WAMT....what annoyed me today!

[LCPete]

I'm a libertarian in that I want people to be free to make choices that don't cause actual harm to others, but I also recognise that these things are engineered to make people want to over-consume them, to the detriment of their health. Plus many could not afford to cover their healthcare costs as a result of over-consuming sugary sweet food and drink, and it's problematic that the rest of us should have to pay for overindulgence, at least partially induced by the food industry too.

Imo the food and drink industry are villains who care nothing about the health of the nation esepecially the nation's children. Millions are spent on lobbying politicians/ministers but it's an opaque world and numbers are almost impossible to come by.

Report uncovers opaque nature of food industry ministerial lobby

UK Research and Innovation funds project to better understand the impact of climate change on UK food prices

foodfoundation.org.uk

A new report fromThe Food Foundation looking at food industry lobbying has concluded that lack of available information in the government's transparency registers makes it impossible to understand the extent of industry lobbying on specific policies.Lobbying, the process through which corporations, organisations and citizens can make their views known to policymakers, is an important part of the democratic process if done transparently.

However, The Food Foundation report reveals a system in the UK that is opaque and risks undermining democratic accountability, eroding public trust and disproportionately benefiting those with more financial or political resources or influence.


They use psychology ,too. It's rather long but here's the opener.

According to Ofcom figures, children in the UK watch on average 17 hours a week of TV, most of it on commercial TV stations. This represents considerable exposure to the advertisers' promotional messages. Adverts for food products can represent up to 40 per cent of the adverts children see on their commercial scheduled programming. Actually, in the UK it is probably as high as 50 per cent for most of the year.

These adverts appear to be mainly for snacks, breakfast cereals (predominantly the highly sugared variety), processed foods and drinks (mostly the soda or fruit-based high-sugar varieties). In addition to this, fast-food retailers also advertise extensively during programming scheduled for children. These foods and drinks seem to share a common characteristic: they are generally high in refined sugars and fats. The levels of fat, sugars and salt in some of these products are 'particularly alarming' (according to the UK Food Standards Agency – FSA).

Serving up trouble? Advertising food to children | BPS

As pressure grows on food advertisers, Jason C.G. Halford looks at the evidence.

www.bps.org.uk

If they care so much, then why won't they ban smoking or alcoholic drinks.... ah, significant tax receipts. My bad.

They want to reduce overconsumption with eating, yet they continue to have a literal subsidised trough of fine dining, catering, bars etc where for every £10 an MP spends we the taxpayer contribute £7.60. That's hardly going to discourage them from overeating. Meanwhile over 3 million British citizens rely on foodbanks.

However, on the face of it addressing excessive sugar is certainly a good thing if there are apparently too many people becoming obese from it. I'm just not convinced about the "caring" motives, it feels a little like a virtue signal, but I could be wrong. Vapes are another thing that they continue to allow. Salt content in processed foods is still too high from what I've seen and we still have ultra processed foods. Argh, I'm just ranting. Ignore me. lol

Agree with you all its not a good situation when you look into it, especially a lot of prepacked meals are still high in salt and sugar, some of the better curry ready meals are quite nice but we try to limit them and I do make a curry at home quite often
Don’t smoke but do like a drink but figure that it’s my choice and don’t have more than 2 or 3 pints when we go out anyway
Its not good as you say the food companies have massive influence and always try to prevent any government regulation

 

[ancient_mariner]

If they care so much, then why won't they ban smoking or alcoholic drinks.... ah, significant tax receipts. My bad.

They want to reduce overconsumption with eating, yet they continue to have a literal subsidised trough of fine dining, catering, bars etc where for every £10 an MP spends we the taxpayer contribute £7.60. That's hardly going to discourage them from overeating. Meanwhile over 3 million British citizens rely on foodbanks.

However, on the face of it addressing excessive sugar is certainly a good thing if there are apparently too many people becoming obese from it. I'm just not convinced about the "caring" motives, it feels a little like a virtue signal, but I could be wrong. Vapes are another thing that they continue to allow. Salt content in processed foods is still too high from what I've seen and we still have ultra processed foods. Argh, I'm just ranting. Ignore me. lol

In hard economic terms, obesity affects fertility, cancer risk, heart disease and mobility. While non-obese people will live longer, they are less likely to require expensive treatment.

