I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

BarbaraA

R_R, that is a very cool website!

River_Rat

Barbara, isn't it though?  Did you notice the short time events section where they put things that if they don't turn out to be a major thing and then they scroll off?  They even have traffic accidents?  I'm truly gob-smacked.

1Athena1

Amazing site - will look at it more tonight. Great find, River.

BarbaraA

Lunch: Purely Decadent Coconut milk snickerdoodle ice cream. OMG!

BarbaraA

Oh, forgot to add GO GATORS!

River_Rat

If you tell me that one's gluten free I'm going to have to find out if I can get it here.

BarbaraA

The snickerdoodle dough is made from rice, potato and tapioca flour but it doen't say it is gluten free.

River_Rat

Barbara, that's ok, it's not like I'm starving here.  I probably have enough sweet options to get me through.  But you can tell me what it tastes like and I'll live that taste vicariously until I can find out (1) if it is gluten free and (2) if they have it at my nearest Whole Foods - which I won't be able to visit for at least a week or more.

Bren-2007

River and Barbara .. you're making me hungry!  So far I've had a protein bar and a bagel and vitamin water ... boring.

But, I have exercised, so if nothing else gets done today, I'm glad about that accomplishment!  And so are my dogs!  I did talk to Tank, and he assures me he is not a Martian dog.

Bren

208sandy

First of all Medigal belated Happy Anniversary (I think pizza was a GREAT idea).

Secondly Medigal I don't want to see you leave this thread at the least please still come by and say hi BUT I will say that I don't think you really want a discussion about politics so much as you want us all to come over to your side - it won't happen - I am 65 and have been a staunch liberal (and Liberal) all my life as was my mother before me (my father was a Conservative but in Canada where that probably doesn't mesh with a U.S. Conservative) - as for making jokes and poking fun that is just the Canadian way of life - we just can't help ourselves and that is why I particularly like this thread and the people on it - I think our common interest is in our fellow humans, our pets and God knows our vegetables (see there I go again - can't help myself).

Sandy

River_Rat

Bren, glad to see you here.  I was starting to wonder....Tank...hmm.  Now I need to go get some exercise in.

AnnNYC

PiP, I think you said it in a nutshell!

There are so many conspiracy theories and fear campaigns that have everyone fighting among themselves.  But in the background, the "moneymen" have been taking control of every aspect of our lives.  They are laughing all the way to the bank...with our money.

crazy4carrots

 On a lighter note (and for Sandy!)

ril 6, 2010

By Heather Summerhayes Cariou
For Troy Media

Heather Summerhayes Cariou

NEW JERSEY, April 6, 2010/Troy Media/ – Jay Leno doesn’t do it for me, and frankly, I can’t stand Conan (O’Brien).  Letterman makes me smile, but give me Marty Short, Jim Carrey or Rick Mercer, and I’m laughing. 

You could say it’s because I’m Canadian, but thousands of Americans are laughing right along with me.  (By the way, I adore Craig Ferguson, who is Scottish, which makes him almost Canadian.)

The list of Canadian comedians who have bolted to stardom in the United States is longer than a shaggy dog story. It goes all the way back to Mack Sennett and the Keystone Cops.

Marie Dressler tickled your grandfather’s funny bone; Rich Little charmed an entire generation in the 50’s and 60’s; and Wayne and Shuster made the Smother’s Brothers possible.  Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin (though born in the US, Canada claims her), Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis, the late John Candy, and Dave Thomas all came from SCTV with a unique chemistry oozing straight out of Tim Horton’s coffee, Molson’s beer and maple syrup pie.

Let’s not forget Howie Mandel, Tom Green, Mike Myers, Leslie Neilson, Caroline Rhea, David Steinberg, and Tommie Chong (Cheech and Chong). Lorne Michaels brought us Saturday Night Live with Dan Ackroyd, and the late Phil Hartman, Kids in the Hall.  The latest young Canadian comedian to take America by storm is Seth Rogan.

So what makes Canadian comics so funny?

