Disappointment in Last Days on Mars

I always liked science-fictions and particularly the ones which the story takes place in space. If I like the movie I buy the DVD and add it to my collection. Well I used to do that when I had a job! Now I'm fucked. I don't do these fancy things any more! Last Days on Mars was on my list for a long time until I saw it a Calgary Public Library location and I borrowed it. I thought that if it was good, I would buy the DVD when I am employed. The result was disappointing! I watched it only once and I returned it and I know that I wouldn't want to watch again or buy the DVD.

The story is not good. It's something that has been told maybe several times and there's nothing new in it. The acting is even below average and what else? It's just not a movie that takes you with it!

There's a group of astronaut on mission. There's around 19 minutes left of the time they have to stay on Mars and all of a sudden one of them who is out doing something falls in a hole! He's working on some tool or something and the ground opens its mouth and swallows it down!

The other people go out to find him and then the third person realize that he and the second person are infected and became zombies!

That was one I said: Shit! Another stupid zombie movies, this time in space! The rest of the movie is pretty much similar to every zombie movie you have watched so far: The others get infected one after another and they, in turn, attacked the remaining ones and infect them as well!

The stupid part is that a rescue ship comes and the crew get killed in a matter of a minute although the only survivor calls them several times on the radio and warns them of the potential danger!

The story ends with the survived guy going to the rescue ship and facing one of the zombies. He fights him and manages to kick him out to the space while he gets injured himself. These last minutes or so are copied from Alien and Prometheus with little differences. The survivor sends a message to the control center and notifies them of his situation just like Ripley does. He manages to kick out the zombie astronaut out just like Ripley does at the final minutes of Alien and there are so many other similarities but the quality of everything is just simply low: Acting, story, cinematography, editing, you name it.

I wouldn't recommend this movie at all. Some movies worth watching once. This doesn't. Just like that stupid movie we watched in theater last year: Monuments Men. That was shit too! Or that silly B. Pitt movie: Fury. That was very disappointing too! So my advice is don't waste your time or money or both on this movie. Find something better to do. 0.5 star out of 5 and that is only because they tried to make a movie and they failed miserably!

(Photo: This scene is from the last minutes of the movie. The survivor is in a rover with another astronaut and the rover is low in power. They stop and they fell sleep. When he wakes up, doesn't see his partner, a woman astronaut whom was previously stabbed with a pair of scissors with a zombie astronaut. She realizes that she was changing so she left the rover on foot. The survivor follows her to save her but realizes that she has mutated. They have a little conversation and she attacks him unwillingly. He finds no option rather than killing her, although I don't know how that is possible because according to the other scenes, zombies are impossible to be killed. He smashes her a few times with a rock, as seen in this scene. What the director and write(s) forgot here in the movie which led to a big gaff is that due to the size of Mars, the gravity is much less on Mars. So these guys would most likely walk much differently on Mars compare to what's shown in the movie! Big, big difference!)

Fighting for a New Challenge

I'm back to the business of job searching again, after I was turned down last week and I'm trying to apply for anything and everything. I sent my resume for this position posted by this very famous company with the hope that something comes up after all these tries of mine in the past 6 months or so. I received an e-mail the next day with a few questions. This part is very easy to handle as I'm good at writing although this is my second language.

Then the lady sends another message to me and wants me to have a chat. I don't mind it. I head out for a local library on foot and then I say to myself what if she calls here and I need to check things on my resume?! I can open my resume in the library but I can't talk about a position in front of everyone! So I start going back to home and while I'm going up the stairs, the telephone rings. After the greeting I manage to get in to the apartment, before the real conversation starts and open my resume. I realize that I don't need that after a few questions are asked but in case something is directly asked from the resume, I'm ready. Besides I'm in my room not in a public library. 

I manage to answer all of the questions in a convincing way that she says that I would have to talk to my prospective manager and his aid, a guy that I didn't like his name when she said it, somewhere down in the US next week. This position is permanent according to her and by the name of the company and the exports thry have had in the past 50 years or so, I could say that but it's a little strange that in this economy these guys' business is still fine. That was the case with the other company that I had an interview with in last December and that fucking bastard Chinese, I know, turned me down! I have a telephone conference number to dial and talk to him. I will. 

Mt. McGillivray (Ridge)

This past weekend's hike with the group was supposed to be done on Fable Mountain but it's been raining and snowing for the past 3 days or so. Hence they changed it to Mt. McGillivray's ridge. I first wondered where that was and a little search took me to Crowsnest Pass but then I thought that can not be because these guys are normally not going that far from the city, especially if that is a day before the workday. Then I read more and they say you go to Dead Man's Flats and I said that cannot be! How in the hell I never heard of that mountain in the area?! When I looked into Google Maps I realized that is a mountain between Heart Mountain and Pigeon Mountain, the two easy mountain that I had been up to! 

We met at 09:00 and happily there were only four of us this time. Since there should always be a problem in this type of trip, there was an annoying, load, ugly woman whose her voice is still ringing in my ears! It was a damp and rainy day but it was not as bad as this woman. We started our hike at 10:15 and went up the visible trail. The leader, had been up there obviously because we seemed to be going over the plant, moss and everything alive after a few minutes and still heading to the spot! They call it bushwhacking! I call it bush destroying! There were a few spots that he was not sure where we were going but eventually we got ourselves on a flat area on the top which we could see Las Des Arcs, Baymag Plant and Lafarge Cement Plant. Apparently that was the ridge which would lead us first to the false summit and then from there to the actual summit at approximately 2450 m. 

The guys took a break there and had a snack. We reached the spot at about 12:00 so our hike took some 01:45 hours only! What a joke! We headed down after the short rest and while our team leader said we'd be taking a different trail down, it seemed to me that all he knew was that we had to go down! We reached down with not much difficulty and quickly. I originally didn't want to go because I don't like ridges and things like that! You go up and try to reach the summit. That's real hiking or scrambling. What's the point of going to a ridge only while after an hour or two you can reach the summit?! But I didn't want to stay home all day and sit in front of the computer. At least I got some exercise!

(Photo: This supposedly is Mt. McGillivray in Dead Man's Flats between Pigeon and Heart! Seems that I has ignored that for a long time until we went up to its ridge today!)

The Dreadful Drive back to Calgary

Here's what I'd like to say about the two times I drove back from Okanagan Valley area to Calgary through Highway # 97A and Highway # 1. I left the area both of the time, late. I don't remember what time I left the first time but the second time I left after our unsuccessful hike to Brent Mountain, around probably 13:00. Both of the times I stopped so often to take photos or just simply stretch my legs. It hurt a lot. I especially had a problem with the left knee which I injured at the end of our hike to Wasootch Peak. It would hurt so bad that I had to pull over and walk for a few minutes to ease it off. The other problems are first of all, I don't drive fast because I don't have a fast car and I would never buy a fast car because I'm not simply into speed. 

It was raining most of the time when I left Summerland in the first time and continued until I reached Lake Louise. In that section of Highway # 1 the rain turned to snow and it was so fast that I had to slow down to 40 Km/h in order to see! It was raining heavily in the second time too. Just a few stops in between. The good thing was both of the times it was a weekday and not many passengers were on the road. In the second time when I passed Canmore I realized that I was low on fuel and had to make a u-turn and go back to Dead Man's Flat to fill up! That was scary and stupid, both. The highway is ill-lit and I really was struggling with the road even worse than the first time, I don't know why! I never timed myself but I guess it took way longer than 07:40 hour that is indicated in Google Maps! 

(Photo: part of City of Vernon besides Kalamakla Lake. I took this on my first trip back to Calgary. Very beautiful place) 

Overreacting Over a Small Thing

I never like this J. Trudeau guy. Never. even before he was selected Prime Minister. Generally the policies of The Liberals are what I mostly don't like, except for the time they said No to Americans when they wanted Canada to be part of The US Collision Force to Oust Saddam, although I was in favour of that! I didn't vote for them in the last election, almost six month ago but this time I believe he's being a victim in this Parliament stupid scene! 

He walked to his colleague to take him back to his seat. That's the first part of the story. Many say that was wrong or bullshits such as " I had not seen something like that in 12 year in the House " !!! So fucking what idiot? Now you see it! The guy was supporting his team member. I had never seen too many women with headscarf in the more the past 15 years that I've been living in Canada. Now I see it. So what? The time has changed, idiot. The way Trudeau handles his cabinet and his team today is different from the way his father did a few decades ago. The pass of time demands change. 

Then the guy accidentally hits a woman who was standing there and watching. Completely unintentional. The woman is fine. Just a little shocked. The Prime Minister goes to apologize to her and finds she had left. Then he apologizes to everyone, the woman MP, the House, his colleagues, everyone, several times. Get over it. It's done. 

