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Vote Green, Go Blue? – politicalbetting.com

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  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,027
    edited October 2021

    Keita being stretchered off. Hope he's OK and not badly hurt. VAR very justified there to give the red card.

    I’m not a fan of the severity of an injury affecting whether it is a red or yellow card. Sometimes injuries are unlucky. But that was shocking from Pogba. If I were OGS I’d quit tonight, live on tv. Leicester showed what could happen, putting four past them. The only reason this won’t be embarrassing is if Liverpool settle.
    As a United supporter Ole resigning tonight is the right thing to do

    Not because of one bad result but it has been coming for a while
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582

    alex_ said:

    Deathly silence in the media about today's Covid numbers. Doesn't really fit very well with all their headlines from this morning. Guardian appear to have even taken the extreme step of dropping their Covid tracker from their front page.

    The only person having a worse day than OGS is Devi Sridhar.
    Virat Kholi deserves a mention in the having-a-bad-day award.
  • Keita being stretchered off. Hope he's OK and not badly hurt. VAR very justified there to give the red card.

    I’m not a fan of the severity of an injury affecting whether it is a red or yellow card. Sometimes injuries are unlucky. But that was shocking from Pogba. If I were OGS I’d quit tonight, live on tv. Leicester showed what could happen, putting four past them. The only reason this won’t be embarrassing is if Liverpool settle.
    Goal difference could be important at the end of this season. I'd love to see two more goals to make this the record victory in this fixture and boost our goal difference further. Already though this will have helped.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    UK cases by specimen date

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    UK cases by a specimen date and scaled to 100K

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    UK Local R

    Definite signs of a drop in R, now

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    edited October 2021
    UK cases summary

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    UK hospitals

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    UK deaths

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  • TazTaz Posts: 14,372
    Sandpit said:

    alex_ said:

    Deathly silence in the media about today's Covid numbers. Doesn't really fit very well with all their headlines from this morning. Guardian appear to have even taken the extreme step of dropping their Covid tracker from their front page.

    The only person having a worse day than OGS is Devi Sridhar.
    Virat Kholi deserves a mention in the having-a-bad-day award.
    An absolute hammering so far.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    Age related data

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  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    Age related data scaled to 100K

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  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    jonny83 said:

    alex_ said:

    Deathly silence in the media about today's Covid numbers. Doesn't really fit very well with all their headlines from this morning. Guardian appear to have even taken the extreme step of dropping their Covid tracker from their front page.

    Let's see what this week and beyond brings, we have had fluctuations before with figures both up and down, we need more data to see if we are heading in a positive direction or not.

    Some people on here months ago said we 'peaked' and that was proven not to be the case. I don't think we know anything concrete yet.
    Of course not, but the media have never been shy of jumping on one day's "on the high side" numbers when it suits them.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582
    Who was it who suggested backing Pakistan to win the World Cup at 7/1? That’s looking an awesome bet right about now.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723

    Some interesting posts by Scott_xP on the previous thread. Looks like the Truss's trade deals - Japan, NZ, Aus - are unravelling fast. I thought she'd be the most likely to succeed Boris, but at this rate she'll soon be a Tory pariah - the woman who ruined Brexit.

    Never believe anything Scott n paste posts, especially if the link is to.the Guardian, the Daily Mail or Twitter.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364
    edited October 2021
    Sandpit said:

    Who was it who suggested backing Pakistan to win the World Cup at 7/1? That’s looking an awesome bet right about now.

    Certainly they’ve been all over India like a cheap suit in this match.

    Edit 31 off 30 with 10 wickets in hand. If they lose from here…
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
    The temptation to create an automated posting feature is strong. But it would be very rude to Mike...
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Need more data, but today’s COVID numbers do suggest a feast of humble pie could be in order for some.

    We’ll see. Too early to be certain.

    I really hope for everyone this is the decline we all seek

    If Boris and HMG have called this right then a large number of bodies and commentators will be eating humble pie
    “Should”… but probably not “will”…
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,837

    Age related data

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    Summary: the case spike is real, but most of it is caused by obsessive testing of near-invulnerable schoolchildren. Deaths are almost stable, and to the extent that there's any discernible rising trend it is amongst the over-75s (i.e. almost certainly very old people with multiple co-morbidities, as identified in the recently reported Italian stats that had a mean age for deaths amongst the vaccinated of 85, many of whom probably died with rather than of Covid and were on borrowed time anyway.)

