Posts by codejunky

Amazon claims victory after warehouse workers in Alabama vote to reject union

Re: In other news

@hoola

"I know that these things have happened in the past but the arguments of "just get a job elsewhere" are going to disappear."

Before covid in the UK and US there was full employment. There is plenty scope for more jobs as people do want stuff and experiences and whatever.

"Currently the very companies that are pushing much of this automation are the ones that are contributing least to society financially with their dubious accounting practices."

Or contributing the most. Look at amazon, often lower prices at a good level of service and decent delivery times. By their existence providing to the people what they want these big companies are contributing.

"If the warehouses & delivery are all automated that is an awful lot of people who now have no income"

And vastly more have a better experience/product/price. And those who have no income get income from the state until they go do something else.

"We will all be impacted because if Governments are not able to raise the money to support the increasing numbers of jobless everything collapses."

That would probably easily resolved by the gov going on a diet. Slim the excesses and woke crap. Committees for the kind of biscuit to be given to committees and boondoggle projects and people would get more bang for their tax paying buck.

If gov wants more money they need to provide the environment for more private growth. That is where the money comes from so thats what is needed to gain increased tax income. Not just demanding more for spaffing. If the govs managed to steal everything from the billionaires it would probably last about 5 minutes before they had double spent it all.

Facebook job ads algorithm still discriminates on gender, LinkedIn not so much

Re: Eh?

@jmch

"My understanding is that the data available is based on current biases and promotes the furthering of existing biases"

That sounds like a good model for advertising. To advertise to the people likely to be interested in it based on the real world as it is makes sense (to me at least).

I know it might not make sense in the abstract academic on paper and I would agree. But people do have bias otherwise we wouldnt have so much choice in a free market.

Eh?

So facebook is targeting the adverts based on the data available while Linked in is ignoring data? Assuming I am reading it right the complaint seems to be fb discriminating by showing ads to those likely to want to see it?

Or is someone smoking something a bit strong and thinking that there is no taste discrimination based on sex? And surely fb should be able to solve this little problem by setting the rabid 100+ gender people on these researchers for their discrimination of only checking male and female?

Vietnam reveals state-run Alibaba-and-Amazon alternative, aims it at the EU

Re: Very Interesting

@AC

That depends. If your a believer in remain for the trade deals then its a good thing. If you are for the UK trade agreements being adjusted for our economy then its a good thing. If thought ends at 'brexit bad' then its a bad thing.

But to the satisfaction of Teiwaz we have the trade agreement as he obviously sees it as an important indicator of the ability of the UK.

Re: Very Interesting

@Teiwaz

"It's only a wonder the Vietnamese weren't battering on the UKs door for a trade agreement, seeing how world beating we are..."

Didnt that take effect on the 1st Jan? Signed on the 29th Dec 2020?

Re: Very Interesting

@[e-mail]

I do hope it works to raise living standards there. I have some friends there and one particularly who travels internationally to drum up business and make content. I have no idea if it would make any difference to her particularly but for the general living standards to rise would be a benefit to her and her family.

Twitter nukes AI-generated twits who backed Amazon and pushed anti-union rhetoric

Re: Amazon and US Unions ?

@Dr_N

"I'll bow to your ever greater knowledge, but your other posts are way funnier. (Just catching up on them now.)"

Are you serious! I knew you were a fan/pet troll but you really go looking for me. Not sure if I am flattered or creeped out.

"But I can't work out if you are for or against unions at Amazon from this one"

Gonna let you in on a secret (dont tell anybody). It was a joke! One I am reminded of when people start arguing over unions. I mean no hidden message, nothing for my fans (trolls) to have to find the secret meaning, just a joke I am reminded of and so shared for the amusement of others.

What surprises me is how that has the attention of a coward and my troll. Or did you also post the AC comment?

Re: Amazon and US Unions ?

@Dr_N

You have discovered sourcing? Didnt think you needed that to troll. Good for you.

Re: Amazon and US Unions ?

@AC

Actually copy and pasted from a different website (google search until I found it) because there is no way I wanted to type that in and get something wrong that some twit would come troll about.

Re: Amazon and US Unions ?

