2026-04-16 02:21:14 <KipIngram   > Sometimes it seems like nothing is made very well anymore.  I had an umbrella fold up on me in the wind a few days ago, and of course it's ruined now.  Somewhere I read years ago that in Britain people regard an umbrella as a lifetime investment.  I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is I feel like importing one.
2026-04-16 02:23:02 <tpbsd       > KipIngram, true, most stuff is junk now
2026-04-16 02:29:55 <KipIngram   > Looks like the Davek Solo is a good brand, and has a lifetime full replacement warranty.
2026-04-16 02:30:03 <KipIngram   > $115, though.
2026-04-16 02:30:20 <KipIngram   > Appealing, but... how often am I really out in the rain?  :-)
2026-04-16 02:33:49 <tpbsd       > I have a couple of really decent large umbrellas I paid $10 each for at a hardware store about 20 years ago, theyre still perfect
2026-04-16 09:24:53 <veltas      > KipIngram: Good umbrellas are designed to fold up in a way so they can be pushed back without bending the arms, I think
2026-04-16 09:25:31 <veltas      > But these days I don't think most umbrellas in the UK are good, they're probably mostly made elsewhere
2026-04-16 13:34:58 <KipIngram   > Right - I did read this a long time ago, and even then it likely referred to even earlier times.
2026-04-16 13:35:53 <KipIngram   > I imagine a lot of umbrellas are made in China these days, just like most other things.  It's hard to underprice a product with the manufacturer's country is subsidizing industries hand over fist.
2026-04-16 13:36:16 <KipIngram   > s/with/when/
2026-04-16 13:37:38 <KipIngram   > In earlier centuries there were natural barriers against that that arose from cost of transport.  But ocean transport has become almost zero cost, so that barrier is long gone.
2026-04-16 13:38:37 <KipIngram   > It was one of the most fundamental developments of the twentieth century.
2026-04-16 13:38:53 <KipIngram   > Along with similarly massive changes in communications technology.
2026-04-16 13:48:45 <veltas      > One reason is the market's different.  It's cheaper to make bad umbrellas, so it's not worth buying a 'good' umbrella.  This wasn't the case in 19th century, maybe
2026-04-16 13:49:07 <veltas      > So if was expensive regardless to buy an umbrella, you would expect it to be good quality and last
2026-04-16 13:49:24 <veltas      > Or you wouldn't want to part with your hard earned money
2026-04-16 14:38:02 <tpbsd       > just did a 2GB package upgrade
2026-04-16 15:22:49 <tpbsd       > KipIngram,
2026-04-16 15:23:14 <tpbsd       > this is my AI's take on china:
2026-04-16 15:23:17 <tpbsd       > fabric "is it true that china heavily subsidises everything it sells?"
2026-04-16 15:23:17 <tpbsd       > The short answer is **no, China does not heavily subsidize "everything" it sells.** However, it does heavily subsidize **specific strategic industries**, which is a major source of current global trade tensions.
2026-04-16 15:23:17 <tpbsd       > The idea that China subsidizes every single product it exports is a misconception. The reality is a mix of fierce, unsubsidized market competition in some areas, and massive state intervention in others.
2026-04-16 15:23:18 <tpbsd       > ### 1. What is NOT Heavily Subsidized: Consumer Goods
2026-04-16 15:23:20 <tpbsd       > The vast majority of everyday consumer goods that people associate with "Made in China"—such as basic clothing, toys, footwear, low-end electronics, and household items—are **not heavily subsidized**.
2026-04-16 15:23:23 <tpbsd       > These industries are largely driven by the private sector and survive on incredibly thin profit margins. Their competitiveness historically came from:
2026-04-16 15:23:26 <tpbsd       > *   **Economies of scale:** Massive factory complexes that produce goods
2026-04-16 16:25:55 <KipIngram   > :-)
2026-04-16 17:07:18 <veltas      > That's about what I'd expect