tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69713210546303801242024-03-08T06:49:29.938+13:00Middle-aged White MaleThe mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation - Henry david Thoreaumawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-85545163259182245062012-12-17T19:19:00.001+13:002012-12-17T19:19:08.600+13:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><strong><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Battle of Blood River - 16 December 1838</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">"Here we stand before the holy God of heaven and earth, to make a vow to Him that, if He will protect us and give our enemy into our hand, we shall keep this day and date every year as a day of thanksgiving like a sabbath, and that we shall erect a house to His honour wherever it should please Him, and that we also will tell our children that they should share in that with us in memory for future generations. For the honour of His name will be glorified by giving Him the fame and honour for the victory."</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTwxpwr-4UmTM3-MxUa6ehw_e1KJ337iSRnfYlbLziDq8lRsgPQekw6sx2zQdSZ5hAVAkABU4848qQhiwwYtoFGtV9B8kjbf0PNb4eQhMhL9X2Y7XvJ2QQ4RI1SkY8Ours4gtU1OciNY/s1600/South+Africa-1102-0177_xlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTwxpwr-4UmTM3-MxUa6ehw_e1KJ337iSRnfYlbLziDq8lRsgPQekw6sx2zQdSZ5hAVAkABU4848qQhiwwYtoFGtV9B8kjbf0PNb4eQhMhL9X2Y7XvJ2QQ4RI1SkY8Ours4gtU1OciNY/s640/South+Africa-1102-0177_xlarge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Blood River Memorial</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">This battle was fought between 470 Boer Voortrekkers and an estimated 10,000–15,000 Zulu warriors on the bank of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838, South Africa. Casualties amounted to three thousand of Zulu King Dingane's soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes. Three Voortrekkers members were lightly wounded.</span></div>
<br />mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-86166186033668552762012-07-08T12:10:00.001+12:002012-07-08T12:19:57.149+12:00Four weeks in Euope 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8p_edSo-DzMVnO9H8iSW3o7yP3_8R3HanaF-MwvSoC1jqZBNt1y3oqx12kbtSdnAJ1YQ1gpwXjccCg_yosElVo5IiwbYFsKB-h7EtCCFHbYrv2_ob8h9jcUrkVd5VTGLv_MTyd_2TPU/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8p_edSo-DzMVnO9H8iSW3o7yP3_8R3HanaF-MwvSoC1jqZBNt1y3oqx12kbtSdnAJ1YQ1gpwXjccCg_yosElVo5IiwbYFsKB-h7EtCCFHbYrv2_ob8h9jcUrkVd5VTGLv_MTyd_2TPU/s640/IMG_0171.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Arc de Triomphe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSxogX6CE_tYAf6CSQ92ojE65gYNYkBDOSeuOkfuUrkx34Jh5gMcB5wz6tlTYKE2-7SEAAHXE3yBvKDlODB0Dl25Na0gwZ-yoTUtLPuIo3QHUNR0t0RizLrdCtOVea0BcogYuTo-hFe8/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSxogX6CE_tYAf6CSQ92ojE65gYNYkBDOSeuOkfuUrkx34Jh5gMcB5wz6tlTYKE2-7SEAAHXE3yBvKDlODB0Dl25Na0gwZ-yoTUtLPuIo3QHUNR0t0RizLrdCtOVea0BcogYuTo-hFe8/s640/IMG_0186.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Tour d'Eiffel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Louvre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Louvre - Aristide Maillol - Mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Louvre - Aristide Maillol - Les 3 nymphes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - View from Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris - Musee de Rodin </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmkQ4dKeomHLEL5H3PtNGyMDsKgSXsVMB8hWm9emKS1tPcU56tWfh4Dpr5T6UScKMFJKzXTfe-eaH9y-RD9hsO4TF-GFoxekNuAyZhcUK5AjVSoYUyGwJA9Bc9zh6NpbbXAvJmCsGEmE/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmkQ4dKeomHLEL5H3PtNGyMDsKgSXsVMB8hWm9emKS1tPcU56tWfh4Dpr5T6UScKMFJKzXTfe-eaH9y-RD9hsO4TF-GFoxekNuAyZhcUK5AjVSoYUyGwJA9Bc9zh6NpbbXAvJmCsGEmE/s640/IMG_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Paris - Musee de Rodin -The Burghers of Calais</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RVIKVXpH4CGAegPtURl49OkKGEAssVYMPx07nRSEDvbsFFtTrc3vKy2Nu4EZ8U9OXmJIkutFX80xVd5WHssFurm2uCYaLzv5y-TFfxbeN0GWHFNzpTarD6CRDga46xCiZ6f8-RxKgN8/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RVIKVXpH4CGAegPtURl49OkKGEAssVYMPx07nRSEDvbsFFtTrc3vKy2Nu4EZ8U9OXmJIkutFX80xVd5WHssFurm2uCYaLzv5y-TFfxbeN0GWHFNzpTarD6CRDga46xCiZ6f8-RxKgN8/s640/IMG_0293.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Provence - Moustiers Ste Marie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Provence - La chapelle Notre Dame de Beauvoir, Moustiers Ste Marie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cote d'Azur - Cannes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILbVFoyK379JidrV-qyhFVGWor9AZhHwOJbWMzTyTszLdK9SPoeyrCjP_snLBihqkLad63h_AQNnu-olOMfB5Ja21GvZYk7pE0h2X7QQcxDS7A7ZF75JcP19hkobdIGxcFV8ewAw9F-o/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILbVFoyK379JidrV-qyhFVGWor9AZhHwOJbWMzTyTszLdK9SPoeyrCjP_snLBihqkLad63h_AQNnu-olOMfB5Ja21GvZYk7pE0h2X7QQcxDS7A7ZF75JcP19hkobdIGxcFV8ewAw9F-o/s640/IMG_0350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - The Spanish steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - The Pantheon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKIL4RP7j6EmwNWn11TfdLpLvgUaKDHVRmkmdCOJvsTm2AMbL0NFPOgksqx3_xzKSOLpEhO5hh5TkkB16_oBrjWZGJIY1Jhg5Skbs0Garedg3PrIcWfvt-hJGdSFQh1Qp3oWE6Y0rSwg/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKIL4RP7j6EmwNWn11TfdLpLvgUaKDHVRmkmdCOJvsTm2AMbL0NFPOgksqx3_xzKSOLpEhO5hh5TkkB16_oBrjWZGJIY1Jhg5Skbs0Garedg3PrIcWfvt-hJGdSFQh1Qp3oWE6Y0rSwg/s640/IMG_0409.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - The Pantheon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6aebMES42zezO7j_yDrPkTaAlN4bdwBIuY2FG4yDxxXygSpjltXwQaG3H1z-oQ42v-DDgQwHPbXXWKUn2M1uTegEl8Nh-h_EDfmmSZeVu_iI-rBqgY_WK6aW11PfGREEiJF532S_YII/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6aebMES42zezO7j_yDrPkTaAlN4bdwBIuY2FG4yDxxXygSpjltXwQaG3H1z-oQ42v-DDgQwHPbXXWKUn2M1uTegEl8Nh-h_EDfmmSZeVu_iI-rBqgY_WK6aW11PfGREEiJF532S_YII/s640/IMG_0422.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - Trevi Fountain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaym-6xKm8IU4bf31DT7tTYiWh6I8VEPyFr4nYAgXjOUDNbSYZvf3fxfWrKwdDa5uKJSmooMsBMkUsbc6qJPFS_6BM6htfynf7ixC1osJO5dyDe3qVRaW9sBpx9WewZDlzxiqBP6hOk0E/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaym-6xKm8IU4bf31DT7tTYiWh6I8VEPyFr4nYAgXjOUDNbSYZvf3fxfWrKwdDa5uKJSmooMsBMkUsbc6qJPFS_6BM6htfynf7ixC1osJO5dyDe3qVRaW9sBpx9WewZDlzxiqBP6hOk0E/s640/IMG_0433.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - The Colliseum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8ThO58BStwkVYJw7x81gskUvMWSa424vB2p2BGTOtYtQzZ8vSLd0Pw79b7z9ZB8yxy_wMI6pL5WyY_eNuaObFdk_TtdLYywJeqbzmzLBZldbygHwVR0HBeoNmU1MRXxeA0gLTTlbczw/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8ThO58BStwkVYJw7x81gskUvMWSa424vB2p2BGTOtYtQzZ8vSLd0Pw79b7z9ZB8yxy_wMI6pL5WyY_eNuaObFdk_TtdLYywJeqbzmzLBZldbygHwVR0HBeoNmU1MRXxeA0gLTTlbczw/s640/IMG_0451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - The Colliseum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQyld_O8ycyS5nDQGwvynXdKL8QDSYeU9voioBVTV8lEvAG2BdhKQEJo1e85WEouKhohO_tm8vEX7tmBHFbqBBHoJENSFCzHwMApFmLTLj28tMk-FdapQZ7YNrrpbJeVrDbeMibj7yko/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQyld_O8ycyS5nDQGwvynXdKL8QDSYeU9voioBVTV8lEvAG2BdhKQEJo1e85WEouKhohO_tm8vEX7tmBHFbqBBHoJENSFCzHwMApFmLTLj28tMk-FdapQZ7YNrrpbJeVrDbeMibj7yko/s640/IMG_0463.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma - Basilica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX0sJF7Cx6c5OnnjTccoKZL7lrCWvry5bZvSidcUH3ixYGEnXiJyrQ2TQPHpHIEWoTL5_RFhmO5P4tFPC3tOU-WIugyDbT0qo0V7XvkC9IzZenkQ1ny-lwg_dfj9RINUbrK12ql8TJog/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX0sJF7Cx6c5OnnjTccoKZL7lrCWvry5bZvSidcUH3ixYGEnXiJyrQ2TQPHpHIEWoTL5_RFhmO5P4tFPC3tOU-WIugyDbT0qo0V7XvkC9IzZenkQ1ny-lwg_dfj9RINUbrK12ql8TJog/s640/IMG_0476.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Praiano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26_GlQKf4eFIKivlsiSKq9JnghcrBIP3wob-h8T-WTQWgTVmoXgaJEK44X8fqfXNjrbWjeKI8fPm7Fup4hMxeQsLF7r82NDTyqqQYQG4RGuuVq6jvlIoMYJIVGdWy6WwmWDX-mgod06A/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26_GlQKf4eFIKivlsiSKq9JnghcrBIP3wob-h8T-WTQWgTVmoXgaJEK44X8fqfXNjrbWjeKI8fPm7Fup4hMxeQsLF7r82NDTyqqQYQG4RGuuVq6jvlIoMYJIVGdWy6WwmWDX-mgod06A/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - View towards Positano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKNVtzOUGMxvQ3lwoQspo6mz45cV9ZNCgCUDyU5M4saR7X8eoEa4BXmfMYZ78geHO4datcRALYkA5TcwVlywarK1LXxdKnMdFx3YJEUqsptIYaC8wr3f0VAMctUX0EyAgOpg2xbt-m1M/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKNVtzOUGMxvQ3lwoQspo6mz45cV9ZNCgCUDyU5M4saR7X8eoEa4BXmfMYZ78geHO4datcRALYkA5TcwVlywarK1LXxdKnMdFx3YJEUqsptIYaC8wr3f0VAMctUX0EyAgOpg2xbt-m1M/s640/IMG_0620.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn2QY-WFrCmrLaLWawY6KE1qJq0Suw6f_ciyf4R6C0aTuBVyO0Xb_IBcNpYff9E3aP-o7opDqxvmxETH31gL713iI1LVy5EaWKDoO_eWK214V3qmlNgEYnE6DsAbGmnliRc-qZ9fFRfQ/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn2QY-WFrCmrLaLWawY6KE1qJq0Suw6f_ciyf4R6C0aTuBVyO0Xb_IBcNpYff9E3aP-o7opDqxvmxETH31gL713iI1LVy5EaWKDoO_eWK214V3qmlNgEYnE6DsAbGmnliRc-qZ9fFRfQ/s640/IMG_0496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Amalfi Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI-gI33VM-Kyf6yV1dWEGzLTAlfciqovPMv9wlw0juQ1XrywCg3LzaSWf9y1Sq1TlTrSMjw4gyfYMgQ811rsCweM3UR7WKDHeiynGx1Ng9oE39fATzZuCK6XsCtuKaWJrJKsm7kvQOec/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI-gI33VM-Kyf6yV1dWEGzLTAlfciqovPMv9wlw0juQ1XrywCg3LzaSWf9y1Sq1TlTrSMjw4gyfYMgQ811rsCweM3UR7WKDHeiynGx1Ng9oE39fATzZuCK6XsCtuKaWJrJKsm7kvQOec/s640/IMG_0498.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Amalfi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiwz2-o5lcEsP5VhpCV_WAu03pD8fwnMUCReQjqp3TyeZCo4rVughHOtVQcCWKp97E3wSfT36YXjtXyimNGxVFGeAIVLliFBcBGNqg2330RHZAZc8A6zkVKtU3mt9f2WQgLWCyo281CM/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiwz2-o5lcEsP5VhpCV_WAu03pD8fwnMUCReQjqp3TyeZCo4rVughHOtVQcCWKp97E3wSfT36YXjtXyimNGxVFGeAIVLliFBcBGNqg2330RHZAZc8A6zkVKtU3mt9f2WQgLWCyo281CM/s640/IMG_0518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Detail of Church in Amalfi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4MBAB0YDf3wwCWEWS6Kl_9_wvagePtTbfJG27Ms5gQ8O5P_yRyyOMQ3f39ajkqQdeUoumuHb7Wi-mzHJBuObstu78ZUvyL4QPZZkLMhqnP9gANHcNLiiGls26WT0dAmDTapYU-q29ss/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4MBAB0YDf3wwCWEWS6Kl_9_wvagePtTbfJG27Ms5gQ8O5P_yRyyOMQ3f39ajkqQdeUoumuHb7Wi-mzHJBuObstu78ZUvyL4QPZZkLMhqnP9gANHcNLiiGls26WT0dAmDTapYU-q29ss/s640/IMG_0583.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Positano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFEyDAjcxZeQIBxi3XFnuD5WF51m5pYrZMEy_6gll0tJvcmPM3XE7NqT1AIKTJ5kSFkrGkXFB7mbDTNcaZrfunKZwGf96TJgzBv_xZKz8C7mA8Urkpmu86CWucB9XbXevCi5V4_kNYdI/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFEyDAjcxZeQIBxi3XFnuD5WF51m5pYrZMEy_6gll0tJvcmPM3XE7NqT1AIKTJ5kSFkrGkXFB7mbDTNcaZrfunKZwGf96TJgzBv_xZKz8C7mA8Urkpmu86CWucB9XbXevCi5V4_kNYdI/s640/IMG_0571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Positano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJv1d31fmQxzn7r9iucOrZLcU0LrMmsO2DX69jpUO8luG4Y8uGjpUz7HD37SBKQeRFDFuglDCxHXtSzP4iKmh_dFFg08pgQugNBhmkyILrS1-rtfX79j3mGEuVAv9GIh1EB254w1Q84g/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJv1d31fmQxzn7r9iucOrZLcU0LrMmsO2DX69jpUO8luG4Y8uGjpUz7HD37SBKQeRFDFuglDCxHXtSzP4iKmh_dFFg08pgQugNBhmkyILrS1-rtfX79j3mGEuVAv9GIh1EB254w1Q84g/s640/IMG_0577.