So, just found out this is illegal in America.

[Soubriquet]

Black current juice. Apparently there is a fungus that lives on black currents that would be bad for the economy, so it’s banned.

You can buy a gun, but not black current juice

Or kinder eggs either btw

Absinthe IS legal to buy for personal consumption, but is not legal to serve in a bar.

I'm sure I've seen a friend's picture in an absinthe bar (?) in New Orleans, with sugar cubes and everything. Perhaps it varies by state? Or they don't actually serve absinthe!

It is illegal to slam your car door in Switzerland or wash your car on a Sunday

i also think there is a weird one in the UK where all Hackney taxis are required by UK law to contain a bale of hay and a bucket of oats ............

I wonder how many get stopped and checked

In order to be on a tax return, you need a social security number which you MUST have.

Not true. The IRS will happily accept a tax return with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if you are not eligible to receive a social security number.

www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number

Banks will take them too. They have to have a way of reporting taxable interest income.

Bloody hell! And they’re known as a super power?

Didn’t Monica make blackcurrant jam in Friends?

@immersivereader

Once saw a guy in New Hampshire driving a motorbike on the highway without a helmet. No helmet. Going at 120 km.

Land of the Free and all that

Isn't the state motto "Live free or die"...

@Ellowyn, I'm thinking aboat just going across the border 'by mistake' because that's totally possible to get away with, eh?

@MitheredAndFrazzled

Absinthe IS legal to buy for personal consumption, but is not legal to serve in a bar.

I'm sure I've seen a friend's picture in an absinthe bar (?) in New Orleans, with sugar cubes and everything. Perhaps it varies by state? Or they don't actually serve absinthe!

NOLA is a law unto itself. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

@Cheesymonster

Didn’t Monica make blackcurrant jam in Friends?

She did. She was promptly arrested by the FBI and taken to Riker's Island, where she was jailed with a drug-dealing drag queen until Monica posted bail for her. The charge was later dismissed because there are no pine trees in NYC.

Sorry, it was Rachel who posted bail for Monica.

It is illegal to slam your car door in Switzerland or wash your car on a Sunday

And you cannot keep a lone guinea-pig .

@Clovacloud

It’s illegal to own more than 6 dildos or vibrators in Texas. My mate who lives there, drives round with a gun in her glove compartment and that’s fine

Is this serious ? How on earth do they police this ? Do they have to register them??

Apparently in flats in some German cities you can't flush your toilet after 10pm

@Clovacloud

It’s illegal to own more than 6 dildos or vibrators in Texas. My mate who lives there, drives round with a gun in her glove compartment and that’s fine

I live in Texas and that's not true in today's times.

In 2008, the law was declared the law to be "facially unconstitutional and unenforceable".

Some states you can’t buy Ribena 😮

Thankfully can in California 😊

@MissConductUS

I agree with this. Though I didn't see this as America-bashing because I thought a lot of people posting were from there too. But upon reading again, I can see how it could be.

Thanks. As far as I know, I'm the only Yank on the thread. This kind of thing just comes across as sneery and seems to serve no purpose other than to make people feel superior. It's really my least favorite aspect of MN.

I'm from Texas so not a Yank but obviously American.
I'm on the site since I have an English husband and English born kids.
But man, is it hard to get past all the misinformation and frankly silly and quite tired comments about our lives here.
It's disappointing that people are quite rude.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

It is illegal to slam your car door in Switzerland or wash your car on a Sunday

And you cannot keep a lone guinea-pig .

This is true, my friend lives in Switzerland

I meant the law about sex toys being "unconstitutional and unenforceable" in 2008.

[quote everythingbackbutyou]@Ellowyn, I'm thinking aboat just going across the border 'by mistake' because that's totally possible to get away with, eh?[/quote]
God I love Canadians. My husband's business partner was from Alberta, one day I called the office and asked for my husband and our Canadian friend said he'd give him a "shoot".

I haven't been up to BC for ages. The Great White North - lol.

@AcrossthePond55

I went there mid 70's and LOVED it. One of the few places in the world I would like to go back to...especially to see it after the hurricane.

I'm from Texas so not a Yank but obviously American.
I'm on the site since I have an English husband and English born kids.
But man, is it hard to get past all the misinformation and frankly silly and quite tired comments about our lives here. It's disappointing that people are quite rude.

I agree. So much misinformation such as we can't buy electric kettles here and when Brits call Southerners 'Yanks' or 'yankees'.

The thing that annoys me the most is when Brits think Americans have all the same culture. I have to tell them how vast and varied this country is.

My English friend sent me a warning to be careful about a hurricane on the east coast - I live on the west coast, but she thought the coming bad weather would cover the entire US - bless her. Another friend said they'd pop in to see me when they were visiting NYC.

They laugh at us because many don't own passports, but there's a good reason why so many Americans never leave the US - it's because it is so varied and interesting. In my state alone we have deserts, beaches, rain forests, mountains, huge lakes and some very lively cities. So in my state you can mountain climb, sail, ski, get eaten by a mountain lion/bear or get murdered in a drive-by shooting. (Same up in BC).

This is absolutely true in NJ, at least it was when I was there in the 90's. The reason is nothing to do with discrimination but to do with the strength of the trade unions and protecting employment. many many people in NJ were very worried about employment and foreigners coming in to take their jobs. I am not sure how valid the worry is or whether it is fostered by the unions to keep their power. I knew I could never get permission to work there and didn't want it. I was over there with my late husband who worked for a huge multinational and had been seconded there to do specialist work. I flew into there twice and both times was grilled by airport staff about why my husband had been allowed to work in NJ and why the work couldn't be done by an american. Both times I said I didn't understand his job (big fat lie) and I didn't know why he had been sent to NJ to do it (big fat lie).
In order to be on a tax return, you need a social security number which you MUST have. Its also used as part of the info on your bank account and driving licence. when I wanted to open a bank account I presented myself at the social security office and was refused a SS number "because you are not allowed to work" One thing you do not do at government offices is disagree, even politely. I told them about the bank account and was given an official letter of refusal which the bank accepted. About a month later I needed a driving licence and was told at the driving licence office that I needed an SS number...couldn't get a licence without one.....back to social security, put through the interview and given another refusal letter....back to DVLC and given licence. THEN DH had to do a tax return and put me on it so I needed a SS number so back to SS . Interviewed again and refused until I pointed out that therefore I could pay no tax. Lady sniffed at nme and scowled and said I could have one that would only allow me to pay tax and not to work........Now that office KNEW at the first interview that I would need to be put on a tax return and therefore would need (and was entitled to) an SS number...but they still refused me twice because of foreigners coming here and taking our jobs. Got to say that outside of government organisations, the people I met in NJ were all lovely and very welcoming.

There is...a lot that is not right about this.

Well said @Ellowyn. I'm not from the US but another part of the world which many on MN love to sneer at. I also find that many on MN aren't interested in comments from anyone who doesn't live in the UK, whatever the subject.

In fact my NY resolution is to give up on MN completely and find a more friendly site. (sits back and waits for the "off you pop then" comments).

I'm from Georgia, so also not a Yank, but definitely American.

I used to live in New Orleans. I think the "absinthe" drinks served in the Old Absinthe House are made with anisette and/or Herbsaint, which are substitutes for absinthe.