Posts by codejunky

It's been a day or so and nope, we still can't wrap our head around why GitHub would fire someone for saying Nazis were storming the US Capitol

Re: The problem

@First Light

"It is a pure fiction that the election was stolen"

And yet for 4 years all we heard was how the Russians stole the election. Even a dodgy dossier, wire-tapping a contented for the presidential election and trying to impeach him due to delusions of a stolen election.

"I have no sympathy for the "good people" who showed up to support such BS."

What sympathy can be given to the BLM rioters and those 'good people' who showed up to the destruction of federal property, killings, riots and looting. Good job calls to defund the police were ignored otherwise the mostly peaceful protest at the capitol could have been a problem.

"a cult of personality believing in unproven and unprovable nonsense"

Or worse disproved nonsense where riots and protests start because of criminals actually attacking police officers and civilians. And those democrats who set up funding to bail out such people should be treated with the same even hand of justice as applied to Trump.

I am sure we can agree?

Trump silenced online: Facebook, Twitter etc balk at insurrection, shut the door after horse bolts and nearly burns down the stable

Well

This is an interesting read on the situation-

https://www.city-journal.org/about-whataboutism-and-political-hypocrisy

Ha

For those with a sense of humour (and didnt break down crying when Trump was elected president) there is a lot of comic material in the blocking and Capitol incident-

https://babylonbee.com/news

Re: So that's what freedom looks like

@DS999

"I think everyone agrees that Trump has exposed a LOT of weaknesses in the system, and I hope if there's one place we can find bipartisan agreement it is in the need to update our laws to better deal with an out of control president"

Unfortunately the democrats were talking about subverting the controls on the president by adding members to the Supreme Court. They are also considering removing the filibuster. I am sure it will suit them while they are in power but surely their dislike of the current president should give them pause.

Re: And - Darwinism in action

@Fruit and Nutcase

"PM condemns Trump after years of fawning over US president by Tories"

I read a lot of moaning in there from the irrelevant but nothing worth blaming the Tories over. Boris congratulated Biden back in november- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54840746

Labour sound dangerously stupid if they would want to jump into America's political situation weeks ago, its for the US to sort out. Moaning that the condemnation isnt worded the way the cry babies want it is just stupid.

World’s largest dark-web marketplace shuttered after Euro cybercops cuff Aussie

Re: Continued co-operation assured?

@Mike 137

"BTW, does that imply 'part of the Third World'?"

No just as the whole of the EU is not first world

Thou shalt not hack indiscriminately, High Court of England tells Britain's spy agencies

Re: @Doctor Syntax

@Graham 32

"If they were "done for" it, that proves it's a system that works."

And as I said the reason was Merkels phone being tapped. If it wasnt for them discovering that there was collaboration to hack.

@Doctor Syntax

Grown up supervision? Wasnt Germany in the EU when they were done for collaborating with the NSA? The key issue being Merkels phone being tapped. The same grown ups who have decided the project is worth more than vaccinating people?

I dont particularly trust our gov to stop spying generally but thinking the EU overlords are any better or 'grown up' is blindness and naivety.

Linux Mint sticks by Snap decision – meaning store is still disabled by default in 20.1

Re: "The price of caution is lack of support for the latest hardware"

@Mike 137

Try the live disk. It is very possible those devices will be supported even generically. That way if it doesnt work you havnt committed to anything but if it does then you can install.

Hmm

Sounds nice and having a solid platform for desktop is what we all need in these times of MS win 10 forever beta. My issue is a Ubuntu one that bleeds over to Mint- upgrading to mint 20 while running an encrypted swap partition. Apparently it isnt supported correctly and I would have to install with it disabled then manually configure to make it work.

Right now I cant be arsed when I have such a good working mint 19.

Trump's gone quiet, Parler nuked, Twitter protest never happened: There's an eerie calm – but at what cost?

Re: Cost?

@ecofeco

"What is the price of of sedition and insurrection these days?"

Not much. Wiretaps on your opponents, dodgy dealings abroad, destroying evidence, trying to destabilize the country and funding criminals isnt deemed much of a problem.

Re: Trump is a massive c...

@AC

"All these things were the "flaps of the butterfly's wings" that have enabled the perfect storm that is Trump and his supporters."

