The title of this week’s blog is noticeably more profound and meaningful than the usual terrible puns and inside jokes which traditionally headline these posts. 

The 19th of August 2009 was designated by the United Nations as World Humanitarian Day thereby ending strife and war forever. 

It is the game that literally stops a nation. Every year for the past 45 years, Americans have sat down in record numbers to watch some football, drink some beer and eat some wings.

It is that time of the year when everyone, with the exceptions of teachers and occasionally wharf workers at the Port of Auckland, is back at work. 

Welcome to the first Malthouse blog of 2012.  This humble yet faintly endearing blog began way back on 26 August 2008 with the first post appearing under the prescient title of “the constant pursuit of hoppiness.” 

Christmas 2011 is rapidly approaching and for most working people that means slightly awkward office parties,