@Khaptain

Whenever I hear of unions I always remember the joke-

A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a convention in

Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels.

When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam,

"Is this a union house?"

"No," she replied, "I'm sorry it isn't."

"Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"

"The house gets $80 and the girls get $20," she answered.

Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the

street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, "Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules."The man asked, "And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"

"The girls get $80 and the house gets $20" the madam replied.

"That's more like it!" the union man said.

He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room,

and pointed to a stunningly attractive blonde.

"I'd like her," he said.

"I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam.

Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner, "but Ethel here

has 67 years seniority and according to union rules, she's next."

Seagate UK customer stung by VAT on replacement drive shipped via the Netherlands

Re: Meh

Wow downvotes but no defence of the indefensible. Maybe remainers are starting to realise? But the saga continues-

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/01/british-taxpayers-funded-eu-factory-heart-vaccine-row/

The thieving scum sorry land of utopia, hope and glory which wants to ban exports of vaccine to the UK from the Halix factory in the Netherlands didnt pay a penny (nor Cent) towards the plant while the UK invested in the region of £21m.

To make this even more astonishing (if your a remainer I assume) the knuckle-heads were asked by Oxford scientists but never signed the deal.

Re: Meh

There seems to be little but the sound of crickets. Cmon remainers here is your opportunity to sing praises to the utopia! Just see-

"Are you paying import duty or facing other consequences of Brexit?"

We are no longer in the place of glorious unity (where members scramble in any direction to ignore the EU and get vaccine). That horrible UK who ordered in timely fashion and helped the production of vaccine which benefits the world has over half its adult vaccinated, while the land of glorious unity has barely started.

Worse is how the UK has loads of AZ vaccine (that EU and member propaganda is causing people to reject) and isnt just giving it to us. Why wont Britain just drop trow and grab its ankles like a good member (oh yeah)?

Its odd how there has been a quiet of EU/little England stories there are now. Maybe they will come back. At some point in the future.

Re: Meh

And to further the own goal the EU is trying to stop exports of vaccine (while still claiming the AZ vaccine isnt good enough) after lying about a UK export ban and yet will most likely be requiring vast imports of vaccine.

Seriously, who the hell still thinks we should have remained in that cesspit?

Re: Should not have Netherlands VAT ...

@EnviableOne

"As more fact emerged, A lot of those on the 51% side decided they had made the wrong decision.

Boris, Theresa, etc. all decided to ignore the calls from a more informed electorate for a re-vote."

Actually there were a number of re-votes. However even with GE promises to ditch brexit there was little support for it. Brexit has been consistently the desired option from the referendum, GE's and MEP elections.

"the effects of the above are just starting to be felt."

I am not convinced. So far we have only just left the EU and had little time to achieve much. We are feeling the effects of the covid crisis. Which leads to the actual achievements which is to have broken from the EU and its collective mentality the UK is incredibly ahead of the vaccination process.

The EU on the other hand have apparently blocked vaccine from going to Australia after making diplomatic incident over vaccines, attacked the manufacturers and gone begging to the Russians. The only achievement is to see each member act in their own interests even against agreements with the EU.

"In the short term, any sort of brexit was bad for britain"

In theory. Events have shown it to be a positive quite quickly. Even the cost of brexit was shut up by the EU covid bailout fund. The quality of EU governance called into question over vaccine procurement. Competency over its commitments with the Irish border screw up. Even the die hard EU nutters are criticizing it from within. Hell even the EU handling the Irish sea border has shown them inept and a laughing stock. Leaving looks to be bloody smart.

"The leave Campaign broke the Law"

It is questionable if remain did. They were fined over their spending 'methods'. Also didnt leave find themselves on the wrong side of the law by following advice given from the law makers. Also the government literally threatening its population (punishment budget) tends to be considered bad even if they dodge the word illegal.

"these are the facts, and they are self evident"

There are many facts to brexit.

"the process was dragged out over the next 4 years"

Very true. Every sickening and traitorous scumbag attempt to keep us trapped causing more delays and increasing the costs of what was a pretty easy affair.

Re: Meh

@Terry 6

"I can't speak for the AC"

Since posting with your name I didnt think it would be you but figured I would ask.

