Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

There is an NFL game on right now. It is being played in Brazil. I will not be watching it. It is only available on a streaming service - owned by one the broadcast networks.

 

I presume the bigwigs at 30 Rock have decided that their mate whom they promoted to be head of the streamer needs a helping hand to achieve his revenue/subscriber KPIs to get his bonus, so they are forcing fans to subscribe to their captive streaming service, when at a push of a button they can reach millions instantaneously at no additional cost or inconvenience with traditional broadcast.

 

Watching the broadcast commentary team (50s and 60s) trying to promote streaming on mobile devices is curious. They openly admit their incompetence and need to ask their children (or grandchildren) for assistance.

 

The same streaming service is the only way to watch tomorrow's University of Oregon football game.  I'll be watching Oregon State instead.

 

I'm not inclined to be pliable to this sort of blackmail so someone can get their bonus.

 

Edited September 7 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

As part of a QLD government response to the  "Cost Of Living"  all public transport fares across SE Queensland have been capped at a flat rate of 50c (£0.25 equiv).

I believe there's a state election in the offing. (October 26.)

 

Depending on the outcome the fare-freeze may be temporary.

[monkeysarefun]

3 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I believe there's a state election in the offing. (October 26.)

 

Depending on the outcome the fare-freeze may be temporary.

 

 

Though I  don't imagine the other party is campaigning on removing it!

[BoD]

7 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

I know that was meant in a pointed though jocular manner, but I'm afraid that in many places  Elsewhere things are somewhat different!

 

. My partner went to the optometrist in Newtown in the inner city for an eye test. The optometrist was concerned about the pressure reading so sent her to a specialist who's surgery was a 5 minute drive away. Although it was after 4 in the afternoon by then he saw her straight away. Confirmed glaucoma, referred her in turn to a specialist that he was confident in who was closer to home, she saw her two days later (would have been the next day but the specialist was at a distant surgery on that day. )

 

The specialist said that she would operate as soon as the pressures were down via drops, if it had been possible it would have been the start of the following week but the pressures were too high at that time.

When demand for a commodity outstrips supply,  rationing is usually managed by cost or queue.  As our NHS is nominally free at the point of delivery we are left to queue.

 

Why we have such a mismatch between supply and demand, and how we increase one or reduce the other is a multi-faceted problem way, way above my pay grade.  Someone needs to grasp the nettle by the horns sooner rather than later but no one dare.

 

How do some other countries manage it better, I wonder.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a wet Charente.  Electrical work to do today and if things go according to plan there might even be a light on the Verandah.  The wiring and a broken switch are there.  

 

Jamie

[monkeysarefun]

37 minutes ago, BoD said:

When demand for a commodity outstrips supply,  rationing is usually managed by cost or queue.  As our NHS is nominally free at the point of delivery we are left to queue.

 

Why we have such a mismatch between supply and demand, and how we increase one or reduce the other is a multi-faceted problem way, way above my pay grade.  Someone needs to grasp the nettle by the horns sooner rather than later but no one dare.

 

How do some other countries manage it better, I wonder.

 

 

 

Many there seem to think there are only two Healthcare models available, the NHS (yay!") and the US one ("boo!"). 

 

Weirdly a large proportion in the US (the other country where healthcare is currently a big political issue)  apparently  think the same - theres  the US free market model , ("yay!")  or  communism!

Edited September 7 by monkeysarefun

[iL Dottore]

Captain Cynical's (ahem) "Special Surveillance Unit" has just reported back from LDC Island*- PB's training camp for Team Bear and they sent on a photo - taken clandestinely - of PB actually being nice to his recruits...

 

* like Parris Island, but much, much tougher...

[jjb1970]

6 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

 

Many there seem to think there are only two Healthcare models available, the NHS (yay!") and the US one ("boo!"). 

 

Weirdly a large proportion in the US apparently  think the same - theres  the US free market one, ("yay!")  or  communism!

 

Too true, sadly.

[PupCam]

Too early!

[monkeysarefun]

20 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Captain Cynical's (ahem) "Special Surveillance Unit" has just reported back from LDC Island*- PB's training camp for Team Bear and they sent on a photo - taken clandestinely - of PB actually being nice to his recruits...

 

* like Parris Island, but much, much tougher...

 

 

Although not impossible,  I reckon it must be pretty tricky doing your belt up when you don't have opposable thumbs.

Edited September 7 by monkeysarefun

[iL Dottore]

29 minutes ago, BoD said:

When demand for a commodity outstrips supply,  rationing is usually managed by cost or queue.  As our NHS is nominally free at the point of delivery we are left to queue.

