Colonial fantasies

[Lang Spoon]

Colonial fantasies

ursus arctos wrote: Ooofah

A woman who has been ridiculed for a book she wrote about her gap year in Africa is in a relationship with Donald Trump’s top fundraiser.

Louise Linton, who attracted widespread criticism for her description of life in Zambia, is dating Steven Mnuchin, the recently appointed national finance chair for Trump’s presidential campaign.]

And an alumnus of Fettes college (Edinburgh pathetic Eton emulator) no less, just like Honest Tony. Fucking richers.

[Diable Rouge]

Colonial fantasies

The Irish settlers on Montserrat and Barbados allow a thought of what might have been if English governments had allowed the Irish Parliament free rein in terms of trade and investment in the Caribbean - an Irish West Indian Empire?

[G-Man]

Colonial fantasies

San Bernardhinault wrote: The climate in Cape Town, particular in winter, is distinctly more conducive to eating Schweinhaxe and Sauerbraten than the climate in Windhoek is.

On Sunday it was warmer in Cape Town than it was in Windhoek. And after the sun goes down, Windhoek is colder than Cape Town.

[Lang Spoon]

Colonial fantasies

The Irish settlers on Montserrat and Barbados allow a thought of what might have been if English governments had allowed the Irish Parliament free rein in terms of trade and investment in the Caribbean - an Irish West Indian Empire?

Well King Billy used his English and Dutch Navies to starve the Darien colony (a private venture of his Scotch subjects) into failure (though the Scots were also beaten by climate, Spanish, locals, terrain, disease, crap planning and wooly socks on the equator). That was pretty much the first colony set up on Free Trade principles. The Mercantilist powers wouldnt tolerate it.

Doubt an autonomous Irish trading empire would have met with any more success (even in the free trade years of Empire), just like Scotland was never going to get to run Jamaica. Unity was safer for the elite, and taxes and duties would flow to the Great Wen rather than the Celtic rabble. And Ireland would also have been an official slaver state had it worked out. Heavy pish.

Also small matter of full access to the Empire for tariff free trade being dependent on being in The Union (so no chance of pre-1801 deal). No parallels there so.

[Reed John]

Colonial fantasies

Speaking of colonial fantasies, I saw the new Tarzan film last night. It's ok. 2/5 stars.

Speaking of that. This is disappointing, although entirely unsurprising.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2620/could-a-human-swing-through-the-jungle-on-vines