Random Questions about America

[Archangel Tyrael]

Slow-cooked, sweet, and tangy ... and unlike a lot of barbecue, it's grilled over indirect heat and smoke.

ABRA KADABRA! ヽ( ﾟヮ・)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ ┳━┳

ha !

That sounds good, indeed

[capitano666]

There's not much of a BBQ culture here, and that's sad 'cause I love it. I wanna try those Jack Daniels wood some day.

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

[Willeonge]

There's not much of a BBQ culture here, and that's sad 'cause I love it. I wanna try those Jack Daniels wood some day.

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

The only EU politics people might know about would be the debt crisis dragging on our economy. Not much talk about many of the other EU leaders recently, tbh. Maybe about Sarkozy running for reelection.

[obdigore]

There's not much of a BBQ culture here, and that's sad 'cause I love it. I wanna try those Jack Daniels wood some day.

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

The 'average' American opinion on EU politics is that you don't have any and who cares if you do. They might be aware of the whole Greece lying to get into the EU and how bankrupt they are and whatnot, but honestly EU politics isn't covered at all.

[belfpala]

The only EU politics people might know about would be the debt crisis dragging on our economy. Not much talk about many of the other EU leaders recently, tbh. Maybe about Sarkozy running for reelection.

Yeah, politics outside the US are pretty much not reported. Sarkozy a little bit, Berlusconi's umm... issues... a little bit, Putin a little bit.

Greece, obviously.

It seems to me, news about European politics are usually twisted to show Europe in some negative way. For example, Socialism is bad! Look, Europe is suing Google and Microsoft! Etc. Otherwise we don't hear much.

[Reg]

There's not much of a BBQ culture here, and that's sad 'cause I love it. I wanna try those Jack Daniels wood some day.

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

Merkel I like. *She seems to have a good head on her shoulder when it comes to trying to attack the issue of financial crisis throughout the EU, as well as the rest of the world. *I think her position will either earn her tremendous praise or bite her in the ass depending on what becomes of the euro and EU. *If it succeeds and flourishes, she will get a lot of credit. *If it fails, she'll probably be blamed for trying.

Sarkozy seems like a bit of a joke to me. *He's the son of an immigrant, yet says France has too many immigrants and integrating them is too hard and then wanted to restrict benefits for them. *That, and he just seems to be burning bridges left and right when he comes up from air after being up Merkel's ass for too long. *

Monti I don't know too much about, other than his cabinet which I think is an awesome idea. *You don't see technocratic cabinets very often.

Greece is just ... the whole country seems out of whack to me. *It's basically a country founded on corruption. *I don't even know where to start on Greece. *The national debt went from 25% of their GDP to around 115% in about 12 years back in the 80s and 90s. *Ever since then, the government has just been pushing them further and further into debt. *Hell, pension funds were basically raped for hundreds of billions of dollars.

[Deleted]

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

Just going to step in here and say that Cameron is an utter prat for using his veto while the rest of the EU are trying to solve the crisis. Merkel seems like a German Thatcher and Sarkozy.. I have no real opinion on. Berlusconi was good for satire and not much else

[capitano666]

The only EU politics people might know about would be the debt crisis dragging on our economy. Not much talk about many of the other EU leaders recently, tbh. Maybe about Sarkozy running for reelection.

The 'average' American opinion on EU politics is that you don't have any and who cares if you do. They might be aware of the whole Greece lying to get into the EU and how bankrupt they are and whatnot, but honestly EU politics isn't covered at all.

That's interesting and at the same time unexpected, considering these Time Magazine covers

[obdigore]

I honestly don't know anyone who reads Time magazine.

They are in Doctors offices and Dentists waiting rooms. That is it.

[belfpala]

That's interesting and at the same time unexpected, considering these Time Magazine covers

When I wander through the magazine aisle at local stores, I might take a few glances... and I'm definitely not looking at old men on the cover of Time.

[Reg]

The United States more often than not has a different cover story for the Times. *It's actually quite sad how abroad, Time magazine hits on serious issues while in America, it's usually about bullshit stories.

EDIT: Ok, not the best example since it's an important issue, but shows how we in the States usually get a different cover story than the rest of the world.



---------- Post added 2012-03-08 at 06:38 AM ----------

December 5, 2011 Issue of Time Magazine.

