# It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 30, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377 "2007-11-30T22:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/81 "2007-12-04T02:39:47Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Come out to a Dopefest some day and see that extremely rare bird, a native Calgarian. [/QUOTE] The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was the “Hinterland: Who’s Who” theme music. (Canadians will know what I mean.) “The Calgarian lives where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet. It eats beef, enjoys the Stampede, and cheers for the Flames and the Stampeders. For more information on the Calgarian, write the Canadian Wildlife Service, Sparks Street, Ottawa.” **Frank** , let us know when you hit Edmonton. Maybe we can arrange to meet for a beer. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/82 "2007-12-04T06:18:38Z")
“The Calgarian lives where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet. It eats beef, **avoids** \* the Stampede, and cheers for the Flames and the Stampeders. For more information on the Calgarian, write the Canadian Wildlife Service, Sparks Street, Ottawa.” \*added to quote I fixed that up for you, **Spoons** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/83 "2007-12-04T10:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] My husband was born and (mostly) raised here! Come out to a Dopefest some day and see that extremely rare bird, a native Calgarian. 😃 Good luck on the job interview, **Frank**. I’d really hate to see you hightailing it back to the States before you’ve barely gotten your feet wet in Canada. [/QUOTE] I too am a rare true Albertan. In fact my family actually has its own oil well 😉 Thats sounds cool, but it pays the taxes, oil wells are almost as plentiful as cows out here… ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/84 "2007-12-04T14:55:50Z")
Three out of four of my grandparents were born in Alberta. There are a few of us around 🙂 And **Frank** the news this morning was telling us Edmonton now has the hottest economy in all of Canada. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a job if this one doesn’t work out. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/85 "2007-12-04T15:11:44Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] (It was clear only around Sudbury, where the landscape has been ravaged by pit mining. Real scenic.)[/size] [/QUOTE] I note for precision that all of the significant mining in Sudbury was underground, not open-pit mining. The environmental devastation was mostly from atmospheric emissions of the smelting process, particularly sulphur dioxide. But as bad as it might look compared to the surrounding boreal forest, it used to be (much, much) worse, and we still have a long project ahead of us to rehabilitate the land. I’m missing out on of the fun of this Trans-Canada Snowstorm, sitting it out in the tropical Netherlands (it never gets cold, and it rains a lot). So thanks for giving us the blow-by-snow coverage 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/86 "2007-12-04T15:42:02Z")
[QUOTE=wolfstu] I note for precision that all of the significant mining in Sudbury was underground, not open-pit mining. [/QUOTE] Huh. Well, it sure looked like pit mining. Consider me corrected. They blew the forecast. Only a little snow, which the wind kept off my car. I’ll arrive in Edmonton very early. Perhaps I’ll go to the famous West Edmonton Mall while I wait to check into my room. Or the zoo. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/87 "2007-12-04T17:54:07Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Huh. Well, it sure looked like pit mining. Consider me corrected. [/QUOTE] Did you drive through the city itself, or take the bypass? Going through the city you would have seen the most industrial-looking part, including [these tremendous piles of waste rock](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/wolfstu/Sudbury%20Nature/SUNP0008.jpg) extracted from underground. You’d have missed a lot of that on the bypass, and just seen black, rocky hills with varying degrees of treelessness. We’re working on it, but we have decades to go yet. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/88 "2007-12-04T20:24:14Z")
Good to hear that you made it to Alberta, Frank. Ever wonder why wherever you drove, there was a snow storm, whereas there was good weather in front and behind you? I figure the Carnival folks in Quebec City are wonder where their bonhomme got to. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/89 "2007-12-04T20:37:39Z")
[QUOTE=wolfstu] I note for precision that all of the significant mining in Sudbury was underground, not open-pit mining. The environmental devastation was mostly from atmospheric emissions of the smelting process, particularly sulphur dioxide. [/QUOTE] Open bed roasting from the early part of the last century caused the greatest damage. The sulphur dioxide from the emissions mixed with rainwater to make sulphuric acid, which killed off the vegitation, which in turn led to massive erosion once the root systems died. With no dirt left to grow anything in, the land remained bare even once emissions were reduced. The laying down of bags of lime to both neutralize the acid and to provide something in which plants can grow has been very successful, but it is a slow process. A canoe trip through the worst of it: [Halloween in the Dead Zone](http://my.tbaytel.net/culpeper/HalloweenintheDeadZone.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/90 "2007-12-04T20:39:49Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] … Perhaps I’ll go to the famous West Edmonton Mall while I wait to check into my room. Or the zoo. [/QUOTE] Maybe it’s just me, but I really think you’ll do much better checking into a hotel room rather than the zoo. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/91 "2007-12-04T22:09:37Z")
I’m here. The famous West Edmonton Mall was meh. Just a really, really big mall. The ice skating rink was cool, but c’mon, flamingos? **Spoons** , be happy to. PM or email me. I’m downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/92 "2007-12-04T22:19:57Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] Ever wonder why wherever you drove, there was a snow storm, whereas there was good weather in front and behind you? I figure the Carnival folks in Quebec City are wonder where their bonhomme got to. [/QUOTE] Heh. It is, in fact, _not_ the worst road trip as far as weather that I’ve ever taken. It is only second worst. Two years ago (or three?) I drove from Denver to Williamstown, Massachusetts in heavy snow all the way, then snow and/or freezing rain all the way home. Literally all the way, both ways. At least this trip I got some breaks. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/93 "2007-12-05T06:20:25Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] I’m here. The famous West Edmonton Mall was meh. \. [/QUOTE] It is, isn’t it? Hey, if you go to the Craft Fair at the Butterdome, you can meet my sister who sells jewellery. The Craft Fair itself is pretty cool, if you’re looking for a way to kill an afternoon. If you go, surprise the hell out of Angela at Wireworks by Angela and say Hi from Tracey! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/94 "2007-12-05T07:55:50Z")
She doesn’t already know that she has an evil twin? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/95 "2007-12-05T13:33:41Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] It is, isn’t it? Hey, if you go to the Craft Fair at the Butterdome, you can meet my sister who sells jewellery. The Craft Fair itself is pretty cool, if you’re looking for a way to kill an afternoon. If you go, surprise the hell out of Angela at Wireworks by Angela and say Hi from Tracey! [/QUOTE] Is that on now? The Butterdome is about a five-minute walk from my Edmonton digs. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/96 "2007-12-05T14:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] Is that on now? The Butterdome is about a five-minute walk from my Edmonton digs. [/QUOTE] I believe it is on from Dec. 6-9. You can go say hi to my sister too, if you like. All you Edmonton Dopers should go. And buy lots of jewellery. Support local artists! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/97 "2007-12-06T14:45:25Z")
**Frank** , Best wishes for the job interview today! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/98 "2007-12-06T14:58:35Z")
There are Christmas trees on display at the supermarket, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Resistance is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/99 "2007-12-06T17:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] **Frank** , Best wishes for the job interview today! [/QUOTE] I’ll add mine too, **Frank**. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377/100 "2007-12-06T23:53:24Z")
Thanks, **Northern Piper** and **Spoons**. Interview went OK; I didn’t ace it, but I didn’t bomb either. Just middling. They will not make a hiring decision for about two weeks, which means a start date of after the new year. I’m probably out of here. If they choose to want to hire me, I’ll possibly return, but I can’t hang out in a motel here for a month. Such is life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/428377.md?page=6)