Monday, November 16, 2009
Aging, as told by George Carlin
George Carlin on aging! (Absolutely Brilliant)
George Carlin's Views on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we would like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
And then the greatest day of your life! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone...
But wait!!! You MAKE IT to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE IT to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You GET INTO your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning! Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's family name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Eulogy for my Dad
How do you start to write such a thing as the summary of a man’s life? How can you possibly capture all the friends, family, trials and victories? I will spend many years thinking about my father’s life and I don’t know that I will ever have a final conclusion to give.
What I now feel is that this funeral is for the living. If what we believe is true, then my Dad is looking back now with perfect understanding. He knows how all of us felt about him and he has been welcomed home. What I say today will be no surprise to him. What I hope to do then is give some peace and comfort to those of you here today.
My Dad’s life was hard. He struggled more than most. In the end he overcame many challenges. He became happier. He was free of the anger he feared most in himself. But he did not do this alone.
My perspective on my Dad’s life must be skewed by the distance we had. But even from my view it was obvious that my Dad had the best of friends around him. These people made the biggest difference in my Father’s life and I want to thank you all.
My Dad worried that he could never be a good husband and father. His self-doubt kept him from reaching out. It is hard to recognize the good in such men not because it is not there, but because you must search for it to find it. Well, Jojo, you found it. Over 25 years you stuck by my Dad and loved him when he could barely love himself. You saw the best in him. He was a hard man to stay by and I thank you for it, Jojo. I know he loved you and that alone is an amazing thing.
I knew very few of my Dad’s friends by name and I apologize for this. But the one name I know has been a fixture in my father’s life for as long as I can remember—J.J. You have been with my Dad through all his adult years. You were there when he was an ornery youth. You were there when he was a troubled man. You were there at the end of his life while he was still aware and it mattered most. You provided shelter and often even the basic means of living. I can not find words to adequately express how true your friendship has been. I know my Dad would thank you and so I thank you. These words are not enough for friends such as you.
Uncle John. My Dad only has one brother. I know that the two of you were not always close, but for many years you lived and healed together. He may have been gruff at times with you. But at his heart, he wanted you to be happy and free of the struggles you shared. As brothers you looked after each other. I know he would be grateful. He knows you did your best for him. He would be happiest today if you could leave here free of your burdens. But after all things, he will always be your brother and he will always be looking out for you. Thank you, Uncle John.
My Dad has three sisters who, I must confess, I barely know. But again I could see from afar how much you loved your brother. I saw how hard you worked to maintain a connection to him. You have always been accepting, supportive and forgiving. I have read that Home is the place where when you arrive, they have to let you in. It is clear that you have always let my Dad in. You have always let me in. You have been good sisters. Thank you.
Lastly, I’d like to thank my Mom for both me and my Dad. She was never a barrier between my Dad and I. She was never hard or demanding. She never judged my Dad. In all my years she has never said an unkind thing about him. He was what he was. He was a good spirit and that was enough. I know he was grateful and I am grateful.
I know there are many more friends here today who have played large and small parts in my Dad’s life. I know he cared for all of you. I know he was thankful to have you and help you. I think my Dad discovered he was happiest when he could help others. I am amazed to know that he helped so many when he had so little himself. This is what I will remember. The great lesson he has taught is that it is never too late or too little. Do your best.
My cousin, Carrie, has been here for me and my Dad in planning these last days. These tasks have not be easy or simple. With so little to work with she has done an amazing job. Thank you, Carrie.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Naked Short Selling
Sounds pretty sexy, eh? Anything with "naked" and "shorts" in the title ought to involve Spring Break co-eds, but not today. This is an update to the financial story I blasted out on Facebook a few weeks ago. The story came from Rolling Stone and basically describes this basic scenario around short selling.
