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forkboy84 posted:I thought the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in the bookies were really good for money laundering? Or am I a decade out of date her? I probably am Idk if it's changed but that's what I meant, there's no need to accuse a bookies of being a front for money laundering when there may as well be a "come launder your money here" sign hanging in the window.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:15
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If you run an entire country as a front for embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion you can hardly get upset when other people also avail themselves of the opportunity.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:15
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London Bridge Is Entering The Next Phase
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Feb 20, 2022 13:15
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Gyro Zeppeli posted:https://twitter.com/ianvisits/status/1495359773889470468 Not as bad as the bigger HMV further down Oxford Street now being a Sports Direct and the Virgin Megastore now being a Primark, forever walking in there and wondering why there's socks where the PS2 games are supposed to be. Those American Candy shops on Oxford Street (and presumably other prestige shopping locations) are, as far as I know, in the same ecosystem as the souvenir and discount perfume shops where they buy up broken leases at massive discounts and operate the highest-volume lowest-cost retail they can get their hands on. They're all run by the same 3 or 4 companies, at least some of which are heavily suspected to be money-laundering operations or at least indistinguishable from money laundering. Post-Brexit slacking of food labeling laws and import duties has made it much more economical to import sweets from the States (which is why every non-chain supermarket has half an aisle of them, and even the chains now have a couple of shelves). They're a useful barometer for the health of the economy (like nail bars and vape shops on less famous high streets), because they can only exist where existing shops find themselves unable to pay the rent. Oxford Street has not been looking good for a *while* now, although not quite as bad as it got in the late 80s when there were cockney market traders doing the black bag scam in shopfronts they were squatting in, and pretty much being allowed to do so because without them there would be entire blocks with absolutely no activity whatsoever.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:18
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Jesus christ I just went and got some petrol. I honestly thought the pump was faulty for a bit.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:21
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Reveilled posted:White cheddar popcorn is the best snack food mankind has ever created, and I'm eternally bemused that as a country we consider cheese on corn to be an acceptable combo, as long as the corn has been mashed up into a dough, put under heat and pressure, oxygenated and then extruded through a tube to make Wotsits or any other cheese flavoured baked corn snack, but just cooking the corn and putting the cheese flavour on directly? Disgusting to many people, apparently. no it was because i've experienced what americans call cheese
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Feb 20, 2022 13:35
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Failed Imagineer posted:London Bridge Is Entering The Next Phase https://twitter.com/conradder/status/1495373244211384325
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Feb 20, 2022 13:35
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Jippa posted:Jesus christ I just went and got some petrol. I honestly thought the pump was faulty for a bit. had a similar experience when i got my grocery total on friday evening and inspected the receipt in the car lol
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Feb 20, 2022 13:36
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forkboy84 posted:I thought the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in the bookies were really good for money laundering? Or am I a decade out of date her? I probably am FOBTs are for individual-level laundering, your friendly local neighbourhood dealer who needs an explanation on how he has a couple of grand in cash. You just keep betting on the regulated casino games (normally roulette) which have guaranteed payouts, when it comes up you just keep the receipt and you have proof of how you came by that money starting from a smaller amount that you can more easily explain. They *have* been used on a larger scale with multiple mules but it's a really narrow window because nobody's going to believe that you just happen to have hit 32:1 odds hundreds of times a week. Retail laundering is how it's done at the middle of the scale, and it's really, really easy - set up a shop, minimally staff and stock it, then just "buy" all the stock in it with your dirty money (one fairly common way of doing it is just to take the actual till journals and double or triple the amounts, I'm sure that's way easier now in the days of ePOS compared to having to do it with the old one-note piano). You can also of course run in some light VAT fraud there too, and get a bit creative with all the fictional stock you're moving around. Obviously once you're at the top of the scale you just open up an account with HSBC, Deustche Bank, or any of a dozen other banks and they'll take care of all of it for you and get you a tax refund while they're at it.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:36
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I have to renew my energy tariff for another term, I've been on fixed for a couple of years and terrified of energy costs now and upcoming. What do you think is the way to go now, fixed or variable? They are estimating that variable will be half the annual price of the fixed which seems highly questionable, but I really have no idea about this stuff
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Feb 20, 2022 13:36
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crispix posted:no it was because i've experienced what americans call cheese ‘american cheese’ isn’t even the most popular cheese in america, lol the only thing it’s good for is a grilled cheese and it’s disgusting everywhere else
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Feb 20, 2022 13:37
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Gyro Zeppeli posted:https://twitter.com/ianvisits/status/1495359773889470468 There's a brand new sweetie shop/newsagent opened last week right on the corner of Oxford St/Tottenham Court Road. That original HMV building has been a travesty for about the last 5 years, they had to give it up after finally re-acquiring it due to going bust again. Since they got rescued for the second time they've been in negotiations with the landlords for it, who hellpfully smashed the interior to pieces the second they'd got all their inventory out. IIRC just having it sat there empty costs about £2000 a day, and they finally got told in the new year they would not now, or ever get back in that building. Guess the drug dealers made a better offer. Source: My mate who works in marketing at HMV, I'll try and find out more when I see him Thursday, we're usually drunk when he tells me about these things. Similar to Swann Gardens telling Primark to do one when they wanted the old Tower Records on Piccadilly as they were too high street crap for their liking, only to give it to The Sting, a...poo poo version of Primark. Rent on that place was £7 million a year back in 2001, god knows what it is now. That's empty at the minute too far as I know.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:39
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Rust Martialis posted:Snagger du norsk? Jeg snakker litt norsk First time I went, everytime I tried they replied in English. Second time I went, I said "Er du dansk?" and couldn't quite work me out. I was overjoyed. Even the hotel I was staying in put the guest notices on the tv in Danish. My Norwegian friend says "shows how poo poo your accent is". I said "I'm delighted they didn't instantly know I was English"
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Feb 20, 2022 13:51
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I have ridden through bits of central London recently (Covent Garden, Fitzrovia etc) and there is a HUGE number of empty shops.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:54
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Can you get litt norsk snakker at the import candy shops?
