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The banning EU mineral water story is surely a spoof – politicalbetting.com

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Comments

  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,344
    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,604

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    Stocky said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I'd advise a bit of caution - just two days of encouraging figures.
    Indeed. I note they don't include Welsh numbers. So maybe it's not comparable?
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    Do you think they sit in their hidey-holes hoping for large numbers? I just don't understand these people.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,174
    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    I reckon some of it is people not being so keen to identify as COVID positive when they are going on holiday rather than going to work.
  • Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
  • Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

  • AlistairMAlistairM Posts: 2,005
    In England cases have gone from 39.5K to 33.3K in a week.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,229

    Stocky said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I'd advise a bit of caution - just two days of encouraging figures.
    Indeed. I note they don't include Welsh numbers. So maybe it's not comparable?
    I am running the numbers now - because I break out UK numbers we should be able to see trends, anyway...
  • eekeek Posts: 28,366

    Off topic

    Meanwhile in other news NatWest have just emailed me to tell me that from December 31st "Our current accounts are designed to be used in the UK, so we're changing our terms to reflect the effect of the UK leaving the EU". So some jolly good Brexit bonuses on the way, particularly when I am in the EU, no?... or am I reading this all wrong?

    All the more reason to move to Starling or elsewhere who can handle euro transactions without fees.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814

    Off topic

    Meanwhile in other news NatWest have just emailed me to tell me that from December 31st "Our current accounts are designed to be used in the UK, so we're changing our terms to reflect the effect of the UK leaving the EU". So some jolly good Brexit bonuses on the way, particularly when I am in the EU, no?... or am I reading this all wrong?

    More likely to restrict your flexibility, judging from what I have had from several banks.
  • Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I really think when the story of covid is written they are going to have some serious credibility problems, as are JCVI
  • Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Obviously a man of taste.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    Stocky said:

    Premier league odds:

    If you agree that the league winner will be one of three teams (at best prices book = 102%):

    Man City 10/11
    Liverpool 13/5
    Chelsea 7/2

    With Chelsea two points clear of Man City and a point clear of Liverpool are Chelsea value at 7/2??

    The other bet that strikes me is a lay of Man City. Should they be at or around evens with Liv and Chelsea ahead of them and in such great form?
  • AlistairMAlistairM Posts: 2,005

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479

    Stocky said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I'd advise a bit of caution - just two days of encouraging figures.
    Indeed. I note they don't include Welsh numbers. So maybe it's not comparable?
    There were 4,000 last Monday in Wales, so we can reasonably add those on I guess. Would be 41,000 today when benchmarked to include the Welsh. Still a very notable fall.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582
    MattW said:

    glw said:

    Sandpit said:

    “Best for Britain” is simply the latest rebranding of the People’s Vote campaign group.

    Ah yes the "not that vote, another one" berks.
    They also own an APPG ("Gaps in Support"), and now have something called "UK Trade and Business Commission", which is what I think Carol Cadwalladr calls "Shadow Governance" ie you set up a fake regulatory-sounding organisation, and try to get it taken seriously.
    As epitomised in recent times by “Independent Sage”
  • AlistairMAlistairM Posts: 2,005
    What amazes me is that so many people were talking about 100K cases/day when most cases were in school kids and half term was about to happen. That in itself would see a decline in cases.
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468
    This could be explosive (Jan 6 Investigation):

    "Rolling Stone also reports that at least three rally organizers are cooperating with the House panel probing the riot, and have alleged several members of Congress were “intimately involved” in the plans."

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-gosar-tricked-jan-6-planners-with-blanket-pardon-promise-says-report
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    Indeed the fall in deaths is the most surprising, not easy to fake (!) and a lagging indicator. Most likely, that is just noise. But I guess we'll see.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021
    Interesting dynamics in the student lettings market in my area for next year, I hear.

    Does anyone have sprogs at Uni? What are you seeing for student rents in 22/23?
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I really think when the story of covid is written they are going to have some serious credibility problems, as are JCVI
    Utterly disgraceful that there are still members of the real SAGE also on iSAGE - a disreputable passing off exercise, the very existance of which is a direct accusation that the real SAGE is corrupt - membership of iSAGE should be an immediate sacking offense.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    AlistairM said:

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
    Neither of our two have ever tested positive - quite a few in their year have though.
  • Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    https://curryculture.co.uk/busting-some-myths-about-cider/
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    From this morning, but who exactly are Labour's target voters?

