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Post by nick on Jan 23, 2022 11:38:26 GMT
I once saw former page 3 star, Linda Lusardi with very low expectations. Aaaaand it was not bad.
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Post by nick on Jan 10, 2022 6:44:06 GMT
"potentially enabling the next mutation" was what i was referring to Ah, thanks for clarifying that. I'm still not sure there's a small chance... I thought the more infections, the more likely that mutations will appear. And there are currently a couple of new mutations being closely watched, one called IHU (in France) and one called Deltracron (in Cyprus) that seems to blend Delta and Micron. I think the idea is that at some point there will be a relatively small number with infections so the chance of mutation is hugely reduced. Mutations have happened where the virus is running rampant (Africa for omicron for example and an earlier one in the UK when we had a surge)
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Post by nick on Jan 10, 2022 6:22:30 GMT
they do that for lots of info but for the census?? I've never seen anyone redacted on a census (but the UK doesn't release them for 100 years, probably because of this very reason). The 1939 Register does redact anyone that 'might' still be alive, although if you can document their death their information can be unredacted. Of course. Silly me.
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Post by nick on Jan 9, 2022 17:36:13 GMT
People should isolate when they have flu though, that's literally the whole point. I don't want flu any more than I want Covid. You're sick, stay away from other people. How should people know if they have flu if we don’t test for it? Like Covid, many people will have very mild, if any, symptoms. I can’t afford to take time off work every time I’m feeling a bit under the weather. That makes sense but I've always found it a bit weird that when people are clearly ill (sneezing, coughing etc) they are still encouraged to struggle in to work. It feels counter intuitive because they spread their illness to the rest of the workplace which means productivity goes down more than if they'd just taken a couple of days off.
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Post by nick on Jan 9, 2022 16:25:03 GMT
You have to pay for the actual census entry page but you can get the info free. The actual page is of course what you want as it will have all the info, siblings, occupations etc. Many of us will never see ourselves on a census cos 31 was destroyed in a fire, 41 not done cos of the War and 51 won’t be released for years.. a bit mean to have to pay but the company that does it is commercial, gov funds not stretching to it being accessible. Well actually we should never see ourselves on the online information as they blackout people who are still living*. On that point, they made a mistake with my mother-in-law. They've blacked out the wrong person in her family so, although she's very much alive, you can see some of her records. *Actually I've just thought I'm not an expert - they do that for lots of info but for the census??
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Post by nick on Jan 7, 2022 11:27:36 GMT
Have to say I watched Toast and just didn't get it. Just a man banging his head on a table for 5 minutes and lots of shouting. Not my idea of comedy I'm afraid. Might be an age thing. Or a gender thing? I've tried with Toast and don't get it. But when I think of the comedies I've enjoyed recently, they've all been written by or starring women - Mandy, Alma's Not Normal, Back to Life, Bump, The Chair, Feel Good, Motherland, Starstruck, This Way Up, We Are Lady Parts and I've just discovered the Irish show, Finding Joy which is a ..... joy. Actually there are a few other comedies I've enjoyed - Back, The Cleaner, Meet the Richardsons, Staged and Ghosts.
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Post by nick on Jan 1, 2022 13:26:17 GMT
I'm afraid that I feel far more hopeless about covid now than I did this time last year. This time last year, when vaccination had just begun, I hoped that once everyone had been vaccinated covid might be almost eliminiated. A year later, most of us have been triple-jabbed & yet covid is having a whale of a time with a record number of cases today. Yes for the general population you're less likely to die of covid but vulnerable people are still vulnerable & with my mother having had a slew of major health problems in the last year she's far more vulnerable now than she was this time last year. As covid now looks unlikely to be eliminated I'll be spending the rest of her life living in fear of getting covid & then giving it to her. I'll never be able to sit in a theatre relaxed & enjoying myself, there will always be fear accompanying me to the theatre. My wife is highly vulnerable as well so you have my full sympathy. We have the added complication that my son still lives at home and is a university student. Plus we are living in London. It does feel very difficult. However we have invested in antibody tests. My wife tested a couple of days ago and got a very high score. It's not certain but it shows that she is unlikely to become very ill if she catches it. I can't tell you how reassuring it feels to have that figure. It wont stop us being cautious (no visitors and certainly no theatre for the forseeable) but once the numbers go down I think we will be confident enough to get back to something like normality.
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Post by nick on Dec 25, 2021 16:58:31 GMT
I was going to say something similar. My son is a bit older than gcse but he’s an aspiring musician and him and his friends are exploring 80s music. There’s also a bit of an 80s fashion revival atm.
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Post by nick on Dec 18, 2021 16:30:31 GMT
111 Covid-related deaths in the UK registered yeasterday (140-ish the day before). Plus, getting closer to the million jabs a day (936K). Looking at the data this week, the only things shooting up are known cases and vaccinations - hospitalisations and deaths remain steady. The next 4-5 weeks - last winter's peak, but with a new variant - will be absolutely fascinating both in terms of vaccine efficacy, and steering an economy in the times of Covid.
