Post a bad thing that happened in your life today

[MDM]

35 minutes ago, aphperspective said:

Well at least offer them a tent out in the car park, sleeping bag optional. (For a small fee).🙄

 

Take up car parking space - another vital NHS funding source bites the dust.  

[MDM]

1 hour ago, Allan Bell said:

 

I know I am going to be hammered saying this.

 

People who have been offered the covid vaccine and refused to have it should not be allowed treatment for covid infection in the NHS hospitals.

 

Allan

 

 

I have no sympathy for those who choose not to get vaccinated without a genuine medical reason for not doing so and particularly those who actively spread these conspiracy theories. However, things are never so black and white in reality.

 

For example, many people who don't get vaccinated have genuinely been duped by anti-vax propaganda and fake news, primarily on social media. Many of these unvaccinated people are mentally incapable of distinguishing truth from falsehood about the vaccines. Others are just easily duped. What do you do with such people - turn them away and let them die in A&E car parks? How do you distinguish a true anti-vaxxer from someone who has been fooled when they are both gasping for breath?

 

And while we are on the subject of duping, what to do with those who fell for the £350 million a week for the NHS, oven ready deals or claims that the US election was fraudulently won? What do we do with those who are so easily duped? You can't educate them if they don't want to be educated or are incapable of independent thought. It presents a very big problem for democracy and society in our modern world.

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by MDM

[geogphotos]

^ We could confine ourselves to comments related to stock photography, or photography in general, or our lives as stock photographers. 

 

Do we really need more commentary about Brexit and how other people with different views must be stupid idiots?

 

 

[MDM]

12 minutes ago, geogphotos said:

^ We could confine ourselves to comments related to stock photography, or photography in general, or our lives as stock photographers. 

 

 

 

Given the original subject of the thread and the fact that there is very very little about stock photography in the thread, I would argue that is not a valid argument here.

 

14 minutes ago, geogphotos said:

Do we really need more commentary about Brexit and how other people with different views must be stupid idiots?

 

 

 

I was just providing examples of how easily people can be duped by many different types of propaganda with potentially very serious consequences. 

[geogphotos]

6 minutes ago, MDM said:

 

 

Given the original subject of the thread and the fact that there is very very little about stock photography in the thread, I would argue that is not a valid argument here.

 

 

I was just providing examples of how easily people can be duped by many different types of propaganda with potentially very serious consequences. 

 

 

If you have been duped how would you know?

[MDM]

55 minutes ago, geogphotos said:

 

 

If you have been duped how would you know?

 

I would use EVIDENCE. So in the case of the 350 million, I would ask the obvious question - where is it? All the evidence says that it has never happened and is never going to happen. In the case of the over ready deal, I would ask has it been completed? Clearly not which is especially evident to those who live in Northern Ireland. 

 

In the case of vaccinations, things are a bit more complicated but I personally weigh up what the scientific experts are saying. It is almost univerally agreed that, while there are always some risks associated with vaccinations, these are far outweighed by the risks associated with Covid itself. There are numerous cases of people dying who have realised too late that they have been duped. I'm with Dolly Parton on that one.

 

In the case of Santa Claus, well I figured that one out myself when I saw my mother wrapping presents that I later received from the man himself. Religion ....I'll stop there.

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by MDM

[geogphotos]

12 minutes ago, MDM said:

 

I would use EVIDENCE. So in the case of the 350 million, I would ask the obvious question - where is it? All the evidence says that it has never happened and is never going to happen. In the case of the over ready deal, I would ask has it been completed? Clearly not which is especially evident to those who live in Northern Ireland. 

 

In the case of vaccinations, things are a bit more complicated but I personally weigh up what the scientific experts are saying. It is almost univerally agreed that, while there are always some risks associated with vaccinations, these are far outweighed by the risks associated with Covid itself. There are numerous cases of people dying who have realised too late that they have been duped. I'm with Dolly Parton on that one.

 

In the case of Santa Claus, well I figured that one out myself when I saw my mother wrapping presents that I later received from the man himself. Religion ....I'll stop there.

 

 

 

 

To me you display an irrational conviction that your view is always by definition rational and objective. 

 

Just my subjective opinion. 

 

 

[MDM]

22 hours ago, Allan Bell said:

 

 

People who have been offered the covid vaccine and refused to have it should not be allowed treatment for covid infection in the NHS hospitals.

 

 

 

 

How about the French approach (Guardian article today) - a little more refined than killing people I guess.

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by MDM

[spacecadet]

19 hours ago, geogphotos said:

Do we really need more commentary about Brexit

As long as the lies go on, I think perhaps we do.

[MDM]

17 minutes ago, spacecadet said:

As long as the lies go on, I think perhaps we do.

 

I agree and it is particularly relevant right now as the full negative impacts are being or are about to be felt.

