The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

If either of you live that long !!

Hey. If I ever buy a ticket in lottery I'll have a chance otherwise I've got just as much chance of winning.

 

[drron]

I never drink "DIET" drinks - the aspartame tastes to me "metallic", I would rather drink water than those fake sugar drinks.

"Aspartame: By Far the Most Dangerous Substance Added to Most Foods Today "

Aspartame: The Most Dangerous Substance on the Market

I'm sorry but that article is rubbish.Nothing like that is found in the medical literature.Aspartame can be used by body builders as it increases testosterone so the side affects include increased libido,aggression and acne.
Many drugs are very similar to aspartic acid including ketamine but also one of the drugs that has been used for Alzheimers.

Searching the medical literature for weight gain using diet drinks I could find only 1 recent article in the NEJM which showed a weight gain in those using diet soft drinks.However the relationship disappeared when their other dietary intake was taken into account-ie it is not the diet drinks causing the weight gain.
Lots of articles though showing an association with sugared soft drinks and weight gain.

 

[Pushka]

I'm sorry but that article is rubbish.Nothing like that is found in the medical literature.Aspartame can be used by body builders as it increases testosterone so the side affects include increased libido,aggression and acne.
Many drugs are very similar to aspartic acid including ketamine but also one of the drugs that has been used for Alzheimers.

Searching the medical literature for weight gain using diet drinks I could find only 1 recent article in the NEJM which showed a weight gain in those using diet soft drinks.However the relationship disappeared when their other dietary intake was taken into account-ie it is not the diet drinks causing the weight gain.
Lots of articles though showing an association with sugared soft drinks and weight gain.

drron - that was mrs.dr.ron who posted that!

 

[coco50]

Though in the US you typically see those drinking diet soft drinks absolutely pigging out on typical high calorie junk so not necessarily the diet drink that puts on the weight.

US breakfasts get me. I call it death by breakfast. Eggs, bacon (plenty of it), pancakes, maple syrup, sausage links, coffee. The coffee gets me. I was having breakfast at the Sheraton Waikiki last year and the waiter came up saying: "can I start you with some coffee?" and nearly poured some when I said: "No. I'll get some juice first" My conclusion: Americans can't do anything in the day until they have had a cup of coffee - and - if the waiter pours you a cup of coffee you will have to tip him at the end - even though the breakfast is a buffet.

 

[anat0l]

US breakfasts get me. I call it death by breakfast. Eggs, bacon (plenty of it), pancakes, maple syrup, sausage links, coffee. The coffee gets me. I was having breakfast at the Sheraton Waikiki last year and the waiter came up saying: "can I start you with some coffee?" and nearly poured some when I said: "No. I'll get some juice first" My conclusion: Americans can't do anything in the day until they have had a cup of coffee - and - if the waiter pours you a cup of coffee you will have to tip him at the end - even though the breakfast is a buffet.

The thing that gets me about American coffee is that it is weak. It's like coffee flavoured water rather than coffee.

People say that is why Americans appear to drink lots of it, because it isn't strong enough to have much of an effect... ish.

Nothing wrong with the breakfast, which is par for course on most Western buffets. You don't have to eat all of it... and then again you may need to burn through that much (it would be a tall order, and there's still the fat, etc.)

Most will still tip the staff at a buffet sitting anyway, e.g. by leaving a few dollars or so at their table when they leave, even if they haven't been given any service, e.g. not even a dirty plate taken away whilst they were eating. Note I am just saying this as a matter of observation - this is not the time to start another tip/anti-tip (sub)thread...

 

[coco50]

The thing that gets me about American coffee is that it is weak. It's like coffee flavoured water rather than coffee.

People say that is why Americans appear to drink lots of it, because it isn't strong enough to have much of an effect... ish.

My Texan son-in-law reckons that American coffee is dog's ****. He loves coming to Australia to have a good cup of coffee. I found that on my RTW trip last year that the coffee in London was awful and that was as good as it got. Terrible in France, even worse in Italy and the usual ditch water in the US. But back in Australia - a really good drop.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Spent a few days in Houston with some 40ish Yanks - breakfast was a hoot - they flatly refused to even contemplate eating 'Canadian bacon' - that is the short rasher bacon with fat removed - wouldn't touch it - seriously funny breed of cattle those Yanks.

 

[Pushka]

TID WILL COVER ME FOR THE DVT - I CAN GO TO ALASKA!

Assuming I get medical clearance that is! Exactly 3 months time.

 

[GarrettM]

My Texan son-in-law reckons that American coffee is dog's ****. He loves coming to Australia to have a good cup of coffee. I found that on my RTW trip last year that the coffee in London was awful and that was as good as it got. Terrible in France, even worse in Italy and the usual ditch water in the US. But back in Australia - a really good drop.

Maybe that's just because it's what we're used too? I seem to recall coffee in Amsterdam was pretty good. Ditto in Bucharest.

 

[penegal]

Spent a few days in Houston with some 40ish Yanks - breakfast was a hoot - they flatly refused to even contemplate eating 'Canadian bacon' - that is the short rasher bacon with fat removed - wouldn't touch it - seriously funny breed of cattle those Yanks.

I wonder if it was the name or the foodstuff which caused the concern?

 

[JessicaTam]

haha - Now that's a lot of wine

Or are you referring to the deconstructed and reconstructed chateaux?

There was a chateaux?

TID WILL COVER ME FOR THE DVT - I CAN GO TO ALASKA!

Assuming I get medical clearance that is! Exactly 3 months time.

That's a great first step.

 

[coco50]

Maybe that's just because it's what we're used too? I seem to recall coffee in Amsterdam was pretty good. Ditto in Bucharest.

I've been to the LOTFAP more times than I've had hot breakfasts, and the coffee is cough. It is warm water that has been in the vicinity of coffee beans at some stage.

 

[penegal]

There was a chateaux?

Apparently

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ley-wine-tasting-sat-67943-8.html#post1400567

http://jurds.com.au/listings/rural_sale-319321-pokolbin/

 

[Pushka]

There was a chateaux?

That's a great first step.

That is exactly what it is JessT, a first step. Now that I have this consent, if I am honest, I am actually a little scared of a trip involving so many flights. Sigh, I am hard to please, aren't I. My bars have been totally rattled by all this and for the first time in a long time I don't have clarity on 'what is best'. Maybe it is coming too close to the event.

 

[JohnK]

TID WILL COVER ME FOR THE DVT - I CAN GO TO ALASKA!

Assuming I get medical clearance that is! Exactly 3 months time.

Wouldn't you want to put that trip off for a while to let your body recover?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

A chateau. Two chateaux.
Just FYI.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

My Texan son-in-law reckons that American coffee is dog's ****. He loves coming to Australia to have a good cup of coffee. I found that on my RTW trip last year that the coffee in London was awful and that was as good as it got. Terrible in France, even worse in Italy and the usual ditch water in the US. But back in Australia - a really good drop.

I can't imagine where you found terrible coffee in either France or Italy.
Unless perhaps you were looking for a "flat white" which doesn't exist in either country.
But then once you adulterate coffee with milk or sugar it's all much of a muchness.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Any AFFer have any clues where in MEL to get a deal on Weber Family Q3200 Nat Gas version? Dude in Myer is happy to talk turkey but thought I would ask around also. Would also love to get 8 x $100 Coles Git Cards at 5% disc but not having much luck there.

 

[Flashback]

I can't imagine where you found terrible coffee in either France or Italy.
Unless perhaps you were looking for a "flat white" which doesn't exist in either country.
But then once you adulterate coffee with milk or sugar it's all much of a muchness.

Maybe had an "Americano"

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Maybe had an "Americano"

Oh I tried to avoid ordering those - always asked for "café allongé".
Even though half the time they would respond "C'est a dire café americano?".