The United States of America

[cyberhypnotic]

Bob, it's not cold up here! For Pete's sake, I live on the Prairies, the coldest well-inhabited area of Canada and I don't find it too bad. -30 C (-22 F) is nothing to get too upset about.

I'm hoping that's sarcasm about -22 F. I don't think my balls could handle that. I was just up at Niagra Falls this past weekend. Not sure how close/far that is from anyone here, but usually around here 55 F is pretty chilly and I think the lowest while I was there was about 51 F and it wasn't too bad.

I had a great time while I was there. I was there a few years back, but decided to take the wife for her to check it out. This made it our honeymoon/anniversary get-away, since we didn't have one when we got married 3 years ago.

The falls are beautiful, like always. Didn't hear one Canadian use the term "Eh?" which makes me think it's a big stereotype. Although, I noticed it on a shitload of t-shirts in gift shops, for example one said, "Canada, Eh?" with a picture of a cartoon moose. Also noticed a good bit of shirts with the statement, "I'm Canadian!" on them.

Went on Maid of the Mist, enjoyed it much more this time around than I did last time. Wife is afraid of boats, but she went on it for the experience of being close to the falls. Went into the tunnels behind the Horseshoe falls. It wasn't like I remembered it. I thought there were more tunnels than 3, but the patio bit makes up for it.

Got pulled over when we got there, by customs. Don't know why, maybe because we had a rental, or I looked like a bomber or something? I didn't shave or cut my hair until I got up there, so...

Didn't want to leave, but you can only look at falling water for so long.

The only things that I didn't like was that our MAC cards wouldn't work in ANY ATM machines due to the fact that they did not accept the brand name that ours were. They took Cirrus and we had Star and Plus. We only needed cash for the casino, which we found out AFTER we walked over the bridge, back to NY to tap MAC, that the casino had machines that took Plus. Go figure.

I also didn't realize that they didn't carry American cigarettes. I ended up buying a pack of Canadian Classics Lights. They weren't too bad though, but since we got home, we've started the patch to quit.

Had a good time, regardless of those couple of points, and we plan on going back in a few years when our son is older.

 

[Gibson]

The Prairies have a dry cold. -30C or colder is easily bearable if you dress properly. In the Maritimes, however, the goddam wind cuts right through you, making only -10C feel a fuckton colder than it really is. Needless to say, since I've moved east, I've grown to loathe the wind.

 

[Darius]

National Pride

I know that both the U.S and Canada are great countries, with rich history's, and proud people. I have lived in both of these countries. That said, both countries have terrible political problems... I say terrible for the reason that both have a long way to go. In spite of that, there are immensly worse places to be in this world. I will continue to complain (in a constuctive way) because this is the best way I know to try to improve both countries. (The political problems I speak of come from the two party system in the U.S IE- the normal gridlock between a party controlling congess, and the opposing party composing the Executive branch... and the unfair lack of representation in Canada for anyone that doesn't live in either Quebec' or Ontario.)

 

[Cman]

After my recent visit to the Czech Republic, I will never complain again about living in Canada.

Thats not to say that CZ is the worst country in the world, it was decent, but the North American standard of living still appears to be MUCH higher.

So my point is that anyone who complains about life in North America is a spoiled whiner and needs to visit rural India or something for some perspective.

 

[Iceberg]

I'm hoping that's sarcasm about -22 F. I don't think my balls could handle that. I was just up at Niagra Falls this past weekend. Not sure how close/far that is from anyone here, but usually around here 55 F is pretty chilly and I think the lowest while I was there was about 51 F and it wasn't too bad.

It sure isn't sarcasm. Mid 50s F temperatures are almost t-shirt weather for me. Hell, I walked to school in -45 F weather about 10 years ago and liked it! There was ice fog, and it really cleared out the sinuses.

Call me a crazy Canuck if you wish. Most people when they hear that think the same thing.

 

[cableguy]

cyber, ice is right, and he is north of me... minnesota gets kinda chilly as well, and -22 isnt at all unusual in wintertime... i dont put my t shirts away until it gets down to about +20, though... its all about acclimatization... i still enjoy going to the mall of america--on a day when the HIGH temp is in the single digits--wearing shorts and a t shirt... those tourists make all sorts of funny faces...

 

[Iceberg]

ice is right

:jawdrop: Wow, cable! Did you really say that? Looks like hell just froze over! (Pardon the pun if any was achieved.)

