Pearl Jam to play Newcastle Ent Centre!!

Having caught Pearl Jam on their last trip to Oz [stunningly brilliant!!] I was content to not make the drive down the F3 one more time later this year... then comes news that three Newcastle punters petition has been successful and the boys will play Newcastle for the first time!! Pity about the barn-like sound of the Entertainment Centre BUT it is definitely good for local fans!!

The YOU Tube FLIPSIDE !!

Tassie YouTube star calls it quits

Louisa Hearn SMH
August 28, 2006

"Emmalina, an 18-year-old YouTube hit from Tassie, has bowed out of internet stardom
for good after her computer was hacked and her privacy invaded, sparking fears
for her own safety.
The chatty video blog entries recorded from her bedroom first began to appear
in the "most viewed" rankings on the popular YouTube video in June and some
of her more controversial posts attracted more than 300,000 views. She even
has her own Wikipedia entry.
Emmalina's video blog, however, came to an abrupt end earlier this month when
she stripped her profile and all of her video content from YouTube. The explanation
for this, written on YouTubetalk, was that someone had hacked into her computer
and obtained recent pictures and videos from it that had never been posted online
as well as "incredibly private files".
Although she operated under a pseudonym, another determined follower had
uncovered her personal details and circulated them online.
Emmalina declined to be interviewed by us this week because she said things
had already got way out of control.
"People forget that I'm a real, normal young girl with a life, feelings and a right
to privacy," she said.
Her spectacular rise to internet fame gave rise to a multitude of YouTube
dedications, spin-offs and spoofs, as well as a rap song dedicated to her popularity.
But, as many new-found celebrities discover, along with the adoring fans came
the critics and the creeps - a fact that Emmalina admitted to us, in an interview in
June, that she was struggling to accept.
She said at the time: "When you put something on the internet, it's there for
everyone to see. But the nasty comments are pretty discouraging and you do
get a lot of them."
Max Markson, managing director of celebrity agency, Markson Sparks, warned
that the openness of the internet represented a double edged sword for those
seeking notoriety.
"If you put yourself out there on YouTube or MySpace you are moving into
open area and giving your privacy away. If all of a sudden fame comes upon you,
all the negatives as well as the positives come with it," he said.
Part of Emmalina's appeal was her lack of pretension and the witty, self
deprecating captions that she dotted throughout her video blog. Although
her focus was on everyday and sometimes mundane topics ranging from
her pet guinea pigs to her interest in yoga, her occasional raunchy dance
routines often ranked highly among viewer ratings and attracted a lot of
public commentary.
In some of her most highly viewed posts, she boldly took some of her
critics to task, chiding the email responses to her videos from those she
described as "haters" and chastising the "creepy old men" who posted l
ewd messages on her own and other YouTube videos featuring young
women.
However things eventually became too much for Emmalina and she
claims there was no choice but to leave YouTube once her personal
privacy and security had been breached.
"Every day I logged in and discovered more and more cruel spoofs,
harassing videos, death and rape threats, incredibly nasty comments
and God knows what else. I can't take it anymore. YouTube 'popularity'
is hell unless you're a f---ing saint with nothing to hide, or you have
indestructible confidence," she wrote in her last post on YouTubetalk."

YOU Tube Guitar Whiz!!

From colleague Bruce Mullan...

The YouTube mystery guitar whiz.
Another YouTube star, with over 7.5 million hits already.
An anonymous guitar whiz playing "an exceedingly difficult rock
arrangement of Pachelbel's Canon". But who is it?

The NYTimes<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/arts/television/27heff.html
reveals his name (Jeong-Hyun Lim) and reports on the background to the
arrangement of "the great one-hit wonder of the baroque period".

See the video first <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8

Worship Unplugged # 37 Lollies

This is probably listed amongst the first 20 or 30 Unplugged's BUT a plastic tub of lollies used as part of the invitation or call to worship goes a long way towards settings an informal and friendly atmosphere and beginning for worship!!
I recommend: party mix, snakes, milk bottles, fredo frongs and jaffas all mixed in...

Keep them handy or keep them circulating!!

YOU Tube

Up there with MySpace.... Since last mentioned here YOU Tube has taken off as a crazy space for uploading all kinds of personal or captured videos... including the old guy recently made famous by his musings and whinges each week!!

