Saudi Arabia May Fall?

Now, the Houthis of Yemen have taken control of the access point to the Red Sea and a vital link to Saudi Arabia has been closed off. The Saudis now only have the Suez Canal, overland to the North, and air for resupply and exports. 

Saudi Arabia may fall. I say this because the Saudi military is pathetic. There is no fight in them, and even now they're running away, simply abandoning valuable US-made military equipment which the Houthis are happy to liberate.

Don't be surprised if you find the Saudi crown prince, MBS, turning up in Switzerland semi-permanently. 

Brief history lesson: Saudi Arabia is essentially an invention of the British. Everyone knows the legend of 'Lawrence of Arabia' - T.E. Lawrence. It is amazing that it has lasted this long, but its days appear numbered.

All Blacks Humiliating Loss

New Zealand 28 - 43 South Africa

New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks have now lost three games in a row, all of them at the hands of their old foe, South Africa. In the last 20 years, this has only happened once before, in 2022. Back then, they had two losses to Ireland, followed by a loss to South Africa.

The new All Blacks coach is Dave Rennie. He's lost three of his first seven games, a 57% win record. His predecessor also lost three games out of his first seven games, and these losses were against Argentina and twice in a row against South Africa. They have an identical win rate, but Rennie has the worse record as he's lost three in a row.

I said no good would come from allowing the New Zealand players to rule the roost. The player revolt that led to the sacking of coach, Scott Robertson, was a recipe for disaster. The team is getting worse and now look more akin to lower level sides, teams like Italy and Georgia. OK, that's a bit of a stretch but you may see my point. The All Blacks, these days, regularly cough the ball up when hard on attack, cannot complete tackles, play with a lack of skill and precision, and are generally aimless. The players often lack intelligence and choose the wrong option. 

The latest game in Baltimore in the US was officiated by Englishmen. That is, the match referee, both linesmen or assistant referees, and the video referee. Does anyone see a conflict of interest here? I certainly do; it is in the Englishmen's interest, consciously or unconsciously, to be against New Zealand. The Kiwis regularly hammer England, so their players and officials grow up biased. Referees should not share nationalities. They should mix up the nationalities to ensure objectivity. In a match like the one just played, for NZ to win, they needed to be better by a lot. That did not happen, so they lost by a lot.

The game needs new rules and that's why I support a new NFL-style global league. Players who intentionally slow the game down should be penalised. In the Baltimore game, a South African player was injured and being seen to under his own goal posts, but before the game could be restarted after a NZ score, he walked to halfway and went down, stopping the game. He was buying time and slowing the game down. C'mon, this type of behaviour is ridiculous and makes rugby look foolish.

Steve Ballmer's Intuit Dome

I'm changing my mind, somewhat, about Steve Ballmer. His stadium in Los Angeles, built at his own cost, is, apparently, a brilliant place to watch basketball. But he's now facing one full year shut out from his NBA team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Looking at the podcasts dealing with the issues, I've come to the conclusion that it is the NBA and other powerful corporate interests, taking down someone they see as a pretender.

The LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, New York Knickerbockers etc are not about to give way to the Clippers. It looks like a stitch up. Other teams in the NBA have done similar things and got no more than a slap on the wrist. 

Coastal Erosion California

Waves caused by a hurricane off the coast of California have washed many beaches away from San Diego to Los Angeles. If you examine the embedded video, you can see how development and sea walls so close to the ocean can exacerbate the effect of the waves. It means a lot of work for civil engineers.

New Zealand First Plunges in Polling

A general election will be held in New Zealand on the 7th of November, 2026. Minor government coalition partner, NZ First, has campaign hoardings up around the country, the main message being: New Zealanders First. Note, not New Zealand first, but only New Zealanders first.

They've followed that up with a policy that only Kiwi citizens can receive National Superannuation (pension). Such a policy excludes all those with permanent residence, but who still rely on their overseas passport. 

