BIGOTRY IN CONGRESS…

“If American Citizens Don’t Wake Up…There Will Likely Be Many More Muslims Elected To Office”…

I am glad that there are no bigots in Muslim countries. All the Christian, Jewish and Hindu politicians helping create democratic laws in their countries. It warms my heart!

An Interesting Report from AFP

'French had bin Laden in rifle scopes'

French soldiers in Afghanistan had al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in their crosshairs — twice — but did not receive the order from their US commander to open fire, a French documentary reported.
The filmed report, by journalists Eric de Lavarene and Emmanuel Razavi, asserts that the French troops had bin Laden in their rifle scopes in 2003 and then again six months later in 2004.
Four French soldiers assigned to a 200-strong special forces unit in Afghanistan under US military control all confirmed — "at different times and in different places" — that they could have killed bin Laden but that the order to shoot was not forthcoming, the report claims.
The documentary, entitled 'Bin Laden: Failings of a Manhunt' and set to be shown on French cable television channel Planete at an unspecified date, relies on the accounts given by the four soldiers.
"We have the original voice recordings of the soldiers," Razavi told AFP. "But their anonymity has to be guaranteed."
However, the French defence ministry said the story was "pure fabrication".
"There is absolutely no basis of truth in what is being said," said spokesperson Jean-Francois Bureau.

Right up there with Bill Clinton, are the French.

"PARTY PILLS"

The Government has been advised to outlaw the sale of "party pills" by an expert committee which has been studying their dangers.
The pills can be legally purchased by those over 18, but critics say their main active ingredient benzylpiperazine (BZP) is dangerous and pill doses are often far higher than recommended, leading to significant potential harm.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10416231

It irritates me intensely when these dangerous drugs are described as either "party pills" or "herbal highs". They are neither! They are mind altering chemicals that are being marketed under these guises by soulless businessmen who want to make money.

They have been shown to alter the "wiring" in the brain PERMANENTLY through new axon and dendritic growth. We do not know what the long term effects they have on behavior, this will all come out later. In the mean time do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain?

People are taking varying amounts of these pills that are made from an unknown recipe, with unknown quantities in them and then get in a car and drive, not knowing what effect this will have on their safety on the road. What idiots!

Prescription medicines have to pass through rigorous scientific testing and then are reviewed by independent pharmacology and medical experts before being allowed to be prescribed by doctors to the public. There are quality controls in the manufacture that ensures the correct dosage. If the same drug is subsequently manufactured by a different company, the process is repeated before they can be used in New Zealand. The manufacturers of these "party pills"are literally getting away with murder.

Comparisons are being made to alcohol, and quite rightly so. However since the beginning of time man has made alcohol, and when used with caution, does not cause harm. Excessive use causes destruction of brain tissue, alteration of mood, altered reflexes and perception, violence and accidents. These facts are known to the public. Idiots who drink themselves to a standstill will face the consequences. There are also laws against the misuse of this drug.

People argue that by controlling these substances, there will be greater exposure to other drugs such as "P". This message is being trumpeted by the manufacturers of BZP containing drugs and is nonsense as many users of "party pills" will experiment with other drugs too. What is more important is that the culture of having to take a drug to improve their ability to party needs to be altered.

I do not agree with Jim Anderton about much, but I do agree that there needs to be control of these substances, the sooner the better.

A Day in Auckland

Spent a quite evening in Izzy bay last night (for a change there were no pissed idiots with their music at full volume). Had a chance to try out the new heads (loo) on the boat!

Champagne sailing all the way back - at six knots - with no sea at all (beat the mobo's back).

Life's good now that summer is here. I'll wait until the Xmas/New Year rush is over and then get out into the Gulf.

Mbeki warns on China-Africa ties

From BBC news

Africa must guard against falling into a "colonial relationship" with China, South African President Thabo Mbeki has warned the continent.
His comments come as fast-growing China is continuing to increase its push for raw materials across Africa.
Mr Mbeki said African nations must strive for their relationship with China to be based on equal trade.
Last month, China hosted an Africa summit attended by 50 African leaders including Mr Mbeki.

At last I agree with Mbeki about something.

Mr Mbeki said that if Africa just exported raw materials to China while importing Chinese manufactured goods, the African continent could be "condemned to underdevelopment".
He said that this would simply mean "a replication" of Africa's historical relationship with its former colonial powers.

I fear that they would not be as good to Africa as Europe was, and they were not very good at all.