Brash's Farewell

Don Brash gave his Farewell speech in Parliament today, admitting to having made a few mistakes along the way, but also saying he was glad he had done it and he has found respect for many people in Parliament across party borders. Including a respect for Clark and Cullen, even though he disagrees with their policies.

He thanked Gerry Brownlee and Murray McCully for being with him through thick and thin and gave a special thank you to his wife, saying "Only families of those who have been involved in politics knows what they go through."

The excerpts on Stuff are quite thin on the ground, but if anyone finds a copy coulf you please post it on thanks.

Awesome Storm

This is a spectacular scene from the storms in Newcastle Australia.
I love lightning, I only wish we had the real stuff here instead of the blanket of light we get.

Threshold Raised

The repayment threshold for student loans has been raised to 17,784 per year. This is only $342 a week. Now I pay rent of 119, phone of 5, power about 13, and internet of 10. thats a total of 147 without counting food and/or travel, I think most people would struggle to survive on the amount that the government thinks is a fair wage, and every dollar over that you don't only lose 20%+ to tax, but also 10% to your loan, and then add on if you have a job on secondary tax, that is then 33% + 10% of every dollar earned so for a second job you pay 43% of it to the government, there really is no incentive to get ahead in this country, and these students when they are studying also receive less money than those on the dole, and their parents are mean tested til they are 25.

I don't see any fairness in this!!!!!

Oh and to compare it to Australia, over there the repayment threshold is $37,355 New Zealand. This is ludicrous, no wonder so many students bail and head overseas.

True Heroes

These guys are true heroes, most of the Firefighters fighting the bushfires in Australia are volunteers and they come from all over Australia and New Zealand and are helping to protect the homes and lives of complete strangers. These guys need a congratulations.

You boys are doing a great job and I commend you for your great work. And keep it up, it is guys like you that make me realise the world isn't such a bad place after all.

Play to Win

Former Hawke's Bay and Wellington representative Edward "Jim" Newbigin couldn't hide a wry smile this week as debate raged over Brendon McCullum's controversial run out of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan.

Jim himself was involved in a similar situation many years ago and believes that it is all part of the game, he thinks that kids need to be taught to play to win. In Australia this is the case, but here in New Zealand it seems that they aren't. I remember when they decided to stop scoring at Primary school sport, now this is ridiculous they should be taught that you play the game to win, and this is the same in life, why bandy around and play at good sportsmen and women when this is necessary and a part of the game, but sport is about the winning and this is exactly what McCullum was doing.

Good on you McCullum, play to win.

Word Association

Ask anyone who watches Ice Hockey to play word association with the Devils,and you could see a few words coming up regularly. Defense, Brodeur, and most likely BORING. Now calling a team with 3 titles in the last 11 years boring is very harsh, but it is because of their style of play. They have a suffocating defense and with Brodeur in the goal it is hard to get past them. If the Devils get ahead even just 1-0, it is unlikely you will get back into the game and a 2 goal lead is just unbeatable. when scoring first the Devils are 14-2-1, in 17 games to only lose 3 and 1 of those in overtime shows what I mean. The Devils are even better on home ice, with a record of 11-1-1 (the current best home record in the league) they are nearly invincible at home as they are able to make sure they get their top checking line up against the oppositions top scoring line, which nullifies them almost instantly.

All opposition dislike playing the Devils, but even more so if they play them at home. The Devils have had a more up and down season this year than in past years, but now appear to have turned the corner on away ice and are looking to improve their lead in the Atlantic Division and attempt to chase down the other Division leaders in the Eastern Conference.

For more on this topic go see Chuck Gormley

Teen turns around

Well Rae Rae has now come out saying he won't drink drive again, how convenient coming after all the national condemnation. I think this is just a knee jerk reaction to the whole country being offended and he seems to have fooled most of the public and media, but he hasn't fooled me he is nothing but a lying scheming stupid little boy.

300th Post

Well I started this blog on September 14th 2004, and made it to 100 posts on August 13th 2005, about 11 months later. I made 200 on September 4th 2006, and it now seems I have upped the Ante a bit making 300 just over 3 months later, as this is now up to averaging more a day.

I am not going to say anymore on the matter, but I will work towards 1000 now considering NZ Paradigm dies at 199posts.

Personal Freedom

Ok so NO sugary drinks in school from 2009.
Ok now while on the surface this may seem fine, yeah it cuts back on tooth decay and obesity. Well no how does it do that?? Banning something does not work, look at Prohibition.
And then to top it off you are punishing everyone because the few can not control their diets and exercise.

I am totally against this, how about an education set-up to educate people how to live properly. or start with the parents 90% of the problems we have these days extend from the childs early years and a lack of discipline etc, or bad habits introduced by the parents.

Don't punish the many to help the few.

NHL has no stars

According to some critics in the USA, they claim the reason that the NHl is going to stay as a second rate sport in the states is because of the extreme lack of stars after the big names of Jagr Ovechkin etc. Shawn Roarke has a great list of stars in every single team, I agree with him their is no lack of stars in the NHL it is just more that they don't get in the news for the wrong things like the players in the NFL and baseball and NBA.

The list is here.

New Jersey wins Again

New Jersey defeated Boston 5-1 last night as they head along on a 5 game winning streak, and improved their away record. They have had a near perfect record at home with 14-1-1, but have struggled to win away from home. But this victory over the Bruins gives them a boost in their hunt for a fourth Stanley Cup.

The Devils now have a 2 point lead in their division and a game in hand. It also pulls them in striking distance of the Atlanta Thrashers for 2nd in the Eastern conference, but to grab that either the Thrashers would have to fall apart or the Devils would need to extend their winning streak even more, though the Devils have always been good in December and January so chances are looking good. Especially if they can continue their record at home.

