Oddbean new post about login | logout Today was ... interesting. If you followed me for the past months over on the shitbird site, you might have seen a bunch of angry German words, lots of graphs, and the occassional news paper, radio, or TV snippet with yours truely. Let me explain. In Austria, inflation is way above the EU average. There's no end in sight. This is especially true for basic needs like energy and food. Our government stated in May that they'd build a food price database together with the big grocery chains. But..
the responsible minister claimed it's an immense task and will take til autumn. It will only include 16 product categories (think flour, milk,etc.). And it will only be updated once a week. Given how Austria works, some corp close to the minister would have gotten the contract for a million on two to create a POS just enough so the minister can say "look, I did something!" Well. I heard that and build a prototype for all products of the two biggest chains in 2 hours. The media picked it up... https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/111/071/423/805/824/503/original/df6ba82cf8856376.jpeg
@78d4a125 Hey @b92dcc07, you may love this thread https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@badlogic/111071396799790275
@78d4a125 Excellent work! That's really impressive.
Readers! This ☝️☝️☝️ is an AMAZING thread. @78d4a125 explains.... I could tell you but it would be a spoiler. It has to do with inflation, groceries, government corruption, price fixing, the country of Austria, and what one computer programmer can accomplish when they get sufficiently pissed off. Strong recommend.
@78d4a125 incredibly great thread. We see the same kinds of things here in the USA- usually increases, the phony discounts come a lot, too- some stores do this constantly. CVS (pharmacy chain) is notorious for this. Having higher prices than everywhere, then decreasing items to almost the amount they SHOULD be, and calling it a discount or a sale. Garbage capitalism.
