Only 13% think Hanson guilty
This article in today's Age doesn't even mention why she's actually been given the sentence - it had nothing to do with her politics! She's been gaoled for fraudulently obtaining $1 000 000 in electoral funds, not for (apparently) following the same ideals as Nelson Mandela*!

*Hanson's official website says in an article titled 'Pauline Hanson the Political Prisoner':

Wednesday 20th August 2003, 2:32pm a political milestone has been cast. A landmark decision not seen since Nelson Mandela was thrown in jail for representing the views of the oppressed voice of South Africa. Pauline now sits in jail for following the same ideals.

Culture Trumps Courthouses
An article in Razormouth about why Christians need to take a stand in media, rather than law as Judge Roy Moore did.

Saw the clip for 'Who's Gunna* Save Us?', The Living End (a.k.a. greatest band from this side of the equator)'s new single from their long-awaited, third album, MODERN ARTillery. Annoying thing is that it's being released in Japan on October 8, while it's not out here until October 13. And it's not out in North America or Europe until next year. Oh well, we've been waiting that long - a little more waiting won't hurt.

*I will not type g*nna. We say 'gunna' here. It's gunna or nuthin'.

The Australian government is finally doing someting to promote toilet awareness.

Just got this from James:

Hey Chris,

Just thought I'd let you know that Jell's Party may be airing on Channel 31 around October as the tv show that I have gotten involved with through Bec ... is being picked up by the station.
Episodes of the program "These Days", a youth affairs program that goes for half an hour, will be filmed two weeks ahead of broadcasting.
Timeslots are still being decided between a Friday 10:00pm slot and a Saturday morning slot.
Jell's Party will appear for five minutes throughout the show.

...

I'll be doing a website on it for an assignment, but ultimately for the show.

Ah.. glad to see things getting off the ground, hopefully.

Watch this space.

James.

I'll try and keep you informed on developments...

Salam Pax's house got busted into by soldiers.

Okay, so what has been going on? Flip moved house on Tuesday, so Heather's moving in with Tab now. And Tuesday night was John's birthday party, so I went to that. And I think I'm not sick anymore.

Relevant

Interesting blog here. Sydney Morning Herald article on it here.

Got my Mass Media assignment finished, so I guess i won't have to 'discuss my options' with anyone at this stage.
And today is John Shaft's birthday, so I'm going to his party at Tab's place, tonight, after work.
And I bought some dry pastels. 42 of them.
Yesterday we had the first Camp St Students for Christ leaders meeting. Having first corporate meeting Thursday next week.

Okay, my friend Nadine's ex-boyfriend's brother's band, Taunt, have a gig Wednesday night at the Mercury Lounge. I saw them once last year at the Espy, and they were good, so go see them if you like good music.
Also, Roly & the Soul Contention, my friend Daniel's band, are playing at Manchester Lane on Friday night, between 9:30 and 12:30. So go see them too.
I don't think I'll be going to either on account of living in the wrong city.

Antiskeptic's new album, Aurora is out today*. Don't think I can afford it yet, though. They're not coming to Ballarat on their tour, but they'redoing two shows in Melbourne and one in Geelong,so I should eb able to make it to at least one gig.

*Although, for some reason Sanity say it wasout last Monday.

I think maybe I'm getting over flu now. This will certainly be good, especially since I have an assignment which I have only till tomrrow to hand in, and it will be two weeks late anyway. If I don't hand it in I'll fail the unit. And if I fail any units this semester the uni says that we'll have 'talk about my options.' I think we all know what that means. But I'll be okay, as always. :)

I don't think I can make it to the National Young Writer's Festival though. Got Warrnambool SUFM meetings during that period.

Yesterday as I was walking home from work, I was thinking about yesterday's first post, and this bit of Matthew came to mind:

Matthew 5:21-26 {The Message}
'You're familiar with the command to the ancients, "Do not murder." I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!" and you might just might find yourselfhauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
'This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
'Or say you're out in the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the fist move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.'

Reminded me that every act of hositility is contributing to the lack of peace on our planet; we're all responsible.

Relevant Magazine

Okay, here's a less ... negative post:
I had been agonising over something, which was one of the reasons I'd been able to sleep, and on Monday God just told me I didn't need to worry about it (he was talking to me quite a bit that day). And that night I saw for myself that everything ahd more or less sorted itself out.

I've had influenza for a week. Headache since Thursday last week. Five nosebleeds a day since Sunday. And insomnia for the last three weeks.
And I wish everyone would stop killing each other. I really think it would be a good idea. You'd think people'd get sick of it.

The Internet is Sh**

My socks are in Sydney
Rhonda thought my socks were Sam's. So she put them in his drawer. He's gone to Sydney, staying with his older sister for the week. With all my socks except two pairs.
So I went and bought some more.
But it's not every day you can say you have socks in Sydney. Unless you live in Sydney.
I will be reuinited with my socks Saturday night.

Sunday morning I woke up at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep.
When I went outside at 7:30 saw that the cars were covered in frost about a centimetre thick. Worst frost I've ever seen.
We had a youth service at my church, which went pretty well.
After church we went to Greggy's place for a barbecue lunch.
Then just hung around there for a few hours.
Then went to the lake.
Then went to Hayden and Nicole's baptisms at Ballarat City Church at 6pm.
Then went back to my own church for a praise and worship service at 7pm.
Got home 10pm.
Called parents.
Went to bed at 10:30pm.
Woke up at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep again till 6am.
Slept in till 8am and was late for Short Story.

Trying to work out if I can make it to the National Young Writers Festival in Newcastle.

An article about this guy who runs a tattooing ministry.

My axolotl has died! :'( She was alright when I got home and fed her last night, but when I woke up this morning she was dead! :O

This morning Dave and his dad, John, came and packed most of my stuff into of Dave's trailer. So it's all at their place now, except for my axolotl, toiletries and CDs, which I'll get after work tonight.
The carpet cleaner guy came and did carpet cleaner guy things, like clean my carpet and ask for money. So I thought I'd better give him some money. I did.
Now I have to go to the accomodation office at the uni and give back my key, et cetera.

Okay, so I'm moving tomorrow. Yeah, we've known that since Friday, but now I know where I'm moving.
Rhonda and Dave, from my church, are letting me board with them. They have two kids, Sam (15) and Jono (11). (I know Sam reasonably well because he's been in my small group on camps before.) There's also Rhonda's sister and Dave's dad.
Today I've been cleaning up and packing so I can move out.
Signing off.

Yesterday went to Coburg (inner Melbourne) with Trav, Tim and Hayden, for a Warrnambool SUFM meeting. It went pretty well. And we saw a giant moccasin. And we saw Pentridge Village, which we talked about in Mass Media the other day.

Last night went to Greggy's 21st. It was good, but would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't so tired and stressed out about having to move out on Tuesday.

I think I've found somehwere I can stay for a few weeks, while I look for somewhere permenant. Going there later this afternoon to talk to them.

I've discovered that while Flamin' Hot Twisties aren't really flamin' hot, they are if you have them with Coke.

I'm pretty stressed, because I may be moving in the next few days. Not sure where. I have three emergency options.
I just read this, which helped:

Psalm 27 - A David Psalm
Light, space, zest -
that's God!
So, with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.

When vandal hordes ride down
ready to eat me alive,
Those bullies and toughs
fall flat on their faces.

When besieged,
I'm calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
I'm collected and cool.

I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate his beauty;
I'll study at his feet.

That's the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world,
The perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.

God holds me head and shoulders
above all who try to pull me down.
I'm headed to hi place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof!
Already I'm singing God-songs;
I'm making music to God.

Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs:
'Be good to me! Answer me!'
When my heart whispered, 'Seek God,'
my whole being replied,
'I'm seeking him!'
Don't hide from me now!

You've always been right there for me,
don't turn your back on me now.
Don't throw me out, don't abandon me,
you've always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
but God took me in.

Point me down your highway, God;
direct me along a well-lighted street;
show my enemies whose side you're on.
Don't throw me to the dogs,
those liars who are out to gte me,
filling the air with their threats.

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don't quit.
I'll say it again:
Stay with God.

The Message