HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: muchow@zebo.network.com (Jim Muchow)
Subject: Sweet Nothings from Finland ( was Re: More Women Than...)
Organization: Network Systems Corporation
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 18:04:17 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.043014.8806@nntp.hut.fi> jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala) writes:
>
>For some reason I think your comment tells more about USA than Japan.
>

I really tried to read something deep and pithy in your comment. I really
wanted to acquire a bit of that deeper understanding of my native land 
that you seem to have. I tried and tried and all I came up with:

For some reason, I think your comment is pointless bit of rhetoric that
says little and means less. 

Is this the best you can come up on your own when you're not re-posting
articles from other newsgroups? 

Jim Muchow - sheesh

Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,alt.tv.simpsons
From: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Subject: Re: The Simpsons in U.S. culture?
Reply-To: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 15:55:35 GMT

In article <1992Nov15.220938.27567@mksol.dseg.ti.com>, ctalbott@mksol (christopher j talbott) writes:
>I think the actual reference was from the State of the Union address, where
>George said something to the effect of "the American family needs to be more
>like 'The Waltons' than 'The Simpsons'."  The Simpsons are a part of American
>culture, but more because they're controversial (the sort of thing that
>bored Michigan housewives write mean letters to sponsors about).  Personally,
>I think the average American boy is a LOT more like Bart than John-Boy.

What is "The Waltons"?  Another TV series?  (oops, I don't remember
what the Simpsons' neighbour is named and am exposing my ignorance if
it's them).  Perhaps you could describe what "The Waltons" are like.

>|> Here the series was recently moved to 5 pm on Saturday afternoon, just
>|> after Star Trek - a silly thing to do in my opinion.  The TV channel
>|> might have a strange concept of the target groups of both Star Trek
>|> and Simpsons, I dunno.
>
>Hey!  I watch both shows religiously!  In fact, most of the people I know
>who watch Star Trek are ALSO Simpsons fans (or convert rapidly).  To me, 
>they are both FICTIONAL universes (yes, that's right, I'm saying that
>SPRINGFIELD IS NOWHERE!) that provide an escape from the merciless barrage
>of gritty, reality-based TV, or of TV that's quirky just to be quirky.
>The Simpsons strike a chord because they take situations that happen in
>every day life and push it juuuuuust a bit farther than real-life gets.

Yes.  What I was saying to be a silly thing was the timing - earlier
the Simpsons was on Monday evening at 8 pm.  I think that was a better
time.  The 5 pm (with Star Trek just before at 4.30 pm) seems to hint
that they might be targetting the shows to children.

>I would imagine that the President-Elect probably does not watch the Simpsons.
>I would imagine that ANY President-Elect would support police forces, since
>the Executive Branch of the US Goverment is the part that ENFORCES laws.

yes, well I remember hearing something about a hundred thousand new
police officers or something like that (said by Clinton) and the
Simpsons episode with Bart as a school "narc" brought that into my
mind.  (I thought "narc" meant just a drug policeman, but apparently
the meaning is wider as Bart was the generic school cop, searching
lockers, arresting violent people and all).

//Jyrki
Organization: Wirtschaftsuniversitaet Wien, Vienna, Austria
Date: Wednesday, 18 Nov 1992 13:46:04 CET
From: <8325822@awiwuw11.wu-wien.ac.at>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Foreign TV Shows

I must agree with Adam, I am an American student living in Austria and
I have the opportunity to see programs from all over Europe. The one
problem I have with Austrian/German television is that predominately
all the movies are american and many television shows.  But I have
also had the pleasure of viewing programs from eastern Europe, mainly Poland
Czechoslovakia and former East Germany and even from the former Soviet Union.
These programs and others have given me the opportunity to look beyond
what I read in the American newspapers about foreign nations, but to see
how they view themselves, but also see great city life in Prague, Warsaw
and even St. Petersburg.

Jeanette Jones
From: bmook1@cc.swarthmore.edu (Barry Mook)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Dutch Newspapers?
Date: 19 Nov 92 20:04:22 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Swarthmore


Hi everyone,

	I'm a dutch student who's attending swarthmore college for a couple of
years and I must say that I am slightly disappointed at the fact that there
are very few dutch here.  The school library does not subscribe to a dutch
newspaper and I therefore find myself very isolated from my home country. 
Does anyone know a way in which I could come in contact with a newspaper
distributor here in the states (that way the price would be a little more
attractive)? I live in the Philadelphia area, so, naturally, the closer the
better.

