Canada

S ince the snow and the Winter Olympics bring Canada to mind this week, and since folks have asked ... yes, we do get snows like this up north (and sometimes worse) - but not very often, especially with accelerating climate change in the last few decades. The big differences I'm noticing between the Canadian and Baltimorean snow experiences are, first, the government's ability to deal with it; and second, citizen reactions. First, the government. We pay higher taxes in Canada, and most of us don't mind.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Catcher Chris Robinson returned to Orioles camp on Wednesday after playing a key role in a brawl in last week's World Baseball Classic pool play game between Canada and Mexico. Robinson, the starting catcher for Canada, reached on a bunt single in the ninth inning with Canada comfortably leading Mexico 9-3. The Mexican team didn't like that, and Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon threw two pitches near the next batter, Rene Tosoni, before plunking him with the third. That incited a benches clearing brawl.

During one of his stand-up routines, comedian and late-night host Jon Stewart told a joke that encapsulated the often misunderstood relationship between the United States and Canada. Said Mr. Stewart, "A Canadian came up to me and asked, 'What do Americans really think about Canada?' And I was like, 'We don't.'" Bingo. Joke, truth, and a growing problem, all spelled out in two words. In many ways, there is no country on Earth more important to the current and future welfare of the United States than Canada - and yet, many Americans and U.S. politicians barely give our neighbor to the north any thought at all. They should.

Adam Jones drove in three runs - including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning - as the U.S. beat Canada, 9-4, Sunday to advance to the World Baseball Classic's second round. The U.S. was trailing 3-2 and five outs from elimination when the Orioles' center fielder lined a double into the gap in left-center against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jimmy Henderson . Jones then scored on a single by Shane Victorino , and Eric Hosmer added a three-run double in the ninth.

Since the snow and the Winter Olympics bring Canada to mind this week, and since folks have asked ... yes, we do get snows like this up north (and sometimes worse) -- but not very often, especially with accelerating climate change in the last few decades. The big differences I'm noticing between the Canadian and Baltimorean snow experiences are, first, the government's ability to deal with it; and second, citizen reactions. First, the government. We pay higher taxes in Canada, and most of us don't mind.

Congratulations to Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on her sudden but exciting promotion from City Council president to mayor of the great city of Baltimore. I think she will do an awesome job. I'm sorry she was "tossed into the deep end of the pool" head first, metaphorically speaking; however, she stepped up to the plate and took charge in organizing city resources to deal with two record-breaking snowstorms back-to-back. It has come to my attention that the city is having a problem with snow disposal ("So much snow and few places to put it," Feb. 10)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are touring Canada this week, and I imagine it's slightly less exciting than when the Beatles came across the pond back in the day. On Tuesday, Prince William, with new bride Kate Middleton standing on the sidelines, picked up a stick and challenged a 20-year-old Canadian goalie to a street hockey shootout. He was as bad at hockey as you would expect a British prince to be. [ Via Deadspin ]

In a victory for common sense, America's top trading partner has become the first country to bail on the Kyoto Protocol before the nearly $7 billion in noncompliance costs comes due next year. Thus ends a pointless and pricey exercise in martyrdom. Having committed to reducing 1990-level carbon emissions by 6 percent, Canada somehow managed to go in the other direction by about a third. Not that anyone in Canada would have noticed by any tangible common-sense measure, except perhaps for all the Canadian plants and trees quietly cheering the abundance of carbon dioxide and overproducing fresh oxygen as a result.

A four-year long rebuilding project by the U.S. men's national team culminated Saturday in a 12-10 victory over Canada -- the team that dethroned it in 2006 -- in the Federation of International Lacrosse world championship (FIL) World Championship final before an announced 4,651. "We dreamed of this. This was our destiny," Team USA coach Mike Pressler said. "The script was written. We just had to go out there and prove it." Team USA's seventh world title did not come easily.

WASHINGTON -- Somewhat like Nero, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien appears to fiddle as his country goes up in flames. His laggardly response to French-speaking Quebec's continuing threat to secede from the 128-year old Canadian confederation may do more than backfire. It may hasten the demise of a country that Americans have long taken for granted because of all the things it now is not: stable, militarily dependable, credit-worthy and prosperous. Before the end of this century, Canada could start spinning off its provinces one by one.Canada is this country's largest trading partner and its closest military ally.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- This week, Chris Robinson will go from buried on the Orioles' organizational depth chart to starting catcher for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. When the Orioles' 40-man roster was finalized this offseason, the team had four catchers on the roster. The 29-year-old Robinson, who played 52 games last year at Triple-A Norfolk and has never played in the major leagues, wasn't one of them. “I've been here long enough to know that I'm not going to take Matt Wieters' job,” Robinson said.

