Welcome to the Monoculture

[Zan]

Solution:  "Oliver Cromwell" the council, and get on with things.

Actually, I  would think it might be more effective to "Charles the First" them.   

Ah, yes, poor Old King Chuck.  He laughed at all the wrong jokes, until one day he laughed his head clean off.  He was a freak, and I hear they missed him when he was gone.  But I was referring to the doing, not the do-ee.

[Zan]

OTOH, I do see globalization as something inexorable that will likely transform us into a macro-culture populated with sub and micro-cultures within a relatively homogeneous framework. This isn't something you can fight as you don't stop the tide from coming, unless we want to stop boats, planes, telephones and that pesky internet thingy, so, get used to it.

Call me Canute, I suppose.  I am a crusty fellow, and while I will be the first to admit that life is better now than it was 50 or 100 years ago, there are still some things that I miss, and some "progress" that drive me to swear and shake my cane at random passers-by.

For example, I used to travel to England regularly, back in the 80s and 90s, and I'm absolutely mad about the place.  It bothers me to think that American and British cultures (for example) should influence each other to the point of homogenization, as the very differences are what make me love Britain and the English people so much.  I mean, other than the fact that I find them to be very nice people on the whole, even given their Queen's habit of savagely beating random tourists with that brick-in-a-bag she calls a purse.  Horrible, horrible.

But you're right, I suppose.  There's no stopping progress, and I expect that one day I'll wind up eating bangers and mash purchased from WalMart.  This bothers me for reasons I find hard to explain.

[Zan]

I live in Melbourne.  One of the characteristics of this city is that it is a very diverse place.  On the food front we have a tradition of excellent restaurants of all descriptions.  In fact, unless your restaurant is very good it will not last long here - we don't see why we should pay good money for cr*p when we can just go down the street a few doors and get something fabulous.  This food culture works right out into the suburbs, sure, there are a few sad cases, but but we are spoiled for choice and it is not hard to find something good.  We have benefitted from successive waves of immigrants starting post WWII (we have always had a significant Chinese population since at least the early to mid noneteenth century) with Italians and  Greeks (I believe we have the highest Greek population outside of Athens) followed up by various eatern european people, especially from the Balkans, then the Vietnamese in the late 70s and early 80s, Lebanese and other middle eaastern immigrants in more recent years and latelya significant number of African people especially of late from Sudan.  All these people have added to the mix and expanded out culinary landscape.  Many immigrants become successful business people or enter public life.  until just recently the Mayor of the City of Melbourne (the municipality for the CBD and very close in areas) was a chinese Australian John So.  (there was a rap song written - John So he's our bro)  There are significant groups of Indian, other Asian countries, the Pacific islands and (unfortunately) New Zealand.  

The idea of multi culturalism is simply a way of life here and I cannot conceive of what it would be like to livein a uniform society without all this wonderful diversity.  I don't think we are in any danger soon of "American Imperialism" taking over.  On the contrary, we tend to simply pick the eyes out things and we take and use what we want from your export culture and add our own flavour to it.  Sure, ther is way toomuch CSI on TV.  But that's OK, I don;t watch it.  (I prefer Silent Witness, anyday.)

This is not Utopia, we have our problems.  Lately there have been a few incidents of racial attack against Indian students.  Not all the attacks that have been reported as such were racially based, I admit, but that is not the point.  The average Melbournian has reacted with horror that a few of our number have indulged in this sort of thing.  I am however pleased in a way that even when the attackers were perpetrated by young men from non-caucasian ethinc backgounds, they were not identified assuch, they were simply called young men.  Although this distinction would likely be lost on those thugs, it is a good thing that we can see past such trivia as skin colour etc.

Two things:

1.  I have never had the pleasure of visiting Australia, though it's on my list of things to do before I die.  Melbourne is on my list of places to go, as are a couple of smaller towns old friends of mine have moved to.  Any other cities you'd suggest?

2.  I have precisely zero problem with multiculturism.  One of the few good things about the hideous and wretched desert city I live in is the fact that I can get food from all over the world with a 20 minute drive.  But every passing year has less of these places showing up, and more and more franchizes.  I don't want TGIF, I want Joe Blow's Terrible Thai Palace.

