It seems we have people from all over the world on this forum. With that said, it is about time we have a thread dedicated to teaching others about our specific country of origin! Especially the crazy obscure stuff, for instance. We can also ask questions about countries we know nothing about (ahem Kyrgyzstan) in the hopes that someone is actually from that country and can answer said question. Focus: What questions have you always wanted to ask about {insert country}, but did not want to, because you did not know someone from that country and did not want to trust media?
If you want to know about tax evasion, a system that has conscription but follows a strictly neutral foreign policy, every male (that served in the army) having an government issued assault rifle at home, a very large percentage of houses sporting a (government mandated) bomb shelter, mountains hollowed out to harbor flak cannons/bunkers/storage room for hundreds of Leopard tanks currently not in use, etc. etc. ad nauseam, fire away. Also, cheese, chocolate and luxury watches.
I've mentioned before, though I'm not enough of a presence here more most of you to know, or care, but I'm a gringo living in Costa Rica. Any questions about online poker or sportsbooks, haggling with Colombian hookers, how to bribe a policeman, etc., let me know.
The Republic of Texas. Happy to answer any questions about guns, riding horses, cowboys, eating steak for every meal, extremist Republicans, and 115 degree heat index summers. There are 2 kinds of Texans: natives and people who got here as fast as they could. Wait, legit countries that are actually recognized? Nevermind.
How do you bribe a policeman without risking arrest for bribery then Zazz? Also, I'm here for any questions about good old 'Northern' Ireland you might have.
Do you guys have some sort of Mengele that perfected how to make all your women big tittied blondes? I haven't seen a Starter jacket for sale in 15 years, so how/why do y'all show up at the mountain wearing them, and jeans? Solaris: I've never once heard of a cop here who'd rather take a guy to jail than take 20-500 bucks.
Some questions about the Swiss military: -Does the government always provide a weapon or can you buy your own? -How often do you have to show up for duty/how long do you have to serve? -If you were not conscripted, can you still own a gun? -What age are you eligible for conscription? -Can you opt out of joining the military for some other kind of service? Also: -Are people actually as xenophobic or anti-immigration there as I hear? -Do you have to learn all the official languages? -Is there any talk of joining the EU? -In general, do you enjoy everyday life there, or would you rather move? Sorry if some of these get a little political. Feel free to pick whichever ones you want to answer, if any.
Finland. According to some studies we have one of the most comprehensive welfare systems in the world. Unemployed? Only shitty jobs available? Don't bother doing that when you can sit on your ass all day and make more money on welfare. College/university education is free and you get paid to go there. Needless to say that we pay a shit-ton of taxes. Another study rates Finland as the 6th least corrupted country in the world (woo-hoo) and also the least interesting country in the fucking universe. Also, Sauna till you die bitches! Ask away. Edit: I can't believe this shit, Newsweek ranks Finland as the best country in the world. I can't stop laughing.
Live in Canada and my family is from Lebanon, in fact I'm in Lebanon right now for the next few weeks. One of the most fucked up, corrupted pieces of paradise on the planet. I'd be glad to answer any questions.
The communist republic of California......any question about being the litmus testing ground for the entire country, I'll do the best I can.
I was born in Bulgaria, I've lived in Singapore for 4 years and currently reside in Canada/California depending on the time.
I'm from California. I was born and raised in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. Ever see Boyz In Da Hood? Filmed in my neighborhood. Went to that liquor store on 8th Ave every day with my grandma. California should honestly be split into 5 states for how diversified the thinking is. Mexican border to LA. LA to Central Valley. Central Valley to Sacramento. Sacramento to San Fran. San Fran to Northern Border. Central Valley is for sure behind legalization. San Fran to the Northern Border, definitely. The problem is convincing everyone else. Support exists in pockets but it isn't universal, like the gay marriage thing. But the fact that Cali is drowning in its own phlegm financially in my opinion is changing how people see it. They're morals are in direct conflict with their pocket books, falling property values and failing government.
Old Mexico (West Texas/El Paso) Mexican food, teenage pregnancies, loud mariachi music, Juarez cartel relations and that big fence that was supposed to be a huge wall sometime ago. Sure you might have your fair share of this same kind of culture over there, but let me tell you. Driving down certain parts of Loop-375 near the border smells like shit. Oh, and more than half the people in my city got here as fast as they could and became legal as fast as they could. It is a lot different over here from the central and eastern areas. With that said, I'm happy to answer anything concerning this side of Texas. And to get a few out of the way, yes the cartel has threatened many police officers so they may be letting a few go for their own safety and they also threatened the General at Fort Bliss.
Right now its about 60/40 popular vote, (not actual data, just what I keep hearing in my area) but god knows how many stoners will forget to vote in November. Decriminalize all victimless crimes is my stance. Just enforce the laws already on the books. Neglect your kid because your stoned, neglect charge and jail. Forced prostitution, white slavery (white as in under the radar, not skin color) Jail. Just enforce existing laws. Don't use a crutch to blame all society's problems on. PS. I don't smoke, it just makes me want to sleep, but I know a lot of "upright citizens" who choose to smoke rather than drink and are just fine. Oh ya and I completely agree with whathasbeenseen about splitting up the state, we are so large and diverse that a concentrated population center (north or south) should not be able to dictate to the entire state. Edit: Fuckin Nazi
Whenever I bring up to my girlfriend that Texas seems like kind of an awesome place to live, with your free guns and whiskey and all, she says something along the lines of "You don't love Bush, they will HATE you there." Is this true? Do you have to be a card-carrying republican to be accepted there, despite the fact that I love guns/meat/heat/desert/big tittied blondes?
It's my 3 day weekend and I'll do with it as I fucking please. (yes, Bloody Marys at 10am are awesome)
How's that split? It seemed you were going south to north. But I got confused around Sacramento-Sf because they are pretty directly east-west of each other. So, what kind of region is Sacramento to SF? Oh, and, weed is already legal where I live. I don't know about the rest of California but up north, medicinal marijuana is easier to buy than prescription drugs. FOCUS: I am Norwegian. I know the country and the culture as well as anybody. And I can confirm that Finland is the crappiest place on earth. Newsweek is smoking something... possibly they too are from Northern California.