Early Risers.

[DaveF]

I actually had a non RMWeb related IT issue today.  My PC did a Windows update overnight, this morning it insisted on showing the "Night Screen" colours, despite it being turned off in Settings.

 

I eventually found that being a HP machine I can also look at the settings they provide in "HP Display Control" - the update had turned it on there.

 

This and the present RMWeb issues remind me of the time when I ran the network at work, whenever possible we kept technical staff well away from the parts used by admin and management staff.  Eventually it got to the stage where I had the council's IT staff ringing me to ask for advice on sorting out problems as they said I was better at it than them.

 

David

[The White Rabbit]

Re the formatting issues, for me, I don't think it's changed for a few weeks. I don't know if I've been fortunate but this is what I see:

 

(I've not logged out or done anything with the profile in that time). 

 

[iL Dottore]

Re. Prince Harry, I fear that by courting the media “to tell his side of the story” he is making the same (and ultimately fatal) mistake that his mother made - courting the media is like riding a tiger: very easy to get on (too easy?) and almost impossible to get off.

 

Some other points, if I may. Harry’s SWMBO is conspicuous by her absence. One Guardian BTL commentator opined that Mrs H wound up the prince, pointed him at the Royal Family and pulled the trigger! Make of that what you will.

 

I suspect that for the “spare” to truly find peace and “closure” (as psychoanalysists might say) he’d be better off as plain “Harry Windsor”, sinking into wealthy obscurity. But without titles, how long he could sustain his current lifestyle (and - to be coldly cynical - sustain his marriage)?

 

Edited January 11, 2023 by iL Dottore
Typo

[BoD]

3 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

But without titles, how long he could sustain his current lifestyle (and - to be coldly cynical - sustain his marriage)?

In that case might we end up with a West and East Sussex?

 

 

[The White Rabbit]

6 minutes ago, DaveF said:

... Eventually it got to the stage where I had the council's IT staff ringing me to ask for advice on sorting out problems as they said I was better at it than them.

 

David

 

Same with me and telephones. Despite never being in telecoms or an electrical engineer, I was the go to man when our section had telephone set faults. I achieved a success rate of around 60% just by fiddling with them. Strange ...  but faster than calling the official IT guy. 

 

Ironically in a previous employment I used to say I was cursed by the telephone system, as I struggled with it for no logical reason. For example, I'd dial a number and it wouldn't go through, I'd get silence, clicking or not recognised. Someone else would do the same immediately before and/or afterwards and the system would work as normal. Hey ho, ours not to reason why... 

[iL Dottore]

7 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

…,Ironically in a previous employment I used to say I was cursed by the telephone system, as I struggled with it for no logical reason. For example, I'd dial a number and it wouldn't go through, I'd get silence, clicking or not recognised. Someone else would do the same immediately before and/or afterwards and the system would work as normal. Hey ho, ours not to reason why... 

To get all “New Age” on you, perhaps your aura has changed?

 

For the longest time I could never wear a watch as anything more complicated than a very cheap mechanical Timex would stop working in a day or two (and even with a very cheap Timex it was 50:50 as to the watch working for more than a few days).

 

Then I met SWMBO and suddenly I could wear watches again. 
 

Obviously my aura (an electroneurochemical field - I guess) had changed. Something else I need to thank Mrs iD for

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, BoD said:

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

But without titles, how long he could sustain his current lifestyle (and - to be coldly cynical - sustain his marriage)?

In that case might we end up with a West and East Sussex?

But he has a title, just published, which cannot be taken from him. “Spare”. 

[DaveF]

This morning started bright with hardly a cloud in the sky with a very cold strong wind.  Since then cloud has started to come and go with a few spots of rain.

 

Yesterday started with the usual grocery delivery.  Both appointments at the dentist went well, there are signs of improvement with a gum issue.  The post came on time with several nice looking envelopes - two magazines plus the Radio Times for next week, it's the first time for ages that it has come on time.

 

I made a start on the big tidy and clear up.  So far I have found 4 spare sets of needle files, 500 craft knife blades and about a dozen spare knife handles amnogst other items.  I haven't counted all the tubes and bottles of adhesives of various kinds.  Quite a lot of items have now been moved into the garage until they are needed - it is dry in there so they will come to no harm.

