ON THE ROAD AGAIN

"Well, I'm so tired of cryin' but I'm out on the road again

I'm on the road again" *

I took advantage of the splendid weather today and walked from Thorndon along the waterfront, to the end of Oriental Bay, along Evans Bay Parade to Greta Point, through Kilbirnie, over the hill to Newtown and along Adelaide Road towards the Basin Reserve.

I hopped on a bus near John Street as my knee was stiffening up. On checking my phone I discovered I'd walked 12 kilometers. That's more than I've been doing recently due to bad weather and feeling unwell. It will be good for building up fitness for the Australian trip and I'll have to do a walk like this three times a week if possible.

When I got to Kilbirnie I remembered reading in the St Patrick's College newsletter that the annual Winter Sports Exchange with St Patrick's College Silverstream was scheduled for today so I cut through Evans Bay Park to watch some of the First XV game. I saw the last 10 minutes of the first half but didn't wait around to watch the second half - I'm not that much of a sports fan.

 

The thing to note was that the intensity of the game and the skills was greater than in our day and the players, especially the Polynesian boys, bigger and stronger.

* I wasn't really crying but have been 'under the weather' both figuratively and literally for a few weeks.

NEW POST - THE CURMUDGEON'S AGONY AUNT

 

1440, WHEN SCULPTURES WERE NAUGHTY

THEY SEEK THEM HERE, THEY SEEK THEM THERE ...

 I just received the digital edition of the Saint Patrick's College newsletter and you might find this interesting:

Click on photo to see it more clearly

In the photograph are the younger brothers of some of the guys I went to school with (1966 to 1970) including R.J. (Rodney) Prowse younger brother of Chris, Richard and Robert.

They get about these Prowse boys.

CONCORDANCE OR KINSHIP?

 I found this cartoon this morning while strolling for cartoon images.

It made me laugh for two reasons.

The first is Richard's confession that when he was 5 years old at primary school, a 'big girl' caught him loitering under a staircase looking up girls' skirts to see their knickers.

The second is Robert's confession that he hangs around statues of the Virgin Mary in churches, fascinated by her in her long flowing robes and no doubt wanting to lift them and have a peek.

Well, they are brothers.

JUST CALL ME PEDRO ...

 ... seeing as I've been supporting Spain in the World Cup football final.

Mind you, being named Pedro would have suited an Argentinian win as well.

Spain won, defeating Argentina in a nail-biting final that went to the last seconds of extra time. Beauty!

*****************

Why "beauty" you may ask seeing as normally I don't give two stuffs about soccer?

Well, it's all to do with the orange idiot who's had a downer on Spain recently and, seeing that the big puffball was in the stands watching (behind bullet-proof glass) the final a Spanish win is enough to rattle the old blaggard.

Politico's headline when reporting on the game says it all:

You can read about it in this link: POLITICO but here are some highlights.

"Turns out, revenge is a dish best served on a warm Sunday afternoon in a New Jersey swamp.

President Donald Trump has spent much of his second term in office berating Spain over its anemic military spending and refusal to allow American forces to use Spanish bases for bombing missions in Iran. Earlier this month, Trump branded the country “hopeless,” derided the Spanish as “bad people” and briefly threatened to cut off all trade in goods with Madrid.

Today, the president who in March dubbed the country a “loser” had to celebrate Spain as the winner of a World Cup that Trump worked to make his own. He was primed to hand the sports world’s greatest prize to captain Rodri in front of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI and a global television audience of more than one billion."

Sánchez, in a column for Spanish news outlet El País published Sunday before the final, largely avoided the U.S. clash, though did highlight his nation’s ethos beyond the soccer field.

“That’s the team that inspires passion. With the fluid, courageous style of play that defines us. But also with the values that shape our nation,” the Spanish prime minister wrote.

“A Spain that conducts itself with humility and respect for its opponents. And that relies on collective talent to win and show the world the beloved and respected country it is,” he added.

"I'll  take the ball and go home now"

ROBERT MADE THE GRADE

 Richard reminded me that Robert hadn't received his certificate yet so I had a word with Him above and he told me to give him this:

I won't tell you his exact words but he did add - " ... and tell him that he won't be getting one from Mum (sorry, I'll rephrase that) he won't be getting a certificate from Mum because she thinks he's creepy with all that excessive praying of the Rosary stuff. The occasional 'Our Father' is OK but umpteen 'Hail Marys'? Sheesh!"

