Recent posts

#41

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Zanza - May 11, 2024, 11:41:24 PM

Our biggest export sector is unidentified professional services which the FT did some digging in and worked out was largely consultancy. Those business degrees aren't loads of "humanities" students - they're our equivalent of highly skilled workers in the Mittelstand.

One of these services is apparently recruiters headhunting for specialists / managers. I get calls or LinkedIn contacts fairly often from England, but these people always seems to be fairly clueless about everything. They do not seem qualified to actually find fitting people for the roles. I guess it is always contingent on actual success, so it does not matter much for the potential employer that this service sucks.

#42

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Grey Fox - May 11, 2024, 08:45:31 PM

Josq is right, Loreen 2023 song is crap.

National juries take the fun out this thing.

Austria, Croatia and Armenia were my top 3.

I expect we will hear Cyprus' song on the radio

#43

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by viper37 - May 11, 2024, 07:53:20 PM

The Hamas charter talks about Jews living peacefully in an Islamic Palestine, so the genocide talk is overblown.  The plight of Jews in an Islamic Palestine would not be pleasant given that Hamas thinks that the arrivals since 1948 should be expelled and their land returned to Palestinians, but that's a far cry from genocide.

Just ethnic cleansing.

Same as what the Bibi government is intent on doing.  Which is totally fine according to OvB, since he wants to vote for Trump because Biden isn't 100% behind Bibi's policies.

[even if they were]

#44

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by OttoVonBismarck - May 11, 2024, 07:00:40 PM

So I guess this elderly Jewish Professor of Jewish Studies is a hardline antisemitist Hamas supporter or something, at least according to Otto. Totally deserved to be bumrushed by police. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/us/dartmouth-professor-police-protests.html

Also it's funny how Otto would "disassociate himself" from any antisemitic elements in his group when lots of Trump supporters are antisemitic white supremacists (and very fine people according to Trump).

This feels like a really dumb post. I don't see anything in her conduct or words that would be construed as antisemitic (e.g. calling for an intifada, denying the Holocaust, holding all Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel etc.) If she was doing those things, then yes--I would say she was antisemitic, which is not impossible just because she is personally a Jew. Just like Uncle Ruckus can be a white supremacist despite being a black man. I have never asserted mere presence at any protest is antisemite, nor do I know or have seen reported that antisemitic chants or behaviors were on display at the Darthmouth protest. Further, even if they were, that wouldn't be enough for me to say other protesters were antisemites by association. They would have to:

1. Actually know or be aware of the antisemitism, which in a short protest that was shut down on its first day, would be quite possible for many to not know (if any occurred)
2. Choose to continue associating with the protest after they knew antisemites had hijacked parts of it.

[Opening new fronts does seem to be to Russia's advantage.]

#45

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by viper37 - May 11, 2024, 06:52:58 PM

The Russians are attacking Kharkiv again. From the north, as has been hinted at for the past few weeks

As I said a page or two back and was shouted down.
Hopefully Ukraine was prepared enough for it. Opening new fronts does seem to be to Russia's advantage.
I guess/hope Russia are just doing this to try and grab all they can before Ukraine is fully rearmed rather than genuinely seeing serious opportunity for a breakthrough.

I'm not a military guy, but I'm not so sure.  Ukraine is the one defending, it's supply lines are short.  It's relatively easy for Ukraine to pull units from the south to the north.  Russia is attacking.  It's supply lines are long.  It's much further for them to move a unit from the south to the north.

Ukraine is stretched short for ammo, and it has lost a lot of defenders too.

Russia can afford the losses, Ukraine not so much.

#46

Off the Record / Re: NHL Hockey thread

Last post by viper37 - May 11, 2024, 06:48:54 PM

But after the pandemic, amid a wavering Canadian economy, high inflation, and growing dissatisfaction with rising prices, stringent policies and a perceived lack of appreciation from the organization, many fans decided to stay home. The magic faded. The season-ticket waiting list disappeared. And the franchise entered a new, critical era.

As long as the owners can keep it afloat for another 2-3 years, the boat will pick up the wind again and start moving.

Canada is in a bad spot, the entire country.  The smaller markets are hit first, but Montreal has its problems too, the attendance isn't as high as it was pre-pandemic and a lot of tickets are given for free.

Ottawa.  Do I need to talk about Ottawa?

I don't know about TO and Vancouver though.  I suspect things aren't as rosy as they seem and some tickets are given there too for the less exciting teams.

#47

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - May 11, 2024, 06:01:41 PM

Two time winner Loreen, "generic tosh"?!

Edit: Oh and on the Germany boos I think it was because they gave 8 points to Israel, which was the highest from the juries.

#48

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Josquius - May 11, 2024, 05:58:43 PM

Surprising results. Thought Finland would do alright.
Guess the fun vote all went Croatia and the gay and musical theatre vote Switzerland?
Croatia seemingly got the rock vote too. Poor Norway.

Also impact of some people boycotting, plus proper campaign for Israel to get the popular vote.

As ever it's a show about European politics pretending to be about songs (Still remember Conchita Wurst v Russia after Putin's anti-LGBT+ laws and invasion of Crimea.)

But then why Switzerland?
In a time of everyone hating everyone they get it by default?
Incidentally why were Germany booed?

It was a shock Israel got so many.
And the Dutch banning... From what I've heard insanely harsh. Though I don't have the details.

Honestly not too upset about this song. Perhaps influenced by my ecstatic girlfriend. Been like a world cup final.

But seriously as said the guy could do without the rap but I did like aspects of the song. Certainly preferable to the usual generic tosh like Loreen.
Wouldn't have been my choice but the guy has skills.

#49

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - May 11, 2024, 05:53:56 PM

Surprising results. Thought Finland would do alright.
Guess the fun vote all went Croatia and the gay and musical theatre vote Switzerland?
Croatia seemingly got the rock vote too. Poor Norway.

Also impact of some people boycotting, plus proper campaign for Israel to get the popular vote.

As ever it's a show about European politics pretending to be about songs (Still remember Conchita Wurst v Russia after Putin's anti-LGBT+ laws and invasion of Crimea.)

#50

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by garbon - May 11, 2024, 05:53:48 PM