Tae Kwon Do Grading

On Friday 15th Of August I had my Taekwondo Grading. I was grading from 2nd Dan Black Belt to 3rd Dan Black Belt. This was a pretty hard grading and I passed with Merit. I thought you could only pass or fail but obviously not. I got the highest marks out of all the people who graded. For my grading i had to do my patterns, self defence , stick fighting, fighting two on one fighting, power testing and board breaking. The boards that i was breaking were 21mm thick. Twenty one millimeters sounds like a little but when you have to break them with your foot its not such an easy feat. The board was about this thick.
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To be updated...

Driving...

I've been driving for about 6 weeks now and it's alright. Of those 6 weeks I've driven every 6 of 7 days because I drive to and fro school, to and fro from my training and to and fro from my social activities. I'm not in love with driving, in fact, I would rather sit in the passengers seat and sleep or play with my phone or eat. Wow, how I miss those good old times.

I have driven with my whole family including my dad, my mom, both my sisters and my brother-in-law. All of them said that I'm a good driver.

There is nothing really in particular which I find hard about driving but I am working on my finer points now. The only thing which I need to brush up on is switching between my headlight to dip and from dip back to headlights. I get very annoyed when driving at night and the driver coming the opposite way forgets to dip their lights. But I know that they must be getting annoyed when I forget to do that as well.

Driving on the motorway isn't difficult, it's really much easier than driving in the town and in the city. Mainly because there is much more room to drive and it's mostly a straight drive and no sharp turns.

Hancock

In the holidays I went to see the movie Hancock. This movie starred Will Smith as John Hancock. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie because it was funny and had plenty of action. This movie is about a hero which everybody knows as Hancock. Hancock isn't the role-model type of person. He abuses alcahol and has anger-management issues. The story is based on Hancock becoming a better person which includes going to jail in the process. Along the way Hancock finds more about who he used to be as he could not remember anything since 80 years back due to amnesia. Hancock falls in love and becomes weak and then the bad guys kill him and then somehow he comes back alive and is a good person.

Logan Campbell

Logan Campbell is representing New Zealand at the 2008 Olympic Games being held in Beijing this year. The sport Logan Campbell represents us for is Tae Kwon Do. Logan is an extremely kind person and is fun to be around. I haven't spent much time with him, the most amount was when I went to a training session with him and he coached me. Logan just recently came back from Korea, where he was participating in The Korean Open. For anyone who doesn't know much about Tae Kwon Do, Korea are equivalent to America in Basketball or Australia in Cricket. So that means that they are flippin' good. Logan won this competition and is a very good preparation for the Olympics. I think Logan has an okay chance at the Olympics at medalling.

Whangaparaoa College vs Kaipara College

Unlike the last game, we won this one. This time the other team wanted to play more Rugby instead of trying to get into scraps. The final score was 27-5. Rory scored two tries! Now he is ahead on points over me AND Woody, the two people who were teasing him about not scoring any tries. The other try scorers were Taylor, Jordan and someone else who I can't remember at the moment. This was a great game for us because we are now well and truly out in front on the points table. I think our team has come a long way since we started at the start of the season. We have gelled together and we distribute the ball more to all the players in our team. We support each much more. And we can also count on one another to do their certain jobs that come with their position. Eg. We can count on JT to spread the ball wide, we can count on tommy to take down the wingers on the side and we can count on Woody to run it up hard at the defence.
The Starting lineup was:
1.Woody
2.Mat
3.Rory
4.Jacob
5.James
6.Logan
7.Vinay
8.James
9.JT
10.Corby
11.Eamon
12.Jordan
13.Jassie
14.TOmmy
15.Trent

Whangaparaoa College V Westlake Boys

Yes, I know we are in Division three and yes Westlake are the best at rugby. But no, we did not lose to them, why? Because they were Westlake Boys(3). The final score was 10-0 in our favour. Two tries were scored one by Taylor and one by James. Corby did not convert them.
The starting lineup was:
1.Woody
2.Mat
3.Rory
4.Jacob
5.James
6.Logan
7.Vinay
8.James
10.Corby
11.Eamon
12.Jordan
13.Jassie
14.Tommy
15.Trent

Taipei 101

The Taipei 101 is the biggest building in the world. The huge 509.2 metre establishment has one hundred and one floors hence the name Taipei 101. The Taipei 101 is located in Taipei in Taiwan which is east of China. It costed $1,076,000,000 to make. Currently, the Taipei 101 holds these records
• Ground to highest architectural structure (spire): 509.2 metres (1,670.60 ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers 452 m (1,483 ft).
• Ground to roof: 449.2 m (1,473.75 ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower 442 m (1,450 ft).
• Ground to highest occupied floor: 439.2 m (1,440.94 ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower 412.4 m (1,353 ft).
• Fastest ascending elevator speed: 16.83 m/s (55.22 ft/s) (60.6 km/h, 37.7 mi/h).
• Largest countdown clock: On display every New Year's Eve

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the Taipei 101 in my trip to Taiwan earlier this year. Next to the Taipei 101 is a shopping multiplex, it would be considered massive in New Zealand but in Taiwan it wasn’t really because its juxtaposition with the Taipei 101.

