Early Risers.

[Happy Hippo]

39 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Quite often fish featured quite strongly with red meat rarely if ever. This was often backed up by the finding in rubbish pits of the food remains of shellfish and other fish remains. Add to that that a piscean diet is healthier even than a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet is actually the unhealthiest. This leads me to conclude that our ancestors diet was fish based rather than red meat. The taste for red meat probably comes from the Neanderthals, 12.5% of us has their genes and 60% of their diet was red meat.

From a more practical viewpoint, fish are easier to catch, and large red meat canisters can have a nasty habit of fighting back.

 

I always smile about the 'religious' reasons that certain faiths avoid pork as it is 'dirty'.

 

The truth is, pork meat goes off very, very quickly in hot climates, so would not be considered useful.  As it rots, it smells and therefore is considered dirty.

 

Sensibility suggests that if that is the case you avoid it.

 

Since human flesh and pork is supposedly similar, you can understand the reason that they want to plant their deceased within 48 hours of death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

7 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

 

Since human flesh and pork is supposedly similar, you can understand the reason that they want to plant their deceased within 48 hours of death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope your not suggesting cannibalism.

Edited May 16, 2020 by PhilJ W

[jamie92208]

48 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Morning Jamie - do you mind if I send SWMBO over?  She is wearing a job lot of dental putty over a badly broken molar because there is no service of any kind here.  The Gummint suggested they would set up emergency clinics with PPE precautions but only two seem to exist and both are only taking referrals from their own patient lists.  So - no tooth wrangling of any sort for the duration although there are suggestions that more urgent-treatment locations will open in June or July.  

I hope she gets sorted out soon Rick.  You would of coursecbe welcome to send her over but the next available appointments with DrcDecran are towards the end of June.

 

Talk of specific slang. There was even different slang between us donkey wallopers,as we were known in the county, and the city slickers. In Leeds, thieves were known as gannifs, which I believe is a corruption of a yiddish word. The pits also had their own language.  Galliwer for a pit pony for instance, and if someone was seen running, it was said that they were trying to catch the last rope.  That was a reference to the fact that each trip of the cage was known as a rope. Man riding ropes at the start and finish of each shift were wound slower than production ropes. When Saville Colliery was in production on my patch, they ran at 72 ropes per hour.  If you missed the last man riding rope you didn't get paid for the shift. As an aside it was a joy to watch a skilled winding engine man at work.

 

Jamie

[iL Dottore]

18 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

......Quite often fish featured quite strongly with red meat rarely if ever. This was often backed up by the finding in rubbish pits of the food remains of shellfish and other fish remains. Add to that that a piscean diet is healthier even than a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet is actually the unhealthiest. This leads me to conclude that our ancestors diet was fish based rather than red meat...

In evolutionary biology one of the hypotheses is that, at some point during our evolution, we were semi-acquatic, with a number of things supporting that hypothesis: firstly, the way our body hair aligns itself/lies along our bodies is more characteristic of aquatic mammals than non-acquatic mammals (the next time you go for swim with your dog, note how more aerodynamic [aquadynamic?] your body hair is when wet than Fido’s); secondly a semi-aquatic existence would  have provided early humans with easy access to abundant fish and seafood - a rich source of the fatty acids needed for big brain development (a theory supported by archaeological findings of huge seaside middens containing hundreds and thousands of shellfish shells).

 

There have been some interesting investigations into the diet of early humans. One examined how a group of humans would manage living, primarily on fruit, raw vegetables, berries and nuts without the ability to cook and without access to meat (postulated as the pre-fire-use diet of early humans). The volunteers all quit one or two weeks into the experiment, not because of malnutrition (specialists had calculated how much fruit, raw vegetables, berries and nuts they HAD to eat each day to remain healthy), but because to avoid malnutrition, volunteers would need to be eating the completely raw diet 8 - 12 hours/day. And, for various reasons, the volunteers just couldn’t do it. 
 

Modern humans can’t eat like a proto human, cooking food and access to readily available protein (Meat, fish) has changed our gut over the centuries as these two things allowed for a bigger calorific and nutritional intake in a much shorter period of time in a much more easily digestible form. Most of our nearest relatives, the various great apes, when observed in the wild, are seen to be spending the best part of their day eating - simply to get enough nourishment.
 