 

Why we have such a mismatch between supply and demand, and how we increase one or reduce the other is a multi-faceted problem way, way above my pay grade.  Someone needs to grasp the nettle by the horns sooner rather than later but no one dare.

 

How do some other countries manage it better, I wonder.

Many European countries use a variant of the Bismarck Model for the provision of health services and whilst by no means perfect, generally provide better access, better treatment and better outcomes than the NHS

 

The NHS has many superb clinicians and many outstanding patient-facing and scientific staff, but they are let down by its 1948 Nationalised Industry ethos. Many posters on ER have complained about the various "check-point Charlenes" who are neither helpful or flexible. This is definitely a hallmark of a nationalised industry: whether you are good or bad, patient friendly or indifferent - your job is secure - no matter how the patients may feel about your performance and helpfulness. Another problem is that for the NHS - every test, every scan is an expense, whereas in the Bismark Model every test, every scan is income. For the NHS, there is no financial incentive to run labs, scanners, radiology services outside of "office hours" (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). Of course you have a degree of out of hours emergency service, but it's often a case of "hurry up and wait" - even for "during business hours" assessments.

 

In the Bismark model, if you - as a medical practitioner or hospital - do not provide a patient centric service, then patients can and will go elsewhere and suddenly you have no income, whereas with the NHS model you get paid, no matter how good or how bad your performance.

 

There is also a social aspect to the differences between the NHS and the Bismark models. In the Bismark model as you are paying directly for your medical care (via a Mutuel or a Krankenkasse), there is a greater impetus to keep to a healthier lifestyle.

 

Certainly, the NHS would benefit from more investment, but it also needs qualified staff. I have a radical idea on staffing: how about removing the cap on the number of medical school places (sorry, BMA) and paying people (through bursaries) to study medicine, nursing (and other clinical roles).

[BoD]

9 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Many European countries use a variant of the Bismarck Model for the provision of health services and whilst by no means perfect, generally provide better access, better treatment and better outcomes than the NHS

Even if there was a will to move to the Bismarck  (or variant) model here it is difficult to see how such a change would be managed.  
 

For some reason, and despite all the complaints, the NHS is seen as sacrosanct here. People don’t seem to accept that it still has to be paid for somehow. We demand the best services but vote for the party that promises to tax us less.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

So @iL Dottore you have spotted one of the major problems in Britain.. the "union" keeps the flow of new resources as low as they dare to keep salaries up.. what is really needed is a real NATIONAL Health Service not the collection of fiefdoms who are incapable of communicating with other medical silos but, worst of all,with their patients... who are regarded, in the main, as being thick and unable to understand anything. (Came as a shock when I explained some of the engineering in machines used in hospital to obe consultant..)

 

it doesn't need money it needs some people to receive a good kick somewhere personal.

 

@BoD if you lived in Leeds you would have been referred to a private provider to see you and provide treatment in 4 weeks tops. My complaint is..  the medicos I see at mine are consultants in the field and get paid 2 salaries.. NHS and private clinic.. is that really a good model?

 

Today shall see an attempt to sort our a trip to the Antipodes.. watch out @monkeysarefun.. get your flood protection in place!

 

 

Mugatea time!

 

Stay safe!

@southern42 hope the TOTF continues to progress well

Baz

[PupCam]

Our transport for the day 

[iL Dottore]

9 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Our transport for the day 

If that's what I think it is, all I can say is...

 

You lucky, jammy b****r!

 

I hope you'll post some photos of the interior 

[Winslow Boy]

2 hours ago, BoD said:

When demand for a commodity outstrips supply,  rationing is usually managed by cost or queue.  As our NHS is nominally free at the point of delivery we are left to queue.

 

Why we have such a mismatch between supply and demand, and how we increase one or reduce the other is a multi-faceted problem way, way above my pay grade.  Someone needs to grasp the nettle by the horns sooner rather than later but no one dare.

 

How do some other countries manage it better, I wonder.

Perhaps I cull is required. You know the old, the sick... Oh hang on a minute we tried that  and it didn't actually work to well. Hmm leave that one with me and I'll get back to you.

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3 hours sleep, short awake , 1.5 hours sleep, short awake, 2.5 hours sleep, good.

Full muggacoffee just  knocked on floor, not good. 

Now surrounded by cloths soaking up. Waterproof floor luckily.

