Are you worried yet.

[rockits]

What the reported Covid 19 deaths do not reflect is how many of those people would have died anyway.
It will be a a month or two before we will really be able to see what happens to total death rate during March April

Agreed....I'm sure everyone including govts. would love that data now.

 

[Silvercat]

Hepworths became Next I believe

Yep, it was Next back in the day ( owned by George Davies - who also owned Hepworths) when they first appeared on the high Street. But in those days the quality of their clothing was really first class. They were quite unique compared with the competition at the time. But sadly they shifted most of their manufacture to China in the 90's and thats when they lost their edge. ( in my view of course) Used to be great brand then but they may end like so many now.

 

[Zep]

This is a very emotive subject, and there are different views across the board.

There are, in my view, two ways of looking at it. One which is statistical, where we can compare the normal mortality rate with that which might already have occurred. Then there is the human side, where we look at the amazing selfless work done by the doctors, nurses and other key workers are facing incredibly difficult circumstances to try to help those that are dying in pain alone.

Where you sit along the curve between these two perspectives appears, to me, to depend on your exposure to this disease, be that through personal experience or through loved ones / friends / colleagues. Both are valid to a reasonable extent.


Everyone should be entitled to express their opinion, but if you are not happy to have someone disagree with you, don’t do it. If you disagree with someone, feel free to say so.

But always be respectful, you might not be fully aware of someone else’s circumstances.

 

[Oneball]

Yep, it was Next back in the day ( owned by George Davies - who also owned Hepworths) when they first appeared on the high Street. But in those days the quality of their clothing was really first class. They were quite unique compared with the competition at the time. But sadly they shifted most of their manufacture to China in the 90's and thats when they lost their edge. ( in my view of course) Used to be great brand then but they may end like so many now.

I remember the Next catalogue from when I was a kid. I don’t remember them having stores though. Was it just mail order back then?

 

[Silvercat]

Why is it that so many people seem to focus on and want to wallow in or even celebrate bad news? And then also react to it with such panic and hysteria. Where does this inclination towards such negativity come from? Have we been conditioned this way over the long term by the media?

I’ve lived in the Algarve for about a year now and it is generally true that Portuguese people are much more relaxed about stuff. But this has been even more evident in their reaction to the Coronavirus. Of course they are very concerned about it, but they don’t overreact. There has been almost no panic buying at the supermarkets (apart from the Expats). There has been a calm acceptance of the lock down and social distancing rules. There is also a general sense that things will return to normal in a few months. It is notable too that the media reporting is less hysterical and much more balanced here.

And why shouldn’t they return to something like normal life here in a few months if people are not too negative and don’t overreact too much. Many businesses here are still working quite normally whilst applying the social distancing and lockdown rules. And for those that have been forced to shut or reduce their activity, eg many shops, restaurants and cafes (although many restaurants and cafes are still doing good take away business) there are similar job and salary protection schemes as in the UK. There are mortgage suspensions in place. So adjustments have been made but in a more calm, sensible, pragmatic way so that for many life and work still goes on.

And let’s not forget, this economic slowdown we are in now was brought on by Coronavirus, not by a normal economic downturn. So if the lockdown ends after, say three months, why shouldn’t there be something like an economic “reset” to the economic position that existed before Coronavirus. If most businesses keep their employees (using Government support) and people feel confident to start “consuming” again because they have jobs and salaries, then why should this be much more than a three month economic blip?

With the support available from Governments and if banks and other credit lenders are sensible and supportive, and business and people don’t overreact, this surely needn’t be the economic disaster that’s being predicted by many. I know this is a dramatic oversimplification of things, but I do feel the world is at risk of talking itself into a worse economic crisis than there needs to be.

Ok, I’m in my bunker now with my hard hat on ready for the bombs to be launched.

It's down to the simple fact that in the UK the media loves a crisis and the worse it is then the better. All stems from years of negative reporting which seems to sell newspapers. I would also add that the media continuously try to pick holes in every story to find a weakness and therefore a new story . Like the complete and utter bo!!ocks in 'The Guardian' this morning, describing that there is a "Power Vacuum in the Govt." all because Rabb refused to be 100% clear on the level of authority he now has while Borris is in hospital ( which he cant share due to national security reasons!!). Some people would call it good investigative journalism, I would call it total garbage! They need to stop looking for a story when there clearly isnt one.
I'm surprised that Laura Kaussenberg didnt ask Rabb if he had the launch codes for the UK Nuclear weapons while Boris isnt around. Of course he has them but he cant say this for obvious reasons. So UK press need to get real and balance their reporting with more positive stuff which is going on every day.

 

[Silvercat]

I remember the Next catalogue from when I was a kid. I don’t remember them having stores though. Was it just mail order back then?

I think the shops came first and then mail order in the late 80's.

 

[Phil H]

So UK press need to get real and balance their reporting with more positive stuff which is going on every day.

That'll be a first then!

PH

 

[Saigon]

Shameful lack of protection for frontline staff of all types. Politicians / senior management have blood on their hands. I have been saying it for weeks.

My daughter has worked for the NHS for quite some time, she has obviously seen things and had to deal with things that she keeps to her self, tries to keep it all separate from her outside of work life. A couple of days ago I saw her really upset, not directly by the day to day grind, but by the attitude she experienced by hospital management. She complained on behalf of herself and others that they did not feel safe with the level of PPE they were being provided with. She was basically called a wimp and told that even if they were provided with an adequate amount of masks it wouldn’t make any difference anyway, they would still catch it. That’s great for the moral of those who are going the extra mile. I would not blame her or others if they just said, OK up yours, I’m going home to self isolate with my husband and kids. But they don’t, do they! It’s disgusting and hospital upper management need to get their act together. At the very least with moral support if nothing else.

