Early Risers.

[polybear]

Advert 40808 may be of interest to a certain ex-Radar Engineer:

https://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/

 

 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

We ended up getting out of bed later than originally planned, this put us well behind for the rest of the day. Consequently, it’s been a struggle to find time to look in. In between showers, I managed to get a bit of work done in the garden when it was dry, some in the cellar when it was raining. 

 

As as I have to be at Wythenshaw Hospital early tomorrow, I think for an early night is a good idea. 

 

Thoughts with Simon and his family. 

 

Goodnight all

[TheSignalEngineer]

15 minutes ago, polybear said:

Sounds like he knew his stuff....

He retired from the Bench in 1987, after receiving a public reprimand from the Lord Chancellor for public statements that........and that Capital Punishment should be reintroduced into England's judicial system for certain crimes.

Not bad for a man who appeared for the defence for Ronnie Biggs at the Great Train Robbery trial although he did reportedly send a donation to the Jack Mills fund as well

[Ozexpatriate]

51 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

Not sure what ‘tape-delayed’ is but the programme grandad Bob and myself are referring to is free to view extended highlights. We can watch it live on Sky but at a cost.

The race was live on 'free to air' broadcast television here. I had some tediously one-sided (American) football on instead while I was online.

 

"Tape-delayed" is a common thing in the US. Broadcasts* that are live on the east coast are often replayed three hours later (the same local time of day) on the west coast.

 

* Including things like talk shows and the nightly network news (though sometimes they will do an updated west coast edition if the story changes in the meantime).

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Simon and Rick, I hope your respective SWMBO's get well soon. Still getting the odd twinge from Arthur Itis but holding off from taking anything to nearer bedtime so there's less chance of him waking me up in the middle of the night. Now to try and work my way through Facebook.

[Erichill16]

28 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

The race was live on 'free to air' broadcast television here. I had some tediously one-sided (American) football on instead while I was online.

 

I think it’s free to air in the US as the money men behind F1 are trying to ‘crack’ the US market, where Indycar is more popular.  

[pH]

31 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

"Tape-delayed" is a common thing in the US. Broadcasts* that are live on the east coast are often replayed three hours later (the same local time of day) on the west coast.

 

* Including things like talk shows and the nightly network news (though sometimes they will do an updated west coast edition if the story changes in the meantime).

Same in Canada. Though they occasionally miss updates. I once saw a comment on the CBC website that the writer had been saddened to hear on the 9PM radio news that some celebrity had died, but had been somewhat comforted, on watching the 10PM TV news, to find that he had recovered to merely critically ill.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Thoughts with Simon and his family and also with Dr SWMBO. 
As predicted, I did what I wanted to avoid and avoided what I wanted  to do today, such is life. 
Another 5 hour walk with Sydney and SWMBO, this time  to Cannon Hall. Feet, ankles and left knee complaining. 
Fusion dining for tea this evening, quiche Lorraine, chips and beans  washed down with Italian beer. I must admit the rather large dose of beer has allowed the words to flow nicely while I was typing up my CPD submission. Though not complete I’d be happy to submit it and take any consequences as I really can’t be ar$ed and it isn’t even peer reviewed.   
Anyway, 

Goodnight,

Robert

[Ozexpatriate]

20 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

I think it’s free to air in the US as the money men behind F1 are trying to ‘crack’ the US market, where Indycar is more popular.  

NASCAR is waaay more popular than Indycar. Except for the Indianapolis 500, the average* sports fan wouldn't watch a lot of Indycar.

 

* Motorsports fans excluded.

 

Yes, F1 wants to see people in the US watch more F1, but part of it is that ESPN (cable sports owned by Disney) has a relationship with the ABC broadcast network (also owned by Disney), which often carries ESPN programming. For college football (Saturdays) ABC is like an extra ESPN channel - as it reaches more potential viewers it actually gets the more popular games.

 

On Sundays in football season, the CBS and FOX networks have daytime football games, so normally at this time of year for ABC affiliates, Sunday afternoons are indeed the "vast wasteland". This was an opportunity for ESPN+ABC to have some competitive content.

 

ESPN has a relationship with F1. They have a replay of today's race this evening.

 

One of the highest rated (I think still the one) television programmes is Sunday Night Football on NBC.

 

Edited October 24, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[Erichill16]

13 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

NASCAR is waaay more popular than Indycar. Except for the Indianapolis 500, the average* sports fan wouldn't watch a lot of Indycar.

 

* Motorsports fans excluded.

 

Yes, F1 wants to see people in the US watch more F1, but part of it is that ESPN (cable sports owned by Disney) has a relationship with the ABC broadcast network (also owned by Disney), which often carries ESPN programming. For college football (Saturdays) ABC is like an extra ESPN channel - as it reaches more potential viewers it actually gets the more popular games.

 

On Sundays in football season, the CBS and FOX networks have daytime football games, so normally at this time of year for ABC affiliates, Sunday afternoons are indeed the "vast wasteland". This was an opportunity for ESPN+ABC to have some competitive content.

 

ESPN has a relationship with F1. They have a replay of today's race this evening.

Just been looking up NASCAR racing. Being a bit of a petrol head, I’ve heard of it but didn’t realise there were so many   race categories, I thought it was just one championship. I think it’s a kind of stock car formula but I don’t think we (Europe) have a equivalent formula. Ah midnight, time for the F1 highlights show.

 

[TheSignalEngineer]

After a busy week of painting the ceiling and walls in the hall and landing a decorating free day was declared today. Between the showers after breakfast some carrots were harvested for the coming week. I prepared a round metal receptacle to take the mixture for the festive fruit cake and it was baked in my absence watching Baz and Co. playing with their toys in Leeds. 

Said cake has now been placed in a @polybear-proof container and hidden away. It will be infused with alcoholic liquids for the next six weekends before I put the festive decorations on it. 

@polybear will be pleased to note that the last courgettes of the season have now been used for more cake. When filling and topping have been added tomorrow it will be for immediate consumption as I need to demolish it within seven days of production.

tomorrow looks as if it could be fine to the south and east of us so subject to a review when I wake it could be a good day for a bike ride, possibly down the former C&HPR route.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Ozexpatriate]

14 minutes ago, Erichill16 said:

I think it’s a kind of stock car formula but I don’t think we (Europe) have a equivalent formula.

It was originally actual, souped up, stock cars. Now there is a "standard" car, but they badge it for different manufacturers.

 

It has roots in beach racing by prohibition era bootleggers.

 

Many of the biggest NASCAR events are on banked oval tracks - so there are many jokes along the theme that NASCAR racers only know how to turn left. Nevertheless, there is a real skill required. They drive fast, very, very close and often many cars wide around the track.

 

The closest thing to NASCAR is Australian 'stock car' racing. There was at one point an AUSCAR but that is defunct.

 

Edited October 24, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[Barry O]

Evening all! Been very busy.. got home at 10:40tonight after delivering an item not for fiscussion on here back to a shed in Barnsley.

 

Nice to meet another ER face to face today.

 

Following on from my liver onions and potatoes for lunch yesterday a chicken slice with beans and chips was eaten for lunch today.

 

Totally worn to a frazz so ..Goodnight all!

 

Baz

[Tony_S]

In local news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59021420

 

Edited October 25, 2021 by Tony_S

[monkeysarefun]

24 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

It was originally actual, souped up, stock cars. Now there is a "standard" car, but they badge it for different manufacturers.

 

It has roots in beach racing by prohibition era bootleggers.

 

Many of the biggest NASCAR events are on banked oval tracks - so there are many jokes along the theme that NASCAR racers only know how to turn left. Nevertheless, there is a real skill required. They drive fast, very, very close and often many cars wide around the track.

 

The closest thing to NASCAR is Australian 'stock car' racing. There was at one point an AUSCAR but that is defunct.

 

They sometimes show NASCAR here on the digital channels. After about 5 laps I have absolutely  no idea who is winning since it seems just a continuous  unbroken loop   of cars to me - I guess its an acquired skill.  

 

[monkeysarefun]

Whats going on there? Surprised to see this result in todays news. It was only August when the UK and US were way out in front of us vaccine-wise and we were a basket case, looking on with envy , but the numbers there seem to have slowed right down and now it looks like we are doing a Steve Bradbury*.

