Canada Operation Impact – IS

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CANADA AIR STRIKES – Northern Iraq

Operation Impact – Canada’s contribution to air strikes against IS targets in Northern Iraq [ http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/operations-abroad-current/op-impact.page ], using CF-188 Hornet fighter jets conducting 62 sorties in Northern Iraq. This morning’s interview with the Minister of Defence on CFAX Radio 1070, explaining those recent missions. Latest air strikes following the Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada – recounting all those heroic deeds of long past wars (heroic as in attacking entire populations from the air). As the past has shown, air missions inevitably target not only specific often small areas, but surrounding areas, which has resulted and will result again in killing large numbers of civilian populations, and children. Only cowards attack from the air. The so called coalition forces (most of whom are sceptical about these newest US/Canada air attacks on their soil) have their “boots on the ground”, fighting. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-led-airstrikes-against-isis-kill-at-least-860-activists-say-1.2832092 ].

Citizenship Injustice

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Loosing one’s citizenship of birth is a big deal, especially if the new country of citizenship has not been acquired in the course of regular or desired immigration, but merely due to circumstance and under duress.
Canadian citizenship usually is easy to acquire, provided there is proof of employment (at least this was the case forty years ago when we arrived) or maybe a sponsor – some sort of relative who lives here already. Dual citizenship used to be more difficult. Many larger European countries removed birth citizenship from any of their citizens once they assumed Canadian. Of course, Canada does not care much about dual, but it is the country of birth that controls it – either keep it or loose it.
In between there were multiple citizenship and immigration reforms, one of them allowing dual citizenship under the following circumstances: At the time when applying for the Canadian one must prove that there is still a bind with the home country, family or property or other. In my case, my entire family never left their country, they are all in Europe, only myself and at that time my little son were in Canada.
Unfortunately, all this happening before the European Union (EU) came into being.
Also in between and many years ago my son – who has dual citizenship because he was born in a smaller European country – returned to his home country for good.  Meanwhile I am still in Canada, still only Canadian citizenship, and when travelling to my home country am forced to go to the Foreigners’ Office to buy myself an extension for stay, else stay is limited to three months.
To argue: why do those who do not care about Canadian citizenship – because they neither live here anymore nor are interested in Canadian affairs – still keep and retain dual citizenship including Canadian, while at the same time those who decided to immigrate to Canada retain theirs, although they never even visit their home country anymore.
We should allow dual citizenship for those Canadians who are longtime taxpayers in this country and receive pensions in this country, but have all of their family residing in Europe. This not also because of complicated taxation issues arising out of income in both countries, but mainly to make a long term visit to their families, instead of only a measly three months.

Travelling – Taxi’s – saving money

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How to save money when travelling. The answer and also the most important mantra is: behave local, pretend to be local, speak local. Meaning, do not behave like a tourist.

In general, careful with taxi drivers. Even when carrying luggage, which immediately makes you out as a tourist, avoiding explanations or talking about expensive adventure trips or giving the impression of arriving from expensive trips does not help to lower the cab fare, but will drive it up.
Especially if needing to make a “deal” with that cab driver. He may agree to an offer initially, but after listening to fancy travel stories, still must talk to his dispatcher. Result, the initially discussed fare has doubled.

Any transportation industry driven by unionized transport companies, or even private, can manipulate their pricing according to who they service. In many countries meters often are not regulated or turned on. Better, to use public transport.

Therefore, any time during my travels I try to blend in as a local, preferably speaking the same language. When it comes to discussing any pricing, not to mention any touristy stuff, or anything that sounds really expensive. Rather, pretending to be some poor schmuck, stuck somewhere, and not having a lot of “dough”, or just going home.  Remember, LOCALS PAY LESS. Even if someone is lugging a heavy suitcase, pretend to live there.

