GE (est. MMV) brings you thought-provoking international/cultural affairs commentary from Melbourne, Victoria 🇦🇺. Prerequisites for viewing this blog: an open mind and a sense of humour.
Op-ed (in tweet/X form)
Op-ed (in tweet/X form):
Many American earthlings ignore white collar felons (of the proven rapist variety), especially when it comes to them preaching about medication, reproductive rights and speech. I understand that some take the word of criminal rapists as gospel, have at it, it's a "free" country.
Thank you to all those that worship the US from afar (even though you don't have American residency, pay taxes to the IRS, posses a social security number). You have given me the ammunition to rant for 302 seconds on election day, don't let the idyllic background fool you.
Mrs Macquaries Point - Sydney, Australia (a nation that is not eligible to vote in USA decides)
FYI: Here are the results from the ballot measures (proves once again, grassroots America is alive and well).
It's ballot measures season, as two septuagenarians are taking everyone's breath away (no disrespect to that virus named after a Mexican beer), the real focus should be on the states in the union putting some spicy proposals to the electorate.
Side note: if you're not an American and are losing your marbles over the upcoming vote, then I suggest you find the closest bunker and hide until such time the winner is announced. Once the dust settles you can continue living your life outside the country you desperately crave.
There are just too many ballot measures to list, so I will give you a list of the most intriguing ones. I know I'm feeding the addiction of non-Americans, but that's the risk I'm willing to take. I can just see folk in Iceland having a collective aneurysm over the fate of states they have no connections to, God Bless the US of A!
Arizona
Proposition 207: Legalizes the recreational possession and use of marijuana.
California
Proposition 16: Repeals Proposition 209 (1996), which says that the state cannot discriminate or grant preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting.
Proposition 22: Considers app-based drivers to be independent contractors and enacts several labor policies related to app-based companies.
Colorado
Proposition 118: Establishes a program for paid medical and family leave.
Florida
Amendment 2: Increases the state minimum wage to $15 by 2026.
Louisiana
Amendment 1: States that there is no right to abortion or abortion funding in the state constitution.
Michigan
Proposal 2: Requires search warrant to access a person's electronic data.
Mississippi
Ballot Measure 1A: Legalizes medical marijuana for qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions.
Montana
I-190: Legalizes marijuana for individuals over the age of 21 and taxes the sale of non-medical marijuana at a rate of 20 percent.
Nebraska
Amendment 1: Repeals language allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.
Nevada
Question 2: Recognizes the marriage of couples regardless of gender.
Oregon
Measure 109: Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative.
Measure 110: Decriminalizes possession of certain drugs and establishes a drug addiction treatment and recovery program funded by the state's marijuana tax revenue.
South Dakota
Initiated Measure 26: Legalizes sports betting in Deadwood and requires that net local revenue from such activity be dedicated to the Historic Restoration and Preservation of Deadwood.
Utah
Constitutional Amendment C: Repeals a constitutional exception on the ban of slavery that allowed for slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.
The world will stop in its tracks over USA Votes 2020, but it is only the American people that will decide their next leader and its states will decide on issues facing their day-today lives. If you don't have a vested interest, please don't take the result to heart, instead put your wasted energy on worrying about the US into making the part of the world you live in better, this is the best way to honour the world's greatest democracy. Uncle Sam authorises this message.
You're probably thinking about a country in the Western World, well think again. The country in question is the largest on its continent. (Stop using your smart phones, this is Global Editorial where readers know their geography). Okay, I'll put you out your misery, the nation at the forefront of female domination is Algeria. No, this isn't a typo, the land that gave us two global male icons, Albert Camus and Yves Saint Laurent is actually a haven for educated women.
Here's some statistics to liven up any dinner party, especially if you're surrounded by hipsters, or those that think being born in a First World country entitles them to act all high and mighty. A staggering 70% of Algeria's lawyers are women, so are 60% of all judges. Also, 60% of university students are female, add to that the field of medicine being dominated by the fairer sex. Hey Anglo-Saxons, you're not all that, the people that originated from the Berber can tech you a thing or two about equality.
What makes this all the more impressive is the fact that Algeria has not graduated to the status of a democracy. The French colonisation of Algeria has a lot to answer for, yes, they gave them beautiful architecture and contributed to its cultural heritage, but as the Algerian War of Independence (1954-62) sadly proved, a Christian European imperial power cannot just march in and dictate to a voiceless majority Muslim people. Then you have the civil war (1991-2002) that was a culmination of extreme Islam taking a hold. Algeria just cannot win, an imperial power gives rise to its Muslim identity being resuscitated only to be taken hostage by extremists. Is it any wonder they have a large military presence in government, or as they say in geopolitics: a controlled democracy.
Outside of France, Algeria is not a nation that garners water cooler attention, but it's without doubt at a fascinating crossroads that has lessons for all of us. Many nations tout their democratic credentials yet don't have half the female empowerment of Algeria. If the onus is on Algeria to become a full fledged democracy then why do those lecturing them not do enough in allowing their women to thrive.
Next time you encounter Islamophobia, just throw out the following nuggets: did you know that Algerian women leave their western counterparts in the dust. By the way, some wear the hijab and some don't, there's nothing wrong with either choice, you see, in Algeria women can freely choose, but hey Muslims are oppressed (according to pundits in the West, who themselves spend too much time lecturing women).
