Lol yeah! He just said it like it was obvious or something and I just have no idea what the implication is... it's like he said, "we'll look at an American tree and then look at a Canadian tree and you'll see who's got the biggest supermarkets!"

In reply to this comment by blankfist:
Haha. I was curious about that, too, but somehow I was afraid if I said something people would think I was being a prick.

In reply to this comment by ponceleon:
>> ^Doc_M:
Perfect example. Go to an amusement park in Canada, then one in America. Yeesh, it's like leaving Milan for Jersey.


okay, I'm not being a smart-ass here, but I have no idea what that means... Which country are you saying has better amusement parks?

Haha. I was curious about that, too, but somehow I was afraid if I said something people would think I was being a prick.

In reply to this comment by ponceleon:
>> ^Doc_M:
Perfect example. Go to an amusement park in Canada, then one in America. Yeesh, it's like leaving Milan for Jersey.


okay, I'm not being a smart-ass here, but I have no idea what that means... Which country are you saying has better amusement parks?

>> ^peggedbea:
i dont think personal liberty has a whole lot to do with it. americans tip well because we come from a culture where waitstaff depend on tips for survival. its expected of us. wait staff in the us make $2.13/hr wtf is so generous about that? not all industrialized nations have a corporate welfare system quite like ours where chain restaurants can legally pay workers below minimum wage, well below a living wage and leave the consumer to pick up the rest.
i did find this post amusing until libertarian assholery and bullshit nationalism douched it up.


Nationalism isn't exactly a defining characteristic of mine if that's what you're insinuating, but whatever. Actually if you've ever waited tables then you know workers do get minimum wage. The $2.50/hr or whatever it is is only the amount the employer has to cover if the waiter/waitress earns over minimum wage with their tips. If the waiter/waitress does not, however, then the restaurant must cover the difference.

Most wait staffers make decent money if they can become good at what they do. I sucked at it and still made an okay living doing it. And, I tip no less than 20% typically.

>> ^Doc_M:
Perfect example. Go to an amusement park in Canada, then one in America. Yeesh, it's like leaving Milan for Jersey.


okay, I'm not being a smart-ass here, but I have no idea what that means... Which country are you saying has better amusement parks?

>> ^blankfist:
Where countries pay into a nanny system, I can see why they'd want to hold their money close and lean towards being greedier. Those who have less taxes and more individual freedoms tend to give more. Also, Americans give the most to charities.

I'd say, the reason that you give a smaller tip in Germany for instance is that you know the waiter/waitress does not depend on tips to pay his/her rent. It has somewhat deteriorated over the last 20 years, but there's still a significant difference to some other cultures where tips are essential. I grew up in a pub in the country, again worked as a waiter during my first two semesters at university and was always paid well enough to pay the bills.

>> ^blankfist:
Generosity comes with freedom.


And Imperialism.

Michael Jackson had perhaps the single biggest impact on the sound of the 80's, and I'm sure just about all who lived through that decade will have atleast some emotional memories associated with his music. I know I'll miss him, and will make sure his musical legacy is left to posterity.

Posting every song of his that I like would take up way too much room; and since there's no internal list of best-to-worst songs in my head, here's one song of Micheal Jackson's which holds a personal emotional significance (also, one of a select few songs in history which doesn't need more cowbell):

All politicians spew bullshit and sling mud. That's just the nature of the political beast. The only difference is that republicans have changed it from a sneaky tactic into their one and only tactic. Instead of trying to put out their message and their pros, they instead just try to trash the opposition.

Everyone does it, republicans just do it best. Or worst, depending on your view point.

>> ^dag:
That kind of tautology is not good enough for me. Bring on the fucking robot overlords because I'm losing my faith in collective humanity. I think the purposely set bush fires here is Australia are on my mind too. Different magnitude, same human dysfunction.

Collective humanity has always been a failure when it came to treating your fellow human beings in any decent way. But it is getting better slowly, at least nowadays you don't often get killed getting from one city to another.

The anonymous nature of the internet brings out the best and worst in people.

1. I have lived through a coup attempt in Zambia, perpetuated by a military officer who called himself Captain Solo. Which was the name of a cheap straight to VHS movie that was shown on local TV just a week before.

2. I have lived through Gulf War 2 in March of 2003. Everyone assumed we would die in Kuwait because Iraq was going to use chemical, biological and possibly nuclear SCUD warheads. I felt sorry for all the troops forced to put on their MOPP suits every time there was an alarm. It was surreal.