Here is the Chaser take on Hillsong as an example...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAWPcbTw8k

Of course I can't vouch for all the content!!
Pop culture that is impacting free to air and pay TV future...
because YOU can choose what you watch on the Tube!!

Row M Seat 30 "Snakes on a Plane"

Just like asking for a lilac lightsabre... Samuel Jackson signed up for this film based solely on the title... if you believe the media hype that is!!

It's generating spoof posters, sequel titles and will no doubt find its way into "Scary Movie 8"

More once I've seen it of course!!

SIM SWEATSHOP

http://www.simsweatshop.com/

Jonny Baker came across this site that would be of interest to supporters of fairwear or anyone wanting to end the injustice of sweatshop footwaer and clothing production!!

Not a bad virtual intoroduction to the issues and the plight of many people across the globe!!

Music

At the risk of repeating myself here's a list or songs I'm enjoying as well as finding useful in worship, reflections, as backing or playlist tracks...

Diesel 'coathanger antennae'
Kasey Chambers 'Nothing At All'
Shane Nicholson 'I Know What You Want'
Alex Lloyd 'Sometimes'
Missy Higgins 'Sound of White'
Bob Evans 'Don't You Think It's Time'
Eskimo Joe
Youth Group

Geez... I miss the Oils...

Oh well, Powderfinger are going back to the studio later this year and Silverchair have done the hard work.... there's hope yet...

Row M Seat 30 "Boytown"

Not released until 19th October you can't miss the pre-publicity for Mick Molloy's new film "Boytown." It's a story about the reformation of an 80s boy band attempting to revive their success!! Mick and his brother Richard have a pretty good track record of funny films [if a little stereotypical]...
Glen Robbins is reportedly great in this flick!! [as ever]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472615/

"Sunshine to Rain" Dragon Liberation Blues Acoustic Series

Today I picked up a copy [recent CD embargo broken] of the Liberation Series latest from Dragon with the very capable Mark Williams singing for the late and lamented Marc Hunter!!

It's brilliant... at rendering these Dragon classics
at breathing new life into some inspired lyrics
at reminding me of my angst driven and simpler days in late High School and early work and part time Uni years!!
Confusion over who I wanted to snog, spend time with, have as a friend [as if in rewriting history it were only up to me] time on our hands, lazy days listening to vinyl on turntable and a memorable Civic Park Mattara Concert!!

Plus the ill fated foray into Dragon of Tommy Emanuel who fitted "like a fish on a bicycle" and the ego of Alan Mansfield and his Toto inspired keyboard dominance of their last couple of half decent recordings!!
I was and am an unashamed Dragon fan... including their the heady days of drink, drugs and appearances on "Countdown"...

Tracks
1 Sunshine
2 Speak No Evil
3 April Sun In Cuba
4 Are You Old Enough?
5 Body & The Beat
6 Wilder World
7 Still In Love
8 Dreams Of Ordinary Men
9 Get That Jive
10 Magic
11 Age Of Reason (Marc Hunter & Bella Hunter) A REDEEMING VERSION THAT'LL GET A RUN WITH ME IN MY RARITIES AND GREAT TRACKS ELECTIVE COMING TO A CONVENTION NEAR YOU!! AND MAYBE EVEN A BIG SCREEN WORSHIP SOMEWHERE!!
12 Promises
13 This Time
14 Young Years
15 Celebrate
16 Rain
17 Age Of Reason (Hidden)

While Michael Gudinski invented this idea out of the necessity of a shrinking CD market, it has been a masterstroke and has enlivened the careers of a number of performers and bands as featured on http://www.acousticseries.com.au/FrontPage.htm

Michael Spiby, Jenny Morris, and Choirboys have recently toured with Dragon to promote releases from all the above!

Gotta Love Prince Harry

Well, as you know I include lots of pop culture stories here... far from a gratuitous pic its all about the generational differences between the post modern era and what went on behind closed doors in previous generations!!

In other words, this could be a picture from a party anywhere last weekend and also be a completely harmless snapshot in time of two friends sharing some fun... and yes it could also be inappropraite drunken behaviour...

Even better still the picture could be 3 years old and cause the Palace to issue a demand for an apology that the story misrepresented the truth. Again there used to be a time where people in public life had their privacy respected if not covered up... we live in interesting times!!

