May 31, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 7
OKC rebounded well but their three point shooting let them down. The two key players, Durant and Westbrook's ball security was just awful. And Waiters was shooting bricks too. GSW by comparison nailed it when they needed to, their three point shooting is what clinched it for them. Plus, their bench chipped in nicely. Can GSW go back to back? Cleveland look the better team.
May 29, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 6
OKC choked in game 6. Congrats Golden State, you did a very professional job. OKC should have closed out the match but they were the ones rushing shots, coughing the ball up and Kevin Durant, Mr Unreliable.
May 27, 2016
More NZ Education and the Bryan Bruce Documentary
Following on from what I said earlier, the challenges New Zealand education face run a bit deeper than just schools are falling apart and failing, and teachers are promoted away from actually teaching.
There was a battle for control fought many years ago. The battle was between those who wanted to see education with a practical application, such as technical high schools, and those who wanted to take New Zealand toward a more academic approach. The academic approach won.
Both Hagley High School and Wellington High School started life as technical colleges. They were very good at what they did and they produced many good engineers and tradespeople. They're still good schools, but now they're like most high schools, turning out lawyers and accountants.
If I go back to my high school days, I always got an A plus in metalwork. My work would often be held up to the class as an example of perfection, to the collective groans of all assembled. I had skill, and in life I used that skill to good effect; designing, innovating and building plants across the world. But back then at high school, as I had some above average academic skills, I was sent to the classes that turned out lawyers.
What happened to me and is still happening to others right now, is a colossal waste of human potential. It took me years to unlearn stuff (I know you can't do that, I'm being dramatic), and replace that with useful skills. Part of this process was self taught. I had to teach myself stuff I'd missed because I was too bright for the metalwork class.
I know this is anecdotal and therefore easy to dismiss. But think about it anyway. New Zealand is not only destroying schools, sapping teachers will to survive, but also ignoring so many children with skills that don't fit a neat structure the authorities have invented.
Look at it another way - lawyers like other lawyers - right? Accountants like other accountants too. Teachers like teachers. So it is natural for accountants to think it's good to produce lots of bean counters and lawyers to do whatever they do, and teachers to teach stuff you probably don't need to know. They replicate the system and produce more of what we don't need.
This is the key I think. We need schools to prepare children to do things. Important things like flying in the sky, plunging the ocean depths or even saving the god damn planet. Lawyers and accountants won't get us there. Nope, not at all. But teachers can, by teaching.
There was a battle for control fought many years ago. The battle was between those who wanted to see education with a practical application, such as technical high schools, and those who wanted to take New Zealand toward a more academic approach. The academic approach won.
Both Hagley High School and Wellington High School started life as technical colleges. They were very good at what they did and they produced many good engineers and tradespeople. They're still good schools, but now they're like most high schools, turning out lawyers and accountants.
If I go back to my high school days, I always got an A plus in metalwork. My work would often be held up to the class as an example of perfection, to the collective groans of all assembled. I had skill, and in life I used that skill to good effect; designing, innovating and building plants across the world. But back then at high school, as I had some above average academic skills, I was sent to the classes that turned out lawyers.
What happened to me and is still happening to others right now, is a colossal waste of human potential. It took me years to unlearn stuff (I know you can't do that, I'm being dramatic), and replace that with useful skills. Part of this process was self taught. I had to teach myself stuff I'd missed because I was too bright for the metalwork class.
I know this is anecdotal and therefore easy to dismiss. But think about it anyway. New Zealand is not only destroying schools, sapping teachers will to survive, but also ignoring so many children with skills that don't fit a neat structure the authorities have invented.
Look at it another way - lawyers like other lawyers - right? Accountants like other accountants too. Teachers like teachers. So it is natural for accountants to think it's good to produce lots of bean counters and lawyers to do whatever they do, and teachers to teach stuff you probably don't need to know. They replicate the system and produce more of what we don't need.
This is the key I think. We need schools to prepare children to do things. Important things like flying in the sky, plunging the ocean depths or even saving the god damn planet. Lawyers and accountants won't get us there. Nope, not at all. But teachers can, by teaching.
Western Conference Finals Game 5
GSW were pumped for a do or die effort and they delivered. OKC weren't boxing out and their shots weren't dropping. That probably accounts for the winning margin right there. How many offensive boards were scored by GSW off a failure to box out by OKC? They'll have to address these lapses if they hope to win the series. If they lose at home, look for GSW to take it out on their home court. So the result is likely either 4-2 to OKC or 4-3 GSW.
