A contentious issue in the Australian election was illegal migration, the party leaders competing for the harshest tactics to deal with it, writes Bob Jones.

We live in an unprecedented age of offence-seeking, writes Bob Jones.

Perhaps the letters editor publishes particularly stupid opinions for readers' entertainment, writes Bob Jones. Conspiracists always being a particular source of delight.

We are developing a world of halfwits, writes Bob Jones. Much worse than cellphones is computer addiction, which is turning many into zombies, living a lonely existence of marriage to a cyberspace world.

Recently, to much mirth, the capital's new Anglican Bishop despoiled his lovely cathedral's entrance by residing there in a wooden crate.

Cartoonists moaned when Rowling became Prime Minister in 1974, being unable to caricature him.

Bob Jones isn't impressed by the 'hysterical over-the-top' reaction to a judge's comments from a trial for robbery and indecent assault on two German tourists.

Bob Jones is gobsmacked at the actions of Wayne and Sharon, who set up a website aimed at swapping goods.

I laughed out loud when I read a Wellington woman's naive newspaper complaint about television's failure to cover the Black Ferns women's rugby team.

We don't need two kidneys. The donor operation is not onerous and the odds of the remaining one failing are minuscule, writes Bob Jones.

If it was my choice, I'd rip out all the native plants and replace them with aesthetically superior deciduous trees, writes Bob Jones.

The fact is we're badly designed, for in a perfect world Peter Pan-like children ideally would never grow up, writes Bob Jones.

A frenzied hysteria arose in Wellington following the "big one" two weeks ago.

We're all grateful to nurses, doctors and surgeons when we need them and survive their attempts to kill us, writes Bob Jones.

A 10-year-old boy, accidentally smashed from a blow to the head with a baseball bat has developed Einstein-like mathematical powers, writes Bob Jones.

I'm bewildered by the obsessional use of cellphones; the constant telephoning and message-sending. I'm flabbergasted by Facebook, writes Bob Jones.

You'd think there was a civil war raging in Wellington, writes Bob Jones. "At its root lies a single factor, namely envy of Auckland's population growth and commercial expansion."

There are numerous office workers bearing $5 mugs of coffee, despite most offices providing free coffee, writes Bob Jones. "It's their money, but don't tell me about hardship in making ends meet or saving."

Being military-free would be something to be truly proud of, writes Bob Jones. "If the Aussies and Americans don't like it, well, bad luck, they'll get over it."

Feel some pity for hitherto obscure MP Aaron Gilmore whose hopes and dreams lie in ashes, albeit through self-immolation, writes Sir Bob Jones.

Periodically someone or something is described as a national treasure.

Sooner or later a foreign journalist will research our tourist crimes history and write a sensational account, writes Bob Jones.

One can giggle at the twisted iron behind large reception desks, supplied by wide boy so-called art consultants, but ultimately it's their money to waste, writes Bob Jones.

History shows that minority parties entering into coalitions with major parties are decimated at the next election, writes Bob Jones. One can only speculate why. .

Saving for the proverbial rainy day is illogical, after all, if it comes there goes your savings while if it doesn't, you've simply wasted spending power. Insurance adequately covers unexpected contingencies.

If Auckland's housing woes can in part be laid at the door of residential investors as alleged, simply ban them, writes Bob Jones.

It probably sounds silly but the polls no longer matter as they did under first past the post, writes Bob Jones.

In 1968, when friends learned I was off to India, they begged me to bring back Indian newspapers to see what they had often read about in incredulous newspaper articles.