    NEW: Keir Starmer has called on the government to tell people to work from home again

    https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1452555191409168384?s=20
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    Indeed the fall in deaths is the most surprising, not easy to fake (!) and a lagging indicator. Most likely, that is just noise. But I guess we'll see.
    Deaths announced bears almost no resemblence to actual deaths, to the extent that we'd almost certainly all be better off if they stopped publishing it and just gave is death by date on a 5 day lag. Really meaningless number, whether it looks down like to today, or up like last Tuesday (when the published number was pretty much double reality for that day).
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582
    edited October 2021
    maaarsh said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    I really think when the story of covid is written they are going to have some serious credibility problems, as are JCVI
    Utterly disgraceful that there are still members of the real SAGE also on iSAGE - a disreputable passing off exercise, the very existance of which is a direct accusation that the real SAGE is corrupt - membership of iSAGE should be an immediate sacking offense.
    Those actually advising the government should have been made subject to the Special Advisor rules, prohibited from making public statements.
  • Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Actually it sounds like an interesting idea: it would depend on the curry perhaps, but I don’t see why it is worse than (say) a Gewürztraminer which I have know goes well with some curries.
  • Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    Indeed the fall in deaths is the most surprising, not easy to fake (!) and a lagging indicator. Most likely, that is just noise. But I guess we'll see.
    It's consistent with COVID targetting younger and younger people.
  • Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    My forecast seems promising
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    edited October 2021
    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,897
    edited October 2021

    From this morning, but who exactly are Labour's target voters?

    NEW: Keir Starmer has called on the government to tell people to work from home again

    https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1452555191409168384?s=20

    Public sector homeworkers and middle class Remainers and voters on welfare under Sir Keir, this is not the party of the working class anymore
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    Try the stuff they sell at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Disgusting. There was a lager on sale at Chelmsford a few years ago, which was nearly as bad. Even the people who only watch 20/20 complained.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,067

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
  • Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Unique then
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    maaarsh said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    Indeed the fall in deaths is the most surprising, not easy to fake (!) and a lagging indicator. Most likely, that is just noise. But I guess we'll see.
    Deaths announced bears almost no resemblence to actual deaths, to the extent that we'd almost certainly all be better off if they stopped publishing it and just gave is death by date on a 5 day lag. Really meaningless number, whether it looks down like to today, or up like last Tuesday (when the published number was pretty much double reality for that day).
    New infections and deaths can be withheld as far am I'm concerned. Hospitalisations are what matter. I wonder whether the antivirals that Javid was talking about the other day can be used via home to reduce the need for hospital admissions and thereby reduce stress on NHS?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,067
    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    You mean there's something about that in The Curry House Rules... ?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    Try the stuff they sell at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Disgusting. There was a lager on sale at Chelmsford a few years ago, which was nearly as bad. Even the people who only watch 20/20 complained.
    Yes, but don't Ozzies call lager, "beer". Which says it all.

    And the popular ones are like carbonated kangaroo pee.

    /totally objective.
  • AlistairMAlistairM Posts: 2,005
    Stocky said:

    AlistairM said:

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
    Neither of our two have ever tested positive - quite a few in their year have though.
    It ripped through my daughter's Y8 class about a month ago. 15 out of 30 off with it. The other 15 (including my daughter) I suspect were immune from having had it previously. Given that my daughter also then spent 2 weeks shortly afterwards in a house where all 4 other members of the household had it without getting it herself suggests she was immune. Her school produces stats of the number of kids in each class off with Covid each week. Last week's numbers had 2 in each of both Y7 and Y8 (180 kids in each year). Given where they were I don't think Covid has got anywhere to go in that school. Anecdotally I have heard this replicated in so many schools.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    maaarsh said:

    Thoughts and prayers with iSage...

