Author Archives: Mark

Where You May And May Not Take Your Vacation

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Mark

The Australian Tourism Minister, Martin Ferguson, is quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying that Australians saving vacation time for overseas trips is a “disgrace” and that “We’ve got to change our own mindset [and get people to realise … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Politics | Leave a comment

“Reportedly”, i.e. “Not” – Part 2

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Mark

Seven days ago, the taxpayer-funded global news-gathering resources of TVNZ brought us this important news – Hayden Panettiere is reportedly dating Mark Sanchez. … She was spotted with the 24-year-old New York Jets quarterback in Laguna Hills, Caliornia yesterday where … Continue reading →

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NZ Greens Scapegoat Australian Banks

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Mark

The NZ Herald reports that the Green Party is criticizing Prime Minister John Key for lacking “the courage to tackle the big Australian banks which have saddled New Zealanders with billions of dollars of debt in pursuit of profits.” They … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand, Politics | Leave a comment

“Reportedly”, i.e. “Not”

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Mark

Couldn’t quite find a way to fit this into Twitter… From NewstalkZB and dutifully copied verbatim by the NZ Herald: Australian tennis great Ken Rosewall is reportedly in a fight for his life after being admitted to the stroke unit … Continue reading →

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Making Up The News

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Mark

Few things annoy me as much as when the news media engage in speculation about the motives behind things people do and say with minimal substantive basis on which to do so. Two examples have emerged in the last few … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Media, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More on Krugman and Bonds

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Mark

I commented a few days ago on Paul Krugman’s views about the current state of the bond market and mentioned the fact that Pimco has sold all of it’s US government debt, while the Federal Reserve is the largest buyer … Continue reading →

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Cognitive Dissonance

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Mark

Today in thehill.com – The couple issued a joint statement Monday saying they are already living apart… In their statement, the couple said they plan to raise their four children together. From Wikipedia: Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused … Continue reading →

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Paul Krugman on the Bond Market

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Mark

In his latest op-ed in the NY Times, Paul Krugman makes some worthwhile comments about the seriousness of persistent unemployment. However I was struck by this claim – And, for what it’s worth, actual investors — people putting real money … Continue reading →

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We Don’t Decide How the Laws Operate. Except When We Do.

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Mark

I couldn’t help noticing the following quote from President Obama in politico.com this morning – We’re a nation of laws. We don’t individually make our own decisions about how the laws operate. The context is an article about the case … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

45% of American’s Pay No Income Tax in 2010

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Mark

The Miami Herald reported yesterday the results of a nationwide McClatchy-Marist poll showing that American’s are 2-1 in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy. Coincidentally, a number of other news outlets reported yesterday a study by the Tax Policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Leave a comment