First, Canada was smacked down by Russia in the world junior semi-finals; for the first time since 2001, Canada would not play for the gold. Then we had a big smackdown in the blog rail between Vancouver doctor Reka Gustafson and contributor Miranda Frum over whether taxpayers should be paying for crack pipes. Just as the -- what? dust? powder? -- from that was settling, another smackdown started up when Kathryn Marshall of Ethical Oil accused environmental groups of receiving foreign backing to lobby against the Northern Gateway project, upon which hearings will begin this coming week. To which Rick Smith of Environmental Defence Canada replied, essentially, so what?So as you return to work, remember that things could be worse. Even in January. Even in January in Canada. You could be in Mexico...