First a very basic explanation of short selling on the stock market which is 100% legal and a good thing to do. Say you have a feeling that stocks in BobCorp are going to go down. They've been flat for a while and the whole Bob-sector is down and you think BobCorp is likely to drop soon. So you come to me (a big BobCorp stock owner with 10,000 shares) and you ask to borrow them for a few days and I agree. You take the shares I gave you and promise to pay me back or return all my shares in 3 days. The current share price is $100 and so the total value is $1,000,000. You immediately sell all my shares for $1 mil. The next day, the fallout you expected happens and BobCorp shares fall to $50 a share. You then immediately buy back 10,000 shares at a cost of $500,000. You then give me back my 10,000 shares and pocket the difference--a cool half mil for only 2-3 days work. Again this is all legal and it work because really there are a few fees in there for me and the broker.
Now in this example I was the stock owner of real shares. I really gave you 10,000 shares to sell and you really bought and sold 10,000 shares. All good. But this not what is happening *today* on the US stock market. Today if you wanted to short sell a stock you would only have to call up your broker and tell them you wanted to short sell 10,000 shares of BobCorp. They may not have 10,000 shares to give you, but they'll act like they do and they'll sell off 10,000 shares for you (they get a % fee on all transactions remember). But in reality lets say they only owned 8,000 shares to lend. But in the US you can still pretend you have 10,000 shares and so 2,000 shares are effectively "created" from nothing and sold to the market. Some buyer got 2,000 bogus shares in the deal. Later you buy back the shares from the market and give them back to the broker. Maybe they are "real" maybe not... it doesn't seem to matter, the extra 2,000 shares stay on the market. This is Naked Short Selling. Now the broker knows those 2,000 shares are not real and they are keeping track of them. They will pay dividends (if any) on them because they make so much money on the fees that it is still profitable for them to float these shares.
The real problem here is that there is not even a rational limit on how nuts you can go with overselling shares. Most people realize that if you flood any market with goods the price goes down. The same is intensely true of the stock market. So here you have a system were you can totally artificially create more shares and then flood them on the market to drop the price--which totally *works* for you because you're more and more money the farther the price tanks. In fact, throw in a couple of nasty rumors about impending lawsuits or the CEO sleeping with underage hookers and you get a real old fashioned hachet job on the stock price. You make a mint. The company you just abused? Well it will might recover or maybe it just files for bankruptcy. Who cares? You made millions. Other investors in that business will take the loss.
This is all legal in the US. The current stock trade system doesn't verify that a broker really has the shares they lend and since the brokers are paying the fees and handling the transactions--no one complains. Folks who have complained (for years) have been ignored. It obviously makes too much money to be stopped. Incidentally... some of the folks most likely to used this trick in the biggest ways are now financial advisors to the President and hold seats on the SEC...
Interestingly enough... this doesn't work in New Zealand. Trades have to settle in 3 days. That means you have to really have the shares in 3 days or the broker is busted. I can't speak for other markets around the world, but I suspect most of them have a way to prevent this. This corruption is obvious to the rest of the world. But I don't see too much outrage about it in the US press... I don't think it was even reported by CNN... hmmm... wonder why?
First a very basic explanation of short selling on the stock market which is 100% legal and a good thing to do. Say you have a feeling that stocks in BobCorp are going to go down. They've been flat for a while and the whole Bob-sector is down and you think BobCorp is likely to drop soon. So you come to me (a big BobCorp stock owner with 10,000 shares) and you ask to borrow them for a few days and I agree. You take the shares I gave you and promise to pay me back or return all my shares in 3 days. The current share price is $100 and so the total value is $1,000,000. You immediately sell all my shares for $1 mil. The next day, the fallout you expected happens and BobCorp shares fall to $50 a share. You then immediately buy back 10,000 shares at a cost of $500,000. You then give me back my 10,000 shares and pocket the difference--a cool half mil for only 2-3 days work. Again this is all legal and it work because really there are a few fees in there for me and the broker.
