Try visiting a shopping centre at the rough end of town. You'll see people there whose hair is so greasy that there's more grease than hair. Usually pulled back into a particularly attractive "Croydon facelift".

That sounds.....very revolting.

It smells worse than it sounds.

Ah, the Christina Ricci. Yes, yes... (No.)

This. You can't really compare American mass market food to "the good stuff" where you live. If I want good chocolate I don't buy Hershey's. Most of my day-to-day food comes from places that are located within 100 miles - local dairies, bakeries, produce farms. . .lots of farms and dairies here. Lots of local chains.

So it's not all crap. Crap is just available everywhere because it's cheap. And its then exported everywhere because it's cheap and doesn't spoil easily.

***

Now --- to anyone from Iceland -- are the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulduf%C3%B3lk really a big thing there?

Yeah, then they export the really nasty tasting seconds & rejects and stuff to the rest of the world....HA !

Thank you!


TOPIC: Tennents
ADDRESSED TO: The Scottish Amongst Us

Do you fully appreciate having Tennents readily available?

While I was over there, it quickly became one of my favorite beers. Damn, I miss those bit red T 's! To try to get it in the US is...difficult. I had to drive over an hour to a specialty beer store to find it. And it came in a bottle, which I swear doesn't taste as good as in a can.

I was in a bar a few months ago that is known for having a ridiculous assortment of beer. Tennets was on the menu and I was very excited, only to find that they've been out for awhile and have no idea when/if they will be getting any more.

Is it different in a can than in a bottle?

***While I'm on the topic...

TOPIC: Guinness
ADDRESSED TO: The Irish Amongst Us

Can anyone answer whether or not Guinness is different in the US than in Ireland? Everyone says it is, but I'm starting to wonder if...people are just saying it is. I've had it in both places and I must say that I did prefer the Irish Guinness, but that may have just been a matter of freshness.

Anyway, it has become common knowledge (that no one can find a source for) that legitimate Guinness has too high an alcohol content for it to be allowed in the US. Is there any truth to this?


Side Note: It is interesting that no one has asked anyone if they "Really drink their beer warm?" I believe that must be one of the main questions that Americans have about those in the UK, at least in my experience.

I think I didn't explain properly. The general consensus is that cheese/chocolate/wine priced at X in America will, on balance, taste worse than the same food, priced similarly (and proportionally to pay, the price of living, etc.), elsewhere.

I'm sure Summer's explanation holds true. I'm just wondering whether the market hasn't maybe also possibly "saved" (i.e. monetarily) itself into lower quality.

I don't know if any of the rumblings about quality are true -- it's just what I hear -- which is why I ask.

But then, as Colonel Martyr points out, people in different countries grow up with different taste buds. I'd never eat bear eyeballs, but the Inuit love the taste. (Not that I'm comparing American food to bear eyeballs.)

America is even worse. Sometimes they dont even bother with the "new" part. I remember hearing about Athens, in Ohio. Couldnt you guys have just used some native American names ? Sorta like NZ has some Mouri places.

So am I right to assume that there are no Canadians here? I'm tired of taking 5 hour trips to Canada specifically for All Dressed Ruffles, Smarties (not the US Smarties, way different), and this crepe place I like.

Is americas candy really the worse in the world?

Yeah, I would have hated for Seattle (named after Chief Sealth) to have been named London.

I think there is usually a story behind what a place in America is named. I just did a bit of googling to find that Athens, Ohio had the first university in the area and it was chartered in 1804. They thus named the site/town Athens after the "ancient center of learning,Athens, Greece." Another example would be Memphis, TN which was named Memphis after the one in Egypt due to it's geographical similarities (on a river bluff). Places were thus honored in this country. Same with surnames for places named. Often it was who first settled an area, like "Smithville" being settled by a "Smith", or streets named for presidents or whatever. Usually it is to honor some place or someone I think. Many places are indeed named for Indian words like, Tennesse, Mississippi, Arizona, Illinois...Denali...

You've never tried my homemade fudge or you would not have to ask that question. But since you haven't the answer is some is and some is the best.

I have seen a few on here.

Like Gamgee!

And I'm technically Canadian. Technically.

Potato chips? I could send you a bag of http://www.herrs.com/Products/Products.html, http://www.wisesnacks.com/products/potato-chips.aspx, or http://www.utzsnacks.com/. Man. . .I eat too many potato chips. . .

Nope, but it is bested (in my opinon) in these categories by other countries:

1. Chocolate - Switzerland
2. Sour Flavor - Japan
3. Variety - Canada
4. Sugar - England

The US essentially has a vast amount of candy, but doesn't excel in any areas, with the exception of peanut butter or marshmallow-based candies. Though someone mentioned the high quality of local places, which I believe is true. There is a chocolate place a while aways from my house that has great and delicious chocolate creations. But in the Seattle area, designer cupcakes are all the rage, so I usually don't get the "good stuff" very often. But I get by on Hi-Chew, Gobstoppers, Abba Zabbas, Big Hunks, and Charleston chews.

I was thinking of Galuf (I think that was how it was spelt) and a guy I havent seen in a while mikedesigns.

I dont know why I remember them though.

I specifically want All Dressed Ruffles. BADLY.

This is true. Far more thought goes into it than people realize, especially in small towns.

Athens, Ohio is home to Ohio University, a very highly respected academic institution. And mind you, it is in the middle of nowwhere, so it can be argued that it is a gathering place for intellects. Sounds familiar?

And I know quite a few small town streets are named after the people that lived on either end of the street: "Barclay-Jones" Road for example.

And there are definitely Indian names up around Ohio, New York and especially Pennsylvania.

I think Japan wins this one.
http://www.who-svcks.com/food/101-frightening-ice-cream-flavors-from-around-the-world
http://www.weirdasianews.com/2010/03/18/japans-strangest-kit-kat-flavors/

My town has a Native American name. It's very common around this area, most of the schools in our district are named after different tribes.

The cows looks like their ready to form up and strike.

Has Ireland had any UFO sightings? Did the aliens probe their own cow army?

I was actually born in and live close to Memphis, TN, so I know all about the Egypt comparison, there's even a few Egyptian displays for things as a 'tribute' to our cities name.

http://ketchupchips.bigcartel.com/ But the price seems a little steep.


I live in Conshohocken (Lenape) which is along the bank of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuylkill_River River. Lots Indian names.