Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with unitedstates

I'm looking for a quote from a founding father about leaving government

rileyray3000 — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:01:35 -0800

I remember reading something, somewhere from one of the founding fathers about the original intent of legislators to NOT be a political class. To serve a term or two and go home so that people from outside could contribute and people inside didn't get too jaded. Though maybe I'm adding a lot of subtext. Is there anything from any of the FF's on this that rings a bell? Do you have a quote or two?

American toys for German kids

plantbot — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:47:48 -0800

What are some great gifts I could bring from the US (northeast) to kids in Germany who range in age from 3 to 8 years old? What cool kid stuff is available in the US that might be novel for kids in Germany these days?

How do the U.S. political parties work these days?

phrontist — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:29:21 -0800

I'd like to learn more about how the Democratic and Republican parties function, concretely, at present. Specifically: how establishment forces (influential donors, party officials, incumbents) influence the rise of candidates (at any level), and how these candidates integrated into the parties activities. I'm particularly interested in the role of political consultants (in media, fundraising, messaging) - what dynamics are at play as they are hired by candidates, how do these consultants' careers develop, what pressures do they face from the establishment, and what role do they play in shaping the policy positions? I'm not sure who would be writing about this, maybe organizational studies academics? Is there a modern Robert Michels?

an AskMe named Desire

threeants — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:25:35 -0800

I'd like to read about the extensive streetcar networks that serviced most US cities in the late 19th / early 20th century. Any recommendations? This could be nonfiction expressly about US streetcars. This could also be well-researched fiction, or nonfiction ostensibly on a separate topic, that relates what it was like to have the streetcars as part of the urban fabric or of one's life. I'm not looking for writings that are chiefly about the demise of the streetcar and the shift into automobile predominance, though if that's just one part of a text that otherwise satisfies what I'm looking for, go for it.

Thanks in advance!

Help me live in my own country (USA) with my Canadian wife! AAAH!

Jim On Light — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:02:19 -0800

I came to Canada on a visa (NAFTA treaty visa, technical writer) and I met the love of my life and married her. I'm the breadwinner in Canada, and I have been since shortly after we moved in together. How on EARTH do I move her home with me??? I'm a US Citizen, on a visa in Canada, and I met the love of my life. We've lived together for now almost a year. I quit the visa gig and I'm coming back home to the US. It is really, really unclear as to the process, and it seems like the right route is to get a lawyer. WTF - does anyone who has to deal with the government anymore have to go to a lawyer?

I'm going to be the one working (I do just fine for us), and I am the one who will be providing for both of us. I will be the one paying rent and taking care of both of us. My wife has been living with me now for 8 months, we've been seeing each other for a month before that, and I have always been the breadwinner here in Canada for us.

What's the right answer here? Since I'm doing the money making, it doesn't seem like I need to file for Form I-130, and it doesn't really seem that I need to file for a green card for her, I'm the one who's working.

What have any of you awesome MeFi'ers done successfully? Who do I call? What do I do?

I really appreciate the help. If I've overlooked something, please let me know.

The Transatlantic Librarian

Isingthebodyelectric — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:37:37 -0800

Give me insight, tips, and strategies for transitioning from American to British librarianship. My husband (British citizen) and I (American) currently live in the US, but are considering moving to England. We're not yet sure where we'll be located.

I have an MLIS and nearly 4 years of professional experience as a librarian. I've worked in a research library/archive, a small business school library, and am now employed as a reference/electronic resource librarian at a community college.

Right now my job includes instruction, reference, web development, electronic resource management, library media, programming, and publicity. I do not currently perform cataloging or collection development, but have done so in past positions. Areas of expertise include Humanities (Language, Literature, History, Art), Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Business), and Culinary Science.

I'm hoping to find employment in an academic library in England. I will not begin applying for jobs until I have a visa (through my husband) and eligibility to work, so I do not need a university to sponsor my visa.

Things I'm already doing/plan on doing:
1. Searching for jobs on LISJobNet.
2. Setting up a couple of informational interviews with academic librarians (probably in London) to ask questions and make contacts.
3. Browsing some university library websites to get a sense of what types of resources are offered to students, and how they're presented.
4. Making sure that my application materials are correctly sized and have the right date & phone number format! :)

But I have so many questions!

