Coronavirus

[MrGongGong]

A way must surely be opened up to charge Johnson, Raab and co. with mass manslaughter re their activities on COVID -19.

Watch how the bastards slither out of it and end up richer and richer

as Sean says

[LMcD]

Oh come on.....

.. rather than come, come.

[Frances_iom]

Greece has allowed brothels to reopen with a 15-minute limit per customer.

presumably just their version of clap for the NHS

[Petrushka]

A way must surely be opened up to charge Johnson, Raab and co. with mass manslaughter re their activities on COVID -19.

I agree - but how could this be achieved?

[ardcarp]

presumably just their version of clap for the NHS

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It really makes you want to weep.

Just how incompetent and self delusional can a government be.

I don't know. Just when you think they couldn't do any worse, they do.

[oddoneout]

I don't know. Just when you think they couldn't do any worse, they do.

Indeed. How often have I thought 'even they wouldn't do anything that stupid' only to find that they would, and do. Much of it is the usual ignorance, incompetence,and lack of interest in the country and its people except insofar as they produce money for the undeserving rich(aka party donors), but the current situation of 'we can do anything we want, 80 seat majority doncha know' is not only bringing out some really unpleasant attitudes, but translating them into (more than usually) destructive policy making.

[Dave2002]

presumably just their version of clap for the NHS

[cloughie]

presumably just their version of clap for the NHS

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!

[MrGongGong]

I don't know. Just when you think they couldn't do any worse, they do.

I think they suffer from the idea that somehow "future technology" will somehow work.... so the predictable nonsense about the app and so on

I must read up on some of this belief system .....

One of the things I would always ask a group of students before working with audio editing or composition is to put your hand up if you have ever lost anything on a computer. Usually everyone puts their hand up, sometimes there is a delusionist who doesn't. Then when I ask if they think that in the future we will have technology that doesn't go "wrong" or fail they invariably all say yes. This is completely in spite of ALL the experience and knowledge from folks who know more than they do. It's a "faith" position which is shared by the likes of DC who seems to think that all we need to do is to get ALL the data in the universe things will be "sorted". "Walden 2" ? Nothing wrong with technology but even if I did buy a Bristol car it would wear out....

[Cockney Sparrow]

I think they suffer from the idea that somehow "future technology" will somehow work.... so the predictable nonsense about the app and so on
I must read up on some of this belief system ......

I think it was well known that Hancock was star struck with the idea of a revolution in NHS care using apps (obviously, cheaper by far than using those pesky paid public servants) well before this year. And it turns out that the good people of the I O Wight aren't willing to accept an app emanating from this government sending them a little message that they need to isolate for 14 days - and then disrupt their lives on that basis.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000k4f6/newsnight-18062020

Newsnight (BBC2) last night, at 5min 30, had a IT software engineer (also an academic**) who told the government on 11 April that their requirements in the app wouldn't work, but was told they believed their app would work OK. He's worked on the German and Swiss apps which are up and running and meet data privacy concerns. Its out or coming very soon in Italy, Estonia, Latvia and more. He said the code for the Swiss App is freely available as open source code and could be adapted easily for the UK. Also there are inter-operability standards within EU countries being issued so a user can travel within EU countries.
** https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/news/2020...-various-media

He says Apple and Google have issued updates and continue working towards meeting the needs for close location data without breaching privacy rights. However he said that were Apple to just amend the software as requested it would open the door to commercial or other interests having indefinite carte blanche access to data showing exactly where a user was and for how long (so it could get precise details of very precise movements on a visit to a major shopping centre - and no doubt in many other scenarios).

A public health academic was also in the conversation saying that in her view the public acceptance and co-operation had markedly exceeded her expectations. (Also criticising the ***s poor data (un)available from the test and track process (Dom says: "cover it up until its creditable....")). And pointing out that good old phone and foot slogging by real people is a large part of the mix that will work - if they can ever organise it effectively. Oh, and changing the system that those who order a test should be required to provide a contact phone / email details so they can be called (it beggars belief this isn't a part of the process but the relevant Professor was quite sure about it).

I fully expect to read in Private Eye along the lines of:

• The developers of the fantastic NHS go it alone app were mates/relatives/Tory donors/ well known to Cummings or Tory ministers/fundraisers ("one of us").
• A healthy £X million was paid for this superior standalone app development in the brave, world beating post Brexit UK. Oh - except it was a miserable failure.
• When the people of IOW didn't want to lockdown for a fortnight in response to a text message, blame them - or Apple - or Hancock - or anybody else they can find. But not Dom.
• Whatever happens, they are determined that they won't save time. money and lives by being seen to adopt an app developed in the EU and capable of close integration and enabling EU travel. We've left the EU: right?

I don't think they want, China style, to follow and control us(not at the moment).
I think they are just fundamentally and irredeemably incapable of governing effectively in the public interest.
The word is they are running this pandemic like a (political : obviously) campaign where ensuring they emerge holding on to power is the most important priority.

[MrGongGong]

One of my close relations is a professor of computer science.
I remember when he was doing his PHD how he used to laugh about the USA "Star Wars" missile defence system that would only be possible if there was a spare solar system to test it.

[Serial_Apologist]

presumably just their version of clap for the NHS

Just long enough for clients to raise the Greek flag, presumably...

[oddoneout]

Has the Covid-19 alert level really come down from 4 to 3 or has it (been)politically(massaged to) come down to enable reduction of the social distancing measure?

[Serial_Apologist]

I think they suffer from the idea that somehow "future technology" will somehow work.... so the predictable nonsense about the app and so on

I must read up on some of this belief system .....

One of the things I would always ask a group of students before working with audio editing or composition is to put your hand up if you have ever lost anything on a computer. Usually everyone puts their hand up, sometimes there is a delusionist who doesn't. Then when I ask if they think that in the future we will have technology that doesn't go "wrong" or fail they invariably all say yes. This is completely in spite of ALL the experience and knowledge from folks who know more than they do. It's a "faith" position which is shared by the likes of DC who seems to think that all we need to do is to get ALL the data in the universe things will be "sorted". "Walden 2" ? Nothing wrong with technology but even if I did buy a Bristol car it would wear out....

If it is nevertheless the case that computerised technology still increases rates of productivity in whatever field, thereby employers need less employees, and that, with all the inconveniences and time wastage as systems are "corrected", viruses and hackers eliminated from systems, then the inconvenience/anxiety levels/bankruptcies suffered by ordinary mortals matters little: the wally still coming in is the final deciding factor in capitalist desiderata.

Now, new technology operated under a different, non-competitive model.......... (Cond. P.9999).