I have some America questions for you!

I have a Howdy Doody puppet from my youth. Still works. That was a good TV show from the early years. Much has been lost.
Mexican food has been covered, but not the really good Mexican food. How about duck, lamb, shrimp or prime rib instead?
Our Football has been covered, even if the rest of the world insists on calling soccer football.
I carry a Sig P230 every day of the week (licensed and trained, plus military experience) . Many of the men I am friends with also carry. The truth is that experienced concealed carry people do just that, conceal the weapon. You should not be able to tell by looking if someone has a concealed pistol on their person. If you can, there is a problem.
I hunt, fish, and eat meat I kill, not harvest, with modern firearms, flintlocks, and bows or catch with fly, casting, or spinning rods. We have a great outdoor sporting tradition in this country and I enjoy it to the fullest.
I'm also a wet shaver, educated, and ornery. In other words, an individual.

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Originally Posted by Hawkeye5

I hunt, fish, and eat meat I kill, not harvest, with modern firearms, flintlocks, and bows or catch with fly, casting, or spinning rods. We have a great outdoor sporting tradition in this country and I enjoy it to the fullest.
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John --- this is off subject but I'm glad you've pointed out the trend to call hunting "harvesting." I don't know when this started but it doesn't give the full depth of hunting --you are killing -- it is an active life and death process --- I don't know anywhere that you can go pick a deer off of a deer tree or where crops of game can be harvested. It seems a little bit too much like a euphemism ---- hunters should be proud of an recognize fully of what they are doing -- no need to sugar coat it.


Justin

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Originally Posted by Bobbo

OK, so I've been to the US once (New York), but I have seen a lot of American TV and watch a lot of American football and I have a few American questions I need clearing up.

1) Who is Howdy Doody?

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It was the main character in some sort of kids show back in the day, I think. Never seen it, myself.

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2) What is the difference between a burrito and a Fajita (slightly Mexican question). Is it the way they are folded? Type of meat?

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Honestly? I have no clue. I've lived in California my whole life, so that might be a bit odd.

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3) Do you guys really carry guns around? What percentage of people carry guns? (I'm just interested as there is a thread on this forum about leather holsters and the media coverage of high school masacres etc doesn't paint a great picture). Please don't turn this into a squabble about guns. I just want a percentage figure.

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This is a tough question. Yes, some people do carry guns daily. Most of the time, you'll have no idea that someone is carrying. If they're doing it right, that is. We have Concealed Carry Permits over here (Varies from state to state. The laws are a bit wobbly in some places.). If you qualify for one (Some areas are harder than others.), you can carry a concealed pistol for defense. Qualifying usually means taking classes on marksmanship, knowing the laws [When it's okay to shoot and when it isn't okay], and other valuable skills. Also, age is usually a factor (Most states require 21+ to apply.), as is criminal history (Got a record? You can prettymuch forget about carrying. May possibly have to forget about owning them period, if the crime is serious enough.).
There are some states where open carry is also legal (Usually restricted to small towns, and wilderness areas.). Open carry is basically wearing the gun out in the open (In a holster, clearly visible on your belt), as opposed to concealed (In which nobody should ever know you're carrying, unless you have to draw to save a life.
Packing.org has a lot of information about the legal side of carrying firearms. Legal firearm owners are rarely in the media when they do positive things (Protect their families, stop a rape, etc.), so we get a bad reputation. The only time you typically hear about guns in the news is when some kid shoots up a school, or when a gang member opens fire on an officer.
Some people decide to ignore the laws, though. We do have gang problems in some areas, and gang members often carry firearms illegally. They usually obtain them by illegal methods, as well. Gangs tend to keep to killing each other, but now and then there's a tragedy with a stray bullet from a drive by, or some punk trying to prove how "tough" he is.
It's fairly rare to hear about gun problems caused by legal, responsible gun owners. We tend to use common sense, and people being safe doesn't usually make the news.
I've fired thousands of rounds through my many guns, without a single shot fired in anger. I've never carried a gun outside of my house (Well, except for the trips from the front door to the trunk of my car when I go to the shooting range, and they're secured in bags for that short trip. And when I go to competitions, I'm allowed to carry my firearm openly [Though unloaded, until I'm ready to shoot]), because it would be illegal for me to do so (I don't have a permit.). I keep a firearm near my bed, for the unlikely event of a break in (If they just want my stuff, fine. But if they put my family in danger, it's my duty to protect my family, and myself.). I've never had an accident with any firearm, and I keep my skills and wits sharp to ensure that I never do. (And yes, it is legal to carry firearms open or concealed in your own house and property (With some exceptions, as listed at packing.org). I'm not violating any laws by carrying or storing my firearms in my house.).
In short, some people do carry legally. But there's probably no reason to be afraid of these people. They have been through training, and generally know what they're doing. Legal gun carriers have been known to stop quite a few crimes. Think of legal carriers as an asset to the community, not an object of fear.

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4) What does a defensive end do? Stop the linebackers sacking the quarterback?

