PSVITA Advert

There's something about this advert...
It's a clever way of describing the gaming experience of the new PSP VITA but I'm also thinking about what captured my attention in the idea. Is it something about authentic experiences so real you are really 'in' them? Is it what it takes for that reality? Is it a quirky theological thing... dunno... maybe it'll occur to me!! Oh, OK it's somewhere in the 'come play and change the world' invitation!!

'Kondoot' about to go viral globally

' Come up with a simple idea of how people everywhere can access and add content to the world wide web and set up a website user friendly interface and you could make your fortune and satisfy your creative bent all at once!!'

The Aussie boys behind 'Kondoot' have come up with a website where you can upload and ''broadcast' live and saved video footage for all to see...

Imagine your club, group or friends producing a weekly TV show styled video, sports reports, presentations etc and loading them up onto Kondoot. It's more than youtube/vimeo, different to Facebook and Twitter [yet linkable].

I could do a weekly sports report, youth work resource clip etc and load it onto youtube but Kondoot opens up different ways of sharing, including live...

Looks really interesting but uses flash so I'm still not sure if it was my net connection or my Mac which had a problem but my desktop PC worked well with it's netcam!!

"Pillow Fight"

Could the staple activity of 1980s youth stuff become the next craze after 'planking'? Channel TEN here in Oz think so... or at least their researcher who trawls popular youtube videos does... no doubt if it takes off we'll soon be warned against hitting strangers who bypass the pillow and just give you a belting, or idiots who walk out into traffic while distracted by each other flailing away with the tontine!! Looks like fun though!!

The Ship Song Project

This absolutely brilliant clip is doing the media rounds this week as a part of the Sydney Opera House determination to promote itself as a venue for all kinds of people... Various Aussie [or those we claim] artists contribute to this reworking of a Nick Cave classic!! It fits my descriptor for brilliant creativity... simple things done well!!

"The Ship Song"
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything comes tumbling down

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

For me it's a beautiful song with a sense of wanting what their relationship offers and appreciating intimacy. For me it's a worship song, celebrating creativity and connections.

Picadilly a hub of Activity

The offices of the Uniting Church in Australia NSW/ACT are usually a busy place and even moreso with the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption in the buildings fronting Castlereagh St and the open plan Georges Cafe on the ground floor. Recent mentions include Daily Grind on Level One supplying a large quantity of muffins to ICAC for the tea break in the inquiry into planning irregularities under the watch of former Planning Minister Tony Kelly and 'former' ALP numbers man Graham Richardson snacking at Georges with Defense Minister Stephen Smith (amidst talk of PM Gillards low poll numbers) But the truth is Richo is often there and our car park features regularly on the nightly news as the accused flee the building... As a player of spot to... Score a point for each celebrity you spot and SMS your mates to tell them... It's a rich thoroughfare... Recent sightings include: former Wallaby rugby player Simon Poidevin; Senator Mark Abib; SBS news reader Lee Lin Chin; and several high profile Solicitors.
Daily Grind do a fine range of muffins and a friendly coffee service so I hope they enjoy the 15mins of fame...

RIP Bill Hunter

There was period of time following 'Strictly Ballroom' where you simply couldn't make or call your film Australian, without a character played by aussie actor Bill Hunter!!

One of my favourite roles Bill played was 'Stan Coombs' in Mick Molloy's "Crackerjack" comedy about lawn bowls where Bill lauded Sir Francis Drake for completing his match before attending to the monarchs military call up and whipped Mick's character 'Jack' in shape for a tilt at the championship and attempting to stave off a poker machine driven take over of the club...

