[QUOTE=Caffeine.addict]
I think I am a little more confused as to why you keep your checks in the trunk of the car. Is this an Australian thing? 
[/QUOTE]
It’s so they don’t get eaten by the roos or burnt on the barbie 
I can understand that concern, but honestly, SDMB culture requires so many disclaimers (“I hate Rosie O’Donnell” and then having defend yourself for three pages because everyone decided you hate lesbians, overweight people, and for no apparent reason, Jews) that I just say fuck it, and let people get offended by stuff that’s not offensive.
[QUOTE=Caffeine.addict]
I think I am a little more confused as to why you keep your checks in the trunk of the car. Is this an Australian thing?
[/QUOTE]
No, I hear they keep their cheques in the boot over there.
Let us consider this matter dispassionately in the cool light of reason.
- The United States is a country.
2a. If a country has states, then:
2b. They are united.
- All countries have united states.
Therefore:
- No country is not the United States.
The alert logician will note that the above analysis admits the existence of two countries: The United States of America and the United States of Mexico. This is why debate over immigration policy always focuses on America and Mexico. Illegal immigration from countries that are not Mexico is not regarded as a significant problem, for the simple reason that other “countries” do not exist in a legal, mathematical or ethical sense.
Regions lacking “United States” may occasionally refer to themselves as “countries,” but this should be understood to signify a less formal status closer to “social club” or “neighborhood.” Such “countries” have sometimes been observed to act out political exchanges as if they were actual countries, in a manner akin to that of Melanesian cargo cults. The United States of America officially recognizes these efforts as “cute,” while the United States of Mexico simply points and exclaims: “¡Mira! ¡Qué lindo!”
[QUOTE=Terrifel]
The alert logician will note that the above analysis admits the existence of two countries: The United States of America and the United States of Mexico. This is why debate over immigration policy always focuses on America and Mexico. Illegal immigration from countries that are not Mexico is not regarded as a significant problem, for the simple reason that other “countries” do not exist in a legal, mathematical or ethical sense.
[/QUOTE]
Right: you forgot the United States of Australia (USA for short), which has its own immigration problems.
But your syllogism didn’t allow for countries with provinces, so you overlooked the well-known country, the Bilingually Divided Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.
[QUOTE=Nava]
Maybe you should avoid situations that may lead to being picked up from the police station, then. If I’m in good enough health to be picked up from the hospital, I’m in good enough health to make the phone call myself… I don’t need the university to make it for me!
[/quote]
Yeah, until you get a sprained tongue. Try talking while it’s all splinted up. Yeah, that’s what I thought. 
You haven’t met a lot of foreign students here, have you? 99% :dubious:
As an international student myself, I don’t think it’s uncommon for students to come over without knowing a single soul initially. Of course universities usually have strong ethnic communities that actively welcome newcommers, but I’ve had plenty of friends that started studying in the US completely on their own.
I don’t know if 99% is an accurate number though. 
[QUOTE=Giles]
It’s so they don’t get eaten by the roos or burnt on the barbie
[/QUOTE]
Well, Aussies may keep their cheques locked in the boot of their cars, but they leave their Euros scattered all over the Outback. 
[QUOTE=Terrifel]
- All countries have united states.
[/QUOTE]
Erm… what? The UK and New Zealand don’t have states, united or otherwise. Lots of countries don’t, FWIW.
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
Erm… what? The UK and New Zealand don’t have states, united or otherwise. Lots of countries don’t, FWIW.
[/QUOTE]
Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh
I think that means we’re toy countries, or accessories, or something
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
Erm… what? The UK and New Zealand don’t have states, united or otherwise. Lots of countries don’t, FWIW.
[/QUOTE]
Can’t speak for the UK or New Zealand, but South Africa has had quite a few states. There was the State of Emergency (PW Botha), the State of Shock (Hansie Cronje), and most recently, the State of Euphoria (Rugby World Cup).
[QUOTE=Mangetout]
I think that means we’re toy countries, or accessories, or something
[/QUOTE]
I like that. Canada, is like, a massive hat for the U.S. Like one of those huge bearskin hats the Royal Guards wear or something.
You have changed the way I look at maps forever. Thank you.
[QUOTE=featherlou]
I like that. Canada, is like, a massive hat for the U.S. Like one of those huge bearskin hats the Royal Guards wear or something.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, we’re pulling the wool over their eyes while we make off with all their creative types, but don’t tell anyone…
[QUOTE=Derleth]
What’s all this nonsense about the English language? Here’s a little hint for you: Most people don’t speak it.
[/QUOTE]
Really? English is becoming the second language of most of the world. I’ve lived in or visited several foreign countries and had a hard time finding someone who didn’t speak enough English to communicate with. And when I lived in Indonesia, I learned to speak Indonesian and they loved it. I would speak to them in Bahasa and they would answer me in English. Win-win all the way around.
English is the most widely-spoken language, in terms of places where you can find people who speak the language. But it’s still spoken by a minority of the world’s population.
Fewer than 400 million people have English as their first language, and overall, even if we accept the higher estimates, fewer than 2 billion people (or less than a third of the world’s population) speak English.
In terms of first language, I guess Chinese is No 1, but I’m not sure how that breaks down in terms of dialects. Chinese-language classes has become something of a fad here in Bangkok as trade with that country increases.
French still comes in somewhat useful in Indochina (Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos), but really only with older folks. Younger people tend to go for English.
Wasn’t Derleth poking a bit of fun? Latin is an international language, but English isn’t?!
[QUOTE=Leaffan]
Ya know, it’s been bugging me for some time now, but I never had the courage to speak up. I know this is a Chicago based newspaper running this, but clearly the audience is international, although certainly slanted towards English-speaking countries.
If I post something pertaining to my specific geographical laws and regulations I will fucking state where I’m from and what I’m contesting.
Yet 99% of the time posts from U.S. citizens will contain no location information and moronic questions like “Can I buy NA beer if I’m under 21?”
Fuck off. Yes. In most countries in the world. Get your head out of your ass and post something that makes sense globally, since that’s who your audience is. Fucking introverted dicks.
BTW I love the US. I’m just pissed at the centric dipshits who don’t believe other countries or laws exist.
Bye.
[/QUOTE]
Many posters who ask location-specific questions fail to consider anyone’s location but their own. This is less a reflection of disbelief that “other countries or laws exist” than ordinary stupidity, which is reasonably rampant here.
BTW, do you mean “self-centered” instead of “introverted?” Don’t get excited. I am not one of those folks who thinks everyone should know English.
On further consideration, I guess I am, but it’s OT…