1. Do I need to apply for chartership with CILIP? Would that be a prerequisite for being considered for a position?

2. What are some of the key differences between working in this field in the US and UK? In particular, I wondered about: electronic resources, citation styles, research, and instruction. But any insight regarding cultural differences would also be appreciated!

3. Are there any good information sources regarding this type of transition?

4. Would a librarian trained in the US be particularly qualified/desired for any specific type of position?

5. Can you share any anecdotes about working in, or using, academic libraries in both countries?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief

swimmingly — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:52:46 -0800

I want to migrate in five years' time. What skills/qualifications can I pick up now that would allow me to get a fairly OK job offer? My dream is to eventually move to the US, Canada, or western Europe. I know that most countries won't let you in unless you have a skill-set they want. Please help me figure out how I might achieve it. Let's exclude marriage.

I'm a citizen of a country in Asia, and don't have relatives in my target countries. Can't use ancestry either. I have an MSc in computer science from a reputable US university, but it wasn't very rigorous. I'm currently working as a financial journalist in my home country and don't remember much from school anymore.

From what I gather, I'll need a firm to sponsor me before I can begin any citizenship application process. I'm not sure how transferable my skills are internationally, especially since print media isn't doing so well and at any rate I'd like to move out of the media industry. Now seems like a good time to start thinking about what I can do in preparation for the uprooting, especially since I can feel myself getting dumber the longer I spend in the workforce.

I don't earn a truckload and have no entrepreneurial track record thus far. Would my best bet be to save up for (yet another) postgrad program and try to use that as a springboard? Even so, not sure if I might be at a disadvantage if I don't go for an expensive top-notch one. Also, I don't yet know which areas of study will really be in demand when it comes to getting hired in those countries. I would've guessed something tech-related, but it seems like the world is flooded with Chinese and Indian IT workers. Or something like accounting perhaps, but why would they be short of accountants?

Also, has anyone here successfully made the move from Asia to those places, and what did you do to pull it off? Particularly if your background is closer to mine.

Thanks!

Significance of Pearl Harbor in U.S. entry to WWII

mousepad — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:54:52 -0800

What if Japan had not attacked Pearl Harbor? I realize any answer would be purely conjecture, but can't help thinking that historical scholars have already come up with well thought-out theories on the question...and that's what I need help with. How would the Second World War have [most likely] played out if Japan had not attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor? General thoughts are welcome but, again, I'm looking for credible sources where this scenario has been vetted against the geo-politics of mid-20th Century.

Cold War - U.S. invades Russia

mousepad — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:36:54 -0800

Did the United States ever have a plan to invade Russia or any part of the Soviet Union? One thing I have never understood about the Cold War is the Russian fear of a U.S. invasion. Fear of nuclear annihilation makes sense in a convoluted 'preemption' sort of way, but was there even the possibility of a U.S. led ground war on Soviet soil? Why would the U.S. ever want to invade Russia?

Candidate positions, distilled?

killdevil — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:22:36 -0800

Help me be an informed voter in my local (U.S.) Senate and Congressional races tomorrow! I'd like to key in my ZIP code and get a concise, impartial overview of the platform and positions of all the candidates on the ballot. Direct me to site(s) that may serve, Metafilter.

Help Me Download this Album England Doesn't Want Me To Have

julen — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:35:52 -0800

I would like to buy and download a specific album (with no scheduled or rumored or hinted at American release date) from any reputable English purveyor of music. Yet my lack of a UK mailing address and/or UK payment method seems to block me from doing so. Is there any legal way I can purchase this music digitally and download it to my American desktop? I would rather not buy the imported physical media CD from US purveyors of music for 4x more than I think I would pay for just the digital files, or pay 2.5x for a disk+shipping+a wait of "at least 45 days" especially since I do not think the artist would be seeing any of the extra money I'd be spending.

I will suck it up if I absolutely can not get the music legally in my preferred manner, but I'll be a pain in the neck to live with, and no one wants that.

It's one of those things that you're always vaguely aware of, but never quite grok...

Phire — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:29:22 -0800

Explain broadcast television in Canada and the US to me like I'm five. I've tried to do some basic research on this, but the Wikipedia articles and other resources all assume a starting level of knowledge that I seem to lack, so I thought I'd turn to the hive mind.

The full extent of my current and very limited understanding:
1. TV signals get sent out over the air by local stations.
2. You can pick up more or less channels via antenna depending on where you live.
3. If you want more channels you have to pay for cable or satellite.
4. Networks create the TV programming and then partner with local stations to distribute it.

Things that I am confused on:

1. Affiliate stations. In my current understanding, these are local TV stations that actually send out the signals. In the US, the call sign for affiliate stations seem to apply to both radio and TV - there might be a radio station for WUNC that carries programming from NPR, but then there's also a TV station for WUNC that carries PBS. Affiliate stations pay a subscription fee to the network whose programming they carry, and then send out the signals locally. They make their revenue from advertising, which is a mix of local ads and national ads from the network. Is this more or less correct?

1a. Does one affiliate station generally restrict itself to one major network, or do they carry multiple networks? How likely is it that you can pick up the same network from two different affiliate stations in a particular area?

1b. Is this call sign system also in place in Canada? I've only ever heard of CFRA radio, for example, and you wouldn't watch a TV show on CFRA. (Or would you?) If the call sign system in Canada does only apply to radio, does it only apply to AM radio or also FM? is there a similar naming system for local TV stations?

1c. Americans seem much more aware of the call signs of their local stations than Canadians do, and to them the station (WBEZ) seems to matter as much as the network (NPR). Why is that?

1d. Affiliate TV stations that carry network X get the same programming for network X at the same time everywhere, and only differ in advertising, right? But the same doesn't apply to radio, because I feel like I've heard Car Talk at different times on the weekend. Am I imagining this? Why the differential? Does it have to do with the purpose of radio being primarily information dissemination, and TV primarily being entertainment?

2. Over the air channels. Cable channels go up in nice numerical sequences. OTA channels (both in Canada and the US?) seem to follow bizarre and arbitrary numbering systems. For example, I get channels 7.1, 7.2, 9.1, and then it jumps up to 25.1. Or something. What is the rationale behind the numbering system? What determines which station gets which channel number? Is there any geographic consistency to this? I.e. if PBS is carried by a station that is 25.1 in North Carolina, is it also likely to be carried by a station that is 25.X on the west coast?

3. What determines what network programming you can get OTA? E.g. In Canada you might get CityTV and CTV and all that stuff OTA without cable (and it would go under one of the funny channel numbers like 6-4), but if you want YTV you pretty much have to get cable. What's preventing OTA channels like CityTV and CTV from moving to cable-exclusive broadcasting so they can get subscription fees? Is it the advertising revenue from increased viewership from people who don't pay for TV? And if it is advertising revenue from increased viewership, why aren't all channels (barring, like, HBO) available OTA to get the maximum possible viewership?

3a. In the US it seems to be possible to pick up channels like the CW over the air, whereas in Canada it would definitely be part of a cable package no matter where you lived. Is this because content production happens in the US, and so they have more negotiating power when they go to Canadian stations since Canadian stations want them so badly?

I think that's everything I can think of, but I will follow up if I think of more. Please take me to school, AskMe. Andpleasedon'tlaughathowlittleIknow.

What are some examples of other products that are presented as being American in some way but really arn't?

Blasdelb — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:47:31 -0800

I am fascinated by both the ubiquity of American sauce in Western Europe and the tangy substance's complete lack of apparent relation to any of the many sauces that are authentically American. Examples of American products sold as being of dubious foreign styles are easy for Americans to think of, but what are some examples of other products that are presented as being American in some way but really arn't? It turns out that the American sauce found in Turkish fast food in Europe is a distant descendant of the classic sauce used in Lobster American, but bonus points for including a description of how the product you know came to be associated with the United States

For clarity, I am not looking for examples of American products sold as being of dubious foreign styles.

Is A Nexus Card Useful For Canadians Travelling By Air In The United States?

Alvy Ampersand — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 21:26:41 -0800

This November, my wife and I will be flying from Winnipeg, MB to Phoenix AZ, with a brief stopover in Minneapolis MN. A week later, we'll be returning the same way, Phoenix -> Minneapolis -> Winnipeg. We both qualify for Nexus cards and I'm wondering if they would be of any use for the Minneapolis/Phoenix leg of the trip. I've never flown in the USA before, and I'm looking to minimize the security theater and any hassles or stress. If Nexus' main selling point is just for crossing international borders, are there any other options to make flying in the States easier?

Side question: What's the American airport security position on steel-toe boots? Will they just make me take my boots off to walk through the metal detector, or is my preferred footwear verbooten?

Do I also have the right to interview several lawyers?

ignignokt — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:51:34 -0800

Don't talk to the police is convincing and sound advice. Getting a lawyer to represent you so that the police don't trick you into a conviction is a great idea. However, when someone is unexpectedly taken into police custody, how they find a suitable attorney on the spot to defend them? Do they just use the phone book or Google? Do they call the guy that handled their mortgage closing? Is the public defender just as good as a lawyer picked at random in this situation? Or do people that don't already have a lawyer usually just give up and talk?

I'm interested in knowing both what usually happens and what the ideal course of action is.

Foreign policy problems facing the Obama administration.

espada0 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:19:01 -0800

What are the main foreign policy problems facing Obama and his administration right now?

I'm pretty sure the Bluth family is a terrible role model here

Harry Potter and the Puppet of Sock — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:48:38 -0800

I'm inheriting $100,000. My parents are inheriting a lot more (around $1mil, but we're not sure the exact amount). Please give us advice. We're in the US (New Mexico). I want to put mine away and get as much interest as possible. I would also consider buying instead of renting (a house or condo or apartment or something) if that is a good idea. But I am guessing that it is not on account of me not needing much space and so apartments are good, and also if the house gets termites or plumbing things or falls apart in some other exciting way I have no ability whatsoever to fix it.

I may spend some of the yearly interest when I get it (probably on travel and possibly health insurance, since my job doesn't have it and I have to go off my parents' in a few years).

I'm totally willing to hire someone to help with it. Or go to a class or something. If you guys have any recommendations on that-- people/classes in New Mexico-- feel free to leave 'em.

My parents are way better at this sort of stuff than I am, but they still have never seen anywhere near this amount of money in their lives, so after paying off the house-- which they already did-- they have general ideas of what to do but are also happy to take any general advice.

Sockpuppeting because I don't really want everyone who knows me to know I got a big chunk of money. I live pretty frugally and want to stay that way.

Which caliber for a medium rifle?

the man of twists and turns — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:37:04 -0800

I am in the market for an AR or AK-pattern rifle. I am not sold on any of the major (or minor) calibers. I am well versed with the Four Safety Rules, and even the Fifth. I have lots of experience with 5.56 mm, .22 LR and .30 Carbine, does anyone have experience with Soviet or other calibers, and can make recommendations? I am comfortable with the M4 and M16 weapons systems, but am not totally sold on them (and would make some modifications.)

The rifle will be for three-gun and target shooting, out to ~500m. I am in the United States, but not in a particularly gun-restrictive State.

How did the U.S. House pass the payroll tax cut extension?

Tin Man — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:15:51 -0800

How did the U.S. House of Representatives pass the payroll tax cut extension yesterday when hardly any members were present? I've been looking online and can't seem to find the answer. I thought the House needed a quorum of a majority of its membership in order to do business. So how did they manage to pass this?

Where can I find statistical information on the effects of piracy on American shipping in the nineteenth century?

synecdoche — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:57:51 -0800

Where can I find statistical information on the effects of piracy on American shipping in the nineteenth century? I'm trying to find hard data on the frequency of pirate attacks on American shipping between the American Revolution and, say, 1898. Where can I look for this kind of information? Specifically, I'd love to be able to say "There were x pirate attacks reported against American vessels between 1800 and 1900," or even "Y individuals were tried for piracy in the United States in this period." Obviously I don't expect to find anything that concrete, but you get the general idea.

I have located a number of newspaper articles and other primary sources that address specific cases of piracy, as well as a number of historical laws, but I want to be able to paint (and cite!) a more general picture.

