What is it about bagpipes?
Every official function I've watched over the last few years has had either a lone piper or a full pipe band as part of it.
I've just watched a group of graduating students walk across Christchurch from the Arts Centre to the Town Hall.
They were, of course, led by a bloody piper.
Often at functions, by the time the stoneage wailing and the pipe band (stoneage screeching?) have finished there is no time for the function.
Why in this English based, multicultural society as far from Britain as anyone can get, do function organisers insist on this bloody Scottish torture at every junction?
The noise defies description.
It is a well known fact that after the Royal Navy, the Royal Airforce and the “Paras” had failed to remove the Argentine forces from the Falklands in 1982 a lone piper was installed, with megaphone, on a hill overlooking Port Stanley. (13th of June, 1982 – look it up)
A great tactic.
The Paras withdrew three miles out to sea and those Argies who could not run/swim fast enough surrendered en-masse to the only Pom left on the island, a deaf gunner's mate who was having a slash when the piper started up, and demanded earplugs.
I myself am on record as stating that far from being best when heard emanating from over the water (an oft told falsehood) bagpipes are far better when heard coming from under the water.
The only time I've ever found the bagpipes even partially acceptable was when a group of four young fellows started playing outside the Christchurch Cathedral last week and for a short time their caterwauling drowned out the incessant, tuneless whistling and braying of a blind lunatic who infests this area and pollutes the whole square.
Surely it is time for NZ to stand up and say enough, we want our own “music” to lead the procession.
I suggest a lone Maori guitarist strumming Ten Guitars – which should, if you think about it take care of the stoneage wailing as well.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Swine flu
Swine flu fever is gripping the world!
Gripping may be the most accurate word here.
In fact it appears that outside of Mexico the new "flu" causes just mild inconvenience and people recover from it easily with zero deaths reported - even among the very young, old etc. who succumb to most "flu" type viruses.
Could this virus be the first overtly racist virus ever detected?
Gripping may be the most accurate word here.
In fact it appears that outside of Mexico the new "flu" causes just mild inconvenience and people recover from it easily with zero deaths reported - even among the very young, old etc. who succumb to most "flu" type viruses.
Could this virus be the first overtly racist virus ever detected?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
new PC
Why, when buying a new PC or upgrading damned near everything in the existing one is a simple, daylong process, not even that expensive anymore does it take weeks to find stuff you already had for the new set-up and why can't I bloody find everything I had?
Friday, April 10, 2009
A new low
Stuff.co.nz on Easter Saturday, 11 April, 2009, has managed something no one thought possible.
It has created a new low in reporting.
A headline on Stuff.co.nz reads "Girl loses limb to out-of-control street racers".
The body of the story, once you get past the pure sensationalist bullshit however states that the girl who was hurt was among a group sitting on the road, drinking just over the brow of a hill and the young male driver, driving a typical young male's car, came over the top of that rise, saw the girl too late, swerved to avoid her, also too late, and ran her over.
The police called to the scene obviously noted the true nature of the incident and let the young man go without charge.
Whether he is charged later makes no difference.
While there is a problem with boy racers the problem is small, most so-called "boy racers" being simply young men and women doing exactly what young men and women have been prone to do since clubs as marital tools went out of fashion, attracting like minded people of the opposite sex for the purpose of mating.
This incident had nothing to do with boys racing and by sensationalising the story with such an ignorant headline just proves how pathetic NZ's media is.
Shame in Stuff.co.nz!
It has created a new low in reporting.
A headline on Stuff.co.nz reads "Girl loses limb to out-of-control street racers".
The body of the story, once you get past the pure sensationalist bullshit however states that the girl who was hurt was among a group sitting on the road, drinking just over the brow of a hill and the young male driver, driving a typical young male's car, came over the top of that rise, saw the girl too late, swerved to avoid her, also too late, and ran her over.
The police called to the scene obviously noted the true nature of the incident and let the young man go without charge.
Whether he is charged later makes no difference.
While there is a problem with boy racers the problem is small, most so-called "boy racers" being simply young men and women doing exactly what young men and women have been prone to do since clubs as marital tools went out of fashion, attracting like minded people of the opposite sex for the purpose of mating.
This incident had nothing to do with boys racing and by sensationalising the story with such an ignorant headline just proves how pathetic NZ's media is.
Shame in Stuff.co.nz!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Teleprompt blog
Obama, the mistake the American people will be paying for for decades continues to make the faux pas his own, the latest being an attack on disabled athletes.
We can reveal that it is in fact the fault of the teleprompter he reads for every occasion.
We can reveal that it is in fact the fault of the teleprompter he reads for every occasion.
What's that again?
This column just needs to be shared if just to remind us that all sportspeople, not just our perennially losing cricketers, are human first, superheros second.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Bloody awful!
I had the misfortune last night to watch some rugby (well I think it was rugby) while eating dinner.
How I managed to keep the food down still surprises me.
What I saw was two groups of players, one group wearing two-tone pink, the other dark blue with yellow and sh*t-brown (after a VERY hard night) highlights.
The fellow who was carried off just as I started to watch looked strangely familiar.
After watching a bit I wondered if he was simply broken-hearted at the play of his compatriots.
I have never seen 31 (32 if you count the carried off fellow)such clueless, direction-less and inept men performing - anywhere - ever.
That TV shows this rubbish in prime time surprises me (although I admit not a lot).
What amazed me though was that a crowd that appeared to be in the high hundreds watched this crap without invading the pitch and showing the pathetic bastards how to f**king do it.
Some were even shown jumping around, cheering (although I suspect this might have been added file footage from some gay mardi gras given the dress and make-up displayed)
In today's world it appears people will watch any old rubbish.
I wonder how long it will be before some bright bastard will come up with a game that is a cross between tippenny runs, baseball and french cricket, pretends it is a true sport and markets it as the new, exciting way forward.
How I managed to keep the food down still surprises me.
What I saw was two groups of players, one group wearing two-tone pink, the other dark blue with yellow and sh*t-brown (after a VERY hard night) highlights.
The fellow who was carried off just as I started to watch looked strangely familiar.
After watching a bit I wondered if he was simply broken-hearted at the play of his compatriots.
