Questions for our American friends

[Mal Hombre]

On another track,My wife has started watching "House" ,I don't usually watch it but I'm struck by Hugh Laurie's accent,I think it's terrible and I don't know how He gets away with it.I'd be interested to know what American members think of it,I view it as our revenge for Dick Van Dyke and Keanu Reeves in "Frank Coppola's Dracula".

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

On another track,My wife has started watching "House" ,I don't usually watch it but I'm struck by Hugh Laurie's accent,I think it's terrible and I don't know how He gets away with it.I'd be interested to know what American members think of it,I view it as our revenge for Dick Van Dyke and Keanu Reeves in "Frank Coppola's Dracula".

What about his accent? You have to remember that the US generates a few score accents just among its native English speaking population, let alone all the immigrants (legal and illegal) and people who just can't speak straight to save their own lives. Most Americans probably aren't even noticing it since its no where near as hard to understand as many we have to deal with everyday in real life.

[Estreeter]

G'day American members

Need some advise
I have this store, USA FOODS, about an hour from my place. I want too visit it and need advise on what brands too pick and brands too stay away from. Too give ya'll an idea, I love hot and spicy foods, most meat meals. I'm mainly after condiments and junk food snacks, ie chocolates, chips etc...
I ain't a weight watcher or calorie counter either far from it.

Feel free too PM me or post here, either way, I'm hungry

[Alvin Lucifer]

Originally Posted by DTravel

What about his accent? You have to remember that the US generates a few score accents just among its native English speaking population, let alone all the immigrants (legal and illegal) and people who just can't speak straight to save their own lives. Most Americans probably aren't even noticing it since its no where near as hard to understand as many we have to deal with everyday in real life.

Dr. House uses a refined Midwestern accent often employed by American television presenters, but House's tone is always sarcastic and irritated.

[spitalhouse]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

On another track,My wife has started watching "House" ,I don't usually watch it but I'm struck by Hugh Laurie's accent,I think it's terrible and I don't know how He gets away with it.I'd be interested to know what American members think of it,I view it as our revenge for Dick Van Dyke and Keanu Reeves in "Frank Coppola's Dracula".

The actress Lisa Edelstein, who I believe plays Dr Cuddy in House, was last week interviewed on some UK daytime show and was asked this very question. She maintained that she and the rest of the cast of the show regard his American accent to be utterly convincing. She went on to tell of how when American TV executives met Laurie in person after having seen his audition tapes in which he spoke with an American accent, they were surprised to learn that he was in fact English.

Regards.

P.S. I wasn't aware that Dick Van Dyke appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's version of Dracula.

[hudley]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

G'day American members

Need some advise
I have this store, USA FOODS, about an hour from my place. I want too visit it and need advise on what brands too pick and brands too stay away from. Too give ya'll an idea, I love hot and spicy foods, most meat meals. I'm mainly after condiments and junk food snacks, ie chocolates, chips etc...
I ain't a weight watcher or calorie counter either far from it.

Feel free too PM me or post here, either way, I'm hungry

for hot sauces, McIlHenney brand is well known and popular. its more a pour on your food sauce than a dipping sauce. Pace and Ortega are very common brands that I don't like much. Carroll Shelby's chili starter is popular, but I havent used it.

I don't see any premium brands for sodas, but if you havent had a Dr. Pepper, try that (get the original)

for sauces, I love dona maria's mole (moe-lay) sauce. its kinda chocolaty and spicy. you mix it with water and heat, and it absorbs water to get to be a nice thick sauce. great in enchiladas. avoid "old el paso" and "taco bell" products, nothing special there. generic fare.

i have practically lived on jif crunchy peanut butter combined with fritos corn chips.

Knotts jellies are the best of the lot.

[Pepper II]

Dick Van Dyke was trying to sound cockney but I do think it was deliberately overdone to be funny. With regard to Hugh Laurie yes his accent is absolutely believable as an American. What you must understand is there are many regional accents with the US being so large. Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York City (which has several distinctly separate accents), and Boston all have very distinct accents just as a Brit would know whether a speaker was from Manchester or Liverpool.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

I went to that website and looked at the cookie page. The prices are incredibly high ($11.00 for chunky Chips Ahoy?!?) and frankly, not worth it. You must have equally good or better Aussie cookies down undah.

Is that USD or Aussie Dollars? AUS$11.00 comes out $10.15 in American money, which still sounds a lot unless the quantities of cunky chips are getting on for heroic levels. If the price is US$11.00, then that's AUS$11.93. There must be very homesick Americans living in exile in Australia.

[dbailey]

I need a break

I am making plans to bring my wife and family to the USA in the summer, maybe 5 nights near LA and 5 nights near San Diego

Now I have read about Disney and Universal Studios and Sea World, but what should I make a prioriity and what are the turkeys that I need to avoid

Thanks

[keefriff]

I am not a native of California but have visited San Diego many times. I can offer some advice on SD but not much on LA as I have only been there one time. San Diego has a lot to offer. With your family I would highly recommend going to the SD Zoo. It is one of the best, if not the best, in the US. A beautiful, lush and expansive place that is great for kids and adults. The same can be said for Sea World. They are both worth a visit. I would also suggest visting Balboa Park. It is a large urban park that has at least 5 museums on its grounds. There is a Natural History Museum, San Diego Art Institute, Museum of Photographic Arts, the Timken Museum, Military Veterans Museum and San Diego Aerospace Museum. SD is a big military town and there is quite a bit of military type museums if that interests you and your family. They offer Harbour (notice spelling) Tours that are also pretty cool. Also check out Coronado, CA which is about 10 miles from SD. Touristy, but still pretty nice.

Hope this helps!