blog on December 19th, 2009

Last time I looked it was October and birthdays were looming, and now it’s suddenly the middle of December. Oh s**t.
Christmas comes but once a year, and bloody good thing too. It’s crept up on me like the presence of an old flatulent dog, and with just a few days to go I’ve done diddly [...]

Continue reading about Argh! Five more sleeps till Santa

blog on December 15th, 2009

Affluent Asian couples are trying something different to impress their friends and family.
Couples from Singapore and Taiwan are travelling to New Zealand for a wedding photo shoot. The photos are then presented at the wedding to provide an unusual feature.
A lack of distinctive locations, lower air fares, and the influence of Lord of the Rings [...]

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blog on December 6th, 2009

I sit despondent on a rainy afternoon, musing on the state of New Zealand cricket.
We have just lost the second test against a less than awe inspiring Pakistan lineup, who we restricted to 264 and 239 in their two innings. Not a huge mountain to ascend, one would think, until one realises that NZ [...]

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blog on December 2nd, 2009

If your power bill has recently gone up, and you’ve just set up a home office, have a think about your office equipment.
A typical home office might have the following:
* Desktop computer comprising CPU and monitor, plus keyboard and mouse, maybe speakers
* Laptop(s)
* Printer
* Fax machine
* Telephone(s)
Computers
Back in the old days of mainframes, it was [...]

Continue reading about Home office equipment and energy use

blog on November 17th, 2009

With increasing concern over diminishing natural spaces, an article in today’s paper gives me real hope. What a wonderful idea it would be to incorporate nature into our indoor spaces, or indeed, integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. Perhaps this is just further human interference in the natural order of things, or maybe it’s a way [...]

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blog on November 11th, 2009

There have been a number of great inventions in human history – fire, the wheel, the little black dress – and one that stands tall amongst the rest is the telephone.
Historically, the government has provided the phone systems as part of the national infrastructure. These government departments were eventually privatised into the monoliths of [...]

Continue reading about The changing telecoms landscape

blog on October 20th, 2009

The recession chugs on, or is finished, depending who you talk to, people are still out of jobs, home loan rates are going up, but the world hasn’t ended. A bunch of kids, staff and parents are happy after another successful holiday programme. But sadly for my dearest readers, you haven’t been able to enjoy [...]

Continue reading about Poking the borax at rugby union

blog on September 29th, 2009

Air New Zealand Fashion week (second half).
Photos courtesy Air New Zealand Fashion Week/Michael Ng.

Continue reading about Air New Zealand Fashion Week: part 2

blog on September 28th, 2009

The New Zealand economy has experienced growth for the first period in over a year. According to the economists, the recession is over. But for many people, hard times are just beginning.
There are numerous families where there isn’t much leeway in the monthly budget, and if expenses increase, or income decreases, a credit crisis [...]

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blog on September 26th, 2009

It’s quite a week for fashion and the fantastic in New Zealand. As well as the prestigious Fashion Week (more pictures from that later), we also have the Montana World of Wearable Art, an unashamed expression of the incredible.
So, here are some pictures…

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