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Fighting COVID – is striving after perfection the enemy of the good? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited June 2021 in General
imageFighting COVID – is striving after perfection the enemy of the good? – politicalbetting.com

I live in Bedford which over the past few weeks has been singled out as a COVID hotspot and each day, later in the afternoon, I almost always check out the latest data for the borough which is all on the excellent government COVID website.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited June 2021
    Well that was disappointing, just tried to see if I could rebook my 2nd jab for earlier, managed to bring it forward all of 3 days. Still 10 weeks from my 1st jab.

    No matter what postcode I put in, had very limited choice, either one local centre or 2+ hrs drive away.

    Disadvantage of having the Bill Gates Skynet one I suppose. And suggests constrained supply, I presume because they are giving the yuff it.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227

    Well that was disappointing, just tried to see if I could rebook my 2nd jab for earlier, managed to bring it forward all of 3 days. Still 10 weeks from my 1st jab.

    No matter what postcode I put in, had very limited choice, either one local centre or 2+ hrs drive away.

    Disadvantage of having the Bill Gates Skynet one I suppose. And suggests constrained supply, I presume because they are giving the yuff it.

    So which vaccine did you get with you first shot?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited June 2021

    Well that was disappointing, just tried to see if I could rebook my 2nd jab for earlier, managed to bring it forward all of 3 days. Still 10 weeks from my 1st jab.

    No matter what postcode I put in, had very limited choice, either one local centre or 2+ hrs drive away.

    Disadvantage of having the Bill Gates Skynet one I suppose. And suggests constrained supply, I presume because they are giving the yuff it.

    So which vaccine did you get with you first shot?
    Moderna. But when I was given it, very very limited supplies of Moderna and they were giving AZN to most people. The centre I got jabbed said they only did Moderna on the odd days.

    In the UK, Moderna is the most uncommon of the 3 they give.
  • swing_voterswing_voter Posts: 1,435
    Second.... not much to add on the topic. The Boundary review certainly gets backbench Tory MPs attention at a difficult time, I see a little bit of a shift in Plymouth for J Mercer's seat (his claims about all the lying in the govt at the time of his resignation) - anyone got any idea if the ex-Commando is more vulnerable or not?
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227
    Virginia 2021 Democratic Primary - 67% of precincts reporting

    GOVERNOR
    Terry McAuliffe (declared winner by AP)
    215,510 61.6%
    Jennifer Carroll Foy
    72,616 20.7
    Jennifer McClellan
    39,090 11.2
    Justin Fairfax
    12,887 3.7
    Lee Carter
    9,923 2.8
    Total reported
    350,026

    LIEUTENANT GOV
    Hala Ayala
    126,654 38.8%
    Sam Rasoul
    82,484 25.3
    Andria McClellan
    37,833 11.6
    Total reported
    326,515

    ATTORNEY GENERAL
    Mark Herring (incumbent; declared winner by AP)
    188,394 55.0%
    Jay Jones
    153,982 45.0
    Total reported
    342,376

    Note that Old Dominion's only Democratic Socialist in the House of Delegates, Lee Carter of District 50 (Manassas city & Prince William County) is losing his primary tonight, with 38% of the Dem primary vote so far, versus 44% for Michelle Lopes-Maldonado and 18% for Helen Zurita
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227
    BTW, in Virginia, Lee Carter is also losing his bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor; reckon that THAT no-hope race likely did NOT help him in running for re-election to the House of Delegates.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227
    edited June 2021

    Well that was disappointing, just tried to see if I could rebook my 2nd jab for earlier, managed to bring it forward all of 3 days. Still 10 weeks from my 1st jab.

    No matter what postcode I put in, had very limited choice, either one local centre or 2+ hrs drive away.

    Disadvantage of having the Bill Gates Skynet one I suppose. And suggests constrained supply, I presume because they are giving the yuff it.

    According to US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The recommended interval between doses is 21 days for Pfizer-BioNTech and 28 days for Moderna; however, up to 42 days between doses is permissible when a delay is unavoidable." (March 19, 2021)

    https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7011e2.htm

    EDIT - Just checked my own vac card, interval between #1 & #2 Pfizer = 4 weeks, 1 day
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227
    Virginia 2021 Democratic Primary - with 90% precincts reporting (but think no early votes counted yet?)