I have never seen 31 (32 if you count the carried off fellow)such clueless, direction-less and inept men performing - anywhere - ever.
That TV shows this rubbish in prime time surprises me (although I admit not a lot).
What amazed me though was that a crowd that appeared to be in the high hundreds watched this crap without invading the pitch and showing the pathetic bastards how to f**king do it.
Some were even shown jumping around, cheering (although I suspect this might have been added file footage from some gay mardi gras given the dress and make-up displayed)
In today's world it appears people will watch any old rubbish.
I wonder how long it will be before some bright bastard will come up with a game that is a cross between tippenny runs, baseball and french cricket, pretends it is a true sport and markets it as the new, exciting way forward.
Rudd the illusionist?
I'm not into internal politics of foreign countries but as Australia could drag NZ down with it this column by Paul Sheehan is essential reading.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
No, I don't like it.
The ball looked as big as, well, as a cricket ball looks when your “eye” is in.
I swung the bat and felt that wonderful feeling you only get when sweet spot and ball connect.
It must have been slightly lower than I thought because it travelled fast and straight towards the boundary neither rising nor dipping.
The game was at the Heathcote Domain and a browsing herd of dinosaurs on the maltworks side of the ground looked up somewhat in alarm at the approaching missile.
I had the same (or a similar) experience one time in Mosgiel.
Those were the only two times I remember that I challenged the boundary on the full.
I've watched cricket since I was a young fellow of seven or so and still remember many of the big hits that went for six although not, I admit, as well as I remember the cover drives such as the one John Wright greeted Jeff Thompson's second new ball with at Lancaster Park one year or the two John Edridge placed to the boundary on his way to a multiple hundred against New Zealand.
The sixes I do remember were part of the building of innings of note, Dick Motz' 103 in 53 minutes (8 sixes, 7 fours), Hadlee and Lees fighting back against the Windies again at Lancaster Park in an ODI before pyjamas became the norm, Lance Cairns' six in Oz (MCG?).
I have over the last few days heard myself described as an old fogey, humourless, heartless, with no ability to enjoy myself and many more entertaining and sweet adjectives because I didn't enjoy the tippenny runs game staged the other night at AMI stadium (at Lancaster Park).
I plead guilty to all the above.
Leaving aside the half-wits of the Gifford ilk and T20 converts like BC who demand that all should drop down and kneel at the alter of 20/20 simply because THEY like it (They do need to take a long look at themselves) the game leaves me cold.
I found Wednesday night's game boring.
Perhaps boring is not quite true, unsatisfying would be better.
Cricket to me is a game encompassing many skills, a team game that pits individuals against each other giving both a chance to test themselves as well as the other while playing in a team environment with the challenges, mainly mental, that that brings.
Tippenny runs takes away many of those skills, particularly that of patiently waiting for the opponent to show a weakness and then using all your own skills to exploit the weakness.
Tippenny runs creates that weakness by forcing players to take risks before they are ready, by forcing premeditation.
That however is why I dislike the game not why I found the game unsatisfying.
In Major League baseball at the halftime all-star break they hold a home run derby.
The home run in baseball equates to a six in limited overs cricket – the ultimate shot that takes the fielders out of the equation.
The home run derby is a contrived competition that sees many home runs hit in a day but, and this is important, no-one takes it for more than a contrived competition, a bit of fun.
To me that is what tippenny runs is, a contrived competition for a bit of fun.
If it remains in this context I'm all for the game but to treat it seriously, to make it mean something, to matter, destroys that concept entirely.
And this is why I find the game unsatisfying.
To see sixes struck as part of an innings when the occasion arises is exciting but to see over after over of batsmen attempting nothing else other than to hit sixes, to watch all the other batting skills subjugated is simply not cricket.
Watching Brendan McCullum hit a six to break the shackles of a bowling attack or to win a game or even just because the ball deserves it is exciting and one of the more enjoyable parts of cricket. Watching Brendan McCullum hit a six is not exciting in itself.
Watching ten/jack of the Windies batting order (even just on Cricinfo ball by ball commentary) withstanding the Poms in bad light for ten overs is far more entertaining just because we don't know what will happen.
Yes I know that this tippenny run stuff is THE game of the young, the money spinner but, like sevens football and the S14/tri-series rugby I'm guessing people will soon tire of it simply because it all becomes the same.
Tippenny runs has taken the unpredictability out of cricket.
Cricket, in fact all sport and indeed most entertainment, needs to be unpredictable not just in outcome but, Just like my shots all those years ago, in execution.
Those shots at Heathcote and Mosgiel were both dropped on the boundary.
I never did hit a six in competition cricket.
I swung the bat and felt that wonderful feeling you only get when sweet spot and ball connect.
It must have been slightly lower than I thought because it travelled fast and straight towards the boundary neither rising nor dipping.
The game was at the Heathcote Domain and a browsing herd of dinosaurs on the maltworks side of the ground looked up somewhat in alarm at the approaching missile.
I had the same (or a similar) experience one time in Mosgiel.
Those were the only two times I remember that I challenged the boundary on the full.
I've watched cricket since I was a young fellow of seven or so and still remember many of the big hits that went for six although not, I admit, as well as I remember the cover drives such as the one John Wright greeted Jeff Thompson's second new ball with at Lancaster Park one year or the two John Edridge placed to the boundary on his way to a multiple hundred against New Zealand.
The sixes I do remember were part of the building of innings of note, Dick Motz' 103 in 53 minutes (8 sixes, 7 fours), Hadlee and Lees fighting back against the Windies again at Lancaster Park in an ODI before pyjamas became the norm, Lance Cairns' six in Oz (MCG?).
I have over the last few days heard myself described as an old fogey, humourless, heartless, with no ability to enjoy myself and many more entertaining and sweet adjectives because I didn't enjoy the tippenny runs game staged the other night at AMI stadium (at Lancaster Park).
I plead guilty to all the above.
Leaving aside the half-wits of the Gifford ilk and T20 converts like BC who demand that all should drop down and kneel at the alter of 20/20 simply because THEY like it (They do need to take a long look at themselves) the game leaves me cold.
I found Wednesday night's game boring.
Perhaps boring is not quite true, unsatisfying would be better.
