# The CanaDoper Café (2012 edition of The great, ongoing Canadian current events and politics thread.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014 "2012-01-01T03:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 60
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1182 "2012-05-23T17:07:30Z")
> [@Spare\_Me](#): > > I said “chesterfield” once to a kid from Wisconsin that I played hockey with in Wilcox. He looked at me like I was from another planet. This was the same kid who once pointed out to me that no one but Canadians say “for f\*ck’s sake!” I haven’t heard anyone use the term “chesterfield” in.. well, as long as I can remember. I think that’s a dying term. “For fuck’s sake,” though, is a pretty critical part of a lot of people’s vocabulary. That said, it is quite commonly used in the United States and the UK and probably everywhere; it’s just too easy a way to use “fuck” to not be popular. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1183 "2012-05-23T17:47:22Z")
May long was mostly working in the garden (not going to the garden centre though) and getting my hair done and otherwise relaxing. I’m taking a mini vacation in a couple weeks though because sweetie had to work so we’re taking our May long vacation late. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1184 "2012-05-23T18:41:29Z")
> [@Spare\_Me](#): > > You know you’re in Canada when… > > I said “chesterfield” once to a kid from Wisconsin that I played hockey with in Wilcox. He looked at me like I was from another planet. This was the same kid who once pointed out to me that no one but Canadians say “for f\*ck’s sake!” when they’re mad. I have realized in the last 25 years that he was absolutely right. He also noted it was the only way to tell when a Canadian was actually pissed about something. I’ll have to pay attention to that - it’s so much a part of my potty-mouth vocabulary that I haven’t noticed if others say it or not. Hey, it’s an abbreviation online (FFS), so it must be more common! > [@](#): > > We neither camped nor went to the garden centre on the May Long. We did the next most Canadian thing. We went to the States. Yup, that works too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1185 "2012-05-24T17:17:01Z")
Some [photos](http://s324.photobucket.com/albums/k340/LeMinistredelaudela/Gardens%202012/) of last weekend’s efforts. This will be the year when we finally get rid of the ‘Haunted House’ look that we’ve had the last while… ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1186 "2012-05-24T17:31:42Z")
Looks nice: I think you have a very nice property and I love those decks! That’s what I hate the most about this apartment - no outdoor space. My parents are having their deck rebuilt and they put in a hot tub (the pool rusted to the point of near-collapse), so it’s nice to go there, but during days like today it SUCKS to not be able to sit outside unless I go out to the park or somewhere public. I like that outdoor couch, though I confess that that rattan-like stuff (even plastic) gives me the heebie-jeebies. Everyone thinks I’m nuts, but rattan/wicker makes my skin crawl and I tend to get a little nauseated when I’m around too much of it. Weird, isn’t it? It severely limits any outdoor furniture I might ever buy! My FIL has a bizarre wicker lamp from the 70s in the bedroom we use when we sleep at his place. I make my husband turn it on and off. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1187 "2012-05-24T21:14:16Z")
Michel Tremblay gave me the impression that everyone in Montréal has a balcony, or a deck, or at least a set of iron steps in front of or behind their 3 storey walk-up; a place where everyone hangs out when it’s too hot to be inside. I’m heartbroken to find it isn’t true! (That’s one of those cultural differences that makes Québec unique - ‘Messe solennelle pour une pleine lune d’été’ just doesn’t make any sense in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. Where else do people live like that?) ---
**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:** [May 24, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1188 "2012-05-24T22:07:57Z")
My grandma said chesterfield. And the basement was the rumpus room. And my grandpa took things to the nuisance grounds. (I saw that in the legend of a topo map the other day, and laughed out loud) ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1189 "2012-05-25T01:32:17Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Michel Tremblay gave me the impression that everyone in Montréal has a balcony, or a deck, or at least a set of iron steps in front of or behind their 3 storey walk-up; a place where everyone hangs out when it’s too hot to be inside. I’m heartbroken to find it isn’t true! > > (That’s one of those cultural differences that makes Québec unique - ‘Messe solennelle pour une pleine lune d’été’ just doesn’t make any sense in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. Where else do people live like that?) Well, yeah, I do have the iron staircase out front and I could sit on the front balcony if I wanted, but it is a small one that gives access to three doors for four apartment units. It’s not all that great. The back balcony is an overgrown fire escape: we have a teeny tiny BBQ, and we have a tiny bistro table and chair that fits, and there’s room for one person to stand beside it if you want the door open, but that balcony is 5 feet away from the neighbours’ so you feel like you’re in their kitchen, and it doesn’t get any afternoon sun at all. I don’t know my neighbours (and am not all that inclined to; some seem nice, some are assholes, and we just don’t care to make friends with any of them anyways) and so I don’t hang out with them outside. So Michel Tremblay wasn’t entirely lying; he just didn’t take into account the less ideal buildings! The downstairs drunken potheads are sitting on their front stoop, banging pots and pans and yelling. They have a bigger balcony, with only 2 doors coming off it, and the wide steps going to the sidewalk. We’ve closed the windows, because while I respect their right to protest, the pots-and-pans banging has got to be the most annoying sound in the world and they are giving me a headache. So. Fucking. Irritating. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1190 "2012-05-25T02:02:01Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > (That’s one of those cultural differences that makes Québec unique - ‘Messe solennelle pour une pleine lune d’été’ just doesn’t make any sense in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. Where else do people live like that?) I had a deck out back and a balcony overlooking the street on my house back in Calgary. Maybe I’m missing something here? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1191 "2012-05-25T02:40:09Z")
Single-family, detached house, or walkup/townhouse in the city? The (stereo)typical Montreal dwelling being described are in the residential areas of the city, often in the old worker neighbourhoods that are increasingly gentrified, and have the “Montreal [staircase](http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/montreals-iron-icons-winding-outdoor-staircases-win-contest-of-local-landmarks-145750785.html)”. Things like [this](http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/tore/afhoid/cohode/usbufode/images/8.jpg), or [this](http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/141370875772450709_R7XThcjO_c.jpg)or [this](http://www.urbanphoto.net/photoblog/2005/december/64.jpg). ---
**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:** [May 25, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1192 "2012-05-25T06:57:42Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > We just got back from the opening day of the [Cathedral Village Arts Festival](http://www.cathedralartsfestival.ca/) - week long festival centred around the Cathedral neighbourhood in Regina. > … > > Tonight, mandolins and then jazz in the neighbourhood United Church. [Soloist from the Regina Jazz Band-Its](http://www.flickr.com/photos/79295541@N08/7266245068/) from the other night. They were hot! ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1193 "2012-05-25T08:15:49Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Single-family, detached house, or walkup/townhouse in the city? Jesus. You’d have to wear a hard hat to do yard work. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1194 "2012-05-27T22:57:16Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > (That’s one of those cultural differences that makes Québec unique - ‘Messe solennelle pour une pleine lune d’été’ just doesn’t make any sense in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. Where else do people live like that?) Actually this would be pretty common in most Eastern cities, at least downtown. So in Toronto, yes, a lot of the older neighborhoods have decks or balconies, and you would find much the same thing in many eastern U.S. cities. But as you move West (or as you move from downtown into the suburbs), more and more of the cities are made of newer buildings and homes that were built with air conditioning in mind. Of course, many suburban homes will have decks in back anyway just because they’re awesome, but they’re not there out of necessity, they’re there for awesomeness. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1195 "2012-05-28T02:29:01Z")
> [@the\_Lady](#): > > My grandma said chesterfield. And the basement was the rumpus room. > And my grandpa took things to the nuisance grounds. > (I saw that in the legend of a topo map the other day, and laughed out loud) [Sigh] I grew up with, and have used, all of those terms. Thank you for making me feel old. I’ll dodder away now. [Sigh] ---
**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:** [May 28, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1196 "2012-05-28T06:35:24Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I grew up with, and have used, all of those terms. > > Thank you for making me feel old. Well, you and me both. Tell you what, **NP** : I’ll meet you on the chesterfield in the rumpus room, and we’ll talk about these kids and their language today. Deal? ---
**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:** [May 28, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1197 "2012-05-28T14:24:38Z")
Sorry 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 28, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1198 "2012-05-28T16:10:02Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well, you and me both. > > Tell you what, **NP** : I’ll meet you on the chesterfield in the rumpus room, and we’ll talk about these kids and their language today. Deal? Better than looking for an ice floe… ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1199 "2012-05-28T16:10:29Z")
If I had $1,000,000.00 / _If I had $1,000,000.00_ I’d buy you a couch / _maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman_ - Barenaked Ladies from 1991. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1200 "2012-05-28T16:21:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Familiar with Canadian comedian Mike MacDonald? > > You’ll barely recognize him [now](http://www.ottawacitizen.com/News/Ottawa/Ailing%20comic%20Mike%20MacDonald%20issues%20public%20plea%20for%20a%20liver%20donor/6643704/story.html). > > He needs a liver. Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014/1201 "2012-05-28T18:16:17Z")
We need to give full props to Ryder Hesjedal in honour of his Giro d’Italia victory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2012-edition-of-the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/608014.md?page=61)