    GOVERNOR
    Terry McAuliffe (declared winner by AP early in the count; he's ahead in every county & independent city)
    293,176 62.2%
    Jennifer Carroll Foy
    94,921 20.2
    Jennifer McClellan
    52,871 11.2
    Justin Fairfax
    16,634 3.5
    Lee Carter
    13,394 2.8
    Total reported
    470,996

    LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
    Hala Ayala (declared winner by AP)
    163,474 38.2%
    Sam Rasoul
    112,124 26.2
    Mark Levine
    52,141 12.2
    Andria McClellan
    46,638 10.9
    Sean Perryman
    35,995 8.4
    Xavier Warren
    18,053 4.2
    Total reported
    428,425

    ATTORNEY GENERAL
    Mark Herring (incumbent, declared winner by AP)
    263,723 57.3%
    Jay Jones
    196,766 42.7
    Total reported
    460,489

  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,227
    NEW JERSEY 2021 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

    GOVERNOR
    Jack Ciattarelli (leads in every county that has so far reported unofficial results)
    53,171 47.5%
    Philip Rizzo
    29,380 26.2
    Hirsh Singh
    26,082 23.3
    Brian Levine
    3,387 3.0
    Total reported
    112,020

    Note - Incumbent Democratic Gov. Philip Murray's nomination for 2nd term is uncontested.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    As always thanks for the reports SSI2.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,766
    edited June 2021

    Well that was disappointing, just tried to see if I could rebook my 2nd jab for earlier, managed to bring it forward all of 3 days. Still 10 weeks from my 1st jab.

    No matter what postcode I put in, had very limited choice, either one local centre or 2+ hrs drive away.

    Disadvantage of having the Bill Gates Skynet one I suppose. And suggests constrained supply, I presume because they are giving the yuff it.

    So which vaccine did you get with you first shot?
    Moderna. But when I was given it, very very limited supplies of Moderna and they were giving AZN to most people. The centre I got jabbed said they only did Moderna on the odd days.

    In the UK, Moderna is the most uncommon of the 3 they give.
    My understanding is that people who get the Moderna vaccine are more intelligent and attractive to members of the opposite sex than those who get other vaccines.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    This map does not look good compared to a couple of weeks ago.

    https://covid.joinzoe.com/data
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    The NHS data grab has been put back three months, to 1st September.
    https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/08/uk_gov_delays_gp_data_grab/
  • Excellent thread and I totally agree with Mike.

    If the link between cases and deaths has been broken by vaccination, which it has, then we REALLY need to get on and live our lives.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 4,555

    Excellent thread and I totally agree with Mike.

    If the link between cases and deaths has been broken by vaccination, which it has, then we REALLY need to get on and live our lives.

    Even if it hasn't we can't suspend them forever anyway. Time to get back to normal and live with this virus, as we do with hundreds of others.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 4,555
    Also I agree that the vaccinated should be allowed to visit countries, like the US, where most are vaccinated, without restrictions.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,876
    Has the two week delay been confirmed? It looks to me like people are voting with their feet and things are going to be opening up whatever the government might say. Social distancing no longer seems to exist, for example.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733
    Surely now we have to start looking at charging anyone for Covid treatment if they have had the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment and failed to do so?

    Because that’s almost the whole of the problem and would I guess go a long way towards solving it. Sure, you will always have principled refusers like Dura Ace, but for nutters like Contrarian, bleating about lockdown while forcing us into more of it, need to be warned that their stupidity and selfishness has real world consequences.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    On topic - agree with OGH - we need to get on with it - and on the subject of travel to the US the airlines have been lobbying for a USUK travel corridor - I suspect the sticking point will be the US and the Delta variant:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57390241
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733

    Has the two week delay been confirmed? It looks to me like people are voting with their feet and things are going to be opening up whatever the government might say. Social distancing no longer seems to exist, for example.

    We come back again to the fact that making stupid laws that people don’t see the point of brings the law into disrepute. Like the 40 mph speed limits on dead straight deserted roads that are somehow supposed to stop boy racers doing 100.

    We also come back to the fact that restrictions are popular, because people expect them to be imposed on others and are quite happy to break them themselves when it seems necessary.
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    Bolton at end of March: 731
    Bolton latest figures: 745
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    Fishing said:

    Also I agree that the vaccinated should be allowed to visit countries, like the US, where most are vaccinated, without restrictions.

    Britain has red-listed Dubai and the UAE, despite their high vaccination rate. American travel advice grades Britain on a par with the UAE, listing both as having high Covid rates (whatever that means on a fairly limited scale). Is America wrong?

    Or look how quickly we changed our mind on Portugal, or indeed about Britain!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080

    Has the two week delay been confirmed? It looks to me like people are voting with their feet and things are going to be opening up whatever the government might say. Social distancing no longer seems to exist, for example.

    The rumour of two weeks has now become a rumour of four weeks?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080
    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    We need Pornhub to add a polling question to their site.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080
    Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his theatres on 21 June regardless of whether rules are relaxed, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    Confidence in the EU’s ability to handle crises has taken a hit from Covid-19, a major survey shows, but dissatisfaction with national political systems is even higher and most people still support EU membership and want a stronger, more cooperative bloc.

    https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/09/europeans-confidence-in-eu-hit-by-coronavirus-response
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080
    Washington state is to give adults a free cannabis spliff after they receive a Covid jab in an attempt to accelerate vaccination uptake through a promotion coined “Joints for Jabs” by the state’s liquor and cannabis board.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,052

    The NHS data grab has been put back three months, to 1st September.
    https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/08/uk_gov_delays_gp_data_grab/

    Not sure "NHS data grab" is the correct description. What is going on is the sale of data to private firms rather than the grabbing of it by the NHS. The NHS already has the data.

