Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Problems

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  • giovanni tiso,

    Jericho, in its resurrected second season, did some excellent USA-as-Iraq allegory which addressed resistance against a questionably legitimate occupying force.

    Yeah. Babylon 5 too was all about the allegory, and I've been in therapy trying to forget having watched it ever since. It might be the thing that keeps me from watching BSG, although I'm sure I'll eventually get round to it.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hotties! <ducks>

    Dude, ask yourself why chicks watch Grey's Anatomy .

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Babylon 5 too was all about the allegory, and I've been in therapy trying to forget having watched it ever since.

    See, you've just given me another reason to watch this show; allegory is my happy place. I think that's why I like alternate history as a genre so much.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    But then the national psyche on cycling sucks already. People would rather drop their kids off at school in an SUV than dare to let them develop a little independence.

    Actually, outside of the main centres, the new bus service contracts will be forcing people back into private transport more than parents fear of letting kids out on their own. The new system is a travesty and another nail in the coffin for public transport.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    This article seems appropriate for the thread:

    Ten business lessons from 'Battlestar Galactica'

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    You should, however, immediately rush out to JB Hi-Fi on Queen St and buy the entire series. DO IT NOW!

    How can I sneer at other people and their fantasy/sci fi obsessions if I'm buying the DVDs too? Don't you see my dilemma?

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Knowledge Bro,

    The cyclepath is a positive step toward a greater reality as foreseen by Norman Tebbit who, in his finite wisdom, realised that you could get people to work for minimum wages if you gave them the means to cycle to work.

    Behind the fridge • Since Mar 2009 • 58 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Babylon 5 too was all about the allegory, and I've been in therapy trying to forget having watched it ever since. It might be the thing that keeps me from watching BSG, although I'm sure I'll eventually get round to it

    Babylon 5 bad. BSG good.

    Rinse. Repeat.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Babylon 5 bad. BSG good.

    Rinse. Repeat.

    I don't doubt it at all, it's just that when one is stung by the genre it takes a little while to recover.

    ('The Emperor of the Republic'. Seriously, who wrote that stuff?)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    J. Michael Straczynski - it was in the credits...

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Straczynski! <shakes fist>

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    Yep - they're the ones who think Frank Miller is a good writer, Rorschach is some kind of role model, and the Dark Knight was really about George Bush being right.

    See, I haven't heard of any of these, (OK, except that George Bush bloke)

    So let's borrow 40 billion! Cycleways for all, or should that be for all the children to pay back :(

    We're borrowing $40 billion, cycleways or no. Had Labour been re-elected, they would have had to do much the same. The alternative being massive cuts in govt spending and/or reversing tax cuts/working for families.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    We're borrowing $40 billion, cycleways or no. Had Labour been re-elected, they would have had to do much the same. The alternative being massive cuts in govt spending and/or reversing tax cuts/working for families.

    Quite -- and that seems to be a fair summary of the IMF's view: "it's a bit of a bugger to have to borrow that much, but you guys are sweet compared to some other countries, so rock on with your bad selves" (I paraphrase).

    But the previous government's nous on job creation is hard to knock -- especially considering the half-baked plans on offer from the new one.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    "it's a bit of a bugger to have to borrow that much, but you guys are sweet compared to some other countries, so rock on with your bad selves" (I paraphrase).

    I think I'd be much more likely to read IMF reports if they were always couched in such language.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    We're borrowing $40 billion, cycleways or no. Had Labour been re-elected, they would have had to do much the same. The alternative being massive cuts in govt spending and/or reversing tax cuts/working for families.

    Quite -- and that seems to be a fair summary of the IMF's view: "it's a bit of a bugger to have to borrow that much, but you guys are sweet compared to some other countries, so rock on with your bad selves" (I paraphrase).

    I was just reading up on that looking for an alternative take on the IMF, so I have asked the Labour party to respond to this view.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    Firstly, as has been pointed out before, PAS is something of an oasis of intelligent debate. If you have to put up with a few Star Trek references to get to the gold, then that's the price you're going to have to pay.

    I agree about the oasis and I am prepared to tolerate people going on and on and on about their fantasy fetishes. I just wish they would not hijack discussions about more important matters, as has happened here.

    Secondly, the two things aren't mutually exclusive. I can enjoy BSG and be fairly clued up on the state of global politics. Or am I never allowed to relax from my eternally vigilent status as gatekeeper of freedom?

    At ease, soldier. What bothers me is folk who think their preferred allegory is so important and so true that no further action is required: the truth as revealed by this season's space opera is so self-evident that the Government surely will fall. The neo-cons did not do allegory (or satire, for that matter). They just lied and made people believe them. What was needed to make them fall was concerted political action, not leisure activities.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    What was needed to make them fall was concerted political action, not leisure activities.

    Yeah, but comrade... you've gotta switch off sometime. And while you're taking a break from concerted political action, you might as well watch something decent.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hey, it's all sweet again.

    Wall Street hearts the Obama bank plan, markets around the world shoot up.

    And US home sales rise at their fastest pace in six years.

    Whatever were we worried about? ;-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    I was just reading up on that looking for an alternative take on the IMF, so I have asked the Labour party to respond to this view.

    Given they have criticised the government for having too timid a stimulus package, I shall be very interested to see what that is.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Given they have criticised the government for having too timid a stimulus package, I shall be very interested to see what that is.

    If I hear back, I'll let ya know.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Yeah, but comrade... you've gotta switch off sometime. And while you're taking a break from concerted political action, you might as well watch something decent.

    Actually, if while you're switched off you happen to watch something that is halfway switched on, that's even better.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Wall Street hearts the Obama bank plan

    And thankfully Obama has seen some sense and suggested he will oppose this godawful retrospective 90% tax on contractually agreed retention bonuses.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    You know what? Fuck BSG*: if I want to watch 'Rock of Love II' and talk about Daisy the stripper's desperation for Bret Michaels as a political allegory for the financial crisis, that's my call. And whoever doesn't like it: up their nose with a rubber hose.

    *I actually have no opinion on BSG one way or the other, as I haven't seen it yet. But it's on my ever-lengthening list.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    Some correctives to the Vanity Fair piece.

    But so entertaining - even the corrections. Ministry of Elves! That man should write the new Icelandic saga. And a 70 degree shower - are we talking Fahrenheit or Centigrade?

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

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