Joey Johns suffers Daily Telegraph Tall Poppy Syndrome

Make no mistake:

• Andrew Johns shouldn't have been swearing when the match officials missed the knock on this weekend vs Manly
• Coach Michael Hagan should have been more circumspect
• The Club should have been more firm when Johns ditched the ball presentation a few weeks ago against the Eels

BUT

This negative publicity about him started way back when he decided to pick and choose the International Games he could play and toyed with and finally stuck to Origin retirement. The newspaper made editorial decisions about how to handle this particular player and have been riding every headline since!!

You can't be "the games best player ever" for long in this country without the blowtorch being eventually applied... BUT here's the rub...

What does this current treatment have to do with Andrew Johns rescue package to keep him in the NRL instaed of switching to Rugby Union and playing for the Waratahs...

The rescue was a Nine/Packer initiated series of promises... involving future media opportunities!!

News Ltd have a long memory and it hasn't taken much for Joeys media to be fairly negative...

Just as his earlier punctured lung was blown out of all proportion SO TOO is this swearing story... it happens throughout any game and is directed at officials, players, thin air, etc etc..

It'd be all a bit ho hum except its true that the Knights are pretty much gone without him at this late stage of the year!!

Well, the reverse spin was action today as friends and family rue the possibility that if rubbed out Joey will head to Warrington in England to play and now the Appeal against the severity of the charge is in ans we;ll kill a lot of trees reading about it all in the next three or four days!!

David Tench Tonight

"Zapruder's Other Films" presents arguably the worlds first animated talk show host this Thursday on Oz TV on TEN at 8.30pm!!
Lots of sites, blogs, critics etc have expressed mixed feelings so it'll be interesting to see if this works here... if he displays Andrew Denton's deft touch and questioning style it'll work but if Denton's role is more distant then the jury is still out... guess we'll all see...

Meaningful Soles

Inspired by Paul Hobbs "Holy Ground"
www.cms-uk.org/news/2005/art_and_sole_240805.htm
We have begun the task of inviting nearly thirty people from across the globe to donate a pair of shoes and to share their story for a worship intsallation [a little more secular than Paul's].
I have a copy of Paul Hobbs resource to loan groups or people [CD ROM and stories] and hope to have "Meaningful Soles" set up in a few months!!

What do I mean?
We have invited nearly thirty people to donate a pair of shoes and to tell the story of how those shoes represent something of their spirituality, values, faith?

We will design a space and installation to display the shoes and their stories under the banner of "Meaningful Soles"

Stay tuned for updates on who responds and what they have to say!!

Triple J Unearthed

Triple J seeks next Missy on the net
SMH August 10, 2006 - 1:12PM

The ABC has injected new life into its Triple J Unearthed radio talent quest to find the music stars of the future.
The public broadcaster is looking for the next Missy Higgins, Ella Hooper or Grinspoon - all of whom were discovered by the radio station.
It has launched a new website for the program, http://www.triplejunearthed.com/, in the hope of reaching people in all parts of Australia, from the city to the bush.
"Unearthed has been one of the best initiatives the station has come up with over its three-decade existence," Triple J music director Richard Kingsmill said, adding that some of Australia's top artists were found through the quest.
"It's been a terrific vehicle for us to discover fresh talent, but it's also given many the chance of expressing their music and having that aired across the nation."
Unknown independent musicians will be encouraged to upload their music and profiles, with Triple J listeners able to review the songs.
There is no set competition, but there will be a series of opportunities for talent to be discovered.
One musical act will be selected to perform at Sydney's Homebake outdoor festival in December, while others will win the opportunity to take part in songwriting workshops, professional recording sessions, and the chance to have their music played on Triple J.

Final Piece of U2 Puzzle is in Place

It's TRUE... U2 will perform in Sydney on November 13th in a totally newly scheduled concert with tickets on sale August 11th !!

"Space and Time"

With some worship experiences its as though I develop a picture of the ways in which people will be invited to engage with 'the story' or explore their faith story, from one piece of music or a scattered thought or just the theme... and then the rest of the activity fills it out!!