    In theory the data is anonymised, but combined with algorithms of other measures that Big Data has, it won't be for long. Supposedly this is for research, but once the data is out there, it will be of a lot of interest for marketing.

    It is possible to opt out prior to the deadline, but after that deadline an opt out only covers new data.

    Personally, I think such data uploads should require explicit consent. The data was collected for specific purposes and is not just an asset to be flogged off.

  • IanB2 said:

    Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his theatres on 21 June regardless of whether rules are relaxed, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.

    ALW is the most unlikely hero I have ever had. After Michael Thomas.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    IanB2 said:

    Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his theatres on 21 June regardless of whether rules are relaxed, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.

    Is ALW also prepared to pay the legal expenses of any of his staff? It must be a slow news day if this covers almost the whole of the Telegraph's front page.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733

    IanB2 said:

    Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his theatres on 21 June regardless of whether rules are relaxed, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.

    Is ALW also prepared to pay the legal expenses of any of his staff? It must be a slow news day if this covers almost the whole of the Telegraph's front page.
    What he might be in a position to do of course is get all his mates in both Houses to ask awkward questions.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080
    I see that some random Frenchman has given Macron a slap…
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    edited June 2021
    The Times (£££) has the most important news: Judge rules staff ‘off sick’ can visit pubs
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/judge-rules-staff-off-sick-can-visit-pubs-wgvcd8pq3

    ETA there may be public health reasons why this is not such a good idea for pub staff and other customers.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 4,555

    Confidence in the EU’s ability to handle crises has taken a hit from Covid-19, a major survey shows, but dissatisfaction with national political systems is even higher and most people still support EU membership and want a stronger, more cooperative bloc.

    https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/09/europeans-confidence-in-eu-hit-by-coronavirus-response

    The only surprise is that anybody thought they were any good at managing crises in the first place, given their past disasters, from Bosnia to the euro.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,287
    edited June 2021

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226
    @Leon Thanks for the Sam Harris quote. One caveat, it wasn’t clear to me whether he has been invited to the zoom call, or if the person telling him about satellite evidence has been. Either way, the message is the same. US establishment trying to figure out the final step of Disclosure.

    Meanwhile a snippet from Lue Elizondo in the video of his latest interview with the WashPo is that China is considering raising the issue at the UN. Sure it distracts from Lab Leak. But if you’re Biden you don’t want some jumped up autocrat taking your place in the history books and that must now be a concern.

    Odds of a Disclosure event this summer now better than evens I reckon.

    Meanwhile all of Pb denigrates you for talking lab leak because they think it was obvious all along and/or who cares that the West’s only credible adversary deliberately seeded the world with a virus that’s killed millions.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,052
    IanB2 said:

    Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his theatres on 21 June regardless of whether rules are relaxed, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.

    Theatres are open, albeit socially distanced. Indeed Fox jr2 is opening a show in July in London. Being able to fill the seats would be a big plus.
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733
    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Likely scenario - the original source had no actual meaningful links to the Sussexes and made the whole thing up. Some gullible journalist then swallowed it to make a story.

    Assuming, of course, said journalist wasn’t the source in question.
  • And Wembley are expanding spectators for the euros with vaccine passports i.e. the NHS app.

    Personally I think flashing your certificate is a very very very small price to pay for the rest of the freedoms that should come with it i.e. the normalising of everything else.

    Those who opposed this need to realise that the alternative is a dystopian nightmare of never-ending restriction.

    You have your jabs, you show your app, bingo. Then do what you want, whenever you want, wherever you want.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,957
    alex_ said:

    Bolton at end of March: 731
    Bolton latest figures: 745

    There hasn't been a death with Covid mentioned on the death certificate in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset or Dorset for more than three weeks now.

    It is not a very pan pandemic.....
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226
    ydoethur said:

    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Likely scenario - the original source had no actual meaningful links to the Sussexes and made the whole thing up. Some gullible journalist then swallowed it to make a story.

    Assuming, of course, said journalist wasn’t the source in question.
    Surprising a grandparent with their name being chosen for your child is one of life’s pleasures. The thing that’s flagged as odd here is that Lilibet isnt her name but a nickname used by her recently departed husband. Its extraordinary but true that Harry seems to have the lowest EQ of any of the royals.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926

    alex_ said:

    Bolton at end of March: 731
    Bolton latest figures: 745

    There hasn't been a death with Covid mentioned on the death certificate in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset or Dorset for more than three weeks now.

    It is not a very pan pandemic.....
    North of England and Scotland based on a quick glance at the Covid map.
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Not that difficult to work out if you’re a man.

    Meghan: “you will talk to your grandmother about the name, won’t you”
    Harry: “yes of course dear”
    ...
    Baby born.

