Early Risers.

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

I believe that unlike Australia Britain brought in compulsory national service during both world wars? 

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

Yes Great Britain ( not the UK) had compulsory conscription in both world wars, for men aged 18 to 41,

1916-1920, and 1939 -47, followed by national service, 1947 until 1963 ( last new recruit 1960)

It did not apply to Ireland in both wars, though many thousands of Irish men volunteered anyway.

In WW2 women without school age children or younger could also be directed to work in factories, forests and farms.

Conscription in Australia is complex. With declining enlistments there were referenda on conscription in 1916 and 1917 which were both defeated. 

 

Full wartime conscription essentially began in 1942. It would be followed by the National Service Act of 1951 (through 1959* covering Korea) and the National Service Act of 1964 (covering Vietnam) which included an obligation to serve overseas**. It was abolished in 1972 in one of the first acts of the Whitlam government.

 

* In which my Dad served in the RAN.

 

** Most of the prior army conscription had limits placed on overseas service. Units sent overseas were generally volunteers.

 

[iL Dottore]

12 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

 

OK, it might look scary - but in practice works quite well so long as Bear is sensible about it; the ladder is very stable and sure-pawed and I use a separate small pair of steps to assist in getting onto the ladder.  Let's face it, whatever the situation a fall from any ladder will sting next morning so I find the best trick is not to fall.....😁

You’ll be surprised at how many “sensible” people end up on the orthopaedic ward….

 

@Gwiwer a fracture of the trochanter is at a particular spot on the neck of the femur. It will certainly deform the leg, but unless associated with a violent deceleration (such as landing on your feet after jumping off a tall building), the femur won’t go further than through the muscle and skin of the leg (if it does at all)

 

Interesting body factoid: apparently it’s easier to kill yourself than to kill someone else. It would seem that unless death is self-inflicted, the body (if not the person) really, really doesn’t give up easily….

[Gwiwer]

Finally (from me) on the topic of voting. 
 

I would support the inclusion of “None of the above” at all elections with the proviso that if this were, under a first-past-the-post system, the majority then a new poll shall be required with all previous candidates disqualified. 
 

This, I suspect, might improve the turnout at British elections without any need for mandating the vote. 
 

It can also work under a PR system but how that would work when preferences are distributed would need to be determined by the appropriate electoral body. 
 

The British system does not permit anything which might be considered influential to the outcome but I can’t see that a sausage sizzle run by a neutral party (such as the local scouts) would conflict with that. Why not give it a try?  

[Ozexpatriate]

50 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

There are, to my mind, persuasive arguments both ways. 

Where voting is optional, the inevitably lowered voter turnout ensures that very small minorities are the ones who actually swing the outcome.

 

(A somewhat recent referendum in the UK comes to mind.)

 

Expansion of enfranchisement through an effective vote-by-mail makes a big difference and is a reasonable approach if compulsory voting is not embraced.

 

50 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

For the record if there were conscription to armed forces I would be a CO.  

Compulsory service for the able-bodied is mooted occasionally here. Wartime emergencies aside, when proposed, proponents usually suggest that inductees have a choice of service between military or other services - like in the US, the Peace Corps.

 

Locally we still benefit from the efforts of one of FDR's depression-era "New Deal" programmes - the CCC / Civilian Conservation Corps. They built a lot of infrastructure in National Parks and wilderness that is still in use today.

 

I can imagine a form of selective service where inductees could choose something like building housing for the homeless. It would be exceptionally useful work.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, tigerburnie said:

I think there's a case for banning some people from being allowed to vote when you look at what they elect

Recognizing the tongue-in-cheek nature of your post, the essence of democracy is that stupid people must be permitted to vote. The only cure is education and that is fraught with a large set of other challenges.

 

Edited March 25, 2023 by Ozexpatriate
Clarification

[Ozexpatriate]

45 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

I can’t see that a sausage sizzle run by a neutral party (such as the local scouts) would conflict with that.

A better solution (based on my observation) is the total elimination of polling places and implementation of 100% vote-by-mail.

 

This is in place in eight states in the US - most of which have a generally higher voter turnout, with the exception of the very democratically minded citizens of Minnesota.

 

The law of unintended consequences always applies but based on seeing it in action locally, I believe it is far superior to polling places.

 

1 hour ago, The Johnster said:

I cannot see a way to ensure a secret ballot with online voting without trusting the governement.

Solved with vote-by-mail. All paper, all auditable.

 

Edited March 25, 2023 by Ozexpatriate

[BoD]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

I did strap the ladder to the Banister Rail though.....

Yes, but using your elasticated belt with snake buckle from when you were in junior school?

[Coombe Barton]

... I used to refer to the BBC for English usage – that’s becoming rarer. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/still-upwards-but-smoother/

[tigerburnie]

49 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

 

OK, it might look scary - but in practice works quite well so long as Bear is sensible about it; the ladder is very stable and sure-pawed and I use a separate small pair of steps to assist in getting onto the ladder.  Let's face it, whatever the situation a fall from any ladder will sting next morning so I find the best trick is not to fall.....😁

Put something like a baulk of timber at the bottom of the ladder against the wall, this will have the effect of "footing" it, so it shouldn't slip. Personally I'd have the top of the ladder on the wall to the right of the ladder with the bottom on the second step down of the stairs, then nothing should move, if you can move it by hand, then it's not safe.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 minute ago, Coombe Barton said:

I used to refer to the BBC for English usage

It is the language that is changing. Unless you want to install an analog(ue) to the Académie Française as an arbiter of correctness, then change is inevitable.

 

I used to hear only European* (English as a second language) English speakers use the expression "take a decision". (My ears were programmed to words like "make" a decision.) Now it seems that native English speakers use it too.

 

* It is common in India as well.

[polybear]

15 minutes ago, BoD said:

Yes, but using your elasticated belt with snake buckle from when you were in junior school?

 

It's one of those woven straps with a breaking strain of lots of Kg - this is to stop A Certain Bear from knocking the base of the ladder forwards so the whole lot drops down the stairs...

 

8 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

Put something like a baulk of timber at the bottom of the ladder against the wall, this will have the effect of "footing" it, so it shouldn't slip. Personally I'd have the top of the ladder on the wall to the right of the ladder with the bottom on the second step down of the stairs, then nothing should move, if you can move it by hand, then it's not safe.

 

There's four feet in firm contact with the floor, and also wedged up against carpet gripper under the carpet to stop it slipping backwards.

I do have the ladder positioned as suggested when applying the paste to the lower part of the wall, but can't have it there all the time cos' it's that wall I'm actually applying the paper to.

[Tony_S]

6 minutes ago, polybear said:

cos' it's that wall I'm actually applying the paper to.

It is for that reason I have only ever painted walls. Our stairwell walls can be reached with a roller on a an extension pole. Actually the dimensions of the Bear landing look very similar to our previous house. The loft access was on the ceiling at the top of the stairs.  I had a layout in the loft. When operating there was section of track that was removable to allow access. Once I sent a train off round the layout and turned round just in time to see an Airfix Castle and coaches disappearing through the loft hole. 

[New Haven Neil]

22 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

Now Neil if only you'd mentioned my name all that would have been sorted. I have connections aka The Family who work there.

 

I've always said it's not who you are but who you know.

 

  And a mighty grand place it is too.  I felt safe and looked after there, the surgeon (Aslam Mohammed), while 'Consultant grumpy' at times was informative and had time for his (nervous, as an ex-NHS employee....) patient, especially afterwards when it was revealed there was a lot more going on in my hip and pelvis than they had thought.  All staff, right to the bottom, seemed happy in their work and supported.  Quite a shock....a well run hospital.

 

My issue though was being unable to speak to the Fraggle Rock end of things to get home - Wrightington rightly wanted me out of the bed, and away.   I did have to remind them where I lived at that point.  Fraggle NHS patients are basically private as far as WWW Trust is concerned, as 'Our' NHS has to pay 'Your' NHS for the services - unfortunately we don't get private patient treatment though - if only!  This (referral to another hospital)  only happens when a case is too specialised for our hospital.  For those not in the North, Wrightington is the Centre of Excellence for Hip Surgery.

Edited March 25, 2023 by New Haven Neil

[PupCam]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

I did strap the ladder to the Banister Rail though.....

 

Bear gone.

 

 

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

This morning saw an unexpected amount of snow. Overnight, snow was forecast to accumulate above 500' but I was not expecting to see it stick where I live.

 

When I headed out for my walk it was a slushy cold mess but there was a lot of white on non-paved surfaces, which I generally enjoy seeing.

 

Despite relatively low temperatures (33°F / <1°C) the melt was already full on. Underneath trees it felt like it was raining with all the meltwater drops.

 

Now the snow-induced fog is dissipating and there is intermittent bright sunshine.

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon/evening all from Estuary-Land. Late on parade due to this afternoons eyelid inspection overrun.

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

A fall from that contraption would result in one or more really interesting orthopaedic injuries (starting with an intertrochanteric  fracture of the femur and working your way up from there). Of course, you may not find such things interesting what with you being in a “world of hurt”

 

If you land on your face, you do realise that you have a high probability of being condemned to sucking purees through a straw for months until they take the wires out.

 

And if you land on your bonce, it’s off to the C&T Ward for you. 

 

2 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Is that when the femur is dislodged from the pelvis and penetrates the abdomen.  And those organs within it?  I was unluckily witness to something of that ilk once upon a lifetime.  It was a determined attempt to prematurely terminate life and in that regard was successful.  The poor individual in question had intentionally stepped off a twentieth-floor balcony within full view of my office window and probably landed one foot first propelling the leg into the body cavity.  

There is the story of the WW1 Zeppelin commander jumping from his burning craft at several hundred feet. Both legs were thrust into his body when he landed. Remarkably he was still alive when they found him but he expired soon afterwards.