This has got to be a policy that represents the biggest act of self-harm I've yet witnessed on the campaign trail. New Zealand is an inclusive country that doesn't 'other' people. Not only that, many keep with their foreign passport as often their country of origin doesn't allow dual citizenship. They choose to keep one foot in each camp for all kinds of reasons, the principal one being they can exist in a legal sense back home. Think inheritances, property transfers and the like. 

NZ First has plummeted in two of the most recent public opinion polls. What the geniuses at NZ First failed to realise is that a lot of their voters were permanent residents with the right to vote. Now, they're not going to vote NZ First, and the party may slip below the 5% threshold under MMP and be out of parliament. 

Stupid doesn't even begin to describe NZ First. 

Are the Clippers Finished?

The SEC is now probing the Los Angeles Clippers. Woh, this is getting really big:

Steve Ballmer Penalised

Oh no, the Los Angeles Clippers are set to remain complete losers for the foreseeable future. Majority team owner, Steve Ballmer, has been suspended from all operations for one entire year. 

Here's the law firm report summarising their independent investigation: https://www.wlrk.com/docs/Report_of_Independent_Investigators_Concerning_the_LA_Clippers_and_Kawhi_Leonard.pdf

I think I can hear the Lakers laughing from here. Just sell the team Ballmer, you're never going to win anything. Ballmer, you are completely out of your depth.

Media reports: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/inside-ruse-clippers-kawhi-leonard-211519922.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bill-simmons-disbelief-clippers-steve-224402648.html

"This was the biggest punishment ever handed out in the National Basketball Association. You know all of it at this point…This was a phenomenal level of incompetence from [Steve] Ballmer and the Clippers. They have screwed up almost a decade and a half of their franchise," Simmons said on The Ringer.

Where Did Prince Harry Go Wrong in the US?

Apart from having no work in him, Prince Harry failed in the US because his entitled attitude irritates everyone, and he lacks talent. 

The tone of his voice needed to change. He sounds high pitched and too plummy. He needed to add bass and to sound more normal. An acceptable speech would be BBC-type English or Los Angeles fly over. 

There is one opportunity that was suggested to him and I wonder if he, and those around him, knew just what a good idea it was. That was the suggestion he travel around the country fixing people's flat tires. Pundits are laughing at this rubbish idea, but they know very little too it seems. Why is this a good idea? It offers a chance to engage with everyday people, to be seen as the good guy. Think of a single mother and her daughter; she cannot get the child to school and her work is 10 miles away. In steps Harry and the team. They take the car and look closely at it. They either get the car on the road all good to go, or she gets a new car, the clock is ticking. They fail to make the deadline, so there is Harry to hand over the keys to a new car, care of the people at Liberty Ford, or wherever, insurance paid for the year. Oh wow, thank you Mr Prince, you are the best.

See?

What I have described had not been done before 2022, although there had been a TV show, Pimp My Ride. But in February 2022 a YouTube channel started called Murphys Diesel. Wrecker Rick, along with his wife and daughters, travel anywhere in America to get people out of being stuck. If you're stuck, Rick will get you out, for FREE. Now, Wrecker Rick is so popular, whenever he stops to fill up at truck stops, people mob him for a picture with them in it. Everyone wants to be pictured standing next to Wrecker Rick.

I'm sure Prince Harry's father will bail him out. His wife will be shopping for the next sucker and the alleged children will find new roles as child actors. 

Stay classy America. 

Where Dolly Parton Grew Up

Dolly Parton grew up in a small cottage in the mountains of Tennessee. She became one the greatest song writers and singers of all time. We are all going to miss Dolly Parton.

US May Threaten UK over Falklands

The United Kingdom is about to find out whether it still has any balls. The US may reconsider its position regarding the Falklands, implying they may, in future, support Argentina's claim. 

The US position has been inaccurately reported for decades. The official position is that the US is neutral. In reality, when Argentina invaded the Falklands, the US tried to talk the UK out of forcefully taking the islands back. It was only after the UK crushed Argentina that the US suddenly popped up and began spouting about how they helped the British out. 

