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

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Comments

  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    Alistair said:

    The Cornoavirus dash board is sooooo slow just after publication. I presume because everyone is hammering the API for data.

    Yes, they are. I implemented a slow loop for calls, and exponential backoff on attempts (with an additional randomised time element).

    Quite a few morons didn't.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,721
    MattW said:

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

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

    The must have been incandescent ...
    Not well LED
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782

    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.
    Wot!
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    Selebian said:

    MattW said:

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

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

    The must have been incandescent ...
    Not well LED
    Well spotted
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Alistair said:

    The Cornoavirus dash board is sooooo slow just after publication. I presume because everyone is hammering the API for data.

    Yes, they are. I implemented a slow loop for calls, and exponential backoff on attempts (with an additional randomised time element).

    Quite a few morons didn't.
    You are one of the good ones.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    MaxPB 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.
    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.
    Yes but who was calling for lockdown - the call was for Plan B measures wasn't it?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    So probably means that tomorrow Wales will publish a "triple case" day.

    So brace yourself for doom and gloom.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    Afghanistan 190-4 in their 20 overs. Scotland didn't bowl, or field, badly either.

    Is that a run rate of 9.5??? That's difficult for any team in any circumstances.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited October 2021
    Shocking "journalism":

    More than nine in 10 schools are still waiting for airflow monitors, which can reduce the spread of Covid-19, despite the education secretary promising that a third of the units would be delivered by the end of this month.

    Just 8% of schools have received their allocation of the 300,000 CO2 monitors the government pledged to send to primary and secondary schools in England this term, a Twitter poll by a primary school headteacher revealed last week.


    https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/24/only-8-of-uk-schools-have-received-air-monitors-that-were-promised-by-government?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468
    kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    LOLs. I spend most of my time telling workshop participants that there is no one right answer, which they keep demanding.
  • Selebian said:

    MattW said:

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

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

    The must have been incandescent ...
    Not well LED
    Far too much wooly thinking at the Charge of The Light Brigade.

    The Earl of Cardigan leading at the Battle of Balaclava made the wooly thinking inevitable.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
    It's got real consequences - I drink import beer now because it's more cost effective.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Ooof. MPs have just been emailed by Parliament's authorities asking them to wear facemasks on the Estate. It's not mandatory, but much tougher line than government's "use your own judgement"...

    For those who don't work on the parliamentary estate, it's now "a condition of entry and guests will be refused entry if they fail to comply"


    https://twitter.com/JackElsom/status/1452662648420638731?s=20

    I guess that's what happens when you p*ss off Mr Speaker.....
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,179
    edited October 2021
    Alistair said:

    Oh. I see Wales once again reported no Cases today.

    Shame.

    EDIT: Superb England fall though.

    Are we sure it's not just down to comparatively lower testing ?

    Tests
    785553 vs 927399 tests (England 17th vs 24th) 84.7% of previous sunday

    33309 vs 39473 cases (Reported 18th vs 25th) 84.4% of previous monday.

    The positivity rate looks.. remarkably similar..


  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,174
    Pulpstar said:

    Alistair said:

    Oh. I see Wales once again reported no Cases today.

    Shame.

    EDIT: Superb England fall though.

    Are we sure it's not just down to comparatively lower testing ?

    Tests
    785553 vs 927399 tests (England 17th vs 24th) 84.7% of previous sunday

    33309 vs 39473 cases (Reported 18th vs 25th) 84.4% of previous monday.

    The positivity rate looks.. remarkably similar..


    Oh, so my theory of people not wanting to test positive before their holibobs could be right...
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814
    JBriskin3 said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
    It's got real consequences - I drink import beer now because it's more cost effective.
    What beer, as a matter of interest? Given that only the super-strength lagers are significantly affected.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price
  • 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.
    Hawaiian = 3rd most popular pizza topping in the UK!
    Pineapple = 4th!

    https://www.ovenpride.com/blog/the-uks-favourite-pizza-toppings-revealed/
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,988
    💥 Government FINALLY admits Tory peer Lord Lister didn't say he worked for luxury developer when approving *£190m* taxpayer-backed loan for them

    Homes England to conduct review too


    Comes 6 months after ST story by @ManuMidolo @GeorgeGreenwood & me
    https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/homes-england-vows-to-improve-diligence-after-connection-between-former-chair-and-developer-discovered-72933
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814
    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price



    "Which drinks have been affected?

