The United States (Southern end)

[Beowulf]

Beowulf, if I ever end up to Arizona, what piece of food is a must there?!

All the best
Jukka

Jukka,

We're not exactly famous for our excellence in gastronomical delights but well, you might like trying our mesquite grilled steaks. Those mesquite fires really make the steaks deeelicious.

There was a place called Reata Pass, was actually there in the 1800s, I guess they are currently out of business, Greasewood flats doing the same, just up the road ( http://www.greasewoodflat.net/).

They have a huge long metal barrel cut in half and standing up on metal legs.
In it they pile a huge amount of mesquite wood, run the fire hot and on top is a metal grill going the whole length. They throw the T-bones on there and mmmmm, really, they are fantastic. There is a certain different flavor to mesquite broiling.

They serve them kind of in a cowboy setting, with a live country band on picnic tables set with red and white tablecloths, you get cowboy beans, corn on the cob, beer. People dance to the music, a lot of real cowboys and cowgirls go there. Just fun.

All under a huge starry desert sky, with saguros and sagebrush about, it's out in the desert. The scent of the desert is quite intoxicating, by the way, and seriously the stars overhead are lovely. Believe me, the coyotes smell those steaks for miles and come round the dumpsters after everyone has gone home, get away lil doggie...

Kinda fun. http://www.reatapass.net/

The Mexican food is hit and miss, a lot of not so good but don't miss that, either, if you come here. My fav place is Macayo's in Tempe, been there a while, I love their tacos, and although I'm not a beer drinker I love to have a Corona with lime with dinner. Yum.

http://www.macayo.com/

[Fleetwood Mac]

Hello Mac,

Glad you had a good time here in the U.S. How was the temperature at which the beer was served compared to what you are used to back home?

c.d.

Hello c.d.,

Fine. No problem. I have my preferences but the beer in the US was good enough for me. Yeah, a touch 'chilled' for my liking but I've had much worse!

[Fleetwood Mac]

Hello Fleetwood Mac!

I have to say, that at least in Finland school shootings seems to go hand in hand with economical depression.

I am not for complete freedom of carrying arms, but in that sense you are right, that the path of more restrictions is close to its end on this side of the Atlantic. OK, enough of that; I still owe apologies for too rough language about gun-talks with some Americans here.

Beowulf, if I ever end up to Arizona, what piece of food is a must there?!

All the best
Jukka

Hello Jukka,

Well, the battle of ideas is still alive and well in England. The problem we have is that there are so many of us on a small island that in order to co-exist we have to give ground, but inherently we know that what is deemed to be good or the majority is not necessarily good for the soul.

I think the French tourist board put up something like: "the English are innately conservative" on their travel site; and I could be wrong here but I think that in every election since the year dot the majority of English people have voted for the Conservative Party. The reason we have liberal parties in government here is because Scotland and Wales tip it in their favour on occasion. If I'm right, which I think I am, it is some statistic.

Also, everyone here, it doesn't matter where you live, dreams of a home in the country. Our cities and towns are not like orderly European cities in that ours have been knocked up any old how because we all instinctively want to live in the country: the towns and cities are a means to an end and not something to really care about.

So, what does this mean for guns and the like: you just can't tell law abiding citizens what to do on the back of a few idiots.

[Errata]

In my state, the basic class includes shooting at stationary targets, but you also are given instructions on the legal aspects of defense and visuals that teach you when to shoot and when its advised not to.

Many take advanced classes that further training but its not required. However, most people who I know who carry, practice more than the police do and take their rights and responsibilities seriously.

But I have to admit I would be curious as to how many people out there were witnesses to these kinds of crimes, were carrying, and did nothing? Statistically they have to be out there. I wonder how many it is?

[c.d.]

Hello Mac,

Glad you had a good time here in the U.S. How was the temperature at which the beer was served compared to what you are used to back home?

c.d.

[Robert]

Ok Hunter, thanks.

[Hunter]

In my state, the basic class includes shooting at stationary targets, but you also are given instructions on the legal aspects of defense and visuals that teach you when to shoot and when its advised not to.

Many take advanced classes that further training but its not required. However, most people who I know who carry, practice more than the police do and take their rights and responsibilities seriously.

[Robert]

Hi Hunter

Well, that's good if civilians are stopping these people. Yes, I see what you mean about the no gun areas - I suppose that applies to the school massacres. I do remember a case where a man in a restaurant went berserk with a gun and no one shot him. Do the marksmanship classes involve armed action training, or is it just a case of teaching people to fire at a stationary target?

[Hunter]

Robert,

Most states allow citizens to carry firearms for personal protection. In my state you are issued a license after passing a firearms safety, marksmanship and legal class, and a background check.

These wanton shootings are not happening where legally armed citizens are present; they're happening for the most part in so-called 'gun free zones' where even licensed citizens can't carry. Which means only the criminal will be armed.

There are many cases where criminals have been stopped by armed citizens. You just don't hear about them because it doesn't fit the agenda of the mainstream press, unless its something controversial like the Trevon Martin incident.

[Robert]

The Americans like to own guns but don't seem to like using them. One keeps hearing of scumbags running amok and shooting everyone in sight - but in the end they are either shot by the police, or turn their weapons on themselves. It's puzzling, but people don't seem to whip out their guns and solve the problem. I think someone told me once that Americans keep their guns in their bedside cabinets, which is fine if you're home but useless if you're out and about.

[j.r-ahde]

Hello Fleetwood Mac!

I have to say, that at least in Finland school shootings seems to go hand in hand with economical depression.

I am not for complete freedom of carrying arms, but in that sense you are right, that the path of more restrictions is close to its end on this side of the Atlantic. OK, enough of that; I still owe apologies for too rough language about gun-talks with some Americans here.

Beowulf, if I ever end up to Arizona, what piece of food is a must there?!

All the best
Jukka

[Fleetwood Mac]

I'm sure we all sound like crazy people over here running around with machine guns and popping

I'm sure you don't need telling this but bear in mind that you're principles are absolutely right.

You are right to think that when you give ground to the government they'll want more. We pay £8 for 20 cigarettes; you pay £3.50. We pay far more in petrol. The difference is the government's profit.

You are absolutely right to be wary of giving ground to the government over anything - including guns which are one avenue of many in individual rights.

The only time we seem to come alive is when our homes are threatened. When the channel tunnel was being built it was knocked up in a crack at the French end. In England, it was a case of not in my back garden and there were countless petitions and the like trying to at least delay it for a long time.

But when it comes to other areas we get royally shafted and that's because we've bent over and taken it right up the arse.

I don't need to say this as you understand this point well but I will - don't be fooled by any European trying to tell you that banning things is a good idea. They're that far gone in Europe they've lost all track of individual freedom and we're teetering on the brink unless we get a grip on ourselves.

[Beowulf]

Hello Beowulf!

As a European too interested in television series I have to ask;

Do you know, if New Mexico is a safer place than a tv-series about a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher suggests?!

All the best
Jukka

Actually don't know anything about New Mexico. I live in Phoenix. However, I was surprised to see Roswell, the famous place where the aliens supposedly crashed, is a hotbed of crime, according to online stats.

and that series was awesome, although I was not a regular watcher, but my friend in PA was. The ending was strickly Soprano's, heheh.

and remember, the most dangerous guy in this country, who stopped one of our most dangerous criminals...Al Capone...was the government.

Do NOT forget to pay your taxes. They WILL get you.

I'm sure we all sound like crazy people over here running around with machine guns and popping off at the first 5 year old we see...but I live in Phx and I have never seen a person with an automatic rifle in hand, and here it's LEGAL to carry guns.

I feel very safe here, have lived here since 1970.

and that series was awesome, although I was not a regular watcher, but my friend in PA was. That ending was strictly Soprano's, heheh.

and remember, the most dangerous in this country, powerful enough to stop one of our most dangerous criminals...Al Capone...was the government.

Do NOT forget to pay your taxes. They WILL get you.

[Steve S]

I'm just glad others have read Fischer......Started with his Revwar stuff, then had to get "Seed" as US friends raved about it. Our US trip did Virginia...Blue Ridge, Richmond, Jamestown and Williamsburg...........

[j.r-ahde]

Hello Beowulf!

As a European too interested in television series I have to ask;

Do you know, if New Mexico is a safer place than a tv-series about a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher suggests?!

All the best
Jukka