Newsworthy but not its own thread worthy

[JustKelli]

There is a lot more to this story but I will summarize, the EU wants to legislate that there be only one cord for all devices to make them more Universal... and big shocker here Apple is resisting because they say it stifles innovation.

Even scarier is as this story grows many people showed examples of having boxes full of cords that they no longer need or can use just in case they might need it in the future. I guess I'm in the minority where I just recycle mine immediately so it doesn't clutter up my drawers. But then again I'm just looking and I can see at least a dozen phones that still work but not currently active and they all have cords attached to them but at least they still have a purpose.

[alexora]

Originally Posted by JustKelli

There is a lot more to this story but I will summarize, the EU wants to legislate that there be only one cord for all devices to make them more Universal... and big shocker here Apple is resisting because they say it stifles innovation.

Even scarier is as this story grows many people showed examples of having boxes full of cords that they no longer need or can use just in case they might need it in the future. I guess I'm in the minority where I just recycle mine immediately so it doesn't clutter up my drawers. But then again I'm just looking and I can see at least a dozen phones that still work but not currently active and they all have cords attached to them but at least they still have a purpose.

Same chargers across the board makes sense.

I see it as a win-win.

[JustKelli]

Wally the Walrus is alive and well after disappearing for over 3 weeks after his "European Tour" that endeared him too curious locals as he visited harbor after harbor around the UK and Europe. He is easy to spot, he is the one sinking boats by tipping them over as he tries to climb up on them to sunbath. He recently showed up in Iceland after leaving France earlier this month.

I think he is getting homesick because he appears to be on his way back to the Canadian Arctic...

[JustKelli]

The "Two Michaels" are home safe and sound back on Canadian soil...

The Michaels arrived in Canada just one day after a British Columbia court dropped the extradition case against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou over fraud and conspiracy charges.

Meng had earlier Friday pleaded not guilty to all charges in a virtual appearance in New York court, where the judge signed off on a deferred prosecution agreement.

[Wallingford]

Originally Posted by JustKelli

Wally is alive and well after disappearing

Wow, I really let myself go on vacation.

[JustKelli]

If you live in the UK break out your piggy bank as prices skyrocket out of control due to trucking shortages including most gas stations running out of fuel... the military is currently being deployed to pick up the slack for drivers during this mess.

I'm sure alexora can expand on this story.

[mental]

Originally Posted by JustKelli

If you live in the UK break out your piggy bank as prices skyrocket out of control due to trucking shortages including most gas stations running out of fuel... the military is currently being deployed to pick up the slack for drivers during this mess.

I'm sure alexora can expand on this story.

I wish they would use the military for that here, They can't even unload cargo ships because there are no trucks to move it out of the ports to the warehouses or stores, causing price hikes and shortages they say will go on for another year +, Were not (offically) at war with anyone right now put the military to some use solving the problem, even just the national guard would be enough.

[alexora]

Originally Posted by JustKelli

If you live in the UK break out your piggy bank as prices skyrocket out of control due to trucking shortages including most gas stations running out of fuel... the military is currently being deployed to pick up the slack for drivers during this mess.

I'm sure alexora can expand on this story.

Petrol supply: Army put on
standby to ease fuel crisis

The Army is ready to help ease fuel supply problems after a fourth day of long queues and pump closures.

Up to 150 military tanker drivers will prepare to deliver to forecourts which have run dry because of panic buying.

The surge in demand came amid fears a driver shortage would hit fuel supply - which is plentiful at refineries.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "We are starting to see panic buying moderate with more grades of fuel available at more petrol stations."

The UK is estimated to be short of more than 100,000 lorry drivers - causing problems for a range of industries, including food suppliers and supermarkets, in recent months.

The government has said people needlessly buying fuel has led to queues at many petrol stations, with fuel running out in some places.

Motoring group the RAC said the price of a litre of unleaded petrol had risen by a penny since Friday to an eight-year high. It added it was aware a small number of retailers were hiking prices amid the soaring demand.

Meanwhile, there are mounting calls for key workers, such as health and social care staff, to receive priority access to fuel where it is available.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the move to place the Army on standby was a "sensible, precautionary step" and if troops had to be deployed, they would temporarily "provide the supply chain with additional capacity" to ease the pressure caused by increased fuel demand.

The BBC has been told that 75 military drivers are on standby initially, and another 75 could be added if needed. They require up to five days of specialised training.

Huw Merriman, a Conservative MP and chairman of the transport select committee, said readying the army was a "good example" of ministers trying to use as many levers at their disposal as possible, and would be used as a "last resort" if the situation did not stabilise in the next couple of days.

But Mr Merriman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the industry must explain how it planned to fix long-standing driver shortages rather than having the government constantly step in.

"These problems have been there for years because the average age of the driver is 55 years old, they're retiring, and the industry has not made this job attractive. For too long, working conditions have been poor, and those that are willing to tolerate it have been from abroad."

He said Brexit and other issues meant it was now "more attractive" for foreign drivers to work closer to home, and that the situation would only improve with better treatment of drivers.

The government has also authorised an extension to special driver licences that allow drivers to transport goods such as fuel.

ADR licences due to expire between 27 September and 31 December will have their validity extended until 31 January 2022, without refresher training or exams.

Labour said the latest response to the fuel crisis was "an admission of failure" and that asking the Army to step up was "a sticking plaster".

Leading fuel companies, including BP and Shell, have sought to reassure the public that supplies remain unaffected at source.

In a joint statement, they said that given "many cars are now holding more fuel than usual" they expected demand would "return to its normal levels in the coming days".

Doctors, nurses, and unions for teachers, prison and care staff have called for essential workers to be given priority for fuel.

Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of UK Homecare Association, warned that some people who depend on carers for tasks like taking pain medication could die if they are left without help. The trade union Unison has called on ministers to "designate fuel stations for the sole use of key workers".

Meanwhile, the NASUWT union urged the government to prioritise teachers for fuel access to prevent further disruption to children's education.

But Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association, said trying to decide who is and isn't an emergency worker and how they would prove this in petrol stations was "very complex" and "hopefully" a last resort.

Daniyal Ahsan, a junior doctor in London, told the BBC he went to 17 petrol stations after work on Monday evening and could not get any fuel and was concerned about the impact this would have on reducing patient waiting lists. He has since been able to fill up his car.

Some ambulance trusts have their own fuel pumps in their depots and their supplies are expected to be prioritised - but essential workers can still be caught out.

One ambulance driver in north London told the BBC he had visited several filling stations in his search for fuel.

"I had zero tank, I was on my reserve, the light was on, it was getting chaotic, my heart rate was going through the sky," he said, after finally buying fuel in Brent Cross.

Carol Curry, who needed fuel to drive her husband to a hospital appointment, said she blamed the media for frenzied scenes at the pumps.

"If nobody had said about this, the lorry drivers and everything, then this panic wouldn't have started," she said.

The government has temporarily exempted fuel companies from competition law, allowing them to work together to target supplies at areas most in need.

Temporary visas lasting until Christmas Eve for 5,000 foreign fuel tanker and food lorry drivers, and 5,500 poultry workers, have also been announced.

Nearly one million drivers qualified to drive heavy goods vehicles are being encouraged to rejoin the sector, and some 3,000 new recruits are expected to undertake short, intensive driving courses.

Factors including Brexit, the pandemic, pay levels and an aging workforce have all contributed to a shortage of lorry drivers.

After the UK left the EU, many European drivers returned to their home countries, or decided to work elsewhere because of the additional border bureaucracy and the impact it had on their income.

The pandemic also prompted many foreign drivers to return home and led to a huge backlog in HGV driver exams. Driver shortages have also been seen in EU countries, including Germany and Poland.

Source (that includes links to related stories):

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58713770

[S.B.]

When a government minister tweets :

"There is no fuel shortage

I repeat

THERE IS NO FUEL SHORTAGE!!!"

You know it's time to panic

[alexora]

Originally Posted by S.B.

When a government minister tweets :

"There is no fuel shortage

I repeat

THERE IS NO FUEL SHORTAGE!!!"

You know it's time to panic

Meanwhile, this is the situation on British streets:

You Tube

You Tube