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American for a Fair Go
Americans love to win. I used to think that they loved to compete, but now I think I had it wrong. They seem to love to win at any cost, even if it means eliminating the competition by not letting any one who could beat them join in the battle.This strategy for "winning" is summed up in the philosophy of the character George Gallo in the popular sitcom, "Just Shoot Me". George Segal plays Gallo, the archetypal insensitive company manager. In an episode that aired last week he was in typical role, mouthing off about how if you can't win, don't play. It is this character's opinion that life is about winning, and if you see a situation where you know you can't win, well - don't even go there! Gallo's behaviour in the sitcom may appear to be over-the-top and exaggerated. However, is nothing compared to the real-life attitude of Bill Keef, if the New York Times is correct (Editorial 18th April). Mr. Keef is the director of Boulder Colorado's annual running race - Bolder Boulder. And from what the Times reported last weekend, Mr. Keef could teach the hardened businessman Jack Gallo a thing or two. Not only does Mr. Keef believe in avoiding no-win situations - he believes in eliminating competition from competitive sports. According to the New York Times editorial, Mr. Keef has said that he wants to "level the playing field" and stop Kenyans from competing in the Boulder race, as most of the world's best runners are Kenyan. He is quoted as saying, "It is our country, our event, our money. American sponsors want American winners". The Australian wheat farmers should not feel that they are the only ones to suffer from American protectionist policies. Now we have American protectionism for the speed-challenged. Dress Codes
I don't really understand dress-codes, and in fact have never really worried about them. When my daughter visited a year ago, she tried to explain them to me. I've only had to don the blacks, greys and beiges here, to look acceptable and to blend into the crowd. But apparently things are different at the club scene. There, dress codes are a thing to be followed diligently.I'd watch my daughter with fascination, as she transformed into a pseudo-Goth or punk Goth or real Goth, and occasionally plain techno. She'd spend hours getting ready to go to "Mother", in red velvet, ripped fishnet tights with army boots. I suppose that's why I worried a little about going to CBS to see Michelle Shocked (see Anchored down in CBGBs), last month. But the club scene is not all "Gothic" and "techno" apparently, and at CBGBs I'd describe the dress code as 'Moonee Ponds'! So I felt surprisingly fashionably cool there, in my black jeans and jumper! And after that experience, of seeing the flannel-shirts-and-jean-set at the famous CBGBs, I would have believed that the dress code thing was a myth, had I not had direct experience of watching my daughter labour over getting it right. On looking through the club scene listings in Time Out, I notice "Goth" dress will get you in at heaps of places. At the "Fang Club Gotham", the dress code is listed in Time Out as "Victorian, medieval, fetish, Goth" etc.". The Fang Club apparently has started New York's first weekly event for vampires. And judging from this picture from Time Out, of the two characters who "work the door", maybe my daughter looks normal in her ragged tights and army boots after all. TELL Me About It!I once watched an excellent documentary, "The History of English", which explained and illustrated the different dialects of English, in the UK, the US, Australasia, and South Africa. And I remember, I think it was on some small English island, a population where people said what could come across to an outsider, as opposite of what they meant. For example, "She isn't pretty", meant "she's very pretty".This reverse meaning phrase is the case with, "TELL me about it!" in New York. "TELL me about it!" means, "Don't tell me about it!, I know exactly what you mean and I don't want to hear any more." Almost like the other New Yorkism, "Spare me the DETails!", with the accent of "details on the "de". New Yorkers love to hear themselves speak. I'll hear two of them engaged in a conversation on a subway - well, not really a conversation. One will talk away, relating something that recently happened to them, most often. The listener does not comment on the first speaker's monologue, or ask any questions. It is as if they are sitting, waiting, thinking, "my turn, my turn!" They will listen impatiently, just waiting for a cue where they can break into the "conversation". Not to comment on what the other person has just said, but to relate one of their own experiences. The second person's story may be on the same topic as the first's. But there's no real dialogue, or discussion in the true meaning of the word. Often the second person will interrupt the first speaker with a "TELL me about it!", and proceed to chop them off and relate their own, "TELL me about it!" story. Such a New York conversation is a bit like a serial "Show and Tell" at elementary school, where each person has their say, but no one really listens to the other speakers. SPARE me! Thank you to Ishmael!In "The customer is always WRONG!", two weeks ago, I wrote of a very frustrating experience I had, attempting to buy tickets to Joanna Murray-Smith's new play, "Honour". As readers who read that issue will know, I ended up not being able to buy the tickets. And I had resigned myself to missing out on the production.Last Saturday, I saw the ad for the play in the New York Times again. Again there was no special code, so it