Coronavirus Super Thread ( merged )

[Toxteth O'Grady]

4 months of lockdown and a couple of million vaccinations to get back to the level where we were in December - seems  tad disappointing. 

 

It'll be the middle of May before we can go to the bus terminus.

[Malinga the Swinga]

2 hours ago, CJGJ said:

I think you should have a look at your info once more....totally nonsense info...an R number of 3 !!!!!! at the end of restrictions honestly.

Panic, infection rate going to be 3 for months, lock down the non vaccinated and let all the oldies have run of everything. 

Best be cautious and just keep everything shut, let younger folk lose jobs, decline in education, and suffer while the oldies can keep their pensions, golf club memberships and live their lives. 

[Malinga the Swinga]

4 minutes ago, Lord BJ said:

Was speaking to someone today involved enough to know current thinking; it’s certainly a ever changing picture but blended learning was firm message to limit numbers of kids and ancillary mixing.
 

They then told me some stuff that lowered my opinion of those involved in the teaching profession. I must concede it was never one I held in high regard. 
 

Not saying it’s right but what I was told.

 

 

Can you imagine reaction of EIS if SG grew some bollocks and said reduced Easter and Summer holidays for this year, and extended days 2021/2022.

Teachers would be horrified they were missing out on their extended breaks. Not all mind, some have done decent on line efforts, others haven't bothered backsides, give out assignment and say send back in fortnight. Netflix/Sky &  Prime must have record viewing figures. 

[Weakened Offender]

5 minutes ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

Can you imagine reaction of EIS if SG grew some bollocks and said reduced Easter and Summer holidays for this year, and extended days 2021/2022.

Teachers would be horrified they were missing out on their extended breaks. Not all mind, some have done decent on line efforts, others haven't bothered backsides, give out assignment and say send back in fortnight. Netflix/Sky &  Prime must have record viewing figures. 

 

Those extended breaks are actually contracted. Just saying. 

[CJGJ]

22 minutes ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

Panic, infection rate going to be 3 for months, lock down the non vaccinated and let all the oldies have run of everything. 

Best be cautious and just keep everything shut, let younger folk lose jobs, decline in education, and suffer while the oldies can keep their pensions, golf club memberships and live their lives. 

After my jab/vaccine tomorrow bring it on

 

I fully expect my 'pass' to allow me access to pubs, cinemas, Tynecastle, a local cafe or two and out for  a decent meal....that's how it works isn't it ?

 

I can sit inside and watch the faces of the young squashed against the windows whilst the sirlion steak, double cooked chips and a decent bottle of wine are carefully consumed

Edited February 24, 2021 by CJGJ

[JudyJudyJudy]

3 minutes ago, jonesy said:

Hesitated to use the b-word myself, but can totally understand folk reading it as that. But since the coalition of the fearful are on the side of the righteous, slagging off those who refuse to nod along is clearly within acceptable boundaries of discourse.

I rarely use that word as  it is can  often  be overused...however since a few people mention it....

[Weakened Offender]

12 minutes ago, jonesy said:

 

Oh the irony. 😁

[Don Dan]

[JudyJudyJudy]

40 minutes ago, Brian Dundas said:

I apologise if you feel I was part of some bullying against yourself, not my intention at all. 
 

It does  happen on Internet forums though if you post something a lot of others don’t like or agree with you can get loads of stuff posted at you at once, it’s happened to me as well. 

👍👍

[Sirudi]

1 hour ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

Can you imagine reaction of EIS if SG grew some bollocks and said reduced Easter and Summer holidays for this year, and extended days 2021/2022.

Teachers would be horrified they were missing out on their extended breaks. Not all mind, some have done decent on line efforts, others haven't bothered backsides, give out assignment and say send back in fortnight. Netflix/Sky &  Prime must have record viewing figures. 

 

The good reason that this should never be implemented is that it would be totally counter productive.

Teaching in the morning is always the most productive. Teaching in the afternoon is a battle, as the kids are getting knackered by then. Trying to teach a class in the late afternoon, with kids that by that stage have had enough of school as they have probably been up since seven, is approaching/beyond their limits. After all, they are just children.

So as for keeping them in class for longer at the end of the day.....,aye right, that will work. 

