Anglo-American Micechat Info Exchange

[PeaJay18]

I thought I'd take advantage of the multinational nature of Micechat and set up a thread that allows us to ask fellow MCers questions about their part of the world.

Perhaps you're an American who wants to know the rules of Cricket?
Maybe you're a Brit who doesn't know what the difference is between a Senator and a Governor?
(Don't feel this thread is restricted to US/UK stuff - feel free to ask about anything anywhere...)

I realise that a lot of this info can be found out there on the net, but why not go for that personal touch and engage your "MC-friends-around-the-world"?

I'll start - who out there can explain to me what "sweeps" are and why they are so important?

[Hyperbole]

Chimney sweeps?

[PeaJay18]

Chimney sweeps?

Being English I'm familiar with Chimney sweeps (and the American version of a Cockney accent...

I'm talking about sweeps in regards to US TV - they happen this time of year I think, but I don't quite get why or what they are...

[Hyperbole]

OH!!! Like "Sweeps Week"! They happen a couple of times a year, I don't remember when. Its all about ratings. There are a couple of times a year that networks try to get their ratings up, and so they put on their best shows, specials, etc. to try and get more people to watch. Its an entertainment industry competition, and the public gets involved because we get to see hyped-up shows.

[sir clinksalot]

Sweeps is basically the time of the year networks set their Advertising rates for shows.

So all of the "Stunts" come out during "Sweeps" in order to get higher ratings, and in turn, higher Advertising profit.

[Disneyphile]

Ok, here's one - why are drinks in England usually served without ice?

This totally baffles me, because I can't imagine anything more refreshing than an iced drink.....

[Not Afraid]

It is cold in England!

[Morrigoon]

I think a better question would be how did we start drinking things WITH ice? After all, until the invention of refrigeration, ice was quite hard to come by (and expensive) during the warm months. So there are centuries of history of drinks NOT being iced.

Actually, since sodas were invented only a few decades before fridges, I suppose it's natural that we started icing those drinks. Sodas came from soda fountains, and those drinks often came with ice cream in them, so we got used to liking them cold.

Notice that even though we chill our beer, we don't put ice in it. After centuries of drinking room temp beer, I can see why the Brits wouldn't change habits to include colder beer.

[Olympicnut]

Ok, here's one - why are drinks in England usually served without ice?

This totally baffles me, because I can't imagine anything more refreshing than an iced drink.....

From what I understand its a water conservation "thing", am I right?

[Gemini Cricket]

I've got one:

What's a "kagoul"? (I heard it once on 'Ab Fab'. It was used in a punchline for an entire episode and have no idea what it is.)

[Hyperbole]

I've never been to England and I HATE ice in my drinks. It waters it down, and cold dulls the taste buds.

In the 19th century plenty of people had ice available year round by use of ice houses... but they were rich! Perhaps having ice in your drinks became a status symbol, and that's how we started doing it?

[Morrigoon]

Yes, very good point. Like I said, it was hard to come by, and what there was (in ice houses) was expensive.

And I could easily see where "conspicuous consumption" of ice in drinks would be de rigeur. Or perhaps it's because you could only fit so much in your icebox, so if you wanted your drink cooled, you had to just chip off some ice and put it right in the drink itself.

[Gemini Cricket]

The don't use ice in soft drinks in France either. Unless you ask and then they'll roll their eyes at you.

[Morrigoon]

Oooh, I've got one... What exactly is IN Branston Pickle?

[Hyperbole]

Or perhaps it's because you could only fit so much in your icebox, so if you wanted your drink cooled, you had to just chip off some ice and put it right in the drink itself.

Hmmm, the origin of the ice cube perhaps? I never thought of that!