probably has the same capability, but has not attracted a lot of attention.

"the Flu Shot is all but useless around half the time"

which implies that it is helpful half the time. Seems like a good return on the investment of having one for anyone who would suffer significantly from having flu.

As to the wider issue of replacing the profit driven approach to pharmaceutical R&D, the problem is that this would require a vast level of new expenditure from the government. Admittedly it might work - but the failure of the USSR or China to be major pharmaceutical producers is a hint that it probably won't.

I'm not a US citizen, but it seems like a few hundred specific FOI requests will ensure that the officers will have enough to do to stop doing stuff like that...

Thanks for that. The UK being a country blessed with an oceanic climate doesn't usually get that sort of range of temperature. Not quite sure how the expansion issue is addressed in welded lines but it seems to work!

Most lines are welded now, so it doesn't happen any more

n/t

My doctor having advised me that I'm borderline diabetic - i.e. tending in that direction if things don't change, I really do need to improve my diet...

The oversight committees are still at work - as the stories about their failing in their job and Alexander's perjury before one of them suggests. So what are you suggesting - or are you just being gratuitously partisan?

http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/cms... The ILO definition of unemployment covers people who are: out of work, want a job, have actively sought work in the previous four weeks and are available to start work within the next fortnight; or out of work and have accepted a job that they are waiting to start in the next fortnight.

http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/cms... The ILO definition of unemployment covers people who are: out of work, want a job, have actively sought work in the previous four weeks and are available to start work within the next fortnight; or out of work and have accepted a job that they are waiting to start in the next fortnight. This is a good compromise between instant and totally discouraged. What it doesn't capture is the number of part time workers who would like more hours.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/ is a resource that may help you find other players

And, to be fair, they have to if the majority against them in the House isn't going to be even more lopsided. It's just one of the chronic failures of the US political system.

The Scandinavians have very homogeneous societies where the issues are relatively one dimensional, allowing the formation of coalitions without great difficulty. This was the experience in Germany, but is now breaking down because the far left 'Left' and Greens are splitting the left, whilst 'The Alternative' is offering a serious right wing challenge that splits the right, and is very problematic, whilst the collapse of the FDP has removed the traditional third party. The result has been a CDU/SPD coalition that is working well, but at the cost of alienating those who are not impressed to the point of their voting for those more extreme parties; I anticipate growing problems in Germany over the next few years.