Dancer in latest Jason Derulo video
Who is the female dancer in the latest Jason Derulo video? Anyone like to confirm? She's really good.
May 26, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 4
OKC have exploited a Steph Curry weakness, he can't guard a man much bigger than himself. And OKC are even getting their bigs out on the perimeter shooters. With their height, arms outstretched = no easy looks for the Warriors. To top it off, the game is being played at OKC pace, the run and gun Warriors just get frustrated and revert to fouling. The OKC look like a different team now than during the regular season.
May 25, 2016
Bryan Bruce on NZ Education System
I watched the Bryan Bruce documentary on TV3, about the failing New Zealand education system. He touched on some areas I know only too well. Some things he got right, spot on, but other issues I feel he either overlooked or skipped over.
He touched on the unfairness of the Tomorrow's Schools programme. This reform, which did away with the old Department of Education, effectively gutted education in this country. I forget when education boards were scrapped, but it must have been at the same time.
The way the old system worked, the department was in charge of the teaching. Inspectors would assess whether a teacher was up to grade. If they didn't measure up, they'd be gone. Then the school buildings were operated by the boards in each district. The management of boards were not teachers, instead they were managers, architects, carpenters and the like. The boards paid the teachers.
The system worked. It had flaws, school buildings all looked the same and a lot of effort went in to getting them right. In the classroom; the inspectors, principals and heads of department dictated what got taught. Bruce mentioned this was a collaborative approach, yeah sure, but it was also dictatorial. Let's be honest about this.
Think of it like this. The Department of Education inspectors were like Jesuit priests. Hair shirt. No money. They'd drive around in old worn out government issue cars, and operate out of dingy offices. To get permission to spend anything they'd have to make a toll call to Wellington.
Meanwhile, the boards had fancy foreign import cars, swanky offices, all the bells and whistles.
Here's the rub - the inspectors had all the power. A room full of teachers would hush when an inspector walked in. Board staff would be suitably obsequious. Get the idea?
Now just about anything goes, and of course, schools are isolated.
What do I mean by that? Well, now schools control their buildings and employ the teachers, but they're cut off from one another, competing with one another as it were, and from that you get some that do well, while others fail. Bruce is right to question whether we want schools failing. And the ones who fail are usually poor.
Bruce's inquiry learning method is a nice idea to aim for. But heh, sometimes you have to grind it out. And children learn in different ways too, there is no one way to do anything. I think the best thing you can do is instil a lifelong love of learning.
Bruce was too uncritical of teachers. They have to share the blame. Yes, the government broke the system but teachers are too unionised, and too focused on not doing any teaching.
I agree with Bruce and his smaller schools idea. I think the ideal school is 250-350 for primary school and 750-900 secondary. Keep it small, keep it real. Pay good teachers to stay in the classroom, don't promote them into administrative jobs.
Can NZ turn it around? Unlikely. But it can happen if we're honest about the direction the country has taken and scrap this unfortunate Tomorrow's Schools experiment.
He touched on the unfairness of the Tomorrow's Schools programme. This reform, which did away with the old Department of Education, effectively gutted education in this country. I forget when education boards were scrapped, but it must have been at the same time.
The way the old system worked, the department was in charge of the teaching. Inspectors would assess whether a teacher was up to grade. If they didn't measure up, they'd be gone. Then the school buildings were operated by the boards in each district. The management of boards were not teachers, instead they were managers, architects, carpenters and the like. The boards paid the teachers.
The system worked. It had flaws, school buildings all looked the same and a lot of effort went in to getting them right. In the classroom; the inspectors, principals and heads of department dictated what got taught. Bruce mentioned this was a collaborative approach, yeah sure, but it was also dictatorial. Let's be honest about this.
Think of it like this. The Department of Education inspectors were like Jesuit priests. Hair shirt. No money. They'd drive around in old worn out government issue cars, and operate out of dingy offices. To get permission to spend anything they'd have to make a toll call to Wellington.
Meanwhile, the boards had fancy foreign import cars, swanky offices, all the bells and whistles.
Here's the rub - the inspectors had all the power. A room full of teachers would hush when an inspector walked in. Board staff would be suitably obsequious. Get the idea?
Now just about anything goes, and of course, schools are isolated.
What do I mean by that? Well, now schools control their buildings and employ the teachers, but they're cut off from one another, competing with one another as it were, and from that you get some that do well, while others fail. Bruce is right to question whether we want schools failing. And the ones who fail are usually poor.
