Just a reverse image search on the photo. I was mostly just hoping to find the source to see if that had anything helpful, but when I saw a ResearchGate link in the results it caught my eye

I found a paper that mentions this photograph https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348506390_Return_to_the_Native_Earth_Historical_Analysis_of_Foreign_Influences_on_Traditional_Architecture_in_Burkina_Faso/download

The photo was taken by Walter Mittelholzer and is the “figure 6” referenced in this quote:

“In terms of urban planning, the two cultural worlds also clashed due to their completely opposing approaches. The classic European order, designed and based on the grid as an urban design tool, was diametrically opposed to the spontaneous and organic order of local groupings. The current great city of Ouagadougou, which was then composed of clusters of houses and the first facilities, was already beginning to adapt to this new foreign planning. The impressive photographs taken by Swiss pilot Walter Mittelholzer during his flight over the city in 1930 left valuable evidence of the time when the two orders coexisted (Figures 5 and 6). However, this coexistence was not to last long since, as can be seen in the images, it was to be the fabric of the new French planning that would finally prevail in city development.”

So basically, France said “you have to build your cities on a grid now” and the local Mossi people interpreted that their own way

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the UK is quite similar to Canada in this regard. There’s also a convention known as “purdah” during the period beginning six weeks before the election and ending upon the formation of the new government. Under it, civil servants are expected to maintain public political neutrality and governments (national and subnational) are not to take or announce more policies/decisions than necessary

Oh for sure. I’m not against someone going for flame maple because it just looks great. That’s still honest about what it is and why

You know what, fair points

If we’re using SI prefixes, shouldn’t we be dropping usage of litres in favour of cubic decimetres (or whichever prefix is appropriate for the volume you have)?

Probably a literal one, I like hillwalking and am clumsy

Metaphorically, it’s guitar tonewoods. If you’ve got a solidbody electric guitar you can make the body out of a goddamn breezeblock and it’ll sound absolutely fine. Whatever difference the body/neck material makes is negligible compared to strings, scale length, pickups, resistors, and amps. Acoustic guitars are another matter, but for solidbody electrics it is 99% delusion and marketing

Some benefits for exports too, I suppose. No need to build an RHD version for Britain, Japan, and the others that drive on the left

Are you talking about the last photo? I’m pretty sure that’s taken from outside the car, through the rear window (or at least where it would be). You can see the backs of the three seats at the bottom. The thing that is obstructing the centre of the view is just close to the camera. If you look at the rear view photo which shows the tail lights, you can see a much better view through the front windscreen

Well that’s an excellent reason!

What magnificent ears. I see that you’re Canadian, so I assume that the name is after an Islay in Canada rather than the island in Scotland. What made you choose it?

Also, awfully brave for a cod to own cats

I’m going with $50. I did some attempts at estimating the volume and assumed the average value of a coin in there is 5c

Honestly some straight up hymns are amazing. The Icelandic Hear Me Smith of Heaven and Russian Do Not Reject Me In My Old Age are my favourites

I enjoyed it, but it felt like it could’ve done with some editing.

It’s avoiding the Ural mountains. Even straightening out that curve on the southward leg of the route would still only pass over the Caspian sea, which is still quite far from Ukraine

Traditionally it means jobs which could be done by most people with only a minimum of training, rather than anything about formal education. Trades generally do not fall under this because they require significant training, whereas a general labourer who assists a tradesperson with moving materials and cleaning and such would be “unskilled” in this sense. Working the checkouts at a supermarket, doing data entry, or most positions in a fast food place would be unskilled. Any position in which the employer wouldn’t be requiring qualifications or experience if they were hiring your replacement.

Of course they’re all still 100% real jobs and should be respected as such, so I wouldn’t be against figuring out a term that feels a bit less dismissive of them

Also international rules football, which is technically international but only between Ireland and Australia

They’re just aesthetically pleasing to me, I suppose. I like a bit of naturally dramatic scenery. There are some interesting stories attached to couple of them too, like caves that were used as hideouts for smugglers. Some are stable and climbable enough that you can use them to get a good viewpoint over the others

There’s a forest with a beach near me, I don’t need to choose!

I prefer the forest, although I think that it’s at least partly down to me preferring hiking. There are some beaches not too far from me with interesting caves and rock formations, and I like visiting them

That kind of car is amongst the fastest road cars it is possible to buy. There are a few rare things that go even faster, but they costs millions of euros and are often only barely road-legal