Throughout history such hysteria has been the norm. We look back on witch trials, Nazis, religious wars and all sorts of insanity and wonder how they fall for it. Yet insanity under our eyes is allowed to pass because we are too close to see it.

Re: AWS now liable?

@Doctor Syntax

"It's The Cloud. It's somebody else's computer. We keep telling you that. Why are you surprised when you find out what that means?"

This a thousand times but I cant believe how many people do not realise this in the real world. Not a comment about Marty McFly but of some users I was talking to yesterday who were surprised when I mentioned this about an unrelated cloud product. To them its just the same as the version they had installed locally with the data stored local. So why would it disappear?

Leave.EU takes back control – and shifts its domain name to be inside the European Union

Re: But why?

@AC

That was the amusement at Junker who told an audience that English would become irrelevant to the EU but had to say it in English to be understood.

It may date back to 1994 but there's no end in sight for the UK's Chief customs system as Brexit rules beckon

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"So the UK leaves the EU, which somehow means it's the EU's fault for not making ROI a third country?"

If your looking for someone to blame for the border then the last in line is the UK and NI. Somehow you seem unable to get it. Even when you yourself point out its the EU's border.

"Except it is *exactly* what you are saying. To *not* have a border means that there would be no border."

So you think you know what I am saying which is in contradiction to what I say I am saying and I am the one saying it. The EU decides what it does with its border, the UK decides what it does with its border. The UK does not tell the EU what to do with its border and the EU does not tell the UK what to do with its border. I cant make it much simpler. The UK cannot unilaterally remove the EU's border and I never claimed it could.

"Because exports are how we get the money to afford to buy things"

And people do buy things from us. The things they want. What we care about (people) is what we can get. The things we want. Which we either import or make depending on cheaper/better.

"the article says nothing of a failed french vaccine"

It is a long read so you are forgiven for missing it. Search the word 'france' (second match) under the heading 'Storm of Outrage'. Also the word 'french' (second match) for why not enough working vaccine has been ordered.

"It does say that various suppliers have slipped their approvals dates, that's why you have diverse supply chains."

Is that the excuse for the EU failing hard and other countries ordering working vaccine?

"You don't seem to be able to work out whether the virus is real or not either"

You seem to be making things up here. Where did I say it isnt real?

"you say we shouldn't ever lock down"

I disagree with the lockdown policy used which has shown the problems already identified by such a lockdown back in march before the policy was used. Disagreeing with the reaction to the virus doesnt mean I deny the virus exists.

"and yet complain that the vaccine isn't universally available"

Did I? It seems you are making this up as you go along. Pointing out the EU failed hard and how bad an idea is was to let them run this procurement is just pointing out facts. Sorry if you dont like it.

"Either we need to prevent the spread of the virus or we don't, which is it?"

We have to be practical. Vaccinating the vulnerable is now an option while before shielding them would have been a good idea (even that wasnt done very well). That way the rest of us low risk people can get on with life, which is required to have an economy which is required for almost everything in our lives.

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"You still haven't come up with any explanation as to how or why the EU should remove the section of border"

I have explained how, they can actually agree not to with the UK. Just for ROI and if they want even make it another version of an EU member. As to why they should, I dont care and dont argue they should. I do point out that the EU putting a border there is the EU doing so and not the UK so all that crying over the GFA isnt the UK's issue. We have nothing to do with what the EU does on its border.

"force the EU to just have no border there"

As I keep saying, we dont force them to do anything unless we are talking about military action and taking over the territory which I dont know anyone who is saying that. Its not about us forcing the EU to do anything, they have options just as we do. Which is why a hard border would be the EU's choice. Their decision.

"so explain - why should we be able to unilaterally remove the border between the EU and the world?"

This is why you are struggling. I am not saying that at all. Not even close. Not at all near. Miles off. Nothing to do with anything I am saying.

This is why I dont think I can explain it to you, because you seem to have an entirely different idea of what I am saying than what I am writing.

"Tariffs being imposed on good being exported from the UK is absolutely an issue."

Why? Imports are things we want, exports are work we do that other people want. We dont buy stuff so we have a reason to go to work, we go to work so we can buy stuff. The EU could wall itself off from us with its tariffs and bureaucratic nonsense yet unilaterally they decided they wont cut off their members access to London. The EU needs financial services of London and so gets what it wants.

"Those tariffs make trade across borders more expensive than trade within those borders."

