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tzijlstra

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About tzijlstra

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    Registered User

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  • Location
    Hillsborough
  • Interests
    Computing, research, the truth
  • Occupation
    Researcher

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  1. After 25 years of trying to quit cigs, it was an ecig that did it for me. I tried them for a year whilst also smoking and gradually found the type of ecig I liked and than it was dead-easy to quit smoking 'real' tobacco altogether. The issue with that is for a while I had to buy different types of ecigs (There is a whole raft of different options out there), as well as the ejuice that goes in them, as well as the actual tobacco, so I spent quite a bit more on my stupid habit during that year. I'm quite fortunate in that I could afford it, but many out there will not be in that position. I am fully aware that ecigs come with their own (undiscovered) risks and are not as healthy as not smoking, at the same time, actual smoking has got to be worse. I noticed an enormous improvement in my cardiac health once I cut out actual cigarettes. So the question is: Will providing ecigs on the NHS potentially stop patients becoming heart patients? If 1000 folks that switch to ecigs instead of cigs don't end up in cardiology departments than surely that has to be worth it bearing in mind the cost to look after them. It's definitely a 'choose your poison' game, but it has to be investigated and I am pleased the NHS is doing just that.
  2. He would have left for a whole wide range of PL clubs Bassett... He also won't get a chance. Football is an unforgiving business and the new owners will want to put a manager in that can attract bigger players than Bruce can. The new owners will already be on the phone to Zidane, offering 15-20 million, which would make him one of the best paid managers in the PL.
  3. He says that to his hard-nosed uncle, what is the actual reason he isn't working? Drugs, alcohol, mental health? There is not a single reason in the UK not to find work other than some sort of debilitating issue. If your nephew is indeed living completely on benefits than he is one poor chap as it isn't anywhere near enough to live well on.
  4. Huh? I genuinely don't know what point you are making here, but I am fairly sure a pandemic can also be reached after vaccination (as we see clearly in the UK with a substantial number of infections despite a high number of vaccinations).
  5. Once a virus has reached pandemic stage it is practically impossible to reverse it. I still think Biden is a wet blanket, but shoving these figures in his shoes is naive.
  6. So, point me to someone on 'Credit' who says that? Only people I can think of aren't fit for work for one reason or another. It is a very popular idea that people are 'abusing' social welfare, but once you start analysing the data properly it becomes clear quickly that it is just that, a popular idea, not reality.
  7. I'm not so sure about that. PiS was the clear winner in the last elections, the East Polish countryside vote for PiS and other far right parties is holding pretty well. The Polish West and Urbanites are pro EU, and protesting en masse, but that was to be predicted. Duda's popularity can not be underestimated, despite only drawing 51% of the vote. PiS' entire spiel is to 'reclaim Justice' from the EU. There is actually something to be said for the anger in Eastern Poland, a lot of their young people have moved away, either to Polish cities (which are thriving) or to other EU nations. The brain drain is significant and the whole area is being left behind economically. If you are left behind (or feeling left behind) than entrenchment against the EU is an obvious response and the populists know exactly how to make most of that. At the same time, the major cities have benefited enormously from inbound investments and the reality is that without the EU, the Polish economy would be more like the Ukraine than what it is now. A Polexit would be dreadful news for Poland and open themselves up to Russian pressure, especially with NATO being in disarray right now.
  8. We're staying put, mainly because the contract runs until May as that is when we moved, by then we will have a good look around. Our current provider was somehow foisted upon us and pretty dreadful.
  9. Ooh, we can @ people now, that is a nice feature, well done SF! So, @Tony, how about it. We were having a nice start to a well-balanced debate. I challenged a Brexit supporter (any) to name the many advantages of Brexit and you declared that democratic deficit was an excellent reason for Brexit. Just a gentle reminder (again, I am sure you recall the previous one) for you to explain about this democratic deficit point. Just saying people can't name their MEP doesn't really cut it mate, I don't see that as a democratic deficit, because if it is, local councils might as well pack up and become autocratic.
  10. Gave up last week, it is now keeping the house at a minimum of 17 degrees during the day. To be fair, it is a fair bit cooler here in Scotland than down in sunny Sheffield
  11. Just read that the wholesale price of natural gas has risen with 60% in two days across Europe. We just had a new (efficient) boiler installed and genuinely considered going for a ground heat exchange system thanks to Scottish subsidies on acquiring such a system - decided against it because of the huge amount of work/disturbance to our garden and the noise these pumps make. Beginning to regret that decision now, despite prices being 'protected' in the UK. Do you think the price will get lower in the coming year, or are we all going to have to swallow yet another huge bill due to the circumstances we find ourselves in?
  12. It's started. By forcing people in lower paid jobs to think about how they can get a better income to keep up with the rise in costs. Ditching the Human Rights Act and Working Time Directive and other 'obsolete' EU rules the Tories will have this country be mini-USA in no-time, where those not fortunate enough to have a big enough income will have to work two or three jobs to keep up.
  13. I don't think I need to add anything to this message, but I will. I am waiting for your reply. Thanks Tony.
  14. Tony, I am a bit disappointed with that response. I provided you with a considered response and you chose to ignore it. My last MEP was Magid Magid, the first time I voted Green instead of LibDem in an election in this country. I voted for him because he had a sensible response to Brexit (in my view) - it is a self-inflicted wound that will harm the most vulnerable in society for years to come. I have investigated the views of HGV drivers, although not through the Vox Populi method you provided, the headline figure is simple: Retention of HGV drivers in the industry is appalling, that is the result of the job being very hard for not a lot of reward. I explained to you, or at least believe I did, why Brexit isn't and wasn't the answer. I ask of you again: What would have been valid measures to improve the situation of the poorest in society and why could they not have been taken as part of the EU? Johnson is supposedly going to spell out what 'levelling up' actually means. I am awaiting the outcome with bated breath, not. But for folks like you, harping on about the benefits of Brexit for, for example, HGV drivers, you'd better hope he is about to come out with some stellar policies that wouldn't have been possible whilst part of the EU because the tide is definitely beginning to turn against this Tory government. There is a limit to the amount of people in this country, there is a minimum number of people required to carry out all the functions required to keep the economy productive. A nation needs to have an economy that generates a bigger income than that it costs to run that economy and the government alongside it. Johnson is a classic liberal, he wants to reduce the cost to run the economy and the government (eventually, Covid cost him a lot on that front). So his vision of Brexit is a lot like the way the US is set to operate: Low taxes, small government, high income, high cost to individuals.
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