As for reduced holidays.  Do you think children would welcome this? A lot of pupils are not noted for their good behaviour or regular attendance, I think they would vote with their feet.  
After the year that children have been through, I would suggest they need as much free time as possible outside socialising and getting their lives back to some normality. Locking them up in school for longer is not the answer.
 

With regards to missing out on their extended breaks, Teachers are regularly slagged off for having really cushy jobs, so it has always surprised me that there were always so many vacancies. I wonder why ?

 

 

 

[WoolfordsHearts]

1 hour ago, Lord BJ said:

Was speaking to someone today involved enough to know current thinking; it’s certainly a ever changing picture but blended learning was firm message to limit numbers of kids and ancillary mixing.
 

They then told me some stuff that lowered my opinion of those involved in the teaching profession. I must concede it was never one I held in high regard. 
 

Not saying it’s right but what I was told.

 

 

I used to love these"a boy in the pub told me"type statements on here.

 

I wish the pubs would open again.😢

[Sirudi]

6 minutes ago, jonesy said:

A couple of years ago I picked up some maths books in China for the equivalent ages of my children. The work that the Chinese kids were doing was about three or four years ahead of what kids in this country do. Explained to my family over there what our kids were doing at school with numeracy and they couldn't believe how basic it was.

 

Take that on up to high school, and the kids over there are doing uni level work by 15/16 while ours are still using fingers and toes to count up to 20 (or 21 in Leith).

 

Not saying we should batter our kids with permanently longer school days, which can lead to burnout, but a wee kick up the arse for expectation levels is needed. If the kids and parents (and let's face it, the parents often drive the kids' attitudes) don't fancy it, then they can look forward to their UC-funded futures while the ones who make the effort can get on in life.

I totally agree with you with regards to the quality of the curriculum.

I taught maths at university and later in schools, and the knowledge of foreign students is vastly superior. 

Other countries, (in my experience China, Iran, Iraq, Lybia) teach to a higher level, where they accept that only the brightest will gain top marks and progress with the subject.

In Scotland the maths curriculum has been continually dumbed down over the years, always against the advice of teachers. This ensures more pupils pass. Quantity as opposed to quality. It is all political.

 

Likewise, it is the quality of teaching in school that matters, not the quantity. Trying to motivate kids can be a minefield. Longer days are not the answer, but a decent curriculum is.

They should never have done away with the arithmetic qualification. Numeracy is the main skill most will need, but we don’t teach it anymore.
 

[Weakened Offender]

39 minutes ago, Sirudi said:

After the year that children have been through, I would suggest they need as much free time as possible outside socialising and getting their lives back to some normality. Locking them up in school for longer is not the answer.

 

I agree with this. Kids have had it a lot tougher than a lot of people (seemingly) think. They've missed out on more than most adults IMO. 

 

I do think that shortening a 7.5 week summer holiday would be OK though. 

[Nookie Bear]

19 minutes ago, Sirudi said:

I totally agree with you with regards to the quality of the curriculum.

I taught maths at university and later in schools, and the knowledge of foreign students is vastly superior. 

Other countries, (in my experience China, Iran, Iraq, Lybia) teach to a higher level, where they accept that only the brightest will gain top marks and progress with the subject.

In Scotland the maths curriculum has been continually dumbed down over the years, always against the advice of teachers. This ensures more pupils pass. Quantity as opposed to quality. It is all political.

 

Likewise, it is the quality of teaching in school that matters, not the quantity. Trying to motivate kids can be a minefield. Longer days are not the answer, but a decent curriculum is.

They should never have done away with the arithmetic qualification. Numeracy is the main skill most will need, but we don’t teach it anymore.
 

Absolutely evident from the schooling my kids have received. 
 

And your arithmetic concerns is spot on. 

[Taffin]

37 minutes ago, Sirudi said:

I totally agree with you with regards to the quality of the curriculum.

I taught maths at university and later in schools, and the knowledge of foreign students is vastly superior. 

Other countries, (in my experience China, Iran, Iraq, Lybia) teach to a higher level, where they accept that only the brightest will gain top marks and progress with the subject.

