I live in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia. We've destroyed the old part of the city to make a bunker we call the theater. That is all.
Tell Me About Your Country/City/Anything
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Ireland. I live in the countryside where I get much faster internet than when I lived in Dublin. That doesn't even make sense but it happens.
I live in Calgary, Alberta
The most conservative and least interesting city in the country, at least as far as I'm concerned.
The only nice things I can say about the city is that in general the people are friendly and honest, the crime rate is fairly low for a city our size and we have plenty of decent restaurants.
The most conservative and least interesting city in the country, at least as far as I'm concerned.
The only nice things I can say about the city is that in general the people are friendly and honest, the crime rate is fairly low for a city our size and we have plenty of decent restaurants.
I live in a small village of around 3000 people, its boring as all holy fuck, nothing to do, nowhere to go and noone to see (all my friends live in populated places) were also cut off all round by motorways meaning the only way to get into the nearest town of Tonbridge Wells is to get the one bus that goes there every 3 hours, but only up till 7. It could only be worse if I lived in a hamlet.
I live in a small city called Vilnius, in the south-eastern part of Lithuania.
Vilnius has around 550,000 inhabitants and is the capital of Lithuania. Sprawling between the hills and fields of the country, it is immensely large for the amount of people that live within it. It is made up of many neighbourhoods, all of which were named by the people and passed on amongst the young people until they became an official part of the city's geography.
One of the oldest cities, it was said to have been constructed after Gediminas, a grand duke, had a dream about an iron wolf that was told to be some sort of prophecy. The city itself was, at first, a tiny wooden city that slowly grew until it became a true bastion and a fortress, housing tens of thousands. Further expansion happened from the middle ages to modern times, through all the wars, occupations and other hardships.
Vilnius itself has been noted as a cultural melting pot, since here we had people of every race, culture, religion and so on, since the late middle ages. Described by some to be the "Jerusalem of the North", it is truly a unique place in Europe.
The populace, however, is heavily divided. Lithuanians have a strong dislike towards Poles and Russians, the two main minorities of the Lithuanian nation, mostly due to historical issues. The common lithuanian is a very strong-willed individual who despises anyone trying to tell him what to do, arrogance, incessant complaining and disrespect. Possessing an enormous pride they won't hesitate to toss an annoying person out the door. Quite a lot are completely apathetic to most issues, due to the prolonged Soviet occupation. Communism is frowned upon and despised by nearly everyone. The religious ones don't take kindly to atheists constantly spewing how God does not exist or similar topics. Incredible hate for politicians can be found in large parts of the population.
An ex-Soviet city, it's filled with relics of a bygone era - blocks of flats, cement buildings and basketball courts and etc. It does, however, have an incredibly lovely Old Town district that has several parks, plenty of stores and cobblestone streets. That district is also where you will find the interesting locations of Vilnius, including most of the churches, quite a few of the hotels, the theatres and concert halls. Few souvenir stores. Avoid certain tourist traps.
That's about all. Happy?
Vilnius has around 550,000 inhabitants and is the capital of Lithuania. Sprawling between the hills and fields of the country, it is immensely large for the amount of people that live within it. It is made up of many neighbourhoods, all of which were named by the people and passed on amongst the young people until they became an official part of the city's geography.
One of the oldest cities, it was said to have been constructed after Gediminas, a grand duke, had a dream about an iron wolf that was told to be some sort of prophecy. The city itself was, at first, a tiny wooden city that slowly grew until it became a true bastion and a fortress, housing tens of thousands. Further expansion happened from the middle ages to modern times, through all the wars, occupations and other hardships.
Vilnius itself has been noted as a cultural melting pot, since here we had people of every race, culture, religion and so on, since the late middle ages. Described by some to be the "Jerusalem of the North", it is truly a unique place in Europe.
