Fighting Crime in Denmark

Reading the local press is pretty depressing stuff if you are interested in the crime statistics. Daily we can read about the spiraling drug abuse, muggings, stabbings, rape, burglary, theft, murder and bank robbery et al. We have a police force of 11,000 officers in Denmark. That’s one for every 500 of us ordinary folk. Not surprising then, that you can get away with almost anything these days. In fact the police say they are undermanned, so there are probably around 600 of us for every policeman we can muster. One wonders how they cope with the constant fight against serious crime.

Actually, I don’t think it concerns them that much. I am convinced that there is no profit in putting the real criminals behind bars. Motorists on the other hand are a boon to the state. They are easily identified, easy to see and even easier to criminalise. So the police are putting a huge nationwide action together, starting today and lasting four days, to stop all those highly dangerous criminal drivers who dare to drive a little faster than the allowed limit. They have all the necessary equipment. Cameras, laser guns and all kinds of speed measuring stuff. The fines are exorbitant. The income is huge. Undermanned or not, police resources will be thrown at this.

Why have I never heard of a national campaign to catch and imprison unruly youngsters who have no idea of “yours and mine”. How about a nationwide police action against rape or violent assault? How about a nationwide search for all the weapons that get carried illegally into our streets? No. You see, drivers are not usually violent or threatening. Easy meat with no risk for an ambitious policeman eager to improve his arrest and charge sheet statistics.

One could wonder how much the whole operation will cost, but that would be pointless. The operation will be self financing. The state will profit from this action. Not because drivers are criminals at heart but because they need to get to work on our overcrowded and over-regulated roads, and they need to get home quickly to pick up the kids after eight hours at work (for them) and ten hours at the kindergarten, or school, for their kids. Why do they need to get home so quick to pick up the kids?

Because are streets aren’t safe anymore. The real criminals are untouchable. Not to mention, unprofitable.

Drive carefully folks. At least, until the weekend is over.

Tobacco Control is Out of Control

The final proof arrived today as Holland brought it’s nationwide ban on smoking in cafés, bars and restaurants into effect. I say it is out of control because it finally has gone way over the intended target. One could easily have decided on the freedom of choice to smoke or not and for proprietors of public venues to choose for themselves if they allow smoking or not. But no. It’s a blanket ban.

The problem in Holland is that you are allowed to smoke cannabis. That is not affected by the anti-tobacco laws. The problem is, that the cannabis houses and cafés are still able to allow people to smoke weed but now they aren’t allowed to mix tobacco with the grass. How bloody silly is that? I hope some Dutch cigarette maker decides to start full production of weed only cigarettes. Joints in a crush proof wrapper.

For most of us in our youth, we experienced officers of the law inspecting our hand rolling tobacco for marijuana and the like. In Holland apparently, they will have to do the opposite. Checking the weed to see if there is any of the foul and deadly tobacco in the pouch. Can you imagine your local sheriff, bobby or other such officer of the law asking, “Hey son, got any tobacco in that grass?”.
I tell you, the world’s gone mad and we’re all prisoners in it. You can sit in a bar and snort cocaine and no-one bats an eyelid, but light up a cigarette containing what is still a perfectly legal product and you get arrested. How on earth did we arrive here?

Oh well, time to light my pipe and ponder. Now what’s it to be, Macbaren’s Plumcake, the Navy cut or the ready rubbed Red Afghan?

Depends where I’m going to smoke it I suppose.

The Growing List

I don’t often publish my email. This one turned up asking me specifically to do so. Read the mail below and you will see why.

Udo and Doris Ulfkotte had to go into hiding under police protection. A video appeared on the net, with two people claiming they were Udo and Doris Ulfkotte and started a heavy hate speech against turks and other muslims.

Now there are thousands of turks hunting Mrs. Ulfkotte, there is even a 1000 euro bounty on her head. Voice and email message are coming in and call for their death, even from outside Germany. The MSM don’t want to publish the story, although it could help them (they were NOT the authors of the video!)

We are trying to get the message out as much as possible.

A summary in English together is available on: This link.

I have no idea who the “we” that is trying to publicise this is, but I do know that the story is true. As to why the MSM won’t publish this, well, your guess is as good as mine, but Udo Ulfkotte has trodden on a few toes in his own country and not all of them were brown or in sandals. He is also not much loved within the realms of the European politburo in Brussels.

The old phrase about my enemy’s enemies comes to mind. 

Either way, I don’t much go for the idea of muslims on a manhunt anywhere and least of all in our own backyard. It’s time we stopped this constant threatening from them and I would dearly like to see the German government taking a more than firm stance on this one. I wonder how quickly they would react if there was a public price on the head of some prominent muslim? 

