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#21

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 09:01:00 AM

I don't think Central Europe exists anymore. It did, in the way Sheilbh described it, but that was before 50 years of Russian rule. The architecture is the only thing that remains.

Architecture is part of it - but also a bit of culture.

I don't know that it makes a practical/"real" difference but I would definitely argue that there is still a difference in vibe. That may possibly be a function of architecture - I think built environment of a city impacts how that city lives. But I think even within a country like Poland or Ukraine there are differences - not unlike between North/South or England/Scotland but I think in the East of Europe they reflect the legacies of the old empires as much as anything else.

That sounds like my diet.

Same.

#22

Off the Record / Re: The Miscellaneous Sports T...

Last post by Syt - Today at 08:51:19 AM

Knocked out and broke his jaw I saw in a headline? Too bad, so sad.

#23

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by mongers - Today at 08:25:35 AM

And quite a few RN ships were built in India, some ending up serving in European/Atlantic waters. Sailing ships obviously.

#24

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 08:16:50 AM

Ended up watching the entire film. Sir Patrick acting and Dickens' dialogue is quite lovely together.

I love that story - I think my favourite take is probably Scrooged. But honestly there are very few versions that I don't enjoy.

I'm a bit up and down on Dickens, but A Christmas Carol is basically perfect in my view.

#25

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by The Brain - Today at 07:49:04 AM

IT: Welcome to Derry, S1. IT is ITting all over the place. Fine for what it is.

One relly weird thing though (MILD SPOILER): the show very early establishes through exposition that one of the characters simply has no fear. But this lack of fear never manifests outside of exposition. In fact the character shows all the symptoms of fear (of a brave person). I don't blame the actor, but the writing and especially the direction here struck me as bizarre. There's all kinds of reasons why not having any fear would lead to non-standard or suboptimal behavior, with drama-increasing effects, but nothing of this is explored at all.

#26

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 07:20:30 AM

Needless to say any sympathy with the Qing is very much not in line with modern Chinese views.

We say old-timer British Walmart but it may be old and new again. The way corporate and state power are merging it may not be long before we see it again

#27

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by HVC - Today at 07:16:09 AM

(which is why I'm a Qing-poligist ).

Man, you blind sinophilia goes way back

As for the east india company i remember my Indian friend going off on the brits and how they're conquerers and colonizers (i don't think he's a fan of your people ) and I said that the brits didn't conquer India, old timey British Walmart did... he was not pleased

#28

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 07:09:36 AM

What countries were involved in the Stamp Act?
Stamp Act 1765
Territorial extent   Great Britain British America British West Indies

So this makes it look western hemisphere only.

East India company didn't fail until mid 1800's right? Did they pay for their own military?

Yes.

I think it's the key to the British empire. The East India Company steps into an existing world of highly developed state functions, finances and militaries. It really kicks on when it gets appointed as tax farmers for Bengal by the Mughals. That means they have a tax base and military/enforcement wing which the leverage via Indian financiers to take more territory and contracts.

But it means that basically for the rest of the history of the British empire India is self-funding (unusual in itself) but also able to field a British Indian army. In many areas it is stepping into the shoes of existing states (occasionally invited as in that first engagement in Bengal, more often after shooting the previous occupant). Broadly speaking any military engagement involving the Brits east of Suez is very likely to be mainly British Indian Army (eg Opium Wars) with a smattering of, say Highlanders. It's why the Great Indian Revolt/First War of Independence is so dangerous for the empire. Edit: And worth noting that is what precipitates the end of Company rule and the institution of the Raj.

India basically means the empire is paying for and providing its own army. Which means the metropole in GB just needs to pay for and can overwhelmingly focus on the navy which it does globally (although worth noting it's a very diverse navy and not purely recruited from the "British"). Those are two advantages no other European empire has, often because they need a home army because they're on the continent and few seize areas sufficiently rich and developed enough to pay for forces that both garrison but can be used offensively but also few break into areas that have already got those large state infrastructures to do that. I think China's the only place that comes close and it doesn't suffer the same fate as India (which is why I'm a Qing-poligist ).

#29

Off the Record / Re: The Miscellaneous Sports T...

Last post by HVC - Today at 06:43:22 AM

Looks like Jake Paul lost his latest fight. Guess the diving cheque bounced this time

#30

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by HVC - Today at 06:14:39 AM

Did they build and man new ships to patrol the east which incurred new ongoing costs. Like the new costs of stationing soldiers in the west.