You're Invited: GNU 30th anniversary celebration and hackathon

Aww,

I can definitely see that in terms of our sales data. The north and north western parts of Europe are definitely big markets for us.

I'm aware of the issues in Greece, and to some extent Spain as well as the ex-communist countries economic woes in the East.

I guess I didn't realize it was that bad. Maybe it's equivalent to Detroit or New Orleans in the United States (significant poverty & unemployment with much of the cities simply being abandoned, the local governments collapsed/collapsing/or near collapse, and I'm pretty confident a few cities have actually collapsed). The US doesn't really have much of a support system for those unemployed or living on minimal income. Comparatively it might be worse for those in the US. What exists often disappears after a certain amount of time. They just expect you to 'get a job' despite no jobs being available and when you lose that economic support you disappear from the numbers (as if you have a job now).

Where I am in the US it's been semi-insulated from the economic hardships much of America and Europe face. It's got a fairly well rounded local economy, well educated populace, job opportunities, good public schools, etc. It's one of the top 10 (maybe top 4 depending on when you look) wealthiest parts of the country. This isn't really to say that everybody is rich. The reason it's high in the ranking is down to the area being a purely middle to upper middle class area. It would be very difficult financially to live here without a car, employment, etc. If you are living here already chances are you will be able to find a job, have a good support structure already (non-government, ie married, family, etc, kids, etc), have savings, etc. What happens during the economic slows here is more along the lines of people living a lessened life-style. People don't install new pools, patios, kitchens, spend as much on vacations, etc. Maybe you have to hold off a bit longer to buy that house you want (few years).

I've not been a lavish spender personally although I can certainly see it in the people around me. Most of what I've been spending money on has been property (makes more sense than paying someone else's mortgage) and re-investing in ThinkPenguin (I'm trying to avoid surrendering any kind of control of the company; I have concerns over where the company might end up if I did...).

Unemployment in the UK is terrible - the Government lies about the figures and has done since the 1970's. They don't count unemployed partners of those who claim benefits. They don't count unemployed students. They don't count the sick or the disabled (the few that haven't been kicked off sickness benefits). They claim there are around 2 million unemployed. It's nearer 5 or 6 million. On top of that we have over 90% of all jobs (except in banking of course) going to immigrants, who are terribly exploited. Stories of abuse and illegal wage stoppages are rife.
We have amongst the most expensive train fares in the world. A first class return ticket from Birmingham to London (120 miles each way) was around £600 last time I looked. Yes, I could get the journey for around £30, if I booked on the right day. Book on the wrong day and it's more like £70 or maybe £90. The prices change every day according to how far ahead the journey is. Local bus fares in Birmingham are outrageous, It costs £2 per journey (by way of example, it's 60p in Sheffield).
But it doesn't matter, because I'm out of work. I can't claim unemployment benefits because my wife has a job. She doesn't earn enough to make ends meet and we're reliant on state handouts to top up her wages (and still those ends won't meet). But as far as our relentlessly nasty Governments are concerned I don't claim benefits so therefore am part of no official statistics regarding unemployment so that's OK by them. Put simply - I don't exist, so I can be ignored. (I'm 48, with health problems).

Basic IT jobs are largely non-existent. All the big companies, the Utilities and banks now have their IT Support Departments in India. (The same insane offshoring is now happening to the legal profession too. No need for legal students now they've cut Legal Aid for all cases except those where there's a loss of liberty involved). Jobs that used to offer wages that reflected the requirement of a degree, now start at National Minimum Wage. Payrises are a thing of the past in the UK (unless you're in the management league of course, then it's double digit rises year on year). You need a degree to work in McDonalds.

So, some people in the UK earn lots of money. The majority of people are hurting and are being squeezed relentlessly. Another 8-10% price rise for gas has just been announced - from a company that declares profits in the hundreds of millions and that pays no tax in the UK. Three foodbanks open a week. The Government, far from hanging their heads in shame over this figure, boast about it.

If that's aimed at me...

I'm the only Gnu/Linux user I know. No one I know gives a damn about ethics. The facebook page I reluctantly have (for contact with a few people who refuse point blank to use ICQ or email) is full of three things at the moment "OMG GTA5", "OMG new iPhone" and requests to play viral flash games.
I tried a local LUG but one of the senior Members asked newbies to go away as they were annoying. I tried another only to find it populated with people who seemed to want to spend LUG nights getting drunk and indulging in toilet humour.

Changing the subject briefly...

Does anyone else see pictures of Richard Stallman and think...

It is an ancient Coder,
And he stoppeth one of three.
`By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?