Dana Point - The Latest Novel from Ken Horlor

My third novel has now been released. It's a science fiction story, and the first in a series. What we learn is we are not alone in the Universe and that there has been regular contact with aliens. Revealed is the origins of civilization on Earth and some of the science enabling long distance space travel.

It's also a personal story: On the run from the authorities, Augustus flees his place of refuge as it is about to be destroyed. Now in need of fuel, he heads to Earth with his only son. Augustus expects to find the Roman Empire when he gets there, only to discover it's now 2016 and the Romans aren't around anymore. 

To buy a paperback copy please follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723249610
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FP5DLJ1/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Dana Point cover:

Elon Musk - Again

Elon Musk has stoked a Twitter war by calling one of the cave rescuers in Thailand names. What he said of the rescue worker is a four letter word starting with P and ending with O.

Can we please just make Musk go away? He's turning into the caricatured bad guy. This submarine in the cave idea was never going to work and I doubt anyone involved in the rescue took it seriously.

But hang on, if he really is serious about going to Mars, then studying what went on in the cave could come in handy. People stuck in tight places, call it psychology mixed with engineering. Valuable lessons will have been learnt. Is this relevant to Musk? Well yes, if he can actually get off the ground with his Mars business, which I might add, I very much doubt.

The world is becoming a very strange place or am I just getting old?

All Things Trump

Okay, so Donald J. Trump is in Europe. A bit of a hit and miss affair.

Firstly, his manners. No, I don't think he needs to bow to the Queen. He is a head of state after all, he's not going to be subservient to another head of state. But his walking in front of her during an inspection of the guard? That's him being arrogant and putting himself centre stage. I'm sure he did it intentionally. The same applies to keeping the Queen waiting for 15 minutes. It's uncouth behaviour.

Then he showed his ignorance when appearing to not understand what the UK is, and that England is a separate country within the UK. This was revealed when The Sun newspaper interviewed him. It's cringe-worthy to be honest. In the interview he can be heard saying you don't hear England mentioned much these days, and when presented with an England football jersey, he remarks about it, saying something about how they do still have it. Wow, see it does still exist type of thing. A man this ignorant should not be in charge of anything. And I'm talking about even a merry-go-round.

But his call for NATO partners to ante up is correct I feel. Although the only thing is, he didn't originate the call. America has been calling for more spending from its partners for some time. Likewise the gas from Russia angle. It has long been pointed out that Russia can simply turn the gas off at any time and Germany would freeze.

But perhaps something President Trump is doing a little differently, is putting the EU and NATO together. I could be wrong, but I've never seen this done before by someone in his position. Yes, I do think they must be put alongside one another as the EU get to sell goods to the US off the back of the US paying to defend them. It's a tilted playing field in other words. The US has finally woken up.

But the real worry with President Trump is his erratic nature. That's where any defence of his actions begins to unravel. What course he sets seems to come down to how he feels when he wakes up in the morning. My concern is that the weaknesses inherent in the American governmental system are now being fully exposed. It could lead to a World War.

NZ Nurses Strike: Unrealistic Expectations

A good case can be made for certain industries being banned from taking strike action and the health sector is one of them. Other industries worth such a ban include key transportation hubs such as airports and the like. Whatever your view on the subject, the current strike by New Zealand nurses stands out as based on totally unrealistic expectations. The patients are left to suffer.

My advice: the District Health Boards should now remove their offer from the table, and send the union back to square one.

What is on the table from the DHB's? Reportedly a minimum 12.5% pay increase over 25 months. Bear in mind most employees could expect nothing more than 4 or 5% in that time frame. It's triple what anyone could expect. Generous in other words.

But there is more in play than just money and working conditions. The Labour party is owned by social workers, teachers and nurses. I suspect nurses are flexing their muscles within Labour. The coalition government cannot allow itself to be blackmailed. Stand firm on that last and highest offer. If the government fails to stand firm, they'll look weak and hand National an election victory in 2020. It's pretty simple. Most workers would love to get 12.5% over 25 months, so there's not going to be any sympathy for the union after this. There will be handy holdy of course, but resentment too, which voters will keep to themselves. The Labour/NZ First government cannot afford to buckle and have that resentment turn into a backlash against Labour.

World Cup 2018: England Out, Croatia Deserved Winners

The key term that comes to mind after watching the England - Croatia semi-final; it's not the size of dog in the fight, it's the size of fight in the dog.

What happened to England at half time? I'm talking about during the break itself. After the fifteen minute break England were late getting out onto the pitch and looked like stragglers walking from the dressing room. Croatia's body language spoke volumes, they were ready and looked like winners despite being down on the scoreboard.

And so from the start of the second half it just looked like Croatia finding a way to win, and never England looking to put the game beyond doubt.