This worship was certainly not radical, way out, or particularly original BUT was something I thought one mob could cope with and that it might work with modifications in a range of other places... The thinking and planning process was spread over several months and inspirations included: Holy Ground worship art space in the UK; the desire to "do something different"; my resolution at the start of this year not to lead worship anywhere exactly as its normally experienced or whats normally expected... i.e. I would do 'something' which gave me integrity and challenged the comfortable familiar...; and finally a brilliant tirade from Ben Elton's recent stand up tour "Get a Grip" at the Capitol Theatre on 20 July... thats where Psalm 144 came from...

The group at Gordon UC in Sydney have been doing a 'Winter Warmers' worship series where they gather in their hall, enjoy soup and bread as part of the worship time together and still employ their rich musical possibilities in a fairly traditional way...

I took the opportunity of gathering in the hall to suggest 'something different' in response to the invitation to come and lead worship there.. On this ocassion it would be installations/stations or at least choice... that's not always what I choose...

I hold pretty strongly to the power and simplicity of Mark Pierson's "people/a person responding to God" as a simple working definition for worship and secondly that "liturgy" means "the work of the people"...

THE SPACE
was set up with lights largely off, one stand of cans lighting the space, four desk lamps facing walls like an art gallery illumination and two blacklight UV lights highlighting the confession time space... there were two walls to focus on for the initial visuals...

Three data projectors could have easily been four BUT still the worship could be adapted to suit zero projectors... as it was we used two and a looped DVD on a laptop...

We began with a spoken call, introduced 2 communally sung songs
Then came an audiovisual and soup was served!!

The audio-visual worked two screens to "Don't You Think It's Time" Bob Evans
The images were a variety of worship, youth culture and reflection inspiring images!!

The second screen included a piece of writing about 'TIME' and set the scene...
We enjoyed our soup and then began to engage with up to TEN spaces...

The Call to Worship reminded people that this was not entertainment, a concert, a workshop etc but was worship and invited them to take up the invitation... explaining the music, soup,AV and then how the time would be spent!!

STATIONS:

1. Time to Choose
Looped 'Matrix' scene of Morpheus describing that non-one can tell you what the Matrix is, you have to see it for yourself... with the brief guide offering you the choice of red or blue jelly beans to symbolise your discipleship choice

2. Time to Remember
An Aussie Post cardboard cylinder will play host to the scribblings of those who chose to leave a question, commitment or observation on paper... to be opened again 12 months from now...

3. Time for Games
A choice of Jenga on a table or the Deepspeak cards from St Lukes Innovative Reources.
The cards have various themes moving people from openers to different kinds of values explorations

4. Kids Talk About Heaven
Images and writing were projected on the wall and paper and textas provided for those present to experience the children's thinking and then maybe draw or write about their own stuff.

5. Time for Others
A world map and tealight candles for lighting and placement on the map were supplemented with six larger candles and the Sarah McLachlan clip for "World On Fire".
The larger candles each had a cylinder of translucent paper taped into a tube and placed over them... on the front were printed images from this weeks news...
The Sign explains that Sarah Mcl donated the normal cost of a clip to all the causes and projects listed as possible in the video...

6. Time to Own Up
Black cloth spayed with repositioning glue was taped to the wall. Phone block paper and pens offered the chance to write a confession and stick it up above two 'blacklight UV' lights...

7. Time for Action
The recent story of the young boy in the well known Fred Hollows picture [Giap] was pictured 'today' and we were reminded in the newspaper of Fred mostly working on adults until this day in the crowd a young boy tugged at his shirt... Intraoccular surgery and a miracle later and he can see, wants to teach maths and represents the great work of Fred amongst indigenous and asian communities!!
The article and reference to Jesus unrolling the scroll and naming what he had come to do "food, clothing, sight..." and also the story of the woman who'd suffered bleeding for years and who reached out and touched Jesus clothes...
People were asked to reflect on how they could act to change the world...

8. and 10. Offering Time
The Offering bags and a set of footprint cutouts gave people a chance to respond...
to offer a finacial gifts or to commit to some next steps by writing on the footprint and placing it on the floor.
Psalm 144 informed the reflection and a piece of text about how it used to be that God was seen as huge and we were 'insignificant' and wondered at God's interest in us... not the other way around!!

9. Story Time
A selection of storybooks encouraged people to see what God might be saying through the power of stories... what made them laugh... what they enjoyed reading!!

