Olympics Gold.. Terrorist attack.. Trump days.. Instability... more!!!
My Canada commentary this week is to some degree related to the dog days of summer currently underway with temperatures in the 30C range. That is of course unrelated to Canada’s superstar swimming sensation Penny Oleksiak record breaking 4 medal performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics topped off by gold in 100 meter freestyle swimming.
Some disturbing news relates to the apparent terror activity by a Canadian ready to bomb a shopping mall in London Ontario. Fortunately Canada’s RCMP was able to intercept the attempt shortly before it could take place. News reports indicate the man involved was an ISIS lover for some reason that will probably surface later as the media delves into Aaron Driver’s personal background. So far losing his mother as a child and his father’s remarriage might play a part. However the real reason for some young person with opportunities that could never be matched in the ISIS world deciding to kill and maim his fellow citizen’s borders more on mental illness. Either an undiagnosed mental disorder or abject anger for some reason could be the real cause rather than idealism. It is difficult for most people in this part of the world to accept the lunacy of some individuals bent on supporting a cause that ekes of revenge likely for some inconsequential personal reason or situation. Ending before the attack could develop is a plus for the forces of good and a setback for ISIS supporters in North America. The death of the perpetrator before serious damage happened is a major plus for security forces as is evident by ISIS quickly declaring the attack was motivated by the terrorist organization. The quick announcement indicates the group didn’t have a clue it was about to happen and probably didn’t even know the bomber was a supporter.
On what might be a saner topic the media is intent on tracking the American election that seems to have everyone confused. Apparently, if media reports and commentators can be trusted, the 2016 election will not be a traditional vote. There are even indications American democracy as presently structured might disappear succumbing to a movement by gun toting voters supporting billionaire Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump.
With the world situation encompassing millions of refugees looking for new places to settle, the collapse of the Britain EU union as expressed by Brexit emergence, the turmoil in Turkey and Russian aggression in the former USSR block world stability is certainly not secure. And those issues are only the tip of the iceberg called international tension. There are also China’s territorial expansionary threats North Korea’s toying with Nuclear missile launches and the struggle to keep Japan’s economy from tanking together with war, terror and instability in almost every other nation in the world except Canada so far. Immunity feels great but can it last when the whole world is experiencing the kind of problems outlined? Only time and hopefully re-emergence of a strong call for democratic return will bring back stability before the world plunges into another dark period of history.
The only other media reporting inundating news reports is the Rio Olympics highlighting mankind’s obsession with almost every nation large and small intent on surpassing other nations sport performance in peaceful competition. At least that is the bright side of the Olympics overshadowing in most ways the protests of Brazilians at the cost and Russians for being excluded based on past dope usage to gain an advantage.
Suicide bombings and toned down mass shooting are still being reported as secondary events to the US election and Rio Olympics reports. The difference being as less important newsworthy events the perpetrators of the terror acts are not getting the usual world coverage craved for to bring the issues to world attention. Even mass shootings appear to have taken a holiday for similar reasons.
On an even more pacified subject the surging Toronto Blue Jays blew a chance to become the sports world most talked about super power in the recent game by missing a chance to salvage a defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. The problem is becoming a regular habit. In position to sweep the Rays way breaking a league leading tie with Baltimore Orioles, the Jays loaded the bases in the late innings with nobody out while trailing by a couple of runs only to have the Rays put three batters out without even a hit. It isn’t the first time the Jays have run afoul of superstardom by blowing chances to win. Let’s hope the support of more fans at the games than any other team in the division helps to encourage the Jays to win those “should have been a win” games.
On the Jays subject Jose Batista seems to have run his course as a revered Blue Jay. Placed on the disabled list for the second time in a few weeks, likely causing hitting and home run records to drop to average status, the outfielder’s demand of almost $150 million for contract renewal is less than appetizing for the team to absorb. It’s a good possibility the fans will say bye-bye Jose in the 2017 season.
Some disturbing news relates to the apparent terror activity by a Canadian ready to bomb a shopping mall in London Ontario. Fortunately Canada’s RCMP was able to intercept the attempt shortly before it could take place. News reports indicate the man involved was an ISIS lover for some reason that will probably surface later as the media delves into Aaron Driver’s personal background. So far losing his mother as a child and his father’s remarriage might play a part. However the real reason for some young person with opportunities that could never be matched in the ISIS world deciding to kill and maim his fellow citizen’s borders more on mental illness. Either an undiagnosed mental disorder or abject anger for some reason could be the real cause rather than idealism. It is difficult for most people in this part of the world to accept the lunacy of some individuals bent on supporting a cause that ekes of revenge likely for some inconsequential personal reason or situation. Ending before the attack could develop is a plus for the forces of good and a setback for ISIS supporters in North America. The death of the perpetrator before serious damage happened is a major plus for security forces as is evident by ISIS quickly declaring the attack was motivated by the terrorist organization. The quick announcement indicates the group didn’t have a clue it was about to happen and probably didn’t even know the bomber was a supporter.
On what might be a saner topic the media is intent on tracking the American election that seems to have everyone confused. Apparently, if media reports and commentators can be trusted, the 2016 election will not be a traditional vote. There are even indications American democracy as presently structured might disappear succumbing to a movement by gun toting voters supporting billionaire Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump.
With the world situation encompassing millions of refugees looking for new places to settle, the collapse of the Britain EU union as expressed by Brexit emergence, the turmoil in Turkey and Russian aggression in the former USSR block world stability is certainly not secure. And those issues are only the tip of the iceberg called international tension. There are also China’s territorial expansionary threats North Korea’s toying with Nuclear missile launches and the struggle to keep Japan’s economy from tanking together with war, terror and instability in almost every other nation in the world except Canada so far. Immunity feels great but can it last when the whole world is experiencing the kind of problems outlined? Only time and hopefully re-emergence of a strong call for democratic return will bring back stability before the world plunges into another dark period of history.
The only other media reporting inundating news reports is the Rio Olympics highlighting mankind’s obsession with almost every nation large and small intent on surpassing other nations sport performance in peaceful competition. At least that is the bright side of the Olympics overshadowing in most ways the protests of Brazilians at the cost and Russians for being excluded based on past dope usage to gain an advantage.
Suicide bombings and toned down mass shooting are still being reported as secondary events to the US election and Rio Olympics reports. The difference being as less important newsworthy events the perpetrators of the terror acts are not getting the usual world coverage craved for to bring the issues to world attention. Even mass shootings appear to have taken a holiday for similar reasons.
On an even more pacified subject the surging Toronto Blue Jays blew a chance to become the sports world most talked about super power in the recent game by missing a chance to salvage a defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. The problem is becoming a regular habit. In position to sweep the Rays way breaking a league leading tie with Baltimore Orioles, the Jays loaded the bases in the late innings with nobody out while trailing by a couple of runs only to have the Rays put three batters out without even a hit. It isn’t the first time the Jays have run afoul of superstardom by blowing chances to win. Let’s hope the support of more fans at the games than any other team in the division helps to encourage the Jays to win those “should have been a win” games.
On the Jays subject Jose Batista seems to have run his course as a revered Blue Jay. Placed on the disabled list for the second time in a few weeks, likely causing hitting and home run records to drop to average status, the outfielder’s demand of almost $150 million for contract renewal is less than appetizing for the team to absorb. It’s a good possibility the fans will say bye-bye Jose in the 2017 season.