Using GPS eroding memories of how to use Map and Compass. Along with usually well developed Sense of Direction or even Situational Awareness. This could be bad.

The Dean of the Academic Board-West Point - put out a video discussing Habitual GPS users and loss of map and compass skills and especially Situational Awareness!

Quite the eye opener, and honestly, it hit home with me. 

I have noticed the loss of some map reading skills - mostly that I don't use them much any more as I do have a cell phone always with me, but mostly for looking up shit, and not really communicating. My fingers are to friggin' big to tippy-tap at any cogent speed. 

 

(HINT) I often use the voice-to-text feature in WhatsApp to chat with my wife. I'm at home alone, and she's at work with others, so she will type her replies.

(Click on the word bar as if you were going to type something in there, then click on the small black microphone BELOW the word bar, and a recording screen. It will start recording immediately, but you can pause it to sort your shit out before you talk. Talk normally, not too fast, and a tiny bit of annunciation on some words may be required, but I find it about 98% accurate to what I say.)

The point the video makes is that the more you use a GPS, and even though you may have had, and used, standard map and compass training, consistent use of a GPS may very well erode your memory of how to use map and compass.

This is often a complaint of many who don't believe their GPS for one reason or another, and cannot find a good map any more, or even a decent, accurate and sturdy alcohol compass!
but when they finally get the hardware together, it takes a long time to remember the skills and mind-visualization required to properly read and assess a route/location on a Topographical map.

That, unfortunately is about the ONLY style of map that can accurately depict information for map users that everyone understands. In Edmonton, AB, MapTown, downtown used to be the source for many agencies for good Topographical Maps of various kinds.

I suppose mostly Hunters or Resource search agencies would still use these types of maps. I'd trust them over a GPS signal, and would hope the two would offer the same answer confirming each other.

 Listen, I have long loved map and compass exercises, and even a couple of long(er) Orienteering "contests". Canadian Army Sgt (ret'd). Loved to teach Map and Compass as well. I still have several (unclassified) Topo Maps from when I taught that subject, and hold onto them simply because they have pretty decent information laid out in an understandable fashion to anyone with the appropriate training.

Blackout Driving Orienteering. That's when you have the map in the passenger seat, some rookie Private in the operator's seat, and down the lane you go. Would you like to know the most commonly heard phrase from the passenger seat?

"Ah, fukkit, turn around, we musta missed a side-track". Yeah, blackout lights don't really offer any view to the sides. Sure made life interesting - and nights super long.

Modern HUD's can offer pin-point location information, with Military Dithering removed, right down to the centimeter level. Daylight-level night-vision is available on the Civilian market - Pin Camera's from AliBaba.com have amazing resolution (so they claim), and their night-vision security camera's offer amazing night-time visibility - enough to even "colourize" the image.
Holy Cow!

The stuff we have in our cell phones can, at best, get us locked to 3-5 metres. Perhaps better in open cities with more cell towers as well.

 Loved it.

Unfortunately, I'm also a Nerd, so I was into GPS when I took my PLGGR Instructor course way back when. (It was winter, and often location spikes were buried 3' under the snow...at minus 23°C. Arrrmy Training, SIR! LOL). However, we usually were within a few CM of the target pin, so our minds were totally blown on this course!

Then I bought the first B&W GPS device (Garmin?). I even had a small device I kept in my backpack to plug into my GPS-Less cell phone. The small device was the GPS Receiver, USB cable to my phone which used its processor to do the math and display onto an Map App, where I download maps from Google, and then I could track my own location/trace the track, and I think set some waypoints. Fairly basic - but for the time, it was groundbreaking for the civilian market.

But since I retired, I've been relying more and more on my cell phone's GPS App for getting around, even though I often know damned well where we are going.

I keep it up on my screen because
a. I can see the destination,
b. I can see road conditions, 
c. I can see user input to police activity/roadblocks/speed traps/speed camera's, and
d. I can record and archive each trip for historical reference. (Free App)

If you are using Google Maps, you can opt to get a monthly report on your "travels", including names of places you have stopped at.

(Some folks are Data-Shy, and don't like having a big-bro keeping track. That's fine. Free Choice, and all that stuff.)

I can keep track of how far I have driven each month/year. Additionally, you must know that I use my mobility scooter for over 95% of my trips, so it is handy as a tracker in case I have medical issues, my wife knows where I am. No extra cost. And yes, it's on my Android.

Admittedly, a few times I got confused between my brain and what the GPS is telling me, but it's only a matter of a bit of concentration to sort out reality LOL.

I do miss orienteering. But too old, too broken. 

 

Great Memories tho'!

True North Strong and Open for anyone for free, apparently. GreenPaper.

This is a slightly updated version as a majority of this was written shortly after President Trump took office and I gathered my notes to produce this rather shoddy affair.  But if you're interested in Arctic Sovereignty, then this might tickle your fancy. Grab a detailed map of Northern Canada to help you trudge through the details.
ELW Dec30/25

 

I've been sitting on this topic in my mind for about the past 10 years or so.  It really bothers me that my fellow soldiers and I served, fought, bled and partied to keep our lands free and open, but now fear that two major powers, Russia and the USA, may actually want to control the Canadian Arctic, and all it's resources.

They probably want Canada out of the way so they can divvy it up between the two of them.  Don't tell this to President #47, eh? 

ETA Dec30/25 I will add that the latest non-conspiracy-theory is that Trump, Putin and Zhejiang (or whatever) have their own plans.  Trump gets to control all of the America's, including Greenland. Putin gets all of Europe and Middle East and Africa, and China gets all of Asia, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia (as a holiday resort, I guess)

So here we go - Today's topic? Lots of debate on FaceBook and BlueSky with this latest meme.  

Here's my take on the post pictured just below. I call this document a Green-Paper, because I'm turning green with illness just thinking about all this mess. I'm getting too fardlin' old for this.

