Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Happy Independence Day!

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

What's that you say? Not for two more days? Au contraire, my friends. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress resolved Richard Henry Lee's motion "That these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independant states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the british crown and that all political connection between them and the state of great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved." John Adams himself wrote to his wife on the third that: "The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.... It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

For those who may be wondering why July 4 has been celebrated for so long... Two days after the Resolution of Independence, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was approved. So, in other words, July 2 is when we decided to become independent. July 4 is when we actually decided just what words to use in declaring it. :-)

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Pierce: "We're back!"
Winchester: "Yes, like a burp from a bad onion..."
-some episode of M*A*S*H that I happened to see

[This message has been edited by TSN (edited July 02, 1999).]

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

Quick! Who remembers the words to the US anthem?!

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

[This message has been edited by Jeff Raven (edited July 02, 1999).]

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

Every time I see that flag, I think of my Dad. Thanks Jeff!!

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

*puts hand over heart*

Oh, Say can you see,
By the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed,
At the rocket's red gleaming...

Who's broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight,
And the ramparts we watched,
Were so gallantly streaming...

And the rocket's red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof, through the night,
That our flag was still there...

Oh, say does that star spangled,
Banner yet wave?...
O're the Land of the free,
And the home, of the brave.

- Francis Scott Key

*bows* I can sing it, too, if you want.....

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Sex is sacred. Your body is a temple. Anyone need sanctifying? ;)

Posted by Saiyanman Benjita (Member # 122) on :

I can sing it as well. It gives me a little tingly feeling every time, too. God, I love America.

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GGWK chick: I'll leave some pamphlets by the door
Cartman: Great we need some more toilet paper.

Posted by Jaresh Inyo on :

I prefer Frank Drebbin's version of the anthem.

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Josh: I think they're getting to know each other a bit too well, if you catch my drift.
Me: Oh, I agree. I think they're spending too much time together, that is of course, if you catch my drift.
Asher: I think he's *ucking her, and he's cheating on his wife, and he's risking his marriage, and if his wife finds out about it she'll leave him and take their son, and his life will be ruined. If you catch my drift...

Posted by Saleel Majeed on :

*is British*

"God save the queen..."

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________________________________________________
Saleel Majeed
[email protected]
http://www.trekzone.net/
http://www.trekseek.com/

[This message has been edited by Saleel Majeed (edited July 02, 1999).]

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

The Queen is dead. RIP Freddy.

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

*LOL*

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"If the bathwater roars and my ear's underwater. It's a tolerant hum from the core."
--
The Tragically Hip

Posted by Voyager on :

The best part is people in Florida (including me) can do fireworks again, because there is no drought!

It kinda made last year seem a little dull. I just hope it doesn't rain here on the 4th.

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"Destroying an empire to win a battle is no victory, and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat."-Kahless

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

Oh, I hate flagwaving.

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

*ties explosives around Jeff Raven and TSN*

Move one inch and they explode into Red and White.

And BTW, I won't dare do anything to Jubes. CC still has control of some nuke silos that are probably aimed at Toronto.

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I can resist anything.......
Except Temptation

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

We can't nuke Toronto. Ken Griffey works there. Oops, my mistake, he works in Seattle. You guys ever heard of "Shelter in Place"

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WHO ARE YOU

[This message has been edited by Kosh (edited July 02, 1999).]

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

*hits Tahna over the head with a stick o' dynomite*

Hey, this gives me a reason to set off some of these firecrackers!

USA! USA! USA!

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Any holiday that includes backyard barbeques and fireworks is allright in MY book!

Pass the K.C. Masterpiece, please, and have some more pork-and-beans. Don't stand too close to the grill!

--Baloo

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All the wrong people have a good opinion of themselves.
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Okay, yes, I copied-and-pasted it. But only because I didn't know verses 2-4 by heart. I do know the first verse, by heart, and w/ the correct words. Which is more than I can say for most of this country's idio�, er... citizens...

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Pierce: "We're back!"
Winchester: "Yes, like a burp from a bad onion..."
-some episode of M*A*S*H that I happened to see

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Oops. Uh... Just for the record, I'm not calling Jubee an "idio�, er... citizen...". At least she got most of the words right. Most people would sing "Oh, say, can you see, by the... *mumble, mumble, mumble* ...home of the brave!"

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Pierce: "We're back!"
Winchester: "Yes, like a burp from a bad onion..."
-some episode of M*A*S*H that I happened to see

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

I don't celebrate 200 some-odd years of Occupation.

Remember the Trail of Tears, and other such atrocities this Happy Fourth.

