http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Uo24iNA4k

"rock star, graduated from the school of rock, need me a rock girl, hot girl, courtney cox, rock girl"

only thing is, as somebody points out, Courtney Cox is the girl who plays Monica on friends, Courtney Love is a rock singer...…

Its seriously time for Brendan to move into the private sector and see if his ...chops are as good as he thinks they are.

agreed, For ten years +, Brendon Smyth has overseen a video grants scheme with enough checks and balances in place to allow, were Stevie Wonder to…

With regards to NZoA. Its seriously time for Brendan to move into the private sector and see if his A& R chops are as good…

not winners by virtue of their slickness but by their conceptual invention

So how about we focus on fostering writers and directors, not on the slick production talents we already have.

No it's not from NZoA's perspective. Their brief is to churn out dumbed down pop filler for the broadcasters to slot their ads around.

i havent heard anything about cuts to arts and culture which i thought would have been first for the chop

Te Budget on 20 May will surely have to contain cuts to such "low quality" spending if they really add up to $1.8b.

although I dont think working to a Number 8 wire philosophy is the answer.

It's not an either/or proposition, I guess, but I sometimes wonder whether the point is to nurture and promote the *culture* or the *industry*.

I was part of Christchurch team a few years ago that came second in a 48 hr challenge. We should have won but the txt voting was always gonna massively favour the team from…

More videos, a better use of resources, and a refocusing of the spotlight on the number 8 wire, the nouse and the wider talent pool both musically and videowise, would be a better distribution model. [...] it's time to remodel that beast for the internet age.

Spot on, Chris.

Looking at the 48 hour film festival there were 650 teams last year, which obviously…

http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/news/industry-news/2010/apr/68601-recurrent-funding-review-making-tough-decisions

Thats what NZ on Air needs. Someone to independently put them under a microscope and hold a mirror up to some of its practises and personell...

...followed by a cleanout with the redundancy…

Those tunes are the perfect example of what is and was always wrong with NZoA playing the short game in funding wannabe popstars at the expense of songs/tunes with genuine artistic merit, perhaps no immediate commercial appeal…

There is a NZOA badge at the beginning of the second video.

Right you are. Blink and you'd miss it. Gotta agree with Robbie here. It does make you wonder whether some people's ears are painted on.

There is a NZOA badge at the beginning of the second video.

I'd rather that my tax dollars were spent on NZOA setting up a school where it was compulsory for wannabe's to learn a smidgen of…

...but I don't see any NZOA badges on it.

Deceptikonz, formerly the darlings of the kiwi hiphop set have increasingly found the market has moved on from aping mindless american gangterism towards house and inflected stuff with the likes of Akon and Kid Cudi teaming up with David Guetta…

On a more serious note though, some more Jack Handey:
* At first I thought,…

My point isn’t that “the freedom to do X” should be considered proven to be a good thing without argument, just that we shouldn’t ban it without reason.

That's fine then. I mistook your use of the word "onus" as meaning a one-way responsibility to argue a case, letting one…

Heh. I'm thinking you just hate the fact that the law is piecemeal. I don't much like it either, but that's the philosopher in me who prefers fewer rules with some kind of core theoretical basis

I agree with your position. I have the same theoretical preference, and the same…

YESSS!

Thanks Yamis!

"When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmmmmmmm, boy."

You'd have to be American, and probably a stuff white people like kind of American, to really get that one.…

Film fans are fed up with getting ripped off when buying their favourite snacks at the cinema.

That rang a bell with me so I went a Googling.
A…

"When I was a kid my favorite relative was Uncle Caveman. After school we'd all go play in his cave, and every once in a while he would eat one of us. It wasn't until later that I found out that Uncle Caveman was…

Sure, which is why I’m saying the issue doesn’t seem “easily surmountable”, as was part of your claim.

