Why is America so different?

[krunchyfrogg]

...or trying to seperate from those arrogant Brits.

[mad=dog]

I wouldn't call it strange. The original 13 states were British all right, but the US has expanded independently from Britain and brought in immigrants from many different cultures.
One thing I do find strange is that the US has not been able to do away with antiquated measurements.
As for the traffic - left side driving is a remnant from the days where horses were used. It was used so a rider could defend himself using his right hand. Left side driving is the exception - not the rule.
IIRC aluminium was identified and purified by one of my countrymen HC Oersted. So I say with some degree of confidence that this is the correct way to spell and pronounce it.

[ 08-24-2005, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: mad=dog ]

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Originally posted by mad=dog: I wouldn't call it strange. The original 13 states were British all right, but the US has expanded independently from Britain and brought in immigrants from many different cultures. One thing I do find strange is that the US has not been able to do away with antiquated measurements. As for the traffic - left side driving is a remnant from the days where horses were used. It was used so a rider could defend himself using his right hand. Left side driving is the exception - not the rule. IIRC aluminium was identified and purified by one of my countrymen HC Oersted. So I say with some degree of confidence that this is the correct way to spell and pronounce it.

How? A-lu-mi-num, or a-lu-mi-ni-um?

[Felix The Assassin]

From days of chivalry, knights greeted with their right arm, which was their sword arm, and gestured a friendly greeting. That would just have to be a history thang! But it is funny to watch the Brits cross over from the channel, and drive the Autobahn for the first 20 or so Km. Since we never had knights here, we figured the best way to drive would to have the strong arm on the wheel, and the left arm to [img]graemlins/flickdown.gif[/img] ya!

Alum-in-um would be how 90% of my country men pronounce that funny metal. The rest of us say Al-u-min-ium, or the European and Military pronounciation.

Different? We are not different, we are the land of the free! Now, go polish the crown! [img]graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[krunchyfrogg]

Felix, are you talking about a handshake? Because I was pretty sure that derives from a ritual where bodyguards would shake hands with guests to make sure there were no hidden weapons up the sleeves of people.

America also has daylight savings, forgot about that one.

[burnzey boi]

Edit to reconstruct everything..: I believe that America has done many things in the past that help a lot today, but one thing i don't believe is the landing on the moon on 1969. Firstly there was the Russians in space, and couldv't launched an attack, the gravity was also much stronger and looked as if it were played in 'slow motion'. Also, how would they afford it all? they had just come back from a war and spent most money on troops. Plus the flag dosn't have that shadow effect on it..

[ 08-25-2005, 06:48 AM: Message edited by: burnzey boi ]

[Ilander]

We went to the moon. Our engineers are just that good. Leave it.

[Iron Greasel]

burnzey boi wrote: I believe that America has done many things in the past that help a lot today, but one thing i don't believe is the landing on the moon on 1969.

Burnzey, didn't we discuss this on another thread?

burnzey boi wrote: Firstly there was the Russians in space, and couldv't launched an attack

It's pretty damn hard to make a missile hit a moving target when you can't change the direction the missile was originally moving. And as missiles (AFAIK) still rely on the earths atmosphere to turn, you can't use one in space.

burnzey boi wrote: the gravity was also much stronger and looked as if it were played in 'slow motion'.

I assume now that you are talking about the way the astronauts moved. If the moon landings were shot in a studio and then slowed, it should be possible to film at someone jumping up and down in a desert and then slow it down and it would look like the videos from the moon, yes? Well, someone tried it. They at least couldn't make the jumping look as light as the astronauts'.

burnzey boi wrote: Also, how would they afford it all? they had just come back from a war and spent most money on troops.

How much do you pay taxes? How much do the filthy rich people pay taxes? All that money goes to the US government. I'd say they have enough money to give a billion or ten away if it means winning the Russians.

burnzey boi wrote: Plus the flag dosn't have that shadow effect on it.

I've never heard this particular one before. What shadow effect exactly are you talking about?

[Lanesra]

We drive on the left so that if we meet someone coming in the opposite direction our sword arm is ready to defend ourselves!