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Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Live Reveal - Thursday 12th of June at 1700BST

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Discussion

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  • ?
    A Former User
    Joined:

    You should see the shit show in Dallas, Texas right now.

    last edited by 21 May 2020, 22:15 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • D
      DougNg
      Joined: 24 Sept 2009

      @JDelage:

      All - I'm looking for good masks in Europe, preferably shaped for a normal face (you know, with a nose). I don't mind paying slightly premium prices. I'm planning a flight tp the US and I'd prefer something better than the light face masks I'm using in shops. Thanks.

      My wife has a couple of the rectangular ones and it’s not much protection. You might as well wear a shemagh over your face. Much more comfortable. A shemagh might not have the tight weave of one of the cotton masks but at least it forms more of a seal

      I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

      last edited by 21 May 2020, 23:46 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • G
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined: 22 Sept 2009

        Interesting read…..

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52758024

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 24 May 2020, 07:32 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          Stuart.T
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined: 21 Sept 2017

          @Giles in my day to day work I am the lead practitioner for The Mental Capacity Act an Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. In a nutshell, that involves assessing whether adults with a mental impairment (or disorder) have the mental capacity required to make 'time specific' decisions… That involves us all being able to understand, retain, weigh and use, and communicate information necessary to make that decision.

          There are then cases where I would need to assess that it is in a person's best interests to deprive a person of their liberty. Where it is necessary, the restrictions need to be the least restrictive of their liberty that are available... (bear with me!). You can imagine how much this process and the considerations that need to be given have changed recently! It's one of the reasons I've been so vocal in this thread, I am privy to info that isn't always shared with the general population.

          I work with Barristers that sometimes sit in the Court of Appeal, or even the Supreme Court (the UK' highest Court). There is a widely held view here that the UK Government have not used the 'least restrictive' option to keep people safe, The Public Health Act could have been amended to achieve that (the context for this is what is afforded in domestic and European law in the UK, so drawing direct comparisons to other UK states is not always helpful. It can be, but not always). Its why there has been so much speculation that there are other agendas at play, not just public health.

          It's a very interesting area to me, and though I generally sound like a beardy twat on this forum, I actually have quite a responsible job!... Hopefully some of the twatishness would be eroded if you ever met me, or not!  😉

          last edited by 24 May 2020, 09:27 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            steelworker
            見習いボス
            Joined: 16 Apr 2014

            @Giles:

            Interesting read…..

            https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52758024

            Sound advice. Basically, try not to be a effin moron.

            Those are my principles, and if you don't like them…
            Well, I have others.

            last edited by 24 May 2020, 13:34 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              Stuart.T
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined: 21 Sept 2017

              The behavioural sciences element of the Covid-19 experience has fascinated me. In the UK for the past 10 weeks we have had a clap for the NHS/carers phenomenon. It has been used to gauge public receptiveness and compliance (not a fact hidden by government advisors). It has helped advise whether a track and trace app would be widely taken up. Tonight was apparently the last national clap. Interesting as the app comes online soon.

              last edited by 28 May 2020, 22:03 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • G
                Graeme
                啓蒙家
                Joined: 30 Mar 2012

                Video from The Economist on how the economy might worsen as we emerge from lockdown.

                last edited by 30 May 2020, 01:37 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • G
                  Graeme
                  啓蒙家
                  Joined: 30 Mar 2012

                  Interview with Professor Karl Friston on his approach to modelling Covid-19.

                  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/31/covid-19-expert-karl-friston-germany-may-have-more-immunological-dark-matter

                  last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 07:22 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    Stuart.T
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined: 21 Sept 2017

                    So many of the strategies being implemented during this global pandemic were planned and predicted decades ago. The used to get labelled as conspiracy theories… Have you noticed how the language has changed to 'disinformation'?

                    Quite Weapons for Silent Wars was found in 1979. It was a manual for the compliance of the citizens of the world, the methodology? A biochemical, invisible 'enemy' that would create compliance through fear or doctrine, the end goal being state control of fuel and the economy, and control of the state by global private interests.

                    Baby steps have been taken so far (desensitisation of people's spending... You have less emotional connection with your money if you pay with the tap of an iPhone than you do handing over a bill. Fact. Watch interviews with the founders of PayPal).

                    If you have time, and are broadly open minded to new information, and can view it objectively, but critically, this compilation is worth a watch. Let Covid-19 frame the context a little..

                    last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 08:46 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • L
                      louisbosco
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined: 21 Feb 2013

                      there's nothing new or conspiracy in that thought.. i can't remember where i got this from (reading or watching something) but i'm paraphrasing,

                      "if you force the masses to give up their freedom and rights, you will be met with disagreement, anger and rebellion. but if you created a situation that was extremely devastating or mind-numbingly catastrophic, people will voluntarily give it up."

                      on a more conspiring thought, has anyone ever noticed how there's always wars towards the end or at the beginning of a new century? we're currently right around that time frame.. WW1 and 2, Napoleonic etc..

                      "Loyalty is a two way street. If i'm asking for it from you, then you're getting it from me."

                      • Harvey Specter
                      last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 09:09 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • G
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                        @louisbosco:

                        on a more conspiring thought, has anyone ever noticed how there's always wars towards the end or at the beginning of a new century? we're currently right around that time frame.. WW1 and 2, Napoleonic etc..

                        Or towards the end of a presidential term  😶 😶 😶

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 09:18 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          dinobarnesberlin
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined: 28 Mar 2020

                          Bingo @Giles

                          last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 09:29 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            Stuart.T
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined: 21 Sept 2017

                            @Giles:

                            @louisbosco:

                            on a more conspiring thought, has anyone ever noticed how there's always wars towards the end or at the beginning of a new century? we're currently right around that time frame.. WW1 and 2, Napoleonic etc..