I was talking about a different issue – you seemed to be saying that defining infinite numbers of things is difficult. I was disputing that. Just about any proposition containing a variable…

I didn't say there weren't problematic cases,

Sure, which is why I’m saying the issue doesn’t seem “easily surmountable”, as was part of your claim. (I’d be willing to agree to “theoretically surmountable”, if that helps.) The full “set of all possible restrictions” must contain contradictions. You seem to be…

But wouldn’t that require presumptions about the value of a given law (“equal or higher”) that cannot be decided within the paradigm you outlined?

It's decided beforehand. I only say equal or higher because a law could override lower priority ones. Otherwise it's not simply resolved. I didn't say there…

With the clause "where this does not contradict x", where x is a list of laws of equal or higher importance. So whatever you've described covers non-overlapping areas of activity. You leave the overlapping ones for more specific laws that resolve the conflicts.

But wouldn’t that require presumptions about the…

...i mean, look what 'homebrew' have been reduced to do to fundraise after being…

In the terms we're speaking of? How simple is it to describe an infinite set of legal prohibitions that do not contradict?

With the clause "where this does not contradict x", where x is a list of laws of equal or higher importance. So whatever you've described covers non-overlapping areas…

The reason for these freedoms sometimes needs to be given, it is not natural to assume they are good without discussion.

Nothing wrong with discussing it, but when someone advocates a specific imposition on our freedom, then they can't rely on a supposed lack of evidence for the freedom to…

They wanted debate from a video.

If Madonna had done it, she'd have won an award. I guess for all of us there has to come a point when we stop incredulously admiring the kids' creative responses to this crazy world and begin imposing our own generation's version of "that's…

They wanted debate from a video. They got it, they shouldn't be annoyed at the reaction.

And yes, the music video we have been talking about was especially disgusting – or this thread would be empty and the clip would still be online.

misogyny in a public service ad is more insidious for its unthinking presumption

I've been looking for hard scientific evidence to justify this kind of advertising, but I didn't find much that really supports it. All the conditioning experiments I found involved additional stimulus.

but is the misogyny considerably worse than that shown in some of those alcohol ads where we see a woman, drinking, drunk, raped. Without repercussions.

There are a whole bunch of people (including some PA readers) that laid official complaints about that ad, and I imagine many would agree that…

Well, the critic at Amoeblog is of a different view.

[Still mulling that over, Steve.]

Advocating a particular law restricting certain behaviour seems the same to me: to argue for its justification only by pointing out it hasn’t been refuted is analogous to saying: “well you tell me why God doesn’t exist, then.” By that thinking, any law would be justified until proven otherwise.

Perhaps…

The Departed

"The Rat stands for obviousness!”

I thought it was so divorced from a coherent meaningfulness that I can't really feel that it even deserves much analysis.

Well, the critic at Amoeblog is of a different view.
I’ve linked to it last time Inglourious Basterds was discussed. I don’t…

For the record, I don't think any of those works (King's video, or the movies Chris mentioned) should be banned.

There do seem to be issues with how seriously a special effects of this nature are taken. I often wonder if NZ's geographical distance from 'the action' somehow blurs the…

It could be worked. A large list of what's allowed,

Each point on such a list would surely have to be argued for in the first place.

Can't see the equivalence, really. You might have to elaborate.

The objection to following that approach is that it is not reasonable to…

No, but it doesn't mean it should, either. If you walk into Tarantino's 4th and 5th feature length film expecting substance I guess you have a greater belief in the human animal's capacity for change than I do.

Reservoir Dogs is one of my favourite movies ever. There's a pile…

he's just toying with the history of cinema.

To what end, I keep asking myself?

I've been asking myself that for years.

Self gratification. Sometimes that's all an artist does it for.

Forget the high morals of Aldo, and his basterds, they just liked killing people and so does QT…

a miserable little essay by playwright Louis Nowra

I haven't read it, but the opening episode of First Australians which aired tonight on Māori TV, was pretty good, and a Louis Nowra was credited as writer...

he's just toying with the history of cinema.

To what end, I keep asking myself?

I've been asking myself that for years. Glad to discover that someone else doesn't get the point.

I think it's an interesting exercise in genre, and an almost utopian way of asserting the power of film in an age when we're abandoning the physical object itself for digital reproduction.

An interesting analysis too. Most of what you say is true, I guess I just didn't find his…

He shot new film, with his own actors etc., but it's really every film he's ever loved, spliced together. As I said, there's little substance to any of it, he's just toying with the history of cinema.

... which, as an idea, makes as much sense as putting all of…

Thanks, but no. I learned my lesson on Wallywood.

Forget it, 3410. It's Chinatown.

You've lost me there.

Kill Bill is several genre films spliced together — a Western, a Hong Kong action flick, some anime, some other stuff. He shot new film, with his own actors etc., but it's really every film he's ever loved, spliced together. As…

Well, it was no Gangs of New York.

Which is a bad thing, exactly how? I will defer to nobody in my adoration of Saint Marty, but when he make a load of crap (Gangs, The Departed, Shutter Island) he doesn't half arse around. (Then again, two of my favourite…

Also, very cool scene in the underground tavern.

I'd have cut it by at least 40 minutes. Seriously.

He makes films about films

Really? Pastiche, I can agree with but " about films"? He does rip off other films, but that's not the same thing.

It's about splicing, and surfaces.…

what does IB have to say about that genre?

It should have something to say? What, like an easily digestible message so that you can walk out of the theatre thinking 'oh that was saying that the World War 2 film of the 50s and 60s exalted American participation in…

Scorcese

Scorsese, people. Scorsese.

Carry on.

It's not a film about Germans, it's a film about genre. A genre. The American World War 2 film. Kill Bill isn't about substance, it's about film, which has no substance, being nitrates on celluloid.

IMO, Tarantino is to Leone and Scorsese — his obvious models — as Herman's Hermits…

He's not fit to lick Scorcese's boots,

Well, it was no Gangs of New York.

Protip: It's not a film about Germans, it's a film about genre. A genre. The American World War 2 film. Kill Bill isn't about substance, it's about film, which has no substance, being nitrates on…

To the "art" thread with you..

Thanks, but no. I learned my lesson on Wallywood.

Frankly, I thought it was so divorced from a coherent meaningfulness that I can't really feel that it even deserves much analysis.

To the "art" thread with you..

Plus: this hasn't been the only thread that's been filled with posturing recently. Doesn't make for particularly interesting discussions.

They might, but it wouldn’t make much sense. There are virtually infinite liberties, so how do you argue from a position of “full restrictions”? Each prohibition would need to be argued for.

It could be worked. A large list of what's allowed, a number of the things being worded in…

I actually replied to B Jones, 30 March 12:10 (page 1) ... errrrmm apologies: seems the "reply" function on this site is not quite how I'm used to it working

Yes, it would be good if it automatically included quote text when you hit reply.

Thanks for the…

He carried on killing Nazis.

Yes, a great many them when they were prisoners. Not exactly one of the good guys.

Which leaves you Bridget von Hammersmark who, as I explained, is shown as shooting an unarmed man after he negotiated to lay down his weapon. She's also shown…

But for what it's worth, I find NZ work/office culture to be very small-c-conservative.

buttoned-down, efficient, humorless work culture

I think that's a cliche. I've worked in German offices, and they're no more buttoned-down than NZ or anywhere else.

Rich: Cosi is actually a pretty good example of what I mean.

'Soave sia il vento' is achingly beautiful, but the whole opera turns on a ugly bet that two men can, in disguise, seduce the other's fiancée because... well, all women are whores, right? And no matter how prickish…

I've been too busy having an Easter break to moderate much here, but there's a point where we're all intelligent adults, and we're capable of not saying the thing that will escalate a problem. Right?

Hear, hear.

I don't think women like Linda aren't willing to speak here because of my hiphop posturing.