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Positano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0MXhP59KlcyrDGtj-4wNR9gPbrPZFrLBTYWp1pUdbta2-pStJH3KX1785QGSC-rRgfOajOoSfLgO2_NPOJZzZhDovZjGK4vWo342LkZCW-RsLWbvJw28Xdqkd97Roi3275p8zvoc-OI/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0MXhP59KlcyrDGtj-4wNR9gPbrPZFrLBTYWp1pUdbta2-pStJH3KX1785QGSC-rRgfOajOoSfLgO2_NPOJZzZhDovZjGK4vWo342LkZCW-RsLWbvJw28Xdqkd97Roi3275p8zvoc-OI/s640/IMG_0608.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay of Naples - Sorrento</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWLkWw-mEaXqj95zDwrar2dnKyQxfxG4jCgG_G2bM4IEhbz6-QLiAvtlTyXKLVytpkt_jTGy7ID4AL1lai900rRr4nfxvQNNOUpCsREmvgu4W7U4rfdEVXVA9o5nCygTeawIewbogA2Q/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWLkWw-mEaXqj95zDwrar2dnKyQxfxG4jCgG_G2bM4IEhbz6-QLiAvtlTyXKLVytpkt_jTGy7ID4AL1lai900rRr4nfxvQNNOUpCsREmvgu4W7U4rfdEVXVA9o5nCygTeawIewbogA2Q/s640/IMG_0603.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay of Naples - Sorrento</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu-Z8BPcB27YRUVg7anAwiX4PIfLTRotjV90Pw2jNnuobV3YY3Wee8QhR7sCBvOsfd7_M6KiwV6YOkA8we2TOWvqHRp9OM0bS1v5VFbrOSc0VCQ9i-1iBstHJSDdfXupIg2rfiJ6r9k4/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu-Z8BPcB27YRUVg7anAwiX4PIfLTRotjV90Pw2jNnuobV3YY3Wee8QhR7sCBvOsfd7_M6KiwV6YOkA8we2TOWvqHRp9OM0bS1v5VFbrOSc0VCQ9i-1iBstHJSDdfXupIg2rfiJ6r9k4/s640/IMG_0614.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay of Naples - Sorrento</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVU5NHMnolgWbLF4Ee56kS8Lw8fcS9lGwfEmSVNWIZrVUToV8VAnTSRLg7gI3fhuqwIDcFq5gjUH19QMfCf47GzDCVG0ixI_z8QVjJC3W54ZFXpa2pvw1TNDZ_0sqsUwnQ1Lr85g78Ws/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVU5NHMnolgWbLF4Ee56kS8Lw8fcS9lGwfEmSVNWIZrVUToV8VAnTSRLg7gI3fhuqwIDcFq5gjUH19QMfCf47GzDCVG0ixI_z8QVjJC3W54ZFXpa2pvw1TNDZ_0sqsUwnQ1Lr85g78Ws/s640/IMG_0598.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay of Naples - Sorrento</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej-03mvOjGCiFVKVGjNOGPN3FaJxI926a-Gd_mYYONiTtqzZ-lnsDVhH8BLfXGZ6uZy8opJr8k9Ezve2v002Q4KtMT3PZ_5eA3EoZT4Y_aoqKpLk6B5fymjf1TpOhmpOIO7QIa1msYJw/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej-03mvOjGCiFVKVGjNOGPN3FaJxI926a-Gd_mYYONiTtqzZ-lnsDVhH8BLfXGZ6uZy8opJr8k9Ezve2v002Q4KtMT3PZ_5eA3EoZT4Y_aoqKpLk6B5fymjf1TpOhmpOIO7QIa1msYJw/s640/IMG_0619.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS9MXLV7kg4aJF7nW_98xzc2lxG84cIY7SazMyPnzhvLSzwvKOFyj0w3WO5d8x3KMLT7wYtzi0xLfgbTWRuaYxcca4XlQzf3fu96Im8GEGfS2MB4xYv1zuIrxvtH_O5IqHzN1_Q4_7Zo/s1600/IMG_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS9MXLV7kg4aJF7nW_98xzc2lxG84cIY7SazMyPnzhvLSzwvKOFyj0w3WO5d8x3KMLT7wYtzi0xLfgbTWRuaYxcca4XlQzf3fu96Im8GEGfS2MB4xYv1zuIrxvtH_O5IqHzN1_Q4_7Zo/s640/IMG_0627.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Praiano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoclhSojXyF4hfcjjQU611n99W7t_EhMFgcEtuLGzqdSvtde7_YEgKRxLS2nG_opNmJ6uLOAqnWf4qbJr4ABQhmoceZ9QEkjlVGddnd_TrJHawFO3_KZ94K8IAGmDAgvYfO8aB4gnHqw/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoclhSojXyF4hfcjjQU611n99W7t_EhMFgcEtuLGzqdSvtde7_YEgKRxLS2nG_opNmJ6uLOAqnWf4qbJr4ABQhmoceZ9QEkjlVGddnd_TrJHawFO3_KZ94K8IAGmDAgvYfO8aB4gnHqw/s640/IMG_0631.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Praiano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HZrgLvR-hLNg-VQMbamqMrVPMuDVf3QZ6xV3k1D5lvRTUXQxzR_Pf6WioFrVbEtxcqJDhkkC0xTPq51km_qWCwRBVaTo8f0rpK3jxNVI23lC09_MB7swbFVOLSDuQbugirvT0VaEDJY/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HZrgLvR-hLNg-VQMbamqMrVPMuDVf3QZ6xV3k1D5lvRTUXQxzR_Pf6WioFrVbEtxcqJDhkkC0xTPq51km_qWCwRBVaTo8f0rpK3jxNVI23lC09_MB7swbFVOLSDuQbugirvT0VaEDJY/s640/IMG_0637.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalfi Coast - Praiano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Fy4Rdrk7BuLSISYnFCLVOcYZV9n6DuRFFDZ57qn2GHRhZuKpGOB-HBgSvw2HO0O-zzqtjALOGMQ288KsDV6sed8hPCPHWx1pSg3JgCczoY1dCwRqbH7QG2mfHQzl8XE1fmL3Yt1Ct0/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Fy4Rdrk7BuLSISYnFCLVOcYZV9n6DuRFFDZ57qn2GHRhZuKpGOB-HBgSvw2HO0O-zzqtjALOGMQ288KsDV6sed8hPCPHWx1pSg3JgCczoY1dCwRqbH7QG2mfHQzl8XE1fmL3Yt1Ct0/s640/IMG_0708.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PTRmsbKN4YyQKtICQR4RDKB8m2cdbRSsFOa2wnmPUmIxd97eX_wpNWXIRjYRAWiTfAIKNHyhhnPc4lM-dqq4YfPAtGVKThcth2JC2c9hR9rLRosNN1EI75BuBbTusfaRgo3oIPHavuQ/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PTRmsbKN4YyQKtICQR4RDKB8m2cdbRSsFOa2wnmPUmIxd97eX_wpNWXIRjYRAWiTfAIKNHyhhnPc4lM-dqq4YfPAtGVKThcth2JC2c9hR9rLRosNN1EI75BuBbTusfaRgo3oIPHavuQ/s640/IMG_0652.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara - where it all began</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS_RHMCYH7nl1ZefOlERQOfaTqj1d05ydz4fpJPt0mRwYcTW-01IlFZWQaY6INKOZ0olYh8BRckFTpvblVwoFB_sPFQcq4mtzDHwotmAryJQJIYWIgbJL0-WEH9YFugyhyphenhyphenjHWbMS6odI/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS_RHMCYH7nl1ZefOlERQOfaTqj1d05ydz4fpJPt0mRwYcTW-01IlFZWQaY6INKOZ0olYh8BRckFTpvblVwoFB_sPFQcq4mtzDHwotmAryJQJIYWIgbJL0-WEH9YFugyhyphenhyphenjHWbMS6odI/s640/IMG_0644.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST_SvaKfANvHIQKSPoFFWZLlaX73Zs5Wp_Uqb0WSfN_KZ6TiFWOTj6K3aWQ7IXX0woxDaOI8kGzMCiEL7dcR4aSs0WYYZ2BPd7tVYH_BQ2KJkh1xC_10Qw3G5bLi3dP7Uf-Bp03ul1yI/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST_SvaKfANvHIQKSPoFFWZLlaX73Zs5Wp_Uqb0WSfN_KZ6TiFWOTj6K3aWQ7IXX0woxDaOI8kGzMCiEL7dcR4aSs0WYYZ2BPd7tVYH_BQ2KJkh1xC_10Qw3G5bLi3dP7Uf-Bp03ul1yI/s640/IMG_0678.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG_vR4FZfjxgnSo0kJtfXrMApdjX0aXDYZ_6M_LXOwR8K0j57mYKAjAqtlM97TxkyhaifmG63OgjuqqU2Lkl_6G_KnalcGUr-pLW3P9mJJCykPUB_gbPm86JO5LKB7l76MSkKpDcydSs/s1600/IMG_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG_vR4FZfjxgnSo0kJtfXrMApdjX0aXDYZ_6M_LXOwR8K0j57mYKAjAqtlM97TxkyhaifmG63OgjuqqU2Lkl_6G_KnalcGUr-pLW3P9mJJCykPUB_gbPm86JO5LKB7l76MSkKpDcydSs/s640/IMG_0645.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara - artwork in the local</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-PnTsfP9sITgl3H2KV7dsS-JvENMg3KXMwkh2WWDy9RkJm8K1laVb1c_C0v-12dSBOiiY0Bhn_Gaq2rcYqZXj22MbxfigEKaW4-4W735nBXdeTdyvZa4dAO3-Oa63jgfox055wrUj4o/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-PnTsfP9sITgl3H2KV7dsS-JvENMg3KXMwkh2WWDy9RkJm8K1laVb1c_C0v-12dSBOiiY0Bhn_Gaq2rcYqZXj22MbxfigEKaW4-4W735nBXdeTdyvZa4dAO3-Oa63jgfox055wrUj4o/s640/IMG_0664.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilicata - Corleto Perticara - the filling station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</h2>
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<br />mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-27281411239559876072011-01-11T17:22:00.004+13:002011-01-11T17:37:27.050+13:00It is not about Loughner or Palin, its about the Republic<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 24px; font-family:Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3em; font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif;font-size:21px;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; font-family:Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Think back to the 2008 elections. How did Barack Obama, almost a complete unknown, become suddenly elevated to such a position that he could win the Presidency? The mainstream media and the political forces that underwrite Obama worked together and he was elected. A far left socialist mentored by extremists and with a political viewpoint that confronted the idea of American exceptionalism was made President. It was clear to any objective observer that Obama was elected by cultural Marxists to take America down the same road as Europe.</span></span></h1><div class="entry-content" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><a href="http://truebluenz.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/obama_shreds_constitution.jpg" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; "><img src="http://truebluenz.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/obama_shreds_constitution.jpg?w=399&h=271" alt="" title="obama_shreds_constitution" width="399" height="271" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1554" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; clear: both; display: block; max-width: 100%; width: auto; height: auto; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">The realisation that Obama was leading an attack on America from within, and that the mainstream media were his troopers, led to the growth of counter forces. First of all, it was recognised that an objective and informative mainstream media no longer existed. It was gone and in its place was a leftist propaganda machine. The forces that arose to counter this perversion of democracy were the internet, talk radio and FOX News cable television. Most important of all, we got the Tea Party, a spontaneous uprising of Constitutional government mainstream Americans. These were the conduits for ideas the left would not otherwise allow into the mainstream.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">These ideas were aimed at retaining and reinforcing America’s exceptionalism. They included a return to the importance of Constitutional governance. They emphasized the importance of the Republic. All ideas that run strictly counter to Barack Obama’s ideas for America to become just another social democracy in a UN controlled world. The people who spoke about these things were (among others) Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">The left seethed. There had to be a way for them to silence this strong opposition. To maintain and expand their otherwise complete control of the political debate. The success of the Obama plan, the conversion of the US from a Republic into a European style social democracy, depended upon it. The prize was slipping away.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">A madman with a gun killed six people and injured 12 others in Arizona. The leftist propaganda machine leapt to use the event to attack the forces that threaten their control. The same forces that brought Obama from relative obscurity to US President now conspired and acted to bring down those who had become a serious impediment to their plans. The leftist power bloc of Democrats and media blamed Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and the Tea Partiers.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">This is not about Jared Loughner or Sarah Palin anymore. This is a naked display of hostility towards America by traitors who have conspired to destroy the Republic from within. Recent widespread attacks on the Constitution have confirmed it. These traitors are asking that “the violent rhetoric” be stopped. There never was any violent rhetoric, except from them. Especially when they try to smear Conservatives as accessories to murder.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Roger Ailles (FOX News owner) asked that his presenters tone down the rhetoric. He’s wrong. Completely wrong. Because he is allowing traitors to frame the debate. The truth is there needs to be much more said and its needs to be said louder and it needs to be directed at those who are leading the campaign to close down political debate in order to destroy the Republic.</span></p><p color="initial" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Wake up America. You are being defeated from within. Never has there been a more naked display of treason and treachery as the latest attacks on freedom of political expression and pro-Constitutional forces. You are on the cusp of losing your Republic. If you do not strongly confront the left right now, then you will loose it.