Author: canadaslim

Welcome to Customsland

I have friends who just can’t seem to get a break whenever they try and visit faraway places, because when they try to enter these lands, customs deny them entry. One might ask why, because, after all, they are no obvious threat to anyone, have no criminal background, are not a visible minority and they… Continue reading Welcome to Customsland

All you need is cafuné

Earlier today I mentioned that everyone has, or ought to have, a list of ten books they would rescue from their burning building. I have already named two: Ronald Gross’ The Independent Scholar’s Handbook and Richard N. Bolles’ What Color Is Your Parachute?. (See Hope for the Hopeless: Brave New World and Underdog University of… Continue reading All you need is cafuné

Reunification and division

We’ve all seen the pictures. 1989: a remarkable year. Muslims burn Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses as the Ayatollah Khomeini orders his execution for blaspheming Islam. The last Soviet troops leave Afghan soil after a ten-year occupation. The Exxon Valdez tanker spill ravages Alaska’s coast. Bloody riots mark the 30th anniversary of Tibetan anti-Chinese uprising: dozens… Continue reading Reunification and division

American roulette

As one wanders the world one sees different games played by the locals. For example, the Swiss have the card game Jass (See The cards we’re dealt of this blog.), the Russians love a good game of chess and Americans have a version of gambling, a variation on Russian roulette, an addiction they can’t seem… Continue reading American roulette

Questions of self-determination

It has been an interesting past 24 hours… Last night after completing my shift at Starbucks, I was spontaneously invited for a quick impromptu supper at my co-worker’s apartment. Augustin was a warm and welcoming host. I was fed well and drank well and the conversation was very interesting. We, of course, discussed issues of… Continue reading Questions of self-determination