OK, so we have won---for now. Japan has cancelled the whale hunt in the Antarctic waters, after an historic court ruling and 25 years of 'scientific' whaling. Various organizations and Governments ( especially those of Australia and NZ) have fought to stop this revolting practice. Now the Japanese have announced that they are not going back to the frozen south next year, we should not relax, thinking that we have won the war. We have just won a short respite, because we can be sure that all efforts will now be made to resurrect the whaling; it's just that the Japanese need time to formulate a system that complies with international law. That there is increasing opposition to the abhorrent practice within Japan is perhaps the best hope for a permanent victory. What we must also taken into account is that Japan may well feel slighted by this 'loss,' and everyone knows that their sensitivity will have been sorely tested and they will not meekly go away and accept the historic decision. Watch out for the 'rebound!'
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Major earthquake to hit Auckland!
Bet that got you going----but it’s true. A report out today suggests that Auckland will get a major earthquake every 10,000 to 20,000 years. Phew, that means we won’t see one for quite a while---hopefully. But---the question has to be asked: How prepared for this major event, is Auckland. One only has to look at some of the buildings, especially along the older shopping strips to realize that they just aren’t up to it. Those crumbly looking edifices look like they would tumble on anyone passing beneath, with disastrous results. Then there are the beautiful old ‘higher-rise’ buildings in the city---they too, present ‘issues.’ Unlike Wellington, not a hell of a lot has gone on to strengthen most older buildings.
Another factor that must be taken into account is the ’unpreparedness’ of Aucklanders, generally. How many have experienced large earthquakes? There is a certain blasé feeling around Auckland, ‘that it won’t happen,’ well at least not in ‘My’ lifetime.’ If and when it does actually happen, chaos will rule as we all struggle to get away from the destruction and then finding food and shelter will become almost impossible. People will need to ‘get home,’ most of who live many kilometres from their workplaces.
How many of us obey the rules---you know---the fresh water, tinned goods and other essentials? How many of us have battery radios? How dependant are we on the net. SIRVIVAL cannot be a function of Google!
Better get ready folks---for the big one, in 10,000 to 20,000 years. Mm---where are we on the spectrum? When was the last ‘big one?’
Shane Jones, David Shearer and God knows who else to join KDC?
One has to wonder who KDC is holding in his back pocket as the big surprise re his latest ‘subject,’ to join him in the mansion, prior to getting into Parliament. Such a mystery person will be needed indoor for KDC to have a ‘stooge’ in Parliament, if he wants to have an Internet Party presence. There has been much media conjecture as to the name; claims flying about someone ready to jump ship, but the two main names are silly to say the least. Why on earth would Shane join a party that has such a narrow base and certainly the prospect of David Shearer is bordering on the ridiculous. Of course Shane has also been linked with Winston Peters re the latter’s desire to find a successor. That does make some sense!
We need to go back to the whole messy KDC saga. He is facing ‘export against his will,’ back to the USA to face charges, which he strenuously denies. It is not for me to comment on the validity of those claims, but I suspect that any political move on KDC’s part is most likely an action that he sees a being effective in keeping him in NZ. As to his real political aims; they seem narrow and do not fit with a party hoping to garner support on the bigger issues of the day; like education, health and the other big-card contenders. Still, there is time for KDC and his ‘ghost team,’ to put up some policy. That will be an interesting exercise.
In the meantime, ‘We the People,’ will have to put up with his stage managed publicity attempts, all in the name of keeping KDC in the limelight, lest we forget him!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Talk To us, Leighton Smith---I was sick today so I lent my ears to his take on Climate change.
I wrote a book, based on an imaginary talk back radio host and I guess that people like Leighton Smith and Danny Watson influenced my 'take.' The book is called, 'Talk To Me,' and it will be available again soon on Kindle and hard copy via myself, direct or through Amazon. (I do have some copies from the less than perfect first printing, so feel free to contact me via my website (www.authorneilcoleman.com).
I don't agree with some of what Leighton says and tend to feel more comfortable with Danny's show, but---Leighton does challenge my 'left of centre' stance (but increasingly merging with the 'centre' as I age!) and at times I have moved my position as a result, on some issues.
Leighton takes quite a strong view re Climate Change. Basically he is miffed with the majority view coming out of the scientific community. I could state figures of a 95% to 5% split in favour of the evidence for CC, but figures like that can be construed from many sources and show a wide degree of variance. Leighton tends to come from the camp that 'any' change in climate, come from natural cycles and that the great debate is more about politics than anything else. OK, he is correct I that, politics and 'moneyed' interest may play a part in the explanations for CC, but I would put a few pertinent points to counteract some of the arguments from that position.
It is as simple as this: Take a look at satellite pictures taken over the last 30 years of the ice caps. Something stands out. Anyone who can see---will notice a gradual and possibly speeding up of the receding of the icecaps. Parts of Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia (this all can be observed in Antarctica too) are now ice free, far more than in any other time in 'recorded' history.
Those observations are indisputable; the causes, maybe not so readily explainable. How much shrinking of the icecaps and rising sea-levels can be explained alone by the activities of humans? That is where the debate should be centred and that is where Leighton takes the view from the point that, 'nature' is the culprit and that a natural cycle is simply acting out as it has for aeons.
I watched a programme the other night that gave me cause for concern. As a result of rising sea temperatures, there is a massive amount of green house gasses being released into our oceans and atmosphere, causing a rise in acidity that will in turn, lead to a mass extinction of many life forms, within the lifetime of humans being born today. What a frightening thought.
The great debate must centre on the 'actual affect' of human-kind and should be devoid of insults and concentrate on finding the answers. We must not have a 'scenario' of 'while Rome burnt the Emperor fiddled.'
Talkback radio can inform and entertain, but the latter must not drive the arguments around this very important issue, one that could, if our worst fears are realized, potentially end life on earth as we know it. In our distant past, that has indeed happened, driven by 'natural events. We have the capacity to answer these questions and therefore must find the will!
I don't agree with some of what Leighton says and tend to feel more comfortable with Danny's show, but---Leighton does challenge my 'left of centre' stance (but increasingly merging with the 'centre' as I age!) and at times I have moved my position as a result, on some issues.
Leighton takes quite a strong view re Climate Change. Basically he is miffed with the majority view coming out of the scientific community. I could state figures of a 95% to 5% split in favour of the evidence for CC, but figures like that can be construed from many sources and show a wide degree of variance. Leighton tends to come from the camp that 'any' change in climate, come from natural cycles and that the great debate is more about politics than anything else. OK, he is correct I that, politics and 'moneyed' interest may play a part in the explanations for CC, but I would put a few pertinent points to counteract some of the arguments from that position.
It is as simple as this: Take a look at satellite pictures taken over the last 30 years of the ice caps. Something stands out. Anyone who can see---will notice a gradual and possibly speeding up of the receding of the icecaps. Parts of Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia (this all can be observed in Antarctica too) are now ice free, far more than in any other time in 'recorded' history.
Those observations are indisputable; the causes, maybe not so readily explainable. How much shrinking of the icecaps and rising sea-levels can be explained alone by the activities of humans? That is where the debate should be centred and that is where Leighton takes the view from the point that, 'nature' is the culprit and that a natural cycle is simply acting out as it has for aeons.
I watched a programme the other night that gave me cause for concern. As a result of rising sea temperatures, there is a massive amount of green house gasses being released into our oceans and atmosphere, causing a rise in acidity that will in turn, lead to a mass extinction of many life forms, within the lifetime of humans being born today. What a frightening thought.
The great debate must centre on the 'actual affect' of human-kind and should be devoid of insults and concentrate on finding the answers. We must not have a 'scenario' of 'while Rome burnt the Emperor fiddled.'
Talkback radio can inform and entertain, but the latter must not drive the arguments around this very important issue, one that could, if our worst fears are realized, potentially end life on earth as we know it. In our distant past, that has indeed happened, driven by 'natural events. We have the capacity to answer these questions and therefore must find the will!
Still learning the 'hard way,' one year on from Bariatric surgery. So, cook a goulash!
Yeah, I should know by now---there are certain things that one does not eat, certainly not in anything other than tiny portions, post Bariatric surgery. I did and paid the price. So, here I am, managing to sneak out to the chemist to get some 'control' into the situation, returning home and---yes, 'things have equalized, but I have that 'run over by the bus,' feeling. I am bored so what do I do. I write a few blogs, rest, then cook up a dish I experienced form the Auckland Cultural Festival, a Hungarian one, non less. I chose to emulate the Goulash, the one cooked over a fire in a cauldron. No, I won't be eating it tonight!
Many of us have cooked Hungarian Goulash; you know the ones that use Magi soup or other packet origin stuff---well this one I researched form the net and put my own spin on it. I haven't got a cauldron; the nearest being in Rotorua, so I settled for my trusty crockpot/slow cooker. (Let's not get into a discussion about then possible differences between the two.)
I found a packet of shinbone meat in my freezer. I wouldn't use expensive steak in the CP. I chopped up two onions, as much garlic as I dared, chucked it in the pot with a tin of tomatoes, two large Table spoons of tomato concentrate, two large teaspoons of paprika, a chopped chilli, a diced bell pepper (Capsicum), some chopped mushrooms, a generous pinch of mixed dried herbs, salt, cracked pepper, two teaspoons of extra dried capsicums, (only because I had them) and ---courtesy, free----from the Aussie butcher in Mt Roskill, some pork fat. Now, I await as the CP cooks------slowly----and the smell assails my nose. Damn, I won't be eating it tonight, but from past experience, things cooked in the CP always taste better the next day. There will be a late addition, just before serving tomorrow night--- a generous dollop of sour cream. I am going to serve it with good old-fashioned mashed potatoes and NZ spinach---- the one that self-seeds in my garden.