    Meghan’s American friends: “the names a nice touch, did the Queen appreciate it”
    Meghan “I think so, so didn’t raise any objection”

    Harry: “oh sh*t, I forgot/kept putting it off”

  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733

    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    We need Pornhub to add a polling question to their site.
    ‘Who do you think is the biggest tosser in politics right now?’
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    ydoethur said:

    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Likely scenario - the original source had no actual meaningful links to the Sussexes and made the whole thing up. Some gullible journalist then swallowed it to make a story.

    Assuming, of course, said journalist wasn’t the source in question.
    Both claims could be true, given their ambiguity. It is hard to imagine a phone call without the baby being mentioned. Does that amount to asking permission? Probably not. Does HMQ not exploding when told the name amount to tacit approval? Perhaps.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    Why would they ask? :D Who cares man? This is ridiculous.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926
    The government must reveal its secret unit for undermining FoI requests.
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cabinet-office-loses-battle-to-sit-on-details-of-secret-unit-8v2qbzx77 (£££)
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,715
    alex_ said:

    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Not that difficult to work out if you’re a man.

    Meghan: “you will talk to your grandmother about the name, won’t you”
    Harry: “yes of course dear”
    ...
    Baby born.

    Meghan’s American friends: “the names a nice touch, did the Queen appreciate it”
    Meghan “I think so, so didn’t raise any objection”

    Harry: “oh sh*t, I forgot/kept putting it off”

    Maybe wouldn't have been so difficult if they'd used Elizabeth.

    And Good morning on a sunny morning, from a not-particularly merry OKC!
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 4,793
    FPT:

    alex_ said:

    MaxPB said:

    This thread is worth a read - basically, the vaccines are working but the youth aren't yet vaccinated enough to inhibit a rise in admissions. I'd say that points to a 2-4 week delay to 21st June, but I'm guessing:

    https://twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1402351599645757440?s=20

    4 weeks. Or maybe 5. The decision has 90% been made but still won't be announced until Monday.
    To what end? Who exactly is going to end up in hospital?
    There is a real danger that this mentality takes hold. Then half the summer is gone and we have to roll through the Exit Wave when the weather is colder.

    Get. It. Done.
    Quite. Somebody should ask the scientists what they would have recommended if the current conditions and data were what they were facing last March. When the initial approach was to flatten the curve and ensure that peaks in the virus spread occurred over the summer when there was far greater hospital capacity. They would have undoubtedly argued against lockdowns. Hospital capacity is stretched now. But that is not synonymous with them being overwhelmed. It just means that they are operating at high levels to reduce backlogs.

    I think a lot of the lockdown enthusiasts have become convinced that the economic arguments can be disregarded because we've got through 15 months. But every week that passes puts more and more businesses on the edge. And stretches the Government efforts to mitigate through basically printing money even more.

    Now is the time for the economists to come to the fore. The current conditions should not allow the scientists on SAGE to maintain permanent ascendency in the advice that the Government are expected to follow.
    An honourable compromise would be:

    • WFH until you have two jabs, if possible
    • Masks in public sector settings including public transport until the school holidays
    • Take personal responsibility - be aware that you need two jabs to gain full protection.
    • Socialise outdoors as much as possible
    • All other restrictions removed - we either ride the exit wave now or in the autumn. Now is better!
    I would add: Gatherings over 1000 people require a lateral flow test first.
    It’s surprising how much difference that single NPI can make.



  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    I find it amusing that the very same people who consider Harry & Meghan to now be nobodies who should "step out of the limelight" are the same people who will happily gobble up every insignificant little bit of news about their lives. If everyone stopped engaging with the story, they would literally become irrelevant.

    Practice what you preach.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 23,926

    alex_ said:

    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    Not that difficult to work out if you’re a man.

    Meghan: “you will talk to your grandmother about the name, won’t you”
    Harry: “yes of course dear”
    ...
    Baby born.

    Meghan’s American friends: “the names a nice touch, did the Queen appreciate it”
    Meghan “I think so, so didn’t raise any objection”

    Harry: “oh sh*t, I forgot/kept putting it off”

    Maybe wouldn't have been so difficult if they'd used Elizabeth.

    And Good morning on a sunny morning, from a not-particularly merry OKC!
    Or Lili, which is what they will call her anyway.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 9,653
    edited June 2021
    ydoethur said:

    Surely now we have to start looking at charging anyone for Covid treatment if they have had the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment and failed to do so?

    Because that’s almost the whole of the problem and would I guess go a long way towards solving it. Sure, you will always have principled refusers like Dura Ace, but for nutters like Contrarian, bleating about lockdown while forcing us into more of it, need to be warned that their stupidity and selfishness has real world consequences.

    @contrarian has not had the vaccine because he disagrees, on principle, with the state pressurising its citizens into a medical intervention (especially when the vaccines are so new). @Dura_Ace has not been vaccinated because he distrusts, and doesn't want to support, "Big Pharma".

