Off Topic Thread 5.0

aloooof · 07-05-2020 5:51pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

A decent drop in the number of new cases today, hopefully that continues.

Encouraging figure today, lowest we've had since 22nd March. The 3-day average is down over 100 since as recently as Monday.

irishbucsfan · 07-05-2020 6:01pm

Panda Killa wrote: »

1/3 of people arriving into Ireland at Dublin airport aren't telling the authorities where they will be staying...
It's then impossible to check on whether or not they are self-isolating

How many people are arriving into Ireland?

Like it’s a third, but that has only just started and the people travelling currently are doing so in very extreme circumstances. Purely even getting a flight to Ireland that won’t cost an absolute fortune is difficult, if it wasn’t I’d have done it myself already

gp1990 · 07-05-2020 6:25pm

Hospital admissions with Covid-19 have reduced from 40 a day or more on average last week to 20 or fewer this week.

The average number of people in intensive care units has fallen from a peak of 140, to 100 last week, to 76 as of this morning.

The average number of people admitted to intensive care units was in the region of 4 to 6 people a day every day up to seven days ago. But in the last week it has been 2 each day.

there is a greater than 90% confidence that the reproduction rate averaged across the population is between 0.5 and 0.6.

Yes, yes I know any cases are still too many, but surely these figures can only be deemed (relatively) positive on the whole?

Neil3030 · 07-05-2020 7:13pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

How many people are arriving into Ireland?

Like it’s a third, but that has only just started and the people travelling currently are doing so in very extreme circumstances. Purely even getting a flight to Ireland that won’t cost an absolute fortune is difficult, if it wasn’t I’d have done it myself already

And are authorities even checking on those who do disclose the address/phone number they'll be staying? I'd be highly skeptical they can enforce it any meaningful way. It puts the idea in people's heads that they need to do self-isolate, which is about as much as you can hope. Most people will, a few idiots won't. Not sure how the cops having their phone number will change that.

Panda Killa · 07-05-2020 7:14pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

How many people are arriving into Ireland?

Like it’s a third, but that has only just started and the people travelling currently are doing so in very extreme circumstances. Purely even getting a flight to Ireland that won’t cost an absolute fortune is difficult, if it wasn’t I’d have done it myself already

671 didn't fill the forms at all
& 231 of those who did fill it out didn't respond to phone calls.
This is Dublin airport only for this week

errlloyd · 07-05-2020 8:54pm

Does anyone know anything about actually traveling abroad?

My OH lost her grandmother this week to Covid, they were quite close. She's from the states and has no family here at all. There won't be a funeral or anything, but if it was possible she would probably go home to be with family. (Instead of here, where she knows basically no one except me).

irishbucsfan · 07-05-2020 9:14pm

Panda Killa wrote: »

671 didn't fill the forms at all
& 231 of those who did fill it out didn't respond to phone calls.
This is Dublin airport only for this week

Those numbers are absolutely miniscule.

Not surprising people aren't responding to phone calls either, when you think about who'd be travelling at a time like this.

It's not a plausible to put anything like this in place with no planning and expect it to be successful outside of people who will voluntarily go out of their way to adhere to it. I'd say we could see the proportion of adherents go up as numbers increase and the proportion of people travelling in emergency situations decreases

Dave_The_Sheep · 07-05-2020 9:16pm

Did my shopping for the next ten days or so there earlier. People are definitely far more lax and there's a lot more out and about in groups than there were this time last week.

irishbucsfan · 07-05-2020 9:19pm

errlloyd wrote: »

Does anyone know anything about actually traveling abroad?

My OH lost her grandmother this week to Covid, they were quite close. She's from the states and has no family here at all. There won't be a funeral or anything, but if it was possible she would probably go home to be with family. (Instead of here, where she knows basically no one except me).

It completely depends on where you're talking about really, I think. If you can get a flight at an affordable price you can generally travel but would be expected to isolate in a lot of locations (just like Ireland). My OH was in a similar position.

If its a more common destination then your OH might be in luck. I don't know about the US's travel restrictions, I think citizens can return and are expected to isolate (including from her family I think unfortunately). Obviously she'd have to worry about getting back unless she's willing to accept an extended trip away until prices/availability suits for a return, and then take the two weeks of isolation in Ireland (which is what I effectively had to do myself, albeit I left early enough in March)

Squidgy Black · 07-05-2020 9:19pm

errlloyd wrote: »

Does anyone know anything about actually traveling abroad?

