r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 21, 2021 20:51:57 GMT
As far as I've seen AZ is pretty good, Pfizer may give a slightly overall better protection (if I believe what they say) but both seem to give pretty good protection against hospitalisation or death, who knows which one will actually be proved better in the long term. But they both seem to have weaknesses to the new variants, a booster coming soon maybe. Unless I missed something, "pretty good protection against hospitalisation or death" seems a bit of an understatement w.r.t to even the 'lesser' vaccine. From the AZN website: "COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca confirms 100% protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death" "The primary analysis of the Phase III clinical trials from the UK, Brazil and South Africa, published as a preprint in The Lancet confirmed COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations, more than 22 days after the first dose"
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 19, 2021 12:27:06 GMT
A_F loans look to be a problem now; 59 then 74, now 102. Ablrates communication has been noticeably deteriorating lately. Guess they must just be focusing on that long overdue Container loan update?
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 19, 2021 12:09:41 GMT
Bizarrely the pound is stronger than it has been for some time (although perhaps more to do with the dollar weakening). Can't really understand it. I'm trying to make the most of it before it dives again. It is principally genuinely the £ strengthening rather than $/euro weakness, from fiddling about with the indices. The post-referendum average is 1.14, so at 1.15 currently it's not exactly going bananas, but good to see. As to why, I think the currency markets are more short-term driven, and they like the combination of our vaccination program and brexit being 'done'. We were also starting from a weaker position than we'd otherwise have been in so there's probably an element of reversion going on. Like stock markets, sentiment can be more important than fundamentals. The news has been so relentlessly dreadful for 5 years that this *relatively* seems like an upbeat time for the UK. Longer term, given that I'm yet to see a really good quantitative analysis of the cumulative impact of all of this, perhaps the currency markets are somewhat wading in the dark too? Perhaps the longer term is just too unclear? I'm obviously perfectly aware that the other take one could have is that all of these problems are teething issues drummed up by the left-wing press, and that the real story is a solid rise because of how generally amazing things are. Not a take I subscribe to, as we've quite clearly made things fundamentally worse. Difficult to say by how much, but there are haybales in the "financial benefits" column so it's clearly a negative number, and probably a very large one. (Can't imagine why Govt. are so hesitant to release the impact assessment?) Longer-term we're obviously in the area of the unknown - Can the Brexit crew keep all of this s**t largely confined to the pink pages, is that actually possible? Or will all of these issues culminate in some poignant epoch-defining event? No idea. Regardless of the above, I'll get back to being peed off about my freedom of movement. Likely going to have to shell out over £600 shortly for 3 PCR tests just for the privilege of being forced to return to the UK shortly thanks to this farce. PS - I had deleted my previous comment just because I felt I had made much the same points/questions before. No biggie anyway.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 17, 2021 22:10:50 GMT
I'm going to take a guess at the one that led to this joyful scene of victorious news being gladly received by those who have their hearts' desires... I don't know if it's a false memory, but I distinctly recall watching Boris being interviewed on that first fateful post-ref morning. I can't remember what he actually said, but I remember he had the look of a shame-faced schoolchild who had just been caught having a fag behind the bike sheds and was having to explain the indefensible. In hindsight, it was rather odd that he wasn't quick-witted enough to immediately start with the chirpy banter, but in those first moments it was as if he was as taken aback as everyone else. edit: Browsing tinternet, I guess I didn't imagine it ( Guardian article)
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 17, 2021 17:20:12 GMT
No, not a rude metaphor. Anyone else seen this? kartakip.ankara.com.tr/kamerali-araclarEach of the little dots on the map is a Turkish municipal snowplough. For reasons I can't begin to imagine, they each have their own webcam on so that you can watch their progress as they pootle around the streets.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 17, 2021 17:08:32 GMT
I guess that's one way of looking at it.
Possibly, just a bitter and twisted remainer, who can't accept that the vote didn't go their way. Far better to spend every waking moment complaining about it rather than trying to resolve whatever problems exist.
hahahaha I knew you'd take that well! Perhaps they just want to run their business as they were promised. Remember this mega-lie... "there will be no non-tariff barriers to trade" God, Dan, can't you just get a grip and renegotiate that Northern Ireland protocol to resolve this? post-haste!
