Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 22:15:19 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 21:54:54 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:46:35 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>>>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:53:01 +0100, Recliner
>>>>>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:15:43 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> In message <t1o8bo$p0d$1@dont-email.me>, at 23:41:44 on Sat, 26 Mar
>>>>>>>>> 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> In message <atoe0djbfzse$.dlg@example1357.net>, at 19:37:01 on Thu, 24
>>>>>>>>>>> Mar 2022, mechanic <mechanic@example.net> remarked:
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:06:55 +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I first saw them at scale in a pub which had just reopened with
>>>>>>>>>>>>> stringent Covid precautions. Tables separated, pre-booked only, one-way
>>>>>>>>>>>>> system, one person in toilets at a time, table service only etc. It was
>>>>>>>>>>>>> not at all clear what protection they gave either the waitresses or
>>>>>>>>>>>>> customers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> That was when we were fed the 'droplets' theory, science is now
>>>>>>>>>>>> reluctantly moving to the aerosol idea where earlier instructions to
>>>>>>>>>>>> clean surfaces and wash hands have given way to more emphasis on
>>>>>>>>>>>> ventilation and effective masks.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I suppose I always did think it was mainly transmitted by the smaller
>>>>>>>>>>> droplets know trendily known as aerosols, rather than spit and sneeze.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Still wouldn't want a Covid person to spit in my face though.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Breathing in your direction might be worse.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 2metres, 30 seconds, and both masked, shouldn't be an issue.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> No, probably not, but nor would spitting in those circumstances.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Saliva is generally a far better carrier of infection if it lands on
>>>>>>> targer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Are you sure that's true of Covid? It's an airborne virus.
>>>>>>
>>>>> It isn't just airborne. The virus is present in saliva, mucous and
>>>>> other bodily secretions. The difference with saliva (in original form)
>>>>> is the practical need for more direct transmission from infection
>>>>> source to entry route (e.g. snogging, spitting on target etc.) than is
>>>>> needed with aerosols which generally require a relatively longer
>>>>> presence to enable infection.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Would virus particles present in saliva get into a potential victim's
>>>> airway?
>>>>
>>> Your airway starts at your nose and mouth. Coughing and sneezing can
>>> cause a heavier and more concentrated stream of saliva than you get
>>> with an aerosol.
>>>
>>> "The virus can spread from an infected person?s mouth or nose in small
>>> liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe.
>>> Another person can then contract the virus when infectious particles
>>> that pass through the air are inhaled at short range (this is often
>>> called short-range aerosol or short-range airborne transmission) or if
>>> infectious particles come into direct contact with the eyes, nose, or
>>> mouth (droplet transmission)."
>>> https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted
>>>
>>
>> A mask wearer is presumably reasonably well protected against droplets
>> landing on their mouth or nostrils and then breathing in the particles. Is
>> there any evidence that the virus can be transmitted via the eyes?
>>
> Your eyes drain internally to your nose via the nasolacrimal duct;
> infection via the eye itself is less common. Eye protection is
> standard kit for ambulance and first aid personnel dealing with
> potential COVID patients.
>

Is that precaution based on actual evidence of risk from Covid, or simple
(sensible) caution all infections?

One thing we do know is that a lot of the often misinformed
Covid precautions have at least protected against other illnesses in the
last two years. For example, all that hand sanitisng didn't do much to
block Covid but probably reduced food poisoning.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 23:23:32 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
<recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

>Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 22:15:19 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 21:54:54 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:46:35 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>>>>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:53:01 +0100, Recliner
>>>>>>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:15:43 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> In message <t1o8bo$p0d$1@dont-email.me>, at 23:41:44 on Sat, 26 Mar
>>>>>>>>>> 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> In message <atoe0djbfzse$.dlg@example1357.net>, at 19:37:01 on Thu, 24
>>>>>>>>>>>> Mar 2022, mechanic <mechanic@example.net> remarked:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:06:55 +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I first saw them at scale in a pub which had just reopened with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stringent Covid precautions. Tables separated, pre-booked only, one-way
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> system, one person in toilets at a time, table service only etc. It was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not at all clear what protection they gave either the waitresses or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> customers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> That was when we were fed the 'droplets' theory, science is now
>>>>>>>>>>>>> reluctantly moving to the aerosol idea where earlier instructions to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> clean surfaces and wash hands have given way to more emphasis on
>>>>>>>>>>>>> ventilation and effective masks.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I suppose I always did think it was mainly transmitted by the smaller
>>>>>>>>>>>> droplets know trendily known as aerosols, rather than spit and sneeze.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Still wouldn't want a Covid person to spit in my face though.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Breathing in your direction might be worse.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> 2metres, 30 seconds, and both masked, shouldn't be an issue.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> No, probably not, but nor would spitting in those circumstances.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Saliva is generally a far better carrier of infection if it lands on
>>>>>>>> targer.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Are you sure that's true of Covid? It's an airborne virus.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> It isn't just airborne. The virus is present in saliva, mucous and
>>>>>> other bodily secretions. The difference with saliva (in original form)
>>>>>> is the practical need for more direct transmission from infection
>>>>>> source to entry route (e.g. snogging, spitting on target etc.) than is
>>>>>> needed with aerosols which generally require a relatively longer
>>>>>> presence to enable infection.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Would virus particles present in saliva get into a potential victim's
>>>>> airway?
>>>>>
>>>> Your airway starts at your nose and mouth. Coughing and sneezing can
>>>> cause a heavier and more concentrated stream of saliva than you get
>>>> with an aerosol.
>>>>
>>>> "The virus can spread from an infected person?s mouth or nose in small
>>>> liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe.
>>>> Another person can then contract the virus when infectious particles
>>>> that pass through the air are inhaled at short range (this is often
>>>> called short-range aerosol or short-range airborne transmission) or if
>>>> infectious particles come into direct contact with the eyes, nose, or
>>>> mouth (droplet transmission)."
>>>> https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted
>>>>
>>>
>>> A mask wearer is presumably reasonably well protected against droplets
>>> landing on their mouth or nostrils and then breathing in the particles. Is
>>> there any evidence that the virus can be transmitted via the eyes?
>>>
>> Your eyes drain internally to your nose via the nasolacrimal duct;
>> infection via the eye itself is less common. Eye protection is
>> standard kit for ambulance and first aid personnel dealing with
>> potential COVID patients.
>>
>
>Is that precaution based on actual evidence of risk from Covid, or simple
>(sensible) caution all infections?
>
The eye and associated areas have been regarded as a viable route of
infection for over a century :-
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/220430