BREAKING NEWS*

 * (Not 'necking brews' as it's too early - wait for 'wine o'clock' at 4pm).

Richard of Richard's Bass Bag has just completed 200 hours of music practice!

• 148 1/2 hours of violin.
• 29 1/2 hours of double bass.
• 22 hours of guitar.

These are concentrated hours of serious practice. They don't include gigs, band rehearsals or jams (but mainly because no-one invites him to any of those anymore).

He deserves an award for this achievement and ... here it is:

No need to thank us.

For a small fee this certificate can be personally signed by The Curmudgeon and The Music Curmudgeon. It can also be printed in sharper detail (again for an extra contribution) and, seeing that we are dealing with a schoolteacher, the American spelling can be converted at no charge.

BEWARE GREEKS BEARING GIFTS

 We went to see The Odyssey yesterday.

When I first heard of this production I decided it would be crap and took no further interest.

Later, just prior to the release of the film there was a lot of positive criticism coming out and, I thought, that as I've liked Matt Damon in numerous films and he director Christopher Nolan has made some good ones - what could be wrong?

Everything as it turned out.

The production is noisy and overblown. The script is atrocious along with the bad acting. Homer's Odyssey is totally distorted with a few of the sensational bits kept in. In short I was pissed off with it.

It annoys me when great stories are cocked up by ego-driven cinematographers and such a powerful story as the Odyssey deserves to have been made well given the money, technology and resources available. The Lord of the Rings had two abysmal productions before Peter Jackson stepped up and did a damned fine job with it. I would like to think that a decent (non American or American-influenced) director and some European or Chinese or Indian money brokers could come to the rescue and make a better job of it than this travesty.

I studied Homer's Odyssey in the 7th form at school and was captivated by it. I might now have another go at reading it nearly 60 years later to wash away this Americanised crap that has polluted my memory and senses.

BEWARE GEEKS BEARING GRIFTS

I told you that I've got my phone and iPad connecting properly to the internet again via SPARK. This is good for sending and receiving emails but not good in that a lot of the incoming communications are grifts from geeks.

Current internet grifts are largely AI deep-fakes and deceptive e-commerce platforms that cybercriminals use to steal identities and steal money.

Scammers use AI video and audio clones of prominent figures to promote fake cryptocurrency and get-rich-quick schemes. 

Fake online shops and marketplaces lure buyers with purportedly huge discounts to collect credit card details or to take the money and then send nothing at all. 

Fraudsters target job seekers with fake job offers on platforms like LinkedIn, sending attachments containing malware or charging a processing fee to secure employment. 

Pop-up warnings or unsolicited texts from tech support people claim a device has a virus or that the platform needs updating. Victims are urged to call a number and grant remote access to their computer, allowing the scammer to steal passwords and bank accounts. 

Urgent text messages or emails claiming to be from authorities or utility companies contain links to fraudulent sites aimed at stealing personal information or demanding immediate payment.

Sheesh! Maybe it was better being incommunicado.

AN UPDATE OR, "UP YOUR DATE" AS MY DAD USED TO SAY.

"What's been happening on the blogs?" is a question that's seldom posed but I'll tell you anyway.

Not much.

You probably want examples though so here goes:

Richard, as per usual is banging on (fortunately he's not a percussionist) about his stringed instruments practice. It's about as riveting as - well, something that's not riveting I guess. Make your own mind up:

I'm enjoying playing my guitar. I'm working on four tunes - Autumn Leaves, Manha De Carnival, Sweet Georgia Brown and Nature Boy. I have been working out nice chord voicings for chords like Bm7b5 and E7b9. It is interesting that Bm7b5 contains the same notes as Dm6 (B D F A / D F A B) and E7b9 contains a diminished chord with its E root (G# B D F).

"Whatever"

Robert's back on his Catholic religion nonsense and seems to be getting worse. This is what he wrote this morning:

I won't go to the sacrament of Penance. I did that during the week at St Mary of the Angels. The priest listening suddenly exclaimed in an incredulous voice "That's not a mortal sin...did you intend to offend God?". I still chuckle when I think back to that. I like him. Can't remember his name. About my own age.

Unbelievable! Which doesn't apply to Robert evidently as he prefers to believe what some social misfit in a dress tells him. Has anyone got a bridge to sell him? I'll take 10% commission.

As for me? This post is just a filler as I'm cooking up a doozy of a post to write later.

Stay posted.

I HOPE THAT YOU'RE OK

"I hope that you are OK" - I commented on Richard's increasingly infrequent blog and was about to inform him that I didn't post yesterday myself because I had an AF spike and wasn't feeling well.

