Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with country

Taking a Loan in a Foreign Country

Giovanna123 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:33:17 -0800

I would like to know if I took a bank loan in another country and had the money wired to me here in the US, around 160K, if the IRS would tax that amount. I called them and apparently they didn't know because they could not answer the question. I will have to pay back that loan so i would imagine that the amount wouldn't be taxed here (as long as i prove to the IRS that i got the loan).

Dating someone in another country?

KimikoPi — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:32:18 -0800

How do you date someone in another country? I met someone about 1 month ago on a dating site. 100 messages and daily chatting later, we're quite bonded. However, I do realize the importance of meeting in person sooner rather than later. So for the first meeting, I'm not sure if we should meet somewhere halfway. Or, if I flew to his country (which is quite expensive), would the proper etiquette be for him to offer to share the costs?

If there's anyone out there who's taken a gander at this, how did you do it?

How to Change a Chorus Without Changing a Chorus

jefficator — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:43:16 -0800

Is there a name for the use of one chorus to mean entirely different things based on the context of the verse the chorus follows? Can you name further examples? Examples come most readily to my mind from Country Music, but this is likely the case in multiple genres.

For instance, in Tim McGraw's "Don't Take the Girl," the chorus doesn't change through the song. But in the context of the first verse, the chorus means "Don't Take the Girl Fishing." In the context of the second verse, the chorus means, "Don't Take the Girl, Mr. Criminal." In the context of the final verse, the chorus means, "Don't Take the Girl to Heaven."

"How can I help you say goodbye?" Does the same thing--the same chorus transitions meaning when the daughter is sad about moving and when the daughter is sad that the mother is dying. There's another song about a man whose "life is over" when he finds out he is going to be a father. The chorus stays the same, but the meaning changes when later his "life is over" because he's watching he daughter leave.

Is there a name for this effect? Can you think of further examples, especially from other genres?

Country music for a classical musician snob?

quodlibet — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:47:47 -0800

My boyfriend, a classical bass musician, is a music snob when it comes to country music. What country music should I make him listen to in order to prove that the actual music arrangements behind country music are just as good as other genres?

It's Business Time

kathrineg — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:20:31 -0800

Most interesting hip-hop, country, and pop of the 2000s? Songs that made you say whaaa? In a good way or a bad way.

Innovative or just weird.

EXTRA BONUS if they have associated dances! Because I like to dance.

(I am asking this question because I have been really out of touch with the zeitgeist since I graduated from high school in 2001 and there has been another thread recently that covered the other genres I like)

Cell Phone Query

Spyder's Game — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:11:29 -0800

I will be in the Bahamas for ten days for work. My wife will be back here in the States taking care of our two small children. I am worried that I won't be able to reach her. Will my cell phone work? Can I call her from the Bahamas, and can she call me? We are on a Verizon Wireless plan, if that helps. Thanks!

Teaching in order to move abroad

Unred — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:31:17 -0800

I'm curious about teaching English overseas and if anyone has done this and is willing to share their experiences with me. Such as, why did you move abroad to teach English? How long did you do it for? Where did you do it? Would you recommend it? What did you wish you'd been told before considering it?

Help ID a country song please!

inigo2 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:34:21 -0800

Country Song-ID help: very little to go on. A friend was in a bar in Nashville last weekend, and wants to ID a song she heard (DJ, not live music). The only lyric she remembers is "stay off my hit list". Not much to go on, I know. I assume it's a recent song, but can't guarantee that. Googling hasn't helped. Thanks for any help you can give! Hmm..posting at 7:30 on July 3rd might not be the best idea. Oh well.

Scared of going to prison due to tax payments. Need advice...

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:11:31 -0800

Scared of going to prison due to tax payments. Need advice... Please note:
*I was based in the UK.

*I know my spelling and grammar is terrible, I have learning difficulties.

* I now live in a EU country

I recently ran a company for 2 years, 1st year went very well and paid all the taxe for the company, myself and the staff contributions. 2nd year I was hit hard due to rates rising and customers going bankrupt. Which left me in no position to lay-off all the staff and leave the company premises. I tried to keep the company running but was failing to keep up with loan repayments and tax. I barely had enough to survive to pay the bills. I notified companies house that I will no longer be trading in the UK. They asked to write them a letter and I managed to get my accountant to sort out. However taxes was owed to the tax man in which I cannot close the company. There is no chance of getting out of it without declaring myself bankrupt. Which in my proffession means I cannot become a professional in that field anymore. I cannot risk this.

So I decided to move abroad to a country in Europe to start fresh. I left all my personal debt behind for personal loans which started up the company in the first place. My old company will becoming struck-off soon as lack of communication. I have been living abroad for about 8 months, starting up from scratch. Same again, finding it hard to pay bills but without owing anyone where I live. (I will no longer loan money). However I recieved a letter from one of the banks that I owe £800 too, I had not left any information of my wareabouts. They have thretened to take my belongings (Which I don't have any, apart from clothes and work computer). I'm baffled on how they found my address.

