| From: Elroy Jetson | 5/10/2024 11:43:35 AM | | | | | | Britain would love to continue blaming the EU for their self-inflicted problems, but they'll have to do something different.
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British nurse, Audrey Barnwell age 50, ditched her NHS job at Thornton Health Surrey and moved to Canada where she earns 50 per cent more and cares for a fraction of the patients.
Canada now pays Audrey to return to the UK to highlight the benefits that can be had from moving to North America, for either short working holidays, or as a long-term career move.
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Where's that £350 million per week savings Boris Johnson claimed they'd be able to spend on Britain's NHS? It never existed, only greatly increased costs. Now the Tories think their way forward is to bring Boris Johnson back.
Stupid people always pay a very heavy price for their decisions. |
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| To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (12704) | 5/10/2024 12:35:22 PM | | From: elmatador | | | | Andreessen Horowitz partner says Google is an ‘amazing example’ of employing people in ‘BS jobs’:
‘Half the white-collar staff probably does no real work’
Eleanor Pringle
Tue, May 7, 2024, 2:24 PM GMT+34 min read
Google might be among corporate America's favorite success stories, but some people aren't convinced Big Tech is operating as efficiently as it could be. Indeed, according to one Silicon Valley insider, half the white-collar workers at the tech behemoth aren't even doing "real work."
The idea that Big Tech overhires talent to have them on hand for future projects—and ensure they stay out of the hands of rivals— isn't a new one.
Last year individuals told Fortune they had been "talent penned": hired by technology companies on six-figure salaries "to do nothing" except complete a 10-minute task every now and again. The sources Fortune spoke to said some hires use their weekdays to learn how to scuba dive, while managers told off the candidates for asking too many questions.
And it seems some companies are also retaining their bloated headcount with people who don't actually help drive the company forward. In fact in some cases, their presence actually holds back innovation.
That's according to David Ulevitch, general partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, who said a "bunch of people" in large corporations are working "BS jobs."
ELMAT: Capital hogging creates this
Google is an "amazing example" of such a company, he told Emily Sundberg's “ Feed Me” Substack newsletter.
"Anyone who works in a 10,000+ person or larger white-collar job company knows that a bunch of the people can probably be let go tomorrow and the company wouldn’t really feel the difference, maybe it’d even improve with less people inserting themselves into things," began the partner at the VC giant also known as a16z, which has backed the likes of Airbnb, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox.
Another issue with "BS jobs" is that it detracts from shareholder returns, he explained: "Those people aren't just being useless (and being coddled to think useless jobs actually matter—they don’t), but they are also taking money away from the rest of the workforce's retirement programs.
"Google is an amazing example of this. I don’t think it’s crazy to believe that half the white-collar staff at Google probably does no real work," he continued. "The company has spent billions and billions of dollars per year on projects that go nowhere for over a decade, and all that money could have been returned to shareholders who have retirement accounts. So real people actually lose out when BS jobs exist."
Google did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment. |
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| To: elmatador who wrote (12705) | 5/10/2024 12:45:01 PM | | From: Elroy Jetson | | | | Capital hogging, and now people hogging as well !
Even worse, they're profit hogging.
It looks like Donald Trump's signature income tax cut for corporations from 35% down to 21% is working out well. |
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| To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (12706) | 5/11/2024 1:39:34 AM | | From: elmatador | | | | What caused the huge concentration of data centers into a few geographies? Subsidies.
In the USA, which is home to the world’s biggest number of data centres, Linesight says that the pipeline for new data centre projects currently stands at US$160 billion, with approximately a fifth of that pipeline located in the state of Virginia.
EU to spend €1.2bn funding European cloud and Edge efforts
Hopes to break the US hyperscaler cloud monopoly
The European Commission will provide €1.2 billion ($1.29bn) in state funding for cloud computing and Edge development.
The IPCEI Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS) was jointly notified by seven Member States: France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
Member states will provide the funds, which is expected to lead to an additional €1.4bn ($1.5bn) in private investments.
