Originally posted by ionapaul
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Bad beat/Moaning/Venting thread - Wordle Gummidge
Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View Post
I have a NYT sub online and find it pretty good. They clearly still have a budget that most papers don't; you get some great stuff off the main page from bits of the US you don't normally hear about as well as very good foreign coverage.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Degag View Post
I'm not too sure. I don't think the typical SF voters are quite as loyal as Trumpists but they are definitely anti-establishment. I suspect they won't vote FF/FG in a month of Sundays, they'll either vote PBP maybe or not vote at all.
Ultimately they are just being led down a blind path and it's quite amazing how many people are following it. Friends of mine, some of whom are doing quite well for themselves, which i've alluded to before here i think, which amazes me. Some people just want to complain and want more without seeing the bigger picture. We are actually doing very OK as a country IMO - overall.
On the flip side, if/when SF do get in, it'll be interesting cause i don't really want them to do bad
People say I should be more humble I hope they understand, they don't listen when you mumble
Get a shiny metal Revolut card! And a free tenner!
https://revolut.com/referral/jamesb8!G10D21
Comment
-
Originally posted by Denny Crane View PostHas the reporting in the NYT and WSJ always been so bad / inaccurate, I just wasn't aware of it?
Shows the NYT is a pretty good light.Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View Post
So you can protest away, as long as you don't look for inconvenient things like democracy, human rights or an end to crazy covid policies. Because if you do, we'll beat you to a bloody pulp.
Got it. Sounds great.Last edited by Hitchhiker's Guide To...; 28-11-22, 12:19."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
My small bit of watching RTE world cup coverage also did make it seem like the presenter hadn't a clue what she was presenting.
Although OP is being roasted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/com...rld_cup_panel/
I'm watching RTE here and the lady on match analysis with Kenny Cunningham and Peter Collins keeps calling Roberto Martinez "Robert Martinez" and cant pronounce well known players like Axel Witsel, Hakim Ziyech and Ivan Perisic's name. Like, nowhere near close. These are well known/ very famous players. She's clearly reading the names off a piece of paper/teleprompter and has never seen them play before at all. Anyone who watches match of the day or champions league highlights on Youtube knows those guys names. Looks completely out of her depth , and that's saying something when she's on with Peter Collins & Kenny Cunningham.
Before anyone says anything about being sexist, I don't care if they put 50 women on the panel once they actually know what's going on. Laura Woods, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan, Emma Byrne, Karen Carney & Joanne Cantwell are very good.
Its like gender equality on sports panels has become a box ticking exercise and the quality of the presenters knowledge is less important than what reproductive organs they have. Its absolute nonsense.Last edited by Hitchhiker's Guide To...; 28-11-22, 12:23."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View Post
I have a NYT sub online and find it pretty good. They clearly still have a budget that most papers don't; you get some great stuff off the main page from bits of the US you don't normally hear about as well as very good foreign coverage.
I’m letting my Economist sub lapse, I prefer FP & FA these days both of which are approx 100e for the year.
Like you, it’s the exposure to things you don’t get elsewhere plus I feel it’s worthwhile supporting because they produce good podcasts which are free.
Also, on podcasts, World Cup & media, I heard Allistair Campbell mention on his pod yesterday that Gary Lineker is actually their boss.
He owns the production company which has that and a couple of history pods including Al Murray’s.
A slight way around the BBC telling him to keep his political views to himself
- 2 likes
Comment
-
This is clearly Werewolf, adapted for TV. I'm excited.
"Hidden amongst the contestants are three Traitors whose job it is to murder a player every night, without getting caught.
It's then up to the Faithfuls to try and work out who the Traitors are and banish them before they themselves are murdered."
BBC The Traitors start date, time and full list of contestants - Birmingham Live (birminghammail.co.uk)
The Traitors | Shows and tours (bbc.co.uk)
MrsFlushdraw
- 7 likes
Comment
-
Thinking about these protests a bit in China and Iran (not too deeply of course). Is there any autocratic country in the world, whether ruled by dictators, religious zealots or a machine like the CCP where in recent years (the last 40 or so even) where protests and uprising has led to an authoritarian regime being replaced by one that has made the lives of the people in that country better? Usually one dictator is replaced by another, albeit packaged differently perhaps. I was maybe thinking the fall of the iron curtain for citizens in the east of europe, the fall of Ceausesku, but they are probably mostly as a result of what happened in Russia. The fall of communism there has hardly resulted in untold freedoms for the people there either although I'm sure Comrade Hitch will fill me in on all the brilliant lives the peasants have there.
