Thursday, January 17, 2013

Jihadists will rule Syria and Sharia law will prevail.


Syria is about to go from a nation ruled by a despot to one where Jihadists will be the prominent force, simply because they are the more fanatical fighters, believing that their place in heaven is assured by giving up their lives for their  ‘cause.’ Who can fight against such zealous beliefs?

The West will stand by and watch as Syria plunges into a new Dark Age. That the majority of the people do not necessarily wish for this scenario to play out is a moot point. Syrians are in a position where anyone promising peace will gain their support, even if the long term future will look something like an even more sectarian Iran. Syria is at a crossroads and the majority may not have their wish for a democratic future, because they have been worn down by the events of the last 18 months.

When Syrians finally wake up to a new Islamic nation and all that entails, we wilI  see a huge numbers leaving their country of birth, putting yet more pressure on their neighbours and of course on Israel as the new Government seeks a ‘scapegoat’ to bend the minds of their people.

The West may wish to intervene, but they too are weary of these never-ending wars that do not deliver governments friendly to the West. History has made that inevitable as modern Crusade arrive at the same end point of those from the distant past. Some things never change.

Winston Peters Gets a bit miffed at the prospect of Aussies coming here to work on a mystery project.


It seems that Mr Peters has found another ‘band-wagon’ to jump on, this time in the form of Aussie workers tasking New Zealand jobs. Is it not a bit of an overreaction for a number of reasons?

Firstly, we don’t know the facts and no one is admitting to such a scheme, to bring in highly paid Aussie workers. Then we need to consider the fact that NZ workers are able to travel at will to fill those so-called high paying jobs across the ditch. We can’t have it both ways; making rules that suit us but not applying them across the board.

Of course some may say that the ‘there,’ or ‘here’ issues are not always equal. One only has to read about the on-going debate about the access to various conditions and benefits that NZers do not receive in Australia, but those same benefits are available to Aussies coming here.

Perhaps this proposed development is the start of a ‘game change.’ Maybe the tide is turning and Aussies are about to come here in numbers. Maybe it is time to see the Trans-Tasman labour market as being just that---one big market. Once we iron out some obvious discrepancies, than let it rule.

One last point: What about the much vaunted Christchurch re-build? Is that not going to take up the slack on unemployment for skilled NZ workers? Should you not wait, Mr Peters, until we know the ‘facts;’ and then make your announcements, with the full picture to take into consideration? New Zealand ‘first,’ maybe, but, just wait a tad.

 

New Zealand wine 'appreciated' in France.


I was watching a French film on Sky last night, called ‘The Big Picture.’ When the main character produced a bottle of wine for his soon to be divorced (he murdered her lover) wife, he made quite a play of the fact that it came from New Zealand. The wine turned out to be CLOUDY BAY (I loved the way he pronounced it. I doubt I would have recognised it if it hadn’t been for the sub-titles). His wife noticed the screw-top but once she tried it she pronounced that it was pretty good. The main character later brought two cases of the wine to take to a disastrous dinner party, but the wine featured yet again. One wonders if Cloudy Bay had to pay for such publicity. If they didn’t then they should send a few boxes to the film makers. What wonderful publicity. The film was made in 2010. We know CB is a good wine and it is good to know that many countries now acknowledge this. Now All I need is for my books to feature in a few films and I shall be happy!