It was with a strong sense of national pride that I watched New Zealander Bret McKenzie collect an Oscar this week.  Best known for the 2007 Grammy that he and fellow Kiwi Jemaine Clement earned for their Flight of the Concords antics; this time the award is for his song-writing talent in the recently released Muppet . . . → Read More: Man or Muppet?

It was a normal Wednesday morning, and I was getting ready for work in our apartment bathroom with a big, black cross on my forehead, trying to give myself a pep talk. “Should I leave this on or take it off? This is dumb. I’m washing it off. No, wait! I’m not. Ok. Deep breath. I’m . . . → Read More: My Ash Wednesday Experiment, by Rachel Kitchens

This is a sombre day for New Zealanders.

It is the one-year anniversary of the second major earthquake in Christchurch.  While miraculously there were no deaths in the quake of September 2010, the toll from 22 February 2011 reached 185 – four of the dead have never been identified.

Christchurch Cathedral

Watching some of the coverage that began . . . → Read More: Earthquakes and Ash

The first 2012 entry for our “serves-you-right-for-trying-to-gild-the-lily” file:

The British Advertising Standards Authority recently forced the world’s biggest cosmetics and beauty company, L’Oreal, to withdraw an advertisement featuring a digitally enhanced image of English actress Rachel Weisz.

It is a matter of debate whether anyone needs to be enhanced in such a manner, but I would have thought . . . → Read More: On Beauty…

Yes it’s a little belated, but after the busy month of summer conferences most of us are back in the office this week – a little tired, but happy.  We hope the New Year has started well for you.  If you were at conference with us in NZ or Australia – thanks for attending and contributing . . . → Read More: Happy New Year!