Brexit, for once some facts.

jonathan.agnew

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 27, 2018
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They do... All the time..
Letting people speak and behave as they wish is one of their rare qualities.
Get a fine for speeding... No problem, glue your hands to M25 at rush hour.
Take against Nelson, no problem pull his Column down and chuck it in river.
Take against Churchill... Graffiti his statue... That's fine..
But ask an Asian if he likes Curries... Hang that man.
So speak someone who doesn't know about churchill and the dardanelles. a boris sized catastrophe, from a populist tory.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
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So speak someone who doesn't know about churchill and the dardanelles. a boris sized catastrophe, from a populist tory.
I know full well about Churchill and Dardanelles, perhaps you don't. Read up about it. Kitchener came out quite bad from it. (Churchill was made scapegoat at time and he no doubt played a part in the disaster but in reality there were a whole host of reasons so many died, Hamilton and Kitchener were perhaps much more to blame than Churchill) And its thought by many experiences gained by Churchill both around Galipoli and his voluntary move to Western front after it probably influenced WW2 policy (via Churchill) and ultimately probably saved thousands of lives. By coincidence I, ve just finished reading Churchill by Christopher Catherwood.(amongst many others, including all his speeches) Catherwood is bit bias in Churchills favour, he had his faults, but part he played in our social welfare system is always forgotten about. Read it Jonathon, you might learn something.
Why are you so offensive? Seems to come quite easy to you. It's Christmas Jonathon, try and be nice, just for a few days. You might like it.
IMG_20211216_160839.jpg

Yes, a flawed character but a great one who did much great work for country.
We certainly shouldn't judge a bloke born in 1874 by today's standards. He was of his time. Did some great work, made some big mistakes. Said many things that by today's standards would be deemed unacceptable but ultimately he was a great leader.
Having read at least 5 books about him, goodness knows how many books about WW1 /WW2 I, d agree he is is greatest ever Briton. And that is not denying all his faults, its taking into account his undoubted beneficial contributions especially in the 1930s. Without him I don't think Nazis would have been defeated??
 
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Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,611
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Ireland
I was talking to a lady who works in a Covid testing laboratory last night. They process PCR tests and sample a % of the positives for omicron.

She says 70% of the samples are testing positive for omicron. That’s gone up from around 15% in the past week.

She also told me that a group of 20 from the lab went out to have their Christmas meal last weekend. They all did PCR tests at work prior to the meal. 15 of the 20 now have Covid! They are certain they all caught it in the restaurant

This variant seems to be hideously contagious. The slightly brighter news is that all 15 with COVID from the restaurant are saying it’s no worse than a heavy cold. It’s likely the omicron variant that these 15 have. A couple have tested positive for the variant. The others haven’t been checked for it.
And if that is so it's because they are vaxxed . Again Luke O Neills experience mirrors that. There is an argument he suggests that the vaxxed will be protected in the lungs but it doesn't extend to the nose.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,259
30,648
Glad I won't be using any vans.

Transport goods in and out of the UK using vans or car and trailers from 21 May 2022

What transport companies and couriers need to do to use vans and car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes to transport goods in and out of the UK from 21 May 2022.

Only vans and cars though, not bicycles with trailers:

 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,259
30,648
I wouldn't put it past them to change pedelec definitions such that ones which conform to UK rules cannot be used in the EU, and vice versa. And not be easy to get round.
We have retained the EU rules in all respect in the Great Repeal Bill, so we are ok on this count.
.
 
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flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,259
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I reckon case rate will hover around 60,000 a day until September then increase toward 200,000 a day around Christmas.
Your above post from July 19th, post 97,480:

Looks like Omicron is bidding to became your friend. Nearly half way there at 88,376.

Professor Neil Ferguson will already be celebrating, in July he only forecast 100,000 by Christmas.
.
 
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flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,259
30,648
Chris Whitty's deputy, Professor Jonathan Van Tam is presenting the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures this year, on Covid and Viruses!

These lectures for children each year are usually fun filled with explosions etc to excite and interest the youngsters, goodness knows how he'll manage to entertain them similarly.

