Happy Birthday to The True North strong and free

**Lowell** · July-01-14, 02:24 PM

How blessed we are to have such great, free and prosperous country as our neighbor. It is something we almost take for granted but when I reflect on Sarajevo in the 90's Balkan Wars or even 200 years ago when artillery fire was exchanged across the Straits of Detroit we on the American side have much reason to be thankful for this best international neighbor possible.

**ronaldj** · July-01-14, 05:54 PM

Let me heartily second that sentiment. I spent almost 10 years with the Canadian Consulate General here in Detroit. Fond memories of my time spent there and of my travels throughout the grand country.

I offer a salute to my colleagues and friends.

**Hermod** · July-01-14, 06:39 PM

I thought that Canuckistan was south of Detroit?

**ronaldj** · July-01-14, 06:45 PM

Stickler...

**Danny** · July-01-14, 06:52 PM

Happy 147th birthday, Canada. I wish Michigan was part of Canada.

**softailrider** · July-01-14, 07:28 PM

I spend a lot of time with Canadians [[most are from Toronto) during the winter down in FL [[Pompano Beach). I would say that the majority of them have a below the surface or not below the surface resentment of Americans. I have no idea why this is, but it's quite noticeable. They are appalled at the amount of crime in this country. Don't even ask me about their opinion of Detroit. They think we're a small cut above a bunch of savages. You may love Canada and Canadians but they're not loving you back.

**Danny** · July-01-14, 08:20 PM

Canada, a true free country.

strong liberal socialist government

free health care

excellent gun control

minimum illegal immigration

and plenty of forests

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · July-01-14, 08:26 PM

Softrailrider, you are hanging with the wrong Canadians. The many I have had the pleasure of knowing are quite amazing people who manage to love Canada without casting aspersions on the USA. I adore Canada. I've traveled Ontario extensively, and look forward to seeing more of it. Happy Canada Day, all.

**preserve** · July-01-14, 08:30 PM

A while back, National Lampoon did a story on how to recognize visitors to the US from foreign countries, and they hit the nail on the head with Canadians. "They look like us, but are boring"
Love our neighbors to the south, but it is true.

**The Nerd** · July-01-14, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

I thought that Canuckistan was south of Detroit?

Like our other "-stan nation" and oil producing friends we should celebrate Canada's birthday milestone by liberating those southern poutine pounders from their glorious oil! With Canadians being of a mild disposition I see no real resistance. In fact, I can picture Harper gleefully singing that famous Gap Band tune* as he arrives in Washington to meet his new president.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Canada. Resistance is Futile.

*

**Dbest** · July-01-14, 10:18 PM

I like how the Blue Jays fans always show up in Motown for our series. Their good sports ...

**Mind field** · July-01-14, 11:05 PM

I've spent a good part of the last 3 years working in various Canadian provinces, mostly Ontario, and some Manitoba and British Columbia. I can say without a doubt, Canadians are friendlier and happier, and Canadian cities punch above their weight when compared to American cities. I won't say Canadians are wealthier, but you can definitely tell the wealth is more evenly distributed and everyone seems to be on a more level playing field. Oh and crime. What crime? It doesn't seem to exist up here. So cheers to Canada, they are doing something right.

**canuck** · July-02-14, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by Mind field

I've spent a good part of the last 3 years working in various Canadian provinces, mostly Ontario, and some Manitoba and British Columbia. I can say without a doubt, Canadians are friendlier and happier, and Canadian cities punch above their weight when compared to American cities. I won't say Canadians are wealthier, but you can definitely tell the wealth is more evenly distributed and everyone seems to be on a more level playing field. Oh and crime. What crime? It doesn't seem to exist up here. So cheers to Canada, they are doing something right.

I just got my car broken into last night. 2 neighbors got houserobbed in the past 5 weeks. I am real close to downtown Montreal and it is pretty safe here, but we moved from the burbs in january,so se are adjusting. Neighbors tell me that there was a bit of gang violence and one murder [[settlement of accounts) a coupla yrs ago on the other block. In spite of the media hype though, Montréal crime, esp. violent crime is declining. The worst yr for murders wad 1975 with 115, and we had the highest hold-up count in North America back then. Nowadays, the murder rate hovers around 50/yr per 1.9 million pop.

**Honky Tonk** · July-02-14, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by canuck

I just got my car broken into last night. 2 neighbors got houserobbed in the past 5 weeks. I am real close to downtown Montreal and it is pretty safe here, but we moved from the burbs in january,so se are adjusting. Neighbors tell me that there was a bit of gang violence and one murder [[settlement of accounts) a coupla yrs ago on the other block. In spite of the media hype though, Montréal crime, esp. violent crime is declining. The worst yr for murders wad 1975 with 115, and we had the highest hold-up count in North America back then. Nowadays, the murder rate hovers around 50/yr per 1.9 million pop.

First of all, Happy Birthday, eh? I'm so sorry to hear about your car, and that those kinds of things are happening in Montreal too. It's such a beautiful city.

**Bham1982** · July-02-14, 07:29 AM

Canada has a very low murder rate, but the overall crime rate in Canada is comparable to that of the U.S.

