merridew

joined 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Oh, I absolutely believe that people in America can accept it's "not as big a deal as you might think".

This is a thread about things about America that make no sense. So: I don't understand why America, seemingly uniquely, accepts this as "not a big deal".

It's weird. Land of the free, home of the public toilets strangers can see inside. So odd.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Thank you for your comment. I can't speak for the entire world, but in the UK a 1 cm" gap in the door of a public toilet would be massive and unacceptable. It's not enough that someone can only see into a stall through a gap in the door if they are "right up to it"; they should not be able to see in at all. Public toilets in other countries have doors with gaps you can't leer through at all.

Re. the "gaps meaning ventilation", surely the "big gap at the bottom" and the fact that the whole top is open will be contributing more to ventilation?

You say you think this might be a regional thing in the US. Okay, could be. I have personally encountered this issue in Washington, California, North Carolina, DC, Massachusetts, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

From a euphemism for being suspended on full pay pending an investigation. You aren't working, and you can't work for a competitor, so there's not much to do but potter about in the garden.

(The term originated when the paid white-collar workforce was still overwhelmingly comprised of men who weren't responsible for housework or child rearing.)

[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I guess the shift would have been around the time he began

promoting an energetic blend of conspiracy theories, COVID denial, and the liberal use of capital letters, with videos like “The TRUTH About Pfizer” and “The CDC Are SPYING On You,"

promoting ivermectin for viral infections, and hanging out with Tucker Carlson.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/z34zd9/russell-brand-ivermectin https://deadline.com/2023/07/tucker-carlson-fox-firing-reaction-russell-brand-interview-1235431938/

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I don't get it either. Ignoring the inherent power imbalance between a single worker and an employer, good luck getting Gardening Leave in an at-will workplace.

https://www.gov.uk/handing-in-your-notice/gardening-leave

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

Yes, maternity leave! The US approach is bonkers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Oh that's true. American pints are a disappointment.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

This is a thoughtful reply. I will just say that the UK also has public toilets all over the place, and a desire for people to not screw & get high in the cubicles. Ditto many other countries. But I've never been anywhere else with this door gap problem, where no-one gets privacy.

I did once use a UK bathroom in a supermarket where the lighting was all blue, which makes it hard to find a vein to inject. But the doors still closed properly.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

"Panties"

Ick.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Yes. The correct answer is "Not too bad, you?" and after they've also not answered truthfully the conversation may begin.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Sir, pride in the sanctity of the Queue is reason enough alone.

Seriously though, being in places where people don't queue properly is miserable. That's something America should be applauded for.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You don't have separate recycling? With recycling bins & separate food waste collection, our general waste wheelie bin takes ages to fill up...

 

Some good news for once.

 

People deemed unable to work – including those with a history of self-harm or at risk of killing themselves – could have their benefits reduced and face penalties under new government plans.

 

There will be exemptions for legitimate uses of nitrous oxide, for example in medical or catering industries. The gas is commonly used as a painkiller and for producing whipped cream in cooking.

 

More than half of English schools that are so dilapidated they are at risk of partial closure were refused money under the government’s school rebuilding scheme, Department for Education (DfE) statistics show.

It has also emerged that under the programme, intended to rebuild 500 schools in England over a 10-year period from 2020, just four were completed in 2021.

This is an additional issue on top of the RAAC problem.

 

Nothing says "free speech absolutism" like filing another SLAPP against an organisation whose speech you don't like.

https://www.techdirt.com/2023/08/01/free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-files-obvious-slapp-suit-against-non-profit-critic/

 

"The Conservatives inherited just under £10bn a year in education capital sending in 2010, and have spent £5-6bn a year since then, in real terms. Part of those savings came from scrapping the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project in 2010, which aimed to rebuild and refurbish every secondary school in England."

 

"The only postcode outside of London in the top 20 was Maidenhead, still within the London commuter belt."

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