 

[gman]

Agree with you all its not a good situation when you look into it, especially a lot of prepacked meals are still high in salt and sugar, some of the better curry ready meals are quite nice but we try to limit them and I do make a curry at home quite often
Don’t smoke but do like a drink but figure that it’s my choice and don’t have more than 2 or 3 pints when we go out anyway
Its not good as you say the food companies have massive influence and always try to prevent any government regulation

I quite smoking quite some time ago, one of the best things I've ever done. I also enjoy a drink, but likewise we all know it's in moderation that is key with most things. I'm always in favour of educating and encouraging rather than regulating and restricting. Of course there will always be those who can never be educated, but eating healthy can be pretty expensive, so perhaps the Government(s) could do something to make healthy eating more accessible? But then if people are having to use food banks never mind trying to eat healthy, well, maybe I'm dreaming.

 

[Cockney]

On a similar subject. They keep highlighting to damage caused by single use plastic containers, but never get around to saying. " this time next year, theyre banned in the UK."

 

[gman]

Also, I recently watched a YouTube video of a washing machine repair guy who said that most of them are sealed drums now, so can't be opened up and have the small and inexpensive components repaired. It's basically a new drum at almost the same price as a new machine. It may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it all adds up and creates this horrible throw away industry. Bring on the repairs!

 

[LCPete]

Also, I recently watched a YouTube video of a washing machine repair guy who said that most of them are sealed drums now, so can't be opened up and have the small and inexpensive components repaired. It's basically a new drum at almost the same price as a new machine. It may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it all adds up and creates this horrible throw away industry. Bring on the repairs!

we have had ours for a few years now, it went wrong during lockdown, I managed to replace the part and it’s still working great now
Unfortunately yes things now are not made to be repairable

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

... yet they continue to have a literal subsidised trough of fine dining, catering, bars etc where for every £10 an MP spends we the taxpayer contribute £7.60.

That one example typifies everything that's wrong with our current system of government.

 

[Cockney]

That one example typifies everything that's wrong with our current system of government.

Its not just Parliament, a lot of Civil Service and other public sector cateens, restaurants and clubs are subsidised.

 

[ancient_mariner]

That one example typifies everything that's wrong with our current system of government.

A subsidised canteen and leisure facility typifies what's wrong, really?

 

[Nod]

Canteen and leisure facilities, I don't have a problem with but the subsidised BAR (most jobs frown on drinking at work!) grates.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Canteen and leisure facilities, I don't have a problem with but the subsidised BAR (most jobs frown on drinking at work!) grates.

A large pharmaceutical company I worked for from '79 to '90 had a bar and sports & social club on site - it was quite normal at the time, and the bar only needed to cover costs so was very good value. Likewise we had 2 large canteens that were subsidised. I'd agree it's not a part of ordinary working life if you just work for a small business, but at one time was absolutely ordinary working for a bigger organisation. When I travelled to Germany to support Bayer in Wuppertal, they were proud to show me their facilities that were a few notches up from the Wellcome Beckenham standard.

In some organisations drinking during work hours was a sackable offence, and I understand that too - you need to draw a line in some circumstances. Drunkenness at work would absolutely need to be dealt with, just as you would expect for drug use too.

 

[Barney]

we have had ours for a few years now, it went wrong during lockdown, I managed to replace the part and it’s still working great now
Unfortunately yes things now are not made to be repairable

When stuff comes up for replacement I always buy Miele, 20 year guarantee on most stuff and fantastic aftersales, sent my hoover for a service (before the atrocious Battery hoover laws came in) came back with a service report, new motor and all stainless extensions replaced and a new multi surface head. £99

Fridges, freezers and washing machines I have never had a problem with at all.

But number one, manufactured to be repaired.

 

[gman]

When stuff comes up for replacement I always buy Miele, 20 year guarantee on most stuff and fantastic aftersales, sent my hoover for a service (before the atrocious Battery hoover laws came in) came back with a service report, new motor and all stainless extensions replaced and a new multi surface head. £99

Fridges, freezers and washing machines I have never had a problem with at all.

But number one, manufactured to be repaired.

Ah Miele. My parents still have a Miele vacuum cleaner and it's as old as me. Impressive.

I've found the YouTube guy I previously watched about these sealed drums on washing machines and here's one of his other videos which discusses Miele. Very surprising (and disappointing). Come on Miele, dont' do it!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3LXPwAIY6LI

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

A subsidised canteen and leisure facility typifies what's wrong, really?

Once again, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[boogie man]

A sincere friendly piece of advice Andrew. Stay where you are and on no account move to the South East. I saw a consultant and had an urine flow test in April this year. I was told that I would be contacted in June and given a planned date.

