Comments for ApeRifle http://aperifle.com Canadian Edition Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:26:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Montréal vs. Toronto by Stephanie http://aperifle.com/montreal-vs-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-14979 Stephanie Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:26:01 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=42#comment-14979 Wow, Akaash, very nice comparison between the Quebecers and Indians! I've been living in montreal my whole life and i love it. Even though my first language is English and I am bilingual, I barely have problems with racism. If you go to Quebec city, there are a lot more seperatists and you feel unwanted if you are English. Montreal; very multicultural and friendly. I dont know how I'm going to leave Montreal for Toronto if my job requires me to =( Wow, Akaash, very nice comparison between the Quebecers and Indians! I’ve been living in montreal my whole life and i love it. Even though my first language is English and I am bilingual, I barely have problems with racism. If you go to Quebec city, there are a lot more seperatists and you feel unwanted if you are English. Montreal; very multicultural and friendly. I dont know how I’m going to leave Montreal for Toronto if my job requires me to =(

]]> Comment on Montréal vs. Toronto by Akaash http://aperifle.com/montreal-vs-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-14890 Akaash Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:32:56 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=42#comment-14890 I think Toronto's a great place actually. I grew up in Calgary and that place is terrible. I made a decision to learn French and stay in Montreal. I tried to leave for a bit but I just couldn't. I have never once experienced one shred of racism here in 7 years, in fact many of the lower middle-class hicks in Calgary that would be racist don't exist here. People that aren't well-educated here treat me more sweetly than I've ever been treated. If you speak French no one sends an ounce of racism your way. Can you blame them? Would you go into someone's home and tell them what the rules are? If you did how would you expect them to react? Think about it this way: I'm Indian, the British controlled India for 150 years. A common misconception is because a lack of sophisticated weaponary. That's a cop-out, it's not that Indians didn't have guns, it's that they didn't have balls or political will/organistion. Look at the hindi language in India, it's a joke, it's half english at this point. Everyone wants to go to London, it's all they know, it's all they want. The Indian man in India is one of the most blissfully ignorant fools about his own immasculation. Look at Quebec, it took (at the time) 1 million people to get a bargain out of the british empire, the largest in the wolrd, ever. Now you tell me, is that not an accomplishment? France abandonned Quebec and they still managed to hold on to their identity, cultural heritage and language. I'm impressed, they did what 200 million idiots with their dicks in their hands couldn't figure out. I think Toronto’s a great place actually. I grew up in Calgary and that place is terrible. I made a decision to learn French and stay in Montreal. I tried to leave for a bit but I just couldn’t. I have never once experienced one shred of racism here in 7 years, in fact many of the lower middle-class hicks in Calgary that would be racist don’t exist here. People that aren’t well-educated here treat me more sweetly than I’ve ever been treated. If you speak French no one sends an ounce of racism your way. Can you blame them? Would you go into someone’s home and tell them what the rules are? If you did how would you expect them to react? Think about it this way: I’m Indian, the British controlled India for 150 years. A common misconception is because a lack of sophisticated weaponary. That’s a cop-out, it’s not that Indians didn’t have guns, it’s that they didn’t have balls or political will/organistion. Look at the hindi language in India, it’s a joke, it’s half english at this point. Everyone wants to go to London, it’s all they know, it’s all they want. The Indian man in India is one of the most blissfully ignorant fools about his own immasculation. Look at Quebec, it took (at the time) 1 million people to get a bargain out of the british empire, the largest in the wolrd, ever. Now you tell me, is that not an accomplishment? France abandonned Quebec and they still managed to hold on to their identity, cultural heritage and language. I’m impressed, they did what 200 million idiots with their dicks in their hands couldn’t figure out.

]]> Comment on Kalkan-on-Sea by neil http://aperifle.com/kalkan-on-sea/comment-page-1/#comment-12053 neil Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:58:35 +0000 http://aperifle.com/?p=897#comment-12053 Its hardly new. I guess this sort of thing has been going on in parts of Spain for years. At least it is peaceful (for the most part, anyway), but of course it wont last forever, eventually the budget airlines will not be that budget any more. Maybe the turks will be colonising english seaside towns! But, I really like this blog - I've been reading it for years. Great to see your recent return to action. Its hardly new. I guess this sort of thing has been going on in parts of Spain for years. At least it is peaceful (for the most part, anyway), but of course it wont last forever, eventually the budget airlines will not be that budget any more. Maybe the turks will be colonising english seaside towns!

But, I really like this blog – I’ve been reading it for years. Great to see your recent return to action.

