Where is everyone from??

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Hey, are there ANY Albertaans here. And to those who don't know the first thing about Canada, that just my spelling for those who live in Alberta. That is a province. Okay fine, so not all Americans are that illiterate, but still...

GO CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, actually, I'm from Middle-earth... (http://ennaani.proboards3.com) the webpage where men, elves, hobbits, Jedi, pirates and agents unite... heh.

CANADA RULES... well, actually, we don't, but that's not the point. But Alberta is cool, and not in the sense of cold.

-Eowyn Skywalker

[Amanaduial the archer]

To the best of my knowledge, it's been a long time since I posted on this thread, so my location - Glasgow, Scotland. In *counts on fingers* 6 months, it might be Edinburgh, Scotland. Ah, are you looking at the University? My sister intend to go there ;)

[Mad Baggins]

*dances around with Eowyn Skywalker*

Hurray for Canadians! I, myself, am from Pinawa, Manitoba. Itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny town surrounded by the forest and a river. Quite nice actually, once you get past the utter boredom of the place. :rolleyes:

[Vilyon]

Auckland, New Zealand

[The Perky Ent]

Well, i think i've posted here, but i don't see the dot confirming it so...

Hey Y'all! I'm from New Orleans. Louisiana! That's right, The Big Easy!


Be it ever so decadent, there's no place like home!



BTW, that "be it ever so decadent" quote comes from a Tom Lehrer song!

[Legoli]

Me, I'm fron Nottingham, in the Land of Eng... commonly known as England... heh, jetlag still kicking about, as I came back from my holiday in superbly cool Florida yesterday... much fun-ness.

[Eowyn Skywalker]

*hugs Mad Baggins* YAY! ANOTHER CANADIAN! And you're a small towner too. I'd say where, but I'm not allowed to say, beyond that I'm from Alberta, west of east, I forget... nearish to Edmonton, anyhow.

Legoli? Is that the plural of Legolas?

-Eowyn Skywalker

[Gothmog]

Looks like most people are from USA, England and Canada, but there's a few from Scandinavia... Greetings, neighbours from the west!!! (Norway). I haven't met anyone else from Sweden yet tough... Hey, wait I just found a swede! :eek: Eärendil...

I'm from the northern parts of Sweden, a little place called "Kalix". It's actually snowing here right now so everybody who's complaining about bad weathers, think of poor me ;)

[Maeggaladiel]

I live deep in the heart of Oregon, USA, the only place on earth where it rains nonstop from November to June. (Yep, snow is a thing largely unknown to us.) Anyone else out there from the west coast?

Alone in the Outback of Oregon,
~Maeg

[Eowyn Skywalker]

It's snowing outside right NOW! Want some? Sigh, so much for trying to defend Canada, and the cause that we are not the land of Ice and Snow!

Alberta all the way, peoples! Welcome to Middle-earth!

-Eowyn Skywalker

[Son of Númenor]

I'm from Maryland, USA, just like Aylwen Dreamsong :) (& here I thought I was the only one). We pride ourselves here in Maryland for not being the least boring or the most boring of the 50 states, but somewhere in the middle - the "Eh, we're mediocre" State, if you will.

[Olorin_TLA]

Uk, next to Reading in the (Berk)Shire!

[Gothmog]

Eowyn Skywalker, I know what you mean... I'm always trying to teach people that "no, it's not always snowing in Sweden, and no there's no penguins nor polarbears roaming our streets". :) :)

OK, its quite cold in the winter (down to minus 40 degrees celsius), but a few days ago it was +30 celsius, and it's only early spring up here...

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I'm a former Marylander of many years, and have fond memories of the knats, water shortages and traffic. :p But it is a green and beautiful state if you look past all the tarmac! :p

[Quicksilver_Sprite]

Anchorage Alaska. I've never been outside the state, and I deperately want to go to Europe. Start saving now, I guess! :D

[Lhunardawen]

US...Europe...*sigh*

I live in the Pearl of the Orient. Need a hint? It's in Asia. :cool:

[HerenIstarion]

The Asia is big, to be sure :), would you narrow us a search field?

I for myself come from someplace in between Asia and Europe, as Georgia is nearer to Middle East than Europe Proper, but is member of European Council and aims at European Union, so, it is to be said, it is technically Europe. But I suppose you people would be interested in seeing

The Map of the Barrow-Downers (http://www.barrowdowns.com/map4.jpg)

It is of some two years previously, so not accurate, but gives the general idea of how are we spread out all over the world :)

[Ophelia]

Now you can add a green dot in the small country of Latvia , for it seems I`m the only Downer from the Baltic states even :D

Ophelia

[Gorwingel]

HerenIstarion does each one of the green dots represent one Barrow-downs member, or does it represent something like 10? Or does it just represent that Barrow-downs members live there?

That map is cool though, but it does need updating. HerenIstarion are you the one who made it?

[Kransha]

I may have posted here, but, in all honesty, I can't remember, and I see the need to take notice of all these Marylanders. I myself am a Virginian, reveling in my Virginianity, but I end up in Maryland often. There seem to be a lot of BDers checkering the US East Coast, more than I expected. Someday I must go up there and find one of you people...unless that would be considered Stalkeritis...which it very well might.

I'm lucky enough to live in a picturesque little town in Northern VA, very much resembling the Shire in its country, old fashioned goodness. No traffic, no hustle or bustle. Industrialization has crested the horizon, but is still far. Plus, though small and untouched by corporational tech, we've got eons of historical necessity, ala the home of General George C. Marshall, Marquis de Lafayette's favorite tavern, the site of the Battle of Ball's Bluff (one of the Civil War's first skirmishes) and other stuff too. Bonus points if anyone can name the town, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Thorongil]

I could find me on the map, and I wasn't hee two years ago. Cool map!

[HerenIstarion]

Nay, I did not make the map, the BD team did it, we mere mortals (or humble dead?) simply provided our locations. Each dot represented the town, it could have contained anything from 1 to infinite number of members, according to number of those living there. Per instance, the green dot on Georgia (republic of, not US state) at the time of contrivance of the map in question represented yours truly solely, and now must be viewed as representing three members of the board, since two more Georgians of the same town (allegedly, since they rarely visit, though) joined the deceased :)

[Lhunardawen]

The Asia is big, to be sure , would you narrow us a search field?

Okay, it's in Southeast Asia. Most countries in our area have "nicknames" such as the one I mentioned.

[piosenniel]

Lhunardawen

Penang, eh!

Kransha

Would that be the county seat of Loudoun County - Leesburg?

[HerenIstarion]

I'd utter a guess it is Manila of Philippines? Both it and Penang of Malaysia are called so, as my quick search via the net revealed. So, which one of those?

Manila (http://www.dasan.de/ds_manila/Phil/manila.htm)

Penang (http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/9929/penang.html)

[Lhunardawen]

The Philippines it is, HerenIstarion. I don't live in Manila itself, though, but near, very near...

[HerenIstarion]

As I've said, the map is quite outdated. Though it bears no green dots on SouthEast Asia, I beleive we have several members from Malaysia and Indonesia. I do not recall anyone from Philippines besides yourself, but, well, I do not know everyone around here, after all.

Try searching for thread titled something like "People from SE Asia", in announcement subforum, and if there is no such a thread, start your own. I expect you'll be surpirsed at the number of people to turn up

cheers

[Saraphim]

Hmmmm... *looks at the map closely* That cannot represent me, that dot between California and Texas, of course, but does that mean that I am indeed not as alone in Las Vegas as I expected? Or does that dot represent some other city and I am all alone?

Help a lonely B-D'er!

[Silent Sam]

:) Greetings,

I reside in PEI Canada. The ocean is in my backyard, and my house is on a cliff by the lighthouse.

[Lhunardawen]

Try searching for thread titled something like "People from SE Asia", in announcement subforum, and if there is no such a thread, start your own. I expect you'll be surpirsed at the number of people to turn up

HerenIstarion, there is already a thread called "Barrowdowners from Asia" somewhere in this forum. And much to my surprise, there are actually some Filipinas in the Downs! Thanks for the concern anyway. :)

[HerenIstarion]

It was my pleasure :)

[The Only Real Estel]

First 34 years (I think)--Kansas, within 50 miles of where I've been for 16--Kansas City, Missouri. Within easy distance to inner city, wheat fields, suburban malls, and nice boho type places, too!

Not far from me, Dininziliel...I didn't know BDers lived anywhere around Kansas :eek:. :p

[haltred]

[B]I am from Victoria BC Canada :)

[Mithalwen]

All the cool people from Europe? Given the summer weather we AREN'T having, I would say all the COLD people are in Europe....

I am also from Hampshire, England but I am not rich....... :( :p

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Well, I am Scottish. I come from, and live in, the third city in Scotland which is called Aberdeen. It's grey and rainy.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Given the summer weather we AREN'T having, I would say all the COLD people are in Europe....
I think someone forgot to tell nature that it's JULY!!! Its cold and wet in NY as well. Raining AGAIN. It poured all night... and yesterday. And nearly every day (I'm not exaggerating) since school let out. I think we've had ONE day that the temperature reached above 80*. So much for global warming. And for those of you who complained about snow on April Fools'... I seem to remember seeing snow in MAY here.

I live in a tiny little hamlet that nobody's ever heard of, that ceased to be a villiage proper when the post office closed down because the postmistress retired! My hometown's main attractions are the two bars. Get kicked out of one? Walk 15 seconds up the street and you're covered for another few hours. :( Actually, we do sadly have another attraction that clogs the streets with tourists twice each summer: antiques. The number of antique shops in my general area (I mean within about 5 minutes drive of my house) should be illegal. As for the idiotic tourists who park in front of my driveway to go INTO the bars after they've spent all day walking through the middle of a state route in front of traffic... they should be arrested or something. Just for annoying the locals.

Fea

[Elennar Starfire]

It's time to smash Fea's illusion about me...sorry Fea, but it was too amusing to spoil right away. I do not live in England. I live in America. I just know British slang from a book I picked up called the British Phrasebook...

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Ooh, harsh, Elennar. Very harsh. My happy little bubble just burst on me and its all your fault. ;) Whereabouts in America are you from? We've got a big country, if you hadn't noticed.

[Elennar Starfire]

Utah. And I actually didn't know most of the American slang you sent me...

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Haha... hilarious. I guess I was right in that it's localized slang. Common use in my neck of the woods. I assume you were familiar with y'all? :p ;)

[Elennar Starfire]

That and wazzup.

[Legolas]

I'm from Fayetteville, North Carolina, about two hours from the ocean.

[Kransha]

Kransha

Would that be the county seat of Loudoun County - Leesburg?

Why yes, yes it is. And pio gets the Mithril Mango...err...award...thing...

I have come to the conclusion that, of a vast majority of forums I have seen, even ones that are supposed to be more internationally based, this one really breaks the borders of that. We have folk from all o'er the globe, much more than other places, and are very far from splitting into our own respective national cliques (or are they called 'ostentations' now?). As we are all intellectuals (save myself, who is more of a dreamer) we all carry on more as if, rather than the forums being international, they are simply universal, which is a very respectable trait.

Son of Numenor: As a neighbor of ye Marylanders, I've never considered Maryland to be an "Eh, we're mediocre" state, especially since I have to commute there so often. You know, there might be enough Downers living in NC, Maryland, VA, and along the East Coast to have a East Coast BDers' Meeting...hmm...

P.S. To you Marylanders, if you ever see a bright red PT cruiser (in something that might be called 'mint condition') with something that looks like a shimmering silver cow-cather on its front drive past your home, ignore it, because it's completely unimportant.

[Lalwendë]

Mithalwen - I'd guess you're from near the New Forest then? I once stayed there, in a log cabin deep in the woods, and it was very peculiar and creepy, but lovely.

I'm from the UK. I'm a Lancastrian, living across the border in Yorkshire; yes, I do like pies, but I haven't got a cloth cap or any Whippets. ;)

[Lady Gamgee]

I live in the U.S. Was born & raised in VA, but have now lived in WV for 9 yrs.

[Thorongil]

I think someone forgot to tell nature that it's JULY!!! Its cold and wet in NY as well. Raining AGAIN. It poured all night... and yesterday. And nearly every day (I'm not exaggerating) since school let out.
Heh. No one beats Bergen in rain. The normal amount of sun in july around here is seven days! We'we had two, maybe three. And instead of snow in the winter, we have rain. Maybe, if we're lucky, we have one day of snow. But the morning after, it's gone again. A few days ago it rained so bad that our satellite dish went out for about an hour. It's not fair!!:confused: (Yes, I am complaining a lot, but this is a topic that needs complaining.)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I won't complain too much, since I rather like my climate. For a sneak peek at the weather in Fea's life: June to September is summer. The weather is normally hot, sunny, and all around summery, with late night thunderstorms and the occasional late afternoon downpour. September to say... the end of October is the most beautiful autumn in the world, if I do say so myself. All scarlet and golden,with gentle breezes or wild gusts, depending on the hour. Its rather common for us to get icestorms on Halloween, and then winter lasts until April. Now I'm hearing Americans complain about rainy winters, well let me tell you: I'm a New Yorker. Central New York. That means lake effect snowstorms dropping multiple feet at a time. That means screaming winds and hellish fury power-outages. And mixed in between, we get ice and rain storms to leave nice invisible layers of ice under the snow. And that's the winter I love. We've got some two monthes of spring after that. But winter is the longest season here, starting with light snow in early October, progressing to blizzards and fun snow, teasing us with an early January thaw, and then freezing us back indoors until midApril. And we get the occasional May snowstorm. I LOOOOOVE New York. :D (Except for right now, when it's late July and I'm wearing heavy sleep-pants, a longsleeve shirt with a shortsleeved over top, and SOCKS to keep warm. And I'm still chilled.)