These fucking idiots now make a big deal of it. The whole time of the House the next day is spent on childish, immature nagging of bunch of idiots who instead of working on the country's numerous problems waste the time on this unintentional accident. Why? Isn't that because they're incapable of handling the issues and want to distract the public and the House from the real issues?! 

And what happened to equality of women and men that you brag about a lot in this country? What if the Prime Minster had elbowed a man? Would that have been this much nonsense about it?! Grow up you useless idiots of NDP and everyone else who hasn't let this problem go. You're the true meaning of immature and that NDP woman whom I don't even know her name and don't care what it is: You're nothing but a crying phony. 

(Photo: Trudeau is seen in this photo, taken from a clip,grabbing the arm of his teammate and trying to pull him away from a bunch of NDPs. The woman, the crying wolf and the phony who is trying to take advantage of this unintentional incident is not seen here. In fact she's on the right side of Trudeau behind two other people a man and woman but you can see her ponytail. What a useless piece of garbage!)

No Longer a Candidate

I went to the same office for the second time a few days ago, this time to do Voice Stress Analysis. I had a little chat with an administrative lady and she gave us a whole speech. One of the girls that I had seen during the physical test session was there and she sounded like she was over-excited for this shit! I love this, I love that and all these kind of shit that these people repeatedly use (!) was coming out of her mouth continuously! Then we were greeted by two men in their late 60s, I would say. They took us to separate rooms. The guy introduced himself as a police officer who was on the force for years and then was offered another job. Now he said teaches to everyone in mostly the US to how to find liars! He asked me to tell me my story and I told him almost everything from the beginning to the date that I asked for this position and then he started asking me questions after he attached a microphone to my shirt. 

That was supposed to detect any change in my voice pattern, if I lied. I finished that and then he wished me good luck, shook hands with me and I left the room. He said that he wouldn't say if they should hire me or not. He just tells them the result of that test. Whatever that means! I also realized that the girl was let go a few minutes before me. I heard her coming out of the room, talking to her interviewer. I spent a few minutes in the office with lady discussing the documents and left. 

When I checked my e-mail the next morning back at home, I saw this e-mail saying that my qualifications did not completely match the position! They offered to give me a feedback on where I screwed up in Jun.01. I talked to A. F. and then The Mumbling Guy later, even Newlywed. The first two believe that it had been the fucking guy, The Screamer, whom I had introduced as my reference, who fucked it up. According to The Mumbling Guy he was asked question which for me to pass he should have given at least 70%. He said he gave them all 90% to 95%. It's very likely that the Screamer gave less than 70% for a few but we'll see in Jun.01. A. F. said that once the same thing happened with another guy and then they called him back later in month but I don't think that would be the case with mine. It's not the end of the world or something. I mainly applied for that job because first of all I was tired of being unemployed, secondly I wanted to leave this neighbourhood and then I told myself that I can apply for a better position in 3 years but here I am now. I have to work harder, no doubt. I start career searching again today. 

Attempted Brent Mountain

We finally get ourselves on the trail to the summit of Brent Mountain but we didn't reach it! It was a surprise to me that no one knew about this mountain! I even went to a BC Tourism office in Summerland and there were two girls who reacted like that was the first time they were hearing that and it actually was!

The good thing about this buddy of mine is that he wakes up early. He's not like the other lazy ass who I went to Bow Hut once and other hikes! We met at the parking loot of Apex Mountain carpooling in Penticton at 06:00 and headed west. It's interesting that everyone knows about Apex Mountain because it's a local ski resort. We drove through an Indian reserve which looked like all of the other ones that I had seen before: Rundown houses, old cars, trucks and even buses, all other sorts of junk. The road is Green Mountain Road and it really is green and beautiful and then we get to a logging road. 

That's were we apparently made a mistake. We missed our exit which was a road to our right and we went further west and then made the turn. I parked on a shoulder and we walked up for 2 hours or so until both of the roads (or paths) that we took ended! I suggested to go through the forest or go around it but my buddy, A. F. said we would not be able to make it through the forest or we would get lost.

