The Meatrix

Take the red pill or the blue pill...

Not as happy with this shot - but it is nice to pay respects to one's neighbours!

More shots from the Bangalow garden, post rain shower. Go to urbanstone smugmug gallery for more.

Movies

Two separate nights, two different movies.

Friday night; helping out the youth group at West Epping by acting as a chauffeur to the Drive-In's! Haven't been there in about 20 years? Anyway, Jodie Foster in Flightplan was a slight let down. A good idea with plenty of twists - it seems like a rehash of things like fightclub, The Sixth Sense etc... Has she lost her daughter? kidnappers? terrorists? does her daughter really exist? Is Jodie Foster insane? An excellent first half of the movie posed lots of questions - but unfortunately the second half chose one option and did it poorly. For this Jodie Foster fan, it was not her best performance - although admittedly it had limited scope as an hysterical mother on a jumbo jet.

3 stars. (NB interesting to note the dig at Arab profiling by Americans when the tension was up)

Saturday Night; Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. Typical dark and fun Burton. Done with musical flair (a nod to Ray Charles) and a sort of Grimm Brothers Fairytale feel - German Aristicrats with murder most foul and true love across social classes. Funny, great music and visually appealing. If I had any qualms, it was that it was too short - perhaps resolved too neatly. But fun none the less.

3.75 stars

I've finally made the jump across to digital photography. With a couple of weddings coming up this summer the cost of film development is just getting too much. So I've taken the leap and, in my newfound holiday status, have begun to play...

Some software problems (other than no photoshop as yet) - but I'm still working my way around this new dimension of photography

Who knew Shelob lived in my backyard?

Ramon and The Professor

Happy 18th Ramon!

I'm in the last 43 hours or so of semester. Classes have finished, so now it's just the countdown to handing in those last few remaining, annoy-the-crap-out-of-me assignments. My eyes have turned permanently into computer glazed icons, and my mind in subconsciously footnoting every waking moment for futher refence(1). I think my mind has twisted in upon itself a little more than usual, but the light at the end of the tunnel in nigh - and has taken the form of Tex Perkins (Q1. Tex Perkins as a typology of apocalyptic hope, discuss with reference to the significance of his "Dark Horses" album to Revelation. Credit will be deducted for over use of graatuitous Nick Cave lyrics).

Friday night, Tex, Don and Charlie at the Metro.

1. Johnson, A.B. "Late night self-referential post after Ronnie Johns Show", 2005, p.1.

Go to the people
live among them
learn from them
work with them
plan with them
start with what they know
build on what they have
teach by showing
learn by doing
not a showcase but a pattern
not relief but release

But the best leaders
when their work is accomplished
and their work is done
the people all remark
"We have done it ourselves"

Update

Not much time to post here at the moment. End of semester at college means a million essays, reviews, presentations and interviews. Even more so with a short semester such as this one. Still plugging away on this St Antony essay, as well as interviewing various new parents on their experiences, translating John 18 and 19, an exegesis of some sections of Matthew and continuing my college drumming career with Phil and co on Friday night!

Despite all this it was still important to see the newly released Batman Begins DVD with Rod. It remains flawless and brilliant!

And of course the mighty St Matts - we won again yesterday. I was happy with a scratchy 46 not out - not so happy with our captain who declared!

Plenty of posts to come in another week or two.

Great Procrastination Idea No 27 - Mr Picasso Head

As I sit pondering Athanasius and St Antony, what better way to procrastinate than create my own Mr Picasso Head!

To see urban stone's first creation "Waiting for something, to get me out of anything", click here. I await confirmation of my fellow procrastinator's creations.

James Brown, The Gospel of Thomas and a short film festival

Lots of fun last night at the Manning Bar listening to Lyrical Madmen (think lite-punk with a big brass section and a rolling mosh pit), and the appropriately named Johnson - who blew me away. A big funky, soul explosion, like James Brown on speed (which come to think of it he was probably most of the time). Great crowd workers with a big theatrical sense of bringing the crowd in and "movin' it, doin' it" as the Godfather would say.

Now I'm looking forward to the International Short Film and Food Festival down at Sydney Olympic Park in a few weeks (Oct 28-30). If I can drag myself away from the truckload of essays and assignments for a break, this looks like a place to escape for a while.

Hopefully it will make a pleasant change from unpacking the Gospel of Thomas - which is an interesting contrast to the orthodox Gospels. A Gospel with no cross, death or resurrection. In fact the whole focus is not upon Jesus at all, but rather on the inward search for the Kingdom of Heaven, which already exists within each of us and the world. It contains some interesting, and I imagine some more popular sayings for contemporary Western culture...

