C/D: Canadians who can't talk with an American without rattling off a list of things that were created in Canada

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Which is to say, all Canadians.

I just spent two days with a relatively famous Canadian writer (Chr!st!an Bøk), and I was amused when even he started getting into that Canadian rhapsody, saying things like "of course insulin was invented in Canada!" and "most of your favorite comedians were probably Canadians" etc.

It was adorable. I think it's completely classic.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Insulin wasn't actually invented in Canada, but some guys in Toronto figured out how to extract it usefully.

If any Canadians would like to play the game on this thread, they should feel free.

Like, did you know Superman was created by a Canadian?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

Don't forget Jean-Claude Bombardier and his amazing Snow Mobile!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

Superman was created by a Canadian who moved to Cleveland when he was 10, working with another Canadian, but still. Canadian!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

AND HOLY CRAP, Canada GIVE UP Superman!
Joe Shuster spent a few summers in Canada, THAT'S IT!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

Hemingway, however, was invented in Canada.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa090100a.htm

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

He tried to claim that Kraft was a Canadian company. A friend of mine who was raised in Ohio said, "I thought it was from Ohio".

Kraft is currently owned by Altria/Philip Morris, but its headquarters are, as far as I can tell, in a suburb of Chicago.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Canada's just fine, I have no problems with Canada, and in many important ways (positive ways) they're no different from the US. Canadians are Americans. And they have some advantages -- health care, more livable (and more expensive) cities, etc. Canada is great.

But I don't want any colder winters than I've got.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

Kraft certainly has a Canadian division.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

They do, but that hardly makes it a Canadian company.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

Exactly.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

Like zippers? Hug a Canadian!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

No surprise here: Electric Car Heater ...Thomas Ahearn invented the first electric car heater in 1890

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

Complaining about the weather- Canadian.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Um, what about Noah?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

My only issue is when canadians bitch and moan about the states, while a good bulk of their economy is fueled by commerce here. Not to say that they are 100% reliant on the US, but if there was a huge space between Canada and mexico, things would be much different.

― gaetano, Monday, 4 July 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Right. We tarde a lot with the U.S. = we should love everything they do.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

If you lived next door to Madonna, you'd spend most of your time looking out the window too.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:55 (twenty years ago)

There was a good This American Life episode about this. Well, it was about Canadians in general, but the David Rakoff piece in particular covered this thread topic and was pretty hilarious.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

while a good bulk of their economy is fueled by commerce here

a good bit of our economy is fueled by you, too. Canada is our #1 oil supplier.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

90210 was still on in '97?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

Canadians are Americans.

oh fuck off.

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

But they are! As in, they live on the same continent, which has the same name. I meant nothing else.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

Well, that's what I mneant *literally*, but of course I meant to imply that Canada shares a whole shitload of culture with us. Which I'd like to to see you try to deny.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

We get to pick and choose which "American" aspects we want to share.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

You're lucky like that.

Is that why your country is so expensive?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

You think doctors work for free?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

Toronto is kind of expensive as is Vancouver, but I don't think they're any more expensive than any bigger American cities. We have higher taxes but they aren't that bad. Where did you get the idea that our cities are expensive, Kenan?

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

since when is 'america' a continent, kenan?

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

if 'Canadians are Americans' then can i tell your border gestapo to suck my ass? (not that ours is any better)

― dave q (listerine), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

You think doctors work for free?

haha That's the most American sentiment I've heard all day.

Where did you get the idea that our cities are expensive, Kenan?

Um... because they are. Granted, I don't know what wages are likle, not firsthand.

since when is 'america' a continent, kenan?

You're right. It's two continents. You know what I meant.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

if 'Canadians are Americans' then can i tell your border gestapo to suck my ass?

Yes. You can. You likely will. I love you guys.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

"The Americas" - we are every bit as American as the Cubans.

xpost

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

of course i knew what you meant, that's why i said 'fuck off'!!

