Are Americans especially thick?
May 8th 2002, 4:51 am
#211
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" wrote:
>
> Inge Johannessen wrote:
> >
>
> > On the other hand a popular game here on the Norwegian South Coast at least is to
> > ask questions like: "What other states does Nebraska share a border with?". One a
> > good day somebody might actually suggest Kansas.
>
> Only one I'm really sure about is Iowa! (Because I lived in Omaha for a couple
> of years.)
Omaha, Iowa?
>
> Inge Johannessen wrote:
> >
>
> > On the other hand a popular game here on the Norwegian South Coast at least is to
> > ask questions like: "What other states does Nebraska share a border with?". One a
> > good day somebody might actually suggest Kansas.
>
> Only one I'm really sure about is Iowa! (Because I lived in Omaha for a couple
> of years.)
Omaha, Iowa?
May 8th 2002, 4:51 am
#212
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:
> I think I would classify her as a popular (not pop) singer.
What do you think 'pop' means?
cheers,
Henry
> I think I would classify her as a popular (not pop) singer.
What do you think 'pop' means?
cheers,
Henry
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#213
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
David Lewis wrote:
>
> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
> <[email protected]> writes
> >Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
> >mainland on holiday, for example.
>
> The "mainland"??????????
>
> What on earth do you mean by that?
>
> M
The USA? {;-O
>
> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
> <[email protected]> writes
> >Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
> >mainland on holiday, for example.
>
> The "mainland"??????????
>
> What on earth do you mean by that?
>
> M
The USA? {;-O
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#214
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.
>
> Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
Geez, you really _are_ a compulsive nationalist, eh?
>
> >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.
>
> Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
Geez, you really _are_ a compulsive nationalist, eh?
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#215
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Yves Bellefeuille wrote:
>
> On Tue, 07 May 2002, Dave Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > IMO travelers are well advised to drink bottled water, since small changes in
> > water consumed can have drastic effects on people's systems.
>
> I hope that this is a legitimate travel question...
>
> Do people really have that much trouble with "small changes in water"? I've had tap
> water in many places, and I've never had trouble, unless I actually got
> "traveller's diarrhea". I guess the most unusual water I ever had in Europe was in
> Reykjavik, where the water really does smell of sulfur, but it's still safe to
> drink and I had no bad reaction.
>
> I think that the tap water in Toronto or Montreal is as different from the one I'm
> used to as anywhere else I've been.
>
Tap water in Trois Rivières got me a couple of years ago. Tasted fine. Switched to
bottled water for the remainder of my trip & recovered just fine.
>
> On Tue, 07 May 2002, Dave Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > IMO travelers are well advised to drink bottled water, since small changes in
> > water consumed can have drastic effects on people's systems.
>
> I hope that this is a legitimate travel question...
>
> Do people really have that much trouble with "small changes in water"? I've had tap
> water in many places, and I've never had trouble, unless I actually got
> "traveller's diarrhea". I guess the most unusual water I ever had in Europe was in
> Reykjavik, where the water really does smell of sulfur, but it's still safe to
> drink and I had no bad reaction.
>
> I think that the tap water in Toronto or Montreal is as different from the one I'm
> used to as anywhere else I've been.
>
Tap water in Trois Rivières got me a couple of years ago. Tasted fine. Switched to
bottled water for the remainder of my trip & recovered just fine.
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#216
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Eerdmans <[email protected]> wrote:
> A couple of years ago there was a television program on Dutch TV, where Dutch
> people on holiday were asked to point at their location at a map of Europe. Lots of
> them had no idea where they were
They were on holiday, though; right? In another country?
Just about every year, usually around October, there will be a report in the news
about some professor of geography at one or another American university who
administers a questionnaire to his incoming first-year students. The results are
always shocking, and often hilarious: 27% can't find the Atlantic Ocean on a map, 37%
can't find _their own home town_ on a map, etc., etc. And these are _geography_
students, who are presumably keen on this stuff!!
cheers,
Henry
> A couple of years ago there was a television program on Dutch TV, where Dutch
> people on holiday were asked to point at their location at a map of Europe. Lots of
> them had no idea where they were
They were on holiday, though; right? In another country?
Just about every year, usually around October, there will be a report in the news
about some professor of geography at one or another American university who
administers a questionnaire to his incoming first-year students. The results are
always shocking, and often hilarious: 27% can't find the Atlantic Ocean on a map, 37%
can't find _their own home town_ on a map, etc., etc. And these are _geography_
students, who are presumably keen on this stuff!!
cheers,
Henry
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#217
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Go Fig wrote:
>
> In article <[email protected] t>, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Le Wed, 08 May 2002 10:23:22 GMT, Padraig Breathnach <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > >>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> > >>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >>that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > > What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> >
> > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me ?
> >
> > Oh, and the answer to your question is: British.
>
> Compelling evidence that the French arrogance has an environmental component to it.
>
Wait a minute, how did the French get dragged into this one? Compulsive francophobia?
