don't open up that can of worms

Agreed. Love shopping and consumerism

No seriously they where not,the two people that asked me that where as embaressed as can be as they found out the true fact. I found it pretty funny really.

Austin's a great city; I lived there for six years and because of the University of Texas and high-tech employers all over the area, they're pretty used to out-of-towners down there.

A lot of the bars will take foreign ID, mostly because they don't really care if it's fake or not. Supermarkets and liquor stores are much less willing to accept even out-of-state ID, so I recommend that you get at least a state ID card as soon as you arrive in Texas if you want to make age-restricted purchases. Some places don't care, but others are really anal about that.



I don't believe it, I've never met anybody that stupid. We took history in school too; they made it pretty clear to us that Hitler was, in fact, deceased.

"I'm innocent, I swear, I'm just here for the Tex-Mex!"

mmm maybe they don't know I'm a poor hungry southamerican, so the most I can do is throw a rock, because it's free

You get dumba$$es anywhere you go. A lot of Texans see brown skin, brown eyes, and brown hair and assume that you're latina. Then they further assume that you don't speak English. I bet you get it from other Hispanics too, no? Then you tell the gueros you're Argentinian and they ask you what part of Mexico that's in, right? I knew a lot of South Americans when I was at UT and they got that sort of treatment all the time. People weren't being mean to them, they were just making incorrect assumptions. Austinites are usually pretty mellow about that sort of thing.

BTW the Tex-Mex IS awesome. Ever tried Trudy's, or El Arroyo? Both v. v. good. Chuy's is always a good bet, but the tourists/Oh-isn't-Austin-hip crowd know where it is so they've kind of spoiled it.

It is great!! let me try to remember the places I went to...Matt's el rancho was a really good one, The texican was really good too. Now I'll have to try those places you mentioned! yyuumm
although I have to say it...flan without dulce de leche?? no no no everything else, just awesome
I'm now hooked on spicy food and margaritas
Future Hubby also bought me a Longhorns tshirt and matching shorts, shot glasses and took me to a longhorns basquetball game...so I'm all set to cheer for the team, and get drunk while doing it...Go UT!
It is true that a lot of people didn't know where Argentina is, but it's all good, I started saying "Argentina, South America" after a couple of times, and that did the trick...Hey, I'm bad with geography too, so there!

You must not get out much. A SCHOOL TEACHER friend of mine asked my Russian wife, "so, did you drove over from Russia?"

Based on my observation of humanity, I have been forced to adopt the following policy: "You are a dumbass until you prove otherwise".

Cheers!
AKDiver

For a school teacher, his grammar certainly sucks.

Uh, not the point.

Besides, it was a she.

Cheers!
AKDiver

stupid questions does not a racist make...

I went to UT! HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!!!!

Matt's El Rancho is really nice. Hey, is Oasis open again? It burned down a couple of years ago but I didn't hear if they'd rebuilt it yet. The tex-mex is average at best, but the views more than make up for it.



I get out plenty, but I'm the only one in my group of friends here in York without a master's degree. Half of them have Ph.D.s. Maybe I need to find dumber friends.

While on vaccation in LA a couple of girls asked me what language we speak in England. That was quite ammusing.

I live in Wales though, not England, and when I move to Chicago I know that the Welsh society there, called the Tafia (after the river Taff in Cardiff) will help me get adjusted to the city as there are members who have been through the same immigration process.

I'm sure there are similar societies for all sorts of communities across America, and I would imagine they are a huge help for anyone who does experience any form of discrimination.

I have to admit though that as a Celtic nation Wales does seem to be regarded as quite cool, so I doubt I will experience much in the way of discrimination. I even met a woman in Chicago who had named her daughter Bryn because she loves Wales - I didn't tell her Bryn is a Welsh boys name though!

Do you think that people in LA asking you what language you speak in England counts as discrimination?

