I grew up in Southern New Zealand, where the word "cunt" certainly wouldn't be used in "polite society", but is (or maybe was) very common amongst teenagers and people in their 20s.
Pretty much to the point where we didn't really consider it a "bad word". Someone beats you in a game on the console du jour, then acts all smug about it, you'd call them a "smarmy cunt". Or you greet a friend you haven't seen in a while with, "Good to see ya you old cunt, how's things?". Or even referring to a third person as a "good cunt" if you think they're someone very reliable and friendly. And so on ad nauseum. It's just a word...
(also, it's more common to use it for males rather than females, whereas in places where it's exclusively a "harsh insult", it tends to be used for females only)
Multiple word surname... like "von Trapp", "de Waal", "Le Blanc", "van der Heijden" and so on? If those sorts of names really do cause a problem in US legal documents, I can imagine there'd be a LOT of very unhappy people there... Surely with the US background of immigration from many different parts of Europe, these sorts of names can't be all that uncommon can they? I'd think there must be a more sensible solution than changing your name?
I just had a bizarre mental image of some very confused Japanese people in the ministry of Agriculture calling up Netcraft and asking why they've just confirmed the ministry is in charge of Gundam after all. I hereby apologise for sharing this mental image.
Breathing: Correct Eating several times a day: Usually not - generally just once a day Unhappy with the price of gas: Not really, I fill up around once every three weeks, and get paid pretty well, so the price doesn't bother me much Like getting on Slashdot: Correct
Well, in the VERY unlikely event that Mars ever had large scale life, there could be oil fields under the surface.
I'd actually be in two minds about it were to be the case though and we considered sending people to go get it. On one hand I'd hope not - we need to get off oil for more than just the reason that we're running out. On the other, it'd SERIOUSLY pick up the world's space programs.
Ignore my previous comment, I just figured it out, and now feel very foolish! You must smoke at least 25 feet away from a window OUTSIDE... (sorry, I'm not used to the idea of not smoking inside!)
Smoking is still O.K. as long as you are 25 feet from windows (State law).
I'm going to skip the obvious Microsoft joke I could make here, and instead ask a real question: Why does the law state you must be 25 feet from a window? That seems a little confusing - surely it'd be better to be smoking AT the window rather than far away in some place where the smoke can't get out?
Unfortunately that might be true. Back when I lived there, if someone said what you're saying now, I would have just laughed. But after the recent magic mushroom business, it's not looking so good. Oh, Nederland, where did that feeling of REAL freedom go over the last few years?
As a former resident of Amsterdam, I have to disagree - legalising the growing of it would cause a lot of other problems. I'd prefer to see the GOVERNMENT grow it, then sell it to the coffeeshops. After all, Amsterdam's tourist industry (which is not small) pretty much relies on the pot and hookers, so the government should step in and get some of the profits while also cleaning up the "dodgyness" of the supply system.
Possibly... But I think the amount of "open space" between the "road rager" and other driver may have a larger impact. I drive a cabriolet, and while I never actively SHOW road rage, I do of course feel it. I feel it LESS towards motorcyclists and other cabriolet drivers than I do towards people in enclosed vehicles. I actually even noticed quite recently that simply people with their windows wound down are also less likely to cause those feelings.
I think the most likely cause of this is simply that the "contact" between us is more personal without a couple of walls of glass in between.
I capitalise "God" when referring to the christian god or any other god that simply goes by that name. If I want to refer to "a god", then I do not capitalise it.
Basically, it's nothing to do with the religion, simply whether it's a "proper name" or a general noun.
That big guy with a white beard, God, is the god of the christians.
Poland, Romania, etc. hadn't adopted the Euro last time I checked.
True, but they're still a part of the EU, and I believe that's what the figures being quoted were for (not just the "Eurozone")
The only new member states in the Eurozone are Cyprus and Slovenia
Also true... my wording could have been more precise I guess. Let me redact what I said and simply change it to "Western Europe".
To be fair, I am sort of cherry-picking there, which isn't exactly the best way to do it. Just like the US, some parts of Europe have lower unemployment rates than others. I'm sure if you say "just these particular states", you could get pretty good results also.