"You are still making vague sweeping and unbalanced arguments that hold no water in terms of advantages for the UK."

Aka you cant refute it and aint even gonna try. But this thread that you joined in was the AC asking an apology for those negatively affected by brexit, and me asking for one in return for those negatively affected by the EU. You dont seem willing to deny that and anyone with half a brain knows some will gain and some lose from such a choice.

So taking this in a different direction you ask for advantages of leaving which I have explained many times in the past but is wide ranging and makes for a massive comment on its own. So if you care to pick- economic, trade, democratic, sovereignty. Or recently the Covid vaccine screw up.

"And as I noted, not even Mogg now claims a financial advantage."

I just had a quick flick through your comment history searching for that but didnt see it. Do you have a link? Did he make the comment before the latest EU crisis by any chance?

"Anymore sealioning from you?"

That is interesting coming from someone who has yet to contribute to the discussion and just keeps avoiding by claiming everything is vague. And now you move the goalposts from what me and AC were saying I am now offering to discuss on your terms (advantages of leaving), so maybe look in a mirror and answer that question yourself.

"I'm afraid I'll have to treat your comments as no more than that unless you make specific, rather than vague, claims."

Treat my comments how you wish. My comments have provided answers while yours have yet to do so, so I am not sure what you find vague. Maybe you are waiting for some silver bullet to show you the light, but from your responses I dont think reason will do it.

Re: Meh

@Terry 6

Still no apology from the AC. Aint you is it Terry?

"And even the "Tampon tax" iniquitous as it was is a pretty small item item in the great scheme of things which could have been ameliorated if we'd chosen."

How? Only by leaving could it be set to zero as per EU rules.

"The cost of the EU membership was small in terms of spending, and the value to our economy far outweighed it."

So you say. As I pointed out due to higher costs (protectionism), domestic regulations and our contribution there was a high cost. All that to buy another layer of incompetent government. And we have escaped the covid bailout fund which is the point remainers went quiet about the cost of brexit.

"Oh and what you call "interferences" most people call "protection for the consumer/environment", but clearly you don't like that sort of thing."

Ha! The alternative is the over-regulation so you must love being a slave. Grow up you child. The level playing field is not about protection of consumer/environment but about keeping everyone stuck under the lowest common denominator so nobody has an advantage. Advantages being what we all want in trade and in our trading partners.

"The legally binding thing,likewise. Had Remain won by a tiny majority a subsequent govt couldn't easily have taken us out."

So if remain won we would remain. Leave won so we leave. This on the back of a minor party gaining such incredible support for its single issue 'leave' that the main parties took serious note of what the electorate was supporting. And then in every election here and MEP returned the ones promising leave.

"without a very clear voice for any action in such a situation the status quo should be retained"

Waaa lost but crying about it. We didnt have a vote to join the EU, the leave votes were consistent from the referendum and elections after but you go tell me how people wanted to remain. Even parties outright promising to overturn the result were trashed hard in the general election.

"There's a few trivial moans in that list, and some vague claims"

So you dont take issue with the cost of food being more expensive inside the EU which would be a drop in everyones expenses if we buy global. And thats vague?

You asked for people negatively affected by the EU. I provide and you dismiss them as nothing. Yet I acknowledge some people will be negatively affected, but so are people for being in the EU. There are winners and losers to both.

So will the AC be apologising yet?

Re: Meh

@Terry 6

"With evidence rather than myth, preferably."

Everyone. Evidenced by the repeated 'food prices are lower outside the EU than inside it'. Many remainer articles about how food will be more expensive followed by the asterisk *from the EU.

Remainers complaining the EU is now hard to trade with due to paperwork and tariffs are pointing out we had to apply those to the world for our imports. And protectionism of the member countries to our cost (e.g. protectionism of the orange growing market for Spain).

The tampon tax was finally removed which couldnt be done while in the EU.

Everyone in the UK affected by the lowest common denominator recycling insanity.

White van men fined for not littering with their lunch wrappers.

The taxpayers having their money thrown at the EU monstrosity.

The voters having had no vote over membership of the EU monstrosity (until the leave vote that is).

