34 votes

Here's an idea. Comment something really unique (in a good or a bad way) and relatively unknown about a place you're living in or lived in.

I can start. I live in Gujarat, India. The worst (some residents would argue best) part of this state is we have had a total ban on alcohol since 1960. Worth noting, it was the only state in India to have banned alcohol (until very recently, one more state had a ban).

The reason? Because Mahatma Gandhi was born in this state and he was against alcohol (for a good reason.) But now, whole generations have grown up without alcohol and majority of the people here actually support the ban.

83 comments

  1. [5]
    starchturrets
    Link
    In the UAE, it is impossible to turn safesearch off on Bing. Does that count?

    In the UAE, it is impossible to turn safesearch off on Bing. Does that count?

    19 votes
    1. [2]
      Soptik
      Link Parent
      Do you have access to other search engines, for example DuckDuckGo? Do you have control of safesearch in any other search engines? Couldn't you just use VPN?

      Do you have access to other search engines, for example DuckDuckGo? Do you have control of safesearch in any other search engines? Couldn't you just use VPN?

      5 votes
      1. starchturrets
        Link Parent
        Yes, yes, and yes. The filters here aren't anything like say, the Great Firewall of China.

        Yes, yes, and yes. The filters here aren't anything like say, the Great Firewall of China.

        3 votes
    2. brighteyes720
      Link Parent
      Haha, seriously?! Yes, that counts.

      Haha, seriously?! Yes, that counts.

      2 votes
  2. [12]
    Boudicasfolly
    Link
    Where I live (Kauai) there is a large portion of the population involved in Sovereignty Movements. These activists want to reinstate Hawaiian Sovereignty and no longer be a part of the US....

    Where I live (Kauai) there is a large portion of the population involved in Sovereignty Movements. These activists want to reinstate Hawaiian Sovereignty and no longer be a part of the US. Hawaiian history is complicated, but it’s undisputed that the Hawaiian Kingdom was wrongfully overthrown with the help of the US military.

    There are a couple competing groups. The Kingdom of Hawaii has a presence on all islands and is the largest, most organized faction. Kauai has its own group called the Nation of Atooi which doesn’t recognize the Kingdom of Hawaii because Kauai was never conquered by the Kamehameha dynasty.

    The Kingdom of Atooi is ruled by the King. The King says that Attoi (Kauai) is an independent nation and refuses to recognize the Kingdom of Hawaii, but claims his authority through his descent from the Kamehamehas.

    The King sells drivers licenses and license plates, created his own money, and even made himself a Marshall’s badge for the Kingdom of Atooi. There was a court case where our State Supreme Court ordered the return of his badge.

    Due to my profession, I interact with the movements regularly. I could go on for days, but if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

    14 votes
    1. [3]
      ilios
      Link Parent
      I mean, the separatists aren't wrong about the history are they? Not saying Hawaii should secede, I definitely like them.

      I mean, the separatists aren't wrong about the history are they? Not saying Hawaii should secede, I definitely like them.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        Boudicasfolly
        Link Parent
        Oh, they are totally right! I could write a treatise on how right they are and other people have. If you're interested in learning more check out Who Own the Crown Lands by John Van Dyke. It gives...

        Oh, they are totally right! I could write a treatise on how right they are and other people have. If you're interested in learning more check out Who Own the Crown Lands by John Van Dyke. It gives a concise and scholarly answer to this question and is impeccably researched.

        2 votes
        1. ilios
          Link Parent
          I managed to find snippets of it online and it sounds like another all too familiar instance of American business interests, in this case largely the sugar industry, manipulating politicians with...

          I managed to find snippets of it online and it sounds like another all too familiar instance of American business interests, in this case largely the sugar industry, manipulating politicians with special interest groups, and a convoluted extension of manifest destiny to include Pearl Harbor as a strategic location in the Pacific. I do think that Queen Lili‘uokalani was very wise and diplomatic in the way she fought for Hawaiian compensation through peaceful, litigious means, she seemed to recognize when a fight was lost and did her best to make good situations out of bad ones. After all, Hawaii has done very well for itself compared to other nations and territories that have had the U.S.A meddle in their affairs.