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

I think, for the most part (and there's a very vocal movement trying to change this), Canadians don't mind paying more taxes than our American cousins, because we see a lot of value from them. We also see a lot of wasted tax money, especially this year, but overall, we like what our public dollars do.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

"Um, because they are" isn't a good answer! What's expensive? Relative to where?

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

Jesus you guys. I wasn't trying to start an argument. Canadians have a lot in common with the US, that's what I said. Of course they do! Obvious! I didn't say that Canadians are wosre than anything, and I meant no condescentrion, which you're seeming to percieve. All I saidwas... well, read it.

Are all Canadians this proud and nationalistic? Because if they are, they're no less arrogant than they accuse us of being. Despite our world reputation, we US citizens are generally pretty chill.

But maybe that comes from an innate and inherited sense of world domination, which is maybe what you're reacting to. Thst could well be.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

"Um, because they are" isn't a good answer! What's expensive? Relative to where?

Relative to where I live and where I have considered living. Like I said, your wages may well compansate for everything. I don't know. Never worked or lived there. I'm sorry.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

condescentrion

haha That's a totally new word.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

I get your point, but I think there remain some fundamental differences despite the shared language/undefended border/billion$-a-day trade.
Take the dollar coin, for example.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:39 (twenty years ago)

Heck, take the two-dollar coin -- they're small!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

For what example? What does that prove?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry, Kenan. I didn't mean to give you any tone, I was just curious about where you got your ideas about how expensive our cities are. I'm always curious to know what people from outside of Canada think of us. According to the Mercer list Toronto is the most expensive Canadian city in terms of cost of living and it ranks 82nd in the world. Chicago is 52nd.

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

Our pockets wear out faster.

xpost

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

That we are willing to accept change!

doh 2xpost

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)

Doesn't Rick Mercer have better things to do than to go around ranking cities?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)

That we are willing to accept change!

Ok, sure, but so what? Is that a national value that makes you all feel proud?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

Here in the US, we like paper, but we don't care about it so much as to make it an argument.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't being serious.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 68 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Soon he'll be saying that the beer isn't any good either.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Those people standing around the Canada Arm: They are all kinda cute, but you can tell they'd be really tedious in bed.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

That's why they needed a robot arm to complete their orgy.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Tim Hortons sold me a vegetarian lunch when I was in Lloydminster! With lettuce and everything!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

I don't really see the point of Canada. With the exception of Quebec, Canada is just a provincial version of East/West Coast U.S. Don't fool yourselves, you wacky Canadians! Honestly, New York has more in common culturally with Toronto than it does with Atlanta or Houston. Quebec should become independent, the rest of Canada should join the Union. With the added weight of liberal-minded Canadians, guys like Bush could never get elected and the world would be a safer place.

― Vincent Delerm, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

Canadians do have some good beer.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

They probably still talk about it.

xxpost

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

xpost VD otm forever.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Although isn't Canada a slighty toned down version of the Red/Blue rural split in the USA. I love when Bill O'Rei11y puts letters from angry right wing Canadians on his show. I've also noticed some ugly conservative Canadians on fr33public.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

There are rightwingers everywhere in the world, including Canada, but the general balance in Canada is skewed to the more liberal end of things.

― Vincent Delerm, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

Skimming through this thread, I guess we still can't convince any of you that Quebec is a distinct society?

Um, Quebec invented the 60-minute of fame, 'cause we feel bad about discarding celebrities after their expiration date, so we keep them around in radio shows, talk shows and soap operas. Or they just become "personalities" and never go away (see Mitsou).

― alex in montreal (alex in montreal), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

(Whoa, there's another Alex in [x])

I think Canada is less liberally skewed than most people believe. Who would have thought that America would suddenly seem soooo right wing in say... 1998?

Can someone do a Canadian version of the red/blue maps plz?

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

If there's one thing that this thread has shown, it's that any two cultures are similar if you focus on what's similar about them, or else they're different if you focus on what's different about them.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

I love Mitsou and I will marry her.

