10 Weird American Things Europe has Adopted

[@DianeJennings]

I totally meant to do that bit at 3:07…. Go to my sponsor aura.com/dianejennings to get a 14 day free trial

[@GRT1865]

More videos are always nice. And sorry I'm not sure I have a favorite word.

[@raydurz]

Got my free trial last time and decided it was worth it to get a 1 year subscription.

[@michaelsommers2356]

_"I totally meant to do that bit at __3:07__"_ Did ED force you to say that?

[@bradjohnson4787]

Floor zero, yah that makes sense!

[@jdwilmoth]

The only reason people has gender reveal parties or baby showers is so people will bring them gifts

[@almostfm]

The only thing about "don't discipline other people's children" is that I think you need to say something if the kid is doing something dangerous. About 15 years ago I was working in one of the "big box" stores (Buy a TV, phone, printer, and stove all in one stop) and one kid was just running around the store (and I do mean "running"). Since they sometimes move large heavy items around, I stopped the kid and told hm (very quietly and calmly) that I wasn't mad, but he needed to be careful because heavy stuff gets moved around and he could get hurt. Suddenly, I've got dad in my face telling me not to tell his kid what to do, and if I had a problem with it, we should "step outside". I explained that I just wanted to make sure he didn't get hurt by accident, and walked off. Not five minutes later, the kid ran around a corner and right into a refrigerator that was being moved. He hit the corner and split his forehead open. Instantly, dad was screaming at the employees that it was our fault we weren't watching _his_ kid and we could expect to see him in court. Our Loss Prevention guy (who'd started over when he heard the commotion) told him that we had him on video wanting to fight me for doing exactly what he wanted us to do.

[@CitiesTurnedToDust]

Something else is, if a child is being abused by their parents, it's time to f**king say something, and perhaps call the authorities.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

I agree. I once stopped a 3 year-old tearing down the middle of the street on a Big Wheel. He was coming right at me, down a hill, and the sun was almost blinding me. Plus, he was so low to the ground that I was afraid that somebody wouldn't see him, and he'd be run over by a car. It gets to the point where you don't care what anybody says. Either you "interfere," or you hear about them later on the news.

[@theresedavis2526]

Another piss poor parent! Parents aren't worth the breath they breathe!

[@HopeGardner3amed]

I always interpreted it as don't do anything too extreme. Don't hit them or yell at them. Giving them a slight reprimand or making sure they are safe is different. But that may be me being a 27 year old being old fashioned.

[@dongleason9878]

Originally gender reveals were harmless, you invited people to a small party, you cut a cake to reveal pink or blue inside everyone congratulates the parents and then you got to eat cake so everyone wins. Now you have to worry about possibly being blown up because the reveal has to be the biggest thing on tiktok.

[@markedwards3647]

WHY TF do friends care about the gender of the expected kid? Gender "appropriate" gifts are inappropriate. The parents need cribs, basins, diapers, food, money, and color does NOT matter. If people are committed to choosing pink or blue, they should wait till the kid is born. As for flammable or explosive celebrations, whole towns were burned to the ground and people died from forest fires started as gender reveals. Sure, boys and girls are raised a little differently after the first year. Both should be taught Krav Maga, and assertiveness, self-care, and economic responsibility. Boys should be taught not to exploit girls, and both should be taught sex education, and that violence can get them permanently disabled or, if unnecessary, imprisoned. Boys are likely to be larger and stronger, but both should capitalize on their strengths. Boys are more likely to die from violence, heart disease, or suicide, but both should be educated re the hazards.

[@MrSheckstr]

Its the new “ice bucket” challenge

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

How do they even know what the baby will identify as anyway

[@neutrino78x]

@@markedwards3647 "Both should be taught Krav Maga" Blasphemy! I would teach my children Seven Star Praying Mantis! 🙂

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

​@@Heymrkpyrotechnics in a semi-desert during a drought? What could possibly go wrong? 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@raydurz]

During my last visit to Ireland I tipped 20 Euros on a 110 Euro bill and the server's eyes almost popped out of her head and she was like "Oh thank you very much!" I don't think she was expecting that. Ya know, it made me feel good that I made her happy.

[@DianeJennings]

110… 10%? €11? Yeah that was a great trip. I bet you made her day

[@LindaC616]

That was really huge! It probably explains why my friend and her husband had no difficulty getting served when they went to Puerto Rico.

[@scottbaron121]

As an American, I was able to go to Cuba a few years ago (we aren't usually allowed). I tipped our waitress $20 and she started to f-ing CRY! The most uncomfortable experience of that year, for sure.

[@LindaC616]

@@scottbaron121 in many ways, I'm sure. And when you find out that waitress has an advanced degree, but makes more working in tourism, even more uncomfortable

[@AngryIrishMan]

​@Diane Jennings Really? 20% Is the standard tip here in America where I live. I've also heard, depending on where in Europe, tipping is looked down upon.

[@jwb52z9]

I'd love to hear the "Europe will never adopt this" list.