    2. [2]
      Luna
      Link Parent
      I take it that all of these are just for show/fundraising and they're not valid? Do these movements tend to attract sovereign citizen types?

      The King sells drivers licenses and license plates, created his own money, and even made himself a Marshall’s badge for the Kingdom of Atooi.

      I take it that all of these are just for show/fundraising and they're not valid?

      Do these movements tend to attract sovereign citizen types?

      2 votes
      1. Boudicasfolly
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Unfortunately, the King sells these for a profit and tells people they are valid. Lots of people end up going to jail (yes, it's crazy people go to jail) for driving without a license because they...

        Unfortunately, the King sells these for a profit and tells people they are valid. Lots of people end up going to jail (yes, it's crazy people go to jail) for driving without a license because they believe him. Funnily enough, when the King got arrested for driving without a license, he went and got a valid state license to avoid any punishment.

        Re sovereign citizen, it's not as prevalent as on the mainland, but a few transplant sovereign citizens have joined the Nation of Attooi. The Kingdom of Hawaii doesn't brook sovereign citizens though. You also sometimes see similar arguments adopted by individual Hawaiian sovereignty activists, so there is some intermixing.

        I've seen people argue they aren't required to get a license to drive on the roads because they "aren't engaged in commerce" even though Hawaii's driving laws don't mention commerce. When the Sovereign Citizens first showed up, everyone in the court system was confused by them becuase they were used to dealing with Hawaiian sovereignty activists and here's these haole transplants calling themselves sovereign and making non-sense arguments.

        People quickly learned the difference. While the sovereignty activists get some sympathy from most people, the Sovereign Citizens are rightfully loathed by everyone.

        1 vote
    3. [4]
      Defluo
      Link Parent
      How do the Kingdom of Hawaii people (and Kingdom of Atooi) feel about non-native Hawaiians, like Japanese, Filipino, Micronesians etc? Do they plan on kicking out non-native Hawaiians if they do...

      How do the Kingdom of Hawaii people (and Kingdom of Atooi) feel about non-native Hawaiians, like Japanese, Filipino, Micronesians etc? Do they plan on kicking out non-native Hawaiians if they do secede some day?

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        Boudicasfolly
        Link Parent
        Neither organization plans on kicking out non-Hawaiians. Both organizations currently allow people who aren’t Native Hawaiians to join. Despite the constant refrain that Hawaiians are racist, it...

        Neither organization plans on kicking out non-Hawaiians. Both organizations currently allow people who aren’t Native Hawaiians to join.

        Despite the constant refrain that Hawaiians are racist, it couldn’t be further from the truth. I won’t get into where I think the white persecution complex here comes from, but it’s not based on reality.

        Native Hawaiians have been traditionally very welcoming (Cook aside ;). The actual Kingdom of Hawaii (the one that was overthrown) allowed people who weren’t of Hawaiian descent to hold citizenship. People intermarried frequently. Its government had a lot of people of European descent serving in high level positions.

        In fact, some of the white people who overthrew the Kingdom of Hawaii were at one point part of its government.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          Defluo
          Link Parent
          Sorry if I implied that native Hawaiians are racist, I truly do not see them that way and haven't encountered any racism from any of them. Native Hawaiians have been nothing but kind to me. I...

          Sorry if I implied that native Hawaiians are racist, I truly do not see them that way and haven't encountered any racism from any of them. Native Hawaiians have been nothing but kind to me. I moved to the Big Island a few years ago and haven't actually talked to someone affiliated with the Kingdom of Hawaii movement. If I have then they did not tell me. As a visible minority, I just wanted to know if it was safe to approach someone with a Kingdom of Hawaii sticker on their truck, that's all.

          1. Boudicasfolly
            Link Parent
            Oh, you didn’t imply that at all. I’m also a transplant haole and have had nothing but positive experiences with the Kingdom of Hawaii folks. I was just addressing the issue because it is a common...