	You can contact me by sending me an e-mail (bmook1@cc.swarthmmore.edu) or
sending me a letter: Barry Mook 96, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
19081.  I do look at the network frequently so putting it up on the board
will be fine as well,,,, thanks!

Barry Mook!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
From: mwirth@neumann.une.edu.au (Michael Wirth)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Mail Order catalogs
Date: 18 Nov 92 08:02:25 GMT

This may be a rather strange question, but I don't know which other news
group could handle it. I'm trying to get hold of a J.Crew Clothing catalog,
and J.Crew don't send catalog overseas, I was wondering if anyone out there
could help? 
Thanks

All replies to michael@is3000.bmr.gov.au

Michael Wirth

Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,alt.tv.simpsons
From: rcharbon@athena.mit.edu (Ray Charbonneau)
Subject: Re: The Simpsons in U.S. culture?
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 13:00:07 GMT

The newly elected president has so far been intelligent enough to avoid arguments
with fictional characters, a marked failing of the previous administration.

-- 
Ray Charbonneau              | The fifth dentist makes all the money.
rcharbon@athena.mit.edu      |             -- me
MIT and the Library Systems Office are glad that I'm posting my opinions
here so that they don't have to listen to them anymore.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,soc.penpals
From: akhanna@hamp.hampshire.edu
Subject: Re: Question on Thanksgiving...
Organization: Hampshire College
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 23:59:17 GMT

It's celebrated all over the United States at the same time.  It's like the
third Thursday or something.  In Canada,(another part of North America), it's
celebrated on a Monday near the beginning of November.In article <1992Nov19.103053.1@lure.latrobe.edu.au>,
miuvdd@lure.latrobe.edu.au writes:
> 
> 
> 
> 	A general question to the world....
> 
> 
> 	Can anyone tell me when Thanksgiving is? Is it celebrated
> 	all over America at the same time?
> 
> 
> 	Thanks,
> 
> 	Morgana
> 	miuvdd@lure.latrobe.edu.au
Xref: sparky soc.culture.usa:8550 alt.tv.simpsons:6527
From: tom@spud.kludge.com (Tom Lemos)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,alt.tv.simpsons
Subject: Re: The Simpsons in U.S. culture?
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 20:51:48 PST
Organization: T.T.L.F.  San Francisco, CA

jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala) writes:

> I like the TV series The Simpsons a lot.  I was wondering how people
> in USA perceive it - what audience is it watched by, do people like
> it, at what time and on what networks is shown, and so on?
> 
  Here in San Francisco, it is on at 8 pm, Thursday nights, and I know
  lots of folks who tape it off the air and watch later. It is on the FOX
  network, with KTVU Channel 2, Oakland/San Francisco being the local
  affiliate here. ( Fox is rumoured to be buying this station for its own
  use ).

Tom@spud.kludge.COM                             Tater Tot Liberation Front
"People should be taught what is, not what should be."    San Francisco,CA
                                         -Lenny Bruce      +1.415.255.8340
From: gaf5@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Gail A. Fullman)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: To the Clinton supporters
Date: 16 Nov 92 13:39:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: ns1.1992Nov16.133921.103527
Organization: Lehigh University

[stuff deleted]
>That arrogant cake-eater was tossed in jail for not paying $1,500,000 dollars
>in taxes over the course of ten years.  During those ten years she did pay
>$350,000,000 in taxes.  I'm sorry but I can't get upset over someone who pays
>350 million in taxes instead of 351 million.  She should have received our
>thanks not a jail sentence.  And the whole purpose of the prosecution, to
>get Rudolph Giuliani (NY district attorney) elected mayor of New York, failed.
>A complete waste in all respects.
>
[stuff deleted]
And our tax dollars are being further wasted.  The whole thing was over power,
not $$.  Anyway, why not a more creative sentence.  Leave her at home to care
for sick hubby;  also, make her take in homeless people, get them started in
life again by providing jobs and getting them set up in new apartments/houses.
-- 

