Posts by Cynical Observer
80 posts • joined Thursday 20th December 2007 10:51 GMT
Re: Lies, damned lies and statistics
Statistically speaking, that Kzzzerrrt is imminent.
Loving the time travel
As I zoom in, I can see the builders vans that filled the site in 2011. Another level of zoom and zap! they are gone, the extension is gone...
Out again. Oooo it's back.
Feels like I have my own personal cloaking system :-)
Poles apart
Just waiting for the manufacturing cock up which will see the polarity in the stand and polarity in the iPad results in a N-N or S-S attempt at docking. Will they patent this as a fast eject mechanism?
Re: All your data monetised for us
Ah! That explains how a shop that I last visited 15 years ago managed to address mail directly to me at my current address some three house moves later.
Post Office service described here http://postoffice.mobi/marketing-services-regular/choose-your-audience/data-management/ncoa-suppress
Re: LIbre Office good, MS Office is dying.
If they are still editing .doc files then odds are they have not gotten past Office 2003.
Wonder if they just don't like the ribbon - in which case introduce them to LO.
Simples!
Re: I wrote to my MP about all this.
Interesting that he used the unit of "Programmes". So of ten arbitrary programmes, the nine that cost £1m each are OK and the one that cost £2b is over budget and delayed.
All in the interpretation of the lies statistics.
Re: 0.1% still beats 0.0%!
The idea is that we have countries undercutting each other in giving tax brakes breaks to big multinationals. It they stop doing this, every country would have a larger income from taxes.
If only it were that simple. On a level tax playing field, companies will increasingly be driven by cost of labour - it's still one of the largest expenses that any enterprise must bear. When the EU went through the expansions of 2004 and 2007, the multinationals didn't relocate to eastern Europe out of a sense of altruism. Skilled and cheap labour is a compelling motivator.
A lesser corporate tax rate acts as a counter balance and for the likes of Ireland, it's probably the most important factor in ensuring inward investment.
Re: Talk about stating the obvious...
@Def.
Is that really 100% accurate.
Normal salaried employees are allowed claim for expenses related to their employment - e.g. mileage up to the HMRC approved levels; professional fees; subscriptions.
All of these lower their tax liabilities.
On that basis you could argue that they are being taxed on profits not revenue.
Re: If they won't pay tax, maybe they should pay for infrastructure
but they are still putting vehicles on our roads, employing people educated in our education system and creating rubbish for our landfill sites,
Vehicles on roads - Vehicle Excise Duty, Excise Duty on Fuel, (Can't count VAT on fuel as that can be reclaimed). Let's not forget the vehicle manufacturers who benefit by selling these - a further economic benefit that it's convenient to ignore.
Employing People Educated in the system. : NI; PAYE; not to mention the fact that the employees are not a drain on state resources.
Rubbish for Landfill... Some of that responsibility lies with the end user and how they dispose of and/or recycle their rubbish. Some of it is covered by payment of business rates - I believe that they are not inconsequential.
In short - any discussion has to focus on PROFITS and whether or not profits should be taxed in the country of origin or else where.
Re: Correct me if im wrong
Consider yourself corrected.
The tax that you pay on these products (VAT) is not part of the current discussion.
Re: Annual remake?
Of Course - but only if you're prepared to pay for it.
Posted in Data cop slap for Brit text pests
Re: Or on Three network
Not just 3 who had to be different. With Vodafone, the reporting number is VSPAM (87726)
And apparently, Virgin don't even list a number as an option.
Re: Begin settling space,
Other members of the Ark to include ...
Telephone Sanitisers, Hairdressers, Second-hand Car Salesmen,TV Producers, Personnel Officers, Management Consultants, Insurance Salesmen and Public Relations Executives
Re: Uuum yeah
just wanting something because their friend has one or because an asshole in a clown suit tells them they need it.
Applies to many over 12s as well.
Weasel Words.....
"As it stands, Ofcom's rules state that mobile, phone and broadband providers have to give their customers a minimum of one month's notice regarding any major change to contractual terms. Subscribers can then cut loose from the contract without being stung with a penalty for walking away early"
"Raising Prices in Line with Inflation" must fall outside the definition of a "major change" if Three can include the following paragraph in their advisory on price changes earlier this year.
"Our terms and conditions allow us to raise prices in line with inflation so that we can cover our business costs. This means that you won't be able to leave your contract early as a result of this change."
Vodafone did something similar shortly after.
Solid Dollar?
despite all that, Reding points out that America's credit rating isn't being threatened and no one is doubting the dollar,
And this of course is in no way related to the fact that the ratings agencies that people listen to (e.g.Moodies, S&P) are all US based?
Wonder what would happen if some European agencies or agencies from the BRICs block were to let fly with a rating that was less than favorable to the dollar...
