Ross Calverley

New blog

2011-09-12T17:39:00.001+12:00

Hello.

I have a new blog at www.aspeckoflight.blogspot.com

Hopefully it will last longer ;)

Hillside Engineering: The Truth

2011-07-18T11:56:00.001+12:00

OURNZ

Blogging on my iPhone.

2010-03-23T14:01:00.000+13:00

Am TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THIS, PROPERLY. HATE THE THE CAPS LOCK.

Paul Holmes : Clark able to take on the world - Paul Holmes on New Zealand - NZ Herald News

2010-03-22T11:49:00.000+13:00

Paul Holmes : Clark able to take on the world - Paul Holmes on New Zealand - NZ Herald News

Feedback on Paul Holmes article

2010-03-22T11:30:00.002+13:00

He makes a good point, this trend worrying. Paul is correct, this attack was in essence the same as 9/11. No wonder JK wants to change the precedent.

Paul Holmes : Decision a minefield for crime - Opinion - NZ Herald News

2010-03-22T11:28:00.000+13:00

Paul Holmes : Decision a minefield for crime - Opinion - NZ Herald News

Criticism of Christchurch

2010-03-01T08:23:00.000+13:00

Ingram is still a walking wicket.
Franklin's batting.
Hopkins hitwicket, however his batting was so good, I now see why he is in the NZ side.
Oram's batting
N McCullum not getting THAT single. A few drinks for the big bro...
Vettori's bowling.
Cricinfo not working...

The Cricket

2010-03-01T08:18:00.001+13:00

Reading the commentary, it really brought a tear to my eye. It was really emotional. For Australia it meant a loss of momentum and it was a moment of redemption for New Zealand.

However, I do think the man of the match award was misplaced.

*GASP* Let me explain BEFORE you lynch me. Brendon McCullum's innings probably was ONE of his finest tonight, played like Brendon. However Tim Southee played at the peak of his level. To survive such a severe drubbing with the admiration of both captain and vice-captain is no mean feat. Also to come back and give Australia's massive firepower of Haddin, Warner and White a miserly six runs was outstanding. Brendon knew this, he knew that he would be feeling a lot worse if Southee, the 21 year old hadn't played with a maturity exceeding his years and with the skill of great such as Sir Richard Hadlee, Sir Donald Bradman (I know he's a batter, sheesh!), you know the rest of the elite club. I expect big things from this man. Southee will have to wait for a MOTM in T20s. I think he has one in Tests already. 77* and 5 for 55. He is an inspiration to all young bowlers out there. (Goes to the nets.)

17.6

Harris to BB McCullum, 1 run, full again and cracked through the off side to the sweeper. What a magnificent hundred from Brendon McCullum! He's played every stroke in the book and done it with aplomb. Andy McKay made a rather prophetic call earlier in the innings that McCullum would score a hundred and he has come through.

It's a shame that McCullum's inning will be judged by the fact it was one short of Gayle's. It was bloody magnificent though! As fast as Mr Gayle's and facing better (IMO) bowlers. Then again, who said Shaun Tait was any good? He's just a freak! I loved Brendon's Scoop off the 155kph bolt, it was frigging awesome. Very gutsy! http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/114800/114811.jpg

Hone Harawira is a dick!

2010-02-28T19:59:00.000+13:00

Self-explanatory really! But now he's getting people to dump pollution in the Kaipara harbour to stop a sea-turbine. Absolute dumbass! NZ needs power!!!!!!

Dollar dropping

2010-02-25T22:21:00.000+13:00

Excellent. But lets hope Greece doesn't pull Europe into the tubes. Do I really need to explain how lower dollar makes our exports more competitive? No? Good.

Extreme Accidents

2010-02-25T21:54:00.002+13:00

Should people who put themselves at risk be liable for the costs?

Brown's conscience decision

2010-02-25T21:42:00.000+13:00

I applaud Republican Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts for his decision to rise above party politics and vote for a jobs package he believed in. He did say he was a 'independent' Republican. Brave man to take such a courageous step. My politician of the week.

Heatly

2010-02-25T21:38:00.001+13:00

John Key doesn't cancel a day in Christchurch because a minister has spent $1100 inappropriately. What has Heatly really done?

Orientation Week

2010-02-22T09:51:00.001+13:00

Hence the whole no blogs.

