Cassava Films - The List of 9

the list of 9 for november 10, 2004:
NINE BRITISH THINGS MY GIRLFRIEND ACTUALLY LIKES

[Note from Mark: I just got back from yet another trip to the UK - my eighth in ten years -so there is some relevance in posting this now. By the way, while I am still a big fan of Britainand most things British, I must admit that I am sick and tired of London. Anyway, from this pointforward, the words are those of my irascible girlfriend Miki.] A few years back, someonepointed out to me that I seemed to hate all things British. It was a true enough statement: I donot enjoy Shakespeare (in fact, I refuse to believe that anyone really likes Shakespeare).Monty Python is about as funny to me as driving a nail through my own hand. And there is no surerway to ruin my french fries than to put malt vinegar on them. Recently, Mark challenged me to comeup with some British things that I actually love. It was a difficult task, but here they are:

A FEW PRE-1990 BOY BANDS. There are several British bandsthat I began enjoying many years ago and still listen to: Duran Duran, The Beatles, The Smiths,The Cure, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie. All music that has come out of Britian since 1990 iscrap.
HARRY POTTER. I think Harry Potter is the first wildlypopular thing I have enjoyed since the Cabbage Patch Kid.
TEA. Technically, this may not count. While I am a teaenthusiast with at least 70 varieties of tea in my cupboard at any given time, I admit that I donot drink tea in the British way. I would absolutely never put any kind of dairy (or non-dairysubstitute) in a cup of tea. I would also rather drink a cup of toilet water before a cup ofEarl Grey tea [England's favorite. -Mark], one of my least favorite teas on Earth.
DOC MARTENS. I got my first pair at age 16. For the nextdecade, my feet were clad daily in a pair of black, 10-hole boots. I don't wear them anymore...not only do I no longer wear leather, but I also can't bring myself to buy a pair of shoes thatcosts over $35.
BAKED BEANS WITH POTATOES. As long as there isn't any meatcooked in with the beans, I'm a big fan of this combo, which never quite made it in the USA.
LUSH PRODUCTS. I swear I liked LUSH soaps and shampooslong before you could get them at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica! For many years, Ihad to have my handmade, vegan bath products shipped to me internationally.
BEAUTIFUL THING. A delightful gay teen romance film that Isaw several years ago. Why is the US incapable of making any reasonable films with decent gaycharacters? Every other country seems to do it just fine.
COPS WITH BIG STICKS. I'm in favor of a gun policy thatis so strict that even the police don't carry guns. It works brilliantly... every year, my tinyhometown of Asbury Park, NJ has more gun fatalities than all of the UK combined.
MY FRIEND ANNA. Truthfully, she was born in Germany, butshe lives in London now and has for many years. She's a fabulous lady as well as perhaps the onlything that might make me consider a trip to London.