The Off Topic Topic

[HVC]

Jupiter also created a Space Command.



Change is not dramatic, shall we say?

so France are the Romulans?

[Josquius]

Would that make Italy Vulcans?

[Tonitrus]

Would that make Italy Vulcans?

You gotta be kidding.

[garbon]

Would that make Italy Vulcans?

I can easily think of two countries that would be a better fit.

[crazy canuck]

Would that make Italy Vulcans?

You gotta be kidding.

No emotion or joy.  I am not sure how there could be a mismatch 

[Josquius]

Would that make Italy Vulcans?

You gotta be kidding.

The romulans are a splinter of the Vulcans.
The French are a splinter of the Romans.
Logic is there.

[Admiral Yi]

Heard on NPR today that federal smoke jumpers (fire fighters who parachute into forest fires) only get paid $15/hour, and that's after Uncle Joe raised their wage by 2 bucks an hour.  And they're seasonal employees.

[celedhring]

Let me see 

UK = Vulcan (aloof, used to dominate space travel but nobody cares about them now)
USA = Romulan Star Empire (unruly splitter from Vulcan, galactic power)
Canada = The Feds (federal, progressive, and harmless)
Russia = Cardassian Union (former galactic power, like to drink)
China = The Dominion (makes Cardassia their pawns, Cardassians stupidly believe they're still in charge)
Poland = Bajor (big on religion, former Cardassian occupied territory)
EU = Trill (have trouble managing their multiple personalities)

I need klingons.

[Eddie Teach]

Mongolia.

[Zanza]

Bezos & Musk are the Ferengi

[frunk]

I need klingons.

Japan.  Formerly warlike and the antagonists of the Feds, now more peaceful but still, you never know.

[Josquius]

Plus the entire aesthetic.

The Federation is clearly the EU. That lets you have fun with members. Just forget the brexit shit.

[Sheilbh]

Fascinating thread on Yan Xishan the governor/"warlord" of Shanxi:
https://twitter.com/ernestleungmt/status/1415176423350833154

I'd love a good book on revolutionary China because it seems really interesting - but I've only been able to find books that sort of deal with it obliquely (book on Japan's war on China, biography of Chiang Kai-Shek, biography of Vinegar Stilwell etc).

Edit: This guy seems to be doing threads on lots of nationalist Chinese figures - another really interesting one on Chen Yi and the influence of Germany (and Nazi Germany) on the nationalists' economic policy:
https://twitter.com/ernestleungmt/status/1374695372358963201

[Josquius]

Yeah, its a fascinating period about which you don't really hear much.
But then thats true of so much about China. I've never managed to grasp the way they handled nobility. The awful westernised translations don't help.
More people could really do to learn about it IMO. The fundamentally different world view of historic China has echos today.

[crazy canuck]

Let me see 

UK = Vulcan (aloof, used to dominate space travel but nobody cares about them now)
USA = Romulan Star Empire (unruly splitter from Vulcan, galactic power)
Canada = The Feds (federal, progressive, and harmless)
Russia = Cardassian Union (former galactic power, like to drink)
China = The Dominion (makes Cardassia their pawns, Cardassians stupidly believe they're still in charge)
Poland = Bajor (big on religion, former Cardassian occupied territory)
EU = Trill (have trouble managing their multiple personalities)

I need klingons.

If you change it around a bit.  Canada is the Trill, having trouble managing multiple personalities.  EU is the Federation.

Then Germany can be the Klingons.  Former warmongers who now reside peacefully but not without friction within the EU.  France can then be the Andorians.