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The worst appointment since Incitatus – politicalbetting.com

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  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,794

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    I quite like the giraffes that have sprouted up around town. Including one decorated by my son's school. :)
    Your son's school must be very tinsel-ly :)
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,162

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,344
    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.
  • sbjme19sbjme19 Posts: 194

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    Sadly he's not worse than a lot of them just more prominent and loud mouthed. A few are intelligent, sensible and reasonable, otherwise they range from the weird and seemingly deranged to the not very bright and over-promoted...see the Cabinet for example.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,794
    Cicero said:

    Nigelb said:

    Democrat wins Alabama special election after focusing on IVF, abortion
    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4557670-democrat-wins-alabama-special-election-after-focusing-on-ivf-abortion/

    The article calls the district "purplish" - which in Alabama terms is true - but she lost by 7% at the last election, and just won by 25%.

    There have been quite a few signs that suggest the GOP may end up getting whipped in November. Are the polls therefore totally wrong? Some suggest that the polls are manipulated, though I see no real evidence.
    https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/4727548#Comment_4727548

    There are three possibilities in the polls

    * Trump supporters distrust pollsters and do not respond. This differential non-response makes the polls inaccurate.
    * Independents who distrust Trump are afraid to reply to polls thru social satisfying. This differential non-response makes the polls inaccurate.
    * People join panels for money. The differential VI between such panellists and ordinary voters makes the sample unrepresentative. This makes the polls inaccurate.

    If any of them are true, the polls will be inaccurate.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,095
    edited March 27
    ToryJim said:

    OT proof that the old adage about fools and their money still holds true.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68672177

    It seems a ludicrous amount to spend on a piece of simulated driftwood.

    $125.000 for Jonny’s axe from the Shining though…
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,095
    Foxy said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    The UK figures on whether the Covid pandemic is still ongoing are about 50/50 too when DKs excluded. It is the same across the different political parties.

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/survey-results/daily/2024/03/22/bf4bb/1

    I would say endemic rather than pandemic myself, but it certainly hasn't gone away.

    Agree with that conclusion which is why it’s a stupid poll
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    There are some absolute spanners in the Tory 2019 Toolbox and Gullis is the poster child example of what happens when you unexpectedly win seats.

    The challenge for Labour will be that if they get a mega-landslide, what is the chances of having their own mega box of spanners?
    The Labour backbenches are already full of cuckoos. But on the backbenches is normally where they feed, Corbyn and his chums's elevation notwithstanding.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,095
    edited March 27
    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,344

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    For clarity I am not sure how “differentiate” become “do strong Josh” in my original post…
    Are you typing or dictating? I find my accent causes problems for the dictation Software on my iPad.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,513
    .
    Cicero said:

    Nigelb said:

    Democrat wins Alabama special election after focusing on IVF, abortion
    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4557670-democrat-wins-alabama-special-election-after-focusing-on-ivf-abortion/

    The article calls the district "purplish" - which in Alabama terms is true - but she lost by 7% at the last election, and just won by 25%.

    There have been quite a few signs that suggest the GOP may end up getting whipped in November. Are the polls therefore totally wrong? Some suggest that the polls are manipulated, though I see no real evidence.
    I've no certainty about any of it.

    This was a by-election as a result of the incumbent resigning after being charged with voter fraud, so only a straw in the wind.

    And there's an awful lot than could happen between now and November.

    But I have money on the Democrats, FWIW.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    Your leap from my disdain for Gullis and his rent-a-gob mentality to my latent racism against Abbott is impressive.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,095

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    For clarity I am not sure how “differentiate” become “do strong Josh” in my original post…

    Are you typing or dictating? I find my accent causes problems for the dictation Software on my iPad.
    I have a small phone with a mind of its own
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,185

    ToryJim said:

    OT proof that the old adage about fools and their money still holds true.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68672177

    It seems a ludicrous amount to spend on a piece of simulated driftwood.

    $125.000 for Jonny’s axe from the Ahining though…
    Yup, don’t get that either. Having been in Jack Nicholson’s sweaty palms doesn’t endow that prop with magic powers. It’s like the practice of relic hunting in the early Middle Ages.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,513

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    I am in a few WhatsApp groups with Mr Gullis, I get to see some of his unredacted thoughts, he's so dense, light bends around him, although he did attend the finest university in Oxford.