51 “His disciples asked him: When will the dead rest? When will the new world arrive? He replied: that which you are waiting for has come, but you don’t recognise it.”

67 “One who knows everything else but who does not know himself knows nothing.”

77b “Split wood, I am there. Lift up a rock, you will find me there.”

But ultimately it leaves me a little non-plussed. While I like the sense of seeking to understand yourself, hope for me doesn't rest in the attempt to return to a mythical past paradise. (Not to mention the outrageous misogynist endings!)

Cousin Jimmy on TV

In yet another attempt to prove to all and sundry how precociously talented he is, young cousin Jimmy is set to hit stardom as he and some mates kick off their new TV show, The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, 10pm this Wednesday night on Channel Ten.

The prodigal sunglasses

My favourite, and only ever decent pair, of sunglasses have returned! After travelling with me to PNG, NZ, UK, Canada and the US I thought I'd lost them in the Silverwater RTA three months ago. So distraught have I been, that I couldn't find another pair anywhere that lived up to the old faithfuls.

And yesterday at cricket, they turned up in the jack compartment of the boot! Ah, the little things that make me happy.

(PS we lost the game by a couple of wickets. I took 2-35 off 10. Only 1 wide this time!?)

Serenity

Saw Serenity with Sammy C and Smithy yesterday. Still not sure what to make of this sci-fi/adventure. Very reminiscent of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. It's a smart one, but as the great Colin Wiseby would say, not quite right. See frogmouth's review here. My temporary rating is 3 1/2 stars.

Sub question - Director is Joss Wheadon of Buffy and Angel fame. Does his portrayal of strong, kick ass, sexy women empower or exploit (or both)?

A God who suffers

As I write some more personal statements of faith for college (a seemingly endless task), I am struck again by Douglas John Hall's words...

"Ironically, those who most complain of God's failure to act godlike, that is, to exercise unmitigated power, are the very ones who are most affronted by any curtailment of their own freedom...

...If we posit a God who both wills the existence of free creatures and the preservation and redemption of the world, then we must take with great seriousness the biblical narrative of a God whose providence is a mysterious internal and intentional involvement in history; a God therefore, who is obliged by his own love to exercise his power quietly, subtly, and usually, responsively in relation to the always ambiguous and frequently evil deeds of the free creatures; a God who will not impose rectitude upon the world but labor to bring existing wrong into the service of the good; a God, in short, who will suffer."

The Cross in Our Context: Jesus and the Suffering World, p87, 2003.

End of an era

After 11 and a half years, Dad finally finished up his term as General Secretary of the Victorian and Tasmanian Synod of the UCA last week. Up until a week before it looked as though Dave and I would miss the chance to be there. But as it happens, Dave managed to fly in from Brisbane for some hastily convened work, and I managed to reorganise interviews here in Sydney - so we could all be there for his farewell before the whole Synod. (Tiffany and Beth stayed in Brisbane, just too much flying for a 6 month old!)

It turned out to be much more of an occasion than I had realised - marking what has been an incredible time both for Dad and the church. It may sound odd to many people, but the chance to hear your father preach, to stand in public and outline what is most precious and meaningful to him, is quite an experience. It rounds out the private perceptions of him that I have with another side. And then to hear his peers reflect on his ministry - both at the official farewell and at the party that night, gave further depth to this picture I have of him.


Birthdays and Fathers Days come and go- but this was a unique moment to sit back and realise that it's not just you that's proud of the old man. He goes alright. And he's not done just yet...

Little Fish

A much talked about Australian film by director Rowan Woods, with the all-star Australian line-up of Cate Blanchett, Sam Neil, Hugo Weaving, Noni Hazelhurst and others. Little Fish is set in Cabramatta, with the tag line "the past is right here". To me this is a slightly terrifying if somewhat incomplete film.

It follows the story of Tracy (Blanchett), struggling to get her life back together a few years after giving up heroin and a failed relationship with Jonny (Dustin Nguyen). It revolves around her family and its somewhat tortured dynamics - Hugo Weaving is at his absolute best as the junkie father.

But what disturbs me most is the sense in which the film questions all your security. What identity or relationships or jobs do you put in place to keep yourself safe? What stops you from falling away into nothingness and despair? The film seems to suggest that there is not much between a comfortable suburban life, and going under in the (sub)urban emotional wasteland. There are rays of light from a family trying to stick together before they kill each other - but it's a torturous journey.

The film asks the viewer, "where is hope?" Not in a nihilistic challenge, but rather as an almost desperate plea - work out, no really work out, where is your hope? And most dramatically, what would happen if the thing you've pinned this hope to falls through?


