'Happiness is in your choices'

I've been reading Colossians Remixed, a book that attempts to interpret Paul's letter to the church of Colossae in it's original context, and in the context of postmodernity and the global economy.
Early on in the book the authors write about how postmodernity and globalisation work together despite seeming incompatible, because both see people primarily as 'units of consumption for whom choice is the defining characteristic.' (p32)
I came across this advertisment the other day, and I think it demonstrates this idea quite well:

Far Far Away Pasta

Judging by how it looks, I hope it stays far far away...

Non-tradie, non-hippy van

Ruth, who's been doing a consultation with the Baptist Church about what they could do with the front steps, asked me to paint something on her van, so that it doesn't look like just another white tradie's van. (She said she didn't want it to look like a hippy van though!)

I'm okay

I got a call from Ray earlier asking if I knew anything about the shooting in Collins Street, because she was at work and one of her friends had messaged her asking if she was okay. I said I didn't know anything about it, but I came down to the office to check the news, and Mark said someone had been killed and someone else had been injured up near the Rialto (the other end of Collins Street) and that there were helicopters everywhere trying to find the gunman, and the street was blocked off.

DVD launch

Thursday night we launched a DVD of people from the Credo community telling their stories. (We're going to be using it internally for our education work.) In the laneway we set up a whole heap of televisions playing bits of the DVD, for people to have a look at as they came in to Credo for the launch. (I was actually outside for most of it, looking after the equipment.)

No Gaol for Pine Gap 4!

Got this from Jess during lunch:

Small fines all round. 1250 for jim less for others.

And now they're heading up to Queensland to protest the Australia/US wargames at Shoalwater Bay.
If you want more news about Pine Gap click here.

Pine Gap in the news #11

'Four found guilty over Pine Gap break-in' - Sydney Morning Herald
'Four convicted of Australian defence facility break-in' - Radio Australia
'Four Christian pacifists guilty over Pine Gap break-in' - ABC News Online

Pine Gap 4: guilty on all counts

Just got this from Jess:

Guilty verdict on all counts. sentencing hearing today but she'll rule at 11:30 tomorrow. Crown asked that they all do time!

Pine Gap 4 verdict to be made tomorrow

Jess SMSed me this about an hour ago:

Court adjourne til 9 tomorrow. Judge has 5mins left of summation, then jury goes to deliberate. Please pray. Love jess

Pine Gap in the news #10

Jess reckons the Pine Gap case is going to be finishing today, and says that yesterday the Pine Gap Four's defences were ruled as inadmissable. (I don't really get what that means though.) Jess's written about it here.

Also:
'Break-in was reasonable, Christian pacifist tells court' - ABC News Online
'Pine Gap invader cries in court' - ABC Radio Australia

Our shoes at State Youth Games

State Youth Games was on the weekend, and I didn't go, but my old shoes did.
Click here to find out why Marcus and Chris would want to take all our shoes to Warragul for the Queens Birthday weekend.
Actually, no, read this bit first.

Skating

I've just been skating on the top floor of the carpark where I often go to skate.
When I was coming out of the carpark, this guy who was driving out leaned out his car window and yelled, 'You do realise the carpark closes at midnight.'
I thought that was a funny thing to presume, and I answered, 'I haven't got a car parked here.'
He said, 'Well what are you doing in the carpark if you don't have a car parked here?'
I said, 'I've been skating.'
He said, 'Well you shouldn't be skating here, it's not safe and you won't be insured if you have an accident here.'
I said, I've been skating here for about a year and haven't had any problems. Are you from the church?' because it's the Scots Church carpark.
He said, 'I'm not from the church, I'm from Wilson's Parking.'
I was pretty annoyed, because I have been skating there often since I got back from Sydney last year, and the security guards have never said anything about it. Anyway, I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to go skating again.

Public art

I'm having a non-busy weekend for the first time in a while.
This afternoon I went to the NGV to see Video Resurrection, 'cause one of my friends reckoned I'd be interested in it. It's an exhibition of experimental films from the 1970s, to do with the body and identity and stuff.

Some of it was a little bit disturbing, but it was interesting.
When I was walking back home, past City Square, I noticed a new art installation in one of the trees - heaps of flourescent pink birds. Someone had added a couple of pairs of shoes to keep them company.

Update (June 18): There's a website about the Pink pigeons here.

Getting punched

I often make jokes about getting punched by people, or people punching each other, but today I actually did get punched by someone. It didn't hurt much physically (last year I got punched a lot harder by someone who thought they were just being friendly, when they were drunk) but it was still quite upsetting, particularly because the person who did it refused to admit that they had punched me. I said that if he was going to punch me he'd have to leave, and he left rather than admit that he'd punched me.

'Spoil yourselfnot the planet'

Saw this ad in the window of the Body Shop this morning, when I was walking around town seeing what was going on:

It made me wonder whether we can actually spoil ourselves without spoiling the planet, seeing as human beings appear to be a fairly significant part of the planet. It's funny how we tend to see ourselves as being seperate to the rest of creation.

Pine Gap in the news #9

'Pine Gap protest linked to Iraq war, pacificists tell court' - ABC News Online

More pictures please

I've been realising that I haven't been putting up much pictures, so I'm putting up some pictures of candles. (Because I like candles.)

Pine Gap in the news #8

'Activists cross-examine Pine Gap deputy chief' - ABC News Online

Pine Gap in the news #7

'Protesters detained at Pine Gap' - The Age
'non-violent action at Pine Gap today' - Indymedia

Going into dialogue

Today me and Simon and Simon went to the US Consulate to meet with vice-consul Maya Dietz, to talk about Pine Gap. We weren't really expecting to get a meeting with anyone there when we asked for one. I'm glad we asked for a meeting though, rather than just presuming that they wouldn't want to meet with us. Fits well with what I was saying the other day about loving our enemies (or those we think are our enemies).
I got a few photos of the three of us, considering none of us normally dress up 'nicely':