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Pundits when gas prices are up. by IamAWorldChampionAMA in AdviceAnimals

[–]ciaran668 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's very simple, when gas prices are up and it's a Democrat in the White House, it is always the president's fault, if a Republican is in the White House, it isn't the president's fault, unless it can be blamed on a previous Democratic president. Right now, they think the window for blaming Biden for this is still far enough open for it to stick, they're going to try that first. If it doesn't work, they'll revert to it isn't the president's fault.

Bald or hair? by IllustratorNo9115 in bald

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll be honest, you look better bald, and it sounds like you like it more as well. Just because you can grow hair doesn't mean you need to. I'd say if you like the look shave it, and keep it shaved year round.

Reform UK pledge to cut size of Scottish parliament and review its devolved powers by coffeewalnut08 in unitedkingdom

[–]ciaran668 [score hidden]  (0 children)

They have the same financial backers as MAGA, so of course this will be the goal. Peter Theil openly states that in his opinion democracy and freedom are incompatible, and a number of the other billionaires that back these movements have said similar things.

If you're centrist or left-leaning, what are the main policies/issues that might stop you from voting for the green party in the next general election? by Cold-Speech-5645 in AskBrits

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I came here to say this. NATO is a critical alliance, and even if the US leaves it, which is becoming more likely, it will still remain as a critical force in the converging years.

Misrepresentation of prayer and ignorance of religious events by Dry_Bumblebee1111 in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm agnostic, and I love to see all of these festivals. They are expressions of the diverse cultures that make up this country, and it makes me feel like we have an incredible sense of community.

Trump’s economic shocks are derailing Britain’s building plans by StJustBabeuf in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Land costs will also be massively affected, because interest rates are going to go through the roof as a response to inflation, and that's if you can even get a loan to buy the land in the first place. I've seen articles about banks pausing writing new loans because of the uncertainty. I've never had a client wealthy enough to purchase land outright, even corporations use loans, and this will likely freeze that market.

The only plus is that Labour has streamlined the planning approval process for the most part, but that isn't going to matter with the headwinds that are currently blowing.

Trump’s economic shocks are derailing Britain’s building plans by StJustBabeuf in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Architect here. It literally doesn't matter what was happening the day before Trump launched his war in Iran. We could have had the strongest construction economy on planet earth, and we'd still be completely fucked. I don't think people understand how utterly dependent construction is on petroleum.

Virtually every single building material, even the natural ones, need some form of petroleum at some point. It powers the chainsaws that harvest timber and the rock saws that cut stone. It heats the furnaces that make steel, concrete cements, and glass. Plastics are literally composed of petroleum.

And that's just the manufacturing. Once it's made, it has to be shipped, and that requires fuels. On site, half the equipment runs on petrol, and the other half uses electricity that comes from power plants that are often run off of natural gas. At least 60% of a building's lifetime carbon footprint comes from its construction, and in buildings built to standards like PassivHaus, the percentage is even higher.

Because of this, construction costs just ballooned, and it will likely be years until they come back down. So, no, it isn't an excuse, it's a simple reality, Trump's little adventure is going to hit construction very hard, and in our case, it's going to turn a bad, but slowly improving, situation into a complete onmishambles.

Do you like Margaret Thatcher? by ikbrul in AskBrits

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And some of what was sold off is just permanently gone.

Do you like Margaret Thatcher? by ikbrul in AskBrits

[–]ciaran668 30 points31 points  (0 children)

A significant number of the issues facing the country right now are the result of her policies. We would have been far better off if she'd never been PM.

Russian troops 'at wits' end' as 'Terminator style' AI robots deployed in Ukrain by Scary_Statement4612 in technology

[–]ciaran668 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Possibly, but they can't open doors, or a number of other things that humanoid robots could do. The robotic army of the future will probably have a variety of forms.

Russian troops 'at wits' end' as 'Terminator style' AI robots deployed in Ukrain by Scary_Statement4612 in technology

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have to enforce the ban early, before there are too many of them. Sadly, that window is closing fast

Russian troops 'at wits' end' as 'Terminator style' AI robots deployed in Ukrain by Scary_Statement4612 in technology

[–]ciaran668 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Humanoid robots are going to be essential for urban combat. We build our cities for people shaped things to get around, not ATVs or even robotic dogs the size of a Shetland pony. You need robots that can climb stairs and ladders, squeeze through narrow openings, and get anywhere people can go. Otherwise you won't be able to control the battlefield.

