ADs crave hotel breakfasts garnished with phallic strawberries

[BogRollBOGOF]

Oh for the good old days of a breakfast buffet.

Back when you could make plans and reasonably expect them to happen. When you could turn up spontaneously and browse or linger at your leisure. When you could meet whoever you like and give them a hug

But until those days return, here's some more AD chat about life, the universe and phallic fruits...

I know they need to big shit up to fill the news cycle - but it really does feel like there is no hope left in this now.

Just thinking about vaccines for a minute too. We have a 'flu vaccine but people still die of 'flu. I know 'flu comes in many different strains, and the vaccine helps save lives - but not all lives of those with 'flu. So it would be similar for a vaccine for covid, surely.
I can envisage the following scenario... a vaccine is created. It seems to do some of the things it should do (they hope). The testing is quick (of necessity) and long term efectiveness and side effects are not known, but no matter, it is rolled out for the over 65s and clinically vulnerable (like the 'flu vaccine). At the same time, mass testing for coronavirus is withdrawn ('We are curing it, we don't need testing anymore'). Bingo! Cases drop off a cliff, the government rejoices. They have cured covid. Testing will be limited to people entering hospitals, care homes and the like. Covid will always be in the community. We will have to learn to live with it as far as I'm concerned.

The most efficious thing you can say about masks is that they deter people from going to indoor public spaces

I think that is the key thing. Those people who absolutely put their faith in them won't be inside spending money anyway as it's far too risky. And people like me are avoiding many places because of them.

We cancelled our uk holiday because of the masks. That would have been about £2k spent in England.

Interesting article on Spiked, although I don't think I agree with him about the vaccine. I think we'll get some sort of vaccine (though it may not actually be very effective).
www.spiked-online.com/2020/09/25/the-making-of-britains-covid-catastrophe/

Reading something on the beeb this morning, saying that letting covid run through uni's unfettered isn't the answer, because no one know how long the immunity it confers may last

I read somewhere reasonably authoritative (New Scientist?) that you'd expect immunity to last about a year in line with similar viruses, also that "a couple of dozen" cases of reinfection worldwide had been identified, again this wouldn't be that different from other things, e.g. most people don't get chickenpox again but a few who perhaps only had it mildly and didn't build up immunity might. A year's immunity gives more time for a vaccine to be rolled out.

@SirSamuelVimes

WouldBeGood

As a an aside, it would appear that masks have not exactly been a roaring success

Ah yes, but that will be because of those selfish granny murderers not wearing them / selfish idiots not wearing them properly.

Nothing to do with the fact that three layers of cotton is going to do the square root of fuck all against a microscopic virus.

Yes. Feel this way about masks in non-health & non-care home settings, where they are not worn properly.

I wear them in shops & in communal office space at work to avoid harrassment, potential fines or being disciplined. But I am sceptical about their effectiveness in public. Every time I say that the cases haven't gone down since masks came in, I'm told it's because of all the people not wearing them & mixing households. I don't know about that either.

The only positive I can see about wearing a mask while social distancing where I work & in DS's school is that if someone tests positive it may be just enough to prevent you having to self-isolate. But I know that policy isn't being applied consistently across the country so it makes yet another mockery of the situation.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get on with doing some small, boring, yet necessary chores today. It might feel like a tiny victory.

@Reedwarbler

Just thinking about vaccines for a minute too. We have a 'flu vaccine but people still die of 'flu. I know 'flu comes in many different strains, and the vaccine helps save lives - but not all lives of those with 'flu. So it would be similar for a vaccine for covid, surely. I can envisage the following scenario... a vaccine is created. It seems to do some of the things it should do (they hope). The testing is quick (of necessity) and long term efectiveness and side effects are not known, but no matter, it is rolled out for the over 65s and clinically vulnerable (like the 'flu vaccine). At the same time, mass testing for coronavirus is withdrawn ('We are curing it, we don't need testing anymore'). Bingo! Cases drop off a cliff, the government rejoices. They have cured covid. Testing will be limited to people entering hospitals, care homes and the like. Covid will always be in the community. We will have to learn to live with it as far as I'm concerned.

