Victoria

Victoria, feel free to clear up the pikelet, crumpet, English muffin and jam, jelly, gelatin debates while your at it...

She got that shirt in the US. The ironic thing is that a muffin is a crumpet in the UK, and stands for a hot babe.

That quote alone was enough for me to realise how stupid the concept of party politics is.

It's a bit different with me. I wasn't born idealistic. I'm realistic. Plus, I'm an historian and I've lived in lots of places and I feel the perspective of time and place inside me.

As such, I can't help but to compare the UK, the US, and Germany (the three countries which I know intimately), to many South American countries, where I've lived.

And to complain about our system compared to theirs has always seemed so laughable, as to be mad. Whatever we call "bad" in our system, they would call paradise.

You have faith in a two-party system?

Yes.

I've got that message too. I'm interested to hear what happened.

"Account Suspended"

Was just about to post that, too. This looks serious. Like something to do with the illicitness of the hobby.

Sylar is a member here so I hope he'll inform us. I love Repgeeks...

I never wear a watch in the shower but rarely take it off to sleep in.

When do you take it off? Does that mean you don't bathe?

Last time I voted in KY, I used an AMEX Credit Card as ID...

Yes, also down here.

In Miami-Dade County (& Broward), you need to present an ID which has your your signature, and a photo of yourself. If you cannot provide it in one solitary ID, for example a library card doesn't have a photo, but it has your signature, then you can give two IDs, the other with your photo.

This varies from county to county in the US, never mind state, or nationwide standards. A TOTAL MESS.

I'm against National IDs. But that this ID-less system is fraught with fraud possibilities, it is. It's SUCH a porous, trusting system. No wonder the 9/11 attackers did what they did.

And still can.

The thing is, having a National ID wouldn't stop them. It would merely delay the suicidal.

Last time I voted in WA, I used the local Registered Voter card... and 'forgot' my DL... but I've got mail!

Before the law I mentioned passed by Governor Bush, that's all you needed to prove you were a resident of the State to get a driving license. An illegal person could send mail to himself, perhaps using a buddy's residence to receive it, and then just hand that over. They were given a license no questions asked...(well, other than exam questions, available in Spanish!).

Pretty depressing how similar the idiots are on all sides...

POTR, I disagree.

But that's another matter.

Going to vote in the Florida Primary soon. Having no Costco card, I intend on taking NOTHING to prove who I am

I showed them my old University ID and voter's registration card (a little piece of cardboard with name & address, not a proper ID like it is in other countries).

The poll worker manning the tables actually questioned me, asking her superior if that's allowed -- which is GOOD! As the ex-Clerk, I want to see them doing their job.

Voter turn out is decent in the precinct, I was told. There are 5 crucial ballot iniatives, like voting "yes" or "no" to the expansion of gambling in Miami-Dade County, so it's not just all primary voting.

...although to my astonishment, the Dade Co. ballot includes candidates LONG since gone, like Tom Tancredo (if you're a registered Republican), Bill Richardson (if you're a registered Democrat), etc. Ridiculous.

I just had another jacket potato

Translation for North Americans: Baked Potato. Mmmm.

(Now you know why sometimes I translate words in my posts)

(You're on your own with ppppick up a Penguin!)

EDIT: Okay, okay. Let me butt in help once more.

BISCUIT (UK) COOKIE (USA)

BISCUIT (USA) SCONE (UK) -- only American biscuits are salty not sugary

2Tbspoons of my own production olive oil

Nice.

My boyfriend's family make their own wine every year, in the traditional Italian style. Anyone else here make their own wine, sausages, etc?

ps. I call Godwins.

Actually, I mentioned Nazi Germany first.

But you mentioned Dubya before that, and everyone knows that's the new internet Godwin Law.

Going to vote in the Florida Primary soon. Having no Costco card, I intend on taking NOTHING to prove who I am -- and just sign a little piece of paper saying I am who I claim I am. Let voter fraud be damned!

It basically means I am stuck with nothing coming in and about $3500 a month going out...

Oh God, I am so sorry, POTR.

My father suffered a heart attack early last year. It's awful to see him sit there, his intellect and body being sapped. I'm with Freddy in this -- if you need an ear, PM...

@Nightstroker: Thanks for the "translation". And yes, I laughed. It's better than crying.

Psst... wanna buy a vintage Glassh

Your fellow royal, The Watch Prince (not the same guy as on Amazon, BTW) whose forum ID is "TWP".

Please note that when you upgrade to Supporter status, all the collector galleries and contact info is made available to you. But hey, just PM him and take it from there.

