It's Memorial Day Weekend (for those living in the USA)

The Suitor · Sun 25/05/2008 20:04:02

...and I live in a tourist town. I can't even go to the gas station for a pack of cigarettes without standing in a long line. This place is packed!

Yesterday, I had to help some tourists from Indiana get one of their BMW crotch-rockets back on the road. One of them that were renting our cabin got drunk and drove it over the hill! But hell, at least they insisted on paying us, even though we "service" it for free.

Anyway, all this brings me to my "real" point...

People from all over the world come to the Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge (Slade, KY). Has anyone from this forum been here?

Just curious to know...

_{Edit by Andail: Gave thread a more specified topic}

Tuomas · Sun 25/05/2008 20:08:03

What's Memorial Day Weekend?

Nacho · Sun 25/05/2008 20:11:15

Man, if you don' t really care, why do you post? Phew...

The level of this forums is going down, with no brakes...

The Suitor · Sun 25/05/2008 20:32:01

Tuomas: It's the weekend before Memorial Day... A big holiday in America... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Nacho: Ah, I do care, I dunno why I type things the way I do sometimes :

Pumaman · Sun 25/05/2008 23:28:00

I like how public holidays in America all have proper names -- "Memorial Day", "Labour Day", "Independance Day", "Thanksgiving" ... they all sound like they have a purpose and actually mean something.

Whereas we get such inspired names as "Spring Bank Holiday", "Summer Bank Holiday", "May Day", "Easter Monday" and "New Year's Day". I think I shall start a campaign to rename all the holidays after famous films, vegetables or terrorists.

Domino · Sun 25/05/2008 23:30:42

Osama Bin Laden Day

That would not work here.

deadsuperhero · Mon 26/05/2008 00:41:49

Quote from: Domino on Sun 25/05/2008 23:30:42
Osama Bin Laden Day

That would not work here.

But, the crashing towers in the Osama Bin Laden Day Parade would be the best feature! And everyone would wear a turban and yell "alalalalala"

...Yes, a bit immature. Made me laugh, though.

The Suitor · Mon 26/05/2008 04:11:07

Quote from: Pumaman on Sun 25/05/2008 23:28:00
I like how public holidays in America all have proper names -- "Memorial Day", "Labour Day", "Independance Day", "Thanksgiving" ... they all sound like they have a purpose and actually mean something.

Believe it or not we don't call it independence day.

Simply, the 4th of July. <--- Now that has meaning

Captain Lexington · Mon 26/05/2008 05:34:42

Believe it or not "Independence Day" is the real name for it, just most people call it the 4th of July.

Of course, Punaman, we also call it "New Year's Day."

I'm sure we're all jealous of Canada and their Boxing Day.

What a great day.

The Suitor · Mon 26/05/2008 06:40:16

Quote from: The Orator on Mon 26/05/2008 05:34:42
Believe it or not "Independence Day" is the real name for it, just most people call it the 4th of July.

Yes, I concur... But my point was that I've hardly ever heard anyone properly say, "It's Independence Day." Seems like it would be awkward. Nevertheless, the beer and fireworks is what it's really all about!! (I dare someone to get offended from that last statement.)

evenwolf · Mon 26/05/2008 09:55:06

We've got so many 4th of July ripoff holidays we don't even know what we're celebrating anymore.

Memorial means remember, but what the fuck exactly?? I remember there was a Memorial Day last year. YAY! Cheers to last year's what the fuck are we celebrating day!

We need to transition to "holihours" because we don't have enough days in the year to remember all this shit!

skuttleman · Mon 26/05/2008 13:39:51

Quote from: evenwolf on Mon 26/05/2008 09:55:06
We need to transition to "holihours" because we don't have enough days in the year to remember all this shit!

.. as long as we still get off a full day's work, though. I ain't remembering JACK SHIT if I have to go into work an hour late.

Sylvr · Mon 26/05/2008 18:47:35

Quote from: The Orator on Mon 26/05/2008 05:34:42
I'm sure we're all jealous of Canada and their Boxing Day.