 

[cableguy]

yep... cold is cold, and +30 aint cold...

 

[urbanstyles]

I just want to chime in and set the hockey record straight. Hockey is a Canadian game all the way. The NHL revolves around Canadian teams, the majority of the talented players in the league are Canadian, Canada absolutely dominates EVERY other country on the international hockey scene and if it wasn't for American deep pockets, the American hockey clubs couldn't hope to compete with even the smallest of the Canadian franchises. The biggest names in hockey have and always will be Canadian.


P.S. The U.S. is cool... but Bush is an idiot and nothing more than a puppet of his father's.

 

[Brianwp]

Of course I have to defend Americans, being one, although I often disagree with her laws and attitude. We are often arrogant, we stick our nose in everyone else's business, and we don't think our shit stinks. But, in the end, that has probably been a part of the psyche that has made us grow and prosper. Yeah, we've got an attitude..but that attitude has not only thrust us forward, but helped us to come to the aid of other countries in times of trouble.

As far as Canada goes...I'll never forget one time I was in a large hotel bar in South Daytona, Florida. I was alone, when all of a sudden a fight broke out at the other end of the bar. Some guy knocked out another guy, and proceeded to kick him on the floor. So I, being of big mouth and not much sense, yelled at the guys..."hey, stop that shit! You don't kick a man when he's down"! So of course these guys come strolling over to me. After some words, I agreed to meet them in the parking lot later to settle our disagreement.

So at closing time I went outside to my car, and took my tire iron and stuck it in the back of my pants, and stood in front of the place to wait for them. (There were at least 4 of them, so the tire iron was justified in my mind). As I stood there, these two big guys in flannel shirts approached me and said.."we saw what you did in there, eh? And we thought it was ok, so we're gonna help you, ok, eh"?

I thought it was funny...I used to watch SCTV, with the McKensie brothers, so I asked them.."what's with the "eh" stuff? You hosin' me"? So yeah, it turns out they were Canadians, and I was glad to have them with me. Those other assholes never did come out of that hotel lobby.

 

[marquis]

Just read through the thread and picked up one or two points.
The French dislike the Americans largely because they feel beholden to them (and the British) for delivering them from occupation.They are a proud people for some reason and they can't come to terms with their recent history.For the same reason de Gaulle kept the UK out of the European market even though we had set him up as the French leader in exile and equipped his forces.
As for baseball, it's pretty well agreed that it's an English game brought over by the early settlers.It's based on the ancient game of rounders and anybody who's played that would feel right at home playing baseball.Like all games it has developed and evolved over the centuries.

 

[Brianwp]

That brings up another memory from my childhood. When I was a kid, around 12 or so, my parents took me to Canada for a vacation. It was beautiful, even as a kid it had that impression on me. But when we were driving through Montreal, I can remember seeing guys look at our US license plate and spitting at the car. I assumed they were French Canadians, and I'm still not sure what that was all about.

 

[Brianwp]

New Jersey

Since this thread is about the US, I'd like to share some thoughts about my home state of New Jersey.

I lived in North Bergen, a town right across the Hudson from NYC. If you look at an aerial photo of NYC, and look just to the left of Manhattan to the Palisades across the river, that's my home. The "towns" there have street numbers for boundaries..it's all city, as you ride up north from Bayonne, to Jersey City, Union City, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Fairview, Cliffside Park, Fort Lee, etc., there's no countryside between them, you just have to know what street one ends on and the next begins.

Driving down the NJ Turnpike (like the opening scenes of the Sopranos), towards the Jersey "shore", you pass through some pretty vile atmospheric places...more spread out, but with a lot of industry and chemical plants, from Newark down through Elizabeth, phew!

And that's what most people, even Americans, think Jersey is all about. But the truth is, New Jersey is 90% farmland! (The Garden State). Once you travel away from "my" area in any direction you'll find beautiful little towns, rolling plush hills, and huge farms with endless cornfields that you could get lost in for a week! (And Jersey tomatoes, the best in the whole freakin country)!

The great Jersey Shore goes all the way from Sandy Hook right below Staten Island, to Monmouth Beach, Belmar, Seaside Heights, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, all the way down to Cape May, where there are huge migratory bird wetlands and wilderness areas. Some of the nicest beaches in the country. I spent many great days fishing off these coasts, and hunting and trout fishing in the beautiful mountainous regions of Northwestern Jersey.