I can't speak for other Europeans, but speaking for myself, the reason I came over to the US, was so that we could get the US part of the immigration process over with. We both really want to live in the UK, but we want to have the same nationalities as our kids. So that we will always be able to travel together when we vacation or visit relatives. For an American is takes barely a week to get a spousal visa, compared to the almost year long wait you have for US immigration.

And what, you never interact with customer service agents of any kind?

By the way, having a university degree means nothing in terms of being a dumbass. Hell, most teachers have university degrees, and even a lot of cops have university degrees. My interaction with both has given me a lot of evidence for my position (:

Cheers!
AKDiver

One time the girl at Spar asked me what an atlas was because she couldn't find America on a map. That was here in the UK. Does that count? I don't usually talk about politics or geography with clerks.



I'll let you tell my friends that they're dumba$$es then...one of them was the first to achieve a starred first in physics at the local university and is pretty well-known in his field; he's currently a senior lecturer at the uni. Another one of them has two Ph.D.s in math and comp sci, another has degrees in physics and math, my own husband has degrees in theoretical physics and comp sci, and one has degrees in publishing, journalism, and medieval history. We win every single pub quiz we enter.

BTW, I never met any Americans that stupid either, and only half of them even went to college. I don't know where these supposed dumba$$es are because I sure as hell haven't met any of them. I suppose it's the company I keep both in the UK and the USA.

Why not? Are you too good for them?

How gracious of you!

You must be SO PROUD of yourselves. Congratulations. In the meantime, GWB graduated from high-quality schools, grew up to be president and the "leader of the free world" - doesn't preclude him from being a dumbass. Even an expensive "pure breed" dog will sniff asses and eat ######. Having a special piece of paper with your name on it doesn't mean a whole lot. (:

Try to mingle more (:

Here is just one of many examples of a dumbass, living right here in America:



Cheers!
AKDiver

I know this will offend a lot of people, but hey, that's how it goes I guess. It's always possible that *I* am a dumbass. I know, hard to believe, but it is possible. Unlike some people, at least I am not in denial (:


So, based on that article, I would argue that at least 51% of Americans can safely be labeled as being a dumbass. (:

As an added bonus:So, if you want to meet more dumbasses, maybe this will help you locate them.

Cheers!
AKDiver

This map might also help:

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/04/0...ught-in-the-us/

Cheers!
AKDiver

I used to know a guy who had a Masters in Physics, and he truly believed that Castaneda's character in "Don Juan's Teachings" was indeed able to discover an alternative reality. After I carefully suggested that maybe he was just getting high on peyote cactus, he stopped talking to me

Hahahaahah. There you go (:

Cheers!
AKDiver

Believing in God does not make one a dumbass. And no one's saying you have to believe in God, but you certainly should have a litle more respect for your fellow man.

I think he was saying they're idiots for not believing in evolution, not for believing in God.

Same thing, really. You cannot not believe in evolution unless you believe in God.

Hmm....not sure where I said this, but thanks for the note (:

Wow! This is a perfect example of the flawed logic I am talking about. It says you have to believe in evolution, or God. This assertion makes no allowance for the possibility that someone might not believe in either one.

Well, more accurate anyway. But even more accurate, not believing in the best, most accepted scientific theory that we have, and instead believing that people just magically appeared one day instead. That's what makes one a dumbass. God has nothing to do with it.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Nope, I'm just in a hurry.



GWB got to go to Yale and Harvard because of who his parents are. As far as I'm aware none of my friends have fathers who were once at the highest levels of politics and government in this country or any other, so that's a pretty stupid comparison.




Heh...consider the source, LisaD.

Uh huh.

Has nothing to do with it. The point was merely that having a piece of paper with your name on it doesn't change one's character. That is true no matter who your parents may be.

Cheers!
AKDiver

This is the most ridiculous debate ever.

AK, if you don't want to be man (or woman) enough to at least own what you've said/implied....well, then I have given you too much credit in the past.