Marrakesh, Morocco: Crazy cab drivers, always want to go anywhere and everywhere, around and around (mostly ending up in the same market square – where their families are selling wares). Tell them right away (en français, SVP) “been in Marrakesh for weeks, go here, not there”. They’ll do it.
St. Martin, Caribique: Needed a taxi, only had a couple French Francs on me. Offering the nice local lady cab driver. She was fine with that. Coming back to my resort, Americans complaining: “cost us 20 Dollars”.

Cycling – Be Seen – Safety

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It is a well known fact that cyclists sharing a road with motorized vehicles and have a run-in or collision never win. Neither do motor cyclists win against heavier vehicles as a result of a collision.
Precautions can be taken, of which one of the most important ones is COLOUR, according to the mantra “Be Seen”. Two colour items can save lives: Bright clothing, such as yellow and hot pink or similar; and more importantly a good white front light and a good strong red rear light.
When I cycle, out of twenty or more cyclists I meet on the trails maybe one only has those lights, and they are on. This should be a legal requirement, same as daylight permanent lights on any North American motorized vehicle. Better invest in a $20 light than loose your life.
Be Seen and See. The second precaution is: “do not only rely on a rear view mirror (if any), but look over your shoulder frequently”. Meaning, do not rely on vehicle drivers paying attention to you as a cyclist. Be prepared !

Grand Theft Bicycle

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Incredible how many bicycles are stolen, because of insufficient safety measures. Easy enough to install: (1) Use of two bike lock chains. One to secure the seat (which gets easily removed) together with the rear wheel, and/or helmet. One to secure the frame and the front wheel (if it can also be easily removed) to a fixed bike store facility.
(2) When cycling take your bike papers with you including the Serial Number. So, that when your bike gets stolen you can call in with the details incl. Ser.#. I also always have a photo of my bike on me together with the documents. That is what I do.
[ http://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm ].
Small tit-bit: During hard times or war, when bicycles are valued at a premium, many governments resorted to treating bicycle theft as a criminal offence.

PTSD – veteran or victim of war

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Post traumatic stress disorder (or syndrome)(PTSD) as it relates to war experiences.[ http://www.warandgender.com/wgptsd.htm ]
How is it that it is mostly those who were the perpetrators of war crimes (such as killing and fire bombing civilians, mostly children) that reap the rewards after a war ? And thereby also claiming to suffer from PTSD, referred to as ‘combat fatigue’ (in other words ‘cowardice during bombing attacks’) ? Are we talking about combat professionals, soldiers, who are carrying arms, can shoot, can kill, can defend themselves ? Or worse, Air Force professionals who control the killing from the air ? Are those the ones who suffer from PTSD ? Are those the ones who year after year get more brass medals pinned on their chests and are marching in their annual parades, proudly displaying their war memorabilia and their status as veterans ? Or, should it not be the victims of war, who were very young children, who suffer the most now ?
Child victims are suffering, no matter which side of the conflict they are on.
[ http://www.qassam.ps/specialfile-329-Zionist_War_Crimes_against_Gaza_Children.html ][ http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/death-from-above-how-american-drone-strikes-are-devastating-yemen-20140414 ][ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_war_crimes_during_World_War_II ]
It is now recognized the world over that the syndrome of PTSD is a serious affliction, but should only be taken seriously as it relates to the actual “victims of war”. The children (let’s assume way back WWII), who now are also senior citizens. But suffer nonetheless at an increasing rate of this syndrome called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, resulting from their experiences during that war, and from relentless subsequent persecution. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181591/ ]
And were it not for the fact that the memories of this war are being kept alive by those who fire bombed civilians in Europe, I am sure that all of those formerly small child victims would certainly suffer less now. [ http://www.astro.umd.edu/~adhabal/Reports/Psychological%20Effects%20of%20War%20and%20Terrorism%20on%20Children.pdf  ]

