Yearly Archives: 2011
RIP: Harry Morgan

Sad news today about the passing of actor Harry Morgan.
Like actors such as Denholm Elliot and Brian Dennehy, Morgan never seemed to land that elusive starring role, but that didn’t matter. His talents as a character actor were always impressive and he often stole the limelight.
I remember Harry Morgan best from shows such as Dragnet and made-for-tv movies such as Support your local sheriff.
Election with Selection
Well, the general election is over.
It was pretty much like elections everywhere; largely a duel of wits between unarmed opponents. No answers, but lots of different names for the problems.
I therefore present a New Zealand political addendum to the fully encompassing “Religions of the world“
All Blacks Take the Cup
For the second time in 24 years, New Zealand are the RWC champions, after a nail-biting final against France at Eden Park this evening.
Well done ABs! France is never a pushover and has a history of upsets. They’ve also been RWC silver-medal winners 3 times, so it’s a mistake to underestimate them.
Fortunately, the ABs didn’t make the mistake of complacency but it was still a damn close-run thing. Still, victory is victory and for the next 4 years at least, the cup is back where it belongs!
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Walking with Dinosaurs

Decided to take a short break away to Auckland to see the much-publicized Walking with Dinosaurs show at the Vector Arena.
After checking in to the nearby Barry Court motel (handy to the arena and great harbour views) and having a bit of a stroll around, it was time to join a steady stream of people with tickets in their hands and kids in tow.
Flip Grater days

Photo Credit: Justus Nussbaum (Own work) (CC-BY-SA-3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Last winter, I wrote a review of Flip Grater’s latest album of the time, called: While I’m awake I’m at war.
It was a fairly dark and stormy night, all electric flashes and distant rumbles. I had a good fire going, a whiskey in my hand and my feet up in a comfortable chair, listening to a few of the album tracks, while the rain fell in squalls on the tin roof. It was bliss! … more
Rant:History Repeating
Last night I had a dream.
More of a nightmare really; I dreamed that I answered my front door, only to find a bloke wearing a fake tan, a blue rosette and a plastic surgery smile that wouldn’t look out of place on an American home shopping ad, standing on my front porch.
Being the suave urbane sophisticate that I am, I should have asked the canvasser if he liked sex and travel (“then f*ck off!”). But the subconscious being what it is, I was forced to endure a 10-minute national party infomercial, starring John Key, along with an assorted supporting cast of the usual players, Muppets one and all.



![Phil Goff (Opposition Leader - Labour). Photo: By Policy Network (Phil Goff) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Phil Goff](/images/Blog/philgoff.jpg)
![John Key (NZ Prime Minister - National Party). Photo: By United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons John Key](/images/Blog/johnkey.jpg)