In Scotland the maths curriculum has been continually dumbed down over the years, always against the advice of teachers. This ensures more pupils pass. Quantity as opposed to quality. It is all political.

 

Likewise, it is the quality of teaching in school that matters, not the quantity. Trying to motivate kids can be a minefield. Longer days are not the answer, but a decent curriculum is.

They should never have done away with the arithmetic qualification. Numeracy is the main skill most will need, but we don’t teach it anymore.
 

 

What do people use it for? I was quite good at school academically apart from maths and arithmetic. I've never once (outside of tests specific to the subject) thought my poor skillset on it hindered me, or that I was in a situation where anything more than my standard grade level was really required. I'm not saying it's not the skill most will need, just that I've never experienced that so curious as to what people do where they need it.

 

I'm interested as I listened to a podcast last night with Steven Levitt on it where he suggested a lot of the maths taught to kids will never be used again, which I found surprising to hear from him yet also reflective of my experience. Here's an article expanding on it which resonates with me:

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gen.medium.com/amp/p/be808c1cffd9

 

 

Edit: I should note they are of course talking about America and I don't know what the pre-2000s maths curriculum looked like in the UK so it could well be what your suggesting we go back to is more akin to what he's suggesting

Edited February 24, 2021 by Taffin

[Taffin]

12 minutes ago, jonesy said:

It's a means to an end as much as anything else, IMO. Solid mental discipline, working within patterns and logic. Instead we seem to be prioritising teaching our kids to tell people about their feelings and spout office-type jargon about growth mindsets without actually understanding what it means. Indoctrination by imbeciles only leads to more imbeciles.

 

Understanding the concept of arithmetic I get, but actually being able to do it seems largely irrelevant these days as you'll always have a calculator or a computer to hand. I agree about working with patterns and logic being important but I don't ever remember being taught anything about working with large data, how to cut it, analyse it or how to present it which feels much more relevant that trigonometry, geometry or algebra etc unless you work in quite specific fields. Did we previously teach that? Maybe they did when I was at school I guess before I dropped maths. This excerpt from the article I posted reflects where my head is at on it:

 

“In a way, we’re teaching kids to be computers, and they’re learning to do what computers do,” Boaler says. “So, high school, in particular, has lots of antiquated methods that students sit and work out by hand. They will never do that again in their lives. What kids can be doing that computers cannot be doing is creative, flexible thinking.”

 

Anyway, I'm awful at maths so maybe I just never experienced the value of it as I've never been good at it 🤷🏻‍♂️ ignorance is bliss

Edited February 24, 2021 by Taffin
Apologies all for taking this off topic.

[Footballfirst]

I was prompted to look at England's roadmap by tonight's Peston programme.  The issue of the government's insistence on data rather than dates came up.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021

 

The Roadmap section of a document issued on Monday mentions the following dates

8 March - 10 times

29 March - 4 times

12 April - 5 times

21 June - 3 times

 

References to measurements of data that will be applied - 0 times

Edited February 24, 2021 by Footballfirst

[Footballfirst]

4 minutes ago, Zlatanable said:

Would you be more relevant if you critically examined the devolved administration of Scotlands  plans, or are the always perfect, so nobody needs to?

I have. The Scottish plan currently has fewer dates and no data. 

Edited February 25, 2021 by Footballfirst

[redjambo]

Guys, I'm going to take a break from this thread for a wee while, so I won't be posting my stats and spreadsheets (I'm sure you'll all be fine and the earth will keep on spinning ). The accusation recently voiced on here that I was a bully today has hit home given that I was bullied, mercilessly at times, at school, and I'd hate to think that folk thought that I was bullying when I expressed my thoughts to James earlier. It serves me right though. I've PMed James. He's a good guy and we had a chat to clear the air.

 

I know, I'm being a bit of a drama queen, but I really do need to take a break from this thread as it does my head in at times. All the best to you all with your continued analysis and discussion of the pandemic and our recovery from it.

[Ulysses]

2 hours ago, Taffin said:

 

What do people use it for? I was quite good at school academically apart from maths and arithmetic. I've never once (outside of tests specific to the subject) thought my poor skillset on it hindered me, or that I was in a situation where anything more than my standard grade level was really required. I'm not saying it's not the skill most will need, just that I've never experienced that so curious as to what people do where they need it.

