Frankfurt Airport

We arrived at Frankfurt International Airport after 7.5 hours flight from Pearson International. I couldn't get any connection in Toronto although there were numerous iPads available for free!

Apparently restaurants have provided this service to attract customers. You can order your food and drink while reading your favourite news or checking the weather. I couldn't get to my mailbox though. There are only certain websites which are available for free for the customers. That's how Apps work.

(Photo: Lufthansa plane is seen parked close to terminal building in this picture)

On the Way to the East

Writing from Calgary airport after checking the damn bags in. The big challenge is to get to the fuselage with all these carry-on. Our first stop is Pearson International and then we will cross the Atlantic.

(Photo: Took this photo from this 2-Engine plane with Nosehill Environmental Park in background while waiting for our flight)

The Imposed War (1980-1988)

22-Sep.-1980: I vaguely remember that day, as I was a child. We were out, all four of us in the family. Dad was behind the wheel of course. We saw long lines at gas stations and there was this rummer later that the Iraqis had attacked the airport: This was the first day of the 8-year Iran-Iraq War. It was just two days before schools started again. 

The coming weeks and months after that were filled with air attack sirens, power outages to prevent presumably Iraqi bombers to see their targets, military march on TV and radio and constant war news on TV: This number of Iraqi tanks are destroyed today, that number of soldiers are killed and wounded (the number always would come in a combination!), this number jets are shut down and the enemy is basically defeated! But the real and complete defeat took 8 years(!) and only when Iran accepted the UN's 598 resolution and was in a way defeated!

Iraqi POWs captured during the last hours of Khorram-Shahr liberation operation in May 1982. Many countries including the Arab League intervened to end the War at this point but the murderers who benefited form the  war turned down all of the proposals which eventually made them going to Imam Khomeini and tell him the story of their defeat. He then drank the poison glass, as he indicated himself, and ordered the war to be ended!

There's no doubt that Saddam invaded Iran and started the devastating war but there's also no doubt that the ones who benefited from its length were key factors in lengthening it. These are the people who knew their survival depended on the war. Hashemi Rafsanjani, the throne-less king of Iran and one of very rich people of the country is known to be one of the biggest supporters of the war. 

The devastation of the country did not end when the war was over. The country carried on its dive economically, socially, environmentally and culturally after the war in a way that after 26 years that the war has ended it has the weakest currency in the entire world! Enough Said!
(Photo: An Iraqi Su-22 attack aircraft is cripled after crushing to the ground. Iran's air power was not very dominating during the war due to lack of technical support, maintenance and parts since many of the Iranian planes were American including F-14 and F-4E)

Alberta's Shaky Economy

There's this guy who worked at the same company I'm working for at the moment and then he quiet. I see him every 6 months or so. A. M. a bit of a goofball but he thinks he's very smart. He, I believe, makes good money now and saves a tremendous amount monthly. He shares a small apartment with his brother-in-law and drives a fairly inexpensive car. No alcohol, no girlfriend, no hanging out, no gambling, no smoking, no hookers! Basically he does nothing but working. His hobby is talking to his siblings at the other side of the country and in the old country on daily basis and he changed his employment position from staff to a contractor just to save more money when he got this new job of his. So far so good. 

His plan was to purchase a house and he was looking at something between $700 K and $800 K, I guess. I intimidate him every time we meet and this past weekend he finally mentioned that to me by saying: You always say the situation is not good, every time I see you! Obviously it's something that I enjoy a lot but he is not too certain about the future himself. Hundreds of people have been laid off from the company he works for and he doubts that he stays there for a long time. In the other hand he says his position is secure due to the fact that he is the only one who has the specialty he has! 

Anyways he told me last time that he had cancelled a purchase for a house, recently and lost $10,000. I have difficulty believing his story because why would you make a decision like that and then regret it so much that you be OK by losing $10,000?! And particularly when you're someone who's very careful with money!?
If we consider the current economic situation, this might be construed as a wise decision: Sacrificing $10,000 for the sake of losing a big house but why not think wisely in the first place?
I read that a few days ago that 75 people or 75 families (which is worse!) on average come to Calgary every day! This is going to turn the city to a big shit-hole similar to fucking dirty Toronto and Shit-Couver (Some might call it Vancouver). Excessive population will bring poverty, crime, drugs, corruption and everything similar. These fucking idiots of the Government seem to be ignoring that. There are neighbourhoods in fucking Toronto which are more dangerous than areas in southern Tehran. Ghettos have been formed there, for years which all sorts of illegal refuges, drug dealers, war criminals from Central America, Eastern Europe ans Africa live there. The Government seem to be making it a bit harder to come to the country but not hard enough.
Ontario is much bigger than here and its market is already saturated and ruined. Alberta's will be soon the same especially that the big pipeline has not been approved after 6 years. Fasten the seat-belts, brace for impact. The big disaster is on the way!
(Photo: Highrises are going up rapidly in Downtown Calgary on daily bases. Lots which used to be a hangout for hobo and homeless are becoming popular! The prices are unbelievably expensive for such bad locations but surprisingly people are buying. This one is on 12th Ave., SW)

Debt Free

I'm officially debt free starting today. Yesterday the last instalment of my car was automatically withdrawn by the financial company. 5 years! The Lady told me to finance the damn car for only 3 years but I didn't listen at the time. Thought would be tough to pay it off. It's over now. I have reduced its insurance to minimum. That's another good thing. 

I was thinking of a better car but with this shitty economy, unstable job market and the damp we live in, I guess, it would be much better if I could find a better residence for us. 

The car now has a few issues that should be taken car of:

1- Break Pads should be replaced and I guess I have been told about them 6 months ago!

2- There's a rock chip in the windshield and that actually happened when I was going for a hiking on Highway No. 1 last winter. I don't know how much it would cost but it a damn thing. 

3- One of the speakers in the back is out. This really hurts! These guys charge a fortune just to look at the car.

I drove it less than 48,000 Km in 5 years! If I did not have that road trip to British Columbia two years ago and all the hikes and scrambles starting last May, it would not have more than probably 40,000 to 42,000 KM on it by now but it's OK. That's what a car for! 

Is Keen a Good Shoe?

 I bought a pair of Keen hiking shoes from MEC last year around this time. It's gone now! In fact I wore it in the past 3 or 4 scrambles of mine which were all tough ones and it was ruined! I never expected that to be out of shape this fast although the store names it Light Hiking Shoe. They have stuff for over $200 and $300 and that's what I should have gotten. They are Italian brand called Zamberlan. 

In fact if I'm going to more serious scrambles, particularly over 3000 m. and in ice and snow and these regular $100 shoes especially when they are not Waterproof, would be useless.

I contacted the customer service of Keen and they wanted me to fill out an online warranty form but I have not kept the receipt and they are asking all the information which you only can find them in there.

I display the shoe photographs here and you be the judge! I will need another pair for my upcoming journey and I have not bought one yet. The Lady was saying to but another similar Keen and simply replace it with a new one in 10 month or so because we go on light t hikes together and I go on solo long difficult scramble but I guess there's something wrong with my feet too! I probably do not take good paces. Many people suffer form a problem similar to that and do not have their entire sole in touch with the ground when they are walking. A foot specialist, a good and skilled one, would be helpful here. Perhaps I should see one soon. 

(Photo: I have two pictures of my Keen hiking shoe here. They are useless now)