The Riverman Reports - Inc. Huttz World

Saturday, April 11, 2009

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING TO US ALL...

I have my political niched blog and another group of various niched blogs to sort out my musings and opinions into some order. But what of the future for us all in these days of change?

What will these economically disturbed times result in for us in western society? Will there be changes of the magnitude of those of the post- depression years? Will economic changes force social changes onto us by devious politicians seeking a short-cut in implementing their own ideological platforms, and in the process compromising the democratic process.

There have been a variety of political changes before and after the economic downturn. A swing to the left in Australia in late 2007 is bemoaned as a slide to economic ruin by the remnants of the right, a swing to the right in New Zealand in late 2008, and to the left in America also last year, but not implemented until early 2009. Britain has had a change in leadership but has retained the same party for a number of years. France has swung to the right while there have been similar changes in other European states as well in recent years. And in Fiji a swing to Zimbabwe type political insanity!

Already there have been criticisms that America under Barack Obama is becoming socialist, but I have suggested that those who make such claims wouldn't know socialism if they fell over it. We have had nine years of democratic socialism in New Zealand, but our economic system is still market driven - since the so-called reforms of the late 1980's and the 1990's when privatisation was so, so popular here!

There are no immediate signs of a change to that era early in the term of the John Key led National Party -led rightwing government, but there are signs that changes could occur if the government feels so secure another term of government appears inevitable. The recent retirements of the Labour Party's leadership of 15 years - six in opposition and nine in government, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen - received cross-party support for Helen's appointment to the United Nations, and Michael's appointment as deputy of NZ Post. And a weakened and inexperienced front bench opposes the new rightwing administration here.

So what will the future hold for us all? Just hold our collective breath, and let it out slowly, because things may not be too bad? What will our neighbours and close friends, Australia, do in the short term? Some Aussies are apprehensive of changes promoted there as well. The future for all of us is in the lap of the gods, or in one particular God?

Friday, April 03, 2009

BIG BROTHER IS LIVE AND WELL, AND TRAWLING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES...

Big Brother is alive and well, and trawling social network sites...

I was just reading a weekend paper here in Wellington, New Zealand, where an article reveals how "Big Brother" is alive and kicking and trawling social network sites to gain possible information on their members.

The article discussed how NZ government departments are trawling these sites for information that can be used against people on social welfare benefits for fraud purposes. One woman had been caught, redhanded you might say, because she admitted a relationship on the social networking site, and the department took a fraud case against her.

Even employers are in on the act looking for information to use against employees: In one case an employee was caught bragging on the site that he was taking a "sickie" from work because he still had a massive hangover.

If this is happening in a little country like NZ, just imagine on what scale it is being used in larger countries like Australia, Britain or in North America and Europe?

In my opinion they are just a pathetic and despicable bunch of Sebastians!

read here

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

NOT SMITHY'S PLANE'S FINAL RESTING PLACE - NZ WRITER DISPUTES AUSSIE FILMMAKER'S CLAIM THAT SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH'S PLANE WAS FOUND OFF BURMESE COAST...

First published at Qassia:

A New Zealand writer has disputed and scorned the claims of a Sydney, Australia, filmmaker that he had found the final resting place of legendary and iconic Australian aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's plane, the Lady Southern Cross..

Sir Charles, or Smithy as Aussies love to call him,was the first pilot to fly the Tasman Sea in both directions in 1928. Seven years later he and his co-pilot Tommy Pethybridge disappeared off the face of the earth while attempting to break the record for a flight between England and Australia in the historic aeroplane, Lady Southern Cross.

Now 75 years later the Australian filmmaker,Damien Lay claimed he had solved Australia's last great mystery by allegedly locating the wreckage of the plane off the coast of Burma.

America has frontiersmen Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett, New Zealand the legendary conquerer of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Australia has Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as its legendary icon, loved and applauded by generations of Australians.

"One of Australia's oldest mystery's and greatest legends. The war hero and adventurer, the world record attempt, and the sudden disappearance, and a number of small clues, hinting and whispering of their tragic end." (Justin Vallejo, March 21, 2009.)

He reportedly said that he had found the wreckage under 20 metres of water and mud off remote Aye Island, off the Burmese coast in the Bay of Bengal, after a five day search involving 63 dives and sonar tracking. But is it actually the Lady Southern Cross?

