FlyTheNest

Morning all.

Anybody about today?

*Waves*

Covid: rapid testing key to reopening venues in England, says Zahawi

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... s-minister

Hmmmm....

Here's a blog about someone who tried to make an small event Covid safe using rapid tests and failed miserably.

A false sense of security.

https://www.diamandis.com/blog/false-sense-security

It makes for interesting reading and he did a lot wrong (no proper quarantine beforehand, only the staff wore masks) but it does demonstrate once again just how useless rapid Antigen or PCR tests are when it comes to detecting Covid 19.

Once it was clear that I personally had contracted COVID-19 (which sucks as much as everyone says it does), I tested myself with Rapid PCR and Rapid Antigen every day, twice per day, for several consecutive days. I was flabbergasted that NONE of the tests turned up positive. I was consistently negative. Four days into my quarantine, I finally tested positive on a PCR “Spit Test” that measures viral load. I was told I was “highly infectious."

Well hello there, and yes the vaccines success (which, on the whole, it is) also helps obscure what a fiasco test and trace in particular has been.

GOV.UK

Guidance
Booking and staying in a quarantine hotel when you arrive in England

Leaving your room

You will only be allowed to leave your room in very limited circumstances including:

. to exercise but only with special permission from security. This is not guaranteed

What's the going rate for a stroll round the hotel carpark I wonder.

Hope it has a nice view.

Good evening.

The Reclaim Party gets more hilarious by the day...they decided to do a poll on who should be the Free Speech Champion.

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And guess what, the chap they tossed in at the end just to make up the numbers is in the lead!

Meanwhile...the chap with the least support, Tom Simpson is on a paltry 0.8%.

I had to look him up - academic, and Policy Exchange bod...and the co0author of the only document cited as evidence in the Government's White paper on free speech in universities.

And therefore, almost certainly the one who will get the post.

What's Anthony Seldon doing in that poll? Does Laurence even know who he is? The last interview with Seldon I remember reading he had a lot of good to say about Corbyn and he was a staunch remainer. Seldon would have nothing but contempt for Fox and whatever the hell he thinks he stands for.

Seldon has Tory leanings but quite a few of his books are decent.

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Seldon has Tory leanings but quite a few of his books are decent.

I've not read any of his books, but reading his articles and hearing him over the years he's always come across as a modest, intelligent fellow with a dry wit. The very opposite of the brash shouty, ideological cheerleader for 'Free Speech' Fox and his ilk claim to want.

Not that Fox actually enjoys free speech in the flesh. As I've previously mentioned he ran away from his last performance here in Leeds after 10 minutes and didn't offer a refund.

He wrote hefty biographies covering Major and Blair's time in office - both very readable.

Is it just me or is it getting increasingly quiet here? I know I'm not a regular poster, especially during the day, but it certainly seems less active.

I'm guessing (and hoping) that everyone's feeling pretty much like me. Dulled by both lockdown and February. Yeah it's got a bit sunnier and warmer but it's still the fag end of a shitty winter that I want to be over.

I want leaves on the trees, spring butterflies and the birds and the bees doing their thing. I want to be able to sit outside and have a few beers with a friend. I remember in the Autumn thinking how awful lockdown would be during the winter and I think we've done remarkably well. Until now. Now it's a chore just to get out of bed.

Its always very quiet now when cJA takes one of her breaks, they play a major part in keeping this place moving.

(of course the days when AH would fire off over a dozen posts without reply are still missed)

Maybe I should start getting drunk and stoned during the day.

I'm not quite at that stage yet. This will do.

Psychedelic rock Tuesday.

That has to become a thing.

February is the worst month of every year.

Night night.

Goodnight.