However, these days the UK has become far weaker. What they need to do is man up and get their military back in shape. They need to close their borders and sort out the shambles their economy has become. And if the US offers any ultimatums, tell them to pack up their bases and remove their kit from British territory. 

Part of me says this has more to do with the UK's reluctance to get involved in Iran and that foolish war Donald Trump started. The UK would be very unwise to buckle; the Falklands are a crucial strategic interest.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/us-britain-falklands-5Hjdgdk_2/

The US has threatened to oppose British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands if Andy Burnham does not increase defence spending sufficiently, it has been reported.

The Trump administration could make the bombshell declaration as senior defence officials at the Pentagon try to force allies to hit Nato's 5 per cent spending pledge.

A senior official in the US reportedly told The Telegraph that Britain will receive "special attention" from Washington in its attempts to get Nato up to the spending figure.

Meghan Markle Staying in California?

To balance up the below video that says Meghan Markle has failed at everything; here's a quick checklist of successes.

Apparently she moves product. Everything she wears sells out within days. As a result, she's very popular amongst merchandisers. 

Then, she was an angel investor in Clevr Blends, a coffee company. This business has grown and is now across America on Target and Whole Foods shelves.

Finally, the house in Montecito was bought for $14m with a $9m mortgage. It is now valued at $20m.

Meghan Markle is said to have bought the Montecito house off residuals from Suits. Residuals are usually a modest sum that helps bridge the gap between one role and another. But in her case, the engagement to Prince Harry saw people binge-watching every season. This resulted in a considerable sum for her. 

The problem is Harry; he doesn't appear to know what work is.

This sudden move back to the UK does have the look of a separation. The UK media have been preparing the landscape all year. I think this move has been long planned and now the 'go' button has been pushed. The King has to repatriate his son. If he stayed in the US broke, he could fall prey to a wide range of dodgy types, including organised crime. If Harry failed, he was always going to be bailed out.

Edit to add 09/09/2026: Recent photos have emerged that show Prince Harry visiting Tower Bridge in London. On the same day a photo of Meghan Markle was released which looks like her garden, and she's with a match for her dog in California. The two are never seen in public together. The media appear insistent that the pair are in the UK, however there is no evidence of Meghan Markle, but there is evidence of Prince Harry's presence.

Rugby Rankings and New Zealand Dominance

Looking at the current World Rugby rankings for men, New Zealand's All Blacks are staggeringly dominant over their rivals in the top 10. Here's how it looks:

1. All Blacks 

2. South Africa 43-110 (wins over the All Blacks - total tests played to date)

3. Ireland 5-39 

4. France 15-68

5. England 9-47

6. Scotland 0-33

7. Argentina 4-41

8. Australia 45-181

9. Fiji 0-11

10. Wales 3-38

This is an embarrassing statistic for everyone apart from New Zealand. What prompted this post? I recently saw some Northern Hemisphere pundits picking their five greatest players of all time, and not one picked a single All Black. Consider this, the Northern Hemisphere has won only one World Cup. The rest have been won by New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. 

Harry Moving Back, but Not the Wife?

This sounds far more plausible. Harry is moving back to the UK, without the wife. If true, the way I interpret this is that Meghan Markle has received a settlement, the key part of which would be an NDA. As for the kids, if they're with Harry as the primary, that tends to confirm the rumours that they're his kids, not hers. And it is also rumoured that Archie lives with the real mother in England. Of course, what are the two children doing being in the Line of Succession?

Half In, Half Out?

How will Prince William and his wife Catherine deal with this?

Harry and Meghan Moving Back to England?

Newspapers are reporting that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to England with their kids. The framing is that this is official. 

Hang on, where is the official announcement from the pair, and from Royal sources, not indirectly from the media? Err...there are no such direct announcements.

There has been a concerted campaign all year to rehabilitate the wayward son, no doubt about that. I find it more likely that this is more spin, that Harry will turn up in the UK, permanently this time, with the wife and children to follow soon. But the wife will never show up with the children, she'll be blamed.

