spyinthesky

Have to disagree with you on this. McCarthy's first reaction save was excellent just a shame it rebounded straight to Evans. The second save when Barnes went through was world class. I thought overall McCarthy had a very decent game

Three killed and eight wounded in Michigan High School shooting. Disgruntled student apparently. Fox News, US Rifle organisation/Trump etc will be suggesting all teachers, pupils, caretakers etc should be armed with maximum power artillery to deal with mentally disturbed 'shooters'!!

I dont think this is the case. Apparently it will take at least two weeks before details of the new variant can be tested against the protection provided by the current vaccines. If the vaccines dont provide a suitable protection then it is estimated it will be at least until Q1 2022 at the earliest that vaccines can be adjusted to add a more suitable booster jab against the new variant.

To be fair there is a historical context to 'Anti Vaxxers' like yourself and others. When the smallpox vaccination was made compulsory for infants in 1853 and extended to under 14's in 1867 there were demonstrations, as there are now, with coffins, banners and effigies of Edward Jenner burnt by the demonstrators. The Church of England considered the process unsafe, immoral and against God's will. All this occurred at time when there was an increasing mistrust of the ruling elite. The mistrust of smallpox vaccination subsequently reared it's head in the USA even though sanitary arrangements for inoculation had improved considerably since the original risky but effective procedures were introduced by Jenner. It is reckoned that the introduction of small pox vaccination saved the lives of millions of people in the 19th & 20th centuries as smallpox was such a rampant disease. Similar concerns and protests attended the introduction of the polio vaccine in the early 1950's but, post war, dissent was not so pronounced and most of us have benefitted from the polio vaccination programme. The more recent anti vaxx movement has been spawned from the discredited research by Andrew Wakefield into the MMR vaccination programme. Andrew Wakefield 'research' has been taken as gospel primarily by some groups in the US who refuse to allow their children to have the MMR jab. As a consequence there has recently been outbreaks of measles in some southern US states after the disease had been more or less eradicated. So there has been a history of concern about vaccinations. However in the vast majority of cases the benefits have proved to far outweighed the drawbacks.

It was and the soldiers who were in camp there travelled across the US to join a troop ship and the infection spread round the ship like wildfire and then the process continued when the troops disembarked in Europe. Spain was neutral in WW1 and their press was free to report the pandemic hence the 'Spanish Flu' reference. Read an interesting report that in 1919 when the Flu epidemic really took hold certain US states required masks to be worn. However many smokers cut holes in their masks so there was an entry point for their cigarettes!!

With regard to the comment about 'variant after variant' isnt this the nature of a virus and the reason why the 'Flu vaccine has to be altered every year? From childhood, I have had many vaccinations including two Covid, one booster and one 'Flu this year and seem to be functioning pretty well. Worst I have ever felt was when I ate some dodgy chicken but that could have been the fault of Bill Gates or perhaps wasnt chicken at all but a shape shifting lizard that I consumed. Incidentally I read something recently that reckoned that tattoo artists are also into the world domination cabal and are injecting poisonous inks into people and this is one of the reasons behind Covid!!

Anyone coming to the end of their power supply contract? I am with Scottish Power and my Dual Fuel agreement is due for renewal in February, My current monthly payment is £123 and their 'best' offer for 12 months from next February is £248 per month just over double what I'm paying at the moment. I have gone on a couple of comparison sites only to be told that they are currently not in a position to offer any suggested deals. One thing I dont understand is there is supposed to be a cap on fuel supply prices until April so increases should not kick in until then unless I have misread the details. Anyone in the same position or have more information to impart please?

I had a tinge of sympathy for the Tory MP from South Derbyshire who was the sacrificial lamb on Question Time. I thought he did a decent job trying to defend the indefensible but the negative feedback from the audience would surely have been noticeable to all at Tory HQ.

What about Tommy Traynor and our local lad, Roger Fry, plus Derek Statham who. I reckon, was a very decent left back for Saints?

I cant see any way that Villa will be relegated. Would like to see it but they will be fine when all players return.

Interesting question. Fortunately I can work from home but even then have postponed Zoom meets at the moment as it is embarrassing to have to continually stop to bring up a load of mucous and the hacking cough is not too clever to listen to. I very much doubt if I would be fit to work in any front facing job, a phone related job, hospitality, driving (as I am regularly sneezing) and anything that required physical exertion. Like most people, I have previously had 'Heavy' Colds' which have lasted perhaps 3-4 days and have been able to work through them. This 'Cold' is on a different level and, according to my GP, could last 2-4 weeks!! I feel utmost sympathy for anyone in a similar situation who doesnt have the opportunity to work from home. One annoying thing is I have failed my fitness test for the Villa game.

