Questions for our American friends

[winebeavis]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

1952224, Well, thats Texas for ya. For those that don't know, Texas is a bit different, and native Texans seem to take pride in it. * * * Except for Austin which is probably about the only place in the state where progressive minded people can feel comfortable.

Texas really is a very red state. They execute more people in that state than the rest of the country combined. And take pride in that.

No, thats not normal anywhere in the US. But it doesn't surprise me it happened in Texas. For those of you outside the US wanting to vacation here, don't go to Texas. There are many better places to go.

I've been in Texas for the most part for going on 30 years. I really would encourage my overseas brothers to visit Texas on a visit to the states. The experience will be surreal. So long as you are white, claim to be Christian, like guns, and think Texas would have won the civil war if it went at it alone. But then Dallas has a county commissioner who believes "black hole" is racist. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1zGRUPztc

There's no place else like Texas. And that's not meant to be a compliment. Just google Dallas City Hall and watch any youtube video.

Edit: strangely enough I've not seen any mention of the incident in the video on local news yet.

[9876543210]

winebeavis,

Originally Posted by winebeavis

I've been in Texas for the most part for going on 30 years. I really would encourage my overseas brothers to visit Texas on a visit to the states. The experience will be surreal. So long as you are white, claim to be Christian, like guns, and think Texas would have won the civil war if it went at it alone. But then Dallas has a county commissioner who believes "black hole" is racist. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1zGRUPztc

There's no place else like Texas. And that's not meant to be a compliment. Just google Dallas City Hall and watch any youtube video.

Edit: strangely enough I've not seen any mention of the incident in the video on local news yet.

Thanks winebeavis. I was kind of wondering if any Texans would agree with me. I've been in almost every state in the lower 48 and Texas always leaves me scratching my head. More than any other. Its definitely not the worst state (that would have to be Utah, Mississippi or Alabama) but at least in those states you know who you're dealing with. I don't know. Its just weird I guess. I can't explain it.

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

winebeavis,



Thanks winebeavis. I was kind of wondering if any Texans would agree with me. I've been in almost every state in the lower 48 and Texas always leaves me scratching my head. More than any other. Its definitely not the worst state (that would have to be Utah, Mississippi or Alabama) but at least in those states you know who you're dealing with. I don't know. Its just weird I guess. I can't explain it.

I too have been in almost all the lower 48 and Texas is ... different. I know many Europeans think all Americans are gun crazy. Well, many Americans think Texans are gun crazy! Its the only place in the US where I've seen a family dining restaurant with a sign at the front door asking patrons to leave their guns in their cars.

In every other state when you're driving along the highway, the gas stations will be right next to the highway offramps. In Texas, outside the major cities the gas stations are two miles away from the highway.

[haroldeye]

Deeps we were travelling on a NATO travel order and had just returned from Basra. Fine way to treat your allies! Oh! and Montana is bloody awful.

[haroldeye]

Best border quote. Ian Botham was entering Aus and was asked if he had a criminal record. He replied that he didn't know he still needed one to get there!

[sydney1]

I don't know if the mods. will allow the link, it's a blog. but gives a good short history of the first Texan embassy in Europe. I think the other one was in Paris, but I'm not certain.
Quite a few British settlers used this to emigrate to Texas in the early 19th century.
Little known fact. A quarter of the defenders at the Alamo were Brits.

[9876543210]

haroldeye,

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Oh! and Montana is bloody awful.

Please explain! I haven't been in every part of Montana but, in general, its a gorgeous state! The mountains are beautiful. Yellowstone is amazing! And the trout fishing is some of the best in the world. I think its about the last place in the lower 48 where its possible to see a Grizzly.

Some of the people are a bit weird but its probably no worse than anywhere else (except Texas).

[haroldeye]

We went to Great Falls so drove down from the North through prairie. Great Falls was a disappointment as the river had been dammed 100years ago. The town centre was totally without life and we managed to find only one eating place. The chap in the hotel was fine and put rugby on his TV for us. We had been meaning to go to Yellowstone but didn't have the time. The bits we saw were not a good advertisement for the US.