Scotland Referendum 2014

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Scotland is a sovereign country. This referendum is not about freeing Scotland, but to break away from the United Kingdom – which incidentally is headed by a Queen, tsk, tsk – [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom ], politically and economically in order to control their own country their way.
All of those entities such as the Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Great Britain, were simply intended to expand the sovereign space of England, a small country on an Island in the Atlantic, in other words to afford them to eventually control the entire World.
Would be nice to see that finally all countries with a different people and different culture become sovereign States.
The comparison between this 2014 Scotland Independence Referendum and the one held in 1980 and second one 1995 for Quebec, Canada, is different in the sense that Quebec has always been a Province within Canada, which in itself is still a British Colony in many respects. But not headed by a King, but a Queen. So, why not call it United Queendom ? Let’s face it, not many people nowadays know which King we are talking about.

Football or Soccer

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http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_is_American_football_called_football

once and for all, what came first ?  Football League came alive in England in around 1863 or 1888 or thereabouts [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League ]. Whereas it seems like this American Football version came into play and being played later [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_American_football ].  The name soccer however also dates back very early in conjunction with the English names for that game [ http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/the-origin-of-the-word-soccer/ ]
To continue – why do teams outside North America (Europe, Central and South America, Africa) playing football (with their feet) also call it FOOTBALL  (or futbol) ?  [ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/07/the-us-has-won-football-respect-in-europe-finally-world-cup-belgium/373852/ ]
And the media announcers and all broadcasters during major championships (especially the FIFA world cup) always refer to the games and matches played as ‘football’ ? While that same game is now also played and becoming more popular in North America and referred to as ‘soccer’ ?
How popular is soccer in North America ? the answer is, look at the fans, look how empty the stadiums are, how many empty seats there are, observe the quality and technical finesse of the teams. No comparison with European Football,  or Football played in South America with passion, where all seats are occupied and the fans are fanatic. How about that ?
Personally I grew up with football, we all played. We all watched the games. Never even heard of anything like NFL or American Football. Don’t even care about it. It is no game, it is “Mord und Totschlag”. Thanks, but no thanks.

Cycling – the royal way

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Another one down. Just yesterday one cyclist got killed while cycling along one of the major highways [ http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/273844471.html ]
Best always, not to ride a bike along that highway – because of the tremendous vehicle noise which is distracting and also the chance to get into a major collision should several vehicles collide on that highway, the major route (from and to the BC Ferry Terminals) on Vancouver Island. Also there are alternate cycling roads parallel to that busy highway, and meant for bicycles. That is neither here nor there.
Coincidentally, just last weekend – while the Royals were visiting Victoria – I myself encountered just such a cyclist being on the wrong side of the road. While riding up to the Greek Fest 2014 [ http://greekfest.ca/ ] with my bicycle on a major shared road where cycling paths are painted in the road itself. Shared roads are always dangerous. I was on the right side (which is not left, like in England). Another cyclist came at me on the wrong side of the road, stopping in front of me, and then started shouting obscenities at me about my driving, while he was obviously wrong. So, my thinking was, either he was here from England also, where they drive on the left side, or he was a mental case. Either way, always be aware and careful and anticipate such incidents.

Johann Sebastian Bach

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From one of my French magazines to which I subscribe comes this: “Tout Bach, et plus encore. Qui n’aime pas Jean-Sébastien Bach ?”  (observe that also Sebastian – that is his name – has been screwed up and frenchyfied). Wann hört dies ‘Verhohnepiepeln ‘ von Namen endlich auf ? Give me a break. The name of this famous Baroque composer (of the 17th century), among the most popular of the classical composers, is Johann Sebastian Bach. Not Jean (as some French like to call him), not John either, but Johann. Besides, Jean (a French name) would then be equivalent to Hans in German, not Johann (or very old as well = Johannes). Source of this article based on a link to [ http://allofbach.com/nl/ ]. This is a wonderful Dutch website, listing and performing all of the over one thousand music pieces for which Johann Sebastian Bach was most famous, and not making fun of his name by turning it into other languages. Thank you, Netherlands. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach ]