Victoria, BC: Potemkin Village of the Frozen North

Geographically, The People's Republic of Canada is the second largest nation on earth, but its population is a scant 35 million. As 17% of the country consists of inhospitable permafrost and an astonishing 54% is untamed forest that the Canadians are too lazy to fell in the name of progress, 85% of these unfortunate, pale pink skinned savages make their living within 200 miles of the USian border. Decent health care is only available to the very rich and even they must cross the border into USia to obtain it as what little heath care infrastructure the country possessed has been destroyed by an ineffective and costly system of socialized medicine.

Of course, ill advised nationalization schemes are hardly unique to Canada. The plague of communist ideals infests most third world nations and is the chief obstacle preventing them from enjoying the standards of prosperity, literacy and health most USians take for granted. Canada, however is worse than most.

Like many an intrepid adventurer before me, I always pack my Discover Card when exploring new territory. Not only does it "pay to Discover," but the card is accepted wherever you see the Novus Network sign. Also, my Discover Card safer than carrying cash in the crime ridden ghettos of the frozen North, and it bears original artwork by the only surviving member of the Beatles, Ringo Starr. Truly, my Discover Card is the perfect form of currency.

At least it would be the perfect form of currency if the backwards and technologically deprived merchants of Canada could be persuaded to accept the blasted thing. They can't. Apparently processing my Discover Card is beyond the capabilities of their primitive electronic banking system.

So there I was in Canada, a nation that likes to think of itself as the 51st state without any form of electric currency. No problem thought I, I've got $200 USD and the delightful and intoxicating Chloedancer by my side; I'll be fine. Unfortunately, the process of turning the delightful and intoxicating Chloedancer into the delightfully intoxicated Chloedancer took half that sum and a new pair of shoes accounted for the remainder. (The third world is a great place to buy shoes as the vast quantities of cheap, illiterate and unskilled workers attract shoe manufacturers.)

I ran out of money on day 3 of my 5 day stay on scenic Vancouver Island, which had its good and bad points. The worst thing was that I had to ask the luscious Chloedancer to pick up the check for the remainder of the trip. In her wisdom, she was better prepared for the primitive environment that is Canada than I and she graciously agreed to pay for the remainder of our stay. On the plus side, I got to see Canada from the perspective of the average Canadian (solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short) rather than as a wealthy USian tourist.

To the casual observer, Victoria could pass for a USian city. The streets are wide and packed with traffic, the citizens are dressed in typical USian middle class garb and there is even a McDonald's. On closer examination however it begins to resemble a nightmare vision of USia, one that could only appeal to the white supremacists of Northern Idaho. The only black man I saw in Victoria worked in a restaurant and the Chicano community was completely non-existent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing our neighbors to the North of out and out racism (although that is a very plausible explanation). I'm just observing that whatever means the Canadian government uses to promote ethnic diversity are clearly not adequate.

Fortunately, I'm descended from hearty bands of Danes, Swedes and Norwegians who crossed the Atlantic to join Brigham Young in the promised land, so I could blend in perfectly with the aryans that surrounded me. I simply took to mispronouncing the letter "O" and saying "eh" a lot and they accepted me as one of their own.

Posing as a vacationing lumberjack from the icy Yukon, I learned the truth about this seemingly USian city. Victoria is naught but a facade designed to project a positive image of Canada to visiting USians. A great deal of effort has gone into this charade, but, as always, the devil is in the details.

My dearest love, Chloedancer, had mentioned the strange fact that there is a computer store on nearly every street corner. This struck her as being a bit unusual on a small, sparsely populated island. It was even more unusual considering that computers are a tool of the literate and Victoria is strangely lacking in bookstores. Closer examination revealed that most of these shops were dedicated to the Apple Macintosh.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the history of computing, the Apple Macintosh is a type of computer that was quite popular in the late 80's and early 90's. Eventually it was rendered obsolete by the release of Microsoft's astonishingly popular Windows95 operating system which did everything the Macintosh did but ran on much less expensive and faster hardware. While the Macintosh still hangs on in the graphic design market and is aggressively marketed by Apple, the idea that a town the size of Victoria could support 2 Macintosh retailers, still less the dozens we counted is preposterous.

