COVID is mostly harmless for fit and healthy under 50s, so prioritising the vulnerable is the way forward, then letting us get on with our lives. If the vulnerable are immunised why does is matter if a bunch of 15-35 year olds get it asymptomatically?
Because we don't know enough about long Covid.
Plus, there's this belief if you don't die from Covid-19 then it has no health impacts on the person infected.
I know of several young and youngish healthy friends and other people who caught Covid-19 and still struggling from its aftermath.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
COVID is mostly harmless for fit and healthy under 50s, so prioritising the vulnerable is the way forward, then letting us get on with our lives. If the vulnerable are immunised why does is matter if a bunch of 15-35 year olds get it asymptomatically?
Because we don't know enough about long Covid.
Plus, there's this belief if you don't die from Covid-19 then it has no health impacts on the person infected.
I know of several young and youngish healthy friends and other people who caught Covid-19 and still struggling from its aftermath.
i am sorry but that is not enough to keep masses of the population imprisoned under House Arrest .
We do genuinely think the number of anti-vax nutters will be that high?
Yes, sadly, Brexit has polarised far too many people, I think sustained no deal Brexit will also increase the number of antivaxxers.
They'll see that chaos and think do I really trust Boris Johnson to not screw up this vaccine rollout. All those contracts to friends and chums really is impacting the messaging on this.
At some point Keir Starmer has to formulate a Labour policy on post-Brexit relations with the EU. He should look at these polls very carefully. EEA membership seems the obvious way to capitalise on Brexit regret.
While I agree - and it is what all centrists should have agreed on after 2016 - if he goes there on his own he gives an open goal to Conservatives to campaign, however dismal their their record 2019-2024, against Labour on the platform of Freedom of Movement.
I think he needs to wait and see if the Brexit deal turns out badly enough to allow him to get away with it. If in doubt he would do better to campaign in the next election on a generalised 'negotiate a better deal' ticket, without specifying. The migration issue remains toxic.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
Yes, it's rubbish.
Even if it was true many more than that will die in Germany in that time anyway of something else - they always do - Death just happens on quite a large scale in a 80 million population
I think the current government list of key workers will determine who gets the vaccine first.
Emergency workers. Critical systems workers. NHS Staff. Care home staff. Supermarket staff. Anyone who works for a bank.
The latter one was a brilliant decision by the government.
Teachers notably absent from that list.
You've been usurped by bank workers, fairly I'd say. Sorry.
I don’t need sex. My bank fucks me every day.
But it would be bizarre to have bankers, who can work over the phone, placed ahead of teachers, who are being forced more or less at gunpoint to work in ideal transmission situations without any meaningful protection, in the queue for the vaccine.
The logic is that the country can cope, short term, with the schools being closed, it cannot cope if the financial services sector has to close for anything more than a few days.
Whilst I never have felt that either schools nor financial services need to close during this year ,i fail to see how asking bankers to WFH (as many are doing?_) will paralyse the country more so than schools being shut. Another example of than 2008 arrogance by bankers?
It's not arrogance, it's things like freezing payments on loans/hire purchase agreements/credit cards for people impacted.
Stopping all collections activity on default accounts etc and ensuring people do not struggle.
Putting up temporary overdraft limits, freezing interest/charges.
Correcting credit files.
Because of data protection etc, you cannot access customer information from home that easily.
Would you really want some bank staff on a unsecured home wifi network accessing your personal details?
Well I used to work for the Ministry of Justice and a simple solution was to encrypt sensitive information when using home working - I fail to see how banks could not do the same? I am not the most technical person but there is definitely solutions to using home wi fi
Plenty of that is done, but plenty of things cannot be encrypted properly.
There will also be environmental factors to consider, even with a VPN and a terminal server window. Probably not allowed except on a company owned device, risk assessment required of the WFH environment and living arrangements of the worker, who else might have access to the room to set up a camera pointing at the screen, that sort of thing.
A pain in the arse for the compliance managers, that’s for sure.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
But it's something wrong with their modelling, in particular, of Germany. They must be pumping in some insanely poor German data to get these projections.
Their projections for most other countries now look pretty accurate
It seemed fairly obvious to me 20 years ago as a student - if not the extent. Why has this been ignored by the mainstream media all this time? The critics of grade inflation - usually on the political right - have tended to see it as about creating equality and making people feel good. The reality is that it has always been about money.
Just like money inflation it just cheapens the product to the extent it becomes worthless . We may have gone over a tipping point in that not long ago British University education was a world respected product .Cheapen it like it has being done and the world will notice and hold another country in esteem.
Because it was un-sayable. I can remember people being savagely attacked for doubting the quality of some degrees back in the Blair years.
Home includes all the outhouses of Number 10, Larry's shed and Dominic's ex office and so on:
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living.... (b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
IMO Japan has the most impressive vaccine portfolio so far, 120m Pfizer doses and 80m Moderna doses all due for Q1 2021 delivery. That's 100m people's worth of vaccine of the two fastest candidates and they both have around 95% effectiveness.
Absolutely smashed it.
Picking winners from vaccines is like trying to predict the premier league scores every week. You can use logic and data, but every round there is a huge amount of luck.
If the Oxford one comes good in 2-3 weeks, UK will have 100+ million doses secured across 3 vaccines all for delivery before realistically we can physically give it to everybody. If that turns out to be the case, the UK will have also smashed it. Worst case scenario, we can already have enough for 1/2 population, which is good going.
The big task now is getting it rolled out to people.
Not to everyone, surely. Those who regarded the virus as a hoax, or nothing worse than a cold or mild flu, will surely not want to bother taking it.
