Better Ideas, Huh?

   Yup! The "Better Ideas" people have come up with a real fucking winner this time. You no doubt know Ford is cutting all car production (except the Mustang, and maybe 1 or 2 others) by 2020. They'll instead shine the spotlight on trucks, SUV's and CUV's, citing customer preferences. So, bye-bye Focus, Taurus, Fusion, Fiesta etc.

   Another reason cited was cheap gas. Bullshit! A litre in my neck of the woods is going for about $1.27, roughly 1 U.S greenback. That means (in my neck of the woods) 1 U.S gallon costs about $3.68, in U.S funds. Taking into account the U.S gallon is smaller that the imperial unit we use here, about 4.54 litres per gallon. Which translates into about $5.65 an imperial gallon.

   I dunno what fuel consumption is like on the newer trucks, SUV's and CUV's, but you can bet your bottom dollar it ain't anywhere near what I'm getting on my Japanese compact. 45 MPG (in imperial measurement).

   I also dunno what insurance costs on the bigger vehicles. Truth to tell, I dunno what mine runs at. I just put money into my expense account 2 times a month, and let things fly.

   Bottom line here is I think Ford is making one huge fucking mistake here. Sure, it's great when gas is (relatively) cheap, but here in Canada, people are already drilling holes into other people's gas tanks and draining them. Maybe (but I doubt it) Ford will come to their senses and rethink cutting almost all of their car production before it's too late.

   'Nuff said.

Catching Up

   It's been a hectic few weeks, hence the lack of a post. So, yeah, we're doing a little catch-up on what's been happening the past couple weeks.
   Not the least of which is the on-off-on again summit between The Donald and Kim Jong-un. After a promising start, Kim got pissed at the U.S and South over their joint military drills, and scrapped a meeting with the South. Which prompted The Donald to call off his summit. Both sides are trying to work things out.
   Roseanne Barr did not have things work in her favour. After a racist tweet, her show was scrubbed by ABC execs, even though she did make a lame, and way too late, apology. Her first go-round on TV wasn't bad, I'll admit. But I was fuckin' well NOT going to watch the re-boot. And now, no one else will, either.
   Finally: Wedding Bells.

   For Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last month. I did not stay up to watch the nuptials. That said, I did catch a few minutes before I had to leave on a 10 hour drive at 05:30 that Saturday morning, which was another reason I haven't been posting. I was away from my computer for the best part of a week.
   But, I'm back at it now!
   'Nuff said.

Thoughts 'n Prayers

   Yup! It's time to send them out again, after the latest school shooting in the good ol' U.S of A. This time, as many as 10 are dead after some asshole with a chip on his shoulder, toting a shotgun walked into a classroom at the high school in Santa Fe, Texas, and opened fire. 9 of the dead are students, and a teacher, were killed. As many as a dozen others were injured The (alleged) shooter, a 17 year old, was arrested. A 2nd "person of interest" was also taken into custody. Both are from the same school.
   If that's not bad enough, several explosive devices were found in the school and surrounding area. Bomb squad cops were working to render them safe. The "devices" were pipe and pressure cooker bombs. A motive isn't known.
   Sticking with the script for this, and other school shootings (Parkland Florida for one), POTUS Donald Trump issued the basic, time worn condolence statement:

"We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our love and support to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack. We're with you in this tragic hour and we'll be with you forever."

   And you'd better keep the "Thoughts 'n Prayers" on standby, cause this sure as shit won't be the last school shooting that'll happen in the States.

   Nuff said.

Maybe I'm Just Skeptical

        North Korean ding-dong Kim Jong-un (aka Sum Dum Fuk) is to sit down at the talk table with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in for the first face to face between North and South in a decade in Panmunjom, the so-called "truce village" on the border of the 2 Koreas. Among the issues is the North's nuclear and missile programs.
   There's been a lot of détente between the adversaries since the Pyeongchang Olympics. Since then,  'Lil Kim has offered an olive branch or 2 to the South and allies, most notably the U.S. Kim says he's suspending all missile tests, and is closing the nuclear bomb test site. The South has suspended broadcasting propaganda at the North in return. U.S Prez "The Donald" will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the meeting this Friday. He's supposed to sit down with 'Lil Kim later on this spring for the first ever meeting of leaders of the 2 countries.
   Who knows? This week's meeting may even lead to a peace agreement on the peninsula. The Korea's are still technically at war, only inking an armistice back in the 1950's.
   And this is where my skepticism kicks in big time. The Donald wants verifiable proof of the North's denuclearization, which could be problematical to attain. Also, it's fine for 'Lil Kim to halt missile launches and shut the nuke test facility. But maybe it's because he's done all the testing he needs, and has started a full blown nuclear armament program. Maybe he's just a Hawk in Dove's clothing going into the meetings to try and drive a wedge between the South and the U.S. Maybe he's just buying time to build up his arsenal.
   Maybe I'm just a skeptical old fuck. Time will tell.
   'Nuff said

Say What Frank?

