Carlos

Robert, the Jamaican guy dropped me at the corner of 44th St. and 19th Ave. SE, today and while I was walking home in just a few sec. a Caucasian big guy wearing a pair of sunglasses in a Ford Taurus said: Hi Carlos! I thought he and the other guy, behind the wheel are teasing me so didn't stop and kept walking and also said: I'm not Carlos. The guy said something else like how are you doin' Carlos and I answered back: you are Carlos, this time! I was just steps away from the car when the guy came out and said: Excuse me, this is Police! I got shocked and turned back and said: I'm sorry. No one have ever talked to me like this. He also showed me his badge. I told him that I'm not Carlos and asked whether or not he needs a proof. He asked for it and I showed my licence and told him: I thought you are looking for Carlos, the terrorist in the 70s! The guy took a look at my ID and apologized. I still don't know whether or not they were really cops or not but that was something really exciting. But let me tell you about Carlos:
Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, commonly known as Carlos the Jackal, a 1969 graduate of Moscow's Patrice Lamumba University, has been tied to "Communist revolutionary movements" since he became a 14-year-old member of the Communist Party in Venezuela. His father, a wealthy Venezuelan Communist Party leader, was so dedicated to Leninist/Marxist theory and practice that he named his three sons Vladimir, Ilich, and Lenin. In his teens, Carlos was allegedly given guerrilla training in Cuba. By the age of twenty, he reportedly had moved to Jordan and was being trained in weapons and explosive usage by members of the PFLP commando (I really have no idea what that stands for). Shortly thereafter, he began what has turned out to be an infamous career as an international "pay for hire" terrorist.
Although some intelligence reports link "Carlos" to the 1972 massacre of eleven Israeli athletes in Germany, most counter-terrorist analysts suspect that the Olympic massacre was master-minded by the Black September organization and Abu Nidal. It is more likely that in 1971 and early 1972, "Carlos" was fighting and learning combat tactics in a guerrilla war against King Hussein, in Jordan. It is also possible that "The Jackal" had begun acting as an intelligence agent or informer for the KGB.
By 1973, however, his terror activities had begun in earnest. He has publicly admitted to his 1973 assassination attempt on a British Millionaire named Edward Sieff, who was a well-known Jewish businessman and owner of the Marks & Spencer stores in London. Within the next two years, he was believed involved in the takeover of the French Embassy at the Hague, the killing of the two French Intelligence agents for which he has been recently captured, and a 1976 takeover/kidnapping of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna. Later in 1976, he was involved in a skyjacking, that led to the now famous Entebbe raid by Israeli commandos.
If I wanna write about him, I'll need hours and hours. I can go to web news and books and magazines but think that's all I compact according to what I've read about him so far. He was finally arrested in Oct.10.94 and sentenced to life imprisonment in Dec.23.97.
(Photo: Carlos in 70s [left] and after his arrest in 94. He's been in jail in Paris since)

Spider-Man 2

I went to Paramount Chinook to watch Spider-Man 2 finally last night. Mom didn't come and said it's too boring for her to sit in the theatre for two hours. The movie was excellent and I enjoyed very much. I think part of it is because of the advanced sound system and the big screen. What happened to me in Troy again occurred. I was so excited and also frightened in some scenes of the movie. Story, acting, cinematography, special effect and sound were awesome, all. It's said that the third part will be produced soon. I caught the movie in it's 23th night.
(Photo: Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst as Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson)

Drinking

Beer, soft drinks and coffee are the most popular drinks in Canada. If I prioritize them I'd say coffee, soft drink and beer. Coffee is drunk all through the year esp. in long Calgary winters, which usually takes about 8 months! You may see people walking around with a coffee mug or siting in a bus or c-train. Soft drinks, mostly Coke is drunk as part of breakfast, lunch, supper or sometimes snack. Beer is very popular in parties and also bars especially Fri. evenings but they don't drink it as much during the week.
I have been to bars or clubs just a few times and the only alcoholic beverage that I usually order is beer. When the waiter or waitress asks what the brand I like, I find this question very stupid as all of them taste the same for me. Therefore in order just to answer them, I usually say: get me a Molson.
There was news on TV tonight saying that Molson and Coors are goin' to merge. There was also a test for Canadians, the big beer drinkers. Two glass of beer of two different brands but covered was in front of a guy or a gal and s/he was asked to drink them both and says which one is which. None of them was correct!
It confirms that I'm absolutely right. There's actually not a big difference between brands. But once Resurrect bought a Danish one called Tuborg and I felt the difference. That was really tasty and of course more expensive as it's imported.

