posted on March 26, 2001 06:38:14 AM
What do you call an empire that manages to lose the better part of an entire continent to a bunch of rebel farmers and lawyers?
posted on March 26, 2001 07:08:25 AM
Which continent: N. America, S. America, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, or Africa?
Most of their problems were from bad public relations. Before the Revolution, we citizens in the colonies had it much better than the avg bloke in the motherland. And despite all that crap about "taxation", in almost ever case when we complained, Parliament backed down. Add a few guys that were good at rabble-rousing and a few high-handed measures from the Royal Governors and the die was cast.
Really, this should not turn into a bashing session for the Brits. They're OK and are one of the few people that build worse cars than we do.
posted on March 26, 2001 07:28:53 AM
Let's talk food in the UK. What is there to say about a country whose favorite dish is "spotted dick?" Here is the US we have it all: hamburgers, tacos, gyros, pizza, french fries, egg foo yung, and weenies. Our food might not be good for us, but it has more appealing names.
posted on March 26, 2001 01:07:52 PM
As a Brit, I have to say that most Americans of my acquaintance are also under the impression that we eat nothing but 'Spotted Dick'! But this, I assure you, is a complete myth. Fish and Chips yes, Spotted Dick.....don't think so!!
Now whilst the aforesaid dish may be enjoyed with custard on cold winter evenings and is indeed rather scrumptious (although 'jam roly poly' is IMHO, much better!!), I must in all honesty say that it could hardly be considered a staple and would probably not be a favourite with anyone who has a problem with raisins or sultanas. For one thing it's a 'pudding' or desert. And for another, it is awfully filling. So unless your idea of a main course is half a tomato and a lettuce leaf, you'd be hard pressed to find room for it a lot of the time. It does feature on pub menus, but many in places like Haworth and Stratford, where they think it will amuse the mostly (American) tourists.
But much as you may hold your sides at the thought of the uptight Englishman remarking to the waiter, 'Actually, I'd rather have a Spotted Dick', much the same mirth is generated on this side of the Atlantic by the concept of the 'Weenie'. Over here, a Weenie is a reference to a seriously undersized male organ. And much is made of an old American TV advertisement which shows young American boys and girls preparing enthusiatically for a 'Weenie Roast'!!!
posted on March 26, 2001 03:19:32 PM
My chocolate eating habits have been seriously modified since Marathon became 'Snickers'. To me, snickers are what you get from your colleagues when you say something completely STUPID in a business meeting. To ask for a 'Snickers' in the newsagent is akin to asking 'Please will you sureptitiously laugh at me' ?!!!
And as for Oil of OLAY. Most Americans I spoke to couldn't believe we called it ULAY. Now they've standardised it across the world in order to save $$ on packaging I feel a bit like a Spanish Matador flapping his cape at a bull!!
Don't even get me into the business about JIF and CIF. CIF is a stupid name for a creme cleanser. If I wanted to clean my counters with something that sounded like a venereal disease I would would have changed it myself long ago. JIF was a great name. I don't care if it means the delicate parts of a bull in Croatian or an extremely rude swear word in Yugoslavia. I hate it when companies want to make everything the same wherever you go to save money. That's why you'll never catch me checking into a Hilton.
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not against American brand names or anything. In fact I think they're hilarious for the most part. What's the name of that soda pop....'Surge' is it?? I dunno. I really love that one. Sounds like something we'd call a washing powder over here!!