Enjoy the read,

Edwin.
alterfunker@duck.com

Well, well, WELL Well well. Just WHAT have I been saying for the past 10 years!!!

CBSA Crest

Honestly, Canada SHOULD be responsible for defense of the North. IF we want to keep our lands open and free - and more importantly, belonging to us, we must maintain access, utilize the land and control our borders physically, then patrol and supervise activities within our legal borders.

I mean, where the hell are the Canada Border and Customs Services Agency when you need them, eh?

 What folks keep forgetting is that Europe, China, Russia, the USA and others are waiting patiently on the sidelines to start sending super-tankers and super-cargo ships through the Northwest Passage, soon opening up with more loss of ice in the North, and soon may be open year round for sea traffic to get around issues with the Panama Canal and others. Save on fuel, time and money. 

 

Not only that, ALL of the world's major canals have a width maximum, and most bulk-cargo ships, and even some warships (Aircraft carrier, anyone?) barely fit into these Canals.  

 

War Planners and Commodities Agents both want larger ships to carry even more cargo per trip, and the Northwest Passage is the Answer for the Panama Canal, and possibly even the Suez Canal for Asian-Europe markets.

Imagine a crude oil carrier TWICE the width of current super-carriers?  They would fit in the NW Passages! Catamaran Cruise Ships have been on the drawing boards for decades.  Now they can build them.  They would fit in the NW Passages.

Who needs the Canals when everyone can use Canada's Northwest Passages??? Are we losing out on the financial opportunities this could support? Or are we too much wussy's to really start thinking for ourselves?

The Americans are especially hauling on their leash to get their super-cargo ships up and over to opposite oceans without spending millions on Canal fees. I can assure you, the new President will look North if someone pokes him hard enough - and I'm suggesting President Putin will do the poking.

 

So, what I'm saying is that if Canada wants to control this region and it's traffic, Canada needs a strong presence in the North, otherwise, some countries may bring to some international court that the Far North be deeded to be "free land" such as the South Pole, not belonging to anyone. 

 

Yup, why not just invite the Russians to come over to White Horse or Yellowknife for a beer while they are drilling up near Resolute???
Or every oil-spilling tramp ship to cruise through OUR waters, polluting along the way.
Or needing rescue/repairs/resupply - Canada will need a robust Northern Coast Guard, and they will have a hell of a long area to patrol!  
Police force?  
Fagetabutit

Didja know that in 2022, Canada's Arctic Postal Code had 1,661 ships entering the Arctic waters of Canada. Non-Canadian shipping!

AND, did you know that between 2013 and 2019, shipping activity in the Arctic region grew by 25% and continues to grow.  A major driver has been traffic in the Russian Arctic. 

Take heed of that last paragraph, because they are slowly moving towards Canada! More on this just below a bit.

 

Without a presence up North, Canada is effectively saying to the world that we don't care and come on over to use the Northern Route for free, carry anything you want. Nuclear Subs are welcome!!!  Pardon the sarcasm.

Ask yourself - What could Canada do if Russia suddenly put an ocean-going ship with deep sea drilling Rig for oil exploration.  Not a platform, just a ship. They'll run a pipe to another oil tanker to fill up as required. But they are in Canadian Waters.

What could we do?  Well, we could ask the Americans for help.  Weeeeel, there is a slight problem with that.  The problem is that the new American President is also a good buddy-buddy with Russia's Premier.  So much so that he will do anything to access more money for his personal bank accounts.

I just fast-scanned an Op-Ed, and one of the major take-away's was that the writer thought that a Inuit-led Northern Coast Guard could have stations set up every so often to patrol the Northern Arctic. Of course, they would need a couple of boats and motors thrown onto the back.

 

That's about all I scanned on that particular article, however, I will use my own wits from here on out. And the thoughts I've been mellowing upon for the past 10 or so years.

I firmly believe that the Arctic Patrol Vessels need to be built strong enough to work through a few inches of ice (I'm thinking about 15cm as a minimum...) and have anti-crush hulls. 

Think of a modern PT boat (Which the Swedish and Norwegians have mastered, and, incidentally, are selling...hint...hint...) The Swedes are lately pushing the "Stridsbåt 90 H(alv) (Strb 90 H; CB90)" Fast Military Assault Craft.  It alone as an Littoral Fast Attack Boat in itself is impressive, however, it's capabilities are such that these boats are selling worldwide - even the USA is using them for river Patrols. Mexico, Greece, Norway are some of the other navies utilizing these boats.

As the boats are built in Sweden, it is naturally capable of arctic operations with minimal upgrading, and I believe that a custom Steel Hull (up to just above the waterline is sufficient?) to help manage the ice I mentioned above, and more Arctic Stores for SAR, recovery and First Aid.  The boat alone is designed for 21 fully  kitted out troops, so I think in an emergency, could handle up to as many as 30 civilians/rescuee's in cramped conditions, 25 or less in a bit more comfort.

Look it up as the CB90-Class Fast Assault Craft.  Then imagine a fleet of 66 (plus some spares, so perhaps 80 ordered?) of these suckers patrolling our Arctic Waters alone.  No need for massive ships, Frigates (can be on standby?) or Nuclear Icebreakers. Yeah, Canada ditched Nuclear a long time ago, and does not have the time, space, training or personnel to add on anything nuclear.

I mean, as soon as folks start sending supertankers and Super Cargo Ships thru OUR NW Passage, WE are responsible for SAR, and any other emergency assistance a ship may require while transitioning between oceans. Calling any other country other than Russia is out of the question, and really, do we WANT to call Russians to help us if there is an emergency? Or major oil spills?  Who is going to pay for that?

