The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XVII

[Dumanios]

@_random_: I think that the odds of having a genetic clone of yourself be born(baring science) is somewhere in the neighborhood several trillion against one.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It's to make scanning for a referenced person easier. Before control-F life was a complete pain in the arse.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I hope this is ok to ask, but when going through newspaper archives I see the term "Heartbreakers" used a lot in the sports sections. What does it mean in this context?

 

[mayor]

I hope this is ok to ask, but when going through newspaper archives I see the term "Heartbreakers" used a lot in the sports sections. What does it mean in this context?

a narrow or last minute defeat, according thefreedictionary.
seems about right in the context I found it in.

 

[aronnax]

Are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, Barbados, etc still Dominions? If not, are they Kingdoms? What are they?

 

[mayor]

hmm.. there should be a yoututbe video about that... saw it once, it explained it quite well, don't know it's name anymore unfortunately

EDIT: well that was easier than I thought


Link to video.
if you don't want to sit through the whole vid just start at 4:49 for a overview.
(I looked at it without sound, this time, cause I'm at work but I remember it was quite amusing to watch )

 

[aronnax]

hmm.. there should be a yoututbe video about that... saw it once, it explained it quite well, don't know it's name anymore unfortunately

EDIT: well that was easier than I thought

I know that they are referred to as Commonwealth Realms but what are their 'official' names?

Like, the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Mexico is the United Mexican States.

Was the name Dominion of XXX ever a legal name? If not, what is their legal name? Or are they like Japan, whose official name is just Japan.

 

[mayor]

I know that they are referred to as Commonwealth Realms but what are their 'official' names?

Like, the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Mexico is the United Mexican States.

Was the name Dominion of XXX ever a legal name? If not, what is their legal name? Or are they like Japan, whose official name is just Japan.

oh like that. hmmm wouldn't know but it's interesting..

I just made a quick search and I found this on wikipedia:

Upon Confederation in 1867, the name Canada was officially adopted for the new Dominion, which was commonly referred to as the Dominion of Canada until after World War II.

I think that this list is trustworthy: UN members list
It does mention the UK as 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland but it also names Mexico as just Mexico....

 

[Tee Kay]

Are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, Barbados, etc still Dominions? If not, are they Kingdoms? What are they?

These days they are called the "Commonwealth Realms". All are completely independent countries that share Elizabeth II as their monarch (eg Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom etc and separately Queen of Canada, Queen of Australia, Queen of Jamaica, etc.)

Was the name Dominion of XXX ever a legal name? If not, what is their legal name? Or are they like Japan, whose official name is just Japan.

Australia is the "Commonwealth of Australia" and has always been since Federation.

New Zealand and Canada are still, technically, "Dominion of New Zealand" and "Dominion of Canada", though both are never referred to as such today, officially or otherwise (they are typically called just "New Zealand" or "Canada")

 

[mayor]

Australia is the "Commonwealth of Australia" and has always been since Federation.

New Zealand and Canada are still, technically, "Dominion of New Zealand" and "Dominion of Canada", though both are never referred to as such today, officially or otherwise (they are typically called just "New Zealand" or "Canada")

According to Britannica 'Dominion of' is not part of the official name.

for reference: Australia is named as "Commonwealth of Australia"

 

[aronnax]

Thanks. They helps.
If anything, I think the Kingdom of Canada sounds fricking awesome.

Kingdom of New Zealand

Kingdom of Barbados

Kingdom of Bahamas

Kingdom of Australia

Kingdom of New Zealand

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thanks. They helps.
If anything, I think the Kingdom of Canada sounds fricking awesome.

Well, until you realize "Canada" is a corruption of a word (kantana) basically meaning "cluster of dwellings" So it's a "Kingdom of Cluster of Dwellings" which sounds less awesome I'm pretty sure this is right, considering I'm going off memory. Check it against Google.

 

[Tee Kay]

According to Britannica 'Dominion of' is not part of the official name.

for reference: Australia is named as "Commonwealth of Australia"

I know for certain that Canada and New Zealand used to have "Dominion" in their official name. I'm not sure whether it has been officially changed, or has simply fallen out of use.

Anyway, Empire of Australia would be best IMO...

 

[Joecoolyo]

The Empire of Australia has potential.

 

[madviking]

nvm...

 

[aronnax]

Are Manchester and Edinburgh nice cities?
I want to study in the UK and the University of Manchester and Edinburgh keep popping out as good universities. Are Manchester and Edinburgh as cosmopolitan and great to live in like the brochures say?

 

[Traitorfish]

Are Manchester and Edinburgh nice cities?
I want to study in the UK and the University of Manchester and Edinburgh keep popping out as good universities. Are Manchester and Edinburgh as cosmopolitan and great to live in like the brochures say?

Central Edinburgh's a nice place, if you can stand the yuppies. Not quite as cosmopolitan as it might think- most immigrants can't exactly afford the prices- but more so than most places in the UK, and the student body is at least quite diverse. It's where the Scots have decided to keep all their culture, on the basis that they seem to have a better idea of what to do with it than the rest of us, so you won't end up with a feeling of provincial abandonment as you might in, say, a certain town about fifty miles North. If you can afford it- it's a bit pricey by local standards, but, then, I don't really know what that would mean from a Singaporean perspective- I'd say that you wouldn't regret it.

 

[mayor]

Are Manchester and Edinburgh nice cities?
I want to study in the UK and the University of Manchester and Edinburgh keep popping out as good universities. Are Manchester and Edinburgh as cosmopolitan and great to live in like the brochures say?

But, aronnax? If you are going to study in the UK, won't you miss Singapore?

 

[Flying Pig]

Edinburgh's full of jocks and Manchester's full of mancs - plus it has Manchester United. Stay well away.

 

[GinandTonic]

Both cities with nice areas and total dumps.