|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 25, 2008 21:08:48 GMT
I recognise the name of that person whose picture you posted. I take it the Linnaean system was named after him?
|
|
|
Post by Basse on Apr 25, 2008 21:23:16 GMT
Yep. Alright, your turn to approve/disapprove stereotypes 1. All Englishmen drink tea at least once every day 2. Englishmen have a horrible taste when it comes to music 3. To the English, France is a puppet of the Devil 4. There is no good English food, save for scones 5. Fish 'n chips is more popular than hamburgers and/or pizza 6. 50%+ of all towns, villages and cities have old Viking-names, with endings like -by 7. Scotland is constantly trying to revolt against the English oppressors. 8. Prince Charles has been declared 'Hottest Man on the Planet' by pretty much every women's magazine in the country Can't come up with more at the moment. The last two are only half serious
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 25, 2008 21:30:40 GMT
1. Tea is popular, but not that popular. I myself have no great liking for tea and don't drink it very often. 2. No, we have the best pop music, which is exported around the world. I can name no modern musician from any other European country, but I bet you can name five English ones. 3. Pretty much . No, our dislike of the French is more in jest than serious hatred. They are often the victims of jokes (but then everything is a target for our humour, including, even especially, ourselves). We have what is often called an "entente cordiale" with France. 4. Yeah. We have some good chefs though. 5. Ooh, tricky one. Probably yes, but the others are very popular also. 6. No. We have a fair few of those, but the majority are Roman, Norman, Germanic or Celt. Where I live has a name which is a complete mystery though. 7. Not any more. Less than 50% of Scots want full independence, although there is growing support for it. 8. Now that is certainly a joke! He is most famous for having big ears. But then he is first in line to one of the oldest and richest thrones in the world, which might make him more desirable.
|
|
|
Post by Basse on Apr 25, 2008 21:38:13 GMT
And I assume about 10% of those are Sean Connery and his fans, right? He actually has some ads for giving money to organizations supporting Scotland's independence on his website
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 25, 2008 21:43:59 GMT
I don't know. I do know however that if Scotland wins independence it will almost certainly be less well off than it is at the moment. Right now they are subsidised by taxpayers from other parts of Britain.
|
|
Von
Stormwind Member
VonCorgev
Vene, Vidi, Verse.
Posts: 818
|
Post by Von on Apr 26, 2008 0:44:14 GMT
That is one particular characterisitic I have noticed. The US is a big country, but I would have thought a more broader spectrum of geography to be taught in the schools? Argh, all this talk about snow!! One day I will have to find out what this snow is! Well, as you probably know I hail from Australia. Queensland to be precise and about an hours drive from the capital, Brisbane. I'm pleased to say that at the moment we still have a Queen - the same as Britain - but not sure for how much longer. What can I tell you about Australia... It's dry - normally. You'll find a green section extending around 200km inland, but after that it gets rather dry. The main exception would probably be Victoria, Australia's most densely populated state which has fertile soils covering the majority of the state, and excellent pastures. (Mashek would proabably have a better idea of this). While most of the country is dry, we also have wet areas as well. In the north of Queensland in the tropics, I understand they have an average of 300 days of rain per year. Now that's what I call wet. Then there is the Simpson Destert near the center of Australia which only gets 10 days or so of wet weather...if that. Temperature in the north rarely descends below 30degrees (C) while in the south, the weather is particularly strange. One day could be cold and the next hot, but generally the temperature would be averaged around 19degrees. The coldest it has ever been at my place is 6degress, the hottest, 42. It's definitely a land of extremes. The majority of the population live on the Eastern Seaboard and I think the current population estimate is around 22-24 million. It really is a vastly spread country, with only 7 major cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. I'd venture to estimate that about 2/5 to 1/3 of the population live in these major cities. Australia's major agricultural industries would be Cattle, Grain (Wheat/Sorghum/Barley), Cotton and Wool. There are of course many many other types of agriculture and a vast variety of foods grown ranging right throught the line of vegetables and fruits. Returns from exports are what keeps the country afloat. We are blessed with rich mineral and ore resources (iron/silver/copper/zinc) as well as large deposits of coal (both black and brown) and if we wanted to we could supply ourselves with oil (but the oil companies which pretty much control petrol and diesel prices wouldn't want that now would they...). I really ought to get myself a camera but I'll try and get you all some nice pictures soon.
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on Apr 26, 2008 4:06:41 GMT
Wait, Von's from Australia? Curious, I always thought Mashek was from Australia and Von was from USA
|
|
Von
Stormwind Member
VonCorgev
Vene, Vidi, Verse.
Posts: 818
|
Post by Von on Apr 26, 2008 6:55:34 GMT
*Is unsure if that is a compliment* By the way they were excellent photos of yours Jatayu. My knowledge of India is rather limited apart from the few times I've seen it on travel TV shows, so they were very much an eye-opener. I'm not sure what I would have expected to see but I don't think I expected it to be quite as diverse as those photos show. Though I guess India isn't exactly a small country and the population goes to show that. Do you often go to they Himalayan countryside? It looks very impressive!
