1. There's a really interesting discussion in this thread on ffa about some Black Widow scenes in the Avengers (being circuitous so I don't have to cut this for spoilers). I'm linking to the whole thread but I found the top subthread most interesting, particularly this comment and this one. (I'm not in this thread at all so you don't need to strain ( Read more... )

1. So get_together is taking place on Guy Fawkes weekend, y'all. Who would walk up Mt Vic with me at 8 on Saturday? Are we likely to still be eating then ( Read more... )

( last week I read my 65th new book of the year! )

ALSO, deliberately making this a separate post to be an asshole but also because THIS IS IMPORTANT:

Please vote YES this week.

You know what amazes me? The number of people I know who celebrated Obama's victory, but are now going to toddle along to the polls and vote for John. Yes, it's change - but America has just had eight years with George Bush, a righty. They did not like those eight years - at all. People got sick and couldn't afford medical care, people got ( Read more... )

Oh hey, and DON'T FORGET: Saturday is election day, which means TOMORROW is the LAST DAY you can register to vote. PLEASE register and PLEASE vote!

I just read an article on stuff.co.nz that the government plans to change course funding from the bums-on-seats method currently being used, where courses which attract higher numbers of students are more likely to continue to be funded. While this is theoretically great - because that approach involves chasing students, extremely competitive ( Read more... )

1. Stupidly excited by Sam and Dean on the cover of the Dom Post's TV Week. I can't wait to watch the pilot on actual television. *silly*

2. theyworkforyou.co.nz3. John Key gave his first big speech today - his Orewa, I guess you'd say. I know he's actually forgoing the Orewa speech (Winston Peters will be speaking instead), presumably to avoid ( Read more... )

I haven't talked about politics for awhile, and the Maori Party clearly knew this, because a few days ago they decided they were going to... support Work for Dole. It's been blatantly obvious since the election that the Maori Party were going to swing right - I find that completely bemusing, since the Nats and Act don't give a shit about the Maori ( Read more... )

Five Things I Think About The National Party Leadership Thing:

1. I am, on the whole, relieved Brash has finally resigned. On the one hand, Brash continuing to lead the Nats might have been the one thing that would have guaranteed their defeat next election. On the other hand, I hate the man. And less personally, Brash said he'd resign if he lost ( Read more... )