The Former PM

2010-02-17T16:04:00.002+13:00

Looks like "Auntie" Helen gets her gong. Well done Helen Clark. Please keep up the good work at the UN and don't come back too often :P

Cutting!

2010-02-17T15:58:00.001+13:00

To be fair, they have recognised that whatever fine qualities Ashwell Prince has as a No. 5 or 6, he can hardly open a beer can, let alone a Test innings, and Alviro Petersen's debut hundred has rewarded them.

South Africa Collapse?!

2010-02-15T11:31:00.000+13:00

Yes, they do!

Simon, Kallis sucks!

South Africa 266/9 (81.0 ov)

India

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat

Stumps - Day 1

South Africa in India Test Series - 2nd Test
Test no. 1952 | 2009/10 season
Played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
14,15,16,17,18 February 2010 (5-day match)


South Africa 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
GC Smith*	b Khan	4	13	12	1	0	33.33
2.6 136.6 kph, What a beauty! The off stump has gone for a walk. It pitched outside off stump and cut in sharply, Smith leaned forward to defend but the ball rushed in through the bat and pad gap to crash into the off stump. Clatter! Zak wins yet another mini-battle with Graeme. 9/1
AN Petersen	c †Dhoni b Khan	100	226	164	16	0	60.97
52.4 132.7 kph, Petersen falls, but only after he secured his special hundred on debut. It was a full-length delivery that landed outside off stump, Petersen went for the drive and got a thick fat edge. He has done his job, though. Enter Jacques Kallis. 218/2
HM Amla	c †Dhoni b Khan	114	228	166	14	1	68.67
56.4 124.0 kph, Ishant's bumper barrage didn't result in a wicket but Zaheer gets Amla's wicket a short delivery. The left-hander's angle took it away from Amla who went for the pull shot, trying to fetch it from outside off stump, but could only edge it behind. A fine innings filled with delightful drives comes to an end 229/3
JH Kallis	c Laxman b Harbhajan Singh	10	52	26	1	0	38.46
65.1 84.7 kph, The crowd roar as Harbhajan takes out Kallis with a topspinner. Now then .. It's a flighted delivery outside off stump and Kallis goes for the big slog sweep but edges it toward short fine-leg region. Laxman runs back from the first slip to take a good catch.. tumbling down after he stretched his hands out to take the ball falling from behind his shoulder. 251/4
AB de Villiers†	run out (Khan)	12	59	37	2	0	32.43
68.3 Sharma to Steyn, AB is run out! What a dramatic final session of play. What a turn around. Thrilling spine-tingling stuff. You can guess the crowd's reaction. R O A R. Indians are in a huddle of joy. The shortish delivery was pushed towards short mid-off region .. confusion between the two batsmen .. .AB is out almost middle of the track .. Zaheer runs after the ball, picks it up,. turns and let the ball rip .. whirrrr .... the ball crashes into the non-striker's end and AB dives but falls just short of the crease. ..Gone! 254/7
AG Prince	lbw b Harbhajan Singh	1	11	8	0	0	12.50
67.1 90.1 kph, trapped in front! Harbhajan takes two in two overs... the crowd have gone mad in joy as they scream ... It landed on the off stump line, from round the stumps, moved in to hit the pad right in front of middle. Dead duck! Prince was pushing outside the line, playing for the turn. 253/5
JP Duminy	lbw b Harbhajan Singh	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
67.2 89.9 kph, Now then .. now then .. how quickly things change. Harbhajan is on a hatrick. Almost the action replay. Again, it drifted in from round the stumps with the angle and the topspinner went on straight to hit the pad... again another left-hander caught pushing outside the line. Harbhajan knew instantly that he had his man and he leads the crowd with a celebratory run of joy followed by his team-mates. The crowd have gone wild. Eden Gardens is quite a spectacle in these moments. No other ground in India quite matches its intensity in these dramatic moments. 253/6
DW Steyn	lbw b Mishra	5	47	37	0	0	13.51
76.1 Given out lbw though there was an inside-edge. Mishra gets his first wicket of the series. It was the slider; it landed around middle and off and moved in. Steyn pushed forward to defend and got an edge. He has to go, though. It did look pretty adjacent Live but replays show that there was an edge. Steyn shook his head in disappointment as he walked away .. 261/9
PL Harris	c †Dhoni b Sharma	1	11	4	0	0	25.00
70.3 137.8 kph, Ishant does the namashkar - palms folded together as he bows forward and salutes/thanks the batsman (?!). IT was a short of length delivery outside off stump and Harris edges the intended drive to Dhoni. Eight down and tottering after tea break. What a stunning change of events. 255/8
WD Parnell	not out	2		21	0	0	9.52

