Monday, August 11, 2008

Give me a break, eh?

Before I lose any more readers and/or friends, I shall break my silence. I was more "away" than away: just taking a week off to do some work and hosting. Still "here," just not exactly right here. Taking a technology break.  Ignoring my email. Keeping my computer off. Leaving my cell phone uncharged. In short, pretending to be a hardcore neo-luddite. Social networking is my Russia: enemy or overlord, nothing in-between. 

This reminds me of an ongoing discussion that my significant other and I have going, which involves brainstorming various answers to the question "What's your Canada?" (For Americans, nothing is more delightful than playfully mocking our dear northern neighbor. At least in my case, this is because I am secretly jealous of its progressive ways, the very same progressive ways which make Canadians smug and, to be honest, somewhat annoying at times.) This began when we realized that Switzerland is, in so many ways, Italy's Canada. Switzerland is Canada enough for many countries, actually. Indiana's Canada? Michigan, no doubt. George W. Bush's Canada? Tony Blair. The pancake's Canada? The crepe. You see? Everyone has a Canada. Even Canada has a Canada (Greenland). So, who is your Canada? 

I hope that I have distracted you from the fact that I have put no content into this blogpost and diverted you from your latent resentment about my technology vacation. Hey, just because you're at work and looking for something to read doesn't mean I have to sell my soul to the technology monster. Go join Facebook or something.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

But who is Swiss Miniatur's Canada?

Anonymous said...

michigan, indiana's canada!? hardly. don't flatter yourselves, michigan. although we don't have the lake frontage and the dutch reformed - we do have a southern border with the ohio river and the amish. would gary's canada be flint? sort of tit-for-tat if you ask me. don't even get me started on the wasteland that is detroit... we haven't as much venison jerkey, pseudo-military militia groups, or ted nugent - so tilt your head down a bit, michigan - and face the reality that indiana is kentucky's canada! yeah, take that! :)

Jessica Jones said...

I believe LinkedIn is Facebook's Canada.

Swiss Ms. said...

Ohhh Jess, that was such a low and clever blow. I love it!

Swiss Miniatur's Canada would be Miniatur Greenland. Get with it, Canadian Ms.

Indiana Mr. – If you read your own comment carefully, you will realize the beauty of the Canada metaphor: it can work both ways. Maybe you feel bad about Michigan being your Canada (Better check your facts on the existence of IN militias. To be kind, I won't even mention the strong presence of a certain triple consonant organization....) but you can take solace in the fact that you are someone else's Canada. It's the American way!

JulieAnn said...

Oh, the dear US of A is Australia's Canada. Even our relatives put a little jab in whenever possible...

While Indiana's Canada may be Michigan, I would argue Michigan's Canada is Indiana as well.