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I was right in the middle of a f*cking reptile zoo. And somebody was giving booze to these goddam things."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Posted by Saleel Majeed on :

For all you US citezens out there, click here.

(*still prefers "God Save the Queen"*)

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________________________________________________
Saleel Majeed
[email protected]
http://www.trekzone.net/
http://www.trekseek.com/

[This message has been edited by Saleel Majeed (edited July 03, 1999).]

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

Odd that both of those wav files are at Geocities, who are now stepping on peoples rights.
And while I do celibrate the birth of this country, Cargile has an excellent point, the creation of this country has all but wiped out it's Native culture.

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by Saleel Majeed on :

Kosh, they're midis, not waves

Re: Geocities - yep - get 'em while they're still available.

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________________________________________________
Saleel Majeed
[email protected]
http://www.trekzone.net/
http://www.trekseek.com/

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

*blushes* Oops.

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"Nothing can be altered, there is nothing to decide
No escape, no change of heart, no anyplace to hide
You are all I'll ever want, but this I am denied
Sometimes in my darkest thoughts, I wish I'd never learned
What it is to be in love and have that love returned"

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

Does anyone notice something with my first post?

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

Posted by Jaresh Inyo on :

No, what should we be noticing?

Posted by bryce (Member # 42) on :

Not trying to make light of your remark Cargile, but how can we be sure there were Native Americans before the Native Americans and that they didn't get the culture wiped out too?

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"You can stand me up at the Gates of Hell, but I won't back down."- Tom Petty :-)

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

*LOL cuz no one spotted it*

BTW Cargile, I don't believe in collective grief. I don't take the blame for something people did 200 years before. It is said, true, but I didn't do it, and neither did anyone else alive either, so I don't feel guilty.

GO USA!

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Take it to the flameboard, Paul. I have ancestors from this continent as well as Europe. The fact that not all of the natives were destroyed can be attributed to the fact that eventually all but the most thick-headed idiot could see that genocide was immoral, even if they avoided calling it that.

--Baloo

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I have an unfair advantage.
I have a dictionary and I'm not afraid to use it!
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by Jedi Weyoun (Member # 110) on :

*whines patiently* can we pleeeeease not get into this whole culture annihilation thing? PLEASE? YES--horribl things were done. They were done in the past, though. none of us here today are responsible for those crimes. but EVERYONE...native or not...has the responsibility of promoting a better world for tomorrow. but really...i had a whole semester of a class dealing with native american rights and crimes against them and such...and everyday felt like it was another lecture titled 'you bad white person, look what youv'e done to us'...being one of the most pale anglos i know, i didn't appreciate it too much, and i'm not ready to start listening to it again or start defending myself.

at the same time though, i guess i should just leave the thread if it's something i don't feel like hearing. sorry. nevermind. but really folks.

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"Fear attracts the fearful"
([[[[[[*]}��

Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :

Just reading all these posts here makes me wish it were already July 4th here in Los Angeles. Oh well, I guess I'll just comfort myself by using my telescope and see my neighbor Jeri's rack and buns in the back yard...

Happy Fouth of July Everyone!!!!

Remember: Never mix alcohol and driving

-A message from MADD

[This message has been edited by Michael_T (edited July 04, 1999).]

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

"If I had my way you'd all be shot!"

Another Brick in the Wall part 1
The Wall
Pink Floyd.

Under sever duress I claim utter love and loyalty for my country. Let's eat!

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I was right in the middle of a f*cking reptile zoo. And somebody was giving booze to these goddam things."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

Oh, unhealthy nationalism..

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

Hmm.. and Europe's indigenous inhabitants were originally Neandertal.

And where are THEY now? :P

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"When we turn our back on our principles, we stop being human." -- Janeway, "Equinox"

Posted by Sunspot (Member # 77) on :

Errm....Since when are there 59 states?

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"Just remember...you're the queen!"
Tom Paris to Janeway, "Bride of Chaotica!"

Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :

Since the person who did that flag decided there were.

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http://frankg.dgne.com/
"I could never sleep my way to the top, 'cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up." - TMBG

Posted by Xentrick (Member # 64) on :

You didn't get the memo?

We start adding new states on the 14th.

Posted by Sunspot (Member # 77) on :

You mean July 14th, the supposed start of a terrible war as prophesized by Nostradamus?

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Don't piss me off -- I'm running out of places to hide the bodies.

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

Yep...That's the date.

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

1st of 2: Actually, they just found out that Neanderthals are a whole other species of primates that were separate from the ones that evolved into the humans today, but that's a whole other story.

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"I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women. When I have some, I'll let you know."
--Picard to Data, "In Theory"

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

I suppose it sounds nicer that they were "out-competed" by H. Sapiens rather than wiped out in an unintentional, but nontheless effective program of genocide?