Cricket to me is a game encompassing many skills, a team game that pits individuals against each other giving both a chance to test themselves as well as the other while playing in a team environment with the challenges, mainly mental, that that brings.
Tippenny runs takes away many of those skills, particularly that of patiently waiting for the opponent to show a weakness and then using all your own skills to exploit the weakness.
Tippenny runs creates that weakness by forcing players to take risks before they are ready, by forcing premeditation.
That however is why I dislike the game not why I found the game unsatisfying.
In Major League baseball at the halftime all-star break they hold a home run derby.
The home run in baseball equates to a six in limited overs cricket – the ultimate shot that takes the fielders out of the equation.
The home run derby is a contrived competition that sees many home runs hit in a day but, and this is important, no-one takes it for more than a contrived competition, a bit of fun.
To me that is what tippenny runs is, a contrived competition for a bit of fun.
If it remains in this context I'm all for the game but to treat it seriously, to make it mean something, to matter, destroys that concept entirely.
And this is why I find the game unsatisfying.
To see sixes struck as part of an innings when the occasion arises is exciting but to see over after over of batsmen attempting nothing else other than to hit sixes, to watch all the other batting skills subjugated is simply not cricket.
Watching Brendan McCullum hit a six to break the shackles of a bowling attack or to win a game or even just because the ball deserves it is exciting and one of the more enjoyable parts of cricket. Watching Brendan McCullum hit a six is not exciting in itself.
Watching ten/jack of the Windies batting order (even just on Cricinfo ball by ball commentary) withstanding the Poms in bad light for ten overs is far more entertaining just because we don't know what will happen.
Yes I know that this tippenny run stuff is THE game of the young, the money spinner but, like sevens football and the S14/tri-series rugby I'm guessing people will soon tire of it simply because it all becomes the same.
Tippenny runs has taken the unpredictability out of cricket.
Cricket, in fact all sport and indeed most entertainment, needs to be unpredictable not just in outcome but, Just like my shots all those years ago, in execution.
Those shots at Heathcote and Mosgiel were both dropped on the boundary.
I never did hit a six in competition cricket.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Just having harmless fun.
Last Saturday night a large number (by ChCh standards) of young people (they certainly were not all "boys") drove their cars around Christchurch.
As a professional driver working that night I had ample opportunity to observe these young people and their behaviour.
What I saw was people enjoying themselves, doing pretty much what young people have done since young people existed i.e. doing their best to attract others the same age as themselves for the purpose of mating.
My observations showed that they were generally law abiding and courteous to other road users.
The standard of their driving was as good as, often better than, the standard seen on an average day on Christchurch streets.
As an aside is the fact that these young people are so much better drivers overall the reason so many old farts hate them?
At times the noise levels of these vehicles was too high but that is a complaint young people have been prone to receiving since recording and playing of "music" in vehicles became prevalent - and having sat at traffic lights beside certainly not young people blasting out god-awful "classical" type crap or cowboy-bawling, not something that should be levelled at the young alone.
The slime have, of course (and we all knew they would) highlighted complaints from various groups about these young people's activities.
To the forefront of those complaints appears to be a group of Motelliers who are complaining that these young people were using the roads outside of their establishments for the purposes these roads were built.
It would never cross these motelliers' minds that they themselves are to blame for any disruption their "guests" suffered due to traffic noise, having built or purchased buildings next to a main thoroughfare that do not have sufficient sound/vibration proofing for that location.
It's always someone else's fault.
The vast majority of the young people were doing no wrong.
Let them alone.
Note: The main traffic disruption on Saturday night among these young people was caused by a gang in (more often than not) fancy painted, souped up, large engined cars adorned by pretty but blinding lights and driven by cowboys with no consideration, when driving, stopping or parking, for other, legitimate, road users.
This gang has publicly stated their aim was to harass these (mainly) harmless law-abiding young people.
That harassment by police caused a great deal of disruption for all road users.
Meanwhile the very poor driving, very drunk and very dangerous older drivers around Christchurch found their way to their destination unhindered because the police were busy trying to stop these young people having harmless fun once again.
As a professional driver working that night I had ample opportunity to observe these young people and their behaviour.
What I saw was people enjoying themselves, doing pretty much what young people have done since young people existed i.e. doing their best to attract others the same age as themselves for the purpose of mating.
My observations showed that they were generally law abiding and courteous to other road users.
The standard of their driving was as good as, often better than, the standard seen on an average day on Christchurch streets.
As an aside is the fact that these young people are so much better drivers overall the reason so many old farts hate them?
At times the noise levels of these vehicles was too high but that is a complaint young people have been prone to receiving since recording and playing of "music" in vehicles became prevalent - and having sat at traffic lights beside certainly not young people blasting out god-awful "classical" type crap or cowboy-bawling, not something that should be levelled at the young alone.
The slime have, of course (and we all knew they would) highlighted complaints from various groups about these young people's activities.
To the forefront of those complaints appears to be a group of Motelliers who are complaining that these young people were using the roads outside of their establishments for the purposes these roads were built.
It would never cross these motelliers' minds that they themselves are to blame for any disruption their "guests" suffered due to traffic noise, having built or purchased buildings next to a main thoroughfare that do not have sufficient sound/vibration proofing for that location.
It's always someone else's fault.
The vast majority of the young people were doing no wrong.
Let them alone.
Note: The main traffic disruption on Saturday night among these young people was caused by a gang in (more often than not) fancy painted, souped up, large engined cars adorned by pretty but blinding lights and driven by cowboys with no consideration, when driving, stopping or parking, for other, legitimate, road users.
This gang has publicly stated their aim was to harass these (mainly) harmless law-abiding young people.
That harassment by police caused a great deal of disruption for all road users.
Meanwhile the very poor driving, very drunk and very dangerous older drivers around Christchurch found their way to their destination unhindered because the police were busy trying to stop these young people having harmless fun once again.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Fowl rip-off
Mr Madoff is claiming the record, Mr Stanford is trying to deny his record attempt.
50 Billion USD does seem a large sum but personally I think it pales in comparison.
Think about a ripoff that continues to catch people out.
A ripoff that makes millions for it's authors every day.
Take some rubbish with very little food content that used to be thrown out, cover it with batter, fry it and sell it to the mugs at a premium price.
