Monday Open Thread

by afew Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 11:57:35 AM EST

Time for new thread

Monday Open Thread | 39 comments (39 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Sarkozistan is still falling apart.

Copé and Fillon each claims to have won, while the electoral commission still hasn't reached a verdict amid conflicting claims of fraud.

Yeehah!

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 12:00:40 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

It's all very well the opposition falling to bits, but a bit more observable competence from Hollande wouldn't go amiss

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:49:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

But whose "observations" does this comment rely on ? The right-wing and their media mates have been exaggerating even minor slips; as Jerome said in afew's diary:

A big priority was to change the tone after the crazy years of Sarkozy - but that has created a big shock against the people that most benefitted from the Sarkozy years - the political journalists, who had read meat every day for the past 5 years, and now are starved - like junkies they are now screaming against the guy who is cutting them off.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 02:18:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

They've accused Hollande's government of being "amateurs" - and have now taken amateurism to a whole new level.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:56:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Official result announced: Copé declared winner with 98 more votes than Fillon.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 01:47:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Optimal result! (none / 0)

Weakens the FN. Reinforces Borloo's centre-right.

Of course, a couple of weeks' blood-letting before the final decision would have been even better, but you can't have everything.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 06:12:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

here we go : (none / 0)

Pierre Méhaignerie quitte l'UMP pour l'UDI de Jean-Louis Borloo

Le député pro-Fillon Lionel Tardy menace de quitter l'UMP

"Une quinzaine de députés sont tentés par [le groupe centriste de] l'UDI. Ils doivent se réunir demain [mercredi] matin pour décider s'ils restent ou non à l'UMP", assure-t-il.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 12:11:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Utilities and renewables (4.00 / 2)

From 2011 annual reports:

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 12:39:55 PM EST

Gratuitious big wind pic (4.00 / 3)

http://gizmodo.com/5961746/this-view-down-the-worlds-biggest-wind-turbine-will-give-you-vertigo

Not posting it here as it seems to be very high res.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 12:42:45 PM EST

Re: Gratuitious big wind pic (4.00 / 2)

Does this mean that the 6 MW models are finally beginning to enter the market in mass?

I've been wondering what's going to happen as the first generation turbine models begin to hit their expecting operating lifespan.

It seems that the first sites to have wind farms located on their are probably the best from a wind resource point of view. But because they've got 90s tech on them, they've probably only got a sub MW turbine on them.

Is there a future for switching out decommissioned turbines with much larger, newer machines, or are the 6 MW models likely to be used almost exclusively offshore?

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:02:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gratuitious big wind pic (4.00 / 5)

Lots of questions...

5-6MW turbines are being installed mainly offshore - see projects BARD 1 (400MW, BARD 5MW), Ormonde (150MW, Repower 5M), Borkum West (200MW, Areva 5000), C-Power (325 MW, Repower 6M), Global tech (400 MW, Areva 5000) - but there are some projects onshore - see Estinnes (77 MW, Enercon E126). Two prototypes of the new Siemens 6MW are being installed on the Gunfleet Sands project right now;
I suspect that 6MW will be mostly installed offshore as the logistics of moving 6MW turbines onland are rather complicated...
repowering indeed makes sense for the reasons you mention, and is increasingly happening in Germany (I think I saw that 20% of the capacity installed this year will be repowering). I saw a presentation that stated that a typical repowering will see half the turbines, double the capacity, and triple the energy production (so 500-700kW machines are replaced by 2-3MW machines with larger rotors). But if you have a long term tariff, and old turbines that work well (and cost nothing),why bother? Also, you do need to re-do the permits as the new turbines are larger.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:57:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gratuitious big wind pic (none / 1)

Well, I suppose I'm having a bright eyes kind of day.

Really good answers.

I suspected that the 6 MW would primarily be used offshore, but I wondered about repowering.

This may be something you don't know the answer to. (being an engineering type question) But... what's the lifespan on the old 500-700 kw machines like?

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 05:26:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gratuitious big wind pic (none / 0)

The oldest turbines still operating, in the 50-200 kw class, are just now or soon reaching a 30 year life. The next generation of 300-600 kw turbines are nearing their 20 year expected life.
Long term tariffs generally run out before or at expected lifetime, so in many cases it makes financial sense to repower. Properly structured repowering policy and tariffs, as in Germany, achieve just that.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 05:25:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Gratuitious big wind pic (4.00 / 2)

Wow... 300 of them would power 1,650,000 households. Impressive. And if we start being more conservative with our power usage and have some solar on the roof as well, there would be even more households powered with those 300 wind towers.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 04:48:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Here's a low-res copy (none / 1)

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 02:00:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Refuge from Mayan doomsday blocked: French officials ban access to 'sacred mountain' believed to be safe haven | Mail Online

Rumours say the mountain will burst open on December 21 to reveal an alien spaceship which will save those nearby from the apocalypse
French police will control access to the mountain and village to stop expected hordes of New Age fanatics, sightseers and journalists
December 21 is the estimated end of the Mayan long calendar, which some believes marks the end of the world as we know it

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:31:48 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Damn, we could had a concession stall selling trinkets to the crazies

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:53:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

I suspect the gurus had everything staked out long ago. We'd need to go in armed to the teeth.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 02:04:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

I cleaned 66 cask today in 5.25 hours. thats one every 5 minutes. My back hurts

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 01:54:17 PM EST

Spain is different (none / 1)

@AinaDiazV

Os presento al Conseller d turismo d Balears (PP). Tras matar un ciervo le corta testículos y se los pone de montera pic.twitter.com/hCuGN3Hj

Introducing... the Tourism Councillor of the Balearic Islands (PP). After killing a stag, he cuts its testicles and wears them as a hat.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 03:12:13 PM EST

Re: Spain is different (none / 0)

odd resemblance to petraeus. little man's bloodlust i guess. fetching headgear to be sure...