    He's also a dirty scruff

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56180675

    In October 2021, Gullis suggested at a fringe meeting during the Conservative Party conference that people using the term "white privilege" should be reported to the Home Office as extremists and that teachers found criticising the Conservative Party should be sacked

    and

    He seems more obsessed with woke than Leon.
    Almost as obsessed as you with Oxford ? 😊

    He gives himself a glowing reference, according to Wikipedia.
    ..Gullis worked in schools from 2012 to 2019, comparing his teaching experiences to boxing.[5] He worked in schools including Blackfen School for Girls (2012–2015), Ashlawn School (2015–2016), Greenwood Academy (2016–2018), and Fairfax Academy (2018–2019).[5] Gullis described his classroom personality as "a mixture of Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg", and said that he "liked to play the character of an English gent".[5] Gullis says that he was "nicknamed Grumpy Gullis – because I never smiled".[5] Upon being elected to Parliament Gullis left work at Fairfax Academy, and he described the pupils he was responsible for as head of year as "probably happy to see me go"...
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,513
    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,480
    sbjme19 said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    Sadly he's not worse than a lot of them just more prominent and loud mouthed. A few are intelligent, sensible and reasonable, otherwise they range from the weird and seemingly deranged to the not very bright and over-promoted...see the Cabinet for example.
    Neil O'Brien is one of my local MPs but seems to think posting this graph will help his electoral chances, despite highlighting two areas of Tory failure:

    https://twitter.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1772594103101866256?t=DU0aDXCvVlUJLObJ1Gro_Q&s=19
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586
    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,302
    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,062

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    After the Tampa Bridge disaster in 1980, they re-built the bridge with so-called "dolphins" next to the bridge columns to stop boats from hitting the columns. It's interesting that they didn't add them to the Baltimore bridge around the same time.

    There were dolphins for the bridge. See the round object next to the ship here -

    image
    May be wrong but I think those are actually dolphins for power lines next to the bridge, not the bridge itself. (I saw a photo earlier from an angle that seemed to show this pretty clearly, but I can't remember how/where to find the image again to post a link).
    If you look at the links I shared a few posts below, the puny round dolphins predate the pylons by many years. The power pylons have cutwater-like structures around them.

    I wonder what the 'overhang' (*) on the container ships are - i.e. the difference between beam at water level and maximum beam.

    (*) Don't know correct term
    There’s a whole load of conspiracy theories going around about ships’ systems getting hacked. I think like most others I’ll wait and see what the NTSB* has to say first! Occam’s Razor says some sort of mechanical failure in an environment of strong winds and tides.

    *National Transportation Safety Board, the government agency charged with investigating transport accidents in the US https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Transportation_Safety_Board
    The hacking conspiracy theories are almost certainly not true, for the reasons I gave yesterday. People spreading it are idiots, and/or have their own agenda to fill.
    Yes most of them are coming from political people rather than marine people. The same political people who have spent the last week talking about the latest cyber threats from Russia and China - so they see an accident, put two and two together and make five.

    It’s not impossible it was a deliberate attack, but it’s very unlikely especially with a local pilot on board.

    Terrible bridge design though, let’s hope modern standards are considerably higher.
    When I descend into this cesspool on Twitter, I don't see 'political people' spreading this: it's no-name accounts that are spreading this sh*t. I've no idea if there are even real people behind some of the accounts.
    I’m old enough to remember when you could go on Twitter and glean useful real-time information.
    Viewers of Twitter down 20% since Musk took it over.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,302
    edited March 27

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,794
    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    Can we still use the word "pandemic" for a low-level thing? We don't say "there's a pandemic of small sneezes".
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,302

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    As if, it was sent to me by a friend.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,480

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    That's pretty standard for container ships. It's why sailors on the Solent need to pay attention.

  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,205

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586
    viewcode said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    Can we still use the word "pandemic" for a low-level thing? We don't say "there's a pandemic of small sneezes".
    On the original poll - most people don’t know the difference between pandemic and endemic. But they know that people are catching COVID and doctors are telling vulnerable people to stay up to date with their vaccinations. So COVID sounds like it is ongoing.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,513
    viewcode said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    Can we still use the word "pandemic" for a low-level thing? We don't say "there's a pandemic of small sneezes".
    If it's a worldwide occurrence of a particular, novel infection, yes.
    My point is that the definition of 'pandemic' is a fairly loose one.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,412
    ToryJim said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    I’m concerned that the authors of that notice think that not accepting cash would cause their customers bowel or bladder problems.
    Surely should be easier to spend a Penny if incontinent?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
    I know, I know. To the lay person it just looks ridiculously over loaded. I am sure these things are regulated though.

    (As another aside - odd that such surreal accident involves a boat called Dali.)
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965
    Good morning all.