Exactly this Reedwarbler.

I was supposed to be going away for a couple of nights to the New Forest this weekend but have cancelled - partly using the excuse that I'm still recovering from last week's nasty virus (which is true) but mainly because I can't face the mask situation. I have no reason to struggle with them but do - haven't had a panic attack or anything - so I will avoid going anywhere because of the apparent need to wear them. So a whole bunch of small shops, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants which may have benefitted in a small way from me going to the NF now won't.

I've found a bit of a way around my mask hatred - I've bought the absolute cheapest box of fifty disposable ones from Amazon, they are like toilet paper. Brilliant as I can actually breath through the bastard things and I don't end up with fogged up glasses and a breath-steamed face which creates massive painful spots. But I look the part, which is obviously the main thing .

I wear one when I have to but limit activities where it’s required too. I’ve also had a three proper weird turns in the supermarket with one on (no medical reason) do am a bit wary now.. don’t want to be the old dear fainting or crying in the shop!

@SirSamuelVimes

I've found a bit of a way around my mask hatred - I've bought the absolute cheapest box of fifty disposable ones from Amazon, they are like toilet paper. Brilliant as I can actually breath through the bastard things and I don't end up with fogged up glasses and a breath-steamed face which creates massive painful spots. But I look the part, which is obviously the main thing .

But are you really doing your part if you're not doing it with a hidden beautific smile on your face. The act is not enough, it must be done with good will

@Reedwarbler

Just thinking about vaccines for a minute too. We have a 'flu vaccine but people still die of 'flu. I know 'flu comes in many different strains, and the vaccine helps save lives - but not all lives of those with 'flu. So it would be similar for a vaccine for covid, surely. I can envisage the following scenario... a vaccine is created. It seems to do some of the things it should do (they hope). The testing is quick (of necessity) and long term efectiveness and side effects are not known, but no matter, it is rolled out for the over 65s and clinically vulnerable (like the 'flu vaccine). At the same time, mass testing for coronavirus is withdrawn ('We are curing it, we don't need testing anymore'). Bingo! Cases drop off a cliff, the government rejoices. They have cured covid. Testing will be limited to people entering hospitals, care homes and the like. Covid will always be in the community. We will have to learn to live with it as far as I'm concerned.

God I hope so. It seems like a pretty good result even if it's all bullshit.

Same here about masks.
I've not been in a shop since 23rd July.
I've not been in a museum or gallery all year

We'd normally spend about £25 in Costa on a Friday catching up with friends, but there's no catching up indoors with friends so that's not happening. Multiply that by all the people who'd meet a friend for a potter round the shops and a coffee midweek who now can't or won't.

Someone asked me what my town was like now it's in greater restrictions and I couldn't tell them because I stopped going anywhere once masks were mandated, long before more restrictions were in place.

Word on the ground is that York feels quite lively, with groups of young people claiming to be students and this from the same household. We're much too old to try that one.

Oh I dunno. I hear there's been a real uptick in mature student admissions this year

I'm forcing myself to get more comfortable in masks because I really really want to do things that involve wearing them - to such an extent that I've managed to feel relatively comfortable in one for a 2 1/2 hour pottery class. BUT this only works because I've found a couple of quite large ones where air can easily circulate around the sides. So, they're probably pretty ineffective. But I comply with the bastard rules, so that's ok....

@Reedwarbler You're so right. They're going to go to a lot of trouble to look as if they have cured Covid, and they will use that as the benchmark. Meanwhile, they're just making up the numbers, as they have done from the very beginning, including when they were trying to convince us that the virus was nothing to worry about. For all we know, the "glitch" was a lie in itself: a double-bluff. They think we can't see through this shit at all.

I'm getting sick of watching any time someone with young kids admits they're struggling being told they're "a selfish fucker who wants to let everyone out and kill ME" and kicked to oblivion on here.

