World Criminal Court Cites Bush War Criminal

04-05-2003

Just read CJ's post,

"Triumph of a Penal Colony'

Good Stuff!

< just joking CJ

>

i was thinking again about what i have seen in the last two years:

Russia
-Moscow
-St Petersburg

Korea
-Pusan
-Seoul (everything in between - once took a train accross the country)

Thailand
-Bangkok (lived there ONLY because i liked the food. no really! )

Canada
-love BC , Vancouver area.

France-
-Paris (many times)
-Lyon
-Marseilles
-Menton, Cap Martin area (by Italian border) - love that place
-Nice
-Cannes
-Antibes

Monaco - love that place too.

Italy
-Genoa
-Milan
-Pisa
-Rome
-Venice
-everywhere along the Riviera

Spain
-Barcelona

Austria
-Vienna
-Innsbruck
-Salzburg (they said Mozart died before we got there

)

Germany
-Frankfurt
-Berlin (several times)
-Stuttgart
-Regensburg (where the spinchat.de guys are)
-Munich

Netherlands (several times)
-Amsterdam
-Rotterdam
-The Hague (could not find Miloslovich)

Belgium
-Brussels (odd place for EU capital if you ask me)
-Antwerp (bought no diamonds)

Luxembourg
love that place. very cool.

Great Britain
-London

Finland
-Helsinki
-Porvo
-Turku

Sweden
-Stockholm (love that place too)

here is what i think based on what i have seen:

My experience is that most people in Europe think Americans are a bunch of arrogant assholes and high on themselves. Most people reject Americans completely - and Americans tend to think that Brittney Spears topping the pop charts in "Deadcowistan" means they like America. it doesn't. it means they like a song by Brittney Spears.

American culture is not taking over the world in my opinion. American movies and music are everywhere - but that accounts for about 90% of the presence of Global influence culturally. in you are trying to find a pair of Levis in Helsinki, you better pack a lunch.

Most of Europe and presumably, the world as well takes deep pride in their history, in their cultures and their traditions and view the US and the ultimate "anti-culture" which in most peoples opinion, is nothing more than a culture of excess, arrogance and self indulgence.

My opinion has long been that Americans really fail to appreciate their deep disconnection with the rest of the world.

Americans love to talk about the success of the US economy or its military might as a measure of success against other countries. This is sort of flawed because it assumes that other countries have the same attitude about growth and expansion and are trying to compete. its irrelevent if i take pride in being the fastest runner in the world... yet the only runner in the race. It may be true in places like Japan and others - but most people in Europe care more about the quality of their life. for them, it means just taking time to sit, relax, think, read, write or enjoy a park or to sit in the shadow of a 2000 year old cathedral and listen to their walkman. Euro Disney outside of Paris (been there too) is unprofitable for a reason... because its mostly supported by tourists from outside of Europe and people in Europe could largely care less unless its just out of morbid curiosity.

American Music is not any more popular in Europe than European groups. With the exceptions of the mega stars (madonna, Britney spears etc), you will find more European music on all charts. Its easy to lose perspective on that when European and ANY music not in English does not make the US charts and when it does, its assumed to be American... yet in Europe, at any given moment there are top singles in numerous languages.

American films i dont think are popular in the world because they are better written, better acted and better produced. i watch all kinds of foreign films that are really good. there are some very big advantages that we dont think about when looking at international box office sales... that is being able to spend $250,000,000.00 on production and another $50,000,000.00 on marketing combined with unparalleled distribution capabilities.

My honest opinion is that there is no American "imperialism". Just an American impression of imperialism. I mean the American impression of their impact on the world is far greater than the actual impact. That idea is going to fade as well if/when the EU gets its shit together and people finally realize that China is quickly becoming the new America.

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04-05-2003	#1
-= JR =- Guest Posts: n/a	Just read CJ's post, "Triumph of a Penal Colony' Good Stuff! < just joking CJ > i was thinking again about what i have seen in the last two years: Russia -Moscow -St Petersburg Korea -Pusan -Seoul (everything in between - once took a train accross the country) Thailand -Bangkok (lived there ONLY because i liked the food. no really! ) Canada -love BC , Vancouver area. France- -Paris (many times) -Lyon -Marseilles -Menton, Cap Martin area (by Italian border) - love that place -Nice -Cannes -Antibes Monaco - love that place too. Italy -Genoa -Milan -Pisa -Rome -Venice -everywhere along the Riviera Spain -Barcelona Austria -Vienna -Innsbruck -Salzburg (they said Mozart died before we got there ) Germany -Frankfurt -Berlin (several times) -Stuttgart -Regensburg (where the spinchat.de guys are) -Munich Netherlands (several times) -Amsterdam -Rotterdam -The Hague (could not find Miloslovich) Belgium -Brussels (odd place for EU capital if you ask me) -Antwerp (bought no diamonds) Luxembourg love that place. very cool. Great Britain -London Finland -Helsinki -Porvo -Turku Sweden -Stockholm (love that place too) here is what i think based on what i have seen: My experience is that most people in Europe think Americans are a bunch of arrogant assholes and high on themselves. Most people reject Americans completely - and Americans tend to think that Brittney Spears topping the pop charts in "Deadcowistan" means they like America. it doesn't. it means they like a song by Brittney Spears. American culture is not taking over the world in my opinion. American movies and music are everywhere - but that accounts for about 90% of the presence of Global influence culturally. in you are trying to find a pair of Levis in Helsinki, you better pack a lunch. Most of Europe and presumably, the world as well takes deep pride in their history, in their cultures and their traditions and view the US and the ultimate "anti-culture" which in most peoples opinion, is nothing more than a culture of excess, arrogance and self indulgence. My opinion has long been that Americans really fail to appreciate their deep disconnection with the rest of the world. Americans love to talk about the success of the US economy or its military might as a measure of success against other countries. This is sort of flawed because it assumes that other countries have the same attitude about growth and expansion and are trying to compete. its irrelevent if i take pride in being the fastest runner in the world... yet the only runner in the race. It may be true in places like Japan and others - but most people in Europe care more about the quality of their life. for them, it means just taking time to sit, relax, think, read, write or enjoy a park or to sit in the shadow of a 2000 year old cathedral and listen to their walkman. Euro Disney outside of Paris (been there too) is unprofitable for a reason... because its mostly supported by tourists from outside of Europe and people in Europe could largely care less unless its just out of morbid curiosity. American Music is not any more popular in Europe than European groups. With the exceptions of the mega stars (madonna, Britney spears etc), you will find more European music on all charts. Its easy to lose perspective on that when European and ANY music not in English does not make the US charts and when it does, its assumed to be American... yet in Europe, at any given moment there are top singles in numerous languages. American films i dont think are popular in the world because they are better written, better acted and better produced. i watch all kinds of foreign films that are really good. there are some very big advantages that we dont think about when looking at international box office sales... that is being able to spend $250,000,000.00 on production and another $50,000,000.00 on marketing combined with unparalleled distribution capabilities. My honest opinion is that there is no American "imperialism". Just an American impression of imperialism. I mean the American impression of their impact on the world is far greater than the actual impact. That idea is going to fade as well if/when the EU gets its shit together and people finally realize that China is quickly becoming the new America.