 

[rockits]

I can't remember the last time I bought a newspaper. I don't often watch the news. I really can't see the point. The newspapers are worthless.

How do they still exist? Who still buys newspapers?

 

[Oneball]

I can't remember the last time I bought a newspaper. I don't often watch the news. I really can't see the point. The newspapers are worthless.

How do they still exist? Who still buys newspapers?

Bankers.

 

[Scaf]

I can't remember the last time I bought a newspaper. I don't often watch the news. I really can't see the point. The newspapers are worthless.

How do they still exist? Who still buys newspapers?

Me !
for some reason I don’t like on line media and like to read a paper over a cup of coffee in the morning.

I tend to read different papers during the week, from Times and Telegraph to the Daily Mail and have no qualms about picking up a Red Top or the Guardian, that way I get a reasonable mix of views from which to form an opinion.

 

[Oneball]

I think the shops came first and then mail order in the late 80's.

You’re quite right. Shops first and Terence Conran was the boss in the early days.

Next plc - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[alfatwo]

I can't remember the last time I bought a newspaper. I don't often watch the news. I really can't see the point. The newspapers are worthless.

How do they still exist? Who still buys newspapers?

I do, I walk up to the local petrol station in the village every day
I don't do social media either!

Sitting out in the garden in the sunshine reading the newspaper with a glass wine, what's not to like

Dave

 

[D Walker]

My daughter has worked for the NHS for quite some time, she has obviously seen things and had to deal with things that she keeps to her self, tries to keep it all separate from her outside of work life. A couple of days ago I saw her really upset, not directly by the day to day grind, but by the attitude she experienced by hospital management. She complained on behalf of herself and others that they did not feel safe with the level of PPE they were being provided with. She was basically called a wimp and told that even if they were provided with an adequate amount of masks it wouldn’t make any difference anyway, they would still catch it. That’s great for the moral of those who are going the extra mile. I would not blame her or others if they just said, OK up yours, I’m going home to self isolate with my husband and kids. But they don’t, do they! It’s disgusting and hospital upper management need to get their act together. At the very least with moral support if nothing else.

Absolutely shocking display of management and leadership. I’m absolutely astounded.
you are of course right. You wouldn’t blame them for saying ok, that’s it, not turning out. And neither would I. But you know what, they won’t.

 

[Silvercat]

You’re quite right. Shops first and Terence Conran was the boss in the early days.

Next plc - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

With Terence Conran heading up Next its why the quaility of their clothes was so good. He also owned Habitat back in the day.

 

[Oneball]

With Terence Conran heading up Next its why the quaility of their clothes was so good. He also owned Habitat back in the day.

I’ve still got a few bits of Habitat furniture that I bought for my first house.

 

[allandwf]

My daughter has worked for the NHS for quite some time, she has obviously seen things and had to deal with things that she keeps to her self, tries to keep it all separate from her outside of work life. A couple of days ago I saw her really upset, not directly by the day to day grind, but by the attitude she experienced by hospital management. She complained on behalf of herself and others that they did not feel safe with the level of PPE they were being provided with. She was basically called a wimp and told that even if they were provided with an adequate amount of masks it wouldn’t make any difference anyway, they would still catch it. That’s great for the moral of those who are going the extra mile. I would not blame her or others if they just said, OK up yours, I’m going home to self isolate with my husband and kids. But they don’t, do they! It’s disgusting and hospital upper management need to get their act together. At the very least with moral support if nothing else.

That is terrible, but in my view quite common . I don't know what people use to measure/judge management skills, but a lot seem to forget people skills. I know from my line of work that those with people skills would get a lot more accomplished than those who did not.

 

[lozcb]

An interesting watch ...................make of it what you will , we can discuss it tomorrow

 

[Silvercat]

That'll be a first then!

PH

Its just a crying shame that against the horrific backdrop of Covid-19 that we are all hearing about every hour of every day, there are also so many fantastic stories of positive human endeavour and support which need to be put in the spotlight. There are so many fantastic people out there, doing some fantastic things for others, so for once I would love to hear alot about these stories to show the positive side of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

 

[Rwc13]

George Orwell (the canary-in-the-coalmine for fascism in my book) made it very clear in his 1946 essay, The Prevention of Literature, that people are required to censor themselves when faced with "the dangerous proposition ... that intellectual honesty is a form of antisocial selfishness". We have to just accept that we are required to fall into line, or be attacked. It is no longer acceptable to even suggest that the sky is not falling, and anyone doing so will inevitably be accused of antisocial selfishness, hatred of nurses, and a desire to kill our neighbours, by the guardians of righteousness.

I'm sorry @Rwc13 you are on your own from now on. As far as I am concerned, there is simply no point trying to discuss things in a balanced way here, as the scaremongering, irrationality and fascism in some parts of this thread has passed some sort of threshold for me. I might see you all back here in June/July when the crisis is mostly over, or in December/January when UK death rates will be merely 2-5% higher than normal.

I really hope you will stay around MarkMas as I enjoy your intelligent, balanced, well argued, positive and often witty posts. I will stick around and continue to try to be positive and optimistic about people and the future of businesses and the economy, whilst not underestimating the seriousness of this disease and the wonderful work being done by so many key workers.