Comment
-
Originally posted by 6starpool View PostThinking about these protests a bit in China and Iran (not too deeply of course). Is there any autocratic country in the world, whether ruled by dictators, religious zealots or a machine like the CCP where in recent years (the last 40 or so even) where protests and uprising has led to an authoritarian regime being replaced by one that has made the lives of the people in that country better? Usually one dictator is replaced by another, albeit packaged differently perhaps. I was maybe thinking the fall of the iron curtain for citizens in the east of europe, the fall of Ceausesku, but they are probably mostly as a result of what happened in Russia. The fall of communism there has hardly resulted in untold freedoms for the people there either although I'm sure Comrade Hitch will fill me in on all the brilliant lives the peasants have there.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by 6starpool View PostThinking about these protests a bit in China and Iran (not too deeply of course). Is there any autocratic country in the world, whether ruled by dictators, religious zealots or a machine like the CCP where in recent years (the last 40 or so even) where protests and uprising has led to an authoritarian regime being replaced by one that has made the lives of the people in that country better? Usually one dictator is replaced by another, albeit packaged differently perhaps. I was maybe thinking the fall of the iron curtain for citizens in the east of europe, the fall of Ceausesku, but they are probably mostly as a result of what happened in Russia. The fall of communism there has hardly resulted in untold freedoms for the people there either although I'm sure Comrade Hitch will fill me in on all the brilliant lives the peasants have there.
East Germany, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Czechslovakia, Bulgaria?...all indisputably more free and better off.
South Africa? definitely more free and trending more equal
Argentina? now a democracy, albeit one with an excitingly erratic economy"We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
- 1 like
Comment
-
I think though 6star, you are touching on something quite fundamental. You can't expect democracy to flourish automatically where previously there was no tradition of it. Hence why we frequently see a reversion to the mean of autocracy in countries where repressive regimes are overthrown.
The exception being of course those countries of Eastern Europe that got vast amounts of support from the EU to do so, and even then it was a decades-long exercise in building the institutions of democracy in those places."We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View PostI think though 6star, you are touching on something quite fundamental. You can't expect democracy to flourish automatically where previously there was no tradition of it. Hence why we frequently see a reversion to the mean of autocracy in countries where repressive regimes are overthrown.
The exception being of course those countries of Eastern Europe that got vast amounts of support from the EU to do so, and even then it was a decades-long exercise in building the institutions of democracy in those places.People say I should be more humble I hope they understand, they don't listen when you mumble
Get a shiny metal Revolut card! And a free tenner!
https://revolut.com/referral/jamesb8!G10D21
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View PostI think though 6star, you are touching on something quite fundamental. You can't expect democracy to flourish automatically where previously there was no tradition of it. Hence why we frequently see a reversion to the mean of autocracy in countries where repressive regimes are overthrown.
The exception being of course those countries of Eastern Europe that got vast amounts of support from the EU to do so, and even then it was a decades-long exercise in building the institutions of democracy in those places.
Is there any real chance of anything decent coming out if this in Iran or China? In China the best I'd expect is for the CCP to relent on some covid measures over a period of time.
I don't know what a good end point for any of those places for the people living there would be. I don't want to project western norms (which aren't without flaws either), but surely there has to be something better than oppression and religious zealotry? For much of the ME, given that religion for most of them is not going to taper off like it did here, hopefully in the next generation or two there will be a progression towards a more tolerant view of many things. Not necessarily one where gay marriage is celebrated and an every day part of life, but equally one where it doesn't mean oppression, execution and the likes. Who knows. I'm sure 50 years ago the Ireland of today would have been unthinkable to the people of the time.
Comment
-
Originally posted by DeadParrot View Post
There's far too much invested in China from the West for a regime change to be allowed imo"We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View PostIf Putin somehow fell out of a window in the Kremlin (), I have zero doubt that the replacement regime would probably be equally as bad.
I've no idea what life is like in Cambodia these days, but presumably not as bad as Pol Pot days for lots of people. Perhaps I'm too pessimistic, and too swayed by the short lived joy of things like te Arab spring where dictators were overthrown to great initial hope but others just as bad in many ways swooped in.
Comment
-
Originally posted by 6starpool View PostI don't know what a good end point for any of those places for the people living there would be. I don't want to project western norms (which aren't without flaws either), but surely there has to be something better than oppression and religious zealotry? For much of the ME, given that religion for most of them is not going to taper off like it did here, hopefully in the next generation or two there will be a progression towards a more tolerant view of many things. Not necessarily one where gay marriage is celebrated and an every day part of life, but equally one where it doesn't mean oppression, execution and the likes. Who knows. I'm sure 50 years ago the Ireland of today would have been unthinkable to the people of the time."We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
Comment
-
Originally posted by coillcam View Post
You can use the site: archive DOT ph
It's a web archive site around for a long time, so nothing to worry about.His rival it seems, had broken his dreams,By stealing the girl of his fancy.Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil,But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Comment
-
Originally posted by DeadParrot View Post
As soon as SF become the establishment things are gonna be bad, the new 'anti-establishment' are waiting in the wings and they are a nasty bunch of cunts....East Wall is just the start of it.
