Save Eurostar

It’s not easy during the difficult time in the pandemic when nobody uses public transport. This was the case for TFL (Transport For London) in London which they (TFL) & Mayor of London (Sadiq Khan) were eventually being given with the bailout (financial money rescue package) by the government in order to keep things afloat due to the effects of the Covid pandemic when nobody used the Tube (London Underground) & public buses during March 2020 lockdown except for key workers. 

Now another public transport service is in financial trouble. Eurostar. 

Here are the news sources:

google.co.uk 

google.co.uk 

railmagazine.com 

google.co.uk

google.co.uk 

google.co.uk 

amp.ft.com 

independent.co.uk 

globalrailwayreview.com 

businesstraveller.com 

google.co.uk 

As the person who loves trains and had travelled on Eurostar train from London St Pancras station to Paris Gare Du Nord station in August 2019, action is required for both governments of France and the UK. Also governments of the Netherlands and Belgium. 

The French government have already got started to find a way to do something to save Eurostar & that they want to talk to the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. Which the British govt are yet to do something in order to bail out Eurostar. 

Eurostar is joint European train service (cross Channel train service). It travels to 4 countries: the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is owned 55% by the French company SNCF & that the government under David Cameron sold off Eurostar (privatised it’s stake in 2015).  google.co.uk 

So since it is an international high speed rail service that travels between the United Kingdom and continental Europe, number of passengers have dropped 95% in last year 2020 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Meaning the Eurostar train service is close to being out of business. 

Unless action is taken, Eurostar services that connects the UK to mainland Europe will collapse & that there won’t anymore train coming from European destinations (Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam) to St Pancras train station. In other words, if we want to travel to 3 European nations (France, Belgium and the Netherlands) then the only mode of transport will be travelling on the plane if Eurostar is out of service. 

I hope there shouldn’t really be the case. The last thing we need is to see the beloved Eurostar service going out of the business even if nobody is travelling at the moment in very difficult times. So all I can say is Save Eurostar. 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇪🇺🚄

The British government should talk to the French and see that there can be solutions to save Eurostar before it’ll eventually collapse. I hope in many years to come post Covid, I’ll be happy to travel on the Eurostar train again to Paris & other destinations in mainland Europe. 

Welcome to Brexit: Red tape & customs duties in the post EU membership era

It is almost the end of January & so far the effects of Brexit have been devastatingly awful. 

This month I wrote my blog post about it. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

Since I last wrote my lot about Brexit, some more of things have happened. Dutch customs official confiscated ham sandwich from the UK given the UK is not EU member state anymore. Out of the Single Market and the Customs Union & that we are third country, that means no one from the UK will bring food like ham sandwiches freely to any country that is an member of the European Union: theguardian.com  bbc.co.uk 

Recently the govt said to firms & even lorry drivers in the weekend that if they don’t like the cost of the effects of Brexit (non trade barriers, red tape, bureaucracy and customs duties), they can “move to EU”. Said by the government who implemented Brexit & has no empathy for businesses & lorries being affected by big changes due to UK’s exit from the EU & that the Brexit transition period had ended on 31st December 2020. t.co google.co.uk 

Prior to Brexit, we used to buy items online via any websites (Amazon, eBay, etc) without having to pay for customs duty/fee charge when the United Kingdom was in the Single Market and the Customs Union. Since the start of this year 2021 (New Year’s Day), we now have to get to the new normal that we cannot cope with it. The thought of paying customs duty from the EU27. We already pay customs duty when buying items online from overseas including world two largest economies: the United States of America and China. Now our largest trading partner (the European Union)? t.co The likes of Leavers really have no shame at all. During the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, they said it’s “project fear”. Now it’s project truth. Nothing can be further from the truth. 