Now I know that the handful of Macintosh advocates out there will be up in arms about these statements, but it's the simple truth. Over 90% of personal computers run some version of Microsoft Windows. While I'll not dispute that the Macintosh may be the finest system nobody uses, I must also point out that the Amiga, Lunix and BeOS communities make the same claim and you can't all be right.

When you consider that Apple pays good money for the placement of Macintoshes in movies like "Independence Day" and "The Net," the explanation for the shops of Victoria becomes clear. Obviously this is the result of a joint marketing campaign by Apple and the Canadians to make Canada seem technologically advanced and the Macintosh seem like a viable computing platform. Both assertions are demonstrably false.

Additionally, the lovely Chloedancer and I counted 5 adult boutiques. While there's nothing wrong with the use and enjoyment of marital aids, 5 shops in a city that cannot house more than 90,000 inhabitants seems a bit odd. It's worth noting that the greater Salt Lake City metropolitan area, with 10 times the population can only support 2 adult boutiques. Once again I smelled a marketing ploy and my subtle interrogations of the locals proved my hunch.

If you're going to run a country with a degree of ethnic diversity that the Third Reich would have envied, you must be very careful to avoid charges of fascism. What better way to demonstrate a fun loving and tolerant environment than wall to wall clitoral and anal stimulators? Canada is saying "look at all these butt-plugs, surely we're not about to round up homosexuals and send them to extermination camps." Once again I'd like to note that I'm not accusing Canadians of out and out racism or homophobia, but if they had nothing to hide would they be working so hard on their image? I think not.

I'm not the only one who noticed something false and repellent about Victoria. While visiting the Crystal Gardens, a pigmy marmoset managed to tunnel out of its cage. This smallest member of the primate family immediately spotted chloedancer and me and headed toward us. I will never forget the look on its little marmoset face as it seemed to plead with us to help it escape this frozen, socialist wasteland. How it knew we were USians is a mystery to me, but I am certain that it did.

Perhaps the saddest example of the deceit and false advertising that permeates Victoria relates to the female breast. It's a matter of record that unsound and inflationary monetary policies have made the Canadian dollar worth about 70% of its USian counterpart, but I had no idea that the same was true of their women. Here in the states, the most common bra size is a 36 C, just as it is in Canada. Unfortunately, when my beloved chloedancer attempted take advantage of the exchange rates to purchase a pair, she found they just didn't fit.

It seems that a USian 36 C is actually larger than a Canadian 36 D. Are our neighbors to the North so insecure about their flat chested women that they must incorrectly identify cup sizes? It seeems incredible, but no other explanation fits the facts. I suspect that not only are USian breasts larger, but they are also firmer and more full than their Canadian counterparts. I was going to test this theory, but chloedancer objected to my feeling up the women of Canada. I protested that it was all in the name of science, but to no avail. Some women just don't appreciate the sacrifices that science demands.

Finally, something must be said about Victoria's fetish for all things British. Their list of top tourist activities is as follows:

High tea at the Empress.
Tours via "Tally Ho" carriages.
Tours via "English style" double-decker busses.
Visits to the "Royal Wax Museum."

Is Canada so devoid of character that it must import it from the British Isles? I don't see Detroit advertising itself as "Ye Olde Motore Citie." Of course this isn't just Victoria, all Canada is divided into Canadians who like to pretend they're French and Canadians who want to pretend they're British. Those who don't fit into either category define themselves as "sort of like Americans, but not really." The second largest nation on earth has nothing that even remotely resembles a national soul. The Canadians may pretend to be British (or French) all they like, but behind that is a gnawing lack of identity and behind that lies the endless expanse of the tundra.