My OH lost her grandmother this week to Covid, they were quite close. She's from the states and has no family here at all. There won't be a funeral or anything, but if it was possible she would probably go home to be with family. (Instead of here, where she knows basically no one except me).

There's a non-essential travel ban, so unless it's essential travel you can't fly. In saying that, there's still regular flights scheduled for repatriations and stuff like that, so I'm not entirely sure what way it'd work in terms of them deeming a family death a reason for travel, especially if she's been living here a while.

Panda Killa · 07-05-2020 9:26pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Those numbers are absolutely miniscule.

Not surprising people aren't responding to phone calls either, when you think about who'd be travelling at a time like this.

It's not a plausible to put anything like this in place with no planning and expect it to be successful outside of people who will voluntarily go out of their way to adhere to it. I'd say we could see the proportion of adherents go up as numbers increase and the proportion of people travelling in emergency situations decreases

900 in 5 days isn't miniscule tbf..it seems the numbers at Dublin Port are quite high also...take other ports and airports...it's quite likely 2000 people in that timeframe have not complied with instructions.....don't forget....this is a country that lost its shít when 189 Bulgarians arrived

irishbucsfan · 07-05-2020 9:27pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

There's a non-essential travel ban, so unless it's essential travel you can't fly. In saying that, there's still regular flights scheduled for repatriations and stuff like that, so I'm not entirely sure what way it'd work in terms of them deeming a family death a reason for travel, especially if she's been living here a while.

The US travel restrictions don't apply to US citizens, unless there's been some change in that

irishbucsfan · 07-05-2020 9:34pm

Panda Killa wrote: »

900 in 5 days isn't miniscule tbf..it seems the numbers at Dublin Port are quite high also...take other ports and airports...it's quite likely 2000 people in that timeframe have not complied with instructions.....don't forget....this is a country that lost its shít when 189 Bulgarians arrived

Well over half a million people a week go through Dublin airport normally. 900 people is absolutely miniscule. No one is travelling through there who doesn't absolutely have to, there's all sorts of reasons they'll be rushing through airports and not stopping to fill out optional forms. Not even considering the fact just being in an airport currently is fairly terrifying.

Squidgy Black · 07-05-2020 9:40pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The US travel restrictions don't apply to US citizens, unless there's been some change in that

No but if she holds dual citizenship I'm not sure what way it'd be handled other than if she says it's a repatriation, because there's a non-essential travel ban on Irish citizens too. Best bet would be to try and get a hold of the US embassy and ask for their advice.

07-05-2020 10:00pm

What they've done with the leaving cert is a bit mad. I don't know what the solution is but I don't think this is it. I failed my mock and got around 200 points only to turn it around and get around 450. I wonder what predicted result I'd get.

Squidgy Black · 07-05-2020 10:17pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What they've done with the leaving cert is a bit mad. I don't know what the solution is but I don't think this is it. I failed my mock and got around 200 points only to turn it around and get around 450. I wonder what predicted result I'd get.

I did absolutely woeful in my mocks and failed two subjects at honours level (incl maths) and ended up dropping into ordinary level to get into college. Can't imagine my results would've been great. Considering the exams themselves are really just down to how well someone can revise I'm not sure how they can all of a sudden and say they've decided to do it on an assessment basis.

gp1990 · 07-05-2020 10:29pm

Surely social distancing is manageable in the case of the leaving cert?

If something like this - and with such importance - can't go ahead in July I think we can kiss goodbye to offices or schools opening on a widespread basis until after September

This may just be the biggest talking point from the government response to Covid yet. I don't see this being a popular decision

The Mocks were a farce in my school. I actually failed English and got an A1 in Spanish despite getting B in both in the LC. Some teachers didn't give a fk when marking them

Bazzo · 07-05-2020 10:29pm

Maybe they'll see sense and look to reform the whole system.

There was an opinion piece in the times a few weeks back that suggested an appeal which involved a suggested grade by another member of staff followed by a second appeal which allowed you to sit an actual exam. Seemed sensible and could whittle numbers down enough to allow appropriate social distancing

07-05-2020 10:39pm

Podge_irl · 07-05-2020 11:16pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

No but if she holds dual citizenship I'm not sure what way it'd be handled other than if she says it's a repatriation, because there's a non-essential travel ban on Irish citizens too. Best bet would be to try and get a hold of the US embassy and ask for their advice.

Dual citizenship would be irrelevant and there is no such thing as official repatriation. All she needs to say is that she is going home. She will have no bother getting to the US.

Getting back to Ireland would be the more difficult question.

