French is not useless after all....

Well, I guess my French knowledge is not useless after all....

Is it because I am Canadian, and with French, I can communicate better with my fellow countrymen in Quebec? No - French Canadians can speak English, and you can survive with English quite well in Quebec.

Is it because I live 30 km from France, and I can communicate better with the French? No - French people can speak English, no matter how hard they try to pretend that they don't.

Rather, my French knowledge is going to come in handy in Madagascar - where the local people there hardly speak any English - rather they speak Malagasy and French. (I guess French colonialism, though regrettable, does make this country much more accessible to people like me)

I used to think that French was really uncool - but I guess it does have its uses!

German City Designs

Ok, so I've been picking a bit on Germany, but they have some pretty nice ideas, (if they decide to avoid complicating them too much).

There's a district of Freiburg called Vauban - that's pretty much car-free. Its sort of a "green-experiment" where many homes are powered by solar energy, cars are only allowed through the main thoroughfare, and parking must be at the outskirts of Vauban.

This new way of life, has even been noticed by the NY Times!
Read the article!

It just goes to show that things like US urban sprawl is avoidable, and an environmentally, and lifestyle favourable alternative is possible!

French words polluting the German language

I really am annoyed with the amounts of French words that occupy everyday German vocabulary. I'm not really sure why Germans tolerate them, since they have their own words for them, but for some reason, want to use French words in their speaking.

I think it spoils the beauty and unity of the German language - but what can you do?

Here a list that I came up with (I think most Germans are oblivious to their usage of French):

Restaurant (just say Gaststätte)
Saison (just say Jahreszeit)
Serviette (just say Handtuch)
Vision (just say Traumbild)
Niveau (just say Stufe)
Étage (just say Stock)
Cousin (just say Vetter)
Recherche (just say Forschung)
Chance (just say Gelegenheit)
Revanche (just say Rache)
Version (just say Ausgabe)
Detail (just say Einzelheit)
Orange (just say Apfelsine)
Balance (just say Gleichgewicht)
Portemonnaie (just say Geldbeutel)

Omas Küche

Sometime in January, we went to a nice restaurant in Freiburg called "Omas Küche", which means "Granny's Kitchen". In Taiwanese, that's: 阿媽的灶腳.

It's a pretty casual place with a relatively young crowd (most customers are 25-45 or so), and pretty reasonable prices. I definitely recommend it!

Here's a picture of: Onkel Alfreds Lieblings Buletten (Uncle Alf's favourite meatballs)

Really tasty meatballs with mustard, glazed carrottes and fried potatoes...mmmm, good!

Here's a nice picture of another dish: pork chops with special sauce.....


Good stuff!

Switzerland and the European Union

Switzerland is blessed with some beautiful scenery - great mountain scenery in the Alps, some beautiful lakes, and quaint little towns. It really is a country that is situated smack dab in the middle of Europe.

But something about its people - what's their problem?
What gives them such aversion to the European Union?

Sure, Switzerland has this tradition of "independence" and "non-alignment". But come on! It needs to face reality! Surrounded by EU countries everywhere....Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria to the east.....

How much trade does Switzerland do with the EU? How often must its citizens change currency every time they go outside Switzerland (which is not very big). Because the Swiss are outside the EU, but still want to partake in the benefits - so they have so many diplomats in Brussels trying to ink agreeements that aren't EU agreements (as Switzerland is not in the EU), but have basically the same effect.

Well - just join the bloody EU! And adopt the Euro for heavens' sake! Do you think its pleasurable to have to change currency constantly? Losing 2%-5% of every transaction to the greedy banks?

STOOOOPID!!!!

Movies in Germany

Something I don't understand about Germans....why do they insist on dubbing every single movie over in German? It's really a shame - one cannot hear the original soundtrack.

And anyway, the average English level ability in Germany is quite good (although not as good as Scandinavia), and so they should be able to handle it if the original language is in English (and put subtitles for those who cannot understand).

But no, this is Germany, and if they dubbed it before, then they will ALWAYS dub it....

Rather unfortunate....

Halftime shows

You know how there are music performances during the halftime of football games? Like the Superbowl?

I think during concerts and things like that, there should be a "football show" during intermissions of concerts and operas.

What a GOOD IDEA!!!!

American Airlines also uses dishonest advertising

Guess who joined the "Air Canada dishonest advertising" fan club?

Why it's American Airlines, also advertising non-reality fares:
"Fares shown are each way, based on round-trip purchase. Taxes, fees and conditions apply." (found on their website)

So their advertisement of Dallas-Acapulco round trip goes from
$134 USD on their advertising page, to $368 USD total....
DISHONEST!


Sounds like another BOYCOTT!!!
Such dishonesty in the airline industry!

Winter in Ontario

It's cold out, there's snow everywhere, what are you supposed to do?

GO HIKING!!! Here are pictures of Mom and Dad in Uxbridge, hiking the Oak Ridges Morraine Trail.

Political Correctness Stupidity

A New Brunswick Elementary school called Belleisle Elementary has stopped the practice of singing "O Canada" every morning.

Why? Because apparently: " the school's principal, said parents complained that their children shouldn't have to take part." Ah, what crap....

What if I was a parent, and said my kid shouldn't take part in French class. Would they cancel French class?
What if I said my kid didn't want to take part in being in class on time. Would they give him/her a free pass on attending class?

