The strangeness of everyday things
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I was going to mention this the other day in a separate post, but never got around to it, so I'll just post it here. There's a guy on the web who is an American who works in China as a journalist for a Chinese newspaper. It's kinda interesting to read what he has to say. (Talking about censorship in China, he says that everyday, before printing, they send their articles off to some communist office somewhere and it comes back with a list of things to change - no explanation about them. He says some of the things they ask to have changed in the articles is kinda quirky. http://www.westword.com/issues/2003-12-04/message.html/1/index.html[^] ) Anyway, he has a blog ( http://zenshenzhen.blogspot.com/[^] ) and I was reading an entry back in December. I was surprised to read this about Chinese superstition of numbers: Before we bought the phone, we had to buy a phone number. Phone numbers here are priced based on how many "lucky" numbers they contain. One with a bunch of sixes and maybe some eights can go for 800 yuan ($96.65). In the spirit of frugality while heedlessly tempting fate, I bought the cheapest, unluckiest one I could find. One with several threes that cost 110 yuan ($13.30). ------------------------------------------ Law of Nazi Analogies: As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one. In any debate, Hitler's opinion on the subject is automatically the evil one, so it had better be contrary to the side you're arguing.
Thanks for the links, quite fascinating that. Your one reminds me of another Southern Africa speciality: The tokolosh. While reaching 6 foot in that carving, the Tokolosh is thought to be only a few feet high. What he lacks in height he makes up in lust for blood, a vicious critter with a knobkerrie if there ever was one. Attacking only at night as you sleep, he has claimed many lives in Africa. However, because of his diminutive height the locals* have taken to a simple practice aimed at thwarting him. They place bricks or wooden blocks under each foot of their bed, so rising the bed a few precious inches higher. Many a time have I seen the beds in the khayas of servants from my childhood riding high on bricks, wood and even empty parafin cans. It does not matter how high your bed is to start with, it must be made higher with 3rd party add-ons. Next time you are in Africa have a look around your hotel room and make good use of the Gideon bible, it may save your life! * Oh to call them natives would cause trouble regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Owing to our extreme climate here, there are a few things I suspect that strangers would find odd. For one, no one goes anywhere - not even to the store - without a jug of water. Air conditioning in cars is taken for granted, as it is in homes. You die here without it (literally) and after a time you take air conditioning completely for granted. Paved streets turn abruptly into dirt trails, and no one pays much attention - or slows down appreciably. Jaywalking isn't illegal here, nor is carrying a pistol on your hip. It's not unusual to see people crossing the state highway anywhere they please, while in more populated places that's good for a hefty fine. No one notices, either, that the guy ahead of you in line at the grocery store has a Glock on his belt, and the cashiers aren't a bit nervous about it. They know that they're actually much safer because of it. Seeing rattlesnakes and scorpions is a daily occurance for many of us, and few are troubled by them or would go out of their way to harm one. Aside from gnats in the early spring we see very few insects, and at night a newcomer is always startled by the early evening sky being filled with bats. Coyotes routinely snack on pets, but few get upset by it - free kittens are plentiful. Few people here have backyard pools, those ubiquitous appliances common in other states, but most have a boat or two, along with some jetskis parked in the yard. Every place has unique features that the locals take for granted and tourists find surprising; we're no different, just a heck of a lot hotter than anywhere else in the US. "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
With Arizona's carry laws and the lack of insects, I think I've found my next home :)
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There are so many people here from all over the planet that I thought it would be interesting to know what things the average person in your society might take for granted on a daily basis but that you think people from other countries might find completely alien and incomprehensible. It seems to be harder and harder these days to find anything truly unique about many places in the world. Everyone seems to be converging towards very similar lifestyles and societies. This I think is a sad thing in that much that makes each region unique is being lost. Here are three (not so good) examples off the top of my head. The reason they are not so good is that I think Canada is a reflection of so many other societies from around the world that there really isn't much that is really unique to Canada but I'll give it a shot anyway: 1) I used to live in Ontario, Canada where they get quite cold winters relative to where I grew up on the west coast of Canada. It was not at all unusual to see 15 to 30 year old males wearing shorts with exposed legs in the middle of winter. You'd see them waiting for a bus outside, in the work place etc. It seemed to be some sort of bizarre display of "manliness" I think. I came from a much warmer province on the west coast and this seemed insane to me but everyone took it for granted. 