It's Independence Weekend For Canada And The USA!

We share the same continent, a 5000 kilometer long (3145 miles) undefended and unfortified border and the same European colonial mother country although we broke away from the British in 1776.   

We have close cultural and economic ties since we are each other's largest trading partner.

We also have independence days a few days apart.   It's July 1 for our Canadian cousins and July 4 for us.


For the peeps lucky enough on both sides of the Canada-USA border or relatively close to it, it sets up a nice long weekend chock full of fireworks, parades, festivals and good eating.    Just don't forget your passports.   

Life on the border gets a little more interesting for the residents of Derby Line, VT and Stanstead, Quebec.

Last year Renee and I during Independence Weekend talked smack in favor of our respective nations in some good natured trash talking posts we usually reserve for when our nations are engaged in playing hockey against each other.   Renee extolled the virtues of Canada, while I rebutted in favor of the United States

And oh yeah, didn't Sparky try to chime in on the discussion on behalf of the mother country?

One thing I do know, Americans need to do a better job getting their learn on about Canada.   It's sad the average Canadian knows more about US politics and its history than the average American does about Canadian politics and Canadian history.   Hell, the average Canadian knows more about US history than Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin combined.  


Happy birthday to both our nations!

TransGriot Note:  In case you're wondering about the second picture, it's of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line VT and Stanstead, Quebec.   The Canadian-USA border is the black line on the floor and in that photo the checkout desk is in Canada.

Happy Father's Day 2011

We've made it to another Father's Day, in which we take time to recognize the fathers and father figures in people's lives.    Take a bow, dads!

Big shout out to my brother, who is enjoying his first Father's Day as a new dad.

As President Obama recently said,  We need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception..  That what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one,”

Thanks to 'errbody' that has the courage to do so

Memorial Day 2011

Today is Memorial Day, the day that we set aside to remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow Americans.

As I strive to remind people, TBLG Americans have not only served, but given up their lives as well in military service for this country

Memorial Day 2011 comes several weeks after Osama Bin Laden was killed during a daring May 1 operation in Pakistan that may lead to expedited withdraw of American troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Time to bring our girls and boys home and start spending the money we waste fighting in those countries domestically on our infrastructure.and other domestic priorities.