 

While we are not exactly the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal, we can, potentially save Shipping Lines millions of dollars on each shipment by simply allowing these ships to take the Northern route to/from Asia to Europe.  Much Faster, no canal fees.

But hoooold on!  What do CANADIANS get out of this deal?  It's OUR waters other nations are riding on.  We should be COMPENSATED!

 

If we are going to need to fund all these boats, then all the personnel, the training, the equipment, the Station architecture, Supply, maintenance and housing of these folks will also be required to be funded.  

So, I'm thinking of 3 scattered "Main Bases" with all the amenities that then supply out to the 11 Arctic Stations where the Fast Boat Fleets are docked.  They "should" be routinely resupplied via RoRo's or similar, so a year round steady supply of items is available to all the northern fleets. 

ETA: Talk is of Littoral Combat Frigates with hovercraft on board for maritime patrolling.  I don't know how that'll work in the Arctic, but this is a recent topic. Dec30/25

Locations for Bases suggestions such as:

 

♣  Banks Island. Great location to access the remote north-western areas up to the tip of the Quttinirpaaq National Park way up in the North East. Actually, the park is so far up that it's past the Magnetic North Pole on the other side of the earth. 

 

 Banks Island will be responsible for Supply and Personnel/Maintenance for 4 Stations on the Western Approaches.

 

♣  Iquluit on Baffin Island.  Can patrol the Fox Basin/Channel and into the Hudson Bay, while also patrolling the Labrador Sea up to Baffin Bay, where the Third Station would take over. I'm thinking that by the look of Frobisher Bay leading to Iquluit may freeze over in early winter, making it a sucky idea for a station, and perhaps a more "seaside" port would be better.  I don't know.  Someone may.  But you get the idea.

 

♣ While I admit I'm ignorant of the populations living in the Arctic, I do see a lot of Inuit Owned Land labels on maps showing native lands.  The Inuit hamlet of Resolute (located in Resolute Bay on Cornwallis Island) is one of them. I'm suggesting that the Northwest Passage will be patrolled mostly by Inuit manned  "Northern Rangers Naval Security and Support Service - NRNSSS" (My idea - pass it on!) using the Fast "patrol/rescue" boats discussed earlier.

 

 

So Generally, here is my "plan of action" that I am making up right "off-the-cuff", and then we can pick it apart and look for better solutions.
[Hey!  Hovercraft!!! Ice OR Water!  Like the Vancouver Island CCG Station has!]
ETA Dec30/25 Oh, Hey! I did think of Hovercraft?  Well done, me!

Anyways, please use the map at Annex C at bottom as a reference to get a quick and dirty idea of potential Bases and Stations.
Remember, this is all assuming that the ice has melted enough for nearly 12 months free passage for larger vessels. [See Annex C at Bottom}

I think the two main "Super-Bases" that will supply the Northern Passage Bases should be located in St. Johns, Nfld, and Inuvik, NWT, both via land/sea links to the bases. Just thinking - an alternate port could be Halifax, as it has road/rail connections to the mainland.

So, on top of the 3 resupply Bases, I think that about a dozen Patrol Stations with provisions for a minimum of 6 months (1 year better) should be scattered throughout our Northern Areas. Crews could be rotated monthly.

I'm also thinking that the Northern Rangers could be expanded into Naval Rangers, with Naval capabilities - Training should not be too arduous as they are already used to these waters, and would probably kill to have a 2,000HP fishing boat that can go faster than 40kts, to "patrol" their areas.  They could also carry provisions (paid service aka Canada Post?) to very remote work camps, and so on. I'm thinking a snowmobile would also fit on the front deck.  Versions have been built with extra armour, extra electronic suites, command and control suites, more luxury for long-distance patrols, and even one with a decompression chamber for diving support!

Just thinking - the Naval Rangers should have something with a bit more firepower than the bolt-action M1's or whatever they are using now.  Fine and dandy for hunting, but not any self-defense capability.  Get them C-7's or something newer.  But don't forget the dual .50cal's for the front of the Boathouse.  More below, eh?

Whatever one wants, one can get in these boats.  I think it would be awesome to build them in Canada under license so we could add some Canadian "Gadgets" to the boats as well.  Secret stuff, y'know.  Gotta keep them Russkies off guard!

I've decided to call this new branch of the Northern Rangers the "Northern Rangers Naval Security and Support Services" which will provide security and safety to the entire Northwest Passages regions from Newfoundland to Alaska and most points North. NRNSSS .  Ssssnnnnore...LOL

 

I'm thinking having the stations about 3-400km apart would be a viable range between "most" of the Stations for mutual support.  The more outlying Stations should perhaps be built up with more "creature comforts" due to the long distance to any other Station or SAR.  This entire constellation of Stations and Bases will range from our American Border on the North, stretching all the way to Labrador and Newfoundland and the entrance to the Northwest Passages.

 

Take a sip of coffee and think about that for a minute! 

 

Manpower: Will be in Annex A below.

Equipment: Will be in Annex B below.

Gonna cost an arm and a leg.  But hold on - as the ice melts, it opens up the Tundra and areas to be explored for minerals and petroleum.  While this does sound intimidating, these already exist.  Up to and including offshore oil platforms.

 

FFS, It's not just the Russians. Canadians are doing this to ourselves. A Wishy-washy government that cares not for our military, and we really need to double it's size, quadruple the CCG, more Icebreakers (make 'em Nukes, for cryin' out loud!!!).

 

I'll leave you with this.  

 

If we don't do something about our Arctic Sovereignty, 

We might as well just let Russia have it.  Or sell it to the

Americans.  They might still have some beads and trinkets

they didn't give to the Russians for Alaska. 

As always,

Peace.

Edwin W. (IRL)
Alter Funker (FB)

 

 

Annex A

Manpower Breakdown

 

There are Four basic types of Naval Units.
Super Base - Supply Bases for the Arctic.

