politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Doctors dispute: Betting opens on whether Hunt will sur

david_herdson said:

MTimT said:

FPT @ David Herdson:

No one can impose a contract on anyone. If in my consulting business a client 'imposes' conditions that are unbearable, I walk away from the contract. If it is unpalatable but bearable, I suck it up unless I have better options.

The option to walk - or find better work elsewhere - is also available to junior doctors, and I truly hope some of them exercise it. For at least some, the well is so poisoned they should - for their own good as well as that of the NHS - no longer work in the NHS.

I say this not out of any animus towards the doctors. But we all have to live in the world as it is, and we can't pretend for ever that the world is different for the NHS.

You can't impose a contract on a person in that they do indeed have the option to walk away, but you can impose new terms and conditions on a workforce as a condition of employment.

Indeed, but the option still exists to find better or simply walk away.

At the FCO, we had all sorts of changes of contract imposed without negotiation, including going from simply being posted to an Embassy without consultation, to being able to state one's preferences and usually getting one from within the top three, to having to actually apply and compete through a job interview process. Those who failed to win any jobs were put in the work pool. All that while the number of delegations increased by 10% and the international diplomatic staff was reduced close to 60% (i.e. to 40% of what it had been). I walked, without rancour, as did many others. Others chose to stay. It's called life.

I could have stayed and become bitter about the imposed conditions and changed work environment, but what would be the point in that? And who would suffer? The FCO marginally by having a disgruntled employee, me massively by having drastically reduced the quality of my life.

MikeL said:

We knew this anyway but we now have absolute 100% confirmation that the Boundary Review will now go ahead on the basis of 600 MPs.

See the Government Response to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2014-15 (just published):

"What next on the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries?"

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/499661/53993_Cm_9203_Print_Ready.pdf

"At present, Parliamentary constituencies range in size from 22,000 to 108,000 electors. Without the implementation of these boundary reforms, the 2020-25 House of Commons would represent constituencies that are drawn up on electoral register data that is over 20 years’ old"

But aren't we being told that attending to this issue is "gerrymandering"?

taffys said:

''If Deutsche Bank goes down, it will go down in the same way RBS did, only with the German taxpayer bailing it out rather than the UK one.''

Its not clear to me what is really threatening DB's viability. I read the term 'litigation' bandied around a lot, surely the regulators can't be fining their way into a financial crisis?

The suspicion is that they are carrying very large volumes of non performing loans, sufficient to undermine their capital and cause short term solvency issues. No idea if that is true or too many people enjoying a good film!

Mr. Mark, the dog's getting a bit better at walks. Missed a trick to take her on the fields this morning. They're normally waterlogged but it was frosty.

Gets a bit ratty when her paws need wiping, though.

isam said:

What you are saying is almost "if mug punters bet like shrewdies they'd be ok"! V few people bother having more than one account (if any) and even fewer use oddschecker

I am past caring now to be honest, I accept my lot and get on with it. I no longer look at a winner that I would have backed big and get the hump

The Greek Govt have got nothing on the HKJC monopoly... taking best price is a criminal offence there

No, I am saying that mug punters get a far better return than they used to, thanks to the internet & competition. A lot of that has been driven by tighter pricing which obviously increases opportunities for shrewdies - and of course technology has made it easier to track and detect these shrewdies.

The Pinnacle/Asia model of not running as many markets but being prepared to trade the price works fine too but it is a very different model.

I've long since stopped worrying about not getting on too. Just the odd shop trip for politics and AP baseball which is as much about getting one over on them as anything.

isam said:

"Polling Matters" is a bit of a hostage to fortune as a name for a blog isn't it btw?

Only if you read it as [noun verb] rather than [gerundive noun].

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

There's certainly been a step change in expectations at primary level. That's not to say that it's all good but it certainly stops brighter children coasting.

I honestly thought that this was going to be the shortest article since that famous chapter on owls in Iceland but apparently not: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/how-jeremy-corbyn-is-preparing-for-pmqs/

Astonishing levels of self-delusion.

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

Uniondivie

Thanks for the link below. I'm surprised that this MORI poll has not generated more interest from the usual suspects on this site.

Of course massive SNP leads are commonplace as are dismal Labour ratings. However majorities for independence and substantial majorities on the supposition of a BREXIT are not and therefore should be worthy of substantial commentary.