    Just different principles surely? Are you sure that these two guys have fewer principles than the masses who have eagerly and meekly done what they have been told?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,080

    And Wembley are expanding spectators for the euros with vaccine passports i.e. the NHS app.

    Personally I think flashing your certificate is a very very very small price to pay for the rest of the freedoms that should come with it i.e. the normalising of everything else.

    Those who opposed this need to realise that the alternative is a dystopian nightmare of never-ending restriction.

    You have your jabs, you show your app, bingo. Then do what you want, whenever you want, wherever you want.

    In a scenario like that, how difficult is it going to be merely to display a photo of what the app page should look like?
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,334
    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    I can't remember the last time I could devote 10 minutes and 20 seconds....
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,733
    edited June 2021
    Stocky said:

    ydoethur said:

    Surely now we have to start looking at charging anyone for Covid treatment if they have had the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment and failed to do so?

    Because that’s almost the whole of the problem and would I guess go a long way towards solving it. Sure, you will always have principled refusers like Dura Ace, but for nutters like Contrarian, bleating about lockdown while forcing us into more of it, need to be warned that their stupidity and selfishness has real world consequences.

    @contrarian has not had the vaccine because he disagrees, on principle, with the state pressurising its citizens into a medical intervention (especially when the vaccines are so new). @Dura_Ace has not been vaccinated because he distrusts, and doesn't want to support, "Big Pharma".

    Just different principles surely? Are you sure that these two guys have fewer principles than the masses who have eagerly and meekly done what they have been told?
    No, Dura Ace hasn’t been vaccinated because the vaccine was tested on animals. That’s a perfectly valid stance, consistent with his longstanding veganism, and though I disagree with his conclusions I respect his consistency.

    The issue with Contrarian (well, among many other issues) is that he says nobody should be pressured to take the vaccine and then says nobody should have to lockdown, and lectures the rest of us on how he alone is standing up for our freedoms when taking the very action that’s making it impossible to get them back.

    Well, newsflash, it’s one or the other. His position is as grotesque and inconsistent as the Catholic ban on both contraception and abortion. And, further newsflash, it shows he’s not a principled person but a selfish prick (or perhaps, lack of prick :smile: ).

    Have a good morning.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,957
    I'm down to London next week for a couple of days - for the first time in over 15 months. (An in-the-room meeting with the animators for the first time.) Dinner booked at Hide.

    Is there anything on that is must-see at the mo?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,761
    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    ydoethur said:

    Surely now we have to start looking at charging anyone for Covid treatment if they have had the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment and failed to do so?

    Because that’s almost the whole of the problem and would I guess go a long way towards solving it. Sure, you will always have principled refusers like Dura Ace, but for nutters like Contrarian, bleating about lockdown while forcing us into more of it, need to be warned that their stupidity and selfishness has real world consequences.

    @contrarian has not had the vaccine because he disagrees, on principle, with the state pressurising its citizens into a medical intervention (especially when the vaccines are so new). @Dura_Ace has not been vaccinated because he distrusts, and doesn't want to support, "Big Pharma".

    Just different principles surely? Are you sure that these two guys have fewer principles than the masses who have eagerly and meekly done what they have been told?
    No, Dura Ace hasn’t been vaccinated because the vaccine was tested on animals. That’s a perfectly valid stance, consistent with his longstanding veganism, and though I disagree with his conclusions I respect his consistency.

    The issue with Contrarian (well, among many other issues) is that he says nobody should be pressured to take the vaccine and then says nobody should have to lockdown, and lectures the rest of us on how he alone is standing up for our freedoms when taking the very action that’s making it impossible to get them back.

    Well, newsflash, it’s one or the other. His position is as grotesque and inconsistent as the Catholic ban on both contraception and abortion. And, further newsflash, it shows he’s not a principled person but a selfish prick (or perhaps, lack of prick :smile: ).

    Have a good morning.
    Blimey, I didn't know that and will keep it from my daughter.
  • fox327fox327 Posts: 363
    IanB2 said:

    Has the two week delay been confirmed? It looks to me like people are voting with their feet and things are going to be opening up whatever the government might say. Social distancing no longer seems to exist, for example.

    The rumour of two weeks has now become a rumour of four weeks?
    The government seems to have no political strategy here. If there is a four week delay and after four weeks, the full reopening is STILL not possible, the government could face real political and social trouble. The government seems to be keeping the virus under control, but ignoring the politics and letting that get out of control. Letting things get out of control did not work well in January.

    A simple way to keep some control is to release some restrictions on 21 June, but not all of them. This will reduce the political pressure for a while. The challenge for the government is to communicate its strategy for returning to normality. Failure to explain its strategy could soon lead to serious trouble if the government is not careful.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,263
    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 14,911
    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    It's things like this that make me realise how out of touch I am. I have never watched any pornography, and have no desire to.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,761

    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.

    The hard headed answer was to speed up vaccination over the last month. The failure to do so has tipped the balance against 21st June. It is immensely frustrating. JFDI.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.

