Rallygirl's Dumb Questions About Regional Differences Thread

[Rallygirl]

Reading the recent southern snow thread, I learned about something new - outdoor faucet covers. Then I learned that not everyone has valves on their water lines. The whole thing got me thinking about regional differences. Because we are from so many areas and such vast backgrounds, I am always learning new and interesting things here.

In the last few years, along with southern plumbing, I learned about sweet potato pies, grits, Sunday garage sales, sausage in spaghetti, Tim Horton's, homefries, and much, much more. However, as my curiosity about these new and fascinating things grows, I often hijack threads with my seemingly endless, and usually silly questions. No more!

Here is my "Dumb Questions About Regional Differences" Thread. Not just for me, but for anyone who has read something in another post and then spent a few minutes scratching his or her head because something was different or unfamiliar.

[Red Hulk]

There's no such thing as dumb questions.Just don't ask what Scrapple is made of(you don't wanna know.)

[ScottA]

Having a Southern mother and a Northern father I can name a hundred different things between the 2 regions. And having worked/lived out west and worked/lived out east I can do the same there. Some of the differences are pretty interesting.

[pmwasson]

Growing up in the upper mid-west (Minnesota) it seems every house had a basement. Here in Oregon it seems that most smaller home don't have any basement but just a crawlspace. I assume it is because the water-main have to be deeper to prevent freezing. I miss having a basement.

[mego maniac mark]

I only know that it's ok to marry your cousin down south........too soon?

[scifiguy94]

First cousin?

[Rallygirl]

There's no such thing as dumb questions.Just don't ask what Scrapple is made of(you don't wanna know.)

Unfortunately, lots of people around here eat scrapple, its close cousin balkenbrij, and head cheese. My mom is a big fan of the stuff. Me? Blech!

[jimsmegos]

I only know that it's ok to marry your cousin down south........too soon?

Actually the practice has been banned in the past few years. It's a better tax situation if you just shack up.

[scifiguy94]

So scrapple is kinda like souse meat?

[HardyGirl]

Well let's see...

I used to live in NYC, So. Cal. and WI. I know that water fountains in WI are called bubblers. Most folks out that way are of German Catholic descent, so they celebrate St. Nicholas Day, and to most of us Santa and St. Nick are one and the same. Most restaurants out there also have Fish Fry Fridays too. I also know a few things from you Canadians as well. Ski hats are called touques (did I spell that right?), sneakers or tennis shoes are called runners, a couch is a davenport, Canadian bacon is called back bacon there. They celebrate Boxing Day the day after Christmas, and I think it has something to do w/ sales. And they have money called Looneys, right?

[TomStrong]

Growing up in Killen Al. We called very kind of carbonated beverage a "Coke". It didn't matter what brand or anything. "Baby do you want a Coke?"
-yeah sure
What flavor?
-one Of them orange ones

Pretty funny eh?

[rche]

I just moved from TX where we say y'all to MO where it is now you'uns. My pal from NJ says youse guys.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Here in Kentucky, McDonald's has biscuits and gravy on their breakfast menu. When my wife tried to order this in Detroit, the guy at the counter nearly had a brain hemmorage.

They also had McRib on the menu full time, and something called a "Big Mac Jr.".

Chris

[drquest]

We don't have it around here, but I heard a guy asking for Fry Sauce at a restaurant one time and thought what the heck is he talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fry_sauce

[Brazoo]

I don't know if this one counts as regional, because I think it applies to all of Canada, but foreigners always seem interested in this, so I'll post it...

Do you guys know what this is?



It's kinda like a mini box cutter - see the tiny razor in the gap?



The black square is a magnet, in case you want to stick it to your fridge - but you can also use this clip on the side to attach it...



...To your milk pitcher.

In Canada it's popular to buy milk in bags. You use this to slice a corner off the bag so you can pour it.

4 Liters comes in a family sized 3-pack, like this:



Milk also comes in 1 liter cartons, and little one-serving cartons, which both look like the ones you see in the USA - but it's unusual to see milk in the big plastic jugs you normally see in the States.