coldfire, you are 100% correct, Schumi is the best driver there is. Just his arrogance is tad overwhelming. And about Heinz Harold…I agree with you on that one too. I just would not necessarily classify Mika as an average driver, a little better than that.
Momotaro…hear hear!! Maybe when he gets his car sorted out Villenueve will be another player, we will see.
Unforgiven
I knew we’d agree gypsy 
FTR, momotaro said: “Go Gilles Villeneuve!”
I don’t think we’ll be seeing him on a track soon… alas. Adieu Gilles…
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
Woo Hoo, we’re going to Amsterdam!
Should I read up on F1 racing, or can Gypsy and Coldfire be persuaded to talk about something else for one night?
For the record, I plan to go sometime this Spring, as soon as I can arrange for a babysitter. If I can’t, I guess I’ll just have to bring the husband along, too.
Anybody else up for it?
Oh, I’ve been out of the country too long. What happened to Villeneuve? :o
The Jordaan Coldfire, and enough of the Formula 1, watching one of those races is like watching paint dry. Now rugby, there’s a sport for real men… 
Ahem, since when did this become the boring European Sports thread?
If this is the sort of conversation I can expect to have in Amsterdam, then count me out! I shall just have to take my spring vacation elsewhere, thank you very much.
Humph.
What I had in mind was four hours of curtain shopping, followed by coffee and cake (one slice, 10 forks, I’m watching my weight) and a marathon discussion about our relationships.
Any takers?
Not in Europe this year, but making notes for the next time I’m seeing relatives. I also wondered about the French, having determined (here in California) that they are the last group it is safe to ridicule… and not be attacked by the PC police. So, I put the original french insults into the Babelfish translator and got this
Excuse me? At the very least, can someone supply a guide telling how to say this>?
Photons have mass!? I didn't even know they were Catholic...And now they are blockading the ports again, when will they grow up. How can you run a first world democracy like this? Tatertot, lets skip the curtains and go straight to the shoe shoppping!
LOL
So what exactly do you want to know, how to pronounce it? You can’t pronouce French unless you’re part of the club. Check out Dave Barry for a more detailed acount:
I’m afraid there is no literal translation that will give the right feeling, so I’ll just give a few pointers:
‘Espèce’= species, kind of. It’s insulting, but I can’t explain why it’s worse to be a species of, than simply being ‘it’. It just is.
‘emmerdeur’= someone who pisses people off, except in French we refer to crap rather than urine. Look up ‘merde’.
‘troisième classe’= 3rd class, low level
‘péquenot de province’= bumkin from some backward region
‘pour m’en montrer’= you think you can impress me?! Ha!
‘Tu crois que t’es à la hauteur?’= you’re inadequate
‘C’est la meilleur’= That’s a good one!
‘Viens pas foirer à mon altitude’= literally, don’t come puke at my superior elevation, or simply, bugger off.
‘zoprac’ is prozac said backwards
‘essegonz’= is gonzesse said backwards, slang for woman, sometimes pejorative.
Yeah, it’s lame.
Moonshine, I really do need new curtains, but I guess we can save that for my next trip and just go shoe huntin’.
Oh wait, can I get shoes in the Netherlands? Real ones, I mean, not those wooden ones…I have arch support issues…
Oh yes, in addition to talking about our relationships, I think we should also give each other facials and makeovers. Then, while our masks and nail polish are drying, we can watch every Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie ever made and talk about our feelings.
Any objections, fellas?
–Tracy
What the hell … ?
Hey, we’re going to AMSTERDAM, not Fort Lauderdale or something…
Regarding facials: hmmmm these hookers are up to a lot of weird stuff, but healthwise, I think it’s a no-no on the facials
Talking about relationships ? Sure. Even other than physical ? OK. If we must.
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
Um, Coldfire, what the hell do hookers and facials have to do with each other? Or is this some sort of Dutch humor that I, as an American, can not comprehend?
Also, I’d like to state, that I like French people. Sure, as a nation, they do some incomprehensible things, and they also seem to go on strike a lot, but taken as individuals, I’ve never met a rude French person.
Actually, I pretty much like everybody in Europe. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Dutch, though. They are the nicest people in the world, even if they have no morals. Plus, my obligatory foreigner fling was with a Dutchman. Sigh. Ahh, to be 16 again…
Yay ! We’re favourites with the German-based Korean Americans… FWIW
Errrrrm regarding the Facials and the Hookers. It’s an English expression, or American even, I think. And explaining it here might get me in the same general direction as Contestant#3…
Let’s just say the facial analogy is used because of the visual resemblance to the cosmetic procedure - the moisture used is of a different origin.
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
OH MY GOD!
You Dutchies are sick!
I’ll never be able to get a facial again!
And I’m certainly not going to let you give me one.
But…I guess ya’ll are still my favorites.
Great, I got the message across without using profanity
BTW, go to bed, it’s almost 1:30 AM in Deutschland !
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
In case anyone wants to know, here’s what Babelfist had to say about his paragraph:
SanibelMan
“A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.”
– Henry David Thoreau
It’s Babelfish, not Babelfist.
The only time I can afford to read/post is late at night! I don’t have a job, so I can’t post from work…in fact I’m thinking about getting a job, for the free internet access. Stupid Deutches Telecom!
BTW, do all of the other European countries charge for local phone calls? What sort of ISPs do ya’ll have? A company here has just started advertising unlimited monthly access, phone fees included, but it’s like $100 a month! And you only get that rate if you sign a three year contract (and have a form to get out of paying the German value-added tax). Is there anybody from Germany who knows of a better plan?
BTW, Glee are you still out there? I miss you I thought about e-mailing you, but I don’t want to appear stalker-ish.
Regarding ISP’s:
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
Yep, local calls are free in the States. I think it’s like $15 for a basic line, no frills. That’s the one thing I really miss about the States. Sigh.
Just curious, but how much are phone calls in the Netherlands. Here, it ranges from 5DM($2.75) to 1.8DM($1) p/hour. It really adds up!
I just found out that my ISP has worked out a deal giving us a 50% discount on phone charges for only 10DM ($5.5) a month extra. I’m going to call tomorrow and check it out.
Because that’s what I really need, more aimless time in front of the computer!