I thought the rather gently implied message from The Queen's Christmas Message this year was that we are stronger together. I believe evidence of this is found in her mention of the Battle of Jutland, the size of the Commonwealth, and her call for respect and understanding. Yes, the latter is clearly a Brexit reference but I think the imagery of the message is broader. She's calling for Empire 2.0 and about time too.
December 26, 2018
December 24, 2018
New Zealand National Party Incompetence
It's not just New Zealand Labour and the New Zealand First party that are incompetent. It's the National Party as well, which makes NZ vulnerable to say the least as the country lacks effective governance. The parties just mentioned have no right to exist, that's how incompetent they are. But they do exist and the reasons for that are many and varied, but one reason that stands out is the failure of the media and industry groups to hold them to account.
The list of how these parties have failed their country is a long one. The most recent example was Labour/NZ First's oil and gas exploration ban. Sheer incompetence that one. But National did even worse during their previous stint in office. That's what this blog post is about.
I'm talking about cement. Readers may recall the recent outage at Golden Bay Cement's facility near Whangarei and how that impacted NZ's cement supply (Golden Bay Cement is owned by Fletcher Building, their woes continue). This cement plant is the only cement production plant left in NZ. If it goes down as it did this year, the economy is in jeopardy.
Well, the predicament NZ found itself in is because of the inaction of the previous National government, it had nothing to do with Labour as it turns out.
What National did is it looked the other way, put its fingers in its ears and went 'nah nah nah can't hear a thing' when Holcim announced they were ceasing manufacturing in NZ. That was despite Holcim having the resource and all the consents in place to continue.
I wrote to the government about this situation, contacted the Manufacturers Association, you name it. Well, the Manufacturers Association understood, they were already on it. But do you think the National government wanted to know? Not likely and I'll tell you why:
They were too thick to understand the importance of cement to an industrialised economy. They're dumb shits. And that's an understatement.
So what happened? Holcim were allowed to close their plant at Westport, and were not required to open a new one. They're allowed to import from Japan or somewhere. Like that makes sense - NOT. Any basic student of microeconmics would know, shipping cement from the other side of the planet when it can come from just down the road is lamebrain. Note, I use the word 'allowed' in this paragraph a lot. That's because cement is a strategic resource and treated that way by sensible countries like the USA and UK. They don't allow any company to just shut down a third of all cement production. They just don't, in the USA or UK any company proposing it would find their assets seized. I'm not kidding.
Why does this cement shut-down impact NZ? Well, it's because the numbers look like this; NZ consumes only about a million tonnes of cement a year. LafargeHolcim has about 2,300 cement facilities producing 280 million tonnes a year. You may notice the size differential (sarcasm). One of their large plants can produce 1-1.3 million tonnes a year, more than all of NZ consumes from all sources whether manufactured locally, imported as clinker and crushed and just imported ready to use.
And this is where it gets really bad. When things are going gang busters, all of this capacity is taken up. That's right, when things recover, NZ will be left swinging in the breeze. And it takes 10 years or so to get another plant up and running properly. What I'm talking about is a potential shut-down of Aotearoa/New Zealand and it's the National party that left NZ so badly exposed.
December 23, 2018
UN Compact on Migration
People have just woken up. They've discovered there's a move to take all their money, here's how:
I remember reading academic papers 13 years ago (count them), that called for the removal of national boundaries when it came to migration. Now this thought process has got to the United Nations stage, and the final step will be each country implementing the ideas within their own legislation.
This is a form of theft. That's right, theft. The idea is to flood the western world with migrants and once they're established in their new countries, they can change the laws at will once they're the majority.
The problem is partly of the West's own making. They didn't make babies. So there is that. But the other part of the equation is to do with the fall of the Iron Curtain and the failure of communism, socialism, anarchism, call it what you will. This failure meant the old game plan wouldn't work, the enemy of capitalism needed a new game and they came up with a twofold approach.
The first was to ditch the colour red, for the colour green. Communists became green overnight, they were instant ecologists. But they are anything but, they are still communists. From the pocket of those who earnt it, to the pockets of those who haven't earnt it but control the distribution of it. Control the resources, the means of production, distribution and exchange and you own everything. It's got nothing to do with freeing the proletariat from the hegemony of the capitalist monster, but everything to do with greed.
