McLaren 1-2

McLaren driver and reigning World Champion Jenson Button ,seen here at left, with Team mate Lewis Hamilton, right, won the latest round of the F1 World Championship with another inspired drive at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton, 2008 World Champion and previously more highly fancied 2010 championship contender, drove well to climb through the field and finish second. Hamilton has yet to record a win this season whilst Button, against most pundit's predictions has driven with assurance and the confidence gained from winning the title to overshadow his younger team mate.

Hamilton has displayed incredible speed throughout the previous races, driving through the field at the Malaysian Grand Prix but falling back in the final analysis due to pit stop strategy. Button's smooth style has seen him leaving the opposition in his wake and must be of some concern to Hamilton, who recently split from his Management team - headed by his father, and was the subject of a "hooning" incident in a sponsor supplied high spec Mercedes while in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

McLaren has not been the front runner of old during qualifying, however the race strategy employed along with the talent of their driver's has seen them emerge at this early stage as the likeliest title challenger to the Red Bull pairing of Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber. Both Red Bull driver's suffered from race incidents to finish well down the field.

Michael Schumacher's much vaunted return to the top echelon of motorsport continues to be frustrating and lacking results. I believe he will re-gather his reputation and show the younger drivers the skill and talent that provided him with 7 World Titles. He has, after all, won more races than his team mate has even started. That team mate, Nico Rosberg, has impressed me with his consistency and pace, and will I believe win a race or two this year. He only 10 points adrift of Button in second place on the drivers points table and it should be remembered that his Father, Keke, won his World title with only one win under his belt. Consistency throughout the season pays off.

Ferrari have struggled, Fernando Alonso (at left leading into the first corner at China) has driven with fire and pace, but events have not gone his way all that often, even though he is still well in contention in fourth place on the ladder. Felipe Massa his team mate is rumoured to be in danger of losing his race seat to the consistent Renault driver Robert Kubica, so will want to prove to his detractors that he is worthy of a place in the sports most famous team. The guy has driven superbly over the years and proven himself time and time again but as Ferrari demonstrated when they "dumped" Schumacher from his race seat, no one is safe in this sport.

Another exciting season is taking shape, there are plenty of drivers in the frame to keep us watching and some great races to come. As usual once the season kicks into gear I can't wait for the next race.

Think Long and Prosper
Dan
http://www.drmgroup.com.au/
http://www.nsaaqld.com.au/

Red Bull Air Race returns to Perth

Racing of the spectacular variety hit (Literally) Perth's Swan River over the weekend with the return of the Red Bull Air Race and what a result for local ace Matt Hall.

Overcoming a shaky start to the season thanks to some minor teething problems with his new aircraft, Matt flew to second place, a career best, behind round winner Hannes Arch or Austria. Defending Air Race champion, and current points leader, Paul Bonhomme took the final podium spot in finishing third.

A spectacular crash during early practice saw rookie Brazilian pilot Adilson Kindleman make headlines for all the wrong reasons, but he was rescued from the wreckage safely. Thankfully rare, this type of crash highlights the fine line these magicians of the air walk, or fly as the case is here, to pursue their passion.

Matt Hall is in only his second season at this level but stunned regular followers with  third place in last years championship. His latest effort bodes well for a breakthrough win and possible title challenge.

Go Matt.
Think Long & Prosper
Biggles

Chelsea, the FA Cup and the League...

Having seen their triple crown dream disolve at the hands of Inter Milan and the "Special One" - coach and former Chelsea coach, Jose Maurinho - Chelsea have settled down to concentrate on acheiving the domestic "Double" of the Premier League championship and the FA Cup.

Last night the defending FA Cup holders, and five time winners, met Aston Villa in the semi-final of the cup at the new Wembley stadium in front of 81,869 fans and although the score line of 3-0 in Chelsea's favour looks flattering, apparently the game was not quite as cut and dried as that, although for the life on me, a 3 nil win at that level is a hiding. Both teams met in the EPL a couple of weeks ago mind you and the result was a rather spectacular 7-1 win to Chelsea. This kind of scoreline, whilst not unknown at this level of football, is rare enough to draw breath in disbelief.

I'll take 3-0 anyday in the semi-final, just as I will take 1-0 in the final, a win is a win, is a win.

