Never transit through Shanghai-Pudong

1020 – Descent (ascent) into Hades. The terminal boasts a giant billboard picturing blue sky.

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Media media media

I have to disagree with my mate Rumi. I don’t think the media are our friends and I’d rather they weren’t.

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Wilful ignorance

Confession statement: I’m a frustrated political junkie – frustrated because, as a particular type of public servant, I’m not allowed to participate in democracy the way I would like… i.e. not openly.

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Burger off!

Yeah, I’m about to get a little preachy about Burgers…

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The terror of procreation part II

We had always decided that we would be coming home to have children. Hats off to our fellow Kiwis who are doing the hard yards raising a child in London – I do not envy you.

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The Terror of procreation

Part one of an occasional series (when I’ve had enough sleep to enable typing).

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Everyone loves a Royal Tour (even if they don’t much like Royalty).

This Royal tour is a funny thing. Latest polling seems to suggest that as a country, we want to move on from the Monarchy. Republic NZ’s polling shows that only 46% of those polled wanted the Next British monarch to become King of New Zealand.

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Facts are Sacred. Comment is (of variable quality)

Blogs were supposed to offer new hope for journalism. The days of the churnalists/repeaters/lamestream media were numbered, to be replaced by the purity and investigative depth of citizen-journalists. 

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We don’t need your…

So there are times when I look at countries with written constitutions with a wry smile. Look at you United States, with your archaic second amendment, or you Fiji, with your vote-for-your-own-race electoral system.

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On Credulity (and manners)

Holidays are fine things. They provide an opportunity to rest, and (if you are so inclined) to reflect. As a result of experience during my most recent break, I’m currently reflecting on whether my disdain for woo makes me useful, or just rude and intolerant.

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Talking about my Generation (and failures thereof)

This November, in preparation for the return of my lovely wife and her precious cargo, my father very kindly helped me to paint the inside of my house.

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Ain’t no party like a black is white, up is down, wrong is right tea party

Some of you may share my frustration at what’s going on in the US. I’m hugely disturbed that the country that serves as the anchor for the world economy can be brought to its knees by a handful of loons.

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All of the “Back in my London Days” whining (out of the way in one easy post).

The time has come for me to return from Blighty to the land of my birth. I’m excited – I love green more than I love grey. I love the fresh smell of Wellington harbour more than I love the open-sewer smell of the Thames.

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None so blind

Our history is littered with them: 1 February 1981, 23 July 1994, 24 June 1995… days when despite our inimitable spirit, never-say-die attitude, fair-play mentality and ability to string together clichés, we were struck down by the forces of evil

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