**canuck** · July-02-14, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

First of all, Happy Birthday, eh? I'm so sorry to hear about your car, and that those kinds of things are happening in Montreal too. It's such a beautiful city.

Thank you Honky Tonk. This neighborhood has a funny Detroit connection. One major street corner is Atwater and St Antoine streets. They are shooting an American TV series every couple of weeks at a house 5 removed from mine. It is set in Bal Wash area, I guess since the licence plates are Maryland on cars. The series is called "The Lottery". Anyways I had a newish Dewalt impact drill, and they left my bag and thé impact driver there???

**Honky Tonk** · July-02-14, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by canuck

Thank you Honky Tonk. This neighborhood has a funny Detroit connection. One major street corner is Atwater and St Antoine streets. They are shooting an American TV series every couple of weeks at a house 5 removed from mine. It is set in Bal Wash area, I guess since the licence plates are Maryland on cars. The series is called "The Lottery". Anyways I had a newish Dewalt impact drill, and they left my bag and thé impact driver there???

Sounds like Detroit transplants. That IS odd about the 2 street names. I came out one morning to find my small rear window broken out. [[@ least they had a heart) They went through the car, took nothing, but emptied everything from the glove box, and console, and put it in neat little piles underneath each, on the floor. To this day, thinking about it creeps me out.

**poobert** · July-02-14, 03:33 PM

I'll never fully understand some Americans campy fetishism of Canada.

Sure, I'd rather be bordering Canada, than, say, Uzbekistan, but as another poster pointed out, Canadians seem to have an ax to grind with the United States [[if they'd like to trade places with us and live next door to Mexico, perhaps they'd realize how good they have it).

A few Canadian cities are nice, but they're largely bland, and, of course, few and far between. I find the idea of a monarchy baffling and stupid, let alone one headed by someone across an ocean [[think, if something should befall William, you get a guy who wears Nazi armbands as your head of state, no questions asked!). Our population is nearly ten times that of theirs, and they don't really have the legacy of slavery to deal with, so of course our problems are going to be a bit more, say, challenging. I do have to say that in principle I'm proud that we came out and declared our independence from a tyrannical colonial power, rather than simply biding our time till things got better. Their Prime Minister also appears to be a fairly moronic right-winger who has been in office seemingly forever, which people like to leave out the discussions about how their politics are inexplicably better than ours. There is also the grim reality that they refer to Windsor as their 'sun parlour'. After last winter?? Be thankful we have Miami, Savannah, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Puerto Rico for crissake!

Canada, great, sure, whatever. Loved the place when I was 19. Wish them all the best but there is no place like the USA.

**canuck** · July-02-14, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Sounds like Detroit transplants. That IS odd about the 2 street names. I came out one morning to find my small rear window broken out. [[@ least they had a heart) They went through the car, took nothing, but emptied everything from the glove box, and console, and put it in neat little piles underneath each, on the floor. To this day, thinking about it creeps me out.

Yeah weird shit happens. Maybe my toolbag was too heavy and they were young kids. A lot of poor folk around here with more homeless sleeping on the sidewalks. The same happened in Canada regarding mentally ill people released from institutions. But organized crime in Montréal is probably the most worrisome aspect here.

**FlyOnTheWall** · July-02-14, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

Anyways I had a newish Dewalt impact drill, and they left my bag and thé impact driver there???

Hey, A Dewalt impact drill implies work and a thief wouldn't want to work, would he?

**canuck** · July-02-14, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by FlyOnTheWall

Hey, A Dewalt impact drill implies work and a thief wouldn't want to work, would he?

There you go; in a nutshell.

**Honky Tonk** · July-02-14, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

There you go; in a nutshell.

So, what are you guys doing for Canada's birthday? Is everyone going out to dinner? Then maybe a bar after for some beers and dancing? Maybe meet some girls or something?

**old guy** · July-02-14, 11:32 PM

Attachment 23868
Molson beer. It isn't great, but I like it. Might drink about 60 bottles a year. Went down hill a bit when Coors acquired it. Not surprising. I do like Canada.

**old guy** · July-02-14, 11:59 PM

I sometimes wish that Canada and the U.S. were one country. I mean really, why not? Imaginary lines that separate us. Mexico, conflicts? Does any of it make sense? We're all on a planet attempting to co-exist. Lines drawn on a map are all just made up crap. Figured out by, outdated shit. Sorry to get off topic, but......

**canuck** · July-03-14, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

So, what are you guys doing for Canada's birthday? Is everyone going out to dinner? Then maybe a bar after for some beers and dancing? Maybe meet some girls or something?

In Quebec, even though the separatist movement is at its lowest ebb, few people celebrate Canada day except Anglos and immigrants. Quebecois celebrate on the 24th of July the St-Jean Baptiste national holiday. Both holidays have fireworks at different parks usually on lake or river front. As for meeting with girls, even so much as winking at one on the street is considered a grave sin here, however we do make up for this by engaging in arcane sexual practices once congress is deemed favorable to both parties in a very level headed fashion. We are all closet teetotalers, because we need to drink in order to break the ice, and since we break a lot of ice here, we tend to drink too much.