Also well known music artists including Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Brian May & others have been on the news lately, demanding Boris Johnson & the government to let bands and musicians to continue going on tour freely in Europe without the need to apply for work permits as we all know for the fact the govt was unreasonable & not wanted to accept the EU’s offer to allow musicians going on tour freely in mainland Europe post Brexit. In fact, I wrote my blog post regarding about it if you are interested to go and check it out. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com 

At the end of the day, I know for the fact that Brexit is no good for imports and exports even we do have a trade deal with the EU27 & meanwhile the government wants a trade deal with the United States. Well the new American government under new president Joe Biden have made crystal clear that he will not sign any new trade deals at the moment. t.co 

In other words, the UK - US trade deal will not happen anytime soon at the moment since that Joe Biden have got many priorities to deal with the Covid situation in America. No wonder Barack Obama (then US President) was right to say back in April 2016 that the UK will be at the back of the queue if voted for Brexit. t.co t.co 

In the next blog post regarding Brexit, I will talk more about the post Brexit UK - US trade deal & the dangers of beef hormones and chlorinated chicken. So stay tune for that. 

The government can boast about splendid isolation (Brexit) all they want like. As the person who voted against Brexit, Brexit does mean isolation & that does sadly comes with consequences in the negative way. I don’t blame anyone who have voted for Brexit, I just blamed the government who implemented Brexit & politicians who supported Brexit & wanted the UK out of the EU including the likes of Brexiteers: Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees Mogg, Michael Gove, Dominic Cummings and yes the current prime minister himself (Boris Johnson). 

We wanted to forget about it & move on about the divisive topic (Brexit). After all, it was the government under David Cameron who had divided the country with the unnecessary idea of wanting the In/Out referendum that would stoked divisions in the UK politics for many years to come. That’s how Farage gets so much of media airtime just to sprout nonsense about the EU and immigration. At least I was glad that I ordered EU/anti Brexit face mask to show I despises Brexit. What’s done is done. Positively or negatively. For me in my opinion, Brexit is all nothing positive. Anyways I have said enough about it so that’s how Brexit represents big changes for the UK and the EU27. Mixture of good and bad.

Advertisement in my blog part 2 (update)

Short blog announcement. 

Update about advertisement on my blog. 

Couple of weeks ago I recall writing a blog post during the festive season before we entered 2021 that I will soon have ads on my blog. 

Well yesterday I had finally set up my Google Adsense account by linking my Google/Blogger account for my blog Mr Limitless 95. 

https://mrlimitless95.blogspot.com/2020/12/advertisement-in-my-blog.html

Nearly two months since I created my blog in November last year 2020.🙂😀 I was expecting yesterday  to be the day that I can place advertisement on my blog. By the looks of it, I have to wait for few days or 2 weeks to be sorted out. 🙂💷💶💵💴

Thank you guys for reading my all blog posts, you are not just an readers. You are my audience. 🙂

Lebanon: Beautiful and misunderstood country

Lebanon: Beautiful and misunderstood country. 🇱🇧

The country that has been fractured in political upheaval in Lebanon & the Middle East as the whole. The foundation of Modern day Lebanon as Greater Lebanon began under the French mandate (the French rule under Sykes-Picot accords) following the end of World War One & the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Lebanon became an independent country in 1943. Enjoyed the economic success in the 60s, calling Beirut “the Paris of the Middle East” then 15 years of civil war (1975 to 1990) and the recent events including the economic crisis, the Covid pandemic and the Beirut explosion (which the tragic event had happened 5 months ago)

Now I want this blog post to help you understand about the country with facts so that you won’t have to believe any misconceptions about Lebanon even it doesn’t really mean that the nation does not have challenges. 

Fact 1 

Lebanon is mentioned in the Bible 75 times. The Bible verse I know is Psalm 92:12. You don’t have to be religious to know the facts about Lebanon being mentioned in the Holy book. The Holy Bible. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”. Ancient Lebanon. 

Fact 2

Unlike any Middle Eastern country, Lebanon does not have sand. In other words, it does not have a dessert. However it does have a mountain where everyone can go skiing in winter. 

Fact 3

Lebanon is half Christian, half Muslim country with religious diversity. So to say that Lebanon is a Muslim country like other Arab country is factually not correct. 

Fact 4

There are many cedar trees in Lebanon. When you see the Lebanese flag, it has the Lebanese tree. Cedar or Cedrus Libani (which is scientific name).