When I researched 'Hungarian food, it came with a warning. Hungarian food in its traditional form is not for the 'diet conscious!' OMG' you say, 'how can you partake of such food, after suffering form a tummy upset?' Fair point, but of course I won't and when I do, it will be small in size and I did 'alter' the recipe to take out the worst of the 'destroyers'. The pork fat addition was miniscule. Watch for an 'update,' re the final result.
Many of us have cooked Hungarian Goulash; you know the ones that use Magi soup or other packet origin stuff---well this one I researched form the net and put my own spin on it. I haven't got a cauldron; the nearest being in Rotorua, so I settled for my trusty crockpot/slow cooker. (Let's not get into a discussion about then possible differences between the two.)
I found a packet of shinbone meat in my freezer. I wouldn't use expensive steak in the CP. I chopped up two onions, as much garlic as I dared, chucked it in the pot with a tin of tomatoes, two large Table spoons of tomato concentrate, two large teaspoons of paprika, a chopped chilli, a diced bell pepper (Capsicum), some chopped mushrooms, a generous pinch of mixed dried herbs, salt, cracked pepper, two teaspoons of extra dried capsicums, (only because I had them) and ---courtesy, free----from the Aussie butcher in Mt Roskill, some pork fat. Now, I await as the CP cooks------slowly----and the smell assails my nose. Damn, I won't be eating it tonight, but from past experience, things cooked in the CP always taste better the next day. There will be a late addition, just before serving tomorrow night--- a generous dollop of sour cream. I am going to serve it with good old-fashioned mashed potatoes and NZ spinach---- the one that self-seeds in my garden.
When I researched 'Hungarian food, it came with a warning. Hungarian food in its traditional form is not for the 'diet conscious!' OMG' you say, 'how can you partake of such food, after suffering form a tummy upset?' Fair point, but of course I won't and when I do, it will be small in size and I did 'alter' the recipe to take out the worst of the 'destroyers'. The pork fat addition was miniscule. Watch for an 'update,' re the final result.
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Monday, March 31, 2014
Strange bedfellows, I know, but Kim DotCom and Colin Craig are merging after MP rejection.
The General Election in September this year is shaping up to be one of the more unusual ones, given the machinations re the make-up of the various wannabe alliances. Rumours abound and some facts are begging to emerge. Forget about political honesty and accept that politics is just another word for ‘prostitution, the oldest game in the world, albeit, played out in another forum other than the bedroom! OK, I know---sometimes the latter is a thread that displays itself in unseemly fashion.
We have the ‘where’s Winston going to throw his not inconsiderable resources---the so-called king-maker? Then there is the prospect of the Mari Party being sent to a place well away from parliament as they struggle to figure out who they are. That they don’t listen to ‘our people’ anymore says heaps about just how close ‘oblivion’ is. It seems that cosying up to the national party may have nailed the coffin firmly shut!
Come forth the new players, one very much so, and the other, finally making it into a full digit number in the polls rather than the decimal portions. Collin Craig, if he can stop bleating about taking people to court for merely stating the obvious, may have attracted a few voters and his position in a the next Parliament could be a reality. God knows (and Collin is very close to God) how he will get on with the National Party. I suspect that JK is in two minds as to how he will mesh with Dear Collin.
Then of course there is KDC. After sitting in his Coatesville mansion for the past few years and lately being the recipient of many visitors, he is manoeuvring to find a back-door into Parliament using some obscure provision in the MMP system, to coat-tail in Parliament; but who with? Why--- Hone of course! They apparently will help one another and then separate once in the chambers. A marriage of political convenience, but one doomed to go down the gurgler, once they face off in parliament. They pretend to have a few linking issues in common, but can you really imagine Hone supplicating himself in any manner to the man from the mansion; the man who can’t actually stand for parliament because he is not a citizen? One does wonder if KDC is just playing a game to delay the possibility of an imminent return to the USA!
There is another perennial ‘boat-jumper in the mix---yes---Peter Dunne. He can change colour to suit any number of possibilities. I bet there are meetings with lots of tea-cups in cafes across the nation. I am sure Peter will come up with a formula to gain yet another few years in the big house in Wellington. He is after all, the consummate fence –sitter, but he has done his best to help resolve the ‘legal high’ issue, even if it is still prevalent on our streets.
Come September, we all have to work out the ramifications of the ‘new boys on the block,’ and given out past record re voting, anything can happen. Find out as much as can about these ‘actors’ and come up with a ‘cast’ that works for New Zealand and not the continuation of big overseas interest groups, gradually buying up NZ. Look to who will address the huge and growing gap between the rich and poor and look to someone who will retune NZ to a place where people really do get a fair go!
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