The exploration lasted 30 mins and we closed with [1] communla song and a spoken Sending Out

It went well on the whole and I have fine tuned some aspects!!
It was all just enough to now know how I would run it again and how I would do it slightly differently...

Either no communal singing or a guitar, voice and tombas...
Call and Instructions/Invitation recorded as MP3 and played as a loop attached to the initial invitational powerpoint slide!!People enter and engage and if there was singing it would be spontaneously led about 10 mins in...

I will probably cut down two Stations to increase the focus!!
But again the feedback was largely very positive from the assembled mob!!

Wanderers v Merewether Carlton [The Slime] 2005

This photo is taken just as I get hit with a full drum of gatorade in the back row!!
A brilliant premiership grand final win over the Slime!!
Outgunned, outsmarted we did it!!
Performed according to the game plan and played as a team with plenty of ticker!!

45 Not Out

While my blog trawls the subjects of youth ministry, spirituality, pop culture and my own passions its not often [just very occasionally] that its about my deepest stuff... more an exploration to point to things I reckon are worth YOU the reader exploring for yourself!!

BUT today was my 45th birthday and we've just crossed into the day after!!
I reminisce...
I reminisce because I had a very significant birthday party to celebrate my 25 Not Out and so it resonates, because I've had some time to myself today...
and because its one of those days when I have missed rugby union more than words can say!!

When I was 21 I had a nice small party amongst friends and family and not long after that entered the network and friendship circle, the leadership opportunity and the faith shaping group known as the Hunter UYF!!!!
For this reason and because a few years later I knew if I was to follow my calling into the ministry of Youth Worker it would take me away from Newcastle,
I decided to have a big birthday bash called '25 not out'...
It was a great night... somewhere between 150 and maybe 200 guests [a dry show] at a former nursing home in Mayfield in Necastle that friends of mine would make their community house...
A last minute panic that the noise would be too great for locals was blown away when we realised that with the double cavity federation brick style you couldn't hear a thing outside...
It was a lot of fun and a special time.... there's been a fair bit of water, chocolate, take away food and life experience pass under the bridge since then!!
Started relationships, broken relationships, new relationships, kids, more Youth Worker jobs etc...
My eerie feeling that this party was well timed turned out to be true when I moved to Normanhurst to be Youth Worker six months later, then back home to the Hunter and now in the Synod role at least for two more years at this stage!!

I remember Robbie Carraro complaining all night about the 'dry' party... Steve Warham's counselling chair, U2 at full volume, and the huge crowd!!

Tonight I watched the story and the huge overreaction to the new All Black Haka and a story on the Footy Show about a young fella playing League who was burned in a car accident a few years back and lost most of his fingers and lots of hair...

I miss playing rugby union every week... its hard to describe... I loved the teamwork, the personal challenges, achieving success and moving into the senior player and coaches ranks...
alongside this I always struggled with weight, asthma and fitness [only truly fit to play in 1988, 89 1993, 4 and 5] Having done the hard work to get there I had a foot injury in January 1995 and never quite regained that edge [I also no longer lived alone near the beach and walked two or three times a day for 90mins flat out to keep that fitness]. Even 270 games and 22 seasons leaves me wanting more... but knee trouble was always going to bring me undone...

Next comes food allergies in 2001, steroids to blunt the life threatening reactions and weakening my knee tendons. I snapped both in a tackle at Muswellbrook three years ago and after seven weeks in hospital after surgery I can walk but can't run... between numbness, weak muscles and the prominence of arthritis now that the knees are less strong!!

I would give anything for one more run on No2 Sportsground, just to say goodbye...
to give it away only to be phoned a couple of years later when the team is short to come down and help...
OR to join a team of over 35s for the World Golden Oldies in LA or Sydney or...
I haven't coached this year because I knew I wouldn't have the time [thats been true]... and this has added to the pain...
I now go to see the rugby tests or Super 14 in Sydney and its only "the game I used to play"... there was always something special about still having wet hair from the post game wash up or struggling with a cork or a sore ankle up and down the stadium stairs as you watched the elite do very well what you havd been trundling around attempting to do earlier that very day!!
Yep, my spirit is less vibrant for lack of this time... I fell down, disappointed and I grieve... still!!
People are dying for lack of food, being bombed and experiencing persecution simply because of their beliefs across our planet... my clear call is to stand alongside those people, to be a change agent in my community, to live according to a set of values exampled and taught by Jesus Christ... and yet I have th audacity to miss something that became the essence of the fun in my life for so many years... it all disappeared so quick you see... and is pretty final when you could face surgery and another six weeks in hopsital if you pushed it too far!!

