"A church which pitches its tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling... [We must] play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, and live by improvisation and experiment"

- Hans Kung, quoted in "The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch.
(just started reading it - will report back later)

One Crowded Hour

click here to see the video of the #1 song for 2006 (as voted by the Triple J Hottest 100 and myself!)

A Farewell To Sam

(otherwise known as "Hello to Buff Bollywood Boys"). Our favourite Novacastrian refugee in Melbourne, Sammy C, is preparing to take off to India for a year to work in a variety of settings. But as is obligatory before such a bold and adventurous move she had her own East Coast farewell tour. The highlight of course being to sample the extraordinary Crawford hospitality with a host of good friends, great wine and truffle butter (no Crawford event is complete without some gastronomic gourmet delight that is almost beyond belief for us mere mortals used to Vegemite toast)



Unfortunately no photos recorded the impromptu Funky Chicken war cry led by the ever shy duo of Kent and Dave.



Also spent the day in the Blue Mountains, hosted by Tour Guide Smith - large breakfast, plenty of coffee, a secret location, and incredible chilli chocolates. Nice work comrade.

Good luck Sam, we all (especially Nic) look forward to the arrival of your blog, and the tales of wonder and excitement to follow! (and of course the safe return of your renewed and transformed self)

Bronte Beach

Next stop, Tehran

Another commentator points out the likelihood of US/UK military intervention in Iran based on the current movement of troops. Please God, say it isn't so.

rain

pondering the rain, originally uploaded by urbanstone.

another summer afternoon in Sydney

another summer afternoon in Sydney, originally uploaded by urbanstone.

"Photos: Kill Your Darlings"

An interesting piece on how to judge your own photos (hopefully to push yourself to take better ones) from Mark Waddington via Jonny. It uses the tool of looking at the photos from the perspective of the inventor, the child, the lover, the craftsman and several others (makes sense when you read it, don't worry). Definitely worth a look if you're into photography!

2006 Raymo's

Ray has listed his top 5 cinematic moments for the year over at OneRayHill

2006 top 5's

You know I can't resist a good top 5! Lots of the usual suspects, but that's because I love 'em! So here goes the summary for 2006...

Top 5 Movies
1. Brokeback Mountain - tragic, slow paced film that allowed you to think and imagine rather than spelling everything out in block letters. Loved the wilderness cinematography.

2. Water - up there with "Three Colours Blue" for the most visually beautiful film ever. A riot of colours, set with an intensely original story of widows in India.

3. The Prestige - Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan can do no wrong! The makers of "Batman Begins" gave us another intelligent adventure - thrilling with a great twist.

4. Goodnight and Goodluck - compulsory viewing for anyone living in our times of the "War on Terror" - history doomed to repeat itself.

5. Ten Canoes - no description - just go and see it if you haven't. My favourite Australian film in a long, long time. I expected a politically correct "moral" tale of Indigenous Australia - but found something so much more than that!

Honourable mentions: Syriana, Walk The Line and Kenny.
Surprise of the Year: Miami Vice
Dud of the Year: Marie Antionette - (story line? who needs a plot when you got lots of frocks!)




Top 5 Albums
1. "Days to Come" - Bonobo
2. "Desert Lights" - Something For Kate
3. "Moo you bloody choir" - Augie March
4. "Synaesthesia" - Matt Tonks
5. "Convicts" - You Am I

Honourable Mentions: "Collected" - Massive Attack, "Little Cloud" - The Whitlams, "Fire Shepherds" - Loka.

Top 5 Books
1. "How (not) to speak of God" - Peter Rollins
2. "The Fourth Bear" - Jasper Fford
3. "Three Day Road" - Joseph Boyden
4. "The Reformation" - Patrick Collinson
5. "The Formfulness of Grief" - Walter Brueggemann (really an article rather than a book - but it was so damn good that I had to include it!)