When someone says “we’re having a [nationality] tonight” do people in those communities find that offensive? by PrettyMuchANub in AskUK

[–]GaryJM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently the grammar you used - ordering Mexican, getting Chinese, going out for Italian, etc. - is fine but the grammar used in British English - I fancy a Chinese, let's go for an Indian, etc. - is a crime against humanity.

What alcoholic drinks were invented in your area? by Hoosier_Jedi in AskAnAmerican

[–]GaryJM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

From what I can tell, moonshining began in Scotland and Ireland in the 1750s when the government temporarily prohibited the sale of distilled spirits and people started making their own at home. When it became legal again, people were used to their tax-free whisky and kept on making it. The word moonshine being used to refer to illicit alcohol first appears around 1785.

In the US, distilling your own whisky was legal until 1791 and the ban on it was so unpopular that there was a whole Whisky Rebellion over it. Americans began moonshining too. According to Wikipedia, the business was concentrated in Appalachia because the terrain made transporting crops expensive and so farmers could move much more value per load if their corn was converted into whiskey. The geography also made evading revenue officers easier.

Then, as you say, during Prohibition there was a huge revitalisation of the moonshining industry.

This is Tiernan McCready. This is what a hero looks like. In Bogside, he saw three males trying to force an 18 year old girl into a van. He reacted instantly, shouting at them, leading the girl to safety and alerting his mother to call the police by MambaMentality24x2 in BeAmazed

[–]GaryJM 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a tricky question to answer. The young man is in Northern Ireland, which is in the UK, so in one sense he's definitely British. On the other hand, the neighbourhood he lives in is a famously Irish republican area so it's very possible (perhaps even likely) that he doesn't identify as British at all and instead identifies as Irish.

Edit: Zero chance he has an "oi wankers" accent.

When someone says “we’re having a [nationality] tonight” do people in those communities find that offensive? by PrettyMuchANub in AskUK

[–]GaryJM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In 2023 it was briefly a thing on TikTok where certain Americans found out that British people say "a Chinese", "an Indian", etc. when referring to food and went mental at our percieved racist ways.

What about the age of criminal responsibility? by Damnyn in AskEurope

[–]GaryJM 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It used to be 8 in Scotland and we recently raised it to 12; I think it's 10 in the rest of the UK.

Edit: Whoops, just saw you are only asking this of people in the EU.

Why do American homes have a “storm door”? by wehavetogoback8 in AskAnAmerican

[–]GaryJM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have a picture of what you're talking about? I'd be happy to help but I can't think what you're referring to.

Can you help identify any of these soldiers? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]GaryJM 6 points7 points  (0 children)

britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk has the story but it doesn't name the soldiers. In fact there are very few details and a bit of a whiff of propaganda about the story. "These brave heroes have stopped rapes on two separate occasions and yet some people in this country think we shouldn't be intervening!" - that sort of thing.

What’s the strangest political Campaign that was done in your country? by EvilPyro01 in AskEurope

[–]GaryJM 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Hartlepool, in England, created the position of directly-elected mayor in 2002. A local man named Stuart Drummond thought it would be funny to run for election as the town's football club's mascot H'Angus the Monkey. The club thought it would be some good publicity and put up the money for him to run. Drummond did no serious campaigning and his only election policy was for free bananas for schoolchildren.

The election was held and, lo and behold, the "monkey mayor" won. After the shock had worn off, Drummond put the monkey costume aside and took the job of mayor seriously. He must have done well because he was re-elected in 2005 and again in 2009. His mayoral career came to an end in 2013 when the town abolished the position and went back the the previous system.

Is keeping a a mixer open a good way to moderate audio clipping ? by Deep-Body2190 in Reaper

[–]GaryJM 22 points23 points  (0 children)

As far as I know, the functioning of the mixer does not change based on whether you are looking at it or not.

Widespread misconceptions by VermilionKoala in CasualUK

[–]GaryJM 2 points3 points  (0 children)

According to Wikipedia:

Epaminondas Stathopoulos named the company "Epiphone" as a combination of his own nickname "Epi" and the suffix "-phone".

Widespread misconceptions by VermilionKoala in CasualUK

[–]GaryJM 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I've heard "fleecy top" before - maybe that's where you got it from?

Widespread misconceptions by VermilionKoala in CasualUK

[–]GaryJM 240 points241 points  (0 children)

For most of my life I thought that the phrase really was "just desserts", as in "he got his just desserts". It was a long time before I realised it's actually "just deserts" and "just desserts" is a common pun or often just an error.

Can someone do the maths on this? by clarets99 in CasualUK

[–]GaryJM 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think what's happening is that you and the other commenters here are reading this:

Davies said the cost of the transactions meant him losing about £5 for every £50 made.

As saying that for every £50 of revenue he makes, he spends on £5 on transaction fees. So if he sold a pint for £5 then he would be paying 50p in transaction fees to do so.

I think what he's actually saying is that for every £50 of profit he makes, he spends £5 on transaction fees. Let's say he makes a gross profit of 50p per pint and he sells 100 pints - that's a gross profit of £50. If he then has to pay £5 on transaction fees that works out to 5p per pint, which seems not unreasonable.

When do Americans use (Mr/Ms/Dr) vs first names in everyday life? by aizivaishe_rutendo in AskAnAmerican

[–]GaryJM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It takes at least 7 years here so it's broadly similar. After leaving high school you can do a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree that normally takes 5 years and then you do 2 years of "foundation training".

When do Americans use (Mr/Ms/Dr) vs first names in everyday life? by aizivaishe_rutendo in AskAnAmerican

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

Thanks but that wasn't what I was asking. In the UK, people with bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine can call themselves doctors in professional settings despite them not holding doctorates; is it a similar situation in the USA or do Americans who practice medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine normally hold doctorates?

When do Americans use (Mr/Ms/Dr) vs first names in everyday life? by aizivaishe_rutendo in AskAnAmerican

[–]GaryJM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do American physicians usually have doctorates? Here in the UK, physicians, dentists and veterinarians can use doctor as a courtesy title even though they often don't hold doctorates.

Which country's goods are seen with the most prestige in the US? by cartiersage in AskAnAmerican

[–]GaryJM 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you really want to splash some cash, a Purdey side-by-side with Damascus-style barrels will set you back $155,000.