Not so says New Zealand writer,Ian Mackersey, author of SMITHY: THE LIFE OF SIR KINGSFORD SMITH, who dismissed Mr Lay's claim as outright nonsense.

Mr Mackersey apparentlt quoted two aircraft experts from Australian Defence Ministry Aeronautical Research Laboratory who,in 1992, concluded:" The two occupants bodies would have quite quickly disappeared without trace and so, in those tropical waters, would all the wooden components - followed eventually by the light alloy section which would include quite a bit of the engine."

"All that would remain somewhere probably spread across two hundred yards of the ocean floor, will be the few steel bits of the engine."

Ian Mackersey concluded:"There is no way that the object on the seabed can be Smithy's aeroplane. Alas, the discovery claim is nonsense."

So much for the claim at this point in time. Mr Lay would have to come up with his own expert witnesses to refute Mackersey's denial. We await with interest,further claims resulting from the alleged discovery?

Further news

.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

CHINA PUNISHES MORE SENIOR OFFICIALS OVER THE 2008 MELAMINE SCANDAL...

China punishes more senior officials over the 2008 melamine dairy scandal...

First published at Qassia:

China punishes more officials over the recent melamine dairy scandal.
China's Communist Party has punished more senior government officials for their part in the melamine tainted baby milk powder scandal last year which killed six infants and made another 360,000 severely ill - many with kidney disease.

The New Zealand giant dairy Fonterra was implicated through its Chinese joint venture partner, Sanlu. No New Zealand milk was ever sold to Chinese customers; Sanlu using only Chinese milk powder.

The scandal forced the head of the Chinese quality watchdog group to resign, and the courts sentenced two men to death for the production of melamine contaminants and supplying Chinese companies with the toxic milk.

The Xinhua news agency reportedly stated the Communist Party's disciplinary body had removed Wang Bubu, chief of the law enforcement and supervision department at China's quality watchdog, from all of his official and party positions.

It was also reported that the deputy chief of food circulation at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce(unnamed)was also dismissed from his position, and also six others, from state agencies, including the State Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Health,received penalties, including demotion and having their misdeeds publicly recorded. It was one of the biggest ever shake-ups in the Chinese administration.

The Chinese Government is still embarrassed by claims the melamine milk powder scandal was repressed until after the Beijing Olympic Games. Are the claims true? You be the judge!

Contributor's Note
The scandal continues. It cost Fonterra $250,000,000 in compensation for its implication.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

SUPERBUG USA300 COULD BE MORE VIRULENT THAN HIV, IT HAS BEEN CLAIMED BUT IS IT REALLY...

New Superbug cases in New Zealand are soaring. The antibiotic - resistant Superbug MRSA(methcillin- resistant Staphyloccus Aureus) is taking hold in New Zealand with a huge increase in such cases during the last five years - and the Government is accused of failing to alert the public and health officials to the outbreak.

In the US, especially California, it is even being considered another 'Gay disease' potentially and virulently worse than HIV because of skin contact? But it could soon just be another disease perpetuated by sexual contact between people, whether homosexual or heterosexual. More research is needed here I would suspect.

Figures recently released by the NZ Health Ministry show the number of people infected with a new USA300 strain of the Superbug has risen from an estimated 12 to 420 in 2008.

The infection first presents itself as raised dots on the skin resembling pimples or boils. If these are left untreated they can become pus - filled golf ball sized abcesses and can go on and affect bones and organs, potentially fatal. It is not yet known whether there has been any fatalities in NZ. I suspect that personal hygiene has a lot to do with the contraction of this disease, people of any gender should be washing themselves with hot water, soap and disinfectant after having casual sexual relations.

In the USA and the UK the bacteria has reached epidemic proportions, but the bulk of the increase in NZ has been in people who have contracted the disease outside of hospitals - up from 96 in 2007 to 264 in 2008.

People who live and work in close proximity to other people are particularly at risk - in offices, hostels, rest homes, schools, gyms and sports teams.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

THE CONTROVERSIAL DAVID BAIN RETRIAL HAS STARTED IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND...

