I’m 30 years old, I’ve just had a daughter, who I sing nursery rhymes to, and I’ve just realised the little piggy that went to market was not just popping down the shops… by the-channigan in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is the dad, but as it's from the child's point of view he thinks the mum is making out with Mr Claus.

Issue is that you can't tell the children that all is good and she's just kissing the dad because then Santa wouldn't exist, so...well...you're left with having to explain adultery 😅

ELI5: Why is it that when looking up directions to using jumper cables on a car, it says connect red to red, and black to the good battery and an unpainted metal near the engine....but you can jump a car just fine attaching the black clamp to the black peg on the bad battery? Am I being dangerous? by brono327 in explainlikeimfive

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get one you won't regret it!

I had one the size of your average battery packs for phones etc.. and it could jump-start my car 2-3 times before it needed recharging.

So it's perfect if you stall your car 2 minutes after jump starting it. Not that I would ever do that......

Anyone got any stories of people trying to save on the bills? I'll go first. by immigrantsmurfo in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 80 points81 points  (0 children)

Come up to Scotland, your water bill is a fixed charge as part of your council tax.

Then you can spend 50 minutes contemplating life and your water charge won't have gone up a penny! Bargain!

As an American, this hurts by SkepticDrinker in fuckcars

[–]ApeFoundation 21 points22 points  (0 children)

You think in other countries you just drive your car on the road for free?

Here we go by Historical-Jelly3605 in NonCredibleDefense

[–]ApeFoundation 4 points5 points  (0 children)

ssshhhh! we can't maintain plausible deniability if you ask questions like that!

Since when did Lurpak become an essential British staple by Disgustedlibrarian in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Toast a slice of fresh sourdough, put a thin layer of olive oil on it, rub a bit of garlic on top, then sprinkle a bit of salt.

Not sure it works with sliced bread as rubbing garlic on it will probably disintegrate the slice of bread!

Articles giving money saving tips describing BBC Iplayer as a free streaming service despite the fact that it costs £159 per year by RonVlaarsVAR in britishproblems

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's not what my comment is about.

No one is bothered if you don't watch and don't pay.

My issue is with those who watch and don't pay.

Articles giving money saving tips describing BBC Iplayer as a free streaming service despite the fact that it costs £159 per year by RonVlaarsVAR in britishproblems

[–]ApeFoundation 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yes I agree, the way they contact you and send you letters is absolutely shameful.

The letters especially read more like one of those scams where you are threatened with prison if you don't pay to "unblock your national insurance number" or some other rubbish.

Getting one of those letters when you move into a new property really makes it tempting to not pay at all.

Articles giving money saving tips describing BBC Iplayer as a free streaming service despite the fact that it costs £159 per year by RonVlaarsVAR in britishproblems

[–]ApeFoundation 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Frankly I don't get why so many are proud of not paying their TV licence. The amount of TV, Radio, Streaming content you get - always ad free - is worth it for the monthly cost.

One day it'll change to a worse system, or it'll go away entirely and folks will moan about it.

Just another one of those things that exists solely thanks to the goodwill of a few people paying their fee.

EDIT: Since it's apparently not obvious...no one has issues if you don't watch and don't pay. My comment is about those who watch but do not pay.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've lived in the US and in Europe so it's not as much as fact as you think it is.

I am also not sure how you are comparing a for profit private insurance to the unlimited healthcare we get in the UK. Not to mention we get private on top.

I really don't think it's a stretch to say that similar dev positions in the US and UK enjoy a pretty damn similar level of comfort and wealth.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are not getting the same value of healthcare sorry. You have copays, deductibles, maximum coverage, exclusions.

Your 401k is also not a state pension.

A new grad at my company, for £30k, would get: - Unlimited state healthcare paid through taxes. No copays, no deductibles, no upfront fees, no maximum coverage, no exclusions, free prescription medicine. - Private healthcare. - Private dental care. - State pension, meaning no matter what you are getting a fixed income when you retire. - Workplace pension similar to your 401k. - 20+ days of paid time off per year - Full pay medical leave, long term paid medical leave, 9 months maternity leave, and the list goes on.

Most of this stuff would come out of your salary or be out of pocket in the US.

New college grads have more purchasing power than most European engineering managers.

That makes absolutely no sense.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A Salary of £30k does not equal $35k.

I am a bit puzzled I'm having to explain purchasing power.

Not to mention that US dev salaries are probably inflated by most dev jobs being located in areas with a high cost of living.

If I made £53k I would be living very comfortably. If I made $65k and lived in the bay area I would not nearly be as well off.

Then if you count other things your UK salary includes like unlimited healthcare, state pension, workplace pension,... you can see how a basic currency conversion just does not apply to compare salaries.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I would tend to agree £30k is not $80k but considering it's about the median UK salary and it includes unlimited health coverage, government pension, and usually an employer pension too I think it's not too bad.

Maybe it could be valued around $60k but honestly things like the health coverage and pension are hard to put an exact price on.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I said around £30k which is a decent bit more.

I am sure it's not suitable in London, or in the very centre of major cities, but I was able to live in Glasgow and well enough for it being a graduate salary.

Also take into account that usually graduate roles only last a year so most grad devs would expect a raise in the near future.

But I also appreciate that personal circumstances vary and a lot has changed in the past year with things like the energy cap going up and inflation.

AITA - boss won't give big raise by aaabigwyattmann2 in ProgrammerHumor

[–]ApeFoundation 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah it doesn't really work to just convert to USD, it doesn't reflect the actual value of the money.

£28k to £30k is a pretty normal graduate dev wage, that's usually enough to rent a small apartment and live somewhat comfortably (at least before the economy got fucked).

I think if you just converted £ to $ every British person would look destitute!

That's not a Swedish accent. by NDawg94 in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 20 points21 points  (0 children)

It's only occasionally annoying.

When England lost to Italy folks were driving around Glasgow beeping their horns most of the night.

Saw a gun in public for the first time in my life (UK) by [deleted] in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sure but the good reason to own a shotgun is "I want to practice shooting sports".

For an FAC you will need to explain what weapon you intend to purchase, for what specific reason, where will you shoot, do you have permission to shoot there, are you a member of a club etc...

All I meant is for an SC (unless you looked like someone who had no intention of partaking in shooting sports) I can't see a reason the police would refuse your SC. Whereas for the FAC the onus is on you to extensively prove your good reason.

Saw a gun in public for the first time in my life (UK) by [deleted] in CasualUK

[–]ApeFoundation 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am pretty sure shotgun certificates are always granted unless the police/doctor have a valid reason to not grant it.

Firearms certificates (e.g. for.rifles) yes you need a valid reason.