Egypt---what have you got to gain by the manner in which you suppress freedom of the press?

The actions of the Egyptian court system re the sentencing of three Aljazeera reporters is tantamount to that of a ‘failing state,’ trying to justify the suppression of freedom, in all its forms. Yes, we all know about the Government led by ex-President Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood and how he too was going down the path of curtailing the freedom of those opposed to his increasingly despotic rule, but the army general who replaced him is little better.

What is behind this ‘over-reaction to the Aljazeera journalists? Why does he or the state institutions he leads, react in such an overbearing manner? Is this just a diversion to take the attention away from other more sinister policies the new Government (Questionably elected) proposes to foist on the ever-suffering Egyptian people?

Questions and more questions: It seems that just a short time ago, the streets of Cairo were ringing with hope, after the ‘Egyptian Spring,’ when ordinary people ‘came out’ to force the former dictator from office. Now it all seems to have been a terrible waste of time; with one corrupt old man replaced by successors, who also have an agenda to push their particular ideology (Morsi) or desire to gain power, no matter what the cost re the Egyptian people wanting to have a real say.

Egypt is yet another Middle-Eastern country that has undergone so-called revolutions, only then to have the ‘hope’ swept away into the mists of corruption and greed; and holding power at all costs regimes, forced upon them. The region is a massive ‘lake of discontent,’ exemplified by leaders who go to war on large sections of their populace. At one end we have the extreme situation of Syria, which is at war with itself, and at the other (although, any would say ‘extreme’ in a different style) Israel, which also segments it population, using walls and soldiers to ‘keep the peace.’

Egypt cannot expect the aid, support and understanding by taking the actions we have seen over the last 2 years. World opinion (although there is the usual silence from the likes of Russia and China!) is united in the responses to the news we heard today about the three journalists. That the USA has just released a military aid package to Egypt is particularly worrying. Are these arms going to be used to supress yet more of the freedoms that Egyptians thought they had won all those months ago? Hope has been replaced by a sense of doom in this once proud and historically rich country. What will we remember Egypt for, in the immediate future?—not a lot that we value, that is for sure!

It is not too late, Mr President---intervene and start the process of ‘dialogue’ with your own people!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/047325655X Click on it!

Yes--click on the above link to download your Kindle (or other reading Ap) of ROSKILL. If you want to read an authentic New Zealand story that so easilly could be in 'your town, your city,' and above all---in YOUR family. What would you do if your partner put your relationship, your family and your finances at risk, because he/she could not resist the 'pull' of an illicit drug. IN this case the demon is 'P' as we call it in NZ, but you may call it something esle, like 'Ice.'
My story is one that represents the dark side of life but it is also a message of 'hope.'
Please review the book, after you have read it and pass on the link to it to your circles and friends. Get in touch with me if you want re 'bulk deals' for the prinited, version.
www.authorneilcoleman.com
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Hate speach has transformed into hate attacks in Russia, but there is a NZ link!

Last night I watched a programme on TV---‘Sunday,’ and it left me feeling very sad. That feeling deepened when I read about an event in NZ that fell not the same category as the situation described in Russia, the difference been that in Russia, the ‘State’ has encouraged such abhorrent behaviours.

I am talking about the manner in which Putin and his Government has acted in ways that ‘allow’ attacks on gay, Bi and transgender people. NO, they do not tell people to identify gay people in the social media or to actually attack people; sometimes hunting in packs to torture, humiliate and even kill their victims. What Putin has done by his ‘announcements’ and lack of response to these vicious and cruel attacks is to justify the behaviours of these ‘haters’ who go out of their way to entrap, capture and ‘deal to’ gay people in Russia. Even those who fight against this terrible state of affairs in Russia are in danger, of losing their jobs and to be harassed by the groups doing this.

