Saturday, December 6, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Applause for the Jerk Drain!
by: Kevin Burns
The Hidden Benefit of Canada's continuing brain drain
These days, Canadians often lament the brain drain. There is a silver lining however. What about the jerk drain? With every Air Canada plane load of brains departing Canadian shores, there are a gaggle of jerks amongst them. In a drunken slur they demand, "Get me another double honey!," on their flights to London, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Good riddance I say! And I ask you, does Stats Canada keeps statistics on how many jerks are leaving Canada and annoying those poor helpless foreign folks abroad? Are those stats in English and French? Is the Canadian taxpayer saving money due to the flow of jerks abroad? Are any other countries exerting international pressure on Canada to stem the repugnant tide of jerks entering their nations? I have met many jerks while abroad, and I am proud to say that many have hailed from the Great White North. It may be the cold, harsh winters, or the rain of the coast, but we should be happy in knowing that we produce a lot of jerks-- for export.
I in fact live abroad. Just ask my poor suffering wife of 9 years. "He's a jerk!" states Ikumi. There you have it. I've been in Japan for over eleven years and I still butcher their language. My poor neighbours. I think some of them avoid me in embarassment--FOR ME. I always say Japanese is such a tough language to learn, but even my five year old can speak it better than I. Guilty as charged, I'm a jerk.
Take my brother--he's a lawyer. I could end it right there now couldn't I? Have you heard any good jokes lately?
... He's been out of Canada for years now, ridding the country of a thoroughly annoying person. This is the same guy who walks onto movie sets uninvited and gets paid to be an extra in the cocktail party shot. Sure he's interesting, but let's face it mom, dad, The Law Society; he's a jerk. I do love him though, oh there I go again, it's going all over my shoes! Wait...I'll get a tissue. Okay I'm back. Where was I? Oh yah...
Take the guy at the Thai beach hut resort, you know the really cheap ones. At these resorts they charge next to nothing for the hut, but hope you will eat and drink in their restaurant as that's how they make their money. Well, this jerk wasn't eating in the restaurant, and would only set foot in it to steal the sugars and creamers off the tables, then sneak back miserly to his hut to make his instant soup and coffee. He also stole the coconuts, another real no-no at beach resorts in general. This guy was the talk of the resort. My brother, you remember him right? He asked discriminatingly, "What part of America is that guy from?" "Vancouver," was the reply. Yep, another one of Canada's finest.
No don't knock the jerk drain. The UN has proclaimed Canada the most liveable nation on the planet for a few years now. I think it may be because we are relatively jerk free as compared to say America. The other thing is, when Canadian Jerks Abroad, (The CJA) act like jerks in London or Paris, no one thinks we're Canadians! We can't even tarnish Canada's image correctly! "Go back to America!" is what we frequently hear. I never correct them!
Kevin Burns
About The Author
Kevin Burns is a writer and entrepreneur from Vancouver, Canada. He can be found editing the following online magazines -- How to Teach English in Japan: http://www.how-to-teach-english-in-japan.com
Japan Living: http://www.eikaiwa1.com/jp.html
Kevin's English Schools http://www.eikaiwa1.com
Editors are free to use this article but must not alter the text nor the links. The links should be displayed live if possible.
The Hidden Benefit of Canada's continuing brain drain
These days, Canadians often lament the brain drain. There is a silver lining however. What about the jerk drain? With every Air Canada plane load of brains departing Canadian shores, there are a gaggle of jerks amongst them. In a drunken slur they demand, "Get me another double honey!," on their flights to London, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Good riddance I say! And I ask you, does Stats Canada keeps statistics on how many jerks are leaving Canada and annoying those poor helpless foreign folks abroad? Are those stats in English and French? Is the Canadian taxpayer saving money due to the flow of jerks abroad? Are any other countries exerting international pressure on Canada to stem the repugnant tide of jerks entering their nations? I have met many jerks while abroad, and I am proud to say that many have hailed from the Great White North. It may be the cold, harsh winters, or the rain of the coast, but we should be happy in knowing that we produce a lot of jerks-- for export.
I in fact live abroad. Just ask my poor suffering wife of 9 years. "He's a jerk!" states Ikumi. There you have it. I've been in Japan for over eleven years and I still butcher their language. My poor neighbours. I think some of them avoid me in embarassment--FOR ME. I always say Japanese is such a tough language to learn, but even my five year old can speak it better than I. Guilty as charged, I'm a jerk.
Take my brother--he's a lawyer. I could end it right there now couldn't I? Have you heard any good jokes lately?
