Off Topic Coronavirus

I listened to it all the way through and, regardless of his background, didn't think he claimed as fact anything that wasn't factual. There was the suggestion of some plot against the older members of the population at the end, of course, but not proffered as anything other than a question.

 

This article explains things pretty well.

https://www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-compare-with-flu.html

 

Yeah, you're quite right, Stainsey. I've made an arse of myself, although not for the first time (or last).

 

My mate who works for the was telling me this the other day. Like you i never knew or thought about it. I guess they look at the spread over a year whereas Covid spreads quickly and a is a lot more deadly than in its original Sars form.

 

nah mate, it’s more the fact that I was doubting myself and my understanding of that lyric for the last 20 years.......wouldn’t be the first time

 

One of those songs that I've obviously misheard the lyrics and never bothered to look 'em up.

Beelzebub has a devil for a sideboard.

 

Well you have the advantage on me there. I look up the source of something nowadays before I invest time in listening to/reading stuff, there is just too much out there that will waste my time and increase my blood pressure. Because of this policy I will doubtless miss out on some pretty key revelations - the validated theory of everything, the meaning of life, location of the Holy Grail, the theoretical and practical proof behind Fergie Time etc etc - but that’s a risk I’m prepared to take.

Currently two additional crises to ponder - the splinter embedded deep in Stan the dog’s paw, which in the current circumstances requires lengthy telephone conversations with the vet, and the discovery, mid shower, that we have no hot water. Thankfully the latter sorted.

 

So, I've learned that you're named after your dog and that you screamed like a sissy girl in the shower this morning. Today is one lump of edukashun after anuvva.

 

This is starting to become a big concern to me. I believe the police, once the servant of the people, have forgotten their brief. How long before we have road blocks and our papers checked?

 

They was a really interesting Coronavirus documentary on Discovery last night. Very informative. Try and see it if you can. Explains a great deal and discusses origins and how it spread.

 

Here’s one for you, Stan. You can check out his credentials (not Hitchens, Prof. Bhakdi) as well.

Many of us will already be familiar with the arguments. Of course, it goes back to having widespread antibody tests in place too.

We’re supposed to be a data-led world today, but I fear much is being ignored in favour of fear, panic and following the herd.

Yes, I fear for my uncle Bob and hope he pulls through, but his plight doesn’t mean I support the measures now being taken. There’s talk of maybe more measures in the future too: is that the roadblocks, papers or even security tagging?

 

If the rules aren't sensible, people will start to ignore them. Why, for instance, should be we limited to one exercise outing a day? If you are able to go out safely, not getting within 2 meters of anybody, why should there be a restriction on the number of times you do this?

 

Our next door neighbours are self isolating (couple in their 40s), they reckon they have had it since last Wednesday and caught it from a GP friend of theirs who was hospitalised (now out) after getting it probably at the Cheltenham festival.

So now I am shopping for my house, my neighbours and an elderly couple over the road who have both been told that they are on the super at risk list. They text me random orders for tiny amounts of stuff. Today it’s a packet of granola and some lactose free cheese(FFS). I’ve told them that I am trying to do one shop a week, but don’t think it’s sinking in.....

 

Within a week I'd say. Once we near the peak they'll probably follow the French model, go online, fill out the form, time stamped and one hour to get your copy of the Daily Star...

 

Why did he write that in English when it was for Merkel?
Question 4 is interesting and highlights what I was bleating on about in the recording of deaths.

 

Tell them you're self-isolating, you're not f*cking Waitrose...

 

“Swiss Propaganda Research” odd website name.

Yeah he asks a load of questions, presumably because he doesn’t have the answers to the questions, and then reaches the conclusion that confirmed his own pre existing beliefs. I don’t necessarily disagree with his beliefs, but scientists have opinions too, and we are in the sad situation that pure fact based provable science doesn’t give us a clear answer as to the best course of action, yet.

Perhaps, had we acted on the findings of the disaster planning exercise undertaken in 2016 which modelled a respiratory disease pandemic and showed that we would be short of beds, staff, ventilators, PPE etc etc and that catastrophe would follow, things would be better. But the government (don’t know if it was Cameron or May at the time) hushed up the results and did nothing presumably because they thought it was too expensive. Pity, eh?

 

999's Just ordered that, under £3. Will read the other one first, and then the better one.

 

Trying to sleep before a night shift and having 3 kids in the house and 2 kids next door is a bit difficult to say the least.......here’s to trying anyway

 

You're right in that we all have a tendency to pursue data that confirms our own beliefs. The brightest amongst us, I would hope, explore a number of avenues to challenge personal bias. You're also correct in that there's insufficient data to allow us to determine the best course of action yet, but that hasn't stopped our government choosing their course and, presumably, ramping it up in the weeks to come. Should the facts change, will the authorities admit they got it wrong, I wonder? I very much doubt it. As Hitchens has said, they will state that their actions have brought about the results without proper analysis and scrutiny.

As far as the 2016 exercise is concerned, I guess it all came down to probabilities. If the Martians attacked tomorrow we'd probably criticise the government for their lack of investment in bazookoids and phasers when the likelihood of the arrival of angry little green men was considered low.

As Prof. Bhakdi said in his open letter to Chancellor Merkel, there are a number of coronaviruses already in circulation (I checked this too before writing this garbage) so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me to have assumed a low probability of a particularly voracious one.

Back to the lack of meaningful data: unless its reasonable to assume that the 'experts' are swamped dealing with more pressing matters - which may be the case - the data must surely be there to support Bhakdi's points about cause of death and how statistics are being reported right now.

As for the Swiss Propaganda Research organisation, all they've done is translated and published Bhakdi's letter. One shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that because the outfit has 'Propaganda' in its name that its some sort of Newspeak organisation. A cursory bit of Googling suggests that its purpose is actually to call out propaganda and the like when it sees government pronouncements and policies.

I think we need a proper gander at the data.