United States:




The Rest of the World:

[capitano666]

The United States more often than not has a different cover story for the Times. *It's actually quite sad how abroad, Time magazine hits on serious issues while in America, it's usually about bullshit stories.

wow I have to say that's pretty impressive, different target audience I suppose :/

---------- Post added 2012-03-08 at 03:48 PM ----------

More importantly which is better: fried oreos or fried*Twinkies? I personally side with twinkies.

Wait...you fry what?

[Reg]

Wait...you fry what?

Everything can be fried! *There are places that deep fry Coca-cola lol

[Deleted]

Everything can be fried! *There are places that deep fry Coca-cola lol

Sounds like Scotland. Deep fried battered pizza and mars bars, URGH!

[Archangel Tyrael]

What? How can you fry.... Cola?

[Reg]

This one I have tried. *It was alright. *Haven't tried the Coke though.

[Reeve]

There's not much of a BBQ culture here, and that's sad 'cause I love it. I wanna try those Jack Daniels wood some day.

Regarding politics (I'm quite sure people on this thread is mature enough to avoid dramas so it's ok to discuss), what is your opinion, and the average American opinion on current EU politics? In particular about Merkel in Germany, Sarkozy in France, Monti replacing Berlusconi in Italy and Greece threatening us all with it's economy?

Hmmm, I honestly don't know much about most of those.

I respected when Sarkozy walked out of an interview where the interviewer asked about his ex-wife when he specifically and politely said he wouldn't talk about that. I don't really have an impression of his ability to govern.

Merkel seems to be properly creeped out by George W. Bush giving her a neck rub. I do kind of feel like she's taking the wrong approach with regards to Greece though.

I think Greece is sort of*gangrenous*right now, and the longer the EU takes to cut it off, the more the infection will spread. Right now, their strategy seems to be to bail Greece out and hope that Greece has the ability to grow their economy enough to bring their debt under control, but Greece's economy has been shrinking, and probably won't recover soon enough to really deal with that, so lending them more money is just exposing the EU to more risk. Besides, even if Greece's economy did grow, with tax evasion being the national sport, I'm not sure they could raise enough cash anyway. The EU is just throwing good money after bad, and I don't think it's going to rescue Greece in the end.

Berlusconi is good for a laugh. The media around here seems to focus entirely on his bunga bunga parties and womanizing. And to be honest, he's said some pretty freaking hilarious things with regards to that. The whole corruption fiasco wasn't unexpected, but honestly I don't really know anything about Monti.

---------- Post added 2012-03-08 at 03:23 PM ----------

Yeah, politics outside the US are pretty much not reported. Sarkozy a little bit, Berlusconi's umm... issues... a little bit, Putin a little bit.

Greece, obviously.

It seems to me, news about European politics are usually twisted to show Europe in some negative way. For example, Socialism is bad! Look, Europe is suing Google and Microsoft! Etc. Otherwise we don't hear much.

It's reported if you're reading/listening to the right sources. It's just not reported on the 3 big TV news channels. If you're reading the NY Times or the Wall Street Journal, or listening to NPR, Planet Money, PBS Radio, etc. you'll still hear a fair amount about Europe.

---------- Post added 2012-03-08 at 03:25 PM ----------

Merkel seems like a German Thatcher

This is kind of my impression as well.

---------- Post added 2012-03-08 at 03:32 PM ----------

Monti I don't know too much about, other than his cabinet which I think is an awesome idea. *You don't see technocratic cabinets very often.

I'm also a fan of a technocratic cabinet, so long as the have the political wherewithal to implement their ideas.

[Deleted]

Sounds like Scotland. Deep fried battered pizza and mars bars, URGH!

Oh you poor Englishman. You've not seen the worst of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0E1lbKgrYg

2:45 onwards. Deep Fried Pork Sausage Kebab.

A Pork Sausage, wrapped in Doner Kebab meat, covered in batter and deep fried. Over 1000 calories and 46 grams of fat.

[Deleted]

Oh you poor Englishman. You've not seen the worst of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0E1lbKgrYg

2:45 onwards. Deep Fried Pork Sausage Kebab.

A Pork Sausage, wrapped in Doner Kebab meat, covered in batter and deep fried. Over 1000 calories and 46 grams of fat.

It's no wonder Britain is considered the fattest country in the EU, we have Scotland to thank for that.

[Deleted]

It's no wonder Britain is considered the fattest country in the EU, we have Scotland to thank for that.

Actually, statistically speaking, only Glasgow has huge amounts of fat people in Scotland; the North of England in general is actually worse :S

It's a team commitment to that figure :P