Working on the conservative figure of 1 billion people who have access to this product, 1 in 1,000 of those people buying the product daily and a very conservative estimate of 1USD clear profit per sale that gives an estimated 365 million dollars.
365 million dollars a day for something that used to be, and still should be, discarded.
Mr Madoff doesn't stand a chance.
Has there ever been a bigger con than chicken wings?
50 Billion USD does seem a large sum but personally I think it pales in comparison.
Think about a ripoff that continues to catch people out.
A ripoff that makes millions for it's authors every day.
Take some rubbish with very little food content that used to be thrown out, cover it with batter, fry it and sell it to the mugs at a premium price.
Working on the conservative figure of 1 billion people who have access to this product, 1 in 1,000 of those people buying the product daily and a very conservative estimate of 1USD clear profit per sale that gives an estimated 365 million dollars.
365 million dollars a day for something that used to be, and still should be, discarded.
Mr Madoff doesn't stand a chance.
Has there ever been a bigger con than chicken wings?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
An answer?
So simple and yet so correct.
An answer to why obesity is becoming such a problem (and to why those of us with plastic teeth tend to run to fat quicker).
An answer to why obesity is becoming such a problem (and to why those of us with plastic teeth tend to run to fat quicker).
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Spend
To save the economy we need to spend, to keep the economy moving.
This is exactly what all these "stimulus packages" are designed to help.
Putting your money under the mattress for a rainy day will hurt rather than help your chances of surviving the recession.
THIS IS the rainy day!
Forget the slime doomsaying and take no note of the halwit the Yanks just, to their cost, elected.
Spend wisely but spend.
This is exactly what all these "stimulus packages" are designed to help.
Putting your money under the mattress for a rainy day will hurt rather than help your chances of surviving the recession.
THIS IS the rainy day!
Forget the slime doomsaying and take no note of the halwit the Yanks just, to their cost, elected.
Spend wisely but spend.
Sport
The Super XIV starts tonight.
What sort of name is that?
The rugby is far from "super" and in the real world we use 14.
For this reason, along with the fact that it is cricket season I'll give the rugby a miss until April at the earliest.
I was pleased to note a recent poll in one of the dailies suggested the majority will do the same.
One thing I must do though, before the season starts is predict a top two placing for the Perth based Force, solely on the basis that rugby writers in both NZ and Oz have rubbished the team.
Meanwhile I hope the fifth Chapple/Hadlee ODI is not washed out tonight.
A result could mean one of two rather inept captains is seen for what they are, which can only be good for cricket.
What sort of name is that?
The rugby is far from "super" and in the real world we use 14.
For this reason, along with the fact that it is cricket season I'll give the rugby a miss until April at the earliest.
I was pleased to note a recent poll in one of the dailies suggested the majority will do the same.
One thing I must do though, before the season starts is predict a top two placing for the Perth based Force, solely on the basis that rugby writers in both NZ and Oz have rubbished the team.
Meanwhile I hope the fifth Chapple/Hadlee ODI is not washed out tonight.
A result could mean one of two rather inept captains is seen for what they are, which can only be good for cricket.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Save the Species?
I've been reading quite a lot recently on Darwin and his proving the theory of evolution.
Been reading and hearing a lot about the Greenpeace pirates as well and their disgraceful antics in the Southern Oceans.
Add to that the bullshit happening on the West Coast where a rather large, well spread, population of native snails are creating large sums for a few and costing large sums for many, fishing bans off the East Coast of middle NZ because a few dolphins are named differently from those of the same species found further south in the Canterbury bight.
What I have trouble understanding is that many proponents of the first are among the group causing problems with the second.
They accept evolution with it's survival of the fittest and adapt or die philosophy but fail to recognise that the snails, dolphins, whales, cats, birds, insects, plants etc. they are trying to save are simply failing to adapt, failing to survive because they are no longer the fittest.
What an amazing world we could have if these people, part of the highest form of animal life on this plant (just at times but part of), put their energy instead to bettering the species who are surviving, who are adapting naturally.
Been reading and hearing a lot about the Greenpeace pirates as well and their disgraceful antics in the Southern Oceans.
Add to that the bullshit happening on the West Coast where a rather large, well spread, population of native snails are creating large sums for a few and costing large sums for many, fishing bans off the East Coast of middle NZ because a few dolphins are named differently from those of the same species found further south in the Canterbury bight.
What I have trouble understanding is that many proponents of the first are among the group causing problems with the second.
They accept evolution with it's survival of the fittest and adapt or die philosophy but fail to recognise that the snails, dolphins, whales, cats, birds, insects, plants etc. they are trying to save are simply failing to adapt, failing to survive because they are no longer the fittest.
What an amazing world we could have if these people, part of the highest form of animal life on this plant (just at times but part of), put their energy instead to bettering the species who are surviving, who are adapting naturally.
Oz fires
Nothing really to say about these except to offer sympathy to those affected and hope the Ockers now see the dangers of living amongst uncontrolled bush.
I wonder how many of the green scum who did their best to prevent clearing for fire breaks etc. are among the dead.
All I hope.
I wonder how many of the green scum who did their best to prevent clearing for fire breaks etc. are among the dead.
All I hope.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
All out 51. FANTASTIC!
This piece of outstanding literature should be retained for posterity.
2.1 Taylor to Cook, OUT, got him! No, dropped him - has he? He's taken it at the second attempt! An excellent, probing delivery by Taylor to which Cook drives loosely at, the ball flying low to Devon Smith at second slip. He scooped it, shelled it, and crouched forward to take it at the second attempt
AN Cook c Smith b Taylor 0 (11m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 1/1 AJ Strauss 1* (7b) JE Taylor 1.1-0-1-1
9.4 Benn to Bell, OUT, got him! Benn's done it for West Indies! A bit too wide to be playing the cut, particularly with silly point in place - and especially as lunch was only two balls away. Bell went back, the ball took the inside edge of his cut-stroke and Ramdin took a fine catch
IR Bell c wicketkeeperRamdin b Benn 4 (24m 22b 0x4 0x6) SR: 18.18
England 11/2 AJ Strauss 5* (31b) SJ Benn 2.4-0-2-1
10.1 Taylor to Pietersen, OUT, absolutely stunning delivery! Full, fast, straight, late outswing, and Pietersen's off stump cartwheels into the middle distance!
