Christie Brinkley and Nonnie

[Perianne]

I know you two are British. And we Americans don't necessarily know a lot about your culture and life.

What does the typical Brit do for a living? I am a Registered Nurse. Is healthcare there a major employer? How about manufacturing? What do the Brits produce that the world imports? What about automobiles? Do you make your own or import the bunch of them.

America is soooo big that we have a little of everything here. I know Britain is much smaller, so maybe you have fewer natural resources.

In the war WWII, Britain was a leader in electronics technology, inventing radar. Is Britain still a leader in technology?

[Christie Brinkley]

We virtually don't make cars any more which was what my city Coventry was famous for, all moved overseas. The only cars made in the city now are Jaguars (but not on a large scale) and the black cabs.

Coventry was famous for making engines in WW2 that is why it was leveled in some areas by the germans.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7638&stc=1

[Christie Brinkley]

And yes the NationalHealthService is I think the 5th largest employer in the world providing free healthcare to the UK.

[Abbey Marie]

But you did make my favorite car :cool: :


http://www.ahexp.com/registry/pictures/70840/1960_Austin_Healey_3000_Green_000.jpg

[Perianne]

So where do you get your cars? Are they mostly American and Japanese?

[Christie Brinkley]

So where do you get your cars? Are they mostly American and Japanese?
Japanese/American/German a mix of them. In the states you seem to only get Japanese and American?

[Perianne]

Japanese/American/German a mix of them. In the states you seem to only get Japanese and American?

We have access probably to any cars you can get, but yes, it is mostly American and Japanese. It seems to me that many "Japanese" cars are made here, while many "American" cars are made elsewhere. Just outside my town of Lexington, in Georgetown, they make Camry.

[Nonnie]

I know you two are British. And we Americans don't necessarily know a lot about your culture and life.

What does the typical Brit do for a living? I am a Registered Nurse. Is healthcare there a major employer? How about manufacturing? What do the Brits produce that the world imports? What about automobiles? Do you make your own or import the bunch of them.

America is soooo big that we have a little of everything here. I know Britain is much smaller, so maybe you have fewer natural resources.

In the war WWII, Britain was a leader in electronics technology, inventing radar. Is Britain still a leader in technology?

Like most countries, we suffer from junk from China. Retailers are greedier and greedier and most manufacturers couldn't compete. Folk here tend to go for cheapest as opposed to quality. The first time I went to America in the 80's, I bought a baseball, I wanted a piece of America. Many months went by, I picked it out of the cabinet and turned it around. Printed on the back, "Made in China". I never buy souvenirs anymore on holiday.

The shops that tend to be most abundant and survive are take-aways, hair saloons and opticians.

Ford, BMW, VW, Nissan, Vauxhall, Skoda, Toyota tend to be the popular car manufacturers. Daewoo went bust and I believe they're now Chrysler.
Very few cars are now made here, I believe there's a Nissan plant in Sunderland.

We're turning into a nation of 'users' as opposed to 'designers'. So people are trained to use software, apps etc.. as opposed to designing/writing the programs. Or learn how to use hardware instead of designing and building hardware. There's still pockets of designers and innovators around, but nowhere near to what there use to be. James Dyson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dyson) did well. He went bankrupt a few times before succeeding.

England use to be renowned for engineering, now it's media and arts.

[Voted4Reagan]

And yes the NationalHealthService is I think the 5th largest employer in the world providing free healthcare to the UK.

You mean TAXPAYER FUNDED healthcare right?

Nothing is free...

[Gunny]

Like most countries, we suffer from junk from China. Retailers are greedier and greedier and most manufacturers couldn't compete. Folk here tend to go for cheapest as opposed to quality. The first time I went to America in the 80's, I bought a baseball, I wanted a piece of America. Many months went by, I picked it out of the cabinet and turned it around. Printed on the back, "Made in China". I never buy souvenirs anymore on holiday.

The shops that tend to be most abundant and survive are take-aways, hair saloons and opticians.

Ford, BMW, VW, Nissan, Vauxhall, Skoda, Toyota tend to be the popular car manufacturers. Daewoo went bust and I believe they're now Chrysler.
Very few cars are now made here, I believe there's a Nissan plant in Sunderland.