[@LindaC616]

I thought the ban on indoor smoking was on spain's list. I was wrong

[@dantheman9784]

Living in the Western US, one of our worst fire season's was the result of a gender reveal party gone wrong.

[@DianeJennings]

I remember that

[@michaelsommers2356]

From the beginning of the video, it appears that Chewie has the power of teleportation. First, he's not there, then a few seconds later, he is there, then a few seconds after that he's not there again. He's a very impressive dog, especially as he can also drive a truck.

[@lawrencedavis9246]

... he is really in Alaska for the Iditarod.

[@DianeJennings]

He was moving around a lot 😂

[@LindaC616]

​@@DianeJenningseasy to do, when he has a truck..

[@chrisperosa]

I blame ED. She is controlling your mind.

[@dumpsterdawg]

As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.🙂🙃🙄 This reaction was full of life and love.....indubitably🥰

[@bkm2797]

Ha Ha, mine too!

[@stephengamber7000]

Exactly. If I'm hungry enough I'll eat it.

[@d33psix88]

27° C That’s pretty damn hot for a store… Jeezuz! Also: I find it really weird that you listed baby showers and gender reveals together. Baby showers are just normal here in the states and have been around as long as I can remember. Gender reveals are a super-annoying modern trend.

[@theresedavis2526]

Baby showers are ridiculous, as well! They proceed from the assumption that the baby will survive. Some babies do not survive... so why celebrate prematurely?

[@d33psix88]

@@theresedavis2526 I mean, that’s an opinion and you’re welcomed to yours. I feel like it’s good to be optimistic if everything is “normal”.

[@philipmcniel4908]

@@theresedavis2526 I think we tend to have our baby showers when the pregnancy is about 7.5-8 months along, when it's pretty rare to have a miscarriage (and even rarer to have one that's a "surprise," meaning that whatever caused the miscarriage wasn't visible on ultrasound by that point). I'm not really an expert, as baby showers have traditionally been women-only affairs, though that tradition--like pretty much all others involving babies or weddings--has been a bit more flexible over time.

[@charlesbrown4483]

@@theresedavis2526 ??? This isn’t the fuckin 17th century chief, the vast majority of babies survive pregnancy… what a weird way of thinking😂

[@Zundfolge]

The whole "living in fear of law suits" thing is one of those things that should be in one of those "Myths Europeans believe about the US" videos. Sure the stereotype says we're slightly more litigious here in The States (which is likely not true), but its not something that 99.9% of us worry about on a regular basis.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

It's more a thing that _businesses_ in the U.S. worry about. They're generally the ones with the deep pockets, after all.

[@philipmcniel4908]

Probably something even Americans believe about the US, though we do have more regulations you can get sued for violating in certain areas (e.g. the details of the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as if your toilet isn't quite far enough from the wall or something--which, I guess, is at least better than simply having a lot of places that aren't handicapped-accessible at all, which is what I'm told some places in Europe are like). Some of this comes down to a combination of frivolous and pseudo-frivolous lawsuits that happened awhile back, with the pseudo-frivolous ones being used to give lawsuits a bad name and boost PR for companies that didn't like being sued (e.g. the woman who sued McDonald's because their hot coffee was hot, ha ha ha...except that in reality she sued them mainly to recover the cost of her medical bills since she was literally hospitalized and required skin grafts because the coffee was so hot).

[@charlesbrown4483]

It actually is true that we’re more litigious, but it’s a completely twisted narrative. The reason it’s true is because all the world’s best lawyers and attorneys come here, and anyone with money anywhere in the world goes through a US law firm for litigation. Another reason people might think this is because in America you can technically sue anyone for pretty much anything… What Europeans fail to realize is that my goofy ass lawsuit seeking $10,000 in damages from you because your dog pooped in my yard… yeah that’s not making it to court and I’ll have simply wasted money paying an attorney to file it😂

[@phillair3813]

Glad to see you doing original stories. Thanks, you're an inspiration.

[@DianeJennings]

I do lots and more on Patreon

[@josephmayo3253]

Agreed. Original content is so much more interesting than seeing a KZbinr reacting to other KZbinrs.

[@karenabendshien846]

Honestly it just seems like here in the United States we have the attitude of "Go Big or Go Home" with everything. I will admit that sometimes it's fun to really go all out for a celebration, but when it becomes the norm for everything, it just starts making the occasions not as meaningful. It becomes more about the great event and how much money you spent and less about why you celebrated and the people you have to celebrate with. The simple get together 's can be just as great, meaningful and memorable than the hugh over the top parties! It's a balance! Great video Diane!

[@bryandawkins]

had fun hanging out today, glad we have Diane and Chewie to make our days better

[@DianeJennings]

Aww shucks! Thank you Bryan

[@GRT1865]

I like how Chewie decides Diane needs to stop blocking his time on camera.

[@DianeJennings]

He really does find his spot 😂

[@johncrow6669]

As far as opening the presents right away I think part of this comes from not writing thank you cards you open it right away and use your gratitude immediately

[@briannam2953]

Just some armchair psychology here, I think that American brain thing of watching people open gifts is also the part of the brain that gets tickled by watching weird Irish girls react to eating spicy food or ugly crying to Mr. Rogers.

