Pullo—Member of the Month, December 2012

[Sega]

@Pullo ;
Similar to people thinking I am 'English', dual nationality has it's perks. We're all people of the planet. Never been to Germany, I would guess it's a little like England but maybe cleaner, so I've heard. I live in a small new city, so things here are fairly clean and tidy.

@AussieJohn ;
Same here! Great minds think a like.

From what I found many European countries know exceptional English, in particular those colder countries, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands. I found France, Greece and Italy to know basic English. Can't judge though, must be hard learning 2 or more languages outside the language environment. I once went to a conference and students from colder regions really impressed me, especially on how well tuned they were with world affairs.

Even though we're all people of the world, our culture and environment can increase our chances of success.

[Pullo]

I would guess it's a little like England but maybe cleaner, so I've heard

Indeed! And the trains run on time

[Stomme poes]

Off Topic:

Dear lord I wish our trains would run on time too.

We don't have mountains.
We don't have snow.
We don't have large wildlife.

Why are they not on time?

[Sega]

Indeed! And the trains run on time

My dad went once for a connecting flight. He told me how clean to was and how impressed he was with the settings. Why is that? I noticed in France it was like this too, trains were only late by 2 seconds if that.

[ralph.m]

Off Topic:

Public transport running on time? What nonsense. I've never heard of such a thing. We are just happy here if trains, trams, busses and planes turn up at all.

[Pullo]

Off Topic:

My dad went once for a connecting flight. He told me how clean to was and how impressed he was with the settings. Why is that? I noticed in France it was like this too, trains were only late by 2 seconds if that.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the war. The town I live in now was destroyed up to 95% in parts. This meant that when hostilities ended, Germany could completely rebuild their infrastructure, but geared to the 20th century.

[Sega]

Off Topic:

Public transport running on time? What nonsense. I've never heard of such a thing. We are just happy here if trains, trams, busses and planes turn up at all.

I have relates in Australia, they wanted me to move there just to see what it's like. Mind you, it's a little far. They took a 23 hour flight to come to where we are, but other it would be an ideal place to be.

[AussieJohn]

Off Topic:

If people around here have excellent English, I just assume they are from Germany, the Netherlands or places like that. I'm always shocked when I find out they are native English speakers.

Hah I'm from the Netherlands originally.

From what I found many European countries know exceptional English, in particular those colder countries, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands. I found France, Greece and Italy to know basic English. Can't judge though, must be hard learning 2 or more languages outside the language environment. I once went to a conference and students from colder regions really impressed me, especially on how well tuned they were with world affairs.

They start teaching English very early on. In Holland they start in 3rd grade in Primary School, I'm sure the other countries start around the same time. (Oh that and a very high percentage of all the popular TV shows are in English.)

I have relates in Australia, they wanted me to move there just to see what it's like. Mind you, it's a little far. They took a 23 hour flight to come to where we are, but other it would be an ideal place to be.

That's pretty much how I ended up here

[Stomme poes]

Off Topic:


Ah, so I should start calling you "Aussie sjon" in my head :P

[AussieJohn]

Off Topic:


Ah, so I should start calling you "Aussie sjon" in my head :P

Off Topic:


Oh dear lord. The amount of times I've heard someone sing "Sjonnie, hou jij m'n tassie effe vast".

[ScallioXTX]

Nice interview. I'd been wondering about your location saying "Germany" in combination with your sublime command of the English language (i.e., non of the typical German tell-tales), but it all makes sense now

[SpacePhoenix]

Congratulations Pullo!

[Pullo]

Thank you Rémon and SpacePhoenix.

@ScallioXTX ;
I still manage to avoids saying "Handy" when I mean "mobile", but other than that living Germany has taken its toll.
Nowadays, I wait for the green man when crossing the road, I eat kebabs (sorry, kebaps) whilst sober and I'll happily carry an empty bottle round with me all day for the deposit

[ServerStorm]

Off Topic:

Trains, and sub-ways here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the trains normally run like clockwork. People ending it and jumping in-front of the trains puts lines late, but this is a rare occurrence (thankfully). Planes are a whole other story. You have to call ahead to see if your plane is on time. I guess only having 35 million people in the whole vast country means that the trains don't get bogged with congestion. Tell this to our roads where a 50 KM commute commonly takes 1.5 hours to travel during work start/end time ranges.

[ralph.m]

Off Topic:

People ending it and jumping in-front of the trains puts lines late

How inconsiderate!

only having 35 million people in the whole vast country means that the trains don't get bogged with congestion.

Doesn't work where I live, and we have far fewer people!

[kohoutek]

Eh, I'm really late in congratulating you, @Pullo ; but my belated congrats are most sincere. Aww, isn't that cheesy? But it's true.

@Stomme poes ; oh, 'zis is so nais of you tu sei.

PS: And a great interview by both of you, Ralph and Pullo.

[Pullo]

Thanks kohoutek!

On a Denglisch note, do you know this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOTpIVxji8

[kohoutek]

Thanks kohoutek!

On a Denglisch note, do you know this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOTpIVxji8

No, but I do now. Just hearing that makes me blush. Geesh.

[xhtmlcoder]

Pullo, luckily you got into web design this century so there was less chance of you learning from poor sources or having to work with fossilised dinosaur browsers.

Yes, getting positive feedback or even feedback saying their issue has been solved is rarer than it should be from many OP on forums. So it does usually brighten the day why they are courteous, I'd agree.

So are you more creative when intoxicated; since that is what seems to be implied? ;-)

Unfortunately, the badge is like Tolkien's ring, and corrupts the wearer.

Hmm. I never put in on... so luckily I never was corrupted.

I presume you are coping fine with some of the German humour over there. Well anyway congratulations on December's MOTM.

[Pullo]

Thanks xhtmlcoder, I appreciate your response!

So are you more creative when intoxicated; since that is what seems to be implied? ;-)

I never said that, guv! Honest!
I was just trying to be cute with Ralph's questions, as I have no idea about the meaning of anything, let alone life.
If the sad truth be told, I had a few beers on New Year's Eve and managed to fall asleep before midnight. And I had a hangover the next day, to boot.
Life's just not fair

[Stomme poes]

Hmm. I never put in on... so luckily I never was corrupted.

WE ARE PURE, ROBERT!

So are you more creative when intoxicated; since that is what seems to be implied? ;-)

Pullo has discovered the Ballmer peak

[Pullo]

Pullo has discovered the Ballmer peak

You crack me up
That's a cool cartoon.

It doesn't just apply to programming though, the same thing goes for foreign language speaking ability.
The up-curve is a little less steep, but there's only one or two beers difference between talking German like a boss and becoming a gibbering wreck in the corner.

[Stomme poes]

hm... drink lots of beer... end up speaking German.

I'd agree, if you said Belgian :P nom nom nom