First published at Qassia:

The retrial of one of New Zealand's most controversial mass murderers - the David Bain retrial - has commenced in the Christchurch High Court in the South Island.
David Bain was originally convicted of killing his parents and three siblings in their Dunedin family home on June 20 1994. He served twelve years of his life sentence, after appeals in New Zealand were unsuccessful.

After a successful application to the Privy Council in London, his sentence was set aside by the Court of Appeal in May 2007. He was subsequently granted a retrial.

David Bain had been found guilty of the mass murders of his entire family on June 20, 1994, in Dunedin.

Bain then a 22 year old student, claimed to have come home from his paper delivery run and found his father, Robin, lying dead. He had then rung the 111 emergency number and told them his father was dead. The police arrived to find him wailing, "that they were all dead".

They were met by a bloodbath scene of slaughter, with father Robin shot dead, with a .22 rifle lying nearby; mother Margaret, 50 years, killed by a single shot to the head; and sisters, Laniet and Arawa both dead with headwounds. It was also obvious by the murder scene that younger brother, Stephen,14 yrs, had put up a furious struggle with his blood later being found on David's clothing.

David Bain had claimed to have heard his older sister, Laniet gurgling, so would have had to been around when she died. There was evidence in the laundry that he had attempted to wash blood from his clothing; there was a lens from his spectacles in Stephen's room, with the rest of the spectacles he had been being found in his own room.

The murders had been carried out by David's own .22 rifle, from which he had the trigger lock keys, and his bloody gloves were found in Stephen's room.

The later defence evidence had claimed that father, Robin, had been the murderer because he was trying to cover up his alleged incest with daughter, Laniet. If Robin had planned a murder/ suicide why would he wear gloves?

The prosecution had claimed David Bain had used his paper run as an alibi for the mass murder of his entire family.

Evidence produced during the original trial showed the Bain family to have been a very dysfunctional family. Much was revealed about the behaviour of the entire family who had prevously been on missionary service in Papua New Guinea.

The family home in Dunedin, the murder scene, inexplicably burned down shortly after the murders. Much evidence necessary for a retrial may well have gone with it.

A number of books were written about the Bain killings. Two that I read convinced me personally of David Bain's guilt, whereas previously I still had an open mind about the mass murders.

Another book written by former All Black rugby union international, Joe Karam, claimed David Bain's innocence. I never read this book, and was not convinced by later claims of Bain's innocence. Karam, who apparently had no prior contact with David Bain or his family and believed in David's innocence, was able to build-up a support group who fought publicly over many years to clear Bain's name, and produce enough alternative evidence to eventually get the case sent to the Privy Concil in London. The Law Lords claimed some miscarriage of justice, which has allegedly been enough to get Bain the retrial that has now started in Christchurch. What that new evidence is will be revealed by the defence during this coming retrial. Personally, I haven't a clue what it might be.

This case has already cost the state millions, with millions more expected to be spent over the next three months or so. The state will never be able to claim compensation from Bain even if he is again found guilty of the mass murders of his family.

Some may claim that there is no charge for justice? I would agree, if he is actually found innocence! But until this happens I still believe David Bain to be a despicable and pathetic mass murderer who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Allan Arthur Thomas, who spent many years here in prison for the 1970's Crewe murders, and was later pardoned and paid close to a million dollars in compensation by the Muldoon administration, is also a supporter of David Bain and claims he should receive multi-millions in compensation. Of course he is way out of line because the retrial will have to review all existing and new evidence.

We will all have to wait for the result of this retrial and may have to eat our words if he is inexplicably found not guilty!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

CLEAN AND GREEN NEW ZEALAND WIND POWER - WIND TURBINES AND WIND FARMS...

Clean and green New Zealand wind power - wind turbines and wind farms...

First published at Qassia:

Wind power - wind turbines and wind power. What better product can be produced in our own countries, than pure, unadulterated wind energy? The answer is, of course, none!

China now, and Japan all those decades ago, could copy and produce just about anything - a variety of products, machines and mechanical tools, musical equipment, computers, motor vehicles, boats and planes, clothing and accessories - and food too!

But pure, clean and green, unadulterated New Zealand wind power can never be emulated by China or anybody else for that matter. They may create or buy a New Zealand company to generate windpower here, but it will always be "New Zealand" energy. We will always be buying New Zealand energy products.