[@DianeJennings]

Good thought!!

[@edrodriguez9431]

"ugly crying to Mr. Rogers" hahaha

[@CitiesTurnedToDust]

Replace "weird" with "adorable" and I'm with you.

[@SherriLyle80s]

I went to a co worker's gender reveal, (I felt obligated) and was not fond of how they did the reveal. They put some kind of smoke bomb in the tailpipe of a dirt bike (the father rides them I guess) and I was really far away from it because I was afraid it would explode or something 😂 I have two daughters 13 and 10, and gender reveals weren't even a thing back then that I can remember. I was happy just calling my family to let them know the gender to make it easier to pick clothes etc.

[@kimsparks5811]

I went to one once & the husband couldn't contain his disappointment that they were having a second boy. Yikes! Made me sad

[@wabash9000]

I always thought my family didn't celebrate mother's or father's day. So I never knew when they were. I only learned this last year, but it turns out the reason we didn't celebrate them is because my dad was a bit of a jerk to my mom after my brother was born. Normally the dad is supposed to help the kids celebrate mother's day until they are old enough to make plans. My mom asked my dad what he was going to do for my brother's first mother's day and he replied with "You're not my mother". Crushed me to learn that and I wish I had known as a kid.

[@chipparmley]

wow

[@DianeJennings]

That’s really sad but wasn’t your fault as a kid

[@chellenickle333]

My dad said and did the same thing when we were growing up! My mom would drive us to the store to get her something and then act surprised when she opened it. I think that was very common with older generations.

[@theresedavis2526]

The sad truth is that too many men are parent fails. Women are better off without them.

[@randaldavis8976]

In my family, hand me downs were collected. you got a box of them at the baby shower. Everyone bought well made baby clothing and it lasted for many many children over the generations. Classic styled clothes never go out of style.

[@CitiesTurnedToDust]

Yeah that's how I got my favorite top hat and cravat. And I guess my spats and cane, too. Oh, and my favorite racoon coat.

[@nailsofinterest]

In mine "grandma" kept all the baby stuff in her nice huge attic. When expecting or needing something you just went and borrowed it Still miss her😢 (and her house.)

[@Hurley164]

I agree with the holidays thing. Seems more like a money scheme. As for baby showers its never hand me downs, its brand new gifts. Gender reveals are new in the USA as well, really annoying. Its like people get bored and find any reason to create some type of stupid event.

[@BillW1]

Beware the shops that start overloading the cup with ice to give you less of the drink.

[@DianeJennings]

True! Also, in some parts, you need to be careful as it’s made from tap water of the tap water isn’t good

[@chipparmley]

if i'm getting a drink to go, especially one of those large gas station fountain drinks, I dont get ice at all. The drink is already cold and wont be watered down when i finish it.

[@JL-kf8mw]

I love when they give you tap water ice when you ask for bottled water. What’s the point of that?

[@edkeaton]

Happy Friday to both Diane and your little guy, Chewie! You always have something interesting to see on here every week! Have a great weekend and be well! 😎👍

[@DianeJennings]

Thank you! You too!

[@CapnDan57]

That Toot-Toot is Chewie pulling the air horn in his truck! Hahahahaha, ED "...'cause I'm a Ball of Light and Love..."

[@Dr-Alexander-The-Great]

I saw a pencil with erasers on both ends, I thought, what’s the point

[@TR4200]

I was asked to stop singing Oasis songs in public… I Said Maybe!

[@lawrencedavis9246]

{{{ groan }}}

[@DianeJennings]

😂😂😂

[@LindaC616]

🤣

[@chicken2jail]

Hi Diane! I got my hair cut short once and at first, I hated it. But then it grew on me. Have a great weekend!

[@DianeJennings]

Hahaha 😂

[@bkm2797]

Love when you do these Diane, so yes please, I would love to hear what Europe will most likely no adopt. Thanks and have a great weekend!

[@DonP_is_lostagain]

My dad taught me to always tip if the service was good, or you really appreciated what was done. I was at LA airport once coming home from a business/vacay trip and had golf clubs with me. The baggage guy helped me out of the cab and I tipped him like $10 bucks for handling the bags. I was in line to checkin and next thing I know he's pulling me out of line and handing me off to a VIP handler! I was like..."Cool!".

[@oliviayoung8040]

He gets paid nothing. Yes he has to rely on tips. Not Europeans. Something is wrong with that. Ok great you gave him a great tip.

[@charlesbrown4483]

Europeans make less money than us Americans, a lot less. And before opening your inbred mouth, you should maybe spend at least 30 seconds googling American laws and then you’d maybe find out about state and federal minimum wages, tipped minimum wage, etc… But I guess critical thinking isn’t the strong suit of people who have all that “royal” blood huh? You’re less about thinking and more about drinking liquor and smoking cigarettes when you’re 14😂

[@alan86753091]

Usually for the first baby it’s a shower. For the second baby it’s a sprinkle. I think waiting until the ninth month is normally safe to have a shower. Regarding ice and soft drinks. I’ll be in Budapest in June, I hope they add ice.