>One thing we do know is that a lot of the often misinformed
>Covid precautions have at least protected against other illnesses in the
>last two years. For example, all that hand sanitisng didn't do much to
>block Covid but probably reduced food poisoning.
>
Without experimenting you have no proof for that. COVID was known to
persist longer on non-absorbent surfaces (e.g. handrails, door handles
etc.) while alcohol is efficient in destroying membranes that hold
viruses together as well as being a long-proven general antiseptic.
Hand sanitising doesn't work when people don't practise it and I have
been around long enough to see that there are plenty of people who are
best described as selfish filthy bastards when it comes to considering
community hygeine.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 23:23:31 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
<recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

>Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 22:15:18 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2022 14:36, Recliner wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>>>>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>>>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>>>>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>>>>>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>>>>>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>>>>>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>>>>>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>>>>>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>>>>>
>>>>> Follow-up:
>>>>>
>>>>> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
>>>>> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
>>>>> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
>>>>> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
>>>>> sniffles.
>>>>>
>>>>> Excellent!
>>>>
>>>> I got a positive LFT on Wednesday. I feel a lot worse than a minor
>>>> winter sniffle.
>>>>
>>>
>>> And that's despite all your stringent precautions? It proves that there's
>>> no escaping Omicron, whether you're careful or not.
>>>
>>> You need to take the positive view: you have now had your booster shot, are
>>> now protected against Omicron, and any future infections will be much
>>> milder. Rejoice that you can now get out more and travel freely!
>>>
>> As with e.g. influenza, there is no guarantee that a later infection
>> will be milder but there might be more immunity to being infected.
>>
>
>With Covid, there's ample evidence that vaccinations and prior infections
>both reduce the likelihood of subsequent infection (for at least 3-6
>months) and the severity of such infections.
>
>And, an infection with the latest flavour of Omicron very likely gives
>better immunity against the next Omicron descendant than does a legacy
>booster shot still targeted on the original Wuhan wild strain. So, someone
>who's had three jabs plus an Omicron infection is now very well protected,
>both against new infection and particularly against severe infection.
>
People still die so putting reliance on vaccinations alone is not
clever.

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>
>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>
>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>
>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>
>>
>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>
>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>
> Follow-up:
>
> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
> sniffles.
>
> Excellent!
>

Meanwhile, two people I know have (separately) been bed-bound with extreme
fatigue and 40° temperatures, after testing positive, in the last few days.
Just because you've only got sniffles doesn't mean it affects everyone
equally.

Anna Noyd-Dryver

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <o3q04hphs3aftd8htn9mv2m30msg6dcdkr@4ax.com>, at 14:38:24 on
> Sun, 27 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:33:55 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> In message <S+NBJpiaByPiFA7N@perry.uk>, at 14:16:58 on Sat, 26 Mar 2022,
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>
>>>> I suspect the adverts must be for people in East London wanting to go to
>>>> the seaside via Colchester.
>>>>
>>>> Meanwhile, GA has sawn off the branch it's sitting on, as far as people
>>>> here are concerned, with this news about Easter:
>>>>
>>>> "Railway lines between King's Lynn and London will be blocked
>>>> this Easter bank holiday weekend.
>>>>
>>>> Works are taking place in the East of England, blocking lines
>>>> through Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.
>>>>
>>>> Greater Anglia passengers are set to face a full line closure
>>>> all weekend at Bishop's Stortford - between Cambridge and
>>>> London Liverpool Street.
>>>>
>>>> On Easter Sunday (April 17), works are taking place on the line
>>>> between Ely and King's Lynn.
>>>>
>>>> There will be no Great Northern or Greater Anglia trains to
>>>> Littleport, Downham Market, Watlington or King's Lynn when the
>>>> line is closed."
>>>
>>> The railways collectively doing warm-up today:
>>>
>>> Reduced service on ECML/GN/TL, crawling round the Hertford Loop.
>>> Buses from Cambridge to Ely.
>>> Buses from Peterborough to Ely.
>>> Ally Pally to Welwyn Garden City bustituted, and separately WGC to
>>> Stevenage and Hertford North to Stevenage (locals)
>>>
>>> It's enough to convince our jolly holiday makers (or even just "let's go
>>> see mum on Mothers Day" to buy a car and never try to use a train ever
>>> again.
>>
>> As always, you've only looked at your local TOCs.
>
> Actually I skimmed all[1] of them, but as the topic here is GA trying to
> woo people back onto *their* trains, it makes perfect sense to see how
> they are encouraging that in the field, in this region.
>
>> It turns out that other routes are disrupted, too, even Manchester
>> Metrolink (the trams weren't serving Piccadilly yesterday).
>
> [1] I've left out the entries which are specific to one train.
>
> Buses replace trains between Beckenham Junction and Orpington until
> approximately 12:30 on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services to / from Reigate on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Chichester and Havant all day and between
> Chichester and Barnham early morning / late night on Sunday 27 March
> panel
>
> Buses replace evening / morning trains between Polegate and Eastbourne /
> Hastings / Ore on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended EMR service to from London St Pancras International late night
> Saturday 26 and all day Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge
> Parkway via Aston on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Crianlarich and Fort Willam / Mallaig from
> Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 March
>
> No trains between Rutherglen and Exhibition Centre via Glasgow Central
> Low Level from Sunday 13 March to Sunday 8 May
>
> No morning trains before 09:00 between Princes Risborough and Denham
> Golf Club on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended early morning services to / from London Bridge on Sunday 27
> March
>
> Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on Sunday 27 March
> More information on Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on
> Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage and between
> Cambridge and Ely on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
> More information on Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26
> and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services between Hertford North / Welwyn Garden City and
> Moorgate on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended Hull trains service on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services on the East London Line on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
> March
>
> Amended service between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford on
> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Bridgend and Maesteg on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace evening trains between Hereford and Newport on Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains between Hamilton Square and Hooton on Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill and
> Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains to / from Northampton on Sunday 27 March panel
>
> Buses replace morning trains between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway
> on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Hounslow and Windsor & Eton Riverside /
> Ascot / Addlestone on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains in the Petersfield area on Saturday 26 and Sunday
> 27 March
>
> Amended early morning service to / from Westbury on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services to / from London Paddington on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended TransPennine Express services between Manchester Piccadilly and
> Stalybridge on Sunday 27 March
>
> No trains between Darlington and Redcar Central on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle on Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains between Dover Priory and Ramsgate on Sunday 27
> March
>
> No services via Strood and Gravesend on Sunday 27 March
>
> No trains via Lea Bridge on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended evening / morning LNER services to / from Newcastle on Saturday
> 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> No Southern trains to / from London Victoria on Saturday 26 and Sunday
> 27 March
>
> Reduced TfL Rail service to / from Hayes & Harlington on Sunday 27 March
>
>
> Buses replace trains between Guildford and Redhill / Gatwick Airport on
> Sunday 27 March
>
> No trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains between Cardiff Central / Port Talbot Parkway and
> Swansea on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended morning trains in the Taunton / Bridgwater area on Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains before 09:30 between Reading and Basingstoke on
> Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace evening / morning trains to / from Burnham / Taplow on
> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended morning trains between Bedwyn and Newbury on Saturday 26 and
> Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended service to / from London Kings Cross on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa / Worcester
> Foregate Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended trains between Doncaster and York on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
> March
>
> Buses replace trains between Southampton and Bournemouth on Saturday 26
> and Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Peterborough and Ely / Cambridge on Sunday
> 27 March
>
> Amended service to / from Grays on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>
> No c2c trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and
> Sunday 27 March
>
> No trains between Preston and Wigan / Manchester before 10:45 on Sunday
> 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield /
> Glossop on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool / Darlington
> on Sunday 27 March
>
> Buses replace trains between Doncaster and Goole on Saturday 26 and
> Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended services between Stafford and Crewe on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended morning Avanti West Coast services to / from Liverpool Lime
> Street on Sunday 27 March
>
> Amended trains in the Llandudno Junction / Bangor area on Saturday 26
>
> Amended services to / from Drumry from Sunday 23 January to Saturday 11
> June