>
> In article <[email protected] t>, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Le Wed, 08 May 2002 10:23:22 GMT, Padraig Breathnach <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > >>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> > >>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >>that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > > What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> >
> > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me ?
> >
> > Oh, and the answer to your question is: British.
>
> Compelling evidence that the French arrogance has an environmental component to it.
>
Wait a minute, how did the French get dragged into this one? Compulsive francophobia?
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#218
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
The Oik wrote:
>
> "Desmond Coughlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Le Wed, 8 May 2002 10:31:29 +0000, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > >>>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright
> as
> > >>>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >>>that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > >> What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> >
> > > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me ?
> >
> > Correction : I just saw it. Sorry, a mix of typo and speaking French all day.
> >
> > Honest.
> >
> 'course, if one was being picky, its was *spelt* right, just not the right word.
Or even if one WERE being picky. (How's that for picky?)
>
> "Desmond Coughlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Le Wed, 8 May 2002 10:31:29 +0000, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > >>>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright
> as
> > >>>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >>>that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > >> What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> >
> > > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me ?
> >
> > Correction : I just saw it. Sorry, a mix of typo and speaking French all day.
> >
> > Honest.
> >
> 'course, if one was being picky, its was *spelt* right, just not the right word.
Or even if one WERE being picky. (How's that for picky?)
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#219
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Anders Svensson wrote:
>
> David Gascon wrote:
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> > >
> > > That reminds me. Can someone just explain this to me. Recently on the news it
> > > was reported that an Arab American was arrested for being involved in some
> > > organization that was collecting money to fund Al-Qaida(sp?) terrorism. Seems
> > > reasonable to arrest him, but when will the US authorities be arresting all the
> > > Americans involved in collecting money to fund IRA terrorism?
> >
> > When Irish-American voters & politicians have a less romanticized notion of the
> > Struggle?
>
> Or collecting money to Israel????
>
> Same shit.
>
Only if you equate the state of Israel with a gang of terrorists. Some of us don't.
>
> David Gascon wrote:
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> > >
> > > That reminds me. Can someone just explain this to me. Recently on the news it
> > > was reported that an Arab American was arrested for being involved in some
> > > organization that was collecting money to fund Al-Qaida(sp?) terrorism. Seems
> > > reasonable to arrest him, but when will the US authorities be arresting all the
> > > Americans involved in collecting money to fund IRA terrorism?
> >
> > When Irish-American voters & politicians have a less romanticized notion of the
> > Struggle?
>
> Or collecting money to Israel????
>
> Same shit.
>
Only if you equate the state of Israel with a gang of terrorists. Some of us don't.
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#220
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"David Gascon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" wrote:
> >
> > Inge Johannessen wrote:
> > >
> >
> > > On the other hand a popular game here on the Norwegian South Coast at
least
> > > is to ask questions like: "What other states does Nebraska share a
border
> > > with?". One a good day somebody might actually suggest Kansas.
> >
> > Only one I'm really sure about is Iowa! (Because I lived in Omaha for a couple of
> > years.)
>
> Omaha, Iowa?
Omaha, Nebraska is right adjacent to the Iowa state border so, yes someone living in
Omaha would certainly know that Nebraska borders Iowa.
news:[email protected]...
> "Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" wrote:
> >
> > Inge Johannessen wrote:
> > >
> >
> > > On the other hand a popular game here on the Norwegian South Coast at
least
> > > is to ask questions like: "What other states does Nebraska share a
border
> > > with?". One a good day somebody might actually suggest Kansas.
> >
> > Only one I'm really sure about is Iowa! (Because I lived in Omaha for a couple of
> > years.)
>
> Omaha, Iowa?
Omaha, Nebraska is right adjacent to the Iowa state border so, yes someone living in
Omaha would certainly know that Nebraska borders Iowa.
May 8th 2002, 5:20 am
#221
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Go Fig wrote:
>
> In article <[email protected] t>, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Le Wed, 08 May 2002 13:50:42 GMT, Go Fig <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > { snip }
> >
> > >> > Compelling evidence that the French arrogance has an environmental component
> > >> > to it.
> >
> > >> ... and compelling evidence that some dumb ****s still think that an .fr
> > >> address, equates to being French ...
> >
> > > Keep digging... your close to covering yourself.
> >
> > Keep trying, 'your' (sic) close to making sense ...
>
> Good grief...
>
> Do you possible know the difference between genetic and environmental factors.
> Hint: the water you drink is considered an environmental factor.
>
He possible does, I think.
>
> In article <[email protected] t>, Desmond Coughlan
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Le Wed, 08 May 2002 13:50:42 GMT, Go Fig <[email protected]> a écrit :
> >
> > { snip }
> >
> > >> > Compelling evidence that the French arrogance has an environmental component
> > >> > to it.
> >
> > >> ... and compelling evidence that some dumb ****s still think that an .fr
> > >> address, equates to being French ...