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"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
--Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

[This message has been edited by Baloo (edited July 05, 1999).]

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Woo-hoo! Go Cro-Magnons! Yeah! *L*

And I know ol' Nostradamus predicted bad things for the year 1999 "seven(th) month", but where d'you come up w/ the 14th? Hell, no-one even knows for sure whether he meant July, August, or September! :-)

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Pierce: "We're back!"
Winchester: "Yes, like a burp from a bad onion..."
-some episode of M*A*S*H that I happened to see

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

*L* the one who spotted it, had to be Sunspot...

heheheh...

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

The Neanderthals were actually transported to the future in 3509 by time travelers working for "Save the Neanderthals," a group protecting endangered species. The Neanderthals exists (or will exist) in a natural habitat in Sibera (the climate changes, trust me.)

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I was right in the middle of a gnikcuf reptile zoo. And somebody was giving booze to these goddam things."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

I came up with the 14th.

Posted by Sunspot (Member # 77) on :

*bows for Jeff*

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Don't piss me off -- I'm running out of places to hide the bodies.

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Well, I hearby predict that the destruction will bypass the newly created state of Solonia, where TMBG is played frequently, the air is always fresh, and the children are all above average. (Damn you NPR!)

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"And give me back my evil heart so I can see you as you are."
--
John Linnell

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Well, as soon as Sol stops channelling Garrison Keillor, I think I'll be moving to his new country... :-)

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"Imagine all the people, living life in peace..."
-John Lennon, "Imagine"

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

Often such predictions are of a personal nature. So you may stump your toe on the 14th, but that will not impact the world, like Pakistan nuking New Delhi.

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I was right in the middle of a gnikcuf reptile zoo. And somebody was giving booze to these goddam things."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

Of coarse, if Pakistan DOES nuke New Delhi, remember, you heard it frist from Cargile!

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

The cold war hasn't ended, in fact it's just beginning.. I tell thee.

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

I think we should start a e-mail campaign to the government of Pakistan urging them to launch a nuclear strike against India.

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I was right in the middle of a gnikcuf reptile zoo. And somebody was giving booze to these goddam things."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Yup:
Bonerland
Arsebiscuit
Clitpants
mojowojo
Titmouse
wengerbenger
tightlystrung
wobblycheeks
and the all powerful:
Fartland.

Now, I shall join my fellow UK'ers in throwing up and ignoring this thread for ever.

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"Fool! I am Cher! Admired by millions for my couple of talents."
-The Brain

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

(Looks at Liam, little thing on front of mask opens and closes) (Vorlon Speak) Yes (leaves)

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

D'oh, caught out by the new pages system.

Those are the 9 new US states on that flag...

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"Fool! I am Cher! Admired by millions for my couple of talents."
-The Brain

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH! I see the words to The Evil Song of Violence and Betrayal on this thread!

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Doctor: "Run along. I'll reattach any severed limbs. Just don't misplace them." (Voyager: "The Killing Game")

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

Oh, what a nasty world we live in!

(duh)

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Saleel or anyone: What are the words to "God Save the Queen"? Because I SWEAR that that's the melody to "My Country 'Tis of Thee"...

"My country 'tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty
Of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died.
Land of the pilgrims' pride.
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring."

Maybe they set the American words to that British song.

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"I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women. When I have some, I'll let you know."
--Picard to Data, "In Theory"

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

They did that to a lot of early songs. The "Star Spangled Banner" was set to the tune of a British drinking song.. I know not which.

In the Boy Scouts of America, the Order of the Arrow song is set to the tune of the old Russian Imperial Anthem.

etc, etc.

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"When we turn our back on our principles, we stop being human." -- Janeway, "Equinox"

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

Although the COOLEST american patriotic song I've ever heard is still Metallica's "Don't Tread On Me."

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"When we turn our back on our principles, we stop being human." -- Janeway, "Equinox"

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Well, as long as we're talking about jingoistic melodies, I really liked the tune:

"Bomb, Bomb, Bomb,
Bomb, Bomb Iran!"

that was popular during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. I'm not particularly warlike (though I can be if necessary), but I guess it's because I like the Beachboys' tunes, even if they are just a bit before my time. (I was ~4 or 5 whe the Beachboys first became popular.)

--Baloo

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"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
--David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Yes, "America" was put to the exact music of "God Save the (insert current monarch's geneder-specific title here)". IIRC, the song from which the music of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was taken was called "To Anacreon in Heaven", though I never did bother to find out what an "Anacreon" is...

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"Sometimes you really dig a girl the moment you kiss her,
And then you get distracted by her older sister..."
-The Lovin' Spoonful, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?"

