Because the EU

[bojan]

5 hours ago, sunday said:

He invented a very noteworthy fully passive microphone that we saw at the NSA museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(listening_device)

And the intruder alarm, based on same principles as teremin. Read his bio on the Russian wiki. At one moment he was imprisoned in the work camp and worked in Tupolev research group. His assistant there was Korolev. Yes, that Korolev.

Edited February 9, 2021 by bojan

[sunday]

8 minutes ago, bojan said:

And the intruder alarm, based on same principles as teremin. Read his bio on the Russian wiki. At one moment he was imprisoned in the work camp and worked in Tupolev research group. His assistant there was Korolev. Yes, that Korolev.

I wonder if he met Solzhenitsin while in a sharaska.

[BansheeOne]

Only very tangentially related to the EU, but the Technical University of Dresden just published an interesting study on political polarization in ten European countries, investigating affective rejection of people who don't agree with you on certain topics by groups (German).

In general, the most polarizing topics were immigration and climate change, followed by how to deal with sexual minorities, war in Ukraine, women's rights, and pandemics like COVID. Social benefits/welfare actually followed at a bit of a distance. On immigration, Ukraine, pandemics and benefits, both sides in the respective debates were similarly dismissive of people not sharing their own opinion. However, on climate change, women's rights and sexual minorities, the ones demanding additional measures were much more likely to affectively reject those saying that measures had already gone too far on a personal basis than vice versa.

By demographic groups and nationalities, Italy was the most polarized of the surveyed countries, followed by Greece. The Netherlands were least polarized, followed by the Czech Republic, France, Poland, and Sweden. Spain was right on the median, with Germany and then Hungary slightly ahead. While women were only slightly more polarized than men, those aged 55 and over were way more so than either those aged 18-34 or 35-54.

Conversely, those of middle education and low household income were less polarized than other groups. Big city dwellers slightly led smalltown folks, but either were ahead of suburbanites and rural inhabitants. Most dismissive of dissidents were those with Green/ecological politics, followed by those on the (extreme) left, Social Democrats, those on the (extreme) right, and "others". Least dismissive were non-voters, followed by Christian Democrats and conservatives. Classical liberals pretty much brought up the median.

By issue and group, immigration was most polarizing in Italy, among those 55+, with low education level, and on the (extreme) right; least so in Poland, those with a low household income, and Christian Democrats/conservatives. Ukraine was most polarizing in Czechia, among those 55+, with a high household income, and again the (extreme) right, but closely followed by Greens and classical liberals; least so in Spain, among those 18-34, non-voters and the (extreme) left.

Pandemic measures were most polarizing in Italy, but closely followed by Greece, with Germany a little behind, among those 55+, and those on the (extreme) right and "others"; least so in Spain, among those 18-34, and non-voters. Climate change most polarizing in Italy, those 55+, of high education and Greens; least so in the Czech Republic and among non-voters. Welfare benefits were again most polarizing in Italy, but closely followed by Poland, and among those with a high household income and on the (extreme) left; least so in the Netherlands, among suburbanites, Christian Democrats/Conservatives, Greens and non-voters. Etc.

[Ivanhoe]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/quite-orwellian-trips-to-europe-will-soon-require-visa-personal-data-from-travelers-starting-in-2024

Quote

 

Want to jet off to Italy, Spain, or France? Starting in 2024, all travelers going to European Union countries will have to not only book their flight and hotel and bring their passport, but they also must fill out an online application before traveling on their trip.

The online application requires authorization and to pay a fee through the European Travel Information and Authorization System. The system is expected to be operational in 2024.

Travelers will be required to fill out personal information, including date and place of birth, home address, parents' names, phone number, email, nationality, education, occupation, planned travel destinations, and criminal history.

 

 

[Ssnake]

Oh no!

It's almost like traveling to the US!

[BansheeOne]

I was just gonna say, clearly everyone involved with this report has never heard of ESTA, which everyone intending to visit the US from a country where he is technically not required to get a visa for the purpose has had to contend with among much sweating and cursing for the last 15 years. 😁

[seahawk]

That is different, as it only means people travelling to the USA and not Americans travelling aboard.

[Burncycle360]

To be fair the visa to the US is optional if you come in from the south

[Ssnake]

It's optional for Europe too, if you take a boat across the Mediterranean.

[Rick]

On 7/18/2023 at 10:32 AM, BansheeOne said:

Only very tangentially related to the EU, but the Technical University of Dresden just published an interesting study on political polarization in ten European countries, investigating affective rejection of people who don't agree with you on certain topics by groups (German).

In general, the most polarizing topics were immigration and climate change, followed by how to deal with sexual minorities, war in Ukraine, women's rights, and pandemics like COVID. Social benefits/welfare actually followed at a bit of a distance. On immigration, Ukraine, pandemics and benefits, both sides in the respective debates were similarly dismissive of people not sharing their own opinion. However, on climate change, women's rights and sexual minorities, the ones demanding additional measures were much more likely to affectively reject those saying that measures had already gone too far on a personal basis than vice versa.

By demographic groups and nationalities, Italy was the most polarized of the surveyed countries, followed by Greece. The Netherlands were least polarized, followed by the Czech Republic, France, Poland, and Sweden. Spain was right on the median, with Germany and then Hungary slightly ahead. While women were only slightly more polarized than men, those aged 55 and over were way more so than either those aged 18-34 or 35-54.

Conversely, those of middle education and low household income were less polarized than other groups. Big city dwellers slightly led smalltown folks, but either were ahead of suburbanites and rural inhabitants. Most dismissive of dissidents were those with Green/ecological politics, followed by those on the (extreme) left, Social Democrats, those on the (extreme) right, and "others". Least dismissive were non-voters, followed by Christian Democrats and conservatives. Classical liberals pretty much brought up the median.

By issue and group, immigration was most polarizing in Italy, among those 55+, with low education level, and on the (extreme) right; least so in Poland, those with a low household income, and Christian Democrats/conservatives. Ukraine was most polarizing in Czechia, among those 55+, with a high household income, and again the (extreme) right, but closely followed by Greens and classical liberals; least so in Spain, among those 18-34, non-voters and the (extreme) left.

Pandemic measures were most polarizing in Italy, but closely followed by Greece, with Germany a little behind, among those 55+, and those on the (extreme) right and "others"; least so in Spain, among those 18-34, and non-voters. Climate change most polarizing in Italy, those 55+, of high education and Greens; least so in the Czech Republic and among non-voters. Welfare benefits were again most polarizing in Italy, but closely followed by Poland, and among those with a high household income and on the (extreme) left; least so in the Netherlands, among suburbanites, Christian Democrats/Conservatives, Greens and non-voters. Etc.

Interesting. 

[Harold Jones]

7 hours ago, BansheeOne said:

I was just gonna say, clearly everyone involved with this report has never heard of ESTA, which everyone intending to visit the US from a country where he is technically not required to get a visa for the purpose has had to contend with among much sweating and cursing for the last 15 years. 😁

I was thinking just that. Hopefully they'll have all the kinks worked out for our trip in 2025.