[QUOTE]
/Looks at user title.
/Approves of song.[/QUOTE]

\m/

Have fun with the head-kicking-in-ing. :) He must have a big head if it'll be taking you 5-6 hours :lol:

(INTERNET SARCASM)

[quote=Cain]So, we have a British exchange student at our school. She's cute, she has an impenetrable accent and she likes to make fun of American culture.

Of course, that was all old hat for me, especially when she dissed London and Wales (being on here has helped me to know better). She seemed a little snobbish though. I was joking that whenever she spoke I felt unusually patriotic.

She was a rather accurate impression of the British person who "rather likes America" but enjoys making fun of the government (which I have no problem with) and the American cultural eccentricities (such as our spelling of "color," and our general lack of extra-American knowledge, which I find ok but mildly annoying when it goes to a literal "I'm better than you" point).

Like, is it really so bad that a few of us have only traveled to England and hit the major landmarks like London, and we don't know anything about Bristol or Manchester? Vacations to Europe are considerably more expensive and less easy for us, and so if we spend the money to go we're probably not going to spend a whole lot of time getting a "true sense" of the place. A lot of people couldn't afford to do that, and yet it seems like it's an American's most-reviled characteristic. The lack of effort spent to learn languages I can understand, but should they be crapping on us for not visiting a country long enough to learn where the actual cool spots are? I don't know. It's easier for Europeans to visit other European countries than it is for Americans, seeing as we usually have limited time, limited funds, and limited experience (not to mention the Atlantic Ocean between us rather than the English Channel).

It was also irritating when she felt like she had to explain to us that Northern Ireland was still British territory, and Ireland wasn't. Meh. But I guess when Bush is the president, you don't give American intelligence the benefit of the doubt? Oh well.

/sounds like a "speak English or nothing at all" Republican. :p Sorry. Just an impression and a thought.[/quote]
You're not missing anything be not going to Manchester. Never been to Brighton myself though. Personally I'd rather check out the capitals of all the countries within UK rather than bothering with places like Manchester. I guess English people are always going to recommend you stay there and Scottish people will recommend you come up here though.

The British middle-class are the worst though, I can sympathize with you there.

fu[size="2"]c[/size]k England, that's all I have to say.

*Looks around thread

I mean, er, uh...Go Queen Elizabeth!

NP: Lamb of God- Terror and Hubris in the House of Frank Polard

Go Queen you mom! :eleventeen101:

Dude, "Your mom" is my catchphrase here, man.

That and "Seacrest Out".

I am apalled.

[QUOTE=Cain]So, we have a British exchange student at our school. She's cute, she has an impenetrable accent and she likes to make fun of American culture.

(and continuing)[/QUOTE]

Where's she from?


On going down to the corner shop thing to get myself a sandwich, it became apparent that the sewers had overflowed, or something. The water seemed to have been determined to pave the way to the shop :-/

Also, the guy in front of me looked very much like he was stoned. It must have been more obvious even than I thought, because the shopkeeper felt the need to make sure he knew what he was buying. Which was amusing.

[QUOTE=Superpeer]I have a question for everyone; Americans, Brits, South Africans, Greeks, aaanyone. It's another of my 'I wonder how it is abroad' things.

How do girls greet girls where you live?
How do boys greet boys where you live?
How do boys greet girls (or vice versa) where you live?

here it is:

Girls kiss girls on the cheek for greetz
Boys kiss girls on the cheek for greetz
Boys shake hands, sometimes also kiss on the cheek, but shaking hands is more common.

Crazy Euros, right?[/QUOTE]

No Australians? How discriminating. I doubt I shall answer your question now! :angry:

[QUOTE=Bartender]I have real trouble making Wildhearts samplers for people. They're never usually very consistent.[/quote]

As I well know, with my 25 song sample pack you once sent me. :)

[quote='Tender]
Also, my University seems to have a kind of mission to make sure all my tutors are Italian. They both were last year, and the one I've had so far this year (today) is.[/QUOTE]

Oh my. You know you just can't trust anyone who eats spaghetti.