[@chipparmley]

beautiful city I hope you have a good time.

[@DianeJennings]

Maybe be careful if you’re going somewhere new with ice as it will come from the top… So you want to be sure it’s it’s OK with your tummy

[@wabash9000]

The ground floor/1st floor thing, I think that comes from Seattle. Seattle used to have major flooding issues, so they built up all of the roads 10 feet from the ground to give more drainage under the roads. So there is a lot of old buildings that have 1st floor at street level and the ground floor is the basement.

[@DianeJennings]

🤪 me processing this

[@markedwards3647]

Seattle. and most of FL are going to be flooded within the next 10 years. Not a good idea for real estate investment, except in VERY short term. Ethics might be a problem. Many residents will lose everything, and some will die in their homes.

[@johnbratcher8398]

@@DianeJennings if it helps any, you get used to the floor thing. We have it both ways in the US. I was a little confused the first couple of times I saw a ground floor, but figured ot out rather quickly.

[@jacobfrederick3614]

Around me I’d have to do a survey of buildings with elevators. You can enter the ground floor or 1st floor, depending on which side of the building you walk to.

[@WOOF95]

You are such a cultural maven--and an entertaining one!! To find a topic, research the data, write a script, memorize it, and presenting it in such an authentic way is amazing. If you had a daily cable or TV show, your viewership would be so entertained!

[@davidwillford3119]

Editor Diane is a delightful ball of light and love.

[@DianeJennings]

Hehe 😉

[@Entiox]

I guess the fact that I don't post any pictures of myself on social media (barely any pictures of me even exist), my name is the same as a character from a popular TV series, and there are a number of university professors and business people with the same name all make it that I don't show up on Google searches of my real name. I'm very happy with that.

[@DianeJennings]

Fair!

[@markedwards3647]

Yeah, I paid $40 to a graphic artist co-worker for a portrait that I (very rarely) use on social media- it looks too much like me, but it was appropriate to pay him that for his time and skill. I use different names on social media, and rarely appear other on youtube. My symbol is a brigit's cross.

[@fordhouse8b]

My particular combination of names pretty much ensures that I will be the only one on the planet with it.

[@markheffernan876]

Diane, Thank you for another awesome video! I also like my drinks cold but not with the glass filled to the brim with ice When the ice melts the drink is completely diluted and tastes awful. Thanks agan, loved seeing Chewie!. Please stay safe! Excelsior! Heff

[@ryanmccarthy2033]

Sweet Diane I haven't seen your videos in my feed in months and got wrapped up in other videos and forgot about u. When I saw your face today I brightened up at the thought of catching up with you and chewy. Much love from the U.S.

[@Joshua-jg3vf]

Great video!!!! Hi Chewie!!! I cannot fathom a world where someone outside of one's family (or to small degree direct neighborhood) reprimanding another's child. As a man (lest I be chaperoned by a woman) I'd think twice just approaching one to help with a skinned knee while walking by. And it is nice to hear AC & iced drinks are making the rounds. Gift giving one on one is almost always expected for instant opening. Birthday parties & such too, as it's usually part of the event. I too Google myself here & there, which brings me to my favorite word: quixotic. I love everything from the look, sound to the etymology & most certainly the definition!!!

[@no2all]

Flex culture today is getting a dozen eggs for a price under $7.00. Now that is a great shopping score.

[@DianeJennings]

Omg I heard that’s crazy!

[@rocketsjudoka]

I'm an architect and in response to a couple of things you were wondering about. The floor numbering of starting with first floor adoption might have to do with the International Building Code. Calculations for allowable number of floors and exiting is based on floor count so the figures start with floor one at grade level. Obviously you can figure this out starting with "G" but it is just easier and more consistent to start with 1 and avoids confusion. especially with international clients, consultants, etc. Air con. Even though there are some who doubt it the World is getting warmer. Europe in the last ten years have seen some of the warmest record summers with heat waves, droughts and fires in several parts of Europe. Traditional European homes both rural and urban were not designed for that sort of climate and it's not just getting to be a matter of comfort but also safety to have AC. Also in places in Asia like Singapore and China they really like to crank up the AC inside stores and it's not unusual to go from an outdoor temp of 36 C outside in Singapore to an indoor temp of under 20 C in modern shopping malls. Finally just in case you're wondering there are National pet days in the US. National Dog Day is August 26. National Cat Day is October 29.

[@paratroopdawg]

Thanks for the original content once more, Diane.

[@rickeycarey4556]

Baby showers are a good idea instead of gifts make a trust fund are a good idea to give the baby a good start on life's journey. I celebrated today Diane with a veggie cheese pizza. Stay warm, eats some good food and give chewie some treats. Thanks for the premiere and the Video. Happy Friday and Weekend.

[@DianeJennings]

So true! Will do. Happy weekend!