Bruce's inquiry learning method is a nice idea to aim for. But heh, sometimes you have to grind it out. And children learn in different ways too, there is no one way to do anything. I think the best thing you can do is instil a lifelong love of learning.
Bruce was too uncritical of teachers. They have to share the blame. Yes, the government broke the system but teachers are too unionised, and too focused on not doing any teaching.
I agree with Bruce and his smaller schools idea. I think the ideal school is 250-350 for primary school and 750-900 secondary. Keep it small, keep it real. Pay good teachers to stay in the classroom, don't promote them into administrative jobs.
Can NZ turn it around? Unlikely. But it can happen if we're honest about the direction the country has taken and scrap this unfortunate Tomorrow's Schools experiment.
May 24, 2016
New Zealand the 51st State
Puerto Rico is the likely candidate for admission to the USA as the 51st state. But culturally, I would have thought one of the English common law countries were a better fit. Countries like Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Why New Zealand? It's a fully unitary democracy, not a united kingdom or federal system. The other three from my list could not be easily amalgamated. Australia is made up of six states and further territories. Would each of these qualify for a star on the US flag? Probably.
So let's look at the case for New Zealand. It has a population about the same size as Kentucky and a land area about the same as Colorado. It has 99% literacy, is English speaking, though like the USA, English is not an official language.
Pros
1. Government and Law - it has universal suffrage and English common law prevails. The separation of powers is a strongly entrenched principle. It is not overly corrupt, the rule of law is respected.
2. Education - free education is guaranteed for all up to 20 years of age, and beyond that student loans are available for tertiary study. Education is encouraged.
3. Trade - free trade is the bedrock of its economy.
4. Economy - a free market capitalist system, private property rights.
5. Culture - similar culture to that of the western US states (particularly Oregon, Washington and California).
6. Defence - fought on the same side in most major wars for the past 100 or more years.
7. Security - part of 'five eyes' and share Antarctica.
8. Travel - domestic travel between the countries, enhancing tourism.
9. Environment - national park system very similar.
10. Sports - both sides gain world champions.
Cons
1. Jones Act - NZ could end up like Hawaii, seriously crimping its style when it comes to shipping. In NZ a foreign vessel can pick up at one domestic port, drop the same cargo at another domestic port then head overseas on its journey. In the USA, that domestic shipping must be done by a US owned, crewed and US built ship.
2. Conflict of Laws - there are numerous ways laws can come in to conflict, but one that comes to mind would be prostitution. In NZ all pimping, soliciting, pandering etc is legal. Like Nevada but more so than that.
3. Guns - strict gun laws in NZ (however by comparison far more guns in NZ per head than in Europe).
4. Cars - NZ drives on the left (RHD). USA drives on the right (LHD).
5. Measurement and standards - NZ is fully metric (though some imperial still remains) and standards are being merged with Australia.
6. Maori - the Treaty of Waitangi 1840 is seen by Maori as a founding document. It is a treaty between the British crown and most Maori tribes.
7. Sports - the black brand, silver fern and the mighty All Blacks (rugby union national team) would be lost, subsumed by the USA Eagles.
8. Currency - NZers would lose a lot of value converting to US Dollars and the NZ economy as a whole would depend on US economic conditions. Why does this matter? NZ has had far less unemployment than other western countries.
How would this work?
On balance, the idea has legs.
While NZers would lose value in their bank accounts, they'd gain back purchasing power. Businesses would get access to capital markets now largely closed to them. US industry could locate to NZ as it becomes a domestic producer (access cheap land, labour and resources). Agricultural output would access US markets securely, lowering food prices for the USA and increasing returns for NZ farmers, who in turn buy tractors from US manufacturers.
Cars could still be RHD, too difficult to switch sides of the road now. Broadcasting systems, where technology separates the two, would have to remain separate.
In practise, the NZ Prime Minister would become a Governor, the NZ parliament a state legislature. NZ would send four or so representatives to Congress, along with two Senators. The court system would become part of the US system.
Where professional codes are applied, there could be a transition period, lawyers for instance, would not be required to retrain but new students would need to learn new cases. Accounting standards have already been internationalised, as have many professions.
And what of Australia? A little known fact is NZ is part of Australia, we're in their constitution as the seventh state. Given that free trade deals already exist, those would simply be replaced, either by a new one, or by one or the other. NZers would likely lose the automatic right to live and work in Australia, but gain the same right to the USA. So it balances.
What do you think?