Everyone burdened with EU dumb ass regulation in the domestic market screwing with our appliances, vaping, animal farming and various interference they piled on the problems with.

Re: Meh

@AC

"Maybe you could apologise to all the people who have been negatively affected by your selfish vote?"

I am sorry to those who have been negatively affected. As for everyone in the UK I also say you are welcome.

Now AC would you like to apologise to everyone negatively affected in the UK for supporting the EU?

Re: Meh

@Throatwarbler Mangrove

"Ironic that a hard-core Leaver can barely write English."

Why? I am dyslexic but you think thats a problem when considering the future of the country? I guess when you cant refute the point you attack the person.

What happens when back-flipping futuristic robot technology meets capitalism? Yeah, it’s warehouse work

Re: That the frog is still alive doesn't mean it won't eventually boil...

@AC

"Why were your parents forced to make education worse to keep their jobs?"

They needed to take education to a lower level than I attained before work.

"And only after you were at school and college?"

I was in university when my mother had to take a basic computing course, considering she worked in an office where they obviously all used computers already.

"This seems very draconian. Was this in the UK?"

I am not sure if you intentionally misread my comment of if you just took a very different spin on the words I used but hopefully it is clear now. And yes UK.

Re: Cool

@John Brown (no body)

"Would you stay in a job you either don't like or don't feel you get paid enough for if there was a better option?"

No, thats why I did that job while studying and then moved into work I actually wanted to do. I left behind plenty people who didnt like the job but stayed because they were too lazy to leave. I also saw people leave to go on benefits because it paid more than the couple of days a week at the crap job but required less effort. Everyone is different.

"No, I'm saying if there were better alternatives, they'd have already moved on."

So they are doing the best job they can get for now. And my comment starting this thread suggested people who didnt like the job or didnt feel they were compensated enough for doing it should be happy for this job to be automated away, which they wont because as you say its probably the best they got.

"Clearly either people like working for Amazon or there or no/not enough alternatives for them to be able to pick and choose where they work."

Why does it mean there isnt enough alternatives? Even if there are more alternatives it doesnt mean the value of the work increases. They could obviously work in other places, so it sounds like the value of the work, not the employer, as the issue.

Re: Cool

@John Brown (no body)

"If all those people doing low paid "drudge" jobs could move on, they'd have already done"

Are you honestly claiming the people working in the amazon warehouse couldnt work anywhere else if the job was automated? That it is such highly specialised work they wouldnt be able to do something else?

The issue of course is not being able to do it at a higher wage. Like Mc jobs being automated because the staff want more money than their production is valued.

Re: That the frog is still alive doesn't mean it won't eventually boil...

@Brewster's Angle Grinder

"That's why twenty and thirty year olds are, overall, worse off than their parents were at a similar age."

Really? While I was in education after school and college my parents were forced to take education to a lower level just to keep their jobs. We leave education into a qualified job vs parents who had to work from the low paid bottom and climb rungs. We have a massive abundance of a huge variety of foods. We have holiday destinations outside the country and far flung! And we can afford it!

Each house having computers, TV's, mobile phones etc, multiple cars, access to investment vehicles that used to be prohibitively expensive. Baring the pandemic 20/30 yr olds are bloody loaded and have it nice.

Re: exactly the sort of thing we want machines to do.

@Cuddles

"automation of repetitive manual labour has always been a net good for society. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance."

It is a damned good predictor and acting without historical reasoning really does require some serious reason. Repetitive manual labour is also boring and physical. Two things a lot of people like to reduce doing naturally which is why automation tends to improve things.

"But the problem is that no-one at the time knew any of that was going to happen."

Nobody knows what people desire and how desires change. It is the experimentation through cheaper resources and increased time that allows for exploration of desires.

"The likes of Amazon and Uber don't want to replace all their employees with robots because it will lead to a utopian future, they want to do it to cut costs, and screw what happens to the little people."

Which ultimately helps the little people as money is information and reducing costs is improved productivity. One of the greatest successes is money. It has reduced hardship and improved lives globally where all other wishful thinking and well meaning has failed.

"But we also should take the chance to think about what those people could now do instead and how we actually want society to develop, rather than just blindly rush ahead assuming everything will somehow turn out OK."

