Completley random facts EVERY American should know

[MikeH]

The Honey Badger is the most fearless animal in the world. - seriously look up honey badgers, they are totally sweet.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by DeathByTheSword
10 THINGS AMERICANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THERE OWN COUNTRY
1. You can have a president without electing him.
2. You can spell colour wrong and get away with it.
3. You can call Budweiser beer.
4. You can be a crook and still be president.
5. If you've got enough money you can get elected to do anything.
6. If you can breathe you can get a gun.
7. You get to be really obese.
8. You can play golf in the most hideous clothes ever made and nobody seems
to care.
9. You get to call everyone you've never met "buddy".
10. You can think you're the greatest nation on earth with condom on.


and oh yes fact i counted 2 boats on work today

It's ok for someone from the Netherlands to mistakenly use the word there when they mean their, but it makes you look stupid when you do it.

[DeathByTheSword]

true enough, but you are just pissed off about that the list is totally correct...

[duke o' york]

pwn is pronounced in the same way as the contents of newsagents' top shelves.

Most houses in America are detached, so there is far less chance that you will be amused by someone talking about getting a semi in a nice part of town.

[Vesayen]

http://www.americazoo.com/goto/index/mammals/280.htm

[Asher]

Canadians are like Americans, but better in every way.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Az
nah. what will happen is that hispanics will be accepted into 'whiteness'.

They already are.

[MikeH]

http://www.wildwatch.com/resources/mammals/honeybadger.asp

The South Africans have a saying, “so taai soos a ratel,” meaning, “as tough as a Honey Badger.” Like a featherweight boxer who makes up for lack of size with speed and Napoleanic ferocity, the Honey Badger is well-equipped to live up to its fearsome reputation. It will attack any animal, no matter how big or dangerous its adversary. There appears to be no natural predators on adult ratels, which itself is evidence of how formidable this animal is, for it weighs scarcely more than a medium-sized dog. A Lion was recorded as having killed one, but there were signs of a terrific struggle; and according to naturalist and author, Jonathan Kingdon, three Ratels took a kill away from three sub-adult and four half-grown Lions.

The Honey Badger’s courage is backed up by powerful jaws, knifelike front claws, and exceptionally tough and thick skin, almost 6mm thick at the neck. Its coat has been described as “hog-like,” coarse and sparse, dark in color, with a skunk’ish, gray stripe from the forehead to the tail. It is broad and powerful, with stout, sturdy legs, and aided by exceptionally loose skin, the Ratel may twist its lithe body about to grab its assailant.

And woe betide the male assailant! According to folklore (and backed up by some circumstantial evidence), the Ratel goes for the scrotum when it attacks large animals (bull Buffalo, Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Kudu, Man) that offered real or imagined provocation. In the Kruger Park, adult male Buffalo, Gnu and Waterbuck have been found dead from loss of blood after ratels attacked them in the scrotum.

[MikeH]

The Ratel supposedly uses its protruding anal glands to fumigate bees and other biting insects before attacking their nests, in the same way a human will use smoke to subdue bees before harvesting honey. Backing up to the opening of the hive, the Ratel will rub its anal pouch all around, swirling its tail, sometimes performing handstands while releasing a profuse secretion with a suffocating odour.

[Sprayber]

What an original thread. I mean we have never had a thread where non-americans get together and have a circle jerk and complain and try to make fun of Americans. This is just an earth shattering development.


Hope it addresses everyone's self esteem issues

[MikeH]

Hey, just post genuine interesting facts like I did.

[DeathByTheSword]

in the Netherlands you can be arrested for growning plants but not for smoking them

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Harry Tuttle
1) Fire = Burn!

2) "Hope is on the way" = i.e. "It's not here presently."

3) The stripper isn't coming on to you.

4) And no, she doesn't have change.

Most important information yet given in this thread

[Solver]

In Europe, most people have an appartment in an appartment block and not a house.
In some European languages, the proper way to call black people can be something sounding similar to ****** - negr, negro, neger. Using the word 'black' can be offensive. For example, in Russian, using the word 'black' sounds derogatory, whereas using the word 'negr' is perfectly acceptable.

[Az]

Actually, I've always found both to be offensive sounding. If one has to mention race, words like "dark-skinned = temnokoji" are the best. I don't find a problem with 'cherniy' myself, but it's not really for me to judge.