Scam & fraud awareness: More tips to stay safe

In the wake of me being victimised of scam and identity theft which had took place on social media platform Facebook couple of days ago on Black Friday, I will reiterate of what I said on October so this blog post is November edition as it has been updated. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Original post as posted in October.

More tips to stay safe

Recently, my blogger friend Roger Tichborne  talked about Internet scam particularly PayPal, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter scam on his blog the Barnet Eye. 

Since I have been victimised of scam 5 times, I have to say that I have not been victim of any type of internet scam (except clickbait scam & Travel Unravel scam that flight ticket was never issued). Whether is PayPal, YouTube, or social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Instagram. 

So all i can say is take it from me who have been victim of scam and fraud on 5 occasions. Like my friend Roger said on his blog, please beware of this internet/Instagram/Facebook/PayPal/Twitter scam. 

What my friend is talking about is factual. Read more on his blog. The Barnet Eye. barneteye.blogspot.com 

Also few weeks ago, I written and published The comprehensive blog post on how to stay safe with all types of scams with helpful tips  I highly recommend that you should read my previous blog post about scam and fraud. 

It is never a good feeling when you feel that you are being conned by anyone or organisation who behaved dodgy towards you & taking away your money. 

So stay safe from scams everybody. Both online and offline. 

Update as being posted on this month November

I want to give you a heads up. 

Next time when you received a text message on Facebook messenger with dodgy link that is not genuine from any person (unknowingly whether fraudster have been impersonating someone to send that message). Don’t click the link. 

I know that I would never any fraudulent dodgy link that is fake because I know myself & that I would never do anything stupid like that. So that is all I want to say.

Watch out of scams like “is that you in the video” scam. I seen plenty of times before & I ignored messages like this. 

So I cannot believe that one month later, I became an victim of internet scam (social media scam) online on social networking site (Facebook). That is why I published the comprehensive blog post a month in order to help you guys with tips so that you won’t become victimised of any type of scam. It is unfortunately that these things can happen to any of us online and offline. So that is I feel the need to show the awareness once again & that you’ll be smart and wise & not having to be fall for any scam or anything fraudulent. 

That is all I can say for now. Please stay safe online and be careful. 

Post Brexit trade deals does not benefit the UK

Earlier this month, I recall reading this article on the Independent about post Brexit trade deals. 

It says “ All UK’s post-Brexit trade deals combined worth less than 50p per person” 

“ All trade deals combined worth less than 50p per person a year, analysis of government figures shows” 

“All of Boris Johnson’s new post-Brexittrade deals put together will have an economic benefit of just £3 to £7 per person over the next 15 years, according to the government’s own figures.”

“The tiny economic boost – amounting to just 0.01 to 0.02 per cent of GDP, and less than 50p per person a year – is dwarfed by the economic hit from leaving the EU, which the government estimates at 4 per cent of GDP over the same period.” 

No wonder the post Brexit trade deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand are no benefits to the UK economy. It is very clear to me that there is no significant benefit of the UK being outside the European Union and it just proves that Brexit is indeed the policy of isolation. 

I mentioned on my previous blog posts that the UK - NZ trade deal is a benefit for New Zealand and the UK - Australia trade deal is a benefit for Australia. Not a benefit for the United Kingdom. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com mrlimitless95.blogspot.com mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Brexit is still the disadvantage for the UK. The divisive and isolation policy that benefits nobody except those are privileged.

Just wait until the potential UK - US trade deal Which is not happening anytime soon with many huge concerns including chlorinated chicks. No wonder Barack Obama (then US president) was right to say that the UK would be back of the queue if voted for Brexit at the referendum & does want a US trade deal in 2016. All that confirms because Boris Johnson fails to get US trade deal & instead wanting the UK to be in USMCA - trade pact between US, Mexico and Canada which will barely benefit to the British economy. 

Apart from being in the process to join CPTPP (the trade bloc of Asia Pacific countries), this is The worst government ever. Worst Prime Minister alongside the divisive topic that had divided the country 5 years ago in the Brexit vote. And the political party (the Tories) who imposed austerity are the ones who badly mismanaged the Covid situation in the UK. businessinsider.com 

And that is why Brexit continues to be the stupidest government policy with the UK being undermined in the world stage by the Conservatives and Brexiteers.

My 1st blog anniversary

I want to tell you something my readers and this is a special one. 

One year ago today, I published my very first blog post on 29th November 2020. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

With 207 blog posts later from late November last year to this year, this special blog post is 208th blog post and it is my first blog anniversary. 

I would like to say thank you to all my readers for reading my blog Mr Limitless 95 blog since day one. 