    Stronger drinks that contain more units of alcohol have a higher price than drinks that contain less alcohol. Drinks that have been most affected include strong white cider, own brand vodka and gin, and super-strength lager.

    A can of 5% lager containing 2 units of alcohol has to cost at least £1, and a bottle of 12% wine containing 9 units has to cost at least £4.50.

    Unlike supermarkets and off-licences, most drinks sold in pubs, clubs and restaurants already cost more than 50p per unit so there is no real difference under minimum pricing."

    https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/campaigns-policy/minimum-pricing/
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,794
    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Especially for 2% beer. 🤮

  • Redfield & Wilton Strategies

    Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    I, for one, am shocked to discover that solid theory, extensive data analysis, mathematical reasoning & well-tried models produce accurate results more often than numbers plucked from the sky cos they'd be convenient to smear your political opponents, plus a lot of swearing.

    https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1452665820480409612?s=20
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    Carnyx said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
    It's got real consequences - I drink import beer now because it's more cost effective.
    What beer, as a matter of interest? Given that only the super-strength lagers are significantly affected.
    I'm finding the most cost effective beers to be Bud, Stella and Heineken.
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,240
    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Wetherspoons sell their cheapest bitter for £1.29,which must come close
  • eekeek Posts: 28,366
    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,988
    Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct

    Subscribe to Magnified: https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/magnified/

    https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-gb-voting-intention-25-october-2021/ https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1452666282646638604/photo/1
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,027
    edited October 2021
    Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s net approval rating stands at -3%, a one-point decrease since last week. This week’s poll finds 40% disapproving (down 1%) of his overall job performance, against 37% approving (down 2%).

    Keir Starmer’s net approval rating has not changed in the past week, remaining at -10%. 36% disapprove of Keir Starmer’s job performance (up 1%), while 26% approve (up 1%). Meanwhile, 31% neither approve nor disapprove of Starmer’s job performance (down 2%).

    This week’s sample has 57% of respondents saying they would be ‘certain to vote’ if there were to be a General Election tomorrow. Those who voted Conservative in 2019 (72%) are more likely to say they are ‘certain to vote’ than those who voted Labour (58%).

  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct


    https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1452666282646638604?s=20
  • 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.
    Beans on Naan.
  • Selebian said:

    MattW said:

    606 years today since the Battle of Agincourt.

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

    The must have been incandescent ...
    Not well LED
    Far too much wooly thinking at the Charge of The Light Brigade.

    The Earl of Cardigan leading at the Battle of Balaclava made the wooly thinking inevitable.
    Woolly, in British English.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814
    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    By my calculations*, Scotland's run rate required is 9.55

    C'mon Scotland!

    *always handle with caution
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814
    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

    Ah, just noticed the cider. Is there such a thing as "Tennents Extra cider"? I can't find it.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,179
    Scott_xP said:

    💥 Government FINALLY admits Tory peer Lord Lister didn't say he worked for luxury developer when approving *£190m* taxpayer-backed loan for them

    Homes England to conduct review too


    Comes 6 months after ST story by @ManuMidolo @GeorgeGreenwood & me
    https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/homes-england-vows-to-improve-diligence-after-connection-between-former-chair-and-developer-discovered-72933

    Hmm that beggars belief - the lowliest parish councillor would know to recuse themselves from anything like that.
  • kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    If the answer is right then the working is usually right as well, and (except at A-level) the equations are not so complicated that I can’t see at a glance if they have done the right thing.

    A-level is different, particularly “show that” questions; there I do have to check working.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 19,897
    One of the features of Man Utd losing are the emails to BBC Sport. The one thing they have over most other teams is that they attract some very dry emailers. My particular favourite from yesterday......

    "I wasn't really surprised seeing the Man Utd fans streaming out of the stadium in the second half but seeing Paul Pogba join them was a little unexpected."
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    JBriskin3 said:

    Carnyx said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
    It's got real consequences - I drink import beer now because it's more cost effective.
    What beer, as a matter of interest? Given that only the super-strength lagers are significantly affected.
    I'm finding the most cost effective beers to be Bud, Stella and Heineken.
    Thought it was beer that was under discussion.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,496
    edited October 2021
    Mike Smithson's article (mineral waters etc) is unusual in that each detail in it is incorrect. The Naomi Smith tweet is incorrect in every respect, the headline similarly wrong, and the comment superfluous.

