I think Harvard Professor Mr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. understood the hidden rules of society when he was arrested for disorderly conduct by a Cambridge, Massachussets police officer.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Mistaken Identity - Season 1, Episode 6, part 1.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Mistaken Identity - Season 1, Episode 6, part 2.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Mistaken Identity - Season 1, Episode 6, part 3.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Your choice for mayor of Toronto
Who would you like as mayor of Toronto? You may select by using the link above. This is an STV or AV style poll where you get to rank your preferences 1, 2, 3, and so on. The poll is unofficial. If you live outside of Toronto, you may vote in this poll because I can't stop your internet signal from crossing Steeles Avenue into Toronto. If you can vote more than once, again I can't stop you.
Have fun.
Mayor of Toronto in 2010
Have fun.
Mayor of Toronto in 2010
Saturday, July 18, 2009
My refugee streamlining proposal
I personally think that most refugee applicants to Canada can be processed between 48 to 72 hours (not including weekends and holidays). Here is what I would propose:
When a refugee applicant arrives at an airport or another port of entry, the applicant will be interviewed by an immigration officer who will record all the details provided by the applicant.
If the immigration officer determines that the applicant has a credible case for refugee status he/she may release the applicant into Canada. Within 48 to 72 hours, that applicant will need to present his/her case in front of a two-person refugee board who will decide on the case. If the applicant convinces one of the two board members, that applicant will be admitted as a refugee because at least two of the three people (an immigration officer and one board member) who will have heard the applicant will have approved the applicant's admission.
If the immigration officer determines that the applicant does not have a credible case for refugee status, he/she may recommend deportation. If the applicant agrees to leave, the file is closed. If the applicant disagrees, the immigration officer may detain the applicant to be held at the nearest immigration facility. Within 48 to 72 hours, the applicant will present his/her case in front of a two-person refugee board who will decide on the case. The applicant will need to convince both board members in order to be admitted as a refugee because the immigration officer was originally not convinced of the applicant's claim.
If a visitor who has already entered Canada legally decides to apply for refugee status, he/she will have his/her case heard by a two-person refugee board. The refugee applicant will need to convince both members in order to be admitted to Canada as a refugee.
Statistically, it would be better for a person to apply for refugee status as at a port of entry. The odds of receiving refugee status would be 50% as three people would ultimately determine one's status (YYY, YYN, YNY, NYY, YNN, NYN, NNY, NNN). By applying after entry, the applicant will only have a statistical 25% success rate (YY, YN, NY, NN).
An unsuccessful applicant can appeal a board's decision. The applicant will need to remember that he/she may remain or be detain until the appeal has be decided.
At any time an applicant can end a refugee claim and leave Canada voluntarily.
In the case of a Roma from the Czech Republic applying for refugee status, If I were an immigration officer or refugee board member, I would ask the applicant why he or she didn't just move to another Schengen agreement EU country as the international borders are open among Schengen countries. If the applicant could not convince me that he/she would face persecution in the other Schengen countries, I would reject the claim.
I think these steps would help cut down on the number of refugee claims from the Czech Republic and Mexico. We should be able to restore visa-free travel by Czech and Mexican citizens to Canada.
When a refugee applicant arrives at an airport or another port of entry, the applicant will be interviewed by an immigration officer who will record all the details provided by the applicant.
If the immigration officer determines that the applicant has a credible case for refugee status he/she may release the applicant into Canada. Within 48 to 72 hours, that applicant will need to present his/her case in front of a two-person refugee board who will decide on the case. If the applicant convinces one of the two board members, that applicant will be admitted as a refugee because at least two of the three people (an immigration officer and one board member) who will have heard the applicant will have approved the applicant's admission.
If the immigration officer determines that the applicant does not have a credible case for refugee status, he/she may recommend deportation. If the applicant agrees to leave, the file is closed. If the applicant disagrees, the immigration officer may detain the applicant to be held at the nearest immigration facility. Within 48 to 72 hours, the applicant will present his/her case in front of a two-person refugee board who will decide on the case. The applicant will need to convince both board members in order to be admitted as a refugee because the immigration officer was originally not convinced of the applicant's claim.
If a visitor who has already entered Canada legally decides to apply for refugee status, he/she will have his/her case heard by a two-person refugee board. The refugee applicant will need to convince both members in order to be admitted to Canada as a refugee.
Statistically, it would be better for a person to apply for refugee status as at a port of entry. The odds of receiving refugee status would be 50% as three people would ultimately determine one's status (YYY, YYN, YNY, NYY, YNN, NYN, NNY, NNN). By applying after entry, the applicant will only have a statistical 25% success rate (YY, YN, NY, NN).
An unsuccessful applicant can appeal a board's decision. The applicant will need to remember that he/she may remain or be detain until the appeal has be decided.
At any time an applicant can end a refugee claim and leave Canada voluntarily.
In the case of a Roma from the Czech Republic applying for refugee status, If I were an immigration officer or refugee board member, I would ask the applicant why he or she didn't just move to another Schengen agreement EU country as the international borders are open among Schengen countries. If the applicant could not convince me that he/she would face persecution in the other Schengen countries, I would reject the claim.
I think these steps would help cut down on the number of refugee claims from the Czech Republic and Mexico. We should be able to restore visa-free travel by Czech and Mexican citizens to Canada.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Canada imposes visa requirements on Czech and Mexican citizens
Starting at 
12 midnight, the Canadian government will be imposing visas on citizens of the Czech Republic and Mexico. Wasn't there a country 20 years ago called Mexoslovakia? Just kidding. Canada will be requiring visas because these two countries are the two highest for refugee claimants in Canada. I do know that most claimants from the Czech Republic are from the minority Roma community.
While I can speak about Mexico, I have travelled to
the Czech Republic. I think it's a great country. I have been in Prague/Praha and the smaller cities such as Cesky Tesin, Hradec Karlove, Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec, and Cheb. The last city has lots of prostitutes who are mostly Roma. The other cities are very beautiful; the people are reserved but nice.
12 midnight, the Canadian government will be imposing visas on citizens of the Czech Republic and Mexico. Wasn't there a country 20 years ago called Mexoslovakia? Just kidding. Canada will be requiring visas because these two countries are the two highest for refugee claimants in Canada. I do know that most claimants from the Czech Republic are from the minority Roma community.While I can speak about Mexico, I have travelled to
the Czech Republic. I think it's a great country. I have been in Prague/Praha and the smaller cities such as Cesky Tesin, Hradec Karlove, Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec, and Cheb. The last city has lots of prostitutes who are mostly Roma. The other cities are very beautiful; the people are reserved but nice.I just hope that the Czech Republic or the European Union countries do not slap visa requirements on Canadians. I don't think Mexico will impose visa requirements on Canadians. It needs our tourist dollars.
Top photo: Zittau, Germany on far side of the Neisse River. Czech Republic on front left side of ditch. Poland on the right.
Middle photo: Jirikov, Czech Republic on other side of gate. Not seen: Ebersbach, Germany. Watch out for the cigarette cops when returning to Germany.
Lower photo: Evil Italian border guard chickens in Gorizia, Italy. They scratch, then ask questions. Photo taken on the Slovenian side of the fence in Nova Gorica. I thought I would throw in this photo for fun.
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