Random randomness

[Pyperkub]

Grr, turbotax seems to be double counting some income (we did not make that much money, and I ain't paying taxes on that!) and now I need to dig through the damn thing to figure out why.

[Holman]

Grr, turbotax seems to be double counting some income (we did not make that much money, and I ain't paying taxes on that!) and now I need to dig through the damn thing to figure out why.

We had that happen too. It was showing double versions of both of our W2 totals.

We just deleted the duplicates and all was well.

[LordMortis]

You guys are making me nervous. I owed money on my state taxes and for the life of me I don't know why. My income is tiny, as I live off drawing down savings. The state was happy to take my return and my money though. TT just keeps getting more and more expensive and while I appreciate how Fisher Price their UI has become it's not very re-assuring when it comes to it showing laying out the how it get the results, like it used to.

[EvilHomer3k]

My neighbor just bought a hearse. They delivered it on a flatbed yesterday. That's going to be really tough to beat this October.

[hepcat]

SOMEONE'S a fan of Harold and Maude.

[YellowKing]

My neighbor just bought a hearse. They delivered it on a flatbed yesterday. That's going to be really tough to beat this October.

My dad had a hearse with purple flames on the side. He had it decked out with skull door lock knobs, skull gear shift, etc. We had a blast driving around with it around Halloween time. He had a couple of local bands use it in music videos. Most people thought it was cool, but you did have the occasional religious Karen who took offense and cussed him out.

Unfortunately he didn't have the money or desire to keep up the repairs so he got rid of it.

[jztemple2]

Ranked: Real GDP Per Capita Growth by Country (2014-2024)

Measuring economic growth (and related standard of living improvement) is always dogged by inflation worries—that price increases are masking output falls (or stagnation).

For a meaningful comparison, we visualize real GDP per capita growth across a group of peer economies, calculated from data in this OECD database.

The dataset measures every country’s per capita output volumes every year, seasonally-adjusted and indexed to 2007. This removes the influence of prices on productivity growth.



Key Takeaways

Canada saw only 1.1% growth in real GDP per capita between 2014–2024
It’s the worst performer in this dataset of 37 major economies
It's second-worst among the 38 OECD economies, after Luxembourg.

Canadian Conundrum

Canadian economic productivity has nosedived in the last decade. While GDP itself has grown around 17% in real terms, so has its population.

As a result, per capita GDP barely moved between Q3, 2014–2024.

For comparison, real per capita GDP in the G7, EU, and OECD grew 15% over the same period.

Also, What’s Going on With Ireland?

Ireland's GDP is distorted by profit shifting and the heavy influence of intellectual property assets held by multinational corporations headquartered in the country.

Both factors significantly inflate the GDP relative to actual economic activity (consumption, expenditure, production) within Ireland.

As a result, its per capita GDP is also significantly inflated.

[gilraen]

Ireland is the Delaware of Europe?

[jztemple2]

Ireland is the Delaware of Europe?

Yup! From Google Gemini

While the comparison isn't a perfect one-to-one analogy, Ireland is often referred to as the "Delaware of Europe" in the context of corporations, particularly regarding its attractiveness for multinational companies.

Here's why this comparison is made:
• Low Corporate Tax Rates: Similar to Delaware's appeal with certain tax advantages, Ireland has a relatively low corporate tax rate (currently 12.5%), which is attractive to international businesses looking to optimize their tax liabilities.
• Business-Friendly Legal and Regulatory Environment: Like Delaware, which has a well-established and specialized Court of Chancery for corporate law, Ireland is perceived as having a business-friendly legal and regulatory system.
• Attraction for Multinational Corporations: Just as a significant number of major US corporations are incorporated in Delaware, Ireland has become a hub for many large multinational companies that have established their European headquarters or significant operations there.
• Ease of Doing Business: Both jurisdictions are often seen as having relatively straightforward processes for company formation and operation.
• Skilled Workforce: Ireland, like Delaware in its region, boasts a skilled and educated workforce, particularly in areas like technology and finance, further attracting foreign investment.

However, it's crucial to note the differences:
• Taxation is a primary driver for Ireland's appeal, while Delaware's advantages are more rooted in its corporate law and court system.
• Ireland is a sovereign nation within the European Union, subject to EU laws and regulations, whereas Delaware is a state within the US. This means Ireland's tax policies and corporate laws are subject to different levels of international oversight and agreements.
• The EU is actively working to harmonize corporate tax rules across member states, which could potentially impact Ireland's attractiveness in the future.