3.75 out of 5 stars.

What happens when a ghetto is destroyed?

thoughts from Radio Rebellion in Arizona regarding the destruction of the ghettoes in New Orleans. Who will rebuild the homes of the poor?

Biblical Curse Generator

From Ship of Fools, via Morepraxis comes this brilliant Biblical Curse Generator!

"Woe unto thee, O ye whose name is but dung, for you will accidentally insult Goliath!"

"Thou shalt go on a diet of crunchy, unsweetened locusts, O thou child of Jezebel!"

"Take heed, O thou armpit of Satan, for you will fall under a speeding chariot!"

"O that thou wouldest be as welcome as a fart in the queen's bedchamber, O thou of little faith!"

Yeah, take that!

Kierkegaard - Under the spell of Good Intentions

I was preaching this morning down at Centenary UCA, and the gospel passage from Matthew 21 was an intriguing one. It tells the story on two son who are asked by their father to go and work inthe vineyard. The first said "yes", but did not go, while the second said "no", but ended up going to do the work. As always with parables, it works on a number of levels.

At first glance, it's the honesty thing. But I ran across this Kierkegaard article on the web (www.bruderhof.com) which has had my brain ticking over since.

"The good intention, the “Yes,” taken in vain, the unfulfilled promise leaves a residue of despair, of dejection. Beware! Good intention can very soon flare up again in more passionate declarations of intention, but only to leave behind even greater desperation. As an alcoholic constantly requires stronger and stronger drink, so the one who has fallen under the spell of good intentions and smooth-sounding declaration constantly requires more and more good intentions. And so he keeps himself from seeing that he is walking backwards."

How dangerous is the constantly stated good intention for those of us from the comfortable places of the world. What is stated and what is achieved? What is dreamed of, and what is really struggled for?

Saturday Sports Wrap Up

After 72 years South Melbourne/Sydney Swans win a premiership.

And after 8 years absence Johnson scores 56 in his return match. (10 fours and a 6, gotta love these small grounds).

We even managed to win so quickly that I got home to see the second half of the GF with Bruce. I wonder when Smithy will return to earth?

Breaking News - Hall free despite murderous rampage!

some people are very, very bitter...

Decoder Ring

From the band that brought us the soundtrack to Somersault comes their third album - Fractions. Decoder Ring are a Sydney based group - and I think I'm in love. All the usual cliches about soaring soundscapes and lazy summer nights apply. But this is no cheap chill-out album. Reviews have been using phrases such as "epic and universal", "dark electro and euphoric pop". I tend to think of a movie soundtrack, a little bit of Sigur Ros and a dash of Bjork, all in an Australian style. Craig and Darren, if you haven't got into this yet, you're in for a treat!

Brilliant, moody plus a bunch of great songs as well as atmosphere. But don't just take my ramblings, as Molly says, "Do yourself a favour!"

(Perhaps not barracking for St Kilda would be a start eh Molly?)

BTW - anyone in Sydney on the 21/10 - they're playing at the Metro!

Christian-Muslim Dialogue

For the last 6 months or so I've been participating in a Christian-Muslim Dialgoue group. Once a month 4 Christians, 4 Muslims and a facilitator meet in a home to discuss issues of faith, commonality and difference. It's been a really eye-opening experience in that sense of moving beyond a text book understanding of Islam, to hearing flesh and blood Sydney-siders talk about their lived Islamic faith.

On Sunday night we tackled the topic of Holy War. Now with all the media attention on terrorism, war and the so called 'Jihad', it was going to be an interesting night. Right from the start however we began to unmask some of the fallacies spread by fanatics and the populist media. For a start Jihad actually means "to endevour" or "to strive". And those who participate in Jihad are the "mujahidin". It does not mean Holy War at all.

For the Muslim members of our group last night, jihad meant for them the struggle to get up in the morning for early prayers, or to strive for a more peaceful relationship with neighbours. For them it was very similar to the discipleship struggles that I experience in trying to be authentic in following Jesus.

Further, they quoted Muhammad and other Imams who understood Jihad as establishing justice and ensuring freedom of religion for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds.

Now I'm not naive enough to pretend that every Muslim person interprets it the same way, just as Christians manage to interpret the gospel in such diverse ways (Peter Garrett and George Bush in the same faith eh?). But to unpack some of the Qur'an in this way simply reaffirmed that special connection between the Peoples of the Book - Jewish, Christian and Muslim - cousins in the faith.

Big wraps to the Uniting Church, Catholic Church and Affinity Intercultural Foundation for pushing this idea.