We headed back down and we went back to Penticton. He later told me that he checked with someone and apparently the active logging road was the one that we had to take. He now has the information and if I go there again, we will do that.
(Photo: This is the second path we took and was dead-end! I was hoping to reach that rocky section on the top left corner of the picture but the road ended too soon and then we headed back down to the vehicle)

Hike to Native Face in Oliver

I had talked to my buddy about hiking to Brent Mountain and we planned that for Tue. morning but after the fitness test I realized I had so much time until sleep as it was only 16:00 and decided to do the hike of Native Face near Oliver. Native Face or Indian Face, as the Native people of North America are still called Indian because Christopher Columbus thought that he had landed in India(!) is a cliff some 7 Km of Town of Oliver in British Columbia which if you look it from a certain angle it looks exactly similar to a Native persons face. 

I had already gotten the information from Tourism BC office in Oliver so I headed north on the main road and the first time I missed my left turn and had to go and make a u-turn and take the road going to Covert Farms. There you park your vehicle and then go to their property and from there they guide you to the trail-head which is a kilometer inside their property. When I reached there and went inside after being guided by a woman who was working on a pathway, the gentleman behind the counter told me they'd close in three min. when I asked him about their business hours! I know it's not nice but I told him that I wanted a bottle wine for my friend as a gift and I truly wanted one because I didn't fell it's right just to simply ask him about the trail-head. He said their cheapest one was some $23. I told him that I would pick it up later and headed out towards the trail-head. I guess they have a cafe there as well but wine is a big thing in Canadian cuisine and I don't think many families have their dinner or maybe lunch without wine. Besides A. F., my buddy said that the businesses were all doing great. I hope.

A beautiful Bitterroot. I had never seen one until this hike!

So I grabbed my stuff from the trunk and headed north on the trail. The trail goes from a big vineyard. There was nobody around because it was late. I started the hike at 17:05. After a short walk beside the vineyard I reached a tall fence and gate with chain. I went trough the gate and continued on the well-marked trail. What surprised me at this stage was something that I had not seen before: An electric fence sign. Now I don't know whether it was true or just to trow people out but I tried to stay away from the fence. The trail gets a little elevation after a while where you begin to see the vineyards and town. It's a very beautiful hike and for me who has been to hikes in many places it had its own uniqueness and beauty. At this stage I happen to hear a loud noise which was very similar to cow's Moo! I thought that could not be true because deep in me I wanted to see wildlife but soon I realize that was an empty hope! There was a herd of cow which apparently didn't like my presence and made more noises when they saw me. I found not not wise to continue on the trail because it was very likely that they attack. I went around and carried on. This was at a small pond which according to the information is called Rattlesnake Lake! I have seen water puddles larger than this which have not been called lake! I checked with two horseback riders and they simply told me to follow the trail to get to the top of the rock. Here just after a few minutes something happened which usually happens during my hikes and scrambles: I lost the trail! I went north at this point, instead of going east because the head is located at the east side of the so-called lake. I started going up and there I get a better view of the town. I took a few photos and headed back down. I told myself that was OK. I exercised a little bit. I took good photos and that's enough. I suddenly found the trail again when I was going down, though! I first thought it was late but I kept going until I reached the top of the cliff. There were better views over there. I took a few more photos and headed back down quickly. It was getting dark and I reached the lake again. I took a few shots of the small waterfowl birds but they noticed me and flew away. I wanted to spend more time in there but I didn't want to get caught by the dark. The cows now where at the foothills of the mountain watching over Rattlesnake Lake.

Vaseux Lake from the top of the mountain next to Native Face. Here I'm looking east. Look at that little island and the house in it. The owner of it must have so much fun!

I continued further down and for a minute I thought I had lost the trail again but I was fine. But I head a sudden noise which sounded like a few young guys screaming and howling at the same time! I first thought there was a bunch of teenagers partying in the area, smoking shit and drinking alcohol but it sounded a little bit different. It reminded me of a family trip that I had many years ago in the old country in one of the cities close to Caspian Sea. The almost same sound would be heard at time on those years which we knew at the time it was Jackals! I knew there was no Jackal in Okanagan but at the same time I knew Wolves and Coyotes are frequent in the area so I got scared a little bit. I thought if Wolves and Coyotes come in packs I don't have much chances! There was nobody within probably 2 to 3 Km and if I could get a signal on my mobile phone and called for help, by the time they would got there, I would have been dead! So I double-timed it and headed down. On my way and close to the fence I scared a couple of birds which could have been Pheasants or Grouse. I heard that scary noise once again and finally reached the car at around 21:00, I guess it was. It's a double fun in my opinion. You get good exercise and nice photos and then if you start your hike early you can relax in Covert Farms cafe and enjoy a meal. Wonderful hike.
(Photo, top: If you stand at the right angle and look at the northeastern part, just like I did, when taking this photo, you'll see the Native person's face. That's where the name of this cliff or bluff has come from)

Disgusting Slaves of the British

The ridiculous Liberal suck-ass Party of Canada won the election last winter and this puppet, the silly J. Trudeau with his mumbling speeches and fake, stupid smile became the Prime Minister! What a freaking phony! Well people are going to regret that but as a freaking fooling gesture what this guy did was hiring a few fools of slave nation of Sikhs as his cabinet ministers! 

