Pursuit

Police Pursuits: A 22-year-old man has been charged after his car crashed into a couple in Christchurch last night, killing them, following a police pursuit.

He is well known to Police (what a surprise!!) and a disqualified driver (what a surprise!!). Obviously they only have to stop but the problem is we are dealing with nutters who don't give a stuff.

Last night on TV 3 John Campbell interviewed a girl who drove off drunk from a Police stop and killed a woman. She got 8 months home detention and banned from driving for 3 1/2 years. Should have been 3 years jail (although I would accept home detention as it saves us money) and banned from driving for 20 years.

Police recorded 1280 pursuits between January and July, with 199 ending in crashes and 10 people have been killed this year alone - although some of these are the the criminals, which is the good news. The do-gooders who moan and complain when the idiot drivers die, are pathetic.

A police report released in July recommended abandoning pursuits once an offender's identity was known so an arrest could be made later. A problem is that even if we do know who the car belongs to, the lawyers will get them off as we can't really prove it was them in the car and they will say it was stolen, as happened recently.

So what do we do.

I have supported chasing them as the message will be that if they are asked to stop they will just speed away and if the car is stolen we won't catch them.

But maybe it is time for a change.

Some thoughts are -

• compulsory insurance
• all recidivist disqualified drivers names are held on a database and they are not allowed to own a vehicle,
• people must identify themselves to buy a car,
• banning from driving for much longer (15 - 20 years and as I said before cannot own a car for that time),
• if people lend them their car they face prison,
• driver licenses have to be displayed as you drive (put a plastic cover in the right hand side of the windscreen),
• no license until 18 and only then if attended a driver training school otherwise 21,
• limited driving rules until 25,
• zero breath limit,
• name and shame them,
• when the get out of jail they must keep the Police advised of their address for as long as they can't drive and we advertise that they are in the area so people can watch them,
• put a curfew on them, etc.

I am sure there are many other ideas and the public should be asked for their input.

And charge them with murder and let the jury decide. I know the nanny/police state arguement but these restrictions are only being put upon criminals.

But we all know nothing will happen.

The lunatic decision of our politicians is that if I walk down the road and stab somebody, I get charged with murder. If I get drunk and kill them with a car it is ' causing death by use of a motor vehicle' - a lesser charge than manslaughter. Madness!!

In my blog post of 25 May 2007 I wrote about an US idea where convicted drunks have to have special number plates for xx number of years after they have served their conviction.

Back ups: Our Maxtor Exterrnal Hard Drive has gone on the blink. It looks as if it has gone. My last back up of of the drive was last March and my own stuff I back up every 2/3 weeks to a Flashdrive and the Laptop. However, Christine had just downloaded 300 photos to it but didn't back them up. We all learn something every day!!

Some Photos

Monty, Sarah, Christine, Wayne, Joe and Kipp

Monty on top of Kipp

The Kippster

Monty the Moo

Some end of the week words

Went for a walk with the dogs (ours and Sarah's) and the boys today. One of the few fine days lately. Quite pleasant.

Ma'a Nonu, minus one boot, makes the break that led to
the All Blacks' dramatic last-gasp try in the thrilling win over South Africa.

Rugby: What a game. Who would have thought with 3 minutes to go that a score of SA 22 - NZ 17 would end up as a win for the AB's 29 - 22. A draw would have been a fair result (especially in John Smit's 100th game) and not made us get too overconfident. But I thought the scoreline was a good reflection of the way the game worked out. We had many more opportunities than them, although our try leading to the draw came from an obvious forward pass.

French and Travel: We looked after the boys last weekend so we went into town and went to the Travel Show while they were at French. We then swapped cars and brought them back with us. The show was nothing much but they were doing a roaring business.

Australia: The Australian election has ended in a 'hung' parliament so we will need to see what pans out over the next few days. Listening to the radio this morning the ex-Wallaby Peter FitzSimons was telling the story how Opposition Leader Tony Abbot used to be his Rugby coach. Abbot is a Catholic so he would have been a rugby man - the opposite of N. Z. where the Catholics play League.