Wind power is undoubtably the energy of the future in New Zealand, with its mountainous and hilly terrain, and its reasonable closeness to coastal areas and wind and sea currents. And the sea too, is another enegy alternative - using the power of the sea and tidal currents to generate electricity.

In New Zealand the modern wind turbines are a far cry from the old windmills associated with countries like Holland and the other low countries, in ages past. The symmetrical and clean lines of the modern wind turbines are appearing in clusters of "wind farms" up and down the country, with many applications to planning committees to create even more of these wind turbine generators.

The majority of New Zealand power is generated in our rivers by hydro electric plants, supplemented by coal fired turbines, geothermal plants, solar energy, wind turbines; and the futuristically planned tidal generators off the coast of the country.

Nuclear energy has never been considered as an option in a country that has actually had a proud and determined anti- nuclear policy for just on a quarter of a century.

What could you expect, I wonder, in another quarter of a century; urban houses with rows of solar panels and a small wind turbine or two attached to their chimneys?

In rural towns and on hundreds of farms around the country rows of solar panels and a small windfarm could be utilised to make them self sufficient in energy. Perhaps in time the bulk of our hydro electric and coal fired plants could be used for industry, schools, universities and hospitals - all of which could have some form of alternative energy generators as well.

Wherever, and however, this energy will be clean and green, pure unadulterated New Zealand energy that cannot be emulated anywhere else on the globe. We will buy New Zealand without a doubt!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

GERONIMO IS TO BE HONOURED BY US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES...

"Geronimo" is to be honoured by the US House of Representatives.

Americans will probably appreciate this story more than I.

The legendary Apache chief, Geronimo, so well known and depicted in dozens of western films for over a half century or more, is to be honoured for his bravery through a voice vote in the US House of Representatives, 100 years after his death.

The non-binding resolution honours his life, "his extraordinary bravery, and his commitment to the defence of his homeland, his people , and Apache way of life."

Geronimo - known as Goyathlay in the language of his Chiricahua Apache - died in 1909 at nearly 90 years of age, at Fort Still in Oklahoma. He had been held as a prisoner of war for twenty years despite the understanding he would be allowed to return to his people.

This is a wonderful gesture from the US House Of Representatives for a warrior chief of the then Apache Nation, and now recognised as a great American.

I believe that the name "Geronimo" was actually a war-cry of the American paratroopers as they parachuted out of their planes into battle. This has been confirmed by a reader of this story.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

FONTERRA PUSHING THEIR LUCK A BIT...

First published at Qassia:

Fonterra pushing their luck a bit...

Fonterra is New Zealand's largest company and in the top six dairy companies in the world. It is no small fry in the wider scheme of things.

While Fonterra was embarrassed by its involvement in the Chinese melamine milk scandal in China last year, through its involvement with a Chinese dairy company, it was not actually involved directly in exporting dairy products to Chinese companies. However Fonterra paid out about $NZ200 million in compensation. Six babies died and about 36,000 others became seriously ill through the melamine contaminated milk powder their mothers gave them. The melamine caused kidney stones in thousands of Chinese babies.

Three Chinese nationals directly responsible for adding melamine to milk products received the death penalties, and others were imprisoned for an number of years or received life sentences. Melamine is normally used in plastic products and should not have been added to food products in any form at all.

Back in New Zealand Fonterra distributes and sells dairy products on behalf of its farmer producers; probably up to 95% of all dairy farmers are Fonterra's clients. It certainly didn't help the image of New Zealand overseas as well.

During recent times the dairy industry had been booming in New Zealand, with many farmers changing from meat and wool to dairy products. But the economic tsunami now sweeping the world has harmed Fonterra and its farmer clients in no uncertain terms as well. Dairy prices are plumetting and a few farmers may now be wishing they had stayed in the meat and wool industry, rather than switching to the dairy market.

The increasing returns for farmers in export markets in recent years resulted in soaring domestic prices at the supermarkets. Many customers switched to cheaper butter alternatives such as margerine. While some prices have fallen, they are not being reflected by any increases in demand for dairy products.

Fonterra

Saturday, February 14, 2009

THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS FROM NEW ZEALAND COULD PLAY A RUGBY TEST MATCH IN DENVER, COLORADO THIS OCTOBER,2009...

