Questions for our American friends - Page 3

**knobby109** · December 15th, 2009, 06:48 AM

I use the bus quite a lot in the UK and it's actually rare to see money changing hands.People over 60 get free local travel and there's any manner of commuted and student tickets.

**scoundrel** · December 15th, 2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knobby109

I use the bus quite a lot in the UK and it's actually rare to see money changing hands.People over 60 get free local travel and there's any manner of commuted and student tickets.

In London we now have the Oyster Card system.

Its a swipe card you simply wipe it across the reader and Bob's your uncle.

I resisted buying an Oyster Card for years mainly because it was so heavily promoted (to the point of fascist co-ercion) by Ken Livingston: I dislike Ken Livingston a lot.

However I confess that, heavy handed though his tactics were, he was totally right about Oyster. It vastly speeds up the process of getting on a driver-operated ticket system bus, which is helpful to both passengers and driver and minimises the traffic jam when the bus stops to pick people up. I don't need to carry so much schrapnel in my pocket.

Ken, you're still an obnoxious, supercillious little dog turd, but I am man enough to admit this. You were quite right about Oyster and I was quite wrong.

My God: but it really hurt me like Hell to say that.

The horror, the horror...

**Oswald** · December 15th, 2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anklebiter

The American NFL season is 16 weeks, but there's also playoffs.An additional 4 weeks including the championship game (Super Bowl), and three preseason games.

23 games, or half the year.I think compared to other sports, the season is just as long, but as someone said, it's low number of games is due to the brutality of the sport, and the healing time needed between games.

I thought the NHL was also a violent collison/contact sport - but their season runs from September to the final of the Stanley Cup in April.

Also, am I correct in thinking that for one, or possibly two years, the NHL was suspended? Finance was the concern I believe.

**DTravel** · December 15th, 2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oswald

I thought the NHL was also a violent collison/contact sport - but their season runs from September to the final of the Stanley Cup in April.

Also, am I correct in thinking that for one, or possibly two years, the NHL was suspended? Finance was the concern I believe.

In hockey your not supposed to tackle the other players and slam them into the ground. Just some friendly bumping.

NFL players have been known to continue playing after breaking bones.

As for the "suspension", the NHL players went on strike for a while some years ago.

**Oswald** · December 16th, 2009, 04:03 PM

I have seen some NFL - but I'm a bit confused. How many players from each team are on the field at any one time?

Why is the ball so small (it's much smaller than a rugby ball) and brown in colour?

karlafong · December 16th, 2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oswald

I have seen some NFL - but I'm a bit confused. How many players from each team are on the field at any one time?

Why is the ball so small (it's much smaller than a rugby ball) and brown in colour?

It's 11 players per side ... free substitution (any number of players going in or out between plays).
The size of the ball has actually evolved over the years. It used to be fatter in the middle and rounder at the ends. It's become more streamlined over the years to aid in forward passing. I think the main changes in those respects came in the late 1940s or the 1950s.
As far as the color, I think that just came from being made of leather. Although I have seen pictures of the early night games (again, back in the 1940s-1950s) when the ball was white, to make it more visible.

**Oswald** · December 16th, 2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlafong

As far as the color, I think that just came from being made of leather. Although I have seen pictures of the early night games (again, back in the 1940s-1950s) when the ball was white, to make it more visible.

In rugby it's been the other way around. The ball was originally dark brown, then in the late 1970s it changed to white - to aid television coverage.

**billybunter** · December 16th, 2009, 05:41 PM

Is there any other countries that take part in the "world series?" If not why is it called this??

**eelcat** · December 16th, 2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybunter

Is there any other countries that take part in the "world series?" If not why is it called this??

Canada

st4bilo · December 16th, 2009, 08:52 PM

Oh, I've a question I always wanted to ask an U.S. American:

Recently Iwatched a video on YT, Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama (Live)
and they had a rebel flag (see below) on stage.

Some guys in the comments were discussing and complaining about the flag.

So what is the meaning (nowadays) of this old flag, what does it stand for
in everyday life, e.g. when someone has a sticker with it on his car ?

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December 15th, 2009, 06:48 AM	#21
knobby109 Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,736 Thanks: 144 Thanked 14,338 Times in 1,702 Posts	I use the bus quite a lot in the UK and it's actually rare to see money changing hands.People over 60 get free local travel and there's any manner of commuted and student tickets.

December 16th, 2009, 04:03 PM	#25
Oswald Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13,112 Thanks: 51,073 Thanked 282,466 Times in 13,802 Posts	I have seen some NFL - but I'm a bit confused. How many players from each team are on the field at any one time? Why is the ball so small (it's much smaller than a rugby ball) and brown in colour?

December 16th, 2009, 05:41 PM	#28
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,372 Times in 14,171 Posts	Is there any other countries that take part in the "world series?" If not why is it called this??

December 16th, 2009, 08:52 PM	#30
st4bilo Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 76 Thanks: 226 Thanked 599 Times in 68 Posts	Oh, I've a question I always wanted to ask an U.S. American: Recently Iwatched a video on YT, Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama (Live) and they had a rebel flag (see below) on stage. Some guys in the comments were discussing and complaining about the flag. So what is the meaning (nowadays) of this old flag, what does it stand for in everyday life, e.g. when someone has a sticker with it on his car ?