Free medical heroin prescriptions in Vacouver BC coming soon.

I read an article that soon, medical heroin will be administered by the Vancouver Addiction Clinic to heroin addicts that cannot seem to quit.  I agree that drug addiction is a terrible thing, and my heart goes out to those people addicted to them.

But wait a minute, aren't there other dangerous and addictive drugs out there that people are trying to quit?  Perhaps there should also be Government controlled sites where this group of addicts can shoot or snort quality controlled cocaine, crack and other impure drugs.  And what about the drug dealers that just can't seem to quit pushing.  They've tried so get other work, but with no success.  Should they be provided with safe outlets to sell their Government provided safe drugs to clients?

And what about the alcoholic that has been trying to quit for years?  Should there be free alcohol provided for them in a controlled situation.  Oh my goodness, what about the other criminals in our society that have been trying to beat an addiction.  What about the rapists that just can't seem to get control of their sexual urges.  Perhaps they could be provided with a safe place to rape their Government inspected victims, while at the same time, receiving free counseling until such time as they are able to quit.  What about mass murderers that truly can't seem to stop.  Should they be given free reign under controlled situations until they get their addiction curbed?

If we want to do something truly helpful for people who truly need it, how about providing food and shelter to those that can't find a job and are trying to support themselves and/or their families, instead of supporting medical drug manufacturers, or worse, the drug cartels.  Your tax dollars at work.

Has the Government gone completely crazy?

ISIS jihad - On the positive side.

The situation with ISIS in the Middle East is quite sad in many ways.  But on the positive side, I believe it has created the perfect platform for a means of cleansing some of the worlds new and youngest monsters, who would have probably been culled naturally anyway.

ISIS has called on supporters from all over the world, the weak-minded fanatics, or those without a peaceful direction in life and who will follow anyone like sheep, and amassed them all in one general place.  This has now made it much easier for the USA and it's coalition to bomb the hell out of them, while at the same time, destroying ISIS and it's leaders.  Instead of having to weed these traitors out from the various countries throughout the world, they are now all in one general area overseas, just asking to die.  Give them what they want.  I feel sorry for their parents though.

When the conflict is finally over, it is critical that any surviving jihadists are not allowed to return to Canada or whatever Western or European country they came from.  This will be the perfect opportunity to leave them in Syria or Iraq, or whatever Middle Eastern country they are in at the time of the end of the war.  There they will get what they deserve from the locals they have been killing.

Secondly, this conflict has awakened peace-loving countries, and they are re-examining their immigration laws and policies.  It is time for them to better screen new arrivals, and turn back criminals, before they are able to abuse our immigration and welfare systems.  There are a lot of immigrants out there that really do want to move to the West to improve their lives, not destroy others.

Okay, I'll try not to blog about war and death all the time.  But this seems to be all that is in the news recently.Should I concentrate on writing about books or living in Mexico?

Terrorism has come to Canada. What should we do, or do I even have a say?

I am currently retired and living during the winter months in Mexico; spending my spring and summer at my home on beautiful Vancouver Island.  I like to keep up on world news, and particularly Canadian content, while I'm away.  Now that Canada is participating with the USA and other countries in the coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq, terrorists have brought their fight to our soil.

I may be spending the winters away from my country, but I am still a Canadian - born and raised.  I spent almost 60 years living and working in Canada, and now that I can, I choose to spend the cold winters in sunnier climates.  Recently, after commenting on a Toronto Star or other news article about the problem of Canadian born terrorists going to Syria and then returning to Canada, I received a reprimand.

My comments were unimportant, but a response I received from a fellow Canadian was not.  I was called an 'expat', which in my mind (and the USA Expatriation Act), meant that I had relinquished my citizenship or had had it stripped from me.  This is what expatriate meant to me.  It is now my understanding that 'expat' also applies to retired Canadians that reside part of the year outside Canada.  It was not his use of the word expat that bothered me so much, it was the context in which he used it.

His implications were that because I spent my winters outside Canada, I should not have a say in what my country does unless I provided specific solutions, and I should rather concentrate on the many problems found here in Mexico.  After deciding that this fellow was actually a bit of an idiot, I did realize that he had one valid point.  I could not only spend some of my golden years assisting with the problems in Canada, I could also help out here in my 2nd home, Mexico.

So anyway, to the jerk, thanks, and here are a couple of my solutions; instead of your suggestion that we basically just let these people come and go as they please.  Our border guards, police and CSIS are already far overworked. 

1. A Canadian leaves to fight jihad against non-Muslims (which includes most Canadians).  Charged with treason and sent directly to jail.  But hopefully they will be killed in a Canadian airstrike and this problem will not arise.

2. A Non-citizen leaves Canada to fight jihad.  If they have a Canadian Passport, it is revoked and their information added to the customs database to stop them from re-entering Canada.  Immediate deportation and never allowed back into the country.

3. This then leaves the citizens/non-citizens that have already left and now returned, and it is unknown whether or not they participated in the jihad.  There appear to only be about 90 of these people, so it shouldn't be too taxing on our Government to watch them.  24 hour surveillance for all of them, and if they are found to have participated in the jihad, if Canadian, charge them with treason;  if non-Canadian, send them back to Syria or their home country.  Drop them off via parachutes if you have to.

4. Of course, anyone providing money or other assistance from Canada to these terrorists should be charged and dealt with as in 3 above.

