Posts by codejunky

Prez Trump's trade war reshapes electronics supply chains as China production slows

Re: Allow me to remind you

@Kiwi

"Some years back I used to support a couple of kids. The wrecked economy of their land meant both parents (him a doctor and her a school teacher) working full time could not even match the paltry $10NZ I was contributing each week."

A few decades back we had rolling blackouts, crap cars and high unemployment. That was protectionism at work. The US has high employment, the UK has high employment and the EU proper is still not great. Economically the US and UK are doing ok (even with Trump's trade protections) and the EU is barely above recession.

"Look at the places that've had massive inflation. Think your car will keep running when you cannot afford to buy petrol? Or when expensive parts like spark plugs are each worth a few years of your salary?"

Well said, that would be a horrific situation. Luckily buying from the global market brings down prices and lowers inflation because the local provider has to provide the product and not rip people off as they do. Otherwise they lose out to someone else even in other countries. This is why the US tariffs against Chinese steel has cost the US population not China.

"As to healthy eating, if you have space grow your own food - as much as you can. It is something I can honestly say was life-changing for me - much less stress"

That is a great hobby if your into it. Tbh I would kill it all off, I am not green thumbed at all. But for the price of seeds, effort and purchasing items to do it I can buy much cheaper and much more varied choice from many outlets competing for my business by providing globally sourced options.

"Certainly, when you food is produced locally you can bet it's fresher and less likely to have been exposed to pollution. Of course, you could also import your melaninmilk powder from China, but it might taste a bit odd and you might feel a bit funny for a while."

The UK doesnt and probably cant produce enough food for its population. Growing at home is a hobby but it wont sustain you for any real length of time without a large garden dedicated to food. And of course there have been a number of scandals just from within the EU for food. I also dont have room for a slaughterhouse and to keep the raw and walking food.

"Being able to get stuff done locally is a lot more convenient for someone who has to work."

Really? I found it convenient to order food, well crafted tools, entertainment, electronics, etc all online. I find it convenient to read reviews of products before buying and I would hate to look to buy a car before the age of internet shopping, because I remember it.

Re: Allow me to remind you

@JohnFen

"It's only pointless if you don't care about how well your local economy does."

And as I said, I dont. When I get in my car I want to know I can safely get from A to B. There is no comfort in breaking down but knowing I kept people in jobs they dont do very well.

I want a good and healthy diet without it leaving me unable to pay other bills, that is far more important to me than keeping someone in an overpaid job.

Who I keep off the dole is less important to me than something that works, I can afford and is reliable. I have 1 wage for 2 adult people. I can imagine how much worse parents have it especially single parents who would probably prefer to survive than have a warm fuzzy feeling of keeping someone else living well for doing a bad job.

Re: Allow me to remind you

@Doctor Syntax

"As a matter of interest what do you anticipate the impact to be when part of your domestic market becomes part of your international market?"

It wont. This is why I am happy to ignore a lot of crying and toy throwing from the cradle because a fair amount of it is nothing more than hot air. I wont be surprised if there is an upsurge in domestic work but unless the EU literally decides to cut itself off from the UK market then there will be little difference. Of course the USSR and N Korea have gone with the lock-down approach so it is possible the EU could but do you think thats likely?

Re: Allow me to remind you

My problem with buying local is it is a pointless objective in of itself. I want the best, the one that does the job and does it well without breaking the bank. On a single income supporting an out of work disabled dependent is not cheap, and I wont go out of my way to make it more expensive.

I dont consider buying local a pro or con. I am glad for a reliable car instead of what the UK used to produce. I am glad for food that costs a small percentage of my wage and I dont care how many trips it had to make. I am glad for the mobile phone which is only a mass produced and ubiquitous technology because of global trade (and many of us remember it being a new technology with battery pack).

I care about the quality, the price, sometimes the time it takes to arrive, the quality of service and customer care. If it is made in Britain or not is so far down my priority list it practically doesnt exist. But then in my line of work we cater for the domestic and international market.

Apple won't be appy: US Supremes give green light to massive lawsuit over App Store prices

Re: @JustJasonThings

@cropr

"Apple has for the iOS app developers 100% market share in the distribution of the app and in the payment service that handles the sale of digital goods."

Thats why I went through the levels of market share. People know what they are signing up to with apple or google, As you say on apples platform, in apples app distribution apple controls distribution. That is a very specific level very clearly stating it is within apples very specific realm. So yes at that level I can expect they have 100% market share.

As you say they dont have to do it that way but that is part of their product/service. If people dont like it as you say they can go elsewhere.