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 26, 2008 11:14:35 GMT
With India, I've always been most interested in the big cities. I could be completely wrong, but the impression I get is that all the major cities (apart from one, which seems really modern and tacky from photos I've seen) are a huge melting pot of life. With temples of different religions, cows wandering the streets at will, hundreds of merchants and market stalls, people riding on elephants, and also modern touches such as cars and motorbikes, it sounds like one of the most varied and "alive" countries in the world. Is that accurate Jatayu, or am I being too romantic?
|
|
|
Post by Mashek on Apr 26, 2008 11:49:47 GMT
Clearly you've never been to Victoria. The whole southern part of Victoria, such as the Great Ocean Road and Gippsland, is all green and wet. There are even a few rainforests here and there. However, 100-odd kilometres inland, where I live, in a snug little town of Bendigo, the land is incredibly infertile and dry. Truly, if it weren't for the shrub and trees we may as well be living in a wasteland. The soil is orange and dry, full of rocks and plenty of mines from the 1800's, and then of course the mines snaking under our homes - courtesy of the Bendigo Mining Industry. Bendigo is Victoria's fastest growing city with over a 100,000 people in its area of vicinity. I live in one its many suburbs. Though for us locals not a very exciting town, within the city itself are many historic English-esque architectural buildings built in the 1800's sometime which attracts a few passing tourists. Statues, or tributes, amount to soldiers from WWI, war memorials for all wars, and with regret, a few statues of Queen Victoria, Elizebeth and King George. As we're currently undergoing a 20 year drought - water restrictions are at level 4 or 5, which means no long showers, no watering of lawns at certain times and washing cars only with a bucket and sponge and once a week, with exceptions to keeping licence plates clean. Some towns have it worst where 3 minute showers are too long. Average rain for the year usually is about, according to latest trends, about 10-20 days a year. While not particularly wet, summer causes a fair few bush fires in the surrounding dense shrub and some dust storms. Winter is usually cold at an average of about 15 degrees celcius. I have never seen snow. The maximum temperature that we've ever had, which I remember living through as an early teen, was around 47 degrees. I believe the lowest we've ever had was something around 0 degrees. As Von said with regards to Queensland, Victorian weather too is very strange. The first half of the day is very warm, all cool, before clouds decend with wind and vice versa. Melbourne (capital of Victoria), in particular, is usually quoted as going through 4 seasons each day. I'd have some photos up for you, but I'm having a fair amount of trouble finding a place to upload photos. BTW, is it just me, or did the Jedi acadamy undergo a Sith purge? I seem to feel very "translucent" at the moment, if you catch my drift.
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 26, 2008 12:01:01 GMT
Rather you than me, Mash! I would absolutely hate that sort of weather, and especially those water restrictions. Read about it in the Star Wars theme thread.
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on Apr 28, 2008 12:49:48 GMT
Why would it be a compliment? Dantares IV is American too..
And thank you, but these are just photos I myself have taken. You can get better ones on Wikipedia ( I suppose ). I have lots more too.
I wouldn't call it overly romantic, a more appropriate word would be out of date. Cows wandering the streets are rare though you do get to see them. Elephants, are not at all a usual thing, though I have seen many elephants going here and there or in temples.. basically outside of zoos. Come to think of it, I've never seen an elephant in a zoo.. that would be horrible, a caged elephant.
The point is that a lot of things have changed in the last 10 years. Cows, bullock carts and elephants would have been accurate a decade ago. Now 90% of the farmers use tractors rather than bullock carts. ( and I know this for a fact because I did a sociological study on it a year ago. ) Street crawls and haphazard traffic is still there in many areas, but in big cities you will find vast regions with straight roads and fast traffic. Horse carts are still a common sight but fast vanishing. Probably they are just not economical.. cows, bullock carts, horses, elephants etc. compared to modern stuff.
The rate at which things are changing amazes me sometimes, compared to what they were like 10 years ago. ( And yes I'm old enough to remember what 10 years ago was like ). I got to know about Windows ( and that too Win 3.1, though I got a computer with Windows 98 two years later ) when I was 14 years old. Now every kid seems to have a computer and access to internet and are exposed to stuff from a lot younger age. Globalization and stuff I guess.
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 28, 2008 13:02:26 GMT
Interesting. It seems horrible to say so, but I kind of wish progress wasn't quite so fast, that image I have was one of the biggest attractions of India to me. Still, there's bucketloads of culture still left if the tourist brochures are anything to go by.
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on Apr 28, 2008 18:40:45 GMT
Why would culture not be left? Culture is alive and kicking, if anything it is enhanced by modernization. American influence is there no doubt but it is not overshadowing or something like that. It is due to globalization and btw it is a two way process. Indian food, philosophy, yoga etc. are all finding increased acceptance in the west.
There is nothing romantic or 'cultural' in bullock carts and ramshackle houses.
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on Apr 28, 2008 20:19:11 GMT
For daily life, granted. But as a tourist, you want culture to be as different to modern mundane Westernised life as possible. A lot of the charm in Venice lies in the fact that there are no cars and half of the buildings are crumbling to pieces.
Do you have any opinion on the Indian Premier League by the way?