    36,567 new cases - down from 49,156 last Monday

    38 new deaths - down from 45 last Monday
    Indeed the fall in deaths is the most surprising, not easy to fake (!) and a lagging indicator. Most likely, that is just noise. But I guess we'll see.
    Deaths announced bears almost no resemblence to actual deaths, to the extent that we'd almost certainly all be better off if they stopped publishing it and just gave is death by date on a 5 day lag. Really meaningless number, whether it looks down like to today, or up like last Tuesday (when the published number was pretty much double reality for that day).
    Fair point.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Unique then
    Better than wine with curry. I like ginger beer.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782
    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    edited October 2021
    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794

    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
    The lockdown fascists knew that they had one last chance to keep everyone locked up forever because falling cases without any NPIs destroys their case. What they wanted was for lockdown to be introduced last week, hence the massive campaign around Plan B and general doom mongering. That way their measures would be credited for the coming fall in cases despite it being more likely that we've hit close to herd immunity for delta with our current levels of indoor socialising.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    AlistairM said:

    Stocky said:

    AlistairM said:

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
    Neither of our two have ever tested positive - quite a few in their year have though.
    It ripped through my daughter's Y8 class about a month ago. 15 out of 30 off with it. The other 15 (including my daughter) I suspect were immune from having had it previously. Given that my daughter also then spent 2 weeks shortly afterwards in a house where all 4 other members of the household had it without getting it herself suggests she was immune. Her school produces stats of the number of kids in each class off with Covid each week. Last week's numbers had 2 in each of both Y7 and Y8 (180 kids in each year). Given where they were I don't think Covid has got anywhere to go in that school. Anecdotally I have heard this replicated in so many schools.
    Do we know the proportion of recent new infections which are in the under 19s?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.


    It is starting to look like an epic miscalculation, I have to admit. I have a lot of sympathy with Rachel Reeves, as she was pushed into a corner by the disgraceful Marr yesterday – she was clearly against Plan B and should have just stuck to her excellent original line that "we have make Plan A work, and will hold the government to account on it".

    Sir Keir has no such excuse. I guess we'll see but it's looking like a potentially massive misstep from him.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213

    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
    An marking homework is much faster I would think.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,229
    kjh said:

    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.

    It's very Grim Up North London

    image
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782
    edited October 2021

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    I might try that. I am having a curry tonight and my daughter has left a can of cider in the fridge. Look what you have started.
  • eekeek Posts: 28,366

    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
    Be glad you weren't at the Amersham Grammar school while I was there. For 15 years the fuses in the department were a 1cm thick piece of copper.

    Only when a new Physics teacher arrived and complained were things changed. And only then because computers were placed on the same circuit.
  • Off topic

    Meanwhile in other news NatWest have just emailed me to tell me that from December 31st "Our current accounts are designed to be used in the UK, so we're changing our terms to reflect the effect of the UK leaving the EU". So some jolly good Brexit bonuses on the way, particularly when I am in the EU, no?... or am I reading this all wrong?

    This is something I've done for my firm.

    It's going to be a real arse for a lot of people.

    1) Retirees in the EU

    2) People who make transfers to people in the EU (regardless of whether they are a UK citizen or not) and vice versa.

    3) People making regular payments to EU domiciled companies.

    4) People making occasional payments/deposits to/frpm EU domiciled companies.

    The fees alone are going to be a pain as is proving source of funds.

    But there's going to be a lot of paperwork and costs for no benefits.

    Whatever you try and do, don't try and circumvent the rules, that will lead to a CIFAS marker which means all your UK accounts get shut and you cannot open another one for at least six years.
  • Stocky said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Unique then
    Better than wine with curry. I like ginger beer.
    Actually I have been known to have a ginger beer with a curry
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794
    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
    The lockdown fascists knew that they had one last chance to keep everyone locked up forever because falling cases without any NPIs destroys their case. What they wanted was for lockdown to be introduced last week, hence the massive campaign around Plan B and general doom mongering. That way their measures would be credited for the coming fall in cases despite it being more likely that we've hit close to herd immunity for delta with our current levels of indoor socialising.
    Don't be silly, lockdown isn't fascism.
    That's not what I said.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    edited October 2021
    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    Yes it is. Try to time it to coincide with building fear and noise so as not to appear too negative to the public and then weeks later when gov brings it in they say aha we argued for this weeks ago but the government didn't listen. Such transparent nonsense. They did the same thing last year if you recall.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,604
    MaxPB said:

