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bajalera
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Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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My son Steve and a Mexican friend were gabbing in front of our neighborhood tienda when a guy whose nationality wasn't obvious came walking down the
street. As he passed by, he looped a paper bag at the trash can outside the tienda, missed, and came back to pick it up.
Steve's friend said, "I couldn't tell whether that was an American or a Mexican, but when he stopped to put the trash in the can, I knew he wasn't
Mexican."
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalera
My son Steve and a Mexican friend were gabbing in front of our neighborhood tienda when a guy whose nationality wasn't obvious came walking down the
street. As he passed by, he looped a paper bag at the trash can outside the tienda, missed, and came back to pick it up.
Steve's friend said, "I couldn't tell whether that was an American or a Mexican, but when he stopped to put the trash in the can, I knew he wasn't
Mexican." |
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dean miller
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Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by dean miller
CANADIAN SHOPPING --BOXING DAY
I recall some years ago -possibly 15 or more when the US dollar was very strong and the Canadian dollar weak some where around 60 cents Canadian to
American dollar.
It was winter --I was visiting friends in Toronto, Canada I had arrived in SoCal warm clothes, hardly adequate for the Canadian winter but I made do
until Boxing day - the day after Christmas when all stores have supper sales every thing related to winter is on sale at a greatly reduced price.
I purchased a tan "Canadian Duffel Coat" and immediately placed it on my cold California body-- and did it feel great!
I was standing out side a woman's clothing store waiting for my wife who was inside also taking advantage of the Boxing sale, when a Canadian
gentleman joined me as is often the case when the lady folks are shopping.
Assuming I was a 100% Canadian who was wearing the national coat turned to me and stated "Those darn Americans look at the trash all around the
mall." I noticed boxes, bags and all sorts of shopping debris and even people discarding their old clothes and putting on new recently purchased
Canadian items. All I could safely respond under the circumstances was "Eh?" and lucky for me my wife arrived at that very moment and with out
uttering anthing we departed poste haste.
That evening on Canadian news there was a snippet displaying the route to the border littered with discard boxes, bags, old clothes, etc.
The trash was blamed on Americans from upstate New York who came to Toronto, purchased items, put them on and discarded the old items along with the
boxes along the route. The next morning TV news had more of the same as well as an article in the local news paper about the trash discarded by the
Americans who had taken advantage of the bargains on Boxing day.
So it goes both ways... and now the Canadian dollar is worth more than the American dollar. One would question that if some time in the future the
Canadians will be traveling south to Buffalo and trashing American roads on the return trip?
sdm |
Sounds like what our Home Depot in Imperial Beach looks like all the time---same with the closest Wal-Marts and Costcos----people from south of the
border---guess maybe trash can one of those situational situations. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not the same!
In Canada the Americans littered the malls, the parking lots and the route to the border with boxes, bags and old used clothes..They wore the new
clothes back to US evidently in order to avoid customs or ???
It was not a pretty sight...And it was very clear where the trash came from.
sdm
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Paulina
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Posts: 3810
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Sounds like what our Home Depot in Imperial Beach looks like all the time---same with the closest Wal-Marts and Costcos----people from south of the
border---guess maybe trash can one of those situational situations. |
I agree wtih you. Sounds the same to me too.
P<*)))><
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dean miller
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by dean miller
CANADIAN SHOPPING --BOXING DAY
I recall some years ago -possibly 15 or more when the US dollar was very strong and the Canadian dollar weak some where around 60 cents Canadian to
American dollar.
It was winter --I was visiting friends in Toronto, Canada I had arrived in SoCal warm clothes, hardly adequate for the Canadian winter but I made do
until Boxing day - the day after Christmas when all stores have supper sales every thing related to winter is on sale at a greatly reduced price.
I purchased a tan "Canadian Duffel Coat" and immediately placed it on my cold California body-- and did it feel great!
I was standing out side a woman's clothing store waiting for my wife who was inside also taking advantage of the Boxing sale, when a Canadian
gentleman joined me as is often the case when the lady folks are shopping.
Assuming I was a 100% Canadian who was wearing the national coat turned to me and stated "Those darn Americans look at the trash all around the
mall." I noticed boxes, bags and all sorts of shopping debris and even people discarding their old clothes and putting on new recently purchased
Canadian items. All I could safely respond under the circumstances was "Eh?" and lucky for me my wife arrived at that very moment and with out
uttering anthing we departed poste haste.