Thunderstorm

I was in the bus this afternoon, heading home, asleep. When I opened my eyes, somewhere in Deerfoot Trail, noticed that there's a heavy rainfall and thunder. I was barely able to see through the window and so does the driver through the windshield. Many cars has to pull over and wait until the storm is calm. Once we were about to have an accident as the driver was driving fast and the road was very slippery but he controlled the bus and saved us!
When we get to the stop, it was still raining and thundering and I had to walk home. By the time I get there, there was no rain and the sun was shining and I was soaked!
A-Channel later said that the storm has passed over the city but there is a high probability of having more of that, this summer. I didn't see this kind of storm in last 2 summer that I was in Calgary.
The thunder was so load that it reminded me of the days which Iraqi jets used to fly over Tehran and bombarded the city for several times but not very heavily. I never forget the sound of the planes and also the Red Siren. It also reminded me of a scene from Iranian TV, years after the war was over. There was a program about war on TV. A chopper landed to take the casualties out. While it was on the ground and its rotor was still running slowly and soldiers were carrying bodies, suddenly a plane appeared in the sky and everyone ran away like a rabbit and dispersed. The Iraqi jet fired a missile and damaged the chopper. The scene of chopper in the blaze was very dark and gloomy especially because you knew that a min. ago few injured soldiers have been transferred to the chopper.
Iraqi air force was very strong compare to Iranian one. Although they use Russian planes but they never allowed Iranians to have a successful air strike. Iranian planes, all American made, mostly were not able to operate as a lack of parts and proper maintenance.
When I used to work for Ministry of Defence through a small engineering company, there was a magazine in the library called Saaf, which publishes monthly by Iranian Army or a higher rank of such military organization. There was a supplement in the magazine: Pilots memoirs of Iran-Iraq war. As much as I remember all of the stories ended with this sentence: I was shot down by an Iraqi anti-aircraft missile (or an Iraqi jet) before I reach my primary target and returned home when the war was over and the POWs were exchanged!

Where The World Meets The West

I took Mom to Glenbow museum today. Glenbow is the most important museum of Calgary and one of the most important ones across Canada as that's where the world meets the West. I was going to the museum last winter when we had stat. holiday but I was lazy and didn't.
We entered the museum from the gift shop. Great stuff and of course most of them expensive. Things you can't find anywhere else. The museum, itself, has 5 floors. The main floor is administration, gift shop and theatre. The second floor was prepared for two American artists, painters and I'd say sculpture artists. All about Cowboys and Indians (native Americans). There's also one department for Asian art and most of them are sculpture from India, Japan, Tibet, and other countries in Asia. Gods and Goddesses including Buddha and Shiva. Iran of course is not an Asian country in North American point of view! They know it as a Middle-Eastern country! There was a big map on the wall. The map shows that Asia begins from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the west and ends to Japan in the east! In fact an Asian is an Oriental in North American view.
Anyways the 3rd floor is about native people and the first people who migrated to Canada more than 100 years ago. How they lived, What they used, etc. Also there were everything that Indians (native people from different tribes) used to use in their daily life. From canoes and kaiak to different customs, their language, locations, dishes, everything. It was very interesting but there were too many things to see and I was tired. Mom was fine and liked it very much. The first agricultural and oil industry were another part of this section of museum.
4th floor was departed to 3 major section: Western African, minerals and military. We passed through the first 2 parts quickly but spent more time on military. One thing that I found there very interesting was a Persian armour. Every part of the armour was named in Persian and of course in English and was translated.
As I said, because of my tiredness we returned to the main floor and Mom bought a very cute beaver doll from the shop and we left.
I promised me to go there and see, photograph and read more. There are many things to learn. The admission is $12 for each but I used a coupon to get a %15 off of one of them. I found the coupon in Avis, last summer when I rented a car to go to Royal Tyrrell.
(Photo: This photo taken in the museum shows probably a horse accessory shop. Where saddle, spur and other stuff is being sold and repairs and services are provided)

It's Not Just in the Movies

I was driving to a London Drugs (the one in 8th St. SW) to shop, as sales starts today. While I was talking to Mom on my mobile, a big SUV was coming towards me but slower than usual. When the car reached me, the driver pointed to below(!) and excused himself for his low speed and blocking the alley partially. I didn't notice what was going on first and to what he was pointing, but after seconds I saw a head with shiny, blond hair, going down and coming up very gently! A girl was giving him a head! 

