Culture: Two nations divided...

[UKRay]

We have Grits in the South; Oatmeal, cream of wheat, and hominey are for other places. And thankfully, we DON'T have porridge.

Surely grit is for putting on roads and oatmeal is a type of biscuit (not cookie unless they are those homemade ones that are all spread out and have cinnamon and raisins or come in a packet marker 'Maryland' and have chocolate chips in 'em) but cream of wheat and hominey? What on earth is that?

As far as porridge is concerned, I can't imagine how the Scots would survive without it. I'm partial to a bowl of podge with a sprinkling of brown sugar and a drop of cream myself - on a good day you might even get a shot of whisky to mix in...

What on earth ARE grits?

Deep fried Oreos might be too much of a good thing? Hmmm? We'll settle for deep fried Mars bars and chips (not fries) with curry sauce and mushy peas. No seriously, mushy peas...

The dental thing is definitely worth a mention. Huge generalisation here, but British kids tend to have far more 'interesting' <grin!> looking teeth than US kids. IMHO (and i'm prepared to be shouted down by the other Brits) cosmetic dentistry is seen as more for those who lose teeth in an accident than for those who want to look good. Braces are more common these days but hardly prevalent.

Walking is just part of British culture as you can never find a place to park... actually, I live about 4 mins walk from the market square in Ludlow and my favorite pub is on the same route. The nice thing is that pubs are changing character now smoking is banned. You can get a decent cup of coffee in most pubs now and the food has improved dramatically. hey, even a ploughman would eat in one now!

I do envy you the diversity of culture in the US. The Mennonite or Amish religions are all but unknown here in the UK.

Swan Vestas and fags need to be seen so here is a video clip for your enjoyment - just look at the typical British scenery.

The trains are different these days and smoking is banned but many railway stations are exactly the same as the one in the picture.

Sadly, the late Jack Wild wasn't a cockney, he was actually born in Lancashire, but if you liked the original film of Oliver just take a look at this video clip. It will bring back all kinds of memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9g99F_MSdk

My Fair Lady was a cracker of a show, but generations of stage Eliza Dolittle's have contributed precious little to Cockney heritage. I can't think of a single Eliza who was actually born within the sound of Bow Bells (and that is another rash stament I could live to regret!)

You were spot on with the spelling of shooting brake, Kate. I'm far from knowledgable about cars but would define it as a luxury two door estate car but some would say the old Morris Traveller was a kind of shooting brake and there is little in the way of luxury in an old Moggie.

Wikipedia says: Shooting-brake is a car body style originally used to describe bespoke versions of 2-door luxury estate cars built for use by hunters ^[1] as well as golfers, riders, polo players and other sportsmen. In modern usage "Shooting-brake" generally refers to any 2-door hatchback with a squared-off rear, although some manufacturers have referred to other types of vehicles as a "Shooting-brake".^[2]

The body was usually custom built. An early manufacturer of shooting brakes was Albion Motors of Scotland. There are existing examples of custom-built Bentley S2, Mercedes 300, and also the Aston Martin DBS Shooting Brake. VG, a small US coach builder, offers a model named VGD Shooting Brake

Too late Shirley, our Luke has already told me he likes 'Last of the Summer Wine' but what do the rest of you think?

Does the lovely Nora Batty and her wrinkled stockings do it for you?

Love that truck Clay!!!

Edited October 12, 2008 by UKRay

[CitizenKate]

Clay, is that miles to the gallon, or gallons to the mile?

I also liked some of Eastwood's later movies, where he played characters that subtly parodied some of his earlier stereotypical characters.

My latest British favorite has been Rowan Atkinson, who is famous for playing Mister Bean. Here's a YouTube sampler from that series:

Mister Bean goes to the swimming pool

Mister Bean escaping from a parking garage

He also starred in the movie Johnny English, a parody of the Bond movies. I laughed until there were tears in my eyes.

The hole in the floor scene from Johnny English

Kate

[tonyc1]

No anti-anything intended I promise. Just a whole lot of very funny stuff that doesn't get aired anywhere near often enough.

I can see that our use of the word 'fag' would amuse and entertain but what is all this about highways and freeways - are they the same or different?

The letters S & Z can be an issue and we do tend to say 'zed' rather than 'zee'. Complicated isn't it?

I'm delighted to discover restrooms but am disturbed by the idea of chicken and chips on newspaper - fish and chips on newspaper certainly, but chicken and chips in a basket if you please!

That 'backhoe' is a JCB and the archaeology guy's name is Tony Robinson - did anyone see him as Baldrick in Blackadder?

Black Adder series was hilarious, especially the one re. the WW1. Time Team is on now out here.