Arctic Base - 3 widespread Bases.

Arctic Stations - 11 widespread Stations

Arctic Detachments - 6 Detachments per Station.

Super Bases are St. John's Nfld and Inuvik NWT.  These will be the land-loaded support bases with warehousing for feeding everything to the 3 manned Arctic Bases via sea-going ships such as a RoRo or Arctic-capable Ferry, or other such fast supply ships. Massive amounts will be needed to be moved initially, so think bigger rather than small.  Also, initial construction will be required, strong enough to survive arctic winters if necessary.

Arctic Bases - Estimating approx 30 "permanent" daytime personnel from C3 (8), Supply, maintenance, Service Support (cooks, clerks, etc).  Aircrew? 

• Just to note - there is only a single shift as these folks only work 8-12hr days at most unless unloading incoming ships. Then it's all hands on deck!
• Suggest 2 month rotations with bases further south.
  

Arctic Stations - Each Station will require approximately 60 personnel to operate in shifts. Breakdowns are as follows:

• Suggest 1 month rotation. 
  
• 3 Shifts of 18 persons for Boat Operations. 54.
• OC, Sr. NCO, Clerk, Supply person, Cooks x 2, 2 x NCM's (Jr Ranks), 2 mechanics for boats, vehicles, Ute's, Quads and Snow Machines, and perhaps 2 x Signallers. 12
  Total 66. Call it 70 and we'll carry on.
  
  

Patrol Boats, each called a "Detachment", has a crew of 3. 

• Crew includes Pilot, Nav/pilot and Engineer. 
• 6 Patrol Boats per Station. Six crews on station unless out on Patrol.
• Each crew is called a Det, short for Detachment.

 

 Annex B

Essential Equipment Breakdown

SUPER-BASE:

• Large Warehousing
• Access to large loading Docks in harbour
• Civilian or military personnel or a mix would be required to administer to and support/load/deliver supplies.  That's waaaay above my paygrade!

ARCTIC BASE: 1 or more month(s) personnel rotation with mainland. (Seasonal?)

• These Bases will be responsible for between 3 or 4 Stations resupply and support.  See map at bottom for breakdown.
• Perhaps lodgings for some incoming flights???  
  
• Bases will receive shipments via large seagoing cargo vessels with a floating supply load always on hand in each ship.
• Bases will break down shipments to be sent to Stations via local supply ships. Fuel will be in high demand, so extra tankage will be required for the Patrol Vessels. 
• Mechanics. for boats, vehicles, Ute's, Quads and Snow Machines
• Perhaps 2 x Signallers to handle the unique communications requirements of the Arctic.
• Each Arctic Base should have it's own sea vessels, including at least one supply ship making semi-monthly deliveries to Stations.
• Each Arctic Base could perhaps in addition have some manner of a Hovercraft, as they are not only land/sea capable, they can also break ice to create a track for a stricken vessel to mover through.  Used often in the St. Lawrence Seaway! Why not the Arctic?
• Perhaps each Base could have some sort of Civilian Amenities as well, for the Boat Crews to relax between Rotations, if they don't go to the Mainland. 

ARCTIC STATION: 2 week rotation with Bases/Mainland, transport dependent.

In addition to the Station Camp and it's daily personnel :

• 6 x CB-90-class Fast Patrol Craft per station. Built under contract in Canada for our intended uses.
  
• I suggest that each Boat carry a SkiDoo on the fore-deck (under a tarp/hard cover???) as these boats can go right up to shore and drop a ramp to offload soldiers/snowmobiles! 
• I suggest that each Boat carry a RIB or powered Inflatable Assault Boat off back fantail.
• Boats should be reinforced and kitted for Ice Operations into the Fall and Spring.
• Boats can carry 21 fully kitted out troops, so a lot of storage space is available below decks for 24/7 operations.
• Suggest extra-large "patrol" tanks to double current ranges.
• Suggest Canada keep the dual .50cal guns mounted forward of the Bridge. A good look goes a Looooong way, if ya know what I mean. Just watch out for fish with a half-inch diameter hole through the body - if you can find the rest of the body...tells you crew has been doing some "target practice".
• What would be awesome is if each base also had a Hovercraft such as the Vancouver Island Coast Guard has, for when onshore travel is required, and snowmobiles won't cut it.  Or perhaps sign one out from one of the bases - but how to get them to the Stations?  Long freekin' trips to the two remote Stations, for sure!  Perhaps they are too far out?
  

 

Annex C

Base and Station Map of Canada's Arctic Regions and the Northwest Passages

 

 

 

Prenatal care is a Right, and not a Political Issue!!! And especially NOT Religious!

 

Yeah, some nitwit twanged my twist, and I had to Blog to clean out my pores. Here is the convo on FB:

NW: "You are absolutely right. It doesn't belong to any of those but only to God."

ME: Let's leave religion out of this. This is a real-world issue, not covered by any religion - equally, that is.
This issue is about all faiths, all peoples and all women and their own body autonomy - something that is sadly lacking in the Christian Bible.

NW: yes correct let's leave religion out of it but unfortunately we cannot leave God out of it because He is everything. And everything belongs to Him

ME: ...........

My Blog below is a much, much longer response to his last  post, probably because he triggered me.  I finished the post, edited it again for clarity for another 30 minutes, then ruthlessly edited it down to 4 paragraphs, fully intending to Blog the full response I really, REALLY wanted to post.  But I was not the OP, so felt I had to be a bit more circumspect with my response.

But I still flamed his arse!
Below is the full, unfettered response that I really wanted to post, but it wanders a bit too much, so opted to throw it down here on my Blog. 

This particular Post is kind of long, so if you get tired of reading, go ahead and take a break, but come back because the end is amazing!  I really tear folks a new one.  And I also Squirrel in the most ludicrous manner. 