Where are most data centres being built?
“The US data centre market in particular is booming as operators rush to accommodate the rise of AI, with total capacity, rack density and energy consumption all set to increase substantially,” says Patrick Ryan’s executive vice president for the Americas.
In Europe, too, Linesight says that, despite a subdued macroeconomic outlook, which is likely to lead to a contraction in overall construction outlook in 2024, demand for data centres, as well as hi-tech industrial buildings, manufacturing and infrastructure is expected to remain high with London the city with the most projects under execution, followed by Germany, France and Ireland.
Powered by subsidies, they will consume the last MW available. I have been warning, that the geography of the data centres has to change.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/datacenter-geography-major-change-osvaldo-coelho/?trackingId=KLU14NLWS%2B26ABBEQEql1A%3D%3D |
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| To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (12706) | 5/11/2024 1:44:04 AM | | From: elmatador | | | | Subsidize the locals and put tariffs on the competition.
US set to impose 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports
Biden Set to Hit China EVs, Strategic Sectors With Tariffs- US set to target electric cars, reject across-the-board hikes
- Action comes after multiyear review of Trump-era duties
President Joe Biden’s administration is poised to unveil a sweeping decision on China tariffs as soon as next week, one that’s expected to target key strategic sectors with new levies while rejecting the across-the-board hikes sought by Donald Trump, people familiar with the matter said.
The tariff rate on electric vehicles is expected to quadruple from roughly 25% to 100%, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the plans.
An additional 2.5% duty would apply to all automobiles imported into the US, the paper reported. |
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| From: elmatador | 5/12/2024 4:57:11 AM | | | | | | Disruptions ensued, including attempts to breach the Tesla premises and sit-in blockades on roads, leading to roadblocks, the spokesperson said.
Protesters also occupied a nearby airfield in the Neuhardenberg municipality, lighting pyrotechnics and blocking access roads, according to the police.
More than ten European countries had campaigned to have the factory located within their jurisdictions. Tesla decided to put the factory in Germany.
https://www.dw.com/en/protesters-attempt-to-storm-teslas-factory-near-berlin/a-69046103
These investments need to go to Brazil or Argentina. Elon Musk will be received on a red carpet. I suggested to the Moroccans to invite Elon Musk for a tour of Northern Morocco
hey promise the subsidies but then the locals storm your facility
"Thus far, based on the current details, Tesla could eventually get 6.8% government funding toward Giga Berlin. Teslarati notes that if the project costs some 2 billion euros, Tesla could expect over $130 million in support from Germany."
Tesla Not Yet Provided With Any Funding From Germany For Giga BerlinTesla moves too quickly and changes plans often, which makes its application for government funding an "ongoing process."
insideevs.com. |
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| To: elmatador who wrote (12709) | 5/12/2024 10:58:16 AM | | From: Elroy Jetson | | | | To avoid import tariffs Teslas for Brazil have to be built in Brazil, and likewise Teslas for Europe have to be built somewhere in Europe.
Businesses adapt.
Tesla knew going in that choosing that particular forest reserve in Germany to build a plant would come with a lot of push back from residents, yet they went ahead with it.
Everyone makes their choices and enjoy the results. Elon Musk is really into problem-hogging. |
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| To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (8914) | 5/12/2024 3:13:01 PM | | From: Joachim K | | | | cbc.ca
Massive wildfire near Flin Flon moves toward Cranberry Portage, forces evacuations
Fire grows to 35,000 hectares in size, leaving residents ‘on watch’
Rachel Ferstl · CBC News · Posted: May 12, 2024 8:36 AM CDT | Last Updated: 15 minutes ago
A massive fire is burning in northwestern Manitoba near Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage. (Bailey Anderson/Facebook)
A massive wildfire has swallowed up 35,000 hectares of land near Flin Flon, and is making its way toward another northwestern Manitoba community.
