We flew to France yesterday, and after our travels in Latin America, where airport security is straightforwards and quite basic, it was a shock.

To celebrate the first big heat wave in Canada this year (yes, get over it — I’m Canadian. Half of the year, I complain about the cold, and I complain about the heat the rest of time. We call it the windchill/ humidex complaint here), we decided to drive to Niagara Falls thought the USA.

How can you tell I’m still European? Because I get excited when I go to the USA!

His platform what somewhat unclear but included the “No Child Left Behind Act” (“Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?”, he wondered), no nation building (“I don’t think our troops should be used for what’s called nation building” as said in 2000), making rich people richer (“This is an impressive crowd. The haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite. I call you my base”, he declared).

I grew up with the traditional French daemons: fascism and globalization. They were easy enough targets, and fighting against them included chanting socialist songs in demonstrations, keeping an eye on the Front National — the French Nazi party — and watching old French movies to thwart Hollywood’s plans to take on the world.