It's all here, in this Blog Post, "...And especially NOT Religious"

Enjoy.  Or not.  But feel free to comment.  I probably won't read it any ways LOL.

The Full Response

C'mon, make up your mind. Religion or no Religion?

Your God is an essential requirement for Religion, and therefore, the epitome of any Religion. But you cannot seem to decide which is which.
Religion or Not. 

If you are having issues deciding between Religion and Humanity, I suggest you take a course in the Humanities, and see just how well religion has treated the masses throughout the centuries.

Gads! Nope.
I believe in Science.
I believe in Nature.
I believe in facts.
I believe in solid evidence.

I will fight to defend your beliefs and your wanting to worship in your own manner, and I did just that for 23 years.

You're welcome.

Historically, there is/has been over 3,000 different religions, all with their 50,000 different Gods - heck, the Romans had a "God" for everything from farting to incest!

Which one is the "correct" God? I don't believe in any of these 50,000 Gods, and you don't believe in any of the 49,999 of those Gods, correct? (I'm giving you the Son and the Holy Ghost as a given subset).

Does that make you any better a person than I?
Because I believe in one less God than you?

Is it any harder to treat me the same way that I treat you?
Or respect me the same way I respect any and all folks in general?

When I said this was NOT a Religious issue, it is NOT a religious issue. It is a Political and Legal issue. It is an issue of sovereignty of one's body, the legal embodiment of "slavery" and to top it off, is ethically, morally and emotionally vacant!

And stop trying to make it one - To me then, you are then no better than the Hillbillies in the USA that think its a great idea to tell women how to treat their bodies, putting them in jail, or worse, letting them die because doctors are too afraid to give medical assistance because they would also end up in jail. Because God says so. (I'm fuming just typing these words!)

Or (more locally) having parents bullied to deny their child life-saving treatment because their church said it is the devil's work and that God must heal the child.

That is disgusting, degrading, dehumanizing and literally against your God's will.

And probably most of the remaining 499,999 Gods as well.

I hardly think those are ringing endorsements of any fairy-tale, be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish/Hebrew or Taoism - there is no solid evidence of any God having any impact on this planet that cannot be explained by science.

And the fact that the Christian Bible refutes Science in so many matter only underscores how much money the Vatican spends to "manage" these discrepancies for the weak-minded. Please, remind me how old the "Earth" is...

I mean, why does the Vatican even have a Planetarium with Astronomers (more like glorified astrologists IMHO). None of the stars stay in any configuration for any length of time because everything in the universe is moving in literally every direction.

For Example:
On the equator, you would still be moving around 1,000mph.
The earth, in the meantime, is circling the sun at a sedate 66,000 mph.
The Sun, Old Sol, is swirling around the Milky Way Galaxy at a more exciting speed of about 483,000 mph. And finally, our own Milky Way Galaxy is moving through the ether (otherwise known as the Cosmic Background Radiation) at a more thrilling 1,300,000 mph.

In total, my ass is moving at 1.853 Million mph. And so are the collective asses of about 8 Billion other people, most of whom do NOT believe in your God.

But not in any one direction!!! I mean, take the 3-body problem, and multiply it by infinity. Yeah, THAT direction!

Show me those calculations in any Bible...

They call the practice of religion a "faith" for a reason. It is no different than telling a 6 year old that Santa Clause lives at the north pole, and travels faster than the speed of light to hit every home on the planet in 1 second, or that Magical Elves and Bunnies come out every Easter. You just have to take it on faith that your parents, and every other parent and kids the same age as you, is telling you the truth.

Sound familiar???

I think it's time that Humanity grow up and start adult'ing like adults, and not like mindless, wandering, timid and weak-minded individuals who are too afraid to insult others when speaking the truth. Folks whom would rather not learn about logical processes and Critical Thinking, for a beginning.

I think it is also time for Adults to put away silly and dangerous toys (I'm looking at you, gun nuts!) and focus on things that make everyone's life better, fuller with more meaning. Or, you can just go around killing kids in schools. Pick your option, because you either are for, or against, and you know which side of the fence you really are on.

As a retired Veteran, I do not see any logical reason for me to have a gun in my house. Nor for 99% of other "non-hunters".

Shooting a gun at a target is not "sporting".
It is practice.
To kill something.
Period.

Okay, I'm gonna really, REALLY Squirrel here as a single paragraph seems to have morphed into about a dozen.

Sorry 'bout that.

Look, the USA and England (and Germany via guilt) gave Israel Guns and modern weapons, Boxcars loaded with money and high-tech equipment to build more death-dealing machines and the Israeli's have not stopped killing people in their own houses since.

I mean, give a kid some toys, and they are going to want to play with them.

Just since last October, Israeli operations have killed at least 41,788 people, including more than 16,000 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, with 95,000 wounded.

That is more than the Ukrainians killed by the Russians since the invasion in 2022!!!

Why? Because a beleaguered population was sick and tired of being used as a punching bag and kicked back hard.
Once.
Under 2,000 killed. Obviously, Israel was fully justified to kill, injure and maim almost 150,000 poor Palestinian folk?

Just how is that "Holy Justice"???

And this is just a part of the "Sport" of shooting guns. Is it sporting to drop 98 lbs of HE on a village hospital with injured civilians and children? (155mm round, btw...)

is it sporting to Drive a 45 ton tank over a demolished brick home, likely still with survivors living within???

To Israeli's it is.

With great power comes great responsibility.

You will NOT find that single sentence in any, I mean ANY Jewish tracts, any Israeli Military manuals, in any Israel Government's laws, orders or pleadings, not will any Israeli soldier state the same. Power is meant to be used, and the Knesset stands behind this mantra.

16,000 of those killed were children!

I'm too old to give a crap about insulting a religious person - a "faith-follower", and not a "truth-follower". Just look above to see exactly what Religion has wrought!