            Oh, you didn’t imply that at all. I’m also a transplant haole and have had nothing but positive experiences with the Kingdom of Hawaii folks.

            I was just addressing the issue because it is a common refrain I hear. Generally, the people who are singing it are just jerks who refuse to adapt to their new home. Seems like that hasn’t been an issue for you, which means you’re probably not a jerk!

    4. [2]
      uurrnn
      Link Parent
      Isn't it weird that he claims his authority due to Kamehameha descent, but rules over an island that wasn't conquered by them?

      Isn't it weird that he claims his authority due to Kamehameha descent, but rules over an island that wasn't conquered by them?

      1. Boudicasfolly
        Link Parent
        Yes, it’s very weird. The King has a lot of issues.

        Yes, it’s very weird. The King has a lot of issues.

  3. [4]
    vakieh
    Link
    Where I live there is an animal that does square poos
    13 votes
    1. [2]
      JoeJohnson
      Link Parent
      Is it a species or just one animal that happens to poop squares?

      Is it a species or just one animal that happens to poop squares?

      3 votes
    2. smoontjes
      Link Parent
      That's ridiculous enough to be something Douglas Adams could've come up with

      That's ridiculous enough to be something Douglas Adams could've come up with

  4. [10]
    whyarentihigh
    Link
    Where I live, there's an urban park that is the biggest in the world, even bigger than central park.

    Where I live, there's an urban park that is the biggest in the world, even bigger than central park.

    8 votes
    1. [8]
      vakieh
      Link Parent
      Mexico?

      Mexico?

      1 vote
      1. [7]
        whyarentihigh
        Link Parent
        Australia

        Australia

        1 vote
        1. vakieh
          Link Parent
          The biggest urban park is in Bosque de la Primavera, Guadalajara, Mexico. Sydney (where I live too) is 15th.

          The biggest urban park is in Bosque de la Primavera, Guadalajara, Mexico. Sydney (where I live too) is 15th.

          5 votes
        2. [5]
          rorso
          Link Parent
          Which park are you referring to? Centennial Park?

          Which park are you referring to? Centennial Park?

          1. [4]
            whyarentihigh
            Link Parent
            King's Park

            King's Park

            1. [3]
              rorso
              Link Parent
              Oh cool ok. I haven't been to Sydney for a long time so was trying to remember the big parks.

              Oh cool ok. I haven't been to Sydney for a long time so was trying to remember the big parks.

              1. [2]
                whyarentihigh
                Link Parent
                It's in Perth, not Sydney

                It's in Perth, not Sydney

                1. rorso
                  Link Parent
                  ... well that'd explain it :P I think I've actually been to King's Park in perth. It's beautiful.

                  ... well that'd explain it :P

                  I think I've actually been to King's Park in perth. It's beautiful.

                  1 vote
    2. loz
      Link Parent
      Beat me to it, now I have to think of something else.

      Beat me to it, now I have to think of something else.

      1 vote
  5. [2]
    suspicious_taco
    Link
    My neighborhood in Tokyo was once home to the most infamous execution ground in Japan. An estimated 200,000 people were killed here since the place was built in the 1600's....

    My neighborhood in Tokyo was once home to the most infamous execution ground in Japan.
    An estimated 200,000 people were killed here since the place was built in the 1600's.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozukappara_execution_grounds

    There are still a few monuments dedicated to the execution grounds and those who died there scattered around the area, if you know where to look.

    It's a very laid back, family friendly neighborhood nowadays though!

    8 votes
    1. Optimus_Vir
      Link Parent
      I misinterpreted 'and those who died there scattered around the area' at first as you saying human remains were just laying around the neighborhood.

      I misinterpreted 'and those who died there scattered around the area' at first as you saying human remains were just laying around the neighborhood.

