Hillary Clinton Losing Momentum

I don't know if this is being correctly reported but in case no-one has noticed; Hillary Clinton has lost the momentum in the race for the Presidency. She's fallen behind in Florida by 2 percentage points and in other polls she's now tied or only marginally ahead. Trump was lagging badly only a week ago but now he's gaining ground. His campaign while disorganised on some levels, appears to be judging its sprint to the line better, with Hillary appearing out of gas. Is this another Hillary Clinton choke (like she choked against Obama)?

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have made the World Series for the first time in 71 years, let's hope they win this time. I've only been a fan for about the last 10 years (I am a long-time fan of the Yokohama DeNA Baystars in Japan's Central League), but I'm enjoying the ride.

Azealia Banks Picks On Russell Crowe

You've got to laugh, Azealia Banks noticed Russell Crowe is over the hill and the biggest dipstick in Hollywood. Read about it here:-

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/azealia-banks-speaks-out-about-hotel-room-fight-with-russell-crowe-w445861

Ms Banks, you could have called him on claiming to be an Australian, when in fact he's a New Zealander. Australia won't have him, which sucks for us Kiwis. I've tried to swap a live Russell Crowe for the body of Peter Brock, but no Aussie will look at the deal. C'mon Aussies, you get a live Russell Crowe for the corpse of a motor racing legend, what is there to lose? 

Trucks in the USA

I'm not sure why heavy trucks are the way they are in the USA. If someone can explain then I'm all ears.

The most common type of truck I saw on my recent trip were semi-trailers. Almost all of the tractor units were conventional with hardly any cabovers. Is there a good reason why that's the case?

Then combinations were interesting. In California I'm not sure I ever saw a B-train or B-double rig, where the two trailers are each connected to a turntable. What I did see a lot of was a semi-trailer pulling a draw-bar trailer, and that draw-bar was often rising up from the front axle of the trailer, not perpendicular with the trailer body.

Then in most states I visited; aggregates were being transported on trucks that to my eye looked far too heavy to carry a useful payload. The trailers were often side dump or bottom dump, while others appeared to be transfer dumps such as the type in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woi0T4XVf1s

The trucks in the above video do appear far too heavy for a useful load of aggregate. Here's an Australian equivalent rig, I'm pretty sure this set-up delivers more in the one trip, correct me if I'm wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYVT2_toS3I

In Nevada I saw road trains, but they too appeared to be heavy tare weights. 

Bel Aire Motel Missoula

Special mention must go to this the worst motel during my latest trip to the USA. It was so bad the experience has scarred my soul and it will take a lifetime to recover. The room stank of cigarette smoke so thick I could hardly breath in there. Not only that, the sheets were unwashed and on to who knows how many trips around the block before seeing the inside of a washing machine.

The day started out well and I drove across Montana, through rain so hard my car's traction control went haywire and I couldn't see where I was going but I did have certain knowledge there were a lot of other cars and trucks near me on the interstate. I had visions of my demise and that I'd be entering heaven to sound of Marie Osmond singing Meet Me In Montana. But that didn't happen obviously as I'm here to tell you about how bad the Bel Aire is.

It is really really really bad and that's possibly massive understatement. It is the worst motel in the world and so bad, Zimbabwe's worst would look like the Ritz. Sorry Zimbabwe, I know you try.

Missoula is a university town and it was Saturday and their football team was playing at home. This meant that everything was booked and the town was full of drunken football supporters who didn't even go to the game but instead park their pickups and go to bars where they get legless. I suppose this behaviour is an excuse to meet up, but I was left scratching my head, why did they not just stay at home, stay off the roads, and keep everyone safe. But this is America where there are a lot of things that don't make a lot of sense.

You'll note that I'm avoiding talking about the room. I dropped the key in the return slot at 5am and ran far away. That's all I can say. I might have flashbacks, I hope not.

Please note: Trip Advisor would not publish this review, so you can safely bet that the worst is never fully disclosed, meaning you cannot fully trust sites like that. Be warned, if the hostelry has more than 2 one star reviews in the last year, rest assured it's a lot worse than described.

HHonors with Hilton and Visiting the USA

Over the past two weeks I have been on holiday in the USA. I drove around quite a bit, covering 5,600 miles or 9,000 kilometres in that time. That's almost as much driving as I do in a year. In the next few posts I'll recount my experiences, describing the places I visited, the people I met, the food, shopping and the whole tourist experience both good and bad.

To start this off, let's start at the beginning of my journey, before my feet have even left the ground. Booking and paying for the flights was easy enough and getting a new passport was also a breeze. I needed to have a firm base at least for my first two nights, to get set as it were, and so I enrolled in Hilton's HHonors programme, and booked through them. Big mistake that and here's why.

On the 9th September I booked two nights using my BNZ Platinum Visa at the Hilton Garden Inn San Jose/Milpitas, total cost US$218.24. That's not excessive but neither is it a raging bargain either. The booking was handled through Hilton Advance Purchase Memphis. 

