Judith Collins Wins Debate

The odds were against her; TVNZ had stacked the deck by having current public opinion polling released an hour before the leaders debate itself, but Judith Collins pulled off a stunning victory. She did all the right things, said the right things, and looked like a prime minister in waiting. Meanwhile, her opponent Jacinda Ardern looked as if she wanted to be somewhere else. Maybe her mind was somewhere else, we'll never know. She was average, lacklustre and considering this is 2020 and global economic shambles time, we expect more of our leaders. 

Currently National are trailing in the polls, but I don't trust them, they've got to be rigged. National are doing fine and I'm picking a change of government will be the result on election day. Remember, I called it the other way back in 2017.

Auckland Harbour Bridge Falling Down

It's a minor example of the decay and lack of investment in New Zealand's infrastructure; Auckland Harbour Bridge was hit by a truck crossing the bridge and now several lanes will be out of action for weeks while repairs are underway. For decades a second option for crossing the harbour has been touted but nothing has ever been done about it. Successive governments have sat on their hands. So commuters have to queue for hours, instead of using a viable alternative.

But this is only the start. Bridges across NZ are chronically underfunded and their maintenance and upgrade has long since been abandoned. With an election just weeks away, hopefully the issues can be kept in focus leading up to polling day, and hopefully voters will bear the lack of investment in mind when they cast their ballot.

How About We Cancel Cancel Culture

NBA: Clippers Massive Choke

I've said it many times; the Los Angeles Clippers will never win a championship. They don't know how to win, the club lacks the right culture. With all its talent, how could they give up a 3-1 series lead and lose in game 7 to the Denver Nuggets. It is just incredible how they clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mind you, the Nuggets played good team tactics, never allowing the Clippers easy looks. More often than not a Nuggets player contested shots and if they didn't, the Clippers shooter was probably in his secondary spot anyway. This told in the end, the Clippers looked awful.

Have a look at this highlights reel of the fourth quarter, it shows just how bad the Clippers were, and how organised the Nuggets were as well:

Advance NZ

There's a small political tsunami occurring in New Zealand right now; they're called Advance NZ. This new political party was created by ex-National MP Jamie-Lee Ross but where it found its feet was when they joined forces with the New Zealand Public Party. The latter group merged with Advance NZ so they could be on the ballot for the 2020 general election.

Musician Billy TK Jr is behind NZPP. They're an odd bunch, often holding what may be called fringe beliefs; opposing vaccinations and the 1080 poisoning of pests and so on.

Why the tsunami? COVID-19 and the associated lengthy and damaging lockdowns have fuelled support for this group. People already alienated by the existing power structures and the lockdown has led to a feeling of powerlessness. Into this void strode Advance NZ. Combined with an effective social media campaign, numbers attending meetings, protests, rare but well handled appearances on television, Advance NZ are gaining traction. They could make the 5% threshold, while the Greens and NZ First may be out altogether. If this happens, it'll be a major shift in the NZ political landscape.

The next few weeks will be interesting to watch. 

We Are Standing on the Precipice

Worth a watch this, from Triggernometry

 

RIP Diana Rigg

Confession time; back in the 60's I had serious hots for the character from the TV show The Avengers, Mrs Emma Peel. Played by Diana Rigg, Mrs Peel was partnered with John Steed as a counter-intelligence agent. Mrs Peel had it all, she was stylish, kick-ass, and witty. Her partner, John Steed drove a Bentley and wore the type of shoes a man could really admire. I actually bought the very same type and still have them to this day.

Sadly, Diana Rigg has died at age 82, a great loss.

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/sep/11/diana-rigg-emma-peel-the-avengers-swinging-sixties-style-icon-fashion

Frogmore Cottage

Does anyone believe, even for a minute, that Prince Harry and his wife have paid back the British taxpayer for their excessive and pointless renovation of Frogmore Cottage out of their own money? I certainly don't. I suspect we'll find out that Prince Charles forked out, just to make the matter go away. Stop enabling Harry, he's shown his true character, let him sink or swim on his own.

Novak Djokovic at the US Open

While Novak Djokovic being defaulted out of the US Open may look harsh, it was the right call in my opinion. Hitting any ball without a clear idea of where you're sending it can result in disaster. The line judge was hit in the neck, an area of the body that is potentially fatal with a knock like that. Think of all the cricketer batsmen who have died from fast balls to the neck region. Add to that the line judge was not expecting the hit.

Typhoon Maysak: Ship Lost at Sea

Tragic circumstances, a ship carrying almost 6,000 head of cattle has sunk while sailing through typhoon Maysak off the coast of Japan. The ship was on the way to China from New Zealand. Here's a picture of the vessel:

This ship doesn't look like it would be comfortable to be on board during a typhoon. It does look top heavy. Reports are the ship capsized and that does sound right.

Pure speculation: what would have caused the ship to capsize? Well, as anyone who has experienced a typhoon will soon tell you, water absolutely buckets down. In this storm I'm guessing a lot of that precipitation was coming in sideways. Note the upper decks are open. If enough water was coming down, so much it couldn't drain away quickly enough, together with the weight of the livestock and their water supplies, the ship would become top heavy, unstable, and any large wave side-on would tip it over.