The debate around global climate change (GCC) has been hijacked by these wolves in sheep's clothing. These days you hardly hear from a hard scientist on this important topic, instead it's all about the politics of GCC, and how to hobble the west while profiting the favoured few (who seem to always be the Greens - no surprise there).
Then the second approach was to use humanitarian crises to launch invasions and to make this mandated. That's what the UN Compact on Migration is about.
Think about this over Xmas folks, have a nice Saturnalia.
I remember reading academic papers 13 years ago (count them), that called for the removal of national boundaries when it came to migration. Now this thought process has got to the United Nations stage, and the final step will be each country implementing the ideas within their own legislation.
This is a form of theft. That's right, theft. The idea is to flood the western world with migrants and once they're established in their new countries, they can change the laws at will once they're the majority.
The problem is partly of the West's own making. They didn't make babies. So there is that. But the other part of the equation is to do with the fall of the Iron Curtain and the failure of communism, socialism, anarchism, call it what you will. This failure meant the old game plan wouldn't work, the enemy of capitalism needed a new game and they came up with a twofold approach.
The first was to ditch the colour red, for the colour green. Communists became green overnight, they were instant ecologists. But they are anything but, they are still communists. From the pocket of those who earnt it, to the pockets of those who haven't earnt it but control the distribution of it. Control the resources, the means of production, distribution and exchange and you own everything. It's got nothing to do with freeing the proletariat from the hegemony of the capitalist monster, but everything to do with greed.
The debate around global climate change (GCC) has been hijacked by these wolves in sheep's clothing. These days you hardly hear from a hard scientist on this important topic, instead it's all about the politics of GCC, and how to hobble the west while profiting the favoured few (who seem to always be the Greens - no surprise there).
Then the second approach was to use humanitarian crises to launch invasions and to make this mandated. That's what the UN Compact on Migration is about.
Think about this over Xmas folks, have a nice Saturnalia.
December 21, 2018
The Musk Prayer
Read this brilliant Musk prayer following the revelation just announced that Elon Musk has invented the subway. Not the sandwich, the underground people conveyor. All hail Musk. I wonder if he's apologised to Azealia Banks yet, my guess is he hasn't.
Our Musk in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as on mars. Give us today our daily feed. Forgive us our incredulity as we forgive those who still don't believe you. Save us from climate change. For the space,the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Our Musk in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as on mars. Give us today our daily feed. Forgive us our incredulity as we forgive those who still don't believe you. Save us from climate change. For the space,the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
December 19, 2018
Merry Saturnalia
It's December and that time of year again folks.
Saturnalia >>> https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/saturnalia
"Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas."
That's right, Christmas is actually Saturnalia. Face it, we don't actually know when Jesus Christ was born.
Giving gifts, feasting, lighting candles, singing of songs, looking after the poor are all Saturnalia. When you wear that crown at the Christmas meal, blow a whistle, tell jokes, that's also Saturnalia. In Rome, within each household a slave would be appointed king for the day, and he would issue orders, the owner waiting on him and the household family would provide food for the other slaves as well. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas may also trace its origins to the latter practise.
Saturnalia >>> https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/saturnalia
"Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas."
That's right, Christmas is actually Saturnalia. Face it, we don't actually know when Jesus Christ was born.
Giving gifts, feasting, lighting candles, singing of songs, looking after the poor are all Saturnalia. When you wear that crown at the Christmas meal, blow a whistle, tell jokes, that's also Saturnalia. In Rome, within each household a slave would be appointed king for the day, and he would issue orders, the owner waiting on him and the household family would provide food for the other slaves as well. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas may also trace its origins to the latter practise.
December 18, 2018
David Icke: Wrong But Close
Fans of David Icke's books will know about his various conspiracy theories and his idea that the Moon is a satellite transmitting mind altering transmissions and that Earth has been hijacked by a reptilian species that effectively control everything. No doubt this is very entertaining to read.
He's wrong but he was making good guesses. His idea that the World is heading into an Orwellian future is accurate.