Now in this example I was the stock owner of real shares. I really gave you 10,000 shares to sell and you really bought and sold 10,000 shares. All good. But this not what is happening *today* on the US stock market. Today if you wanted to short sell a stock you would only have to call up your broker and tell them you wanted to short sell 10,000 shares of BobCorp. They may not have 10,000 shares to give you, but they'll act like they do and they'll sell off 10,000 shares for you (they get a % fee on all transactions remember). But in reality lets say they only owned 8,000 shares to lend. But in the US you can still pretend you have 10,000 shares and so 2,000 shares are effectively "created" from nothing and sold to the market. Some buyer got 2,000 bogus shares in the deal. Later you buy back the shares from the market and give them back to the broker. Maybe they are "real" maybe not... it doesn't seem to matter, the extra 2,000 shares stay on the market. This is Naked Short Selling. Now the broker knows those 2,000 shares are not real and they are keeping track of them. They will pay dividends (if any) on them because they make so much money on the fees that it is still profitable for them to float these shares.
The real problem here is that there is not even a rational limit on how nuts you can go with overselling shares. Most people realize that if you flood any market with goods the price goes down. The same is intensely true of the stock market. So here you have a system were you can totally artificially create more shares and then flood them on the market to drop the price--which totally *works* for you because you're more and more money the farther the price tanks. In fact, throw in a couple of nasty rumors about impending lawsuits or the CEO sleeping with underage hookers and you get a real old fashioned hachet job on the stock price. You make a mint. The company you just abused? Well it will might recover or maybe it just files for bankruptcy. Who cares? You made millions. Other investors in that business will take the loss.
This is all legal in the US. The current stock trade system doesn't verify that a broker really has the shares they lend and since the brokers are paying the fees and handling the transactions--no one complains. Folks who have complained (for years) have been ignored. It obviously makes too much money to be stopped. Incidentally... some of the folks most likely to used this trick in the biggest ways are now financial advisors to the President and hold seats on the SEC...
Interestingly enough... this doesn't work in New Zealand. Trades have to settle in 3 days. That means you have to really have the shares in 3 days or the broker is busted. I can't speak for other markets around the world, but I suspect most of them have a way to prevent this. This corruption is obvious to the rest of the world. But I don't see too much outrage about it in the US press... I don't think it was even reported by CNN... hmmm... wonder why?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Micro-Blog
I have so much I want to write about that I am paralyzed with it. So in an effort to dislodge I'm going to blast out micro-blogs on each topic. Hopefully I can expand again later...
My Dad:
Dying, but looking pretty good. Chemo was stopped so that makes you feel better. Visit was emotionally complex, but ultimately good.
My Kids:
Totally awesome to see them. Great to spend so much time just following them around from school to home and such. Good to talk with their teachers. Field trip with Sabrina was one of the best times I've had. I put 2000 miles on the car I borrowed from my in-laws (Thanks Judith and Cindy!)
Vegas:
Still the same. The Bellagio may be my favorite hotel of all time.
The US:
It was actually hard going back. Vegas didn't help as it is an exaggerated version of all things excess in America. I was battered by it somewhat. Everyone I visited with was working harder than before, more stressed, and generally stretched. It was an incredible favor to be able to stay with Carey and Graham while I was there (thanks!).
Wall Street:
I read an article about how fundamentally illegal market manipulation may have collapsed 3 of the 5 big banks in America. The article was posted in Rolling Stone which I found odd. But despite the most glaring and flagrant manipulation no official investigation was underway. Most concerning is that if you looked at who had the most to gain such an act you would see the other 2 banks. There were many suspicious dealing by these 2 leading up to the collapse. I am appalled to now think these crooks will never be held accountable and the money they stole from Americans will never be given back.
NZ History:
I have been reading "The Penguin History of New Zealand" (Penguin is a book publisher here) by Michael King. It is insightful and well written. I am delighted to read about the amazing journey NZ has taken. I am surprised to discover that for at least a generation, NZ did not teach this history which is rich in culture and identity.
NZ Stock Exchange:
I have begun to write letters to the NZX to ask if the scheme above could happen in NZ. I would push them to make sure it is not.
NaNoWrMo:
Yes, it is coming up. But I again don't think it is something I can push for. But I am sure to write some. I will likely work more on Threshold--the projected I started last NaNoWrMo.
