The last thing you want to see on a plane

If you were happily airborne and sitting in your plush airline seat, this is something that would send a shiver down your spine if you happened to be snooping at your neighboring passengers laptop as they stepped out of their seat for a bathroom break.

Remember this is NOT funny... Click HERE


Constable Shat Pant... :-)

Not something I'd suggest you try, as there a not a lot of people who would find this funny. You'd probably get a beating by fellow passengers and the rubber glove treatment upon arrival with priority landing rights at the closest airport to your current position.

Pro Reagan Polish statue.

Opponents of Poland's former communist regime reportedly want to pay a posthumous homage to US President Ronald Reagan by erecting his statue in the place of a Soviet-era monument. This will certainly bemuse Nancy, what a great idea.

In a letter to the mayor of the southwestern city of Katowice, the former anti-regime activists said that the staunchly anti-communist Reagan had been a "symbol of liberty," the Polish news agency PAP reported.

As a result, they said, he deserved to become the centre-piece of the city's Freedom Square, replacing a monument to the Soviet troops who drove out the occupying Nazis in 1945.

They also said that they wanted the site to be rebaptised "Ronald Reagan Freedom Square."

City hall spokesman Waldemar Bojarun said that Katowice's councilors would consider the issue.

Bojarun said that he had "enormous respect" for Reagan, as do a lot of people in the former Soviet Empire.

However, he said, the proposal could cost an estimated 500,000 zlotys (128,000 euros, 168,000 dollars) and the city had "other pressing needs." Looks like he is looking for donations.

There are already separate plans to erect a statue in memory of Reagan in the centre of the Polish capital, Warsaw, which would be paid-for from private funds.

Reagan, who dubbed the Soviet Union an "evil empire" is widely credited by Poles with having driven communism away for ever.

The conservative Republican made fighting communism the cornerstone of his 1980-1988 presidency, and backed Poland's Solidarity trade union after it went underground when the regime declared martial lawin 1981.

President Reagan died in June 2004 at the age of 93. Make sure you go to his Presidential library in Simi Valley just out of LA if you are in the area.

Anna Nicole Smith is dead

Anna Nicole Smith has died. She collapsed earlier today in Hollywood Florida.

Circumstances are weird.

RIP

www.f1grandprixmanager.com

If you are into F1 and want to try your hand as a F1 boss, then join up now. I have played this game for the last 3 years and it is a lot of fun.

Waitangi Day at Santa Monica beach

I had a great time yesterday helping with the building of the sand fern on Santa Monica beach in celebration of NZ's Waitangi Day. It seemed like there was nearly 1000 Kiwi's in attendance. It was great to see Temuera Morrison (Jake the Muss / Dr Ropata ) teach everyone how to do the haka with Rena Owen watching on. There was a few Shortland Street actors, and a great group of young Maori singers that entertained throughout the day.

Mat and Nadine showed up late just in time when everything was finished, but where was Rymann?

I can feel the muscles in my back today as I must have shoveled for 4 or 5 hours, but it was well worth it. Keep an eye out on TV one and Maori TV in NZ for shots of the fern we created and the Haka Temuera Morrison lead.

George "Hamish's Dad" Klein and myself on Santa Monica Beach.

Supersonic airliners

The Boeing 2707 SST was to be the first American supersonic airliner. It would have been built at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington. President John F. Kennedy committed the government to subsidizing the development of a commercial airliner to compete with the Concorde & Russia's TU-144 which was rather unsafe. Ultimately, Boeing's swing-wing design was selected as the winner of the US SST competition. They called their SST the Model 2707. Whereas the Concorde and TU-144 cruised at Mach 2.2 to 2.4, and the Boeing design cruised at Mach 2.7, hence 2707.

Boeing 2707

In the early 1960s, the Bristol Aeroplane Company (which later became part of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC)) in England and Sud-Aviation (which later became Aerospatiale) in France were both working on designs for a supersonic passenger airliner, the Concorde.

The last flight of this Air France Concorde

At that time, unknown to anyone in the Western World, the Soviet Union was also working on a supersonic transport (SST) known as the TU-144. The TU-144 was very similar to the Concorde in size and shape, but was designed to fly a little faster at Mach 2.35 (1,500 mph). If you flew in this plane and your trip was un-interrupted with mechanical failure and massive vibrations, then you were lucky.

Soviet Tu-144

The project was eventually canceled before the 2707 ever flew. Political, economic, and environmental factors led the United States to cancel the project. In March 1971, the US Senate rejected further funding and the project was cancelled 20 May 1971. At the time, there were 122 unfilled orders by 26 airlines, including PanAm, Continental, American Airlines and TWA. The two prototypes were never completed. This is a shame.

As envisioned by NASA's High-Speed Research (HSR) program, the next-generation High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) would fly 300 passengers at 2.4 times the speed of sound - crossing the Pacific or Atlantic in less than half the time presently required on modern subsonic, wide-bodied jets - at an affordable ticket price, estimated at less than 20 percent above comparable subsonic flights. The technology to make the this HSCT possible is being developed by an unprecedented teaming of major U.S. aerospace companies in the multi-year HSR program. Although actual development of such an advanced supersonic transport (SST) is currently on hold, commercial aviation experts estimate that a market for up to 500 such aircraft could develop by the third decade of the 21st Century.

NASA's mock up of what a HSCT would look like.

The top speed of a Boeing 747 at 30,000 feet is about 605 MPH which is nearly Mach 0.9. It takes about 12 hours for the 747 to fly from Auckland to Los Angeles and it does so in relative comfort.

The Boeing 747-400

Mach 2.4 is about 1629 MPH at 30,000 feet. This is 2.6 times the speed of the Boeing 747 therefore it would take just under 5 hours to fly in a plane capable of this speed provided it could do it non stop from Auckland to LAX.