Fact 5 

The most and obvious misconception of all is Lebanon being not safe as it is “war torn country” like some of other Arab country. Well I really don’t understand why would people believe the country (Lebanon) is in war/conflict while it is not accurately true.

it’s true that Lebanon is being scarred (still being scarred) to this day from 15 years of civil war from 1975 to 1990 & that the country went through that period. That might probably explain why Lebanon had not seen to gain momentum economically by returning to that status (Beirut having a title again Paris of the Middle East) when the country & the capital Beirut was indeed the “Paris of the Middle East” when travellers around the world could come to visit the country in 1960s & early to mid 70s (1970s) as it did had financial capital before the war occurred in 1975. It was truly a tourist destination when nobody had to worry as if the country is not safe place to go. Lebanon would had been successfully economic hub by now just like other rich Middle Eastern country like the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar. Even Saudi Arabia in last few years have started to open tourism for everyone to come to visit. I wish Lebanon had that opportunity but instead, it is not like that. Not in the heyday of the 1960s & early to mid 1970s during the economic era (Paris of the Middle East).

What’s changed since that period & the war is politics. It is all got to do with the politics of Lebanon. Although I don’t have any interest in Lebanese politics, I have to say in my opinion that the political system have failed the people of Lebanon. I don’t like to be negative and bias but it is the truth. Why the politics in Lebanon are not sensible like politics here in the West (UK, Europe, USA, Canada, etc)? 

The Beirut blast 5 months ago have really shocked the world. It amplifies the financial & economic problems as well political problems in Lebanon alongside the coronavirus pandemic. Corruption, fragile politics, oligarchs, Hezbollah. That’s how in October 2019, Lebanese people have been protesting against their own government. 

How long will the people of Lebanon be deprived of having the government that is non corruptible & to be free of oligarchy and corruption? It’s time that Lebanon’s economy must be saved before it collapse economically and financially. The Lebanese govt have turned the beautiful country with fascinating history into a failed state. 

No wonder still to this day, they haven’t formed the government & no one in the world who is the prime minister of Lebanon. I worry that Lebanon in the future could become another typical Middle Eastern country to be in war & terrible situation (which I hope & pray that should not be the case since Lebanon cannot end up like Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen). Given Lebanon is home to many refugees from Syria and Palestinian Territories. 

I even wanted to visit Lebanon just before the pandemic and the tragic incident in Beirut last year on 4th of August. Even I postponed going away aboard last year, I spent 5 months figuring out whether I can still want to go there or not (especially I have some relatives who do live there & that I am part Lebanese. Except I don’t identify myself as Arab despite I do not deny my roots since mine is African). 

I have already made up my mind that my trip to Lebanon will not happen. Not this year, next year or any year at this moment. The country have suffered enough & I believe that I would wait until the economic and political situations are improved & when it does happen, I will come back to the idea of me having a interesting of wanting to go there (Lebanon). 

So I have no plans to visit Lebanon anytime soon. At least it is not in war/conflict zone which anyone keeps on believing the misconception that is not safe. I will go there when there is a right time to go. Once the pandemic is declared over & the economic & political situations are improved (despite how messy is politics in Lebanon) then anything is possible. It will be long time before I start to have a interest again of visiting Lebanon.

So that is all I want to say about Lebanon. Beautiful and misunderstood country I didn’t even want to be political while at the same time, ordinary people does not have faith and trust in their own government (Lebanese government). 

I hope I have cleared up any misunderstanding about Lebanon (misconception). Like I said in the first few paragraphs, the country does have challenges (political and economic) but to believe misconception would somehow automatically become truth which it shouldn’t be so. The only misconception have proved to be true sadly and unfortunately is Lebanon not being safe place to visit.

I hope one day in the future at least after Covid, I would want to see travellers coming to Lebanon since that it is service based economy to rebuild the economy that is currently not in the good shape.

Sources & links:

google.co.uk 

theculturetrip.com 

m.youtube.com 

youtu.be 

youtu.be 

youtu.be 

youtu.be

youtu.be 

naharnet.com

m.youtube.com 

youtu.be 

youtu.be 

youtu.be 

youtu.be 

Looking at America post Trump

Tomorrow is the inauguration of the new American president Joe Biden. The 46th President of the United States. 

