You know what really makes me happy?

I just want more mentions of those who ‘walk’ out regardless of age, not just old or young, or those in particular jobs. The current reporting is IMO skewed to the negative for effect and to fit the narrative. It’s almost get it and abandon hope. Which isn’t what the numbers that get published suggest.

The reporting as it has been is what has kept most people within the guidelines to actually help fend this thing off.

If everything was reported as “hunky dory, but stay indoors anyway”, far fewer people would actually do what needs to be done - under a false sense of safety.

More cases, more pressure on services, more shortages, more deaths.

By all means celebrate the good stories, and it is good and happy-making to see these successes, but that doesn’t undermine the over-arching need for caution and the government and media stance in support of that.

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I’m not convinced about the reporting keeping people at home, it’s the fact there’s nowhere to go because places are shut.
I read yesterday that over the last couple of weeks there has been more traffic on the roads, since the house arrest was imposed. Why? It would seem that people are taking more trips to supermarkets, as they effectively change their habits; two or more smaller shops rather than one big one or actually going to a supermarket as they can’t get deliveries. When I was common home from work the other day I drove past a retail park with a supermarket, B&M and The Range, lots of people queueing and the newly reopened B&Q queue surprised me. This pleases me as it shows if nothing else the economy is keeping going. As more places open, people being forced to stay off work will go out. What the effects of that will be who knows? People are generally compliant, but unless they are in hospital or too ill, will look to go out further than the “end of the road”. We’ve got this latest stint, for another 2 weeks, which if things stay roughly as they are I think will see more places open again and planning for schools to reopen for the years looking at exams next year. But unnecessary ‘mass gatherings’ still banned and the 2m thing maintained.
Apparently Dyson aren’t going to bother with ventilators as the need has dropped off and the much vaunted emergency hospitals are all but empty.

Dyson’s contract has been revoked because their design wasn’t compatible with the mainline gas systems used in hospitals. Apparently all hospital gas systems use the same design so it’s a fairly catastrophic design flaw.

Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them in my opinion.

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Similar issue with the Formula 1 designed ventilators, which are apparently so inefficient that if you have more than one on a ward everyone would die due to lack of pressure in the system.

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If only there were companies out that specialised in making ventilators… :thinking:

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…had a compatible universal design to work off provided by the NHS/Govt of what they needed. A bit like the various and numerous factories building aircraft and ammunition in WWII - different factories and manufacturers kept to the same single design thus a Spitfire MKV, Merlin Engine or 0.303 round was the same regardless if it came from London, Coventry or Newcastle!

One of my mates does work for the NHS and what you suggest would be beyond the wit of the over bureaucratised NHS. He said from what he’s experienced far too many chiefs/people filling unnecessary jobs and not enough Indians. All these people want to have a say, so nothing happens quickly, so costs more as things over run and time costs money.
Britain in WW2 was a different animal to what it is today. Trying to compare this to that war time effort and what came out of it is complete nonsense. At least in the 40s we had industry that hadn’t been destroyed as it’s been made uncompetitive, by unions sticking their disruptive oars in, like has happened since the end of WW2. When I started work it was effectively a closed shop and god help you if you tried to do something that was someone else’s job, no matter how insignificant. Childish doesn’t come close.

My dad (94) has said if wartime Britain was like this, ie can’t go anywhere or do anything, it would have lasted no more than a year and we’d be speaking German. He said you lived with rationing and other things, as you could go to work, shops and do social activities, so there was something to “live” for. Life didn’t stop.

Yes but the germans were slightly more sporting when killing us and did it visibly with rifles, artillery and bombs, which you can detect.

And you’re clearly forgetting all the children moved to the countryside to “distance” them from the worst of the action.

It’s very easy to be selective and only remember what you want to or what fits your point.

Suggesting anything other than a lockdown (which although implemented probably too late, has now got the data to show it is working) is the same nonsense that has killed thousands of Americans because they’re too cool to die.

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Completely irrelevant

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my point being - the NHS have a preferred supplier for ventilators that they had in stock December 2019 - they were put in to use Jan, Feb and certainly by March 2020…

that supplier has a design - share that design with every voluntary ventilator supplier.

i am not suggesting the NHS write up a specification in the same way the MOD does for its next jet fighter have capability beyond its budget, simply there is a design out there that works - share that design as it already does the job, it shouldn’t require Dyson or F1 teams or anyone else to reinvent the wheel

I’ve only got the words and thoughts of someone who lived and worked through it.

I’m sure you do. I’m not doubting that. I am, however, questioning the relevancy of comparing World War 2 with a global pandemic.

Unless you’re suggesting that German bombing is a pathogen that can be spread by close contact?

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Are they proprietary designs, though? Would the supplier lose the next manufacturing contract, because they’ve released the design details, and none of the other companies had to fund R&D, so can undercut them?

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The key thing with German bombing was you knew when it was about to happen, thanks to RADAR etc.

What’s really interesting is that the standard procedure once the warning went out, was to move the population to areas of safety, sheltering either underground, or in home shelters. Almost a sort of protective ‘lockdown’ if you will.

Wait…

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But did they come with KERS / DRS? High Octane Recovery?

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Making me happy? Wife is buying me a rugged phone.

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The CCF(RAF) finally have access to a portal (which also means the qualifications list on Westminster has been updated). Staff also have their own portal page which is great for courses, though I do wonder what rank slides these are…

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Is the safe person award a new PTS badge to run alongside the space award?

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I’m guessing based on what @Farmerdan has said about Staff courses that “safe person” is a Staff course? (At a guess the mandatory training)

I’m curious about the progress bar under “time on strength” 2yrs6months looks to be 20% “complete”??

That rank slide is gopping