The populace, however, is heavily divided. Lithuanians have a strong dislike towards Poles and Russians, the two main minorities of the Lithuanian nation, mostly due to historical issues. The common lithuanian is a very strong-willed individual who despises anyone trying to tell him what to do, arrogance, incessant complaining and disrespect. Possessing an enormous pride they won't hesitate to toss an annoying person out the door. Quite a lot are completely apathetic to most issues, due to the prolonged Soviet occupation. Communism is frowned upon and despised by nearly everyone. The religious ones don't take kindly to atheists constantly spewing how God does not exist or similar topics. Incredible hate for politicians can be found in large parts of the population.
An ex-Soviet city, it's filled with relics of a bygone era - blocks of flats, cement buildings and basketball courts and etc. It does, however, have an incredibly lovely Old Town district that has several parks, plenty of stores and cobblestone streets. That district is also where you will find the interesting locations of Vilnius, including most of the churches, quite a few of the hotels, the theatres and concert halls. Few souvenir stores. Avoid certain tourist traps.
That's about all. Happy?
Astoria, Queens, New York - Just across the river from Manhattan, many areas in Astoria retain the same look it's had since the 50's, the main reason that A Bronx Tale was filmed here. Along with A Bronx Tale, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, a episode of Fringe, several parts of the t.v. show Third Watch and part of My Super Ex-Girlfriend were filmed here.
Astoria is home to the Museum of the Moving Image, where one of the three original Yoda puppets is held, and Sesame Street is filmed not too far away from the Museum.
One of the main draws of Astoria is 30th street (the 'heart' of Astoria) and Steinway Street (the 'soul' of Astoria), which are essentially the shopping districts of the area. Also the world famous Steinway Pianos are made here as well.
A final note: most of A Bronx Tale was filmed w/in two blocks of my apartment building (both my grandmother and landlord kept getting in trouble w/ the production staff while the movie was being made.) If you plan on watching the movie, look out for this building (the one behind the tree):
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.761945,-73.912169&spn=0,359.997202&z=19&layer=c&cbll=40.762023,-73.912105&panoid=RLgcwt313a_A7AfrvXeh-g&cbp=12,313.74,,0,-1.21
That's the front of my apartment building.
Have fun!
Astoria is home to the Museum of the Moving Image, where one of the three original Yoda puppets is held, and Sesame Street is filmed not too far away from the Museum.
One of the main draws of Astoria is 30th street (the 'heart' of Astoria) and Steinway Street (the 'soul' of Astoria), which are essentially the shopping districts of the area. Also the world famous Steinway Pianos are made here as well.
A final note: most of A Bronx Tale was filmed w/in two blocks of my apartment building (both my grandmother and landlord kept getting in trouble w/ the production staff while the movie was being made.) If you plan on watching the movie, look out for this building (the one behind the tree):
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.761945,-73.912169&spn=0,359.997202&z=19&layer=c&cbll=40.762023,-73.912105&panoid=RLgcwt313a_A7AfrvXeh-g&cbp=12,313.74,,0,-1.21
That's the front of my apartment building.
Have fun!
I hope this isn't too creepy, but when you said you were from Illinois I took a look at your profile and you're going to school in my hometown. How do you like Blo-No?PaulyWalnuts said:
And to answer the original question, the state I'm in right now (Wisconsin) is known for the ridiculous amounts of alcohol that is consumed here. But they make Leinenkugel's which is really really good so I can understand that.
During the (American) Revolutionary War a small skirmish was fought a bit less than a mile from my house.
Actually more of a slaughter, or atleast it would be if more people were killed.
Not a very favorable outcome for us Patriots, but still cool.
Also, after the Battle of Yorktown the French Army camped here, on a hill that is now the location of an elementary school (appropriately named French Hill). This is also pretty much the reason my town was also named Yorktown.
I don't know why I felt like sharing my town's war history, but I did. It's still more than a lot of people can say.
Actually more of a slaughter, or atleast it would be if more people were killed.