    There is a change in the procedure for gaining recognition for mineral waters from a EU authority to a domestic one.

    That is exactly what happens when we had to choose between the excellent merits of the single market and the excellent merits of being able to control our own migration policy etc.

    And just shows the folly on all sides in failing to come to a realistic settlement.

    As to the issue itself, it may seem trivial, but the market and customer does not want radioactive sewage, recycled wine or elephant urine to be sold under the mineral water label. Which is what happens when there is no regulation in the food and drink market. We take fantastically high standards for granted. We shouldn't.
  • Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct


    https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1452666282646638604?s=20

    Broken, sleazy Tories AND Labour (and others) on the slide!
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

    Ah, just noticed the cider. Is there such a thing as "Tennents Extra cider"? I can't find it.
    Don't think so - he's saying Tennants Extra and 2 litre own brand cider are most affected by the beer tax.

    My lifestyle would be a lot more comfortable if 2 litre own brand cider was allowed to be sold without the tax.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,179
    edited October 2021
    tlg86 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Alistair said:

    Oh. I see Wales once again reported no Cases today.

    Shame.

    EDIT: Superb England fall though.

    Are we sure it's not just down to comparatively lower testing ?

    Tests
    785553 vs 927399 tests (England 17th vs 24th) 84.7% of previous sunday

    33309 vs 39473 cases (Reported 18th vs 25th) 84.4% of previous monday.

    The positivity rate looks.. remarkably similar..


    Oh, so my theory of people not wanting to test positive before their holibobs could be right...
    I think looking at reported date vs tests the previous day is OK - when I did a PCR the result returned the next day. I mean it won't be perfect but good enough.
    Might have a look at the positivity this way in a bit.
    I'd assume half term would have a dampening effect on cases, which we might see once the kids are back with a slightly lower rate but the largest effect is probably testing right now.
    As I said I'll run the numbers in a few hours.
  • Scotland getting hammered by Afghanistan.

    28/3 from 4 overs.
  • Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

    Ah, just noticed the cider. Is there such a thing as "Tennents Extra cider"? I can't find it.
    Aren't "Tennants Extra" and "2litre Own brand cider" different things that could be affected by the minimum pricing, rather than a weird concoction of branded beer and own brand cider?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,814
    JBriskin3 said:

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

    Ah, just noticed the cider. Is there such a thing as "Tennents Extra cider"? I can't find it.
    Don't think so - he's saying Tennants Extra and 2 litre own brand cider are most affected by the beer tax.

    My lifestyle would be a lot more comfortable if 2 litre own brand cider was allowed to be sold without the tax.
    Yes of course, you're right, he means both the beer and cider.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    Scotland getting hammered by Afghanistan.

    28/3 from 4 overs.

    At least the run-rate isn't too bad...
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    Pulpstar said:

    Scott_xP said:

    💥 Government FINALLY admits Tory peer Lord Lister didn't say he worked for luxury developer when approving *£190m* taxpayer-backed loan for them

    Homes England to conduct review too


    Comes 6 months after ST story by @ManuMidolo @GeorgeGreenwood & me
    https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/homes-england-vows-to-improve-diligence-after-connection-between-former-chair-and-developer-discovered-72933

    Hmm that beggars belief - the lowliest parish councillor would know to recuse themselves from anything like that.
    Where's Jackie Weaver when she's needed?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,027
    edited October 2021
    Roger said:

    One of the features of Man Utd losing are the emails to BBC Sport. The one thing they have over most other teams is that they attract some very dry emailers. My particular favourite from yesterday......

    "I wasn't really surprised seeing the Man Utd fans streaming out of the stadium in the second half but seeing Paul Pogba join them was a little unexpected."

    As a lifetime United supporter I wish he would
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    edited October 2021
    JBriskin3 said:

    Scotland getting hammered by Afghanistan.

    28/3 from 4 overs.

    At least the run-rate isn't too bad...
    Last over didn't help.

