Merry Xmas, Belgium

Is it snowing in Belgium? Are you planning your Xams dinner? I send my best wishes from 'down under,' where Xmas is a time for the beach and swimming. Yes, it's all a bit upside down here. Just once in my life, I'd love to have a white Xmas. Peace and love to you all.
Neil Coleman
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Does the NRA really represent what is best for the USA?

The USA stands out as a nation that has almost one gun for every person. It has a murder rate from the use of guns that way numbers any other nation, even some of the almost ‘non-government’ nations in the Third World. Of course the fact that many Americans can afford them partly explains that.

The sight of a NRA spokesperson calling for guns to be in every classroom just shows how whacko these gun-loving idiots have become. How many teachers would or could go along with that? The very making of the statement indicates just how sick the USA has become.

There is an historical underpinning to the gun ownership issue in the USA, ably supported by the media in all its forms. Some would say the culture of violence as an entertainment form just exacerbates the whole issue. Add that to the ‘lonely young men,’ who lack all connection to the real world and you have a ticking bomb. The combination of mental illness and weapons availability will have ramifications over and over again. There is also another ‘as yet not reported’ nasty lurking out there.

Do you not wonder that some sort of competition is going on here? Are these ‘sad individuals’ involved in some sort of, ‘I can beat that number of killings and be famous?’ Conspiracy territory, maybe? ----but give it a bit of brain time.

So far the spokespersons for the NRA are doing little to make a coherent case for ownership of the more extreme type of guns. Each time they open their mouths, one is left wondering just where the USA is heading. Do they really want a nation that is armed to the teeth, to battle all manner of perceived threats? Just as another nation is about to have a debate about the violence towards women, the USA needs to take stock of its history and ask themselves if ‘new thinking’ needs to emerge. If India can embark on its most necessary debate, I am sure that the USA can and must do the same about their love affair with guns.

Charter Schools---now Treasury has doubts!

Today, the Herald reported that Treasury has doubts that Charter Schools will improve student performance. What a revelation from this highly influential body! Let’s once again cut to the point: Charter schools are simply going to happen for only one real reason; the agreement that National has with the Act party in order to get their support. Any other reason on the part of the Government is based on spurious reports that have been rejected by most academics.

What would treasury know about what is considered effective teaching? Their job is to advise the Government on financial matters, not academic achievement, so when they make a statement like that reported in the Herald, one has to wonder at the level of support the Government has for its ‘soon to be failed policies.’

Maybe we are in for yet another U-turn from this flip flop Government, but I bet it will be under the hegemony of yet another Minister of Education.

India is awash with anger at the latest brutal rape!

Yes, I know that my header is provocative and may offend some of my Indian readers. That is not my intention; I am most supportive of the changes that this huge nation has made over the last decade or so. India is a huge economy with a growing middle-class. It is this group that will force changes that are so necessary in India.

Every country needs to look at the position of women in society and New Zealand too, has a way to go before women are represented at all levels of society and the economy. Brutal; rapes happen here too but action is swift when charges are laid. Having said that, the ‘bubble of silence’ exists here too; whereby many women to not go to the police.

The rape that has made the news of the world in India and the subsequent riots brings to light the plight of many women. A combination of corruption, inaction and old views makes the situation for many women one that this proud nation needs to address. That so many men feature in then protests does signal a ray of hope. Politicians will of course align themselves with these protesters in the hope that their own inaction will be lade less of.

I doubt that the protestors will go away this time. Their anger highlights the position of women and girls and will spread to the villages where no doubt the situation is even worse. Out of this new movement, many strong women will emerge, replicating the success of previous famous Indian women.

It is easy to say that women in neighbouring countries suffer an even worse plight, but now that the flame of indignation has been lit, Indian women are on a march, possibly looking to their iconic Gandhi; the leader who knew how to bring about change. India’s neighbours and other countries around the world will be taking note of events in India, but the struggle for women’s rights; to be safe, to be educated and to be represented fairly in the political institutions should be the aim of this new movement.