3. I nearly got kidnapped in a car in Lusaka, a car thief was trying to break into our car while I was sleeping in the back. I stopped him by locking down the doors fully before his hanger wire could decouple it. He looked at me with accusing eyes like I just took candy from a child.

4. I learnt English entirely by sound and watching American movies. My entire grammar structure is based around what sounds right. As such I used to have a very American accent.

5. I was born Muslim but only ever practiced it culturally. I went to the mosque only once before realizing I could not be a servant to any god because am simply too lazy to give a shit either way.

6. I spent most of my early childhood on my uncle's farm, raising chickens, doing masonry work and harvesting potatoes. This experience has made me humble.

7. I cannot live in comfort in my country because I have severe life threatening allergies to its environment.

8. I nearly drowned as a child at a water park when I got sucked in the water intake for the slipping slide ride. I vividly remember how it felt looking up through the water up at big African man who was drying himself near the pool. He jumped in and saved me. I was so scared I never got to look at his face or thank him. I regret this.

9. Africa was the best place I have lived in. Its more beautiful then most people realize. The people are in desperate poverty but are gentle and kind. You will never see more beautiful clouds anywhere else.

10. I have a purple belt in Karate that I got as a kid. I think it's totally useless and has no baring on any combat ability I have.

11. I used to stay up late at night in high school watching MTV Europe, MTVChillout and MTVAlternative nation, back when it was good.

12. Kuwait proved to me that money does not buy happiness nor does wealth make people better individuals.

13. My favourite city will always be Montreal. I had the best and worst of times there.

14. I do alot of drugs. Most of the time I don't look for a high. I look for relief. Its quite healthy for my psyche. I like psychedelics and exploring the limits of my psyche. I like to disassociate.

15. I have a heart problem and in all likely hood will die prematurely. This doesn't bother me that much.

16. I have been arrested while being high on mushrooms, the experience was surreal and hilarious and depressing all at once. My arresting officer was the splitting image of Spud from Trainspotting.

17. Deja vus scare and confuse me.

18. I been to more countries then I care to mention. People are really all the same all over.

19. I love music, I have music collection I have maintaining since middle school. I will be very sad to lose it. I love only particular songs and moments, its hard for me to say I like any particular artist. The question what is your favourite genre of music always troubles me, its hard to pick one. Alot of my music I listen to in particular moods. I would be the first person to implant a music player into my brain.

20. I love cinema, I think cinema is humanity reflected, our dreams, desires, hopes, fears and experiences.

21. I wish I could stop being so cynical.

22. I don't know what to do with my life.

23. I used to go to the roof of my building in Africa and sleep under a full starry sky. Trying to pick out the satellites.

24. Life is hard to take seriously, I feel like I have been here before, and did all this before. I expect to wake up any minute now.

25. I feel like I shared too much.

I saw this when it was broadcast and thought it was nuts. Selective memory at it's best (or worst).

It's like a bad homework assignment. I was horrified that I knew most of the references, and it really is encouraging in depth reading of sifttalk.

Anyways, I think you need to do something about the scoring because (a) you can keep re-running it and increasing score, so just get rid of time bonus.. Or does it record best and worst scores... I see many names with two scores.

I don't know if it is a good idea to just keep the first score. Or maybe get rid of the time bonus for 2nd, 3rd tries.

Also I think I know why NordlichReiter 456 is sorting that way. It is not treating them as numbers and sorting by first digit. I'm gonna go try and figure out how to score 999 so I get #1.

I have to agree, the one where the guy slid into the post was the best. Or worst.

>> ^radx:
I've suffered some mean hits over the years, one free kick in particular. But sliding into the post ... uncool, mate, uncool.

>> ^Asmo:
Ya know what, all the times I've visited your beautiful country, the people stand out as the best and worst features, but I've always come away with a great memories that overwhelm any bitterness.


I've found there are two types of Americans. The ones you meet in person, at a business, or on the street, in a park, on a video ranking website, etc. and the ones driving behind you on the Interstate...

>> ^thinker247:
The world will never love us, but they will think we have a great personality.

Ya know what, all the times I've visited your beautiful country, the people stand out as the best and worst features, but I've always come away with a great memories that overwhelm any bitterness.

But your politicians... Damn... I really feel for your boys and girls overseas and their families.