I've never been to Australia but I've known may people who have gone there on trips, for school and I know a few who have lived there for many many years.
Despite the fact that I've never stepped foot on the soil down under, as an educated man I know there are many good and not so good things about the country. Like any civilized land it is a country of mostly good people and a wonderful living environment. However, I also know that like here in Canada it has its seedy areas and dangers but certainly nothing worth warning visitors about. Any traveler with half a brain knows that trouble can be found no matter where you go in the world, you just have to be smart about where you go and what you do. I certainly don't need a government agency warning me about such things.That doesn't appear to be the case in Australia however as their government has released one of the dumbest travel advisories I have ever heard. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smart Traveller website warns of terrorism, dangerous winter driving, heavy snow, ice and wind chills, as well as tornadoes, earthquakes and forest fires in Canada.It also lists Canada in its second safest category (Exercise Caution) with places such as Chile, South Korea and Latvia as being safer and with terrorism being the top concern.
What are these people smoking? "We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Canada because of the risk of terrorist attack," the website reads. Knock on wood and please correct me if I'm wrong but has there ever been a terrorist attack in Canada? Sure it could happen but it could happen in any country for that matter.To warn travelers about Canadian tornado's or earthquakes would be akin to warning visitors to Australia about the chance of a Tsunami or Hurricane (Cyclone, or whatever they call it down there). When was the last time anyone was killed by an earthquake in Canada? Sure a tornado can pop up in a summer storm but it is a rare occasion at best. You're more likely to be attacked by a Dingo at the Toronto Metro Zoo.
The section on climate almost reads like a horror novel. "Heavy snowfalls and ice in the winter can make driving dangerous. The wind-chill factor can also create dangerously cold outdoor conditions. ... The province of British Columbia in western Canada is in an active earthquake zone. Alberta and British Columbia are also subject to avalanches. ... Tornadoes can occur in some areas of Canada between May and September. Bush and forest fires can occur any time in Canada."Let me examine this statement a moment. I won't argue that we can get the odd heavy snowfall but for most parts of the country that only means a foot or two at most and the weather folks always give you plenty of warning. You can see much higher amounts in the mountains or on the East coast but odds are good if you've planned a trip to either of these places in the winter, you know this already. In my 40 years of living in Canada, I can't recall any storm in Ontario that has overly concerned me. My biggest fear was how long my back would last while shoveling. It can get very cold and the wind chill at times can make things quite bitter but do you know what we Canadians do to combat this? We either don't go outside or we wear winter clothing which keeps you nice and toasty warm. If you're dumb enough to show up in Canada in January with a spring jacket and sandals then you probably deserve the frostbite you're going to get.
And then there's the talk of forest fires. Here's a tip...if you're walking through the Canadian wilderness and you see smoke, go in the opposite direction. Sure a forest fire can be very dangerous but honestly, how often do you hear of anyone being caught or killed in one. If you're in the wilderness then odds are you have a canoe or a pontoon plane. My advice would be to get in one or the other and haul your asses out of there.The whole report is a disservice to both Canada and any Australians who might like to visit one of the most beautiful countries in the world.There are dangers here just like anywhere. If I was to warn visitors or give advice to our Australian friends before they came to Canada, here's what I would suggest.Between November and March I'd suggest you bring warm clothes or visit a mall when you get here and purchase some. If you're renting a vehicle, make sure you keep it gassed up and a keep a couple of blankets in the car. If by some stroke of bad luck you do happen to slide off the highway and get stuck, a full tank will allow you to keep the heat on and the blankets don't hurt either. I'm thinking if you're planning on doing some winter camping in the wilderness then you probably don't need my advice since you no doubt already know what to expect.
From March to November you can expect nice weather. In fact, when summer rolls around it can be hotter here than in Florida at times with temperatures reaching the mid 30's Celsius. Bring sunscreen, wear sandals and be prepared for both heat and rain. Pickpockets, muggings and other small crimes are no more likely to happen here than they are in any Australian city.By the way, there is no warning for Canadians about Australia on Canada's Foreign Affairs website, except for an advisory to be wary of pickpockets and to avoid demonstrations because they could turn violent.Does this mean if I go to Australia any time soon I should bring some riot gear just in case? I'm guessing no.
If the cold weather wasn't proof enough then today's Santa Claus Parade in my hometown was a sure sign that Christmas is quickly approaching.I hadn't attended the annual parade in a few years but I decided to go check out this years event and I must say I wasn't disappointed.
Aside from the usual bands and floats I was eager to see Santa this year. I mean who doesn't love Santa? He's jolly and happy and brings lots of gifts. The bonus this time around was the fact that my dad was playing the part.It seems the usual gent who wears the red suit for the annual event had a mishap a couple weeks ago and was unable to fulfill his yearly duties. So he contacted my dad who filled in and did an admirable job.As far as the parade goes, it was easily one of the best I've seen in this city in quite some time. The night time parades are always more interesting with all of the lights but there was a lot of effort put into the floats this year. I've seen some parades in the past where all it is is one long commercial ad for local merchants who enter their company vehicles and tie a few bows on it to give the impression of effort. But that wasn't the case this time around and everyone is to be commended for a job well done...even Santa.
