By the way, the Canadians have some wonderful alt. country bands right now which is my favorite music genre for the moment.

One for you then.....

Must say, the Brits do tend to take American music and make it so much more.

With such inherent talent perhaps the Brits can start to tackle food next as they are known for being gastronomically challenged to the max (with the notable exceptions of Christmas pudding and trifle).

Edited for typos.

The English Breakfast need little work. Maybe cut down on the baked beans.

The baked beans are good.The fried tomatoes and black pudding could go.

Personally, I cannot stand tomato's. But the black pudding definitely stays.

Can they rename that Thai dish "English breakfast"?

I'm getting confused as to which thread I am replying in now.

Personally, I cannot stand tomato's. But the black pudding definitely stays.

I have to admit that I enjoy the black pudding and sausages from Yorkies, but they are not easy to find.

The baked beans are good.The fried tomatoes and black pudding could go.

Tinned tomatoes are better than fresh on an English breakfast.

Fried fresh tomatoes are superb when done properly.

The trick is to fry them with the bacon so the flavours mix. The fresh cut tomatoes should be sprinkled with salt and pepper and a little sugar and cooked in butter with bacon until the bacon is crispish and the tomatoes soft.

Some add onion but to me onions are not a breakfast item.

Which brings us nicely around back to America: Curious, after watching the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes", I searched for the recipe.

I had tomatoes in my garden, so obtaining green ones was easy.

Delicious!

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

Nonsense. It was closer to a "bash Harcourt" thread than anything against Kiwis in general. Not my fault you can dish it out but can't take it.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

Nonsense. It was closer to a "bash Harcourt" thread than anything against Kiwis in general. Not my fault you can dish it out but can't take it.

Nonsense.

Besides the fact that you have just admitted that you broke your own truce when you posted that thread (which accusation goes unanswered in another conversation), I don't see how it was specifically "bash Harcourt" since you attempted to disparage the entire country.

Nonesense also for your second statement; I can take it....and only dish it out when it is served to me first....unless the post/poster is deserving

Ironic that I just clicked "unignore".

Did you get a message that I had done so?

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

Nonsense. It was closer to a "bash Harcourt" thread than anything against Kiwis in general. Not my fault you can dish it out but can't take it.

Nonsense.

Besides the fact that you have just admitted that you broke your own truce when you posted that thread (which accusation goes unanswered in another conversation), I don't see how it was specifically "bash Harcourt" since you attempted to disparage the entire country.

Nonesense also for your second statement; I can take it....and only dish it out when it is served to me first....unless the post/poster is deserving

It's interesting how you got "it was specifically" from "It was closer to". I'm surprised considering the amount of time you obviously spend in a dictionary. Don't get too excited, I'm not going to get into one of those multi-page language debates you apparently love so much.

Another person dubious of what is to me a very standard and common vocabulary. It says alot....especially for one who claims to have taught English.

But then, you are American. I should make allowances.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

With all due respect....perhaps one needs to step outside to view how many might view the culture. Some circles might not find the American character so 'special', 'extraordinary', or 'exceptional as Yanks instinctively find themselves.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

With all due respect....perhaps one needs to step outside to view how many might view the culture. Some circles might not find the American character so 'special', 'extraordinary', or 'exceptional as Yanks instinctively find themselves.

Yeah, I know what you are saying. I just wanted to avoid going down that path. I suspect you are not familiar with the history behind this thread where in several threads a bunch of over sensitive Americans jump upon anyone that said anything negative about America and start screaming "Anti-American!!!"

This attitude only served to provoke more negative insinuations and statements.....and it spiralled.

Hence this thread was a genuine attempt to say, "Hey, you're not all that bad".

Your reference to egocentric "Yanks" (and of course that refers to SOME, not all) reminds me of a story; Kerry Packer, an Australian media mogul, was in a casino in America. A loud-mouthed yank kept mouthing off about the Aussie at the table and proclaiming himself to be important and rich "I have 10 million dollars in the bank".

Kerry turned to him, looked him in the eye and calmly said, "I'll toss you for it".

(I should mention, too, about the history behind this thread....I was perhaps the most vocal (pervieved)"anti-American")

Another person dubious of what is to me a very standard and common vocabulary. It says alot....especially for one who claims to have taught English.

But then, you are American. I should make allowances.

First of all, teaching English to non-English speakers isn't about filling their heads with vocab they won't need. If you had half the intellect you envision yourself having you would be able to figure that out for yourself. You remind of one of my students. He used to use these very uncommon words. When I asked him where he heard it, he said he likes to teach himself a new word everyday by searching the dictionary for a word that looks interesting to him. Useless for someone just learning the language, but it made him feel better about himself.