I received a letter informing me that the date of the procedure would be sometime in early September, in a later letter I was informed that it had been delayed until late October, then another letter stating late November. I was seen last month, but this was only a 15 minute consultation, after waiting just under an hour.

Following that I was given a date of the 20th November to see a nurse who would demonstate how in insert a Catheter for myself. At the end of that demonstration I was provided with half a dozen catheters to be used following the procedure. This lulled me into thinking that the procedure would be carried out without much delay.

How wrong I was, on the 24th I received yet another letter informing me that my appointment date would be 20th March 2026!

I’d echo that. We’re in Kent and the GP service is appalling here. I really didn’t think it was possible for it to get any worse but have been proved wrong several times lately.

My wife is on the waiting list for a knee replacement, NHS best estimate is currently two years for an operation. Not surprisingly we’re thinking of going private.

 

[gman]

I’d echo that. We’re in Kent and the GP service is appalling here. I really didn’t think it was possible for it to get any worse but have been proved wrong several times lately.

My wife is on the waiting list for a knee replacement, NHS best estimate is currently two years for an operation. Not surprisingly we’re thinking of going private.

It wouldn't surprise me if this was an intentional tactic. My family, in-laws etc have all resorted to private many times, even with the dentist. Not only are we being squeezed more and more through taxation, fiscal drag, cost of living etc, but now we feel like we are getting far less public services for our money. God knows what the Local Authorities do with all the money, well, we do know: pensions.

 

[boogie man]

It wouldn't surprise me if this was an intentional tactic. My family, in-laws etc have all resorted to private many times, even with the dentist. Not only are we being squeezed more and more through taxation, fiscal drag, cost of living etc, but now we feel like we are getting far less public services for our money. God knows what the Local Authorities do with all the money, well, we do know: pensions.

I’m not sure it’s deliberate, more a result of massive underfunding and lack of investment in the NHS by successive governments, going on for decades. The result is catching up with us now, especially following the Covid epidemic. My wife is an ex NHS nurse specialist and could see the writing on the wall well before she took early retirement 13 years ago. My stepson and daughter in law also currently work for the NHS and both say that things have gone downhill massively in recent years. Buildings literally falling apart around their ears, computer systems that don’t work properly and thoroughly demotivated staff.

 

[gman]

I’m not sure it’s deliberate, more a result of massive underfunding and lack of investment in the NHS by successive governments, going on for decades. The result is catching up with us now, especially following the Covid epidemic. My wife is an ex NHS nurse specialist and could see the writing on the wall well before she took early retirement 13 years ago. My stepson and daughter in law also currently work for the NHS and both say that things have gone downhill massively in recent years. Buildings literally falling apart around their ears, computer systems that don’t work properly and thoroughly demotivated staff.

Yeah deliberate wasn't really the right word I was looking for. Perhaps more along the lines of knowing that a certain % would end up going private so not being overly concerned about the long wait times. I'm not really sure what the right word for that is. My wife is also a former nurse, in paediatrics specialising in oncology (brutal), and there was so many things that could have been improved with similar issues that you say, but suggestions including to help streamline and speed things up from many of the nurses would be ignored by middle management (surprise, surprise). Almost all of her nurse friends have since left because of the poor working conditions, the way they were treated and also the poor pay.

The curious thing I observed is how efficient private was. I'm not sure I agree that it's necessarily about a lack of funding, but more how the funding is used, or more accurately, wasted. Whether that be on obscene procurement costs or the vast middle management they seem to have. Until they get a grip on that, there will never be enough funding.

 

[JohnC6]

The government couldn't afford it but I often wonderded if those who paid for private health insurance..I did..got tax relief on the monthly contributions. I've paid in for 30-odd years and have saved the NHS a great deal of money having had a few ops and physio. On the other hand, I have used the NHS and to get to a private consultant you have to go through your doctor for referral.

By all accounts, maternity services are pretty awful. The radio phone-ins were about it this morning. My wife was in nursing for her whole career..including lecturing in Uni. She started off at The Western Infirmary Glasgow. She cringes when she hears what's going on these days and the lack of care. I often hear her say..'That would never happen in my day." The days of the fearsome all-powerful matron have gone although they are now back in a less formidable role. I think ,as with other services, bringing in graduates with no experience has been a mistake. Another good example is the police. If any job required common sense not degrees it's that one. I've heard a phrase re today's graduate nurses.".too posh to wash."Work previously carried out by doctors in surgeries is being carried out by paramedics. Highly qualified people but not doctors. I heard someone speaking about this re nurses on a ward. Two were fully qualified nurses, four were nursing asistants.