So if the ticket from Auckland to LAX return is currently NZ$2300 and you could fly to LAX return in 5 hours (each way) for around NZ$3000 would you do it? I would. (although in reality I am sure the price would be closer to $5,000). This would make it possible for you to leave Auckland at 10am, get to LA at 6pm, have dinner and go out for a night on the town get up go to the airport, leave at 10am and get back to Auckland at noon. This would be an expensive 26 hour ordeal but wouldn't it be fun.

I hope the airline manufacturers are continuing the research on efficient supersonic airliners as we speak, that would be the next step in making the world smaller and traveling less time consuming.

Had my 10,000th hit today

Thanks for checking in.... Onwards and upwards to 100,000 hits Pablo style.

Sen. McCain for President 2008

Check this out..... puntiki.exploremccain.com

Rodney Hide MP, human torpedo?

Rodney Hide ACT leader and Epsom MP is to put his body on the line again for a good cause.

Rodney has taken up open ocean swimming as his latest crusade, and I must say it is something that requires determination and control. Nothing worse than a lung full of salt water as you are thinking of JAWS while you are half a kilometer out to sea.

Today about 10am, Rodney Hide MP will launch himself, along with 450 other swimmers, in the 2.8km Sovereign Open Ocean Swim from Wellington's Freyberg Pool to the Pt Jerningham lighthouse and back.

Rodney expects to make it in one hour fifteen, and has been training for the last couple of months.

"I was not much of a swimmer until I was challenged to do this. I am now much better and fitter and I am having so much fun."

The highlight of open ocean swimming for Mr Hide is a new perspective on the surrounding harbour. "It is amazing how much different everything looks when you are a few hundred metres offshore at wave level."

"If I get a prize ($1000 for 1st), I will donate it to St John's," Mr Hide said.

Whatever ambitions he may have of transforming himself into a human torpedo may likely be extinguished by elite swimmers like Commonwealth Games gold medalist Moss Burmester, silver medalist Dean Kent, and elite New Zealand squad representatives Helen Norfolk and Melissa Ingram.

Good on you Rodney and good luck, you can do it.

*** Rodney made it in one hour two minutes. ***

Loophole in NZ airline security.

A group of Sikh priests has exposed a gaping loophole in airport security after they boarded an Air New Zealand plane carrying ceremonial daggers under their robes. Nice way to shake up the other passengers before a bumpy flight.

The pilot confiscated the daggers after they managed to board the flight without having to pass through any form of security at Auckland's domestic terminal. It should be a requirement that all flights domestic and international require the passengers at least go through a metal detector. When you fly into Auckland you need to go through more security and screening when you arrive than when you leave because of bio security. Someone in the position of providing security for the airlines best close this loophole NOW.

The men, who are understood to be priests visiting from India, were walking on to the Napier-bound flight on Sunday when alarmed passengers noticed the daggers poking out from under their traditional dress.

They told the cabin crew, who alerted the pilot before the daggers were seized and locked in the cockpit for the flight.

An Air NZ spokeswoman said the men willingly handed over their kirpans and the flight ran as scheduled. She said any potential or real threats to safety were taken very seriously and a report had been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority about what had happened.

Ministry of Transport safety and security group manager Bruce Johnson said policy for screening passengers applied only to planes with more than 90 seats as they were deemed the most at risk of hostage-takers. Well all planes are at risk in this day and age and all passengers need to be screened.

Mr Johnson said there were no plans to change or review the screening policy, despite what had happened. Mr Johnson needs to go....

Step up the security on NZ domestic flights and do it NOW. If the govt won't provide a fighter wing to protect NZ then are we going to have to send a Orion after a plane carrying less then 90 people if it is hijacked? NZ must take security seriously.

This week in Los Angeles.

I started the week by going to Squaw Valley in Tahoe to check the property owned by www.distinctiveholidayhomes.com I met with the concierge who looks after the clients and managed to get in a couple of hours skiing. I was very impressed with myself as I did not fall over once. Having said that I was skiing pretty basic slopes, although the last time I skied was August 05 at Coronet Peak, and the time before that other than the Albany Ski slope was Whistler / Blackcomb in 1989.
I have decided that I will be doing some more skiing from now on, so it it time to do the correct exercises at the gym so as my legs don't turn to jelly next time.

On the Democratic side Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton have both thrown their towels in the ring for the 2008 US Presidential race and John Kerry tearfully said yesterday that he will NOT be contesting the race (good call). It appears that currently Hillary is 19 points ahead of Barack.

To date Senator John McCain and Rudy Giuliani on the Republican side are looking good although we are all waiting for Guiliani to officially state that he will run for Pres in 2008 although it does seem very likely. Senator McCain is slightly edging out Mayor Giuliani.

I spent a day getting my January advertising sent out to my Keller Williams Realty Santa Monica clients. It is a good time to buy property in the Los Angeles area at the moment. The interest rates are still low and there is some great properties available.... If you are looking to buy property in Santa Monica or Greater LA, let me know.

Both Rage against the machine and Crowded House have reformed and both with be playing at Coachella music festival in LA in April.... Best I get my tickets.

A Russian was caught trying to sell 4 ounces of pure weapons grade uranium 235. That is NOT a good thing as that is not what we want to get in the hands of some hell bent dictator or terrorist who will push the red button.... Time to further step up the control and dismantling of nuclear weapons... This is a dangerous situation. Was the Uranium from Russia or Georgia and how much has this guy already sold?

I have the CEO of Distinctive Holiday Homes and the gentleman hired by the company to set up 5 and 6 star resorts arriving in LA today for a quick stop over. We have to look at properties and organize some paperwork, so busy busy.

