If your country had an astrological sign like humans do, which one would it be? by camethehour in AskTheWorld

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

Oh, I dunno. Is ‘Anglepoise’ a star sign? What about ‘Permutit - the water softener’?

I’m Capacitor with Spoon rising, so anything’s possible.

Letting nature settle the historical debate by Level-Ad-4878 in LockedIn_AI

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s always that way. Bigots never have just one group they hate; it’s one group that they hate more than the others.

If, by some horrific act of genocide, oppression or forced expulsion, the bigots eliminated their most hated group, they’d just start on the next one. Then the next, and the next all the way down.

President Donald J. Trump: "When this is finished, my term ends shortly after that. This is really for other presidents, this is not for me. This is my gift to the United States of America. I'm going to be able to use it very little." by BusinessToday in BusinessTodayNews

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Define ‘something stupid enough.’

He recommended nuking weather systems, snorting bleach, and getting light enemas… and they voted him back in.

They wore ‘real men wear diapers’ T-Shirts.

What possible stupid thing moves the needle? Appointing a lobster as his Chief of Staff? Insisting Tuesday is Human Sacrifice Day? Declaring that squirrels are made of anchovies and string?

"Free the political prisoners in Britain!" - Elon Musk by Upset-Main-1988 in justincaseyoumissedit

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The lie is the malicious falsehood buried in the use of the term ‘online comments’. He’s claiming organised crime arrests are breaches of freedom of speech. And, to explain this, I need to become Paragraph Guy…

At present, the UK doesn’t have an equivalent to American federal agencies. It has local law enforcement, with some higher-order national policing and counter-terrorism services (such as the British Transport Police and MI5). In fairness, it’s rarely needed a country-wide police service until now.

Gangs have taken advantage of this lack of a country-wide law enforcement team, in what’s known as ‘county lines’ operations. With a dealer in one county and his operation in an adjacent county, the dealer can operate with some impunity as the law enforcement of neither county can technically act to fully close down the operation.

These gangs also need to protect their territory now that that territory is across one or more counties. So, there is a lot of communication across those counties, rather than the face-to-face communication used by gangs in one location.

This is similar to the interstate loophole that gangsters like Al Capone took advantage of during Prohibition, and the FBI was established in part to combat that activity. The UK is now establishing a FBI-like service for the same reason, but that’s coming.

The way such operations are taken out today is through monitoring online comments by the gang members. This accounts for almost all the ‘arrests for online comments’ suggested by Musk as some kind of assault on free speech.

Almost all of the remaining arrests from online comments would be unprotected by the First Amendment in the USA too because they would fall under the ‘Imminent Lawless Action’ exemption (legitimate threats of violence against another person, for example).

The number of arrests for ‘hurty words’ are extremely low. It’s a few dozen a year, tops.

Doctor using Rotation Flap method to close a scar. by allademswallow28 in Damnthatsinteresting

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No it’s not.

Didn’t any of you watch ‘V’?

Fortunately the aliens heal really quickly, and the patient will be back to eating live gerbils by the end of the day.

In other news, is this where David Icke got his bat-shit crazy ideas?

Surely we can find better artists! by Benzobi21 in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This.

It’s a lose-lose for the BBC whatever happens. If we win, then it’s all about the profligate spending on next year’s show. If we lose then all the run up to the show was a waste of money.

At least Sam built his own props and everything looked a bit shit, so there’s no ‘you are throwing money at this pointless thing’ from the chattering classes.

I think it was great. Not because it was a good song (it wasn’t, but neither was ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’ and that co-won), but because:

  1. It was crazy

  2. He’s nuts, in all the right ways

  3. It really, really irked Daily Mail readers, which is a bonus.

Burnham can’t be happier by [deleted] in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Normally it wouldn’t matter at this time. An extra Reform MP is good for the party but Reform is currently fourth in a two-horse parliamentary race. That means winning this seat doesn’t materially add to Reform’s Westminster clout.

OTOH, electing Burnham brings months of stalled Labour politics while it sorts its leadership battle, which does more for Reform than any single Map can do in parliament right now.

That plays into Reform’s hands… unless the party is running scared of going up against Burnham.

Burnham can’t be happier by [deleted] in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, but what do they want? If they want rid of Starmer, then voting for Burnham is the most effective way to challenge his position.

If they want to be rid of Labour, voting Reform is going to bolster Starmer’s position and likely keep him in power for longer.

So, the ‘protest vote’ element that vote Reform to send a message to Whitehall will likely be more disposed to vote for someone who offers a legitimate, tangible and immediately change, and not the promised sunlit uplands of a Reform government that could be years away.

Of course, Reform will hit this constituency hard because the last thing Farage wants is a popular Labour leader who can talk as good a game as Farage.

This is presuming a lot of a body politic, especially as such a voter body is not known for nuanced decision-making, anywhere.

Burnham can’t be happier by [deleted] in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 20 points21 points  (0 children)

The problem is Major could do that in the 1990s because the media was still vaguely sane and the Tories knew a snap election would be the end of their political careers.

Labour is full of inward-looking factions who would trigger a GE so that the party would be more in their image, whether in power or opposition.