We're turning into a nation of 'users' as opposed to 'designers'. So people are trained to use software, apps etc.. as opposed to designing/writing the programs. Or learn how to use hardware instead of designing and building hardware. There's still pockets of designers and innovators around, but nowhere near to what there use to be. James Dyson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dyson) did well. He went bankrupt a few times before succeeding.

England use to be renowned for engineering, now it's media and arts.

SO riddle me this, riddle me that .... what does "Nonnie" mean?

[Nonnie]

SO riddle me this, riddle me that .... what does "Nonnie" mean?

When my kid was little he couldn't say his name, it came out as Nonull. So we used to call him Nonnie. He's best part of 20 now but still responds to Nonnie.

[Perianne]

SO riddle me this, riddle me that .... what does "Nonnie" mean?

Nonnie your business?


hahahahha, Perianne made a funny, lol. I am funny long time.

[jimnyc]

Nonnie your business?


hahahahha, Perianne made a funny, lol. I am funny long time.

Perianne el loco!

[Perianne]

Perianne el loco!

la loca?

[jimnyc]

la loca?

I dunno, do I look like someone who speaks Spanish? :laugh2:

[Gunny]

Nonnie your business?


hahahahha, Perianne made a funny, lol. I am funny long time.

Pffft. You're fired.:laugh:

I asked because we always called my grandmother Nanny.

[jimnyc]

Pffft. You're fired.:laugh:

I asked because we always called my grandmother Nanny.

My son calls the wifey's mother Nonny. Clueless as to where it comes from.

[Nonnie]

Pffft. You're fired.:laugh:

I asked because we always called my grandmother Nanny.

Is Gunny American for a small gun?

[Perianne]

Is Gunny American for a small gun?

lol

hahahahaha

[Gunny]

Is Gunny American for a small gun?

Something like that. Ain't a whole lot small about me. You can go look at my pic with my little baby princess on her 2nd birthday if you want. My little angel. :)

[Nonnie]

Something like that. Ain't a whole lot small about me. You can go look at my pic with my little baby princess on her 2nd birthday if you want. My little angel. :)

Spot on, having kids is brill. They say the daftest things and they have this art of making you feel guilty when you've told them off.

[Voted4Reagan]

British Engineering... 1970's style.

http://extremetrifle.com/3/images/r2r103_000.jpg

[Nonnie]

British Engineering... 1970's style.

http://extremetrifle.com/3/images/r2r103_000.jpg


You could drive those on the road with a motorbike license, you didn't need a car license.

[Voted4Reagan]

You could drive those on the road with a motorbike license, you didn't need a car license.


and you saved on your tax certificate too!!

[Voted4Reagan]

We also have.....

The DUKES of DORSET...

http://s3.amazonaws.com/everystockphoto/fspid30/86/44/12/9/dorset-england-8644129-l.jpg

[Nonnie]

If you ran and slid over the bonnet (hood!!) like in the Dukes of Hazard, it would tip over !!

[Perianne]

If you ran and slid over the bonnet (hood!!) like in the Dukes of Hazard, it would tip over !!

This is very similar to one of my first cars. Plenty of hood to slide over if one so desired.

http://www.adpost.com/classifieds/upload/us/vehicles/us_vehicles.1035691.1.jpg

[Voted4Reagan]

The classic Cartoon: The THUNDERBIRDS...OF ENGLAND!!

http://mm.aiircdn.com/55/744201.jpg

[Perianne]

The classic Cartoon: The THUNDERBIRDS...OF ENGLAND!!

http://mm.aiircdn.com/55/744201.jpg

That's kinda cool.

[Voted4Reagan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdrlWR-yFM

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/02/44/3024475_da40468c.jpg

[Perianne]

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/02/44/3024475_da40468c.jpg

For some reason, that looks vulgar.

[KitchenKitten99]

So where do you get your cars? Are they mostly American and Japanese?

Depends on the area of the country you are in and even down to the city.

I am in MN, and if you head to DT Minneapolis, you will see lots of foreign cars of all price ranges. Audi, BMW, a couple of Bentleys (by the execs of Ameriprise and Wells Fargo who are based here, as well as big investment firms and law firms), you'll see LOTS of Cadillacs, a few Maserati, Mercedes are pretty popular too.

Go a couple miles north and west, you will have crunchy-town, aka hipster city so hybrids or full electric, super small clown cars etc. Mostly Toyota and Honda.

