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Sydney Life: living in fear

Photograph from Welcome Home series by Garry Trinh

This photo from Garry Trinh’s “Welcome Home” series has won this year’s Sydney Life Prize. And I’ll bet it puts some noses out of joint.

Let’s face it, Sydney thinks it’s pretty bloody special sometimes. Loud, self-centred, self-indulgent, self-opinionated and narcissistic. So I’m always happy to see imagery which reminds us that everything’s not always as pretty as it seems.

That’s why I liked it when the City of Sydney selected ’Pong’s Anywhere Chairs project, and why I like this photo winning the $10,000 prizemoney and public viewing by half a million people — even though it presents a Sydney that isn’t as glossy as the one you’ll see in the Shoot the Chef competition or as “clever” (too clever?) as the winning photo there.

As one of the judges, Sandy Edwards, says, “The image reminds us that real estate is of high value in Sydney, yet this family home in western Sydney is uninviting.”

Sydney Life finalists are on show in Hyde Park North until 22 October, part of the Art & About festival. Thanks to Billy Law for the pointer.

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Spaceport America, designed by Foster+Partners

Artists impression of Spaceport America

Spaceport America, the world’s first commercial spaceport, is being built in New Mexico for Virgin Galactic. Who else would you choose to design it other than Foster+Partners — follow the link for more piccies. Thanks to Wired for the pointer.

Given all the announcements of a spaceport in Australia, a shame it’s not somewhere like Cairns. Or Uluru. 😉

Bonus space link: Arthur C Clarke on the 50th anniversary of Sputnik.

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Coonan’s own goals in ICT debate

Photograph of Senator Helen Coonan at ACS Election Forum

Body language is revealing. At Friday’s breakfast forum, two Senators’ body language showed their confidence in their grasp of Information and Communications Technology issues. Alas, the minister, Senator Helen Coonan (pictured), wasn’t one of them.

Coonan’s opening speech was long on motherhood, short on detail. Her opponents, Labor’s Senator Stephen Conroy and Democrat leader Senator Lyn Allison attacked with confidence — and hard numbers. Coonan looked rattled.

When he wasn’t speaking, Conroy was alert. His eyes scanned the crowd, noting tables for heavyweights Microsoft, IBM, Lenovo, Accenture, Fujitsu, Symantec, Gartner … though Telstra were notably absent.

Allison was relaxed and comfortable, sitting back and waiting for her turn, ready to rattle on about quantum computing, laptops in school, IT literacy, and a global brand for Australian IT innovation — something like Woolmark for wool.

But Coonan frowned and ruffled through her papers as if cramming for an exam, nodding as she recognised something. I’ve been told since that she wouldn’t agree to the debate unless she had all the questions in advance — and her answers were apparently scripted.

Continue reading “Coonan’s own goals in ICT debate”

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Look, mum, no hands!

Photograph of Porsche 2400 Turbo hand dryer, with an image of a kangaroo and an emu drying their hands

This just has to be the classiest allusion to the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia ever, no?

This image is printed on the front of the Porsche 2400 Turbo hand dryer, as seen in the men’s toilet at the Cyprus Community Club here in Sydney. And it is truly beautiful, don’t you think?

The kangaroo holding out its paws to dry is such a subtle indication that (a) we’re looking at a hand dryer and (b) it’s made in Australia.

And the emu! Does it feel envious of the roo, unable to present hands at all? Or does it smirk in quiet self-satisfaction, happy in the knowledge that it has feathers?