Regarding the title, "Why the Danes do it better", it sometimes makes one wish that Canute had more heirs or of Hardecanute lived longer and had more heirs. Maybe that whole North Sea Empire thing would have been longer lasting and England would have been part of it rather than what happened instead in our reality!
The history of 950 to 1066 is, as I'm sure Ed can vouch, one of incredible upheaval and change. Backwards and forwards in terms of the fates of kings and kingdoms, extraordinary characters (Aethelread, Edmund, Emma, Cnut, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, the two Harolds) and a cautionary tale as to the impact of immigrants and invasions on a country.
The Swedes (with the Finns) and Danes (with the Norwegians) tried it again in the Union of Kalmar (1397 to 1523). It didn't end well (Stockholm bloodbath and the election of the Gustav Vasa as king of independent Sweden).
For the first time this week, at two different Underground Stations, I saw signs warning that fare dodging is a crime. I pointed at them and said "The Jenrick Effect" to my wife. But more importantly, did you know he's taken medication to help reduce his weight, and he's not even a London MP?
"I have a vague unprovable theory that there is a sweet spot of popular non-fiction books published between about 1960 and 2005"
This is almost my rule as well but my parameters are between 1930 and 1990. Almost the precise natural-life of the Pelican Books imprint. The Indian Summer of the Western Tradition.
Equally Methuen's 'University Paperbacks' series of the mid sixties is almost always exceptional.
A happy confluence of what is best in marxist influenced Historical Materialism with a lingering lambent afterglow of Carlylean repsect for the metaphysic and spiritual intuition., all basted with deep culture and an assumed familiarity with the primary sources of the Western Canon.
The "do you know only 10% of Americans have a passport!" really does my nut in. An exhibit A example of liberal minded baby boomers who really don't know that much about the world. Interestingly a lot of continental Europeans don't have passports, and why should they? In the Schengen area you can go on beach holidays, ski trips, and city breaks in a smallish area. One of the main reasons Americans had low passport ownership was simply it was too expensive to go abroad. Once long haul travel stated to become affordable 30 years ago their passport ownership went up hugely.
The U.K. has had high passport ownership for a long time due to the fact we are an island and we actually need them for any travel!
Come spend a winter in the northern US, especially any where the Great Lakes where the Sun is all but banished for several months*. We have reason to travel in winter too. Here in Florida the whole state sinks two inches into the Gulf with all the "snowbirds" flocking down.
* April Fools' Headline in a Detroit newspaper some years back: Prodigal Sun Returns. Mistaken for UFO"
Well you need a passport or passport card (which is cheaper) to visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean now, and those are popular places for Americans to visit (maybe Canada not quite so much). But I'm guessing the passport stat does not include passport cards.
Ms Arden I believe resided in Acton during the 90s/00s. It was full of young aussies at the time Whence Arden was working for Labour/Blair anyway. You may (Ed) have met her (Ms Arden) in person. Walked past her in a tube station - Along with Asma Al Assad.
Also Mrs Boris Johnson is a St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College Girl.
I do wonder why the UK didn't play hardball like Denmark when it came to fishing rights and housing benefit for EU citizens - it could have made recent history of the UK very different.
I think the problem was the UK politicians were the only true believers in the EU - all the rest just wanted what was best for them.
Of course the real reason why Denmark is different from the UK is the population density.
(137.0 per km compared to 279 in UK, 426 England). That is why they don't care about second home owners). If they had all 6 babies they would be like the UK in 30 years)
Re: the benefits system creates a strong couple penalty for those in work, creating a strong incentive to live apart.
To what extent is this true in the UK? It isn't with the NHS of course-- unlike the US where it is crucial factor in Medicaid eligibility. Does any government prorate benefit eligibility thresholds to marriage so that a married couple still qualifies for assistance at twice the income a single person does?
Re: 4.1 million people in England and Wales are on an incapacity or disability benefit - that’s one in seven adults in the North East and Wales.
Does the age of this people skew older, indeed much older, nearing retirement age? In the US employers preferentially layoff older workers and will not hire them (our age discrimination laws have fewer teeth than the average hen) so very often disability benefits are the only possible income for such people.
Are you saying that in Australia you can only get low alcohol beer at the cricket? That might be a sensible compromise at the football, it's always frustrating not to be able to enjoy a drink, especially when spurs are at their worst. You can of course drink yourself stupid at the cricket and rugby in this country.
Regarding the title, "Why the Danes do it better", it sometimes makes one wish that Canute had more heirs or of Hardecanute lived longer and had more heirs. Maybe that whole North Sea Empire thing would have been longer lasting and England would have been part of it rather than what happened instead in our reality!
The history of 950 to 1066 is, as I'm sure Ed can vouch, one of incredible upheaval and change. Backwards and forwards in terms of the fates of kings and kingdoms, extraordinary characters (Aethelread, Edmund, Emma, Cnut, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, the two Harolds) and a cautionary tale as to the impact of immigrants and invasions on a country.