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 04:45:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spain is different (4.00 / 4)

I think I'm going to be sick. I'd rather see the stag wearing the guy's balls.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 05:04:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spain is different (4.00 / 8)

Reminds me of a joke from Pamplona about bullfighting.

A tourist finds a fancy restaurant near the the bullring. Eating, he sees someone at another table eating what look to be enormous meatballs. The owner explains that the testicles of the bull who lost that day in the ring are thought to be a great delicacy, giving the diner the courage of the animal.
The tourist is intrigued. The owner tells him that he has no more today, but that if he would return the next afternoon he would hold a pair for him. The tourist returns the next day, and the owner brings out the dish. The tourist, looking at the plate, says to the owner: "These look quite a bit smaller than the ones yesterday."
The owner replies back: "Sometimes the bulls win."

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 05:36:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

New Economic Perspectives blog: William Black's Comment to Krugman's Twinkie Manifesto (November 19, 2012)

This is also playing out in Ecuador. The legislature has given preliminary approval to a bill that would impose an excess profits tax on banks and limit the compensation of bank executives. The four largest banks (with over 80% combined market share) responded with a coordinated email campaign to every depositor implying that the legislation would place their deposits at risk.
Yes, they are actually threatening to induce a run on their own banks if their compensation is limited. They are trying to extort President Correa into withdrawing the bill by holding the finance sector (and through it the general economy) hostage.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 03:15:14 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Krugman Op-ed: The Twinkie Manifesto (By PAUL KRUGMAN,November 18, 2012)

The Twinkie, it turns out, was introduced way back in 1930. In our memories, however, the iconic snack will forever be identified with the 1950s, when Hostess popularized the brand by sponsoring "The Howdy Doody Show." And the demise of Hostess has unleashed a wave of baby boomer nostalgia for a seemingly more innocent time.
...
There are, let's face it, some people in our political life who pine for the days when minorities and women knew their place, gays stayed firmly in the closet and congressmen asked, "Are you now or have you ever been?" The rest of us, however, are very glad those days are gone. We are, morally, a much better nation than we were. Oh, and the food has improved a lot, too.
Along the way, however, we've forgotten something important -- namely, that economic justice and economic growth aren't incompatible. America in the 1950s made the rich pay their fair share; it gave workers the power to bargain for decent wages and benefits; yet contrary to right-wing propaganda then and now, it prospered. And we can do that again.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 03:25:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

William Black:

They are ~~trying to extort President Correa~~ blackmailing (fill in name of government) into ~~withdrawing the bill~~ protecting them over and above the general interest, by holding the finance sector (and through it the general economy) hostage.

Been happening for four-five years now.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 02:15:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

pattern recognition... it takes a while to sink in.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 05:13:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Time for a new Migeru Shimbun (none / 0)

November 19 edition.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 03:45:57 PM EST

Re: the top story (none / 0)

Spain may offer residency to foreigners buying homes | Reuters

(Reuters) - Spain is considering offering rich investors from countries such as Russia and China the right to settle in return for them buying up property in the stagnant housing sector.
Spain has more than a million empty homes across the country and is setting up a bad bank to clean up toxic assets from a housing bubble which burst in 2008.
Foreigners could be offered a residency permit if they buy a property worth 160,000 euros ($200,000) or more, the country's commerce secretary said on Monday.

What's new about this? Rich people buying houses don't usually have any trouble getting residence permits if they want them, do they?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 02:27:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 0)

It'd probably help if, when you bought your house in spain, you knew it couldn't be arbitrarily taken away from you without compensation

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 02:32:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 1)

I've heard there's been an amnesty for illegally built homes, too, or at least it is in the works.

On the broader issue, it would help if Brits didn't think that just because they're buying property in Spain they don't need to worry about title and land register. Because, you know, Spain is the third world and you can do away with all that annoying red tape.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 06:33:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 0)

Also little things like officially paying taxes in one place and using public services (and health care) elsewhere.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 07:35:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 0)

now you know that's not what I'm talking about.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 12:49:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 1)

160k isn't rich people.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 05:00:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: the top story (none / 0)

You used to need to justify having about €2000/mo lying around in order to qualify for a residence permit.

I think the requirement to buy private health insurance remains.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Nov 20th, 2012 at 06:31:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

OK - this is the Daily Mail. No guarantees: "Information makes us Free." etc etc

Chinese grandfather, 72, who modelled teen girls' clothing for a joke sees photos go viral - and sales on his granddaughter's website increase fivefold.

Nothing out of the ordinary there, but here's the killer...

'Why unacceptable for someone like me to wear women's clothes? Modelling for the store is helping my granddaughter and I have nothing to lose,' he said. 'We were very happy on the day of the shooting. I'm very old and all that I care about is to be happy.'

Bolded on behalf of seniors everywhere.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Nov 19th, 2012 at 04:27:13 PM EST

Capuchin monkeys reject unequal pay (4.00 / 3)