Also of interest is the MORI polling reversal in the fortunes of the Tory Party and in particular their leader after a few (for them) relatively encouraging polls. This MORI survey has them well cemented in third place but even worse for regular PB posters the MORI leadership which are, by general acknowledgement, the most reliable leadership indicators, expose Ruth Davidson as third rate rather than second rate in the leadership approval stakes. They have now set the bar at coming second. Not do so will represent another failure.

Come to think of it with these sort of figures it is little wonder that the usual suspects are keeping their heads down!


http://tinyurl.com/gkrd6bo

taffys said:

''If Deutsche Bank goes down, it will go down in the same way RBS did, only with the German taxpayer bailing it out rather than the UK one.''

Its not clear to me what is really threatening DB's viability. I read the term 'litigation' bandied around a lot, surely the regulators can't be fining their way into a financial crisis?

It's unlikely

More seriously, Deutsche Bank's problems are mostly that it tried to "play with the big boys" in investment banking, and has a huge cost base. What Deutsche Bank does not have is a very large number of underwater loans.

Total loans outstanding are EUR433bn. The company has shareholders equity of EUR69bn.

That's barely levered by the standards of most banks. Northern Rock, RBS and the like were levered 50-1 or more, Deutsche Bank's leverage is less than a fifth of that.

And the Germans don't owe very much money. Germany household debt is something like 55% of GDP. On the St Louis Fed numbers, that's the lowest in the developed world. (We, by the way, are on a scary 180+%). Corporate debt has declined since 2007, by roughly a quarter too. There's relatively little exposure to oil & gas or mining companies too.

So, while Deutsche Bank has a great many problems, in particular in terms of spending a lot of money to hire people to compete with Goldman, Morgan Stanley and the like, it would appear to be very far from insolvent.

DavidL said:

I honestly thought that this was going to be the shortest article since that famous chapter on owls in Iceland but apparently not: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/how-jeremy-corbyn-is-preparing-for-pmqs/

Astonishing levels of self-delusion.

The only breeding owl on Iceland is the Short-eared Owl. However, Long-eared Owl, European Scops Owl and Snowy Owl have all been recorded as rare vagrants.

Brief enough?

rcs1000 said:

And the Germans don't owe very much money. Germany household debt is something like 55% of GDP. On the St Louis Fed numbers, that's the lowest in the developed world. (We, by the way, are on a scary 180+%). Corporate debt has declined since 2007, by roughly a quarter too. There's relatively little exposure to oil & gas or mining companies too.

That 180% isn't a net figure though is it?

I may have a mortgage exceeding 180% of my annual salary but the house is worth double what my outstanding mortgage is so I'm not worried. I seem to recall a recent graphic showing Britons had more in net assets than Germans did, so more debt isn't an issue if it is productive debt.

Who could blame Nicola Sturgeon for commencing FMQs today by reminding everyone that Hunt's actions in England do not apply to Scotland.

She did not say anything else, nor did she need to.

How big will the SNP victory be in May? BIG :-)

isam said:

Tissue_Price said:

isam said:

"Polling Matters" is a bit of a hostage to fortune as a name for a blog isn't it btw?

Only if you read it as [noun verb] rather than [gerundive noun].

Well surely its meant to be read both ways? You think its an accident that it can be read more than one?

No, but it means you can get away with it not being a hostage to fortune (or indeed seen as an idle boast!)

Tissue_Price said:

isam said:

Tissue_Price said:

isam said:

"Polling Matters" is a bit of a hostage to fortune as a name for a blog isn't it btw?

Only if you read it as [noun verb] rather than [gerundive noun].

Well surely its meant to be read both ways? You think its an accident that it can be read more than one?

No, but it means you can get away with it not being a hostage to fortune (or indeed seen as an idle boast!)

I think its the natural thing to read it in light of GE 2015 and think "No it don't"

Did you get my mail? A ricket or is it a deliberate gift to the punters in this age of giveaways???

JonathanD said:

AlastairMeeks said:

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

The Junior doctor complaint now seems to have boiled down to them not liking their time and a half on Saturday being removed. That seems like a fairly easy issue for most of the population to grasp.

The public massively back the doctors. Conservatives on here who think otherwise are deluding themselves. There isn't the slightest evidence that support is weakening.

AlastairMeeks said:

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

Since the doctors not working weekends would be getting an 11% rise from Hunt and only 4% under the BMA's counter-proposal, maybe for them at least it wasn't about money.

