BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada

Subject: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Gary T
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 09:56 PM

Okay, it's a joke and not a serious discussion, but this cracked me up:

Three Canadians and three Americans are traveling by train to a hockey game. At the station, the three Americans each buy tickets and watch as the three Canadians buy only a single ticket.

"How are the three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an American. "Watch and you'll see," answers a Canadian.

They all board the train. The Americans take their respective seats but all three Canadians cram into a bathroom and close the door behind them.

Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the bathroom door and says, "Ticket please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The Americans see this and agree it was quite a clever idea. So after the game, they decide to copy the Canadians on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that).

When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the Canadians don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed American.

"Watch and you'll see," answers a Canadian.

When they board the train the three Americans cram into a bathroom and the three Canadians cram into another bathroom nearby. Once the train leaves the station, one of the Canadians leaves and walks over to the bathroom where the Americans are hiding, knocks on the door and says, "Ticket please."

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Kelida
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 11:01 PM

LOL! That is a clever idea, though. He he he. . .

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: thosp
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:33 AM

:)

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: PN
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:15 AM

Hi, all:

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:37 AM

Anyone remember Bruce MacPherson, the Canadian Evel Kneivel? He was fatally injured while trying to jump 60 barrels of back-bacon with a Zamboni.

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Kelida
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:50 AM

At the hockey game my friend and I went to a couple weeks ago, we asked some hockey player if there were any recorded zamboni wrecks, and he said no, but I think that counts.

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: PN
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:54 AM

Wow! I started to say "Hi, y'all" and I must have pushed the fire missile button by mistake!! I just got back from a gig in Hamilton, Bermuda, and thought I would check in and see how dem ol' mudcatters is doin' . . and ran right into the Hershey Bar/Cheesehead 'discussion'. Intellectual differences?? Puts me in mind of a conversation I had in Houston a few years ago . .a large, florid, Texan was telling me how the only real American music was that performed by Wilf Carter, Hank Williams and Hank Snow. I said " Well, one outa three aint bad, I guess . ." He said "Mister, those gentlemen are like the Father, son, and holy Ghost to me, so you'd best be treadng softly if you got anything to say about them" I said "well, two of 'em are Herring Chokers that never saw a horse until they mosied south" . . ." Hay-ring Chokas??" he said "That better mean sumthin' awful nice where you come from, son, or you're in a heap of trouble . . " So, it's a matter of perspective, I guess. Look at the Emmys, The Academy awards, etc.. Those million selling gal singers like Celine Dion, Alanis Morrisette, Shania Twain, Sarah MachLachlan,Diana Krall . .Canada hasn't got anything like them, . .least not anymore! Or K.D. Lang, Rita McNeil, Buffy St. Marie, Joni Mitchell, Sylvia Tyson or 'that bitch, Anne Murray', and on and on. Then there's the Robbie Robertsons, Neil Young,Bruce Cockburn, Stan Rogers,Gordon Lightfoot, and about a hundred more - performing in bands like Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, Lovin' Spoonful, The Band,Rush, The Guess who, and on and on. Finally, You guys got all the good songs like 'American Woman', 'Bo Diddley', Born to be Wild',Four strong winds, Early morning rain,Lonesome Mary, Suzanne, The circle game, Shakin' all over, Universal soldier, etc. So, when you couple all those bastions of Americana to switchin' on the tube to see Michael J. Fox steppin' down from his show amid a tearful farewell, or Jim Carey grinning in classic American style as he accepts yet another award, or 'Pa' giving fatherly advise to the sons of the Ponderosa . .it kinda makes you wonder about the US/Canada 'differences' As Pogo once put it " We has seen the enemy and he is us" What's my point?? Jeez, darned if I remember, after all that!

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Gary T
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:52 AM

Looks like we're creeping back to talking about culture. Reading through PN's list, I realized that I was aware of almost all of them being Canadian. Not something I give a lot of thought to, as I see them as examples of what we share between our countries. It is a little embarassing to think that probably a lot of what we Yanks send north is mediocre TV shows. Sorry about that, but we have to put up with them too--and as the list indicates, a lot of them have "herring chokers" (love that term!) in them.

Why would anyone call Anne Murray a bitch?