Why are Canadian comedians so fully embraced by American audiences?  It’s not that Canadian comedians are funnier than their American counterparts.  It’s that they’re, well, different.  Canadians by our very nature are a self-deprecating lot. Poking fun at ourselves is almost a national pastime.  If you don’t believe that, think about the closing ceremonies at the recent Winter Olympics with all those ridiculous moose, blow-up beavers, and half-naked fairies with maple leaf wings.

It may also be that as Canadians, we are either too ashamed or polite to talk about our dysfunction openly. But, we’ve become adept at creating characters that do our talking for us.

We also get to draw on French mime and English music hall traditions that run deep in our culture, which translates into a kind of refined slapstick, physical comedy so well employed by many Canadian comedians.

I took a brief straw poll on this question and came up with these responses:

My friend, American comedy writer Alan Zwiebel, is the winner of five Emmies, six Ace Awards, and a Writers Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award. He says, “Having worked with and for Canadian funny people for the past 35 years, the best I can come up with is that we enjoy their uninhibited sense of adventure in their comedy.  Their willingness to totally commit to the characters they’re playing and take them to extreme places with a rare combination of absurdity and intelligence.” 

No need to spill their psychological guts

Why?  Because they don’t have the need to talk about the psychological horrors of their upbringings the way American comedians do. Canadians are either free of them or throw themselves into their work and hide behind their characters in an attempt to avoid confronting them.

Monica Parker, “bi-border” actress, writer and producer adds: “Why do Americans love Canadian comedians?  My hunch is – simplicity.  I think by nature Canadians are not as dry as Brits but have an inherent honesty about their situation – living next door to the biggest, baddest ‘boy on the block.’  It makes us always be David’s to their Goliath’s, and with that comes observation about them and us that’s funny, true and irreverent. It also allows Americans to retain their superiority over us and therefore . . . of course feel free to love us poor schmendricks from up north.”

Twenty-two year old Canadian documentary film maker Brian Summerhayes (this writer’s brother) explains it this way:  “Canadians get an outside look at America (and the things that drive America). Although we’re saturated with American culture, we still can look at events to the South with a unique point of view. It’s possible that we can see humour in political, economic, or various other situations that Americans may not see right away. That may be what makes Canadian comedians beloved to Americans. Canadian comedians have the advantage of both Canadian and American culture, and can use the differences as a tool for comedy.”

Canadian actors score in US

The phenomenon of Canadian performers finding success in America is not limited to comedians.  There is a long-standing tradition of Canadian actors and actresses becoming American stars, stretching back to Mary Pickford, Glenn Ford and Lorne Greene, and including Christopher Plummer, Donald Sutherland, Len Cariou, William Shatner, and Michael J. Fox, Rachel McAdam, Kim Cattrall, Ellen Page, Evangeline Lilly, Pamela Anderson, and Anna Pacquin, to name only a few.  Then there’s Art Linkletter, Alex Trebek and Monty Hall.  And don’t get me started on the number of Canadian musicians beloved by Americans.

Keep them coming

So why can’t Americans get enough Canadian comedians?  Possibly there’s a deep, mysterious need in the American psyche that only our exotic Canadian humour can answer.  Or maybe it’s because Canadians are funnier because they all grew up wearing toques.

Heather Summerhayes Cariou is the author of  Sixty five Roses: A Sister’s Memoir , and wife of acclaimed award-winning actor Len Cariou. She grew up in Branford, Ontario and her husband is a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba.  

Read more: Why Americans love Canadian comedians | Troy Media Corporation http://www.troymedia.com/2010/04/06/why-americans-love-canadian-comedians/#ixzz1Hdf3h7D1

208sandy

Thank you for the post Lindasa.

Sandy

1Athena1

(((Bren))) I was wondering about you too.

Medigal

Sandy:  Thank you for the congrats.  You haven't been with the group long enough to have read enough of my previous posts or you would know I don't have "a side".  Shirley posted a link I happened to agree with and if I did not agree with it, I would have had a different "side" about it.  I really take offense at the idea you would think I only post on here to form a bunch of political clones!