A forest fire 38 kilometres long and 12 kilometres wide has moved within one kilometre of Cranberry Portage, located southeast of Flin Flon, the province said in its fourth fire bulletin on Sunday afternoon.
Residents from Cranberry Portage evacuated to The Pas after an order was issued Saturday night.
The blaze has caused intermittent power outages, and has prompted the closure of Highway 10 from Highway 39 (south of Cranberry Portage) to Flin Flon.
The fire has also crossed a section of railway in the area, the province said, which could impact rail travel between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan, which is further north.
Another out-of-control fire near the community of Wanless, which is north of The Pas but south of Cranberry Portage, has grown to about 1,500 hectares in size. Crews are trying to protect the hydro line between the latter two communities.
A view of the wildfire near Flin Flon from Schist Lake. The province issued an evacuation order to a number of homes and cottages in the area, a Saturday afternoon update said. (Submitted by Randy Whitbread)
Lori Forbes, the municipal emergency coordinator for the area, said as of Sunday morning, about 400 of the community's 700 or so residents had registered after evacuating.
"They're wanting to know when they can go home. They're wanting to make sure their house is OK. They're wanting to know how long this is going to take," said Forbes.
"It's very stressful and very hard emotionally on people to leave their community. We're giving them the proper information as we hear it."
A registration site has been set up at the Wescana Inn in The Pas. Many evacuees are staying at hotels in The Pas, Winnipeg and Brandon, Forbes said.
The province said emergency social services are also available to evacuees. A reception centre has also been set up at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon for residents who have evacuated from other areas, including:
- Sourdough Bay subdivision.
- Twin Lakes Cottage subdivision.
- Whitefish Lake Cottage subdivision.
- Schist Lake North Cottage subdivision.
- Bakers Cottage subdivision.
- Bakers Narrows Provincial Park.
Manitoba Hydro is also working to fix infrastructure that has led to communication outages in Flin Flon, Sherridon and Sourdough Bay between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage, the province said.
Residents from Carberry Portage were ordered to evacuate Saturday night. A registration site for evacuees has been set up in The Pas at the Wescana Inn. (CBC Graphics)
In an update Saturday afternoon, the province said it had also ordered homeowners and cottagers near Flin Flon to evacuate, and had warned others nearby to be prepared to leave. It also said officials closed off Sourdough Bay Road, east of Flin Flon, and evacuated the area around Sourdough Bay.
Niki Ashton, the MP for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, said the situation is stressful for everyone.
"People are literally on watch," she said.
"We've known for some time that there is a high risk of a bad fire season and we're seeing it already."
She said northern residents are braced for what the next few weeks might bring.
"This, to me, is a very clear sign that we need a national approach when it comes to fighting wildfires."
Smoke from the out-of-control wildfire has drifted into Winnipeg and parts of southern Manitoba. (Corentin Mittet-Magnan/Radio-Canada)
Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for parts of southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, due to wildfire smoke. Conditions are expected to improve throughout the day Sunday. |
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| To: Joachim K who wrote (12711) | 5/12/2024 6:45:57 PM | | From: Elroy Jetson | | | | It looks like Canadians forgot to rake their tundra again.
Donald Trump said: “I was with the president of Finland and he said:
"We have, much different, we are a forest nation.’ He called it a forest nation. And they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don’t have any fire problem.” For the record, the president of Finland has said he has no idea what Donald Trump was talking about. |
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| From: elmatador | 5/14/2024 2:23:01 AM | | | | | | China exerts control over internet cable projects in South China Sea
Beijing imposes strict permit requirements for access to underwater data infrastructure over spying fears
Anna Gross and Alexandra Heal in London, Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington, Kathrin Hille in Taipei and Mercedes Ruehl in Singapore
MARCH 14 2023
China has begun to impede projects to lay and maintain subsea internet cables through the South China Sea, as Beijing seeks to exert more control over the infrastructure transmitting the world’s data.
Long approval delays and stricter Chinese requirements, including permits for work conducted outside its internationally recognised territorial waters, have pushed companies to design routes that avoid the South China Sea, according to multiple sources inside the industry.
