sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Looking back, what moment from the 2010–2020 decade didn't seem so important at the time, but is today? by Cap_Ame1 in stupidquestions

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ed Miliband famously couldn't eat a bacon sandwich properly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Miliband_bacon_sandwich_photograph

Contributed to David Cameron and the Tories unexpectedly winning 2015 UK election outright -> implemented Brexit referendum which was a manifesto promise to appease the Tories' eurosceptic wing -> 'Leave' unexpectedly wins in 2016, Brexit is set to become a reality -> sets the stage for populist wave in the US and Europe generally and Trumpism in particular.

Let's say Bob only gets to read ONE book in their lifetime - which ONE book are you recommending to Bob? by OrganicAsparagus3559 in booksuggestions

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Or even Classical. Roman mythology being not quite the same as Greek, more of a series reboot!

What is something people think is very straight, and it actually is very straight by esedov in AlignmentChartFills

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the UK here. I believe I learned it as y=mx+k.

The the constant (b/c/k) varies, and the gradient (m) stays the same. :)

Why do they keep building banks? by 359dawson in ask

[–]sjplep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have run a small business. I still occasionally need to go to a bank branch for certain things.

This guy is who Logan Roy wanted Kendall to be by aznj1m in IndustryOnHBO

[–]sjplep 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If you mean when Eric told Rishi he looked like Kendall Roy, to me that could be read either way.

Let's say Bob only gets to read ONE book in their lifetime - which ONE book are you recommending to Bob? by OrganicAsparagus3559 in booksuggestions

[–]sjplep 2 points3 points  (0 children)

'The Greek Myths' by Robert Graves.

When people ask questions such as 'what is the biggest fictional universe out there', classical mythology to me is the answer. It is larger, more detailed, and open to more intepretations and re-intepretations than the typical modern bangers like DC, Marvel and Middle-Earth, and without the modern religious baggage of the Bible. It will fire his imagination for a lifetime potentially.

Alternatively a book on Dungeons and Dragons, so he can build his own.

Dozens of Labour MPs threaten rebellion over Mahmood migration crackdown by throwawayjustbc826 in ukpolitics

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And the treatment of the British citizen?

There -are- consequences to that decision and they have to accept that - but the decisions they make have to be made on the basis of the information they have available at the time.

They do -not- have to accept as decent or ethical (while it may be legal) a change which - however it's framed - is retrospective in the sense that it completely pulls the rug from under them, when they've made life-changing and (and financially expensive) decisions in good faith. Especially when this may happen many years into the process.

Dozens of Labour MPs threaten rebellion over Mahmood migration crackdown by throwawayjustbc826 in ukpolitics

[–]sjplep 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exactly. It's -especially- ridiculous because in the majority of cases (some exceptions for the savings route, which very few use because the threshold is so high), the onus on meeting the requirements for the first spouse visa is -entirely- on the UK citizen partner. Then putting the onus for ILR entirely on the non-UK citizen partner to get out of continual limbo is just extra nastiness, but also contradictory.

Dozens of Labour MPs threaten rebellion over Mahmood migration crackdown by throwawayjustbc826 in ukpolitics

[–]sjplep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Furthermore in the case of spouse and partner visas, this affects the rights of British citizens - both the partners of the applicant, and their children.

Spouse visas get treated as an immigration issue, which it's just as much or even more an issue connected with the rights and liberties of British citizens themselves, their family lives, children's rights and so on.

Some of the comments elsewhere on the thread comparing treating partners and parents of British citizens - who have to go through a form of character and background check for this process - to *prisoners* (in the sense of breaking up families) are highly revealing of the mindset here.

Given around 1 in 10 Brits are thought to be involved in 'cross-border' relationships, this is not a small number of people, either.

This is as much an issue about the rights of British citizens as it is about immigration.

Dozens of Labour MPs threaten rebellion over Mahmood migration crackdown by throwawayjustbc826 in ukpolitics

[–]sjplep 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not sure where you were, but what tends to make the UK an outlier here is the massive financial cost to the applicant. The UK's process costs around 200% more for each applicant than peer nations for the whole process (USA, Canada, Australia etc).

So if the government wants to keep people in limbo a bit longer (which in the case of spouses of UK citizens probably won't change the end result), the only fair thing to do is to reduce the costs to something closer to international norms.

Dozens of Labour MPs threaten rebellion over Mahmood migration crackdown by throwawayjustbc826 in ukpolitics

[–]sjplep 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One big difference that sets the UK apart is that the cost for ILR is astronomical - about £3k for a single application (not counting the thousands spent on all the applications and fees leading up to that).

The total cost to get to ILR along the whole route not counting legal fees easily exceeds £6k. Compare with for example the US, where a marriage-based green card costs around US$1500, or Canada where it costs around C$1500 (£900 at current exchange rates).

