Are Americans especially thick?
May 7th 2002, 11:50 am
#121
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
On Tue, 7 May 2002 09:56:45 +0100, "a.spencer3"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]... Did you take an actual course about
>North American
>> history and customs?
>>
>>
>Yes!
It would be fascinating to know what was taught.
******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
intentional copyright traps ******
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]... Did you take an actual course about
>North American
>> history and customs?
>>
>>
>Yes!
It would be fascinating to know what was taught.
******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
intentional copyright traps ******
May 7th 2002, 11:50 am
#122
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
On 7 May 2002 10:42:04 -0700, [email protected] (Jonathan Morton) wrote:
>David Greenhalgh <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:<[email protected]> ...
>> Battery powered equipment is fundamentally different from mains powered. I would
>> expect to get AA or AAA batteries for my radio or camera anywhere in the world
>> since the same products can be bought anywhere. But the question is still valid.
>> It's easy to forget how naive you can be when young.
>
>Yes, and sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious. The mains voltages are
>different for historical reasons and lots of expensive infrastructure means
>standards get set for regions which then remain. With batteries there's no reason
>not to have world standards,
There's no reason to assume, a priori, that television standards would be different,
but they are. The fact that it would be irrational to have different standards
doesn't mean that ther aren't different standards. It is precisely because some
standards are different and some aren't that the question must be asked.
******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
intentional copyright traps ******
>David Greenhalgh <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:<[email protected]> ...
>> Battery powered equipment is fundamentally different from mains powered. I would
>> expect to get AA or AAA batteries for my radio or camera anywhere in the world
>> since the same products can be bought anywhere. But the question is still valid.
>> It's easy to forget how naive you can be when young.
>
>Yes, and sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious. The mains voltages are
>different for historical reasons and lots of expensive infrastructure means
>standards get set for regions which then remain. With batteries there's no reason
>not to have world standards,
There's no reason to assume, a priori, that television standards would be different,
but they are. The fact that it would be irrational to have different standards
doesn't mean that ther aren't different standards. It is precisely because some
standards are different and some aren't that the question must be asked.
******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
intentional copyright traps ******
May 7th 2002, 11:50 am
#123
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Hatunen wrote:
>
> On 7 May 2002 10:42:04 -0700, [email protected] (Jonathan
> Morton) wrote:
>
> >David Greenhalgh <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:<[email protected]> ...
> >> Battery powered equipment is fundamentally different from mains powered. I would
> >> expect to get AA or AAA batteries for my radio or camera anywhere in the world
> >> since the same products can be bought anywhere. But the question is still valid.
> >> It's easy to forget how naive you can be when young.
> >
> >Yes, and sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious. The mains voltages are
> >different for historical reasons and lots of expensive infrastructure means
> >standards get set for regions which then remain. With batteries there's no reason
> >not to have world standards,
>
> There's no reason to assume, a priori, that television standards would be
> different, but they are. The fact that it would be irrational to have
> different standards doesn't mean that ther aren't different standards. It is
> precisely because some standards are different and some aren't that the
> question must be asked.
Famous statement about standards: "One nice thing about standards is that there are
so many of them". [for the "same" object/system.]
>
> On 7 May 2002 10:42:04 -0700, [email protected] (Jonathan
> Morton) wrote:
>
> >David Greenhalgh <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:<[email protected]> ...
> >> Battery powered equipment is fundamentally different from mains powered. I would
> >> expect to get AA or AAA batteries for my radio or camera anywhere in the world
> >> since the same products can be bought anywhere. But the question is still valid.
> >> It's easy to forget how naive you can be when young.
> >
> >Yes, and sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious. The mains voltages are
> >different for historical reasons and lots of expensive infrastructure means
> >standards get set for regions which then remain. With batteries there's no reason
> >not to have world standards,
>
> There's no reason to assume, a priori, that television standards would be
> different, but they are. The fact that it would be irrational to have
> different standards doesn't mean that ther aren't different standards. It is
> precisely because some standards are different and some aren't that the
> question must be asked.
Famous statement about standards: "One nice thing about standards is that there are
so many of them". [for the "same" object/system.]
May 7th 2002, 12:20 pm
#124
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Gascon wrote:
> > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful democracy
> > without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by Americans.
