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  • We’ve started getting US companies pulling out of events we’re organising in the US because of Covid-19 worries. Facebook, for example, has banned all non-essential travel. We’ll survive, but this is going to hurt a lot of smaller businesses, hotels, restaurants, etc.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935

    eadric said:

    I read a virologist today who says that everyone has to have a OMG moment with a problem like this. That is, when a virus gets menacing enough, the government has to go from Keep Calm and Carry On to scaring the living shits out of us, so that we will be prepared to accept the huge and unpleasant changes, mass quarantine etc

    Maybe this will be HMG's OMG on the rest of us
    Time to get more bottled water.
    and pineapple pizza.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited February 2020
    HYUFD said:

    Not all state polls v Trump in swing states are good for Sanders

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1230543030953926658?s=20

    Although to be fair, he doesn't seem to be faring worse than any other democrats there. If he was uniquely toxic in these kinds of areas of the country, as some have suggested, that wouldn't have seemed to be the case.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,466
    edited February 2020

    Mr. Eagles, sounds like the Rebel scum might be in trouble.

    Well this is the next purchase.

    https://tinyurl.com/r77wpwc
    You have too much money
    I save 80% of my salary.

    I have no debts, I don't have a mortgage or rent to pay, I'm allowed the occasional indulgence.
    Save 80%!!!
    Either you have an absolutely massive salary or someone is subsidising you heavily..... living with family and making no contribution for example.
    I've been very fortunate in life, I was raised by a mother who views debt as the eighth deadliest sin, I was the last cohort to have my university fees paid for.

    My parents/grandparents helped me buy a house in central London in 2000 which I sold for a lot more in 2007 then moved back oop North.

    I moved back in with my parents in 2013 and they don't subsidise me and my kids, although they'd like to, they can afford to, but I refuse to let them.
    OK; I believe you, but as you say you have been very fortunate. I assume, of course, that you contribute to your parents general and household expenses. From other posts of yours I cannot imagine that you would not!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    eadric said:

    I read a virologist today who says that everyone has to have a OMG moment with a problem like this. That is, when a virus gets menacing enough, the government has to go from Keep Calm and Carry On to scaring the living shits out of us, so that we will be prepared to accept the huge and unpleasant changes, mass quarantine etc

    Maybe this will be HMG's OMG on the rest of us
    Time to get more bottled water.
    Sean is renowned for spending his evenings knocking back bottled water.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    RobD said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    People will see what they want to see. ;)
    We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,482
    Fpt:

    Sacking everyone at MI5 might take a bit more planning than firing the Home Office Permanent Secretary.
    We’re governed by petulant children, from the PM downwards.
    I'm not sure I agree. When the spooks are picking and choosing the politicians they like, who should we actually be worrying about?
  • DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
  • On the topic of Covid 19, at what point do KSA consider cancelling the Hajj (July this year ) ?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    Wall Street is down 950 and getting shy about closing 1000 points down. Often in the last hour or two the Dow reverses its daily trend, but there is still time to re-establish a downtrend before we reach that point.

    Meanwhile, breaking, Weinstein is found mostly guilty in New York.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
  • Mr. Eagles, sounds like the Rebel scum might be in trouble.

    Well this is the next purchase.

    https://tinyurl.com/r77wpwc
    You have too much money
    I save 80% of my salary.

    I have no debts, I don't have a mortgage or rent to pay, I'm allowed the occasional indulgence.
    Save 80%!!!
    Either you have an absolutely massive salary or someone is subsidising you heavily..... living with family and making no contribution for example.
    I've been very fortunate in life, I was raised by a mother who views debt as the eighth deadliest sin, I was the last cohort to have my university fees paid for.

    My parents/grandparents helped me buy a house in central London in 2000 which I sold for a lot more in 2007 then moved back oop North.

    I moved back in with my parents in 2013 and they don't subsidise me and my kids, although they'd like to, they can afford to, but I refuse to let them.
    OK; I believe you, but as you say you have been very fortunate. I assume, of course, that you contribute to your parents general and household expenses. From other posts of yours I cannot imagine that you would not!
    When I first moved back in I paid £800 a month to my parents for food/bills etc, but then I found out they were putting that money into a savings account for their grandkids, in their heads they saw the £800 as taking money out of the mouths of their son and grandkids.

