Monday, July 09, 2007

List: Why I {heart} the Calgary Stampede

Is the Calgary Stampede a one-trick civic pony that cheapens the city's international image? No, of course not. In fact, there are a multitude of amazing, astounding, awesome things that make the Stampede great. For example:

1. Obvious economic boon from the tourist dollars.

2. Albertan premiers get pied (or attempted-pied) at their annual Stampede Breakfasts. Affordable housing for all!!!!

3. This photo:

4. And this subsequent, um, homage:


5. Internationalism: proves that people all over the world are suckers for cowboys. Speaking of...

6. Raises the profiles of fine establishments like Cowboys, a place frequented by actual royalty.

7. $tampede. $tampede. $tampede.

8. How every local station has to broadcast at least part of its dinnertime newscast from the Stampede grounds.

9. Educational: ability to understand the subtle distinction between "YA-HOO!" and "YEE-HAW!" (Anyone? Anyone?)

10. Oh, look at the cute ponies! They're so keeeewt! I want a horsie! Oh, shit.

Happy $tampedin', y'all. See you in August.

1 comment:

Nicole said...

The thing that amuses me -- diverts me, excessively -- about the stampede is how so many people think it's so well known... Okay, yes, it's a faaaar bigger town fair than K-days, but it's not exactly "international". No one here knows what it is. The japenese do, for some reason. Maybe they like cows.