Skip to main content

US And Them #5

I was reading a news story recently about the value of the Canadian dollar (it was approaching par with it's American counterpart - a rare development) and I couldn't help but wonder if our currency is the laughing stock of international money markets. Not because of it's value, but because of it's name. Think about it. The Brits have their pound. The Japanese their yen and the Americans their dollar. But in Canada we have our "loonie". That's right, our dollar is named after a bloody bird - and not even an exotic one. Our currency is named after the common Canadian loon.
And it's not even paper; it's a coin. Which makes for heavy pockets and purses. Couple this with the fact that the Canadian $2 is only available in coin - it's called the "toonie" - Canada is a nation of men with droopy pants and women with bad backs. My wife recently cleaned out her change purse and found $35 in pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, loonies and toonies. She's been happily walking upright ever since.
And what's with who we put on the face of our dollar? The Americans have a former president on theirs - an appropriate sign of respect for a past leader. Given what we call our currency, I don't think the same practice in Canada would be a sign of respect. But it might be accurate!

Comments

Mike said…
You might make fun of Mr. Harper, but it could be worse -

We could be calling Jack Layton prime minister and that my friend, is the day I become an American.
nonamedufus said…
Mike: It can't get any worse. But don't worry; you won't have to move. Canadians wouldn't vote for anyone with a moustache.
Moooooog35 said…
THAT'S why she's been walking upright?

Dude...I was ready to congratulate you but nevermind now.
nonamedufus said…
moooooog35: Oh, yeah, she's evolved.
Joel Klebanoff said…
Speaking of walking upright, there are advantages to having our $1 and $2 denominations as coins. If you're a guy, you can collect a bunch of loonies or toonies, roll them and keep the roll in your front pocket. That's allowed me to cut WAY back on the money I was spending to take up the offers on all of the "male enhancement" emails I get.

By the way, the "word" I got for the "word verification" when submitting this comment was "colock". I kid you not. It looks like Blogger is starting to read minds and figured out where my mind was going with this. It came close. It just threw in a couple of extra letters.
Chris said…
So Looney Tunes is actually a price, right?

You Canucks are so damn odd.
Alexander said…
If it makes you feel any better, the British £1 and £2 are also coins. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if its in some way our fault.

I always thought it must seem strange to the US. A £2 coin is a little short of $4, which must seem balmy for coinage.
nonamedufus said…
Joel: Thanks. You give new meaning to the phrase "a little change".

Chris: B'duh, b'duh, b'duh that's all folks!

Alexander: Ah, Britain, the home of reinforced pockets. Brilliant, mate!
Anonymous said…
Chris - I had the same exact thought!!! Jinx!!! I hit comments just to write that, and zoinx! Ya beat me!

Ms. Thirty Something

Nona - I'm going to Google just to make sure you ain't puttin' us on...but then again, I suppose you just can't make shit like that up!
nonamedufus said…
Ms Thirty Something: Would I lie to you?!
kathcom said…
I grew up on the New York side of the border. A lot of our shops had signs in the window saying, "Canadian Money Accepted at Par". The drugstore I worked at didn't, though.

I hated when people passed Canadian change at my cash register. I had to make it up out of my own money at the end of the day so the manager wouldn't know.

But that was long ago, when registers still forced you to make change. Now they do all the work. The ones at McDonald's just have pictures now, I think. Maybe I should go work there. Sounds like an easy living.

Now I want a burger. I'm easily distracted. What I meant to say is that the loon is a cool bird that may leave the dollar in the dust one day.
Anonymous said…
People...doesn't anyone watch the news? The loon ALREADY left the US dollar in the dust.

http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/CAD/graph120.html

In January and March of 2008, they were fairly equal, and in February and May of 2008, the Canadian loon was worth more than the dollar.

Ms. Thirty Something
nonamedufus said…
katchcom: I think the McD's cash registers are perfect for the IQ of the servers working there. After all, the only thing they know to say is "you want fries with that?"

Ms Thirty Something: Are you checking up on me? Yes the loonie soars now and again, but more often than not it trails the American buck.
Ed & Jeanne said…
I think your dollar is named appropriately because if somebody throws that thing at me...I'll duck!
Winky Twinky said…
Well, you learn something new everyday...I had no idea you Canadians had loonie toonie currency!! That's a hoot!!
nonamedufus said…
VE: I'm off my game today. I had to read your comment 3 times before I got it. You quack me up!

Winky: Yeah, we don't have enough of a complex with a beaver as a national symbol.
Alexander said…
If it makes you feel any better, the British £1 and £2 are also coins. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if its in some way our fault.

I always thought it must seem strange to the US. A £2 coin is a little short of $4, which must seem balmy for coinage.

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Funnies

The Polka Dot Door

A long time ago, when I was 22, my first child was born.  That kid grew up on a little Canadian kid's show called Polka Dot Door, produced by the TV Ontario network.  And Dad, more often than not, sat through those shows with his little one. Nine or so years later when a brother, and a year after that when a sister came along number one son was moving on to Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard.  But there was a nice overlap where his siblings picked up where he had left off with Polka Dot Door.  And Dad was right there to welcome them. So you're looking at a Polka Dot Door veteran.  The show began in 1971 and ran to 1993.  I didn't watch the full run but I did get in my fair share.  The formula was pretty simple.  A young male and female host, which seemed to change every week, sang songs, told stories, made crafts and generally did their best stimulate little brains.  The show opened as follows... Imagination Day!  Oh boy!  You know what happens on Imagination D

SuperBowl Ads

Well, the game didn't go my way, but some of the American Super Bowl Ads (found at: http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads ) turned my crank... Diet Pepsi Max Super Bowl Ad: Wake Up People Ginseng & Caffeine Bud Light Wine & Cheese Party Super Bowl Commercial Bridgestone Tire Super Bowl Commercial: Squirrel vs Car Garmin Nuvi Super Bowl Commercial: Napolean Finds His Way w/ GPS Bud Light Super Bowl Ad: Immigrants with Carlos Mencia Planters Nuts Super Bowl Commercial: Woman Attracts Men w/ Nuts Pepsi Stuff Super Bowl Commercial: Justin Timberlake Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial: Cave Man Invents Wheel Coca Cola Super BOwl Commercial: Parade Balloon Victoria's Secret Super Bowl Commercial with Adriana Lima Book: Clapton - The Autobiography by Eric Clapton Music: New Seasons by The Sadies