The mighty All Blacks from New Zealand could play a rugby test in Denver, Colorado...
Denver rugby officials could get an international rugby union test in their city if they get the green light.
They have been asked to put up a strong case why they should get a Bledisloe Cup test between the mighty New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies. A precedent was set last year when one of the annual test matches between the two giants of rugby union was played at Hong Kong, and won by the All Blacks, as the two teams were on their way to the UK and Ireland for end of year test matches.

The President of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, KieAnn Brownell led a delegation to the NZRU(New Zealand Rugby Union) two weeks ago to state the city's case why the match should be played there in October this year.

One of the main concerns over the hosting of the test match in Denver, rather than Tokyo, Japan, the other option on the table,was whether enough people would attend a game in Denver, Colorado. After all, rugby union is a foreign game to most Americans, apart from those involved in supporting American teams.

But Brownell said its aim was to sell out the 76,125 seat capacity of the Invesco Field, the home of the Denver Broncos.

To achieve this the Denver rugby organisers would embark on a massive promotional campaign in the months leading up to the test. Their aim would to be to also attract fans and the curious from outside the Denver, Colorado area. The All Blacks and Wallaby players and officials would come over before the test and meet the local media.

They would do a lot of build-up work around what would be the biggest rugby match to have been played in the USA in the last 50 years. Companies from New Zealand and Australia would be invited to become involved with their trade association links.

The New Zealand All Blacks are that country's strongest iconic brand and they would use the opportunity to promote the country as well. The All Blacks were the world's biggest rugby brand as well.

New Zealand will host the next Rugby World Cup; the third biggest sporting occasion behind the Olympics and the Soccer(Football to some) World Cup.

Kieann Brownell said their aim was also to be Rugby City,USA. This game would achieve their aim because of its enormous sporting possibilities.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A DENIAL OF NATURAL JUSTICE BY GOOGLE ADSENSE - ACCOUNT AT KIWI RIVERMAN ARBITARILY DISABLED WITH NO EXPLANATION...

Some months ago Google Adsense arbitarily disabled the account at Kiwi Riverman with no explanation. Despite sending a number of messages through the appeal system, we have never received a reply or explanation for the disabling of our account. There was literally a deafening silence!

I have always believed that we lived in a western democratic society and that the world wide web was expressed in the same democratic way.

Google Adsense was based in the United States of America - the land of the free. There was an arrogant denial of natural justice in this instance.

I would hope that if a member of Google Adsense management or somebody close to them reads this post, I would appreciate them making a comment at the end of this post.

Monday, February 09, 2009

THE TRINITY DEBATE COMES TO KIWI RIVERMAN...

This is an old post which I have not posted here before:

The following has proven very popular at other blogsites and might interest you.

Please read on:

"Should we believe in the Trinity - the Trinity debate?"

Do you personally believe in the Trinity? I was actually brought up to believe in it from my earliest days at Sunday School, so many decades ago, when most of my generation attended regularly every Sunday morning.

It appears to me that it has always been a central doctrine of the church.I believe that it has always been there, just like the Cross. Should it be a subject that is more than just a passing interest? So I looked for some information from an organisation that obviously knows a little bit about the subject.The following is from The Watchtower magazine, with thanks!

Various Trinitarian concepts exist. But generally the Trinity teaching is that in the Godhead there are three persons, Father,Son and Holy Ghost; yet together they are but one God. The doctrine says that the three are co-equal, almighty, and uncreated, having existed in the Godhead.

Others, however, say that the Trinity doctrine is false, that Almighty God stands alone as a separate, eternal, and all-powerful being. They say that Jesus in his pre-human existence was, like the angels, a separate spirit person created by God, and for this reason he must have had a beginning.They teach that Jesus has never been Almighty God's equal in any sense; he has always been subject to God and still is.They also believe that the Holy Ghost is not a person but God's spirit, his active force.

Supporters of the Trinity say that it is founded not on religious tradition but also on the Bible.Critics of the doctrine say that it is not a Bible teaching, one history source even declaring:" The origin of the Trinity is entirely pagan." - THE PAGAN IN OUR CHRISTIANITY.