      1 vote
  6. [9]
    MindsRedMill
    Link
    Almost all buildings in Geneva had nuclear bunkers under them, or if not had assigned spaces in large municipal bunkers. I lived in one such bunker briefly

    Almost all buildings in Geneva had nuclear bunkers under them, or if not had assigned spaces in large municipal bunkers. I lived in one such bunker briefly

    7 votes
    1. [8]
      Mathias
      Link Parent
      So you are the other swiss person on Tildes? :)

      So you are the other swiss person on Tildes? :)

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        MindsRedMill
        Link Parent
        Sorry nein / non / no / no, used to work at CERN, so one of those accursed foreign devils.

        Sorry nein / non / no / no, used to work at CERN, so one of those accursed foreign devils.

        9 votes
        1. [2]
          Mathias
          Link Parent
          Goddammit, get out of here foreigner!

          Goddammit, get out of here foreigner!

          1 vote
          1. MindsRedMill
            Link Parent
            Sorry, too busy stealing your well paid jobs :D

            Sorry, too busy stealing your well paid jobs :D

            1 vote
      2. [4]
        Anthippe
        Link Parent
        Are just the two of us?

        Are just the two of us?

        4 votes
        1. [2]
          Mathias
          Link Parent
          According to the survey, there is a third person actually!

          According to the survey, there is a third person actually!

          1 vote
          1. PetitPrince
            Link Parent
            I only joined I few minutes ago, so I'm probably the fourth !

            I only joined I few minutes ago, so I'm probably the fourth !

  7. [7]
    mat
    Link
    I live in the most godless city in the UK, as per the most recent census, with 45% of us identifying as atheist/no religion. Ironically we also have one of the highest densities of churches, which...

    I live in the most godless city in the UK, as per the most recent census, with 45% of us identifying as atheist/no religion. Ironically we also have one of the highest densities of churches, which are being used as markets, offices, museums, art galleries, event spaces and so on.

    It's also supposedly the fourth best place in the world to get a tattoo, according to one of those weird articles that somehow quantifies stuff like that.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      dynarr
      Link Parent
      I would be interested in your thoughts on this podcast episode, Rise of the Nones, offering a mostly-atheistic take on the corresponding US phenomenon. They discuss what relation, if any, there...

      I would be interested in your thoughts on this podcast episode, Rise of the Nones, offering a mostly-atheistic take on the corresponding US phenomenon. They discuss what relation, if any, there might be between people self-reporting “no religion” and actual non-belief, and what kind of voting patterns to expect. I am wondering if in your experience many people, for example, still say they believe in some higher power. As far as policy preferences and people’s behavior, is society in such a “godless” city noticeably different from your typical metropolitan area with average rates of self-reported religious affiliation? Is there just less of a strong churchgoing community, or is there actually less faith/more nonbelief?

      1. mat
        Link Parent
        I'll try to find time to listen to a podcast but I'm really terrible at that kind of thing. Some stuff I do know on the subject though - reporting rates via census in the UK are drastically out of...

        I'll try to find time to listen to a podcast but I'm really terrible at that kind of thing.

        Some stuff I do know on the subject though - reporting rates via census in the UK are drastically out of step with the results you get from surveys and better-designed research. Around 65% of people who say they are Christian don't go to church and don't believe in god. They say they are Christians presumably because they were baptised at some point and know the odd prayer or two. I'm 40 years old and I know three people in my peer group who are openly, actively religious. Two Christians and a Buddhist. This is fairly normal, as far as I know. Religion isn't something which particularly comes up here.

        Where I live is a fairly standard British city as far as I know. Left-leaning, liberal, progressive, Remain-voting, etc. We're top of the godlessness table but not by a long way, and many other places which are lower down than us tend to have large Muslim populations pulling their averages down which we don't here. People don't go to churches in most of the country, not just my city - there's a huge problem (lol, "problem") with congregations getting older and as such gradually smaller as people die off. Only 6.3% of the UK attends a Christian church and attendance has fallen 15% since 1998 and is still trending down. source

        Most politicians here won't admit they are religious because it will hurt their chances. Tony Blair hid his religion the entire time he was in politics. Much Fuss was made when May announced she talked to God about policy.

        The UK is very different to the US when it comes to religion.

