Tag Archives: crime

Watch out for scams

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in crime, Paris, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

It's a trap

It’s the newest scamming craze in some parts of Europe: Call it the petition scam.
People with clipboards, like the young woman in aqua-coloured pants in Brussels above, accost you to sign a petition “for the children” without specifying what the cause actually is. If you sign, you are then compelled to make a “donation.” If you don’t, they harass you until you relent or you forcefully tell them to scram.
In one instance during my trip to Paris last month, I was stopped by two of them: One doing the talking and another “accidentally” bumping into me from behind. I later found one of the zippers of my sling-backpack undone. Happily, there was nothing of value there to steal but I felt violated and paranoid for a couple hours afterwards.
Don’t let the scams keep you from enjoying Europe — but it always pays to keep your head up.

In defence of the hoodie

26 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in opinion, politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

20120326-225128.jpg
It seems silly that an article of clothing I’m wearing would make me more susceptible to being profiled by authorities or by random people on the street.
But that’s what’s being suggested by the accused and several commentators in the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida.
Nonsense.
I own several hoodies. One of them was a gift from my student association at University.
They’ve kept me warm through many Canadian winters. They’ve helped make it bearable to run outside in the cold. They’ve provided comfort on long drives, flights and train rides.
Wearing a hoodie does not instantly turn me into a criminal.
To distill the cause of a horrible crime to a lone article of clothing is simply facile.

Appeal to calm and reason

10 Monday Jan 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

After this weekend’s assassination attempt on Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which resulted in six other being shot to death and about a dozen more injured, some voices in the political wilderness appealed for a moderation in the political debate.
The suggestion was met with something less than moderation by a few commentators, who suggested that the Tucson tragedy was being manipulated to silence free speech and political opposition.
I humbly posit it’s possible to have a full and open political debate without a free-for-all.
Calling people names, making fun of their cultural or political heritage or making veiled threats are absolutely unnecessary.
However, I would also suggest it is someone’s right to be a jackass if they so choose.
The words extremist and compromise and rarely uttered in the same breath.
It would be a good bet to expect the extreme elements in all parts of the political spectrum will continue to spew their vitriol, regardless of whatever appeal to calm is extended to them.
It might be better to call on to the ordinary person’s good sense to ignore those errant voices.