Update: Blog Trends

I haven't blogged recently because my last post on Nigel Farage winning the Clacton by-election was being viewed so many times. Funnily enough, not that many people reading in the UK itself. Here's the list of countries reading me over the last seven days. They are in order, most viewed to least viewed, top 10:

United States

Brazil

Seychelles

France

India

Germany

Argentina

Vietnam

Mexico

Philippines

Clearly, people could be using VPNs much more than they used to, hence Seychelles popping up. Don't read too much into it, but I think one conclusion is that people are interested in the emergence of centre-right politics.

I think a shift is occurring worldwide, call it a revolution if you like. The move is away from what is described as the Uni-party or the blob. Professional middle manager politicians are being rejected and incoming are common-sense populists.

Nigel Farage Wins Clacton By-Election

A day before the Clacton by-election in the United Kingdom, Reform UK made it to the top of public opinion polls. Then, Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage followed that with a staggering win, placing him ahead of 628 MPs in terms of majority. He now has a majority larger than any other leader in the House of Commons.

The Conservatives made a huge strategic blunder by not putting up a candidate. Clacton has been a safe Tory seat in the past, but now Farage has turned it into a safe Reform seat, the very first safe Reform seat. Constituents have been reported as saying they'd vote for Farage even if he had three legs. 

Labour, Conservatives and LibDems are often called the Uniparty and there now appears to be evidence of them acting as such. They will be scared, that's for sure. Farage has turned the summer into talk about him. The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham is on his build a mandate find some legitimacy tour of the UK and yet few would know about it. Farage has upstaged the whole circus.

I have a question; in the last 250 years, what individual person has had such impact on the United Kingdom? Nigel Farage has re-shaped the foreign affairs and trade relations of a Great Power, a country with a Security Council veto and nuclear weapons. If you can think of someone who has had greater impact, let me know. However, caution is required when considering this question, as most names that crop up merely gained high status, they entrenched existing power structures, they did not effect any real change. 

What will the Uniparty do about Nigel Farage? 

Shrinkflation

Yes, we know it's very real.

Luxon Holds On

New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived his second caucus vote of no confidence in his leadership, both occurring within four months. He lacks the full support of his team leading up to a General Election in November and he must now be considering his future.

Many are pointing to his many gaffes, the worst being his comments to a small business conference that they needed to grow up. That went down like a lead balloon.

Luxon has never owned a business, like so many politicians these days. He is out of touch with the kinds of sacrifices business owners make each day. Prior to politics, Luxon swanned around in the private corporate space, the last spell being as CEO of Air New Zealand. That's not a real job as NZ's national airline is not allowed to fail. The taxpayer always bails it out. 

But, I know why Luxon is disliked by Kiwis everywhere. He's weak, a fence sitter, and he doesn't like his job. I wouldn't be surprised to find he's intentionally trying to lose the election. That way, if he does lose at the polls he can easily re-enter the cloistered environment of big business. 

Also, it doesn't help that he looks like a dodgy timeshare salesman from the nineties. He wears tightly fitting shiny suits and shaves his head chrome dome. He looks dodgy and when he speaks he sounds like a prick. 

The question therefore is how did this person get the top job in the land. Has NZ sunk that low?

For the National Party, the news is not all bad as polling shows Luxon has little bearing on party support. Farmers will vote National, they'll just hold their nose while doing so.

Clacton By-election

Tomorrow, the people of Clacton will vote in a by-election to decide whether they support Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK. This is an important election as it could determine how the political landscape is shaped following the result.

Labour, Conservatives, LibDems and the Greens have declined to offer candidates. Kemi Badenoch is leader of the Conservatives and she has called the election fake. No, it isn't fake Ms Badenoch, your comment shows disdain for the democratic process. Or, does her party lack ideas altogether?

I'll make further comment on the result after the votes are counted. It does appear the United Kingdom is reaching a crisis point, but I'm sure a lot of water is yet to flow under the bridge.