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:53:01 +0100, Recliner
>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:15:43 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In message <t1o8bo$p0d$1@dont-email.me>, at 23:41:44 on Sat, 26 Mar
>>>> 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> In message <atoe0djbfzse$.dlg@example1357.net>, at 19:37:01 on Thu, 24
>>>>>> Mar 2022, mechanic <mechanic@example.net> remarked:
>>>>>>> On Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:06:55 +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I first saw them at scale in a pub which had just reopened with
>>>>>>>> stringent Covid precautions. Tables separated, pre-booked only, one-way
>>>>>>>> system, one person in toilets at a time, table service only etc. It was
>>>>>>>> not at all clear what protection they gave either the waitresses or
>>>>>>>> customers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That was when we were fed the 'droplets' theory, science is now
>>>>>>> reluctantly moving to the aerosol idea where earlier instructions to
>>>>>>> clean surfaces and wash hands have given way to more emphasis on
>>>>>>> ventilation and effective masks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I suppose I always did think it was mainly transmitted by the smaller
>>>>>> droplets know trendily known as aerosols, rather than spit and sneeze.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Still wouldn't want a Covid person to spit in my face though.
>>>>>
>>>>> Breathing in your direction might be worse.
>>>>
>>>> 2metres, 30 seconds, and both masked, shouldn't be an issue.
>>>
>>> No, probably not, but nor would spitting in those circumstances.
>>>
>> Saliva is generally a far better carrier of infection if it lands on
>> targer.
>>
>
> Are you sure that's true of Covid? It's an airborne virus.
>
>

It's definitely present in saliva, because the tests I used to do through
work just required a spit sample.

Anna Noyd-Dryver

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>> On 27/03/2022 14:36, Recliner wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>>>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>>>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>>>
>>>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>>>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>>>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>>>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>>>
>>> Follow-up:
>>>
>>> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
>>> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
>>> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
>>> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
>>> sniffles.
>>>
>>> Excellent!
>>
>> I got a positive LFT on Wednesday. I feel a lot worse than a minor
>> winter sniffle.
>>
>
> And that's despite all your stringent precautions? It proves that there's
> no escaping Omicron, whether you're careful or not.
>
> You need to take the positive view: you have now had your booster shot, are
> now protected against Omicron, and any future infections will be much
> milder. Rejoice that you can now get out more and travel freely!
>
>

Someone I know currently has covid for the second time within three months,
and this time is significantly worse.

Anna Noyd-Dryver

In message <e7CdnRv0s5Wyg93_nZ2dnUU7-QudnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
09:19:59 on Sun, 27 Mar 2022, Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.invalid>
remarked:
>On 26/03/2022 12:48, Roland Perry wrote:
>> In message <BMKdnRuxocYQJaH_nZ2dnUU7-fvNnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>18:29:33 on Thu, 24 Mar 2022, Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.invalid>
>>remarked:
>>>> We took a General Studies A Level, for which there was little or no
>>>> teaching and everyone got a good grade for turning up.  Universities and
>>>> employers were looking for "n A Levels excluding General Studies".
>>>> It wasn't entirely trivial.  It had a strong arty bias (whereas my
>>>> strengths were scientific) and required recalling to roughly O-Level
>>>> standard a modern language that we'd had two years to forget.
>>>
>>> My school forced people in the lower sixth who weren't doing an A
>>>level language to do a spurious GCSE language, which timetabling
>>>quirks meant had to be Spanish (continuing with the compulsory French
>>>or German from GCSEs would surely have made more sense).

>> The secondary school my children went to had a significant demand
>>from parents for Spanish lessons.

>> But none of the parents could answer the question "we can only
>>afford two language teachers, which of the German or French ones do
>>you want us to make redundant".

>> I did wonder why we couldn't send one of them off to do some evening
>>classes in Spanish, but that was above my pay-grade.
>
>Our Spanish teacher was a GCSE French teacher who "spoke a bit of Spanish".