Bonus Info:This has to be one of the most insane things I've ever read.
In Australia, Santa's are being asked to say "Ha Ha Ha" instead of the traditional "Ho Ho Ho". The powers that be feel saying it could 'frighten' children and it the Santa recruiting firm feels it's derogatory to women. They say it's too close to the North American slang for 'Prostitute'.Thankfully most Santa's are not following their orders and rebelling against this nonsense. I think this falls under the category, "Aren't their worse things to worry about?"
When it comes to the email I find cluttering my Inbox each day I'm sure you're like me and you've had enough of the ads for Viagra, Cialis, OEM Software and How To Improve Your Sex Life.Combine that with all of the legitimate people I know who send me funny videos, stories, jokes, photos, cartoons and all manner of things which can either be really interesting and funny or just plain crap. I don't ask people to stop sending me stuff because I do enjoy some of it but it's just a matter of sorting through it all to find the really good stuff.Every so often I get warnings from friends about new viruses to be on the lookout for and while I appreciate the concern, more often than not, these email's are just hoaxes designed by individuals who only want to scare people and further spread their lies. I have actually seen e-mails asking people to search for a virus on their computer and when they find it to delete it immediately. The only problem is, the item they want you to find is actually a vital file or executable program that your computer needs to run smoothly.I do my best to remind folks that before they get into a panic, they should visit websites like Snopes.com or McAfee.com and do a little research before hitting forward on their email program. 99.9% of the time you'll find that these are hoaxes.This brings me to the whole point of this discussion. I had received the following e-mail several times and just dismissed it as a hoax, lie or farce and deleted it. Then one day I decided to do a little research and as it turns out, the whole thing is quite true. Perhaps you've seen this as well but here is what the e-mail says:
CANBERRA AUSTRALIA: Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to other country which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option," Costello said. Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country.Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off". "Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off," he said. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
I would love to see more of this in Canada. For the record, I'm not against immigration and if people from other parts of the world wish to come to Canada to start a new life or improve their situation, the more the merrier. However, if you are coming to Canada and wish to be Canadian then you need to do it 100%. You can not be Canadian only when it's beneficial to you.This is one thing that bothers me about those in Quebec who wish to separate. If you don't like the country you're living in, then go live somewhere else. We may have two official languages but we don't have multiple levels of being a Canadian citizen. You're either in or you're out.In Australia, they're not saying that if you're Muslim you have to leave but they are saying, if you want to live here then you need to play by our rules and I commend them for that. Children going to school in Canada should only be carrying their backpacks or lunches...not their ceremonial daggers.
I don't have a problem with Canada being filled with people of all walks of life but when they don't embrace their new found country and instead try to force the laws to change to benefit their beliefs, that is where they lose my support. If you live in Canada you MUST be Canadian first and foremost. I dare say you'll never hear a gutless Canadian politician stand up for Canada like their Australian counterparts have done, and that's a damn shame.
(Let the feedback begin)
Despite the fact that I've never stepped foot on the soil down under, as an educated man I know there are many good and not so good things about the country. Like any civilized land it is a country of mostly good people and a wonderful living environment. However, I also know that like here in Canada it has its seedy areas and dangers but certainly nothing worth warning visitors about. 
What are these people smoking? "We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Canada because of the risk of terrorist attack," the website reads. Knock on wood and please correct me if I'm wrong but has there ever been a terrorist attack in Canada? Sure it could happen but it could happen in any country for that matter.
The section on climate almost reads like a horror novel. "Heavy snowfalls and ice in the winter can make driving dangerous. The wind-chill factor can also create dangerously cold outdoor conditions. ... The province of British Columbia in western Canada is in an active earthquake zone. Alberta and British Columbia are also subject to avalanches. ... Tornadoes can occur in some areas of Canada between May and September. Bush and forest fires can occur any time in Canada."
And then there's the talk of forest fires. Here's a tip...if you're walking through the Canadian wilderness and you see smoke, go in the opposite direction. Sure a forest fire can be very dangerous but honestly, how often do you hear of anyone being caught or killed in one. If you're in the wilderness then odds are you have a canoe or a pontoon plane. My advice would be to get in one or the other and haul your asses out of there.
From March to November you can expect nice weather. In fact, when summer rolls around it can be hotter here than in Florida at times with temperatures reaching the mid 30's Celsius. Bring sunscreen, wear sandals and be prepared for both heat and rain. Pickpockets, muggings and other small crimes are no more likely to happen here than they are in any Australian city.