The Ex:
While in the US I also had to work on a new agreement with my ex. Such things are always stressful, but we worked really well together. As a result of the compressed schedule we had to spent more time together than we have in probably 10 years. It was weird, but it was also good to demonstrate how much we had both changed and moved on.
Motorbikes, Trains and Automobiles:
We bought a small cheap car to replace our leased car. This will give us more cash back per month. With the motorbike option I can actually commute cheaper than the the train. But NZ weather can be unpredictable so I keep a 10-trip pass handy for the worst of days. Overall though, the new set up looks good. Amy drives the car to work and I take the bike/train. Gabe goes to good kiwi gal's house after school 3 days a week.
US Shopping:
I did take advantage of US shopping to get a few goods. Mostly bulk Ibuprofen and Asprin. But I did stop at a western outfitter and pick up stuff you truly can not get in NZ... I got new boots with silver tips, several western shirts, and new jeans.
Work:
Busy as, but doing well.
Kiwi Spring:
Cold as, bro.
Party I want to have:
I want to host a Battlestar Galactica party featuring a few episodes, a BBQ, and some play of the BSG board game. Not sure I will... but I think of it fondly.
My Dad:
Dying, but looking pretty good. Chemo was stopped so that makes you feel better. Visit was emotionally complex, but ultimately good.
My Kids:
Totally awesome to see them. Great to spend so much time just following them around from school to home and such. Good to talk with their teachers. Field trip with Sabrina was one of the best times I've had. I put 2000 miles on the car I borrowed from my in-laws (Thanks Judith and Cindy!)
Vegas:
Still the same. The Bellagio may be my favorite hotel of all time.
The US:
It was actually hard going back. Vegas didn't help as it is an exaggerated version of all things excess in America. I was battered by it somewhat. Everyone I visited with was working harder than before, more stressed, and generally stretched. It was an incredible favor to be able to stay with Carey and Graham while I was there (thanks!).
Wall Street:
I read an article about how fundamentally illegal market manipulation may have collapsed 3 of the 5 big banks in America. The article was posted in Rolling Stone which I found odd. But despite the most glaring and flagrant manipulation no official investigation was underway. Most concerning is that if you looked at who had the most to gain such an act you would see the other 2 banks. There were many suspicious dealing by these 2 leading up to the collapse. I am appalled to now think these crooks will never be held accountable and the money they stole from Americans will never be given back.
NZ History:
I have been reading "The Penguin History of New Zealand" (Penguin is a book publisher here) by Michael King. It is insightful and well written. I am delighted to read about the amazing journey NZ has taken. I am surprised to discover that for at least a generation, NZ did not teach this history which is rich in culture and identity.
NZ Stock Exchange:
I have begun to write letters to the NZX to ask if the scheme above could happen in NZ. I would push them to make sure it is not.
NaNoWrMo:
Yes, it is coming up. But I again don't think it is something I can push for. But I am sure to write some. I will likely work more on Threshold--the projected I started last NaNoWrMo.
The Ex:
While in the US I also had to work on a new agreement with my ex. Such things are always stressful, but we worked really well together. As a result of the compressed schedule we had to spent more time together than we have in probably 10 years. It was weird, but it was also good to demonstrate how much we had both changed and moved on.
Motorbikes, Trains and Automobiles:
We bought a small cheap car to replace our leased car. This will give us more cash back per month. With the motorbike option I can actually commute cheaper than the the train. But NZ weather can be unpredictable so I keep a 10-trip pass handy for the worst of days. Overall though, the new set up looks good. Amy drives the car to work and I take the bike/train. Gabe goes to good kiwi gal's house after school 3 days a week.
US Shopping:
I did take advantage of US shopping to get a few goods. Mostly bulk Ibuprofen and Asprin. But I did stop at a western outfitter and pick up stuff you truly can not get in NZ... I got new boots with silver tips, several western shirts, and new jeans.
Work:
Busy as, but doing well.
Kiwi Spring:
Cold as, bro.
