Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: beet1e on January 05, 2003, 03:49:51 AM
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Seems like I put a few noses out of joint with my thread about lunch with two yanks yesterday. I don’t think I was offensive, and my fan club (if they are to be believed) are fond of pointing out that I am in a minority, or lack credibility – and yet the responses come pouring in... :D
So this morning over breakfast with Tomato, I was pondering over Americans’ lack of interest in other cultures, as amply demonstrated in other threads. We have Yanks who stay at home because they don’t need to travel – ”we have everything here so we don’t need to leave”, is the popular refrain.
So that got me thinking about Australia and New Zealand. Australia is much more like America than Britain . But seriously – the whole continent is one country about 3000 miles across, so it’s similar in area to the continental US. Similar in climate – hot, dry summers, deserts, beaches, poisonous snakes.... ;) The cost of living in OZ is lower than here, so perhaps that is on a par with America. I’ve also heard taxes are lower. Many people adore the OZ “having it all” lifestyle.
But there’s one way in which Australians are very different from the Yanks. They love to travel abroad. They are naturally curious about foreign cultures, quite unlike American guys like kieran who has stated openly on this BBS that he has absolutely no interest in visiting or even learning about our (pissant) European culture. Now many if not most Australians and New Zealanders are exactly the opposite. It is almost a de facto standard in Australian early adulthood to take a year out to come over here, and “do Europe”. And they “do” it very thoroughly! The usual thing is to start out in London, and acquire a (left hand drive) VW Camper. There are fewer or those around now, but if it were not so cold today, I bet I could go down to Earls Court right now, and find an OZ or two buying/selling such a vehicle. They will take a big time out, and go all over Europe in it, exploring every country in their camper vans. New Zealanders are much the same. New Zealand is a beautiful country which has everything they need. Do we hear the kiwis saying that they therefore have no need to leave their own shores? We do not.
We get a lot of OZs and kiwis working over here. Many come over as computer programmers, and I found that nearly all of them were good and reliable workers. Since 1978, I was a freelance consultant and therefore worked at many companies, many for only 6 months. And in all that time, I NEVER worked at a place that didn’t have a kiwi or an OZ working there. :)
So I invite the Ozzies and kiwis to throw some light on this: What attracts you to Europe, and yet fails to attract the Yanks?
Finally, I’ve been a bit hard on the Yanks this past few weeks. My mild banter has got quite a few of them upset. So I’m going to have to wave the white flag as a token of peace. However, a white flag might not show up well if the post ends up on a white background, so I’ll have to wave one with lots of white in it. I found this one, which has 56 separate pieces of white in it.
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Being an American, it has been my experience that if an American identifies themself as a Conservative they are likely to have no interest in, or open hostility to, other countries. If an American identifies themself as a Liberal they are likely to be interested in other cultures and to want to visit other cultures.
Despite Conservatives making up only ~50% of the US population, this hobby is very Conservative oriented. Thus you're sample of American opinion is very biased if you rely primarily on this board.
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Originally posted by beet1e
So I invite the Ozzies and kiwis to throw some light on this: What attracts you to Europe, and yet fails to attract the Yanks?
No yanks there ;):D
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Quote:
"Being an American, it has been my experience that if an American identifies themself as a Conservative they are likely to have no interest in, or open hostility to, other countries. "
Pure, unadulterated roadkill............
As for Beetle's contention that Americans don't travel: See above....
Cabby
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Cabby,
Two points:
That was not a univerrsal statement, just the trend and second it was my experience, not a scientific study. The typical American jingoistic responses to threads that find anything positive about foreign places that are seen in this forum are just one of many examples of that trend.
beet1e comes off as pretty much of a British jingoist, so it isn't just Americans.
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20.5 million tourists visited the UK in 1999 and 20% came from North America.
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2000/rp00-066.pdf
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Anyone know what proportion of US citizens hold a passport?
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U.S. Passports Issued per Fiscal Year (1996 - present)
Note: As of 1996, passport statistics are tabulated for the fiscal year.
1996 - 5,547,693
1997 - 6,295,003
1998 - 6,539,864
1999 - 6,722,198
2000 - 7,292,182
2001 - 7,119,506
2002 - 7,001,482
England's a fine place to visit.
I always enjoy the appreciation for history there.