Johnny Reid is the MAN

Johnny Reid has won the latest round of the A1GP. He won both the Sprint Race, the Feature race and started from poll. For the third round in a row he got the fastest single lap in qualifying and for the 2nd in a row the fastest lap in the sprint race. leading into the round in taupo in January this is looking very good for NEw Zealand as we have climbed to 5th in the title race and our teammate Germany is sitting at the top, we have clearly had one of the fastest cars all season...

NZ for A1 Champs 06/07

Concurrent Sentencing

I have noticed a lot of cases coming to court lately where criminals have committed a multitude of offences and end up being sentenced concurrently. This means in effect they only serve the longest of the several sentences they are handed down. And then of course they are out after two thirds of that under the parole system. This is making a farce of the justice system. I say no more concurrent sentencing, I like the US system if you kill 5 people you get 5 life sentences, meaning you will never ever be out of Jail, In New Zealand under current law 5 life sentences at the maximum is still only 85 years... Yet this is more than fair, if you commit multiple crimes you should serve the sentences for every single one of them.

Drunken Teens Escape Punishment

The teens involved in the 14-hour binge drinking session followed by a car chase running away from the police and rolling the van they were driving. Their parents though have said they won't be punished as it is the first time they have done something like this. In my Humble opinion this is exactly when they should be punished, if not at the first time they do something then you will keep letting them off and then eventually they will be out of control and I personally think if these kids are doing a 14 hour bender and then driving they are already out of control and need to be taught a lesson right away, it is problems like these that are leading to the culture of violence and excessive prison numbers we have. (Though in my opinion harsher sentences should be handed down) of course this will open the prisons up and increase the number of people behind bars, but I believe that it will eventually curtail and head back down as the deterant factor kicks in.

Test Win Overshadowed

New Zealand made a great game of the test match against Sri Lanka and came out on top, but all the commentators can do is bitch about McCullum dismissing Muttaih in the second innings as he went to congratulate Sangakarra on making his century. I agree completely with McCullums actions, the rules of the game stand and this talk of 'spirit' of the game is a load of crap in the days of the chronic players not leaving when they know they edged it, in the past this was considered extremely bad sportsmanship. In this day and age all batsmen hang around til that finger goes up.

So good on McCullum and the critics can shut up. Oh and also does anyone think Sri Lanka would be complaining if they had won?

And I agree completely with Flemings statement, "If we threw and Overthrow on that ball I am sure they would've taken the run."

Labour Backs Down

Labour has backed down on attempting to get data from its citizens at the borders and will not be including it in changes to the laws on immigration and travel that are to be coming out. They have decided that there was too much opposition to making New Zealanders give fingerprints, Retina scans and in extreme cases DNA as they leave and enter the country.

Laws on Fiji/Tonga

Michael Laws has written a great opinion piece in the SST today, the bit that will get him in trouble is a reply to the critics of his "fat brown slug" comment from earlier about Tonga. He has come aut and said that it is true, the King was a fast brown slug, but it is acceptable to use being brown as an excuse. While this comment is kinda racist it is also true, people in New Zealand are led to believe that "brown" people are behind the 8-ball to begin with so therefore it is ok if they don't achieve. But the bit that I agreed with the most was the part about New Zealand being confusing and the parties leading the charge for fighting back against the coup, while condemning those involved in the riots in Tonga, both of these were fights for democracy. Though I think the governments line on it is going to be that Tonga was against the 'rightful' government, while Fiji was for the 'rightful' government, as countries of New Zealands ilk are supposed to support the government of other countries, but I agree with Laws they are being two-faced.

Blogger Beta

Well now it has finally let me move over to Blogger Beta and I will try and edit all my previous posts into catergories for everyone as well...Thanks for your own going support.

Jono's weekly NHL update

Well my Devils picked up a win over Philly last night, their fourth win on the trot and the 84th Career shutout for Marty Brodeur came in the 2-0 victory. Now they are top of their Division and looking good for a spot in the playoffs, even at this early stage of the season, the Devils are frequently sitting at the bottom of the top 8 at this point yet always improve near the end of the season. Today they face off against Boston and could solidify their placing. They are 2 points clear in their division and have a game in hand, meaning tonight they could move 4 points clear.

Top of the East. (placings Div leaders 1-3)
-GP in brackets

Buffalo 44 (28)
Atlanta 40 (30)
New Jersey 34 (27)
Montreal 36 (28)
Carolina 34 (31)
NY Rangers 32 (28)
NY Islanders 31 (28)
Ottawa 31 (29)
Toronto 31 (30)

Ok well in the East Buffalo are looking very good to take out the top spot, while New Jersey and Atlanta should fight it out for 2nd and 3rd. But it is very tight for the last few spots with 3 more teams on 30 points. So it looks like a 7 way race for the last 3 spots in the playoffs, is a great season to be following Ice Hockey.

Top of the West

Anahiem 50 (31)
Nashville 39 (28)
Edmonton 34 (28)
San Jose 40 (29)
Dallas 38 (29)
Detroit 36 (27)
Minnesota 32 (28)
Calgary 29 (26)
Vancouver 29 (29)

Well in the West it looks to be taking less points to qualify for the playoffs, but more points to get near the top. The race for a playoff berth is also not as tight, but Colorado on 28 (28) would feel gutted if they end up missing out come April. Anahiem look like runaway winners in the West and it is unlikely anyone will challange them and they should be playing for the Stanley cup.

Blogger Beta

Well in my Dashboard, it told me I had access to being upgraded to the new version, yet when I clicked to accept this offer and entered my details, it told me I have to wait, I really would like Bloggers new version now, but it seems I will have to wait. Oh well.