I guess, Truth Follower should be reserved for Scientists, Lawyers - waitaminit - skip the last - Mathematicians, Biologists, Cosmologists, Physics, Astronomers, and all those other disciplines devoted to all things scientific method. Sure, I'll throw Engineers in there because of the Math. Math is pure truth. Engineers rock the world!

For those of you who think Israel's shit doesn't stink - lets me let you in on a secret. On paper, Israel is a parliamentary government with several political parties that run for election.

Just like in Canada, you ask?
Fuck no, I reply.

The REAL power lies in the Knesset, the power behind the power. They operate out of a single "chamber" , and they are the "power" that passes ALL laws, elects the President and Prime Minister, Approves the Cabinet and supervises the work of the government, among other things.

They are a "shadow" government, elected with the main government on a 1-to-1 basis with the Parliament, but a fixed ratio between parties, so the numbers do not change with each election, but remain the same.

Among other things. Like passing laws on their own without the "government" needing to bother to do so themselves.

Or that Israel does NOT have a Constitution for their citizens to know what their rights and responsibilities are. That is the domain of the Knesset.

Oh, I have a dearth of "things" that they get up to.

The Knesset Compound sits on land "leased" from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Interestingly enough, Israeli soldiers and police discourage anyone from going to the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem because they want to "acquire" the land, and by showing that the land is under utilized, hope to legally acquire it from the Christian church. For all intents and purposes, the Knesset has already done so with their little plot of land. 

Children have actually been arrested and shot over this!

But hardly anything that comes out of an Israeli newscaster can be considered factual, or even legal, internationally. The Knesset can work their wonders and make anything "legal" for them to do. And they can use their bum-buddies in New York and Washington to help "smooth" over international condemnation.

Over-riding their own elected government. (How is that even fucking legal???)

This is the END of my Israel mini-rant.

Insert Pause Here.
(aka - Brain Fart)

Just a thought - is a Scientific Discipline the same as a Religious Disciple?

I mean, One uses the Scientific Method to maintain Disciplines in each of the specialties of science.

The other uses "disciples" to maintain the faithful through intense education as to better manage the masses to believe in the Religion - hence, these folks become "disciples" for the "word of god", but does NOT follow the Scientific Principle or disciplines required to follow the Scientific Method.

Neat, eh?

End Pause Here.

Because there is no "religious method" other than telling tales to entice folks into believing a non-entity. That is what the "good books" are for. Clergy are there to read to the uneducated masses and tell them how to think about what was being read. And not in a logical manner, either, because, obviously, some faith is required to believe the amount of BS that is explained away by the Clergy, no matter how pretty they dress up the words.

Why does God not explain to us how the Miracle worked?
Or why?

Because, I have not seen or read about a single event that could not be explained by science, and not any God or Angel. And I highly doubt that any real "miracles" are anything other than natural artifacts of some kind that has not been properly explored scientifically. When there are "miracles", why do they sent priests and not scientists to investigate?

Yeah, let's keep it all in the family.

In the meantime, laws continue to be passed revoking a womans right to bodily autonomy.

Why? Check this out!

Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of the National Advocates for Pregnant Women was asked:" Why does tremendous outcry over restrictive abortion laws come after a woman dies, rather than before"?

Ms. Paltrow was biting in her response. “The primary impact of the anti-abortion movement has not been to stop abortions. It is to dehumanize,” she said. “It is martyrdom and the visible suffering and death of a visible woman that reminds people of their humanity and their right to life.”

In other words, it is to give men more power over women.  And by extension, give the Church and the Clergy, more power over such life decisions - as most of the impetus for Anti-Abortion is clearly spearheaded by the Christian Right.

In the USA AND here in Canada, most especially here in ALBERTA! 

Just wait until the UCP has finished dismantling Universal Healthcare, and glances at the next item on their White Paper -

What is it, you dare ask?

No Prenatal care - of any kind.  Must be brought to term then decide whether or not it is viable or will not survive.  No right to decide in uterus.

Those of you who voted for the UCP last election, may I suggest you take a long hard look at their accomplishments (and list it so you can visually see what their endgame is!), then decide how you want to vote.  

But please, not the UCP - they are full of themselves and just raring to tear down everything we built up in Alberta, just so they can invoke a 1950's style economy - and laws.

But because of the hoopala in the US Supreme Court and the overturning of Roe vs Wade, Conservative parties throughout Canada have been telling their elected conservatives to keep their lips zipped - especially those of them who want to destroy reproductive rights (The Tyee May 2022 Shh! Dont Ask Canadian Conservatives about Abortion)

Okay, I think I've said enough for tonight. 

Peace,

.- .-.

My issues? Lets chat.

The Chat

I was chatting with an American Gent (We'll call him Timothy, okay?) about illegal immigrants, the wall, and border legislation in the USA. 

 Like we actually have anything equivalent here in Canada.  

We have "Hey, you, c'mon 'ere a second, willya?   Lemme see yer passport - don't got one?  Hold on, I'll get your reservation at the nearest Hilton or Super 6 in the area - we'll get you sorted out".

OK, so maybe not entirely accurate, but sticking folks into a circus tent with no bedding or heat is not really neighbourly either, eh?

But his parting line was one I liked - he said that the millions of illegal aliens already living a crime free lifestyle should be given a one-time amnesty - they go through Immigration to properly be processed.  This would be good both for the Immigrants (legal jobs, etc) and the country.   And he also wished that the borders were more secure from Criminals, Cartels, drug mules and the like and I agree with him 100%.  

Guns, guns guns

I mean, this week near Hamilton, Ontario, they pulled a guy over for speeding, find like, 21 long guns (Canadian way of saying "rifle", eh?)  in his vehicle and a half-dozen pistols.  

