clockwork orange

I started reading clockwork orange today and I'm a third of the way through already because its riveting. Anthony Burgess has invented tonned of words and his own grammar structure so the first few pages are nothing but confusing but once I got the hang of the style I can see the brilliant-ness of his writing. It's incredibly violent but still a crafty piece which I'm enjoying - will keep you updated on my thoughts.

Aparently there's a movie of it produced by Stanley Kubrick - if you've seen it is it worth me watching? I can't work out how it could accurately replicate the book???

Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Tramp

I'm 2 days back from tramping through the Kaimais and still feeling stiff in my calves, they know they've done some solid work up those steep climbs


over tree roots and sloshing through knee deep mud. 10 of us set out from Auckland on Saturday morning and took the tramline along the river for a 3 hour stroll to the Waitawheta hut. It was easy grade with 6 river crossings which added some fun, we attempted to rock hop but after a couple of crossings and slips on the rocks most of us just walked straight through the water and walked on in squelching boots.

The new hut was 5* accomodation, better than my flat for sure! Theres a 4minute walk to the glow worms and I made the most of the cool river for chilling my beers. Breakfast was quite an event as we tried to cook pancakes on a sticky frypan.. we resorted to pancake stodge, it has the consistency of mashed potatoes but tastes like pancakes!

It took us 6hours including a lunch break at the top of the 106m falls to get back to the road, it was an overgrown track at parts with a lot of variety in plants and scenery. For more photos of our group gone bush click on my flicker badge on the right sidebar

U2 rocking Auckland

Wow. U2 blew me over. What a powerful, spiritual experience friday night was. Mt Smart at Ericson stadium in Auckland, Aotearoa was host to the band of the century all the way from Ireland. My group managed to get into the front section where we stood about 3 metres from the stage where the Edge was playing. I loved the way the band made their own songs local by changing words to talk about Auckland, Aotearoa and Cape Reinga to the Fiords. Bono you're awesome! You can share the experience and watch 'One Tree Hill' from the concert courtesy of You Tube, note the koru patterns on the background screens.

Kanye West was pumping too but the crowd reception for him was disappointing, maybe I can go see him in New York one day with a crowd that admires him more!

quick movie review

I'm not in a wordy mood but here's my ratings on dvds and movies I have watched in the last few months: I"ve linked them to their official sites so you can watch the trailers and read up about them and see if the film might be in your interest.

Enigma ***
Nacho Libre **
Jackass 2 **
The Zookeeper ***
Phonebooth ****
V for Vendetta *****
Tears of the Sun ***
Basic *****
Coffee and Cigarettes ***
Pulp Fiction ***
A Series of Unfortunate Events **
Get Rich or Die Trying *****
The Interpreter ****
Batman Begins ***
The Spanish Apartment ***
To End all Wars *****
Jarhead ****
Inside Man ***
Walk the Line *****

This list should keep you busy if you need to fill in some viewing gaps. Movies rated * or ** stars I wouldnt recommend so watch at your own risk :)

counting down to vertigo

5 days to go until the band of the century play at Ericson stadium and I am AMPING! As we try our best at guessing what the playlist will look like I'm wondering what the queue into the stadium for General Admission Tickets is going to look like, there's a lot of space on a rugby field that big, I could be standing 5 metres away or 50. Anyhow, wherever I'm standing with a bunch of friends this is going to be the concert of the year by miles.
One thing that horrified me is that the official U2 website lists Auckland as being in Australia in their veritgo tour dates! Whats up with that? Anyhow... Peace and Love my readers.

"V"

I watched V for Vendetta for the second time last night with my flatmate. It was even better the second time because I could pay more attention to words that V spoke quickly and intelligently. I would really recommend this if you're in the mood for a more thought provoking movie although the storyline and action is good enough in itself.

This politically loaded thriller protests the place of a totalitarian government in an extreme way and uses the british government as an actor as it searches through the reasons behind this 'terrorism'. V encourages all citizens to stand against the tyranny and oppression of the government and the controversy begins in his questionable methods of punishing the government. Although I wouldnt agree with all of V's methods I like his clever characteristics and his passion for 'justice'. This has got to be one of my best movies of the year, watch it if you haven't already.

"People should not be afraid of their Governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

Power to the people!

Nooma

Despite the crazy name which I don't quite get- NOOMA is the new black in the emerging church. I have so far only seen a few of the dvds but I just discovered I can watch them online too, on a tiny windows media screen on the nooma.com website.

001 Rain is my favourite. It is raw and honest, unafraid to acknowledge the mysteries of life and God. It spoke to my heart, with the story of how my God is longing for me to come to him with all my junk and screw ups. In the midst of the reality of the storm around my heavenly Dad is able to see the way ahead if only I let myself be held by him.

Watch it now

Liberty and heaven

It's been a while I know, but you can let your breath go and read on, I'm still in blogland.