I am really happy to be an blogger & one writer after last year that I started this blog. The blog that is informative, relatable and personal as well, connecting with the audience (which is you guys). 

I talked about on my 100th blog post & my 101st blog post in May. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

I recall saying that I created a blog with an passion and out of interest for me to have joy. Joy of blogging. Looking back from one year ago today, I feel that I have achieved something as an blogger and that is the important one that I am very proud of. 

I have written enough on this blog. From turning my blog into earning money via advertisement (which was my goal) to writing certain topics: hobby, news/current affairs, politics, music, entertainment, adventure, travel and even sports & awareness guide of certain topics like how to not fall for any scams (& my own experiences of dealing with it). Me writing blog posts can lead to many things. Although I am still yet to gain a work which so far, I have not done so despite doing my best efforts to find one in my personal life. Even I want my blog to lead the way. 

My ultimate goal is keep on writing many blog posts as much I can & that I will continue to do so.  😀🙂 One day, I will write about how I do enjoy myself as an blogger and writer & that I could give advice to those who want to write blogs whether for hobby or career. 

Lastly, I said plenty of times and I will say it again. 

Life is all about playing your part in the world & having an achievement. That is why I am limitless. There will always be challenges. Challenges doesn’t define me & I do not give up. So yeah, no limits. Living life without limits. 

After all, that is all about. No limits. Living life without limits. That is what life is about.

And that is what my blog is all about. Having no limits and that I can write blog posts as much I can until I feel that I cannot carry on anymore. 

So for now, this is my moment. Celebrating my first blog anniversary on my blog. So happy anniversary to the blog that I have created one year ago last year in 2020. 😀🙂

Object the draconian Policing Bill

Object the draconian policing bill

Do you remember earlier this year in March when the Metropolitan Police brutally attacked the crowd & women who were there for the vigil of Sarah Everard in Clapham Common, South London? Well I do remember it. It was very appalling. Breaking up the vigil of the woman who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by rogue police officer (Wayne Couzens) now serving a life in prison. news.sky.com independent.co.uk 

Well as the result of that, there is the controversial bill that is going on at the moment in the Parliament and that is the Policing Bill. It is draconian and the bill would grant the police more powers to break up protests. That is the threat to having the freedom to protest. 

The Policing Bill should be defeated at all cost. Not a good provisions to grant more to the police just to stop & break up protests & the end of freedom of protests. Especially after what’s happened in Sarah Everard’s vigil earlier this year. 

How is that really going to achieve? The end of the right to protest? 🪧 We all have the right to protest. Especially that does include protest groups and movements that do add pressures like Insulate Britain (even I am no fan of them or their tactics other than I know that they have the right to protest which it should be acknowledged), Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter. Even on the opposite of the political side like anti vaxx movement (which I strongly do not agree with their point of view regarding Covid & the vaccine & that their way of protest is not the proper protest which I will not go into that). 

The point is that when it to protests, it does fundamentally change the society in any country. Whether is Gandhi in India, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Martin Luther King Jr in USA or the suffragettes here in the UK. Protests changes the society we live in with a force politically. And yet, the Conservative government (particularly the Home Office) wants to take it away from us the citizens? 

Since when the Tories do ever care about the right to protest? I know why is because of the controversial police bill (given it was so foolish for the police to attack attendees who were there for Sarah Everard vigil). Newsflash, they (Conservatives) never cared about the freedom to protest. They care for their own interests. Not us as the people. 

So yeah, go email your MPs to stop the bill. Policing bill. It is a threat to having the right to protest. I will definitely email my MP to kill the bill by persuading him not to vote for the motion. 

Lastly, my blogger friend Roger talked about the policing bill and that having the right to protest does make our voices being heard. He was being interviewed by Liberty. 

So please watch the video and then sign the petition. barneteye.blogspot.com Our rights to protest are at stake. 

t.co 

 

Social Media scam & how I become victim of it

Today, I am not very happy. 

I want to tell you something so that you’ll understand clearly what I am about to say. It is regarding scam. Particularly here on social media platform. Facebook messenger. 

So that is today post going to be about. Social media scam. The “Is that you in the video” scam & how did I become victimised of the latest scam which is now my 6th time of being victim of fraud. In fact, I didn’t even plan to write a blog post about this but I feel I have to because like I said, I am not happy today of how it have happened.

And for safety reasons, I will not disclose anything that is confidential. Other than posting something that is proof of evidence of how it really happened with me being impersonated by fraudster. What kind of idiotic person does that? Something very awful like that? Well here are the details in below.