So, a few days later, they get a warrant for this fella's house, go in and walk out with over 210 long guns, a few dozen pistols, large amounts of cash, and, of course, drugs.

But the OPP/RCMP were so nice to point out that 35 of the long guns (rifles) were locked up in appropriately approved storage containers.

Like that makes any fucking difference?   Why even bother mentioning that?   To guilt law-abiding gun owners into thinking that even criminals use approved weapon storage facilities!???

Welcome to Canada, eh?  The land where we are not legally allowed to defend ourselves - and win the fight.

Oh, no, not Biden!

So, anyways, I agree with that sentiment 100%. I think for his First Term, Biden planned on getting legislation going to sort some of those border issues out. Trump kaiboshed that idea, the frigging idiot!

Perhaps Biden planned to use the second Term to strengthen the first sets of new legislation on Borders/Immigration, and sort out the thorny "illegal's" currently living in the US.
A super-omnibus Bill combining both would be impossible to get through because of costs, and this also needs to be taken into account.

I mean, how many Millions did Trump throw at the Wall? How many desperate folks are still coming up, over and around said walls?

A bold new plan.  Mine!

That's not working. Listen - You need to funnel them as they cross the border into corrals that can then be used to sort, brand, and send to Official Immigration centres for further sorting, processing, packaging, labeling and distribution.

However, I seem to remember Harris saying just the other day that the reason illegal crossings is lower right now is because more and more folks are being bussed to "approved immigration centres" to be properly processed.

Real Immigrants can get entrance, and fake immigrants, mules, rapists, what have you, are deported/incarcerated, because we all know that incarceration is America's number #One growth industry!

So, seems to me that even if the bill did not pass, Executive action has held up it's end. But my understanding is that Laws in the USA are not supposed to be imposed by POTUS, but created by Congress.

So, as a Canadian who is closely following this because I am seriously considering asking my MLA (Member of the Legislature of Alberta - my Provincial Rep) to look into building a wall on OUR Southern Borders. 

I mean, if our kin down south need to do that, we should probably do the same in brotherhood with our American cousins.

We will separate men and children from women. 

We won't brand them - Microchips are much more convenient and can hold a lot of information about the prisoner - errrr, citizen. And in winter, guards - oh, ehhhh, Inspectors can easily identify folks without needing them to strip to show the tattoo the Yanks gave them. 

So reprehensible! 

Our brands are so much nicer - kinda like a tattoo of a Bison stepping on a Groundhog. So one knows who they are in the swirling snowstorms, I guess. but they're free!

All trucks that cross into Canada will be opened for inspection - special flatbeds are available to roll entire contents of even 50' Vans in 5 minutes for easier inspection by dogs, rats and Macaw Monkeys.

Let's not forget our favourite PA's

Each Port Animal (PA) has their specialties - Dogs for drugs, Rats for explosives and monkeys for banana's that are not sufficiently sized to be used as a generalized measuring tools for FaceBook Photo's of dangerous stairs, funky electronic devices or other dead animals.

Because Halifax has the God-Damnest biggest Warf-Rats anyone has ever seen, and properly trained, they can sniff explosives and such - making them great for de-mining operations. If they boo-boo and set a bomb off, it's not a great loss - Warf-rats are cheap, feed themselves, come upon command with a clicker, and love to work for treats. The Banana has to be exactly 15cm long! Don't forget it! (You yanks claim yer so smart - figure it out yourself!)

So why Rats?

They prefer German Marlborough's for their treats and breaks. Really, you think?
It's not like they're going to live long or anything, eh? 

Experiments are underway to see if these Rats can be used in combat. Latest figures show a 100% death rate.
Perfect!

Then taking a page out of Texas' playbook, we will fly the immigrants to Newfoundland and Nunavut, give them some supplies and a few bucks, kick 'em in the butt and with a few kind words, say "Call us when you earn money so we can tax you!"

OR, feel me on this - we set all future immigrants IN Labrador, a mostly forest-covered former Province (Now a part of Newfoundland), set them all free, give each adult a long gun and a pistol with sufficient ammunition for 5 years hunting.

Canada will open up the fur trade, making beaver fur hats once again all the rage in Paris, New York and Saskatoon.

In addition, each family will be given a Crossbow and each child under 16 will receive a Daisy 22LR starter kit and a 1 Kg of bullets to practice with.

Starting at age 5, Bowie Knives will be issued to the chubby-cheeked future slashers to better, and faster, learn what hurts and what does not hurt. It's better this way.

The hard part will be the frikkin' long electrified fence around all of Labrador. Might even be longer than any proposed wall on the US's Southern Border. However we have snow, Bears, Polar Bears, killer moose, nefarious beavers and the occasional crazy Stoat.  

What does the US have? The occasional Boa or Python, scrawny coyotes, the occasional big cat, whom are wimps that like to swim, and the occasional stray dog. Meh.

Power for the fence will come from the Quebec Hydro facilities - with the price of power going up from Canada to the US, they are dropping french fried power for more local environs, so there will be plenty to power remaining in Canada for the fence!

Okay, this may be difficult without buying a few more Chinook Helo's, but I say it's do'able.

Back to Reality!

Now, is any of this any crazier than what Trump wants to do?

Incarcerate opponent politicians, justice officials that won't kow-tow to him. Senators and Representatives that piss him off?

He's full in for punishment to any woman or child that has an abortion.
So sick!

He's a misogynist, a racist, he's been raised to sneak, ignor or outright break laws to scam, cheat and steal whatever and whenever he can.

He is a horrible businessman. I mean, He lost a Casino. A friggin Casino - a money-making machine with built-in rules that favours the house so that it always, always, always has income at the end of the night, and not a loss.