I used to think that being a linguist was something selected people were
born with, rather than had to learn by brute force. This was coloured by
one of my uncles who spoke about five languages, and having had a
trilingual girlfriend. But it seems this isn't the case.
--
Roland Perry

In message <t1prqo$rf5$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:20:08 on Sun, 27 Mar
2022, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <t1pkmi$eed$1@dont-email.me>, at 12:18:26 on Sun, 27 Mar
>> 2022, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
>>
>>>>> The task, AIUI, is to understand the structure of the rhinovirus itself.
>>>>> That would subsequently allow research for treatment across the board.
>>>>> Unfortunately, however, they have not successfully cracked that.
>>>>
>>>> What would be the incentive for performing such expensive research?
>>>>
>>>> Would it save a lot of lives? No
>>>>
>>>> Would it make the pharma that developed such products a good financial
>>>> return? Probably not.
>>>
>>> State backed research may crack the problem. The AZ jab was
>>>developed with UK state funding on a shoe string budget. Vaccine
>>>research is really taking off now, including vaccines against some
>>>cancers. Tackling the common cold viruses might not now be so
>>>technically difficult. The best analogy I can think of is you’d be
>>>laughed at thirty years ago if you said everyone would be making
>>>video calls from handheld devices.
>>
>> Development cycles aren't the same in different industries/technologies.
>>
>> To pick a hook to hang this on, Orange launched 27 years ago, and by
>> then there were plenty of people using mobile phones as modems. BT
>> launched landline videophones in 1993, so that's 29 years ago.
>>
>> It doesn't take much to envisage the possibility of those two converging
>> within 20yrs, perhaps the surprise was it took so long.
>>
>> On the other hand, fusion power has been "just around the corner" for
>> more than 50yrs.
>>
>> Luckily, this graphic spans pretty much the 30yrs in question - lots of
>> food for thought. Now, where can I get that 3D video conferencing?
>>
>> http://www.perry.co.uk/images/The-Future.jpg
>>
>> "Higher resolution scanner" seems to be missing from their list.
>>
>> And look! It has a train.
>
>Just shows what a fool’s errand it is trying to predict the future.

It can be difficult in many sectors, I agree, so perhaps we should be
more circumspect about possible advances in vaccine technology.

The other advantage that some sectors (such as IT) has, is that many
consumer products have trickled down from industrial applications. So
I've now got a 300Mbps 'leased line' to my house (some people have as
much as a gigabit) when 25yrs ago there were very few homes, rather than
offices, with even 64k leased lines.

But it wasn't difficult to predict a kind of Moores Law for connectivity
- especially when the first gigabit fibre connections to industrial
premises were installed in about 2001.

(We had one at our office in London, and I wanted to open a Gigabit-
Cybercafe as a publicity stunt, but disappointingly others didn't
think it was appealing. Wasn't the first time; I wanted to open a 256k-
Cybercafe in very similar circumstances in 1994).
--
Roland Perry

On 28/03/2022 03:56, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <o3q04hphs3aftd8htn9mv2m30msg6dcdkr@4ax.com>, at 14:38:24 on
>> Sun, 27 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:33:55 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In message <S+NBJpiaByPiFA7N@perry.uk>, at 14:16:58 on Sat, 26 Mar 2022,
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>> I suspect the adverts must be for people in East London wanting to go to
>>>>> the seaside via Colchester.
>>>>>
>>>>> Meanwhile, GA has sawn off the branch it's sitting on, as far as people
>>>>> here are concerned, with this news about Easter:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Railway lines between King's Lynn and London will be blocked
>>>>> this Easter bank holiday weekend.
>>>>>
>>>>> Works are taking place in the East of England, blocking lines
>>>>> through Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.
>>>>>
>>>>> Greater Anglia passengers are set to face a full line closure
>>>>> all weekend at Bishop's Stortford - between Cambridge and
>>>>> London Liverpool Street.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Easter Sunday (April 17), works are taking place on the line
>>>>> between Ely and King's Lynn.
>>>>>
>>>>> There will be no Great Northern or Greater Anglia trains to
>>>>> Littleport, Downham Market, Watlington or King's Lynn when the
>>>>> line is closed."
>>>>
>>>> The railways collectively doing warm-up today:
>>>>
>>>> Reduced service on ECML/GN/TL, crawling round the Hertford Loop.
>>>> Buses from Cambridge to Ely.
>>>> Buses from Peterborough to Ely.
>>>> Ally Pally to Welwyn Garden City bustituted, and separately WGC to
>>>> Stevenage and Hertford North to Stevenage (locals)
>>>>
>>>> It's enough to convince our jolly holiday makers (or even just "let's go
>>>> see mum on Mothers Day" to buy a car and never try to use a train ever
>>>> again.
>>>
>>> As always, you've only looked at your local TOCs.
>>
>> Actually I skimmed all[1] of them, but as the topic here is GA trying to
>> woo people back onto *their* trains, it makes perfect sense to see how
>> they are encouraging that in the field, in this region.
>>
>>> It turns out that other routes are disrupted, too, even Manchester
>>> Metrolink (the trams weren't serving Piccadilly yesterday).
>>
>> [1] I've left out the entries which are specific to one train.
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Beckenham Junction and Orpington until
>> approximately 12:30 on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services to / from Reigate on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Chichester and Havant all day and between
>> Chichester and Barnham early morning / late night on Sunday 27 March
>> panel
>>
>> Buses replace evening / morning trains between Polegate and Eastbourne /
>> Hastings / Ore on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended EMR service to from London St Pancras International late night
>> Saturday 26 and all day Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge
>> Parkway via Aston on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Crianlarich and Fort Willam / Mallaig from
>> Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No trains between Rutherglen and Exhibition Centre via Glasgow Central
>> Low Level from Sunday 13 March to Sunday 8 May
>>
>> No morning trains before 09:00 between Princes Risborough and Denham
>> Golf Club on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended early morning services to / from London Bridge on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on Sunday 27 March
>> More information on Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage and between
>> Cambridge and Ely on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>> More information on Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26
>> and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services between Hertford North / Welwyn Garden City and
>> Moorgate on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended Hull trains service on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services on the East London Line on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Amended service between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford on
>> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Bridgend and Maesteg on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace evening trains between Hereford and Newport on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Hamilton Square and Hooton on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill and
>> Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains to / from Northampton on Sunday 27 March panel
>>
>> Buses replace morning trains between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway
>> on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Hounslow and Windsor & Eton Riverside /
>> Ascot / Addlestone on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains in the Petersfield area on Saturday 26 and Sunday
>> 27 March
>>
>> Amended early morning service to / from Westbury on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services to / from London Paddington on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended TransPennine Express services between Manchester Piccadilly and
>> Stalybridge on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No trains between Darlington and Redcar Central on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Dover Priory and Ramsgate on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> No services via Strood and Gravesend on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No trains via Lea Bridge on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended evening / morning LNER services to / from Newcastle on Saturday
>> 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No Southern trains to / from London Victoria on Saturday 26 and Sunday
>> 27 March
>>
>> Reduced TfL Rail service to / from Hayes & Harlington on Sunday 27 March
>>
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Guildford and Redhill / Gatwick Airport on
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Cardiff Central / Port Talbot Parkway and
>> Swansea on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended morning trains in the Taunton / Bridgwater area on Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains before 09:30 between Reading and Basingstoke on
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace evening / morning trains to / from Burnham / Taplow on
>> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended morning trains between Bedwyn and Newbury on Saturday 26 and
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended service to / from London Kings Cross on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa / Worcester
>> Foregate Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended trains between Doncaster and York on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>> March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Southampton and Bournemouth on Saturday 26
>> and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Peterborough and Ely / Cambridge on Sunday
>> 27 March
>>
>> Amended service to / from Grays on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No c2c trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> No trains between Preston and Wigan / Manchester before 10:45 on Sunday
>> 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield /
>> Glossop on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool / Darlington
>> on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Buses replace trains between Doncaster and Goole on Saturday 26 and
>> Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended services between Stafford and Crewe on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended morning Avanti West Coast services to / from Liverpool Lime
>> Street on Sunday 27 March
>>
>> Amended trains in the Llandudno Junction / Bangor area on Saturday 26
>>
>> Amended services to / from Drumry from Sunday 23 January to Saturday 11
>> June
>
> When would you prefer railways to be maintained?