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Honestly, I don't follow sports. I'm a nerd, I'm a bit lazy and I don't enjoy sports. The only "sport" I participate in is golf.

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

You really can't ask Americans about guns without it becoming political ---- it's a very touchy subject --- the concept of gun ownership is built into our Bill of Rights --- it's really asking an American to address what it means to be an American -- you might as well be talking about freedom of speech or religion.

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Some time ago I was at a developer conference in Barcelona, and when day 2 ended I had diner with a couple of senior Microsoft employees.
We talked about development stuff, but eventually the conversation turned to traveling, different cultures and the differences between the US and europe.

I can't remember what exactly we were talking about, but I do recall that Bush was involved. I was explaining something to them, and I was becoming more nervous by the minute because I was afraid I was going to say something that would insult them. At least one of them was a republican.

He (the republican) noticed my discomfort and literally said 'It's OK, we are in Europe. Here you are allowed to discuss politics and religion'.

The Americans themselves admitted that those 2 topics are to be avoided in the US because it polarizes a conversation, and people immediately become defensive. That is is large part due to the way US politics work. There are only 2 sigificant political parties, so any debate quickly turns into a 'with us or against us' scenario.
European countries mostly have true multiparty governments, so topics get looked at from different angles.

They said that they were totally comfortable discussion all those things with us because we tend to look at something from different angles, so a discusion really is a discussion, rather than a fight that has to be won.
They also told us that they would never have these conversations at home to avoid a bad atmosphere.

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

John --- this is off subject but I'm glad you've pointed out the trend to call hunting "harvesting." I don't know when this started but it doesn't give the full depth of hunting --you are killing -- it is an active life and death process --- I don't know anywhere that you can go pick a deer off of a deer tree or where crops of game can be harvested. It seems a little bit too much like a euphemism ---- hunters should be proud of an recognize fully of what they are doing -- no need to sugar coat it.


Justin

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I would never call it harvesting. IMO, harvesting implies success which is something I rarely encounter. Hunting still leaves some room for doubt which is a better description of what I do!:roflmao
-Fred

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Originally Posted by Bobbo

2) What is the difference between a burrito and a Fajita (slightly Mexican question). Is it the way they are folded? Type of meat?

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OK, I'm not from the US but I can answer this one.

The difference between Fajita and Burrito is unequivocal. There are no songs (to my knowledge) about Fajitas. And there are no bands named after Fajitas. And Fajitas cannot fly.

(We miss you, Gram.)

Bruno, there are three things Americans (traditionally) don't speak about during meals or friendly gatherings: Religion, politics, and sex. It can ruin an otherwise friendly situation. Southerners (I am one) can be particularly strict about this.

Justin

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Originally Posted by majurey

OK, I'm not from the US but I can answer this one.

The difference between Fajita and Burrito is unequivocal. There are no songs (to my knowledge) about Fajitas. And there are no bands named after Fajitas. And Fajitas cannot fly.

(We miss you, Gram.)

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Now I'm confused. Burritos can fly?

You're wrong about Fajita songs though: what about the Harry Belafonte classic "I love you Fajita, my sweetheart from Venezuela"?

And, it's a little known fact that the Eagles originally started out as an Alabama Polka band called "Don Fajita and his Fantabulous Philharmonia". Apparently they just couldn't compete with the plethora of Polka bands that abounded in Alabama at the time, so they changed their name and the rest is history. You can still hear the Polka influences on tracks like "Peaceful, easy feeling", "Tequila Sunrise", "Lying Eyes", and "Hotel California" just to name a few.

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Now I'm confused. Burritos can fly?

You're wrong about Fajita songs though: what about the Harry Belafonte classic "I love you Fajita, my sweetheart from Venezuela"?

And, it's a little known fact that the Eagles originally started out as an Alabama Polka band called "Don Fajita and his Fantabulous Philharmonia". Apparently they just couldn't compete with the plethora of Polka bands that abounded in Alabama at the time, so they changed their name and the rest is history. You can still hear the Polka influences on tracks like "Peaceful, easy feeling", "Tequila Sunrise", "Lying Eyes", and "Hotel California" just to name a few.

James.

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I think he's talking about the Flying Burrito Brothers http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-a...t_Burritos.htm

Interesting stuff about the Eagles, James ---but are you serious about the abundance of Polka bands in Alabama -- to me Polka bands are about as un-southern as you can get ---maybe they didn't make it because southerners didn't want to listen to Polka -- maybe I'm wrong.


Justin

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

John --- this is off subject but I'm glad you've pointed out the trend to call hunting "harvesting." I don't know when this started but it doesn't give the full depth of hunting --you are killing -- it is an active life and death process --- I don't know anywhere that you can go pick a deer off of a deer tree or where crops of game can be harvested. It seems a little bit too much like a euphemism ---- hunters should be proud of an recognize fully of what they are doing -- no need to sugar coat it.


Justin

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:OT

I'm glad you cleared this up for ME. Those guys I hear talk about harvesting game, I thought they went to a deer farm or pheasant ranch to shoot them. Now I hear they thoought they were actually hunting.