Here it goes

Today around 10:13am to 10:20am approximately, someone have been using my Facebook profile by impersonating me. Pretending to be me as if I had done something deliberately by sending this particular fake link. That “is that you in the video” link which is dodgy & not genuinely.

As of this moment, I am not in the good mood today 😠😡. I have found out four hours ago in the afternoon that someone have been hacking my social media account details (mainly on Facebook messenger). Impersonating me by using it to send the fake links to my contacts on Facebook. Every from my friends to some of my family member. Given I didn’t use Facebook app on my phone in the morning today.

I have been victim of scams and fraud 5 times before but never with that shady scam (“is that you in the video” scam) & identity theft that impersonates somebody (pretending to be someone that you know: Friend, family member) by sending the website link that aren’t genuine. A terrible way to be victimised of that scam. 

It’s bad enough I have been victim of scam and fraud 5 times (especially if you have been reading my blog for a long time about my experiences) but for me to found out that someone have hacked my details, stealing my identity to make as if I have sent the link (fake link) deliberately. It is very disgusting. I am very shocked, upset and angry about how of that it has transpired today. This is the worst of the worst. Me being victimised of identity theft online on Facebook messenger.

At least as the result of it, I have changed my Facebook password so that fraudster wouldn’t have my social media (mainly Facebook) details. While changing a password, I found an IP address showing someone (fraudster) using a Facebook app with Android. Well my phone is Apple IPhone so it is not android. 

Whoever hacked my Facebook messenger details by impersonating me & sending the fake links to my contacts (family and friends), should be ashamed of themselves. I will not be intimidated by hackers, scammers or any foolish person who is impersonator/imposter. Impersonating me so that I can be framed for the things that I did not do & losing the chances to communicate with anyone on Messenger. It is not acceptable & that is something I will not tolerate such an awful & dodgy behaviour. 

Also, I want to give you a heads up. 

Next time when you received a text message on Facebook messenger with dodgy link that is not genuine from any person (unknowingly whether fraudster have been impersonating someone to send that message). Don’t click the link. 

I know that I would never any fraudulent dodgy link that is fake because I know myself & that I would never do anything stupid like that.

Lastly, I want to say to anyone who have received the unusual text with “is that you in the video” from me. I want to say that I am sorry. I am so deeply sorry about it. 😞 When it comes to scams like this, I just simply ignore it & not clicking the fake link that would result in data breach & identity theft. 

I even have to remove some messages of some of my friends in my own personal life before some of them would notice it and those who have seen it, that’s where I want to express my apology about the fake link (“is that you in the video” scam) with me being impersonated by lowlife imbecile. I even tried to message some of them (my friends) & I find that my message have been blocked. At least I didn’t lose friends on my Facebook friend list on Facebook.

So that is all I want to say about this matter. I am thinking of reporting about what has happened today. 

I hope this can clear up any misunderstanding. 

Take care and stay safe online everyone. 

My first Thanksgiving blog message

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. 😀🙂🇺🇸🦃

Since this is going to be a brief blog post, this will be my first Thanksgiving blog message to my US readers whether they live in America or outside America. 

As British man, I would like to wish to the American people a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. 

Public holiday where you get to be thankful for many things in your life and having a food (& yes Turkey) to eat. I wish that we have that in the UK. If we have that in Europe, then we would been talking about achievements in life & reaching goals while having a thanksgiving gathering at homes & being thanksgiving. It would like a prelude to Christmas Day. 😀🙂

So that is all I have to say. Happy Thanksgiving Day America. 😀🙂🇺🇸🦃

Removing British citizenship without notice?

Earlier this year in May, I talked about Jus Soli in the UK and why it does need changing because being born in the UK doesn’t automatically mean the person is British citizen as there is no birthright citizenship here. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Recently I was stunned to read the news article on the Guardian about the bill (Nationality and Borders bill) that could mean the Home Office having the power to quietly remove British Citizenship without notice. 

t.co 

Honestly, I really do not know how to put into words. 

It is clear to me that given they were and still are hell bent on Brexit & Immigration (with their minds being filled by the likes of racist & xenophobic rabble rousing bigots like Nigel Farage), now the Conservative government can remove anyone’s British Citizenship without any notice. That will disproportionately affect every single British citizen who is non white with ethnic minority background. That’s why I talked about it on my blog in May. It is very unbelievably shocking. 

Look at the recent news about Shamima Begum as an example. inews.co.uk inews.co.uk mirror.co.uk 

Despite making a wrong decision in 2015 which was foolish to leave the UK to join the terrorist group Daesh (ISIS) in Syria when she was a schoolgirl, removing Begum’s British citizenship just because she is non white with Foreign heritage & the fact that she was ISIS bride, it was done controversially by the Home Office under Sajid Javid (former Home Secretary, former Chancellor and current Health Secretary). 

