The Swamp

Finally.

All the reports the media had in storage for the past 25 years or so are ready to go.

I went to London this past summer. When I went to the Changing of the Guard, the Royal Band played a Lion King medley. Bad form, or excellent form, if I posted the video of them playing "Circle of Life"?

brian wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:40 pmFinally.

Dude, she made Helen Mirren popular to the masses. Give her some damn respect.

I guess my prediction a couple weeks ago of Prince Charles dying before her didn't age well. Thought he'd never be king and it'd go right to William.

Will be weird watching British soccer games and seeing the anthem as God Save The King

Possible unpopular opinion here, but...RIP. You could do a lot worse as someone to have as head of state for 70 years.

They’re parasites on the British people but that’s what Britons seem to want so good on them

brian wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:47 pm They’re parasites on the British people but that’s what Britons seem to want so good on them

Well said.

They do help feed the tourism industry.

Reaper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:43 pm I guess my prediction a couple weeks ago of Prince Charles dying before her didn't age well. Thought he'd never be king and it'd go right to William.

I wonder if he might not even bother.

Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:45 pm Possible unpopular opinion here, but...RIP. You could do a lot worse as someone to have as head of state for 70 years.

I'm with you. She could've been a real shit, but she carried the royalty with a high degree of class and deference. Was she perfect? Hell, nobody is. But she's moved the monarchy into the present and was a net positive for her people.

brian wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:47 pm They’re parasites on the British people but that’s what Britons seem to want so good on them

I have been spoken to, given dirty looks and even got into an argument with an old friend over using terms like "Parasites," "Anachronisms," "fascists" to describe the royal family in my lifetime.

(Oddly, not during my years in Quebec!)

But fuck it, these are horrible, horrible people who ARE parasites.

Very tempted to post this old classic on Facebook... but no point starting a ruckus.



Canadians should be more like Aussies where at least they're debating officially becoming a republic

Obligatory

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:00 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:45 pm Possible unpopular opinion here, but...RIP. You could do a lot worse as someone to have as head of state for 70 years.

I'm with you. She could've been a real shit, but she carried the royalty with a high degree of class and deference. Was she perfect? Hell, nobody is. But she's moved the monarchy into the present and was a net positive for her people.

Thing to remember is that she was head of state in name only, and while she carried herself with great dignity, one could say that is what is expected of a figurehead - even one that leads a corrupt, vile enterprise. Think of Mitt Romney.

As for moving the monarchy into the present - so what? I'm serious, what's the point of the monarchy and the aristocracy? To shower massive tracts of land, money and other property on people who dropped out of the right womb?

Amazing:

Pruitt3 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:12 pmAs for moving the monarchy into the present - so what? I'm serious, what's the point of the monarchy and the aristocracy? To shower massive tracts of land, money and other property on people who dropped out of the right womb?

I don't know about the aristocracy, but the point of the monarchy is to provide a non-political or apolitical symbol of the country that helps foster a national identity. I've always thought that was a waste of time, but I can't help but think that the US could benefit from something similar right now.

My thinking was along the lines of what Steve said. Not there aren't negative aspects of the royal family (the hit to the public coffers being the biggest), but again I think you could do worse overall.

Didn't realize I'd set off a shitstorm by not being glad she died. Can we just skip to the Reggie Jackson jokes now?

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:27 pmI don't know about the aristocracy, but the point of the monarchy is to provide a non-political or apolitical symbol of the country that helps foster a national identity. I've always thought that was a waste of time, but I can't help but think that the US could benefit from something similar right now.

The US has enough legacy white families with outsized influence as it is.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:36 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:27 pmI don't know about the aristocracy, but the point of the monarchy is to provide a non-political or apolitical symbol of the country that helps foster a national identity. I've always thought that was a waste of time, but I can't help but think that the US could benefit from something similar right now.

The US has enough legacy white families with outsized influence as it is.

Well said.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:18 pm

Dean Castle!

Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:36 pm My thinking was along the lines of what Steve said. Not there aren't negative aspects of the royal family (the hit to the public coffers being the biggest), but again I think you could do worse overall.

Didn't realize I'd set off a shitstorm by not being glad she died. Can we just skip to the Reggie Jackson jokes now?

Absolutely!

Sorry, the royal family is something I have loathed since childhood.

Death is not a time to mourn, but to remind people how important your views are.

Rex wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:45 pm Death is not a time to mourn, but to remind people how important your views are.

Well, it is a forum for us to express our views.

Hagiographies are being published elsewhere.

I guess there's the answer. Bunch a weirdos

Well at least she saw off Boris Johnson.

Wonder if Elton John will play at the funeral.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:38 pm

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:18 pm

Dean Castle!

One of my greatest joys was standing in that very room. (Doune Castle.)

A_B wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:57 pm

Reaper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:43 pm I guess my prediction a couple weeks ago of Prince Charles dying before her didn't age well. Thought he'd never be king and it'd go right to William.

I wonder if he might not even bother.

He bothers. King Charles III

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:31 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:38 pm

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:18 pm

Dean Castle!

One of my greatest joys was standing in that very room. (Doune Castle.)

Doune, of course! Not sure why I thought it was Dean.

Aw hell, you could've blamed that on autocorrect.

So like a dozen different countries need to update their currency, right?

God Shave The Queen and all that.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:00 pm So like a dozen different countries need to update their currency, right?

God Shave The Queen and all that.

Yep. Currency, stamps, portraits, titles, oaths etc...

Her job was essentially to be the normalizing face of British imperialism and colonization, so while her calming demeanor was great for them, not so much for like a long list of other countries.

Jerloma wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:43 pm Her job was essentially to be the normalizing face of British imperialism and colonization, so while her calming demeanor was great for them, not so much for like a long list of other countries.

Uh yup. From the 2012 Olympics:

I wonder if Australia will lose the Queen's Birthday as a holiday.

Oh, who am I kidding? Australia will never give up a holiday.

Baloney wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:29 pm Well at least she saw off Boris Johnson.

Wonder if Elton John will play at the funeral.

I will laugh if he cancels his concert here on Saturday night.

Guess Pruitt isn't going to the show tonight.

DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:54 pm

Baloney wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:29 pm Well at least she saw off Boris Johnson.

Wonder if Elton John will play at the funeral.

I will laugh if he cancels his concert here on Saturday night.

Guess Pruitt isn't going to the show tonight.

Ha!

Just had a friend say he couldn't play in our zoom poker game tonight because he was off to see Sir Elton sing "Crocodile Rock" at the Rogers Center.

Jerloma wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:43 pm Her job was essentially to be the normalizing face of British imperialism and colonization, so while her calming demeanor was great for them, not so much for like a long list of other countries.

Didn't Britain give up just about every one of its colonies during her reign?