Are Americans especially thick?
May 7th 2002, 9:20 am
#91
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Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in the United
> States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United States of Mexico,
> where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the posh built-for-tourist
> resorts areas).
The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken, a
greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada, in
which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water with me.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
> The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in the United
> States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United States of Mexico,
> where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the posh built-for-tourist
> resorts areas).
The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken, a
greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada, in
which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water with me.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 7th 2002, 9:20 am
#92
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
I hate to quarrel with a neighbour Miguel, ...but placing complete confidence in the
water systems of the north (Canada) may be ill advised.
In May, 2000 - 7 people died and 2300 people were sick due to E coli contamination in
Walkerton, Ontario. See: http://www.walkertoninquiry.com/
. Since that time there have been several scares, boiled water advisories etc.
The world is a different place. Personally I think the question about water is
completely fair. You could ask the same question about Canada.
Louis, Citizen of the Great White North.
"Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in
the
> > United States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United
States
> > of Mexico, where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the
posh
> > built-for-tourist resorts areas).
>
> The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken,
> a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada,
> in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water
> with me.
>
> miguel
> --
> Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
water systems of the north (Canada) may be ill advised.
In May, 2000 - 7 people died and 2300 people were sick due to E coli contamination in
Walkerton, Ontario. See: http://www.walkertoninquiry.com/
. Since that time there have been several scares, boiled water advisories etc.
The world is a different place. Personally I think the question about water is
completely fair. You could ask the same question about Canada.
Louis, Citizen of the Great White North.
"Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in
the
> > United States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United
States
> > of Mexico, where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the
posh
> > built-for-tourist resorts areas).
>
> The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken,
> a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada,
> in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water
> with me.
>
> miguel
> --
> Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 7th 2002, 9:51 am
#93
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, Jenn
<[email protected]> writes
>
>but the same argument applies to VCR tapes which ought to be the same on both sides
>of the pond but aren't.
They aren't even the same all over Europe.
However, most modern video recorders in the UK are now dual standard. In France they
have been multi standard for years.
> Every year tourists buy tapes they can't watch -- from both sides of the pond.
Marie
--
David Lewis [email protected]
<[email protected]> writes
>
>but the same argument applies to VCR tapes which ought to be the same on both sides
>of the pond but aren't.
They aren't even the same all over Europe.
However, most modern video recorders in the UK are now dual standard. In France they
have been multi standard for years.
> Every year tourists buy tapes they can't watch -- from both sides of the pond.
Marie
--
David Lewis [email protected]
May 7th 2002, 9:51 am
#94
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, Jenn
<[email protected]> writes
>the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
>suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe TEST why else pay for it. bottled
>water was until recently quite rare in the US -- although it is common today.
It's merely a matter of taste - and making money.
M
--
[email protected]
<[email protected]> writes
>the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
>suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe TEST why else pay for it. bottled
>water was until recently quite rare in the US -- although it is common today.
It's merely a matter of taste - and making money.
M
--
[email protected]
May 7th 2002, 9:51 am
#95
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Miguel
Cruz) wrote:
> Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in the United
> > States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United States of Mexico,
> > where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the posh built-for-tourist
> > resorts areas).
>
> The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken,
> a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada,
> in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water
> with me.
>
the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe TEST why else pay for it. bottled
water was until recently quite rare in the US -- although it is common today.
Cruz) wrote:
> Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in the United
> > States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United States of Mexico,
> > where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the posh built-for-tourist
> > resorts areas).
>
> The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not mistaken,
> a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces of Canada,
> in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely hold water
> with me.
>
the fact that Europeans seem to drink bottled and not tap water in restaurants
suggests to travelers that the water isn't safe TEST why else pay for it. bottled
water was until recently quite rare in the US -- although it is common today.
May 7th 2002, 9:51 am
#96
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Just Joan wrote:
>
> > I found the views that European teens had of America to be fairly hillarious when
> > I lived there myself in the 60s.
>
> I'll bet that there was a lot less American content on TV back then.
But the content of American shows has no relationship to reality in America. The news
programs barely have any realistic component; entertainment programs definitely have
no realistic component.
Karen Selwyn
>
> > I found the views that European teens had of America to be fairly hillarious when
> > I lived there myself in the 60s.
>
> I'll bet that there was a lot less American content on TV back then.
But the content of American shows has no relationship to reality in America. The news
programs barely have any realistic component; entertainment programs definitely have
no realistic component.
Karen Selwyn
May 7th 2002, 10:20 am
#97
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, "Louis McEniry"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I hate to quarrel with a neighbour Miguel, ...but placing complete confidence in
> the water systems of the north (Canada) may be ill advised.
>
> In May, 2000 - 7 people died and 2300 people were sick due to E coli contamination
> in Walkerton, Ontario. See: http://www.walkertoninquiry.com/
> . Since that time there have been several scares, boiled water advisories etc.
>
> The world is a different place. Personally I think the question about water is
> completely fair. You could ask the same question about Canada.
>
> Louis, Citizen of the Great White North.
100 people were killed not long ago in Milwaukee by contaminated water. It is
certainly a perfectly fare question for any traveler.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in
> the
> > > United States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United
> States
> > > of Mexico, where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the
> posh
> > > built-for-tourist resorts areas).
> >
> > The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not
> > mistaken, a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces
> > of Canada, in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely
> > hold water with me.