Re: Heard Lewis on BBC R4 this morning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01h75xm/Today_10_05_2012/
Starts circa 2hrs 45mins in.
It was quite a shock to hear someone from the BBC defending this government.
BT faults now have a 03 number as well as their 0800 number
Worked for me when contacting them from a mobile - and was included in the standard minutes allowance.
The number is 0330 1234 151.
Posted in Samsung outs Ivy Bridge notebooks
Time for an El Reg Top 10?
As we get all sorts of top 10's from El Reg, why not give us the top 10 laptops with decent screen resolutions. Say 1600 *1200 for starters. It seems to increasingly be the factor that eliminates laptops from the list of possible replacements that one might consider.
Re: Bert, this bloke wont 'aggle!
Now are you telling me that's not worth twenty shekels?
Re: Law on their side?
IANAL
I seem to recall one of those "Know your Rights" type programs on the BEEB or such like saying that it depends on when the error is spotted. If the error is spotted before the transaction is complete then the merchant is not compelled to complete the transaction - although they must fix the ticket price near enough immediately. However, if you get you mitts on the goods and payment has been completed then it's yours and there's nothing that they can do about it.
The wrinkle with distance selling is that the money has been taken - but you don't have the goods. So is the contract complete at that stage? One for those legal eagles.
Trademarks @ Dawn
"Computer security historians would be interested to note that 20 years ago there was an anti-virus program for Mac, also called Gatekeeper. The software, developed by independent programmer Chris Johnson, was shelved many years ago."
Hope they've determined whether or not they need to buy the rights to use the name. Otherwise the marketing department needs to be rebranded "iShouldHaveChecked"
Dear world at large
"I am not at home right now - in fact I'm at the other end of the country. This would be an opportune moment for you to go and check out where I live. DO you like the electronic goods that are on display - they are yours for the taking."
Still don't see the attraction to telling people that you are not at home.
This is going to put a cat amongst the ACTA pigeons.
They will not be happy.
MAD
"Samsung will have rushed the Galaxy Nexus, which misappropriates many patented features from the iPhone, to capture market share from Apple that Samsung will be able to retain long into the future"
And if we get the injunction, we can capture market share from Samsung that we will be able to retain long into the future - even if we lose the case.
Oh for a dream world where the judge says something along the lines of :
"Granting or refusing this injunction will unfairly disadvantage one or other of the parties. Therefore the only fair result to so ban both of you pillocks until we sort this out! Now why don't you both clear off out of my sight and come back when you want to behave like grown ups"
Ah well... back to the realities of a Monday afternoon.
Television suddenly looks promising
OI! You can't behave like a talentless twat! I have a prior claim on that and I'll sue you!
That should cull a large part of the X-Pop-Strictly-Got-No-Talent-On-Ice brigade!
The accounts will be busy
Wonder how they will qualify all this to avoid paying excessive (any?) taxes on it.
Oh another lunch with HMRC - it's a hard life
If stupidity were a crime
then at least one sentence would have been handed out.
The question is whether it should have been two - a second sentence for the decision to bring the case in the first place.
Split Personality
So with two Gmail Accounts; two Amazon accounts and three browsers - why do I think it would be possible to game the system?
If I could be bothered that is!
Please Repost
This one is probably closer to the mark....
PLEASE copy and paste this into your status if you know someone, or have been affected by someone, who needs a punch in the face. People who need a punch in the face affect the lives of many. There is still no known cure for people who need a punch in the face, except a punch in the face. 93% of people won't re-post this...Why? Because they probably need a punch in the face.
@ AC - Spanner!
Not part a two working parent family then.
IT is an essential part of maintaining parent-teacher communication.
From the simple e-mail messages reminding parents of appointments; clarifying homework assignments to a well run web site that actually supports parents in helping staff to educate kids.
I suppose you'd have them place the grenade in the server room - I can imagine others would suggest somewhere closer to your brains.
Roads?
Where we're going we don't need roads
Posted in Can NetApp catch up with EMC?
The emporor's new clothes
"The Wall Street estimates for the quarter were for revenues of up to $2.1bn and NetApp failed to beat the street."
When WILL people come to the conclusion that the predictions of the "Street" are not much more than glorified guess work.
It's bizarre and illogical: You Guessed; You guessed wrong; I get screwed.
Surely the more logical response is to say: Crap analyst! I'll listen to someone else next time!
Posted in US may disable all in-car mobile phones
Opening Gambit
With the number of people who will scream every variation of "No!" and "prise it from my cold dead fingers" it's easy to see that this proposal will stumble before it ever gets anywhere near implementation.
