August 23, 2016
Best Bodies Rio 2016
After much deliberation and upon checking with my friend in the USA to get an international perspective, it can be announced that the best bodies at the Rio 2016 Olympics were to be found on the Divers, both men and women. To put it in my friends own words, they are perfect. I'm not going to argue with that, as they were as near to perfect as you can get.
August 22, 2016
Beckenham School
I have had three children attend Beckenham School in Christchurch, each of them attending from Year 1 all the way through to Year 8.
Warning: Beckenham School is not a good school any longer.
In the past, across the full range of factors that make a school a place that nurtures learning, Beckenham School at least scored a pass mark by my measure. There were issues at times, such as their teaching of number leaving a lot to be desired, but overall, they got the job done. For instance, my eldest achieved her first A+ at Beckenham School (not the only one she'd ever receive ). Small things like that do make a difference.
Want to know what Beckenham School is like now? They've gone all silly. The best example of this is their using food as a form of control. The children are kept hungry, and are sent out to play at the midday break, including practising sports while they're hungry. They're only allowed to eat just as they re-enter the classroom. If you've ever coached sports you'd know how stupid this idea is. The most commonly heard coaching advice anywhere in the world is, don't come to practise without food in your belly (coal in the boiler). Beckenham School, which does not have a proud sporting record (it's true, one or two, but you know - they're exceptions), is setting new ever lower standards.
My youngest now at Beckenham, I doubt the teachers know who she is. The reports we get are clearly of another child completely. They have her achieving at the minimum level for her year group (trust me, she's bright, she's well above any minimal national standard), and enjoys reading. Actually she doesn't like that at all but Beckenham have no idea do they. She struggles to finish a book (though she reads well - go figure ). She actually likes Mathematics, something she's quite competent at, but Beckenham aren't aware of her ability in that respect. One report had her enjoying playing Netball. That's funny, cos she's never played it, she plays Soccer.
Beckenham is disorganised, and teachers encourage pupils to use the teachers Christian name. It's laughable, you need to establish a teacher/pupil framework, knowing the teachers Christian name is one thing, encouraging pupils to use it is just plain nonsense.
Clearly it has to start at the top, the school is not well led. You start as you mean to carry on, so the trend is ever downward. I feel sorry for any young parent with their first child starting their first year. They've got little idea that their child is going to become cannon fodder.
What do I do? I make up the difference by teaching my child myself, all those things they'll need, particularly language, number and science. But I have to say this is becoming a chore as Beckenham is getting so bad, it is now nearly a full time job. In the past, I'd only need to give my children top ups when the school had failed in an area. Now they're simply not doing their jobs at all as I see it.
Please be careful when considering ERO reports and the like. They're window dressing and rarely address the kinds of issues I'm talking about. All the Education Review Office will pick up is when a school is imploding. What I'm talking about with Beckenham is something akin to sub par, which is a lot harder to address.
Will things improve? Unlikely, if you are looking around, there are other schools in Christchurch and many direct competitors that appear to be doing much better.
Warning: Beckenham School is not a good school any longer.
In the past, across the full range of factors that make a school a place that nurtures learning, Beckenham School at least scored a pass mark by my measure. There were issues at times, such as their teaching of number leaving a lot to be desired, but overall, they got the job done. For instance, my eldest achieved her first A+ at Beckenham School (not the only one she'd ever receive ). Small things like that do make a difference.
Want to know what Beckenham School is like now? They've gone all silly. The best example of this is their using food as a form of control. The children are kept hungry, and are sent out to play at the midday break, including practising sports while they're hungry. They're only allowed to eat just as they re-enter the classroom. If you've ever coached sports you'd know how stupid this idea is. The most commonly heard coaching advice anywhere in the world is, don't come to practise without food in your belly (coal in the boiler). Beckenham School, which does not have a proud sporting record (it's true, one or two, but you know - they're exceptions), is setting new ever lower standards.
My youngest now at Beckenham, I doubt the teachers know who she is. The reports we get are clearly of another child completely. They have her achieving at the minimum level for her year group (trust me, she's bright, she's well above any minimal national standard), and enjoys reading. Actually she doesn't like that at all but Beckenham have no idea do they. She struggles to finish a book (though she reads well - go figure ). She actually likes Mathematics, something she's quite competent at, but Beckenham aren't aware of her ability in that respect. One report had her enjoying playing Netball. That's funny, cos she's never played it, she plays Soccer.
