Corona Virus Treatment

That's quite funny! I voted Blair once - and then realised he absolutely was not what he claimed to be. I voted Corbyn because he's not a crook. That's a low bar - but it's an important one for me. The current regime I find to be traiterous criminals who are literally stealing from the public pot - and their sense of entitlement and their constant lies (do they ever stop?) made me pretty sure that this would be their approach.

It would be great to have some politicians to get enthusiastic about... I see very few. But that doesn't mean I think they are all the same. They definitely aren't. But the problems are absolutely immense - and yet so little talked of. I mean - 14m British people in poverty (per the UN) and food banks on every corner, while Amazon with their massive advantage from paying no tax push scores of businesses under, and our industry is bought and sold by Private Equity firms to the detriment of employees and customers. It cannot continue... but where is the screaming outrage?

 

Yup. The pollution coming fromt his pandemic is just appalling. My 20 year old does some work in our local hoppy when he's not studying: I hadn't realised quite how much single use plastic and waste is generated in the leath industry. It's absolutely shocking.

Well - the issue is one of pollution: the bio-hazard one is very small I imagine, as the masks will be not touched by or come close to those processing them - who are supposed to be properly masked up themselves (breathing apparatus stuff) if they are coming close and dealing with it. I worked on the bins for years as a teen - and the stuff we dealt with was awful. But these masks wouldn't feature as a risk really, other than for the folks working in the recycling centres - or processing landfills - who ought to be using full protective gear.

I'm sorry but I don't think that is true: there are none who are perfect or close. But the approach to science varies radically from the tabloids (and apparently the Telegraph) who have zero interest in presenting the facts - just using anything they can, frequently in shocking misrepresentation, to get some nasty story over. Others have editorial policies where they will correct mistakes when identified - and have transparency around their science policies. That just is not the case across the board. And it shows.

We will maybe agree to disagree here! It is conspiracy when you quote and give air to conspiracists; when you present 'alternative views' which have absolutely no evidence behind them, and are not science based. GB News is full of this. And it sets out to make a section of the popuulation feel like victims (when they are anything but usually).

Again - the degree is radically different. We might again have to agree to disagree. Personally I find the tabloids with their routine dishonesty to be a cancer in our society. And if you want to see the very worst of the British spend 5 minutes below the line at the Daily Mail.

Interesting point! It's the old question of whether the media lead or follow. The Sun has always been pretty clear on this - they lead. In this case, it's perhaps fair to say it's circular: the likes iof GB News (like the very toxic Fox News in the US) have found their niche - and it has nothing to do with facts, and everything to do with serving a population who feel like victims, as you say - and giving them more of what they want. Back to that Paul Dacre quote: his job was to give the British peopole something new to be angry about every day.

Perhaps I phrased that badly: I don't go to social media for facts or science on any subject. In fact I would treat with deep supsicion. On this subject of Covid, I go to the WHO and CDC first and foremost as they have the leading experts.

In one sense of course you are absolutely right. Their raison d'etre is to divide the union - so yes. But in terms of rhetoric, I find the Tories and current Labour party to be hugely divisive. Divisive is a term that is widely used now - but doesn't it just describe people who are shaking the status quo as we want it to be?

Yes - you're right: that was just a shorthand.

I need to clarify if I haven't already: by medical masks I mean the blue ones that end in landfill. They are massively polluting. They are also effective at reducing Covid transmission.

I hear the claim about various folks from Fauci to the Government to WHO apparently saying masks are ineffective: I cannot find any trace of any such statement and I've had a bit of a search. After all - those little blue masks have been routinely used in hospitals to reduce aerosol droplet spread for a very long time so it would be really surprising.

Yes - I agree. It is concerning. But I also see that the alternatives are a nightmare: if folks will not vaccinate, the risk of mutation increases, deaths increase - and the public is at risk - unnecesarily. Hence my comparison to drink driving. But I hate the idea of a true mandatory vaccine: it's not this one which seems relatively reasonable - but what that might be used for in the future. Given the abhorrent state of our current administration and the abandonment of historic norms, any precedent of more authoritarianism seem likely to bite us in the future.

I wonder who really said what? The folks I know of in the research world are really quite conservative with their estimates... would be interesting to know if this was scientific or marketing quote.

Anyway. Started the new path in the garden! And didn't think about the dreadful state of the world for a few hours.

 

You mean I should get off the fence and say what I really think?

Ahh - I've got tired of it: my 22 year old - intelligent, caring, thoughtful lass who lives in NL - says she's ashamed to be British. What a total tragedy. I'm an ACA and I find the want of principle and abandonment of basic fiscal process (like: don't steal public funds) makes me want to scream and go back to the garden where I don't have to think about it!

 

We have two cases of the new variant. They are up in Ottawa where our parliament sits. I couldn't think of a more apt location

Our Canuck powers that be were one of those that fell for the, "masks have no effect" business but that was nearly 2 years ago in the beginning when the WHO hadn't been caught yet for kissing butts. We still must wear masks indoors in public places. I've gotten used to it. And also have enjoyed not worrying about catching a cold or the flu.

Apparently most of our cases (up to now, non variant) were unvaccinated, and are in the ICU or six feet under. Sad that people will die of their own stupidity and/or stubborness. Perhaps it is man made evolution?

 

In the great expenses scandal it turned out that the Labour MP's were just as bad at fiddling as the Tories. What a shame!
If only they'd have been capable of being the 'good guys' the public wouldn't have forgotten.
That was a great opportunity for Labour but sadly their noses are in the trough just like all the others.

 

Yes - truly so: there were some stand out individuals but I remember being truly appalled by Tony Blair shredding his expenses - with no repurcussions - 'by mistake', and the Glasgow fella, whose name I can't remember, but dubbed 'Father of the House' - one of the poorest wards in Britain - caught trying to get two book case worth £20k through expenses. What a tragedy.

 

Portuguese football club Belenenses played Benfica on Saturday. Due to 13 players and staff testing positive for Covid, Belenenses were only able to field 9 players, with no substitutes. The match was abandoned at half time as they only had 6 fit players on the pitch due to injuries. All 13 players that tested positive have been confirmed as having the new variant.

What was the Portuguese authorities playing at, how could a football match even be allowed to go ahead when one team does not even have enough fit players to field 11 outfield players from the kick off.

 

@gks Here is from the Portugal news. You can Google Translate .... sorry, it is too long for me to do but I have read it and it is under investigation.

Liga, Belenenses SAD e Benfica continuam o ″jogo do empurra″

 

Absolutely. This particular thread 'corona virus treatment' is of interest to many of us and it's good to get others views.
How BoJo deals or doesn't deal with it, is largely on our minds just now. (I wouldn't want his job in the current climate)
Anyway I'll need to remember to take my face mask out with me from today. It probably isn't very effective because it's a stretchy lycra type, but it's far more comfortable than the paper one's.

 

Agree I think they've all got a hell of a job, it's a classic case of ' dammed if you do and dammed if you don't'.
Would definitely not want to be in their shoes!!

 

I pop in and peep every so often to get your comments
and know that we are, whatever awaits us,
Gardeners .....

Jenny namaste