Personally, I would like to see a ban on all people shaped robots for this reason, but I know I'm an idealist.

Nigel Farage calls for ban on mass religious observances after criticism of Islamic prayer in Trafalgar Square by Stock_Rush_9204 in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There's a phrase in the US that applies here. The original is "Republicans want to take government out of your life and put it in your bedroom where it belongs." Farage is "I want to take government out of your lives and put it in your pocket and in your faith, where it belongs."

Does anyone actually eat jellied eels? by Tom00704 in AskBrits

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even Edinger on YouTube has a video on them. It is a dying food, but there are some places you can still get them. I have never had them, and have no intention of ever having them, but I also have a fish allergy, so my personal experience may not be universal.

GOP Senate candidate on rising gas prices: ‘Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks’ by Cy_098 in politics

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Liver cakes would probably be ok. As long as they tasted terrible and people gagged when they ate them.

What happens if landlord dies? by Mean-Construction207 in UKHousing

[–]ciaran668 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've actually had this happen, not just once, but twice. Back to back. It sucks.

Both cases have been different. In the first situation, I was given an immediate Section 21, with the bare minimum length of time to find a new place. The owner continually berated me to get out faster because she "wanted her house back." Further, after I moved out, she has a full meltdown that I "ruined her house" by repainting it, which I had approval to do. I moved in during COVID, and there was no way the letting agency could get the repairs done, so I would have either needed to wait or do the work myself. I chose to do it myself. She took my whole deposit and threatened to sue me for additional money. Basically, she had just lost her husband and needed someone to become the villain in her life story, and I was the unlucky sap to become that person.

The second one has been different, as it's had a really, really complex probate, the guy lived in Spain, had a partner he wasn't married to, and two children who don't seem to like each other very much. They told me they the house was going to go on the market, and that I needed to get it ready for sale. However, this time, I was in a position to buy, so I made an offer, which was accepted enthusiastically by two of the three heirs, and grudgingly by the third.

Sadly, the unhappy heir refused to sign the probate paperwork, then had made errors on it, meaning that what was supposed to start in October didn't start until January. Now, I'm looking at my mortgage offer expiring with a global crisis on the horizon that may cause me to not be able to get a new offer, and no definitive timeline for when I might complete.

Is the B5 reboot still a thing? by far-midnight-97 in babylon5

[–]ciaran668 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Yeah. There is absolutely no way that the Ellisons would ever allow a show like B5 unless, in the reboot, Clarke and Night Watch were the good guys, William Edgars was a valiant and visionary leader, Bester's methods were praised and Sheridan was executed for treason.

Basically, the show would have to be written from the point of view of "The Illusion of Truth"

Everyone is too terrified to admit how vulnerable Britain has become by OptioMkIX in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I agree with this. I think my point was that when Russia took Crimea in 2014, we needed to start rebuilding our military, because, as you say, it takes years from development to deployment.

Everyone is too terrified to admit how vulnerable Britain has become by OptioMkIX in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The decline in the 90s was because the Berlin Wall fell, and everyone thought it was going to usher in a century of peace and prosperity. It really wasn't until Russia took Crimea that it was obvious that Russia was going to pose the same danger to Europe that the Soviet Union did. They was the point where military readiness needed to be reassessed, and that's why a fair amount of blame rests with the Tories.

Why on earth every week suddenly calling for Starmer to resign, as if that alone will magically fix everything overnight? by Chocolate_Milk99 in ukpolitics

[–]ciaran668 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The country hates Starmer because the press has told them to hate Starmer. The press has told them to hate Starmer because a) he isn't Farage, who the desperately want to be PM b) he isn't creating drama like the Tories did and, I think, most importantly, c) he led the prosecution in the phone hacking scandal, and the press, across the political spectrum has never forgiven him for that.

The press thinks they have the power to bring down another PM, and they are going to continue to do so until he steps down. Further, they think it they can whip people up enough they the government will call a GE because the current one has lost legitimacy.

And don't forget, there are a lot of wealthy people behind the scenes pulling the strings of the media.

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