 

I'm interested as I listened to a podcast last night with Steven Levitt on it where he suggested a lot of the maths taught to kids will never be used again, which I found surprising to hear from him yet also reflective of my experience. Here's an article expanding on it which resonates with me:

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gen.medium.com/amp/p/be808c1cffd9

 

 

Edit: I should note they are of course talking about America and I don't know what the pre-2000s maths curriculum looked like in the UK so it could well be what your suggesting we go back to is more akin to what he's suggesting

 

I would rather lose an arm or a leg than be bad at maths and arithmetic.  Seriously. 

[redjambo]

33 minutes ago, Brian Dundas said:

Red send me the spreadsheet and I’ll see if I can keep it going. It was my creation so I’d hate to see it die. 

 

I've sent you a PM about emailing you the spreadsheet.

[FWJ]

4 hours ago, jonesy said:

A couple of years ago I picked up some maths books in China for the equivalent ages of my children. The work that the Chinese kids were doing was about three or four years ahead of what kids in this country do. Explained to my family over there what our kids were doing at school with numeracy and they couldn't believe how basic it was.

 

Take that on up to high school, and the kids over there are doing uni level work by 15/16 while ours are still using fingers and toes to count up to 20 (or 21 in Leith).

 

Not saying we should batter our kids with permanently longer school days, which can lead to burnout, but a wee kick up the arse for expectation levels is needed. If the kids and parents (and let's face it, the parents often drive the kids' attitudes) don't fancy it, then they can look forward to their UC-funded futures while the ones who make the effort can get on in life.

Edited February 25, 2021 by FWJ

[FWJ]

3 minutes ago, FWJ said:

...

 

[ri Alban]

7 hours ago, Nookie Bear said:

Absolutely evident from the schooling my kids have received. 
 

And your arithmetic concerns is spot on. 

Are spot on. 

[ri Alban]

Bullying card bollox being played. #prayforjames

[ri Alban]

9 hours ago, jonesy said:

Hesitated to use the b-word myself, but can totally understand folk reading it as that. But since the coalition of the fearful are on the side of the righteous, slagging off those who refuse to nod along is clearly within acceptable boundaries of discourse.

Utter pish. If it was someone on your flawed thinking squadron of lego sniffing that posted, a justified revelation of someone's stupidity, you'd be first in with the boot. So do try the poor me, he's a bully bollox when someone has had enough of james' utter shite on this thread. 

 

If Red is out, I'm in. And now I'm fecking coming with a chib. 

[kila]

6 hours ago, redjambo said:

Guys, I'm going to take a break from this thread for a wee while, so I won't be posting my stats and spreadsheets (I'm sure you'll all be fine and the earth will keep on spinning ). The accusation recently voiced on here that I was a bully today has hit home given that I was bullied, mercilessly at times, at school, and I'd hate to think that folk thought that I was bullying when I expressed my thoughts to James earlier. It serves me right though. I've PMed James. He's a good guy and we had a chat to clear the air.

 

I know, I'm being a bit of a drama queen, but I really do need to take a break from this thread as it does my head in at times. All the best to you all with your continued analysis and discussion of the pandemic and our recovery from it.

You’re not a bully and James needed told that. Keep posting, don’t let the tinfoil hatters clog up the pages with nonsense again

 

 

[Nucky Thompson]

1 hour ago, ri Alban said:

 

 

If Red is out, I'm in. And now I'm fecking coming with a chib. 

[Nookie Bear]

1 hour ago, ri Alban said:

Are spot on. 

🙈

[GinRummy]

7 hours ago, redjambo said:

Guys, I'm going to take a break from this thread for a wee while, so I won't be posting my stats and spreadsheets (I'm sure you'll all be fine and the earth will keep on spinning ). The accusation recently voiced on here that I was a bully today has hit home given that I was bullied, mercilessly at times, at school, and I'd hate to think that folk thought that I was bullying when I expressed my thoughts to James earlier. It serves me right though. I've PMed James. He's a good guy and we had a chat to clear the air.

 

I know, I'm being a bit of a drama queen, but I really do need to take a break from this thread as it does my head in at times. All the best to you all with your continued analysis and discussion of the pandemic and our recovery from it.

