Thanksgiving 2000. Picture this: Hans having diner with the parents of by than his girl friend Maria Teresa. Diner at the dining room in a suburb of San Antonio, Texas. Discussion topic: retirement. Mike the father (a fervent Nixon, Reagan and Bush worshipper) complains to me that he has to work like an idiot to get a normal pension. He as a chiropracticer had to take care about his pension complete on his own. Than suddenly he told me that from 1966 he worked several years for an American company which gave him great benefits, including pension fund. But after 3 years he was looking for another job since he wanted more challenges in his life, despite the fact that this American company offered him a hugh raise in salary, a better position etc. I asked him which American company it was. He replied: 'SHELL', the oil company. I replied: 'Royal Dutch SHELL'? He said: 'yes'. I was surprised and asked him why should an American company call themselves Royal Dutch. He said that he never thought about that but that there were often 'Dutch people' coming over to his office in Houston (they were drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico). I told him that when a company call themselves Royal Dutch, they must be a Dutch company, right?! And that only Dutch companies which provides extra ordinary services to the Royal Dutch family - in this case the family has a lot of shares of SHELL - are allowed to use the word Royal. And that if he didn't leave the company by than, he probably by now he would be a hot shot in Houston, with an ever bigger house than he had now, and with a yacht etc. And that he not had to worry about his pension. Mike looked at me and said: 'You're damn right, son'. And: 'Hans, we always disagree about politics, but you know, I like you, especially how you explain some things..."Sunday, November 18, 2007
American SHELL
Thanksgiving 2000. Picture this: Hans having diner with the parents of by than his girl friend Maria Teresa. Diner at the dining room in a suburb of San Antonio, Texas. Discussion topic: retirement. Mike the father (a fervent Nixon, Reagan and Bush worshipper) complains to me that he has to work like an idiot to get a normal pension. He as a chiropracticer had to take care about his pension complete on his own. Than suddenly he told me that from 1966 he worked several years for an American company which gave him great benefits, including pension fund. But after 3 years he was looking for another job since he wanted more challenges in his life, despite the fact that this American company offered him a hugh raise in salary, a better position etc. I asked him which American company it was. He replied: 'SHELL', the oil company. I replied: 'Royal Dutch SHELL'? He said: 'yes'. I was surprised and asked him why should an American company call themselves Royal Dutch. He said that he never thought about that but that there were often 'Dutch people' coming over to his office in Houston (they were drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico). I told him that when a company call themselves Royal Dutch, they must be a Dutch company, right?! And that only Dutch companies which provides extra ordinary services to the Royal Dutch family - in this case the family has a lot of shares of SHELL - are allowed to use the word Royal. And that if he didn't leave the company by than, he probably by now he would be a hot shot in Houston, with an ever bigger house than he had now, and with a yacht etc. And that he not had to worry about his pension. Mike looked at me and said: 'You're damn right, son'. And: 'Hans, we always disagree about politics, but you know, I like you, especially how you explain some things..."
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17 comments:
Oh boy Hans . . .
You must've met some 'dumbass' Americans while you were in the U.S. Hans.
No wonder you argue with me that Americans do not own the world.
Not all Americans are that shallow . . . and don't ever put Reagan, Nixon, and Bush in the same league. They were all Republicans, but they were not all conservatives. One of those is a ultra-neo-con. Reagan was for peace. My advice: Try not to comment on things you are not a real expert on . . .
Have you checked the Fortune 500 lately?
And did you look into what (www) really means, and who owns it, and who controls the world.
By the way, I hate Shell. It makes my European car's engine ping. It must be the quality of their refinement techniques. I buy my gas from Mobil/Exxon.
That's really too bad, since I love their colors. The colors of Galatasaray . . .
Metin, I found 'dumbass' Americans all over the Joined States...
He, the World Wide Web was made is Switzerland by an Englishman and a Belgium...so what..))
In 1950, Fortune 500, 90% was American by 2000 30%
As the Netherlands is the second largest investor in the USA, I can tell exactly which American companies are owned by the Dutch..)) Too bad that we sold Bestfoods and AC Nielssen..((
Did you know that Gucci, Renault-Nissan, Sabanci/Dupont are Dutch as well....))
Dream on my friend, soon all America will be European..))
Hans . . .its not about www being created . . . it's about how the U.S. controls www.
The USA controls world dominance of the worst kind. And soon your dream will turn into your nightmare, especially when we become a cashless society.
When will you come out of your fantasyland world and join us in the future of today . . .
The Dutch should stick to tulip breeding . . .