[@rickeycarey4556]

@@DianeJennings 🎵🎸🍿📽💻🥳

[@banshee6k]

OMG! Trucker Chewie in the thumbnail???!!! Until I saw it I didn't realize how happy I needed that! How many jobs can we have Chewie perform in future thumbs?

[@LindaC616]

I love that idea!

[@no2all]

Favorite word: pugnacious. After a few times of using it, I was informed that it had nothing to do with being like a pug breed dog.

[@DianeJennings]

That’s a GREAT word!!

[@CitiesTurnedToDust]

I disagree. I think many pugs are plenty pugnacious.

[@ganapatikamesh]

I have some friends who didn't have the baby shower until after the baby was born. It's definitely not common in the part of the US where I'm from, but apparently it was common in the small town in the part of the US where they grew up. They also had thoughts similar to yours about the idea of having the shower before the baby was born. Yes, I think that other list would be interested. I agree that it's great whenever different cultures start sharing different things with each other so they become common, especially the things that just seem like nice variety or add some fun to life that maybe was missing before. I'd be curious what things the US has adopted from Europe and elsewhere over the last five to ten years that people didn't expect to ever catch on in the US. And things that people think won't ever catch on in the US or vice versa. Great video! Thanks for making and sharing it!

[@Pokesus]

The jeans pants. 👖 Here in Spain they are not called Jeans, they are called "pantalones vaqueros" or "cowboy pants" in English. (American English)

[@DianeJennings]

Oh wow! I actually didn’t know that

[@chipparmley]

very cool

[@LindaC616]

🙂

[@nielsstrandskov6705]

In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the first three levels of many office building elevators will be denominated "GR" "SK" "3" -- SK is for skyway, the pedestrian bridge network that connects the 2nd floors of many downtown buildings. And I think "GR" is more popular than "1" for the benefit of people who are unfamiliar with the skyway, and thus don't automatically assume it refers to the 2nd floor.

[@PinkTuskedMammoth]

Oddly here in the states we used to tip for ALL services not just servers at restaurants. Delivery guy got a tip (and not just the pizza guy), the bellhop got a tip, even lawn care people I think got tipped at one point. But with the way Americans have been leaning, tipping is becoming less common outside of food service.

[@chellenickle333]

Growing up, my parents ALWAYS gave the trash guys, mail person, newspaper delivery, a little bit of money at Christmas as a thank you gift/tip. Now My brothers and I do it. Other people our age and older have said their parents also did that and they do as well which leads me to believe it's very much a generational thing. I'm not really sure what the reason was behind older gens tipping everyone...

[@leonwilkinson8124]

Diane, I can see the utility of baby showers in providing first-time parents with things they might not have thought about or, possibly, afford. Granted, some gifts aren't very useful, but things like blankets and diapers are always appreciated, I think. If one can discern discretely that the couple doesn't have a crib or a car seat, several people can go in on a larger gift. "Corporate holidays" is a great term I hadn't heard. Thank you for that one. Apropos of which, there's an old "Peanuts" cartoon in which Linus correctly predicts that when Lucy inquires of their mother why there isn't a Children's Day since there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day (and even Grandparent's Day now, I think), their mother replies with understated sarcasm, "Every day is children's day." You were obviously raised to consider other people, a quality that doesn't seem to be much applied in the U.S. today. For example, we were always encouraged to let the other person go first in whatever it was as a matter of politeness, even, for example, at your own birthday party. In the parlance, "You're good people."

[@alu.minium521]

Hi Diane. Admin note. The notifications for a new short being posted comes 2 days after it is up.

[@DianeJennings]

Oh wow! Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about it my end. It’s a KZbin thing.

[@WilliamCooper-l6f]

This was a very interesting show and I liked it a lot. A/C use in Europe is probably more of a backup system type thing for unusually hot days, than a daily luxury. It was because America had such a strong Christian beginning, that it adopted so many wonderful fun day celebrations. Don't forget the Sweet 16 party, observing the ground hog weather 🌡️ forecast or groundhog's day, memorial day, labor day, Easter, Thanksgiving 🦃, New Year's Eve, Flag day, and on and on and on. Much like a wedding reception, where you offer a gift (often some kind of appliance or bathroom product) to the new couple to help them afford their first place, by setting them up for success, the baby shower does the same thing, in giving people an excuse to help the struggling new family succeed, relieving them of having to buy all those expensive baby products. I don't know any mother with a baby that will refuse free diapers, do you? So, it's a celebration that is long overdue across the pond and I'm glad it's catching on in popularity.

[@gregblair5139]

Funny thing I do is that if a gift is sent (such as flowers) I send a photo back to the sender. This was a good thing, as somebody ordered a much better one than the one that arrived, so she asked for a price adjustment.

[@ptournas]

Pumpernickel. I love the bread too, but I love the word itself. I have no idea why, maybe because there's so many funny ways to say it!

[@socket_error1000]

Easter is actually a fertility holiday first and a religious holiday 2nd. The Spring fertility and planting festival is where all the bunnies and eggs (both symbols of fertility) come from in Easter symbology. Add grass, flowers, and other candy versions of non-religious things more often associated with planting or spring and it makes much more sense. We have just never lost the spring planting and fertility connections to the holiday even if the link has been forgotten by most.