2) Here on the west coast it's not unusual even in a small town to see drive through espresso coffee shops. I.E. you drive up to a small hut-like building in an big empty parking lot and they serve you espresso drinks without getting out of the car. I think that's a typically west coast north american thing but I might be wrong. 3) When I lived in Ontario, I used to be a temporary office worker and one guy I worked for had visited British Columbia once and came away completely amazed with the fact that most bank tellers in Vancouver were wearing denim Jeans rather than business suits. While this isn't standard, there is no doubt that there is a really relaxed attitude towards business attire here on the west coast of Canada.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - BubblesThe town i currently live in clings tightly to the Mississippi river, pressed against it by bluffs on the east. Because of this, you can comfortably walk across town east-west in an hour, though it might take several times as long going north-south. More students tend to be lost due to drowning in the river than from falling off the hills. Alcohol is plentiful. With one of the oldest employers in town being a brewery, you are rarely not within a short walk of a drinking establishment. Gas stations sell kegs in the back, and hard liqueur from behind the counter. There is an oxygen bar downtown, existing more to replentish the head-filling of the many blond women than for relief from the non-existant smog. The better bars stick with the tried-and-true formula of cheap beer and salty food. Farmland begins just outside of town, and continues through the hills and winding valleys for many miles. Irrigation is reserved for the few with flat, sandy areas in the valleys - the rest pray for rain. Drive a few miles, and you'll be able to find a creamery. Stop and buy fresh cheese curds. If they don't squeak against your teeth, then they're not fresh - throw them away. A warm fall evening will bring deer out onto the lawn outside my window. They graze peacefully, knowing they are safe. Sitting on my porch, looking out into the marsh, i watch a very drunk student stumble across the fill and down the embankment towards the water. After a time, he decides to try a different test of natural selection theory, crawling up over the broken concrete and out into traffic.
But in the end, it's all just database access right? And that stuff is just plain boring.
- David Stone, not a programming question but...
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The town i currently live in clings tightly to the Mississippi river, pressed against it by bluffs on the east. Because of this, you can comfortably walk across town east-west in an hour, though it might take several times as long going north-south. More students tend to be lost due to drowning in the river than from falling off the hills. Alcohol is plentiful. With one of the oldest employers in town being a brewery, you are rarely not within a short walk of a drinking establishment. Gas stations sell kegs in the back, and hard liqueur from behind the counter. There is an oxygen bar downtown, existing more to replentish the head-filling of the many blond women than for relief from the non-existant smog. The better bars stick with the tried-and-true formula of cheap beer and salty food. Farmland begins just outside of town, and continues through the hills and winding valleys for many miles. Irrigation is reserved for the few with flat, sandy areas in the valleys - the rest pray for rain. Drive a few miles, and you'll be able to find a creamery. Stop and buy fresh cheese curds. If they don't squeak against your teeth, then they're not fresh - throw them away. A warm fall evening will bring deer out onto the lawn outside my window. They graze peacefully, knowing they are safe. Sitting on my porch, looking out into the marsh, i watch a very drunk student stumble across the fill and down the embankment towards the water. After a time, he decides to try a different test of natural selection theory, crawling up over the broken concrete and out into traffic.
But in the end, it's all just database access right? And that stuff is just plain boring.
- David Stone, not a programming question but...
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:cool: I love the cheese curds bit, I used to live in a town near a cheese factory and we used to drive out to buy curds and you're right, if they don't squeak they aren't fresh.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - Bubbles:~ ppsssstt.... what's a cheese curd? Sounds awful... regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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:~ ppsssstt.... what's a cheese curd? Sounds awful... regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Paul Watson wrote: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." What's the difference between a Corvette and a porcupine? With a Porcupine, the prick is on the outside. ;P
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - Bubbles>With a Porcupine, the prick is on the outside. I would laugh but Christopher Duncan drives a, as of 4pm today, red Corvette. He is owned by an attack chihuahahahaha with a leather jacket, not good to set it off. ;) We apply that joke to BMW drivers here in SA, and we use a cactus instead of a porcupine. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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:~ ppsssstt.... what's a cheese curd? Sounds awful... regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: what's a cheese curd? Very, very fresh cheddar cheese. Pressed, not cured, just squeaky lumps of congealed sour cream (sorta). Paul Watson wrote: Sounds awful... Not at all. They're a wonderfully mild and healthy snack. (though if you can't stand the healthy bit, they work well deep-fried in beer-batter too ;) )
But in the end, it's all just database access right? And that stuff is just plain boring.
- David Stone, not a programming question but...