    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
    The lockdown fascists knew that they had one last chance to keep everyone locked up forever because falling cases without any NPIs destroys their case. What they wanted was for lockdown to be introduced last week, hence the massive campaign around Plan B and general doom mongering. That way their measures would be credited for the coming fall in cases despite it being more likely that we've hit close to herd immunity for delta with our current levels of indoor socialising.
    Our R is probably already below most of our neighbours.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    MaxPB said:

    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
    The lockdown fascists knew that they had one last chance to keep everyone locked up forever because falling cases without any NPIs destroys their case. What they wanted was for lockdown to be introduced last week, hence the massive campaign around Plan B and general doom mongering. That way their measures would be credited for the coming fall in cases despite it being more likely that we've hit close to herd immunity for delta with our current levels of indoor socialising.
    Well that's certainly a (conspiracy?) theory I have heard expressed by a few people. There could be some truth in it, dunno. One would hope it's not true, but it's not much of a stretch to think it could be.
  • Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
    An marking homework is much faster I would think.
    Probably not: Maths teachers have to check the working. I tend not to bother as long as the answer is right.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021
    kjh said:

    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.

    Zero VAT on black pudding is what we need.

    And the prat Schapps to stop buggering about with HS2, and just get on with it.

    I just checked and I seem to have been hoarding jars of curry and Indian sauces. Rogan Josh with pork and cider tonight, as La Truss might say.
  • Farooq said:

    kjh said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    I might try that. I am having a curry tonight and my daughter has left a can of cider in the fridge. Look what you have started.
    I'm surrounded by barbarians!
    I feel your pain.

    There's people on here who put p*n*a*p*e on their pizza.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,897
    kjh said:

    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.

    It would also boost sales of Buxton mineral water (based in the Tory marginal of High Peak) and Highland Spring domestically
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723
    Worried about your Evian, Mr Smithson?
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782
    Farooq said:

    kjh said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    I might try that. I am having a curry tonight and my daughter has left a can of cider in the fridge. Look what you have started.
    I'm surrounded by barbarians!
    I might not enjoy it though. Let you know later.
  • Farooq said:

    kjh said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    I might try that. I am having a curry tonight and my daughter has left a can of cider in the fridge. Look what you have started.
    I'm surrounded by barbarians!
    I feel your pain.

    There's people on here who put p*n*a*p*e on their pizza.
    I do not do that to be fair
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    Unions came out for plan B, so Labour had no choice at all. They're an unsteerable rabble.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    Stocky said:

    AlistairM said:

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
    Neither of our two have ever tested positive - quite a few in their year have though.
    Granddaughter-in-law is a Yr 12/13 teacher. Several students off last week.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782

    Stocky said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Unique then
    Better than wine with curry. I like ginger beer.
    Actually I have been known to have a ginger beer with a curry
    Now you are getting silly.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,229
    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:

    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.

    It would also boost sales of Buxton mineral water (based in the Tory marginal of High Peak) and Highland Spring domestically
    Forget mineral water.....

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-relevant-nuclear-materials-from-the-eu-licensing-requirements

    Nuclear weapon hobbyists are going to be screwed.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    edited October 2021

    Off topic

    Meanwhile in other news NatWest have just emailed me to tell me that from December 31st "Our current accounts are designed to be used in the UK, so we're changing our terms to reflect the effect of the UK leaving the EU". So some jolly good Brexit bonuses on the way, particularly when I am in the EU, no?... or am I reading this all wrong?

    This is something I've done for my firm.

    It's going to be a real arse for a lot of people.

    1) Retirees in the EU

    2) People who make transfers to people in the EU (regardless of whether they are a UK citizen or not) and vice versa.

    3) People making regular payments to EU domiciled companies.

    4) People making occasional payments/deposits to/frpm EU domiciled companies.

    The fees alone are going to be a pain as is proving source of funds.

    But there's going to be a lot of paperwork and costs for no benefits.

