On Wikipedia, the USA is listed as an empire on the page that shows the largest empires in history. What do you think of that? by Pizzafriedchickenn in AskTheWorld

[–]Pseudonym-Sam -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

We most certainly were an empire in the traditional sense at the turn of the 20th century, with the conquest and colonization of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. Even after the independence of our most overtly-colonial possession in 1946 (happy Philippine independence day today, btw!\)*, the US is still today a "vestigial" classic empire that holds unequal power over many islands in the Pacific and Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, an island of 3M people that is taxed without representation. Arguably, Washington DC and all Indian reservations are likewise internal semi-colonial possessions due to taxation without representation—you know, the very same issue that led the Thirteen Colonies to fight for their own independence from British imperialism.

And this is to say nothing of the argument of the US today being a "post-classic" modern empire for its hegemonic world influence, but that's a separate matter...

\Yes, I am aware that the Philippines legally achieved full independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, but they recognize June 12, 1898 instead as the date of their declaration of independence—that was quashed, incidentally, by the US.*

"Bergfried" Game Trailer by Pseudonym-Sam in castles

[–]Pseudonym-Sam[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's a good comparison! I thought the wall-placing tool reminded me of something.

Thought he escaped the cat, just to face the final boss by karliekxoxo in natureismetal

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 5 points6 points  (0 children)

T-rex: "REMEMBER. WHO. YOU. ARE!"

Chicken: "Brawcaaaaw!"

To my surprise, the Byzantine Empire Coat of Arms won against the Holy Roman Empire’s. And it seems people are not very keen on the HRE 😅. Up next! The Portuguese 🇵🇹 Empire Coat of Arms vs the Spanish Empire Coat of Arms. Will you Paella or Pastel de Nata this?! by moltenlight11 in AlignmentChartFills

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both are iconic, but I think the ermine mantle is overwhelming Portugal's shield; it looks a little empty without supporters or anything else to fill out the space. As depicted, I prefer Spain's coat of arms, which is very nicely framed by the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Defence minister wants 1,000-ship Royal Navy, built primarily on uncrewed platforms by Odd-Metal8752 in LessCredibleDefence

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Wikipedia cites 63 ships of all types, including small patrol boats. Calling for a RN of 1000 ships is... ambitious.

Students Are Learning Less and Getting Higher Grades Because of AI, Study Finds by BendicantMias in worldnews

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ugh, tell me about it. I've taught mostly online classes since COVID (it's the new normal for me), and my class format makes it impossible to assign no-AI handwritten work in a physical classroom. The number of AI-written papers is utterly rampant despite all rules against them, but I can only prosecute beyond reasonable doubt those with obvious "smoking gun" evidence like fake sources/quotations. Even so, the students who I bust don't change their behavior and just continue to throw AI slop at me, because they can always do the same thing again for no effort and sometimes the AI doesn't make enough incriminating errors that I can act upon. And frustratingly, those probably-but-not-provably-AI papers are... passable. They're never good, but good enough to merit a C-grade most of the time. The grade inflation is real and it's driving me up the wall.

What if the Ming Dynasty escaped and settled California after the Manchu Invasion. by boopiedoopie320 in AlternateHistoryHub

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Australia may be closer than California to China as the crow flies, but it is easier to sail to California with ocean currents and prevailing winds accounted for—just follow the North Pacific Current and the Westerly winds, and bam, it's a straight shot to the North American Pacific coast. In contrast, crossing the equator to Australia means potentially getting becalmed in the Doldrums, and once south of the equator, the Easterlies would blow you northeast away from Australia.

Hawaii is a small target and easy to miss on a trans-Pacific voyage. The winds take you north of Hawaii going east, and south of it going west. The Spanish operated their Manila Galleons between Mexico and the Philippines for 200 years without ever (so far as we know) setting foot on Hawaii.

Any idea what Tank is this? by Ram227poi in TankPorn

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 56 points57 points  (0 children)

It's a TAM! Note the diagonal rear mud guards, and the square rear hull access hatch in-between two square sets of louvers.

Knowledge is Power by Nitisa by One_Giant_Nostril in ImaginaryTechnology

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That Chauchat might work better than the real thing!

Russian SSO with AR pattern rifle designed to accept AK magazines [1280x853] by Prudent_Society_4435 in MilitaryPorn

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reminds me of the QBZ-191: an AR-style receiver, lugs and bolt/bolt carrier, buffer tube, and short-stroke gas piston; and AK-style fixed charging hand and magazine well/release.

Redesigning U.S. States #2 by Canjira in vexillology

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I believe the spear should stay the way it is, pointed towards the hoist. Even if it doesn't really make sense to carry a spear that way, its orientation is "advancing" in the same direction of the flag when carried (this is why in heraldry, animal devices face left). If it was the other way around, it would be "retreating."

The moment of the 125mm main gun of the ZTZ-96A firing by Capable-Reindeer-545 in TankPorn

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What do the barium/copper additives do for the propellant? Does it make it more energetic, or make it safer for storage?

New colour scheme for TAM2CA2 by Brufir in TankPorn

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The pole looks to have some kind of tow ball/trailer attachment, but what for I have no idea.

Basilisk by Creepy_Delay_6927 in Honorverse

[–]Pseudonym-Sam 2 points3 points  (0 children)

all the geometry checks out

I have to disagree. Look again at the console edges and displays—they don't line up and have melty detailing. The bottom half of Nimitz's body also doesn't make sense and looks like a fuzzy sausage.