Armed masked thugs are a substitute for following due process , Mr Putin!

Russia expects the world to believe that the images of armed, masked thugs, breaking into State department and police buildings in the Eastern a part of Ukraine, signify the populaces’ widespread desire to leave Ukraine and be part of Russia. Russia claims that it has no agents on Ukraine’s soil and that the spectre of discontent is fed by the majority of citizens in those ‘disputed regions.’

Get real, Mr Putin. Do you really want to take us back to those times from yesteryear that resemble some sort of tragic comic opera? That ‘stony face’ you present to the world is not at all believable!? The utterings of your underlings are total lies, albeit based on a belief that Russia feels encircled by the forces of the USA, NATO and the EU. OK, you may have reason to call for ‘diplomatic’ activity to lessen those long held feelings but you do not have the legitimacy to repeat what you have ‘achieved’ in the Crimea. If there is such massive resistance to the Kiev Government (Which I am not proposing as a shining example of democratic processes!) why are there not huge numbers on the streets of those cities and towns in Eastern Ukraine? Unlike your own country where police interrupt and arrest those who go against your will, Ukrainians still have the right to protest. They are not doing that to the extent that your intervention is warranted.

Yes, let’s have a referendum, in those territories under dispute; not one in the West of the country, because as you say that is tantamount to the Scottish people havening their fate decided by people in England and Wales. OK, let such a referendum take place about the future direction of Eastern and possibly Southern Ukraine, but it must be under the direction of the UN. How can we trust a Russian designed and led process given what has happened so far to this former Soviet outpost?

IN the meantime, pull back, Mr Putin. You are taking us all to place that we thought had become part of history. You are re-igniting the Cold War and you must take responsibility for your actions. There are better ways; ones based on honesty, not bullying and overriding of natural justice. Just remember, all dictators eventually face the wrath of tier people. I cannot believe that the tensions you are feeding within your own country will not come back to bite you in your rear-end!’

Climate change---to those who still have their heads in the sand, or their wallets----we all share planet earth.

There is little doubt that the activities of humans have contributed massively to climate change and that even if natural cycles occur, our oceans lakes and rivers are slowly, but at an accelerating rate, turning into habitats that will not sustain life as we know it. The implications are that humans will sooner rather than later, be seriously affected along with many other species, plants and animal.
Despite all the evidence we have this rump in the scientific fraternity, who are in the clutches of big industry and financial oligarch who challenge what is obvious to most. As our oceans become more acidic and the air we breath more polluted, we risk the very existence of life on earth. We already know that the oceans are rising and that has huge implications for many of our largest cities as they struggle to 'keep their heads above water.' In the lifetime of our children, we are going to see nations struggling to feed their populaces, even more so than we do now, and the pressure in more sensitive and highly populated regions becomes more intense, we are in for social upheaval and war on a scale we have never seen before. Politicians who are only interested in short term goals and who don't take in the 'bigger picture,' only add to the problem. What is it going to take---to galvanise Governments around the world to come to an agreement that goes beyond geographic boundaries or economic rivalries? The clock is ticking and by the time we do see agreement, it will be too late. In the meantime we put up with egotistical despots and industrial cliques who care nothing other than for themselves and their plans and ambitions. Unless powers like the USA, China, Russia, the EU and India come aboard re a plan to  curb the use of fossil fuels, then the future is indeed bleak. Maybe we should insist that our leaders are all under 50, knowing that they have an investment in the future of this jewel in the universe---for now!

Putin is about as transparent as my Jack Russell, but at least I can trust my dog! She doesn't lie.

