Wizard's Place

Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

You know the one that begins, “How do you fit five Elephants in a Volkswagen?” Well, this could very easily turn into an elephant joke too but it’s actually true.

I spent most of my growing years in Ontario Canada. At one point I lived in the City of Owen Sound on the south west shore of Georgian Bay. It’s biggest claim to fame, I suspect, was its status as home port for the ferry that operates every summer from Tobermory (The Tub, at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula) to Manitoulin Island (that big piece of land hear the northern shore of Lake Huron).

That’s pretty much all Owen Sound is known for except, perhaps, one other thing; its nickname: “The Asshole Of The Elephant“.

Now, to many, that may seem offensive, and I apologize to the weak of heart, mind, or spirit. No offense is meant and a nick name is, simply, what it is. I’m not big on putting asterisks, or other characters, to pseudo-hide some of the letters. If you know what the word is it really doesn’t matter if it’s partly hidden or not. It’s just a word!

The interesting part of all this, and why it’s no joke, is where the nick name comes from. Here is a map of southern Ontario:

It shows several of the key cities scattered across the province; Niagara Falls, Toronto, St. Catharines (where I was born). Owen Sound (in red) is a little left of center. Their politics probably runs that way too, but that’s a post for another day.

Nothing is generally perceived to be out of the ordinary until you turn the map 90 degrees to the right and the discerning eye may begin to pick up the outlines of a familiar silhouette; a trumpeting elephant. And just look where Owen Sound is located!

Oh, and for those who are just dieing to know, the answer is: “Two in the front, two in the back, and one in the glove compartment.”