These "apologies" Seem to Be Catching on

From the BBC, four days ago: Culture Secretary Maria Miller has apologised to MPs for her attitude towards an inquiry into her expenses.   The Commons Committee on Standards ordered her to repay £5,800 to cover over-claiming of mortgage expenses after she failed to cut her claims as interest rates fell.  It cleared her of making false expenses claims, but said her submission of "incomplete" evidence to the inquiry had breached the MPs' code of conduct. The MP said the matter was now over. She said she "fully" accepted the committee's conclusions and apologised "unreservedly" to the House of Commons.  From the BBC, today: An emotional Oscar Pistorius has apologised to the family of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on the first day of his evidence at his murder trial.  In a trembling voice, he said he was "trying to protect" her and said he could not imagine the family's pain. Mr Pistorius said he suffered "terrible nightmares" and often woke up smelling Ms Steenkamp's blood.  Prosecutors say he killed her in February 2013 after an argument. He says he mistook her for an intruder. The athlete told Ms Steenkamp's relatives that there "hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family".