Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Russel Brand's Jack Kerouac Journey and British Prejudices

You may not know that Americans invented cool. Heres two of my personal favorite Brits Russel Brand and Craig Ferguson on British prejudice toward the U.S.

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Amy Harvey is a freshman at Austin College. She appreciates quality chocolate, orders fish and chips without the fish, and is not immune to the charm of a British accent. Follow her on twitter @ahymeh3.

Royal Wedding; Get Your Engagement Ring Replica's While Supplies Last!



I don't know about you but personally, come Friday April 29th I will be cancelling plans (including class), and tuning in to the broadcast of Prince William and Kate Middleton's extravagant wedding with a box of tissues. You know what? I think i'm even going to brew some tea and call it a party.


You see, since the engagement, show owners have been scheming to exploit commercial opportunity. I was almost victim when I found the 'No More Waity, Katie" nail polish (taking a spin off of their 8-year engagement) which for a moment I couldn't live without. From t-shirts to mugs to comic books and now replica's of the engagement ring. But is this all really necessary? As much as I long to be the beautiful Kate Middleton, I have accepted that I am not. The United Kingdom is anticipating £26 million in merchandise sales. They are hoping for a sales bonanza like at the wedding Charles and Diana in 1981. Maybe this excessive consumerism will pay off and get the economy churning again since the country is in the middle of an economic depression but I still think it's quite tacky.

I have been waiting on the edge of my seat for the day pictures of the wedding dress get leaked and am eager to see the country-wide celebration but what has the world come to that the focus is on worthless novelties and such tacky commercialism? But more importantly it sprouts from the individual; what have I come to to consider purchasing this junk?

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Amy Harvey is a freshman at Austin College. She appreciates quality chocolate, orders fish and chips without the fish, and is not immune to the charm of a British accent. Follow her on twitter @ahymeh3.

Who Am I? I am the Production of a Transatlantic Cruise Ship Romance, Literally.


So I guess it would be appropriate to begin where it all started...

18 years ago I was born in great Great Britain to an English father and an American mom (not mum). I spent my childhood doing british things like eating crumpets. 6 years ago I made the pilgrimage across the Atlantic Ocean and sat down for my first day of American middle school. As soon as I opened my mouth it was like O.M.G. IT'S HARRY FREAKIN' POTTER! Believe it or not, I was actually later asked how to say "hello" in "my native tongue".

At first I was mildly offended but I've learned to embrace it. So after a long day of explaining to everyone I met that I did not personally know the Queen, I went out to a family dinner and all I wanted to do was devour a large plate of chips (c'mon I know I'm not the only one who eats their feelings). I wanted those nasty deep fried slightly squishy potato stick things, and instead I got a package of lays.

So I was born British and have now lost my accent but now my love for everything British lives on. I would now consider myself recreationally British. If you watch BBC America, are in the mood for some British banter, or agree with me that everything sounds better with a British accent read on...

And I'm going to leave you all with a particularly British moment; my trip to the london eye while playing Arctic Monkeys.


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Amy Harvey is a freshman at Austin College. She appreciates quality chocolate, orders fish and chips without the fish, and is not immune to the charm of a British accent. Follow her on twitter @ahymeh3.