Question for a local
Mar 2nd, 2007, 08:37 AM
#63
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Yes, Britain is much older than the US, and thus has no silly, recent, commercial "traditions" like we do. Certainly no HP sauce, tinned baked beans, Marmite, Branston pickle, Lyle's golden syrup, etc. etc.
A very large proportion of the British traditions that Americans travel so far to see are of surprisingly recent origin, including Scottish kilts and most of the "Changing of the Guard" folderol.
A very large proportion of the British traditions that Americans travel so far to see are of surprisingly recent origin, including Scottish kilts and most of the "Changing of the Guard" folderol.
Mar 2nd, 2007, 10:03 AM
#64
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Coming up on BBC World News:
"Queso" disagreement on Fodor's message board causes rift in U.S. - Britain relations. What started as the innocent gesture of a tourist from Texas has resulted in a severing of diplomatic ties between Britain and the United States. According to Prime Minister Tony Blair, "First I followed their President into an ill-conceived war, and now their citizens are bringing Ro-tel tomatoes and Velveeta cheese in their hand luggage!"
We spoke to an anonymous British resident, who said "Why were those cheeky bastards opening tomato factories during World War II anyway? That's no way to be an ally!" Meanwhile overseas, an anonymous Texas resident responded, "We thought it tasted good! We didn't mean to be too friendly. And now, sadly, it's too late."
Armed guards at Heathrow and Gatwick airports have begun scanning all incoming luggage from the States for stray packages of Velveeta cheese. "Not only is it not to our taste," said one guard, while munching on a chip butty, "but we've learned that when mixed with 3 ounces of hand sanitizer it's actually explosive."
More on this tense situation as events unfold. In the meantime, the government is asking all citizens and message board posters to please relax. As Gordon Brown, considered Blair's likely successor, remarked, "I can't understand what all the fuss is about. It's only cheese."
"Queso" disagreement on Fodor's message board causes rift in U.S. - Britain relations. What started as the innocent gesture of a tourist from Texas has resulted in a severing of diplomatic ties between Britain and the United States. According to Prime Minister Tony Blair, "First I followed their President into an ill-conceived war, and now their citizens are bringing Ro-tel tomatoes and Velveeta cheese in their hand luggage!"
We spoke to an anonymous British resident, who said "Why were those cheeky bastards opening tomato factories during World War II anyway? That's no way to be an ally!" Meanwhile overseas, an anonymous Texas resident responded, "We thought it tasted good! We didn't mean to be too friendly. And now, sadly, it's too late."
Armed guards at Heathrow and Gatwick airports have begun scanning all incoming luggage from the States for stray packages of Velveeta cheese. "Not only is it not to our taste," said one guard, while munching on a chip butty, "but we've learned that when mixed with 3 ounces of hand sanitizer it's actually explosive."
More on this tense situation as events unfold. In the meantime, the government is asking all citizens and message board posters to please relax. As Gordon Brown, considered Blair's likely successor, remarked, "I can't understand what all the fuss is about. It's only cheese."
Mar 2nd, 2007, 10:40 AM
#67
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Hilarious!
The part about being explosive when mixed with hand cream I believe. Have you SEEN the stuff?
Even if Velveeta is not itself dangerous, it's similarity to the REAL plastic explosive means that any terrorist could wrap a brick of C-4 in a Velveeta box and put it in a bag with some Ro-tel.
The part about being explosive when mixed with hand cream I believe. Have you SEEN the stuff?
Even if Velveeta is not itself dangerous, it's similarity to the REAL plastic explosive means that any terrorist could wrap a brick of C-4 in a Velveeta box and put it in a bag with some Ro-tel.
Mar 2nd, 2007, 12:31 PM
#71
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Actually, according to flyertalk, gifts for the flight crew in the front of the cabin are not a rarity and seem to be very appreciated.
Starbucks cards are very popular with flight crews and according to many posts on flyertalk, so is candy. This seems to be gendered (and classed) since many of those posters are successful business men who regularly fly first.
Starbucks cards are very popular with flight crews and according to many posts on flyertalk, so is candy. This seems to be gendered (and classed) since many of those posters are successful business men who regularly fly first.
Mar 5th, 2007, 02:02 PM
#74
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HP Sauce, Marmite, Malteasers,Christmas crackers...all are readily available here in the US. Why? Because of all the Brits who live here. Because my mother (English), met my father in London during WWII, brought her home to the US, and the rest is history.