I don't think I ever expected to be still playing at age 45, but in my last season I knew that the previous year had been very unfulfilling, that the coaches had given me short shrift even considering my poor fitness, and I had set myself the task of two more seasons, getting fitter and retiring on a high... indeed I was enjoying my season enough I was toying with cutting it one short and making that my last. Difference being, uninjured I would always have the option of a cameo game here and there or to come back and play if I missed it... I guess its the lack of choice that makes me sad!!

Wierdly my food allergies seem to have settled and so fruit and vegies are back on the agenda until of course I discover it was a false dawn [by having an anaphylactic reaction [choking to death]....
So there are less excuses for my ballooning weight [no allergy drugs, no limit on apples etc]
All I have to do now is make the time to walk and stop stuffing my face with my favourite all time snacks and who knows maybe my knees could stand a training session and one cameo "run on" at a home game [20mins on then sub out and enjoy a beverage]!!

Tell him he's dreaming!!

Getting my hair peroxided and/or playing a winter season of baseball with my brother and nephew weren't enough incentive to get 30kgs off yet this year... maybe boring stuff like avoiding diabetes, heart failure and embarrassment in public space seating or on airplanes might eventually motivate me!! Not to mention 40 wasted Mambo t-shirts... Wallaby supporters gear and a somehow way less bouyant boogie board than it used to be...

OK thats probably way too much information for the world to read.... now where are those hard and soft centred birthday chocolates!!

J TV

While I am OLD [and so Triple J sometimes annoys me as much as inspires me]... I think J TV is an impressive development in Aussie media...
Friday Nights ahead of RAGE
Saturday Mornings and composite shows on ABC 2 on digital TV [Foxtel and set top boxes]

http://abc.net.au/jtv/

It all kicks off this weekend... check You Am I live... despite the budget cutting of previous youth tv on the ABC including Fly TV and Dylan Lewis' various incarnations... its a gutsy effort to brand it J TV because that'll be a big fall if it doesn't gel and grow!! Lets see what happens!!

Of course the other networks have their own versions [Video Hits Uncut, Express etc] but as ever the content will set J Tv apart!!

Homebake 2006

Silverchair have just been announced as the headliners for Homebake 2006 Saturday 2nd December in Sydney's Domain!!
Homebake is a brilliant day that has grown over the years to now include such a mix of Aussie talent [always the strength of the day]!! It has a good feel to it and is in a place that discourages the agressiveness and testosterone that characterises events like Big Day Out!!

Although I feel way too old to be going I plan to head back there this year so you can pretty much bank on the return of the huge thunderstorms from my previous visits!! Still its worth it for the papadams!!

See Eskimo Joe, Toni Collette [yep], Youth Group, Bjorn Again and THE MODELS!! You Am I etc!!
Tickets August 21st approx $80

Friends....
I cannot get tickets for people but I'd be happy to know you're going and plan to catch up on the day!!

www.homebake.com.au

U2 by U2

Again from U2.com

In Their Own Words’
It will be the definitive U2 story.
It will have stories never before told and photos never before seen.
It is ‘U2byU2’ and worldwide publication is just two months away, on September 22nd.
For the first time each member of U2 – and manager Paul McGuinness - has told their own story from their earliest childhood memories to their first meeting with each other, from those opening chords in Larry’s kitchen to becoming the biggest band in rock’n’roll. Ever wondered what it’s like being in a band with your school friends for your entire adult life?
Ever wanted to have a conversation with the band themselves ?
‘U2byU2’ is the ultimate conversation with Adam, Bono, Edge, Larry and Paul McGuinness in which they tell their own side of the U2 story. Featuring more than 1500 images including previously unpublished photographs from the personal archives of the band, this hefty 350-page tells the U2 story from the perspective of those who know it best – and it brings it right up to date in 2006.
‘U2’s story is an extraordinary one and we are proud to be publishing this book.’ said Trevor Dolby, Publishing Director of HarperCollins Entertainment.
‘U2byU2 is a book not just for the fans but for everyone interested in music and modern culture.’

