[Stoat]

"Well, certain baked meat pies, profoundly depressing literature, alcoholism as an accepted national pastime and certain hot female tennis stars come to mind.......

Ok I'll give you baked meat pies.

Thanks, although upon reflection I'm wondering if our British Friends may have beat the Russkies on that one?  In truth, I was thinking of the Peroshki (I've seen it's English spelling also as Perogie) and so I really should have described it as something other than a "baked meat pie", perhaps a "precursor of the Hot Pocket and filled with Mystery Meat"?

But alcoholism and hot tennis stars were NOT invented in Russia.

Not meaning to sound combative or pedantic, but my actual statement was "alcoholism as an accepted national pastime".  Again, upon reflection, I'm thinking that even that mantle may have been first grabbed by Iceland?  I'm not well versed on the history of "culturally cavalier attitudes toward alcoholism" and so I admit I'm unsure.

And again my statement was "certain hot female tennis stars"  with the underlying meaning being that Anna Kournikova was indeed "invented in Russia".

The Russians perfected depressing literature but the Greeks invented it.

Point taken, but I would suggest that the Russians have perfected it so well that "Russian Literature" and "oh Lord, how incredibly depressing, don't make me read that" have become nearly interchangeable phrases, whereas the mention of Greek literature would not typically elicit a deep sigh and a baleful expression from the typical passersby.

"Well, certain baked meat pies, profoundly depressing literature, alcoholism as an accepted national pastime and certain hot female tennis stars come to mind.......

Ok I'll give you baked meat pies.

Thanks, although upon reflection I'm wondering if our British Friends may have beat the Russkies on that one?  In truth, I was thinking of the Peroshki (I've seen it's English spelling also as Perogie) and so I really should have described it as something other than a "baked meat pie", perhaps a "precursor of the Hot Pocket and filled with Mystery Meat"?

But alcoholism and hot tennis stars were NOT invented in Russia.

Not meaning to sound combative or pedantic, but my actual statement was "alcoholism as an accepted national pastime".  Again, upon reflection, I'm thinking that even that mantle may have been first grabbed by Iceland?  I'm not well versed on the history of "culturally cavalier attitudes toward alcoholism" and so I admit I'm unsure.

And again my statement was "certain hot female tennis stars"  with the underlying meaning being that Anna Kournikova was indeed "invented in Russia".

The Russians perfected depressing literature but the Greeks invented it.

[mad_as_he$$]

I surrender!!!!! We agree!!!