Day One of Cricketing Comeback

After much nerves (and even some lost sleep) Day One of my cricketing comeback is complete! No broken cheekbones ala 1996. And only mild damage to the pride.

St Matthews Baulkham Hills C-grade is the mighty team that I'm playing with. Day One saw Captain Dave throw me the ball to open the bowling (something about being 6'3''). A bit of mixed bag - 1-30 off 7 overs. Highlights included bowling 4 wides three times (line and length all the way...) and then a tight spell in the middle couple of overs that saw me get 1-14 off 5 overs - thanks to a nice catch in the covers by Phil! We bowled them out for 138 (?), and still had 20 odd overs in the days play. We got sent in and lost one of our openers in the first few overs. I think it must have been test-out-the-new-boy day, because I then got sent in as first drop?! (have never batted there in my life?) Happy to say that we finished the day at 1-47, with me on 28 not out.

A bit of fun, a good test of the nerves and a fun group of people to hangout with. The only cloud on the horizon is that I'll be batting next week when the AFL Grand Final is on! First one I'll have missed since Adelaide beat StKilda in 1997. Ah the price of glory...

Clamour and Dissent

Frogmouth Jackson ponders where the discussion and dissent to Australia's new anti-Terrorist legislation might come from?

Thank God I'm not in London!

Bloody England. Bloody Ashes. All I can say is thank God I'm not in London. Captain Doran and I only just survived being in a pub in Clapham Junction when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 (2000 poms and 10 aussies). I can only imagine the carnage that would be happening now...

Yeah they may have played better cricket than us. Yeah they may have better young talent than us and yes Vaughan outcaptained Ponting. But it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Roll on Nov 26 and the AFL draft.

Bits'n'pieces

"On the journey of faith, far I have come, far I must go" - spectacular thoughts and prayers from Grace's reshaping service- see it over at Jonny's blog.

"This is the invitation of God, to move
- from comfort to insecurity
- from what we know to what we have yet to discover
- from what we are good at to what we might fail at
- from safety to a place of risk"

It's the counter side my recent thoughts on Top Ten things that make me happy - the challenge and the comfortable.

Captain Smollet has finally lost it over at Bomana Nights - see here for his twisted fairytales.

Guest Film Reviews for both the Dukes of Hazard ("Cousins. Outlaws. Thrillbillies" with a tag line such as this you know what to expect) and Little Fish are coming soon...
(who said we don't do diversity here?)

New Blogs!!

Both Jeff and Sue have started up new blogs! The fever is catching. Although I think there is a special cream for that...

I expect much wise musings, wildlife photos and righteous indignation on the state of education from Jeff (all done in mad, sporadic burst of passionate energy). And Sue should provide much wit, social commentary and of course a lovely collection of kitsch religious paraphenalia (in a tastefully designed schedule that takes a thematic approach to the world calendar).

I look forward to both providing valuable contributions to this vital world of blogging - and of course expect some special movie reviews from them soon.

BTW - beware public education man
(I thought I'd put up a picture of Sue as well, but then she has too much dirt on me anway)

Top Ten Things that make me happy

Thanks to Noddy for the tag on this one. What are the top 10 things that make you happy? Yes, yes, yes, of course world peace, an end to George Bush and global hunger and a weekend with Jessica Alba - but real things that happen already. Trying to be honest rather than how I'd like to appear to other people...

(in no particular order)

1. Watching Collingwood play footy, either live at the MCG or on tv from my couch, with Dave.

2. Family Dinner - Mum's cooking, Warrabilla Cab Sav, everyone gathered and an open fire.

3. Going to the movies at Reading with Rod and co.

4. Strong coffee, a good book and the morning sun (with U2 as the soundtrack)

5. Long discussions over a beer with the boys down at Carlingford Bowlo - (whether it's the top 5 movies of this year, trying to understand women and our relationships with them, how we think of God, laughing at each other or why the Raiders won on the weekend - it's all good)

6. Big breakfasts at Harris Farm with Geoff and Phil. (Bacon, eggs, coffee, theology, politics and a strong serve of footy)

7. Shopping with Riss

8. Photography hike's in the bush with Jeff and Nick

9. Late night whiskey (Glenmorangie at the moment), with Radiohead or Bonobo playing - the world just drifts away...

10. Crawford dinners with Sam, Kent, Mel and me (plus whoever else in within the Crawford generosity tractor beam)

The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster

The online journal of Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and Servant to His Supreme Excellency the Emperor Palpatine.

I know some of you have read his earlier entries in the past, but the final entry is up, and it is brilliant. Memory, sorrow and redemption? Where was this guy when Lucas needed a decent script writer!!!!