Coldplay # 2

Coldplay

Just catching up on the fact that a few weeks ago I was able to take up a spare ticket to go along with friends Nic and Stevie to catch Chris Martin and the lads!!
I know lots of try hard and up and coming muso's who don't have much time for theis bands four chords and repetitive sound... BUT I love the themes they explore, the sounds they come up with and the energy and uniqueness of Chris Martin made it a great concert!!

Right up there with a few other shows I've seen at Sydney's Ent Cent!!

The staging was also impressive as simple ideas done well, golden yellow giant beach balls, a massive screen backdrop with various images reminiscient of their clips and mood colours and light... I was only slightly disappointed that the lights chosen for 'Speed of Sound' didn't match my image of its sprawling canvass and big themes...

Gotta love a concert where its OK... indeed better... if you sit the whole time!!
It was great!!

Fred Hollows SMH Weekend Edition July 22-23

Fred Hollows was flamin' legend!! Like many skilled and thoughtful medico's he knew that his gifts had a use beyond making a comfortable living for himself. His dislike for the idea that some should live in extreme poverty while others are very comfortable was shaped in his work in outback Australia and extended to south east asia and beyond... What I love about the Fred Hollows story of transplanting intra occular lenses to cure unnecessary blindness is the marketing Fred used to get punters onboard!! A Fiver for Fred!! Now five fivers for Fred!!
At that earlier time someone's sight could be restored for $5 per eye... We who were encouraged to get onboard could see the scriptural call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and bring sight to the blind.... could see it come true for $5-$10!! Amazing...
The irony of his athiesm would not have been lost on the gruff bloke who didn't tolerate fools, gibbering or beaurocracies!!
This irony is deepened with thoughts of the story below and the woman who suffered from years of bleeding who reached out and tugged at Jesus clothes...
Relax, I'm not going all metaphysical on you... just aware that both Jesus and Fred Hollows shared a goal of bringing wholeness to 'community'... of restoring peoples very humanity, dignity and soul by the removal of unnecessary barriers to a full life and the kindness, regard and inclusion of others!!
The thing Jesus spoke second most about was 'money'... and each of us [myself included] is well reminded that in our consumerist comfort we ought to always seek the best for others, consider our place in the scheme of things and as the very funny Ben Elton shared this week... get a grip!!

SMH by Tony Stephens
July 22, 2006
THE people of Vietnam are still saying thanks to Fred Hollows. Moved by his death 13 years ago, they are now moved by his life. And Tran Van Giap is moved more than most.
Giap was six when Professor Hollows visited Vietnam in 1992 to set up a program that would train surgeons to implant intraocular lenses into the eyes of about a million people blinded by cataracts or whose eyesight was severely impaired.
The focus was on old people, but Giap went to the professor. The boy had lost sight in his right eye, probably during rice harvesting, when plant stems and husks fly around. He tugged at the hem of the eye specialist's clothes.
"My eye was so painful," Giap, now 21, said. "So I tried to touch the professor and asked him to see my eye."
Professor Hollows relented and agreed to operate when he returned to Vietnam later that year. When he returned, he was just months from succumbing to cancer, in February 1993. Dr Sanduk Ruit, the Nepalese eye surgeon who has worked with the Hollows team, operated.
Giap kept his left eye open, watching. Later, Professor Hollows removed the bandage. Giap heard, and saw, the doctor whistle with pleasure. Giap realised he could see again through both eyes.
The pair were the subject of a famous photo. Now the Hollows Foundation has tracked down the young man.
Vietnamese doctors had said the Hollows plan for implanting intraocular lenses in the blind eyes of their country folk was impossible. It would be like converting a truck driver into a fighter pilot.
Professor Hollows gave them the evidence. About 150,000 Vietnamese were going blind with cataracts every year. If Australians could have the lenses, why not the Vietnamese?
By 2003, 100,000 cataract operations a year were performed in Vietnam. Last year doctors trained by the Hollows Foundation alone performed 3000 cataract operations.
The foundation now works in 23 countries across the developing world and has been responsible for well over a million operations.
Giap is in the second year of a mathematics degree at Hong Duc University. One of six children in a farming family, he is the only one to attend university. He wants to teach maths. Gabi Hollows, the professor's widow, will meet him soon. "I'll give him a big hug," she said yesterday.

