* Posts by codejunky

7085 publicly visible posts • joined 24 Oct 2011

Oh the humanity: McDonald's out of milkshakes across Great Britain

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@John H Woods

"I usually laugh when Leavers call me dim"

Its often the better response.

"Especially when they are spouting nonsense, e.g.:

How the EU tortoise caught the UK hare in the Covid vaccination race and some easy stats"

Not sure how that contradicts what I said. The EU is behind otherwise there would be no need for the 'catch up'. In catching up in vaccinations they then need to get back open.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@skein

"Is this, then, innaccurate? Sounds perfectly reasonable."

Not seeming inaccurate, just very good at avoiding the truth. Basically the article makes a claim which isnt the banana law to claim brexit lies. What it fails to mention is the law which I posted the link many times to the actual law for years which was a criminal law with penalty of fine and or prison for the shape of the banana. Here is a better explanation than I can give-

https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/05/12/to-properly-explain-the-eus-bendy-bananas-rules-yes-theyre-real/?sh=2214b8726fc9

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@John H Woods

"I think you may be assuming that all shortages are equally acute."

Thats true. The EU is behind again and so dont have the demand yet where the US and UK get vaccinated and got on with the job.

"Look, Brexit supporters and apologists get really quite annoyed if we suggest they are a bit dim so can I please suggest they stop saying things that are ... a bit dim?"

Same reaction as remainers when they spout dim nonsense.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@Yet Another Anonymous coward

"(Can't remember was it that we were banned from eating bent bananas or forced to eat them ?)"

It was the stupidity of making a criminal law of fine and or jail time for the shape of a banana. Thousands of pounds and the slammer for the shape of a banana. Almost sounds stupid even for the soviets.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@Timbo

"That's the trouble with the entire Brexit issue...

The leavers expected everything to be the same"

Actually the point of voting to leave was for change. Remain seemed to hope everything would remain the same if we stayed (talking to a few on here).

"And 8 months on, and we find that Brexit really is causing untold damage"

Eh? Pre corona was full employment only dreamed of and post covid we have a competent vaccination achievement (even if other elements were hit and miss) and a rebounding economy. The claimed damage we would suffer has been stunningly absent while the benefits of leaving were demonstrated within months (again vaccination).

"It's time that the blindfold was removed from the eyes of the many"

Yet brexit will be the excuse for years to come I expect. For all the doom we dont see.

"get back on track and re-join the EU"

Why would we do something so stupid. Seriously just take a look at the state of the EU. I feel sorry for the member countries.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: A number of sound decisions?

@John Robson

"It's only Brexit... note that no other country faces the same issues"

Well that excuse went down like a lead brick in the face of reality. The US and Europe facing a shortage (and thats after the EU drivers 'went home'). Shut down an economy for 2 years and you lose economic activity for 2 years. Drivers find other jobs and may not want to return, new drivers dont get trained up and now demand is up we have a shortage.

British teachers' pensions set to be released from Capita's grasp after nearly 30 years

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Or

@AC

You actually sum up the problem. We are all equal but some more equal than others

codejunky Silver badge

Or

They could have private pensions like the rest of us. The infrastructure is already there, the companies have web interfaces and degrees of flexibility based on what people desire. Do the same with those civil servants too.

European Commission airs out new IoT device security draft law – interested parties have a week to weigh in

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Gene Cash

@Loyal Commenter

I think you just repeated my comment.

codejunky Silver badge

@Gene Cash

"I think if companies were required to provide 3 years of security updates, this would stop cheap garbage marketed on a razor-thin margin."

Unfortunately it would probably result in more imported technology and companies going under to get out of such obligation.

"I don't see why people should be allowed to lob shit into the market and wash their hands of things."

This is the norm. This is reality as much as it sucks. This is where reputation becomes important.

Watchdog 'disappointed' it took NHS England over a year to release details of access to Palantir COVID-19 data store

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"Businesses area all complaining about all the extra red tape"

Its awful isnt it. Makes you wonder why we would want to have so much. And an amount of inherited rules from the EU which are to be phased out since we dont need to protect the other member countries interests but just our own. Something which can only be done in leaving the EU and actively being worked on by the government.

