Some quick math: Dividing the population of Canada by the total area (in square miles) gives us a ratio of nearly 10:1 … so if the land in Canada were divided evenly, each person in Canada would have 10 square miles to themselves! As comedians Will & Ian Ferguson remark in their popular book “How to be Canadian“:

As noted, Canada has a very low population-to-area ratio. So low, in fact, that you might be wondering how you will ever meet any actual Canadians. … But fortunately, Canadians tend to clump themselves together in places known, for lack of a better word, as “cities”. … In the province of Manitoba alone, for example, more than half the population lives in one large mega-city: Winnipeg. And they all hang out at the mall.

Americans celebrate independence day on July 4, while Canadians celebrate their country’s birthday on July 1. How do you plan to celebrate your country this year? And how do you see the USA & Canada being similar, or differing?

Image credit: derpunk

Since her nomination, every aspect of Sarah Palin’s life has been scrutinized heavily in the press. We’ve heard all about her pregnant teenage daughter Bristol, her Down syndrome diagnosed baby, and her previous political successes, first as mayor (of Wasilla, population approx 7,000) and as the first woman and youngest governor ever of Alaska.

There also seems to be a considerable amount of disdain for the former “Miss Congeniality” winner (Miss Alaska pageant, 1984). Says one commenter:

Mrs. Palin has been the target of sexist and class-based sneering since she was picked by John McCain to be his running-mate. This has obscured the fact that she didn’t reach her present public position – of Governor of Alaska – by being a shrinking violet. For a woman to succeed in such a masculine-dominated world as American politics requires her to be a fighter, to be articulate, to be clever and to have the courage of her convictions. (Source: Telegraph)

Do you think Palin faces unfair disadvantages because of her gender and age? Is it appropriate for topics like her daughters pregnancy to be made issues in a political campaign? And overall, what is your opinion of Palin as a vice presidential candidate?

Image credit: NewsHour

But now a new challenger has emerged: Usain Bolt, a Jamaican runner who broke two world records. First he broke the 100m world record with a time of 9.69s (actually, he broke his own record which he set earlier this year) and then he broke the 200m world record as well with a time of 19.30s. [Source: Chicago Tribune]

Bolt could have finished the race faster, had he not begun his enthusiastic celebration as soon has he realized he would  win handily. The New Zealand Herald also reports that “He did it with one of his shoes untied: When Bolt crossed the finish line his left shoelace was flapping.”

So now the question being widely debated is who is the greatest athlete of these Olympic Games? An opinion piece in The Times (New Zealand) boldly states that “Usain Bolt is greater than Michael Phelps”. Is it really so easy to brush aside eight gold medals?

Who do you think is the greater athlete? Is comparing the two like comparing apples to oranges?

Image credits: M@rcopako & rich115