SOLO TRAVEL

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For many years I have been travelling alone. I rent with a kitchen, so I can cook my own meals, is much healthier and less expensive.When arriving in a certain country, be it in North America, Central America, or anywhere in Europe, the next day after arrival I find the local grocery stores with the best prices. For late arrival bring some (next morning) coffee and dry foods for breakfast with you. By the way, last trip Sayulita, Mex. I did arrrive in dark with a cab driver – was totally safe. 

Even in St. Petersburg, Russia, – in that case I took a group travel, with a guide – we stayed in the largest hotel, the Moskwa – it’s as big as a small city. Next door was a huge underground grocery store, where you could buy groceries and water for your evening suppers. Cheap. And St. Petersburg is one of the more expensive cities.

Luggage. I take two small carry-on suit cases, one as cabin baggage, one for checkout. Easier to handle when moving, no need for renting cars or cabs. In fact, I try to never rent a taxi. Because as a woman alone, it is not safe in some locales. One looses control. And misses a lot of wonderful sights when stuffed inside a taxi cab. Then again, as much as I can I speak the local language.

Public transportation: I always before leaving my home research very thoroughly the public transportation system of the country to which I travel. Starting with a map of the airport (arrival), where to go to find the nearest bus station after arrival. Funny example: Spain, Alicante. I had all the information necessary to get out and get onto the bus. Upon arrival, hundreds of European travellers hanging out in the arrivals hall, trying to rent a car (expensive). The local bus was only €3 to get to Alicante, to my hotel. And fast, in couple of minutes I was out and on the bus.Being alone I also avoid to go out after dark. In all those years I had never experienced an attack in a city, no matter where, or anything stolen. Except when it was my own fault.

Usually I choose a town or city as a base, from where to make trips. Mostly using the local bus system, or of course the trains (especially in Europe). Or a boat. Whatever. Mostly I walk. Most importantly: I mix with the locals, using their language. With 4 to 5 languages, I never had a problem to get along. This cannot be emphasized enough. Everything costs you less if you can communicate in the local language.

I avoid tourist spots. And of course large gatherings of people. There were times I found myself in dangerous situations – as far as terrorist activity.  [using Firefox v.19]

SPACE EXPERIMENTS

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ESRO

DANGEROUS GAMES

US experiments in the Earth’s magnetic field between the inner and outer van-Allen radiation belt surrounding the earth. Between 1945 and 1992, the US conducted a multitude of nuclear explosions within the Earth magnetic field (a field between 270 and 80,000 km). [NOTE. Outer space starts at 80,000 km.] Project ‘Argus’ August 1958 – exploded were three bombs inside that radiation belt. Result: Strange solar lights were observed over Saskatoon/Canada. Then by 1962 the US Military exploded a larger nuclear bomb (around 300 km high) over the Johnston Atoll in the North Pacific. Also visible on the Honolulu/Hawaii night sky, a distance of 1200km from the explosion site. Witnesses observed a bright white sky, then turning green, then red. To measure the radiation effects, the US had sent the satellite INJUN I in orbit, flight path towards Canada. This time, following that nuclear explosion, enormous radiation activity could be measured, travelling all around the Earth’s magnetic field, gaining momentum and showing higher and higher radiation from those electrons set free by the explosion, up to maximum permissible radiation readings. The entire magnetic field around the Earth was affected. Following these (ongoing) nuclear explosions, many orbiting satellites (scientific or of military nature) have since given up their life and literally died. Irreparable damages have been done. [Source: Boschke: “Die Schöpfung ist noch nicht zu Ende.”-Genesis, Science].

ALBERTA OIL INDUSTRY

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BLACK GOLD/Alberta oil companies.

YOU WANT TO SUE ME, GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY

Public media articles on the oil industry are abundant. Off-shore drilling in rough seas, heavy oil (or diesel) spills, long term damages to the environment, contribution to green house gas emissions, ruthless handling of employees. Alberta oil industries at the foreground.

How about some inside experience ? Sixteen years working for Canadian oil companies in Alberta was an eye-opener for me on their culture.

The oil industry is well know for ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ cycles, largely caused by rising or depressed oil prices. I went thru at least two bust cycles, layoffs caused by company takeovers or by company downsizing.

This is common practice, but should not be reminiscent of a “world war III” scenario. Employees are only pawns in this game.

Example Trans Canada Pipelines (TCPL) Resources Calgary [HQ.Toronto]:

After takeover of Maligne Resources company in 1983 [Maligne, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical], TCPL started initiating projects for the purpose of massive layoffs. Using typical scare techniques.