[Jayna]

I agree with the general sentiment about homogenization being Bad. I want  people and regions to retain their uniqueness, their culture and individuality. I, of course, am a byproduct of homogenization myself, being unequal parts American indian, black, and British Islander, and culturally I'm a product of Oregon which is pretty damn near indistinguishable from the culture Everywhere Else in the US although we cling, with retarded pride, to the minute differences that might just make us distinct.

On the subject of hamburgers (I like to make mine with bison) Zan, do not scold me, but after my dentist appointment I was starving so I ate most of a double cheeseburger from Burger King. It was... kind of disgusting. But it was only a dollar! One blinking dollar!

I am kind of thinking of seeing what would happen if I ate only double cheeseburgers for one month.

[Zan]

I am kind of thinking of seeing what would happen if I ate only double cheeseburgers for one month.

NOOOOOOOO!  Do not wreck the hotness!

[Jayna]

I am kind of thinking of seeing what would happen if I ate only double cheeseburgers for one month.

NOOOOOOOO!  Do not wreck the hotness!

I have a feeling that I would end up losing weight, because I would put off eating as much as possible. That thing was gross.

[Zan]

I am kind of thinking of seeing what would happen if I ate only double cheeseburgers for one month.

NOOOOOOOO!  Do not wreck the hotness!

I have a feeling that I would end up losing weight, because I would put off eating as much as possible. That thing was gross.

When I first started the diet, I would have killed for a Jack in the Box Terrible Bacon Cheese Thingie, but now the very idea makes me ill.

[Jayna]

I am kind of thinking of seeing what would happen if I ate only double cheeseburgers for one month.

NOOOOOOOO!  Do not wreck the hotness!

I have a feeling that I would end up losing weight, because I would put off eating as much as possible. That thing was gross.

When I first started the diet, I would have killed for a Jack in the Box Terrible Bacon Cheese Thingie, but now the very idea makes me ill.

Yes! Exactly. I'm not used to this crap... it's all sticky and greasy and vile.

But you see, I consider questionable food a direct and personal challenge to my digestive system, and nothing sounds more questionable than eating nothing but double cheeseburgers for a month!

[Zan]

Try logging that on daily plate, and see what happens.

It will asplode.

[Jayna]

Try logging that on daily plate, and see what happens.

It will asplode.

ooooh good idea!

OK, I looked it up and I could eat three of them a day! THREE.



There is no way I would be able to pack more than two of those vile things into my face per day. Even with tomato on them.

But it would be fascinating to try. FOR SCIENCE!

[Zan]

Try logging that on daily plate, and see what happens.

It will asplode.

ooooh good idea!

OK, I looked it up and I could eat three of them a day! THREE.



There is no way I would be able to pack more than two of those vile things into my face per day. Even with tomato on them.

But it would be fascinating to try. FOR SCIENCE!

YOU'RE MAD, CARSTAIRS!  MAD, I TELL YOU!   

[Jayna]

Try logging that on daily plate, and see what happens.

It will asplode.

ooooh good idea!

OK, I looked it up and I could eat three of them a day! THREE.



There is no way I would be able to pack more than two of those vile things into my face per day. Even with tomato on them.

But it would be fascinating to try. FOR SCIENCE!

YOU'RE MAD, CARSTAIRS!  MAD, I TELL YOU!   

Well... yeah! 

Remember the time I decided to eat only potatoes and dairy for a month, to see if it's true that you can get almost all of your nutrients that way? Or the time I decided to eat only tinned fish, pickled goods, and candy, because I was curious what would happen? (Answer: constipation. Don't try it.)

[Zan]

Wasn't that the time you farted so foully that you made the cab driver retch?

That was a thing of legend.

[Jayna]

Remember the time I decided to eat only potatoes and dairy for a month, to see if it's true that you can get almost all of your nutrients that way?

Wasn't that the time you farted so foully that you made the cab driver retch?

That was a thing of legend.

Little curly-haired girls still can't get a cab around here to this very day. They take off with wheels squealing if they see anyone who resembles me come out of the building.

[Zan]

Remember the time I decided to eat only potatoes and dairy for a month, to see if it's true that you can get almost all of your nutrients that way?

Wasn't that the time you farted so foully that you made the cab driver retch?

That was a thing of legend.

Little curly-haired girls still can't get a cab around here to this very day. They take off with wheels squealing if they see anyone who resembles me come out of the building.

This is why we can't have nice things, Jayna.