Well obviously the likes of Piers Corbyn won't be queuing up to get it.
Without wanting to give too much away, I'm hearing that many many retailers and entertainment/eating venues in the UK will only let in people who can prove they've had the vaccine.
I know Ticketmaster US have denied such a policy, but I reckon it is inevitable here and elsewhere.
Go to Cineworld cinemas because we only let in vaccinated people*, eat at Pizza Hut because we only let in vaccinated people* etc etc.
*I suspect they'll also let in people who cannot have a vaccine for medical reasons.
I'd be OK with this assuming supply was plentiful. Having to stay inside and not be able to socialise because you weren't yet selected for a vaccine sounds awful.
If it goes to plan, I suspect we'd have the vulnerable and key workers vaccinated by the summer of 2021 and everyone else by some time in 2022.
So we should prepare for 2021 being as crap as 2020?
If that's the case, I feel like people's expectations are not being managed...
I suspect once the vulnerable and key workers are vaccinated, then we might see a return to some normality for everybody by the summer of 2021, so long as we engage in things like social distancing, regular hand washing, and mask wearing.
Oh and localised lockdowns if we have some Covid-19 flare ups.
We can be more optimistic than that. As soon as they start vaccinating key workers rates of transmission will drop and things will normalise quite quickly. You only need a few million potential spreaders taken out of the loop and the virus will weaken, bigtime,
I can see late spring 2021 feeling quite "normal".
Tho you are right that the jabs will become pretty much mandatory, even if they aren't legally required
Let people chose if they want to have the vaccine...
... and let airlines, hotels, restuarants, pubs, entertainment venues, supermarkets,... chose if they want to accept unvaccinated (or medically exempt) customers.
Well, quite. Anyone who wants to work in any service industry, where they interact with people, will be required to get a jab, You want to be a waiter, to work in Pret, to serve in a shop, to be a musician, to do some bar work, to drive a cab, to work in a school, to play your favourite sport, you will need your Vaccine Visa. And you will also need it if you want to travel outside the country. If you EVER want to have a holiday.
Nearly everyone will take the jab, however reluctantly
I think take up will increase over time, once people see that it works, that there are no side effects and they get jealous of the freedoms others have who do.
There will also be environmental factors to consider, even with a VPN and a terminal server window. Probably not allowed except on a company owned device, risk assessment required of the WFH environment and living arrangements of the worker, who else might have access to the room to set up a camera pointing at the screen, that sort of thing.
A pain in the arse for the compliance managers, that’s for sure.
Well one head of regulatory affairs chap has insisted persistent failure record calls is a sackable offence.
It has finally sunk in with enough people that unrecorded deals will simply be voided, and they'll have to go through the whole process, replete with recorded calls.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
On 7th April covid19.healthdata.org were forecasting a first-wave total of 81k deaths for USA, 19k for Spain, 20k for Italy, 15k for France, 9k for Germany and 66k for the UK.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Gareth Southgate is under mounting pressure from Piers Morgan to disclose details of his positive coronavirus test following an encounter between them days earlier.
Morgan told the Telegraph he had received no contact from Southgate since revealing the pair had spoken at a ‘GQ Heroes’ event on October 22 after learning in the Sun on Sunday that the England manager had tested positive “around October 25” and had stayed at home for 10 days.
Government guidelines for those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms state: “You may want to tell people you’ve been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
“Examples of close contact include: close, face-to-face contact (under 1 metre) for any length of time – including talking to them or coughing on them; being within one to two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes – including travelling in a small vehicle.”
Morgan said he was one of around eight people who came into contact with Southgate at last month’s event, at which he congratulated the England manager on the “very tough line” taken on those in the Three Lions squad who had breached social-distancing rules.
He added: “Having been with the England manager in such close proximity to his positive test, I would like to know when he first became symptomatic, why he had the test – was it routine or because he had symptoms – and were the symptoms developing within 48 hours of seeing us? Because, if they were, then he had a public duty to tell us.
“We all went back into workplaces where we could’ve exposed our colleagues to Covid-19.
“If the situation had been reversed, I would’ve definitely let him know. The very least, it seems to me, that he could now do is lay out the exact timeline so that we can all understand exactly what happened.”
Gareth Southgate is under mounting pressure from Piers Morgan to disclose details of his positive coronavirus test following an encounter between them days earlier.
Morgan told the Telegraph he had received no contact from Southgate since revealing the pair had spoken at a ‘GQ Heroes’ event on October 22 after learning in the Sun on Sunday that the England manager had tested positive “around October 25” and had stayed at home for 10 days.
Government guidelines for those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms state: “You may want to tell people you’ve been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
“Examples of close contact include: close, face-to-face contact (under 1 metre) for any length of time – including talking to them or coughing on them; being within one to two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes – including travelling in a small vehicle.”
Morgan said he was one of around eight people who came into contact with Southgate at last month’s event, at which he congratulated the England manager on the “very tough line” taken on those in the Three Lions squad who had breached social-distancing rules.
He added: “Having been with the England manager in such close proximity to his positive test, I would like to know when he first became symptomatic, why he had the test – was it routine or because he had symptoms – and were the symptoms developing within 48 hours of seeing us? Because, if they were, then he had a public duty to tell us.
“We all went back into workplaces where we could’ve exposed our colleagues to Covid-19.
“If the situation had been reversed, I would’ve definitely let him know. The very least, it seems to me, that he could now do is lay out the exact timeline so that we can all understand exactly what happened.”
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
On 7th April covid19.healthdata.org were forecasting a first-wave total of 81k deaths for USA, 19k for Spain, 20k for Italy, 15k for France, 9k for Germany and 66k for the UK.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Well for Blighty (if you take the ONS numbers) and us (11k) that's pretty much on the spot, leaving aside the 1st/2nd wave distinction.
We do genuinely think the number of anti-vax nutters will be that high?
Yes, sadly, Brexit has polarised far too many people, I think sustained no deal Brexit will also increase the number of antivaxxers.
They'll see that chaos and think do I really trust Boris Johnson to not screw up this vaccine rollout. All those contracts to friends and chums really is impacting the messaging on this.
At some point Keir Starmer has to formulate a Labour policy on post-Brexit relations with the EU. He should look at these polls very carefully. EEA membership seems the obvious way to capitalise on Brexit regret.
While I agree - and it is what all centrists should have agreed on after 2016 - if he goes there on his own he gives an open goal to Conservatives to campaign, however dismal their their record 2019-2024, against Labour on the platform of Freedom of Movement.
I think he needs to wait and see if the Brexit deal turns out badly enough to allow him to get away with it. If in doubt he would do better to campaign in the next election on a generalised 'negotiate a better deal' ticket, without specifying. The migration issue remains toxic.
If he's sensible he'll go for freer movement, not free movement.
Given that was the smoking gun that got Leave across the line to go back to square one on that would risk the same thing happening again in future - particularly since the EU is starting to get more realistic on Schengen and borders now.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
On 7th April covid19.healthdata.org were forecasting a first-wave total of 81k deaths for USA, 19k for Spain, 20k for Italy, 15k for France, 9k for Germany and 66k for the UK.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Yes, in April the model was laughable, and we all laughed at it, daily. But through the spring and summer they really polished it, and now it comes up with some sobering and sensible predictions which cannot be lightly dismissed.
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
On 7th April covid19.healthdata.org were forecasting a first-wave total of 81k deaths for USA, 19k for Spain, 20k for Italy, 15k for France, 9k for Germany and 66k for the UK.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Well for Blighty (if you take the ONS numbers) and us (11k) that's pretty much on the spot.
Off Topic: "Wind & Solar Are Cheaper Than Everything, Lazard Reports" "We recently saw the International Energy Agency (IEA) report that solar power offers the cheapest electricity in history. That was a global report. A US-focused report from Lazard recently reported something similar. The highly regarded energy analysts showed that wind and solar offer the cheapest electricity in the country, even significantly undercutting natural gas combined cycle power plants now. "
"We’re at a kind of crossover point right now, but if solar and wind continue to come down in cost while the others stay the same or get more expensive, there will be serious pressure to retire fossil and nuclear power plants early and scale up wind and solar power production even faster. Why pay more for electricity from old, dirty power plants when you can get it more cheaply from new, clean, green electricity?"
Off Topic: "Wind & Solar Are Cheaper Than Everything, Lazard Reports" "We recently saw the International Energy Agency (IEA) report that solar power offers the cheapest electricity in history. That was a global report. A US-focused report from Lazard recently reported something similar. The highly regarded energy analysts showed that wind and solar offer the cheapest electricity in the country, even significantly undercutting natural gas combined cycle power plants now. "
"We’re at a kind of crossover point right now, but if solar and wind continue to come down in cost while the others stay the same or get more expensive, there will be serious pressure to retire fossil and nuclear power plants early and scale up wind and solar power production even faster. Why pay more for electricity from old, dirty power plants when you can get it more cheaply from new, clean, green electricity?"
As long as you don't want to turn your lights on when it gets dark, solar is perfect.
Add in the cost of storage, and despatchable CCGT with CCS starts to look more attrative.
There are plenty of properties going off grid in the U.K. using renewable technologies. CCGT with CCS does not solve the worldwide problem, it just kicks the can down the road a bit. Of course renewable energy is not easy but in the end we will have to make it work.
Interestingly enough solar lighting is very popular. The technology to make it work has been around for decades.
Why on earth did Mr Johnson bother to say that? Did he have brain in gear with mouth? It only validates suspicions of direct rule and the abolition of Holyrood (whether actual or de facto). And it won't gain him any useful votes just now, unless he's worried about his MPs.
A lot of people in Scotland like devolution - many more than went for indy. You can see Mr Ross realises that.
There will also be environmental factors to consider, even with a VPN and a terminal server window. Probably not allowed except on a company owned device, risk assessment required of the WFH environment and living arrangements of the worker, who else might have access to the room to set up a camera pointing at the screen, that sort of thing.
A pain in the arse for the compliance managers, that’s for sure.
Well one head of regulatory affairs chap has insisted persistent failure record calls is a sackable offence.
It has finally sunk in with enough people that unrecorded deals will simply be voided, and they'll have to go through the whole process, replete with recorded calls.
Ah yes, the call recordings. I’ve worked with people here that are regulated in London, and it was a real pain with everyone away and phone systems that weren’t designed for a lot of remote working. Eventually we got a couple of VPN-connected desk phones out to the homes of the admin team and they acted like old-fashioned operators, patching conference calls through to mobiles so they went through the recording system.
More positive vaccine news which is all good. The question now is one of priorities and logistics - ideally it should be a single shot vaccine - the notion of a two-shot process (doubling the numbers at a stroke) complicates matters with some getting their second shot while others are still getting their first.
As others have suggested, there may be a form of vaccine apartheid where those who have had the vaccine will be able to start "enjoying" life while those who haven't won't. This of course depends on the efficacy of the vaccine and whether if it is a two-shot process whether people will just take one and hope for the best.