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:58 AM

A professor in an Englsh university took a year off of his regular duties to vist a university in the States and another in Canada. When he first entered the lecture hall at the American University he said "Good morning class." expecting that the class would reply "Good morning professor." just as they did in England. He was startled at receiving only one "Yo, hiya prof!" in response. Months later he entered the lecture hall in a Canadian University and said "Good morning class." The entire hall of students leaned forward and wrote "Good morning class." in their notebooks.

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 10:03 AM

Pogo stole it from who, Perry I think. Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: PN
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:21 PM

To: Gary T . . "And that bitch Anne Murray" are lyrics from pop song 'Blame Canada' from flic "South Park" - performed at this year's academy awards by Robin Williams . .

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Gary T
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:51 PM

Thanks, PN. I should have known that--I like South Park (okay, so I'm sick) and rather enjoyed the song. The only line in it that stuck in my head was "They're not a real country, anyway." Their satire is unforgiving, but I find it clever and funny, and it often hits the mark dead on.

Now for the really deep question: Why are Canadians on "South Park" depicted as having "flip-top" or "Pac-man" type heads?

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:04 PM

No, stop that question a little sooner. Why are Canadians on South Park?

For those who don't know, "Canada is not a real country" is a line that was uttered in serious vexation by the frustrated separatiste premier of Quebec, Lucien Bouchard. Many comedians owe him for this.

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

Canadians are different than people from the U.S. However, they still are part of North America which in my book means they are some sort of American. And so with South and Central Americans.

I like the tie-in that Canadians have with their traditional folk music such as in Cape Breton, or PEI. Driving through New Brunswick, we heard a terrific program called "Atlantic Wave". Fiddle music from Canada and the British Isles.

I think Canadians tend to think less in grandiose terms than do people in the States regarding such matters as business or prestige. I realize that this is a terrible generalization but I experienced a different attitude about what was important in music and the arts, or what was significant about making money.

I believe that Canadians are closer to the folk music of their country than those of us in the States. My opinion which may not be shared and brings up that discussion about what folk music is again. Some of us refuse to let it go with a whimper.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:51 AM

I dunno Frank.....That 15 year old Canadian kid who shutdown CNN, e-Bay, Yahoo, and a few other certainly had some grandiose plans which he brought to fruition!!!!***BG***

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Hotspur
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:34 PM

Did anybody see the "Blame Canada" spiel with Robin Williams, on the Oscars?

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: PN
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 02:45 AM

Thinking about the intellectual vs cultural differences . .US/Canada: Seems to me that these subjects are so interwoven that considering one without the other is, by definition,to take it out of context. Most Canucks believe that they have the best of all possible worlds; that is, the Americans think we're English and the English think we're Americans!The Americans think us quite socialistic and gov't controlled and, to some extent, we are . . .but nowhere near as much as the Brits. The Brits think us individualists, self-reliant, and 'screw authority' types and, to some extent, we are . . .but nowhere near as much as the Nacirema Tribe . . I think that Gary T's remark is bang-on > ( the canuck artists) are something that we share< I guess we share all the North American talent between the US and Canada ( and to a much lesser degree, Mexico) in a way that is different to most countries, even neighboring ones. I chuckle about US icons that are actually Canuck wetbacks, but I suppose that the fact that the populace, at large, doesn't know, or can't tell, the difference - is a very healthy and positive reflection on our relationship. There is always the size difference to consider, though . .a previous Prime Minister (Pierre Trudeau) once said of US/Canada " It's like being a mouse in bed with an Elephant - you can't help but worry about your friend rolling over"! There are some benefits of scale, though, - Canadian artists go the US for the same reason that Willy Sutton robbed banks. Interestin' topic but off the music trail, I guess . .thats enough from moi! Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: MarkS
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 07:28 PM

Do you know how to tell if a person is a Canadian? When a traffic cop gives a Canadian a speeding ticket, the Canadian motorist says, "Thank You."

Subject: RE: BS: Intellectual differences: U.S./Canada
From: Metchosin
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 07:35 PM

Too true! Yesterday an old lady literally pushed me out of the way to get past me, as I was waiting to go in a door while she was coming out and I was the one that ended up saying "Excuse me".