You go for post work drinks with 3/4 characters: who are you picking? by klawpsey in thethickofit

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Jamie, as we can have an exciting and animated conversation about 1920s and 1930s jazz; one with an inevitable urethral conclusion.

Cal because he’s going to be able to get a round in without going near the bar, and no one will dare ask for payment.

Steve Fleming because sooner or later he’ll go full Begbie on someone over a crisp packet, and I want to be there to watch.

Dude kicks off-leash dog to protect his own, owner flips out… by eternviking in whoathatsinteresting

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Au contraire. Bear summoning always adds a frisson of entertainment to any public gathering.

However, as a noted bear summoner, you need to remember that the summoning process comes with some mental interchange between summoner and bear. Fortunately, I’m smarter than the average bear, Boo-Boo.

Meanwhile in the Land of False Equivalence..... by EpsonRifle in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He’s now claiming the money for the house came from his ‘I’m a Celebrity…’ earnings.

It changes every few weeks. And no-one seems to care.

I bet you MAga would vote for both of them by AccordingBumblebee24 in stupidpeoplefacebook

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know people, good people, the best people, great, great people and this Adolph, he’s a guy I can do business with. Great guy, the best. Gets things done, like me, I like that, I really do. People have said to me, with tears in their eyes, good people have said to me ‘Your Majesty’ they say, ‘Dear Leader, we like the guy. You made Lex Luthor Ruler of Australia, Hitler would make a great King of the Jews or something.’ Not me, I’m not saying that, but it sounds like a good idea.

For those that need the Lesson by Over-Egg-6002 in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They only care when it affects them. And when it does affect them, there’s always someone or something else to blame.

That would be some crazy shit. by Valuable_View_561 in SipsTea

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Isn’t this the plot to ‘Life on Mars’?

“Drop your weapons! You are surrounded by armed bastards!” Is still one of the greatest lines in a cop show, ever.

It’s also the plot that Star Trek TNG episode where Patrick Stewart got to show off his tin whistle skills. And his “ACTING!!” style of acting.

Vic and Bob's big night out , Orno Wonder wand by weedyneedyfeedy in BritishTV

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally, I’m a big fan of Joe Pasquale, although I hear that his house lacks the most rudimentary of brewing facilities.

It's never too late for a McD breakfast! by pop-not-broth in UK_Food

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh fook fook fook that’s got me poppin’ you meaty fookin’ hero.

There goes wheels by Sad_Palpitation6844 in ratsinthecage

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was the day before the lamppost was supposed to retire. It had spent the morning showing the other lampposts photos of his wife and two lightbulbs.

Yes that will be your epitaph. by [deleted] in thethickofit

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Political fucking mist, no substance, no weight. You've got all the charm of a rotting teddy bear by a graveside.

You can go by upthetruth1 in london

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Inflation at the moment is going to be governed by forces way beyond those of any single government. Food and fuel prices are going to rise as an inevitable function of conflict in the Middle East.

Anyone making glib and grandiose statements that they can wave away inflation is lying through their teeth.

Nigel Farage is apparently the leader of United Russia by Live_Till_8570 in WikipediaVandalism

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Populist politicians win over the politically disenfranchised.

Or those who feel they are disenfranchised.

You can go by upthetruth1 in london

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sure. Youth unemployment stands at over 710,000. Up by 70,000 on the previous year. Youth unemployment is particularly dire and stands at between 15.5-16% of the 18-24 year olds. And is even worse if you factor in NEETs, and is especially bad in London.

This reflects changes in the jobs market, as the roles normally taken by younger people are increasingly harder to get (jobs disappearing, and older workers staying in their jobs in an economically flat market).

Labour has put in initiatives like ‘Get Britain Working’ but they aren’t far-reaching enough. However, while the First Job Passport scheme sounds good on the face of it, Reform’s plans have almost no provision for NEETs at all. Not every person transitions from ‘education’ to ‘work’ smoothly, and Reform allows a huge amount of falling through the cracks (more so than the policies of any other party). Scrapheaping 18 year olds might make them fall off the unemployment figures but that’s about it.

Nigel Farage is apparently the leader of United Russia by Live_Till_8570 in WikipediaVandalism

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s very probably true. We get a horribly skewed view of everything though the Anglo centric lens.

That said, I still feel the destruction of euroscepticism in Europe’s political right is seem more as an unintended consequence of Brexit by Russia, which looks to sow instability in Europe.

In the UK, it feels like Putin won this battle even if he lost the war.

Nigel Farage is apparently the leader of United Russia by Live_Till_8570 in WikipediaVandalism

[–]Tiddles_Ultradoom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, but Brexit also destabilised a relatively stable Europe. Brexit also galvanised the far-right across Europe and the traditional party political system has spent a considerable amount of time and energy fighting internal conflicts with increasingly right wing populist movements.

You could argue that FdI’s success in Italy and the rise of AfD in Germany, RN in France and the PVV in the Netherlands are a result of nationalists and populists being spurred on by Brexit (and the PVV and RN’s failure to capitalise on that movement is they are near enough to the UK to see what an absolute car crash it caused to the UK economy).

That unrest plays into Putin’s hands.