The second part is how many of the less affected will bother - the virus will be less of an issue if it is confined to the healthier, younger and unvaccinated members of society. Perhaps a substantial minority of those will simply go back to normal life and not care - after all, if the vulnerable are protected by the vaccine, what's the issue?
Managing the vaccination process is going to be a challenge for a Government which has struggled with the detail through all this - hopefully plenty of thought and organisation has gone in to who, where, when, why and how because that's people will want to know for themselves and for anyone they know who is vulnerable.
If we don’t vaccinate everyone then the risk of the virus mutating becomes significantly higher. Hopefully there will be a publicity blitz to persuade as many as possible to get it
Home includes all the outhouses of Number 10, Larry's shed and Dominic's ex office and so on:
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living.... (b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
How much do you want to bet the journalist actually checked the regs before tweeting?
Two new "mega labs" will open in early 2021 to try to double the UK's daily coronavirus testing capacity, the government has said. The sites - at Leamington Spa in the Midlands and another at an unconfirmed site in Scotland - will increase testing capacity by 600,000.
That's great, but will we need a capacity of a million tests a day in a few months time?
I suspect for the next decade or so the governments will keep things like this active lest Covid-19 mutates.
You can guarantee that the manifestos at the next general election will promise awesome pandemic preparedness.
I think that is fair enough and especially if it improves the overall capabilities of the NHS wider system of testing. My fear is we are going to build a load of testing infrastructure dedicated to just COVID, rather than looking at how we can modernize and increase diagnostic capacity across all diseases.
The reason Germany was able to get their testing up and running better than elsewhere in Europe was they already had a wide network of labs that ran all sorts of tests, which they then used to focus on COVID, not the other way around.
You know Germany only has that because their equivalent of GPS had complete freedom of choice where to send any test costing less than €100.
So, humans being human, they sent them to their mates in return for commission payments. Quality is shot and cost is high.
IMO Japan has the most impressive vaccine portfolio so far, 120m Pfizer doses and 80m Moderna doses all due for Q1 2021 delivery. That's 100m people's worth of vaccine of the two fastest candidates and they both have around 95% effectiveness.
Absolutely smashed it.
Picking winners from vaccines is like trying to predict the premier league scores every week. You can use logic and data, but every round there is a huge amount of luck.
If the Oxford one comes good in 2-3 weeks, UK will have 100+ million doses secured across 3 vaccines all for delivery before realistically we can physically give it to everybody. If that turns out to be the case, the UK will have also smashed it. Worst case scenario, we can already have enough for 1/2 population, which is good going.
The big task now is getting it rolled out to people.
Not to everyone, surely. Those who regarded the virus as a hoax, or nothing worse than a cold or mild flu, will surely not want to bother taking it.
Well obviously the likes of Piers Corbyn won't be queuing up to get it.
Without wanting to give too much away, I'm hearing that many many retailers and entertainment/eating venues in the UK will only let in people who can prove they've had the vaccine.
I know Ticketmaster US have denied such a policy, but I reckon it is inevitable here and elsewhere.
Go to Cineworld cinemas because we only let in vaccinated people*, eat at Pizza Hut because we only let in vaccinated people* etc etc.
*I suspect they'll also let in people who cannot have a vaccine for medical reasons.
I'd be OK with this assuming supply was plentiful. Having to stay inside and not be able to socialise because you weren't yet selected for a vaccine sounds awful.
If it goes to plan, I suspect we'd have the vulnerable and key workers vaccinated by the summer of 2021 and everyone else by some time in 2022.
Expect a howl of special pleading over what is a "key worker."
Timpsons and Locksmiths....
I know I have only just arrived, but I will now do the hat and coat walk of shame.....
Piano tuners.
I could go back to my old job of programming. 102 keys on a keyboard need bashing, admittedly some more than others....
Programmer for hire: will work anywhere that has an IBM Model M keyboard because it is the only decent one ever made. IBM 3179 terminals may also be considered....
Bet you can't do a Haiku about an IBM keyboard.
Agadoo doo doo Write an IBM Haiku Has been done done done..
The University of Washington model (once much maligned) now predicts that the European country which will do worse overall is...... Germany.
They envisage Germany enduring 155,000 Covid deaths by March 1 2021. I've no idea how they get the figure, but their model has been honed over time, and has also been quite accurate in recent weeks.
A couple of months ago you already posted a prediction from that site, forecasting the exact same thing, that Germany would have the worst second wave overall. A different model (for international, gender-fluid underwear) predicted in early April that "Germany was merely three days behind the UK", when the plague went really rampant.
How did these predictions hold up? What do the numbers say now, in hindsight?
I do not believe the Uni of Washington figure. I do not believe that Germany will suffer 155,000 dead by March 21.
I'm surprised by this prediction now. How on earth do they get to that high number?
It is particularly surprising, as otherwise, their model has been increasingly reliable and interesting.
The last one you posted predicted 55k by November. Something must be wrong with their model.
On 7th April covid19.healthdata.org were forecasting a first-wave total of 81k deaths for USA, 19k for Spain, 20k for Italy, 15k for France, 9k for Germany and 66k for the UK.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Yes, in April the model was laughable, and we all laughed at it, daily. But through the spring and summer they really polished it, and now it comes up with some sobering and sensible predictions which cannot be lightly dismissed.
Except this Germany stat. 155,000 dead?? Bonkers.
I'm not convinced.
TBF to them, there are too many variables to project out 3-4 months with any degree of confidence - including but not limited to: - how frequent, long and rigorous government lockdowns are; - how quickly a vaccine can be rolled out; - the extent to which the virus is seasonal.
Two new "mega labs" will open in early 2021 to try to double the UK's daily coronavirus testing capacity, the government has said. The sites - at Leamington Spa in the Midlands and another at an unconfirmed site in Scotland - will increase testing capacity by 600,000.
That's great, but will we need a capacity of a million tests a day in a few months time?
Becauswe the vaccines will take time to give to everyone; they are not fully effective (so some fol;k are still vulnerable); and we need to stamp out any further outbreaks pdq while R spools down and the virus is eliminated? Also for incoming travellers.
But we aren't using the 500k a day capacity now. And what sort of tests, more PCR tests? As for incoming travellers, we need systems that do the tests at the airport, not in a big lab in Leamington Spa.
The problem is, quite simply, that people are not volunteering for testing. In the Liverpool trial, where it's free and available to anyone, symptoms or not - not the massive pickup required.
I think that they are preparing for mandatory testing.
Liverpool was a curious place to choose. Probably the lowest level of trust in the government in England. Any reason why?
Because Boris Johnson once wrote a rude article about them?
Home includes all the outhouses of Number 10, Larry's shed and Dominic's ex office and so on:
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living.... (b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
How much do you want to bet the journalist actually checked the regs before tweeting?
As the journalist wrote, Boris lives above Number 11 so it does not matter if the offices at Number 10 are in the same bubble as the flat above Number 10. Well, not unless you define the whole of Downing Street as one big office block, which to some extent it is, along with the buildings behind it (and if Boris really does live next door; I've not checked).
Two new "mega labs" will open in early 2021 to try to double the UK's daily coronavirus testing capacity, the government has said. The sites - at Leamington Spa in the Midlands and another at an unconfirmed site in Scotland - will increase testing capacity by 600,000.
That's great, but will we need a capacity of a million tests a day in a few months time?
I suspect for the next decade or so the governments will keep things like this active lest Covid-19 mutates.
You can guarantee that the manifestos at the next general election will promise awesome pandemic preparedness.
I think that is fair enough and especially if it improves the overall capabilities of the NHS wider system of testing. My fear is we are going to build a load of testing infrastructure dedicated to just COVID, rather than looking at how we can modernize and increase diagnostic capacity across all diseases.
The reason Germany was able to get their testing up and running better than elsewhere in Europe was they already had a wide network of labs that ran all sorts of tests, which they then used to focus on COVID, not the other way around.
You know Germany only has that because their equivalent of GPS had complete freedom of choice where to send any test costing less than €100.
So, humans being human, they sent them to their mates in return for commission payments. Quality is shot and cost is high.
So, you are advocating for socialised medicine, did I get that right?
Home includes all the outhouses of Number 10, Larry's shed and Dominic's ex office and so on:
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living.... (b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
How much do you want to bet the journalist actually checked the regs before tweeting?
As the journalist wrote, Boris lives above Number 11 so it does not matter if the offices at Number 10 are in the same bubble as the flat above Number 10. Well, not unless you define the whole of Downing Street as one big office block, which to some extent it is, along with the buildings behind it (and if Boris really does live next door; I've not checked).
It's not exactly a 300 mile trip to Barnard Castle is it?
Home includes all the outhouses of Number 10, Larry's shed and Dominic's ex office and so on:
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living.... (b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
How much do you want to bet the journalist actually checked the regs before tweeting?
As the journalist wrote, Boris lives above Number 11 so it does not matter if the offices at Number 10 are in the same bubble as the flat above Number 10. Well, not unless you define the whole of Downing Street as one big office block, which to some extent it is, along with the buildings behind it (and if Boris really does live next door; I've not checked).
It's not exactly a 300 mile trip to Barnard Castle is it?
If only the media concerned themselves with getting covid facts correct as if the interconnected #10 and #11 count as a one or not.
If Boris was caught popping down the shops for a copy of the Daily Torygraph they would have a point.
Oh, I know. That city has managed a long string of architectural disasters over the last few decaides, never mind who is in charge. I don't understand it.
Piers Morgan getting all uppty with Southgate about when did he first notice as a tickle in his throat, could have been a big risk, but his son breaking the rules, joining 10,000s people huddled together, proud of the lad.
Well, we don't quite know what he was thinking before the less abrasive thing kicked in...maybe privately he was muttering about firing the devolved administrations directly into the heart of the Sun.
PS I'm noit sure that it is any consolation that it replaced the St James Centre and its associated footbridge which wrecked a crucial vista from the North Bridge/Walterloo Place/Princes St junctrion ...
Well, we don't quite know what he was thinking before the less abrasive thing kicked in...maybe privately he was muttering about firing the devolved administrations directly into the heart of the Sun.
Othjer way round - the Andrex first, then sandpaper next. But yes we don't quite know!
Oh, I know. That city has managed a long string of architectural disasters over the last few decaides, never mind who is in charge. I don't understand it.
It's SO bad. My word. And Edinburgh is such a beautiful city.
This is like the worst kind of shite, failed, show-offy architecture you get in Baku, or Tashkent or Jeddah, but there at least these hideous monsters aren't ruining world class cities with world class architecture.
Possibly the worst building to go up in Britain since the Walkie Talkie? And at least the latter is about to be shrouded by other skyscrapers, rendering it invisible.
Oh, I know. That city has managed a long string of architectural disasters over the last few decaides, never mind who is in charge. I don't understand it.
