Messages

For a moment I thought you meant they had withdrawn from the leadership contest, not just the final debate. Whoever comes out of it, hopefully they can shift back towards the center and leave the ERG behind.

Interesting you say Sunak clearly the most impressive as he gets a lot of bad press. Never ceases to amaze me that many people would prefer someone thick, so long as they aren't "rich" versus someone who is competent and "rich". Same way I'm amazed when people give out about the salaries of MPs or heads of public sector departments etc. Drop in the ocean ultimately and you want the best people doing these jobs. Now I'm sure there are lots of "jobs for the boys" type thing, but would much prefer to see higher salaries and real accountability.

I'm away on the hols in Spain, 154c a litre here which is significantly cheaper than Ireland. So it's not all inflation, its taxation too.

There's a temporary govt rebate scheme of 20c per litre in place on fuel prices in Spain. The seller gets it directly, it runs from April to September.

Where in Spain? Been paying between 2,06 and 2,14 for last month for diesel. Not seen below i'd say 1,85 in about three months or so. All these numbers before the 20cent rebate

The subsidy is before you see the price afaik, so add 20c to get the actual price.
They've usually been higher priced than Ireland so was a bit surprised by that price. Rioja it is!

No, if price displayed is €2.10 you end up paying €1.90 after benefitting from the subsidy. Receipt will say X litres @ 2.10 and then have subsidy line which is discounted.

In any case, despite their protestations I'm pretty sure the majority of the subsidy is just going into the petrol station operator's pockets. I'd say they will have a very good year....although I think initially at least they were basically being asked to give the subsidy at point-of-sale and then reclaim (which is one of the reasons I think most of it is going to them anyway because if they were to finance €0.2 a litre for real, I'd imagine they'd have some serious cash flow issues, so instead they just jack up the price)

I'm away on the hols in Spain, 154c a litre here which is significantly cheaper than Ireland. So it's not all inflation, its taxation too.

There's a temporary govt rebate scheme of 20c per litre in place on fuel prices in Spain. The seller gets it directly, it runs from April to September.

Where in Spain? Been paying between 2,06 and 2,14 for last month for diesel. Not seen below i'd say 1,85 in about three months or so. All these numbers before the 20cent rebate

Just seen that Badenoch is second in a small vote on the Conservative Home website. Don't know her at all. Possibly makes her more palatable than the rest...anyone know anything about her? Although if the isn't figuring in the bookies running, then probably for a reason and the Conservative Home website is non-representative

Wasn't quite sure where to put this. Stephen Nolan gets paid upwards of GBP 400k a year. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised...

https://www.bbc.com/news/62122985

Anyone watch "The Kings", 4 part documentary on Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard. Thoroughly enjoyable watch. Duran some man for one man.

Not seen it but I doubt you'll read a better sports book than George Kimabll's "Four Kings"

[Carrauntoohil Mountain]

Heading to Kerry for a week shortly,spent a weekend in Killarney drinking pints a long time ago but would be hopeful of getting a bit more done this time with family,anyone any suggestions or things they recommend to do weather permitting.

Anyone been up Carrauntoohil Mountain? Has been discussed amongst the group as something to do,I'm assuming it's not for the faint hearted,biggest in Ireland. We wanna go to dingle,Waterville,ring of Kerry etc but would love to hear peoples thoughts

Have done it a few times. Unreal experience but definitely not for the faint hearted. If its's your first time, absolutely hire a guide they go up daily with groups, you could genuinely end up in danger if a mist comes in. There are a few different routes up and down.  Take plenty of food and water and warm clothes as it can be chilly at the top. The views if it's clear are breathtaking.

Did it years ago going up the Devil's Ladder from Cronin's yard. Think was in July or August and was bloody cold up top. Not sure what age the family are, but quite a trek for anyone younger, older or very out of shape.

If you aren't used to hiking and can't read a map/use a compass stay away, unless with a guide. Even if you are experienced, as mentioned, the mist can be awful - came in extremely quickly in our case.

[If interest rates were at between 4% and 7%, a lot of keys would be handed back I'd say.]

https://www.ft.com/content/64295857-45a5-4885-a2a9-344e7f249761

According to estimates published by the Fed on Friday, which are purely based on theoretical policy rules the central bank uses as guideposts but does not "mechanically" follow, interest rates should be between 4 and 7 per cent given the current economic backdrop.

If interest rates were at between 4% and 7%, a lot of keys would be handed back I'd say.

first got our mortgage in 2003 when interest rates were at 3.75%. I asked the mortgage advisor at the time what would happen if rates shot up like they did in the early 90's and he said the same thing that a lot of keys would be handed back, but it would be in the government's interest for that not to happen.

what's the story with mortgages back home? I got a variable +0.75% there about three years ago when Euribor was at around -0.5%. Switched to fixed towards start of year at 0.75% for the remaining period (22 years).

Was talking to a friend who bought in Dublin, said that banks wouldn't offer full-term fixed mortgage? Is that standard? Seems crazy.

On the other hand, with talk of giving back keys, take it then that banks are on the hook for any shortfall if repossessed house doesn't cover the loan? Can't just do that here, they'll repossess the house and you'll still be on the hook for any shortfall.

