Remember Joe, the Canadian? He was "not a lumberjack, or a fur trader, and [he didn't] live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled." Like the Palestinians and the Cubans, Joe stood up in the face of Yanqui arrogance and espoused the dignity of the wretched of the Earth: "A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch, and it's pronounced 'zed,' not 'zee'? 'ZED'!" Joe's signing-off line became an instant classic: "My name is Joe, and I am Canadian!"In the wake of Joe the Canadian, the Molson family brought us other young, white male patriots. There's the guy who won't snap his fingers to order a beer because, he explains, flushing the toilet while your roommate is showering just isn't the Canadian way. And remember the unshaved guy, who was incensed by your suggestion that he drink American beer? "Why don't I wear Jamaican snowshoes?" he asked snidely, with contempt. Jamaican snowshoes -- what's next, Nicaraguan socialism? "Why don't I eat a Japanese hot dog?" he scoffed (Actually, to be honest, this one kind of lost me; I assume that, if indeed the Japanese do make hot dogs, they probably come in a variety of colours and neat rectangular shapes).
Well, for those of you emboldened by Molson's half-true North campaign, this week's business news bears bad tidings. It seems that the maple leaf wunderkind brewers are very well into merger talks with American brewing giant Coors. At 5:34 p.m. on Monday, the Wall Street Journal online stated that the two brewers had "confirmed that they are in 'advanced' merger talks, creating the potential for a North American brewing giant." Though the idea of Molson and Coors coming together is at first disturbing only to those who enjoy the taste of quality beer, the question of "Canadian Values" must surely arise for all those who've looked to Molson to define them in the past.
Full story: Canada: brought to you by...Molson, rabble news, July 21, 2004
Note: I am Canadian?
gem
www.rabble.ca
Canada: brought to you ...
Stumble It!
I'm glad it won't be easy for them to peddle their 20-something-university-student image of Canada anymore. And what this article didn't mention about "Joe Canadian" is first chance he got, he ran to the U.S. to work. Canadian indeed.
There's a darker side to Molsons as well--ever wonder why most bars, restaurants and pubs increasingly only have the same damn selection--all from the Molson's catalog (it's usually Molson Canadian, Fosters, Algonquin Honey Brown, Coors)? It's because Molsons has been going around signing up bars and restaurants with exclusive deals--excluding anything not brewed by Molsons. So, if you live in Waterloo you can't go to your local bar and order a Waterloo Dark on tap anymore thanks to Molson's (even though Waterloo Dark is brewed right down the street). Ditto for Sleeman's, it's getting harder and harder to find any bar with Sleeman's on tap thanks to the Microsoft of beer companies.
And god help me, there isn't a single beer Molson's makes that doesn't taste like crap. They are the McDonald's of beer--there is much better real Canadian beer out there--I recommend Neustadt or Creemore myself, or Waterloo Dark. And if you're ever IN Waterloo, check out the Heuther Hotel for some incredible locally-brewed beer.
alberta news
Thursday, Aug 19, 2004
Beer drinking bear found sleeping off binge on lawn
BAKER LAKE, Wash. (AP) - When state wildlife agents recently found a black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some clues scattered nearby -dozens of empty beer cans.
The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth to puncture the cans. And not just any cans -he appeared to favour one brand over another.
"He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer," said Lisa Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker.
Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can of Busch, but ignored the rest. The beast then consumed about 36 cans of Rainier.
www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID= ... &articleID
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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?
alberta news
Thursday, Aug 19, 2004
Beer drinking bear found sleeping off binge on lawn
BAKER LAKE, Wash. (AP) - When state wildlife agents recently found a black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some clues scattered nearby -dozens of empty beer cans.
The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth to puncture the cans. And not just any cans -he appeared to favour one brand over another.
"He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer," said Lisa Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker.
Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can of Busch, but ignored the rest. The beast then consumed about 36 cans of Rainier.
Sorry wanted to make sure I had the right link so I posted twice:
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do? ... ID=1691634
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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?