Is Hillary Clinton telling the truth about China and Russia, when she threatens them with 'consequences

Hillary Clinton just announced that Russia and China will face ‘consequences’ their support of the Syrian regime. Give me a break.  What is so different from their support to the USA and others support of the ‘rebels?’ For a start--- who are the rebels?  We don’t really know.

We see images of those who have been undoubtedly hurt by Assad’s goons. That their numbers are growing is obvious, but when it comes to offering viable alternate government, I am not so sure. No doubt the CIA and various Western agencies are doing their best to find out. We have no idea how much influence is coming from the Hezbollah or Al Qaeda, or how much is from genuinely Syrian ‘home grown groups.

One thing we can expect that it is going to be a long hard road to peace and prosperity and whether that starts from a ‘Western-style’ version of the democratic process, is an ideal that will find difficulty taking route. One only has to look at Iraq, Libya and other middle-Eastern nations to see the warning signs. Those nations I have mentioned are actually on the start of the journey towards democracy, but their counterparts in the Middle-East give little reason for confidence. Just look at Saudi Arabia or Iran and you will know what I mean.

Is Russia’s support or China’s that different from that of the ‘West?’ I am pretty sure that both countries want a stake in the future of Syria. They want their point of influence, just like the USA, and the UK etc. compete for the same position. If it is not oil, then it is geo/political in nature. None of the said powers wish to be ‘left out’ in this unstable area.  Their reasons for ‘involvement’ have nothing to do with altruistic or humanitarian ideals. Though they may state such positions, their words are hollow.

Neither the USA nor the UK wish to see yet another fundamentalist Islamic regime born out of the Syrian situation. The spectre of such regimes in Libya and Egypt must be causing sleepless nights in the bedrooms of those policy makers.

In the end, China, Russia, the UK, USA and others will seek to curry favour with either the ‘old failed regime or a potentially new one. That it is not clear who that will be is problematic for them all.

There is another common group in all of the ‘behind the scene nations’--- the huge corporate giants and politicians who have strayed from their Communist beginnings. The Communist Party in China is simply a new dynasty while Putin in Russia, backed by the military/ industrialists, is a byword for the Tsarists. Nothing really changes. Power is, and always has been in the hands of a minority, all over the world and throughout history.

 In the West, democracy is ‘tolerated’ by the military/industrial complex and when government policies become too unfriendly to them--- the pendulum swings. Little ‘people’ demonstrate and think that they are forcing change, but in reality, nothing really does. Watch Greece as the economy further unravels. The military will return.

If you think I have painted a cynical or depressing picture of real world politics, then closely observe as events unfold in unstable nations around the world and stay essentially the same in the West. It will of course depend on where you get your news-feeds from. The bright hope for the truth---Julian Assange and his leaked series of emails. I sadly think that he too will be closed down soon. He is getting a little too close to the truth...

You may call this 'Fat bugger 10--or 11 if you wish

Try this lasagne. You can add or subtract the calories as you wish.

Brown some onions (I used two) in a pan and then add about 500 grams of minced beef (Chicken, pork or lamb work well too or why not chuck them all in?)

Add some garlic (as little or as much--- you get the picture).

Now pout in a can of pasta sauce (use the cheap ones) some tomato puree and a small can of tomato concentrate (paste). This sounds like a lot of tomato product--- that’s cool, because it is very good for you and we are not adding heaps of calories (Yet!)

Shake in about two teaspoons of dried mixed herbs (use fresh if you have them) and a bay leaf. Be careful with the salt because now you can add some cooked or uncooked streaky bacon—I used a rather lot). Remember it has a good deal of salt. Grind in quite a lot of cracked pepper and if you wish---- some paprika--- the smokey sort. None of this is essential—just experiment.

Once it is all bubbling gently, pour in as much of the bottle of red wine that you don’t drink while you are standing over the stove admiring and tasting your creation. Don’t get too pissed while you are surveying your sauce!

Now in the bottom of a humongous aluminium roasting dish (I use them because they are ‘throw away’--- less washing up) that you have lined with baking paper, make a layer of cooked spinach and mushroom--- if you want to nod at being healthy.

Build up the layers now--- place the first layer of lasagne sheets (You can even get gluten free ones now—so you lot won’t miss out eh!). Then add a generous layer of sauce. I just had two layers of the sheets but you can have more if you wish.

Finally, put the remaining layer of sauce on the top and sprinkle lots of grated tasty cheese on that.

 Cook it in an oven at about 180c until the top is bubbling, then turn it right down to 160 with a layer of tin foil on the top to make sure the cheese doesn’t burn.

Serve with my potato wedges (see previous blogs) and a salad and of course--- more red wine. I had apple crumble with ginger topping for desert.

This recipe would feed a large family or about 7 hungry people with leftovers. Make it as big or as little as you wish. Have fun

Many years ago In Otara I used to-----

Yes, many years ago I used to be a teacher at Tangaroa College in Otara. Now some of those students are hitting 50 plus. Hehehe--- I bet you don’t like me reminding you of that. I was so young then and did all the dumb things young people (need to) do.

Now I see on Facebook that many of these wonderful students are spread all over the world: UK, Aussie and God knows where. I wonder how many are still back in Otara. I hope so, because so many of them have done really well and the kids there need good role models.

 My only complaint about these ‘kids’ is that they call me Mr Coleman or Sir, still. Hell--- a few call me Radar. How dare that usurper (Te Radar) take my name. Now--- do try to call me Neil---OK?

I love seeing what you are all doing with your families and grandkids.  I also know that some of you have had some hard times and hit some pretty hard rocks on the way. Life hasn’t dealt us all a bed of roses. What I admire about you all is the fantastic way you awhina one another with your love and support.

 I shall continue to watch and read about your exploits. I just wish the kids of today will work out as well as you did

School holidays are great for kids--are they?

Go back to your childhood---- it’s the last day of school and the holidays are nigh. Fantastic; you have two weeks or in the case of the summer holidays, 6 or more weeks of bliss, having fun and what?

For some it was boredom after a while and for other it meant getting into trouble. Nothing has changed about those feelings, but there is something a little scary of research published is true.

For those kids who have been falling behind with their reading, then the holidays only make matters worse. If you come from a family where books and learning are ‘ingrained’ (Cultural Capital) then you will continue to read and involve yourself in appropriate activities along with some that parents don’t readily approve of---well, that’s not so new is it?

Imagine though if you have struggled with your literacy (and numeracy) skills in school and come from a home where the major effort goes into just putting ‘bread on the table.’ There may be no access to books, and reading is considered or to put it even more bluntly, ‘not considered’ a valuable pastime.

For these kids, any gains made during term time, are actually reversed in the short time the kids are away from school. Yes, if you measure their levels on their return to school, there is a strong chance that some kids fall even further behind the national average for their reading. It seems that reading IS A SKILL THAT MUST BE PRACTICED. Use that skill (especially as a young learner) or you start to lose it. You get out of the habit in an incredibly short time.

This has serious implications for these kids. Failure is reinforced and the accompanying behaviours are enhanced making gains even harder for the teacher. This group of kids needs a major input. They must be given access to books during the holidays. I know there are programmes around to achieve this, but it is simply not enough. The problem is even worse amongst boys, where we have to break some pretty damned bad stereotypes about books and reading.

This research and information needs to be given voice and we must act collectively to address this serious problem. Reading does not have to be presented in a boring manner. If it’s combined with part of other holiday programs there is every chance that we can ‘stop the rot’ and have our kids return to school, still essentially up with the remainder of their cohorts. We have a long way to go

RT (Russian TV) Mmmm---- Interesting and honest?

A few days ago I wrote a blog about Russian TV (RT) and then another one on Anwar Ibrahim (the Malaysian Leader of the Opposition) being interviewed  by Julian Assange. That interview was on RT and I was mightily impressed. Since then I have taken a few other programmes on RT and I have found it to be refreshing.

This may sound hypocritical of me given my criticism of the way Russia is ‘rewriting their history under the banner of ‘Positive’ History.’ It seems that there can be two threads operating at the same time in that huge nation.