[Reclaimedwg]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

haroldeye,



Please explain! I haven't been in every part of Montana but, in general, its a gorgeous state! The mountains are beautiful. Yellowstone is amazing! And the trout fishing is some of the best in the world. I think its about the last place in the lower 48 where its possible to see a Grizzly.

and Wyoming too if you want to see beautiful and Grizzly Bears.

In 2005, I was in Casper Wyoming for a business project.

I lived there for 6 months, in a private residence where they were renting out the extra bedrooms.

All the meals were provided and I would sit down at breakfast/lunch/dinner with the family of 5.

It was the best home cooked meals I ever had (outside of my Mom's).

They had a chicken coops with 34 hens and every morning, we had fresh eggs which tasted better than the eggs you buy at the supermarket.

The butter they used never goes in the refrigerator.

They kept it outside on the windowsill.

They were very hospitable and treated me as if I was one of their siblings or children.

The whole area is beautiful.

In the back of their property, 35 acres of land, you could see buffalos and antelopes and other animals run through it.

Both the husband and wife were very handy.

They could fix anything or build anything.

During the time I was there, the husband replaced the roof and build a deck, all on his own with no help from anyone.

Heck, I can't even fix a leaky faucet.

They would go onto their property and kill an antelope and that was part of their food supply for most of the year.

Pretty much nothing is wasted.

Everything is cut up, packed, freezed.

I learned to ride a horse while I was there.

Everyone is also so polite.

We go to the mall (there is only one in Casper) and people you didn't know will greet you when they walked by.

I am from the big city and in the big city, you watch people that you don't know who try to talk to you with suspicion.

At the beginning, I was like: "Who is that? Why are they saying hi to me???"

I am thinking of buying a small cozy house in Wyoming and retire there.

[winebeavis]

Originally Posted by DTravel

In every other state when you're driving along the highway, the gas stations will be right next to the highway offramps. In Texas, outside the major cities the gas stations are two miles away from the highway.

I had to read this a few times to get what you are saying. Yes and no. I think you're referring to signs for that say there is gas/food/lodging etc. the next exit. Then you exit in the middle of nowhere and you have to end up turning on a two lane road and go a bit to the outskirts of some 1 stop sign town. Yeah that happens. But chances are the gas station was originally there in some incarnation before that stretch of road was. And if these are the same signs that I'm thinking about, these are paid for by the vender. There are also incredible long stretches where there's a whole bunch of nothing. However, even in some of these areas the gas stations are right on the off ramp. It's a hit or miss thing and it really depends on where you are.

I have a theory on Texans but it can easily be shot to pieces. Texas has all kinds. There are smart Texans and stupid Texans. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. However, for whatever reason (and those reasons could be its own thread), there is a bigger proportion of visible "ignorant and proud of it" types than probably anywhere else. These folks aren't broke. Nope they have purchasing power. These are the a lot of the middle class. Some of it has to do that if you're white, you are more qualified to be hired and promoted mentality that is just ingrained. Other part might be that various recessions never seem to hit all of Texas as badly. Don't get me wrong. There are more poor people here than probably anywhere else. But they are the people who get hit, the next level up is unscathed. When a plant closes in one place and moves to Texas because the state and municipality promises no Taxes and will help build the infrastructure to your new buildings. Not to mention laws hostile to labor and anyone getting in the way of a corporate interest. The folks benefitting from this just wonder why the those in Michigan or Pennsylvania just don't go get a job. Maybe if they prayed to jesus more?

The public education is in shambles in Texas. I moved here in high school and I couldn't believe how far back my classmates were. A lot of the "Texas Pride" is ingrained and indoctrinated at an early age. I'm sometimes surprised how easy it is to be dismissive of anything by simply declaring "that's not how things work here in Texas." It's mind numbingly absurd.