That sounds like central planning aka the wishful thinking and well meaning that has caused so much misery in the world. We shouldnt be thinking of what people can go do instead of standing in the field, they can go do something else. We dont need to think about what people will do instead of climbing up a chimney or walking miles to collect water or crawling under dangerous machines, they can go do something else. Instead of trying to think up jobs for back breaking labourers we can let them go do what they want to do.

Re: Bezos will be salivating at this

@AC

"his net worth can exceed $1T. Yes, that's one trillion dollars. That is more than the GDP of 60% of the countries in the world."

So his total wealth would be equivalent to the money passing through 60% of the economies in the world each year. Noting his net worth is calculated on assets he hasnt traded for money and if he did would fall in value.

@Dan 55

Frag grenades with mini trackers cost more

Cool

"exciting warehouse managers across the nation and absolutely nobody else."

Really? Surely all those people moaning at that low pay, hard job, want to unionise would be happy to know they could break from the drudgery as a robot does the job instead? Customers should be happy to get stuff cheaper or without price increases to cover increasing wages and worker costs.

Roll on the machine.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson reluctant to reveal his involvement in the OneWeb deal

Re: Meh

@AC

"This makes no sense when all the UK is limiting itself to doing so far is rolling over the existing trade agreements it had with the EU, but some still aren't rolled over, so tariffs apply with those countries."

You are responding to 'Yes. And also not obligated to apply the protectionist EU barriers to trade.'. It might not make sense if you dont know the difference between trade deals and protectionist trade barriers. They are different and often opposite things. Barriers to restrict trade, deals to increase.

"So looking at this I can see the following articles over the past couple of weeks"

1. Why would small firms expect an increase in exports to a place that is economically shut down and less likely to come back any time soon?

2. Are we really short of flowers, you are kidding?

3. EU trade barriers are bad (we been telling you guys this for how long?).

4. Ditto

5. Ditto plus see response 1.

6. Ditto

So you can tell me how bad the EU is for trade after brexit and you are pointing out the high barriers to trade the EU forced us to have with everyone. The world! Not being funny but hopefully the first bit you quoted now makes sense. The developed world is doing better at vaccination than the EU and I wouldnt be shocked if all but the third world is. That means economies will probably open before the EU just like with the financial crisis and the EU being behind the recovery.

"I believe it was the UK which first talked about vaccine nationalism"

The EU (particularly president) were banging on about how vaccine nationalism is a bad thing etc. Now they are the ones practising it. Do you have a source for the UK talking about it (I honestly missed that)?

"then we found out the UK is still not exporting a single solitary vaccine dose to its neighbours or anywhere else in the world, not even Ireland"

Holy shit your wrong. For complete vaccine the UK has been shipping to our overseas territories. For materials to produce vaccine the UK supplies the EU. The EU doesnt supply vaccine it is the very companies the world made contracts with and those companies are obliged to fulfil those contracts. Legally the EU has no grounds to complain otherwise they would go to court. Instead they make fools of themselves with vaccine nationalism and threatening the very companies they rely on.

People from ROI have been trying to sign up in NI to get vaccinated. A minister in Dublin suggested driving over the border and bringing back doses only for the EU to have a hissy fit. The very vaccine you talk of the UK exporting was only approved at the end of January and had such propaganda pushed against it that the EU wastes a load.

"It's not the sunlit uplands, that's for sure."

Ahh thats why your info is a little skewed. Out of interest where abouts are you (which member country)?

If you want to know the competence on display to the world-

https://www.continentaltelegraph.com/2021/03/the-eu-casts-the-italians-as-the-keystone-cops/

https://capx.co/the-eus-shaky-legal-basis-for-seizing-vaccines/

https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-doubts-eu-countries-capitals-look-abroad-russia-china-coronavirus-vaccines/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/europe-s-vaccine-disaster-commission-president-ursula-von-der-leyen-seeking-to-duck-responsibility-a-1197547d-6219-4438-9d69-b76e64701802

Re: Meh

@Snapper

"You are just repeating propaganda, you know it, we've heard it all before."

