tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post7155220707538793145..comments2023-05-17T05:51:40.714-04:00Comments on Coffee, Cookies and Chili Peppers: A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett Read Along: Week 2Looks-Mostly-Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918651503213054373noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-58532242746125409852013-03-23T11:38:50.005-04:002013-03-23T11:38:50.005-04:00I think that in many ways the US still has a feeli...I think that in many ways the US still has a feeling of community that is somewhat lacking the UK: perhaps this is due to the higher level of religious belief or maybe that the waves of immigration have led to groups living close to one another, even in the big cities. Looks-Mostly-Harmlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00918651503213054373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-67494629441094331772013-03-23T06:58:05.590-04:002013-03-23T06:58:05.590-04:001. I love how almost everyone mentioned the cart ...1. I love how almost everyone mentioned the cart horse. Henry was great.<br /><br />3. I fully support the idea of Annagramma getting targeted by Hiver-Tiffany for a while before everything is resolved. I'll probably feel really guilty about wanting that if something gruesome happens to her though!<br /><br />5. It sounds like Tiffany was accidentally making it very easy with her "See Me" spell. I am wondering if her knowledge of how to go in and out of her body might give her an edge on fighting it, though.<br /><br />2. On the culture of charity, I can say that it definitely still exists in the rural American south (whatever other problems it has), or at least in North Carolina. In terms of Miss Level, the church basically functions as a local witch. The workers there organize and distribute goods and resources (donated by the community) to those in need. They also organize people to make sure the family-less elderly are taken care of (visitors, food, yard work, housework, etc.). On a more personal scale, there is a strong feeling of social obligation towards others in the community. I've seen people meeting outsiders (maybe from the north) and commenting critically "she/he seems nice, but he/she isn't very hospitable." The idea behind that being that people ought to give to others freely without being asked, and if they don't, it's a mark against their character. This is way more common in rural areas, but actually persists some in cities. <br />Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683230093775720398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-15855532754924612972013-03-22T16:29:44.622-04:002013-03-22T16:29:44.622-04:00The UK and US are similar in so many ways, and yet...The UK and US are similar in so many ways, and yet so very different. Americans have a much more independent attitude to everything and are much more distrusting of the government and its agencies. Healthcare is a great example of this: many Americans seem to be content to let their insurance company decide what care they can receive but are mortally afraid of allowing the federal government to manage the system and therefore make it cheaper and much more efficient. The healthcare system is possibly the very worst thing about living in the US, and I am lucky because my hubby gets extremely good benefits through his employer. However, we pay more for it (see below) and I know that many, many people get little or no coverage whilst I get to go for a non-vital CT scan whenever I want because there is so much slack in the system. One advantage of this independence is that Americans are far more likely to actually make an effort to help other people and step into the place that would be occupied by local or national government in the UK - or at least that seems to be my experience.<br /><br />It is a common misconception that healthcare in the UK is totally free. All medical treatment is free at the point of service but everyone contributes to it National Insurance, which is a form of taxation and is a % of your income. There are also minimal fees for prescriptions: a flat rate of about $12 each, plus you can pre-pay to get discounts and many, many people qualify to get them all free (90% of prescriptions in England are free). Dental and optical services are also covered by the NHS and you pay a part of such treatment - in Scotland the regular check-ups are free and a filling costs you about $25.<br /><br />OK, I'll get off my soap box now! :D<br />Looks-Mostly-Harmlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00918651503213054373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-38731076610957331722013-03-22T16:10:51.174-04:002013-03-22T16:10:51.174-04:00It is a very long time since I saw the exorcist, b...It is a very long time since I saw the exorcist, but demonic possession does seem like a good analogy . . . I hope there will be no pea soup involved! :DLooks-Mostly-Harmlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00918651503213054373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-40187064378948014722013-03-22T09:39:38.403-04:002013-03-22T09:39:38.403-04:00Ah, yes - ferret droppings. Stinky, uncoordinated,...Ah, yes - ferret droppings. Stinky, uncoordinated, very odd passenger indeed. But hey, he (it?) has money, so simply ignore the oddities. And these guys have transported ferret-stinking passengers before, I am sure. <br /><br />I'm surprised by your observation on the US culture and charity and giving. I hadn't really thought to compare it to the UK, since there are so many similarities in our cultures. I would have expected it to be about the same in the UK, or a bit more since they have free healthcare - one less thing to worry about, so more time to do other things. <br /><br />You may very well get your wish with Annagramma. There is a Hiver on the loose!<br /><br />Thank you so much for the William McGonnagle link - awesome for him to be immortalized, even sideways, in the Tiffany Aching series. <br /><br />nrlymrtlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00572346310916207565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-13549077677207777792013-03-21T16:10:06.012-04:002013-03-21T16:10:06.012-04:00The scarecrow scene was really funny - every bit o...The scarecrow scene was really funny - every bit of it! Definitely difficult to choose a favourite.<br />The Hiver is a nasty piece of work - it sort of makes me think of The Exorcist and in particular the scene where the girl trapped inside has made the words 'help me' stand up on her skin *shivers*. Tiffany keeps making all these sort of comments in the middle of conversations! I like that she didn't let the Hiver beat the goats!<br />Lynn :DLynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13928865767523025349noreply@blogger.com