But Trump? He put that to a lie - so poorly run that he literally ran a Casino out of business.
♦Same with his Airline.
Bankrupt.
♦Same with his University.
Bankrupt
♦Same with his running shoes.
Ridiculous and desperate.
♦Same with his Bible.
Ridiculous, desperate and probably a sin against his God.

His slumlord days, a carry-over from his chicken-shit father who ran to the USA to avoid a military draft, he treated his tennants like shit. Many lives were lost in poor tenements that either fell apart, or burned down because of no fire-suppression systems, fire extinguishers, and even windows nailed shut so tennants don't sit on balconies smoking and generally trying to socialize with others. 

 Because he's racist, he's controlling, he's twisted and sick in his head, and yet, the GOP call him "The man that every American wants to be - he'll save us from all this poverty and hell".

No, he's the reason you live in poverty and in hell. And note that the apple did not fall far from Dad's tree, eh? Trump had a bone spur. His dad just ran away.

But, that's my humble opinion. A very sarcastic one, but I think you can hear the vitriol in this post. At least, I hope so.

I'm no expert, it's just what I see happening down South, and fear the same is happening here or soon will be happening in this very province I live in.

Alberta. A Florida/Texas wannabe State.

Yeah, that shit ain't happening here if I have any say in it.

Meanwhile, I'm sure Harris will remain in close contact with Biden during her Term, if only to carry on with his (and hers) vision for America.

I fear what would happen to the world if Trump ever wins...

Peace,
.- .-.

Edwin

I could not believe how many folks I know seem to think that this is how Canada's Government works. This is ignorance on so many levels - and it shows me that Canadians are being suckered into Q-Anon-style Conspiracy Theories. And the statement in Red above, is all wrong. That is not the definition of Socialism - THAT is simply an abject attempt at twisting the narrative to suit a wanted result. And it worked. On YOU.

That is not the way Democracy, or Socialism, works.

Here - allow me enlighten you.

Misconceptions About Canada’s Government and Socialism

I’ve encountered quite a few people lately who seem to harbor misconceptions about how Canada’s government operates. It’s disheartening to witness this lack of understanding, especially when it leads to the propagation of Q-Anon-style conspiracy theories. So, let’s address a few points:

Equalization Payments: Contrary to popular belief, Alberta and Ontario—wealthier provinces—have indeed received equalization payments. These payments aim to ensure that all provinces can provide essential services to their residents, regardless of their fiscal capacity. It’s not about laziness; it’s about maintaining equitable standards of living across the country.

Socialism vs. Communism: Let’s clarify the difference. Socialism involves collective ownership or control of certain aspects of the economy, such as healthcare, education, and social safety nets. Communism, on the other hand, advocates for the complete abolition of private property and class distinctions. Canada’s system is a mix of both capitalism and socialism, aiming for a balanced approach.

Federal Benefits: Our federal government plays a crucial role in providing benefits like Old Age Security, Child Tax Credits, and Employment Insurance. These programs contribute to social welfare and economic stability. Rejecting them as “socialism” overlooks their positive impact on citizens’ lives.

Education and Critical Thinking: I appreciate your encouragement to seek knowledge. Online courses and educational resources can fill in the gaps and dispel misconceptions. Let’s all strive to be well-informed citizens!

Political Rhetoric: Yes, political presentations often rely on flashy graphics and emotional appeals. As discerning citizens, we should dig deeper, evaluate evidence, and consider multiple perspectives.

Remember, healthy discourse and empathy are essential. Let’s keep our hearts and minds open as we discuss these important topics.

Let's carry on with the Tin-Hat folks in mind.

Debunking Misconceptions About Alberta, Canada, and Federal Taxes

Recently, I’ve encountered numerous graphics and charts created by the United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta. These materials aim to rile up UCP supporters, stoking outrage against the federal government and promoting a long-term plan for Alberta’s potential secession. They even hope to bring Saskatchewan and British Columbia along for the ride.

One notable document, titled “Free Alberta Advantage,” outlines the UCP’s vision for Alberta’s separation from Canada. While the edited 2021 version appears more tempered, I distinctly remember reading the original 2017 document online. It was nothing short of draconian—a blueprint for a police state with religious police enforcing Christianity exclusively, while other faiths faced exclusion unless they converted. And, of course, no room for abortion rights.

Drawing parallels with the current state of affairs in the United States, it’s evident that the UCP has ambitious plans. But here’s the reality check: their outrage is largely unfounded.

Let’s delve into the facts:

Federal Taxes and Confederation: Under Canada’s Confederation, the federal government collects taxes—distinct from provincial taxes—under the Income Tax Act and other revenue sources. Once these funds enter the federal coffers, they belong to the government to allocate as needed. No province can unilaterally alter this arrangement. Whether it’s Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, or any other province, the goal is to ensure equitable treatment for all Canadian citizens. Only about 20% of this money goes towards Equalization Payments.

Misguided Rhetoric: Some right-wing factions—often characterized by Bible-thumping, regressive ideologies—spread misinformation. They claim that federal taxes are tainted by “socialism” and advocate for provincial autonomy. However, this oversimplification ignores the disconnectedness of our nation. We’re in this together, and federal programs like Old Age Security, Child Tax Credits, and Employment Insurance benefit citizens across the board.

A Reminder: If you were born in a Canadian hospital, you’ve already experienced the impact of collective efforts. Those taxes funded your care, ensuring a healthy start in life. Let’s celebrate our shared responsibility and continue working toward a better Canada.

So, to those who peddle divisive narratives, I encourage a refresher on Canadian civics. Our strength lies in unity, compassion, and informed dialogue.

And that is all I'm willing to say on this topic without becoming rude, crude or downright prissy because of supposedly smart folks falling for rhetoric and fake information.

And it never hurts to be polite when leading folks by their noses to the water.  But it's up to them to take a drink and learn what is actually happening. 

That is not my job - that is the job of every responsible Canadian adult!

Peace,
.- .-.