I look forward to his turn as horse trainer Bart Cummings in 'The Cup'

Talk of the Rapture and End of the World

Here's the kind of stuff I was thinking about the 'end of the world' prediction and people's fascination, with no time to write anything serious so I'm grateful to the author highlighted by Brian McLaren via Duncan MacLeod. Read a thought provoking take here

"Planking"

In my day it was the so-called 'limp fall' inspired by cartoonist Paul Rigby or later on the spectacle of a public 'pants-ing and it seems the latest viral pop cultural activity is what's become known as 'planking'! A 'limp fall' involved flopping to the ground in public settings, careful not to injure yourself. Typical of today's risk taking culture, no idea can just be fun or ordinary and so instead of just humorous locations, planking happens in dangerous places.

For those unaware [and after this week that'll be very few people here in Oz...] 'Planking' involves being photographed, lying face down 'stiff as a board' in interesting and challenging locations:

- goalpost crossbars

- gardens

- atop furniture

- on roadway speed bumps

- public spaces

- at heights

- done by celebrities

- and apparently on high rise apartment balcony rails

In this last case the bloke fell seven floors to his death from a Gold Coast apartment block.

This is a tricky one... on the one hand, it's a funny harmless and creative prank BUT the challenge was always going to be to find increasingly edgy scenarios... with a website for uploading your photos and a plethora of youtube videos... this was bound to go badly!!

Would you include 'planking' in your youth group 'photo scavenger hunt'? Will adults and Police speaking out and encouraging caution just make it worse or will one balcony plunge give pause for common sense?

You can see lots of photos here on Facebook where the message to be safe and creative, not dangerous, is getting out there!!

Top Ten Most Powerful Movie Scenes

I'll Be Right Here

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial at MOVIECLIPS.comThe FILMCLUB website has listed the results of a survey to determine the top ten most powerful film scenes stretching back to 1925!! What do you think?

The full Top 10 is…
1. E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial (PG, 1982): E.T. says goodbye to his young friends.
2. Toy Story 3 (U, 2010): The toys hold hands and face their fate.
3. Rocky (PG, 1976): The emotionally charged big fight.
4. Bambi (U, 1942): The moment when tragedy touches the young life of Bambi.
5. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (PG, 1969): The moment when the besieged cowboys leap out of their bunker, all guns blazing.
6. The Wizard of Oz (U, 1939): When Dorothy opens the door of her grey house onto a world filled with colour.
7. Battleship Potemkin (PG, 1925): The influential 'Odessa Steps' massacre scene.
8. Mr Smith Goes To Washington (U, 1939): The filibuster scene makes a powerful case for justice: "I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause."
9. Network (15, 1976): When news anchor Howard Beale announces "I'm as mad as hell".
10. Miracle in Milan (U, 1951): Final scene when Toto and his friends rise into the sky on brooms.

Read more here

Art Express Art Gallery of NSW 2011

I got there! Yesterday I put one more tick against my Sydney 2011 'bucketlist' and spent 45mins engaging with the collection of chosen works from Year 12 HSC students in NSW for 2010... there are some remarkably talented artists of that age around.

I went in with renewed thoughts about 'curation of worship' and curation generally in mind and enjoyed the mix of: painting; video loops; sculpture; photography; textiles; 3D depictions and the sophistication of the materials used.

There were piles of wool which had been used in images, a doorway mirror which had been placed all over Sydney for still pictures but the visual diary was included below it and incorporated the parking ticket for the necessary 4WD parking illegally outside the gallery for that shot within the piece. Bill Viola inspired one video loop through the image of the creation of light in Genesis.

I loved a bush image on a huge canvas with the front 2cm of two timber desk drawers and a collection of stuff poking out the top of the drawers.

Various collections travel regionally so see how far away the collections are here

Visual Diaries and other explanations can be found through the excellent 'Inside Art Express' website here.

Fixed Four Year Terms Seemed Like a Good Idea

Overnight here in Oz our NSW State Labor Government has been predictably routed after four years of disfunction and eight years of empty political policy announcements. The outcome reflects the infighting amongst Labor over the privatisation of 'electricity' in NSW.

