The Off Topic Topic

[Jacob]

So the question is, why doesn't Egypt want turkey to have F16s?

Well Turkey and Egypt are traditionally competitors for being regional powers. Though that perspective may be a few hundred years (or more) out of date, I dunno....

[Sheilbh]

Was Egypt the only country bribing Menendez? (I do slightly love the Roman Republic vibes of a Senator's house being stacked with gold bars from Egyptian bribes).

Turkey was one of the only countries that was (rightly) critical of Sisi's coups and called it a coup. Plus they are more sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, which backed Morsi - and which Sisi's utterly opposed to. I think relations are really bad and they have been on different sides in Libya. The Egyptians were backing General Haftar and Tobruk government (with the UAE, Russia, France, Israel) v the Tripoli government (backed by Turkey, Qatar, Italy - and broadly recognised by most of the West).

I think it's less of a issue but Egypt's also supported the Assad regime, while obviously Turkey hasn't.

They are on very different sides on lots of issues in the Middle East.

[Razgovory]

So apparently the Bob Menendez bribery case could help Sweden get into NATO.

Menendez is the chair of the foreign relations committee, and apparently he has adamantly been blocking the sale of F16 to Turkey... and Erdogan is basically saying F16 is what's required to finally admit Sweden.

Menendez has temporarily stepped down from the committee, so maybe Turkey will get their jets and Sweden will get the final formal thumbs up.

Politics is complicated.

[DGuller]

So apparently the Bob Menendez bribery case could help Sweden get into NATO.

Menendez is the chair of the foreign relations committee, and apparently he has adamantly been blocking the sale of F16 to Turkey... and Erdogan is basically saying F16 is what's required to finally admit Sweden.

Menendez has temporarily stepped down from the committee, so maybe Turkey will get their jets and Sweden will get the final formal thumbs up.

Politics is complicated.

Normally, sure, but in Middle East? 

[Josquius]

The shift towards working from home continues with Facebook paying big money to get out of its London hq lease.

https://www.ft.com/content/37e61194-bbc0-4b99-928b-9064f2493907

It's interesting how on a delay the closure of office space is. I wonder how delayed the large scale shift of office to residential will be.

[crazy canuck]

The shift towards working from home continues with Facebook paying big money to get out of its London hq lease.

https://www.ft.com/content/37e61194-bbc0-4b99-928b-9064f2493907

It's interesting how on a delay the closure of office space is. I wonder how delayed the large scale shift of office to residential will be.

This has nothing to do with a shift to working remotely. That company has required employees to work at least 50% in the office.  This space has not yet been used.  It was anticipated it would be needed but then Microsoft announced it will cut its employees by 10,000.  They have also said the will continue to decrease their workforce. Now it no longer anticipates it will employee the numbers that would require that office space.

[Josquius]

The shift towards working from home continues with Facebook paying big money to get out of its London hq lease.

https://www.ft.com/content/37e61194-bbc0-4b99-928b-9064f2493907

It's interesting how on a delay the closure of office space is. I wonder how delayed the large scale shift of office to residential will be.

This has nothing to do with a shift to working remotely. That company has required employees to work at least 50% in the office.  This space has not yet been used.  It was anticipated it would be needed but then Microsoft announced it will cut its employees by 10,000.  They have also said the will continue to decrease their workforce. Now it no longer anticipates it will employee the numbers that would require that office space.

50% in office is a big step up from 100% in office. The shift to hybrid allowing for more than one worker per desk is key to their needing less space.

[crazy canuck]

The shift towards working from home continues with Facebook paying big money to get out of its London hq lease.

https://www.ft.com/content/37e61194-bbc0-4b99-928b-9064f2493907

It's interesting how on a delay the closure of office space is. I wonder how delayed the large scale shift of office to residential will be.

This has nothing to do with a shift to working remotely. That company has required employees to work at least 50% in the office.  This space has not yet been used.  It was anticipated it would be needed but then Microsoft announced it will cut its employees by 10,000.  They have also said the will continue to decrease their workforce. Now it no longer anticipates it will employee the numbers that would require that office space.

50% in office is a big step up from 100% in office. The shift to hybrid allowing for more than one worker per desk is key to their needing less space.

Again you misunderstand they are shifting from 100% working away from the office, which is what occurred in Covid to requiring that people return to the office.

In any event, they entered into that lease at a time when they had that remote work policy. They were hiring like crazy and they anticipated they would need the office space. They no longer need that office space because they are terminating large numbers of employees, and they do not expect to be hiring anyone back anytime soon.

[Josquius]

Again you misunderstand they are shifting from 100% working away from the office, which is what occurred in Covid to requiring that people return to the office.

In any event, they entered into that lease at a time when they had that remote work policy. They were hiring like crazy and they anticipated they would need the office space. They no longer need that office space because they are terminating large numbers of employees, and they do not expect to be hiring anyone back anytime soon.

Covid was a temporary situation, not the norm. It is a key factor in this more permanent shift towards remote work that is happening- that they entered into this lease during the covid situation shows they expected the permanent situation to not change as much as the trends are showing.

[garbon]

Gents, we get and have got it over the months you've talked at each other on this topic. You have different views on the phenomenon and extent to which you match up hybrid working with in office working vs matching it with remote working.

What more is there to say?

[crazy canuck]

It's just reality that Microsoft has reduced his work for us. What so fucking hard for either of you to understand.

The IQ of this place has dropped remarkably.

[Jacob]

The tone of respect and good will remains the same, however.

[mongers]

People at work and WFH arguing about working locations, instead of working.

[Josquius]

People at work and WFH arguing about working locations, instead of working.

It's not like I wouldn't spend most my day in office walking about and reading the news. :p

[garbon]

The tone of respect and good will remains the same, however.

I think of it as his tantrums.