News and notes from around the interweb:
- And they wonder why transborder travel is down.
U.S. border officer speeds toward a Canadian tourist, yelling, 'Never come to the U.S. again!' pic.twitter.com/0q3V5LWfVw
— EssenViews (@essenviews) September 26, 2025
- American Express announced that its Boston Centurion lounge would open in 2027. Massport says that’s already slipped to 2028.
- The branding behind the Amex Platinum ‘mirror’ card design
- Find Flights For Me now has a free email deals newsletter.
- Packing is hard because it forces us to wrestle with contingency (future uncertainty), consumerism (too much stuff), and comfort (desire to be cushioned), plus our own personalities.
Ultiamtely packing is not just about luggage—it’s a metaphor for how we manage uncertainty, consumer culture, and our own tendency to overcomplicate. A well-packed bag models a rational, well-organized life. (HT: Paul H)
Yet again, the misbehavior is the bad thing, not the identity, background, or even occupation. Most law enforcement, military service members, and civil servants, take their responsibilities seriously, serve honorably, and do actually protect and serve, not whatever that guy was doing… *sigh*
I’m not on X so I can’t see what everyone is saying about that Border crossing thing…but what the H was that? Is there more to the story than we know? I can’t imagine what would have provoked the agent to do that, nor that it is acceptable. Makes me concerned although I have no plans, to go North where they’d have a right to be PO’d at us…though I find most Canadians to be thoughtful and realize we as individuals do not agree with the powers that be.
A woman in France whom I contacted via amateur radio sent me a note. “We postponed our trip this summer because of him and his taxes. It’s a shame because we love the USA and Americans.”
And there you have it.
I always think of emotional and psychological attributes of the people drawn to this line of work. Do they see themselves as civil servants? As law enforcement? As military? As the last line of defense against an invasion of people hell-bent on the destruction of America.
When you demonize entire groups of people, publicly condone throwing old men and women to the ground and feel no empathy when you see kids in cages I can only imagine the kind of people you hire.
@Robin Rasner,
Sadly, this is what we Canadians have come to expect from U.S. Border Patrol personnel. Surly, rude, demeaning behaviour when traveling into your country, as well as unnecessary and aggressive searches of cell phones and vehicles, gives us great pause to even bother with you.
Sorry.
Did y’all see Mayor Adams is dropping out of the NYC election? I hear he got some more free Business Class tickets on Turkish Airlines… an offer he couldn’t refuse!
Nobody should be wondering why southbound transborder travel is down. Better places for Canadians to go to spend their money.
The Canadian was camped out in the passing lane is my guess as to why. That can be pretty infuriating to be fair.
Shameful, unprofessional & willfully ignorant behavior.
US Customs Enforcement devolved into the lowest common denominator of alleged formal U.S. law enforcement.
DaveS says:
“Better places for Canadians to go to spend their money…”
Well, since Canadians are becoming increasingly poorer, relative to the US, maybe Cuba is a better “bargain” for you, as it’s a “paradise” of cheap prostitution, cheap labor, and cheap hotels… plus which the Canadian and Cuban governments are ideologically “sympatico”…
Unfortunately we don’t have the other side of the story. Maybe there is a cause for the comments. Most Canadians I have met are nice but some are not. I grew up near that area. Canadians would come to our roadside stand and buy things. Quite a few would try to pass Canadian money at par but Canadian money was worth less than USA money. We could not give the money as change to another customer and it was worth even less when exchanging it at the bank. Almost none wanted to give a premium to cover the extra expenses. Basically it was as if they were demanding a discount that was not given to Americans. You would see the not nice side sometimes when arguing about them paying with Canadian money that was worth less. Of course, if you pay with American money in Canada, they take it at par value even though they can exchange it for more. I am less worried about that because I know of the hassle and expense of exchanging it. BTW, I have been to Canada many times and in quite a few places. I have even been there on bicycle as a kid. I have been to Yonge Street in Toronto, where and when it had a sordid reputation.
@GM — Pal, they got a lotta land, natural resources, ample fresh water, and thanks to climate change, the Northwest Passage is now a thing… the Canadians will be just fine.
@jns — Woah. Are you a GRU troll?
Most Americans have no beef with Canada or Canadians; it’s just our current President, who appears to be Putin’s puppet, trying to normalize annexing neighboring countries, unlawfully, of course. It’s a farce.
Yonge Street is plenty fun these days. Nightlife. Restaurants. No real issues there, unless you hate ‘fun.’
Finally, if you pay with a credit card, you earn points, and no funny business with currency exchange in Canada or anywhere else overseas. None-issue. Unless, you really are a Russian and cannot do business in many countries due to sanctions. Hmm. Gotcha there.
Canadians not only generally have an “entitlement attitude”, but as ” langniappe” they are also poor tippers, so who needs ’em…
Besides which, Canada until very recently was shirking their NATO contributions, spending a mere 1.37% of its GDP on defense… due to President Trump’s repeated requests, only this month have they *finally* reached the minimum requested 2%, which is still a much smaller percentage than poorer Poland or Estonia…
So we can all easily see right through Canada’s arrogant anti – US “posturing”…
It’s one of the reasons I usually travel with a 20-inch overnight bag. “Constraints foster creativity,” and all that…
@Denver Refugee — This guy duffels…
My opinion of Canadians started taking place 61 years ago when I started making change at the roadside stand. No credit cards used. I have not drank the Kool-Aid so I do not have the New York Times gilded version of Canadians. On the other hand, I have interacted with Canadians more than most Americans. Yonge Street was known for street walker prostitution at the time I visited it in 1977. Is that the fun you were talking about?
About a 20 inch overnight bag, I suggest a backpack instead. You can get one that carries around 40 liters that is a bit smaller than the typical carry-on roller bag and carries just as much if not more. The one I have has the shoulder straps able to be put out of the way in a zipped compartment. Less to get snagged in the airplane and then take them out when walking a long distance. A smooth walking surface or a rough one are equally handled. The backpack weighs less than a roller bag so if there is a weight limit you can carry more of your stuff and less of a bag. Rough handling won’t crack the case like it could a hard side bag. From what I have seen, you are less likely to be asked to gate check a backpack. Fragile items can be put in a box first or wrapped to protect them.
You doing cartoons now?
@jns — Yonge and Times Square today are nothing like 50 years ago. (Ok, so less of a GRU agent, and more a mere contrarian, phew! Was gonna say, had you seen the pro-EU vote in Maldova?! Uh-oh to your bosses if you had been.)
@Rover Y — Your first time seeing AI art? Better start getting used to it…
No one on planet Earth is more passive aggressive than a Canadian. I’ve lived there and seen it up close. And don’t get me started on the ‘lovely’ people in Quebec.
There is definitely more to this story, and you know the Canucks provoked it. FAFO.
For those Americans who always think Canadians are poorer than Americans… Sorry to tell you the truth, according to WTO, averages Canadian households net worth are much higher than Americans. Canadians have a much higher rate of pay secondary education… That explains why Canadians never elect a prime minister (President) as stupid and prejudice as Donald Duck…I meant trxmp…
The average (mean) wealth per adult is significantly higher in the USA than in Canada. Look up: “List of countries by wealth per adult” on Wikipedia.
@ Eddie K
“Canadians have a much higher rate of pay secondary education…”
Canadian secondary education includes writing complete sentences.