 

However, just to clarify, I was using the examples above to illustrate the way people are easily duped and not discussing Brexit. The examples I used are objective illustrations of populist duping of the electorate. It is no surprise that some people now do not trust the government in relation to vaccines - the Bojo who cried wolf 🤫. And what about who needs experts? I suggest that we do.

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by MDM

[Allan Bell]

3 hours ago, MDM said:

 

 

How about the French approach (Guardian article today) - a little more refined than killing people I guess.

 

 

Anything would be better than the situation at the moment. (Not that I condone what or how he said it.)

 

Allan

22 hours ago, MDM said:

and let them die in A&E car parks?

 

As you mentioned earlier there is not sufficient parking space as it is so where would you put them?

 

Allan

 

[Rebecca Ore]

On 30/12/2021 at 08:21, Jill Morgan said:

As we sit in the truck waiting for the vet (not allowed in of course) this gorgeous bald eagle with wings spread full lands on the hydro line about 300 feet from us. And he sits there for ages.  Vet tech comes out and says he has been hanging around for a few days.  Definitely a young one, so probably from this year's crop.

 

If the white head and tail weren't developed, it would be  a young one.  Check references for how long it takes a bald eagle to get to full white head and tail.  Lot of young raptors have non-standard colors -- Red-tailed hawks of the year don't have red tails.   Smaller raptors are generally male.  Young raptors can be even fatter than adults due to getting fed by mama and daddy and are the same length.  So smaller isn't younger if fully fledged and flying. 

 

[Rebecca Ore]

On the vaccine front, most urban people in Nicaragua have been getting vaccines.  The WHO hasn't approved of the Cuban and Russian vaccines last time I looked, but Nicaragua is using the Cuban pediatric vaccine on anyone between 2 and 15, with other vaccines on older adolescents.   I had Covishield from India as the main vaccine (two doses) and AstraZeneca from a Canadian donation for the booster.   The country received a million doses of Chinese vaccines (which has been approved by WHO) after Nicaragua broke with Taiwan and recognized the PRC.   The opposition has been lying about the Ortega government ignoring the virus though Murillo did do some stupid things early and tends to not wear masks in public.  All the military, police, and others do wear masks now.   Cuban and Russia have sent several million doses and the US seems to have sent half a million of the Pfizer vaccine.  Covishield has been approved by the WHO, so I'm vaccinated for travel to the US.

 

The vaccine resistance is in the countryside and out in the autonomous regions.   One expat friend said Ministry of Health workers have made house visits twice in his town, but his Nicaragua caretakers are refusing the vaccine.   This seems to be from some conspiracy theory that the vaccines will kill those who take it in some years (also a conspiracy theory in some Mexican indigenous communities.   The opposition is also claiming that the Cuban vaccine is useless despite the Cubans making vaccines since the 1980s.   My helper's daughter is now double vaccinated and I think my helper has had the booster, definitely the two initial vaccines. 

 

My British nurse (retired) friend is actually impressed with how the government is handling things, except for the non-nurses who've been given emergency training in giving injections but who sometimes are less good than the experienced nurses (one hit a nerve when giving her the booster).   Delta here was worse than Omicron.   And even the opposition is saying that cases are down.

 

The FSLN government hasn't made vaccines mandatory possibly because the police are associated in many people's minds with use of excessive force in 2018.  They're doing military recruitment spots on the state TV channels and their YouTube channel.   My landlord thinks I don't have to worry about the US invading Nicaragua because he believes the US will be having a civil war next year.

 

No lock downs here, which the opposition would like to have, but which the government believes would be a drastic problem for people who work day to day (street vendors, agricultural workers, and others in the informal economy).  Masks are required by all banks inside (but not in ATMs) and most chain stores and any other place that chooses to require them.  Bank and grocery stores have armed guards to enforce the rule, don't leave it to store clerks.

 

The bad thing that happens today is waiting for my helper to show up.  I think my British friend has a cat at the vets and may also be going to the bank.  I have to change my address on one of my Claro bills, pay those, and get my helper's weekly pay out of an ATM somewhere and go to the grocery store.   And maybe get two more big LED light bulbs for the kitchen, though that does get daylight as well as as artificial light.

 

 

[Ed Rooney]

3 hours ago, Rebecca Ore said:

 

 

The bad thing that happens today is waiting for my helper to show up.  I think my British friend has a cat at the vets and may also be going to the bank.  I have to change my address on one of my Claro bills, pay those, and get my helper's weekly pay out of an ATM somewhere and go to the grocery store.   And maybe get two more big LED light bulbs for the kitchen, though that does get daylight as well as as artificial light.

 

 

 

Welcome back, MzBrown. 🙂

[Rebecca Ore]

Just now, Ed Rooney said:

 

Welcome back, MzBrown. 🙂

Gracias. 

[Ed Rooney]

 

Poco a poco.

[Bryan]

This bad thing didn't happen to me, but might serve as a warning to others. 