Party I want to have:
I want to host a Battlestar Galactica party featuring a few episodes, a BBQ, and some play of the BSG board game. Not sure I will... but I think of it fondly.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Wellington Zoo
The sign that inspired it all.
Zebras will crush your head. Aren't they cute?
A story in warning signs.
The Wellington Zoo
The sign that inspired it all.
Zebras will crush your head. Aren't they cute?
A story in warning signs.
Monday, September 7, 2009
NZ in WWII
A member of an expatriat list sent this out yesterday. I have known some of the amazing NZ story in WWII, but this brief summary demonstrates the pride and power of the Kiwi's much better than I could tell...
Hi all
Given that the 70th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland to start World War 2 was last week, it might be useful to very quickly recap what New Zealand did in World War 2 for those not so well versed in NZ history.
----
3 September 1939: New Zealand Declare War on Germany after ultimatim for Hitler to withdraw from Poland expires. Britain follow suit when the ultimatim expires in London. At this time the British Commonwealth very much functioned as one unit when it came to military issues - Britain was expected to provide security and supply the armaments
September 1939-May 1940: NZ troops arrive in Britain and France.
December 1939: NZ cruiser Achilles participates in Battle of River Plate where the German pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee confronts three British cruisers (Achilles was still a British ship but crewed by Kiwis). Graf Spee scuttled a few days later.
10 May 1940: Germans invade France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg. NZ soldiers caught in the trap and are involved in the massive evacuation at Dunkirk.
July-September 1940: NZ fighter pilots join other Commonwealth, French, Czech, Dutch, Belgian, Polish and Norwegian fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain to defeat German Luftwaffe
September- November 1940: Blitz - German bombers bomb London for 57 consecutive nights with as many as 500 planes a time; NZ fighter pilots join the aerial defence of the UK.
November 1940: African campaign begins. British begin rolling back Italian gains in North Africa. 2nd NZ Division deployed there.
January 1941: Fears starting to grow about Japanese militarism in Pacific. NZ Division stays in Middle East.
6 April 1941: In response to Yugoslavia toppling pro-Nazi Prince, Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece. Ferocious fighting on Crete between Commonwealth forces and Germans costs nearly half of German invasion force on first day, but the aerial support is overwhelming and the island falls.
Early April 1941: Rommel counter-attacks in Africa with a German-Italian force, and rolls back all British gains in 3 weeks to the Egyptian border, surrounding Tobruk which is subject to 7 month siege. NZ Division joins in the battle after being evacuated from Crete.
November-December 1941: Commonwealth forces counter-attack in Desert. Fierce fighting all the way back to Benghazi in Libya. Rommel becomes aware of how the Commonwealth fights around this time - impressed by common fighting spirit; Commonwealth troops recognised Rommel as a brilliant commander when other German field commanders in Europe and Russia developing track records that would incriminate them at Nuremberg.
7 December 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor - you all know that. Simultaneous invasion of SE Asia begins. Despite rapidly growing danger, NZ stays in Middle East.
21 January 1942: Rommel counter-attacks to complete horror of all in the Desert - again British gains rolled rapidly. NZ Division being rebuilt after bruising campaign and not involved in this phase.
15 February 1942: Singapore falls. The British fortress island which was supposed to last three months in a siege falls in two days after Japanese come through back door. New Zealand starts preparing for invasion at this point with home guard forming, fortifications being built and requests for American assistance with personnel - Japanese plans actually did exist for an invasion of both Australia and NZ.
27 May 1942: Rommel attacks - again, dismantling incomplete British defensive line. NZ division is recalled from Syria where it was being rebuilt.
4 June 1942: US Navy planes destroy 4 Japanese carriers at Midway - NZ probably would have been invaded if the US had lost this battle.
21 June 1942: Rommel captures Tobruk. Suddenly the whole British position in the Middle East and the security of Middle East oil - yes, it was as important then as it is now - is in jeopardy.
3 July 1942: First Battle of El Alamein starts. About 4 New Zealanders won Victoria Cross's for exceptional bravery during this event, including only the third time a Victoria Cross and Bar has been awarded.