For many that don't know the fucking British invented Sikhism as their Divide and Rule policy in Indian sub-continent so they could destroy the country and loot their whatever they had! They divided the country to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. These fucking Sikhs then became the soldiers of the disgusting British Empire so wherever these British assholes invaded, these fucking brainless slaves were in the front. 

The nasty British invaded Iran in 1914 from the port city of Bushehr in Persian Gulf and in south there was where the brave Iranians under the leadership of Rais Ali Delvari fought against the British and their stupid, brain-washed army of nasty Sikhs. 

Sikhs, whom also like to be called Punjabi while you could be Punjabi but not a Sikh live in groups in northeastern Calgary as well as a few other neighbourhoods in Canada. It's estimated some 500,000 of them live in Canada here are seen going to their local temple in packs.

With that little piece of history in mind I was in northeastern part of Calgary last week where a big population of, now slaves of Canada, Sikhs live! I realized that an unusual number of them are seen on the streets and sidewalks and a few roads are blocked and police trucks and cruisers are seen on the streets with their beacon flashing. I first wondered what was going on while I remembered that I had seen postings of Sikh Parade the earlier week! So what these guys where doing was just putting clean cloths on, covering their heads and walking in groups on the sidewalks. There's a temple of them in the neighbourhood. I assume they were marching to the place which I've been to once, just to see what they do inside and how it looks like. These people think they're way better than anybody on the earth! If you go to fucking Surrey in British Columbia they're even worse. They have their own gang which is responsible for most of shootings in that city as well as drug dealing and all other sorts of illegal activities. Then they have their temple there as well and you see all these nonsense, stupid, selfish remarks such as Sikh is unique and Sikh pride, on their vehicles! I haven't been to any of their temples in Surrey but I read that they have the photos and posters of Sikh terrorists, probably the ones who killed innocent civilians in India as well as Air India Flight 182 in there as martyrs! I also remember that British Columbia's Premier once left the Sikh annual parade because she was concerned about Sikh extremism. These disgusting politicians all attend the Sikh annual parade and other gatherings of them because they are seeking their vote. They don't care whether innocent people have been killed by these savages or not. They're looking for the votes as well as cheap labour! Nasty, filthy people, who think they're better than anyone! What a bunch of shit-head animals! 

A point-man, British slave who has recently been appointed as the Minister of Defense of Canada! I'm grateful that the responsibility of defending this nation is the easiest job that one could do otherwise we would all be screwed!

Now they have brought this soldier from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the office in Ottawa and he looks clueless! This disgusting creature doesn't even speak English properly! A Point-man who is just a display. His fucking stupid, disgusting Prime Minister once said that they were not in fight with ISIS and I guess they pulled back Canadian bombers, even. Perhaps we're not in fight with ISIS because ISIS is created by our great neighbour and closest ally, the US and we're not going to fight the friends of our friends! Right? And this British slave once said: Canadian should not be worried about ISIS. And I say in response: Yes! He's right! I guess we have a deal with our American friends to keep ISIS from our land. In response we have to be worried about Sikhs who their population is growing rapidly and they are ruining every industry that they are getting into! 

(Photo, top: Disgusting, slave Sikh point-men of nasty British forces with their slave masters. These disgusting human-like creatures were introduced to a fake so-called religion and fought for the British for a meal or two in the day wherever the British invaded and wanted to destroy that country)

A Different Type of Interview

I was given to questions to study a day before my interview and then the third one was given to me half an hour before it! It was quite a surprise! If someone's ready, he or she doesn't need to have the questions be given to him or her days or hours before the interview and if he or she is not confident enough to answer the questions in a persuading manner, a day or half an hour would not help.

Nevertheless I prepared myself based on the previous work scenarios and then as soon as I saw the last question another story popped in my head and I was ready! I even had thought before the day that I don't need the questions be given to me before the interview time because I'm experienced enough and have participated in many interviews. As well I have communicated with different people for many many years and have experienced every different scenario. So I will be fine. 