DavidL said:

MarqueeMark said:

DavidL said:

I honestly thought that this was going to be the shortest article since that famous chapter on owls in Iceland but apparently not: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/how-jeremy-corbyn-is-preparing-for-pmqs/

Astonishing levels of self-delusion.

The only breeding owl on Iceland is the Short-eared Owl. However, Long-eared Owl, European Scops Owl and Snowy Owl have all been recorded as rare vagrants.

Brief enough?

Maybe I have got that wrong. I am sure the story was that the chapter was called Owls in Iceland and the text; "There are no owls in Iceland."

There was also the blank page in someone's biography about the knowledge of the average director of a football club. Maybe I should have used that.

Edit: this is what I was thinking of: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ljdFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=there+are+no+owls+in+iceland&source=bl&ots=vpzi0pby9b&sig=-POD-seJmLS_KX6pQ3iUWuuaNDA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJh7fSjvDKAhVHzRQKHeuYDZgQ6AEIMDAC#v=onepage&q=there are no owls in iceland&f=false

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

AlastairMeeks said:

JonathanD said:

AlastairMeeks said:

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

The Junior doctor complaint now seems to have boiled down to them not liking their time and a half on Saturday being removed. That seems like a fairly easy issue for most of the population to grasp.

The public massively back the doctors. Conservatives on here who think otherwise are deluding themselves. There isn't the slightest evidence that support is weakening.

Well of course they do. But what good is that going to do the doctors? Or indeed, what harm to the government? It's easy to have an opinion; how many people will act on it?

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

Miss Apocalypse, changes to education take many years before their effects become apparent. It is much too early to come to a judgement on Gove's very limited reforms. Which is a bit of a pisser really, both for the children involved and the nation as a whole.

However, there are some eternal verities in the world of UK education. Well, if not eternal then dating back to the 19th century. Firstly, a system designed to produce a few paladins to run an empire is no basis for a national education system. Secondly, not every child wants, needs or is cut out for academic based education and the UK needs to get serious about vocational and technical education. Those two points were in the conclusions of a parliamentary commission into education in 1874 - we still haven't taken them on board. Thirdly, as a rule of thumb, if the educational establishment and particularly the teachers' unions oppose an idea than that idea is probably worth adopting.

NickPalmer said:

Mortimer said:

Care to comment that momentum seems to be swinging behind the Govt?

Not in any significant way - what's happened according to the poll is an element of polarisation, with 8% swinging from "tend to support" to "strongly support" and 7% swinging from don't know/neither to "oppose", especially "strongly oppose". The overall balance is a 3-1 lead for the doctors, with opinion hardening. If you were Jeremy Hunt, would you treat the news that 14% strongly support you with jubilation?

It's brave in the Yes Minister sense. But e's obviously got contract imposition cleared, so better on him still being in post in January looks sensible.

Since when does a Government make decisions on opinion polls. A strong Government does what it considers it has been mandated to do irrespective of popularity. Mind you Labour wouldn't recognize that concept as it has never made a decision that doesn't involve spending more and more of other peoples money

FrancisUrquhart said:

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

Would it be fair to assume that the choice of the new presenters was a committee decision?

Thirdly, as a rule of thumb, if the educational establishment and particularly the teachers' unions oppose an idea than that idea is probably worth adopting.

Amen

AlastairMeeks said:

JonathanD said:

AlastairMeeks said:

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

The Junior doctor complaint now seems to have boiled down to them not liking their time and a half on Saturday being removed. That seems like a fairly easy issue for most of the population to grasp.

The public massively back the doctors. Conservatives on here who think otherwise are deluding themselves. There isn't the slightest evidence that support is weakening.

There is actually evidence that undecideds are swinging towards the government. Supporting Docs is an emotional reaction. Their stock will only go down from here.

And what of their support? They're some of the most trusted middle class employees, not seeking office. It won't prevent the imposition of the policy or affect the standing of the government.

DavidL said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

Would it be fair to assume that the choice of the new presenters was a committee decision?

From one extreme to the other regarding PC

not_on_fire said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Since when does a Government make decisions on opinion polls.

Since opinion polls were first invented.

Well not on this subject (Junior Doctors) then

runnymede said:

Thirdly, as a rule of thumb, if the educational establishment and particularly the teachers' unions oppose an idea than that idea is probably worth adopting.

Amen

Unions oppose scrapping Trident.

Does your theory only apply in education.

NickPalmer said:

Mortimer said:

Care to comment that momentum seems to be swinging behind the Govt?

Not in any significant way - what's happened according to the poll is an element of polarisation, with 8% swinging from "tend to support" to "strongly support" and 7% swinging from don't know/neither to "oppose", especially "strongly oppose". The overall balance is a 3-1 lead for the doctors, with opinion hardening. If you were Jeremy Hunt, would you treat the news that 14% strongly support you with jubilation?

It's brave in the Yes Minister sense. But e's obviously got contract imposition cleared, so better on him still being in post in January looks sensible.

Yes, although that's down from 4:1 last time. Clearly not where the government would want it to be, of course.

On the practical politics, yes. Hunt won't have taken a flyer on this - the PM will have to back it at PMQs and elsewhere - so if he is sacked, it'll be for his handling of the issue rather than the decision itself.

MarqueeMark said:

DavidL said:

DavidL said:

MarqueeMark said:

DavidL said:

I honestly thought that this was going to be the shortest article since that famous chapter on owls in Iceland but apparently not: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/how-jeremy-corbyn-is-preparing-for-pmqs/

Astonishing levels of self-delusion.

The only breeding owl on Iceland is the Short-eared Owl. However, Long-eared Owl, European Scops Owl and Snowy Owl have all been recorded as rare vagrants.

Brief enough?

Maybe I have got that wrong. I am sure the story was that the chapter was called Owls in Iceland and the text; "There are no owls in Iceland."

There was also the blank page in someone's biography about the knowledge of the average director of a football club. Maybe I should have used that.

Edit: this is what I was thinking of: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ljdFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=there+are+no+owls+in+iceland&source=bl&ots=vpzi0pby9b&sig=-POD-seJmLS_KX6pQ3iUWuuaNDA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJh7fSjvDKAhVHzRQKHeuYDZgQ6AEIMDAC#v=onepage&q=there are no owls in iceland&f=false

You were right...they were wrong!

I am not sure my rather feeble joke survived all this.

Poor old Hunt looks to be the fall guy. He hasn't stuffed their mouths with enough gold. Now who said that?

DavidL said:

MarqueeMark said:

DavidL said:

DavidL said:

MarqueeMark said:

DavidL said:

I honestly thought that this was going to be the shortest article since that famous chapter on owls in Iceland but apparently not: http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/how-jeremy-corbyn-is-preparing-for-pmqs/

Astonishing levels of self-delusion.

The only breeding owl on Iceland is the Short-eared Owl. However, Long-eared Owl, European Scops Owl and Snowy Owl have all been recorded as rare vagrants.

Brief enough?

Maybe I have got that wrong. I am sure the story was that the chapter was called Owls in Iceland and the text; "There are no owls in Iceland."

There was also the blank page in someone's biography about the knowledge of the average director of a football club. Maybe I should have used that.

Edit: this is what I was thinking of: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ljdFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=there+are+no+owls+in+iceland&source=bl&ots=vpzi0pby9b&sig=-POD-seJmLS_KX6pQ3iUWuuaNDA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJh7fSjvDKAhVHzRQKHeuYDZgQ6AEIMDAC#v=onepage&q=there are no owls in iceland&f=false

You were right...they were wrong!

I am not sure my rather feeble joke survived all this.

On the bright side, the pb commentariat is now the most informed body on the planet on the status of the Owls of Iceland....

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Urquhart, one fears they'll axe BBC4, but keep The Voice, and other assorted nonsense.

No the Voice is gone. The idiots at ITV have decided that they are willing to pay more money for it as a replacement for X-Factor.

I don't really understand how the best of BBC3/BBC4 couldn't be just shown on BBC2. There is little need to repeat shows multiple times a week, given iplayer and dvr's etc...but thats what we get e.g. HIGNFY, then the extended version with stuff they didn't think was funny enough for a 30 min show a few days later.

Luckyguy1983 said:

bigjohnowls said:

DavidL said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

Would it be fair to assume that the choice of the new presenters was a committee decision?

From one extreme to the other regarding PC

I think it's a spoof.

Yes. They haven't included The Really Fat Person to do reports on Mobility Scooters....

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Urquhart, one fears they'll axe BBC4, but keep The Voice, and other assorted nonsense.

The Voice has already gone to ITV in 2017.