Neave Lab

Yet another wonderful site full of fascinating and yet pointless activities to while away your hard earned procrastinating time. Love the parallax stars - or alternatively zoom in from a picture of the globe down to your own house (I found the Bangalow Avenue swimming pool!).

As Neave says, "Welcome to my mad professor playground. When I was small and had big blonde hair, I used to spend my days making things out of Lego, plasticine and dubiously shaped vegetables. This is the result."

This is what the web was made for (other than Collingwood of course).

an odd day

A strange day today. As a part of our formation in pastoral care we spent the day with the funeral directors - T J Andrews in Meadowbank, and then at Rookwood Cemetery in the afternoon. It was an opportunity for those of us in ministry training to see behind the scenes of funerals and so forth. All of which of course involved viewing the body of a person who had died this morning both before and after embalming, and then being taken on a tour of the crematorium (ovens and all).

I guess in one way it was fairly confronting - staring death in the face from close up. In another way it was surprisingly mundane - very earthy and real. A bit like being at a farm and facing the realities of our food and drink no longer from the sanitized brightly-lit supermarket aisles, but instead through the heavy bulk of cows, the mud and machinery of the farm and the sheer normality of it all. It was the same with the embalming and cremating. Yes, it was an old man lying there who up until this morning had been living in a nursing home. Yes, he was someone's uncle or father or brother. And the realities of his suit and tie that he was dressed in (the tie with his soccer club's emblem). And yes, he was dead. But as when my own grandfather died, it was his body there, but it wasn't him anymore. This was one man's body, but it certainly wasn't the sum total of that man - whoever he had been (Even though he was kept completely anonymous - I spent a long time pondering what sort of life he'd had.)

And the same with the cremation centre - big ovens (700 - 1000 degrees), ashes and bones out the other side. Very real, and strangely very mundane. Not in a boring ho-hum sort of way - more that it seemed so surprisingly obvious that it would come down to these normal people operating this machinery and providing ashes for a family. It was fascinating and yet so real?

Like so much of everyday life in urban society, we're used to the packaged and presented outcome, rather than the everyday, physical process. It seemed sort of reassuring. Maybe it was demystifying of the whole death thing. A very strange, rather extraordinary and yet comforting day. Not what I expected at all.

Flannelgraph!

Ok, so I haven't posted much due to this damn cold making my head fuzzy for a few days. So when you have a fuzzy head, return to the fuzzy felt cartoons of yester-year sunday school!

From The Wibsite (yes that is its name), who also have an amusing collection of cartoons, e cards and other bits.

If I could put up their Worship Song Fridge Magnets I would, absolutely brilliant.

Urban Stone - simplified!

Now there is no more need to spend hours dreaming up your own headlines, searching for that creative caption, or terrifying younger relatives for snappy subtitles. The ever amazing Sloganizer does it all for you! That's right, a site dedicated to no other purpose than randomly making up slogans and headlines (see above) for your apathy-ridden web-jockeys such as Urban Stone. So here goes...

"Captain Smollett - One name. One legend."
"Rod Joyce, the secret of women" (what the!?!?)
"Bomana Nights, in touch with tomorrow."
"Brisbane for you!" (I think that's a threat)
"Ooh la la, Jesus Christ"
"When you say Urban Stone you've said it all."

Hours of fun for the procrastinator in us all.

Happy Birthday Captain Smollett

Captain Smollett, aka Flicka, in a vain attempt to prove that he's not the Messiah and really just a very naughty boy, turned 33 today.

Having survived the trucking industry, rock star fame, the White Cliffs opal fields and spawning a entire clan of smollets - he's now turning his eye towards film critic criticism.

Smollet (pictured left), was recently qouted as saying, "You're all very, very strange people. But I like frogs."

No, we don't know what he meant either. Happy Birthday anyway Captain!

Star Wars Lost in Translation

Just discovered Adrian's blog. Here's a Star Wars special for Ronnie and others! Now, back to that sermon I should be writing...

(scene fades out as he calls for more coffee, his bible and some early Tea Party)

Sin City

Sin City - an adaptation of three of Frank Miller's graphic novels - is savage and beautiful in the same breath. It's a stylized world straight from the dark, grimy underworld of the detective genre. The women are all whores or angels; the men hard-bitten, doomed tragic-heroes or corrupt cops and dodgy politicians. Power comes from sexuality and violence; and this movie is dripping with both.

But this is Hollywood staring at itself in the mirror. It's a movie that utilizes Miller's comic book world. The dialogue is in short melodramatic quips, it's in black and white with bright splashes of colour and the characters who are so stereo-typed that they're laughing at themselves.