One thing I know for sure, I miss Barack Obama as the President and I will not miss Donald Trump as the President. 

This is how everybody will remember the 4 years of the chaotic presidency of Donald Trump. Undermining America’s reputation in the world stage, bullying US allies (from Canada and Mexico to Europe), tariffs on China & cosying up to tyrants including from Russia & North Korea (Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin). Also mishandling the Covid situation as today (at the time of writing), US Covid 19 death toll reached 400,000. You see, that is the failure of US leadership under Donald Trump. 

Donald Trump will leave the White House with lowest approval ratings 29%. He never reached 50% given he has not been proper American president. Bad altitude, tweeting nonsense on Twitter. That is not Presidential manner. 

Furthermore, Republican politicians under Barack Obama were so disruptive to block any policies from the Obama administration. Because of that including Donald Trump himself believing the racist nonsense that Barack Obama was not born in the US, that is when it had propped up Trump. Because of the foolishness of the GOP. Now Trump & Trumpism is the abomination of the Republican Party due to the fact they have lost the House of Representatives and the Senate under Donald Trump. If they (the Republican Party) want to be electable again to win the House, Senate & the WH (White House/the presidency), they better distance themselves from Trump & Trumpism. Otherwise they’ll be in the political wilderness for years to come. After all, they (Republican & even Conservative news outlets like Murdoch owned Fox News) are responsible for propping up Trump in the first place. 

Donald Trump’s “America First” approach was nothing but America in isolation in the world. America alone. Undermined by the mad president. At least under Joe Biden, relations with US allies like Europe will be repaired & restoring sensibility & handling the Covid pandemic.

With the Donald out of the picture, America under the new leadership can confidently handle the Covid pandemic & find ways to defeat it, America will work together with countries around the world on range of topics like climate change as Joe Biden will sign executive order to put America back in the Paris climate agreement in order to deal with climate change. Which I firmly believe that every country’s priorities will be one of post Covid agendas & to have economic recoveries for every nation affected by the pandemic. Rich and poor. 

The world can no longer have to deal with anymore craziness & foolishness with Trump because after all, he have undermined America’s reputation in the world & I know Joe Biden will do things differently than Trump soon to be ex president. 

As for the “special relationship” = UK - US relations under Biden, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will work together with Joe Biden on range of topics given I know the Biden administration will prioritise with the EU27 more than the UK as we are already aware the UK left the EU last January and the Brexit transition period ended on New Year’s Eve 2020 so how will the UK be in the position now post Brexit to go alone while the European Union and The United States will repair the relationship which was fractured by Donald Trump including pulling US troops out of Germany when Trump bullied the German govt about NATO membership contributions.

No wonder we already Trump is pro Brexit while Biden is anti Brexit (especially on the foolishness of the UK govt & Boris Johnson (our own Trump) to break international law regarding Northern Ireland Protocol. At least that was already been sorted & that the UK won’t dare to be pariah state to ignore some part of the treaty. Good Friday Agreement & the Brexit withdrawal agreement). 

Finally on the potential UK - US trade deal, if there is a trade deal between the UK and the US, such provisions like privatisation of the NHS by US corporations & allowing banned imports (which is banned in Europe 🇪🇺) like Chlorinated Chicken and beef injected hormones shouldn’t be any part of the trade deal whatsoever. We the Brits have been saying all about for almost 4 years & we could had mentioned about it when the UK held the Brexit referendum more than 4 years ago in 2016. 

So yeah & because of the awful incident in the US Capitol Hill almost 14 days ago , stormed by mad supporters of Donald Trump, I know Trump will not be able to run for the president again & that he will be convicted by the US Senate. Good riddance to that rubbish. I wish Hilary Clinton won the 2016 election as we are aware she won the popular vote but not the electoral votes (electoral college). It’s so sad that America & the world have got the president who turned the country (US of A) into the country as if it didn’t had functioning, true and proper democracy. Trump turned America into Banana Republic due to his awful & chaotic presidency. Well I am glad that will be over by tomorrow at 12pm US EST (5pm UK GMT) when it will be transferred to Joe Biden.

