Posts by Geoff Lealand
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Good to see this discussion in the public domain. I am concerned about Film and Theatre Studies but even more concerned about American Studies, for the proposals have implications for a much larger group of people. I haven't seen much to match the lobbying going in respect of Film/Theatre.
I did have a letter in The Press a month or so ago, framing my objections to plans to axe American Studies (as a MA graduate of the programme in the 1970s) and arguing that our understandings of contemporary life are pretty much framed by America--whether we embrace American values and world vierws, adapt or reject them.One instance--the intense interests we have in the Democrat primary!
I also recalled how American Studies introduced me to the notions of historiography and critical analysis--ideas I had never before encountered in NZ education. These beginnings have pretty much framed my subsequent academic career (now Assoc Prof in Screen and Media Studies at the University of Waikato, with an international reputation in research and writing (if you will forgive the plug!)
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We all understand, Russell...I also heard Bozo Bruce on MR and, to me, he seemed to be arguing for closed shop monopolies. Who does he represent exactly?
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Have a great launch, Russell. When you get a mo (and I know you are very busy chappie) could you give me some info on hooking up to Freeview (ie fitting it around Sky Digital). Maybe there isn't a problem but the Freeview people haven't been very helpful.
In the real world of Super 14, prospects are getting brighter, with the improving form of the Chiefs. Got some great talent, that team.
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Hey Geoff , are you the same guy who used to be at Otago Uni - I used to enjoy your lectures ... if you are?
'fraid not. I have only put in an occasional appearance at Otago.
(even though I don't want to turn this blog into Trade and Exchange)....
If any one is passing through Hamilton East in the next two weeks and wants to travel on with a bag of feijoas, just bung me a message at lealand@waikato.ac.nz (but not between April 14-24 as I will be in Japan) -
...and whilst we are on the pleasures of the garden..the feijoas have started dropping (the first on the very same day the first dropped last year!) Fruit is smaller than last year (hasn't been getting the benefits of the sprinkler on the nearby vege garden) but a pretty big crop. Two years ago I had one fruit which weighed more than half a kg!
We have one big old tree and when that finishes, two other trees kick in.We do swaps with our neighbour--buckets of passion fruit for feijoas, as well as supplying various staff tearooms.
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The Innovation Park at Ruakura seem to be be doing something about developing local mozzarella. Last year, I would bike past a herd of big-horned Italian water buffalo, which was a rather bizarre sight in the Waikato.
I am all for vege gardens but it has been hard work this over-extended summer--mulching regularly, and hanging on to a hose at least twice a day--as well as new pests to deal with. I have been wondering how the rabbit population has been doing, what with not much more than emaciated cow or sheep legs to gnaw on.
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Well, if I ever win Lotto I would want to become your primary sponsor!
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Russell: without getting too technical could you advise us how we can add Freeview to a Sky digital setup, as I can't get much sense out of the folk at Freeview. Otherwise I will have to peer through the lounge windows of complete strangers, to see TVNZ7!
To get historical (musically speaking): I have always thought that The Pretty Things and The Kinks were more interesting than either the Beatles or the Stones. The Beatles were steered by McCartney into thoroughly middle-brow/fluff territory and the Stones have become over-stayers. But I don't want to start a fight!
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A right bit of strident jingoism, that Youtube clip from Canada. He does undermine his argument a little by his reference to 'treated them as salves'!!!
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Interesting discussions on Tibet. In respect of a neighbouring country (Nepal), at the time of Ed Hillary's death that there was absolutely no mention of the activities of Maoist rebels in that country, and how they are effectively wrecking the country. So there is imperialism and imperialism...
For something completely different: did anyone else go to the BluesFest in Whitianga this Easter? It was an odd mix of artists and rather badly organised eg 70 minutes delay for Wilco, who really were the best thing there. Buddy Guy was electric (so to speak) but his act seemed rather over-rehearsed and on automatic. And will anyone admit going to the BoganFest in Wellington?