# Things I like about the USA **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582 "2005-05-05T19:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/21 "2005-05-06T01:42:25Z")
> [@guinnog](#): > > I have seen Newark . . . You’ve seen Newark and you want to come back??? ---
**Author:** ![guinnog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@guinnog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guinnog)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/22 "2005-05-06T01:50:01Z")
[QUOTE=Neurotik] Like good Mexican food, /QUOTE] Oh, I do. I love it. And the good Californian beer. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/23 "2005-05-06T02:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=guinnog] > [@Neurotik](#): > > Like good Mexican food, /QUOTE] > > Oh, I do. I love it. And the good Californian beer. Next time you need Indian food in Northern California, go up University Ave. in Berkeley. Not that I’ve actually tried any of these restaurants, but there is a lot of Indian paraphenelia. I bet there’s some good Indian food hiding around there. If you come to Chicago, I have a whole list of Indian restaurants to try. Mmmm…I’m going to Hema’s Kitchen on Devon for lunch on Saturday. Again, mmmmm… Quibble: it’s the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge. Anyway, nice list! ---
**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/24 "2005-05-06T04:19:13Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Avoiding Newark and Cincinnati, for starters. Boo! I disagree. But only about Cincinnati; I think we can all agree on Newark. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/25 "2005-05-06T04:33:57Z")
Back when I used to live 1/2 an hour from the Montana border, me and friends used to make jaunts to the states for the following items: John Morel garlic flavored bologna (which became increasingly hard to find the last few times we did it, do they still make it?) Eddie’s Farm Style Bread (which is nowhere even remotely near ‘farm style’, but it goes so good with John Morel Cherry Coke (can’t get it in Canada) Marlboros. We’d blast around Cutbank or Shelby with that song “we’re the kids in America” blaring and generally acting like asses. Also tried to get beers at the bar when we were 19-20 (claiming ignorance if we got caught: “What do you mean, 21??! It’s 18 in Alberta!!!”) Mmmm…John Morel garlic flavored bologna… ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/26 "2005-05-06T04:53:58Z")
Know what I like about the USA? Since a couple of days after I got my work permit, I have worked continuously for six years - something I was never able to do in Canada. I came here to start over from scratch, and I’ve been able to build quite a nice life for my wife and myself. Where I came from, the norm is for them to hire you and let you work for 89 days, then fire you, or lay you off indefinitely (read: permanently) on Day 90 so they don’t have to pay your benefits. It’s happened to nearly everyone I know, repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/27 "2005-05-06T12:50:08Z")
> [@guinnog](#): > > Your cuisine rocks in that it is slightly cheaper than where I live. Plus: quality of produce, fresh fruit, fresh herbs. Minus: no decent Indians, my staple when travelling here. Big minus: cannot easily find decent wholemeal bread without sweetener. When people think of American cuisine, they tend to think of McDonalds, and think that America has no true cuisine of any worth. But I strongly disagree. In fact, I think we have at least 4 disinct cuisines: Yankee (Yankee pot roast, Maine lobster, clam chowder, Boston baked beans), Southern (fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, banana pudding, sweet tea), Cajun, and TexMex. These are foods that I’d gladly place in any 5-star restaurant. As well, there are several other emerging cuisines such as Californian and Hawaiian. And let’s face it – nothing beats a well-made cheeseburger. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/28 "2005-05-06T12:54:03Z")
Bob Dylan Bruce Spingsteen BROADWAY!!! New York City, if for nothing else but its ability to be hit and bounce back. ---
**Author:** ![MrAlpen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@MrAlpen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAlpen)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/29 "2005-05-06T13:30:56Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] … and TexMex. These are foods that I’d gladly place in any 5-star restaurant. QUOTE] Is TexMex the one with refried beans and lots of chilli powder? The Yankee stuff sounds OK, but … no, I must be dreaming! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/30 "2005-05-06T14:32:23Z")
[QUOTE=MrAlpen] > [@tdn](#): > > … and TexMex. These are foods that I’d gladly place in any 5-star restaurant. QUOTE] > Is TexMex the one with refried beans and lots of chilli powder? The Yankee stuff sounds OK, but … no, I must be dreaming! That’s more Mexican than TexMex. I’m thinking BBQed ribs and chili. Kansas City BBQ, yum. OK, that’s not really TexMex either. ---