[@theresedavis2526]

Easter is just an excuse to gorge on sweets. It's lost it's meaning, both as a celebration of resurrection and as a celebration of fertility. Sad but true.

[@socket_error1000]

@@theresedavis2526 This is true, but much in the same way other holidays that we celebrate have also morphed and changed their meanings, while still having a lot of the old pagan symbolism associated with it. Evergreen bushes brought in the home and decorated, a feast and exchange of gifts with family and friends, were all part of the Roman celebration of Saturnalia and the winter solstice. These traditions were so popular even among early Christians, the early church moved the day they celebrated Christs' birthday to co-opt the holiday. And you would be surprised how recently it was that it was openly celebrated in both contexts. (I should note: I use the word "pagan" in a context of pre-Judeo/Christian. and not to mean primitive or evil.)

[@jaredrobinson7071]

Great video as always. Love your content. I've always wondered why Aircon over there and not AC?

[@comput3rman77]

You get used to the whole floor thing. At least here in New England, I've seen both ground and 1st used to indicate the floor you come in on. Sometimes buildings that are built into a hillside have both!

[@seanmagee4992]

I spent years making fun of Canadians about asking me to meet for coffee. I constantly told my Canadian wife that in Ireland, nobody would say such a thing, it would be, "Are you going for a pint" I was very disappointed the last time I went home,to see that, going for coffee, has become a thing in Ireland too. Looks like pubs are being replaced by Costa coffee

[@dongleason9878]

That air-conditioning rule would not stand here in the U.S. 27 degrees Celsius is 81 degrees fahrenheit and that's way too hot for a movie theater or even a mall.

[@johnsample7391]

I cannot say that I have heard of people giving hand-me-downs as gifts at a baby shower. (An offer might be made in a one-on-one setting between friends or family members.) "Gifting" a hand-me-down might be due to the gift giver knowing that they will not be around when the gift is opened.

[@DianeJennings]

Uhhh maybe I was unclear? I meant a lot of people give hand me downs after the baby is born anyway.

[@LindaC616]

Yeah, I've never heard of that. I mean, if your sister or cousin isn't having more kids, yes, clothes are passed on. But never passed OFF as new/gift

[@michaelsommers2356]

Regarding tipping, a good waiter can make a lot more from tips than he or she could ever make at minimum wage.

[@DianeJennings]

I’m sure the people employing them are delighted that their negligence has an upside to the detriment of the customer

[@michaelsommers2356]

@@DianeJennings If wages had to be increased to avoid tipping, then the prices on the menu would go up.

[@christopherlundgren3499]

I enjoy your videos very much! You, and Chewie, make me smile a lot. :-) my favorite word is "sesquipedalian". Thank you

[@lawrencedavis9246]

I've been scrolling up and down looking for Raspberry Jam's poetry, but seems to be somewhere else at the moment.

[@DianeJennings]

Aww I luv this! I think sometimes they’re working during the FHC

[@LindaC616]

Posted now

[@razzberrylogic]

I got here a little late today, but my poetry jam has been posted. Thanks for scrolling.

[@lawrencedavis9246]

​​@@razzberrylogic Sorry about the name mix-up, I know someone else with that name. I have an issue with names, friends have stopped correcting me. I once had to issue an apology in a posting of The Project because I kept referring to another Patron by my nephew's name.

[@aliceaurelia594]

I've never been to a gender reveal party. It's something very new and hasn't really caught on in my area of the USA. A baby shower, though, is always fun. It tends to be given for the first child. Subsequent kids can get along with hand-me-downs.

[@theresedavis2526]

Children are treated like objects. They sadly become less of a novelty after the first child. There's no indifference like parental "love". 🙄

[@jchow5966]

This was super interesting - thank you!

[@mattheweudy2396]

Favourite word: Caddywhompus

[@DianeJennings]

Good one

[@neilis2405]

I don't think the disciplining other people's children bit is a result of fear of being sued, but rather just people being very sensitive. There's a saying with family: "I'm on their side even if they're wrong.". If someone is disciplining your child then that's an aggression, and one would want to defend their child at that moment even if the child might latter get in trouble.

[@TR4200]

3:26 The Doggy bag should always be accompanied by a Roadie.

[@DianeJennings]

Like… a groupie?

[@TR4200]

@@DianeJennings A to go drink. (noun) An alcoholic drink that you have in the car.

[@morgan97475]

Glad to hear about the a/c thing. But keeping a store at 27 C or 80F is rather warm. If you have a/c, use the heck out of it! Icicles from the ceiling!!

[@johnclark2212]

Tipping is a bad idea, employers ALWAYS use it as an excuse to cut wages, and in the US the government taxes on an expected rate of tips, not what the worker actually makes in tips.

[@paulobrien9572]

One of my favorite words would be Serendipitous it reminds of the the day I discovered your channel. 😉💚

[@DianeJennings]

Love that! Great word 🥰

[@greendragonpublishing]

Concatenation is my favorite word. Because it's fun to say!

