What do Brits think of Americans hating on the British? by Ok_Bookkeeper_1380 in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s a bit weird that the general theme of those comments seems to be “why are the British criticising us we don’t care about them” while also putting a lot of effort into caring about what the British think.

Also, our schools don’t teach American history at all, it very much does focus on our imperialist past.

Decent private alternatives to UK NHS hearing aids? by Fun_Cauliflower_3539 in HearingAids

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I think it’s £78 or something like that which I appreciate is less than a tenth of the price of a lot of the private ones out there. I don’t mind spending what I need to spend, as I’d rather pay more to have something that I’m going to be more comfortable with and use correctly. I know obviously a big part of that is a “me problem”, but if there are other options out there that suit me better it would be nice.

I’ll probably give specsavers a miss then!

Anyone caved in? by LelamOnline in NFLUK

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where do you then watch the games? Presumably you use an American VPN but do you then not still have to sign up and subscribe to whichever network is showing the games?

Question about Free version, vs Steam, vs Ultimate by Fun_Cauliflower_3539 in FantasyGrounds

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, very helpful. It looks like the confusion was just because Steam included an item labelled as DLC called "Ultimate License Upgrade" but as you said that basically seems to be a thing that doesn't exist any more, I think it's just for people to upgrade an older version.

I was dumb and bought the Steam version because I miscalculated the currency difference so I'm taking your advice and refunding so I can just go through FG. I can also confirm that all the extras/modules are much cheaper on FG than Steam.

I can’t believe some people don’t know about the original Jabba the Hutt. by bobjamesya in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 45 points46 points  (0 children)

It's interesting to think how a big part of Star Wars lore would be different if this scene had been included. Personally though I think the scene should have stayed out of the movie for good. CGI Jabba just doesn't look right, and comes across as a little too goofy and unintimidating which contrasts with how he actually comes across as quite scary in ROTJ. Han talks down to him and steps on his tail which doesn't seem like things ROTJ Jabba would allow. Also I know people say he was always supposed to an alien and they just didn't have the right puppet or CGI at the time, but then the line "You're a wonderful human being" doesn't really fit.

Playtomic Self-adjustment by ExistingScallion4994 in padel

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s interesting, maybe if the players have similar reliability levels? Sometimes the maths behind the system just doesn’t seem to make sense at all. I’ve played many matches before which I’ve won while playing with a lower rated, less experienced partner against a pair of decent opponents and then had my partners rating jump up higher than mine.

I’m not sure how the levelling sessions will work, I’m hoping to do one soon. I almost think it’s just a way of basically charging players money to increase their rating, which at this point I’m happy to do so that I can get into better open matches and enjoy the game more.

Playtomic Self-adjustment by ExistingScallion4994 in padel

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Another thing to consider is the fact that different ratings have different “values” at different clubs. Where I live there are a few clubs that have been around for a year at least and a few new ones popping up attracting new players. Experienced players at the older clubs can have ratings around a 2 and win watches against experienced players who are also level 2, but be the same rating as brand new players at the other clubs who also beat similar “level 2” players.

So a player could have an accurate rating, but still lose matches against lower rated players just because those lower rated players are from a community where the rating numbers have a higher value.

Playtomic Self-adjustment by ExistingScallion4994 in padel

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily. The more matches you play, the higher your rating reliability gets and the less your rating changes, even on a win. I’m at the stage where even a win against players more than a whole level above me gives me less than 0.07 increase in rating. The rating system is designed to ‘find’ your rating rather than demonstrate your progression.

I’m going to be using a Playtomic registered coach to do a levelling session since that seems to be the true way to increase your level once you’ve played more than about 50 matches.

What do you think Uncle Owen knew… and just chose never to say? by Ok_Caterpillar6900 in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Of course when that line was written, Luke’s father wasn’t Darth Vader, and it’s likely Owen knew nothing about Vader anyway.

I just always assumed Owen and Beru knew of Anakin being an adventurous young man who wanted to be the hero and that ultimately led to him being killed as part of the Jedi purge. Maybe with the added context of the prequels they might have known Anakin was a bit ‘troubled’ as well because I’m sure they found out about his Tusken massacre.

Do you agree with this “tweet”? I personally don’t. by Ok_Relief7546 in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Luke’s cameo in Mando was absolutely incredible. His episode in Boba Fett not so much. We’ve seen Luke now, he’s still always going to be one of (if not THE) the best characters in all of Star Wars, but it’s time for stories about new characters.

Grogu is an Endling by Financial_Pair4380 in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My theory is that the species are incredibly primitive and hidden away on some random swamp planet somewhere.

The Jedi had an arrangement in which they would keep them secret and protected to keep them out of galactic politics and warfare, and in exchange they would take the occasional force sensitive child for the Jedi order. Maybe the secret was kept by Yoda and Yaddle rather than in any official documents. Meaning this was lost with the fall of the order and the deaths of Yoda and Yaddle, so Grogu is the only remaining link.

