Allegra Stratton is right to raise questions about EVs – politicalbetting.com

Nigelb said:

I hadn't realised the US tried to cover up the existence of radiation sickness after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In hindsight, quite absurd - and it also adds some context to the good faith arguments advanced for the use of the bomb.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/09/science/charles-loeb-atomic-bomb.html
...Historians say General Groves understood the radiation issue as early as 1943 but kept it so compartmentalized that it was poorly known by top American officials, including Harry S. Truman. At the time he authorized the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman, scholars say, knew almost nothing of the bomb’s radiation effects. Later, he spoke of regrets.

Shortly after the atomic strike of Aug. 6, 1945, The Times began covering the radiation dispute between Japan and the United States. In September, the headline of Mr. Laurence’s Page 1 article said scientific readings at the American test site “Confirm That Blast, and not Radiation, Took Toll,” contradicting “Tokyo Tales” of ray victims. The next day, The Times ran an article with a Toyko dateline in which General Farrell’s investigative team, as the headline stated, found “No Radioactivity in Hiroshima Ruin.”...

megalomaniacs4u said:

eek said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this now necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

Why?

And I'm being serious here - once you've got your first or second job which employer really looks at your GCSE or A level results.

They will at best look at your highest qualification (so Uni for most people with A levels) and most of the time will only care that you can do the job they are asking you to do.

You'd be surprised. There was a thread on reddit recently with several people complaining that they had to spend £80 getting their GCSE certificates reprinted to apply for a job. https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/oxutel/have_just_been_told_that_my_maths_a_level/

eek said:

megalomaniacs4u said:

eek said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this now necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

Why?

And I'm being serious here - once you've got your first or second job which employer really looks at your GCSE or A level results.

They will at best look at your highest qualification (so Uni for most people with A levels) and most of the time will only care that you can do the job they are asking you to do.

You'd be surprised. There was a thread on reddit recently with several people complaining that they had to spend £80 getting their GCSE certificates reprinted to apply for a job. https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/oxutel/have_just_been_told_that_my_maths_a_level/

All I see there is a company that I wouldn't want to work for, what does a GCSE maths show anyone beyond the fact you could do xyz 30 years ago...

TOPPING said:

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Tell me about it


I'm trying to fly to Athens today, and the conflicting advice is driving me nuts. The Greek and UK government websites insist that I only need proof of vaccination (plus a PLForm). But BA keeps sending me emails saying No I also need a negative test. Then I call BA and you can't get through because everyone has been pinged home and they have no staff

I'm off to Heathrow in an hour or two, I literally have no idea if I will make it to Greece

I'm going to Greece too shortly. I think it is the carrier's (ie BA's) requirement for a negative test; Greece just needs to know that you are 2x vaxxed for over 14 days before you arrive. I have the same thing (LFT not PCR). Coming back I think you need a PCR on Day 2 if you are fully vaxxed (vs one on Day 2 and one on Day 8) although I'm wondering who checks this.

I am also going to call the carrier.

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Andy_JS said:

A lot of denial around today, that 45% of students getting A or A* grades doesn't represent grade inflation, when most 5 year olds would be able to understand that it does.

Mexicanpete said:

Nigelb said:

I hadn't realised the US tried to cover up the existence of radiation sickness after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In hindsight, quite absurd - and it also adds some context to the good faith arguments advanced for the use of the bomb.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/09/science/charles-loeb-atomic-bomb.html
...Historians say General Groves understood the radiation issue as early as 1943 but kept it so compartmentalized that it was poorly known by top American officials, including Harry S. Truman. At the time he authorized the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman, scholars say, knew almost nothing of the bomb’s radiation effects. Later, he spoke of regrets.

Shortly after the atomic strike of Aug. 6, 1945, The Times began covering the radiation dispute between Japan and the United States. In September, the headline of Mr. Laurence’s Page 1 article said scientific readings at the American test site “Confirm That Blast, and not Radiation, Took Toll,” contradicting “Tokyo Tales” of ray victims. The next day, The Times ran an article with a Toyko dateline in which General Farrell’s investigative team, as the headline stated, found “No Radioactivity in Hiroshima Ruin.”...

Madness all around.