The women of India are a massively undervalued economic and social grouping. Their march has barely begun. Old attitudes are and will continue to be challenged, in increasingly strident forms. Such a move is long overdue; free from socio-religious tradition. Of course we in other countries can but watch from the sideliners, as it is Indians who will force their own changes. I cannot help but wish them strength and courage; something that Indians have never lacked.

 

Is the way forward to lessening the tension between the Two Koreas, dialogue?

Theoretically, the ‘war’ between North and South Korea has not ended. The tension between the two nations remains high and with the latest launch of the long range missile, neighbouring nations were also very concerned, including China.

South Korea has just elected a new President. Hopefully she will find ways to engage with her Northern cousins and work towards a meaningful and lasting peace, this will be a difficult task given the propensity of the North’s leaders to follow less and normal communications methods. One can liken North Korea as being like a ‘baby throwing its toys out of the cot.’

Don’t dream about a democratic North Korea; that would be an alien term for both its leaders and citizens. Those who can, leave and seek a new life in the South or further afield; usually saying little about their former lives, in case their families are ‘punished’ for the sins of the ‘escapees.

 I do not envy the new Southern president. She has a huge task ahead of her. I wish her well and hope that she can find a ‘Korean’ way of handling her recalcitrant neighbour.’ To achieve that, she will have to dig deep and think ‘outside the square.’

How well did New Zealand Post do when I complained?

When a firm offers a service as important as delivering our mail, I usually just ‘leave it’ when they stuff-up. Not this time. I have consistently had the wrong mail delivered; sometimes really stupid mistakes made and I just said a few expletives and got on with life, eventually delivering the ‘wrong mail’ to the correct address. I reckon NZ Post should pay me for that, but I am a believer in ‘what goes around comes around,’ so I could hardly not deliver mail that didn’t belong to me, if it was just down the road. For other really bad mistakes, I ‘return to sender,’ with a few choice comments made on the outside to NZ Post.

This time I decided to act and I looked up the NZ Post website and found the ‘contact’ link and let it rip. I explained without being rude my concerns. Wow! ---- They got back to me in the claimed time and asked if the mail was indeed from the NZ Post service. I explained that yes, it was. They got back to me again and explained that ‘the postie was new’ and that ‘they had spoken to him.’ They asked me to let them know if the mistakes reoccurred and that they would send letters to people who had numbers that were not clear on their letter boxes.

I have to say that was impressed with the service. I shall however, let them know if these silly annoying mistakes occur again. OK, well done NZ Post----so far.

The world didn't end so you can visit yet another great cafe in Onehunga!

I woke up alive and well. There were no volcanoes spewing forth their deadly bombs or any asteroids raining upon us. I couldn’t see any floods rushing towards me or feel an earthquake decimating my lovely city. Let’s face it; we are well over earthquakes in New Zealand.

The sky was blue and Perdy was wagging her tail in anticipation of our road trip to Hamilton to visit my brother. This was going to be her first time. However I needed to take the spike out of her tail. I didn’t fancy her barking and carrying on in the back seat of the car, leaving me deaf and dizzy (I heard you---too late for that!).

So off we went, down to her beloved Onehunga Bay where the earthworks have begun for the ‘transformation.’ I felt that the day was going to be long and hot, so I settled for chucking the ball for her to chase and me to relax. After all I had to drive about 300kls and I don’t hang in there like I used to. Exercise over, we headed to Greenlane to pick up my big sister and then on to breakfast in the Onehunga main street.

I had passed a newish café several times in the last few days; Bean There Café. The sight of doggie bowls outside was enough to entice us in. We tied Perdy to our table and waited for service. That came quickly along with the menu. No paying first in this place. Both of us ordered an omelette, with gruyere cheese and various other bits and pieces in it. I was attempting to scale down my serving sizes, so the ‘Big Breakfast’ was on the forbidden list.

The coffees were really good; none of those single-shot wimpy offerings for us. I like my coffee to taste like----coffee.’ The omelettes did the trick; tasty and generous without breaking the back. Beam There café, now joins our list of ‘favourite places to go.’ I just hope that it lasts longer than the other businesses that have inhabited this pleasant, very accessible café. The staff was as good as the food.  Nice one, Bean There Café. Yes, we really are spoilt for choice in this suburb.