Pex Lives: A Doctor Who Podcast
James Murphy and Kevin Burns are both Certified Minor Internet Personalities with a shared love of Doctor Who. Explore the history of the show with them, as they watch classic serials and chat with each other each month about them. Each month, the pair will pick a classic serial to watch and then break down, exploring the themes, characters and production of the given story. There will also be jokes. Sometimes they may barely mention the show. New episodes every month.
37: The Mind Robber, or, don't worry about fiction. Hang on to real life.

Kevin and James are back to talk some all-time great Doctor Who, the passing of Fidel Castro, communism, capitalism, childhood mindscapes, the United States' inexorable ride to authoritarian xenophobic government and a little state-of-the-show musing. 

Direct download: mindrobber.mp3
Category:Second Doctor -- posted at: 12:25pm UTC
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Kevin is joined in the Pex Lives recording bunker with friends-of-the-show Gene and Kim to begin answering the question: after the election, what is to be done?
 
A statement From Gene, Kim and Kevin:
 
We should not only organize on the basis of reacting to events as they transpire, but we must take the initiative and not allow them to keep us on the back foot. We will defend our existing gains by demanding more, by rejecting complacency. We need to build a movement around those demands in order to create the conditions for the new society. We should not stand for the mere restoration of liberalism, but for supplanting it. We should seek to secure not just the familiar rights, but real liberation founded on material equality. The immediate, short-term struggles must be understood in light of the long struggle. We have to demand what they cannot deliver. 
 
Amelioration is our priority, but we must not substitute reformism for reform. we have no interest in rescuing the Democratic Party from itself. We can use the party for as much as it is useful, but we must remember it is not a neutral tool, and neither is the state. These are organs of the ruling class. Their very structure presupposes rule by the capitalist class. So we must take care.
 
We don’t have all the answers. We can see the broad sweep, but We're just as disoriented as anyone. We may come across as alarmist in the podcast. We don't mean to. We think we should prepare for the worst and consider what we’d do if it came to that, but we can't tell the future, and there are reasons to be optimistic. 
 
We also don't want to get anybody killed or hurt. Assessing risk and figuring out what you can do—that’s not for us or anyone to do for you. Just remember that whatever you can contribute will be useful, and stay safe. Your local organizations will probably have better ideas than we do.
 
Oh, and one last thing: a shoutout to @PissPigGrandDad, who’s fighting for the revolution in Rojava. Solidarity with the YPG.
 
Links:
 
-Where Does the Left Go From Here? Jezebel. Particularly check out Roqayah Chamseddine's insights.
-Interview with @PissPigGranddad. Civil Defence Units.
Direct download: 01_-_What_is_to_be_Done.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:42am UTC
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Pex Lives 2016 Election Special

Kevin and James talk Trump, Clinton, Bernie, Labour, PiL, the Specials, and a little more. 

Direct download: Pex_Lives_Election_Special.mp3
Category:Gallimaufrey -- posted at: 10:28am UTC
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This week/month/day/whatever, I'm joined by Kit Power to chat about two Stephen King novels, The Dead Zone and The Running Man, and their respective film adaptations.  Kit and I think these movies have some application to issues of the day.  See what you think.

Direct download: Shabcast_27_-_2016_US_Presidential_Election_Special.mp3
Category:Shabcast -- posted at: 9:27am UTC
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