Hmmm. Because.......one moment. Because.............well, let's see - nothing comes to mind.

Come on! Fair go.....fried green tomatoes, perhaps? Numerous musicians and other artisans? A generally generous nature?....the list goes on.

I didn't intend this to be a covert bash thread like the "I like NZ" thread was intended.

With all due respect....perhaps one needs to step outside to view how many might view the culture. Some circles might not find the American character so 'special', 'extraordinary', or 'exceptional as Yanks instinctively find themselves.

It's not that we're so special. It's that you aren't.

Another person dubious of what is to me a very standard and common vocabulary. It says alot....especially for one who claims to have taught English.

But then, you are American. I should make allowances.

First of all, teaching English to non-English speakers isn't about filling their heads with vocab they won't need. If you had half the intellect you envision yourself having you would be able to figure that out for yourself. You remind of one of my students. He used to use these very uncommon words. When I asked him where he heard it, he said he likes to teach himself a new word everyday by searching the dictionary for a word that looks interesting to him. Useless for someone just learning the language, but it made him feel better about himself.

If you had half the intellect you envision yourself having, you would have been able to figure out that your teaching curriculum had nothing to do with what I said. My point was that English teachers supposedly have a good command of the language and thus wouldn't find my vocabulary as extraordinary.

But then, as I said, you are American. I should make allowances

Another person dubious of what is to me a very standard and common vocabulary. It says alot....especially for one who claims to have taught English.

But then, you are American. I should make allowances.

First of all, teaching English to non-English speakers isn't about filling their heads with vocab they won't need. If you had half the intellect you envision yourself having you would be able to figure that out for yourself. You remind of one of my students. He used to use these very uncommon words. When I asked him where he heard it, he said he likes to teach himself a new word everyday by searching the dictionary for a word that looks interesting to him. Useless for someone just learning the language, but it made him feel better about himself.

If you had half the intellect you envision yourself having, you would have been able to figure out that your teaching curriculum had nothing to do with what I said. My point was that English teachers supposedly have a good command of the language and thus wouldn't find my vocabulary as extraordinary.

It isn't "extraordinary". It isn't authentic. It's forced. You've made plenty of usage errors hence the pages and pages of language battles. It wouldn't bother me if it didn't result in flooding these threads with off-topic posts - like this one is turning out to be. Remember, no matter what words you use, your basic idea is still more often than not flawed and in the end, that's what's important.

It isn't "extraordinary". It isn't authentic. It's forced. You've made plenty of usage errors hence the pages and pages of language battles. It wouldn't bother me if it didn't result in flooding these threads with off-topic posts - like this one is turning out to be. Remember, no matter what words you use, your basic idea is still more often than not flawed and in the end, that's what's important.

For you to think that it is forced emphasises your own inadequate vocabulary. You just can't concieve of anyone having a normal vocabulary that consists of some words with which you are unfamiliar.

There has been no usage errors on my part, and whenever you or chuck try to pull me up on it, you have always failed...so I'm suprised you make that allegation again.

Whenever you try to say that my ideas are flawed, your only arguments have been sleight of hand, wag the dog, prevaricate, target spelling or word usage.

It is you who instigates the pages of semantic arguments by your pointless needling at my spelling or use of words that you had to look up.

When are we going to get OTB back from these petulant schoolchildren?

When are we going to get OTB back from these petulant schoolchildren?

I think you need to yell something like.....

DONT MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR !!!!!!!!!!!!

When are we going to get OTB back from these petulant schoolchildren?

Fair call.

I admit I am as much a part of it as the other children.

But I feel I do not have to let them get away with cheap, irrational and silly jibes and let them think they are superior if left unanswered.

All I do is react. I don't instigate.

If their silliness was cleverness, we might all enjoy the spectacle and I would have a worthy opponant....unfortunately it is just silliness.

Scea has made a suggestion to me that I think I will follow.....though it grates on my principles.

I apologise to the rest of the readers for my childishness. It must have been boring skipping over the bicker. I will try to keep it in check. I will try to bite my tongue.

I may have to make a few parting shots though , since I haven't caught up with all the latest posts.

When are we going to get OTB back from these petulant schoolchildren?

I think you need to yell something like.....

DONT MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR !!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Dad....are we nearly there yet? Can we stop at McDonalds? I need to pee.

Sorry Dad....are we nearly there yet? Can we stop at McDonalds? I need to pee.

Oh lordy I had one daughter who use to say that from the moment we left to go anywhere.....

Are we almost there? Are we almost there? Are we almost there? Are we almost there?

I use to switch the stereo speaker to rear only & turn up the tunes