Yes. For example China having an excess of steel from a massive construction boom dumped it on the world market. Those who bought what they wanted prospered. Those who put tariffs against it (US) inflicted significant harm on their economies and lost jobs because of protectionism.

"This really shows how little you understand the concept of research"

Sorry to burst your bubble. Its a long read but hopefully you will and be somewhat enlightened and probably disgusted at how badly the EU managed to screw this up-

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-planning-disaster-germany-and-europe-could-fall-short-on-vaccine-supplies-a-3db4702d-ae23-4e85-85b7-20145a898abd-amp?__twitter_impression=true

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

Thanks for the explanation of how you dont understand the Irish border issue. Since I have explained it many times I dont think there is a hope you will ever be able to understand it. Maybe see if someone else is willing to try.

"Of course they can impose tariffs on imports from the UK"

Thanks for pointing out that the EU can only apply tariffs on their own members and cannot impose tariffs in the UK. So you do understand and this isnt an issue.

"And they will - the moment the extreme brexiteers reduce standards over here (because there was no need to leave to *improve* standards, so the only changes they can want is reduction)."

It is a mistake to think more restrictive standards is better. While it can be, too restrictive is actually bad. Reducing such restrictions is an improvement.

"since financial institutions can see that, they will be migrating away from London."

As we were told they would, and then they put up a brass plate in the EU which brassed off the EU.

"So you reckon the cost of brexit was just the cost of the crayon that de Pfeffel used to sign the document?"

Nope. But to think the cost of trying to remain is part of the cost of brexit is either moronic or reasoning that said remainers need to be billed. Either way works for me.

"No - the cost includes all the costs associated over the last four years, and the costs over future years as well - including the costs involved in the quite probable dissolution of the United Kingdom."

Then thankfully we are not being charged for the EU covid bailout fund which means we have saved through brexit. And I assume you will be counting the costs of the EU as time goes on too. For example blowing money on the French vaccine which didnt work then making Germans complain they are at the back of the line for the German made vaccine?

How about the costs of dissolution of the EU? I hope you wrote off the Greek bailouts as lost money, and Italy could be seeking debt forgiveness next, then maybe France.

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"No I'm not. The requirement for a border is entirely our own. The EU border exists, we have *chosen* to move outside it, and now you're shocked that it exists?"

Not sure if you are just trolling now. You now seem to accept its the EU border hence its the EU's border. Not UK making it.

"Yes they can - clearly laid out in the deal just signed. If we diverge, then they will take corrective action and impose tariffs/quotas on our exports to the EU"

Exactly which is why you were wrong and I said that. The EU cannot impose tariffs on the UK because we have left and so we set our tariffs as we want (import). We dont set export tariffs, those are set by the importing countries because they are import tariffs.

"financial institutions (which are a far greater contributor to our economy than trade in goods) are liable at any time to be cut off from the EU"

The EU did threaten to do that. Then when it was explained to them by their own banks that it would take them under and create another banking crisis in the EZ they unilaterally decided not to. If they EU wants to cut themselves off from London thats up to them. They are free to commit economic suicide if they wish and now we are out of the EU we are less attached to it.

"Geographical proximity is not *required*, but it does make trade significantly easier, and cheaper, in several respects - it's a significant factor in economic distance."

And yet wildly not the only factor by far. And so economic distance matters and the geographic claim doesnt.

"The extreme tory brexit is a significant factor, it's already cost us more than we have ever paid into the EU."

First the cost of brexit is for leaving. Now try and detach that from 4 years of trying to keep us in. Also the argument of remain being cheaper fell out of favour when the corona mutualised debt was pulled up by the EU. We escaped that huge expense.

"The monumental incompetence demonstrated by the dithering delinquent in Downing street has resulted in a far more serious national health crisis than the one we should have been facing."

Which also seems to ring true for the EU and their clusterfuck with the vaccine. Hell Germany is complaining that they are at the back of the line for the German vaccine!

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"As for the Pfizer vaccine:"

Not good news-

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/04/angela-merkel-blocked-bid-secure-coronavirus-vaccine/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-rhr

Angela Merkel came under fire on Monday after it emerged she intervened personally to block a bid by European health ministers to secure larger orders of coronavirus vaccine over the summer.

According to the newspaper, the letter was written under pressure from Mrs Merkel, who wanted to send a signal of solidarity at the start of Germany’s six-month EU presidency.

