Dr. Neil Hair

The term electronic footprint speaks volumes to me. A recent study by the Brits suggests that over half of young people on social networks publish information about themselves that they may later regret. I've always been concerned by the 'perceived' level of privacy of such actions on social networks. There are a few simple steps you can take to help protect this 'identity' youve worked hard at crafting. For one restrict the level of openness of your profile. Make it such that only friends can access the full profile of your account. For two assume that every known and unknown criminal is looking for you, accessing your information and using it against you. And dont think youre safe if youre older. Im seeing many pictures of peoples early lives being posted in facebook by the older crowd that are potentially incriminating - my wife for instance - looked great back in the 1990's as a Karaoke singer. Your mileage may however vary. I do think though that the majority of users are painfully aware of the information they post AND the potential ramifications of doing so. This is the generation after all that grew up with the internet. Lets not teach ones mother to suck eggs (as my mother would say - I have no idea why). What we probably should teach though is the fact that the delete buttons of modern technology dont always erase what you want them to.

So, having recently estolled the special relationship England has in my mind with Canada I came across an article from the BBC reflecting on Prime Minister Brown's position on UK foreign policy (the BBC is by far my favourite news site DESPITE the recent decision to pursue advertising as a means of generating revenue). I wanted to share because it reinforced a comment I make to most of my students at some stage when we discuss international marketing and the UK-US bond. When we 'say' we have a 'special relationship' what does that 'really' mean? Does this ever go beyond the 'Ive been to America - because Ive been shopping in New York' or the 'Ive been to England because Ive been shopping in London' crowd? For those doubters out there the following extract may well solidify the conviction - it certainly shocks most of my students when they hear it for the first time:

"When considering the relationship a British prime minister must have with the United States, it must never be forgotten that there is a not-so-secret tie binding the US and UK together. It is the agreement, renewed only in the past year, under which the United States and Britain swap information on nuclear weapons and Britain buys US missiles for its nuclear submarines. No British prime minister can afford to distance his or her country from the US to such an extent that the trust involved in such an arrangement is dissipated. After all, the US has given the UK the ability to destroy much of the American homeland, an act of trust with no parallel in history."

A few other facts that Ive learned over the years that have helped me understand the relationship:

1. Eating faggots is not considered the done thing in America.
2. Placing ticks in boxes in the US is likely to offend the tick.
3. Lever said in the US is - when translated into English - a kind of coat made from cows hide.
4. Lever said in the UK is - when translated into the US - a way of departing from a once loved female.
5. Herb in the US is a popular shortened name for Herbert when translated into English.
6. Aluminium in the UK translates to the US as a latin form of to iluminate.
7. A retainer in the US holds teeth, a retainer in the UK also holds teeth but only if you pay him or her to do so.
8. Swimmies in the US help provide bouyancy in water, swimmies in the UK are a form of trunk to be worn when swimming.
9. A trunk in the US is the back end of a car. In the UK a trunk is something you wear when swimming.
10. A boot in the UK is the back end of a car. The bootie in the US is a backend of a person.
11. A hood in the US is the front end of a car. A hood in the UK is the front end of a coat.
12. Bacon in the UK is a delicious form of pork - as succulent as it is tasty. Bacon in the US is a dried substance that is good for striking matches.
13. Pants in the US are worn outside of undergarments. Pants in the UK are always worn inside of ones trousers (unless you are Madonna or Cameo).
14. A basement in the UK is a place for storing coal. A basement in the US is a place for storing Canadians.
15. Ice cream in the US is actually made of cream. Ice cream in the UK is actually made out of corrigated cardboard.
16. In the UK a sandwich is a single slice of meat layered in bread. In the US it is the entire animal with the bread on the side.
17. In the UK a motor race involves turning corners. In the US this also means turning corners but usually only one way (left).
18. Over 95% of cars in the UK are manuals. Over 95% of cars in America are automatics.
19. Most distressed tourists in England are Americans attempting to drive manual cars on the wrong side of the road. Most distressed tourists in America are English attempting to eat sandwiches without understanding the concept of 'the box'.
20. The English drive on the left so they can hold a sword in their right hands as they pass attacking oncomers. Americans drive on the left because they wanted to annoy the invading English (true).

I have many many more to share - and over time I will. Thats it for now.

Happy thanksgiving everyone, I miss Rochesher as much as I miss England when Im away from it.

As a proud Brit this time of year always depresses me a little - no bonfire night or fireworks on the 5th (technically I could probably make my own but the fireworks bit would get me a arrested in the state of New York) and no poppies adorning the lapels of most of the country. Let me explain for the Americans. Every year it is seen to be the 'done thing' to purchase a paper poppy (red in colour with a ludicrous green plastic stem) and to wear that up to and beyond remembrance Sunday. Its a kind of national bonding where we remember what we owe and to whom. All the presenters on TV wear them, politicians, entertainers - the lot. And out here I kind of feel left out of this because its well past poppy season and I dont have many options. So, enter Rose and her mother-in-law. Rose + Mum want to go to Buffalo's Galleria (a lot better than the yarn shop I can tell you). Neil gets to drive (lucky me). Neil enters mall having noticed that just about ALL of the cars in the car park are Canadian. Neil sees lots of Canadians wearing red poppies (fabric ones interestingly, not paper) - Neil misses England but has a smile on his face knowing that the Canadians really are just like us back home. So, point of the story - shared culture, shared history. Other interesting things you probably dont know about the shared issues: both nations are addicted to Coranation Street, both eat apple pie with cheddar cheese, both love flat caps and Barbour jackets (if what I saw in the mall yesterday is representative), both proudly fly the Union Jack (despite independence), both claim to have special relationships with each other and my new home - America.