Podge_irl · 07-05-2020 11:21pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I did absolutely woeful in my mocks and failed two subjects at honours level (incl maths) and ended up dropping into ordinary level to get into college. Can't imagine my results would've been great. Considering the exams themselves are really just down to how well someone can revise I'm not sure how they can all of a sudden and say they've decided to do it on an assessment basis.

I did fine in my mocks, but I wasn't taking them seriously - because they were not supposed to be taken seriously. I did significantly better in my actual exam. Also half my year cheated in the mocks by getting hold of the papers (which seemed counterproductive to me at the time, though had it been 15 years later apparently it would have been a great idea).

I am not going to judge whatever they choose to do because it is a terrible situation no matter what. It will never be fair. I got more points in my LC than anyone in my school had ever gotten (/humblebrag), I suspect if my "expected grades" were given as what I actually got they would have been rejected as unrealistic. Is there even a set up for that? I get that they do more continuous assessment these days but I imagine swathes of children will get screwed.

Neil3030 · 08-05-2020 12:02am

Thing is though, if everyone bombs their mocks, and the CAO essentially grades on a curve, would the ultimate allocation of places be any different?

Richie_Rich89 · 08-05-2020 12:28am

gp1990 wrote: »

Hospital admissions with Covid-19 have reduced from 40 a day or more on average last week to 20 or fewer this week.

The average number of people in intensive care units has fallen from a peak of 140, to 100 last week, to 76 as of this morning.

The average number of people admitted to intensive care units was in the region of 4 to 6 people a day every day up to seven days ago. But in the last week it has been 2 each day.

there is a greater than 90% confidence that the reproduction rate averaged across the population is between 0.5 and 0.6.

Yes, yes I know any cases are still too many, but surely these figures can only be deemed (relatively) positive on the whole?

Not sure the figures being lower is wholly positive because it could lead to the general populace getting more complacent around social distancing guidelines.

Might be no bad thing to artificially inflate the numbers being announced every day so people are more likely to toe the line. I think that would be a good idea. Maybe announce figures twice what they actually are or something along those lines.

Neil3030 · 08-05-2020 1:28am

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Might be no bad thing to artificially inflate the numbers being announced every day so people are more likely to toe the line. I think that would be a good idea. Maybe announce figures twice what they actually are or something along those lines.

Bad idea. Last thing you want is the public losing faith in government information.

Cross the bridge of complacency when we inevitably come to it.

Stheno · 08-05-2020 8:59am

Pigsback have a cordless hair clipper on offer if anyone is looking

Synode · 08-05-2020 9:13am

Neil3030 wrote: »

Thing is though, if everyone bombs their mocks, and the CAO essentially grades on a curve, would the ultimate allocation of places be any different?

They were saying on the radio yesterday that it's not just based on the mocks. It's based on performance over the whole year in class, homework etc.

sydthebeat · 08-05-2020 9:18am

Synode wrote: »

They were saying on the radio yesterday that it's not just based on the mocks. It's based on performance over the whole year in class, homework etc.

It should be based over the whole leaving cert cirriculum period.....Be that 2 or 3 years. A lot of applicable knowledge that goes into the leaving cert happens in 5th year.

kuang1 · 08-05-2020 9:24am

Stheno wrote: »

Pigsback have a cordless hair clipper on offer if anyone is looking

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1?q=hc4250+remington&client=ms-android-samsung-gn-rev1&biw=412&bih=718&tbs=vw:l,ss:44&prmd=isvn&sxsrf=ALeKk01iZ5XOAY6-YTNJMfLzvJY-quloug:1588925971294&prds=num:1,of:1,epd:14775807135096528444,paur:ClkAsKraX-QpgtsZm79EjdWwWC6OL1dS9llfWSARmomHJR3wCBRWC1No4ncMTOH-6Q1Qh1rDcShIldykBCJnORfJZsQlZtIb3sacSjhzrJPKMk4l1kazG6zmVxIZAFPVH70kncpSYbv6HeH0rDmUkms7vJkulg,prmr:1,pid:14775807135096528444,cs:1

I have this and it's the best gadget/item I have ever owned. (and I like my gadgets!)

I've totally abandoned razors and use this on my face as well as my head. So I'm never clean shaven anymore, but this thing gets very close, with no pain, irritation or nicks.

Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

08-05-2020 9:37am

I shaved my head about 4 weeks ago and grew a beard and now I have perfect upside down head.

kuang1 · 08-05-2020 9:53am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I shaved my head about 4 weeks ago and grew a beard and now I have perfect upside down head.