I've definitely stopped bothering with this one because of it, and I am neither a woman, nor particularly faint-hearted, but I just can't be bothered dealing with this crap.

I don't think women like Linda aren't willing to speak here because of my hiphop posturing.

I am. I gave up on this thread a few days ago, and only came back to take a look because someone mentioned it to me elsewhere. I am distressed that this community which…

Like i said earlier, hiphop was, back in the day, my first culture of choice. Back when it could possibly serve as a vehicle for positive change.

Unfortunately it couldn't live up to the hype, so all thats left in the real is a ghetto…

I know that has been an important factor for Russell and one of the strengths of this community that…

Only a stupidhead would take that as a threat – but, given all it's how you percieve everything (it's…

Nothing personal and no hard feelings. I'll still do a beer, a chat and laugh sometime. You too Sacha:)

email me offsite whatever you decide so as to save it being all me all the time here.

cos really i dont need the death threats..lol

tau'ina ia savavali…

Your whanau don't mean shit to me. I gave up on fake…

(and, I have noticed, you're still doing it.)

Robbie Siataga – if you are any kind of front for hiphop – you've lost a large number of people, very young people, my…

sorry I'm the only one home to pick on tonight Robbie. Carry on – or not.

heh...no need to apologise

...and no i'd rather not carry on eh

goodnight and possibly goodbye :)

Maybe your family is just a little too strict Robbie.

heh...maybe they'd give me a hiding if i brought the family name into disrepute or maybe my ancestors would exact karmic revenge on my kids.

Those are consequences i am fearful of. Not so much the hiding, so getting my…

I'm know as a lurker – but even I would like to see the end of this.

all hiphop artists presented a united public front in supporting each other regardless of merit

Yes, that is something has been that is characteristic of all hiphop artists.

No it's not and it's something i've always argued against because the foundation of hiphop is the challenge, the battle and the…

No one talks to anyone else like that here. Ever. Apologise please, or I'll block your account. And it will be the last time.

oh right, like its OK for him to call me gangster boy, tell me to grow up and say i lack the balls to 'trot what…

in using my family name i'm honour bound to stand by what i say...

Maybe your family is just a little too strict Robbie.

all hiphop artists presented a united public front in supporting each other regardless of merit

Yes, that is something has been that is characteristic of all hiphop artists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4HjsZqOaQ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiOv37e1a7Q

...in real life, you wouldn't step to me and front like you know me then make with the lame insults cos i think you're a coward.

one day we'll probably meet and i will get up in your face and ask if you've got anything to say. I hope you…

Oh, well. Growing up can take a while, but I dont think I can be bothered watching this poster grow up. Will Take Some Time-

one day we'll probably meet and i will get up in your face and ask if you've got anything to say. I hope you remember to pack your balls.

please don't read a threat into that, i just hope you man up.

How could anyone possibly read a threat into…

I'd have nothing to say because you lack the balls to be trotting this shit out in the first place where there are consequences beyond a few words.

…

In news for adults, Kirk Harding's lengthy response.
Summary – media made it up, we got it wrong,…

artistic statements

Sexist hate videos are nothing to be proud of, gangsta boy.

Weak cowardly men take on those they see as weaker – surprise, it's women, children, ethnic minorities and migrants, disabled people, LGBT, etc.

Grow the fuck up, show some real balls.

haha troll alert... you know…

I think you also hit another nail on the head with regard to my comparison to those banned films,

video featuring the consequence-free slaughter and dismemberment of women.

in that the idiom generally requires the wronged victim to enact brutal revenge.

The difference is that the 'revenge' stories at…

Yes, but he carried it on afterward with particular relish too.

He carried on killing Nazis. There are worse characters depicted in film, I think. One of Tarantino’s protagonists was German, and a strongly anti-Nazi German at that. I just find that hard to reconcile with the idea that Tarantino…

Okay sorry all, I actually replied to B Jones, 30 March 12:10 (page 1) ... errrrmm apologies: seems the "reply" function on this site is not quite how I'm used to it working (see: Huffington Post for an example of what I thought would happen). Newbie error!

