It's official: America is now No. 2 (to China)

Yahoo News - Market Watch ^ | Dec 4, 2014 | Brett Arends

[Zhang Fei]

Here's an India Times article on how Nokia's $500m plant in India was forced to close because India imposed an arbitrary $4b tax (amounting to 15.6% of sales of phones made there):

Once a celebration of Indian manufacturing, Nokia's Chennai factory, beset by legal troubles, has become nobody's child. Old owner Nokia does not want it, new one Microsoft is reluctant to take it. And the solution they have come up with only provides temporary relief to the 7,500 workers there.


Arivazhagan, 26, reminisces about the time he travelled over 600 km to Chennai from Tirunelveli, a district in Tamil Nadu, around eight years ago to search for a job. Along with his three friends, they were walking down a road in Sriperumbudur (40 km south-west of Chennai) which was turning into a booming industrial hub, thanks to the Hyundai car factory set up in 1999.

What manufacturer wants to hand over 16% of revenues just for manufacturing in a low-cost labor locale? Any other foreign company considering setting up shop in India is thinking "If Nokia can get taken like this..." That is why Nokia's modern Indian plant was shut down instead of being sold to another company - there were no takers.

[GeronL]

India’ economy is not great because of stuff like that! I have seen stories of Indians finding work in places like Mauritius for better pay.

[GeronL]

India’ economy is not great because of stuff like that! I have seen stories of Indians finding work in places like Mauritius for better pay.

[Zhang Fei]

Dallas. I like the weather. (so far...)

I think you'll find CA has better weather, especially if you lived around SF. But weather is why HVAC was invented. Unless you work outdoors, it's probably not too big a deal.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I think I’m in for a (lot) more weather in Dallas.

It gets cold here. And lord knows it gets very hot later. But there is some change, every day so far I’ve been here, there has been some change in the weather. Downright cold a couple days.

In Orange County (that’s where I’ve lived for quite some time) it is about the same every day. All year long. Every single day.

I know I’ll learn to miss California’s weather (maybe), but I’ve maxed out on always sunny for a while.

What I’m still trying to put into focus is, there is something different here.

I’m not sure exactly what yet.

Texas is every bit as formidable as California as a state, it is certainly more conservative here. California may have a larger population, but I believe Texas is more on the ball go-forward.

Still very early for me here, we shall see.

Stopped by a 99 Ranch Market today. There are a number of those in LA, not sure but it seems different there, as well.

Interesting change. Will keep learning the differences.

Good chatting with you.

[Zhang Fei]

In Orange County (that’s where I’ve lived for quite some time) it is about the same every day. All year long. Every single day. I know I’ll learn to miss California’s weather (maybe), but I’ve maxed out on always sunny for a while. What I’m still trying to put into focus is, there is something different here. I’m not sure exactly what yet. Texas is every bit as formidable as California as a state, it is certainly more conservative here. California may have a larger population, but I believe Texas is more on the ball go-forward. Still very early for me here, we shall see. Stopped by a 99 Ranch Market today. There are a number of those in LA, not sure but it seems different there, as well. Interesting change. Will keep learning the differences. Good chatting with you.

Here's to hoping you like it in TX. Moves like this are time-consuming and costly. Then there's the added distance from the extended family (although some may view this as a plus).

[dfwgator]

“And I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords.”