Feel free to tell me how bad our gov is, but I would need a lot of convincing it is made better by adding this bad government on top.

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

"The lock was already there, we are choosing to move outside it."

Yes which is what I said. The EU locking their door (border) not us doing it.

"We are moving the wall, including the locked door, between us and the EU."

So you are claiming we have told the EU, absolutely dictated to them through threat of force, that they must put up a border there? Otherwise you are talking crap.

"I did, and any suggestion that that is purely related to our massive under-response to the current global pandemic is patently absurd"

Thats an amusing claim. So shutting down the economy pretty much for what is expected to be about a year is not the reason for our economic performance? You born yesterday?

"I don't think multinationals pulling out the UK before Covid19 had been identified were citing Brexit as a bluff to cover for Covid related issues."

Nor would you count the investment coming in nor fine performance of our economy before covid because it doesnt suit your narrative. Yet the UK was still doing fine while the EZ was still mulling how to get out of crisis.

"The contraction I was referring to was the one we are about to experience as a result of no longer having a close trading relationship with one of the top three economies in the world"

The one we were waiting for when we voted leave, then when handing in art50 and then suspended to some time in the future but gonna blame brexit?

"and more importantly the top three economy that makes up virtually all of of our geographic neighbours for more than a thousand miles in every direction."

Oddly geographic neighbours doesnt necessarily mean more trade. It economic distance which makes the difference. If it was just geographic distance then we would do more business with the EU than we do and less with the rest of the world.

"diverge from standards and therefore have tariffs and quotas imposed"

How can we have tariffs and quotas imposed? They cant. The UK can import as much as the UK wants and using UK tariffs. If you mean our exports then its up to them if their govs dont want what we provide better or cheaper (or both) than their people can already get. Such imposition being a thing we had under the EU we should be well rid of.

"simultaneously lose access to the financial services markets"

Who will? The EU? The EU have already been warned by their own banks that if they get cut off from London they will have a new banking crisis. That being why the EU unilaterally decided in the event of no deal they would not stop their banks from accessing London.

If you mean the UK not accessing financial services then you are drinking some seriously strong stuff and might fall into a coma soon. Its the global financial markets which London has lead Europe (and the world for some time) for a long time.

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"Tampon tax, is that the best you can come up with"

You asked for something now and we aint been out long (as I pointed out). So yeah.

"http://infacts.org/we-dont-need-to-leave-the-eu-to-scrap-the-tampon-tax/"

And I quote- "In 2016 the UK won a promise from the EU". That is because the lowest you can reduce VAT to is 5% under the EU rules which allow you to add VAT or increase it but not remove it from products. That we had to 'win' permission to do so is not impressive.

"Oh, and Ireland already had a zero rate."

Which would be why it wouldnt affect them if they already (pre-EU) had 0% VAT.

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"Given that we have now left, and are no longer subject to EU laws (assuming we want to retain trade with them of course) what have we done that we couldn't have done previously?"

Great news-

https://www.continentaltelegraph.com/2021/01/the-tampon-tax-is-gone-huzzah-now-wait-for-the-squealing/

Re: Still. The Farage Garage will be open for business on time.

@John Robson

"No - I merely illustrated the contradiction in your own position..."

Which is to answer your contradictions by replying to them separately as they entirely contradict each other and both firmly removing your complaint that its the UK's fault.

"EU countries did close their borders - that is what has happened, despite you saying they can't."

Did I? This is a long thread with you jumping all over the place so what did I say? (quote please)

"Erm - no, the UK demands a hard border..."

So even though the UK says they dont want a hard border and have no intention of making one its the UK demanding one? Yet the EU isnt demanding one although the EU demands a hard border outside its protectionist block. You what?

"The UK is the only party here forcing a change."

Ahhh! So you think the UK is bound to remain in the voluntary EU because otherwise the EU border is in Ireland! Except its voluntary so we choose to leave and sovereignty would mean we get to choose so the UK is free to leave. That would mean the ROI must choose to remain or leave then. And if the ROI remain and the EU demands a border (they do) then ROI break the agreement. Ok if thats how you prefer it.

"Or do you really think that you can leave the local gym and still use their swimming pool? It's not that the gym is locking you out, it's that you are locking yourself out."

The EU is a chlorinated pool of piss water? As you wish. So who locks the door? Who has the lock on the door? Who has the door? The gym. So even in your own metaphor the EU is locking the door because we leave, aka the UK is not the one making the hard border. And yes we are free to leave and they are free to lock the door. They cant cry that we must lock ourselves out by building a door in front of theirs and locking it, thats just moronic.

"Stop conflating the issues - and stop being such a stupid idiot."

You said contraction in the economy. Which is of course due to covid. So whats wrong?

"The aborted and idiotic attempts to "open up the economy" triggered a second wave which have been singularly badly controlled since the government doesn't have the nouse to organise its way out of a wet paper bag."

So covid caused the economic contraction. The economy being the thing you were complaining about when you said- "Given the expected contraction of the economy we won't have the money to continue with the basic rights we currently enjoy"

"Yes - because there are various things that are being touted as "immediate benefits" - most of which of course are nothing of the sort."

What things? Not disagreeing someone has touted it I just havnt heard it. Are you saying whoever touted such benefits had the credibility of those predicting the recession when we vote leave, then when we hand in art50?

Surprising everyone, spending watchdog says the UK's 2025 deadline for nationwide gigabit broadband is 'unreachable'

@Doctor Syntax

Whenever I hear 'Ministry of Fun' I always think of Black Sabbath- rock and roll rebel:

'The ministry of joy that still hasn't laughed'

Brexit trade deal advises governments to use Netscape Communicator and SHA-1. Why? It's all in the DNA

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"I link to the journalist's Twitter comment which links to his FT story so you can use the link to get past the paywall, read the story, and say something worthwhile"

Ok. Its an article which basically start to finish says wait and see.

"But you can't say anything worthwhile, your support of this frictionless trade deal fiction is exposed for the nonsense that it is so you are reduced to blubbing about Twitter links instead of the article itself."

Your the coward dipshit who posted a twitter comment instead of the article link. An article which admits it doesnt know much about whats to come (sensibly).

Still waiting to see which troll you are. Or if your just an idiot. Either way go on take off the AC.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"I link to journalists working for the Financial Times who have interviewed British businesses"

So not a comment on twitter? Or doesnt matter that its just some small comment on twitter because its someone saying what you want?

"Let's stop the nonsense here"

Sure, which troll are you? Dont post AC lets see your post history.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"Here's a thing... UK business doesn't actually want a bonfire of red tape because they like trading with EU nation."

Your link is to twitter. I dont think a comment on twitter speaks for UK business. UK businesses trading with the EU, rest of the world and domestically.

"And all the Tory party knows is it wants to cut red tape but other than that it doesn't know what."

Thats ok. There are other parties and come election time we can vote for someone else if the tories have no ideas.

"Speaking of dogmatic and bereft of ideas, looking forward to your reply."

Hopefully I have helped with your situation.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"You claim at the UK could do better out of the EU, yet it is behind Germany"

Yes. 2 unrelated observations there.

"despite "East Germany being screwed up by the communists"."

To which West Germany took a massive hit to try and help East Germany catch up economically. The amusement being that the communists were so economically bad they could even make the Germans poor!

"Therefore being part of the EU did not impede Germany being a stronger economy than the UK"

Very observant. The 2 unrelated observations yes.

"Whatever the UK's failings are, they're not due to being part of the EU."

All the UK's failings no. But better off outside the EU yes.

"If the UK were top of the EU league table, you might have a point about it being constrained by the EU. But it isn't and you don't."

The top no. In the top yes. In fact of the 27 EU economies the UK is at the top. Depending on measurement even second only to Germany. Which of course makes the point that remainers will fall on Germany as the example for lack of examples.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Roland6

Cheers for clearing up which bit you ment I honestly wasnt sure.

"Basically, the idea that the UK was somehow "constrained" by its EU member is a baseless soundbite"..."I get that being in the EU prevented the UK from doing stupid things like import stuff from China that the Chinese government was subsidizing to deliberately distort the global market, or removing any linkage between trade and democracy and human rights"

So the EU didnt constrain us but did. And so it did. Why is it stupid to buy what the Chinese tax payer is subsidising for us? It was steel from their massive growth boom that collapsed and they had no use for the stuff, damn right we should snap it up. The US lost hard by putting high tariffs on that steel, they lost jobs and damaged their economy (people) by doing so.