    Down the road in Sussex CV19 has been absent for months, but it’s now popped up in my kids school. I hope we’re not climbing another part of the rollercoaster.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,449

    I'm down to London next week for a couple of days - for the first time in over 15 months. (An in-the-room meeting with the animators for the first time.) Dinner booked at Hide.

    Is there anything on that is must-see at the mo?

    The Euros.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    I'm down to London next week for a couple of days - for the first time in over 15 months. (An in-the-room meeting with the animators for the first time.) Dinner booked at Hide.

    Is there anything on that is must-see at the mo?

    London without tourists and commuters. Just wander about.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 9,653
    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    ydoethur said:

    Surely now we have to start looking at charging anyone for Covid treatment if they have had the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment and failed to do so?

    Because that’s almost the whole of the problem and would I guess go a long way towards solving it. Sure, you will always have principled refusers like Dura Ace, but for nutters like Contrarian, bleating about lockdown while forcing us into more of it, need to be warned that their stupidity and selfishness has real world consequences.

    @contrarian has not had the vaccine because he disagrees, on principle, with the state pressurising its citizens into a medical intervention (especially when the vaccines are so new). @Dura_Ace has not been vaccinated because he distrusts, and doesn't want to support, "Big Pharma".

    Just different principles surely? Are you sure that these two guys have fewer principles than the masses who have eagerly and meekly done what they have been told?
    No, Dura Ace hasn’t been vaccinated because the vaccine was tested on animals. That’s a perfectly valid stance, consistent with his longstanding veganism, and though I disagree with his conclusions I respect his consistency.

    The issue with Contrarian (well, among many other issues) is that he says nobody should be pressured to take the vaccine and then says nobody should have to lockdown, and lectures the rest of us on how he alone is standing up for our freedoms when taking the very action that’s making it impossible to get them back.

    Well, newsflash, it’s one or the other. His position is as grotesque and inconsistent as the Catholic ban on both contraception and abortion. And, further newsflash, it shows he’s not a principled person but a selfish prick (or perhaps, lack of prick :smile: ).

    Have a good morning.
    I'd forgotten about the testing on animals aspect.

    Re contrarian, I see your point, but disagreeing with compulsion to vaccinate necessarily means more authoritarian measures. This is a political choice.

    The two positions are consistent when you think about it. Libertarians like contrarian don't like state control generally, and 1) state vaccinations (which libertarians feel have become quasi-mandatory with, at least, a moral compulsion being exerted by the state) and 2) lockdowns are both examples of state control.

    Contrarian has said that he is not anti-vax - libertarians such as he argue that vaccinations should be safe, entirely voluntary and a matter of personal choice. And authoritarian measures, which by definition take away personal liberty, are an abomination.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080

    On topic - agree with OGH - we need to get on with it - and on the subject of travel to the US the airlines have been lobbying for a USUK travel corridor - I suspect the sticking point will be the US and the Delta variant:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57390241

    Suspect on that the US will want 70% double vaxed adults in UK.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    Scotland:

    Emergency coronavirus laws are set to be extended again - leaving Scots facing the ‘nightmare’ of coronavirus curbs still being in force until at least next spring.

    https://twitter.com/Mike_Blackley/status/1402515079078232068?s=20
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 27,012
    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    Bonaza time for all those "step-moms"! And if you remember a previous ONS survey coke and hookers are now included as economic activity. Kerching!
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,761

    Thanks for the piece Mike.

    We really need as a country to start developing some perspective on this. No deaths in my area since March.

    The trouble is that potentially those in the thick of it e.g. SAGE and ministers and aides have spent so long fighting covid that they now can't step back and see the wider picture.

    There is more than a hint of irony in our Lords and Masters finally getting to grips with the implications of exponential growth when it is no longer possible on any scale given the level of vaccine protection.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    Fishing said:

    Also I agree that the vaccinated should be allowed to visit countries, like the US, where most are vaccinated, without restrictions.

    Britain has red-listed Dubai and the UAE, despite their high vaccination rate. American travel advice grades Britain on a par with the UAE, listing both as having high Covid rates (whatever that means on a fairly limited scale). Is America wrong?

    Or look how quickly we changed our mind on Portugal, or indeed about Britain!
    UAE government have been doing a lot of lobbying over the Red list.

    The rationale is that it’s a major international transit hub, and it’s true that the first cases from South Africa came through Dubai.

    But, they’ve done more vaccinations than just about anywhere (85% of eligible population with two jabs) and are testing more than 2-3% of the population daily. Case numbers are higher than the U.K., at an equivalent of about 13k per day, but only because they are testing so much.

    They’ve just restarted a daily flight from Dubai to Heathrow, for U.K. and RoI citizens and residents who will all hotel quarantine. They’ve offered to send flights limited to those vaccinated and tested, but the U.K. govt has refused to drop the listing.

