Author Archives: Mark

Apple v Exodus

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Mark

I was disappointed to read this week that Apple has removed from its App Store an application developed by Exodus International aimed at people seeking to overcome same-sex attraction. It’s no surprise that many people find such an application distasteful … Continue reading →

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Give with the Left, Take with the Right

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Mark

I haven’t lived in Australia for a few years, but I like to keep an eye on what is going on there. The NSW State Elections are coming up next weekend, with the Liberal-National Coalition challenging the incumbent Labor administration. … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Politics | Leave a comment

A Few Brief Reactions

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Mark

My rate of blogging here has fallen off somewhat alarmingly in recent weeks – though not for lack of wanting to or things I’d like to write about. I attribute the drop to several things, including the fact that I’ve … Continue reading →

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Paid Parental Leave

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Mark

MSNBC.com published an article this week citing a report by the organization Human Rights Watch that claims the US is “decades behind” other countries in having national laws guaranteeing paid parental leave. The report, entitled “Failing its Families”, describes this … Continue reading →

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The Damage Who Inflicted?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Mark

I was struck by this quote from President Obama reported in an MSNBC article today on the President’s budget proposal: “We have more work to do to live up to our promise by repairing the damage this brutal recession has … Continue reading →

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Strange Justice

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Mark

The NZ Herald reports that former National Party Member of Parliament Trevor Rogers has been jailed for failing to provide the court with design documents from a failed helicopter manufacturing company he used to own. The judge had this to … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, New Zealand | Leave a comment

Len Brown Takes the Train – Or Not

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Mark

I guess this answers the question I posed earlier about whether Len Brown would take the train to work if he didn’t have a political motivation to do so: Even with a political motivation he doesn’t take the train. The … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand, Politics, Uncategorized, Urban Design | Tagged | Leave a comment

Six and Counting…

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Mark

Jan. 25: Qantas flight QF2 from Bangkok to Sydney with 352 passengers on board was forced to turn back to Bangkok due to engine problems. Qantas “denied the airline is experiencing systemic maintenance problems.”

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So Far in January…

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Mark

Jan. 1: Qantas flight QF41 from Sydney to Jakarta returned to Sydney half an hour after take-off after the crew received a cockpit message alert. Jan. 6: Qantas flight QF430 from Melbourne to Sydney with 214 passengers on board turned … Continue reading →

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Socialized Swimming

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Mark

The NZ Herald reports that Auckland Mayor Len Brown wants to make entry to all City swimming pools free. Taxpayers (nationwide) are going into debt at a rate of NZ$300 million per week, city rates (property taxes) are projected to … Continue reading →

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