One From North of the Border

Many people might not know this but despite our affinity for making them feel inferior, we're actually huge fans of Canada. Our old friend mathesond joins us and doesn't disappoint.

Grievances 2008 – direct from the T-dot:

People that call Toronto "T-dot"

"Real America"/People that supported Sarah Palin because she was "just like me". I fully admit I'm not smart enough to run a country; I certainly don't want someone dumber than me doing so.

"Real Canadians" who seem to think that anyone who has anything to do with the Bloc Quebecois is instigating civil war…a war that "Real Canadians" are only too willing to fight (Sometimes I really envy Slovakia & the Czech Republic, and their amicable breakup.)

The fact that Congress can hand over $700 billion dollars to the financial industry, with no oversight (witness the multi-million dollar bonuses being handed to top execs to convince them to stay) – while unable to find $14B for an auto industry that directly and indirectly employs millions of people.

Auto industry execs that refuse to be held responsible for their stewardship. How many freaking SUVs does one company need to make, anyway?

Infotainment, especially as a lead story

Sports gossip, especially as a lead story

Canadian politicians, who are more concerned with their image than actually being leaders

The writers of "Heroes", who not only confuse the hell out of me, they also refuse to put Hayden Panettiere in skimpy outfits (At least Ali Larter was in a bra for an episode in season 1)

My employers, for eliminating by boss' job the week before Christmas. She's a 60-something year old woman who supports her husband, and the corp. ain't saving a lot of money by getting rid of her. What makes it worse is that she had 4 people under her. We are merging with another group – a group of 2 people, 1 boss and 1 analyst. Somehow the person with 1 person under her is more valuable than the person who had 4. But hey, that's life in the newspaper game…

Big Pharma's attempts at restricting or eliminating natural cures in favour of manufactured relievers. Sorry GSK, Pfizer, et al., I don't want to be a long-term customer

The friend who almost burned down our kitchen the day before our wedding while helping with the catering, and then refused to help with the repairs/clean-up afterwards. If you didn't want to help with the cooking, then you should have said no. On the bright side, the new paint job looks great (Thanks Tia, best bride ever!), the food was delicious, and the wedding was fantastic.

The sound guy at The Phoenix (in Toronto), whose solution for everything seems to be "crank it up". Way to drown out the Hold Steady's accordion in "Lord, I'm Discouraged", not mention the feedback that lasted for the opening 4 songs during the Drive-by Truckers' set

My Bloody Valentine, for making me wait 17 years to see them, and when they do come to town, for finishing an otherwise great set with the 25 minute wall of noise known as "The Holocaust". 5-10 minutes would have been great, but 25 is waaaaaaaay too long. Especially at 128 decibels.

Wealthy people that got greedy and believed in Madoff's "10% guaranteed return".

Speaking of greedy people looking for a magical ROI, every NFL team, since at one point or another I picked them to cover the spread and they failed. This past weekend, the Giants and Ravens were especially disappointing.

Me, for waiting until Studs Terkel passed away before picking up one of his books (Division Street America). Also, for having brilliant ideas for this post, but forgetting them by the time I get in front of a keyboard

~mathesond

Comments

[Tia aka. wifAY]

That's my hubbAY!

[April]

The news pissed me off BAD every time I heard them say that Palin was like so many women across the country. I do not know a single woman like Sarah Palin, thank God.

Congrats on getting married!!

I don't really bet on Football too much anymore, but when I do I never bet on the spread regardless of what the line is. I like betting on the over/under. Usually there's one or two that you know will go over or vice versa. My winning percentage has gone up since betting that way.

[Assman]

Kevin Shields is best appreciated at 128 decibels. At 127, you can't feel it in your lower spine and at 129, you start to lose tonal quality.

He knows what he's doing.

[Assman]

Oh and the BFF count is at 3.

[Mr. Kruger]

while unable to find $14B for an auto industry that directly and indirectly employs millions of people.

14B won't do shit. They'll piss it away in a year. Better to let them drown and then retool for another market.

[H.E. Pennypacker]

The Phoenix is one thing... ever hear a band upstairs at Sneaky Dee's? Talk about shitty sound! (At least the nachos downstairs are legendarily-good, though.)

[mathesond]

I've only ever been to Sneaky Dee's for food, believe it or not, but every now and then I hear that a band I wouldn't mind checking out is playing there