]]> Comment on Kalkan-on-Sea by Clare http://aperifle.com/kalkan-on-sea/comment-page-1/#comment-10901 Clare Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:09:47 +0000 http://aperifle.com/?p=897#comment-10901 Or, you can look at it from another perspective - as I do. Kalkan is a beautiful gem of a place that is very easy to fall in love with and very hard to leave. And it's a lot to do with the people there; Turkish, British, whatever. There's a laid back feel to this place where people are friendly and hassle is almost non-existant. Hey, maybe your Kalkan experience isn't like my Kalkan experience. Sorry! Maybe it will be next time you visit. Or, you can look at it from another perspective – as I do. Kalkan is a beautiful gem of a place that is very easy to fall in love with and very hard to leave. And it’s a lot to do with the people there; Turkish, British, whatever. There’s a laid back feel to this place where people are friendly and hassle is almost non-existant.
Hey, maybe your Kalkan experience isn’t like my Kalkan experience. Sorry! Maybe it will be next time you visit.

]]> Comment on Montréal vs. Toronto by Putoto http://aperifle.com/montreal-vs-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-10893 Putoto Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:09:11 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=42#comment-10893 Montreal... Such a great city, however. IT'S FRENCH!! and BY LAW IN MONTREAL (THE NOTORIOUS BILL 101) YOU CAN'T EVEN WRITE ENGLISH OR ANY LANGUAGES ON YOUR SIGN OTHER THAN FRENCH!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Ironically, if Montreal was English speaking (culture, people, architecture, night life, everything stays the same), it would easily have become the biggest, greatest , most popular and loved Canadian City. Montreal… Such a great city, however.
IT’S FRENCH!! and BY LAW IN MONTREAL (THE NOTORIOUS BILL 101) YOU CAN’T EVEN WRITE ENGLISH OR ANY LANGUAGES ON YOUR SIGN OTHER THAN FRENCH!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

Ironically, if Montreal was English speaking (culture, people, architecture, night life, everything stays the same), it would easily have become the biggest, greatest , most popular and loved Canadian City.

]]> Comment on Finding out my Chinese SUCKS by Alex http://aperifle.com/finding-out-my-chinese-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-6777 Alex Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:07:11 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=49#comment-6777 I am a Chinese. And i would like to say that we Chinese people are from different areas of the country with different accent.And we never speak the langauge which is tought in Chinese language school. I met an American who was reading a Chinese learning book.I'd say most of the sentences are not familiar to me. For example, would you like to drink coffer or coca cola(Who drinks coffee in China?). It would be very difficult to understand all of the people by learing Manderin only. Even for our Chinese, we sometimes have difficulty to understand people from a certain area speaking manderin. I am a Chinese. And i would like to say that we Chinese people are from different areas of the country with different accent.And we never speak the langauge which is tought in Chinese language school. I met an American who was reading a Chinese learning book.I’d say most of the sentences are not familiar to me. For example, would you like to drink coffer or coca cola(Who drinks coffee in China?). It would be very difficult to understand all of the people by learing Manderin only. Even for our Chinese, we sometimes have difficulty to understand people from a certain area speaking manderin.

]]> Comment on Montréal vs. Toronto by fats http://aperifle.com/montreal-vs-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-6485 fats Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:35:47 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=42#comment-6485 I have no idea why the poster would not discuss nightlife. By sheer numbers Toronto has more restaurants and clubs, but why should I waste keystrokes ... Montrealers are in denial. I love Montreal, but it's yesterday's city. Toronto is on the move and will be about 10 million (Golden Horseshoe) in about 20 years. The area attracts the best and brightest from around the world as they know they will be embraced by the diverse culture. The separatists are blatantly racist, but the rest of Canada must turn a blind eye to these childish idiots who can't get over being beaten by the British centuries ago. Quite sad, provincial and pathetic in this new world order. How can an individual like SCOTT claim Montreal is worldly when all of its inhabitants do not feel welcome. I have travelled all over North America and Toronto is unique in it's diversity, energy and forward thinking. Montrealers will continue to console themselves with their delusions of cultural superiority ... but it is but a romantic notion from years gone by. Montreal is still a great city (that's more than any Montrealer would say about Toronto) but Toronto has just begun to spread its wings and will continue to grow, evolve and become better much to the chagrin of the rest of Canada. Peace, love, out. I have no idea why the poster would not discuss nightlife. By sheer numbers Toronto has more restaurants and clubs, but why should I waste keystrokes … Montrealers are in denial. I love Montreal, but it’s yesterday’s city. Toronto is on the move and will be about 10 million (Golden Horseshoe) in about 20 years. The area attracts the best and brightest from around the world as they know they will be embraced by the diverse culture. The separatists are blatantly racist, but the rest of Canada must turn a blind eye to these childish idiots who can’t get over being beaten by the British centuries ago. Quite sad, provincial and pathetic in this new world order. How can an individual like SCOTT claim Montreal is worldly when all of its inhabitants do not feel welcome. I have travelled all over North America and Toronto is unique in it’s diversity, energy and forward thinking. Montrealers will continue to console themselves with their delusions of cultural superiority … but it is but a romantic notion from years gone by. Montreal is still a great city (that’s more than any Montrealer would say about Toronto) but Toronto has just begun to spread its wings and will continue to grow, evolve and become better much to the chagrin of the rest of Canada. Peace, love, out.