@JustJasonThings

"Apple dominates the iOS application store, with 100% market share. That's pretty dominating"

Market share of what? Their own platform? Their own handset? Certainly not the smart phone market. It is amazing that apple dominate their own OS, their own handset. Its theirs of course they do, it belongs to them.

Anyone can have 100% market share if you remove measuring anything beyond themselves. Damn, McDonalds has 100% market share within those big M outlets.

Quit worrying about killer robots, they are coming whether you like it or not – and they absolutely will not stop

Hmm

I know people tend to think towards the terminator kind of rise of the machines. But I do wonder if it will be more like Screamers. Automated development of cheap, easily replaceable and easy to modify machines. Evolving against the challenges it faces but otherwise pretty simple.

EU lumbers towards Apple probe as Spotify cries foul over App Store's 30% cut

Re: @DavCrav

@AC

"I think that is rather the point - Apple want to price Spotify out and get users to switch to Apple music. Apple are cutting into 30% of Spotify's revenue."

No. The point is Apple can price themselves out of apps. If they choose to shaft developers then developers dont need to develop for Apple. As I said M$ didnt succeed in mobile because nobody would develop apps for it. The only real problem is Apple applying different charges to be protectionist about their own services.

"They are adding no value"

That is wrong. They are providing the very platform and vast numbers of users of the IPhone. If they provide no value then people wouldnt pay it. There is an alternative.

" If the operate as a cartel(all car and lorry manufacturers) or gatekeepers (Apple app store + mandatory payment provider), it harms market competition."

Apple itself doesnt have the capacity to act as a cartel. They have competition. Very successful competition. Which was the point with his car and lorry analogy that I have no problem with one of them trying to do that, they will be undercut and removed from business thanks to the market.

"Apple are basically charging Spotify 30% as pizzo.."

That they charge some apps a premium sounds to be the problem. It sounds as though it should be levelled against all developed apps. But thats it. Apple do provide value. Their overpriced handsets for a restrictive app environment must provide value or people would ditch it for the cheaper and more open Android. Even if the value is just to say 'I have an IPhone'. And if the value provided is a 30% charge or more then people will pay it. Otherwise they wont.

@DavCrav

"Should car manufacturers take a slice of all profits on drive-throughs? Lorry manufacturers take a cut of the value of goods delivered on their trucks?"

Why not? Lets see that applied, and of course others dont charge that way and so people wont buy that and will go elsewhere. Do the same with apps, there is android. There were other options too with M$.

In fact M$ didnt take off due to a lack of apps, it wasnt appealing to developers. If Apple price themselves out then they will lose the app community. Otherwise people are willing to pay.

The only real problem seems to be applying the pricing against different types of apps differently.

As the UK updates its .eu Brexit advice yet again, an alternative hovers into view

Empire!

Regularly brexit supporters are told we are looking back to the days of an empire in our backward looking ways-

https://www.politico.eu/article/frenzy-in-firenze-4-takeaways-from-eu-lead-candidate-debate/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

Guess what! In the jousting match to become another pain in the ass we have the idiot whos name begins with a V saying-

"The new world order is not an order of nation states," he said. "The new world order is an order of empires — empires like China, like India, like Russia, like the United States of America." He added, "Only together in a real European union, we can succeed and survive."

Apparently they would also like an FBI (EU version) and an army. At the same time wondering why people are voting for pretty much anyone offering them an alternative to the wet dreams of the EU.

Re: Say what?

@Robert Carnegie

"But we're not awash with ships, are we?"

The EU looks to the UK and France for its military capability.

"As for international law, I imagine there would be a consensus view that Spain merely was repatriating territory that was theirs anyway. Less trouble."

That would be little trouble under the condition Spain and various other European countries also did the same with their territories. I expect international law would have little problem with Spain taking a kicking for trying to steal.

"Likewise Ireland, but that case was also going to involve persuading Donald Trump to endorse Irish reunification and peacemaking"

The problem with Irish reunification is part of Ireland is now owned by the EU and the other half is part of the UK. It has always been an option to put the EU border in the water, Just not splitting the UK.

Re: Say what?

@Robert Carnegie

"My publicly informed impression is that if Spain sends tanks into Gibraltar on Brexit Day and puts the English-speaking residents in cattle trucks, Britain won't be able to do much about it on our own and we won't have any friend to help"

Spain already made comments about taking Gibraltar and our response was that we are happy to send a few ships in that direction. After creating a puddle the Spanish changed their minds. Thats without calling on anyone else who would be interested in keeping international law.

Meh

So the EU controller changes its advice and so the UK updates it advice too. Seems reasonable. The only unreasonable part of this being the EU domains not being allowed to continue to the end of their contracts but that was a political decision not a thought through decision.