St. Paul is like Minneapolis but you'll see more Ford/Lincoln and Chrysler high end cars there.

Suburbs depends on which one. North suburbs will generally go more American the farther north you go. I sold cars/trucks for a while at a dealership near my home and 70% of our new vehicle sales were half-ton and 3/4 ton trucks, probably 50/50 Ford and Ram (dealer sold both brands). Partly because the location is on the intersection of 2 major freeways and kind of the 'gateways' to farming communities.

West/Southwest will generally own luxury imports, mostly light duty SUVs. Probably because most of the luxury car dealers are in that same area and France Ave (aka by the rest of us as "Maggot Mile") in Edina is loaded with plastic surgeons, overpriced furniture stores ($10k for a bed frame type overpriced), and other nutty things that people with money find to spend it on.

South suburbs will be more Mitsubishi/Toyota/Hyundai/Subaru.

I am in a North/West suburb that is actually kind of an anomaly. Very much undeveloped farming/equestrian city that is surrounded by heavily-developed cities. I have 3 Super Targets within 7 miles of my home if that says anything. Everyone has either a truck or SUV, and almost none are foreign. Most of us have Chevy, Ford, or Ram trucks of varying sizes (1500/2500/3500) probably an even distribution of those 3 depending on the workload needs of the owner. Well, one weirdo farmer near me has a Toyota Tundra but he doesn't actually do anything significant with it. Mostly sits in the driveway.

Then go down to Miami, FL...specifically South Beach... Italian sports cars are the norm down there. I have been there 3 times now and it is normal to see a few Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and a Ferraris all parked in the same area along Ocean drive.

San Francisco and Seattle are VW and Prius havens. New York...most don't own cars so you see cabs which are likely Chevy Impalas or Ford Taurus now. Jim would have to confirm that for me though so I can't be confident about that statement.

Texas you will see lots of Ford (partly due to the King Ranch's deal with them), GM/Chevy are probably 2nd runners although my dad says he sees more Ram trucks now than ever before.

[Gunny]

Depends on the area of the country you are in and even down to the city.

I am in MN, and if you head to DT Minneapolis, you will see lots of foreign cars of all price ranges. Audi, BMW, a couple of Bentleys (by the execs of Ameriprise and Wells Fargo who are based here, as well as big investment firms and law firms), you'll see LOTS of Cadillacs, a few Maserati, Mercedes are pretty popular too.

Go a couple miles north and west, you will have crunchy-town, aka hipster city so hybrids or full electric, super small clown cars etc. Mostly Toyota and Honda.

St. Paul is like Minneapolis but you'll see more Ford/Lincoln and Chrysler high end cars there.

Suburbs depends on which one. North suburbs will generally go more American the farther north you go. I sold cars/trucks for a while at a dealership near my home and 70% of our new vehicle sales were half-ton and 3/4 ton trucks, probably 50/50 Ford and Ram (dealer sold both brands). Partly because the location is on the intersection of 2 major freeways and kind of the 'gateways' to farming communities.

West/Southwest will generally own luxury imports, mostly light duty SUVs. Probably because most of the luxury car dealers are in that same area and France Ave (aka by the rest of us as "Maggot Mile") in Edina is loaded with plastic surgeons, overpriced furniture stores ($10k for a bed frame type overpriced), and other nutty things that people with money find to spend it on.

South suburbs will be more Mitsubishi/Toyota/Hyundai/Subaru.

I am in a North/West suburb that is actually kind of an anomaly. Very much undeveloped farming/equestrian city that is surrounded by heavily-developed cities. I have 3 Super Targets within 7 miles of my home if that says anything. Everyone has either a truck or SUV, and almost none are foreign. Most of us have Chevy, Ford, or Ram trucks of varying sizes (1500/2500/3500) probably an even distribution of those 3 depending on the workload needs of the owner. Well, one weirdo farmer near me has a Toyota Tundra but he doesn't actually do anything significant with it. Mostly sits in the driveway.

Then go down to Miami, FL...specifically South Beach... Italian sports cars are the norm down there. I have been there 3 times now and it is normal to see a few Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and a Ferraris all parked in the same area along Ocean drive.

San Francisco and Seattle are VW and Prius havens. New York...most don't own cars so you see cabs which are likely Chevy Impalas or Ford Taurus now. Jim would have to confirm that for me though so I can't be confident about that statement.

