markvdb

58 ms·

751.
by markvdb 9y ago
The most impressive use of the index card is probably the Mundaneum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundaneum .
752.
by markvdb 9y ago
Legally speaking, there's three categories of e-bikes in the EU [0]: * under 250W, under 25km/h: no more approval than a pedal powered bicycle * L1e-A: under 25km/h, under 1kW electric * L1e-B: under 45km/h, under 4kW el
753.
by markvdb 9y ago
From the acquaintances that have tested the Brompton electric[0], I've heard nothing but good. It's just not for sale yet... For a two mile commute, you might want to also consider a pedal powered Brompton. I can easily call mine
754.
by markvdb 9y ago
Upvoted. Learned a lot from this, thank you.
755.
by markvdb 9y ago
There is still a lot of activity around the Piux X society. They're allying themselves with partners like the Parti de la France, Jean-Marie Le Pen and friends, and organising themselves around organisations like Civitas[0], the "
756.
by markvdb 9y ago
Markets are not rational. Even if they were, there's too many externalities not captured by the helium market price. Think of the negative side effects on science and health care.
757.
by markvdb 9y ago
I don't want to be a party pooper, but... Helium is scarce enough to stop using it for this kind of purposes. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24903034
758.
by markvdb 9y ago
https://github.com/yoe/sreview
759.
by markvdb 9y ago
In most cases, you don't. You're just ignoring double taxation treaties.
760.
by markvdb 9y ago
Clearly, identities (Catalan, Spanish, religious, atheist, ...) are very much layered, personal, and they fluctuate with time. How to reinvent the nation state (whether the Catalan, the Spanish or any other one) to take that into account se
761.
by markvdb 9y ago
Supposedly something like chordify does this relatively well...
762.
by markvdb 9y ago
Definitely complicated, but that should be the gold standard to aim for in the future. A lot is possible that hasn't even been tried yet!
763.
by markvdb 9y ago
The solution is called automated anonymisation of data.
764.
by markvdb 9y ago
Ireland has sovereignty over its tax law to a certain extent. For VAT for example there is an EU minimum standard rate of 15% (with an option for a reduced rate). One of the biggest loopholes is _finally_ expiring in 2020: https:/&#x2
765.
by markvdb 9y ago
Not a reasonable conversion for mainly two reasons: * Ireland is a stepstone to not taxing most of their profits at all. Read about the double Irish with a Dutch sandwich (expiring in 2020). Google for example was (is?) an aggressive user o
766.
by markvdb 9y ago
A classic in this type of undercover journalism is the work of Günter Wallraff in (West-)Germany: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnter_Wallraff#Undercove...
767.
by markvdb 9y ago
> For good relations with the Government which has a goal of decreasing unemployment, and avoiding bad PR in popular media? If you can wait a couple of months to achieve exactly the same outcome with fewer risks, why not. This. Technical
768.
by markvdb 9y ago
The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich is still available and actively being used until 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Irish_arrangement
769.
by markvdb 9y ago
Much of the profit generated in the EU by these multinationals actually ends up largely untaxed in Bermuda/Cayman islands/... subsidiaries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Irish_arrangement
770.
by markvdb 9y ago
Be my hero and compile a similar map for the EU, from Eurostat data. One possible starting point: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/...
771.
Collection of letters by codebreaker Alan Turing found in filing cabinet(theguardian.com)
3 points by markvdb 9y ago|0 comments
772.
by markvdb 9y ago
> And when you start looking at professional level software (e.g. CAD), very often you will find that there is literally no FOSS alternative in existance. If it exists, it will most likely be a buggy mess that has far fewer features and
773.
by markvdb 9y ago
For clothes, we both hang up and use an efficient condensating drier. We live in a (renovated) townhouse/terraced house in a moderate climate indeed, with good insulation and ventilation. Limited always-on electric components here: fri
774.
by markvdb 9y ago
It's not difficult to imagine how a US household could use a MWh of electricity per month indeed. We know these are the facts. Point is, it is possible to change those consumption patterns. Quoting from your example: * heating: 67°F sh
775.
by markvdb 9y ago
From the simulations website: "A megawatt-hour of electricity is about the amount a household uses in a month." That is the elephant in the room. Our household of three adults can comfortably live on about one sixth of that amount
776.
by markvdb 9y ago
> The persistent glorification of Russia's role in WW2 (although historically justified) Nazi Germany lost WWII largely because of the USSR indeed. That does not justify glorification of the USSR. It justifies celebrating liberation
777.
by markvdb 9y ago
Somewhat related, I have noticed there seems to be an abstraction that is often easier for Belgians to make. One can at the same time make a stand for $GOOD_THING/against $BAD_THING ánd have zero country loyalty/patriotism. It&#x2
778.
by markvdb 9y ago
"Democratic" has been overloaded with meanings and has become very ambiguous in that respect. That is the real problem. My guess is that many here say "democratic" and mean "a system that will guarantee one respect
779.
by markvdb 9y ago
Electricity price is more like .26€ here(~.31$), and this is certainly not the most expensive place in the EU. Mostly network charges and taxes. Going off the electric grid should become fairly easy. Cheap solar and storage should make this
780.
by markvdb 9y ago
Trade and tourism for example are not zero sum games, and part of the real economy. They generate a taxable financial surplus in all member states. That surplus wouldn't be there without EU membership.

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