U.K. is not a synonym of England

[Svartalf]

ISWYDT

[Red Celt]

Maybe he didn't, but you sure came out like you think like a true englishman.

Too much fucking stupidity confined in too small an area. And now my moronphobia has flared up again.

[Svartalf]

Autoimmune diseases are hell

[Jason]

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

Slippery Salmond has said Elizabeth can remain monarch after succession, so it would still be the United Queendom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland and Commonwealth and Guernsey and Jersey and Man and BOTs.

The channel islands are not in the UK - technically they do not have a monarch (they were never part of the Kingdom of England), they were just ruled over by the English Monarchy as Crown Dependendicies (a Colony lite!)......and constitutionally still are (to be blunt, no one really knows what rules are as were never written down - and that vagueness suited all sides / no one could be bothered to formalise anything).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_depe ... _the_Crown


In regard to Scotland, my gut says Salmond would like to see the Monarchy gone - but he too smart to say so now (both for the confusion and because keeping them is useful by providing continuity), that simply another thing for Scotland to decide later (IMO a 20+ year thing).

In the future would be easy for Scotland to seperate the Kingdoms by having different laws of succession......or requiring them to also be elected!

[Coito ergo sum]

The map on the left is not the UK. the bit in dark blue is not the UK. The UK is part of it.

UK is shorthand for The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The map is fine.

The Brutish Empire, on the other paw, was briefly a bit larger.

All empires are brutish, else they'd have trouble becoming empires.

Yes, but having troops deployed in a place doesn't mean it's part of an "empire." Germany isn't part of any American "Empire," for example. I mean, it's an honor to think that you Yerpeeins view the US as your leader and Barack Obama as your Emperor. Feel free to start sending us some tribute, please. Beer from Germany, Cheese from France, and Fish & Chips from "The UK" will do nicely for starters.

[Coito ergo sum]

There aren't any US bases in France either... We occasionally let the USAF use Istres, but they haven't been there in years.

We have many American soldiers interred in French soil,though. That means it's part of our Empire.

[Red Celt]

The posting of the map was a "jokey" reference to an American empire. The reach of the USA certainly extends further than any country should reach... but the map? Man, giggle occasionally.

I mean, most of you will have seen this. Funny, yes?

[Svartalf]

[Coito ergo sum]

O.k. - so, my understanding has always been this:

Great Britain is the big island, consisting mainly of England, Scotland, and Wales.

The United Kingdom, is The United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), plus Northern Ireland, and miscellaneous small islands in the vicinity thereof.

England is the bit on the bottom right of Great Britain, with Scotland above it, and Wales to the left.

There are other bits of land ruled by or from the UK, such as -- there are territories outside of Britain, called British Overseas Territories. But, they are not part of England or Great Britain.

Then there are a "Commonwealth Realms" which share the same "Head of State" (the old Queen), but aren't part of Great Britain, the UK or England, etc. They are just voluntarily affiliated.

What've I got wrong?

[amused]

...

Obviously it's time to send troops to Papua New Guinea, and a few other places.

Make it pink!

[Red Celt]

Then there are a "Commonwealth Realms" which share the same "Head of State" (the old Queen), but aren't part of Great Britain, the UK or England, etc. They are just voluntarily affiliated.

What've I got wrong?

Well, there are commonwealth countries which don't have the queen as their head of state. Some countries applied (and were accepted) into the commonwealth which were never a part of the old empire. It's seen as a coalition (or community) of countries with shared interests... basically a way for poorer countries to network and "get to know other countries" for assistance with easier trade deals etc.

But, mostly, you're right about the setup.

[Coito ergo sum]

I think it's a bit dodgy that the UK gets more than one soccer team in the World Cup competition, though. I mean. You're going on about people calling the UK, England, and proposing to call the US "Alaska" or "California" from now on. Well, fine. But, then we get to field 50 World Cup soccer teams next go around.

[Red Celt]

I think it's a bit dodgy that the UK gets more than one soccer team in the World Cup competition, though. I mean. You're going on about people calling the UK, England, and proposing to call the US "Alaska" or "California" from now on. Well, fine. But, then we get to field 50 World Cup soccer teams next go around.

Well, the U.K. is a "country of countries". Besides, the other 3 teams usually don't qualify.

The ancestors of all of the potentially great "Scottish" players emigrated to places like Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia... where they taught the locals how to chop down trees, catch beavers and/or play rugby.

And, in modernity, we have to send all of our good managers down to England... because English managers suck.

[FBM]

...

Obviously it's time to send troops to Papua New Guinea, and a few other places.

Make it pink!

Mongolia has a big opening, and... Shit, wtf are we doing in Africa? Dick-all, it looks like.