[@ncbentle9154]

On floor names: I once heard someone say that it's the ground floor because you're on the ground. No, I'm in a building on the first floor. If I walk outside the building then I'm on the ground.

[@wjr10110]

Super fun topic for a video, Diane, Have a great weekend!

[@DianeJennings]

Thank you! You too! 🎉

[@timmmahhhh]

If you want to hear a classic comedy bit on commercializing the holidays look up Green Christmas by Stan Freeberg.

[@protonneutron9046]

I predicted the electricity crisis in Europe 20 years ago when physics was thrown out the window and politicians decided that "green" energy was NOT 300% more expensive as standard base load generation.

[@DianeJennings]

I can’t comment on the political stuff but… predicting something that’s fairly likely to happen 20 years ago seems a bit like writing a zodiac prediction in the newspaper 😜

[@LindaC616]

Spain was having trouble with the electricity when I was there in either 2005 or 2007. It was the hottest summer they had on record for the last 40 years, and they were threatening people with charging them for the electricity that they used. People in Seville were losing their minds

[@protonneutron9046]

@@DianeJennings No. It was only likely to happen if people in power decided to destroy an entire infrastructure. The voters didn't think it would happen. So, the majority of people got it wrong. Only a few got it right. Same with Germany. Once the Russian company Gazprom was able to bribe the Chancellor with a cushy job...

[@protonneutron9046]

@@LindaC616 Yes, that was right after the voters decided to collapse their econ by going more to the left. Then they started building solar and everything went to hell.

[@LindaC616]

@@protonneutron9046 but they have been using wind energy for decades

[@jefflittleton2777]

Love your posts. Have you watched any of the posts from "JOLLY", I just saw one of thiers about British High Schoolers try American baskets and gravy for the first time, I thought you might find it amusing

[@razzberrylogic]

The lines between Europe and America are being blurred Many things America does have been transferred It’s mostly fine, but some things are indubitably absurd (gender reveals) And since you asked, penultimate is my favorite word

[@DianeJennings]

Hooray! Lawrence was wondering where you were below…🎉

[@davidbriggs6086]

It would have been funnier if he had said that penultimate was his second favorite word.

[@theresedavis2526]

It's not fine at all!

[@hebneh]

“Ground floor” and “first floor” are synonymous in the US. The next floor up is always the second floor. And in large high rise buildings the ground / first floor can also be called the lobby, just to confuse things more.

[@martinhopkins6712]

ED, KZbin’s favorite ray of sunshine!

[@benjauron5873]

I visit people's homes all the time in my job, and the ground-floor/first-floor distinction is prevalent here.

[@SLG0921]

For gift giving/opening, it depends on the situation. If your friend drops by to give you a belated birthday gift, you might open it right then but if you're talking a party/shower, there's usually a table where the gifts go and they're opened later. Mother's Day is quite the big deal here with many restaurants having brunch and unless you make a reservation, you're not getting in. Father's Day is more of a back yard cookout kind of holiday. In both cases, a small gift like maybe a gift card is the norm.

[@Ryan_Dye-r]

In America sometimes the ground level floor is referred to as both the "ground" floor and the "first" floor interchangably.

[@winterburden]

Thanks for sharing these things Diane!

[@DianeJennings]

You are so welcome!

[@tylerpaschall4363]

I grew up and currently live in the American South, and we still believe in the idea of “It takes a village to raise a child.” You might not see this in cities, but in the country, basically any adult can chastise or at least bring the attention of the parent behavior that is commonly considered bad or disrespectful. And it’s not a statement about parenting, it’s an accepted idea that kids are going to get up to certain things, and they should be chastised when caught. I think that children should be free to run around and get in a certain amount of trouble. I think the biggest problem is over policing of children. So many parents and grandparents ask why kids aren’t having the same experiences they had. It’s because you shut them indoors and put them in front of a screen while vilifying the behavior you grew up doing. Thank you for reading my TED talk.

[@LS1007]

Great video today D! Hope you have a great weekend and be safe! ❤️🫵🏻☘️🇮🇪🇺🇸

[@DianeJennings]

Thank you! You too!

[@nailsofinterest]

So if you have a 2 story house, same rules? Don't count the ground level? I'm actually confused

[@markedwards3647]

Caps on AC are sensible. Decades ago, I worked in Horizon's IT department. They had all their minicomputer servers in one room, and kept that room at about 60F( 15C) That was cheaper than keeping the liquid cooling systems for their hundreds of thousands worth of computers coping with temps of the 85F (about 25C) ambient. Apparently, they were not interested in targeted AC, so I drove to work in 34C, and put on a parka for work at my desk, at the opposite end of the building, which was kept at a steady 15C. I am grateful for Horizon giving my wife and me free flights to and from Vancouver, but some of their managers were REALLY stupid.