"But the UK going it alone had nothing to do with brexit. We were STILL under the EU when these decisions were made!"

In the transition period yes which to some remainers means we were out but I agree we were somewhat still stuck in. Yet to believe the UK would go alone is to believe in the supremacy of the UK and the stunning brilliance of our government vs all of the other governments in the EU (I dont believe that!). To think the UK would dare deviate from the EU when not one other member did must be to believe in some supreme ability of the UK over all the other members not just the EU gov.

"Of course, lockdown affects the availability of drivers."

And that is a full stop feel free to end there. You say Europe isnt having a shortage except I pointed out to you they do and its set to get worse when they actually catch up to the economic situation of the UK and US. The EU shortage isnt as bad yet because they dont have the economy to demand the drivers yet. Its not brexit its the EU being behind again.

"Come on, give me a "benefit" that can be really debated. Not something that can be proved wrong by anyone who ventures outside the sun/express/mail - don't you have any?"

You cant even get the basic facts right about our current discussion without trying to add more to it.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"1) No trade deal made is better than what the EU had."

I see you missed the chunk of removing red tape and regulation etc which is better than in the EU (the EU were concerned about us having such competitive advantage). Since we have only been out for 8 months and have deals equal or better the UK is also looking at joining a trading block. Not a political union but a trade block.

"2) vaccine rollout: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/06/six-eu-states-overtake-uk-covid-vaccination-britain-rollout-slows"

The UK is vaccinated thats why its slowed. All that is left are the hold outs and the debate of how young its worth vaccinating. It is good news the EU is catching up, they really needed to.

"3) vaccine rollout myth: https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-brexit-did-not-speed-up-uk-vaccine-authorisation"

I dont think that article is making the case you think it is. Basically the UK being out of the EU is why the UK was vaccinating before the EU. Also why the EU part of Ireland could only watch as the UK side got vaccinated. The whole thing in the EU falling apart anyway when members gave up on the organisation and ordered vaccine themselves because the EU failed hard.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"How come GB is the only country affected in Europe?"

So I take it as you accept the shutting down of economies has affected availability of drivers for the US. Which makes clear the reason for the UK as we shut down our economy too.

https://www.truckinginfo.com/10145403/the-driver-shortage-were-not-alone

Now lets look at some differences. The UK and US had successful vaccination programs which allowed for opening up sooner leading to increased demand. Europe is a patchwork of trying to open up again and locking back down again. When Europe stumbles back to its feet it too will need more drivers-

https://www.bifa.org/news/articles/2018/dec/truck-driver-shortage-crisis-now-spreading-across-the-whole-of-europe

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"Keep insisting on non-AC posting? Is someone up for a bit of doxing ... ?"

You have a high opinion of yourself. Its nice to see who I am replying to and which AC is saying what so I can reply to the conversation not just the single message. If you think I would waste my time on you then you would be disappointed.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@Trollslayer

"OK, register as a new user with your real name."

Why? So far I have AC's commenting unwilling to put their comments to their post history and making it difficult to see if I am replying to the same commenter or someone else. Sometimes I understand it can be for legitimate reasons but it seems I am getting a few who dont want their stupidity associated with their accounts.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

That is good news. From what I have heard talking to friends there the EU seems to be behind by about the 3 months they lost at the start. The good news is once vaccinated there becomes a strong production which can work its way through the other countries.

codejunky Silver badge
Thumb Up

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"No one was calling you an idiot. It looks like they were correcting your use of your/you're."

Ahhh, didnt look like a correction the way they typed it. I am dyslexic but use the browser corrections/check spellings with google. For the rest I let the grammar nazi's twitch with discomfort.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@WhereAmI?

"but trying to get mail order plants for the last two years has been an impossible nightmare"

Its almost as though shutting down the economy for 2 years buggers things up!

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"What benefits? I'm not aware"

I think you could stop there. I am guessing your not in the UK. Regulation being cut down, not being part of the EU vaccination fiasco nor the covid bailout. Negotiating good trade deals to reduce costs on the population.