It is obvious now, just what Putin and his cronies in Ukraine are up to. They are steadily increasing the pressure on the East and South of this beleaguered country. First they took the Crimea and to a certain extent I understood that; it was the low down lies that went along with the process that got me. Now, under the pretext that 'things are out of control' and that locals want to unite with Russia, we see Russia preparing to go on to eastern Ukraine in order to 'establish order' and to conduct a phony referendum. The spectre of masked men, presenting as 'concerned citizens, taking over government buildings and building barricades is nothing short of comical, if it was not for the sinister forces behind such actions.
 Russia is now on a course that is going to see it being labelled a pariah state. Who can trust the despotic leader of Russia? He has pummelled his opposition, something easy to achieve in Russia, given its tragic history. I have tried to be neutral in this affair but now, I genuinely believe that Russia is hell bound on rebuilding the Soviet Empire of old, the Cold War re-established and the tension we all lived under for a generation, about to be reignited.
I am not saying that the USA is innocent in this struggle between East and West, but at least there is still a modicum of means to object when the USA goes too far. For Russia, no  such mechanisms exist. Russia is the very 'fascist State' hat it says is being established in   Ukraine. 
The EU needs to cut its dependency on Russian gas and develop alternate energy sources. I am sure that this is happening at a pace now, never seen before. When  they achieve that position, they should cut off support for trading with Russia while it follows such dangerous expansionist policies. The USA too, should take a message from these events. The world is well over the concentration of power in the hands of the Great Powers. We all inhabit this earth; not for the purposes of meeting the needs of the major players. In the meantime, Putin---pull ya head in! To the USA and the rest of the world---remember those fateful words of yesteryear about 'peace in our time.' They were spoken about another tyrant!

Eggs rule---but even they need a 'lift' sometimes.

Since my bariatric operation a year ago, I have come to value the importance of eggs. Gone are the days when we were told that they were our enemy. I well remember the old advert that said, 'if you have an egg in the house you have a meal.' That of course was put out by the 'egg industry,' and when measured against the 'fear of cholesterol,' ,many of us, avoided more than a few eggs a week.
Thankfully, today we have a more 'balanced' approach to eggs and the part they play in a healthy diet. For me, in those early days after my operation, they were a God-send. Those runny poached eggs (well it was one at first) went down a treat and they provided a protein and mineral hit that my body needed and craved. I go through at least 8 a week now and before you get alarmed--they consist of the only protein I have in the meal when I am eating eggs, except when I hit a local café. That they are not raising my cholesterol level is backed up by the fact that I don't take any Statins now for that previously worrying condition. Now, once again before the woe-betide brigade, I am not saying that everyone should follow my dietary journey. One should always take into account their particular health issues and discuss those with their doctor. My journey is just that---mine.
Now that I have discarded all the 'but you shouldn't' or 'you're mad,' comments and lets face it---I am not here to convince anyone to jump onto my regime, I can get on  with the real purpose of this blog---I shall share my lovely upmarket (OK--it's not really) version of poached or, yes, fried eggs.
1) Make some wholemeal toast. (one small slice for me)
2) Heat up the fry pan, wok ort whatever you cook your eggs in.
3) Either poach (I put in boiling water with vinegar added, to help keep the whits together) or fry your eggs in a little olive oil, until done top your idea of perfection.
4) Take your toast and lightly spread with some marmite or vegemite and then stick a slice of cheese ( I use the 'tasty Chesdale) which can be as flash as you wish.
5) Cut the toasty/cheese into bite slice pieces and sprinkle with capers.
6) Dish up the eggs and enjoy. The capers provide an enticing lift to the eggs. I love this 'all-day breakfast' with my coffee made in my AeroPress coffee maker. (see an earlier blog about this amazing cheap little implement.\\
Oh so simple and yes---healthy.

Kim and Hone or will it be Hone and Kim? Who's 'top and who's bottom!?'

Political desperation, or is it just good sense 'survival' politics? If you had been watching the news tonight and saw a close-up of Sue Bradford's face, a former politician (or is a reborn aspirant?) then not everybody at the Mana Party 'conference' agrees with the present posturing. She was banned from talking to the media, before tonight's meeting that will decide whether this unholy alliance will go forward. I suspect that there will be blood on the floor later tonight!
I felt a twinge of disbelief crawling up my spine as I listened to KDC telling all; how he often went to bed early, after only managing toast and Ketchup for dinner in his younger days! That feeling grew as I listened his attempts to describe his 'connection' to the poor and how his union with Mana will help Maori.
One cannot help thinking of historical events when Maori were hoodwinked in many ways by my own predecessors. It seems that history does and will repeat and that nothing has been learnt!
KDC, watched by a smirking and slightly uncomfortable looking Hone, attempted to smooth the political bed, citing how he wanted to help Maori. I have this nagging feeling that the only basis for KDC 'putting it out there' and bringing 'much love' to the 'marriage of convenience,' is to further his own agenda---that is to be in a position to expand his business options, via Parliament, by means of a  proxy, because he cannot stand for election himself and in  the long run to somehow influence the lawmakers to keep him safe here in NZ, so that he need not face the 'business wolves' in the USA who he has mightily offended. Not that I have much sympathy for them either, but come on folks--are we going to be sucked in by this parade of the politically stupid!? Oh well---stranger things have and will happen. Bottom line---this is all about KDC and Hone is just being USED. He may yet get a message from his own party tonight and therein lies the seeds for the demise of the Mana Party.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Put aside your political claptrap and do something for New Zealand!