Today in my philosophy tutorial we were discussing John S. Mill and his theories on the rights and liberties that we hold according to his utilitarian principles. We started discussing true events that have happened and what right does anyone else have to interfer with someone's liberty to, say... harm themselves, take drugs or commit adultery if no one ever finds out. Interesting stuff huh!

In my opinion utilitarianism is a flawed theory, because of the stock standard arguments against it such as the unpredictability of the future and the difficulty in measuring 'happiness'. I do think he has a point on liberty though - If I had no liberty I would not be me, I would have no personality, expression and I would be a controlled robot. Which brings me to thinking about this gift from our creator of choice (liberty to choose) and this is what has caused so much mess on our planet. To think that if we had no choice we would be living in some paradise but the at the same time it would be unenjoyable because we would not have the option of leaving the paradise. If this is the case then I start thinking - what's heaven going to be like?? If it's "paradise" there and we are made perfect then does this mean that our freedom to choose has been removed?? Or is it because we become all-knowing that we in no way want to choose the 'wrong' action? If we can still choose and we choose 'wrong' then do we fall from heaven into some hell or is there imperfection in heaven still?

Woooa, when I started writing I hadn't thought of all those questions! Tell me what you think about my ponderings...

My new fad

For some of you this comes as no shock at all yet I think I have managed to suprise myself somehow in my enthusiasm for my new fad: running. I've always convinced myself that I'm not a distance runner (and i still don't think that) so I've always done the 15minute run then given up more out of boredom than exhaustion but things are changing and with the help of some running partners I'm challenging myself to go longer and faster... what I really meant to blog about was this cool site I just found compliments of my running shoes shop - http://www.mapmyrun.com - if you run or cycle or walk or travel in your own special way this site tells you how far you have travelled as you point around the map where you run - it's kinda fun and I started making up new running routes.... so much better than measuring with my fingers on a blurry google earth screen!

Winter Sunset

I forgot it was cold as the sun claimed the blue sky and I drove out to Muriwai with Michelle for a taste of the perfect swell. My personal photographer took a bunch of amazing photos in the setting sun. It's evenings like these that I feel alive and that little bit more in touch with the creator of this wonderland...

After the dump

I spent a few days down in Turangi with a good friend. The mission: to relax, destress and fun. We arrived on Thursday afternoon just in time for the half metre dumping of snow that stranded punters up the mountain overnight! Thanks to our laziness we spent the afternoon in the thermal pools and instead spent the next day at the mountain just in time to enjoy the nights dumping and watch families digging their cars out from under the snow. 2 days later I was back in Auckland's West coast going for a winter dip in the bay, can't get away from the cold...

Winter nights on the couch

Yes, I admit I have sucumbed to the laziness of winter evenings in a freezing flat and I ave resigned myself many a time to the couch with a glass of warming red wine and a dvd. Trying to make the most of my movieshack unlimited subscription that I accidently paid for!

So here's a few star ratings for the films I have watched. out of 5
click the name for a link to the official site with previews
Munich**** very graphic and violent, a bit of suspense but very real
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*** a chinese film, beautiful
Once were Warriors*** Deep. Sad. Gutting. Violent and not very hopeful but a well put together story all the same.
Hotel Rwanda ***** amazing. this will bring both tears and anger, based on true events and has won a tonne of awards already.
Les Miserables **** An incredible story that has been acted out on stage for many years. The actors have done a good job. Features Geoffrey Rush and Claire Danes.
Pink Panther Strikes Again * Poor, the kind of movie that gets me frustrated, didn't see it through

Did I mention 24? I have been glued to the screen like never before - this is the coolest tv series ever, I don't know if I could ever watch it on tv though because I can't even wait 2 minutes for the credits to roll before switching to the next episode!

Taranaki Coast

I took this at a Christian Surfers Easter Camp in Taranaki this year. I just uploaded it onto my computer and am using it as my desktop, I like the silohoute of the couple with a guitar through the mesh.

How do you spell silohoute?? Thats a tricky one...

the things I like

Just thinking about what I'm loving in life these last few weeks.

Snowpatrol's new album (Eyes open)

Surfing in crisp clear and cold winter water

Watching a DVD snuggled under blankets on the couch

Oil painting on my bedroom floor listening to Sigur Ros

Driving home in the early morning hours after a good night out

Chocolate self saucing pudding

Dreaming of adventures I could do as soon as exams are over!

Global Night Commute

Finally, New Zealand is getting to take part in our own Global Night Commute - an event to raise awareness and protest the state of children in Uganda who walk miles everynight to avoid being kidnapped by the Lords Resistance Army where they are either killed or turned into soldiers.... it's not on - if you agree come to the GNC! Heres the details:

AOTEA SQUARE 7PM
27th May (Saturday)

AGENDA:
1) Assemble at Aotea Square by 7pm.
2) Approximate 2 hour walk around Queen Street
3) Screening of the movie and guest speakers
4) African dances
5) Letter writing sessions and art projects.(a campaign to pressurise the ugandan government to find a solution to the crisis)
6) Communing overnight!