[tonyc1]

We also have some Interstate highways that are toll roads and Pennsylvania has a "Turnpike" which is a toll road. I always thought that "freeways" were designed to "free-up" traffic congestion around metropolitain areas. Highway was just a generic term for limited access roads which had at least 2 lanes in both directions. That's just the way I understand them.

We do seem to love our big trucks and SUV's. Have to have them to haul the trailers with the 4 wheelers in tow. There is a new park in PA that is specifically for 4 wheelers - camp sites and miles of trails. I think they also use it for snowmobiles, though we don't seem to get enough snow any more for the "sleds".

Never gave much thought to "bathrooms", but Johanna defined that well. Some call it going to the "can" or using the "head". Could that be a class determination?

Since this is all in fun and I am curious - are we in the US "Dental Obsessed" or is there a difference in dental care or the need/want for dental care? Just about very kid here ends up with braces.

Unless you are in a large city - no one can really walk and get to anything. Can't go for a walk and wind up at a pub, or a market. No one really uses bicycles here (meaning my area) unless you are exercize obsessed or belong to an Old Order Mennonite or Amish religion which prohibits use of autos.

Can't stand Twinkies, although I have seen where you can get them deep fried now. Never tried that. Fairs are also offering deep fried Oreos. I just don't know about that.

Crystal

Crystal, don't they deep fry everything in the states!!!

Tony.

[tonyc1]

The first episode of The American version of Kath and Kim was on tv last night. I hope it can get better as I hardly got a laugh out of it. Have they shown the Australian version over there yet? A couple of my favourite US shows are "Two And a Half Men" and Frasier.

[CitizenKate]

Sadly, the late Jack Wild wasn't a cockney, he was actually born in Lancashire, but if you liked the original film of Oliver just take a look at this video clip. It will bring back all kinds of memories:

My Fair Lady was a cracker of a show, but generations of stage Eliza Dolittle's have contributed precious little to Cockney heritage. I can't think of a single Eliza who was actually born within the sound of Bow Bells (and that is another rash stament I could live to regret!)

Oliver was one of my favorite musicals. I've got it in my collection, but it was fun to see that they had a reunion before Jack died. Not too many people into movie musicals, these days...

Fun thread, Ray. I'm curious to know more about Bow Bells.

Kate

[Mike Craw]

I think Last of the Summer Wine is hysterical!! That old guy in the Wellis with the knit hat puts me on the floor! Sharon and I try never to miss "As Time Goes By." On our local PBS station in Jacksonville, FL, Saturday night is called "Brit-Com" night, and they have two ATGB from 9:00 - 10:00. Sharon's Mom was of English stock, and when we watch Are You Being Served, I get tickled at some of the expressions she used to use. Great stuff, Ray! Keep them coming!!

Mike

Edit for spelling. Johanna - we really need to work on the "Auto - speller"...I don't think it's working!

Edited October 12, 2008 by Mike Craw

[tonyc1]

I think Last of the Summer Wine is hysterical!! That old guy in the Wellis with the knit hat puts me on the floor! Sharon and I try never to miss "As Time Goes By." On our local PBS station in Jacksonville, FL, Saturday night is called "Brit-Com" night, and they have two ATGB from 9:00 - 10:00. Sharon's Mom was of English stock, and when we watch Are You Being Served, I get tickled at some of the expressions she used to use. Great stuff, Ray! Keep them coming!!

Mike

Edit for spelling. Johanna - we really need to work on the "Auto - speller"...I don't think it's working!

I read in the paper a couple of days ago that "Miss Brahms" in "Are You Being Served" has an aggressive,terminal cancer. She is 65 years old.

Tony.

[Crystal]

Crystal, don't they deep fry everything in the states!!!

Tony.

Yes, Tony, we do deep fry everything. Hot dogs, turkeys and venison seem to be the in thing right now. Never had a deep fried dog, but have been invited to picnics where the bird got dunked in oil. I didn't like it all that much. A chain restuaraunt here (TGI Friday's)serves deep fried green beans. Saw on a tv program a restuarant in NY was deep frying mac & cheese, pizza, and pie.

Crystal

Ray - Mushy peas? Does that just make them easier to pick up with the backside of your fork? We hold our forks "upside down". I am going to let our southern members explain grits and homeny.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Crystal

[tashabear]

...various notable US novelists have ruined otherwise excellent books by misuse of British English. Have you noticed any British writers doing the same to you?

It's always a source of amusement when they set a scene or even an entire book in the States, and then their characters still call an elevator a "lift" or an apartment a "flat". Throws me right out of the story.

And it's just WEIRD to watch House and hear Hugh Laurie speaking with an absolutely perfect American accent, being an intelligent, evil bastard. Shouldn't he be an upper-class twit?