 

Found I have been bitten on the legs over night, suspect we've brought  in on our clothes some very annoyed and hungry insect after our jungle clearance the other day. Much spraying of insecticide will occur shortly.

 

We've a small bit of soggy overnight, none forecast for the day, but overnight the Beeb forecasts heavy rain, but xcweather says not a lot.

 

Once muggacoffee number 2 is drunk, brownie point earning will commence, namely sanding down and painting the wool winder I made for SWMBO. Sander will then be deployed on trestles which will then be painted..

 

Small screws have arrived so fold up doors that encase the unit of unmentionables will be fitted.

 

Time to sup.

 

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, BoD said:

Even if there was a will to move to the Bismarck  (or variant) model here it is difficult to see how such a change would be managed.  
 

For some reason, and despite all the complaints, the NHS is seen as sacrosanct here. People don’t seem to accept that it still has to be paid for somehow. We demand the best services but vote for the party that promises to tax us less.

I'm afraid it's a bit like the band played on but the ship still sank.

 

You can chuck all the money in the world at something but unless the foundations - ethics, desire, willingness call it what you will, are firm, and that includes the users as well as the surgeons,consultants, doctors, nurses, administrators, managers, porters etc, the system will not work. The environment into which the NHS was conceived/ born has changed I'm afraid.

[DaveF]

Every time I read comments about the NHS I think of my experiences and those of friends and relatives around the country - from the point of view of healthcare I know several areas in the UK where I would not want to live.  I think I am fortunate here in Northumberland, but I do know I go to a GP Practice which is better than many, my experience of the local NHS overall is OK.  However, I do have medical insurance and have "gone private" for surgery twice to avoid waiting.  Fortunately I still have an NHS dentist and a good optician.

 

This morning is foggy with a fine mizzle.  The foghorn at the harbour is making its usual noise, fortunately it can barely be heard in the house today.

 

Shortly I am going to go to a local shop and then a short walk before settling down indoors for the day.  There will not be any gardening, I ache from yesterday's exertions and I had bad cramp in one leg during the night.  So I expect it will modelmaking and photos and some quiet reading.

 

David

[southern42]

2 hours ago, PupCam said:

Our transport for the day 

 

Booked for later in the year!

 

Edited September 7 by southern42
Forgot to add my photo ID. Edwin

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

Our transport for the day 

Wow @PupCam great photo. 
 

Erm if it is not too much trouble…. please could you get a few photos of the data panels / marking on the ends of the MK3 coaches. Strangely, only yesterday, I was asked to assist in gauge clearances for this particular HST set, and the first thing I need to know is if they have Long Swing Link (LSL) or Short Swing Link (SSL) bogies. The data on the ends of the coaches should show this. 
 

Many thanks. Have a great day. 
 

ATB Grizz

Edited September 7 by Grizz

[monkeysarefun]

7 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Or smaller. That is a very big funnel web spider.

 

My Funnel Web experience is based on the Sydney Funnel web - they don't call it Atrax Robusta for nothing!

 

 

That said though the biggest one I've seen was while jogging in the bush at work, I assume it  would have been  the  Blue Mountains version of the Funnel Web.... (there are 36 species of Funnel webs here, typically locality based)

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A dull, grey and almost wind free (outside) day here in England’s northwest corner. Another day where once again I’m on light duties, I’m not used to sitting on my @rse all day. So today, once an hour I’m going to get up and walk round the house for about 5 minutes, to break up the monotony and to give me a small amount of exercise, as I’ve recently started suffering from cramp in both my lower legs and feet. Right, time for a walk round the dining room. 
 

Back later.
 

Brian

[southern42]

yippee yippee yeay

Summer! 😎...

Sunneeee; Blue skies, hazy blue skies, then; NOooooooooo wind, not much anyway. 😎

 

on that cheery note...

'morning all from red dragon land.

 

@Barry O and all. The TOTF syllabus goes from complete beginner to professional playing.

This is where I stand in it...

 

...in the lowly foothills - note the footpath is getting more challenging, though! Yonder, lie the mountains, those of Snowdonia, the highest, the far peak on the right, looking small because it is a lot further away but may be achievable. But in terms of my playing, beyond that and too far away to even think about, there are the Alps... and the Himalayas...

 

[PhilJ W]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Certainly, the NHS would benefit from more investment, but it also needs qualified staff. I have a radical idea on staffing: how about removing the cap on the number of medical school places (sorry, BMA) and paying people (through bursaries) to study medicine, nursing (and other clinical roles).

The last government done away with bursaries 'to save money'.