 

I also started looking through my books to try to decide which ones to part with.  The real problem is the 600 or so which came from Mum's flat, a mix of her books and remaining ones of Dad's.  I did manage to dispose of about 900 books which I didn't bring home!  I really need to clear between two and four feet of shelf space then things would fit better and I would have fewer piles of books on the floor.

 

That took the rest of the day.  The evening passed with some music and a book.

 

David

[Winslow Boy]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Nail

Hit

Hammer

Head!

 

I couldn’t agree more. It’s one thing to respect the personal choices of a minority, but it’s another to allow the minority to dictate to the majority.

 

Although I’m a heavily carnivorous omnivore, I do enjoy proper vegan and vegetarian food. And when I say “proper” I mean natural foodstuffs not meat or dairy “substitutes”
 

I do object to “fake food” - highly processed, high in chemicals, often neither good for the body or the environment (Google “amount of water needed to make 1L of almond “milk” “)

 

My view is that if you eschew meat or all animal products (for philosophical and/or ethical reasons) isn’t eating fake meat and fake dairy a betrayal of your philosophical/ethical position?

 

 

I think I said this before but it's worth while repeating it. The people pushing the vegan meat products aren't necessary the vegetarians themselves but rather 'big business' looking to make more of a profit outside of 'niche' market that is veganism.

 

Vegetarians are only to happy to tag along on the 'coat tails' of this, as it helps there 'agenda'.

 

Please don't get me wrong here. I'm not against vegetarianism its just i think neive to believe it will solve all the world's hunger problems.

[jjb1970]

I kind of feel sorry for vegetarians, as these days a certain part of veganism considers vegetarianism to be just as heinous as eating meat. Now there is a vocal group of vegans (not all vegans, many are happy to co-exist with others) which demands veganism or nothing. 

[jjb1970]

I like vegetarian food. I'm not vegetarian but I do eat a lot of vegetarian food. Vegetarian dishes have always been a significant part of culinary culture in many Asian societies and there are loads of wonderful vegetarian dishes out here.

[Winslow Boy]

2 hours ago, BSW01 said:

Good morning everyone 

 

Once again thanks for all the positive comments regarding Sheila’s recent eye op. Some more improvements have been noticed today, but especially in her right eye, the left is still a bit blurry, but that may well be down to the other underling problem FUCHS! We’ll  know more at our next consultation. 

 

Meanwhile, the rain has finally stopped falling, but it is far too wet to do anything outside, so to use @chrisf old phrase, I’ll do some unspecified pottering today. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian

 

Im so glad Sheila is already benefiting. It really does make a big difference. I've mentioned on here about Mum spending quite a bit of her life attending the MREH, so I know what its like to sit waiting. The top honcho there has a good reputation and has managed to improve the standards considerably.

[polybear]

4 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

With 400,000 copies sold in one day in the UK alone, making it the fastest selling non-fiction book there ever, I doubt Prince H will be too upset!

 

4 hours ago, The Lurker said:

Well, he damn well knew how it would look and doesn't care; complaining just aids more sales. He needs the money to live the life he is accustomed to.

 

No dount he will do "alright" out of the book financially - but in fairness it's worth noting the following:

 

"Harry will be donating a large portion of the proceeds to charities that are close to his heart. The father-of-two has already donated $1,500,000 to Sentebale and will donate a further £300,000 to the WellChild charity."

 

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

He was born into an extremely privileged position. With that privileged position comes certain obligations, as his grandmother understood and his father and brother understand. If you are not willing to undertake those obligations you get out but don't start whinging about it. 

 

Privileged?  In many ways, certainly; I do wonder how many of us would like to endure all that goes with the position though.  I'm pretty sure that a 12-year old Bear wouldn't have been able to deal with walking behind Momma Bear's coffin with perhaps 100M(?) people looking on, for example; this has also been repeated (though perhaps not to the same degree) with the Queen's funeral recently.

I very much suspect that Harry would've been much happier if he could've been "ordinary" and stayed serving in the Army.

 

3 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

On control rooms, I refer old style control rooms. Power stations used to have really impressive control rooms which were treated as controlled areas, not just anybody could stroll in. Newer plants have control rooms just like an office with PC work stations. Not only did I prefer the ergonomics of the old mimic boards and physical controls, but I found the newer office style encouraged a dilution in discipline and people treating it as just another office when it was a place where people were controlling safety critical processes.