My buddy, who wanted to help thought it would be a big deal but I was relaxed. So when I was escorted to the interview room by one of the interviewers, I was relaxed. The point was to be able answer all three questions with real work examples in 30 minutes! So what I did was I started telling my stories one after another and I allocated 10 min. to each. Simple as that! They were all taking notes and I at times looking at my watch to make sure I'm within the limit! There were four interviewers, two ladies and two gentlemen and they were all writing like maniacs the entire time of the interview except for the last 2 minutes! 

One of the ladies asked me why I had chosen this as my career after I finished my 30 min. and I gave two answers. Then the leader of the team gave a little bit of explanation as how the hiring process would go and asked if I had any questions. I told him that I didn't have any at the time and he said that question would pop up in my head the minute I step out of that room! I think when you say you don't have any questions it indicates that you are not so much interested in the position and you're just looking for a job to bring some money in to your pocket and then you will move on the minute you find a better position. I had read that previously but I didn't have anything in mind at the time and I wasn't expecting them to ask something like that because all I had prepared myself for was those two questions and a similar one which was given later but I don't think the last two question were key questions because I later the next day was notified that I would have passed the interview! It was a good news and even my buddy was a little bit surprised although he before leaving said: I'm sure you'll be successful, I remember clearly. I was a little bit nervous but then I got relieved but that only means that I have passed the 4th stage and there are still other stages to come but that was a crucial one. 

(Photo: Using this picture to simulate the interview scene: Four interviewers, two ladies and two gentlemen. The look on the face of that one on the right in not so friendly! I remember I shook hands with three after the interview and the same person who escorted me in, escorted me out and shook hands with me after a little chat. He was a nice gentlemen, the very same one that I had a chat with in the extra station of the fitness test)

Exaggeration of Fort McMurray

Town of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, the town which had been established for oil production in the area partially burnt, people had to be evacuated and some have lost their houses. So what? Now Canadians understand what the true meaning of loss means. They really needed that lesson. And now from everywhere money is pouring that that city! Well good. Thanks. Rebuild the city and help them to get back to get to their normal life. But is Fort McMurray the only part in Canada that needs help? There are parts of the country which have struggling with poverty, crime, unemployment, suicide, you name it. How much help do those guys receive? 

Besides those guys in Fort McMurray all make good money. From the one who works for Subway, to oil-patch worker, inspector, etc. Now they have to spend a little from their own pocket to rebuild the city the loved so much! Government helps too. So they should be no problem.

This is mostly a political game. All these people in charge, from Premier to Prime Minister, Fire Chief, etc. they want to come out as a winner and engrave a name for themselves and guarantee their position. Otherwise they wouldn't make a big deal out of this. 

Besides if they cared so much about their beloved city in north, they wouldn't have built the entire city out of wood and only a few meters from a vulnerable forest. Would they? But I guess they were so excited about the money they would earn by the oil that told themselves: Lets built a shity town and bring people here and make them work. They make something and build a life, we make millions and the Government will tax them. Everyone will be happy! Hallelujah!
(Photo: A picture speaks a thousand words! What is that the Prime Minister trying to understand by looking inside a burnt vehicle!!? Not being rude but isn't this stupid? But I have to mention this that he postponed his trip to the area just to now. It was smart of him not to show up in the first 2 weeks. That's appreciated but this photo is not!)

A Sort of Physical Fitness Test

I was supposed to be at the local arena at 14:15 but I didn't have much to do except for a little driving around and some photography. So I went to the arena just to check when they will start. Then walked around a little bit and took a few photos and then went in finally. There were quite of number people, mostly Caucasians. There were one Asian and I think 3 Pujabis. There were also a number of girls, maybe 5 or 6. People were mainly from 23 and up with a few exception. I was among the oldest maybe with a few more. The majority of guys were out of shape! Some with big bellies and no muscles! There was one tall young guy whom I jokingly said that I would go to NBA, instead of applying for this job! He laughed and he said he played Basketball but then he said that he would have made more, had he gone to NBA! I told him about the Canadian who played for Chicago Bulls and won to title and couldn't remember his name at the time! He said he had been born around those years! There was another guy, a very big one who seemed to be in law enforcement business, particularly when I saw the RCMP logo on his shirt. I asked him whether he was a member and he said that he was a civilian member. 