Good. Get back over to the terrace. Your football chat has been missed 😃 

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 hours ago, redjambo said:

Guys, I'm going to take a break from this thread for a wee while, so I won't be posting my stats and spreadsheets (I'm sure you'll all be fine and the earth will keep on spinning ). The accusation recently voiced on here that I was a bully today has hit home given that I was bullied, mercilessly at times, at school, and I'd hate to think that folk thought that I was bullying when I expressed my thoughts to James earlier. It serves me right though. I've PMed James. He's a good guy and we had a chat to clear the air.

 

I know, I'm being a bit of a drama queen, but I really do need to take a break from this thread as it does my head in at times. All the best to you all with your continued analysis and discussion of the pandemic and our recovery from it.

I don’t blame you for taking a break from this thread.

Your daily statistics have been invaluable.

I’m sure you’ll not miss the resident expert continually posting nauseating pish.😀

[manaliveits105]

ut proficiscantur  

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 hours ago, Brian Dundas said:

Red send me the spreadsheet and I’ll see if I can keep it going. It was my creation so I’d hate to see it die. 

Good man.👍

[Beni]

You'd have expected the resident pound shop Lawrence Foxes to be defending freedom of speech rather than shutting it down, it looks like self awareness isn't their strong suit. 

[JudyJudyJudy]

Red and I have had a good chat and cleared the air . That’s all the matters to me .   

[manaliveits105]

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 minute ago, manaliveits105 said:

Spoiler

Im

Glad he’s in an eternal coma after what he did to A ! 

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by JamesM48

[Victorian]

Ffs

 

Everybody put their big boy pants back on and slaver on.

[redjambo]

2 minutes ago, JamesM48 said:

Red and I have had a good chat and cleared the air . That’s all the matters to me .   

 

 

We have indeed. Please don't take my decision to take a break after three months of posting the stats out on James in any way. In fact it was after chatting with him that I decided to change my original decision to leave to giving it a go for a further while, and only afterwards that I thought "No, I can't really carry on posting on the thread on a daily basis". I need this break. Either Brian will come up with the goods or you can get the data from Travelling Tabby (although he uses a different technique based on specimen date rather than reporting date so the the data won't be quite as cutting edge) - I merely packaged it in what I hoped was an easily digestible and technicolour format. Take care, and I look forward to bumping into *most* of you on other threads. Hugs and Covid kisses, Drama Queen Red.

[Jeffros Furios]

3 hours ago, ri Alban said:

Utter pish. If it was someone on your flawed thinking squadron of lego sniffing that posted, a justified revelation of someone's stupidity, you'd be first in with the boot. So do try the poor me, he's a bully bollox when someone has had enough of james' utter shite on this thread. 

 

If Red is out, I'm in. And now I'm fecking coming with a chib. 

😀

[GinRummy]

Just now, Lord BJ said:

Modern a have a vaccine specifically for the SA variant going into human testing, 

 

India continue defy the perceived wisdom, with rates falling rapidly despite little control measures. Whether it’s due to the demographics or some form of immunity, no one seems to know for sure and will probably be a combination of factors

The India situation is nothing short of remarkable. I've been to a different places over there and you'd imagine, in places like Mumbai, the disease would just spread in no time and keep spreading.

[Weakened Offender]

23 minutes ago, fancy a brew said:

You'd have expected the resident pound shop Lawrence Foxes to be defending freedom of speech rather than shutting it down, it looks like self awareness isn't their strong suit. 

 

Pathetic isn't it? 

[Governor Tarkin]

3 minutes ago, Lord BJ said:

Modern a have a vaccine specifically for the SA variant going into human testing, 

 

India continue defy the perceived wisdom, with rates falling rapidly despite little control measures. Whether it’s due to the demographics or some form of immunity, no one seems to know for sure and will probably be a combination of factors

 

Goddesses with three breasts.