They dumped a Leader then spent 3 years fighting over the decisions while about once a month a Minister resigned due to corruption, mismanagement or scandal [often undeserved but brought to light by enemies]!!

Even so it comes at the end of a period of total disfunction:

- Announced, re-announced and cancelled rail projects

- Electricity

- Parachuting of candidates

- Corruption amongst powerbrokers

- Colleagues turning on each other

- in house leaks against Ministers

- Cross City Tunnel

- Sydney Metro

- It goes on and on...

The problem goes way back to a perception we were sick of quick Elections and the bringing in of fixed four terms... which seemed like a good idea at the time... and even saw the Governor seeking legal advice 12 months ago as the public outcry to 'bring it on' dominated mainstream media...

Basically, the state has been waiting for March 26th to turf out a poor government which shouldn't have been elected four years ago but confirmed that every month since. Nathan Rees was a good Leader who was axed after infighting and Kristina Keneally would have made a good Premier. She is a person of insight, intelligence and gravitas who is well grounded and did a credible job of 'reinventing.' But as they say 'the people had stopped listening' and this was always going to happen. That to me explains the poor polling and lack of impact of the generational change.

Never in my lifetime did I ever expect to talk about "The Liberal Member for the State Seat of Newcastle"!! Jodie McKay has done a good job after being 'parachuted' in and causing major ructions last time around... to no avail in the end.

Prior to all this I had been thinking about 'getting involved' and had identified that the local branch meets monthly at a local Club... I'd love to be engaged in community political activity and have carried that since High School BUT my own future is suitably in flux at present and I didn't have the energy right now.... in any case the local Member Sonia Hornery has done well despite marching to a different drum than the party machine in advocating local issues!!

Finally, the Greens and Independents have shown how their fortunes are tied to public perception and 'the times'... Independents came in due to disaffected Nationals voters who showed their feelings about the decision to back Labor Federally and I think the 'carbon tax' cost the Greens...

Climate Change needs a big picture focus on language which allows the public to enter the debate and to clearly understand what measures will help and what they'll cost... the sooner the better, just not simply tied to the sometimes extreme 'green' view.

Hmmnn, interesting times... 'Liberal Member for Newcastle' are you mad!!!!

At the end of the day privatisation, failure to tackle long term issues like transport, health and planning show self interest, lack of compassion and people unable to translate their community minded motives into constructive change and progress across the state... "Blessed are those who use public office for their own advancement ahead of the future of a statewide group of people" I guess...

Annie Leibovitz at Sydney MCA

Annie Leibovitz photographs are icons of popular culture and moments in time capturing friends, family and the famous at significant times in their lives. Apart from that she is a pretty good photographer. It's was on my Sydney 'bucketlist' to go see her exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art [MCA] in Sydney's Rocks and it was well worth the $15 entry!!

There are photos I've seen on the cover of 'Rolling Stone' magazine and news worthy snaps, family pics and giant b&w landscapes... I was struck by the large prints of General Norman Schwartzkopf and Colin Powell... there are light and shade and body lines you don't notice on a busy magazine which show character not just light... e.g. the b&w of Robert De Niro is poor 'Godfather'!!

It reminded me of the power of large b&w images and text which are accessible for worship and reflection these days through various digital photo outlets...

I will be thinking about what I experienced and learned for some time... it's that curator/leader/facilitator thing again...

iPad 2

In a rare moment of responsible purchasing I have been saving a few dollars here and there in a jar while impatiently waiting for the rumoured launch of the updated iPad 2 and this time it's been worth the wait with a hopeful date of March 25th and not delays until May [we wait to see the reality!!].

Having trialled the boss' original for uses, apps and limitations it has a few of all of these but would still be a useful tool beyond the 'iPhone on steroids' call and not quite Macbook niche!!

I'll use it for AV stuff, notes, meetings, calendar and on the spot web stuff I can't read so well on the phone... bring it on!!

