Are Americans especially thick?
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#136
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
"Jonathan Morton" <[email protected]> wrote:
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> >Speaking as a right handed person, I'd really rather keep my right hand
>on
>> >the wheel when I change gear.
>
>> I'm right handed and I found it a little disconcerting to be shifting with my left
>> hand. Perhaps this has something to do with a phenomenon called "muscle memory."
>> If so, my muscle memory is decidely long term.
>
>As a left-handed person (living in the UK), I sympathise. The main problem with
>driving on the "wrong" side is not the rule of the road, but the car. Most people
>from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the mainland on
>holiday, for example. Conversely with a hire car, I have to think very carefully at
>first. The worse thing is the rear view mirror. I guess it makes you realise that
>perhaps you *do* use it regularly, even if only subconsciously.
>
Actually, my husband finds it easier to drive on the left with a right hand drive.
The different position sort of 'reminds' him.
IMO the hard part of driving on the other side than you are used to is doing
round-abouts, or turning to go in between gateposts. So if you come from a country
where you drive on the right with a left hand drive, and you are driving on the left
with a right hand drive, and you go to turn right between some posts, you are likely
to misjudge and hit something the first couple of times.
grandma Rosalie
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> >Speaking as a right handed person, I'd really rather keep my right hand
>on
>> >the wheel when I change gear.
>
>> I'm right handed and I found it a little disconcerting to be shifting with my left
>> hand. Perhaps this has something to do with a phenomenon called "muscle memory."
>> If so, my muscle memory is decidely long term.
>
>As a left-handed person (living in the UK), I sympathise. The main problem with
>driving on the "wrong" side is not the rule of the road, but the car. Most people
>from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the mainland on
>holiday, for example. Conversely with a hire car, I have to think very carefully at
>first. The worse thing is the rear view mirror. I guess it makes you realise that
>perhaps you *do* use it regularly, even if only subconsciously.
>
Actually, my husband finds it easier to drive on the left with a right hand drive.
The different position sort of 'reminds' him.
IMO the hard part of driving on the other side than you are used to is doing
round-abouts, or turning to go in between gateposts. So if you come from a country
where you drive on the right with a left hand drive, and you are driving on the left
with a right hand drive, and you go to turn right between some posts, you are likely
to misjudge and hit something the first couple of times.
grandma Rosalie
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#137
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
On Tue, 7 May 2002 21:43:14 +0000 (UTC), "Jonathan Morton"
<[email protected]> wrote:
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> >Speaking as a right handed person, I'd really rather keep my right hand
>on
>> >the wheel when I change gear.
>
>> I'm right handed and I found it a little disconcerting to be shifting with my left
>> hand. Perhaps this has something to do with a phenomenon called "muscle memory."
>> If so, my muscle memory is decidely long term.
>
>As a left-handed person (living in the UK), I sympathise. The main problem with
>driving on the "wrong" side is not the rule of the road, but the car. Most people
>from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the mainland on
>holiday, for example. Conversely with a hire car, I have to think very carefully at
>first. The worse thing is the rear view mirror. I guess it makes you realise that
>perhaps you *do* use it regularly, even if only subconsciously.
>
>Regards
>
>Jonathan
>
>
ABSOLUTELY! I have driven a right hand drive car in Ireland on two separate
occasions. I always find myself looking up and to the right for the rear view
mirror--only to see the sky. (I assume that a "native" British or Irish driver would
be looking up and to the left here in the states, with the same result.)
<[email protected]> wrote:
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> >Speaking as a right handed person, I'd really rather keep my right hand
>on
>> >the wheel when I change gear.
>
>> I'm right handed and I found it a little disconcerting to be shifting with my left
>> hand. Perhaps this has something to do with a phenomenon called "muscle memory."
>> If so, my muscle memory is decidely long term.
>
>As a left-handed person (living in the UK), I sympathise. The main problem with
>driving on the "wrong" side is not the rule of the road, but the car. Most people
>from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the mainland on
>holiday, for example. Conversely with a hire car, I have to think very carefully at
>first. The worse thing is the rear view mirror. I guess it makes you realise that
>perhaps you *do* use it regularly, even if only subconsciously.
>
>Regards
>
>Jonathan
>
>
ABSOLUTELY! I have driven a right hand drive car in Ireland on two separate
occasions. I always find myself looking up and to the right for the rear view
mirror--only to see the sky. (I assume that a "native" British or Irish driver would
be looking up and to the left here in the states, with the same result.)
