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“..we will never be useful to the world if we are being deeply shaped by the world. And we will be shaped by the world without intentional efforts not to be”

Wilderness by John Piper.

Another sad chapter in the Nanny State

By Gareth Parker | View Archive October 23rd, 2009, 10:39 am

British public intellectual Charles Landry could not have been more correct in 2007 when he identified Perth as "the city that says no".

To the list that reads no shopping after 6pm, no shopping on a Sunday, no daylight savings, no pubs open after 10pm on a Sunday, no innovative new architecture, no mid-rise buildings near the beach, no new football stadium and countless other examples, you can now add "No jumping off the Cottesloe pylon".
Renovations of the iconic structure, beloved by generations of beachgoers, were finished today after $122,000 of Federal taxes and a $50,000 Lotterywest grant were tipped into the project.
Yet we find out today that the concrete pylon, originally constructed as part of a failed shark-proof fence, has been deliberately angled and covered with a slippery surface so that swimmers will not be able to climb it.

I guess in ten years’ time we’ll be able to tell our kids “Back in my day, we used to climb that bell and jump off it.” One benefit? We won’t have to witness guys in the nuddy climbing it in the moonlight.

My Geek Fest

The package arrived two weeks ago in preparation for my Windows 7 Party.

And on Saturday night I actually had the party. The weather forecast said Sunny, Max: 28. The weather forecast lied. It was wet, windy and nowhere near 28 degrees.

(Note Charity purposely using the Apple Macbook in the picture!)

Parties are so much work … particularly when you have practical exams the following week! In fact right now I am supposed to be studying, but my body and mind are resisting. By Friday they are over – if the weather cooperates I might go to the beach to chillax and celebrate!

I went for a walk this morning and pondered: if Kevin Rudd can request the mass extermination of Camels, can he order the mass extermination of flies? Would it disrupt the ecosystem? To me flies are just annoying little bugs that sit on dog poo until you come near and then go on your face. Not a fan.

Keyboard mashing is aerijgaskrlejlsjgms.

One Sentence

He ‘aint heavy – he’s my brother.

(Just needed to post this photo – I love it much)

Study Week (not) Much?

The week just gone was what Curtin likes to refer to as ‘Tuition-free Week’. They don’t call it ‘Holiday’ or ‘Week Off’ for a reason – you’re usually bombarded with assignments and study. Unlike some of my peers (Nishie, Priya, Phil, Ashkan – actually I think nearly everyone) I didn’t have any looming assignments to hinder the enjoyment of my week off.

So I didn’t do any uni-related work (well, I did do about 30 mins on Sunday night – but I don’t really count that). What did I do on the week break then?

1. Road Trip to Bunbury for SportsFest

2. Royal Perth Show

(That hammer game must be rigged if Ash can’t win it!)

3. Not one, but THREE birthday parties

And now there are only four weeks of teaching left … in my whole degree! Four weeks! I feel so underprepared entering the workplace with this piece of paper called a degree.

Exciting news though – Asher and I are off to Singapore and Philippines for missons after I finish exams! Woo.

Breathe.