Anyway, he said, one night at training it was raining and cold so half the team hadn't turned up. As they were short on numbers the coach, Abbot, volunteered to prop. The next minute the scrum broke up and coach and player were at each other in an all in fight. They had to be dragged apart and today his opponent on the night is now his shadow Treasurer.

Abbot is often called the 'Mad Monk' as he is quite crazy in some of his ideas. However , during the campaign he has impressed with his steady performance.

An Oz story: The word kilometre should be pronounced with no emphasis on the O as in Kilogram. This is because anything not tangible is pronounced with no emphasis on the O - so speedometer, gasometer and the like should be pronounced speed-om-meter and gas-om-meter with emphasis on the O. The Yanks seem to be the biggest offenders.

However, when they were going metric the Australian Prime Minister at the time, Gough Whitlam, pronounced it incorrectly. It was mentioned at a press conference by a reporter and Gough, who could be very imperious, said in his withering way " I'll have you know I took Greek at Sydney University under the tutelage of the famous British politician Sir Enoch Powell (of rivers of blood in regard to immigration fame) and I am correct."

When it was referred to Sir Enoch his response was "I knew that boy would never amount to anything!"

More words: When Kipp was with us at the weekend he criticised my way of pronouncing the word 'address'. He said it should be said American style, in two syllables 'add-ress' because that is how Sarah says it. I tried to tell him, no, it is one word. But I am wrong - mum is right.

I know I am fighting a losing battle, as most younger (ie those under 40) people in Enzed speak American now; especially with the word de-fence. I don't think I have ever heard an All Black in the last 15 years pronounce it correctly.

Tuesdays Report

Monty climbing the ladder of success

Birthday day

Kipp at Wellington Harbour

The 2010 Duck Race day

This is one of my favourites

Birthday: Sarah's birthday tomorrow. Easy to remember as it was the first and only time we have seen the AB's play overseas when Sarah and I went to the game.

Sydney Cricket Ground 20 August 1983 when NZ won 18-8.

There has been comment from the head of NZ Cricket Justin Vaughan that he was embarrassed at the attitude of the abusive and drunk Kiwis at the AB's last test in Melbourne.

On that day back in '83 I was also a bit embarrassed for the same reasons. We should be humble in victory and behave ourselves.

Politics as well as this and that

The nutters: Another superb Tom Scott cartoon. The man is a genius. This is in relation to a terrible story on the front page of Time about a woman in Afghanistan having her ears and nose cut off by her 'husband' (she got 'married' to him at age 10). For all the arguments about our being involved in this war, one thing is clear; the Taleban are a bunch of thugs and scum - every one that is killed improves the world.

Politics and Grey Power: The PM was to speak at Grey Power yesterday and we went along. On the way Christine mentioned that she thought he wouldn't be there as the funeral for the fallen soldier in Afghanistan was being held at the same time - and she was right. Instead John Carter fronted up with the local list MP Paul Quinn. John was reasonably on top of it but Paul not so much - then again he is a new MP while John has been around a few million years.

I saw some years ago that the nickname for the Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, and the brother of his better known twin Steve, was called 'Afghan' - the forgotten war. Clever.

I asked a question (and praised him (Carter) for his support of SeniorNet) about 3rd party insurance and he said the usual that it is being looked at - as it has been for the past 50 years.

The meeting was a the usual for Grey Power.

All complaining, niggling complaining in a greedy way - wanting more money that they think grows on trees. One had been in a state house for 40 years and was grizzling about the rent (that we subsidize and why hasn't he owned it after all this time?), another wanted a 50% increase in the pension (money to come from where?), one said her sons didn't join the Army to go off to war (!!!) a couple gave speeches and so on.

A local City Councillor wanted food to be GST free. She couldn't understand that the rules to cater for that would cost more than would be given back plus all the other legal problems. I spoke to her later and what I did learn was to make sure she doesn't get my vote. She blamed men for the system!!! She claimed it was simple. If it goes in your mouth it is food. Does that include cigarettes, your don't eat flour in its original state, chewing gum goes in the mouth but not eaten (usually) cooking oil, lollies, chippies and Coke etc. The lawyers would drive holes a mile wide through her theory.