[QUOTE=Cain]Long post...[/QUOTE]

I hate to be an arse, but she has a point. Just quickly, without searching google (I'm doing the honour system, boys), can any Americans tell me:

Who fought in the Battle Of Hastings?
Where is Waterloo?
Where did Cortez land in South America?
Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?
Which civil war caused the nation of Australia to be federated?
Name 1 significant person from the Crimean war?

I know all these answers, however, I also know a lot about US history that we are taught in schools here in Aus.

AN AMERICAN ANSWER:

Who fought in the Battle Of Hastings? Two opposing sides
Where is Waterloo? Somewhere near France, biatch
Where did Cortez land in South America? In the hot part
Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia? That one mate
Which civil war caused the nation of Australia to be federated? Who cares about Australia?
Name 1 significant person from the Crimean war? Jesus

Sorry for being a DEE DEE DEE American, Riva :(

I must have listened to Dead skin mask about 10 times in a row now.

[QUOTE=ICB]AN AMERICAN ANSWER:

Who fought in the Battle Of Hastings? Two opposing sides
Where is Waterloo? Somewhere near France, biatch
Where did Cortez land in South America? In the hot part
Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia? That one mate
Which civil war caused the nation of Australia to be federated? Who cares about Australia?
Name 1 significant person from the Crimean war? Jesus

Sorry for being a DEE DEE DEE American, Riva :([/QUOTE]

Nice answers man. :lol:

Sometimes I truly hate being American. :(

[QUOTE=HeavyRiva]
Who fought in the Battle Of Hastings?
Where is Waterloo?
Where did Cortez land in South America?
Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?
Which civil war caused the nation of Australia to be federated?
Name 1 significant person from the Crimean war?

I know all these answers, however, I also know a lot about US history that we are taught in schools here in Aus.[/QUOTE]

1.) That, I admit, I don't know.
2.) A town in the Walloon area of Belgium, where Napoleon was decisively defeated by British troops under Wellington and Germans under Blucher (I just read The Face of Battle by John Keegan, so heh).
3.) Brazil, I think. That or somewhere in Central America. I honestly do forget.
4.) Dunno. I do know, however, that the Japanese tried to hide their plan to invade Midway in 1942 by acting like they were going to invade DEFENSELESS Australia. I also know that the Americans were smart enough not to fall for it. :)
5.) Unknown
6.) Leo Tolstoy ;)

Sure, I don't know much about that kind of thing, but I'm far from a historical or even a cultural illiterate. I understand that the different spelling of "color" was Webster's response to an American desire to distance itself from the British Empire by making new definitions and pronunciations. Sure, it was the 1776 equivalent of "liberty fries," but it wasn't me being "lazy" like she was saying. I am well aware of the strife between Ireland and England.

Here are a few questions of my own:
1.) What was Galileo's final response to the inquisition against him by the Catholic Church in Medici Italy?
2.) Who was the former Union general who ran as a Democrat against Lincoln in 1864 (hint: he was the first commander of the Army of the Potomac)?
3.) What was the name of the tsar's secret police, mortal enemy to Lenin's Communists in the early days of the revolution?
4.) What did the USSR call World War II?
5.) What did the British introduce to China in order to enfeeble it to the extent that Britain could successfully colonize it, a measure so effective that the Japanese repeated it in the '30s?
6.) Where is Antietam?
7.) Name a significant person from the Mexican-American War.

Anyways, I did say that I would have agreed with her had she been an American, which makes the experience more of an odd one. Like I said, I felt this strange need to defend myself as an American since she was British. It's weird.

'Tender: I don't remember where she was from. Not from Scotland (or Wales) though.

[QUOTE] Japanese tried to hide their plan to invade Midway in 1942[/QUOTE]

:eek: if they had done that, there would be no Mortal Kombat!


NP-BLAZE-Kill and destroy

[QUOTE=HeavyRiva]Where is Waterloo?[/QUOTE]
In Ontario, Canada. I guess you're looking for a different Waterloo though. :p

Good evening everyone. Is mx being slow for anyone else?

Got my Subterranean Masquerade CD in today :cool:

Anyone heard of Sage Francis? He is my favorite rapper at the moment.

NP: Sage Francis - Slow Down Ghandi

Yep, it's slow for me.

I'm downloading Vornagar right now. Interesting stuff.