7 August 1942: Americans invade Guadalcanal. The Japanese airstrip there would have put Australia within bombing range if it had been completed. It is now the airport for Honiara.
23 October 1942: General Montgomery launches major offensive against the Germans at El Alamein. After 2 weeks of fierce fighting, Rommel finally retreats - Hitler never reinforced him after Tobruk and eventually paid a huge price for it. New Zealand Division leads one of the major break throughs in Rommel's defensive line.
April 1943: Japanese naval operations try to regain initiative in Solomons. First and only NZ naval involvement in Solomons results in mine sweeper being lost.
February-May 1943: Rommel retreats into Tunisia. One final attack launched at Kasserine but defeated after NZ Division cuts off the advance. African campaign ended with 250,000 prisoners on May 13.
July 1943: British Commonwealth and American forces land in Sicily.
September 1943: British and Commonwealth forces land on mainland Italy. Slow slog up the boot (thats what Italy looks like on the map), instead of a "jolly romp to Rome" begins.
January 1944-May 1944: Cassino. A five month slog through a town of only a few thousand people, but every pile of rubble fought over with incredible tenacity. More than 800 New Zealanders killed in one three assault in March. Single biggest NZ mistake of the war was that a senior officer thought the Germans were fortifying it, so he asked for the place to be bombed. None were there, but now that it had been bombed large numbers of troops did move in.
6 June 1944: Five NZ squadrons of fighter pilots participate in D-Day attack.
December 1944: NZ fighter bomber crews active in Allied air campaign in support of the ground forces fighting off the German Ardennes offensive.
May 1944-January 1945: Slow slog up Italian Peninsula continues. NZ'ers help break German defensive line in August. Progress hindered badly by onset of winter.
29 April 1945: Germans surrender in Italy. Mussolini hanged. New Zealand soldiers reach Trieste which becomes first flash point of Cold War when Yugoslav partisans try to claim the Italian town.
15 August 1945: Emperor Hirohito tells Japan to "endure the unendurable" and announces that it is folly to continue the war.
2 September 1945: Japan surrenders. NZ navy representatives present.
----
It needs to be said that for a nation with a population of about 1.5 million, New Zealand sustained very high losses. 10% of the total population mobilised. 12,000 were killed.
Rob
Hi all
Given that the 70th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland to start World War 2 was last week, it might be useful to very quickly recap what New Zealand did in World War 2 for those not so well versed in NZ history.
----
3 September 1939: New Zealand Declare War on Germany after ultimatim for Hitler to withdraw from Poland expires. Britain follow suit when the ultimatim expires in London. At this time the British Commonwealth very much functioned as one unit when it came to military issues - Britain was expected to provide security and supply the armaments
September 1939-May 1940: NZ troops arrive in Britain and France.
December 1939: NZ cruiser Achilles participates in Battle of River Plate where the German pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee confronts three British cruisers (Achilles was still a British ship but crewed by Kiwis). Graf Spee scuttled a few days later.
10 May 1940: Germans invade France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg. NZ soldiers caught in the trap and are involved in the massive evacuation at Dunkirk.
July-September 1940: NZ fighter pilots join other Commonwealth, French, Czech, Dutch, Belgian, Polish and Norwegian fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain to defeat German Luftwaffe
September- November 1940: Blitz - German bombers bomb London for 57 consecutive nights with as many as 500 planes a time; NZ fighter pilots join the aerial defence of the UK.
November 1940: African campaign begins. British begin rolling back Italian gains in North Africa. 2nd NZ Division deployed there.
January 1941: Fears starting to grow about Japanese militarism in Pacific. NZ Division stays in Middle East.
6 April 1941: In response to Yugoslavia toppling pro-Nazi Prince, Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece. Ferocious fighting on Crete between Commonwealth forces and Germans costs nearly half of German invasion force on first day, but the aerial support is overwhelming and the island falls.
