Are you sharp or old?

Is your cheese sharp or old?

I admit describing something as "old" is not all that appealing- but when you see it together with its counterpart french word "fort", you get Old Fort. I may be the only one, but this just stirs up images of the beginnings of Canada and gives a sense of history to a cheddar from Canada. It just sounds right and seems to make it sound like that Old Cheddar belongs here! I want my Old Fort! (As a side note, I pronounce it as 'Old-Four'.)

Nowadays, when I look for Cheddar in the USA. I see the usual Mild, Medium and then I get a new option - Sharp! Where did this come from? Is it really a sharp flavour? Or does it make you feel like a winner? Really, without any aged cheddar, there is no flavour. So I would want to know it is old. And no flavour brings me to my next crazy discovery - yes, something called American Cheese!

If I had a million dollars...

"We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner"
- The Barenaked Ladies

Yes, this is the way the Kraft Dinner was for me! And since everything has both French and English on it, sometimes I would say "Dîner Kraft Dinner" or "Dinner Kraft".

And yes, I would still eat Kraft Dinner if I had a million dollars.

Washroom, Bathroom, Restroom ... oh my!

I had a fun 2 hours today --- I was in a paid focus group getting a feel for the economy. 'What is it like for you yesterday, today, tomorrow financially?' they would ask.

But before all that fun, I needed to ask - 'where is the washroom?' The receptionist did a double take and then said it was down the hall.

Now, I don't bat an eye when someone says restroom, bathroom, loo, toilet. But isn't washroom a bit better- at least I know that there is a verb in there that could (and really should) happen. Or do we mean that the number 1 and number 2 negate each other - and it's a wash. But seriously, for sure much better than taking a rest.

In the end, I don't care today- and I got paid!

Chicken Rings and White Castle

We've all heard of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. And even though this fast food joint does not exist outside of the US, it also does not exist in California.

Well, we went to the White Castle! The WC's in Minneapolis turn out to be the closest to California, I think.

Some observations:

1. WC's are not in the greatest neighbourhoods...

2. They have Chicken "Rings". (What part of the chicken is this?)

3. They have strange (but cheap!) prices- and they take cheques!

4. I want to go to there!

"Something" and Ladders

A few of us recently went to the Divisadero Street Art walk earlier this month. And our first stop was at a coffee shop that had games and marginal-tasting (but filled to the brim) $2 champagne! And to our wonder, we enjoyed a game of ... "Something" and Ladders. Now I admit that the box top said "Chutes and Ladders", but it sounded strange to me. Our friend Anne, who is savvy on the computer found that indeed, we outside of the USA most likely know the game of Chutes and Ladders, from its predecessor called Snakes and Ladders.

I needed to confirm this with a random sampling of folks who know this game. So I went to some of my email addresses and found a set of Canadians and Americans who gave their knowledge of the subject matter. Here are the results:

Out of all the Canadians:

85% called the game Snakes and Ladders

Out of the Americans:

100% called the game Chutes and Ladders

So my friend Anne was correct! Snakes and Ladders is the proper name!

OK, not as obscure as someone offering me an Otter Pop (see earlier post), but at least this game isn't referenced in its simpler form as "Up and Down"!

Finally, I can't help but notice that "chutes" is a homonym of "shoot". Is this an ironic cultural reference? I'll let you be the judge.

Summer's here! That means Otter Pops!

I've heard of these things- but I have yet to experience them.

I actually think they could be refreshing on a hot day. 15 seconds of sanity amongst 90F/32c heat.

But, sucking on an otter does not sound appealing. Who named this thing?

Help me understand- when you were a kid, were you grossed out at the thought of sucking on an otter?

I gotta Check Plus Plus. That's like a "C" at Arizona State.

What is Check Plus Plus? It sounds like some sort of hip way to test the settings of your microphone and for feedback levels.

And this is what my new (next) blog is about - the subtle American ways of what is said in this country and if I understand it or not.

Well, it is not yet in Wikipedia, so no good there.

I know it's a grade- but what is the scale? Can you get a Check minus minus? What makes a Check Plus Plus better than a Check Plus?
What grade levels give the Check Plus Plus? Is it a grade for the year? Can you average the Check (Regular, Plus, Minus)? What happens if there is a mix of letter grades and Check system? I could go on ...

But it sounds like something really good ... I want the Check Plus Plus ... drool ...