Quote:
Originally Posted by curmudgeon  |
I'll agree with you that American backsides are widening much more rapidly than those across the Atlantic. Although I'll never understand how some Brits that make a meal out of French fries (chip butties or just a huge order of chips with brown sauce) manage to stay so svelte. Must be all the walking they do, which we Americans really need to do more of. Unfortunately, many areas of the US are very spread out and lack public transport, so a car is the only way to get around. And riding in your car plus sitting at your desk plus shorter lunch periods equals grabbing fast food though the drive through and it all ends up in the midsection. But you are correct, the US is becoming quite the tubby and lazy nation.
However, regarding the handicapped access thing....for many years I ventured over to the UK for a convention in Southport, and one of my traveling companions was somewhat disabled (birth defects, arthritis, etc.) She could walk unaided, albeit at a very slow pace, but stairs were extremely difficult for her, and I lost count at the number of places where I actually had to half-carry her up the stairs at train stations, hotels and shops because there were no elevators. Not to mention having to lift her up onto buses and British Rail trains and getting yelled at by employees because we were holding things up. In the US, public transport by law must have wheelchair lifts and other accoutrements for the handicapped. I'm blessed in that I've never had to make use of those facilities myself, but I've seen first-hand how they can allow a wheel-chair bound person the freedom to live and travel unaided.
When all is said and done, I must admit that one thing the US has done "right" (and there are many things we've done wrong) is the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides for a barrier-free environment, which means that public buildings are fully accessible by folks in wheelchairs. That means ramps at the entrances as well as handicapped stalls in public restrooms and pay phones at wheelchair level. It also ensures such things as Braille in elevators and on ATM machines for the blind, and TTY telephone access at public rest stops for the deaf.
Now, can you kindly explain what the British have against cold drinks?
Why is beer served at room temperature, and canned pop stored on a shelf and not in a refrigerator? And what about the ice shortage....?