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Yup... :-) Of course, if you arrived now you'd be wishing you got a heater with that Jeep.:cool: "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
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Paul Watson wrote: "All Corvettes are red. Everything else is just a mistake." What's the difference between a Corvette and a porcupine? With a Porcupine, the prick is on the outside. ;P
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - BubblesSounds familiar... What's the difference between a Texas cowboy and an Arizona cowboy? In Az the bulls&*t is outside the boots. "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
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There are so many people here from all over the planet that I thought it would be interesting to know what things the average person in your society might take for granted on a daily basis but that you think people from other countries might find completely alien and incomprehensible. It seems to be harder and harder these days to find anything truly unique about many places in the world. Everyone seems to be converging towards very similar lifestyles and societies. This I think is a sad thing in that much that makes each region unique is being lost. Here are three (not so good) examples off the top of my head. The reason they are not so good is that I think Canada is a reflection of so many other societies from around the world that there really isn't much that is really unique to Canada but I'll give it a shot anyway: 1) I used to live in Ontario, Canada where they get quite cold winters relative to where I grew up on the west coast of Canada. It was not at all unusual to see 15 to 30 year old males wearing shorts with exposed legs in the middle of winter. You'd see them waiting for a bus outside, in the work place etc. It seemed to be some sort of bizarre display of "manliness" I think. I came from a much warmer province on the west coast and this seemed insane to me but everyone took it for granted. 2) Here on the west coast it's not unusual even in a small town to see drive through espresso coffee shops. I.E. you drive up to a small hut-like building in an big empty parking lot and they serve you espresso drinks without getting out of the car. I think that's a typically west coast north american thing but I might be wrong. 3) When I lived in Ontario, I used to be a temporary office worker and one guy I worked for had visited British Columbia once and came away completely amazed with the fact that most bank tellers in Vancouver were wearing denim Jeans rather than business suits. While this isn't standard, there is no doubt that there is a really relaxed attitude towards business attire here on the west coast of Canada.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - BubblesI've worked in a few countries in Europe so I've noticed things that I find quirky there. In the Netherlands Credit Cards are not as common and supermarkets (like Albert Heine(sp?) don't accept them) and shops that do often add a surcharge on. In Madrid there is a surcharge for "Mucho Traffico" in taxis. The fist time I thought the driver was making polite conversation until I got the "recibo" (recipt). The next time I knew to say that "El traffico está normal ahora" which flumoxed the driver because I wouldn't admit to there being a lot of traffic (and in my opinion it wasn't a lot of traffic - for Madrid [This is a city with two orbital motorways and two more under construction]) In Spain you can just go into a "farmacia" and just ask for prescription drugs. (like antibiotics or ACE inhibitors [they reduce blood pressure]) Back in Madrid it is not wise to negociate a roundabout. It is best to put your foot down, close your eyes and pray to what ever diety you think will keep you alive until you reach the other side - At least that's what the taxi drivers do. Spanish taxi's are covered in catholic religious symbology. In Rotterdam you can get high just by riding the Metro. The Dutch are increadibly accurate with times. So when a train is late by even a minute there is an announcement appologsing for it and giving a very accurate picture of how long the delay will be. By contrast, in Scotland, when my train was delayed early this week and they announced it [10 minutes after it was due to arrive] the message was along the lines of: "This is message to all passengers waiting for the delayed oh-7-19 service to Edinburgh Waverly. Due to a points failure this service is delayed. When we have further information we will let you know." Then they were claiming a 10 minute delay for the service when it obviously arrive 20 minutes late. Another 10 minutes delay and they could, as they often do, just claim it was the next train arriving on schedule. In the Netherlands everyone goes for lunch at exactly 12-midday. If you turn up at the canteen at 12:01 there is no food left. In Spain just about all shops are open late every day. In the UK they start shutting around 17:30. In fact, there is very little I take for granted here in the UK because I know that elsewhere I can get the same service better, cheaper and more reliable. Actually - Here is one thing I take for granted that I miss whenever I visit the USA. Sales Tax (VAT) is included in the price in the UK for any goods or services that are