    Gateshead 7 Hartlepool 1

    Lord Mandelson will be crying into his guacamole.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    What's wrong with a Marriott? Very comfy beds and a decent breakfast.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    There are actually grades of Marriott, to be fair.

    The one in Miraflores, Lima was held to be one of the best hotels in Peru - If not *the* best - a few years back.

    The sushi, hand made on the spot, was spectacular.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706
    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965
    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
    I know, I know. To the lay person it just looks ridiculously over loaded. I am sure these things are regulated though.

    (As another aside - odd that such surreal accident involves a boat called Dali.)
    It’s an effect of scale. The containers in front of the bridge were well below the windows and sloped down to the bow in tiers. In fact, with the forward bridge, the crew had a much better view than many older ships. Which had the bridge right at the stern.

    Containers are also quite light, in terms of objects on ships. Same reason that double decker buses are actually quite stable.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586
    DavidL said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    What's wrong with a Marriott? Very comfy beds and a decent breakfast.
    They vary, a lot. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is quite nice - part of the Marriott Group.

    Do the mainstream Marriotts still offer fantasy reading material in every room?
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,470

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,095
    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I wouldn’t even expect the average Joe to appreciate the difference between endemic and pandemic to be honest
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,687

    DavidL said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    What's wrong with a Marriott? Very comfy beds and a decent breakfast.
    They vary, a lot. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is quite nice - part of the Marriott Group.

    Do the mainstream Marriotts still offer fantasy reading material in every room?
    You mean the Gideon bible?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease

    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
    I must say that when several people I know through work have been off ill with Covid recently the thing I was most surprised about was that they knew they had it. I think the last of our tests went out of date some time ago. Unless you work in the NHS I am really not sure where you would get them.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    You have been fortunate in that Jonathan Gullis' manifold proclamations have passed you by. He has been very active in calling out everything that the current Starmer-Labour Government* stands for. Now he has been given the Lee Anderson role he will doubtless call them out some more.

    * I'm not sure he has got the hang of which party is in power.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586

    DavidL said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    What's wrong with a Marriott? Very comfy beds and a decent breakfast.
    They vary, a lot. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is quite nice - part of the Marriott Group.

    Do the mainstream Marriotts still offer fantasy reading material in every room?
    You mean the Gideon bible?
    I was thinking more of the Book of Mormon.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,639
    edited March 27
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease

    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
    I must say that when several people I know through work have been off ill with Covid recently the thing I was most surprised about was that they knew they had it. I think the last of our tests went out of date some time ago. Unless you work in the NHS I am really not sure where you would get them.
    Chemists.

    It's useful to know which bug, [edit] if it seems more than an ordinary cold, because of the specific problems of covid if it turns nasty/longterm. Also if one is visiting an elderly relative and starts sniffling.
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,183

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
    I know, I know. To the lay person it just looks ridiculously over loaded. I am sure these things are regulated though.

    (As another aside - odd that such surreal accident involves a boat called Dali.)
    It’s an effect of scale. The containers in front of the bridge were well below the windows and sloped down to the bow in tiers. In fact, with the forward bridge, the crew had a much better view than many older ships. Which had the bridge right at the stern.

    Containers are also quite light, in terms of objects on ships. Same reason that double decker buses are actually quite stable.
    As it was leaving can we assume the containers were empty?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
    I know, I know. To the lay person it just looks ridiculously over loaded. I am sure these things are regulated though.

    (As another aside - odd that such surreal accident involves a boat called Dali.)
    It’s an effect of scale. The containers in front of the bridge were well below the windows and sloped down to the bow in tiers. In fact, with the forward bridge, the crew had a much better view than many older ships. Which had the bridge right at the stern.

    Containers are also quite light, in terms of objects on ships. Same reason that double decker buses are actually quite stable.
    Same with cruise ships; I make sure never to tell Mrs P how little draft they have. They look ridiculously top heavy but of course, they aren't.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,360

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    I am sorry to say that where I live this is easily trumped in significance by the 'cash only' sign at the chippie and the Chinese takeaway.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,696
    Foxy said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    The UK figures on whether the Covid pandemic is still ongoing are about 50/50 too when DKs excluded. It is the same across the different political parties.

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/survey-results/daily/2024/03/22/bf4bb/1

    I would say endemic rather than pandemic myself, but it certainly hasn't gone away.
    “Pandemic” isn’t an entirely well-defined term. It’s also a very misunderstood term, so people presume it implies severity or novelty (which it doesn’t). For example, HIV/AIDS is still considered a pandemic over 40 years on, even though our relationship with it has hugely changed over that time.