[jamie92208]

Wrightington was where history tells us that a Mr Charnley developed the artificial replacement hip. sadly they had to be replaced after 18 months due to mechanical failure. One day he threw a socket made of high impact polythene ,i think, into the bin then went on holiday.one of his registrars, my late modelling friend, John Patrick, plucked it out of the bin and put it on their test rg. 3 weeks later it was still working perfectly. Charnley came back and decided to use the new material but took the credit. John also solved the problem of how to treat the hip ball metallurgically. He never got any credit but a lot of people owe him a great debt of gratitude. His opinion of Charnley who got a knighthood I think, was not very high. Jamie

 

Edited March 26, 2023 by jamie92208

[PupCam]

1 hour ago, tigerburnie said:

Put something like a baulk of timber at the bottom of the ladder against the wall, this will have the effect of "footing" it, so it shouldn't slip. Personally I'd have the top of the ladder on the wall to the right of the ladder with the bottom on the second step down of the stairs, then nothing should move, if you can move it by hand, then it's not safe.

 

Absolutely or, if the Bear is feeling particularly strong .....

 

[PeterBB]

13 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Good morning all,

 

Wandering around YouTube (as one does, as one does) I came across the following a wonderful combination of music and talented dog training. Definitely something to put a smile on your face in the morning.

Not only is the whole routine done with great humour, but I also like the soundtrack. I think that the video will appeal to both dog lovers and former/current military people.

 

What’s interesting about freestyle heel work to music is that this can only be achieved by having a good, solid, partnership between dog and handler - which requires a lot of patience and can only be achieved through reward based training. Basically, you reward the dog for performing a desired behaviour and when you have a suitable number of desired behaviours, you put them all together to form “a dance“.

Absolute wow!

[polybear]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

 

 

 

 

 

C'mon, admit it....Puppers peeked over the top of the cushion......

[AndyID]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Auntie Poly made a similar request quite recently for a ring that Momma Bear had following her Mum's Death (though it wasn't the wedding ring - engagement maybe?) and Auntie Poly also inherited a similar ring.

I was a bit non-committal at the time; Auntie Poly is 80-something and my concern is what will become of the ring after she's gone - she only has one surviving child now, a Grade A B1tch of a daughter** and the very last thing I'd want is for her to get her mitts on it.  The subject hasn't been mentioned again so hopefully will disappear.

 

**Two or three years ago Auntie Poly showed me something that the B1tch had sent her - a right rant with plenty of effin' contained within, going on about how Auntie Poly's favourite was her (now deceased) son etc. etc.  What was all this Rant written in?  A Mother's Day Card.....

 

Bear here.....

After managing to scoff a Chip Roll, Jumbo Snagger n' Beans I decided that wallpapering was in order, so a bit more has been done.  One of the drops was a difficult & scary one.....

 

(Puppers @PupCam of a nervous disposition should look away now, or at least hide behind a cushion.....)

 

 

I did strap the ladder to the Banister Rail though.....

 

Bear gone.

 

Please DO NOT DO THAT!

 

That strap is doing sweet FA. There is far too much angle on that ladder. It should be much closer to vertical.

 

The only safe way to do it is with a scaffold frame sitting on and secured to the stairs.

[monkeysarefun]

 

43 minutes ago, PupCam said:

 

Absolutely or, if the Bear is feeling particularly strong .....

 

That would make for an  ironic trip-hazard, sending @polybearover the edge due to you attempting to make things safer for him.

 

Speaking of which, given all the NHS delay based rants on here, I'd suggest giving  the ambulance number a call  prior to mounting the ladder, that way they might have answered by the time you regain consciousness and  drag your poor shattered legs over to the phone. 

Edited March 25, 2023 by monkeysarefun

[Winslow Boy]

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

  And a mighty grand place it is too.  I felt safe and looked after there, the surgeon (Aslam Mohammed), while 'Consultant grumpy' at times was informative and had time for his (nervous, as an ex-NHS employee....) patient, especially afterwards when it was revealed there was a lot more going on in my hip and pelvis than they had thought.  All staff, right to the bottom, seemed happy in their work and supported.  Quite a shock....a well run hospital.

 

My issue though was being unable to speak to the Fraggle Rock end of things to get home - Wrightington rightly wanted me out of the bed, and away.   I did have to remind them where I lived at that point.  Fraggle NHS patients are basically private as far as WWW Trust is concerned, as 'Our' NHS has to pay 'Your' NHS for the services - unfortunately we don't get private patient treatment though - if only!  This (referral to another hospital)  only happens when a case is too specialised for our hospital.  For those not in the North, Wrightington is the Centre of Excellence for Hip Surgery.

 

Some correspondents would point out Neil that the 'excellent level of service'  you received just may have something to do with the fact that several of the extended family work there at various levels. I on the other hand couldn't possibly comment.

[Tony_S]

@polybear I have seen professional decorators using stair ladders. Screwfix do a nice one for £479

[Winslow Boy]

I think fellow correspondents we need to do an intervention to stop Bear from doing some harm to himself.

 

Unfortunately I'm to far aware to be of practical assistance but I perfectly happy to coordinate the operation.

 

Who's up for it- preferably within an hour's travel time of Bears residence?