> >
> > miguel
> > --
> > Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I hate to quarrel with a neighbour Miguel, ...but placing complete confidence in
> the water systems of the north (Canada) may be ill advised.
>
> In May, 2000 - 7 people died and 2300 people were sick due to E coli contamination
> in Walkerton, Ontario. See: http://www.walkertoninquiry.com/
> . Since that time there have been several scares, boiled water advisories etc.
>
> The world is a different place. Personally I think the question about water is
> completely fair. You could ask the same question about Canada.
>
> Louis, Citizen of the Great White North.
100 people were killed not long ago in Milwaukee by contaminated water. It is
certainly a perfectly fare question for any traveler.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Thomas Townsend <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > The question about water probably has its roots in the fact that we in
> the
> > > United States of America share a 2000+ mile border with the United
> States
> > > of Mexico, where the water is questionable =everywhere= (even in the
> posh
> > > built-for-tourist resorts areas).
> >
> > The United States of America shares a far longer border (and, if I'm not
> > mistaken, a greater volume of cross-border traffic) with the Quarreling Provinces
> > of Canada, in which no such concerns apply. So that argument doesn't completely
> > hold water with me.
> >
> > miguel
> > --
> > Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 7th 2002, 10:20 am
#98
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
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.
Regards, David
> 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.
Regards, David
May 7th 2002, 10:20 am
#99
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"Jenn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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.
Good point. DVD ought to put a stop to this nonsense, but it doesn't - for totally
different reasons, of course.
Regards
Jonathan
news:[email protected]...
> 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.
Good point. DVD ought to put a stop to this nonsense, but it doesn't - for totally
different reasons, of course.
Regards
Jonathan
May 7th 2002, 10:20 am
#100
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"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?
Jonathan
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?
Jonathan
May 7th 2002, 10:20 am
#101
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
<[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
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
May 7th 2002, 10:50 am
#102
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, "Jonathan Morton"
<[email protected]> 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?
>
> Jonathan
didn't say 'suggests to you', said suggests to travelers [American travelers] for
whom tap water and ice on the table is standard -- few restaurants that aren't
Europhile imitators routinely push bottled water in the US -- hence it is a perfectly
sensible question for an American who has not traveled before [the people who one
might expect to frequent a group like this]
<[email protected]> 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?
>
> Jonathan
didn't say 'suggests to you', said suggests to travelers [American travelers] for
whom tap water and ice on the table is standard -- few restaurants that aren't
Europhile imitators routinely push bottled water in the US -- hence it is a perfectly
sensible question for an American who has not traveled before [the people who one
might expect to frequent a group like this]
May 7th 2002, 11:21 am
#103
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. These
>make interesting (true) anecdotes but not generalisations.
>Dave
Perhaps she was anticipating the age of cloning. May be a perfectly valid question
someday
TESTTESTTEST--== Posted via Newsgroups.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==TESTTESTTEST-
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>But it was an English woman who asked me if my mother had had any children. These
>make interesting (true) anecdotes but not generalisations.
>Dave
Perhaps she was anticipating the age of cloning. May be a perfectly valid question
someday
TESTTESTTEST--== Posted via Newsgroups.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==TESTTESTTEST-
TEST--= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Ulimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers =TEST--
May 7th 2002, 11:21 am
#104
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>,
mpprh <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi
>
> Go FIG said BTW: whichever side the US selected, and at any time, would have been
> the winning side and thats still true today.
>
> Hmmm
>
> Do you really mean that ?
Yes!
jay Tue, May 7, 2002 mailto:[email protected]
>
> Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan (the enemy are still in place ?) or were you
> thinking of Grenada ?
>
> Peter
>
>
>
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
--
Legend insists that as he finished his abject... Galileo muttered under his breath:
"Nevertheless, it does move."
mpprh <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi
>
> Go FIG said BTW: whichever side the US selected, and at any time, would have been
> the winning side and thats still true today.
>
> Hmmm
>
> Do you really mean that ?
Yes!
jay Tue, May 7, 2002 mailto:[email protected]
>
> Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan (the enemy are still in place ?) or were you
> thinking of Grenada ?
>
> Peter
>
>
>
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
--
Legend insists that as he finished his abject... Galileo muttered under his breath:
"Nevertheless, it does move."
May 7th 2002, 11:21 am
#105
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"David Greenhalgh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> That the U.K. (and Japan) drives on the left hand side has a sensible heritage; men
> on horseback carried their swords at their right side.
The only reasonable explanation that I have come across as to why it was so
widespread a practice (it was once universal in Europe) is that it is what the Roman
Empire did. A hangover from a large and highly organised empire with extensive laws
on most subjects would explain why, later, there was *any* rule of the road in places
and periods when two travellers meeting constituted heavy traffic, let alone why it
was consistently the same. There is even evidence that, at one place, the Romans did
drive on the left. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any surviving Roman traffic
laws to confirm this.
Colin Bignell
news:[email protected]...
> That the U.K. (and Japan) drives on the left hand side has a sensible heritage; men
> on horseback carried their swords at their right side.
The only reasonable explanation that I have come across as to why it was so
widespread a practice (it was once universal in Europe) is that it is what the Roman
Empire did. A hangover from a large and highly organised empire with extensive laws
on most subjects would explain why, later, there was *any* rule of the road in places
and periods when two travellers meeting constituted heavy traffic, let alone why it
was consistently the same. There is even evidence that, at one place, the Romans did
drive on the left. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any surviving Roman traffic
laws to confirm this.
Colin Bignell
