Supposed Stem Cell Success and News Wars at 7pm - 28/03/05

LOCAL NEWS

We were peppered with reports on the progress of the motor neurone lady and the stem cell operation. She had the operation, she woke up, she smiled, she stopped dribbling, she ate food. Then it went quiet for a couple of days. She started talking but I couldn't understand her. The whole thing was a bit weird.

John Campbell's new show broke a story about people buying real NZ drivers licenses without passing the practical test. Not only was it enabling people to get a valid license for $400 but it must have had some implications for people getting a dodgy ID. An ex-traffic officer was the first to be arrested. Ratings of the three competing shows continue to be news all week, with Holmes the third place at a dismal 3.5% or thereabouts.

A so-called prominent person had their name and occupation suppressed and when he was bailed got thumped by someone who obviously knew what he was up to. The man had been charged with molesting a child under 12 years old. He got thumped sort of one and a half times, and whinged pathetically on the footage, which blurred his face but you could hear how wimpy he was. Very interesting situation, the assaulter was later charged with assault and the court took a dim view of people dishing out bush justice when they disagree with the court's decisions.

An escapee from custody hid in a ceiling above a toilet which collapsed onto a woman who was using it. She was largely unhurt and he was subsequently caught.

We had our first rally for transgender rights. Not entirely sure what they want, but they do cause some issue at the pool changing rooms.

The samurai guy was found guilty, despite having tried to prove he was not due to insanity. Given that excessive alcohol is not an excuse for killing people whilst driving, taking P is not a valid defence for squirting people with an Uzi. This was the guy that looked bonkers on the first day, eyes darting everywhere, but he ran out of steam and they slowed down a lot.

Auckland City Council appear to have decided that the answer to our traffic problems is not improving public transport, but to prevent people from bringing their 4wds into the city. They will prevent this by making car parking spaces smaller. I am not sure what they expect people with large cars like Falcons and Commodores to do, but consider that this will also have an impact on people with medium sized cars who are crap at parking. I suspect this idea was sponsored by the association of panel beaters.

Easter Road Toll not good, with some clown boy racer starting the tally killing himself and three mates in Pukekohe.

WORLD NEWS

The rampage in Redlake, Minnesota where nine died got plenty of coverage. Hard to do it if you don't have a gun. Haven't heard of it happening with an electric breadknife, I am sure. He was supposedly a neo-nazi, but that has probably as much to do with it as which football team he supported. Why does this never seem to happen outside the US?

Terri Shiavo continues to be a household name, as does her feeding tube. I wouldn't want my life covered in such detail as that.

The Pope is still with us.

REAL SPORT

Massive disappointment when water polo practice didn't start this week. Worse still, it doesn't start this week either.

First soccer matches are next weekend. Hannah's team beat a 12th grade team 1-0 in a friendly.

SPORT

The cricket has three days to go.

England beat N. Ireland 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier. Czech Republic beat Finland 4-3. Poland won 8-0 over Azerbaijan. Greece beat Georgia 3-1.

I am not sure what happened in Super 12. Blues had a bye so I didn't really pay attention. The Brumbies lost, which was a surprise.

MY SAD LIFE

I forgot a couple of important things last week:
- it was Koos's 40th birthday on Thursday, but I did email him.
- Diana traipsed halfway across Auckland to redeem a $50 meat voucher from her prize and they wouldn't take it. She then talked to them last Monday about it (and nothing has happened since).
- I got a parking ticket outside Allan's house for parking on the footpath (it is the best way to ensure you don't get hit, the road is pretty narrow)
- I forgot to say hello to Friede, Diana's cousin who lives near Dargaville who now gets this.

Diana's car blew a radiator hose on Thursday night, which meant we were down to one car the whole long weekend. This became a real pain in the neck as we needed to do different things at the same time. Mostly Diana seemed to be picking me up, which was becoming tedious for her. That was the third thing involving pipes, after the dishwasher and an incident with the washing machine.

It's funny how hard it is to get information out of the kids. I walked Hannah home from school when she got back from camp, and got a little out of her but not much. But later, at the pool, she would mention something else almost every time she stopped at the end of the pool for a rest.

