Areff responded:
    First off, you get Oy!ed for using that expression "the States".
    This is a deprecated usage outside of military and
    diplomatic contexts.  Odd thing is, the British think Americans
    commonly use "the States" (they don't),  and the Americans think
    the British commonly use "the States" (they do, but only because
    they mistakenly think that's what Americans commonly do).

Which brings up the question about what term USA people do use
while they are not in "The States".  UK and Australian people
can play as well, and indeed may be better judges.

--                       ---------------------------------------------
Richard Maurer              To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California       of a homonym of a synonym for also.
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[a subthread of   Half hour or half an hour]