Posts by Richard Aston
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Seriously though, some people still see fit to flog the dead unicorn known as the Domino Theory (TM).
Now that was a lovely old theory I feel quite nostalgic even hearing that phrase again – I remember it well. Communist world domination one country at a time.
Compare to the vastly more sophisticated Islamic Terrorist/Axis of evil theory the Domino theory seems almost quaint now.
These days we get our paranoia served up through a multi channel multi media all encompassing “it could be anywhere” scary monsters – your unpatriotic if you don’t buy it – mania.
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The dilemma faced by officers and soldiers in those positions is not something to envy, especially for someone who is fighting to protect the freedom to tell the truth.
True its a real dilemma
The idea they are fighting to protect the freedom to tell the truth is a whole other debate. I wouldn’t make the link myself .
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On another note how the hell did you get Sir Bruce up for this ?
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Fantastic television Russell ! It could have descended into a slamming match but while it was ..robust.. the truth came out to use David Beatson's words.
You did a good job holding it as you did and of course framing final question and allowing Sir Bruce the time to say what was need to reveal the truth. -
I went to visit my newborn grandson on Monday, in Auckland Hospital.
And it snowed !
Magic stuff holding him as the snow fell lightly outside.A month ago we asked his 3 yr sister what his name should be, she said Santa.
It weirdly makes sense now. -
Hard News: London's Burning, in reply to Tom Semmens,
The abject terror engendered in the middle class and the political elites by this rioting by the filthly virmin in their midst explains for us today the conditions that led to transportation for stealing a loaf of bread or hanging for pinching a monogrammed hankerchief.
Exactly! They can't export their social problems to Australia, US and New Zealand any more.
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Hard News: London's Burning, in reply to Russell Brown,
Russell - excellent reporting from the field !
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@ Rich and Ben re Dynamics of crowds - fascinating stuff but I am not sure if we can always assign negative/evil/demonic values to this dynamic i.e. not sure if crowd dynamics are inherently evil. Surely it’s the same dynamic at work in revivalist meetings, huge sports events, religious events , political meetings, the military, street clean ups the list goes on. Some of these could be experienced as cathartic and positive by many.
We generally behave ourselves and serve the “social contract” but when the shit filling our lives gets too much what do we do? Get out or band together. When we do band together what deeper elements of the collective unconscious will emerge? -
The city is heavily divided over this, here's some typical comments from people I know in London ( not working class)
"Huw was told while working with in London today "Your going to have to leave the job and get out, riots due in Hammersmith and Fulham" .... Can't the arses just go out and get jobs instead of taking from tax payers!!!! "
and
" A Message to all the rioters ..........You wanna be big men and fight to the death, well get your sorry little arses on the next plane to Afghanistan and stand alongside real men, they're called soldiers and they are fighting a war unlike you bunch of pathetic wastes of space!!"Scary .
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Hard News: London's Burning, in reply to Andre Alessi,
As a blackberry user I suddenly feel very alone here in NZ. Lots of messaging apps but it was built on normal email that's all. Ironically London stockmarket traders were the big users initially. Of interest is all blackberry email ( except corporates) runs through the one server in Canada. Local ISPs don't control the email side.
The well designed tactile keys would make it a lot easier to type as you are running from the cops - so ideal for riots then.