Saw lots of people who get this email over the weekend:
- Brett is back here for a bit from Perth, has handed in his thesis, and is having a break. Went to the pub with him and Allan for lunch in Devonport.
- Jono popped in, over from Sydney for the weekend.
- Friede popped in with Nicky and Doug (who is up for a holiday from Wellington).
- Didn't actually see Charles, but he is here and may see him tomorrow.

Rory, let me know how things are going in Adelaide. Cecilia was asking after you the other day and I couldn't tell her a thing.

Meanwhile, our Rory's life continues to go very well. He led his class to win the class softball championship this week, hitting two home runs from two turns at bat, which also got three others home. His form teacher was rapt because it is the first time his class has won a class championship, and it was especially sweet because the "brainy class" don't often win sports things. We also found out he is going on to the next level of swim champs this coming Wednesday. On Thursday they played the teachers, and lost, but Rory go two more home runs. That is four from four in two games (they only have time for two innings). Hard to do a lot better than that, although it is a tactical error to put your home run hitter up first, you should really load the bases before they bat.

I took Rory and Nanny to the last session of the first day of the cricket. Nanny loves her cricket and we got to see Warne, Gillespie, and McGrath bowl and saw Fleming get his 50 and then go out.

I posted my first negative feedback on eBay this week (haven't posted negative on trademe, probably should have). Instantly got the revenge attack negative from the clown I was having problems with. It was expected. Gavin is going a bit funny on trademe, bought some women's clothing, he reckons it was for Robyn but I am not convinced.

We went bowling with Gavin on Sunday night, then had a game of mini-golf. Hannah was struggling with the bowling but this alley had bumpers that would come up only for selected players which was quite cool. Rory got two strikes in a row then missed with the next two shots. I didn't get a strike or a spare but still just beat Rory in a dismal game. Gavin got a turkey (three strikes in a row).

Wales win six nations, we didn't win the sevens and we still don't mention cricket - 21/03/05

Easter this weekend, yay!

LOCAL NEWS

Today is Racial Tolerance Day, so go find someone of another ethnic group and put up with them. Racial Intolerance day is every second Thursday in the Southern US, wear a white sheet and bring a burning cross, ladies a plate.

Bit of a fuss about filming Parliament after an associate minister was filmed sleeping in the house. People watching Parliament on the telly regularly fall asleep so you shouldn't blame him.

High tides with a storm did some damage to houses around Napier.

St Patrick's day was celebrated in the usual way.

The cock-up with flu vaccines continues (don't know if I mentioned this last week). I never realised it was that important, but apparently hundreds of thousands of people take the flu shots.

National is slipping in the polls. Frankly, I am still struggling to see a credible option. I might vote for the party formed to reinstate smoking in pubs.

TVNZ News boss showed his flair for wit, charm, and diplomacy by telling us if he worked for Prime he would pour petrol on himself. Both overdramatic and puerile, one wonders why he still has a job. Meanwhile, TV3 start their new show at 7pm tonight to tackle Holmes on Prime and the news show on One. Since their launch about 12 years ago, TV3 hasn't been able to crack the market at 7pm weeknights and over the years they have played repeats of Home Improvement, The Simpsons, and Hogans Heroes (sad, isn't it).

A NZ woman with an aggressive form of motor neurone disease is getting stem cells injected into her brain in China today. Sounds primitive, will be interesting to see if it works.

A prissy author is demanding the recall of thousands of CDs because her entry is wrong. Lynley Hood, who wrote a book that was little more than a list of paedophiles, was wrongly credited with having an honorary doctorate instead of a real one. I think everyone should point at her and laugh for reading her own entry. I wonder if I am on the CD? They pay me money for having books in the library (sod all).

Ten years after the Cave Creek disaster (when about 17 students died when a viewing platform collapsed down a hole) a survivor admitted that they were rocking the platform and jumping up and down when it collapsed. Whilst I understand that it should have been better constructed, this is news about them wobbling it.

The annual 'Round the Bays run happened in Auckland yesterday with 72,000 runners (although it looked like most only had room to walk). It's been going

WORLD NEWS

GW assured everyone that two years after invading Iraq, America is a safer place. Not sure if the world is, he didn't mention the rest of us. I know a few Italians that would disagree. He has also come back from a holiday early to interfere in the case of a woman who wants to die.

REAL SPORT

No real sport this week, but proper water polo training starts tomorrow.