An article in the Feb. 15, 1913, edition of The Argus reported on the culmination of a long-distance romance sparked by a meeting during a tour of Canadian gold mines. Three thousand miles across the continent to Tacoma, Wash., Miss Ethel Patterson, of Ingleside avenue, will travel to wed Donald McCallun, of Keremeos, B.C., and the Patterson home is now in the throes of preparation for her westward trip. Miss Patterson will leave Baltimore next Thursday, and will be accompanied on her long trip by her brother, Frederick V. Patterson , who will act as best man at the wedding.

The first thing Tim Johnson remembers hearing from the son who had gone unexpectedly airborne that dreary August afternoon seven years ago in southern Canada, a 12-year-old bucked from his 250cc motorcycle like a clueless bull rider, was that he could not feel his legs. Michael Johnson could not feel his legs, he later learned, because there was no way of feeling them. At the moment his chest, hurtling toward a wooden fence at almost 80 mph, met the handlebars of a dirt bike that refused to go any farther, the paraplegia was immediate.

U-19 men's lacrosse U.S. beats Canada; gold streak intact The U.S. under-19 men's national team captured the Federation of International Lacrosse world championship Saturday, beating Canada, 10-8, in Turku, Finland. The win avenged a loss to the Canadians during pool play. The United States kept alive its streak of winning every gold medal since sanctioned U-19 international play began in 1988. Canada finished in second place for the fifth time in tournament history; the Iroquois Nationals placed third after an 18-1 win over England earlier Saturday.

Calvert Hall lacrosse standout Stephen Kelly is in Turku, Finland this month as a member of the U.S. under-19 men's national team, which is competing in the Federation of International Lacrosse U-19 men's world championships.  The U.S. has won all six titles since the tournament began in 1988. Kelly, a two-time first-team All-Metro midfielder, will share his experiences with a daily blog as he tries to bring home a gold medal.   Hello everyone! The last day and half have been incredible and one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Calvert Hall lacrosse standout Stephen Kelly is in Turku, Finland this month as a member of the U.S. under-19 men's national team, which is competing in the Federation of International Lacrosse U-19 men's world championships.  The U.S. has won all six titles since the tournament began in 1988.  Kelly, a two-time first-team All-Metro midfielder, will share his experiences with a daily blog as he tries to bring home a gold medal.   [ UPDATE: The U.S. U-19 lacrosse team defeated Canada, 10-8, in today's world championship game.

Adam Jones drove in three runs - including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning - as the U.S. beat Canada, 9-4, Sunday to advance to the World Baseball Classic's second round. The U.S. was trailing 3-2 and five outs from elimination when the Orioles' center fielder lined a double into the gap in left-center against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jimmy Henderson . Jones then scored on a single by Shane Victorino , and Eric Hosmer added a three-run double in the ninth.

Calvert Hall lacrosse standout Stephen Kelly is in Turku, Finland this month as a member of the U.S. under-19 men's national team, which is competing in the Federation of International Lacrosse U-19 men's world championships.  The U.S. has won all six titles since the tournament began in 1988.  Kelly, a two-time first-team All-Metro midfielder, will share his experiences with a daily blog as he tries to bring home a gold medal.   [ UPDATE: The U.S. U-19 lacrosse team defeated Canada, 10-8, in today's world championship game.

The U.S. men's national team avenged a pool-play loss to the Iroquois Nationals by winning the rematch, 12-7, on Thursday in the semifinal round of the Federation of International Lacrosse U19 World Championships in Turku, Finland. Midfielder Steve Pontrello scored five goals, including three straight to open the second half as the Americans built a 9-5 lead 5:46 into the third quarter. After allowing 15 goals to the Iroquois in the pool-play loss on Tuesday, the United States allowed just two second-half goals and none in the fourth quarter, ending the game on an 8-3 run starting with 9:45 left in the first half on a goal by Ryan Tucker (Gilman)

Major League Lacrosse Bayhawks humble Rattlers on road, 13-7 The Chesapeake Bayhawks handed the Rochester Rattlers their first loss at home this season, winning, 13-7, Saturday night. The Bayhawks (8-2) never trailed and improved their record to a Major League Lacrosse-best 8-2, while the Rattlers, who are battling the Long Island Lizards for the final playoff spot, fell to 5-5. Bayhawks midfielder Michael Kimmel (Johns Hopkins) had a goal and four assists, and attackman Danny Glading added two goals and two assists.