A cable under construction called SJC2, which will connect Japan to Singapore as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong, has been delayed by more than a year because of Chinese objections and lengthy permit issues, according to two industry executives.
China held up approval for sea-floor prospecting for the cable — owned by a consortium including China Mobile, Chunghwa Telecom and Meta — for several months in its territorial waters around Hong Kong. The authorities cited concerns that the contractor might conduct spying or install extraneous equipment, according to one person directly involved in the project who requested anonymity.
“China is attempting to exert more control over undersea activities in its region, in part to prevent US surveillance systems from being installed as part of undersea cable deployment,” said Bryan Clark, a former US submarine officer and senior Navy official.
“The Chinese government also wants to know exactly where civilian undersea infrastructure is installed for its own mapping purposes,” added Clark, who is now at the Hudson Institute think-tank.
Tensions over who owns, builds and runs the fibre cables sending internet traffic around the world have risen sharply since 2020, when the US government began to block Chinese involvement in international consortium projects. Washington has also denied permission for subsea cables connecting the US to mainland China and Hong Kong.
Several industry sources said China’s policing of its waters — including within maritime areas marked on maps by a disputed “nine-dash line” — is a response to Beijing being excluded from international projects and fears that companies could use cables as a front for espionage.
According to international law, states or companies laying and maintaining internet cables require government permits for access to the seabed within 12 nautical miles of a country’s territory. But permission is not typically required in waters anywhere between 12 nautical miles and 200 nautical miles from land, known as a state’s “exclusive economic zone”.
Chinese authorities have made the process for obtaining permits within the 12-mile stretch long and onerous, according to three industry executives with direct knowledge of the situation.
China is also among a handful of countries in Asia that have started requesting permits for cable-laying in claimed territorial waters beyond 12 miles, in apparent contravention of international maritime law, according to executives at two major subsea cable companies in Europe and two lawyers working with companies in the region.
“The edict from the [Chinese Communist party], passed down by local government representatives, is that you need a permit in their EEZ,” said one subsea cable executive. “The last thing you want is to approach Chinese waters and a gun boat comes out and stops you. It’s just really murky out there [and] the cost of not doing it means that people fold and apply [for permits].”
Requiring permits for cable work gives China oversight and influence over the entities that control the metal-encased fibre lines carrying data around Asia. It also gives Beijing leverage to demand a seat at the table for infrastructure projects by requesting that its companies, ships or personnel are involved.
The South China Sea is a popular subsea cable route, offering the most efficient path to connecting east Asia with the south and west of the continent, as well as onwards to Africa.
About 95 per cent of all intercontinental internet traffic — data, video calls, instant messages and emails — is transmitted via more than 400 active submarine cables that extend for 1.4mn km.
Clark said China’s requirements were “not consistent” with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, noting that its permitting requirements stretched far beyond its EEZ to encompass almost all of the South China Sea. “Much of this area is actually the EEZ of China’s neighbours,” he added.
The Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources and ministry of defence did not respond to a request for comment.
Several sources said that to avoid deadlock over permits, subsea cable consortiums were now seeking to forge new routes that circumvent China’s claimed waters.
Two cables under construction, called Apricot and Echo, will transport data from Singapore to Japan and the US, respectively, avoiding the South China Sea by circling around Indonesia.
“Nobody is daring to do operations without explicit authorisation?.?.?.?that never comes,” said a European subsea cable executive. Other projects under procurement would avoid the area because of these issues, he added.
The cost of contracting boats for cable-laying and maintenance can be about $100,000 a day, making companies reluctant to risk any action that could be blocked or sabotaged.
Avoiding waters claimed by China was a “double punishment”, the executive said, because it is more expensive to lay cable along the new route as the shallower waters near Borneo require extra layers of armour around the fibre.
“It means building is longer and costs more,” said a Singapore-based executive for a global technology company. “It is digital infrastructure decoupling.” |
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