As in razor shaved?
Or a "blade 1"?

errlloyd · 08-05-2020 10:14am

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It completely depends on where you're talking about really, I think. If you can get a flight at an affordable price you can generally travel but would be expected to isolate in a lot of locations (just like Ireland). My OH was in a similar position.

Squidgy Black wrote: »

No but if she holds dual citizenship I'm not sure what way it'd be handled other than if she says it's a repatriation, because there's a non-essential travel ban on Irish citizens too. Best bet would be to try and get a hold of the US embassy and ask for their advice.

Thanks, these were particularly helpful post.

She is a singular US Citizen so it looks like she'd be okay to travel - but it seems quite clear I wouldn't be going with her and there would be periods of self isolation. I am still not quite sure on what the deal with getting her back to Ireland would be, but I guess the US embassy is a good place to start!

Buer · 08-05-2020 10:32am

Synode wrote: »

They were saying on the radio yesterday that it's not just based on the mocks. It's based on performance over the whole year in class, homework etc.

I'd still have been f*cked. I mitched and lazed about for about 80% of my leaving cert cycle. I knuckled down a bit the last month and a family member who is a maths/science teacher gave me some grinds for the last 6 weeks. I got myself enough to get my 3rd choice course. But I wouldn't have been going to college at all if they applied some sort of continuous assessment. It's incredibly unfair to do that retrospectively at this point.

Surely they can arrange some sort of reduced exam timetable i.e. only one paper for English, Irish, maths etc. Shortened duration for exams i.e. 3 hours becomes 2 hours and potentially condensing the schedule so they can run 3 exams on a day where the likelihood is that any single student would only be doing 2 of those exams such as chemistry, history and music all to be done on the same day etc.

Am I completely off in thinking that the unions are likely to be a massive stumbling block to the whole thing and refusing to play ball?

There are going to be a significant number of students totally f*cked over and I would say we'll see a massive percentage of students looking to take the LC next year.

prawnsambo · 08-05-2020 10:35am

Buer wrote: »

I'd still have been f*cked. I mitched and lazed about for about 80% of my leaving cert cycle. I knuckled down a bit the last month and a family member who is a maths/science teacher gave me some grinds for the last 6 weeks. I got myself enough to get my 3rd choice course. But I wouldn't have been going to college at all if they applied some sort of continuous assessment. It's incredibly unfair to do that retrospectively at this point.

Surely they can arrange some sort of reduced exam timetable i.e. only one paper for English, Irish, maths etc. Shortened duration for exams i.e. 3 hours becomes 2 hours and potentially condensing the schedule so they can run 3 exams on a day where the likelihood is that any single student would only be doing 2 of those exams such as chemistry, history and music all to be done on the same day etc.

Am I completely off in thinking that the unions are likely to be a massive stumbling block to the whole thing and refusing to play ball?

There are going to be a significant number of students totally f*cked over and I would say we'll see a massive percentage of students looking to take the LC next year.

I think the appeals process is designed to make you shut up Buer.

aloooof · 08-05-2020 10:39am

Can't remember where I saw it, but there was talk of a 2-step appeals process. Step 1, another teacher would give the grade. Step 2, the student could sit an exam. Might give some bit of leeway. It's a pretty sh*t situation all round and it feels like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

The thing I don't understand is that the LC was scheduled to start on 29th July (and run for 2-3 weeks). If that's being cancelled, is it realistic to expect schools to re-open for next year just 4 or so weeks later?

prawnsambo · 08-05-2020 10:42am

aloooof wrote: »

Can't remember where I saw it, but there was talk of a 2-step appeals process. Step 1, another teacher would give the grade. Step 2, the student could sit an exam. Might give some bit of leeway. It's a pretty sh*t situation all round and it feels like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

The thing I don't understand is that the LC was scheduled to start on 29th July (and run for 2-3 weeks). If that's being cancelled, is it realistic to expect schools to re-open for next year just 4 or so weeks later?

I'm guessing here, but I suspect that when they looked at starting then, the logistics of getting them marked and results out in time just defeated them.

sydthebeat · 08-05-2020 10:44am

If they end up with a split system where a significant portion of students opt to sit an exam (let's say 40%) then that will be a complete cluster fcuk.....

You couldn't have two separate scoring systems trading off for the same end goals

08-05-2020 10:45am

Buer wrote: »

I'd still have been f*cked. I mitched and lazed about for about 80% of my leaving cert cycle. I knuckled down a bit the last month and a family member who is a maths/science teacher gave me some grinds for the last 6 weeks. I got myself enough to get my 3rd choice course. But I wouldn't have been going to college at all if they applied some sort of continuous assessment. It's incredibly unfair to do that retrospectively at this point.