Fea

[Mithalwen]

[QUOTE=Lalwendë]Mithalwen - I'd guess you're from near the New Forest then? I once stayed there, in a log cabin deep in the woods, and it was very peculiar and creepy, but lovely.

I'm from the UK. I'm a Lancastrian, living across the border in Yorkshire; yes, I do like pies, but I haven't got a cloth cap or any Whippets. ;)[/QUOTE


Well I w as born in the none too lovely city of Southampton but I have returned to where I grew up ... in the New Forest District Council area and with some forest rights but not within the borders of the National Park they have created curse them... peculiar and lovely is about right lol

Lurchers are more the thing round here ...... :P

[Mariska Greenleaf]

Because of quite unexpected changes in my life, I'm leaving Belgium for at least a year, moving to Dublin. I was wondering if there are any Irish Downers for that matter.

[Gil-Galad]

Good Ol' Kanada....or i guess you'll call it Canada...heh...

[rutslegolas]

Well I am from India.

Any more Indians in here??

[Encaitare]

New York and loving it. Go Yankees!

I've lived on Long Island for the entire duration of my not-remarkably-long life. My town has a Native American name no one from out of the area can spell. It's uneventful and a tad dull, but it's a nice place to live.

[The Only Real Estel]

Go Yankees!

Bah. I'm inclined to rate you negatively now that I know that ;). Just joking, of course :p.

[Morsul the Dark]

Im from our best state Rhode Island USA

by the way this serries is over yankees are going to win but next yearits the d3evil rays you'll see BWAHAHAHAHA with morsul the chocalate schip backing them up they cant lose!

[Amanaduial the archer]

It's time to smash Fea's illusion about me...sorry Fea, but it was too amusing to spoil right away. I do not live in England. I live in America. I just know British slang from a book I picked up called the British Phrasebook...
That sort of book amuses me so, so much. It's like the Cockney Phrase Book, or The Little Book of British Cool, the latter of which is written by an American. On one level, they're amusing, on another they're...painful.;)

[Mithalwen]

The Little Book of British Cool


Can't help feeling that that would be a VERY little book ...... unlike the Bumper book of British social awkwardness and sartorial inadequacy..... :D

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Go Yankees!

...and play some golf -- ha HA hahahahahahaha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Go Sox!

[Mithalwen]

The book of transatlantic mutual incomprehension might be quite a tome too....

[Lalwendë]

The Little Book of British Cool

Can't help feeling that that would be a VERY little book ...... unlike the Bumper book of British social awkwardness and sartorial inadequacy.....

Now, that would depend on what you think is cool! It would have to be a bumper book for me, but I don't think most people would find it so very cool. ;) Basically, anything which is meant to be cool generally is not, in my opinion - for example, pavement cafes, in Britain, in this weather? A nice cosy old pub with a dartboard and a resident labrador, now that's cool. Or rather, lovely and warm... ;)

[Mithalwen]

Oh don't get me wrong, I love this strange little island and despite the weather, I am not sure I could leave it for ever ... but it was just that "cool" brittannia thing was so embarrassing..... when we try too hard we fail miserabley .... It is the crazy anachronsms I love - the fact that something called "Swan upping" goes on quite legally each year on the Thames, that the entire railway system is brought to a halt by those leaves falling so unexpectedly from the trees each autumn.....

[Encaitare]

Originally Posted by my fellow New Yorker Fea

That means screaming winds and hellish fury power-outages.

Oh, but I love the power-outages. We had a huge one over the summer, and a good part of the city nearby -- NYC, that is -- was out too. All the streetlights were out, there was none of that irritating glare from the lovely metropolis, and it was a clear night. I went outside and laid on the driveway and looked at the stars -- I'm not used to seeing very many because there is always so much electric light to hide them. But so many were visible; it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Go Yankees! ...and play some golf -- ha HA hahahahahahaha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Go Sox!

Why, Yankees? Why did you have to go from a 3-0 game lead to a brutal and humiliating massacre at the hands of Boston? A better question: how?

Woe is me.

Grumble grumble.

[The Saucepan Man]

Can't help feeling that that would be a VERY little book ...... unlike the Bumper book of British social awkwardness and sartorial inadequacy..... Ah, but it takes real cool to make an art form of social awkwardness. :D


but it was just that "cool" brittannia thing was so embarrassingI don't disagree, but that's mainly attributable to its adoption for political purposes in my opinion (Oasis at No 10 and all that). For my money, though, the UK tops the world in music and comedy. Of course, I may be biased. ;)


that the entire railway system is brought to a halt by those leaves falling so unexpectedly from the trees each autumn.....Yes, as a daily commuter to London, I must say that I really love that. :rolleyes:

[Rinfanawen]

I am from the very humble state of NC...humble in which I live in the middle of nowhere.

Oh, and just to add to the very enlightening topic going on about the Yanks and Sox,............GO SOX!!!!! :p

[the phantom]

If people just told the truth where it says "location" we wouldn't need this thread. Not that I mind. I just had to think of something sort of on topic to say so I could tack on something off-topic...

How 'bout them Yankees? :p

:D ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

They practically have an all-star team, they had a three game lead against a cursed team, and they STILL LOST!!

Not that I hate the Yankees (I root for them sometimes), but I was for the Sox this time- it was great to see them finally beat the Yanks.

So to all of you around Boston- congrats!

To all of you around NY- you'd better go out and buy yourself some better pitching.

[Oddwen]

I live in Northern Lower Michigan... *glances around to make sure no-one throws a sox at her...*

[Sleepy Ranger]

I'm from lots of places, Born in New Delhi, India
Grew up in Budapest
Doing High School in Bahrain.

And by nationality I'm an Indian. That answer your question rutslegolas?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

'British cool' was always 'English cool'. (Did I make that point before?)

How about the tiny, little book of modern Scottish wit? If anyone finds that one, it's probably all lies. :rolleyes:

[Mithalwen]

For my money, though, the UK tops the world in music and comedy. Of course, I may be biased. ;)


Yes, as a daily commuter to London, I must say that I really love that. :rolleyes:


Well Little Britain is my current favourite but I have to say that Frasier would rate pretty high in all time rankings ... but even my Kapellmeister friend said that London was best for music .. oh sorry you meant "popular music" :P

to reprise and adapt an old skit " At least you have trains, all we have is buses between Basingstoke and Woking...."

[Neferchoirwen]

Let me see...

I was born in Great Lakes, Illinois, moved to Adak, Alaska when I was 3, and a year and a half later and ever since, I've been living in Muntinlupa, south of Manila in the Philippines! :smokin:

[Lalwendë]

For my money, though, the UK tops the world in music and comedy.

Now, comedy, that's something British that's properly cool! Let me see...The League of Gentlemen, Reeves & Mortimer, Monty Python, The Office, Blackadder... but then one of my favourites, Father Ted, is Irish. Our music has gone rapidly downhill though - or is it my age? I have been reading about The Fall today and the thought struck me that a band as strange simply could not happen these days :(

Britain's weird character is OK by me, after all, it did produce Tolkien and in particular, Hobbits! ;)

Is this getting a bit..jumpers for goalposts-ish?

[Mithalwen]

Dunno... I truly loathe soccer as much as a mystery to me as whatever tos Yankee / Sox people play... but I approve your list with the exception of Reeves and Mortimer who I have never seen outside that thing where one of them was dead and the Renault commercial..

Of course Tolkien was colonial born ... I wonder if this coloured the importance of home to him...

[Lalwendë]

Of course Tolkien was colonial born ... I wonder if this coloured the importance of home to him...

I think I read somewhere that he was very much affected by his mother's desperate need to return to the UK. Correct me if I'm wrong!

But, you mean you have not witnessed Reeves & Mortimer's finest creations, Mulligan and O'Hare? :eek: Truly grotesque! I forgot another fine comedy show which I must mention here - The Shuttleworths (Radio 4) and the TV spin-off, 500 Bus Stops.

[Bêthberry]

Lalwendë posted:

Now, comedy, that's something British that's properly cool! Let me see...The League of Gentlemen, Reeves & Mortimer, Monty Python, The Office, Blackadder... but then one of my favourites, Father Ted, is Irish.

If I may add: Yes Minister, Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served?, Withnail and I, to say nothing of Alex Guiness' Lavender Hill Gang and The Ladykillers etc etc ... :D

Eomer of the Rohirrimposted:

'British cool' was always 'English cool'. (Did I make that point before?)

How about the tiny, little book of modern Scottish wit? If anyone finds that one, it's probably all lies.

Does the land need wit that gave us Scotch, golf, men in skirts, Gregory's Girl and Sean Connery? Oh, and Saint "Mungo"?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Sorry all, but for my toonie, nobody, NOBODY is funnier than us Canucks. SCTV, Kids in the Hall, The Frantics -- the list goes on and on.

Pretty much all of the really funniest people in Hollywood are Canadian too: Leslie Neilsen, the writers of The Simpsons, Jim Carrey (OK, I admit, I don't find him funny, but many do) and, of course, William Shatner -- sure, he's no comedian (intentionally) but I figure we gave the world James Tiberius Kirk, and that trumps everyone else. :p

To continue on my nationalist rant. . .the following inventions are all Canadian:

Football
Basketball
Baseball
Hockey
Apple Pie
the Zipper
the Communications Satellite

and, last but never least,

Poutine! :smokin:

[Encaitare]

...and, of course, William Shatner -- sure, he's no comedian (intentionally) but I figure we gave the world James Tiberius Kirk, and that trumps everyone else. :p

Hear, hear. There is no one like the wonderful Bill Shatner, and certainly no one can deliver a "KHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!" like he can.

I get far too much enjoyment from Star Trek. :p

[Lalwendë]

If I may add: Yes Minister

I do like Yes Minister but at times it's like a reality show for me and can be uncomfortable to watch! That is how the senior grades really do act... :eek:

Fordim, I've some questions for you on a Canadian theme: Is Mike Myers Canadian (Wayne's World is another fave of mine)? And by 'football', do you mean the kind with quarterbacks and touchdowns? Football to me means the kind with Wayne Rooney and the offside rule and failing to win the World Cup, which surely is as British an invention as they come?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Fordim, I've some questions for you on a Canadian theme: Is Mike Myers Canadian (Wayne's World is another fave of mine)? And by 'football', do you mean the kind with quarterbacks and touchdowns? Football to me means the kind with Wayne Rooney and the offside rule and failing to win the World Cup, which surely is as British an invention as they come?

Myers is indeed as Canadian as maple syrup (90% of the world's supply of which is supplied by farms from within a 250 Km radius of my hometown).

And by "football" I mean the kind with quarterbacks and touchdowns -- although Canadian rules football (the original rules) includes some things that our friends to the south deemed unnecessary to their version of the game. . .much to my confusion and chagrin.

Don't feel too bad about English soccer -- at least your teams consistently qualify for play in the World Cup. . .is anyone outside Canada even aware that we have a soccer team?????

[Mithalwen]

Sorry all, but for my toonie, nobody, NOBODY is funnier than us Canucks. SCTV, Kids in the Hall, The Frantics -- the list goes on and on.


Poutine! :smokin:


Am I very insular or has noone else heard of ANY of these (at least without some sneaky mugging up on Google)?
I think I am going to renew my acquaintanceship with Fordim's gauntlet very soon so it may as well be for a sheep as a lamb...

Hockey is played on grass by english schoolgirls in the winter
Basketball is basically netball. Ditto
Baseball is rounders which is played by english schoolgirls in the summer.
The football I recognise is played by a team of fifteen with no padding and is taken up by English girls at university when they are bored to tears by the above games.

Well my area provides most of the country's old people ... or so it seems ...

Gee home of Maple Syrup and the zipper? Gosh I have missed out on so much by not visiting Canada yet. Almost sorry my Pa didn't emigrate when he had the chance and stay with the "Vandoos"... I too could have been Canadian... :p

I adore Ealing comedy ...
Yes Minister is superb ... Ihave heard that truly it can be taken more or less as documentary but having failed the aptitude tests, I could neither confirm nor deny.... :(

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Gee home of Maple Syrup and the zipper? Gosh I have missed out on so much by not visiting Canada yet. Almost sorry my Pa didn't emigrate when he had the chance and stay with the "Vandoos"... I too could have been Canadian...

You should have been so lucky! My grandfather was in the vandoos, btw. . .

Oh, and you can add to the list of Canadian accomplishments being the only armed force standing between Britain and Hitler for the six months after Dunkirk.

You're welcome.

PS Poutine is chips ("fries" to our American friends) covered with beef gravy and cheese curds. Food of the gods.

PPS We also invented beaver tails: a flattened loaf of sweet dough, deep-fried then dredged in cinnamon and sugar. *drool*

PPPS We also invented standard time.

PPPPS And the philips screw.

[Mithalwen]

Actually you were the ones who got off lucky... my Canadian cousins are enough of a drain on the Canadian mental health budget so they probably wouldn't be keen or any more of the bloodline...though the few sane ones work in the immigration dept so who knows....


