Things You Won't See In America - Part 2

This one is a bit sketchy because the picture isn't great and there be something like it in America. But... if there is, I've never seen it.

Technically, this blog, should probably called Things You Probably Won't See In America - Part 2.

The picture was taken while I was driving with the camera in my phone so you'll have to cut it some slack:

As you can see, there are two triangle-shaped stickers on the back of this car. The bottom one -- 'Y' -- is the first letter in the russian word for student. This sticker will be most likely coming off this car in the coming months.

The other sticker is more important. If you can't make it out, it is a high-heeled shoe (a 'pump', if you will). This is an unofficial but very widely-used warning symbol meaning:

WOMAN DRIVER.

This week's thing you won't see in America goes not only to this sticker, but also to the fact that a woman would publicly claim to be an inferior driver and displaying that claim quite publicly on her vehicle.

The wide, wide computer world...

It's quite a bit odd, to see your parents out in the blogging world. I saw my Dad's comments on Hannah's blog today and it reminded of a Seinfeld bit (what else?):

Estelle (George's Mom):"I'm out there, George."

George: "You're not out there."

E: "I am too."

G: "You're not out there. You can't be because I am out there. And if I see you out there there's not enough voltage in this world to electro-shock me back into coherence."

Are these the same parents that used to make me check their e-mail for them? Are these the same parents who couldn't connect to the internet without one of the kids coming to help? Are these the same parents that had me set up the annoying 'Net Nanny' parental control software?

The times have changed... now they've moved on from PC to master Mac, they're setting up wireless home networks, banking, and even sending out newsletters and blogging with pictures and power point presentations on a regular basis (all with a little help from the Brown's).

It's almost time let them go... all by themselves, in the the wide, wide world.... of computers.

Things You Won't See In America - Part 1

There are many parts of everyday life here in Ukraine that are perfectly normal. There is nothing wrong, in general, with these things... they are just, shall we say, different. Definitely not what Americans would be used to. Some of these things I can say are bad... some of these are perfectly good ideas that just aren't used/accepted in the states.


In any case, this is my first post of a series I'd like to do that is dedicated to things that separate our cultures... and in an odd way, bring us together (or something).



Number 1 on my list of things you WON'T see in America.. (drum roll please):

DIRTY EGGS!

To many Americans, it may come as a surprise to find out that eggs are not naturally clean. Chickens are not the cleanest of birds and many people (especially from the Eastern Shore of MD) have a general knowledge in this department due to the amount of hen houses in the Salisbury area (thank you, Perdue) and what they look and smell like (the hen houses, not the people from Salisbury). THIS IS WHERE THEY GET EGGS! They pull them straight of these houses of filth.

We take it for granted that our eggs are bought cleaned, with no exceptions (at least that I've ever seen or heard of).

The pictures may look quite tame... but you must remember, something has to be holding those feathers to the eggs.

The President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, just became one of my favorite European politicians. Here's a little Q & A to show why:

Q: Isn't there enough empirical evidence and facts we can see with our eyes that imply that Man is demolishing the planet and himself?

A: It's such a nonsense that I have probably not heard a bigger nonsense yet.

Q: Don't you believe that we're ruining our planet?

A: I will pretend that I haven't heard you. Perhaps only Mr Al Gore may be saying something along these lines: a sane person can't. I don't see any ruining of the planet, I have never seen it, and I don't think that a reasonable and serious person could say such a thing. Look: you represent the economic media so I expect a certain economical erudition from you. My book will answer these questions. For example, we know that there exists a huge correlation between the care we give to the environment on one side and the wealth and technological prowess on the other side. It's clear that the poorer the society is, the more brutally it behaves with respect to Nature, and vice versa.• It's also true that there exist social systems that are damaging Nature - by eliminating private ownership and similar things - much more than the freer societies. These tendencies become important in the long run. They unambiguously imply that today, on February 8th, 2007, Nature is protected uncomparably more than on February 8th ten years ago or fifty years ago or one hundred years ago.• That's why I ask: how can you pronounce the sentence you said? Perhaps if you're unconscious? Or did you mean it as a provocation only? And maybe I am just too naive and I allowed you to provoke me to give you all these answers, am I not? It is more likely that you actually believe what you say.

"Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience every time."

Sick days

It is quite amazing what you might run across on the internet when you are home, sick, and bored. I haven't seen this show in a LONG time and was surprised when I was laughing out loud at this clip...