Interesting Links for 25-03-2021

[andrewducker]

Covid: Matt Hancock announces new health agency focusing on preventing future pandemics

(tags:UK pandemic thefuture )

America's gun violence rates, in 16 maps and charts

(tags:guns USA visualisation viaDanielDWilliam )

What is the latest Reddit drama all about

(tags:Child_abuse Reddit transgender censorship wtf )

Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious 'Drones' Off California Over Numerous Nights

(tags:drone navy usa )

The majority of patients discharged after a Covid infection had not recovered after five months. Younger women got hit the worst

(tags:Pandemic Doom women )

A Letter to the Jewish Community from an Asian American Jew

(tags:Jews asia USA racism )

Study reveals how human brains grow larger than those of other apes

(tags:brain ape )

What Will It Take to Get a Cargo Ship Unstuck From the Suez?

(tags:trade shipping canal epicfail )

Big investors shun Deliveroo over workers' rights

(tags:rights delivery UK investment )

New Alan Turing £50 note design is revealed

(tags:AlanTuring money UK )

Nationwide tells 13,000 staff to 'work anywhere'

(tags:work homes office )

NHS staff in Scotland to be offered 4% pay rise

(tags:Scotland NHS pay )

Comments

The majority of patients discharged after a Covid infection had not recovered after five months. You

[channelpenguin]

I wonder if younger women are "hit the worst" becasue of a doublw whammy. Immune response issues (females known to have ) plus, to recover from covid you need to rest totally. It could be that women in that age group just don't get to ....

Re: The majority of patients discharged after a Covid infection had not recovered after five months.

[lilysea]

and the third factor is that younger women are THE MOST LIKELY to be dismissed as "it's all in your head" by doctors, without performing even the most cursory tests or trying even the most cursory treatments... :(

Alan Turing Bank Note

[danieldwilliam]

There's a slight irony that £50 bank notes are often not accepted by shops because they are considered the most likely to be insecure.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[andrewducker]

Yeah, I very rarely see them either.

Not that I've spent more than £30 of cash in the last year.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[danieldwilliam]

I can't be much more than that I reckon.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[calimac]

In my case, exactly two instances of cash use, totaling $6. That's a lot less than £30.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[andrewducker]

I can't remember what mine were even for now. I just know I had three notes in my wallet, and when they were gone I got two more out of a cash machine, which we haven't needed.

One might have been a taxi to the hospital during the pregnancy. Not sure.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[calimac]

Seven years ago in Boston was my first encounter with a taxi that took credit cards. (Card reader attached to the back of the driver seat.) Considering the amount of fumbling hoping one had appropriate cash for the fee and a tip, I approved of this change. I've used a taxi since then, but I can't remember whether those were also with credit cards.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[andrewducker]

I mostly use a card for it, but using their app (the Edinburgh black cab firm I use has their own app). I hadn't taken a taxi in so long that it had somehow lost my card details. So I quickly grabbed some cash out of my wallet.
I'm fairly sure they do take cards nowadays, but for some reason I've been assuming there's a surcharge. I'll have to remember to look next time!

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[calimac]

In our jurisdiction (I'm not sure whether this is a state or federal law), surcharges for card use are prohibited. However, there's nothing preventing the offer of a cash discount, and many do. The only difference is which price is given as the base.

Speaking of Alan Turing and the inconvenience of £50 bank notes, the US has put Ursula K. Le Guin on a postage stamp. It is, however, for an inconvenient value of postage.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[danieldwilliam]

I wonder how many people have gone the whole year without actually using any cash at all.

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[alithea]

I think I'm one of them

Re: Alan Turing Bank Note

[movingfinger]

I used cash for tipping delivery drivers and for Christmas tips. I remember I had to go to the bank for the first time since March to get the Christmas cash, I had nothing on hand. I could have given gift cards for the Christmas tips, but those can come with hidden fees and charges and I wanted the full amount to go to the recipients.

For actually buying things, I think I used cash three times, all in 2020 at drive-up windows before contactless payments became standard practice. Indeed, in 2021, no use of cash at all that I can remember, though it's in my wallet just in case.