Beckenham is disorganised, and teachers encourage pupils to use the teachers Christian name. It's laughable, you need to establish a teacher/pupil framework, knowing the teachers Christian name is one thing, encouraging pupils to use it is just plain nonsense.
Clearly it has to start at the top, the school is not well led. You start as you mean to carry on, so the trend is ever downward. I feel sorry for any young parent with their first child starting their first year. They've got little idea that their child is going to become cannon fodder.
What do I do? I make up the difference by teaching my child myself, all those things they'll need, particularly language, number and science. But I have to say this is becoming a chore as Beckenham is getting so bad, it is now nearly a full time job. In the past, I'd only need to give my children top ups when the school had failed in an area. Now they're simply not doing their jobs at all as I see it.
Please be careful when considering ERO reports and the like. They're window dressing and rarely address the kinds of issues I'm talking about. All the Education Review Office will pick up is when a school is imploding. What I'm talking about with Beckenham is something akin to sub par, which is a lot harder to address.
Will things improve? Unlikely, if you are looking around, there are other schools in Christchurch and many direct competitors that appear to be doing much better.
August 17, 2016
Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin
Olympic spirit is alive and well. In a heat for the women's 5,000 metres, Nikki Hamblin tripped and fell, causing the following US runner, Abbey D'Agostino to also fall. Despite being injured herself, the American D'Agostino picked the Kiwi up. Hamblin, no doubt humbled by this stopped to check and encourage the American to continue. They met and embraced after both finished the race.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/16/abbey-dagostino-falls-but-finishes-5000-on-injured-leg/88821348/
The above link from the USA says the American first stumbled and then clipped the Kiwi, bringing both down. But according to my viewing of the race, the Kiwi faltered as a result of the runner in front changing stride, this caused the feet of the Kiwi and American to clip one another (the Kiwi suddenly slowed down). Both have been elevated to the final.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/16/abbey-dagostino-falls-but-finishes-5000-on-injured-leg/88821348/
The above link from the USA says the American first stumbled and then clipped the Kiwi, bringing both down. But according to my viewing of the race, the Kiwi faltered as a result of the runner in front changing stride, this caused the feet of the Kiwi and American to clip one another (the Kiwi suddenly slowed down). Both have been elevated to the final.
August 16, 2016
Rio 2016 - New Zealand Hockey Women
The women have qualified for the semifinals, beating Australia 4-2. That means they will be playing for a medal. Why don't we just scrap male sport and put everything into the women, they're much tougher. The Rugby Sevens, women silver, men duds. Now the hockey, men capitulate completely, women tough it out. I bet sport funding goes in the opposite direction though, go figure. The women need the money and deserve it.
August 15, 2016
Rio 2016 - New Zealand Hockey Choke
Did I just witness the biggest choke in New Zealand sporting history? Oh yes I did. Massive choke, the New Zealand men's hockey team, the world's biggest losers.
Candidates for the title of biggest choke include Team New Zealand's effort competing for the America's Cup on San Francisco Bay, losing in staggering fashion to Oracle. Then there is the Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to France in 2007. But they pale in comparison to Rio 2016 and the NZ men's hockey team quarter-final against Germany.
Why so bad? NZ were up 2-0. The winner would be playing for a medal.
It was all or nothing and the Germans were becoming desperate. They took their goalie off to add an extra player. Holy shit batman, NZ had an open goal.
The Kiwis couldn't score again, worse than that, they gave up possession repeatedly and even managed to get a player sin-binned for time wasting. That put them down to 9 against 11, fine, but NZ still had their goalie - eh. But in the final 1.5 seconds, Germany scores to win the game. Germany drained 3 goals into the NZ net from 2-0 down going into the fourth quarter. Even if the game ended in a draw the match would have gone to a penalty shoot out, and an almost certain win for the Kiwis as Germany chose to end the game without a goalie.
Unbelievable. How could any team lose from the position NZ were in? Only the Kiwis can pull off such a staggering piece of utterly disgraceful cowardice. They capitulated completely, didn't even whimper.
Candidates for the title of biggest choke include Team New Zealand's effort competing for the America's Cup on San Francisco Bay, losing in staggering fashion to Oracle. Then there is the Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to France in 2007. But they pale in comparison to Rio 2016 and the NZ men's hockey team quarter-final against Germany.
Why so bad? NZ were up 2-0. The winner would be playing for a medal.