seemed that there was little point in calling Telecharge again. But for some reason, whether I was feeling particularly masochistic, or whether I just couldn't let this matter die, I decided to try again. And a truly wondrous thing happened. I was greeted on the phone by a very pleasant young man, who gave his name, Ishmael. As soon as I explained that I had the ad in front of me, and that I wanted to buy tickets, but that there was no code on the ad, he was most accommodating. "No problem", he said. He explained that he'd try to look up the code himself, and if he couldn't find it, that he'd organise something so that I could get the tickets at the special offer price, anyway. He found the code in about two seconds. This must have been the first trouble-free phone transaction I've had in two years in New York City. What should be a simple thing, was at last, a simple thing. Wherever you are, Ishmael of Telecharge, you should be managing a Manhattan customer service department. This town needs more people like you!  Your Questions and CommentsDeborah, "An Italian girl in love" with a handsome Aussie male, emailed: This is an urgent request for HELP . I'm looking for an AUSTRALIAN guy who's traveling around the world and was in London for about four months. He was working in a pub in "Fulham Broadway " and he left there 14 April to NEW YORK! He's the coolest guy I ever met in my life , he's got amazing big brown eyes , blondish curly hair , easy going personality and he plays very well the guitar...We had the best time at his birthday... I just can believe I missed the chance to get his address the day before he left : something urgent happened and I couldn't meet him. He probably hates me now! I would like to get in touch with him once again this LIFE! Tell him I'm sorry I couldn't turn up that day.... Kate , do you think you can help me ? I would like to know if there are specific "meeting points" for Australians in NY , something like a pub or a club...he might be working there! I'd do anything to see him again...I hope I can come and meet him in NY so I won't have to go to Sydney in autumn and look for him there! I always read your post , I think it's fun and I love Australians!!!! Thanks in anticipation for you help! Italian Girl "in Love"!There are no specific meeting places I know of for Australians in NYC, but maybe this man will read this and send email to me at kcj@coolabah.com. If so, I will put him in touch with you. But knowing the shortage of single good-looking hetro men in this city, I fear he may already be snatched up! I wish you luck. You could also try placing an ad on the message board of the Village Voice. I am not sure how you do this electronically, but you could check out their website. It is at http://www.villagevoice.com/.They have a bulletin board on the back cover that I think places ads for free, and many people post trying to get in touch with people they've met or seen and who they can no longer find. And Deborah followed up her initial email with the following: I wish I found out earlier what Australian men are like : nothing to do with Italians or boring English men ! Here in London there's a real "Australian Community", in particular I like to go to a pub called "Slug&Lettuce" : it's always crowded with FUN people! Last night all the guys at the bar got off their clothes and literally "jumped" on top of the bar-board to dance ....I thought it was quiet SEXY! ...There must be somewhere similar in NYC?!?! Well I don't know, Deborah. I've never heard of such a place. If I find out, I'll let you know. Maybe you should think of having a holiday in Australia? There are about 9 million Australian men there! I suppose we Australian women are just used to them, and take them for granted. Matt from Sydney wrote: I totally agree with the shower heads story - having just spent a month in the US, it took me about 5 - 10 minutes on some occasions to figure out just how to exactly get the water to come out of the nozzle - damn confusing. Yes, it can be really frustrating. Also annoying is the absence of "plugs" for the baths, basins and sinks. I find that frequently those metal stopper things that are meant to open and close with a lever, don't work properly and that the levers that are meant to operate them cause blockages. Joanne, an Australian who is a long-term resident of California emailed: ... But I think that even if I live in the states for the rest of my life, I will still proudly refer to Australia as my true home. Just like that cheesy song of Peter Allen's, which also makes me cry, BTW. :) Anyway, thanks for the wonderful article. I've already told you how much I love the website, it keeps getting better and better. Thanks for the feedback on my Expat Life article on having a parent die when one is overseas. I really appreciate your sensitive comments, which I have not included here for obvious reasons. And like you, I identify with the Peter Allen song, "I Still Call Australia Home". Reminder Date: May 13 1998 Location: Ballroom of the Roosevelt Hotel, on Madison Ave. at 45th St. Event: "Taste of Down Under," an Australian wine and food tasting to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The event features a wide selection of Australian wines as well as Australian lamb dishes prepared by chefs from some of New York's leading restaurants. The money is raised through ticket sales and via the auction of items ranging from round-trip tickets to Australia to designer clothing. Tickets are $100, of which 50% is tax-deductible. Those interested in ordering tickets should contact Jennifer Marraccino at the Muscular Dystrophy Association on 212-689-9040. |