[QUOTE=Cain]
4.) Dunno. I do know, however, that the Japanese tried to hide their plan to invade Midway in 1942 by acting like they were going to invade DEFENSELESS Australia. I also know that the Americans were smart enough not to fall for it. :)
[/quote]

Okay, I nearly destroyed our friendship right here, Cain. Sorry, but this is one of the reasons I [i]despise[/i] ignorant Americans.

Australia entered WWI as an ally and former colony of the British Empire. We were assigned to fight in various theatres ranging from Europe and Western Asia.

In almost every instance, Australian soldiers were used as cannon fodder, or shipped off to hopeless fronts (Gallipoli). Not very nice, considering it was our first war as a nation. The one note of distinction was that Australia ground gunners finally shot down Manfred von Richtofen (bah, can't remember the spelling).

Despite this, the second world war saw Australia again standing with the Brits against the Axis. When the war spread to the Pacific, Australia set about fighting the much more powerful Japanese. Of course, we needed help, so the American's kindly offered assistance. Australia was grateful, but I know stories of the arrogance, vile acts and general nastiness of the American soldiery.

And tell me, Lucas, what do you know of the Kokoda Trail, Darwin, or the Battle of the Coral Sea?

The fact of the matter is any US history book talks of the American victories, or at best the Allied victories. It's ignorance and apathy rolled into a patriotic bundle.


[quote=Cain]

Here are a few questions of my own:


[/QUOTE]


1.) What was Galileo's final response to the inquisition against him by the Catholic Church in Medici Italy?

Eppure si muove.

2.) Who was the former Union general who ran as a Democrat against Lincoln in 1864 (hint: he was the first commander of the Army of the Potomac)?

I'm not sure.

3.) What was the name of the tsar's secret police, mortal enemy to Lenin's Communists in the early days of the revolution?

Ohranka

4.) What did the USSR call World War II?

"Not Our Problem?" :p

5.) What did the British introduce to China in order to enfeeble it to the extent that Britain could successfully colonize it, a measure so effective that the Japanese repeated it in the '30s?

Opium, isn't it?

6.) Where is Antietam?

It's in one of the Confederate states, like New York, or something.

7.) Name a significant person from the Mexican-American War.

Davy Crocket? :p

No denying that the perspective of American education is ridiculously ignorant. Everytime someone wants to modify the textbooks for a more global perspective, someone bitches that they're no longer "America! F[size=2]u[/size]ck yeah!" enough.

The best education I got in history was my senior year at private school, but there wasn't enough time in the quarter to make it past the 17th century.

I just had the most interesting conversation with a drunken Ali.

I'm debating posting it to share the laughs. But then again, this is one of those things that I should be selfish and keep to myself :cool:

NP: Kansas - "Fight Fire With Fire"

My APUS History teacher taught us a lot. He showed us a few good videos, including a very good one about the US testing nukes on Bikini Island. Then half a semester later he got arrested for having a relationship with a student. :-/

[QUOTE=HeavyRiva]Okay, I nearly destroyed our friendship right here, Cain. Sorry, but this is one of the reasons I [i]despise[/i] ignorant Americans.[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry for my smart[size=2]a[/size]ss answer, Jason. :(

[QUOTE]Australia entered WWI as an ally and former colony of the British Empire. We were assigned to fight in various theatres ranging from Europe and Western Asia.

In almost every instance, Australian soldiers were used as cannon fodder, or shipped off to hopeless fronts (Gallipoli). Not very nice, considering it was our first war as a nation. The one note of distinction was that Australia ground gunners finally shot down Manfred von Richtofen (bah, can't remember the spelling).

Despite this, the second world war saw Australia again standing with the Brits against the Axis. When the war spread to the Pacific, Australia set about fighting the much more powerful Japanese. Of course, we needed help, so the American's kindly offered assistance. Australia was grateful, but I know stories of the arrogance, vile acts and general nastiness of the American soldiery. [/QUOTE]

Like what?