I was forced to complete for the Controller a company-wide work flow analysis study for the purpose of identifying which positions are not needed. This included hundreds of interviews of my co-workers (friends, colleagues), to identify layoffs. Very distasteful exercise. On completion I ‘got the boot’ also.How ? I was called in to the “Enforcer’s” office and presented with a 100page report (about myself?) and some document to sign. I ignored this report, nor signed any a**hole papers, of course. They offered me 3-months salary (after 7 years as a Sr. Systems Analyst & Designer/Developer). During this time 1986, there was a deep recession in the Canadian oil industry, because of falling oil prices. Even 167 letters of application for a job didn’t do the trick. I was forced to leave my son alone in Alberta and travel east to Ontario, together with hundreds of Albertans out of work.

This is a company who allowed heavy smoking in the workplace and had decidedly a dirty culture all around.

!!Companies such as those now call themselves “socially responsible”!!

I am happy to say that I had received from upper management excellent written references before leaving. Including one from the then President.

PLUS SUR LE PROGRAMME DE L’ENERGY.

Le Canada a bien l’intention de devenir une superpuissance énergétique. Stephen Harper (le Prime Ministre du Canada): “Apart d’être une puissance en hydroélectricité, uranium, gaz naturel, le Canada aussi renferme la troisième réserve de pétrole au monde, derrière l’Arabie saoudite et le Venezuela. Plus de 170 milliards de barils dorment dans le sous-sol albertain, 30 milliards de barils potentiels au Québec.“ Le gouvernement de Stephen Harper aussi proumouvoir le pétrole albertain aux pays de l’Europe, dont le Canada ne vend pas une goutte de pétrole. Le sommet de Rio + 20, 2012: Le Canada est le seul pays à avoir annoncé son retrait du protocole de Kyoto. [voir: la protection de l’environnement]. L’economie pétroliere contre le Reseau action climat. On verra. (partiellement du l’article dans L’actualité, Quebec) [RHS]

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TRAVEL EMERGENCY INSURANCES

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TIPS ON BUYING TRAVEL INSURANCE

For travel medical emergency or any other travel insurance, my advice is, if you travel from the USA or Canada, try not to buy insurance in North America – be it via a travel agency or some local banks or insurance companies, or online.

My experience has taught me, to get far better deals buying the insurance either in Europe or wherever you travel to, in that country.

I buy everything on the Internet, be it air line tickets or hotels, resorts, travel packages or insurance for the trip.

Example: In 2010 I travelled to Germany and spent over 4 months there in Berlin.

I had taken out a medical insurance on a broker’s internet site. The insurance had their seat in Toronto, Canada. I had a claim, tried to call the insurance from Germany, on my cell phone, told them I need a claim number. They put me on hold at a cost of €20, while some old guy in the background walked away from his desk ?

In conclusion, I cancelled this insurance immediately requesting a refund on my credit card. Then also immediately one day after I bought a travel medical insurance in Germany (including every coverage possible) at a fraction of the cost that the one in Canada had cost me. The insurance in Canada eventually processed the refund, but not my lost telephone costs.

Cost comparison: Canada/USA = $2,000; Germany = €130 same length of trip.

Next example: Beginning of this year, I bought several package travels with a German agency (also online) including for each a good travel medical emergency insurance. Low cost again (for one month travel = €100).

You can trust these agencies there, they will deliver. And most importantly, they are reachable.

The reason for the high cost of insurances in North America most likely is the enormous cost for law suits and third party liability suits.

OBSESSION WITH GUNS

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Dodge_City

AMERICA’S OBSESSION WITH GUNS

Guns can be addictive. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. There is always a human brain behind the ‘trigger finger’.

What do all these have in common ? Shootings and mass killings are not incidental or accidental, they most likely are deliberate. This is learned behavior.

Why do shooters single out children ? Because of easy access to schools, because the targets are not armed and more likely than not, the shooter can go down “in a blaze of glory” – a hero.

Look at what happened during WWII. I quote from international news media:

German cities wary of WWII bombers memorial

Published: 28 Jun 12 17:26 CET | Print version

Representatives of German cities destroyed in World War II bomb raids seemed circumspect on Thursday as Queen Elizabeth dedicated a memorial to the bomber pilots – with only an afterthought mention of the tens of thousands of civilian victims.

The above is a good example of why young people (mostly males) are entering a school with a high-powered rifle and shoot down children – mass shootings.

Have their (war veteran hero) fathers not told them how they can also be decorated by killing children ? And how they can be celebrated annually at their veterans and remembrance day parades for having killed hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians during WWII ?

And do not learn children from their parents ?

So, if the old man was a war hero, then in some screwed up fashion the son would not understand why he cannot do the same and emerge as a hero. 

In all of those cases of mass shootings at American schools where the killer has taken his own life after the shootings, it has become quite clear that the mass shooter was not mentally unstable, but rather cool headed only doing “his job” as he learned from the previous generations of war heroes. It is ingrained in the psyche, it is taught by the mass media and it is learned behavior.  Don’t look for the NRA or the Government for help, look at your own societal values.  [using Firefox v.19]