tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post3238396385537314377..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: UPDATED: My PledgeLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-40412203503964052582017-02-01T08:34:38.319-05:002017-02-01T08:34:38.319-05:00A very instructive anecdote, Salamander. Thank you...A very instructive anecdote, Salamander. Thank you.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-53253312601180628872017-02-01T08:18:56.958-05:002017-02-01T08:18:56.958-05:00.. my advice to the estimable Mound.. is renew tha..... my advice to the estimable Mound.. is renew that Canadian passport toute suite.. Its the 'gold standard' for theft or imitation, for good reason. Canada - Canadian - stands for something - My passports have stood me in excellent stead around the world. Its one of the few documents, along with my prized birth certificate & that of my son.. that has allowed me to travel the world with confidence.. 'that my papers are in order' .. so to speak. I don't suffer the suspicion or mistrust that many of the world's citizens are confronted with. "Country of birth? sez the border agent.. "Canada" .. <br /><br />An anecdote though.. Once, while threading the delicacy of carrying a lot of pro photo gear into Dubai.. and questioned by one of their Customs agents, an Arabian in full white regalia & his retainer, slave bearing a bottle of water & cup (Ramadan) simply pushed past me and barked at the agent.. I was a mere foreigner to this Prince or wealthy pimp.. I was not perturbed by his behavior.. but unfortunately, he had come between me.. and my passport. His English comprehension turned out to be impeccable.. when I rubbed shoulders with his haughtiness.. and suggested he was welcome to cut in front of me if he was in a hurry.. but do you mind handing my Canadian passport to me first? It was there on the counter, under his elbow.. along with my Customs declaration re cameras and lenses.. There was a moment.. a long moment.. then he said he had studied at The University of Toronto.. did I know of it? I told him I did, thanks. <br /><br />He glanced at the passport, picked it up.. looked through it.. handed it over.. then turned his back on me.. and began berating the Customs Agent in Arabic.. presumably about his private jet to Abu Dhabi refueling being delayed.. He stormed off.. my papers were stamped a split second later by a very shaken agent.. Canadian eh.. <br /><br />the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-73127249713771184272017-01-31T17:42:47.204-05:002017-01-31T17:42:47.204-05:00One can only hope that Americans see the profound ...One can only hope that Americans see the profound damage their president is doing, both economically and socially, Riley's sister.<br />Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-52704686216414904222017-01-31T17:10:16.441-05:002017-01-31T17:10:16.441-05:00I made the choice not to visit or even change plan...I made the choice not to visit or even change planes in the US until this man is gone. It seems to me that economic consequences will have an effect. I hope thousands of people do the same.Riley's sisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15239456917688622474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-57698075257523881842017-01-31T14:48:13.909-05:002017-01-31T14:48:13.909-05:00My choice is just a personal one, Mound, not a pre...My choice is just a personal one, Mound, not a prescription, but I hear you about the West Coast. I feel similarly, which is what made my decision to boycott travel there a difficult one. Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-48479471793067926602017-01-31T14:45:58.553-05:002017-01-31T14:45:58.553-05:00The Twilight Zone scenario now playing out can hav...The Twilight Zone scenario now playing out can have several conclusions, the best of which is Trump's removal from office, either by coup or impeachment, though I doubt that latter possibility, given the extraordinarily high infestation of political whoredom in politics today, Salamander. I had not seen the links to the Trump Hotels, but I will be sure to visit momentarily. Undoubtedly the webmaster for his site is being kept busy wiping clean the honest appraisals you say are being left there.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-59435375026862851162017-01-31T14:31:00.490-05:002017-01-31T14:31:00.490-05:00Tough call, Lorne. Because, like many British Colu...Tough call, Lorne. Because, like many British Columbians, I have an affinity for the people of Washington and Oregon, I'll keep my options open - or I will should I renew my lapsed passport. If the condition Kirby references, Gleichschaltung, takes hold, the normalization of what Trump supposedly stands for, then I'll join you. I'm hoping the people of the west coast will reject this racist, sexist garbage out of hand. If they succumb that'll be it for the U.S.A.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-89326841730026970202017-01-31T14:23:05.098-05:002017-01-31T14:23:05.098-05:00.. salamanderhorde tweeted just yesterday.. that i..... salamanderhorde tweeted just yesterday.. that it's quite likely I will never set foot in The USA again.. passing over it at 30,000 I may look down again on the missing mountaintops of Pennsylvania.. or the dunes of South Carolina.. I hope you have spotted links to Trump Hotels.. asking for 'best trip memories' .. no doubt to gather data. but garnering mainly astonishing slashes of venom from readers.. As I have pointed out to many, including some of your contemporary Indy bloggers, it seems apparent that Trump is committing moral, political, ethical & 'brand' suicide.. For him, there will be no going back or any useful future.. he's engaged in a salt the earth, burn the bridges final act. .. and the twin louts Bannon & Millar are pushing him as hard as they can.. those two are the inheritors of the kingdom.. the twin Rasputins.. and will flog Spicer & Kellyanne until they drop.. I look for a military coup to end this.. The current Executive Orders of course are nonsensical albeit inventive pieces of paper.. as Bannon is suppressing them until signed by Trump to much fanfare and showboating.. selfie pics and video all round.. of the king signing.. the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-75894076061032358802017-01-31T09:51:20.490-05:002017-01-31T09:51:20.490-05:00Thank you, Anon. That is heartening to read. Our l...Thank you, Anon. That is heartening to read. Our last visit to the U.S. was just before the election. Little did we suspect it would be our last for a long, long time.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-57902589819080659352017-01-31T09:49:16.846-05:002017-01-31T09:49:16.846-05:00My wife, who has family that live in the States. a...My wife, who has family that live in the States. and I decided to forego any visits to the US on election night as long as Trump and his 'kronies' occupy the White House. We're with you in spirit and action.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com