Another interesting insight into the role of foodstuffs in the way we, as humans, have developed over time, comes from the work of forensic archaeologists (the correct term?). In one study I read about, they compared the skeletal remains of humans who lived in the first “towns” (basically large villages) with the skeletal remains of hunter gatherers from the same time period. Knowing that the townsfolk were eating a predominantly grain, fruit and vegetable-based diet with minimal meat (a type of diet recommended today by nutritionists), they expected the townspeople to be healthier than the hunter gatherers – who lived primarily on the meats they caught, eked out by found berries, nuts, fruit and funghi. To the researchers surprise they found that, overall, the hunter gatherers were much healthier (and taller!) than the townspeople who had evidence of suffering from many of those diseases, such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies, associated with a poor diet. ThIs was a most unexpected result, given that the researchers were initially expecting the townsfolk with their “ideal“ diet to have been healthier than their hunter gatherer counterparts.
 

I think it would be interesting to compare the amount of time spent preparing and cooking food (from raw ingredients) between predominantly meat eating cultures and predominantly vegetarian cultures. I suspect the vegetarian cultures will be spending a lot more time in the selection of foodstuffs to make up a balanced diet as well as the preparation and the cooking thereof than meat eaters.

 

As much as I am a carnivore, access to abundant and varied seafood and fish, would certainly entice me to becoming a pisceterian. Unfortunately, not a viable option here in Switzerland.
 

Cheers

 

iD

[iL Dottore]

21 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

I hope your not suggesting cannibalism.

Ah, the life of a werewolf: vegetarian by day, humanitarian by full moon!

[45156]

7 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

For me, one of the best interpretations of some of the music of this era is in Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Round Midnight: a Box set of the three albums she recorded with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra (band leader and arranger who worked with, amongst others, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole). The title track being particularly atmospheric, evoking - for me - a sense of a cold, wet, Autumn evening in Chicago, viewed from within a warm bar, with a glass of bourbon in hand... Heartily recommended.

 

Funny that you should mention that album, Flavio - it's one that is near to the top and front of my CD cabinet, and is never all that far from my CD player, as it is also one of my favourite recordings.

 

[45156]

Afternoon All

 

All posts have been read and rated, and greetings of the warmest sort are sent to all fellow ERs, whether ailing, celebrating (if possible), or just having a Saturday. 

 

Not a great deal has happened here chez 45156/30747, but we completed the 500 piece Wentworth jigsaw puzzle last night - it took just under two weeks to do it, in half hour stints just when the mood took us - we have now got a smaller one, which has a transport theme - road meets rail by Malcolm Root.  It's only a 250 piece, but it should prove interesting.  Oh, and I accompanied 30747 on her walk this morning, and one of the pregnant mares in one of the fields on the way round is no longer pregnant, but has a lovely little foal wandering very shakily by her side.  And the hills are gradually getting less steep.

 

Back tomorrow

Regards to All

Stewart

 

[Natalie]

Hi,

Can't say that I am in a good place atm but at least ER was a place of relative decency and indeed sanctuary from the general nastiness of society. I don't feel that currently it is a place where I want to post any personal thoughts or feelings any more. I have taken the unprecedented step for me of blocking a poster in here as I really don't want to read anymore of their posts some of which I feel are quite nasty and actually disgust me.

 

Sorry but that is how I feel and the best way for me to respond. I have the issue so have dealt with it the way that works for me.

Edited May 16, 2020 by Natalie

[Simon G]

Afternoon all,

 

Another cool and dull day here, but plenty outside has been done.  Newly constructed cold frame has been painted, a third row of pea seeds planted, some weeding done, and more wood moved from condemned shed to alternative storage behind the garage.  There might just be enough space behind the garage for all the wood I plan to move there.  We may have been in lockdown for nearly 8 weeks, but there still seems to be plenty to do around the place.

 

Now it is time to head back outside for the next task, which is probably more weeding!

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

9 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Water for food chart

Could you please tell me the source of this information? It's something I can use.

I'll send you a note. I'm happy to share the spreadsheet. I compiled it some years ago and (foolishly) did not make notes on sources. This was done mostly for my own understanding. It was inspired by a National Geographic articles about water consumption (there were several over the years) and what it takes to feed >7 billion people. I suspect in the end there were multiple sources (print and online) and the data may contain errors.

[Ozexpatriate]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

In evolutionary biology one of the hypotheses is that, at some point during our evolution, we were semi-acquatic,

Presumably pre-H. Sapiens primates? I had thought the H. xxxx, proto-humans were land locked great rift valley primates, which would be inconsistent with being notionally semi-aquatic.

