“Spies and Villains, Heroes and Heroines: Russian Characters in Spy Thrillers from 1880-2000"
EarthDiverse is pleased to announce a new Literature course entitled “Spies and Villains, Heroes and Heroines: Russian Characters in Spy Thrillers from 1880-2000" with Jillene Bydder.
This course is a survey of spy thriller fiction published between 1880 and 2000. It sets the books in their historical context and shows how their depiction of Russian/Soviet characters as heroes or as villains reflects the politics of the time in which the books were published. Spy thrillers also document our own social history and reveal many important and/or quirky issues for us to think about. For instance, why were so few thrillers with Russian settings or characters published during the world wars when Russia/the Soviet Union was our ally?
This course is offered in-person at the EarthDiverse Centre in Hamilton, New Zealand on Wednesdays from 11:00am-1:00pm (NZ time) beginning 3 August, or on-line (live-streamed) via Zoom from anywhere in the world. Some representative time zone equivalents are:
• Honolulu, Hawai’i: 1:00-3:00pm, Tue 2 Aug
• US Pacific: 4:00-6:00pm, Tue 2 Aug
• US Eastern: 7:00-9:00pm, Wed 3 Aug
• London, UK: 12:00-2:00am, Wed 3 Aug
• Bangkok, Thailand: 6:00-8:00am, Wed 3 Aug
• Singapore: 7:00-9:00am, Wed 3 Aug
• Sydney, Australia: 9:00-11:00am, Wed 3 Aug
This course is offered weekly for 8 consecutive weeks.
Register now on our website and check out all of our other courses!
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.9% Human-centred experience and communication
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15% Critical thinking
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29.6% Resilience and adaptability
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2.5% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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