    The WHO downgraded COVID-19 from being a “public health emergency of international concern” last May, but still calls it a pandemic. Endemic status is perhaps best defined by stable case numbers and COVID numbers arguably haven’t stabilised in much of the world. It’s still coming in waves.

    So, if I met a survey question asking is COVID still a pandemic, I’d want to reply, “It’s complicated. Yes, but that’s not really what you are asking.”
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706

    DavidL said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    That's terrible - has it come to this?

    You're staying in a Marriott?
    What's wrong with a Marriott? Very comfy beds and a decent breakfast.
    They vary, a lot. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is quite nice - part of the Marriott Group.

    Do the mainstream Marriotts still offer fantasy reading material in every room?
    Not sure I was ever aware of that. I have stayed in several but the ones in York and Newcastle were both good. I mean, its not exactly characterful or interesting but they serve a purpose.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    They don't just navigate ships by Mk.1 Eyeball, the OoW would use the ship's navigation system with ARPA, GPS, etc. Supplemented by cameras and human lookouts.

    Whatever happened in this shit show, it wasn't because the bridge (of the ship) couldn't see the bridge (they hit).
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,069

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    Focus on outcomes not inputs is meant to be one of the things Conservatives do well. Hey ho.

    (A lot of the issue is that spending has gone on FrONt LinE sTAff, whilst support and equipment have been frozen or cut. Which makes sense to survive an immediate crisis, but does little to get you out of it.)
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    You have been fortunate in that Jonathan Gullis' manifold proclamations have passed you by. He has been very active in calling out everything that the current Starmer-Labour Government* stands for. Now he has been given the Lee Anderson role he will doubtless call them out some more.

    * I'm not sure he has got the hang of which party is in power.
    Notice how Gullis makes a point of calling the Labour leader "Sir Keir" ;)
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,470

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    So your Tory votes have led to half a million more NHS employees and a 2/3 drop in NHS satisfaction. Yet another indictment of Troy mismanagement.
    With the same effect happening in Scotland and Wales.

    Perhaps it has rather more to do with the NHS than politicians.

    Still I don't doubt you'll be waving the pompoms for Wes Streeting's management, whatever effect it has.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    You have been fortunate in that Jonathan Gullis' manifold proclamations have passed you by. He has been very active in calling out everything that the current Starmer-Labour Government* stands for. Now he has been given the Lee Anderson role he will doubtless call them out some more.

    * I'm not sure he has got the hang of which party is in power.
    I suspect it is one of the many advantages of not being on Twitter.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,639

    On the Baltimore bridge disaster, looking at that ship how on earth was anyone on board supposed to see whirler they were going?

    image

    Evidently very well, given ships go about like that all the time. ;)

    It doesn't appear to be a lack of vision problem, rather one of loss of control.
    I know, I know. To the lay person it just looks ridiculously over loaded. I am sure these things are regulated though.

    (As another aside - odd that such surreal accident involves a boat called Dali.)
    It’s an effect of scale. The containers in front of the bridge were well below the windows and sloped down to the bow in tiers. In fact, with the forward bridge, the crew had a much better view than many older ships. Which had the bridge right at the stern.

    Containers are also quite light, in terms of objects on ships. Same reason that double decker buses are actually quite stable.
    Same with cruise ships; I make sure never to tell Mrs P how little draft they have. They look ridiculously top heavy but of course, they aren't.
    MAkes them potentially more vulnerable to crosswinds, though I'm not sure how much of a problem that normally is. Maybe when docking, but some ships have side thrusters or pods which take care of that.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,575

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    Not banned. I wasn't really paying attention but gathered Leon was on his flight home.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,513

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
    It depends on circumstances, I guess.
    Note Covid is a very infectious virus, and can be disruptive to work environments - and is still dangerous for a subset of the population.

    And if you're visiting your grandparents, it's probably still a good idea to find out if you've got Covid, or it's just a cold.

  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,696
    viewcode said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    Can we still use the word "pandemic" for a low-level thing? We don't say "there's a pandemic of small sneezes".
    Pandemic status or epidemic status are technically defined by spread, not severity. A colleague discovered there’d been an epidemic of impetigo in the UK a few years ago. No-one had noticed at the time as it’s not a serious condition, but when she collated the data, it was very clear that something had happened, cases had shot up and then come down again.

