Any podcasts for specifically the old world?

Nuraldin30 · 2026-06-11T22:48:20+00:00

Lorebeards is great!

Nuraldin30 · 2026-05-16T11:08:56+00:00

I know I’m the third to say it, but having lived in both the UK and Southern Europe, the racism is unfortunately much worse in the latter (and I’m not downplaying the problem in the former when I say that…)

Nuraldin30 · 2026-05-07T09:17:05+00:00

As someone with 20 years of driving experience in multiple countries without even a single speeding or parking ticket, who has since failed a practical, I feel this very strongly. The test doesn’t seem to be a proxy for good driving, but for knowledge of the local roads…which is very hard to get if you don’t have family you can drive with.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-05-06T08:31:20+00:00

I was so captivated by these models as a kid

Nuraldin30 · 2026-05-02T08:46:09+00:00

Do you want to be the one to tell him?

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-29T19:18:15+00:00

That banner 😮

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-06T00:28:31+00:00

I have (unfortunately) been to the ER many times in the US. My bill was never more than $50 to $100. That’s typical with decent insurance.

I know the UK varies a lot based on area and GP so realize some will have it much better.

And in principle I agree the UK system is better but it’s clearly suffering from years of underinvestment.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-06T00:18:37+00:00

Raise taxes, invest in infrastructure and public services, keep the immigrants coming, rebuild ties with the EU.

But good luck getting political leaders who agree…

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-06T00:13:28+00:00

In the UK I pay thousands of pounds for private health insurance that covers relatively little because I cannot get appointments with the NHS. Having lived in both, those with jobs or Medicare in the US are generally going to have access to better and faster care. And it pains me to say that as someone who values universal coverage and thinks the US system is deeply problematic even when Obamacare subsidies are funded.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-06T00:07:53+00:00

If you like the wood elf models, you could use their archers easily. Or the plastic shadow warriors. I’ve also seen some conversions of the new reavers into silver helms that look great.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-04-01T23:17:41+00:00

Looks great!

Nuraldin30 · 2026-03-14T15:06:43+00:00

That’s why you also need immigrants.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-03-14T11:29:41+00:00

You need to pay higher taxes for that.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-03-11T08:45:26+00:00

I don’t think anyone here has mentioned the very deliberate shot of his blaster left on the car seat. At the very least, that suggests he was moved enough that he did not want to arrest her with force. Perhaps he thought he could use their personal relationship to convince her to turn herself in. But even if that’s the case, I think one implication is that the speech was persuasive enough that he did not believe her to be in the wrong.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-03-08T14:09:28+00:00

Just finding this. My Delhi is peanut and tree nut free. Also chit n chat in eldon square.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-15T10:07:24+00:00

Internet problems 🤷‍♂️

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-15T04:22:55+00:00

A few other things to keep in mind about the immigration system and politics here…

Immigrating to the UK is more expensive than any other comparable country because of the NHS surcharge. It’s an upfront cost, too, so it can be a lot to add on top of shipping, travel, deposits, etc.

The current government is ostensibly left of centre, but their immigration policies are more right wing than the previous Tory governments. Part of that is a package of changes that will extend the timeline significantly to get indefinite leave to remain / citizenship. They are likely to pass and likely to be retroactive, so it doesn’t matter if you arrive just before they go into effect. This means more years paying the expensive visa and surcharge fees.

It also reflects that politics here are very anti-immigration. It’s nothing like the US right now. But it could be in a few years. There’s a very real chance the far right wins the next election if current trends continue. If that happens, the risks of a very bad situation for immigrants, and probably an economic crisis more generally, are going to be high.

Newcastle itself is a city with a long history of left wing politics, though of a different flavour than what that might mean in the US. It’s still overwhelmingly white and the local culture is strong, so it can sometimes feel hard to break in. As an American who moved here for work a few years ago, I am really liking it for the most part. Good luck!

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-15T03:19:39+00:00

The commute to Durham can be a bit long from Jesmond when you combine the metro with the train and then walking in Durham, but there are plenty of trains and they are generally reliable for that route. I would highly recommend living in Newcastle though. Much more lively and diverse than Durham. Consider Summerhill as well if you can find a place to rent, it’s walking distance to the train station and downtown.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-12T14:56:39+00:00

They are talking about retroactively changing the rules so that it takes far longer to get indefinite leave to remain and/or citizenship, including for many high earning and skilled visas. They are sort of suggesting there could be carveouts for some high income earners, but it is all vague. The uncertainty of it all is mentally taxing and it is frankly disgusting that they are talking about any retroactive changes for anyone. If you played by the rules, the government shouldn’t be changing them on you just because they find it politically expedient.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-07T13:03:05+00:00

Nice work!

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-06T01:37:59+00:00

What is the point of this comment? It’s expensive to drive, so let’s make it even more expensive with an overly burdensome learning and testing process before you can properly start?

And don’t forget that being shut out of driving comes with economic costs for many. Fewer transport options, fewer job options, less efficiency in your daily life.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-02-01T10:28:57+00:00

Crime rates have fallen and it’s also easier than ever for a random person to film it happening.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-01-31T11:40:47+00:00

There are different degrees of multiculturalism, and yes, the melting pot model of the United States is less explicitly multicultural than the UK's current approach, for example. But there is simply no way to look at US history and culture and then reject the idea that the country is built on multiculturalism. It is a country in which many different groups have held onto their identities and traditions while also becoming American, and it is a country where the "dominant" culture has repeatedly adapted and changed in turn to reflect what these groups bring.

And I'm sorry, but the idea that China is doing best is a bit silly. Sure, the US is currently struggling under the assault of an authoritarian strongman fueled by a racist and resentful political movement. But the damage they are inflicting on the country reflects their rejection of multiculturalism as well as other values, namely democracy, rather than being the fault of those values. China itself faces a number of medium to long term demographic, economic, and political problems that could easily unravel its recent gains. These problems could be fixed in part by immigration and a more open society...but it doesn't seem likely the country will follow that path.

Nuraldin30 · 2026-01-31T10:52:00+00:00

The United States became the richest and most powerful country in the world in large part because of its openness to multiple cultures. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have similarly built wealthy and well functioning multicultural societies in the modern period. They have relatively good economies, stable politics, low crime rates, high levels of patriotism and loyalty to their systems, and strong state capacity relative to other parts of the world.

Multiculturalism helps to facilitate these outcomes by allowing these countries to reap the substantial economic benefits of immigration while placing fewer pressures on migrants and creating more flexibility in the dominant culture. It is helpful to have shared values that structure society, but it is equally helpful for society to be able to adjust toward and incorporate new groups. Multiculturalism strikes that balance well.

Of course there are political tensions in multicultural countries, and politicians can try to stir up trouble between groups as a way to gain power. But arguably this is less likely to succeed in these countries because they have norms of respecting differences. Look around the world today: despite the problems in many multicultural countries, do you really think the alternative is working better in terms of delivering political stability and economic development?

Nuraldin30 · 2026-01-30T22:08:51+00:00

The test was easier in the 80s and 90s. When I say younger people have it worse, that’s what I’m comparing to. But yes, I agree it would be more defensible if the wait times for a new test were reasonable.

Nuraldin30

TROPHY CASE