Poking the Bear!

I'm no politician but I've read about politics a lot. This new era of Trump imposing tariffs on different countries seems not easy to handle, particularly for a country like Canada which has its most of its trade with the US. The good thing is many of the merchandise do not fall under the list because of CUSMA but the ones which are affected, have little chance to survive and the government has plans to provide assistance. 

Trump does all this to help to improve his country which is, of course, not understood by the other simply because they suffer from it. Let's look at a short list of the decisions that Trump administration has made since he took the office:

1) Throwing many border-jumpers out and securing the borders.

2) Increasing the cost of H1-B visa so high that the companies can barely thinking of using a foreigner.

3) Imposing tariffs on many imported goods to induce domestic businesses to make them at home. Whether it will work or not, I can't be sure. many say it won't at least not in a short term as the infrastructure does not exist. 

4) Shutting down assembly plants in Ontario and perhaps in places in Mexico to transfer them to the States and increase employment rate. What would happened to the cost to the end-user? I don't know! Would the potential customers be willing to pay the difference?! 

5) Imposing fees to frequent travelers to the US, mostly the Snowbirds from Canada.

6) Shutting down many radio stations and websites including VOA and Radio Free Europe (I think that was the name!).

7) Stopping the US aid to many organizations around the world.

Every different nation has reacted to the tariffs differently. The Chinese have upper hand so they came back with their own tariffs and pushed the US to an agreement. Canada is not as strong. The only thing Canada has done is reducing the number of visitors which has significant affect on the south of the border businesses which enjoyed the Canadians visitors for decades and the By Canadian policy which has not been bad but not very effective. Every thing else has not been futile. PM Carney has had meetings with Trump but not much has come out of them. In one case Canada had to take back the imposed tariffs. 

The Ontario Premier, Ford, is the one who has been trying to land powerful punches on Trump but hasn't been much successful. His last attempt was cutting a part of Ronald Reagan speech regarding tariffs and sending it to the American networks by paying them! 

That pissed Trump a whole lot off! He immediately put a sort of pause on the negotiations! Ford suspended the ad(!) but why would you do that in the first place?! That's stupid! You're telling another country how to select their policies and then pocking bear! Do you not know that this guy is crazy?! You need to have a good plan before approaching him! The Chinese had a Bear Spray! What the hell did you use? Beside that is the responsibility of handling the bear is the PM's?! You just ruined everything that he had built, you moron! 

(Photo: The 40th President of the US is seen here shortly before being assassinated in 1980. He survived that) 

Flashback (38): The Young African Woman

There has been nothing but work recently and I barely even have time to exercise and it's not only because I'm usually tired or not strong enough, emotionally and have no determination and inspiration but also because I don't have good nigh sleep, most of the weeks! I think there's something wrong with the damn heating system and I don't dare calling a service guy because most of them are fraudulent! I will eventually have too, though! 

With that said, I thought I shall say one of the short stories about the time that I worked for Cargill Meat Solutions in High River, some 20 years ago! To this say I still don't know why I worked for that company and in that situation for such a long time! I know partially. The job was very hard physically and maybe it still is, although I think there must have been some technological advances but I got used to it and I was amongst a handful of the people who were able to do the job and there was lots of fun. We tortured people and we enjoyed it! It was basically me and a gigantic Nigerian fella (I was told that is where he was from) who were ruling there until one day it seemed that it was a wakeup call. I went to another company and they hired me! It was a much easier job but it didn't take long until I realized I got tricked and my mistakes were another reason and I got kicked out! The only good thing was that I was eligible for E. I. and I apply it but I will tell this story later. 

Cargill Meat Solutions, High River location worked two shifts with lots of refugees and permit worker from everywhere in the world. The majority of the nationalities were Filipinos, Vietnamese, Latinos, Indian Punjabis, Cambodians, some Canadians from the town or other corners of the country and Africans of different tribes. The reason why I was there was simply being stupid and misled but that will be told later, in a separate post, if there is a need.

There was a pretty young African woman with a beautiful smile whom I talked to once or twice and then she ripped her home address off her paystub and handed it to me! The next day or next week I went to see her. I remember her address was in 11th Avenue, SW and it was a dark night! There was no Google Maps or Smart Phones back then and I didn't find it and went back home! That was it! I never talked to her and nothing ever happened after that! Stories like that has happened many times in my life and that's simply because I never felt the need for having anyone in my life to be essential, neither physically, nor emotionally. Now that I have that feeling, it's too late and it seems I have to spend the remaining years of my life alone! 

(Photo: There are many small two or three-story rental buildings in 11th Ave., SW, in the western part of Downtown Calgary. This, by the way, was not and is not the building that the pretty African woman used to live!)

Food Porn!

I went to work for a few hours yesterday. I had nothing to do at home or anywhere else so I thought I could get a few tasks done. It was not very productive but I will get paid for it. Only for, maybe, one and a half hours! Then I my way back I thought I shall stop at a few supermarkets to see what I can for the supper and after.

I first stopped at the Community Natural Foods in Downtown. With the prices so high, I only ended up buying a small jar of Cashews and a few Golden Delicious Apples! Then I went to Midtown Market which, in fact, is a Calgary Co-op location in city center. The place was almost packed but I only enjoyed watching the food! A pack of a few skinless Chicken Breasts for $22! I don't have to name any other merchandise and their prices! That says it all! I think that supermarket is for the people who live in city center and the nearby nearby neighbourhoods with good incomes. We used to do shopping there when I was married but not frequently although the prices were much lower and my salary was higher! Now I only enjoy watching them and the people who buy them! 

My last stop was Lina's on Center Street. I used to go there for Eggs, sometimes Milk and other food items and mostly Olives. This time I only bought some of the last one and I felt that the guys were using a sort of trick to show the container weighs more but couldn't prove it. That was it. No Chicken, no other good Meats of any kind, no good fruit and certainly no fancy items such as Cake, Ice cream or condiment that you would like to have to boost your daily food! 

My daily meals these days, most of the time, comprises of Yogurt and that's only if I can buy discounted ones, Eggs, Bread, Legumes, Salad, Nuts and that's about it! There're many item on the majority of the people's daily meal which I barely eat them these days and that's reality. Items of Red Meat and good Sea Food has been almost completely cut out! I honestly don't know how some people can enjoy those but good for them if they can. With the job market in shit, I think I'm stuck with what I have for a while until next year and I might even cancel a few vacations. 

