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The Official "Your country is weird" Thread

Whyren said:
Haven't they had both on packaging for nearly that long anyway? I've not seen a product recently that didn't have the metric equivalent in parentheses.
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In order to sell the same product in Canada or Mexico or the Caribbean, products have to be in metric measurements. It's easier just to put it on everything than just what is exported. The dual system costs a fortune; every mechanic needs two sets of tools, etc, etc. but the cost of switching to just metric isn't very cheap either. President Carter started the move to metric in the late 70s, I can remember when speed limit signs were in Km and miles, but Reagan killed the idea and it's never been raised again.
 
im_to_hyper said:
Nope, if 40 was hot, then how could it be sleeting at 38 and snowing at 32? :D
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The way the US measures temperature is much easier (IMO):

If its 32 degrees, it is freezing. 210 degrees = boiling.

75 degrees = comfortable, great weather.

Wouldn't you prefer 75 vs. like 30?
 
dotdotdot said:
If its 32 degrees, it is freezing. 210 degrees = boiling.
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I forgot to mention this: our education system sucks! Although to be fair water might boil at 210 degrees at his house (I don't know how far above sea level he is).
 
dotdotdot said:
The way the US measures temperature is much easier (IMO):

If its 32 degrees, it is freezing. 210 degrees = boiling.

75 degrees = comfortable, great weather.

Wouldn't you prefer 75 vs. like 30?
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Versus "If its 0 degrees, it is freezing. 100 degrees = boiling."? Don't see how 32 and 210 is any easier. (blah blah disclamer blah depends on altitude blah).

And 30 or 75 isn't comfortable. It's damn hot :p
 
Chundles said:
And why is it that Americans believe it is perfectly acceptable to pay for things in Canada with US dollars.
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NZ/Aussie 5, 10 and 20c coins seem to be interchangeable too :cool:
 
takao said:
actually: not exactly: the pint is more than a pound

;)
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Oh? I did it myself just 5 minutes ago. I filled a measuring cup with 1 cup (8 fl. oz.) of room temp. water all the way to the top, and weighed it with my digital scale. 8.0000 oz.

Did the same thing with two measuring cups. 16 fl. oz. 1.0000 pounds. An ounce equals an ounce. ;)
 
mac_head101 said:
Oh? I did it myself just 5 minutes ago. I filled a measuring cup with 1 cup (8 fl. oz.) of room temp. water all the way to the top, and weighed it with my digital scale. 8.0000 oz.

Did the same thing with two measuring cups. 16 fl. oz. 1.0000 pounds. ;)
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an imperial (british) pint is 20 fl oz.
 
It would take a while to get used to the lefthand side of the road driving thing...I'd probably get killed at that huge roundabout pictured earlier in the thread.

People in the UK (and in their printed media) tend to be a bit xenophobic...or at least it's easier to get away with making fun of other cultures.

The U.S. and Canada have a funny releationship...People on both sides rip on each other unmercifully but face to face they seem to get along pretty well, at least in my experience.

Oh, regarding why the Canadians accept US currency: Belive me, they are not being victimized. In some more touristy-areas they accept it on a 1:1 value with Canadian currency, generally ripping off the US tourist.

The metric system is slowly expanding in the US...most commodities are made to metric standards and require metric tools, all scientific research is done in metric. Food measurements, gas and distance are not.
 
dubbz said:
Versus "If its 0 degrees, it is freezing. 100 degrees = boiling."? Don't see how 32 and 210 is any easier. (blah blah disclamer blah depends on altitude blah).

And 30 or 75 isn't comfortable. It's damn hot :p
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We could all just use the Kelvin system, aka Celsius to the extreme (or perhaps I should say, to the absolute). :)

It's a bit chilly here today at 285K.
 
Sorry to jump back to a spent topic, but we have plenty of 'roundabouts' here in New England. We call them rotaries. They aren't as efficient as traffic lights, especially when so many roads have so many lanes.

We turn right on red (except in Massachusetts for some reason) because it's the same as pulling out of your driveway or something. You just have to see if someone is coming from your left.