There were as many as maybe 10 to 15 members whom were taking care of each part of the test. One officer specifically explained everything in detail and answered the questions. I had done this sort of fitness test earlier back in 2008 or around that year twice but I was nervous for no reason! Maybe I was nervous because of my age! I practiced a little when they gave us the chance and then I realized that they were calling from a list not randomly. 

The first person was a tall Caucasian guy with his belly showing under his T-shirt. He had an earring to his left ear, I remember and running pants on and looked very serious and was frowning all the time. I didn't pay much attention to what he did after starting but there were people who were clapping and shouting to encourage him, especially a few girls(!) but I soon noticed that he had to stop and could not finish the test at the last station. Too bad. There were a few other guys who did it easily and a few with difficulty but two girls I remember failed. One was a fat girl who tripped over one of the hurdles and injured her knee, the poor thing. I thought she would have difficulty passing when I saw her first. Then there was another girl, this one Caucasian too who had dressed like an athlete but failed at the last station. 

I started with slow and then medium pace and finished the first and second stations easily. I know the audience were not very impressed but I heard them chanting! The 3rd station was quite easy and then the last one I didn't have a problem at all! Done! I believe my time was 02:17. There was another officer whom I had a chat with in the extra station. I was told that I had a minute to take a rest and I used that to chat with him. 

I stayed a few more minutes after the test because I was let know about the next step, the interview. I then watched a few guys doing the test and now that I had passed gave a few advises and guided people but that was genuine although they were all my competitors, I didn't mind telling them how to pass. 

(William " Bill" Wennington, originally from Montreal here is seen in front of an opponent, won three titles with Chicago Bulls in the 90's. I chose his picture here for this post because he is the only important person mentioned in this story. While apologizing to him that I was not able to recall his name when I was talking to that fella, I hope he doesn't mind me using his photo here)

Driving to Okanagan

So I received this e-mail invitation from the guys who had applied a job from in inner British Columbia. It was stated in the message that first I would need to participate in a physical fitness test and if successful, I would have to sit for an interview. OK. I collected a few items including hiking gear and workout attire, booked a place and then hit the road at about 08:15 hours, I believe it was.

Everything was as boring as always until I finally reached Field and continued. Golden came after that and then Revelstoke and I had been already on this section of TransCanada Highway. There I realized that I had made a mistake not filling up my tank. The price of gas was some 114 Cents per liter! About 15 Cents more expensive than everywhere in Calgary! What bothered me the most is that I realized that was the problem in Golden because in the other towns and cities of inner British Columbia I even got gasoline for 101 Cents a liter! So I don't know. I will just be careful next time I'm going there to make sure I skip Golden for purchasing gasoline!

There I carried on to TransCanada Highway until I reached the Town of Sicamous, probably an Aboriginal name. That was where and before in a small gas bar, where I realized that I had been screwed in Golden because in both places I got gasoline for 101 Cents per liter. This is where I left TransCanada Highway and headed south on BC 97A. The environment and terrain changes from here. You see lakes, small clean towns, orchards and vineyards. These places are all nice and most of them are vacation destinations but the first major one you notice is Vernon. From there where you head south you encounter Kelowna which actually is a very beautiful town. I had heard that many people go there to retire and I also had heard about retired millionaire Hockey players having properties there. I found the answer why they might do that. I didn't stop though and kept going further down south.

Shortly after West Kelowna, I guess it was, I realized a malfunction in the GPS! It looked to me that the had reconstructed that part of the highway and since my GPS has not been updated, it got really confused and keep recalculating! This picture that I took while driving (not recommended!) shows that my vehicle is off the road but at least it is clear that I'm driving parallel to the highway. So there's nothing to worry about. 

From there you see all these small towns. First there's Peachland. Then Summerland, Penticton, Oliver and finally Osoyoos where border crossing is located. I stopped at Penticton and gave my buddy a ring to see whether he's free and wants to get together. He said he's meet me later in my motel. I headed further south, found my motel and checked in. It was some 9 hours drive particularly because I stop for photos, coffee, water and gasoline and I am always within the speed limit. This really is a scenic drive.

