Brexit, for once some facts.

Barry Shittpeas

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 1, 2020
2,325
3,210
Is horse racing really a sport? They keep mentioning it in terms of easing restrictions on sport. I thought horse racing was all about gambling, nothing else. They may as well televise one armed bandits, it’s the same thing.
 

jonathan.agnew

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 27, 2018
2,383
3,372
Your government has already accepted that risk on your behalf. Look at sptj's 7 day graph and you'll see there's little between Sweden's and the UK's Covid positions.

But we've taken a huge social and a lasting massive economic hit, they haven't.

I'd say they have the far better deal at present.
.
To be fair flecc, we are, emphatically, not an example of the effect of quarantine/lockdown. Rather of the worst case of mismanaging quarantine since the outbreak of the black death. And Sweden's semi (certainly much more than ours) informed experiment is rapidly going awry. It's not the present stats, it's the trend, two months from now sweden (and us, but for completely different reasons) will be in a deep **** scenario.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,791
30,369
d Sweden's semi (certainly much more than ours) informed experiment is rapidly going awry. It's not the present stats, it's the trend, two months from now sweden (and us, but for completely different reasons) will be in a deep **** scenario.
We'll see. I'm pleased we are both carrying out the experiment.
.
 

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
Brexit Shambles

'Govt has to balance the advice of epidemiologists with that of economic advisers and other things.' 'They have clearly made the decision that around about 8000 new infections a day is a tolerable incidence.'

Oldgroaner @oldgroaner"

It's like the opening scene from "Those Magnificent men in their Flying machines" exemplified by Red Skelton with home made wings jumping off a cliff.
Camera cuts to man shaped hole in the beach.
The Narrator comments: "Encouraged by these early successes, Man kept trying"
:cool:
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: Woosh and RossG

RossG

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2019
1,628
1,646
Another story from the world of retail. Daughter's boyfriend recently "invited" back to work, all usual social distancing rules applied. Then a staff member informs everyone his mother a health worker is CV positive, he himself is in the clear. Tests all round while boyfriend now back home voluntarily, his choice so no pay. Relax the rules...yeah.
 

jonathan.agnew

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 27, 2018
2,383
3,372
I agree, its the same uninformed experiment the human race has been carrying out for most of the last 100,000 years.

There's been hiccups on the way, but we're still here, unfortunately for the planet.
.
It brings to mind the blind watch maker, darwinian evolution makes trump (or boris) an example of the fittest (and explains the destructive impact we have on the planet). Its not an intelligent process. But I agree, it will most certainly continue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oyster and flecc

Barry Shittpeas

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 1, 2020
2,325
3,210
To be fair flecc, we are, emphatically, not an example of the effect of quarantine/lockdown. Rather of the worst case of mismanaging quarantine since the outbreak of the black death. And Sweden's semi (certainly much more than ours) informed experiment is rapidly going awry. It's not the present stats, it's the trend, two months from now sweden (and us, but for completely different reasons) will be in a deep **** scenario.
A big part of it is mismanagement of the
situation, confusing advice, poor leadership and bad examples being set by government. Having said this, the British public have played their part. They have demonstrated that they aren’t up to the job of lockdown. The public is generally weak and lacking resolve & determination.

The public think that Coronavirus has gone away. Complacency has set in. I think the next four weeks is the time to double your vigilance and up your disinfection regime.

The one strand of hope is that I can’t think of a place that’s had a raging second infection wave after lockdown.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: tommie

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
73
Ireland
Is horse racing really a sport? They keep mentioning it in terms of easing restrictions on sport. I thought horse racing was all about gambling, nothing else. They may as well televise one armed bandits, it’s the same thing.
This is not a question you ask in Ireland .. Yes it is a sport and a very lucrative business . The competitive nature of which is particularly important in the Arab world, where the don't do gambling as such.
 

Barry Shittpeas

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 1, 2020
2,325
3,210
This is not a question you ask in Ireland .. Yes it is a sport and a very lucrative business . The competitive nature of which is particularly important in the Arab world, where the don't do gambling as such.
I’m not convincing it’s a sport. I agree it’s a very lucrative business, like casinos, bingo halls and poker dens. Also good for laundering money too I imagine.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: oldgroaner

Nev

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 1, 2018
1,507
2,520
North Wales
I’m not convincing it’s a sport.
What makes a sport a sport? Genuine question, I think it can be difficult to define just what constitutes something as a sport. There are simple ones that we would all agree are sports such as football, rugby, cricket etc. But then there are others that are not so simple. Would you say archery or clay pigeon shooting is a sport if so is darts a sport too?

With regards to horse racing what little I do know about jockeys is that they tend to be far better sports men and women than say premier league footballers. They are extremely tough, they ride will the kind of injuries that footballers would be out for 6 months. They also tend to be fairly modest, even the best of them don't brag about their abilities.

Final question is chess a sport?
 
  • Like
Reactions: oyster

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Perhaps we should persuade Johnson NOT to sack Cummings?

Tory poll lead collapses as voters say Cummings should go

More than two-thirds of voters want Dominic Cummings sacked and Tory lead over Labour plummets

The survey by Opinium for the Observer shows a massive 81% think Cummings broke the rules. It also finds that support for the Conservatives is collapsing, with the party now just four points ahead of Labour, having had a commanding lead of 26 points just two months ago.

AND:

Letters: Dominic Cummings’ actions damage public trust

As lockdown is eased, and amid fears of a second viral wave, it is vital for people in positions of power to follow the rules
We are in a public health crisis unprecedented in living memory. We have written to the prime minister because we are very concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the public. There is ample evidence that effective epidemic control requires the public to trust and respect both the messages and the messengers who are advocating action. This trust has been badly damaged by the actions of Dominic Cummings, including his failure to stand down or resign in the public interest, and Boris Johnson’s subsequent unwillingness to remove him.

As lockdown is eased, public trust and high compliance is essential to reduce the risk of a second spike in infections and deaths. It is vital for all people in positions of power to follow the rules with the same discipline as the rest of the population. The public also needs to see that the necessary infrastructure and effective systems are put in place rapidly and effectively.

A national track and trace scheme is a major undertaking. This makes it even more crucial that there is complete transparency about likely time scales and the risks associated with the strategy and plan. The public mood is fragile and unlikely to cope with another over-optimistic target-based strategy that goes on to fail. We are also concerned that the needs of people primarily affected by non-Covid-19 diseases are being neglected. For example, since the pandemic hit, there has been a 70% or more reduction in cancer diagnoses and there is an estimated backlog of 100,000 undiagnosed or untreated cancer cases (growing by about 5,000 a week). Similar backlogs are evident in every non-communicable disease.

This exceptional situation also requires urgent and detailed planning and investment. We ask that the prime minister better harness the expertise in the NHS, social care, local authorities, academic institutions and the civil service to strengthen the response to Covid-19 and its knock-on effects on other health and care provision. We would be happy to assist in mobilising an effective strategic and operational response.

Professor Maggie Rae, president of the Faculty of Public Health, Professor Elio Riboli, Imperial College London, Professor David McCoy, Queen Mary University London, Professor David Hunter, University of Oxford, Professor Trish Greenhalgh, University of Oxford, Mike Gill, former regional director of Public Health, south-east England, Professor Raj Bhopal, University of Edinburgh, Professor Martin McKee, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol, Professor Ruth Gilbert, University College London, Professor Neil Pearce, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor Helen Ward, Imperial College London, Professor Mark S Gilthorpe, University of Leeds and Alan Turing Institute, Professor Adrian Martineau, Queen Mary University London, Professor Allyson Pollock, University of Newcastle, Dr Rochelle Burgess, UCL Institute for Global Health, Professor Paolo Vineis, Imperial College London, Anne Wilson, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Dr Tim Colbourn, University College London, Professor Majid Ezzati, Imperial College London, Professor Deborah Ashby, Imperial College London, Professor Sonia Saxena, Imperial College London, Professor Richard Healey, University of Portsmouth, Professor Deborah A Lawlor, Bristol Medical School, Professor Guiqing Lily Yao, University of Leicester, Dr Nisreen Alwan, Southampton University

 
Last edited:

Barry Shittpeas

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 1, 2020
2,325
3,210
What makes a sport a sport? Genuine question, I think it can be difficult to define just what constitutes something as a sport. There are simple ones that we would all agree are sports such as football, rugby, cricket etc. But then there are others that are not so simple. Would you say archery or clay pigeon shooting is a sport if so is darts a sport too?

With regards to horse racing what little I do know about jockeys is that they tend to be far better sports men and women than say premier league footballers. They are extremely tough, they ride will the kind of injuries that footballers would be out for 6 months. They also tend to be fairly modest, even the best of them don't brag about their abilities.

Final question is chess a sport?
A good question and I can’t give you a satisfactory answer. However, unlike other “sports” horse racing seems to be > 95% about the gambling. Gambling has crept into areas that we traditionally think of as sports, football etc, but betting on score lines etc is a spin off, whereas it’s hard to separate anything from horse racing except gambling. I detest it.
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
73
Ireland
A good question and I can’t give you a satisfactory answer. However, unlike other “sports” horse racing seems to be > 95% about the gambling. Gambling has crept into areas that we traditionally think of as sports, football etc, but betting on score lines etc is a spin off, whereas it’s hard to separate anything from horse racing except gambling. I detest it.
As I said its not a question which would be asked in Ireland,or the countries around the Persian gulf. And it is not about or solely about gambling .. Blackpool slot machines are there for that. For Arab Princes it is about prestige and social positioning and yes bragging rights. And No, I am not a gambler
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
73
Ireland
Perhaps we should persuade Johnson NOT to sack Cummings?

Tory poll lead collapses as voters say Cummings should go

More than two-thirds of voters want Dominic Cummings sacked and Tory lead over Labour plummets

The survey by Opinium for the Observer shows a massive 81% think Cummings broke the rules. It also finds that support for the Conservatives is collapsing, with the party now just four points ahead of Labour, having had a commanding lead of 26 points just two months ago.

AND:

Letters: Dominic Cummings’ actions damage public trust

As lockdown is eased, and amid fears of a second viral wave, it is vital for people in positions of power to follow the rules
We are in a public health crisis unprecedented in living memory. We have written to the prime minister because we are very concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the public. There is ample evidence that effective epidemic control requires the public to trust and respect both the messages and the messengers who are advocating action. This trust has been badly damaged by the actions of Dominic Cummings, including his failure to stand down or resign in the public interest, and Boris Johnson’s subsequent unwillingness to remove him.

As lockdown is eased, public trust and high compliance is essential to reduce the risk of a second spike in infections and deaths. It is vital for all people in positions of power to follow the rules with the same discipline as the rest of the population. The public also needs to see that the necessary infrastructure and effective systems are put in place rapidly and effectively.

A national track and trace scheme is a major undertaking. This makes it even more crucial that there is complete transparency about likely time scales and the risks associated with the strategy and plan. The public mood is fragile and unlikely to cope with another over-optimistic target-based strategy that goes on to fail. We are also concerned that the needs of people primarily affected by non-Covid-19 diseases are being neglected. For example, since the pandemic hit, there has been a 70% or more reduction in cancer diagnoses and there is an estimated backlog of 100,000 undiagnosed or untreated cancer cases (growing by about 5,000 a week). Similar backlogs are evident in every non-communicable disease.

This exceptional situation also requires urgent and detailed planning and investment. We ask that the prime minister better harness the expertise in the NHS, social care, local authorities, academic institutions and the civil service to strengthen the response to Covid-19 and its knock-on effects on other health and care provision. We would be happy to assist in mobilising an effective strategic and operational response.

Professor Maggie Rae, president of the Faculty of Public Health, Professor Elio Riboli, Imperial College London, Professor David McCoy, Queen Mary University London, Professor David Hunter, University of Oxford, Professor Trish Greenhalgh, University of Oxford, Mike Gill, former regional director of Public Health, south-east England, Professor Raj Bhopal, University of Edinburgh, Professor Martin McKee, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor George Davey Smith, University of Bristol, Professor Ruth Gilbert, University College London, Professor Neil Pearce, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor Helen Ward, Imperial College London, Professor Mark S Gilthorpe, University of Leeds and Alan Turing Institute, Professor Adrian Martineau, Queen Mary University London, Professor Allyson Pollock, University of Newcastle, Dr Rochelle Burgess, UCL Institute for Global Health, Professor Paolo Vineis, Imperial College London, Anne Wilson, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Dr Tim Colbourn, University College London, Professor Majid Ezzati, Imperial College London, Professor Deborah Ashby, Imperial College London, Professor Sonia Saxena, Imperial College London, Professor Richard Healey, University of Portsmouth, Professor Deborah A Lawlor, Bristol Medical School, Professor Guiqing Lily Yao, University of Leicester, Dr Nisreen Alwan, Southampton University
Well thats a lot of people who won't make the New Years Honours Lists.
 
  • :D
Reactions: oyster

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
As I said its not a question which would be asked in Ireland,or the countries around the Persian gulf. And it is not about or solely about gambling .. Blackpool slot machines are there for that. For Arab Princes it is about prestige and social positioning and yes bragging rights. And No, I am not a gambler
Perhaps this explains a lot


Or this from Brexit Shambles?
A few round numbers for you,
2019: Donor: Tattersalls Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
Donor: John Gosden Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources:
Donor: Tattersalls Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
 

Barry Shittpeas

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 1, 2020
2,325
3,210
As I said its not a question which would be asked in Ireland,or the countries around the Persian gulf. And it is not about or solely about gambling .. Blackpool slot machines are there for that. For Arab Princes it is about prestige and social positioning and yes bragging rights. And No, I am not a gambler
I was thinking more about the U.K. and U.K. horse racing events.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Perhaps this explains a lot


Or this from Brexit Shambles?
A few round numbers for you,
2019: Donor: Tattersalls Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
Donor: John Gosden Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources:
Donor: Tattersalls Ltd, Newmarket. Amount of donation: £10,000
Looking at member's financial interests for Hancock, I noticed this:

Name of donor: Tim Luke
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation, or nature and value if donation in kind: £3,500 for my leadership campaign
Date received: 13 May 2019
Date accepted: 15 July 2019
Donor status: individual

(Registered 15 July 2019)

Wondering about the meaning of having received it before having accepted it? And the amazing alacrity with which it was registered the same day as it was accepted.
 

Advertisers