They poop all over our parks and green spaces. They're cranky and hiss at you and chase you if you get too close. If you're having a picnic, and they discover you have food, they become very aggressive and literally chase you away from your picnic table.
Not only that, but because of their name, they've become associated with our fine country. It's just their name; they're not ~really~ Canadian. In fact, I want to clear up something right now: They're "Canada Geese", not "Canadian Geese". That common misnomer really pisses me off. Now, if they were cute cuddly animals with such a name, I wouldn't mind. Or, if they had some redeeming characteristic, like the beaver, that would be fine.
For those of you who don't know, the beaver is our national symbol. We were told in school it became our national symbol as it's an industrious rodent, just like our forebearers; you know, hewers of wood, fishers of oceans, miners of the deeps, exploiters of raw materials - all that stuff we do so well. I now realize it's because we slaughtered them to send the pelts to Europe to make silly hats - were it not for the beaver, neither the French nor the English would have fought wars over us. So, were it not for the beaver, there would be no Canada as we know it. For better or worse.
The US is the US (according to Tom) due to Tea and Taxes. Canada is Canada because of the beaver. So, I guess we can blame the beaver for our higher taxes, fewer personal liberties (I actually don't believe we have fewer personal liberties, but Americans think we do, so I'll leave it at that), and more intrusive government.
But, I digress...
Paul, dislike them boids though I do, this is a cool shot. Nice composition, made so by the interesting body position of the bird. That lens does have lovely bokeh, doesn't it? I like that it's standing on ice, right next to the water. The line between the ice and the dark water is a very nice compositional element, imho.
Yup, like the shot a lot. But, these birds do get me going...
<vbg>
cheers, frank
"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
From: Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: PAW: Big Bird Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:05:35 -0500
I know I already posted one photo this week. But I find this kind of interesting. I shot it this morning with the A 400/5.6 off a monopod. It's one of Canada's finest posing near a local lake. I'm very pleased with the performance of this lens. This shot is with the *istD. You'll find it here: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2170790&size=lg
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