(Photo: Shell Gas Station in Golden, British Columbia is showing 114.9 Cents a liter for regular gasoline. It is at least 13 Cents more expensive than any other town in my trip and 15 to 20 Cents more than Calgary and generally Alberta) 

Guava

Trying new things at this side of the world got me a few days ago to get a couple of Guavas. They were small, the size of a Walnut and one were green to yellow and the other one was green. I washed them both and cut them open easily with a knife. The yellow one was ripe and delicious and although the fruit has seeds, like Grape, they are not bad and you can either chew them, swallow them or spit them. Farzin liked it too but Mom didn't like it because of the seeds. The next one was not ripe but we ate it anyways! I know how to peak them up, if I ever see them in a store, of course because they are not like available everywhere. 

My thought originally was that they are originated in India because that's how the name sounds just like Goa! but then I read a little about it and learnt that they were from South America originally.
(Photo: The couple of Guavas that we tried. Different type are cultivated with different colours and tastes but not available much in Canada)  

Why Wood?

For decades Canadians and also Americans have been destroying nature in their countries and has no intention to stop, looks like it. They destroyed forest and replaced them with homes, called it DEVELOPMENT! Simply because development make money. It make money for municipalities and creates job. That's what's important: Money. Everything else is just not important. They destroyed the environment and consequently the wildlife and then they started wildlife conservancy organizations! They destroyed forests, millions of trees to build houses and to this day I still have not understood why they had to make homes out of wood!!! If you go to Lower Mainland part of British Columbia, where it is also called Metro Vancouver, they have destroyed, I don't know how trees and have replaced them with homes, stores, roads, etc. In fact the majority parts of Coquitlam is a few hills where once were full of trees and wildlife and these animals of Government of Brit-SHIT Columbia destroyed them to make sources of income for themselves. 

Love of Canadians: Barbecue! There's barely any house without one! Here is apparently the remaining of a dwelling. The barbecue and its cylinder seems to be functioning. I bet the owner is very happy to see that!

Same story everywhere else in Canada where there was a forest. In northern Alberta they cut hectares of trees to extract Oil Sand ore, build roads and refineries. That's where Town of Fort- McMurray is located. 

The Mother Nature said, just a few days ago: You destroyed the nature as much as you could. That sounds like was not enough and you seemed tired of destruction. Now I'm going to help you! She started destroying the town and all around it! They are now say that the area under fire is even bigger that the area of City of Calgary and doesn't seem that it will stop soon. People had to leave without being able to take anything! After the fall of oil price in mid-2015 now there's another hit to the province and its residents and businesses. I heard that a few oil producers had to shut down their operation due to lack of enough work-force or safety issue. But I also was thinking to myself. If you make most of the buildings, particularly houses and condominiums out of wood, you are very close to forest and you live in a province such as Alberta which heat could be a problem in summers, shouldn't you have a sort of plan, protection or prevention? Because if you don't this will happen!

Forest is burning in northern Alberta near the town of Fort McMurray. Bad, is turning to worse and soon to worst.

With such a huge fire in the area, I don't think the houses and businesses had much chance if they were made out of concrete or brick but still it would have been better. I guess one of the other reason that they use wood is it's faster and as I was told once, it protects from extreme cold much better but is it worth using wood? I bet they will never change that because they are simply stubborn! Just like many other things that many societies believe in that for generations and never want to change it. Still I think Canadians are thoughtful and one day might think of better way to protect their homes from burning to ground in a matter of an hour! 

(Photo, top: Houses are burnt in Fort McMurray to their foundations, the only part which is not made of wood! Extreme heat has bent metals as it can be seen! The lawn in the back seems to remain intact! Many town which some became a city later used to be called names starting with Fort. A fortification to protect European settlers from Native people as we now that European forced Natives our of their lands and killed many. Even Calgary used to be called Fort Calgary and the remaining of the actual Fort Calgary still exists to this date and has been turned to a type of museum and we visited it)  

Alberta's Parched

It was hot and dry in the past 10 days or so and finally we had a little rain today. We had a similar break a few days ago but I didn't have time to write about it. The fact is the entire province is facing drought which could hurt ranchers. That's what I read a few weeks back, I guess. The last of enough rain can be seen easily in the city. Although it's turning green now but the grass, flowers and trees don't look very happy. This is a continuation from the damn last mild winter. 

The dryness has also named as a cause of recent wild fire in northern Alberta. I'm not going to repeat what's been completely covered by media here but if I could, I would go there to see what I could do, possibly through volunteer groups. 

(Photo: Taken from inside the car this shows a little rain of today in one of the major road of the cities. I was coming out of a driveway and I was tired to go for a walk so this is all I have from a nice rainy May day of an Albertan city!)