Skud said The other thing is that in Ottawa, and even in Quebec, most francophones also speak English. If I were to stumble over ordering lunch, they'd just switch to English to save the trouble of figuring out what the hell I wanted.

I remember how I was insulted when - a couple of years back - I started a conversation in French, and as soon as the other person realized my accent (which wasn't even English !), he/she switched to English, in an attempt to help me. How would I ever learn French ? :)

<rant>

"the American people has spoken"

I just don't get it. They are making so much noise about whether votes should be recounted or not, but miss the obvious. In an election in which the statistical error is in the order of thousands (and not being reduced by recounting !), how can a few hundrets decide about who is going to be the next president ?
The only sensible explanation is that it is totally insignificant (much as the election itself).

Besides, as the USA are messing around in every corner of the world, real elections would need to take into account votes from every person on the planet, as everybody is affected by the consequences of their politics.

</rant>