    1 W W 0 0 W

    Oh and the run rate's pretty poor for a T20 when chasing 190.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228
    Pulpstar said:

    tlg86 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Alistair said:

    Oh. I see Wales once again reported no Cases today.

    Shame.

    EDIT: Superb England fall though.

    Are we sure it's not just down to comparatively lower testing ?

    Tests
    785553 vs 927399 tests (England 17th vs 24th) 84.7% of previous sunday

    33309 vs 39473 cases (Reported 18th vs 25th) 84.4% of previous monday.

    The positivity rate looks.. remarkably similar..


    Oh, so my theory of people not wanting to test positive before their holibobs could be right...
    I think looking at reported date vs tests the previous day is OK - when I did a PCR the result returned the next day. I mean it won't be perfect but good enough.
    Might have a look at the positivity this way in a bit.
    I'd assume half term would have a dampening effect on cases, which we might see once the kids are back with a slightly lower rate but the largest effect is probably testing right now.
    As I said I'll run the numbers in a few hours.
    Considerable numbers of people will be on holiday, of course....
  • eekeek Posts: 28,366

    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    Alistair said:

    I shudder to think what beer one might be drinking where the 50p per unit minimum makes a difference to the price

    Tennants Extra, 2litre Own brand cider.

    I suspect it won't have impacted drinking, it's probably impacted spending on other items though.
    Can't be own brand supermarket if it's Tennants?

    It's 9 per cent beer. Jakey juice as far as I am concerned - but in any case if you are buying it in bulk from a specialist you'll be getting it cheaper than in a supermarket.

    Ah, just noticed the cider. Is there such a thing as "Tennents Extra cider"? I can't find it.
    Aren't "Tennants Extra" and "2litre Own brand cider" different things that could be affected by the minimum pricing, rather than a weird concoction of branded beer and own brand cider?
    I did think the comma between them was a clue that they were different items likely to be impacted...
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129

    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.
    Almost certainly - albeit from a higher-case load.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,274

    Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct


    https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1452666282646638604?s=20

    Lib-Dems Winning Here :D
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,582

    Scotland getting hammered by Afghanistan.

    28/3 from 4 overs.

    Ouch.

    Two problems there - not enough runs, and too many wickets.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    How did the Afghan wicketkeeper move like that? Big, very big, lad made an acrobatic catch to make the Scots 30-4.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,292
    Scotland look like they are going to get humiliated.
  • rcs1000 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.
    Our R is probably already below most of our neighbours.
    Almost certainly - albeit from a higher-case load.
    Having a higher caseload in the summer when you can handle it is a good thing, not a bad thing though.

    I do wonder who's going to have a real crisis this winter. There's going to be a few nations regrettably who've blown their chances to get mass infections in antivaxxers over the summer.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,988
    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj
  • 36/5 and Scotland's only double-digit run-scorer so far is out.

    This isn't going to be pretty or close.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417

    Scotland look like they are going to get humiliated.

    Well, they're out of their league, really.
    But 36-5 isn't good.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,897

    Westminster Voting Intention (25 Oct):

    Conservative 39% (-1)
    Labour 36% (-1)
    Liberal Democrat 10% (+1)
    Green 6% (+1)
    Scottish National Party 4% (–)
    Reform UK 4% (+1)
    Other 1% (-1)

    Changes +/- 18 Oct


    https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1452666282646638604?s=20

    Electoral Calculus has the Tories on 322, 4 short of a majority on the new boundaries.

    Should be able to govern though without a partner if SF do not take their seats
    https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/usercode.py?scotcontrol=Y&CON=39&LAB=36&LIB=10&Reform=4&Green=6&UKIP=&TVCON=&TVLAB=&TVLIB=&TVReform=&TVGreen=&TVUKIP=&SCOTCON=22.3&SCOTLAB=18.3&SCOTLIB=6.3&SCOTReform=0.7&SCOTGreen=0.7&SCOTUKIP=&SCOTNAT=48.3&display=AllChanged&regorseat=(none)&boundary=2019nbbase
  • Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    And for balance

    https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/asian-european-motorists-face-record-petrol-prices-winter-sets-2021-10-22/
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,883

    Alistair said:

    The Cornoavirus dash board is sooooo slow just after publication. I presume because everyone is hammering the API for data.