In the final analysis, Victoria BC is a pitiful exhibition. It's a painful attempt at overcompensation by a nation that is (rightfully) ashamed of itself. Much like picked on adolescents who turn to Ayn Rand and her imago of pitiless strength to hide their own helplessness, nobody is fooled and what pity we are inclined to feel is overwhelmed by disgust. Would I recommend visiting Victoria, BC? If you can make the trip in the company of a woman as amazing as Chloedancer, absolutely. Otherwise, I'm afraid that Victoria has little to recommend itself.

	I don't want to sound like a Canuck, but... (none / 0) (#4)
	by Thon on Fri Jan 11th, 2002 at 09:19:23 PM PST

	no matter how cute it may be, a mutt is never going to bring home best in show. Sometimes I wonder if these "melting pot" people ever think about the rational conclusion to what they are proposing. "I undrestand"

	But... (none / 0) (#5)
	by First Incision on Fri Jan 11th, 2002 at 10:10:18 PM PST

	A short-haired, earthtone-colored mutt is going to survive a lot longer in the wild than a white poodle or an inbred deaf dalmation. _ _ Do you suffer from late-night hacking? Ask your doctor about Protonix.

	But what? (5.00 / 1) (#12)
	by Thon on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 11:37:15 AM PST

	"inbred deaf dalmation." I believe you meant "purebred deaf dalmation." Also, are you suggesting we throw man's best friend into the wilderness like some sort of cat? I mean I'm not a man to put into question how another man gets his jollies, but when you mistreat dogs (or slaves) something must be said. "I undrestand"

	Thon. (none / 0) (#36)
	by DieForYourGovernment on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 08:06:45 AM PST

	Get a damn dictionary.

	That's the easy part. (none / 0) (#48)
	by Thon on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 10:41:07 PM PST

	Of course if you wanted to see an improvement in the ratio of correctly spelled words to incorrectly spelled words in my posts, well, then I would have to learn to use it. -Thon PS: I'm sorry if my signature makes you sad. While true I didn't intend to mistype "understand," I find I like it better that way now. It's more original. Like me! :) ...and Dr. Pepper. "I undrestand"

	But can she cook? (none / 0) (#6)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:05:39 AM PST

	You're obviously a real software professional. I can tell by the subtle subtext of your article: "HEY, LOOK EVERYBODY, I'M GOING OUT WITH A FEMALE! SHE HAS BREASTS AND EVERYTHING!" P.S. Canada is cleaner, healthier, better-educated, more polite, less crime-ridden, and overall way way better than the USA. You think Vancouver's a tourist trap hellhole? Try spending your next vacation in Reno or Orlando.

	Femininity in the new millennium (none / 0) (#13)
	by chloedancer on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 12:50:40 PM PST

	Can I cook? Last night's dinner was broiled Dungeness crab-stuffed portobello mushrooms, absolutely perfect steamed asparagus drizzled with a lemon, garlic & wine reduction sauce, and tiramisu for dessert (all made from scratch). I also do catering for fun every now and again, cooking for the national acts performing at a local concert series each summer and at the annual arts & music blowout event. My parents attempted to raise me to be Donna Reed when I grew up, but I somehow managed to take that oh-so-crucial left turn at Albuquerque and ended up becoming something else. I'm an IT professional who can also wear black velvet, gartered stockings, diamonds and opera gloves with the matching highbrow demeanor in effect; I do this for amusement every now and again (I refer to it as "wearing drag", truth be known). As the old Enjoli perfume commercial jingle went, "I can bring home the bacon/Fry it up in the pan/And never, ever let you forget/That you're a man..." Shoeboy simply was either smart enough or lucky enough to discover this and I offer no apologies for being damned near perfect. Get a clue -- the "lipstick tech" next to you can be more than you'd ever dreamed of; don't let the work uniform of jeans, sneakers and t-shirts fool you into actually believing that she's just like you when the workday ends. Oh, and Shoeboy? Just remember that, as a consequence of being destitute for the remaining three days' time of our soujourn, you were owned at that point. Fondling the locals would have resulted in your having been tragically evicted from our accomodations, alas. I, quite likely, would still have continued to have fun in your absence... You might remember the guy seated at the table next to ours while we enjoyed dinner on New Year's Day? He seemed to be having a fair amount of difficulty keeping his eyes from wandering over to admire me instead of paying attention to his own dining companion. Whenever you feel the urge to maul another woman in the name of "scientific inquiry", just remember that I'll never dine alone except as a result of my own choosing.