And that's the question isn't it? Is this film laughing at it's own characterisations, or is it taking itself too seriously and thereby reinforcing violence and misogyny? For me it's uncomfortable, visually stunning and full of black humour. 4 stars.

The Christian Counter Culture Project

hmmm very interesting...

Life continues

Well college is back and changing rapidly. Staff changes, synod reviews and new subjects make for a very different experience this semester. Dare I say that I'm actually enjoying it? I think the mid year break made quite a difference - time out, a trip to visit Riss in PNG, and plenty of space to read (the new Harry Potter plus the Jasper Fforde series.) Now if I could just get the Ashes series sorted out and guarantee some priority picks for the Pies...

Mixed in with the good is always some of the sad. Nan Clark passed away in July, and while it's never a happy experience, the funeral marked her life well with tears, laughter and much love. Larissa delivered an incredible eulogy which is on her site here.

My own Nana Pender is not doing so well either. Which means Mum and Azzie (the cat) are staying with me at the moment. Damn cat ran away for a few days causing much angst here - although I did get to discover the local creeks and parks a little better searching for her. Remarkably she just rocked up one morning three days later - much rejoicing was had by all. Nana Pender is a day-to-day proposition. We shall see...

Off to see Sin City tonight. Quite hopeful that it will be all quality. A review should appear soon...

Dream - Re-Imaging Church

As the annual Greenbelt festival rolls around (It's a bit like a massive, diverse Blackstump), it's always a chance to dig up what's happening across Europe in new and emerging church communities. I don't know if Dream is new or not, but I certainly didn't run into them in Oct-Nov 2003 when I was over there.

From their website - "Dream is a network of groups forming a community that values creativity, openness, freedom and flexibility. We welcome all who want to journey with us as we worship and explore a spirituality centred on Jesus and his involvement in our lives."

As seems to often be the case with the UK emerging church groups, there is an incredible grappling with the context around them - the art, music and social issues; and a desire to push worship towards new and creative ideas. However the politics and theology seems to remain somewhat unaffected at times (by comparison say to the Australian or US scenes). At the same time, the Make Poverty History campaign seems to have a much bigger profile in the UK. I often wonder why that is?

Anyway, check out the Dream site and what they're doing. It gives me hope.

Elevator Mood Inspection Commission

One of the weirder sites I've come across - The Elevator Mood Inspection Commission is a series of movie snippets from Security Cameras in, you guessed it, elevators. Check out the Manifesto to see what the rules of the competition are. Scenes include "Take the stares", "Pressing Problems" and "Caught". A little out there - just goes to remind us how strange the web can be, which is only as odd as the people who are out there.

Captain Smollet for role in new Joyce Blockbuster!

Inside sources close to Rod Joyce, director of the much anticipated blockbuster - "Xena the Sepik Princess", have announced the Captain Smollett (pictured right) is being screen tested for a role! Rumours have suggested various posssible characters from Fashion guru to tea cosy tester - but the smart money is on Smollett to play himself in a cameo appearance driving the Marianville school bus that picks up Xena from her crash landing in Moresby in the final moments of the film.

Director Joyce commented to Urban Stone that this role "would be awesome mate. I love his works". Smollet would only offer the cryptic comment "wobble"? We anxiously await further news.

In Brisbane

I flew out of PNG on Friday, and made it back to Brisbane in one piece to spend some time with Dave, Tiff and my niece, the gorgeous Bethany! A wonderful couple of days - if you don't count the debacle of Collingwood v Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night. The game was a lost cause, but it was great to go to the cheersquad function before hand at the Hotel Broadway. We got to meet the infamous Ronnie Wearmouth, and listen to one of Joffa's better speeches. Pity about the rest of the night. Made up for it on Sunday with a leisurely stroll around Southbank and the QLD Art Gallery. Fortunately for us ice-cream was on hand, otherwise Tiff may have gone on a rampage...

Last Sightings of Indiana Conolly

After the tropical paradise of Tufi, we had another few days in Moresby. Time spent at some markets, meeting the Marianville staff, and most bizarrely - surviving the State of Origin madness that sweeps PNG!? I kid you not, State of Origin becomes a matter of life and death - almost matching Grand Final week in Melbourne! (well, only if the Pies aren't playing).

The funniest part was watching Riss, the anti-outdoor type, transform herself into Indiana Conolly as she prepared for her Sepik adventure with Jospeha. Backpacks, hiking boots, headlamps - the full gear. Here is the last known photo of Indiana Conolly as she tries to put on a brave face (while I got to play with the kittens and pretend not to laugh at her stories of impending adventure!). A very funny ending to a brilliant 8 days. Good luck Adventure Riss! PS: Rod would like the film rights...