</span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">It is not time for toning anything down. It is time to speak louder and stronger and to step up to the plate and take your country back from a fifth column of traitors and treasonists who have converted the mainstream media and the Democrat Party into an insidious un-American force for evil. You absolutely must repel this force if you wish to retain your Republic. Do not under any circumstances, tone down your resistance. Rather, you must redouble your efforts.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">By Redbaiter at TrueblueNZ</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">http://truebluenz.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/it-is-not-about-loughner-or-palin-its-about-the-republic/#comment-1235</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></span>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-74687276695374495742010-12-22T10:50:00.001+13:002010-12-22T10:55:42.353+13:00For the Gantt Guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W4WOezA37Bi7fvcrhgM92_22hqx9JH9MymI61yt-e6RcTM7GBMKZ32lYgNL3_8XR6Dde_m99iAY8iXARul1KruLItLDQ5v0RzOtNYh61x-PGeg_Rtt4FBI7l-hOToM8mVAyBAvlC3BY/s1600/7744306_wAibw.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W4WOezA37Bi7fvcrhgM92_22hqx9JH9MymI61yt-e6RcTM7GBMKZ32lYgNL3_8XR6Dde_m99iAY8iXARul1KruLItLDQ5v0RzOtNYh61x-PGeg_Rtt4FBI7l-hOToM8mVAyBAvlC3BY/s400/7744306_wAibw.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553256807896714530" /></a><br /><div>Charlize....an angel of devine beauty. </div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-17100347203934067172010-10-17T12:50:00.002+13:002010-10-17T12:55:20.723+13:00Gratuitous Totty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1SUeX4ZZv2o2NW5GCHL8b0UKPO6w1UmMKnMDQlu1vtNBjgPxXiTlwkTghtXNxuGgHUaW3Z0wmnOf38315HagRzWj9YSjPxefviiiPSUK4qrX_uYEn5JV5Wqb63r7AtEJ21i_miX5rHw/s1600/NTUwZwVZIpTLK946t8aT.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1SUeX4ZZv2o2NW5GCHL8b0UKPO6w1UmMKnMDQlu1vtNBjgPxXiTlwkTghtXNxuGgHUaW3Z0wmnOf38315HagRzWj9YSjPxefviiiPSUK4qrX_uYEn5JV5Wqb63r7AtEJ21i_miX5rHw/s400/NTUwZwVZIpTLK946t8aT.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528796520256089026" /></a>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-6139827701995840142010-10-17T12:21:00.008+13:002010-10-17T12:48:35.666+13:00Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ63QWJxNJE8qdw2RvZDvKzA8j8c_kBtpkWNtkCOlofWAZ6vBFxdoN9t9TKFzeQCfxW92tbNTvqfk05Ir-qVtA_bsROfE8yen-nJj7wLXyf7BMG63BjZ0cXC9ZsLsPS3oqXwjnxVDz34/s1600/anc-logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ63QWJxNJE8qdw2RvZDvKzA8j8c_kBtpkWNtkCOlofWAZ6vBFxdoN9t9TKFzeQCfxW92tbNTvqfk05Ir-qVtA_bsROfE8yen-nJj7wLXyf7BMG63BjZ0cXC9ZsLsPS3oqXwjnxVDz34/s400/anc-logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528788810874784418" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(48, 48, 48); line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><h1 class="articleTitle" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:3em;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">R44bn disappears</span></h1><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Three of the country's provincial education departments cannot explain what they did with more than R44-billion allocated to them in the past financial year.</span></span></h3></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article705988.ece/R44bn-disappears</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Most of the Education budget, R123bn, is allocated to the 9 provinces. The office of the Auditor General has stated that, of the nine, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">only three of the country's provincial education departments were given clean audits for the 2009-2010 financial year.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">That R44bn could buy a lot of health care, housing and infrastructure maintenance and development. </span></span></span></div></span></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-46258278478691352592010-06-01T11:10:00.005+12:002010-06-01T12:36:53.113+12:00South Africa 100 years old<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t8ZpUbg-fQTrcO-izUEkExeWSJP48m9n24EU3GSmlZzSpEnrmFg4Y30xB5Zs7n5vjxxEufpREhMHsxbXl571eDNDtNWyOTZvESJGypVQGS0G3GmepXDCsoIrw2gJLevU5BoW9Q37wGA/s1600/539px-Coat_of_Arms_of_South_Africa_(1932-2000)[1].svg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477575755475694210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t8ZpUbg-fQTrcO-izUEkExeWSJP48m9n24EU3GSmlZzSpEnrmFg4Y30xB5Zs7n5vjxxEufpREhMHsxbXl571eDNDtNWyOTZvESJGypVQGS0G3GmepXDCsoIrw2gJLevU5BoW9Q37wGA/s400/539px-Coat_of_Arms_of_South_Africa_(1932-2000)%5B1%5D.svg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On 31st May 1910 the Union of South Africa came into existence.</p><p>In the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Britain annexed the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, two hitherto independent Afrikaner Republics, and renamed them the Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony respectively. They were added to Britain's existing South African territories, the Cape Colony and Colony of Natal.</p><p>The Union of these British Colonies was the result of nine years of negotiations and represented a great victory for peacemaking following the destructive and bitter war. This Union was created by the passage of The South Africa Act of 1909 by the British Parliament. A bicameral parliament was created, consisting of a House of Assembly and Senate, and its members were elected mostly by the country's white minority.</p><p>This Act, which essentially brought into being the South African state as it is known today, served as the South African constitution until 1961, when South Africa became a Republic and left the Commonwealth. The basic structure of the 1909 Act continued to live on in its replacement, the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act (1961). </p><p>This was again replaced by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act (1983) in which a tricameral Paliament was constituted, essentially done to give the Indian and Coloured (mixed race) population the vote. The Black population were to exercise their vote through independent Black States created on a tribal basis.</p><p>Following the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC, and the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, in a referendum held on March 17, 1992 the white electorate voted 68% in favour of dismantling apartheid through negotiations. </p><p>After protracted negotiations under the auspices of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), a draft contitution appeared on 26 July 1993, containing concessions towards all sides: a federal system of regional legislaturs, equal voting-rights regardless of race, and a bicameral legislature. In April 1994 the South African population voted in the first universal sufferage general election. </p><p>In 1996, after considerable debate, and following submissions from advocacy groups, individuals and ordinary citizens, the Parliament enacted a new Constitution and a Bill of Rights.</p><p> </p><p> </p>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-43895537051104400322010-04-10T10:12:00.004+12:002010-04-10T10:48:03.908+12:00The killing of Eugène Terre'BlancheIf you want to understand the ramifications of the murder the AWB leader Eugène Terre'Blanche (ET), this release by the SAIRR will put it, and the current state of the political scene in SA, in perspective.<br /><br />ET was a racist who had a very small following and who had the unrealistic ideal of a separate Afrikaner or Boer 'homeland'. However the tension between the races in SA has been increased over the last few weeks by the president of the ANC Youth League's continual use of the song 'Kill the Boer'. This was taken to Court where it was ruled to be hate speech. Subsequently the ANC came out in defense of its use.<br /><br />The SAIRR was an ardent critic of the 'Apartheid' government.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sairr.org.za/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The South African Institute of Race Relations Press release</span></strong></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">The Institute desisted from issuing a formal statement in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Mr Terre'Blanche in order to first gauge the broader social, political, and international reaction to the killing. The Institute is now in a position to make the following points.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Racial tensions in the country appear to have increased significantly in recent weeks. This appears to be chiefly as a result of incitement by the ruling African National Congress to ‘shoot and kill’ the Afrikaner ethnic minority in the country. The anxiety around this incitement may well have influenced opinions across the broader white community. What appears to be the case is that much of the racial rapprochement that characterised the first 15 years of South Africa’s democracy is being undone. This rapprochement saw both black and white South Africans come to occupy a middle ground on race relations upon which the maintenance of future stable race relations depends.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Since 1994 the number of white farmers and their families murdered in South Africa is conservatively put at around 1 000. It may very well be much higher. There are currently an estimated 40 000 commercial farmers in the country. Over this same period in the region 250 000 South Africans out of a total current population of approximately 47 million have been murdered. Criminal violence can therefore be described as ‘rampant’ and has done considerable damage to the social fabric of the country. However, this is not to say that all murders in the country are a function of simple criminal banditry. In an environment where law and order has largely collapsed the consequences of incitement by political leaders to commit murder must be taken seriously.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Over the same period the policy measures put in place by the Government to raise the living standards of the black majority have failed to meet expectations. The key interventions of affirmative action and black economic empowerment have been exploited by the African National Congress to build a network of patronage that has made elements of its leadership extremely wealthy. The party also appears to have been so overwhelmed by corrupt tendencies that it is no longer able to act decisively against corrupt behaviour.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">It has also through incompetence and poor policy been unable to address failures in the education system which are now the primary factor retarding the economic advancement of black South Africans.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">At the same time the party is acutely aware that its support base of poor black South Africans has begun to turn against it. Violent protest action against the ruling party is now commonplace around the country.