The Battle of Pine's Bridge
May 14, 1781
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment, under Col. Christopher Greene, supported by Colonel Jeremiah Olney, Majors Ebenezer Flagg and Samuel Ward, Jr., was a regiment of Black Freemen and Native Americans. On April 15th, 1781, the 1st Rhode Island was placed in a defensive position on the north bank of the Croton River, that included several fords and the Pine's Bridge, which was protected at all times. The guards at the fords, however, customarily withdrew at sunrise, on the assumption that the enemy would not attempt a daylight crossing of the Croton. The area was "thick" with Tories and word reached Colonel James De Lancey who commanded the Westchester Refugee Corps. On May 13th, De Lancey assembled a force of 200 infantry and 60 cavalry and moved north via back lanes through neutral territory. Their destination was Oblenis Ford over the Croton River.
At daylight on May 14th, after the American Guards were withdrawn for breakfast, De Lancey's troops galloped across the ford and rode up the steep hill to the Davenport House where Greene and his officers lay sleeping. Angered by a pair of pistol shots from the house, De Lancey's troopers dismounted and burst into the Davenport House, sabering Colonel Greene, killing Major Flagg and a junior officer. The infantry scattered the surprised Rhode Islanders, killing fourteen and capturing thirty. The dying Colonel Greene, still in nightclothes was tossed over a saddle, in which position he soon expired. His mangled body was unceremoniously dumped into a ditch where it was discovered by pursuing American Cavalry.
May 14, 1781
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment, under Col. Christopher Greene, supported by Colonel Jeremiah Olney, Majors Ebenezer Flagg and Samuel Ward, Jr., was a regiment of Black Freemen and Native Americans. On April 15th, 1781, the 1st Rhode Island was placed in a defensive position on the north bank of the Croton River, that included several fords and the Pine's Bridge, which was protected at all times. The guards at the fords, however, customarily withdrew at sunrise, on the assumption that the enemy would not attempt a daylight crossing of the Croton. The area was "thick" with Tories and word reached Colonel James De Lancey who commanded the Westchester Refugee Corps. On May 13th, De Lancey assembled a force of 200 infantry and 60 cavalry and moved north via back lanes through neutral territory. Their destination was Oblenis Ford over the Croton River.
At daylight on May 14th, after the American Guards were withdrawn for breakfast, De Lancey's troops galloped across the ford and rode up the steep hill to the Davenport House where Greene and his officers lay sleeping. Angered by a pair of pistol shots from the house, De Lancey's troopers dismounted and burst into the Davenport House, sabering Colonel Greene, killing Major Flagg and a junior officer. The infantry scattered the surprised Rhode Islanders, killing fourteen and capturing thirty. The dying Colonel Greene, still in nightclothes was tossed over a saddle, in which position he soon expired. His mangled body was unceremoniously dumped into a ditch where it was discovered by pursuing American Cavalry.
Not a very favorable outcome for us Patriots, but still cool.
Also, after the Battle of Yorktown the French Army camped here, on a hill that is now the location of an elementary school (appropriately named French Hill). This is also pretty much the reason my town was also named Yorktown.
I don't know why I felt like sharing my town's war history, but I did. It's still more than a lot of people can say.
Yes. But when your government was seriously considering changing roadsigns which indicate pedestrian street crossings, which only had a male figure depicted on them before into being equal depictions of male AND female figures due to some feminist idiots pressuring them, the political correctness has reached a pretty ABSURD level, don't you agree?Extraordinaire said:
I mean:
-"Holy mother of God! this society is going straight to hell with politically incorrect anarchy! We don't have roadsigns equally depicting male and femal figures on them, whatever will we do? This must be rectified immediately least our society will crumble!"
Now im not a big fan of male-dominated and chauvinistic government in general, but I gotta hand it to such governments in one way. At least they would just scoff and brush such silly propositions aside faster than you can blink your eye rather than actually taking suh a proposition into consideration.
Seriously, frigging roadsigns!? COME ON!
