Interesting Links for 23-01-2021

[andrewducker]

No, trans women do not have an advantage in sport

(tags:sports Olympics women LGBT transgender )

MEPs adopt a resolution condemning the current approach to tax havens as ineffective

(tags:tax Europe )

The seditionists are now quoting Tolkien in their ridiculous legal cases

(tags:law USA coup funny WTF Tolkien lotr )

JMS remembers Mira Furlan

(tags:obituary Babylon5 acting Yugoslavia jms )

Get ready for 'Long Brexit'

(tags:UK Europe Doom trade )

15 ideas to make Britain better

(tags:UK advice viaPatrickHadfield )

Pink seesaws at US-Mexico wall win design award

(tags:Mexico USA borders art viaJane )

Apparently you need a £180 certificate to send £20 of cheese to Europe

(tags:Europe UK trade food Doom )

Johann Hari spreads dangerous lies. I wish I was less surprised the Guardian supports him

(tags:dangerous mentalhealth johannhari guardian OhForFucksSake )

Comments

[drplokta]

The situation with metro systems out of London is not as bad as the article makes out. Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow all have such systems — some are underground rail, and some are trams.

But otherwise it’s a good article, and I agree with all of its points. But it’s missing the thing we need most of all, which is to build houses. A lot of houses, in places where people want to live, and on land that can be built on cheaply. And of course also the things you need near houses, like roads, health centres, small shops, libraries, churches, parks, and so on.

[mlknchz]

"Gondor" never had a king, as it is, you know, a fictitious place. The Stewarts would have been an actual, better, though still specious, example.


Also, "There is reason to suspect that Walter also held Manhood, south of Chichester"...they said "held Manhood" hehehehehe

[melchar]

The fictional Gondor -did- have a king, however the king of Gondor did not 'abandon' the throne, as mentioned in the footnote quoted. Isildur & 3 of his sons were killed as part of the war fought against Sauron. The Steward had been left in place in Minith Tirith to govern in the king's stead until his return - so even the context of the footnote was wrong.

That said, 'held manhood' -does- lend itself to giggles.

Tax havens and the EU: watch this space

[hairyears]

This is an interesting turn, but not a new one: the EU's aspiration of a united and effective policy against tax havens was always limited by the UK veto.

Also, by a lot of quiet work in the background by the UK to prevent exactly this sort of resolution in the European Parliament.

This escalates, quickly, because there are British overseas territories involved and the laundered money turns up in London.

Re: Tax havens and the EU: watch this space

[andrewducker]

Yeah, I think they thought they were getting away from the EU, but they're losing influence and still very much in the orbit. I think there will be a lot of regret in a year or two.