Visiting Hiroshima I learned that bomb 2 was destined for Kyoto. However some senior General had spent his honeymoon there and didn't like the idea of the place being obliterated so the bomb was switched to target 3 Nagasaki.The general consensus was Nagasaki was more of a handy scientific experiment rather than an act to end the war, which to all intents and purposes was over after Hiroshima.

kinabalu said:

Mexicanpete said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

It’s a shame Alistair Meeks left us. He’s having an interesting debate about Clanchy with @cyclefree on Twitter

Brexit sent him partly bonkers, but his departure from PB lowered the average IQ here by several points

So that's tim and Alistair you've got as notches on your flint dildo scabbard? Good work.

Alistair left because of ME?! He's far too smart to be scared off by badinage and bantz. I think he wisely realised that he was losing his cool, too often (which he was) on a site that is at least half Leaver. So he Meexited

I recall he took particular offence at one of our most prolific poster's cavalier attitude to protecting those particularly and specifically vulnerable to Covid19. Mr Meek's took umbrage due to a family member being vulnerable.

The poster in question always has a defence of the Johnson Government, however witheringly foolish the policy might be, unless it relates to lockdowns, when he goes all Nigel Farage on us.

Yep, he choked on a poison Phil and it finished him off.

Moral there.

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

megalomaniacs4u said:

eek said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this now necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

Why?

And I'm being serious here - once you've got your first or second job which employer really looks at your GCSE or A level results.

They will at best look at your highest qualification (so Uni for most people with A levels) and most of the time will only care that you can do the job they are asking you to do.

You'd be surprised. There was a thread on reddit recently with several people complaining that they had to spend £80 getting their GCSE certificates reprinted to apply for a job. https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/oxutel/have_just_been_told_that_my_maths_a_level/

HYUFD said:

75% of the UK population have now been double jabbed against Covid
https://twitter.com/nickeardleybbc/status/1425090045103509515?s=20

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

This is a really useful app

https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map?affiliateid=ba

It explicitly says, if you’re flying to Greece with BA, and you’re double jabbed, you do NOT need a test pre-departure

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

This is a really useful app

https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map?affiliateid=ba

It explicitly says, if you’re flying to Greece with BA, and you’re double jabbed, you do NOT need a test pre-departure

Yes thanks that I think I knew.

But you/I need to take a test before we return from Greece in the three days before the transport departs and then a PCR test on Day 2 after we return.

Yes you do. But these days it’s quite smooth. Good hotels abroad generally have antigen tests set up for guests and it’s easy to book a test when you get back. If you’re coming through Paddington you can get your day 2 test on arrival there

kle4 said:

Nigelb said:

Sometimes a scientific result is so surprising that it upends your entire worldview...

Cats prefer to get free meals rather than work for them
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-cats-free-meals.html
..."There is an entire body of research that shows that most species including birds, rodents, wolves, primates—even giraffes—prefer to work for their food," said lead author Mikel Delgado, a cat behaviorist and research affiliate at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "What's surprising is out of all these species cats seem to be the only ones that showed no strong tendency to contrafreeload.”…

That does actually surprise me, I'd assume most animals were like that.

Does this mean the T Rex really did want to hunt not be fed?

eek said:

megalomaniacs4u said:

eek said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this now necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

Why?

And I'm being serious here - once you've got your first or second job which employer really looks at your GCSE or A level results.

They will at best look at your highest qualification (so Uni for most people with A levels) and most of the time will only care that you can do the job they are asking you to do.

You'd be surprised. There was a thread on reddit recently with several people complaining that they had to spend £80 getting their GCSE certificates reprinted to apply for a job. https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/oxutel/have_just_been_told_that_my_maths_a_level/

All I see there is a company that I wouldn't want to work for, what does a GCSE maths show anyone beyond the fact you could do xyz 30 years ago...

eek said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

Compared with 30 years ago (i.e. prior to the internet) most people's knowledge was limited to the information available to them at home, school and the local library.

Nowadays the internet contains virtually everything and is available instantly for most people. Which means that you can quickly become a world expert in Disney rides lore were that of interest to you (I say that as Eek Jr 1 bored us with that yesterday while distracting herself to avoid panicking).

So I can easily believe that results are better now than 30 years ago. What is harder to explain is why results in 2021 don't tally with 2019, but that has everything to do with the disaster that has been exams since March 2020...