At which point, it opens the door to the more reasonable - "well every car manufacturer must fit bluetooth hands free as standard." It's hard to see how people can disagree with such a proposal - after all it's safer than hand held (separate argument for another day) and if a default part of the cost, people won't be tempted to cut corners and not spec it when choosing a new car. (Why is it that I regularly see drivers of expensive luxury marques holding phones - spend £50k plus on a car and too tight arsed to add £500 for bluetooth.... where's the sense in that?)
No facts just politics
Sounds like a summary of his argument.
How very nicely put!
A Title
There is an art, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
- Douglas Adams
The title is required, and must contain letters and/or digits.
Nikon D300s - Two Slots - Two Cards (CF and SD)
Posted in SCO rises from the dead (again)
Oh ffs!
would someone send a handful of these to SCO - with pins removed please!
Hack it
I saw that - it would reappear over and over - so eventually I hacked it.
I set it's maximum version compatibility to 1.*.*
And set the extension version to 9.9
Firefox disables it becasue it's not "new enough" and I reckon that it will be while before Microsoft release version 10 of the extension.
Annoying that it's still there - but reassuring that it's crippled.
And outside Europe
In all those countries that stamp a visa on a PAGE in your passport. (Or as in Turkey, they affix a nice paper stamp - not dissimilar to a postage stamp, and then cancel that)
Where does that go on the plastic card?
Ah! Still need passport ... well then sod the ID card, one document is enough.
Just experienced!
No. But used to writing more than one line documents that might otherwise have been composed in crayon.
Try responding to an RFI / RFP where the potential customer on a 2 million pound deal has stipulated that your answers should be inserted in line in their request document. For some daft reason, they seem to react badly when the formatting is sloppy.
Damned inconsiderate of them of course - after all who do they think they are dictating how the information should be transmitted?
Oh yes - they're the ones spending the money!
Conversion
Because tables and graphics frequently do NOT play nicely. When you have to spend a day tinkering with an 80 page report just to get it correctly formatted, you eventually get beaten into submission. Don't get me wrong - I'm with the OP. Open Office is lighter, more intuitive (or familiar) and I'd gladly tell people that I submit my work according to open standards. Except that if I want to get paid, then there are times when compromise is necessary.
So teach OOo at home
Fairly sure that my daughter's schools use MS Office - but at home, my 9 year old is more than happy in Writer - she just sees it for what it is. A means of creating a document. She will leave school "Bi-lingual" in office products.
Worth Trying again?
From the view menu - click on Print layout. It's a toggle. Goes from a Layout View to a stream of consciousness view that is as wide as the OOo application window and shows no page breaks at all.
A conversion in the offing perhaps? :-)
Sanity Restored
An add-on that allows you to get to most of the legacy layout that you can actually use!
http://www.ubit.ch/software/ubitmenu-languages/
Saved my sanity on so many occasions.
Democracy
@ Chris Miller.
This sir is the price of democracy.
Full disclosure - I was not born in the UK, I think that a strong EU is a good thing and I crave full and open examination of the scientific evidence offered in support of Global warming. So I have no affinity with any of the aforementioned parties.
BUT - If those parties offer themselves for election and are chosen in sufficient quantity by the electorate then they have aright to attend parliament as a duly elected MP. Organising an electoral system to deliberately disenfranchise voters of a particular persuasion starts this country on a slippery slope that is best avoided. (What next? Ban Ginger headed people form voting? As they seem to be the only minority that we can pick on today without fear of censure!)
Do you have so little faith in the major parties as to believe that they will compromise their principles and for example yield to BNP demands in order to hang onto the reigns of power! For if they were to do so, are they not as morally bankrupt as the BNP itself?
Time for real change!
Single Transferable Vote
One of the arguments offered in opposition to STV is the "Loss of local connection" With a multi seat constituency, this does not happen - at least no more so than the current parachute candidates that we get today.
In fact STV allows me to select those personalities that best look after the area - blurring the party political lines. I can pick the best local reps, order them by party and then go on to follow party lines thereafter - or any permutation that you might dream up.
Part List PR is an abomination - the refuge of party hacks who have been already rejected at another constituency.
Personally, I'm in favour of mandating that a candidate must have lived in the constituency (main residence, full council tax paid) for at least 12 months prior to the election. That will rid us of many a party hack!
Balance
Take a look at Surrey as an example - a county of 9 constituencies that returned 9 Tory MP's
Aggregate the vote for the 4 main parties in each constituency and you get
Tory: 57%
LibDem: 30%
Lab: 9%
UKIP:4.5%
On a 9 seat constituency under STV, probably looking at Tory 5 / Lib 3/ Lab 1
Make it a single constituency and you could easily reduce the number of MP's - no bad thing in and of itself. Say for argument sake, it was 7 MP's.
Odds are you'd get Tory 5 / Lib 2 or Tory 4 / Lib 2 / Lab 1
9 Tory MPs = Democracy my Arse !