"I am aware of lots of SMEs complaining that they can't now trade with the EU"

Some and of course some were gonna have problems after being locked into a protectionist market.

"or where they can their costs have gone through the roof because businesses are adding large margins to cover the unknown risks"

I am sure some possibly are maybe.

"I am aware that Northern Ireland is trading more with Ireland because of issues with the NI/GB* sea border, but that they are doing well"

Glad you note they are doing well. Also helped that they UK unilaterally didnt impose idiotic checks demanded by the EU (hoping to starve out NI). I also noticed the EU had a problem with people from ROI trying to book vaccinations in NI and could only watch.

"I am aware that as more transition deadlines approach (1st October is the next) the position for GB* is going to get worse, as more red tape (wasn't Brexit to get rid of that?) will be introduced by the simple fact that we want svrnty."

Who's red tape? And if its so bad why would we want to impose it? And as the EU's red tape that would raise the question of why we would want to be in the EU and impose that on the rest of the world. The good news is giving up on passporting for the financial sector and instead ripping up red tape.

"by the simple fact that we want svrnty."

Amazing how this is considered a bad thing. Throughout all of history people fighting for freedom and the right to live only for idiots to consider it a bad thing. Damn right sovereignty, as Poland and Germany are finding out.

"I am aware that the European Commission (you understand what that is, don't you?) has moved on and doesn't care about us any more."

I would say about time but since they were still yabbering about brexit when comparing with the vaccine fiasco I doubt they have forgotten. Embarased and not wanting to draw attention maybe.

"I am aware that the EU hasn't imploded"

Your kidding? Please tell me your kidding. The EU is broke. They have just mutualised debt with the member countries in hope of not going under. Just as they were near bankrupt bailing out Greece. The glorious unity of purchasing as a group and not free-for-all fell apart quick for buying vaccinations. Poland and Hungary are slapping the EU for fun. Putin had a good laugh at the weakness of the EU. But somehow a chair vs sofa was more important to the President.

"That's what I am aware of. But I'm not aware of any sunny uplands. I must have missed those."

Looks like it. Guess it depends on your perspective. You can look in the sunlight or in the shade, such is the choice.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@captain veg

"You "won". We all lost."

I am sorry for you, I guess you are still in the EU and suffering the problems of being there.

"It's a real shame that you can't write English properly, or I might think that this "victory" was not just for Putin."

Where does Putin come into this? The UK isnt wanting the Nord Stream 2 project. Nor Were we in the EU when Putin pantsed the EU publicly while expelling diplomats all the while the EU speaker allowed it because they were begging for vaccine.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"You are the one who brought the EU into these posts."

A direct response to someone mentioning the US as was comparable. You are going on about it then claiming its me, idiot (assuming your the same coward).

"The vaccination programme had nothing to do with our EU membership"

Oh please do tell the lie. Come tell me how in the EU we would have vaccinated the country instead of joining the EU procurement. Please tell me your beliefs of UK supremacy that unlike every lesser country that is a member of the EU we, the shining light called the UK would still go our own way. Bollocks.

"You seem to believe the lies about sovereignty ."

Demonstrably true. Germany and Poland currently awaiting a reaming for daring to test in court EU diktat against the countries constitutions. EU stating clearly the principle of the primacy of EU law-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/09/eu-launches-legal-case-against-germany-over-alleged-breach-of-eu-law-primacy-principle

"Oh and by the way, as bad as the EU vaccine rollout was, they have now far surpassed the UK in all metrics."

Not sure what your smoking but 'in all metrics'? I would have laughed had you said some metrics.

"Go on, learn something, google the facts, not just the Tory / Farage bull."

Seems it aint me believing the propaganda

"And as for the UK recovery... WTF? We've lost billions, and are continuing to do so. Again, check the facts."

And reopening the economy. Yes we lost billions, it was providing support during economic lockdown. If your against the full scale lockdown that complaint makes sense and we may even have something we agree on but if you dont see a recovery then you must be sleeping (or smoking something).

"I presume you'll next blame the food shortages on "pingdemic" ?"