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Carnyx said:

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Ausweis, bitte.

Leon said:

Carnyx said:

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Ausweis, bitte.

“Du hast ein sniffle, ja?”

Carnyx said:

HYUFD said:

eek said:

HYUFD said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

What we do want is a ranking system. Otherwise what is the point of competitive examinations? They are supposed to enable universities and top employers to pick the brightest candidates.

If everyone is getting more intelligent and knowledgeable about the world all to the good. However there are still only about the same number of doctors and lawyers and teachers we need percentage wise as 50 years ago.

There is no reason why everyone should not be able to drive, so all you need is a mere pass to be safe on the roads that is all. The driving test is not equivalent

How does a ranking system pick the brightest candidates?

It doesn't. It picks the ones most able to answer the questions in the way they are presented.

For instance I won an award a national Journalism back in 1989. Given that the previous year my English Teacher announced the O level results with the statement "Congratulations, you've all passed English Language O level, yes that includes Eek" you can see why it doesn't work.

Well obviously you passed English O level too then, which is more than most pupils of your age would have done back then. So that rather proves my point.

Many people demonstrably have problems with geography, logic, and statistical method today. Which proves your point even more.

HYUFD said:

Stark_Dawning said:

isam said:

Farage looking to exploit Boris’s comments about pit closures.



I wonder if Sir Keir could do worse than appear on Nigel’s show on GB News, ‘Talking Pints’

You've got to admire Nigel's chutzpah. For years he's been selling himself to the British Right as Maggie's true heir ('Thatcher would have voted UKIP' etc.). Now, in a trice, he's posing as son of Scargill. Nevertheless, he's probably on to something - many working-class conservatives sympathized with the miners' plight even when they thought union domination needed to be countered. So Boris's remarks offended everyone and endeared himself to no one.

Yes, plenty of northern and midlands working class ex Labour, then UKIP, Leave and now Tory voters have great sympathy with coal miners and coal mining communities.

Wealthy left liberal diehard Remainers who live in London and the South generally could not care less, they hate Boris regardless so he is not going to win them over

Leon said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Mexicanpete said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

It’s a shame Alistair Meeks left us. He’s having an interesting debate about Clanchy with @cyclefree on Twitter

Brexit sent him partly bonkers, but his departure from PB lowered the average IQ here by several points

So that's tim and Alistair you've got as notches on your flint dildo scabbard? Good work.

Alistair left because of ME?! He's far too smart to be scared off by badinage and bantz. I think he wisely realised that he was losing his cool, too often (which he was) on a site that is at least half Leaver. So he Meexited

I recall he took particular offence at one of our most prolific poster's cavalier attitude to protecting those particularly and specifically vulnerable to Covid19. Mr Meek's took umbrage due to a family member being vulnerable.

The poster in question always has a defence of the Johnson Government, however witheringly foolish the policy might be, unless it relates to lockdowns, when he goes all Nigel Farage on us.

That's not what happened. It wasn't an argument over Covid19 (I always supported protecting the vulnerable from Covid19), it was an argument over Brexit.

Mr Meeks, in what someone could perhaps term Strasbourg Syndrome, had a rather paranoid delusion that Brexit meant that medicines would cease to enter the UK, which could be fatal for his loved one. In World War Two the UK pulled every string to ensure the country never ran out of tea, yet in peace time he thought for some twisted reason that Brexit would mean that the country couldn't import medicines let alone tea. He attempted to exploit this delusion to win an argument by basically shutting down debate and saying it was unacceptable to risk his loved one's health by proceeding with Brexit.

I completely discounted this argument and thought it was absurd and called him out on it. He took great offence at that and stropped off.

As it happened, his paranoid delusion has been shown as just that. There was never a realistic prospect that medicines would be blocked from entering the UK due to Brexit, it was a farcical thing to get upset over.

I wish him well and hope he recovers from his Strasbourg Syndrome and ceases to get so upset about these things. Good luck to him, the site is poorer for his absence.

That’s how I remembered it. He got way too emotional or at least appeared to, in an attempt to ‘win’ an argument with his personal pain

It was overdone. And beneath him, as he’s so clever.

Come back MR MEEKS

Leon said:

Carnyx said:

Leon said:

Carnyx said:

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Ausweis, bitte.

