Canadians have new patriotic swagger

Canadians have new patriotic swagger - Canadians have long been known to be coy about bragging about how great their country is and displaying nationalistic symbols but a recent survey says that is changing.

Canadians have new patriotic swagger

Canadians have new patriotic swagger

The survey was conducted by Ipsos-Reid online. It polled 1,100 people between 20-22 June and was produced for the Historica-Dominion Institute. Results suggest that Canadians are getting brash and proud about their country and in-your-face patriotism is becoming far more normal.

Of course much of this centers around the use of the famous flag symbol, the Maple Leaf. Apparently One in five said they would consider getting a tattoo of it somewhere on their body. This was heightened in the under 55's and strongest in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

From my years in Canada I recognise the red leaf as a distinct Canadian symbol. Like Canadas image it appears non-offensive, does not symbolise war or oppression and looks far cooler than most flags. It's a lucky piece of branding for a country to have!

The years of people saying things good about Canada and celebrating the leaf must be rubbing off if the results of this survey are to be believed.

As a non-Canadian I like the symbol too and like that Canadians don't feel bad displaying it and are ever more interested in going beyond using it just as a flag. Of course if you are not careful nationalism can go too far the wrong way but I think as a whole that is a long way off.

Interestingly the maple tree where the symbol comes from only grows in Eastern Canada but the West seem to love it just as much!

More details of other findings from the survey, including where Canadians rate Poutine as a national food and what they think of Beavers, can be read  in this article over at MSN.

Are you Canadian, how do you relate to your national symbols and patriotism? Do you see a problem with it and would you prefer the old more humble Canadian style to be on the rise instead?

Republished from The Random Forest.

World's fastest skateboarder reaches 80mph

World's fastest skateboarder reaches 80mph - Mischo Erban broke the current land speed record on a skateboard by quite an astounding amount recently in Quebec, Canada and says he didn't even feel challenged.

World's fastest skateboarder reaches 80mph

According to the story from Digital Spy 28-year old Mischo Erban reached 130kph which broke the current record by a massive 16kph.

The record success took place in Quebec on a road they call locally "the landslide".

He seemed relaxed and of the event said "I came to the hill thinking I would be scared but at the end it was just a game. I didn't really even feel challenged.", he also joked that he will double his speed if someone builds the right road.

Check out the crazy video of the record breaker below:

Wow, just wow!

Story details sourced from Digital Spy.

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/worlds-fastest-skateboarder-reaches-80mph/

Scissors, Paper, Stone: unbeatable robot wins every hand

Scissors, Paper, Stone: unbeatable robot wins every hand - Stone, Paper, Scissors is a classic that some people have an inherent, almost telepathic way of winning! Of course it probably comes down to reaction time and also character judging so how can it be possible that the very human game has been infiltrated by an unbeatable robot?

Scissors, Paper, Stone: unbeatable robot wins every hand

The Japanese robot is a cheat! It simply recognises the hand gesture and responds according. It only takes one milisecond too recognise so the reaction is pretty much impossible to spot. Of course the current application of the robot is a little fun but it's implications could be far reaching. Check it out in the video below.

Amazing, eh?

Now the uses of such a gesture recognition system could be anywhere from medical to transportation to home help. Just think a gesture based walking robot could give new leg life to amputees again. It could be used as a braking system in cars or even for automated driving improvements.

What applications can you think up?

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/scissors-paper-stone-unbeatable-robot-wins-every-hand/

WTA to install Grunt-O-Meter

WTA to install Grunt-O-Meter - Grunting of mostly female tennis players has been annoying spectators so much that apparently the WTA is considering a 3-step plan to bring the noise levels down.

WTA to install Grunt-O-Meter

WTA to install Grunt-O-Meter

Watch any Tennis match and the players will make a noise when the hit the ball. Women are often pointed out for their loud and shrill grunts on contact, particularily the likes of Maria Sharapova amongst many. Many Male players also have loud grunts.

Apparently spectators have been complaining and the World Tennis Association has a plan.

According to an article from USA Today the 3-part plan includes:

• The development of a handheld device — a kind of Hawk-Eye for noise — for umpires to objectively measure on-court grunting levels.
• A new rule setting acceptable and non-acceptable noise levels based on acoustical data gathering and analysis.
• Education at large tennis academies, national development programs and at all levels of junior and lower-tier professional events.

WTA chief executive and chairman Stacey Allaster stopped short of calling it a Grunt-o-Meter but we all know that it is!

Now, what do I think?

I don't know if you want to hear my opinion but I honestly don't see an issue with grunting. It's a physical game and physical exertion is often helped by exerting noise. I am sure many would not hit quite the same if they had to curb it.

Sportspersons should be pretty much allowed to exhibit whatever quirks make them work hardest and curbing the grunt is a bad idea. Plus it's a character thing too!

What do you think about the ideas proposed by the WTA?

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/wta-install-grunt-o-meter/

James Hackett assault and battery

James Hackett assault and battery - A man is being charged over allegedly throwing a carton of McDonalds fries at his 11-year old step daughter in a moment of anger.

James Hackett assault and battery

At first a charge seems a little over the top. The story goes that the family, James, his wife and step-daughter visited McDs and on the way home in the car the couple started arguing over money.

The 11-year old interjected and out of anger James threw the fries into the backseat where they hit the girl in the face.

Thinking about the incident a little more I see the charge a little more clearly if it happened that way. The fries have been described as hot and oily with potential to burn and the act itself was violent and maybe aimed at the child.

Lowell Sun: Man plans not-guilty in French fry assault

The Lowell Sun reported that James Hackett pleaded not guilty in district court. He is on bail on condition he goes no where near the girl.

More details can be found on The Smoking Gun.

What do you think? Is a charge harsh or should he be seriously reprimanded if it is decided events did happen like this?

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/james-hackett-assault-battery/

Anthony Davis trademark

Anthony Davis trademark - You gotta give it to Anthony Davis. His amazing basketball skills shown playing for the University of Kentucky were often equalled by remarks of his looks. His unibrow stole the show but despite advice he refused to get rid of it.

Anthony Davis trademark

Now Anthony is heading for the big time and gearing up for his first NBA draft. It's his chance to shine and show that all the brow mocking and pro-brow talk was worth it. He has trademarked his unibrow and is sure to cash in on the unique feature.

So, expect to see trademarked "Fear the Brow" merchandise popping up and see Anthony cashing in.

Good luck to him and his drafting.

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/anthony-davis-trademark/

Romney billed 10000

Romney billed 10000 - A visit to Newport Beach, California isn't cheap it seems as Mitt Romney is facing a $10k bill after his recent campaign visit. Of course it is a drop in the ocean for the money he has raised so far.

Romney billed 10000

So why would a town bill someone bringing a big campaigning event to town? Well big events cost money and Mitt Romney was billed because of police officer overtime.

If you think this is a dig at the Republican's candidate then think again. When President Obama rolled into town it was reported "Newport Beach charges president 35000".

It seems Romney is edging ahead of Obama, at least in the fund raising stakes as it was said that he raised $76 million in May. I find that kind of sad in a world where that money could be going to some real use! In comparison Ron Paul only raised 1.78 million.

Romney billed 10000

Do you think the town should just be happy to have them in town?

Story republished from: http://therandomforest.com/romney-billed-10000/