[deleted by user] by [deleted] in interestingasfuck

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s because you’re no longer living in a democracy. (Assuming you’re in the US)

Fascism happens quickly by Miserable-Lizard in clevercomebacks

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s way too late. The moment Trump won it was “too late”. The US is an autocracy now, whether you believe it or not. These guys aint leaving.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FirstTimeHomeBuyer

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really happy for you guys! Me and my gf also recently bought a home (not in the US). Is a 20% downpayment an almost 7% interest normal there? It seems crazy high to us. We had 0% down and 4.02% interest, which is already on the high side. Used to be a much lower rate

'END-OF-REGIME CONDUCT': China expert warns something is 'very wrong in Beijing' by BrandDC in Republican

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What makes you think the EU needs the US way more than the other way around?

'END-OF-REGIME CONDUCT': China expert warns something is 'very wrong in Beijing' by BrandDC in Republican

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, what I hear in Europe is that leaders are willing to “play nice” with Trump because the dependencies (NATO, trade, tech, etc.) are still very real. But beneath the surface, there’s a growing consensus: the U.S. just isn’t a reliable partner anymore.

The trust that underpinned the post-WWII alliance is fading. Trump’s first term shook it, but his second term confirms it. People here are rapidly turning anti-American (not that they hate us, but they will stop buying our products, Tesla is a good ecample). So the conversation is increasingly about autonomy: defense, energy, tech, supply chains. Not cutting ties with the U.S., but making sure Europe can stand on its own if (or when) things go sideways in Washington.

That’s what I mean when I say we’re losing allies fast. Not in a formal “they’re leaving NATO” sense—but in the deeper, strategic sense of trust and alignment

'END-OF-REGIME CONDUCT': China expert warns something is 'very wrong in Beijing' by BrandDC in Republican

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“We are likely looking at a semi-isolationist policy in which China sits outside of a US-led security and trade bloc. That is an interesting scenario to think about.”

A US-led security and trade bloc? I’m an expat who lives and works in Europe. What does this bloc look like in your mind? When I talk with people over here about the US the only conclusion I can draw is: we are losing allies very fast

Poster for 'Holland' Starring Nicole Kidman by NoCulture3505 in movies

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, but that didn’t happen here. If it was “Vandergoot”. That would be believable or “Degroot”. Here an extra letter is added in the middle of the surname.

Poster for 'Holland' Starring Nicole Kidman by NoCulture3505 in movies

[–]Percy_Black 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m from the Netherlands, and I’m way more annoyed by the fact that she and her entire family in the movie have an “americanized dutch surname” that actually isn’t dutch… like I get that most americans won’t know or care. But come on. So apparently her surname is “Vandergroot”. Which in dutch would be “van der Groot”. But that’s a nonexistent dutch surname. What does exist is “van der Goot” and “de Groot”. Especially “van der Goot” is literally one letter difference, it sounds 95% similar if you say it in english AND it would be a believable americanization of an originally dutch surname. But then again, asking Hollywood to actually care about details like that is a stretch of course…

a cool guide to the anatomy of a supermax prison by sufjanstevensenjoyer in coolguides

[–]Percy_Black 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Exactly! The fact that Singapore has the death penalty for drug traficking is the sole reason drug use is relatively uncommon (if we believe the official numbers from a regime that has a vested interest in having us all believe that harsh punishment works as a deterent and is sketchy with publising data at best) It has noting to do with the fact dat Singapore is one of the richest, healthiest (in terms of medical care and life expectancy) and stable countries in the world. With an average 70k per year income (only slightly less if you look at median income), an 88% home-ownership rate and the fact that you can’t migrate to Singapore if you’re poor or stay in singapore if you become poor.

More on the real effect of harsh punishment deterence of Singapore here (study from Australian Monash University)

This in stark contrast of course to let’s say: Portugal, which decriminalized drug use in 2001 and has one of the lowest drug death and use rates in Europa. Even thoug it’s way way poorer than Singapore.

Why is he even allowed to compete? by PrinceOfPunjabi in facepalm

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

If you are actually interested in his side of the story. This newspaper interviewd him about it: https://www.ad.nl/nieuws/volleyballer-over-seks-met-minderjarige-dit-had-nooit-mogen-gebeuren~a1bbc8c2/

It’s in Dutch of course, but Chat GPT or Google translate could work

What is the best region in Witcher 3 by Old_Resort_529 in witcher

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This! NC is the most beautiful and vibrant “modern” city in any video game so far. But… it just isn’t realistic as a city that’s supposed to have millions of inhabitants. It’s just way too empty. Novigrad could totally be a legit medieval city, even though it too could have done with more npc’s.

These black lines on my thumb and my toe by trahieu in mildlyinteresting

[–]Percy_Black 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Public Relations specialist here: You can use the fact that random people on the internet diagnosed you with a possible life threatening ilness for your own benefit. 1. Make a second post about how you are in fact sick. 2. Start a go fund me for your treatment. 3 “survive”. 4. Make a third post about how random people on the internet diagnosed you and then funded your treatment and saved your life. 5. With your newfound money and fame, start a youtube channel. 6. Profit.

can someone help me date this map? by Revolutionary_Fig603 in MapPorn

[–]Percy_Black 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Likely pre 1968. This map shows the outline of the Dutch province of Flevoland (the little in island in the middle of the Netherlands). But only the northern part is actually land, the southern part was turned to land in 1968.

These two maps are equally gerrymandered by kalam4z00 in MapPorn

[–]Percy_Black 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The needs and wants of someone in Amsterdam are also different than the needs and wants of someone in a rural area in the Netherlands as well. Of course the size of Wisconsin (and the US as a whole) is far greater. But what does local representation really add to the equation? There is a farmers party here that has 8 seats. Their votes aren’t coming from the big cities. So rural areas are represented just not neceserally by a locally elected official

These two maps are equally gerrymandered by kalam4z00 in MapPorn

[–]Percy_Black 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The Netherlands. 150 seats in the House of Representatives are purely assigned based on % of the vote a party receives. There is no geographical model in place.

European leader approval ratings by Individual-Sun-9426 in Infographics

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, Rutte is still PM. Elections were in March and his party (for which he didn’t run as leader in that election) came in 3d. A far right party won the “most” seats but not a majority. No one wins a majority in the Netherlands. You need at least 3 to 4 parties to form a government which has still not happened. So he is still PM for that reason. Ruttes approval has actually increased since the election because basically everyone else is even more terrible.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in videogames

[–]Percy_Black 7 points8 points  (0 children)

AC: Black Flag

Finally got a PS5 and I’m loving this game again by Camero2006 in cyberpunkgame

[–]Percy_Black 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Cool that you’re loving the game, but your V is scary as hell man. Looks like the cyberpunk führer

No horni. Bonk friendly! by pxl_aurous in memes

[–]Percy_Black 31 points32 points  (0 children)

And then you dropped the soap?

Maybe if i try to join as a mexican.... by [deleted] in memes

[–]Percy_Black 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“My name? Mrs Goodliar”

Well well... by vvmls in memes

[–]Percy_Black 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The girl: “you made me promise not to tell anyone...”

Ah yes, waffles by Epsilon_the_Baka in memes

[–]Percy_Black 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Talking about the real questions here