Add yet another couple to the ever growing list, starting with Sir Salman Rushdie, Ayan Hirsi Ali, Geert Wilders, et al.

When will we have had enough of this?

Title Fight

If you really want to upset people, then do it with style. Today, Her Britannic Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, knighted a certain Mr. Salman Rushdie, whom we now have to speak of as Sir Salman Rushdie. He was knighted for his literary contribution to the world and quite rightly so by my reasoning.
Be prepared for a huge muhammedan outcry as this piece of news spreads across the crusader-victimised and downtrodden islamic world. I believe we will see rioting in Pakistan first. After all, they are the most outspoken on these matters and they know a good islamic cause when they see one. I foresee countless deaths and untold flag burnings, not to mention the torching of a few embassies. Pakistan’s national sport.

As if pissing off half the ummah wasn’t good enough, Her Majesty decided to piss off a couple of our African acquaintances at the same time. Robert Mugabe, who was knighted in 1994 when he was still seen as something of a leader of his people, has been relieved of his knighthood. Not that I ever thought of him as Sir Robert Mugabe. I always reckoned him to be something of a despot. Turned out, I was right. This removal of his title is a simple way for Her Majesty to show her disapproval of the actions of  Mr. Mugabe, as we are now to speak of him, now that he has been reduced to ranks the common man once again.

Her Majesty giveth and Her Majesty taketh away.

Don’t you just love the machinations of power! 

God for Dummies

Two highly educated professors have started a bit of a discussion concerning intelligence and belief. According to professor Richard Lynn from the University of Ulster and a Danish professor in Intelligence, Helmuth Nyborg, only the truly unintelligent are the true believers. They have been studying the national average IQ and comparing it to the amount of citizens who say they believe in God.
That may be a bit much for some to swallow but they may just have a point. In countries such as Denmark, the average IQ is 98 and the believing percentage of the population is 46%. In Sweden the IQ is slightly higher, 99, and the believers only 36%.
In Zambia, the IQ is 71, believers over 99%. The U.A.E. has an IQ of 84 but maintains over 99%.

According to our intrepid professors, this does not mean that believing makes you stupid. They claim it’s the other way round!
First you’re stupid, then you believe.

I found another story that may shed a little light on this concerning two pilots over new Zealand. Grant Stubbs and Owen Wilson were flying their little aircraft over the country and ran out of fuel. Stubbs apparently turned to Wilson who had discovered the lack of juice and asked “What do we do now?” Wilson replied, “Pray to God, Grant!”
Knowing that crashing a light aircraft would probably mean a certain death, Stubbs did just that. The aircraft made it over the next piece of high ground and eventually landed in a small meadow. Both men escaped unhurt.
The true surprise for Stubbs was that when he finally got out of the machine he found they had landed right beside a seven meter high billboard. On it was the huge and impressive text, “Jesus is Lord - The Bible”.

Go figure!

Quotes of the Week

“We will never allow an event like an election to reverse our independence, our sovereignty. Only God who appointed me will remove me – not the MDC, not the British.”
Robert Mugabe.

A yes vote can be achieved if the Irish people are offered guarantees on issues like defense and taxation. The no campaign will be picked off one by one. Everyone has a price.”
Unnamed senior Irish official, reported by The Times.

Such a delightful picture of democracy at work….

Mugab-EU

I find it strange that the EU parliament has often been critical of Robert Mugabe and his dictatorship in Zimbabwe and then follow his example to the letter. The fact that Mugabe is in denial over the results of an election that clearly dismissed him was equally clearly condemned by the EU who insisted that the results of that election be announced and adhered to. How so with the results of a referendum that clearly dismisses the intentions of the EU? It would appear the EU is as much in denial as is Mugabe.

The Irish did not vote NO to the Lisbon Treaty. They voted yes to a new referendum next year. They voted yes to all the other member states going ahead with the ratification of that infamous piece of illegal deception. They clearly voted for the rest of Europe to “move forward” without them until they can be coerced into submitting to the greater will of the EU. At least, according to all the statements that I have read from the leading lights in Brussels.

David Miliband confirmed that Britain would press ahead with its treaty ratification on Wednesday, when it is due to complete its passage through the House of Lords.
Nicolas Sarkozy is in the Czech Republic pressuring them to sign up.
Angela Merkel is in Poland doing the same job.
Ursula Plassnik, the Austrian Foreign Minister, said: “We have to pursue our goal to make the European Union more efficient and more relevant to the citizen. That is why this process will not be stopped.”

How much more undemocratic can this get? The French and Dutch said no two years ago. The Irish said no last week. How many times must it be said? What part of “NO” can the EU thickheads not understand?