Now this is not really about Shamima Begum. although I want to highlight the fact that we should acknowledge that she was born in the UK.

My blogger friend Roger talked about it on his blog. barneteye.blogspot.com

Lastly, the citizenship law really does need to be changed. Being born British without the passport to prove that the person (he/she) is British citizen and going through paperwork, bureaucracy and fees (exploitive child citizenship fees) while at the same time, being treated differently by the Home Office. It really shows the government have not learned the lessons since the 2018 Windrush scandal. No wonder those who were affected due to the immigration hostile environment, did not received compensation from the Home Office. The Windrush generation. bbc.co.uk

If the bill (Nationality and Borders) becomes the law, then I worry that there will be many many cases of every average British citizen particularly those who are of Foreign backgrounds to be stripped of his/her citizenship without any notice, therefore making the person stateless or worse, deport the person to the country where he/she does not know (except where his/her parent are originally from). 

So I hope and pray that should not become the case. Removing British citizenship without any notice. It is idiotic bill to include an amendment to be part of the proposed legislation which I know it will be huge disadvantage for everyone who is British citizen (myself included) who happens to have Foreign roots.

Covid cases going high in Europe

Short blog post about the current covid situation here in the UK & Europe

As Boris Johnson (Prime Minister) is busy not taking it to wear a face mask & those who believed “Freedom Day” hysteria, Well Covid 19 cases have risen over the last couple of weeks in Europe. mirror.co.uk trib.al 🇪🇺

As of today, Austria have gone into the lockdown while Germany and Netherlands are on the verge of going into lockdown as Europe is once again the epicentre of Covid 19 like it was in March 2020 due to the high case of covid infections. Austria has the low covid vaccination rates in Europe. theguardian.com 

Meanwhile last week, my blogger friend Roger talked about the anti vaxxers (those who does not even want to be bothered to take a dose of coronavirus vaccine) on his blog. barneteye.blogspot.com 

Well couple of weeks ago, I talked about it on my October blog post about the fact the COVID cases were rising in the UK. Since then, covid cases have gone low except reported cases of deaths. Now the reported infections of covid cases in the UK have gone up again and again. It is like zig zag when things goes up and down. In addition to that, the government here still does not want to be bothered to do something to stop the high surge of COVID. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Once more, Boris Johnson fails to take it serious & he won’t even wear a face mask in indoor settings (such as being in the hospital). It seems the UK could potentially be in lockdown again for 4th time (Christmas/winter lockdown again for second time) which I hope this better not be the case especially that we have got Covid 19 booster vaccines. It is that the government continues to badly mishandle the Covid situation and it is very unbelievably disappointing. 🇬🇧🦠🤦

Finally, I want to end by saying that wearing a face mask is the effective way to combat Covid and it cuts Covid incidence by 53% according to a global study. theguardian.com 

Now if you still think that the pandemic is over and that you won’t want to wear a mask, I afraid you are mistaken. I really do not understand why when I go on public transport (public transportation/transit) where the passengers does not wear a face mask mostly on the Tube (metro trains) and buses where the rules says wear a face covering & it is not even enforceable. It is all thanks to the foolishness of the government and PM Boris Johnson. twitter.com 

That is I can say about it for now. I rest my case.

Unbearable flight plane air pressure: Use earplug to protect your hearing

Do you ever get the feeling when you are on the plane regardless of how many hours (long or short) and then your hearing went deaf temporarily? 

Well that had happened to me once. 

Here is my story: One day in 2012, I aboard the flight from London Gatwick airport to Orlando Sanford airport with my mother & my two younger brothers & that we aboard on the UK airline (Monarch Airlines now defunct as of 2017). I was excited for the first time that I am going to visit the United States of America (as my American dream of visiting the US became true) and that it was my first time of me travelling outside the UK in 8 years (since 2004 when I last went on holiday/vacation when I visited South Africa). It was also a first time that I used my British passport outside the UK for travel purposes. 

Upon arriving at Orlando after 9 hours on the plane, my hearing went deaf. Temporarily deaf. Apart from watching the film on the screen to me listening to music on my iPod (iPod classic), I just couldn’t believe all of the sudden, I became deaf. I was very shocked and that I worried that I could become deaf permanently as the result of hearing loss. I even tried to figure out how to get my hearing back as it affected my eardrum. Particularly the fact that the plane flight air pressure noises went through both of my ears. I wished I had noticed it but I haven’t. If I had the earplugs with me, I wouldn’t have to suffer the painful and unbearable air cabin pressure whilst being on the plane for many hours since the UK and the US is five hours apart across the Atlantic.  

