Tuesday, January 20, 2009
3 News or One News?
Previously I have mentioned that I don't believe New Zealand TV ratings, and another example of this is the ratings war between TV One's news and TV3's news. I cannot understand how One News is so popular when 3 News is by far superior. Currently TV3's news anchor, Mike McRoberts, is in Gaza, reporting from the middle of the war zone. Where is TV One's news anchor, Simon Dallow? In his comfy studio of course. Could you ever imagine him in Gaza, or Afghanistan - never! And then there's the 7pm current affairs show. Last night Campbell Live on TV3 had John Campbell broadcasting live from Washington DC. Meanwhile on Close Up on TV One Mark Sainsbury was excited by his new set and had a story on a rest home and a story about pigs! 3 News is by far the superior service, and who knows when NZ's viewing public will realise this.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
My review of 2008
Yet another year is over - 2008. It hasn't been the greatest year for me as I was made redundant from my job earlier in the year, then made a move to Palmerston North. But this entry in my blog is to review the year in local and world news.
Of course most of the year was the campaigning and build up to the United States Presidential Election in November. The year started with primaries for both the Democrats and the Republicans with a number of candidates from both parties; and then one by one they dropped out of the race until there were just two - Barack Obama for the Democrats and John McCain for the Republicans. It all culminated in the election on November 5th (NZ Time), and it was just so awesome when Barack Obama was voted in as the first African-American president! I still remember the emotion I felt when Obama passed the magic mark of receiving enough electoral votes to become president. It's just so great for America and for the world. Only 20 days now until he actually becomes president, so I really hope he can live up to the vision and change he has promised.
Just 3 days after that election was the NZ General Election. And again I was happy with this result as John Key, leader of the National Party, won the election and became our new Prime Minister. Again it is showing another country needs change after Helen Clark and her Labour government of 9 years! I voted for National so at last my vote counted!
Another big event of the year was the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Now there was all sorts of controversy before these Olympics to do with human rights, etc., but these Olympics seemed to go off without much problem. New Zealand ended up 26th on the medal table with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze - not too bad for a country of only 4 million people. If you were to rate the medal table based on population then NZ would be near the top.
Of course a number of well know people die each year. Here's a list of some of these people that died in 2008:
Sir Edmund Hillary, Heath Ledger, President Gordon B Hinckley, Roy Scheider, Arthur C Clarke, Charlton Heston, Bo Diddley, Tim Russert, George Carlin, Estelle Getty, Bernie Mac, Issac Hayes, Paul Newman, Majel Barrett,and Eartha Kitt.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008 for the complete list)
Let's hope that this new year, 2009, will be a better year for everyone, especially those suffering from last year's economic crisis.
If you'd like to see a video clip of the New Year's fireworks in Palmerston North this morning then go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMI0T0Zpio
Of course most of the year was the campaigning and build up to the United States Presidential Election in November. The year started with primaries for both the Democrats and the Republicans with a number of candidates from both parties; and then one by one they dropped out of the race until there were just two - Barack Obama for the Democrats and John McCain for the Republicans. It all culminated in the election on November 5th (NZ Time), and it was just so awesome when Barack Obama was voted in as the first African-American president! I still remember the emotion I felt when Obama passed the magic mark of receiving enough electoral votes to become president. It's just so great for America and for the world. Only 20 days now until he actually becomes president, so I really hope he can live up to the vision and change he has promised.
Just 3 days after that election was the NZ General Election. And again I was happy with this result as John Key, leader of the National Party, won the election and became our new Prime Minister. Again it is showing another country needs change after Helen Clark and her Labour government of 9 years! I voted for National so at last my vote counted!
Another big event of the year was the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Now there was all sorts of controversy before these Olympics to do with human rights, etc., but these Olympics seemed to go off without much problem. New Zealand ended up 26th on the medal table with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze - not too bad for a country of only 4 million people. If you were to rate the medal table based on population then NZ would be near the top.