(Photo: Transportation has always been a major factor in food prices. Now with the price of gasoline and crude the lowest of many months or perhaps even many years, price of food is so high that it's unbearable! $1.67 for a pound of Apples could only be seen in picture like this! Though the supermarkets never bring the prices down!)

Sanctions and Boycotts don't Work

The recent tensions between the US and Canada has led to many decisions both by the authorities and public, including for example boycotting the American products. The harshest of all have been the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford although he seems to backed of from some of his initials positions but people still keep holding their positions. Not all of them, perhaps. I was sitting next to a couple from British Columbia on my way to Harry Reid who said they were going there for gambling as they usually do. Many spots of the US are feeling the absence of Canadian tourists though and many American imports are replaced by the Canadian and other nations' versions. Citrus, vegetables, fruits are the last ones. I have seen oranges from Australia and some other fruits from South Africa but the question is are these boycotts effective? 

These only pains people and has no affect on the administration. I like travelling and seeing new places and I'd like to go where I feel safe. The US is the closest for me and I have a long list of places which I still haven't seen, I of course, avoid some urban notorious places but I will go to parks, towns and museums I like. I don't believe boycotting changes anything. It only hurts American people and the idea behind that which expect these people to pressure their government to change the way they treat Canada will, unfortunately work. Let's look at some of the most infamous sanctions in the world which has intended to pressure the governments to change their policies but in fact hurt the people and made room for other businesses to benefit from the opportunity, sometimes:

1) Cuba: An island in the Caribbean which basically has nothing but a couple of towns, a mine or two and some agriculture. You add to that some tourism although I can't think of anyone in the right mind going to an island which basically offers nothing but a smelly beach and some cheap food! This country has been under the US sanctions and been on its knees for decades. Poverty is the word. I haven't been there and will never set foot an island like that, even if it's another Australia but the decades of sanctions have done nothing to the government! They still insist on their policies and their beliefs. It's the people who have been suffering. 

The US embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran, a few days before being stormed by the so-called students. The banners in Persian read slogans such as Death to America, the world predator! Some consider this as the starting point of the long hostility between the two governments. Most of the people who participated in the raid are now living outside the country or have a secure position in the government!

2) Iran: The conflict between Iran and the US and some other Western countries started in the 80's when some stupid, so-called students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and held some of the people there for 444 days. The US imposed sanctions which stay even today and although there have been easements, now they have choked the economy really bad. The exchange rate is ridiculously low and people struggle for their daily needs such as food, fuel, electricity, clean and safe drinking water and heat in winter months. Has this resulted in any changes to the government's way of looking at things? Absolutely not. It might have had some affects on the support of the proxy groups, particularly Asaad was toppled and ran to Russia but the Islamic Republic  government still follows his domestic and foreign policies. 

3) Russia: Sanction on Russia were started after the country's forces started their Special Operation on Ukraine back in Feb. 2022. Many western companies pulled out of the country. To name McDonald's, Ford and Visa. What has happened. Has Russia stopped its so-called operation?! No! It actually intensified it! Are the Russian people dying to have McDonald's every day?! No! It has been replaced by a Russian company and everything is fine. The Russian automobile industry now is a good target for the Korean and Chinese auto makers! The American car companies are at loss like anywhere else in the world now.

Let's look at everything realistically and rationally, rather than emotionally! 

(Photo: A fruit and vegetable section in a typical Western style supermarket. Most of the items in this section comes from the US and Mexico. Replacing some with what is grown in south America, South Africa and Australia is nothing but stupidity. I personally, would never pay for a piece of fruit which has travelled half the world. I try to enjoy the most local and nearby produce)

Tokyo Story

Tokyo Story, unlike many might think, is not about the capital of Japan and although it could be a great movie, it is not because it would not be finished within 136 minutes that the movie is rolling. After all why would someone make a movie about a great city with millions? You need to go and see it for yourself, just like I did back in 2024 and most likely going again in 2027 if not earlier. I, myself, a big fan of the Japanese culture and movies, first thought this was another Akira Kurosawa's movies but soon I realized I was wrong. Despite being one of the greatest in movie history, Kurosawa is not the only one who has made phenomenal films. Tokyo Story is directed by Yasujiro Ozu, who was unknown to me before this great movie. The movie has a slow pace and might seem boring at the beginning and the middle but then take you with it and you want to see what happens at the end. It might be hard to find and there's no doubt that you need subtitles for that or it would be meaningless. 

A view of part of Tokyo city center from the Imperial Palace. I took it during a tour last year.

I'm not going to spoil the movie by telling anything about the story but this is a post-war area movie and I will patiently watch it again, when I'm looking for a relaxed time to enjoy a good meaningful story.

(Photo: A great scene from a great movie. This scene actually tells a lot but you need to see the film to understand what I mean by that)

The Removal of an A**hole!

There is this organization which overviews our performance at work. There are, in fact, a few. We have to deal with this specific one more frequently. At times, three or four times a week. One of their representatives was axed off a few months ago. I have a post about his. I was told that he simply was let go because he was sloppy! The question is why did this happen after so many years?! He told me once that he had been working for the organization for over, I don't know, perhaps, 20 years! 
Then they send this jerk! He was worse but it takes time to know someone. Right? I knew what kind of personality he had, the first time I had to accompany him: Belligerent, hostile, over-authoritative, rude, disrespectful, even shallow. He asked me a few questions and had some unreasonable requests. I was able to get the answer by going and find it in the related standard. He was just testing me and I kept nodding every time he said something strange! He told me to go read this or that! My answer, most of the time was the same: I will. This led to have a smooth relationship. However, my interactions with him was quite limited. When it came to interacting with the other people in the group, particularly ladies, things became different for him as not everyone takes the bullshit the way I do! The thing is I have my capacity too but being new at this work, less than six months now, and having a great relationship with every single person I had to deal with, I simply didn't want to ruin my reputation. So I came along and we found a position that we, both, I believe, were comfortable with: He kept being an aggressive and bossy a**hole and I kept being a complaint employee! The reaction of the others were different and I heard different complaints from one person and then another one. I think that was the climax! Then the last day we went to complete something together he said some people had complained about him! Not being surprised at all and being very joyful inside of me, I pretended that I was taken aback and I asked him who it had been and why! He didn't say much and just extended his arm and we shock hands. He added: You're a good man! 
That was it. When we went back to the office my manager didn't even let me to attend him! He took care of him and then the guy left after a few minutes! Two things which were surprising to me are, first why did this escalate so fast to the point that he had to be removed? And secondly why did the observing organization accepted this without any investigation and so fast?! The stranger and funnier thing is the e-mail that came after the guy had already left! It was asked to report any sort of unprofessional interaction with him! People are sentenced and then tried in some jurisdictions, apparently! I truly was joyful that I didn't have to deal with him but I still think the proper procedure of investigation should have been followed. 

