I knew it would probably take something big to get me back to blogging, and of course, it turns out to be politics - more to the point, my absolute inability to tolerate any longer the infuriating Australian political scene in the lead-up to the federal election ( Read more... )

I have been following with increasing agitation the moves being made by the right wing parties in Australia and New Zealand to cut back social welfare. In New Zealand, the governing National Party unveiled a raft of changes in March, while in Australia, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party, Tony Abbott, has been mouthing off about ( Read more... )

So, it's now the wee hours of the eighth of November. Election day in New Zealand. I cast my vote yesterday, and I am disappointed that my last permanent address in New Zealand falls three properties within the Mana electorate. Mana is safe Labour, while Otaki, the electorate on the other side of the Wharemauku Stream, is the most marginal seat ( Read more... )

BARACK OBAMA IS THE FORTY-FOURTH MOTHERFUCKING PRESIDENT OF THE USA ( Read more... )

Wow, it's finally here. America votes. It's kind of ridiculous how much I care, really, and kind of ridiculous that I almost feel disenfranchised by the fact I cannot vote, being a New Zealander and all. It comes from how intently I have followed the campaign, and the fact that I study Political Science - the election has simply been inescapable ( Read more... )

I have long since made it apparent that I think Sarah Palin has the intellectual abilities and mental capacity of a rotting turnip. But now I think I have been tipped sufficiently far enough over the edge and past the point of frustration that a rant is in order. Sarah Palin is doing her best to lead an anti-intellectual crusade by a wing of the ( Read more... )

Well, I just tuned into the American vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. I think the conclusion is pretty bloody clear: Biden steamrollered Palin. By any standard of politics or debating that you wish to apply, Palin was quite simply incompetent. Let's assess them individually ( Read more... )

Good old state sovereignty. As soon as you get any sort of international dispute, sure as anything you'll get diplomats and commentators alike prattling on about "territorial integrity" and the like. After all, the inviolability of state sovereignty and the principle of non-intervention in a state's domestic affairs are accepted norms within ( Read more... )

After the interlude of my previous entry and a week or so of inactivity, I’d now like to return to this series, focusing on the potential for serious and substantial rail transport revitalisation in New Zealand. My first two entries focused on the upper and lower North Island. This entry shall look at the South Island, with Christchurch and ( Read more... )

Welcome back to the 2008 Shit Boring Entry Series, addressing the urgent need to fundamentally rethink transport planning, with specific focus upon New Zealand. Yesterday's entry introduced the series and discussed the potential of rail transport in the upper North Island. Today's entry shall bring those considerations to the lower North Island, ( Read more... )