Deep blue

Wow. who made this planet, because I think they deserve a bit more credit!
Last night I watched Deep Blue; a dvd best watched on a big screen with surround sound because the massive size of the creatures and seas and mountains as well as the intricite detail of the organisms in the sea will blow you away! It was crazy, I watched a nature documentary for goodness sake but it was the best movie I have seen in some time (and that doesn't say anything about the kinds of movies i watch). It has superb music and minimal speaking which I like, the pictures just speak for themselves really. This movie will give you a new respect and awe of the ocean.... yeah I'm going to start rambling in my enthusiasm now - rent it out, get your popcorn and prepare to be stunned.

Click here for random ocean facts from the official site

Making it fair

It's fairtrade fortnight - why it's a fortnight and not a week or a month I do not know but I do know that Fairtrade coffee is good quality coffee, you are not substituting quality of your espresso to give 3rd worlders a decent deal, so everyone wins. Drink Fairtrade only - Zigana and Scarborough Fair Medium Roast Espresso blends would be my recommendations. Drink, Drink, Drink up. (The Coffee I mean)

A brand new start

Welcome back to my blog folks, I seemed to have dropped off the end of blogland after my host server shutdown, sigh... so it's time to start again with a new address. Away with the squaremelon and onto the sunny skies of the 'cyber-beach.blogspot.com'

Cyber-beach refers to my love of the beach, I love so much about it, the crashing waves, hot sand, sharp rocks, beautiful views, relaxed culture, changing weather and it's on the beach that I often find myself re-assessing my life, putting things into perspective and enjoying the beauty of the environment. When I am reminded once again on a surf of the strength of the waves compared with mine I thank God that he has given me this breath of life and I let myself experience his creation in a most intimate way, often with my arms and legs ungraciously pounded against the sand by a wave!

I will upload most of my former posts onto this site so you can browse back and so my site doesn't look so empty!

Running Free

It's times like this last week when I wish that somehow my day could
elongate by another 3 hours - time enough to get everything done and
still get 8 hours sleep! The end is in sight though with a 4 day week
until easter, I'm going on a surf camp in taranaki… my treat after all
this madness.

My friend emailed me this morning about this developing movement
called "Parkour" or Free Running, I did a little googling to find out
that this is a sport which turns running into an extreme sport - full
of jumping, balancing, rolling, climbing, spinning and anything else
that works, it gets you from A to B across a city leaping buildings,
jumping fences, vaulting walls and running walls.

Parkour is: An art to help you pass any obstacle to get from point
A to point B using only the human body. It was developed by soldiers
in Vietnam as a method of escape or to reach an objective, so you use
what is most useful, as in an emergency situation.

Look at some of the drills and moves on urbanfreeflow.com

I'm thinking of taking it up, coul be handy for getting around the
city during rush hour

Invisible Children

Last year my friend from California sent me a dvd. I watched this dvd
numerous times and showed it to a friend - it opened up my eyes (and
compassion) to something I was otherwise completely oblivious to…. the
invisible children of Uganda. The film is still in rough cut and shows
3 american guys who travel to Rwanda and end up in Uganda uncovering
the secrets of young kids who are swept away from their villages to
fight in an army where they are likely to die themselves, where they
are hardened so they are no longer kids but fighting machines with no
chance to enjoy their innocence. Watch this! It is playing this
Thursday…..

Thursday 6 April at 12:00 - 2:00 iSPACE & 6pm - 8pm in the Auckland
University Quad: Mum's Dollar is playing for the first half an hour
followed by a screening of Invisible Children

Visit www.invisiblechildren.com

Blink and you miss it

I've been casually reading a very interesting book: blink by Malcolm
Gladwell on the impacts of our unconscious mind on split second
decisions we make. I'm slightly doubtful about some of his theories
but the concepts are fascinating: the theory of slices was tested by
psychologists who asked participants to spend 15minutes in a strangers
room and then assess what this stranger's personality was like. He was
comparing close friend's assessments of these people with the
stranger's assessments after seeing their bedroom.
The Results? The strangers ended up doing an even better assessment
than the subject's own friends overall! At first that seems incredible
but there are so many telling things in our rooms; mess, order, art,
music, things we hang on our walls to put across an image we want to
portray.

Looking around my room I see surf photos, a stereo, a bit of mess
(clothes on the floor and dirty mugs and an unmade bed), textbooks,
phone, plenty photos of friends and scenic photos, my surfboard and
guitar, a desk covered in random bits and pieces…. so go on, analyse
me, see if this test works.