Goal scoring machine, and Man of the Match - Didier Drogba scored the opening goal. He is seen in the photo at right scoring a crucial goal against Manchester United just a week or so ago when the Blues downed the Red Devils 2-1 in a result that could - could - signal the end of United's challenge. Although there are 5 games to play, it is a relatively easy run home for both teams so I am quietly confident that for the first time in our history we can acheive the virtually impossible. The Double.

Hard on the heels of both these teams, and the only team in the league to have acheived the double twice, United are in fact the only other side to have acheived it at all, is Arsenal. Quietly keeping pace and catching infact, the two leaders. Only three points adrift of Chelsea - that's only one win to a Chelsea stumble, and the Gunners will be there. Wow, what a finish.

After the bitter disappointment of another Champions League failure, all Chelsea fans will be hoping for a repeat of the victory celebrations from the 2009 Cup Final - below -  when Chelsea played in their No. 1 Away strip of Yellow. Their Finals's opponent will be decided later tonight when Tottenham Hotspur take on embattled and struggling Portsmouth. C'mon, Chelsea, C,mon, C'mon....

Think Long & Prosper

Dan

http://www.drmgroup.com.au/

http://www.nsaaqld.com.au/

http://www.australianinvestigators.com/

PPP in full swing Security & Investigations

With the latest round of Government funding for eligible job seekers in full swing, if you are contemplating gaining a Security licence, get yourself down to your Job Service Agency and ask how you can complete the training for FREE.

Security Operations - Certificate II - is currently free and I have several courses available for you to consider. Training is in house, four days and we have some laughs while completing the bookwork. Some excellent students have qualified for their licenses over the past 5 or 6 months.

Likewise there are still a couple of positions left for those wanting to train and qualify as Investigators. I can tell you though that if the current crop of Investigation students don't get their act together, sooner rather than later, there will be several more vacancies available - are you listening boys and girls.

Today I held a tutorial for 5 of those students all of whom had advised they would attend. Most have held their books for 2 months or more...with little progress to show for it. How many showed up to the session? ONE.

To say I am disheartened is close to how I feel but I will not articulate my true feelings here. I know that the course having been provided for FREE plays a significant part in the lack of desire on the part of the students, as opposed to a misguided belief they want to do it, but if you demonstrate such a lack of effort at this stage of your Investigations career, how long do you think you will remain employed?

That said there a couple of standout performers on the latest training course for PI's and I hold great hopes for one in particular who has demonstrated consistent desire and thought in having almost completed her course. Yes, ladies, I did say HER course, and as I have posted elsewhere previously, women are welcome in the Industry, one which I have found does not tend to discriminate against gender. If you can demonstrate that you can do the job, you will get the work.

If I sound a hard task master (that's me at right adjusting the errant behaviour of a previous course participant)  it is because I am passionate about maintaining high standards in the industry and as a Trainer with current and active Investigations experience, I know only too well how difficult it is to do the work. If you can't make the effort to do the course you will struggle mightily with the actual demands of the job. I had to pay for my own training and figure everything out for myself, travelling 450 km's each weekend for 6 weeks to complete the course, but I did so willingly because I really wanted it to happen.

Whether it is Security or Investigations, I am available almost 24/7 for advice and guidance but only one PI student - guess which one - has bothered to contact me for assistance of any kind.

So, if you are thinking of a PI career, fully funded, take a hint from my words and make the effort. This is an incredibly interesting career, varied and stimulating, challenging and rewarding if you make some sort of effort. To those of you thinking about it there will be more vacancies soon as a result of those not making the effort and you may well be able to pick up the vacancy and fulfill your own dream. Try me for one of the remaining vacancies in the meantime, I can be reached at training@drmgroup.com.au or through Morrissey Training in Brisbane.

Think Long & Prosper

Dan
http://www.drmgroup.com.au/
http://www.nsaaqld.com.au/
http://www.australianinvestigators.com/

Red Bull 1 - 2

Boring as it was, at least Mark Webber finished 2nd to his team mate Sebastian Vettel.

Mark qualified on Pole but was beaten to the first corner and thereafter chased his team mate for the rest of what proved to be another Tilke inspired bore fest.

Lewis Hamilton threw in some very quick laps just  to show Jenson he wasn't awed by his team mate's previous Grand Prix win but it was always doomed to pit stop/mid field also ran nothingness.

But, dear reader, do not lose heart. This Formula has left me staggered and searching for superlatives every year, bar none. Year after year I have been left staggerred by the racing as the season developed.

Just don't expect the adjectives to be inspirational with a Herman Tilke designed circuit, hence this truncated post.

Think Long and prosper
Dan