Yeah that is quite a feat actually. Having peace for 200 years without actually having to brutally boot other countries into submission. It's more than you can say of other countries in the world...Extraordinaire said:
That's nice to hear. Since a lot of the finnish people tend to be a bit prejudiced about everyone in Sweden being "pökjäavlar" ("Faggots")... Then again many Swedes tend to consider most finnish people being suicidal, knife swinging drunkards. So I guess they can both call it even on the prejudice side. But friendly, non-prejudiced support is always a lot nicer in my book. : )Spitfire175 said:
As for freedom of speech, it has never actually existed as far as im concerned. Sure our country (and many other countries for that matter) sure have advertised that they have freedom of speech, but the fact that I could get thrown in prison or having to pay heavy fines if I use certain taboo words against certain people I think it's pretty safe to say that freedom of speech doesn't exist.
In my opinion everyone should be able to say or write whatever they want with complete disregard if anyone takes offense. As long as people stay away from using physical violence against eachother I see no crime having been commited, no matter how many derogatory insults having been thrown about in public. That would be REAL freedom of speech, instead of the half-assed and proscribed version which isn't really "free" which we have today.
My stance on derogatory comments is that if you take offense you have only yourself to blame. You CHOOSE to be offended, you CHOOSE to give that idiot slandering you power over you, you CHOOSE to empower his words by taking offense.
If someone call's me a "kiddie-raping, homosexual moron", I'd probably just laugh or simply ignore the person saying it. I know I don't rape kids, I know that im not a homosexual (and even if I were I wouldn't consider it an insult, just a harmless adjective) and I know that im not a moron. Hence I don't get offended... At all.
If the same guy calling me these things would touch me though, I'd give him a Glasgow Smile before you could have time to blink. Because then he has proceeded to use physical force against me, and that will offend me...
Okay, a little cover on Scotland.
Scotland was founded by Picts around the 9th or 8th century, holding one of the most ancient intact settlements in the world (Skara Brae, an intact stone village dated from 3100 BC), and largely remained independent resisting invaders such as the Romans, one of the few countries they were unable to conquer, to the point that they built a wall (Hadrian's Wall) across the length of half the country to keep us coming over.
Throughout the years Scotland formed a monarchy and clans of families spread all over the land, to the point where there was a split between Scotland's lowlands where monarchy and civilised culture ruled, and the highlands where the old clan ways thrived.
The first Scottish king on the throne of England, King James VI, was the one to unify the island of Great Britain into the United Kingdom of Great Britain, but for the remainder of the years Scotland would butt heads with England until its downfall in 1745 AD at the battle of Culloden against an army of artillery and bad planning. Many believe this is between the English and Scottish alone, but it was actually more between the Highlanders (who wished to remain in the old ways of the clans) and the Lowlanders with some English forces (who had joined the English in civil society life and modern living).
Since then Scotland has instead built itself into a pioneering country of invention and imagination with such notable people as John Muir (founder of Yellowstone Park and conservationism), John Logie Baird (the television), Robert Watson-Watt (modern radar), James Maxwell (discovering radio waves), JM Barrie (Peter Pan), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Jekyll & Hyde), Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and David Jones (Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto).
On an unfortunate aside, Scotland has executed more "witches" than any other country in the world, around 2000. This may be due to the staunch Prostestantism as a result of the Reformation when the country was converted largely from Catholicism to Protestantism in the mid-16th century by John Knox, which on the upside did provide more stronger educational standards, giving Scotland twice the literacy rate of England's.
----------------------
Dundee probably began as a settlement around the late 12th century after King William granted an earldom to his brother, who built Dundee Castle later converted into a cathedral. The town largely grew through the years as an important port with the River Tay emptying out to the North Sea, to become a famous whaling hotspot in the 18th and 19th century.
Dundee is also famous for its three Js. Jute, Jam and Journalism. Jute was a product similar to cotton in terms of everyday usage back then and due to this Dundee became a profitable port city in the British Empire, with its journalism central including papers like The Scotsman, as well as DC Thomson's headquarters in Dundee, who create The Beano and The Dandy.