President Trump sits down with Twitter boss for crunch talks: Why am I losing followers?

Re: Ha

@Santa from Exeter

"Quoting the continentaltelegraph is hardly proof of much seeing as it's a splinter from the Adam Smith institute, which (although protesting its not political) is about as Capitalist as it gets."

How is that wrong or a bad thing (the capitalist bit)? We can look globally at this phenomenon and see that capitalism is one of the predictors of becoming a successful country. So the idea that capitalist is to be taken as a bad thing is a really tough thing to sell. I do see some people trying to claim capitalism is bad but they are typically spoiled brats in a rich capitalist country.

As to you disliking the Continental telegraph, tough shit. I laugh if someone puts a daily mail or guardian link to prove their point, but if it actually quotes (in this case sanders) and has actual links to verify then crying you dont like the source doesnt change the message.

Re: Ha

@jake

"I assume you, codejunky, have access to both his and the dems in question's tax returns to make such a sweeping statement, and thus you can prove what you say. So please, do so. Post proof or retract."

Ok I am now going off memory but Maddow(?) was going to release how bad Trumps tax returns were for a previous year and found nothing interesting. It also turned out he paid more than Sanders-

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-team-tax-returns-rachel-maddow-2017-3?r=US&IR=T

As for the 1% comment- https://www.continentaltelegraph.com/politics/bernie-warren-kamala-theyre-all-part-of-the-1/

of course Bernie seems to defend paying so little because he earned the money. Which oddly is how people generally make money-

https://www.continentaltelegraph.com/politics/bernie-sanders-doesnt-really-believe-in-higher-tax-not-for-him-anyway/

"Or are you simply bullshitting hopefully?"

I can understand the hope there. As I said this is a problem for the dems who seem to be pushing a 'moral righteousness' campaign which only adds more hurdles for them to pass to appeal to their own base. And as I said it doesnt seem to add any hurdles for Trump to appeal to his base.

I am not trying to defend trump here, I dont think he is a particularly good president. But the quality of his opposition is pretty bad. From the UK I was hoping Rand Paul would win (I know slim chance).

Re: Ha

@Hollerithevo

"Well, at least they released their tax returns."

There is no legal obligation for them to. It isnt something they have to do, and the dems made a rod for their own back by trying to make it a demand. Trump hasnt and no republican has reason to, but for the dems to appeal to the ravenous tax return crowd they stirred they need to. That doesnt make trump a good person but it makes an extra hurdle for a dem to seem a good person.

Second to that is the 1% problem. All the railing against the 1% and accusing trump of helping the rich falls hard when the dems running are the 1% who pay even less tax than him in some cases. These very 'righteous' dems need slapping down if there is to be a dem opposition to trump. Hypocritical idiots eating themselves isnt a good starting point.

"Trump should now have no hesitation in releasing his"

Why should he? There is no obligation but he doesnt have to prove his tax returns to his base nor his supporters. His opponents cried in the street and on youtube for the worlds amusement but he can never win them over. The dems however have to win those people over, and by adding this requirement is highlighting them for what they attack.

"He can't be worse than them, surely?"

Possibly. I wouldnt be shocked and I doubt you would to. But this isnt about winning some moral argument its about trying to win the presidency. And if trump is so bad then making the requirements to take him on more difficult doesnt sound like a strategy but a car crash. So far non-charitable and 1%'s are his opponents. They are trying to appeal to a base against 1%'s who demand more money from the rich. Take that away and go back to how each would run the economy and life long politicians should easily win against trump.

Ha

"And, according to Reuters, the commander-in-chief was more concerned with the rate at which he was haemorrhaging Twitter followers."

Someone should tell him that the democrats have been releasing tax returns and showing how little they contribute to charity or that they are in the top 1% they cry over. Basically the bad man is probably not as bad as his potential competition.

We've read the Mueller report. Here's what you need to know: ██ ██ ███ ███████ █████ ███ ██ █████ ████████ █████

Re: Motive?

@Zog_but_not_the_first

Its has to be Russia because why else would Trump be elected? The Democrat version of Trump- Bernie (an outsider to the party and not the 'mainstream') had no chance as the Democrats dictated their winner at the start. The Democrat choice being of course someone pretty unpopular and alienated voters by insulting them. The Republicans having what was described as a 'clown car' (aka choice) of candidates who competed and lost because they were more of the same (Rand Paul being the exception).

So out of more of the same or the Democrats (ha) chosen one why would they choose the option that said 'we want actual change'? It makes no sense, it must be the pesky Russians or reds under the bed. The alternative would mean people have choice and it isnt always the one a snowflake would choose.