The funny problem with that statement is how it sums up remain propaganda. werdsmith

accused me of lying about a tongue in cheek comment I make that I am less uncertain of its distance from EU will. At what point is there anything for him to accuse me of lying about there?

"I voted Remain, not because I was convinced remaining in the EU was a good thing"

Well you sold me on remain there. Amusingly the arguments for remain were often about how shit it is but we need to stay to reform it. Or that a monster under the bed is worse. Or be afraid!!!

"but I had no trouble seeing through the sheer blatant lies and confusion Leave relied on"

Ok. I take no issue with that. Did you not see the remain lies? Did that pass you by? No case for remain was made, only literal threats by the government if we dare vote to leave?

"goal-posts that Leave came up with constantly changing as each point they put up was disproved and they had to change their story AGAIN."

I am still waiting on the guaranteed brexit recession for voting leave. Oh no it didnt happen. But it is certain once art50 is signed. Oops nope. Erm. Somewhere in the future! Dooooomed. And of course the glorious headlines of 'despite brexit' aka because of brexit something good happened but we dont want to admit that.

"I'm still willing to believe there are sound reasons for leaving the EU, but I never heard one during the campaign"

Again I am not gonna disagree. So did you look into it yourself? I wasnt convinced by the official leave campaign, I assumed it was a setup to make leave look stupid. And then I saw it was on par with the official remain campaign! Neither did us proud. Neither any good. So on this important decision did you seek out the facts instead?

"What are you going to do now, say something with 'vaccines' in it?"

The truth hurts dont it. I like how you had to jump in because the obvious and extremely damaging cockup that is widely visible for all to see shows the EU in the light. But I dont need to bring up vaccine, it is only the latest in the EU way of working.

People blamed Greece over their misfortune with the financial crisis. It was the same mishandling as we see now but its easier to blame someone over there, but now it affects the whole of the EU and even the priests of the EU project are speaking against it. EU politics and power grab again took precedence and its the people who suffer for it.

"ONLY thing the UK government gets right amid utter ineptitude causing one of the highest death rates in Europe"

I love it when a remainer calls our gov for something bad. How would this be improved by remaining in the EU and having no vaccine? The UK has over 50% of its adults vaccinated and the EU barely started. Finger pointing, blocking exports, accusing manufacturers for EU failings, raiding manufacturers, spreading propaganda about how the AZ vaccine doesnt work and is dangerous then demanding more and so on.

"highest death rates in Europe"

Based on what? If its per 100,000 Belgium is above us as is Slovenia and Czechia (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1111779/coronavirus-death-rate-europe-by-country/). This is for Europe. But if you mistook EU for Europe isnt Brussels in Belgium? The place of the EU.

"didn't have ANYTHING to do with your precious Brexit"

Damn right. The only part Brexit played at all was the vaccine procurement. The only part you really dont want me to mention.

Re: Meh

@Snapper

"When we were in the EU we were not prevented from trading with other non-EU countries, that's one of the biggest and easiest Brexit lies to call out right there."

So the UK could go make its own trade deals? The UK had control over its own tariffs? How about now where export bans are being applied, or the huge mistake of the Irish hard border the EU cared so much about? Is it the EU or members who set the terms of trade?

"And how many people were persuaded to vote leave by claims that EU Red Tape would go away"

I voted leave for a reduction in red tape. Hopefully this gov will be heading that way but if not I will vote for a party who will. Such an option not being available while in the EU. However with increased export controls to make exporting more difficult from the EU, is that what you thought you were voting for?

"we would be a third country and subject to the rules that non-EU countries have to deal with"

Is that bad? Is that awful? Please please please tell me how bad that is. Really lay it on thick as if it supports your argument. Then tell me why you think its a good thing that we would apply such horror on the world that we wish to trade with. Surely that would be the thing we voted to leave, those of us wanting less red tape.

"Result = Government spends taxpayers money trying to persuade the populace to eat more shellfish in order to save the fishing industry it so comprehensively and deliberately sold down the river."

Which I can assume is still a saving since the cost of brexit (extending remain) went quiet with the covid bailout.

Re: Meh

@AC

"You do realise the UK has fewer trade agreements with other countries than it did when it was part of the EU, right?"

