From: Dave Frightens Me on
On 16 Aug 2006 17:16:06 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>Dave Frightens Me wrote:
>> On 15 Aug 2006 20:29:03 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Dave Frightens Me wrote:
>> >> On 14 Aug 2006 18:09:13 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Jordi wrote:
><snip>
>> >> Nice one. How come you have such an odd view of Europe? Is it because
>> >> you are lying?
>> >
>> >No, it's because I've been all over the world and have had the
>> >opportunity to compare various cultures.
>>
>> Oddly, so have I, plus many others reading this. Your view seems way
>> different to anyone elses here, suggesting you must be right, and
>> we're all wrong.
>
>The Euro's opinion of themselves?

No. You're insistence on putting all "Euro's" together illustrates a
flaw in your thinking.

>Which part do you disagree with? The fact that Europe is chopped up
>into little political units because of a millenium of bigotry and war?

The use of the word 'bigotry' is just bizarre.

>The fact the European economy is lagging far, far behind the US? The
>fact that unemployment in most of Europe is roughly double what it is
>in the US?
>
>Your denial or reality doesn't make these facts go away.

My denial or reality? What the hell are you trying to say? Maybe you
are on crack or yaa baa or something.

>> >> Very bizzare response.
>> >
>> >Yes, I find European history quite odd myself.
>>
>> This is evidently why you don't seem to understand the European view
>> of things.
>
>Oh, but I do. I just think it's a very odd view.

It doesn't appear so.

>> >> >> In what sense? 1.0 litre less of engine?, 4 less inches on a flat TV?
>> >> >> Having some real vacation weighs substantially more on overal quality
>> >> >> of life.
>> >> >
>> >> >As do a lot of other things. Most Americans have "real" vacations and
>> >> >most have more to spend on their vacations that Euros do.
>> >>
>> >> That is meaningless, as you included "real", which could mean anything.
>> >
>> >No, Jordi included "real". I quoted him.
>> >
>> >Try to keep up.
>>
>> Getting a bit defensive are we? I never aimed that one at you.
>
>Then you should be careful where you embed your reply. You embedded it
>following *my* statement, not anyone else's.

And it wasn't an attack. You are jumping at shadows.
--
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DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
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From: Dave Frightens Me on
On 16 Aug 2006 17:21:14 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>Dave Frightens Me wrote:
>> On 15 Aug 2006 18:48:12 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Dave Frightens Me wrote:
>> >> On 14 Aug 2006 18:18:12 -0700, "Tchiowa" <tchiowa2(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >Miguel Cruz wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >> Contrast this with Athens and Berlin. A tiny minority of the people have
>> >> >> shared fluency in any language.
>> >> >
>> >> >Almost all speak English.
>> >>
>> >> *chuckle*
>> >>
>> >> You would be one of those ignorant yanks if you believe this!
>> >
>> >A few years ago I commented to a friend of my in Angola about the
>> >difficulty I had in France (I used to go there several times a year)
>> >because I don't speak French and not all that many people spoke
>> >English. He claimed that it was because many people have an attitude
>> >like you just expressed (ignorant yank) abouit Americans.
>> >
>> >At his suggestion I tried using Portuguese when I went to France (I had
>> >learned that after several years in Angola). So I did. I'd speak to
>> >someone in France using Portuguese and they would respond in French.
>> >I'd try again in Portuguese and then they would shift to English as a
>> >"neutral language".
>> >
>> >I found that damn near everyone I met could speak English fairly well.
>>
>> That's due to your limited experience, probably limited to touristy
>> areas.
>
>No, mostly business. Sorry. You're wrong again.

I never said 'tourism', I said touristy areas, like Paris for example.

>> >Clearly someone has never eaten Creole food and Philly Cheese Steaks.
>>
>> Neither of those are as common as the humble Big Mac in the typical
>> diet.
>
>Maybe in France you'd be right.
>
>Not in the US.

Creole food and Philly Cheese Steaks are as common as Big Macs in the
US? I don't think so.
--
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DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
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From: The Reid on
Following up to Hatunen

>>i understand it has mountiains too.
>
>And a volcano.

that goes on my plus list to visit, minus list to live!
--
Mike Reid
I will agree bendybuses are a good idea when they build bungalows on Mayfair
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
From: The Reid on
Following up to Hatunen

>>Tourist spots??? English is the primary and *official* language of
>>government for the EU.
>
>So because memebrs of the EU bureacracy sometimes use English it
>means almost all Europeans speak English? Your logic escapes
>mmost of us.

according to the EU it has 20 official languages, soon to be 21,
and 30% of Europeans can hold a conversation in English. (dont
know at what level) Of course that 30% are the educated people.
Tshower should try going to a small town in Spain and seeing if
the garage mechanic, taxi driver or police can understand him :-)
In restaurants I hear mixed groups of educated europeans speaking
in mixed language without english taking priority. In a business
meeting english may well be used, (nobody is denying it is
becoming the world language). But spoken on the street in non
anglophone countries? Total bollox. In France the idea would be
heretical.
--
Mike Reid
I will agree bendybuses are a good idea when they build bungalows on Mayfair
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
From: mrtravel on
The Reid wrote:

> Following up to Hatunen
>
>
>>As I pointed out elsewhere, there were no passports until after
>>WW1.
>
>
> Maybe not in the current sense, I'm sure ive seen a passport
> signed by Elizabeth 1st. More a safe passage, I imagine.

Isn't this a passport?

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1052/1597/1600/randall%20passport.jpg