 

A friend's car broke down on the motorway and had to be towed home. He later found out that the engine needed to be replaced as the timing belt had snapped and extensive damage ensued.  Now this car has been maintained by the manufacturer's approved garages in accordance with their recommended service regime.  His car is one of 3 at the same garage with the same fault.  He is pursuing a claim against the manufacturers.  The cost of a new engine for this top end motor is eye wateringly high. 

[spacecadet]

2 hours ago, Bryan said:

This bad thing didn't happen to me, but might serve as a warning to others. 

 

A friend's car broke down on the motorway and had to be towed home. He later found out that the engine needed to be replaced as the timing belt had snapped and extensive damage ensued.  Now this car has been maintained by the manufacturer's approved garages in accordance with their recommended service regime.  His car is one of 3 at the same garage with the same fault.  He is pursuing a claim against the manufacturers.  The cost of a new engine for this top end motor is eye wateringly high. 

Aah the dreaded timing belt replacement interval, so many miles or years, whichever comes first. If he is out of warranty he may get a contribution to the cost. In fact the damage can be repaired, it's just a question of labour costs versus replacement.

I replaced a snapped timing belt years ago, oddly enough it costs about the same in parts to replace the belt as to repair the damage. But you save the inconvenience. And the amount if damage is a lottery. I still have the bent valve that I had to replace two or three cars ago.

The current timing belt I replaced a couple of years ago-  £300 saved after all parts and tools. Not much mileage on it since because of you know what.

Do not neglect replacement intervals, though I have to say from experience, mileage seems to be more damaging than time. The 10 year old belt with 40k miles on it looked like new.

Edited January 7, 2022 by spacecadet

[sb photos]

2 hours ago, Bryan said:

This bad thing didn't happen to me, but might serve as a warning to others. 

 

A friend's car broke down on the motorway and had to be towed home. He later found out that the engine needed to be replaced as the timing belt had snapped and extensive damage ensued.  Now this car has been maintained by the manufacturer's approved garages in accordance with their recommended service regime.  His car is one of 3 at the same garage with the same fault.  He is pursuing a claim against the manufacturers.  The cost of a new engine for this top end motor is eye wateringly high. 

 

The only time I had a timing belt fail I was lucky. I conked out while slowly approaching a roundabout. I pushed it out of the traffic with the off side door open and steered with my left hand.  Called the AA and they fitted a new belt and advised getting it checked out. A friend wrote off the engine in his escort when the belt failed at speed.

[NYCat]

My dental cleaning today took a bad turn. An old crown came out.. along with the post and part of the tooth. Fortunately, there is enough tooth left for a new crown so I won't be needing an implant. Those are great but very, very costly. Not that the crown is inexpensive. They always say it's a good thing to have a crown come out during cleaning rather than at home where you might lose it or swallow it. Ha! I guess in this case it could have been internally injurious to me if I had swallowed it because the post is sharp. Usually, they can just put the crown back on but this time there was apparently a cavity inside the tooth so part of the tooth came with the crown. Big expense, of course, but I am always willing to spend money on my physical well-being. Things could be worse.

 

Paulette

[Dave Richards]

9 hours ago, sb photos said:

 

The only time I had a timing belt fail I was lucky. I conked out while slowly approaching a roundabout. I pushed it out of the traffic with the off side door open and steered with my left hand.  Called the AA and they fitted a new belt and advised getting it checked out. A friend wrote off the engine in his escort when the belt failed at speed.

Buy a Jag. They have a timing CHAIN.

[sb photos]

16 minutes ago, Dave Richards said:

Buy a Jag. They have a timing CHAIN.

 

My car that had the timing belt snap long ago was an old Vauxhall Cavalier. I eventually scrapped it when the engine failed. Was told a needle from the carburettor had entered the engine. My last car before my current, an old Ford Mondeo had a timing chain. I was a good car to drive but a polluter. I scrapped it.

[spacecadet]

11 hours ago, sb photos said:

Called the AA and they fitted a new belt

I'm amazed that was a roadside repair, unless it was a shopping trolley.

[Allan Bell]

6 hours ago, spacecadet said:

I'm amazed that was a roadside repair, unless it was a shopping trolley.

 

Maybe it was a fan belt.

 

Allan

 

[Allan Bell]

17 hours ago, NYCat said:

My dental cleaning today took a bad turn. An old crown came out.. along with the post and part of the tooth. Fortunately, there is enough tooth left for a new crown so I won't be needing an implant. Those are great but very, very costly. Not that the crown is inexpensive. They always say it's a good thing to have a crown come out during cleaning rather than at home where you might lose it or swallow it. Ha! I guess in this case it could have been internally injurious to me if I had swallowed it because the post is sharp. Usually, they can just put the crown back on but this time there was apparently a cavity inside the tooth so part of the tooth came with the crown. Big expense, of course, but I am always willing to spend money on my physical well-being. Things could be worse.

 

Paulette

 

I have been told that the digestive system is a marvellous piece of bio engineering in that if you swallow anything sharp it will turn it round so the sharp bit is at the back and not the leading edge.

 

Allan