Friday, February 22, 2013

Operation Northern Lights



There are few things that I like better than re-watching West Wing.

7 comments:

STAG said...

I just returned home today from a little town called Crysler's Farm. There is a fort there, built in response to the LAST time that contingency plan was dusted off.

And I note that Fort Wellington is still manned, same as it was 200 years ago this day! Manned with redcoats with Brown Bess muskets....same as it was then. Seems to have worked fine for a couple of hundred years now....

http://www.prescott.ca/tourism/area-attractions-directory/fort-wellington-national-historic-site.aspx

This of course was the OTHER November eleventh....grin!

http://www.cryslersfarm.com/battle.htm

STAG said...

And he just wanted to see her uncross and cross her legs....

And the P.M.'s accent was Paris, not Quebec City! Canadian French is MUCH less....flowery and pretty.

Joual is really a Normandy farmer's dialect. They laugh at Paris even in Normandy for being en peu snob.

If you want to learn French, you can try to learn it here, but it'll spoil you for a trip to Paris. But the up side in speaking Franglais they'll think you to be a Canadian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joual

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw5Re7k1KBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REsdVaYY25w

(Like the guy says "cliche, but there is a touch of truth to the stereotypes!)

Cerulean Bill said...

Actually, je parle franglais maintenant. I'm at the point where I probably could make myself understood - sort of the 'I lost, you tell me where find train station, please?' level. Of course, I want to be better, but even more, I want the guts to try it with actual French people.

As for being mistaken as Canadian.... I find that to be a charming idea, actually. Much to admire about them. I still love that cartoon about how the American President deals with an imminent Canadian invasion. Just don't expect me to talk about hockey.

STAG said...

We always used to say you can tell the Canadian in France...he has the tiny little Canadian Flag lapel pin. You can tell the American in France, he has the 8 inch Canadian flag on his back pack....

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6666338/#.USpC_Fe1vRU

Cerulean Bill said...

I think it's silly when politicians wear their country's flag on a lapel. Oh, Barack, you're American? I had no idea. Of course, the idea that it might piss off the Tea Party WOULD be a good reason, I suppose.

STAG said...

I think a week maple sugaring here in the Ottawa region would do you good. Practice your French. The folks around here are honoured and happy when you speak French to them...even when it is clear you are learning. Better even...it shows you hold great respect for their language, and for themselves. This is NEVER derided or made fun of, ever.

Cerulean Bill said...

That sounds excellent except for the sugaring part. What would someone like me know about that? The only tool I can easily use is a checkbook. But the rest sounds freaking awesome.