Obama gives Queen Elizabeth II an Ipod with his speeches

[Savonarola]

What's the difference between a power adapter and a voltage adapter?

1/current

I think Arkestra means a plug adapter (or thought DGUller meant a plug adapter); power and voltage are directly related in this case.

[Warspite]

What's the difference between a power adapter and a voltage adapter?

1/current

I think Arkestra means a plug adapter (or thought DGUller meant a plug adapter); power and voltage are directly related in this case.

Most power/plug adapters sold just sort the prongs out. But to use US equipment in Europe and vice versa, you need the appropriate voltage adapter.

For comparison, a plug adapter costs about £3. A voltage adapter, about £60.

[The Minsky Moment]

Well surely there's an entire deparment in the State Department that deals with protocol and this sort of thing.

No you are mistaken.  It is all Obama - he personally loads up all the foreign leader Ipod tracks and sends them on with a BFF note.

[Slargos]

What's the difference between a power adapter and a voltage adapter?

1/current

I think Arkestra means a plug adapter (or thought DGUller meant a plug adapter); power and voltage are directly related in this case.

Most power/plug adapters sold just sort the prongs out. But to use US equipment in Europe and vice versa, you need the appropriate voltage adapter.

For comparison, a plug adapter costs about £3. A voltage adapter, about £60.

Aren't most appliance adapters already set up for dual use?

[saskganesh]

heh. I wonder what Mr. Battenberg is thinking?

shit, the brits are short.

[Hansmeister]

The region 1 cockup was pretty stupid, but I just can't see myself in Obama's position having any clue what kind of gift to give on a state visit. I'd probably do something really moronic like giving Angela Merkel Goring's Field Marshal baton from the Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning.

Well surely there's an entire deparment in the State Department that deals with protocol and this sort of thing.

According to Newsweek the White House was unaware that the State department had a protocol office. 

[Malthus]

Obviously, he should have given her a sex toy. 

[Neil]

heh. I wonder what Mr. Battenberg is thinking?

No doubt something hillarious that would offend black people everywhere.

[Caliga]

heh. I wonder what Mr. Battenberg is thinking?

shit, the brits are short.

Actually, I think it's that the Obamas are tall.

[The Minsky Moment]

Here's the Torygraph's take on ipod-gate and the US protocol:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/g20-summit/5090471/President-Obama-gives-the-Queen-an-iPod.html

The Queen was delighted as the iPod was loaded with images of her trip to Virginia as part of her official tour of the United States two years ago, in 2007 . . . Mr Obama was the only G20 leader granted a private meeting with the Queen

Here's what the Sun had to say:

BARACK Obama gave the Queen a personalised iPod last night as president met monarch for the first time . . . And it showed the US leader's thoughtfulness — as the Queen is known to be a fan of iPods and has one that can hold 100,000 songs.

Not surprisingly, the only people who seem to be insulted are Obama's dittohead critics at home.

[Savonarola]

Most power/plug adapters sold just sort the prongs out. But to use US equipment in Europe and vice versa, you need the appropriate voltage adapter.

For comparison, a plug adapter costs about £3. A voltage adapter, about £60.

Calling a plug adapter a power adapter is misleading since a plug adapter doesn't change the power (though they could be marketed as that in the UK.)  A voltage adapter does change the power; and in the United States they're commonly marketed as power adapters. 

[Ed Anger]

shit, the brits are short.

Soon, she will shrink into nothingness, and Charles will turn into a tampon.

[Magnus]

Most power/plug adapters sold just sort the prongs out. But to use US equipment in Europe and vice versa, you need the appropriate voltage adapter.

For comparison, a plug adapter costs about £3. A voltage adapter, about £60.

Calling a plug adapter a power adapter is misleading since a plug adapter doesn't change the power (though they could be marketed as that in the UK.)  A voltage adapter does change the power; and in the United States they're commonly marketed as power adapters.

Even the NEW, and well not really improved, lanquish is all about minutiae. Best I know the most common name for it all is, power cord and (voltage) adapter.

About the photo blacks are tall, old whitey is short, but honestly Philip, I assume that is Philip, doesn't look like a guy I wanna mess with. I'd take the old man in an honest fight, but the greek bastard looks like he has something up his sleeve. You know what they say about WW2 people, either trickey or dead.

[Berkut]

Here's the Torygraph's take on ipod-gate and the US protocol:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/g20-summit/5090471/President-Obama-gives-the-Queen-an-iPod.html

The Queen was delighted as the iPod was loaded with images of her trip to Virginia as part of her official tour of the United States two years ago, in 2007 . . . Mr Obama was the only G20 leader granted a private meeting with the Queen

Here's what the Sun had to say:

BARACK Obama gave the Queen a personalised iPod last night as president met monarch for the first time . . . And it showed the US leader's thoughtfulness — as the Queen is known to be a fan of iPods and has one that can hold 100,000 songs.

Not surprisingly, the only people who seem to be insulted are Obama's dittohead critics at home.

Well, the brits are certainly taking it much better than most Americans.

It does seem like such a crass gift though - is Best Buy Obamas sponsor or something?

There was some guy from the Guardian on NPR this morning who said the protocol people where more concerned about the fact that Mochelle Obama put her arm around the Queens shoulders - which was not kosher or something, I guess. In fact, he said he doesn't think it has ever been done.

The Queen reacted with aplomb though, and put her arm round Mrs. Obama's waist, and the Special Relationship will apparently survive.

[Valmy]

Well, the brits are certainly taking it much better than most Americans.

It does seem like such a crass gift though - is Best Buy Obamas sponsor or something?

I guess the question is what is the expected diplomatic gift?  Maybe this sort of crap is par for the course.