Check it out here

Art Express 2011

Art Express 2011 exhibits a selection of 'the best' 2010 HSC [final year at high school] student art across NSW and it's currently at the Art Gallery of NSW until April 10th!! Check the website for regional places and dates... a newspaper article I read about it focused on the curator's opinion that this years collection showed a more positive hopeful kind of outlook or perspective than recent years... I'm going to have a look as soon as I can get there...

'Generation Y' the Media and Beyond

Sonny Bill Williams, Anthony Mundine and Michael Clarke make interesting high profile case studies in how the mainstream media, their traditional sports and we the public deal with the values of their generation. I'm not bringing solid analysis of academic rigour here, just a few observations and hunches which will no doubt be tested in time. Toss in the 'party boy' Cory Worthington for good measure...

The media coverage might be a factor in itself but essentially each of these characters display traits and values from their generation which are different to previous ones and often the media are using the prism of the latter to make judgements or create 'spin' on their stories.

Let me first set the scene where I was musing about this with friends at a Christmas BBQ a few years ago... one friend was contrasting his own perception and insight with that of a colleague in relation to interviewing 'Gen Y' candidates for an engineering contractor. The only slightly older colleague was bemoaning the short term thinking and lack of perceived stickability of the youngsters. You see these youngsters didn't give any indication of their desire to 'stay with the company' and openly acknowledged this employment opportunity as a step on a much bigger journey. They didn't speak of loyalty, commitment, belonging but rather the vibe, gaining valuable experience and taking challenges on for the future. They were unable to describe the future in terms of the current job on offer or indeed whether this field was viewed as their career in the long term.

This is the generation for whom stereotypically and perhaps in reality in many cases, it's all about the subjective experience, they envisage a series of career changes, focus on the immediate and don't feel embarrassed identifying they seek self interest and couldn't possibly find the words for seeking a gold watch on retirement from the job they are interviewing for after 50 years service. Change is a constant for this generation, 'Manhattanisation' has taken effect in terms of young people talking themselves up. There is evidence of a consumer culture, lack of awareness of certain expectations, manners and conventions... mind you these are only some Gen Yers... there are other motivators, cultures and sub cultures...

Back to my examples which may help explain what I am thinking about...

1. Anthony Mundine

Anthony is a flighty character who pursues his image as 'The Man.' He makes hard to argue with claims about racism in rugby league [his first professional sport] but also talks about having outplayed people selected ahead of him in rep football as part of the case. He has become a Muslim, is an strong anti drugs campaigner, seems to attract friendship with other well known figures adding chapters to his intruiging story. He speaks his mind and then thinks later. The criticism of his boxing career revolves around soft opponents in easier weight divisions.

What's missing: circumspection; respect for tradition; loyalty to contracts signed and deals entered into. He and his Manager are credited with convincing Sonny Bill Williams he was undervalued at the Bulldogs in rugby league and they helped him break a contract and disappear to France to play club rugby. His Manager is painted as an influential shady figure. I sometimes think Anthony just sees things differently... do what works for you, say what's on your mind even if it's going to be taken the wrong way and talk yourself up.

2. Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill Williams seems clueless as to the impact on others of his walkout to France. It's all about what was happening for him. He has since signed with the 'Canterbury Crusaders' and has made his rugby union debut with the All Blacks ahead of a World Cup year.

Somehow I think previous generations would be more careful in their comments about a possible return to rugby league after the Rugby World Cup. What picture does that paint?

It's more than the impact of professional sport and the fact that clubs would cut you at will so why show loyalty in reverse. Does it cheapen the national jersey of any team if you can chop and change or does it speak of an exceptional sportsperson who can chop and change and make both squads, SBW also enjoys the diversion of boxing.

3. Michael Clarke

Michael or 'pup' achieved selection in cricket at a young age and some said by reputation before results. He was trumpeted as a western suburbs success story but quickly adapted to eastern suburbs socialising, fast cars and a model girlfriend... Kerry O'Keefe tells a great joke about all this involving Michael Clarke asking him if he thinks his sporting success has 'changed him' at all...

