In the news

This is great news!

Unfortunately it looks like quite the hung Parliament; not much scope, if any, for winding back neoliberal dystopia :(

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/07/frances-progressives-keep-out-the-far-right-but-what-could-happen-next

Kartenzahlung im Baltikum auch bei kleinen Beträgen erwünscht
In der Heimat des Mannes wird die Kartenzahlung jedoch anders gehandhabt als in Deutschland. In Lettland ist das Begleichen von Rechnungen mit Karte auch schon bei kleineren Beträgen ausdrücklich erwünscht. Im Alltag der Letten herrscht ein hohes Maß an Digitalisierung, Personalausweise sind zum Beispiel auch digital.

Above points out that in Latvia small card transactions is normal, as is a digital ID card for example.

This is relevant. Being back in the vaterland for holiday, I have to say Germany is a fucking backwards country when it comes to reliance on documents and paper and cash.

It's better than the RN having the highest number of votes and it will force Macron into some compromise or, hopefully, more left-leaning policy decisions. Hopefully the warning for him will be heeded by him and successors.

I mean, they had Jordan managing the prison...

The prison’s governor, Katie Price, resigned during the inspection.

Always shocked how many bars/restaurants don't take anything other than cash in Germany. I assumed that the pandemic would have finished that off.

You’d think it would be time for the centrists to compromise with the left, but that seems unlikely…

The French electoral system seems so alien. To win a parliamentary election (albeit a coalition), and not having the leader of the largest party as prime minister is wild.

France’s constitution allows the president to choose whoever he wants as prime minister. In practice, because parliament can force the resignation of the government, the head of state invariably chooses someone who will be acceptable to the assembly.

Normally that would be someone from the largest bloc in parliament – but appointing a radical left prime minister would run the risk of repeated no-confidence votes backed not just by the centre right and far right, but possibly from the president’s camp too.

When you have vivid cultural memory of "Leftists" literally chopping everybody's heads off, it tends to colour things....

did something like that not happen in Ireland as well because the two other parties thought Sinn Fein were beyond the pale

not much scope, if any, for winding back neoliberal dystopia :(

I think we can reasonably be grateful that, for the second time in just a few days, a country has pulled back from the brink of insanity. We can criticise them for not curing cancer next week.

Hard agree.

So much to smile about in such a short period of time, from Cav to SKSKC to Eng penalties to France

Joyful hope

Yeah, let’s reserve any negativity for the England vs France Euro final (wishful thinking)

It was a record 124 F in Palm Springs on Tuesday, which is over 50 C..!

We can criticise them for not curing cancer next week.

+1
One of the many stepping stones on Hitler's path to power was the Communists being too busy beating up Social Democrats.

Yay! Well done everyone, we did it!

Being back in the vaterland for holiday, I have to say Germany is a fucking backwards country when it comes to reliance on documents and paper and cash.

I think that's a strong positive, but unfortunately, it is being undermined, and there's an increasing push to force people to use mobile phones for such things, i.e. not allow them to use paper money or documents any more, just like anywhere else. I'm sure you get this in Adelaide, too, but the proliferation of shops/restaurants etc. in London that only take card payments is depressing. It's a huge mistake to rely solely on digital resources. Both systems have distinct advantages and people should have a choice as to what to use.

Each to their own - if there’s a choice I don’t go to the place that requires cash money for payment, as I usually don’t have any.

What is the issue with cash?

You know that business get charged by card companies.

Cash sometimes has handling charges associated with it and has security issues which card payments don't so each have their pros and cons

I always assume they factor this into their pricing and cash gives them a 2% boost rather than cards causing a 2% loss (or whatever the fees are)

Cash is a massive security risk and high transaction costs particularly for small businesses.

The first moon base could be built from Lego made of space dust https://www.dezeen.com/2024/07/04/european-space-agency-esa-lego-space-brick-moon/

The other problem with card transactions is you have to put them all through the books.

I'm happy for people to accept cash. I'm not happy to be barked at by some unfriendly waitress when I attempted to pay with card.

But we're in the land of "Auf der Terrasse nur Kännchen" so I'm not surprised.

Personally I hate carrying cash. It's bulky and inconvenient and I prefer to swipe my phone and be done with it. Happy for the surcharge if there is one.

I think Germany has a pretty large cash-in-hand shadow economy. Especially love it when the uber-correct conservative people around here talk about getting "their Poles" to fix up the house and a few sentences later lament how the country is going down the drain with all them forrins