Forgive my ignorance- do they have 'car pool lanes' Europe? Lanes where you can only drive in if you have more than one person in the car?
 
decksnap said:
...They aren't as efficient as traffic lights, especially when so many roads have so many lanes...

...We turn right on red (except in Massachusetts for some reason) because it's the same as pulling out of your driveway or something. You just have to see if someone is coming from your left...
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How can a rotary be less efficient than traffic lights? The only limiting factor for constant even flow is drivers common sense and courtesy....oh I see.

Turning right on red is an idea I like when driving in the US. I'd like to see it brought in here but the limiting factors would be;
a)the size of our roads. In towns, where it would be most useful, most junctions don't have enough room for a left turn lane so the first car that was going straight or to the right is going to stop the flow anyway.
b)again due to road size the viewing angles at junctions don't allow you to pull out as easily as many in the US.
It's similar reasons that U-turns are virtually never done (legally/safely) in the UK like they are in the US.
 
MOFS said:
Oh dear. At least Brits know how to spell US towns holding +200,000 people. Its "Newcastle" - not "New Castle"...:rolleyes:

Actually saying that - the US' famous knowledge of geography!:D ;)
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I think spell check got me there. And i would like to ad that i think of my self as a educated lazy american. Unlike most of my american counterparts, i have traveled out side of my county(shire) more than once in my life time. I have even been over to see the "old world", i enjoyed it very much so. You Brits have some sweet castles, Warwick castle was by far the best castle i went to while there. I had the opportunity to see the Longbow man demonstration and the guy was a VERY good shot with a bow. And very funny. He cracked a few 'stupid american tourist' jokes, but they were all true and funny.

I even went to a Derby County football game. I forget who they played, but it wasn't their best game, they lost 5-0 i think. Oh, and i saw the good old queen her self in her Bently not five feet away from me driving out of Derby Stadium. Our luck we were out of film from taking pictures of her in the nose bleed section:eek: :( :p....
 
iGary said:
Why are there like no traffic lights in Great Britain - why all the roundabouts - and in the most bizarre places?

It cracks me up how Brits call going to the movies "to the cinema." So old-fashioned sounding. :)

Beans and tomatoes for breakfast? *hurl*
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Oh, come now. These are the htings about I like so much that I daresay I *heart* them. In fact, the four of my five nephews that can speak talk about going to the cinema and seeing films. They think it strange when their friends say 'theater' and 'movie'. Hurray for subtle, unimportant propaganda.

Speaking of which, I went last night to the cinema and saw the film 'Good Night, and Good Luck'. Absolutely fantastic.
 
TEG said:
...
Indiana - No Left Turn on Red on to a Left-going one way street.
...
TEG
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Of course, there is. It's been available alongside the right turn on red, since the mid-1970s.
 
Just got sent a relevant joke email:


The questions below about Australia are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? ( UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.

Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first
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I must say the only food worse than English food has to be the Finnish. Its hard to say what a traditional Finnish meal is. While visiting Helsinki I requested to have some traditional Finnish food and was taken direcly to the local Tex-Mex restaurant. And of course it was the most popular restaurant in Helsinki.
 
Nice work mad jew.

you'd be suprised how many europen tourists attempt cycle touring in the Nortern Territory, with the idea of getting a drink at all many of the rivers. Little do they realise that 95/100 days a year that creek is bon dry, for the remainder 5% it's in flood.

Jordan
 
We one refers to..."America"...kindly think out of the box
and distinguish between North America,
Central America and South America. Thank you.
 
bousozoku said:
Of course, there is. It's been available alongside the right turn on red, since the mid-1970s.
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Look in the BMV Manual, it says that left on red is ALWAYS Unlawful.

As for the milk. Go to Canada, the only place most Yanks have even been to, and they have milk in a bag. The fear is that that will be common place in the US too.

I will agree, that with few exceptions, US and Canadian Beer Suck, but so do many European Beers, and Fosters in the US and Canada, because it is brewed to our standards. Hell, for the most part, beer sucks in total.

TEG
 
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