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">In order to shore up support in the black community the ANC increasingly appears to be seeking to shift the blame for its delivery failures onto the small white ethnic minority, which today comprises well under 10% of the total population ofSouth Africa. Here parallels may be read to the behaviour of Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe when that party realised that its political future was in peril. The ANC Youth League’s recent visit to Zanu-PF which saw it endorse that party’s ruinous polices are pertinent here.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">In such an environment it is plausible to consider that the ANC’s exhortations to violence may be a contributing factor to the killing of Mr Terre'Blanche. Certainly the ANC’s protestations to the contrary seem ridiculous as the party is in effect saying that its followers pay no attention to what it says - this from a party that routinely claims that it is the manifestation of the will of all black South Africans. This is not to say that a labour dispute or some other matter could not have inflamed tensions on the Terre'Blanche farm. Rather it is to say that a number of different matters should be considered in determining the motivation for the crime.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Certainly the ANC’s exhortations to violence have created a context where the killings of white people will see a degree of suspicion falling around the party and its supporters.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">It is of concern therefore that the police’s senior management are on record as saying that they will not consider a political motive or partial motive for the killing of MrTerre'Blanche. This suggests an early effort to cover up the ANC’s possible culpability for inciting the crime.Should any allegations of a political cover-up arise in the pending murder trial of the two young men accused of the Terre'Blanche murder the political consequences could be significant.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Should evidence be led that the two young men acted with what they understood to be the tacit backing of the ANC, and a causal link between their actions and incitement by the ANC be established, then the possibility of charging the ANC’s senior leadership in connection to the murder arises. Equally plausible is that the Terre'Blanche family and the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging could bring a civil suit against the ANC and the Government.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">It is possible that the killing of Mr Terre'Blanche will greatly strengthen the hand of a new hardened right wing in South Africa. In life Mr Terre'Blanche attracted a small, uninfluential, and extremist following. He will not be mourned for what he stood for. However, in death he may come to represent the experiences of scores of minority groups in the country who perceive themselves as being on the receiving end of racist and now also violent abuse from the ANC. In effect therefore MrTerre'Blanche may be seen as having been martyred for a minority cause in the country.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">The implications of a resurgent right wing will be numerous. It is most unlikely that this right wing will take the form of camouflage clad henchmen on horses in shows of force. The ANC has also often, wrongly, identified groups including the political opposition, Afriforum, agricultural unions, and even this Institute as ‘the right wing’. This silly ‘red under every bed’ attitude in the ANC saw it lose the trust of many civil society and political groups. These groups could all be defined first and foremost by the common belief that they had to act within the bounds of what the Constitution prescribed.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">But the ANC belittled and undermined them. It also undermined parliament, the national prosecution service, and the various human rights and other organisations that were established under the Constitution. It may yet usurp the independence of the courts and the judiciary. The result was a shutting down of many of the democratic channels that were created for citizens in the country to make the Government aware of their concerns and circumstances.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">The resurgence of a new political consciousness among minorities could drive an altogether different political force. Such a movement will draw its strength chiefly from a hardening attitudes in the white community but perhaps also in the Indian and coloured communities. These will be views that in the main have come to subscribe to some or all of the following points:</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">1. That the Government has corrupted and debilitated many of the country’s internal democratic processes for political or civil expression that were established under the Constitution</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">2. That cooperation with the current Government of South Africa is therefore fundamentally unfeasible and therefore futile</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">3. That the Government is unable to restore law and order in the country</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">4. That the Government is therefore unable protect its citizens</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">5. That the Government has a hostile agenda against minority groups</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">However it is equally, if not most likely, that many minorities who subscribe to the five points above may simply get so fed up that those who can will pack up and go. Here they may take the advice of President Zuma to remain calm as they pack up their businesses and their families and calmly board aircraft for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Great Britain. With the exodus will leave much of the tax and expertise base of the country.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Should the ANC, however, find itself facing increased political resistance it will in many respects have a tiger by the tail. Firstly, the ANC depends greatly on the tax income paid by white South Africans to balance South Africa’s books. Secondly, it depends entirely on the food produced by a small number of white farmers to feed the country. Thirdly, white South Africans still dominate the skills base of the country. Finally, and most importantly, much white opinion since the early 1990s has been moderate. White South Africa has been willing and often eager to cooperate with the Government in building an open, non-racial, and prosperous South Africa. Losing that cooperation will to an extent put an end to any serious chance that the ANC has of leading South Africa to become a successful and prosperous democracy.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">While the ANC will be inclined to blame whites for this, and may even take drastic action to confiscate white commercial interests as they are currently doing in agriculture, these actions will be ruinous for the economy. The result of such ruin will be to drive a deeper wedge between the ANC and its traditional support base and thereby hasten the political decay of the party.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">When General Constand Viljoen decided to throw his lot in with democracy in the early 1990s the right wing in South Africa was a spent force. So it should and could have remained. The ANC could have taken advantage of white expertise and tax revenue to realise their own vision of a better life for all. Things have however gone badly wrong for the party. Corruption has destroyed its ability to meet the demands of its constituents while racial bigotry has now seen it defending its image against what should have been an insignificant and dying neo-Nazi faction in the country.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;">The failure of sensible South Africans to take back the racial middle ground in the country will be serious. Polarisation will beget further racial conflict and a hardening of attitudes on all sides. This is perhaps the greatest leadership test that the current Government has faced and it is one that they cannot afford to fail.</span></em></p>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-47395440860293888912010-01-28T13:03:00.005+13:002010-01-28T13:22:18.309+13:00Totty of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSoZWZm1jSFxWocRlJEF9Yw01BHSx0UL2KUlC_fbEa8LpGdjCmyYAQYq47OCi3Q-GbcK_Hv1WI02ubi0nxM0FxN6H5gnniJSTssTFlkj70kQV0VtXFSrS9xRD-3unHSDQ3qaLXV4aylg/s1600-h/CT.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431578556850954290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSoZWZm1jSFxWocRlJEF9Yw01BHSx0UL2KUlC_fbEa8LpGdjCmyYAQYq47OCi3Q-GbcK_Hv1WI02ubi0nxM0FxN6H5gnniJSTssTFlkj70kQV0VtXFSrS9xRD-3unHSDQ3qaLXV4aylg/s400/CT.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJxoaPmWACzWXlEmpw5L8j_qIF670VPp2jR9qJwoBjj5WrKFH1ygyXnFtmJqiBT3TZjTOIs95DYrAQ5NdM6SOxyAUEmT0AahD0L-hv7JCM4ThGJu7rEGB3dH4UVpNUhTBUB_cW2rAGpA/s1600-h/charlize+x5.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431575818477130834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJxoaPmWACzWXlEmpw5L8j_qIF670VPp2jR9qJwoBjj5WrKFH1ygyXnFtmJqiBT3TZjTOIs95DYrAQ5NdM6SOxyAUEmT0AahD0L-hv7JCM4ThGJu7rEGB3dH4UVpNUhTBUB_cW2rAGpA/s400/charlize+x5.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Just because I'm a lazy sh*t and have not posted much for a while, for the two readers of my blog a bit of fluff so that your visit here has not been a complete waste.</div><br /><div>In case you hadn't worked it out, it's Charlize (again).</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-66264681318817660762010-01-09T15:13:00.001+13:002010-01-09T15:16:19.041+13:00The Rainbow Nation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNohCDVjhcT2tW9Ifb50puKUPLzL__LxRMOPV7iZiE3Ptdyx4EGyzPCEVd1S-kQhFRJb28pwOkxB60n-WdbckgCK0jqKUmX7b4jQFEpAQHkOd2VUfEwuJEYjMzHtYJMksYk0cbZH7VVPE/s1600-h/24dec09xzapiro.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424557820858376242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNohCDVjhcT2tW9Ifb50puKUPLzL__LxRMOPV7iZiE3Ptdyx4EGyzPCEVd1S-kQhFRJb28pwOkxB60n-WdbckgCK0jqKUmX7b4jQFEpAQHkOd2VUfEwuJEYjMzHtYJMksYk0cbZH7VVPE/s400/24dec09xzapiro.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Yet another excellent cartoon stolen from Jonathan Shapiro - aka Zapiro</div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-67528904505522716332009-04-30T09:08:00.004+12:002009-04-30T09:23:37.780+12:00Lefty liars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgSx1vlZ4p35ME_6ITxuL2i3YyNI0FZec-ghneVAtlXbVInGLEk1zVM0IF0w5gLXIjMmYf4W_V79mBBpheQWVrm8BIS7MoqcgY4q6PO7uKfHQvIk5ZwhrB5xJrSEeO3JGDIJABt1M67s/s1600-h/1436049650_ebb992d3a9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330226861327789842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgSx1vlZ4p35ME_6ITxuL2i3YyNI0FZec-ghneVAtlXbVInGLEk1zVM0IF0w5gLXIjMmYf4W_V79mBBpheQWVrm8BIS7MoqcgY4q6PO7uKfHQvIk5ZwhrB5xJrSEeO3JGDIJABt1M67s/s400/1436049650_ebb992d3a9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><strong>Since leaving my post as CIA director almost three years ago, I have remained largely silent on the public stage. I am speaking out now because I feel our government has crossed the red line between properly protecting our national security and trying to gain partisan political advantage. We can't have a secret intelligence service if we keep giving away all the secrets. Americans have to decide now. </strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong>A disturbing epidemic of amnesia seems to be plaguing my former colleagues on Capitol Hill.......</strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><br /><div><strong><em>.........</em></strong> <strong><em>I am slack-jawed to read that members claim to have not understood that the techniques on which they were briefed were to actually be employed; or that specific techniques such as "waterboarding" were never mentioned.</em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><br /><div>Porter J. Goss - director of the CIA from September 2004 to May 2006 and was chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 to 2004.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/24/AR2009042403339.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/24/AR2009042403339.html</a></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-15066998299763808052009-04-28T13:15:00.000+12:002009-04-28T13:18:17.454+12:00Remember to wash your hands...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZotqFcJ03lOkR2tRDybZX7FsgbdxioHc-Kj7ZSiv4iu6HWq0S-UcWm1S6wpSGvdtVAQ75dZeEGXvhJJns5cA1HeyfgN3Qxr2LUCwkYMpjwWuNEzi8qMQ2KkFJWx0D8-MPEACmZdwH9E/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329545236760685458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZotqFcJ03lOkR2tRDybZX7FsgbdxioHc-Kj7ZSiv4iu6HWq0S-UcWm1S6wpSGvdtVAQ75dZeEGXvhJJns5cA1HeyfgN3Qxr2LUCwkYMpjwWuNEzi8qMQ2KkFJWx0D8-MPEACmZdwH9E/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-42063046025764773242009-04-25T13:11:00.002+12:002009-04-25T13:16:08.950+12:00Gratuitous Totty For The Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgJ4Orq8Pw5o6LzoTmVBCthXwt2buDjV7THA_b-QFx76YI-hp0gGL4SIi9fmTfEfJsqCk1CFCrS4OHxO3F3wazQWAwEUaimwth_bkXlUKkmN7-vx43unPtPHJ-F9mLAX5M2U7F-WMuuU/s1600-h/samj6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328431580328474434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgJ4Orq8Pw5o6LzoTmVBCthXwt2buDjV7THA_b-QFx76YI-hp0gGL4SIi9fmTfEfJsqCk1CFCrS4OHxO3F3wazQWAwEUaimwth_bkXlUKkmN7-vx43unPtPHJ-F9mLAX5M2U7F-WMuuU/s400/samj6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-63298348063357235282009-04-25T11:39:00.007+12:002009-04-25T13:07:44.961+12:00South Africa's President-in-waiting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ebb1_06arjTTt7eU1CnABNig2EFoJv5HKBYGh7MuZl5TVV4PYR1rIWJU7rnvviqpcXzuIeSAph2axh5HhRF-yhrNU7PZR-MwUqA4twtZ1rgHJFd8D9e1VcdiP2ljOTEGaN0bbljjPvc/s1600-h/ZUMA.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328407780550882818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ebb1_06arjTTt7eU1CnABNig2EFoJv5HKBYGh7MuZl5TVV4PYR1rIWJU7rnvviqpcXzuIeSAph2axh5HhRF-yhrNU7PZR-MwUqA4twtZ1rgHJFd8D9e1VcdiP2ljOTEGaN0bbljjPvc/s400/ZUMA.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>"Those that stand in opposition to me or my party are evil and must be opposed; for they stand not only in opposition to us but in opposition to God, who has appointed and blessed us as his representatives here on earth.</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>Thus, my party will remain in power forever and it will not subscribe to the will of mortal men, because it rules by divine right and, therefore, until the end of time and at God's grace.</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>Nevertheless, those who would oppose me or my party cannot be allowed to govern, irrespective of the broader democratic will, and we must stand together to prevent this from happening".</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">- Jacob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Zuma</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><p>"For when it has once come to that point that the citizens and the magistrates are afraid to offend him and his adherents, it will afterwards not require much effort on his part to make them render judgments and attack persons according to his will."</p></em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>-</em> Niccolo Machiavelli, commentator, on Jacob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Zuma</span> after escaping charges of fraud.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>"I will kill for him".</em></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">- Julius <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Malema</span>, President of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ANCYL</span>, threatening those who do not support <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Zuma</span>.</span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Farewell to Democracy in Africa. This man, this thug, will be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">anointed</span> with the Presidency of South Africa by Parliament.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">At this stage of the counting of the vote, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ANC</span> looks as though it has failed to reach the 2/3<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">rds</span> majority needed to be able to change the Constitution so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">acrimoniously</span> negotiated before the handover of power by white South Africans. But this will not make one jot of difference to this man, or the Party, who does not believe the law applies to him and who swats it aside without the least bit of concern.</span></p></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is a man who stands accused of 750 accounts of fraud, a man who has fought tooth and nail - and used his excessive <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">political</span> power as the President of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ANC</span> - to ensure that he does not have to stand up and defend himself in court.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is a man who was accused of rape, and found not guilty, who many commentators think was extremely lucky to escape the charges.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is a man who turned his back on the parents of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Thami</span> Zulu, a senior commander of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Umkhonto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">weSizwe</span>, who died of poisoning soon after being released after being imprisoned in Zambia for suspicion of being a Apartheid spy by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Zuma</span> lead <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ANC</span> Counter Intelligence Unit. This death was never investigated by the controversial Sachs (a long-standing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ANC</span> member and supporter) Commission.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the man as a leader of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ANC's</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Mbokodo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">wa</span></em>s responsible for the<em> </em>suppression by torture, imprisonment and public executions of the mutiny by over 90 percent of its <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Umkhonto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">weSizwe</span> cadres in Angola.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the man who was a member of Central Committee of the South African Communist Party.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the man who received his political education in Moscow, and from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Govan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Mbeki</span>, an avowed Stalinist, and Harry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Gwala</span>, a Marxist-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Leninist</span> who is thought to be the person behind the massacres of the opposition <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Inkatha</span> party supporters in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">kwa</span>-Zulu in the lead up to the 'First Democratic Elections' in South Africa.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the man who received his 'military' training at the hands of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Stasi</span> in East Germany.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">And this is the man that, backed by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">SACP</span> and the Congress of South African Trade Unions, is the populist choice, a man promising a redistribution of wealth.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the immortal words of Alan Paton "Cry The Beloved Country".</span></div><div></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-30307387211946841132009-04-01T20:50:00.004+13:002009-04-01T21:05:31.533+13:00The Voice of Reason<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbepI_cxfh5lGE8MZItyaoMVz3Yjglh9bEPIZI9Ea_oPqsBJqUlxAAiL-onZX0hCJeKVJxPgYfrgCGfiNg0Bwid3ZREY2jZb9uItRz7e4_wleBPOr3-g6yuiMyOB_-yABa-ev51wKnoi4/s1600-h/AngelaMerkel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319629090997338514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbepI_cxfh5lGE8MZItyaoMVz3Yjglh9bEPIZI9Ea_oPqsBJqUlxAAiL-onZX0hCJeKVJxPgYfrgCGfiNg0Bwid3ZREY2jZb9uItRz7e4_wleBPOr3-g6yuiMyOB_-yABa-ev51wKnoi4/s400/AngelaMerkel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><strong>Amid the panic of the hour, with governments creating, borrowing and spending money like drunken sailors, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has emerged as the conscience of the developed world.</strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong>....(S)he is standing like a rock in the tempest, urging people to be prudent.</strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><br /><div><em><strong>....Of all the leaders participating in this week's G-20 meeting in London, she is the only one who has reminded us of the origins of the current troubles and why the remedy favored by most governments is dangerous. "It happened because we were living beyond our means. ... After the Asian crisis and after 9/11, governments encouraged risk taking in order to boost growth" by dumping ever-cheaper money into the financial system.</strong></em></div><div> </div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div><strong><em>....One would think that Merkel is speaking from the comfort of a country that is being spared much of the punishment that others are receiving. Actually, as the world's No. 1 exporter, Germany's economy is on course to contract by 4.5 percent this year. No economy will be more affected than Germany's, in absolute terms, by the 9 percent drop in international trade forecast by the International Monetary Fund.</em></strong></div><br /><div></div>This is one tough lady who has her head screwed on the right way. I hope that she voices her opinion in the strongest terms possible.