(Photo: While this is not a very clear picture but it shows what happened to the fella. I don't think he will be fired from the organization but most likely will have a note in his file)

Cultural Discrepancies (8): Cursing

There's no doubt that cursing exists in every language but the question here, for me, is who curses the most?! I don't know! What I know is some Canadians curse a lot and telling dirty jokes is not off-limit! Funny thing is they say Canadians are very polite! I think they are but perhaps when compared with Americans! It's hard to say unless you have interaction with many nationalities but when I say many nationalities I'm talking about the major ones, of course. Not any shitty, tiny piece of land who calls himself a country! Here, in Canada, you could be at work, in a party, listening to the radio show or watching something on television and people curse like it's a normal activity of the day and tell dirty jokes in front of women, children, elderly, everyone! That's the culture!

What's interesting in Western culture is they use the things that they like the most to offend others! One of the most popular(!) ones is the word co*ksucker! Fellatio is a normal act between two people who have sexual relationship, in many cultures but Westerners used that as a curse although they, even some men(!), are in favour of it, madly! I never understood this! Pig is the animal which is not consumed in many countries, particularly the countries with Muslim majority as it is forbidden to eat. Though I've never heard in any Muslim, Arab or generally Eastern culture using the work pig as an insult! Americans, mostly and Canadians and British, as well, use that word very frequently as insult despite the fact that they love pig! Pork Chop, Bacon, Pulled Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, are all meals that people consume in the West, and then the poor pig is used as an insult! 

In Asia a few other animals are used as an offensive word: Cow, Donkey, Mule and Sheep, are mainly used to insult someone! Another animal which is frequently used as an insult is dog! I know it will drive Westerners wild as a dog is a member of the family but that is the fact although some countries have changed in the past couple of  decades. Koreans and Filipinos are dog-lovers but when it comes to eating them! They have been changed recently in the past few years as now they think having a dog as a pet is a sign of affluence and being Westernized! In Western Asia Dog-father and Dog-Mother!(!) are both an insult which indicates that the person's parents are dogs or at least one of then is a dog! While dogs are considered loyal and helpful animals to human beings for decades, it is not know why this poor animal is used as a curse word in those cultures. It could be the fact that dogs are considered filthy and dirty in Muslim faith! It makes no sense to Westerners but they use that although having a dog as a pet, these days, as I said about the other side of Asia, is considered a sign of being modern and Westernized! I think debate over the subject could be longer than this. I just wanted to have a hint.

(Photo: Dogs are members of the family in many Western cultures. They even sleep with them in their beds, have their food while the family is sitting for a meal, etc.)

A Purchase of a Vehicle, Finally

I finally purchased a vehicle after nearly 6 years of postponing it for different reasons. This, however, hasn't been without a loss which I still have the opportunity to compensate for it. I had two deposits at two different dealers, stupid(!), and one has refused to refund me! Not entirely. I haven't gone in to discuss it with them, and there's a chance they're reading it now but the worst case scenario is I will use the deposit as a credit to buy something. The problem with this purchase, mainly was insurance and although I've picked it up, it neither has insurance, nor registration(!) but I have time for those. 
This vehicle looks good and from what I've read about it, is reliable. This is my fourth car in the past 24 years or so and my third brand new vehicle that I've ever purchased. All from the same brand. My goal, first was to purchase a Tesla 3 but I cancelled that due to the high cost. Haters could start their business although I cannot understand why someone would despise another individual who has just purchased a new vehicle, without any history of hostility and resentment! ! It will be a little bit expensive to maintain and repair this vehicle but I have some good maintenance deals, not great, as part of my purchase which should help. Rather than that there's nothing special about this purchase or the vehicle but the fact that someone helped me to get it ready who was a very nice person and then no pressure for getting extra features or services. I, however, cannot disclose the name of the dealership or the model of the car as it would be advertisement. All I can say is the car is from the same brand that is seen in the picture. I'm not going to review the vehicle, unlike the previous one which I had a few posts for it, and I will not have any advise as how to have a smooth purchase like I did, as people normally don't listen (Or perhaps I shall say read!) or if they do they will do whatever they want. What I can say is I just gave the dealership a cheque (I imply didn't want to pay any interest!) and will not have to worry about anything but the insurance and maintenance, partially, for the next whatever years which I will drive this vehicle. I have kept my old vehicle because it still runs and I have two pairs of almost new winter tires on it and have no plan for selling it yet. Not until the next insurance renewal day, at least. 

(Photo: A model of Toyota in a showroom in Nagasaki. These are common types in Japan due to low fuel consumption and ability to maneuver on the streets, which could at time be narrow. I haven't seen anything quite like this anywhere in North America unless it's imported as used and of course the steering wheel is on the right)

Cultural Discrepancies (7): Eating inside One's Own Vehicle

For many years and form time to time I have noticed one habit of Canadian people: Eating in their vehicle in a parking lot of a fast food joint or their workplace. In the beginning I didn't know why they were doing this and it was really odd to me. It still seems very odd but at least I know why people do that. 
People are embarrassed to be seen eating alone in a food establishment, even a fat food restaurant. They get their food and eat in their car while parked and idling the engine! Why don't they go back to their homes? The answer is clear: They feel lonely at home! By coming out and seeing people and interacting with the business workers, for at least half an hour, they feel better. That works like a medicine for them and can survive the rest of their days. 
I saw two people at two different workplaces who would eat in their vehicles! Absolutely stupid! One of them was an old fella in his early 60s and the other one a young racist motherfucker from Red Deer County! I wanted to write this because everyone in that room was a non-Canadian and he did not get along with them very well. The Chicken Shit, I would like to call him here, eventually quit only a few months after I joined. I hope he reads this and realizes that it's known that he is an asshole and disgusting loser! I don't care about sewer rats like him but I despise them forever. 
Nevertheless I saw something this past Fri. at work which was stranger than all the above: An old fella, almost at retirement age, was sitting in his vehicle eating, smoking cigarette and playing with his phone with all the windows rolled up! The odd thing about this guy is he has a big office where he sits all by himself! So unless there's something seriously wrong with him, he wouldn't do that! 

