Snail - I hope you don't think I was being dismissive of all English people. It's just that in the 11 or 12 years I've been here at the Mudcat my perception has been that a lot of threads critical of the USA have been started by Brits. It makes me think that a few of y'all are still pissed off about 1776. There are several things that I could critize about England but it's simply none of my business. So I wouldn't dream of starting a thread about your royality or the occupation of Northern Ireland. My irritation has been directed at the thread starter. Please don't take it personally. That's not my intent.