According to article 6 of their own legislation concerning ratification of the Lisbon Treaty:

Article 6 Treaty of Lisbon
1. This Treaty shall be ratified by the High Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Government of the Italian Republic.
2. This Treaty shall enter into force on 1 January 2009, provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited, or, failing that, on the first day of the month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step.

Please note: paragraph 2 states that it is necessary for “all the instruments of ratification” have to be deposited. That cannot now happen. Or, later in the same paragraph, that they would have to wait for “the last” signatory state.

I wonder how long they will have to wait for Ireland?

Perhaps we should have a referendum there every month, until they get it right. I’ll bet some EU whiz-kid is working on it already.

This treaty should be called dead. It is unwanted by the people and some even see it as an act of treason to sign it. We do not need a United States of Europe. We do not want one Greater European State.

Why should that be so hard to understand?

No, To Be Sure

See, I knew I would be glad for the Irish sooner or later. Today is the day. The only country in the EU allowed to vote on the Lisbon Treaty voted no. Hooray. I’ll be opening the Bushmills this evening and toasting the Irish voter.

According to the EU, the treaty needs to be ratified by ALL member states to become effective. This cannot happen now. Which means the treaty is a goner, like its predecessor, the EU constitution which was stopped by both France and Holland. But we all know what happened after that little Euro-debacle. The process continued with the re-writing of existing treaties to encapsulate the salient points of the constitution and resulted, after two years of secretive back office work, with the treaty which was rejected today. So I really don’t believe the process will be abandoned now. Indeed, even now, the Euro-pols are discussing how to circumvent the Irish decision. The Times reports thus;

But some European leaders appeared determined to ignore the result. Suspicions grew of a Franco-German plot to forge ahead and leave Ireland behind after Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the French Europe Minister, said: “The most important thing is that the ratification process must continue in the other countries and then we shall see with the Irish what type of legal arrangement could be found.”

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and President Sarkozy of France – seen as the architects of the treaty – issued a joint plea for the remaining eight countries to complete ratification.

And in a similar article elsewhere in the Times;

Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, said he believed that other states should press ahead with the ratification process. “The no vote in Ireland has not solved the problems which the Lisbon Treaty is designed to solve,” he said.

“The ratification process is made up of 27 national processes. Eighteen member states have already approved the treaty and the European Commission believes that the remaining ratifications should continue to take their course.”

Now why should the ratification process continue? If ALL the members should be required to have the Lisbon Treaty adopted, what could be the point of continuing with something that is technically impossible? I wonder what Barroso means by “the problems the Lisbon Treaty is designed to solve”? Democratic rights problems, perhaps? After all, what EU politician has use for troublesome voters? I also wonder what Jean-Pierre Jouyet’s “legal arrangement” concerning Ireland could be.  

The truth is there for all to see. The EU Politburo has decided that we must have a constitution wether we want it or not and have it we shall. The Irish vote will be ignored, the constitution in the form of the Lisbon Treaty will be forced upon us and we will simply have to put up with it, or leave Europe. Which may not be a bad idea, considering the alternative. 

The alternative being life under a parliamentary dictatorship.

Medium Rare Tourist

Agio Pelagias is a tiny but now fashionable bathing beach town hidden in a natural cove west of Heraklion. The resort, if you can call it that, consists of no less than 3 coves separated by rocky promontories. The village provides a backdrop to the main beach and we found our hotel with no problem at all. 400 meters from the sea, we were a short walk from the busy little beach and tourist town area. Peaceful and quiet, we were only disturbed by the clucking of hens, braying of goats, chirping of cicadas and the croak of frogs. Our hosts were great. I was quickly on talking terms with the boss and made friends with his neighbour. We three spent an hour or so almost every evening together putting the world to rights over a beer, whisky or raki.

The people I had intended to find had left the town years ago and despite my best sleuthing I could find no trace of them. I even tried in Heraklion with no success. Nonetheless, we were there for a good time, and we had it. The beach hadn’t changed much and the restaurants were still open for business. The sun shone, the sea was cobalt blue and the water as clear as glass.

Afraid for my skin, my wife insisted I rub suntan oil over the greater part of my body when we finally got to the beach. I have a certain attraction for mosquitoes, so repellant needed to be added to the mix and all that combined with copious amounts of natural sweat meant that I could stay in the sun for a limited period of time and I lay sizzling on the beach like a huge frothing chip. After a quarter of an hour or so and feeling done to about medium-rare I could take it no more and ran off into the sea armed with my trusty snorkel. This pattern of behaviour repeated itself endlessly throughout the day. Finally, red as a beetroot, I had to creep into the shade of the parasol and remained there for the duration. Luckily one can cool down with the aid of beer and the like, so I consoled myself with large amounts of the colder varieties and ouzo with ice and water. It’s a hard life, but someone has to do it.

