mikelincs

Very strong acid is is easily obtainable from DIY shops for cleaning cement off brickwork. One of the major problems with the quick treatment is which acid was used, if it's Hydrochloric, then water will wash it off, but if it's Sulphuric then a small amount of water will cause more problems as it reacts with the acid to produce a lot of heat, so you need copious amounts of water to avoid burning as well.

Mr Muscle Drain cleaner is a mixture of very strong alkalis, Sodium Hypochlorite and Sodium hydroxide, these can also cause severe burns as indicated on the labelling

Pulaski

What illustrious company we are in.

Pizzawheel

Back in my youth it wasn't uncommon for chaps to pack a couple of jif-bottles of bleach, on the principle that it's easier to get that on an assailants (assaillees?) face before they can get the knife/gun on you.

What goes around comes around.

scrubbedexpat142

From Sky News -

dave_j

The problem with headlines like this is that you have ask yourselves whether they are factually accurate or whether they betray a hidden, or even overt, agenda. The important feature is that the report is based on police reporting suggesting that "Police record 10% rise in crime in England and Wales, with 18% increase in violent crime and significant rise in murder rate".

This is linked in the story to a corresponding fall in police numbers leading the reader to link the two parts of the story together with a suggestion that the one is a cause of the other.

The problem with police statistics is that historically they have been subject to different methods of accumulating data. It is true that recently, ie since 2013. there has been a rise in police reporting of serious crime. I would suggest that the posters interested in the story look at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulat...sexualoffences.

An interesting comparison are the figures collated by the CSEW (Crime Survey of England and Wales). The ONS concludes that "For the population groups and offences it covers, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is the best source for assessing long-term trends in violent crime as the survey’s methodology has remained consistent over time."

What a comparison of the data shows is that while police reporting figures are rising to approach those collected by the CSEW numbers suggested that more crime is being reported, overall serious crime has continued to fall since a high peak in 1995.

A responsible journalist would have researched the story and provided a wider appreciation of the figures rather than cherry pick headline numbers. So was the reporter simply lazy or was the reporter trying to portray a story to influence the public in a political way?

Whose side is Sky News on at the moment?

BristolUK

So the increase in murders is because previously not all murders were reported?

Whichever Conservative government will allow Murdoch to own 100% of Sky.

scrubbedexpat142

The BBC and some broadsheets are carrying broadly the same message as Sky, complete with caveats & qualifications re. the statistics.

dave_j

Note that I did say 'cherry pick'. I appreciate that serious crime doesn't get more serious than murder, but simply to sensationalise the issue by leading with this could mislead intentionally or otherwise. I see that the online BBC news site did include mention of the CSEW figures noting 'Despite the rise in crime recorded by police, the Crime Survey of England and Wales, based on people's experiences of crime, showed a 7% drop.' but it didn't stop the BBC leading with the headline 'Largest crime rise in England and Wales for 10 years' which is not supported by the CSEW statistics.

Reporters are becoming simply that. They report that X said Y without comment on whether Y is true, whether X has an agenda or whether the reporter has an interest. In this respect Trump has a point and such activity could result in fake or distorted news, but then he would know all about that since he's mastered the technique for himself.

Journalism should rise above this as it drags the profession into the gutter.

scrubbedexpat142

Sounds like a case of X saying Y!

scrubbedexpat142

From today's news -

Admittedly her Father was present...

mikelincs

They have apologised and rescinded the fine, said the enforcement people were a bit overzealous...

Shard

Overzealous or just plain stupid. Why anyone would think it fit to issue a fine in this situation beggars belief.

dave_j

Wot's wrong wiv Britain?
Arll tell ya wot's wrong.
Winning! Ah carnt moan about it! Wish ah was french, ah could moan all day then!
England 1-0 France: Jodie Taylor goal secures Euro 2017 semi-final place - BBC Sport

dave_j

Thank god, I can start moaning again...
Women's Euro 2017: England knocked out in semi-finals by Netherlands - BBC Sport