UK Politics Thread XII: The Lockdown

[The New California Republic]

While I don't think they actually do it because I doubt they have the resources to do it in real time for everyone, but I'm certain that if my work wanted to specifically track me for some purpose then they could track my progress around the place every time I use my ID for the dozens of door access readers that I use every day. Patch it in to the CCTV system and just about the only place that I couldn't get tracked is the toilets, but they'd definitely know I went in there.

They certainly could. I've seen it done with exception of the CCTV cameras because we didn't have them. Don't do things wrong in an office with RFID ID cards. They will track you either in real time or with a super simple search.

But then again my full schedule is known to at least 3 or 4 people, so even without my ID they'd be able to narrow my location down to at very least a single corridor of one of the buildings the vast majority of the time. The only exception is the fairly frequent last minute or ad hoc stuff that crops up, which tracking the ID would then be useful for.

[Fartsniffage]

They certainly could. I've seen it done with exception of the CCTV cameras because we didn't have them. Don't do things wrong in an office with RFID ID cards. They will track you either in real time or with a super simple search.

But then again my full schedule is known to at least 3 or 4 people, so even without my ID they'd be able to narrow my location down to at very least a single corridor of one of the buildings the vast majority of the time. The only exception is the fairly frequent last minute or ad hoc stuff that crops up, which tracking the ID would then be useful for.

Or if they're doing something nefarious. Like my boss was. Tried to implicate me and my team mate in it so the two of us went balls to the wall to hammer her. The security chief was more my friend than hers.

[CoraSpia]

But then again my full schedule is known to at least 3 or 4 people, so even without my ID they'd be able to narrow my location down to at very least a single corridor of one of the buildings the vast majority of the time. The only exception is the fairly frequent last minute or ad hoc stuff that crops up, which tracking the ID would then be useful for.

Or if they're doing something nefarious. Like my boss was. Tried to implicate me and my team mate in it so the two of us went balls to the wall to hammer her. The security chief was more my friend than hers.

Is she out of a job now?

[Fartsniffage]

Or if they're doing something nefarious. Like my boss was. Tried to implicate me and my team mate in it so the two of us went balls to the wall to hammer her. The security chief was more my friend than hers.

Is she out of a job now?

Oh yes. She spun it out for a while with time off for stress and shit but she got fired.

[Salandriagado]

unironically one of the theories is that the government wants to pursue herd immunity, has always wanted to pursue herd immunity and is secretly trying to undermine the lockdown to make it happen

Even as the science shows that Herd Immunity isn't a thing this time. Something about only 5% of survivors having detectable antibodies.

Having detectable antibodies has very little to do with being immune.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Leicester businesses get the double whammy of the local lockdown and no extra help from the Treasury for it. It's going to hit us hard.

[Philjia]

The head of HMRC has queried whether the chancellor's job retention scheme and restaurant discount plans offer value for money to the taxpayer.

[Hirota]

That's not all that different from an id card that lets you only open certain doors or access certain software.

While I don't think they actually do it because I doubt they have the resources to do it in real time for everyone, but I'm certain that if my work wanted to specifically track me for some purpose then they could track my progress around the place every time I use my ID for the dozens of door access readers that I use every day. Patch it in to the CCTV system and just about the only place that I couldn't get tracked is the toilets, but they'd definitely know I went in there.

Having been responsible for setting up the databases for printing and door access in my office, combined with mobile device management, I know I absolutely could use those 3 to get a lot of data about my colleagues. Add to that I have to monitor Office 365 usage including suspicious traffic from unknown locations, and I do have the ability if I ever turned evil to find out a lot of stuff.

But lets not make Alan more paranoid than he already is!

---

Approximately 5000 to 31000 people in the UK currently have Covid, according to the ONS (via the beeb).

Somehing to note:

The highest number of cases were among older people, particularly the over-85s.

Which suggests that the BLM marches a few weeks ago probably did not cause a widespread second wave - which implies the crowds seen in Soho drinking probably won't see a second wave either. It also suggests that older people still need to be protected.

A lot of "probably" in there though...I don't think it's wise to say we are out of it.

[Salandriagado]

While I don't think they actually do it because I doubt they have the resources to do it in real time for everyone, but I'm certain that if my work wanted to specifically track me for some purpose then they could track my progress around the place every time I use my ID for the dozens of door access readers that I use every day. Patch it in to the CCTV system and just about the only place that I couldn't get tracked is the toilets, but they'd definitely know I went in there.

Having been responsible for setting up the databases for printing and door access in my office, combined with mobile device management, I know I absolutely could use those 3 to get a lot of data about my colleagues. Add to that I have to monitor Office 365 usage including suspicious traffic from unknown locations, and I do have the ability if I ever turned evil to find out a lot of stuff.

But lets not make Alan more paranoid than he already is!

---

Approximately 5000 to 31000 people in the UK currently have Covid, according to the ONS (via the beeb).

Somehing to note:

The highest number of cases were among older people, particularly the over-85s.

Which suggests that the BLM marches a few weeks ago probably did not cause a widespread second wave - which implies the crowds seen in Soho drinking probably won't see a second wave either. It also suggests that older people still need to be protected.