You do realise we closed down the economy. That is part of what the economy is. If people aint working how do we get the things they would have produced?

"Are you a daily mail reader or a troll?"

Neither but it seems you need to widen your sources

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@RegGuy1

"Have you got your[1] HGV licence yet? Brexit means we now need all Brits to have a valid HGV licence to ensure we get our turkey for Christmas."

Your right! Its awful the US left the EU. As they have a shortage too. Or maybe Brexit is infectious?

Unfortunately when you shut an economy down for 2 years the economy loses that 2 years. Lack of training centres, drivers having to find other jobs during the pandemic who might not come back, etc.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

Oh jeez dont you read what you are posting as- Anonymous Coward. Guessing your the same idiot who called me idiot?

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

Amazing how Dr.N promises to stop trolling me only to be replaced by AC who sounds like an idiot or a child. As your so much of a coward to have your comments tied to your account I can only guess your account or that he started a cowardly following.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

"Brexit advocates: Perpetual victims and finger pointers."

Erm, I think you will find we won. Did you sleep through the last few years?

"With all this winning one would think they could would be content and have a much happier disposition."

Your the idiot crying at my posts.

"Just as much rage and sadness as before"

You replied to me.

"Almost as if Brexit was all just an elaborate (but obvious) long-con."

And yet just in time with benefits demonstrated within months of leaving instead of the predicted years. Assuming your in the UK you are probably vaccinated with a recovering economy and only the UK covid bill to pay. Your welcome. If your in the EU I understand your upset but leaving the EU is the answer. If your elsewhere your choice source of information is lacking.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@AC

I would think its those for brexit who dont want the EU above the UK.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Watchdog 'disappointed'

@gandalfcn

"The Tories don't consider the USA to be foreign, they consider it to be more of a Master/Servant relationship."

While some others have the same 'desire' of the EU

Facebook sat on report that reveals most-shared post for months was questionable COVID story

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Problems

@AC

"fascism is publishing emotive nonsense to fool the gullible into joining their cause"

Sounds like socialism as well. And of course the recruiting process of most causes.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Problems

@AC

"So what should be done with the 5G/Coronavirus/billg/antivaxx nonsense?"

Bugger all. Nothing. Discussion allows people to debate ideas which often highlights such nonsense as nonsense.

"If it should be left up, why, given it's obvious bullshit that only causes social problems which can be disproven by anyone who passed GCSE-level science?"

You kinda contradict yourself with it being obvious bullshit easily disproved and it being a problem. Compare this to N.Korea has no problems all hail the leader. It is the freedom of expressing opinion that doesnt allow the lier in power to dictate the truth who is just as bad as the lier with the least power.

"The only thing that occurs to me is the far right would like that to happen as it helps push the Overton window more rightward"

That would be blinkered. Freely being able to express opinion allows socialists and communists to spout their nonsense that has never worked anywhere in the world and praise each utopia that tries it before decrying it as not real socialism when it fails. By allowing discussion regardless of opinion it stops Biden from sugar-coating Afghans falling off fleeing planes, Trump publicly making his odd ramblings and that N.Korea didnt win the world cup again.

"so they argue for complete freedom of speech, but only when it comes to those things which help their cause."

Shouldnt that be good reason to argue for freedom of speech. Because even if we dont all have the same opinion we all get to express it. Otherwise we are stuck with the whims of whatever fascist decides is the truth for today.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Problems

@AC

"Isn't it fortunate that everyone on the planet is a virologist or a biologist or knows one so they can peer review original Covid-19 research posted on Facebook, so scientifically inaccurate nonsense never gets shared at all."

And such is the problem. The authoritarian control of the dictator that only the 'right' message is allowed and people should be told what is real. The dream being a benevolent dictator and reality has never worked out that way.

Those who would tell you truth from lie are also liers. From dictators to democracies east to west around the globe people are still people and the benevolent dictator never seems to happen.

And thats assuming the dictators of truth get it right in the first place.

codejunky Silver badge

Problems

If facebook wants to decide what is fact and what is fiction then it will have problems. If it allows people to share whatever they please it is down to the people and not so much facebooks fault. Unfortunately its governments being against 'misinformation' that brought us the stunning banning/filtering/flagging about the lab leak only for it now to be an acceptable theory. God help us if the US gov could dictate what was fact or fiction in Afghanistan at the moment.

