Tooth loss by state

[The Beatles]

Just being hypersensitive then.

Still, there was no geographical civil war...

[Gen. Volkov]

Well not really, because in the Russian Civil War it was 4 different armies fighting, and more over ideology than anything else. They had geographical areas they occupied, but that was more luck of the draw. It's kinda hard to replicate the exact circumstances of the American civil war in another area, but the war between the cities and the serfs in Russia does a pretty fair approximation.

[The Beatles]

I'm just saying that size has little to do with the geographical splitting of a population by some criterion. Above a certain size, say county, it can happen at any scale. Which is why I contested your claiming Russia.

[Gen. Volkov]

Fine, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree once again.

Because I still think the small size of European countries is what allows them to be so uniform. It's much easier to build a road, communications, and industrial network in a country the size of Britain or France, than one the size of the America or China.

[The Beatles]

They are bloody not uniform. Subconsciously perhaps, you are struck by American gigantism. France may only be the size of Missouri or whatever, but it's still bloody diverse. Look at just England (not the U.K.). Compare the South and the North there. Huge differences. Look at Hungary: a third of the population lives around Budapest and you tell me they're uniform? No, my good sir, you are entirely mistaken. This planet is much bigger than you think it is, so even small areas can conceal huge differences.

In fact, today, there are less differences over the territory of the United States than over Hungary, due to the US's technological superiority compared to Hungary.

[Gen. Volkov]

What sort of differences do you mean? Technological? Cultural? I'll agree that there are significant cultural differences in different parts of France, but you can't bloody tell me that the country has different levels of technology in different areas. And Hungary bloody well isn't more diverse than America. You're struck by what the news media shows of my country and the limited amount you've seen of it. Tell me, does all Hungary have high speed internet service? Because all of America certainly doesn't, most areas are still on dial up. Some places have a phone, but no ISP. When I say uniform, I am refering to the level of technology across the country. Not the pocking cultural differences or population clusters. It's harder to move new technology across a bigger country than a smaller one.

For example, one of the smaller European countries is considering building a wireless network that covers the whole country, and provides internet, and all other services. We've been trying to build a wireless network that covers the whole country ever since the invention of cell phones! And I still can't get service where I live.

[The Beatles]

In Hungary, most people in the capital have Internet, but that's where the buck stops. Many rural areas, especially in the southeast plains, have very few landlines, and little cellphone coverage. A majority of my country lives 100 miles from the nearest shopping mall. In most cities, a "theater" means a blank wall with a projector and a couple of seats, fenced off. In the capital, all of our film theatres are about 5 times bigger than the ones here in Seattle, mega-luxurious, with full surround sound and the works, some with moving seats. So yes, I'm calling you out on that statement.

As for the coverage that extends across the country, wake me up when the devices that can access it get there. Part of my country lives in New-York style luxury, part of it is reminiscent of a small African rural area.

[Gen. Volkov]

The same sort of differences exist here, just not as widespread. There are places in Appalachia that still don't have indoor plumbing. But okay I will admit that on the whole, the tech level in the US is more uniform than in Hungary. I didn't realize Hungary was having such trouble modernizing after the breakup of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. But is the same true for a non-Warsaw pact/ex-Soviet country?

And can we like finish this up soon? It was somewhat interesting, but I sense bad blood is starting to develop, and I'd really rather not have another pointless argument. Also, it's gotten boring. *laughs*. No offense was ever meant. Plus, the energy required for me to continue is just not there like it used to be.

[The Beatles]

No bad blood on my part, just heated argumentation.

And yes, the Soviet Union's oppression has held back Eastern Europe very much in places. I can't speak for Western Europe.

So yeah, let's end that one. Now, what's the next argument? Geopolitics or association football?

[Freenhult]

I know what you mean Beatles... Here in Michigan, its kinda unique, because we have an Upper and Lower half. Let me just say...that the Upper is no where near anything that the southern part is like. Even the upper LP is pretty different that the lower LP. (Confusing?) The amount of culture and even technological differences are amazing. I live in Michigan and I have a hard time understanding what people from the UP are saying sometimes :*laughs*:. It sounds sad...but it is that different.

[The Beatles]

Yeah, language is funny like that, isn't it? Great example btw.

There are about 16 different accents of English or more all told over the UK, from Irish to Surrey to Esturary to Cockney to Scouse to Scottish to etc. etc...

[Freenhult]

There are about 16 different accents of English or more all told over the UK, from Irish to Surrey to Esturary to Cockney to Scouse to Scottish to etc. etc...

I don't know what they're speaking..but it isn't english. :*laughs*:

[The Beatles]

Not RP anyway.

But yes, it's amazing how the same written language can be changed so much in speech, plus a few idioms.

The Redwall series are a case in point, with the number of punctuation marks nicely overtaking the number of actual alphabetic characters in latter books.

[Gen. Volkov]

ROFL. Nice. That'd be why I stopped reading the Redwall series.

I dunno, all you michiganders sound the same to me. Don'tcha know.

Ok, it's agreed then, no more arguments about size... and futbol is boring. So geopolitics anyone? *laughs*.

[Freenhult]

O_o...Where have you been in Mi? By the Gods man...There are atleast 5 dialets of English here. I'll break them down, and use a map for you. (I;m sure you've seen this before.) Both hands...Put them infront of you. Palms facing you. Right hand...Is cool. Left hand... Make 90* With the thumb facing up and right. Allign them with the two index fingers forming a 90* about 1 inch apart. Okay? The Left hand Thumb...speaks something. More french I think. From the base of the left hand to the part where the fingers join the hand...thats a dialet area. The fingers on both hand speak the same. The Right Thumb and the meaty part around there is Detroit..so they instantly speak weird. I...live In the last quadrant. We speak normal here. :*laughs*: