The Off Topic Topic

[jimmy olsen]

Former CNN reporter guns down an armed robber.

Watch the video interview, sounds pretty badass if it went down like described

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/robber-shot-dead-ex-cnn-reporter-identified-n386231

[Tonitrus]

Good on them.

But a Motel 6 in ABQ?  That's practically asking for trouble.

[Syt]

According to the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Auschwitz is in Southern Germany. IM LEARNING STUFFS

(He might have meant Dachau which was in Bavaria)

[Liep]

Our new Minister of Science and Education doesn't believe in the big bang theory or evolution. Also insists on calling black people for negroes.

Aha..

[Duque de Bragança]

According to the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Auschwitz is in Southern Germany. IM LEARNING STUFFS

Please do no tell that to Hans Frank or he will be really angry.

[Syt]

YouTubers react to Japanese Commercials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spEh-BIaQnY

The Twist: They add Japanese YouTubers to explain/comment on the commercials.

Also, Japanese Mercedes/Super Mario crossover commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HumAWTYh92c 

[alfred russel]

Our new Minister of Science and Education doesn't believe in the big bang theory or evolution. Also insists on calling black people for negroes.

Aha..

In denmark? That wouldnt have flown even in george bushs america.

[Admiral Yi]

They have an important job then, pay them.

As Syt pointed out, the impact of their strike is a function of their legally protected monopoly.

[Liep]

They have an important job then, pay them.

As Syt pointed out, the impact of their strike is a function of their legally protected monopoly.

It's not really unheard of to unionise here, so even if it had been private companies the result would've been the same.

[Syt]

They have an important job then, pay them.

As Syt pointed out, the impact of their strike is a function of their legally protected monopoly.

It used to be that employees of state companies and institutions that were in the widest sense "infrastructure" (education, mail service, railroads, public administration, ...) had a special employment status that precluded them from striking. With the liberalization of certain branches and a general move of more and more staff to "normal" employment* these people can go on strike now and, as we know, regularly do. Unlike a strike in, say, the metal industry, it's not so much the employers that get inconvenienced, because they're in near monopolies and, if state owned, aren't as profit oriented as fully private owned companies), but the clients/general population who are left with limited alternatives, when commuter trains are halted, important mail doesn't go through or that crucial business flight is cancelled.

*in the special employement (Beamtenstatus) the employer saves on social security, but they have to pay the pensions of their folks when they retire. Because of the projected burden in future decades on the pubic coffers many (new) people were hired as "normal" employees (i.e. they pay social security now and get their pension from the retirement funds as everyone else - the base principle is that the current employees pay the current retirees' pensions ... something increasingly problematic because of the lackluster demographic development, i.e. less employees pay for more retirees.

[Admiral Yi]

Preaching to the choir Syt.  Talk to that commie Liep.

[Liep]

Preaching to the choir Syt.  Talk to that commie Liep.

There's nothing he said that isn't similar to Denmark. It's welfare being halted instead of profits when government workers strike and so it hurts the public more than if VW workers striked.

But I don't see how this changes anything. If there's a monopoly it's all the more the government's responsibility to provide the infrastructural welfare.

[Josquius]

Ever heard those stories about a guy finding a mouse in a can of pop?

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/would-mouse-dissolve-mountain-dew-30-days

[Zanza]

It's supposed to get to 100 Fahrenheit here this weekend. And there is no A/C anywhere. WTF.

[Syt]