Never got the hang of French...
Things you're shocked people don't know
- Thread starter Jadzia
- Start date
Never got the hang of French...
Basic finance, ie. living within one's means.
People who cannot tell the time using an analog clock.
How the Electoral College works and why the Founding Fathers created it.
That original purpose of cable television was for the people who live in the remote parts of Appalachia.
Adam and Eve never ate an apple. There is no mention of an apple in the Bible -- that particular fruit was chosen by John Milton in his novel Paradise Lost. It's funny when hard-core religious people want to argue that Adam and Eve *did* eat an apple.
People who cannot tell the time using an analog clock.
How the Electoral College works and why the Founding Fathers created it.
That original purpose of cable television was for the people who live in the remote parts of Appalachia.
Adam and Eve never ate an apple. There is no mention of an apple in the Bible -- that particular fruit was chosen by John Milton in his novel Paradise Lost. It's funny when hard-core religious people want to argue that Adam and Eve *did* eat an apple.
I can speak three, English, mangled French and my own, German. I also learned Latin at school and can read it to a degree (on the difficulty level of Caesar) but of course, you don't learn to actually speak it.
Well, at least in the case of your language barrier, I'd suggest getting together with speakers of the language and get slightly drunk. That's how I overcame my language barrier with French. I was pretty good at writing and reading but not very good at speaking because I'd worry about all the grammatical details. Then, one night, I got to chat with some students from Cameroon and suddenly my French just flowed because I didn't worry about making mistakes, anymore.
And as long as you don't sound like this guy when giving speeches in foreign languages, you're ok.
[ETA: ^Yes, slightly tipsy is the way to go when trying to speak a 'second' language the first many times 
]
But seriously: The difference between an explosion and an implosion, how to count money (the four of these equals one of those stuff), how to sit in a tailor's position (aka cross-legged), how to ride a bike, how to use fireworks safely, how to read (nevermind write) cursive, how to cook a simple meal, how to follow instructions drawn(!) for dummies (i.e. assemble IKEA furniture)...
And, while it has been mentioned in this thread it still bears repetition: how to search the web for something!
]
But seriously: The difference between an explosion and an implosion, how to count money (the four of these equals one of those stuff), how to sit in a tailor's position (aka cross-legged), how to ride a bike, how to use fireworks safely, how to read (nevermind write) cursive, how to cook a simple meal, how to follow instructions drawn(!) for dummies (i.e. assemble IKEA furniture)...
And, while it has been mentioned in this thread it still bears repetition: how to search the web for something!
People who don't know how to tie shoelaces. I was beaten as a small child until I showed I had learnt how to do such things for myself. 
That horses are not allowed on the motorway. Get off the bloody motorway!! 
One thing that stuck out for me during this Toyota recall thing is the amount of people that don't understand how their car works and that the news had to explain to people driving a car with manual transmission how to stop. I mean, you push in the clutch and you knock the car out of gear, that way it doesn't matter if the accelerator is stuck because the engine is no longer powering the wheels. Why does this need to be explained to people? They have to do this every time they stop their car.
One thing that stuck out for me during this Toyota recall thing is the amount of people that don't understand how their car works and that the news had to explain to people driving a car with manual transmission how to stop. I mean, you push in the clutch and you knock the car out of gear, that way it doesn't matter if the accelerator is stuck because the engine is no longer powering the wheels. Why does this need to be explained to people? They have to do this every time they stop their car.
That there are viable alternatives to IE and Firefox.
How right you are. Of course, even mentioning something likes this to most will get you burned at the stake for being unpatriotic.
I would also like to include fission and fusion. Most people I talk to have no idea which is which.
You would think, with all the atom bomb hysteria in the 50's and 60's, that folks would have a better understanding of basic nuclear reactions.
How right you are. Of course, even mentioning something likes this to most will get you burned at the stake for being unpatriotic.
I would also like to include fission and fusion. Most people I talk to have no idea which is which.
No, not really...
Heck, most people don't even know how an engine works, so why would they understand that?!?
That pork isn't kosher.
People mistakenly believe that the US Government has a special account tied to their SSN where their SS deductions are deposited for withdrawal when they retire.
These same people will vehemently argue that there is no way in hell the average SS retiree gets back *every single penny* that was deducted from their lifetime of work within the first three years of drawing benefits.
These same people will vehemently argue that there is no way in hell the average SS retiree gets back *every single penny* that was deducted from their lifetime of work within the first three years of drawing benefits.
Paradise Lost is not a novel, it's a poem.
And it was written in the 17th century, which means that Milton had nothing to do with that apple business. Early Christians thought that the forbidden fruit was an apple, probably because the Latin word malum means both "apple" and "evil".
Thespeckledkiwi
Vice Admiral
Why the Mexican-American War began.../facepalm
Don't forget Lance!
Don't get me started...
All the little darlings raised on "self esteem" that think they know everything and don't have to learn/listen to a teacher because they will be successful just because they are terrific, everybody says so.
We need to go back to teaching pride in an accomplishment and, at least a degree of, shame in messing up. But not that if you don't win first/gold/it all you are a Looosssseeerrr!
It's how you deal with defeat that makes you a real winner or looser.
All the little darlings raised on "self esteem" that think they know everything and don't have to learn/listen to a teacher because they will be successful just because they are terrific, everybody says so.
We need to go back to teaching pride in an accomplishment and, at least a degree of, shame in messing up. But not that if you don't win first/gold/it all you are a Looosssseeerrr!
It's how you deal with defeat that makes you a real winner or looser.
No.. Not really. It's one of US' more obscure wars.
Perhaps this is American egocentrism, but I'm always surprised by how many people up here in Canada don't know how many US states there are. 50 is such a round and easy number to remember. Where they come up with 51 and 52, I have no idea.
And then, it surprises me how many people in Canada don't know how may provinces and territories their own country has!
And then, it surprises me how many people in Canada don't know how may provinces and territories their own country has!
