USA has plans to attack Chinese Nuclear assets--RT says this!

RT (Russian TV) is saying that the USA is planning to attack Chinese nuclear assets. I find this hard to believe and if it was true, an absolutely stupid action on the part of the USA. China and the USA are now economically connected at the hip. Why would the USA take such a damaging action; one that would place world peace at risk.

Where does RT get its information from? I see no other news outlets (So far, that is) making similar claims. For RT to make this claim is both confusing and dangerous. I am indeed looking for the USA to react to the claim and lay it to rest. Any other action is beyond even our wildest nightmares.
When RT 'explained it's headlines, it stated that the USA has laways had 'plans' to attack Chinese assets. I see their other headlines (the ones that drag accross the bottom of the screen) as alarmist and dangerous; ones that I had not associated RT with in the past. It seems that somethings never change!

Fellow hoarders---Do you find it hard ot get rid of 'stuff?'

I am pretty sure that I am not alone in the desire to ‘unclutter’ my house. It’s amazing how much ‘stuff’ one collects over the years, ranging from household goods, collectables (well you might think they are!) and old shoes. It can become so bad that the word hoarder comes to mind. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not, but I do have one huge amount of ‘stuff’ to rid myself of.

Where do I start and how do I achieve a state of blissful minimalism? Anyone who knows me will be throwing up their hands in shock. What, me getting rid of his beloved Crown Lynn amongst the other obvious junk I have collected? The latter includes the ‘As seen on TV’ rubbish, because there is not much I have purchased in that manner that is any good.

I started with the obvious and stuck it on Trade Me. Things like the bread maker went for a good price and it wasn’t so hard to rid myself of that as I won’t be eating enough bread once I am on my vastly reduced ‘intake.’ It was a bit harder to sell a really good quality Klinox pot as it had been a present for a birthday from my dear mother. I couldn’t see a use for it, so I managed to overcome the ‘nostalgia’ aspect and I believe that my Mum would have agreed with the concept of ‘decluttering.’

The next step was a little harder; going through the cupboards and giving items a ranking on my newly developed ‘if you don’t use it, then out it goes scale.’ Many items fell in the ‘out she goes rank.’ Sometimes an item would go to the ‘photographic department’ ready for imminent posting on Trade me, only to be returned to the dark spaces from whence they came; then back again. Once the ‘reserve’ had been met on Trade Me, it was ‘get over it time.’ Oh the pain!

I have a long way to go, just for the ‘stuff in the house’ division of my cluttered existence. Then it was onto the outside; you know--- the stuff in the shed. Opening the door had become a problem and OSH (out health and safety PC thingy) would not have been pleased to see me covered with all sorts of bric-a-brac as it tumbled out to meet me. I am sure if these things could speak, they would sing, ‘Please release me to a better home.’ (Sorry Engleburt or was it Tom Jones? --- probably for the spelling too).

I was amazed at the plethora of items from my past and ridiculous ability to collect useless things; useless to me of course but no to other more adventurous souls. Some of it, including shoes that had not been worn; God knows why not, but for those examples of my obsession, I thought the only way forward to ‘uncluttered Nirvana’ was to give them to hospices and the SPCA shop. Others however most definitely had a value to a mystery future owner.

Out came a ‘smoker. I had used it twice and I succeeded in setting fire to the BBQ table on which I had conducted the said operation. One does learn the hard way and I subsequently discovered that I could achieve a safer and most excellent result re smoking fish etc., by using my BBQ. Perhaps I can still sell the damaged table too.

Delving deeper into my shed, I discovered that there was a virtual treasure trove of Aladdin’s delights. I pulled out some fine examples of my past flutters with garage sales and yes, Trade Me items that I had never used. Out they came and I quickly bypassed the emotional phase I had for other more nostalgic possessions.

Where to from here? I wish to attain my spiritual breaking of the bonds by halfway through this year. I have one heck of a way to go, but at least I have started; just so long as I don’t buy more ‘stuff’ in the meantime. Maybe e there is the possibility that I am beyond redemption!

 

 

 

That great 'underarm bowl.' Guess what---it's still happening.

Any Kiwi who is over a certain age or a lover of cricket will know what I mean by that famous ‘underarm’ bowl.’ Well in a sense we are still being served that bowl, on a daily basis. Am I stirring up that which needs to be forgotten? Hell no. New Zealanders are being treated like second-class citizens by a system that is most one-sided. I better get to the point of my angry words.