M Morkel	not out	3		19	0	0	15.78

Extras	(b 1, lb 4, nb 9)	14

Total	(9 wickets; 81 overs)	266	(3.28 runs per over)

Fall of wickets1-9 (Smith, 2.6 ov), 2-218 (Petersen, 52.4 ov), 3-229 (Amla, 56.4 ov), 4-251 (Kallis, 65.1 ov), 5-253 (Prince, 67.1 ov), 6-253 (Duminy, 67.2 ov), 7-254 (de Villiers, 68.3 ov), 8-255 (Harris, 70.3 ov), 9-261 (Steyn, 76.1 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Z Khan	21	5	77	3	3.66
2.6 to Smith, 136.6 kph, What a beauty! The off stump has gone for a walk. It pitched outside off stump and cut in sharply, Smith leaned forward to defend but the ball rushed in through the bat and pad gap to crash into the off stump. Clatter! Zak wins yet another mini-battle with Graeme. 9/1 52.4 to Petersen, 132.7 kph, Petersen falls, but only after he secured his special hundred on debut. It was a full-length delivery that landed outside off stump, Petersen went for the drive and got a thick fat edge. He has done his job, though. Enter Jacques Kallis. 218/2 56.4 to Amla, 124.0 kph, Ishant's bumper barrage didn't result in a wicket but Zaheer gets Amla's wicket a short delivery. The left-hander's angle took it away from Amla who went for the pull shot, trying to fetch it from outside off stump, but could only edge it behind. A fine innings filled with delightful drives comes to an end 229/3
I Sharma	17	3	56	1	3.29	(6nb)
70.3 to Harris, 137.8 kph, Ishant does the namashkar - palms folded together as he bows forward and salutes/thanks the batsman (?!). IT was a short of length delivery outside off stump and Harris edges the intended drive to Dhoni. Eight down and tottering after tea break. What a stunning change of events. 255/8
A Mishra	20	3	68	1	3.40	(3nb)
76.1 to Steyn, Given out lbw though there was an inside-edge. Mishra gets his first wicket of the series. It was the slider; it landed around middle and off and moved in. Steyn pushed forward to defend and got an edge. He has to go, though. It did look pretty adjacent Live but replays show that there was an edge. Steyn shook his head in disappointment as he walked away .. 261/9
Harbhajan Singh	23	2	60	3	2.60
65.1 to Kallis, 84.7 kph, The crowd roar as Harbhajan takes out Kallis with a topspinner. Now then .. It's a flighted delivery outside off stump and Kallis goes for the big slog sweep but edges it toward short fine-leg region. Laxman runs back from the first slip to take a good catch.. tumbling down after he stretched his hands out to take the ball falling from behind his shoulder. 251/4 67.1 to Prince, 90.1 kph, trapped in front! Harbhajan takes two in two overs... the crowd have gone mad in joy as they scream ... It landed on the off stump line, from round the stumps, moved in to hit the pad right in front of middle. Dead duck! Prince was pushing outside the line, playing for the turn. 253/5 67.2 to Duminy, 89.9 kph, Now then .. now then .. how quickly things change. Harbhajan is on a hatrick. Almost the action replay. Again, it drifted in from round the stumps with the angle and the topspinner went on straight to hit the pad... again another left-hander caught pushing outside the line. Harbhajan knew instantly that he had his man and he leads the crowd with a celebratory run of joy followed by his team-mates. The crowd have gone wild. Eden Gardens is quite a spectacle in these moments. No other ground in India quite matches its intensity in these dramatic moments. 253/6


	India team

V Sehwag, G Gambhir, M Vijay, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni*†, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Mishra, I Sharma

Suggestions

2010-02-09T22:44:00.000+13:00

Nick (the dick) Hill comments on Facebook:

I have to say Ross, this blog is sensational. What a splendid synthesis of politics, economics and cricket. I tell you what, you should include musical critique in it to make it the all round gentleman's blog.

I reply:

Ah Nick, I'm glad you bothered to read it. I fear your arrogance would have led you to believe it was complete crap before you set eyes on it! Glad I was wrong! Perhaps later, when I have time!