... He's been out of Canada for years now, ridding the country of a thoroughly annoying person. This is the same guy who walks onto movie sets uninvited and gets paid to be an extra in the cocktail party shot. Sure he's interesting, but let's face it mom, dad, The Law Society; he's a jerk. I do love him though, oh there I go again, it's going all over my shoes! Wait...I'll get a tissue. Okay I'm back. Where was I? Oh yah...
Take the guy at the Thai beach hut resort, you know the really cheap ones. At these resorts they charge next to nothing for the hut, but hope you will eat and drink in their restaurant as that's how they make their money. Well, this jerk wasn't eating in the restaurant, and would only set foot in it to steal the sugars and creamers off the tables, then sneak back miserly to his hut to make his instant soup and coffee. He also stole the coconuts, another real no-no at beach resorts in general. This guy was the talk of the resort. My brother, you remember him right? He asked discriminatingly, "What part of America is that guy from?" "Vancouver," was the reply. Yep, another one of Canada's finest.
No don't knock the jerk drain. The UN has proclaimed Canada the most liveable nation on the planet for a few years now. I think it may be because we are relatively jerk free as compared to say America. The other thing is, when Canadian Jerks Abroad, (The CJA) act like jerks in London or Paris, no one thinks we're Canadians! We can't even tarnish Canada's image correctly! "Go back to America!" is what we frequently hear. I never correct them!
Kevin Burns
About The Author
Kevin Burns is a writer and entrepreneur from Vancouver, Canada. He can be found editing the following online magazines -- How to Teach English in Japan: http://www.how-to-teach-english-in-japan.com
Japan Living: http://www.eikaiwa1.com/jp.html
Kevin's English Schools http://www.eikaiwa1.com
Editors are free to use this article but must not alter the text nor the links. The links should be displayed live if possible.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Danger that can Happen when you don`t Hyphenate your Domain Names!
All of the following sites are legitimate and
non-adult related websites. Yet, the people who
set up these websites didn`t think to
hyphenate their domain names, and here are the results:
Who Represents
www.whorepresents.com
Do you want to exchange?
www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen?
www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist?
www.therapistfinder.com
5. There's the Italian Power Generator company
www.powergenitalia.com
6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales ,
www.molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always
www.ipanywhere.com
8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is
www.cummingfirst.com
9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at
their wacky Web site,
www.speedofart.com
--from the SBI--Site Build it Forums
non-adult related websites. Yet, the people who
set up these websites didn`t think to
hyphenate their domain names, and here are the results:
Who Represents
www.whorepresents.com
Do you want to exchange?
www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen?
www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist?
www.therapistfinder.com
5. There's the Italian Power Generator company
www.powergenitalia.com
6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales ,
www.molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always
www.ipanywhere.com
8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is
www.cummingfirst.com
9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at
their wacky Web site,
www.speedofart.com
--from the SBI--Site Build it Forums
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Pikachu versus Godzilla
Will Pikachu prevail against one of the most infamous
monsters ever to attack Tokyo?
Pikachu versus Godzilla
monsters ever to attack Tokyo?
Pikachu versus Godzilla
Simple Life: Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld live with the People
Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld have a desire to connect with
real people. Here are the results:
Jerry & Bill
real people. Here are the results:
Jerry & Bill
Monday, April 14, 2008
A Kafkaesque Grad Reunion in Delta,BC
by Kevin Burns
The anticipation is almost nauseating as I head towards the golf club where my twenty year high
school reunion will take place. I am almost shaking. I try to do a meditation type breathing exercise to
calm myself but it doesn't work very well while walking. I enter the building and push three in the elevator.
The doors open and a retired Canada Customs clerk is the greeter for our class reunion.
"Your name?"
"Kevin Burns."
"Place of residence?"
"Japan."
"Purpose of visit?"
"Well, it's my class reunion."
"Class reunion eh, got anything to declare, any valuables, tobacco, firearms, things of that nature?"
"No, nothing."
"Will you be visiting a farm during your stay?"
"Tonight?"
"Yes tonight, and I ask the questions!"
"No sir."
"All right, have a good night and stay away from the garlic dip if you want to talk to any of your friends. Next!"
The metal detector goes off as I walk in and I am forced to give up my watch to a large guy named Guido.
I didn't argue. He hands me a portable lie detector.
"What's this for?" I stammer.
"All the grads have one, it's so we'll all stay on the level. We don't want any Romy and Michelle stuff going
on tonight. This is a quality affair."
"Alright gotcha."
God I walk in, and all the women are now blondes, even the Asian women. I go up to the bar and to my
horror they are only serving American beer. I opt for water which all Canadians know amounts to the same
thing.
Before the reunion I had this nightmare. All my friends were retired and I was still the stockboy at Canadian tire.
