While the Government cuts 'Special Schools' it allows obscene 'golden handshakes.'

Where is the fairness, rightness or even common sense in a policy that allows two ‘Special Needs Schools’ to close while heads of business, some SOEs, receive payment of $800,000 plus when their contracts end. At a time when we are struggling economically, at national level and individually, such payments are allowed.

There are many other examples, other than the one reported in the NZ Herald today. Whilst I am not advocating some radical shift in the distribution of wealth, because no country has ever been able to achieve that for any length of time in a fair way, I am saying that such payments as reported are a slap in the face to the rest of us who go about our lives in a more restrained manner.

Make no mistake about the on-going cuts in many areas of Government expenditure; they will come at a steady pace, undoing much of what has been built up over the years. At some stage, we shall realize that things have gone too far, and the cost of reinstating such services will be prohibitive. This is just an extension of the actions already taken. We are going to collectively regret such moves by this shallow, penny pinching Government. I wonder how some of their members are managing to sit with their mouths clamped; knowing that what their leaders are doing is nothing short of social vindictiveness.

USA--- It's time to look after yourself for a change.

The Big Storm has wreaked havoc on the USA. Once the waters recede and the fires are quelled, the true extent of the damage will become apparent. Then the USA needs to take stock and begin rebuilding damaged lives and infrastructure. No one should resent the fact that the USA should concentrate on itself for a change.

The USA should look at its involvement in many countries and pull back. The need at home is huge and the resources it expends on overseas ‘adventures’ is needed at home. For many USA citizens, the next few weeks are going to be tough. I know they will dig deep and pull together. Has not history shown that once challenged, the American spirit has few equals when the chips are down?

Is this not a time for a reassessment about the USA’s place in the world? Some of its massive foreign ‘aid’ package could be seen as a form of imperialism, driven by industrial and economic needs, owned by a tiny segment of the American people. Those who pay are the struggling lower and middle classes who have been duped for decades about the real intent of the backers of USA foreign policy.

Now it is time to rebalance and give back to the majority. Rebuild for American jobs and pull back from failed policies. No one thanks the USA for their ‘policing’ of the world. That job belongs to the ‘collectivity’ of nations---- the UN!

Tomorrow sometime during the day or night New Zealand will reach 4,444,444 people

Fantastic figures eh!  All the 4's. Is this an auspicious number? I wonder who the lucky person will be. We are still an underpopulated nation, although some say that we are lucky. The new  New Zealander will come into a nation that is still hopeful for the futrue; a nation that cares and a nation where by hard work you can have a great life.
We have much to be thankful for but much to strive for.
Welcome NZer number 4,444,444!

Our Government is hell-bound on testing our kids more!

More and yet more ‘testing’ seems to be the catch cry from our Government when it comes to educational policy. Where do they get these ‘failed ideas’ from? If they took the time to look at results from OEDC countries they would see that such a policy is not a fruitful one, but a damaging one.

Just take a few countries for example. Maths results in the UK, USA and Finland between 2003 and 2007 show that there has been increased ‘testing’ in the first two countries and less in Finland. The results----they got worse in the UK and the USA and much improved in Finland. What can we take from this?

Simple----‘Less is more.’  Ms Parata, do some reading of such research--- not the rubbish that your lackeys serve up to you. Make a stand. Our kids will benefit and we will stop the slide in our standards.  Failed policies need to be consigned to where they belong--- the rubbish heap.

Oh------where does NZ stand on this? Why, with more testing and even more on the horizon, our standards have gone down. You could of course be cynical and say that it’s so damned cold in Finland that the kids love to be inside and working hard with their teachers! Yeah right.

Kiwis---get my 'advance' copies for all books--bargain prices.

Yes get all three books, both versions for bargain prices on Trade Me for a limited time.

Australia---you should be able to find my books in your libraries soon!

Yes, if things work out, you will be able to go to your local library and request my three books. I will have my books listed with one of your 'library suppliers' if not more, and then your local library can purchase them. I win and you get to read my books free. All you need is the titles and my name of course, so off you go and order them. They are:
1) Coastal Yarns
2) Roskill
3) Talk To Me.
If they havn't got them, don't give up---it may take time.
Of course you can always buy them from me, either through my webitse  www.authorneilcoleman.com
or by contacting me direct for a special deal at  neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com

The USA braces itself yet again for a superstorm.

The spectre of a huge storm about to lash and inundate the low lying areas of New York is being touted as the worst storm for two generations. Did not something similar a year or two ago? The media always takes every chance to cover such events and one has the feeling that they are doing more than satisfying a public safety demand. There is almost an air of disappointment when predictions are not realized.

Despite all of the dire warnings about the magnitude and danger of this nasty freak of nature (or is it something that we must expect with Global Warming?) we will see the usual idiots who choose to ‘go down to t sea to watch,’ or to stay in their homes to battle it out. That these people do this really annoys me, because they put at risk the lives of those charged with rescuing them when the inevitable happens. This phenomenon is not restricted to the USA of course. We see twits here in New Zealand replicating those dumb ass and selfish actions.

At least the two Presidential candidates (yes, I know there are other contenders, but you wouldn’t know it from US media sources) are not making political capital out of the emerging scenario; indeed they are both being ‘sublimely Presidential. Some say that Obama can only gain by acting decisively and not repeating the mistakes of ex-President Bush who was most tardy in his response when ‘Katrina’ attacked New Orleans.

Lives may be lost and the economic costs will be huge when Hurricane Sandy meets up with the two land-based storms. One cannot help but ask—‘is this going to be a common occurrence under the new order of Global Warming? Will we still burry our heads in the sand and ignore Mother Nature’s protestations about how we are treating her domain---the earth?

Stay safe my American friends. I shall watch from afar and ‘will’ the storm to head back out to sea.