What is the truth? Earth was invaded or colonised 75,000 years ago by people from Hercules. Local Hominins (Homo Erectus) were bred with to create the distinctive species, Homo Sapiens. Over the following years, humans evolved into species almost indistinguishable from Herculeans.
Why did Hercules come to Earth? What is their culture like? Are they coming back and when? All these questions are dealt with in my book, Dana Point.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FP5DLJ1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3
He's wrong but he was making good guesses. His idea that the World is heading into an Orwellian future is accurate.
What is the truth? Earth was invaded or colonised 75,000 years ago by people from Hercules. Local Hominins (Homo Erectus) were bred with to create the distinctive species, Homo Sapiens. Over the following years, humans evolved into species almost indistinguishable from Herculeans.
Why did Hercules come to Earth? What is their culture like? Are they coming back and when? All these questions are dealt with in my book, Dana Point.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FP5DLJ1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3
Why Quora Will Fail
I've written one or two answers on Quora, and have already blogged about its failings; the questions soon become tiresome and an alternative reality takes over, certain opinions are tolerated while others are not. I'm not even convinced the quality of answers are better than Yahoo Answers.
But that doesn't mean it will fail. Why then do I think it will soon fail? The writers who take time to provide the content have no way of earning anything from the work they do, that's why. Compare this with Amazon; there you write an article and can then sell it on Kindle. Or maybe write several articles and call it a book. Jeff Bezos is onto a winner, he has all this content being provided. Most don't earn that much but they do provide it. Quora on the other hand must run out of puff, why write for no reward when you could be writing and earning on Amazon? See?
But that doesn't mean it will fail. Why then do I think it will soon fail? The writers who take time to provide the content have no way of earning anything from the work they do, that's why. Compare this with Amazon; there you write an article and can then sell it on Kindle. Or maybe write several articles and call it a book. Jeff Bezos is onto a winner, he has all this content being provided. Most don't earn that much but they do provide it. Quora on the other hand must run out of puff, why write for no reward when you could be writing and earning on Amazon? See?
December 17, 2018
Rocket Lab Launch 13 Nasa CubeSats
Rocket Lab has launched another rocket, this time putting 13 Nasa satellites into orbit:
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-nasa-cubesats-to-orbit-on-first-ever-venture-class-launch-services-mission/
We can now safely say that New Zealand has a fully fledged space program.
From Rocket Lab:
"Until now, launch opportunities for small satellites have mostly been limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on large launch vehicles. This mission, awarded under a Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) Agreement, marks the first time NASA CubeSats received a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle."
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-nasa-cubesats-to-orbit-on-first-ever-venture-class-launch-services-mission/
We can now safely say that New Zealand has a fully fledged space program.
From Rocket Lab:
"Until now, launch opportunities for small satellites have mostly been limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on large launch vehicles. This mission, awarded under a Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) Agreement, marks the first time NASA CubeSats received a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle."
December 10, 2018
December 08, 2018
Bunnings Pointless Exercise
Bunnings Hardware - hardly anywhere. I don't know why I do it to myself, every time I end up at Bunnings I find they haven't got what I'm looking for. Their website will say yes, their shelf says no. I'm not going back, write this outfit off, they're hopeless.
December 07, 2018
NZ: Education Shake-up
Finally, an admission that Tomorrow's Schools was a disaster. That's the way I read the proposed changes to the way schools in New Zealand are organised.
Read about it here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172927
What is proposed is essentially reinventing the wheel, putting in place the framework that existed before Labour destroyed education in NZ. I note the media are avoiding attaching blame. They're such suck-ups.
However, I'm not convinced scrapping Intermediate schools is a good idea. Many Intermediates do an amazing job. Likewise, year 1 through 8 primary schools already exist and they're often fine too. Where things could go badly wrong is having year 1 through 13 at the one school in urban areas. That's fine in Area Schools in the rural areas but it's misguided to allow it in urban areas. There are some schools already set up like this, we are yet to see if they work. I'm not holding my breath.
It comes down to how these changes are implemented. Given Labour's poor record on Education, I remain doubtful.
Read about it here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172927
What is proposed is essentially reinventing the wheel, putting in place the framework that existed before Labour destroyed education in NZ. I note the media are avoiding attaching blame. They're such suck-ups.
