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samran

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Posts posted by samran

  1. 2 hours ago, candide said:

    I strongly disagree (for once). Network effects and economies of scale naturally lead to monopolies for platforms, unless the market is very segmented. A network with more members has more value, and there is also a high share of fixed cost. 

     

    All good points. Except that history proves that these network effects can quickly erode. Faster than the dominance of any fixed bricks and mortar  ‘natural monopoly’ infrastructure, where I agree, you do need regulation. 

     

    Network effects were a central argument in the DOJs prosecution of Microsoft in the late 90s arguing that Windows was a OS monopoly and that forcing internet explorer as a gateway to the internet was a misuse of market power. 
     

    And for a time it was, but then fast forward 5 years and Steve Jobs put paid to that with the iPhone and the Mac, Facebook came along and all of a sudden Microsoft is turning into a cloud company. 
     

    I don’t know what it will be, but something will come along to dislodge Facebook. My kids don’t use it and laugh that is for the boomers. Even Instagram is too unhip for them. So it will change and the monopoly is temporary. 
     

    By the time you legislate, it will already be not fit for purpose.

     

    As such, I’m a big supporter of these types of initiatives which force companies to consider where they direct their advertising. 

    • Haha 1
  2. 5 hours ago, DoctorG said:

    There are eleven countries in the world that have a AAA credit rating from the three international credit rating agencies, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch. These countries are:

    1. Australia
    2. Canada
    3. Denmark
    4. Finland
    5. Germany
    6. Luxembourg
    7. Netherlands
    8. Norway
    9. Singapore
    10. Sweden
    11. Switzerland

    And...? 
     

    Eight of those countries are members of the EU/EEA (I’m including Switzerland in that)

    • Thanks 2
  3. 6 hours ago, impulse said:

     

    You blame them?  Boomers were born into a prosperous country full of opportunity.  We went to school for peanuts, leaving college with virtually no debt.  Today’s kids are born already $130K in debt (making the biblical original sin pale by comparison).  They’re going to be another $100K in debt to get a degree that will take them years to pay off- if they can even find jobs that have been shipped off to India and China by Boomers.

     

    And now, those same Boomers who have left that shameful legacy are basically saying “I’m alright Jack”, because they’re retired.  Their nestegg is in (or it’s not, but whose fault is that?)  While at the same time asking youngsters to put their economic future on hold because Boomers are at higher risk.

     

    I don’t blame ‘em for giving us the finger.

     

    Hey, intra generational wealth transfer at its finest. The GOP is obviously in full gung-ho support of such a strategy. So efficient and heartless. 
     

    It will at least help cover up the fact that today’s generation in the US will be the first to have a lower standard of living than their parents. 

  4. 1 hour ago, mr mr said:

    so i mean it only seems sensible to continue wearing my mask everywhere i go right ?

     

    there is no further justification for wearing a mask in thailand. period.

    Or maybe it’s the thing stopping those untraceable community transmissions. 
     

    I do wonder how people can be that much of a snowflake that a small face mask is such a big deal.

     

    I guess there are still repatriation flights back the Land of the Free (TM) if you want to play this anti mask culture war. 

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  5. Hi all - so I’ve gotten a decent deal down there early next month and we’ll be staying in a place which allows for self catering.

     

    Im just wondering what the availability down there is for western basics (decent bread, breakfast cereals, meat, sausages, fresh salad). No huge loss if they aren’t available but kind of wondering if they are.
     

    Im assuming fresh fish and other seafood would be widely available. 

     

    Also any idea on if restaurants are opening - especially for take away etc.  

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