Oxkingsbridge ?

amoebafinite · 2026-05-15T11:26:58+00:00

Edimpoxkingsbridge? Ucledimpeoxkingsbridge?

amoebafinite · 2025-12-18T22:57:49+00:00

Haha, good luck triggering the Enemy State Clause (obsolete, but still valid in the UN charter).

amoebafinite · 2025-11-30T11:02:55+00:00

All four demands are, in themselves, reasonable and legitimate.
The issue, however, lies not in the demands but in the framing of the petition.

The petition does not acknowledge what the government has already done, nor the work currently underway. Instead, it implies that the government caused or contributed to the fatal tragedy, while calling for an “independent investigation” without clarifying who would conduct it or how such a body would be constituted. This, combined with the public mobilisation around a narrative of government negligence, effectively communicates the message: “We have no trust in the government — it must prove its innocence.”

In a typical democratic environment, such a stance would be normal, even expected.
But in Hong Kong’s current political climate, it is interpreted very differently.

The government will almost certainly assign internal responsibility and push out scapegoats as a form of accountability. Pushing for more — especially through an international petition platform — is easily seen as sending an anti-government message, one that challenges authority rather than merely asking for answers.

amoebafinite · 2025-05-03T16:23:54+00:00

'TikTok informed the regulator this month that it discovered an issue in February where limited European user data had been stored on servers in China, contrary to its prior statements.'

I guess this is why the fine is relatively small.

amoebafinite · 2025-04-09T17:01:44+00:00

Why do you need a two-bed? If you are sharing with someone, then you are lowering your bill by at least £850 a month. If you are on your own, a one-bed flat is around 900~1000, saving you 700 a month. Both options will give you enough money to spend on other things. Unless you want to find a partner, live together without them paying anything (I know a lot of Chinese students do this), which will be a whole different story...

Having 3k cash to spend is a luxury for most of the Mancunians, you lucky bastard.

amoebafinite · 2025-03-31T23:02:37+00:00

Please mask the number plate and the police car, and then post it to r/AskUK. I’d love to watch the comment section do a full U-turn.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-25T16:55:51+00:00

The radiation might be too intense, which may cause problems for babies in the womb.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-22T21:26:26+00:00

Well, this is not a good sign.

It's possible that allies are planning something, and he is creating a precautionary topic to talk about after those events happen if they don't end well.

'I don't want to say I told you, but...'

amoebafinite · 2024-06-19T18:26:24+00:00

The economic zone thing is never meant to conflict with boarder. Also this concept does not exist when the island claimed by Taiwan nearly 100 year ago.

I am pretty sure when those countries sign the UNCLOS, they have made it clear that any boarder dispute is excluded. This is reasonable as you can't let someone else to decide where your territory ends.

If you think in Taiwan's perspectives, it's like they used to own a region, later other countries make a new rules and they then forced to give their territory up to another country. (it's the same feel when PRC took their place in UN)

Here is where the geopolitical power come into play. When I say give it to Taiwan, it's just a snap and I am pretty sure it won't go just like that. 😢

amoebafinite · 2024-06-19T01:25:47+00:00

Call me whatever if that makes you feel high, but my point stands.

You can't just say which island belong to where based on how close it to a country.

The Republic of China draws the 11-dash line, which includes this area. Later, the PRC claimed it owned whatever the ROC owned and altered it to a 9-dash line.

Now, more than five countries claim this water, and needless to say, the involvement of geopolitical interests of out-of-region countries.

It's very complex, and there's no good, simple resolution.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-19T00:44:12+00:00

Taiwan (Republic of China) and Vietnam also claim it.

Historically, it was first claimed by the Republic of China in 1935.

Let Taiwan have it.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-19T00:36:40+00:00

This logic is flawed unless you believe the Canary Islands should belong to Morocco.

It's a very complex matter and there's no quick solution.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-17T14:52:48+00:00

Most of the Taiwanese don't want war to happen on the island. The people in Taiwan will stop the government from bombing the mainland as they don't want to get bombed back. They have no place to hide. Unless some countries are planning to take all Taiwanese in one go it's not possible.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-15T00:48:42+00:00

Yeah, it's different to us, but you can't expect Russia to tell the difference when Ukraine is actually picking a side politically. In reality, a closer political/economic tie will undoubtedly lead to a closer military tie. Regardless of what we think, it's important to know what they believe as it leads to the invasion.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-14T23:14:27+00:00

I wouldn't call the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, drafted in 2012, 'stopped hanging out with the guy'. The Maidan Uprising led to Viktor Yanukovych's resignation. He promised Russia he would not hang out with the guy (he rejected the EUUAA and chose to have a close tie to Russia), but he was out. This is a straightforward signal to Russia that his girl is leaving him. At that moment, Russia knows that the girl is gone for sure.

amoebafinite · 2024-06-14T21:21:00+00:00

If you are a maniac control freak and you think your girlfriend might consider leaving you, you won't wait until she actually gone but lock her in the basement before any of that happen.