I urge all nations (particularly the male residents) to follow Algeria in its promotion of women. Let's all rise up and open doors to the fairest (and best) sex. If you hear of men lecturing women on their choices, please tell them to exit planet earth. Yes, I include men who get hot and bothered on the topic of abortion, no one shall every dictate a women's choice. A country made up of 80% desert is literally leaving others in the dust. On this Halloween, spook the (living) daylights out of bigots by telling them an Islamic country is better at feminism than your "superior" Christian one.
My longest diatribe yet, and if you still have money on your mind after this, then you better take out funeral insurance, because you'll be stressing when you cannot take any of your possessions to the after life. That's of course, you get to the after life, I hear you need a massive bank loan to buy property post death.
I can go on forever, but I think 599 seconds is just enough time to out the real virus infecting this convict colony: the almighty dollar! Remember, all my vlogs are off the cuff, I don't rely on a team of writers and the usage of swear words. Selfie stick is the only camera crew I require.
First-ballot inductee into the Greed Hall of Fame - Pt. 1
First-ballot inductee into the Greed Hall of Fame - Pt. 2
Side-note: my outing of Swiss racism worked (refer to piece from 13/8/20), the voters rose above the rhetoric and voted 62% in favour of keeping free movement of people in the EU. For now, Switzerland is back in the good books, so go ahead and spoil yourself with some Lindt chocolate.
One more note (for we NHL nuts): I was relieved that my vlog on 18/9/20 didn't jinx the Stanley Cup Final result. Tampa Bay Lightning was the deserving winner, due to their more entertaining style of play (I'll forgive Tampa for having a way too hot winter, where temps rarely dip below 10°C/50°F). A player with Armenian heritage (Zach Bogosian) finally gets their name engraved on the world's oldest sorting trophy. To add injury to insult to the Dallas Stars, Blake Coleman from the Dallas suburb of Plano won the cup against the team he idolised as child. La Coupe Stanley (as French Canadians say) always delivers the most compelling story lines in all of sports. Talk about a small world: I witnessed Tampa defeat Dallas 2-0 last year, the result of the cup clinching Game-6: 2-0. (The clip below is eerie, not only for its prediction, but it was a time when humans sat in close quarters at sporting events).
The Stanley Cup final is upon us (refer below to schedule), and for the first time ever the last two teams (Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning) standing are from the Sun Belt. Excuse me, while I go and vomit! I will begrudgingly back Tampa in the series, as they play a more exciting brand of hockey, somewhat makes up for Tampa's very 'unhockey' sticky climate. (The Armenian in me is also excited, if Tampa triumph, American Zach Bogosian will become the first player with Armenian heritage to have his name engraved on Lord Stanley's Mug).
I need to get it off my chest, how dare a city that worships football (and has yet to learn the actual rules of the greatest game on earth) get another shot at winning the most valuable trophy in all of sports. Yes, I loved seeing over 100 games live at the AAC (American Airline Centre), but I was mostly hate-watching the team that was formerly known as the Minnesota North Stars (relocated to Dallas in 1993, to have a team uprooted from the State of Hockey to a non-traditional market is akin to first degree murder).
The world's oldest sporting trophy (and by far the hardest to win) is still going, while other sporting leagues create new trophies/hand out replica's, the Stanley Cup remains original, dating back to 1893. Engraving all the winning players' names has enlarged it over the years, now weighs 15.5 kg (34.5 lb)
I understand many of you are baffled at the aforementioned, well, wait until you watch the following 434 seconds, only hockey purists will understand on first viewing. If you need to decipher the content (don't you dare do a web search), then stick to slow sports that require no brain usage, like cricket and gridiron.
What hockey in Dallas, Texas looked liked before Covid-19 (29/1/2020)
Full schedule for all seven games (if necessary). A cup final being played during fall, in an empty Rogers Arena in the NHL's most northern city (Edmonton, AB), featuring its two most southern teams - we have officially entered the Twilight Zone!
Game 1: Sat 19/9, 7.30pm US EST (Sun 20/9, 9.30am AU EST)
Game 2: Mon 21/9, 8pm US EST (Tue 22/9, 10am AU EST)
Game 3: Wed 23/9, 8pm US EST (Thu 24/9, 10am AU EST)
Game 4: Fri 25/9, 8pm US EST (Sat 26/9, 10am AU EST)
Game 5: Sat 26/9, 8pm US EST (Sun 27/9, 10am AU EST)
Game 6: Mon 28/9, 8pm US EST (Tue 29/9, 10am AU EST)
Game 7: Wed 30/9, 8pm US EST (Thu 1/10, 10am AU EST)
This is how much Dallasites lack hockey passion, not one death threat to my following tweet. Imagine if I said this about Boston (or God forbid Toronto), I would be eaten alive!
If the neutral zone trap experts, '95 NJ Devils (aka the 2020 @DallasStars) win the #StanleyCup, I'll move back to Texas & wear a mask for the first time, just to spoil the parade in downtown Dallas. Texas loves small government yet have mandated the wearing of masks - priceless!