Luckily, the next day at the hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA, my hearing was restored after hours of me being deaf and I was glad it was temporary. As the result of it, I made a decision that when I do travel on the plane, I would bring a earplug. So because of me not wanting to be deaf again, I bought the earplugs at the airport shop when myself and my close family were making our way back home to the UK after two weeks of holiday (vacation) trip in the States. 

Since then I always bring a earplug (which I call earplanes) each time when I travelled aboard via plane. The following year 2013 & 2014 & 2018 were the examples that I used a earplane. Earplane plug when I visited Orlando again in 2013, South Africa in 2014 and Spain in 2018. 

I even bought the white earplug at the airport three years ago as I forgotten to take the blue earplug that I purchased in the US 6 years prior to my first solo holiday trip to Barcelona, Spain in 2018. Knowing i didn’t wanted to go through the agonising experience again of me being deaf again. Even the flight from Luton to Barcelona airport is two hours. So for that, I didn’t had a experience again. 

So that is my story about my experience of plane flight air pressure. I highly recommend to you my readers to consider taking a earplug when travelling on the plane whatever the destination you are going to. Long or short. The best thing about earplug is when it does protect you from harsh noises on the plane and it can help inflight ear discomfort. 

It is safe, comfortable and disposable. Also it is satisfactory with earplug around you when wearing it on the plane and off the plane. ✈️

If you have been using a earplug for long time like myself, you know that you are doing it to protect your hearing and your ears. That is why I see earplug as the best prevention way to be comfortably safe from air pressure noises. 

So it is your choice if you do wish to buy it at the shop in airport or even online. They are soft, hypoallergenic latex free silicone and it does not matter whether the colour is white or blue. 

After all, it is your choice. If you are going to need a earplug, place your earplug both of your ears. Make sure it does not fall from your ears especially if you are not placing it in the right way. 

Use a earplug to protect your hearing. 👂 

That is all I can say about the unbearable plane flight air pressure. 

It is the end of Capita in Barnet?

Is it the end of Capita in Barnet? 

Well according to my blogger friend Roger Tichborne, he talked on his blog about his discovery that there is an published document by Barnet Council website. barneteye.blogspot.com 

This is the document. barnet.gov.uk 

It said “Five outsourced council services expected to return in-house following Capita Contracts expiry”. 

Well I say it is a good start but I really hope Barnet Council should consider saying sorry for all outsourcing contracts with Capita that have not benefited all of the people (myself included) as Barnet residents.

i have never liked Capita because of how they undermined things here in the London Borough of Barnet with the partnership of Conservative led council for outsourcing contracts. The same Capita who were responsible for many things that had happened in Barnet for all wrong reasons including the fact that they were the ones who illegally stopped the use of disabled freedom pass that affected the disabled in 2016. 

I don’t trust Capita (private outsourcing firm) & I hope if that is the case that contracts with Capita will eventually expire in Barnet & not having to renew then I think as Barnet resident, I can breathe a sign of relief. Plus the local council election is 6 months away (May 2022). 

Until now, I think that this is the end of Capita in Barnet. Or should I say Crapita. 

So with that, here are two songs. One is a goodbye song and another one is “Kick Out Capita” by Roger’s band the False Dots. 

Conservatorship terminated: Britney Spears is free

This is a follow up blog post about Britney Spears and the conservatorship situation. 

I first talked about it on my blog post in June. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

By now, you would have already heard the news that the conservatorship situation of pop singer Britney Spears is terminated and that for the first time in 13 years, she is finally free. No longer being under control. Long walk to freedom. 

I was glad to hear about it. After so long of not having a freedom to make decision, Britney’s life of 13 years (2008 to this year 2021) under Conservatorship have been wasted. 

I really do not understand the conservatorship stuff. It is not an proper guardianship in my opinion as non American. Why take the advantage of somebody like Britney Spears who is celebrity and has money? Was it because of her behaviour & mistakes? Only heaven knows. 

Jamie Spears (the father) and those who were part of the Conservatorship situation to take Britney Spears’s rights and freedom, should be ashamed of themselves. That is really not acceptable. At least at the last minute, Jamie had made a decision few months prior to request to be off as Britney’s conservator and it had happened on 30th September. Judge in Los Angles suspended Jamie Spears as an Conservator. amp.cnn.com 

Now that it is all over, the relationship between Britney and her father Jamie have been severely affected and that he was not being a good father to his own daughter who is a grown up adult who is famous pop star in the world. 