This is purely my blog so it makes sense that it is a synthesis of all the areas mentioned. I am passionate about them all. Nothing you say Mr Hill, will change anything.

RC on JK

2010-02-09T22:19:00.000+13:00

My points for and against the new moves today:

Positive
Working for Families Review
Stricter DPB limits
Tax Cuts
DHB realignments.
Economic "pie" increased
Science and CRI funding increases
Mining
Conservation Fund from mining royalties.
Capital Expenditure
National Standards
Early Childcare
Modernise schools
Trade and practical emphasis in schools
Tertiary reforms for those with high dropouts
Whanau Ora
Sickness Benefit tests
benefit reforms to help people to work
Prisons
Work and training for those on DPB.

Negative
No Green "New Deal" at all.
Fonterra
No taxfree threshold
Capital Gains Tax "too complicated" horsesh1te.
WFF Admin Costs
Public Sector Wage Increases.
Efficiency Performance Indicator
DPB "Baby Factories"
Superannuation unchanged.

JK, a new year, a new economy.

2010-02-09T22:09:00.002+13:00

Overall pretty encouraging that the Government is going to pursue some economic reform that will increase the size of the national cake, rather than merely get obsessed with how to divide it up as the left do. If we grow the cake, then everyone benefits in time.

Major points by subject:

Economic

GST increase to 15% under careful consideration – this is code for will be announced in May. This is good, as it will allow taxes on income, savings and investment to reduce, encouraging savings and investment instead of consumption
If GST is increased (and they really have to after not ruling it out) there will be across-the-board reductions in personal taxes, and higher levels of payments for beneficiaries and WFF recipients.
No capital gains tax – good too complex
No RFRM for taxing residential property – also good as could cause real cashflow problems
No land tax – a shame, as I think the one off whack it would cause to land owners would be worth it for the efficiency gains, and also the fact it would bring foreign land owners into the tax base
There will be changes in the Budget around how property is taxed – almost certainly to include getting rid of claiming depreciation on appreciating buildings.
Most government agencies to have no additional funding for several years – hear the PSA squeal.
Changes planned for the way the Crown invests in CRIs
Science and innovation a priority for new spending in 2010 budget – very good.
Holidays Act to be amended as per Advisory Group
Review of personal grievance decisions, and possible amending legislation to give more certainty in this area
Govt to propose through a discussion document that some land in Section 4 be removed from it, and replaced with some land not currently in Section 4, to allow mining in areas with high mineral wealth but lower environmental value. This is probably the most ballsy move.
Govt will establish a Conservation Fund from royalty revenue from mining on crown lands to invest in conservation projects, so more mining means more money for conservation. I like it!
Law changes to remove regulatory roadblocks to water storage and irrigation in Canterbury, and also for the aquaculture industry
Possible law change for capital restructuring of Fonterra
Response to Capital Market Development Taskforce to be delivered in the next week or so
$24 billion of spending in the next five years on capital expenditure

Social Sector

National Standards will be supported by reform to ensure taxpayer funds make it through to schools and students who need the extra support
Changes to early childhood funding to get better support to children currently missing out on ECE
A policy on use of information collected through National Standards to be announced in 2010. Not sure what this means, but so long as they do not amend the OIA, not sure what impact it will have, and will be ropable if they amend the OIA.
Funding changes for secondary schools to modernise, and ensure they can provide more practical and trades skills.
Focus in tertiary education is programmes with over 50% drop-out rates
Whanau Ora to continue to be developed as a new way to fund and co-ordinate social service contracts
Hint that there will be restrictions on funding for tertiary students who keep failing and/or never leave university – presumably meaning the eternal under-graduate.
Benefit reforms that focus on helping people get back to work, while supporting those who can not.
Sickness Benefit criteria and testing to be adjusted
Reapplication requirements for those on the dole for an extended period
Work and training requirements for those on the DPB
A change to the benefit abatement regime to improve incentives to take up part-time work
Legislation to be introduced to reduce harm from binge drinking by stopping excessive proliferation of liquor outlets. That’s just government by slogans, as there is no proof that it is the number of liquor outlets that cause the binge drinking
Two prisons to be opened up to private management

There is a nice stat about how moving 100 DPB recipients off their benefit and into work will save close to $10 million over their lifetime. And moving 5% of DPB recipients whose children are aged over six into work will save $200 million over 10 years.

