Grasputin Takes Over Crimea

As many Kremlin watchers feared, Putin has moved the Russian armed forces into Ukraine to protect Russian interests. So far the invasion has been limited to Crimea, but he has made it very clear that further incursions will take place if necessary.

I assume that this violation of Ukraine sovereignty is to protect not only Russian bases in Crimea but also to send the new Ukrainian Government a direct message not to mess with civil rights of the millions of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine.

From the outside, this looks disturbingly like the break up of Yugoslavia. I hope the politicians avoid that scenario, because civil wars are such vicious affairs and a pathetic waste of valuable lives. In this case, both sides have many more close cultural and historical ties that binds them more than their differences. Perhaps it is time for them to listen to John Lennon's tuneful incantation, "Give Peace A Chance"- and put the guns away.

Phoney Poll?

Yes indeed, guess what, the Whangarei District Council has opted to use a telephone poll to tell them if there is enough local support to continue spending money on converting the old Northland Regional Council Basin building into a Hundertwasser styled gallery! Just under half the Council wanted to ditch the project and this appears to me to be a compromise to keep the peace between the opposing camps.

The wording of the survey will be need to be clear and not just a front to get a predetermined result. It also needs to be large enough to be credible and also connect with people without a land line. I am hoping that I will not feel compelled to rail against a rigged poll.

Whangarei Council Sends A Message

The Whangarei District Council has voted against supporting a  one council proposal for the whole of Northland. I agree with them on this one because the area is long and narrow, has urban areas situated far apart and culturally more distinct than a typical city.

A Drop In The Bucket

In New Zealand, MPs get generous cost of living rises, but not so the working poor it seems.

Home Alone Billy

Billy has been left behind to guard the farm, while his boss and Sharlene are away at the Northland Field Days - that are taking place near Dargaville, in Northland, from  the 27th of Feb.  to  the 1st of March. In the meantime, Billy is hopeful that Sharlene'e Mum will be popping over to ensure that he is well provisioned with extra treats not normally on the menu.

Cola Role Models

The New Zealand Rugby Union must be nuts if they take on Coca-Cola as an All Black sponsor. Don't they know about the negative reputation that company has with those trying to stem the rising tide of tooth decay and diabetes in New Zealand? Crazy!!

Litigation Conversations

Two minor parties contesting the election in New Zealand this year have already started scrapping.  Colin Craig, as the NZ Conservative Party Leader, is threatening take Russell Norman, the Green Party's co-leader, to court over comments Norman made about Craig's attitude toward women and homosexuals at "The Big Gay Out". Craig is demanding that Norman offer a retraction or risk being sued.

Russell Norman is not backing down and so the ball is now in Colin Craig's court now for him to decide if he wants a lawyer as doubles partner to take on the Greens. Colin Craig has already got retractions from a satirist and others in the past, but this time he is taking on a feisty and canny politician and the litigation in my opinion will backfire on him if he goes ahead. The publicity will highlight even more the personal and historical prejudices of Colin Craig, that today look dated and out of sync with our modern liberal society. If he sues, he will be the one to be damned.