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I've worked in a few countries in Europe so I've noticed things that I find quirky there. In the Netherlands Credit Cards are not as common and supermarkets (like Albert Heine(sp?) don't accept them) and shops that do often add a surcharge on. In Madrid there is a surcharge for "Mucho Traffico" in taxis. The fist time I thought the driver was making polite conversation until I got the "recibo" (recipt). The next time I knew to say that "El traffico está normal ahora" which flumoxed the driver because I wouldn't admit to there being a lot of traffic (and in my opinion it wasn't a lot of traffic - for Madrid [This is a city with two orbital motorways and two more under construction]) In Spain you can just go into a "farmacia" and just ask for prescription drugs. (like antibiotics or ACE inhibitors [they reduce blood pressure]) Back in Madrid it is not wise to negociate a roundabout. It is best to put your foot down, close your eyes and pray to what ever diety you think will keep you alive until you reach the other side - At least that's what the taxi drivers do. Spanish taxi's are covered in catholic religious symbology. In Rotterdam you can get high just by riding the Metro. The Dutch are increadibly accurate with times. So when a train is late by even a minute there is an announcement appologsing for it and giving a very accurate picture of how long the delay will be. By contrast, in Scotland, when my train was delayed early this week and they announced it [10 minutes after it was due to arrive] the message was along the lines of: "This is message to all passengers waiting for the delayed oh-7-19 service to Edinburgh Waverly. Due to a points failure this service is delayed. When we have further information we will let you know." Then they were claiming a 10 minute delay for the service when it obviously arrive 20 minutes late. Another 10 minutes delay and they could, as they often do, just claim it was the next train arriving on schedule. In the Netherlands everyone goes for lunch at exactly 12-midday. If you turn up at the canteen at 12:01 there is no food left. In Spain just about all shops are open late every day. In the UK they start shutting around 17:30. In fact, there is very little I take for granted here in the UK because I know that elsewhere I can get the same service better, cheaper and more reliable. Actually - Here is one thing I take for granted that I miss whenever I visit the USA. Sales Tax (VAT) is included in the price in the UK for any goods or services that are
Years ago I had to go to Salt Lake city Utah for a week to take a telephony training course. Aside from the whole world capital of Mormonism thing, I found it particularly odd when waiting in line at the Subway (a chain of subway sandwich shops that is North America wide at least) about half the people in line ahead of me were paying for their sub by personal cheque. No ID was requested, the staff didn't bat an eyelash, just took the cheque and gave them the sub. This was extremely weird to say the least. The same line up in Canada would have about a quarter of the people paying cash and the other three quarters paying by Debit Card which is probably the most popular form of payment in Canada.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - Bubbles -
Years ago I had to go to Salt Lake city Utah for a week to take a telephony training course. Aside from the whole world capital of Mormonism thing, I found it particularly odd when waiting in line at the Subway (a chain of subway sandwich shops that is North America wide at least) about half the people in line ahead of me were paying for their sub by personal cheque. No ID was requested, the staff didn't bat an eyelash, just took the cheque and gave them the sub. This was extremely weird to say the least. The same line up in Canada would have about a quarter of the people paying cash and the other three quarters paying by Debit Card which is probably the most popular form of payment in Canada.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - BubblesJohn Cardinal wrote: a telephony training course I need my eyes checked. The first time I read that I though you said "a telepathy training course"! --Colin Mackay--
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Owing to our extreme climate here, there are a few things I suspect that strangers would find odd. For one, no one goes anywhere - not even to the store - without a jug of water. Air conditioning in cars is taken for granted, as it is in homes. You die here without it (literally) and after a time you take air conditioning completely for granted. Paved streets turn abruptly into dirt trails, and no one pays much attention - or slows down appreciably. Jaywalking isn't illegal here, nor is carrying a pistol on your hip. It's not unusual to see people crossing the state highway anywhere they please, while in more populated places that's good for a hefty fine. No one notices, either, that the guy ahead of you in line at the grocery store has a Glock on his belt, and the cashiers aren't a bit nervous about it. They know that they're actually much safer because of it. Seeing rattlesnakes and scorpions is a daily occurance for many of us, and few are troubled by them or would go out of their way to harm one. Aside from gnats in the early spring we see very few insects, and at night a newcomer is always startled by the early evening sky being filled with bats. Coyotes routinely snack on pets, but few get upset by it - free kittens are plentiful. Few people here have backyard pools, those ubiquitous appliances common in other states, but most have a boat or two, along with some jetskis parked in the yard. Every place has unique features that the locals take for granted and tourists find surprising; we're no different, just a heck of a lot hotter than anywhere else in the US. "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
I was a water/powerade/coke junkie when a friend and me drove through new mexico, nevada and east california. The sun and dryness is just insane! However, it was quite a contrast compared to where we started our journey - Lafayette, LA (hot and humid to the point where you don't know if it's the humidity or sweat that's causing the sticky feeling on your skin) However, I never saw anyone carrying guns on their belts (lucky me, cause I'd probably have freaked out), nor did I see any live rattle snakes. :sigh: -- Seraphim Shock. Gold for your ears.
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You too, eh?? X|
[
](http://www.canucks.com)Sonork 100.11743 Chicken Little "You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
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I actually did that drive over two days. I found the day after I left Roger's place when I crossed the mojave desert to be a lot worse. damn that was hot!! This coming from a guy that finds anything over 30 celsuis to be too hot to handle:cool:
[
](http://www.canucks.com)Sonork 100.11743 Chicken Little "You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!