mrlimitless95.blogspot.com Lastly, as I mentioned in my previous post, we the world have looked up at America. The beacon of hope (the country leads the world with democracy regardless if US politics is Democrat or Republican), world largest economy and world superpower. America that we have watched movies (Hollywood) & TV shows & listened to music from USA. Culturally, economically and politically. I have a hope and confidence in America following election victory of Joe Biden, preventing second term for soon to be ex president (Donald Trump) & that one day I will visit America (post Covid pandemic) as I said in the past that I won’t visit there when Trump is in power. Now under Biden, I would love to visit America (not now. Hopefully when the pandemic is over). 

So I wish the new President Joe Biden and the new Vice President Kamala Harris a best of luck. 

Best wishes from the UK. 🇬🇧

USA, USA, USA, USA. 🇺🇸😀🙂

Businesses started during recessions

This blog post is going to be interesting one. 🙂

With the Covid pandemic & the global recession, there are plenty of companies that you didn’t know that it was founded during all of economic recessions. From the Great Depression to the previous recession the 2008 financial crisis. 

Here are the lists 

GM (General Motors)

General Electric 

HP (Hewlett Packard) 

Burger King 

Microsoft 

CNN 

EA (Electronic Arts) 

Uber 

Airbnb 

Disney 

FedEx 

IBM (International Business Machines) 

WhatsApp 

MTV

Netflix 

Google 

Facebook 

Venmo

Instagram 

Pinterest 

Mailchimp

All based on my research. 

So what do all successful and well known business brands have in common? The answer: economic downturns.

google.co.uk 

Given I have studied business course (business skills and administration) few years ago, it is that no one knew for the fact that business brands the likes of GM, CNN, Disney, Uber and Airbnb have all been founded during the economic downturns. 

It is impossible and difficult at the moment to start a business physically during the pandemic. If any person wants to start a business, he/she can start a business online so that when the coronavirus pandemic ends, it can become a brand. Business brand physically post Covid just like pre Covid. All it takes is to start from the bottom. 

Now although I do not have any interest of setting up a business except writing a blog which that is my own business without having to become businessman or entrepreneur. Something that can lead the way to many opportunities which I mentioned the previous blog post of me wanting a job because there aren’t anything during the pandemic. So that is I chose blogging because it is my own job in the sense that I could possibly think of earning. 

Anyways if there are any of you my readers who have a business or wanting to start a business then this is a blog post for you to have a interest. 

One thing I know for sure, in the world of business, it is all boom and bust cycle. No businesses wants uncertainty. It is unfortunate that the pandemic have severely impacted all businesses (big and small) & the financial services around the world. That is how everyone have lost jobs and hope. The government here in the UK cannot bother to handle the Covid pandemic well & that they are mishandling the Covid situation. At least it was good for them (the govt, Boris Johnson & Rishi Sunak) to introduce the Furlough scheme almost a year. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme last summer was not good initiative which that contributes to the rise of Covid 19 cases with the impending second wave in Autumn last year despite it had helped the struggling hospitality businesses in the sector. 

So let’s all not lose hope everyone. 

Brexit and music

Ever since the 2016 EU In/Out referendum on UK’s EU membership when the country voted narrowly for Brexit, I knew at the time and still to this day that Brexit will mean disadvantage for the music industry and the show business.

British musicians and bands who go on tour freely to European countries (who are mostly members of the European Union) without the need for work permits. google.co.uk 

Since the UK left the EU almost a year on 31st January 2020 and the Brexit transition period had ended more than 14 days ago (on New Year’s Eve 2020) and the effects of Brexit have recently commenced, UK musicians and bands will no longer tour to Europe freely. Meaning they will require work permits. Same for European bands and musicians who wish to go on tour to the UK. google.co.uk google.co.uk independent.co.uk 

Even the Brexit topic itself had divided opinions for well known musicians and bands given mostly of them are anti Brexit (the likes of Elton John, Paul McCartney, etc) while some are pro Brexit like Ringo Starr of the Beatles. nme.com 