I owe approx: £30,000 spread out between banks, loans and credit cards. I leave no bad debt for my company apart from the 2nd year tax in which I lost everything.

I owe approx £3,000 in tax. I had to pay my old staff by selling equipment in the office. Nothing left on the old company is left.

My question is:

* Can the money I owe in the UK get shifted to my countries debt handlers? and risk bailiffs at my door?

* My debt: I have been told if I leave the UK for more than 5 years. The money owed will be cleared. However I have to stay annonoymous in my new address. Is this true?

* I know my company is being struck off in the UK, but the tax I owe. Can I risk getting jailtime for this?

* If I visit family in the UK could I be arrested?

* If I become a registered resident of the new EU country. Could I be tracked by other owed banks in the UK?

Bankrupsy isnt an option :(

I'm having sleepless nights over this and feel like its the end of the road.

I really appriciate any serious response, I know I'm bad for owing money to the banks. But that money was personal to setting up the company in the 1st place.

Country recommendations for the unitiated.

giggleknickers — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:41:59 -0800

Get me interested in country music! I'm one of those people who always hated country music. All the country music I heard was just so painfully cheesy. Then I started watching True Blood and I can't stop listening to the opening song "Bad Things" by Jace Everett. Could anyone recommend some more awesome, non-cheesy country music like that? Thanks!

Were charges filed after an accident?

Man with Lantern — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:39:18 -0800

Help me with a site or source for finding out if charges were filed against a driver involved in an accident in Weld County, Colorado. Colorado State Police is the investigating agency, from what I can determine.

What songs did Bob Dylan steal from?

malapropist — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:59:42 -0800

What old or traditional songs has Bob Dylan bogarted for his own use? To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I like Dylan's song I Dreamed I Saw Saint Augustine off John Wesley Harding. I was watching a Pete Seeger documentary recently that featured his performance of "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night," and I couldn't believe the similarity of these two lyrics; the phrasing and cadence of these lines was exactly the same, except replacing "St. Augustine" for "Joe Hill Last Night."

I already knew Dylan writes this way. There are other, more apparent examples of Dylan taking a phrase or sentence (or song) and reappropriating it for his own uses, such as Rollin' and Tumblin' off Modern Times. Just to be clear, I don't find this controversial at all, that's simply how folk music works. But after hearing "Joe Hill" I'm starting to realize that there must be many more examples of this that I'm completely unaware of. Do you know of any?

I've been looking to get more into old folk, country and blues lately, but it all seems a bit overwhelming to this listener's 21st century ears. However, I think if I could listen to a song and draw a connection from there to somewhere in Dylan's work, it would make it that much more interesting to me. So please, your examples of an old-timey song that Dylan pays homage to, references, or just plain flat-out steals?

Looking for Country and Rap/Hip Hop songs NOT in 3/4 or 4/4 time...

querty — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:18:50 -0800

Looking for Country and Rap/Hip Hop songs NOT in 3/4 or 4/4 time... Bonus points if you can find me a Gangsta-Rap song in crazy time signatures. Is there such thing?

Help me find my cowboy wearing bad-ass self...

quodlibet — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:10:05 -0800

MusicFilter: In search of kick ass, up to no good southern/country songs. Since I left the south for cold and dreary New England, I have really been missing country music. I know this is not everyone's definition of country, but these are the songs I like rocking out to in my car esp. as the weather gets warmer.

To be more specific, I am in search of songs that everyone would know at a southern dive bar or would get women up dancing on the bar (think kind of Coyote Ugly style). Def. not looking for sad or slow songs. Some similar songs: Keep Your Hands to Yourself (Georgia Satellites) or Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy (Big and Rich), or Best Days of Your Life (Kellie Pickler) or Gunpowder and Lead (Miranda Lambert). Individual songs are better but I'll take artists in general too. Classics are really great, as are current more pop-y songs, or your friends' local band.

Similar question but not enough answers/quite what I'm looking for. Although I love Jace Everett too.

Options for medium-term pet care?

jpg15 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:17:51 -0800

What are my options for caring for 2 cats while I'm out of the country for months at a time? I have 2 cats who I care for well and have plenty of affection for. Unfortunately, I've taken a job that will involve sporadic periods of travel, lasting 3-6 months. Besides asking a close friend or neighbor for (several) really big favors, what other options to I have?

Who's Got That Old-Time Mountain Murder Music?

Lipstick Thespian — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:50:51 -0800

Gimme That Old-Timey Religion! I'm a huge fan of Carter Family, Doug Wallin, Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Doyle Lawson, the Alan Lomax Collection of Southern music, Smithsonian Folkways, etc. and am looking for other artists that are similar.

I'm hoping the Metaverse can turn me on to some great old-timey musicians that may have escaped my notice. Same for any fantastic compilations or collections of Appalachian, old-timey, trad country music.

Cross Country Boots Flaking Out

brandonjadams — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:53:41 -0800

I have a pair of old 75mm Nordic Norm cross country ski boots. They're leather on the lower half and 'foamy' synthetic on the upper half. The problem is, the 'foamy' synthetic is supposed to be covered with some kinda of vinyl, but like most older xc boots, it seems that the coating has flaked off of my boots. Is there anyway I can make this foamy section weatherproof? Can I stop continued flaking?