It was all or nothing and the Germans were becoming desperate. They took their goalie off to add an extra player. Holy shit batman, NZ had an open goal.
The Kiwis couldn't score again, worse than that, they gave up possession repeatedly and even managed to get a player sin-binned for time wasting. That put them down to 9 against 11, fine, but NZ still had their goalie - eh. But in the final 1.5 seconds, Germany scores to win the game. Germany drained 3 goals into the NZ net from 2-0 down going into the fourth quarter. Even if the game ended in a draw the match would have gone to a penalty shoot out, and an almost certain win for the Kiwis as Germany chose to end the game without a goalie.
Unbelievable. How could any team lose from the position NZ were in? Only the Kiwis can pull off such a staggering piece of utterly disgraceful cowardice. They capitulated completely, didn't even whimper.
New Zealand Rugby Sevens Failure
The NZ Sevens men were a complete dud at Rio 2016. I think an obvious solution to the lack of talent would be to look outside the Rugby ranks for athletic talent. How about League !! Yes, contract players in the NRL, bring them over to Sevens. There is speed and fitness to burn in the NRL
August 13, 2016
Does Donald Trump want to be President?
It has occurred to me that Donald Trump does not want to win the Presidency. He keeps coming out with ever more outlandish remarks that I'm sure he doesn't believe himself. Maybe it has dawned on him that if he wins he won't be able to run his company. He's not ready to hand the reins over. Four years as President and he'll have to retire, what do you think?
August 11, 2016
New Zealand Rugby Sevens - Men
A year ago if you'd asked any Kiwi who were a cinch for a medal at Rio 2016, you'd have been told that Rugby would be one. Well, New Zealand got that medal, from the the brave and fearless women. Good on them.
The men however were a damp squib; weak, wet and pathetic. They only won one game from four played before their elimination from medal contention. What? Rugby is NZ's national sport and they're world champions at the fifteen man game.
What went wrong? I think it is summed up by the comment from one of the team following their loss to Fiji. He said; now they can have fun, something they were good at.
Wake up call you losers. You're not there to have fun. The taxpayer is paying you to go over there, risk your life and limb and to do us proud. We don't give a shit if you managed to bury your private parts in whoever, you're there to win - period. Get that in your tiny brains you sacks of proverbial.
The men however were a damp squib; weak, wet and pathetic. They only won one game from four played before their elimination from medal contention. What? Rugby is NZ's national sport and they're world champions at the fifteen man game.
What went wrong? I think it is summed up by the comment from one of the team following their loss to Fiji. He said; now they can have fun, something they were good at.
Wake up call you losers. You're not there to have fun. The taxpayer is paying you to go over there, risk your life and limb and to do us proud. We don't give a shit if you managed to bury your private parts in whoever, you're there to win - period. Get that in your tiny brains you sacks of proverbial.
August 10, 2016
Where is Yelena Isinbayeva
Anyone getting the idea that not having Russia competing in athletics at Rio 2016 was not a good idea? I want to see Yelena Isinbayeva pole vaulting. Not allowing clean athletes of her class is tantamount to rigging by the IOC.
August 09, 2016
Rio Olympics 2016
What is the television coverage of the Rio Olympics like in your country? In New Zealand it's rubbish. Traditionally it's been a time when you check out sports you'd never ordinarily see. Now we're fed a limited selection of what the local competitors are competing in, such as rowing (which is really boring), and equestrian (horses are cool but the competition is even more boring than the rowing). No beach volleyball, nothing like that. God help us.
August 02, 2016
Warren Buffett to Donald Trump:
'Have you no sense of decency?'
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffett-to-donald-trump-have-you-no-sense-of-decency-2016-08-01
While introducing Hillary Clinton at a presidential campaign rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, billionaire Warren Buffett challenged Donald Trump over his war of words with the family of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier. "I ask Donald Trump: 'Have you no sense of decency, sir?'"
Start viewing the following video from the 7:00 minute mark to get the sound bite (or listen to the entire speech, it is worth it):-
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffett-to-donald-trump-have-you-no-sense-of-decency-2016-08-01
While introducing Hillary Clinton at a presidential campaign rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, billionaire Warren Buffett challenged Donald Trump over his war of words with the family of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier. "I ask Donald Trump: 'Have you no sense of decency, sir?'"