Nap.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZAD-rkpJYZY/SZeXziVr7NI/AAAAAAAAAXg/u6IV-lIrCjU/s320/madurai+thadatakai.jpg

[Victorian]

1 minute ago, Lord BJ said:

Modern a have a vaccine specifically for the SA variant going into human testing, 

 

India continue defy the perceived wisdom, with rates falling rapidly despite little control measures. Whether it’s due to the demographics or some form of immunity, no one seems to know for sure and will probably be a combination of factors

 

I think I saw something a while ago suggesting that 'tweaked' existing vaccines don't require anything like the same amount of trials as new ones.  Not sure if this Moderna one is a completely new vaccine or an updated one from their already licenced one.

[JudyJudyJudy]

4 minutes ago, Lord BJ said:

Modern a have a vaccine specifically for the SA variant going into human testing, 

 

India continue defy the perceived wisdom, with rates falling rapidly despite little control measures. Whether it’s due to the demographics or some form of immunity, no one seems to know for sure and will probably be a combination of factors

Lack of obesity and healthy diet surely 

[JudyJudyJudy]

8 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

We have indeed. Please don't take my decision to take a break after three months of posting the stats out on James in any way. In fact it was after chatting with him that I decided to change my original decision to leave to giving it a go for a further while, and only afterwards that I thought "No, I can't really carry on posting on the thread on a daily basis". I need this break. Either Brian will come up with the goods or you can get the data from Travelling Tabby (although he uses a different technique based on specimen date rather than reporting date so the the data won't be quite as cutting edge) - I merely packaged it in what I hoped was an easily digestible and technicolour format. Take care, and I look forward to bumping into *most* of you on other threads. Hugs and Covid kisses, Drama Queen Red.

 

[The Real Maroonblood]

8 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

We have indeed. Please don't take my decision to take a break after three months of posting the stats out on James in any way. In fact it was after chatting with him that I decided to change my original decision to leave to giving it a go for a further while, and only afterwards that I thought "No, I can't really carry on posting on the thread on a daily basis". I need this break. Either Brian will come up with the goods or you can get the data from Travelling Tabby (although he uses a different technique based on specimen date rather than reporting date so the the data won't be quite as cutting edge) - I merely packaged it in what I hoped was an easily digestible and technicolour format. Take care, and I look forward to bumping into *most* of you on other threads. Hugs and Covid kisses, Drama Queen Red.

Welcome back Frank.🌝

[GinRummy]

Just now, Lord BJ said:

They think in the densely populated places like Mumbai antibodies are present in over half the population. 
 

I have wondered did the living conditions result in higher natural immunity. 

Could well be something like that. I thought the multi-generations in one household thing would have been a recipe for disaster but there are clearly some factors stopping the numbers going crazy high.

[Victorian]

Think I saw a stat of India's population being 50% under 25.  

[DETTY29]

2 hours ago, Lord BJ said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/health-56162075

 

Quite a interesting articles about COVID impact and vaccine uptake. There is a noticeable difference between rich and poor area. Whilst it also appears the ethnicity(s) that require most protection are least likely to take. 

Be interesting once ONS release their weekly stats for England today to see how much progress there has been in the last week notably for Elderly Care Home Staff;  Frontline Health Care Staff and the 70 -74 groups, but we are now starting to vaccinate areas with a wider non white or non affluent demographic.  (Temper this with supplies being delayed, reduced over last week or so)

 

I've not looked to much on Google to verify but I caught a virologist (may even have been from Roslin) was on 5Live on Monday saying  even in Israel they are needing to have a campaign to get younger people to take up vaccination.   The youngsters don't believe they are impacted.  This is leading to the virus now concentrating on a smaller group of people and if any of these groups catch, there are more of the younger populous likely to show long term corvid impacts.

 

@FootballfirstI'm sure put up some info that the UK Gov is looking for 79.1% of the adult population to be vaccinated.  I think they all need to move away from this 'offered' a vaccine being the be all and end all target and focus 

more on jags administered.

 

Northern Ireland is a prime example of being the first UK nation to call out having met the first 'offered' all Category 1-4 JCVI cohorts when at that time 'only' 75% (still good) of 70-74s had been vaccinated and are now pushing the over 70s to make appointments via their GPs if the mass vaccinations centres didn't work for them.  And their clinically vulnerable stats at the time was only 23% with the other 3 nations @80+%.

 

And then naturally you have your father in law's saga here.  Any progress?

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by DETTY29