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!