Did someone forget to tell NTT about Brexit? Japanese telco eyes London for global HQ

Re: Makes sense

@AC

"Stop banging on about democracy. Even you don't believe it."

I do believe in democracy. Its not perfect but throughout the ages it has been shown to be the best way forward for the people living under it. That is why I consider it so important. It was even a strong part of the referendum too.

"It was a complete sham based on lies and illegal funding/promotion."

True. Both official campaigns were shameful and the fact that the power of government was even threatened to be used against us if we didnt vote to remain is seriously concerning. Lies and propaganda were bad enough but attempted coercion by our own government was not something we should be proud of.

"The goalposts have moved so much in the 2+ years"

Absolutely. We had a referendum to enact art50 immediately after the result and it was delayed. Then negotiations were stopped as May has tried to BINO and now stalling because parliament cant decide what kind of remain they want when the result was to leave. Some people even demanding more referendums until they get the right answer.

"Of course, you don't want another referrendum as you know you'll lose"

It wouldnt matter. This is the democracy part, we vote, we implement and after a time we could look to change things. Unfortunately some people seem to think democracy is to keep voting until it gives the 'right' answer and then stop.

"Democracy is what people want now, not in the past"

You might want to go back to school for that one sorry. We vote a political party in an election. We dont then immediately have another election because you dont like the result.

"The fact brexit hasn't happened yet is your problem. People have changed their minds."

it is a problem yes. For all of us. It means your opinion and mine and everyone else is worth nothing. We might as well have a dictator and give up on elections. That is the consequence of ditching democracy. You also claim people have changed their minds but then that is your opinion. We had a referendum and then even a GE and still we wanted to leave. Farage is polling high for the MEP elections.

"Why don't you tell us the real reason you want brexit?"

Because I believe its the right thing for the country. Economics, trade, democracy, sovereignty are all good reasons to leave.

"Are you ashamed?"

Of our government yes. Of the people demanding to overturn democracy yes. Of those determined to keep us trapped in the EU yes.

"If you cared about democracy you wouldn't be against another referrendum, after all, which ever side wins, democracy will have spoken."

Lets assume that is true and democracy would be served by another referendum. Then the same would apply to the referendum we already had on the same subject and it reflects the desires of those who voted. So democracy has already spoken, its time to listen.

Re: Makes sense

@AC

"You can be damn well be sure that many of us haven't given up trying to stop people like you from ruining our country through lies and delusion."

Is that trying to stop brexit from happening or stop us from being tied into the EU we voted to leave?

"What sort of person wanys to gloat about ruining everything for everybody anyway?"

Beats me. I really dont understand how some people can be so happy to oppose democracy or be so against the electorate. But they do with or without my understanding.

Re: Honda's planned closure of its Swindon plant

@Dan 55

"But Honda's opposition to Brexit in any form which causes more difficulty trading with rEU as well as other Japanese car companies and Japanese business in general has been well reported"

That goes in direct contrast with your previous claim- There are plenty of reasons why a business, Japanese or otherwise, doesn't shout "y'all done fucked up". Either they are widely reported as being against brexit and using the obvious and easy scapegoat that is brexit (used by other companies excusing everything but the weather) or they actually mean what they say. It takes more guts to not blame brexit and to do so currently so I would actually believe them when they say it isnt the reason. Certainly against someone outside guessing.

"but she wasn't claiming it, she was pointing to an article on Nikkei which said it"

So outsider vs the business itself not taking the easy way out by blaming brexit. Again the company is likely more reliable.

"I double dare you to say that Nikkei doesn't know what it's talking about when it comes to Japanese business culture."

And the goalpost shifts. Outsider guessing the reason for Honda closing UK plant vs actual Honda themselves saying outright brexit isnt the reason. And your attempt to reenforce the credentials of this outsider guess is 'I dare you to say they dont know Japanese culture'. I dont care if they know every Asian culture outsider guess vs the very people themselves on Honda's motives.

Aka horses mouth vs mindreader.

"Here's the thing, being part of the EU doesn't mean the world ends at the EU's borders"

Awesome! So lets go make our own trade agreements, scrap the EU tariffs and quotas and get on with the world.... Oh wait. Nope the world ends at the EU borders.

"I couldn't care less about Cameron or Osborne, that combination of clowns has ended up causing huge damage to the UK"

We can agree on that.

"Carney however got to work the next day to avoid his predictions coming true, unfortunately it took a tonne of QE."

Actually no. Carney ended up having to backtrack on what problems we faced since brexit was more damp squib than he and other 'experts' led people to believe. Aka they were caught with their pants on fire and quite seriously.