What? We're the only ones with Boxing Day?

Ryan Timothy B · Tue 27/05/2008 00:15:09

I did not know that we were the only ones with Boxing day. I would've sworn USA had boxing day also. hmmm

Also on a personal note, I have NO idea what boxing day is supposed to be or where the name originated. I just know there are amazing deals at almost every store on Boxing day. Last boxing day I got in an already Big lineup with an hour and a half before Future Shop even opened. You should have seen the line once the store did open. OMG. It wrapped around the whole building.

evenwolf · Tue 27/05/2008 00:19:58

Quote from: Ryan Timothy on Tue 27/05/2008 00:15:09
an hour and a half before Future Shop even opened.

You've exposed yourself Time Traveler! Hold still while we harness your technology!

Ponch · Tue 27/05/2008 00:38:05

Quote from: The Suitor on Sun 25/05/2008 20:04:02
People from all over the world come to the Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge (Slade, KY). Has anyone from this forum been here?

I've been there. As I recall, it was pretty nice. My sister lives in KY and, over the years, I've seen lots of the state. Aside from the horrible humidity, the Bluegrass State is very green and filled with unusually friendly people.

- Ponch

monkey0506 · Tue 27/05/2008 00:50:57

Quote from: Ponch on Tue 27/05/2008 00:38:05horrible humidity

Try south-east Texas. 9 times of 10 we've got at least 100% humidity.

Disco · Tue 27/05/2008 04:01:12

Quote from: monkey_05_06 on Tue 27/05/2008 00:50:57
Quote from: Ponch on Tue 27/05/2008 00:38:05horrible humidity

Try south-east Texas. 9 times of 10 we've got at least 100% humidity.

Not to mention Michigan...while not in danger of being the hottest state by any means the humidity can be quite harsh. Being surrounded by Great Lake on three sides might be an awesome natural resource, but it is a bitch on the pits.

zeeman645 · Tue 27/05/2008 06:05:14

Quote from: Pumaman on Sun 25/05/2008 23:28:00
I like how public holidays in America all have proper names -- "Memorial Day", "Labour Day", "Independance Day", "Thanksgiving" ... they all sound like they have a purpose and actually mean something.

Whereas we get such inspired names as "Spring Bank Holiday", "Summer Bank Holiday", "May Day", "Easter Monday" and "New Year's Day". I think I shall start a campaign to rename all the holidays after famous films, vegetables or terrorists.

they do mean something.

evenwolf · Tue 27/05/2008 06:58:36

O RLY?

I suppose you knew that Thanksgiving used to be the last thursday of November? In 1939 it was set to be November 30 and FDR decided we needed an earlier economic boost with Christmas shopping. So he changed it to the fourth Thursday of the month. Now November 30th ( my birthday ) will NEVER be Thanksgiving so thanks ALOT DOUCHE BAG!!!!!!

Thanksgiving is anything BUT indians and pilgrims. That's the sales pitch. Thanksgiving is actually a symbol for Civil War Reparations. And more recently Thanksgiving = $$$ , and thats-a-pretty-much it. Anything that sounds innocent and gets people to shop = official holiday. I won't even mention X-Mas. But it's all about economic stimulus. Why do you think we have so many fond memories? BECAUSE AS KIDS WE GOT FREE STUFF!!! YAY!

Politics of Thanksgiving: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/thanksgiving.htm

Deconstructing Thanksgiving Myths: http://www.oyate.org/resources/shortthanks.html

So funny how Pilgrims sat down with Native Americans and ate together like a family. And then spent the next couple hundred years killing each other off and shoving tribes further west into reservations. Gee, I wonder why "Bloodfest" wouldn't make a nice family holiday? Hmmmmmm.

While Geronimo was on the loose defending himself and his tribe, killing settlers and soldiers who threatened his livelihood.... I wonder what T-Day was like.

"Boy Martha, Thanksgiving was so much more fun when the Indians played along and wore those paper bag costumes. Pass the corn."