That evening on Canadian news there was a snippet displaying the route to the border littered with discard boxes, bags, old clothes, etc.
The trash was blamed on Americans from upstate New York who came to Toronto, purchased items, put them on and discarded the old items along with the
boxes along the route. The next morning TV news had more of the same as well as an article in the local news paper about the trash discarded by the
Americans who had taken advantage of the bargains on Boxing day.
So it goes both ways... and now the Canadian dollar is worth more than the American dollar. One would question that if some time in the future the
Canadians will be traveling south to Buffalo and trashing American roads on the return trip?
sdm |
Sounds like what our Home Depot in Imperial Beach looks like all the time---same with the closest Wal-Marts and Costcos----people from south of the
border---guess maybe trash can one of those situational situations. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not the same!
In Canada the Americans littered the malls, the parking lots and the route to the border with boxes, bags and old used clothes..They wore the new
clothes back to US evidently in order to avoid customs or ???
It was not a pretty sight...And it was very clear where the trash came from.
sdm |
Yea, it is probably quite different. At the stores that I mentioned, the shopping from below the border is a daily affair---often there are more baja
license plates in the parking lots than US plates. It is interesting to watch them unpackage everything in the parking lots---easier to get past
customs. Often, a good deal of the packing does not make it to the trash cans.
It is also common at some of the clothing shopping malls, especially the Las Americas plaza by the border----same thing, don't want the items to
appear just bought.
But, we don't see it on the freeways. It seems that these trash problems are a result of custom limits, and higher prices on one side of a
border---doesn't seem to matter which border.
Sorry I seemed to offend you by implying it might be the "same". No two situations are ever exactly the same. Besides, as one Home Depot employee
told us, it keeps him employed.
Trust, me I will try very much to not offend you in the future---seems far too easy.
Diane
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
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Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Touche'
We all lose in the long run. Reason: All that gall-damn friggin'wasteful packaging. What doesn't end up as the bambinos toys made in China ends up in
landfills, streets and sidewalks.
You say the litterbugs hail from the NE USA, I say they are the same genre of slobs that litter anywhere. It most certainly is a mindset. If you say
they haven't evolved enuff to dispose of properly I say they all have the same missing gene. What else could it be, certainly not a matter of
aesthetics.
A shame Wal-Mart and other big ilks don't promote a cleaner environment. Think of the chiit that originates from these mega-corps. What
responsibility do they hold in this category.?? Any??
I hear Wholefoods is abandoning plastic bags. This is a step in the right direction.
btw, Western Canada has got to have the cleanest environment in the Northern Hemisphere from what I've seen in my travels.
Point in fact: it's always nice to drive in beautiful places that lack the roadside debris and many times a year these places are swept clean by
volunteers, citizens or troublemakers.
A clean environment helps promote same through example. Of course I actually think some idiots enjoy littering.
So what exactly is it? Must be the genes. At least you'd have an excuse.
[Edited to add Ugly Norte Americanos on 1-26-2008 by Sharksbaja]
[Edited on 1-26-2008 by Sharksbaja]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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No it is not the boxes, the paper..
It is the maturity, pride and early childhood training of the individual who disposes of the boxes, paper etc.
It crosses all socio-economic lines..
sdm
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
We all lose in the long run. Reason: All that gall-damn friggin'wasteful packaging. What doesn't end up as the bambinos toys made in China ends up in
landfills, streets and sidewalks.
You say the litterbugs hail from the NE USA, I say they are the same genre of slobs that litter anywhere. It most certainly is a mindset. If you say
they haven't evolved enuff to dispose of properly I say they all have the same missing gene. What else could it be, certainly not a matter of
aesthetics.
A shame Wal-Mart and other big ilks don't promote a cleaner environment. Think of the chiit that originates from these mega-corps. What
responsibility do they hold in this category.?? Any??
I hear Wholefoods is abandoning plastic bags. This is a step in the right direction.
btw, Western Canada has got to have the cleanest environment in the Northern Hemisphere from what I've seen in my travels.
Point in fact: it's always nice to drive in beautiful places that lack the roadside debris and many times a year these places are swept clean by
volunteers, citizens or troublemakers.
A clean environment helps promote same through example. Of course I actually think some idiots enjoy littering.
So what exactly is it? Must be the genes. At least you'd have an excuse.
[Edited to add Ugly Norte Americanos on 1-26-2008 by Sharksbaja]
[Edited on 1-26-2008 by Sharksbaja] |
Part of could be that there just aren't many people living in Western Canada...... and I believe more than half the population of BC live in
Vancouver.
Although I do agree, it is one of the most beautiful places on our planet.
CaboRon
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
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I've only been to Vancouver once, for a day, but I'll have to say that what I saw of it was one of the cleanest cities I've ever seen anywhere.
Guadalajara used to be known as "La Ciudad Blanca", noted for its cleanliness (in contrast to?) but I haven't been there in many years so I'm not sure
now.
Q. How does a Canadian celebrity get the paparazzi off his lawn?
A. He says "Please get off my lawn."
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Oh yeah, sure...those Ugly Canadians again..
They sure don't act like this in Mexico City or Washington.
This actually happened in 2004 on Canadian national television.
Prime Minister Paul Martin swore on live television yesterday, apparently frustrated with the progress of a meeting with the provincial ministers
over the future of Canada's straining health care system.
During a break in the proceedings, Martin's aunt telephoned him and threatened to wash his mouth out with soap for using the Lord's name in vain.
When the meeting resumed, Martin apologized to the nation.
-
Furthermore...Canadians are so polite they apologize to the ATM machines.
Then there is this old favorite like Oso's...
Q. How do you get 500 Canadians out of a swimming pool?
A. "Hey everyone! It's time to get out of the swimming pool."
A. Say it again in Quebecois.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Skipjack Joe
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Posts: 8084
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Well the Quebecois weren't very well mannered when I needed some help.
Prior to asking driving directions I asked one if he could speak english.
His answer? "Do you speak french?"
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Pompano
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Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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That 'Quebec' attitude is very common, Igor...and is typical of what has to some extent polarized Canada from east to west. The provinces which we
frequent the most..Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon-Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and a smidgeon of Nanavut...are just
barely tolerant of the remote eastern government...and do not like having bilingualism and other edicts shoved down their throats. This is the
rhetoric we hear from most of our Canadian hosts and friends.
Reminds me of almost every other nation on earth that contains multi-national groups.
I do know 'a place' in North America that has NO UGLY AMERICANS..NO UGLY MEXICANS..AND NO UGLY CANADIANS...but I am sworn to secrecy. 
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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No need to share, Pompano Who could feel at home there?
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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My brother made the mistake of marrying a Quebecois. I have never met someone who would cheat at EVERY game she played. One time in TJ she had their 3
yr old daughter steal a ring for her and thought it was cute.
I spent a summer there and was amazed at their rudeness. The awesome Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City where they got married was the first place I
stayed. The hamburger I had actually made me gag.
There is absolutely no connection with western Canada I can think of. Two different worlds. I would never go back.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Roger, have you ever heard of the lakes 'Chibougamous' or something like that? Beautiful country of the sort you like. I wanted to catch northern pike
in the worst of way and it was on this trip that my episode took place.
That was about 30 years ago now. As sharksbaja says Quebec City has to be one of the most impressive cities in north america. An old fort. The roofs
of some building were bronzed and had that tourquoise blue color caused by oxidation (like those at Stockholm).
During my travels I remember reading a sign, 'Poule a la Kentaqui', and laughed when I realized it was actually Kentucky Fried Chicken.
I got to like the Quebequois and learned to appreciate their pride in their heritage. If everybody compromises just a bit we can all get along.
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Sharksbaja
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Yep, stayed at the fort overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Very strange experience.
You must be thinking of Chicoutimi. Northeast of Quebec City It is beautiful there and the people were much nicer. My bro(god rest his soul) had a
computer school up there and I was amazed at how different just a hundred miles or so from Quebec how well received I was. I would go back there
possibly.
Did you know that back in the 70s that horsemeat was a regular foodstuff in the province. I also heard that carion was another useful resource. Like
I said , the food sucked. That was when I became a food snob.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
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I wish you could have given us a teaser about the novel The Ugly American without giving away the ending - that is if you did give it away. I'll have
to research and maybe get the book. Maybe it's at the library.
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dean miller
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Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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Well know you know...
I would suspect that "The Ugly American" is no longer in most libraries do to its age and and probably lack of interest.
Would suggest one of the on line used book companies. Since at the time of publication it was a very popular book there are probably a large number
avaliable at a very reasonable price in either hard back or soft cover.
Good Luck,
SAM
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