    Yes, they are. I implemented a slow loop for calls, and exponential backoff on attempts (with an additional randomised time element).

    Quite a few morons didn't.
    I must be a moron, because I didn't understand any of what you just said!

    :smiley:
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited October 2021
    NEW: I’ve signed a cooperation framework with Greek Foreign Minister @NikosDendias to deepen trade & security ties between our two democracies.

    We are strengthening links with friends across Europe and with our NATO allies, forging a network of liberty across the globe


    https://twitter.com/trussliz/status/1452669752493621251?s=20
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
  • Stocky said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
    Sky were reporting many think they should be even higher to help the move to evs
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,174

    36/5 and Scotland's only double-digit run-scorer so far is out.

    This isn't going to be pretty or close.

    Taliban 1-0 SNP
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129

    rcs1000 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.
    Our R is probably already below most of our neighbours.
    Almost certainly - albeit from a higher-case load.
    Having a higher caseload in the summer when you can handle it is a good thing, not a bad thing though.

    I do wonder who's going to have a real crisis this winter. There's going to be a few nations regrettably who've blown their chances to get mass infections in antivaxxers over the summer.
    It depends on how quickly those countries roll out booster shots.

    And we don't know the answer to that question yet.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,883

    kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    If the answer is right then the working is usually right as well, and (except at A-level) the equations are not so complicated that I can’t see at a glance if they have done the right thing.

    A-level is different, particularly “show that” questions; there I do have to check working.
    I'm marking A level exam papers for an International exam board at the moment. The rule on working is if the answer is fully correct, totally ignore the working. This obviously doesn't apply if the paper gives the answer first and they have to show the path to it. Those questions are difficult to mark, but easier to answer in my opinion.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,251
    edited October 2021
    I was gonna read that new book about human origins, but then I discovered that the late writer was an anarchist and a communist and this, according to an Atlantic review, is one of his discoveries


    ‘But the authors’ most compelling instance of urban egalitarianism is undoubtedly Teotihuacan, a Mesoamerican city that rivaled imperial Rome, its contemporary, for size and magnificence. After sliding toward authoritarianism, its people abruptly changed course, abandoning monument-building and human sacrifice for the construction of high-quality public housing.’

    Yes. That’s a typical trait in meso-American societies, they abandon their orgies of child murder, ritual cannibalism and heart extrusion, so as to really focus on surprisingly upscale apartments for everyday folk
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    tlg86 said:

    36/5 and Scotland's only double-digit run-scorer so far is out.

    This isn't going to be pretty or close.

    Taliban 1-0 SNP
    At least Scotland are doing better than the West Indies the other day.
    57-8
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    If the answer is right then the working is usually right as well, and (except at A-level) the equations are not so complicated that I can’t see at a glance if they have done the right thing.

    A-level is different, particularly “show that” questions; there I do have to check working.
    I'm marking A level exam papers for an International exam board at the moment. The rule on working is if the answer is fully correct, totally ignore the working. This obviously doesn't apply if the paper gives the answer first and they have to show the path to it. Those questions are difficult to mark, but easier to answer in my opinion.
    So Scotland's run rate required before their innings was 9.55

    What was Afghanistan's run total?

    Sounds quite difficult to me.
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468
    Scotland's tail needs to wag about as frenetically as my Jack Russell's from here on in.
  • Ghastly muck but nevertheless it’s TENNENT’S!
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021

    JBriskin3 said:

    RE: Beer

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

    Just another example of the Scottish Parliament raping the poor.

    No it's Nanny Nippy attempting to mitigate against rampant alcohol abuse in Scotland. Good luck to her.
    It's business development support for Coldstream and Scotch Corner.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723
    maaarsh said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
    127.8 to 149.9 in a month. We are being ripped off. Whether its the oil cost or the deealers or the retailers. We are being ripped off. There is no doubt about it.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,417
    JBriskin3 said:

    kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    If the answer is right then the working is usually right as well, and (except at A-level) the equations are not so complicated that I can’t see at a glance if they have done the right thing.

    A-level is different, particularly “show that” questions; there I do have to check working.
    I'm marking A level exam papers for an International exam board at the moment. The rule on working is if the answer is fully correct, totally ignore the working. This obviously doesn't apply if the paper gives the answer first and they have to show the path to it. Those questions are difficult to mark, but easier to answer in my opinion.
    So Scotland's run rate required before their innings was 9.55

    What was Afghanistan's run total?