The media seems to have the finger on the pulse in identifying that the public per se don't seem to 'warm' to Michael Clarke [he gets a mixture of cheers and boos when taking the field] and his current form slump isn't helping.

But this week the ridiculous claim was that his activity on twitter was distracting him and basically outlining that because he's a 'pretty boy' and not a hard as nails, beer drinking, thug... we don't see him as worthy of our admiration. Again I contend it's more than sporting values being judged... pierced ear, sports car, wine drinker, confident about his ability, talking openly about his expected succession to the Australian cricket captaincy... he may well soon be branded an 'enigma'... but then just in time in the last two 'One Day Internationals' he has demonstrated cricket nouse, skills as a leader and innovative and skilled use of his bowlers and field settings... causing at least a media pause...

Now I know they're all Anglo blokes... I'll keep tabs on these and other stories... teasing out whether it's a media thing, a sport thing or a generational thing!!

As a footnote, Cory was the kid a couple of years ago who advertised a party at his parents home while they were away and it and the street were 'trashed' if you believe the media reports. I'm more interested in the interview with Leila Mackinnon on Summer 'A Current Affair' where she was gobsmacked that Cory didn't think he had anything to apologise for, that he wouldn't take off his sunglasses on camera and didn't seem to have anything to say to his parents... while the story had merit the clash of values was most stark and the longer it went the bigger the divide... Cory went on to advertise himself as a party organiser, appeared on 'Big Brother' and just recently did a round of 'he's grown up and settled down stories'...

'Lucky Country' Another View from 1982

Check out the lyrics for 'Lucky Country' Midnight Oil here for a more 1970s/80s viewpoint

Australia Day 26th January

I'm not alone in believing that we live in an amazing place!! Australia's natural environment, the cities, east and west, the laidback approach etc etc.

Whenever I travel I am struck by how much lower the sky feels and generally how much thicker and more grey. I travel to NZ for the first time later this year [did I mention I'm going to the Rugby World Cup Final!!] and so I look fwd to the delights of Auckland and beyond...

I am struck by the radio debate today about: who we are? whether Parky should be doing our NSW Aussie Day address; and whether it's rehash of Clive James or an contemporary view we need to hear.

There's echoes of: our jingoism; Cronulla beach riots; the "F&^%$ off, we're full" racist stickers/shirts; and the chain store adoption of popular flag surfwear or undies.

There are also average boomers, families and the WW2 generations wondering what all the fuss is about...

All this alongside the debate about whether we should move the day away from a commemoration of the European invasion of the great southland and the beginning of the destruction of precious indigenous culture which despite our 'sorry' we are yet to truly deal with....

Anyhow, heavy stuff ahead of a day we celebrate and appreciate all things Aussie!! I used to enjoy 'Survival Day' concerts at La Perouse [koori revenge making us sit in 36 degrees on a treeless oval listening to great music] ... I used to wonder how it felt for Yothu Yindi, Paul Kelly and Christine Anu to drive across town and include a Darling Harbour appearance in their day? I felt especially motivated having chosen the 'Survival March' in 1988 and sat in the Park listening to many indigenous and anglo speakers lay out a vision for what could be and is still possible...

Anyhow, reflective 'toss' or otherwise I have penned a poem for the day [part procrastination from a household reno and part response to the radio chat, the boardies and the flag adorned cars everywhere]!! It might be a little familiar... and comes ahead of my obligatory youtube song of choice for this year...