Start viewing the following video from the 7:00 minute mark to get the sound bite (or listen to the entire speech, it is worth it):-
July 29, 2016
Mining Fatality
It has been reported that OceanaGold's mine at Waihi has had a fatality. The mine worker died when his loader tipped over.
>>Read Here<<
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the bereaved.
>>Read Here<<
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the bereaved.
July 27, 2016
NZ War on Pests
About time, it has been announced that NZ will launch its biggest ever pest eradication programme to protect its native flora and fauna Will it work, is the big question. We need scientific answers to the problem that's for sure.
July 26, 2016
Workplace NZ Busted
So now we know, New Zealand is actually a safer workplace than Australia. The only reason there are more deaths in NZ per capita is because a higher proportion of NZers are working in high risk industries, like forestry.
Worksafe NZ launched a major advertising campaign which has now been held to be grossly exaggerated.
>>Read Here<<
Read the Tailrisk Economic report>>> HERE
There you go.
Worksafe NZ launched a major advertising campaign which has now been held to be grossly exaggerated.
>>Read Here<<
Read the Tailrisk Economic report>>> HERE
There you go.
July 21, 2016
Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary
Looks like the appointment of Boris Johnson means there was a deal done; Theresa May gets Prime Minister and Boris gets Foreign Secretary, a position from which he can manage the EU exit. I'm presuming this was done based on who had the numbers and the backing of the party as a whole. This looks to be the case as every candidate dropped out apart from May, meaning no need to go to the party-wide vote.
July 18, 2016
Roots TV Mini Series
I have been watching the latest Roots TV Mini Series and I've enjoyed it. There is one major flaw though and that is where the slave 'Chicken' George Lea is sold to cover gambling debts and goes to England to train other cockfighters. He then returns as a slave to the USA (evidently so but I've only seen up to where he gets sold on, and spoilers).
WRONG. This could not happen. The moment 'Chicken' George set foot on English soil he'd be free. By the time depicted in the drama the slave trade had been banned by the British, and cases prior to that had already resolved that there was no such thing as a slave on English soil.
See Somerset v Stewart 1771. Slavery was unsupported by both statute and common law in England and Wales - end of. Moreover, slavery has never been legal on English soil. Can you Americans get that into your skulls. Never ever. In the colonies, always a grey area, England NO.
Abolitionists would have freed 'Chicken' George had he been in England.
Now I haven't seen the whole series, it wraps up next week in NZ. We'll see how this pans out but so far I'm calling Bullshit, the Yanks have simply got this wrong wrong wrong, and if Alex Haley wrote this in his novel then he's a blaggard.
[Edit to add: I've seen the final and yes, they've got 'Chicken' George a slave in England, but after 20 years he is able to buy his freedom and he returns to America a free man. The only problem with this is that in reality he'd be free as soon as his feet touched English soil. But all said and done, I still enjoyed the series even with this flaw. Anna Paquin was underused too, shame that]
WRONG. This could not happen. The moment 'Chicken' George set foot on English soil he'd be free. By the time depicted in the drama the slave trade had been banned by the British, and cases prior to that had already resolved that there was no such thing as a slave on English soil.
See Somerset v Stewart 1771. Slavery was unsupported by both statute and common law in England and Wales - end of. Moreover, slavery has never been legal on English soil. Can you Americans get that into your skulls. Never ever. In the colonies, always a grey area, England NO.
Abolitionists would have freed 'Chicken' George had he been in England.
Now I haven't seen the whole series, it wraps up next week in NZ. We'll see how this pans out but so far I'm calling Bullshit, the Yanks have simply got this wrong wrong wrong, and if Alex Haley wrote this in his novel then he's a blaggard.
[Edit to add: I've seen the final and yes, they've got 'Chicken' George a slave in England, but after 20 years he is able to buy his freedom and he returns to America a free man. The only problem with this is that in reality he'd be free as soon as his feet touched English soil. But all said and done, I still enjoyed the series even with this flaw. Anna Paquin was underused too, shame that]
July 16, 2016
English in New Zealand High Schools
Daughter number two is about to complete high school. She is a capable student, and she reads with great alacrity. She's not a bad writer either, I like her stuff.
So we were talking about how things have gone at school, as you do, and you know what? What she hasn't studied is truly surprising.