Rage against the machine to reunite

Rage Against the Machine will reunite after a seven-year hiatus for a single performance at the southern California rock festival Coachella in April, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

The chart-topping quartet, famed for its angry denunciations of capitalism even as it recorded for a label owned by Sony, will play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the paper said, quoting unspecified sources.

The desert festival will take place over three days from April 27, east of Los Angeles.


Yes... This is excellent news. Zac and the boys know how to make some good sounds.

It snowed in Malibu last night

It is really cold here in LA at the moment. It went as far as snowing in Malibu last night. It is the first time in 18 years that there has been a sprinkling of snow in these parts.

I am off to Tahoe in a hour or two and I am planning a bit of skiing tomorrow. I hope that there is plenty of snow there to cushion my fall if any.

Last week when I arrived back from NZ it was about 80 degrees F now it is about 50 degrees F. Talk about a drastic change......

David Beckham and Posh Spice to move to LA.

David Beckham says he is leaving Real Madrid to sign for LA Galaxy.

The former England captain will leave the Spanish club at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal for the US side starting in August, believed to be worth $250 million.

Beckham said: "This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons."

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year." I wonder if the $250 Mill had anything to do with it?

The 31-year-old, who joined Real from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began in 1996.

Beckham has consistently been linked with a move to the US.

But he insisted he was not going just for the money, but to make a difference in American sport.

He already has a football school in Los Angeles.

"Soccer is huge everywhere around the world, except in America," he said.

"That's where I want to make a difference with the kids."

The 31-year-old midfielder has been forced into a bit-part role this season and is desperate not to spend much of the remaining years of his playing career on the sidelines.

I wonder what you could do with a million dollars a week? HMMM

Apple iphone

One word.....

Awesome.... I am glad that Apple are working with my cell phone provider Cingular to get these cool phones into the market... Time for an upgrade.

Back in LA

I had a interesting 25 days in the land of the long white cloud over the holiday period. I am considering naming NZ the land of the long black cloud as it was raining most of the time and the weather was rather grim. Having said that I managed to get sun burnt within minutes of the sun popping out and that was a reminder that you must slip slop and slap the suntan lotion on when you venture out in the summer time.

I went fishing twice and I am disappointed to say that there was not even a bite. I am not what you'd call an amateur fisherman and I do know how to bait a hook and put the anchor down and up, but I guess that the Maori fishing calender was not on my side. I went to the fish market in downtown Auckland and brought what I should have caught anyway...Yummy.

It was great to catch up with everybody, and I managed to bring most of my favorite kiwi treats back in my suitcase, so I am sorted until next time.

Greg Johnson touring NZ this summer.

Having created a phenomenal seven albums, being awarded the Silver Scroll songwriter's award for ‘Liberty’ and winning numerous New Zealand Music Awards, he is one of New Zealand’s favourite and most esteemed singer-songwriters.

The now Santa Monica-based Johnson has just released his latest album "Anyone Can Say Goodbye" which was recorded in the United States with friend and long time collaborator Ted Brown, whom he will be touring with. Keep an ear out for the new single "Horses" which is phenominal. "Now the sun is out" has been released already in NZ and has been getting great airplay being #1 on the top AC in for 10 weeks.

Greg is no stranger to the American music scene, several songs from his previous album Here Comes The Caviar have been play listed on the US airwaves. ‘Save Yourself' went Top 40 on AAA radio in America and both that and 'It's Been So Long' have been featured on the WB's hit show 'High School Reunion' and the ABC show 'Beautiful People'.

Greg is an exceptionally talented songwriter and performer. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this incredible Kiwi craftsman in action.

www.gregjohson.co.nz

TOUR DATES:

Jan 25 2007 8:00P Hope Bros Wellington
Jan 26 2007 8:00P Shed 2 Napier
Jan 27 2007 8:00P Coroglen Tavern Coromandel
Jan 28 2007 8:00P Colosseum Tauranga
Feb 1 2007 8:00P Christchurch Casino Christchurch
Feb 2 2007 8:00P Christchurch Casino Christchurch
Feb 3 2007 8:00P Christchurch Casino Christchurch
Feb 9 2007 8:00P Monte Christo Room Auckland
Feb 10 2007 2:00P Marlborough Wine and Food Festival

Tickets are available from Ticketek, Ticketdirect and Venues.

Governor Schwarzenegger a centrist....

SACRAMENTO California USA...... According the the world famous LA Time. On the opening his second term, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will proudly proclaim himself a centrist and eschew the partisanship that he says is the root of political paralysis and voter disenchantment, according to excerpts of the inaugural address that he is to give this morning. I like to hear that as I would consider myself a centrist in regards to US politics and right wing with NZ politics.

"Centrist does not mean weak. It does not mean watered down or watered over," according to a portion of the speech released Thursday by the governor's office. "It means well-balanced and well-grounded. The American people are instinctively centrist … so should be our government." I like what the Governator is doing.... He found the knack.

Recovering from a broken leg, Schwarzenegger, 59, is to deliver the speech at his inauguration ceremony at the Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento beginning at 11 a.m.

It will be the governor's first public appearance since he tripped and fell on an Idaho ski slope on Dec. 23, fracturing his right femur. Schwarzenegger had surgery on his leg three days later and is expected to fully recover.

In celebrating the political center, the governor is consciously staking out a different identity than that of fellow Republicans who have sought to marginalize Democratic politicians in Washington D.C., the governor's aides said.

Schwarzenegger knows firsthand the utility of a bipartisan approach. He tried a more conservative course early in his first term, souring relations with the Legislature and causing his job approval rating to plummet. He is also married to one of the Democratic Kennedy clan.....

Schwarzenegger will say that neither party can solve lingering political problems in isolation. Collaboration is essential, according to one excerpt.

