Well fall because.... ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn )
The word autumn comes from the Old French word autompne (automne in modern French), and was later normalized to the original Latin word autumnus. [ 8 ] There are rare examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but it became common by the 16th century.
Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season. However, as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns (especially those who could read and write, the only people whose use of language we now know), the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the actual activity of reaping, and fall, as well as autumn, began to replace it as a reference to the season. [ 9 ] [ 10 ]
The alternative word fall is now mostly a North American English word for the season. It traces its origins to old Germanic languages. The exact derivation is unclear, the Old EnglishfiƦll or feallan and the Old Norsefall all being possible candidates. However, these words all have the meaning "to fall from a height" and are clearly derived either from a common root or from each other. The term came to denote the season in the 16th century, a contraction of Middle English expressions like "fall of the leaf" and "fall of the year". [ 11 ]
During the 17th century, English immigration to the colonies in North America was at its peak, and the new settlers took their language with them. While the term fall gradually became obsolescent in Britain, it became the more common term in North America, where autumn is nonetheless preferred in scientific and often in literary contexts.
Diapers over nappies.... ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaper )
The word diaper originally referred to the type of cloth rather than its use; "diaper" was the term for a pattern of small repeated geometric shapes, and later came to describe a white cotton or linen fabric with this pattern [ 3 ] . The first cloth diapers consisted of a special type of soft tissue sheet, cut into geometric shapes. This type of pattern was called diapering and eventually gave its name to the cloth used to make diapers and then to the diaper itself. This usage stuck in the United States and Canada, but in Britain the word "nappy" took its place. Most sources believe nappy is a diminutive form of the word napkin [ 4 ] .
Eraser vs rubber....
Okay I am not going to look up the etymology here ..... I will point out that 'rubber' is slang for condom in the US.
Sidewalk vs pavement....
Dunno, I associate pavement with roads construction and sidewalks with concrete
Alcohol demonized .......
PURITANS..... sure the Puritans drank but only in moderation. Yes, hundreds of years have past but their influence remains. Here is nice link discussing the matter. http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/LIBRARY/studies/nc/nc2a.htm
Europe.....
Some do and some don't...... if you feel or sense more doing today you can thank the EU. Until the EU I seperated by country after it is by membership.
OMG!
Because OMG (Oh my G*d, or Oh my Goodness) is just a texting buzz word right now...... it too will pass in time just like Valley Girl.
Accents....
Because foreign accents can equate to mysterious, dangerous, exciting and sexy.... Whenever I have been in GB or Ireland with my Dad I was constantly given asked to 'say something' because of my accent..... they really seemed to get a hoot from me saying 'yall'.
George ain't that bad of guy, he is a guy's guy....... unfortunately he wasn't very politcally savvy so much as a vessel compared to say Jeb who is far more a politician then any Bush of that generation. George W. had the name and so he was approached by Carl to run. .....that said I doubt very much he will be the last President George Bush for the US..... and it doesn't hurt that George P is damn good looking and half Mexican too boot!