However, I'm not convinced scrapping Intermediate schools is a good idea. Many Intermediates do an amazing job. Likewise, year 1 through 8 primary schools already exist and they're often fine too. Where things could go badly wrong is having year 1 through 13 at the one school in urban areas. That's fine in Area Schools in the rural areas but it's misguided to allow it in urban areas. There are some schools already set up like this, we are yet to see if they work. I'm not holding my breath.
It comes down to how these changes are implemented. Given Labour's poor record on Education, I remain doubtful.
Jacinda Ardern and 2019
That was interesting, in just a couple of days since posting my prediction and why I think the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern will step down to move on, the post has become my number 1 most popular post of 2018. There must be something in this then!
My thinking, in short is that Jacinda Ardern must use the Xmas/New Year period to look for another job. If she misses out then the outlook is all downhill, being propped up by a ragtag bunch of minor parties and an often incompetent Labour party behind her. Who wants a former PM dumped by the electorate on their payroll? Surely it is far wiser to jump before the slide really kicks in. Watch this space.
My thinking, in short is that Jacinda Ardern must use the Xmas/New Year period to look for another job. If she misses out then the outlook is all downhill, being propped up by a ragtag bunch of minor parties and an often incompetent Labour party behind her. Who wants a former PM dumped by the electorate on their payroll? Surely it is far wiser to jump before the slide really kicks in. Watch this space.
December 06, 2018
Prediction for 2019: Jacinda Ardern
Don't be surprised if New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern decides to step down and takes up a UN job. It could happen and becomes highly likely if the Greens, Labour's partner on confidence and supply, start polling below the 5% threshold.
Think of it like this; Ardern has already finished the race in first. It was close but she got there. But she only gets the prize because two very minor parties support her and one of them has now dropped below that critical 5%. If the Greens go the same way, that means come the next election she's looking at being Leader of the Opposition and a former Prime Minister. That doesn't have quite the same cachet now does it. And then her record will be closely examined. Then finally, to have her leadership challenged would be very unbecoming.
So the way I see it, she has to step down and go out on top. To overseas markets she's much more valuable now. The future for her lies in cashing in overseas, if she sticks around in NZ, all that offers is uncertainty and a slide.
Back in 2017 I was the first to predict a Labour victory. Everyone else thought it couldn't happen. After I noticed a wave of people all saying they were voting Labour, and pointed it out, a few commentators and bloggers jumped on board. When the inevitable happened, they all claimed to have been first (surprise surprise). Well, note this prediction and if you use it and I'm right, kindly have the good grace to apply credit where it is due, and that would be me.
Think of it like this; Ardern has already finished the race in first. It was close but she got there. But she only gets the prize because two very minor parties support her and one of them has now dropped below that critical 5%. If the Greens go the same way, that means come the next election she's looking at being Leader of the Opposition and a former Prime Minister. That doesn't have quite the same cachet now does it. And then her record will be closely examined. Then finally, to have her leadership challenged would be very unbecoming.
So the way I see it, she has to step down and go out on top. To overseas markets she's much more valuable now. The future for her lies in cashing in overseas, if she sticks around in NZ, all that offers is uncertainty and a slide.
Back in 2017 I was the first to predict a Labour victory. Everyone else thought it couldn't happen. After I noticed a wave of people all saying they were voting Labour, and pointed it out, a few commentators and bloggers jumped on board. When the inevitable happened, they all claimed to have been first (surprise surprise). Well, note this prediction and if you use it and I'm right, kindly have the good grace to apply credit where it is due, and that would be me.
December 04, 2018
Film Industry: Geoff Murphy
New Zealand film director, Geoff Murphy has died. His most important movie Utu, was set during the frontier days of NZ. His wife, Merata Mita predeceased him, she made NZ's most important documentary, Patu! which was about the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.
Snob's Guide to New Zealand ranks Utu second on its list of important New Zealand films, with Patu! third and the most important documentary.