If the Trinity is true, it is degrading to Jesus to say he was never equal to God as part of the Godhead. But if the Trinity is false, it is degrading to Almighty God to call anyone his equal, and even worse to call Mary the " Mother of God". If the Trinity is false, it dishonors God to say as noted in the book of Catholicism: "Unless people keep their faith whole and undefiled without doubt they shall perish forever- lastingly.And the Catholic Faith is this: we worship one God in Trinity."

How is the Trinity explained?

The Roman Catholic Church states: The Father is God,the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God, In this Trinity...the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent - the Catholic Encyclopedia. Nearly all other churches in Christendom also agree.

But wait a minute there, Jesus is the Son of God, not God the Father. How can he be the Father of Himself?

Furthermore,Islam believes that Jesus was but one of the great Prophets, not the Son of God, just to throw another spanner in the works!

What do you believe?

Read

Sunday, February 08, 2009

HELL HAD VISITED VICTORIA - HELL AND ALL IT'S FURY...

"Hell had visited Victoria - hell in all it's fury," said Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday. It is the worst peacetime tragedy in Australia's history. There are claims many of the fires were deliberately lit - are there depraved murderers on the loose in Victoria?

Communities across the state were deeply concerned and becoming anxious as bushfires continued to burn. A huge fire in the Strzelecki Ranges in Gippsland, east of Melbourne was also causing extreme anxiety to local residents. More homes were destroyed and 250 residents met with emergency authorities in Churchill. 6,000 hectares had been engulfed, but direct threats to some towns had now eased. There were also some fears that fires would encroach onto some transmission lines at Loy Yang Power.

It had been devastating and horrific for many residents in Victoria. 11,000 homes and business had been out of power, and 32 trains cancelled. Inland Victoria was still experiencing over 40 degrees.

Over 170 people had been confirmed dead in the state of Victoria and expected to pass 200, surpassing the 47 in the 1983 Ash Wednesday blazes. 312,000 hectares had been ravaged by bushfires and 700 homes destroyed (550 in Kingslake alone)in the last few days. The Red Cross had 20 relief centres operating, and 3700 people registered as having been evacuated.

There were many sad stories of the death and destruction caused by the bushfires relayed from victims in areas surrounding Melbourne and other parts of Victoria. A resident described the fires as being like a sustained bombing attack, with all the associated noise. An observer claimed "Kinglake" had ceased to exist.

In Whittlesea alone, 12 people had tragically perished in the blaze, with six possible family members in one car. There had been many sad, sad stories of injuries and death, one of a very young child.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had said "Hell had visited Victoria. Hell in all its fury!" He added that special welfare payments of a $1000 per adult and $440 per child would be made to assist families in the immediate future.

Any other resources needed would be supplied by the Australian Defence Force.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, announced that 100 Kiwi fire fighters would be sent to help their counterparts in Victoria. The NZ Government would also give a half a million dollars in immediate aid. Private fundraising efforts had also commenced through local banks. That was the least New Zealand could do at this stage. Fires were still raging in some parts of Victoria. Many Kiwis could figure amongst the fatalities considering the number living in Victoria and the rest of Australia.

Read and view

Sunday, January 25, 2009

DID JOHN GOTTI DIP HIS NEIGHBOUR IN AN ACID BATH...

Did John Gotti dip his neighbour in an acid bath?

First published at Qassia:

Temporarily blinded by the sun rays, John Favara didn't see the mini motorbike in the street until it was too late. It was actually ridden by the 12 year old son of his neighbour - and he was now dead because Favara had knocked him down in a fatal accident that tragic day on that New York street on March 18 1980.

He would find to his eternal misfortune that the boy's father was the one and only John Gotti - a mobster who was soon to become the American Mafia's "Godfather". He would some years later become known as the Teflon Don because 'nothing stuck to him'.

Four months after the boy's fatal accident, John Favara a 51 year old furniture salesman with no known mob connections, disappeared without trace. But his wife and two children had to flee the family home after a vitriolic letter campaign which even included excrement.

John Favara's body was never found and the police had no evidence. They believe he was murdered though. Almost 30 years later an informant cited in impending Mafia trial that Mr Favara had been murdered and his body disposed of in a barrell of acid.

The defendant in the trial had allegedly told the informant that "acid was the best method to avoid detection".

So did John Gotti dip his neighbour in an acid bath?