Why New Zealand? It's a fully unitary democracy, not a united kingdom or federal system. The other three from my list could not be easily amalgamated. Australia is made up of six states and further territories. Would each of these qualify for a star on the US flag? Probably.
So let's look at the case for New Zealand. It has a population about the same size as Kentucky and a land area about the same as Colorado. It has 99% literacy, is English speaking, though like the USA, English is not an official language.
Pros
1. Government and Law - it has universal suffrage and English common law prevails. The separation of powers is a strongly entrenched principle. It is not overly corrupt, the rule of law is respected.
2. Education - free education is guaranteed for all up to 20 years of age, and beyond that student loans are available for tertiary study. Education is encouraged.
3. Trade - free trade is the bedrock of its economy.
4. Economy - a free market capitalist system, private property rights.
5. Culture - similar culture to that of the western US states (particularly Oregon, Washington and California).
6. Defence - fought on the same side in most major wars for the past 100 or more years.
7. Security - part of 'five eyes' and share Antarctica.
8. Travel - domestic travel between the countries, enhancing tourism.
9. Environment - national park system very similar.
10. Sports - both sides gain world champions.
Cons
1. Jones Act - NZ could end up like Hawaii, seriously crimping its style when it comes to shipping. In NZ a foreign vessel can pick up at one domestic port, drop the same cargo at another domestic port then head overseas on its journey. In the USA, that domestic shipping must be done by a US owned, crewed and US built ship.
2. Conflict of Laws - there are numerous ways laws can come in to conflict, but one that comes to mind would be prostitution. In NZ all pimping, soliciting, pandering etc is legal. Like Nevada but more so than that.
3. Guns - strict gun laws in NZ (however by comparison far more guns in NZ per head than in Europe).
4. Cars - NZ drives on the left (RHD). USA drives on the right (LHD).
5. Measurement and standards - NZ is fully metric (though some imperial still remains) and standards are being merged with Australia.
6. Maori - the Treaty of Waitangi 1840 is seen by Maori as a founding document. It is a treaty between the British crown and most Maori tribes.
7. Sports - the black brand, silver fern and the mighty All Blacks (rugby union national team) would be lost, subsumed by the USA Eagles.
8. Currency - NZers would lose a lot of value converting to US Dollars and the NZ economy as a whole would depend on US economic conditions. Why does this matter? NZ has had far less unemployment than other western countries.
How would this work?
On balance, the idea has legs.
While NZers would lose value in their bank accounts, they'd gain back purchasing power. Businesses would get access to capital markets now largely closed to them. US industry could locate to NZ as it becomes a domestic producer (access cheap land, labour and resources). Agricultural output would access US markets securely, lowering food prices for the USA and increasing returns for NZ farmers, who in turn buy tractors from US manufacturers.
Cars could still be RHD, too difficult to switch sides of the road now. Broadcasting systems, where technology separates the two, would have to remain separate.
In practise, the NZ Prime Minister would become a Governor, the NZ parliament a state legislature. NZ would send four or so representatives to Congress, along with two Senators. The court system would become part of the US system.
Where professional codes are applied, there could be a transition period, lawyers for instance, would not be required to retrain but new students would need to learn new cases. Accounting standards have already been internationalised, as have many professions.
And what of Australia? A little known fact is NZ is part of Australia, we're in their constitution as the seventh state. Given that free trade deals already exist, those would simply be replaced, either by a new one, or by one or the other. NZers would likely lose the automatic right to live and work in Australia, but gain the same right to the USA. So it balances.
What do you think?
May 23, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 3
OKC win again and why? Defense. Golden State are vulnerable if defended well. They seem to crumble as soon as any resistance is felt and rush their shots. OKC can take the series of they continue defending like that. The cheap shot on Steven Adams by Draymond Green should see him suspended at least one game (Dahntay Jones of the Cavaliers received a one game ban only an hour before the tip off in this game, for a groin shot some would say was less serious). If Green isn't suspended, well, it means the league is fixed.
May 22, 2016
Portfolio Tracker Update
Making a small adjustment, I've sold half of my under performing Freight Car America and bought Federal Signal. The loss on Freight Car I've reflected in the share cost for that stock holding (put the share cost up).
May 20, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 2
Thunder were thumped because they failed to apply defensive pressure. That and Steph Curry was a wizard at getting himself open and still making long range shots.