(Photo: For this post I decided to use a picture from years ago: A lovely Meat Pie made by my lovely wife at the time! Since this post is about food and eating I'd like to add that Whole Wheat Flour was used to make the pie shell and the tops. The texture can easily show it)

The (East) Indian Version of the American Dream

The Trump's administration started shipping border jumpers out months ago and the action continues today. Most of this individuals go to a country in South America and work their way up to Mexico and eventually the US border and people of different backgrounds are amongst them. From all the Latinos to Chinese, (East) Indian, Iranian, you name it. 

For all this is reaching reaching the American Dream and they pay a lot to obtain that. The same issue exists within Europe. Germany and England, as well of Scandinavian countries are mostly the target. Not to mention France, Belgium and Italy.

It's said that now many of those (East) Indians, have been sent back to their country of origin alongside many other foreigners. The American Dream is dead for now. I thought what I should do, to my (East) Indian friends, whom I like a lot, is to provide them with the (East) Indian Dream which if materializes, would be much better than the American Dream. In order to achieve that, my good (East) Indian buddies must follow the followings: 

1) You have a massive workforce. Pay them the minimum wage or have them volunteered to clean of the mess. All the garbage, dirt, grim, filth, etc. Get it done whether it takes 6 months or 6 years. 

2) Stop scamming tourists. I will never go to India but I know people who would. Many tourist have complained about being scammed and lost money. That's disgusting. The funny thing is that I had a buddy from Chennai who said once to me  and I quote here: " India has nothing to see ". So it's been always a question for me why would someone ever go to India and only one answer came to my mind: It's cheap as hell! 

3) Eating like a cow and having a big belly like a pig or an eight-month pregnant woman is not something to be proud of. Stop being a cow or a pig. 

4) Stop raping female tourists and your own girls and women. 

5) If you're poor, you still can be clean and nice. You don't have to spread garbage around. Try to understand the concept of Garbage Bin. 

6) Familiarize yourselves with condom or other pregnancy prevention methods. Giving birth to multiple children in a country which already has passed 1.4 billion, is not an achievement. 

7) Stop fraudulent businesses which targets foreign countries. You eventually are caught and may face charges. 

This is Indian Dream which could turn the reality. It might take generations but you'll get there. What bothers me the most is all these poor sols who have to put up with you around the world! 

(Photo: An [East] Indian family tried to cross into the US from Canada in pursue of their American Dream. All four, husband and wife and two kids, froze to death. American Dream for them turned to chilly dream. Now the kids are resting and have no challenges in their lives. Mom and Dad are also happy. They're no longer responsible for the kid's future. The dream came true)

I'm European!

Disclaimer: This post in no way has any intention to look down on people who had a hard life before coming to Canada, look down on them or ridicule of any way. It only is about a natural reaction of an individual during a casual conversation. Please stay calm and understanding.

Sometime I feel really bad for the people who made their ways all their way to Canada in pursue of their dream: Getting out of extreme poverty, have something to eat, being able to sleep at night without the dear of being bombed, etc. Canada, for sure, provides that, although not as pleasant as it used to be but still for a guy who comes from Afghanistan, Cuba, Sudan, Dominican, The Philippines and all sorts of devastated or drug-infested countries, going to Toilet Donald's for a Hamburger or buying a bag of rice for Nasty-Toilet-Mart is as pleasant and sweet as staying at a 5-star hotel in Manhattan! Lot's not forget that, as I've mentioned earlier in a separate post, this is what Canadians like: They like to see the foreigners struggling and be beneath them. That's hoe they feel good about themselves. 

With that said, I used to go to Lina's Italian Market on Centre St., regularly. This is a small specialty supermarket with the majority Italian imported products. Merchandises such as Pasta, Tomato Sauce, Olives, Cured Meat, Vegetables, Candy Bar and similar. They also have a bakery and small cafe. You can get food, beverages and deserts. The quality is not bad but not top of the line either. I don't want to talk about the prices because with the price of everything going up, fuel, wages, etc., you can expect them to make a 12" Pizza for $8. I used to there for Olives, Eggs and occasionally other stuff. Now I barely go there and I only get Olives. Everything else is simply not worth paying by me anymore! 

Businesses like that usually have difficulty finding employees but this one has never seen any problem of that sort. The store is usually busy during the weekend but during the week the traffic is not that heavy. I was there once and I asked a fella about an Olive Oil bottle. I'm usually very hesitant when it comes to purchasing cooking oil and with all sort of fraud with Olive Oil (they mixed it with much cheaper oils such as Peanut Oil) I really don't want to be tricked. He was trying to be helpful with his broken English. When I asked him if he was Italian. He said he was European! He later clarified he was from Albania! 

The funny thing about these poor refugees who claim they're from Europe, is really sad. There're parts of Europe that there's nothing and honestly I don't know how people live. Countries such as Albania and Bulgaria are the worst, particularly the latter! It has been warned to avoid. The other countries of their vicinity are not much better off. They're basically toilets! No offence but that's what they really are! Moldova, claims to be a country! It's probably just a few farmlands and a number of cows and that is all. Romania, Hungry, you name it. They're just happy that they're called European! 

(Photo: Lina's Italian Market offers a variety of cheeses. I usually stay away from them, not that they are bad or anything. They just contain too much fat. I've tried their Ricotta a couple of times, though and it was good)

Swastika is not a Racism Symbol

When I moved to Canada after waiting 5 years for my visa, in contrast to all the fraud and liars who simply make up a story and pour into the country to benefit from the tax payers, I had a different mindset. I thought I was going to an understanding and civilized society. Although a good portion of Canadian people fall within that category, I believe, after living in this country for almost 24 years, there's a good portion of society who easily fall within the definition of d8ckhead. There're a lot of drunkards, child abusers, wife beaters, drug-addicts, Weed smokers, you name it. Basically having manner and being polite is considered a weakness in almost everywhere in this society. If you haven't tried any type of drugs, don't drink regularly or dislike fast food, you're not accepted in the society. 

The fact if you're not Caucasian and was not born here in Canada, generally, you're not accepted within the society. Sure they hire you and even give you a title and, at times, reasonable salary but you would never mingle with them even after more than 20 years because your looks always reveal you aren't one of them. This Inclusion and Multi-Culturalism that the stupid Government of Canada has been yelling for years will never materialize. They only say that to have people of all background in one work-place so they can work without conflicts so the Government can tax them! If multi-culturalism and inclusion worked, there would be no Chinatown! I've written about the stupidity and ridiculousness of Multi-Culturalism already. What I need to add here and educate the stupid Justice Minister is that if he believes in Multi-Culturalism, perhaps he should study other cultures a little more to, for example, that what is called Swastika, here in Canada and other Western countries is an old religious symbol in many Asian cultures, including India and Japan and in no way has nothing to do with Racism, something that many Westerners have great adherence to it!