Which seems a…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k_BgzSDQNk

Actually while I'm…

video featuring the consequence-free slaughter and…

then he will knock the guy out.
before he comes up his driveway, ie. anywhere.

No. That's a bizarre interpretation of his answer. It clearly meant he wouldn't even let the guy come up his driveway.

It sounds like the threats of violence are pretty one sided. Question is,…

Jolisa, by referring to the Sex…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6tyg7V0Cu8

Automated high-speed trading software multiplied the effect

Indeed but I think we'd be surprised how instantly wired the exchanges were in the later part of 1980s. I had the misfortune of dating (I've never used that word before in relation to myself, but can't find it in myself to put…

For more, talk to my man LL Cool J..

It wasn't a personal attack I meant in general..Anyone with bad intentions.

That is, if someone tried to attack him and his family in his house, he'd resist forcefully. He's also not making a song and dance about what a tough dude that makes him.

Which casts a slightly different light on the comment.

Certainly different, but I'm still at a loss Russell, he has small children in his house, so if there are hypothetical repercussions from making the comment;

"I'd knock that guy out before he even came up my driveway"

then he will…

Automated high-speed trading software multiplied the effect

A little while ago a company (NZ) wanted to know if they could get a more accurate fix of UT (Universal time – aka Greenich Mean time) from the Measurement Standards Lab – NZ Time Standard – so that their servers could really…

Does seem to be some confusion here. "Anti-violence/knock the guy out?".

Scribe has tweeted thus:

Q was "Would I be scared if Dirty Sesh came to my house?" being a father with small children at my house I'd knock anyone out

Which casts a slightly different light on the comment.

Bjork is so endearing. I will use this piece in my TV course next semester.

She says 'You shouldn't let poets lie to you.'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75WFTHpOw8Y

holding a mirror up to society highlighting violence...Defend his right to make artistic statements however he sees fit instead of hanging him out to dry with a weak apology.

I'd say NZ is a little too conservative to ground this kind of argument Robbie. To contextualize, both 'Hostel 2' and…

Bjork lingered enigmatically in the kitchen, devouring a large chocolate cake.

at least she wasn't swanning about...

Well I stand corrected on my interpretation of what Gio was saying. Or do I? LOL.

Derivatives existed and the financial sector could do a lot of damage to the productive sector quite quickly but nowhere close to what became technically possible on the global financial-informatic networks in the Nineties…

"The stuff that Eminem came out with was out of his own mind and it's kind of obvious that [King's] just kind of imitating what Eminem does," Scribe said.

"Those aren't his own thoughts, those aren't his actual original concepts or anything, it's all…

artistic statements

Sexist hate videos are nothing to be proud of, gangsta boy.

Weak cowardly men take on those they see as weaker – surprise, it's women, children, ethnic minorities and migrants, disabled people, LGBT, etc.

Grow the fuck up, show some real balls.

Not true.. large scale derivatives trading did happen in in NZ in the 1980s, via the New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange which operated in the country from 1984-2003.

Well I stand corrected on my interpretation of what Gio was saying. Or do I? LOL.

@steve parks.

Actually, he did…

Vids pretending to be a gangsta pimp is one thing to imitate but seriously, is anyone going to stalk and kill women cos sesh made a vid that depicts it ?

Whatta joke! Hypocrites gettin twisted about a music vid when theres so much real…

ÓNSI
The epic chorales of Sigur Rós are
ong-standing Word favourites, so we
are delighted to bring you this
preview of the solo LP by their singer
and co-architect Jón Thor Birgisson.
Following Riceboy Sleeps, last year's
chiefly instrumental album,…

large scale derivative exchanges didn't exist in NZ

Not true.. large scale derivatives trading did happen in in NZ in the 1980s, via the New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange which operated in the country from 1984-2003.

And via offshore trading.

And many's the old Eastern 'burbs family who were…

The problem for National is that environmentalism is a fundamental part of our national identity. These moves strike at the heart of who we are as a nation (as does their new foreign policy of toadying to anyone who might give…

"Emotional" – you bet. Another embarrassment on the world stage. How's that change feeling, National voters?

I think the burden of proof is on the person arguing for increasing criminalisation though.

I personally would like it to be so in this case, but as with all moral issues, this assumes a moral position all of it's own, the idea of the maximization of liberty. Plenty of…

A father of teenage daughters withdraws all his usual (and safe) forms of physical warmth because said daughters have arrived at an age where they, for him, uncomfortably resemble the women in the porn that he is addicted to

On a base level this man is worried about uncontrollable blood…

Was it a birthday, and were they SMOKING cigars?

Shot. Chapeau, man.

thousands of farmers owed millions of dollars

hundreds of thousands of property-investors-but-not-for tax-purposes owed half a million dollars or more

(if it has a pointy top, four corners on the bottom and is built on sand, it probably is a pyramid)

In Iceland's case, the crushing debt that the citizens have to repay was incurred by the banking sector.

In an article I read, it was every sector, though they'd incurred debt by moving into the banking sector. The article was quite incredulous about how hundreds of fishermen all owed millions…

In Iceland's case, the crushing debt that the citizens have to repay was incurred by the banking sector.

It was incurred by Iceland. Iceland wanted into Europe (esp. the UK) & to do that you have to promise that the banking system is backed by the state.

Unfortunately that was a…

the reason why nz is not (yet) in a similar position to Ireland or Iceland (or UK-land) is largely explained by "our" Aussie-owned banks' ability (so far) to continue surfing atop the Aussie property tsunami.

I don't recall the specific report, but one of our ratings assessments after the subprime…

This time, the problems were either overseas or in the retail finance company business.

the reason why nz is not (yet) in a similar position to Ireland or Iceland (or UK-land) is largely explained by "our" Aussie-owned banks' ability (so far) to continue surfing atop the Aussie property tsunami. quite…

I think the burden of proof is on the person arguing for increasing criminalisation though.

I personally would like it to be so in this case, but as with all moral issues, this assumes a moral position all of it's own, the idea of the maximization of liberty. Plenty of…

Bjork lingered enigmatically in the kitchen, devouring a large chocolate cake.

Was it a birthday, and were they SMOKING cigars?

But that was exactly my point: the data is so inherently fungible that you can take it and prove entirely opposite (and equally well-made and sincere and socialist and/or feminist) cases with it.

I think the burden of proof is on the person arguing for increasing criminalisation though.

...…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5S0dkLZoTg

http://www.cluas.com/indie-music/Blogs/French_Letter/tabid/80/EntryId/620/Justice-violent-video-angers-France.aspx

Iceland is empirically weirder than New Zealand.

They have waaaaaaay better hotpools, but.

large scale derivative exchanges didn't exist in NZ

They still don't. NZX is a primarily an equities exchange.

But yeah, it's probably true that if there had been more sophisticated markets in the 80's, there'd have been bigger fuckups in NZ. This time, the problems were either overseas or in…

...just as enthusiastically in the mid-80s, but derivatives didn't exist back then.

Yes they did.

Bjork lingered enigmatically in the kitchen, devouring a large chocolate cake.

That is one of the most awesome sentences I've read all year.

I would have thought exhibit A would have been Bjork. Clearly several quantum states of weird removed from anything homegrown.

I met the Sugarcubes once, at a party at my friend's place, after they played a show with The Chills.

Einar was boisterous and cheerful and drinking absinthe. Bjork lingered…

Iceland is empirically weirder than New Zealand. Exhibit A being their headlong embrace of dubious kinds of financial services and consequent descent in flames.

I would have thought exhibit A would have been Bjork. Clearly several quantum states of weird removed from anything homegrown.