Well thank you for that... (I am fairly sure we still had a few squaddies left of our own but even so, very kind) To be fair .. my pa was attached to the Canadians for them to make a proper soldier out of him and he emerged to get "The most improved cadet" (though they called it something more obscure) on his return to Sandhurst so he can't speak too highly of them. Just don't get him started on the Americans..... And he was born in 1925 so you do the maths....

[Mithalwen]

PS Poutine is chips ("fries" to our American friends) covered with beef gravy and cheese curds. Food of the gods.

PPS We also invented beaver tails: a flattened loaf of sweet dough, deep-fried then dredged in cinnamon and sugar. *drool*

PPPS We also invented standard time.

PPPPS And the philips screw.



Poutine sounds utterly disgusting but I love bread and cinnamon so the beaver tail sounds better .... but I can feel my arteries furring at the thought of either....

The Phillips screw... is there a note of desparation creeping in... and time.... oh come on... :p

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Speaking of cool achievements of where we live... New York's got the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. :p So there. Macy's being the world's second largest consumer of helium... Can you only imagine if all of the floats were to spring leaks over NYC? *Evil chuckle*
Hm... New York is known for some things. The Yankees, Mott's Applesauce, Kodak cameras, Hilary Clinton... :rolleyes:

But it's the scenic hills and whatnot that really count. ;)

Fea

[Mithalwen]

Where I live has a unique fossil rich clay which geologists find fascinating .... says it all really.. :D

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Where I live has a unique fossil rich clay which geologists find fascinating .... says it all really.. :D
Send me directions and I'll be there post-haste! ;) Seriously though... art comes first for me, but this close >< behind it is science... more pointedly, geology. My hometown is part of a thirty-something mile long chain of antique stores. We don't even sell working things... just stuff that was cool a hundred years ago. Small wonder I get so involved in my hobbies.. .there's just nothing else to do.

Fea

[Mithalwen]

Well if you look on a map of the uk .... oh hang on... if I give you directions... I also give directions to everyone I have offended and before you know it Prof Hedgethistle will be on my doorstep with his duelling kit..( I doubt pistols will pass customs but it could be Phillips screwdrivers at dawn..... :p )....and all the rest will be forming an orderly queue for me to apologise to them.. if I survive that is....

[turgon]

born and raised in the appalachian mts. of pennsyvania. reside now in texas. whats interesting about texas? the bugs get really, really big here. kinda makes me think of bilbo fighting the spiders of mirkwood whenever I dodge a big web from tree to tree :eek:

[NightKnight]

Yup, I'm one of very few Swedes here. I've found two so far: Eärendil and Gothmog. Woo!

I live in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. Kinda nice place.

[Firefoot]

After reading this thread it is easy to see how the BD's has become of my primary sources for news and geographical information. I think I have learned more about Canada from Fordim's rant than from history class, and how else was I ever supposed to know whether the Sox beat the Yankees? (wanders away muttering about the Cubs... :rolleyes: ;) )

Back on topic, suffice it to say that I live in the Midwest USA - I'm not really allowed to say more than that.

[Amanaduial the archer]

You should have been so lucky! My grandfather was in the vandoos, btw. . .

Oh, and you can add to the list of Canadian accomplishments being the only armed force standing between Britain and Hitler for the six months after Dunkirk.

You're welcome.

PS Poutine is chips ("fries" to our American friends) covered with beef gravy and cheese curds. Food of the gods.

PPS We also invented beaver tails: a flattened loaf of sweet dough, deep-fried then dredged in cinnamon and sugar. *drool*

PPPS We also invented standard time.

PPPPS And the philips screw. Hey, you forgot the invention of fire ;) Sorry, I'm mocking, I'll shut up...you just gave me a whole list of random trivia that I can attempt to catch people out with ;)

Does the land need wit that gave us Scotch, golf, men in skirts, Gregory's Girl and Sean Connery?

Beth, my dear, let's be specific about this: It's the land that gave us Sean Connery saying the immortal line "And the oscar for the best actress in a supporting role goes to..." (Just...just insert 'sh' for every 's')

Pure classic brilliance. Somewhere backstage, someone was laughing...*sigh* Good times...

[Fool Of A Took]

NightKnight, you are not alone! :) I'm a Swede to! ;P
As long as I've been here, I haven't met another Swede!

[NightKnight]

Oohh, hello then. :p Where do you live?

[Lalwendë]

PS Poutine is chips ("fries" to our American friends) covered with beef gravy and cheese curds. Food of the gods.

Well, leave out the cheese and then you have chips ‘n’ gravy, a dish of the gods if ever there was one and I fully applaud the Canadian culinary taste. One of the finer points of cuisine where I grew up was exceptionally good gravy, preferably eaten with mushy peas and Steak & Kidney Pudding, also known as a "Babby’s ‘ead". On the subject of cheese, Apple Pie was also traditionally eaten with a great lump of cheese. Prefer custard myself.

Claims to fame from the area I grew up in? Many marvellous, weird and wonderful bands and successful football teams (those that don't play in a red strip of course), incomprehensible regional accents, disgusting culinary habits such as cheese and apple pie...

Yes Minister is superb ... Ihave heard that truly it can be taken more or less as documentary but having failed the aptitude tests, I could neither confirm nor deny....

The tests I did were easy peasy (spelling, putting things in alphabetical order), but then they were for the downtrodden admin grunt grade - the ones they are trying to fire in huge numbers, grrrr :mad: . Trying to get straight in at any higher level necessitates a weird skill combination of mind-reading and the black arts. I know people with MAs and PhDs who have failed to get in. So feel quite pleased with yourself. ;)

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Indeed Aman, I was most disappointed to learn that Sir Sean was not offered the part of Gandalf for our favourite film trilogy. ;)

I would offer a huge list of Scottish achievments a la Fordim, however I am as un-patriotic as they come so I don't think I'll bother. I think there was one other Scot on the Downs but she hasn't been around for ages.

And as for kilts, they definitely rule! :D

[Mithalwen]

The tests I did were easy peasy (spelling, putting things in alphabetical order), but then they were for the downtrodden admin grunt grade - the ones they are trying to fire in huge numbers, grrrr :mad: . Trying to get straight in at any higher level necessitates a weird skill combination of mind-reading and the black arts. I know people with MAs and PhDs who have failed to get in. So feel quite pleased with yourself. ;)


Glad you assume it wasn't the easy peasy ones I failed..... :p

[The Only Real Estel]

Back on topic, suffice it to say that I live in the Midwest USA - I'm not really allowed to say more than that

Wow...that's like, uh...kinda close to me. :D

[the phantom]

Estel and Firefoot- Midwesterners rule!!
wanders away muttering about the Cubs...
Heh... expect to be muttering about the Cubs for the rest of your life. ;)
the bugs get really, really big here
Yeah, no kidding. My cousin in Houston used to collect bugs and show 'em off when I went down to visit.

And Fordim, I'm astounded. I had no idea that all of those things were invented by the Northern United States of Amer- uh... I mean Canada. :p :D

[Rimbaud]

And I'm in the right side of the best city. Life is good. Plus, the Empire is seconds from me down the road and I get free gig-tickets direct from the labels. Life is good. My local bar used to be a public convenience, but is now a hazy sofa-strewn über-bar that plays excellent music (well, my records, anyway!). Life is good. I walk barefoot across the road to the off-licence and grocery shops. In that order. Life is good.

The moral of the story is: don't live in Docklands. Ever. *shudders*

[Amanaduial the archer]

at least your teams consistently qualify for play in the World Cup. . .is anyone outside Canada even aware that we have a soccer team?????
...you have a football team?

Sorry, far too easy, but it really had to be said ;)

[Durfuiniel]

I didn't read through all the thread but I guess there aren't many germans here, huh?
I live in Karlsruhe a city in the southwest of germany. I was to the states 3 times 'cause I have two aunts in Seattle and I loved the time. So after school I'm going to visit the states for half a year or more...

[Encaitare]

Well, Estelyn Telcontar is German... she's the only one I know of, though.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I do indeed live in Germany, though I'm not actually a German citizen; another member, one of the administrators, is German - Sharkû. There have been others who have popped in occasionally, but of the regulars, that's all I know of. Welcome to the Downs, Durfuiniel!

[HerenIstarion]

I always thought you were German, Esty. Now I find you to be like my sister, who lives in Germany and is Georgian citizen. Perchance you are my sister? ;)

[Amanaduial the archer]

I always thought you were German, Esty. Now I find you to be like my sister, who lives in Germany and is Georgian citizen. Perchance you are my sister? ;)

*Gasp* Could it be? Could the powerful female administrator, Estelyn Telcontar, really be the sister of Heren, the lovable but cunning Downer who secretly plans to take over the 'Downs?! And what about Mark12_30 - can such a cheerful figure really mean well in 'innocently' suggesting the opening of The Gauntlet Inn - a place designed specially for fights? And can this have anything to do with Mithalwen's recent disappearance...? Tune in next time to find out on 'Who's that 'Downer?', the LotR community's favourite forum-soap!

Yes...well. Ahem. Indeed. No...germans here. *pause* If you'll excuse me...

;)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Oh dear, I hate to disappoint you, HI and Aman, but I'm nothing that interesting at all! I'm only bilingual, and since those two languages, neither of them Georgian, are English and German, I'm obviously not HI's sister. I am a U.S. citizen by birth, German by descent, and have been living in Germany for many years. 'Nuff information?!

[the phantom]

Not quite- we just need your SSN and address and then we'll be all done.

I'm also of German descent, but I've never been to Deutschland. I'd like to go though, mainly to see all those große alte Schlösser, or however you say it.

But there's all that water between here and there. Very deep water. I'm scared of oceans... they're just not natural (oder natürlich, for you German sprechers out there).

And Esty, are you going to be coming to my city any time soon? I'm still depressed about not getting to meet you last time you were here.

Anyway- getränkbier und essen Sie bratwursts!!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Anyway- getränkbier und essen Sie bratwursts!!
Drink beer and eat your sausages? I am intrigued... perhaps there is a hidden metaphorical meaning behind this sentiment? ;) Perhaps not... I was never good at simple messages... overthink them and all.

My descent is of the Western European Mutt variety. Some English, Welsh, Irish... But as my family is generally unaware of where my mother's side of the family came from, you could conceivably throw in any nationality and I might have a blood-relative from there. But mostly... English and Irish. No German...

Fea

[Bungo Baggins]

Chicago. Home of our queen Oprah.

[Durfuiniel]

to see all those große alte Schlösser, Well, there really are some great castles in Germany, and very different ones. Old from the Middle-Ages and newer ones from the barock(is it called barock in english, too?). But if you like old buildings, you should visit France because there are many old churches which are so fascinating....
Anyway- getränkbier und essen Sie bratwursts!!
wow, so there are people here who speak german pretty good*smile*
Do people in America(or England or whereever) really think all germans are beerdrinkers? I'd love to her some other prejudices about us Germans, that's really interesting I think.... so please tell me your view of germany :)

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Great philosophers. Especially Kant. :)

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Do people in America(or England or whereever) really think all germans are beerdrinkers?

No, but the fact that a mug of beer costs less than a cup of tea doesn't help your case much. ;)

Maryland is home to the famous Michael Phelps...and blue crabs. ::shrug::

-Aylwen

[the phantom]

Drink beer and eat your sausages
Is that what I said?

Oops... I meant to say "have a nice day".

:p
perhaps there is a hidden metaphorical meaning behind this sentiment?
Indeed, there is. You should spend a couple of hours thinking about it. By then you'll be hungry and thirsty enough to "drink beer and eat your sausages" and the meaning will suddenly become clear.
from the barock(is it called barock in english, too?)
Baroque.
so there are people here who speak german pretty good
Only "pretty good"? What, did I get a word wrong? The only words I for sure get right are cognates, like and (und), shoe (schuh), pizza (pizza), or Germany (Deutschland).

Or did I not conjugate one of my verbs correctly? That's always a problem. I don't even conjugate English correctly. English be hard- I is frustrated by it sometimes.

But it's understandable since I was raised in Mexico by Latinos, who obviously being latinos spoke Spanish (aka Latin). That was a problem though since most people in Mexico speak Mexican (which the Spanish haughtily refer to as pig-latin).
Do people in America(or England or whereever) really think all germans are beerdrinkers?
No, we think 99.9% of Germans are beer drinkers. All the exchange students I ever met sure talked about it all the time.
I'd love to her some other prejudices about us Germans
Lemme see... Germans are always taking their clothes off, right? Or more specifically, their lederhosen?

Also, they don't keep their fridges full, but prefer to buy what they're going to eat (usually bratwurst and sauerkraut) on the same day.

And then they go play soccer.

:D :p

(I know everybody's not like that, but those are the first things that pop into my head)

[Durfuiniel]

so there are people here who speak german pretty good -Only "pretty good"? What, did I get a word wrong? The only words I for sure get right are cognates, like and (und), shoe (schuh), pizza (pizza), or Germany (Deutschland).

Or did I not conjugate one of my verbs correctly? That's always a problem. I don't even conjugate English correctly. English be hard- I is frustrated by it sometimes.

oops, well I meant very good*smile*
Anyway- getränkbier und essen Sie bratwursts!! you have to say "Trinken sie Bier und essen sie Bratwürste" if you want to be totally correct:)
well, and I agree many germany are Beerdrinkers;)
But it seems like all people think only about "Bayern" when they talk about germans 'cause the people with "lederhosen" are just the "Bayern"(you maybe know the "Oktoberfest" in München where loooots of beer are drunk.)
I never heard about the "they don't keep their fridges full but prefer buying what they want to eat.." thing that's really new to me, but that may be because in our house the fridge (or better our THREE fridges) are always full.
But it's totally right we're a soccer country but mostly people don't go play it but watch it on TV and drink some beer watching it.*rofl*

[Mithalwen]

Well, there really are some great castles in Germany, and very different ones. Old from the Middle-Ages and newer ones from the barock(is it called barock in english, too?). But if you like old buildings, you should visit France because there are many old churches which are so fascinating....

wow, so there are people here who speak german pretty good*smile*
Do people in America(or England or whereever) really think all germans are beerdrinkers? I'd love to her some other prejudices about us Germans, that's really interesting I think.... so please tell me your view of germany :)


Aber das Bier is sehr gut zu trinken! Entschuldige bitte, Deutsh ist nur mein zweite Fremdsprache und ich habe alles vergessen - auch kann ich nicht ein umlaut oder ein Schlafer's S an diesem Klavier finden.

Ich liebe das Musik von Bach und Handel. The musicality of the Germans is a good stereotype!!! The wine is usually a little sweet for me and I hate Stollen with a passion.....

[Amanaduial the archer]

wow, so there are people here who speak german pretty good*smile*
Do people in America(or England or whereever) really think all germans are beerdrinkers? I'd love to her some other prejudices about us Germans, that's really interesting I think.... so please tell me your view of germany French is compulsary in my school until you're 16, and as I was fairly rubbish at it when I made my GCSE choices, I decided that one language was about as much as I could deal with. I regret the choice as I intend to take French into university, but hey, c'est la vie - I apologise for not speaking to you in German. Although my sister works pretty much as a living, walking, breathing, talking...german translator. ;)

But we had a French lesson some time ago when we were talking about the various stereotypes which are held about different nations. And it was the Irish, not the Germans, who came out as the drinkers - a sentiment I couldn't exactly deny, as seven of my maternal granddad's siblings are alcoholics. :rolleyes:

As to Fea's remark on ancestry - I'm entirely Irish, all my relatives living there apart from my parents, who went to the same school for two years but only actually met each over when they both went to Manchester university (that's what you call irony...) Half of the youth of Belfast seemed to be in Manchester University that year - and all doing accounting, why?!). Otherwise none of my Catholic relatives live in the 'heathen country' and few of my dad's. So yeah, I was born here and have lived here most of my life, but I think we can say I'm pretty damn Irish. Unless you go back like four hundred years to the Spanish Armada, and that's just silly...

There you go, some useless information that you didn't need to know, will never need again, but which I nonetheless felt like sharing anyway.

So there.

Nyuh ;)

[Mithalwen]

*Gasp* And what about Mark12_30 - can such a cheerful figure really mean well in 'innocently' suggesting the opening of The Gauntlet Inn - a place designed specially for fights? And can this have anything to do with Mithalwen's recent disappearance...? !




My disappearance? :eek: I guess that profiting from logistical problems to cut down the time I spend on line is not coming a moment too soon if missing the occasional day counts as disappearance....


BTW We spell it "baroque" (like the french) and the Brits say it more or less the same way as the Germans but the Americans make the "O" a long vowel...

I am mainly English by blood but I have an Irish surname (My Great grandfather was an Irish cockney, born within the sound of Bow Bells to Irish parents from Cork who emigrated after the potato famine), and my grandmother's family were Welsh. There is allegedly a drop of French blood somewhere, but nothing more exotic than that...

[Lalwendë]

I have no prejudice about Germans - well, not about anyone, in fact! Something which does irritate me about English newspapers is that they do perpetuate it. We are close cousins linguistically and culturally, and so this attitude just makes no sense to me. What's great about Germany? Their cars, the beers, Goethe...
Is the German for Annihilation really Vernichtung? Someone asked me this today, thinking I'd know...

What am I? My father's family are all from the same area into the far distant past, an area which was settled by Vikings at one time. Half my mother's family originated in Kinsale, the other half from North Wales; her great grandfather was a Welsh hellfire preacher who steadfastly refused to learn English.

I'm a bit diverted by how many 'Downers seem to have Celtic connections - is it some kind of genetic resonance which makes us Tolkienians? :)

[Mithalwen]

Deep calling to the deep - or the fact that Sindarin is related to Welsh?

[Amanaduial the archer]

*shrugs* Half of Boston is made up of the Irish who emigrated in the early 20th century. It seems like a somehow glorified nationality - it draws people. Various people in my school claim to be Irish and it's like "yes, because your great grandmother once took the ferry over from Stranraer to Belfast, that obviously makes you Irish..." (Stranraer being a very strange little village on the Scottish coast that always seems dead and has a whiff of goats and the sort of relationships found in Jacobean tragedies).

Psh, the English newspapers are just ruffled because the Germans get up at four in the morning to steal the sunbeds *STEREOTYPE ALERT* ;) Lol, there are plenty about us though, I'm sure - the English seem to come across as complete prudes who are interested only in cricket and the weather; a nation that wears a disturbing and suspicious propensity (is that even the right word?) of tweed...

My disappearance? I guess that profiting from logistical problems to cut down the time I spend on line is not coming a moment too soon if missing the occasional day counts as disappearance.... Hush ;) I name-grabbed - you should feel priveleged that you were the first name to come to mind.

[the phantom]

Bayern...München
Well, yeah, I suppose when I think of Germany I tend to think of Bavaria and Munich first- probably because that's what I saw the most movies about in my junior high German class.
auch kann ich nicht ein umlaut oder ein Schlafer's S an diesem Klavier finden
Ha ha! You mean you can't find -> ä or -> ß.
:p
Ich liebe das Musik von Bach und Handel.
Was Handel German? I thought he was a Brit. Oh, wait, he just moved there. Boy, my music history it getting rusty.

But how could you forget all the other German-born composers such as Brahms, Wagner, and Beethoven?

"Musicality of the Germans"... no kidding. That must be where I get it from.

So, I guess we should assume that you are not Bavarian, Durfuiniel. What Bundesland do you come from? Mein Großvater war von Nordrhein-Westfalen.

[the phantom]

the English seem to come across as complete prudes who are interested only in cricket and the weather
You forgot about scones, tea, pinkies, and silly phrases.

[Amanaduial the archer]

You forgot about scones, tea, pinkies, and silly phrases.What ho, old bean, I do believe you're correct. Rather off of me to forget that, what what? *takes a puff at her pipe and adjusts her monocle* Just one thing though, old chap, a trifling thing - it's never pinky. Keep it in mind, there's a good fellow.

[Mithalwen]

Aman.... I am, I am lol
Phantom, I hadn't forgotten them but while I like Beethoven and the middle movement of the Emperor Concerto is one of my "desert island discs", my taste is rooted in the Baroque .... and I doubt I would ever have the stamina for Wagner .. was it Birgitte Fassbender who replied tpo the question " What do you need to sing Wagner ?" "Comfortable shoes.."

Handel was naturalised but I was being polite ....(being british an all)

I think you have propensities rather than wear them ... ;) and isn't tweed back?

I don't know what a pinkie is so how can I be obsessed? And it isn't that we aren't interested, just that we are bound by rules of politeness that exclude more interesting topics of conversation..

Yeah, I hated Americans telling me that they were Irish, I mean I was probably more Irish than they were and quite frankly, after visiting Ireland, I was very glad my ancestors made the trip - I mean it was the only place I have been to that was wetter than England .. Apart from perhaps Scotland...

Ooh do we have anyone from Stranraer ;) Before Aman meets the same fate as the Duchess of Malfi... lol

[Lalwendë]

there are plenty about us though, I'm sure - the English seem to come across as complete prudes who are interested only in cricket and the weather; a nation that wears a disturbing and suspicious propensity (is that even the right word?) of tweed...

Oh yes. I'm more stereotypical than most, making my way to work with my bowler hat firmly placed upon my head, a neatly furled umbrella under one arm, a copy of the Daily Telegraph under the other. I may be looking forward to the tea trolley coming round, and maybe I will treat myself to a scone while I peruse the cricket results. Well, this is the way I am, according to the media...Oh so untrue...apart from the scone... ;)

(Stranraer being a very strange little village on the Scottish coast that always seems dead and has a whiff of goats and the sort of relationships found in Jacobean tragedies).

I like Stranraer. Everything you say about is true, but I still like it. It reminded me of something from Father Ted, especially the villages thereabouts - where the Wicker Man was filmed; and it is close to the old hangout of the Sawney Beans, Scotland's very own serial killer cannibal family. :eek: Well worth googling for that particular tale. I once saw someone in Stranraer eating a deep fried Mars Bar with chips and was nearly ill.

[Amanaduial the archer]

where the Wicker Man was filmed; and it is close to the old hangout of the Sawney Beans, Scotland's very own serial killer cannibal family Four words: Need I say more?! I rest my case ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

the English seem to come across as complete prudes who are interested only in cricket and the weather;
Feigning surprise, Fea cries out...

You're not?!?!? For the English stereotypes I have no personal basis for: Cricket, horseback riding, tea-time, and everything prim and proper. For the stereotypes that I have good reason for having developed: I tend to view the English as having a sheer (and generally bewildering) prejudice against muscle cars. Also, they like their pubs. :rolleyes:

German sterotypes have been completely bashed for me, in that my best friend spent some number of weeks living in Germany this year with friends of her family, and was thus shown that German kids are much like American kids. I still picture a number of castles though, as well as... dare I admit it? The little German boy on the Simpsons... "Don't pop me, I'm full of chocolate." Amazing what television can do to a person.

I still maintain that New York is the best place in the world. Fea fishes for stereotypes of New Yorkers...

Fea

[The Saucepan Man]

the English newspapers are just ruffled because the Germans get up at four in the morning to steal the sunbeds Actually, in my experience, it is the English who are the worst offenders on that score.

Now, let me see:

Frequent lengthy conversations concerning weather and cricket: check
Scones: check (with butter, cream and strawberry jam, of course)
Tea: Can't abide the stuff myself, but appreciate its cultural importance, so check
Pinkies: Assuming you mean outstretched little finger when one is drinking, naturally, so check
Silly phrases: Tally ho! and toodlepip, old bean check
Neatly furled umbrella under one arm: check
Daily Telegraph under the other: Well, it's not the Telegraph, but it's a broadsheet, so check
Bowler hat: No, but the idea appeals check
Prim and proper: check
Prejudice against muscle cars: Assuming you mean the ridiculously large American variety, check
Pubs: Most definately check

Hmm, it would appear that I am in fact the stereotypical Englishman. :D

Although, like many here, I have Celtic roots, Welsh in my case, on my father's side. However, it seems to me that Tolkien appeals more to those aspects which I see as having been inherited from my mother, and her family is of Italian descent. Perhaps it's the Catholic influence. :eek: :D

[the phantom]

Hmm, it would appear that I am in fact the stereotypical Englishman.
Well, if I ever make it to England you'll have to teach me how to be like you. I'd love to add British charm to my lengthy list of attractive attributes.
Fea fishes for stereotypes of New Yorkers...
New Yorkers ride around in cabs and throw garbage at sports teams from other states while shouting 100 curse words per minute.

The only time they get quiet is when a group of mafia thugs walks by (about every two minutes).

Except for Central New Yorkers- they're all unemployed, angsty high schoolers who don't have a drivers license, haven't read Morgoth's Ring, and can't draw worth anything. They survive only by leeching off their parents and flashing their attractive legs to get discounts.

[Encaitare]

Aber das Bier is sehr gut zu trinken! Entschuldige bitte, Deutsh ist nur mein zweite Fremdsprache und ich habe alles vergessen - auch kann ich nicht ein umlaut oder ein Schlafer's S an diesem Klavier finden.

Ich liebe das Musik von Bach und Handel.


Or as I read it: "blahblahgibberishdon'tknowGermanblahblah Bach und Handel!" At which point I became excited because I recognized something familiar to me. :p

New Yorkers ride around in cabs and throw garbage at sports teams from other states while shouting 100 curse words per minute.

Er... yeah. The cab part, anyway. Yay for absolutely insane cabbies

The only time they get quiet is when a group of mafia thugs walks by (about every two minutes).

Never seen any Mafia thugs walk by, so I wouldn't know. But it's true, we never shut up.

Except for Central New Yorkers- they're all unemployed, angsty high schoolers who don't have a drivers license, haven't read Morgoth's Ring, and can't draw worth anything. They survive only by leeching off their parents and flashing their attractive legs to get discounts.

I'm not a central New Yorker (Long Island, woo hoo), so let's see...

Unemployed: for now, yes, sadly
Angsty High Schooler: from time to time
Haven't Read Morgoth's Ring: I'm getting there, okay??? *pout* :p
Can't Draw Worth Anything: can too!
Leeching off parents: not really, seeing as they're my legal guardians and all
Attractive Legs: but of course ;)
Flashing Attractive Legs: but of course not

Bah. Everyone judges the whole of New York by NYC... but it's such a great city.

As for the historical background of my ancestors, they were: Italian, Norwegian, British, Irish, German, Austrian... and my grandmother descends from Transylvanian gypsies from way back when. Hah... I'm such a mutt.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

so please tell me your view of germany :) (Durfuiniel)
I'm sort of sorry for being narrow-minded, but right now Germany reminds me of only one thing . . .