    These are the numbers that are causing various scientists to demand that we start the collapse back into yet another lockdown now. Because you know full bloody well that WFH and masks won't be enough for them (the BMA has already started howling for the re-imposition of social distancing IIRC,) and once they get what they want they'll be demanding the Rule of Six and the shutdown of the hospitality sector within the next fortnight.

    I don't doubt that the hospitals are in real difficulty but they'll be considerably worse off if the Government is bankrupted and can no longer pay for medicines or nurses' wages. Shutting down for months and borrowing another £300bn isn't an option. The Government is right to prioritise the economy at this time.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    edited October 2021
    Has anyone mentioned Turkey?

    Erdogan has declared the Ambassadors from ten countries persona non grata as their countries have criticised Turkey for imprisoning a human rights activist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59023465

    Worth noting that the UK is *not* on the list, although the US, Canada, France and Germany are. Whether that should make us proud or sad is another matter altogether.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364
    The bowling this over has been wider than Zsa Zsa Gabor’s legs.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,604
    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,174

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    Lockdown to stop date rape? That’s a new one.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,926

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    Wasn't the first story shown to be wrong/exaggerated after the police toxicology reports showed no evidence of drugging?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
    The temptation to create an automated posting feature is strong. But it would be very rude to Mike...
    You mean it’s not a script that does the whole thing automatically? :open_mouth:
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,375
    I doubt if anybody noticed, but a couple of days ago on here I did tip Pakistan at 7/1 to win the tournament, and betted accordingly. They'll be a lot shorter than that after today.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    edited October 2021
    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582

    I doubt if anybody noticed, but a couple of days ago on here I did tip Pakistan at 7/1 to win the tournament, and betted accordingly. They'll be a lot shorter than that after today.

    Yep, great call.
  • There should have been more added minutes than that just for the injury, but I guess the ref felt sorry for United and didn't see a point in dragging this on any longer.

    Man Utd 0 - 5 Liverpool. What a result! Will it be Ole's last?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582
    That big six pretty much seals it for Pakistan.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
    The temptation to create an automated posting feature is strong. But it would be very rude to Mike...
    You mean it’s not a script that does the whole thing automatically? :open_mouth:
    The charts are all generated automatically. It would be fairly simple to auto post them to the current thread on PB. But that would be rude.

    Even worse would be autoposting at the start of the next thread, to grab 1st every time....
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    RobD said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    Wasn't the first story shown to be wrong/exaggerated after the police toxicology reports showed no evidence of drugging?
    I saw statistics for the US, that showed that there was a ratio of about 10,000-to-1 of people who thought they'd been drugged with Rohypnol (but whose toxicology screens came up clean), and those people who had actually been drugged with it. I suspect the numbers will be the same for the UK.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    DougSeal said:

    Looking at Wikipedia it seems the record for largest victory in this fixture is Liverpool 7 - 1 Newton Heath back in the 19th century.

    Could we come close to that today?

    Every season I pray that Ipswich’s unwanted 9-0 record is superseded. Won’t happen today but one can only hope.

    (what really pisses me off about it is that we beat Man U 6-0 in March 1980 and missed three penalties while doing it. But no one remembers that…)
    I remember well Ipswich beating newly promoted West.Brom 7-0 in an autumn evening game at Portman Road in 1976. We did win 4.0 later that season at the Hawthorns. But 7-0 ...
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,708

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
    The temptation to create an automated posting feature is strong. But it would be very rude to Mike...
    You mean it’s not a script that does the whole thing automatically? :open_mouth:
    The charts are all generated automatically. It would be fairly simple to auto post them to the current thread on PB. But that would be rude.

    Even worse would be autoposting at the start of the next thread, to grab 1st every time....
    You've obviously thought about it...

  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364
    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    Most schools are on half term next week. So it really can’t be that. A few like @OldKingCole ’s grandson/daughter may have a two week half term, but most won’t.
  • rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone mentioned Turkey?

    Erdogan has declared the Ambassadors from ten countries persona non grata as their countries have criticised Turkey for imprisoning a human rights activist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59023465

    Worth noting that the UK is *not* on the list, although the US, Canada, France and Germany are. Whether that should make us proud or sad is another matter altogether.