>
> You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US dollars
> actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there statistics?
Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
> > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful democracy
> > without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by Americans.
>
> You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US dollars
> actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there statistics?
Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
May 7th 2002, 12:50 pm
#125
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Don't Judge us all by Bush. He is widely and highly regarded as an exceptionaly
dense, obtuse, dull witted example of Americans. Less you think you can judge us all
by his selection, you must remember 2 things about that. First, we didn't elect him.
He was selected in a bloodless coup by a criminal conspiracy. Second, we sale the
Presidency anyway. So you would have to blame those who paid for him. That is less
than 8% of our population.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." Samuel Johnson
Marc
"David Lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news
[email protected]...
> True story from Charlotte Church ( a young singer who is very well known in
> the UK.)
>
> She was introduced to a certain G.W.Bush who, on hearing she came from Wales, asked
> "What state is that in?"
>
> No further comment required.
>
> M
> --
> [email protected]
dense, obtuse, dull witted example of Americans. Less you think you can judge us all
by his selection, you must remember 2 things about that. First, we didn't elect him.
He was selected in a bloodless coup by a criminal conspiracy. Second, we sale the
Presidency anyway. So you would have to blame those who paid for him. That is less
than 8% of our population.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." Samuel Johnson
Marc
"David Lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news
[email protected]...> True story from Charlotte Church ( a young singer who is very well known in
> the UK.)
>
> She was introduced to a certain G.W.Bush who, on hearing she came from Wales, asked
> "What state is that in?"
>
> No further comment required.
>
> M
> --
> [email protected]
May 7th 2002, 1:50 pm
#126
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>,
Dave Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> David Gascon wrote:
>
> > > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful
> > > democracy without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by
> > > Americans.
> >
> > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > statistics?
>
> Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
>
>
It seemed straight forward to me... he (me too) am interested in the relative
dollar amounts... most Americans understand in a free society there are thugs of
all sorts and like many other constituents world wide, we are demanding a more
active pursuit of them.
Outside of a small portion of the NE U.S., the financial contributions to these
terrorist is probably nil.
As far as governmental support or the implication of it, is absurd... save the fact
that it was a US Senator that was critical in bringing the latest peace accord.
jay Tue, May 7, 2002 mailto:[email protected]
--
Legend insists that as he finished his abject... Galileo muttered under his breath:
"Nevertheless, it does move."
Dave Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> David Gascon wrote:
>
> > > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful
> > > democracy without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by
> > > Americans.
> >
> > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > statistics?
>
> Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
>
>
It seemed straight forward to me... he (me too) am interested in the relative
dollar amounts... most Americans understand in a free society there are thugs of
all sorts and like many other constituents world wide, we are demanding a more
active pursuit of them.
Outside of a small portion of the NE U.S., the financial contributions to these
terrorist is probably nil.
As far as governmental support or the implication of it, is absurd... save the fact
that it was a US Senator that was critical in bringing the latest peace accord.
jay Tue, May 7, 2002 mailto:[email protected]
--
Legend insists that as he finished his abject... Galileo muttered under his breath:
"Nevertheless, it does move."
May 7th 2002, 2:22 pm
#127
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In message <[email protected]>, Inge Johannessen
<[email protected]> writes
>"David Lewis" <[email protected]> skrev i melding
>news[email protected]... [snip]
>> She was introduced to a certain G.W.Bush who, on hearing she came from Wales,
>> asked "What state is that in?"
>
>My favourite one in this NG was about three years back (I was working in The
>Netherlands at the time) with the subject line: "Does anybody know where
>Holland is?".
It's one of the three subdivisions of Lincolnshire, England, together with Kesteven
and Lindsey!
>
>He was not flamed back as far as I remember.
>
>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.
--
Arwel Parry http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/
<[email protected]> writes
>"David Lewis" <[email protected]> skrev i melding
>news
[email protected]... [snip]>> She was introduced to a certain G.W.Bush who, on hearing she came from Wales,
>> asked "What state is that in?"
>
>My favourite one in this NG was about three years back (I was working in The
>Netherlands at the time) with the subject line: "Does anybody know where
>Holland is?".
It's one of the three subdivisions of Lincolnshire, England, together with Kesteven
and Lindsey!
>
>He was not flamed back as far as I remember.
>
>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.