    So I've got it all set up now that the majority of the bills/expenses come out of my accounts, plus I subsidise them, provide them with new mobiles every year, plus I overemphasise the deals I get on so many things.

    I'm glad to say my parents are properly enjoying my father's retirement.
  • On the topic of Covid 19, at what point do KSA consider cancelling the Hajj (July this year ) ?

    Can they cancel both Eids as well, asking on behalf of a friend who is a really bad Muslim, who pretends to be a good Muslim twice a day.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    I admit I have never heard of a Pangolin. But it appears that both Africans and Asians treat them very badly:

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8419112/pangolins-cruelty-illegal-trade/

    And the latest theory on the killer virus is that it jumped from bat to Pangolin and from Pangolin to man.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited February 2020

    On the topic of Covid 19, at what point do KSA consider cancelling the Hajj (July this year ) ?

    Don't think it's been "cancelled" since the Qarmations nicked the stone in the Qa'aba in the year 929.

    So, no, I don't think so. Masks may be made mandatory!
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited February 2020
    HYUFD said:
    Sadly I can't see that until or unless Brexit implodes, and he returns to the Tory party. It's a great shame as he's a very talented and open-minded politician, like Nandy, and for that reason potentially a great prime minister, like her potentially after Starmer.
  • RobD said:

    eadric said:

    I read a virologist today who says that everyone has to have a OMG moment with a problem like this. That is, when a virus gets menacing enough, the government has to go from Keep Calm and Carry On to scaring the living shits out of us, so that we will be prepared to accept the huge and unpleasant changes, mass quarantine etc

    Maybe this will be HMG's OMG on the rest of us
    Time to get more bottled water.
    and pineapple pizza.
    I'll start a social media rumour that says pineapples on pizza enhances the chances of catching the Coronavirus.
  • Mr. B2, it's a fantastic little creature that gets screwed over because of 'medicine'.

    Anyway, I must be off.
  • DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
  • IanB2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    What are the odds that by the end of his term our Bozo will have flirted with both a wealth tax and a universal basic income?

    We already effectively have a quasi universal basic income anyway. Done right I 100% back a universal basic income - the question is what do you mean by it?
    I was reading Utopia for Realists and it struck me that it was right down little Dom’s street.
    Not sure about Dom but personally I've long advocated for a form of universal basic income, or as I've heard it called previously a negative income tax, as advocated by Milton Friedman who was hardly a far left socialist.

    We already are close to having one already, Universal Credit is a step in the right direction. But I would like to see a brave government go further and make it a true universal system: Universal Credit merged 6 benefits into one which was a good first step but we need to go much further in my eyes: Merge Universal Credit, Income Tax and National Insurance into one system.

    Second thing I would do is to have a flat[ish] rate on the unified negative income tax. If you merge benefits and taxes into one, which they quintessentially are, then currently the most taxed in our society are the poorest who can face effective income tax rates of about 80%.

    I wonder how a system like that could draw support from across the spectrum?
  • Anorak said:

    On the topic of Covid 19, at what point do KSA consider cancelling the Hajj (July this year ) ?

    Don't think it's been "cancelled" since the Qarmations nicked the stone in the Qa'aba in the year 929.

    So, no, I don't think so. Masks may be made mandatory!
    Just ban all Iranians from the Hajj/Umrahs.

    Iranians are mostly Shi'ite (sic) anyway.
  • Wolves' 2020 so far
    1st 6 games - without Willy Boly - 8 goals conceded
    Last 4 games - with Willy Boly - 0 goals conceded
  • Wolves' 2020 so far
    1st 6 games - without Willy Boly - 8 goals conceded
    Last 4 games - with Willy Boly - 0 goals conceded
    In our last 11 Premier League games we've conceded just one goal, to the mighty Wolves.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    Well, the Dow is down more than 1000 and I am taking some profits in anticipation of a pre-close bounce. Then selling again as I remain convinced this is going to be a significant week of market declines.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,676
    HYUFD said:
    Billionaire Republican reject is shitting himself!!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    eadric said:

    IanB2 said:

    I admit I have never heard of a Pangolin. But it appears that both Africans and Asians treat them very badly:

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8419112/pangolins-cruelty-illegal-trade/

    And the latest theory on the killer virus is that it jumped from bat to Pangolin and from Pangolin to man.