On 28/03/2022 03:56, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2022 14:36, Recliner wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>>>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>>>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>>>>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>>>>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>>>>
>>>>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>>>>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>>>>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>>>>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>>>>
>>>> Follow-up:
>>>>
>>>> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
>>>> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
>>>> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
>>>> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
>>>> sniffles.
>>>>
>>>> Excellent!
>>>
>>> I got a positive LFT on Wednesday. I feel a lot worse than a minor
>>> winter sniffle.
>>>
>>
>> And that's despite all your stringent precautions? It proves that there's
>> no escaping Omicron, whether you're careful or not.
>>
>> You need to take the positive view: you have now had your booster shot, are
>> now protected against Omicron, and any future infections will be much
>> milder. Rejoice that you can now get out more and travel freely!
>>
>>
>
> Someone I know currently has covid for the second time within three months,
> and this time is significantly worse.

You have to remember that Recliner has a simplistic one size fits all
view of the covid crisis.

His symptoms are "no more than minor winter sniffles" so in his view
that's all everyone else has. He has no concept that others will have
worse symptoms or end up with long covid or even die.

martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:

>The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>much higher proportion of their passengers.

So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
works?

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1

Plant amazing Acers.

On 28/03/2022 09:19, Chris J Dixon wrote:
> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>
>> The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>> much higher proportion of their passengers.
>
> So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
> works?

Not schedule them consecutively. Just have one big blitz.

It's alright having engineering works covering two weeks or four weeks
or whatever but when they happen sequentially just along the line the
disruption becomes unacceptable.

I've also noticed that timetable changes are now being planned at such
short notice that they're not finding their way into the ToCs' journey
planners.

I was actually at Newton Abbott railway station in February and could
see the bus things but the TfW travel planner was providing the train
times not the bus times.

Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:
> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:53:01 +0100, Recliner
>>> <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:15:43 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> In message <t1o8bo$p0d$1@dont-email.me>, at 23:41:44 on Sat, 26 Mar
>>>>> 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> In message <atoe0djbfzse$.dlg@example1357.net>, at 19:37:01 on Thu, 24
>>>>>>> Mar 2022, mechanic <mechanic@example.net> remarked:
>>>>>>>> On Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:06:55 +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I first saw them at scale in a pub which had just reopened with
>>>>>>>>> stringent Covid precautions. Tables separated, pre-booked only, one-way
>>>>>>>>> system, one person in toilets at a time, table service only etc. It was
>>>>>>>>> not at all clear what protection they gave either the waitresses or
>>>>>>>>> customers.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> That was when we were fed the 'droplets' theory, science is now
>>>>>>>> reluctantly moving to the aerosol idea where earlier instructions to
>>>>>>>> clean surfaces and wash hands have given way to more emphasis on
>>>>>>>> ventilation and effective masks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I suppose I always did think it was mainly transmitted by the smaller
>>>>>>> droplets know trendily known as aerosols, rather than spit and sneeze.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Still wouldn't want a Covid person to spit in my face though.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Breathing in your direction might be worse.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2metres, 30 seconds, and both masked, shouldn't be an issue.
>>>>
>>>> No, probably not, but nor would spitting in those circumstances.
>>>>
>>> Saliva is generally a far better carrier of infection if it lands on
>>> targer.
>>>
>>
>> Are you sure that's true of Covid? It's an airborne virus.
>>
>>
>
> It's definitely present in saliva, because the tests I used to do through
> work just required a spit sample.
>

I know, but the question is whether it can be transmitted that way?

<martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
> On 28/03/2022 03:56, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2022 14:36, Recliner wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>>>>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>>>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>>>>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>>>>>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>>>>>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>>>>>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>>>>>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>>>>>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>>>>>
>>>>> Follow-up:
>>>>>
>>>>> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
>>>>> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
>>>>> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
>>>>> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
>>>>> sniffles.
>>>>>
>>>>> Excellent!
>>>>
>>>> I got a positive LFT on Wednesday. I feel a lot worse than a minor
>>>> winter sniffle.
>>>>
>>>
>>> And that's despite all your stringent precautions? It proves that there's
>>> no escaping Omicron, whether you're careful or not.
>>>
>>> You need to take the positive view: you have now had your booster shot, are
>>> now protected against Omicron, and any future infections will be much
>>> milder. Rejoice that you can now get out more and travel freely!
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Someone I know currently has covid for the second time within three months,
>> and this time is significantly worse.
>
> You have to remember that Recliner has a simplistic one size fits all
> view of the covid crisis.

No. My view is that the highly infectious Omicron is all around you, and
you can't avoid exposure to it, however careful you are, unless you love in
permanent self-isolation.

>
> His symptoms are "no more than minor winter sniffles" so in his view
> that's all everyone else has. He has no concept that others will have
> worse symptoms or end up with long covid or even die.
>

The reality is that very few people get serious symptoms from Omicron. You,
as always, take the most pessimistic view while I, as always, look on the
bright side. It may well be that my positive view helps me avoid serious
illnesses, while your delight in misery makes your symptoms worse.

