On Saturday morning Mike Perham cast off from Portsmouth, England, thus beginning his attempt to sail solo around the world.

UN News Centre, 27 September 2008 – "The world’s estimated 1.1 billion Muslims deserve specific representation on an expanded Security Council, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister said today, calling for any reform of the 15-member body United Nations body to consider the need for a variety of constituencies as well as greater geographic distribution."

SOLO-International Op-Ed: Milk Scandal Hypocrisy

September 27, 2008

HONG KONG (Reuters) – 'Up to five percent of infants in Shanghai could have kidney stones after drinking tainted milk formula, media reported on Friday, as publicity surrounding the scandal was muted by China’s manned space launch.'

That the response to the Chinese tainted milk scandal has been muted is true.

SOLO-International Op-Ed: In Defence of the Businessman

September 23, 2008

When looking back at the financial crisis of 2008 you can be sure that most people won’t be thinking about failures of the market or whether that market was truly free.

SOLO-NZ Press Release: NZDF—Can’t Fight, Float or Fly!

September 17, 2008

Recently, the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae wrote, "Those who doubt the courage, commitment, comradeship or integrity of the men and women of New Zealand Defence Force are misinformed."

Most of you will be aware of the recent troubles in Thailand. Some of you may be interested in the depth and nature of the crisis. Here is my take.

SOLO-NZ Press Release: Love the Combo!

September 11, 2008

According to news reports, McDonald's Fuel-Up Combo offers 10 cents a litre off fuel at Mobil service stations when buying a Big Mac, medium fries, medium soft drink and a hot apple pie for $9.50.

'The Waitangi Tribunal received about 1000 new historic claims yesterday as applicants rushed to beat a midnight deadline. Tribunal director Darrin Sykes today said the last minute flood of claims pushed the total figure received since August 1 to about 2000.'

‘The pay gap between the rich and poor has shrunk for the first time in 20 years, according to a new report on the nation's social wellbeing.’ This, says a lazy, stupid, journalist, a dreary professor and an envy-ridden poverty activist is a good thing.

The Ministry of Social Development’s  - te fucking purongo oranga tangata - Social Report for 2008 is out.

And it's art.

SOLO-International Op-Ed: Quintana—Wimpy, Ineffectual, Pompous and Stupid

Philip Duck
August 19, 2008

Tomas Ojea Quintana has been appointed the new UN human rights rapporteur for Burma.

“Statistics New Zealand has published a paper acknowledging for the first time ‘emerging interest’ in sexual orientation and behaviour.” 

I guess, when I think about it, I am surprised it has taken them so long. However, it seems that after a long campaign by gay activists that the Statistics Department is to begin a push to have sexual orientation included in the 2016 census.

 Now that got your attention didn't it?

has received the report that she commissioned on N.Z petrol prices.

"Public servants earn more than private sector workers and have a "warm glow" from a belief that their work is useful to society."

Does anyone have a problem with vote buying or vote selling?

  Ernest Hemingway has long been my favourite writer. I love his short stories and his novels, especially "Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls."  And, "The Old Man and the Sea" is truly the most beautiful book I have read.  

Greetings all.