Lastly, conservatorship shouldn’t had to be brought on the “Toxic” singer (Britney Spears) despite her struggles and problems in her own life (personal issues, mental health, fame, paparazzi, etc). 

It was after all a violation of her rights. Human rights and that is why Britney’s Conservatorship was toxic. So toxic. 

At the end of the day regardless if you listen to Britney Spears’s music or not, taking away a free will of anyone. Famous or not, public figure or not is not freedom. It is selfishness and arrogance and that have brought Miss Spears a pain and misery. 

Now there are many demands that the conservatorship system should be abolished completely in the United States. usatoday.com 

For that, I do support it. Thank god that I was on Free Britney side & that I am grateful that we do not have it in Britain and Europe. Conservatorship. If we have that, it would have been a nightmare and it would had been many many cases that would highlight the abuse of human rights for any person who are under the conservatorship control. 

So that is all I want to say about it now that Britney Spears is free to make her own decisions as she wish. No longer under the mercy of the conservatorship. 

Blog funny sketch 2

This is a second time that I am doing a blog funny sketch. 

I want to retell as I previously said on my previous blog post. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Since we live in the digital age where we see so much of hilarious videos. Whether on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even YouTube. All we need is entertainment. Funny entertainment. Something that can take us humans off the mind on some things that are too much (everything from the news to everything negative in our personal lives) so that we can focus on the positive. Joy. That is good for our health. Joy. Forget all the bad stuff. 

By the way, I am not comedian given you know very well that I am blogger. What you are about to read is something hilarious. Something that can relate as long, it doesn’t necessarily have to be taken serious. 😀🙂  

Fun sketch 2 ✍️ 😂😁😆🤣

The son tells his father that he was born in the wrong generation. 

Son: Dad, I want to tell you something. 

Dad: Okay son, what do you want to tell me? 

Son: Well I was born in the wrong generation and that I wish I live in the 1950s. 

Father: Say what!!!! 

Son: I was born in the wrong generation. 

Father: Well that if that is the case then get on the time machine

Son: Yeah!!! 

Father: By the way, you are grounded

Son: Ohhh!!! 

Father: Son, you have got potential and that you can do anything in the world to do well but I don’t want to hear anything nonsense talk from you or your age groups, saying ridiculous things like “I was born in the wrong generation” as if they want to live in the past without internet, social media & cellphones. And yet, you want to live in the 50s. The decade. The era that was a racist when blacks were treated badly in USA with segregation laws. Please my son, don’t say it again. Okay? 

Son: Okay. 

Greta Thunberg, Boris Johnson and COP26 summit 

Greta Thunberg: The whole summit in Glasgow, Scotland was blah, blah, blah. 

Boris Johnson: Greta, I can assure you that we have achieved our goals to deal with the climate change threat. 

Person 1: The UK hosted the summit that was a failure so for that, I agree with Greta. 

Boris Johnson: Can I least hug bunnies? Climate change is all about bunny hugging. 

Person 2: Oh my gosh, the UK have really elected the Prime Minister who is not so serious. No wonder he was sleeping & not wore a mask while sitting next to the UN Secretary General & David Attenborough. 

Greta Thunberg: That is why Boris Johnson & other world leaders have gambled with our future and our planet. How dare you Boris!!! 

Boris Johnson: Oh Greta, come on. 

People: Enough!!! We all know you have not been honest Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

Boris Johnson: Okay, whatever. 

Joe Biden and Cuba: US embargo still remains in place

Since 1959, US - Cuba relations have always not been great between both nations. Barack Obama when he was the president, tried his best to find ways to end the US embargo on Cuba. Then Donald Trump rollbacked it during his presidency. Now under Joe Biden, it was supposed to be the time for the new chapter for US & Cuba & reversing the previous administration’s policy on Cuba. 

Well unfortunately, Biden keeps the Trump era Cuba policy. The policy that dismantled Obama Cuba policy (the Cuban Thaw). The normalisation of US - Cuba relations. The one that the deal was agreed between the United States and Cuba when Joe Biden was the Vice President. 

Plus there were big protests in Cuba 4

months ago (in the summertime). Ordinary Cubans citizens protesting against the authoritarianism of the communist Cuban government due to the effects of the covid pandemic & economic crisis with shortages of basic goods. The Cuban govt harshly ended the protesters & jailing those who took part in the protests. Which is not really fair on the Cuban people and it is not just economic woes and coronavirus, it is the US embargo that has been in effect since 1959. The year when Fidel Castro came into power.

 I really do sympathise with the Cuban people. Knowing that they have been silenced by the Cuban govt. I absolutely agree that there should be freedom in Cuba. But let’s not lose sight of the US embargo cos up to now, Joe Biden have still not yet done something to end Trump Era Cuba policy.

