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Category: Society

Contactless payments – travelling in Europe

Contactless payments – travelling in Europe

When travelling in Europe one is able to use public transportation for most journeys. This means that a hire car is unnecessary, and that the environment is a little bit more protected. We started our most-recent adventures in Brighton & Hove, England, using buses and trains, then went to Brussels, Belgium, using trains and trams. Now we’re in Essen, Germany. The first two make it very easy. Touch your contactless debit or credit card on the reader on the way…

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Google, Antitrust and Google’s terrible decisions

Google, Antitrust and Google’s terrible decisions

This post and the last are weirdly timed. Last week, I wrote about how Google make terrible business decisions that harm their long-term success. I said, interestingly, that since around 2011, Google has failed to make any new business models work. And this week, the US Department of Justice trial against Google started in earnest. The Verge has a great podcast episode about it, describing some of the arguments that are being made on each side. Although their description of…

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Vote for Will Stewart in Manchester NH Mayor election: September 19, 2023

Vote for Will Stewart in Manchester NH Mayor election: September 19, 2023

On September 19 this year, we vote for our next Mayor. I genuinely believe our best option is Will Stewart because his policies reflect the reality on the ground. There is another good candidate, but Will’s policies go that little bit further beyond what is some candidates believe will be politically tolerated, towards what is actually needed, will work, and what is supported by the evidence. For example, we know that most of the Western world has a lack of…

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Accessibility – this site can now be read

Accessibility – this site can now be read

It’s important to me that we create an inclusive society. Though this website is but a small part of the greater internet, I want to make sure it can be read by everyone, whether they have difficulties discerning colours, use a screen-reader or other assistive technology, or if they have dyslexia or other impediments. If you fit into any of those groups, or none, you’re welcome here! Until recently, if you tried to have my site read out loud, it…

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Using economics and law to decarbonise the world

Using economics and law to decarbonise the world

The EU is known as one of the world’s most pro-science governments and, with a vast population and the third largest economy behind the USA and China, massive economic clout. The facts of climate change are no longer in doubt, not least because companies like Exxon had internal research groups flagging warning signs long before the company itself would admit to the reality, just as with smoking and sugar industries. One of the main concerns about being at the vanguard…

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Some good Animal Rights News

Some good Animal Rights News

Þe Supreme Court, wiþ its majority aligned against the interests of science and þe majority, is often maligned of late. But þis is some good news coming from þat area. Read, and enjoy: https://thehumaneleague.org/article/prop-12-supreme-court About the Thorn (þ)

Government design, and the US’s problem

Government design, and the US’s problem

I have a controversial opinion – the Federal government of the USA should have more power, and the local governments (state, city, other regions) should have less. This is my opinion as an American. As a European by birth, I think the same is true of the EU. My friends moved from England to Belgium when England was still part of the EU. They had to register with all the Belgian government’s myriad tax and other authorities. Social security was…

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Unreadable For Your Eyes Only

Unreadable For Your Eyes Only

I have just abandoned For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming, and I want to tell you why. Most nights, before we go to sleep, I read a little fiction to my wife. We tried it both ways, but it causes my wife to yawn uncontrollably to read out loud, especially at night. We have recently been reading For Your Eyes Only which is a series of short stories about Bond. It’s disappointing for a number of reasons. I had…

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Endorsement for Paul Krautmann (New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022)

Endorsement for Paul Krautmann (New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022)

We are rapidly approaching the New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022, so time for some more opinions. Maggie Hassan is wrong on: Healthcare reform Military spending Freedom Taxation of the wealthy Climate change The only candidate for the 2022 Democratic Primary who believes in universal healthcare, reducing military spending so that we don’t create a violent world, taxation of all fairly, and stopping climate change, is Paul J Krautmann. Vote for Paul Krautmann on September 13th, 2022 at your local Democratic Primary polling…

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New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022 Candidates (And how to learn about them)

New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022 Candidates (And how to learn about them)

There are three candidates for the Democratic Primary on September 13th, 2022. They are: Maggie Hassan (incumbent) Paul J Krautmann; and John Riggieri I cannot find a website for John Riggieri, but Maggie Hassan’s website is here: https://maggiehassan.com/ and Paul J Krautmann’s is here: https://www.pauljkrautmannforussenate.com/. On September 13, 2022, New Hampshire citizens get to vote for one of the New Hampshire Democratic Primary 2022 candidates. The candidates’ priorities The candidates have quite different priorities based on the top items on…

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