early start

I got to work early today so that I could work more in communion with some of our English counterparts. I called them at about 6:15.

Me: Good morning Tony.
Tony (UK): Well good morning Mike. What are you doing there so early? What time is it there 6:15? Can’t you sleep? what’s wrong with you? Well done. Keep up the good work.

28 thoughts on “early start

  • 7/12/2005 at 6:56 am
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    So is Tony your boss who is on a trip to the UK? Or is he just the European Counterpart to your American Boss? And does he wear a bowler hat?

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  • 7/12/2005 at 6:59 am
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    he’s just one of our European Counterparts. And I’m sure that he wears a bowler hat. He’s english. don’t they all wear bowler hats?

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  • 7/12/2005 at 7:24 am
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    I have to talk with our Scottish people all the time. They’re all pretty awesome, even if there are an inordinant number of Sineads.

    Also, bowler hats or pith helmets.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 7:28 am
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    But MikeD, the real question is, does he wear a leather jacket, carry is stuff in a pull along suitcase, and carry an inordinate amount of pills in his pocket that alert you to his entrance? Because we definitely had a boss in England like that once….

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  • 7/12/2005 at 7:33 am
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    Oh…you guys were over in London for a bit weren’t you…. Do they all have unsightly bad teeth?

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  • 7/12/2005 at 8:00 am
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    When I was in France I had my friend back home mail me floss because the French don’t use it unless specifically perscribed by their dentist. The French have bad teeth like the English, only no one notices because they don’t smile as much.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 8:34 am
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    That made me LOL. Hey, I actually updated my blog. Am off to Montana today, and plan on writing a few movie reviews. See you soon!

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  • 7/12/2005 at 8:43 am
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    I wish I had a cool accent.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 9:10 am
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    I wish you would answer some questions.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 9:43 am
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    I wish you’d get a blog, kurt.

    I wish Sander would post a new rant, hahaha.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 9:43 am
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    In a few months, we’re having 7 people from our team go to Italy, which is 9 hours difference. In order to effectively communicate, I was told at a meeting yesterday that we’d have to start altering our work schedule here in Seattle, which means a few days a week, we need to be here at 5am.

    Oh, and the guy who sits next to me is a Brit. No pith helmet.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 9:50 am
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    Does anyone know why another nickname for Brittish Folks is Limey? In the James Bond Novels I read, they always refer to 007 as “that Limey”. It only seems that the American Gangsters call him that. I mean, its not like the National export of the United Kingdom is anything remotely close to Citrus Fruit. Any help would be great.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 10:06 am
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    I believe “limey” makes reference to British sailors who ate lots of citrus while on ship to prevent scurvy. Somehow the sailor origin morphed to include all those of British decent. Sounds like bull, I know, but I think that’s true.

    I’m trying to replace McQuaid.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 10:51 am
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    If I were a sailor, I would eat oranges as my citrus rather than limes or lemons. Did the Brits eat more limes than oranges? Is that why we don’t call them orangey?

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  • 7/12/2005 at 11:03 am
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    I believe the reason they used limes were the following:

    Limes are easier to grow in non-tropical climes.

    Limes tend to keep better over time.

    As is common knowledge, nothing rhymes with orange, thus prohibiting the composition of charming sea-shanties.

    Also, the concept of “Limey” as a slur is discussed in this classic piece of literature:
    http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2003/08/18rashomon.html

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  • 7/12/2005 at 12:17 pm
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    I was always told by my (very british) mother and grandparents that it was a slur referring to the sailers eating limes to ward off scurvy. Probably created by the bloody french, according to my grandfather. I doubt the last part.

    Oh, and none of them wore any sort of funny hat.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 1:27 pm
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    Thanks everyone. Now, does anyone know what the Major Export of the United Kingdom is?

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  • 7/12/2005 at 3:00 pm
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    Yeah Limeys, to ward of scurvy, soliders would eat lemons.
    I have yet to meet a single person over here wearing a bowler hat, go figure.
    Major export of the UK, hmmm, no idea.

    Here is something to interest you MikeD, American Cadburys chocolate SUCKS, you need the real stuff made with REAL milk, not powerded stuff that you guys get. And believe me, Hersheys does not compare in any way, shape, or form!

    Marian (I live in England btw) :D

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  • 7/12/2005 at 3:50 pm
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    Witty television comedies like “Keeping up Appearances” and “Fawlty Towers?”

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  • 7/12/2005 at 4:10 pm
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    According to the 2003 World Almanac, metals and metal-using industries contribute more than 50% of exports. So basically, a lot of those pith helmets.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 4:12 pm
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    Aaron and Ben, thanks for the info about the limes.

    I wish Cadbury chocolate were the #1 export, more than all the metal products. Yum.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 5:05 pm
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    Pith helmets are metal?

    I always thought they were from the skins of pith animals, which you would hunt on safari.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 8:27 pm
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    I thought the Pith Helmets were made from the white stuff on a citrus fruit you don’t eat. You know…not the zest, and not the fruit, but the Pith. It seems after eating all those limes they would have plenty of it.

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  • 7/12/2005 at 9:44 pm
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    If they made hats out of the lime parts betweeen the zest and the fruit and wore them, that would be reason enough for their nickname.

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  • 7/13/2005 at 6:41 am
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    Actually, pith helmets are made of cork and cloth.

    See? I need an answer column too.

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