Texas you will see lots of Ford (partly due to the King Ranch's deal with them), GM/Chevy are probably 2nd runners although my dad says he sees more Ram trucks now than ever before.

Actually you see more Chevy's/GM's in Texas. You are correct in the King's Ranch deal. You might see more Fords in Southeastern Texas.

I can't even imagine trying to drive my truck in Europe. :laugh:

[Jeff]

Is Gunny American for a small gun?

Absolutely :laugh::laugh:

Gunny is American for teenie weenie little member, ooppps I mean gun. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Gunny]

Absolutely :laugh::laugh:

Gunny is American for teenie weenie little member, ooppps I mean gun. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Teenie weenie? :laugh:

That hurt my stomach.:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[NightTrain]

I didn't know that BMW makes the Cooper Mini... there's a bunch of them here in AK and they have a hardcore fan base.

I would think that they're popular in Europe because they're so small.



Also, about the "Nonnie" discussion - isn't it funny how kids will come up with some variation of titles they can't pronounce? My kids call my mom 'Nana' and her husband is Papa... and my middle brother dubbed my youngest brother 'Boppy' when they were very young because he couldn't pronounce Brother. My young nephews and nieces call me Uncle Wick because for some reason half the people in my family can't pronounce an R when under the age of 6.


And, no... Gunny doesn't refer to his love of little guns! :laugh: It is slang for his rank in the US Marines, he was a Gunnery Sergeant.

[Abbey Marie]

I didn't know that BMW makes the Cooper Mini... there's a bunch of them here in AK and they have a hardcore fan base.

I would think that they're popular in Europe because they're so small.



Also, about the "Nonnie" discussion - isn't it funny how kids will come up with some variation of titles they can't pronounce? My kids call my mom 'Nana' and her husband is Papa... and my middle brother dubbed my youngest brother 'Boppy' when they were very young because he couldn't pronounce Brother. My young nephews and nieces call me Uncle Wick because for some reason half the people in my family can't pronounce an R when under the age of 6.

And, no... Gunny doesn't refer to his love of little guns! :laugh: It is slang for his rank in the US Marines, he was a Gunnery Sergeant.

I'm so surprised by that. Don't people want a truck, or at least a bigger car, with all that snow up there?

[NightTrain]

I'm so surprised by that. Don't people want a truck, or at least a bigger car, with all that snow up there?

Astute observation! Yeah, that car would be helpless during the winter months when there's snow... they have hardly any ground clearance.

Most people have their fun sporty cars only driven during the summer. Corvettes, a few Ferraris, Jaguars, a few Aston Martins, couple of DeLoreans, lots of Mustangs, Lexus... I haven't seen a legit Lamborghini yet, but there's a couple of kit cars that run around.

I had a Pontiac Fiero back in the day, but that was actually quite decent in the snow & ice because it was a rear engine design, so the rear wheels had a lot of traction. Still, very impractical and nothing like a FWD or 4x4. But I didn't buy it because of that, it was a chick magnet! lol

[Nonnie]

I didn't know that BMW makes the Cooper Mini... there's a bunch of them here in AK and they have a hardcore fan base.

I would think that they're popular in Europe because they're so small.



Also, about the "Nonnie" discussion - isn't it funny how kids will come up with some variation of titles they can't pronounce? My kids call my mom 'Nana' and her husband is Papa... and my middle brother dubbed my youngest brother 'Boppy' when they were very young because he couldn't pronounce Brother. My young nephews and nieces call me Uncle Wick because for some reason half the people in my family can't pronounce an R when under the age of 6.


And, no... Gunny doesn't refer to his love of little guns! :laugh: It is slang for his rank in the US Marines, he was a Gunnery Sergeant.

Ok, makes sense now. Never heard of Gunnery Sergeant.

[KitchenKitten99]

I can't even imagine trying to drive my truck in Europe. :laugh:

I have been driving our Impala more than my truck lately and I feel odd. I love that car, it's fun to drive since it is an SS with a V-8, and I actually bought it for us when we were living in our rental house 4 years ago. But my truck... I just love driving it more. The only reason I don't as much is hubby works from home and the car is cheaper on gas. Driving the car, I only fill my truck up once a month rather than once a week. Plus it saves me miles on the truck since I lease it.

I pick Priuses out of the grill of my Ram.... :laugh: