The truths that tourists never believe.

[draggar]

Wyoming...
1. There are NO beaches in Cheyenne.

First prize. People really ask that??

[powerboy]

*The nights in Northern California tend to be rather cool.

Not all the time. Most of the time, yes.

[smileyeagle1021]

For that, you have to go south into Nye County.

Actually you only have to go to Lyon County... Mustang Ranch has finally reopened, just a short 45 minutes east of downtown Reno... the cabs will gladly take you there.

Oh, and Eric the Grey, you reminded me of something my mother always has trouble with. She works for a company that also has an office in London... it's not uncommon for her to here visitors from that office mention "oh, we're just going to drive down to Vegas for a show tonight"... they say this at 4pm... umm, no you are not... if you are lucky you will get to Vegas by Midnight if you leave immediately, you'll hit traffic on 80 out of Reno, so probably 1AM is closer to when you'll get there... have fun.

[protege]

You try and guess the state, I think it's pretty obvious.

Knows and lives in the state

...but the most unusual claim to fame, has to be the "triple six fix" involving the state lottery. It was rigged to show 666 back in 1980...and eventually destroyed the reputations of those involved.

...and if I get one more tourist asking to see the damn steel mills, I'm going to hit them.

[sms001]

The Amish are completely aware of modern technology and history, they just choose not to partake.

When I first found out how they go about deciding what innovations to adopt and which to pass on I thought it was a very cool concept. Something we should probably take a better look at in the whole society.


Oh. And the Pa. in your 'Location' field kinda gives yins away. If Amish and Commonwealth wasn't enough.

[Miyon]

Yupe I was going to say Pa. My next door neighboor.

Kennywood anyone?

And yeah the amish here in ohio are the same. The come to the mall here a lot and no they dont come in a horse and wagon.

[BethB]

First prize. People really ask that??

You have no idea.
Country music...go figure

[Eric the Grey]

Actually you only have to go to Lyon County... Mustang Ranch has finally reopened, just a short 45 minutes east of downtown Reno... the cabs will gladly take you there.

Well, I'm not familiar with northern Nevada, just southern. I used to live in Pahrump, and actually worked at the Chicken Ranch for a brief time.

Oh, and Eric the Grey, you reminded me of something my mother always has trouble with. She works for a company that also has an office in London... it's not uncommon for her to here visitors from that office mention "oh, we're just going to drive down to Vegas for a show tonight"... they say this at 4pm... umm, no you are not... if you are lucky you will get to Vegas by Midnight if you leave immediately, you'll hit traffic on 80 out of Reno, so probably 1AM is closer to when you'll get there... have fun.

I can't tell you how many times I heard "It didn't look that far on the map" when Europeans turned in their cars in Denver instead of back in LA like they had planned because they were just tired and out of time...


Eric the Grey

[edible_hat]

When I first found out how they go about deciding what innovations to adopt and which to pass on I thought it was a very cool concept. Something we should probably take a better look at in the whole society.

I recall a couple of years ago there was an article titled "The Amish Workout" in Men's Health magazine. The writer was surprised when the Amish guy he interviewed asked for a lift home.

[Jester]

Not everyone in Key West is gay.

Not everyone in Key West owns a boat or is a competent sailor or diver. (I'm from the desert!)

The first international commercial flight originated in Key West, going to Cuba. The original home of Pan American Airlines now houses Kelly's Caribbean Cafe, a lovely restaurant and brewput that still celebrates the history of its building.

It is not always sunny here. It does rain in Key West. It's the tropics. Hello?

It does get cold in Key West. Not often, and not that bad, but yes, we have winter too, thank you very much.

No, I can't do a damn thing about the weather. I also can't tell you what the weather will be like the rest of the week. I am a bartender, DJ, waiter, magician, drinker, bicyclist, cook, and advisor, but I am NOT a fucking meteorologist.

Yes, this is part of Florida, and the U.S. Which means, yes, you still have to be 21 to legally drink, and no, smoking marijuana is still illegal.

Yes, we really do live here. Makes it easier to get to work every day, wouldn't you say?

Yes, we really do go on vacation elsewhere. Shocking, but true.

No, this is not the South. While it is in the southern part of the U.S., it is not part of the South as a cultural region. We don't have sweet tea, we don't consider ourselves part of the Confederacy, and news flash: Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson were UNION forts in the Civil War. So yes, the South is north of here. (In my mind, the South ends at Jacksonville. Trust me, Miami, Lauderdale, Tampa, and Key West are NOT Southern!)