Yes. And also not obligated to apply the protectionist EU barriers to trade.

"Every British economic sector you care to mention is getting hammered because of a choice that the UK made of its own free will."

The only hammering I see is from shutting down the economy because of Covid. The UK economy looks closer to opening up back to normal before the EU.

"Are you throwing round the big scary words like nationalism (even though the EU is a supra-national entity) and facism because there's nothing else left to reach for?"

No. I am saying nationalism and fascism because the EU wants to be seen as a federal entity (their crying about diplomatic immunity in the UK) and are playing vaccine nationalism while threatening to confiscate Intellectual property and facilities if the vaccine companies dont do as the EU gov dictates.

"Your Brexit is shit, you know it is, and all you've got left is "waaah, they're nationalist fascists"."

Damn. I do wonder which part of the world you are in to be so removed from current events.

Re: Meh

@werdsmith

"Why do you lie?"

What lie?

Re: Meh

@Doctor Syntax

"There's none so blind as those who will not see."

He posted AC so probably sees how wrong his comment is.

Re: When is he going to build a bridge

@Doctor Syntax

"In one respect Covid is doing a good job for HMG by keeping Brexit off the front pages"

Thats probably because 'oh we are doomed' or 'despite brexit' doesnt really work when the EU is in such a dire situation of their own making and continue digging. Brexit looks like a stroke of genius pulled off only just in time. Instead the news seems to be reporting the EU failures as if we are in shock. Its the same approach they took to the financial crisis. Idiocy.

Re: Meh

@tip pc

"i reckon they'll go full iron curtain on us."

I say it tongue in cheek but with less certainty of its absurdity than I used to have. When the EU panics no bad idea seems off the table.

Re: Meh

@AC

"Nope, junky, it's the UK that's gone full Brexit curtain."

In what way? Current events have the UK looking globally while the EU is heading nationalist/fascist.

"The UK left everything, and unsurprisingly, now has nothing."

Eh? In what world are you living?

"Maybe once the political problem is solved the UK can aspire once again to trade with its neighbours without any red tape."

I actually agree with the red tape bit but I would extend from neighbours to more of a global reach. After recent events I wouldnt be shocked if there is a migration of biotech from our neighbours. Probably others too after witnessing the export bans and nationalism/fascism threats of the EU.

Re: When is he going to build a bridge

@ICL1900-G3

"I suggest that you read The Economist rather than the Mail"

I dont go out of my way to read the mail but sometimes someone will link to a story. Occasionally the Economist. But since I get my news from a number of sites from the UK, US, EU, and others I like to think I am fairly informed.

"how badly things are going."

For the EU friggin terrible. Even their high priests of the project are unhappy with its abysmal performance. In the UK pretty good.

Meh

"For starters, OneWeb's satellites are designed for internet connectivity, rather than the sat-nav function the UK government might need them to perform to make up its departure from the Galileo programme which it left on exiting the EU."

Might need why? Galileo was a pointless willy waving in an effort to feel important in the world, I do wonder if this is a wise move to provide the internet connectivity governments have talked about for some time. or maybe they have other ideas. Another positioning system doesnt seem worth it and we will have access to Galileo anyway unless the EU go full iron curtain

Re: Clueless

@werdsmith

"a credible opposition leader would have destroyed May before Boris was in the picture."

A credible opposition would be a nice change. We need one but its been a while since there was one.

Re: When is he going to build a bridge

@Yet Another Anonymous coward

"When you have some bad news about Brexit"

Not sure that will be a problem for a while. The gov would have to cock up to severe EU proportions to do anything worth complaining about brexit. The EU still aint finished making a deeper crisis out of a crisis, I expect a popcorn shortage soon.

European Commission outlines appeal against Apple's €13bn tax ruling

Re: You sure make some stupid statements.

@CRConrad

"That is: You can't prove a hypothetical, doofus! The EU does and did exist, and there have been no world wars. Without the EU, there might have been -- you have no proof there wouldn't."

Sorry doofus but the EU didnt exist back then. For more than 40 years there was no EU and no world wars. Its people believing it did that I poked fun at (sorry). Your comments first paragraph sums up the kind of stupidity I was mocking, the EU 'formed' in 1993.