The USA does seem to have more dead-end make-work jobs (store greeters, fuel station pump attendants, etc)
Now I'm really curious... what exactly is a "store greeter"? Surely it can't just be someone who's paid to say "hi" to you as you walk in to a store?
I doubt we'll ever know, though, because the political feeling and rhetoric are too strong.
Yes, welcome to the worldwide political climate of our age... it's pretty sad really:-(
Sorry, I clearly misunderstood your meaning of "local". You're right of course there would be a hit to the economy of the towns that the bases are near, but I still think "devastated" is taking it a bit far - the bases aren't THAT large, and most of the towns have perfectly viable economies of their own.
1) They're not my own people, I just live here. 2) I don't hate Americans. I hate your government and policies, and indeed SOME people, but I certainly don't have an irrational hatred of the people in general. Indeed, I even have some good friends that were born, raised and spent their whole lives there. 3) I do not believe that Germany's economy would even notice it, let alone be "devastated", if the US military bases were to pack up and leave. If you have any evidence supporting your claim of "devastation", I'd be interested to see it. 4) My post was intended as slightly humorous and was in response to YOUR post about how much money the US is spending on having people all over the world, which I contend is completely unnecessary. (some presences are necessary, but certainly not all that the US has - e.g. the bases here in Germany, not to mention the bases in Australia of all the bizarre places to have them)
I'm a native English speaker living in a non-English speaking European country. Yes, I can speak the local language, but I'd FAR rather use software in English since that's what I think in. Being told I can't get an English version is rare, but it does happen, and it's extremely annoying.
Do you have figures when the new member states are removed? Concentrate on Western Europe and I think you'll see different figures... Also don't forget that someone who works in McDonalds here can afford to eat at McDonalds - I'm not sure the same can be said in the US. (what's "low unemployment" really mean if the lower end of the employment scale live worse than unemployed people elsewhere?)
Actually, I'd say the EU is what the US was intended to be. A group of allied separate "states" (meaning "countries") with a political governing body that can consider the interests of all the states in the union. The US may not be that anymore (if it ever really was), but it was definitely the intention.
I do note from time to time people saying things like, "I am a citizen of Texas" or so on - I actually applaud that sort of wording, as it is closer to the original intention. "I am a citizen of the US" would also be true, but should seem a little "odd", like someone saying they're a "European citizen" (which also technically exists, by virtue of being a citizen of an EU country, but would be VERY rare to hear)
BadAnalogyGuy - normally, I really like your posts, but this one SERIOUSLY got to me.
1) My income compared to cost of living is MUCH higher here in Hannover (Germany) than most people with equivalent jobs in the USA. Definitely not living "hand to mouth" here, nor is anyone else I know. Roughly, after typical monthly expenses, I can save between 50% and 60% of my take-home income (although, in reality, I only save around 20%, and just have a lot of fun instead). 2) Technologically retarded. No, we're not. Yes, I know what it means, and still no. We've got far more "general high tech" than most of the USA, and primarily due to having less free space between cities (we're a bit more crowded here). Even a rural farmer in the middle of nowhere has fast broadband; we're near 100% mobile phone coverage (and yes, it's all digital); MANY great new pieces of tech are invented here; and anyone driving a car over 15 years old is rightfully ashamed of themselves. 3) How seriously we take work tends to depend on the culture of the local country. Not wanting to offend anyone from the warmer climes, but I have noticed if you head south, the work ethic gets a little sloppy, but up here in the colder parts, we're workaholics for sure.
So, basically, if you want to make these horribly outlandish accusations, please at least try to give some evidence instead of spouting off at random. Better stick to the Bad Analogies - they're fun;)
Apple ][+
We actually expanded it later to 32KB (then replaced it with a C64), but when we first got it, it was the base 16KB.
It definitely was "high end" compared to what all my friends had at the time (mostly Commodore PET 2001-4, the occasional PET 2001-8, and some Apple ][ owners that didn't upgrade to the Plus)
Slashdot Mirror
Did Shakespeare truly speak of country matters?
I grew up in Southern New Zealand, where the word "cunt" certainly wouldn't be used in "polite society", but is (or maybe was) very common amongst teenagers and people in their 20s.