The police do nothing and politicians rarely speak out, such is the ‘control’ that Putin now holds over the Russian populace. His cynical stance re the Olympics should have fired warning shots to those seeking a change in attitude. His macho behaviours where he seeks to endear himself to the Russian people does nothing to quell the actions of those nasty haters. Indeed, the signal he is giving is nothing short of a ‘primitive signal’ to those who wish to act in this low and unlawful manner.

Russia has a long history of excluding minorities and this is just a modern day extension of that sad history. Yes, there many who feel angry about this issue, but they fear to speak out, such is the climate in Putin’s Russia. If Russia wants to claim a label as a ‘civilized’ nation then it needs to take a serious look at itself, starting at the top, because in essence, leaders lead and others take note of their words and actions and translate that understanding into their behaviours---this time into a situation that warrants world-wide action. It seems that Russia is determined to return to the old days when it hid behind an iron curtain—now they have let an immoral leader hold sway and for those who disagree or who are ‘different from his ideal of whom a Russian should be---there is little hope.

A few days ago, we saw the same sad behaviours, enacted upon a transgender person, in New Zealand. That should serve as a warning to us all, that we are not exempt from such despicable acts. The difference is of course, that the huge majority of our politicians do not feel bound to the words and actions of our leaders. For that I am thankful, but we must remain vigilant and expose any behaviours that put a group at risk.

www.authorneilcoleman.

Luxembourg---nice to see you reading my blogs! Share my site please!

I love to see new members reading my blogs. I wish that would translate into book sales for ROSKILL. Help me to make that happen my reader(s) in Luxembourg. Just click on like for my site and share it with our friends. If you buy ROSKILL from my website and blog,  as a hard copy, you get a free download onto your Kindle or reading AP. Self-publishing is a thankless task and it is very hard to break into the world of professional book seeling, so doing it on my own is incredibly time-consuming and a matter of building a blog-read space. Having come this far on my journey, means that I am not giving up.
If you are curious about life in New Zealand, including the darker life stories, then read my books. I am of course a positively happy person who believes in the 'hope' that story-telling can invoke. Thank you, Luxembourg.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Pukeko Heaven for a Jack Russell--on a leash!

I spent the day ion Hamilton, the home of the England loss to NZ as thus giving us a clean sweep of the Rugby test series. NO, I didn't go the 'sold-out'' act; it was more about the family, siblings and a dear cousin. We took the two dogs and did our usual thing; cooking up a great feed. We did a 'repeat' of a recipe using schnitzel coated in herbed breadcrumbs with a second cooking using the grill with mustard and cheese. I only ate a small portion, even giving Perdy some.
 Between courses (yes, we had a gluten-free sticky date pudding with caramel sauce and whipped cream) we took a quick trip to the lake in the m idle of Hamilton, where it is possibly to walk right around the edge on a lovely path, but today we decided to walk 20 minutes one way and then turn back.
From the moment Perdy jumped out of the car, thank God, on a leash, she noticed that there was an abundance of Pukeko and other water-birds. Her face ;lit up as she begged me to let her go!----yeah  right, Miss Perdy--you want me to get arrested by the Hamiltonian law enforcement agents--I mean my fellow dog walkers here looked a bit sideways at the black and white Taliban member!  Not on---girlfriend!
I swear that Perdy felt like she weighed in at about three times her 7-5 kilos! She jumped and pulled and did her best to break away to attack the 'blue water rats----- birdie versions.' She was pissed of---who the hell was I to keep her away from a sight that she had never before set her eyes upon. Those cheeky birds damn well knew that Perdy couldn't get to them and they squawked their distain at the 'terrorist' in their near midst.
 For the entire walk, Perdy did not give up her struggle to 'get at her enemies.' How dare 'me,' someone who is supposed to love he, torture her with such a 'negation of her freedom to move.' Hell, is that not a basic doggie right under special 'United nations regulations?'
NO amount of explanation could convince Perdy that I was doing this for her. Did she not see that the Pukekos she saw, were just the 'vanguard' of the army of birds, egging her on, in the knowledge that just beyond her sight, there awaited hundreds of 'others' ready to flap their way and peck her into a place she would not like---death! Those birds are fierce; determined to defend their territory and families and one Jack Russell, no matter how big her ego, was not going to make a dent in their empire!
OH well, Perdy---another time, another day---you will be back!---with 'reinforcements! The score today?----Hamilton Pukeko Empire'---- 1---Perdy nil. Such is the life of a frustrated Jack Russell. No doubt she will re-live the battle in her dreams, moaning and twitching as she usually does after a 'plentiful day.'
www.authorneilcoleman.com

'Perdy---leave Britney and her Pukeko friends  alone!'

'Perdy---don't you know these Waikato Pukekos are vicious bitches!'

 

Peace has settled upon the lake. Cousin Barbara and I try to hide from the pukekos, but guess who is not convinced!

 

 

Friday night--time to cook---slowly!

I have time tonight to cook something ---good for me and something g to be savoured. NO need to rush--no need to worry about doing anything but--indulge myself. Pre-bariatric surgery days that would have meant a huge greasy meal of takeaways and then the accompanying feelings of guilt and yet more weight on my 'shouldn't be fat frame!' I was born little and didn't get fat until well into my 40s.
Now that I have achieved  a weight that even the surgeon didn't think I would arrive at---well---it's a matter of maintaining my 'new me.' This is an example of what I can eat now (15 months post-surgery), especially when I take the time to 'prepare' a meal. Damn, I love Friday nights. Can't ya feel a song coming on?
About a month or so ago I brought a whole fillet roast. It was about 800gms and cost around NZ$20. Expensive you say. NO---not at all---because I had the nice Aussie Butcher guys at Mt Roskill slice it into about 14 pieces of succulent eye-fillet steak. For me, that is 14 meals. Now work out the cost of a meal for me--cheap eh.
Tonight I took a few pieces of the free-flowed frozen steak and let them defrost in a small plastic bag with a mixture of soy, chilli and balsamic vinegar. While that was happening, I opened a bottle of Chardonnay and prepared a sauce. I sliced two red onions and let them gently fry in some oil and then added a handful of raisins, some more chilly flakes and some of the chardonnay. I let it all caramelize then added parsley. I added my small steaks and let them simmer--sounds a bit like a stew but its more like brazing, I think. The steak became tender, because I let it do its thing for about 30 minutes on a low heat.
I don't bother with rice, or potatoes very much now--I seem to have changed and if I feel like the latter--I have them--but just a bit. I am so happy that I have broken the habit of carb-loading!
The result of my patience and two glasses of wine? Pure heaven. The sauce and the meltingly beautiful steak is made for a king---or queen--take your pick. Once again, for me it is a case of 'less is more.' I left the rest for my partner---NO---I wont be tempted to have 'seconds,' because I have some ice-cream for later. Yes I can! God---I love Friday nights.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

John Key's 'smartness' is about to backfire---big time!

Watching the smug face of John Key as he contemplated a 'moral' victory over David Cunliffe and the 'leaked letter affair' is enough to make one throw up. The image of him prancing around Washington, making the most of his photo opportunities, and listening to his predictions that he has much more to come on David Cunliffe, led many to believe that he was about to administer the 'coup de grace' for his opponent's career. Things are not quite so simple Mr Key.
IT seems that you are part of a nasty plot and a scheme to withhold information about the whole sorry affair that your MPs were also involved in. I am not saying that the 'letters' that most MPs write for their constituents are all above recrimination, but your holier than thou announcements are nothing short of gutter politics. Yes, I know that Labour is equally capable of following the same path.
WE the voters are sick of the stupidity from all sectors of the political spectrum  that treat us like fools. Maybe we are---for allowing you your second term, but at the time, I guess we didn't know you WE will not make that mistake again. This time, the people of NZ are going to have the opportunity to see the 'real you.' It is not a pretty sight.
 David---step up to the mark and continue to offer policies, not the inane behaviours of the 'soon to be former PM!' Once again, I say---'what goes around, comes around!'
www.authorneilcoleman.com