(http://www.stpauls.co.uk/about/cathedral/americ_memorial.jpg)
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But there’s one way in which Australians are very different from the Yanks. They love to travel abroad. They are naturally curious about foreign cultures, quite unlike American guys like kieran who has stated openly on this BBS that he has absolutely no interest in visiting or even learning about our (pissant) European culture.
Getting a bit hyperbolic, aren't we?
I said I have no interest in traveling. I said I don't care about your (UK's or any other country's) politics, I have no interest in them, and out of respect for my lack of knowledge on your politics I make no comments. Now you are making that out to mean I am the prototype American? Don't you think you twisted that quite a bit to arrive at your conclusion?
Sorry, but you just crossed the line from troller to liar.
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One more thing... I would never call a country "pissant" in the way you attributed to me. I think countries have jerks in them, but I have enough intelligence to see they are typically the minority. I do not have the ignorance/audacity to label a country of 265 million or so on the basis of my knowledge of a handful.
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Well I'm a brit that has lived in Australia and currently reside in the U.S
Must say, I am looking to get back to england or Australia ASAP.
Land of the free?
If only the Americans realised why America was set up, one of the issues was taxes, and I bet that if the forefathers saw the taxes they are paying now, they would turn in the grave.
Compulsary car insurance? Health insurance? shoot one is working for taxes, insurance companies first then they get paid to pay their other bills.
Land of the free? I think it is more like land of the slaves, making government and insurance companies richer by the minute.
CB
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I love this Douglas Adams quote:
"There we British sat, poor grey sodden creatures, huddling under our grey northen sky that seeped like a randid dish cloth, busy sending those we wished to punish most severly to sit in bright sunlight on the coast of the Tasman Sea at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and maybe do some surfing too. No wonder the Australians have a particular kind of smile that they reserve exclusivly for use on the British"
Daff
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Okay okay move along! nothing to see here
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Austrailians borrowed the concept of "Walkabout" from the Abos.
Except they don't walkabout in their own country...they do it worldwide.
It is one reason they are universally liked across the world.
But, unfortuantely the Aussies need to get their socialist "house" in order at home before I would ever put that country on a pedestal.
Things like "National Sorry Day" and statistics that show more and more people live on welfare suggests that the paradise "down under" may not last.
A friend of mine over there wanted to start his own landscaping company and tree removal service. After working out all the numbers it became clear that he would be ahead of his current "dole" income by about ten percent. He reasoned, in seemimgly typical Aussie fashion, that the ten percent simply wasn't worth it and that he would forfiet the additional income for the freedom to sit around and do nothing. He dropped the idea and went back on the dole.
This kind of thing leads the country in one direction economically...down the toilet.
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Curval: Canada has serious Welfare probs as well. What needs to be done is just rid ourselves of Welfare altogether and force 2nd and 3rd generation welfare scum to work.
I do realize that there are those who do legitimately need help...but that is all that should be offered, assisstance, not handouts.
Prove you are working your bellybutton off and then ok, we will help you make your rent..or purchase food..not alcohol or tobacco.
...Me Gawd..ive become a serious threadjacker...will stop now.
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Originally posted by Cherlie
Land of the free? I think it is more like land of the slaves, making government and insurance companies richer by the minute.CB
Agree 100%.
But they have their guns..and that seems to keep them happy and under the impression that they are free.;) Sometimes "ignorance is bliss".:p
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Americans don't need to travel abroad because everyone comes here. Australia is nothing like the US as far as diversity goes. They have been careful about keeping unwanted foreigners out, while we let everyone stroll in as they wish. During the last election cycle, the first question the polling computer asked was 'English or Spanish?'. If there were fewer foreigners here, maybe travel overseas would seem more worth the high price.
ra
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Hmm curval... so keeping more of your income and having it buy more is a measure of freedom? I would say the brits are the slaves then and that Americans are pretty free by comparisson.
You don't have to have insurance of any kind in America.... even to drive.
lazs
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Actually Beetle is kinda right. It is a big thing for most young Kiwis to aim for. The technical term for it here is the big "OE" (overseas
experience).