Pretty much to the point where we didn't really consider it a "bad word". Someone beats you in a game on the console du jour, then acts all smug about it, you'd call them a "smarmy cunt". Or you greet a friend you haven't seen in a while with, "Good to see ya you old cunt, how's things?". Or even referring to a third person as a "good cunt" if you think they're someone very reliable and friendly. And so on ad nauseum. It's just a word...
(also, it's more common to use it for males rather than females, whereas in places where it's exclusively a "harsh insult", it tends to be used for females only)
Multiple word surname... like "von Trapp", "de Waal", "Le Blanc", "van der Heijden" and so on?
If those sorts of names really do cause a problem in US legal documents, I can imagine there'd be a LOT of very unhappy people there... Surely with the US background of immigration from many different parts of Europe, these sorts of names can't be all that uncommon can they? I'd think there must be a more sensible solution than changing your name?
Yes
I just had a bizarre mental image of some very confused Japanese people in the ministry of Agriculture calling up Netcraft and asking why they've just confirmed the ministry is in charge of Gundam after all. I hereby apologise for sharing this mental image.
Breathing: Correct
Eating several times a day: Usually not - generally just once a day
Unhappy with the price of gas: Not really, I fill up around once every three weeks, and get paid pretty well, so the price doesn't bother me much
Like getting on Slashdot: Correct
I suppose 50% isn't bad!
Hmmm... I really enjoyed it.
Well, in the VERY unlikely event that Mars ever had large scale life, there could be oil fields under the surface.
I'd actually be in two minds about it were to be the case though and we considered sending people to go get it. On one hand I'd hope not - we need to get off oil for more than just the reason that we're running out. On the other, it'd SERIOUSLY pick up the world's space programs.
Ignore my previous comment, I just figured it out, and now feel very foolish! You must smoke at least 25 feet away from a window OUTSIDE... (sorry, I'm not used to the idea of not smoking inside!)
Smoking is still O.K. as long as you are 25 feet from windows (State law).
I'm going to skip the obvious Microsoft joke I could make here, and instead ask a real question: Why does the law state you must be 25 feet from a window? That seems a little confusing - surely it'd be better to be smoking AT the window rather than far away in some place where the smoke can't get out?
Unfortunately that might be true. Back when I lived there, if someone said what you're saying now, I would have just laughed. But after the recent magic mushroom business, it's not looking so good.
Oh, Nederland, where did that feeling of REAL freedom go over the last few years?
As a former resident of Amsterdam, I have to disagree - legalising the growing of it would cause a lot of other problems. I'd prefer to see the GOVERNMENT grow it, then sell it to the coffeeshops. After all, Amsterdam's tourist industry (which is not small) pretty much relies on the pot and hookers, so the government should step in and get some of the profits while also cleaning up the "dodgyness" of the supply system.
Possibly... But I think the amount of "open space" between the "road rager" and other driver may have a larger impact. I drive a cabriolet, and while I never actively SHOW road rage, I do of course feel it. I feel it LESS towards motorcyclists and other cabriolet drivers than I do towards people in enclosed vehicles. I actually even noticed quite recently that simply people with their windows wound down are also less likely to cause those feelings.
I think the most likely cause of this is simply that the "contact" between us is more personal without a couple of walls of glass in between.
I capitalise "God" when referring to the christian god or any other god that simply goes by that name. If I want to refer to "a god", then I do not capitalise it.
Basically, it's nothing to do with the religion, simply whether it's a "proper name" or a general noun.
That big guy with a white beard, God, is the god of the christians.
(and yep, also an atheist here)
Poland, Romania, etc. hadn't adopted the Euro last time I checked.
True, but they're still a part of the EU, and I believe that's what the figures being quoted were for (not just the "Eurozone")
The only new member states in the Eurozone are Cyprus and Slovenia
Also true... my wording could have been more precise I guess. Let me redact what I said and simply change it to "Western Europe".
To be fair, I am sort of cherry-picking there, which isn't exactly the best way to do it. Just like the US, some parts of Europe have lower unemployment rates than others. I'm sure if you say "just these particular states", you could get pretty good results also.
The USA does seem to have more dead-end make-work jobs (store greeters, fuel station pump attendants, etc)
Now I'm really curious... what exactly is a "store greeter"? Surely it can't just be someone who's paid to say "hi" to you as you walk in to a store?
I doubt we'll ever know, though, because the political feeling and rhetoric are too strong.
Yes, welcome to the worldwide political climate of our age... it's pretty sad really :-(
Sorry, I clearly misunderstood your meaning of "local". You're right of course there would be a hit to the economy of the towns that the bases are near, but I still think "devastated" is taking it a bit far - the bases aren't THAT large, and most of the towns have perfectly viable economies of their own.
1) They're not my own people, I just live here.
2) I don't hate Americans. I hate your government and policies, and indeed SOME people, but I certainly don't have an irrational hatred of the people in general. Indeed, I even have some good friends that were born, raised and spent their whole lives there.
3) I do not believe that Germany's economy would even notice it, let alone be "devastated", if the US military bases were to pack up and leave. If you have any evidence supporting your claim of "devastation", I'd be interested to see it.
4) My post was intended as slightly humorous and was in response to YOUR post about how much money the US is spending on having people all over the world, which I contend is completely unnecessary. (some presences are necessary, but certainly not all that the US has - e.g. the bases here in Germany, not to mention the bases in Australia of all the bizarre places to have them)
I'm a native English speaker living in a non-English speaking European country. Yes, I can speak the local language, but I'd FAR rather use software in English since that's what I think in. Being told I can't get an English version is rare, but it does happen, and it's extremely annoying.
Do you have figures when the new member states are removed? Concentrate on Western Europe and I think you'll see different figures... Also don't forget that someone who works in McDonalds here can afford to eat at McDonalds - I'm not sure the same can be said in the US. (what's "low unemployment" really mean if the lower end of the employment scale live worse than unemployed people elsewhere?)
Yep, starving here in Germany. Oh how I wish I could go to the US to earn half as much pay, but spend 20% less on food!
Honestly, we would be quite happy for the US bases in Germany to close. That'd save you some money, and we wouldn't miss you!
Actually, I'd say the EU is what the US was intended to be. A group of allied separate "states" (meaning "countries") with a political governing body that can consider the interests of all the states in the union.
The US may not be that anymore (if it ever really was), but it was definitely the intention.
I do note from time to time people saying things like, "I am a citizen of Texas" or so on - I actually applaud that sort of wording, as it is closer to the original intention. "I am a citizen of the US" would also be true, but should seem a little "odd", like someone saying they're a "European citizen" (which also technically exists, by virtue of being a citizen of an EU country, but would be VERY rare to hear)
BadAnalogyGuy - normally, I really like your posts, but this one SERIOUSLY got to me.
1) My income compared to cost of living is MUCH higher here in Hannover (Germany) than most people with equivalent jobs in the USA. Definitely not living "hand to mouth" here, nor is anyone else I know. Roughly, after typical monthly expenses, I can save between 50% and 60% of my take-home income (although, in reality, I only save around 20%, and just have a lot of fun instead).
2) Technologically retarded. No, we're not. Yes, I know what it means, and still no. We've got far more "general high tech" than most of the USA, and primarily due to having less free space between cities (we're a bit more crowded here). Even a rural farmer in the middle of nowhere has fast broadband; we're near 100% mobile phone coverage (and yes, it's all digital); MANY great new pieces of tech are invented here; and anyone driving a car over 15 years old is rightfully ashamed of themselves.
3) How seriously we take work tends to depend on the culture of the local country. Not wanting to offend anyone from the warmer climes, but I have noticed if you head south, the work ethic gets a little sloppy, but up here in the colder parts, we're workaholics for sure.
So, basically, if you want to make these horribly outlandish accusations, please at least try to give some evidence instead of spouting off at random. Better stick to the Bad Analogies - they're fun ;)
Apple ][+
We actually expanded it later to 32KB (then replaced it with a C64), but when we first got it, it was the base 16KB.
It definitely was "high end" compared to what all my friends had at the time (mostly Commodore PET 2001-4, the occasional PET 2001-8, and some Apple ][ owners that didn't upgrade to the Plus)
Meh, you young whippersnappers! My first computer was "high end" with 16KB. AND I had a floppy drive.