[BohDaThone]

actually, my friendly neighborhood ATM, which used to require you to press english (or spanish) to go any further, now has a whole new, more animated interface, which allows the English User to go straight to the first banking choice, while also politely displaying a whole bunch of buttons (at least spanish, german, polish, greek, russian, and a couple of oriental languages)that you can press to proceed in those languages. I thought it was quite neat.

One general question for all "solution proposers" -- would you accept this proposal if it were the rule in a country in which you were visiting? (e.g., illegal to have ATM's that understood english, illegal to notify the American embassy if you are arrested, cops can ask you for your papers if your umbrella isn't rolled as tightly as the other brits?).

Many proposals made on this site would pass that test, but a whole lot would not.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I'm just looking for a little honesty from the government. A simple *pro* *con* chart would work. And include everything, not just selective spin points. Like money contributed to our treasury, along with crime statistics. The numbers are there. For everything, both for and against. Then take a rational, realistic look at the bottom line. Numbers do not lie. But politicians..

[AmericanDave]

I certainly don't mind there being a Spanish option, just seems that when it reads my card it should be able to know that I want English. It adds nuisance step that is NOT needed.