Dundee is now a city largely retaining its port status of importance, popular with Eastern Europeans immigrants, despite Dundee's rather unhealthy status as having the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe. However, one thing you guys'll love hearing, is that Dundee is one of the forefronts of videogame design in Scotland, as well as the fact that the creator of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, David Jones, studied at the University of Dundee.
And lastly, Dundee has an extinct volcano known as The Law, where the national radio tower for Tay FM (Scotland's most popular non-BBC radio station) is situated.
As for anything, there is myself.
------------------
My grandmother was born in Athens in 1941, and fled to Britain with her mother to escape being jailed for stealing food in the poverty of Athens in the 50s (the reason why Oxfam exists was to help Athens out of poverty), where she grew up to marry my mother's father, Johnston. Johnston's family come from the same town where Ewan MacGregor was born.
Apparently we have a direct connection to the legendary Rob Roy MacGregor, perhaps even I am a direct descendant but I have not seen the register yet though all my mother's family swear it is the truth. MacGregor was a name banned after Culloden by the English due to their notorious reputation of royally fucking up plans.
I am 3/4 Scottish and 1/4 Greek.
-----------------
OKAY TL
R TIEMS
SCOTLAND - OLD STONE VILLAGE, ROMANS CAN'T KILL US, WE KILLED THOUSANDS OF WITCHES, WE INVENTED FUCKING EVERYTHING INCLUDING NEVERLAND ITSELF.
YES WE MADE YOUR FUCKING DREAMS, READ THE PATENT NUMBER *****.
DUNDEE - WE KILL WHALES, WE MAKE JUTE, WE MAKE THE FUCKING NEWS, WE PUT A RADIO TOWER ON A VOLCANO AND FUCK LIKE TEENAGERS ALL NIGHT LONG.
ME - I'VE GOT THE HAIR OF A GREEK SAILOR AND THE SKIN OF A PASTY SCOT AND WHEN I PLAY FALLOUT 3, ROB ROY IS MY GODDAMN FATHER.
Scotland was founded by Picts around the 9th or 8th century, holding one of the most ancient intact settlements in the world (Skara Brae, an intact stone village dated from 3100 BC), and largely remained independent resisting invaders such as the Romans, one of the few countries they were unable to conquer, to the point that they built a wall (Hadrian's Wall) across the length of half the country to keep us coming over.
Throughout the years Scotland formed a monarchy and clans of families spread all over the land, to the point where there was a split between Scotland's lowlands where monarchy and civilised culture ruled, and the highlands where the old clan ways thrived.
The first Scottish king on the throne of England, King James VI, was the one to unify the island of Great Britain into the United Kingdom of Great Britain, but for the remainder of the years Scotland would butt heads with England until its downfall in 1745 AD at the battle of Culloden against an army of artillery and bad planning. Many believe this is between the English and Scottish alone, but it was actually more between the Highlanders (who wished to remain in the old ways of the clans) and the Lowlanders with some English forces (who had joined the English in civil society life and modern living).
Since then Scotland has instead built itself into a pioneering country of invention and imagination with such notable people as John Muir (founder of Yellowstone Park and conservationism), John Logie Baird (the television), Robert Watson-Watt (modern radar), James Maxwell (discovering radio waves), JM Barrie (Peter Pan), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Jekyll & Hyde), Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and David Jones (Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto).
On an unfortunate aside, Scotland has executed more "witches" than any other country in the world, around 2000. This may be due to the staunch Prostestantism as a result of the Reformation when the country was converted largely from Catholicism to Protestantism in the mid-16th century by John Knox, which on the upside did provide more stronger educational standards, giving Scotland twice the literacy rate of England's.
----------------------
Dundee probably began as a settlement around the late 12th century after King William granted an earldom to his brother, who built Dundee Castle later converted into a cathedral. The town largely grew through the years as an important port with the River Tay emptying out to the North Sea, to become a famous whaling hotspot in the 18th and 19th century.
Dundee is also famous for its three Js. Jute, Jam and Journalism. Jute was a product similar to cotton in terms of everyday usage back then and due to this Dundee became a profitable port city in the British Empire, with its journalism central including papers like The Scotsman, as well as DC Thomson's headquarters in Dundee, who create The Beano and The Dandy.
Dundee is now a city largely retaining its port status of importance, popular with Eastern Europeans immigrants, despite Dundee's rather unhealthy status as having the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe. However, one thing you guys'll love hearing, is that Dundee is one of the forefronts of videogame design in Scotland, as well as the fact that the creator of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, David Jones, studied at the University of Dundee.
And lastly, Dundee has an extinct volcano known as The Law, where the national radio tower for Tay FM (Scotland's most popular non-BBC radio station) is situated.
As for anything, there is myself.
------------------
My grandmother was born in Athens in 1941, and fled to Britain with her mother to escape being jailed for stealing food in the poverty of Athens in the 50s (the reason why Oxfam exists was to help Athens out of poverty), where she grew up to marry my mother's father, Johnston. Johnston's family come from the same town where Ewan MacGregor was born.
Apparently we have a direct connection to the legendary Rob Roy MacGregor, perhaps even I am a direct descendant but I have not seen the register yet though all my mother's family swear it is the truth. MacGregor was a name banned after Culloden by the English due to their notorious reputation of royally fucking up plans.
I am 3/4 Scottish and 1/4 Greek.
-----------------
OKAY TL
R TIEMSSCOTLAND - OLD STONE VILLAGE, ROMANS CAN'T KILL US, WE KILLED THOUSANDS OF WITCHES, WE INVENTED FUCKING EVERYTHING INCLUDING NEVERLAND ITSELF.
YES WE MADE YOUR FUCKING DREAMS, READ THE PATENT NUMBER *****.
DUNDEE - WE KILL WHALES, WE MAKE JUTE, WE MAKE THE FUCKING NEWS, WE PUT A RADIO TOWER ON A VOLCANO AND FUCK LIKE TEENAGERS ALL NIGHT LONG.
ME - I'VE GOT THE HAIR OF A GREEK SAILOR AND THE SKIN OF A PASTY SCOT AND WHEN I PLAY FALLOUT 3, ROB ROY IS MY GODDAMN FATHER.
I live in the state-that's-not-a-state... Pennsylvania!!! In the shining utopia of Pittsburgh! We have more cloudy days than Seattle, and poorer air quality than L.A.! Major exports include:
Mullets
Clueless Engineers
Potholes
Venerial Diseases! One more cheer for PITTSBURGH!
Mullets
Clueless Engineers
Potholes
Venerial Diseases! One more cheer for PITTSBURGH!
The same goes for Chesapeake, I just moved to Pennsylvania from there, and I always have to specify "Near Virginia Beach" for people who askwhere I'm from.IdealistCommi said:
I live in Tilburg, a completely non-interesting city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The most interesting thing to foreigners is probably (judged on the reaction of an English pall who visited me) the fact that we have a cheese shop in the mall. It's a shop where they sell cheese (obviously), but also all types of nuts. The shop works a bit like a combination of a whinery and a bakery; you go in if you want to buy cheese like you'd go to any average shop, but you are allowed to taste slices of specific cheese to make your choice and the shopkeeper will cut a piece of cheese the size you want it from a big cheesewheel.
I can identify with you, we've got a bit of the same problem on this side of the gulf. I guess it's a nordic problem, we're trying to be too tolerate with some things and too strict with others.Housebroken Lunatic said:
About prejudices, it's mostly 12 year old kids and drunken middle aged men who call the Swedes "qeers"/etc. Regular people(people with a strange neurological organ called "brains") usually like Sweden and Swedes. Ice hockey just brings out the drunken loudmouths.
Stockholm, Sweden. A nice place to live. The city is beautiful with much to do, and the suburbs (at least the one I live in) are calm and peaceful. I'm happy to be born here, it's a beautiful country, and we have no natural catastrophies, as opposed to many other countries.