Rugby: During the last test versus Oz, Tony Woodcock took an Aussie out with a shoulder from behind. He should have got 10 minutes but the amazing thing is that the citing commissioner said it was OK. Crazy. Is Peter De Villiers right when he says the AB's are sacrosanct.

Change: Over thirty years ago we changed to the metric system. People (especially advertisers) still talk Imperial. Even I do, but I was brought up on the system. Some things that are really expressions (I said above 'a mile wide', also the word mileage) will never go out but why can't they get with it. The other day on Radio NZ a commentator said 'what is an inch'.
As she said, being brought up metrically she didn't have a clue what inches and pounds etc were.

Todays answers: The only number as a word in Alpha order - forty. The quiz was bad news - 7th out of 12. But we learnt the first player to get a Yellow Card in Super 12 was Frank Bunce.

A Key meeting tomorrow

A Key visit: Going to the Grey Power meeting tomorrow where John Key is speaking. Will be the first time I will have seen him up close. I wonder if we will be able to ask questions. The problem with that is that they could go on forever.

Rugby Reunion: Following on from the win at the quiz I won the email of the week (I get the Sky Sport magazine for a year) on Rugby Reunion. I wanted to tape it but I set it for the wrong channel!!! Grrrr.

Anyway I thought I would be in with a chance as my idea is simple and sensible. For a player sent off with a red card, he stays off but after 10 minutes a new player can come on. They (the team and player) are punished at the time (the player also will face the Commissioner after the game) but the team and the fans are not wholly punished because of the insane actions of one idiot.

On the program they didn't agree but I am sure Sky would just love the RWC Final to turn into a farce if a couple of players from the same team were sent off within 10 minutes of the start.

Genesis and Power Companies: Just completed a Consumer online Survey of power companies. As it happened (as usual) just after that Genesis sent us a letter that they would be turning off our power for 30 minutes when they installed a new meter. They gave us a few days window of when it would happen an advised us to turn off any 'sensitive' electrical items. We were out and they just came and did it with any notice. Pathetic.

Apples: The WTO has ruled again in our favour about exporting apples to Australia. Some people think just because they have to let our apples in that they will. They are Australians - they don't give a damn. The pathetic response from us was that they got a WTO ruling that we had to let their honey and stupidly we did. We should have said we will let it in the day they let our apples in. I know we shouldn't lower ourselves to their level but stuff them!!

Welfare: A 'Task Force' has reported. An idea that John Howard in Australia came up with was that they keep a Diary of what they do each day. The usual outcry from the do-gooders and he couldn't get it through. I think it is a good idea.

Sevens - Islamic style

Sevens: The Iranian Rugby 7's team is in Europe where because of the loony laws they have to adhere to they have to wear fully body covering outfits. It will be a tough day when they meet a Kiwi team who will play it hard and they may be in for a ripping time. Madness.

The pictures above are from when they played Italy and of course to add to the stupidity as the teams they play are 'uncovered' the games cannot be shown in Iran or some of the Muslim states.

Both the Shield match Southland - Otago as well as the Test tonight. I hope Southland hold onto it. It would be even better if it was won by a Second Dvision team as it might stay there for a while.

Winners and losers

Winners: The Quiz. After a bad run we had a triumphant night with nearly $400 of drink money won as we grabbed both the Bonus and 1st place. For a change he didn't have music, instead he had a round about Oscars. We got 3 - bring back the music (no not really).

He has moved into a mode of where he will put questions that he has asked before. With 5-6 of these through the night it doesn't worry us as it (if your memory is any good) favours those who turn up every week. Also, last night he had a couple of interesting categories.

However, with the Bonus it was quite funny as he asked a N.Z. question that he had asked about 12 months previous. The first time Joe guessed the correct year but we didn't go with it as it was 1874 and at the time we thought around the 1900's was more likely. Since that night Joe has mentioned it a couple of times so it has stuck in his mind. When he re-asked it we thought we are in with a chance. And we were.

So all in all a good night.



Losers: Hone Harawira said in a weekend newspaper interview he would not feel comfortable if one of his seven children brought home a Pakeha partner, and believed many Pakeha would feel the same about Maori.

The Human Rights Commission says the Maori Party MP needs to consider whether his personal feelings are helpful to race relations and that his comments reflected an "unwelcome prejudice" toward Pakeha

Census statistics on babies' ethnicities contradicted Mr Harawira's views - two-thirds of Maori babies, half of Pacific babies, and a third of Pakeha and Asian babies belonged to more than one ethnic group.

National MP Tau Henare called Mr Harawira's comments racist and stupid, while Prime Minister John Key said the comments were "unfortunate and ridiculous".

As usual the racism is coming out - but of course they would argue that only white people can be racist. Yeah right.

Several years ago his mother in a radio interview said, when questioned if she had any Pakeha blood in the family tree, responded along the lines that no, they wouldn't want their pure blood sullied with European. After the interview it was pointed out that a certain Mr. Hitler had the same views.

I have often tried to find out if there are any pure 100% Maori left. It is impossible to get an answer and they always fudge the reply. I don't think there are any.



However, in support of Hone in another area - smoking - he is hot against that and I must admire his strong views on the tobacco industry.

I remember an interview with an advertising CEO who when asked why they didn't advertise cigarettes said " So it is a small tube, you inhale it and it is both addictive and kills you. When do we go to jail "

It is legal only because of a historical accident and timing. Later: I found this piece later -

Ngapuhi elder David Rankin, a relative of Mr Harawira says he should stop playing the race card and get the chip off his shoulder.

I want to tell him 'we sent you to Parliament to speak on our behalf and not to behave like an idiot. Remember Hone, your grandfather was a Pakeha."

Mr Rankin, speaking last night on TV3's Campbell Live, said Mr Harawira's original name was Hone Hatfield.

This completely contradicts what his mother said many years ago. Is his name really John Hatfield?

Never again

Eric Tindill: We will never see his like again - Eric Tindill died aged 99.

The only man to play a Test Match for New Zealand in both Rugby and Cricket. Some like Geoff Wilson and Brian McKechnie played for the AB's in a Test but they only played 50 over Cricket.

With the overflow of seasons now it will be nell nigh impossible to duplicate his feat.

He was as you will read below a member of the 1935-36 All Blacks that my Great Uncle Sir Vincent Meredith managed (Coached and Managed in those days). A bad tour where we lost a few games including to England 13-0 but we were just coming to grips with the 3-4-1 scrum after our 2-3-2 was outlawed and we didn't really learn it until half way through the '49 tour of the Republic.

My favourite quote - below a picture of Sir Vincent - "the dictatorial Sir Vincent"

Dictatorial ??? where did they get that from???

Eric Tindill
Born: December 18, 1910, Nelson.
Died: August 1, 2010, Wellington.
Physical: 1.73m, 66kg.
Rugby: 17 matches for New Zealand 1935-38, 1 test [v England, London, 1936]. Refereed 3 tests [NZ v Lions, Dunedin and Christchurch, 1950, NZ v Australia, Dunedin, 1955].
Cricket: 29 matches for NZ 1937-47, 5 tests. Umpired 1 test [NZ v England, Christchurch, 1959]. Selector, NZ and Wellington. Secretary, Wellington Cricket Association.
Soccer: Wellington representative 1927.
Table tennis: Wellington representative. Co-founder/treasurer, Wellington Table Tennis Association 1932.
Boxing: Treasurer, NZ Boxing Council 1973-81.

• He's the only genuine double All Black because he played cricket and rugby tests for New Zealand.
• He matched that feat in officiating, becoming a test rugby referee and international cricket umpire.
• He played 17 games and one test for the All Blacks between 1935 and 1938 before World War II derailed his halfback/first five-eighth's career.
• He played 29 matches as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the New Zealand cricket team, including five tests, between 1936 and 1947.
• In the space of 27 months, from August 1935 until November 1937, he played internationally for New Zealand in rugby and cricket for 15 months, which included six months travelling by ship on the high seas.

A giant.

Justice Part II

The Reply: In my Blog of 25 July I went on about how the 'justice' system is a farce. In this weeks Sunday Star Times the Justice Minister Simon Power (who I think is one of the better ones we've had lately) responded to the points put to him.

It was the usual politicians speak that 'we (National) are changing and improving things and the last lot were weak and did nothing' - yeah right.

His responses were basically -

How can the defence select the lawyers of their choice but the victims can't -
Tough - the crime is really against the State so they select the lawyers.

The right of silence -
He moved the point by saying that people could be coerced into a confession by the Police unless they could have the right to silence. The point was not silence when being interviewed but at the trial. A witness must give evidence but the accused doesn't.

Why do we not lead the world now as we once did with reforms (eg majority verdicts - took us years to bring this in) as he said he would look into it as it was being done away with in the UK under certain circumstances.

Why have a Depositions in the case of an obvious case to answer -
He has made it simpler - he says.

How come only the defence can have an Appeal -
Didn't answer but I understand the Crown can but rarely does it.

State aid -
Says he has improved the payments.

Why should victim impact statements be censored -
He said he is 'mindful' (good lawyer speak) and is to look into it

It is time for our adversarial system to go -
Will investigate a change - which means nothing will happen for 50 years

Not in the Dock. -
It is up to the Judge.

He didn't answer how the accused can communicate with the Defence but the victims can't.

I read an article recently where the Australians are trying to reform their legal system. Best of luck.

Australians are familiar with the Magic Pudding, a fantastic creation in that no matter how much of it is eaten by Bill Barnacle, Bunyip Bluegum and friends, it always returns to its original size and shape.

They say the Magic Pudding is a bit like the legal profession - forever plumped up, no matter how many reformist plans are nibbling away at it.

Despite the ceaseless outcry from consumers over costly and cumbersome litigation, lawyers do not like reform, unless done by law reform commissions or other outfits run by lawyers.

When a delegation of lawyers went to see Cardinal Richelieu in France to argue a reform would take away some of their business, they pleaded, ''Even lawyers have to eat, Cardinal.''

''Not necessarily,'' was his icy reply.

Now there's a reform.

Prisons: There was a TV documentary last week about Wormwood Scrubs (UK) prison. It showed various aspects of the life and that the British are as mad as us. They are not allowed to search the prisoners so have a special chair they sit in which is like a metal detector.
Nuts. Change the bloody law.

It also had video of visitors handing over weapons, phones , drugs etc, Have a perspex barrier - prisoners one side, visitors the other. Oh we can't do that the prisoners have rights.!!

Meanwhile here one of our notorious killers Graeme Burton had a knife. How ??

Its Sunday so it must be religion

Brad Thorn in action

Religion: Well Rugby anyway. AB's 49 Oz 28. The Red Card didn't help. Nor did the fact that one of our tries came from an offside position but it didn't really matter as there was only one team in it. Seven tries to three.

The try scoring is going on as the records show. The Tri Nations games for 2008 43 2009 27 and in 2010 after only 3 games 14.

It was a fairly bloody affair as I saw when Rocky Elsom was interviewed after the game. In last weeks game a tooth was knocked out of Wallabies mouth but, being Rugby and not Soccer, he didn't stop for a second - he just carried on a tooth short. As they say, a game for men.

Red Cards: People transgress and are rightly punished. The problem today is with the professional game fans and TV have paid huge money to see a contest and if it is made into a no contest due to the idiotic actions of 1 or 2 then everybody is shortchanged. I believe the way forward is that those getting a Red Card leave the match for good as usual but after 10 minutes another player comes on in their place. The other thing is that it usually a moment of individual madness.

The IRB will look at it I presume but it will take them 10 years to come to a sensible decision.

Changes: I see that they (they being the Southern Hemisphere and France) want a change so that a player after a 12 month stand down can play for another Tier 1 or 2 country. As usual the British and Irish are against. Probably frightened that a team like Georgia might beat them!!

Food Bank Collection: Lousy weather but just about to take off to help.