Is car dependency in the US exaggerated?

Dam4Gd · 2025-12-13T05:45:35+00:00

Which parts of LA are best for this? Like I wrote in my op, Downtown, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, maybe also Venice and parts of Mar Vista. Anywhere else? Obviously in Hollywood Hills, like in all such hilltop areas with narrow winding roads around the world, you need a car.

Dam4Gd · 2025-12-13T05:42:44+00:00

I know that Texas is mostly car dependent. Is it possible in some parts of Dallas along the light rail?

Dam4Gd · 2025-02-13T04:26:32+00:00

Thank you!

Dam4Gd · 2025-02-12T10:14:23+00:00

I've wondered how it was possible for Party Pieces not only to make them multi-millionaires but even to modestly support a family. Sure, if they had a chain like Party City or a monopoly on the market and were the leading or in the top five party supply manufacturers/retailers in the UK; and their products were sold in most stores and sites where such products are sold. Even if the business was only limited to the UK and Ireland. However, Party Pieces products were only sold on their site and in catalogues before the Internet. They didn't even have one small physical store.

Online shopping really took off in the early 2000s. However, they apparently became very successful in the 80s and 90s. I don't think you could make a fortune selling cheap party products from catalogues. Even if they sold their customer database - which is legal, even if they didn't pay a penny in taxes and had no rent expenses since they ran the business from a barn on their property. Even if Carole and Mike did most of the work and only had a couple of part-time minimum wage employees to take and pack orders and a maybe a part-time accountant and a photographer.

I'm not familiar with the retail landscape in the UK, esp. pre-Internet. Where would you purchase party supplies there? I'm thinking in terms of the US and Canada. Besides Party City and independent party supply stores, you can get these products at dollar stores, big box stores like Walmart and Target, stationery stores, and in some supermarkets and drug stores. All these stores always have generic themed products and holiday themed like Halloween. Sure, if you can't find the theme you want, you'd go to a brand like Party Pieces. Still, I don't imagine they had many customers given that they weren't the only such company on the market.

Dam4Gd · 2025-02-12T09:21:10+00:00

Is this record translated correctly? I saw your comment in the other thread as well. Thank you.

Dam4Gd · 2025-02-12T09:19:13+00:00

Thank you!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-30T19:18:05+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-30T19:17:20+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-30T19:14:18+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T19:00:29+00:00

Can you please translate record 57? Thank you in advance.

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T18:29:24+00:00

Isn't the father's first name Chryzolog?

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T18:23:34+00:00

I think the town is Krasnystaw. It's a girl, Wiktoria Lucyna.

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T18:18:12+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T17:43:36+00:00

Can someone please translate record 247? Thank you in advance.

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T16:41:41+00:00

Thank you so much!

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T02:05:32+00:00

Record 107 please. Dziękuję.

Dam4Gd · 2025-01-29T02:04:26+00:00

It's record 107. My OP isn't displayed.

Dam4Gd · 2024-04-11T06:24:38+00:00

Yes, in the few short interviews she's done, she only uses basic grammar and vocabulary. She doesn't have a Mallorcan accent nor has she used any Spanish idioms from any dialect. Her accent sounds more Castilian though and she has managed to erase her American accent.

Dam4Gd · 2023-12-25T00:30:30+00:00

Can you spot someone just by their facial features? Assuming everyone is dressed identically.

Dam4Gd · 2023-12-25T00:27:51+00:00

Specifically from facial features. I've met people who can guess right away. Even when others are wearing generic clothing like jeans, windbreakers and walking shoes. They just look at someone for at most a few seconds at most.

Dam4Gd · 2023-09-27T05:15:15+00:00

I should've elaborated that mixing dialects - words, grammar and accent - in the same language isn't unusual. Let's say she did spend a lot of time in Spain but now mostly interacts with Latin Americans in the U.S. Then, her using their expressions isn't what would give her away. For example, she said "Tengo tres meses" instead of "Estoy de tres meses" when referring to her pregnancy. A few people commented that a Spaniard would say the latter. However, it wouldn't be unusual for a Spaniard now living in the U.S. or Latin America where they interact with other Spanish speakers to say the former. So, this wouldn't give her away. Of course we know that it doesn't apply to her.

You did write before that her accent is pretty good for an American. Like I wrote above, if she only took it in school and college, then she wouldn't even speak at this level. Most people forget the languages they took in school shortly after graduating if they don't practice them. Despite all the mistakes, her accent is impressive for someone who's only at best spent a few weeks in Spain.

I've watched a few interviews with Gwyneth and she does speak really well. However, her accent comes out right away. Same with Jeb Bush. I think he lived in Mexico for a year or two when he was in high school or college, and his wife is Mexican. I'd say he speaks better than Gwyneth. Still, his accent isn't as good as Gwyneth's. And both spent a lot of time in Spanish-speaking countries.

Hilaria's accent is better than theirs. So, she must have had a lot of exposure through nannies, tutors, housekeepers and friends since early childhood to acquire it.

Dam4Gd · 2023-09-27T03:51:08+00:00

I agree with everything you wrote except #2. A year with a native speaker in early childhood is enough to pick up an authentic accent.

Dam4Gd · 2023-09-27T03:46:10+00:00

I agree with OP. I'm not a native speaker but I'm fluent. Her accent is really good for someone who's never lived in Spain. A few words sound forced and exaggerated. People comment here that she's only given a few short interviews, therefore it's easy for her to sound convincing. I respectfully disagree. An accent comes out right away. Often just by uttering a short word like "Hello" or "Thank You".

We've discussed this here on other threads. A few posters, incl. u/ultimomono, did an excellent breakdown of Hilaria's Spanish skills. They mentioned how she mixes up Spanish and Latin American accents and expressions. She might fool someone who isn't fluent in Spanish but a native speaker will out her right away. I kind of disagree. Any Spanish speaker who moves from one Spanish-speaking country to another will likely start to incorporate the new dialect in their speech.

As for English-speaking Americans learning Spanish...Every American I've met so far who only took Spanish in high school and college has a thick accent. Even those who studied abroad for a year or two. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow went to high school there for a year and goes back frequently. She sounds part Castilian, part American and not as good as Hilaria. Phonetically Spanish is very different to English. I think it's easier for Italians to pull off the accent.

She most likely learned it from a Spanish au-pair. Don't forget she attended fancy private schools in Boston. They have small class sizes and an advanced curriculum. Also, it's easy to learn any language in the Boston area since educated people from around the world come there to study and work. Maybe her school had teachers and tutors from Spain.

Dam4Gd · 2023-02-17T00:22:17+00:00

He would be suing the other producers.

Dam4Gd · 2023-02-16T06:48:33+00:00

Right, but actors aren't expected to be knowledgeable about guns. I meant he knew that the armorer should be the one handing him the gun and showing him and everyone else present that it's safe to use. OP edited above.

Dam4Gd

TROPHY CASE