                            Or towards the end of a presidential term  😶 😶 😶

                            Trade and commerce, often in the guise of religious dogma. If the middle east didn't first have valuable spices, and latterly 95% of the world's fossil fuel reserves, it might be quite a peaceful but dusty place now.

                            You're right in what you paraphrase too. It's why militaristic language was chosen to set the narrative for Covid-19…firstly it creates a common enemy, secondly it gives the state more power, and the public more willingness to hand any perceived authority and autonomy they have back to the state.

                            I think that the cleverest psychological warfare used by the state is by far the dumbing down of the masses, while simultaneously making them think that they have insight and intellect. People trust without reason, and with little capacity to intellectually challenge social and economic policy, because 'politics is boring' but 'celebrity and sport are interesting'.

                            Clap for the NHS and draw a rainbow is the new baseball and football, in the absence of those 2 distractions (read up on why a baseball league was created at the end of the Great depression... Distract a mobilised public).

                            last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 14:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • D
                              DougNg
                              Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                              "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                              Benjamin Franklin

                              I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                              last edited by 1 Jun 2020, 15:28 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • topic:timeago-later,15 days
                              • G
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                                I went fishing with a mate last night.  His GF works in procurement for a large aerospace company.  Since the lock-down, she has been working from home.  It is unlikely that she will ever go back into the office full time again.  The company has calculated that the staff productivity of those workers now working from home has increased by 22%…..

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                last edited by 16 Jun 2020, 11:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • J
                                  jason1967
                                  Joined: 19 Jan 2020

                                  A very common theme from a lot of people working in my industry as well Giles

                                  last edited by 16 Jun 2020, 12:00 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • N
                                    neph93
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined: 18 Aug 2014

                                    This issue has raised some uncomfortable questions in the education sector in Norway. At my level (16-19 yo) the Norwegian government has pushed through a very unpopular policy regarding attendance. If you miss more the 10% of scheduled teaching in a class you lose your grade completely. The students hated it, but it was extremely effective. It has helped massively in lowering the drop-out rate and improving the attainment of the bottom 50% of students.

                                    When corona hit all that went out the window. While teachers were able to use net based tech to teach effectively the students who needed it the most vanished and we had no recourse to track absentee-ism, or routines for getting them assessed. The ability to audit the participation and engagement  of weak or unmotivated students that you get from seeing them three times a week was suddenly gone.

                                    Any move towards devolving schooling at this level to digital platforms and away from physical places of work is going to need a small revolution.

                                    “Some of those that work forces
                                    Are the same that burn crosses”

                                    • Virginia Woolf
                                    last edited by 16 Jun 2020, 12:48 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • O
                                      Omega Man
                                      Haraki san Student
                                      Joined: 15 Jul 2010

                                      @Giles:

                                      I went fishing with a mate last night.  His GF works in procurement for a large aerospace company.  Since the lock-down, she has been working from home.  It is unlikely that she will ever go back into the office full time again.  The company has calculated that the staff productivity of those workers now working from home has increased by 22%…..

                                      The dynamics behind working from home (WFH) in this case may be different.  Nothing was opened, no where to go and you couldn't spend time doing other "errands".  Fear of the unknown, workers may be afraid if they don’t step up, they could lose their jobs.  Companies may also be focusing on just one or two key priorities at this time.  Without multitasking and juggling many priorities, employee’s productivity might have gone up.  Read something recently on something call “Ctrip Paradox”.  It was an “experiment” where employees of a Chinese travel company were asked to WFH.  The study shows home workers were more productive, but as a group, they were less content.  Although employers are warming to the idea:  logistically it works, real estate savings, productivity has gone up, WFH may have a long term impact on office morale.  https://news.stanford.edu/2020/03/30/productivity-pitfalls-working-home-age-covid-19/

                                      last edited by 16 Jun 2020, 14:11 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • D
                                        DougNg
                                        Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                                        @neph93:

                                        This issue has raised some uncomfortable questions in the education sector in Norway. At my level (16-19 yo) the Norwegian government has pushed through a very unpopular policy regarding attendance. If you miss more the 10% of scheduled teaching in a class you lose your grade completely. The students hated it, but it was extremely effective. It has helped massively in lowering the drop-out rate and improving the attainment of the bottom 50% of students.

                                        When corona hit all that went out the window. While teachers were able to use net based tech to teach effectively the students who needed it the most vanished and we had no recourse to track absentee-ism, or routines for getting them assessed. The ability to audit the participation and engagement  of weak or unmotivated students that you get from seeing them three times a week was suddenly gone.

                                        Any move towards devolving schooling at this level to digital platforms and away from physical places of work is going to need a small revolution.

                                        We’re encountering the same problem in the govt training sector. We have limited mechanisms to measure engagement, the few we do have are questionable in effectiveness, and exam security is out the window.

                                        On the flip side of that my productivity has gone through the roof (I work on the administrative side of our training organization). The fact I don’t have to deal with people wandering into my office complaining about random shit has opened up a lot of time in my day.

                                        I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                        last edited by 16 Jun 2020, 14:17 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          Snowy
                                          Joined: 15 Jun 2012

                                          most of my lot I get the sense will be looking to do a few days a week in the office. I think once there's a vaccine and we're 1-2 years down the road, we might settle back into old routines more than we think. How easily we adapt.

                                          last edited by 17 Jun 2020, 11:07 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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