Hey! You Brits!
Sunday, July 14, 2002 by Larry Kuperman | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Let me begin by saying that I admire all things British.
I love your music- The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, The Who, et al.
Your literature, from Charles Dickens and Jonathan Swift to Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman.
Your humour (note the "u" spelling, trying for a little local colour as it were) from Peter Sellers and the "Goon Show" to "Monty Python." I even liked the late Benny Hill.
Your cooking-- well, perhaps not ALL things British. But you do make good cheeses.
But you really must stop making up place names to confuse and befuddle us Americans. I see that the British Open is scheduled to take place at "Muirfield, home of the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, on the Southern Shore of the Firth of Forth." Oh come on now! There isn't really a place called the Firth of Forth! You just made that up so that Tiger Woods won't be able to be able to find it! Some taxi driver will laughingly say "Right-o, guv'nor, off to the Firth of Forth" and then drive him around in circles until they run out of petrol.
Next thing, you will ask us to believe that there is a place called Milton Keynes!
Now, I live in Michigan, whose name is derived from the Native American phrase meaning "Road under construction, expect delays." We have some odd names here as well. Hell, yes we do! (Referring to Hell, Michigan of course. People stop into the post office there just to send a letter from Hell. Very popular at tax season.)
I have lived in New York State, the home state of Quogue and Chautauqua, and New Jersey, home of Hopatcong and Netcong (sound like Dot.coms not towns) and of course Bogata. (If some asked where Bogata is, how many of you would say Jersey? So I recognize that region has some odd-named towns.
But there is no Firth of Forth! (Is there?)
Got to go now, off to Ypsilanti.
I love your music- The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, The Who, et al.
Your literature, from Charles Dickens and Jonathan Swift to Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman.
Your humour (note the "u" spelling, trying for a little local colour as it were) from Peter Sellers and the "Goon Show" to "Monty Python." I even liked the late Benny Hill.
Your cooking-- well, perhaps not ALL things British. But you do make good cheeses.
But you really must stop making up place names to confuse and befuddle us Americans. I see that the British Open is scheduled to take place at "Muirfield, home of the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, on the Southern Shore of the Firth of Forth." Oh come on now! There isn't really a place called the Firth of Forth! You just made that up so that Tiger Woods won't be able to be able to find it! Some taxi driver will laughingly say "Right-o, guv'nor, off to the Firth of Forth" and then drive him around in circles until they run out of petrol.
Next thing, you will ask us to believe that there is a place called Milton Keynes!
Now, I live in Michigan, whose name is derived from the Native American phrase meaning "Road under construction, expect delays." We have some odd names here as well. Hell, yes we do! (Referring to Hell, Michigan of course. People stop into the post office there just to send a letter from Hell. Very popular at tax season.)
I have lived in New York State, the home state of Quogue and Chautauqua, and New Jersey, home of Hopatcong and Netcong (sound like Dot.coms not towns) and of course Bogata. (If some asked where Bogata is, how many of you would say Jersey? So I recognize that region has some odd-named towns.
But there is no Firth of Forth! (Is there?)
Got to go now, off to Ypsilanti.
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MarkMcQ
Reply #22 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 10:31 AM
Reply #22 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 10:31 AM
I'd just like to note, regarding Koop's post, that you'll never hear a Taxi driver say "Right-o, guv'nor, off to the Firth of Forth", unless they redirect the river into East London(Although then it'd be more like 'fowf' than 'forth').........
Oh, and bizarrely, in Scotland there's a small town called 'Washington' (I swear).
Oh, and bizarrely, in Scotland there's a small town called 'Washington' (I swear).
StarmanDX
Reply #23 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 10:46 AM
Reply #23 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 10:46 AM
Hey thanks, I'm glad you like my country 
Maybe you should come and 'ave some fish & chips in front of the Thames, guvnah!
Jolly good show, wot wot wot...
Maybe you should come and 'ave some fish & chips in front of the Thames, guvnah!
Jolly good show, wot wot wot...
KarmaGirl
Reply #24 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:28 AM
Reply #24 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:28 AM
I once ordered "Fish and Chips" in a local restaurant. The waiter said "do you want fries with that?" And I said, "well, yeah! Or else it would be just "Fish", right?" He didn't understand what I meant....
paxx
Reply #25 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:41 AM
Reply #25 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:41 AM
Karmagirl: I always thought it was funny that Fish and Chips were serves with fries, not potato chips.
Larry: I bet you didn't know that you can go to London or Paris without traveling too far. Just North of the border in Ontario, Canada.
Larry: I bet you didn't know that you can go to London or Paris without traveling too far. Just North of the border in Ontario, Canada.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #26 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:49 AM
Reply #26 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:49 AM
I'm not a Brit, I'm English. It seperates me from all the bloody foreigners who live here.
Excuse me for waving the red and white flag...somebody has to...
Excuse me for waving the red and white flag...somebody has to...
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #28 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:57 AM
Reply #28 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:57 AM
Aaaaaagh!!!!!!!!! >
White flag with red cross...you know, the cross of St George...the English flag
White flag with red cross...you know, the cross of St George...the English flag
werewolf
Reply #29 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 12:28 PM
Reply #29 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 12:28 PM
There's Paris, Muleshoe, Broom, Bells, Atlanta, Pittsburg, and one of my favorites: Uncertain, TX
Mr Benn
Reply #30 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 1:23 PM
Reply #30 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 1:23 PM
Anybody remember a book by Douglas Adams called "The Meaning of Liff", which used the names of (mostly British) places to define common objects or situations that don't have a name of their own?
The definitions are funny in their own right, of course, but he also managed to dig up some of the strangest and most comical place names to go with them.
"Ainderby Quernhow" for instance - I bet there isn't one of those in Michigan. And of course the funniest place name ever, a vilage near to where I used to live in East Yorkshire called "Wetwang"
The definitions are funny in their own right, of course, but he also managed to dig up some of the strangest and most comical place names to go with them.
"Ainderby Quernhow" for instance - I bet there isn't one of those in Michigan. And of course the funniest place name ever, a vilage near to where I used to live in East Yorkshire called "Wetwang"
Bangkokboy
Reply #31 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 6:45 PM
Reply #31 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 6:45 PM
Old Crab: It's Cut 'n' Shoot Texas (per the locals). If you misspell it, you'll get the double treatment. If they're in a good mood, they'll shoot first. If not ... 
elvee
Reply #32 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:15 PM
Reply #32 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:15 PM
We have a PeaLiquer Rd. in Maryland
elvee quietly goes away...
elvee quietly goes away...
Larry Kuperman
Reply #33 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:28 PM
Reply #33 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:28 PM
Larry Kuperman is off to Fish and Chips with StarmanDX!
I have been reading about England all my life, but I have never been there. When I do go, I am going to spend all my time with skinners! So many of good my friends are there.
I have been reading about England all my life, but I have never been there. When I do go, I am going to spend all my time with skinners! So many of good my friends are there.
UBoB
Reply #34 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:41 PM
Reply #34 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:41 PM
I have not been in 22 years. Spent most of my time drinking ale and eating really greasy beef.
When in London I went and saw Black Sabbath at Royal Albert Hall. That was such a wild night, and Ozzy was awesome. I still only remember bits and pieces of that night but they are all great bits and pieces.
When in London I went and saw Black Sabbath at Royal Albert Hall. That was such a wild night, and Ozzy was awesome. I still only remember bits and pieces of that night but they are all great bits and pieces.
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Reply #21 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 12:17 AM