I'm counting the days 'til Germany 2006 World Cup!

There.

Englishmen? Hmm . . . being of the abovementioned narrow-mind, all I can remember is they haven't won the Cup since the last Age. :p

Oh, and to soften the blow: such wit these people have. Their representatives here, at least. ;)

New Yorkers?

Aber das Bier is sehr gut zu trinken! Entschuldige bitte, Deutsh ist nur mein zweite Fremdsprache und ich habe alles vergessen - auch kann ich nicht ein umlaut oder ein Schlafer's S an diesem Klavier finden.

Ich liebe das Musik von Bach und Handel. (Mithalwen)
Entschuldigung, aber wie heißen diese Sätzen auf Englisch? Ich habe das nicht verstanden.

You just had to flaunt the fact that you're studying German.

I can't help it! I'm a vain Prince of Noldor so unlike my father and grandfather.

[Lalwendë]

Of course, there is a whole other English stereotype. When I step out of the office I am in the midst of this different world where girls go about with lumps of gold in their ears so heavy that their earlobes hit their shoulders; where they feed cheese 'n' onion pasties to slightly unkempt toddlers; where they stare menacingly at anyone not wearing sports gear. It is a world where the young men visibly clear their lungs, darkly demand 83p for their 'bus fare' and display a thorough knowledge of Anglo-Saxon words. They move in hordes through the precinct, shouting loudly, and stop to huddle conspiratorially outside the £1 shops where they swap tales of 'wicked nights out' and plan their tactics for the annual battles at the Next or B&Q sale. This is the English stereotype nobody on foreign shores ever sees. Unless those foreign shores happen to be in Ibiza. ;)

[Durfuiniel]

oh my god, you really wrote very much since my last visit... hope I won't forget anything:)
Aber das Bier is sehr gut zu trinken! Entschuldige bitte, Deutsh ist nur mein zweite Fremdsprache und ich habe alles vergessen - auch kann ich nicht ein umlaut oder ein Schlafer's S an diesem Klavier finden. -->Entschuldigung, aber wie heißt diese Sätzen auf Englisch? Ich habe dast nicht verstanden.

Ok, in English it's "But the beer is very good. Sorry, but german is only my second foreign languag (?) and I forgot everything. Also I can't type in a Ok, I have no idea what that is called in english ä, ö, ü and ß.
So, I guess we should assume that you are not Bavarian, Durfuiniel. What Bundesland do you come from? Mein Großvater war von Nordrhein-Westfalen. I'm from Baden-Würtemberg, do you know where this is?
I'm counting the days 'til Germany 2006 World Cup!Englishmen? Hmm . . . being of the abovementioned narrow-mind, all I can remember is they haven't won the Cup since the last Age Well, I'm waiting for the world cup with excitement.
And I'm sure we'll win;) Well, with our new trainer we never lost 'till now... so maybe we're lucky...

Does BTW mean "By the way"?

the English newspapers are just ruffled because the Germans get up at four in the morning to steal the sunbeds
*big smile* well, this articles you can find in german newspapers, too... only that in these papers the english men are the ones who got up early to lay their towels on the sunbeds and occupie them... and when I was on holiday in Spain it were both*lol*

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Except for Central New Yorkers- they're all unemployed, angsty high schoolers who don't have a drivers license, haven't read Morgoth's Ring, and can't draw worth anything. They survive only by leeching off their parents and flashing their attractive legs to get discounts.
I can too draw! ;)

Prejudice against muscle cars: Assuming you mean the ridiculously large American variety, check
Detect my meaning? Those English that I know much prefer the variety of automobile that not only cost more than my life, but are impossible for an average sized person to get in and out of. Picture a normal car where you get in. Now picture the attempt of getting into a vehicle by the following means: First you must squat low to the ground, and slide one leg into the car. Follow this uncomfortable movement by shifting horizontally until you have about half of yourself inside. You must then perform contortionist activities until your knee is within and inch of your nose, and then slide that leg in next to the other one. Now that you are actually in the car, you can proceed to wonder how on Earth to get out of the car without help. :p Not that I have anything against MGs... ;)

Fea

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ooooh, I just love stereotypes. Just to make sure that my own land is not left out I present the following questionnaire:

Are You an Honourary Canadian?

Are you neat?

Are you always scrupulously polite, to the point of not saying things you want to say, for fear of being rude?

If somebody asks you politely to get out of the pool, do you get out?

Do you wait in lines patiently, or impatiently but pretending to be patient?

Do you have coffee and donuts for breakfast at least once a week?

Do you watch hockey?

Do you feel ambivalent about Americans? That is, you like having them come to your country and spend their money, you like going to their country and buying their cheap gas, but you don't like meeting them in other countries?

Do you own a heavy winter coat of any variety (not necessarily a parka)?

Do you consider a five hour drive between cities the norm?

Do you spell the following words thusly: honour, colour, centre?

Does Z rhyme with "head"?

Do you think Thanksgiving is in October?

Do you drink beer?

A lot of beer?

Does your beer have more than %5.0 alcohol content?

Do you have more than one official language?

Has your country never lost a war?

And finally. . .

Have you ever been on a canoe trip longer than one day?



If you answer "yes" to 10 or more of these questions then congratulations, you are an Honourary Canadian. Go to the nearest Canadian embassy and claim your maple leaf toque!

[Bêthberry]

Ah, Fordim, I see you have left off the best defining canoe joke. Just as well I guess. Save that one not for the Honourary Canucks but for the real MacPap. :smokin:

[The Saucepan Man]

Hmm, it would appear that I am an Honourary Canadian as well as a Stereotypical Englishman. :confused:

Then again, most of those apply to the British at least as much as they do to Canadians, or in some cases apply to Canadians precisely because they apply to the British. (Obviously, I'm excluding the hockey, Thanksgiving, five hour drive and canoe ones. They're just wierd. ;) )

I suspect, however, that there may be a significant difference between the stereotypical French-Canadian and the stereotypical British-Canadian. :rolleyes:

[the phantom]

got up early to lay their towels on the sunbeds
Somebody want to explain the whole sunbed thing?
I can too draw!
I don't know if I should believe you. Draw something, scan it, and let us see it. Then I'll give you my final verdict.

And since that's the only thing you protested I guess the rest must've been right. :p
I'm from Baden-Würtemberg, do you know where this is?
But of course. Right next door to those stereotypical Bavarians.

And Fordy, I answered "yes" to six of the questions (and "half-yes" to two, for a total of seven). Do I get anything for that?

[the phantom]

I suspect, however, that there may be a significant difference between the stereotypical French-Canadian and the stereotypical British-Canadian. :rolleyes:
No way!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Somebody want to explain the whole sunbed thing?
I second that question... I just don't get it.

I don't know if I should believe you. Draw something, scan it, and let us see it. Then I'll give you my final verdict.

Okay.

And since that's the only thing you protested I guess the rest must've been right. :p
"Fight only the battles you know you can win."

Fea (who is typing FROM an uncomfortable chair in a cluttered study)

[Durfuiniel]

Somebody want to explain the whole sunbed thing?
Ok, I'll try... but maybe somebody will do it afterwards again in a better english*smile*
Ok, imagine your on holiday in a club in spain.
In the morning you go to breakfast and afterwards you go to the pool and want to lay down on a sunbed.
But on all the sunbeds you can see lay/lei :confused: either towels or some persons. So on the sunbeds were lay the towels are no people and there aren't people near to them too. So you may get the idea that some people woke up extra early to lay their towels on the sunbeds, that they have one of them when they arrive at the pool lately.
In german articles is always written that the english people get up extrem early to lay their towels on the sunbeds. They write how mad the english people are 'cause they do it.
And it seems like as the english people write the same in their newspapers about the germans.
And if you really are in holiday you see crazy english and german people:)

uhm, I'm not sure whether this text is so well understandable but I hope I was able to make clear what the "sunbed" thing was about...

@fordim: I answerded with 7 "yes". Since I live on the other side of the world this is interesting...

[Lalwendë]

This has made me laugh - I never knew that German people thought the English were laying out the towels first. Hmmm, perhaps it is in fact the Spanish people who are doing it to confuse us poor Northern Europeans? ;)

Fea - MG is now owned by BMW so these are in fact German cars. :) As are Land Rover and Jaguar, though some resident Clarkson is now no doubt going to correct me.

[The Saucepan Man]

... but I cannot resist. :rolleyes:

MG is now owned by BMW so these are in fact German cars. As are Land Rover and Jaguar, though some resident Clarkson is now no doubt going to correct me.MG and Land Rover were both owned by BMW, but BMW sold them off, retaining only the (profitable) Mini range. Land Rover is now owned by Ford, as is Jaguar, so both are ultimately in American ownership. Although I believe that the Rover-MG Group is British, at least.

Then again, give me a Ferrari anyday. (Please ...)

Just call me Jeremy. :D


uhm, I'm not sure whether this text is so well understandable but I hope I was able to make clear what the "sunbed" thing was about...Good explanation, Durfuiniel. As someone who prefers to be late to bed and late to rise on holiday, I find the whole sunbed thing intensely irritating, whichever nationality is responsible.

Now, back to the topic at hand. I'm from England, in case anyone hadn't guessed already. :p

[the phantom]

Fight only the battles you know you can win.
the phantom backs down from no one!

Ahhhh, so that's what the whole sunbed thing is about. Ha ha! :D It sounds pretty silly if you ask me. Only Europeans would want to spend their holiday lying by a pool. :rolleyes:

Keep nasty sunbeds! Smeagol wants mountains, pines, and waterfalls.
Then again, give me a Ferrari anyday.
I prefer Lamborghinis.
I'm from England
:eek: And to think, all this time I thought you were from Quebec.

[Durfuiniel]

I think this sunbed-towel thing is stupid, too. But it's really funny that no country wants to be the guilty one:)
I never had a problem with sunbeds 'cause I don't use them for a long time anyway...
I prefer Lamborghinis. Well I love Porsche...

And to write at least ONE thing in topic: Where in england are you from saucepan man?

[Encaitare]

Durfuiniel--

Hah! Now I've just got these mental images of mad Europeans secretly plotting to reserve their sunbeds, and resorting to all sorts of tricksy business in order to make sure they get theirs in a nice, sunny spot. Sometimes they even must sink so low as espionage to distract the enemy would-be sunbathers, by sneaking in at night to lay out therir towels super-early, or taking a towel off the sunbed, tossing it over the fence in a not-very-discreet fashion, and then whistling innocently as they place their own towel down, lie down, and twiddle their thumbs, pretending nothing ever happened.

It's like those old "Good Spy, Bad Spy" cartoons. :p

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ah, Fordim, I see you have left off the best defining canoe joke. Just as well I guess.

I did think about it, but the B-W wouldn't be able to reprimand me fast enough should I have dared. . . 'nuff said.

Saucy, delighted you qualify for Canadian citizenship. I rather suspected that you might. As to the French/English question, I believe that it is equally applicable to anglos (such as myself) and my francophonie brethren. Any quebecois(e) on the site can correct me.

As to those of you who scored just below the required 10 -- well, I'm sorry, but you are just not Canadian enough. You can be from the Netherlands though!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I just uncovered the following quote by Sir Ian McKellan, and in light of my recent posts to this thread, just had to share it:

"I can imagine what it's like to kill someone," says Sir Ian McKellen, slicing up his haddock and smearing it with mash. "I can imagine what it's like to cast spells or have superpowers. But imagining what it's like to be Canadian? No. You'd need experience for something like that."

It's from an article (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/05/17/bfian.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/05/18/ixtop.html) in The Telegraph.

*sigh* I suppose for all the time he's spent here making movies, the inestimable Sir Ian is not an honourary Canadian.

[The Saucepan Man]

It sounds pretty silly if you ask me.No. It's deadly serious.

Encaitare's descriptions are not as mad as they sound. These things do really happen. I once got into a very heated argument with a nasssty woman who ssstole the preciousss ssunbed that I had reserved with my childrens' beach toys (placed under the sunbed to stop them blowing away). And she was English.


Only Europeans would want to spend their holiday lying by a pool.Sun, sea, sand, a sparkling pool, a cold beer and a good book. Ah, heaven. :smokin:


And to write at least ONE thing in topic: Where in england are you from saucepan man?Aha! An opportunity to drag this post back on topic. London, me old china.


Saucy, delighted you qualify for Canadian citizenship.Well, if being polite and reserved yet impatient, drinking beer, pronouncing 'z' zed and spelling honour, colour, centre thusly qualifies one for Canadian citizenship, I must say that you have very relaxed immigration rules. :eek: :D

[Bêthberry]

Sauce, you said:


I suspect, however, that there may be a significant difference between the stereotypical French-Canadian and the stereotypical British-Canadian.


Right. One group of us listens to Celine while the other listens to Shania. One group prepares fevres aux larde with maple syrup while the other uses brown sugar in baked beans. One group says, "Comment ca va, heh?" while the other says, "How's it goin', eh?" But neither group has fifty words for snow. Or any other activity.

Fordim, we could always send Sir Ian some black flies. Then he could imagine he was roughing it in the bush. (That's a Margaret Atwood allusion, for those of you unfamiliar with CanLit.) I think those who don't qualify as Honourary Canadians might be named Newfoundlanders, don't you think? Pre-Con that is, to retain the old colonial spirit.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

As regards sunbeds, it's a little thing called being clever. Stealing the sunbeds? Hey, anything goes...

Aman, Lalwende, I am glad to say that I have never been to Stranraer. Cold, dead people down in those parts! :D But I am familiar with the cannibal family. Murder, inbreeding, human flesh....ghastly stuff.

I would like to comment on the English stereotypes that have been bandied about on this thread. You see, the person Saucepan Man describes is what everyone loves about the English. However, the horrible illustrations of Lalwende are far more prevalent and worrying. That whole "Are you lookin' at me?" alchopops, chunky fake jewellery and reality tv/celebrity culture is simply something to run away from in my book.

And no, I am not a conservative. ;)

Do Scots and Welsh have identities? Or are they just extensions of the English? I know the Irish definitely have a distinct identity.

[Lalwendë]

That whole "Are you lookin' at me?" alchopops, chunky fake jewellery and reality tv/celebrity culture is simply something to run away from in my book.

And no, I am not a conservative.

I'm quite far from being a conservative - you don't have to be one to be wary of that whole 'culture'! There's a new word for it, but I'm not sure whether it's considered rude or not, so I won't say it, but anyone in the UK will know what I'm saying. ;)

Do Scots and Welsh have identities? Or are they just extensions of the English? I know the Irish definitely have a distinct identity.

Not only do I think that the Scots and Welsh have their own identities, but people from different areas of England often have their own cultures. I've noticed that in London, people seem to start work later and leave later, while up here there are plenty of people about in the office at 7am - makes it a pain when you ring someone at 9am and their voicemail says they only start work at11am! Likewise when they ring you at 4.30 just as you've logged off, grrr. Even language is different, I had real trouble understanding someone today who spoke in extremely precise Received Pronunciation. And here, we thank the bus driver when we alight, something I've done in the south and received suspicious glances for! ;)

[Mithalwen]

Ok, just 2 points since I am pushed for time:

1,It is just "riding" not horse back riding or horse riding, where and what else might you think anyone might be referring to?

2, Crooking your little finger is a spurious pretension.... you will be using doilies next....

And that is probably equivalent to Gandalf's use of fire on Caradhras ..;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Do Scots and Welsh have identities? Or are they just extensions of the English? I know the Irish definitely have a distinct identity.
The Scots all wear kilts and are reminiscent of Grounds-keeper Willie from The Simpsons.

The Welsh are well-known for looking with disdain upon "foreigners". Or so I've always heard.

where and what else might you think anyone might be referring to?
With the phantom including minor slips of mine in our frequent PMs, I've learned to be very specific and choose my wording wisely, lest it be misunderstood. ;)

Fea

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

are there any stereotypes for bostonians? (boston, massachusetts) and its true about New yorkers! they're loud, obnoxious and are ummm... very supportive of theyre baseball team *coughs* yankees stink*cough*. If you ever have any reason to go to New york though Broadway would be it. It's awesome there.

[Mithalwen]

Home of the beans and the cod, where the Lowells speak only to Cabots and the Cabots speak only to God?

Hmmm ...... Kennedy's (and other Americans who think they are Irish...) , Harvard, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Sailing, Henry James, Sea food....

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

are there any stereotypes for bostonians?
The insult of "chowder-head". People who not only live in Boston, but listen to Boston, eat Boston baked beans, cheer for the Boston Red Sox, and speak with a Haa-vud accent. :p

If you ever have any reason to go to New york though Broadway would be it
Or, of course, the kind, intelligent, interesting, and helpful people who live in the REST of the state. And the incredible variation of landscapes, the awesome variety of wildlife, the lakes, the hills, the brilliant autumns and hellish-fury winters... You know... all those reasons. ;)

One funny thing about where I live is that almost everyone I know holds a grudge against the entire City. We really have nothing against the people, just the entire existance of the place. Picture going out of state, or even out of the country. People ask where you are from, and you say "New York". You then get bombarded with questions like "Omigod, do you like, live next door to the Statue of Liberty? Did you run when the Twin Towers fell?" And you are forced to answer "No I did not run, my eyes were rivited to a television screen a few hundred miles northwest of the place, where I live." :rolleyes:

Fea

[Lalwendë]

Boston? That's in Lincolnshire, so its claim to fame might be taters? ;)

Seriously, Boston USA sounds an interesting place. Cheap Lobster, universities, the Boston Tea Party, Sylvia Plath, and of course, The Pixies.

[Rimbaud]

Lal, as per above: chavs! It's not that rude...:) And there are many of them about.

[Mithalwen]

One funny thing about where I live is that almost everyone I know holds a grudge against the entire City. We really have nothing against the people, just the entire existance of the place. Picture going out of state, or even out of the country. People ask where you are from, and you say "New York". You then get bombarded with questions like "Omigod, do you like, live next door to the Statue of Liberty? Did you run when the Twin Towers fell?" And you are forced to answer "No I did not run, my eyes were rivited to a television screen a few hundred miles northwest of the place, where I live." :rolleyes:

Fea

Well I have an affection for upstate New York due to a fondness for Edith Wharton and (a long time ago) a young man from Poughkeepsie :rolleyes:

[Shelob]

Come on, you forgot the ever so stereotypical 'Boston Accent'
"Pahk the cah in Havahd Yahd"
How can you forget that?

Oh, sorry. Feanor of the Peredhil did mention it...just as a "Haa-vud accent."

I love that stereotype...I love teasing my dad 'cause he speaks with that accent...and I love it when I slip and accidently say something like "Yeah, I read it in hahd covah"...


As for New York, I've kin in upstate New York but have never been to the city (though I want to go to Broadway)...

[Fingolfin II]

Australia.

[Formendacil]

Well, my assumption is that anyone misguided enough to actually want to know where I'm from will look under my avatar, but in the event that I should someday change the "location" I'm from, or in case we have some unexpected numbskulls hiding within our intelligent ranks, I'll inscribe my hometown into this thread:

Olds, Alberta, Canada.

Population: c.8000, located 1 hr (100 km) north of Calgary. Age: 100 (exactly). For further details, look it up. (Google with do fine...) ;)

[Gil-Galad]

i actually just got in to calgary last night, i was shipped out to the navy for a week on duty, but now i'm back...

[Finwe-89]

Read my location






Jk, I'm from Holland, South-Holland, The Hague... If you really like to know :P

[Assasin]

I live in Arizona, USA. Very hot. Got a great tan. ;) :p

[The Only Real Estel]

Jk, I'm from Holland, South-Holland, The Hague... If you really like to know

So if my grandpa hadn't moved over from Holland...I'd probably be.....somewhere around there. :p

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

Well besides our silly accent ;) ...
I have the worst time with it. Sometimes I type in it and when I'm typing a post I have to go back and edit it to make sure I didn't spell anything weirdly. And it's even worse when you move somewhere else and everyone makes fun of your accent. But it's ok because I make fun of it too...

[Shelob]

well AbercrombieOfRohan my family and I scared someone withour accents before...it was a few years ago, and she was unused to hearing a boston accent except from me everyonce and awhile, so when we invited her over one day my mom says you could see the terror in her eyes at suddenly hearing nothing, nothing, except boston accents...I felt (and still feel) rather bad for her, but on the other hand it was nice to see looks of inconprehension on someone else for a change (since we were living far from home I was so at lost as to what people were saying I probably had a blank look of confusion on my face for the better part of a year)

But typing with an accent is pretty cool...every once and a while I get a strong urge to type "y'know" or "c'mon" or somthing, but that's not really an accent--just quicker....

[Linnahiril Tinnufinwen]

I'm a Southern California girl. Us Southern Californian's do have a bit of a stereotype as well. We're all supposed to be from Hollywood, be in extemely good shape and extremely fashionable, know tons of celebrities, and love to surf and go the the beach. I must confess, that though I have been to Hollywood several times (I only live an hour a way), there really is nothing special about it. It's just a city, with some neat stores. I don't think I'm that fashionable, I don't know any celebrities, and I hate the beach. It is pretty hot down here, though, during the summer.

[Encaitare]

and its true about New yorkers! they're loud, obnoxious and are ummm... very supportive of theyre baseball team *coughs* yankees stink*cough*. If you ever have any reason to go to New york though Broadway would be it. It's awesome there.

I confess, it's all true. But to the credit of New Yorkers... we are fearless when it comes to jaywalking, and can hail cabs like no one else. :cool:

Although I'm not from the city, so perhaps my skills are not as honed as those who do live there. Apparantly Long Island has its own sterotypes... You Know You're From Long Island When... (http://www.blogthings.com/long-island.html)

And so many of them are so true.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

If you're not from Long Island or NYC, you're not really from New York
Hey, I'm from the sixth borough, thank you very much! :rolleyes:

You know... the state that comes attached to the city? Only people forget it, so when you say "I'm from New York", they say "Omigod, do you like, live next to the Statue of Liberty or something?". *shudder* Now this (http://www.blogthings.com/Small-Town.html) one, is true. For you city folks, you have no idea how exciting corn-field cop stops actually are. ;) They're even better when you haven't actually done anything wrong and the cop sees you and says "Hey how's the folks? Yer dad know yer out tonight?" because the cop grew up with your parents. :rolleyes:

Fea

[Maeggaladiel]

I live in a very dark and wet place with lots of trees and very little sunshine, a place where giant spiders lurk in dark corners and wild animals roam the woods across the street. Sounds like a Mirkwood's bad neighborhood, but it's Oregon USA. I think I'm one of the lone two Oregonian BDers. I'd like to find out that there are more web-footers on the Downs, but I fear that Oregon isn't as barrow-savvy as that. Morai and I have to hold down the Pacific Northwest corner of the BW fort on our own, I guess. We've got the Rainwraiths to look out for, as we huddle in the shadow of Mt. St. Helens, AKA Mt. St. Doom, to our north. WE WILL PERSERVERE!

[Nimrodel_9]

I live in Utah, U.S.A. and am proud of it, though sometimes I wish I were from another country. Does the U.S. have a bad reputation every where? It seems like it does. :p

I've only managed to find a few people from Utah. I would love it if I found someone who lived near me.

~:D Nimmy:D ~

[Encaitare]

I live in Utah, U.S.A. and am proud of it, though sometimes I wish I were from another country. Does the U.S. have a bad reputation every where? It seems like it does. :p

Why would you wish you were from another country? I count myself lucky to live in the US.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Maine... exiled to Indiana.

Interesting thread we have here. :p

[Formendacil]

Why would you wish you were from another country? I count myself lucky to live in the US.

Because Canada is so much better!

I mean we have... um.... Mounties! Yeah, we have Mounties, eh! And snow! Lots of snow! If you like snow, we have it! What's a country without snow, eh?

Frankly, I don't know about the rest of the world, but the States doesn't look like such a bad place from up here. I mean, it's warm down there. You can go out without your parka and mukluks, and not freeze. And when you go out you'll actually be able to find another person.

The lack of all-encompassing forests of California redwoods would be depressing, but the novelty of pavement and beaches would take a while to wear off, at least.

Look at it from a Tolkien point of view: Canada is the Ice-bay of Forochel. Even if the States is Angmar, it's got more going for it. ;)

NOTE: This a totally humourous post, poking fun at both the States and Canada. No offense to any Canadian or American is intended, although anyone from Uzbekistan is welcome to complain if they find it offensive. :D

[Imladris]

California Dreamin' on such a winter's day...

[Gil-Galad]

right...

well i'm actually about an hours drive away from formen, and about 10-20 minute from Esgall....

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I mean, it's warm down there. You can go out without your parka and mukluks, and not freeze. And when you go out you'll actually be able to find another person.
*Looks out the window at the snow falling rapidly from the sky as the temperature falls*

The funniest thing in the world is when people down south break out the winter jackets when the temperature hits 50 degrees.

And really, aren't we all American, inhabiting an American Barrow? Yeah... thought so. :cool:

Fea

[Mithalwen]

And really, aren't we all American, inhabiting an American Barrow? Yeah... thought so. :cool:

Fea


Fea, this makes me think of my great aunt who drove her American husband mad by her longtime refusal to take US citizenship (he travelled a lot for his work even after he left the army and it was a nighmare sorting Visas). He would ask why she wouldn't become an American since half the world wanted to be American. She replied "That may well be true, but I happen to be British" :p


Sadly we seem to be the 51st state now though :(

[Lalwendë]

The funniest thing in the world is when people down south break out the winter jackets when the temperature hits 50 degrees.

Heh, you get that in the UK too, and the temperature differences between north and south are hardly any different. If you went for a night out in Newcastle, whatever the weather, the locals will be going about in their shirt sleeves or less, and I always laugh when I'm out and see people bundled up in ten layers of clothing when the temperature goes below 10c. Anything above that is warm to me having grown up in the coldest house in the UK.

Funny though, it rarely crosses my mind that the 'Downs is an American site, because nobody comes across as being all that different to anyone else. Do you have Barrows in the Americas? I know there is a lot of sacred rock art and I've seen pictures of earthworks, but I'd be interested to know if there are any actual barrows!