 The fact that Germans used it as their symbol from 1930s to late 1940s has nothing to do with the origin of this sign. People who use that as a sign of hatred are nothing but stupid and ignorant individuals and no one is responsible for this shit but the stupid Government of Canada because they brought these people in despite the opposition from Canadian people. Did you see what happened in Toronto last week? There will be more and more of that across Canada. People are sick of overpopulation, unemployment, high cost of living and crime and the Government is responsible for this by dumping truckloads of foreigners, many uneducated and from war torn countries, on Canadian soil. There's no democracy because democracy means to do what the people want, not what the Government want's which is taxing more people! 

I still think Canada could get itself away from the hole that Europe is already in. Whether they do that or not is another question. 

(Photo: I took this picture near a park in Tokyo which shows the top of a Shinto temple. Signs like that could be seen all over eastern Asia and people are not offended by that. I once saw an Indian young girl in an Esso gas station in Skyview neighbourhood of Calgary wearing a necklace with a pendent of the same symbol. The stupid Canadian education system needs to provide knowledge to the public that this sign has nothing to do with racism, while, I insist, banning it to be misused for such purpose and get tough on the d8ckheads to draw it here and there. Put them behind the bars. Ban them from doing certain things which would affect their lives such as applying for certain jobs. Punish them harshly so they learn their lesson. Don't slap them on the wrist!)

Free Speech is Misunderstood

I got very happy when I heard that the silly clown's show was cancelled. Every time I put the TV on and this guy was talking, he was making fun of someone, using offensive and at the same time absurd language. I wanted to through the television out of the window. I have no problem with someone who disagrees with me. I have zero tolerance for the one who uses humor to attack his opponents and the people he disagree with and this guy was certainly one of them.
People say that Freedom of Speech is ignored. Freedom of Speech is not attacking everyone's idea and ridiculing them. There shall be lines. The same misunderstanding exists in Europe, particularly in France and Denmark. They let thousands of Muslims in and then start making fun of their belief! If this is not stupid, then what is it? You know what they believe in and how important it is to them. You let them enter your country and then you started mocking their religion, drew cartoons about their sacred people and pushed them at the sides of the cities. What would you except? I'm talking to the French government and the French people and their troubles with the Charli Hebdo magazine. This is not freedom of speech. Nor is what the Danish news paper did years ago. There are always lines which shall not be crossed. When you make fun of the president of a country, you make fun of millions of people who voted for him. You can express your disagreement in a more reasonable manner and without being objectionable. If you cross the line, you deserve to be axed. 

(Photo: Two terrorists are seen next to the vehicle with open doors engaging with the police in Paris in 2015, over what Charli Hebdo magazine published and was later considered offensive to French Muslims. I was expecting from the civilized[!] French to understand that first letting a big population of Muslims to the country which has nothing in common with them was wrong! Big first mistake. Secondly ridiculing their religion would result in a catastrophe. Sadly the French are not as smart as what they claim and use Freedom of Speech as an excuse to cross the line which should not have been ever crossed. That resulted in innocent people being killed. The employees of that magazine and deeper gap being created between the original French and Muslim French in the country. The situation is not that bad yet in the US, yet. However violence is used to silence the opposition. Violence and offending people's beliefs are not much different)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (8): Las Vegas is Safe

The United States has changed a lot in the past decade or so. Homelessness and drug addiction is a problem in everywhere and not just the major cities, although some of the main cities are considered dangerous in a way that led the President to deploy the National Guard despite the fact the city authorities didn't like it. The last city that I traveled to before this recent Nevada trip was Austin and it seemed peaceful and clean but perhaps the areas that I had been to and I didn't spend much time driving around. 
Las Vegas, like most American cities, has homeless, drug-addict and criminals but they're pushed back from the main entertainment area to the other neighbourhoods. I watched a clip a few months ago which was referring to them living in a sort of underground area of the city. I guess what the authorities wanted to do is to make the city safe so the people can come and spend their money. The presence of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police was quite obvious on the boulevard and I've already written about their reaction to what seemed to be a threat to the public safety.  

I've read, several times, the Government of Canada Travel Advisory about different cities and countries around the world but never felt they could be applicable to Las Vegas at least until now. The other thing is since there are not many restrictions in the city, the police would not intervene, until something serious happens. For example you can have alcoholic beverages in public, something which is considered unlawful in other jurisdictions. For that, a homeless man who is sitting on the side of a sidewalk and drinking beer would not be a target for the police. With that said while I'm sure I will have trips to the US in the near future, there will not be many major cities that I will visit. My goal would mostly be national parks and mountains but for that I need to use the major airports of course. 

The only time I felt a little uncomfortable was the time that I wanted to gas up the rental before returning it. I drove to a Chevron outside the boulevard area. Before going in to pay, as I was using cash, I saw a Black fella coming out of the building, talking to a couple who were sitting on the curb. When I got closer, I realized the poor homeless couple were about to leave, simply listening to the Black fella. I was confident that there would be no issue inside considering the way that the gas station attendant has dealt with those two. I handed him a $50 bill and told him I needed $30 worth of gasoline. He seemed to hesitate to give me my $20. He took two $10 bills and put them back in and then said that he had made a mistake. Did something on his machine and it got opened and he handed me the bills. That was when I realized that I had made a mistake which had not ended badly: If you use a card, there's barely anything they can do. If you use cash, they can always deny the amount you have handed them. For example he could've simply said I had given him $40 and would return me a $10. In that case there would be no easy solution to that but I narrowly skipped an issue.

In the end, Las Vegas is a safe place and the fact that less visitors have been coming to the city in the past few years, has nothing to do with public safety. It has other reasons which are not the subject of this post. I'm sure I will visit Nevada again but I'm not sure I will be in Vegas again. I have seen enough! 

(Photo: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police had a heavy presence in the boulevard during the Labour Day long weekend)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (7): I Love Nevada Desert!