    So, yes, if there was a new virus that spread all round the world, but just caused small sneezes, that would be a pandemic.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,360

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    There is a serious point lurking here. The truth, of course, is that not everything is broken and people continue to tickle the baby's toes, make Yorkshire pudding for grandchildren, complain about the weather, receive incomprehensible communications from the NHS and HMRC and see their GPs and get referred for cancer treatment.

    Overall, our cup is about half empty and we feel it is getting emptier.

    If Labour manage competently WRT communication, planning, blame dispersal and generalised spiritual uplift, the cup will magically transform from being half empty to half full, and even possibly with a chance of getting a little fuller.

    Starmer's style suggests, sensibly, not a Blairite 'new dawn' nor the arrival of a revolution but a but slower and gradualist approach to this. Good. It's our only chance for now.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    I thought you Tories were all for value for money and in particular optimum personal productivity. You Tories seem to have dropped the ball and have far more people doing far less. For goodness sake shape up!
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,162
    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    I know little of him, apart from his name.

    I doubt a thread of partisan posters with an axe to grind is any more informative than twitter posters who may think he is some sort of genius.

    Quite frankly I think the likes of Gullis, Anderson and co are a bit of a distraction from how shit things are in general. People focussing on the micro rather than the macro.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947
    ToryJim said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    I’m concerned that the authors of that notice think that not accepting cash would cause their customers bowel or bladder problems.
    Double whammy too - since they can't spend a penny.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,162
    edited March 27
    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease

    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
    I must say that when several people I know through work have been off ill with Covid recently the thing I was most surprised about was that they knew they had it. I think the last of our tests went out of date some time ago. Unless you work in the NHS I am really not sure where you would get them.
    Perhaps Manflu has now been superseded by ManCovid?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,720
    kinabalu said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    You have been fortunate in that Jonathan Gullis' manifold proclamations have passed you by. He has been very active in calling out everything that the current Starmer-Labour Government* stands for. Now he has been given the Lee Anderson role he will doubtless call them out some more.

    * I'm not sure he has got the hang of which party is in power.
    Notice how Gullis makes a point of calling the Labour leader "Sir Keir" ;)
    A couple of summers ago I was on a do on the commons terrace and a bloke suddenly came barging through all the people standing there, right arm out to push people aside, no excuse me or sorry as he went, and breathing heavily and audibly. He seemed to be taking a short cut from one event to another. We all looked up in amusement and mild shock and were asking who on earth was that, and someone said "oh that's Jonathan Gullis, one of the new red wall MPs".

    That's my one and only personal experience of being in the great man's presence.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706
    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,570

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    I quite like the giraffes that have sprouted up around town. Including one decorated by my son's school. :)
    The giraffes are great. I always like those community art projects.
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,570

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    On a scale of 0-10, how much do they inspire Fascist feelings when you view them?
    There's a lot about Cambridge that inspires Fascist feelings in me.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    Taz said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    I know little of him, apart from his name.

    I doubt a thread of partisan posters with an axe to grind is any more informative than twitter posters who may think he is some sort of genius.

    Quite frankly I think the likes of Gullis, Anderson and co are a bit of a distraction from how shit things are in general. People focussing on the micro rather than the macro.
    As has been mentioned Gullis' views are pretty mainstream for the incumbent party of Government.

    The objection to Gullis in particular is he is both loud and obnoxious. His critique of Starmer-Labour is more on the lines of his visceral hatred of them rather than any objective analysis. The sort of "never kissed a Tory" attitude you would bellyache about were the boot on the other foot.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706
    Taz said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    ...

    Taz said:

    I don't know anything about Gullis. Can someone explain why he is so much worse than other Tory MPs?

    He's a Tory so that's enough.
    That is patently untrue. One nation Tories are fine.

    Gullis is a humourless and apparently intellect-free populist's populist. He is a walking -talking parody of Johnsonian Conservatism.
    "apparently"

    People just latch onto hate figures in either party then try to justify their irrational hatred of them. Gullis just seems to trigger people. Don't know why. I know little of him and I doubt he has any name recognition at all.

    In the same way lots of racists find other reasons than her colour to dislike Diane Abbott, when it really is her colour. That also applies to many of her detractors in Labour as well. As she points out.
    If Gullis had impinged on your consciousness before yesterday I am impressed. I had certainly not heard of him. From what I learned on last night's thread it wasn't much of a loss either.
    I know little of him, apart from his name.

    I doubt a thread of partisan posters with an axe to grind is any more informative than twitter posters who may think he is some sort of genius.