For many years we have been fed the views of BBC, CNN, Fox (God forbid) and our own TVNZ. After consuming these organizations’ viewpoints for so long one tends to assume that they represent the truth about the issue they report on. You could say that we are being ‘lulled’ into believing their every word. It would seem that the ‘world view as expressed by RT and perhaps Aljazeera, may represent a ‘voice’ that should be heard.

I am going to take the example of Julian Assange. He is being hounded and portrayed as the ‘evil wizard;’ dishonest and possibly criminal in his behaviours. With the latest announcement and release of more Wikileaks emails, this time about the USA’s intentions re GITMO, one does wonder at the actions of the USA Government. Does it not make you wonder at why so many Governments are becoming a little jittery about what the ‘leaks’ might reveal. Sometimes the ‘truth,’ is more than a little inconvenient.

Before you get carried away and think that I am turning into some sort of advocate for the Russian (Putin) Government or RT--- stop. I know that of it suits the purposes of the just mentioned person and organization, then of course they will court Julian. Why should they be any different to the ‘tried and true’ media outlets and politicians that we have lived with for all of our lives?

Maybe we should thank Julian and Wikileaks for their tweaking of the lies we have listened to and swallowed for so long. That he is being hunted speaks for itself. He is possibly speaking in a way that we are not used to---- in a balanced and truthful manner.

Hang in there Julian. Be careful though, because when it suits them--- even your new friends may turn on you.

Why do we put up with recivitist drunken drivers?

OK--- he has been caught about 26 times drinking and driving and now he has to go to prison for 3 years—that means less than half that of course. The guy has also been indefinitely forbidden to drive again--- we have seen that before too.

Is it a lack of resources for locking up people who repeatedly drink and drive or are the judges hampered in some way that the rest of us don’t get? Please enlighten me someone.

Do we need to look at the Scandinavians nations to come up with a model that seems to work? Are we somehow different in NZ? Do we have a culture that ‘allows’ and even admires someone e who can ‘hold’ their drink?  Question after question--- I know--- I’m just bloody frustrated with it all.

I am sure that a previous blog or two that I have written about the ‘Queen Street’ behaviours is linked in that, yes we do have an unhealthy drinking culture. Will our politicians ever grasp this nettle and take a few pricks and then finally act. Read into that what you wish! I am well past being ‘decent’ about this issue.

Come on ‘older farts like myself and younger people who care about the safety of their kids on the roads or footpaths--- get our collective acts together and support politician who are brave enough to ‘cross the floor’ in Parliament or go against their Party Whips.

Private Members bills would be the way to go, if only some of our MPs would do what we put them in Parliament to do---- to make NZ a better and safer place.

Private/Government partnerships in our prisons, schools and hospitals

Who is going to save our kids, our elderly, sick and ----Mmmm our prisoners from the ideology of this dammed national Government? It doesn’t matter that research and experience from overseas continually lends weight against such practices, this Government is hell-bent on following the Private or Private/Government model for our schools, hospitals and prisons. The result--- decreased opportunities for our kids and degrading service for our sick and elderly. More about the prisons later.

I feel like I am on a rollercoaster whereby the Government seems intent on undoing so many issues we have fought for and taken for granted. Many battles have been struggled for in Parliament in the past to lift up people from poverty, exploitation and lack of equal access to education.

We are now seeing the true colours of the National Party. Their first term was one of setting the scene for what is about to come. They are looking at the Conservatives in the UK with envy as they scream out their plans for the British public. If you think that beneficiary bashing is bad here--- watch this space in England in particular.

Today’s announcement about the private prison in Auckland is one that we better get used to. It seems that the operators only met about half of their goals. Is this what we will come to see as a common occurrence as the National Party hoists yet more of this odious model on NZ schools and hospitals. By the time we finally get around to actually challenging the Government where it counts--- at the election box--- it will be that we are in a position of having to once again fight to retrieve what we have lost.

John Key won’t care. He will be living it up at some resort spending the money he has made over the years as an investment banker. We all know what is happening on that scene (Barclays just for one).

So we must make it clear that we don’t want to wait for another election cycle. Will the vast majority of NZers ever wake up? At the moment we have our heads in the sand in a big way.

Do we really care?