NZ U-17 Women Win Bronze
The New Zealand U-17 women did very well, finishing with the bronze medal in Montevideo after defeating Canada in the 3rd/4th place play-off, 2-1. The eventual winner of the tournament was Spain, the team that knocked NZ out.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018673906/young-football-ferns-take-bronze-at-fifa-under-17-world-cup
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018673906/young-football-ferns-take-bronze-at-fifa-under-17-world-cup
December 03, 2018
Labour on the Slide
The latest opinion polls have New Zealand's Labour government falling in the polls and their coalition partner has slipped below the 5% threshold. Not only that but the Greens who support the coalition on confidence and supply are right on the threshold.
But here's where it gets interesting: only a few hundred votes stand between Labour and electoral oblivion. If the Greens fall below the 5%, then Labour are no longer government, instead national would be. Watch for signs of desperation as Labour look to move the threshold down.
Time to start getting very nervous Labour, and you deserve to be nervous. These are the reasons:
1. Oil and gas exploration ban,
2. Being held captive by Greens,
3. Giving up the centre ground,
4. Not paying teachers enough,
5. Grandstanding around the world instead of looking after the knitting,
6. Incompetent ministers,
7. Shane Jones Bank.
And that's just for starters.
But here's where it gets interesting: only a few hundred votes stand between Labour and electoral oblivion. If the Greens fall below the 5%, then Labour are no longer government, instead national would be. Watch for signs of desperation as Labour look to move the threshold down.
Time to start getting very nervous Labour, and you deserve to be nervous. These are the reasons:
1. Oil and gas exploration ban,
2. Being held captive by Greens,
3. Giving up the centre ground,
4. Not paying teachers enough,
5. Grandstanding around the world instead of looking after the knitting,
6. Incompetent ministers,
7. Shane Jones Bank.
And that's just for starters.
December 02, 2018
Olympics
I noticed boxing is coming under the spotlight and may be frozen out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This is no surprise, boxing is rigged. But at least it is possible to win by knocking your opponent out. The same cannot be said for other sports subject to judging. Examples include race walking, diving, snowboarding and gymnastics.
Let's face it, if the contest does not involve transparent scoring, timing or distance measured, forget it as they shouldn't be at the event. This judging behind the scenes has to stop.
Walking would be easy to fix. Instead of issuing warnings, have a sin bin with the walker having to wait in place for a specified time when caught running. Make it 1 minute standing still on the first infraction, then 2, 4, 8 and so on. This way the audience gets to see what is happening and the race may end up being a head to head contest at the finish line.
Let's face it, if the contest does not involve transparent scoring, timing or distance measured, forget it as they shouldn't be at the event. This judging behind the scenes has to stop.
Walking would be easy to fix. Instead of issuing warnings, have a sin bin with the walker having to wait in place for a specified time when caught running. Make it 1 minute standing still on the first infraction, then 2, 4, 8 and so on. This way the audience gets to see what is happening and the race may end up being a head to head contest at the finish line.
December 01, 2018
Quick! Save the Planet: Stuff's Campaign
New Zealand media group, Fairfax are promoting the Quick! Save the Planet series through its newspapers and Stuff.co.nz website. It's meant to awaken concern and inform about climate change, and offer ways to effect change. In so doing, I assume they expect this will result in saving the planet from its imminent demise.
It won't do anything of the sort and campaigns like this are misguided at best, and at worst extremely foolish or even stupid. Okay, I accept they have to sell newspapers, they're largely failing and they'll all have to shut up shop within my lifetime, but the desperate will do anything to survive.
The problem with this campaign is twofold; the first is with the hysterical nature of the title. Any solution is certainly not quick, and the planet doesn't need saving. Most people intuitively know this and so when reading they're likely to skip. Only the converted will read, and so no progress is made at all.
The second problem is more serious and lies at the root. This sort of scaremongering results in polarisation of opinions and climate change extremism. Any not fully on board with the most extreme climate alarmists are instantly labelled 'climate change deniers.' Heretics in other words.
Of course there is no real debate about climate change being real, no-one with half a brain is debating it. What is up for debate is the extent to it and whether the effects are adverse at all. And if they are adverse, how bad exactly and can it be managed? What doesn't help is when someone enters the debate talking practical matters, and they're shouted down and accused of being a 'denier.'
What we are witnessing folks, is the development of a new religion; in my book Snob's Guide to New Zealand, I call the religion Eco. I describe how this new religion functions. It seems Stuff and Fairfax have adopted the faith.