Also why must we dictate democracy to trade?

"The evidence clearly shows that the UK has both grown its non-EU trade whilst being a member and been a global player - at times standing (rightly or wrongly) beside the US whilst "the EU" dithered."

As we can continue to do so. And without the constraints you mention.

"But I've yet to hear of any instance where being inside the EU has had any meaningful impact on UK (non-EU) exports."

Only exports. Not imports? Only the work we do for others not the buying of things we want?

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"The claim he quoted when he replied to you."

That still doesnt tell me which claim. If you know feel free to say

"Anyway, if Germany does better than the UK and both are in the EU, the problem isn't being constrained by the EU."

Interesting the EU has 27 countries in your example but Germany is the one to pitch against. And there is good reason people use Germany as the EU example. Remember the twin engine of EU growth which was France and Germany effectively carrying the EU. Then France got that socialist president who screwed stuff up. Which is why Germany is the example for remain and not the others.

Germany having a wildly undervalued currency exporting to the EU with a large manufacturing base thanks to East Germany being screwed up by the communists.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@AC

"Why are we even debating the definition of 'minimum standard' with you?"

Are you? Which poster are you? And the reason seems to be the mistaken assumption that the minimum standard is better than reducing that minimum standard.

"If it boils a certain amount of water or toasts bread using a certain amount of energy or less then it reaches the minimum standard. The only reason to diverge from the minimum standard is to permit more energy to be used."

Actually with the kettle it doesnt reduce the energy use, it uses the same amount of energy (technically but insignificantly more) to warm the water longer than to just boil it. So the minimum standard doesnt do anything good there at all.

Also as to using more energy, is that bad? Why is that the assumption when surely it should be the trade off of doing the job with reasonable resource use.

"UK manufacturers (those that are still going after the self-inflicted bureaucracy) will have to meet the EU minimum standard to sell to the EU. There is no debate."

Absolutely, I have never debated this. I do point out that we wont be forced to use those EU standards domestically as we were as a member. Instead the EU will be treated like everywhere else in the world and we export what they want to their standards, but domestically we have our own.

"The UK is in the EU's orbit and there's nothing the UK can do about it, because it it now has no voice at the table."

Why would we care? The EU can use whatever standards it wants, as does the US, as does China, as does India, as does the entire world.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Alan Brown

"IF the UK standard is "better" then it beats the EU standard so there isn't an issue"

Except if the EU standard is a minimum, and its set too restrictive, then its not better but worse. In the EU we must accept the minimum restrictions by the EU regardless of it being better or worse.

"The only time you "need" to diverge in the ways described is if you wish to go below what the EU regards as acceotable for its imports"

Yes. Which can also be better. The idea that tighter restrictions = better is entirely incorrect.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Roland6

"And no evidence was presented to substantiate this claim."

What claim?

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Roland6

"Actually, the big issue with the US market is that it is so protectionist - something that won't change anytime soon. Trump et al didn't like the EU because it was big enough to kick back and didn't simply rollover..."

Of course the EU rolls over. How long have they been trying to sort out data protection? Trump didnt like the EU because its a bunch of scroungers on NATO and when they kicked the hornets nest with Ukraine they ran behind the US to fix the fallout.

"with little to show other than rose tinted versions of the empire days..."

Why is the empire always a remainer thing? I am sure some leaver must have said something but its always a remainer talking about the empire.

"the UK was making a good job at being global whilst being a member of the EU"

And that is while constrained by the EU.

Re: Dumfuks

@Roland6

"Yes it could, however, this is England, where those with influence and power daydream about going back to the 18th century..."

Do they?

"Brexit does gives give an opportunity for the UK to take the lead just as we had the opportunity post-WWII"

Broke, rebuilding bombed infrastructure, reduced population and hating the Axis countries while being highly distrusting of half the world who were under communism? I like to think we are in a better position now.

"but somehow I don't see the public school brainwashed establishment changing its spots anytime soon..."

Me either. We can agree here. What we seem to disagree with is you dont carry this over to the EU gov on top of our gov. I apply this view to both lots which means a benefit to cutting out the further detached EU gov.

Re: And in other documents

@Roland6

"Thatcher had her eyes open; the same can't be said for Farage and the current crop of Conservatives..."

Ok. And yet they all agree (conservatives iffy on this) when it comes to the EU. Thatcher and Farage being more Libertarian than the Conservatives. Certainly more interested in free markets and trade.

