Month: May 2017

Categories
Geopolitics

Political stability according to Donald Trump

The Iranian population chose a moderate leader during the 2017 election. This is good news for the country and also for their neighbours. At the same time, Donald Trump, who is visiting the Middle East, reinforces the importance of lowering the political tensions in the region.

But at the same time, the United States announce the signature of a 350 billion dollars contract with Saudi Arabia, a contract that will provide Saudi Arabia with armaments and support for the next ten years. Before that contract, Saudi Arabia was already the country that spent the most amount of money for military equipment in the world.

With Iran and Saudi Arabia not getting along very well, it is easy to imagine the impact that this military contract will have on the Iranian leaders.

If I don’t get along well with my neighbour and the latter signs a 350 billion dollar contract to acquire and maintain armaments, I do not believe that my natural reaction will be one of understanding and stability, and even less of demilitarization. First, I will ask myself what is the purpose of all the armaments and, if I am just a bit realistic, I will imagine that there are possibilities that my neighbour could eventually use those against me.

Every country around the world, even those who call themselves « neutral », have strategic interests to promote and defend. But to wish for stability with military contracts of such a nature is to live in dreamland.

For more articles on geopolitics on my web site, click on the following link : Geopolitics

Categories
Photos of Canada

The mountain goats of the Jasper National Park in Alberta

Mountain goats in the Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada in 2014
Mountain goats in the Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada in 2014

The mountain goat’s winter protection becomes really unbearable during summer, especially when, like in 2014, the temperature rises to 38 degree Celsius in the Jasper National Park, in Alberta, Canada. Goats are looking a bit less photogenic.

The picture above, taken with a Canon 5D MKII full-frame camera, was taken directly on the side of highway 93 at a time when huge forest fires were destroying important areas of the National Park in 2014. The Park authorities were taking daily decisions as to the use of highway 93 between Lake Louise and Jasper. We had access to the Park because we were ready early in the morning and by 11 AM, the highway was again closed for the day.

For more articles in the category « Photos of Canada », click on the following link : Photos of Canada

Categories
Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: a Beech Staggerwing over Saskatchewan

Beech Staggerwing aircraft over Saskatchewan, Canada.
Beech Staggerwing aircraft over Saskatchewan, Canada.

The screen capture above represents a Beech Staggerwing virtual aircraft available through the Carenado  company, in flight early morning on a winter day over Saskatchewan, Canada.

Houses and the general scenery are a creation of the Orbx company, through their FTX Global Base Pack, FTX Global Vector and FTX Global openLC North America products.

The virtual clouds are a creation of REX Texture Direct and Soft Clouds. There is also an additional touch of drama through the use of Cumulus X. The virtual flight platform used was FSX.

In April 2017, Orbx again released new improved virtual airports for North and South America, available for free for flight simulation enthousiasts already using their commercial products. That was one more reason to go flying in Saskatchewan!

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation

Categories
Photography

An artwork left on Willows Beach in Victoria, British Columbia

Artwork in sand on Willows Beach, Victoria, 2014
Artwork in sand on Willows Beach, Victoria, 2014

The picture above represents an improvised artwork that was done on Willows Beach in Oak Bay, a municipality in Victoria, British Columbia. The work, created during a summer afternoon in 2014, was made slightly out of the way from the main activity area of the beach and, by luck, was not damaged after its author left the beach.

However, during the evening, while taking a walk, I saw that a group of young people had installed a volleyball net on the beach, not far from where the artwork was located. The players often sent the ball very close to where the eyes where so I decided to take a picture to immortalize the work.

Shells and rocks of multiple colours had been assembled by a real artist to give the eyes an extremely realistic appearance, full of life. You may note that the artist took care of designing the eyes of different size, as it is necessery to add a three dimensional effect. Few white shells had even been added near the centre of the eyes to add the reflection appearance and bring the eyes to life. A real artist creation!