Culture: Two nations divided...

[tashabear]

Another difference I've seen a lot: Here in the 'States, an engine is also referred to as a motor. I can't count how many arguments I've gotten into about the difference.

What is this alleged difference?

[CitizenKate]

What is this alleged difference?

Just taking a flippant stab at this, but most people around where I live usually (little disclaimer, there) use the term "motor" for a mechanical power source that is powered by electricity. "Engine" referes to a mechanical power source that is powered by fuel combustion.

Kate

[wildrose]

I would have to side with Kate on that. For example, a refrigerator has a motor, a car has an engine. But then again, I've also referred to what's in the car as its motor. Or what's in a boat. But what's in my weed trimmer is a motor. Confused? LOL.

I've really enjoyed reading this topic. My husband is a nut about House and Hugh Laurie. The first time we heard him speak in an interview we were blown away by his accent. He covers it well. I don't really have an appreciation for British humor overall, but Tim is pretty big on it. Monty Python, "Are You Being Served", and other shows he finds on BBC...I pick up a book...

As to kids being polite, I think that's a matter of who you speak to. We were at the playground a few months back, and a little girl who my son had been desperately trying to engage in conversation turned to her brother and said (of my son, in his presence!) "He talks weird!" I looked at her and said "he doesn't talk weird, he's 3 years old, and a lot younger than you!" (she appeared to be about 6) Ethan has also had several of his toys thrown by other kids who don't seem to understand the basic niceties of taking care of someone else's property. And the way the neighbors' boys treat each other...well let's just say I would not have been allowed to talk to my sister that way. I also have taught at a variety of age levels, in both public and church settings, and see a total lack of discipline in the youth.

[barra]

I learned to drive in a Morry 1000. Thanks for the Pic and the trip down memory lane Celticleather.

Barra

[tonyc1]

Just taking a flippant stab at this, but most people around where I live usually (little disclaimer, there) use the term "motor" for a mechanical power source that is powered by electricity. "Engine" referes to a mechanical power source that is powered by fuel combustion.

Kate

That's how it works here in my neck of the woods also, Kate.

Tony.

[CitizenKate]

This is something that was sent to me around the last election time, a message from British comedian John Cleese, to the citizens of the United States:

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A Message from John Cleese - British comedian:

To the citizens of the United States of America:

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour', 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise'.

Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell- checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables.

Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

8. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

9. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

10. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

11. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English

dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

12. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American

football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you like they regularly

thrash us.

13. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

14. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

15. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

16. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper china cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God save the Queen!

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[CitizenKate]

Oh, and "cracklin's" are fat that's double deep fried until it's expanded and crunchy. Almost like a pig fat 'cheese puff'. It tastes like bacon, and almost qualifies as a food group.

Ugh. Don't eat any of that within 2 weeks of your next angiogram!

Kate

[Art]

Ray,

Grits are a Southern thing much like corn meal just coarser. There are white grits and yellow grits, white being from hulled kernels and yellow being from whole kernels. We boil them until they are the thickness we like and usually add butter. The only place you can't get grits down South is McDonalds, and they're workin' on it. There is also hominy grits which is a different animal, but still corn.

Art

What on earth ARE grits?

[UKRay]

Ray,

Grits are a Southern thing much like corn meal just coarser. There are white grits and yellow grits, white being from hulled kernels and yellow being from whole kernels. We boil them until they are the thickness we like and usually add butter. The only place you can't get grits down South is McDonalds, and they're workin' on it. There is also hominy grits which is a different animal, but still corn. Art

Thanks Art, most helpful. Okay, I think I have a tenuous grip on grits... I think we are talking about something akin to gruel. Is this stuff served 'wet' or 'dry'? How do you buy it/them: packets, loose, chunks, bottles? Does anyone know where we might be able to get it/them in the UK?

Now one for you: How many of you have tried frumenty? http://www.history.uk.com/recipes/index.php?archive=8 This the stuff they built the Empire on... Boil it too long and you could build a skyscraper on it!

Cracklin' is something we 'enjoy' here in the UK. It tends to be sold in pubs as it needs to be 'washed down' with a pint. Pubs also sell a range of crisps, peanuts (salted and dry roast), and what are loosely called bar snacks. In the main, bar snacks are either sandwiches (toasted or plain) or fried food - there is little attempt to foster healthy eating habits on pub clientel. The nearest thing most pubs get to healthy eating is a 'Ploughman's Lunch' - traditionally a chunk of cheddar cheese, a hunk of bread plus butter and pickles. In a posh place you might see a token wilting lettuce leaf and a curling slice of cucumber/tomato.

Some hostelries have re-invented themselves as 'GastroPubs' - which name, apparently, has no direct links with the gastro-enteritis you risk by eating at some of them. The GastroPub idea of a Ploughman's lunch is Ciabatta or Focaccia, a green or mixed salad (but you can forget about the 'Ranch' dressing - another UK - US cultural connundrum methinks), a chunk of camembert or brie and a portion controlled pot of sweet pickle. No pickled onions because we all know they give you 'gas' (did I say that right?) and you don't want fetid onion breath all afternoon if you work in a small and crowded office (most offices in the UK are small and crowded because of the price of property which is at least twice that of the US). The average ploughman wouldn't be seen dead in a GastroPub!

British pubs are famous for their warm beer, but do you know the difference between bitter, mild, stout and porter? You can often get locally made perry, mead, and cider but unless you know what you are drinking it may be best to approach these with caution. Be aware: getting unsuspecting visitors from overseas 'hammered' on local brews is regarded as a legitimate pub game...

Being so close to Europe - please note: Brits do not necessarily regard themselves as part of Europe unless there is some kind of financial benefit such as a grant from the EEC - we also have a wide range of 'foreign' beers which we prefer to call lager. Some of it is drinkable... We also sell Budweiser (both sorts) and a few other US beers that I can't remember - anyone care to help here? Ferret, I think you have a working knowledge of hostelries don't you?

What is available in a US bar?

[Davy]

Pie = dogs eye , mystery bag , maggot bag

Best Pommie show - Father Ted