"No one ideology can solve prison reform or immigration reform or any of the other challenges facing us," the speech reads. "It will take the best ideas of everyone. It will take creative thinking. It will take negotiations. It will take letting go of the past."

The inaugural address won't include as many specifics about what the governor wants to accomplish as his annual State of the State speech, set for Tuesday. But it lays out a kind of utopian vision of California that Schwarzenegger says is achievable.

Parts of the speech mention the governor's support for stem cell research, which is something that President Bush is having a hard time getting a grip of, as a prelude to cures for Alzheimer's and other diseases. Schwarzenegger will also talk about his multibillion-dollar plan to rebuild state roads and improve ports. The roads of LA are bad, very bad. It is about time someone tackled this problem. He is expected to refer to a time when government might be rejuvenated because of his push to introduce more competition in state elections.

"What would such a California look like?" the speech says. "Because we rebuilt our infrastructure, we have the schools, the roads, the ports, the water, the levees, the communications to grow with prosperity.

"Because we committed ourselves to the environment, we lead the world in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy … And because we strengthened and reformed representative government, our state's elected officials now reflect the views of the mainstream, not the fringes."

The inaugural address was written by Landon Parvin, a speechwriter for former President Ronald Reagan.

Schwarzenegger's swearing-in ceremony is the coda to a remarkable political turnaround. In 2005, the governor triggered a confrontation with Democratic lawmakers and interest groups, calling a special election in which he tried to curb state spending and impose restraints on the way labor unions spend campaign money.

With his approval rating in the 30s, voters rejected the ballot initiatives he championed. Immediately after that election, Schwarzenegger conceded he made mistakes and promised to work more cooperatively with the majority Democratic Party.

Voters forgave him. He regained his standing in public opinion polls and easily won reelection in November. Something to think about, something to learn from.

Indiana Jones returns in 2008

Eighteen years after chasing down the Holy Grail in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," in 1989, Harrison Ford will return to the big screen in the character of the globe-trotting archeologist in May 2008. This is going to be good.

Producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg confirmed details of the project Monday after Lucas tipped off the media to Indiana Jones' imminent return as he prepared to serve as grand marshal of the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

After years spent in script development, a fourth installment of the famously successful franchise is set to begin production in June in locations around the world and in the U.S.

David Koepp, who has penned such previous Spielberg projects as "Jurassic Park" and "War of the Worlds," wrote the screenplay that finally got the stamp of approval from Lucas and Spielberg. An earlier screenplay by Frank Darabont had been shelved when Lucas turned thumbs down on it.

For the moment, the title of the new film as well as its story line are being kept under wraps. How about Indiana Jones and the fire of Iran?

Although a spokesman for Spielberg said Monday that no casting has begun, Lucas and Ford have said that they would like to include Sean Connery, who played Indiana Jones' father, Professor Henry Jones, in "The Last Crusade." "We are writing him in whether he wants to do it or not," Lucas told "Access Hollywood" when Connery was honored in June with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award.

Roll the camera's now please before someone changes their mind.

The whole palace smells of crap?

According to the associated press. Jordanian King Abdullah II has complained of bovine odors coming from the Israeli side of the frontier along the countries shared southern border, Israel's environment minister said Monday. I would guess that the smell would have to be quite intense for the King to make a complaint.

Speaking to Israel Radio, Gideon Ezra said the smells, from a livestock quarantine facility, were blown across the frontier toward the king's palace in the town of Aqaba, on the Red Sea next to the Israeli town of Eilat. Jordanian officials contacted Israel last week and requested the odors be neutralized, Ezra said.

Jordan and Israel, enemies for decades, signed a peace agreement in 1994 and now enjoy close ties.

In response to the Jordanian complaint, Israel has ordered the owners of the facility - where imported livestock is held in quarantine before being released to farmers - to clean up large amounts of animal waste that had built up at the site, Environment Ministry spokesman Sharon Achdut said.

Ezra said that upon receiving the complaint, Israeli officials immediately spread "deodorants" around the site to offset the smell affecting Abdullah's palace, and that a thorough clean-up would begin within days.

"I think that when we get a request from Jordan, just as when we make a request of Jordan, it's one country's duty to do as much as possible for the other," Ezra said.

An official from the Jordanian Royal Palace said the complaint was relayed to the Israeli Environment Ministry through Jordan's ambassador in Tel Aviv.

Hopefully the King can breathe easy now.... :-)

Distinctive Holiday Homes

Check out my latest link Distinctive Holiday Homes

I have been involved with the setup of this company for about 2 years. All is going full steam ahead and we are signing new members as of now. I think that Cactus Kate should join and bring a couple of others to the table..... Fun times.

Tesla Roadster 2007

The electric-powered Tesla Roadster looks like a Lotus, boasts the equivalent of 135 mpg and a range of 250 miles on a single charge, does 0-60 mph in around 4 seconds, doesn't emit any emissions (unless you spin the wheels and burn rubber) and is sold out for 2007. You can put your name on the 2008 waiting list for $50,000US. The base price is $92,000US, but fully loaded the car will be just over $100k.

Using a unique two-speed electrically actuated manual transmission, the Tesla Roadster's power comes from a 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor. The motor is controlled by the Power Electronics Module (PEM) which also controls the inverting direct current to 3-phase alternating current, charging and braking systems.

The Roadster's Energy Storage System (ESS) provides power to the entire vehicle, including the motor. Its durable, tamper-resistant enclosure includes: 6,831 lithium-ion cells, a network of microprocessors for maintaining charge balance and battery temperature, a cooling system, and an independent safety system designed to disconnect power outside the enclosure under a variety of detectable safety situations.

The Tesla Roadster comes complete with its Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), a home-based charging system, which features an automatic safety disconnect system and can charge the Tesla Roadster in approximately 3.5 hours. An optional mobile charging kit is also available.