    Whatever you try and do, don't try and circumvent the rules, that will lead to a CIFAS marker which means all your UK accounts get shut and you cannot open another one for at least six years.
    I guessed it wasn't good news, but I thought it best not to antagonise the Brexit/Boris rampers.

    That could be fun for Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland bank account holders or is there an exemption?
  • kjh said:

    Stocky said:

    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Selebian said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Approval of the government's handling of the pandemic has fallen 8pts since mid-Oct to just a third

    Handling well: 34% (-8 from 14-15 Oct)
    Handling badly: 59% (+8)

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/perception-government-handling-covid-19 https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627605669167106/photo/1

    64% of Britons now say the COVID-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 35% less than two weeks ago

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/05/26/perceived-national-and-global-covid-19-outlook https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1452627611214131206/photo/1

    Those figures are going to reverse as we see reductions to approx. 5,000 cases per week by Christmas, as per the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine

    https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-cases-could-fall-significantly-in-november-even-without-plan-b-modelling-suggests-12444117
    Modellers say we'll be ok? Now I'm worried! :wink:
    I just have an instinctive feeling that we are heading down towards much reduced infections

    I would just add that Rishi's budget on Wednesday, followed by COP26 is going to dominate the headlines for the next 2 weeks and by mid to late November I expect we will all be a lot happier about covid, though I doubt some on here know the word 'happy'
    Almost on topic.

    I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.
    Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not a drinker, but do enjoy a good cup of coffee

    I need a clear head to analyse my opinions but age tends to get in the way at times
    Me neither these days, although I like a beer with a curry occasionally. On topic, I don't drink bottled waters at all either, from wherever they may be sourced. Dwr Cymru from the tap for me everyday of the week.
    I will have a cider with a curry occasionally but I absolutely agree with your comments on bottled water v tap water
    Cider.
    With Curry.
    Cider with curry.

    I have to say, that confirms everything about you I have hitherto only suspected.
    Why

    I rarely have curry and but when I do I quite like a cider

    You are beyond the reach of civilisation.
    Cider. With curry!
    Unique then
    Better than wine with curry. I like ginger beer.
    Actually I have been known to have a ginger beer with a curry
    Now you are getting silly.
    Variety the spice of life !!!!!!
  • glwglw Posts: 9,906
    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    The same people would have you believe that it is obvious what the optimal start date for a lockdown is.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,859
    edited October 2021
    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    The latter is called "small beer" and they're becoming quite popular. Not my favourite but I can understand the market for them.
    So you just have to drink more of it?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    AlistairM said:

    Stocky said:

    AlistairM said:

    Sean_F said:

    37,000 cases, compared to 49,000 last Monday.

    Half-term effect?
    Yes, plus I doubt there are many secondary school kids who have yet to be exposed to it.
    Neither of our two have ever tested positive - quite a few in their year have though.
    It ripped through my daughter's Y8 class about a month ago. 15 out of 30 off with it. The other 15 (including my daughter) I suspect were immune from having had it previously. Given that my daughter also then spent 2 weeks shortly afterwards in a house where all 4 other members of the household had it without getting it herself suggests she was immune. Her school produces stats of the number of kids in each class off with Covid each week. Last week's numbers had 2 in each of both Y7 and Y8 (180 kids in each year). Given where they were I don't think Covid has got anywhere to go in that school. Anecdotally I have heard this replicated in so many schools.
    Several Twitter anecdotes - children with COVID antibodies "without ever having had COVID" and others testing positive on LFT while being completely asymptomatic.
  • eek said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
    Be glad you weren't at the Amersham Grammar school while I was there. For 15 years the fuses in the department were a 1cm thick piece of copper.

    Only when a new Physics teacher arrived and complained were things changed. And only then because computers were placed on the same circuit.
    Dr Challoner’s? I applied for a job there back in the nineties. Sounds like I had a lucky escape.

    On the subject of fuses:


  • RogerRoger Posts: 19,897
    edited October 2021
    I feel for you. With This government it's difficult to tell what's a spoof and what isn't.

