some of his work.

There was a VW Beetle in the shop’s yard that had out lived its usefulness. Before I sent it on its merry way to the scrap yard, Vinny came over to help me find out how difficult it is to crush a Bug. And hit it with an axe. And set it on fire.

If you were wondering, a VW Super Beetle weighs 1000 lbs without the engine, transaxle, and wheels. In today’s scrap market, that’s worth $92, which is about $92 more than we paid for the car.

It’s another Dispatch From the TE Labs!