"If you don't believe experts, believe British businesses themselves."

Again with not believing experts. I just said be careful which experts you choose since remainers got burned by lying experts really badly. I am impressed by that link! They actually willingly publicly announced they polled a whole 89 CFO's in total. And the only conclusion to come from it is what we already know- its not brexit its the uncertainty causing the problems.

Now to put that in context- Brexit requires nothing more complicated than a unilateral decision to stop participating in the EU. Thats it, we can do that at any time its that easy. We had 2 years to prepare for that and instead we have had every attempt to remain. We have a parliament at a standstill because they are debating the type of remain we should have. We have Mays deal to stay in permanently, various suggestions of remaining in one thing or another and an absolute effort not to brexit.

Aka remain caused the damage (uncertain to brexit) and continuing remainer efforts are continuing the damage. That doesnt mean we couldnt talk about some sort of trade deal but brexit is simple to deliver and can be done right away. The infighting is to remain in some way or other.

Re: Honda's planned closure of its Swindon plant

@Dan 55

"It was actually about Brexit, or so says Nikkei."

So we shouldnt believe Honda. The ones who made the decision, thought it through, probably discussed and debated the reasoning, who have an intimate understanding of the decision making process to bring about the end decision.

Instead we should believe someone you found claiming its for other reasons?

"She is unsurprised at London being chosen as a global hub, but would be better still if the UK stays in the EU."

That makes little sense-

To counteract brexit we should become a global hub makes sense. Instead of the world ending at EU borders our world becomes the freaking world.

Being in the EU would be more helpful to this? That makes no sense. If the way to counter the effects of brexit is to open up to the world then remaining would be the worst thing. It limits our borders and removes that global openness she was just spouting.

"She's an expert, if we still believe them."

Be careful when selecting experts. Remain got burned badly with their experts- Carney, Osborne, Cameron and the predictions of a recession immediately on a brexit result, then moved to art50 being handed over, now some point in the future but its still brexit's fault. And various expert predictions that hit the deck so fast remainers have had to ditch so many of their reasons to remain or be shamed for lack of integrity.

Re: Honda's planned closure of its Swindon plant

@Stern Fenster

"Didn't Honda go to considerable trouble to point out that this was nothing to do with Brexit"

Careful. If you start using facts the remainers will descend upon you with froth.

Re: Makes sense

@Dr_N

"As opposed to those who just don't show up on the UK figures, eh ?"

The same methods used to compare across the EU yes.

"You've won. Brexit is coming."

Have we left? We passed the leaving date but its my understanding that we are still in the EU. When is this coming? We were told it was 2 years after art50

"You can wind your neck in now and enjoy it."

When it happens I am sure I will. But there is no winding the neck in here, I pointed out a fact and you dont seem to like it. As per usual my feelings about that is aww didums.

Re: Makes sense

@Charlie Clark

"For a given definition of law… the favourable treatment of trusts appeals to some and the libel laws to others."

I am not going to argue either of those points (nor did I downvote you) but I want to agree with the first part. The given definition of the law is very important, if it is constant it can be undesirable but yet it is understood. When the law is flaky and not trustworthy in the manner that it is applied then there are problems.

We are considered pretty trustworthy globally, we do have good rule of law, especially when compared with many other countries (yes there are other good ones too).

Ha

In spite of brexit? Is this tripe still being pushed? Bad news- because of brexit, good news- despite brexit. Its almost like there wasnt a country without the EU. That figment of someones desire that has existed for a short time and spent a good portion of that time in self inflicted crises.

Business decisions dont have to be because or despite brexit. They can be on the value of the decision.

Re: Makes sense

@Yet Another Anonymous coward

Also it is where one of the largest financial centres in the world is. With skilled workers and good rule of law. Not necessarily cheap workers (if thats what you want there are plenty unemployed in the EU proper).

Google Fiber experiment ends with Choc Factory paying Louisville $3.8m to clean up its mess

Hmm

Sounds good. Markets working as they should do.

.EU wot m8? Brexit smacks fresh registrations of bloc's top-level domain

Re: The author dragging in the Soviet Union as a comparison point?

@werdsmith

"Errm doing well? Not according to a bloke down the pub, he says its about to collapse."

I can imagine Junker in the pub and looking tatty but wearing trackies? But yes Junker has got his excuses in for the collapse of the EU, Some other president said brexit was the end of western civilisation so that could be taken either way. The creator (or one?) of the Euro doesnt expect it to survive based on its implementation. And thats before we start comparing EU actions against actual economics (where the EU doesnt throw out the book. They read it and do the exact opposite).

