Suez Canal Blockage Cleared

Phew, that was a close one for little New Zealand. The ship blocking the channel has finally been cleared and is moving again. People have no idea how close NZ came to economic meltdown. 

Real News NZ

 A new publication has been launched in New Zealand' called Real News NZ. It is available for download from anywhere in the world. https://therealnews.nz

Now the Suez Canal is Blocked

New Zealand and the rest of the world is going to find out very soon what being in deep schtuck is really like. You'll be aware that a Shoei Kisen Kaisha container vessel 400 metres long is stuck in the Suez Canal, which is about 300 metres wide. Oh dear, it's going to hold up global trade for at least a few days, maybe weeks. 

Why can't they move it? The problem is the ship is very big, and if they refloat it incorrectly it could break its back, completely blocking the canal for months. Evidently, right now the Japanese company is sending salvage crews and the right equipment from Japan. In that part of the world all the big salvage vessels are in the Netherlands, as are all the big dredges so they could call on that source if they need to. The canal may have to be widened and dredged to unstick this boat. 

How is this a problem? Well, that's because most of the world's trade heads through the Suez and container vessels such as this tranship through Singapore. With changes initiated by the pandemic, cargo space is already at a premium. Things are going to head downhill real fast now. This is going to get ugly. 

And no, I do not accept that this is a conspiracy. It's a fu** up, that's all, the sort of thing that happens from time to time, bad luck just when you don't need it. How the captain lost all power to his engines will be worth reading about I'm sure. We can all have a laugh about it, as Katie Hopkins said, credit has to go to the Captain for taking COVID off the front page for a change. There is that. 

(Side note: the ship owner is a subsidiary of a big Japanese ship builder. It is operated by Evergreen of Taiwan, probably on a bare boat charter or similar - standard practise. Shoei KK only have about 26 staff I believe, ship owners generally don't have stuff like this happen)

Diagnosing Prince Harry's Disorder

I'm completely unqualified but here goes anyway. I think it is possible that clinicians have misdiagnosed Prince Harry's psychological problem. It has been reported that he underwent something like 10 years of counselling, which you'd have to think is excessive. 

His wife, Meghan Markle clearly suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). It is often stated that the two suffer the same ailment. But it has occurred to me this is wrong. It could be Harry suffers from a form of Grandiosity. That would mean he has an overly inflated sense of worth, intelligence, importance and power. It has been reported that former girlfriends say he's obsessed with the press, that he sees reporters everywhere, even when they're clearly not. I think this is a clue. 

If we look at Harry, clearly he has status. But it is of the inconsequential kind; he'll never be King, he makes no important decisions and no-one really cares what he thinks. To compensate, he may have convinced himself that he really does matter. He'd tell himself this daily, until he actually came to believe it. Basically, Harry is deluded.

Our very British brand of totalitarianism

Worth a read this: https://thecritic.co.uk/our-very-british-brand-of-totalitarianism/

Snippet: “the average Englishman would happily have a microchip in his arm if it meant he could go down the pub.”

Azealia Banks in the News Again

I'm a big fan of Azealia Banks music, not really interested in her sex tape; but I see she's apparently ended a relationship over it. Maybe someone could clue me in on what this NFT tech is, now I'm definitely starting to feel old. 

https://www.insider.com/azealia-banks-ryder-ripps-breakup-engagement-nft-sex-tape-2021-3

New Zealand Defend the America's Cup

They did it, the America's Cup remains New Zealand's cup. Yay. The Italian boat put up a worthwhile fight but in the end just wasn't quite good enough. Kiwis make some really cool stuff, shame the government doesn't take it seriously enough. NZ should fully industrialise.

36th America's Cup: New Zealand

New Zealand is on the cusp of defending the America's Cup it won in Bermuda back in 2017. Pictures of the regatta being held in Auckland show a truly beautiful country. The spectator fleet numbers in the thousands; boats of all shapes and sizes. Good on you team NZ, go for the win tomorrow.

The Failure of the Political Class

Here's an interesting piece from Dr James Moreton Wakeley, on why lockdowns are almost universally supported, despite their obvious failure: https://lockdownsceptics.org/the-failure-of-the-political-class/

Dr Moreton Wakeley has a Doctorate in History from Oxford University.