Read

Friday, January 16, 2009

A NEW ROLE FOR THE GLOBAL HAWK DRONE SPYPLANE AIRCRAFT - FROM DEFENSE TO NASA'S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS...

There is a new role for the Global Hawk drone aircraft - two aircraft were transfered to Nasa in September 2007, after the United States Air Force decided they had no further use for the pre-production aircraft which were among the first seven constructed during the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program that was sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

These were the world's first fully autonomous, high altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial system (drones) Global Hawks can fly up to 65,000 feet for more than 31 hours at a time. For example, they would be able to sample greenhouse gases responsible for ozone depletion and verify Nasa's aura atmosphere research satelitte.

The Global Hawks has been supporting the USAF in the global war on terror providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnnaisance in recent years. They were better known for their work as drone aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Global Hawks have a new role and many potential applications for the advancement of science, improved hurricane monitoring, development of disaster support capabilities and advanced UAS technologies.

During October 2007 Global Hawks were used for the first time to monotor wildfires in southern California.

Read more here

Monday, January 12, 2009

THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO SEE THE KILLERS OF TARANAKI BORN PHOTOGRAPHER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE...

The thirty three year old New Zealand born photographer, Trent Keegan, was found after being robbed, beaten to death and left in a ditch in Nairobi,Kenya in May 2008.

Two local men were charged with assaulting and robbing Mr Keegan, but were later acquitted. Nobody has yet been charged with the New Zealander's murder.

The NZ Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully told the media recently that Foreign Affairs were seeking further information from Kenyan authorities in regards to the case, and whether an appeal would be lodged and further investigations undertaken.

His sister, Nikki McKinnon, has moved back to New Zealand with her Australian cameraman husband to live. She wants to support her parents who reside in New Plymouth.

The family are disappointed and feel the NZ government could be doing much more than they have so far. They feel the government has failed to honour its promise to investigate the matter further.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

THE CANE TOAD INVASION OF NORTH EAST QUEENSLAND IN AUSTRALIA - A WAITING TIMEBOMB IT IS CLAIMED...

First published at Qassia:

There is a cane toad invasion of north east Queensland in Australia - a waiting timebomb it is claimed...

Just what is a cane toad? I thought they were confined to the Queensland sugar cane fields.They are actually an introduced scourge on the scale of wild rabbits. The Queensland players in the Australian State of Origin rugby league team are nicknamed the 'Cane Toads'.

Cane toads, which originated initially from central and South America, were first introduced to Australia in a batch of 101 from Hawaii in 1935, in what was a dismal failure to control the native cane beetles in local sugar fields.

Seven decades later and they have spread 1900 miles from NE Queensland to Darwin's tropical north.

As the toads' skin is toxic to natural predators, they have contributed to a dramatic decline in the population of native snakes, goanna, lizards and quolls(catsized marsupials), something that continues annually.

There are now 200 million of these introduced pests, something akin to the dire consequences of introduced wild rabbits which have also been an ecological disaster in recent decades too.

Scientists believe biological weapons and the consequences of rapid cane toad interbreeding will eventually control them. The interbreeding is already causing arthritis and bad backs which should slow down their march northwards and eastwards in a generation or two and stop the potential annihilation of native animals across Australia.

A Sydney University spokesman said the movement of cane toads across Australia makes them the fastest amphibians on earth, after their rapid evolution from slow moving homebodies to road warriors in the past seventy years.

The toad leaders of the pack become bigger and faster and produce offspring with bigger front legs and longer backs - and develop severe arthritis. Scientists have seen cane toads in Western Australia with spinal arthritis and big bony lumps on their backs.

And so the consequences of this catastrophic introduction of a foreign species ranking with wild rabbits continues.

Contributor's Note
The consequences of introducing foreign animals to Australia without scientific evaluation or research.

Read more

Monday, December 22, 2008

WHILE NEW ZEALAND POLICE ARM THEIR OFFICERS WITH TASER GUNS - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS THEIR SAFETY...

After a year long trial period New Zealand police have begun arming their officers with the Taser electric gun weapon. Members of the armed offenders squad in Auckland and Wellington have been issued the weapon with training for general duties beginning in Feb 2008.