	hey (none / 0) (#15)
	by Peter Johnson on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 01:28:13 PM PST

	Look, you and I both know that I bow to your every whim. When you say jump I say how high and all that. I'll not deny it. But can I please pretend to be a dignified, worldly man on the internet. Just like the helpdesk techs at slashdot pretending to be ultra-1337 unix admins, the internet is my place to pretend I have a backbone. Of course, if you don't want me to pretend to have a spine, that's ok. I'll do whatever you say. --Peter Are you adequate?

	*sigh* (none / 0) (#23)
	by First Incision on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 06:14:42 PM PST

	Just when I think I'm content not having a girlfriend, a thread like this comes along. _ _ Do you suffer from late-night hacking? Ask your doctor about Protonix.

	don't worry (none / 0) (#35)
	by nathan on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 08:03:30 AM PST

	The chloe/shoe exchange is just causing the intended effect, that's all. Nathan -- Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

	See (none / 0) (#58)
	by Peter Johnson on Mon Jan 14th, 2002 at 10:24:00 AM PST

	That's exactly the kind of comment I was looking for. Makes me seem like a bit of a swell. Doesn't rob me of my diginity at all. <p>Thanks chloedancer, you keep reminding me why I love you so. <p>Now I've got to get back to cleaning your bathroom floor with a toothbrush. Later my dear. --Peter Are you adequate?

	Britishness (none / 0) (#9)
	by because it isnt on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 06:01:49 AM PST

	Finally, something must be said about Victoria's fetish for all things British. I'm just wondering, Peter, if anyone told you what the "BC" in "Victoria, BC" stands for. I'd also like to know if you are aware who was the reigning Queen of Great Britain between 1837 and 1901. These two nuggets of information would help you understand the overwhelming Britishness of Victoria, BC. adequacy.org -- because it isn't

	Yes (none / 0) (#26)
	by because it isnt on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 08:37:39 PM PST

	If I name my son Xerxes then it's only a matter of time before he begins indiscriminately slaughtering Greeks? Have you actually named your son Xerxes? No? Well then. However, imagine this scenario: you're outside a shop. The sign on it says "shoe shop". You go in. They're selling shoes. Coincidence? I'm not the first editor to observe this, but you, sir, are a twit. Respectfully put. You should hear the other things they call me. adequacy.org -- because it isn't

	Imagine this (none / 0) (#32)
	by Peter Johnson on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 02:04:09 AM PST

	You're driving down the road and you see a sign that says "Now entering Athens." You look around, but there isn't a marble ruin or gyro stand anywhere about. And instead of handsome dark haired and olive skinned Greeks, you see illiterate Southern USians given to chewing tobacco, spitting, incest and the practice of Klu Kluxery. Coincidence? --Peter Are you adequate?

	Masculinity in the new millennium (5.00 / 1) (#25)
	by chloedancer on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 07:32:30 PM PST

	Oh, come now. With regard to dealing with a woman of substance, that mode of response is pitifully outdated and you know better, really. Just in case you need a reminder, here's the deal: If you were spineless, I'd never enjoy your company as much as I do. Instead, I prefer the model whereby I state my terms and you're free to choose your actions in response (and the reverse is also true). It's a no-nonsense and more respectful approach, yes? As a right-thinking male, I think that you actually appreciate having a woman who is direct and uncomplicated with no hidden agendas or game-playing strategies; there's no denying that you know you'll always get a straight answer whenever you need to know what I think, right? While we may not always see eye-to-eye, that just means that there's room for negotiation and compromise. Consider this: if you'd instead proposed with equal enthusiasm that I also would be welcomed to participate in the scientific inquiry you desired to pursue, that might have changed my opinion, ma cher. You know that, too, but just aren't ready to go there yet and I respect that. Your masculine self-identity is strong enough take me at face value and I appreciate it -- it means that I don't have to placate your ego, pretend, mince or simper, either. I think it's refreshing and that it fosters a win-win outcome, don't you? As to the "kept man" part, please remember that there are some who would, in fact, envy your status in that capacity, even if it was only a temporary condition. Variety is the spice of life, after all, and you well know that I'm quite capable of running circles around you when it comes to basic life skills if for no other reason that I've simply had more practice. And you certainly didn't mind it at the time if my memory serves, so don't pretend otherwise, all right? Be proud to be a man with a woman who can take care of herself, stand her ground and, while being very independent by nature, has chosen your company above all others and absolutely adores you. Hell, all things considered, it would not be inappropriate for you to be downright smug about it; if so, you'd have my blessings 'cause you've certainly earned 'em.

	I seem to have fallen in love... (none / 0) (#7)
	by luisa on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:08:45 AM PST

	with both the charming Mr. Johnson and the delightful Ms. Chloedancer. They must obviously be extremely attractive individuals, to inspire me to actually read an article.

	Yes, we are... (none / 0) (#14)
	by chloedancer on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 01:12:12 PM PST

	but do keep in mind that we're both what I would describe as being "high maintenance" in some rather demanding ways. I think that the world should breathe a collective sigh of relief for the fact that we've found each other (thereby negating the possibility of our inflicting ourselves on anyone else less "well-equipped" for keeping either of us satiated in the long-term). Think of it as being one less unfortunate circumstance in the world, if you will.

	We love you too (none / 0) (#57)
	by Peter Johnson on Mon Jan 14th, 2002 at 10:19:59 AM PST

	Passionately. --Peter Are you adequate?

	ummmm (none / 0) (#8)
	by PotatoError on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 05:53:32 AM PST

	"I'm just observing that whatever means the Canadian government uses to promote ethnic diversity are clearly not adequate." your one of these quacks arent you, who agrees with a ethnic quotering system in the workplace. <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	So by your logic (none / 0) (#18)
	by Peter Johnson on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:14:56 PM PST

	If I name my son Xerxes then it's only a matter of time before he begins indiscriminately slaughtering Greeks? I'm not the first editor to observe this, but you, sir, are a twit. --Peter Are you adequate?

	No (none / 0) (#45)
	by doofus on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 05:29:46 PM PST

	It merely means the targeting data was not analyzed correctly, but no matter, drop the ordance anyway - you won't have enough fuel to get home otherwise.

	Athens? (none / 0) (#51)
	by Anonymous Reader on Mon Jan 14th, 2002 at 04:26:45 AM PST

	The road-sign must be damaged. It's missing the letters "H" and "E" at the start. adequacy.org -- because it isn't

	Canuckia... (none / 0) (#10)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 09:36:35 AM PST

	Having lived (and still living) in Canada, I must say the authors representation of Canada is quite accurate... Meanwhile, back on Earth, the reality is here we have a typical Usian thinking they are the center of the universe about everything and clearly lacking any fact (like Victoria BC being too British? Yoohoo, wakey wakey...) about anything beyond the borders of their own skulls.

	At least someone feels a little the same as me.... (none / 0) (#17)
	by budlite on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 02:28:37 PM PST

	"Meanwhile, back on Earth, the reality is here we have a typical Usian thinking they are the center of the universe about everything and clearly lacking any fact (like Victoria BC being too British? Yoohoo, wakey wakey...) about anything beyond the borders of their own skulls." YES! Thank you! Someone with a little sense! It's like I said in my own comment, America hasn't always been - the nation we all know as America was started by a group of British settlers who happened across a chunk of rock across the Atlantic, decided that the natives living there were savages and proceeded to kick the living sh*t out of them for no reason whatsoever and believed they had the right to do so. Before anyone starts shouting at me for having an restricted and inaccurate view of the British, then please note that I myself am British, so I am perfectly well qualified to make these statements. I'd just like people to recognise that NO country is perfect (the UK and America included), and that you can't judge one country against another - it just doesn't work like that.