In conclusion, while the "Delaware of Europe" moniker for Ireland isn't a precise legal or structural comparison, it reflects the country's success in attracting a large number of multinational corporations due to its favorable tax environment and business-friendly policies, similar to how Delaware attracts US companies through its corporate law and court system.

[Pyperkub]

I can't for the life of me figure out why that graph says "Third Quarter" - it doesn't appear to be in the article, and it lists the year/timespan. Weird.

Maybe 2024 third quarter? If so, it's still really weird phrasing.

[Zarathud]

Ireland offered to shelter international intellectual property with a low/zero tax rate if the company opened a local office. It enabled international tax minimization to build its own white-collar workforce.

[AWS260]

I can't for the life of me figure out why that graph says "Third Quarter" - it doesn't appear to be in the article, and it lists the year/timespan. Weird.

Maybe 2024 third quarter? If so, it's still really weird phrasing.

I believe it's comparing Q3 2024 to Q3 2014, probably because Q3 2024 was the most recent quarter for which data are available.

[Smoove_B]

This is kinda blowing my mind:

Earlier this week, while meeting up with some of my friends for a drink, I found myself getting grilled about A Minecraft Movie. I had shared my lukewarm opinions about the film and how, in all honesty, Jack Black's performance waned on me. So my mates all wanted to know who I would've cast in his stead, and I had no clue, not until I saw the news that Matt Berry was originally meant to be Steve, now that would've been gold.

According to Puck, Matt Berry, best known for his role as Laszlo Cravensworth in the vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows, was originally meant to play Steve in A Minecraft Movie. Unfortunately, this didn't end up happening due to scheduling issues. At the time of filming for A Minecraft Movie, Berry was already busy shooting the last season of his vampire series.

Nothing against Jack Black, but I want to live in a universe where Matt Berry was the lead in this movie - if only for the chance there'd be a "Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango" joke buried in there somewhere.

[Smoove_B]

And speaking of movies, this pretty much guarantees I'll never go to a movie theater again:

Blumhouse, the acclaimed production company dedicated to scaring the heck out of moviegoers, is showcasing new tech that will enhance the experience of seeing one of its hit titles.

The company announced on Wednesday that for its second annual Halfway to Halloween Film Festival, it will be screening its 2022 release "M3GAN" with new tech from Meta, which will allow moviegoers to use their phones as a "second screen" in theaters while the movie is playing.

More specifically, the technology, called Movie Mate, will allow those who attend the special screening to interact with a M3GAN chatbot during the movie on their phones. They will also be sent exclusive content like trivia and behind the scenes facts — all in real time while the movie is running.

[gilraen]

A movie theater full of people that paid 20 bucks (give or take) to be chatting with AI and scrolling through trivia on their phones...just wow.

[Blackhawk]

No doubt with the brightness at 100%.

[jztemple2]

A movie theater full of people that paid 20 bucks (give or take) to be chatting with AI and scrolling through trivia on their phones...just wow.

This is why the wife and I only go (and rarely any more) to theaters early on weekday afternoons, traditionally (at least down here) one of the slowest times of the week for theaters.

[Daehawk]

I wish place like theaters would ban phone and use a jammer to block them.

[Blackhawk]

I wish place like theaters would ban phone and use a jammer to block them.

That would be illegal, very illegal. It would prevent emergency calls from getting in or out, and could even affect devices outside of the 'target' area. Like, say, cops parked outside the theater.

[jztemple2]

I wish place like theaters would ban phone and use a jammer to block them.

That would be illegal, very illegal. It would prevent emergency calls from getting in or out, and could even affect devices outside of the 'target' area. Like, say, cops parked outside the theater.

Not to be contrary, but society used to survive without having everyone having a phone on them .

Of course, to avoid affecting the cops at the donut shop next door, the theater could line its walls with copper mesh, creating a Faraday cage environment. Put some warning signs outside the door and I think that would be legal.

[Isgrimnur]

Federal law prohibits the operation, marketing, or sale of any type of jamming equipment that interferes with authorized radio communications, including cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS), police radar, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement

[gilraen]

As much as I wish it were legal to deploy jammers in certain situations, these days people need their phones to pull up their tickets.

We also try to go to the movies in the late afternoon on weekdays, aiming for as few other people in the theater as possible (and if we get really lucky, we are the only ones there, although it's less likely in the summer when school is out).

[Zarathud]

I wish place like theaters would ban phone and use a jammer to block them.

That would be illegal, very illegal. It would prevent emergency calls from getting in or out, and could even affect devices outside of the 'target' area. Like, say, cops parked outside the theater.

Not to be contrary, but society used to survive without having everyone having a phone on them .

Of course, to avoid affecting the cops at the donut shop next door, the theater could line its walls with copper mesh, creating a Faraday cage environment. Put some warning signs outside the door and I think that would be legal.

My kids use their phone to regulate their insulin pumps. They might not survive if you screwed with their cell service or wi-fi.

If your convenience is more important than others, that’s a you problem.

[Daehawk]

Had no idea phones and insulin pumps worked that way.

[jztemple2]

My kids use their phone to regulate their insulin pumps. They might not survive if you screwed with their cell service or wi-fi.

I can see using a smart phone for this function, but does it also require cell service? There are many places where cell service isn't available.

And, interestingly, some of our local school boards in Florida are considering a ban on cell phones in the classrooms, not just the use, but the actual presence of them. I'm assuming that in the case of your kids, there would be a medical exception.

[Zarathud]

WiFi gets the data from the blood glucose monitor and transmits adjustment instructions to their insulin pumps. But the data also goes out by cell to us as parents. I can look up my kids blood glucose trend line on my phone to see they’re alive, and how their day is going. Wild insulin swings mean they’re not feeling well. If they’re too low or high, we text or call.

We have fought for 504 plans for the kids. Once making a federal complaint that led to an agreement with the school district to staff a permanent nurse rather than a temporary one after they overdosed my kid on insulin. We only narrowly missed an ER visit on that one because my wife was called and nearby to take the kid to be force fed McDonalds. Most teachers have been good, but a few confiscated phones at the front of the room but within range.

In any event, kids live on social media. Taking their phones is extreme to them, and they will resent you. Kids being distracted and goofing is an evergreen problem. They’re only going to act worse if you take away their entertainment to force them to watch movie previews.

[Blackhawk]

I wish place like theaters would ban phone and use a jammer to block them.

That would be illegal, very illegal. It would prevent emergency calls from getting in or out, and could even affect devices outside of the 'target' area. Like, say, cops parked outside the theater.

Not to be contrary, but society used to survive without having everyone having a phone on them .

Of course, to avoid affecting the cops at the donut shop next door, the theater could line its walls with copper mesh, creating a Faraday cage environment. Put some warning signs outside the door and I think that would be legal.

It's not a question of getting by without phones. The law makes the question irrelevant before we even get to that part of the debate.

And one thing that's relevant even then is that before mobile phones, we had tools and infrastructure that we used instead that no longer exists (payphones, land lines in case of emergency, etc.

[ImLawBoy]

I haven't been to many movies lately (maybe 3 or 4 in the past 5 years?), but I don't remember ever being distracted by anyone using a mobile phone. Maybe it's a function of the movies I'm seeing (loud, bright movies for the family where it'd take more than the light from someone's phone to distract), but it's more of a theoretical issue than a practical issue at this point for me.

[Daehawk]

I dont recall anyone using a phone in a theater I was in ever. But I have only seen The last Star Wars movie and Top Gun Maverick in 6 years. Hoping I get to somehow make it to the theater for both the new Tron and Karate Kid.

[TheMix]

I have definitely been distracted by phones. Usually they put them away by the time the movies start; so it's just during the trailers. But once or twice there have been people that felt so self-important that they needed to browse Tinder (or whatever they are doing) during the movie. It is definitely distracting.

The problem, in my opinion, is not the phones. It's the people that think they are sooooooo important. Many many many years ago, back in college (so way before the modern phones), I had a friend that was a manager for a Dunkin' Donuts. I remember one movie where he got up 4 times (and he was a big guy - 6' 3' and heavy) to answer calls. I get that there are times when someone needs to be available. But, then, don't go to the movies. Especially now when home presentation has come so far. Same goes for needing to check texts from friends. If you can't survive without looking at your phone for 2-3 hours, then don't go to the movies. Stay home.

[Daehawk]

I turned my phone off those two times I went. Just took it with me for emergency like car dying or something.

[YellowKing]

I've been to movies where literally the entire 2 hour runtime a lady was on her phone in front of me with brightness 100000%. It's beyond annoying. I'm not for banning phones in theaters or anything, I'm just for phone etiquette and a minimum level of respect for other people (which sadly, seems to be rarer and rarer these days). That's not just a phone thing, though - people have found ways to be annoying in theaters far longer than smart phones have been around.

As far as the original conversation starter (phone app in M3GAN), I really don't have a problem with it if it's advertised up front. This is a movie that is readily available on streaming services, so if you don't want to participate in the interactivity you can watch it anywhere. I'd only get rankled if this became widespread for first-run films and they weren't offering showings without interactivity.