<br /><br />Hat tip to RealClearPolitics<br /><div><a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/04/angela_merkel_voice_of_reason.html">http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/04/angela_merkel_voice_of_reason.html</a></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-55451063618359031732009-03-25T21:25:00.001+13:002009-03-25T21:29:29.237+13:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWI_eO6nU7aBNerM6aaYhy7zP_pjZ9E6HWlH_x639jzD-HEUjS4Q3MU0JQtW9zjRiNNrBnJ9LYRIWLKexEYK2pRclziTy7DUrIPBzO6f6ktghY4vpeWWc5zPM0RpXC4bAeH1NG9KbOKk/s1600-h/ObamaCommie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317039419660008530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWI_eO6nU7aBNerM6aaYhy7zP_pjZ9E6HWlH_x639jzD-HEUjS4Q3MU0JQtW9zjRiNNrBnJ9LYRIWLKexEYK2pRclziTy7DUrIPBzO6f6ktghY4vpeWWc5zPM0RpXC4bAeH1NG9KbOKk/s400/ObamaCommie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">"Just another twelve zeros tossed on the Obama bonfire of American wealth." -- Mark Steyn</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.steynonline.com/">http://www.steynonline.com/</a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-57058677382452364972009-03-20T19:18:00.000+13:002009-03-20T19:20:07.404+13:00Red Shoes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvNRKl1I6TC-3E3mHShRXetSRTJN3pUvBAAPe2zwrDcEq9-kvlM_zQfGIcBZ3SluM_WFnm1mWSHEM1FE8okwSyCyzE9DEMpNtsLLCvZoymZDHrlyvJFtMKgal8XzGwM4uTJ9D0Tlkue8/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315150524350009746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvNRKl1I6TC-3E3mHShRXetSRTJN3pUvBAAPe2zwrDcEq9-kvlM_zQfGIcBZ3SluM_WFnm1mWSHEM1FE8okwSyCyzE9DEMpNtsLLCvZoymZDHrlyvJFtMKgal8XzGwM4uTJ9D0Tlkue8/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>.. in bed?</div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-61547679899106411162009-03-20T19:05:00.003+13:002009-03-20T19:09:44.023+13:00A Bit of Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirl5nNLY3FIIgYkbsgU3sCT0YxCIxSjn2lR37_b5oX4r_R-qOTWvEN7BPFPNzZADFW9gJgul6Itbn3do5xrRmyI4jiWn5NPSyweJtQoiq684EVw29s1_ljjY1w54y6XJI_WQ8sAV-Pls/s1600-h/bike.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315147281123684274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirl5nNLY3FIIgYkbsgU3sCT0YxCIxSjn2lR37_b5oX4r_R-qOTWvEN7BPFPNzZADFW9gJgul6Itbn3do5xrRmyI4jiWn5NPSyweJtQoiq684EVw29s1_ljjY1w54y6XJI_WQ8sAV-Pls/s400/bike.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sound familiar?<br /><br />Thanks BB, it had me rolling on the floor.<br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-53533017919976755082009-03-20T18:25:00.001+13:002009-03-20T18:28:24.566+13:00Cartoon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8elvKeyiMUoeejv8_ITJn0kmwvSTReWOmYaKdBb_H18OOj9DHRaOEe9gRZQVGREJNIzUEO8KcD_ADka1wjX_r1c58ZOU98Sg3_-AtlBWBI8vq93QoJqQYOrBD60HGxt5tXyP6N2SKOA/s1600-h/elect.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315136962894747634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8elvKeyiMUoeejv8_ITJn0kmwvSTReWOmYaKdBb_H18OOj9DHRaOEe9gRZQVGREJNIzUEO8KcD_ADka1wjX_r1c58ZOU98Sg3_-AtlBWBI8vq93QoJqQYOrBD60HGxt5tXyP6N2SKOA/s400/elect.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thanks to Theo at Last of the Few for this. I couldn't agree more. <div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-49541307394799960422009-03-18T13:05:00.001+13:002009-03-18T13:05:58.543+13:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4Vmro9TrHdGSjrIp2ap-yqpQfBz5rXAtDHws1reQaswHVk0y0TdkfpNcXbH5splv135xTR-EgeAAPbOwPXzlPzDXou-CAWkFkts1cI52FT4UlxBnXQaKUXqR5tAPxARtFOUfo9nemXE/s1600-h/gr254.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314312264967096098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4Vmro9TrHdGSjrIp2ap-yqpQfBz5rXAtDHws1reQaswHVk0y0TdkfpNcXbH5splv135xTR-EgeAAPbOwPXzlPzDXou-CAWkFkts1cI52FT4UlxBnXQaKUXqR5tAPxARtFOUfo9nemXE/s400/gr254.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-59668932516379513562009-03-18T11:14:00.010+13:002009-03-18T12:47:56.756+13:00Socialism - the Obama Creed<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BurM6RCAu4-r_x3-8ZLZTFbmulLVuvT47zrxeeO4fC9_id95JKs7O1hIBXpf6Of-rITiom5X6N5pQkrd-FWeLHdYZyUj4uWjr2U9oz3fCwj_5oVGkNnlTy3bBgT2yob2RPcUGwpHtFw/s1600-h/Obama-Commie01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314283688531929106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 388px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BurM6RCAu4-r_x3-8ZLZTFbmulLVuvT47zrxeeO4fC9_id95JKs7O1hIBXpf6Of-rITiom5X6N5pQkrd-FWeLHdYZyUj4uWjr2U9oz3fCwj_5oVGkNnlTy3bBgT2yob2RPcUGwpHtFw/s400/Obama-Commie01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/my_socialist_past.html">http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/my_socialist_past.html</a><br /><br /><p>This excellent article at American Thinker is well worth a read.</p><p>It certainly parallels the path that Helen Clark and her Labour government were leading us down and how fortunate we are to have ridded ourselves of this evil scourge.</p><br /><br /><p>The United Staes of America are not so fortunate. </p><br /><br />The writer, Jeffrey Folkes, has first-hand knowledge of the socialist state haveng lived in communist Yugoslavia in the '80's. <p></p><br /><br /><em><p>Anyone who has lived inside the demoralized, unproductive, gray prison of a communist state, .......... knows to what depths of impoverishment the egalitarian fantasies of socialism inevitably lead.</p></em><br /><em></em><br />He highlights how the resultant poverty, lack of good food and poor state-run healthcare with a lifetime of untreated disease leads to early death. <p></p><p></p><br /><br />But it does not begin like that. <p></p><p></p><br /><br /><em>Every totalitarian regime begins with the same heartfelt promises of justice and equality, just those promises of fairness that Barack Obama has made the fixation of his political career. What tyrant, one might ask, has not risen to power on promises of benevolent change? <p></p></em><br /><br /><p>But they soon find out that..</p><br /><br /><em><p>.......... for all men to be made equal, some men must be made poor, and most men will not agree to be(ing) made poor in the absence of force. So force must be applied, assets must be seized, censorship must be imposed, dissidents must be jailed, enemies must be destroyed. Men must be made equal by any means necessary, and soon enough those means include intimidation, imprisonment, and execution. </p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>....</em></p>and disproportionate taxation of the productive citizens to..<br /><em></em><br /><em><p>At the heart of the ideal of fairness,.... is the fundamental mistake that all workers -- not just all workers, but all human beings, including those who simply choose not to work -- should be equally rewarded, regardless of effort and ability.</p></em><br /><br /><p>And so socialism stifles talent and ambition.</p><br /><br /><em><p>It is no accident that socialism always fails. It fails because of its fundamental assumption that self-interest can be suppressed in human relations. Socialism fails every time because of the arrogant lie upon which it rests. In the depths of his black heart, perhaps even Stalin suspected that Marxist economics was a lie, but he was willing to remove twelve million souls from his worker's paradise to suppress that doubt</em></p>.<br /><br /><p>So what does Obama and the Democrats have in mind for America?</p><br /><br /><em><p>As astounding as it may seem, ........ socialism remains the dream of the American Left, and it is exactly what we are getting with the Democrats now in control of the White House and Congress. In one form or another, we will have socialized medicine, with its callous specter of long waiting lists or outright denials for life-saving operations and drugs. In one form or another, we will see government control of the energy industry, and with it ever higher prices for fuel and electricity.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>.......federal expenditures will rise from the current 20% to 25% of GDP, funded by a combination of ruinous debt and higher taxes. </p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>......stealth taxes, such as the annual trillion dollar "cap and trade" tax planned...</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>.....(</em></p>To address) <p><em>what Democrats like to call "income disparity", massive new taxation will rob trillions of dollars from skilled, hardworking individuals and redistribute it to less hardworking or less skilled persons, to say nothing of the underclass of drug addicts, prostitutes, and shiftless losers who will claim their outsized share of new "benefits." </p></em><br /><em></em><br /><p>He highlights the thinking of the Left with...</p><br /><br /><em><p>In the liberal imagination, the poor </em></p>(and those of a darker hue?) <p><em>have special rights that extend far beyond the inalienable rights of the average citizen. The simple assertion of belonging to "the poor" confers the right of victimhood with all the perks of sympathy, support, welfare, and exculpatory excuse-making that go with it.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>The poor, the working class, working families, single moms ....... all of these worthy classes are entitled not just to encouragement, charity, and welfare, but to elevation above and beyond the rest of the pharisaical population. They deserve advancement to the front of the line.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><p>And as for the chardonnay swilling, academic leeches....</p><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>The odd thing about socialism of this sort is that it is always supported by many among the very class who are to be sent back to the end of the line.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>What they gain is the pleasing aura of their own role as patrons within a world in which there exists a cheaply purchased sufficiency for all and in which they themselves are fêted for dreaming it up. They have managed to grow up without ever laboring or producing any object of use and yet, as a result of the overabundance of the world they have inherited, they are able to extend a middle-class sufficiency to all those who wish to claim it. They expect, of course, to remain a great deal above the masses of the poor, but at the same time to enjoy the well wishes of all they encounter. What could be more pleasant?</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><p>But the dream cannot last.</p><br /><br /><em><p>Quite early in the game, one finds that the wealth of nations cannot be equally distributed to all who appear with claim checks without inflating the currency. Some seem to assume that there exists a depthless bucket of cash, which can be distributed year after year as one stimulus after another and that this magical bucket of cash will create or save millions of jobs and drive consumption indefinitely. </p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>The pernicious fantasy of the Left is that debt can mount to any level, repayment can be postponed indefinitely, and the bucket can continue to be raided in ever greater amounts with no consequences. </em></p>(Does this sound like our own recently ejected fiscal fool?)<br /><br /><p>And Barack -<em><strong> "at a time like this, we cannot be concerned about deficits"</strong></em></p><br /><em></em><br /><p>On welfarism..</p><br /><br /><em><p>When will the liberal elite come to understand that welfare in every form, from cash handouts for "the poor" to exculpatory sympathy for an "oppressed" criminal class, simply reinforces failure on the part of individuals who might otherwise improve their lot? Every attempt to act as our brother's keeper, apart from decent and limited, discrete acts of charity -- charity that admits the inescapable reality of suffering but not the reified condition of victimhood -- ends by promoting the very vices that we wish to remediate. </p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>The "solution" to poverty is not to subsidize those who are poor but to allow them to feel the effects of poverty until such time as they are motivated to work... Few who have escaped poverty by honest work ever return to it.