 

[Pixbarmy]

Flu figures! Don't panic Mr Mainwaring............................

Flu most common in children aged five to 14 as cases continue to rise in England

With no peak in sight, NHS England says there are now enough flu patients to fill more than three whole hospital trusts.

www.bbc.co.uk

My high school maths says total hospitalised with flu is 2,660 patients divided by total population of around 70,000,000 times 100 = .0038 per cent !

 

[ancient_mariner]

Flu figures! Don't panic Mr Mainwaring............................

Flu most common in children aged five to 14 as cases continue to rise in England

With no peak in sight, NHS England says there are now enough flu patients to fill more than three whole hospital trusts.

www.bbc.co.uk

My high school maths says total hospitalised with flu is 2,660 patients divided by total population of around 70,000,000 times 100 = .0038 per cent !

These are the hospitalised cases, not total flu cases. It's not a large proportion of the population, but 2660 is still quite a lot of people for this time of year.

 

[Pixbarmy]

Banks! Tried to log into our account and it won't let us in - you may have changed your phone number - we haven't! Call us on ************. We are experiencing high call numbers at the moment!!!! They shut the branch in our village. They shut the branch in the town. They shut the branch in the adjacent town. You may contact us via the app. Noooooooooooooo! UPDATE :- Had to download the app to get online access. Hate apps!

 

[andya700]

I absolutely hate it, when you buy something with a good product name, loads of good reviews, then it turns out to be rubbish. We bought a small, handheld Shark vacuum cleaner about a year ago and it has hardly any suction. I have made sure it is empty and fully charged, that the filters are OK, but it is useless, won't even pick up loose hairs.

 

[gman]

I absolutely hate it, when you buy something with a good product name, loads of good reviews, then it turns out to be rubbish. We bought a small, handheld Shark vacuum cleaner about a year ago and it has hardly any suction. I have made sure it is empty and fully charged, that the filters are OK, but it is useless, won't even pick up loose hairs.

Same as a Henry cordless I bought. Small debris gets stuck rattling around in the brush head section and can't get up the tube, even in max power mode.

 

[andya700]

Same as a Henry cordless I bought. Small debris gets stuck rattling around in the brush head section and can't get up the tube, even in max power mode.

The old Henry tub cleaners used to be brilliant, a favourite with many tradesmen for clearing up after jobs.

 

[gman]

The old Henry tub cleaners used to be brilliant, a favourite with many tradesmen for clearing up after jobs.

Yeah, I've still got my "pre-EU" 1200W one! Great little thing, can suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Which is why I was so surprised at how crap the cordless upright one is. I liked the idea of it being bagged, but it fills up fast so it's been designated to only the upstairs bedrooms.

 

[andya700]

Yeah, I've still got my "pre-EU" 1200W one! Great little thing, can suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Which is why I was so surprised at how crap the cordless upright one is. I liked the idea of it being bagged, but it fills up fast so it's been designated to only the upstairs bedrooms.

Since I was diagnosed with heart failure back in July, we have our old Dyson DC4 downstairs and the Vax, which is great for carpets upstairs. The Shark was for the staircase, but I had to use the DC4 at full stretch today, it nearly killed me.

 

[gman]

Since I was diagnosed with heart failure back in July, we have our old Dyson DC4 downstairs and the Vax, which is great for carpets upstairs. The Shark was for the staircase, but I had to use the DC4 at full stretch today, it nearly killed me.

It does kind of feel rather 1st world to have a separate vacuum cleaner for each floor lol

Our Dyson cordless (V12 or 14, can't mind which) is for downstairs as there's more work involved due to the dog and it's been surprisingly reliabvle, the Henry cordless would fill up in no time hence being resigned to upstairs. The Henry tub only gets broken out when doing DIY/renovating and also post-Christmas tree needle cleanup. Oh, and I also use the Henry tub to vacuum that top filter on the Dyson cordless which saves having to wash and dry it.

 

[Cockney]

5 month old puppy. We've been working on walking to heel and loose lead walking. Last few days we were making real progress.
Today, she reacted to every distraction, she never listened to me at all.
She's our 3rd Border Collie. First puppy in 15 years. I'd forgotten how hard it is.

 

[mj4456]

We have three ‘hoovers’, upstairs and stairs was ours and downstairs was my late mum’s, very loud but very effective, the garage vac makes an appearance in the event of a liquid spill, kept in the garage so not in the count.

 

[woof woof]

Mrs WW.

I think this is a woman thing. She can't have a phone or tablet in her hand without touching icons and/or swiping. Usually this isn't a problem as she has her own and can just get on with it but she recently moved contacts and we had to go through the PAC process and it hasn't gone smoothy and we needed to do this and that and she asked for help. I can't help if she is holding the phone as she can't read the screen and go through a process as she just can't stop herself from jabbing those icons and/or swiping, If I hold the phone she'll reach over me if I'm in range. It ends in an argument.

I think it's a woman thing.

 

[Mozthecat]

5 month old puppy. We've been working on walking to heel and loose lead walking. Last few days we were making real progress.
Today, she reacted to every distraction, she never listened to me at all.
She's our 3rd Border Collie. First puppy in 15 years. I'd forgotten how hard it is.

We recently decided rehoming a 5 month old beagle cross springer was a good life choice and the recall was fine at 6 months and gone at 7…

 

[Cockney]

We recently decided rehoming a 5 month old beagle cross springer was a good life choice and the recall was fine at 6 months and gone at 7…

Our Tilly seems to have taken a couple of retrograde steps as well. Recall is fine on a long lead, not trusted her off yet.
When I have her attention shes fine, any distractions and she " cocks a deaf un". Hopefully she grows out of the giddyness. She's too bright for her own good.

 

[JohnC6]

5 month old puppy. We've been working on walking to heel and loose lead walking. Last few days we were making real progress.
Today, she reacted to every distraction, she never listened to me at all.
She's our 3rd Border Collie. First puppy in 15 years. I'd forgotten how hard it is.

Those dogs are amongst the most intelligent breeds. Our neighbour used to have one. A lovely dog. It needed a lot of excercise though. I suppose that's why they are used for shepherding in the hills of Wales and Yorkshire. If I happen upon 'trials' on TV I get hooked watching them.. I've just Googled how fast they run. .30mph with bursts of 35mph.They can do that for 10-13 miles,too. No wonder they need lots of excercise.

 

[Cockney]

Those dogs are amongst the most intelligent breeds. Our neighbour used to have one. A lovely dog. It needed a lot of excercise though. I suppose that's why they are used for shepherding in the hills of Wales and Yorkshire. If I happen upon 'trials' on TV I get hooked watching them.. I've just Googled how fast they run. .30mph with bursts of 35mph.They can do that for 10-13 miles,too. No wonder they need lots of excercise.

She's our 3rd Border Collie John. I tend to take them over the golf course and hit a 9 iron for them to retrieve the ball Each shot is 250 yard run for them. They will do 1/2 hour with ease.
Unfortunately the weather is against that type of exercise though. Its surprising how much mental exercise tires them, so lots of training and treats. Her intelligence is actually a double edged sword with training.
I'm sure she will be a really good dog eventually. Shes losing puppy teeth at the moment, which always affects them.
Puppy stage is hard then with teens to look forward to.

 

[Marc]

She's our 3rd Border Collie John. I tend to take them over the golf course and hit a 9 iron for them to retrieve the ball Each shot is 250 yard run for them. They will do 1/2 hour with ease.
Unfortunately the weather is against that type of exercise though. Its surprising how much mental exercise tires them, so lots of training and treats. Her intelligence is actually a double edged sword with training.
I'm sure she will be a really good dog eventually. Shes losing puppy teeth at the moment, which always affects them.
Puppy stage is hard then with teens to look forward to.

It's been while since I played, but 250 yards with a 9 iron is impressive. I was chuffed if I hit it that far with a driver!

 

[Cockney]

It's been while since I played, but 250 yards with a 9 iron is impressive. I was chuffed if I hit it that far with a driver!

Me too Marc.
The 250 is her going there and back.

 

[Marc]

Me too Marc.
The 250 is her going there and back.

I did wonder. Thought you must've been hitting the greens of par 5s in one shot!

 

[Nod]

We all went round our 9 holes in par, despite being 20s/30s handicappers. Over a couple of coffees and a bacon sarnie! Well, have you seen the weather this morning?

 

[Cockney]

We all went round our 9 holes in par, despite being 20s/30s handicappers. Over a couple of coffees and a bacon sarnie! Well, have you seen the weather this morning?

Some of ours went out trying to get 9 in before the rain. It rained all last night so sodden and all winter greens. They're potty.