Loose Women woman's IR35 win deals another high-profile blow to UK taxman's grip on rules

@Phage

"So yes, I do blame the management of the companies for their failure to recognise that their pursuit of profit, whilst legal, is entirely immoral and unethical. The public recognise unethical and inequitable actions when they see it. Even if they are in situations that are not covered by statute !"

That is the same public ranging from cash in hand to using ISA to avoid tax? The same public who put hard earned money into a pension because the private business is far more reliable at pensions than the government alternative. And we are talking about a public who ranges from the most disastrous commie believer to the most disastrous righty believer and everything in between. Who have seen governments worldwide trash economies while increased globalisation and trade has made huge leaps in eradicating actual poverty in the world.

"The problem lies with people (yes you DB) who tell us that we cannot blame the companies for acting unethically, because they are not compelled to. We should hold them to a higher ethical standard than HMRC Regs."

But what hangman mob would be so ethical? Look at the idiots demanding more money from business but then crying they want jobs, and even some idiots demanding excessive minimum wages! The loud gum-bangers are the minority while the rest of us are happy with our improving lives. Hell even the loud gum-bangers would cry if their cushy world started taking away the very things they have become accustomed to.

"Public vote with their feet after name and shaming"

That is about all we can do, and people do. But its not enough for some people so more and more demands for 'transparency' are made for the people to see. And almost nobody cares.

I will say this voting with feet and shaming does cause a problem for SJW. Such behaviour is supposed to be rejected and looked down on.

"Introduce turnover taxes for companies domiciled in tax-havens"

Why? Do you own anything? Do you have private property? If the answer is yes then why is theft ok? If the answer is no then you may wish to move to a socialist country.

I assume you intend to reach a retirement age? If so then would you like to be on the welfare system or would you like to actually have something to live on when you get there?

Article 13 reasons why... we agree with EU, nods Britain at Council of Ministers

Re: 'making Google's vid-hosting platform liable for infringements on copyrighted material would'

@ratfox

"And even if they all band together and refuse, Google will probably just close down the service, like they did in Spain. Part of the traffic will go to other countries, and the publishers will lose again."

This is the interesting part of the problem. People complained that this Google service existed, only to complain when it vanished. That would suggest google is not the problem but those wanting google to do it for free.

Its as amusing as the argument against facebook using a persons data to show them ads that the person signed up for the account and gave the data. That person being the greedy one expecting the service but for free.

Brit Watchkeeper drone fell in the sea because blocked sensor made algorithms flip out

@Grandpa Tom

"Install THREE sensors"

I assume you mean different kinds of sensor working in different ways if possible?

Hmm

One thing crossing my mind is how easy it must be to steal one of these if you are a foreign power. Knock it out of the sky, nobody trusts the readings and then collect the thing leaving just a panel.

But then considering how great these things seem to have been so far I cant see why someone would want to steal one.

French internet cops issue terrorist takedown for… Grateful Dead recordings?

Really?

"illustrate very well why this requirement would be harmful to the free sharing of information and freedom of speech that the European Union pledges to safeguard"

Anyone believing that the EU will safeguard free speech or free sharing of information is just deluded. This isnt a particular stab at the EU as monsters but as uncoordinated politicians all trying to have a say and justify their pay. Then it must be applied at the country level by another load of government minions.

Google Pay tells Euro users it has ditched UK for Ireland ahead of Brexit

Re: "even Germany (what is left of the twin engine of europe) cant even grow"

@LDS

"You have countries like Italy, Spain and Greece (France somewhat too) with historically high unemployment (but those numbers don't take into account illegal employment - historically high in Southern Italy, for example), and others with historically low unemployment rates."

Add the decimation by the Euro and the situation is worse.

"The actual low growth is a problem create exactly by stagnating wages in most of the Western world."

This of course being a huge problem. When the recession hit the UK and US responded to it and bounced out of recession. The EU fell into the recession choosing not to do anything and almost hitting deflation. EU growth should be stonking as they try to catch up. Instead the EU is filled with zombie businesses that are holding it back. The EU is a large area and with increasing protectionism of the EU and US.

"and didn't crash before just thank to the EU sustaining them with low interests on borrowing"

I am going to contrast that with your previous line- "Yet countries like Germany have space to move, thanks to a sound financial situation.". So the EU put them into an unsound financial situation by lending to countries with systemic problems? And the actual factual problem was the private debt which would have been defaulted on, saving those very countries, wasnt allowed because of the EU. The EU wouldnt pay the debt of the EU currency. And instead the EU bought the debt, buying the capitulation of Greece and sinking economies.

"Remember nobody was forced to join the Euro - and the rules were well known"

And broken by France and Germany so worth about as much as the agreement from the EU not to use the UK contribution to bail out Greece (the Euro).

"Mistakes were made to solve the situation, but Greeks were looking for an "having the cake and eat it" solution"

Is that the train set from the EU funds that will never pay for itself? Didnt Poland go with large airports to service small populations?

"But actually the fact that the EU Central Bank could avoid the worse demonstrated the strength of the system, not vice versa."

Actually it didnt. That the UK and US bounced out of recession and the EU sank almost into deflation, by actively choosing to not do anything, shows the failure of the ECB. The Euro only barely survived and is still in the very uncertain territory.

"What did you smoke? Maybe the same opium UK forced the Chinese to use to expand its business?"

I am not sure where you are stuck? Is it the sarcasm? The amusement that China didnt join the EU yet grew massively taking a large portion of their population out of poverty through the implementation of capitalism?

Re: "With the lowest unemployment rate in decades?"

@LDS

"Actually, it isn't. The troubles come from a small set of countries"

But most countries burn money to buy votes and as I said France and Germany did it. France also decided to break the rules after the recession and were allowed purely on their importance (and they were back then part of the twin engine of Europe).

"just one is big enough to be able to create real issues if it fails, since it is in the Euro"

Greece alone would have bankrupted the ECB (so I hear) which is probably why they bought Greece and made private loan losses a public loss, but also vasalised Greece.

"Still most EU countries has a debt which is inferior to the UK one."

And huge economic problems.

I dont see much else in your post but some complaining.

Re: @iron

@eldakka

"The figures form 30 years ago cannot be compared directly to the figures of today, as they actually mean different things than they did 30 years ago (which was measured differently 30 years before that, and so on ad infinitum)."

Thats fine, I will accept that for now. The comparison of employment being harmonised in the EU, the EU proper is doing badly and we are doing fantastic. We know why. We know it is a self inflicted crisis. That is why I dont care if they wish to define it as immigration or birth rates or as you have said the measurement method today to previous years. All of that is fine because it still leaves us with the burning question we know the answer to- why is the UK doing so much better than the EU proper?

Re: @iron

@DJO

"I know, it's awful"

I am so sorry, are you in Greece? Italy?

"relative peace for over 50 years in a region that previously was constantly at war somewhere"

If you are referring to the last world war where the EU has existed for less than half the time since it happened. I assume you dont account for Russia/Ukraine as Europe? A war caused by the EU.

"compared to the UK parliament the EU one is completely harmonious"

So your justification for a crap government above our crap government is- we have a crap government? How does that help? Isnt the EU still wetting itself because extremist parties are being elected in the member countries? Those extreme parties having in common a resistance to the ever growing EU and their duff currency?

"massive fiscal savings due to economy of scale"

Where? Greece isnt doing very well. Italy? Etc. All being stuffed by the EU and their currency.

"mandatory fair treatment for workers such as paid medical leave, far better than anywhere else in the world"

A place with such high unemployment and poor economies wondering why they are doing so badly.... and you tell me they are raising the barriers to employment. Now if we take 2 and add 2 we get (dont pose this question to the EU, it wont do any good).

"All quite dreadful, can't imagine why anybody would want that."

No kidding. Vote leave.

Re: @iron

@Doctor Syntax

"Every economic analysis I read about this links it with static wages and failure to invest because it's cheaper to employ people rather than invest in more productive plant"

So what your saying is the EU is is such dire and abysmal shape that they cant even do that?!!? So we have historically low unemployment unlike the EU proper which is really struggling? We should be grateful to be leaving that.

"Productivity is static or falling and GDP is failing to rise."

I hear this is a European problem where even Germany (what is left of the twin engine of europe) cant even grow.

"A current article on the Beeb website calls it the lost decade. In short, it's nothing to celebrate"

Until of course you have something to compare it against. Think about it, we currently have uncertainty over the vote to leave vs the politicians desiring we remain and we are now at this stage after the worst global recession. Compare that to the EU that nearly sunk under the recession, that destroyed member economies just to survive, almost fell into deflation and is in a much worse state than we are. Maybe if the uncertainty caused by trying to remain was removed we would be in a better situation.

"They're only experts and haven't realised the glorious future that awaits when wage inflation everywhere else reduces us to a low wage economy and Chinese manufacturers set up sweatshops here because it's cheaper than any SE Asian country."

Of course China grew out of sweatshops by joining the EU? No. At least Greece, Italy, Spain and so on are so much better after being shafted by the Euro? But you somehow fear that having access to the world instead of what the EU allows will turn us into some poor communist country. Well at least your honest its about such fear instead of a rational reason.