You can watch the three one hour lectures on BBC4:

8pm, Tuesday 28th December

8pm, Wednesday 29th December

8pm, Thursday 30th December
.
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,611
12,256
73
Ireland
Chris Whitty's deputy, Professor Jonathan Van Tam is presenting the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures this year, on Covid and Viruses!

These lectures for children each year are usually fun filled with explosions etc to excite and interest the youngsters, goodness knows how he'll manage to entertain them similarly.

You can watch the three one hour lectures on BBC4:

8pm, Tuesday 28th December

8pm, Wednesday 29th December

8pm, Thursday 30th December
.
Those RI lectures are part of the great British Legacy .... And I mean that with Sincerity.
 

jonathan.agnew

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 27, 2018
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Only vans and cars though, not bicycles with trailers:

Giant Lafree..grandaddy of pedelecs, sans suspension fork I note, that's a blast from the past, wife had one, must be fifteen years ago, nice light frame, shitty substandard rim brakes, 7 speed shimano hub gear that used to get eaten by the modest torque, but on balance I think it was lovely simple and as good as it gets. That trailer looks massively overengineered though, not at all the kind of thing I imagine someone who recklessly promote letting it rip would design..
 
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Nev

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 1, 2018
1,507
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North Wales
Several reports I have seen coming out of South Africa in the last couple of days provide good news and bad news.

The good news is that they are seeing far fewer hospitalizations with Omicron than they did with any of the other variants.

The bad news is that although this might be because Omicron is weaker than other variants its at least as likely and possibly more likely its down to the fact that such a high percentage of the SA population are either vaccinated or have had prior infections.

One of the private health care groups over there have recently released a paper (Discovery Health or something similar) they provide quite a lot of stats in it.

They estimated two shots of Pizer gave around 70% from ending up in hospital with Omicron this is down from over 90% protection from hospitalization with Delta. A booster shot increased this protection up to over 90%, so I think its worth getting a booster.

Countries that have very low rates of vaccination and have not had many cases of pervious covid variants are quite likely to be in very serious trouble with Omicron. Something this contagious is going to get into their country and is going to rip right through their population, if its around the same virulence as Delta then their health systems are quickly going to be overwhelmed.
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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Jesus H Christ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 31, 2020
1,363
2,206
Giant Lafree..grandaddy of pedelecs, sans suspension fork I note, that's a blast from the past, wife had one, must be fifteen years ago, nice light frame, shitty substandard rim brakes, 7 speed shimano hub gear that used to get eaten by the modest torque, but on balance I think it was lovely simple and as good as it gets. That trailer looks massively overengineered though, not at all the kind of thing I imagine someone who recklessly promote letting it rip would design..
It was a Lafree that I rode which convinced me to buy my first ebike back in 2008. I still have it and it’s performing well. It’s a Kalkhoff Pro Connect (one new battery & motor since 2008). I seem to remember the Lafree had a NiMh battery & 3 speed hub. Good bike though, but the Kalkhoff Li battery and 8 speed Alfine has been brilliant.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290

Shows what voters think of both Government and its opposition.
Terrible result for Tories. Bad for Labour too.
Can't see it been replicated throughout country but certainly sends a message.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
I come from the era of ten minutes drinking-up time - and zero after an extension:

Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the Tories’ North Shropshire by-election defeat should be seen as a “referendum” on Boris Johnson’s premiership, adding “one more strike and he’s out”.

Asked why the Tories lost, the North Thanet MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:

Because the electorate wanted to send a very clear message to Downing Street that they were dissatisfied with the management of this government.

I think this has to be seen as a referendum on the prime minister’s performance and I think that the prime minister is now in ‘last orders’ time.

Two strikes already, one earlier this week in the vote in the Commons and now this. One more strike and he’s out.
 
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Jesus H Christ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 31, 2020
1,363
2,206
I’ve just heard Oliver Dowdy speaking on LBC. He’s saying the Conservative Party have heard the message sent to them by voters and they will change :D

Does this mean they will double down on efforts to conceal their greed and corruption from public eyes? ****.
 

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