[Bitcoin is different]

It's pretty simple lads, Bitcoin is viewed as a risk-on asset by the market.  And with the current macro conditions all risk-on assets are getting destroyed.  Bitcoin is the currently the most volatile (to both the upside and downside) of the risk-on assets.
That's it, as far as Bitcoin is concerned.

Other crypto type stuff, including defi is a sharkpit with companies trying to make a profit wherever they can.  Bitcoin is different.
I'm holding on a little bit longer (I haven't been buying the dip just yet) and will certainly buy some more BTC at what I think are really low prices.  I think the economy will tank so much, just look at 2 and 10 year US Treasury rates today that the Fed will have to turn dovish in a little while and we'll be back to a risk-on environment.

EDIT - I'm not aftermining this now.  Look at what I posted here in May on this thread a few pages back: http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=28150.msg2122683#msg2122683

concur, bitcoin is a digital property asset that will replace gold at the standard inflation hedge

it can be moved anywhere in the world in seconds which gives it a significant advantage over gold

10k would be a good price to get in imo if you haven't already 

I'd say what you both are talking about is a speculative investment, that's definitely not a replacement hedge against inflation.
Why has bitcoin not acted like it was claimed to do  n these times instead of the big dip?
In inflationary times what is needed is a hedge item of relatively constant value where currencies decrease in value around that inflation hedge. Has gold risen in actual value this past year or have currencies decreased in value?
Just asking like?

I thought this thread was quite good on discussing whether BTC is an inflation hedge or speculative investment.

https://twitter.com/Suitpossum/status/1536330065599922176?t=Gk_Bi7EnJuEYh-JtlGhXog&s=08

[i) meetings start with 5 minute chit chat]

we look like we are staying by and large WFH. Far prefer it myself.

Do miss the craic a little bit but trying a few different things so that don't lose team spirit:

i) meetings start with 5 minute chit chat
ii) 30 mins set aside in everyone's agenda once every two weeks to have 3x10 minute random conversations
iii) using this app https://www.gather.town/ which if you're a smallish team (we're 20) is pretty good. the messaging side is sh*t but in terms of facilitating face to face with team members is pretty good.

Whether I'm in an office or wfh, this is an absolute no. Come prepared, start on time, stick to agenda and aim to finish early.

Starting with a casual chat has already switched the context which is completely unproductive.

You must be a joy to work with.

I would say I am because I'm an advocate of less meetings and in order to do that, meetings need to be productive. Also fewer meetings means more actual time to get on with tasks, which in turn leads to less need to do overtime or work under pressure to meet deadlines.

There is a time and place for casual chats when working from home long term but starting a meeting off topic is completely counter intuitive to how to run a meeting.

This was my initial take as well, our meetings used drive me crazy, people arriving late, then chit chat, often no agenda etc. However we have seen that employees are screaming out for better communication and a bit more social interaction, but definitively do not want to go back to the office.

In a remote first environment I think it is hard for there to be too much communication and it's important to have an idea of how people are actually feeling. I've actually noticed that our meetings are now better run, if you arrive late you miss the chit-chat and we start on schedule. Requires slight mental adjustment to say ok, that 12:00 meeting, the real stuff is at 12:05 but the adaptation is surprisingly quick.

We really work hard to keep our meetings to a minimum, if you are in one of these places where there are constant meetings, hard to see how it could work. If that isn't the case, my advice would be to try it before you completely shut the door.

we look like we are staying by and large WFH. Far prefer it myself.

Do miss the craic a little bit but trying a few different things so that don't lose team spirit:

i) meetings start with 5 minute chit chat
ii) 30 mins set aside in everyone's agenda once every two weeks to have 3x10 minute random conversations
iii) using this app https://www.gather.town/ which if you're a smallish team (we're 20) is pretty good. the messaging side is sh*t but in terms of facilitating face to face with team members is pretty good.

Was there in summer 2007. Still have vivid memories of the size of the cockroaches climbing out of the bath and sink holes in what Lonely Planet described as the best hotel in Santa Clara (cost me about €20 I think)! When I mentioned these visitors at reception, the reply was along the lines of, "Yes sir, we are aware" 

Didn't have any issue with meals, loved the "moros y cristianos" (rice and beans)

Anyone been to Frankfurt? Worth it for a 3 day city break?

There once with work briefly sonot seen it properly but isn't a pretty place and wouldn't be first on my list.

What is new here on the CA side exactly versus what was reported a year ago? Almost seems like it is news again primarily because there was a Facebook data breach.

Don't get me wrong, it is a good thing that this type of shit is being covered but I haven't read anything from a manipulation standpoint that I didn't know 12 months ago. Or maybe there is more but I just haven't seen it?

Well it's not going to be unanimous that's for sure.

And to be a majority it has to be 10 out of 11 so I'm not sure if they'll get that.

I'm sure you're right, but an interesting definition of majority...do you have the legal definition?

Not sure they will get 10 either but after reading the lads evidence (or tweets about their evidence) and that article above - I assume they were taken from somewhere and not just invented by the Mirror - leaning ever more towards guilty.

Minimum 10

Ta