The Swedes (with the Finns) and Danes (with the Norwegians) tried it again in the Union of Kalmar (1397 to 1523). It didn't end well (Stockholm bloodbath and the election of the Gustav Vasa as king of independent Sweden).
For the first time this week, at two different Underground Stations, I saw signs warning that fare dodging is a crime. I pointed at them and said "The Jenrick Effect" to my wife. But more importantly, did you know he's taken medication to help reduce his weight, and he's not even a London MP?
"I have a vague unprovable theory that there is a sweet spot of popular non-fiction books published between about 1960 and 2005"
This is almost my rule as well but my parameters are between 1930 and 1990. Almost the precise natural-life of the Pelican Books imprint. The Indian Summer of the Western Tradition.
Equally Methuen's 'University Paperbacks' series of the mid sixties is almost always exceptional.
A happy confluence of what is best in marxist influenced Historical Materialism with a lingering lambent afterglow of Carlylean repsect for the metaphysic and spiritual intuition., all basted with deep culture and an assumed familiarity with the primary sources of the Western Canon.
The "do you know only 10% of Americans have a passport!" really does my nut in. An exhibit A example of liberal minded baby boomers who really don't know that much about the world. Interestingly a lot of continental Europeans don't have passports, and why should they? In the Schengen area you can go on beach holidays, ski trips, and city breaks in a smallish area. One of the main reasons Americans had low passport ownership was simply it was too expensive to go abroad. Once long haul travel stated to become affordable 30 years ago their passport ownership went up hugely.
The U.K. has had high passport ownership for a long time due to the fact we are an island and we actually need them for any travel!
true. plus we have cold, wet weather and the biggest motive for tourism is sunshine
Come spend a winter in the northern US, especially any where the Great Lakes where the Sun is all but banished for several months*. We have reason to travel in winter too. Here in Florida the whole state sinks two inches into the Gulf with all the "snowbirds" flocking down.
* April Fools' Headline in a Detroit newspaper some years back: Prodigal Sun Returns. Mistaken for UFO"
Isaac Newton, the man who first explained the lunar gravitational theory of the tides, rarely left Cambridge and never saw the open sea.
The idea tha travel necesarily broadens the mind is deeply questionable.
Well you need a passport or passport card (which is cheaper) to visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean now, and those are popular places for Americans to visit (maybe Canada not quite so much). But I'm guessing the passport stat does not include passport cards.
I have always found 10 Cent Beer Night to be an entertaining story.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CFtR38Mlscc&pp=ygUSMTAgY2VudCBiZWVyIG5pZ2h0
Ms Arden I believe resided in Acton during the 90s/00s. It was full of young aussies at the time Whence Arden was working for Labour/Blair anyway. You may (Ed) have met her (Ms Arden) in person. Walked past her in a tube station - Along with Asma Al Assad.
Also Mrs Boris Johnson is a St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College Girl.
So
Re 10 cent beer night
Wrexham had the infamous free till you pee nights. Which I wish I had seen in person
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/vicky-pattison-opens-up-free-26792695
I do wonder why the UK didn't play hardball like Denmark when it came to fishing rights and housing benefit for EU citizens - it could have made recent history of the UK very different.
I think the problem was the UK politicians were the only true believers in the EU - all the rest just wanted what was best for them.
Of course the real reason why Denmark is different from the UK is the population density.
(137.0 per km compared to 279 in UK, 426 England). That is why they don't care about second home owners). If they had all 6 babies they would be like the UK in 30 years)
Come on Ed, you know we all want to see these:
but I’m not sure who except me would find stuff like ‘the world’s shortest wars’ and ‘people offered the throne of Albania’ interesting.
Re: the benefits system creates a strong couple penalty for those in work, creating a strong incentive to live apart.
To what extent is this true in the UK? It isn't with the NHS of course-- unlike the US where it is crucial factor in Medicaid eligibility. Does any government prorate benefit eligibility thresholds to marriage so that a married couple still qualifies for assistance at twice the income a single person does?
Re: 4.1 million people in England and Wales are on an incapacity or disability benefit - that’s one in seven adults in the North East and Wales.
Does the age of this people skew older, indeed much older, nearing retirement age? In the US employers preferentially layoff older workers and will not hire them (our age discrimination laws have fewer teeth than the average hen) so very often disability benefits are the only possible income for such people.
Are you saying that in Australia you can only get low alcohol beer at the cricket? That might be a sensible compromise at the football, it's always frustrating not to be able to enjoy a drink, especially when spurs are at their worst. You can of course drink yourself stupid at the cricket and rugby in this country.
I think so - someone might need to fact check me though!
I suspect cocaine is the issue now.
I can do it in January at the Sydney Test. Will report back.
It certainly is an attraction going to rugby games.