The good things about the UK

Obviously the UK is lacking in some respects (to be discussed later), but even after the fall of the empire, this kingdom still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Cars & Transportation

1. Roundabouts. They make giving/getting directions a huge a pain, but they're fun to drive around and they seem to be an efficient system for intersections, both large and small.
   
   
2. Passing. The Brits are experts at passing on the freeways. As soon as drivers pass (on the right here), they immediately move over to the slow lane to allow for only the fastest drivers to fly by in peace. It's impressive really.
   
   
3. Fuel Efficient Engines. The engines here, even in car models we have in the States, are much more fuel efficient. Although the luxury SUV is also popular -- I see a fair number of Range Rovers around town -- the average car here has much better fuel economy than its counterpart in the US. And it would have to -- gas ("petrol") is about $8/gallon.
   
   
4. Top Gear. I have not owned a car since 2003 and don't plan on owning one soon. I don't know anything about cars and don't really care to. That being said, Top Gear, is a fantastic TV show. This British car show is hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, who I would call the Anthony Bourdain of the car world -- immensely likable, extremely knowledgeable, and pleasantly masculine with an endearing and not overbearing sense of humor. Jeremy has two co-hosts, and the three of them review new cars and enter into these various car challenges (e.g., making amphibious vehicles that they have to drive to the Channel and then sail them across, building limos out of the beaters of their choice, racing from Italy to London with Jeremy in a Bugatti and his co-hosts traveling by plane, train, and bus). Each show they have a British celebrity race an ordinary car around the Top Gear track -- I think Simon Cowell actually holds this season's record, which is somewhat annoying/not all that surprising. Anyway, this show would be a huge success in the US -- Spike TV would run Top Gear marathons every weekend. I even registered us for tickets to see the filming of the show near London. There is a 1-2 year waiting list, but if someone cancels, we could get a call any minute!

Electronics & Appliances

1. Socket Switches. Most sockets here, and all sockets in our new apartment, have on and off switches, so you can turn the power off at the socket without having to remove the plug. This is especially useful in the kitchen and home office. You can avoid the 'phantom load' by just flipping a switch!
   
   
2. Electric Kettles. We think the reason why these haven't caught on in the US is because they wouldn't work as well at 110 Volts (as compared to 240V), but we have not confirmed this fact. These are FANTASTIC appliances that everyone has here (because it is a country of tea drinkers). You don't have to turn on the stove or use the microwave to heat water. Honestly, it's one of those things that I would never have thought necessary (and didn't even know existed), but now I can't live without.

Sports & Leisure

1. Football. I was a soccer fan before, so this was not a tough sell, but the football culture here is amazing. It's the NFL, the NBA, and MLB combined into one massive societal obsession. Even the club managers are household names. The country -- or at least the news media -- came to a screeching halt when Chelsea's Jose Mourinho left 'by mutual consent' earlier this season. There are seemingly endless tournaments and championships to win. Ohhhh!!!! Cardiff City FC (an average team in the league below the Premiership) just went ahead 2-0 in their FA Cup quarter-final game against Middlesbrough. Cardiff hasn't won the FA Cup since 1927, but Manchester United and Chelsea were knocked out yesterday -- maybe this is the year of the Bluebirds!
   
   
2. Rugby. Rugby is huge in Wales. (Wales just won the Six Nations' Triple Crown!) I still don't understand all/many of the rules, but it's a very enjoyable game with such good-natured fans. At football matches the two sides need to be separated with rows of security guards, but for the much more violent game of rugby, all the fans are mixed together and after the game, it's hard to tell who won from the jolly faces of the singing fans spilling from the stadium.
   

Chips

1. I cannot bring myself to call this category "Food" because, well, it would be absurd to have a post about the pros of the UK and have "food" be a major section. However, chips/French fries are *the* single bright light in this culinary black hole. I love French fries and I love ketchup (which usually needs to be requested separately here). I love that chips come standard with EVERYTHING: steak, curry, pizza -- it's nuts. And, I'm pretty sure that it is considered a vegetable, or at least it's not considered junk food. It's incredible.

Hmmm...I think that might be it for now.