Maybe a good idea is a good idea on its own merit even if you dont like the person saying it. Kinda like some remainers not necessarily liking Blair but having the same view about remaining.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Roland6

"Trouble is BoJo et al talked about global Britain and that somehow after Brexit the UK would become some big fish in the world"

BoJo talks crap, we can agree. But global Britain doesnt sound a bad thing does it? And we are a big fish in the financial markets already. Do you fear the market? Improvements, reduced cost, progress?

"yet I'm sure you can easily reel off a long list of US companies that have been successful in the EU and UK."

Its amazing isnt it. The EU moans at the lack of regulation in the US yet the US can produce successful companies while the EU.... complains. The UK has successful financial markets the EU have tried to bog down with regulation and the EU... complains.

"About the best strategy adopted some years back by a UK government was to encourage foreign companies to do their R&D in the UK which nicely sidestepped the UK establishment problem with investing in innovative startups."

Great idea, private money innovating to find what works and the beneficiaries being people. Instead of the gov picking winners and losing the taxpayer a lot of money.

Re: 20 year old tech...

@Roland6

"Without standards what sanctions are possible?"

Do we have no standards at all? When you go into the shop do you not have any standards when you purchase? Are we giving up on consumer safety laws? Or are we just not having the EU's laws imposed on us?

"We can talk about consumer choice, but if the savvy consumer purchases kettles that conform to EU standards"

They get an underpowered paperweight that takes longer to achieve a goal because some idiot politician doesnt understand the thermodynamic issue of heating water.

"there won't be much of a market for UK non-standard products which raises the question"

You just shot your substandard complaint in the foot. If people choose to buy only EU standard products then we wont import substandard because people wont buy them and that worry is for nought. If people are smart enough to choose then we dont need the laws banning what people dont want. The only reason for such laws being to stop people getting what they want since its not a consumer protection issue.

"just what was the benefit of being able to specify your own standard in this specific instance"

Again the fun example of a toaster that does more than warm bread slowly and a kettle that boils water at the time you desire a hot beverage. Going further than that consumer choice and even cheaper products/produce from the world than in the EU. Vs being told we are not allowed to choose because it wont protect EU business.

United States Congress stormed by violent followers of defeated president, Biden win confirmation halted

Re: Hmm

How these rioters got it wrong-

https://babylonbee.com/news/ignorant-republicans-riot-and-dont-even-get-a-free-big-screen-tv-out-of-it

Re: Hmm

Thats the other one! It must have been the extreme left who infiltrated the protest and caused all the trouble

Hmm

Surely there is some mistake. I expected to read that it was a mostly peaceful protest, or should they have burned and looted to get that description?

I expect we will hear of the police brutality of shooting someone and look forward to various attention seekers and sports personalities (yeah same thing) taking the knee.

I assume Biden and Harris are already working on a fund for bailing out anyone who was arrested or charged?

Maybe people reading the lovely suggestions of how to remove the president for the last few years have finally taken it to heart?

Like brexit surely the large minority should dictate the result and the majority are just idiots or influenced by foreign powers?

I am sure there is more

Amazon turns Victorian industrialist with $2bn building project to house workers near new headquarters

Eh?

Inequality waaaa. Then the rich jump through the hoops of building housing to provide for the much poorer and this is bad? I thought wealth transfer was to be a good thing? Or is that only when the government take a pound and give a penny (or a dollar to give a cent)? And yes Amazon could pay its staff more but it would be stupid to do so and no amount will ever be enough.

Brexit freezes 81,000 UK-registered .eu domains – and you've all got three months to get them back

Re: Not just money

@Roland6

"Yes mistakes are being made"

Thats a very political response to serious and intentional inflicting of damage. Stamping on someones head as 'mistakes being made'. This isnt mistakes being made but inflicting damage to bring people to that unification goal.

"we can't say that significant amounts of damage hasn't been done to the UK in the last 4 years due to political pigheadedness..."

We can agree to that but probably with different opinions of how. 3 of those years fighting to remain and 1 with a last ditch effort leading to some sort of deal.

"but remember there is no historical parallel, all other states eg. USA, China came into being ie. were unified, through war."

Europe almost too. The attempt was made. So this is a different approach to force member countries to unify and become reliant on the EU (as per list).

