NZ working with US Navy

I noticed this in the NZ herald today. It is very interesting to read that six New Zealand Navy medics have joined a humanitarian mission in the Pacific on board a United States Navy vessel, USS Peleliu.

Defence Minister Phil Goff said it was the first time New Zealand had been invited to join the annual mission since the anti-nuclear rift of the 1980s.

"The medical team will be providing valuable clinical, medical and dental assistance to people who would not ordinarily have access to high-grade medical treatment," Mr Goff said.

I am sure that it will be an exciting time for the NZ Navy team. Great to see that there is a thaw in US policy towards NZ.

Formula one season update

What a phenomenal F1 season it has been so far up to the British Grand Prix in Silverstone England today.

Newcomer and rookie Lewis Hamilton with McLaren has been on all of the podiums (9) so far this year and is leading the championship in points with 70. He has won races and is re writing the record book. Ron Dennis made a wise decision in putting him in a McLaren this year.

This is what it looks like in the 2007 drivers championship so far:

01	Lewis Hamilton	70
02	Fernando Alonso	58
03	Kimi Räikkönen	52
04	Felipe Massa	51
05	Nick Heidfeld	33
06	Robert Kubica	22

It is impressive to see that BMW is 3rd in the championship points. They have some more work to do to be challenging the podium, but surely and steadily they are doing it. I'd think that by the end of the year they will be nipping at the heals of Ferrari and McLaren.

The race in Silverstone today was great. Lewis Hamilton was on pole slightly edging out Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari in qualifying. Felipe Massa was unable to keep his Ferrari running on the formation lap and was forced to start from LAST for the race finishing 5th behind Robert Kubica of Poland in the Sauber BMW who finished 4th.
Fernando Alonso looked like he was in with a shot for the win after the first pit stops, but the Ferrari crew and Kimi's spectacular driving knocked that on the head with Kimi winning, Fernando Alonso the current world champion of McLaren 2nd and England new super star Lewis Hamilton finishing the race in 3rd position.

I have to give it to Ferrari for this race. Kimi won and Felipe came 5th. I would expect that it would have been a Ferrari 1-2 if Felipe had of not had to have started from last place.

I still think Kimi is the best driver on the grid, so I am expecting the last half of the 2007 F1 season to be even better than the first. Will Lewis continue his podium streak? Will Kimi who has won the most races this year continue his pace? Will Fernando get upset by being overtaken by Lewis and switch teams next year? We will have to wait and see.

Aaron Bhatnagar for Hobson 2007

It is official.....

Aaron Bhatnagar for Hobson 2007

To quote his website...... "This election, you have a clear choice. Three more years of poor direction, huge rates rises and wasteful spending from City Vision and Action Hobson - or you can vote for change.

Your vote for me and all of my C&R Now colleagues will give you progress, good governance and careful spending. That’s why your vote for C&R is so important this year." Aaron Bhatnagar.

Puntiki officially endorses Aaron Bhatnagar for Councilor this coming election. He will be a breath of fresh air in the council buildings, he will stick to his word, he is trustworthy, he is well qualified for the job and he will get things done for the better of Auckland and Hobson. Vote for Aaron Bhatnagar.

Las Vegas is HOT

It reached 116 degrees F or 46.6 degrees C in Vegas yesterday. I expect that the hotel pools are getting a lot of use and the A/C units are working double time. It is amazing how the weather effects Las Vegas. This winter there was snow on the strip and now it is reaching record breaking hot temperatures. It is about time I make another visit to Sin City to play my favorite one armed bandit " Wheel of fortune"