Posts by Lilith __

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  • Up Front: First, Come to Your Conclusion,

    let's take a wander through some gender essentialism, and yet another article saying that in some way, women don't really like sex.

    You know, I've heard this idea repeated so many times as the conclusion of alleged "research", that I wonder why so many people are so threatened by the idea that women might like it.

    I tried reading that Fay Weldon sort-of-memoir the other day, What Makes Women Happy , knowing it had had bad reviews but thinking it might be entertaining. I got no further than her assertions that (a) most women don't much like sex, except for emotional reasons and (b) most women never have orgasms but there are more important things in life so what does it matter? She went on to say something about FAKING IT TO MAKE HIM FEEL GOOD but I could read no further due to feeling all stabby, if I can borrow Danielle's wonderful phrase.

    I don't know why Weldon feels the need to say these things. Perhaps she is speaking of her own experience, but that hardly qualifies her to speak for other women.

    And I took down my copy of The Hite Report for a dose of sanity. Hite and her collaborators actually asked thousands of women what their sexual desires and experiences were, and paid attention to what they said. And the responses are so detailed and so varied. And so horny . The women in the study all seem so hopeful that because they can openly talk about their sexuality, that everything will change. That was in 1976.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Up Front: First, Come to Your Conclusion, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I've always wondered if the casting in this was just Russell T Davies saying to fandom, "Oh yeah? What you gonna do now?"

    One of the things I like best about Torchwood is that RTD and others use it to try stories and angles they'd never do in Doctor Who. Roping in James Marsters was genius, some of the other stuff falls flat. But I've always had the feeling that unlike with DW, there are no rules, so it's excitingly unpredictable. It's not like they've even picked a consistent genre or tone for the show.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hard News: Asking for a Contribution, in reply to Heather Gaye,

    What is this "digital" you speak of?

    It means that you have to operate the book with your fingers.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hard News: Asking for a Contribution, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I feel my meagre contribution is more of a Pun Tax…

    Ian, just be glad Russell isn't seeking Punitive Damages! ;-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hard News: Asking for a Contribution,

    Wow, PAS enriches a lot of lives, mine included, it’s hardly fair it should be impoverishing you, Russell! I think an annual koha would be entirely the right thing. Pick a date for the next one. I doubt I’m the only one who’s feeling a bit embarrassed you’ve been footing the bill for so long!

    Arohanui to you and all the other folk who make this such an awesome place.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hard News: A welcome return - and pirates!,

    To err is human, to arrrr is pirate.

    It's interesting what a romantic, affectionate view we have of pirates, though, isn't it?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Busytown: What was lost, in reply to 3410,

    Not MLK; Jessica Dovey. :)

    Oh! Damn internet.

    Apparently the original MLK is this*:
    “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says “Love your enemies,” he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition…. The chain reaction of evil — hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars — must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

    *O'course, I only have the internet's word on that :-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Busytown: What was lost, in reply to Kate Hannah,

    MLK quote: ‘the arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice.’

    Also MLK:

    "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Busytown: What was lost,

    So many horrible, horrible things have happened in the Middle East since 2001, so many tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, made homeless, lost their livelihoods. I'm not sorry bin Laden is dead, but I find it hard to believe that his death changes much. I feel he's a scapegoat: whatever terrible things he has done, he's expected to carry the whole moral burden of war, torture and murder over the last 10 years.

    Like you, Jolisa, I hope that peace and trust and sanity can prevail.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hard News: Any excuse for a party, in reply to Islander,

    Recourse to the Privy Council is no longer an option under our ANZ law.

    It's my understanding that even before appeals to the Privy Council were abolished, they were useful in very few cases. This was because NZ legal precedents over the years have diverged from British case law, and the Privy Council was increasingly unqualified to make rulings on NZ cases. So the NZ Supreme Court was a natural progression.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

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