“Du hast ein sniffle, ja?”

Haben Sie, surely ...

But wouldn’t they be slangy and chummy, to try and lull me into a ‘mistake’?

I might pretend I’m blind.

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

Stocky said:

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Just seen your posts from earlier @Leon . You def don't need negative test to leave UK to Greece. You need confirmation that you have completed Greek Passenger Locator Form and that you are vaccinated fully plus 14 days. Confirmation of the latter can be by NHS App or NHS paper letter. (BTW I recommend that everyone gets a paper letter. It is easy and will be with you in a week approx https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/get-your-covid-pass-letter/ .)

You will need four additional things to get back into UK:

1) a negative test. This can be LFT or PCR. The company I have used twice for this is Qured. You set up a video call (make sure you have good wifi where you are going) and they video call you at the allotted time and watch you hake the test. You have to order before you go away and take test in case with you of course. Alternatively you will be scratting around in your destination wasting time looking for a local test provider;
2) UK's Passenger Locator Form;
3) Evidence of vaccination status;
4) evidence that you have booked and paid for a Day 2 PCR test.

The above applies whether you are visiting a Green or an Amber country.

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

I shopped about and got the PCR from Randox and the pre-departure from Qured. The latter has the advantage that you can do the test from anywhere with an internet connection and they supervise you remotely, avoiding having to make an appointment in France or Germany, which as well as easier gives me added flexibility if my plans have to change.

AFAICS no-one takes much notice of your doing the actual PCR test after return, the check being whether you can produce a booking code to show you have bought one, before they let you back in.

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

Leon said:

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

This is a really useful app

https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map?affiliateid=ba

It explicitly says, if you’re flying to Greece with BA, and you’re double jabbed, you do NOT need a test pre-departure

Yes thanks that I think I knew.

But you/I need to take a test before we return from Greece in the three days before the transport departs and then a PCR test on Day 2 after we return.

Yes you do. But these days it’s quite smooth. Good hotels abroad generally have antigen tests set up for guests - that was my experience in Majorca recently - and it’s easy to book a test when you get back. If you’re coming through Paddington you can get your day 2 test on arrival there

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

just been sent a mail by eurostar saying, in essence, come and use eurostar.

Here is the text from the "coronavirus information" page. 2 years ago this would have seemed like the precursor to a mediocre Black Mirror episode (and there are no mediocre Black Mirror episodes). Now we just say yes fine got it.

"You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Our teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all our destination countries. If you are travelling to Germany via Brussels, you must comply with the Belgian travel rules.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your reason for travel is permitted by the country you are visiting, as the rules differ for each destination.

As regulations can change at short notice, please ensure you check the latest official government information of your departure and arrival destination before travelling and read the ‘Travel’ sections below."

JFC

Travel is like planning a military operation right now. My paperwork checklist for my forthcoming road trip:

DONE:

- complete vaccination and health declaration for Eurotunnel
- Apply for Green Card for the car
- purchased day 2 testing pack for return
- purchased pre-departure testing pack to take with me
- obtained NHS vacc certificate with covering letters in French and Italian
- obtained German low emission sticker

TO DO:

- health certificate for the dog (appointment booked)
- complete and print sworn declaration for France
- online registration before entering Italy
- book video call slot for the pre-departure covid test
- apply for an IDP (optional, may not bother)
- book German vet appointment for the dog
- keep checking for any changes to the rules
- buy Swiss motorway pass
- pay online for a Austrian motorway pass

TO DO while away:

- complete online UK passenger locator form
- complete return covid declaration for Eurotunnel
- vet appointment to complete the AHC

Other travellers with animals are warning to allow two to three hours for all the admin checks both sides of the channel.

Bloody hell.

What PCR test are you going to buy? Recommendations?

I shopped about and got the PCR from Randox and the pre-departure from Qured. The latter has the advantage that you can do the test from anywhere with an internet connection and they supervise you remotely, avoiding having to make an appointment in France or Germany, which as well as easier gives me added flexibility if my plans have to change.

AFAICS no-one takes much notice of your doing the actual PCR test after return, the check being whether you can produce a booking code to show you have bought one, before they let you back in.

Morris_Dancer said:

Good morning, everyone.

Do electric car enthusiasts have any concerns regarding the cost of manufacture and the potential difficulty of disposing of batteries once they're done?

