h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You wouldn't know of a link to that UN study would you? I'd like to know where my country is on the list.

That news story certainly kills the pro gun argument that canada is as armed as the US and that proves there's nothing wrong with guns. That story of yours is ammunition

I think there's a link on the right-hand side of the story. Let me see. . .

Oh. no. That was the education one. Hold on. . .

here's something from the UN news service: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=7666&Cr=small&Cr1=arms

and this might help:

http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/Media/

Apparition:

New Zealand, right?

It's in with Australia, Argentina and Canada (at 20 to 25 guns per 100 people) on page 7 of this document: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/Yearbook/ch2_Yearbk2003_en.pdf

What's wrong with Canadians? For starters, we are too obsessed with how different we are from Americans. We tend to define our national character by our differences or similarities to the U.S.
We tend to be smug about what we see as our strong points "we are so nice, we are so polite" - true perhaps when compared to Americans as a group, but we are light years behind the Japanese in terms of politeness and as nice as I think we are, I'm sure the same could be said of lots of other cultures and we could still be a hell of a lot nicer as far as I can see.
Our ongoing obsession with trying to identify what "Canadian" is - sometimes referred to as an identity crisis, sometimes as a national insecurity, sometimes as an inferiority complex - extemely annoying at times, especially when the wrangling starts about whether Canada has a culture and if we do what is it. Let me settle the arguement once and for all - we have a culture, both pop culture and high culture, it doesn't need defining any more than American, Chinese, British,Japanese or Tahaitian culture need defining.

I agree, Rev. I don't obsess about being different from Americans. I do get pissed off when American Governors of Florida come here and tell us our country's just the same as his, though. Seems to me Canadian is living in Canada. That pretty much sums it up. And it's a very large and complicated sum.

Well you'll get no arguement from me on that one. The only one dumber than George W and Jeb in that family is their brother Neil, but I'm sure that family is their brother Neil, but I'm sure the money can their brother Neil, but I'm sure the money can and probably will be raised to get him elected governor of Montana or Kentucky or somewhere.

What?

What the h@#$ happened to your typing?

...obviously, what's wrong with canadians is that they are unable to hold the fr*nch in check within their own country.

alec.

mmmmm... deja vu...

Alec:

even if you had provided a smiley to make the tone of your comment more clear, the comment would still be offensive and incoherent. Who do you mean by "the fr*nch"? Your syntax suggests that "the fr*nch" are someone other than "canadians" so I must assume you are meaning citizens of France. I'm not sure to what nefarious activities of the Rebublic of France within Canada you are making reference.

If you were meaning French speaking citizens of Canada, then your comment is archaic and offensively segregationist or just incoherent. "Canadian citizens are unable to hold a certain brand of other Canadian citizens (determined by ethnic background) in check," you are apparently saying. Who do you actually mean by "canadians"? English speakers? White men?

Please clarify so I can decide in good conscience what I'm going to do with the yikes button.

I know one other thing that's wrong with Canadians... you need to at least have four downs in your brand of football!

Thanks for the links Anhaga, I didn't know it was that high.

Many people don't realize how high it is in their country because gun ownership does not have to be gun obsession, worship, or display.

Something that I think is wrong with Canada: The fact that we supply arms to the American military. But that will apparently stop soon:

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/07/09/cda_military030709

I guess this is part of the Canada-U. S. free trade agreement; and the North American Free Trade Agreement; and that plan for a Free Trade Zone of the Americas.

Just a few comments as I'm here. Re the US and guns, from a book I've read it seems that the right to bear arms bit from the constitution acually refers to the right of a state to call up an armed militia. It doesn't say that citizens have the right to own a private arsenal. If you have evidence to disprove that let's have it.
I've visited the US and Canada, before I came to live here. I've noticed a difference as soon as you reach Immigration. The Canadians were "Welcome to Canada!" Whereas the American Immigration was more "We're gonna let you in, reluctantly." That was back in 1996, I don't know what they're like now. Granted he may have been having a bad day and having said that everyone in Ely was friendly. Even the clerk in the posh Minneapolis hotel was polite when I walked in looking like a refugee from the Klondike gold rush.
What we always have to do is separate the officials from the mass of the citizenry. Although the government may take one line it doesn't follow that everyone agrees.
Yes if Canadians only define themselves as not American that can be a problem. To point out that we're not is OK. I often have to explain that I'm not English, I'm Welsh. Or these days, Welsh-Canadian. The trick is not to get obsessive.

So, Yucon, you're part of the welsh population drain then?

Yukon, I didn't know that! My step mother (became so when I was very young) was born Roderick in the Rhondda (spelling). I would greet you in the poor Welsh she taught me but I don't know how to spell that either. In any case, she and her present husband make Welsh Dragon weather cocks in full green and red (out of sheet steel). Need one up there in the beautiful north?

I think excessive niceness, and the possession of way more scenery than 20 million people can possibly deserve are their main faults.

Though I've found both Canadian and US citizens (in their own countries) extremely pleasant and welcoming, on the official front, there's definitely an attitude difference. Being pissed around by US Immigration and ultimately stopped up against a wall at gunpoint in Houston despite only landing there en route to Canada vs. the Canadian immigration guy being happy to let 8 guys leave his airport to come back for paperwork the next day despite the hopeless Continental aircrew having managed to lose 6 of their passports was quite a contrast.

LOL!
What a great story! I can relate, since I travel to and from the US (usually with equipment) quite often.

My favourite experience was in fact a number of experiences. I used to work freelance for a show called *Driver's Seat* which covered the automotive scene. Every year I would fly to Detroit for the Auto Show, probably the biggest in North America. Because of the cheapness of the production accountant and the lack of direct flights, we went a different way every time. The most difficult was to Chicago (which has a great airport) and then connecting to Detroit. I needed all my paperwork and most especially a list of equipment which was stamped by customs and then stamped again on return, not really a difficult thing, but all the gear was inspected and the serial numbers where checked. The easiest was flying to Toronto and then to Windsor, then driving through the tunnel to Detroit. I had to BEG the US customs official to stamp the list and all he wanted was for me to get out of his sight. He kept saying *Well if you are back here in four days, I will be on shift so it's not a problem!* This is despite the fact that I would be in the US with several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear that I couldn't prove was mine. Needless to say, the trip back at any time was easier and I am sure that that very same guard is strip searching people since 911 (justifiable) but our Customs people have never been a problem. With a few exceptions in very small airports, but those are different stories.

Prynhawn da or for those of you further east, noswaith dda. Yes I am originally from the Eastern Valley of Wales. Zoomer you got the spelling right.
Apparition, yes I have contributed to the Welsh population loss. But I'm sure we have new people turning up.
Zoomer a weather cock might well come in useful.
Iechyd da!

OK. I got to the end of the damn thread. And being that I got here, I might as well make a post.

What is wrong with Canada?

1. Terrible music.
2. Terrible anxiety over national identity.
3. TOO FAR AWAY...

Other than that, it seems like the best combination between North American and British culture. Of course, I could be completely wrong, having never been there...