Surely they can arrange some sort of reduced exam timetable i.e. only one paper for English, Irish, maths etc. Shortened duration for exams i.e. 3 hours becomes 2 hours and potentially condensing the schedule so they can run 3 exams on a day where the likelihood is that any single student would only be doing 2 of those exams such as chemistry, history and music all to be done on the same day etc.

Am I completely off in thinking that the unions are likely to be a massive stumbling block to the whole thing and refusing to play ball?

There are going to be a significant number of students totally f*cked over and I would say we'll see a massive percentage of students looking to take the LC next year.

How about producing multiple versions of the exams and staggering the starting time. The big challenge of the LC is sitting everyone at the same time. If there are 10 versions, it doesn't matter if one gets leaked.

Buer · 08-05-2020 10:46am

prawnsambo wrote: »

I think the appeals process is designed to make you shut up Buer.

It seems that appeals process is pretty ineffective!

b.gud · 08-05-2020 10:49am

prawnsambo wrote: »

I'm guessing here, but I suspect that when they looked at starting then, the logistics of getting them marked and results out in time just defeated them.

This would be my thoughts too. The leaving cert isn't a simple multiple choice exam that they could run through a machine for marking. It takes a lot of time for marking, plus you need to give students the chance to appeal their results.

Another possible reason is that it potentially double the work on schools. First they need to prepare the logistics for a socially distanced leaving cert. Then once that is done they need to throw all that out and start prepping for a full return to school that is socially distanced

Buer · 08-05-2020 10:50am

Deleted User wrote: »

How about producing multiple versions of the exams and staggering the starting time. The big challenge of the LC is sitting everyone at the same time. If there are 10 versions, it doesn't matter if one gets leaked.

Can see a couple of big problems with that. Firstly, what if one paper is easier than another? You'll have people threatening legal action. Secondly, who is going to draft 10 different versions of every exam?

I think we just identify central locations with sufficient space and hold the leaving cert with the necessary spacing between individuals e.g. the RDS, community centres, the basketball arena etc.

It really does not appear to be an impossible situation or even close to it. The alternative that is being suggested right now seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

The Lost Sheep · 08-05-2020 10:58am

Buer wrote: »

I'd still have been f*cked. I mitched and lazed about for about 80% of my leaving cert cycle. I knuckled down a bit the last month and a family member who is a maths/science teacher gave me some grinds for the last 6 weeks. I got myself enough to get my 3rd choice course. But I wouldn't have been going to college at all if they applied some sort of continuous assessment. It's incredibly unfair to do that retrospectively at this point.

Surely they can arrange some sort of reduced exam timetable i.e. only one paper for English, Irish, maths etc. Shortened duration for exams i.e. 3 hours becomes 2 hours and potentially condensing the schedule so they can run 3 exams on a day where the likelihood is that any single student would only be doing 2 of those exams such as chemistry, history and music all to be done on the same day etc.

Am I completely off in thinking that the unions are likely to be a massive stumbling block to the whole thing and refusing to play ball?

There are going to be a significant number of students totally f*cked over and I would say we'll see a massive percentage of students looking to take the LC next year.

I'd have been totally f****d as well. Anxiety in exams leads to not doing too well in exams....
You cant do it retrospectively but future years should have more continuous assessment in most subjects.
Dont think reduced exam timetable is needed either. Just hire more invigilators

prawnsambo wrote: »

I'm guessing here, but I suspect that when they looked at starting then, the logistics of getting them marked and results out in time just defeated them.

dont have teachers supervising the exams. Get the people who invigilate third level exams and have a recruitment process for additional invigilators and train them to supervise the exams and this frees up teachers to just correct exams.

Deleted User wrote: »

How about producing multiple versions of the exams and staggering the starting time. The big challenge of the LC is sitting everyone at the same time. If there are 10 versions, it doesn't matter if one gets leaked.

would open up whole case of worms and complaints about fairness.

Buer wrote: »

Can see a couple of big problems with that. Firstly, what if one paper is easier than another? You'll have people threatening legal action. Secondly, who is going to draft 10 different versions of every exam?

I think we just identify central locations with sufficient space and hold the leaving cert with the necessary spacing between individuals e.g. the RDS, community centres, the basketball arena etc.

It really does not appear to be an impossible situation or even close to it. The alternative that is being suggested right now seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

wouldnt needed venues like rds. Just use existing schools. Have extra staff supervising the exams. Handing out papers and instead of 1 hall in school for exams just have students doing exams in smaller groups in classrooms

Stheno · 08-05-2020 11:02am

Lads,

Need a bit of advice for those of you with young kids

One of the guys on my team in work has had a new baby and muggins here is in charge of organising a gift.

Along with a baby/Mum gift we have decided we should get something small for his two year old so they dont feel left out.

Do two year olds generally like colouring books and crayons or should I just go for a teddy bear of some kind? I've no idea about this sort of stuff

Yeah_Right · 08-05-2020 11:02am

Looking at the numbers of people coming into the country and not declaring where they are self isolating or not answering the phone when contacted about it, why aren't they just put into a hotel near the airport/port they arrived at for 2 weeks of forced isolation. Seems the obvious solution.

Yeah_Right · 08-05-2020 11:03am

Stheno wrote: »

Lads,

Need a bit of advice for those of you with young kids

One of the guys on my team in work has had a new baby and muggins here is in charge of organising a gift.

Along with a baby/Mum gift we have decided we should get something small for his two year old so they dont feel left out.

Do two year olds generally like colouring books and crayons or should I just go for a teddy bear of some kind? I've no idea about this sort of stuff

A rugby ball. Obviously.

08-05-2020 11:07am

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Looking at the numbers of people coming into the country and not declaring where they are self isolating or not answering the phone when contacted about it, why aren't they just put into a hotel near the airport/port they arrived at for 2 weeks of forced isolation. Seems the obvious solution.

The WHO approach is built around stamping out infections when they occur rather than completely shutting things down at borders. Goods are still moving which means the virus can still come into the country, it makes more sense to use a strong track, trace and isolate system for proven cases rather than a macro travel ban.

At least that's my impression of it.

Stheno · 08-05-2020 11:09am

Yeah_Right wrote: »

A rugby ball. Obviously.

Already has one if I know Dad

Buer · 08-05-2020 11:10am

Stheno wrote: »

Lads,

Need a bit of advice for those of you with young kids

One of the guys on my team in work has had a new baby and muggins here is in charge of organising a gift.

Along with a baby/Mum gift we have decided we should get something small for his two year old so they dont feel left out.

Do two year olds generally like colouring books and crayons or should I just go for a teddy bear of some kind? I've no idea about this sort of stuff

Crayons are probably fractionally too old for a 2 year old and they'll just write on walls if they can hold the crayon properly. If you look on Smyths website, they've a rake of things and you can filter by age (18 months to 3 years).

If they're in lockdown and have a garden, think of something they can use outside. When the kids were 2, we bought a little play tent in IKEA for the summer. They loved it. Was their own little place and kept them in the shade in the garden too.

https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/play-houses-and-tents/paw-patrol-4-sided-tent/p/167477

For the parents, I'd recommend condoms.

aloooof · 08-05-2020 11:10am

Has there been any more news on the app to assist track and track? Originally was suggested it'd be ready mid-May. Obviously would need a large uptake to make it worthwhile.

08-05-2020 11:15am

Buer wrote: »

Can see a couple of big problems with that. Firstly, what if one paper is easier than another? You'll have people threatening legal action. Secondly, who is going to draft 10 different versions of every exam?

I think we just identify central locations with sufficient space and hold the leaving cert with the necessary spacing between individuals e.g. the RDS, community centres, the basketball arena etc.

It really does not appear to be an impossible situation or even close to it. The alternative that is being suggested right now seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

I don't think those problems are as big as the issues with the proposed system.

I used to do past papers over and over to study for the LC. If you know the material on the paper, it's deemed easier. I don't think some papers are objectively easier than others. They used to follow a set formula.

As of who will set 10 papers? That's hardly an issue surely. I could create 10 maths papers over the weekend.

mfceiling · 08-05-2020 1:42pm

Stheno wrote: »

Lads,

Need a bit of advice for those of you with young kids

One of the guys on my team in work has had a new baby and muggins here is in charge of organising a gift.

Along with a baby/Mum gift we have decided we should get something small for his two year old so they dont feel left out.

Do two year olds generally like colouring books and crayons or should I just go for a teddy bear of some kind? I've no idea about this sort of stuff

Something musical like drums or a tambourine. This will negate Buer's suggestion of condoms for the parents.

My brother has a 3 year old boy and he recently sent me a video where the young lad found a referee's whistle in the house. He seems to be having great fun blowing it at full whack for 6 to 7 hours a day.

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