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><p>The threat to personal liberty.</p><br /><br /><em><p>The greatest danger is the threat to personal liberty that is posed by an ever larger and more centralized government.</p></em><br /><br /><p>.....<em>with the proliferation of new regulation, new legislation</em> ..</p><br /><br /><p>.....<em>an ever widening definition of "hate speech," ....</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>.....forced acceptance of government "services," ...</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>...propaganda .. now broadcast through every mainstream media source and taught in every public school...</p></em><br /><em></em><br /><p>and</p><br /><em></em><br /><em><p>...Government intimidation of opposition.</p></em><br /><br /><p>Of change that we can believe in, the New Testament of the second coming.</p><br /><br /><em><p>Every communist regime in history has begun its rule with sweeping confiscations of private wealth and widespread nationalization of industry. How does this differ from Democratic proposals for government regulation and confiscation within the health care, financial services, and energy industries, or from their plan eventually to institute a four trillion dollar tax increase...</p></em><br /><br /><em><p>If the Democrats have their way, America will become the world's largest socialist economy at the very moment when the rest of the world, even the welfare states of western Europe, have begun to repudiate socialism.</p></em><br /><em></em><br /></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-5973847313308168132009-02-14T22:01:00.000+13:002009-02-14T22:04:05.740+13:004 Weeks of........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs735Vg5-UiqLYR7OQzAR0LIAtra0IQFLZNFlA3bzKkRehhnRiVB9oBbxzNSem4aHhbFzOllREaKozbx0wcX08sibhcshEdTXSRH95wC8YjGfF9FaFHOVKprWassbpjALUxNJp0W1QuKE/s1600-h/DSC02084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302576081620298226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs735Vg5-UiqLYR7OQzAR0LIAtra0IQFLZNFlA3bzKkRehhnRiVB9oBbxzNSem4aHhbFzOllREaKozbx0wcX08sibhcshEdTXSRH95wC8YjGfF9FaFHOVKprWassbpjALUxNJp0W1QuKE/s400/DSC02084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-8358954948183000892009-02-04T21:05:00.004+13:002009-02-04T21:34:36.937+13:00John Key<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVK2WL-k7QMPP_nazNVWASbz6RqlxUARjba7nMXHYc5YSXHfrhnPxzvbKrZCDCcfeC59BesYGmp3ZPpcsRrRLk3OtvT_M2KwMWuuapG0sL48YJCJLlpKaDBm0Vnnb-ANbPNPcS-J8zf4/s1600-h/johnkey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298857312437412658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVK2WL-k7QMPP_nazNVWASbz6RqlxUARjba7nMXHYc5YSXHfrhnPxzvbKrZCDCcfeC59BesYGmp3ZPpcsRrRLk3OtvT_M2KwMWuuapG0sL48YJCJLlpKaDBm0Vnnb-ANbPNPcS-J8zf4/s320/johnkey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I continue to believe that our Prime Minister, John Key, is a man of remarkable talent. In this speech to the Waitakere Enterprise Business Club he has shown to me his ability to separate the chaff from the wheat. He has not resorted to base politiking and yet has somehow created a political vision as to where he can lead this country, and make it a winning economy, during these times of financial despair.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">He has also chosen not to dismantle our welfare systems at a time when they are most needed. Although I despise 'welfarism' and its social effects and the dehumanisation of its recipents, I think that a certain level is necesary to support those most affected by adverse conditions. I do not condone those who use it to fund a life of non contribution to society.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I have copied the most of the speech below.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><em>We live in challenging times. </em></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><em>It’s been more than a year since the first tales of financial ruin started to trickle out of Wall Street. What started as a trickle has gathered momentum. Each week we are being met with more bad news about the state of the global financial and economic system. </em></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><em>There can be no doubt that these waves of bad news have darkened New Zealand’s economic outlook. We are a small open economy and our fortunes rise and fall with those of the wider global economy.</em> </div><em><br /><div align="justify"><br />The IMF predicts that global growth this year could be the weakest we have seen since World War II. And, even worse from New Zealand’s perspective, it predicts that the advanced economies, which make up most of our trading partners, will shrink by 2 per cent. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />The resulting forecasts for our economy are sobering. Falling growth rates. Lower commodity prices. Falling demand for our exports. Rising unemployment. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />I know that some in this room are already feeling the effects of these global events, while others will be worried for their prospects in the months ahead. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />I share your concerns. We are certainly facing a tough couple of years ahead.<br />But let me be clear from the outset. I am confident that we will get through these tough times together. <strong>The New Zealand economy will recover strongly.</strong> </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />As Prime Minister, I have made that recovery the number one priority of my Government, and all my Ministers are working towards that goal. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Later on in this speech I will announce a series of initiatives designed to provide some relief to the small and medium-sized Kiwi businesses that will play such an important role in that recovery. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Before I do so, let me outline how this package fits in with our wider Jobs and Growth Plan for the economy.<br /><br />The Government’s Jobs and Growth Plan is about keeping the economy running as strongly as possible, easing the sharpest impacts of the recession and preparing our economy for future growth. In support of this plan, and in light of the deteriorating global economic situation, we have already taken several steps aimed at protecting Kiwis’ jobs and financial security. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />To recap. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />We have overseen the introduction of retail deposit and wholesale funding guarantees.<br />These are designed to maintain the liquidity of the financial system, and to ensure our economy can continue to function. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />We are carefully watching the operation of these schemes to ensure they are working. We are also keeping a close eye on the banks to ensure that large cuts in official interest rates are passed onto everyday Kiwis. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Secondly, we have moved to lessen the impact of unexpected job losses through the introduction of our ReStart package. This package, introduced before Christmas, will provide extra support to those hit hard by redundancy, and it will lessen the shock of sudden job losses. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Thirdly, we have passed legislation to introduce extensive personal tax reductions on 1 April this year. These tax reductions will help New Zealanders make ends meet and reward their hard work even as international conditions worsen. They will inject considerable stimulus into the economy. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Fourthly, we will add to that stimulus with a series of fast-tracked Government building projects. These will keep more New Zealanders working as the international crisis hits home.<br />I will announce details of these projects next week. They are specific projects that were chosen because they are worthwhile and can be geared-up quickly. They will employ Kiwis with diggers, hammers and spades in regions throughout New Zealand. And in turn they will help keep suppliers and sub-contractors, shopkeepers and sales staff in business. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Larger, longer-term infrastructure projects will also be announced in the coming months. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />The combined effect of this infrastructure spending, together with tax reductions, will mean that New Zealand will experience a fiscal stimulus amongst the top five in the developed world, when compared on a relative basis. That stimulus package will help keep our economy ticking over even as global demand falls, and it will help many businesses and families keep their heads above water. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />In addition to these measures, three weeks from now I will be hosting a Jobs Summit.<br />This will bring together industry, business and other employment experts, including training providers, iwi and unions, and will be designed to harvest practical ideas for keeping people in jobs and helping them to find new jobs. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I will ask the participants at the summit to leave their ideology at the door, and to instead focus on what will work for everyday Kiwis. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I will ask them to think about what actions they can take to keep their fellow New Zealanders employed.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br />And I will ask them to come to the table in a positive and collaborative spirit with the intent of agreeing on concrete, achievable measures. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />The resulting ideas will feed into the Government’s next steps in what I like to call our rolling maul of Jobs and Growth initiatives.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">The Government will remain open-minded on future steps that may be required as economic conditions worsen over the next few months. I am very conscious however that steps taken today to stave off the international crisis should not be devised in such a way as to undermine the economy in the years ahead. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />There is a balance to be struck. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">We simply must ensure that <strong>decisions taken now neither undermine the future prosperity of our country nor diminish the opportunities available to this and future generations of New Zealanders. </strong></div><strong><br /><div align="justify"><br /></strong>Because despite the wishes of some commentators and despite the gloom on the horizon, my Government won’t lose sight of our determination to make a lasting difference to the lives of New Zealanders, now and in years to come. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />That means rejecting some of the alarmist suggestions that will be made to us. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />It means being careful, and making decisions in a disciplined way. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />And it means avoiding the temptation to spend any amount whatsoever, without regard to the trade-offs that expenditure may have for the future of New Zealand. We simply must <strong>weigh up the fiscal costs of initiatives we take now against what those costs will mean for the Government books in the longer-term.