Random conversations

[Mizmazzle]

@EdH interesting. So you have a US citizenship as well, or just familial ties? You’re truly a man of the world it seems.

[Oaktavia]

@EdH said in Random conversations:

@EdH Maryland.

You don't say? Do you recall whereabouts?

[EdH]

@Mizmazzle said in Random conversations:

US citizenship as well, or just familial ties

Again, both! My dad's side of the family moved to the USA in the 60s. They naturalised and when I came along my parents made sure that I got the citizenship too.

It's never done anything for me other than oblige me to do these poxy IRS forms every year and waste money on having some accountants help me complete those. Did you know that it's only the US and Eritrea (of all places!) that tax their citizens abroad?

@Oaktavia said in Random conversations:

Do you recall whereabouts?

'fraid not, it's been more than 2 decades since I visited that aunt and uncle. I think it was quite close to DC, I don't recall that drive taking too long when we went to visit the museums and sights, and it was a longer drive for our long-weekend spent at Ocean City.

[Oaktavia]

@EdH I figured as much. Maryland is a lesser known state. Even some Americans have trouble pointing to Maryland on a map, let alone know what places are slightly hidden there.

[Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot]

@EdH said in Random conversations:
Did you know that it's only the US and Eritrea (of all places!) that tax their citizens abroad?

I’m no historian, but didn’t Americans fight the British for independence because they didn’t want to pay taxes to them?

[EdH]

@Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot To quote Giles, QFT!

Having never lived there, as far as I know, I can't register to vote. No taxation without representation...

[EdH]

@Oaktavia said in Random conversations:

Maryland is a lesser known state.

But, from what I recall, quite beautiful!

[Oaktavia]

@EdH said in Random conversations:

@Oaktavia said in Random conversations:

Maryland is a lesser known state.

But, from what I recall, quite beautiful!

Absolutely bro it's gorgeous, especially this time of the year. The further you get away from Baltimore, the better IMO. Unless the Ravens are playing.

[Mizmazzle]

@EdH freaking bastards and their taxes…guess those pay my teacher salary…so, thanks Boss!!

[seawolf]

@EdH said in Random conversations:

No taxation without representation...

That's literally written on every Washington DC license plate because they do not have representation in Congress. All 50 states have representatives and senators, but the residents of DC do not. It's pretty messed up, to be honest.

[EdH]

@Mizmazzle I've not yet had to pay any taxes (well, there was 3 cents the year that I moved house, not sure why) given that I get tax credit for the outrageously high taxes we have here in the UK. I understand that there is a cap on how many credits I can earn that way though, so one day that may change.

Also with no address, I assume I'd only be paying federal taxes. Do they have federal schools/are teachers paid from that budget?

[T4920]

@Oaktavia only US state I can point out on a map is Kentucky due to this meme...

[Mizmazzle]

@EdH Naw, teacher pay comes from state and county taxes...but that legal technicality didn't work well for my lame joke, so...

[T4920]

@EdH I'd be suprised if there was an accepted linguistic explanation to this asides from it being just another wacky quirk of the English language..

[Tobi]

Interesting also to google "purple burglar alarms" and see Scottish people pronounce it on youtube

[T4920]

The almighty social media algorithm has clocked onto the fact I find children with strong Scottish accents hilariously cute as of late, and thus I am being served so much of it on my feeds

Even the swear words are adorable

[mclaincausey]

TBF adult Scots cursing are pretty adorable too

[WhiskeySandwich]

@Oaktavia this 100%. If it weren't so trashed, the city would also be beautiful, but it's pretty junky. We can call it "character" lol. I work right next to Bmore, but prefer to commute to get out of the central-MD "twin-city" rat-race. A lot of people I work with hate MD, but have only ever seen central MD. The rest of the state is great.

[Oaktavia]

@WhiskeySandwich yeah if they "hate Maryland" they simply haven't seen the beauty it has to offer. Western Appalachian mountains, Frederick City and county is historic and beautiful, Assateague Island state park and it's wild horses. Southern Maryland certainly has charm as well, but unlike Charm City. I could go on...it's like only seeing a butthole on a human and thinking that's the entire body.

[WhiskeySandwich]

@Oaktavia ROFL true dat. I find that MD is full of transplants too, many from the military, but also for other reasons, came to MD from out of state, maybe for that city money, who knows. But it's kind of a melting pot in the middle. The ones who complain mostly aren't from here. And its funny because one of the biggest complaints is "MD Drivers". I have a theory that "MD Drivers" are actually transplanted drivers who bring a whole mess of driving styles from all over the country and clash with each other.