    Actually, the latest theory is that it went straight from bat to man. Because there is a lab in Wuhan which tests coronaviruses in bats, and it is 200m from where the first noticeable cluster appeared (Wuhan seafood market - which does not sell bats).

    It is just stretching credulity too far to think a lab testing viruses in bats, has nothing to do with a new virus which comes from bats, appearing next door to the lab.

    It wasn't a bioweapon tho, or any of that mad bollocks. The thinking is thIs: workers in these labs are known for selling their experimental animals in food markets, to get extra cash. Then someone went and sold a dodgy bat.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-buy-chinas-story-the-coronavirus-may-have-leaked-from-a-lab-2020-02-22
    BBC radio news just now said it went via the Pangolin.
  • The fit for reported coronavirus cases outside of (mainland) China over the past 9 days is very close to cubic. (Correlation R^2 = 0.99).
    Figures from Worldometers.
    Call 15 February day 1 and define day number as x.
    Number of cases y = 17.547x^2 – 18.382x + 743.38, with correlation R^2 = 0.9862.
    If this fit were to continue, we would get
    1 March 4941
    1 April 38641
    1 May 103364
    1 Jun 203426
    And the millionth case outside of China would be reported on 11 October.
    So c'mon, it's not as bad as all that!

    Surely you should be trying to fit to a Gaussian? I know it is early days, but cubics rise forever, Gaussians come down again... ;)
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.
  • I’m not selling anything

    This is a classic panic market sell-off, and my investments are for a 10-20 year horizon to pay for my children’s education.

    So, I will hold and buy some more if others bed wet.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    HYUFD said:
    That is an asinine statement by Mike Bloomberg. Is he pitching for the Miami Cuban vote?
    No he’s reminding his party that someone as left wing as Bernie is going to be toast against Trump. He’s right but it’s not likely to help himself much.
  • DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.
    Arguing against myself ;) I would blame the weather :D:D

    Of course, runs of bad weather do have a downward effect just like hot summers have a positive effect.
  • Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    I’m not selling anything

    This is a classic panic market sell-off, and my investments are for a 10-20 year horizon to pay for my children’s education.

    So, I will hold and buy some more if others bed wet.

    If Bloomberg gets the nomination as well, I fear you are in for a bad year.
  • It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20
  • IanB2 said:

    I’m not selling anything

    This is a classic panic market sell-off, and my investments are for a 10-20 year horizon to pay for my children’s education.

    So, I will hold and buy some more if others bed wet.

    If Bloomberg gets the nomination as well, I fear you are in for a bad year.
    So what? If I’m buying £400-500 a month it means I’m just getting equity cheaper.

    I’m not cashing in for years, so I don’t care.
  • ChameleonChameleon Posts: 4,264

    Wolves' 2020 so far
    1st 6 games - without Willy Boly - 8 goals conceded
    Last 4 games - with Willy Boly - 0 goals conceded
    There's an even better stat in rugby.

    London Irish with Hepetema and Rona as starting centres: 4 PPG (24 points over 6 games)

    London Irish with any other centre combination: 0.6 PPG (3 points over 5 games)

    What makes it even more interesting is that those 5 games are spread out in 3 different groups of games, and one of the two mentioned above started in the centres in all 5 games.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,712

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
  • eekeek Posts: 28,405

    eek said:

    eek said:

    Mr. Eagles, sounds like the Rebel scum might be in trouble.

    Well this is the next purchase.

    https://tinyurl.com/r77wpwc
    Why didn't you purchase this last year when Smyths had it for around £500 or so..
    I have a policy of only buying a lego set once I've my kids have finished a set.
    Looks at the various sets I've got in unopened boxes - why would you do that...

    I learnt that you need to purchase them when the Maersk cargo container vessel set was discontinued when I wasn't paying attention (granted its a niche set but my Dad's a Naval Architect)..
    I don't have the time to fully satisfy my Lego love.