I am talking about those New Zealanders, who for whatever reason have decided to try their luck in Australia. They need to take much closer look at what can happen if they have not made plans to support themselves and their families. For a start they will not have access to the generous provisions made for Australians, re education, health and other ‘support benefits.’

A new underclass is being created; one that is becoming desperate and possibly turning to crime in order to live, when things go wrong. For those who see the ‘lucky country,’ across the ditch (Tasman Ocean) as a way out of ‘difficulties’ in New Zealand, it is time they looked long and hard at any move to find a new life. They may be heading to a life far worse than the one they left behind.

What gets me is the fact that this doesn’t happen to Aussies coming to New Zealand.  They quickly gain access to the full range of what New Zealanders enjoy in the way of support. It is a very one-sided situation. Aussies get far more from the ‘system’ when they come to New Zealand. I suppose they say that the figures speak for themselves and that the flow is one way anyway; that is, far more New Zealanders go to Australia than Aussies to NZ. It was not always so.

There have been several times in history when the reverse was true. That will happen again. One only has to look at the long term future for Australia re bush fires and extreme flooding; all the result of global warming, to understand that the time is coming whereby New Zealand will be seen as the ‘kinder option.’ Latest trends re predictions around climate change suggest that this time is not so far in the future.

Perhaps my statements will be seen as extreme and that any suggestion that New Zealand will become some sort of ‘life boat’ for Australia are just fanciful predictions. Time will tell.’

OK, in the interest of balance re my protestations, I should say that for many New Zealanders, the above scenarios are just a bad dream; for ‘someone else.’ It is true that for a sizable number of the New Zealanders, the ‘dream comes true. They have jobs already organized and enjoy the higher wages and faster lifestyle. Their kids quickly adapt and see themselves as Australians. It is only when they need to access some of the ‘Aussie support systems,’ that the dream sours. Think carefully, Kiwis, before you jump the ditch! The grass can turn an ugly colour, so if you are thinkking of taking your family to Austrlia, read the articles in the herlad, today, through to Wednesday. We don't need out kids living inan environment where in places, youth unemployment and school drop-out rates excede those in NZ.

Go to flixbox.co.nz

Have you seen those DVD dispensers in the entry to some of the big supermarkets? Perhaps you just did what I have done for the past few months; walked past them and not really realised what they were. Well, today we stopped and took a good look and then went home to look them up online www.flixbox.co.nz   After checking out what movies were available, we returned to the scene and checked out a latest releases; ‘Prometheus’  amongst them. The ‘dispensers are easy to use and a bit cheaper than some of the video outlets. I have decided to get rid of Sky TV films (except for Rialto). I figure as long as I share the cost with my partner I shall save a bit of money so long as we limit the films we takeout to about one a fortnight and share the cost. I was watching far too much crap on Sky anyway and most of the films come on TV 1, 2 and three eventually. I will record them and just flick through the ads---yeah, nice move Flixbox.   Mmmm--- I think will get rid of Sports on Sky too. Hell cricket is a bit of a downer at the moment eh. I can always get the rugby on later if I want.

Why do we need guns in the city?

A young person died as a result of a combination of drinking and guns yesterday in Manurewa. This is not the first time that this deadly combination has brought about the needless death. It poses several questions.

Why do we sell these high-powered airguns in NZ?  What purpose do they serve, especially in a city? Why not are the same rules applied as we have re storage and use for other guns in New Zealand? We do not want a situation that is anywhere near as crazy as the one existing in the USA.

Guns if we must have them, should be registered and stored in a manner that makes such ‘accidents’ less likely. I can see no valid reason at all for them to be kept in the home, in a city or town. They cannot be used in the back yard; even so-called airguns. These guns are not like the ones we had many years back. Those, that I remember didn’t even hurt when we got shot, if we managed to hit one another. I well remember a few good ‘boots up the arse’ (yes I know---spelt differently and possibly a different meaning to that in the USA!) when caught, back on the farm, but in the city---hell, think about it.

Unless in a rural or hunting situation, guns have no use---OK I will admit that gun clubs are OK, but under very strict controls. In NZ, I can never accept that guns have a place in the homes of our cities. Only the criminals have them generally and thank God, that has not permeated to the extent that it has, to the point of a ‘right’ in the USA.

We are going to have ‘hunting’ accidents from time to time in New Zealand, but generally that sector of our population is responsible in how they use and store their guns. The death just reported in Manurewa was both avoidable and tragic. One does wonder what supervision was practised around those two guns. (There was also a handgun present.) The facts will come out about this death and it should serve as a timely reminder that we have a long way to go around the ownership, use and storage of guns. If alcohol is present of course, all bets are off.