--
Arwel Parry http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/
May 7th 2002, 2:50 pm
#128
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
>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
>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
May 7th 2002, 2:50 pm
#129
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Philip & Karen Selwyn wrote:
>
> 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
OTOH, I know simply _everything_ about the UK from watching "Are You Being
Served?" {
>
> 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
OTOH, I know simply _everything_ about the UK from watching "Are You Being
Served?" {
May 7th 2002, 2:50 pm
#130
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> On Tue, 07 May 2002 18:05:32 GMT, "me" <@thanksalot.net> wrote:
>
> >I'd think that perhaps the accent might have been SOME indication she wasn't from
> >North Dakota.
>
> We ahve a LOT of accents here. Some Americans have Welsh accents. Many ahve Spanish
> accents but were born and grew up in the USA. I see no reason why the accent,
> unless particularly dense, should be more than a slight clue.
When I moved to Arizona many years ago, several co-workers asked if I was from
Sweden. I'd always thought I had a neutral, generic American accent, but to people
from Chicago (hey, everyone in Phoenix is from Chicago), I sounded foreign.
===
Steve Shoreline, Washington USA [email protected] 7 May 2002, 1918 PDT
> On Tue, 07 May 2002 18:05:32 GMT, "me" <@thanksalot.net> wrote:
>
> >I'd think that perhaps the accent might have been SOME indication she wasn't from
> >North Dakota.
>
> We ahve a LOT of accents here. Some Americans have Welsh accents. Many ahve Spanish
> accents but were born and grew up in the USA. I see no reason why the accent,
> unless particularly dense, should be more than a slight clue.
When I moved to Arizona many years ago, several co-workers asked if I was from
Sweden. I'd always thought I had a neutral, generic American accent, but to people
from Chicago (hey, everyone in Phoenix is from Chicago)
, I sounded foreign.===
Steve Shoreline, Washington USA [email protected] 7 May 2002, 1918 PDT
May 7th 2002, 3:20 pm
#131
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Hatunen wrote:
>
>
> Except, perhaps, for Hawaii, there is no point in the USA that is 1000 miles or
> more from a border.
>
If you consider the ocean a border, that lets out Hawaii, too.
>
>
> Except, perhaps, for Hawaii, there is no point in the USA that is 1000 miles or
> more from a border.
>
If you consider the ocean a border, that lets out Hawaii, too.
May 7th 2002, 3:20 pm
#132
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Dave Smith wrote:
>
> David Gascon wrote:
>
> > > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful
> > > democracy without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by
> > > Americans.
> >
> > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > statistics?
>
> Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
Extent. Please read the question again.
>
> David Gascon wrote:
>
> > > Or the Americans letting people in Northern Ireland live in a peaceful
> > > democracy without the fear of being bombed or shot at, mostly funded by
> > > Americans.
> >
> > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > statistics?
>
> Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
Extent. Please read the question again.
May 7th 2002, 3:20 pm
#133
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
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.) As I said earlier, American schools don't teach geography very effectively. I
do know which states border Minnesota, because I was born and raised there, but I'm
not at all sure which province of Canada borders it on the north.
>
> Inge sj
>
> 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.) As I said earlier, American schools don't teach geography very effectively. I
do know which states border Minnesota, because I was born and raised there, but I'm
not at all sure which province of Canada borders it on the north.
>
> Inge sj
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#134
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
(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
The entire world? That can't be true. I think I once met a guy who didn't try. Maybe
there are others. Ever hear of Rhodes scholars?
> 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
--
Food/Wine/Travel web sites http://www.worldtable.com
http://forums.egullet.com/ikonboard....ff;act=SF;f=10
(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
The entire world? That can't be true. I think I once met a guy who didn't try. Maybe
there are others. Ever hear of Rhodes scholars?
> 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
--
Food/Wine/Travel web sites http://www.worldtable.com
http://forums.egullet.com/ikonboard....ff;act=SF;f=10
May 7th 2002, 3:51 pm
#135
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
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.
--
Yves Bellefeuille <[email protected]>, Ottawa, Canada Francais / English / Esperanto
Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html Rec.travel.europe FAQ:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq
> 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.
--
Yves Bellefeuille <[email protected]>, Ottawa, Canada Francais / English / Esperanto
Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html Rec.travel.europe FAQ:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq