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Feb 20, 2022 13:55
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therattle posted:I have ridden through bits of central London recently (Covent Garden, Fitzrovia etc) and there is a HUGE number of empty shops. on a horse?
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Feb 20, 2022 13:56
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NotJustANumber99 posted:on a horse? Yes. Fox hunting.
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Feb 20, 2022 13:57
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OwlFancier posted:Can you get litt norsk snakker at the import candy shops? i lolled
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Feb 20, 2022 14:04
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therattle posted:I have ridden through bits of central London recently (Covent Garden, Fitzrovia etc) and there is a HUGE number of empty shops. Yeah, all the little camera and electronics shops have gone from Tottenham Court Road. I should feel some schad that the block between the YMCA and the Odeon that got cleared out for ~PREMIUM RETAIL SPACE~ is still almost entirely unoccupied 5 years after they closed down Shah's and all the other shops that were the heart of the street, but it's just sad that what *is* there is just absolutely generic high street chains, because I've seen what's happened to literally every other high street that's gone that way, and nobody's going into Zone 1 to visit Flying Tiger and Games Workshop.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:08
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goddamnedtwisto posted:Yeah, all the little camera and electronics shops have gone from Tottenham Court Road. I should feel some schad that the block between the YMCA and the Odeon that got cleared out for ~PREMIUM RETAIL SPACE~ is still almost entirely unoccupied 5 years after they closed down Shah's and all the other shops that were the heart of the street, but it's just sad that what *is* there is just absolutely generic high street chains, because I've seen what's happened to literally every other high street that's gone that way, and nobody's going into Zone 1 to visit Flying Tiger and Games Workshop. It always baffles me how busy these areas still are given that there's just not that much to do there anymore. I'm sure a lot of tourists are still drawn there but most of the time Oxford Street and TCR are completely rammed. What are these people doing? Surely they can't all be there for H&M and Pizza Express.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:12
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They are all crisis shoppers.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:15
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Maybe the internet people would be less upset if it had become an American sporting goods store instead.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:15
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I think you should start a photoshop thread in gbs. What will his masters money laundering operation be next.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:19
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There are a lot of CeXs about these days as well. I wonder how profitable an enterprise that is given the rents, but I suppose the mark-ups on trade-ins is pretty massive. Can't see that business continuing to be successful now Tescos et al are phasing out Blu Rays and physical games seem to be almost dead.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:26
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stev posted:It always baffles me how busy these areas still are given that there's just not that much to do there anymore. I'm sure a lot of tourists are still drawn there but most of the time Oxford Street and TCR are completely rammed. What are these people doing? Surely they can't all be there for H&M and Pizza Express. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_EviQj5tvA&t=93s
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Feb 20, 2022 14:28
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goddamnedtwisto posted:Yeah, all the little camera and electronics shops have gone from Tottenham Court Road. Wait, like micro world and the compaq store and electronics outlet? I always used to go buy odd modem/router brands from them in university. Man.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:29
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lol, I'm the people complaining that tobacconists are now American candy shops https://twitter.com/bexin2d/status/1490042412760195081 I hope they don't start selling something imported from Virginia that isn't very good for you 
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Feb 20, 2022 14:30
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Yes, the American Candy shops are money laundering fronts, but they also sell peanut butter M&Ms, so it's impossible to say if they are good or bad. I actually walked past the old HMV a few days ago, had many of these same thoughts. The sign must have gone up since then. BizarroAzrael fucked around with this message at 14:38 on Feb 20, 2022 |
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Feb 20, 2022 14:35
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goddamnedtwisto posted:Yeah, all the little camera and electronics shops have gone from Tottenham Court Road. I should feel some schad that the block between the YMCA and the Odeon that got cleared out for ~PREMIUM RETAIL SPACE~ is still almost entirely unoccupied 5 years after they closed down Shah's and all the other shops that were the heart of the street, but it's just sad that what *is* there is just absolutely generic high street chains, because I've seen what's happened to literally every other high street that's gone that way, and nobody's going into Zone 1 to visit Flying Tiger and Games Workshop. The electronic shops have been gone from Tottenham Court Road for a decade at least.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:40