I have access to a good research library, but didn't have much luck today and the reference librarian who specializes in historical data is away at the moment. Even pointers toward applicable databases that I might be able access would be useful. I've checked reference works like A Statistical History of the United States but this is a relatively specific and esoteric search.

Thanks!

Tell me about Modern Weird America.

Kattullus — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:34:56 -0800

Tell me about Modern Weird America. I was listening to an interview with Neil Gaiman about American Gods where he talks about moving to America and finding it a weird place (starts at about 6:20). He mentions the nuclear sub by the side of the road in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I'm interested in knowing about more such examples of American high weirdness, such as said nuclear sub, House on the Rock or drive-in signs that are silhouettes of male genitalia.

I'm also interested in blogs, essays, or books about American weirdness, especially by foreigners who've lived in the US, like Gaiman, or returning expats, e.g. Bill Bryson.

Total tax burden by income level

jcreigh — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:29:59 -0800

What is the total tax burden for various income levels in the US? There is plenty of readily available data for the federal income tax, but I'm interested in what the tax distribution looks like after you factor in all other forms of taxation, such as payroll tax, state income tax, property taxes, sales tax, etc., which are generally less progressive than the federal income tax.

But my google-fu has turned up nada. What I'd like to see is pretty simple: A graph with income on the x-axis, and average income paid in taxes as a percentage on the y-axis. If there was any additional analysis, that would be nice, but really I just want to see how much the hypothetical "average American" actually pays in taxes as a function of income level.

I realize that it's probably somewhat tricky to try to determine, for example, the average amount that people earning a certain amount paid in sales tax for a given year, but surely someone has at least put together some good guesses?

Fascism and justice

espada0 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:26:37 -0800

Do fascists and/or nationalists believe in justice? I was watching a WWII documentary a while back and it left me wondering: while their "rationale" for committing such mass atrocities are incomprehensible at best, do they base it on some form or conception of justice? After thinking about this I'm unsure whether to class them as fascists or nationalists, hence the question above.

What happens to a cleance if I leave the job?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:22:45 -0800

Will a U.S. security clearance investigation in progress be halted if I leave my sponsoring company? I work for a federal contractor ("SupportCo"). I provide on-site support to a department ("GovPlace") that does not handle sensitive information. My current contract with GovPlace is ending in a couple of months and my manager at SupportCo wants to sponsor me for a secret clearance so I can move to another contract (with...let's say DOD) after it ends. I would be amenable to this.

Coincidentally, my clients at GovPlace are in the process of insourcing a number of duties that are currently performed by contractors. As it happens, there is an opening in GovPlace now that would do pretty much exactly what I do for them (and would pay more, with better benefits) and my clients have indicated that they would love for me to come on board as a fed. It's not the greatest job, but it would be a step forward. I'm going to apply for it.

Questions aplenty: Provided that I end up being offered the position at GovPlace (which I know is not 100% assured) and accept it, what would happen to my clearance investigation? (I assume that this would happen after the interim clearance is offered, since the GovPlace HR process would probably take a couple of months.) Would SupportCo be able to just pull the plug on the investigation, or would it naturally just end? If the clearance did get granted in this time, would I be able to claim an active clearance for future use even if I never started the contract it was ostensibly for? And finally, is there any kind of ethical concern that I may be wasting SupportCo's (or DOD's) money? (Apart from some extensive international travel, I don't see a reason why I'd be denied clearance, and again, there's still a chance I may end up on the SupportCo contract with DOD.)

Moving To the USA

ChrisR — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:24:28 -0800

I am possibly moving to the United States from Canada for a job, and I'd like to get some insight into some aspects of the immigration process. I am considering a job offer that will require me to move to Seattle, bringing along my wife, son, two cats, and two gerbils. The employer indicates that they'll arrange a work visa for me, but my wife is a medical professional here and would like to be able to work as well. What steps must we take in order to ensure that -- if she can find a job -- she'll be eligible to work in the US?

If it makes a difference, she's an X-Ray tech/CT tech with a significant amount of experience.

Additionally, I've heard that our pets may present a problem at the border. What do I need to do there?

Lastly, what are the unknown unknowns for my situation? It seems straightforward, but what parts of this move can come up and bite me in the ass?