Early Risers.

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[southern42]

' night all and nos da.

🥱

[Ozexpatriate]

15 hours ago, Hroth said:

deepfake AI images

This election season will see myriad AI-generated fakes purporting to be a reason to vote for or against someone. There have already been more serious deepfake audio robocalls pretending to be a candidate telling people not to vote in a primary. Audio is less obvious (lacking three arms).

 

Expect much more of this before November.

 

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Was it the beavertails or the bison burgers that caused the problem?

More like pootine poutine I suspect.

 

Though arguably those are the Québécois sh!ts.

 

Edited March 5 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

9 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Sunday also managed to break another high-for-the-day record, 21c-23c across most of the Twin Cities, pretty much declaring there was/is no winter.

Still <8°C for the highs here. Freezing overnight. Wet melting snow decorated the grassy verge this morning.

 

We might see 12°C later in the week.

[Flanged Wheel]

5 hours ago, polybear said:

 

On the subject of Hols though - no idea what the plan is for this year where to (hopefully) visit; I do like the idea of minimum aggro/preferably no bluddy hire car/outside the UK/enough to do (ideally) in one place/airport not too far from the destination/not sitting around on beaches etc./good chance of reasonable weather/not long haul.....

Venice ticked all these boxes - but since I've been there three times now in recent years I reckon it's time for a change.

Suggestions welcome please.....

 

BG

 

 

 

Has @polybear ever been to, or considered, Malta? It seems to fit your criteria. Lots of cheap flights from the UK and it’s not a long trip. Airport is pretty close to…well everywhere. Valletta and Birgu are beautiful with lots of history and the rest of the island (with even more fascinating history) is easily accessible by public transport which is plentiful and cheap. The Roman tombs in Rabat are particularly worth visiting. The catacombs even have benches and tables carved out of the rock so that you can dine with your dead relatives. We went for my son’s ninth birthday in April 2019 and the weather was perfect.

 

One of my favourite history books is “The Great Siege” which recounts the 1565 siege of the island by the Ottomans. The book is brilliantly written and it tells an intriguing, if tad gruesome, story. The author, Ernle Dusgate Shelby Bradford, was a Royal Navy officer in the Second World War. After the war, he ended up sailing around the Mediterranean in a yacht which led to the writing of the book.

 

Talking of books, thank you to all who recommended science fiction. I read Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ and hugely enjoyed it. I think I need to be more adventurous in my reading exploits… The sleeper train to Bangkok was brilliant! There is no better way to start a day than to wake up in a train, pull back the curtains and watch some beautiful countryside pass by while still being snug under your duvet.

 

 

 

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, polybear said:

I reckon it's time for a change.

Suggestions welcome please.....

How about something completely different.

 

I keep seeing this commercial on television. (No spiders this time - I promise. I'll even pinky swear.)

 

I'm sure it involves bears at some point - there's even a reference to Polar bears on TripAdvisor.

 

Under the caption:

Quote

How did Noah keep the Polar Bears cool?

 

Some people disagree and even discuss dieting for Polar Bears.

 

It pains me to admit it, but the genius behind all this is a Queenslander and even graduated from the same university I did - though they wouldn't put up with his nonsense there so he moved to Kentucky.

 

Edited March 5 by Ozexpatriate

[BR60103]

Outdoors was at room temperature today.

TV reported that we were half a degree short of a record (we made 20) while the average is 1.

There was snow blowing last week and there will be a drop in temp for the rain later in the week.

 

[Ozexpatriate]

26 minutes ago, BR60103 said:

Outdoors was at room temperature today.

TV reported that we were half a degree short of a record (we made 20) while the average is 1.

There was snow blowing last week and there will be a drop in temp for the rain later in the week.

A monster blizzard (10' of snow) on Donner Pass in the Sierras (California / Nevada border, with 70 miles of I80 completely shut down due to excessive snow - 39°N) and 25°C in Eastern Ohio (40°N).

 

Edited March 5 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

12 hours ago, polybear said:

Turdycurses.....

Did you expect another outcome?

 

SCOTUS watchers are providing assessments of the two (different) but concurring opinions offered in addition to the writ of certiorari, Per Curiam opinion on this case before the court.

 

Edited March 5 by Ozexpatriate

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Did you expect another outcome?

 

SCOTUS watchers are providing assessments of the two (different) but concurring opinions offered in addition to the writ of certiorari, Per Curiam opinion on this case before the court.

 

 

 

The potential next president of the USA's  response at a subsequent press conference regarding the decision was written for him by  an AI generator that someone had accidently left out on the road and it got  driven over a few times and then got rained on, but the light on top still worked so they just used it anyway.

 

"A president has to be free a president has to be if the president president does a good job I did some people would say a great job but if the president does a good job a president should be free and clear and frankly celebrated for having done a good job not indicted four times and not gone after on a civil basis and not uh demanded to be to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines on something that was absolutely perfect where there were no victims where the financial statements were absolutely Flawless where you have disclaimer clauses I mean nobody's ever had a thing like this I wasn't given a jury and I had a clubhouse judge just come up with this number on a perfect loan and very conservative financial statements but even at that if you look the disclaimer says don't rely on the financial statements in any way shape or form go out and do your own work"

 

 

 

(Actual transcript...)

Edited March 5 by monkeysarefun

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

written for him by  an AI generator

You are being very unkind to state of the art of Large Language Model, generative artificial intelligence. It can and does construct proper sentences, rather than run-on, word salad.

 

If you want to be entertained, search for:

Quote

Big man, strong, man, tears streaming down his face, and he comes up to me and he said, ...

The mythical crying man Yule log is one of the better montages.

 

Edited March 5 by Ozexpatriate

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente.  I got my eyes tested yesterday and can still see. That's a positive.  In the afternoon I placed the last water butt and filled it from one of the others.  We now have over 6000 litres stored for the summer. After the next bit of rain it should be 7000. That's enough for the veg patches if we have a hosepipe ban.  This must be doing us good as the water bill came yesterday. Our consumption last year was only 52 cubic metres as opposed to 77 the year before and 92 in 2021.  Another positive.  

 

A regular Doctors visit this morning then the supermarket. What a thrilling life we lead. 

 

Regards to all, and of course Sundry. 

 

Jamie

Edited March 5 by jamie92208

[iL Dottore]

9 hours ago, Grizz said:

Mmmmmmmm pulled pork…..😋..

 

I can’t mention what I actually had, because I don’t want to upset a distant, distant relation…who isn’t allowed to have any. 
 

Particularly the non straight ones…like I had. 

You don’t mean…. No, you can’t possibly mean….

 

Gasp! Shock! Horror!
 

CAKE

[polybear]

9 hours ago, woodenhead said:

Don’t think I mentioned 2 hours 15 minutes of two people cramped on the seat next to me.  I’ve had my personal space constantly invaded and back cramps plus hands on my leg.

 

I love the train☹️ 

 

Pity a Poly wasn't with you....I'm sure I could do a special line in edumukayshun.....

 

 

 

 

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, Grizz said:

Agency, temp staff…construction companies running railways. Bob the builder playing trains….because anyone can do this job. 

It’s heartbreaking to see a country that pioneered railways reduced to this. 
 

Some people will blame privatisation, yet the Japanese privatised their railways (and before Britain) and yet provide a level of service, comfort and technological excellence that’s only dreamt of in the UK.

 

Many formerly underdeveloped countries - like Morocco - are now building railway systems that are as good as any in the world.

 

And Britain?

 

I think that what bedevils the UK (and not just with the railways) is the tolerance (if not promotion) of incompetence and the triumph of ideology over pragmatism. Once you get to a certain level in any UK organisation you become teflon-coated and bomb-proof. Nothing sticks and you can’t be ousted.
 

How many times have the newspapers reported that someone in charge of a scandal ridden organisation has moved on to a better paying job elsewhere?. Why can neither the government or (certain) unions set aside their ideological positions and get to a win-win situation?

 

Britain still produces many excellent railwaymen (and woman) and engineers, but it seems that many are seeking greener pastures further afield. (apparently quite a number of Brits were involved in building the Gotthard Base Tunnel).

 

If Captain Cynical ever gets to take over the UK (a country he holds dear in his heart) there’ll be a LOT of heads on spikes before the dust settles…..

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Not a good nights sleep obtained.. Pah!

 

Off to play with a scale model of a place near Barnsley near Barnsley today @Erichill16knows where I mean!

 

UK PLC has turned itself into a profit provider for many overseas companies including Pension funds in Canada and free roving financial whizz kids in the USA.   Service comes last to these money grabbing people but the City of London loves them..

 

Time to gerronwithit. I hope @grandadbobis OK..  along with other missing ERs I hope they are well!

 

@polybear Madeira, the Canaries, the Balearics are ok. Malta as already said is nice.. or you could visit thecRailways of the North.

 

TTFN

Baz

[monkeysarefun]

11 hours ago, polybear said:

Suggestions welcome please.....

 

 

I can STRONGLY recommend a driving holiday preferably in the style of Top Gear/The Grand Tour where you  turn up in your car at a predefined location and then I could play the part of  that bloke  who sends  you various challenges by text messages.

Edited March 5 by monkeysarefun

[Mike Bellamy]

On 03/03/2024 at 13:41, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Too many trying to manipulate others. Good job I've got a good British name, so I'll be OK...

 

I always remember that we knew you as "Cash-me-a-Cheque" . . . . . . . . . 