    Quite frankly I think the likes of Gullis, Anderson and co are a bit of a distraction from how shit things are in general. People focussing on the micro rather than the macro.
    I agree and I am always surprised that people pay any attention to the likes of Anderson or, apparently, Gullis. They should be paying more attention to Cabinet Ministers who are not clearing their in-trays and are failing to address the problems right in front of them that impact on peoples' lives. The primary failing of this government is its inaction and noises off should not distract from that.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,360
    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,586

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    So your Tory votes have led to half a million more NHS employees and a 2/3 drop in NHS satisfaction. Yet another indictment of Troy mismanagement.
    With the same effect happening in Scotland and Wales.

    Perhaps it has rather more to do with the NHS than politicians.

    Still I don't doubt you'll be waving the pompoms for Wes Streeting's management, whatever effect it has.
    Well, let's see shall we?

    Your consolation if the Tories are trounced is that you can spend the next 5, 10, 15? years lambasting the government. (Though it's not been much of a consolation for me though this past 14 years of utter incompetence and wilful destruction tbh.)
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,302
    algarkirk said:

    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.

    Sir John Curtice (pbuh) is never wrong whilst the betting markets are frequently wrong.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,639
    edited March 27
    ToryJim said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    I’m concerned that the authors of that notice think that not accepting cash would cause their customers bowel or bladder problems.
    Maybe it's Anabob's regular work hotel?

    *this is an amiably intended joke*
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,570
    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    Something something something Jenny Agutter something something?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586
    mwadams said:

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    On a scale of 0-10, how much do they inspire Fascist feelings when you view them?
    There's a lot about Cambridge that inspires Fascist feelings in me.
    What is it that *first* upset you about The Fenland Poly branch of Patrice Lumumba Uni (Moscow)?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,639

    mwadams said:

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    On a scale of 0-10, how much do they inspire Fascist feelings when you view them?
    There's a lot about Cambridge that inspires Fascist feelings in me.
    What is it that *first* upset you about The Fenland Poly branch of Patrice Lumumba Uni (Moscow)?
    https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/campus-blacklisting-dates-back-blackshirts
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947
    algarkirk said:

    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.

    That's a bookie fishing for the muggiest of mug money.

    I wonder what they offer on SKS?
  • theakestheakes Posts: 928
    Yesterday special election in Huntsville to ALABAMA House of Representatives. Safe Republican seat.
    "Marilyn Lands, a Democrat who made reproductive rights a central part of her campaign, will win a special election Tuesday for an Alabama state House seat, CNN projects.

    Her victory serves as another data point for national Democrats, who hope the backlash over strict state abortion laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and concerns about in vitro fertilization treatments will help their party in November, even in traditionally Republican areas.

    The Biden campaign heralded Lands’ victory as a “warning sign” for former President Donald Trump and “extreme MAGA Republicans.” Alabama voters “know exactly who’s to blame for restricting their ability to decide how and when to build their families and they’re ready to fight back,” Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement.
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,570

    mwadams said:

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    On a scale of 0-10, how much do they inspire Fascist feelings when you view them?
    There's a lot about Cambridge that inspires Fascist feelings in me.
    What is it that *first* upset you about The Fenland Poly branch of Patrice Lumumba Uni (Moscow)?
    Being expected to appear at lectures and supervisions for the tripos in which I was supposed to be examined when there were guitars to be played and drinks to be drunk and a large number of distractingly attractive people in attendance. Needless to say, I didn't.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706
    mwadams said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    Something something something Jenny Agutter something something?
    I actually meant the book but yes.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,470
    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    I'm sure there is a business opportunity in offering fading oldies 'two wild weeks and death' to save them from care homes and everyone else from the costs which come from them.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Trent said:

    Leon said:

    It’s Trump isn’t it? People are scared this might somehow “benefit Trump” if it turns out to be sabotage so they are insanely allergic to the notion

    Get a grip

    Its Trump derangement syndrome. Im convinced the covid lockdowns only went on as long as they did in some areas of the US because people wanted to stick it to Trump.
    I’m still shocked by this amazing statistic

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/six-in-10-democrats-believe-covid-19-pandemic-isnt-over/

    lol. If this is China and Russia driving America insane they are doing a bang up job
    To be fair they are not wrong.

    Covid is now an endemic disease but I wouldn’t expect the average punter to do strong Josh between endemic and pandemic.

    But we have tools to manage it, and so we don’t need to reach in the extreme way we did 4 years ago
    Also, TBF, the line between epidemic/pandemic and endemic isn't a particularly clear one.