[Tony_S]

Today has now got exciting as I can follow my Amazon parcel complete its last few stops. Not toys but a replacement case for a garage door remote fob. When I looked for it the other day it seemed to have mysteriously broken overnight. I thought I was going to need a new one and have to watch YouTube for instructions but I was able to buy a new case. It would seem people manage to break them quite frequently. 
We got a Royal Mail delivery this morning, elastic for masks and masking tape for painting toys. We are not planning to go anywhere but Aditi made a couple of masks just in case we have to go somewhere where they are required. I did have to service the sewing machine as it hasn’t been used much this century. Amazingly after applying oil it runs just like a sewing machine now. In the sewing box Aditi found a kit for making a stuffed-toy squirrel. Our nieces should soon receive this. I think she originally bought it to make for our nephew when he was little. He is 33 now. 
Tony
 

Edited May 16, 2020 by Tony_S

[PeterBB]

Hi Guys,

Still major problems in accessing the site.  Have read a number of posts but suddenly I can only read and not 'comment' or post.  To do so I have to come out and again redo password twice via the 'forgot password' route.  Today I managed to get on and found some 20 pages so have to admit that I skipped quite a few.

 

Items I can remember from nearly 2 hours:

Vaccination - just when will the anti-vaxers realise that they are the people causing the rest of us a problem by stating it as a 'freedom'  that many people have put their lives into making better for all.  I have heard that Hyde Park is 'crowded' with anti-lockdown 'freedom being taken away' protesters - let us see the spike in Covid-19.

Veganism - agree that they are generally processed foods and odd to me.  Vegetarianism - not my taste but would find it better if this group and especially the former mentioned group would just get on with it and not try to ram hit down the rest of us.  Seafoods - can take a number of fish only but fish contain many important aspects needed to survive, as do vegetables.  Like the stats on water usage.

Slang terms - agree that there are many many variables used for the same terms.

Coffee etc. - allergic so no comments on the whys and wherefores.

Sorry to see that Natalie has been upset.

Test track and trace - pure numbers is misleading - pity the government is trying to farm this out to money makers rather than the competent and available NHS Pathology Service.

John (Coombe) always has some fascinating and appropriate observations  viz. 6 Saturdays and 1 Sinday typo -not intended but made me laugh (what a poor sense of humour I may have)!

 

The problems mentioned also apply to my followed topics but every so often I damage to read parts.

 

See you again some time. keep safe, keep well.  Peter BB

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by PeterBB
Missed out lab information.

[Ozexpatriate]

Jargon, Argot, Cant, Slang, secret languages and Idiom.

 

Differentiating between these terms is difficult and I may misuse them unintentionally. Any "in-group" (often professional) creates its own jargon. A couple of examples mentioned were military, the professional railway.  My own professional career had its own set of jargon which meant something in context but did not have the same precise meaning in the wider world.

 

As model railway hobbyists we adopt a lot of railway jargon that is unfamiliar to most people. Sports is of course the source of a copious amount of jargon. Regional slang using expressions incomprehensible to outsiders (often deliberately so, a good example is the "thieves' cant") is common as well. Every generation of teenagers seems to create its own slang as a secret language. My favourite parody of sports jargon is the late (and greatly missed Kiwi) John Clarke's sport of farnarkling.

 

Then there's adopting a foreign (particularly minority) language that can become idiomatic. Borrowing Yiddish words is a good example in North American early - mid-20th century comedy.

 

Creating "tribal" markers for language is a very human thing.

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[AndyID]

16 hours ago, brianusa said:

A bit of excitement to relate, we had our septic tank flushed today; always dodgy when they lift of the cover but this time no pong!.

 

Which reminds me to check if it's time to engage the services of a SSS.

 

(Septic Solids Sucker)

 

If you let the level get too high in the tank and they start to get pushed into the drain field you really are up sh!t creek.

[iL Dottore]

56 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Presumably pre-H. Sapiens primates? I had thought the H. xxxx, proto-humans were land locked great rift valley primates, which would be inconsistent with being notionally semi-aquatic.

Not necessarily, once H Sapiens had emerged from the Rift Valley the species continued to evolve - so an evolutionary “seaside excursion” is more than feasible. One thing is for certain, our evolutionary pathway is definitely not linear.

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Presumably pre-H. Sapiens primates? I had thought the H. xxxx, proto-humans were land locked great rift valley primates, which would be inconsistent with being notionally semi-aquatic.

 

AAH was popular sixty years ago but it's largely discredited now.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/aquatic_ape_hypothesis

[AndyID]

6 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Unable to visit the barbers, I have decided to try one of the finest known American hair styles:

 

 

Just need the pickup, and a hound (I got the guns) y'all.

 

I told you I have hair that just won't quit. Where did you find that photo?

[AndyID]

8 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Later this morning the Midland Railway Society committee members are going to try out a Skype get-together as a dry run for a potential committee meeting next week.

 

Should we assume you will all be wearing period costume?