 

 

22 hours ago, DaveF said:

I too would not like to go on a cruise, too many people and I hate crowds. 

 

That's how I feel as well . . . . . but as I will be "Three Score Years and Ten" next month, Mrs B insisted that we must have a special holiday and so we are going on the "Coastal Express" with Hurtigruten up and down the coast of Norway - stopping at 34 ports on the way up to beyond North Cape, and then all the way back again. This is a regular service and 24 hours ahead of you is another ship doing the same journey and one 24 hours behind you. Some of the stops are just for 20 minutes in the middle of the night but you might see the same port in daylight on the way back. Not a formal cruise as some passengers are just hopping from one fiord to another for work or family visits. Maximum number of passengers around 600 and during longer stops at larger ports such as Tromso and Trondheim there are excursions available as extras.

 

I must admit that we were very lucky to see a "Black Friday" promotion and so got the actual cruise for half price . . . . . . .  and despite my initial reservations, I'm now looking forward to the trip.

 

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/norway/classic-round-voyage-bergen-kirkenes-bergen/#key-info

.

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

You never got any money out of me, Mike... I'm sure your holiday will be a bit different from Skeggy.

I've got a big O birthday coming up later in the year too. I'm beginning to wonder what it'll be like to be 40...

 

Mentally, as one may gather from my ramblings on here, I'm around 10. Sometimes I actually miss working in a primary school.

 

 

[Mike Bellamy]

6 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

You never got any money out of me, Mike... I'm sure your holiday will be a bit different from Skeggy.

 

40 years later (or thereabouts) I'm still Treasurer collecting cash - and we're going to Mablethorpe at Easter to visit No 1 son  !!

.

[Erichill16]

1 hour ago, Mike Bellamy said:

 

I always remember that we knew you as "Cash-me-a-Cheque" . . . . . . . . . 

 

 

 

That's how I feel as well . . . . . but as I will be "Three Score Years and Ten" next month, Mrs B insisted that we must have a special holiday and so we are going on the "Coastal Express" with Hurtigruten up and down the coast of Norway - stopping at 34 ports on the way up to beyond North Cape, and then all the way back again. This is a regular service and 24 hours ahead of you is another ship doing the same journey and one 24 hours behind you. Some of the stops are just for 20 minutes in the middle of the night but you might see the same port in daylight on the way back. Not a formal cruise as some passengers are just hopping from one fiord to another for work or family visits. Maximum number of passengers around 600 and during longer stops at larger ports such as Tromso and Trondheim there are excursions available as extras.

 

I must admit that we were very lucky to see a "Black Friday" promotion and so got the actual cruise for half price . . . . . . .  and despite my initial reservations, I'm now looking forward to the trip.

 

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/norway/classic-round-voyage-bergen-kirkenes-bergen/#key-info

.

 

We’ve done it quite a few times and think it is or was branded ‘the most beautiful voyage in the world’ can’t really disagree.

 

 

Edited March 5 by Erichill16
Change for a better picture

[DaveF]

I woke this morning feeling very weary.  On opening the curtains everything looked grey and wet but the rain has now stopped and there are some glimpses of blue in the sky but the forecast is for cloud all day.

 

When I wrote on here after tea yesterday I thought I hadn't done much, on reflection later in the evening I realised that I had actually done as much as on a normal day, if not a bit more so it is no wonder how I feel this morning.  So today really will be a quiet day spent mainly at home not doing anything much.   I looked at my diary from when I had the previous hernia fixed, the same number of days afterwards I did too much and got very tired.  Will I ever learn? 

 

I do need to go across the road sometime to give neighbours the money for some shopping they did for me last week but that is about all.  There may also be a short walk once it has dried up.

 

Then I intend to read and do other simple relaxing things.  The groceries came this morning, the driver put the crates on the kitchen table for me for me which made unpacking much easier. 

 

David

 

 

[Erichill16]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

 

 

Off to play with a scale model of a place near Barnsley near Barnsley today @Erichill16knows where I mean!

 

May be going for a walk on the very line today.

By the way have you ever visited the location?

 

[woodenhead]

Back to the comfort of the home office.

 

No food outlets trying to tempt me, no selfish people hogging seats, nobody encroaching on my personal space and no-one telling me my every move is being recorded in stunning HD.  Whilst last night's journey home included the guard who was happy to tell me off for sitting in my reserved seat but not the lady taking up two, the journey out had an equally remarkable element - the guard tellling us not to be naughty.  He spent a good two minutes describing how every member of staff wore a HD camera and how the train was fitted with enough HD cameras to be filming every seat on the train.  Was he really expecting that much trouble on the 0555 train from Manchester full of half awake commuters wearily starting their working week?

 

What is the world coming to.