    We talk about flu seasonal flu epidemics, even is they're of fairly low severity.
    And novel variants of Covid are still reinfecting people worldwide, so it's really semantics as to whether it's now a low level
    pandemic, or
    epidemic.
    With flu it’s a different virus each year which is why it is an epidemic not an endemic disease
    That's why I said 'novel variants'.

    I agree with Foxy that it's endemic, FWIW. But it's not obviously absurd for someone to think it's still a low level pandemic.
    I find it surprising when people who are poorly are still doing Covid tests. These days, when I have had a virus I am just fussed about the symptoms and getting better, not which bug has caused it.
    It depends on circumstances, I guess.
    Note Covid is a very infectious virus, and can be disruptive to work environments - and is still dangerous for a subset of the population.

    And if you're visiting your grandparents, it's probably still a good idea to find out if you've got Covid, or it's just a cold.
    I cancelled my Christmas visit to the parents having tested positive. To knowingly give them Covid felt wrong. I wouldn't do a pure precautionary test though. I'd only test if I felt ill.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,706

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    I'm sure there is a business opportunity in offering fading oldies 'two wild weeks and death' to save them from care homes and everyone else from the costs which come from them.
    i suspect that we will need a change in the law such as Esther Rantzen is asking for before it can be made a goer.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586
    edited March 27
    a
    mwadams said:

    mwadams said:

    mwadams said:

    ‘Worst-ever’ Prince Philip statue must be torn down, orders council
    A £150,000 sculpture purporting to depict late Duke of Edinburgh must be removed as it was erected without planning permission

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/26/prince-philip-statue-cambridge-council-orders-removal/ (£££)

    Plot twist: the sculptor named as its creator denied any knowledge of the statue.

    And it wasn't the DofE when it started out. Terrible though it is, it isn't the worst recent statuary in Cambridge. There are a load of what I can only describe as "oversized garden centre ornaments" that have appeared over the last few years. A bear. Some lions. They are bloody awful.
    On a scale of 0-10, how much do they inspire Fascist feelings when you view them?
    There's a lot about Cambridge that inspires Fascist feelings in me.
    What is it that *first* upset you about The Fenland Poly branch of Patrice Lumumba Uni (Moscow)?
    Being expected to appear at lectures and supervisions for the tripos in which I was supposed to be examined when there were guitars to be played and drinks to be drunk and a large number of distractingly attractive people in attendance. Needless to say, I didn't.
    If they didn't try to make you feel bad about *something*, then everything else wouldn't be fun? Forbidden fruit and all that.

    EDIT: I did Comp Sci at uni. 8 hours of lectures a week. So I picked courses so that my first lecture was never before 10 and the last at about 3pm. The space in-between the two lectures was when I did all the course works, revision (yes, ahead of time). This meant I was free for... socialising from 4pm every day. And daytime drinking was so boring.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,360
    edited March 27
    kinabalu said:

    algarkirk said:

    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.

    That's a bookie fishing for the muggiest of mug money.

    I wonder what they offer on SKS?
    1/7. Value?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586
    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    I'm sure there is a business opportunity in offering fading oldies 'two wild weeks and death' to save them from care homes and everyone else from the costs which come from them.
    i suspect that we will need a change in the law such as Esther Rantzen is asking for before it can be made a goer.
    Combine it with Big Brother and we get... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yNjdx192Hg
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947
    algarkirk said:

    kinabalu said:

    algarkirk said:

    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.

    That's a bookie fishing for the muggiest of mug money.

    I wonder what they offer on SKS?
    1/7. Value?
    IMO, yes. You're almost down to 'actuarial risk' with Starmer now.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,477

    I see Andy Cooke is saying that LibDems in Didcot and Wantage are scrupulous about bar charts. I actually received one of them this week - it's the most distorted bar chart that I've ever seen. It's also effectively about a different constituency, as D&W has lost 15,000 mostly Tory and LibDem rural voters from the old Wantage seat. And it's from 2019.

    As in mid-Beds, it's a real problem in partly rural seats that LibDems feel they own the right to oppose the Tories, but the effect is that where there's a major swing to Labour it gets put at risk by LibDem leaflets that falsely purport to show it's not happening. There certainly are seats where the LibDems are the only serious challengers to the Tories - I can think of two in Surrey that I know very well. But they don't do their cause any good by trying the same tactic in seats that are effectively three-way marginals.

    I'm chair of D&W Labour, and it's now a Labour target, so I'll be spending all my time here until the election. Perhaps Andy and I can have a PB bet on the outcome.




    Yes. And let us not forget Mid Beds @NickPalmer where @Barnesian famously said he’d rather the Tories won than Labour just because Labour deciding to fight the seat!

    The rest is of course history.

    Good luck in Oxfordshire!
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,470

    Good morning to one and all!
    All sorts of things concerning us today aren’t there! Do I gather that Leon has either flounced or been banned?
    I am somewhat bothered, though, by the fact that the BBC website has its main feature, the covering over of some graffiti, allegedly, by Banksy.

    I get "Public satisfaction with NHS at lowest ever level, survey shows" as the lead item when I go to the BBC.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68669866

    Makes me wonder, are the BBC tailoring their feed to some big data assessment of your concerns? And if so, why are you so concerned about lost Banksies OKC?
    Time to privatise the NHS, Andy Burnham was right when he was Health Secretary to privatise the NHS.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/
    Or just get rid of the Tories. NHS satisfaction was 70% in 2010.
    And NHS employment was half a million lower.

    Still I look forward to all the people claiming 'everything is broken' changing their line after they think a suitable amount of Labour government has passed.
    So your Tory votes have led to half a million more NHS employees and a 2/3 drop in NHS satisfaction. Yet another indictment of Troy mismanagement.
    With the same effect happening in Scotland and Wales.

    Perhaps it has rather more to do with the NHS than politicians.

    Still I don't doubt you'll be waving the pompoms for Wes Streeting's management, whatever effect it has.
    Well, let's see shall we?

    Your consolation if the Tories are trounced is that you can spend the next 5, 10, 15? years lambasting the government. (Though it's not been much of a consolation for me though this past 14 years of utter incompetence and wilful destruction tbh.)
    I've been pretty happy blaming the governments from 2010 for their idiocies and incompetencies.

    And I don't doubt that the next lot will provide opportunity as well.

    But mindlessly cheering one lot and blaming another merely because of the colour of the rosette they wear doesn't identify problems or improve matters.

    Especially when the issues involved have little to do with whoever the politician nominally in charge is.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,480
    DavidL said:

    mwadams said:

    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    Something something something Jenny Agutter something something?
    I actually meant the book but yes.
    In the book death day was at 21 as I recall, changed to 30 for the film.

    Seems a little over eager, but best be on the safe side.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,696
    DavidL said:

    Taz said:

    Larry Fink of Blackrock is warning of an impending retirement crisis as people are retiring and living longer and unable to fund it.

    "Fink argued that capital markets – in other words, investments in stock and bonds – could help provide the answer ‘so long as governments and companies help people invest’."

    I am sure he knows a company whose products can fill this gap. Although his core point is absolutely right. However Blackrock should focus on returns as opposed to ESG activism.


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/blackrock-boss-warns-of-a-global-retirement-crisis-as-people-live-longer-but-cannot-afford-to-pay-for-it/ar-BB1kAeEg?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=38a01b9936f94364ba0b1fdc446b3924&ei=73

    Did Logan's Run not explain how this problem could be solved a long time ago?
    If we get Jenny Agutter in compensation, I think it's an approach worth considering.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,586
    kinabalu said:

    algarkirk said:

    kinabalu said:

    algarkirk said:

    Can anyone make sense of this?

    John Curtice says there is a 99% chance of Labour forming the next administration

    https://twitter.com/Richard_Hayton/status/1772681460916359201

    While Hills have Rishi as PM after the General Election at 6/1.

    That's a bookie fishing for the muggiest of mug money.

    I wonder what they offer on SKS?
    1/7. Value?
    IMO, yes. You're almost down to 'actuarial risk' with Starmer now.
    I agree.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,477
    ToryJim said:

    I hate to bring up the cash v card debate again.


    I’m concerned that the authors of that notice think that not accepting cash would cause their customers bowel or bladder problems.
    Obviously that hotel is frequented by many PBers.
  • DonkeysDonkeys Posts: 723
    An even worse appointment than Incitatus is Itamar Ben-Gvir as Israeli National Security Minister. "Third Temple" religious extremists may well be about to attempt to sacrifice an "unblemished red heifer" overlooking the Al-Aqsa mosque. Would you trust this man to stop them?

    Appointing a minister who proudly displayed a photo of Baruch Goldstein on his wall for many years, and who has a criminal conviction for supporting the terrorist Kach group, may not have been a great choice.

    Say what you like about Lee Anderson, but as far as I am aware he has not hung a poster of Anders Breivik on his wall or have any convictions for supporting terrorist groups such as National Action; nor is he minister for national security who has issued 100000 gun licences since October.
This discussion has been closed.