They're not worried - they're just bullies.

I hate this world. Hate that my youngest comes out of school worrying about one more thing the teacher's told them can have covid on (the eldest's teacher is a young man who is much less worried) and it's really starting to play on her mind - she's the sort who worries about following rules, to the extent she still sings happy birthday twice while washing her hands. I'm just fucking worn down and broken now - every time I think I couldn't get more broken and still exist I surprise myself.

Then I log on and sit through recorded lectures about how mental health is important and being able to socially interact and participate as a member of a community is vital and the WHO says so so it's like really really true - and I wonder what we've created that all of that is now some kind of unspoken evil instead.

Some more encouraging stuff here about primary school children. Though I think we knew this anyway.
twitter.com/fact_covid/status/1313798254237229056?s=20

[quote pollyhemlock]Some more encouraging stuff here about primary school children. Though I think we knew this anyway.
twitter.com/fact_covid/status/1313798254237229056?s=20[/quote]
Thanks for that. I've just signed the declaration that was tweeted about below, will link here too as it seems to tally with what a lot of us are saying.

gbdeclaration.org/

" On social media, especially over on the covid board, post after post about "people are selfish, people are stupid, this is why we are in the situation we are in"

There are little glimmers of light on the Covid board. I don't know if we're supposed to refer to other threads, but one with an ellipsis in the title where posters were supposed to respond as above is doing a great line in ADs. A MegaD is on there, but not getting support.

Meanwhile, in the real world, I know a lot of older and vulnerable people, as I used to volunteer with them. Everyone I have been in contact with takes the 'I haven't many years left, I want to spend them enjoying friends and family, and risk any disease, new or old' view. Today's Telegraph has an article by a student saying effectively, let us enjoy life and take our chances. "I'm worried today's students, denied the rites of passage afforded to our predecessors as our Government swaddles us from the merest hint of Covid transmission, will emerge into adulthood with smaller personalities and a less rich tapestry of life experiences." He could have included development of the immune system.

If the many of the old, the vulnerable, and the young want to take their chances, who is fighting for lockdowns? And why should their wishes prevail?

If Covid acts like other similar viruses then the immunity won’t be specific. It will trigger our immune systems the same way and our immune system will recognise the type of virus and respond accordingly. Our immune systems are amazing.

Oh no. Just seen pubs & restaurants to be shut down in central Scotland.

THIS IS PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
Don't know why I'm shouting on here, you all listen.

Don't know why I shout at all, it's like pissing into the wind.

Worried about where we live- wider restrictions expected.

I've been reading about life expectancy and the fact that at 65, I have a higher life expectancy than someone 40 years younger, which makes sense even if it does seem counter intuitive. I kept putting my life expectancy in as my current age and I have to get to 104 before my chance of living another year becomes less than 50%. Though clearly the chances currently of getting to that age are quite slim.

Anyway it made me wonder what my chances were each year and I found this

annual death risk

So at 65 to 75 I have approx 1.5 chance of not seeing my next birthday.
But I only have a 2% chance of dying of Covid IF I catch it.

And my chances of catching it are minimal since I am retired, meet up rarely and only with other retired (and careful) people plus my son and daughter both of whom work from home and shop max once a week.

*1.5% chance of not seeing my next birthday

Just seen Scotland's restrictions

@TheOrchidKiller

Oh no. Just seen pubs & restaurants to be shut down in central Scotland.

THIS IS PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
Don't know why I'm shouting on here, you all listen.

Don't know why I shout at all, it's like pissing into the wind.

Worried about where we live- wider restrictions expected.

Already being reported as if in effect by the delightful doom-monger Post.

This is no life. It's not "selfish" to want to talk to another human being, it's not "selfish" to want your kids to have a childhood, interaction and the milestones that are trivial but matter so much when you're 6 years old. That's not selfish... it's what defines us as being human.

They've won though. I'd end it all if I didn't have the kids. There's no future.