[Ainaserkewen]

I mean we have... um.... Mounties! Yeah, we have Mounties, eh! And snow! Lots of snow! If you like snow, we have it! What's a country without snow, eh? Seriously, if anybody in the world still thinks that we live in ice caves and can't expose any skin outside, I laugh, and laugh and laugh. I haven't seen snow since my 7th birthday. I haven't been in below zero temperatures since my last visit inside the walk in freezer where I work.Funny though, it rarely crosses my mind that the 'Downs is an American site, I'm always so suprised that no matter what country posters are from, I can't tell from their English where they live. Even when I find more South-East-Asia enhabited forums, they all speak the same language, with good vocabulary. Then I look at myself and wonder how crippled I'd be if the world worked on any other language but english.

[Encaitare]

Because Canada is so much better!

I mean we have... um.... Mounties! Yeah, we have Mounties, eh! And snow! Lots of snow! If you like snow, we have it! What's a country without snow, eh?

You're right. I wish I lived in Canada. ;)

[Nimrodel_9]

Why would you wish you were from another country? I count myself lucky to live in the US. Yes, I do also. It's just that people here can be complete idiots. I guess it's the same every where else though. That and some people running the country. I believe Bush is a great leader, but there are some... nevermind. :p :)

[Neurion]

Funny though, it rarely crosses my mind that the 'Downs is an American site, because nobody comes across as being all that different to anyone else. Do you have Barrows in the Americas? I know there is a lot of sacred rock art and I've seen pictures of earthworks, but I'd be interested to know if there are any actual barrows!I think there are, actually.

You're right. I wish I lived in Canada. ;)I hope you're being facetious...

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Some Interesting Facts About Canada That I Have Already Inflicted On The Downs But Will Do So Again Here

Canada (unlike every nation in Europe and the United States) has never lost a war (including the one we fought with the US when we opened up a big old can of whoop *** on y'all).

The oldest corporation in the entire world is The Hudson's Bay Company (Canadian).

General Motors was founded in Canada, by a Canadian.

The telephone, the zipper, peacekeeping forces, and the Roberston screwdriver are Canadian inventions.

Canadian women are the best looking women in the world.

All Canadians are fleet of foot and possessed of extraordinary grace and intelligence.

(OK, I might have made that last one up.)

[Nimrodel_9]

Canada (unlike every nation in Europe and the United States) has never lost a war (including the one we fought with the US when we opened up a big old can of whoop *** on y'all).
Hey, we haven't lost very much! ;)

[Beleg Cuthalion]

The telephone, the zipper, peacekeeping forces, and the Roberston screwdriver are Canadian inventions.You forgot the pacemaker, the electric pipe organ beloved of small non-guitar-playing church congregations everywhere, the G-suit, Howard Shore, Ngila Dickson and John Howe!

P.S. Peacekeeping's overrated. Like way.

[Gil-Galad]

P.S. Peacekeeping's overrated. Like way.


is it now...well one thing that caught my eye was not so long ago, maybe it was one of my teachers, but anyways, he said that if humans bled oil, U.S. will be the most humanitarian nation in the world...

[Shelob]

Do you have Barrows in the Americas? I know there is a lot of sacred rock art and I've seen pictures of earthworks, but I'd be interested to know if there are any actual barrows!
Lalwendë
There are the mound-builders, they lived along the Mississippi River at around the time of the middle ages. The mound-builders didn't quite build barrows they built ceremonial mounds (hence their name), but it's probably the closest in that sense...
In South America the Incas mumified their dead and continued to 'worship' them (but that's not really the best word...it's more like they treated them much the same as if they were still alive...spoke with them, brought them food, and I think there were some celebrations when they brought all their old rulers out of their tombs for the day)...
This is all I know off that's similar, though I wouldn't be supprised at 'barrow-ish' ideas appearing elsewhere in the americas...


I haven't seen snow since my 7th birthday
Ainaserkewen
You Poor and Fortunate person...We get snow all but every year (and this year has been no exception--we've enough snow, and it was cold enough, that the other day I could go walk on the snow) and thanks to some misfortune of genetics I'm always colder than everyone else (so I spend every year from late September to mid May freezing) but I get to do fun stuff like make snowmen, go sking, and throw snowballs at my brother :D


And to all of you I present this final quote:

"A country is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by boundaries, usually unnatural." --Joseph Heller, from Catch-22

so think on that...

[Neurion]

is it now...well one thing that caught my eye was not so long ago, maybe it was one of my teachers, but anyways, he said that if humans bled oil, U.S. will be the most humanitarian nation in the world...Try as I might, I can't seem to make any sense of that statement. :confused:

[Lalwendë]

There are the mound-builders, they lived along the Mississippi River at around the time of the middle ages. The mound-builders didn't quite build barrows they built ceremonial mounds (hence their name), but it's probably the closest in that sense...
In South America the Incas mumified their dead and continued to 'worship' them (but that's not really the best word...it's more like they treated them much the same as if they were still alive...spoke with them, brought them food, and I think there were some celebrations when they brought all their old rulers out of their tombs for the day)...
This is all I know off that's similar, though I wouldn't be supprised at 'barrow-ish' ideas appearing elsewhere in the americas...

I would suppose then, that the 'Mexican Day of the Dead' celebrations come from the Inca civilisation? That's interesting, as it is said that the ancient european cultures used to revere their ancestors by leaving food outside barrows and other tombs, even going so far as to hold celebrations in their honour, believing them to be very much still 'alive'. And in the UK there is Silbury Hill, which is seemingly nothing more than a huge mound built to 'enhance' the landscape for some spiritual purpose. Ii fascinates me how common ideas are found to be shared between cultures thousands of miles and years apart.

[Soronumë]

^^ I'm from FINLAND! :D mwahah.

[Thinlómien]

I'm also from Finland. :) I'm from Helsinki, the capital.

[wilwarin538]

I'm from Canada, eh! (hehe) :D

[Encaitare]

Originally posted by Fordim Who Is Not Biased Whatsoever ;)

Canadian women are the best looking women in the world.

I shall quote an indisputable source, one which is widely known and famed in all the most posh circles:

I've been all around this great big world and I've seen all kinds of girls
But I couldn't wait to get back in the States, back to the cutest girls in the world
~California Girls by the Beach Boys

See? You can't argue with Brian Wilson. :p

[Gil-Galad]

well a european can, and he said that Canadian girls are the best

[Ainaserkewen]

Canada (unlike every nation in Europe and the United States) has never lost a war (including the one we fought with the US when we opened up a big old can of whoop *** on y'all).
It’s the proudest thing in our history because countries are like super competitive men who only value the fights they’ve won. Personally, I think it’s the lack of wars we’ve been in that makes it impressive.

The oldest corporation in the entire world is The Hudson's Bay Company (Canadian). Better known as today as the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters. I absolutely love this part of our history.

Canadian women are the best looking women in the world.

All Canadians are fleet of foot and possessed of extraordinary grace and intelligence. Where the natives all are happy and the lakes are fresh and clean,
There is no unemployment and no one is mean.
In the summer there’s no mosquitoes,
And the winters are never cold,
There is no clear-cut longing and no ozone hole,
Oh in Canada, your leaders are so swell,
In Canada, no one ever goes to Hell.

You Poor and Fortunate person
Thanks Shelob, I do consider myself fortunate because like you I am also cold all the time, bad circulation I think, Thanks Mom and Dad. Though you get snow every year like clockwork, I’m guessing you don’t live in the Prairies where friends of mine had snow in August!

[Mithalwen]

Some Interesting Facts About Canada That I Have Already Inflicted On The Downs But Will Do So Again Here

Canadian women are the best looking women in the world.




Merci pour les autres

Thsi may help ... or not

http://www.aaaugh.com/jokes/cultural_differences.html

A varient of this was given me by my American flat mate several years ago. The situation has changes slightly in that we now have 5 terrestrial channels and we have managed to beat the Aussies occasionally ..... once notably (thank you mr Wilkinson :) )

[Neurion]

is it now...well one thing that caught my eye was not so long ago, maybe it was one of my teachers, but anyways, he said that if humans bled oil, U.S. will be the most humanitarian nation in the world...Hey Gil! You still owe me an explanation!

[Formendacil]

http://www.aaaugh.com/jokes/cultural_differences.html

A varient of this was given me by my American flat mate several years ago. The situation has changes slightly in that we now have 5 terrestrial channels and we have managed to beat the Aussies occasionally ..... once notably (thank you mr Wilkinson :) )

Those are HILARIOUS!!! They have all four countries spot on.

I was especially fond of the sports portrayal. That is so true of us. We obsess about hockey from the start of the season, to the end of the season, and in-between. We obsess about the American teams playing for the cup named after a British Lord (Stanley).

Gil-galad, if no one else here, will well remember all the car flags sporting the Flaming C that were driving around our fair province last May and June.

Hmm... I wonder who would win a hockey game, Gondor or Arnor. Somehow I can picture a crowd of screaming, red jersey-clad Arnorians rowdily cheering on the Fornost Flames in a Game 7 game against the Pelargir Lightning....

*Sigh. Remembers the playoffs.... Even though that's the only hockey he's ever really paid any attention to.*

[Encaitare]

well my teach says the U.S. are only in Iraq for the oil, they are totally ignoring all other things happening in the world, for example in sudan, no u.s. there to help them...no us.s gov't help for the tsunami either, all american-based private companies doing the help...

Perhaps your teacher is a wee bit misinformed...

Must ... not ... get ... political ...

[Ainaserkewen]

Hmm... I wonder who would win a hockey game, Gondor or Arnor. Somehow I can picture a crowd of screaming, red jersey-clad Arnorians rowdily cheering on the Fornost Flames in a Game 7 game against the Pelargir Lightning.... Ah, but where would they get the ice?

[Gil-Galad]

Fornost Flames...thats great....

[Formendacil]

Ah, but where would they get the ice?

Well, if I remember my Silmarillion right, Melkor was a big ice-maker at one time. Perhaps the executors of the Utumno Estate (Messrs. Gorthaur, Balrog, & Smaug) sold the company. I can imagine the EHL (Elven Hockey League) having been interesting in purchasing it to provide an arena for the Lindon Canucks and the Rivendell Maple Leaves. Or perhaps Cirdan went into the ice-and-zamboni business after that disastrous foray into discovering the north-east passage. THAT was quite a mission. One king and two palantiri never seen again, and the Ring of Barahir saved only by a turn of luck...

Still, the great days of the EHL are long gone. Remember when Wayne Gretzndil played with the Annuminas Oilers? Pity they traded him to the Minas Tirith Kings....

[Ainaserkewen]

You have me in stitches Formendacil, I have to say Hockey has never been this amusing. Even the guy next to me is asking what the heck the EHL is. For the sake of pride, I didn't tell him.

Remember when Wayne Gretzndil played with the Annuminas Oilers? Pity they traded him to the Minas Tirith Kings.... Gretzndil!

I thought about someone getting steamed of how off topic we are with this Canadian Hockey theme, but then I thought, what is the topic again? Oh yeah, where everyone is from...I'm...uh, from Canada, if you didn't know that already.

[Milady Revenwyn]

I belong in either Edoras or Hobbiton, however I'm originally from San Jose, CA. I currently go to school in Searcy, AR.

United States, of course. :P

[Formendacil]

You have me in stitches Formendacil, I have to say Hockey has never been this amusing.

Hockey can be very amusing. Particularly if you don't take the game as seriously as diehard hockey fans do. Okay, so I was cheering Calgary all the way last spring, but it didn't break my heart when Tampa Bay won, and I never really watched a game before, and hardly a game since.

I thought about someone getting steamed of how off topic we are with this Canadian Hockey theme, but then I thought, what is the topic again? Oh yeah, where everyone is from...I'm...uh, from Canada, if you didn't know that already.

I'm probably risking the wrath of the Barrow-wight just by having replied, but I'm sure that an adept BDer will turn this thread back to its original source eventually. Or else send it packing to the Mirth forum.

It IS a mirthful topic after all. I can see it going on indefinitely as the games are played out between the various teams (not all that unlike the Warg-praising thread, if I think about it...).

For example, since middle-earth is a much less pampering culture than our own, the EHLPA would not have objected to a salary cap (which might be because the EHL could hire goons... er orks... to make them play), so we would be in the middle of a hockey season right now.

One wonders how the Fornost Flames would be doing after their run at the Stewardly Cup. Daeron Sutter would likely be pushing his team just as hard, and Jarome Igindur would still be scoring a great deal (assuming his was still with the team and not traded to some expensive team like the Osgiliath Rangers), and Miika Kiprussion would still be a great goalie, but would the FIRE be there!!! Would the fans still have cause to roam the streets of Fornost in rowdy ecstasy? Would hockey fans in Bree still flock to the Prancing Pony to catch the show together? Would tickets at the Palantir Stadium still cost an arm and a leg? (To be extracted by one of the orks at the door.)

These are the questions that haunt the middle-earthian hockey fan. Well, that and whether or not he'll get in trouble for giving this thread false directions, so that it is now lost in the jungles of crossover hockey mirth, and far off the straight road leading to the location all BDers wish they hailed from: Valinor.

[Neurion]

when did i say that!?


well my teach says the U.S. are only in Iraq for the oil, they are totally ignoring all other things happening in the world, for example in sudan, no u.s. there to help them...no us.s gov't help for the tsunami either, all american-based private companies doing the help...Ouch, and this person still has a teaching cerificate?

[The Saucepan Man]

Must ... not ... get ... political ...Good advice.


I'm probably risking the wrath of the Barrow-wight just by having replied, but I'm sure that an adept BDer will turn this thread back to its original source eventually. Or else send it packing to the Mirth forum.You could always start a new thread in the Mirth forum.