This immediately made me think of 'parallel universing' (a Richard construction) where when someone tells a story, a listener indulges in one-upmanship by telling another, similar but often grander story. Think Monty Python's 'Four Yorkshiremen'.

The Four Yorkshiremen skit was borrowed from the earlier Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - Pete and Dud - in a Not Only But Also skit:

Now that's classic parallel universing.

WELL I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN, BUT I SURE DO LIKE ...

 ... their attitude.

The World Cup Football has reached the final stage with Spain set to play Argentina on Sunday (NZ time).

I will be barracking for Spain even though I supported Argentina in their semi-final match where they beat England yesterday.

Why do I care? 

I don't really as I don't follow soccer and most sports except that I like to watch the big events sometimes. Normally I wouldn't give a toss as to who wins as New Zealand in my lifetime will never be a contender but this time, due to geopolitical events, the outcome will be interesting.

You no doubt remember the orange idiot raging against Spain at the NATO summit in Turkey recently where Trump got his panties twisted over Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s refusal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP and Spain’s ban on US forces using jointly operated military bases for offensive operations in Iran. 

Well, during the July NATO summit in Ankara, Trump ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt all trade and commerce with Spain, calling the country a "terrible partner" and a "wasted cause". 

Sánchez in turn declared the US-Israeli campaign against Iran an "extraordinary mistake", denied US overflights, and capped Spain's defense budget at roughly 2.1% of GDP and played down Trump's threats, noting they had a "cordial" conversation at the summit and pointed out that similar US threats to halt commerce do not align with EU single-market trade rules. Well done that man!

"Well done that man"

Given this background, wouldn't it be great to see Spain win the FIFA World Cup in the final being played in USA especially when the orange idiot bullied FIFA into playing the American national anthem at the game (unprecedented in past tournaments).

... AND THE GLAD RAGS

Look, I admit it - I do moan about a few things and have complained about women's handbags in the past. See: HERE and HERE but it is forever a bone of contention.

What got me going again today is in finalising our booking for next month's flights to Australia. I've booked to include a suitcase each with a view to taking a small backpack as carry-on luggage to include my iPad, phone, wallet etc. No doubt I'll have to do battle to find overhead locker space for even this as there will be idiots taking on medium sized suitcases as carry on luggage. This has become a given and I'm used to it.

What I've never got used to though is that women will have stored luggage, a medium size suitcase as carry on luggage, probably a small backpack to carry the things like I put in mine .... plus a bloody great handbag that is larger than all the other shit they bring on-board. What's that about?

I also get pissed off when visiting art galleries, museums and public places where carry bags have to be checked in at the front desk. I use a small backpack to carry my phone, wallet and a water bottle and am forever asked to check this in. Going straight through though are women carrying handbags that are much bigger and cumbersome than my small backpack.

Sheesh!

TEARS IN MY EYES

My Trade Me auction for a Spode dinnerset was passed in .

It did have over 800 'views' but only one 'watcher'. 

It's a sad fact of life that nowadays 'good stuff' is largely unwanted or people don't want to pay sensible prices for quality, preferring to buy cheap shit on special at Briscoes or The Warehouse.

Ageing baby boomers, who I'm part of, are dying off and leaving their long-held treasures behind. Most often the younger members of the family don't want this stuff or have no room to store or display it in their modern houses and flats. The charity and junk shops are choc-a-bloc with lovely paintings, glassware, ornaments and classic china dinnerware. Sad really.

Before I listed on Trade Me I asked the owner of the multiple shops at Thorndon Antiques if he had any interest in the set. He almost broke down and tears came into his eyes as he told me that he had no room in his shops for ceramics and dinnerware and that people weren't buying quality stuff anymore.

What to do? I guess I will have to donate it to charity.

NEW POST - THE CURMUDGEONLY INVENTOR

 

DON'T SPIT THE DUMMY

FAKE NEWS

 The orange idiot continues to blather about 'fake news' on anything that doesn't fit his lying narrative or anything which is critical of him.

Today I watched a (real) news report about the Trump administration issuing subpoenas against New York Times journalists over their reporting on the new Air Force One presidential airplane. They have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury after a story detailed security concerns with the Qatar-gifted plane that Trump flew to Turkey on.