Kiwi's usually like the UK coz they can work there, and sort of use it as a base of Ops to hop over to Europe from. Most go over for a couple of years before returning home. Some go over and earn $$$$ and accept the crap lifestyle for the money - saving to return home with. Some go over and earn $$$$ and accept the crap lifestyle for huge nightlife.
Usually Kiwi kids go to University, get their degree, come out and work here for a couple of years saving for their OE then travel for two years then come back.
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" Finally, I’ve been a bit hard on the Yanks this past few weeks. My mild banter has got quite a few of them upset. So I’m going to have to wave the white flag as a token of peace. However, a white flag might not show up well if the post ends up on a white background, so I’ll have to wave one with lots of white in it. I found this one, which has 56 separate pieces of white in it."
ROFLMAO. I can't belive they didn't get this one. I am born in the U.S. and served under the this flag for a very long time. I found it extreamly funny. Let's see how many didn't
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Similar in climate – hot, dry summers, deserts, beaches, poisonous snakes....
you read too much and visit too little !!! ;)
your experiences with Americans are obviously limited as is your stereotyping. I, being American, have travelled most of my life.. only recently settling down in the best country I've ever been to in my whole life: America
(wondering what a hot-dry-summer of deserts, beaches and snakes must be like)
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I guess, like cabby I don't fit into the mold. I am a decided liberal, and I would much rather see the rest of my own Country than go overseas. I have a whole lot more to see too.
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one more thing...
all the Aussies are HERE !!!
I get tired as hell of them asking how many MOILES are on this vehicle or that!
:rolleyes:
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I have to agree with beetle also, the nicest foreigners I met in Europe were Australian :) The train from Paris to Amsterdam was packed, and many people just piled their luggage in the entrance ways blocking one side exit of the two on many of the cars. The call went out to move the luggage. In typical American fashion no one responded (funny given the majority of native Europeans on the train) except my wife and myself (yanks), an older man and an Australian bloke who moved his luggage and then helped us and the gentleman maneuver our luggage into the cramped overhead bins.
Don't get me wrong, England, France and Holland were great at many levels -- from food to culture. But the people (gasp) were not all that different from Americans. Most were friendly, and some were just plain rude. When I returned I wrote up a glowing travel log for the bbs. There were minor "issues," but so what. I have just as many issues (though perhaps of a different specific variety) vacationing at a spot in the US. However, if I wanted to stereotype, then:
-- Brits go to Holland in large groups to get very rowdy in bars and drink lots of beer until they get pissed drunk. American's go to smoke pot and wander around all happy and stuff. [edit: you also don't see too many signs in US establishments saying: not allowed in in large groups or wearing football jerseys.]
-- Service is a problem in London. Where else does a concierge show up for work at 3:00 pm, if they show up that day (fairly expensive hotel). Same hotel had dry rot in the windows, flaking/faded paint, 60's décor, uncomfortable mattresses and stained carpeting. Maybe I'm being an arrogant Yank, but when I pay $200 a night for a room I expect better (except I already knew what to expect). The Americanized hotels seemed much better, but I can only imagine how much they would have cost.
Contact with service personnel was generally somewhat rude, and not because we were ourselves obnoxious or out of some knee jerk reaction to our being Americans. I was having Faulty Towers flashbacks, only without John Cleese. Is it really that hard to find someone who is happy doing their jobs in the service trade?
-- Northern Europeans don't seem to mind cutting in line. They pretend they don't see you somehow, at least two or three individuals did. I hope I'm not generalizing here, but even if it is a common trait it hardly ruined the overall experience. So far, even in America an individual blatently cutting in line is exceedingly rare. Now on the highway...
-- France was fine. Paris was interesting but not as interesting as London with it's depth of history. Gotta watch out for the loads of dog sh#t though in Paris - no pooper-scooper laws there. The language barrier was a problem, but more on my end then their's. I didn't detect any overt rudness. I even got to use a mouldy French phrase or two without getting laughed at. The food was good (best meal I had was in Amsterdam though) and the wine was wasted on my pedestrian palet.
-- The Dutch seem to like Americans better than the French. I actually caught French tourists getting discriminated against.
-- Female beggars (using their childern -- Mercy! Sir, Mercy!) and pickpockets that would put NY or Chicago to shame.
A bunch of other nitpicks. I could also comment on the flood of British tourists in Orlando Fla. when I was there recently at a conference. They were virtually indistinguishable from the American tourists. Hey, black socks and sandals must be universial :)
There are American jerks and European jerks. The teeth jokes, and obnoxious "ours is bigger" types embarrass me as an American on occasion. Even "bomb France" is starting to get old :) But, a lot of Europeans seem to be hung up on their nationalism as well, and some of the American criticism comes off as jealousy from people living in a position of comfort where $$$ and lives are concerned. Nationalism in Europe? WW1, WW2, and a host of previous wars throughout the centuries would seem to indicate that it is not an alien concept. Frankly, I'm amazed the EU is moving along as well as it is.
While our European friends likely have some valid reasons to criticize US foreign policy, you didn't hear much about it when it was our huge chunk of the GDP out there putting armored divisions at the Fulda Gap during the cold war. Or dealing with Korea for 50 odd years (and now Korean nukes). Or the real war on terrorism (as opposed to the Iraq confusion). Or, why wasn't there a European-led solution to the Balkan genocide? Too messy? Too expensive? Too risky? The US acts in it's own interests? Show me a country that doesn't.
Overall, far more similarities than differences. A more materialistic society vs. one with more value placed on personal time. A generally similar level of Western cultural norms. Hard for me to really say one is better than the other, just different with pros and cons for each.
Charon
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Well said, Charon.
Your European travel tips a few months ago were helpful and (in hindsight) accurate, and your conclusions seem to be right on in this post. At least in line with my experience in the UK and France. Never made it to Holland, so I can't say anything about that.
You should be an ambassador or something. Or maybe just an ambassador on these boards. :D
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Watch mexico and the carribean dry up if Americans really did stop traveling.
And correct me if im wrong but isnt american airlines the worlds largest air carrier?
and are not most of the travel agencies american companys?
I think we Americans do our fair share of traveling LOL.
As far as other cultures?
Well My thoughts as follows.
1. england ) rich in traditions and style
2. germany ) beutiful country with beutiful people and really good beer.
3. Japan ) bushido code enogh said LOL.
4. France Ungratfull whinny little people .
6. Italy History History history They gave us the senate wine and
Gina lola bridgada
7. Greece ) Turd tickling.
8. Spain ) sexy women and morons that fight bulls with nothing but a towel LOL.
9.) russia ) a precursser of where we will be if we dont get our watermelon together.
10.China ) one word BIRTH CONTROL PEOPLE!!!!
11. Middle east ) some of the most ignorant bastards on the planet.
Just my opinions Hate me all you want.
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Americans usually don't get as much vacation time off their jobs as people do in other countries.
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Staga wrote
So I invite the Ozzies and kiwis to throw some light on this: What attracts you to Europe, and yet fails to attract the Yanks?
Wow...
Just simply... wow.
AKDejaVu
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Originally posted by Curval
But, unfortuantely the Aussies need to get their socialist "house" in order at home before I would ever put that country on a pedestal.
Things like "National Sorry Day" and statistics that show more and more people live on welfare suggests that the paradise "down under" may not last.
A friend of mine over there wanted to start his own landscaping company and tree removal service. After working out all the numbers it became clear that he would be ahead of his current "dole" income by about ten percent. He reasoned, in seemimgly typical Aussie fashion, that the ten percent simply wasn't worth it and that he would forfiet the additional income for the freedom to sit around and do nothing. He dropped the idea and went back on the dole.
This kind of thing leads the country in one direction economically...down the toilet.
Dear oh dear....
National Sorry Day is as legitimate as National Aids Day or National Women's Day. It is supposed to promote reconcillation between the Government, the people and indigenous populations, but is generally a good exscuse for people to wear ribbons ,have a go at the government's refusal to even say sorry, and isn't even a public holiday.
Your friend sounds like a real dope if his buisness can't turn over more than what he'd get on the dole, which is bugger all. Most australians aren't dole bludgers, and the system (like medicare, the pension) luckily isn't going to be scrapped because the odd few abuse it.
Interest rates are down, as is unemployment and inflation.
The Australian economy is going fine thanks for asking...
Tronsky
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Originally posted by ra
Americans don't need to travel abroad because everyone comes here. Australia is nothing like the US as far as diversity goes. They have been careful about keeping unwanted foreigners out, while we let everyone stroll in as they wish. During the last election cycle, the first question the polling computer asked was 'English or Spanish?'. If there were fewer foreigners here, maybe travel overseas would seem more worth the high price.
ra
LOL...you've gotta be kidding.