------------------------
|   Gail A. Fullman    |
|   Manager - ADMO     |
|   Ext. 83113         |
------------------------
Date: Thursday, 19 Nov 1992 11:46:27 EST
From: <34AEJ7D@CMUVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Trigger happy or gun crazy?
 <1992Nov15.070850.23148@adobe.com>

In article <1992Nov15.070850.23148@adobe.com>, pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai) says:
>
>In article <1992Nov13.151402.14929@menudo.uh.edu> nagappa@Rosie.UH.EDU writes:
>>Last month a Haloween trick-or-treater was blown away for just stepping
>>into the wrong house.
>
>Of course, it was more than a week before Halloween, but why
>bother with minor details like that?

And why, pray tell, was this individual entering ANY house unbidden?
And what the hell has Hallowe'en got to do with it? Would it be
different at Chinese New Year? Good grief!
From: borden@head-cfa.harvard.edu (Dave Borden)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,alt.politics.clinton,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: To the Clinton supporters
Date: 16 Nov 92 20:49:27 GMT
Reply-To: borden@m5.harvard.edu
Organization: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA,  USA

In article <PTC=0t-@engin.umich.edu> jwh@citi.umich.edu writes:
>In article <1ds7nvINNj3b@morrow.stanford.edu>, silva@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Holly Silva) writes:
>|> 
>|> 	Throwing your money at Head Start programs might however, be
>|> an excellent idea. 
>
>Even though studies have shown that Head Start does not accomplish
>its goals?  Head Start is an example of a well-intentioned program
>which continues to draw money even though it hasn't been shown to
>work.

Well according to Alan Blinder, an economist at Princeton University, the
Head Start program has been tremendously successful.  In an article of his
which was printed in the Princeton Alumni Weekly (entitled "Hard Heads,
Soft Hearts"), he praised the program profusely, and justified it not only
on a humanitarian basis but on an economic basis as well.  Professor Blinder
is extremely well respected, even by those who don't share his Keynesian
views.  I don't know where your information comes from, but until I learn
more, I'm going to listen to Blinder, not Howe.

  - Dave Borden
    borden@m5.harvard.edu
From: petrel@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Foreign TV Shows
Date: 20 Nov 92 00:14:42 -0400
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

In article <1992Nov17.034221.24071@mtu.edu>, aderidde@major.cs.mtu.edu  (Adam DeRidder) writes:
>   I find it interesting that American shows and movies are shown all over the 
> world and yet in America we don't have any foreign shows (excluding the odd 
> British program on Public Broadcasting Stations. 

The main reason:

Why to buy the foreign shows when the American shows are the best? :-)
(the same goes, to some extent, with other arts...)

Even if you buy a foreign film it is likely to be from an English-language
country:

- who would bother to read subtitles? 

- even dubbing is not a good solution -- it costs and people still do not like
 it (this seems to be a characteristic trait of the English-language cultures
 as the same problems face even the most popular French Canadian shows,
 which can hardly get any popularity in the English Canada...)

It seems that even from English-language world the shows are mainly from
UK --- perhaps some snobism and/or inferiority complex for the British
culture. There has not been many Australian shows, despite (or rather
because) of similar histories --- recent colonization by Europeans,
vast land, pioneers, natives etc. UK may offer something US does not
have in excess --- history, aristocracy, refined sense of humor... 


Piotr Trela
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,alt.tv.simpsons
From: irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine)
Subject: Re: Surreal  (Was:The Simpsons in U.S. culture?)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 04:01:51 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.014638.10454@oracle.us.oracle.com> jdonald@us.oracle.com (John R. Donald) writes:
>>Lately i think the series has bordered on the surreal, with the trait
>                                               ^^^^^^^
>>exemplified by each character being thrown into sharp relief in fairly
>>ridiculous circumstances and slapstick, it hasn't lost what I watch it for.
>>
>definitely!  in fact i think they have been a bit schizophrenic lately -
>there seem to be two sorts of shows, and two audiences - one audience likes
>the more bizarre episodes, like Itchy and Scratchy The Movie, and doesn't like
>more subtle episodes, such as the most recent one, as much.  The other 
>audience has opposite tastes.  This is what I gather from recent posts.
>Am I off base here?