It appears the concern expressed by certain fringe groups re possible problems with 5G masts is not without precedence . Apparently when Radar was first developed, just before WW2, a number of large Range & Direction Finding transmitters were set up along the southern coasts of the UK to assist with identification of aircraft . These were quite large so not something to easily keep hidden. Apparently there were plenty of rumours circulating what these towers were for and, as can be imagined, conspiracy theories abounded. These included death rays directed towards invaders, an attempt to reach alien figures to assist us in our greatest time of need and the more popular,... if anyone came within a certain distance of the aerials they would instantly become infertile. Such propaganda may well have been instigated by the Government but it is interesting to learn that conspiracy theories are not new and can be found to go back centuries in different forms, well before the arrival of Social Media.

Looks like some of 'The Donald's' QAnon followers turned up in Dallas awaiting the re-incarnation of John Kennedy who they reckoned did not die in a plan crash but has been holed up somewhere waiting to join with Trump and 'save' the Good Ole US of A.

Definitely not!!

Interesting, How long did it last and did you suffer from a hacking cough plus loads of mucous.

Wonder if anyone on here is suffering? Seems like I am and it is not a pleasant experience. We have all had colds, some heavy, at some stage in our lives but I have never experienced anything like my current affliction. Constant hacking cough bringing up loads of mucous, sore throat, really runny nose, with obligatory mucous, constant background headache, tiredness etc etc. All this over the past 8 days and no sign of abating. Made me realise how much picking up such an infection could adversely affect performance levels, although Premiership players should be more capable to fight off the illness than us old geezers.

Just a bit of fun but having not much to do today, thought how challenging it would be for match commentators if a Saints team turned out with a number of players all sharing the same surname. Surprisingly it only took me 5 minutes to rattle of a list of such players (in their appropriate position) and limited to players who I have actually seen play for the Saints ie 1. Davis (Kelvin) 2. Williams (Stuart)...........Wallace (Ray) 3. Adams (Micky) 4. Williams (Steve) 5. Earles (Mick) 6. Armstrong (Ken) 7. Armstrong (Stuart)..........Williams(Osher) 8. Adams (Che).................. Earls (Pat) 9. Armstrong (Alan) 10. Armstrong (David).........Davis (Steve) 11. Wallace (Danny).............Wallace (Rodney)

Peter Shilton at a time when we had most of the top keepers in the world.

I reckon it is the Bramwell Lane curse. Remember that Mane got slaughtered after his performance there. Another Ali Dia said one poster!!

Despite the result I really enjoyed the game. Saints played really well against a top rate side and could have won it with the flurry of chances at the end. Lyanco played far better than expected and Forster showed what a decent keeper he is. Unfortunately much that I would like Walcott to come back and perform at the top level he is really not up to it. I feel very sorry for Smallbone. On another day he could have been a hero.

No Stuart Armstrong either

In my view Mo has improved a good deal since his return from Celtic. He did nothing to impress me (and others) during his first spell at Saints. His performances, whilst not outstanding, are enough to warrant him a place in the starting 11. One things that has surprised me is that he wins a fair amount of aerial duals and wasnt too far away from scoring in the first half with a looping header.

Djenepo last week, although he helped with the goal and Theo this week (my rating 3/10). Both well off the pace and really dont deserve their place on recent displays, especially Theo. Shame as I want them to both do well but there are others who should be well above them in the pecking order

Anyone see the 4 year old who, apparently, has been signed into Arsenal's Academy. Looks a bit special for his age but wonder if a club will sign prospective players whilst they are in their mother's womb?

I predicted a 2-0 away win. Thankfully I was wrong. Leeds would have been stronger opponents with their star players on the field but we have to beat what is in front of us and part from one mistake by Salisu, who was otherwise excellent, it was a relatively easy win. In fact the back four were all good and much as I like KWP, I think the naturally left footed Peraud is a better bet at Left Back. Big up to Diallo, who I thought did very well in midfield as Romeu was not up to his high standard so far this season. Redmond had his best game of the season and Broja had a physical presence upfront which has been missing. Mo also seems to be adding something much more positive to his game than when he was last here. However, what to make of Djenepo? I thought he was having a shocker then he provided a top class pass to Redmond which led to the goal. To my mind having Stuart Armestong back on the right side of midfield with Redmond moving over to the left will be a general improvment. Lastly what an excellent signing our new 18 year old right back has been. I wonder what his value is now?