I love it because I am a violinist and classically trained. Yes, Sherlock and I have that in common. I also play cello, piano, and guitar but not well anymore.

I really love Brahms. I haven't heard anything he composed that I don't like, but my favorite is Symphony No. 3 in F Major, and especially the third movement, the Poco allegretto. I also like Tchakovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Aaron Copland, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Chopin, and...well...this list could go on for a while!

No George love? I'm definitely a George girl, favorite song is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Davina wrote:

Maybe take up wine drinking. At least you could put the corks in your ears afterwards.

Oooh, I drink wine. In fact, I prefer it. But I'm trying to watch what I consume a little more closely, so no wine in the house. Just beer leftover from a concert roadtrip.

Ohhh, I think Meijer (you have Meijer in Indy, right?) had boxes of scone mix. I know they have lemon curd and clotted cream. I'll have to look. Thanks for the info!

ancientsgate wrote:

221B Baker Street wrote:

It's quite natural that for most of the people TV shows and films are the essential ways to get to know about another country's culture. The point is that one shouldn't take it in all good faith.

You're right. I understand why foreigners would watch our TV and movies and take what they see as gospel, but hopefully most folks realize that they're seeing entertainment, not real life.

We Americans don't have an in-pouring of movies and TV from other countries-- we get a tiny bit from Britain, but that's all. There are some foreign films released here, with subtitles or voice overs, but not many. So we don't get to "see" people from other countries, except as I say a bit from Britain, the way you guys get to see us in entertainment vehicles. I wish we could.

I visited Poland ten years ago, and the people I spoke to talked about how much they loved American TV. Some lived in one-room apartments, remnants from their former Communist regime (I visited a small coastal town), and yet most still had a satellite dish. One girl said she and her husband loved the show "Beverly Hills 90210" (the original) because, she said, they loved to see how Americans handled their problems. I thought, "Ooooh my dear. No. That is not even close to reality." But media is powerful, and perception is reality!

ancientsgate wrote:

Davina wrote:

'Cowboys' is a term used for builders and other tradesmen who do very poor or shoddy work, or some times none of the work they are paid for. Such people can work here without all the formal training and qualifications you would need to have in Germany.

I have heard such people called gypsies here in the US. I'm not certain but am pretty sure that might be a racial slur, though....  obviously they aren't all of Eastern European (Romanian, I think?) heritage. We do have a big problem with undocumented/illegal workers here in the States though, and some of them, desperate to make money under the table and away from the prying eyes of Uncle Sam's income tax and social security laws, offer to work cheap.... and many homeowners, thinking they're getting a bargain, end up with absolutely nothing but a hole in their wallets where their money used to be.

The immigration topic is a hot-button topic so I usually stay away from it. However, just my two cents: A few years ago, I'd heard that my part of Michigan had the second highest influx of immigrants of Hispanic origin in the country, second only to Miami, FL. There are quite a few produce farms here, and many undocumented work on those farms (for, I hear, as little as $1.25/hr) and do a great job. I hate the fact that they break their backs picking the tomatoes I eat and earn so little, but undocumented, what are they to do? I know that there are many sides to this, and I understand why Americans want tougher immigration laws. But I try to remember that, just two generations ago, my people immigrated from Scotland through Ellis Island. My other great grandparents brought my grandmother and her sisters here from Poland. They didn't have anything, and no one wanted them here, but I'm glad that at least some one gave them a chance or I may not have been born.

Sorry, I'm way off topic. That's the last I'll say of politics...outside of its assigned place.

Thanks. You too!

hepzibah wrote:

How about a heart with SH loves JW and an arrow though it? 

And did you realise that the name of the product is rather rude in English? 

HAHAHA! I was just thinking the same thing. I want a box to bring to work; medical people have very odd (and good) senses of humor.

Molly Hooper wrote:

Well, the furthest I've ever been is france...
I guess that explains the Boring-ness of my life 

This made me laugh. Molly, it's all about perspective. An American like me hears that and thinks, "Wow...France! Ahhh maybe some day." The farthest I've been is Poland but other than that I've not been out of the country. Except Canada, but most people from Michigan have been there. Even if only by accident (Yes, this is possible.) I've been to about 80% of the US though.

I've been focusing on education and work for the last decade or so. Once I'm settled I will definitely travel!

Hey, Mattlocked. Where did your name come from? I ask because, every time I see it, I think of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matlock_(TV_series)

Matlock was a popular television show back in the 80's. My mom loved it.