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 14, 2021 11:31:31 GMT
From where we stand at present I put the probability of a Labour majority at the next election at 0%, and perhaps an optimistic 5% for a hung parliament. We're in this for the long haul. I don't think we can easily predict what the spring of 2024 is going to bring. Will Scotland and NI be voting for Westminster? Will the "blue wall" Northern seats have the same "But Corbyn" impetus to vote against ingrained generational habits? Who, indeed, will be the incumbent PM? I'd lay odds on it not being Johnson... I agree, it's just basically too far off. Which is another good reason why, in my view, Labour should be taking the hit now of being accused as 'Remainers' to do what's actually right and point out in public that the consequences of our current policies are damaging peace in N.Ireland and our trade, regardless of whether anyone still perceives it as a good idea overall. There is a point to that, beyond winning elections. This Government can on occasion be pestered into doing things better e.g. Marcus Rashford and his school dinners to take a somewhat simpler example. It's ridiculous to have an opposition ignoring huge damage being done to the economy when it is directly because of Government policy. Note I'm not advocating them suggesting we rejoin at all, just to point out the various disasters and insist the Government do something about it.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 14, 2021 11:25:04 GMT
I hate to break this to you but it's only gonna get worse As the economic reality of our response to the pandemic starts to bite I expect a further lurch to the right. It's no coincidence that the new venture GB News is right leaning (putting it politely) as opposed to left leaning (a CNN style channel with the balls to call a lie a lie). The call of nationalism has rarely been more powerful in this country. From where we stand at present I put the probability of a Labour majority at the next election at 0%, and perhaps an optimistic 5% for a hung parliament. We're in this for the long haul. In my view, it's about as easy to predict the outcome now of the UK general election on May 2nd 2024 as it is the exact weather on that day. We have three more years of twists/turns, crises etc, and then in any case our fate will be decided by something like Boris Johnson eating a veggie burger and dripping some mayonnaise on his tie. edit: and whether that means he wins or loses will possibly depend on whether the burger was ethically sourced or not.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 14, 2021 10:57:14 GMT
Meanwhile, the press that would otherwise be highlighting these serious issues in a more prominent way are not, because of any mix of: 1) The pandemic taking precedence. 2) US politics taking precedence. 3) Fear of Government reprisal of public service broadcasters. 4) Brexit fatigue. 5) Some people really still liking Brexit, so newspapers prefer to call this issue 'teething' or 'remoaning'. 6) It not involving really sexy pictures of huge lorry queues, that can't quite be replaced by people looking really angry at a computer Nick Cohen, on a similar theme to the above: "No one should be able to deny that Britain is in an economic and political crisis brought on by Brexit. Yet the government won’t talk about it. The opposition dare not mention it. The rightwing press won’t cover it. And broadcasters fear they will be damned as biased if they admit it. Rather than face reality, we live in an imaginary Britain, a land of make-believe, where the political class act out parts as if they are on a film set."It is a truly bizarre state of affairs. In almost any other circumstances this couldn't happen, yet everyone now has a reason not to want to talk about it. Even amongst us, even me as I write this very post, feel reticent to bother because it only (typically) sets off negative vibes - and in any case, it ain't gonna change anything. I certainly am not in the mood to point-score. I do tend to agree with the author. Though I can understand their reticence, it is something of a dereliction of duty that Labour + co are tactically ignoring the consequences. edit: Honestly, can't even tell you how close I was to binning this post
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 9, 2021 10:27:31 GMT
Knock knock SEC? Anybody at home? EDIT: Should get ozboy frothing at the mouth anyhow On that note, an interesting article on how to kill bitcoin (should it be necessary, which seems increasingly plausible)
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 4, 2021 22:38:43 GMT
Why can't the UK get more of the best Scottish meat and fish? I actually buy direct which is great, but seems daft that this is not easily available in the UK. Would certainly be great for everyone's health if more fresh fish was about and actually chosen. But the UK has always been a bit funny about fresh fish for some reason hasn't it? (assuming it hasn't changed in the while since I've been back!). I mean, I used to live in a very well-to-do market town in the SE but not a single fishmonger, seems ridiculous to me.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 4, 2021 17:03:56 GMT
A twitter thread on Brexit logistics issues reported in the Select Committee today: e.g. CEO Scottish food & drink: " This is not just a seafood issue. Our red meat grade volumes are sitting about 25-30% of normal. We can’t export fresh mince into the EU, we can’t trade live sheep to Northern Ireland, we can’t export seed potatoes to the EU...these are nightmarish consequences.” Still, it's not all bad - : " Speakers note that were it not for Covid and the fact that so much demands has been suppressed as a result of European hospitality being effectively shut down, that the new export system would have collapsed completely" i.e. thank goodness for COVID-19 Btw, I'm starting to form an impression that Scotland and to a larger extent N.Ireland have been thrown right under the bus with this agreement. Is that just me?
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 4, 2021 16:56:21 GMT
Latest episode from the 'you realy couldn't make it up' soap opera:
Despite claiming that it has not reported a single case of the virus since the pandemic began, North Korea has requested vaccine from the covax scheme.
Perhaps they just need it so they can go on holiday? I hear south North Korea is lovely in the Spring.
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 4, 2021 10:15:57 GMT
0.2% discount to buy £10,000 & 0.4% discount to sell £10,000
There's a spread, which I still don't quite understand why. Is it not just that 0.2% is the highest available discount that anyone is willing to sell at, whilst 0.4% is the lowest available discount anyone is willing to buy at? (I may have this wrong. My brain is particularly fuzzy this morning)
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r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Feb 2, 2021 20:03:22 GMT
What are your thoughts on the big B so far? Mine: 1) Genuinely pleased that massive disruption has thus far been avoided (I mean of the 'nobody has any food' variety, appreciate there has been difficulty). 2) Pleased that Sterling is recovering slowly/steadily. 3) Quite disturbed by how many anecdotes I'm hearing from friends/family of businesses basically becoming unviable. For example, a friend had a business buying 2nd hand cars in the UK and selling them in the EU - now made totally impractical to do by red tape and cost of thereof. My wife was talking with her former boss today who said that due to the combination of Brexit and COVID, their London office won't be re-opening at all and operations will move to the continent. This sort of thing. 4) I can't help but reflect that if you tried to suggest that Brexit might impact on UK businesses ability to trade with Northern Ireland, you wouldn't just be accused of project fear, but laughed out of the place, even if you said it just last year. The associated ongoing threat to the peace process - not ideal. 5) lots of other bad stuff happening on fast or slow burns, e.g. death of shellfish industry). Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to overplay the significance of items 3,4 and 5 in the grand scheme of things, though I am sure 5) could contain many hundreds of stories and an awful lot of pain/disruption. I do still find myself asking " Where's the bill?" for all of this though. There is s o much cost to all of this, and all hugely compounded with COVID. It makes Theresa's "no magic money tree" comments in 2017 in hindsight look like she made them whilst standing in front of the World's largest money orchard.
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