Worship Unplugged # 36 Red Pill Blue Pill

Morpheus Matrix challenge of which pill you're gonna take provides a fun element to a creative worship space... I'm always surprised [given the clip looped in the background] how many people choose one of each... to apparently be on the safe side...

The Matrix
written by Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski
Morpheus: I imagine that right now you're feeling a bit like Alice. Tumbling down the rabbit hole?
Neo: You could say that.
Morpheus: I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he's expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. Do you believe in fate, Neo?
Neo: No.
Morpheus: Why not?
Neo: 'Cause I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.
Morpheus: I know exactly what you mean. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know, you can't explain. But you feel it. You felt it your entire life. That there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there. Like a splinter in your mind -- driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Neo: The Matrix?
Morpheus: Do you want to know what it is?(Neo nods his head.)
Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, or when go to church or when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.Neo: What truth?
Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch. A prison for your mind. (long pause, sighs) Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back.(In his left hand, Morpheus shows a blue pill.)
Morpheus: You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. (a red pill is shown in his other hand) You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. (Long pause; Neo begins to reach for the red pill) Remember -- all I am offering is the truth, nothing more.(Neo takes the red pill and swallows it with a glass of water)

It's On...

From u2.com

20.07.2006
U2’s Vertigo Tour Hits The Road Again!
It's official! At last we can confirm the rescheduled Vertigo//2006 shows. U2 will hit the road again in November. Starting in Brisbane on November 7th , U2 will play further dates in Australia, New Zealand and Japan before finishing in Hawaii on December 9. Kanye West will join the band in Australia and New Zealand while Special Guests, Pearl Jam will join Rocco and the Devils for December 9 in Honolulu.These show dates are rescheduled following the postponement of Vertigo//2006 earlier in the year. For full ticket information in your area please see below.“We are very happy to announce the rescheduling and appreciate everyone’s patience.” said Arthur Fogel, of TNA. The Vertigo Tour opened in San Diego in March 2005, is set for a grand finish in Hawaii with the addition of Pearl Jam.“It’s going to be a great night in Hawaii,” said Paul McGuinness, U2’s manager. “The band are really pleased Pearl Jam could join the bill, a great end to what has already been a very successful tour.”
The new show dates are as follows:
Auckland - Ericsson Stadium - (Old Date) Friday, March 17th/06 - (New Date) Friday, November 24/06
Auckland - Ericsson Stadium - (Old Date) Saturday, March 18th/06 - (New Date) Saturday, November 25/06
Brisbane - QSAC Stadium - (Old Date) Tuesday, March 21st/06 - (New Date) Tuesday, November 7/06
Melbourne - Telstra Dome - (Old Date) Friday, March 24th/06 - (New Date) Saturday, November 18/06
Melbourne - Telstra Dome - (Old Date) Saturday, March 25th/06 - (New Date) Sunday, November 19/06
Adelaide - AAMI Stadium - (Old Date) Tuesday, March 28th/06 - (New Date) Thursday, November 16/06
Sydney - Telstra Stadium - (Old Date) Friday, March 31st/06 - (New Date) Friday, November 10/06
Sydney - Telstra Stadium - (Old Date) Saturday, April 1st/06 - (New Date) Saturday, November 11/06
Honolulu - Aloha Stadium - (Old Date) Saturday, April 8/06 - (New Date) Saturday, December 9/06

In Tokyo, 3 New Show Dates have been confirmedTokyo - Saitama Super Arena - Wednesday, November 29th/06
Tokyo - Saitama Super Arena - Thursday, November 30th/06
Tokyo - Saitama Super Arena - Monday, December 4th/06

Woo Hoo!!

U2 Almost there...

In a matter of days we should have confirmation of U2's rescheduled concert dates and Telstra Stadium certainly lists November with "details soon"...
Rumours of Auckland New Zealand October 21,22
and good info on Melbourne mid November...

Hopefully my next entry about this will be to confirm the announcement!!

RUMOURS...
Sydney November 10th and 11th with new concert November 13th???

"Desert Lights" Something for Kate

Debut at #1 in the charts... plenty to read about Paul Dempseys struggles and inspiration in the newspapers and magazines!!

Snow Mobile...Part in a Movie... House!!