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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.

Lacitiz Baciliti

I can almost count the number of weeks left at uni on one hand … how crazy is that? I was thinking about this the other week, and a nostalgic feeling sunk-in – I feel as if I’m finishing high school all over again! I know I’m going to miss seeing my uni mates nearly every day of the week. It’s a shame that it only clicked in the last few weeks that I should make the most of my time that I have – I will probably never have the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of people in such a casual setting – and I should build into these relationships as much as I can so that they will last once we all graduate and go our separate ways (although I’m sure some of us will meet again under the PathWest banner at some point).

A few of us visited UWA to kill a bit of time. We went with the purpose of sizing-up our rival university, and were pretty impressed with the scenery. We’ve all been there at least once, and are still taken aback by the architecture and lush greenery. We managed to track down a peacock, and it obligingly partook in some photos with us.

We met up with Phil and Ashkan for some Korean food in the city. The second time I’ve been to this place and I’d more than likely return – it’s relatively inexpensive and tastes good! We asked the host what a particular dish consisted of, and he gave a good explanation, but could not translate one important word into English – apparently something that aids digestion. He wrote it on a napkin:

”Lacitiz baciliti”

Ash: Oh he must mean laxative!
Priya: They can’t legally put that into food ya!
Ash: But it helps digestion.
Priya: No I’ve got it – Lactobacillus ya!
Us: Oh … ya!

It seems that wherever we go, Microbiology stalks us. We made a new discovery (well, I already knew it about myself) – besides Phil and Ash, we all fail at pool. Marie did attempt to show off with her ‘behind the back’ shot:

Pffft. Show off.

Check out more photos from the night on Picasa.

The Lego Cradle

Works like a charm! I might mix up the colours a bit now that I know it works.

Audrey’s 21st was on Saturday night:

And I did relish the opportunity to dress up! Jono’s theme was ‘inside-out’ – pretty good idea! Although I must admit that this guy was probably the coolest:

If you can’t tell, he is dressed as a Lego block. Pretty cool indeed. I have ideas for another party like this in the future …