Our own embrace of neoliberalism looks sedate by comparison.

I wonder if it was all just a matter of timing. New Zealand embraced the taumaturgic powers of the financial markets just as enthusiastically in the mid-80s, but derivatives didn't exist back then.

A strange place and a wonderful place. I'm sure they say the same thing about us.

Nah. Iceland is empirically weirder than New Zealand. Exhibit A being their headlong embrace of dubious kinds of financial services and consequent descent in flames.

Our own embrace of neoliberalism looks sedate by comparison.

Good that the NZ law is actually jailing people for procuring minors. If the brave new brothels actually drove down demand (and supply) for underage prostitutes, that would also be a great help. Can we get some studies that promise this?

The number of underage women/girls in prostitution in New…

Derty Desh now off Youtube

The way men interact with girls is extremely problematic, and it's no surprise that a great many of them withdraw their participation where girls are concerned. Much the same, I imagine,…

But it does seem that Iceland is quite a strange place.
A strange place and a wonderful place. I'm sure they say the same thing about us.

I find that Icelandic films help in diminishing the mystery. Just showed Cold Fever (an Icelandic/Japanese road movie made in 1994) to my…

I have hardly hugged my daughter since,

a hug – so simple, so complex

Sweden is a deeply perplexing example. It should be a sex-crime free utopia, according to the study Emma linked to: it has classically liberal porn laws (no age limits on possession or viewing!).

That's not what Wikipedia tells me:

Well, that Wikipedia entry does not really contradict the original quote.…

Interesting comment from an Andrew Sullivan reader...

Ha, so is it like Tracy said all those pages ago: you get Al Capone via taxes. And you get the nepotistic mayor via strip clubs.

But it does seem that Iceland is quite a strange place.

A strange place and a wonderful…

So, clearly, there is a range of feminist opinion on this one.

Well, duh! And not just in the world, inside PAS too, which is why I popped my head above the parapet in the first place.

Iceland, OTOH, has had three different laws in the past five years and…

Thus the film’s murderous thesis is fully disclosed. Self-survival, the survival of the good, requires that one always choose death. The cynicism and brutality of the first execution back on Omaha beach is excused…

The commentary around strip club bans in Iceland does neglect some of the local facts. I visited in August and learned a bit about the subject from our guide.

It came up after we went out in downtown Reykjavik. Two Icelandic guys drove…

Sweden is a deeply perplexing example. It should be a sex-crime free utopia, according to the study Emma linked to: it has classically liberal porn laws (no age limits on possession or viewing!).

That's not what Wikipedia tells me:

Film censorship

Sweden has a film censorship board (Statens Biografbyrå), founded…

Just to be a history pedant for a moment: the Normandy battlefield was every bit as vicious as the Russian front, with or without provocation. Have a read of Antony Beevor's 'D-Day', if you're interested in the detail.

Yes, war is a shit all right, but that doesn't mean glorifying…

A father of teenage daughters withdraws all his usual (and safe) forms of physical warmth because said daughters have arrived at an age where they, for him, uncomfortably resemble the women in the porn that he is addicted to.

Wow, that's fucked up. How prominent is this addiction and how…

Robbie – you callin' me a babe? ;-)

well ummm you do sound kinda hawt...so what ya wearing ?....must...refrain... WARNING WARNING ...danger Will Robinson !!!

But yeah shot Gemma...porn addiction ? dunno eh ? looking at porn, bores me shitless, i tend not to bother. So is it the porn…

There many paths to the same goal, some of which likely work better than others for given locations and given subsets of the population (e.g. NZ-style decriminalisation hasn't diminished the rate of child prostitution yet, but maybe we should give it another 7 years?).

Okay.

The Prostitution Reform Act 2003…

Andrew Williams makes a Facebook funny.

And just to add insult to injury:

"It was a joke emailed to me the other day as a new logo for Auckland Super City," said the Mayor, who is doggedly trying to force the…