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

You know, the Soviet national anthem is a really good piece of music. It's just the dubious nature of its background that's bad.

The melody of national anthems!!!! : (give me your opinion as well or else I'll look even more like a fool than I already do)

The British one's a bit boring

The American one is a good one

The German one is impressive

The Dutch one is monotonous and repetitive

The French one is good, but a bit too cute (really, believe me)

I heard the Israeli Nat An only once and I remember it made me fall asleep.

I don't even know the Belgian one..

The most awful Jingo song was Fuck Fuck Fuck Saddam Hussein. Anyone know it? I'm sorry about any profanity deemed superfluous by any easily offended members, but that's what the guy sang and it's what I decided to type here.

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

As long as just the melody to Evil Song X is good, I'll be content.

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

[This message has been edited by Elim Garak (edited July 13, 1999).]

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

Okay, let's do some flag waving:

PROUD TO BE DUTCH!
THE NETHERLANDS, THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!

*cough cough* you didn't seriously think I'd mean such bullshit did you?

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Don't knock it, RW. Lots of great stuff (and people) originated in the Netherlands.

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"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
--Benjamin Franklin
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

*notices that Baloo didn't actually give any examples*

j/k :-)

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"I think, therefore I go fast. (Cogito ergo zoom)"
-Frank Gerratana, July 12, 1999

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

***PRETENDS to be a stereotypical American***

Well.. they got 'dem dikes... and windmills... and tulips... and the Hague.. and... um... the Zweederzee 'r sumpthin..

**ends redneck mode**

they've also got credit for Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch (my favorite), Anne Frank, Christian Huygens (think "Saturn"), Mata Hari, Jean Leuwenhock (which I probably spelled wrong), Spinoza, VanGogh, The guy who discovered Tasmania, and a bunch of other folks.

Of course, any country which can produce a ship designer like RW has at least one thing going for it.

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"When we turn our back on our principles, we stop being human." -- Janeway, "Equinox"

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Actually, God Save the Queen is dull, and also falls down on
1/ A lot of people not believing in God
2/ A lot of people not believing in having a Queen.

Both Pomp & Cirmumstance no 1 (Land of Hope and Glory) and Rule Britannia are far better songs. P&C 1 is more moving, and emotional, and Rule Britannia has much more energy.

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"Fool! I am Cher! Admired by millions for my couple of talents."
-The Brain

Posted by HMS White Star (Member # 174) on :

Actually the US has more windmills than Netherlands

To First of Two: the Order of the Arrow has an Anthem, really, wow, I didn't know that. I never been in the order but I do know a few people who got kicked out .

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HMS White Star (your local friendly agent of Chaos:-) )

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

What is the "Order of the Arrow"?
The vast majority of windmills in America are the "Grapes-of-Wrath" oversized-fan-on-metal-stilts or the high-tech power-generation kind.

Which reminds me to ask: RW, are windmills still in common use in the Netherlands? If so, are they mainly tourist attractions, power generation, or what?

If windmills were a reliable source of energy prior to the invention of electricity, I can imagine that there must be one or more wind farms in the Netherlands.

--Baloo

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"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
--Benjamin Franklin
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

Always wondered where Dikes came from, originally.

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WHO ARE YOU

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

*likes the fable of the boy who stuck his finger in a hole in a dike in order to save the village*

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by The First One (Member # 35) on :

Oh, God, make that mental image go away. . . �)

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

ROFLMAO!!!!!

It's a good thing I'm in a corner by myself here at work!

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WHO ARE YOU?

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

Uhm... You wouldn't happen to be laughing at the fable, would you? *confused*

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

Egads! What have I done?

You sick, sick people!

I meant the the dry bank-like thing!

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

Phew, let me address everything in steps:

-Christiaan Huygens is with double a!

-Technically, Anne Frank was German!

-Jean Leuwenhock? Do you mean Antonie van Leeuwenhoek?

(ahn-tow-nee vahn lay-wun-hook)

-Van Gogh. Seperate. With guttural g's. Which I won't ask you to pronounce.

-the guy who discovered Tasmania was, not surprisingly, cold Abel Tasman.