        1 vote
    2. [4]
      MindsRedMill
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I think we live in the same city...

      I think we live in the same city...

      1. [3]
        mat
        Link Parent
        Pretty sure we do, seeing as you put it like that. It has it's faults but overall is a pretty fine city.

        Pretty sure we do, seeing as you put it like that. It has it's faults but overall is a pretty fine city.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          MindsRedMill
          Link Parent
          Yep, my clever subtle coding was effective :). Given the location, we likely already know each other, or are connected in seven or eight different ways. Mental note to have a Tilde meetup in a...

          Yep, my clever subtle coding was effective :). Given the location, we likely already know each other, or are connected in seven or eight different ways. Mental note to have a Tilde meetup in a year or so maybe?

          1. mat
            Link Parent
            My experience of living here is that there is a maximum of two degrees of separation between anyone. So we almost certainly have mutual friends. Yes, tildes meetup at some point, definitely.

            My experience of living here is that there is a maximum of two degrees of separation between anyone. So we almost certainly have mutual friends.

            Yes, tildes meetup at some point, definitely.

            2 votes
  8. corngiggle1
    Link
    Austin, TX has way more homeless and parrots than most people imagine. We also have wild porcupines. Also, just read up on the Yogurt Shop Killings. My uncle was one of first to go in there and...

    Austin, TX has way more homeless and parrots than most people imagine. We also have wild porcupines. Also, just read up on the Yogurt Shop Killings. My uncle was one of first to go in there and clean up the bodies. He said you could feel a demonic spirit or something.

    4 votes
  9. [3]
    SleepyGary
    Link
    Calgary, Canada You can walk 18km in the downtown core without ever having to go outside. We have an system of enclosed walkways between buildings called the +15 that links a good portion of...

    Calgary, Canada

    You can walk 18km in the downtown core without ever having to go outside. We have an system of enclosed walkways between buildings called the +15 that links a good portion of downtown together. Great for those -35C days in winter.

    Here's a map of the +15 system [pdf]

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      secondHalfOfMyBrain
      Link Parent
      Hello fellow Calgarian. It's amazing that the +15 are so extensive. We also made money on the 1988 Olympics. I think we're the only place to have done so, but this statement is poorly researched.

      Hello fellow Calgarian. It's amazing that the +15 are so extensive.

      We also made money on the 1988 Olympics. I think we're the only place to have done so, but this statement is poorly researched.

      1. SleepyGary
        Link Parent
        Hello! We're not the only ones to have made a profit, though it's not well documented but there are about 13 in total that have reported profits....

        Hello! We're not the only ones to have made a profit, though it's not well documented but there are about 13 in total that have reported profits.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_the_Olympic_Games

  10. AlastrionaCatskill
    Link
    My town has a local legend: Rip Van Winkle. Tl;dr the guy went up the mountains, bowled with gnomes, drank their beer, and slept for 20 years

    My town has a local legend: Rip Van Winkle. Tl;dr the guy went up the mountains, bowled with gnomes, drank their beer, and slept for 20 years

    3 votes
  11. pacman83
    Link
    I live in what is claimed to be the most haunted city in America.

    I live in what is claimed to be the most haunted city in America.

    3 votes
  12. captain_cardinal
    Link
    The town I'm living in is entirely owned by the university I'm going to.

    The town I'm living in is entirely owned by the university I'm going to.

    3 votes
  13. [3]
    RobotRaven
    Link
    Fairbanks, Alaska has the worst air pollution in the US.

    Fairbanks, Alaska has the worst air pollution in the US.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      dynarr
      Link Parent
      Wow. Is it really because of wood-burning stoves? Which I guess the state is going to force homeowners to remove before they can sell their houses. That link also says power plants will have...

      Wow. Is it really because of wood-burning stoves? Which I guess the state is going to force homeowners to remove before they can sell their houses. That link also says power plants will have additional filtration requirements, but people are just talking about wood stoves?

      1. RobotRaven
        Link Parent
        Fortunately since then similar ballot measures have failed, and since the EPA stepped in there's been a lot more progress.