Even I was disappointed to see America voted against the UN resolution recently. Reaffirming Donald Trump policy on Cuba (the one that Trump rollbacked Obama era Cuba policy). Republicans wants to see the end of communist authoritarianism in Cuba. Okay but what about US embargo?

You cannot have it both ways. Supporting for the Cuban people protesting against authoritarianism while still wanting to keep the embargo on Cuba. It has not worked. I think Biden must decide. Whether to return Barack Obama era policy on Cuba or to keep Trump era Cuba policy.

At some point in the future, there should be agreement between the United States and Cuba on things that can settle their differences. Everything from human rights to the blockade (embargo). So I don’t want to hear Republicans like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio or some Cuban Americans advocating to keep the embargo.

And unfortunately, Joe Biden retains hawkish Trump era policy on Cuba (the policy of confrontation that rollbacked Obama Cuba policy) which I was not impressed about it. 

Republicans: End the dictatorship in Cuba. Also Republicans: Keep the embargo. It makes no sense logically. No wonder the foolish Miami mayor who is Republican, talked about invading the communist nation (Cuba) with air strikes. Perhaps GOP politicians should read history about the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion before talking nonsense about regime change in Cuba to get rid of the dictatorship given it will not solve problems for the Cuban citizens. 

News sources: 

independent.co.uk 

reuters.com 

news.sky.com 

amp.cnn.com 

reuters.com 

bloomberg.com 

At the end of the day, Fidel Castro is long gone. Raul Castro is not the Cuban president and left power in April 2018 (the current president is Miguel Diaz Canel) so by now there should had been signs of the re-normalisation between America and Cuba & finishing what Obama started which includes the end of the US embargo gradually & possibly Cuba one day to have democracy (not likely at this moment) but there isn’t one & Joe Biden has not fulfilled his campaign promises to reverse Donald Trump’s policy on Cuba & restoring engagement ties between both countries. For that, I am not impressed. It seems the Democrats are no different than the Republicans.

There are ways to hold the Cuban govt/regime to account but continuing with sanctions just to tighten the embargo, it really serves no purpose & President Joe Biden should really know that before keeping Trump era sanctions.

I really don’t know now whether there is going to be any dialogue between the United States & Cuba anytime soon especially with GOP being so hawkish regarding Cuba & the Dems & Biden being stuck in the middle & not restoring Obama era Cuba policy (normalisation of US - Cuba relations). 

That is I said on my previous blog post that it is really time to move on and end the US embargo on Cuba. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

So until Joe Biden gets his act together, I doubt there wouldn’t be signs of the return to the policy of normalisation (Cuban thaw. The deal that was agreed during the Obama presidency) anytime soon. 🇺🇸🇨🇺

Dubai is A Parody Of The 21st Century - My reaction to YouTube video

UAE: United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 

The country made up of 6 Emirates is an economic hub & travel destination. 

It has everything. Skyscrapers and many foreigners particularly western foreigners who calls themselves “expats” who are living in two cities; Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It really does bring revenues to the economy of UAE when it comes to tourism. 

However I do have mixed feelings about the nation. Every time when there are news about UAE relating to tourists & foreigners, it is all negative. amp.theguardian.com bbc.com independent.co.uk mirror.co.uk 

We should know that the United Arab Emirates is Conservative country. Strictly Conservative.

Strict Muslim country and it is not free and tolerant country like countries particularly in the West like USA, Canada & here in Britain & Europe. So to think that UAE is the same as western country, well it is Arabic country so never think that you can do anything you like in the Emirates because the nation has strict laws. Laws (which are awfully draconian) that you won’t even believe it especially even you don’t realise that you may have break the laws knowingly or unknowingly. 

And if you are going to the UAE via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, both or anywhere, know about the country & have a list of do’s and don’t’s so that you wouldn’t have to be in the news for wrong reasons & hopefully you’ll avoid to be in big trouble & receiving a lash (whiplash cos it will be very painful). For me personally, I wouldn’t think of going to the UAE unless I know what I am really visiting there for so that I wouldn’t have to make mistakes while being in the Emirates. I can visit there but it is not kind of vibes that you’ll be passionately happy while visiting any country in the world. 🇦🇪

And there is an video on YouTube called “Dubai is A Parody Of The 21st Century” by YouTuber called Adam Something. 

I have seen the video couple of times so this is my reaction to it. 