]]> Comment on Montréal vs. Toronto by scott http://aperifle.com/montreal-vs-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-5493 scott Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:18:48 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=42#comment-5493 I have lived in both and Montreal is the more wordly city. Toronto is an American city and Montreal mixes North America and Europe together. The soul of montreal stayswith you. You can leave Toronto and not see it again. I have lived in both and Montreal is the more wordly city. Toronto is an American city and Montreal mixes North America and Europe together. The soul of montreal stayswith you. You can leave Toronto and not see it again.

]]> Comment on China Rises Again and Again…and Again by CP http://aperifle.com/china-rises-again-and-againand-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2872 CP Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:04:13 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/archives/2006/04/18/china-rises-again-and-againand-again/#comment-2872 Good post; I came here from Peking duck. Many of the ideas are still as relevant now as when you wrote it, especially the endless usage of Shanghai to represent China. Too much people, especially the media and academics are caught up in an idealized, romanticized notion of China that it is or soon will be a superpower. Don't they realize nobody/ very few people in China themselves actually believe that? Good post; I came here from Peking duck. Many of the ideas are still as relevant now as when you wrote it, especially the endless usage of Shanghai to represent China. Too much people, especially the media and academics are caught up in an idealized, romanticized notion of China that it is or soon will be a superpower. Don’t they realize nobody/ very few people in China themselves actually believe that?

]]> Comment on North American Infrastructure Blues by Patrick http://aperifle.com/north-american-infrastructure-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-4961 Patrick Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:39:09 +0000 http://aperifle.sinosplice.com/?p=505#comment-4961 neil, First of all, apologies for taking so long to respond to your comment (it slipped me by!). I agree with you that a big question mark surrounds the political impetus: despite some genuine promise shown in the Obama administrations' moves around renewable energy and the power grid, there is a valid concern that the American political process at the federal level will chew up any initiative and spit it out emasculated and covered in pork barrel handouts to favourite industries. In Canada, alternatively, there is the question of how seriously the Canadian federal government even takes the whole environmental/energy issue- can they see past the oil sands? But luckily, states and provinces in North America have significant political power, and much positive change can be affected at the sub-national level. For example, despite the political bickering in Washington, sub-national jurisdictions are moving forward with some progressive energy policies in the US, check out this link: http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/feed-in-tariffs-for-solar-continue-to-spread/ In Canada, Ontario has brought in a comprehensive environmental/energy Act which will also include feed-in tariffs and has just announced a major push to increase electric car sales (a nice way of rebuilding the automotive industry in the region around a new paradigm). Perhaps I should have gotten into more detail in my post (which I guess was more of a quick ramble than a coherent argument), but I think it's important to remember that in North America a lot of the action is taking place at sub-national levels. A long-term recovery might be decidedly smaller scale and more decentralized than what people are used to. The new infrastructure doesn't necessarily have to be interstate highways- it can be a 'smart' public bike system like the one just instituted here in Montreal. neil,

First of all, apologies for taking so long to respond to your comment (it slipped me by!). I agree with you that a big question mark surrounds the political impetus: despite some genuine promise shown in the Obama administrations’ moves around renewable energy and the power grid, there is a valid concern that the American political process at the federal level will chew up any initiative and spit it out emasculated and covered in pork barrel handouts to favourite industries. In Canada, alternatively, there is the question of how seriously the Canadian federal government even takes the whole environmental/energy issue- can they see past the oil sands?

But luckily, states and provinces in North America have significant political power, and much positive change can be affected at the sub-national level. For example, despite the political bickering in Washington, sub-national jurisdictions are moving forward with some progressive energy policies in the US, check out this link:

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/feed-in-tariffs-for-solar-continue-to-spread/

In Canada, Ontario has brought in a comprehensive environmental/energy Act which will also include feed-in tariffs and has just announced a major push to increase electric car sales (a nice way of rebuilding the automotive industry in the region around a new paradigm).

Perhaps I should have gotten into more detail in my post (which I guess was more of a quick ramble than a coherent argument), but I think it’s important to remember that in North America a lot of the action is taking place at sub-national levels. A long-term recovery might be decidedly smaller scale and more decentralized than what people are used to. The new infrastructure doesn’t necessarily have to be interstate highways- it can be a ’smart’ public bike system like the one just instituted here in Montreal.

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