Anyways recently it was confirmed that Britain had admitted that they rejected the offer from the EU27 during post Brexit trade negotiations despite the UK government have pointed fingers at the EU. Well we all know the truth. The government was being unreasonable. Totally unreasonable. independent.co.uk t.co 

When we (the Brits) were the EU passport holders (& please don’t get me started on British blue passport without the title “European Union” & all that Jibber Jabber), musicians and bands from Britain who go to Europe to attend for playing music live at gigs and concerts & even attending recording sessions at the recording studio, shooting for music videos & playing at the opera, they all benefited from the EU freedom of movement. Now if bands and musicians who want to perform live in concerts/gigs and festivals (music festivals) at any European country destinations in cities like Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels, Stockholm, etc, they would need to declare musical equipments, instruments and gear on a Carnet (Customs document) given the United Kingdom is not in the EU Customs Union and the Single Market anymore. 

Just like financial services, the music business (& other showbiz like actors in the creative sector) have been left out of the UK - EU post Brexit free trade deal. It is not good for the Creative industry like music to be forgotten given the coronavirus pandemic have severely impacted the whole industry in the art sector: theatres, soap operas, TV, films, drama, dancing and yes Music. All performing arts. Affected by Covid and now Brexit. Creative arts in the UK definitely needs to be rescued & the government haven’t do anything to invest money to save the struggling businesses from collapsing. 

The United Kingdom is the home of many famous homegrown musicians, singers, rappers and bands that we know very know: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Sting, Queen, The Who, Tom Jones, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael (& Wham), Bee Gees, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Culture Club (& Boy George), Annie Lennox (& Eurythmics), Phil Collins (& Genesis), Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Shirley Bassey, Spice Girls, Blur, Oasis, Take That, Robbie Williams, KT Tunstall, Leona Lewis, Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Susan Boyle, Coldplay, Lily Allen, One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Little Mix and Stormzy. Yet the government under Boris Johnson administration said no to the EU offer of continuing the freedom of movement of musicians throughout the European continent post Brexit (& it would been special musician visa under reciprocal agreement between both sides the UK & the EU27) cos they were like “screw this, bands & musicians from will require work permits & additional admin cost to tour in mainland Europe so no thanks”. That is something that PM Boris Johnson and the whole cabinet will eventually regret for not including musicians, tour management & road crew to be exempt from the idea of requiring a work permit, carnet & additional expensive costs post Brexit.  nme.com 

Musicians Union reacted to the news of not allowing visa free travel for musicians to tour freely in continental Europe on tour schedule post Brexit musiciansunion.org.uk 

At least the UK will still participate in Eurovision Song Contest as Eurovision is not affiliated with the EU & it is not even a EU agency. 

British music is the UK’s export to the world not just Europe & yet we are throwing it away. Voted for something that may be not beneficial for everyone except for those who might be advantage for Brexit positively. Not being part of the club (the European Union which is negatively mad) & yet the government & Brexiteers  talked of “Global Britain” as if Britain is not “global” as we have been member of the European Union since 1973 for almost half a century.  As I said before that I don’t believe in isolation economically and politically & that I voted Remain. As for music, music is everywhere. It is global. The universal language that we all enjoy regardless where you live in the world  

So that is why I knew from the very beginning following the 2016 Brexit vote that Brexit will be disadvantage for musicians & bands. As someone who loves music & made music, it is not fair. Last thing everyone needs is red tape and bureaucracy which will indeed be stressful for music artists to go through the red tape and customs document (Carnet) while heading to Europe to perform live in concerts. barneteye.blogspot.com 

That is something we have to get used to it. The new normal post Brexit for all of us including British and European recording artists. Despite British music is European music. I know a friend of mine (Fil) who is a great friend & who is in my friend’s band (the False Dots. Roger’s band) who is originally from Portugal. He told me that Brexit is bad for music. So yeah, Brexit is really devastatingly disadvantage for UK music. That is all I can say about it. musiciansunion.org.uk bestforbritain.org 

Click the links for petitions to allow musicians to continue going on tour freely to Europe post Brexit now that we are already outside the European Union. 

petition.parliament.uk If you live in the UK, you can sign the petition. UK only. 

change.org UK & worldwide for everyone to sign the petition.