    Ideally, and I do say ideally, we shouldn't have any dealings with the governments labelled purple on this map:

    https://freedomhouse.org/explore-the-map?type=fiw&year=2021
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364
    Well, that was an absolute hammering. It was one of the most one-sided international matches you will ever see.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,837
    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    Well, I obviously hope you're right that the Government holds its nerve (albeit that, even if it does, progress could yet be undone by a really terrible flu season.)

    I'm certainly not as sanguine as others that a move to Plan B would cause no real damage. One reads that bookings for hotels and restaurants for the Christmas season are already much slower than usual. If any restrictions come back then I predict that many, perhaps most, of the population will roll its eyes, say 'here we go again', and assume that Christmas is going to be cancelled, with dire consequences.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582
    Ten wicket victory - Kholi joins OGS on the bad day list.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
  • There should have been more added minutes than that just for the injury, but I guess the ref felt sorry for United and didn't see a point in dragging this on any longer.

    Man Utd 0 - 5 Liverpool. What a result! Will it be Ole's last?

    It should be and well played Liverpool
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,656
    Big_G_NorthWales said:
    » show previous quotes
    I really hope for everyone this is the decline we all seek

    If Boris and HMG have called this right then a large number of bodies and commentators will be eating humble pie

    Useless nonentity SKS called for Plan B to be enacted yesterday.

    The man with the anti Midas touch.

  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,375
    edited October 2021
    Sandpit said:

    Who was it who suggested backing Pakistan to win the World Cup at 7/1? That’s looking an awesome bet right about now.

    Yes, me. I also put a bit on Babar Azam at 9/1 to be top tournament run scorer. That's also looking better after today. I reckon he's the best in the world at the moment - even better than Kohli.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    My bet on United winning 4-2 is looking... well... on life support.

    To be fair, you're a third of the way there. 😂😂😂
    Perhaps... I don't think I'm seeing that money again. Think of the things I could have done with that tenner instead of wasting it on OGS's ability to organise a midfield.
    Like contribute to the fund for OGS to fail to organise a piss-up in a brewery?

    But don't worry, he's at the wheel.
    Oh I'm not worried. Please don't think for a moment I'm a Man U fan.
    hmmm, I can still cash out for half my stake... this isn't dead and buried just yet
    beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
    flatline
    Just think if you’d cashed out before posting….
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,604

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    The third story also says that British grandmothers are only heating their homes when their grandchildren visit.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    geoffw said:

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    UK deaths

    image

    Wrong graph?
    yeah, tired today

    image
    Thanks. I thought it was probably just a mistake. No criticism was intended.

    Your graphs and data crunching have been invaluable.
    The temptation to create an automated posting feature is strong. But it would be very rude to Mike...
    You mean it’s not a script that does the whole thing automatically? :open_mouth:
    The charts are all generated automatically. It would be fairly simple to auto post them to the current thread on PB. But that would be rude.

    Even worse would be autoposting at the start of the next thread, to grab 1st every time....
    You've obviously thought about it...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeQDTj1UllA&t=213s
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    Most schools are on half term next week. So it really can’t be that. A few like @OldKingCole ’s grandson/daughter may have a two week half term, but most won’t.
    Even better news.

    Of course, the reality is that such a large proportion of children have had Covid now, that schools should cease to be a major transmission vector going forward. If the remaining kids get vaccinated, and us middle aged and oldies get our boosters, we should be down to very low levels of Covid incidence sooner rather than later.

    Let's not forget that cases can fall pretty quickly.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,364

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    The third story also says that British grandmothers are only heating their homes when their grandchildren visit.
    They’re still in the full ‘lover scorned’ stage, aren’t they?
  • Sandpit said:

    Ten wicket victory - Kholi joins OGS on the bad day list.

    There is something amusing about both of them being comprehensive defeats to their arch-rivals too.

    At least Ole after losing to both Leicester and Liverpool must have got through their rough patch in the fixture list.

    *checks fixture list* Spurs, Man City, Watford, Chelsea, Arsenal

    Poor old Ole, what a shame.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    pigeon said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    Well, I obviously hope you're right that the Government holds its nerve (albeit that, even if it does, progress could yet be undone by a really terrible flu season.)