I'd like to mention one other thing; even the first half looked a little disjointed and I'll tell you why. England are always too keen to give ground. The statistics here tell a lie I feel. What those statistics from the first half will show is that possession was even. But if you could find a figure that measures contests, it would show that Croatia was always prepared to fight for possession or territory. I'd wager it would look 70/30 Croatia, 30/70 England. That is, 70% Croatia showing more aggression in the contests, and 70% refusing to retreat (30% the other way around).

I believe both teams were tired, probably equally so. But cultural factors meant Croatia was going to win from the moment the second half started. And that cultural factor was England gave ground too easily, and were beaten as a result.

I'm sad about it as this was a golden opportunity for England to win a World Cup. It was the best opportunity they've had since 1966 at home. But now they can learn and move on, knowing they're good enough. Now they have to know they must always find a way to win, not just hope they'll win. There is a difference.

New Zealand Defence Spending

Proof of what I've been saying is available by examining the following graph. NZ's defence spending has been steadily shrinking and has now plummeted to a deplorable level. The last time NZ was at 2% of GDP was in 1992.


source: tradingeconomics.com

NZ Defence Policy Statement 2018

New Zealand has got more to talk about with the latest statement on its defence capability. To put it bluntly, NZ defence has gone bust. That's right, it has failed. NZ is now largely defenceless.

Read the latest statement here>> https://defence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Strategic-Defence-Policy-Statement-2018.pdf

To illustrate what I mean by bust, check out page 38/40, numbered items 250-254. In terms of Navy and Air Force, there is nothing left to speak of.

It's like this folks, NZ has 1.92 capable C130 Hercules for airlift. That's just under two planes out of the five total. They're so old they can almost never fly. Then of course, let's not forget NZ has no air strike capability. None. Zero.

Navy, one frigate working currently I think, what else? Two offshore patrol boats and a pumped up RORO. This to defend an area of huge size, check out the graphic on page 25/40 in the link. The territory is equivalent to the upper half of Africa, all of Europe and part of the Arctic. How could our country's leaders do such a bad job for so long? I know, put a bunch of bean counters in charge.

Azealia Banks - Anna Wintour

The very talented Azealia Banks has a new song out, Anna Wintour. See the video below...

Argentina and Portugal out of FIFA 2018

England's chances just got a whole lot better with both Argentina and Portugal crashing out of the World Cup. Now all they need is for Mexico to beat Brazil. Dare to dream England, oh, and make sure you beat Colombia.

FIFA World Cup 2018

The top 16 has been decided and England are in the box seat for a straight run to the final. By coming second in their group, they now face much lesser opponents now that Germany has been eliminated. Had Germany topped their pool I am sure England would have fought tooth and nail to win their final group match against Belgium as they'd likely be facing Germany in the quarter-finals had they lost.

Belgium are now faced with the likely prospect of Brazil in the quarter-finals, which is what England would have come across had they won their group.

England then, must beat Colombia round of sixteen; then beat either Sweden or Switzerland (easily achievable), then they'll come up against one of Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark. All of these teams have looked unconvincing. So it's down to England against Brazil in the final, Or England against Uruguay. Whoever it is, being on the other side of the draw looks far more formidable.

It looks like England have their thinking caps on.

The Big Lie About Reycling

The big lie is you're helping save the planet by recycling plastics. Am I committing heresy in saying it? Probably.

Here's the thing; recycling certain metals makes sense. They're expensive and come in limited quantities when mined. An example is gold, silver, lead and copper. Steel, the list goes on and on. But plastic, that's problematic as oil is available in vast quantities despite what the naysayers claim and when produced manufacturers do so in large production runs, using economies of scale.

Now consider the consumer, that's you and me. We go into a store and buy a drink stored in a plastic bottle. Does it make sense to then separate that plastic, transport it, sort it, process it into another plastic whatever? Clearly it does not as the amount of hydrocarbons displaced in 'saving' that precious bottle is greater than what went into making the bottle in the first place.

The only sensible thing you can do is ensure that that plastic bottle takes a short and safe trip to a landfill. Maybe, possibly an incinerator. But it makes absolutely no sense to recycle the thing.

And the really big lie is the one told to you time and again. That lie is when choosing to recycle you're saving the planet, protecting cute seals or some such, sustainable this, eco that. How about this as a sales pitch; are you prepared to take a 20% pay cut to save the planet? Oh and with no certainty that taking a pay cut will actually work, but it will make you feel like you're doing something. Have I won you over? No? Well that's what the consumer is being asked to do as that recycling 'industry' is building cost into every part of their saving everything.

Recycling sometimes makes sense. Mostly though, it's a sales pitch hoodwinking you, the put-upon consumer, into paying more and receiving less. What is the answer? Engineer alternatives that's what. Find other ways to do things. Don't take junk and think you can make something out of it.

Lockwood Smith on Brexit

Lockwood Smith is a former Speaker of the NZ House of Representatives and High Commissioner to the UK, here making comment on Brexit. He explains precisely why Brexit is good for the UK.

