aphid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqyW1XQrNhk

Memorial Service

Look, we get it already. You're the world's preeminent superpower, and we (Canada) just happen to be your neighbor. However, to imply we should feel guilty or kiss ass simply because you think your armed forces "provide" our defense is akin to criticizing a badger for making use of the shade cast by an elephant. It's that kind of pompous rhetoric that tends to seriously piss off the average Canuck. Yes, you could militarily whip our butts in a heartbeat. For a short period of time. As many of your commanders have learned repeatedly since the 1950's, it might be one thing to take ground but it's a whole different game to keep it. And while I'm in the mood, I'm really weary of the oft-repeated disparaging remarks on these forums directed at the French. I find that arrogance absolutely juvenile. You're a World Power. Try to approach it with a little dignity. ETA: We do, however, feel guilty about Justin Beiber. Sorry about that.

Please reassure me those were not Canadian border personnel that did that...

If you have been convicted of smoking a joint in the US, try getting into Canada, it's a major pain in the ass and will cost you several hundred bucks. In fairness, the point is these Canadians are being denied entry to the USA on the basis of just honestly admitting they have partaken. No arrests and no criminal records. God forbid a visitor voluntarily admits they shoplifted a pack of bubblegum as a child... Oh well. It's America's bat and America's ball...

It's my understanding (looking for correction, if I'm mistaken) that a retired soldier on a pension is still considered on reserve-status and eligible for call-up without notice for a number of years following. (As told to me by a retired USN sub-commander). If that's the case, are they still bound by the military code which is supposed to prevent them speaking publicly in political terms against their civilian masters? Don't get me wrong, I think the opinion piece was interesting. Although, he did make me grimace once again with this common delusion: "They (soldiers) understand that the United States is the only liberal democracy that has never been ruled by its military."

Hi Rob, Thanks for the link. I've been looking for something to corroborate from Calgary and Edmonton as they are a little closer to the area in question. Haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking. J

I made a statement last week that it was likely that if you polled everybody in Canada under the age of 50, you would be hard-pressed to find a handful of people who had never experimented at some point in their life. So I did a quick non-scientific poll at the DZ yesterday afternoon. I found just one person among all who chose to respond to the question. Are there any studies to indicate that even one-time pot use in the USA is still in the minority? As an aside, the son of a friend in AZ was deemed unacceptable for service in the US Coast Guard for admitting one-time experimentation in high school. I thought the forthrightness of his honesty would more critical than a youthful indiscretion. (Full disclosure: Smoke pot or not, I don't care. But I do want to get the organized criminals out of it)

I have no evidence to confirm it, but it just appears to be another of the 'flavours of the day' at the border, judging from the number of articles in newspapers suddenly about this latest line of questioning. My son (Canuck) and his wife (American) are both practicing lawyers and they went through the "When was the last time you did drugs?" interrogation two months ago on their way to catch a Seattle Mariner's game. And they confirmed the hostile tone, considering they planned on being in the USA for less than 7 hours. In the past we've seen brief but notable runs on Kinder Eggs (a chocolate kids treat), Beanie Babies (kids toy bearing only English & French licensing info), homemade roast beef sandwiches for lunch-on-the-road (Mad Cow hysteria), and oranges (even ones with 'Florida' labels). I understand their role on protecting your nation from bad people and bad things, but most of these seem to be just silly and destined only to piss your cash-flush visitors off. And the penalties certainly seem disproportionate. BTW: I think the Canadian Border nits going apoplectic over a 25 year American DUI a bit absurd too, although those are criminal offenses in Canada.

"Saunders recommends that Canadians travelling to the U.S. understand the difference between federal law and state law, but he sympathizes with those who answer the question truthfully — although he says you are under no obligation to do so." An American lawyer implying that it's okay to lie to a US Customs officer? I wonder how his Bar Association feels about that. Although I can imagine the depth of Customs prosecution against anybody who tries that approach. source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/04/trudeau-pot-border_n_3867238.html

Can you point me to a source Rob? Thanks.

Really? If you think that Canadians (or any other nations citizens) care about one whit about your various national political dysfunctions, I believe you are sadly mistaken. Frankly we only pay attention when US economic or foreign policies negatively impact us. Or when you have a decent Olympic hockey team...

A shot of Barry with his ever-present toothpick judging at a recent Meet.

While I agree 100% with your sentiment... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w1g-idt-8U

She's local to my area. She is fine... She looks just like someone I'd like to see nekkid.

She's local to my area. She is fine...

"The only species currently harvested by the Canadian Inuit that is covered by the IWC is the bowhead whale. As of 2004, the limit on bowhead whale hunting allows for the hunt of one whale every two years from the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin population, and one whale every 13 years from the Baffin Bay-Davis Strait population. This is roughly one fiftieth of the bowhead whale harvest limits in Alaska" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling#Canada Having said that, I got your point...

Perhaps this one is more 'generic'. Heck it even offers a different rationale for Apple's patent: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2004233/Apple-files-patent-block-iPhone-users-filming-live-events-smartphone.html

Thanks

Thank you. One quick question: what is an adjunct professor? It appears in the biography of the attorney the ACLU is sending to present on my behalf. http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/biography-lee-gelernt Thanks, John

Referring to the letter-writer, yes, we have our share of intellectual inbred's as well. Pay particular attention to the atrocious spelling sprinkled liberally throughout the note though. Additionally, did you see the manner in which the "u" was omitted incorrectly in the word "favour"? AHA! I knew it! A damned yankee sneaked across our border in search of free health-care! (just some Canuckian sarcasm/humour)

The US was gearing up for the war for a long time. Just because we did not show up early did not mean we were not involved. Remember, there are many ways to fight a war. I think the Commonwealth forces might choose to differ with your consideration that 1939 would be considered "early". But yes, the Lend-Lease program that was formalized in early '41 and designed to bypass the US Neutrality Act was indeed a contribution. Isolationists were strongly opposed, warning it would lead to American involvement in what was seen by most Americans as an essentially European conflict. Fortunately your President Roosevelt understood the advantage of helping fund the war against Germany, while staying out of the hostilities yourselves. In June of '41, a small number of your forces assembled in Newfoundland, Canada, and a month later moved on to occupy Iceland by mid-July to free up the British forces stationed there. In the autumn of '41, US warships joined Royal Canadian Navy corvettes in protection/defense of the North Atlantic convoys of materials and food destined for Britain. I'm not diminishing the contribution of the USA in the ultimate resolution of the conflict. But world-history does record it wasn't just all about you. This thread began with an inquiry about parachutes early in the war. I apologize for derailing it, but I simply wanted to correct a misstatement by one of the contributors. I also happen to have a military round that some elderly woman gave me a few years ago, prominently stamped "US Navy, 1941". I'm no fabric expert, but it does look like silk to my untrained eye.

1941? On 1 September 1939, Germany and Slovakia (which was a German client state at the time) invaded Poland. On 3 September France and Britain, followed by the fully independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth, – Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa – declared war on Germany. With all due respect, the dance did not start with the singular event in Hawaii. You guys just showed up fashionably late to the Prom.

Well, we CAN see Sarah Palin's house from here.

I choose to not think so. But, as usual, I could be sadly mistaken. BTW, before anybody else gets their panties in a knot, it was tongue-in-cheek sarcasm directed towards the gent from Ontario. A form of humour that Canadians are peculiarly known for.