From our little holiday hideaway we traveled out in our jeep to neighbouring areas of interest. Minoan ruins at Tylisos, mountainous areas of spectacular beauty and places my wife had read about in books borrowed or bought for the trip. One place we visited was Enogie. Pronounced “annoy-uh”. Lying in the mountains, or rather on top of one of them, the village had been totally destroyed by the Germans during the war. All the men and boys found within one kilometer of that village were executed. It was supposedly a revenge action carried out as a reprisal after Cretan resistance fighters and some British SOE operatives had kidnapped and sneaked off with a German general. The general was smuggled to North Africa. Enogie has always been a bastion of Cretan resistance,even during the Turkish occupation. Some of its men fought at Arkady, which was again completely destroyed by the Turks. The last brave few fighting to the end in the powder magasine blew it up, killing all and sundry, rather than be taken prisoner. At least one of those men came form Enogie, there is a monument to him. Mention the fact that you are a Brit here and the welcome mat comes out. Guess who aren’t so welcome.

We got close to nature here. I spotted an olive snake one evening as we walked to a nearby taverna. My wife doesn’t see too well in the dark and had a fit when I told her there was a snake in front of her. She ran off. Small fish in the sea frightened her. She couldn’t understand that they flocked around her feet as she disturbed the sand bringing microscopic particles of food up for them. She ran off again. Everyone in the village grows their own food. They own chickens, goats and sheep. Which is also food. They have olive trees, oranges and lemons. They make wine, olive oil and distill their own raki spirit, which is a lot like grappa, from the grape mash after the wine is pressed. The Cretans pride themselves on self sufficiency and they are good at it. We could learn from them.

Our final week was spent in this peaceful place punctuated by short trips to the supermarket, shopping and the beach.

I love Crete. I may live there one day. Holidays are too short and there is a lot to see. The Cretans are as warm as the sun they live under and I will definitely go back there again.

Yamas!

If you’ve never been there, take the trip. It’s well worth it. Tell ‘em I sent you.

Rocky Road to Rethymnon

Rethymnon lies about 90 kilometers to the east from Chania. One drives out of Chania toward Souda and then picks up the new National Road. Built with EU funding, this new road replaces the old winding mountain trail of a road that otherwise connected the two cities. The old road may be more interesting to drive, but it certainly presents a challenge for the inexperienced driver on Crete. The new road was carved out of the mountains and millions of tons of rock had to be moved to build it. It follows the coast line at varying distances and is a pretty drive. Flowering bushes line the hard shoulders all along the route.

We stopped halfway to Rethymnon for lunch. Turning off the main road we climbed into the mountains and found a taverna run by an English woman and her Greek husband. Lunch was good but the place was under reconstruction so the general peace and quiet that should be found in such places was a bit lacking. The view however, was spectacular. The Cretan mountains are a sight to be seen and one could see a lot of them from where we sat.

Finding our hotel in Rethymnon was surprisingly easy. I had expected to have to drive round a bit to find it but it was signposted on the main drag into the town. A four star hotel yes, but, unfortunately, only one star food. We were destined to stay here for 3 days, dinner included. I couldn’t face the tasteless food and the equally tasteless restaurant on the third night there, so we sprang dinner over and ate in the town. Rethymnon is also a city that grew up around its Venetian harbour. A natural deep water harbour, it is now ringed by restaurants and bars and the fish in the harbour are used to being fed by the patrons of these restaurants who sit precariously close to the edge of the harbour wall. Put so that everyone can understand it, if I had gotten up from my chair and stepped in the wrong direction, I would have been in the drink! A six foot drop into thirty feet of water.

The “old town” is as old as Chania and equally as intimate. Small alleys and streets, lots of tourist traps, bars, tavernas and busy people. The seafront is dominated by the Fortezza, the fort which defended the townsfolk from all comers until the Turkish invasion. The Turks built another mosque here within the confinements of the fort but I have no idea what it is used as now. The building still exists but we didn’t visit it.
We contented ourselves with more shopping, sightseeing, wandering through small streets and enjoying the bohemian atmosphere of the town. Long lunches in Greek taverns, quick stops for cool drinks and more of those long evenings in the cool after sunset.

After three days in Rethymnon, we packed our bags again and loaded up the jeep. We set off for the last seven days of our holiday, to Agio Pelagios, a place we found six years ago, near the city of Heraklion. We had friends there once, and I was determined to find them again if it was at all possible.