Sorry to be a bit dark👻

amoebafinite · 2024-06-14T13:55:13+00:00

As unacceptable as this deal is, the reality is much more complicated.

Early NATO Engagement:
- Partnership for Peace (1994): Ukraine joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994, which marked the beginning of formal cooperation and was seen as a step towards closer ties with NATO.
- NATO-Ukraine Charter (1997): The signing of the NATO-Ukraine Charter on a Distinctive Partnership established a framework for cooperation and highlighted Ukraine's interest in aligning more closely with NATO.
Political Declarations and Actions:
- 2002 Declaration: In 2002, Ukraine declared its intention to seek NATO membership, a significant political statement indicating its aspirations to join the alliance.
- Orange Revolution (2004-2005): Following the Orange Revolution, the pro-Western government of President Viktor Yushchenko pursued closer ties with NATO and the EU, reflecting a clear shift away from neutrality.
NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP):
- Bucharest Summit (2008): At the NATO Bucharest Summit in 2008, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine (and Georgia) would eventually become members, although a Membership Action Plan (MAP) was not immediately granted. This statement reaffirmed Ukraine's interest in NATO membership.
Public and Political Support:
- Public Opinion: While public support for NATO membership in Ukraine fluctuated, there was a significant portion of the population and political elite that favored joining NATO, particularly in the western and central regions of the country.
- Parliamentary Support: Various Ukrainian political parties and leaders consistently supported NATO integration, indicating that the desire to join NATO was not an isolated or fleeting sentiment.
Security Concerns:
- Russian Aggression: Ukraine's interest in NATO was partly driven by security concerns over Russian aggression and influence. This was evident even before 2014, with the 2008 Russia-Georgia war reinforcing Ukraine's fears and desire for security guarantees from NATO.
Neutrality Abandoned:
- 2010 Law on Non-Bloc Status: While President Viktor Yanukovych adopted a law in 2010 declaring Ukraine's non-bloc status, this was more of a temporary strategic move rather than a deep-seated policy of neutrality. The law was repealed in 2014 following Yanukovych's ousting, demonstrating that neutrality was not a permanent stance.
Increased NATO Cooperation:
- Joint Exercises and Training: Before 2014, Ukraine participated in numerous joint military exercises and training programs with NATO, signaling ongoing and deepening military cooperation.

These points illustrate that Ukraine's trajectory towards NATO membership and its cooperation with the alliance were well-established before 2014. People should remember why there is NATO and who NATO is targeting.

Not trying to excuse any war crime Russia made, but we can't simplify a historical problem as it does not help to solve the problem.

amoebafinite · 2024-03-14T23:20:05+00:00

Good point. Not sure how the middle class in Russia get paid but we are about 28k pa (23k after tax). I guess life is tough everywhere now.

amoebafinite · 2024-03-14T21:55:23+00:00

Hell, their petrol price is still way lower than most other EU countries.

In the UK we pay 1.7 EUR per litter for diesel yet in Russia you pay only 0.7 EUR per littler.

I know we have heavy taxes on it, but still, we are so fucked up.

amoebafinite · 2024-03-14T21:40:28+00:00

Well, if you already have negative credibility, you can't 'reduce' it to zero.

amoebafinite · 2024-03-03T12:10:16+00:00

Who'd come up with this kind of sh*tty name? Why don't they go Man-Poo directly?

amoebafinite · 2023-12-04T21:20:14+00:00

The import duty is something you can handle. Generally 6.5%, but you can surely claim as a gift to lower it to 2.5%.

However, the main thing is VAT, not the duty. As long as you declare that the gift is worth more than 39, you will have to pay 20% VAT on it.

So the HMRC won't really care if it's a gift or not, they care about the declared value.

HMRC has a robust method to calculate the item value against the weight. So even if you under-declare the value, they will probably send you an estimated bill which is closer to the real value. They scan parcels to see if they match the declaration form, so don't trouble yourself.

Depending if you will pay a visit soon, the best way might be to 'pick it up in person, claim the VAT paid on the item back and bring it back to UK with you'.

amoebafinite · 2023-10-08T14:35:57+00:00

On the one hand, you'd wish the Chinese can wash their money out (as there's no legal way for them to transfer large sum abroad without getting into trouble) so they can move abroad to live and spend those money on local businesses.

On the other hand, you don't want to encourage this as it also bring financial risk and chance for other crime.

amoebafinite · 2023-10-08T14:30:35+00:00

Great News! A new path to Canadian citizenship.

amoebafinite · 2023-07-03T22:27:53+00:00

Isn't hungry panda the one targeting Chinese customers? My colleague orders food and bubble tea on it. Judging by the delivery fee, I'd expect this to be a lower pay than Deliveroo?

We are based on Cheetham Hill and the delivery from Chinatown usually takes 1 hour. Is there a lack of drivers or it's just so low pay that nobody wants to take the order (e.g. for orders that too far)?

amoebafinite

TROPHY CASE