My Country

The love of field and pruning

Of green tree shaded lanes

Of pommie woods and gardens

Is the backpackers domain

Putting up with grey-blue distance

Brown streams and that low sky

Is nice to sometimes visit

But we could pass it by

I love a sunburnt country

Across the great western plains

Of bushwalkers mountain ranges

Of droughts and flooding rains

I love our far horizons

I love the Bar Beach sea

The beauty and the terror

The wide brown land for me

A stark white ring-barked forest

The loggers lop in tune

The sapphire misted mountains

The midday sun breaks through

Annoying spikey shrubs

Lantana and pesky weeds

A bunch of 40 dollar natives

A protea is all you need

Core of our soul, our country

The levelling blue sky

One minute cattle are dying

But then the grey clouds gather

And we can dance again

That sound on tin roofs clapping

The steady soaking rain

Core of their soul, their country

Land of the Rainbow snake

For flood and fire and famine

The dreaming stories make

Sand through the hand is poured

Lingiari was his name

The greenness will return

When they the land can claim

An opal hearted country

A willful, lavish land

We celebrate Australia

With coasters and board shorts

The flag we hold in hand

Brawls, beer and Hot 100

Disrupt our reflective or family time

We revel in the ANZAC

And sadly 'turn the boats around'

Rob Hanks [adapted from the poem by Dorothea Mackellar]

And the lyrics for 'My Country' Midnight Oil can be explored here

If I wasn't there this night I was at one just like it and can still recall that feeling!!

Stuff White People Like

I've blogged about this website before but holidays means time to read again the very funny spin on consumer culture so check it out here

Family Stick Figure Stickers

Following the frangipani fad the latest stickers on the rear windscreens of cars in this part of the world are the family of stick figures. You can choose different characters pursuing their hobbies and interests and build up the family set by ordering from various websites and now the local newsagent. What's it about?

I actually like the artistic style, the fact there are choices/variety and they don't look too bad except now I've identified it as a trend I can't possibly participate...

So, my theory is they are like social media and Christmas lights in the way they communicate information about us into the community we're part of without us having to say anything or go out of our comfort zone to speak to or connect with others. Are they a substitute in the era where many no longer really know their neighbours... are we personifying a consumer item in the family motor vehicle, are we emphasising difference? Hmmnn I will have to ask a few people at the local newsagent as they browse the poster. I wonder how long it will last?

Of course read a little more on the 'interweb thingy' and you'll read about:

- an attempt at individuality ending up being another fad

- fears about people 'knowing stuff about you' [you can get names etc]

- others saying 'live and let live'

- requests for the 'Daddy ran away with another woman' sticker, the goth or the kids with a red circle and line thru it

- And then there's the anti-version....

What a Day September 11 [local time] 2010

I drove to Canberra today and it meant I heard almost all of the ABC radio sport celebration of ten years since Aussies triumph in the Sydney Olympics. What a gift ANC TV and radio are as government funded media... podcasts, iView, innovative programs commercial free!!

We were lucky enough to win tix in the lottery to be there on 25th September when Cathy Freeman won the 400m sprint race... the culmination of a massive career fro Comm Games, through World Championships and finally this pressure filled race...

It was amazing to listen to the reminiscing of Ian Thorpe, the tears from Susie O'Neill as she listened to her 200m freestyle win and reflected that she'd never adequately celebrated it as it overshadowed her missing out in the 200m butterfly [Madame Butterfly remember!!]

Then Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst as they spoke about the mental build up and surrounding themselves with 'gold' for months... there were many more highlights, all covered today!!

Then tonight it's the Rugby Union Wallabies v All Blacks... I made it to a TV but am really tired today... hope I don't fall asleep!! I don't want to miss the Old Boys Rugby Choir whose goal I applaud.... to see the anthem sung 'straight' without harmonies and vocal gymnastics... 10,000 facebook signatures agreeing it was time to do away with Idol runners up and talent school hopefuls doing their best Mariah Carey!! Good one boys!!

Then 12 months after the amazing vibe of the Sydney Olympics came 9/11 in the US and from about 10pm tonight local time most people would be able to recall 'where they were'...

The reflective pool near the twin towers footprint should be ready by next years tenth commemoration!!

More on these things in coming entries and days!!