Remember.....England IS our Mothership.
chartley: Try not to forget that we lost many American lives during WWI, and WWII......our two countries have stood side by side in several wars. You didn't do it alone......
Remember.....England IS our Mothership.
chartley: Try not to forget that we lost many American lives during WWI, and WWII......our two countries have stood side by side in several wars. You didn't do it alone......
Mar 5th, 2007, 04:06 PM
#75
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It's not MY blinkin' mothership, thank you very much. No offense. I do have some English ancestry, along with Irish and Scottish, leading to frequent violent hallucinations (just kidding).
But only about 13% of the US population (in 1990; it's probably 10% now) claims English ancestry, third-most after German and Irish.
And while we did contribute a lot of troops to the war in Europe both times, our most significant contribution, especially in WWII, was materiel. Our most powerful weapons were our factories, with which the Germans could not compete.
If dead soldiers is the measure you prefer, we're nowhere near the Russians, who lost well over twenty times as many men as we did, and as many again in the civilian toll -- close to 25 million in total. The US lost considerably fewer soldiers than did Yugoslavia, and while we lost more men than Britain, as a percentage it was only a third as much. We also never had to live with the horror of war hanging quite literally over our heads.
But only about 13% of the US population (in 1990; it's probably 10% now) claims English ancestry, third-most after German and Irish.
And while we did contribute a lot of troops to the war in Europe both times, our most significant contribution, especially in WWII, was materiel. Our most powerful weapons were our factories, with which the Germans could not compete.
If dead soldiers is the measure you prefer, we're nowhere near the Russians, who lost well over twenty times as many men as we did, and as many again in the civilian toll -- close to 25 million in total. The US lost considerably fewer soldiers than did Yugoslavia, and while we lost more men than Britain, as a percentage it was only a third as much. We also never had to live with the horror of war hanging quite literally over our heads.
Mar 5th, 2007, 05:00 PM
#76
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Here in Arkansas, we call queso "cheese dip" and eat it regularly. You CAN NOT mess with the recipe. It must be ROTEL and VELVEETA cheese. Take the ingredients and make the queso for her if you want to. If she doesn't want it, she can throw it in the garbage and have another cute story to tell about us overly friendly southern Americans. Or she may just wave her cowboy hat in the air and say, "Ya-Hoooooo!!!"
Mar 5th, 2007, 05:22 PM
#78
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Oh, I assumed she would be obtaining the permission of the proprietor. Or perhaps had already done so. If not, well then...
She could contact the hostess now, and if her reply is a rather cool "that won't be necessary", then she can spare herself the trouble of hauling Velveeta to London.
I'm a very reserved person and would not have even thought of making the offer. I admire Atlertx for thinking of it!
She could contact the hostess now, and if her reply is a rather cool "that won't be necessary", then she can spare herself the trouble of hauling Velveeta to London.
I'm a very reserved person and would not have even thought of making the offer. I admire Atlertx for thinking of it!
Mar 18th, 2007, 11:29 AM
#80
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Atletx: the majority of these people replying just plain don't know what they are talking about. They aren't TEXANS, for the most part.
Safeway's in England "might" have Velveeta or similar....or it wouldn't hurt to TRY a good soft melting cheese.
OR; just pack a pound of Velveeta AND a can of Rotel in your suitcase~~~you can get cornchips there. If your host doesn't have a microwave or if ifsounds like she doesn't want you in the kitchen, then justleave the food with her and she MIGHT try it at another time.
I'm not fond of Velveeta alone. We lived 5 yrs. overseas, and know and love good cheese , but I'm NOT a SNOB about Velveeta in a few dishes...one being Chili Con Queso. YUM!!!
Safeway's in England "might" have Velveeta or similar....or it wouldn't hurt to TRY a good soft melting cheese.
OR; just pack a pound of Velveeta AND a can of Rotel in your suitcase~~~you can get cornchips there. If your host doesn't have a microwave or if ifsounds like she doesn't want you in the kitchen, then justleave the food with her and she MIGHT try it at another time.
I'm not fond of Velveeta alone. We lived 5 yrs. overseas, and know and love good cheese , but I'm NOT a SNOB about Velveeta in a few dishes...one being Chili Con Queso. YUM!!!