Face it, Canada's perception has now changed from Peacekeeper to Coalition Participator.  So let's start being more aware at home, particularly at large events, and protect ourselves and our Country against these lunatics.

Jian Ghomeshi and Chimpanzees.

It states that scientists believe that overly aggressive chimpanzees have developed this trait in order to procreate more often and create more offspring - continuing their blood line.  Darwin's theory, I guess.  It's ironic that this article has been published shortly after the public heard about the CBC's problems with Jian Ghomeshi and the numerous accusations of his sexual abnormalities.

Perhaps if Mr. Ghomeshi can be scientifically linked to Chimpanzees he can get off any potential charges on a technicality.  I don't believe it is yet possible for a chimpanzee to be charged with sexual assault or even rape like a human can be.  His lawyer should get him tested to see if he has any chimpanzee DNA in his jeans (sorry, genes).  Oops, I guess we all do.  BTW, I wonder what a lawyer thinks in order to convince themselves that an apparently guilty client is innocent.  Then, can they sleep at night, or does their paycheck eliminate their own feelings of guilt?

So, if the Government continues with charges, he could just use the defense that 'The monkey made him do it'.

Sorry to make light of this situation, particularly for his or any other rape or sexual assault victims, but this type of behavior is inexcusable, for any human being.  The monkey defense just won't fly.  Sorry scientists, nice try.

Imposter at Canada Day Ceremony in Ottawa interviewed...

I am not a vet, but have had many veterans in my family (including my father).  I am totally amazed that this fellow was able to blend in and actually be interviewed on camera on Canada Day.  He must have done some fancy footwork to make this happen.

My opinion is that he is either crazy, a publicity seeker, or lastly, has ulterior motives that may not be nationalistic.  If it is the latter, his fake uniform worked well.  But I wonder why the veterans and servicemen didn't do anything more than just notice him and feel angry.

With the country under threat of terror, and terrorists apparently targeting large congregations of people (particularly soldiers so far), then why on earth didn't anyone actually confront him.  If it was so obvious to attendees that he was an imposter, why didn't find out what was actually going on, rather than just getting angry.  Particularly since Canada is currently under threat by terrorists.

I think people have to start becoming more aware of their surroundings, especially at large gatherings, and question things that are out of the norm.  Don't just notice them.  It is scary that this nut was able to blend in so well, and no one actually did anything about it at the time.

I was in Iguala Saturday, and..

I found that the town appears to have recovered from the tragedy of the missing (and now found murdered) students.  I bought 3 lots on a mountainside overlooking the city a few years ago and had to drive down to make my quarterly payment.

Myself and a few friends from Cuernavaca purchased 8 lots in this huge development and are either waiting for our investment to increase or the right time for development.  Although there was a definite lack of police visible in the city, the opposite was true for the Army.  There is an Army Base located in central Iguala, but on numerous past visits, I hadn't even realized it was there.  Basically until things settle down in Iguala, it is under martial law.  I don't know whether this actually made me feel safe or not.

We made our property payments and chatted with the lady selling us the property.  She went into great detail about how these innocent students were not quite as innocent as the news had made them out to be.  They come from a nearby town and are poor students trying to survive and continue their schooling.  Groups of them in the past have been hired to protest in theirs or nearby towns on behalf of various factions (including police, politicians and narcos).  Their protests have always been boisterous and many times have led to extreme violence.

Recently they burned the city hall with all the records in Iguala, destroyed the local mall and have stolen buses to return home and from what our friend told us; even set people on fire and killed them.  The residents of Iguala know these 'students' to be a little more than protesters.  We were even told explicitly that the residents were sorry that they were murdered, but quite relieved that they were gone.  Anyway, I have to return to Iguala to make the last payment on two of my lots this January, and we'll see if the city has settled back into it's normal routine by then.

As an aside, I have witnessed many protests in Mexico, and the chanting and sign-waving are always exciting.  However, if you ask many of the protesters just exactly what they are protesting and what the issues are, they will look at you dumbfounded.  You see, most of the protesters in Mexico are paid to attend, and some even make it a career.  Amazing.

My 4th winter in Mexico...

Winters in Mexico are fantastic.  I'm well into my 2nd month of 7 in my 4th winter living in Mexico.  Today a strange thought struck me.  I remember my first winter here, and it was totally new and exciting.  Every day seemed like a new adventure, and the warmth, oh how I enjoyed the freedom from Canada's cold winters.  Now, it all seems normal.  I am still busy, and I'm sure there are many adventures to come, but life here now leaves me with a feeling that I can only describe as comfortable.

Although I live my summers on Vancouver Island, I can clearly remember the winters there were nothing like winters on the Prairies or the Rocky Mountains.  But it can still get cold - especially compared to Mexico.  Cold here, now that we are into November, is a chilly 75 degrees during the day and an icy 60 at night.  It sends shivers down my spine just thinking about life in Canada at this point in time.

The winter smells here are extremely similar to the summer smells back home, but perhaps just a little more pungent.  However, the sounds of the local birds (including roosters crowing every morning) and insects are completely different than Canada.  Today I noticed hummingbirds flitting from flower to flower in my yard, and realized that they seemed much larger than the northern variety.

I now own a car and have my Mexican driver license, so I think it is time to do some exploring.  Hopefully this will put a little spice back into my life. It is funny how as we grow accustomed to new situations, excitement wains.  So now it's time to make a new life decision.  Do I sit back in my new comfortable position, or do I get out there and explore more of the world?