The traditional welcome dance at Kufore

Traditional Dance
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Tufi

After some time in Port Moresby, Larissa and I flew out to Tufi. An incredible place that had wonderful diving, snorkelling, seafood and every other sort of relaxing tropical pastime. (Beware of the ping pong though, it seems to send some people into a crazy road rage).

The highlights of our time there was visiting some nearby villages. Kofure was our first visit. A journey by truck and then outrigger canoe was spectacular as we crossed fiords and reefs. Once we got there we were greeted by Davison the local elder, and then treated to a traditional welcome of song and dance. After a short tour of the area, the villagers all turned out with their goods to sell.

It was an odd experience. The market is a cash lifeline for this traditional community that cuts out the middle man. And yet there was something slightly unsettling about trawling up and down the rows of bilums, necklaces and tapa cloths under the eye of everyone from the village. It was a bit like a set show, they knew what we were after, we knew what they were hoping for. Each of us in an unusual position, trying to be something other than our normal roles. Maybe as Larissa commented, it was simply that we wished we could buy something from all of them. But I couldn't help feel like a colonial master surveying the village and bestowing my reward on whoever pleased me most.

Riss and some of her girls

Riss and her girls2
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

At the Botanical Gardens with Larissa and some of her girls from Marianville

PNG Trip

Marianville
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Just back from an incredible 8 days in PNG visiting Larissa (check out her Bomana Nights website for some very cool photos). I got to spend some time in Port Moresby - checking out Marianville Secondary School where she works, meeting her colleagues and friends, and discovering the bizarre world of Moresby.

It may not have been as hot as I imagined, but Moresby was fascinating - from the hair raising car trips to the luxury of Kulau on a hot afternoon. As always, it's the people that make it so memorable - Pia's love of Powderfinger, Neil's commitment to the place, manic Mark (who at least follows the pies), Rick, Ivan, Jeremy and Lea and of course, Larissa's girls from Marianville.

The Machinist

I got caught overnight in Brisbane (thank you Air Nuigini), and took the time to catch Christian Bale in the The Machinist. After being so impressed by his Batman Begins performance I had high hopes for this one. And I can report that he is equally impressive here as Trevor Reznik.

Which is lucky really. Because while this is a well made film, it's not necessarily an enjoyable one. It's a psycho-thriller with equally strong references to Fight Club, Memento and Kafka. It's a bleak industrial world in here, and I found myself drawn into Reznik's insomnia and paranoia (perhaps it's not a movie to see by yourself).

Its interesting to look back on three recent films aiming for that dark and bleak look - Revenge of the Sith is Hollywood CGI dark, Batman Begins is the cool and terrifying dark of film noir, and finally The Machinist gives us a guilt-laden, psychosis vision of darkness. And what's really scary is that I know which one holds closest to reality.

Not one for your Saturday afternoon off. Best served with a clean glass of water and quick phone call to some good friends.

Juliet's Birthday Party!

Juliet hanging
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Photo's from my God daughter Juliet's, 6th bithday party. Click on the photo and go to the friends set on my flickr page to see more.

Batman controversy and Katie Holmes

KATIEyb_1
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

It seems my review of Batman Begins was the catalyst for a very interesting and bizarre debate (thanks Liliana). Indeed so bizarre that it drew in some friends of Katie's from the US. So thanks Pru from Ohio for sending this photo from Katie's high school year book. A few others pics are also on my flickr site if you want to have a look see (to get there just click once on the photo, tap your heels together and say "there's no place like home").

Poetic Collingwood

For those with an interest - or perhaps even disbelief - here is proof that not all footy fans are mindless twits. Haiku Bob is a regular over at Extreme Black'n'White, and his poetry is brilliant.

His latest work "talk of lesser things" is brilliant. Collingwood Melancholy as a category all of it's own?

The Whitlams new album

whitlams new album
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Tim Freedman at work on his new album. Mostly written in New York, currently recording in Sydney. Bring it on.

See SMH for details.

One Small Barking Dog

pure-green
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

No, not a new pet, but a very creative bunch of people from Birmingham in the UK. They produce a whole range of "innovative media for contemporary culture".

Lots of stylish and useful resources around spirituality as well. Many of you will have known OSBD for a while. Just thought I'd take the chance to point out some of the creative stuff being done around the emerging church.

For some Australian samples check out:
- Cafe Church resources
- Mountain Masala
- Youth multimedia

ignition

ignition (c) West Coast 2005
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Absolutely love this photo! Discovered on the OCAU photopgraphy forum. Taken by an incredible photographer known as WestCoast - copyright 2005. Thanks for the permission!