Early April 1941: Rommel counter-attacks in Africa with a German-Italian force, and rolls back all British gains in 3 weeks to the Egyptian border, surrounding Tobruk which is subject to 7 month siege. NZ Division joins in the battle after being evacuated from Crete.
November-December 1941: Commonwealth forces counter-attack in Desert. Fierce fighting all the way back to Benghazi in Libya. Rommel becomes aware of how the Commonwealth fights around this time - impressed by common fighting spirit; Commonwealth troops recognised Rommel as a brilliant commander when other German field commanders in Europe and Russia developing track records that would incriminate them at Nuremberg.
7 December 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor - you all know that. Simultaneous invasion of SE Asia begins. Despite rapidly growing danger, NZ stays in Middle East.
21 January 1942: Rommel counter-attacks to complete horror of all in the Desert - again British gains rolled rapidly. NZ Division being rebuilt after bruising campaign and not involved in this phase.
15 February 1942: Singapore falls. The British fortress island which was supposed to last three months in a siege falls in two days after Japanese come through back door. New Zealand starts preparing for invasion at this point with home guard forming, fortifications being built and requests for American assistance with personnel - Japanese plans actually did exist for an invasion of both Australia and NZ.
27 May 1942: Rommel attacks - again, dismantling incomplete British defensive line. NZ division is recalled from Syria where it was being rebuilt.
4 June 1942: US Navy planes destroy 4 Japanese carriers at Midway - NZ probably would have been invaded if the US had lost this battle.
21 June 1942: Rommel captures Tobruk. Suddenly the whole British position in the Middle East and the security of Middle East oil - yes, it was as important then as it is now - is in jeopardy.
3 July 1942: First Battle of El Alamein starts. About 4 New Zealanders won Victoria Cross's for exceptional bravery during this event, including only the third time a Victoria Cross and Bar has been awarded.
7 August 1942: Americans invade Guadalcanal. The Japanese airstrip there would have put Australia within bombing range if it had been completed. It is now the airport for Honiara.
23 October 1942: General Montgomery launches major offensive against the Germans at El Alamein. After 2 weeks of fierce fighting, Rommel finally retreats - Hitler never reinforced him after Tobruk and eventually paid a huge price for it. New Zealand Division leads one of the major break throughs in Rommel's defensive line.
April 1943: Japanese naval operations try to regain initiative in Solomons. First and only NZ naval involvement in Solomons results in mine sweeper being lost.
February-May 1943: Rommel retreats into Tunisia. One final attack launched at Kasserine but defeated after NZ Division cuts off the advance. African campaign ended with 250,000 prisoners on May 13.
July 1943: British Commonwealth and American forces land in Sicily.
September 1943: British and Commonwealth forces land on mainland Italy. Slow slog up the boot (thats what Italy looks like on the map), instead of a "jolly romp to Rome" begins.
January 1944-May 1944: Cassino. A five month slog through a town of only a few thousand people, but every pile of rubble fought over with incredible tenacity. More than 800 New Zealanders killed in one three assault in March. Single biggest NZ mistake of the war was that a senior officer thought the Germans were fortifying it, so he asked for the place to be bombed. None were there, but now that it had been bombed large numbers of troops did move in.
6 June 1944: Five NZ squadrons of fighter pilots participate in D-Day attack.
December 1944: NZ fighter bomber crews active in Allied air campaign in support of the ground forces fighting off the German Ardennes offensive.
May 1944-January 1945: Slow slog up Italian Peninsula continues. NZ'ers help break German defensive line in August. Progress hindered badly by onset of winter.
29 April 1945: Germans surrender in Italy. Mussolini hanged. New Zealand soldiers reach Trieste which becomes first flash point of Cold War when Yugoslav partisans try to claim the Italian town.
15 August 1945: Emperor Hirohito tells Japan to "endure the unendurable" and announces that it is folly to continue the war.
2 September 1945: Japan surrenders. NZ navy representatives present.
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It needs to be said that for a nation with a population of about 1.5 million, New Zealand sustained very high losses. 10% of the total population mobilised. 12,000 were killed.
Rob
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