Not a driver, but I am wondering if this is going to be akin to the biofuel situation where something that seems very good environmentally turns out not to be so when the full lifetime (and aftermath) of the car is accounted.

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

Toms said:

Put simply, as I see it cars have at least three downsides:
One, They contribute to climate change.
Two, they pollute.
Three: Often misused, they contribute to accidents, obesity and general un-fitness.

Lacking exhaust in their use electric cars will pollute less on the streets, though they will still contribute to pollution from their tire dust. But their production still involves applying industrial processes to natural resources just as before.

I think it is flaccid self-indulgence to imagine that shifting to electric cars is a particularly big contribution to the climate change problem.

On the other hand, if we shift to electric cars and cut their overall number on the road as well to, say, by a factor of ten then that might help.

IanB2 said:

TOPPING said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

I’m actually nervous as we approach Terminal 5.

ARE MY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

This must be what it felt like for the guys in The Great Escape. I wonder if a BA spy will try and catch me out with a trick question as I board the plane, and I will be hauled away and silenced forever.

Just seen your posts from earlier @Leon . You def don't need negative test to leave UK to Greece. You need confirmation that you have completed Greek Passenger Locator Form and that you are vaccinated fully plus 14 days. Confirmation of the latter can be by NHS App or NHS paper letter. (BTW I recommend that everyone gets a paper letter. It is easy and will be with you in a week approx https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/get-your-covid-pass-letter/ .)

You will need four additional things to get back into UK:

1) a negative test. This can be LFT or PCR. The company I have used twice for this is Qured. You set up a video call (make sure you have good wifi where you are going) and they video call you at the allotted time and watch you hake the test. You have to order before you go away and take test in case with you of course. Alternatively you will be scratting around in your destination wasting time looking for a local test provider;
2) UK's Passenger Locator Form;
3) Evidence of vaccination status;
4) evidence that you have booked and paid for a Day 2 PCR test.

The above applies whether you are visiting a Green or an Amber country.

Excellent thanks that's great. I wondered how the govt would check about the Day 2 PCR test. But I can't find specifically that measure on the govt's website.

I believe the passenger locator form you have to complete before return asks for confirmation number.

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

TOPPING said:

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

I suppose you take it on the morning of departure? Not sure how it works in the event of a positive result.

Selebian said:

kinabalu said:

Mexicanpete said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

It’s a shame Alistair Meeks left us. He’s having an interesting debate about Clanchy with @cyclefree on Twitter

Brexit sent him partly bonkers, but his departure from PB lowered the average IQ here by several points

So that's tim and Alistair you've got as notches on your flint dildo scabbard? Good work.

Alistair left because of ME?! He's far too smart to be scared off by badinage and bantz. I think he wisely realised that he was losing his cool, too often (which he was) on a site that is at least half Leaver. So he Meexited

I recall he took particular offence at one of our most prolific poster's cavalier attitude to protecting those particularly and specifically vulnerable to Covid19. Mr Meek's took umbrage due to a family member being vulnerable.

The poster in question always has a defence of the Johnson Government, however witheringly foolish the policy might be, unless it relates to lockdowns, when he goes all Nigel Farage on us.

Yep, he choked on a poison Phil and it finished him off.

Moral there.

Interesting* philosophical/medical debate to be had there - is choking on a poison pill better than actually swallowing it? I guess it depends on the poison and how fast acting, availability of someone to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, availability of stomach pumps etc...

*well, maybe not interesting

TOPPING said:

IanB2 said:

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

When you book the test you have to declare where you would be isolating, in such a case. I just gave the address of the hotel I expect to be in at the time.

Interesting thanks and that makes sense so presumably you can say "at home" also.

And is £75 from Qured the going rate for the Day 2 test?

Sorry to treat PB as my own personal Simon Calder session it's much appreciated.

HYUFD said:

Selebian said:

HYUFD said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

What we do want is a ranking system. Otherwise what is the point of competitive examinations? They are supposed to enable universities and top employers to pick the brightest candidates.

If everyone is getting more intelligent and knowledgeable about the world all to the good. However there are still only about the same number of doctors and lawyers and teachers we need percentage wise as 50 years ago.