The Tesla Roadster has a range of up to 250 miles (EPA Highway) on a single charge, roughly triple the range of previous mass-produced electric vehicles.

I think this car is fantastic, so does the Governor of California. When the company gets the costs down and the prices become more reasonable they won't have trouble selling them in the USA, provided the quality is good and it actually preforms close to what the manufacturer has been saying. I might even consider one myself.

Now if Rodney Hide MP for Epsom and Leader of ACT Party of NZ really likes the publicity he gets from the Smart car he has, imagine what he'd get in a car like this? Best they make it in right hand drive too.......

Seabreacher by Innespace

This is a cool dolphin type watercraft that I found out about today made by Innespace. It even uses some good US military technology as the canopy is from the new F-22 Raptor. The three-quarter-inch thick solid polycarbonate canopy is more than strong enough to withstand hard inverted landings. This machine as well as looking like a dolphin, can preform dolphin type stunts..... It looks really fun

The SeaBreacher Dolphin is powered by a Atkins 13B rotary marine conversion engine. The engine is lightweight (300lb), compact (basically a 2 foot cube), and generates 175 hp, a 240hp supercharged version is also available.

Keeping SeaBreacher afloat and totally water tight was a top priority. Both the cabin and engine bay are sealed watertight with the aid of pneumatic aircraft seals. Three independent bilge pumps are also on board, should a rogue wave swamp the interior while driving with the canopy open. The hull contains enough floatation to keep the hull afloat and upright, even if fully flooded.

Innespace is a design and fabrication company, dedicated to the creation and demonstration of submersible watercraft. Rob Innes from NZ and Dan Piazza from the USA founded Innespace in 1998.

Happy New Year 2007

Happy New Year from Auckland New Zealand....

All the best for 2007...

May this blog get many more visits and comments, and may the author come up with more interesting stories...

President Gerald Ford dead.

President Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal- shattered White House as the 38th and only unelected president in America's history, has died, his wife, Betty, said Tuesday. He was 93.

He was the longest living president, followed by Ronald Reagan, who also died at 93. Ford had been living at his desert home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., about 130 miles east of Los Angeles.

Ford was an accidental president, Nixon's hand-picked successor, a man of much political experience who had never run on a national ticket. He was as open and straight-forward as Nixon was tightly controlled and conspiratorial.

He took office minutes after Nixon resigned in disgrace over the Watergate scandal and flew off into exile and declared "our long national nightmare is over." But he revived the debate a month later by granting Nixon a pardon for all crimes he committed as president. That single act, it was widely believed, cost Ford election to a term of his own in 1976, but it won praise in later years as a courageous act that allowed the nation to move on.

Ford also earned a place in the history books as the first unelected vice president, chosen by Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew who also was forced from office by scandal.

He was in the White House only 895 days, but changed it more than it changed him.


RIP

Gov Schwarzenegger breaks leg.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger broke his leg while skiing with his family Saturday morning in Sun Valley, Idaho, a spokesman said.

Schwarzenegger, 59, was taken to a hospital for X-rays and was discharged with a fracture to his right femur, said Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. Looks like he needs to slow down a tad. Cant't have him out of action for too long. He is doing a great job.

He will have surgery to repair the bone when he returns to Los Angeles, Mendelsohn said. The governor remained at his Sun Valley home Saturday night and still planned to spend Christmas there.

No one else was involved in the accident, Mendelsohn said.

The fracture was the third medical problem the governor suffered in a year.

He spent several hours at a University of California, Davis, hospital last December with a rapid heartbeat after coming down with a stomach flu. In January, Schwarzenegger needed 15 stitches to repair his cut lip after colliding with a car while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Los Angeles.

The Sun Valley Resort, a favorite skiing destination for celebrities, includes a short ski trail named "Arnold's Run" after Schwarzenegger. The trail is categorized as a black diamond, or most difficult, for its challenging terrain.

The name and level of difficulty of the trail the governor was skiing when his accident occurred were not released.

Get well soon Gov.

(D) Sen. Obama getting some serious attention.

Two weeks after speaking to a sell out Manchester crowd of more than 1,600, Illinois (D) Sen. Barack Obama is reaping the benefits of his visit. If the Democratic primary were held today, Obama would be in a statistical dead heat with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, according to a new Monitor poll. Last month, a Monitor poll showed Clinton trouncing her opponents, with Obama lagging 23 points behind. That is some serious advancement... It will be an uphill battle for him as Hillary has some great name recoqnition, but hey 2008 is going to be an interesting political year for sure.

"I'm not surprised, because Barack Obama got five days of constant media attention in New Hampshire," said Jim Demers, a lobbyist and former Democratic lawmaker who accompanied Obama throughout the senator's New Hampshire visit. "Obama has demonstrated to the people of New Hampshire that he's a top-tier candidate."

Although Clinton commands considerable support among likely Democratic primary voters, she struggles in general election match-ups, according to the poll. If the contest were held today, both Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani would prevail over Clinton. Obama, in contrast, would eke out a slight win over both Republican candidates. Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards is neck-and-neck with the Republicans. Very interesting indeed. Maybe it will be John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, of John Edwards and Sen. Obama as VP nominee?

"There are a lot of independents. These are the same people who loathe Bush, loathe the Iraq war," said Del Ali, president of Research 2000, the Maryland-based nonpartisan polling firm that conducted the poll for the Monitor last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. "But deep down, they don't like Hillary Clinton." That is a very realistic comment.

As the 2008 presidential primaries near, the Republican field has also become increasingly competitive. Giuliani closed the gap with McCain in recent weeks, turning an 8-point deficit into a slight lead, according to the poll. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House speaker Newt Gingrich trail behind, with 10 percent and 8 percent respectively. The poll shows Giuliani garnering 26 percent to McCain's 25 percent.

Ah American politics...Love it.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Auckland New Zealand. Have a great day. All the best for 2007.

Cell phones on planes

According to CNN....In January, Emirates airline plans to launch mobile phone usage in its planes, making it the first airline to allow passengers to make cell phone calls on its flights.

It is one thing that is rather peaceful about flying on a plane, not having people text and yap on the phone in close proximity. Currently they have to spend a pretty penny to used the telephones provided. I am not looking forward to cell phone usage on planes.

Qantas plans to start evaluating technology that lets fliers use their cell phones and PDAs during flight early next year. Looks like the Kiwi traveler may well get this service before propel in the USA.

Fliers have long been able to keep in touch with those on the ground by using phones built into the backs of airplane seats. But the costs of those seatback phones can be upwards of $10 a minute, plus a connection fee.

In contrast, the cost of calls made in-flight on Emirates will be in line with international roaming rates, the airline said. Those rates vary by mobile carrier and by location but can be as low as $1 to $2 a minute.

But while some upscale, long-haul airlines are installing equipment onboard that will allow for cell phone use, it may be a while before the service makes its way to the U.S. Thank goodness for that.

U.S. carriers don't allow in-flight cell phone calls, although the FAA is reviewing the safety concerns associated with mobile calls made in the air.

A majority of business travelers (61 percent) oppose the idea of being able to use their phones in the sky, according to a global survey conducted by travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel early this year.

But if the technology is there, the service will eventually make its way to the skies, said Chris McGinnis, editor of Expedia Travel Trendwatch.

"Whether people like it or not, in-flight cell phone use is going to become a reality," he said.

Airlines are also exploring less intrusive ways to keep in-step with the increasingly connected lifestyle of their passengers.

According to the annual Airline IT Trends Survey conducted by industry group SITA and Airline Business magazine, 59 percent of airlines plan to offer in-flight Internet access by the end of 2008. Internet access would be acceptable as you could get some work done on a flight, but cell phones could be agitating on a long haul flight. What do you think about that?

Canadian biofuel announcement

OTTAWA Canada. A $345-million federal announcement requiring more gasoline to be made from corn and other crops is to come into effect.

The package will require so-called biofuel content of five per cent in gasoline by 2010 and two per cent in diesel fuel and heating oil by 2012, Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl told a news conference Wednesday in Saskatoon. This is great news, although I would like to have seen the percentage rates at at least 15% for petrol and 10% for diesel.

The package includes $200 million to subsidize new factories to produce ethanol, biodiesel and other biofuels, and $145 million for research and development.

Biofuels are produced from organic materials such as wheat, corn, sugarcane, canola and soy.

"We know that cleaner fuel means less pollution," Ambrose said. "Requiring the use of renewable fuels fulfils a commitment by our government."

She said the package will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about four megatonnes each year, equivalent to taking a million vehicles off the road. Not bad for a start.

Ambrose said the biofuels program provides strong reason to support the federal Clean Air Act, which is currently facing an uncertain fate before a Commons committee.

But there is continuing debate about whether biofuels produced from food crops provide real environmental benefit, after the energy and chemicals used in their production are considered.

It is also stated that the real benefits lie in cellulosic biofuel, made from waste products like wood chips and straw rather than food crops. He said Ottawa's $145 million allocation for research and development could help bring cellulosic ethanol to market. This is also a good idea.

John Godfrey, Liberal environment critic, said a Liberal government would push biofuels even harder than the Conservatives, setting a 10 per cent target for renewable content. That is the only positive thing I have ever heard from anyone in the Liberal party of Canada.

All and all it is a good idea for any government to invest in a bio fuel strategy. It is a good start for Canada.

Jordan Luck at the Empire

I had a great night last night. Went out for dinner in Parnell to Thai friends with some old buddies, and was invited to go to the Empire Tavern by musicman Dave to watch Jordan Luck play some spectacular Exponents songs. The band was in full effect and the sound was great " thanks Dave ".
Afterwards we went to Ponsonby to Whiskey and Lime Bar. Someone should ask Peter what he got up too??? Secret Squirrel.

A fun night in Auckland.

Meanwhile in London UK Mr Greg Johnson and Ted Brown played to a packed audience and fun was had by all..... Did they play Swagger? HMMM

Baby in baggage x-ray LAX

According to the world famous LA Times. A woman going through security at Los Angeles International Airport put her month-old grandson into a plastic bin intended for carry-on items and slid it into an X-ray machine. I can't imagine what the lady was thinking by doing that. Maybe she is slightly deranged??

The early Saturday accident — bizarre but not unprecedented — caught airport workers by surprise, even though the security line was not busy at the time, officials said.

A screener watching the machine's monitor immediately noticed the outline of a baby and pulled the bin backward on the conveyor belt.

The infant was taken to Centinela Hospital, where doctors determined that he had not received a dangerous dose of radiation. Thank goodnes for that, although you'd be more inclined to get a larger dose of radiation by just flying in the plane for a couple of hours.

Officials, who declined to release the 56-year-old woman's name, said she spoke Spanish and apparently did not understand English. I don't care if she speaks brogue, it must take an element of stupidness to put your grandchild onto a conveyor belt in a plastic box that disappears into a large machine. Speaking english is not the reason that this woman did this. Lack of common sense is.

She initially didn't want the baby transported to a hospital, but security officials called paramedics and insisted that the child be examined by a doctor. Maybe she was an illegal immigrant?

The grandmother and the child were subsequently allowed to board an Alaska Airlines flight to Mexico City.

The rare incident drew attention to whether officials are staffing often busy security checkpoints enough to prevent such an accident. And it raised questions about the danger of X-rays used to pick out suspicious metal shapes in passenger bags, given the medical community's warnings that even low amounts of radiation can build up over a lifetime.