Where Are Your Favorite Old-Timey Folk and/or Beats Music On The Net?

Lipstick Thespian — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:45:14 -0800

Newly-minted Radio DJ Needs Great Music Online! I just got the go-ahead to start hosting a new show on a local radio station, and need help finding quality web sites that feature old-timey, folk, and trad country music, as well as any that specialize in gloopy, dubby, breaky beats.

Think Hank Williams meets Hallucinogen, or Pretty Polly meets her Death in Vegas after ingesting Infected Mushrooms.

I'm hoping for sites that have lots of downloads, good background materials on the artists, history, links to labels, etc.

Also: bonus points for any great suggestions for an intro tagline for this kind of show, i.e. "hangover music for robots", or "losing my 808 religion" - something hopefully more catchy than that.

Anyone who comes up with good suggestions will get an on-air nod for their assistance.

Quick camping trip a few hours from Savannah, GA?

apipameme — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:21:19 -0800

Camping spot near Savannah, GA that isn't populated by RVs? Looking to head out 2-3 hours north or south to find a primitive camp site with a group of 5 friends. Any suggestions? I know eastern Georgia isn't prime for camping, but we are looking for a place to camp that isn't crammed in with people. We're open to heading north, south, or east! Thanks for your advice.

Please help me find a country music song

flyingcowofdoom — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:35:43 -0800

I'm looking for a specific country music song that I don't know where I heard. I'm looking for a country song by a male artist that is about growing up in different generations. I think he sings about the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc, from a young person's perspective and about the fads of the time. Anyone have any ideas what song this is? TIA!

WWGPS? (Where Would Gram Parsons shop)

drjimmy11 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:01:47 -0800

WWGPS? (Where Would Gram Parsons shop) I'm looking to buy some clothes, hat and etc. in the "alt country" or "indie country" style, whatever you want to call it. Stuff like this and this, or like some of the men's fashions shown here. I am not so much into tank tops, but I like the hats, maybe the boots, and country style in general, as well as the kind of "earth tones/elbow-patches" look in the first two jpegs.

So, where can I buy stuff like this in the greater L.A. area, either thrift or new?

The question is about where I can buy this stuff, not if you think it's a good idea for me to dress like this, or if you personally like this style, or what you think of country music or Conor Oberst. thanks!!

Instructions for Salomon Automatic2 XC Bindings?

Dreidl — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:29 -0800

How do I operate early 90's vintage Salomon Automatic2 cross country/nordic ski bindings? Where can I find pictures/instructions on this binding? Can these bindings be adjusted or repaired? They're the original SNS standard and I still have the boots.

How to take up XC skiiing?

unSane — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:09:42 -0800

I"m looking for a winter aerobic activity to keep my fitness level up for mountain biking. Cross country skiing is one of them. What should I buy and how hard is it going to be to learn? A few data points:

- I'm pretty aerobically fit

- I'm a good snowboarder but have never been on a pair of skis in my life

- I already snowshoe, but one of my favorite trail systems is XC ski only. Also, XC skiing is supposed to be better for maintaining cycling muscle groups.

- I like to explore the backwoods

- Most of the trails I would use are not groomed and quite often will not be broken. There are a few Nordic centres around here with groomed trails which it would be nice to use now and then but probably only once or twice a season.

- I already have the right clothing... it's the skis, boots and techniques that I'm concerned about.

- I'll probably take a couple of lessons at a local Nordic center first... I'm looking for your advice in addition to theirs!

NB This previous question answered a few questions but not in much detail.

Awesome country, easy on the country

!Jim — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:17:19 -0800

Please help me find awesome alt. country\indie folk\country-influenced pop bands. Examples within. I've really been getting into what I think is called alt. country or indie folk lately. Two bands I really like are (MySpace links) The Damnwells, and The New Frontiers (particularly Black Lungs, and Look at Miss Ohio, which I know is a cover). My favorite Damnwells song is not on their MySpace, so you can hear a short, reduced quality clip of it here (mp3 link). I really like the more western-style guitar work (like the 2-measure guitar run at the end of the Damnwells clip and the slide guitar in several of The New Frontiers' songs).

I'm aware of Wilco, but I don't really like the Bob Dylan-esque quality many of their songs have (also don't really like Bob Dylan, sorry). I am open to straight-up country music, but I don't generally the Garth Brooks-style voice, and find the lyrics so overly country that it would be impossible for me to enjoy them unironically. I don't know a lot about country though, so if you've got something, feel free to suggest it.

I haven't listened much to Neko Case, but from a cursory listen to her myspace, I'd say she's definitely got potential.

Rules for converting country names to adjectival form

rq — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:04:25 -0800

America -> American. China -> Chinese. Iraq -> Iraqi. Are there any rules about converting a country name to its citizen/adjective form? Say I invent a new country called Verte. What do I call the citizens? Verteans? Verti? Vertese? Are these conversions based entirely on the origin of the country's name?