In Canada, the sea is blue and the flag is red.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

the 'canada arm' is called the CANADARM people

― jones (actual), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

It seems you are right.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Sorta like USAgent or KGBeast.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

It's the CANABRAS in French.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Quebec should become independent, the rest of Canada should join the Union. With the added weight of liberal-minded Canadians, guys like Bush could never get elected and the world would be a safer place.

Will you settle for this: (the oldies never go out of style)

http://jesuspolitics.typepad.com/jesus_politics/images/jesusland.jpg

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

Like we wouldn't get Alaska too.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

I think Jesusland might want the oil....

Theoretically speaking, Quebec might want to remain a part of USC to help hold off the shit going down in Jesusland.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Also, Quebec is predominantly Catholic, so they're already at odds with the particular brand of Jesusfreakery going on down south.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but Quebec polled the highest in favour of same-sex marriage. So it's something of a mischaracterization that they're "predominantly Catholic." I mean, they're raised Catholic, and they raise their kids Catholic, but once they learn the wonders of Confession...

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:46 (twenty years ago)

Complaining about the weather- Canadian.
-- Thermo Thinwall

Clearly never been to England - at least you have the kind of weather to really moan about.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

True enough, Huk. "Predominantly Catholic" appears misleading, but "at odds with American Jesusfreakery" is not.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

Rhode Island and Massachusetts are hugely Catholic. Culture of life + liberal.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

I lived there for a short bit! You guys have nothing on the canuks, I'm sorry!

2xpost

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

In terms of what? Dell's lemonade, great Italian food and fucking coffee milk > anything Canada did ever.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

That was an xpost you monkey. I was responding to Annas post re: complaining about weather.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

I guess we still can't convince any of you that Quebec is a distinct society?

Newfieland and Cape Breton are more distinct then Quebec as far as I'm concerned. The only difference I could find between Quebec and north east Ontario, north west & eastern New Brunswick and northern PEI was this persecution complex.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

bc is distincter than quebec. their economy = gov't corruption, ours = narcoterrorism

― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

True enough, Huk. "Predominantly Catholic" appears misleading, but "at odds with American Jesusfreakery" is not.

Agreed.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

I just remembered the old Zoodles can. What I would do for a jpeg of that turned upside down.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

http://arcadefire.net/images/news/arcadetimecover640.jpg

― You'll take credit for anything (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

In Canada, Time is basically Pitchfork...with more Schiavo.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

They should send all their 19 year old indie kids to die in a foreign land.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

We tried that in the 60s, sadly they all became famous like The Band, Joni and Neil.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

And Dan Aykroyd.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I don't really see the point of Canada. With the exception of Quebec, Canada is just a provincial version of East/West Coast U.S. Don't fool yourselves, you wacky Canadians!

get fucked.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha! Look Canadians hate foreigners and think they're the best.... JUST LIKE AMERICANS

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:35 (twenty years ago)

http://digilander.libero.it/the.embassy/faccine/saru-keke.gif

― sleep (sleep), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

Jon, your logic skills are appalling.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:14 (twenty years ago)

No.

― get to thA CHOPPA / A++++++ SELLER (ex machina), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

Huk, you are on fire on this thread. You could turn this into a schtick, and it'd go over swell in Saskatchewan, I bet!

― Leeeeeee (Leee), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

Leeee, Huk's already got his own show! It's called Corner Gas, and it's a hit all across the country!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 02:49 (twenty years ago)

He's the Butt of all of ILX's jokes!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:45 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

evanston is the canada of chicago
indiana is the canada of america
australia is the canada of the world

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:23 (4 years ago)

― admrl, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 20:15 (fifteen years ago)

i have no idea what that means!

canada is just, yknow, sweet

― planes/octaves/dimensions of existence (rrrobyn), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 21:11 (fifteen years ago)

sweetness was invented here you know.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 21:27 (fifteen years ago)

Went to Winnipeg a few weeks ago. Now that's a nasty little place.

― paulhw, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 21:42 (fifteen years ago)

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