h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last year there was a fuss over a guy in Cornwall who had managed to get BA to slow Concorde down a few miles earlier than normal on the route from New York to London as the sonic boom was annoying him.
Millions of pounds in research and technology spent on the fastest passenger aircraft in the world and some miserable swine sticks his oar in 25 years later because he doesn't like the noise.

If the truth be known, the americans deliberatley saboutaged the whole project, because there's no way they can claim to have developed the 'plane. On the other hand, that never stopped them claiming things in the past! (e.g. TV, radio, the computer, flight in general, electricity, moving pictures, you name it, they invented it, or so they believe)

In general that fits into the 'winners write the history books' category.

Not to mention the American predeliction for talking, talking, talking, talking some more, talking, nipping out to McDonalds for a Big Mac, talking, ad nauseum.

How do they find the time to invent all these things?

If the Americans can't invent it, they buy it..... Like the harrier, for instance.