What I hoped to see was that my friends on here were aware of happenings.  I do not want or have the power to tell adults what to think especially about politics just like I would not allow anyone to program my mine about what to think.  I read, research, watch programs, contact my relative who is deeply involved in politics and THEN I come to a conclusion of whether or not I believe in the issue before me.  I am NOT Henny Penny running around thinking "the sky is falling"!  However, I do care enough about my country to look at the sky when I can to make sure it is still there.  All I ask of my friends is to just "look" once in a while for themselves.  If they prefer not to, so be it.  You don't even know whether I am a liberal or conservative so how can you accuse me of wanting to get people on "my" side.  I have NO side and consider each issue seperately when I read about it.  

Sorry to all the nice ladies who were standing in line to get on "my side".  I don't take passengers.   I just share my opinions.  Have a nice day ladies and you, too Sandy.

Bren-2007

Thanks River Rat and Athena ... aside from confirming that my dog is not a Martian, I really haven't kept up with things like usual.  My focus is off, and if the post is longer than a couple of sentences .. I'm lost!

hugs to all,

Bren

covertanjou

(((Bren)))) I am thinking of you.

I am glad that you also had time to check that your dog is not a Martian--better safe than sorry.

I haven't been on since this morning so, a big LIKE to Linda's and 3mom's posts.   

bluedahlia

I think I'll have a spot of tea.

BarbaraA

Well, tonight is vegetarian pizza with a salad (followed by cookie dough coconut milk ice cream). I am trying to gain some weight and it isn't happening so I upped the ice cream to twice a day.

In fact, I would have had dessert instead of lunch when I met with E but they were out of the three desserts I wanted. I only need to gain 7-10 pounds and I hope I can stop once I get on a roll.

Bren-2007

Barbara .. you and E must have been quite a pair at lunch ... both trying to find the most fattening items on the menu!  While the rest of us can only dream about needing to add 10 lbs!

hugs,

Bren

bluedahlia

I was 114 lbs. before surgery am now 130 lbs. and it doesn't look like it's gonna stop. My eating habits have not changed.  On a positive note, my boobies are getting bigger.  hehehehe!

Bren-2007

Blue ..  you made me laugh right out loud! 

bluedahlia

Bren, so glad to see you posting again. Am so glad it looks like you're feeling better!

Bren-2007

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/25/glenn-beck-radio-show-dro_n_840647.html

Beck's radio show is dropped from four local Connecticut stations. 

Apparently, the listening audience wants more local reporting rather than Beck.

Amazingly, I used to watch Beck when he was on CNN.  He changed when he moved to Fox, and somehow he went crazy.

Bren

River_Rat

Bren, thank you.  I thought maybe I was the only one wondering what happened between Beck at CNN and Beck at FOX.

Bren-2007

River Rat .. I believe something fell out of his brain when he moved to Fox ... and some weird alien moved into the vacant spot.

Bren

Medigal

Thanks for the link about Beck.  If he's crazy, he must be crazy like a fox going directly to the bank with all the money he is making.  Noticed the info stated he lost 4 stations but he's the third largest radio talk show host in country.   Eighty-eight stations picked up his show in the past year.  Evidentally, he does have an audience interested in what he has to say.

Today, he spoke about the Federal Reserve on his tv show and it was very informative with guests. I watched the entire show and this is  the way I feel he needs to present info to us.  No scare mongering just facts.  Now I have to do some research to verify what was presented.

Wow!  Beck was right!  The Federal Reserve is owned by a group of private banks and is not controlled by our government!  I guess they called it "Federal" to mislead us into not checking up on it.  Well, it worked.  I sure didn't take the time to check.  The banks that own it are the same names I was given by my friend years ago to be wary of.  Oh well, life goes on and I need to think about what to cook in my new cookware.  Have a good evening ladies. 

River_Rat

Lindasa, I liked the piece on Canadian comedians/actors.  Now I'm trying to decide how I'd describe Canadian comedians.  They do have the sharpness of British comedians with less of the dryness and IMHO a more optimistic/almost happy-go-lucky kind of quality.  Maybe it is because of the French influence....interesting.

BTW - Greek salad and black bean soup.  Comfort food. 

crazy4carrots

River -- she left out Ryan Reynolds!

Coq au vin, wild rice and garlic-y green beans!