> >
> > > Keep digging... your close to covering yourself.
> >
> > Keep trying, 'your' (sic) close to making sense ...
>
> Good grief...
>
> Do you possible know the difference between genetic and environmental factors.
> Hint: the water you drink is considered an environmental factor.
>
He possible does, I think.
May 8th 2002, 5:51 am
#222
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"ArtKramr" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
> >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal that
> >the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
>
> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
That's not true. The actual figure up to 2001 is US: 212 against rest of the World
:358 Peace and economy excluded. If economy (in fact not a real Nobel prize) is
included the figures change to US:244 vs Rest of the world : 374 But you have to rely
on the Swedish (European) decisions.
L.P
news:[email protected]...
> >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal that
> >the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
>
> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
That's not true. The actual figure up to 2001 is US: 212 against rest of the World
:358 Peace and economy excluded. If economy (in fact not a real Nobel prize) is
included the figures change to US:244 vs Rest of the world : 374 But you have to rely
on the Swedish (European) decisions.
L.P
May 8th 2002, 5:51 am
#223
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"David Gascon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The Oik wrote:
> >
> > "Desmond Coughlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Le Wed, 8 May 2002 10:31:29 +0000, Desmond Coughlan
> > <[email protected]> a écrit :
> > >
> > > >>>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as
bright
> > as
> > > >>>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on
the
> > > >>>principal that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> > >
> > > >> What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> > >
> > > > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me
?
> > >
> > > Correction : I just saw it. Sorry, a mix of typo and speaking French
all
> > > day.
> > >
> > > Honest.
> > >
> > 'course, if one was being picky, its was *spelt* right, just not the
right
> > word.
>
> Or even if one WERE being picky. (How's that for picky?)
should it have been 'if one was to be picky'?? (anyway, I'm pretty sure my ex English
teacher would have thrown the proverbial wobbler at the use of the term 'picky',
especially as I've picked it up from Americans I've worked with!)
news:[email protected]...
> The Oik wrote:
> >
> > "Desmond Coughlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Le Wed, 8 May 2002 10:31:29 +0000, Desmond Coughlan
> > <[email protected]> a écrit :
> > >
> > > >>>I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as
bright
> > as
> > > >>>Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on
the
> > > >>>principal that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> > >
> > > >> What education system helped you develop your spelling skills?
> > >
> > > > Sorry, mate, I can't see any errors in there. Care to enlighten me
?
> > >
> > > Correction : I just saw it. Sorry, a mix of typo and speaking French
all
> > > day.
> > >
> > > Honest.
> > >
> > 'course, if one was being picky, its was *spelt* right, just not the
right
> > word.
>
> Or even if one WERE being picky. (How's that for picky?)
should it have been 'if one was to be picky'?? (anyway, I'm pretty sure my ex English
teacher would have thrown the proverbial wobbler at the use of the term 'picky',
especially as I've picked it up from Americans I've worked with!)
May 8th 2002, 5:51 am
#224
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Le Wed, 08 May 2002 16:30:13 GMT, David Gascon <[email protected]> a écrit :
{ snip }
>> Good grief...
>>
>> Do you possible know the difference between genetic and environmental factors.
>> Hint: the water you drink is considered an environmental factor.
> He possible does, I think.
Indeed.
--
Desmond Coughlan |****#1 YGL#4 YFC#1 YFB#1 UKRMMA#14 two#38 desmond @ noos.fr
|BONY#48 ANORAK#11 http://mapage.noos.fr/desmond/ Clé Publique :
http://mapage.noos.fr/desmond/pgp/pubring.pkr
{ snip }
>> Good grief...
>>
>> Do you possible know the difference between genetic and environmental factors.
>> Hint: the water you drink is considered an environmental factor.
> He possible does, I think.
Indeed.
--
Desmond Coughlan |****#1 YGL#4 YFC#1 YFB#1 UKRMMA#14 two#38 desmond @ noos.fr
|BONY#48 ANORAK#11 http://mapage.noos.fr/desmond/ Clé Publique :
http://mapage.noos.fr/desmond/pgp/pubring.pkr
May 8th 2002, 6:29 am
#225
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
I espied that on 08 May 2002, David Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
> <[email protected]> writes
>> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
>> mainland on holiday, for example.
>
> The "mainland"??????????
>
> What on earth do you mean by that?
That sort of went "CLANG" on my ear, too......
I've never come across it, but maybe there's some region in the UK that says "the
mainland" when they refer to the countries on the other side of what the French
insist on calling "The Sleeve"......
--
Cheers, Harvey
> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
> <[email protected]> writes
>> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to the
>> mainland on holiday, for example.
>
> The "mainland"??????????
>
> What on earth do you mean by that?
That sort of went "CLANG" on my ear, too......
I've never come across it, but maybe there's some region in the UK that says "the
mainland" when they refer to the countries on the other side of what the French
insist on calling "The Sleeve"......
--
Cheers, Harvey