   Seems pope Frankie 1 says hell does not exist. At least that's what he told an Italian newspaper recently. Frank went on to say the souls of sinners simply disappear after death, and are not subject to an eternity of punishment. Which kinda goes against the dogma of the catholic church. In fact, after the interview was published, other vatican officials declared the article wasn't a faithful transcription, and the meeting with the reporter in question was not a formal interview.

   There was no mention if the "hell" Frankie was talking about was spiritual or physical. If it was the later, which one was he talking about? Hell, Michigan is an unincorporated township. Hell, Cayman Islands is a volcanic rock island not many people would want to venture onto. My favourite is the one in Norway, a little east of Trondheim

   In fact, it has a rather interesting building

   "Gods Expedition" can be loosely translated to "goods handler". The town boasts just over 15 hundred 'souls', and yes, Hell does freeze over almost every winter.

   If Frankie IS right, and there is no hell, where am I supposed to tell people where they can go? 'Course, the idea of no eternal punishment in hell is probably welcome news to all the pedophile priests in the church.

   But it does leave one unanswered question: What the Hell IS the pope looking at, anyway?

   'Nuff said

This Has To Stop

   The most recent debate over gun control following the Parkland School massacre in Florida has now crossed the line. A few of my American facebook friends have taken to reposting images of the holocaust being used by the pro-gun lobby to make their point about gun control. Here's one image they used (I won't show the rest) followed by the post in question.

If you don't understand the importance of having the rights to own a gun, maybe you should take a look back on history. These images are from the HOLOCAUST .
This is what happens when you lose YOUR right to bear arms.
Soo, maybe this will help you better understand before history repeats itself and YOUR eye glasses, wedding rings or dental fillings will end up in a pile and YOU ARE escorted to the gas chamber.

   This is pure fucking bullshit. Deniers aside (and I know there are quite a few out there), the holocaust was a systematic genocide perpetrated mainly on Jews, but also communists, clergy, homosexuals, intellectuals and anyone else who seemed to disagree with Nazi party doctrine. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PRECIOUS 2nd AMENDMENT AMERICA! No one is trying to take away your guns, or your right to bear arms (even though the amendment says as a militia). No one is going to round you up, steal your property, put you in a cattle car and send you to an extermination camp. All that's being suggested (and likely will never happen) is possibly some form of restriction on assault style weapons.
   If you think that's restrictive, come to Canada. If you want anything with a muzzle velocity over 495 fps, you need a license. Shit, Britain has even stricter gun control, yet they allow air rifles with a velocity of up to 660 fps to be bought without one.
   Getting back to my rant, gun advocates are also suggesting things banning all drivers because of those who get behind the wheel impaired, and a lot of other bullshit. It's been said "guns don't kill people, people kill people". In that case, lets just ban fucking. No fucking, no people. No people, no people killing people.
   I've said before, but I'll restate again, I am not a liberal. In fact, I would fully support the return of the death penalty in my country, along with an end to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which only benefits youth criminals. Name the little bastards, sentence them to a lot more than a slap on the wrist. If it means hard time, so be it. Nor am I anti-gun. You don't want a firearm? Don't buy one. Simple as that.
   So, quite simply, STOP USING THE HOLOCAUST as fuel for your particular point of view. Rant (finally) over.
   'Nuff said

For A Change, NOT Donald Trump

   I've been bashing POTUS a lot on this forum, at times with good reason. I'm not liberal by a long shot, but The Donald is a doofus. But in all the Trump trashing, I've been ignoring the man who's the head of government in my own country. Until now.
   Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is, IMHO, a complete tool. He used to be the punch-line in numerous jokes 40 or so years ago when his dear old dad Pierre ran government. Now, he's become the joke. Take his recent trip to India:

   Where he seemed to have an outfit change for every occasion. None of them, apparently, was a suit suitable for a visiting head of government to wear. And the Indian government didn't exactly roll out the red carpet for him either. Their P.M wasn't on hand to meet J.T and family when they arrived. Nor was the deputy P.M. They sent a junior agriculture minister to do the deed. Kinda says a lot about how they feel, doesn't it?
   And it's not just on the international stage he's been an idiot. The King and Queen of Belgium are in Canada for a State visit. Did our dear P.M greet them? Fuck no. J.T was off touring steel and aluminum mills as he tries to show solidarity with that industry ahead of POTUS tariffs on both (which The Donald says Canada and Mexico will be exempted). No doubt looking for another selfie opportunity. Maybe he can get enough tin (aluminum) foil to make himself a nice helmet to keep reality further at bay.
   Hey Justin! How 'bout doing your job (even though you are not [thankfully] head of State) and welcome visiting royalty (for example). Or would that take away from an opportunity to schmooze?
   On the bright side, the next election is just over a year away. Hopefully we'll get rid of this guy.
   Rant over.
   'Nuff said