Hard hitting global and local news
In yet another act of economic stupidity, France targets Amazon to protect bookshops . France’s parliament has passed a law preventing internet booksellers from offering free delivery to customers, in an attempt to protect the country’s struggling bookshops from the growing dominance of US online retailer Amazon.
View article: Political Atom Bomb Explodes in Spain; Prime Minister Refuses to Step Down After Being Implicated in Slush Fund…
Netherlands is underwater in more ways than one. Der Spiegel reports Underwater: The Netherlands Falls Prey to Economic Crisis More than a decade ago, the Dutch central bank recognized the dangers of [the housing] euphoria, but its warnings went unheeded. Only last year did the new government, under conservative-liberal Prime Minister Mark Rutte, amend the generous tax loopholes, which gradually began to expire in January.
First consider Underwater: The Netherlands Falls Prey to Economic Crisis . The Netherlands, Berlin’s most important ally in pushing for greater budgetary discipline in Europe, has fallen into an economic crisis itself
My "prediction": Tolkien was a wrestler Off topic, but still a prediction in that I don’t know the answer: Â I think Tolkien wrestled in his youth. When you read his description of armed combat, it’s pretty simple and somewhat vague, but when it becomes unarmed combat, suddenly every single motion gets described and punching takes a distant second place to grappling. Maybe it’s out there somewhere, but I’ve looked around and not read much about Tolkien’s athleticism – some brief mention of tennis and rugby at Oxford, but that’s about it.
Back at the beginning of time, well, to be honest Rabett Run, but did anything exist before, Eli had two excellent rants ( Rant I and Rant II ) about textbook prices and the machinations of the publishers. As you may have noticed in the US when your kid goes to college, the price of General Chemistry textbooks has shattered the $200 barrier. On the other hand, in markets where students are free to buy their own books, the price is much lower. For example, the International paperback edition (you can only get the hardcover in the US) costs ~$80 list and you can get it discounted. It is even less expensive in less expensive countries, which brings Eli to the law.
The results are in: Americans Back Obama’s Proposals to Address Gun Violence . Most Proposals Have Bipartisan Support Although Democrats show more support than Republicans for each proposal, majorities of both partisan groups favor seven of the nine proposals.
Bruce Krasting notes Ben Bernanke Is Facing A Legacy Problem The surprise of the week was not the goofy ending to the cliff. It was the minutes from the Fed. The meeting in question took place on 12/12, just 23 days ago.
Excessive government has created such a mess it prompts many questions: Why are sick people who use medical marijuana put in prison? Why can’t Americans manufacture rope and other products from hemp? Why are Americans not allowed to use gold and silver as legal tender as mandated by the Constitution?
View post: $210,000 Cow Milking Robot; Presenting the "Astronaut A4 – A Natural Way of Milking"; How Far Off is…