There is no reason why everyone should not be able to drive, so all you need is a mere pass to be safe on the roads that is all. The driving test is not equivalent

Even if you accept that an exam-based ranking system would enable picking the 'brightest' - why do we want the 'brightest' to be doctors, lawyers and teachers?

I want my doctor to be smart enough to make the diagnosis/perform the treatment, but I also want them to care, want to help people, be good with people.

I want my teacher to be smart enough to understand the things I need to be taught and to give useful answers to my questions - at GCSE and A level that's not that high a bar, but I also want them, perhaps more so, to inspire me, care and be good at communication.

I want everyone else's lawyers to be as thick as two short planks

We've interviewed smart people (on paper) and found them incurious and poorly suited to the research we do, which involves working with and communicating with doctors and patients.

Exams are the thing that make people work (mostly) at school and probably the best tool to decide who is suited to higher education, who not so much etc etc. But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the object of the exercise is to teach people about the world and equip them to go and do useful things. Too much focus on exams risks losing focus on the actual teaching and learning.

Yes a doctor ideally would be good with people too but if they have no medical knowledge then they would be pretty useless on the operating table or in terms of accurately diagnosing illness and treatment.

Same with lawyers, if you do not have a knowledge of the law you cannot advise on the law.

Same with teachers, yes inspiring is good but at the end of the day you are a teacher transferring knowledge not an actor giving a performance.

As a matter of curiosity when was the last time you employed candidates with C or D grades or lower across the board?

TOPPING said:

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

I suppose you take it on the morning of departure? Not sure how it works in the event of a positive result.

kinabalu said:

Selebian said:

kinabalu said:

Mexicanpete said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

It’s a shame Alistair Meeks left us. He’s having an interesting debate about Clanchy with @cyclefree on Twitter

Brexit sent him partly bonkers, but his departure from PB lowered the average IQ here by several points

So that's tim and Alistair you've got as notches on your flint dildo scabbard? Good work.

Alistair left because of ME?! He's far too smart to be scared off by badinage and bantz. I think he wisely realised that he was losing his cool, too often (which he was) on a site that is at least half Leaver. So he Meexited

I recall he took particular offence at one of our most prolific poster's cavalier attitude to protecting those particularly and specifically vulnerable to Covid19. Mr Meek's took umbrage due to a family member being vulnerable.

The poster in question always has a defence of the Johnson Government, however witheringly foolish the policy might be, unless it relates to lockdowns, when he goes all Nigel Farage on us.

Yep, he choked on a poison Phil and it finished him off.

Moral there.

Interesting* philosophical/medical debate to be had there - is choking on a poison pill better than actually swallowing it? I guess it depends on the poison and how fast acting, availability of someone to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, availability of stomach pumps etc...

*well, maybe not interesting

Yes it depends on all those things. You're spot on.

Stocky said:

@TOPPING @Leon

The risk, of course, is the 72 hour before return to UK test. What if you test positive! Travelling as a family we have to have contingency plans thought out for the eventuality.

HYUFD said:

Selebian said:

HYUFD said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

What we do want is a ranking system. Otherwise what is the point of competitive examinations? They are supposed to enable universities and top employers to pick the brightest candidates.

If everyone is getting more intelligent and knowledgeable about the world all to the good. However there are still only about the same number of doctors and lawyers and teachers we need percentage wise as 50 years ago.

There is no reason why everyone should not be able to drive, so all you need is a mere pass to be safe on the roads that is all. The driving test is not equivalent

Even if you accept that an exam-based ranking system would enable picking the 'brightest' - why do we want the 'brightest' to be doctors, lawyers and teachers?

I want my doctor to be smart enough to make the diagnosis/perform the treatment, but I also want them to care, want to help people, be good with people.

I want my teacher to be smart enough to understand the things I need to be taught and to give useful answers to my questions - at GCSE and A level that's not that high a bar, but I also want them, perhaps more so, to inspire me, care and be good at communication.

I want everyone else's lawyers to be as thick as two short planks

We've interviewed smart people (on paper) and found them incurious and poorly suited to the research we do, which involves working with and communicating with doctors and patients.

Exams are the thing that make people work (mostly) at school and probably the best tool to decide who is suited to higher education, who not so much etc etc. But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the object of the exercise is to teach people about the world and equip them to go and do useful things. Too much focus on exams risks losing focus on the actual teaching and learning.