Re: You've got it bass-ackwards.

@CRConrad

"It's Ireland that is being asked to rectify its transgression"

Yes I get that. Ireland who makes the rules made an agreement with Apple. Turns out that agreement is wrong, after the fact, and Ireland of course is the one in the wrong.

"(and "punished" by being shown not to be able to make such anti competitive sweetheart deals in the future)."

'punished' by being told to take money from Apple it has no right to by its own agreement which is retrospectively been decided Ireland is in the wrong. Its like punishing a felon by fining the victim.

"Apple is not being" punished""

Having money taken from you by force is theft. Through agreement Ireland promised not to take the money. Ireland is being forced to take the money from Apple. Ireland gets money (it doesnt want to take to their credit), EU feels proud of itself, Apple loses money it wasnt going to. Who is punished from this?

"just asked to pay the same taxes as any other corporation"

Except it did pay the taxes agreed. And it isnt being asked, it cant exactly refuse.

"(that got the "ordinary" sweetheart deal from Ireland)"

From who? Who did it? Who in the wrong? Hence my point Ireland. I could understand Ireland having to pay a fine, to be watched for further breaches of the rules etc. But the victim who acted within accordance of the law as Apple. It was agreed with the men with guns, the ones in power, the law makers.

'Agile' F-35 fighter software dev techniques failed to speed up supersonic jet deliveries

Re: Phew!

@Androgynous Cupboard

"Lucky we didn't design an entire aircraft carrier so it could only fly this type of fighter"

The good news is we didnt. The design was to support a catapult system if we decided to do so. Except BAE claimed an outrageous price to make the modification (which would be done in the US for vastly less, so its all cream).

None of this stuff is done sensibly until there is an actual threat of war.

Following Supreme Court ruling, Uber UK recognizes drivers as workers, offers min wage, holiday pay, pension

Re: Hmm

@AC

"Uber can't compete with taxi firms, so abdicates a bunch of legal responsibilities to enable it to compete."

Do you remember taxi's before Uber? I dont use Uber but I can tell you the taxi service has vastly improved in service because it had to. It was stagnant and had no competition. Then Uber changes the model, upsets the established order and people want to work for it (and of course people want to use the service).

The loser in all that is the established order who suddenly had to up their game and turn up quicker and be more accessible. Just because taxi firms cant compete with not-a-taxi-firm doesnt mean not-a-taxi-firm needs to be legally forced to become one.

Hmm

Taxi firms cant compete so demand Uber is to be made into a taxi firm. Thats one way to protect yourself from competition.

Delayed UK digital border system was only stable enough to be used by 4% of intended users, MPs say

Re: Shock

@Claverhouse

"replaced them with non-European immigrants to do the jobs the former used to do."

Well it reduces the special treatment for coming from the promised land. While some of my friends could come easily will little hassle because they are from the EU various other friends either cant come here or jump through plenty hoops because they come from the rest of the world.

Shock

When did the borders last work? Certainly pre-labour's mass immigration cockup. New system after new system to try and cope with an increasing backlog and future capacity.

GitLab latest to ditch 'master' as default initial branch name: It's now simply called 'main'

Re: We did it anyway...

@gobaskof

"Anyone who make a branch that starts "mas" is going to have it rejected on principle"

Jeez you had to go and tempt people didnt you. You know some git is gonna do this and his master is gonna allow it at one of the store branches. Would probably make you wish you didnt commit to the job and instead revert to a previous one. Or checkouts.

Eh?

"something less historically problematic"

I am not sure this is historically problematic. Only in the last few (really not many) years has it become a problem. Just like lots of other words which have suddenly become a problem.

I do wonder if instead of pandering to the terminally stupid we should consider this as a reflection of education standards and maybe try to rebalance from there. We can try to talk to the current nut-jobs but they did bring to frequent use the term 'cancel culture'.

Chancellor launches £500m business software subsidy in the UK. What's 'approved' software then?

Or

Assuming a desire to return to growth and stop blowing out the budget we could open the economy back up again. That might help fund the healthcare workers and vaccine procurement. And freezing the personal allowance so as to tax the poor again is just not good.