Secret postcards

Secret postcards
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Thanks to Craig for pointing out this bizarre but fascinating site. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

Interesting that people can trust confession to strangers but not those closest to us? I guess it sort of makes sense, but it makes me sad that people don't have mates they can trust. Who are we trying to be?

Batman Begins

Batman Begins
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Ok so the world doesn't need another superhero film right? Well not any more. Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan of Memento and Insomnia fame, is absolutely stunning. Dark, brooding, and introspective - it pushes all the right buttons for me, and yet unlike Revenge of the Sith (which I did enjoy), manages to do so without feeling forced and soap opera-ish.

Does it follow the cliche's? It is Batman, but George Clooney and Adam West this ain't! Yes, there is the obligatory loss of parents scenario, the tortured soul looking for redemption and the doomed love interest; but there is so much more to this film. For a start Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman provide a superb support cast that add subtle humour and light, to Christian Bale's darkness.

And then there is this whole Nietzche and Freudian underplay of what do we truly fear? What makes for social responsibility and when is social obligation forfeit? What is the redemption that humanity really searches for? Freedom from guilt, or fear of power? Or ultimately is it the chance to be a brooding dark anti-hero scaring the crap out of people? Hmmmm

5/5 - brilliant.

Today's 23rd Psalm

TODAY’S 23RD PSALM

The TV is my shepherd.
I shall not want.
It makes me lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the faith.

It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the path of sex and violence for the sponsor’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities, there will be no interruption, for the TV is with me.

Its cable and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness.
It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism.
My coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house watching TV forever.

(with thanks to Smithy for tracking this down)

Who Would Jesus Bomb?

Who Would Jesus Bomb?
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Love this! Dad just back from a conference in San Fransisco, where he met some old hippies left over from the Jesus Movement of the 70's. Great question though - who would Jesus bomb? Much sharper than the What Would Jesus Do bracelet craze!

coldplay

coldplay
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Listening to "X&Y", the latest album from Coldplay. Not quite as immediate as "a rush of blood to the head", it is however a bit of a slow burn. The same sense of songs being layered and built up into harmonies and rhythms that sound epic without being overdone (although I must admit to being a bit of tragic for the orchestrated epic ala smashing pumpkins and U2).

Click here to hear some samples from X&Y

Putt Putt Golf revisited

It's essay writing time, and frankly, I'm just losing the ability to care too much about it anymore (there's only so far caffeine can carry me). So at times like these what better than a procrastination aid such as Putt Putt Golf! Scored a 44 on my second go. Ahh the benefits of a mispent life of youth work.

Beth mesmerized by the footy!

AJ and Beth
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Introducing my niece Bethany to football from the famous black couch at Dave and Tiff's place in Brisbane. As you can see, she's absolutely entranced by the mighty black'n'white pies! Clearly a smart young thing already.

And of course, more photos at Urban Stone, just look in the Bennett folder for the Bethany Jane Johnson extravanganza!

Risk

jonny baker quoted a poem on risk that got me thinking...

So one friend chooses to live in a place where she gets shot at, another friend risks starting a family, and another one risks raw honesty in a place where it could cost him his job and legal consequences. Each of them do it for different reasons. Why do we choose to risk, and why not in another situation?

As the poem says, the risk must be taken.

But which one? What was the last real risk I took? And is that what the kid who stepped out onto Pennant Hills Rd last week was asking? I wonder if he's still asking it?

Sounds like a conversation that needs Guinness to me.

Happy 6th Birthday Juliet!

juliet
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

off to my god daughters 6th birthday party today. Makes a welcome break from writing about multiple Christologies and Greek verb use.

Juliet - the fiery princess of bonny Doonside!
Double celebration with her Mum, Sal getting the health all clear. Thank God for that.

Bethany Jane Johnson

Happy Family
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

And of course, my favourite niece, Bethany! Although what my little brother is doing with a kid is beyond me...

...I'm mean he's only turning 30 this year.

Up to play proper-Uncle this weekend for the first time!

My life as a thousand uncle's

Thomson Trio
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Seems that no matter which way I turn, the important people in my life are producing children and entering the strange, strange world of new parenthood. Which then entitles me to various uncle-hoods, godfatherships and occasional babysitter or father-rescuer role. Which at this stage is making me far more intimate with the Childrens Clothes and Book shops down at Beecroft than I ever thought I'd be (and is remarkably fun!?). Wonder how this will be in 10, 20 or 40 years time...

Charlotte Thomson is a tiny beauty already.