There is always going to be one or two that slip through the cracks... Sometimes you just wonder how it happened.

Sean Penn (Buffoon?)

In New York, Sean Penn, the actor and occasional foreign correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle, hit the media and called for impeachment of the president in receiving the 2006 Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award from The Creative Coalition Monday night... Sean Penn in my opinion is one of the biggest buffoons in Hollywood. He can't keep his mouth shut and doesn't have the balls to run for public office (as yet).

Presented since 1997, the First Amendment Award recognizes "individuals who are dedicated to the sanctity of the first amendment and its free speech provision." Other Creative Coalition honorees last night included Branford Marsalis, Harvey Keitel, Heather Graham and Marcia Gay Harden. Surprise surprise.

In his remarks, Penn listed more than a dozen serious issues facing the country, and commented, ”We depend largely for information on these issues from media industries, driven by the bottom line to such an extent that the public interest becomes uninteresting.”

Turning to his views of President Bush, Penn said, “Now, there's been a lot of talk lately on Capitol Hill about how impeachment should be ‘off the table.’ We're told that it's time to look ahead - not back...

“Can you imagine how far that argument would go for the defense at an arraignment on charges of grand larceny, or large-scale distribution of methamphetamines? How about the arranging of a contract killing on a pregnant mother? ‘Indictment should be off the table.’ Or ‘Let's look forward, not backward.’ Or ‘We can't afford another failed defendant.’

“Our country has a legal system, not of men and women, but of laws. Why then are we so willing to put inconvenient provisions of the U.S. constitution and federal law ‘off the table?’”

Penn said he admired New York Times columnist Frank Rich but disagreed with his position that pursuing impeachment now would be “decadent.”

In his prepared remarks, he also lamented how the U.S. public was allegedly tricked into backing the Iraq invasion and derided those media figures who did that, describing Rush Limbaugh as “high as a kite on OxyContin,” Bill O'Reilly as “factually impaired,” and Sean Hannity as “simply a whore to the cause of his pimps Murdoch and Ailes?” He then rapped former Rep. Mark Foley, Sen. Joe Lieberman and even singer Toby Keith. It is relatively clear to me that Sean Penn has a Democratic Party fetish.

I challenge Sean Penn to run for public office in the 2008 elections and if he gets voted in by the public then power to him, I will have some respect. If he doesn't then I will still regard him as Hollywood's biggest buffoon. Time to step up to the plate Mr Penn, put your name forward. Do it.

Ahh pies

One of my favorite things to do when I come to NZ, is to eat meat pies. MMMMMMM

John Edwards to join 08 Presidential race?

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards intends to enter the 2008 race for the White House, two Democratic officials said Saturday. I could see him winning the Presidency in 2008 with someone like Hillary Clinton as VP. That would all depend on if John McCain or Rudy are the front row contenders for the GOP.

Edwards, who represented North Carolina in the Senate for six years, plans to make the campaign announcement late this month from the New Orleans neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina last year and slow to recover from the storm.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to pre-empt Edwards' announcement.

Edwards plans to travel from New Orleans through the four early presidential nominating states Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina as part of an announcement tour between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Among Democrats, Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are drawing the most attention almost two years before the actual vote.

Edwards, however, is in a strong position as the leading candidate in Iowa. He was a top fundraiser in the race for the nomination in 2004 before he became Democratic Sen. John Kerry's running mate.

Since the Democrats' loss to President Bush, Edwards has worked to build support for a repeat presidential bid. He has a retooled agenda that is more openly progressive and has spent time building relationships with labor leaders and traveling overseas to build his foreign policy credentials beyond his one term in the Senate.

Edwards' spokesman, David Ginsberg, would not confirm or deny that Edwards planned to announce he would run in 2008.

Ginsberg said Edwards would make an announcement about his future when he is ready.

He is well known from the 2004 campaign and his profile has risen this year as he and his wife, Elizabeth, went on nationwide tours to promote their books.

A poll of Iowa Democrats that was published Thursday in the Des Moines Register showed Edwards with 36 percent support, more than Clinton's 16 percent and Obama's 13 percent combined.

Edwards' campaign plans include an aggressive fundraising effort to prove that he belongs in the top tier of contenders. Because he currently does not hold federal office, Edwards does not have a war chest like some of his rivals. In fact, he has several hundred thousands of dollars of debt from his 2004 presidential campaign.

I like John Edwards as I liked Howard Dean...Doesn't mean I'd vote for them though. I am sure that John Edwards if he was to be elected would make a fine President... Thats if he can beat Sen. McCain.

Borat wins.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As the esteemed Kazakh television journalist Borat Sagdiyev might say: "High Five. Sexy Time. You Lose."

Two college fraternity buddies shown guzzling alcohol and making racist remarks in the "Borat" movie have lost their bid for a court order to cut the scene they claim has tarnished their reputations, court papers revealed on Monday. I am glad, as the DVD would not be complete without their ranting and raving.

The students sued the movie's distributor and producers last month, saying filmmakers had duped them into appearing in "Borat" by getting them drunk and falsely promising the film would never be shown in the United States. HE HE, suckers.

At the time the suit was filed, a judge denied the pair's request for a temporary restraining order that would remove footage of them from the film, but the plaintiffs were given a another chance to seek an injunction at a hearing last week.

The South Carolina college students lost again when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Biderman ruled they had failed to show a reasonable probability of success on the merits of their case or that money damages alone would be insufficient to resolve their claims.

Arguments on the latest motion focused mainly on the future DVD release of the hit movie, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

The faux documentary, distributed by 20th Century Fox, has already grossed more than $120 million at the North American box office after six weeks in theaters. Who would ahve thought?