Re: @iron

@DJO

"You must be joking, there are no benefits from Brexit for anybody with a net worth of under a few million or so."

Seriously? I suggest you go look at the situation in Europe currently and look at our country.

Re: Lost Tax

@Teiwaz

"the various brexit factions have only themselves to blame."

That is kinda true, kinda wrong. Brexit is a unilateral action, we can just do it and its done. The delay and debate is over 'negotiations' as if we need to negotiate leaving and how much we wish to remain in. So trying not to leave or partially leave is causing this problem, leaving should and could have been done days ago (or sooner but that 2 yrs should have been preparing to leave).

Amusingly the EU are starting to now make brexit preparations as if they didnt expect us to leave, just like our gov. Which only adds to the distrust of all those politicians for us leave voters.

Re: "With the lowest unemployment rate in decades?"

@LDS

"So why vote to keep away those job-stealing foreigners?"

I didnt, did you?

"Which is the effect of a few countries were politicians kept on stubbornly to burn money to buy votes, that's true. Let's see what happens after UK leaves EU..."

That would be most countries. Hell even Germany and France ignored the budget rules when it suited.

"Think that Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland have lower unemployment rates than UK"

And my Polish neighbour was still happier to be here. Not a shock why since we are the 5th richest country. But thanks for pointing out how great our country is doing in comparison to the EU.

"What about GDP per capita, for example - and UK is probably a country with higher wealth concentration than others"

Its good news isnt it! Just think of those well paid people who are paying for all the services we use. And since lower Gini index is often the result of a poor country or recession then we should be proud we have success in this country. Romania for example might have lower unemployment (your example above) and they also have lower Gini too! They also have a much higher child deprivation index.

Also be aware that your complaint is that there is a higher wealth concentration in the UK. The wealth is concentrated in the UK. Would you feel better if these rich people move out of the country? Thats the way France did it, and we gained some wealth from France because of that too!

Re: @iron

@DJO

"Big bloody deal, the actual number of unemployed people is higher even if the "rate" is lower."

Yes, so its a good thing because it means even more people than that are employed. We also dont want an unemployment nearing zero because that means there is nobody changing jobs. So if the actual number of unemployed grows so does the number of employed if the rate is still the same. In fact vastly more are employed compared to the much fewer unemployed.

An actual number on its own isnt worth much without knowing what it is compared to.

Re: @iron

@DJO

"Well you see when a mummy and daddy love each other they do funny things together and make new people, eventually these people join the workforce and as they can breed faster than they die off and because the retirement age is increasing the number of workers will increase."

And so with the increase in population (the freaking point of his post I was referring to) and the same proportion of people in work still means this country has a historically low unemployment rate

Re: @iron

@DJO

"While the unemployment rate expressed as a percentage is lower than last year the total number of workers (both in and out of employment) is also greater so the total number of unemployed is actually higher than last year, rising year-on-year and will get higher because of Brexit."

That would suggest the number of people of working age and condition are increasing, which suggests more people. Yet the percentage of unemployed is the lowest in decades, even with more people we still have a lower unemployment rate.

So if it is because of brexit that suggests more people coming here which flies against the claims of remainers. And also it would be a demonstration of the country doing better not worse. Not sure if your post was suggesting brexit as a good or a bad but it does seem to be promoting benefits of brexit.

@iron

"Welcome to unemployed and unemployable Britain, it's what YOU voted for!"

With the lowest unemployment rate in decades? Vs the EU proper that is still in a dire financial situation and high unemployment in various member countries and overall higher than the UK.

Yes it is what I voted for and if you are in the UK you are welcome. If you are in the EU I hope things get better.

Re: Lost Tax

@DontFeedTheTrolls

"Just as we're starting to get Google to pay tax in the UK, we've lost it again due to Brexit."

Cant win with some people. First complaining about the amount of tax Google pay then complaining they are leaving. And since we have yet to have brexit but instead every attempt to remain (we have overshot the brexit date) is causing this uncertainty. But yeah sure blame brexit.

Google UK forks out £65m tax in 2018, a boost of 40% on previous year

Re: Never forget who pays the tax

@phuzz

"If that's true, then when the government reduces tax on a company, it's products should get cheaper for the end consumer."

That is true.

Hmm

I am fairly sure I read how this is due to Trumps attempts to tax companies wherever they stash their profits in the world, but deducting tax paid outside the US. So there is some more value in paying the tax here as it will be taxed anyway.

Yup, it's the new tax year: If you smell a RAT, it's because crims are ramping up tax scams

How to tell

If its offering you money instead of telling you they have taken it from you its probably a scam.