Yes a doctor ideally would be good with people too but if they have no medical knowledge then they would be pretty useless on the operating table or in terms of accurately diagnosing illness and treatment.

Same with lawyers, if you do not have a knowledge of the law you cannot advise on the law.

Same with teachers, yes inspiring is good but at the end of the day you are a teacher transferring knowledge not an actor giving a performance.

As a matter of curiosity when was the last time you employed candidates with C or D grades or lower across the board?

Selebian said:

HYUFD said:

Selebian said:

HYUFD said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

HYUFD said:

Pulpstar said:

ping said:

IanB2 said:

Half of all students getting an A is more than a tad of grade inflation.

Indeed.

We’ve done a huge disservice to past and future students. I don’t see how they can fix this now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this necessitates a complete reworking of the grades. Replace A-E with a new 1-10 national ranking system, perhaps?

How about

Exams for all. Students ranked from 1 - 10, 1 = top 10%, 2 = 11 -> 20%............

Yes, even 19% got an A* grade so even the A* does not distinguish the top 10% now.

A ranking system sounds much more sensible

No. A ranking system is only more sensible if what you want is a ranking system.

If, instead, A-levels are supposed to reflect how much a student knows about a subject, then it is quite possible that today's students really can speak Italian better than their predecessors, because of cheaper holidays and easier access to Italian videos on Youtube.

Looked at another way, if someone said there were more 18-year-olds with driving licences than 30 years ago, you'd not be too shocked. But if someone said they were twice as intelligent, you would smell a rat. So are A-levels supposed to be like driving tests or intelligence tests?

What we do want is a ranking system. Otherwise what is the point of competitive examinations? They are supposed to enable universities and top employers to pick the brightest candidates.

If everyone is getting more intelligent and knowledgeable about the world all to the good. However there are still only about the same number of doctors and lawyers and teachers we need percentage wise as 50 years ago.

There is no reason why everyone should not be able to drive, so all you need is a mere pass to be safe on the roads that is all. The driving test is not equivalent

Even if you accept that an exam-based ranking system would enable picking the 'brightest' - why do we want the 'brightest' to be doctors, lawyers and teachers?

I want my doctor to be smart enough to make the diagnosis/perform the treatment, but I also want them to care, want to help people, be good with people.

I want my teacher to be smart enough to understand the things I need to be taught and to give useful answers to my questions - at GCSE and A level that's not that high a bar, but I also want them, perhaps more so, to inspire me, care and be good at communication.

I want everyone else's lawyers to be as thick as two short planks

We've interviewed smart people (on paper) and found them incurious and poorly suited to the research we do, which involves working with and communicating with doctors and patients.

Exams are the thing that make people work (mostly) at school and probably the best tool to decide who is suited to higher education, who not so much etc etc. But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the object of the exercise is to teach people about the world and equip them to go and do useful things. Too much focus on exams risks losing focus on the actual teaching and learning.

Yes a doctor ideally would be good with people too but if they have no medical knowledge then they would be pretty useless on the operating table or in terms of accurately diagnosing illness and treatment.

Same with lawyers, if you do not have a knowledge of the law you cannot advise on the law.

Same with teachers, yes inspiring is good but at the end of the day you are a teacher transferring knowledge not an actor giving a performance.

As a matter of curiosity when was the last time you employed candidates with C or D grades or lower across the board?

Yes, you need knowledge (and a sufficient degree of intelligence to apply and understand that knowledge). However, we're talking about school exams and there are no A levels in law or medicine (or are there? not common anyway?) so A levels are just a clue as to who might have the ability to do well in those professions. My issue was with you saying that we want doctors etc to be the brightest - I disagree, but it does depend on how you define 'brightest', i.e. what % that covers. I'd want my doctor to have done well in med school, I'm not to bothered if they flunked their A levels.

As for you last question, 2018 (as I recall it was two Cs and a D, certainly nothing above C). The person in question wanted to be a doctor at the time, but failed to get the grades. Went into nursing instead and through that into research. Now a Senior Research Fellow (equivalent grade to Senior Lecturer, one below Professor). I only remember because she was - rightly - proud of how she'd turned things around, we wouldn't ordinarily have looked much at the A level results, but her letter highlighted them, the experience was relevant to the job.