Bad news I know and no consolation to the family of those on board. This looks to have been poor seamanship, the captain should have tried to avoid the weather, but once in it he should look to reduce the amount of time he was sailing side-on to the wind. He needed to be sailing the boat directly into the wind. Maybe his lack of knowledge about how much water you can take on in a typhoon was a factor.

Only one survivor thus far, let's hope the Japanese Coast Guard find more.

Bonus Free Kindle Reads

Two more of my books are now available as free Kindle reads over the next couple of days.

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

And for those interested in everything New Zealand:

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

Free Kindle Reads

You can download over the next couple of days, two of my novels in Kindle format:

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

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

The Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein Matter

You will all be aware of the photo of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein talking as they walk through Central Park in New York. If you don't know it, here it is:

We know Jeffrey Epstein is a convicted sex offender and that he died in jail while awaiting trial. This photo was taken after Epstein was released, so why would Prince Andrew be seen in public talking to this man? It simply beggars belief. Addressing this, I can speculate what I think Prince Andrew was thinking.

Epstein was a clever manipulator, of that there can be no doubt. Rumours persist that his whole operation was a front for a honey trap run by Israeli intelligence. I have no idea whether this intelligence link is true or not, but one obvious question is how Epstein got away with his crimes for so long.

How would Prince Andrew get involved? This is my thinking; Epstein told him he was a key part of a top secret Israeli/CIA/MI6 operation. Being the forgotten brother of a future King, he jumped at the chance to be relevant and got involved. This was a trap of course as once Andrew committed a crime, Epstein effectively owned him.

Then we fast forward to the photo. Still believing the story Epstein had spun, Andrew is taken for a walk through Central Park after being told by Epstein that they couldn't talk inside, the place was bugged (which it was, by Epstein himself). This was to ensure a photo could be taken in public of Epstein with Andrew. More ammunition to use against Andrew if needed.

My version of events explains how this could have happened. Prince Andrew is not the sharpest in the tool box, while Epstein was a master manipulator. This also explains why I think the Queen will never give her son up. Andrew will have said to her that he was working for MI6 or whatever, and hearing this she'd protect her son at all costs.

What do you think?

Sunken Civilisations

Here's a really good account of how the Black Sea evolved and the civilisations that lived along its shores. Every part of the documentary is priceless, but if impatient skip to the 45 minute mark for riveting stuff.

ANZ Closes Bonus Bonds

It's the end of the venerable Bonus Bonds. Despite having many critics they've remained popular since their introduction in the early 1970's. And those critics were probably just disgruntled know-nothings or competitors anyway.

Bonus Bonds offered monthly prizes instead of interest. The main advantage of them was their completely tax free status. Founded by the NZ government and initially run by the NZ Post Office, they were intended as a way for the government to raise funds. When PostBank was sold in the early 90's, their buyer ANZ had to take over the scheme. Their tax free status remained.

Were they any good, these Bonus Bonds? They could be, depending on how much you had invested. Too much and earnings would be too low. Too little and you may wait years for a prize. But for just the right sum, they could earn regularly, and those earnings didn't impact your tax position. The money was on call and returns immediate, meaning a single prize early in the year could cover the whole expected annual return drip fed over time in any other investment vehicle.

Bonus Bonds closure is a sign that the COVID19 lockdowns have damaged the economy. Businesses are closing every day and now banks are stressed. This could get very ugly, and all because of a bug that's about as bad as the flu. Unbelievable.

Get Woke, Go Broke

NBA TV ratings are tanking. Viewers in the US are watching other sports, such as the PGA, NHL, and even news and commentary. The NBA has become a dog, why? Simple, they became political. Players are now displaying various political messages on the back of their uniforms. Big mistake this, politics and sport don't mix. And this isn't a case of free speech as any messages that don't fit the narrative, such as those supportive of Hong Kong freedom fighters or the police in the US, are banned. Instead, NBA stars are supporting the Marxist BLM movement, which is ridiculous as the star players are all millionaires. I've watched the highlights of some NBA games and I find the political messages distasteful. I don't support the Marxist BLM movement and won't watch the NBA which does.

Willin

Much underrated rendition of Lowell George's song Willin

Joe Biden Brainless?

I heard Joe Biden say he'd shut it down, he'd listen to the scientists. Really Joe, do you not realise everyone is sick of taking orders from scientists. People have lost everything from these lockdowns and you're doubling down and wanting more foolishness. With that kind of idea, I don't see how you can win in November.

Donald Trump: It's over for New Zealand

Donald Trump has this right. New Zealand was held up as providing the answer to COVID-19. It has fallen flat on its face and now what? It's going bust in spectacular fashion. The President was right to call NZ out. 

Democratic Convention 2020

The Democratic Convention is a largely virtual affair, the first of its type. I've noticed the media are gushing at how great everything is, Joe Biden is marching to victory it seems. Err, no. From what I've seen, this has got to be the most cringe-worthy thing I've seen, and believe me when I say, that takes some doing. Am I missing something?