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <e7CdnRv0s5Wyg93_nZ2dnUU7-QudnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
> 09:19:59 on Sun, 27 Mar 2022, Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.invalid>
> remarked:
>> On 26/03/2022 12:48, Roland Perry wrote:
>>> In message <BMKdnRuxocYQJaH_nZ2dnUU7-fvNnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>> 18:29:33 on Thu, 24 Mar 2022, Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.invalid>
>>> remarked:
>>>>> We took a General Studies A Level, for which there was little or no
>>>>> teaching and everyone got a good grade for turning up.  Universities and
>>>>> employers were looking for "n A Levels excluding General Studies".
>>>>> It wasn't entirely trivial.  It had a strong arty bias (whereas my
>>>>> strengths were scientific) and required recalling to roughly O-Level
>>>>> standard a modern language that we'd had two years to forget.
>>>>
>>>> My school forced people in the lower sixth who weren't doing an A
>>>> level language to do a spurious GCSE language, which timetabling
>>>> quirks meant had to be Spanish (continuing with the compulsory French
>>>> or German from GCSEs would surely have made more sense).
>
>>> The secondary school my children went to had a significant demand
>>> from parents for Spanish lessons.
>
>>> But none of the parents could answer the question "we can only
>>> afford two language teachers, which of the German or French ones do
>>> you want us to make redundant".
>
>>> I did wonder why we couldn't send one of them off to do some evening
>>> classes in Spanish, but that was above my pay-grade.
>>
>> Our Spanish teacher was a GCSE French teacher who "spoke a bit of Spanish".
>
> I used to think that being a linguist was something selected people were
> born with, rather than had to learn by brute force. This was coloured by
> one of my uncles who spoke about five languages, and having had a
> trilingual girlfriend. But it seems this isn't the case.

It does seem to be the case that once someone speaks two or three
languages, additional languages come easily. But if, like most Brits
(including me), you reach adulthood not being able to speak more than your
mother tongue, it's really hard to learn other languages. And, if that
mother tongue is English, the incentive to do so is often lacking.

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <t1prqo$rf5$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:20:08 on Sun, 27 Mar
> 2022, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <t1pkmi$eed$1@dont-email.me>, at 12:18:26 on Sun, 27 Mar
>>> 2022, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>>>> The task, AIUI, is to understand the structure of the rhinovirus itself.
>>>>>> That would subsequently allow research for treatment across the board.
>>>>>> Unfortunately, however, they have not successfully cracked that.
>>>>>
>>>>> What would be the incentive for performing such expensive research?
>>>>>
>>>>> Would it save a lot of lives? No
>>>>>
>>>>> Would it make the pharma that developed such products a good financial
>>>>> return? Probably not.
>>>>
>>>> State backed research may crack the problem. The AZ jab was
>>>> developed with UK state funding on a shoe string budget. Vaccine
>>>> research is really taking off now, including vaccines against some
>>>> cancers. Tackling the common cold viruses might not now be so
>>>> technically difficult. The best analogy I can think of is you’d be
>>>> laughed at thirty years ago if you said everyone would be making
>>>> video calls from handheld devices.
>>>
>>> Development cycles aren't the same in different industries/technologies.
>>>
>>> To pick a hook to hang this on, Orange launched 27 years ago, and by
>>> then there were plenty of people using mobile phones as modems. BT
>>> launched landline videophones in 1993, so that's 29 years ago.
>>>
>>> It doesn't take much to envisage the possibility of those two converging
>>> within 20yrs, perhaps the surprise was it took so long.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, fusion power has been "just around the corner" for
>>> more than 50yrs.
>>>
>>> Luckily, this graphic spans pretty much the 30yrs in question - lots of
>>> food for thought. Now, where can I get that 3D video conferencing?
>>>
>>> http://www.perry.co.uk/images/The-Future.jpg
>>>
>>> "Higher resolution scanner" seems to be missing from their list.
>>>
>>> And look! It has a train.
>>
>> Just shows what a fool’s errand it is trying to predict the future.
>
> It can be difficult in many sectors, I agree, so perhaps we should be
> more circumspect about possible advances in vaccine technology.

Covid has brought forward huge advances in vaccine technology. They'd
probably have come anyway, but years later. And it's continuing to do so:
the current need is to provide continuing, long-term protection against a
rapidly evolving virus, and it seems highly likely that it will be achieved
very soon.

It's also very likely that Covid has triggered research that could lead to
effective, affordable new vaccines for many other viruses that might
otherwise not have seen much progress. So, one unexpected benefit of the
Covid pandemic is that we might get much more effective vaccines and
treatments for other viruses far sooner than might have been predicted even
five years ago.

>
> The other advantage that some sectors (such as IT) has, is that many
> consumer products have trickled down from industrial applications. So
> I've now got a 300Mbps 'leased line' to my house (some people have as
> much as a gigabit) when 25yrs ago there were very few homes, rather than
> offices, with even 64k leased lines.
>
> But it wasn't difficult to predict a kind of Moores Law for connectivity
> - especially when the first gigabit fibre connections to industrial
> premises were installed in about 2001.

Yes.

>
<snip>

It's always amusing to review the predicted tech advances that arrived late
or not at all, but what's also interesting when evaluating tech predictions
from decades ago is what unexpected tech has come along that wasn't thought
of at all then. For example, who predicted highly effective RNA vaccines
for novel diseases even a decade ago?

<martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
> On 28/03/2022 03:56, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <o3q04hphs3aftd8htn9mv2m30msg6dcdkr@4ax.com>, at 14:38:24 on
>>> Sun, 27 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:33:55 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> In message <S+NBJpiaByPiFA7N@perry.uk>, at 14:16:58 on Sat, 26 Mar 2022,
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I suspect the adverts must be for people in East London wanting to go to
>>>>>> the seaside via Colchester.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Meanwhile, GA has sawn off the branch it's sitting on, as far as people
>>>>>> here are concerned, with this news about Easter:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Railway lines between King's Lynn and London will be blocked
>>>>>> this Easter bank holiday weekend.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Works are taking place in the East of England, blocking lines
>>>>>> through Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Greater Anglia passengers are set to face a full line closure
>>>>>> all weekend at Bishop's Stortford - between Cambridge and
>>>>>> London Liverpool Street.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Easter Sunday (April 17), works are taking place on the line
>>>>>> between Ely and King's Lynn.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There will be no Great Northern or Greater Anglia trains to
>>>>>> Littleport, Downham Market, Watlington or King's Lynn when the
>>>>>> line is closed."
>>>>>
>>>>> The railways collectively doing warm-up today:
>>>>>
>>>>> Reduced service on ECML/GN/TL, crawling round the Hertford Loop.
>>>>> Buses from Cambridge to Ely.
>>>>> Buses from Peterborough to Ely.
>>>>> Ally Pally to Welwyn Garden City bustituted, and separately WGC to
>>>>> Stevenage and Hertford North to Stevenage (locals)
>>>>>
>>>>> It's enough to convince our jolly holiday makers (or even just "let's go
>>>>> see mum on Mothers Day" to buy a car and never try to use a train ever
>>>>> again.
>>>>
>>>> As always, you've only looked at your local TOCs.
>>>
>>> Actually I skimmed all[1] of them, but as the topic here is GA trying to
>>> woo people back onto *their* trains, it makes perfect sense to see how
>>> they are encouraging that in the field, in this region.
>>>
>>>> It turns out that other routes are disrupted, too, even Manchester
>>>> Metrolink (the trams weren't serving Piccadilly yesterday).
>>>
>>> [1] I've left out the entries which are specific to one train.
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Beckenham Junction and Orpington until
>>> approximately 12:30 on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services to / from Reigate on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Chichester and Havant all day and between
>>> Chichester and Barnham early morning / late night on Sunday 27 March
>>> panel
>>>
>>> Buses replace evening / morning trains between Polegate and Eastbourne /
>>> Hastings / Ore on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended EMR service to from London St Pancras International late night
>>> Saturday 26 and all day Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge
>>> Parkway via Aston on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Crianlarich and Fort Willam / Mallaig from
>>> Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No trains between Rutherglen and Exhibition Centre via Glasgow Central
>>> Low Level from Sunday 13 March to Sunday 8 May
>>>
>>> No morning trains before 09:00 between Princes Risborough and Denham
>>> Golf Club on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended early morning services to / from London Bridge on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on Sunday 27 March
>>> More information on Amended services between Three Bridges and Purley on
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage and between
>>> Cambridge and Ely on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>> More information on Amended services in the Luton area on Saturday 26
>>> and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services between Hertford North / Welwyn Garden City and
>>> Moorgate on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended Hull trains service on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services on the East London Line on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Amended service between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford on
>>> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Bridgend and Maesteg on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace evening trains between Hereford and Newport on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Hamilton Square and Hooton on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill and
>>> Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains to / from Northampton on Sunday 27 March panel
>>>
>>> Buses replace morning trains between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway
>>> on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Hounslow and Windsor & Eton Riverside /
>>> Ascot / Addlestone on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains in the Petersfield area on Saturday 26 and Sunday
>>> 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended early morning service to / from Westbury on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services to / from London Paddington on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended TransPennine Express services between Manchester Piccadilly and
>>> Stalybridge on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No trains between Darlington and Redcar Central on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Dover Priory and Ramsgate on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> No services via Strood and Gravesend on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No trains via Lea Bridge on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended evening / morning LNER services to / from Newcastle on Saturday
>>> 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No Southern trains to / from London Victoria on Saturday 26 and Sunday
>>> 27 March
>>>
>>> Reduced TfL Rail service to / from Hayes & Harlington on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Guildford and Redhill / Gatwick Airport on
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Cardiff Central / Port Talbot Parkway and
>>> Swansea on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended morning trains in the Taunton / Bridgwater area on Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains before 09:30 between Reading and Basingstoke on
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace evening / morning trains to / from Burnham / Taplow on
>>> Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended morning trains between Bedwyn and Newbury on Saturday 26 and
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended service to / from London Kings Cross on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa / Worcester
>>> Foregate Street on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended trains between Doncaster and York on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
>>> March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Southampton and Bournemouth on Saturday 26
>>> and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Peterborough and Ely / Cambridge on Sunday
>>> 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended service to / from Grays on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No c2c trains to / from London Liverpool Street on Saturday 26 and
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> No trains between Preston and Wigan / Manchester before 10:45 on Sunday
>>> 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield /
>>> Glossop on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool / Darlington
>>> on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Buses replace trains between Doncaster and Goole on Saturday 26 and
>>> Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended services between Stafford and Crewe on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended morning Avanti West Coast services to / from Liverpool Lime
>>> Street on Sunday 27 March
>>>
>>> Amended trains in the Llandudno Junction / Bangor area on Saturday 26
>>>
>>> Amended services to / from Drumry from Sunday 23 January to Saturday 11
>>> June
>>
>> When would you prefer railways to be maintained?
>
>
> I've very unhappy about the way the maintenance is being done in the
> West Country.
>
> First off there was a four weekend blockade between Exeter and Newton
> Abbott in April. Arranged at such short notice that some journey
> planners were not updated for the first weekend. I don't know about others.
>

Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> wrote:
> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>
>> The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>> much higher proportion of their passengers.
>
> So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
> works?
>
>

I'd put the week/two week blockades into a boring bit of the calendar when
mostly commuters will be travelling (who will put up with it and come
back), rather than across Christmas/Easter/Half Term.

Anna Noyd-Dryver

Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:
> Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> wrote:
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>
>>> The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>>> much higher proportion of their passengers.
>>
>> So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
>> works?
>>
>>
>
> I'd put the week/two week blockades into a boring bit of the calendar when
> mostly commuters will be travelling (who will put up with it and come
> back), rather than across Christmas/Easter/Half Term.
>

Isn't that how major works are increasingly being scheduled these days? It
also cuts costs and makes the work more predictable doing it that way.

Am 28.03.2022 um 12:02 schrieb Anna Noyd-Dryver:
> Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> wrote:
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>
>>> The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>>> much higher proportion of their passengers.
>>
>> So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
>> works?
>
> I'd put the week/two week blockades into a boring bit of the calendar when
> mostly commuters will be travelling (who will put up with it and come
> back), rather than across Christmas/Easter/Half Term.

Plus schedule overnight closures Tue-Thu rather than on weekends?

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jeremy Double <jmd.nospam@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>> On 21/03/2022 11:33, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <t182ci$mk1$2@dont-email.me>, at 20:21:38 on Sun, 20 Mar
>>>>> 2022, Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> remarked:
>>>>>> Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 13:40:55 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> A 5 year hiring freeze is only going to change the mean age of the
>>>>>>>> workforce by 5 years. It gets rid of roughly 25% of your workforce. I doubt
>>>>>>>> the railway could cope with losing any more than that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You still have the problem that the people you lose may not necessarily
>>>>>>> be the ones you can do without. Some key roles will always need filling
>>>>>>> if they become vacant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Those won't be the ones eligible for voluntary redundancy, then; or if they
>>>>>> are, a replacement will be recruited as they would for a normal retirement
>>>>>> or resignation.
>>>>>
>>>>> A hiring freeze also affects an organisation's ability to replace key
>>>>> workers who leave *other* than on any form of redundancy scheme. For
>>>>> example if they retire (ago or ill health) or just get a better offer
>>>>> from a different employer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Most hiring freezes will also come with a ban on bribing people to
>>>>> stay, even if that were otherwise possible in more than a handful of
>>>>> industries.
>>>>
>>>> This is true, if the hiring freeze is throughout the organisation and
>>>> non-negotiable, eg "we won't be able to run trains unless we recruit X".
>>>>
>>>> There's also generally a flow upwards within in railway industry, with many
>>>> (presumably most) positions being filled internally; this means your
>>>> shortage of staff is more likely to occur among guards and catering staff,
>>>> as they move on to other roles.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I suspect guards are amongst the roles the treasury regard as
>>> supernumerary.
>>
>> I wonder who will check e-tickets on board if there are no guards? As soon
>> as those passengers who have a morally ambivalent view about paying realise
>> what’s going on, then ticket revenues will start to go down…
>>
>
> How does this differ to existing routes without guards? Presumably the same
> methods of ticket checking would be used.

