We're going through a shaky patch in the UK right now, with fascist wannabes like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage rising in popularity. It's sad because I thought we were better than that but then Brexit happened and I wouldn't be surprised if our next government was a Reform majority. And if they get in they'll do everything they can to secure power forever.
What keeps me hopeful, in the face of this shitstorm, is the sense of community in my neighbourhood. People on my street look out for each other and support each other.
Ooh, my kids are heading deep into teenager territory so this feels like my chosen, specialist subject. Avoiding OP's picks (the Python stuff would be on my list too), and in no particular order:
Bladerunner (Directors cut)The Blues BrothersThis is Spinal TapAlienAliensTerminatorTerminator 2Seven SamuraiYojimbo (+ A Fistful of Dollars)Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonSchindler's List12 Angry MenRear WindowThe Good, the Bad and the UglyMementoDune (the Lynch 1980's one)The Princess BrideThe Cornetto Trilogy (Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End + Baby Driver)Die HardPulp FictionFight ClubThe Silence of the LambsSe7enThe Usual Suspects2001 A Space OdysseyPlatoonLock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsTrainspottingMy Neighbour TotoroDo The Right ThingThe Thing (John Carpenter version)
The curries I mentioned are all British though, invented in Britain, by mostly Bangladeshi immigrants. And they're largely unknown in South Asia. You'd really struggle to find a 'Chicken Madras' in Chennai for example.
British - obviously includes the greats like full English/Scottish breakfast, roast dinners, fish and chips, but also includes a wide varieties of Indian/Bangladeshi curries (Balti, Jalfrezi, Madras, Chicken Tikka Masala, etc), and similarly with westernised Chinese dishes.
American - mostly from the south: fried chicken, barbecue, jambalaya, gumbo, etc.
I used to listen to the Conan the Barbarian sound track. The beginning is quite exciting, got me thinking heroic thoughts, then the middle section is quite quiet and I'd drift off to sleep with those heroic thoughts still echoing around my head.
CO2 seems to be the main problem, so why don't we just burn it. Powerstations powered by burning CO2 would be good for the atmosphere while providing heat and power for communities. And CO2 is abundant so it should be cheap, too!
In some parts of the country, it's pronounced to rhyme with cone, and in other parts it's pronounced to rhyme with gone. That would be simple but there is another orthogonal dimension which is a demographic one (usually self-perceived class) which also influences the pronunciation.
It is, consequently, almost impossible to guess how any given person you meet might pronounce the word. And it is also something which, while seeming incredibly trivial, people here feel very strongly about.
Tribal mentality. A lot of people conform to the 'Hate them... not you though, you're one of ours' mindset.
"Fucking hate poofs. Not Barry though, he grew up around here, he's alright."
"We should shoot all the [insert racist bollocks here]. Not Abdul who runs the corner shop though, he calls me 'boss' when I go in."
Etc. If only their sense of tribe extended a bit further.