John I beg to differ as politely as possible on that one. If we ignore the fact that it is trite, threatening, aggressive and f..... rude, then there is an equally plausible argument that says we'd be speaking Russian. Essentially the only reason there was even a Europe worth, or even concevably capable of fighting the Germans other than Russia by the end of 1941 is because Britain and the Commomweath (along with the sacrifice of the Poles, French, Dutch, Belgians and Norwegians) had stopped the Germans at the Channel. If that hadn't happened then it would have been impossible for anyone to mount a practical seabourne invasion and the ultimate outcome in Europe would have been solely down to the Germans and Russians. At that would have been a toss up. And that even assumes the Americans would have given a f... about Europe. Which was most definitely NOT a given. Remember that one of the three US war aims in WW2 was to end the British Empire and take over as the dominant power in the world. The other two were defeating Japan and Germany. If Britain had gone down in 1940 then Churchill would have been unable to work his magic on the US and turn them from at best ambivalence and at worst hostility into a willing ally - and even that 'willingness' came at a crippling cost to us! Remember too that Britian was the ONLY country in WW2 to be there at the start and at the end and the Britain and it's Empire allies were the ONLY ones to enter the war on a principle (even France only did becuse of Britain). All the rest did it either because they were the aggressors or because they were attacked.  

Didn't they nearly vote to speak it themselves instead of English in the late 1700's? 

Got a little bored the other evening, decided to pull apart an unknown 3.89 diff I bought a few years ago. Backlash felt okay... But the wear pattern on the drive-side of the pinion and crown wheel is odd, the marks/brushed texture are not residue or corrosion, they don't shift with scotchbrite, I can't quite say for certain if I can feel them with a finger nail. The coast side looks completely fine to me. No signs of any chips or tooth damage, nor overheating. However, pinion drive side shares the pattern, but its hard to photograph clearly. Guessing this is one for the scrap pile?

"You'd all be speaking German if it wasn't for us" Well, actually, he's right.    It's doubtful if the Allies, as they were before the US joined into WW2, could have won.   The help that the US gave before that, let alone after, surely tipped the balance.  We should be grateful.     And if that had happened, and Roosevelt had to fight his own Monroe Doctrine enthusiasts , read Dick's  "The Man in the High Castle", in which Roosevelt is assassinated and the US divided between the Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.   The Man in the High Castle - Wikipedia  (The book, not the TV series, which was tosh) John PS My apologies to Canada!   I've been told over there that I am "impolite" and "disrespectful" to post about Sideways as somewhere for disaffected North Americans to come and tell us their woes.    I feel that the Founding Fathers, and in particular  Benjamin Franklin might think otherwise.  "Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know."   J.  

Thanks @Hamish really enjoyed that. Like the relaxed vibe……. Driving in tee shirts and jeans, and tie and jacket. Wouldn’t see that today!

Fantastic.  What an era, life looks so good......

Hence why it more accurately called the American Revolutionary War or War of American Independence. One could also say "You'd all be speaking French if it wasn't for us...!" (Seven Years War which included the French and Indian Wars of North America and of course Wolfe's incredible victory at the battle of Quebec)

I'm not sure what has happened to Timmy Stanley. He was a long career behind him of writing deeply conservative and confounded tosh, usually with some pseudo-religious justification, and has recently been very pro-Trump. Then on Monday, he penned this https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/18/britain-must-declare-independence-from-america/ ... which is almost sensible. I'm assuming it was the result of a blow to the head.

He's pulled this one frequently.  France has often countered with: "You'd still be British if it wasn't for us!"  (The 1779 Treaty of Alliance with France)    

The mental midget made so many faux pas, that I lost count. He even had the audacity to state that Europe would not support the USA under article 15,but he would honor his obligations. CLEAR AN SIMPLE BULL CRAP:    In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, European nations demonstrated immediate solidarity with the United States, leading to a coordinated international response. The most significant action was the invocation of NATO's Article 5 for the first and only time in the alliance's history, declaring the attacks on the US as an attack on all members. ....... Key Contributors: Major European contributors of troops to the war in Afghanistan included the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy.  ...... The European Union strengthened intelligence cooperation with the US, including agreements between Euro-pol and US authorities to share information and crack down on terrorist cells in Europe. This NUMB NUTZ thinks the sun and the moon revolve around him.  Saying a STRONG "NO" TO HIM IS THE BEST THING THE WORLD CAN DO.   Mark Carney was spot on. "     Imploring an audience chock-full of European officials at the annual World Economic Forum to recognize that “nostalgia is not a strategy,” Carney rallied middle powers—countries with economies similar to Canada—to bind together in the face of unilateral military and economic coercion by bigger powers. (Unspoken but clear among them: Trump’s America.) In doing so, Carney painted a stark view of a new world in which old rules have been torn up, and countries should stop pretending otherwise. “We are in the midst of a rupture,” he said, “not a transition.” His call to the world: Resist subordination to the “great powers” who “have the market size, the military capacity and the leverage to dictate terms.” “The middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” Carney said."   BRAVO As you speak of the MAGA Morons who were conned by the ultimate corrupt showman, they stand proud for their leader, even now. You're right, it's about 35% but now even that is fracturing.