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#138
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
JohnT wrote:
>
>
>
> 1. She isn't a pop star.
You mean her moment of fame has finally expired? Hurrah!! If she wasn't a pop star,
what would you call her? (Certainly NOT an "opera singer", since she never sang in
one, most devotees of classical music do not consider her a "classical" singer,
either - what else is there?)
>
>
>
> 1. She isn't a pop star.
You mean her moment of fame has finally expired? Hurrah!! If she wasn't a pop star,
what would you call her? (Certainly NOT an "opera singer", since she never sang in
one, most devotees of classical music do not consider her a "classical" singer,
either - what else is there?)
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#139
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
The Oik wrote:
>
> The UK gave up when after a US court freed a CONVICTED killer and escapee on the
> grounds that he was a 'political prisoner'. Off the cuff, I cant think of a single
> successful extradition attempt. Of course, when the US meets this problem, it just
> kidnaps people, on the assumption that US law applies everywhere. This despite its
> refusal to sign up to the ICC. Still, that's fits, doesn't it - after al, this is a
> country that didn't bother joining WWII until it could be sure it could choose the
> winning side.
That's just plain untrue! Were you even alive, then? I was
- a child, but pretty aware of the international "situation". America was determined
not to get into another war, but sympathy certainly lay with the British, not the
"Axis"! It's true we had our "America Firsters" who weren't too indistinguishable
from Nazis, but then Britain had a movement like that, too. And what might have
happened if Edward had not abdicated? He seemed pretty chummy with Hitler, didn't
he? (I realize the royal family has had no direct say in governing the country for
some generations, but until quite recently they had some influence on shaping
public opinion, did they not?)
>
> The UK gave up when after a US court freed a CONVICTED killer and escapee on the
> grounds that he was a 'political prisoner'. Off the cuff, I cant think of a single
> successful extradition attempt. Of course, when the US meets this problem, it just
> kidnaps people, on the assumption that US law applies everywhere. This despite its
> refusal to sign up to the ICC. Still, that's fits, doesn't it - after al, this is a
> country that didn't bother joining WWII until it could be sure it could choose the
> winning side.
That's just plain untrue! Were you even alive, then? I was
- a child, but pretty aware of the international "situation". America was determined
not to get into another war, but sympathy certainly lay with the British, not the
"Axis"! It's true we had our "America Firsters" who weren't too indistinguishable
from Nazis, but then Britain had a movement like that, too. And what might have
happened if Edward had not abdicated? He seemed pretty chummy with Hitler, didn't
he? (I realize the royal family has had no direct say in governing the country for
some generations, but until quite recently they had some influence on shaping
public opinion, did they not?)
May 7th 2002, 4:21 pm
#140
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
me wrote:
>
> I'd think that perhaps the accent might have been SOME indication she wasn't from
> North Dakota. GW sometimes makes Dan Quayle seem scholarly.
>
Yeah, he's pretty funny, all right - until you stop to think. At least A) Quayle was
never actually president and
B) he was a member of a peacetime government. When I was in Europe the end of 2000,
with our election results still awaiting the final "decision making", I referred
to our mess as "the Great American Comedy". After 11 September 2001, our "chosen"
chief executive seems more a cause for concern than amusement.
>
> I'd think that perhaps the accent might have been SOME indication she wasn't from
> North Dakota. GW sometimes makes Dan Quayle seem scholarly.
>
Yeah, he's pretty funny, all right - until you stop to think. At least A) Quayle was
never actually president and
B) he was a member of a peacetime government. When I was in Europe the end of 2000,
with our election results still awaiting the final "decision making", I referred
to our mess as "the Great American Comedy". After 11 September 2001, our "chosen"
chief executive seems more a cause for concern than amusement.
May 7th 2002, 4:50 pm
#141
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Greenhalgh <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> But it was an English woman who asked me if my mother had had any children
Actually, the more common version is 'Did your mother have any children that lived?'
It's called 'taking the piss'.
cheers,
Henry
>
> But it was an English woman who asked me if my mother had had any children
Actually, the more common version is 'Did your mother have any children that lived?'
It's called 'taking the piss'.
cheers,
Henry
May 7th 2002, 4:50 pm
#142
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Jenn wrote:
>
>
> but the same argument applies to VCR tapes which ought to be the same on both sides
> of the pond but aren't. No more reason to expect sensible battery standards than
> sensible VCR standars -- in fact since VCR technology is relatively new, there is
> less reason to expect non standardization. Every year tourists buy tapes they can't
> watch -- from both sides of the pond.
And DVD's which could more easily be standardized (as are CD's) are deliberately
"coded" for different "zones". Heaven forbid that one could buy a DVD from Europe
that may never even be released in the U.S.! (Or the other way around - an American
movie not yet released in Europe.)
>
>
> but the same argument applies to VCR tapes which ought to be the same on both sides
> of the pond but aren't. No more reason to expect sensible battery standards than
> sensible VCR standars -- in fact since VCR technology is relatively new, there is
> less reason to expect non standardization. Every year tourists buy tapes they can't
> watch -- from both sides of the pond.
And DVD's which could more easily be standardized (as are CD's) are deliberately
"coded" for different "zones". Heaven forbid that one could buy a DVD from Europe
that may never even be released in the U.S.! (Or the other way around - an American
movie not yet released in Europe.)
May 7th 2002, 4:50 pm
#143
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right
Jonathan Morton <[email protected]> wrote:
> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
> mainland on holiday, for example.
Except perhaps for overtaking? That can be tricky.
cheers,
Henry
> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
> mainland on holiday, for example.
Except perhaps for overtaking? That can be tricky.
cheers,
Henry
May 7th 2002, 5:50 pm
#144
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
ArtKramr wrote:
>
> >Here`s my question. Should educational standards in American schools, particularly
> >in relation to the world which exists outside the U.S. border, be raised to the
> >standard which exists in the rest of the world
>
> No. we will keep US standards as high as they are which is why the entire
> world tries to get into US Universities which are the best in the world by a
> large margin.
Careful here. Some are the best of the world; other US universities are the worst.
Which BTW is quite typical of the US. Then you get Americans with an inferiority
complex arguing based upon the best ones, against Europeans with an inferiority
complex, who have the worst ones in mind. Great recipe for mutual understanding
.
>
> >Here`s my question. Should educational standards in American schools, particularly
> >in relation to the world which exists outside the U.S. border, be raised to the
> >standard which exists in the rest of the world
>
> No. we will keep US standards as high as they are which is why the entire
> world tries to get into US Universities which are the best in the world by a
> large margin.
Careful here. Some are the best of the world; other US universities are the worst.
Which BTW is quite typical of the US. Then you get Americans with an inferiority
complex arguing based upon the best ones, against Europeans with an inferiority
complex, who have the worst ones in mind. Great recipe for mutual understanding
.
May 7th 2002, 5:50 pm
#145
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Eerdmans wrote:
>
> devil <[email protected]> schreef in artikel <[email protected]>...
> > David Eerdmans wrote:
> > >
> > > Jenn <[email protected]> schreef in artikel
> > > <[email protected]>...
> > > >
> > > > And drinking water is always a concern for any sensible traveler.
> There
> > > > was a time when European drinking water was not generally safe [long
> ago
> > > > to be sure] -- still wouldn't want to drink it in Leningrad, would
> you?
> > >
> > > Just nitpicking, but I believe Leningrad was re-named a couple of years ago.
> >
> > You think that had an effect on their water?
>
> No, that's why I said "Just nitpicking". I'll visit St. Petersburg this summer and
> I have no intention of drinking the water there.
Trust me, don't even use it for rinsing your toothbrush.
>
> devil <[email protected]> schreef in artikel <[email protected]>...
> > David Eerdmans wrote:
> > >
> > > Jenn <[email protected]> schreef in artikel
> > > <[email protected]>...
> > > >
> > > > And drinking water is always a concern for any sensible traveler.
> There
> > > > was a time when European drinking water was not generally safe [long
> ago
> > > > to be sure] -- still wouldn't want to drink it in Leningrad, would
> you?
> > >
> > > Just nitpicking, but I believe Leningrad was re-named a couple of years ago.
> >
> > You think that had an effect on their water?
>
> No, that's why I said "Just nitpicking". I'll visit St. Petersburg this summer and
> I have no intention of drinking the water there.
Trust me, don't even use it for rinsing your toothbrush.
May 7th 2002, 5:50 pm
#146
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Jonathan Morton wrote:
>
> "Jenn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
> > suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe
>
> No, it doesn't. It suggests that the chlorine (or whatever it is) in it to make
> it safe also makes it taste funny. But the same also applies to tap water in the
> US, IMX.