**Author:** ![MrAlpen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@MrAlpen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAlpen)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/31 "2005-05-06T17:16:31Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] > [@MrAlpen](#): > > That’s more Mexican than TexMex. I’m thinking BBQed ribs and chili. Kansas City BBQ, yum. OK, that’s not really TexMex either. I think I understand … now we just have to persuade the guys at Michelin to agree! ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/32 "2005-05-06T18:04:59Z")
Sonic Youth rates ahead of FDR and Lincoln? 😃 I liked the Cincinnati Airport. I saw Alan Ruck (Cameron in _Ferris Bueller_, Stuart in _Spin City_) in the Cincinnati Airport. I am easily pleased. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/33 "2005-05-06T18:58:33Z")
> [@CateAyo](#): > > For those who equate dissent with “Unamericanism”… Nothing is _more_ American than dissent. That’s how we got started, and we’ve never been terribly respectful or quiet, ever since… Whiskey Rebellion, Temperance Movement, John Brown, Civil War, Suffragets, Wobblies, Matewan, Wounded Knee… The list of peaceful, semi-peaceful, and violent dissent in this country is lengthy, indeed. > [@guinnog](#): > > Minus: no decent Indians, my staple when travelling here. You need to get out and about more, next time you’re here. There’s plenty of good Indian food, as with essentially all other kinds of ethnic food - We’ve got it all. It’s just not so _relatively_ common here. In the States, Mexican/TexMex, Italian, and Chinese foods fill the niche that Indian does over on your side of the pond. But very good Indian is still available, you just need to be a bit more deliberate in your search. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/34 "2005-05-06T19:26:23Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Say what you want about the U.S. but we have the best bathrooms, not to mention the softest toilet paper, in the world. And we don’t have to pay to use them! (Or at least I’ve never come across a pay toilet here.) ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/35 "2005-05-06T19:46:25Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Where I came from, the norm is for them to hire you and let you work for 89 days, then fire you, or lay you off indefinitely (read: permanently) on Day 90 so they don’t have to pay your benefits. It’s happened to nearly everyone I know, repeatedly. [Highjack]Holy crap, **fishbicycle**! Where do you come from? I’ve never experienced this. [/Highjack] The US has an excellent variety of snack food, cheap cigarettes, cheap booze and inexpensive gas (compared to Canada). Oh, and US dollars. I love me some US dollars. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/36 "2005-05-06T19:58:54Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > And we don’t have to pay to use them! (Or at least I’ve never come across a pay toilet here.) I’ve seen them, but not in about 35 years. There might be a straggler or two left out there, somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/37 "2005-05-06T20:16:23Z")
Motown & the banjo must of course be added, in that order. Also, New Orleans, in general. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/38 "2005-05-06T20:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] > [@MrAlpen](#): > > That’s more Mexican than TexMex. I’m thinking BBQed ribs and chili. Kansas City BBQ, yum. OK, that’s not really TexMex either. Eh? Tex-Mex is stuff like fajitas, refried beans, enchiladas, quesadillas, etc… with lots of cheese and guacamole. It’s derived from traditional Mexican food, but isn’t really traditional Mexican food- you’ll probably never see mole’ in Tex-Mex cooking. BBQ and Chili might better qualify as the fifth and sixth food groups- they’re both eaten nationwide with significant regional variations. Comparing Texas beef brisket with NC pork or KC brisket is interesting- they’re not at all the same. Same goes for chili- that Cincinnati stuff served over spaghetti is supposedly chili, although they probably would laugh at you if you tried that during the Houston Rodeo or Terlingua chili cook-offs. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/39 "2005-05-06T20:27:07Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > [Highjack]Holy crap, **fishbicycle**! Where do you come from? I’ve never experienced this. [/Highjack] Hamilton, Ontario. Longest I ever worked anywhere was two years. Every other time, in between stints of unemployment, it was less than 90 days. I’ve never been so glad to get out of a situation! ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582/40 "2005-05-06T20:32:45Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Hamilton, Ontario. Longest I ever worked anywhere was two years. Every other time, in between stints of unemployment, it was less than 90 days. I’ve never been so glad to get out of a situation! Gah! That’s awful! I’ve never had a problem getting benefits and never heard of anyone being laid off or let go to avoid paying benefits. It’s amazing how much different the labour situation can be from one province to another (or even one city to another). I’m happy you escaped that situation! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-like-about-the-usa/302582.md?page=3)