The lawyer for the students, Olivier Taillieu, said last week that while the film's theatrical run is coming to a close, the perpetuity of the film on DVD posed ongoing problems for his clients, including harm to their ability to seek work.

Last month, Taillieu said the movie had cost one of the students a job at a major corporation and another a prestigious internship. The students were identified in court papers only as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2. A third student involved in the scene did not take part in the suit. Motto of the story.. Don't get filmed or agree to be filmed when you have had a few srinks with Borat.

The scene at issue in the lawsuit depicts Borat getting drunk with three frat boys in a motor home while they watch a sex tape and make racist remarks about slavery and minorities in the United States.

Christmas trees removed from Sea-Tac airport.

*** UPDATE *** The Rabbi has withdrawn his threat to sue due to various forms of hate mail received by him. The trees are now back up at Sea-Tac....

SEATTLE-TACOMA Airport WA - All of the Christmas trees inside the terminal at Sea-Tac have been removed in response to a complaint by a rabbi.

A local rabbi wanted to install an 8-foot menorah and have a public lighting ceremony. He threatened to sue if the menorah wasn't put up, and gave a two-day deadline to remove the trees. What a putz... I mean really this Rabbi needs to get a grip. Threatening to sue because of Christmas trees. What is the world coming too?

Sea-Tac public affairs manager Terri-Ann Betancourt said the trees that adorn the Sea-Tac upper and lower levels may not properly represent all cultures. So, it is America and the vast majority of people celebrate Christmas. A Christmas tree isn't areligiouss symbol as such. The fact that they took the trees down tells me that USA is getting way too PC.

She said that since this is their busiest time of year and they don't have time to add a fair representation of all cultures, her department decided to take down all of the decorations, review their policies, and decide if they need to make a change for next year.

"You know, our focus is on customer service, getting our passengers through the airport, and we thought if we could take the trees down and avoid litigation because we don't want tolitigatee with this individual, we want to reach some kind of solution," Betancourt said. "But that is going to take some thoughtful discussion and we would like to have time to have that thoughtful discussion."

Until then, no Christmas decor at Sea-Tac.

The same decorations have been put up for at least 10 years, she added. What a complete and utter bah humbug attitude the Rabbi has.. I would have told him to back off and make a submission for next year for his menorah.

The most expensive building ever sold in USA

According to CNN, the U.S. housing market in some parts of the country may be cooling, but skyscrapers in New York City are still red hot.

The commercial real estate firm Tishman Speyer Properties sold the 41-story office building at 666 Fifth Avenue to the New Jersey firm Kushner Companies for $US1.8 billion, according to a spokesperson for the Kushner companies. Now that would be a very pleasant commission for the salesperson(s)involved don't you think?.....

The contract for the deal, which was signed Monday, is the highest price ever paid for a single office building in the United States, according to Real Capital Analytics, which researches the commercial real estate industry.

Tishman Speyer and TMW, a German investment firm, bought the 1.5 million-square-foot Fifth Avenue building in 2000 for $518 million, according to the New York Times, which reported the story earlier Thursday.

The previous record for an office building sale was last year's purchase by Tishman Speyer of the MetLife building for $1.7 billion, according to Real Capital Analytics.

The building at 666 Fifth Avenue, which opened in 1957, currently houses a number of law firms and bankers, the paper reported. I would guess that you'd be paying a good amount of rent to have a office in this building.... What a sale.

Smelly fart causes emergency plane landing.

Flatulence brought 99 passengers on an American Airlines flight to an unscheduled visit to Nashville early Monday morning. This is brilliant....

American Flight 1053, from Washington Reagan National Airport and bound for Dallas/Fort Worth, made an emergency landing here after passengers reported smelling struck matches, said Lynne Lowrance, a spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority.

The plane landed safely. The FBI, Transportation Safety Administration and airport authority responded to the emergency, Lowrance said.

The passengers and five crew members were brought off the plane, together with all the luggage, to go through security checks again. Bomb-sniffing dogs found spent matches.

The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal body odor (fart), Lowrance said. The woman lives near Dallas and has a medical condition. Maybe she ate too much fruit before takeoff.....LOL

The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane.

"American has banned her for a long time," Lowrance said. Maybe she completed her journey in a convertible.

She was not charged but could have been. While it is legal to bring as many as four books of paper safety matches onto an aircraft, it is illegal to strike a match in an airplane, Lowrance said.

That is a very embarassing thing to have to explain to 104 people, certainly one for the record books. Maybe the lady should chug some pepto bismol before flying again...

Got milk?

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hoping to stir up thirst for milk, officials have installed advertisements in several San Francisco bus shelters on Monday that give off the scent of freshly baked cookies. How nice would that be unless you are hungry and there is no cookie or milk store around?

The technology that creates the scent is very similar to that used in magazine ads. Scented adhesives are placed throughout the interior of the bus shelters, including under the benches.

"As long as they are not harmful chemicals, it's OK," one somewhat confused elderly woman said as she pondered the cookie smell in one of the shelters. "They are trying to sell milk? Is that it?"

The effort at five bus shelters is part of a campaign cooked up by the California Milk Processor Board, whose iconic "Got Milk?" campaign has adorned famous figures from around the world with milk mustaches for 13 years.

While olfactory marketing has long been a staple of perfume companies in magazines, Jeff Goodby, chairman of the San Francisco-based ad firm Goodby, Silverstein & Partners that created the campaign, said he knew of no other completely outdoor campaign. I wonder how long the cookie scent will last?

I think it is a tease as there is nothing like the smell of baking cookies, and there is nothing more annoying than smelling freshly baked cookies and not being able to have one, or two.......HMMM

My day at the LA auto show

I went to the LA auto show today and had the opportunity of seeing some exciting new cars and taking a few photo's.
I have posted the pictures and comments on the show here .... So if you like cars take a look.