How do you give up territory “temporarily,”

A long time ago Ireland did it. We’re still living with that partition today and as part of the good Friday agreement we gave up our constitutional claim on the North. There was a referendum on it (all constitutional changes here require one) and I, along with the vast majority of the Republic, voted in favour with some caveats which would allow reunification.

If they concede now that land is gone though. Gone. There will be no caveats given to Ukraine.

No worries :)

I know we’ve had that label for a long time and I felt like it was reasonable but to give some context, the Ireland I grew up in was poor as fuck. Like there was literally zero kilometres of motorway when I was a kid. To get from Dublin to Belfast you had to drive through every poxy little town on the way.

So the government went all out on using our English speaking, well educated people to bring in multinationals to bring in revenue and stop what was an enormous brain drain in the 80s. The EU funded the shit out of infrastructure and we’re now a net contributor to the coffers.

I think we’ve reached the point that they won’t leave now (the companies or the talent) so the extra taxation is very welcome.

Ireland has a 15% corporate tax rate now for large companies to align with the oecd minimum.

That is higher than some other EU countries at this point (e.g. Hungary at 9%). The old tax haven status is all but gone.

Been to China a good few times for work. As a traveller as long as you’re set on the visa front at the border they’re very chill. Way more than the US.

US: What do you work in? Cyber security. Right this way sir. SSS stamped on my ticket. Bullshit long queue for SSS people. Deep search of everything and lots of questions (US immigration is this side in my country).

Actual experience.

China: Checks visa. Makes sure my face matches passport. Stamp. Nod.

Also actual experience.

Not just cost but logistics and economies of scale which would be a huge win.

My (Irish) son did his third year of college on this program in Denmark. Had an absolute ball and went back after graduating to do his masters there then lived and worked in Denmark for some time after before moving to Germany.

Can’t recommend this program highly enough if you’re college age.

I had it on my watchlist but couldn’t bring myself to watch it because the subject matter sounded dull but a good friend recommended I watch it so I pulled the trigger. No regrets. Way better than I was expecting.

Very first thought was “surely that’s treason”.

I must look up the legal definition.

Sounds a bit treason-y.

So… Friday?

Some real doozies in there. I had to get selective here and eventually stop there were so many outright lies. They really had it in for the EU.

Alcohol sales – EU ‘bans boozing’, Feb 2005

Baby rattles – EC to ban noisy toys, Jan 1996

Bagpipes – EU safety directives to ban playgrounds, trapeze artists and bagpipes, Aug 2005

Playgrounds? Lol!

Balloons – EU bans children from blowing up balloons, Oct 2011

Chinese toys – Chinese toy imports are to be banned unless humanlike in form, Jul 1994

Clothing, zips – EU plans to ban zipper trousers, May 1999

Cod – Cod no longer to be called cod thanks to EU, Sep 2001

And on and on and on…It’s some list!

Mulholland Drive.