Another awesome thing about the Taipei 101 is the elevator. It is the fastest elevator in the world. It goes 60 kilometres an hour. On your way up the building your ears pop because your getting higher and the speed that your going at.

At the top you can go outside and look at the city. Me being afraid of heights and all wasn’t helpful. When I was outside I was holding onto anything I could get my trembling hand on. It was very windy up there and if you had weak legs, you definitely would be toppled over. Another scary thing is that the tower moves around with a five metre radius.

Inside the Taipei 101 there is a photo place. Where there is a blank ‘Blue Screen’ where you can choose photo and ‘stand next to’ the tower. I got one done, it was a night shot of the tower and I stood adjacent to it and kicked it. The photo only costed NT$300 which is about NZD$12.

My weapons of mass destruction...

These are my weapons that I have in my room...

I have one little Samurai Sword, don't be fooled by its size, this baby is one sharp blade. It has a case and a rope to tie around my waist. Its awesome.

I have a Lord Of The Rings sword. Its Frodo's sword 'Sting". This bad boy glows blue when orcs are around. Too bad I don't live around any orcs.

I have two shurikens. Most people refer to these as 'Ninja Stars'. These clip onto my belt for fast and easy access when needed.

I have on pair of Nunchakus. These are only practise ones but are very painful. Don't believe me? Ask Rory.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is located in the southern part of Africa and it is surrounded by land in all directions (or landlocked). To it’s northwest is Zambia, to the east is Mozambique, Botswana to the south and South Africa to the south. The majority of people in Zimbabwe speak Shona, which is one of two native languages in Zimbabwe, although the official language of the country is English.

Zimbabwe used to be called Southern Rhodesia and it was controlled by the United Kingdom, up until after the civil war. On the 18th of April 1980, the country became an independent nation. It got it’s new name of Zimbabwe, a new flag, and a government led by Robert Mugabe. Mugabe became Prime Minister and Canaan Banana became the first president. In 1988 the government abolished the prime ministerial office, and Robert Mugabe became president. In 2000, Robert Mugabe began to reclaim land from the white population (mainly farmland) and redistributed it out to 250,000 Africans.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a shortage of funds, which has led to causing shortages of imported fuel and goods, and also hyperinflation. Critics blame it on Mugabe’s land reclamation programme.


Facts
· The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare, and it is also the largest city.
· Its total area is 390,757 km squared. The 60th largest in the world. Only 1%of the land is water.
· Zimbabwe’s population is 20,010,000. The 68th largest in the world.
· GDP= $400,000,000,000. The 80th largest in the world
· GDP Per Capita= $188. The 178th largest in the world.
· Zimbabwe’s motto is “Unity, Freedom, Work”

All Blacks vs England

On Saturday the 21st of June, the All Blacks played England in Rugby. The game was being played at AMI stadium, formerly Jade Stadium, in Christchurch. The conditions were pretty good, not much wind and not much rain. I was very happy to see Rodney So'oialo back at Number 8. I was very angry at Conrad Smith being dropped and Richard 'I'm the Man' Kahui replacing him. Conrad Smith played superbly against Ireland and in the first England test. He was on form and they had no reason to substitute him. It was quite irritating because Rory watched the game with me and kept saying how Tom Vardell was going to 'gas' everyone, failing to do so in the whole eighty minutes. There were two big blows to the All Blacks lineup when Richie McCaw and Ali Williams, two players of great quality, class and experience, went off the field early in the game due to injury. Their replacements were Sione Lauaki for McCaw, and Anthony Boric for Williams. I don't think Sione Lauaki should be McCaws replacement, I would much rather have Chris Masoe or Daniel Braid. The try-scorers were Ma’a Nonu, Dan Carter, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Richard Kahui and Adam Thompson

Leon MacDonald – 6/10
Lots of clever touches, several forward passes, not many decisive attacking plays. Best moment was shoving Varndell in touch.

Sitiveni Sivivatu – 7/10
Is obviously over the hill as a finisher, having spoiled his try-a-Test record (now 23 from 24 games). Deadly with Carter in setting up Nonu's try.