This is the STUPIDITY of political correctness.

If the kids are going to a Canadian school, then they should sing the Canadian National Anthem. Why is this moronic principal bowing to irrational demands?

For that matter, immigrants to Canada, they choose to come to Canada. That means accepting Canadian customs, influences, and traditions into their lives. No one forced them to come to Canada - so if you choose Canada as your new home, then be proud of its traditions and sing proudly its National Anthem.

Air Canada - Dishonest Advertising

Air Canada is one of the worst airline companies at misleading customers about its prices. If it were a European company, it would never be allowed to get away with how it advertises its fares.

First of all, for international destinations, it advertises one-way fares.....but:
"Sample fares shown are each-way based on a round-trip purchase."

Huh? If you have to buy round-trip, like Air Canada is telling people that these fares are ONLY valid for round-trip purchase, then ADVERTISE THE ROUND TRIP FARE! Don't try and get away with the one-way fare listing, when purchasing one-way is not allowed at this price range....

I then did a random search for flights from Toronto (YYZ) to Frankfurt (FRA).
I found YYZ->FRA for $276 and FRA->YYZ for $236.
Altogether: $512 - that's not bad at all, right?

WRONG!!!

After you pick your flight, you are saddled with (in CAD):
$224 Fuel Surcharge
$20 Canada Airport Improvement Fee
$10.50 German Airport Security Levy
$17 Canada Air Travellers Security Charge
$1 GST
$38.78 German International Passengers Levy

for a grand total of: $823.28 for the entire ticket.

European advertising rules would ensure that the customer knew that the ticket was from the outset, going to cost $823.28, and not allow Air Canada to show $276 and $236 each-way base fares.

Don't get duped by Air Canada advertising....it's a FRAUD!
BOYCOTT Air Canada!!

High Tech Idiots

Sadly, this strip contains a few ounces of truth....

One for the other hand

Okay, with Big Ben playing well with key 3rd down conversions, Hines Ward looking like he will play (and perhaps the best clutch receiver in the league) and Troy Polamalu being just all over the field, the prediction for Superbowl XLIII is:

Steelers 20 - Cardinals 13




GO STEELERS!

白人牙膏 - more crazy Taiwanese brand names

So we've heard already about 黑人牙膏, the "black man toothpaste", but in direct competition is now:


白人牙膏 - white man toothpaste.....



Why are Taiwanese people so weird?

Conference Championship Game - Picks

Ok, I'm going on the record with some picks before two big-time games today.

Big 12 Championship Game Pick:
Oklahoma Sooners 48 - Missouri Tigers 27

SEC Championship Game Pick:
Alabama Crimson Tide 27 - Florida Gators 24

European Stupidity

Europeans are REALLY stupid sometimes....for example, European electricity is provided at 220 V and 50 Hz.

See this map to see which countries use 220 V and which use 120 V/60Hz:


So since Europe is all the same AC Voltage and Frequency, you would think that you could stick German appliance plugs into Swiss wall sockets, right?

NOOOOO......they have to make the shapes of the sockets/plugs different, so they're not compatible.
Talk about STUPID!!!!! This is really, really STUPID!!!!!!!



Why do they want to make things difficult for people? Such morons, sometimes....

Carleton Stupidity

Here is an article on the stupidity of Carleton University's student association boycotting a fundraising event for Cystic Fibrosis.....

Globe and Mail article

The reason?  Cystic Fibrosis isn't an "inclusive" disease.....

Those Carleton University Student Association members are big, huge MORONS......

The Big 12

So.....BCS chaos reigns in the Big 12 - especially if all three leaders, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, and Texas Tech Red Raiders all win out.....who of these should go to the Big-12 Championship game?  (Decided by the BCS standings)

The Longhorns beat the Sooners 45-35, who in turn walloped the Red Raiders 62-21, and the Raiders in turn won 39-33 against the Longhorns.

It seems that the Sooners had the most impressive victory of these three games.

Plus, their loss to the Longhorns included some questionable pass interference calls...

Out of conference games - the Sooners have beaten: Cincinnati and TCU, while the Longhorns and Red Raiders haven't beaten anyone impressive out-of-conference.

And the controversial "who's playing best lately" nod also goes to the Sooners...

And even though I don't have an AP vote, I figured I'd give my two cents, anyway....(assuming all three teams win next week)

The Sooners deserve to go to the Big-12 Championship.

(and Sam Bradford for the Heisman!)

Stanford Idiots and "The Play"

Those Stanford people think they're so smart.....

Well, I don't know if that's true....at least they look really dumb on "the Play" - coming on the field before the game is over....

Watch here!

Stupid Stanford.....

Tip Inflation

About 20 years ago, tipping in North America was 10% of the pre-tax bill, and then sometime around 15 years ago or so, this became 15%. Now in the last 5 years or so, I have heard some people say 20% is a fair tip share.

RIP OFF!!!!

This North American obsession about tipping, tipping for everything, tipping for the hotel housekeeper, tipping for taxis, tipping for the doorman, tipping the guy who carries luggage, tipping the airport shuttle driver, tipping, tipping, tipping.....

I refuse to adhere to Tip Inflation.....BOYCOTT TIP INFLATION!!!!!