By the way, I don't know if any of you are fans of Desert Island Discs? I find it quite a relaxing listen in the bath... but anyway, last weeks was Bill Gates and I guess that may be of interest to some on here

CD13 said:

Mr Mark,

"Huge science news - gravitational waves detected":

It's a pity Einstein can't get a Nobel Prize for his work on General Relativity - too late now, of course.

A posthumous award would be nice. Given that he never got one for relativity....

Mortimer said:

AlastairMeeks said:

JonathanD said:

AlastairMeeks said:

The_Apocalypse said:

On PB there seems to be this idea that anybody who opposes government plans for the public sector is merely a 'vested interest' and not someone with genuine concerns and a legitimate argument.

And on Gove's reforms: I'd be interested to know how much of a difference they've really made to education. During the Blair/Brown days reports seemed to suggest academies weren't a massive failure, but they weren't a massive success either and I haven't seen much regarding any news on the impact (positive or negative) on Gove's reforms.

The junior doctors are saying "it's not the money, it's the principle". On such occasions, I follow Artemus Ward.

The Junior doctor complaint now seems to have boiled down to them not liking their time and a half on Saturday being removed. That seems like a fairly easy issue for most of the population to grasp.

The public massively back the doctors. Conservatives on here who think otherwise are deluding themselves. There isn't the slightest evidence that support is weakening.

There is actually evidence that undecideds are swinging towards the government. Supporting Docs is an emotional reaction. Their stock will only go down from here.

And what of their support? They're some of the most trusted middle class employees, not seeking office. It won't prevent the imposition of the policy or affect the standing of the government.

If the Government is winning this argument I'd hate to see what losing one would look like.

MarqueeMark said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

bigjohnowls said:

DavidL said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

Would it be fair to assume that the choice of the new presenters was a committee decision?

From one extreme to the other regarding PC

I think it's a spoof.

Yes. They haven't included The Really Fat Person to do reports on Mobility Scooters....

I hear a certain big-hearted London former-charity worker may have some time on her hands...

If I was forced to regularly work weekends I would certainly want a pay premium for doing so.

900 scientists spread over numerous laboratories with years of results processed by a supercomputer manage to prove something anticipated by 1 guy before the invention of the electronic calculator.

The human mind is surely the most astonishing thing in the known universe.

Mr. L, don't forget it was the Ancient Greeks who reasoned their way to the existence of the atom.

Mr. Flightpath, jein. If such desire for the prize leads to scientific advancement, isn't that a positive thing?

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

bigjohnowls said:

DavidL said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

https://twitter.com/B_4_Brad/status/697812932122517504

Would it be fair to assume that the choice of the new presenters was a committee decision?

From one extreme to the other regarding PC

I think it's a spoof.

Yes. They haven't included The Really Fat Person to do reports on Mobility Scooters....

I hear a certain big-hearted London former-charity worker may have some time on her hands...

BRILLIANT! Can you imagine her and Clarkson on the same show? Now THAT I would watch on pay-per-view.....

DavidL said:

900 scientists spread over numerous laboratories with years of results processed by a supercomputer manage to prove something anticipated by 1 guy before the invention of the electronic calculator.

The human mind is surely the most astonishing thing in the known universe.

Well, the human mind "anticipated" a whole pile of bollocks as well.

I am still scratching my head how that documentary of Batwomen didn't get any real reporting, it was just jaw dropping stuff.

NorfolkTilIDie said:

If I was forced to regularly work weekends I would certainly want a pay premium for doing so.

Cleaners? Shop assistants? Ambulance drivers? Football referees? Pub landlords? Web blog moderators?

flightpath01 said:

MarqueeMark said:

CD13 said:

Mr Mark,

"Huge science news - gravitational waves detected":

It's a pity Einstein can't get a Nobel Prize for his work on General Relativity - too late now, of course.

A posthumous award would be nice. Given that he never got one for relativity....

I notice from the BBC article one of the lead scientists was eagerly saying that this was sure to get them the Nobel Prize. I am afraid this puts me right off scientists.
Gravity is the warping of spacetime. Gravity waves do tend to suggest that there really is 'literally' a fabric, a substance, to 'empty' space itself - that space 'is' something.
Question is, is there such a thing as a graviton?

There could be but we have no evidence for it. Two great theories of science are relativity and quantum mechanics. We havent worked out how to combine them. Gravity waves discovery fall entirely within relativity theory, but says nothing about combination mechanism. Gravitons are a proposed combination theory.