(no subject)

A reported transcript of a radio conversation off the coast of Newfoundland in 1997:

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the captain of a US Navy warship. I say again, divert your course.

Canadians: No, I say again, you divert your course.

Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS MISSOURI. WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE U.S. NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.

I despair...

Last night I was asked by one of my housemates (who was born in this country, and is attending college here) what continent we are on. As in, "I don't know" and not "My brain needs a cold reboot because it's nearly 11pm and I'm blanking."


Sigh.