    Sounds quite difficult to me.
    Not sure it's a logical question, but Afghanistan scored 190 in their 20 overs.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    JBriskin3 said:

    kjh said:

    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.
    Wot!
    If the answer is right then the working is usually right as well, and (except at A-level) the equations are not so complicated that I can’t see at a glance if they have done the right thing.

    A-level is different, particularly “show that” questions; there I do have to check working.
    I'm marking A level exam papers for an International exam board at the moment. The rule on working is if the answer is fully correct, totally ignore the working. This obviously doesn't apply if the paper gives the answer first and they have to show the path to it. Those questions are difficult to mark, but easier to answer in my opinion.
    So Scotland's run rate required before their innings was 9.55

    What was Afghanistan's run total?

    Sounds quite difficult to me.
    Oops I mean Afghanistans runt total was 190

    show x or something

    C'mon Scotland!

  • RogerRoger Posts: 19,897

    FPT

    I completed a survey by Opinium and one of the supplementary questions are what words I would use to describe Prince Charles.

    I think I was fair and balanced.


    Future King and Prime Minister in perfect harmony
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590

    maaarsh said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
    127.8 to 149.9 in a month. We are being ripped off. Whether its the oil cost or the deealers or the retailers. We are being ripped off. There is no doubt about it.
    If you're paying 149.9 then yes, you and anyone else daft enough to pay that are getting ripped off.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,228

    Alistair said:

    The Cornoavirus dash board is sooooo slow just after publication. I presume because everyone is hammering the API for data.

    Yes, they are. I implemented a slow loop for calls, and exponential backoff on attempts (with an additional randomised time element).

    Quite a few morons didn't.
    I must be a moron, because I didn't understand any of what you just said!

    :smiley:
    Sorry.

    Instead of looping round in milliseconds and trying like a mad chimp, my software runs the sequence of calls to the API slowly (10s of seconds).

    If it hits an "unavailable because of too much traffic", it doubles the time for each retry. So waits longer and longer between tries.

    Further, it adds a bit of randomness to the growing time between retries to make sure that I'm am not doing the calls to the API in a pattern that matches what anyone else is doing.

    All of this is pretty standard stuff.

    But some people out there have written code that is bringing the API to it's knees....
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,129
    Leon said:

    I was gonna read that new book about human origins, but then I discovered that the late writer was an anarchist and a communist and this, according to an Atlantic review, is one of his discoveries


    ‘But the authors’ most compelling instance of urban egalitarianism is undoubtedly Teotihuacan, a Mesoamerican city that rivaled imperial Rome, its contemporary, for size and magnificence. After sliding toward authoritarianism, its people abruptly changed course, abandoning monument-building and human sacrifice for the construction of high-quality public housing.’

    Yes. That’s a typical trait in meso-American societies, they abandon their orgies of child murder, ritual cannibalism and heart extrusion, so as to really focus on surprisingly upscale apartments for everyday folk

    Are you saying they were incapable of multitasking?
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    maaarsh said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
    127.8 to 149.9 in a month. We are being ripped off. Whether its the oil cost or the deealers or the retailers. We are being ripped off. There is no doubt about it.
    are you sure?

    "Crude Oil WTI (NYM $/bbl) Front Month Overview.
    ...
    Performance.

    YTD 73.09%"
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254

    Ghastly muck but nevertheless it’s TENNENT’S!

    Brewed in Glasgow apparently - just another reason not to buy it.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    Stocky said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
    We've had an effective tax freeze for umpteen years.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    MattW said:

    Stocky said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
    We've had an effective tax freeze for umpteen years.
    It's not been very effective. Duty is frozen by VAT of course goes up with inflation.
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468
    Mujeeb has a 5-for and Rashid a 4-for
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,292
    I guess you can say Scotland have been sent back to think again.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,776
    Just back from York. I have managed to lose my glasses twice in one day - in the first instance, leaving them in a cafe (from where I managed to retrieve them half an hour later) and in the second, I think, having them fall out of my pocket on the tram on the way home. Most annoying. Happily I am picking up a new pair tomorrow so not disastrous, but still.
    Anyway: one further observation about York apart from its ferocious busyness: in a gift shop I noticed cat toys in the shape of unflattering models of world politicians. You could choose between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Nicola Sturgeon. Impressed that Nicola has made it into that particular echelon.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    No data is available for Wales today, but in comparison to the number of new cases reported last Monday, the number reported today is:

    Black small square Down 16% in England
    Black small square Up 2% in Scotland
    Black small square Down 7% in N. Ireland


    https://twitter.com/TravellingTabby/status/1452680543980687361
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    Cookie said:

    Just back from York. I have managed to lose my glasses twice in one day - in the first instance, leaving them in a cafe (from where I managed to retrieve them half an hour later) and in the second, I think, having them fall out of my pocket on the tram on the way home. Most annoying. Happily I am picking up a new pair tomorrow so not disastrous, but still.
    Anyway: one further observation about York apart from its ferocious busyness: in a gift shop I noticed cat toys in the shape of unflattering models of world politicians. You could choose between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Nicola Sturgeon. Impressed that Nicola has made it into that particular echelon.

    The main hate figures in 1st world, 2nd world and local politics respectively?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,179
    JBriskin3 said:

    maaarsh said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
    127.8 to 149.9 in a month. We are being ripped off. Whether its the oil cost or the deealers or the retailers. We are being ripped off. There is no doubt about it.
    are you sure?

    "Crude Oil WTI (NYM $/bbl) Front Month Overview.
    ...
    Performance.

    YTD 73.09%"
    Every extra penny of raw cost produces more VAT for the chancellor.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    All out for 60??

    I blame Nippy
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,758
    Cookie said:

    Just back from York. I have managed to lose my glasses twice in one day - in the first instance, leaving them in a cafe (from where I managed to retrieve them half an hour later) and in the second, I think, having them fall out of my pocket on the tram on the way home. Most annoying. Happily I am picking up a new pair tomorrow so not disastrous, but still.
    Anyway: one further observation about York apart from its ferocious busyness: in a gift shop I noticed cat toys in the shape of unflattering models of world politicians. You could choose between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Nicola Sturgeon. Impressed that Nicola has made it into that particular echelon.

    I hate needing my glasses to find my glasses. They're very annoying things.
  • JBriskin3JBriskin3 Posts: 1,254
    Pulpstar said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    maaarsh said:

    JBriskin3 said:

    Anyone whining about petrol prices need only look to the YTD barrel crude Oil to know they aren't being ripped off.

    The difference between thin margins in petrol and an absolute bonanze of profit is about 3p per litre, so it's quite hard for people to notice if they're being ripped off or not underneath the massive tax burden.
    127.8 to 149.9 in a month. We are being ripped off. Whether its the oil cost or the deealers or the retailers. We are being ripped off. There is no doubt about it.
    are you sure?

    "Crude Oil WTI (NYM $/bbl) Front Month Overview.
    ...
    Performance.

    YTD 73.09%"
    Every extra penny of raw cost produces more VAT for the chancellor.
    That's not the point I was making though was it.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,213
    MattW said:

    Stocky said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
    We've had an effective tax freeze for umpteen years.
    Yes, it seems quite cheap to me TBH. Noticeable that on my latest trips to mainland Europe prices are higher there which has historically been unusual.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,132
    edited October 2021
    maaarsh said:

    MattW said:

    Stocky said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Petrol prices have hit a record high across the UK in what the RAC has described as a 'truly dark day for drivers' https://trib.al/oAY3RBj

    The record prices can only be nominally.

    Prices in the late 90s when we had the fuel protests were about 90p per litre I think. £1.40 now doesn't sound expensive to me, 20 + years later, when you account for inflation.
    We've had an effective tax freeze for umpteen years.
    It's not been very effective. Duty is frozen by VAT of course goes up with inflation.
    According to the IFA, it is now costing the Exchequer £11.2bn a year in lost revenue.
    https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-fuel-duty-freeze-has-increased-uk-co2-emissions-by-up-to-5-per-cent

    15 months ago my view on how to recover from COVID govt finance plunge was restore that to where it would have been, cancel CGT relief on main dwelling, and kill the triple lock - to get around 50bn a year of extra revenue.
This discussion has been closed.