I am on the side of freedom with people expected to try and use their brains. Its far less malicious than 'nannying' them.

Zoom incompatible with GDPR, claims data protection watchdog for the German city of Hamburg

codejunky Silver badge

Re: Let's just hire every person in Europe to be a bureaucrat

@Irongut

"Because we'd all be better off as company slaves working for less than a living wage, with no paid time off, little to no maternity / paternity leave"

EU? Remember before the virus when the US and UK had full employment and booming economies. The EU had high unemployment and was playing serious catch up from the brink of economic disaster. Which is better? Fuck yeah!

codejunky Silver badge

@aks

"The second objective of Brussels is for the software (as well as the hardware) to be written in the EU."

The wall does keep getting higher. We have had a huge leap in progress as the world opened up for trade and cooperation, but politicians cant control that so by tightening their grip they can have more control. The full fat version is the iron curtain and we know how much 'growth' the USSR had.

Our lives in the west have massively improved as China backed away from its communist/socialist even if they retained their authoritarianism. And they have had a huge leap of progress bringing many out of actual poverty.

Scientists reckon eliminating COVID-19 will be easier than polio, harder than smallpox – just buckle in for a wait

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"Is snickers an English slur?"

It was an amusing advert- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQBrbJ9T3M

"If that's all your RedPilled head could understand from that article"

Then point out something in that article you think I missed. Please, so I have a clue what your problem is. And while you do so feel free to read-

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/12/covid-may-have-begun-chinese-scientist-collecting-bat-samples/

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"Just wondering how you got so pilled/radicalized to arrive at your Covid world view."

In what way? Assuming your the same AC you have accused me of being red pilled and radicalised etc while trying to shift the blame from the source of the infection who have frustrated efforts to deal with it and allowed it to become a global pandemic while accepting but disliking that it could have come from the lab conducting such experiments.

Seems maybe your just short of someone to argue with in your life. Or maybe you need a snickers

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@John Brown (no body)

"Are getting confused by the similarly named SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-19"

I dont believe so-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-55355401

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"Here's a UK one for you that's not from a site with emphasis on the political slant such as The Hill and your "Daily Mail" and "Spectator":"

Basically the article you link seems to be pointing out that China dont like being questioned or accused even when they are caught out covering up the pandemic. Simply China failed in a cover up of the outbreak and the lab leak possibility was dismissed for political reasons and brought back once the US election was over. Your article doesnt seem to disagree. So whats your problem?

codejunky Silver badge

Re: What do you mean no Apocalypse?

@gandalfcn

"So yu prefer to kill people in the name of mammon"

Interesting you take my comment about wanting the fewest deaths as the opposite.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@gandalfcn

"Fun Fact. Fringe theories are always plausible"

So credit to Trump and others who instead of dismissing the idea and rubbishing it as his political opponents did insisted on investigation of the origins even if it was the lab.

"Biden, being a person with a properly functioning brain"

He forgot he was vaccinated thanks to Trump.

"knew the fringe theory had to be addressed"

Actually not so fringe and yet only considered fringe to fight a political campaign.

"Tell us, how long did it take to identify the vectors in SARS-CoV-1? The outbreak was in 2002 and it took 14 years to identify the source."

Probably easier if China allowed the WHO to help. Maybe if China didnt block attempts to find out where it came from. Perhaps if China didnt cover up the infection in the first place.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"Enough with your MAGA gaslighting already. The leak was always a possibility."

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/media-u-turn-lab-leak-coronavirus-theory/

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/557783-lindsey-graham-dismissal-of-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-cost-trump-2020-election

https://inews.co.uk/news/world/biden-does-u-turn-over-covid-origins-as-report-points-to-wuhan-lab-accident-1023521

I will stop adding more links to that for now. Unless you want more.

"And again the origin didn't matter. It was the response to the situation we need to look at."