A lot of "probably" in there though...I don't think it's wise to say we are out of it.

Cambrdge has also updated their modelling, twice in quick succession: once before the weekend, once after. The one before had R_t down to ~0.8 in most places with fairly tight margins of errors. After the changes, we're back up to wide confidence intervals roughly centred on 1. IFR estimate stabilised at ~1.3%.

[Hirota]

Having been responsible for setting up the databases for printing and door access in my office, combined with mobile device management, I know I absolutely could use those 3 to get a lot of data about my colleagues. Add to that I have to monitor Office 365 usage including suspicious traffic from unknown locations, and I do have the ability if I ever turned evil to find out a lot of stuff.

But lets not make Alan more paranoid than he already is!

---

Approximately 5000 to 31000 people in the UK currently have Covid, according to the ONS (via the beeb).

Somehing to note:
Which suggests that the BLM marches a few weeks ago probably did not cause a widespread second wave - which implies the crowds seen in Soho drinking probably won't see a second wave either. It also suggests that older people still need to be protected.

A lot of "probably" in there though...I don't think it's wise to say we are out of it.

Cambrdge has also updated their modelling, twice in quick succession: once before the weekend, once after. The one before had R_t down to ~0.8 in most places with fairly tight margins of errors. After the changes, we're back up to wide confidence intervals roughly centred on 1. IFR estimate stabilised at ~1.3%.

Interesting source - worst case scenario suggests R is around 1.2 right now, best case is roughly 0.75. With the lockdown easing, it will be interesting to see if positive tests go up or continue to decline.

[Celritannia]

BoJo, DomCumms, and the rest of the Tory Cabinet are utterly vile.
The PM won't even apologise for blaming care homes.

The Tories always fail, and will continue to fail the people and the UK.

[Agarntrop]

BoJo, DomCumms, and the rest of the Tory Cabinet are utterly vile.
The PM won't even apologise for blaming care homes.

The Tories always fail, and will continue to fail the people and the UK.

Is this news to you?

[Shrillland]

As of August 1, folks over age 75 will no longer be exempt from the licence fee: https://www.yahoo.com/bbc-end-free-licence-fee-110400527.html

I know the BBC needs more funds, but shouldn't the government be subsidising them instead of making older OAPS pay out of their fixed incomes?

[The Islands of Versilia]

As of August 1, folks over age 75 will no longer be exempt from the licence fee: https://www.yahoo.com/bbc-end-free-licence-fee-110400527.html

I know the BBC needs more funds, but shouldn't the government be subsidising them instead of making older OAPS pay out of their fixed incomes?

Are you expecting either the government or any British institution/company to do anything even remotely intelligent?

[Shrillland]

As of August 1, folks over age 75 will no longer be exempt from the licence fee: https://www.yahoo.com/bbc-end-free-licence-fee-110400527.html

I know the BBC needs more funds, but shouldn't the government be subsidising them instead of making older OAPS pay out of their fixed incomes?

Are you expecting either the government or any British institution/company to do anything even remotely intelligent?

No, mostly just venting.

[The Islands of Versilia]

Are you expecting either the government or any British institution/company to do anything even remotely intelligent?

No, mostly just venting.

Understandable. It’s bullshit to be frank.

[Celritannia]

BoJo, DomCumms, and the rest of the Tory Cabinet are utterly vile.
The PM won't even apologise for blaming care homes.

The Tories always fail, and will continue to fail the people and the UK.

Is this news to you?

As Shrilland said, it's venting.

[Vassenor]

Sky News: UK is due to reject a request to join the EU's vaccination programme for COVID-19

So we're going full on #BrexitBeforeBreathing again.

[Greed and Death]

Sky News: UK is due to reject a request to join the EU's vaccination programme for COVID-19

So we're going full on #BrexitBeforeBreathing again.

In fairness the UK is father along in its vaccine research than any continental company.
Sharing with them now would decrease profits from how much the UK can charge them if their vaccine is first to production.

[CoraSpia]

No, mostly just venting.

Understandable. It’s bullshit to be frank.

The license fee is bullshit. There's no other service where, in order to use other providers, you have to fund one. The bbc should either operate on a subscription model or run adverts.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Understandable. It’s bullshit to be frank.

The bbc should either operate on a subscription model or run adverts.

No it fucking shouldn't.

[CoraSpia]

The bbc should either operate on a subscription model or run adverts.

No it fucking shouldn't.

Why is that?
I've heard about such a thing possibly making it less neutral, but it's not been neutral for a long time. It's always far too friendly to the government of the day.

[Alvecia]

No it fucking shouldn't.

Why is that?
I've heard about such a thing possibly making it less neutral, but it's not been neutral for a long time. It's always far too friendly to the government of the day.

The BBC is biased against whatever party the person complaining about it supports.

Under both Labour and Tory governments I've seen people claim it is both anti and pro government.

[Vassenor]

No it fucking shouldn't.

Why is that?
I've heard about such a thing possibly making it less neutral, but it's not been neutral for a long time. It's always far too friendly to the government of the day.

Right. Instead it should be beholden to commercial interests.</s>

[Fartsniffage]

The new blue passports are arriving from France.