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The UK and the USA may share a language (mostly) in common, but when it comes to a number of cultural customs, the Atlantic Ocean seems like the smallest thing separating them.

Whether it's their unique accent that somehow carries over into their typing, their obsession with tea, or the fact that they put baked beans on their toast, Brits certainly have a way of making those of us on the Western side of the world scratch our heads with confusion. That's not to say that Americans don't have quirks of their own, but here at Bored Panda, we think Great Britain deserves some special recognition this time around.

Check out the top British moments that left Americans completely stumped below, and be sure to vote for the ones that you're still trying to understand as well.

#1

American Vs British

tommowar Report

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Lauren Southwood
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My nan came onto facetime while i was talking to my sister, chatted sortly and then said "I have to go, I can't drink my tea unless its scalding hot" Its July...

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#3

American Vs British

a-thousand-words Report

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didi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually quite useful: "biweekly" is confusing as some may consider that as twice a week or every 2 weeks. "Fortnightly" can only mean once every 2 weeks.

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#5

American Vs British

brigwife Report

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E Menendez
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from the US and I have thought the same thing ( why do we call it math when it should be maths) and always assumed I was just overthinking. Then I learned that Brits use maths and now I feel less foolish. Also, I love eagle f****r. Laughed out loud on that.

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Susan Forbes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pee-brained or pea-brained? As an American I need to know this. And eagle-f****r is hilarious

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Leni
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A little unnecessarily rude imo, from both ends. Language evolves differently in different countries, it's not a static thing. And anyone who speaks English should try to let go of it ever making any logical sense. As natural languages go it's not exactly one of the more structured ones. :')

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Hannah Bunker
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate all the Americans who give the rest of us such a bad name

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you know? Maybe he meant to say "p**s-brained" and was only too polite :-P

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Romylos Irodotou
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mathematics comes from the greek word Mathemateka - Μαθηματικά which is a plural word. Thus the British way is closer and more correct

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fubukifangirl
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But Mathemateka doesn't need an "s" to be plural, so the American way is actually closer and correct.

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Sardonic Scribe
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pea brained eagle f*****s... as a Canadian I'm going to have to remember that one!

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Samuli Kantola
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mathematics isn't many. There's only one science called mathematics. What sort of "pee-brained eagle-f****r" can't handle even this? Many areas in mathematics, but only one f*****g mathematics.

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Heather Jones-Liming
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there, done that. I lived there for 4 years. School was a joke for anyone not lucky enough too be in an affluent area. My annual well woman exam was performed by my GP on a heavy, farm style kitchen table covered in blankets. How is any of that so great?

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Victor Vakaras
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since when do you put an S on the end of an abbreviated word? Oh yeah, that's right...since never. It's math, you limey twats.

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Susanna Miller
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When someone misuses an apostrophe while callng someone else out for stupidity, this American's eyes roll. N.B. Unlike many other Americans, I actually do say "maths",

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BlakCircleGirl
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose the US sees the word "math" as singular and plural. Like "moose".

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Deena Nelson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We also call it Arithmetic, figures and calculations among other things

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Brett Tenner
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an American, I prefer to have the option to treat my child, as opposed to the government telling me I can't and I have to let him die. British-Ba...803aa5.jpg British-Baby-Death-Panel-59ef8b9803aa5.jpg

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Ralph Halsey
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When we American's think of math we think of simple mat like simple minded British people. We know there is more that one, like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus etc....

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Flower Waheed
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I from the U.s. and the eagle-f*****s part had me dying. Also, the part about campaigning against universal healthcare doesn't make sense; it's counterproductive.

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Rik Kellerman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the same reason you Brits are called British, and not Britishes, I suppose....

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Daniel Marsh
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No-one in America has even proposed universal healthcare. Obamacare is mandated insurance purchasing. BIG DIFFERENCE.

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Lazy Panda
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I always knew maths sounded stranger but seemed a lot more logical, not gonna lie. Also I failed math so I always find it funny when I have an opinion on math and turns out that opinion makes a lot of sense and is logical

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bigoldthor
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Sciences is my favourite subject in schools." Really, who gives a fat baby's w**g which is used? It's just another verbal weapon used by small-minded people to belittle other nations or cultures. Goes both ways, folks, friends, mates, yanks, amigos...wtf ever.

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PigMaster
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are both stupid because you can't use parenthesis correctly!

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Ruth Baker
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It isn't. We say: 'Maths is my favourite subject' not: 'Maths are my favourite subject.' And yes, we spell favourite with a 'u'/

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Susan Forbes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We Yanks abbreviate mathematics and the British condense it. Math/ vs Math---s

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Marc Proudfoot
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you imagine walking into uni to be a "student of mathemetic" ?

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fubukifangirl
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, so do they call more than one sheep "sheeps"? A noun does not necessarily have to have an "s" on the end to be plural.

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Leni
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plural sheep isn't short for sheepemathics. Language doesn't work that wat.

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Rebekah
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eagle-f*****s... there's one I'm adding to my repertoire.