Making East Cape Monaco

This is to provide an illustration of what I was talking about with my post, proposing that East Cape New Zealand be established as a principality like Monaco.

Study the picture below...

East Cape New Zealand as Monaco

I've drawn a line roughly 20 kilometres long from just south of Tikitiki across to East Cape. This is a territory much larger than Monaco which is only approx. 2 square kilometres. Instead of looking at this area as deprived, create it as a haven for the rich; zero personal taxation for those from outside New Zealand and Australia but resident within East Cape for a minimum amount of time. Companies with no local business pay no income tax at all.

This principality would be in charge of its own government but not be able to have its own armed forces or foreign policy. What do you think?

England at FIFA World Cup 2018

England beat Tunisia in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup. The victory came in spite of the refereeing which could at best be described as deplorable. Despite all the technology, the beautiful game is still blighted by the scourge of the referees.

International Rugby Union

The modern rules are ruining the game of Rugby Union. I've just watched the France vs New Zealand test in Wellington. It was a contest up to the point where the referee ruined the game by sending off Benjamin Fall of France. People pay to see a contest not this nonsense. The players are grown men who know they're in a game where collisions occur. Fall was not acting maliciously. They need to sort this out as referees, or more precisely the modern rules are ruining the spectacle.

Christchurch

What the hell is going on with Christchurch, New Zealand? They've now come up with the idea to drop something resembling a dead fish in the middle of Cathedral Square.

https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/b/j/f/5/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1qbihe.png/1528872088633.jpg

Are these people on planet earth? Why does the council keep getting re-elected?

Tony Abbott on Brexit

Former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott has waded into the Brexit debate with an opinion piece in the UK's Sun newspaper.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6505379/brexit-wonderful-moment-for-britain-tony-abbott/

I notice he mentions the UK could join NAFTA. They could, and they could also join the TPP in the Pacific. Little known is that the UK owns part of the Pacific about the size of France. It is located around Pitcairn.

New Zealand Political Landscape

Right now in NZ the two major parties, Labour and National, are pretty much locked in head-on battle. The landscape (for want of a better word) has returned to that which existed before the introduction of MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) in 1996.

In the early days of MMP smaller parties did have a much larger say. Examples are ACT (Association of Consumers and Taxpayers) and the Alliance (a left wing assemblage of New Labour, Mana Motuhake, Greens, Social Credit etc). Now there is no Alliance, and just the one ACT member of parliament.

Only two smaller parties figure these days; NZ First and Greens. Both hover around the 5% threshold. National are left stranded as they only have ACT as a natural fit.

Here's the deal, future governments in the very near future will be elected due to the strength of those smaller parties. It will be essential to have all their votes count. If the smaller parties currently in parliament fall below the 5% threshold their votes may be wasted. Seeing as all votes count once an electorate seat is won by that party, the sensible solution is to make deals, offering up winnable or safe seats to those potential partners. It means losing one or two electorates for the larger party but they have a chance of forming a government.

Think of it like this; if Labour are on 41% at the next election and their current coalition partners are on 4.5% each and they have no electorate seats, then the votes for those smaller partners don't count. But if Labour do deals, they can ensure all 9% that could be wasted fully counts, they get to 50% and form a government.

Consider the alternatives for either major party. If Labour do not play the game smart, they stand to watch National form a government with less than 50% of the vote if National end up the largest party. That's because all parliamentary seats must be allocated and are distributed amongst parties reaching the threshold. For its part National has to adjust and find a natural fit. One approach they could take given its much larger membership base, is start other brands, or possibly reverse takeover smaller parties.

How does this work? Well political parties must be democratic. The BlueGreens group within National could all join the Greens and take them over. Alternatively farmer groups within National could take over NZ First. National could do this quite easily if they had the will to do it. Whether they are organised or not however is another question. My thinking is the Greens would be easier to takeover.

We are in for some interesting manoeuvring.

President Trump and Tariffs

Oh no, President Trump has upset everyone with his tariffs on steel and aluminium. However if you step back for a minute, it is easy to see that the US has been taken advantage of. The countries that are now the focus of Trump's attention, very quickly skew the playing field when it suits them. All the US is doing is evening things up. Those countries affected are crying crocodile tears in other words.

Willie Jackson on the AM Show

Good on you Willie Jackson for saying what needed to be said. Turns out you see, National do hate poor people. Readers may remember me asking this very question of then NZ Prime Minister Simon "Bill" English. Well here it is folks, National were throwing people out of perfectly liveable homes. It's disgusting to think but apparently true.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/05/national-had-no-idea-meth-guidelines-were-wrong-judith-collins.html

Mr Jackson said Ms Collins was feigning ignorance "to cover for [Ms Bennett] who was fronting and demonising poor people".

"Bennett should be on her knees grovelling to this nation for what she did to our community, what she did to poor people... This is one of the worst things that a Government has ever done."