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BizarroAzrael posted:Yes, the American Candy shops are money laundering fronts, but they also sell peanut butter M&Ms, so it's impossible to say if they are good or bad. Don't forget the proper HFCS Mountain Dew that somehow tastes better than the real sugar stuff we get over here. Look, I don't drink, I don't smoke, terrible food and drink is my one vice.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:44
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mediaphage posted:‘american cheese’ isn’t even the most popular cheese in america, lol I'm afraid to tell you your regular supermarket cheddar isn't much cop, either. Neither is our 'mild' but it's easier to find proper, crumbly (you know, cheddared!) mature cheddar here. Though I gather things have improved somewhat.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:46
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Gyro Zeppeli posted:Don't forget the proper HFCS Mountain Dew that somehow tastes better than the real sugar stuff we get over here. Alright, CM Punk. I again would like to advocate for France's Mojito 7up. I've ordered cases a couple of times and now some of the little takeaways around here carry it, and I have to wonder if it's a coincidence.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:48
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We actually buy our own cheese powder and add that to popcorn. Its loving insane. Way cheaper and less 50/50 chance its going to be utterly vile than buying the suspect bags of pre popped corn snacks from the american candy aisle. Now poppycock... There's a good snack. Caramel, popcorn, cashews. Only like 1000 calories for a handful! Fake edit: actually. What i really want from the USA. The ability to buy good tomato salsa that is actually spicy and not 50 percent sugar for a couple dollars for a jar. That and just a good chimichanga.
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Feb 20, 2022 14:52
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Any sort of candied nut (stop it) sends me absolutely wild tbh
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Feb 20, 2022 14:57
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stev posted:It always baffles me how busy these areas still are given that there's just not that much to do there anymore. I'm sure a lot of tourists are still drawn there but most of the time Oxford Street and TCR are completely rammed. What are these people doing? Surely they can't all be there for H&M and Pizza Express. Primark on Oxford St is a literal tourist attraction. Source: go sit in somewhere like Bradleys on a Saturday afternoon and see how many people say 'we came here from the sticks to shop there and go to Pizza Express'. Same with Soho, tripling the rents a couple of years ago forced out a load of unique places, and a bunch of the pubs have pivoted to being family places after the money/footfall the Elizabeth Line will bring in, if it ever opens.
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Feb 20, 2022 15:01
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Jakabite posted:Any sort of candied nut (stop it) sends me absolutely wild tbh Ever had Gebrannte Mandeln? German Candied Almonds. Sofuckinggood. Christmas snack at all the weinachtsmarkts.
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Feb 20, 2022 15:02
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Mebh posted:We actually buy our own cheese powder and add that to popcorn. Its loving insane. Way cheaper and less 50/50 chance its going to be utterly vile than buying the suspect bags of pre popped corn snacks from the american candy aisle. Tell me more about this cheese powder. I haven’t been able to find a good salsa for dipping tortilla chips into. I’ve tried cheap ones, expensive ones… they’re almost all rubbish. Waitrose does a spicy/smoky chipotle one that’s not bad but most of them are crap.
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Feb 20, 2022 15:06
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Convex posted:There are a lot of CeXs about these days as well. I wonder how profitable an enterprise that is given the rents, but I suppose the mark-ups on trade-ins is pretty massive. Can't see that business continuing to be successful now Tescos et al are phasing out Blu Rays and physical games seem to be almost dead. If you assume that anything you see for sale in a CeX has been sold to them for drug money, you would not be wrong. Re: His Master's Laundering Front - we used to have one in Aberdeen, but it disappeared after a legitimate competitor started selling imported American and Japanese sweets and cereals. That competitor? HMV.
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Feb 20, 2022 15:10
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Mebh posted:
the only actual solution is to make it yourself. if pyou have a :good produce source a pick de gallo is trivial, more saucey ones you might want to follow specific recipes
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Feb 20, 2022 15:11
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feedmegin posted:I'm afraid to tell you your regular supermarket cheddar isn't much cop, either. Neither is our 'mild' but it's easier to find proper, crumbly (you know, cheddared!) mature cheddar here. i'm well aware of what quality food is, thanks. in the mid-00s there was kind of a revolution in that area in us groceries, same with bread. just about any place i'd been since then has at least a selection of 'premium' cheeses, both from dairy centres in north america as well as imported from abroad. the key distinction is that it's usually held separate from mass market cheeses in the dairy section and usually off on its own. bulk cheese is only good for cooking into things imo, where the distinction of a good cheese would be totally lost.
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Feb 20, 2022 15:15
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