Coronavirus

[Belgrove]

An interesting long interview for those of you with time on your hands!

https://youtu.be/bfN2JWifLCY

Giesecke has written a standard text on epidemiology. The format allows the interviewee to give detailed replies without interruption, and the interviewer asks intelligent questions and actually listens to the answers. Giesecke is critical of the IC model. It wasn’t clear to me how Giesecke arrived at the figure of 50% for the proportion of the population already infected. Only testing can verify this.

[MrGongGong]

I don't disagree with much of what you have written, but given that people may take notice of what he says (sometimes one wonders why they bother ... well actually, most of the time ...) he has said pretty much the right kind of thing this time. At least he hasn't come up with crackpot suggestions, even in jest (possibly), which have led to completely pointless injuries and deaths elsewhere - for that we should be thankful.

He basically has said very little, hasn't really "offered hope", but made it look as though he might have. I expect there'll be a bouncing around of different phrases over the coming months - even years - so that nobody will be accused of actually saying or doing anything totally outrageous. So we might see "glimmer of light", "end of tunnel", "not out of the woods", "we must stay firm", and any number of phrases which will be used (hopefully?) to stop people going completely bonkers while there's any chance that the virus could build up a second wave.

The notion that the virus is like a mugger - has a persona - is of course mad. It is just a thing which has no plans, no particular intent - it just does. It's not plotting a comeback - it just will if people don't reduce the spread as suggested. Maybe some people like to anthropomorphise these things, but it doesn't really help in terms of practical action, but it may make some people feel better.

Sorry chum it's bullshit
He has obviously spent his time away watching WW2 movies and trying to speak like some leader
except he sounds more like the one with the little moustache than the one with the cigar

"Stay on message
Protect your backside
Save your job"

[Count Boso]

With apologies to Kenneth Grahame....

Then he dipped his hairbrush in the water-jug, parted his hair in the middle, and plastered it down very straight and sleek on each side of his face;

He was indeed an altered Boris!

I wish..

So, the sign will be ---- the change of hairstyle?

[Count Boso]

Sorry chum it's bullshit
He has obviously spent his time away watching WW2 movies and trying to speak like some leader
except he sounds more like the one with the little moustache than the one with the cigar

Look, even Trump (for whatever his private motives, which he certainly has) says the right thing occasionally e.g publicly emphasising that Gov. Kemp of Georgia is reopening business too soon. Secret motives are secondary to what is said and Johnson has said we're at the moment of 'maximum risk' - whis seems to be true - whereas even people like Hammond have been urging a return to normal 'as soon as is possible'.

[Dave2002]

Look, even Trump (for whatever his private motives, which he certainly has) says the right thing occasionally e.g publicly emphasising that Gov. Kemp of Georgia is reopening business too soon. Secret motives are secondary to what is said and Johnson has said we're at the moment of 'maximum risk' - whis seems to be true - whereas even people like Hammond have been urging a return to normal 'as soon as is possible'.

It's easy to use phrases like "as soon as possible", because that could be never! I think that these guys still need to think what they mean by "normal". Now we have an opportunity (which probably won't be taken ..) to think what that might be, and aim at something different.

[oddoneout]

At least BJ hasn't proposed anything totally crazy now he's gone back to No 10.

It's only Monday. Also, unless he has done a complete about turn then everything he says has to be taken with a large pinch of salt/does of scepticism.
It'll be interesting to see what happens on Wednesday - my money is on Raab being sent to PMQs to hand in the homework Starmer set last week - Johnson's phased return to work don'tcha know.

[MrGongGong]

It's only Monday. .

And he is a compulsive liar
A stopped clock and all that
but I wouldn't believe ANYTHING he says at all

He doesn't deserve any sympathy or understanding for what he has done
only contempt I'm afraid

He is PERSONALLY responsible for the imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
I just might believe a word he says if he gets the RAF to fly him to Iran to apologise on his knees and beg for her safe return

but not much chance of that when he can carry on doing Vith form drama club bullshit on national media

[oddoneout]

Zoe Williams writing in the Guardian on the PM's message to Britain came up with this which I thought a rather neat image.

Below these ministers sits a layer of politicians – Priti Patel, Matt Hancock, Helen Whately – who are trying to touch the grace notes of patriotism and self-sacrifice without anything like the gravitas or credibility they need. It’s almost painful to watch, like someone trying to play Mozart’s Requiem on the spoons.

[MrGongGong]

Zoe Williams writing in the Guardian on the PM's message to Britain came up with this which I thought a rather neat image.

Below these ministers sits a layer of politicians – Priti Patel, Matt Hancock, Helen Whately – who are trying to touch the grace notes of patriotism and self-sacrifice without anything like the gravitas or credibility they need. It’s almost painful to watch, like someone trying to play Mozart’s Requiem on the spoons.

I'll pass that on to my mates at the OAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQC4mglx5uE&frags=pl%2Cwn

[oddoneout]

I'll pass that on to my mates at the OAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQC4...&frags=pl%2Cwn

Ha, excellent! I can now indulge in some gentle ribbing of two family members who play for the OAE occasionally...

[Count Boso]

An interesting long interview for those of you with time on your hands!

https://youtu.be/bfN2JWifLCY

Giesecke has written a standard text on epidemiology. The format allows the interviewee to give detailed replies without interruption, and the interviewer asks intelligent questions and actually listens to the answers. Giesecke is critical of the IC model. It wasn’t clear to me how Giesecke arrived at the figure of 50% for the proportion of the population already infected. Only testing can verify this.

Very interesting, and a bit sobering to hear such a different view. As Pope said, "Who shall decide when doctors disagree?" Though a point has been made that it's very difficult to compare countries which differ in any case so widely, before pandemic strategies are taken into account (e.g. Carl Bildt, "Swedes, especially of the older generation, have a genetic disposition to social distancing ...").

Looking at Sweden's regulations (today's news), they don't look completely different from ours. Giesecke gave the impression that lockdowns meant not being able to out out shopping. One point that might have been put to him when he appeared to compare the 'normal' annual flu deaths with deaths from Covid 19 - how many health professionals die during a normal flu epidemic?

Another thing I didn't understand was that he said that many people had already had the disease without even knowing it. So what 's the difference between 'testing positive' and 'having had the disease without knowing it'?

[Serial_Apologist]

Another thing I didn't understand was that he said that many people had already had the disease without even knowing it. So what 's the difference between 'testing positive' and 'having had the disease without knowing it'?

The3 difference, I would have thought, is that those who don't know they've had Covid-19 are unlikely to present themselves for testing. As it is, the new testing regime is being offered to key workers on a first there, first serve basis!

[Pulcinella]

From today's Quick Cryptic crossword in The Times:

It can go on spreading disease (9)

Contagion

[MrGongGong]

From today's Quick Cryptic crossword in The Times:

It can go on spreading disease (9)

Contagion

Borishand ?

[eighthobstruction]

Borishand ?

....Oh can you imagine if this was happening in 1978 Magazine and Cabaret Voltaire, Devo Dead Kennedys would be having a whale/wail of a time (socially Isolated of course)....and there might be a track called Borishand.....

....now all we get is tepid derivitive slightly funny memes....

....I'm sure the Kronos Quartet will come up with something....and BLAA BLAA will be thinking of an Opera....(I'd love to have a go at the libretto....````