    I switched on Woman's hour this morning which was discussing climate change and steps we could take to deal with it. One of the listeners texted;

    "I'm prepared to do anything required but I'm being frustrated at every turn. We wanted to fit solar panels but couldn't find a firm with an audit trail which showed slave labour hadn't been used in the production process"

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010wy5
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    The latter is called "small beer" and they're becoming quite popular. Not my favourite but I can understand the market for them.
    So you just have to drink more it it?
    Hasn't "small beer" been the Brit substitute for dodgy water for 600-800 years?

    Bye-bye Evian.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    England hospital admissions have stopped going up:

    Three decent days of admissions data dropped as well - certainly better than the nasty looking trend at the end of last week.

    https://twitter.com/BristOliver/status/1452653712720158721?s=20
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    edited October 2021
    Anyone wondering about current swing voter perception of Johnson and (especially) Starmer is should listen to Times Red Box Podcast; 19 October edition "October 2021 Focus Group".

    @bigjohnowls will like it. It is brutal for Starmer. This being months after he hired Mattison as well to improve his image.

    (If anyone listens to it would you report back on here and tag me in please.)
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    glw said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    The same people would have you believe that it is obvious what the optimal start date for a lockdown is.
    The same people who demanded a firebreak this time last year. Then implemented one in Wales, which resulted in them having identical results to England on a 2 week delay.
  • 606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

    And 167 years today since the Charge of the Light Brigade.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    IanB2 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    The latter is called "small beer" and they're becoming quite popular. Not my favourite but I can understand the market for them.
    So you just have to drink more it it?
    During the 1980s I'd regularly watch 8 pints a night Brains SA drinkers require circa 14/15 pints of Welsh Bitter to reach their desired effect if we wound up in Allied Breweries pubs, so I'd guess yes.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:

    I have to say sadly the lack of mineral water probably isn't going to have a big effect on the Red Wall vote. A tax on whippets and flat caps is what you need.

    There might be a suggestion this southerner is a little out of touch possibly.

    It would also boost sales of Buxton mineral water (based in the Tory marginal of High Peak) and Highland Spring domestically
    Forget mineral water.....

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-relevant-nuclear-materials-from-the-eu-licensing-requirements

    Nuclear weapon hobbyists are going to be screwed.
    At last a day where Brexit hasn't been bad news for me. I don't drink mineral water and wasn't planning on importing radioactive material. This Brexit stuff is not looking so bad today.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,859

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

    And 167 years today since the Charge of the Light Brigade.

    Both falling on World Pasta Day; what a coincidence.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    edited October 2021
    Oh. I see Wales once again reported no Cases today.

    Shame.

    EDIT: Superb England fall though.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,722
    maaarsh said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    Unions came out for plan B, so Labour had no choice at all. They're an unsteerable rabble.
    If that's true, then it sounds like Labour are actually quite steerable (by the unions)
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794

    MaxPB said:

    maaarsh said:

    England figures at 39 down to 33. Hospitals to rise for another 10 days or so then that should be the end of the current storm in a teacup. Impressive, and scary, how such a sense of momentum and doom was generated from a situation so much better than what was projected at the time of last changing regulations.

    Yes, I think this is the key point (and unaffected by recent numbers) – how on Earth did we get ourselves to the brink of wearing 'Plan B' when Plan A had yielded better numbers than even the very best-case estimate from Sage!?

    I blame the government's frankly hopeless comms – they should have been on top of this before the usual-suspect lockdownists were given sufficient oxygen.
    The lockdown fascists knew that they had one last chance to keep everyone locked up forever because falling cases without any NPIs destroys their case. What they wanted was for lockdown to be introduced last week, hence the massive campaign around Plan B and general doom mongering. That way their measures would be credited for the coming fall in cases despite it being more likely that we've hit close to herd immunity for delta with our current levels of indoor socialising.
    Well that's certainly a (conspiracy?) theory I have heard expressed by a few people. There could be some truth in it, dunno. One would hope it's not true, but it's not much of a stretch to think it could be.
    I just don't trust anyone calling for a lockdown at all. Anyone doing it hasn't been properly looking at the data. Lockdown is a real last resort tactic for displacing infections into the future if we think there will be better lifesaving treatment in the future. That's not on the cards and we have got very good vaccines available to everyone already. The case for lockdown went away when the vaccines arrived and they proved to be excellent.
  • glw said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    The same people would have you believe that it is obvious what the optimal start date for a lockdown is.
    As soon as possible, as hard as possible, for as long as possible.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,541

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

    And 167 years today since the Charge of the Light Brigade.