    I'm certainly not as sanguine as others that a move to Plan B would cause no real damage. One reads that bookings for hotels and restaurants for the Christmas season are already much slower than usual. If any restrictions come back then I predict that many, perhaps most, of the population will roll its eyes, say 'here we go again', and assume that Christmas is going to be cancelled, with dire consequences.
    My understanding is that the cities are heaving at the weekend. People may not *book* Christmas events (for fear of them being cancelled), but if they still go out, then the damage to the economy is likely to be negligble.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,393
    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    Re the needle version of spiking I think the evidence is a bit thin so far. It has all the hallmarks of a foaf type story. Not saying it hasn’t happened.
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518

    Big_G_NorthWales said:
    » show previous quotes
    I really hope for everyone this is the decline we all seek

    If Boris and HMG have called this right then a large number of bodies and commentators will be eating humble pie

    Useless nonentity SKS called for Plan B to be enacted yesterday.

    The man with the anti Midas touch.

    Depends on your point of view. He gets such immediate results that if he didn’t exist we might have to invent him?

    Of course today’s calls were purely political - call for “plan B” whilst barely expanding on what measures he thought should be introduced.
  • MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    edited October 2021

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    Re the needle version of spiking I think the evidence is a bit thin so far. It has all the hallmarks of a foaf type story. Not saying it hasn’t happened.
    Usually what happens is there is one actual case, and then lots of people say "you know... I think that happened to me... Because the other week I woke up with this awful headache, and I was like... how did I get here?"

    And then before you know it, people are estimating that something incredibly rare, is commonplace.
  • rcs1000 said:

    pigeon said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    Well, I obviously hope you're right that the Government holds its nerve (albeit that, even if it does, progress could yet be undone by a really terrible flu season.)

    I'm certainly not as sanguine as others that a move to Plan B would cause no real damage. One reads that bookings for hotels and restaurants for the Christmas season are already much slower than usual. If any restrictions come back then I predict that many, perhaps most, of the population will roll its eyes, say 'here we go again', and assume that Christmas is going to be cancelled, with dire consequences.
    My understanding is that the cities are heaving at the weekend. People may not *book* Christmas events (for fear of them being cancelled), but if they still go out, then the damage to the economy is likely to be negligble.
    We went out for Sunday roast today at a local pub/restaurant and enquired about Christmas dinner. They said they've already sold out.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    edited October 2021
    On the subject of Rohypnol, there was once a denizen of this site who used to boast of getting on long haul flights, dropping a couple with a glass of wine, and only waking up at the other end.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    The third story also says that British grandmothers are only heating their homes when their grandchildren visit.
    Let’s be honest they are not going to say the U.K. is a success because they then have to explain why they are still so restricted.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    I thought the police has decided that the girls in question hadn’t *actually* been drugged?
  • MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
    3 or 4 and not threatened by spiked drinks
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    MrEd said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    The third story also says that British grandmothers are only heating their homes when their grandchildren visit.
    Let’s be honest they are not going to say the U.K. is a success because they then have to explain why they are still so restricted.
    Germany's a bit of a patchwork, isn't it? The States individually set restrictions, so some have very few restrictions while others still have mask mandates.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,517
    edited October 2021
    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,393
    Charles said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    I thought the police has decided that the girls in question hadn’t *actually* been drugged?
    Depending on the drug, it may simply have been metabolised/excreted by the time of the test.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794
    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    I'm very worried that the politicians will bottle it over the next few days. The lockdown forever people know that this is their last chance to force permanent NPIs as a lot of Europe seems to have done. The noise is going to get a lot higher this week and the government is going to have to ignore them.

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    A very sensible precaution.
  • Charles said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    I thought the police has decided that the girls in question hadn’t *actually* been drugged?
    No the police had not decided that.
  • MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
    My granddaughter is seriously worried as are her fellow students
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794
    Charles said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    I thought the police has decided that the girls in question hadn’t *actually* been drugged?
    I honestly don't trust the police at all right now and wouldn't blame women for not believing anything the police are saying. It's clear that police forces around the country simply don't take women's safety seriously.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
    3 or 4 and not threatened by spiked drinks
    Ah, staying in. Sorry for thinking 'going out' meant to a public venue.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    rcs1000 said:

    On the subject of Rohypnol, there was once a denizen of this site who used to boast of getting on long haul flights, dropping a couple with a glass of wine, and only waking up at the other end.