 

I recall a TV series about HMS Ocean - IIRC in one programme they lost all power (in the Channel?) and the computerised engine management systems had to be shut down and rebooted in order to restore power.  It also seems that the advent of computers into systems controlling power stations etc. makes them vulnerable to cyber attacks (IIRC such attacks have taken place). 

 

Bear here.....

Washing done.  Tick.  C/H Pipes linked and tested - the wet stuff stayed inside so that's another Tick.  Then it was time to fire up Momma Bear's Model 20 Sewing Machine (pre-1920) in order to fix the dust bag from Bear's Mitre Saw - silly Bear managed to split the bag open some weeks ago whilst using the air compressor to clear the dust out; it's now fixed but the handiwork won't win any awards.

 

In other news......

Bear received a brown envelope stamped with the local Police Headquarters - totally unheard of, being a law-abiding Bear 👼; fortunately it turned out to be a Neighbourhood Watch Booklet (never had one before) rather than any form of fine or summons.  Panic over.

 

And finally.....

They mentioned on the radio earlier that at one point EVERY Ambulance in Gloucestershire was parked up outside Hospitals waiting to unload - Control were having to bring in Ambulances from other areas to attend emergencies.  Scary.

 

And finally finally......

Bear's broadband download speed has now jumped by 17 Megawotsits, with the upload speed doubled; Bear can now post drivel twice as quickly....🤣

[iL Dottore]

1 minute ago, jjb1970 said:

… there are loads of wonderful vegetarian dishes out here.

Most definitely, so why the fake meat and cheese?

 

I suspect that the big food conglomerates see an easy “green pound” in flogging fake meat to wannabe vegetarians

“enjoy burgers/sausages/chicken nuggets without the guilt” (sic) seems to be a frequent marketing message.

 

Fake burger or spaghetti, olio, aglio e peperoncino? Both vegetarian/vegan, but what would you prefer? All chemical or all natural?

[jjb1970]

I'm waiting for stories to appear telling us that these 'miracle vegan meat' products are more loaded in salt, fats and chemicals than anything with meat and advising that they be avoided like the plague. Not that I'm a cynic or anything.

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

But he has a title, just published, which cannot be taken from him. “Spare”. 

 

Yes he got paid twenty million, so the paper says, for using it.

 

Perhaps I'm missing a trick and should be cashing in by using mine. No suggestions please.

[Tony_S]

10 hours ago, Barry O said:

are "non dairy

When I was young the better ice creams were “dairy”, The cheap non dairy ones in those days contained all kinds of fats and they were not necessarily plant based. 

[jjb1970]

5 minutes ago, polybear said:

I recall a TV series about HMS Ocean - IIRC in one programme they lost all power (in the Channel?) and the computerised engine management systems had to be shut down and rebooted in order to restore power.  It also seems that the advent of computers into systems controlling power stations etc. makes them vulnerable to cyber attacks (IIRC such attacks have taken place). 

 

 

 

At one time marine diesels were remarkably resilient beasts and if it was necessary you could normally do something to keep the things working (if necessary by machining bits in the workshop). Modern engines with common rail fuel systems, variable timing and electronic safety systems are completely reliant on their control systems. Unfortunately the only way to meet emissions requirements and the efficiency performance demanded by customers means the old electro-mechanical control systems are difficult to make now. What is more worrying is that engine rooms and ships systems are full of PLCs controlling all sorts of equipment, each with embedded software that goes through a far less rigorous approval process than the expensive engine control and platform management systems.

[Winslow Boy]

6 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

 

At one time marine diesels were remarkably resilient beasts and if it was necessary you could normally do something to keep the things working (if necessary by machining bits in the workshop). Modern engines with common rail fuel systems, variable timing and electronic safety systems are completely reliant on their control systems. Unfortunately the only way to meet emissions requirements and the efficiency performance demanded by customers means the old electro-mechanical control systems are difficult to make now. What is more worrying is that engine rooms and ships systems are full of PLCs controlling all sorts of equipment, each with embedded software that goes through a far less rigorous approval process than the expensive engine control and platform management systems.

 

So basically if it goes wrong there's no point in hitting it with hammer/spanner or suitable heavy object, better to ring up the help desk instead so that they can say - have you tried turning it off and on again.