It's SO bad. My word. And Edinburgh is such a beautiful city.
This is like the worst kind of shite, failed, show-offy architecture you get in Baku, or Tashkent or Jeddah, but there at least these hideous monsters aren't ruining world class cities with world class architecture.
Possibly the worst building to go up in Britain since the Walkie Talkie? And at least the latter is about to be shrouded by other skyscrapers, rendering it invisible.
I'd have said the Paragon car park opposite the naval base in Pompey but that was much older than the W/T wasn't it?
It is shite in more than one way. Right on the view down to Leith from the key junction outside Register House, and also stopping the end of the George Street vista beyond the monument and RBS HQ like an Alsatian's turd at the end of your front path. Edit: the second photo in the Cheapo Crappy tweet is indeed along George St.
He's been having stories emphasising the 'real' him and non-F1 related things for months now, sometimes 2-3 on the BBC sports pages. Granted, he's backed it up with success on the track, but it has the feel of a PR campaign bigging him up. Whereas Rashford, whilst undoubtedly PR backed, feels both more personal and not about bigging him up personally. But Lewis seems to be diallign it back a notch perhaps.
It seemed fairly obvious to me 20 years ago as a student - if not the extent. Why has this been ignored by the mainstream media all this time? The critics of grade inflation - usually on the political right - have tended to see it as about creating equality and making people feel good. The reality is that it has always been about money.
Just like money inflation it just cheapens the product to the extent it becomes worthless . We may have gone over a tipping point in that not long ago British University education was a world respected product .Cheapen it like it has being done and the world will notice and hold another country in esteem.
Because it was un-sayable. I can remember people being savagely attacked for doubting the quality of some degrees back in the Blair years.
The quality of degrees is probably the same, more or less, from any institution. The utility of non-vocational degrees is something quite different even though it is probably more important, and there is due to employers routinely and openly discriminating in favour of Oxford, Cambridge and the hiring manager's alma mater.
PS I'm noit sure that it is any consolation that it replaced the St James Centre and its associated footbridge which wrecked a crucial vista from the North Bridge/Walterloo Place/Princes St junctrion ...
Which, as time goes by, looks increasingly like a weirdly ugly sports hall on the outskirts of an over ambitious county town in mid Wales. And also the National Museum for Scotland, which looks like a car park for Category A prisoners
Do you think punters will have a "preferred" vaccine? Are we going to have cases of people refusing the "Pfizer vaccine" because they've read something on the internet, and want the "Moderna" one instead?
They'll likely get what they are given, unless they go private.
It will be fine in the U.K.
But I was talking to a US contact today who is worried about patients getting different vaccines for their first and second shots
I don't wish to depress anyone further but on top of Covid and Brexit we are probably due a 1947- or 1963-style winter.
Remember you heard it here first.
Why are we due such a winter?
Well, of course we are not; I was teasing.
If we assume (and who can say, given climate change?) that we have two such winters per century then there's a 2% chance of this winter being a really cold one. But that chance doesn't increase the longer we go without one.
IMO Japan has the most impressive vaccine portfolio so far, 120m Pfizer doses and 80m Moderna doses all due for Q1 2021 delivery. That's 100m people's worth of vaccine of the two fastest candidates and they both have around 95% effectiveness.
Absolutely smashed it.
Picking winners from vaccines is like trying to predict the premier league scores every week. You can use logic and data, but every round there is a huge amount of luck.
If the Oxford one comes good in 2-3 weeks, UK will have 100+ million doses secured across 3 vaccines all for delivery before realistically we can physically give it to everybody. If that turns out to be the case, the UK will have also smashed it. Worst case scenario, we can already have enough for 1/2 population, which is good going.
The big task now is getting it rolled out to people.
Not to everyone, surely. Those who regarded the virus as a hoax, or nothing worse than a cold or mild flu, will surely not want to bother taking it.
Well obviously the likes of Piers Corbyn won't be queuing up to get it.
Without wanting to give too much away, I'm hearing that many many retailers and entertainment/eating venues in the UK will only let in people who can prove they've had the vaccine.
I know Ticketmaster US have denied such a policy, but I reckon it is inevitable here and elsewhere.
Go to Cineworld cinemas because we only let in vaccinated people*, eat at Pizza Hut because we only let in vaccinated people* etc etc.
*I suspect they'll also let in people who cannot have a vaccine for medical reasons.
And where does that leave healthy adults between 18 and 40 ?
In fairness, many (most?) Chinese can't swim. It really is a remarkable feature of their culture. Here. You might drown, so pretty much everyone learns to swim as a child. There. You might drown, so don't go near the water.
That’s bizarre. Why don’t people learn to swim there?
It does not mention the persistent belief in Shui Gwei. Water ghosts who drag you under and make you into a changling by stealing your personality. Big take aways. 60000 drown per year. Biggest cause of death under 14.
Oh, I know. That city has managed a long string of architectural disasters over the last few decaides, never mind who is in charge. I don't understand it.
It's SO bad. My word. And Edinburgh is such a beautiful city.
This is like the worst kind of shite, failed, show-offy architecture you get in Baku, or Tashkent or Jeddah, but there at least these hideous monsters aren't ruining world class cities with world class architecture.
Possibly the worst building to go up in Britain since the Walkie Talkie? And at least the latter is about to be shrouded by other skyscrapers, rendering it invisible.
The building it is replacing was an absolute eye sore.
PS I'm noit sure that it is any consolation that it replaced the St James Centre and its associated footbridge which wrecked a crucial vista from the North Bridge/Walterloo Place/Princes St junctrion ...
Which, as time goes by, looks increasingly like a weirdly ugly sports hall on the outskirts of an over ambitious county town in mid Wales. And also the National Museum for Scotland, which looks like a car park for Category A prisoners
Then again, old London Town has had to suffer the brutalism of the Barbican, the nakedness of the Lloyd's Building and the sheer blandness of Euston station, though the latter at least is being rebuilt as part of HS2.
PS I'm noit sure that it is any consolation that it replaced the St James Centre and its associated footbridge which wrecked a crucial vista from the North Bridge/Walterloo Place/Princes St junctrion ...
Which, as time goes by, looks increasingly like a weirdly ugly sports hall on the outskirts of an over ambitious county town in mid Wales. And also the National Museum for Scotland, which looks like a car park for Category A prisoners
The Scottish Parliament building always looked ridiculous but as time has gone by it looks sadder and sadder. I think that the only good thing you can say about it is that it looks much better from the inside than the outside.
IMO Japan has the most impressive vaccine portfolio so far, 120m Pfizer doses and 80m Moderna doses all due for Q1 2021 delivery. That's 100m people's worth of vaccine of the two fastest candidates and they both have around 95% effectiveness.
Absolutely smashed it.
Picking winners from vaccines is like trying to predict the premier league scores every week. You can use logic and data, but every round there is a huge amount of luck.
If the Oxford one comes good in 2-3 weeks, UK will have 100+ million doses secured across 3 vaccines all for delivery before realistically we can physically give it to everybody. If that turns out to be the case, the UK will have also smashed it. Worst case scenario, we can already have enough for 1/2 population, which is good going.
The big task now is getting it rolled out to people.
Not to everyone, surely. Those who regarded the virus as a hoax, or nothing worse than a cold or mild flu, will surely not want to bother taking it.
Well obviously the likes of Piers Corbyn won't be queuing up to get it.
Without wanting to give too much away, I'm hearing that many many retailers and entertainment/eating venues in the UK will only let in people who can prove they've had the vaccine.
I know Ticketmaster US have denied such a policy, but I reckon it is inevitable here and elsewhere.
Go to Cineworld cinemas because we only let in vaccinated people*, eat at Pizza Hut because we only let in vaccinated people* etc etc.
*I suspect they'll also let in people who cannot have a vaccine for medical reasons.
I'd be OK with this assuming supply was plentiful. Having to stay inside and not be able to socialise because you weren't yet selected for a vaccine sounds awful.
If it goes to plan, I suspect we'd have the vulnerable and key workers vaccinated by the summer of 2021 and everyone else by some time in 2022.
Expect a howl of special pleading over what is a "key worker."
Timpsons and Locksmiths....
I know I have only just arrived, but I will now do the hat and coat walk of shame.....
Piano tuners.
I could go back to my old job of programming. 102 keys on a keyboard need bashing, admittedly some more than others....
Programmer for hire: will work anywhere that has an IBM Model M keyboard because it is the only decent one ever made. IBM 3179 terminals may also be considered....
Bet you can't do a Haiku about an IBM keyboard.
Agadoo doo doo Write an IBM Haiku Has been done done done..
Repetitive knockings The beetle's head hurts sorely But the wall endures
PS I'm noit sure that it is any consolation that it replaced the St James Centre and its associated footbridge which wrecked a crucial vista from the North Bridge/Walterloo Place/Princes St junctrion ...
Which, as time goes by, looks increasingly like a weirdly ugly sports hall on the outskirts of an over ambitious county town in mid Wales. And also the National Museum for Scotland, which looks like a car park for Category A prisoners
The Scottish Parliament building always looked ridiculous but as time has gone by it looks sadder and sadder. I think that the only good thing you can say about it is that it looks much better from the inside than the outside.
Yes, in that respect it reminds me of the "new" British Library: a fine building inside with some splendid spaces, but so disappointing and mediocre as an exterior. A Home Counties Sainsbury's on modest steroids.
Everyone said "Oh wait, you will get used to it, the design is a subtle classic, and it will age well". It hasn't. It's ugly, awkward and joyless, if not quite as absurdly bad as Holyrood.
I think the current government list of key workers will determine who gets the vaccine first.
Emergency workers. Critical systems workers. NHS Staff. Care home staff. Supermarket staff. Anyone who works for a bank.
The latter one was a brilliant decision by the government.
Teachers notably absent from that list.
You've been usurped by bank workers, fairly I'd say. Sorry.
I don’t need sex. My bank fucks me every day.
But it would be bizarre to have bankers, who can work over the phone, placed ahead of teachers, who are being forced more or less at gunpoint to work in ideal transmission situations without any meaningful protection, in the queue for the vaccine.
The logic is that the country can cope, short term, with the schools being closed, it cannot cope if the financial services sector has to close for anything more than a few days.
Well, we look set to find out about how we can manage without schools in roughly another fortnight the way things are going.
There's still plenty of schooling going on in Tier 3, which I guess Staffs (isn't it?) would be approaching if that was still in place.
If lockdown is working - and from Tier 3 and Devolved Nations results, there's no reason to suppose it isn't, infection rates should turn downwards mostly everywhere towards the end of this week and into next week.
A fat lot of fine bloody use an overall fall will be if it continues rampaging through schools so we don’t have enough staff to open. Which is what is happening, regardless of what the losers and lowlifes in Whitehall may think.
Comments
Second preference votes for recent Scottish Council by election.
Love the Con to Green and Green to Con switchers.
It isn’t entirely harmless to the young.
But it is in most cases.
I think he needs to wait and see if the Brexit deal turns out badly enough to allow him to get away with it. If in doubt he would do better to campaign in the next election on a generalised 'negotiate a better deal' ticket, without specifying. The migration issue remains toxic.
A pain in the arse for the compliance managers, that’s for sure.
Their projections for most other countries now look pretty accurate
http://cynicalbastards.com/ubs/ is an old, old joke.
5.—(1) No person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living....
(b) the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any
garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
It has finally sunk in with enough people that unrecorded deals will simply be voided, and they'll have to go through the whole process, replete with recorded calls.
Pretty much way out on all fronts. I could have done better with a blindfold and a pin.
Gareth Southgate is under mounting pressure from Piers Morgan to disclose details of his positive coronavirus test following an encounter between them days earlier.
Morgan told the Telegraph he had received no contact from Southgate since revealing the pair had spoken at a ‘GQ Heroes’ event on October 22 after learning in the Sun on Sunday that the England manager had tested positive “around October 25” and had stayed at home for 10 days.
Government guidelines for those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms state: “You may want to tell people you’ve been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
“Examples of close contact include: close, face-to-face contact (under 1 metre) for any length of time – including talking to them or coughing on them; being within one to two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes – including travelling in a small vehicle.”
Morgan said he was one of around eight people who came into contact with Southgate at last month’s event, at which he congratulated the England manager on the “very tough line” taken on those in the Three Lions squad who had breached social-distancing rules.
He added: “Having been with the England manager in such close proximity to his positive test, I would like to know when he first became symptomatic, why he had the test – was it routine or because he had symptoms – and were the symptoms developing within 48 hours of seeing us? Because, if they were, then he had a public duty to tell us.
“We all went back into workplaces where we could’ve exposed our colleagues to Covid-19.
“If the situation had been reversed, I would’ve definitely let him know. The very least, it seems to me, that he could now do is lay out the exact timeline so that we can all understand exactly what happened.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/16/gareth-southgateunder-mounting-pressure-piers-morgan-disclose/
Given that was the smoking gun that got Leave across the line to go back to square one on that would risk the same thing happening again in future - particularly since the EU is starting to get more realistic on Schengen and borders now.
Except this Germany stat. 155,000 dead?? Bonkers.
Interestingly enough solar lighting is very popular. The technology to make it work has been around for decades.
A lot of people in Scotland like devolution - many more than went for indy. You can see Mr Ross realises that.
So, humans being human, they sent them to their mates in return for commission payments. Quality is shot and cost is high.
Write an IBM Haiku
Has been done done done..
TBF to them, there are too many variables to project out 3-4 months with any degree of confidence - including but not limited to:
- how frequent, long and rigorous government lockdowns are;
- how quickly a vaccine can be rolled out;
- the extent to which the virus is seasonal.
Or were you asking a different question?
https://twitter.com/FT/status/1328443369195003912
Remember you heard it here first.
This chap is not a pro-indy commentator.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-54966607
Thats a very large jump in number of people they tested. At the weekend, they were sating they had only tested 18,000 in the first week. Now its 100k.
https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1328434187150520322?s=19
https://twitter.com/cricketwyvern/status/1328426228504735746
Look at this thing
https://twitter.com/CheapoCrappy/status/1328077384898187264?s=20
If Boris was caught popping down the shops for a copy of the Daily Torygraph they would have a point.
The jobby even has its own Twatter account:
https://twitter.com/turdhotel?lang=en
Is like Hitler insisting he won WW2 because hostilities after 1940 were illegal
He WON BY A LOT (in 1940)
In 1963 there were 18ft snowdrifts in my village. I can't see it being that bad again.
This is like the worst kind of shite, failed, show-offy architecture you get in Baku, or Tashkent or Jeddah, but there at least these hideous monsters aren't ruining world class cities with world class architecture.
Possibly the worst building to go up in Britain since the Walkie Talkie? And at least the latter is about to be shrouded by other skyscrapers, rendering it invisible.
It is shite in more than one way. Right on the view down to Leith from the key junction outside Register House, and also stopping the end of the George Street vista beyond the monument and RBS HQ like an Alsatian's turd at the end of your front path. Edit: the second photo in the Cheapo Crappy tweet is indeed along George St.
https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2017/11/07/security-alert-sparked-holyrood
Which, as time goes by, looks increasingly like a weirdly ugly sports hall on the outskirts of an over ambitious county town in mid Wales. And also the National Museum for Scotland, which looks like a car park for Category A prisoners
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Scotland#/media/File:Museum_of_Scotland.jpg
But I was talking to a US contact today who is worried about patients getting different vaccines for their first and second shots
Being 'of the people' is overrated and far from a guarantee of quality anyway.
If we assume (and who can say, given climate change?) that we have two such winters per century then there's a 2% chance of this winter being a really cold one. But that chance doesn't increase the longer we go without one.
(And @Foxy)
I need to run WiFi out to my workshop (20 metres from the house) and powerline adapters seem like a good solution.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/91115602
It does not mention the persistent belief in Shui Gwei. Water ghosts who drag you under and make you into a changling by stealing your personality.
Big take aways. 60000 drown per year.
Biggest cause of death under 14.
Just this is even more shit.
The beetle's head hurts sorely
But the wall endures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Library#/media/File:British_library_london.jpg
Everyone said "Oh wait, you will get used to it, the design is a subtle classic, and it will age well". It hasn't. It's ugly, awkward and joyless, if not quite as absurdly bad as Holyrood.
https://twitter.com/akmaciver/status/1328450142039629825?s=20