 A vast majority of the State of Nevada is desert but this area is not a barren land. There is so much into it. First of all the state has used portions of the land to generate electricity using solar panels. The new area that I saw on a recent trip was the road to Valley of Fire State Park. A good portion of the land is covered with panels and the area is fenced. Why miles and miles of the area is not used for the same reason, I can't answer. Secondly there are lots of mines across the state. In fact the company I work for just received an order of a sort of piece of machinery, that we are expert on, for a mining project in that state. Driving across the desert is such a relaxing experience! I didn't have a very good vehicle and it was quite hot at the time but still enjoyed my drive and might do that again, to reach other destinations, perhaps Reno and Carson City or any other major town. For someone who is into brothels, you can drive to one in a small town and stay there. 

The White Sand Dune or Amargosa Valley Sand Dunes is what I would like to see in my next trip to Nevada, if I'm going again. The dunes are seen almost in the middle of the picture with the mountains in the background

The desert also gives good opportunities for photography, if you know how to use a camera. There are also lots of opportunities for hiking. You just need to know where to go and when to go it. Not to mention to have proper gear, food and water. I have had other road trips across the US and I enjoyed them all. I have driven around the State of Arizona and I have crossed the State of Texas from east to west and back. I'm looking for another opportunity to do something similar in the US again and also hopefully Europe, also the latter would be a nit more difficult because many European countries do not have the great highway system the US has. Even Canada does not. There are still places in Canada which I would like to drive to but I have to be careful with the damn trucks. 

(Photo: A shot showing part of the desert close to the city of Las Vegas when flying out of Harry Reid. This is looking west with US 95 visibly seen)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (6): Caesars Palace Hotel

I would like to clarify here that I'm neither a gambler nor a drinker or smoker and the only reason I selected Las Vegas for my recent trip was that I needed to use that as a hob to do my hike. The plan was a total failure with lost of waste which was due to lack of confidence and poor planning but still have to tell the story of staying at Caesars Palace hotel where people think is the ultimate hotel experience. It is not! 
After my miserable attempt to hike Boundary Peak, I drove nearly 5 hours to get to Vegas but I had to plan carefully because the hotel does not let you in before 16:00! I parked the rental in their lot which later was known to be a mistake(!) and went in to register. The process was fast as the hotel had not yet reached the crazy Labour Day peak! I was given a room on level 14 with a view of the pools which are located in the back of the property. It was a very large and nice room and clean too. However it had issues. 
I realized that when I was going to sleep. The bed was awful. The side of the bed was completely damaged. It was like that the side because of being used repeatedly has used its firmness and I felt like I was sleeping on a steep cliff! I don't know if hotels can fix mattresses or not bad that was very inconvenient. 
The other issue, which is not as important but you see in most or perhaps or perhaps I shall say I have seen in most Vegas hotels is their snack/drink trap program! They put a collection of snacks and drinks in a box and you are charged if you use them. It's fine but I've heard that the prices are extraordinarily high. I didn't even bother scanning the QR code to find out but I know how it is. You will be penalized if you replace the items, as well, meaning if you, for instance, use a chocolate bar and then purchase one and put it where the original one was, you would be charged on the card you have provided at the time of registration. They claim they have a motion sensor which I believe is bologna but I didn't risk the US$ 75 penalty! 

View from my room on the 14th floor shows the back of the property and one of the other towers of the hotel. 

The lighting in the room was not sufficient either. I don't think anyone goes to Vegas to stay in a hotel at night but still you need proper lighting when you get in. The bathroom is awesome with shower, hot tub and double faucets but I didn't use the tub, of course. Elevators are old and one was out-of-service at the time without any sign. The door had just been left open! I don't think any of these hotels would want to replace their elevators. I didn't eat at the hotel but there were lines at some restaurants and some others You could be seated shortly after arrival. It is not a 5-star or even a 4-star hotel and it gets very crowded, unless you go during the week. The pools are nice. I think there are as many as three but they're, of course, not for swimming. They're for wading and sun bathing. Overall Caesars Palace is not my kind of hotel but it doesn't mean that I hate it. It's located at a very busy spot and there're lots of lowlife miserable people who try to show off(!) but that's me. You could stay there as long as you want and you might even enjoy it. For me the bed issue was the biggest one. 

(Photo, top: The main entrance to the hotel where you have one of the main restaurants/bars on your left and the registration desk in front of you. This is a very rare glimpse! I think I took it around 07:30 or something otherwise you'd see all sorts of losers with their phones taking pictures for their social media profiles!)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (5): What happened in Vegas on Sun. Night?

Labour Day long weekend is a crazy time in Las Vegas. There are so many people that some services would not be available unless you have booked them much earlier. However most of the action is in the boulevard. You go two blocks away, everything is normal. I was not aware of this much crowd. However, I had booked everything in advance. The crowd was overwhelming at points but again, it was only on the boulevard, I would imagine. People were out in heat and talking pictures or going to business such as bars and restaurants. I was not much far away from my hotel. I had done a small purchase from a CSV and I was at the corner of the boulevard and Flamingo Road, on the overpass pedestrian going back to the hotel when I heard sirens blaring and all of a sudden saw people are running toward me! I stopped and saw that security forces has somebody on the ground and are pointing their service guns at him! I stopped. More police vehicles were coming to the scene and access to the hotel was blocked. 

I had to go north and turn to Caesars Palace Dr. to get to the hotel but everything was normal later. I read on the news that there were acts of violence and brawls but I personally didn't see anything. The only thing I saw was the guy on the ground, surrounded by the cops. After all I'm not surprised if there were assholes beating on each other because who else goes to Las Vegas anyways?! Rather than a bunch of families who want to take pictures with water fountains and statues(!), cheapskates, drunkards, gambling addicts, the other people who go there are young couples who tend to enjoy their youth and of course there always be fights between this group! For me, I'm sure I will go to Nevada again but I won't go to Las Vegas unless my brother wants to and I will take him. He told me he wanted to see Madame Tussaud's, the main one in London, a few years ago and I haven't had time to take him. Besides no one is comfortable sitting on a plane for 10 hours. So I thought I might take him to this one nearby in Las Vegas and then take him to other places and perhaps have a nice meal in Hell's Kitchen as well but I will have to talk to him about it, first to see if he likes that. I personally have no issue going to London. Nevertheless that would be the only reason for me for going back to Las Vegas and that would definitely not be during a major holiday!

(Photo: Multiple police vehicles are seen on Flamingo Road. It seems they have responded to something. I took this from the pedestrian overpass on the northeastern corner of the intersection. A suspect was on the ground just less than 50 m. from me with the officers pointing their guns at him)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (4): Drinking Water in Las Vegas

Most of the things you need during a Las Vegas Trip are expensive and people try to cut all the possible corners during such a trip. Something that I never understood, at first: If you can't afford a trip why the hell start in the first place?! The answer came to me quickly: Where do you think all these photos people take with their phones are going? Social media profiles! I saw people who were taking pictures from the hotel lobby's ceiling!
For me the only issue, at first was water. Not many people drink water when they go to Las Vegas. They go to Las Vegas because they don't drink water! There're so many different alcoholic beverages! I never bought $7 or $20 bottles of water but I paid nearly $4 for one until I checked the net and realized that the water in the city of Las Vegas is totally safe to drink. So if you're at a hotel all you need to do is turn a tap on and fill up your glass and if you need ice, every hotel provides that for free. 

A Pack six water bottle is sold for US$ 8.99 in a local store on Las Vegas Boulevard and it's not drinkable yet. You need to keep it in the fridge for quite a while and I don't know if many hotels have refrigerators or not. I don't think mine had

I'm not being a cheapskate. I'm saying the hotels hike the price of everything to compensate for the slow season and selling a bottle of water for an unjustified price pushed me and many more toward the local businesses within walking distance. I paid US $35 for parking my rental in Caesar Palace parking! Am I allowed to walk for 10 min. to a CVS Pharmacy to get a bottle of water or a chocolate bar for a reasonable price?! I will mention about the hotel in a separate post. 

(Photo: Disgusting cheapskate in Wal-Mart and Salvation Army attire carrying a case of Soda Pops in Caesar Palace Hotel. His daily lunch would not cost more than McDonald's and supermarket frozen meals. I really hope he sees this picture so later he has something to discuss with the ugly animal who is with him!)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (3): Boundary Peak Attempt

Sleeping in Mizpah Hotel was not too bad but I didn't have enough stimulation the morning I woke up! I made myself a cup of coffee in the room before checking out and headed west. I took US 95, a major highway in Nevada which although goes from south (Las Vegas and before) to north (Reno and beyond), runs from east to west when you exit Tonopah and aim for Boundary Peak. 

It was a bit scary but not a kind of fear that a coward feels. A fear that someone who is alone and suspects they will be in a hole, feels. I continued on US 95 until I reached US 6 which continues to the west and then turns south. This time the number of vehicles on the road decreased even more! 

I drove until I reached Queen Canyon Road, a gravel narrow pass which takes you to an abandoned mine. It took painfully long. Both because I was by myself and it was hot. I started going up. Nissan Kicks is a sort of small SUV which does not have much clearance and it was then where I realized that I had made a mistake! I had selected the wrong time of the year and going there alone was a very hick risk especially when you drive a tiny little car. If the vehicle breaks down or you get injured the chances you come out alive are next to zero! One might ask why there's a road there? The answer can be seen at the end of the very same road: There used to be an active mine there. We saw the mine the last time I was there with Alphonse a few years ago. This time, though, I didn't even make it to the mine entrance! I was terrified that something might happen to the damn car and that would be the start of a very miserable day!

I don't know how far I was from the sort of parking area in front of one of the entrances to the mine but I found somewhere that I could turn and headed back. 

I know this is so stupid and idiotic but there was a huge risk involved and that would not have been even because of the climb! I felt very bad but while I was going back to Las Vegas, I planned for another trip, hopefully next year, to do the hike but this time from the California side. Here's one plan:

1) Fly to Sacramento.

2) Drive to Hawthorne, NV. It's longer than driving from Las Vegas to Tonopah but the drive will be a new one for me and I won't get bored.

3) Drive to Queen Canyon Road.

4) Do the hike.

5) Buy a reliable Satellite Phone, obviously before the trip starts! In case something happens you can contact an emergency, unless the incident is so bad that you can't use the phone! 

This hike would be perfect, if combined with a trip to Japan because there're flights from San Francisco but I think my next year long trip plan is set for Europe, not Japan. So unless there's another opportunity to make the trip to northern California happen, the hike cannot be done.

(Photo: Boundary Peak, the third one from right, not seen the tallest, from the intersection of US 6 and Queen Canyon Road)

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (2): Valley of Fire State Park

I walked to an Enterprise location in Flamingo from MGM Grand and rented a small SUV, if I can call that vehicle. A Nissan Kicks. I drove it back. Went up. Got my stuff, checked out and drove north. My destination was Valley of Fire State Park.

You need to understand when the term park is used, it does not necessarily mean a place with lots of trees, shrubs and grass, especially in NV. The other thing is visiting NV in early Sep. is not such a good idea for outdoor enthusiasts! I'm sitting in a hotel room (I'll write what hotel it is later) and turned the AC off and it's not too bad while outside is 100 ℉ (38 ℃). Roaming around a park in such a temperature would not be very pleasant after a night of complete awaken! Admission to the park is $15 and surprisingly there were people there in the heat but while the park offers good hikes, not in extreme heat of course, most of people get out of their vehicle, take a few pictures, go back in and that would repeat until they cover every corner. 

What you should not do is combining it with another plan of the day. Something I did and I realized later that it was a mistake! The park is located northeast of Las Vegas and Tonopah, my next destination is located at the almost northwestern side of the city. So I had to basically drive back to the Las Vegas area and then take a highway to the north and drive 3 freaking hours in heat! That became very tiring.

A Small herd of goats got the attention of the park's visitors. Here you see two of them going on the top of this big rock. I don't know how these poor animals survive in this hot and dry condition.

The interesting thing about this state park (remember it's not a national park so the related pass would not be helpful here) is its visitor center. I got a big bottle of water for only $2, even cheaper than most stores in the city. If you're there, make sure you make a purchase. 

I have to say that for someone who has been to several parks and areas in the States with the same geology nature, I was not so impressed but still enjoyed it and would have injured, had I made it part of a one day trip and a had done a full hike. I believe the entire State of Nevada is the valley of file in late Aug./early Sep. but the park would be such a great place to visit in cooler months. I also didn't go to the end of a road which starts from the visitor center and leads to sand dunes. That shall be considered.

(Photo: The terrain and geology of the park reminds me of other places I've visited including the ones in Arizona and Utah) 

Trip to NV at Trump's Time (1): MGM Grand

I had another miserable failure! I'm sure there're people who like to laugh. Make sure you read this to the end! Here you go: I had to cancel my second consecutive year's trip to Japan and since the airlines do not refund, I got some penalty for cancellation and some refund. I used part of the refund and booked a flight to Harry Reid with the hope that I can do the Boundary Peak hike. 