    My theory, is that the Dubai holidaymakers from the U.K. in December and January caused problems with government messaging. There were lots of ‘social media’ types over here causing trouble, ignoring rules and letting their tens of thousands of ‘followers’ know they were on holiday - just as everything in the U.K. got shut down.

    Oh, and you really don’t want to travel here in the summer. It’s 42° today at 10am, and so humid at that sunglasses steam up as you walk outside.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    What's the data for the Stepmum subset?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    Former SNP MP claims Nicola Sturgeon 'should have' been aware of Alex Salmond harassment claims in early 2014

    https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-snp-mp-claims-nicola-sturgeon-should-have-been-aware-of-alex-salmond-harassment-claims-in-early-2014-3266068
  • StockyStocky Posts: 9,653

    Thanks for the piece Mike.

    We really need as a country to start developing some perspective on this. No deaths in my area since March.

    The trouble is that potentially those in the thick of it e.g. SAGE and ministers and aides have spent so long fighting covid that they now can't step back and see the wider picture.

    The very act of publishing the daily stats stokes all this up. Is it time to stop this 4pm daily routine? I'd cease publishing the new infections every day, at least. We need to focus on new hospitalisations and the number of people in hospital.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 27,012

    I'm down to London next week for a couple of days - for the first time in over 15 months. (An in-the-room meeting with the animators for the first time.) Dinner booked at Hide.

    Is there anything on that is must-see at the mo?

    If you haven't been to the smoke for 15 months, just wander around. The parks, the river - weather looks glorious. For all that London does my head in its a fantastic place to visit.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,957
    edited June 2021
    Jonathan said:

    I'm down to London next week for a couple of days - for the first time in over 15 months. (An in-the-room meeting with the animators for the first time.) Dinner booked at Hide.

    Is there anything on that is must-see at the mo?

    London without tourists and commuters. Just wander about.
    I used to do that when I lived there - early on a sunny Sunday morning. There is so much wonderful architectural detail above ground level - difficult to look at any other time, when you have to keep your eyes peeled for large groups of European youth with no concept of personal space....
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,761

    Former SNP MP claims Nicola Sturgeon 'should have' been aware of Alex Salmond harassment claims in early 2014

    https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-snp-mp-claims-nicola-sturgeon-should-have-been-aware-of-alex-salmond-harassment-claims-in-early-2014-3266068

    And in other breaking news the sun came up again this morning.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,038
    fox327 said:

    IanB2 said:

    Has the two week delay been confirmed? It looks to me like people are voting with their feet and things are going to be opening up whatever the government might say. Social distancing no longer seems to exist, for example.

    The rumour of two weeks has now become a rumour of four weeks?
    The government seems to have no political strategy here. If there is a four week delay and after four weeks, the full reopening is STILL not possible, the government could face real political and social trouble. The government seems to be keeping the virus under control, but ignoring the politics and letting that get out of control. Letting things get out of control did not work well in January.

    A simple way to keep some control is to release some restrictions on 21 June, but not all of them. This will reduce the political pressure for a while. The challenge for the government is to communicate its strategy for returning to normality. Failure to explain its strategy could soon lead to serious trouble if the government is not careful.
    Talking of voting with feet. Resistance in theatre land.

    Lloyd Weber planning to fully open his theatre come what may.



    “We will say: come to the theatre and arrest us.”

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/andrew-lloyd-webber-want-stop-theatre-have-arrest-us/
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,764

    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    It's things like this that make me realise how out of touch I am. I have never watched any pornography, and have no desire to.
    You are not missing much.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008

    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.

    I said last night I think the Government will go for all 18 year olds offered a first jab + 3 weeks before reopening, possibly with some local restrictions on top as and when required.

    I'd say that points to the 2nd week of July.
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226
    Jonathan said:

    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.

    Down the road in Sussex CV19 has been absent for months, but it’s now popped up in my kids school. I hope we’re not climbing another part of the rollercoaster.
    They should stop testing in kids schools with immediate effect. Who cares if a kid has a sniffle. And passes it to another kid. Who passes it to their annoying anti vax parent and knobbles them.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,764
    It’s hard not to agree with the header. The justification for restrictions is not to ensure that no one gets Covid. It’s to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed. There is no danger of that.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    Foxy said:

    The NHS data grab has been put back three months, to 1st September.
    https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/08/uk_gov_delays_gp_data_grab/

    Not sure "NHS data grab" is the correct description. What is going on is the sale of data to private firms rather than the grabbing of it by the NHS. The NHS already has the data.

    In theory the data is anonymised, but combined with algorithms of other measures that Big Data has, it won't be for long. Supposedly this is for research, but once the data is out there, it will be of a lot of interest for marketing.

    It is possible to opt out prior to the deadline, but after that deadline an opt out only covers new data.

    Personally, I think such data uploads should require explicit consent. The data was collected for specific purposes and is not just an asset to be flogged off.

    Can you point me to the official docs that talk about sale for profit, @Foxy?

