Never heard of tartan.

See the image you posted above.
His http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt#Scottish_kilt is a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan pattern

Same as plaid.

I get it. I moved here from NE Ohio a year ago and it was a bit of a culture shock. I mean I love it, don't get me wrong, but it's...different. They are definitely proud of Texas, which isn't a bad thing, until it transfers to arrogance.

And I can't believe you noticed the whole "Fixin' to" thing! That blew my mind the first few times I heard it. When asked if I'm "Fixin' to" anything, I usually respond with, "Not unless it's broken".

So what does it mean...? I can't really single out any regional curiosity since everywhere has its own bunch of colloquialisms and dialectical oddities, but I'm curious now.

"Fixin' to" means "Getting ready to". It is very popular in Texas to put it before whatever action you plan to do:

"I'm fixin' to make dinner."
"I'm fixin' to go to work"

And my favorite:

"I'm fixin' to fix that."

Oh, I see, thanks. I'm not sure that's one I could get used to saying, but then again I can't get used to the long "A" either.

I don't like it. It implies that if you don't do the thing you've been "fixing to" do, then you've got a problem...

My favourite is the rather bizarre use of interrogatives to communicate misunderstanding, which confuses me every time I hear someone say it.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Who?"

I think that's cute.

Yo
Really? I've never thought about it. How would you say it?

"What time is it?"

I thought http://consumerist.com/2012/03/starbucks-is-trying-really-hard-to-fit-in-with-the-cool-european-kids.html would be an interesting read for the TT.

To the Americans: is Starbucks really not as trendy as it once was?
To everyone else: do you have Starbucks in your country? Do you ever buy Starbucks? In what esteem is it held in your country?

The French obviously dislike it. In the 8 years Starbucks have operated in the country, they've never once turned a profit.

I don't drink coffee for medical reasons, but I've been a few times and it's alright. It's pretty trendy still in the UK. I was in London the other day and went past about 4 in 5 minutes.

Here in Liverpool, it's not really viewed as trendy, just another coffee shop. However it just happens to be delicious and my favuorite place for a frapucino.

Starbucks is just standard here. The coffee shop being cool has come and gone. Its now all about little independent cafes and delis around where I live...

Starbucks did recently bring in this 'introduce yourself' campaign which they've had in America for a while. Instead of them writing your order on your drink, they write your name. This works pretty well in the US where it's normal to stand and chat with service employees but last night I went in for a Frappacino and some of the customers were giving them funny looks for being asked their name. Over here there's much more of a 'just give me my coffee and leave me alone' mentality. I don't mind it having worked service in the US but I can see how it might come across a a bit over familiar here.

Ew, Starbucks. Maybe it's just the ones around here, but they seem to have a habit of turning their bean-roaster up to "incinerate" and then using boiling water when brewing the coffee. The end result is vile.

I like Starbucks but the only shop I know of is in Montparnasse. It's always crowded when I go there, but there must be a reason why they haven't opened shops outside of Paris. Most of my friends don't even know about the brand.

No, I ask a question, and they, not having heard properly, answer with

"Who?"

instead of

"what?"

In the US it is typically Starbucks, McDonald's, a gas stations, or make it yourself.

I hate coffee though, so I really don't care.

Last coffee I had was at (I think) Caffé Nero in Blackwell's bookshop, and that was exceedingly good. You could tell that their baristas really knew their stuff. I usually just make my own, though: our local coffee bean emporium, Cardew's, does really good beans and having a decent grinder (ours is the not-very-accurately named Mazzer "Mini"!) seems to be considered the most important piece of equipment. I used to make a decent latte using my Isomac Tea which is sadly out of service at present; it wasn't up to the standards of a competent barista, but it was a lot better than the nasty slop that Starbucks serve.

As a former waitress of Caffé Nero I can assure you that the baristas are usually just the cheapest hipsters management can scraqe off the street who are willing to work for minimum wage, might have just been my branch though.

Yeah, I think a lot of it is probably down to the branch (or even the individual staff members.) It doesn't surprise me at all that they'll often try to hire as cheaply as possible, though even then you'll still get plenty of staff who want to excel. Which seemed to be the case when I last visited.

If I still drank coffee, it wouldn't be from Starbucks. That place is gross but yet everyone who thinks they're important just MUST go there.

It may have something to do with having a really wonderful little ma 'n pa bakery/coffee shop in town, but I find Starbucks to be the "fast food" of coffee.

Just completely btw, in Finland we don't actually have ice-bears roaming around. A common misunderstanding.
See, it's too cold here for them.

About starbucks, Finland doesn't have a single one (yet). The first one is opening up at an airport in a couple of weeks/months. I've heard it isn't coffe though, more like a sugar and cream filled cup of nothingness.

Agreed. I can't stand Starbucks...too bitter.
Tim Horton's drive thru...."Large black coffee. That's all."
I'm good with that.

Tim Horton's is a Canadian operation and I first discovered them on the 401 thru Ontario into Toronto a few years back, then they began opening them up here...YAY! Pretty good donuts too.