Overall I give the package a solid B. If the GST was 100% confirmed (I judge it 90% confirmed) and they had gone for land tax also, I would have gone for a B+. And if they left out the nonsense about the number of liquor outlets being a problem I may have even gone for an A- after a few rum and cokes

Kindly scoured on the quiet from Kiwiblog. Thank you Mr Farrar.

Singing

2010-02-09T22:04:00.001+13:00

Had a singing lesson in Wanaka with Heather the other day. Must ring her to book another lesson. While in Wanaka got some juice and porridge.

Must update this more frequently as it has been a few days and my memory loses some memories after a while. Bbs. :D

2010-02-06T23:12:00.001+13:00

Accusing Tait of anything means you want a new job. TAIT IS A CHEAT! MUST BE ON DRUGS!

Okay, I want to quit Shell, but John Bracewell was NZ Cricket Coach, when he accused Tait of chucking. He sucked though.

160.7kph. See the figures and salivate. Who is Roach? Who is Khan? Who is Bond?!

I give up at fast bowling... maybe not. I might have a chance... Tee hee.

2010-02-06T23:08:00.001+13:00

Tired

2010-02-06T23:03:00.000+13:00

The alternative Halberg Awards' winners' list

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.

Photosport

SHOULD THEY HAVE WON?: The All Whites (top), Dan Vettori (middle left), Ricki Herbert (middle right) and Alison Shanks could consider themselves unlucky not win a Halberg Award.

2009 Halberg Awards Night

1 of 17

PETER MEECHAMZoom

WINNING LADIES: The Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina Earl (left) and Caroline Meyer (right) share a laugh with supreme Halberg Award winner Valerie Vili.

OPINION: The Halberg Awards always leave themselves open to hot debate with their choices of champions so here's an alternative list of winners to the conservative bunch announced in Auckland.

The best thing about the Halbergs is there's an argument for everyone. The hardest thing is making the big decisions.

Hamish Bond, a member of the winning rowing team, got it spot on when in accepting his award he said: "I don't envy the judges separating the fruit bowl ... picking the apples from the oranges. It's an impossible task and I wouldn't want to be one of the judges."

Here then are the oranges that got pipped by the apples.

Sportswoman: Forget the likeable large lady who throws cannonballs for a living. Watching the shot put is about as exciting as putting gas in your car only the latter is a necessity. Let's get the kids interested in these awards. A world champion is a world champion and there are more cyclists on the globe than shot-putters. Pursuit champ Alison Shanks could have – and perhaps should have - won the Halberg but how about a vote for the youth with BMX champ Sarah Walker?

Sportsman: Mahe Drysdale and the rowing fraternity get more chances to win world titles than anyone with their annual championships. And world titles or Olympic medals seem to mean everything to the Halberg judges. It's virtually impossible to win this solo award from within a team environment. But Dan Vettori established himself as one of the most powerful figures in New Zealand sport last year – and that only had a little to do with being arguably the best allrounder in one-day and test cricket and one of the biggest improvers with the bat. He also did it while single-handedly keeping a wobbly side competitive.

Team: The All Whites brought more joy to New Zealand on that fairytale night in Wellington than any other "team" last year. OK, they didn't win a title. But they punched above their weight to make the final 32 in the world's most popular sport. This is serious over-achievement even if the gods smiled on them with their kind route to South Africa. They beat what was put in front of them and that victory will live longer in the wider sporting community's mind than the relative efforts of the other Halberg finalists in this category.

Coach: Did everything look and feel familiar at the Sky City Convention centre on Thursday night? None more so than Richard Tonks winning this category. It was his fourth win and he's been nominated every year expect one since 1998. That's a fine record and guiding two world title winners is a massive achievement. But it could be argued that Tonks is simply doing what he always does – coach well. Then someone like Riki Herbert steps up to the mark and produces something special out of the blue. The All Whites' World Cup qualification was a coaching master-stroke, a cleverly orchestrated campaign to get a result in Bahrain with a radical three-man attack and then outdo the Arabs with a more orthodox approach in Wellington. All this achieved with limited resources and the burden of guiding a professional club as well.

SA vs India

2010-02-06T22:58:00.003+13:00

Amla and Kallis accumulate.

Khan to continue.

242/2