On one hand I cant believe you wrote the origin doesnt matter. On the other we both agree its down to the response but the failure to respond was in China. Where they refused to cooperate and covered up the infection. Even after it spread refusing to cooperate even for looking for the supposed animal host transmitting to human from bat. This could have ended in Wuhan. This could have been curbed very quickly even if it was just spreading from Wuhan.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"So RedPilled."

Eh what? I am in the UK so if thats a US term I have no idea what you are on about. It is a fact though that a lab leak was considered a fringe theory while Trump was in power but then became plausible under Biden.

"Nah. Just call me AC. Why, you need to dox?"

Which AC of the many people who post AC? Dox? Is that what you are doing to me coward?

codejunky Silver badge

Re: @Chris G

@AC

"Oh yes. Very good analysis. It was all China and Doctor WHO'S fault."

Just to check, you dont think China allowed this to become a pandemic when they covered up infections and prosecuted those who spoke out about the virus before it managed to spread and become a pandemic? As the origin and actively attacking those trying to act China also refused to cooperate with the WHO. You dont think that gives them a large share of the blame?

And the WHO played down the danger as it was trying not to upset the Chinese, you dont think thats a problem?

"And without pinpointing the reason for the outbreak we were completely helpless and powerless to act in a timely manner."

Which is increasingly looking like the lab which is not allowed to be investigated. Something considered a fringe theory while Trump was saying it but became a serious possibility/probability now the presidential race is over. Pinpointing being easier if people are allowed to investigate which the Chinese have made very difficult.

"Taiwan was foolish to even try: Linking their border controls and healthcare system to target quarantines etc through big data analysis?"

Why? Who said that? They tried something in an unprecedented situation. How successful it is will surely be determined at some point in the future.

You sure you dont wanna put your name to your comments? Worth a laugh.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: What do you mean no Apocalypse?

@Steve Button

"Ahh, but you assume lockdowns actually work. I'd like to see some evidence for that"

I am looking forward to an autopsy of responses to the virus to see what was and not effective. While I can believe targeted lockdowns (particularly of the vulnerable) to be of some use I am not convinced blanket lockdowns or even the country wide lockdowns have solved anything.

Lockdowns are certainly causing deaths so it would be interesting to see at what level it might have been more harm than good. Also the economic damage inflicted is huge the harder the lockdown.

codejunky Silver badge

@Fruit and Nutcase

"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/10/predatory-financial-tactics-survival-uk-care-system-at-risk"

How does that compare with council run care homes?

codejunky Silver badge

@Chris G

"Perhaps the researchers would like to spend a little time figuring out how to 'democratise', de-politicise and remove the greed factor that males the likes of Pfizer and others hold poorer, developing countries to ransom."

Why? That greed is the one thing that developed the vaccine. Also the AZ vaccine was being sold at cost although with the hassle they took from the EU have said they probably wont do it again.

"The haphazard management of the entire pandemic gives so much fuel to the dissenters and anti vaxxers that it is a joke."

That is very true. The failure to (correctly) react by the Chinese and the failure of the WHO to label a pandemic for fear of upsetting the Chinese started the ball rolling but dont mask/mask inconsistencies and political goal scoring over the source of the virus and lab funding erodes the trust needed to get people to act.

"Some honest reporting from governments would go a long way too."

I think various governments have had their success and failure as none of them knew what to do. The autopsy of what worked and what didnt will be interesting.

COVID-19 cases surge as do sales of fake vaccination cards – around $100 for something you could get free

codejunky Silver badge

Hmm

There seems a fascination with cases when its the deaths/hospitalised count that really matters. Not shocked there is a market for this if people are forced to have one. It shows the strength of distrust in the situation, leaders and response.

Vietnamese province that hosts Big Tech's factories now fashionably COVID-free

codejunky Silver badge

Re: About > 10x the death rate

@DryBones

"Rand Paul has no clue what he's talking about. He's not a epidemiologist, not a virologist, not anything applicable."

This was about the funding of the lab. A direct question that the NIH was funding the lab which also did gain of function research. The answer seeming to be yes but that the funding was not for the gain of function research (assuming I understand Fauci's claim).