-Windmills: They're now mostly converted to houses, part of national heritage, and/or tourist attractions. The majority was used to grind about everything looking remotely like grain. So, mostly bread industry, not power industry. The famous ones were used to pump water from lakes in the province of (then) Holland. The land thus gained is called polder. Yes, they're protected by dikes. Dykes. Whatever. Sometimes whole rows of them were used if the water had to be transported higher up than normal. Pretty good work for the 17th century.
There are some (generator) windmills (the ugly metal high ones) but they're not very common. The Netherlands being such a plain country, one would expect more, but it all has to do, I guess, with the abundant supply of methane gas as an energy source (and a relatively environment-friendly one at that too)

Dikes were originally built not along rivers, but at a 90 degree angle to stop the water flooding too far across the low grounds. Later techniques made it possible to construct the dikes as we know them today. The only problem I know of is once in a while, people drive off of them and roll over until they hit a cow. But hey, that's the price we pay. Reminds me, it's been almost four years since we were evacuated because of high water levels. I remember it even made it to CNN. The poor guy had to pronounce "the town of Ochten" and he did so quite admirably, I remember. I also have some vivid memories of the weird Japanese reporter screaming at the camera making strange gestures at the camera, trying to explain to the Japanese what was about to happen. And I laughed at the Americans who thought the entire country was about to flood :]

-Who invented the Hansje Brinker legend anyway? I believe it's purely American, it certainly isn't told here. Hm.

Reminds me of one awful thing the Dutch did. They caused the horror of Santa Claus.

Posted by HMS White Star (Member # 174) on :

to Baloo: The Order of the Arrow is an organization in the Boy Scouts of America that is for the best and brightest (I guess I was never nommindeed to the organization), they have sort of secret histroy (at lest that what the folks in my troop told me) and I didn't know much about them. Of course later I learned that the biggest thing the Order did was go to the 5 week of Kia Kema (the local summer camp owned by the Chickasaw council) and clean up the camp. I really didn't get many details about them, but it sounded alright.

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HMS White Star (your local friendly agent of Chaos:-) )

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

RW: more history (sorta).

Is "Holland" a name used by the people there, or applied to it by foreigners.
You implied that "Holland" is an obsolete term. When did this change, why and how?

Thanks.

--Baloo

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"Someday your ship will come in...and you'll be at the airport "
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

If I remember my geography correctly, "Holland" is the name of two western provinces (appropriately named "North Holland" and "South Holland") along the coast. To my knowledge, the natives call their country "Nederland", but I could be wrong...

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"I think, therefore I go fast. (Cogito ergo zoom)"
-Frank Gerratana, July 12, 1999

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

I always thought it was Nederlands...

Ooh, the Order of the Arrow is similar to the Order of the Bat'leth.

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by HMS White Star (Member # 174) on :

to Elim: "Order of the Bat'leth", Huh, I don't get it, please explain.

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HMS White Star (your local friendly agent of Chaos:-) )

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

The Order of the Bat'leth was the most elite of all Klingons in DS9's "Apocalypse Rising". All they did was do very little, and get inducted.

Sounds similar to the Order of the Arrow.

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

The current provinces of South and North Holland, or, in Dutch terms, Zuid- and Noord-Holland, are roughly the area formerly called Holland. This was the richest of the 7 provinces united, (I believe, but history isn't as important here as in the US) in 1579 (union of Utrecht against the Spanish) and it is from Holland the merchant ships sailed and innocent people were oppressed in colonies, a practice which didn't stop until 1975 with the independence of Suriname. (yes, we still have the antilles but at least we don't extort them anymore) (Currently there are 12 provinces, one of which is completely artificial)

The Dutch refer to themselves as Nederlander (plural Nederlanders) and to The Netherlands as Nederland. The language is called Nederlands. Holland is used mainly on trucks and containers and such (the poor people in Panama or something wouldn't know where the ship that says "Nederland" comes from :]) and it's also used sentimentally, or in a flippant way. Only rarely is Nederland called by the plural name "de Nederlanden" (this is mostly done in official documents, like on passports, and in titles like "Beatrix, koningin der Nederlanden" which, of course, means "Beatrix, queen of the Netherlands) And no, Beatrix is not at all a common name here, before you ask. But neither is my name. Or my last name, which is very rare indeed (if I meet another Warrink, I can be dead certain he's related to me)

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Well, whaddaya know... I was right! *L*

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"We both said 'I really love you.' The Shriners loaned us cars. We raced up and down the sidewalk twenty thousand million times."
-They Might Be Giants, "She's an Angel"

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

TSN, amazing!

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

My online character was inducted into the Order of the Bat'leth.... *L*

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I'm you're only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really i'm not actually a friend, but I am.

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

RW, I am from Batavia, and the local museum is called the "Holland Land Office" because of its Dutch entrepreneurs who was given the surrounding land to develop it. I heard that "Batavia" comes from Batavi, which is Dutch. Care to give me some more info on the origins of "Batavi"?

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"I do whatever the voice of Charles Capps tells me to do."

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

Jubilee McGann, elite Klingon warrior. Grrrr!

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")