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PeggyWestmoreland
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Using the word maths when referring to a congregate like algebra, calculus and trigonometry, would be understood, but sound strange like referring to a combined herd of mule and whitetail deer as deers. Oh, as you can see the Oxford comma isn't used much either.

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John Ashley
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Math is an abbreviation of mathematics and, as such, is inherently plural. No need to have an "s" on the end. It's just the British penchant to make things more complicated than they required. Just ask a U.S. mechanic who's worked on Jaguar transmission..

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would I ask a US mechanic for Jaguar transmission? COuldn't I ask a mathematician? Or a physicist? Or a biologist? Or a linguist for anglo-saxon languages? What makes Jaguar-transmission-mechanics so much more knowledgeable about language OR mathematics?

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Fred Miller
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maths is stupid. As for Universal Healthcare, if the UK's is so wonderful why do heads of state always travel to America for treatment when they're ill? Never hear "The King of Thailand has cancer, wants to be treated in the UK."

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Stefano Girovaghi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer Math. In Italia Matematica, because there is only one Math. The true and only.

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#7

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Us British can sneak up on you like a ninja in the night or even an iceberg in open water

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#8

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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loveandbones
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Translation: Friend it's hard to explain, it's just like one day you will be with your friends having a look in a sports shop (called JD) and you might fancy the curry offer that's on at the local pub (called Wetherspoons) but your friend Calum, who is a legend and awesome will be like "Guys let's go to Nando's (a resturant chain in the UK, cheap and good tasting food, hence it feeling a bit cheeky) instead." and you'll think "Great idea. Let's go for it."

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#10

American Vs British

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Xmayze
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone told me a lot of Americans don't even own a kettle, I'm slightly scared to ask if that's true....?

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#12

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Claire Kidd
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is that so weird to Americans? You know what I find weird? That Americans make everything sickly sweet and have an unhealthy relationship with Maple Syrup. On bacon? Really people?

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#13

American Vs British

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Steve
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Pulp" is a band. "Juicy bits" are simply juicy and awesome. I'm ok with this one :D

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#14

American Vs British

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TC
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose people in the USA get a compulsory tip because the don't earn enough from their employers and have to life on their clients charity...?

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#16

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Fire Bird
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you youtube Anglophenia she explains why there are two taps. They didnt want the hot water being contaminated by the cold water as they had seperate tanks. This was back in the day, they just do it now as nostalgia thing.

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#18

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you thought us Brits were straight laced and uppity. Mr Blobby is proof, do not mess with the Brits if you don't want the nightmares Freddy Kruger gets when sick.

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#20

American Vs British

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didi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Due to the common market trade agreements, there was something of a campaign a while back for food terminology in Europe: They basically wanted all British chocolate renaming as chocolate candy because it wasn't pure enough by their standards (too much milk fat and sugar, not enough cocoa).

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#23

American Vs British

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Brigitte
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually all over Europe it's pretty common to have your washing machine in the kitchen. If the bathroom is too small and there is no extra room, where else would you put it? Also in some apartments the water/drain pipes for washing machines are installed in the kitchen only, so you really have no other choice.

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#24

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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ispeak catanese
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We've been watching Vera, The Loch, Unforgotten, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey & Shetland and have added so many great new insults and idioms to our speech! It's fun yelling k******d and calling each other cow. I think I have developed a Scottish, Yorkshire, Puerto Rican accent.

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#26

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Ninshi TheImp
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That reminds me of something I read. In germany the waterworks have to perpare for the breaks during important football games.

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#29

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Daria B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes sense, but.... I'm sure U.S.A. doesn't have the same accent in each state, just like the U.K. accents vary by countries and regions. Even in one single city of London you can differentiate between particular accents depending on the part of the city, no? Sorry, I'm an overthinker. *shrug*

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#30

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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#33

American Vs British

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Steve
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it saves on plug-ware. I save pounds every year on not having to replace plugs for my sink.

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#34

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so... you know those little plastic packs that hot dogs come in have a salty liquid in them, right? They're not vacuum sealed in there all dry.

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#35

American Vs British

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Hans
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

faith sadly did not understand the concept of an egg cup. They are for boiled eggs, which are then eaten with a spoon.

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#36

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Claire Kidd
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, Americans have this weird view of the British. In their TV shows EVERY British person either speaks in a really posh voice or is a cockney. WE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!

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#38

American Vs British

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Steve
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Celebrating the day King James I survived what was essentially a terrorist plot to blow up the House of Lords. Interestingly we celebrate by blowing stuff up whilst freezing our collective backsides off and waving sparklers about.

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#39

American Vs British

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Ines Äffchen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when I first moved to the UK and switched on the TV I learned that this is a show about people who have some complaint that's "too embarrassing to show your doctor". But yeah, let's ALL have a look at that on national TV, why not.

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#41

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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John Doe
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

exactly, that's just what you say!! or may be "past midnight" as well

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#43

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Neil Adams
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's correctly pronounced 'aitch', without the aspirant. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/aitch

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#44

American Vs British

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is my favorite TV show. I have NO CLUE what 90% of the things they are baking actually are -- never heard of them, never seen them. But the intensity with which they bake them is riveting!

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