Canadian Bacon and the Swine Flu

~A Canadian is sort of like an American, but without the gun.~ 

Anonymous

Poor Canada.  Oft perceived as something of a mix between the UK's neglected stepchild and the US's country bumpkin cousin, it stands in as the butt of many a joke.  Just throwing in Canada can make something just a little bit funnier - like this little H1N1 Public Health Announcement:  http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/comedy/watch/v19326847yFRxaqmx#

Butt Canada, not today (ha, ha, did you see what I did there?)!  Today Canada gets its very own list. 5 things that Canada gave us that are pretty great:

1. The Blackberry --  True story. Founded in 1984, Research in Motion has its headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  They are led by Co-CEO Jim Balsillie and President and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis (Both Candian!)                                                                           

2. Canadian Bacon -- hmmm.  not quite ham, not quite pepperoni.  Somewhere in the middle, but rather tasty tasty on the pizza if you are of the meat-eating persuasion!

3. Who is Alex Trebek? -- Host of Jeoparady, born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.  He graduated the University of Ottawa with a degree in Philosophy, and began his media career as a newscaster for the CBC.  Without dear Canada, no one would have ever heard of Ken Jennings or seen Celebrity Jeoporady.

 

4. Strange Brew -- If you haven't seen this classic bit of 80's Candian Pop Culture - not gonna lie, it might be too late.  But in its era, the shenanigans of Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as Bob and Doug McKenzie were the pinnacle of Canada-to-US entertainment.  For any highbrow sneerers - it is a loose adaptation of Hamlet with the McKensie Brothers filling in as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.  If hockey and intrigue at the Elsinore Brewery is your mug of tea- you can thank Canada. And if not - take off hoser, eh?

5. The Snowblower -- Way back in 1925, Montreal based inventor Arthur Sicard made his first "Snow Remover Snowblower."  He was tired of shoveling - not too surprising in a city with an average annual snowfall just shy of 7 feet.  Those who are lucky enough to own such a wonder (not me) can thank Art and Canada.

Note --  A couple of websites try to attribue the modern game of Baseball to Canada.  Nice try, but don't get greedy Neighbor.  The steroid pumpin, chaw-spittin national pastime is all ours!

So Dear Reader, anything else we can graciously thank our neighbor to the North for?