[DaveF]

 About an hour ago I found a badly injured pigeon in my garden, it appears to have been attacked by a sparrowhawk.  It has lost part of a wing, has a damaged leg and appears to have a hole in the body wall.

 

I decided to follow the "correct" route as it was in my garden and not going anywhere.  

 

I rang the local animal charity and was able to leave a message.  As it is a wild bird the local vets cannot do anything because of bird flu. In the end I rang the RSPCA who will ring me back but think there is little they can do, but it may be best to let nature take its course.

 

As there is bird flu about I am following the instructions I have been given, in simple terms I was told not to touch it.

 

I suspect I will be burying it in due course.

 

David

[jjb1970]

We have a bird of some sort nesting on our bedroom balcony, in a pot plant, with chicks just hatched. Hopefully the chicks survive through to fly away and do whatever it is they do. Dunno what bird it is, tiny little thing, we didn't realize it was there. A few days ago I did laugh as the boy saw something in his shoe which turned out to be a mouse, probably seeking a quiet place to sleep, when he picked his shoes up it did a runner and I've never seen the boy move as fast🤣 I should explain that in much of Asia wearing shoes indoors is a super big no-no, and because there's very little crime to speak of here everybody just has shoes racks outside their homes, and leaves shoes outside.

[Gwiwer]

52 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

The people pushing the vegan meat products aren't necessary the vegetarians themselves but rather 'big business' looking to make more of a profit outside of 'niche' market that is veganism.

 

Vegetarians are only to happy to tag along on the 'coat tails' of this, as it helps there 'agenda'.

 

Please don't get me wrong here. I'm not against vegetarianism its just i think neive to believe it will solve all the world's hunger

To each their own.

 

H0m0 (to avoid the profanity filter) sapiens is an omnivore.  Designed and built to eat all types of food.  Some species are much more specifically carnivorous, vegetarian or what ever they are designed for. 

 

I happen to like a lot of foods which are vegetarian.  And a good many which are vegan.  But I also enjoy some meat and have no religious or other considerations determining what I can and cannot eat.  I absolutely respect the choices of those who take other paths or whose culture or religion determines diet.  

 

But please don't - to use perhaps a hackneyed metaphor - ram it down my throat.  By all means hold a sensible conversation with me and allow us to differ in our opinions.  No-one has the authority to tell me what I shall and shall not eat; neither do I have that same authority to tell them.  There are something like 67 billion of us on this little rock.  Food security is a critical issue.  I will listen to a coherently-presented argument but I don't have to agree.  All I ask is that you hear me likewise in return.  While we are able I shall support freedom to sensibly choose.  

 

There might  come a time when that choice is limited or removed by global crises.  I hope neither to be around if that should happen nor to be a significant contributor to its happening.  

.

Edited January 11, 2023 by Gwiwer
Profanity filter removed a proper scientific name

[DaveF]

A quick update on the pigeon.

It has vanished.

 

When I last saw it all it could do was hop very lopsidedly.  I think that the sparrowhawk (or whatever) has returned and taken it away - I am sure its left wing had too much missing for it to be able to fly.

At least I no longer have to deal with it.

 

David

Edited January 11, 2023 by DaveF

[southern42]

15 hours ago, TheQ said:

I see the blank advert has gone..

 

Not from my machine (Safari), though Theme still says Premium. Annoying because if you click on, say, a Like button hovering above the top of the advert, even though it is outside the white box, or type close to it, the page does a speedy scroll to the top of the page, meaning you have to scroll back down the page to continue reading / typing.

<<sorry, don't like to rant!>>

 

' afternoon all from red dragon land.

Sunny but getting suddenly dark with ominous black clouds coming over... never fear, I am not going anywhere!

 

Late lunch beckons due to late breakfast due to oversleeping! ER...hum...forgot to set the alarm. 

 

Keep warm / cool. Be good. Go with the flow.

Polly

[polybear]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

 

At one time marine diesels were remarkably resilient beasts and if it was necessary you could normally do something to keep the things working (if necessary by machining bits in the workshop). 

 

I wonder how many modern ships have much in the way of a Machine Shop on board (Lathe, Milling Machine, Pillar Drill etc.) plus someone that knows how to drive them?  The one on HMS Belfast is rather nice, by the way.