[@TimSeibel]

Starfire! That’s my favorite word. I stole it from one of my previous clients, the Starfire Lumber Company. What does the word “Starfire” have to do with lumber? With trees in general? Nothing at all, but it is a really cool name - it’s downright stellar! 😂

[@mattheweudy2396]

Fun video with adorable thumb nail- just the thing to start my day in a cheerful & thought provoking way😁 oh the floor thing is all Caddywhompus🤣

[@gregmcmahon957]

Happy Friday! I really love this video. Have a very good weekend.

[@DianeJennings]

Thank you so much!

[@mikeef747]

In the US, any place you order at a counter, bring your drink or food yourself to a table, a tip is not customary and never has been! Don't let them guilt you into a tip with a tip jar when they did not provide you any service. Tipping is for service, not self-service.

[@michaelsommers2356]

Regarding the commercialization of Christmas, see a book by Nissenbaum called _The Battle for Christmas._ It's about how Christmas has been celebrated in the US. The Christmas we know today, with the family exchanging gifts around the tree, was a commercial invention. Christmas was originally a rowdy holiday, with people going from house to house, breaking in, and demanding drink, food, drink, money, and drink, saying, in the words of one wassailing carol, "We won't go until we get some." That was the Christmas that the Puritans banned. Towards the end of the 18th century, society got more genteel, and so that kind of celebration became less acceptable, and it was replaced by the father giving hand-made gifts to the rest of the family. That kind of celebration really took off when store-bought gifts became a thing. Originally, the most popular gifts were books for children containing all sorts of edifying stories. The earliest newspaper ad the author found for special Christmas gifts was from 1806. So the modern Christmas was basically invented by stores as a way to sell gifts.

[@koelekahuna9370]

Be thankful they're not throwing in Mezzanine floors!

[@seanellio]

I hate gift opening (Christmas asides, because it's fun to watch the little ones)

[@chrisperosa]

You were talking about ice. If you drink expensive whiskey, you don't want to dilute it with ice. They have whiskey stones. A cube of polished granite that you put in the freezer overnight. It cools the whiskey, you wash and dry them, then put them back in the freezer. My favorite word is sesquipedalian, because it is what it is.

[@yugioht42]

the Flexing idea actually started in Japan as the economy recovered after WW2. People literally bought everything and it just brought so many headaches. No one really does it much anymore as money is growing tight. Mostly people brag about their houses as they have nice stuff in them but it is what it is.

[@margegarland7635]

In the u.s, people want gifts to be opened in front of them so they can see if the receiver really likes it, and not faking it

[@michaelsommers2356]

My family never celebrated Fathers' or Mothers' Day. My father was a golf writer, and every year he would go the the US Open golf tournament, which always ends on Fathers' Day weekend, so he was never home for that holiday.

[@theotherhalf6303]

Where I'm from in canada, the phone is the one taking humans and the dog for a walk. lol

[@davidmills9685]

I think you have a lot to do with ice in Europe Diane two years ago. "We don't serve ice in Europe you come back from America " I like my drinks with ice" yep Diane I think you help it along.

[@dvdbluraydude3038]

In America the ground floor is normally referred to as the Lobby or sometimes 1st floor. The one American holiday that has got totally commercialized over the years is “Presidents Days” for mattress sales. I have no idea how this all got started?

[@TheSammyreynolds]

I've never heard the 1st floor called the lobby.

[@dvdbluraydude3038]

@@TheSammyreynolds At hotels & business.

[@stargazer1682]

2:34 It's relative. Certainly no one should provide capital punishment for someone else's child, namely something spanking, bt that doesn't strictly mean there aren't circumstances to hold them accountable. I just of this one time a few years ago, I was with my dad and step-dad at the grocery story and there were these kids just running mad around the store, their parents were saying nothing; and in the checkout line, these same damn kids - fairly young, probably at least 6-7 years old, maybe slightly older - are buzzing around an empty checkout booth next to where we were checking out; and they start playing some of the store radios and stuff. My step-dad looks over the counter and gives them "dad look". And, it was impressive. I didn't grow up having my stepdad as a parent, so I was never on the receiving end of his dad look, but even as a bystander - it wasn't threatening, he said nothing, but you and these kids knew they were in trouble. And just like that * they did and about face and went back to their parents.

[@stargazer1682]

Tangentially, I also direct a school musical for a local middle school (11-14 year olds) and they get pretty rowdy. So not only I frequently telling them to stop talking, sometimes we have to have the proverbial "come to Jesus" talk, where they need to show they're more committed and get their act together, so to speak. I'm not sure it would be described as punishment in the conventional sense, or at least how this is describing it, but there have been some who have faced the consequence of their behavior. I've only had to ask student to no longer be part of the musical, because they were too disruptive. But others have had their roles reduced.

[@iapetusmccool]

Capital punishment for naughty children is probably excessive, although some of them make you wish it was available.

[@mothwings99]

@@iapetusmccoolThey must have meant corporal. It made me laugh though 😂😂😂

[@jimgorycki4013]

My favorite random word is scintillating . Which pretty much describes you. Anywho. If I go to a restaurant, I tip. Here in Kuwait, there are foreign workers (from Philippines, India, Bengladesh, Nepal to name a few) and they don't make much. Same with the barbers (they're from Turkey), I tip them.