In the 1970’s under Norman Kirk’s government New Zealand had a chance to set up a fund that could have played a major part in keeping New Zealand at the forefront re caring for its citizens. I am talking about the Superannuation scheme that would have by some estimates had nearly NZ$300 billion in the ‘kitty.’ What happened?---why politics intervened of course and we all remember (Those of us old enough, that is) the dancing Cossacks and other shenanigans, put up by those opposed to the scheme and the subsequent rejection by the ‘voters,’ all in the name of political greed and survival. NZ’s long term future did not come into the debate, that which emanated from the then opposition National Party. Muldoon successfully played into the selfish part of the NZ psyche; the one that hates ‘Nanny State,’ and ‘being told what to do’, even if it is for the benefit of future generations.

Now, we face the possibility of not being able to fund the ‘retirement expenses for many NZers, as the cost of housing, particularly in Auckland and other big cities, is fast approaching a point whereby owning one’s home is just a pipe-dream. Many would say that we have already reached that stage. Forget about a comfortable retirement, unless you have invested in the Kiwi Saver programme at a rate above the minimum level. So we have two major factors, housing affordability and retirement needs that are falling short of the mark. What are politicians doing; you know, those people we put into power to come up with policy that helps to meet our needs and provide for us when we ‘can’t?’ Oh, I forget; there is a groundswell coming from the ‘Right’ that says the Government has no part to play in how people make decisions about their futures.’ Politicians of all hues have an underlying tendency to put their short term survival above the needs of New Zealand as a whole, despite their protestations and verbal espousals to the contrary. Can’t you hear them wiggling in indignant ‘self-love,’ and denial of my words?

While politicians ‘do their thing,’ especially in this important election year, ‘WE,’ the public need to hear real plans that propose to come somewhere near (in proportion, that is) the level of investment our Aussie cousins across the ‘ditch,’ have manage, re the fund they have achieved by having a robust scheme that has gone a long way to meeting the needs of their citizens. I do not think that our politicians are any less as human beings, but what is it that has put us in the position we find ourselves now----facing a future for our elderly, that means we are going to look like we DO NOT CARE about the future?

It is time to stop pussy-footing around re this extremely important issue. The debate needs to happen fast and be taken to the wider community, because we cannot trust our politicians to think in terms, other than that of their own political survival. We do not want to listen to—‘but we have tried to get a scheme in for games, but ‘they’ won’t join with us.’ It is time that ordinary citizens took responsibility to put aside our own selfish ‘I want money now,’ idea and bit the bullet, suffer a little short term ‘adjustment  pain,’ and got on with preparing for a better and more prosperous retirement. That message must be rammed through to our politicians. Will we do that, or do politicians mirror a ‘here and now’ mentality that has pervaded NZ for quite some time? This year, 2014 is our chance to get the balance back.

 www.authorneilcoleman.com

Swallowing a pram--not a good feeling.

Of course I didn’t swallow a pram! It just feels like it. Don’t you hate it when a tooth cracks, usually the result of an old filling breaking down. In this case it seems to happen to the same tooth every four or five months; one of those back ones that you need for chewing. Then it leaves a sharp jagged edge that cuts ingot your tongue and cheek every time you talk or swallow, making me sound like a demented chipmunk! (Or in NZ’s case –a possum).

The dentist has been gently telling me that I need a crown, but we all know that involves copious amount of cash, so I keep going for the cheap fix. Silly me---I could have paid for it twice over, having gone for the option that inly last a short time, so now that we have the British Royal Family traipsing around NZ at the moment, I thought in honour of their visit I would get my own crown and to hell with the money---Aunty Visa will have to pay for it.

I can think of much better ways to spend my afternoons; you know the feeling: your mouth filled to capacity with dental implements and the dentist chatting away, expecting an answer, which can only come in the form of a grunt or hand movements. I well remember quite wide-ranging chats in the past!

OK, at least I shall have the rough edges rubbed, filed or whatever, off today! Can’t wait to have a smooth-talking mouth again.