	America, America (none / 0) (#19)
	by Peter Johnson on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:37:07 PM PST

	YES! Thank you! Someone with a little sense! It's like I said in my own comment, America hasn't always been - the nation we all know as America was started by a group of British settlers who happened across a chunk of rock across the Atlantic, decided that the natives living there were savages and proceeded to kick the living sh*t out of them for no reason whatsoever and believed they had the right to do so. So many errors, so little time. First off, America is the name of a pair of continents, not a country. While it's a popular mistake to refer to the United States as "America," it's still a mistake. Mexicans, Brazillians and even Canadians have just as much of a right to call themselves "Americans" as Usians do. Secondly, the United States of America was founded when the inhabitants of 13 British colonies rebelled. While British subjects, these colonists included large nubmers or Irishmen, Africans, Dutchmen, Germans and Spaniards as well as an British majority. In fact, the first "American" killed as part of the USian independence movement was an African-USian by the name of Crispus Attucks. Third, while the treatment of Native Americans by European colonists was usually apalling, some colonial leaders in what was to become USia (William Penn springs to mind) were quite ethical in there treatment of the original inhabitants of the land. Unfortunately these precedents were not followed in later USian history. Fourth, the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower arrived by way of Holland, where they had been living for several years. Finally, being British does not excuse ignorance. You might as well claim, like ESR does, that you're qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject of anthropology because you wrote part of nethack. To sum up: you are in error, you have criticized your betters and you need to apologize. --Peter Are you adequate?

	ESR's true colors. (none / 0) (#21)
	by tkatchev on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:49:06 PM PST

	He didn't "write a part of nethack". Rather, he contributed a few lines of crap code - the nethack development team probably felt bad rejecting the code. -- Peace and much love...

	Not a snowball's... (none / 0) (#77)
	by budlite on Wed Jan 16th, 2002 at 01:57:20 PM PST

	No, sorry, no apologies from me. I maintain that you have a very narrow-minded view of the world, and trying to threaten me by showing a list of names containing your name isn't going to make me say anything. I don't quite see how you can justify calling yourself my "better", either. What is it that makes you or anyone else better than me? I don't believe that any person is better than any other person, when you consider all possible factors (which not you or I or anyone else can really do).

	The USA is the most important nation in history (none / 0) (#20)
	by Robert Reginald Rodriguez on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 03:47:55 PM PST

	You can't sensibly deny this simple, obvious fact of modern life. If you don't live in America, then you don't live in the finest nation on Earth. If you don't live in America, you live in a second-rate nation. You might live in a socialist "worker's paradise" like Canada. You might live in a dirt poor banana republic, like Mexico. Wherever you live, if you are not an American, then you are inferior, based purely on your nation of birth. Who invented the motor car? America. Who invented the rocket? America. Who invented the computer? America. Who invented the atom bomb? America. Who invented the telephone? America. Who invented the radio? America. Who won every single war fought this century against tyranny and oppression? Who rescued Europe in her darkest hour? Who made the world safe for democracy? Who KEEPS the world safe for democracy? Who made the modern world possible? America. Every time an American points out that other nations are not even trying to live up to our shining example, we get to hear all about how terrible America really is. Would you rather be speaking German? It seems the world needs to be reminded on a regular basis that it is America to whom they owe the luxury and safety of their lives. Even now, Americans are dying alone in Afghanistan to keep you safe from international terrorists. It sickens me, the thanks we get. We die to defend you. We manufacture the modern goods that you take for granted. We provide all your entertainment. The least we ask is a little gratitude. For all intents and purposes, America IS the center of YOUR universe. Accept it. Get over it. If you want to be a part of it, all you have to do is move here. America is, after all, the land of opportunity. Even foreigners can, with effort, make a good life for themselves here.