Then nine days later, on the 18th, the hotel takes it upon itself to bill my Visa card another US$218.48. This was a totally unauthorised transaction. Then on the 21st of September, without my pointing out the matter (the statement hadn't actually arrived, I only found all this out when I returned from overseas and opened my mail), they reversed the $218.48 three days later.

Have they done a good job? You might think so eh. But they hadn't. Why? That $218.48 in New Zealand dollars was NZ$308.18 charged to my account, then only NZ$292 going back in, putting me out of pocket to the tune of $16.00 or thereabouts. If you're going to put something right, then put it right correctly, HHonors took $308.18 off me, then they can put $308.18 back in. Nothing else is acceptable.

Do you see my point? Had I ignored HHonors I'd be $16 better off. Issues that need answering include; who authorised the hotel apart from central booking to charge this card, and what did they think they were doing? I hadn't even checked in yet. The room had been 100% prepaid, so what's up? What if this charge had put me over my limit on the card? 

Quite frankly, I'm not happy about this. Hilton HHonors were too loose with my credit card details and I'll not be using them again and I strongly suggest anyone reading this avoid them as well. 

Exercise Exercise and More Exercise

I found the following pictures showing what regular exercise can achieve. I hope the person doesn't mind my posting them on my blog.

Jennifer Rose-Aidala is a WBFF competitor, mother of three, and she's in her mid-30's. Look at the folllowing images. The first shows the absolute before and after, I don't know the exact time period here, but likely more than a year with a diet to go with the output.

The second photo shows when she's getting somewhere and then the substantially completed outcome, again quite amazing.

The Snob's Guide to New Zealand Universities

Snob's Guide to New Zealand is now a book, available from Amazon in paperback or kindle

Paperback: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1727804147

Kindle: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J9XRCWK

International rankings are of little use to any New Zealander looking to send their child off to the right university. These studies look at research budgets, international students and staff, and a whole host of categories that are of very little practical use. For the parent and student, they need to know what school is going to get them ahead? I am here to answer that question, so this is it, Kenneth Horlor's Snob's Guide to New Zealand Universities:-

Rank in order, highest first, lowest last...

1. University of Auckland. 

It covers a wide field and has all the money and facilities. You can't go wrong with this place, so long as you can afford Auckland.

2. University of Canterbury.

Always second, it is a consistent performer. Careful here, as a good argument can be made for saying its law and engineering graduates are better than Auckland's. However they don't produce medical doctors, or architects, or veterinarians (see Massey for Vets).

3. Victoria University of Wellington.

It is located in the capital city and its graduates get picked up pretty quickly. They have a broad range of studies, their accountants are probably the best in the country.

4. University of Otago.

Favoured by drunken louts, this institution bombards the country with television ads promising your child will get a leg up by going there. Don't believe it. Unless you're going to be a doctor, dentist or pharmacist, forget this place.

5. Massey University

Famed for its agricultural background this institution has ballooned out with campuses all over the place. Known for its dubious MBA, it is better known for producing fine Vets. Unless you have a compelling reason for going to this place, it's best to avoid. Reasons may be your child is from a hick town and needs to be around similar types or they'll go mad. Or they're going to be a Vet.

6. Lincoln University.

Turns out good agriculturalists, wine makers and the like. It's Christchurch's other full university, it's stable enough. You may go here if you live locally and can't be bothered competing at UofC (#2 above).

7. AUT.

A former Polytech, it makes up the numbers. Toils away without doing anything remarkable. You'd only look at this place for the same reasons for attending Lincoln, except think Auckland instead of Christchurch.

8. University of Waikato.

The struggler. Not known for anything and it shows. One interesting innovation is it chooses its law students from the high school intake, rather than putting them through an intermediate year. But that's about it for this place. There is no sound reason to attend.

9. Everywhere else offering a degree in New Zealand.

No doubt some others offer interesting courses, never say never. I've heard good things about the Design Arts College in Christchurch for instance (now part of Yoobee). You have to look at any of these very carefully. Polytechs offer nursing studies and things like that, and we all need nurses. Many also offer engineering at the technical level, one level below chartered engineer. They're often good graduates, places like Ara Institute of Canterbury do a good job. But you're not exiting these places at the top so to speak, this is a snob's guide, not a suck up to whoever.

10. Australia.

An option often overlooked is to attend the University of Sydney (The Shop), or another of similar standard. Kiwis pay domestic fees but you cannot get a student loan. Beware fish hooks with this approach, Griffith, say, would not be ranked on my list. However Sydney I'd put above Auckland, so there is a lot to consider. One innovation is that you can complete a degree in less than three years at Bond University, but it is expensive.

There you go, make of it what you will. 

Trump Campaign

If the outlandish statements Donald Trump is making are not because he has decided he doesn't want to be President, then maybe the strategy is to set the bar so low to begin with, that he can now soften and not seem weak. The bonus is the Clinton camp are now talking about Trump a lot, which is akin to free advertising for Trump. The race is certainly not over yet, and Trump may win. A factor overlooked is all those voters who don't want to see Bill back in the White House.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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):-