As I've noted before, I am deathly afraid of banks. They creep me out. In fact, all government buildings have that effect on me: banks, post offices, courthouses, DMVs, anything. They're so sterile and humorless.

Now I've gotten myself on the subject of humor. (Smooth, eh? Not forced at all.) I am not the only one with this bizarre phobia. A Canadian writer named Stephen Leacock wrote about this very subject in his short story "My Financial Career". To this day, this is one of my favorite pieces of literature. When Leacock is good, he gives Thurber a run for his money (apologies for both the cliche and the terrible, terrible pun).

Have at it. Make the Canucks proud.