Bad Idea! 
Everything went well as far as the flight and passing the US Custom and Border Protection in YYC, as I wrote, earlier. I got a cab to MGM Grand and checked in easily. The hotel's check-in was easy and the price was what I had thought and read. The room: Not too satisfactory. These hotels in Las Vegas charge excessively and have ridiculous rules. No wonder why the visits are dropping every year, in the fast few years. They have a section in the room like a snack bar where they stock some snacks and drinks. They are very overpriced and according to a sign, touching and switching would result in a fine! I heard bottles of water would go as high as $20! I had no intention to even check the prices but down in the lobby a small bottle of water goes as much as $7! The same bottle could be purchased from a local shop for as low as $3! 

This kind of service is not new to me. You'd be surprised to say that I saw this first almost 30 years ago when I and A. J. traveled to Damascus. We stayed at a 2 or maximum 3-star hotel and they had a fridge full of snacks and beverages. We were hungry or thirsty at night and instead of going out, we'd simply get everything we wanted and then the next day on our way back to the hotel we would restock! 

Then also when we were staying at Conrad with Alphonse a few years ago, we saw the same thing. I really don't know why the hotels do that. I think people are mostly able to resist them but I could be wrong.
I think these hotels try to charge as much as they can, for everything, as their season is limited. Nothing, basically, nothing, is included. You only pay for the room, which in this case was not too impressive. The hotel is old and there's noise from the gamblers and drunkard all night long! I know I was at the wrong place at the wrong time but the hotel, obviously, does as little as possible. What do they do? They offer you ear plugs! 😄😄. 

As someone who has to use ear plugs for almost half of the time at work, every day, I'm not going to wear them when I'm on vacation too! So I barely slept that night! Probably half an hour! Unless you're a night owl who goes to bed at 04:00, I wouldn't recommend MGM Grand. Someone who prepares to hit the sack at that time is either dead tired or too drunk to understand what's happening. They would be okay with the hotel and their features! That's probably the whole Las Vegas business work! 

(Photo: The view from my MGM Grand hotel window. You can see the Strat Tower)

The Future of the Travel Industry

They say do not say the details of your daily lives as criminals monitor people's actions to find an opportunity to benefit from them but I'm writing from YVR after clearing from US Customs and Border Protection. The whole section has been changed, physically, from the last time I was flying to the US from YVR which I don't know when it was. The entire process took a little more than 1 minute. No issues at all. What was very annoying and frustrating was the online check-in with Air Canada, when I got home, after work, yesterday. I had not slept well the night before and the work was as tiring as almost every day is. I was very hungry too. I made a sandwich and after the first bite I realized the check-in process has become lengthier and they need more information and I made a mistake that cost me more than $36! I have a big backpack which I have taken to the cabin as a carry-on. I've taken it to Germany, the US, you name it. I thought they would not allow that in. So I check that in for the amount mentioned above! I was tired the entire afternoon and finally finished the process. I set up the alarm clock for 04:30 to be able to get everything done before leaving. Time was spent to get some gasoline and then fetch something from home. Then I drove to the airport and parked and walked to the gate. That was when I realized I was late! I thought I'd not be able to make it on time, just like last year that I missed my WestJet flight but luckily everything went well and I was able to reach the gate shortly, perhaps 5 minute, prior to the boarding for my zone. I then realized that I had baggage check-in. The funny thing is the lady told me she would check it in for me because I had a small briefcase of laptop and technically I'm not allowed to have two. She said she would do it for free and ignored that I told her that I had already paid!

The other thing I realized is I have nearly 5 hours of layover! It's insane! Right? I don't know if they changed the flight because I can't remember the time indicated when I booked. On the way to YVR they didn't even have coffee onboard! So I thought I shall have one as soon as I pass the security booths. Here we have the same issue that you see in almost every airport and YVR could be the worst: A large cup of coffee and not a great quality for $4.20, not that I'm excessively surprised! I, however, will ask this question: What would happen to the future of the travel industry with all the prices going up with no cap! There were small sandwiches for $16 and by the look of them you could say that they have been made at least the day before, if not before that. What does the business do? They will donate it to the food banks or toss them. It's just the amount of money that the airports charge for allowing businesses to operate. Add to that the increasing cost of labour. I have another 3 hours to spend before boarding. Perhaps I shall take a break and then do some studies since I have time. Unlike what they were saying there was nothing concerning at the time of the trip from American authorities. We will see what happens when I land there and spend a little time.

(Photo: The control tower and Air Canada hanger shortly before the taxi starts)

Memory Altering Drug

I was listening to the news sometime back in 2019(!) and I was going to post this but there has been a 6-year delay! I heard that a memory altering drug is now available! It immediately reminded me of the great movie that I have seen: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Although I don't remember much of the story but it was about erasing memory, something that I really am interested in!

Bad memories come to mind frequently especially when you're lonely which is the case with me when I'm not at work. I don't have much social work because the handful of friends I have are either too far away or married and busy with their own lives. I try to keep myself busy with my home chores but that's not enough. I waste a tremendous amount of time on the net watching clips or reading things but then again when I have nothing to do, sometimes, not all the times I must insist, bad memories come to mind. The good thing is many times good memories come as well. Therefore if the medicine is erasing everything, it's not all for benefit! Once I read that taking pictures diminishes the capability of the brain to remember the memories but it does not seem to be valid, especially if that is all I have to resort to when I am on that drug. Is it?

(Photo: Jim C. and Kate W., are holding the kids who played them in the scenes of the movie)

An Uneducated Rube becomes the President

When it comes to politics, many leaders of the nations are ridiculed because of their appearance, their background and their behaviours. Look at the number of criticism, ridicule and curse that is directed at Trump everyday both by Americans and others.

The filthy and nasty sewer rat that I hate the most, in the entire world is the Ukrainian clown, the pet of the West. The animal who forgot who he was and where he came from. The ignoramus ugly rat who thinks turning his back to his origin and barking stupid English phrases give him a lift! 

Destruction in a capital's neighbourhood 

This is what you have after more than 3 years now: Towns turned to rubble. Soldiers fleeing. People are dead. This, I'm sure seems like a dream many and are happy! The ones who are going to benefit from millions of dollars of arms sale. The hungry Ukrainian villagers who never had any comfort in their lives and now live in modern European, American and Canadian cities, receiving thousands of dollars of aid every year!  

(Photo: A banner hung next to the American flag, pointing at the Western pet from Ukraine!)