Sofia, mea culpa. I do miss lots of interesting threads because of my lack of patience, but I also don't spend as much time on a2k and so spend time on those threads I find most enjoyable.
Anyway, I'll come on over and take a look.
I read that article about Georgia you posted with great interest, Sofia - I had heard about it, but only in a very general way.
Was it you who posted about the "istan" insurrection? I knew about that.
It is kind of sad and funny - those Muslim nations used to scare the heck out of the USSR, who feared a Muslim movement arising from them that threatened Russian security - now the US has taken over most of the functions of empire over there - and is similarly worried about them!
I agree - China is way interesting. Their recent denial of elections to Hong Kong, which seems to have brought out the Tienanmin Square mourners in a big way - did you see the candlelight vigil? - is a case in point. The tensions there seem to be growing - just as an example.
edgarblythe wrote:I will look in on your thread, sophia. I often only read political threads, but there are times I must jump in. Perhaps this is one of them.
Great, edgar! It's mostly so we'll all be informed. When I first encountered nimh, I was quite ignorant of international news, unless it somehow linked to the US--as he has alluded to above--
He made a point of it in a conversation, and I had to agree--and wanted to repent this behavior...
This basic truth about Americans is one thing that has led to the Ugly American caricature abroad. I will say, in US defense, we've got quite a lot going on right here--and one reason Europeans are so awash with news of other European countries, is because they are all sitting on top of one another over there. We're so geographically isolated in comparison... But having said that--we really should take more of an interest in world affairs, methinks--even when we're not mentioned in the caption. :wink:
China seems on the brink of something. I wanted us to have ringside seats. We have some brilliant minds here--and I'd love the opportunity to listen to them, as the new China unfolds...
Diane-- Great! Glad you'll pop in!
I think Mapleleaf had started a thread Following China. I guess we can revive it.
<dlowan--Yes. I'm glad to see there are international news readers, even if they don't post. What -istan was that...Tajikhistan--No, Uzbekhistan. Skeery stuff! >
<OK, someone else, please post about something. I'm worried about being the Thread Kill, here.>
Don't worry apparently they've all gone to sleep.
The most recent way to kill a thread for me is to see it falling along mostly two lines of thinking. ---You're asquishyliberal--no youre a blahblah----
China, Greece, the Netherlands, England, France, Germany, Bora Bora, Canada, Australia. the Dark Continent. India. Egypt, I have always longed to travel and see if the people there were a bit like me.
and then I find that when you have seen one face, you have seen what poets call eternity.
And today is Demolition Day. What a strange epithet for rescue.
Unfortunately, I must live my life through the experiences of others.
Having met with Roger, Diane, Misti, Rae, Mapleleaf, big dice, urs, Phoenix, I was amazed that there was absolutely no difference.
We are a product of our own setting event, it seems.
How many of you here, who are not Americans, have visited America?
OldandKnew has, McTag has, big dice and Urs have.
Well, my friends.(and you are my friends)...Goodnight.
I have, and do.
Lived really close to the border growing up. We used to go over to buy Dr. Pepper when I was in my early teens. Watched PBS as soon as our t.v. got big rabbit ears.
I remember seeing a lot of snow with most of the programs on t.v.
rabbit ears : to watch a station from new york state, i had to pile up a bunch of books and start wriggling the rabbit ears just so . that's how we got our first taste of the united states, represented by ed sullivan, THE GREAT ONE(jackie gleason), johnny carson ... captain cangaroo(for ehbeth, we would often watch together early on saturday), and a fellow who run a children's program out of the watertown station for many years (danny ?). .....somewhere i read (or did i dream ?) that for the "new style tv" (whatever that is) rabbit ears will do just fine (am i dreaming ???). hbg
Went to America, yes - but just once, in 1988.
Was with my father - on a roundtrip (Detroit, Eastcoast, New Orleans, New Mexico, Colorado, LA) and also to visit his "foster parent" from when he was an exchange student in the US, way back when - a Progressive reverend who had gone into retirement in the Rockies.
Oh, and lived with an American here for 2 years, of course ...
Danny Burgess was the cartoon guy on Watertown t.v. on Saturday mornings in the 1960's. He later went on to host a hunting and fishing show on the local PBS station, and then became the general manager there.
My cultural (?) influences early on were probably more American than Canajun in some ways. When I started university, people asked if I was from northern New York state because of my accent. "Accent?"
letty : we've travelled quite a bit in the eastern part of the u.s. living just across from watertown, n.y., that should not be surprising. there are many places from maine to florida that we have visited many times over the years. four visits to new york city; the first time we visited in the early 70's (with ehbeth) we staid for a whole week in a litttle hotel near (as we were told by new yorkers later) "needle park". walked through central park at night after watching taping of david susskind show ... no problem ! mrs. h and had dinner at jack dempsey's restaurant a few times before it closed for good - still have a postcard he signed for us. chicago and it's summer jazz-festival was great fun. austin, texas , is a great fun-city and big bend national park is certainly awesome. on our cruises we have often shared a table with american couples, and we have been asked a number of times why we did not settle in the u.s. our answer has always been : "well, when we wanted to come in the mid fifties , we couldn't find a sponsor; so you wouldn't let us in. so we came to canada - which did not ask us for a sponsor, but was willing to accept us the way we were. so now we just visit the u.s. and enjoy your hospitality." ... certainly hope to to spend the month of march in myrtle beach to enjoy sunshine, sand and fresh ocean fish. in december we are off for three weeks in california and hawaii. hope that qualifies us as friends of the u.s. and (most) of its citizens. hbg
shouldn't forget my first trip to the u.s. (about 1961) to attend a conference in the twin-cities(don't think i can spell minneapolis/st. paul correctly?). staid in an old hotel were the farmers and grain-merchants made their deals. i still remember the pancakes for breakfast : they were so big, they were hanging over the side of the plate ! hbg
I've traveled to the North Country several times on my own, and found the Canajuns very friendly. I know I've related this story before, but I'm inclined to share it again. On my first visit to Egypt, and the last day of our tour, we were put at the Marriott in Cairo. The original building was once a palace, and the grounds in the back yard with its gardens is also a place where one can order food and drinks. I happened to have my Montreal t-shirt on, and was walking around, when a young couple with a daughter said "hi" to me, and asked if I was Canadian. I said "no," but they invited me to sit down with them, and we chatted for a short while. After I said 'bye,' and walked back to another table with travel mates, I realized that I could probably make some recommendations on what to see in Egypt. When I walked back, they were still there, so I made the offer. I told them I just completed my tour of Egypt, and I would be more than happy to share what sights not to miss. The guy then tells me "we live here."
During that same afternoon, I joined a family from Chicago that was on the same tour. We all ordered banana splits. We waited for over a half hour when the waiter returned to our table to tell us they were out of bananas. They GROW bananas in Egypt. We even visited a banana farm (Banana Island) in Aswan. We all had a good laugh over that one!
Did you see any sand when you were in Egypt?
It's all sand beyond a small strip that borders the Nile. Even rode on a camel for quite a ways in Aswan.
I had heard rumors about the sand. Thanks for validating that, c.i.
gustav : must be the same as in myrtle beach : just al otta sand. so why should i go to egypt and ride a camel when i can have sand in m.b. - and also right here on lake ontario. seems there's sand wherever we go - gets's between my toes and teeth. hbg