    20 years ago today Windows XP was released, a standard Microsoft have never bettered
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    The Cornoavirus dash board is sooooo slow just after publication. I presume because everyone is hammering the API for data.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    Afghanistan 190-4 in their 20 overs. Scotland didn't bowl, or field, badly either.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    Selebian said:

    maaarsh said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    Unions came out for plan B, so Labour had no choice at all. They're an unsteerable rabble.
    If that's true, then it sounds like Labour are actually quite steerable (by the unions)
    I was posting from the admittedly silly presumption that it should be Sir Keir trying to steer the ship.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

    And 167 years today since the Charge of the Light Brigade.

    They must have been incandescent ...
  • glwglw Posts: 9,906
    maaarsh said:

    glw said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    The same people would have you believe that it is obvious what the optimal start date for a lockdown is.
    The same people who demanded a firebreak this time last year. Then implemented one in Wales, which resulted in them having identical results to England on a 2 week delay.
    I am not knocking the intent of people calling for such measures. It is simply hard to predict what is going to happen in a pandemic beyond the short term. It is harder still to predict the effects of any intervention. So we ought to give those making the decisions, and those giving them advice, the credit for trying their best in extremely difficult circumstances, rather than knocking everything they do and kidding ourselves that they have made obvious mistakes.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    NEW: @BorisJohnson had a call with Vladimir Putin today.

    Putin not attending COP26 because of COVID situation in Russia.

    PM asked Putin to back net zero target and said significant bilateral difficulties remain following Salisbury poisonings.


    https://twitter.com/ShehabKhan/status/1452660326479056900?s=20
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,398
    This mineral water story is why I don't go on twitter. It
    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Comes out of the tap for (next to) nothing.

    Some of us live in areas where water comes out of a tap but it also comes with a foam.
    Just think of it as alcohol free beer...
    Unfortunately for me alcohol free beer is a no no for me because I'm a devout Muslim because a beer drinking friend of mine came up with analogy for alcohol free beer which I have never been able to forget.
    You good muslim also has to watch out for what is 'alcohol free'. Lots of them are less than 0.5%, but are definitely not 0%.
    Most of the 0.5% beers are functionally close to zero. It's just that the process they use for making them is not guaranteed to leave them completely alcohol free.

    Basically, the way 0.5% beer is made is that they make normal beer. Then they warm it to about 85 degrees centigrade, which is enough to make the alcohol (over a period of time) boil off. But that won't get all the alcohol out. It'll leave 0.1-0.2% in there. In theory there could be as much as 0.5%, but in reality is very rarely anything near that.

    With true Zero beers, it's made completely differently. It's a soft drink made to taste somewhat like beer.

    I prefer the 0.5% beers. What I'd really like, though, is a 1.5-2% beer. Something which is enough to give you a little bit of an alcohol kick, but not so much that your body isn't able to metabolize it all before the next drink arrives.
    In Iceland they have a rule that only beers up to 2.25% alcohol can be sold outside the state run off licenses. So, they have tried lots of ways of brewing beer at this percentage. But the products don't taste very good, they just seem to taste like are like watered down dregs/backwash. I'm sure it could be done better. I always thought there was a good opportunity to brew a low ABV ale and sell it in Icelandic supermarkets.

    That explanation you provide above is very interesting - I have always gone for the 0.5% low alcohol beers, no one has bettered becks blue in my opinion, but the adnams ghost ship 0.5% is also pretty good.

    To me, the actual Zero beers taste too sweet, like a variation of lemonade. I just avoid them completely.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,344



    And 167 years today since the Charge of the Light Brigade.

    A victory for common sense.
  • eekeek Posts: 28,366
    edited October 2021

    eek said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimT said:

    FPT:
    TimT said:
    » show previous quotes
    I'd argue having a good teacher is way more important than having a teacher who is the best expert in the subject.

