Egyptian judge sentences 529 people to death---you are babaric in every sense of the word!

I am sadly disappointed at the direction Egypt has taken. All thoughts of a reveal of democracy in this once proud country have dissipated. I knew that the Muslim Brotherhood had issues with democracy and freedom of speech but this latest action on the part of the new regime is nothing short of barbaric. How can Egypt justify such an action? They make the regime(s) they replaced look like benevolent rulers. The promise of the 'Arab Spring' has totally gone. The 'interim' President sits by and lets this happen and he wishes to stand for the presidency in the upcoming elections. Are we going to see a continued slide into a new despotic regime, backed by the power that has always ruled in modern day Egypt---the new Pharaohs---the military!? I feel for those moderate leaders and political groups in Egypt who now have a huge battle on their hands if they wish to see an Egypt rise from the ashes and join the family of nations who value human freedom of expression. I guess the world's attention is focussed elsewhere while the rulers of a 'failed Egypt' get on with returning Egypt to a time when of its citizens suffered through the repression of its rulers. The positions the major world powers play in  this latest example of 'State terrorism' will also come into play. The USA will no doubt back this 'military-dominated government, in the aim of maintaining influence in the region and Russia will espouse platitudes that equate to increasing its reach into the Middle-East. Nothing has changed, it seems, since the demise of the old Iron Curtain. Shame on Egypt and the family of nations that allows such atrocities to continue.

Norfolk Island====well I never

What a wonderul surprise, seeing Norfolk Island joining the list of places reading my blogs. I have always wnated to go there. I know my parents once went there in the 1960's and had a relaxing time. The 1960s was a time when duty free goods were all the rage, a time before all the discounted items we get now, quite apart from the fantastic bargains we get online now. I well remember waiting for my parnets to open their bags on arriving back in NZ, to give us our gifts. I can't quite remember mine, but I do remember the absolute joy of receiving something so special, that could not be purchased in nZ. Wow, how times have changed. I suspect that people now visit Norfolk Island for a relaxing holiday, well away from the crazy crowds of other 'hotspots,' unless one includes going there for a honeymoon.  Welcome to my site NI.  I am sure itis a great place to read my books, either in hard-copy form or a downloaded version.

The 'Dear Leader said---'We must have a diversion, to keep the people happy!'

Years ago there were three kingdoms, many miles distance from one another. All three had tyrannical leaders, despots if you wish and they subdued their ever-suffering subjects in a variety of ways, with a combination of naked fear, suppression of any criticism and not allowing any opposition to gain ground. They did not want change; indeed they had ‘charters’ that forbade criticism of their leadership; some with the ultimate sanction----the death penalty. For slightly less transgressions against their wishes, the leaders made sure that ‘think camps’ were abundant, so that their subjects could re-examine their thoughts towards their leaders and return to society with a 'positive attitude.'

However these methods were not enough to quell the aspirations of some of their subjects to seek a better future; one’s that meant taking part in the administration of the kingdoms, for the inclusion of playing a part in the forces that governed on behalf of the leaders. If ‘trouble was brewing,’ the leaders sought other methods to distract their people.
All three kingdoms had enjoyed times in their history whereby they had been much more dominant in the world and some had even had large empires, with millions of subject citizens. A brief period of unease had led to these former subject sub-states finding their own way in the world and they began to make a mark on the border areas of these kingdoms; seeking their own alliances with other powers, both in their region and further afield.

Naturally, the leaders of the three kingdoms felt threatened by this showing of independence and as the situation in the corrupt border areas became more apparent, the former sought to reverse the dangerous trend. They collectively hit upon an age-old method by which to have their subjects within the home kingdoms and those on their borders, return to the fold. They set upon a plan whereby they manufactured tension in the border areas and then whipped up the memories of those sectors of the population who had a distorted view of what life had been like in the past.

The kings appealed to the ‘simplicity' of the past; the imagined full-employment of the people and  market-places that guaranteed that that food and other essentials could be purchased at a price all could afford. They of course conveniently forgot to mention that the prisons were full of people who did not go along with the leaders’ thoughts about loyalty to the kings and other institutions.

After weeks of rising tension in the border areas, the leaders announced that those former citizens were being threatened by nasty nationalistic gangs, who were endangering the peace of the kingdoms. Unfortunately in some of the border areas, there were civil wars as people tried to rid themselves of their mini-despotic governments and rulers. The three kingdoms sent agents into the border areas to stir up trouble and then claimed that it was in the interest of the kingdoms to send in peace-keeping forces in order to restore order and to protect the native speaking (read those speaking the language of the former rulers) sectors of the population.

After months of disorder, and using the pretext of many incidents, most of which were cynically managed by the three leaders, large contingents of heavily armed soldiers were seen entering the border regions. The chaotic governments of these areas were powerless to stop the encroachment on their territories and all of their protestations to other ‘friendly powers ‘ amounted to nothing as the latter sat back and merely protested with ‘words’ and meaningless platitudes.

Within weeks, the kingdoms had expanded their borders and the popularity of the kings soared to new heights, fed by the propaganda put out by their minions in the news-sheets plastered all over the walls and trees in the kingdoms. People forgot their grievances with their rulers as they became wrapped up in the colourful parades and fireworks displays. They forget about their friends and relatives who had disappeared or they dared not show any untoward negativity to the regime, lest they attract attention from the celebrating crowds filling the squares of the towns and cities.

In the meantime, the three leaders sat back, knowing they had survived another challenge to their rule---that is until reality returned to the thinking of their ever-suffering citizens. Life continued and the world adjusted to the newly expanded kingdoms; waiting for the next phase. It seemed that nothing had been learned by observing the past. What would it take to stop the three kings?

Once upon a time I looked like this!-- way back in the late 1950's at Te Roti School.

Don't you like looking back at those old black and white pictures; you know the ones---maybe stored away in some forgotten box, brought out at family gatherings or those moments when you need to connect with a time gone by. Perhaps you are too young to remember  B and W pictures, but those colour ones you were so proud of, the first time you gazed upon them,  have probably gone that 'no colour, sepia' look as they fade with your memories.
 my big brother, Peter, because that's who he will always be, sent the picture of our old school 'photo day,' when I was just 10 years old. The school---Te Roti Primary in South Taranaki, where the Coleman clan made up 10% of the roll. I dare you to find me. NO one at my work did. All will be revealed in a 'comment' after you have tried to guess for a week. No telling them, my family!

Kim Dotcom finally wearing out his 'welcome?'

New Zealanders took the big man to their hearts for a while, in numbers that may have been the majority. People got swept up in their adulation of KDC as some sort of messiah, promulgating ideas of freedom form Government snooping into the affairs of citizens, whilst conveniently forgetting about his ‘questionable’ past. It was almost sickening seeing the long list of politicians and social media forums responding to his calls for a ‘better NZ.’ I have always wondered at how so many people got sucked in and when he started to talk about becoming involved in politics, my discomfort increased. Was NZ starting to emulate politics overseas where money is the key seeding factor? OK, some would say that this has been so in NZ for quite some time, but I still believe that anyone with strong ideals and willing to put in the time with ‘party machinery,’ can make it into Parliament, given the right set of supports. Of course, once there the real game behind the curtains begins, if leadership of the said party is the aim. With KDC, it has all been there before anyone representing his fledgling party (because he cannot stand!) even got onto the hustings.

It now appears that NZ’s love affair with the ideas and the ‘man’ is starting to wane. It took a while, but in the end sense is starting to prevail. One wonders what KDC’s next move will be. Even the Mana Party is looking a bit wobbly re the ‘reported dalliance KDC is attempting with that party. I cannot imagine more dissimilar ‘bedfellows’ and perhaps the Mana Party will be the loser for even letting the discussion get this far.

It is going to be a most interesting run-up to the election at the end of the year.

We need some middle ground on the Russian Ukraine crisis.

Now is the time for sanity around the increasingly dangerous stand-off over the Crimean, referendum 'sanctioned' annexation  by Russia. As a result, Ukraine is forging closer ties with the EU and the USA. There have been many claims by both sides of the divide and somewhere in the middle , there is some truth.
It is hypocritical of the USA to claim that it is defending the rights of Ukrainians for self-determination and that Crimea has been included in the territory of Russia. Russia has long has a presence and sometimes outright inclusion of the Crimea in its territory, going back several centuries. It could be said that native inhabitants of the region were the Tartars so what is different about Russia 'absorbing' the Crimea against the wishes of the 'natives,' and the expansion of US hegemony over territories inhabited by the 'First Nation People of the Americas (or the British taking over lands inhabited by New Zealand's original people---the Maori)
Russia has long been sensitive re its border areas, having suffered invasion via those states on many occasions, hence  the perceived need to either control directly or heavily influence through a range of strategies, treaties and policies, willing or unwilling on the part of the 'partners, in order to gain a 'feeling of security.'
The USA in turn has reached out beyond its base on the North American continent and made sure that it too has influence in order to protect 'its' perceived security needs. Indeed, most nations in the UN would have a certain discomfort about the undue and unbalanced influence of the USA on the economies of most of the world. It is only with the emergence of China that some sort of balance is being achieved. The USA  is starting to feel the reality of the new world order, a 'feeling; that does not fit well with the military/industrial complex.
Just as Russia is nervous about 'western leaning' Governments on its borders, so to does the USA. Just look at the events of the Cuban crisis many years ago and one can see just how far the USA  would go in order to 'protect its patch.' The USA, under the all inclusive anti-communist banner, has made sure that regimes of a left-leaning nature in what its sees as USA 'sphere of influence,' do not take root. Chile is a prime example from the 70's. Thus the hypocrisy of the USA is clear to see.
Throw a Stalinist type figure into Russian politics, namely Putin, and the possibility for tension can reach new heights. Putin thrives on tapping into the Russian psyche, that reaches back into the past---he is well in touch with the complex relationship Russians have with 'strong leaders.' Putin knows that by challenging the 'West' re Ukraine and the Crimea crisis, he will se a rise in his popularity in Russia. Yes, he silences opposition and democracy as we know it in the West is going out the back door. He knows that he can weather this storm and come out stronger, with an iron fist on Russia.
The difference between Russia and the USA?---- One has a hidden control mechanism, enshrined in a constitution that favours the powerful, but couched in terms that hide its real intent, while the other is just honest about naked power. You chose who is who!

Turkish PM orders Twitter shut down---he must have his head in the sand, exposing his tender bits!!

Does the embattled PM really think that the  (mainly young) people of Turkey give a rat's ass about his actions? Does he really think that todays techno-savvy young people will not find a way around his feeble attempts to stifle the discussion of 'truth,' about his undemocratic actions? Hell, even his President is still tweeting, making a mockery of the PM's actions; ones that take Turkey back to a less 'informed and worldly view?' The Turkish people must ask themselves in what direction they want their proud country to travel--to be part of a modern, open and inclusive world, where all religions and opinions are valued, but not to the point that they become the State's responsibility. It is not that Twitter is all that important but it does represent that 'watershed time' in Turkey's history; travel back in time to darkness and repression or open up and enjoy the connectedness with like-minded nations around the world; albeit with the hooks and barbs that such links may have. Democracy after all is only as good as its participants and there are always going to be difficult discussions, albeit ones that embody the ideals of what democracy could be. Aim high, Turkey and take back the promise of your founding Father!