The USA all the way baby !!!!!!!!
How can you put the Dutch and the US in the same class?? Maybe if you compare Dutch to Turkey??
Hans,
Maybe you should stop before you expose your ignorance of the US some more . . .
And stick to Turkish affairs that you are such an expert of . . .
:)
Metin, I am an expert in world affairs. I know your walhalla for 28 years now, stayed there around 7, that must be enough, or not..))
We Dutch are very influential in the USA, ask Clinton of Bush Sr. himself. The latter claims that he is of Dutch origin.
The Dutch are the 3th largest food producer after the USA and France.
For more fair info: www.nfia.com
Turkey and USA (espec TX) have a lot in common, especially in explaining: with 1% knowledge they explain the 100% of an issue. You are both Turk and Gringo...so..))
Dream on Your American Dream..)) -D
Hans,
Stop kidding yourself. You're not an expert on world affairs. If you are, then I am the Pope!
And how long has it been since you left the US? And what have you done while here?
Stop making a fool of yourself . . .
Hans,
After reading your post, you must be really glad that you ended up marrying a Turkish girl.
Ardent, I had a good time in South cal, NYC, but prefer Turkey.
Yes, finally and happily married on the age of 45.)
Metin, you are not the only one who can joke around...
Hans, I find this post quite amuzing.
Metin, no it's not the USA all the way. How many friends do we have left. Even our direct neighbors are not fond of us. Why so aggresive at the moment? Just an innocent question.
cheers, time for brunch.
Tufan,
I am just having my Sunday fun at the blogosphere.
I also would like to needle the Europeans' certain lack of gratitude in criticizing the US for some things like getting into ridiculous wars, when our biggest one in the last century was to liberate them from Nazi occupation.
And when Holland lets in as many 3rd world immigrants as the US does, we will be more open to Hans' suggestions about discrimination and comparisons . . .
LOL!
Americans have lots of friends. It is Bush and the Government who are lacking friends . . .
Time for my manicure . . .
Metin, I see..)I think Hans was joking as well...
I don't think there is a lack of gratitude towards the USA. That Europeans are critical, without any doubt. But this doesn't mean that they have to act as servants of the USA. Btw, where did you live the first part of your life, in another words, we both are born Turks who didn't help Europe at all when the Germans (only them) brouht darkness and death all over Europe.
cheers, time for a bath and a good night rest.
Metin, man, where are you talking about.
So, you are the Expert in European affairs. Ever been here, let me Amsterdam, or Rotterdam? Do you really think that we go bankrupt if your guys don't have cash anymore? You look like a completely dummy regarding EU.
FYI: I work for 20 years for an American company, here in Amsterdam and over there. With mainly Americans, the real ones, as colleqeas. Thought you were a fun guy but your post of yesterday shows a grumbing old beer...
Hope you have your day today.
Groet
The first part of my life was in NYC.
Oh and I do remember the U.S. helping out in the Kosovo/Bosnia situations, since the Europeans via NATO were so incapable of doing anything to fix the situation.
I also remember the U.S. being instrumental in ending the Cold War, the end of the Soviet Union, as well as tearing down the wall in Germany. All of which the Europeans lacked leadership in.
The Germans are not the only ones bringing darkness and death all over Europe. The sun used to never set on the British empire at one time.
In fact, do you remember the Falkland Islands?
And what about when I was in Spain recently, and as I entered Gibraltar, the Spanish and the British were ready to massacre each other.
Where in the U.S. do you live in the latter part of your life? and thanks for interpreting Hans' feelings for me.
:)
Ha, I representing Hans his feelings..)) We never agreed..)
Yes, the USA did the bombings, we cleaned up the mess.
Reagan teared down the German wall, can you give Gorbatsjv and the Germans themselves some credits. I know that you American's are greedy, but not like you.
The British are a story apart. We are continental Europe..)
I am 45, and think to buy a nice house in Bodrum...sp I can bullshit every night with people like you..) Do you like wine?
Especially if its vintage red. Merlot or of course,
Cabernet Sauvignon.
I also like 'sparkling wine' from Napa and Sonoma since Champagne was already taken.
:)
Btw, why don't you buy a house in Newport and be my neighbor? I'll even buy you a drink (or two) . . .
Geert Jan, good idea, you never know with these Turkish men, they are oppressed by women for such a long time..))
Maybe he want some kind of Dutch Revenge..))
Geert,
I didn't know your wife was American . . .
No wonder your distaste for Americans originate from having a boss who is American . . .
:)
Don't worry . . . I won't add anything in your vodka other than maybe some cranberry juice.
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