Yes, there really are a lot of gay people down here. Deal with it. If you can't deal with it, or you are a homophobe, Key West is not the place for you, and please, get the fuck out. This is an island with a philosophy of live and let live and tolerance of many varied lifestyles, and we like it like that. Intolerant assholes will be dealt with....viciously and efficiently. We have lots of friends with boats and a whole ocean to work with.

Yes, Key West is expensive. No, I am not going to drop the prices of my beers just to accommodate your cheap ass.

Yes, I live here. No, I don't know where you can get grass/coke/ecstasy/whatever. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell your dumb ass.

Yes, there really are native Key Westers. I'm not one of them, but I am friends with some of them. Some families go back several generations here.

PHOENIX:

Yes, Phoenix is a REAL city. It is the 5th largest city in the U.S. (we just passed Philly), and we do have culture. Some of our museums are truly impressive, we have Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, and our Desert Botanical Gardens are truly astounding. We have some of the finest microbreweries anywhere, and we have sports teams in all four of the major sports, something that cannot be said for "real" cities such as Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Seattle, or San Diego. I know, I know, a lot of you Northeasterners think it's not a "real" city because it doesn't look like what you think of as a city: Boston, Philadelphia, NYC. Well, it's the desert. Building tall buildings in a hot climate--when, as we all know, heat RISES--is fucking stupid. So we are kind of spread out. As I like to tell people, Phoenix IS a city....just without the crime, grime, and slime of the "real" cities. (And actually, it does have all of that, it's just not nearly as old as the Northeastern cities.)

Yes, tumbleweeds exist. No, they are not a daily occurrence. I've seen one once. Driving home from Tucson. They do NOT exist in town, where most of us folks live. These are suburbs, dude. Just like suburbs anywhere, just warmer and with more palm trees and cacti.

There is no such thing as an Arizonian. It is Arizonan. Or Zonie, if you want to get cute. And while we're on grammar, it is not cactuses. It's cacti. So stop being a prick about it.

Yes, it's hot. It's the desert. You don't like it? Get the fuck out. Seriously.

Yes, it gets cold (at night, in the winter). It's still the desert. These things happen.

Yes, a whole hell of a lot of people own white cars and trucks. It's THE DESERT. Pay attention!

No, we don't have sweet tea, either. This is also not the South. It's the West. Shut up and have a margarita.

Yes, there are native Arizonans. Lots of them. But yes, there are a lot of people from Somewhere Else. You know why? Because Arizona freakin' rocks!

Florida is a big state. Virginia is closer to me than Pensacola, FL.

Florida IS a big state, but no, Virginia is NOT closer to South Florida than Pensacola is. (I know. I checked.)

2. It contributed a LOT to the history of rock 'n' roll (Ray Charles, Little Richard, the B-52s and the Allman Brothers Band to name a few).

While both are associated with Georgia and based themselves out of there for quite some time in there careers, neither came from Georgia, technically speaking.

Though Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia, his family moved to Greenville, Florida when he was an infant, and he grew up and went to school in Florida.

The Allman Brothers Band was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, a city that produced many Southern Rock bands, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, and .38 Special.

-yes, you can in fact get a drink in Salt Lake

It's not easy, but you can do it.

* We also have a plethora of talent in the acting and music industries.

I am surprised anyone needs to be reminded of the huge contribution to the music industry from England. Seriously, just off the top of my head, some English musicians y'all might have heard a little something about: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Cream, Pink Floyd, Elton John, David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Oasis, Blur, Amy Winehouse, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Joe Cocker, Genesis, Phil Collins, Yes, Supertramp, Queen......and on and on and on. And again, that is just off the top of my pointy little head. And people actually QUESTION this?

- Nobody marries their cousins, brothers, sisters, or parents.

Oh, I am sure they do. But NOT because it is Arkansas. There are fucked up people everywhere, be it Arkansas or Albany, New York. I think you might want to say "there is no more incest here than anywhere else."

Then again, perhaps you wouldn't want to say that. Just a thought.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both located in New Jersey.

This is actually in dispute, and has been an argument between New York and New Jersey for some time now. As it stands currently, Ellis Island is shared by NY and NJ, after much dispute that eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Liberty Island is not as confusing...while residing in New Jersey waters, it is officially part of New York, a fact that New Jersey has never disputed.

In both cases, it's a moot point, as both islands are owned and operated by the U.S. Federal Government.

Nearly 80 per cent of all American imports come through Elizabeth, the nation's largest seaport.

This is simply not true. Even if New York City's seaport is Elizabeth (I am not sure where NYC's seaport is), or they share facilities, the fact is that the two largest seaports in the U.S. are nowhere near the Hudson River, being in Louisiana and Houston. I also think Miami might have a thing or two to say about this claim.

Other NJ firsts: first radio station, first airmail service

And yet more "facts" I have to disagree with.

As a broadcasting major, I learned that KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA was the first commercial radio station. Even if you take into account arguments for who had the first station or broadcast, New Jersey is never listed in those arguments. Sorry, but no.

And the first airmail service was out of New York, not New Jersey.

[draggar]

No, this is not the South. While it is in the southern part of the U.S., it is not part of the South as a cultural region. We don't have sweet tea, we don't consider ourselves part of the Confederacy, and news flash: Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson were UNION forts in the Civil War. So yes, the South is north of here. (In my mind, the South ends at Jacksonville. Trust me, Miami, Lauderdale, Tampa, and Key West are NOT Southern!)

The "south" begins around Okeechobee (the town, not the lake) but there are a few hints of it here - Davie, for example). Orlando and Jax are exceptions, too.

Yes, there really are a lot of gay people down here. Deal with it. If you can't deal with it, or you are a homophobe, Key West is not the place for you, and please, get the fuck out. This is an island with a philosophy of live and let live and tolerance of many varied lifestyles, and we like it like that. Intolerant assholes will be dealt with....viciously and efficiently. We have lots of friends with boats and a whole ocean to work with.

Just kick their assess to Newtown or Stock Island.

Yes, Key West is expensive. No, I am not going to drop the prices of my beers just to accommodate your cheap ass.

The price to pay for living / vacationing in paradise?

Yes, it gets cold (at night, in the winter). It's still the desert. These things happen.

What do people always think desert = hot? Technically Antarctica is a desert (it is the driest place on earth in terms of annual rainfall).

Florida IS a big state, but no, Virginia is NOT closer to South Florida than Pensacola is. (I know. I checked.)

Pretty close...

The Allman Brothers Band was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, a city that produced many Southern Rock bands, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, and .38 Special.

The only thing that is "southern" about south Florida is this - the "rock" music people listen to (for those who listen to rock).

[Jester]

Just kick their assess to Newtown or Stock Island.

Hey! I LIVE in New Town, thank you very much! And I don't want those assholes as my neighbors!

For that matter, Sotck Island is still too close. I say we send them (those that survive) all the way to Miami. Not like they'd notice a few more ignorant hateful assholes in that place.

The price to pay for living / vacationing in paradise?

Yep. Pretty much. And it's always the tourists complaining about the prices, too. You know, the ones that can afford to go to Key West on vacation! And yet we live here and pay the ridiculous rents here, and we have no problem with the prices, even with low-tipping cheap asshole tourists like the ones described being a portion of our income. Go figure.

What do people always think desert = hot? Technically Antarctica is a desert (it is the driest place on earth in terms of annual rainfall).

Because most deserts ARE hot. And the Sonoran Desert in particular is hot and dry and fits the stereotypes of "desert" pretty damn well.

The only thing that is "southern" about south Florida is this - the "rock" music people listen to (for those who listen to rock).

One of the funniest (and truest) comments I ever heard about Florida is this: The north is the South, and the south is New York.

[draggar]

Hey! I LIVE in New Town, thank you very much! And I don't want those assholes as my neighbors!

For that matter, Sotck Island is still too close. I say we send them (those that survive) all the way to Miami. Not like they'd notice a few more ignorant hateful assholes in that place.

Check and mate.

Yep. Pretty much. And it's always the tourists complaining about the prices, too. You know, the ones that can afford to go to Key West on vacation! And yet we live here and pay the ridiculous rents here, and we have no problem with the prices, even with low-tipping cheap asshole tourists like the ones described being a portion of our income. Go figure.

When we were there years ago our B&B even told us if our toilet runs more than a few minutes to let them know ASAP. Yeah, it is expensive there but nice.

One of the funniest (and truest) comments I ever heard about Florida is this: The north is the South, and the south is New York.

And the west is the midwest but yeah, it's pretty much NYC once you hit West Palm and only gets worse until you hit Miami, then it's Latin America.

[Jester]

it's pretty much NYC once you hit West Palm and only gets worse until you hit Miami, then it's Latin America.

Welcome to Miami. Hope you speak Spanish! As the song says, "Bienvenido a Miami!"

[draggar]

The signs say that, too.

Two more:

"Yes, this is the same US Route 95 that you have in (enter east cost state other than New Jersey)."

"Yes, this is the same US Route 1 that you have in (enter east coast state). No, you wouldn't want to drive home that way."