Tasers have been used in several countries, including some Australian states, Britain, Canada and France, as a less dangerous alternative to guns. NZ police have decided to issue them after the year long trial and independent revue here.

But Amnesty International is urging police to limit their use of the 50,000 volt weapon. In its report LESS THAN LETHAL it has found that 334 people have been killed in the US after being stunned by the weapons between 2001 and August 2008. Medical examiners have concluded the weapons were responsible for at least 50% of the deaths. These were people with no underlying disease or drugs in their systems that would have contributed to their deaths.

Reports of many deaths from Canadian police use has put some doubt of the Taser weapons used there as well. Read the article below. Mounting evidence was showing that industry claims of Tasers as safe and non-lethal weapons were not standing up to evidence. Reports from Australia were similar. These weapons can kill and should be used as a last resort before the use of guns.

New Zealand police have said while the rules for the use of Tasers in this country were allegedly vastly different in comparison to the US situation, the Amnesty report would be considered here.

Read

Saturday, December 13, 2008

THE NEWLY ELECTED NATIONAL PARTY GOVERNMENT ENACTS FASCIST 90 DAY HIRE AND FIRE LAW IN NEW ZEALAND A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS...

The newly elected rightwing National Government in NZ has introduced under urgency and passed into law a '90 day hire and fire Act' giving small employers(under 20 employees) the legal right to sack workers without notice or grievance procedure within the ninety day period.

While the provisions of the new law are attacked, the worst aspect was the law being introduced under urgency a couple of weeks before Christmas. Under urgency prevents debate in the committee stages of law making.

The only protection workers will have are those under human rights legislation.

I understand a similar situation exists in the US, but it is not enacted in law, but through employers hiring procedures.

Critics claim that compliance costs will increase, as they did when a similar law was enacted in Britain.

I can't understand how it will assist the employment of more workers; it will just make those already at risk more vulnerable, especially the young, ethnic, or foreign workers on short term visas.

The largest union in the country,the EPMU, made the unparalled and unsuccessful petition to the Governor General to intervene.

In the 1990's the then National Government introduced the controversial Employment Contracts Act(ECA) which affected NZ workers in a number of negative and repressive ways and kept National out of office for nine years. There is genuine fear here that the new law may be the thin edge of the wedge!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

THIRD GRAND SLAM SEASON FOR NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS IN 2008...

First published at Qassia:

Third grand slam season for NZ All Blacks in 2008...

2008 proved to be the year of redemption for the New Zealand All Blacks, the iconic rugby union brand in the Adidas sponsorship stable, so to speak. They were unexpectedly beaten and bundled out in the quarterfinals of the 2007 World cup by the hosts, France, as favourites for the tournament.

After losing half of their playing squad off season, they recruited many up and coming young, talented and extremely skilful players and again have the depth required to succeed in world rugby - only the All Blacks could do such a thing in only one season.

While it was a slow build-up to the international season, they had also lost super-star No 7 open side flanker and captain, Richie McCaw, to injury for a number of weeks and had lost tests to the South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies. With McCaw back in charge the All Blacks improved to beat both teams at home.

The All Blacks had now won both the Tri-Nations tournament and defended the Bledisloe Cup successfully. They would create history by playing an extra Bledisloe Cup match against Australia in Hong Kong, even though it was now a dead rubber. It would prove to be a valuable lead up to the end of season tours by both countries.

It was on to the United Kingdom and a potential grand slam, beating Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England on successive weeks; with a midweek game against a fired-up Munster tagged on after the Irish test.

The final game against England was expected to be the toughest game. While the English tried to out-muscle the All Blacks, the latter scored three second half tries and ran away with the game by 32-6. They had now won only their third grand-slam in 103 years. The All Blacks were also presented the inaugural "Hillary Shield" for competition between New Zealand and England, by Lady June Hillary, the widow of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand-born conqueror of Mount Everest in 1953. Sir Ed is now recognized as being one of New Zealand's greatest sons and heroes. Captain Richie McCaw accepted the trophy on behalf of the All Blacks.

The All Black squad has pulled together after the extreme disappointments of the 2007Rugby World Cup campaign, the two early season losses, and have a left a legacy for the future with their emphatic Grand Slam success.

The New Zealand public can again be proud of these achievements despite their own collective disappoinments of last year.

Acknowledgement to the photographer.