Thanks---you have helped me to 58,000 hits!

Thank you to all of my many readers. I know my blogging is only small-time compared to those who number their readers in the millions. (Mine is only about 58,000 as of January 12, 20134)  I think that what I enjoy most is the fact that so many people from numerous nations are reading the blogs.

I know that much of what I say is a bit controversial and sometimes written when I am pissed off about an issue (for example---the on-going, ‘forever’ debate about ‘gun laws in the USA). I know that my words can offend, but if it stimulates debate, then all is well. I have to admit that I deliberately go out on a ledge in order to stimulate that debate a bit like a ‘devil’s advocate.’ It is interesting to note that people don’t make comments on my blog, but they do where I have ‘pasted’ the debate to Facebook.

Help me to get my blog out there even more, by sending the link to your contacts. Yes, if that helps me sell some of my books, I owe you a big thank you. However, that is not what has happened. I have made virtually no sales that way. It’s a hard yacker, trying to sell self-published books! I think I have to get my books on Amazon etc. If you can pass on my website that would be great too. www.authnorneilcoleman.com.

Don’t forget (especially if you are in NZ and Australia, local libraries may have my books, so ask them and they may buy them. Just a reminder—all you need is the title and my name.

1)    Coastal Yarns  by Neil Coleman

2)    Roskill  by Neil Coleman

3)    Talk To Me  by Neil Coleman

 

Pass them on and ask for them at your library----Better still, buy them from me.

 

Student loans in New Zealand. Could someone please explain!

The figures used in for Student Loans in the Herald today seem almost beyond belief. That someone can owe One million Dollars by 2040, all for quite a small initial ‘loan’ seems quite ridiculous. If the figures quoted are true, one only needs to extrapolate that and we would have a generation (or more) of citizens who see no reason to ‘try’ to pay back the ballooning loan.

The ‘loan’ as reported is reason enough to take a long hard look at the system of student loans in New Zealand. There has to be a better and fairer way. We do not want a generation of angry, hopeless students going on to spend their whole lives paying back the loans.

I have heard other examples of course, whereby students have found high- paying holiday jobs and managed to avoid the whole process of the student loan debacle. I would say that’s almost the same as saying that---‘Hey, I’m a multi-millionaire, so if I can do it, anyone can.’ Those jobs quoted do exist but not in the numbers needed to allow students to have no or very small loans.

We often see young people pointing the finger at those of us who came through a kinder regime saying, ---- ‘You guys had it easy. You virtually received your tertiary education free, so don’t tell us we are selfish.’ There is quite a ring of truth about that statement. The only difference was that back then, it was actually harder to gain entry to a university education.

The term ‘tertiary’ has expanded and now covers a far wider spread of entry requirements as the ‘Industry’ has ramped up to put ‘bums on seats,’ for funding purposes. Successive government have encouraged this, may I say somewhat cynically, for reasons of disguising youth unemployment as much as a real need for a better skilled and changing workforce.

We must review the whole system and employ the age old method of ‘bonding’ young (and older) learners so that the State pays the majority of their education and then receives a varying amount of time spent in NZ as a return. (A combination of both systems may even work.) That time would depend on the amount spent for the education. It would also break the current trend for the ‘richer’ to achieve those higher paying and traditionally difficult to attain qualifications, like being a doctor or lawyer. Teaching was a good example of ‘bonding.’ Bring it back.

Apprentices in the old sense of the word were more often than not ‘trained on the job,’ with a component of the training undertaken in short ‘block courses.’ Nurse training was also undertaken in a similar way, but I would be the first to admit that the complexity of modern nursing now demands a higher level of training; one that is primarily achieved through our well set up tertiary institutions.

Businesses seem to have shied away from the old fashioned ‘learn as you work’ approach. They say they are too busy to do that now. The plumbers, builders and other trades, all seem to be trained in technical institutes now. There have been attempts to play around the edges re training ‘tradespeople,’ but would it not be a good idea to return to that which we know worked well? It would take a mind shift on the part of prospective trainers/businesses though.

In the end it is all about money and the willingness of employers to take on young people and nurture them. If we wish to have a skilled and happy workforce, we all need to think about where we are going and not leave it all to the politicians to fiddle while ‘Rome burns.’ It is step-up time.’