 

[iL Dottore]

5 minutes ago, AndyID said:

 

AAH was popular sixty years ago but it's largely discredited now.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/aquatic_ape_hypothesis

Thanks for the link, most interesting. However, from reading the Wikipedia entry, I conclude that it IS a contentious theory and many (not all) “mainstream” researchers think the theory is rubbish; but, as cited in the Wiki page, other evolutionary theories - such as H sapiens emerging from the forest onto the Savannah, are equally tenuous, but practically “evolutionary gospel” until Tobias’s critique in 1995, The problem being the speculation is about soft-tissue and hair changes, things notably absent from the fossil record....

 

But isn’t this the beauty of science? Making the best possible hypothesis from the available data collected by the technology of the day, only to have it modified, turned upside down or even negated by newer data collected by newer technologies. 

 

[BoD]

3 hours ago, Natalie said:

Hi,

Can't say that I am in a good place atm but at least ER was a place of relative decency and indeed sanctuary from the general nastiness of society. I don't feel that currently it is a place where I want to post any personal thoughts or feelings any more. I have taken the unprecedented step for me of blocking a poster in here as I really don't want to read anymore of their posts some of which I feel are quite nasty and actually disgust me.

 

Sorry but that is how I feel and the best way for me to respond. I have the issue so have dealt with it the way that works for me.

It is a great pity that anyone should be made to feel that way.

As you say, since the first days of RMweb, ERs has been a friendly, welcoming and supportive place, often laced with a touch of light banter and humour too.   Now that you have, for good reason, chosen  to ignore one aspect of it I hope that you can come to enjoy and trust it as you once did. 

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl, 

The problem of the tree stump was solved by digging the sand out from beneath it, then cutting the roots. The only other problem was hitting a patch of sand within,  necessitating  stripping the chain / blade/ drive mechanism,  and giving it a good clean and oil.

The excavations revealed a very corroded sheet of corrugated iron  the sand had been placed on,  several more bricks and a fancy ridge tile for the roof that does match what's up there. 

 

Once the stump was cleared,  then it was time to trim the sycamore tree,  in particular a large branch overhanging the shed site,  that done, a few more were removed before doggy stopped play.  There are a few more non over hanging to go,  when I have time. 

 

It turned out to be a short walk, Ben was very tired,  and was only 100yards into the lane before he lay down panting. Though we did do About a mile with a lot of stops.   I think, he, like us, is finding all this garden work gradually depleting our energy levels.

 

Tomorrow ground levelling,  which may involve using the garden roller that lives in that shed, inherited with the house.  The previous owners had,  in times past, a grass tennis court , although just a patch of grass when we arrived. 

Edited May 16, 2020 by TheQ

[AndyID]

15 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Thanks for the link, most interesting. However, from reading the Wikipedia entry, I conclude that it IS a contentious theory and many (not all) “mainstream” researchers think the theory is rubbish; but, as cited in the Wiki page, other evolutionary theories - such as H sapiens emerging from the forest onto the Savannah, are equally tenuous, but practically “evolutionary gospel” until Tobias’s critique in 1995, The problem being the speculation is about soft-tissue and hair changes, things notably absent from the fossil record....

 

But isn’t this the beauty of science? Making the best possible hypothesis from the available data collected by the technology of the day, only to have it modified, turned upside down or even negated by newer data collected by newer technologies. 

 

 

I wouldn't call it a theory in the scientific sense. No one will ever disprove the existence of aquatic ancestors just as no one will ever disprove the existence of Bigfoot.

[Tony_S]

Reading The Q’s garden finds I fully expect the next one to be Norfolk’s version of the Secret Nuclear Bunker like the one in Essex. I imagine someone emerging asking if it is safe to come out now.

Aditi’s parents house in Nottingham was built on the site of the neighbouring vicarage tennis courts. The house was built in 1959 and the first occupant kept a couple of courts in the front garden. They didn’t play tennis though. When Aditi’s Dad bought the property in 1975 he removed all the signs of former use and just treated it as his lawn. The former owner complained to the vicar!

[AndyID]

5 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Reading The Q’s garden finds I fully expect the next one to be Norfolk’s version of the Secret Nuclear Bunker like the one in Essex. I imagine someone emerging asking if it is safe to come out now.

Aditi’s parents house in Nottingham was built on the site of the neighbouring vicarage tennis courts. The house was built in 1959 and the first occupant kept a couple of courts in the front garden. They didn’t play tennis though. When Aditi’s Dad bought the property in 1975 he removed all the signs of former use and just treated it as his lawn. The former owner complained to the vicar!

 

Our house in Paisley was built in 1869 and the garden included a vacant fue that had been a lawn tennis court. I had ideas about restoring it to its former glory but that was interrupted when we moved to Arizona.