The airplane at the center of the Times report was provided by Qatar as a $400m gift. It took Donald Trump to the Nato summit in Turkey. Trump however then flew part of the way back to the US on an older-model Air Force One presidential airplane. That happened amid the collapse of the ceasefire with Iran, which shares a border with Turkey and which caused concern for Trump's safety and speculation that the  Qatari-gifted jet lacked certain security systems. The Times reported on these concerns and that Trump flew some of the return trip from Turkey on an older Air Force One that is equipped with special security features at the request of the Secret Service.

Trump subsequently denied any security concerns, telling reporters who were accompanying him that no safeguard-related worries factored into the decision to fly only part of the way home in the new Air Force One.

Of course Trump and his cronies deny this and make out that it is fake news.

This is becoming par for the course with this guy and his gang but it's especially galling that he claims he invented the term and concept of 'fake news (see above). 

While in no way claiming that I invented 'fake news' The Curmudgeon has from day one used this form of communication in this very blog. Careful readers will have seen, on the home page this notice:

They will also have read on numerous occasions my assertion that The Curmudgeon never lets the truth get in the way of a good story - an aphorism often attributed to Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) but that is disputed. I'll claim it then.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

SHOO OFF!

 I'm going to moan about something now so, if you don't like it you can shoo off and, on your way, look up the meaning of curmudgeon. Look, I'll help you:

You might remember that in previous posts I wrote about the trouble I had with a pair of hiking boots that were not a good fit for me. I gave these away to Robert.

I later purchased some Salomon hiking shoes which I wrote about:

It's turned out that these are hurting my toes and are not what was advertised - WIDE FITTING.

It looks like I cannot get a refund so I wrote a scathing review on Salomons' web page and on a hiking web page. While doing so I noticed that I'm not the only one who has had problems with these hiking shoes not being fit for purpose. See:

I guess I'll be using my Sketchers 'old man slipper' type shoes instead on the Kakadu day hike. While not robust at least they'll be comfortable.

NEW POST - THE WINE GUY

 

SEMPER AD MELIORA

THE LOW SPARK OF ...

 It's a dreary and cold day today with a strong chance of rain so I'm not expecting much news from the blogs.

Robert (or his AI friends) however, wrote a bleak post that's fitting with the weather or in keeping with ancient stoicism or early Christian martyrdom - that I guess continues his religious theme.

I'm not sure what Richard will be doing other than fiddling about with his old instruments. Maybe he'll go and get a haircut.

"I got a haircut today"

I cannot get emails on my ipad or my iPhone so will visit a Spark store today to try and get it sorted. The problem started last week when a message from Spark (received on this computer which is now the only way I can communicate) told me that they had switched over to 4G technology and older 3G and 2G compatible devices would no longer receive emails. As I pay a lot of money to Spark for my mobile (our broadband account is with One NZ) I want them to sort it out. The phone is near new so I don't know why that isn't operating properly but the iPad is old generation so no doubt I'll have to buy a new one - certainly before we go to Australia next month.

Sure Robert, I know that I should be able to receive emails on the ipad using Broadband but it isn't happening. I need Spark to explain themselves.

NO NEWS TODAY

 

I've been very busy doing other things.

You'll find the 'junk mail' in Richards various comments.

ENCORE

I received a message from SPARK my phone and email provider, telling me that I was unable to receive emails on my iPad because it was old technology and not 4G compliant.

SPARK has, like other providers moved from 3G technology to 4G and 5G whatever that means.

I've checked it out and sure enough my iPad that I bought 4 years ago is a 9th generation one. 4G + can only operate on a minimum of 10th generation so I'm stuffed.

My phone which I bought brand new last year is an iPhone 16 and apparently (for the moment) is compliant.

The laptop I use is an Apple Air 2020 model so no doubt the cartels that collude between hardware and connectivity will be junking this soon. At the moment I can get my emails on it but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm tired of this planned obsolescence in technology with 'improvements' that I don't use rendering the equipment I own to be out of date soon after I buy it.

I checked and there is no upgrade possible on the iPad to move from 2G and 3G capability to 4G and 5G. The helpful suggestion was to buy a new one!

I like my iPad and use it a lot when in bed, in the bath, in another room away from the study, when travelling or out and about. I can catch up with news, read the blogs, read e-books and of course access and read and send my emails. I much prefer using this than a phone as it's easier to read and to write on it. I'm going to have to buy a new one. I think the latest is generation 11 but Murphy's Law dictates that as soon as I buy one, the next day the new generation will roll over to 12.

The best deal on a new model, the basic one, is $879. I'll put my case to The Old Girl.