    Chemistry is physics is not at all misleading, although it might be better expressed as 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics, and biology is the emergent properties of chemistry, and behaviour is the emergent properties of biology' etc...

    My bit:
    Trying to predict the effects of molecules based purely on the laws of Physics has not had a good track record. For biology that is even more of an issue (if it weren’t we wouldn’t have to muck around with all that clinical testing of drugs; we would be able to calculate which would work and why).

    Who says it's all about prediction? You can't predict any chaotic or complex adaptive system, even entirely physical ones. Witness the three body problem. Are you telling me that physical systems are not physics, because physics cannot be used to predict their properties and behaviours?

    So what does your observation have to do with the validity of the statement that 'chemistry is the emergent properties of physics'? Nothing. Because science is only partly about prediction. It is mostly about explaining. And the laws of chemistry can be explained in terms of the laws of physics. And biology can be explain in terms of molecular chemistry.
    Trying to explain the laws of Chemistry using the laws of Physics requires the type of Physics I didn’t encounter until my second year at university. More to the point it required the big element you have left out of this: Maths, and Maths at a higher level than even those doing Further Maths A-level would be expected to get to before their last year at school (if then).

    You can hand wave it of course, but we do that at the moment; I’ve just been teaching pV = NkT and explaining how it is the same equation as the pV = nRT they learned in Chemistry. I have also found that I seem to be better at teaching the idea of the mole better than many Chemistry teachers.

    I think my basic point is that if you want teachers of “Science” rather than teachers of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology then you have to accept that a lot more physicists are going to decide that they don’t want anything to do with it and so Physics is going to be taught by people who, if you are lucky, have an A-level in it, and more likely just a GCSE in double award science. Not a recipe for inspiring the next generation of physicists.
    Sticking my neck out, I'd say that having more and better maths teachers is perhaps of even greater importance.
    I sometimes think I would have been better off becoming a Maths teacher; no equipment to book, much lower chance of electrocuting my self in the line of duty, and fewer classes (as I would see each one for about twice as long as I get with my Physics classes).
    Be glad you weren't at the Amersham Grammar school while I was there. For 15 years the fuses in the department were a 1cm thick piece of copper.

    Only when a new Physics teacher arrived and complained were things changed. And only then because computers were placed on the same circuit.
    Dr Challoner’s? I applied for a job there back in the nineties. Sounds like I had a lucky escape.

    On the subject of fuses:


    Yep - this was before then though - mid 80's rather than 90's.

    Looking at that chart - think we were talking in the 1500amp range. Most things would have blown (probably including things at my parents house before it cut out).
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    edited October 2021
    glw said:

    maaarsh said:

    glw said:

    MaxPB said:

    Labour calling for Plan B really was excellent timing. They clearly have got no one reading the runes, it's all just reactive to twitter hashtags and trending topics.

    The same people would have you believe that it is obvious what the optimal start date for a lockdown is.
    The same people who demanded a firebreak this time last year. Then implemented one in Wales, which resulted in them having identical results to England on a 2 week delay.
    I am not knocking the intent of people calling for such measures. It is simply hard to predict what is going to happen in a pandemic beyond the short term. It is harder still to predict the effects of any intervention. So we ought to give those making the decisions, and those giving them advice, the credit for trying their best in extremely difficult circumstances, rather than knocking everything they do and kidding ourselves that they have made obvious mistakes.
    Just because something is uncertain doesn't make all options equally valid. The intent of people calling for plan B right now is absolutely suspect because it's an answer which can't be squared with a reasonable understanding of the facts as they currently stand. They're either ill intentioned or stupid, and some of them are in positions which mean they ought not to be stupid.

    I should clarify that of course there are species of ill intent, and by far the largest will be people who honestly believe in their position, but are suffering from a drastically wrong sense of proportion and the wider issues to be considered. Perhaps it is hardly surprising and a bit more forgivable for people working in public health to have forgotten about aspects beyond covid, or beyond health, but it still doesn't make them right or laudable.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    RE: Beer

    In Scotland there is a min price of 50p per unit.

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.
This discussion has been closed.