Also, if we still accept the ratio of unvaxed deaths vs. vaxed deaths at 9 : 1, vaccines look pretty powerful medicine.
Yesterdays data >> www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/13/covid-uk-coronavirus-cases-deaths-and-vaccinations-todayI deeply hope you're right but we are not quite there yet with the omicron variant. If they remain steady for another week then maybe we can start uncrossing our fingers.
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Post by nick on Dec 13, 2021 7:03:17 GMT
My friend's fiance gets up at 5am Monday to Friday, so he can get to work in time for when his shift starts at 6am. He then spends at least eight hours, often 10, sometimes 12, beating a hot lump of metal into shape. That's exhausting! I've done that. I've also spent most of my life as a teacher which is a sort of performance. IMO banging metal all day is less exhausting than keeping a group engaged in the task in hand. Yes your body aches all over but it is good mentally. There are many ways to get exhausted - personally i think being a nurse/doctor which is physically demanding and often making life/death decisions must be one of the most tiring jobs. Please note the "In My Opinion" - I understand others might disagree.
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Post by nick on Dec 9, 2021 21:23:55 GMT
"Choosing" is the important word. There are people who cannot be vaccinated. This is why the government cannot have a blanket ban on the unvaccinated. I have sympathy for those people above advocating draconian measures on the unvaccinated but, in our relatively free society, it can't be done. I agree people who cannot be vaccinated, Someone in a Tree pointed this out with some of his clients' having autism, I would also agree it is unreasonable to expect someone who is psychotic to be vaccinated. I cannot think of anyone else who cannot be vaccinated? The vaccine is 100% safe. If you end up in ICU with Covid, the people treating you are the best people to decide if you can be vaccinated. If you can be vaccinated and you have had the opportunity to have all 3 doses and spurned these, then the NHS has a right to charge for your care. My mother-in-law’s boyfriend has medication which means he cannot have the vaccine. I don’t know the details so can’t comment further but it’s not just people with autism or people who are psychotic.
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Post by nick on Dec 9, 2021 16:52:02 GMT
"Choosing" is the important word. There are people who cannot be vaccinated. This is why the government cannot have a blanket ban on the unvaccinated. I have sympathy for those people above advocating draconian measures on the unvaccinated but, in our relatively free society, it can't be done.
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Post by nick on Nov 30, 2021 16:26:01 GMT
Early signs from new variant are more transmissible and less severe disease. We're not certain of the severity yet; the early comments about the symptoms not being severe were a result of the first cases being in young and (otherwise) healthy people. But it would be good if it was less severe, because it might out-compete the more dangerous strains. Yes it's interesting that this might (MIGHT) be a positive thing - lots of people becoming immune after catching this potentially milder variant and so bringing herd immunity closer. COVID parties might actually become a thing (I am joking btw).
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Post by nick on Nov 30, 2021 16:13:01 GMT
Moving on…..do we expect shows to close again this time? Will the government end up forcing mass attended events to shut down? Just booked my train tix for Xmas week theatre visit and made sure I bought the insurance just in case! I doubt it but it might bring vaccine passports back onto the agenda.
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Post by nick on Nov 23, 2021 11:35:07 GMT
I remember blankets and scarves etc always seemed to be super itchy as a kid, the last thing you wanted was for them to touch your skin. I still remember my surprise being given a soft scarf as an adult after years of refusing to wear the itchy ones and being cold. Actually, your childhood woollens probably *were* scratchier than today's versions. Lots of work has been done in breeding and processing to grow softer, finer micron sheep wool without the 'itch' factor. You can thank us Aussies for that one! Hmm I'm sure you are correct but I suspect that many scarves and blankets of the 70s 80s just weren't pure wool. I started getting interested in clothes in the early 80s and ended up wearing vintage clothes all the time as I wanted natural fabrics and new clothes were rarely 100% wool or 100% cotton. Mind you vintage then meant victorian up to 40s and were very cheap. Also I do historical reenactment and sometime wear clothes made from wool from old style sheep that have been hand spun, dyed and woven and they aren't really scratchy - although I'd hesitate to say they were soft.
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Post by nick on Nov 23, 2021 8:23:10 GMT
Possibly. I guess there was Time Out as well. I just don't remember doing it.
The mention of directories reminds me of something else that existed for a very short time indeed. In the mid-1990s I had an Internet Directory, as in a printed book listing all the most interesting websites of the time. I threw it out a few years ago, but now I wish I'd kept it because it was a snapshot of a moment in time when there were enough Internet users to make a print run viable but not enough Internet to make coverage impossible. This reminds me of Halt and Catch Fire. They start the last series by cataloguing the entire internet (not on paper) and, of course, it is entirely possible in 1992 ( or so). As the series goes on it becomes increasingly impossible. It’s a time i remember well - I first used the Internet at that time.
