Westministenders: Don't forget to stockpile. Again.

[RedToothBrush]

The government is telling pharmacists and drug manufactures to stockpile drugs ahead of the end of transition on 31st December.

In the middle of a pandemic.

What could go wrong?

Slight derail - so A level results in England are as expected a giant cock-up - but my fostered teen has had an email from first choice uni and has got in, so we have been lucky enough not to be affected. Phew!

I agree that companies mostly care about the bottom line not the social life of their employees. I think companies are often run by extroverts too and I think group Zoom / Team calls work better for them. As an introvert I'm really missing the individual chats with people both within my team and random colleagues met on the way in / at the coffee machine.

Well done to your fostered son pointythings - something to celebrate.

Looking west, there was an interesting analysis of the Democratic strategy by good ole Beau last night - TL;DR

-Biden is their least-possible "left wing" choice (and he notes that "left" in America is still right of Genghis Kahn to the RoW).

-Harris is an untouchable law-and-order candidate with a few tweets from President Trump praising her stance as AG.

-Trumps only possible tactic is to attack his opponents as "left wing" and "against Law and Order"

and (the bit which got me wondering ...)

-The Democrats have deliberately decided to drop their left wing support to remain as popular as possible.

So possibly they saw December 2019 in the UK and learned ?

I know that countries have to play it neutral in US elections, but it would be interesting to know if there's been a quiet upsurge in people wanting to talk to Biden about 2021 ? With the UK (as ever) being on the wrong side of history as we were with Clinton ?

@ListeningQuietly. Yep. I am not saying the coal industry is dead; they did have to resort to fossil fuels again. However, 10 years ago, that coal station would have been on permanently. Only 3% of our power came from renewables and they were seen as a distraction. Now, the mix has reversed. It's remarkable when you think about it.

Looking further down the line, there's massive research going into solar efficiency and battery storage. If we are not yet at tipping point, we are definitely going in the right direction.

@BigChocFrenzy, the factories were always going to start up again. Frankly, the only way we are going to tackle that sort of pollution will be with legislation, although companies like Apple and Tesla now have carbon-free pledges for their supply chain.

Looking further down the line, there's massive research going into solar efficiency and battery storage. If we are not yet at tipping point, we are definitely going in the right direction.

Like nuclear fusion.

@pointythings - I am so delighted for your foster son.

I am waiting to hear from my sister - I said I would wait for her to call me and they fact I haven't heard from her really does not bode well. Dear nephew had an offer from Cambridge, but although he was predicted to get the grades required, they were still really really high. I suspect he hasn't been awarded what he needs.

@pointythings

Slight derail - so A level results in England are as expected a giant cock-up - but my fostered teen has had an email from first choice uni and has got in, so we have been lucky enough not to be affected. Phew!

Brilliant news very happy for your foster son x

Well this is a completely bonkers Trump story www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53761744. He’s trying to change the law regarding showers because he needs his hair to be “perfect”. Will you tell him, or shall I?

Like nuclear fusion.

Happening just up the road from me...
We got to visit the site in the autumn, as a friend works there, and I can proudly boast that I have seen a tokamak (and listened to a fascinating explanation, of which I understood about 25% and promptly forgot even that...). The motorway is closed on a regular basis at night as assembly has begun and ginormous machine parts are still being delivered.

I do think they could have chosen a site with a tad less seismic activity, but who am I to argue with international atomic scientists?

Excellent news, pointythings!!

Well this is a completely bonkers Trump story

I expect we'll see a lot more of those before November. We may snigger, but it keeps any other news below the fold doesn't it ?

Wow, DGR, you have used the ‘S’ word and not been censored!

I do see what you mean, he’s done (and will continue to do) far worse things, but it really shows him up as a vain, shallow individual, with no self awareness whatsoever. Although I suppose that’s never been a secret and people voted for him anyway

Congratulations to foster child of pointythings and fingers crossed for your nephew mrslaughan.

Wow, DGR, you have used the ‘S’ word and not been censored!

"s" word ? I didn't get that memo.

Scunthorpe ?

If you are suggesting a word that looks like another word, but isn't then I can't believe (he says, damn well knowing he can) that innocent words need to be taken out of circulation because they look like other words. Golly gosh that would be a bad situation.

Almost as asinine as drugs tests that pick up poppy seeds. (I know some companies require their employees do not eat seeded bagels - which could be racist in itself) because it affects the test. Here's an idea. Why not pay for a decent test. Or even better get your fucking noses out of your employees unpaid time ?

I feel an urge to "Do a Reg" and just type the word now ...

One a more constructive note, if that word is now verboten could MNHQ provide a list of all the words we must not use in future. Or shall we play "offence bingo" for the rest of the sites life ?

Stewart Lee. Comedy Vehicle. Series 3. Episode 4. "Context". Everybody needs to see it.

"I can't say the sentence on TV - it's too offensive and would cause outrage. That is despite me saying every single word in that sentence these past 25 minutes, only none of you found them offensive because of the context in which they were used."

That shower story has done an extraordinarily good job of convincing me that we are indeed living in a computer simulation and those running it are taking the mick to see if we’ll catch on this time.

It isn’t April even.

@pointythings congratulations to your teen.

I used the s-word some time ago and my post was erased almost instantly. Now I want to know why DGR hasn't suffered the same fate.

I'm tempted to type it and see.

@AuldAlliance

I used the s-word some time ago and my post was erased almost instantly. Now I want to know why DGR hasn't suffered the same fate.

I'm tempted to type it and see.

It could be male privilege ?

Well dnephew didn't get what he needed. But his results are awesome (he has SEN as well - whenever he is assessed the comment is always he has the slowest processing speed of anyone they have ever assessed) . He got 2x A* and 2x A's.

Unfortunately in one particular subject he needs an A* - he was given an A. His Mark was apparently downgraded.

It's awful as I have trouble feeling two much sympathy, as although hard, he has been accepted into an amazing alternative university, on an incredible course..... that actually DSis thinks is better suited, just not the kudos of Cambridge. Unfortunately my BIL is a pillock and he seems to have set his heart on him going to Cambridge - so is not being pragmatic. He really is a prize wanker. (That's the polite version of what I call him)
There are kids from what I am reading in a way worse situation.

Sorry - I have ventured into weird realm of programming where the star does something weird
He got two A ⭐️ and two A's
He needed one particular subject to be a A ⭐️- but his mark in that was downgraded to an A

@AuldAlliance

I used the s-word some time ago and my post was erased almost instantly. Now I want to know why DGR hasn't suffered the same fate.

I'm tempted to type it and see.

As an aside, surely all long term MNetters know that MNHQs moderation policy is .... flexible (to say the least). It's certainly not consistent or logical in any meaningful sense of the word.

Feel free to whinge about it on "Site Stuff", but it won't do anything.

Their site, their rules etc.

@mrslaughan

Well dnephew didn't get what he needed. But his results are awesome (he has SEN as well - whenever he is assessed the comment is always he has the slowest processing speed of anyone they have ever assessed) . He got 2x A* and 2x A's.

Unfortunately in one particular subject he needs an A* - he was given an A. His Mark was apparently downgraded.

It's awful as I have trouble feeling two much sympathy, as although hard, he has been accepted into an amazing alternative university, on an incredible course..... that actually DSis thinks is better suited, just not the kudos of Cambridge. Unfortunately my BIL is a pillock and he seems to have set his heart on him going to Cambridge - so is not being pragmatic. He really is a prize wanker. (That's the polite version of what I call him)
There are kids from what I am reading in a way worse situation.

Presumably he can appeal?

Although that’s not the point. I’m with Keir Starmer the gov should u turn with Scotland.

It’s more important that students aren’t downgraded than that some get overmarked.

If they get onto a uni course that’s unsuitable they can drop out.

Too much consistency is bad for you!

Thinking of your dgd today sos
X

Who was the poster with a niece working by themselves, was it Sostenuto? Hope they’ve done ok.