SPORT

Rain delayed the start of the first test, possibly the best result NZ could hope for. Losing in five days looked more achievable because of it (rather than the normal four). Australia declared at about 580/8 and NZ was struggling at 122/4 overnight. Not sure it will make five days, but we should.

A local pacer called Elsu won the Interdominion Cup, going through unbeaten and impressing the punters.

The Chiefs got thumped 20-6 by the Reds. Blues were down 41-0 against the Crusaders but recovered to lose only 41-19. The Hurricanes list for the first time this season. The Brumbies won, again. The Highlanders also won in South Africa.

Big news is that Wales beat Ireland in the six nations to win it with a grand slam, the first for Wales for quite some time. Wales is about the only country in the world as rugby-mad as New Zealand.

Chelsea won again, Man Utd and Arsenal both won but not enough to help them catch Chelsea. Time is running out, well has run out really. Liverpool beat Everton 2-1.

NZ lost to Fiji in the World Cup Sevens final.

MY SAD LIFE

Big news this week is that sister Sarah has finally set a date for getting married, in November. Details are sketchy at this stage. It appears likely that this will be the first wedding where all three siblings attend.

Penny is recovering from her shoulder/neck problem, but has a way to go yet.

Rory had interschool swim sports on Thursday. We managed to get there and Granny came too. Rory made the final in freestyle 50m and 100m. He chose not to swim in 100m final because he wanted to be in better shape for the two relays (he swam freestyle in medley, and was also in the freestyle relay. He came third in freestyle final, against kids that are in swim squads and go to National Champs. In the freestyle relay they came second, Rory pulled them in from third (he was fourth swimmer). They came fourth in the medley relay, although Rory nearly got them to third. He was very pleased with his third placing, and the second in the relay.

Hannah went to camp at the Millennium Institute. It wasn't really a camp, more like a luxury hotel. Diana saw her playing flipper ball (beginner's water polo) and she was pretty good at some of that. General feeling is that proper cabin-oriented camps like Camp Adair are way better.

Spoke to Koos this week, he arrives the weekend I am in Wellington. He is going to Goa. He promised to go to a restaurant and tell the waiter "I am goin' to have the Goan curry."

We had a few people over for lunch on Sunday, there were four boys here (including Rory) and they are now all at different schools (three are in first year of high school). They are also all taller than Diana.

Allan returned from San Francisco, without incurring excess baggage costs.

I went to a restaurant for dinner on Thursday night and the cooking staff were bonkers, thrashing out noise on the stainless steel whenever someone got a dessert with a candle on. We sat opposite the kitchen, it was dinner and a show. Diana took Rory to a movie where some people did their best to ruin it for everyone else with their young children, talking on their cellphone, and being generally annoying.

I don't like the new dishwasher, it's always running and when I try to put things in they are both in use and I want the old one back.

Off for a walk with Diana

The death, life, and death of a dishwasher - 14/3/05

LOCAL NEWS

A wealthy Chinese lady was kidnapped and ransomed for a million dollars. Not sure if they paid up but she was recovered intact. The three perpetrators were not immediately apprehended, but police were pretty happy that she was okay.

The mother of a prem baby found in a sewer has been identified and is being counselled. Not sure why. Probably doesn't need to be reminded about it.

They found the Unimog about 100m downstream from where it hit the water. Haven't got it out yet.

Major tornado thing hit Greymouth in the South Island. Buildings were very heavily damaged, walls removed and lots of roofs peeled off. The video store had records withdrawals in one day, although takings were down. Nobody was seriously hurt, which is pretty surprising. There has been some looting since, which has really pissed people off and there is talk of a posse rounding them up (things are still a bit old-fashioned in Greymouth).

A survey revealed that a quarter of university graduates leave NZ to live. Apparently more of NZ's graduates leave than any other OECD country. We have talent in Australia, Britain, USA, Canada, and the Netherlands (in decreasing order of quantity). No mention of there being any talent of note in Singapore, KL, Germany, or Dubai (sorry guys, nothing personal).

It appears that the right honourable John Banks is going to run for Parliament for the ACT party. I used to think ACT had some potential but that would end it for me there and then. Problem is, the choices for voting are pretty bad. I haven't a clue who we can vote for.

Big fuss this week about NZ cricketer Darryl Tuffey in a video with a couple of English tourists and a milkshake. They are holding an enquiry. Best not think about it. They didn't say what flavour the milkshake was.