Cheers!
Lisa D

Well i am going to lump all Americans into one big pot. Well atleast 85% of them. Because I remember before Busch started this Bloodbath in Iraq almost 5 years ago. 85% of the Americans were screaming "go go" "noone f*cks with us" "your going to pay now you muslim terrorists" terrorists whattttttt???????? I am American, and i have to agree with anyone that does lump Americans into the stupid category. Granted there are 15% that are not so blind, and that is alot of people. Which I hope all the people here in VJ are part of that 15%, but still 85% is enuff to lump all Americans together in my opinion

are you sure it's not 82.743452345%?

Eh?

Cheers!
AKDiver

Re: the evolution aspect...believing in creationism, I would say, is faith based...so this comment of yours is a little bit of a runaround.



There are many things that smack the azz of science and defy logic. But they do exist.

For instance.......I was told by several top neurosurgeons that there was 'no scientific explanation' for why I survived my accident because by all scientific accounts, I should have died. And that was with the most scientific tests available. In fact, one surgeon started his consult with me by saying 'Lisa, I'm a man of science......' and then proceeded to tell me that even though he himself was an athiest, the only thing he could chalk up my survival was to 'God or something bigger than all of us'

Faith contradicting science happens all the time. I didn't bring my experience up to talk about me....but I found it to be a perfect example of what we're talking about. Acknowledging that does not make one a dumass, and IMO has everything to do with believing in God...or whatever Higher Power one wants.

In fact, one could argue that those who accept that science isn't the be-all end-all last word are those who have the most open minds. After all, once upon a time science told us the Earth was flat

Maybe I'm slow, but I'm not really following you here. I think you're saying that I am saying that if one believes in God, then one can't believe in evolution, and therefore one is a dumbass. However, there are plenty of people who believe in God AND evolution (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml). Keeping this in mind, what I said in the post is that one is a dumbass for believing in creationism, not God. There is a difference there.

This is true. However, choosing magic to explain something that can be explained by more traditional means is hardly rational.

I would argue that the man you mention is no scientist at all. Otherwise, he would have just said that "I really don't know" or "I cannot explain it" rather than "It must be magic", because magic does not exist in the scientific world.

This is very true.

Actually, even the ancient Greeks knew the Earth was round. They even came up with a reasonably accurate measurement of its circumference some 200 years before Jesus was born (: Anyone who thought the Earth was flat was just a dumbass, not a scientist (:

Cheers!
AKDiver

AK -

I think you're too hung up on the semantics of bickering to grasp my point. I think it's safe to say that if one believes in creationism, one believes in God. And I think mocking a person's faith by calling him/her a dumbass is rude & disrespectful. Just because you can't wrap your head around it doesn't make it wrong or make you intellectually superior.

Point is, none of us know...we can only guess by what we've learned/believe. And sometimes, faith wins out...as you've agreed with me above. This is not about 'oh that doctor's no scientist' or 'this person is a dumbass'.... Faith is believing in the absence of proof. Yes, I'll grant you...faith itself is illogical to the analytical mind. Doesn't make it inferior tho

It's one thing to believe in something in the absence of proof.

It's quite another to stubbornly hang onto unfounded beliefs in the presence
of proof to the contrary.

You believe in God, you don't believe in God, it is all fine with me. No matter. The thing is, is treat your brother and sister with love and respect. Know they are your brothers and sisters.
Belief in God is personal, noone has the proof for sure.

But one thing we do have the proof on is more than 85% of Americans were cheering for this Bloodbath we call Iraq. Now too many are screaming bloody murder, that there is too much blood!!

Well that it is a proven fact that Iraq never had WMD's before we thought we would slaughter, so I think over 85% of American's need to be more cool and smart to judge before they scream go or laugh at a movie theater employee.

I know I know. All the people in VJ were part of that 15% and I like that very much. For us to realize we are brothers and sisters and not vampires with a need for blood.

Yes, this is true. However, you seem to be missing MY point. Belief in God does NOT require believing in creationism. There are MANY people who believe in one and not the other. Again, my post said that I believe that one is a dumbass for believing in creationism, not for believing in God. Don't accuse semantics in lieu of reading more closely (:

Perhaps it is. So is inferring that it is impossible for someone to have a moral compass unless someone believes in the same religious dogma that they do. That happens to people all the time too. So, sometimes, some people are rude. It's the nature of humanity. No unique insights there Lisa. (:

Hey, I never claimed to be intellectually superior. I claim to have a different opinion. Obviously I have that opinion because I believe it is superior to all others. If I thought someone else had a better opinion, then, being a rational fellow, I would adopt that opinion.

Certainly true.

You are so wise Lisa (:

Aha! This is a value judgment. Whether or not a position is inferior is subject to the determination (judgment) of an individual. Some people elect to view evolution as an inferior position. Some people elect to view creationism as an inferior position. Both judgments can exist simultaneously, and without conflict. It's the nature of an opinion and what happens when you live in a universe where there is no "universal truth".

I fully realize that I may actually have an incorrect, or inferior position with respect to evolution vs. creationism. I make make allowance for the fact that I COULD be wrong. Can the average creationist do the same? I argue that no, they can't. They will go right on believing in something, despite any evidence to the contrary. In my book, THIS is the fact that make it an inferior position, not the general believe itself.

Yes, exactly!!!! Gold star for mawilson!

Absolutely.

So perhaps I should revise my previous statement to indicate that we can safely move the "dumbass quotient" in America to 51% to 85%? I'll go along with that.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Everyone should definately believe in something.

I believe Ill have a beer afterwork.

BTW, you will most likely find out all of this on your inevitable utimate day on earth.

CHEERS

I can't remember any poll showing 85% support for the Iraq war. Proof, please.

83% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

This thread is now about Cheese.

Discuss.

I believe Cheese created human kind
"from cheese we come, and cheese shall we become"

One note though: I believe in evolution AND God...ha! why? because
*At the beginning of time, there was this mass of gas floating around...and suddenly, the Big Bang! Entire Galaxies were created! no scientific explanation on why that happened, it just...did
*then, for millions of years, the earth was just a lifeless inert mass...and suddenly, chan! there was life! (no scientific explanation there either)
*the perfect order of the universe, from the planetary movement down to the complexity of a human cell and atoms seem to scream there is a bigger, more powerfull source behind it. That, for me, is God
Evolution does not probe God does not exist...it just means what it is, that the bible is an spiritual book, not a biology one, and shouldn't be taken literally the story of the creation of the world and men should be read like this "All that happened, happened because God wanted it like that. Not by random. And should He have decided otherwise, we'd still be a lifeless, inert mass"
When they finally find the scientific explanation for the Big Bang and the beginning of life, my words will be the same "everything happened, because it was God's will, not by random"
Ta daaa

http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/0326.htm
2. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war with Iraq?

Favor Oppose No opinion
2003 Mar 24-25 71 27 2
2003 Mar 22-23 72 25 3


http://www.usiraqprocon.org/pop/Resources-Polls.html

.F.6. "Do you think the United States has or has not presented strong evidence showing that Iraq is trying to develop nuclear weapons?"
Date Taken Has Has Not No Opinion


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82357,00.html

The latest FOX News poll, conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corporation, finds that fully 78 percent of Americans support (66 percent “strongly” support) taking action to disarm Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power and 18 percent oppose. Earlier this month support for action was at 71 percent (54 percent “strongly” supported) with 20 percent opposed.


Feb. 9, 2003 62% 33% 5%

Hrmm...can't find 85% in any of those

ok ok
i will admit it
fine you all win
i am definitely racist
i do not like the people from England
but i like people from Texas less




ahhh your not from texas, that is just your service center
but you should be
hahahaah
move there
you will like it there!!
~

good luck with that!

i thought that the whole time
it was like when they broke into the cafeteria and broke all the eggs

I know math education in the US needs to improve, but even *I* know that that is NOT 85%. Try again, dear.

Now I do get one from England in Texas
yes
my lucky day

The KKK are racist to all people non white
but what would you call me who is ONLY racist to Enlish(less) and Texans(more)?? Well actually most of the South seems a little to Good ol' Boy to me
but that is neither here nor there