No, I agree.

-- 
+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Brent L. Irvine         |These opinions are the opinions of the majority of |
| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | space aliens currently in residence in the USA.   |
+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
From: tleylan@pegasus.com (Tom Leylan)
Subject: Re: To the Clinton supporters
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 03:34:10 GMT

silva@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Holly Silva) writes:

>	Garbage. The IRS works people over _all the time_ for 0.5% errors
>in their tax records, not just the mega-rich. Helmsley had battalions of
>accountants to track this sort of thing and to keep it from happening by
>accident. A jail sentence may be unusual in these circumstances but 
>that is more an indictment of the pampering our white collar criminals 
>receive than a indication of unreasonable treatment. 

Holly:  God forbid the day that anybody uses the actions of the IRS to
justify any behavior.

You wouldn't pay your accountant $10 to track $1 and people who make
millions aren't going to pay somebody $1,000's to go over everything a
dozen times.  The invoices were posted, the tax was paid at what point
do you decide to close the books on years past ?

I think it was around a year ago that Stanford was caught cheating (in
no uncertain terms) on their tax returns... perhaps an example should
have been made to the other "pampered colleges and universities" and
they should have closed the place.

It is a matter of degree and the power's in charge blew it big time with
Helmsley, now your tax dollars go to paying for her upkeep in prison.

tom
From: clamen+@CS.CMU.EDU (Stewart Clamen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Foreign TV Shows
Date: 17 Nov 92 07:56:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.Bxuor0.Lxt.1
Reply-To: clamen+@CS.CMU.EDU
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Originator: clamen@BYRON.SP.CS.CMU.EDU

In article <1992Nov17.034221.24071@mtu.edu> aderidde@major.cs.mtu.edu (Adam DeRidder) writes:

     I find it interesting that American shows and movies are shown
   all over the world and yet in America we don't have any foreign
   shows (excluding the odd British program on Public Broadcasting
   Stations.

Actually, there are a number of Canadian television productions that
appear on US (mostly cable) channels.  But since Americans (actually,
most people) cannot recognize the various Canadian accents, few
Americans probably notice.

I've a list of Canadian TV exports that I am in the process of
updating for 1992-3.  I recently posted it to soc.culture.canada and
rec.arts.tv, if you are interested.

--
Stewart M. Clamen			Internet:    clamen@cs.cmu.edu
School of Computer Science		UUCP: 	     uunet!"clamen@cs.cmu.edu"
Carnegie Mellon University		Phone: 	     +1 412 268 2145
5000 Forbes Avenue			Fax:	     +1 412 681 5739
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3891, USA
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
From: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Subject: Re: The Simpsons in U.S. culture?
Reply-To: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 12:29:10 GMT

In article <Bxto4s.6wG@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, irvine@uxh (Brent Irvine) writes:
>I believe it is shown by FOX stations, but in an area without FOX, 
>sometimes NBC, CBS or ABC affiliates buy and air the shows (I guess
>under the impression that if FOX moves into the area, no more 
>NBC, ABC, CBS airing)

What is the TV station / cable system in USA like?  NBC, CBS and ABC
are the "big networks", what about FOX?  Others?

Do the big stations have a country-wide chain of broadcasting
stations, are they available everywhere?  Are there local broadcasting
stations?

Thanks for the many replies I have seen.

//Jyrki
Xref: sparky soc.culture.usa:8621 soc.penpals:3900
From: jello@quine (Angelo Catovic)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,soc.penpals
Subject: Re: Question on Thanksgiving...
Date: 21 Nov 92 04:11:01 GMT
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]


David Brooks (dbrooks@osf.org) wrote:
: miuvdd@lure.latrobe.edu.au writes:
: >	Can anyone tell me when Thanksgiving is?
: 
: In the U.S., the 4th Thursday in November.  Canadians have a date in
: October.
: 

In Canada, it is the second monday of October.