There was a 6.1 quake off the west coast of Wellington but it wasn't very serious. No mention of large waves anywhere.

WORLD NEWS

Can somebody please teach GW a facial expression other than smug? I can't believe anyone other than his mother actually voted for him. I guess that is the power of PR and advertising.

The dwarf in the pope suit is recovering. It's just cruel. Give the poor guy a break.

REAL SPORT

Hannah's soccer team is now known as the Sirens. Very apt. A group of girls that entice their victims in close with song and then eat them. Also a loud piercing noise that is a warning to others.

They had a game on Sunday, a friendly. Only six per side this time. Hannah scored three goals, but they lost 4-3.

SPORT

First test started Thursday, and was better than expected but still felt like waiting for the hammer to fall. Day three gave some hints of what the Australians were capable of batting. Day four showed that NZ wasn't. It was all over too quick.

Crusaders thumped Reds, Highlanders beat Bulls who couldn't score a point, the Chiefs upset the Blues, Hurricanes won third on the trot although the Sharks nearly came back at the end scoring two late tries but it wasn't enough.

Auckland City beat Waikato 3-2 in the club soccer final.

Man Utd, Newcastle, Blackburn, and Arsenal are through to the next round of the FA Cup. Man Utd crashed out of the champs league this week.

The Silver Ferns are playing England and England aren't very good. We beat them by less than Australia did.

MY SAD LIFE

Okay, explaining the dishwasher thing. It started wetting itself and the kitchen floor. We always said if it became incontinent or couldn't clean the dishes any more, we would have to put it to sleep. Well, it did that over the weekend. It took some effort extracting it, and all the while Diana was busy making deals with appliance retailers for the dish drawer she has had her eye on for quite some time. When we put it on the trailer I noticed a pipe had come off a connector. Probably the reason for it's incontinenence. You should have seen Diana's face. It was like her much loved pet that had become a right pain had come back to life. Rather than facing connecting it again and the prospect of reperforming the job every time the pipe came off, I suggested maybe we give the dishwasher the dignity of leaving having done a good job and with some self-respect intact. Diana readily agreed (no arm-twisting required) and she disappeared off to see her new best-friend Mav (who made her an offer she couldn't refuse) before anyone changed their mind. We have had this dishwasher since before Rory was born, it is thirteen years old, it's had a good run. It's going to live on a farm with open spaces and lots of country-style food to remove from good solid pieces of crockery.

The kids were severely traumatised by the lack of a dishwasher. They can't believe what we used to do in "the olden days".

Hannah worked really hard in the swim sports but didn't make it to inter-schools. She made the final in about three events, but just missed out. I think she was pretty disappointed but I didn't want to make too much of a fuss about it.

I got two emails from Charles (possibly a record in one week). He said Penny's house was way nicer than a hotel. Also said Ross was a little bit traumatised by the gay mardi-gras. I understand he is coming back for Easter.

Haven't heard from Ross but I thought Barry was in town. Maybe that's next week.

Spent all day Saturday working on Rory's homework. Gavin and Diana helped as well. We constructed a mannequin of a character from a book. The skeleton was made of plastic pipe, which works pretty well. We arrived at the plumbing supplies shop to find out local plumber there and so he got us the "plumber discount" (it's a lot, trust me). It hasn't been glued so we can recycle it for another project. We basically finished it on Saturday (not due for another two weeks, but there is plenty more things due). He's also made good progress on another thing. He handed one thing in early last week because we thought he had swim sports and on the Thursday night he had calls from about three people asking what was required for something due on the Friday.

Hannah and Diana went to Pasifika on Saturday morning, a festival of Pacific Island-ness. Hannah entered a bottom waggling competition, but a gay guy won. They bought a raffle ticket and won a $200 hamper. They entered lots of competitions.

I am worried about Gavin, he has registered himself on trademe and is starting to get carried away. He did warn me.

Rory's interschool swim sports this Thursday. Swimming in 50m free and breaststroke and 100m freestyle.

Hannah has school camp this week, she is away Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Allan is due to arrive in San Francisco any time now, comes home later in the week. I could be responsible for any excess baggage charges he incurs.

Is it just me or are these things getting quite long?

Swim sports, the Pope recovers, Michael Schumaker didn't - 07/03/03

LOCAL NEWS

Destiny Church marched up Queen St but was halted by protestors, it got a little uncomfortable there for a while. Bishop Tamaki hasn't been promoted again, so far, but just wait.

Been lots of whinging about additional charges on petrol to pay for roads.

They found a person from the Unimog accident, no Unimog yet and one person still unaccounted for.

Labour and Immigration Minister Paul Swain is hoping Nzers will return from overseas to fill holes due to skill shortages.

Prince Charles got pissed off with everyone ignoring him in Aussie because the princess of Denmark was there at the same time and drew way bigger crowds. So he came to NZ and visited an albatros (as one does).

Peter Jackson is suing New Line Cinema over profit sharing of the first Lord of the Rings movie.

WORLD NEWS

Michael Jackson's trial began. Stevie Wonder is testifying on behalf of Jackson. Apparently he says he didn't see anything untoward.

US Soldiers have started killing Italians in Iraq. "Their country starts with the letter i like Iraq and Iran" said GW, "so we figured, why not?"

It's very dodgy that the Queen isn’t attending Charles' wedding to Camilla (I know it is only part of it but she is his mother).

A German tourist was swept away in a swollen creek (a creek? What's the difference between a creek and a stream, and how does it get to be a river?).

The Pope is improving.

SPORT

NZ player Ryan Nelson captained Blackburn to an FA Cup win. He is first NZ player to play premiership for quite a while.

Blues won over Reds 18-15, that's two from two so far. Good start for a change. No bonus points but wins are wins. Crusaders thumped Chiefs 50-18, Hurricanes won away in South Africa so they are two from two. Highlanders drew 16-16 with the Stormers.

Michael Schumaker didn't win in Australian F1.

MY SAD LIFE

There was a dead cat on the road next door to us on Monday, I thought it was Ollie but it wasn't. Poor Hannah saw it when she came home from school (I was going to go get her then got sidetracked). She was pretty upset when she got home but improved instantly when I showed her Ollie asleep on Rory's bed.

Rory had swim sports on Wednesday. He won every heat he entered. In the finals he came third in breaststroke, third in backstroke. Then in freestyle there was nobody else in it, he won by three body lengths. In the relay final his team was last on the fourth length, with leaders nearly half the pool away. Rory steamed up the pool and caught them, people were watching him so much they failed to notice who actually won. A parent said to Ms Hooper (water polo teacher) "Rory is a very good swimmer". Ms H replied "He is no swimmer, he is a water polo player." We think this is really funny, it might not seem so funny in writing, but Ms H is very competitive and possessive of her water polo kids. Given that Rory did not even win a heat at the swim sports last year, I think we can credit water polo for the massive improvement.

On Thursday, Rory had softball interschool champs. He did well, but team came about 8th (not sure of how many, but they won two games and had a draw that they would have won but weird rules of half finished innings apply). I took him straight from there to water polo practice. He made a couple of base hits and a home run.

On Friday, he came back down to earth with a thump when he was told by a teacher he was not allowed to wear his dodgy t-shirt, especially not in front of the school at assembly.

Hannah has swim sports today. Diana is working and I am tied up with an audio so Nanny is going to attend, although I am going to try to sneak in. It may well be postponed, the weather isn't so good.

Allan is in Canada, on to San Francisco on the way home. I went to the pub with him on Thursday night to help him evade a Tupperware party at home (it's what a true friend would do). We were having a beer at the London Bar when a man came in selling flowers. He didn't even stop at our table and ask. Wasn't sure whether I should be offended or relieved.

Penny went home with a sore shoulder, which seems to have severely impacted her ability to work.

Diana and I went to the top of Mt Wellington and ate dinner on Saturday night. She had never been there at all, and I hadn't been to the top. It was a clear night, the view is very different to that on places like Mt Eden and One Tree Hill.

Rory's homework is building, although we seem to be coping so far.

At the swimming pool on Friday night, we saw some free divers. We went and talked to them for a while. They can do two lengths underwater easily, and five lengths if they are prepared to endure physical pain. They can hold their breath for up to seven minutes. The little thing around their neck is a mini-weight belt to help them stay under. I timed myself and do a length underwater in 26 seconds, which is faster than I can do a length backstroke.

I sent 35 emails about soccer on Friday, and am very busy getting things organised for around 80 kids. We have trials for Hannah and Rory tonight.