Well, can't let the Olympics pass by without a brief comment.

I'm not a particularly patriotic Canadian.  I think we should have done much better in the 65 years since WWII ended considering our vast natural resources, our paltry national defense budget, our trade relationship with the United States and our lack of the racial strife/problems that plague our neighbor to the south.  I was appalled by the massive deficits we ran up in the '80's (my formative years, politically) and by our (relatively) high unemployment rates.  I didn't (and still don't) think much of our unelected senate, our 'notwithstanding clause' in the charter of rights and freedoms, having a foreign 'queen' as head of state (figurehead or not) and the inclusion of a fictitious 'god' in our national anthem (not that I think much of national anthems in the first place.)

Still, I've been extremely delighted by the performance of Canadians in the Vancouver games.  I am frankly disgusted by those who characterize the 'Own the Podium' campaign as anything but an unqualified triumph.  Canada has won more gold medals than ANY OTHER COUNTRY (a stunning achievement in its own right, but even moreso when you consider that Canada didn't win a single gold medal the last two times we hosted the Olympics.)  Aside from the women's curling team, I haven't seen a single Canadian falter or choke.  Weather and mechanical failures aside, the Vancouver games have been awesome, and actually gave this cynical ex-pat reason to feel proud of his native land.