</strong> Because I know, and you know, that if we borrow excessively to look after the taxpayers of today, we will end up saddling our children with a mountain of government debt. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />In the more immediate future the prospect of an excessive level of debt would swiftly bring a downgrade from credit agencies, leading to higher interest rates and lower growth rates into the future. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />So we need to be sure that the decisions we make now really hit the mark. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />You can be confident then that over the next two years, as times get tougher, my Government will continue to act responsibly, because we know that a short-term sugar- fix today could lead to a diet of debt later. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />While we must be careful we can also take heart that the economic situation presents some real opportunities.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br />When it comes to the recession we need a dose of reality but we also need a dollop of confidence. During this global downturn, we can work to improve the performance of our economy relative to other countries, and we can emerge better off. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />That’s the second, longer-term goal of the Government’s Jobs and Growth Plan. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />It’s about improving the fundamentals of our economy. A tax structure that rewards hard work. Reform of the Resource Management Act to allow people to do more things. Reducing the red-tape that saps initiative and good ideas. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />It’s about policies that will future-proof our economy and set us up for a strong recovery.<br />These include our “Build New Zealand” proposals to future-proof our country with investments in roads, public transport, schools, housing and broadband. When our economy starts to recover we don’t want New Zealand to be constrained by inadequate transport networks and essential facilities. We want to be ready to grab opportunities for growth. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />It also includes our “Frontline Services” policies to improve public services by getting more out of existing resources. Because just as the days of cheap and easy credit are gone, so too are the days of Governments being able to spend ever more without being accountable for results. Getting better value for taxpayer dollars is part of the day-to-day business of my Government. We will run a value-for-money ruler over everything we do. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />We will also pursue “Education for Success” policies to tackle the long tail of underachievement in our schools. Because the future prospects of our economy depend on each and every Kiwi being able to make a skilled contribution. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br />These are the policies I campaigned on and they are policies I am committed to implementing.<br />Furthermore, they are policies that will play a critical role in supporting jobs and growth in the long-term. They are about ensuring that steps taken to improve our economy today can endure in the decades ahead.</em></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-54904711456719810532009-02-02T19:19:00.008+13:002009-02-04T12:33:55.031+13:00USS New York made from steel from World Trade Centre<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Centre!</span> </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47bh3iikDlGK0Awb26cAyz3bgHTI5UO5SR3wwNgQdGK9Rt_fWHp-CtL-s6aK13PkvQezB_ylp_EMz8kwY8AcuK0uH5LSslUbWxv4OJmChPdrJskbXj7SW-An-tg4tTYL0n5sdF_DNgoo/s1600-h/ship11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298081584473632098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47bh3iikDlGK0Awb26cAyz3bgHTI5UO5SR3wwNgQdGK9Rt_fWHp-CtL-s6aK13PkvQezB_ylp_EMz8kwY8AcuK0uH5LSslUbWxv4OJmChPdrJskbXj7SW-An-tg4tTYL0n5sdF_DNgoo/s400/ship11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">USS New York<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1WaO1OGuwzI/SYPOkqtT4bI/AAAAAAAAHvg/Q5QpL7ewD8c/s1600-h/ship11111.jpg"></a> It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Centre.It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. </div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298082147581725874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPO6KKvHALLe-IArpNRcekra-FUcCL8ZofckKAU9CsXfHQF_ILwKdP6vyztNx4bSWBIE4YQHD7Ysim56647Or7TN0N7T81U9HgmgjhWog6W3tf4ji3VYG9A36zX5koT2WU7n6s-dSZ1Bk/s400/ship11111.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1WaO1OGuwzI/SYPO1bI6-nI/AAAAAAAAHvw/yZziikpxDx0/s1600-h/ship11.jpg"></a>Steel from the World Trade Centre was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the moulds on Sept 9, 2003, <strong>'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' </strong>recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.' <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1WaO1OGuwzI/SYPOvoDH7aI/AAAAAAAAHvo/eKwjrFbNs8A/s1600-h/ship1111.jpg"></a>Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade centre steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298082858908180962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQW2NpMk5wUU7qfscpANO3OkERcSuRKos_s8vwsMGGDH-E447TrHJWPHABNrSv4FpZOAr38QHXH3BbRWAtbH0rSJaPnRyskOm8YNOohy4E9V4wqhMZWea6YSPKljxAk2cs7bsYRksyoQ/s400/111.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">'The ship's motto? - 'Never Forget'.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br />Thanks to Doberman at I Luv SA<br /><br />And to Scottkoen who has taken this magnificent pics. You can see more at <a href="http://www.ussnewyork.com/">http://www.ussnewyork.com/</a>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971321054630380124.post-31570576555732227602009-02-01T19:22:00.014+13:002009-02-01T20:59:14.869+13:00Bush Hatred and Obama Euphoria Are Two Sides of the Same Coin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNW-J5KktlQJtsq_wde2cTkc1A_B6d7m9R9iWAXEN3oj1cp5PY5-ftLngtAP9Ov3R9zWVMuYz5e3vop3hdfqsVmwjJW7I5kcYThQAgiYWmIJ2wUKB5USTWPDFEYCQw7vELuN-r9pCjpE/s1600-h/us-president-george-w-bush.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297724977202799410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNW-J5KktlQJtsq_wde2cTkc1A_B6d7m9R9iWAXEN3oj1cp5PY5-ftLngtAP9Ov3R9zWVMuYz5e3vop3hdfqsVmwjJW7I5kcYThQAgiYWmIJ2wUKB5USTWPDFEYCQw7vELuN-r9pCjpE/s320/us-president-george-w-bush.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH9V35uV2KzIW8KTBGsIQ_XbRa8Ft38-HgdxTllK1w-YbEsYRYPliZJ75APCPBPkFEhoanQ70sMwYYjtDqp18mdS-XwLdxohxc05euJOYNzGdWT8FULE2upXTaQq4TcpPjJbUDvN5YXY/s1600-h/obama-national-anthem.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297723405697137938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH9V35uV2KzIW8KTBGsIQ_XbRa8Ft38-HgdxTllK1w-YbEsYRYPliZJ75APCPBPkFEhoanQ70sMwYYjtDqp18mdS-XwLdxohxc05euJOYNzGdWT8FULE2upXTaQq4TcpPjJbUDvN5YXY/s320/obama-national-anthem.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div></div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123336391229335459.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123336391229335459.html</a></div><div> </div><div>In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Peter Berkowitz writes:- </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div align="justify"><em><strong>Hatred of Mr. Bush went well beyond the partisan broadsides typical of democratic politics. For years it disfigured its victims with open, indeed proud, loathing for the very manner in which Mr. Bush walked and talked. It compelled them to denounce the president and his policies as not merely foolish or wrong or contrary to the national interest, but as anathema to everything that made America great.</strong></em></div><div align="justify"><strong><em></em></strong><br /></div><div align="justify">And the MSM and in particular newspapers like the New York Times, television stations such as CNN can hang their heads in shame.</div><br /><div><em><strong>In contrast, the euphoria surrounding Mr. Obama's run for president conferred upon the candidate immunity from criticism despite his newness to national politics and lack of executive experience, and regardless of how empty his calls for change...</strong></em></div><br /><div>This just shows how easily the public can be lead to believe what the media want it to believe!</div><br /><div><strong><em>In fact, Bush hatred and Obama euphoria -- which tend to reveal more about those who feel them than the men at which they are directed -- are opposite sides of the same coin. Both represent the triumph of passion over reason. Both are intolerant of dissent. Those wallowing in Bush hatred and those reveling in Obama euphoria frequently regard those who do not share their passion as contemptible and beyond the reach of civilized discussion. Bush hatred and Obama euphoria typically coexist in the same soul...</em></strong></div><br /><div>Souls that are so readily found amongst the bloated egos of the overpaid, under cerebrated 'celebrities' who believe the world holds its breath for their next 'original' pronouncement.</div><br /><div><em><strong>Bush hatred and Obama euphoria are particularly toxic because they thrive in and have been promoted by the news media, whose professional responsibility, it has long been thought, is to gather the facts and analyze their significance, and by the academy, whose scholarly training, it is commonly assumed, reflects an aptitude for and dedication to systematic study and impartial inquiry...</strong></em></div><br /><div>Media who have now been shown to lack impartiality, to even lie, and who are continually being exposed by determined bloggers.</div><br /><div><strong><em>Some will speculate that the outbreak of hatred and euphoria in our politics is the result of the transformation of left-liberalism into a religion, its promulgation as dogma by our universities, and students' absorption of their professors' lesson of immoderation...</em></strong></div><br /><div>Left-liberalism is Marxism by stealth.</div><div><br /><em><strong>...by assembling and maintaining faculties that think alike about politics and think alike that the university curriculum must instill correct political opinions, our universities cultivate intellectual conformity and discourage the exercise of reason in public life. ...they infuse a certain progressive interpretation of our freedom and equality with sacred significance, zealously requiring not only outward obedience to its policy dictates but inner persuasion of the heart and mind. This transforms dissenters into apostates or heretics, and leaders into redeemers.</strong></em></div><br /><div>..and our Universities have been taken over by Marxists.</div><div><br /></div><div align="justify"><em><strong>..Bush hatred may weaken as the 43rd president minds his business back home in Texas, and while Obama euphoria may fade as the 44th president is compelled to immerse himself in the daunting ambiguities of power, our universities will continue to educate students to believe that hatred and euphoria reflect political wisdom.</strong></em></div><br /><div>...and Obama is going to screw up big time.</div></div></div>mawmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05096088408416933018noreply@blogger.com4