        Fortunately since then similar ballot measures have failed, and since the EPA stepped in there's been a lot more progress.

  14. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. dynarr
      Link Parent
      Dang, I would have liked to see those when I visited a few days ago. Both very interesting stories. You guys also have the world’s weirdest looking church, with it’s own anti-communist-ish history!

      Dang, I would have liked to see those when I visited a few days ago. Both very interesting stories. You guys also have the world’s weirdest looking church, with it’s own anti-communist-ish history!

      1 vote
  15. Halfdeaf
    Link
    We are the smallest nation to ever have qualified for the top level global competition in a group sport.

    We are the smallest nation to ever have qualified for the top level global competition in a group sport.

    2 votes
  16. [4]
    up2eleven
    Link
    My town is the only one in the US to be a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    My town is the only one in the US to be a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      Halfdeaf
      Link Parent
      Yeah, can you explain. Tucson isn't exactly what comes to mind when the topic of American gastrony come a to mind.

      Yeah, can you explain. Tucson isn't exactly what comes to mind when the topic of American gastrony come a to mind.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        up2eleven
        Link Parent
        Well, we already had some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. It's a bit of a funky, eclectic city, like the Portland or Austin of Arizona, and it's also a college town and full of...

        Well, we already had some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. It's a bit of a funky, eclectic city, like the Portland or Austin of Arizona, and it's also a college town and full of artists and freaks. This mixture attracted a lot of chefs.

        We have some amazing breweries, and we have top notch pizza, Mediterranean, African, Indian, Thai, Viet, Italian, you name it. There's a ton of variety and most of it is high quality without being terribly expensive (because wages are shit here). Even most of the bars have surprisingly good food.

        Some places I frequent (you can google them) are Shooter's which has a really good grilled steak with a poblano pepper and pepper jack cheese on it. House of Bards just got a new chef and has great wings and tacos and I really need to try one of their burgers because holy shit they look good! Frank's bar and grill has a Reuben that would please a New Yorker. Brooklyn Pizza has some of the best crust I've tasted. Nico's Taco shop is incapable of messing up their food (their carnitas is nice and charred and fatty and perfect).

        Outside of fast food, it's just hard to find bad food here. Even a local legend that is known for its slushies called Eegee's makes the best ranch I've ever had and their ranch fries are decadent.

        This city is one of the oldest in America as well, and so has a history of agriculture that predates most of the rest of the country. Native American food here is a bit of fusion with Mexican, which makes sense because this was basically part of Mexico for a very long time and the Mexicans and the Yacqui, Hopi, Yavasupai, Navajo, Tohono O'odham and a bunch of other nations all influenced the cuisine in this area for thousands of years, and if you ever make friends with some NA folks, holy shit can they cook! One friend dug a hole, threw in some coals, some tenderloins and some herbs, covered it, and that evening the meat was the most tender and flavorful thing I've ever had. No restaurant could compare.

        The local snarky slogan here is "Keep Tucson Shitty" but it's mostly to keep people out because there's something special here.

        1. Halfdeaf
          Link Parent
          That sounds like a place I want to visit some time.

          That sounds like a place I want to visit some time.

          1 vote
  17. [7]
    smoontjes
    Link
    Copenhagen, Denmark. There actually is stuff to see in Denmark outside of central Copenhagen :P

    Copenhagen, Denmark.

    There actually is stuff to see in Denmark outside of central Copenhagen :P

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      Halfdeaf
      Link Parent
      Indeed, I'm actually planning a trip to Jylland this summer.

      Indeed, I'm actually planning a trip to Jylland this summer.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        smoontjes
        Link Parent
        Anywhere specific planned?

        Anywhere specific planned?

        1. Halfdeaf
          Link Parent
          I'm staying close to Billund and in Sonneborg. My wife connections in both places. We'll be driving around and exploring.

          I'm staying close to Billund and in Sonneborg. My wife connections in both places. We'll be driving around and exploring.

