[kenberg]

I am more than willing to believe that I want the original, not the US impostor. Browsing the web, it appears that I will need to get it on DVD?

[Cyberyeti]

PassedOut, on 2012-April-21, 17:52, said:

Yes, it is often a mistake to assume that words have the same meaning across languages.

One of my British online gaming friends used to delight in saying he was going outside to "smoke a fag" which tended to somewhat bemuse Americans.

[PassedOut]

mikeh, on 2012-April-25, 12:31, said:

Btw, if you haven't ever watched the UK version of Top Gear, and have any interest at all in cars, this has to be the best show ever....

I have seen the UK version and it is indeed great entertainment.

[Cthulhu D]

PassedOut, on 2012-April-25, 18:29, said:

I have seen the UK version and it is indeed great entertainment.

I'm not sure it needs the 'even vaguely interested in cars' disclaimer. I'm sure anyone who watches, say, the episode where they drive some toyata utes to the north pole will be impressed and entertained.

[Hanoi5]

blackshoe, on 2012-April-25, 06:32, said:

Name ten such countries.

As for "stealing" the name, not if we used it first. And regarding your last point above, I found this article interesting.

You're right. You used it first. And then we all chose to copy your name. But then we all reverted to normal names (Republic of ...).

Venezuela was the first to declare itself independent from Spain (19th April 1810). Probably ships arrived faster with the news that Napoleón had taken over Spain...

And about that article, that is such a naive thought! The US will never stop caring or meddling in Latinamerican affairs as long as they are a world power.

For example, there is this judge in Venezuela who got rejected by the regime (after serving them for 12 years). He got to talk to the DEA:

http://edition.cnn.c...udge/index.html

Do you think the US wouldn't love to Norieguize Chavez?

[blackshoe]

Hanoi5, on 2012-April-26, 05:28, said:

You're right. You used it first. And then we all chose to copy your name. But then we all reverted to normal names (Republic of ...).

Venezuela was the first to declare itself independent from Spain (19th April 1810). Probably ships arrived faster with the news that Napoleón had taken over Spain...

And about that article, that is such a naive thought! The US will never stop caring or meddling in Latinamerican affairs as long as they are a world power.

For example, there is this judge in Venezuela who got rejected by the regime (after serving them for 12 years). He got to talk to the DEA:

http://edition.cnn.c...udge/index.html

Do you think the US wouldn't love to Norieguize Chavez?

It sounds to me like this ex-judge may have a lot of good intel about the workings of the drug trade (and other things) in Venezuela. I'm not at all surprised that the DEA may be interested in what he has to say. It also sounds like if he goes (or gets sent) back to Venezuela at this point, he's going to end up in prison, or worse, regardless whether he's actually committed a crime. Of course, it's highly unlikely that the CNN article you linked has reported anything like "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth". As for the US wanting to "Norieguize" Chavez (I love the way people invent words) I'm sure there are some in the US government who think that's a good idea. I'm sure there are more who don't. Venezuela is not Panama.

[mikeh]

kenberg, on 2012-April-25, 13:24, said:

I am more than willing to believe that I want the original, not the US impostor. Browsing the web, it appears that I will need to get it on DVD?

I think some episodes (maybe most) are available on Netflix, and here in Canada, Netflix is about $9 a month. Now, I know that the US dollar is worth less than ours, but not by much

I brag about that because I remember going on our honeymoon 18 years ago with our dollar being worth about 65 cents

[PassedOut]

kenberg, on 2012-April-25, 13:24, said:

I am more than willing to believe that I want the original, not the US impostor. Browsing the web, it appears that I will need to get it on DVD?

Top Gear on BBC America

[hrothgar]

blackshoe, on 2012-April-25, 06:32, said:

Name ten such countries.

As for "stealing" the name, not if we used it first. And regarding your last point above, I found this article interesting.

Should be possible if synonyms and translations are allowed

For example consider the "Bundesrepublik Deutschland". This formally refers to a collection of "federal states" which are joined together into something bigger.
In a similar fashion, back in the good old days there was something called the CCCP (aka Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик, aka Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik). Or, if you prefer english The Union of Sovoet Socialist Republics. And who can forget the United Arab Republic, the Confederate States of America, the Union of Africa States, the United Colonies of New England, ...

I can go on for a while (This sort of construction is pretty common)

[kenberg]

PassedOut, on 2012-April-26, 13:34, said:

Top Gear on BBC America

OK, thanks, I will give it a shot.


Oddly, this brief excursion into tv has feedback to the posted topic. I did a search on BBC America. I found the summary:
"The best and the latest of British television in the United States."

[Gerben42]

blackshoe, on 2012-April-25, 06:32, said:

Name ten such countries.

As for "stealing" the name, not if we used it first. And regarding your last point above, I found this article interesting.

Federal Republic of Germany
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Russian Federation
Federative Republic of Brazil
Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Union of the Comoros
United Arab Emirates
United Mexican States
United States of America
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Commonwealth of Australia
Swiss Confederation

[gwnn]

Gerben42, on 2012-May-06, 03:18, said:

Federal Republic of Germany
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Russian Federation
Federative Republic of Brazil
Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Union of the Comoros
United Arab Emirates
United Mexican States
United States of America
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Commonwealth of Australia
Swiss Confederation

Looks like you have two. But of course it depends on your definition

[gordontd]

mikeh, on 2012-April-25, 12:31, said:

Btw, if you haven't ever watched the UK version of Top Gear, and have any interest at all in cars, this has to be the best show ever....