She hasn't 'done' any Shakespeare to date. That's not just this year, that's ever. Nor has she done Christopher Marlowe or Ben Jonson. She had seen T.S. Eliot mentioned in a book she got out of the library, so she had heard of him, and she'd read in a Bernard Cornwell book of Anthony Trollope propping up the leg of a table. She said she recognised the reference as I had recommended him.
She has not heard of Rudyard Kipling, Dylan Thomas or William Blake. No Alfred Lord Tennyson for her. Oh no.
Has Russia ever had an empire? Oh dear, the naivety. Yes child of mine and they have literature too. Lots of it.
What she has spent a lot of time on is writing ugly, no, very ugly creative writing pieces for her NCEA. The teachers train these children to emulate drivel like The Luminaries and The Bone People. I call this creative writing class pitiable and largely worthless crap. But like tame seals they have to do it or get a low grade. Gone is economy and elegance. We'll have none of that the teachers say.
This is bad folks. A very very poor state of affairs.
So we were talking about how things have gone at school, as you do, and you know what? What she hasn't studied is truly surprising.
She hasn't 'done' any Shakespeare to date. That's not just this year, that's ever. Nor has she done Christopher Marlowe or Ben Jonson. She had seen T.S. Eliot mentioned in a book she got out of the library, so she had heard of him, and she'd read in a Bernard Cornwell book of Anthony Trollope propping up the leg of a table. She said she recognised the reference as I had recommended him.
She has not heard of Rudyard Kipling, Dylan Thomas or William Blake. No Alfred Lord Tennyson for her. Oh no.
Has Russia ever had an empire? Oh dear, the naivety. Yes child of mine and they have literature too. Lots of it.
What she has spent a lot of time on is writing ugly, no, very ugly creative writing pieces for her NCEA. The teachers train these children to emulate drivel like The Luminaries and The Bone People. I call this creative writing class pitiable and largely worthless crap. But like tame seals they have to do it or get a low grade. Gone is economy and elegance. We'll have none of that the teachers say.
This is bad folks. A very very poor state of affairs.
July 15, 2016
Mike Pence
The choice of Mike Pence as Donald Trump's running mate is a good one. Pence doesn't agree with everything Trump says, and that means any voter thinking about whether to vote for Trump can in fact do so knowing the next guy in line is their kind of man.
I wonder how much influence Ivanka Trump is having on the campaign? She is one very smart woman.
Expect working class white voters from the rust belt to vote Trump come election time. It's all about jobs after all.
[edited to correct obvious and inexplicable spelling mistake grrrr]
I wonder how much influence Ivanka Trump is having on the campaign? She is one very smart woman.
Expect working class white voters from the rust belt to vote Trump come election time. It's all about jobs after all.
[edited to correct obvious and inexplicable spelling mistake grrrr]
July 05, 2016
Kevin Durant
Woh, Kevin Durant signs with the Golden State Warriors soon after losing the series with them while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Anyone a little, how shall we say it, somewhat uneasy about that?
July 01, 2016
Boris Johnson, Winston Churchill
No-one has seen the parallel between Boris Johnson and Winston Churchill. Don't be so quick to write old Boris off just yet folks.
How did Churchill first become Prime Minister? Off the back of Labour votes in the House, that's how. Elements within his own party hated him. Sound like Boris does it? Well, in this Brexit vote, it was Labour heartland that voted to leave while the Tory middle classes wanted to remain in the EU. So poor old Boris can't run for leader of the Conservatives as they hate him. I'm not talking about the party caucus vote here, as with the Conservatives since their changes, the run-off is put to the whole membership, and Boris can't win that.
How he can become PM is either through a national emergency where Labour support for a uniting leader is needed OR Boris jumps ship and leads the Labour party. Unlikely I know, but Churchill jumped ship joining the Liberals from the Conservatives. In the world of politics strange things can happen.
How did Churchill first become Prime Minister? Off the back of Labour votes in the House, that's how. Elements within his own party hated him. Sound like Boris does it? Well, in this Brexit vote, it was Labour heartland that voted to leave while the Tory middle classes wanted to remain in the EU. So poor old Boris can't run for leader of the Conservatives as they hate him. I'm not talking about the party caucus vote here, as with the Conservatives since their changes, the run-off is put to the whole membership, and Boris can't win that.
How he can become PM is either through a national emergency where Labour support for a uniting leader is needed OR Boris jumps ship and leads the Labour party. Unlikely I know, but Churchill jumped ship joining the Liberals from the Conservatives. In the world of politics strange things can happen.