Re: After Effects

[Lav�nia Albuquerque] "...but as you don't know nothing about History even from your countries, i will teach you."

Lavinia,

Please lighten up. I know plenty of Europeans, Asians and others who would not care to compete with this American on the subjects of world history and geography. I am a VORACIOUS reader and love to learn about disparate cultures. I regularly surprise tourists who come here to visit, when I hear them talking and can tell them from their accent not only the nation they're from but often the area/district and dialect they are speaking. Sure, I get skunked some times but I get it right as often as not. My wife, Kathlyn, would tell you that many of them are amazed as they too think all Americans are as stupid as the propaganda that the media feeds them -- just as we are sold a mountain of crap here by our own media. Don't believe everything you hear on television about all Americans being idiots. Sure, we have our idiots but I have little doubt that the same holds true in every country and culture around the world.

That said, Dave was joking with you.

With my last name, Lindeboom, I get plenty of heckles and comments over the years. In my family's homeland of the Friesland in the Netherlands, it is an honorable name. Here in the USA, it is a funny name and people regularly make fun or comment on it. I can live with that, as it is also an unforgettable name and once people hear it they rarely forget it. I have used that to my advantage over the years.

One of humanity's greatest attributes is its ability to laugh at itself. Too much of the world's ills can be laid at the feet of the fact that we take ourselves far too seriously than the facts usually justify.

Besides, we like Bugs Bunny here at Creative COW. Welcome to the COW and to a crazy bunch -- some of us are even crazier than others. ;o)

Best regards,

Ron Lindeboom

Remember: Burt Bacharach lied. What the world really needs now is an undo button.