"Remember also the intent of the UN and the WTO, taken to their logical conclusion unification in some form is the inevitable conclusion."

Unification or cooperation? One being very different from the other. We have seen unification and how well that works. So many empires. We have seen cooperation. The successes the world has gone through and continues to enjoy the fruits of.

"Fundamentally, it doesn't really matter whether the UK is or isn't in the EU, we will still be impacted by whatever happens in continental Europe..."

That is true. But we are better insulated by being out than in. For example an EU bailout fund for covid ties members together much more than our freedom of not being in it. Who honestly thinks it will go well in repayment terms when Italy cant pay it current debts and Greece has no chance for what it already owes. France is pushing up against the same issue. Of the few net contributors left they will be lucky to see a penny (or cent) returned.

Re: This is to punish the UK

@Doctor Syntax

"You still haven't grasped the notion that you only won by a slim majority"

So the majority who did vote voted for leave. Meaning even less voted to remain.

"about 1 in 2 of your fellow-countrymen weren't bothered enough either way to vote"

That glorious utopia of shining light wasnt enough to get people off their arses to vote. Something so important and great that they couldnt care less about voting to remain.

"approved of being in the EU"

You assume to know the vote of people who didnt vote and cared so little about that Union you love that they didnt vote?

"On that basis the EU had and still has many friends in the UK"

Friends or hangers on? Friendship assumes a 2 way street, which you point out isnt really the case. The EU has admirers fluttering their eyelids at it but it doesnt care. You feeling so inclined think the EU should stand by its 'friends' but it doesnt care about your existence. Sorry but they dont reciprocate your feelings.

"It's just that you're not one of them. You're not alone but you don't speak for everyone."

Never claimed to. I speak for me. I see the EU's indifference to you and dont care. If the EU wasnt indifferent to you and saw you as its friend I wouldnt care either. It makes no difference to me. The EU gov cares as much about you as some committee on hair ties (assuming your a bloke who doesnt use them).

Re: Not just money

@Roland6

"So what?"

Thats your response to the list! Doesnt that worry you? The methods employed to reach this utopia unification is to inflict as much damage as possible to force union? To me that list isnt 'so what' as 'holy fuck'.

"Unless there is a eureka moment, it will be something for the grandchildren and their children to worry about."

Surely the worry is the ongoing damage inflicted to reach this unification. It doesnt paint a good picture for unifying and shows people to be so far down the pecking order as to be barely considered by the EU.

"However, the UK's concern is what happens if/when the EU27 do unify, as the UK be outside the fence."

Not sure thats a concern. We will be out of it and so not inflicted with it. Assuming it survives that far.

Re: Not just money

@Roland6

"There is sufficient resistance in France, Germany etc. for it to remain something those in Brussels will mention, but actually do very little to actually make it happen anytime soon."

Germany resists fiscal union, and now has mutualised debt.

Greece is bought and paid for.

Italy needs debt forgiveness.

France is close to desiring debt forgiveness.

Germany's migration crisis became an EU migration project pushed on members.

The Euro as a currency cannot work in its current implementation requiring fiscal union (its also mandatory to move toward if you join the EU).

Looks like they are working on getting this ever closer union they push

Re: They also don't have to do this based on the rules either

@needmorehare

"So I wouldn't call it an EU punishment as much as a stupid TLD registrar decision."

The registrar found out after the EU made the decision in what looked like either an attempt at punishing the UK or total incompetence. The registrar publicly explained they had only just found out (I think from the news if I remember right) because as this article explains, it goes against the industry standard approach.

The effort being so badly thought through that the decision was changed 3 times and not by the registrar.

Re: This is to punish the UK

@Roland6

"bring into question just what his idea of friends is."

Exactly, its political talk. Diplomatic and polite and of no real substance. The problem is people judging our government as politicians but looking at the EU gov as if they are somehow not politicians.

Re: This is to punish the UK

@Doctor Syntax

"It would be smarter for the EU to stand by its UK friends."

This assumes the EU considers people in the UK friends. Even that members are friends. Remainers probably factor into their thoughts as friends about as much as unicorns walk across my yard. They didnt want the country to leave but thats a practical perspective of the UK having one of the few useful militarys in western Europe and our financial contributions.

@Kieren

Good article. This situation has been a farce but up to the usual standards of politicians.