back to article Canned laughter for Canadians selling cans of air at $15 a pop

A dynamic duo from Canada have claimed to have made thousands of dollars by selling cans full of air online. Moses Lam and Troy Paquette of Alberta, Canada said in an interview with the CBC that they began their business selling ziplock bags of air collected from the Canadian Rockies mountain range just for a laugh. But when …

  1. Filippo Silver badge

    Old news

    I believe that President Skroob has been using this for a while.

    1. Charles 9

      Re: Old news

      First thing that sprang to my mind, too.

    2. davidp231

      Re: Old news

      Hail Skroob!

      1. Blank-Reg
        Go

        12345

        "Nonononono, not that"

        "Yes! That!"

        1. davidp231

          Re: 12345

          There's only one man who would DARE give me raspberry....

  2. Ole Juul

    Mandatory labelling

    Total calories and daily percentage of oxygen per serving is probably mandatory. I'd also push for full disclosure of possible contaminants. This time of year there's a lot of berries out there in the Rockies and I'd be concerned about bear farts.

  3. bill 36

    in the Sixties

    In Edinburgh, you could buy a can of "Pure Scottish Air" from the tourist shops.

    Long since disappeared though. So, it's not new.

    1. Alan Gauton

      Re: in the Sixties

      And in the 1980's Dundee students on an entrepreneurial course were selling tins of "Scotch Mist"...

    2. Little Mouse

      Re: in the Sixties

      Ditto for Paris in the early-mid eighties. The same kind of tin you used to get sardines in.

      Pure Paris air. Mmmmmmmm,

    3. theblackhand

      Re: in the Sixties

      I tried this in the 90's with NZ air.

      I think I got my branding all wrong when I called it "Placebo"....

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Is it April the 1st?

    I thought that Canadians were quite an intelligent bunch..

    1. kain preacher

      Re: Is it April the 1st?

      Since when does stupidity have a nationality ?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Is it April the 1st?

        >Since when does stupidity have a nationality?

        Since 1492

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Is it April the 1st?

        "Since when does stupidity have a nationality ?"

        Have you heard this years' Republican candidates?

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Is it April the 1st?

        Since the constitution.

    2. Ole Juul

      Re: Is it April the 1st?

      Actually, it's September 1st. Where have you been? Wanna buy a can of air?

      1. PleebSmash

        Re: Is it April the 1st?

        only if it's Perri-Air

        1. Elmer Phud

          Re: Is it April the 1st?

          and not from one's derri-air?

          1. Fungus Bob

            Re: Is it April the 1st?

            "and not from one's derri-air?"

            Isn't that from Ireland?

            1. davidp231

              Re: Is it April the 1st?

              "and not from one's derri-air?"

              Isn't that from Ireland?

              Nope, it's freshly canned on the Planet Druidia.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Is it April the 1st?

      They are. They keep separate from America

    4. This post has been deleted by its author

    5. Peter Simpson 1
      Happy

      Re: Is it April the 1st?

      I thought that Canadians were quite an intelligent bunch..

      Well, they seem to be intelligent enough to get $168 for a can of pure Canadian air.

      1. werdsmith Silver badge

        Re: Is it April the 1st?

        I thought that Canadians were quite an intelligent bunch..

        Judge them not for their actions, but by their bank accounts.

  5. Herby

    Selling oxygen...

    I was told by a first hand witness that you can in fact buy oxygen when the high Andes train in Peru stops at 20,000 feet or so. The guy noted that if you didn't have the oxygen supplied, you would faint away if you stood up and walked around.

    As for canned air, and selling it, I wish our neighbors to the north a great deal of success. The idea seems similar to Pet Rocks, and they made their inventors a good piece of change.

    1. Small Furry Animal
      FAIL

      Re: Selling oxygen...

      "I was told by a first hand witness that you can in fact buy oxygen when the high Andes train in Peru stops at 20,000 feet or so. The guy noted that if you didn't have the oxygen supplied, you would faint away if you stood up and walked around."

      What utter bullshit! The Cuzco-Puno line rises to a maximum elevation of 14,150ft.

      Yes, you can buy oxygen but I would doubt its quality and, anyway, you don't need it. If you have problems with breathing the best solution is a nice coca-leaf maté.

      Finally, as for fainting when you stand up and walk, someone's yanking your todger.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Selling oxygen...

        "someone's yanking your todger."

        No, I think that costs extra.

  6. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge

    It might have been a laugh...

    ...until they started making the scammy health claims in the sixth paragraph.

    I guess it's still a laugh for them.

  7. Mage Silver badge
    Happy

    Labelling

    I trust it's properly labelled in French too.

    It's not a scam unless it's not really air from the Rockies.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Labelling

      It's a scam if you make unsupported claims such as it boosts energy.

      1. Sir Runcible Spoon

        Re: Labelling

        Of course it boosts energy - all that oxygen energising your blood cells for it to be taken to your muscles and brain etc. - how could air not boost your energy?

        1. Little Mouse

          Re: Labelling

          "how could air not boost your energy?"

          Agreed - breathing air is very beneficial indeed, compared to the alternative.

      2. Montreal Sean

        Re: Labelling

        Have you seen our winter Olympic athletes and their medals? And our hockey players?

        Not so sure it's bogus claim. :P

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Labelling

          >winter Olympic athletes

          You mean those hyper active athletes who do curling? Oddly enough I find this "sport" fascinating and it's the only winter sport I can watch, the rest are rather dull in comparison. What's so clever about going down hill on a slippery snow covered slope or ice run? Go uphill and I might be impressed. Or whacking a puck with a stick? Our schoolgirls do that and are far more dangerous.

          1. Danny 14

            Re: Labelling

            Laugh all you like about curling. We did it as a christmas staff night last year in lockerbie. It was exhausting and we were aching the next day. Uses more muscles than you think...

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Labelling

              Danny, tongue out of cheek, I seriously enjoy watching curling.

  8. imanidiot Silver badge

    A little marketing

    put something on the market with some good marketing and you can sell anything.

    1. billse10
      Coat

      Re: A little marketing

      looked for an "ice to eskimo" reference in comments but I'm sure someone will point out that it would be politically incorrect to do that ...

  9. Slx

    Nothing new

    Iceland has been doing this for years!

    This is nothing new.

    Search: Iceland canned air.

  10. Bunker_Monkey

    Don't delay! Call now! Toll Free! 0 8 0 0 D R U I D I A! Buy One, Get One Free!

  11. Graham Marsden
    Pirate

    Stop these oxygen theives...

    They don't have a permit, nor are they paying taxes on OUR air!

    - Signed: The Legislative Assembly of Alberta

  12. jake Silver badge

    A fool and their money ...

    ... etc.

  13. Tom 7

    Beware!

    I recently found a can of pure Oregon air we bought in 1970. The can had rusted through. Cost a $1 though.

    Don't rely on them!

  14. H.I.T.S

    Enquiring Minds want to know...

    Here at H.I.T.S Towers we're pleased to see canned air going well, but we want an update on The Safety Dance. That was another good Canadian invention.

    Everyone was taking a chance on said dance, apparently...

  15. lukewarmdog
    Coffee/keyboard

    hats off to them

    As for the safety dance, I always felt it would be safer if they'd been men with hats.

    Has nobody thought of the premium air market? Much like the premium water market where Perrier vies with Evian, graded air from specific parts of the world could be used to clean keyboards and computer equipment better than other types of air. "Collected by the abbots at one of Frances oldest sources of air" for instance.

    1. werdsmith Silver badge

      Re: hats off to them

      Check out the safety dance official video and their attempt to make a modern village look ye olde worlde.

      Drape a few red ribbons around and nobody will notice the power / telephone lines and garage doors.

      https://youtu.be/T7hHx7gdN68

      1. BoldMan

        Re: hats off to them

        There is even a fan page for "The girl in the Safety Dance video" on facebook...

  16. JimmyPage Silver badge
    WTF?

    Seriously ! 35 comments

    and NO ONE has mentioned this is the plot of "Gasping" by Ben Elton.

    Which I saw in the 1980s, with Hugh Laurie and Bernard Hill.

    Well, at least I know how this story is going to end.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Seriously ! 35 comments

      >Which I saw in the 1980s, with Hugh Laurie and Bernard Hill.

      Name dropper.

    2. Charles 9

      Re: Seriously ! 35 comments

      Honest, never heard of it, but I AM familiar with Mel Brooks' Spaceballs, which was the first thing noted in the comments and the first thing to spring to my mind. Something about sneaking in a can of pure, fresh air is both macabre and amusing.

  17. Frumious Bandersnatch

    Reminds me of the "air inspectors" segment of

    Tales from the Golden Age.

    In fact, that segment (the best of them, IMO) seems to be called "The Legend of the Air Sellers".

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Along similar lines

    These comments have been far too clean and healthy far too long

    Didn't someone collect water from a drainage pipe outside Windsor Castle and claim to sell the Queen's excrement?

    1. MJI Silver badge

      Re: Along similar lines

      But she never goes to toilet

      http://spittingimage.wikia.com/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Along similar lines

        >But she never goes to toilet

        Nevertheless, she apparently spends a lot of time sat on the throne.

        So much so that I believe congratulations will soon be in order, a few more days and she'll be the longest leeching British monarch of all time. Maybe then she'll abdicate and give Charley a chance.

        1. Vic

          Re: Along similar lines

          Maybe then she'll abdicate and give Charley a chance.

          Please, $deity, no...

          Vic.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Along similar lines

          "So much so that I believe congratulations will soon be in order, a few more days and she'll be the longest leeching British monarch of all time. Maybe then she'll abdicate and give Charley a chance."

          Thing is, English tradition demands she serve for life (and life in this case means life). And the monarchy are supposed to be upholders of tradition. As I understand it, the English monarchy tend to prefer regencies.

          1. jake Silver badge

            Re: Along similar lines

            Out of curiosity, what has The Queen ever actually done? Before you get mad at me, can you honestly come up with anything she has done that has helped the Brits, in her entire reign? Seems to me she's just a useless figurehead for a dim and ancient past.

    2. Little Mouse
      Coat

      Re: Along similar lines

      Re: The Queen's excrement.

      I do hope they called it "Royal Flush"

  19. Maty

    pure mountain smog

    Except the air around Banff for most of August has been slightly worse than the air in downtown Beijing. There are huge fires burning in northern Washington State, and the prevailing winds have been carrying the smoke north-east into the Rockies.

    Thanks to some welcome rain hereabouts, the smoke has cleared a lot this week, but take a look at http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/BSC00WC04/current/# to get the general idea.

  20. Michael Dunn
    Happy

    Back to "Not News" again

    Surely it was in the '50s or '60s that someone was canning 'pea-soupers' and selling to nostalgic expat Londoners?

  21. WereWoof

    Makes me think of doing something like this, along the lines of Peckham Spring Water perhaps but with air, I have a nice compressor at home so I can sell high pressure air to rejuvenate your home and make it smell of spring freshness, Ideal for those trying to sell their homes! (I do wonder if BBC sold off the prop bottles for that episode).

  22. Pookietoo

    Around fifty years ago ...

    There were fresh air vending machines on the streets of Tokyo, to offer some respite from the smog.

    1. Charles 9

      Re: Around fifty years ago ...

      Why aren't there any in Beijing right now, then?

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