Stampede

I was goin' to take Mom to Stampede today but as soon as I parked the car, a heavy rainfall started! As we both didn't want to get soaked, I started the engine and headed to Army & Navy to do some shopping. By the time we finished our shopping the sky was clear, the sun was shining and we went to see the exhibition.
That was my third time in Stampede and the best time as I spent as much time I wanted on my own pace. The events or places we enjoyed are:
1- Indian Village, where native people has dancing and singing event goin' on. I took beautiful photos. Mom and me really enjoyed it.
2- Agriculture show, where you can see different animals and the products that come from them. Horse, basin, pig, llama, different birds, etc.
3- Western food, including Corn Dog. Food is usually unreasonably expensive in Stampede. For example they ask $9 for a barbecued turkey drumstick! I never buy such a thing because first of all it's not as tasty as it looks. Just the skin and the surface is roasted and it makes it look delicious. Secondly, turkey is not tasty at all, unless you add too much herbs and spices and that fades the real taste of turkey. I have tasted it several times and I don't find anything special in it. Chicken, even if it's boiled, is tastier. But it's said it's a healthy food so I try it every often.
(Photo: I took this photo in the exhibition. It is a big barbecue. Like everything else in Stampede, this meal is very expensive)

Devonian Gardens

Today in the afternoon, I took Mom to Devonian Gardens in Downtown for the 2nd time. It was uncrowded and there was nobody around except 2 or 3 people. Therefore I was able to take some photos and we enjoyed the beauty of planets and flowers. Norma, my first friend in Calgary took me there for the first time when I was new, and it was almost 2.5 years ago. She was a young, nice Mexican girl in his early 20s but a little bit fool as is usual in her age. She left me because I corrected her pronunciation!
(Photo: The Sun Garden of beautiful Devonian Garden. You can have your wedding ceremony there and the cost starts from about $475. There are chairs and tables and also sound system provided)

Two Heads Are Better Than One

I saw two sheep heads in the fridge when first I moved in to the new place. Ray told me that he had bought them probably from an Arabic store, as he trade with them, mostly. I was looking for the opportunity to cook them. Sheep head and also leg is a very delicious old Persian and mostly Tehrani cuisine, usually eaten with Sangak bread as a breakfast. Therefore I asked Mom to cook them and she did. It was so tasty after years.
(Photo: One of the two sheep heads after being cooked. This one is better than the other one, for sure!)

137th Birthday

Today is Canada Day and the nation celebrates the 137th birthday of the confederation. This is what I found in American Heritage Dictionary about the foundation of Canada:

The Dominion [territory] of Canada was formed in 1867 and extended to the western provinces in 1905; Newfoundland formally joined the federation in 1949. The Statute of Westminster (1931) confirmed Canada's status as an independent nation within the Commonwealth.
For more information refer to Canadian Heritage website.

Me and Mom went to Prince Edward's Island Park to see the celebration. We went to Eau Claire Market first. It's a good place for shopping but usually expensive. You can get almost everything there. From Chinese handicrafts to Cowboy clothing's. There are also restaurants and bars. There were some outdoor activities including South American dancing (just two couples were dancing! but that was really good. South American dance is really erotic) And also some Oriental drumming but mostly done by non-Orientals! After a short time a heavy rain fall begun and most of the people get soaked and everyone had to leave. We went home too and after a short break I went for a good ride. A new trail, following Deerfoot and then Nose Creek. Took almost 2 hours. I was muddy, almost at the end.
(Photo: People are running away from rain but it's not easy as it's very crowded and have to walk in a long queue)

Fahrenheit 9/11

I and Mom just came home from Westhills' Famous Players, watching Michael Moore's documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11. The movie is about the relationship between Bush and Bin Laden families and how George W. Bush took power in 2000 election. It's an anti-war movie. Seems true but I don't know whether or not we can trust the writer, producer and director, Michael Moore. It's a 2 hours movie and a little bit funny. Mom liked it. I tried to interpret some hard parts of the movie for her and it helped. If the DVD is released, I'll get it to watch it again. I used the free pass (2 free admissions) that was sent by Heninger Toyota, months ago. Releasing the movie just months before US Presidential Election could affect voters choice.
(Photo: Moore and one of the characters of the documentary, a soldiers, who says he would refused to Iraq if he is deployed again)