Author Archives: Mark

There’s a pretty good summary of the Republican-controlled US Congress in this week’s Time magazine cover story (also at time.com) – To win votes back home, lawmakers in session have been spending like sailors on leave, producing the biggest budget … Continue reading →

The Fleet has a new member: Welcome to the family!

Feeling a little pleased with myself this morning – I ran 8.7 miles (14 km), the furthest I’ve ever run in my life. And the time – 1:25:17, while not sizzling by any means at an average pace of 9:47/mile, … Continue reading →

I watched a DVD of the movie Duane Hopwood last week. I’m very pleased I did – I thought it was excellent. It starred David Schwimmer from Friends. I didn’t expect him to be great in a dramatic role, but … Continue reading →

I’ve been tremendously busy for the last few weeks and haven’t had much time for blogging, which is a shame, since I’ve been seeing plenty of things I feel inclined to comment about. One thing I’ve been sitting on for … Continue reading →

Interesting quote from Mike Moore (this one, not this one or this one) in the NZ Herald. “Proportional representation has acted as a muzzle on free speech and the logic of serious debate, scrutiny and evidence. The Maori Party, even … Continue reading →

The Sydney Morning Herald reported a couple of days ago that Japan has stolen (through illegal fishing) 6,000-18,000 tonnes of southern bluefin tuna a year for the past twenty years -

More from the Sydney Morning Herald on the treatment of Afghani refugees in detention by Australia -

This is cool – The Time Fountain. Found on engadget.com

The NZ Herald has an article today quoting various political figures claiming that Auckland needs to become a single city (a single local government) in order to become a “world class city.” I have no problem with the idea of … Continue reading →