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Post by nick on Nov 22, 2021 10:22:25 GMT
Rhys was not in sync with Nancy again during that dance off. I don't understand why they thought he was worth saving. He hasn't listened to the critiques to be more controlled and precise in his movements. His time should have been up. He's a better dancer overall than Tom, and at this stage of the competition that should matter I'd dispute the word 'overall'. He is a better dancer at the dances he does well. There's been little variation in his dances - mostly upbeat and little slow and elegant. I have to say that I don't think Nancy gave a very good performance this week. But I think it doesn't matter whether it's Tom this week and Rhys next week or vice versa. Dan clearly isn't going anywhere yet - actually this was the first week where I felt he could actually be a decent dancer.
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Post by nick on Nov 20, 2021 14:29:11 GMT
Phones
1960s - popping out to the phone box. A and B buttons - can't remember which way it was - press A if the person answered? 1970s - phones in the home - what luxury. But you had to rent them from the Post Office. 1980s - early on still renting phones from PO but answering machines appear - still rented from the Post Office. 1080s - But big changes as the decade goes on - British Telecom appears, you can use phone cards in public boxes (and collect them), Maggie privatises BT 1990 - modems!! Tie up your phone for hours and pay per minute for internet access. I was lucky my work paid for a second line. 2000 - aaaaand mobiles.
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Post by nick on Nov 16, 2021 18:07:18 GMT
What do you mean what time do they film it? It's live (though I presume on a 5-10 second delay just in case), and the results show is recorded on a Saturday after the vote closes. Most of the pro dances were recorded in the summer though. I didn't realise that. Either guess work or a conspiracy then? I'll let you know if there is a repeat text this weekend No not guesswork. They film Sunday's on Saturday night so lots of people know by Sunday morning. I try (and fail) not to look it up each week.
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Post by nick on Nov 7, 2021 10:31:10 GMT
The only way to get most of the population to wear masks was to tell them that wearing it protected yourself and not others. I think the only way to get people wearing masks is to point out it's winter and it'll keep their noses warm
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Post by nick on Nov 3, 2021 8:20:48 GMT
It's so long since I've seen Little Shop so I can't really comment. However I've never found it or Carousel to be a problem. Depending on the piece and with the right creatives, actors and a mature, sensible and reflective stance then it may not be a problem and lead to "cancelled" headlines. If an audience feels uncomfortable then it can be a good thing. Theatre should hold a mirror upto society and make us think. I think this is the key. No reason why, for example, domestic violence shouldn't have a place in the theatre so long as it is put in the right context. I have a problem with one song - tits and ass from Chorus Line. It's such a great tune that I often sing it but it's really not a good song to sing out loud any more. Whether that means it should be cancelled? Don't know. I think most shows can be done as long as the director is mindful of modern sensibilities.
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Post by nick on Nov 2, 2021 7:00:26 GMT
He chose to accept a place on a TV show that regularly has an episode based on Halloween themes He shouldn't have accepted the gig if he wasn't prepared to fully participate I'm seeing the conversation more along the lines of: Producers: Please be on our show. Dan: Ok but only if I don't dress up in a Halloween costume Producers: That's fine (as we don't want to be (accurately) described as discriminating against religion.) I'm quite sure the other celebs have their own 'riders'. Tom: I need to be on tour for the first couple of weeks Tilly: I have to start University whoever: M and Ms without the blue ones in my dressing room Part and parcel of the normal negotiations. If the production team felt the request was unreasonable then they can say No.
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Post by nick on Oct 27, 2021 15:22:55 GMT
Keir Starmer today is the second MP to have tested positive since Rees-Mogg's stupid little speech implying they were protected by their convivial spirit. Without wishing anyone to become seriously ill, I think I would enjoy it if a minor outbreak of mild cases amongst MPs were to show up his idiotic words for what they are so soon after he spoke them. I am totally for masks and can't understand why Reece-Mogg holds the views he does. But it's a little strange that it is Starmer and not a Tory who has tested positive. He has young children which might be a clue how he caught it (and isn't it the fifth time he has had to isolate?). Oh was he positive or isolating because he's been in contact with someone who has tested positive?
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Post by nick on Oct 18, 2021 17:59:53 GMT
If booster jabs don’t speed up the evidence from Israel suggest they might well get close. That's not what the evidence from Israel says. Things may get worse than they are now but we won't be getting 35,000 people in the hospital because of covid. That’s true but higher numbers increases the chance of a vaccine-busting variant. Let’s hope not. I’m making my plans for a “Survivors”’type situation (not really).
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Post by nick on Oct 18, 2021 9:42:52 GMT
Using real names can be a problem. As an IT teacher (now retired) I always tell youngsters to keep their information private online and that includes using an alias instead of their real name.
Personally I don't have a problem because I know enough to protect my privacy and to avoid trolling/bullying but I'm probably being a little naive.
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