Richard Kahui – 8/10
Known as a hard tackler. The bloodied Tait will testify to that. A good sport, showed concern for Tait, and claimed a decent try on his debut.

Ma’a Nonu – 10/10
Matt Dawson said beforehand that Noon is a better attacker. Rubbish. Nonu has proved to be a perfect foil for Carter but a threat in his own right. Great try set up by mate at 10.

Rudi Wulf – 6/10
The latest sensation from the New Zealand wing factory, the debutant showed his clout by charging right over Ojo. Not many other opportunities, though.

Dan Carter – 2/10
He played his usual. I don’t know why New Zealand is obsessed with him. He played poorly under the English pressure. Good try though.

Andy Ellis – 7/10
Execution from five-metre scrum was faultless for Carter's try. He is tough, reliable and gifted, not a bad combination.

Rodney So’oialo – 7/10
Back in his favoured No 8 position, but had one of his quieter games. Upstaged by Thomson.
Richie McCaw – 7/10
Ripped the ball off Mears in the first minute and was his usual high-class self for all of 27 minutes until Flood bent his left leg double when tackling Nonu.

Adam Thomspon – 8/10
Reminds you that New Zealand are a nation of sheep farmers. Woolly-haired flanker was in uncompromising form, put Tait off when a try beckoned, and scored himself on his first start.

Ali Williams - 4/10
Suffered the indignity of being scragged by Tait and thrown to the ground. Hurt in the ensuing breakdown and limped off after only 15 minutes to damage the line-out further.

Brad Thorn – 6/10
His high tackle early on was about as high as he got all game, as the New Zealand line-out plumbed the depths.

Greg Somerville – 8/10
Feted all week for facing down Andrew Sheridan in the first Test. Payne was a puppy in comparison.

Andrew Hore – 5/10
The only problem they do have is the line-out, and that is Hore's problem. Solid enough in the tight, the hooker had a nightmare, again, finding his jumpers.

Neemia Tialata – 8/10
Was tearing into Stevens in the press all week and made his life uncomfortable on the pitch as well. New Zealand do not have many front-row problems.

Mathew Tait – 7/10
Decked Williams, threw try away, set up Varndell for his, then the clearest definition of a hospital pass spelt goodnight. But overall he had a good night.

Topsy Ojo – 7/10
Did not have two tries to show for his second Test, but still made progress. Lousy kicking, but otherwise good on the ball. Did feel the full force of the Wulf once.

Mike Tindall – 6/10
How long does he have left? Willing and brave, but when the battering ram is knocked back by Kahui, where does that leave him? And another yellow card.

Jamie Noon – 5/10
Picked to beef up the midfield, then missed his man as Carter danced through. Not his fault, but he needs a sparkling 10 and 13 to make him shine.

Tom Varndell – 6/10
Could have had two tries. Was squeezed out in the left corner before going over in the right. We did not see very much else, though.

Toby Flood – 6/10
Looked OK at 10 for a while. His kicking was decent until he put it down Sivivatu's throat. Was hurt in stopping a certain Kahui try and was off after half an hour.

Danny Care – 7/10
Some players look the part, and Care is one. Too inclined to chip in tight corners but scored a sharp try, and didn't celebrate much. Nice touch.

Luke Narraway – 7/10
Showed up well early on. Does not look like he is a presence but keeps nudging forward. Too quick to go to ground though, and Carter made him pay.

Tom Rees 8/10
He is well and truly back after his World Cup exclusion, and is getting better. Strongand smart at the breakdown, canny positioning. Came off very early.

James Haskell – 8/10
When he learns a bit of Dallaglio's nous, he will be even better. Never took a backward step, took several forward, and will have earned some Kiwi respect.

Steve Borthwick – 6/10
Never stopped urging his men on, and will feel satisfied with the line-out return. Will feel satisfied with his big hit on Hore too, but maybe not too much else.

Tom Palmer – 7/10
Johnson-esque steal at the front of the line-out should have got more reward. Palmer ruled the jumpers and put himself about.

Matt Stevens – 6/10
His problems are England's problems. Cannot be as dynamic in the loose as he is with Bath as England are often too static. Had no luck with Tialata either.

Lee Mears – 7/10
Some say he is too small to be a Test hooker. But better to be small and good than big and not. Did his job throwing in and is good on the ball. A forward step.

Tim Payne – 5/10
Big ask to fill in for Sheridan. Even the big man struggled last week. So did Payne. Pinged for stamping and for taking it down. Ponderous in the loose.