Dr Sam Bailey on those PCR Tests

Dr Sam Bailey has some interesting views on SARS-CoV-2. Note, I prefer to use sources from people qualified to comment authoritatively...after her YouTube videos were taken down or censored, she's moved to Odysee. You can find her full length videos there: https://odysee.com/@drsambailey:c

Megyn Kelly on that Oprah Interview of Meghan Markle

I had to laugh, Megyn Kelly on Good Morning Britain totally nails the interview:

That Oprah Interview of Meghan Markle

I've seen the Oprah interview of Meghan Markle on CBS, Sunday 8:00pm, the 7th of March EST in the US. It was a cringeworthy affair, and not particularly interesting. I noticed a slight change in the appearance of Meghan Markle, she's now trying to look like a Kardashian. I also noticed she's changing the way she speaks, also sounding like a Kardashian. An example being her pronunciation of sure. The s and u being said with a pronounced sh sound, and the r accentuated - shurrr. 

You don't need to watch it as I've done the work for you, here's a transcript; moan moan moan moan, victim victim victim, racist racist racist, oh woe is me, right right right, moan moan moan, unsurvivable, moan moan moan. Get the idea?

There are laugh out loud moments, especially from Harry who isn't allowed his own face time with Oprah. No, he has to have his hand held by Meghan who can be seen to squeeze it when he either says too much or says the wrong thing. She's obviously wearing the pants in the relationship. I laughed when Harry talked about not being able to ride a bicycle when growing up. I mean, does he have no sense of self? This immensely privileged and grossly spoilt brat had palace grounds to ride his bike around in. He rides polo ponies as a pastime.

And what is it with Harry, he looks almost homeless. He can't pull his socks up and his shoes had holes in the bottom of them. His beard looks shabby. Has this man no pride in his appearance? I find it hard to believe he grew up a Royal, then went to Eton and then Sandhurst. He looks as if he's been dragged through a hedge backwards.

It was very disappointing Oprah did not ask Meghan about her side of the family, you know, the Markle's and the Ragland's. Clearly, there were indeed some interview no-go areas.

My advice to the Queen; throw the pair of them in the Tower. That's what the first Elizabeth would have done. 

Rob Campbell on Q&A

TVNZ's Q&A had Rob Campbell on this morning; I thought, oh dear, New Zealand has to be in real trouble if Rob Campbell has emerged from his cave and is speaking out. 

Many NZers will only know Campbell from his current role as a professional director. But in a previous life he was a Labour party stalwart and union boss. He's a graduate in economics and seen a lot. That said, he's basically saying; New Zealand is jiggered. He talked of there being no plan, and that the government is not harnessing the resources of business sectors. One could say, that's because Labour are now trying to destroy business. 

He did suggest, if you listen carefully, that tourism may never recover. This effectively turns Queenstown into a ghost town. Add to that Wanaka, Franz Josef and Te Anau. 

Some may have missed his reference to the problem of relying on the one thing. I agree with this although he was far too polite. NZ is dangerously reliant on a very shallow base. Shallow in terms of breadth and depth. Today, NZ consists of cafes and bars (which are now endangered species) and farmers below them. Between the two, from producers to services, there is very little for the country to hang its hat on. NZ has very clever people but the government is so myopic, and I'd add functionally illiterate and innumerate when I say this, that the country has been whittled away to nothing. I equate NZ to a logging company that has made so many cuts it's now down to one chainsaw but thinks this clever. Clearly you've got serious trouble when that one chainsaw breaks down. Right now, NZ's chainsaw is spluttering. 

We are standing right at the edge of the cliff folks. One more step and that's it, NZ falls over the edge.

Have Lockdowns Enabled Coronavirus Mutations to Thrive?

 Interesting view from The Critic:

In a world of social distancing, stay-at-home orders, face coverings and a ban on mass gatherings, we are no-doubt suppressing the virus. But we are conferring a greater advantage on the more transmissible variants of that virus.

https://thecritic.co.uk/mutant-variations-and-the-danger-of-lockdowns/

Ken Horlor: Book Promotion on Now

I'm having a free Kindle promotion right now. Over the rest of the day you can download any of my titles for free on Kindle. You don't need any special device, just a computer and the free Amazon software to read the books. 

Here are the links to each book, grab a copy now:

Fiction:

Basketball Obsession: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIEZ51G

The Crushing Son: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DK352BK

Dana Point: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1

Non-fiction:

Snob's Guide to New Zealand: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9XRCWK