I explained to them, "I get free clothes with every set of tires I buy." They weren't impressed. Thankfully it was
only a nightmare.
WWF is playing on the TV monitor and many of the guys are gathered round it cheering, explaining the woman
pounding that guy in the corner is from Surrey. She obviously isn't from South Surrey or that would have been
pointed out.
Boy what a strange reunion and I haven't even really talked with anyone yet, other than the surly former
Canada Customs clerk from Hell's Gate. I go and get seconds of those cute little sandwiches. The waitress
walks by me and says, "pig." I could walk out now, but oh no---- it's Martha, the most boring grad ever. Plants wilt
when she talks to them. She's really nice but she clogs up the conversation arteries with her incredibly dry as
a desert stories about Moose Kidney, Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, Moose Kidney is a swingin' town in
it's own way, but the woman talks and talks about people I don't know, nor care about. I don't want to know
the details of Uncle Herbert's hernia operation.
The homecoming queen walks in with her cane. She's a big assed lesbian but her biker girlfriend is gorgeous.
My attention is drawn away from her though, Guido the killer pimp is voted most successful Grad. I realize he is
the one wearing my watch. Ha ha, the last laugh is on him, it's a Casio!
I change my mind about getting thirds of the cute little sandwiches when I realize the entymologist has proudly
displayed his bug collection next to them. He explains the intricacies of every bug and our aging principal falls
asleep in the tuna casserole. I try to liven up the proceedings with a bug joke, "I had African Sicklets once, but I
got over it." No one laughs. I slink off and try to find out what time it is. No one seems to be wearing a watch
except for Guido the killer pimp. I wonder how he made all that money?
It can't be, it's the beautiful Jennifer, the one I pined for, the one I dreamed of during grade 10 chemistry class
and really every other class too. No wonder I could never concentrate in school. I go up to her.
"Jennifer I had the biggest crush on you in grade 10."
"Sorry I don't remember you."
"That's okay. Would you please excuse me? I have to go outside and step in front of a bus."
I'm crushed and try to console myself by talking with my best friend Shane. He pats me on the back and says,
"You look exactly the same." Which loses its' impact because he can't stop laughing. So I've lost a little hair
and gained a few pounds. He still has a pug nose!
I leave Shane and go up to some grads I never really talked to during high school. I introduce myself and the lie
detector starts ringing. The damn thing won't stop! I feel my face turning red and all the grads gather round me,
staring at me accusingly. The principal wakes up from his entymologically induced slumber, and staggers up to me;
(not realizing he has tuna casserole all over his face). The absurdity of the situation causes me to laugh hysterically.
Principal Stebbings asks: "Is there anything you'd like to tell us young man?"
I'm saved when Martin Epp draws the attention off me as he grabs the mic and proclaims, "I've seen God and he lives
in Surrey." All the lie detectors immediately go off, except mine. This quasi-religious experience ends when
Martin is dragged off by Guido to the principal's office, where he must listen to Barry Manilou for the rest of the night.
I remember thinking, I couldn't survive that kind of treatment.
Principal Stebbings grabs the mic and gives a short speech, he draws the loudest applause when he states:
"I'm so proud of this grad class, as half of you are out of prison." Guido doesn't look pleased. Perhaps he
mistook the bug collection for the hor d'oerves.
That can't be, not it isn't,... Paula Smith, the most beautiful girl at school is now the size of a Smythrite. No bigger than a
Smythrite, that was a typo.
I check the TV monitor, and the girl from Surrey has won the bout and now there's one of those cheap Canadian TV
commercials on--you know the one's where the owner has paid and starred in it himself."I'm High Profit Pete,
and have we got a deal for you! Look at all these cars. Feeling strapped for cash? Don't worry,
you don't pay this year, you don't pay next year, you don't pay ever! We gotta be crazy, we're just givin' them away!"
Some men in white suits come on screen and drag High Profit Pete away.
I lick my wounds and I decide to leave. I gotta get up early and find High Profit Pete's used car lot in the morning.
The anticipation is almost nauseating as I head towards the golf club where my twenty year high
school reunion will take place. I am almost shaking. I try to do a meditation type breathing exercise to
calm myself but it doesn't work very well while walking. I enter the building and push three in the elevator.
The doors open and a retired Canada Customs clerk is the greeter for our class reunion.
"Your name?"
"Kevin Burns."
"Place of residence?"
"Japan."
"Purpose of visit?"
"Well, it's my class reunion."
"Class reunion eh, got anything to declare, any valuables, tobacco, firearms, things of that nature?"
"No, nothing."
"Will you be visiting a farm during your stay?"
"Tonight?"
"Yes tonight, and I ask the questions!"
"No sir."
