>>>>>>For our English speaking readers a brief summary: Next Microsoft database developer user group meeting in Hamburg (Germany, Europe)
>>>>>
>>>>>...Earth?
>>>>
>>>>... Sol?
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>>>That newly identified outer ring of Saturn?
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>>Saturn is married.
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>>This was about the inventiveness applied to naming cities here. Nowhere else in the world (and beyond) was there a need to say the country after a city, but here. There are 18 Arlingtons, and who knows how many Springfields, Portsmouths, Norfolks, Newports etc in the States.
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>>Anywhere in Europe, you just say Hamburg - and everybody knows what you mean. If you say "Hamburg, Germany", you're a Yank.
>
>If you book a flight to Portland, you might want to specify which Portland you want or else instead of flying into Portland, Oregon, you could find yourself at the other end of the country in Maine! :o)

And you would be a fortunate soul ;-) Nothing against the other Portland, which is one of our great cities, but if anyone is feeling in the mood for a getaway weekend, you could do a lot worse than the other Portland and the rest of Maine. By tradition it empties out the Monday of Labor Day weekend. The colors are at their peak and the coast is its austere craggy self. Lobster is cheap.