[QUOTE]And tell me, Lucas, what do you know of the Kokoda Trail, Darwin, or the Battle of the Coral Sea?[/QUOTE] Again, not much, except for the battle of the Coral Sea. As you probably know, my main area of World War II expertise is the European theater, and as you also know, my answer was a rather smart-ass quote of an informative but hyperbole-filled book called "Secret Weapons of World War II" by book-a-month historian William B. Breuer. I really wasn't expecting such a harsh response from you over that, to be honest.


[QUOTE]The fact of the matter is any US history book talks of the American victories, or at best the Allied victories. It's ignorance and apathy rolled into a patriotic bundle.[/QUOTE]

To be honest, I despise American accounts of World War II. The majority of the books I read on the subject are by British historians. Stephen Ambrose's work is quite pedestrian, and I find that the British authors (and German authors) are far more thorough and accurate in their attention to historical detail and analysis. Although I do take issue with your assessment that American history only deals with American victories, or overstates the American involvement. Your average history buff would say the Americans bailed out the Allies, certainly, but such a statement is patently false, as the Russians were by far the decisive factor in every way with regard to the ultimate smashing of Hitler. Any decent history book would say so.

I liked your answers too. :)

And I apologize, although I don't understand why you said that YOU nearly ruined our friendship. Surely that was me? (Besides, it's not as if I've been anyone's favorite poster of late :p.)

And in any case, my ultimate point--that my desire to defend Americans was strange, given that I would have agreed with her criticisms under normal circumstances--seems to have been lost.

EDIT:
I don't quite understand why I'm the recipient of such venom on your part, either. I understand what you say, but surely you know me better than to take a retarded thing like what I said as seriously as it seemed you did? And to lump me in with the "ignorant" Americans you say you despise?

Or perhaps you're not being serious, and I'm just winding myself up for no reason.

But Australia's biggest weapon was not seen in either World War; rather, it was Men At Work, the pop band whose engaging melodies were infectious enough to spread across the entire world in a moment's notice.

I'd swear every time I log into MX this thread has a different name.

NP ~ Wormed - Tunnel of Ions \m/

[QUOTE=Cain]And in any case, my ultimate point--that my desire to defend Americans was strange, given that I would have agreed with her criticisms under normal circumstances--seems to have been lost.[/QUOTE]

It's a natural urge. Being natives, you and I both know the country has its problems, but we've got our good points as well. And it really frosts me when I hear people from other countries putting down America as a whole due to the Chimp In Chief.

The funny thing is, it was mentioned earlier that some Brits will put down Americans for not knowing much about the regions and cultures of lesser-known areas of Europe (i.e. Manchester, et al), but at the same time I'm sure those same elitists would be hard-pressed to tell you anything significant about Pittsburgh, Tampa, or any other smaller US city.

As I mentioned in my spotlight this week, the true American heritage and culture is something not even that many Americans seem to be aware of, which is ironic considering this is the Age of Information.

Americans are bred to not be aware, in a way.

can someone explain to me what tis thread is about

[QUOTE=Kingofdudes]My APUS History teacher taught us a lot. He showed us a few good videos, including a very good one about the US testing nukes on Bikini Island. Then half a semester later he got arrested for having a relationship with a student. :-/[/QUOTE]

That blows. It seems like a couple of my favorite teachers have either gotten fired(they got it resigning, but whatever) or moved to somewhere else. My 5th grade teacher left or something because he got in trouble for telling bad jokes to us. Stuff involving ants jacking off elephants, etc...He was the coolest guy, and I learned a lot from him, but yeah, I suppose he was a little over the top with the whole bestiality jokes...:p

My current history teacher is a trip. He's one of the most sarcastic guys I've ever met, which makes instantly cooler than 95% of everyone, as I am also quite sarcastic, but yeah, he kind of lacks in the whole "teaching" department. :shrug:

NP: Dream Theater- 6:00

[QUOTE=cigaro88]can someone explain to me what tis thread is about[/QUOTE]

It's an irony festival, what do you expect.

I am completely digging DJ Shadow right now. This is very cool.

We've had two teachers fired for making unsavory, sexual comments to students or about students. One of them was the band teacher, he asked a friend of mine to have sex with him over AIM (not cybering, AIM was just how he asked her). And another just made an extremely ill-advised joke: he was helping a girl take a box of sports equipment to the gym, and he said something like "look, I'm touching your box." That got him canned real quick.