>
> Besides, whoever heard of carbonated tap-water?
I have heard stories of fertilizer finding its way in the water also.
This said, from a safety perspective, your regular tap water is typically still
better than bottled water. As any coli count will tell you (although these won't be
these dangerous new strains, merely the good old inoffensive ones, which historically
have been used as a measure of the bacteria content).
>
> "Jenn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
> > suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe
>
> No, it doesn't. It suggests that the chlorine (or whatever it is) in it to make
> it safe also makes it taste funny. But the same also applies to tap water in the
> US, IMX.
>
> Besides, whoever heard of carbonated tap-water?
I have heard stories of fertilizer finding its way in the water also.
This said, from a safety perspective, your regular tap water is typically still
better than bottled water. As any coli count will tell you (although these won't be
these dangerous new strains, merely the good old inoffensive ones, which historically
have been used as a measure of the bacteria content).
May 7th 2002, 5:50 pm
#147
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Go Fig wrote:
>
> You compare free speech and funding violent terrorists ?
Of course when the terrorists were merely attacking Russians (or the governement of
Nicaragua), funding them was allright?
>
> You compare free speech and funding violent terrorists ?
Of course when the terrorists were merely attacking Russians (or the governement of
Nicaragua), funding them was allright?
May 7th 2002, 6:51 pm
#148
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"ArtKramr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >Here`s my question. Should educational standards in American schools, particularly
> >in relation to the world which exists outside the U.S.
border,
> >be raised to the standard which exists in the rest of the world
>
> No. we will keep US standards as high as they are which is why the entire world
> tries to get into US Universities which are the best in the world by
a
> large margin.
Lol!
Troll alert!
Tony
news:[email protected]...
> >Here`s my question. Should educational standards in American schools, particularly
> >in relation to the world which exists outside the U.S.
border,
> >be raised to the standard which exists in the rest of the world
>
> No. we will keep US standards as high as they are which is why the entire world
> tries to get into US Universities which are the best in the world by
a
> large margin.
Lol!
Troll alert!
Tony
May 7th 2002, 6:51 pm
#149
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"Keeger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> >> I'd love to see some. All of this flaming aside, if there is
> >> evidence, I agree that the US has a moral responsibility to take the same
> >> actions they are asking the rest of the world to take against terrorism and it's
> >> funders. I'm sure there are Irish-Americans who have funded the IRA, but then
> >> I'm sure the Loyalists have been funded as well?
> >
> >Oh, that makes it OK, does it? Tony
>
> Where did I say that? I said the US has the responsibility to act. I guess you lot
> really do have reading comprehension problems.
Nope, just US foreign policy comprehension problems!
Tony
news:[email protected]...
>> >> I'd love to see some. All of this flaming aside, if there is
> >> evidence, I agree that the US has a moral responsibility to take the same
> >> actions they are asking the rest of the world to take against terrorism and it's
> >> funders. I'm sure there are Irish-Americans who have funded the IRA, but then
> >> I'm sure the Loyalists have been funded as well?
> >
> >Oh, that makes it OK, does it? Tony
>
> Where did I say that? I said the US has the responsibility to act. I guess you lot
> really do have reading comprehension problems.
Nope, just US foreign policy comprehension problems!
Tony
May 7th 2002, 7:10 pm
#150
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2001
Location: From England. Moved to Adelaide Nov 2000
Posts: 432
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Originally posted by David Gascon
Judith wrote:
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>></font></i>
(snip)
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> On the other hand, I see/hear Europeans spouting ridiculous things about America,</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> too. And of other countries I hear even more ridiculous things. Many Europeans</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> don't know or understand the differences from their culture to other cultures. They</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> also cannot point to where New Zealand is on the globe. It isn't an American thing,</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> it is an education/experience thing.</font></i>
(donning flame-proof suit)
New Zealand? Isn't that part of Australia? {
(ducking for cover!)
Judith wrote:
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>></font></i>
(snip)
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> On the other hand, I see/hear Europeans spouting ridiculous things about America,</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> too. And of other countries I hear even more ridiculous things. Many Europeans</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> don't know or understand the differences from their culture to other cultures. They</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> also cannot point to where New Zealand is on the globe. It isn't an American thing,</font></i>
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkgreen>> it is an education/experience thing.</font></i>
(donning flame-proof suit)
New Zealand? Isn't that part of Australia? {
(ducking for cover!)