    Does a call flight involve the mile high club?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,027
    edited October 2021

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
    3 or 4 and not threatened by spiked drinks
    Ah, staying in. Sorry for thinking 'going out' meant to a public venue.
    I think you are missing the point

    My granddaughter is going with a few trusted fellow students and sitting at a table in a restaurant

    They are boycotting clubs and large gatherings

    And they are scared
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    I'm very worried that the politicians will bottle it over the next few days. The lockdown forever people know that this is their last chance to force permanent NPIs as a lot of Europe seems to have done. The noise is going to get a lot higher this week and the government is going to have to ignore them.
    I think the big fall in cases (assuming sustained, at least in the short term and no reason to think it won’t be) has come in time. Combined with the big numbers on booster vaccinations and I think (hope?) we will be safe. I think it is very important how anti-restriction some of the key players are compared to last year (Sunak won’t countenance more money and clearly Javid is much more inclined against than Hancock - Gove appears to be out of the picture) and less likely Johnson will be swayed.

  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,355
    I'm a Unionist who votes for the secessionist Green Party in Scotland, because I can see that voting for them has a positive effect on Green policies, and I know I can still vote for the Union in any referendum.
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    alex_ said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Great news on the Covid numbers: hopefully this is more than just a half term and reversing of SW overcount issue.

    Now, let's get on with getting people boosters (my wife and I are hoping to get ours today), and making sure that there are no need for restrictions.

    (Of course, the government is usually well behind reality*, and will implement restrictions at exactly the moment it is obvious that cases are already heading downwards.)

    * See India only going on the red list after cases had already started dropping

    I'm very worried that the politicians will bottle it over the next few days. The lockdown forever people know that this is their last chance to force permanent NPIs as a lot of Europe seems to have done. The noise is going to get a lot higher this week and the government is going to have to ignore them.
    I think the big fall in cases (assuming sustained, at least in the short term and no reason to think it won’t be) has come in time. Combined with the big numbers on booster vaccinations and I think (hope?) we will be safe. I think it is very important how anti-restriction some of the key players are compared to last year (Sunak won’t countenance more money and clearly Javid is much more inclined against than Hancock - Gove appears to be out of the picture) and less likely Johnson will be swayed.

    If anything the problem is that the pressure on the NHS is clearly immense - but it really is debateable that current levels of Covid (as opposed to the consequences of the last 18 months) have much to do with it. But it might be convenient for the Govt to use Covid as an excuse and a few restrictions as a pointless sop to the critics.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
    3 or 4 and not threatened by spiked drinks
    Ah, staying in. Sorry for thinking 'going out' meant to a public venue.
    I think you are missing the point

    My granddaughter is going with a few trusted fellow students and sitting at a table in a restaurant

    They are boycotting clubs and large gatherings

    And they are scared
    Sorry. Right. With you now. Keeping a safe distance from anyone who might be a threat to their safety.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578
    rcs1000 said:

    MrEd said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    The third story also says that British grandmothers are only heating their homes when their grandchildren visit.
    Let’s be honest they are not going to say the U.K. is a success because they then have to explain why they are still so restricted.
    Germany's a bit of a patchwork, isn't it? The States individually set restrictions, so some have very few restrictions while others still have mask mandates.
    It is. Went to Germany for business recently. First of all, the entry info on the German Govt website is confusing. Not entirely clear if you need a test if you are double vaccinated (you don't). Then you have the state rules so mine (Hamburg) were sending e-mails about why hadn't I actually had a test and then called me even though I was there for one night and was already back in the UK.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,027
    edited October 2021

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    My granddaughter phoned from Leeds University last Thursday and said the students were so worried they are boycotting large social events and going out for a meal with a few trusted students
    In a restaurant with 200 other diners?
    3 or 4 and not threatened by spiked drinks
    Ah, staying in. Sorry for thinking 'going out' meant to a public venue.
    I think you are missing the point

    My granddaughter is going with a few trusted fellow students and sitting at a table in a restaurant

    They are boycotting clubs and large gatherings

    And they are scared
    Sorry. Right. With you now. Keeping a safe distance from anyone who might be a threat to their safety.
    I cannot underplay how scared these students are and being in small groups of friends boycotting clubs and large gatherings is likely for the foreseeable future
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,311
    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone mentioned Turkey?

    Erdogan has declared the Ambassadors from ten countries persona non grata as their countries have criticised Turkey for imprisoning a human rights activist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59023465

    Worth noting that the UK is *not* on the list, although the US, Canada, France and Germany are. Whether that should make us proud or sad is another matter altogether.

    Sad that we are now down among the despots, not much further to fall.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,249
    edited October 2021
    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,311

    I'm a Unionist who votes for the secessionist Green Party in Scotland, because I can see that voting for them has a positive effect on Green policies, and I know I can still vote for the Union in any referendum.

    If you think they promote any positive green policies you are barking , a bunch of absolute arseholes, I would rather vote Tory than those wasters.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,926
    malcolmg said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone mentioned Turkey?

    Erdogan has declared the Ambassadors from ten countries persona non grata as their countries have criticised Turkey for imprisoning a human rights activist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59023465

    Worth noting that the UK is *not* on the list, although the US, Canada, France and Germany are. Whether that should make us proud or sad is another matter altogether.

    Sad that we are now down among the despots, not much further to fall.
    Are you seriously arguing that all of the countries that have not had their ambassadors expelled are despotic?
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,758
    Leon said:

    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet

    And why did you post?
  • MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
    Its a very old problem and clubs have never got to grip with it. If the security catches a problem and reports it to the Police then that should be something that's congratulated and not something they're worried about. Security throwing a criminal out onto the streets should be what they get into trouble with licencing over.

    I'm mentioned it before but back in my clubbing days I was assaulted by a complete stranger on the dance floor of a club. CCTV showed he just walked across the floor and one-punch hit me in the eye and I fell to the floor. Security grabbed the guy and chucked him out. It was only when I didn't stand up and then someone turned me over and saw the amount of blood on the floor that a couple of my friends ran out onto the street and flagged down a copper who arrested my attacker. I suffered a shattered eye socket, broken nose, was nearly blinded in that eye and it could have been worse and the bouncer threw the guy out onto the streets. 😡
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,249
    edited October 2021

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    We are going to obsess them for many years (and, TBF, the reverse). We are the ex who divorced the EU DESPITE EVERYTHING THEY DID FOR US

    The EU will be the ex who pores over our social media, trying to work out if we are sad or happy or faking either, and whether we are getting better sex with AUKUS than we did with them

    Meanwhile we will pretend not to care but when we are drunk we will send snide gossip about France's penile equipment and Spain's worsening cellulitis via Tik Tok and Snapchat
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,393
    Omnium said:

    Leon said:

    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet

    And why did you post?
    He’s a writer Flint knapper, thats what they do. Besides I post all kinds of rubbish on here, so why shouldn’t he?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,249
    Omnium said:

    Leon said:

    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet

    And why did you post?
    Because now I'm a bit squiffy and in the mood to SAY THINGS
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Leon said:

    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet

    Transpontine Portugal also pleasant, I am anchored off the desert islands called imaginatively the Ilhas Desertas 12 miles S of Madeira. Weirdly we are not allowed ashore on a desert island without a mask
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,758
    Leon said:

    Omnium said:

    Leon said:

    What a splendid day

    Had breakfast under the cork oaks, here in the Costa Vicentina. Glorious sunshine, amazing really, for late October, but not too hot. A perfect 23C

    Spent the morning reading about the Early Portuguese Empire - omg

    Had a custard tart and two large shots of madronho for lunch

    Spent the afternoon cycling around the beaches, dunes, and valleys, with my airpods on, blissed out to Verdi, the Waterboys, and Ulrich Schnauss - seriously, why have I only just discovered dirt road cycling PLUS music??!!

    Now I eat a pretty decent sirloin, with brilliant Alentejo red, as the sun sets over the eucalyptus groves and the goat farm

    And only now do I log on, to clog my head with horror stories of Covid, and yet, there is none (UK wise). The news is modestly better?

    I may adopt this perspective in future. Just IGNORE Covid and enjoy life, and it will go away. And life, as of this minute, is sweet

    And why did you post?
    Because now I'm a bit squiffy and in the mood to SAY THINGS
    What do you wish to say?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
    Its a very old problem and clubs have never got to grip with it. If the security catches a problem and reports it to the Police then that should be something that's congratulated and not something they're worried about. Security throwing a criminal out onto the streets should be what they get into trouble with licencing over.