          1 vote
    2. [3]
      Boudicasfolly
      Link Parent
      I have a random question. How do you feel about bike theft? My shit head little brother lives on and off in Christiania. He stole a bike while he was there one time. He claimed that it’s...

      I have a random question. How do you feel about bike theft?

      My shit head little brother lives on and off in Christiania. He stole a bike while he was there one time. He claimed that it’s acceptable to steal bikes painted white that have some sort of notice on them. He said his friends from Christiania do it all the time and it’s socially acceptable. He was acting like it’s some sort of bike sharing rule. I called complete bullshit and told him that if he came to where I live and stole a bike, he’d get beat up, and rightfully so.

      Can you confirm (for next time I argue with him about this, I still can’t believe the little fucker stole a bike!) that stealing bikes in Copenhagen is NOT socially acceptable.

      I know this is weird, but if I’m right, I want to pull out the “some random guy on the internet said...”

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        smoontjes
        Link Parent
        Well there are bikes that are white which some company owns, and they have these spots all around the city where you pick them up and drop them off, but you most certainly need to pay to rent...

        Well there are bikes that are white which some company owns, and they have these spots all around the city where you pick them up and drop them off, but you most certainly need to pay to rent them.

        Christiania is quite different from the rest of Copenhagen, and I honestly have no issue believing his friends from there think that it's socially acceptable to steal bikes. But to anyone else, no way - I mean, are you kidding me? This has to be one of the stupidest things I've ever read... Any Dane who's ever had a bike (which is everyone lol) hates these people, so yeah it's complete bullshit alright

        1 vote
        1. Boudicasfolly
          Link Parent
          Thanks random Danish guy. That’s the confirmation I needed. Like, WTF, who thinks it’s acceptable to steal from other people.

          Thanks random Danish guy. That’s the confirmation I needed. Like, WTF, who thinks it’s acceptable to steal from other people.

  18. PostPostModernism
    Link
    I have a ton, but I'll try to limit it to two for the two places I've lived. You may remember the US Civil War, but there have been more recent instances of places seceding from the United States...

    I have a ton, but I'll try to limit it to two for the two places I've lived.

    • You may remember the US Civil War, but there have been more recent instances of places seceding from the United States of America. As recently as 1982, as a matter of fact! Back a few decades, border patrol had set up a checkpoint where the FL Keys met mainland FL in order to check for drugs and illegal immigrants. It was convenient to do because there was only 1 road in or out (without going on foot through dangerous swamps or boating around and risking the coast guard) but it was inconvenient to do because it backed up traffic for miles coming in and out of an area heavily reliant on tourism to sustain itself. The inconvenience was so great that airlines started offering cheap tickets to hop from Miami to Key West and Marathon's small airports. So the mayor tried going to Congress to have the checkpoint removed but didn't manage to make any headway and had a brilliant idea to call the issue to public attention. So on April 23rd, the Florida Keys declared independence from the US, dubbing themselves the Conch Republic. Their first action was to declare war, breaking a loaf of Cuban bread over the head of a guy in a navy uniform. One minute later, they surrendered and applied for 1 billion dollars in rebuilding assistance. They never got the money, but they did get the press attention and the road block was removed. There have been a few other notable instances where locals have fought back against the federal government and the local navy base in Key West, but it's been a fairly calm peace for the most part. Today you can get Conch Republic flags and passports and the like.

    • Chicago being the other one has a ton of rich history as well. Since others have listed engineering feats, I'd like to throw out there that Chicago has at different times reversed the flow of their local river to go the other direction, and lifted most every building in the city up like 5-6' so that they could build a better sewer system under the streets. The 2nd one you can still see evidence of because not every building was picked up - a lot of single family homes decided not to and are sunk down below street level (with a sunken front yard separating the building from the street).

    2 votes
  19. Bear
    (edited )
    Link
    San Francisco, which suffered a devastating earthquake and resulting fire in 1906, installed a very old technology to help that disaster never repeat itself - They installed water cisterns under...