    I'd end up stop buying Lego if I knew there were several hundred pounds worth of unopened Lego sets.
    Should I point out that they are often a better investment than stocks and shares - that set retailed at £109.99 and now sells for over £230
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    The fit for reported coronavirus cases outside of (mainland) China over the past 9 days is very close to cubic. (Correlation R^2 = 0.99).
    Figures from Worldometers.
    Call 15 February day 1 and define day number as x.
    Number of cases y = 17.547x^2 – 18.382x + 743.38, with correlation R^2 = 0.9862.
    If this fit were to continue, we would get
    1 March 4941
    1 April 38641
    1 May 103364
    1 Jun 203426
    And the millionth case outside of China would be reported on 11 October.
    So c'mon, it's not as bad as all that!

    Surely you should be trying to fit to a Gaussian? I know it is early days, but cubics rise forever, Gaussians come down again... ;)
    I've no idea what the usual curve is for an epidemic, but whatever happens the daily increase should come down again eventually :-) Here are the numbers if you want to try:

    1 697
    2 781
    3 896
    4 999
    5 1124
    6 1212
    7 1385
    8 1715
    9 2055
    Either because we mostly recover or because we mostly die. Sadly the formula doesn’t tell us which.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208
    ..
    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.
    Not this popular Italian that has added innovative pizza toppings* that go beyond pineapple?

    https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/restaurants-bars/mouse-poo-semolina-popular-edinburgh-17764824

  • YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    IanB2 said:

    I admit I have never heard of a Pangolin. But it appears that both Africans and Asians treat them very badly:

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8419112/pangolins-cruelty-illegal-trade/

    And the latest theory on the killer virus is that it jumped from bat to Pangolin and from Pangolin to man.

    Re: the Chinese wildlife markets.

    How do you eat a Pangolin?

    Like an artichoke, do you pluck off the scales and dip them in Hollandaise sauce?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.
    Arguing against myself ;) I would blame the weather :D:D

    Of course, runs of bad weather do have a downward effect just like hot summers have a positive effect.
    The weather is really bad. It’s been snowing/raining all day/month/year. Fed up with it. But the Royal Mile is never this quiet.
  • It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
    No, I’m pointing out that the opinion poll isn’t testing a neutral question on a prospective ballot paper so can’t be taken as indicative of the result.
  • Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
    The Britain that called 999 when KFC were running short of stock?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    FF43 said:

    ..

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.
    Not this popular Italian that has added innovative pizza toppings* that go beyond pineapple?

    https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/restaurants-bars/mouse-poo-semolina-popular-edinburgh-17764824

    Err no. Thank goodness.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
    LOL exactly.

    Like when Leavers tell us what a dreadful PM David Cameron was.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    edited February 2020

    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    n.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
    The Britain that called 999 when KFC were running short of stock?
    Those were a handful of morons. Not representative. You get some weird calls to 999 every day.

    It’s pluses and negatives. We might be emotionally stunted, intensely reserved, and prefer animals to humans , but the flip side of that is that we’re pretty stoic when the chips are down.

    Unless you’re a bestselling author of fiction of course.
  • eadric said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Depends which question was asked first
    “Would you support NI remaining part of the UK as a way to maintain full immigration control and so it can access it’s new trade deals?”

    Just as silly.
  • Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
    The Britain that called 999 when KFC were running short of stock?
    No, the Britain that laughed at a moron who did that.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    n.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
    The Britain that called 999 when KFC were running short of stock?
    Those were a handful of morons. Not representative. You get some weird calls to 999 every day.
    prefer animals to humans
    Isn’t that what started all this?
  • TOPPING said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
    LOL exactly.

    Like when Leavers tell us what a dreadful PM David Cameron was.
    No, not exactly.

    See my post at 6.27pm.
  • DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.

    Arguing against myself ;) I would blame the weather :D:D

    Of course, runs of bad weather do have a downward effect just like hot summers have a positive effect.
    The weather is really bad. It’s been snowing/raining all day/month/year. Fed up with it. But the Royal Mile is never this quiet.
    It is very seasonally affected though isn't it? Around this time last year we went to the Royal Mile, then again in August.