May 17, 2016
Western Conference Finals Game 1 Warriors v Thunder
Thunder win 108-102 and why? They applied defensive pressure, especially on Steph Curry. More of that and they can take the series. Curry was still able to get himself open, he's a class act, but with the Thunder not allowing easy looks in the second half, his impact was much less.
May 06, 2016
Apple Inc
Is Apple Inc down and out? If you only read the responses to their latest earnings report then you'd be excused for thinking they were.
Check this out - the stock price for Apple Inc at the close of business Friday May 4, 2001 was $1.84. The price on May 4 2016 was $94.19.
10,000 shares bought at 1.84 = $18,400
10,000 shares sold at 94.19 = $941,900
That's a capital gain of $923,500. I think you'll agree, a pretty nice return.
Naysayers can be found everywhere. They're often wrong. Apple was thought to have peaked in 2012. Their price then was $80.75.
Now I'm not guaranteeing staggering returns like these. But pick a good company and by sticking with it, you can do a lot better than with real estate or any other form of investment for that matter.
May 04, 2016
Mark Weldon
TV3 is going bust. Maybe not right now but it has to happen. The latest news is that Mark Weldon has resigned. He's the MediaWorks CEO. Weldon has been the architect of much of the malaise and his going could be a good thing, but it could also mean the organisation is in chaos. Time will tell no doubt.
Four is becoming Bravo. This couldn't get any worse. I don't want reality TV 24/7. MediaWorks have failed to convert its younger viewers into reliable viewers when they get older. They needed to work on that, not throw the baby out with the bath water (no pun intended).
Four is becoming Bravo. This couldn't get any worse. I don't want reality TV 24/7. MediaWorks have failed to convert its younger viewers into reliable viewers when they get older. They needed to work on that, not throw the baby out with the bath water (no pun intended).
May 03, 2016
Beckenham School
Oh god teachers are such a pain in the arse aren't they? You are not going to believe what news my eleven year old daughter came home with. Now they're not allowed to eat before play. That's right, they have to play first then eat, then straight into the classroom. I mean, what sort of world is this? Are teachers that stupid?
Well yes they are. You've got children wandering around the playground grumpy cos they're hungry and of course they certainly haven't got the energy to do anything. Is this a means to control behaviour during breaks? Food as a weapon?
What I think it is is a misguided attempt to ensure food is in bellies in the classroom. But it overlooks school is also about the quality of play and social interaction. Take that away and what have you got? Personally I was of moderate athletic ability, but I went to school with several people who became professional athletes. They didn't get there by not eating before practising. You eat, then you do. It's that simple.
Beckenham School has slipped badly. They have this teacher hub system, which is silly, and the children have to use the teachers first names. Hi Thaddeus, or Mark or Jane, or Sandy. Yeah right. Nice professional distance there Beckenham (I'm not talking about pupils knowing the teachers first name, but routinely using it? C'mon).
Beckenham School is getting too silly now, they've lost the plot.
Well yes they are. You've got children wandering around the playground grumpy cos they're hungry and of course they certainly haven't got the energy to do anything. Is this a means to control behaviour during breaks? Food as a weapon?
What I think it is is a misguided attempt to ensure food is in bellies in the classroom. But it overlooks school is also about the quality of play and social interaction. Take that away and what have you got? Personally I was of moderate athletic ability, but I went to school with several people who became professional athletes. They didn't get there by not eating before practising. You eat, then you do. It's that simple.
Beckenham School has slipped badly. They have this teacher hub system, which is silly, and the children have to use the teachers first names. Hi Thaddeus, or Mark or Jane, or Sandy. Yeah right. Nice professional distance there Beckenham (I'm not talking about pupils knowing the teachers first name, but routinely using it? C'mon).
Beckenham School is getting too silly now, they've lost the plot.
May 02, 2016
TV3
What is going on over at TV3? They've now lost news co-anchor Hilary Barry.
TV3 news has always been better than TVNZ. Now their morning TV show, Paul Henry 6-9am which also features Barry, has made an impact. But the rest of the programming is dire to say the least. It looks like they're going bust.
Why can't TV3 make money? The radio side of MediaWorks is reported to be profitable, you'd think the television side of the company could manage that, hmm?
I have no idea but I'll sit and watch with interest.
TV3 news has always been better than TVNZ. Now their morning TV show, Paul Henry 6-9am which also features Barry, has made an impact. But the rest of the programming is dire to say the least. It looks like they're going bust.
Why can't TV3 make money? The radio side of MediaWorks is reported to be profitable, you'd think the television side of the company could manage that, hmm?
I have no idea but I'll sit and watch with interest.