"All right, have a good night and stay away from the garlic dip if you want to talk to any of your friends. Next!"
The metal detector goes off as I walk in and I am forced to give up my watch to a large guy named Guido.
I didn't argue. He hands me a portable lie detector.
"What's this for?" I stammer.
"All the grads have one, it's so we'll all stay on the level. We don't want any Romy and Michelle stuff going
on tonight. This is a quality affair."
"Alright gotcha."
God I walk in, and all the women are now blondes, even the Asian women. I go up to the bar and to my
horror they are only serving American beer. I opt for water which all Canadians know amounts to the same
thing.
Before the reunion I had this nightmare. All my friends were retired and I was still the stockboy at Canadian tire.
I explained to them, "I get free clothes with every set of tires I buy." They weren't impressed. Thankfully it was
only a nightmare.
WWF is playing on the TV monitor and many of the guys are gathered round it cheering, explaining the woman
pounding that guy in the corner is from Surrey. She obviously isn't from South Surrey or that would have been
pointed out.
Boy what a strange reunion and I haven't even really talked with anyone yet, other than the surly former
Canada Customs clerk from Hell's Gate. I go and get seconds of those cute little sandwiches. The waitress
walks by me and says, "pig." I could walk out now, but oh no---- it's Martha, the most boring grad ever. Plants wilt
when she talks to them. She's really nice but she clogs up the conversation arteries with her incredibly dry as
a desert stories about Moose Kidney, Saskatchewan. Don't get me wrong, Moose Kidney is a swingin' town in
it's own way, but the woman talks and talks about people I don't know, nor care about. I don't want to know
the details of Uncle Herbert's hernia operation.
The homecoming queen walks in with her cane. She's a big assed lesbian but her biker girlfriend is gorgeous.
My attention is drawn away from her though, Guido the killer pimp is voted most successful Grad. I realize he is
the one wearing my watch. Ha ha, the last laugh is on him, it's a Casio!
I change my mind about getting thirds of the cute little sandwiches when I realize the entymologist has proudly
displayed his bug collection next to them. He explains the intricacies of every bug and our aging principal falls
asleep in the tuna casserole. I try to liven up the proceedings with a bug joke, "I had African Sicklets once, but I
got over it." No one laughs. I slink off and try to find out what time it is. No one seems to be wearing a watch
except for Guido the killer pimp. I wonder how he made all that money?
It can't be, it's the beautiful Jennifer, the one I pined for, the one I dreamed of during grade 10 chemistry class
and really every other class too. No wonder I could never concentrate in school. I go up to her.
"Jennifer I had the biggest crush on you in grade 10."
"Sorry I don't remember you."
"That's okay. Would you please excuse me? I have to go outside and step in front of a bus."
I'm crushed and try to console myself by talking with my best friend Shane. He pats me on the back and says,
"You look exactly the same." Which loses its' impact because he can't stop laughing. So I've lost a little hair
and gained a few pounds. He still has a pug nose!
I leave Shane and go up to some grads I never really talked to during high school. I introduce myself and the lie
detector starts ringing. The damn thing won't stop! I feel my face turning red and all the grads gather round me,
staring at me accusingly. The principal wakes up from his entymologically induced slumber, and staggers up to me;
(not realizing he has tuna casserole all over his face). The absurdity of the situation causes me to laugh hysterically.
Principal Stebbings asks: "Is there anything you'd like to tell us young man?"
I'm saved when Martin Epp draws the attention off me as he grabs the mic and proclaims, "I've seen God and he lives
in Surrey." All the lie detectors immediately go off, except mine. This quasi-religious experience ends when
Martin is dragged off by Guido to the principal's office, where he must listen to Barry Manilou for the rest of the night.
I remember thinking, I couldn't survive that kind of treatment.
Principal Stebbings grabs the mic and gives a short speech, he draws the loudest applause when he states:
"I'm so proud of this grad class, as half of you are out of prison." Guido doesn't look pleased. Perhaps he
mistook the bug collection for the hor d'oerves.
That can't be, not it isn't,... Paula Smith, the most beautiful girl at school is now the size of a Smythrite. No bigger than a
Smythrite, that was a typo.
I check the TV monitor, and the girl from Surrey has won the bout and now there's one of those cheap Canadian TV
commercials on--you know the one's where the owner has paid and starred in it himself."I'm High Profit Pete,
and have we got a deal for you! Look at all these cars. Feeling strapped for cash? Don't worry,
you don't pay this year, you don't pay next year, you don't pay ever! We gotta be crazy, we're just givin' them away!"
Some men in white suits come on screen and drag High Profit Pete away.
I lick my wounds and I decide to leave. I gotta get up early and find High Profit Pete's used car lot in the morning.
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