How do things REALLY work in Equestria?

So, before I can begin a certain other project teasing my mind, I need to know what differences there are between Equestria and Earth that could be mined for laughs or conflict. The newly released The Elements of Harmony guide to MLP says nothing in that regard, unfortunately.

I had contemplated writing a story based on the concept of a modern-day academic seer having visions of each MLP episode... minus the sound. (I got the idea from the book The World of the Dark Crystal, which treats the material created for said movie as if it were either seen in mystic visions or actually conjured from the world of Thra.

I got about a thousand words into that project and said, "No. This sucks, it's a pain to read, and it's even more painful to write."

So instead I'm going to rewatch MLP:FiM seasons 1 and 2 (thanks, DVD box sets!) and spot things, posting them here as observed.

What I'm looking for, in particular:

(1) Evidence of technology post-1900 USA (radios, TVs, computers, etc.)

(2) Grasping anything in one hoof

(3) Standing and walking on hind legs for any prolonged period of time

(4) English or What? Do ponies really speak/write English, or is it just translated?

(5) Anything else standing out that doesn't quite make sense (I'm looking at you, bowling alley)

Of course any of the above that involve Pinkie Pie will have an asterisk beside the stat/count.

Let's begin with Friendship is Magic parts 1 and 2.

(1) Cuckoo clock is the most technological thing seen, except for the implication that the library has electric lights.

(2) At Sweet Apple Acres, several things held on an upraised hoof, but not necessarily gripped.

"Twilight... let go." - Applejack and Twilight's hooves are one-on-one, with Applejack's on top of Twilight's. It is just barely possible that Applejack could keep Twilight from falling by pressing down hard on her forehooves, but it's impossible for Twilight to be the one to let go in that position... unless hooves can grip.

(3) Applejack's two-hoofed hoofshake; her stance is still essentially quadrupedal, and she really should not be able to avoid falling forward while pumping Twilight's one forelimb like a nickel slot machine.

(4) English or What? The opening shot of part 1 is of "Once upon a Time," yes. However, when we see Twilight reading the book about the Mare in the Moon, distinctly non-English letters are visible. Most of them are pictograms of various kinds, which makes no sense from any practical point of view- no way do they correspond to any quill-writable script or block lettering. (Of course there's a practical reason: avoiding English in signs, books, etc. means less work in adapting the cartoon for other languages.)

(5) Apple family... about twenty ponies seen, but only one male. That kind of makes the fanon of "three mares per stallion" seem overly optimistic...

On the other hoof... "It was under 'E'!"

Personal rating of eps:
101 - 5 stars
102 - 4 stars ("Let go" was contrived example of honesty)

OK, I'll probably watch more eps while on the road; I'm selling at AnimeIowa this weekend, which means lots of driving in my schedule tomorrow.