Of course a number of well know people die each year. Here's a list of some of these people that died in 2008:
Sir Edmund Hillary, Heath Ledger, President Gordon B Hinckley, Roy Scheider, Arthur C Clarke, Charlton Heston, Bo Diddley, Tim Russert, George Carlin, Estelle Getty, Bernie Mac, Issac Hayes, Paul Newman, Majel Barrett,and Eartha Kitt.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008 for the complete list)
Let's hope that this new year, 2009, will be a better year for everyone, especially those suffering from last year's economic crisis.
If you'd like to see a video clip of the New Year's fireworks in Palmerston North this morning then go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMI0T0Zpio
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Crazy Boxing Day shoppers!
I went to the movies this morning and after I came out I couldn't believe how many people were up town. I reckon there were more than on Christmas Eve! As we were coming out of the Downtown shopping centre people were just pouring in! Boxing Day shopping is something I just can't work out. It's like the shops have been closed for 7 years - not just one day. Hasn't everyone's money run out before Christmas? Sure there are sales on and people get money and vouchers for Christmas, but it's just crazy how many are up town. Today was a nice fine day too - why aren't people out enjoying the sunshine instead of pounding the malls? And I thought people would leave town for their holidays the day after Christmas? Hey, I've just worked it out - they're all shopping for my birthday in two days time!!!!
For more on the Boxing Day shopping madness:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Boxing-Day-shoppers-turned-out-in-force-despite-recession/tabid/309/articleID/85515/cat/41/Default.aspx
For more on the Boxing Day shopping madness:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Boxing-Day-shoppers-turned-out-in-force-despite-recession/tabid/309/articleID/85515/cat/41/Default.aspx
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
John Key visits Palmerston North
Yesterday when I was up town I met the local National candidate, Malcolm Plimmer, and he said John Key (leader of the National Party) was coming to Palmerston North. So I went down to the Terrace End shops this morning at about 9am to wait. There were quite a few assembled there including the media, National supporters, and Labour protesters. Just after John Key arrived I got to shake his hand! I told him I was voting National for the first time tomorrow. It was great to be able to meet him. I would like to have gotten a photo with him but he had so many people to meet. He spent about half an hour or so greeting people and walking into shops. I followed him around and took a few photos which you can see here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/zl2fox/JohnKeyVisitsPalmerstonNorth#
Now about the Labour protesters. They were idiots. They were saying that Key is the anti-Obama. Now that really pissed me off. I'm a huge supporter to Obama and they were saying that John Key is totally opposed to him. Key is promoting change in New Zealand, just like Obama was in the States. Can't Labour see that red is also the Republicans colour and communist colour!! The protesters were shouting when Key was trying to speak. How rude! Labour are getting desperate now (just like the Republicans were). There was almost some violence:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=147509
I was brought up in a Labour family but I feel it's time now for me to vote National. We need a change in this country as 9 years of Aunty Helen is far too long! So why else am I voting National this time around, especially as I'm currently a single father on the DPB? Here are some reasons:
-Lower taxes
-Faster broadband
-Getting people off welfare and into jobs
-Cracking down on violent crime
We do not want another 3 years of the same - a Labour led government. Helen Clark is one of the reasons why NZ is in an economic crisis now, and an experienced business leader like John Key will really help the country! Labour and the Greens want to get together. Can you imagine the Greens in government?! We'll all be riding horses and hugging trees! Hell!
So tomorrow please give two ticks to National. If you want change in this country then voting National is the best way - any other will be a wasted vote.
For more information see:
http://www.national.org.nz/
http://picasaweb.google.com/zl2fox/JohnKeyVisitsPalmerstonNorth#
Now about the Labour protesters. They were idiots. They were saying that Key is the anti-Obama. Now that really pissed me off. I'm a huge supporter to Obama and they were saying that John Key is totally opposed to him. Key is promoting change in New Zealand, just like Obama was in the States. Can't Labour see that red is also the Republicans colour and communist colour!! The protesters were shouting when Key was trying to speak. How rude! Labour are getting desperate now (just like the Republicans were). There was almost some violence:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=147509
I was brought up in a Labour family but I feel it's time now for me to vote National. We need a change in this country as 9 years of Aunty Helen is far too long! So why else am I voting National this time around, especially as I'm currently a single father on the DPB? Here are some reasons:
-Lower taxes
-Faster broadband
-Getting people off welfare and into jobs
-Cracking down on violent crime
We do not want another 3 years of the same - a Labour led government. Helen Clark is one of the reasons why NZ is in an economic crisis now, and an experienced business leader like John Key will really help the country! Labour and the Greens want to get together. Can you imagine the Greens in government?! We'll all be riding horses and hugging trees! Hell!
So tomorrow please give two ticks to National. If you want change in this country then voting National is the best way - any other will be a wasted vote.
For more information see:
http://www.national.org.nz/
PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!
Two days later I'm still in a buzz about the tremendous and historic win this week of Barack Obama - now the new President of the United States of America! I watched the coverage on CNN from midday our time (6pm EST) right through to 5pm (11pm EST) when the announcement was made. I jumped for joy! It was so emotional (I nearly cried :-) And then an hour later Obama's amazing speech to 100,000 people or so in Chicago. I have never seen anything like that in my life! It was incredible!
I was getting a bit worried earlier on in the vote counting when a few states started going to McCain. But of course the rural votes were coming in first and they usually go Republican. It was funny when Utah results came in and Wolf Blitzer said that was no surprise and the Utah is one of the most Republican states in the country. But when Obama started winning states such as New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida I was much more confident. And then California put him over the top! Obama currently has 349 electoral votes and McCain only 163, so in the end it was a thrashing!! (I thought it would be much closer).
As I said this is an historic moment in history. Barack Obama is the first African-American president - and just 40 years ago blacks in America will still being segregated against. I hope the redneck Republicans in America can accept him and won't try and assassinate him. Now here's something that is quite amazing - the new president is African-American, the majority leader of the senate is a Latter-day Saint (Harry Reed), and the speaker of the house is a woman (Nancy Pelosi). It was great to see Democrats increase their lead in the senate and the house too.
I hope those Republicans keep quiet now and let President-elect Obama do his job. I've been watching a little bit of Fox News and they are not happy at all that Obama won. They are still putting a negative spin on him. Republicans can be so nasty (did you know the day before the election some of them were saying Obama killed his grandmother!)
It was a great day for the Democrats, and great day for America, a great day for the world, and a great day for me!
For more results see:
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/
YES WE CAN!
I was getting a bit worried earlier on in the vote counting when a few states started going to McCain. But of course the rural votes were coming in first and they usually go Republican. It was funny when Utah results came in and Wolf Blitzer said that was no surprise and the Utah is one of the most Republican states in the country. But when Obama started winning states such as New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida I was much more confident. And then California put him over the top! Obama currently has 349 electoral votes and McCain only 163, so in the end it was a thrashing!! (I thought it would be much closer).
As I said this is an historic moment in history. Barack Obama is the first African-American president - and just 40 years ago blacks in America will still being segregated against. I hope the redneck Republicans in America can accept him and won't try and assassinate him. Now here's something that is quite amazing - the new president is African-American, the majority leader of the senate is a Latter-day Saint (Harry Reed), and the speaker of the house is a woman (Nancy Pelosi). It was great to see Democrats increase their lead in the senate and the house too.
I hope those Republicans keep quiet now and let President-elect Obama do his job. I've been watching a little bit of Fox News and they are not happy at all that Obama won. They are still putting a negative spin on him. Republicans can be so nasty (did you know the day before the election some of them were saying Obama killed his grandmother!)
It was a great day for the Democrats, and great day for America, a great day for the world, and a great day for me!
For more results see:
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/
YES WE CAN!
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