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Search found 276 matches

by Ron Webb
May 15th, 2015, 4:57 am
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc
Replies: 190
Views: 51898

Re: Online security, trojans, viruses, malware, etc

This guy records the scammers that phone him up to 'fix' his PC. I suggest never following his example. If anyone says they are from Microsoft/tech support/your ISP put the phone down on them! But enjoy how Troy deals with him (NSFW at the end...) The unabating cold call virus scams I got a call mu...
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 9:12 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Bottled water
Replies: 19
Views: 3660

Re: Bottled water

Even with a flow of water out of a spigot there is always an area, at the flow edge, of near zero flow velocity. In that zone various oganisms can find anchorage. These act as achors for others . . .. As you say, if you go looking for bacteria, you'll probably find it even in your own faucets. But ...
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 9:02 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Bottled water
Replies: 19
Views: 3660

Re: Bottled water

I should add that there are legitimate health concerns regarding public fountains, though (IMHO) not because of external cleanliness. I steer clear of fountains that appear to be seldom used, because the pipes can leach metals into the water. Even worse are the ones with holding tanks where the wate...
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 8:44 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Using evidence to inform policy and decisions
Replies: 41
Views: 5369

Re: Using evidence to inform policy and decisions

Neither should the views of an expert - although they undoubtedly know far more than any MP, they can be wrong and particularly wrong in, say, extrapolating their knowledge to how a new policy might work if it's never been properly tried before. Not an expert, but rather the consensus of opinion am...
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 6:50 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Bottled water
Replies: 19
Views: 3660

Re: Bottled water

Dave B wrote:Ever seen the results of a culture taken from a public drinking fountain?
Where are the samples taken from? The drain? As long as you let the water run for a couple of seconds, I don't see how it could any different from any other faucet.

But don't go licking the basin. Not a good idea. :wink:
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 3:47 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Using evidence to inform policy and decisions
Replies: 41
Views: 5369

Re: Using evidence to inform policy and decisions

Only 23% of MPs surveyed felt that findings from RCTs should be one of the top two or three things that politicians pay attention to when making decisions. In contrast, 31% felt that findings from pilot schemes without a control group were important in decision-making. Evidence from experts had the...
by Ron Webb
May 13th, 2015, 2:49 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Bottled water
Replies: 19
Views: 3660

Re: Bottled water

The article concludes with this (with emphasis added): Of course it will be better for us to be drinking water than calorie-dense soft drinks – but I say bring back drinking fountains in public spaces . For most of us in the western world the best thing we can do both for our figures and the environ...
by Ron Webb
May 12th, 2015, 6:37 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: 2015 UK General Election
Replies: 776
Views: 50912

Re: 2015 UK General Election

I see the discussion has moved on from our earlier exchange, so I have edited my reply somewhat. If you're looking for a particular response, let me know and I'll be happy to come back to it. Bollox. Open heart surgeons are paid rather more than GP's wouldn't you say? And the only reason for an anta...
by Ron Webb
May 11th, 2015, 11:50 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: 2015 UK General Election
Replies: 776
Views: 50912

Re: 2015 UK General Election

Those who profit by it, by definition, work in it. It is the insistence of a distinction between earnings and so-called "profits" which is the problem. The success of the NHS should be based on outcomes and value for money, not on whom is paid what. I have shares in several companies, and make a ni...
by Ron Webb
May 11th, 2015, 8:49 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: 2015 UK General Election
Replies: 776
Views: 50912

Re: 2015 UK General Election

The NHS should be run for the benefits of patients, not just those who work in it. I'd join you in the frame shop, Alan, if Nick would add, "or those who just want to profit from it." In one half sentence, Dave, you have encapsulated the problem. You think that it matters more that the word "profit...
by Ron Webb
May 9th, 2015, 11:45 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: 2015 UK General Election
Replies: 776
Views: 50912

Re: 2015 UK General Election

Hmmm.. Not really. "Decent" was not a great word to use, perhaps... I was trying to stress that under FPTP, your MP is your MP; s/he represents you. But how would you feel if, despite voting Labour (say) in a majority in your area, you had a UKIP MP imposed because of PR? Or, to counter this, imagi...
by Ron Webb
May 7th, 2015, 3:37 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Correlation v causation
Replies: 9
Views: 3301

Re: Correlation v causation

Interesting, and well worth the read. I loved his last paragraph. I have to admit I missed the sarcasm the first time I read it, and was momentarily bewildered. (There is definitely something to be said for smilies. :wink: ) It’s not clear why Huff and Fisher were so fixated on the idea that the gro...
by Ron Webb
May 6th, 2015, 9:17 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

(With apologies for the lengthy reply. I am trying to edit myself, but it's a struggle.) No apology necessary, Ron. It makes a change to discuss any economics at all! :D But without some restraint, these exchanges tend to grow indefinitely longer. Er, no. In our democracy, we the people, elect MPs ...
by Ron Webb
May 5th, 2015, 7:44 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

(With apologies for the lengthy reply. I am trying to edit myself, but it's a struggle.) In what parallel universe is it a good thing for the government to lay down the tax law, but for companies not to comply with it, but to have someone else somehow concoct their own idea of what the tax should be...
by Ron Webb
May 5th, 2015, 3:52 am
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

Nick wrote:
Alan H wrote:+1
Seriously, Alan? Seriously? :sad2:
Well, like you said, Nick, you don't get much respect on this forum. But you're used to it, eh? :D
by Ron Webb
May 5th, 2015, 3:36 am
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

Hooray! We are making progress! It's not down to Starbucks or any other company to decide what the law says. So stop giving Starbucks a hard time and give the MP's who make the law a hard time! It was never my intention to give Starbucks in particular a hard time. My comments are directed at those ...
by Ron Webb
May 4th, 2015, 10:53 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

I have an accountancy background. There are over 1,000 specific tax exemptions specifically put into tax legislation in order to influence tax-payers behaviour or to mitigate against the effects of tax which the UK government considers unfair. If a company complies with them, it is hardly their fau...
by Ron Webb
May 2nd, 2015, 11:46 pm
Forum: Social Club
Topic: Insults
Replies: 12
Views: 4448

Re: Insults

My absolutely favouritest insult of all time -- often attributed to John Wilkes, but it looks like it originated with the comedian Samuel Foote : Sam. was invited to a convivial meeting at the house of the late Sir Francis Blake Delaval. Lord Sandwich was one of the guests upon the same occasion. Wh...
by Ron Webb
May 1st, 2015, 12:22 am
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman's views on austerity: http://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2015/apr/29/the-austerity-delusion?CMP=fb_gu Thanks for the link, animist. I'll definitely give it a read when I get a chance, and I hope others do too. The title is "The Austerity Delusion", an...
by Ron Webb
April 30th, 2015, 4:12 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Modern economics
Replies: 1408
Views: 125287

Re: Modern economics

You can be suspicious if you want to, but HMRC are able to investigate any suspicions they have and found their tax affairs to be in order. You seem to be assuming that if they are following the tax laws then by definition that is fair. What we're suggesting is that the current tax laws are not fai...