Opinions on how the Government have handled the coronavirus outbreak

[Lindsayt]

Rule #1 - You don't bring a spreadsheet to a database fight.

A £432M contract and theyre using a £139.00 Excel license and a couple of typists.

Exactly.

But that's how IT works in organisations like Public Health England. It's also a reflection of the management in that organisation.

And another joke in this is that industrial strength SQL database software like MariaDB is 100% free. You just need someone that knows how to use it. Instead of these self-appointed IT experts using Excel.

[slinger]

My last permanent IT job involved writing UNIX code and raw SQL queries to extract sales info from a SCO Unix box (in CSV format) and then transforming that information into multiple and bespoke reports using templates I developed inFoxPRO for Windoze.

Gizza job.

[slinger]

I worked in IT when the infamous 'Poll Tax' was being introduced in the 80's. Part of a team writing a software package for several local councils.
The government was changing the rules every 2 weeks and eventually our group was so totally sick and tired of having hard work constantly scrapped and rewritten we were pulled off the job and a fresh team was given the task.

[slinger]

The government's "solution" to virtually any IT problem has always been to throw money at it, and when that doesn't work they throw more money at it until it's been delayed so long they have to spec a new system to replace the one that may, or may not, eventually be installed. Lots of people are making money out of this system for zero product, or crap product.

Nobody with any actual power has an actual clue about the actual "nuts & bolts"of actual IT problems, but they are experts at diverting money to their mates. Until they're made to recruit people they didn't go to school, university, or were in prison with, from inside the industry, and then trust the people they employ to do the job they've been employed to do, nothing will change. It's all about money; those that have it getting more of it, those who pay their taxes (trust me; not necessarily the same people) being swindled out of it, and the whole country being run on an "I'm all right Jack," basis.

[CN211276]

I am having first hand experience of what a complete shambles the testing system is. My wife's father in Kenya is seriously ill and a negative Covid test is required before she can fly to see him. Through some sort of cock up the test result did not come through and she was not allowed on the plane. It looks like it has been lost. She therefore has to be retested, not a pleasant experience, and hope that the flight tickets are still valid.

[Trevethy]

Last evening here to get a pint in my local. I live in Merseyside. Surprised to see that pubs that serve main meals can still stay open. Tim Wetherspoon will be happy anyway.

[CN211276]

I am having first hand experience of what a complete shambles the testing system is. My wife's father in Kenya is seriously ill and a negative Covid test is required before she can fly to see him. Through some sort of cock up the test result did not come through and she was not allowed on the plane. It looks like it has been lost. She therefore has to be retested, not a pleasant experience, and hope that the flight tickets are still valid.

The negative test result took 75 hours to arrive and was and only valid for 96 hours. Therefore had to book another flight departing yesterday with another air line. Am trying to get the money back for the first flight but it is very problematic because no rules have been broken. The rules were written before Covid and it is a different ball game now.

[slinger]

I am having first hand experience of what a complete shambles the testing system is. My wife's father in Kenya is seriously ill and a negative Covid test is required before she can fly to see him. Through some sort of cock up the test result did not come through and she was not allowed on the plane. It looks like it has been lost. She therefore has to be retested, not a pleasant experience, and hope that the flight tickets are still valid.

The negative test result took 75 hours to arrive and was and only valid for 96 hours. Therefore had to book another flight departing yesterday with another air line. Am trying to get the money back for the first flight but it is very problematic because no rules have been broken. The rules were written before Covid and it is a different ball game now.

It's a complete and utter shit-show. The government has no control and are providing no leadership worth talking about. If only you were major Tory donors... They'd probably have nipped her over on one of Johnson's personal flying unicorns.

[CN211276]

Her son's wife had her test result within 24 hours. We think that her employment with the tax office had something to do with that, giving her a high priority.

[NSNO2021]

No love lost between Liverpool and Boris as pub renames itself the "The three bellends"

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... s-19102845