So you’re going to install barriers at all wayside stations, which must be
staffed? It’s much easier to have on-train ticket checking.

--
Jeremy Double

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jeremy Double <jmd.nospam@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>> On 21/03/2022 11:33, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <t182ci$mk1$2@dont-email.me>, at 20:21:38 on Sun, 20 Mar
>>>>> 2022, Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> remarked:
>>>>>> Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 13:40:55 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> A 5 year hiring freeze is only going to change the mean age of the
>>>>>>>> workforce by 5 years. It gets rid of roughly 25% of your workforce. I doubt
>>>>>>>> the railway could cope with losing any more than that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You still have the problem that the people you lose may not necessarily
>>>>>>> be the ones you can do without. Some key roles will always need filling
>>>>>>> if they become vacant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Those won't be the ones eligible for voluntary redundancy, then; or if they
>>>>>> are, a replacement will be recruited as they would for a normal retirement
>>>>>> or resignation.
>>>>>
>>>>> A hiring freeze also affects an organisation's ability to replace key
>>>>> workers who leave *other* than on any form of redundancy scheme. For
>>>>> example if they retire (ago or ill health) or just get a better offer
>>>>> from a different employer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Most hiring freezes will also come with a ban on bribing people to
>>>>> stay, even if that were otherwise possible in more than a handful of
>>>>> industries.
>>>>
>>>> This is true, if the hiring freeze is throughout the organisation and
>>>> non-negotiable, eg "we won't be able to run trains unless we recruit X".
>>>>
>>>> There's also generally a flow upwards within in railway industry, with many
>>>> (presumably most) positions being filled internally; this means your
>>>> shortage of staff is more likely to occur among guards and catering staff,
>>>> as they move on to other roles.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I suspect guards are amongst the roles the treasury regard as
>>> supernumerary.
>>
>> I wonder who will check e-tickets on board if there are no guards? As soon
>> as those passengers who have a morally ambivalent view about paying realise
>> what’s going on, then ticket revenues will start to go down…
>>
>
> How many guards actually check tickets on routes with gated stations these
> days? Don't they just hide in the back cab?

Pretty much every train I have used in West Yorkshire since the lockdown
has had on-train ticket checking (the one exception I can think of is when
a 4-car Skipton train was cancelled, and everyone crammed onto a 2-car
Morecambe train, still leaving passengers on the platform at Leeds).

Of course, only a few major stations in West Yorkshire have ticket
barriers.
--
Jeremy Double

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:
>> Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> wrote:
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>
>>>> The railways need to catch up with the idea leisure journeys not make a
>>>> much higher proportion of their passengers.
>>>
>>> So, on this basis, how would you schedule essential engineering
>>> works?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I'd put the week/two week blockades into a boring bit of the calendar when
>> mostly commuters will be travelling (who will put up with it and come
>> back), rather than across Christmas/Easter/Half Term.
>>
>
> Isn't that how major works are increasingly being scheduled these days? It
> also cuts costs and makes the work more predictable doing it that way.
>
>

The evidence of Martin's planned trip to Okehampton over Easter, Bristol
Parkway closure over Christmas/New Year, and Temple Meads resignalling last
August, suggest not.

I wonder whether supply of sufficient road transport, outside of school
holidays, is a problem.

Anna Noyd-Dryver

On Mon, 28 Mar 2022 08:23:26 +0100,
martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:

> On 28/03/2022 03:56, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2022 14:36, Recliner wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:57:48 -0000 (UTC), Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> In message <fd2h3hl91adh3h8qap289cdlulek0i9ppq@4ax.com>, at 14:26:56 on
>>>>>>> Mon, 21 Mar 2022, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What happened to Herd immunity. HaHa! Bonk.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We've pretty much reached herd immunity, thanks to the vaccines. That's
>>>>>>>> why most of us don't worry about it any more.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Not even the 1:20 (or whatever) who today have Covid? Some catching
>>>>>>> Omicron for a second time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sure, though it's probably a different strain each time. Face it: Omicron
>>>>>> is all around us, and we'll all be exposed to it repeatedly. You can't hide
>>>>>> from it, so learn to live with it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I got pinged today (for the first time). Apparently I encountered a
>>>>>> positive case last Sunday, when I was in busy airports, buses, a full
>>>>>> plane, etc. Did I catch it? I don't know, and am not worried. I rather
>>>>>> hope I did, as it'll act as an Omicron booster shot.
>>>>>
>>>>> Follow-up:
>>>>>
>>>>> I did a LFT test today, and tested positive (for the first time). I'm
>>>>> delighted, as it will act as my Omicron booster
>>>>> shot, and my immunity level will be even higher than before. Needless to
>>>>> say, the symptoms are no more than minor winter
>>>>> sniffles.
>>>>>
>>>>> Excellent!
>>>>
>>>> I got a positive LFT on Wednesday. I feel a lot worse than a minor
>>>> winter sniffle.
>>>>
>>>
>>> And that's despite all your stringent precautions? It proves that there's
>>> no escaping Omicron, whether you're careful or not.
>>>
>>> You need to take the positive view: you have now had your booster shot, are
>>> now protected against Omicron, and any future infections will be much
>>> milder. Rejoice that you can now get out more and travel freely!
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Someone I know currently has covid for the second time within three months,
>> and this time is significantly worse.
>
> You have to remember that Recliner has a simplistic one size fits all
> view of the covid crisis.
>
> His symptoms are "no more than minor winter sniffles" so in his view
> that's all everyone else has. He has no concept that others will have
> worse symptoms or end up with long covid or even die.

It's getting to the point that her/his Pollyanna approach to this
problem is seriously annoying! Forunately there's the killfile.