Angelo Catovic
jello@info.polymtl.ca
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,talk.politics.guns
From: ebstokes@maxwell.crd.ge.com (Ed Stokes)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: southern culture ?
Date: 16 Nov 92 16:43:09 GMT
Organization: GE Corp. Research & Development, Schenectady, NY

I am a displaced southerner, born in NC and lived there 28 years,
but now residing in upstate NY. I visited Nashville last week,
and was really _stricken_ by the cultural differences. It wasn't
my first visit "home", but maybe was the first one where I've
been open to the uniquely southern vibes. Getting into long
friendly conversations with total strangers in restaurants,
airports, etc. just doesn't happen in New York...

Is anyone interested in discussing this topic ? Any displaced
southerners ? Are you homesick ? How do you "fit in" with
your adopted culture ?

Ed Stokes
ebstokes@crd.ge.com
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 14:59:40 EST
From: andy <2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: U.S. BORN NOVEMBER 15, 1777

In article <1992Nov11.205238.2283@cnsvax.uwec.edu>, mcelwre@cnsvax.uwec.edu
says:
>
>
>
>
>
>                      UNITED STATES BORN NOVEMBER 15, 1777
>
>               Most people, including Astrologers, believe that the
>          United States was born on July 4, 1776.  But the Declaration
>          of Independence did NOT create a "union" of any kind.  It
>          created thirteen independent colonies, independent from Great
>          Britain AND INDEPENDENT FROM EACH OTHER.
>
>               What DID create the United States was the signing of the
>          ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.  And this occurred in YORKTOWN,
>          PENNSYLVANIA on NOVEMBER 15, 1777.
>
>               And THAT is the date that must also be used for CORRECT
>          Astrological considerations of the birth of the United
>          States.
>

So does that make the U.S. a Libra?:)


>               NOVEMBER 15TH should be made another NATIONAL HOLIDAY!
>
>
>               UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this
>          IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED.
>

Dream on.

>
>                                   Robert E. McElwaine
>
>
Xref: sparky soc.culture.usa:8543 alt.politics.clinton:17246 alt.politics.bush:13910 alt.politics.perot:5526 talk.politics.misc:60357
From: irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine)
Subject: Re: Question on Thanksgiving...
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 16:47:56 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.023029.17971@u.washington.edu> garrett@rainier.lib.washington.edu (Adam Garrett) writes:
>In article <1992Nov19.103053.1@lure.latrobe.edu.au> miuvdd@lure.latrobe.edu.au writes:
>>
>>	A general question to the world....
>>
>>	Can anyone tell me when Thanksgiving is? Is it celebrated
>>	all over America at the same time?
>>
>>	Thanks,
>>
>>	Morgana
>>	miuvdd@lure.latrobe.edu.au
>
>Thanksgiving in the US is all day November 26th.  I suspect it would be
>very difficult to get the entire US to celebrate it at the same time. 
>Some of the problems would include our 4 timezones and whether some people
>eat the big meal during early afternoon or wait until later in the
>evening.  Does that help?  :-)

You for got the mandatory over-stuffing yourself then all the men
sitting in the living room with their top button on their pants
undone, in a state of semi-stupor watching the Tube.  The women
cleaning all the dishes.

In families with working women or liberated women, this may be
reversed (in which case, all you do is to switch 'men' with
'women' in the above sentance. :) :) :) :)

[In my family, my father and I prepare the Turkey and cook it, my
sister and mother do most of the rest, my father and I set the table up
and my father leads in a prayer before eating the meal]

[We usually eat about 5-6pm Central Time]

[Cleanup is usually left for me and my syster :( ]

[anyone else on how they celebrate T-day?]


>
>-Adam


-- 
+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Brent L. Irvine         |These opinions are the opinions of the majority of |
| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | space aliens currently in residence in the USA.   |
+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
From: thor@daimi.aau.dk (Torsten J|rgensen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Bush's Mom Dies...
Date: 22 Nov 92 11:06:34 GMT
Organization: DAIMI: Computer Science Department, Aarhus University, Denmark

irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine) writes:

>A say day -- Bush's Mom died today of a stroke (she was 91).

>My condolances to all that are affected...

Who is Bush?

----thor



>-- 
>+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
>| Brent L. Irvine         |These opinions are the opinions of the majority of |
>| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | space aliens currently in residence in the USA.   |
>+-------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
Xref: sparky soc.culture.usa:8559 alt.tv.simpsons:6547