In other words, please try to stick broadly to the topic at hand.

[Mithalwen]

Formendacil et al - I have Herenistarioned a thread called "Sport in Middle Earth" in Books.. though maybe it belongs in Mirth :)

[Celebuial]

I'm from Leicester, England. I couldn't really be bothered to read all the other replies to this(there's so many pages!!!!!) so I don't know if any one else is from around here! Oh well!!!!

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

I'm sorry, Mr. Barrow-Wight and Mr. Saucepan Man, but I just have to point formendacil and other BD-er's with an interest in hockey to this site. Just a quick little off-topic note. Don't hurt me *cowers*.

go here: http://www.geocities.com/sotto-voce/caribou.html

[Mithalwen]

Well there are assorted Brits but I can't think of anyone very close or even midlands..I am far south, Lal is North, Eomer far north... I think there are a few London-ish / commuter belt.... nothing came up on the search but who knows.. not everyone decalsre their location (for whatever reason)..

[Lalwendë]

Well there are assorted Brits but I can't think of anyone very close or even midlands..I am far south, Lal is North, Eomer far north... I think there are a few London-ish / commuter belt.... nothing came up on the search but who knows.. not everyone decalsre their location (for whatever reason)..

I think Phervasion is from near Brum, not sure which side though. I'm in (not from, even if this comment does restart the war of the Roses ;) ) Yorkshire, and so is davem, and Amanaduial The Archer is from near Manchester if I'm not mistaken, and narfforc is from Lancashire. So, Celebuial, there are some of us quite near to you :)

[Mithalwen]

Not exactly round the corner though.... ;) It is all North to me ... save that having roots in Warwickshire, Leicester is on the fringes of my known Universe - (I wonder if that will cause the Yorkists and Lancastrians to forget their differences in order to gang up on the southerner? :p I did have a friend who reckoned a mutual friend was a Northerner because she was born in Salisbury ... but I think that was a bit extreme......

[Amanaduial the archer]

Far North?! I should say so - Eomer is Scottish, methinks! ;)

Leicester...that would be maybe two hours drive away from me, less by train - I live in Greater Manchester. Survey this handy map (http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&ukwidth=289&ukheight=301&scale=%0D%0A2000000&lang=&overviewmap=GB_over&db=&g.x=182&g.y=197)

A little closer to you is Mattius (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/member.php?u=866), a fellow RPG and an all around delightful fellow: he is, as he has said before on this thread, is from Sheffield. Or maybe Lady_Báin (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/member.php?u=560), an inhabitant of Peterborough, but I ain't seen her any time recently.

So hey, you're not alone. *stares wistfully into space

[Lalwendë]

Leicester is on the fringes of my known Universe - (I wonder if that will cause the Yorkists and Lancastrians to forget their differences in order to gang up on the southerner?

Such differences can be easily settled when southerners come along and 'give cheek'. :p Of course, I hasten to add, Lancashire did win. Wars of over five hundred years ago are not easily forgotten... ;)

[Garen LiLorian]

Surprising number of fellow North Carolin...inininiers.
In Boone, myself, at least at the present moment. Although quite proud of my California birthplace (and we don't talk about the 12 years in Iowa...)


Canadian women are the best looking women in the world
Ok, so we can talk about it. Jack Kerouac said Iowan women were the most beautiful in the world. You gonna argue with Kerouac? Huh?


Thought not.:p

[the phantom]

Jack Kerouac said Iowan women were the most beautiful in the world.
I wish! (Iowa is but a two minute drive away from me)

In my experience though, girls from SW Omaha are much hotter than the ones across the river. Then again, Iowa is where I found my last girlfriend.

But I have to agree with Fordy on this. A ridiculously large percentage of the girls I've met from Canada were off the charts. You guys up there are blessed.

[Nimrodel_9]

Canadian women are the best looking women in the world Says who?! Well, I guess I can agree with that. Partly. My friend is from Canada and she is one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen. I think Arab women are the most beautiful though. :)

[The Saucepan Man]

... please try to stick broadly to the topic at hand.We wouldn't want this thread closed down now, would we? :rolleyes:

[Gil-Galad]

This Week on Off-Topic Posts, How the Where Everyone is Thread evolved into Which place has the hottest women? Iowa? Omaha? or the leading champion, Canada...

[Neurion]

From Nowhere I come, to Somewhere I go.

Where Life will lead me, I cannot know.

A warrior born, a scholar as well, treading a path 'twixt Heaven and Hell.

One ill step, I can ill afford, but yet I go on for the love of my Lord.

[Beleg Cuthalion]

A ridiculously large percentage of the girls I've met from Canada were off the charts. You guys up there are blessed.I wish I could see a few of them. :rolleyes:

[Bêthberry]

And Gil-Galad wondered why he didn't get a Personal Title last time round, right, SaucePanMan?

Consider it part of the skill or art of a Downer to know where the line is, and to dance nimbly there but not cross over into chat-slews or tar pits of off-topicness which mar the fertile fields of good discussion.

In short, please be good gardeners and prune the infelicitous phrases.

[Neurion]

I don't get it. I said where I'm from, and Gil-Galad accuses me of being off-topic?!?

[Ainaserkewen]

What ever happened to the World Map that showed where a lot of Downers lived in the World? That was interesting because then we could see which countries were "Downs Owned" as it were, or empty...like most of Antarctica. Do you think that anyone in Antarctica even surfs the internet? (random question of the morning).

And I'd also like to thank those of you solidifying Canadian hotness, now that Stalker thread is going to be growing a little.
I wish I could see a few of them.
I'm sure that wasn't your intention Beleg(hence the smilie, I know), but that's what I first thought of.

[Mithalwen]

Such differences can be easily settled when southerners come along and 'give cheek'. :p Of course, I hasten to add, Lancashire did win. Wars of over five hundred years ago are not easily forgotten... ;)


Well, I have to admit that I was indoctrinated at an early age by a Yorkie history teacher so I still am of the "Richard III" was stitched up brigade... and my best friend in the world is a Yorkie..... so we have more or less worked through the North - SOuth thing.... :p

The French thing is worse.. in france I am often held personally responsible for everything since the 100 years war ...... and here some people think I must be French cos I was bilingual.... doubly damned....

[Amanaduial the archer]

What ever happened to the World Map that showed where a lot of Downers lived in the World?It vanished, unfortunately. It was pretty impressive actually - there were a surprising amount of 'Downs-owned' countries, as you put it, Ainaserkewen - world domination, here we come! But it couldn't hold more than a couple of hundred Downer points, I think, so the newew points eventually started wiping off the older ones. I can't remember exactly why, but it stopped working. Being as there was no one who seemed to have the time, facilities and knowledge to start up and maintain a new one, the map vanished.

Pity, really. Good while it lasted. :)

[The Saucepan Man]

It vanished, unfortunately.I am sure that it's still there somewhere. Burra posted a link to it on a thread much like this one about a year ago and I went along and pinpointed myself, sadly wiping another Downer of the face of the earth in the process since, as Aman points out, it had only limited capacity.

[Glirdan]

You know, the only thing I find wierd about this thread is that the subject miraculously changed. But I'm frum Canada. The nice, cold country of Canada. :cool: :D

[The Only Real Estel]

Originally posted by Glirdan:

You know, the only thing I find wierd about this thread is that the subject miraculously changed

Welcome to the 'Downs, Glirdan! Once you've been here awhile, you'll notice that subjects can miraculously change quite often ;) :D.

[Glirdan]

Why thank you Estel for the welome, and I see what you mean by the posts changing a lot. But that's what makes it funner, hey? :p :)

[Ainaserkewen]

But I'm frum Canada. The nice, cold country of Canada. Oh, I disagree Glirdan, from where I'm standing, it's a balmy 7 degrees! The sun is shining, the birds are singing/dying of starvation(just kidding, we put out feeders) and out on the open water one sees sailors practicing for upcoming competitions. Plus, we all know when spring is really truly hear, it's when my Chem teacher, reedy Mr. Black starts coming to school on his practical red and white scooter. That, my good Glirdan is my Canada...oh yes, and welcome to this multi-national site of peace, happiness and Love...ing Tolkien.

[Glirdan]

Well, Ainaserkewn, exactly where are you standing in Canada (which province) beacuse where I'm standing, it's about -12 celcius, so I can't exactly say the same thing, can I?

Glirdy ;)

[Shelob]

Sorry Lalwendë, I've been gone for a short while and only just got around to reading this thread again.

I would suppose then, that the 'Mexican Day of the Dead' celebrations come from the Inca civilisation?

It's more likely that the 'Mexican Day of the Dead' has Aztec origins. The Inca civilization was based in South America in what is now Peru, and I don't believe their culture ever spread as far as mexico (close maybe...but I don't think so). The Aztec civilization however was centerd in the modernday Mexico City, and their culture spread through most of Mexico down into Northern South America. The Axtec civilization is also famous for being almost preoccupied with death, most notably their ritual human sacrifices.
Researching it quickly it seems that the Day of the Dead is a Christanized version of the Aztec celebration of " Miccailhuitontli" (little feast of the dead) which was a month long celebration overseen by their goddess Mictecacihuatl (lady of the dead). After the Aztecs were conquered by the spanish this holiday combined with All Saints Day to become the Day of the Dead.

Just incase you're still interested...

[Mithalwen]

There seem to be a lot of Canadians around.... has Fordim been on a recruitment drive? :p

[the phantom]

You're right, Mith. I have noticed quite a few Canadians lately.

But you can't expect Fordy to convert many more though. I mean- three or four more would mean that 50% of Canadians would be Barrow-Downs members. :p

[Mithalwen]

Meow... If I were being really cynical (perish the thought) , I might wonder if he compelled his students to join as a course requirement ......

[Glirdan]

Mith, phantom, are you guys making fun of Canadians? Because if you are, I'll be really upset :( . But you're probably right, 50% of Canadians are probably on this site!!!! Unless your were saying that half the members on this site are Canadians? I don't know, but there are lots of other nationalities, which is a great way to meet new people. Don't you think?

Glirdy :smokin:

[Ainaserkewen]

But you can't expect Fordy to convert many more though. I mean- three or four more would mean that 50% of Canadians would be Barrow-Downs members. Could we do a count to figure it out? Like percentages of all the most popular countries? I think that'd be a great feature for the site...to show how multi-cultural we are and such.

You know, the numbers of Canadians have been growing. I remember a few years back when there was a Canadian thread and there were only like 3 people who posted and then it was gone...I should go find that thread.

[Nimrodel_9]

Could we do a count to figure it out? Like percentages of all the most popular countries? I think that'd be a great feature for the site...to show how multi-cultural we are and such.
Ooo, that would be interesting. I wonder who we have more of, Canadians or U.S.?

[Gil-Galad]

make a poll...

[The Barrow-Wight]

Recent traffic statistics by Country/domain

1. com (Commercial) 69%
2. net (Network) 24%
3. edu (Educational) 2%
4. uk (United Kingdom) 1%
5. fr (France) 1%
6. au (Australia) 1%
7. de (Germany) 1%
8. nl (Netherlands) 1%
9. ca (Canada) 1%
10. fi (Finland) .5%

I don't know exactly what this means. It certainly doesn't answer the Candad/USA question.

[Bêthberry]

Phah! As if Fordy were the only Canuck here who might bring in a few out of the Great White North.

[Ainaserkewen]

I'm kind of confused by your numbers there Mr. Wight...

Phah! As if Fordy were the only Canuck here who might bring in a few out of the Great White North. You know, I get people interested all the time, good people too that I know. They go "Hey this is an awesome website, I'm going to join." They do and they never come back, it's very depressing. But I guess some people would rather play internet games then expand their minds and be a complete nerd at the same time. Plus I think that the forum thing is daunting for a lot of people, which amazes me because I love forums, especially good ones.

[Lalwendë]

I don't know exactly what this means. It certainly doesn't answer the Candad/USA question.

With 69% coming from dot com addresses then it looks like a lot of us log in at work. :eek: or should it be ;) ?

Putting on my sugary-sweet nice head this morning, I'd venture to say that perhaps Canadians are proportionally more inclined towards discussing Tolkienian matters. Or perhaps there is less to do with their spare time so Canadians are more likely to go online. ;)

[Formendacil]

Putting on my sugary-sweet nice head this morning, I'd venture to say that perhaps Canadians are proportionally more inclined towards discussing Tolkienian matters. Or perhaps there is less to do with their spare time so Canadians are more likely to go online. ;)

Well, with a national population density that is typically less than two people per square kilometer, one gets a hankering for human conversation after a while. Besides, the polar bears around here are all of the Winged-Balrog theory. And it is obvious which side of THAT fence I sit on.

[wilwarin538]

I'm personnaly very happy Canada has a small population. You have more room to breath.

[Mithalwen]

Mith, phantom, are you guys making fun of Canadians? Because if you are, I'll be really upset :( . But you're probably right, 50% of Canadians are probably on this site!!!! Unless your were saying that half the members on this site are Canadians? I don't know, but there are lots of other nationalities, which is a great way to meet new people. Don't you think?

Glirdy :smokin:


Well it certainly wasn't my intention, I have Canadian cousins and friends, my father served in WW2 with the "Vandoos" and nearly emigrated. I do have a bit of a history of duelling with Fordim though (but he started it!!!!!) so if there is any fun being made, it is specific not generic. :rolleyes: