Randomness

Today at morning tea, my colleague and I had an interesting chat. She said I was "like a movie" in that I had little fixed sense of self. She also told me that I pretend to be a committment phobe but what I - deep-down - wanted was a relationship; this, at least, is true.

I act differently in different situations. But, isn't it boring to act the same way constantly? Rather than showing weakness, does this not show strength in that I am following my beliefs - that there is not fixed, essential character - and that I am able to have fluid conceptions of essentials?

12.9.08

Isn't it Odd?

I was just playing with the map I have on iGoogle and was looking around at the area in which I grew up. It is funny but when you are young your life can be reduced to just one road without needing any concept of how that road fits together with other roads or how the places you used to visit in childhood are discontinuous islands of memory? It also seems that the memories of what you did there have also gone so you are only left with this feeling that you know a place but you can't remember it or why you know it; you have only the fragments of a life frittered away in endless days of summer.

2.9.08

And the Dust Settles

I can't believe how stupid students actually are! After this weekend's rampant show of idiocy. Here I take idiocy to mean any/all of: watching other students being idiots, back-chatting cops who waere probably already heckled, living in an area known for its disorderly behaviour, not following the instructions of people who are bigger and more heavily armed than you. I just hope that the University will take the threat of drunken idiots seriously.

A couple of years ago - I think it was - we had a Code of Conduct instated at the University. The ostensible reason for this was to give the University powers to deal with disorderly/illegal behaviour in house. However, the more important reason is to protect the Universities reputation. Not only is the reputation at stake here but also the reputation of an Otago degree. I think all those students convicted of offenses - and they should be punished and not just given a smack on the wrist - should also be expelled from the University; if they do not know how to behave as useful members of society then they should not be recognised as such by the leading university of that society.

To this end, I applaud OPSA barring anyone arrested on the night from Student's Association membership. I feel that OUSA should have taken more of a stand but - on a directive from NZUSA - they did not mention anything about the event at all. Here, again, NZUSA is at fault. They thought it would be better to play clean-up after the event rather than to have a position to which they could stick. Perhaps they were just waiting to see what happened but it does seem like very inept leadership to advise inaction from student governance.

It seems as if it is going to take drastic action to stop idiocy infecting Otago; perhaps Otago really does only create free drinking students.

26.8.08

Arts

After my last post I had thought of something that would have been quite interesting. At least for me but it has since buzzed out of my head. Since then I have been looking at the programme of the Melbourne International Arts Festival for this year. I went over there last year to see Peter Brook, Robert Wilson, and Barrie Kosky - among others. However, this year the programme seems boring. Although I am still paying off my trip from last year I was planning to go again this year. Or rather, I was planning to before I got a full-time job. At least there is still the chance of going next year.

25.8.08

Gears Turning

I am just wondering if I should have more stuff to say. Or perhaps I should be saying my stuff in only one or two outlets. Any thoughts?