    San Francisco, which suffered a devastating earthquake and resulting fire in 1906, installed a very old technology to help that disaster never repeat itself - They installed water cisterns under the streets, and many people have no idea that they're there.

    https://medium.com/@UpOutSF/here-s-what-it-looks-like-under-those-brick-circles-in-the-street-99b5c468e8e0

    2 votes
  20. Wombat
    Link
    The judgment on cheese is real where I am from. I will smack a bitch for praising a non squeaky cheese curd

    The judgment on cheese is real where I am from. I will smack a bitch for praising a non squeaky cheese curd

    2 votes
  21. aethicglass
    Link
    My town is home to one of the worst nuclear waste disasters, yet not many people know about it, and thousands of people live right up to within a couple miles of it. It was a nuclear...

    My town is home to one of the worst nuclear waste disasters, yet not many people know about it, and thousands of people live right up to within a couple miles of it. It was a nuclear research/rocket lab called the Santa Susana Field Lab. I go hiking out in that area a lot. One of my favorite places. I wish I could go see the launch pads and the giant hydrogen tank, but I think I'll just settle at looking at Google Earth imagery of it til they get a bit more cleanup done.

    1 vote
  22. [3]
    Tissues
    Link
    Nashville, TN There is a small park called Narrows of the Harpeth. It is the site of one of the oldest man-made tunnels in existence today. Montgomery Bell, an early iron industrialist had the...

    Nashville, TN

    There is a small park called Narrows of the Harpeth. It is the site of one of the oldest man-made tunnels in existence today. Montgomery Bell, an early iron industrialist had the tunnel built in 1818. The 100 yard tunnel was hand cut through solid rock and is considered one of the great engineering feats of the time. It is an industrial landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

    Its pretty neat and you can even hike through it on low water days. I love atlas obscura for this stuff.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      PostPostModernism
      Link Parent
      Surely you mean one of the oldest tunnels in the US, right? I have to imagine there are tunnels elsewhere that are thousands of years old. But I don't know, maybe I'm underestimating how hard...

      Surely you mean one of the oldest tunnels in the US, right? I have to imagine there are tunnels elsewhere that are thousands of years old. But I don't know, maybe I'm underestimating how hard tunnels are? I suppose there wasn't as much of a reason for them before trains.

      1. Tissues
        Link Parent
        It could be the US, the website didn't clearly specify. This particular tunnel was cut through an oxbow in the river to power an iron manufacturing operation known as Pattison Forge. Having seen...

        It could be the US, the website didn't clearly specify. This particular tunnel was cut through an oxbow in the river to power an iron manufacturing operation known as Pattison Forge. Having seen the place its pretty amazing that it was dug by hand.

        1 vote
  23. chowder
    Link
    As a child I lived in Sarcheshmeh, Iran in 1976. My father was part of construction of a copper mine. Now there isn't any mention of the American companies being there. It was one of the best...

    As a child I lived in Sarcheshmeh, Iran in 1976. My father was part of construction of a copper mine. Now there isn't any mention of the American companies being there. It was one of the best times of my life and I learned that people everywhere have the same hopes and dreams. We all have more in common than our differences might indicate.

    1 vote
  24. Obi
    Link
    Athens, Texas has a large percentage of elders who were involved in a crime syndicate.

    Athens, Texas has a large percentage of elders who were involved in a crime syndicate.

    1 vote
  25. [2]
    spilk
    Link
    I live in Barcelona (expat from the US) and was most shocked by the fact that, with a few exceptions, grocery stores are completely closed on Sunday and as a result most restaurants are closed...

    I live in Barcelona (expat from the US) and was most shocked by the fact that, with a few exceptions, grocery stores are completely closed on Sunday and as a result most restaurants are closed Monday because of a "lack of fresh food" due to the stores being closed the previous day.

    Also that beer is acceptable to consume with your breakfast on your way to work by most people

    1. gtwillwin
      Link Parent
      And I thought Chick-fil-a being closed on Sunday was bad...

      And I thought Chick-fil-a being closed on Sunday was bad...

      1 vote