A little homesick, I guess. Anyway, just a few words about the great state of New Jersey! :mrgreen:

 

[-KA-]

Thread is about the US of A, right? Well I could talk shit (more like joking about stupid shit) about the USA all day long, but I won't do it. LOL I could talk shit about any country in the world. (well except Sweden).

Anyway...

The French dislike the Americans largely because they feel beholden to them (and the British) for delivering them from occupation.

Also helped the cunts in east to occupy other half of Europe.

 

[Brianwp]

Sweden...that's like a part of Belgium, or Denmark, or something, right?

 

[-KA-]

Sweden...that's like a part of Belgium, or Denmark, or something, right?

 

[a22k1cker]

Sure...as a foreigner (at least for some of you) I can say that I really love the hospitality. The first time I was in the US I landed, got on a shuttle bus to the rental car parking lot and every where I went people greeted me and wished me a nice day. Not a common thing in all countries... So they're 'ya go, something nice about the the US of A. I'll hold my tounge when it comes to the things that I dislike then

(Go Sweden!)

 

[toberedagain]

Sure...as a foreigner (at least for some of you) I can say that I really love the hospitality. The first time I was in the US I landed, got on a shuttle bus to the rental car parking lot and every where I went people greeted me and wished me a nice day. Not a common thing in all countries... So they're 'ya go, something nice about the the US of A. I'll hold my tounge when it comes to the things that I dislike then

(Go Sweden!)

good idea following your country and staying neutered...I mean neutral

 

[Brianwp]

I'm an American, and I'm well aware of all the negative press the US has been getting lately. And I can see their point. In the last several years we do have quite a bit to apologize for, in my opinion. We have consistently stuck our nose in everyone else's business lately, and have presumptuously taken on the role of the world's father figure. While in years past we were seen as a righteous nation that stood for everything that was fair and good, we have now started to be perceived as a big bully, invading countries for our own alternate agendas.

I have no doubt that corruption does exist in our national policies, but still, I have to look at the alternatives. While our system of government is not perfect, it is still light years ahead of other countries. I feel confident, particularly with the current administration, that the good will always prevail in our country. I feel that our unpopularity as experienced with the start of the war in Iraq will eventually be placated as time passes, and we will return to the status that we once had.

There isn't a day that passes that I don't feel grateful for being born an American. As I see the conditions of people around the world, I wonder how I have been so blessed to be born into this country. I can now understand why our military has prevailed against all odds...they are fighting for a land they truly love. I understand completely. To take my country from me would be like taking my life. "Give me liberty, or give me death". God bless the United States of America.

 

[scoundrel]

Jack said it best:

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.
We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to!"

Unfortunately, Colonel Nathan Jessup was a bit selective and convenient in his application of the Marine Corps moral code: he sold two of his own marines down the river in order to avert the legitimate blame for the Code Red death landing on his desk where it belonged. He has mistaken his own selfish best interests for the good of the US Marine Corps. Lt Commander Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore) and Lieutenant (JG) Dan Kaffee (Tom Cruise) were both much better officers, who risk their own careers for the good of the US Navy and in the interests of plain justice. Despite his ill-disciplined and facetious attitude problems, Lt Kaffee never dishonours his uniform or his service and yet speaks the wisest words in the film:

You dont need to wear a uniform in order to have honour.

Incidentally, for what its worth, I hold the United States of America in very high regard, in spite of glaringly obvious shortcomings which I will not discuss here. Whenever I am tempted to feel otherwise, I remember being taken to see this place when I was 18 years old.



The wall on the right in the picture of the reflecting pool bears the name of every American airman who died in the European Theatre of Operations in WW2. The names are writ small, the wall is very tall and very long, but there is no blank space on it.

Face away from that wall and you will see a field full of symbolic graves. There is a grave for every man named on the wall. I looked and I looked and I looked and I could not see where those graves came to an end.

The school teacher who took me and my classmates to see this memorial told us to think about what we had seen. British casualties were also extremely heavy. RAF Bomber Command arguably had it even worse than the daylight bombers of the USAAF. The Aussie, Kiwi and other Commonwealth aircrew were fighting for their mother country. The British aircrew were fighting to protect hearth and home. But the American boys were fighting to defend freedom and strike down Nazi tyranny. Theirs was the noblest sacrifice of all. My teacher said this and asked us to think about it. I still think about it now.

Yes, theres a lot wrong with America. But we British habitually stand with America when the shit starts because we still have some honour left ourselves and we know (or at least some of us know) that we must stand by our marker when the debt is called in.