My reaction 

This guy talks sense. A lot of sense that there are factually true. He mentions skyscrapers (which is eyesore even it is nice attractive building), sea levels in Dubai and islands (as far climate change is concerned) and migrant workers who are being exploited. Being treated badly and most of migrant workers are originally from India. Being treated like a slave. That would be something that is being used in the Middle East. Kafala.

The Kafala system. Controversial & exploitive system that victimises & exploits migrant workers (including Africans, Indians, Filipinos) in Middle Eastern countries. It’s awful. Treating it as “work sponsor system” used in ME (Middle East) which really is like forced labour. 

And yet, everyone goes to the UAE as if the nation is not in the ME despite we know for the fact that it is indeed in ME geographically. I can acknowledge that the country is economic/business hub and travel destination. I can acknowledge that the country used to be the country that was poor until the formation of the UAE in 1971. Which eventually in the years by the government of UAE, it becomes the UAE that we know now. However like I said, I wouldn’t visit the country unless I know what I am really visiting for without any potential errors (even if I do want to go there). Just for safety reasons since I am a careful person so for that, Adam Something highlights the topics that it is true regarding about Dubai & the Emirates. 

Finally, I am not dissuading anybody who has desire to visit the country or have visited the country before. It is that I know everybody including my readers to really understand that the UAE is not western country. It is Middle Eastern country. Even if there are many foreigners from different parts of the world are living in the emirates as expats. Although there would be seen as “immigrants” by Emirate nationals, the govt & monarch and getting an citizenship & passport will take very long time. 30 years. Even if the UAE passport is the one of the world’s powerful passport & just recently accepted dual citizenship for permanent foreign residents this year. So yeah, that is my reaction to the video that I watched on YouTube.

I would recommend everybody to watch the video down below. 

UK - New Zealand trade deal: Another shambolic post Brexit trade deal

Read this news article. mirror.co.uk 

“ New Zealand trade deal could boost UK economy by between 0.01% and minus 0.01%” 🇬🇧🇳🇿🤯🤦

This is so lame. UK - New Zealand trade deal. It is barely a gain for the UK economy. It just shows the government full of Conservatives and Brexiteers are so desperate to get a post Brexit trade deals with any country without reading provisions that is included in FTA.

It is a benefit for New Zealand. Like UK - Australia trade deal, it is a bad deal for UK farmers and that they’ll be undercut by imports from New Zealand that may not be good. 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Boris Johnson goes boasting about UK - NZ trade deal which is no benefit for the UK economy. 

It is a not gain for the British economy. It is a gain for the economy of New Zealand. 

No wonder the UK under the government of the Tories and leavers really want to move away from the European Union economically (since it is indeed the UK’s largest trading partner) by diverging European standards & to opt in for lower standards. That explains why “Global Britain” wants to do trade deals with the countries that are very far away & not close neighbours in Europe. UK Joining CPTPP is very a clear & ludicrous example of why post Brexit trade deals will continue to benefit every single country with the likes of China & the United States but not the United Kingdom. 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

So yeah. UK - NZ trade deal is ludicrously rubbish. Another shambolic post Brexit trade deal. 

More brief blog update about Travel Unravel

More brief blog update about my challenge against Travel Unravel. 

If you are not aware of my situation, read my previous blog posts about it. 

Previous blog posts

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

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mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

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mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

I know I have posted a lot about my previous posts about my situation against Travel Unravel & Barclays but I have to post it again just if someone who has not read my blog before is not aware of my situation and that does apply to anyone are either new blog readers or regular blog readers like you guys. 🙂

Update

Last few weeks (mainly final week of last month October), Travel Unravel scammer have continued to bother me and my father. My father received more nuisance calls & email from fraudster about the offer to refund me money (£522) which is already too late as I started legal challenge in March this year after the failure for Travel Unravel Private Holidays Limited to give response. Given I was not very interested to speak to them. Now already, scammers from Travel Unravel are fully aware that they are court defendants & despite they continue to not giving anymore responses via letter from the court, they still bothering me and my dad & it is a harassment. 

The company that is very dodgy & not genuine. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com Read my March blog post about it. 

Also it is quite shame that I still hear nothing from the court about the default judgment application against Travel Unravel given I have 3 more months left until the court date in February next year. 

Finally with other defendant (Barclays - my bank) who put me in overdraft debt briefly in February this year, according to my dad, I might not win the case against them except Travel Unravel. 

I really cannot get my head around about the possibility of not winning the case against Barclays despite myself and my dad really wanted to win the legal case against both Barclays and Travel Unravel. After all, it has been not great year for me financially. Everything from scams (Travel Unravel which flight ticket was never issued) to me in overdraft. I hope once it is all over, I would have to really make changes to my finances & not having to be in anymore potential problems that may bring a burden to me financially.