@Prince458: Assasi already kindly answered you, but just to say that you don't need one post to upgrade. Why people lurk for months, and then decide to upgrade without a post to their names. It's what RWG gives you, that you are rewarding.

IT IS EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS TO SLEEP WITH THE DARN THING ON....WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!!

Not always, but sometimes I sleep with it on.

I dunno. Maybe I like to hear the tick-tock of the Unitas 6497 lulling me to sleep.

Ahh, I might well have to get better aquainted with Cuban cuisine

Not much call for Cuban cuisine where you are, I imagine.

If you ever get down to Windsor, look up "Latino Greek Restaurant", a stones' throw from the Castle itself.

http://www.latinotaverna.co.uk/cms/index.php?alacartemenu

They serve the best Picadillo and Taramasalata in England (don't ask)...

@Emmzy: Delicious! Rabo encendido?

Is everything alright?

POTR has been very ill. Pneumonia and other "things". It would be nice if we bucked him up somehow...but how?

There used to be some interesting watches that helped keep score. You can find them NOS on ebay every now and again.

I had one, similar to this:

(Dumb gadget, BTW)

Cleobis, Rolex all the way. In my grandparents day, it was also Longines.

Love the Mamas & The Papas.

(One of the few bands of the 60s I can stomach)

I liked how you laid out the Glassh

Disliking a particular government? Not a hope. There isn't a government on the planet I trust to hold that much data benignly.

Maybe you should reread what I posted before.

Perfect. We're 100% in agreement.

After seeing Victoria's photos of this one, I knew I had to get it

YAY, you received it. Looks super-elegant, Demon!

This is a wonderful hobby, isn't it? I love how we inspire one another. And buying each other's watches is just too freaky. One day, you can wear or strap a watch you have seen many times on the Wristchecks!

Hi Deltatahoe.

@SZ1: Just saw it. VERY impressive.

How will this work in Coral Gables? A mate of mines has one of the "true" theater set ups but he has a basement. They work best when you have NO windows, like a real movie theater. Will you have a basement in S. Florida?

There are very few basements in Florida. The bedrock is simply not strong enough as we are a few feet above water.

Americans always seem to have a "Family Room" as part of their middle-class houses. That family room is called a Florida Room here, appropriately enough: a light, airy room which is closest to the veranda/pool.

That's where I intend on having this home theatre. The choice will be up to him, since a closed, dark space is best for sound.

I'm not sure I'll live in Coral Gables when I marry, but I better! I didn't come from Belgravia to end my days in Hialeah.

@HikeUSA: OUTSTANDING! And hey, I have that chaise-longe too!

Considering the photo is a biometric?

Then all IDs are a form of biometric data. In a complex society, identification helps the person, more than it will ever harm them.

I'm not against ID cards per se. I'm against the UK government, with their current record, holding all that data with no opt-out.

Presumably, if a government reached power more to your liking and trust, you would be more amenable? I hope I misunderstood because this reduces your stance into something petty (disliking a particular government), rather than into something philosophical.

ID cards should be opt-in, like passports. In fact, just use passports. We know how well they work, we know what they look like and we know the limits.

Internal passports were used in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. No thanks for me.

That does look rather nice... Are there any Cuban dishes which don't include pork?

Err, yes, they do like their pork for Christmas, but it is by no means their daily staple.

Almost every dish they have is pork-free. My fave of theirs is the palomilla steak (cubed steak), ropa vieja (shredded beef on tomato sauce), and picadillo (ground beef and raisins).

Chicken fajitas are something else I can prepare well (and about the limit to the effort I'm prepared to go to with food preperation )

You have to be careful as I had to be, not to confuse Tex-Mex with pure Mexican food, TeeJay. Fajitas are Tex-Mex. They are not unknown in Mexico, but not part of their cuisine. Sadly.

I love fajitas too!

But I detest in general, those pancakes, the tortilla (which in Cuban and Spaniard-Spanish means omelette).

Just to note, that the pint of cola I had, is still going strong, it wasn't guzzled down in one go

I love Coke...but I also love Pepsi. I'm easy.

It's not the ID cards, it's the centrally stored biometric database.

I have a passport. I don't mind having a passport.

Yes, but National IDs are a form of internal passport. I am against National IDs whether or NOT they have stored biometric data. That just makes them simply beyond the pale.

So the question is, if they didn't have the biometric data, would you be against National IDs?

V, I am reminded when you went to Greece for Christmas, RWG was down. Did you see this Wristcheck?

Only I have mine on the DSN 112! Beauty.