We're carefull to keep unwanted people out???? how so?
Not as diverse as the US.....plain roadkill, ever been to Melbourne? Cabramatta? Perth? Townsville? Darwin? Stanthorpe?
'We are One, but we are many, from all the lands on Earth we come"
Our population is made up of migrants from around the globe, Irish, English, German, Russian, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Turkish, Craotion, Serbian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, South African (ex-Rhodesians in particular), Fijiian, Samoan, Maori, and even Americans make up what the world calls "Australians".
You ever been down here RA? do you actually know any Aussies?
Blue
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I would love to visit Australia, and New Zealand too. I've only crossed the equator travelling to and from Indonesia. I know that the weather can be good in OZ, but what would interest me amongst other things is the wildlife - the 10 most poisonous snakes in the world - wow! Lizards, crocs, red back spiders, roos, all kinds of unusual trees... The only reason I haven't yet been is the distance/time required to make such a trip, and the fact that I'd find it difficult tofind someone to go with who would have the resources to contemplate that trip.
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Originally posted by rc51
4. France Ungratfull whinny little people .
Just my opinions Hate me all you want.
I do.
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hmm... bet Americans put more miles on their cars per year than any other country. We have Canada and Mexico on our borders and we travel quite a lot to those countries. It's quite a large land mass over here you see.
still... england would make a good amusement park if it wasn't so far away and if they could put a roof over it.
lazs
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great idea lazs.. a water park would work I think...
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I don't think so wolf.... all those corpse like bodies in swimsuits would be too hard to take plus.... the home office would have to ban swimming if the accidents went up.
lazs
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BTW tronski, saying 'sorry' formally and officially, would constitute an admission of guilt.
Imagine what that would cost them.
Cold, but thats my take on it.
Blue
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Funny..I don't remember you being such a pompous, arrogant, opinionated, know it all snob in Warbirds beetle. Maybe hindsight is just warm and fuzzy. ;)
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Lazs -
hmm... bet Americans put more miles on their cars per year than any other country.
I would have thought that was true. But surprisingly (for me) when I got into car ownership in the US, I was told that the average mileage was 12,000 - same as in Limeyland. But that was in the midwest - maybe things are different out west. The other difference is that we tend to drive everywhere, ie not use flight to get to somewhere else in the UK, so that might bump up the average.
Aztec - fair comment. We've been slugging it out here, but I've stopped now. And I never meant to be mean.
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I was told that the average mileage was 12,000
hehe.. I think that's the 'official' number given to insurance companies....
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I'm glad you found the tips helpful Tarmac. Europe is a great place to visit, I certainly plan on going back in the future. Maybe Italy or Spain next.
Charon
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yeah wolf... I tell em that my "classic" cars only go 6k a year..
beetle... why would anyone put 12k a year on a car in limeyland? Isn't that like 500 trips around the island or so? Plus... you onlu got like 1 or two real highways..
reminds me of all those private pilots here who fly the same 30 minute patch every weekend. Never culd understand that.
lazs
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lazs..if you think Britain is small you should come down here. Your analogy actually is true...although we don't even have highways.
Come on down...seriously. You can stay with me. Just not between Jan 25th and Feb 2nd...I'm going skiing.
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I think 12k is a rather low number, I put on about 25k miles a year on the cars I have owned.
But I do believe you are stereotyping a bit there beetle, throwing all us Yanks into one group. I have been to Italy once and loved it, even tried to learn as much of the language as I could for about 2 months before going.
I pretty much walked everywhere in Rome even though it isn't really a good walking city (damn cobblestones). My legs still hurt from thinking about it. Took a cab a few times and even rented a car to drive out to Monte Cassino. Florence was nice too.
It all comes down to cash flow really, I hope to visit Austria or Russia next.
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I don't think so wolf.... all those corpse like bodies in swimsuits would be too hard to take plus.... the home office would have to ban swimming if the accidents went up.
LMAO !!! and pale bodies at that !
yeah.. I only put 12k on my vehicle... yeah...that's it..
I travel back and forth to Denver bi-=monthly (200 or so miles one way),
up and down this valley to shop (30+ miles one way),
puts me at around 12k don't ya' think ? :D
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Originally posted by Bluedog
BTW tronski, saying 'sorry' formally and officially, would constitute an admission of guilt.
Imagine what that would cost them.
Cold, but thats my take on it.
Blue
No kidding....no wonder Howard won't budge (he's not stupid) , as soon as he says it...out come the lawyers!
Tronsky
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Originally posted by Wlfgng
I travel back and forth to Denver bi-=monthly (200 or so miles one way),
Hmmm... Still seeing the ol girlfriend huh bud? :)
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Yup don't admit to anything. Just look across the Tasman.
At first its genuine reparations. Then every man who thinks he had an 'ancestor' who was part-xxx will come out and it soon turns into a ridiculous money-grabbing fest. Whats worse its usually a vocal minority who don't pass the $$$$ onto those that need it.
NZ is suffering, we're in PC hell. The whole country is on a guilt-trip, and anyone who speaks up is immediately labelled a racist.
Originally posted by -tronski-
No kidding....no wonder Howard won't budge (he's not stupid) , as soon as he says it...out come the lawyers!
Tronsky
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Vulcan- shut up, you racist. Now, in the words of Midnight Oil, "pay them back."
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Oops... just figured it out... they said that 'mericans put 12k on their cars a year... they meant 12k on each of their cars. We probly have like 4 times as many cars per capita as most places.
curval... thanks... I may take you up on that some day... I actually do travel when I can afford it. In the States I drive thousands of miles sometimes seeing different places (even different countries)... When I was younger I felt trapped if I couldn't put a thousand miles on and never see the same place twice. I would have gone insane living on an island.... As I get older I find that I don't drive as much and even an island like hawaii doesn't seem too bad... If I can drive for a couple of hours that's plenty.
lazs
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Lazs -
Something else to consider is that if, for example, I were to head down to southern France or Spain, whereas if you were doing that sort of distance you might drive, it makes less sense to do that here. As you know, we are an island! ;) And so we need to take the car across the channel. That can be at best a little inconvenient/time consuming, and at worst quite expensive. It's much better to fly down, and rent a car at the destination. We can get down there for 100 euros round trip, depending on time of year, and a rental car can be had for about 12 euros a day. Driving would mean stopping off at a hotel at least one night, and same on the return trip.
Sorry to have taken so long to reply, Lazs. The reason was that I went to the dental hygienist today. We do have them here you know! All is well, I am pleased to report.
:D
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Originally posted by lazs2
curval... thanks... I may take you up on that some day... I actually do travel when I can afford it. In the States I drive thousands of miles sometimes seeing different places (even different countries)... When I was younger I felt trapped if I couldn't put a thousand miles on and never see the same place twice. I would have gone insane living on an island.... As I get older I find that I don't drive as much and even an island like hawaii doesn't seem too bad... If I can drive for a couple of hours that's plenty.
lazs
Well my friend this island is 22.1 miles long and about 3/4 of a mile wide (at the widest point). So, you better make it a short stay...I don't want you freaking out on me.
You won't be able to drive a car here...but we will get you a moped to tool around on. A hour on that bad boy and you will have had enough, believe me...at least it is for me with my skinny butt.
Lots to see and do though...you are welcome to come anytime, just get in touch beforehand so that I organise everything and confirm I will be here.
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"4. France Ungrateful whinny little people"
Don't judge all of France by Paris. Parisians are an anomaly in France. I have always enjoyed the Hospitality, and Most especially the French Women. It was VERY good to be an American Soldier in Europe in the 80's and 90's. French Soldiers are a riot to party with and are extremely generous as are most Soldiers from our Ally countries.
It's sort of funny. In 1994 my unit was scheduled to deploy to Macedonia for Operation Camp Able Sentry. Due to the tensions in the world at the time our orders were changed and we were elevated in alert status for another theater. It didn't pan out, so our training schedule for 94 was scrapped. Subsequently we had a Great deal of time off. So I put 60k Kilometers on my German made Escort GT and traveled all over Europe.
I went to an annual tribute march in Belgium that commemorates all the Veterans of the 2 battles of the Marne during WW1. Soldiers and Civilians from all the Countries that participated in the battle are represented. After each day's 30k march all the participants gather in Large tents and party their butts off all night. Every night all the American, British, Canadian, and Australian Soldiers would get together and get Roaring Drunk. As we occupied about 20 tables many English speaking German, French, Swedish, etc etc soldiers would join in. I speak German (badly) and French even worse, but I tell you it was one hell of a Party. There were fights sure. There always are when you have that much testosterone floating about mixed in with generous portions of Beer, and booze. But they were few and among the morons. The Noncoms, and officers would typically watch until someone got knocked on their tail section and then break it up. Tell the Privates to make nice and then carry on with our whenching. (there was much Whenching!)
Every time I see a post about how smart one country is, or how much better another country is I think of those parties. I remember how much we are all the same regardless of our residence, and think of how limited the people that think such things are. There we were, thousands of Soldiers. Fighting men trained to be professional Killers partying together as if there were never a battle, never a war, and never a Jerk off Politician with Global ambitions. If only some of you small minded fools would take a moment to learn more about other cultures and maybe spend a little time behind a rifle would see just how petty, and small your thinking is.
Yeats said it best:
"Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I Guard I do not Love."
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Twolf - thanks for saying all that. It needed to be said, and all the better coming from an American. ;) I've never been a military man myself, but I did get roped into a session involving some French soldiers (cadets) many years ago. That would have been c1988. I thought I would need a liver transplant, but I was OK - but those French beers - 6.6% and up!
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6.6% Bah!....WEAK! The best bier on the Planet IMHO. Konig Lutwigshaven Dunkel. est 1250ish. 12.5 % by volume. (not the reason for it being so good)
Smoooooooth as glass with a unique flavor. (Warm, or Cold)
As the Germans are fond of saying: MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM SCHMECT GOOD!
3 of these and I was ready for a nap, but MAN are they good.
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TWOLF - you ought to visit Sheffield over here. We have a pub called the Frog and Parrot that sells beer at 16%. One of the stongest beers in the world, apparently.
Tastes like tar, though. ;)
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I had some beer in Bamberg that's called smoked Beer. There was a fire that burned all the ingredients a few centuries ago and the brewers decided to use them. Well, the result sold very well so they continued to make it. All I can say is that if the Current beer was an improvment, I DO NOT EVER want to taste the original. I don't remember the alcahol content. I like good beer. Not strong beer. It just so happens that the best beer I have ever tasted has a high content.
16+ percent Man, I bet that stuff will have ya barking after a pint or two.
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There's a few pubs that play with the high alcohol beers here too, but they have to be sold as a wine if they are over 8%. It really takes away from the beer once the levels get that high, though.
AKDejaVu
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My brother informs me it was 12.5% and it's called 'Roger and Out' (goes with the Parrot thing obviously). It has been about 3 years since I went there, and alot of brain cells have gone West. Besides he studied in Sheffield as a student, so he has an excuse. Anyway they are not allowed to sell it in pints - only 1/3 pint glasses, and you get a certificate saying 'I've been well and truly rogered' if you manage three glasses. I don't have one - it ain't exactly pleasant.
Worth trying anyway - as would be that smoked beer. Does it taste like smoked fish or ham?
I've never been to Germany - it's on the list, though. :D
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..And so the sun sets on yet another Brit vs Yank thread; however, this thread ends peacefully when all the antagonists- Yank, Brit or whatever- discover the one common bond all of us share, and the one common bond of all civilized societies in the Western world share- beer.
Beatle, Dowding and the rest of the Empire, I forgive you your meddling in American affairs of the 1860s and starting the American Civil War. I love you man. Now give me a beer.
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Beer ain't drinkin'.
(http://www.polishvodkas.com/graphics/come-together.jpg)
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To Beer!
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Thanks Airhead.
As for the American Civil War, all I said to Abe Lincoln was "This slavery business - it's a bit off, isn't it old boy?" And the rest, as they say, is history.
I still don't forgive America for 'Friends'.
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A tech is at the water bottle talking to a Russian field support engineer:
Tech: What's Russian for "water"?
Russian: Wadka
Later that day, the tech and Russian are talking about New Year's Eve parties:
Russian: Will you be drinking wadka at the party?
Tech: we call it "water" here.
AKDejaVu