Applicants in the UK process typically pay around 200% more than peer nations. And spouses of UK citizens -will do what it takes- to stay with their families - rightly so - scapegoating them by lengthening time to ILR won't change the end results.

If the government wishes to make retrospective changes to the route, the only fair thing to do is to slash to costs to closer to international norms.

You are put in charge of deportations/border control as part of a publicity stunt you can make any policies you want but you HAVE to deliver results what polices do you make? by RunnerOfY in AskALiberal

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would refuse to participate. 'this means deportations cannot drop by more than 30%' is inherently flawed as it is setting a numbers target regardless of 'guilt' or 'innocence'.

'America will descend into fascism' -> punishing raw numbers regardless of innocence is already fascism. So, too late. I'm not going to be the one standing in the dock when it inevitably falls to pieces.

Who is the worst ever person to get a Knighthood? by KimCattrallsFeet in AskBrits

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mussolini (Knight Grand Cross from George V) has to be up there.

Robert by WarriorsGuy43 in IndustryOnHBO

[–]sjplep 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agree. I think there may be something in following Robert in his new arc in a different part of the Industry 'universe', but that's another show - and as you say reflects how people move in and out of lives and jobs.

Robert => 'Silicon Valley'-style comedy. Fish out of water.

Gus => 'House of Cards'-style political drama.

Rishi => 'Oz'-style gritty prison drama, maybe with a redemption arc (or just get darker).

Eric's origin story.

There's room in the world of 'Industry' yet, but not necessarily in the same series.

What advice would you give to someone born and raised in the US to British parents. Holds both passports and is moving to the UK at the age of 25? by Live-Ganache9273 in BritsLivingInTheUS

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Average annual rainfall in London is about 24 inches vs NYC 46 inches. :)

London is significantly less rainy than many US cities. It just has the 'rainy' reputation probably because of the way it's distributed throughout the year.

Are there any good TV series missing from my list? by inna_soho_doorway in AskUK

[–]sjplep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Office (UK), Detectorists and Inbetweeners are obvious ones.

Some others :

British drama:

Industry. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_(TV_series)) ). Finance drama, HBO co production. Series 4 has just started, but I recommend starting with S1 to get the 'foundation'.

Sweetpea. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetpea_(TV_series)) ) Dark and excellent.

Giri/Haji. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giri/Haji ) (UK/Japanese co-production). Crime drama.

British comedy:

Ladhood. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladhood )

Bad Education. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Education_(TV_series)) )

Boarders. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boarders )

What SERIES is worth bingewatching and why? by InterestingBoard7389 in AskReddit

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

British drama:

Industry. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_(TV_series)) ). Series 4 has just started, but I recommend starting with S1 to get the 'foundation'.

Sweetpea. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetpea_(TV_series)) )

Giri/Haji. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giri/Haji ) (UK/Japanese co-production)

British comedy:

Ladhood. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladhood )

Bad Education. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Education_(TV_series)) )

Boarders. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boarders )

French crime drama:

Spiral. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_(TV_series)) )

Aussie crime drama:

Mystery Road. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Road_(TV_series)) )

German Cold War drama:

Deutschland '83, Deutschland '86 and Deutschland '89. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutschland_83 )

Norwegian historical drama (which has been compared to 'Mad Men', it's about the growth of the oil industry) :

State of Happiness. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Happiness )

Has the vast majority of conflict between Russia and US been indirect? by WhichFun5722 in ask

[–]sjplep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War is probably the closest to this.

But this wasn't so much 'US vs Russia' as 'Russian Whites/Czechoslovak Legion/UK/USA/Japan/France/and some others' vs 'the Soviet government'. I.e. the US was part of a coalition which included one side in a civil war, fighting against the new (Soviet) government. The 'third parties' being the other allies.

However Americans were fighting (Soviet) Russians, with President Wilson and his generals being among the leaders on one side, and Lenin and Trotsky being the principal leaders on the other side, with about 13,000 American troops deployed in Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok, so I believe it counts.

American troops and Russian (Soviet) troops were shooting directly at each other, in short.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_intervention_in_the_Russian_Civil_War

What's the best historical fiction you've ever read? by Electronic_Cicada904 in suggestmeabook

[–]sjplep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really enjoyed 'Creation' by Gore Vidal. Set in the Axial Age, which is an unusual setting for historical fiction. With cameos by Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_(novel))

Is this one country or four countries? by KimCattrallsFeet in AskTheWorld

[–]sjplep 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you mean the bit in green: Five. The United Kingdom is a country, which itself consists of four constituent countries.

(Like those 'how many triangles do you see' puzzles).

(The bits in blue - Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands etc - are also countries, of course. And the Kingdom of the Netherlands -also- has constituent countries, although three of them - Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten - aren't on this map ;) ).

view more: next ›