[gilraen]

As far as the original conversation starter (phone app in M3GAN), I really don't have a problem with it if it's advertised up front. This is a movie that is readily available on streaming services, so if you don't want to participate in the interactivity you can watch it anywhere. I'd only get rankled if this became widespread for first-run films and they weren't offering showings without interactivity.

Well yeah, that's obviously different when it's by design, like "Wicked" sing-a-long showings or this...whatever it is. If people want to waste their money to sit in a movie theater and scroll on their phone, that's their prerogative. But the bigger problem is that it further normalizes this behavior in movie theaters when it's NOT by design. Case in point: Minecraft Movie - apparently there's a TikTok trend that encourages viewers to clap, shout, throw popcorn and more during pivotal moments of the movie. There's a phone video going around on Reddit from a Minecraft showing that's absolutely ridiculous - people are standing up, yelling, and dumping popcorn on one another.

[jztemple2]

WiFi gets the data from the blood glucose monitor and transmits adjustment instructions to their insulin pumps. But the data also goes out by cell to us as parents. I can look up my kids blood glucose trend line on my phone to see they’re alive, and how their day is going. Wild insulin swings mean they’re not feeling well. If they’re too low or high, we text or call.

I was interested in this because my wife has diabetes and wants to get some kind of monitoring device, but absolutely will not carry or use a smart phone. Probably the device can come with something to use locally via radio signal, like what she has for her hearing aids.

It's not a question of getting by without phones. The law makes the question irrelevant before we even get to that part of the debate.

Hmm, I'm still wondering about this. If I build a store that's entirely within a Faraday cage and put up a sign outside noting that there is no cell reception inside, is that in any way illegal? In fact I'm not sure I even need to put up the signs, for I'm not aware of any statue that requires me as a store owner to ensure any level of cell reception.

Which I guess can go back to Zarathud's situation; do the parents check to make sure they have cell phone signals wherever they are? Where I worked there were places that had no cell signal at all and others that required that phones be turned off. It's an interesting situation in 2025.

[ImLawBoy]

Hmm, I'm still wondering about this. If I build a store that's entirely within a Faraday cage and put up a sign outside noting that there is no cell reception inside, is that in any way illegal? In fact I'm not sure I even need to put up the signs, for I'm not aware of any statue that requires me as a store owner to ensure any level of cell reception.

Federal law prohibits the operation, marketing, or sale of any type of jamming equipment that interferes with authorized radio communications, including cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS), police radar, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement

In any event, there's a big difference between ensuring cell reception and actively blocking cell reception.

[YellowKing]

But the bigger problem is that it further normalizes this behavior in movie theaters when it's NOT by design.

If theaters allow that kind of behavior, that's a theater management problem, not a Blumhouse problem, IMO.

[disarm]

Cinemark used to have a feature in their app where you could earn rewards by putting your phone in "movie mode" within the app during your movie. If you tried to do leave the app to do anything else with your phone during the movie, you wouldn't earn points toward free concessions or movie tickets. I've never been one to pull out my phone during the movie, so I gladly did this and earned quite a few free snacks. Unfortunately, they discontinued the program quite a few years ago...might actually have coincided with COVID, but hard to remember.

[Blackhawk]

For certain movies I'm ok with 'disruptive' behavior if the goal is audience participation rather than just screwing with people. From what I've heard, the Minecraft movie is ending up being another Rocky Horror type experience.

And if you make it impossible to use phones in your business, you're instantly losing the under-25 customer base. Some businesses don't care - others would be shooting themselves in the foot. As to bright cellphones post courtesy message, the answer is simpler than we're making it: movie theaters need to start enforcing their rules. Bring back more active ushers to tell people to turn it off or step outside for their message.

[ImLawBoy]

For certain movies I'm ok with 'disruptive' behavior if the goal is audience participation rather than just screwing with people. From what I've heard, the Minecraft movie is ending up being another Rocky Horror type experience.

And if you make it impossible to use phones in your business, you're instantly losing the under-25 customer base. Some businesses don't care - others would be shooting themselves in the foot. As to bright cellphones post courtesy message, the answer is simpler than we're making it: movie theaters need to start enforcing their rules. Bring back more active ushers to tell people to turn it off or step outside for their message.

Yeah, but then you have to get up and tell someone, so you miss part of the movie getting an usher to come.

Wait, I've got it! A phone app to report people using their phones in the theater!

I'm so smrt.

[Blackhawk]

(Or maybe the ushers walking through the theater once every 15 minutes...)