    You could barely move in August and the restaurants were all pretty full but this time last year (with better weather) it was quite quiet and we went to a restaurant where there was only one other couple in the restaurant at that time.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208
    edited February 2020

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Agree on the question being leading, but it doesn't appear to make a big % difference compared with the more neutral version.


  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935
    FF43 said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Agree on the question being leading, but it doesn't appear to make a big % difference compared with the more neutral version.

    That's an excessively large image.
  • RobD said:

    FF43 said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Agree on the question being leading, but it doesn't appear to make a big % difference compared with the more neutral version.

    That's an excessively large image.
    I can’t see the image?
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935

    RobD said:

    FF43 said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Agree on the question being leading, but it doesn't appear to make a big % difference compared with the more neutral version.

    That's an excessively large image.
    I can’t see the image?
    I cut it out because it was excessively large. :p
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    edited February 2020

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Arguing against myself I have popped out to a popular Italian on the Royal Mile. My attendance has doubled the number of customers. It’s an absolutely foul night, it’s February and it’s quite early but this is a bit weird.

    Arguing against myself ;) I would blame the weather :D:D

    Of course, runs of bad weather do have a downward effect just like hot summers have a positive effect.
    The weather is really bad. It’s been snowing/raining all day/month/year. Fed up with it. But the Royal Mile is never this quiet.
    It is very seasonally affected though isn't it? Around this time last year we went to the Royal Mile, then again in August.

    You could barely move in August and the restaurants were all pretty full but this time last year (with better weather) it was quite quiet and we went to a restaurant where there was only one other couple in the restaurant at that time.
    It’s actually changed over the years. Edinburgh used to be unbearable during the Festival but ok otherwise. Now it’s more of an all year around tourist location. Good for the restaurant business, slightly more tiresome to work in. Even tonight I passed a lot of very wet Spanish tourists listening to how we used to treat remainers, sorry people not with the program, in the Middle Ages. They seemed to be thinking all that and the bloody rain? Jeez.

    So in my experience this is unusual. Are people travelling less? Less confident about public spaces, restaurants, hotels, airports? Don’t know.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    malcolmg said:

    eadric said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Right, have exited from my equity holdings with a mere 2% loss compared with last week.

    Not wishing to appear selfish but the markets can feel free to free fall now, just saying.

    You will regret when it costs 10% extra to buy them back, 2% is a piddling amount

    I will, if it does. But I can't see it somehow.
    Hard to say , I am down 20K but not panicking just yet, had far bigger drops on some flimsy stuff and it always bounces back.
    Wow. That implies you have... er..... £650,000, just in shares?!

    Malc, I always had you down as a flinty Scottish yeoman, living in a croft. Suddenly it turns out you are a squillionaire.
    You underestimate me even there
    Big money to be made, selling turnips to North Londoners....
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    edited February 2020
    Pangolins: bake them in clay like a hedgehog, perhaps?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    Anyway back to work. Thanks for the chat.
  • Worth noting the Betfair market for “Next President” is explicitly (under its rules) for who will next be president after the 2020 general.

    Therefore, I’m not sure what happens if the actuarial materialises and Pence takes over as President before November. It’s possible it will be voided or just ignored, with the market continuing.

    Either way, I’m keeping Pence covered.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992

    TOPPING said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
    LOL exactly.

    Like when Leavers tell us what a dreadful PM David Cameron was.
    No, not exactly.

    See my post at 6.27pm.
    It's still asking a representative sample.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Morning all.

    Just thought I'd say hello, and then toddle off and do some actual work, rather than hanging around with you reprobates.

  • TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Are you implicitly suggesting that a pathway back to membership of the EU is a positive?
    LOL exactly.

    Like when Leavers tell us what a dreadful PM David Cameron was.
    No, not exactly.

    See my post at 6.27pm.
    It's still asking a representative sample.
    Yes, but it’s a leading question. That’s my point.

    It’s obviously designed to test a campaign message though.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935
    rcs1000 said:

    Morning all.

    Just thought I'd say hello, and then toddle off and do some actual work, rather than hanging around with you reprobates.

    You can't multitask? Sad.

    :D
  • rcs1000 said:

    Morning all.

    Just thought I'd say hello, and then toddle off and do some actual work, rather than hanging around with you reprobates.

    Reprobate? Moi? :)
  • rcs1000 said:

    Morning all.

    Just thought I'd say hello, and then toddle off and do some actual work, rather than hanging around with you reprobates.

    #fuckoffbloomberg
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    malcolmg said:

    eadric said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Right, have exited from my equity holdings with a mere 2% loss compared with last week.

    Not wishing to appear selfish but the markets can feel free to free fall now, just saying.

    You will regret when it costs 10% extra to buy them back, 2% is a piddling amount

    I will, if it does. But I can't see it somehow.
    Hard to say , I am down 20K but not panicking just yet, had far bigger drops on some flimsy stuff and it always bounces back.
    Wow. That implies you have... er..... £650,000, just in shares?!

    Malc, I always had you down as a flinty Scottish yeoman, living in a croft. Suddenly it turns out you are a squillionaire.
    You underestimate me even there
    Big money to be made, selling turnips to North Londoners....
    In a few months, that might actually be true....
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    So two points given I had to get the tube today, a hugely unwelcome occurrence.

    1. Why the fuck are some tube workers on strike; and

    2. People on the whole seem to be holding up well. There was a spontaneous outbreak of singing (We'll Keep The Home Fires Burning) but other than that everyone was behaving for all the world as if they weren't aware of their imminent annihilation.

    They even closed me down when I tried to explain Normalcy Bias to them when we were stuck at a red signal at High Street Ken.
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976
    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:



    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.

    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    Not many firms are holding lots of life insurance liabilities on people old enough to matter, and most of those who are will have it offset against an equally large pension liability. One of the more (only?) cheerful potential effects of a pandemic would be to knock some of our final salary pension schemes back into surplus (or at least reduce some of the larger deficits).

    Anyway, the current reaction in the insurance industry has been to shrug and say "is that it? This is well inside our disaster scenario planning." So far, anyway.
  • Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    I find pretty well this whole thread worrying:

    twitter.com/datatrekmb/status/1231965622550061062?s=21

    Feedback from several ex-customers indicates to me that the recession has started. In previous recessions, certain companies I dealt with saw a sharp downturn 3 to 6 months before the recession. They are showing the same pattern as before.
    My guess is that Q1 will be about +0.4%. The budget will add the thick end of £100bn to infrastructure spending over the next few years and that should be worth about 1% a year on its own according to David Smith. I am not saying we cannot have a recession, its overdue, but I think you are being very pessimistic to suggest we are already in one.
    Well, I am just reporting conversations I have had over the last week or two. Combine that with your comment about overdue recessions, the fact that China is badly affected and supplies a lot of goods to other economies and then add in the fear factor of a pandemic (whether one happens or not) and I will be amazed if we get through 2020 without a recession.
    I don't dispute for a moment that we are going to suffer dislocations from China which are likely to affect a range of other businesses that rely upon them for parts etc. I heard on R5 that something like 90% of all wedding dresses in the UK are imported from China and there are real concerns already that they may not be available within a few weeks. The car industry is already suffering and even TSE might have to keep his phone for another few weeks.

    But our economy is dominated by services and with a government committed to more spending a recession this year remains possible but an outside risk.
    The economy is about CONFIDENCE. If people worry, they stop spending and cashflow problems hit businesses. Cashflow issues kill businesses no matter how profitable they are. Cashflow is king.
    When it breaks out in Britain shops, restraints, airports, theatres, sports stadiums will empty, and rightly so. Services are not immune, though health care services will boom. I wouldn't want to be holding a lot of life insurance liability either.
    I think there will be an aspect of KBO as well.

    This is Britain.
    The Britain that called 999 when KFC were running short of stock?
    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    HYUFD said:

    Not all state polls v Trump in swing states are good for Sanders

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1230543030953926658?s=20

    A later poll (Uni of Wisconsin) has Sanders +2%. RCP has them all square on average. In my model that gives Wisconsin 100% to Trump.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,163
    edited February 2020
    rcs1000 said:

    Morning all.

    Just thought I'd say hello, and then toddle off and do some actual work, rather than hanging around with you reprobates

    Good morning Robert
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited February 2020
    Someone did say Coronavirus could be linked to Brexit didn’t they? We know how referendum losers like to use a balm of tenuous linkage to salve their wounds... #deathcult

    https://twitter.com/spainkiller/status/1231869865205620742?s=21
  • FF43 said:

    It should be noted that the border poll question wording could scarcely have been more leading:

    https://twitter.com/MichaelFanning7/status/1231942430456532992?s=20

    Well, since Boris wants to treat us as 3rd class citizens we might as well go.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,229
    On topic -

    Yes "we" are making a mistake in writing off Sanders chances against the Maximum Moron.

    But I'm not. I think he’ll win easily.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,229
    edited February 2020
    Can't be the first with this -
    https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1231904958167080960?s=20
    #unelectable
  • isam said:

    Someone did say Coronavirus could be linked to Brexit didn’t they? We know how referendum losers like to use a balm of tenuous linkage to salve their wounds... #deathcult

    I will joint point out that according to Mr Meeks of this parish, "Leave" is the death cult, not remain...

    :D:D

    https://twitter.com/spainkiller/status/1231869865205620742?s=21

  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,153
    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    It's been mainstream to be vegetarian for a long time, vegan a bit less so, but I'd say even people who eat meat attempting to eat less of it in general to the point of wider meat substitutes being available is becoming more mainstream.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935
    kinabalu said:

    Can't be the first with this -
    https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1231904958167080960?s=20
    #unelectable

    Heaven forbid that someone makes an effort!
  • Strangely (and her price has always been strange) Clinton has now, finally, started to drift.

    Now at 60s.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,482
    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Sadly, some people have no appreciation of being at the top of the food chain.
  • Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Yes, it's a problem. Thankfully, most young people are still perfectly sensible.

    My daughter was gobbling up the black pudding and roast chicken I cooked at the weekend.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424

    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Sadly, some people have no appreciation of being at the top of the food chain.
    The have no steak in it.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677

    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Sadly, some people have no appreciation of being at the top of the food chain.
    There would have been no Eadricvirus if the Chinese were vegan.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720

    Pangolins: bake them in clay like a hedgehog, perhaps?

    I was in Guangzhou in 1990. It was a transition time, still lots of Mao suits and bicycles.

    It was quite difficult for a low budget tourist, outside the hotels as many restaurants refused us. We did ok with Dim Sum as we could point to order, but tougher later in the day.

    In the restraunt district there were often cages of exotic animals, and I remember pangolins as well as many reptiles. It would have been quite interesting if it wasn't for the cruelty. Often diners would taunt their caged meal with sticks. Apparently the fear hormones make the meat more tender.

    The strange devotion of Chinese to their songbirds was a complete contrast. Older men would congregate with their birds in small bamboo cages, and they would hang them up in the cages to sing to each other. Quite beautiful in a way, but also the reason that you see few wild songbirds in SE Asia.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    isam said:

    Someone did say Coronavirus could be linked to Brexit didn’t they? We know how referendum losers like to use a balm of tenuous linkage to salve their wounds... #deathcult

    I will joint point out that according to Mr Meeks of this parish, "Leave" is the death cult, not remain...

    :D:D

    https://twitter.com/spainkiller/status/1231869865205620742?s=21

    Yes, thats my point! A Death Cult is spreading the lurgi/Leave is a death cult #justsaying
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,229
    RobD said:

    Heaven forbid that someone makes an effort!

    ☺ Dread to think how it would have come out without the hours of tuition and practice.
  • Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Sadly, some people have no appreciation of being at the top of the food chain.
    There would have been no Eadricvirus if the Chinese were vegan.
    I think the Chinese had enough of experimenting with veganism under Mao.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424

    Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:



    KFC's Vegan Burger isn't bad. It's a tad cheaper than the Burger King Rebel Whopper. But the Rebel Whopper is far tastier :)

    Not eating partially burnt bits of chopped up animal is definitely going mainstream. I'd guess at least 30% of my students (16 - 21 y.o. usually) are vegetarian/vegan.
    Sadly, some people have no appreciation of being at the top of the food chain.
    There would have been no Eadricvirus if the Chinese were vegan.
    I think the Chinese had enough of experimenting with veganism under Mao.
    Cannibalism is not veganism.
This discussion has been closed.