"Fauci took the extraordinary step of stating he was speaking in official capacity, when he said Rand Paul did not know what he was talking about."

A man with his feet in the fire will say anything.

"Which didn't involve trying to stop a pandemic with an airborne pathogen that infects others in proximity. I'm reminded of a saying."

I assume thats a statement about China? Who let it loose on the world regardless of the origins.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: About > 10x the death rate

@AC

"The reason they past , is they weren't intentionally spread and thus had no surface to mutate over. What I want to see is Republicans getting onboard with the vaccine rollout."

Ok so lets say hypothetically the republicans turned into authoritarian asshats and sent stormtroopers to guarantee 100% vaccination rate in the US. The virus is world wide and running rampant. Developed countries are not completely vaccinated (some considerably so) so what about the poorer countries? It will still mutate there and the problem with vaccine production is a lack of facilities capable of producing it.

Thats why I am not convinced it will just go away even if every developed country clamped down and forced vaccination on everyone.

"You need to stop this political lying, you need to take your vaccines, wear the masks, you need mandatory vaccines in major spread locations"

I am not lying, I am vaccinated and I wear masks on the occasions I have to. Yet still I expect this virus to keep mutating because it has a world of hosts and we can only play whack-a-mole. I am also happy for people to have personal choice especially for the young.

"You need to stop rolling out anti-vaccine legislation"

I am in the UK not US but are they rolling out anti-vaccine legislation? As in banning the vaccine?

"or stopping hospitals from demanding their nurses be vaccinated."

I can imagine this is a question of if they want nurses or only the vaccinated. Its that balancing question of what is more important? Of course the hospital can then try to manage staff contact but thats up to them. We are all waiting on herd immunity (something mocked when suggested by the right yet is the aim now).

"Stop that 'don't Fauci Florida' crap, he's just doing his job."

He seems a shifty guy. Rand Paul was taking him to task for comments over funding of the wuhan lab. But then even as an expert his opinion is ever shifting which apparently shakes peoples faith in him. Just as politicians get accused of (UK gov for one).

"so what if the man delivering it is a Democrat President"

If only the same applied when it was Trump supplying it.

"I get you want to change history, grow up, your voters are dying and you're killing them."

What the hell is that? Sounds like a tantrum but I dont understand why. People are free to choose, freedom being something very important to some people.

"They're trying to save your lives"

Read the quote-

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/19967-of-all-tyrannies-a-tyranny-sincerely-exercised-for-the-good

codejunky Silver badge

Re: About > 10x the death rate

@AC

"The risk of course is evolution, a very real thing that is not just a theory, it could evolve into strains that the vaccine is ineffective against"

This is something the virus is already doing (as you probably know with various strains) and it is global. It isnt about to be stamped out because it truly is everywhere and keeps mutating.

"So the sooner Republicans and Conservatives stop lying about it, and get their voters vaccinated, the fewer of their voters they will kill with their lies."

Wasnt it the left complaining they wouldnt take a vaccine if it was provided by Trump? The same Trump who seems to have been correct identifying the source as the lab in China which the dems claimed a fringe conspiracy theory (until Biden won of course)? Also isnt the right (conservatives/republicans) for freedom of choice so people are not forced to act a certain way?

"it was incompetent leadership that was the main cause of death with this version"

Do you mean the WHO for playing politics instead of calling a pandemic sooner (so as not to upset China)? Or the Chinese leadership for covering up the incidents instead of reacting to it and stopping the virus before it became a pandemic?

"The incompetent leadership of Trump is why Republicans feel the need to keep lying about it."

How was Trump incompetent? Lots of vaccine very quickly without becoming some totalitarian dictator (something the left accused him of being). Instead of abusing the federal position he allowed the states to manage themselves as they should and provided the assistance the federal gov should do. Hell Biden forgot he was vaccinated thanks to Trump the idiot.

codejunky Silver badge

Re: We're going to have to live with it

@Pascal Monett

Well said (upvote from me). There is a vaccine for the original which helps against the current mutations but it wont stop mutating and the countries that locked themselves away in hiding are and will suffer as they open up. The world cant stop for this virus.