	Gratitude? (none / 0) (#24)
	by First Incision on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 06:21:03 PM PST

	Since when are we asking for a little gratitude? I would rather have money, which we get. All these non-US types can bitch and moan for all I care. _ _ Do you suffer from late-night hacking? Ask your doctor about Protonix.

	Actually... (none / 0) (#29)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 12:01:05 AM PST

	The phone was invented by Graham Bell in Nova Scotia (he himself said so in New York in the early 1900s.) The computer was invented in England by Charles Babbage. You're thinking 'the microprocessor' which is a different although related thing. On the other hand, the zipper is a Canadian invention... And I for one wouldn't be too proud of being the country which 'invented' the atomic bomb - and while we're at it - was the only one ever to use it in a war (so far anyway).

	ggrrr... (none / 0) (#38)
	by DieForYourGovernment on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 08:19:39 AM PST

	we all know a)that bell didn't invent to phone first, he patented it first. b) just because you are on vacation somewhere, doesn't mean you a permanent resident of that somewhere. I don't fill out my tax return with the address 'disneyworld,' do I?

	Check your facts! (none / 0) (#39)
	by iat on Sun Jan 13th, 2002 at 08:21:37 AM PST

	I think you'll find that the motor car, rocket, computer, telephone and radio were invented by the British (although I'll admit that you bloodthirsty USians invented the atom bomb). Many of your other claims are also fallacious and unfounded. Please click here and educate yourself. Adequacy.org - love it or leave it.

	You should consider the facts before you post. (none / 0) (#107)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Jul 27th, 2002 at 02:29:49 PM PST

	Who invented the rocket? Germany Who invented the computer? England Who invented the atom bomb? America.Only thanks to a German by the name of Einstein.. Who invented the telephone? Canada. Who invented the radio? Canada. "Who rescued Europe in her darkest hour?" Actually although the Americans contributed to the defence of Europe with sheer numbers and shaved many years off the war, the Russians would actually get credit for saving europe by knocking out half the German army. "Who made the world safe for democracy?" I'm afraid the US gets involved when it is in their best intrests, not the world's. If you said "Who made the US safe for democracy?" then i would have agreed. As for the situation in Afghan., that is the US' war, not anyone elses, and yet we all help with it. The USA is the most important nation in history. No. I'm afraid that one goes to Britain. Most arrogant nation. You have a good shot if your fellow Americans let you keep talking.

	This is the kind of thing.... (none / 0) (#16)
	by budlite on Sat Jan 12th, 2002 at 02:14:41 PM PST

	...that makes me wonder why I bother reading adequacy.org I'd ask you not to forget that the America you know today was started by British settlers. Just bear little thoughts like that in mind before you start criticising other countries and making remarks about Canada being "too British". The whole Discover card thing, too....just because two countries are geographically adjacent to each other doesn't mean they absolutely MUST be exactly alike. I'd have thought a better course of action would be to get a more GLOBALLY generic credit card, such as Mastercard or Visa. Discover is much much more US-centric as far as I can tell...we certainly don't have it here in England. Your ideas about computer technology seem rather confused too. Apple computers are far from obsolete - in fact, no computer is TRULY obsolete. NASA used extremely old computers to control shuttle launches and moon landings when computers far more powerful were available, and why? Because they suited the application and were tried-and-tested - they weren't likely to fall over at the critical moment (unlike Windows machines - and I have experience). It's also silly to call x86-based hardware "faster" than the Motorola processors used in Apple machines - it's true that x86-based machines often have CPUs with higher clock rates but the designs and instruction sets are totally different, so one may be more efficient than the other - remember, clock rate isn't everything. As I was saying about computers having different applications, x86-based home computers are usually used for office work or games, while Apple computers tend to excel in graphics work. But the two are completely interchangeable. Personally I use x86 computers, running either Windows or a Unix variant, but that's just because I'm used to those. This post shows that people just need to be a little more broad-minded and GET THEIR FACTS STRAIGHT! I've read exactly ZERO articles on adequacy.org that have been completely factually correct. Thanks for your time and I'm sorry if this whole thing appears rather rambling and disjointed.