Bits and pieces

When my mother went into labour with me my father dropped her off at the hospital on the way to rugby practice. Dean Barker's wife isn't expecting is she?

The Muliagas were entitled to (and reportedly getting) $279 a week in WFF tax credits. That's like having a job and getting a benefit. But still the PM wants more done for "vulnerable" people.

Australians apparently almost exclusively blame mothers, especially welfare mothers, for their children's obesity. Ms Malik said many articles implicitly pitched responsible mothers against "neglectful refrigerator mothers made soft by welfarism". But isn't the stuff that comes out of the fridge mostly good for you? Are they neglecting the fridge or their children?

In 2003 only 11.5 percent of prisoners were gang members. Now one quarter are. At this rate by around 2014 the prisons will be 100 percent filled with gang members. Still. Not to worry. Tariana Turia told us not all gang members are criminals.

Don't you miss Richard Prebble serving it up to the the government?