KP Pietersen b Taylor 1 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
England 12/3 AJ Strauss 5* (31b) JE Taylor 3.1-0-7-2
16.2 Taylor to Strauss, OUT, that's what happens when you can't get the board moving! A beautiful line across the left-hander, demanding a response, and the thinnest of grazes flies through to Ramdin!
AJ Strauss c wicketkeeperRamdin b Taylor 9 (69m 50b 0x4 0x6) SR: 18.00
England 20/4 PD Collingwood 1* (19b) JE Taylor 6.2-2-8-3
18.1 Taylor to Collingwood, OUT, good grief, what's happened there? Collingwood doesn't have a clue, he's haring up and down the pitch, running two runs for an inside-edge. But, and it's a rather monstrous but, that inside-edge has flicked his leg stump! The tell-tale bail is sat grinning on the ground, and England are in absolute, total, and unbelievably comprehensive disarray!
PD Collingwood b Taylor 1 (35m 20b 0x4 0x6) SR: 5.00
England 23/5 A Flintoff 3* (10b) JE Taylor 7.1-2-11-4
18.5 Taylor to Prior, OUT, five for Taylor, in the blink of an eye! A beautiful slower-ball offcutter, pings through the gate, and well blow me down, this could be over tonight!
MJ Prior b Taylor 0 (2m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 23/6 A Flintoff 3* (10b) JE Taylor 7.5-2-11-5
19.6 Benn to Broad, OUT, gone! Un-be-lievable! Slightly back of a length, turning off the track, met with a full face, and clipped straight into Xavier Marshall's hands at short leg!
SCJ Broad c Marshall b Benn 0 (5m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 26/7 A Flintoff 6* (15b) SJ Benn 8-1-11-2
31.5 Benn to Sidebottom, OUT, Sidebottom is rapped on the pads and up goes Rudi's finger. But Sidebottom is referring it. Now then. Daryl Harper will have to find a specific error with the on-field umpire's original (out) decision, and replays are indicating that it would've gone onto hit the stumps. After a short delay, Rudi raises his finger for the second time and Sidebottom is furious...
RJ Sidebottom lbw b Benn 6 (51m 43b 0x4 0x6) SR: 13.95
England 50/8 A Flintoff 24* (43b 3x4) SJ Benn 13.5-2-31-3
32.3 Edwards to Flintoff, OUT, BOWLED HIM! Well, you have to say it was almost inevitable. Flintoff was lining himself up to carve Edwards either inside out over point, or over midwicket. He tried to go over midwicket and was bowled by a decent, fast, full delivery
A Flintoff b Edwards 24 (78m 47b 3x4 0x6) SR: 51.06
England 51/9 SJ Harmison 0* (1b) FH Edwards 0.3-0-1-1
33.2 Benn to Harmison, OUT, bowled him! He went for a sweep and dragged it on - and West Indies record a quite brilliant victory
SJ Harmison b Benn 0 (10m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 51/10 MS Panesar 0* (3b) SJ Benn 14.2-2-31-4
This (batting) team are going to be playing Australia mid year.
Will they be playing for NZ's current position in the test rankings by then?
2.1 Taylor to Cook, OUT, got him! No, dropped him - has he? He's taken it at the second attempt! An excellent, probing delivery by Taylor to which Cook drives loosely at, the ball flying low to Devon Smith at second slip. He scooped it, shelled it, and crouched forward to take it at the second attempt
AN Cook c Smith b Taylor 0 (11m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 1/1 AJ Strauss 1* (7b) JE Taylor 1.1-0-1-1
9.4 Benn to Bell, OUT, got him! Benn's done it for West Indies! A bit too wide to be playing the cut, particularly with silly point in place - and especially as lunch was only two balls away. Bell went back, the ball took the inside edge of his cut-stroke and Ramdin took a fine catch
IR Bell c wicketkeeperRamdin b Benn 4 (24m 22b 0x4 0x6) SR: 18.18
England 11/2 AJ Strauss 5* (31b) SJ Benn 2.4-0-2-1
10.1 Taylor to Pietersen, OUT, absolutely stunning delivery! Full, fast, straight, late outswing, and Pietersen's off stump cartwheels into the middle distance!
KP Pietersen b Taylor 1 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
England 12/3 AJ Strauss 5* (31b) JE Taylor 3.1-0-7-2
16.2 Taylor to Strauss, OUT, that's what happens when you can't get the board moving! A beautiful line across the left-hander, demanding a response, and the thinnest of grazes flies through to Ramdin!
AJ Strauss c wicketkeeperRamdin b Taylor 9 (69m 50b 0x4 0x6) SR: 18.00
England 20/4 PD Collingwood 1* (19b) JE Taylor 6.2-2-8-3
18.1 Taylor to Collingwood, OUT, good grief, what's happened there? Collingwood doesn't have a clue, he's haring up and down the pitch, running two runs for an inside-edge. But, and it's a rather monstrous but, that inside-edge has flicked his leg stump! The tell-tale bail is sat grinning on the ground, and England are in absolute, total, and unbelievably comprehensive disarray!
PD Collingwood b Taylor 1 (35m 20b 0x4 0x6) SR: 5.00
England 23/5 A Flintoff 3* (10b) JE Taylor 7.1-2-11-4
18.5 Taylor to Prior, OUT, five for Taylor, in the blink of an eye! A beautiful slower-ball offcutter, pings through the gate, and well blow me down, this could be over tonight!
MJ Prior b Taylor 0 (2m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 23/6 A Flintoff 3* (10b) JE Taylor 7.5-2-11-5
19.6 Benn to Broad, OUT, gone! Un-be-lievable! Slightly back of a length, turning off the track, met with a full face, and clipped straight into Xavier Marshall's hands at short leg!
SCJ Broad c Marshall b Benn 0 (5m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 26/7 A Flintoff 6* (15b) SJ Benn 8-1-11-2
31.5 Benn to Sidebottom, OUT, Sidebottom is rapped on the pads and up goes Rudi's finger. But Sidebottom is referring it. Now then. Daryl Harper will have to find a specific error with the on-field umpire's original (out) decision, and replays are indicating that it would've gone onto hit the stumps. After a short delay, Rudi raises his finger for the second time and Sidebottom is furious...
RJ Sidebottom lbw b Benn 6 (51m 43b 0x4 0x6) SR: 13.95
England 50/8 A Flintoff 24* (43b 3x4) SJ Benn 13.5-2-31-3
32.3 Edwards to Flintoff, OUT, BOWLED HIM! Well, you have to say it was almost inevitable. Flintoff was lining himself up to carve Edwards either inside out over point, or over midwicket. He tried to go over midwicket and was bowled by a decent, fast, full delivery
A Flintoff b Edwards 24 (78m 47b 3x4 0x6) SR: 51.06
England 51/9 SJ Harmison 0* (1b) FH Edwards 0.3-0-1-1
33.2 Benn to Harmison, OUT, bowled him! He went for a sweep and dragged it on - and West Indies record a quite brilliant victory
SJ Harmison b Benn 0 (10m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
England 51/10 MS Panesar 0* (3b) SJ Benn 14.2-2-31-4
This (batting) team are going to be playing Australia mid year.
Will they be playing for NZ's current position in the test rankings by then?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Whoops
This coloured fellow who's been in the news a lot lately.
You know the American Chappie.
Osama? Sadam? Obama? Anyway, something like that - got a lot of "a"s in it.
The new saviour.
He does say some strange and wrong things doesn't he.
Why just today he was reported as predicting more bank closures.
The other day he was calling for belt tightening.
Surely someone in his position should be promoting confidence in the economy, trying to get people to continue sensible spending and assist the economy to keep ticking over.
That is what all these interest rate cuts, tax cuts and bail-outs are designed to do.
Those reported statements will do exactly the opposite.
People will take their increases and put the money under the mattress or bury it in the back yard.
I do hope his opening the presidency up to foreign born people will not be the only good thing he does before Mr Schwarzenegger gets voted in in four years time.
You know the American Chappie.
Osama? Sadam? Obama? Anyway, something like that - got a lot of "a"s in it.
The new saviour.
He does say some strange and wrong things doesn't he.
Why just today he was reported as predicting more bank closures.
The other day he was calling for belt tightening.
Surely someone in his position should be promoting confidence in the economy, trying to get people to continue sensible spending and assist the economy to keep ticking over.
That is what all these interest rate cuts, tax cuts and bail-outs are designed to do.
Those reported statements will do exactly the opposite.
People will take their increases and put the money under the mattress or bury it in the back yard.
I do hope his opening the presidency up to foreign born people will not be the only good thing he does before Mr Schwarzenegger gets voted in in four years time.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Yet another disappointment
Had the chance to chat with Green MP Russell Norman today.
Not often I feel sorry for halfwitted Green voters but today was one such occaision.
The bastard comes across as embarrassed to be a Green MP.
Possibly a defence mechanism, it certainly saved him from getting an earfull from me but hell, if he's ashamed of what he is he shouldn't bloody be there.
NZ needs MPs of all persuasions who are strong and committed, wimps like this joker are a complete waste of time.
The worst thing is that the Green movement has merit but in NZ it is represented by bloody no-hopers like this fellow or communist do-what-I-say-not-what-I-do scum and meanwhile the rivers continue to dry up thanks to dry-land dairy butchery.
Not often I feel sorry for halfwitted Green voters but today was one such occaision.
The bastard comes across as embarrassed to be a Green MP.
Possibly a defence mechanism, it certainly saved him from getting an earfull from me but hell, if he's ashamed of what he is he shouldn't bloody be there.
NZ needs MPs of all persuasions who are strong and committed, wimps like this joker are a complete waste of time.
The worst thing is that the Green movement has merit but in NZ it is represented by bloody no-hopers like this fellow or communist do-what-I-say-not-what-I-do scum and meanwhile the rivers continue to dry up thanks to dry-land dairy butchery.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Young peoples fun spoiled by dickhead.
On Friday night a group of young men decided to test their cars out.
I can empathise, as a young man many many moons ago I also joined others in doing the a similar thing.
To this end the men (and women, the main reason for having the cars in the first place) found a stretch of road far out in the country, making sure that the road was basically untraveled and no houses were nearby so that they would interfere with no-one.
After gathering they were accosted by a member of a gang, a jackbooted storm trooper hero who decided that being in a fast car with a fancy paint job and pretty lights made him 10' tall and bullet proof and determined that the young men should not have fun where they were disturbing no-one.
The boys reacted much the same way most of us would when some dickhead decides to ruin good, honest and harmless fun.
They drove the bastard away.
A person there at the time advised me that it didn't take much, once the bully boy realised his bullying was over in that place he scarpered quicksmart.
Now in a real world the halfwit would have been admonished by his superiors for being stupid and ignorant and taken away from any decision making position until he could prove he was capable of making good decisions.
Not so here.
The police instead went crying to the media, claiming they were incompetent (probably the first true thing coming out of that organisation's press releases for years) and demanding someone else does their job for them and NZ's police state be tightened up to allow them to work towards the joyless, regulated world they so much admire.
The cowboys in their fancy painted cars with the pretty lights meanwhile continue to pick and choose their jobs, taking easy targets every time and ignoring anything that suits them or is too hard.
A good, thinking, intelligent and considerate police force is hard to find.
NZ Police, in Christchurch anyway, has not got close.
They need to try MUCH harder.
NB The detail of Friday night's incident was told to me by one of the young men (not, he assured me one of the bottle throwers) who had gathered to try his car out.
I believed him.
I can empathise, as a young man many many moons ago I also joined others in doing the a similar thing.
To this end the men (and women, the main reason for having the cars in the first place) found a stretch of road far out in the country, making sure that the road was basically untraveled and no houses were nearby so that they would interfere with no-one.
After gathering they were accosted by a member of a gang, a jackbooted storm trooper hero who decided that being in a fast car with a fancy paint job and pretty lights made him 10' tall and bullet proof and determined that the young men should not have fun where they were disturbing no-one.
The boys reacted much the same way most of us would when some dickhead decides to ruin good, honest and harmless fun.
They drove the bastard away.
A person there at the time advised me that it didn't take much, once the bully boy realised his bullying was over in that place he scarpered quicksmart.
Now in a real world the halfwit would have been admonished by his superiors for being stupid and ignorant and taken away from any decision making position until he could prove he was capable of making good decisions.
Not so here.
The police instead went crying to the media, claiming they were incompetent (probably the first true thing coming out of that organisation's press releases for years) and demanding someone else does their job for them and NZ's police state be tightened up to allow them to work towards the joyless, regulated world they so much admire.
The cowboys in their fancy painted cars with the pretty lights meanwhile continue to pick and choose their jobs, taking easy targets every time and ignoring anything that suits them or is too hard.
A good, thinking, intelligent and considerate police force is hard to find.
NZ Police, in Christchurch anyway, has not got close.
They need to try MUCH harder.
NB The detail of Friday night's incident was told to me by one of the young men (not, he assured me one of the bottle throwers) who had gathered to try his car out.
I believed him.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Success
As I stated the other day I've been attempting to purchase a PC notebook, preferably a netbook.
I have finally found one in a shop that just let me buy it, with a discount for cash, Dragon PCs in Gasson Street, Christchurch.
I purchased a Linux based Asus Eee PC 900
Of course now I can't get the bloody thing to connect to the internet through my router but hell, at least I've done the first bit.
Tips will be welcomed.
I have finally found one in a shop that just let me buy it, with a discount for cash, Dragon PCs in Gasson Street, Christchurch.
I purchased a Linux based Asus Eee PC 900
Of course now I can't get the bloody thing to connect to the internet through my router but hell, at least I've done the first bit.
Tips will be welcomed.
Beaten again. Bugger!
This blog is my place to rant. I wish I'd had one as good as this fellow so often does.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I'm an old fart and male which, among other things, means I hate shopping.
The internet has been great for me, allowing me to investigate purchases on line and then just wander in to a place I know what I want is on sale and buy it.
I always pay cash so am usually in and out quickly.
Unfortunately recently the internet has let me down.
I want to buy a PC notebook.
All I want it for is to run a word processor and spreadsheet program, work some of my business records, send the odd email and maybe play on the internet.
For anything more I have my desk-top PC.
I searched the internet and decided that the ASUS Eee PC 701 (4 Gig solid state HD and 512meg RAM) netbook running on linux was probably going to be good enough for my wants, put a few hundred in my pocket and wandered out to buy one.
I parked at a shopping centre where Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, Dick Smith, Warehouse Stationary and Smiths City had set up shop
Whoops!
The only ASUS 701 I could find was running Windows XP, reducing memory dramatically and was pink.
I returned home and re-researched notebooks, recorded a couple that appeared to be suitable, particularly the ASUS 901 and ventured forth once again with high hopes.
A couple of hours later I returned home deflated once again.
I have discovered that computer shops either contain salesmen who are way over the top, hard sell types not immune to lying through their teeth for a sale and who would rather push a rental/hp type sale than simply take the cash or disinterested scrofulous youths with no sale skills, no people skills and no interest in creating an atmosphere that will encourage sales, instead preferring to display their hearing disabilities to the world.
Two weeks after starting my quest I remain notebookless.
But richer.
The internet has been great for me, allowing me to investigate purchases on line and then just wander in to a place I know what I want is on sale and buy it.
I always pay cash so am usually in and out quickly.
Unfortunately recently the internet has let me down.
I want to buy a PC notebook.
All I want it for is to run a word processor and spreadsheet program, work some of my business records, send the odd email and maybe play on the internet.
For anything more I have my desk-top PC.
I searched the internet and decided that the ASUS Eee PC 701 (4 Gig solid state HD and 512meg RAM) netbook running on linux was probably going to be good enough for my wants, put a few hundred in my pocket and wandered out to buy one.
I parked at a shopping centre where Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, Dick Smith, Warehouse Stationary and Smiths City had set up shop
Whoops!
The only ASUS 701 I could find was running Windows XP, reducing memory dramatically and was pink.
I returned home and re-researched notebooks, recorded a couple that appeared to be suitable, particularly the ASUS 901 and ventured forth once again with high hopes.
A couple of hours later I returned home deflated once again.
I have discovered that computer shops either contain salesmen who are way over the top, hard sell types not immune to lying through their teeth for a sale and who would rather push a rental/hp type sale than simply take the cash or disinterested scrofulous youths with no sale skills, no people skills and no interest in creating an atmosphere that will encourage sales, instead preferring to display their hearing disabilities to the world.
Two weeks after starting my quest I remain notebookless.
But richer.
Wowsers win - it must be America
The Lingerei Bowl, the greatest American Football event each year has been forced out of mainstream America by a bunch of bloody Yankee wowsers.
Probably the same tossers who voted for B Hussein Obama.
It will this year be held in a nudist camp.
The only good news is a new LFL being televised in 2009.
I hope Sky carries the feed.
Probably the same tossers who voted for B Hussein Obama.
It will this year be held in a nudist camp.
The only good news is a new LFL being televised in 2009.
I hope Sky carries the feed.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Another Winston
Much hated ChCh mayor Bob Parker has stated he will give away his payrise.
Good on him you might say.
Unfortunately he hasn't stated that he will give the money back to the poor bastards who pay him, the rate payers.
My bet is he will make a tax deductible donation to some charity the he controls.
Talk about indian-giver - is this bastard related to NZ First?
Good on him you might say.
Unfortunately he hasn't stated that he will give the money back to the poor bastards who pay him, the rate payers.
My bet is he will make a tax deductible donation to some charity the he controls.
Talk about indian-giver - is this bastard related to NZ First?
Friday, January 23, 2009
Democracy is a failure.
A few hundred years ago a group of superstitious extremists decided they needed to go to a new country where they could extreme away in peace.
Mainly Poms they chose the new territories in America.
Mainly Poms they chose the new territories in America.
After a while the descendent's of these extremists decided that their group of settlements were not being served well by rules and regulations (as well as taxes) coming in from England and formed a new, independent country.
As a gimmick to attract workers to that country they adopted a novel measure, they would let all free men have a say in who made the rules and regulations.
This of course was not a new idea.
Greece and Rome had both tried it.
Greece of course promptly fell over and Rome is now simply the seat of one of the myriad of Mediterranean superstitions around at the time, no longer even a country.
England and France had both had their go as well with varying degrees of success.
Of course the Americans were bright enough to see some of the pitfalls and just allowed the free men the right to elect those who elected the leader as well as two groups of advisers who had to get their ideas past that leader before they became law.
This system has worked pretty good although a recent failure of the system may yet bite the world on it's ass.
This failure was almost certainly caused by two changes to the original idea. A simple “crack the door open and the whole bloody flood cascades through” effect.
Those two changes were to include every man not imprisoned in the description “free” and then to admit women to the group.
I'm sure about now people are saying “Fair enough, that's progress and they have a right to be included”.
Why?
As an aside while thinking about this I have tried to think of actual developments, inventions etc. that women have given to mankind. I don't mean me-too type things but new ideas and innovations and the women who have given these.
Apart from Curie I'm buggered if I can think of one.
This rant however is not about that, it is about that first change – giving all people not incarcerated in a penal institution or disqualified for illegal activities the vote.
Why do we give the senile, the infirm, the outright lazy, the too stupid to better themselves enough to feed themselves, the too subservient to think for themselves the right to select rule makers.
We don't give children that right and many if not most of the above have mental processes lower than double digit aged children.
What is so great about this thing called democracy? This idea that every adult should be allowed a say in who makes the rules?
It creates more problems than it solves
Having given the matter some thought a benevolent dictatorship is the best form of governance, cutting the politicking down completely and doing away with compromise.
I doubt that the majority are bright enough to consider this option so we are almost certainly stuck with this democracy farce but surely within that democracy steps must be taken to limit just who has the chance to vote
We make people get a license to drive a motor vehicle, shoot a gun, get married, sell booze, all activities that can cause only localised catastrophes while we allow all free adults to, without training or proving competence to vote to decide who leads the country.
All registered voters should sit and pass a vote license test prior to being allowed to vote, the test being re administered at regular intervals.
Giving everyone the vote, without ensuring they are competent to use that vote is simply bloody stupid.
Once again bloody extremists have buggered up the world.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Never there when needed.
Driving into town tonight at about 11:30 am I followed a dangerously drunk sheila.
Speeds varying from 25-45KPH, all over the road and not reacting to the lights.
Was there a cop in sight? Of course not.
I took a wander around the city when I got there, no sign of cops anywhere.
I'm guessing the midnight is shift change time and all the cops were back at the police station.
If this is the case it would not surprise me. I doubt any outfit that works mainly on influencing law instead of enforcing it would worry about large gaps in service enough to stagger change-over times.
With management of this standard it is no wonder these cowboys are so out of control.
Speeds varying from 25-45KPH, all over the road and not reacting to the lights.
Was there a cop in sight? Of course not.
I took a wander around the city when I got there, no sign of cops anywhere.
I'm guessing the midnight is shift change time and all the cops were back at the police station.
If this is the case it would not surprise me. I doubt any outfit that works mainly on influencing law instead of enforcing it would worry about large gaps in service enough to stagger change-over times.
With management of this standard it is no wonder these cowboys are so out of control.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Greatest show of ignorance
The NZ Herald WWW.NZHerald.co.nz have been running a poll on the greatest living NZer.
Unbelievably heading the list have been the slag who has led NZ into very serious economic difficulties, a maker of very expensive and, based on the small segments I've seen of them, very bad moving pictures and a brave soldier who has a great deal of publicity lately.
Fair enough that the soldier should be included but the others are there simply because most respondents simply can not think for themselves.
Others I've seen/heard mentioned are Peter Snell (once a NZer, now a Seppo) and Dame Kiri TeKanawa.
The former was a very good middle distance runner who left NZ for America as soon as he could and never returned (to live).
The latter a good performer of an endeavour that constitutes mainly very short Italian plays padded out by several songs and is probably the only form of performance in which a 15 stone middle aged woman can pretend to be a lithesome young beauty without being laughed out of existance by the audiance.
Attended by a very small minority and enjoyed by a small percentage of these.
Along with a handful of scientists who keep a low profile and just get on with the job two men stand out as having done genuine service for NZ and deserve the recognition of being among the top contenders for this title.
I refer of course to the two NZers who rescued NZ in the early to mid eighties.
Sir Robert Jones, who as well as being a very good author and commentator on sport, politics and current affairs put aside his business committments to get rid of the mad bastard Muldoon and Sir Roger Douglas who had the courage and foresight to steer NZ towards self sufficiancy.
Are the published results of this poll the greatest show of ignorance by NZers ever?
Unbelievably heading the list have been the slag who has led NZ into very serious economic difficulties, a maker of very expensive and, based on the small segments I've seen of them, very bad moving pictures and a brave soldier who has a great deal of publicity lately.
Fair enough that the soldier should be included but the others are there simply because most respondents simply can not think for themselves.
Others I've seen/heard mentioned are Peter Snell (once a NZer, now a Seppo) and Dame Kiri TeKanawa.
The former was a very good middle distance runner who left NZ for America as soon as he could and never returned (to live).
The latter a good performer of an endeavour that constitutes mainly very short Italian plays padded out by several songs and is probably the only form of performance in which a 15 stone middle aged woman can pretend to be a lithesome young beauty without being laughed out of existance by the audiance.
Attended by a very small minority and enjoyed by a small percentage of these.
Along with a handful of scientists who keep a low profile and just get on with the job two men stand out as having done genuine service for NZ and deserve the recognition of being among the top contenders for this title.
I refer of course to the two NZers who rescued NZ in the early to mid eighties.
Sir Robert Jones, who as well as being a very good author and commentator on sport, politics and current affairs put aside his business committments to get rid of the mad bastard Muldoon and Sir Roger Douglas who had the courage and foresight to steer NZ towards self sufficiancy.
Are the published results of this poll the greatest show of ignorance by NZers ever?
Monday, January 19, 2009
It needs to be said
Stuff today reported that Dave Dobbyn was going to "sing" to the poor bastards who have been transported home after dying in the Airbus crash off France.
No doubt there will also be a Maori cultural group wailing and jumping around.
Haven't they had enough torment?
No doubt there will also be a Maori cultural group wailing and jumping around.
Haven't they had enough torment?
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