This seems like quite an over-bid. For me, who does have quite a lot of interest in cars, it's one of the dreariest shows ever.

[onoway]

I really enjoyed the English version of Junkyard Wars. Especially the one where various countries tried to make an all purpose vehicle which would triumph over all the various obstacles, for if I remember a maximum of $3000 and a month of time. Totally other end of the spectrum from other "car" shows but lots of fun to watch ingenuity at work.

[Zelandakh]

kenberg, on 2012-April-20, 16:20, said:

Someone from the UK says "It's good to hear the views of an American". Two guesses: First, if the host knew that his guest was a Canadian he would not refer to him as an American and secondly, the Canadian might well correct him.

Someone from the US says "It's good to hear the views of a European". Two guesses: First, if the host knew that his guest was English he would not refer to him as a European and secondly, the Englishman might well correct him.

Similarly,
Someone from the US says "It's good to hear the views of a Brit". Two guesses: First, if the host knew that his guest was Scottish he would not refer to him as a European and secondly, the Scot might well correct him.

This is a game that could run and run. Members of many nationalities do not like to be mixed in the the "noisy neighbours". This does not mean that Scots are not British, nor that Englishmen are not European, nor that Cannucks are not American.

[onoway]

Zelandakh, on 2012-July-12, 07:33, said:

not refer to him as a European and secondly, the Scot might well correct him.

This is a game that could run and run. Members of many nationalities do not like to be mixed in the the "noisy neighbours". This does not mean that Scots are not British, nor that Englishmen are not European, nor that Cannucks are not American.

I used to have a travel book published in 1908 which confidently stated that it was only a matter of time before Canada became one of the United States. However, speaking as a Canuck, and regardless of the esteem I have for many Americans individually, I do not consider myself even remotely an American and indeed will correct anyone who refers to me as such.

We are not "Americans" even if we live in the Americas because common usage of the term specifically refers to citizens of the United States of America. It's just being cute to pretend otherwise. It may be that anthropologists refer to the Americas but that has as little in common with what is GENERALLY understood today as a $2 bill in Canada. Still legal tender, but definitely a curiosity which likely wouldn't even be recognized or accepted as such by most people. In common conversation nobody refers to citizens of Mexico as Americans, and the people living on and patrolling the US side of the Rio Grande, or paying for building the border fence, would think you were certifiable to do so.

It used to be common for Americans to use Canadian flags and such on their backpacks or luggage when travelling so they wouldn't be casually identified as Americans. So although it might be pedantically accurate to say that Mexicans and Canadians are Americans, it certainly isn't correct in any other sense.

[Zelandakh]

onoway, on 2012-July-13, 07:58, said:

I used to have a travel book published in 1908 (I think, certainly well before 1910) which confidently stated that it was only a matter of time before Canada became one of the United States. However, speaking as a Canuck, and regardless of the esteem I have for many Americans individually, I do not consider myself even remotely an American and indeed will correct anyone who refers to me as such. Again speaking personally, I think that the thrust of our present politicians toward bringing us closer to the American way of doing things is an extremely misguided and unfortunate direction to take.

An Englishman could not have said it any better regarding Europe.

[mike777]

I think one huge difference America has from other nations is that we are still growing our population, mainly through immigration, while many parts of the western world have declining populations. Demographics is driving many changes around the globe. One example is a declining workforce supporting an older, growing, nonworking population.

Another differnce in the American Way may be a stronger belief, compared to other countries, in capitalism.


I do note that Canucks, through their pension/retirement plans are owners of many of these large corporations.

[chasetb]

mike777, on 2012-July-13, 08:13, said:

Another differnce in the American Way may be a stronger belief, compared to other countries, in moving away from capitalism.

FYP

onoway, I will say that you Canucks are in fact Americans, albeit North Americans. I also agree that Mexico should be considered part of Central American, because from my view they sure have a lot more in common with Nicaragua and Honduras then they do with the USA. Of course, I live not 4 hours from the Canadian border, hate spicy food, and have no understanding of Spanish whatsoever.

This post has been edited by chasetb: 2012-July-13, 10:05

[onoway]

chasetb, on 2012-July-13, 09:42, said:

FYP

onoway, I will say that you Canucks are in fact Americans, albeit North Americans. I also agree that Mexico should be considered part of Central American, because from my view they sure have a lot more in common with Nicaragua and Honduras then they do with the USA. Of course, I live not 4 hours from the Canadian border, hate spicy food, and have no understanding of Spanish whatsoever.

Oh well then! I had not understood that the habit of preferring hamburgers to tacos was more significant in determining definition than the fact that although we both are supposedly democracies, democracy is manifest though totally different political systems. Of course, you regularly eat poutine and saskatoons, (though not together), speak both official languages (English and French), suffer no delusions about universal health care involving "death squads", and had no banks deliberately free falling on citizens who then got the bill for cleaning up the mess. oh.just a minute....

Sorry, but to say Canadians are Americans is ignorant. You have company though, a couple of years ago a US Senator indignantly declared that Canada was "UnAmerican!" for something we did. Unsatisfactory as our education system often is, I believe that most Canadians, and all our politicians, understand that there is a border and a DIFFERENT country on the other side of it. What a concept.

Call us "North Americans" and I have no dispute with you. Just "Americans" means something entirely different.