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on Apr 29, 2008 3:16:31 GMT
Well you can start by seeing the Bengali festival of Durga Puja. Apart from the religious value, there is an immense cultural value of socializing and appreciating the brilliantly designed 'pandals' which are brightly lit and everything. The structure below is made entirely of bamboo, cloth and thermocol. At night they are lit up with all kinds of stuff.. using light bulbs and switching devices for 'animation'. A fascinating symbiosis of technology and culture if you ask me. About the IPL, I can't really give any opinions because I don't watch cricket. I do however think it is a brilliant idea and a great thing in terms of marketing and reception. No one has had a cricket league of this style before and I am sure it will attract a lot of talent.
|
|
|
Post by longbowhurtsbad on May 11, 2008 1:25:03 GMT
Far as i know, 80% swedish,10% Norwegion,10% Swiss
Yeah my family are seriously white people, not albino white, but the kind of white peolple you see in cold places
I dont have an accent of Swede, and i live in the WARM place of california, you should come here, we got cookies en stuff.
O and what a nice forum you got here
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on May 11, 2008 10:46:49 GMT
Welcome Brother Longbow, to the Stormwind Cult.
|
|
|
Post by Mashek on May 12, 2008 5:23:49 GMT
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on May 13, 2008 15:13:30 GMT
Wow, you're a good photographer too. I have competition
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on May 13, 2008 15:27:55 GMT
He cheats by using Australian scenery. Seriously Mash, that's nice for photography, but where are the buildings? The electricity? The running water? You barbarian.
|
|
|
Post by Mashek on May 14, 2008 10:20:05 GMT
*Is flattered* Thanks guys, I've never received any compliments for my photography before! The photos set in day are usually never any good, but I do love sunrises and sunsets. I'm sure the green, luscious countryside of England is more sought after than the harsh, hostile wastes of Australia. No, Australia has this harsh beauty that is so distinct and vast that I've come to appreciate it so much in these last few years. It is why I'd prefer a photo of the countryside than one of modern day town life. Well, in the third photo from the top you can see a tower and some powerlines, even a fence! And you want some running water, here's some running water!
|
|
Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by Jatayu on May 14, 2008 14:39:09 GMT
That canal doesn't seem to have any running water in it
|
|
|
Post by Mashek on May 15, 2008 5:19:13 GMT
Aye, it's very sad. And you can see many more of them wherever you walk. I remember the days in the far distant past where even the trench that the system runs through would be flooded entirely. Now we're lucky to witness a trickle or wet mud.
|
|
Andan
Stormwind Member
Andan
Attempting to design a scenario
Posts: 756
|
Post by Andan on May 15, 2008 10:53:49 GMT
The effects of global warming?
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on May 15, 2008 22:06:24 GMT
Australia has had droughts recently.
Have any of the countries you come from got any interesting anthems or songs? Britain has lots (Jerusalem, God Save the Queen, I Vow To Thee My Country, There'll Always Be An England, Rule Britannia, Land Of Hope and Glory etc etc) but I'd like to hear any from your lands.
|
|
Matt
Stormwind Member
The Come And Go Man
Monsieur Mercredi
Posts: 1,812
|
Post by Matt on May 15, 2008 23:11:30 GMT
Australia has had droughts recently. Have any of the countries you come from got any interesting anthems or songs? Britain has lots (Jerusalem, God Save the Queen, I Vow To Thee My Country, There'll Always Be An England, Rule Britannia, Land Of Hope and Glory etc etc) but I'd like to hear any from your lands. Star Spangled Banner America the Beautiful God Bless America My Country tis of Thee (exact tune of God save the Queen ) This land is your land (not sure if that is the actual title) A few more I am forgetting. THe best is how we have our own version of your song: My Country tis of thee, (god save our gracious queen) Sweet land of Liberty, (long live our noble queen) of thee I sing, (god save the queen) Land of the pilgrims pride, (send her victorious) Land where my fathers died, (______glorious) From every mountain side, (_____________) let freedom ring (god save the queen) As you can see I don't really remember the real version
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on May 16, 2008 9:00:54 GMT
Really? I would have thought the first thing they would have done at independence would be to abandon that song.
Also, can you confirm or deny this myth: Star Spangled Banner was originally a drinking song?
And by the way, it's "happy and glorious" and "long to reign over us", and then there's another four verses.
|
|
Matt
Stormwind Member
The Come And Go Man
Monsieur Mercredi
Posts: 1,812
|
Post by Matt on May 16, 2008 12:03:17 GMT
Really? I would have thought the first thing they would have done at independence would be to abandon that song. Also, can you confirm or deny this myth: Star Spangled Banner was originally a drinking song? And by the way, it's "happy and glorious" and "long to reign over us", and then there's another four verses. The star spangled banner was written without any music as a poem. Later a friend noticed it strikingly fit an old english pub song, and there is your anthem. There were moves early on to have America the beautiful as the anthem as well.
|
|
|
Post by Julius CMXCIX on May 16, 2008 13:10:36 GMT
I found all those songs on Youtube. My favourite was My Country Tis Of Thee, I can just imagine 18th century patriots busily changing 'noble Queen' to 'noble free'.
|
|