Almost Halloween

Yes it is tomorrow. We have some lollies for any that come knocking as this American habit takes hold.

Below are some more pictures from South America.

This is the religious festival at Cuzco.

This is the Chivas Express - a bus-train that we went on. I wrapped up in a poncho and travelled on top.
A beautiful mountain photo.

Up at about 3800 metres at a dissused train station.

Me at a food market.

Christine after her deep water snorkelling experience.

Some lizards at the Galapogas Islands.

Nothing much happening except we came back to the financial meltdown (the Credit Crunch) and a pile of paper that I am slowly working through. The Government guaranteeing the deposits of the Banks I agree with, but extending it to the Finance Companies has had a distorting effect.

As they saw the flight of funds from the Banks to the higher interest rate paying, but much weaker Finance Companies, they then had to amend the rules. Even so they have now had the side effect of weakening the Morgage Companies (AXA, Tower, ING) who have had to freeze their funds. I also read that they are agreeing to gurantee the interest. Crazy.

The guarantee should only apply to the Banks and they should strengthen the oversight and rules around Finance Companies.

On the computer front Telecom phoned and said they would give me a new, improved modem - for free - as long as we stayed with them for the next 2 years. As usual, I was concerned that it would cause more problems - but assured no - I agreed. As usual it did.

The CD wouldn't load up so after a couple of hours phoned them and told as I was on Broadband I shouldn't put the CD in. Then told, again contrary to the instructions, to install the Modem next. To cut a long story short they couldn't get a link between the Laptop and the Desktop. Having a person at the other end who didn't speak NZ English didn't help. So it has been returned.

Had to go to a SeniorNet meeting last night so couldn't attend the Quiz but they won the Bonus Question ($100). Damn!!.

The election is degenerating into sleaze with Labour trying to get at Key but I think it is backfiring. I answered an online quiz at Pundit.co.nz which supposedly gave me who I should be voting for.

I came out Labour (69%), Progressives then NZ First. I also answered the USA one and came out for Obama at 89%. That doesn't surprise me but the NZ result must be skewed. The USA quiz was much more in depth.

The debate between the minor parties was much better as Mark Sainsbury didn't just let them talk over the top of each other. They were all pretty even but I thought Winston was slightly ahead.

We now look forward to the real thing in both countries - US and NZ.

Getting Close

Labour Day today but really not much different when one is retired. Have been working at Angela's place helping to get it ready for her to sell. She is buying Sarah's rental property - Sarah and Joe are selling theirs to a friend and buying another. Musical roundabouts.

The elections are getting closer. Both of them.

Funny enough I would rather vote in the US one as it is probably more important and I can only hope that the polls are right for Obama. A friend who is a dual NZ-American citizen is able to vote both here and there.

Ours is Tweedledum and Tweedledee - the differences are not much now Key has moved National into the centre. As per usual, the MMP question comes up again. Just watched the minor parties on TVNZ - Jim Anderton summed it up for MMP (or a Proportional System) saying that, when he was President of the Labour Party, twice they got more votes but National got more seats. Simply not democratic.



Just did a BBC online test of my personality type as did John Key. He was a Go Getter. I was a Supervisor as was Sarah. Helen Clarke refused - what a surprise!!

Supervisors are:

Bring order to their home and work life
Like to act on clear, achievable goals
Think of themselves as stable, practical and sociable
May be irritated when people don't follow procedures

Supervisors like to make plans, organise people and get things done efficiently. They are natural administrators who dislike chaos and strive to bring order to every aspect of their lives. Supervisors like jobs where the goals are clearly defined and there are proven work methods in place.

Supervisors are most likely to say they prefer a job which involves a series of separate projects, according to a UK survey.

Supervisors use logic to solve problems and believe in being open and direct in their communications with others. They prefer to work and socialise with like-minded people.
In situations where they can't use their talents or are unappreciated, Supervisors may reject the opinions of others and insist they are right. Under extreme stress, Supervisors may feel cut off from the people around them and lose confidence in their own ability to cope.
Because they like to take charge and organise activities, others may find Supervisors too bossy.



Some find Supervisors too bossy??!!!


Have been reading a blog written by John Ansell who did the clever and funny National adverts 3 years ago. He asked a Trivia Question - Kiri Te Kanawa sang at Charles wedding, Elton sang at Diana's funeral - who sang at the Queens Coronation?

Answer - Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones - he was a choirboy.

The candidates meeting and some more musings

Went to a candidates meeting yesterday organised by Grey Power. It was a split attendance between those standing for our electorate and a nearby one. The Labour, NZ First and United candidates were on top of it, but the National, ACT and Greens were not very good. However, attending the meetings and the leaders debates I don't think really changes ones mind.

At least unlike the Leaders Debate it wasn't a shouting match.

Ron Mark of NZ First was the standout and it is a pity he is not standing in our Electorate. A very impressive man who exudes common sense.

Have almost made up my mind now for the Party Vote. It is frustrating that each of the major parties has moments of stupidity. National now wanting to tell the Super Fund where to invest (they are supposed to be the "Free Enterprise Party") and Labour stuffing up the Government Guarantees to the finance sector.

On to something more important - the weekly quiz, We returned from our trip to find a new quiz master and system, with the music section dropped out. We always thought this was unfair as it was a double round - a point each for the song and the artist - and the music was always very modern, so any oldies didn't have a clue. Now it is out the groups who previously always won are not.

And they do not seem happy as they question some of the answers. But we have come third two weeks running so we are happy. Plus we believe, it is fairer as it is now biased towards good general knowledge. Last night we got zero from one round but still picked up enough points from the other sections to come 3rd and we also split with two other teams the Jackpot Question.

Final Presidential Debate today. We need to adopt the American system for our debates with some tweaking so that some followup is allowed.

We are also in election mode

Apart from the US and Canada we also are going to have an election. Yes really - 8th of November will be the big day.

The Polls have all shown a massive National lead and like most I thought they would close up, but not a quickly as the latest seems to show. Whether this closing of the gap is continued in the next poll remains to be seen.

Interestingly, it came around the time of the announcement of National tax cuts. As one who, whilst realising Governments waste money, does not believe in tax cuts per se, as I had concerns about the future economic horizon (which has arrived) and the effect they could have on our services - hospitals, etc. However, I thought the tax bands should be moved as many who are on what are reasonable wages are now caught by the higher tax rates.

As for National taking away the tax benefits of Research and Development - are they mad.!!!

Meantime in the States I saw an article about the same thing -

In the VP debate Gov. Palin said to Biden “You said recently that higher taxes or asking for higher taxes or paying higher taxes is patriotic. In the middle class of America, which is where Todd and I have been all of our lives, that’s not patriotic.”

The answer to her should have been:

“Governor Palin, if paying taxes is not considered patriotic in your neighborhood, who is going to pay for the body armour that will protect your son in Iraq? Who is going to pay for the bailout you endorsed? If it isn’t from tax revenues, there are only two ways to pay for those big projects — printing more money or borrowing more money. Do you think borrowing money from China is more patriotic than raising it in taxes from Americans? That is not putting America first. That is selling America first."

No one said it better than Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes: “I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization.”

My view of Palin is that she is probably even worse than Bush. Unfortunately it also shows McCain, who is generally of Presidential timbre, as showing poor judgement.

The end of the world.

Maybe. No money, stock markets down, banks going broke, huge NZ deficit (but tax cuts??), war, Palin is liked by a large percentage of Americans, Obama may not win (then again with the problems who would want to), disasters, price rises, electricity up and worse.

Typical - decided to withdraw the funds from the BNZ Managed Funds but said I would look at it upon our return and everything turns to custard. As for the poor ex-head of Lehmanns - only been paid half a billion dollars and says he is now suffering the pain of the decisions he made. Probably in Argentina they could put him out of his pain.

Will be watching Obama/McCain debate today (the second) while the other day I tried to watch Palin and Biden. Had to give up after about 15-20 minutes as she was so bad (and was allowed to get away with it). How anybody with even half a brain could select this incompetent twerp is beyond me.

Just two examples - she said she wanted the Government out of peoples lives then complains because they were not supervising the Financial Markets. She then got her Generals mixed - giving a Civil War Generals name instead of the correct one.

She never really answered a question - and said at the start that she wouldn't !!! She is Bush in drag. Sadly most US leaders seem to lack ability.

An interesting story I read that in 1988 a woman was flying to Norway and her bags were overweight, but she didn't have the $103 to pay for them. The chap in the queue behind her offered to pay and she later sent him a cheque in reimbursement. His name Barack Obama.

Some South American Pictures

At peak altitude 4,335 metres. The air was so clear we had no problems here but then again we had just got out of the bus and were not engaged in any strenous walking or climbing. Below is myself with fellow Rotarian Maurico Torres at his great agri-tourist farm in Ecuador .
Bollywood filming at Macchu Picchu.

At the Charles Darwin Centre in the Galapogas.

The intrepid traveller somewhere in South America.
Macchu Picchu. Probably our best shot which gives some indication of the beauty and magnificence of the site. It is much better enlarged so just click on the picture.
Pictures from the religious festival that we saw in Cuzco, Peru. It was two hours of brilliant dancing and music from approximately 30 groups.

So my highlights were:

1. Cuzco Festival

2. Macchu Picchu

3. Iguazu ((Iguassu) Falls

Been there - done that!!

Christine at the Darwin Centre with the giant Tortoise
Aboard the Chiva Express - her bundled up against the cold, me in the red jacket ready to travel on top.
At Macchu Picchu

Exactly - Some thoughts on our recent trip to South America which I wrote for our Rotary Bulletin so there is some repeating of what I wrote in the previous Blog:

We were a group of 9 Kiwis, 9 Aussies and 2 Canadians who enjoyed a wonderful time with simply great weather - only one day of rain, and when it did it just bucketed down. All along the tour we visited various sites, villages, markets, saw some fantastic sights and met some wonderful people.

In general we were impressed with the locals, the infrastructure and the resources that the countries had but as we know they are let down by the political process and it seems their inclination to solve problems with conflict.

Maybe they are not helped by the Federal and Presidential style of Government they have adopted. While we were in Bolivia, riots and shootings were underway, but we only saw peaceful demonstrations and marches which added to our memories and some delay one day. It was odd to us to see a large water cannon truck parked in the main square in Buenos Aries.

Our impression was that the indigenous people were now making themselves felt at the ballot box which was causing some upheaval.

Health systems appeared to be reasonable with emphasis on prevention and ensuring people were vaccinated. Poverty is always present along with the very wealthy but, particularly in Argentina/Brazil, they seem to be making progress.

The people are certainly of two distinct types – the Andeans, short with large lungs and hearts and seemingly more related to the indigenous while Argentina/Brazil, taller and more Spanish in looks.

Although personally we had no real problems with the altitude, one is always aware of it and to be sensible, particularly early in the morning when we could get quite breathless if any strenuous climbing or uphill walking was required.

Police everywhere; though to a lesser degree in Argentina/Brazil – all different types, Federal, Provincial, City, Military, Tourist, as well as others that we didn’t recognise. All well armed of course, which at least gave some suggestion of safety. We always felt quite secure and encountered only one problem, when in Quito (Ecuador) we got sprayed with mustard. The idea is they try to help you clean it off then while you are distracted they steal your backpack etc.

We flew into Santiago (CHILE) before heading for the GALAPOGAS ISLANDS.

I got seasick as usual but once I was taking the pills I was 100%. The islands were extremely interesting, Christine went deep water snorkeling, we saw the various birds and animals including the giant tortoise, visited the Charles Darwin Centre, etc.

After that came ECUADOR where by chance we met Rotarian Mauricio Torres at his family farm “La Alegria”. Mauricio has been in Rotary for 32 years with 100% attendance. The farm has been in his family for well over 100 years and he is now moving into the Agri-tourist business. He has strong links to New Zealand as our people have been helping him develop both the tourism and the farming (milk) sides of his business. Mauricio mentioned that some years ago he took time out from his farm and spent 7 years helping others through working for UNICEF.

To encourage children to go to school rather than work, the Government pay US$30 per month per child. Each month they go to the Bank with their school records and vaccination Certificate to claim the money. It is basically compulsory vaccination. Interestingly the local currency is the US Dollar; a system instituted to stop Presidents just printing money.

While there, campaigning for a new (the 20th) Constitution was underway. This has now been approved – one aspect was lowering the voting age to 16.

After that we flew to PERU staying in Cuzco (3500 Metres above sea level) where we saw, only by good fortune, what I thought was the highlight of the tour – dozens of groups dancing in an annual religious festival that went on for about 2 hours.

Then onto Macchu Picchu with its nearby mountain Wayna Picchu (probably named after me!!). Probably No.2 on my highlights list, the site is awe inspiring. While we were there they were making a “Bollywood” film – it actually looked more African than Incan.

To get to BOLIVIA we went via Lake Titicaca – boring!!! As I said we had some delay one day due to the demonstrations, however, they only added to our interest. La Plaz the highest capital in the world (3500 m) was breath taking in more ways than one. Bolivia is supposed to be the poorest country in South America (but I think Guyana/Paraguay are possibly worse) but it is in the top 5 countries in the world for foreign aid.

We then left for ARGENTINA (Buenos Aries) and BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro – staying beside the Copacabana Beach) and the lower coastal climes. Both wonderful cities we would love to return to.
We were impressed by the wide roads (12 lanes) the general sights and the lively atmosphere. The Argentinean steaks were as good as they say they are.

In Rio, a local election was underway and hearing us speak English a chap approached and asked us if we wanted a candidates brochure. We told him as foreigners we couldn’t vote “Aha” he said with a laugh ” In Brazil that doesn’t apply – anybody can vote” Probably true.
The election hoardings show every candidates number to help the illiterate select the correct one.

Amongst the sights we visited the Iguassu Falls which were much better from the Brazilian side.

I could go on and on, the advertising by standing in front of the traffic, visiting the various markets, the giant lizard at the hotel, the Tango and Samba shows, Marios Salvador Dali restaurant in Rio, the ruins of Ollantaytambo, the Peruvian railway show, the voyage on a reed boat, the Chiva Express and so much more. Now only photos and memories.