Obviously it's politically expedient for them to desert their previous anti immigration position and key founding principals of 'We Ourselves' at least until they get through the next election.
I wouldn't expect them to be making space for their competitors on the far right once they get into power. More likely that with a majority in the Dail and back benches stuffed with 'Wheelie Bins' incapable of identifying with anyone who isn't a wrap the green flag round me 'up the ra' chanting imbecile they will show their true colours as an extreme right authoritarian party.Turning millions into thousands
Comment
-
Originally posted by Murdrum View Post
I got an email to say my sub is renewed for 2023 at 1e PM, great value.
I’m letting my Economist sub lapse, I prefer FP & FA these days both of which are approx 100e for the year.
Like you, it’s the exposure to things you don’t get elsewhere plus I feel it’s worthwhile supporting because they produce good podcasts which are free.
Also, on podcasts, World Cup & media, I heard Allistair Campbell mention on his pod yesterday that Gary Lineker is actually their boss.
He owns the production company which has that and a couple of history pods including Al Murray’s.
A slight way around the BBC telling him to keep his political views to himselfWill you ever fuck off with that shite... you are easily one of the worst posters on here for this-Pokerhand
Comment
-
South Korea, Indonesia, and now welcoming Malaysia to the group, in terms of Asian countries making the transition to democracy successfully too. Its nearly inevitable that China will follow also. Probably why there is the rise of protests over time there, as people realise things don't have to be controlled.
The hope, of course, is that like South Korea, Indonesia (partially), and Malaysia, the transition will be peaceful. Essentially gradually introducing more and more democratic-like behaviour, before the big 'election' moment. Not sure the reappointment of Xi is all that great in that context, he doesn't seem to have many big ideas."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
Fourth year in a row ordering the Google Photo Book. Essentially you select photos from the year, can add little captions etc, turn it into a nice hardcover book, and it becomes your 'the memory of the year' album. Think its a lovely idea. Was looking back at the first one from four years ago and the kids were tiny. Indeed there's a decent chance that they become increasingly tinged with sadness as the years go by, as you look back, or indeed as you look at the transition. Yeah, scratch that, its a woeful idea."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Hitchhiker's Guide To... View PostSouth Korea, Indonesia, and now welcoming Malaysia to the group, in terms of Asian countries making the transition to democracy successfully too. Its nearly inevitable that China will follow also. Probably why there is the rise of protests over time there, as people realise things don't have to be controlled.
The hope, of course, is that like South Korea, Indonesia (partially), and Malaysia, the transition will be peaceful. Essentially gradually introducing more and more democratic-like behaviour, before the big 'election' moment. Not sure the reappointment of Xi is all that great in that context, he doesn't seem to have many big ideas."We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Raoul Duke III View Post
China is becoming more authoritarian and bellicose under Xi, not less. Which kinda blows your hot take out of the water really."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
Originally posted by Hitchhiker's Guide To... View Post
The idea that as countries become richer they tend to transition to democracy is not a 'hot take', its an entire field of comparative politics research called modernization theory. Albeit, like all research, quite a debated idea. But Xi does indeed seem like an impediment. I think he's their first leader since Mao who didn't spend at least some significant time abroad, so doesn't seem to have that broader perspective of their previous leaders who were edging in the right direction."We are not Europeans. Those people on the continent are freaks."
Comment
-
Originally posted by MysteryGuest View Post
The New York Times podcasts (well the daily anyway) are almost unlistenable because of the affected way the presenters talk- maybe it’s a wider podcast thing but it’s ultra tilting
FP, FA & Economist all produce good content imo.
In light of RD3 & Hitch conversation, a recently released series on Xi which is quite good and this on Africa, S1 on Infrastructure & S2 on Climate.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Strewelpeter View PostJust caught a few minutes of what looks like a hagiography of Sean Quinn on RTE
WTaF They just got through a ten minute section on him going to war with CRH and the only mention of source of funds was that he owned the fucking Cat and Cage
- 1 like
Comment
-
Just up in the attic to look at the solar. We're generating 7 kwh a day even in winter. It was 15 kwh a day during June-October. So probably works out at an average of 4,000 kwh during the whole year.
Units are currently 40c, so that's an average of about €1,500 return during the year if you use all the units rather than sell them back to the grid (which we were during the summer) at half that price. We also get hot water from that, which is a free addition.
Big thing we'll do next is get a new car charger that only charges the car off excess solar kwh, so that will act almost as a battery (batteries themselves are woeful value at the moment - a few grand), then we'll be driving around for free during six months of the year and getting the full €1,500 return.
