The Off Topic Topic

[Syt]

I did enjoy the uniforms-- Bundeswehr, Stasi, Grenztruppen.  But they made a couple mistakes on the US Army uniforms.  And General Jackson came across a little odd at times-- how did his German sound to your ear?

It was a bit off to how Americans normally sound speaking German. We had several Americans stay after their service and become singers or actors. Looked up the actor: "Errol Trotman Harewood, a born British native of Guyana, South America". But that doesn't mean much. Plenty UK actors who do a convincing US accent (see: The Wire, Band of Brothers etc.), though the reverse seems much harder.

[mongers]

Roundabouts are starting to show up here.  I can think of two off the top of my head within ten miles or so.  When they put each of them in, there was much gnashing of teeth till they opened and people learned how to use them, and now they much prefer them to traffic lights.

:gasp:


[Trumpsters]

Anti-American.

[/Trumpsters]

[Josquius]

On double roundabouts.... I think the tide is turning against them. A particularly infamous one in Newcastle has been done away with lately.
They're just too confusing and cause accidents.

On roundabouts just yesterday I read about the right wing teeth gnashing at the UK's first Dutch roundabout. The Sun screaming it was A CYCLIST KILLING ZONE.

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/gallery/dutch-roundabout-cambridge-new-photos-18732279

[The Brain]

Roundabouts are starting to show up here.  I can think of two off the top of my head within ten miles or so.  When they put each of them in, there was much gnashing of teeth till they opened and people learned how to use them, and now they much prefer them to traffic lights.

In what kind of way are they slowly converting the US to Europe West?

[Duque de Bragança]

And why are they called "magic"?  Because no one knows how they work?

It's a reference to the 1970s Anglo-French psychadelic kid's TV show the Magic Roundabout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DcChXNyYQ

If you spend any time in your life with stoners you'll end up talking about the Magic Roundabout

Edit: Just watching that clip and it's so 1970s there's a joke about nationalisation

I think Bill Bailey also had a bit about the Magic Roundabout theme song.

Did not the Manège Enchanté was famous in Albion. I remember watching some re-runs in the '80s as a child.

[Sheilbh]

Yeah I think the tide is turning against big roundabouts. The Elephant and Castle Roundabout, which was a bit of a nightmare:

Has been got rid of and is now a lot better (and less terrifying for cyclists).

[Caliga]

In what kind of way are they slowly converting the US to Europe West?

Next we'll start seeing pommes frites showing up at White Castle! 

[Syt]

[Valmy]

though the reverse seems much harder.

Doing a generic American/Canadian Accent is pretty easy and you can mess up and nobody really cares. I am not sure that such a thing like a generic accent exists for the British and they are so damn particular about it.

Now trying to do regional American accents now that can get dicey, even for American actors.

[Valmy]

Roundabouts are starting to show up here.  I can think of two off the top of my head within ten miles or so.  When they put each of them in, there was much gnashing of teeth till they opened and people learned how to use them, and now they much prefer them to traffic lights.

In what kind of way are they slowly converting the US to Europe West?

Well they started in 1610, it has been a slow process.

[Tonitrus]

though the reverse seems much harder.

Doing a generic American/Canadian Accent is pretty easy and you can mess up and nobody really cares. I am not sure that such a thing like a generic accent exists for the British and they are so damn particular about it.

Now trying to do regional American accents now that can get dicey, even for American actors.

I would really like to see if my English accent would be passable to the natives...but I am too respectful. 

[Maladict]

On double roundabouts.... I think the tide is turning against them. A particularly infamous one in Newcastle has been done away with lately.
They're just too confusing and cause accidents.

On roundabouts just yesterday I read about the right wing teeth gnashing at the UK's first Dutch roundabout. The Sun screaming it was A CYCLIST KILLING ZONE.

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/gallery/dutch-roundabout-cambridge-new-photos-18732279

That thing cost 2.4 million? 

There are a lot of road markings, I can see how what would be confusing people.

[Sheilbh]

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister:

Tried to reach Svetlana #Tikhanovskaya for several hours. Her whereabouts not known even to her staff. Concerned about her safety. #Belarus

Which is worrying.

[Valmy]

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister:

Tried to reach Svetlana #Tikhanovskaya for several hours. Her whereabouts not known even to her staff. Concerned about her safety. #Belarus

Which is worrying.

Wow. You don't think Lukashenko would go so far as to take her out would you?

[derspiess]

though the reverse seems much harder.

Doing a generic American/Canadian Accent is pretty easy and you can mess up and nobody really cares. I am not sure that such a thing like a generic accent exists for the British and they are so damn particular about it.

Now trying to do regional American accents now that can get dicey, even for American actors.

Brits often seem to do Southern US accents quite well.