    My understanding of current data availability (ie hospital) is that it is for specific purposes, and charges relate to the cost of supply rather than sale for profit.

    I'm a strong supporter of data being available for research etc, in both public and private sectors - but marketing would be a step too far.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    moonshine said:

    BBC R4 reporting Palace sources say the Sussexes did NOT consult the Queen over the use of Lilibet - contradicting claims from their “friends” that Harry had discussed it with her beforehand.

    At some point, the Sussexes and the Palace need to decide if they want to renormalise peaceful relations, or if they'd prefer this continued low-level bickering. A third choice would be simply to STFU.
    The Sussex's behaviour is bonkers. Seems therefore to use Lilibet was deeply offensive without asking first. They can call their child what they like but they lack manners in not having asked (if true)
    The bit I don’t understand is the at-odds briefings. “Harry spoke to his grandmother on the name beforehand”. Countered by “no he bloody didn’t”.
    The issue is the Royal family don’t tend to engage in media wars, so Team Sussex just puts stuff out there and most of the time it goes unchallenged.

    They really need to decide what they want to do with their lives. Selling interviews about how horrible their lives were, only has so much mileage.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 27,012

    Personally I think that we're running into trouble again - a view shared by several senior people in the borough with no axe to grind. The Surrey case rate is up 68% over last week (and nationally it's up 53%), and hospitalisations are rising too. This appears to be overwhelmingly younger, not fully vaccinated people, and a chunk of those are having serious problems. Compliance is finally crumbling as people have genuinely lost track of what the rules are.

    The hard-headed answer is to wait with relaxation, in particular international travel, until the great majority of adults (and IMO children too) have been vaccinated. After a period where the authorities got serious about the situation we have relapsed into vacillation.

    Regarding unlock I can see both sides of the argument. I am really needing to resume something that resembles normality so "unlock now" appeals. At the same time as we're vaxxing people in their millions every week what difference does an extra few weeks mean?

    You make the key point - people have genuinely lost track of the rules. It doesn't matter whether we formally unlock on the 21st or not if people have already unlocked themselves. A delay will be largely ignored and the rules be unenforceable.

    There does need to be some sanity and clarity on travel. Punters desperately want to go on holidays. Sorry boys and girls it isn't happening as it takes two to tango and even where its a country we think is safe the other end probably doesn't think the same about us.

    Find a way to allow people with families or business to travel with logical restrictions, and tell everyone else to plan for 2022.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008

    I find it amusing that the very same people who consider Harry & Meghan to now be nobodies who should "step out of the limelight" are the same people who will happily gobble up every insignificant little bit of news about their lives. If everyone stopped engaging with the story, they would literally become irrelevant.

    Practice what you preach.

    That's what I'd prefer but unfortunately their insinuations and smears have done serious damage to the reputation of the monarchy, particularly among young people who believe them.

    The good news? William could claw it back. I think he gets the balance between tradition and Woke just right.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,957
    We need to start vilifying and sanctioning antivaxxers and those too lazy to get vaccinated. Also those who needlessly went overseas.

    A special circle of hell needs to be created for them.

    Exile them in Middlesbrough and no NHS access for them.

    These tossers are holding the country back, chuck in Boris Johnson for the fannying about he did and delaying the adding India to the red list.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,957

    We need to start vilifying and sanctioning antivaxxers and those too lazy to get vaccinated. Also those who needlessly went overseas.

    A special circle of hell needs to be created for them.

    Exile them in Middlesbrough and no NHS access for them.

    These tossers are holding the country back, chuck in Boris Johnson for the fannying about he did and delaying the adding India to the red list.

    Because we're in danger of this happening again in the autumn and winter if people fail to get their booster shots.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    IanB2 said:

    In shock news,…..

    Half the adult population of the UK watched online pornography during the pandemic, according to a projection by Ofcom which lays bare the activities of the 26 million individuals who view adult material.

    By far the most popular pornography site was PornHub, which was visited by 50% of all males and 16% of all females in the UK in September 2020 – giving the site a far larger audience than mainstream television channels such as Sky One, ITV4 and BBC News.

    The figures rise substantially among younger age groups, with a third of young women and three-quarters of young men visiting PornHub in the four weeks covered by the research. Ofcom also quoted PornHub’s own claims that the average UK visitor spent 10 minutes and 20 seconds on the site – an attention time that would be envied by many mainstream outlets.

    We need Pornhub to add a polling question to their site.
    Do you prefer Riley Reid or Angela White to replace Gavin Newsom as govenor of California?

    (The porn industry hates him, and mostly films in other states now, thanks to a condom law he bought in).
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,038
    Sean_F said:

    It’s hard not to agree with the header. The justification for restrictions is not to ensure that no one gets Covid. It’s to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed. There is no danger of that.



    A better public health response at the moment would be to tell young people they are at risk until they are vaccinated and repeat that message endlessly. Urge them to be cautious and only meet outside.

This discussion has been closed.