Every so often, usually in my ANZAPA zine, I write an extended essay/rant on topics that appear to be important to me at the time. For most of 2002-3, those essays tended to be choleric discourses on the perfidy of the federal government and its senior servants. At some stage I may start back-filling this index with examples from that era.
The more recent essays, and ones I wrote some years ago for a company website, are published here, together with a piece of fluff in which I solve one of the more puzzling mysteries of The Lord of the Rings.
Additionally, there is the six-part trip report from our 2004 pilgrimage to Italy and Spain.
October 2009 - Red skies in the morning ...: climate and the economy ... and a one-legged pole vaulter
August 2009 - Kev, Barry and Lance: contemporary politics and sport
June 2009 - It's a crime: local moral panic and events in the US
April 2009 - Apocalypse now ...: ... by finance, weather, millennium ...
February 2009 - Freedom amd weather: Random early year thoughts
December 2008 - Yes he can: An American winner and a balancing loser
October 2008 - Shock and awe: America picks its gladiators
August 2008 - Foreskins galore: A relic for the ages
June 2008 - Yowza, yowza, yowza: The marathon dance continues
April 2008 - Under a long white cloud: A quick trip to New Zealand
April 2008 - Politics there and here: Some eerie coincidences
February 2008 - Presidential Primaries 2008: What an odd way to find a leader
December 2007 - The other boring man wins: thoughts onn the 2007 election and a few other things
October 2007 - Reasons for optimism: a looming federal election and the polls
August 2007 - In theory: some new ideas and an old whinger
June 2007 - Payback and distortion: computers, euphemism, poltics, sport and a conspiracy theory or two
April 2007 - Error and trial: the NSW election and David Hicks
February 2007 - Random new year thoughts: Coffee, music, climate change and Buster
December 2006 - 2006 midterm elections: American politics - and some Aussie
October 2006 - The Pope Speaks: You Can't Make Omelets ...
August 2006 - From the oval office: the world cup and other sporting delights.
June 2006 - Non Miles Gloriosus: the rise of the vainglorious chicken hawk.
April 2006 - From the Oval Office: the worst sports coverage on television.
February 2006 - Reading the Riot Act: why Australians just can't get race riots right.
December 2005 - Good News Week: the ups and downs of the world and the football World Cup.
October 2005 - Bloods!: the Swans win the lot.
August 2005 - Blow up: thoughts on the London bombings.
June 2005 - Papal bull: a Pope dies, as do some others.
April 2005 - Liberals flop again: a party in crisis.
February 2005 - Farce and tragedy: the silly season, the tsunami and Australia's favorite books.
December 2004 - Right-wing triumphs: 2 elections and some right-wing hypocrisy.
April 2004 - D'oh: A Dear: A Homer-sexual rant.
February 2004 - O captain! My captain!: Steve Waugh retires.
December 2003 - Urbane Consolidation: On Sydney's real estate.
October 2003 - Howard the Duck: Reflections on the Prime Miniature and Iraq.
July 2003 - Road Trip: The Occidental Tourists see more of Oz.
1999 - A Font of Information: Thinking about computers.
1979-1988 - The Great Gandalf Murder Mystery.
Jack and Cath's 2004 pilgrimage report
August 2005 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the sixth: Highways on the meseta - Salamanca, Segovia and Madrid
June 2005 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the fifth: On northern roads - Asturias, Cantabria and on to Burgos
April 2005 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the fourth: Santiago and Galicia
December 2004 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the third: Gaudi and Barcelona
October 2004 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the second: Pisa and the Cinque Terre
August 2004 - Pilgrimage 2004 - fit the first: northern Italy