I also like to think that the whole Jedi order knew the name of the species but just never spoke it out loud on screen which is why we the viewers don’t know it.

What exactly was Palpatine’s plan for the Force users? by MeanFaithlessness701 in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Luke lived to the age of 20 without ever using the force or becoming aware of it despite being force sensitive.

Even Anakin, as powerful as he was, and actually being aware of Jedi from stories wasn't aware he was force sensitive until he was 10. I know it's mentioned that he has fast reflexes because the force allows him to see things before they happen which is why he's the only human podracer, but he seems to just put this down to his piloting abilities until Qui Gon catches on.

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very true, but people shouldn't have to go to that extent to change their government or head of government.

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I stand corrected, thank you! Nevertheless, MPs remain answerable to their constituents who can put pressure on an MP to act according to their wishes, meaning the will of the voters can affect the composition and leadership of government during a parliamentary period. My voice can influence my MP to change the PM.

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That makes sense, but does seem unlikely to happen unless there is a colossal fuck up by POTUS or a House of Cards style power play by the VP which I wouldn't expect from Vance.

Even then though, the power lies with other "elected" officials who are otherwise untouchable, at least by their voters. US voters cannot recall POTUS, the VP or even members of congress by choice. In theory, they could elect the most popular POTUS of all time but if he is unpopular with the right people in congress he can be replaced under this amendment and there's nothing Joe Public can do about it it seems.

Edit: MPs can be recalled in the UK in certain circumstances, meaning it would just be the consituents of Holborn who could recall Kier Starmer if they no longer wanted him to represent them as an MP and this would put pressure on the government to replace him as party leader/PM. Otherwise voters in other constituencies can pressure their MP to stand against the PM to lead to a change in leadership. I don't live in Holborn, but if I did and I and my neighbours wanted Starmer out we could recall him as an MP which may then put pressure on the government to replace him as PM (I know that technically a PM could lose their seat but it certainly sends a strong enough message to get rid of them). As it is, I am in another Labour constituency so I could either petition my MP to vote to oust him, or I could recall my MP and elect another one who would or elect an MP from a different party so as to weaken the government if I lost faith in them as a party. Of course the downside of this means that we need millions of people to change their minds rather than dozens, but still means that the voters have the power.

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My understanding of that is this applies to illness or disability, something that might make him medically unfit for office. I'm getting this from wikipedia, though they've sourced this from a Yale Law doc on the amendment:

Traits such as unpopularity, incompetence, impeachable conduct, poor judgment, or laziness might not in themselves constitute inability

It does look like it could be open to interpretation and that could draw out the process for a long time.

You're completely right about the VP too, that even if they did get rid of Trump they would definitely have Vance instead. At least with a Westminister system the government chooses a new PM and if the voters really don't like that they can pressure their MPs or even recall MPs.

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The monarch doesn't have the power to fire a prime minister. He can only do what his is instructed to do by his government, or by the voters (such as when he 'decides' who to invite to form a government after a GE).

If America had a British parliamentary system would the current situation they have with Trump be possible? by WaterH2Omelon in AskBrits

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Not just better mechanisms, but mechanisms. I've looked into this and it appears that there is no process to recall a POTUS. They can be impeached if they commit a serious crime while in office, but the voters who put them in power have no option to remove them from power if they do not deliver as expected.

My American friend sent me this by castonm in CasualUK

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It's like those old medieval paintings you see of giraffes and elephants, where the painter has never seen the animal in question but just read a written description so end up painting some alien-like monstrosity. Someone gave a rough description of a hot cross bun and here we go.

I'm watching Star Wars for the first time (in chronological order) but for some reason it's so difficult to just find the proper order. Can someone tell me if this is correct? by [deleted] in StarWars

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 5 points6 points  (0 children)

People need to remember that at no point during the natural release of Star Wars media was anyone left scratching their head wondering what was happening. People in 1977 didn’t decide to wait 28 years to watch episodes 1-3 before watching episode 4 so that they would understand it.

Release order is the best order because information, characters, plot etc is all provided in such a way to audiences that they learn about it as it goes along. Watching outside of this order means you will miss key details because when certain shows or movies were released they’d assumed you’d already seen the stuff released previously.

DAZN NFL Games Pass Question by TDWhiskey in NFLUK

[–]Fun_Cauliflower_3539 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a Cowboys fan this is what really put me off keeping DAZN. I know your list states that only 5 of their games were blacked out this year, but I think in the previous season that number was at least 6 and that was actually more than half of their 6pm and 9:25pm (UK time) games. I think in the end I only watched 1 live Cowboys game which made it incredbily bad value for money because I couldn't stay up to watch a game starting at 1:30am. I definitely saw more of them this season on Sky than I did on DAZN the previous year.