Cost of install was €6,200 after grant. Its the bargain of the century.
*if* you have the cash, which is clearly not a given, then solar is a slam-dunk in Dublin at least.
"We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
- 5 likes
Comment
-
Used a massive 12,000 kwh last year, due to brutal insulation and the disastrous decision to install electric radiators.
My sense is we'll use about 7,000 kwh this coming year due to the new windows, door, attic foam insulation, better heating management. Plus charging the car.
The hope is that when the external insulation is finally installed that should fall to around 4,000 kwh, even with needing to be less of a nazi on house heating. So it would be more-or-less cancelled out by the solar.
A long journey to get there though."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
Originally posted by Strewelpeter View PostJust caught a few minutes of what looks like a hagiography of Sean Quinn on RTE
WTaF They just got through a ten minute section on him going to war with CRH and the only mention of source of funds was that he owned the fucking Cat and Cage"We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Hitchhiker's Guide To... View PostUsed a massive 12,000 kwh last year, due to brutal insulation and the disastrous decision to install electric radiators.
My sense is we'll use about 7,000 kwh this coming year due to the new windows, door, attic foam insulation, better heating management. Plus charging the car.
The hope is that when the external insulation is finally installed that should fall to around 4,000 kwh, even with needing to be less of a nazi on house heating. So it would be more-or-less cancelled out by the solar.
A long journey to get there though.
- 2 likes
Comment
-
Originally posted by 6starpool View Post
For comparison purposes, we used about 5,100 kwh in the last 12 months, which includes heating, but we don't have solar. We have no gas/oil. It is an A rated house (supposedly) and I suspect we could be using less if we tried more. I've been WFH all that time too, and the missus here as well on a career break."We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
-
Originally posted by Hitchhiker's Guide To... View Post
Do you have an electric car - or that's just regular house usage? Suggests that even with the insulation we won't get down anywhere near 4,000 with the car. Maybe a net 3,000 kwh with the car and the solar. No gas/oil here either. Do you have a heat pump?
- 1 like
Comment
-
Installed one of these this month - https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-em-...tomation-1#143
No need for a smart meter and the awful tarriffs that they expose you to (that I am unable to turn back from now).
The 120A CT clamp goes over your mains power in on your consumer unit, the 50A CT over any large users (car charger / heat pump / electric shower if you have any) and you get full Live power readings down both channels. Am actually considering buying a second to get even further granularity of usage.
Power off at the main fuse before installing obviously!
Screenshot 2022-11-29 12.54.47.png
We're an A2/A3 house, with heat pump and electric car. House+car will be ~ 7200kWh this year (car about 1800 of that I think).
Hitchhiker's Guide To... as before - you'll need > 1.4kW of excess to get trickle into the car - it's not just the kWh that you created that will magically appear in the car if plugged in during the day. (1 kW of excess for 5000 hours = 5k kWh but zero of that would make it into the car for example). Car obviously needs to be parked at home during sunshine generating hours too. So if your solar panels generate 2.2 kW of power at an instance during a sunny day, but your house base load is 900W / someone switches on the dishwasher, you're snookered for car juice.Last edited by Emmet; 29-11-22, 12:57.
- 6 likes
Comment
-
Originally posted by Emmet View PostInstalled one of these this month - https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-em-...tomation-1#143
No need for a smart meter and the awful tarriffs that they expose you to (that I am unable to turn back from now).
The 120A CT clamp goes over your mains power in on your consumer unit, the 50A CT over any large users (car charger / heat pump / electric shower if you have any) and you get full Live power readings down both channels. Am actually considering buying a second to get even further granularity of usage.
Power off at the main fuse before installing obviously!
Screenshot 2022-11-29 12.54.47.png
We're an A2/A3 house, with heat pump and electric car. House+car will be ~ 7200kWh this year (car about 1800 of that I think).
Hitchhiker's Guide To... as before - you'll need > 1.4kW of excess to get trickle into the car - it's not just the kWh that you created that will magically appear in the car if plugged in during the day. (1 kW of excess for 5000 hours = 5k kWh but zero of that would make it into the car for example). Car obviously needs to be parked at home during sunshine generating hours too. So if your solar panels generate 2.2 kW of power at an instance during a sunny day, but your house base load is 900W / someone switches on the dishwasher, you're snookered for car juice.
I have the memory of a ... something.
Ah, didn't know that. In our case it might still make sense as:
1. We didn't claim a grant for the initial charger, so the switch to the solar charger will be heavily grant subsidised
2. The car is at home during the day, nearly every day
3. For summer the excess during daylight hours could easily be 5-10kW
But, wait, for clarification - do you mean it needs to be 1.4kW excess an hour, or that's per day?"We're not f*cking Burundi" - Big Phil
Comment
Comment