    I'm mentioned it before but back in my clubbing days I was assaulted by a complete stranger on the dance floor of a club. CCTV showed he just walked across the floor and one-punch hit me in the eye and I fell to the floor. Security grabbed the guy and chucked him out. It was only when I didn't stand up and then someone turned me over and saw the amount of blood on the floor that a couple of my friends ran out onto the street and flagged down a copper who arrested my attacker. I suffered a shattered eye socket, broken nose, was nearly blinded in that eye and it could have been worse and the bouncer threw the guy out onto the streets. 😡
    It's a disgrace.

    "Security" in most clubs controls the drug dealing. If they are not beating up people drugging other people in their clubs, then they aren't protecting their business properly.

    Britain today... When I was a lad, the Piranha Brothers would have sorted them out.....

    Doug and Dinsdale Piranha now formed a gang, which the called 'The Gang' and used terror to take over night clubs, billiard halls, gaming casinos and race tracks. When they tried to take over the MCC they were for the only time in their lives, slit up a treat
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    MaxPB said:

    Need more data, but today’s COVID numbers do suggest a feast of humble pie could be in order for some.

    We’ll see. Too early to be certain.

    Indy SAGE crying into their beers tonight.

    We've still got to wait a bit longer to know for sure. What's a known factor is that we've been very close to the herd immunity threshold for a while, the whole "run this thing hot before winter" idea was and remains correct.

    I fear for countries that haven't done what we did over the summer and let the virus find vaccine refusers before the bad flu season we're due.

    If we are on that path (and the evidence for it is definitely growing) then that delay from June to July may look a lot worse in hindsight as we'd be 4 weeks further down the path towards vaccine+natural herd immunity.
    Yes, I strongly opposed the June delay largely for the reasons you cite. We’ll see how it all pans out I guess.
  • Farooq said:

    I'm a Unionist who votes for the secessionist Green Party in Scotland, because I can see that voting for them has a positive effect on Green policies, and I know I can still vote for the Union in any referendum.

    I voted Green on the list to balance my Lib Dem vote. Don't know whether I'd vote at all in an indyref, seems like two bad choices to me.
    This latter point - I wonder how universal it is? I don't want Scottish independence. But I don't think the union is salvagable in its current form. If we get to the point where there is little positive that the No campaign can say (and last time was pretty bad) there is a real risk that the undecided and ambivalent sit on their hands.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,375
    edited October 2021

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
    You're right, the clubs are petrified of losing their licence. In Brighton, one of the large clubs is facing a boycott; a lot of students have complained about having their drinks spiked - not injections. The club owners have said they'll put disposable lids on drinks served from now on. Maybe better than nothing, but not really tackling the problem.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794

    MaxPB said:

    The two lead stories in Der Spiegel are both about the UK. One about the supposed epidemic of girls being drugged in clubs "since Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day'" and one about how there's a shortage of bus drivers because they are being attracted by higher salaries driving lorries. They seem somewhat obsessed.

    From speaking to my female friends and colleagues there is a really big worry about going out late. More than normal, however I don't think this is isolated to the UK. It's a trend I think every country is facing because of social media poisoning the minds of young people.
    There is a protest going on this Wednesday night across a lot of University cities in the UK. The plan is to boycott all clubs that night with further action planned going forward until the clubs do something to improve security for women. It is centred on Nottingham but Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter are also involved along with other cities. One of the things they want - quite rightly - is that if anyone is caught trying to spike drinks they are held by security and the police called. Given spiking is a serious crime one would think this would be happening anyway but apparently a lot of clubs are worried about getting into trouble with the licencing authorities and so just throw the scumbags out rather than getting the police involved. So of course they can just move on elsewhere and try again.

    My daughter is at Nottingham and works in one of the local bars/cafes and she says the students are really worried about this fairly new development of injecting. There have been 12 injection cases reported in the last 2 weeks and 44 spiking cases in total since the start of term.
    In Brighton, one of the large clubs is facing a boycott; a lot of students have complained about having their drinks spiked - not injections. The club owners have said they'll put disposable lids on drinks served from now on. Maybe better than nothing, but not really tackling the problem.
    The issue stems from a police force that just doesn't take women's security seriously. Night clubs and other late night venues are taking their queue from the police when they don't bother reporting attempted spiking and sometimes even attempted rapes.
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