IT was yet another radio phone-in where an anti-vaxxer had the temerity to argue with NI Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Ian Young.
In a moment of uncharacteristic insight, the anti-vaxxer said, "I'm not saying I know as much as Professor Young", and that's when he should have been cut off. I have come to the end of my tolerance of idiocy masquerading as opinion.
My long-suffering wife is constantly telling me to stop shouting at the TV and radio, reminding me the people being interviewed can't hear my screams of frustration. My children now comment on my regular outbursts, saying, "Dad's doing Gogglebox again."
"Just tell him to sod off. Why are you asking him anything? He couldn't find his own arse with both hands. Aye, right, and where did he get his doctorate in virology, a lucky bag?"
That outburst resulted in me having to spend 10 minutes explaining to my kids what a lucky bag was.
I've tried hard to remember that not all anti-vaxxers are tinfoil hat-wearing conspiracy theorists - there are some genuine people who, due to underlying anxiety issues, find the idea of a vaccine terrifying - but the vast majority of the anti-vaxx lobby hasn't only drank the Kool-Aid but are intent on getting as many of us as possible to join them.
Last month at Letterkenny University Hospital, Italian restaurateur Antonio Mureddu carried out what he termed a 'rescue' of patient Joe McCarron who was being treated for Covid.
Mr McCarron left the hospital with Mr Mureddu on Tuesday September 14 only to be readmitted two days later, and placed on a ventilator. Sadly, he never recovered and was buried on the Sunday.
That a member of the public was able to enter a hospital Covid ward and remove a patient in a wheelchair will no doubt be investigated and while extreme, this was far from an isolated incident.
Covid-denying anti-vaxx graffiti has been painted on hospital signs, health workers have been targeted with abuse and social media has turned into a sewer of misinformation and lies.
Only this week Health Minister Robin Swann was contacted by the PSNI and advised to review his security arrangements once again after yet more threats were issued against him.
Those individuals in the public eye who continue to promote the anti-vaxx agenda are complicit in this in so far as they give cover and legitimate these thugs.
Everyone, from builders, bakers and boxers, feel entitled to spout ill-informed opinions. They should be asked a few pertinent questions to back up their newly-discovered expertise.
For instance, did they spend six years in medical school? Did they then join a research unit specialising in virology, before publishing papers in an accredited medical journal which were peer-reviewed and replicated?
If not, then I'd suggest they shut up - just shut up - as they've absolutely no idea what they're talking about. I don't care how many Google searches they've done or how many conspiracies they believe in - we're dealing science, not science fiction.
In a time of pandemic, it's essential to have a united government issuing consensus decisions based on the best scientific advice available.
Our Assembly didn't fail during the week to live up to our lowest expectations by squabbling about the introduction of a vaccine passport which has proved successful in the south.
As for those who argue the adoption of a Covid passport is draconian, I'd point out we need a licence to drive a car, to get married, to own a firearm, to sell alcohol and even own a dog.
One more licence, carried for a limited amount of time, to help our beleaguered health service in the fight against Covid hardly seems a great imposition.
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THE Assembly's application website for the high street voucher had a bumpy start, almost crumbling on its first day. Well, who knew so many people would want a free £100?
I can't help thinking what someone sitting in Bristol or Birmingham would make of the news we were all being handed £100. On top of the billion-pound bung to the DUP for backing the Tories' Brexit plan, I suspect many on the big island will be sitting in petrol queues, wondering why so much of their taxes are being spent here.
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FINALLY, as a long-standing fan of the UFC I must congratulate Boris Johnson for creating petrol forecourt fight club. I've greatly enjoyed watching frustrated UK drivers boxing each other; not so much 'levelling up' as 'levelling down'.