 

 

(*"Doing a Steve Bradbury" is an Australian term used to describe an occasion when someone way behind comes through unexpectedly for the win.

 

Named after Steve Bradbury,  speed skating Aussie battler who won our first ever winter Olympic gold medal when the rest of the field - who were all in front of him - fell over on the  last bit. )

 

 

Edited October 25, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[J. S. Bach]

What has 1,000 legs and three front teeth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front row at a NASCAR race.

 

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[chrisf]

Greetings

 

Something possessed me yesterday to cancel Wednesday's visit from the gas engineer because I thought that the problem was fixed.  I was mistaken.  The rearranged appointment will be in a week's time.  Until then I shall have to get used to boiling kettles when I need hot water and don another woolly pully when I need heat.  The first long hot bath after normal service is restored will be sheer bliss.   The mountain of laundry awaiting my attention will be anything but!

 

Later in the week I expect to have the fate of my Christmas and New Year holiday confirmed.  Two possible substitutes have been identified, neither involving Switzerland.  Hitherto I have avoided dealing with the organising company but beggars cannot be choosers and in the present uncertainty there is no guarantee that either trip will take place.  For some strange reason I do not feel terribly optimistic today.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[TheQ]

8 hours ago, polybear said:

Advert 40808 may be of interest to a certain ex-Radar Engineer:

https://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/

 

 

I'd like the Valve but not at that price, it's a bit beyond my free Spending money. Of coincidences I know Shipton Bellinger where it's being sold.. its 4 1/2 miles from where I used to live..

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, J. S. Bach said:

What has 1,000 legs and three front teeth?

 

 

The front row at a NASCAR race.

 

I've always thought it was the front row at a Cliff Richard concert only there they have no teeth.  

 

Jamie

Edited October 25, 2021 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a slightly warmer but damp Charente.   Yesterdays eats were hood. A roast quack bird was used to good purpose.  I even got some successful  soldering time in the shed.

 

Hopefully  our builder will reappear  today after a fortnight's absence due to his fraud problems and other causes.  I've got to get to the post office to send some family birthday cards.  Not a lot else to report.

 

Good wishes to Simon and his wife, I really hope that they get to the bottom of the problem.

 

Jamie

[iL Dottore]

Good morning all,

 

Firstly, I am saddened to hear about the various trials and tribulations of the SWMBOs of some of our ER posters. I do hope that definitive diagnoses can be arrived at and proper treatment plans put into place. My best wishes for a speedy resolution.
 

It used to be that British physicians were renowned for their incredible  diagnostic skills, that doesn’t seem seem case here. Although if you were to listen to an acquaintance of mine – a senior oncology consultant in the NHS - it is because the training and the immediate after-training working experience isn’t as demanding and rigorous as it was when he was a registrar. He also claims that many of the young doctors nowadays couldn’t even begin to shoulder half of what he had to shoulder as a registrar. Something I think that holds true in many areas today (and you ought to hear what my [retired] GP friend has to say about female, part-time, GPs. Uncomplimentary is the least of it).

 

It’s interesting to note that “tape delay” is still being used as a term nowadays, given that everything is done digitally. Tape delay is used in many areas of entertainment, but the one I’m most familiar with are those tape delays used in rock ‘n’ roll. Apparently, the very best tape delay ever made was the Binson Echorec, long out of production and incredibly temperamental  (even when new). Not the best machine to take on the road, yet at one point it was said that the only two people who know how to keep a Binson Echorec functioning on tour were David Gilmour and his guitar tech. The few Binsons that are still around go for silly money whenever they (rarely) come up for sale. 

Whilst on the topic of music, It’s interesting to note that vintage high quality musical instruments now cost more to buy than when they were bought new. For example: even without an association with a famous guitarist, a 59 Gibson Les Paul can go for $500,000 or more! Something that can’t be said of much else (art and cars certainly always tend to go up in price - but what else?)

 

To be contentious for a moment, I want to claim that the following guitars are “definitive“ and every “new” type of guitar since are just derivations of these originals

• Gibson Les Paul
• Gibson SG
• Fender Telecaster
• Fender Stratocaster
• Gibson ES family (ES 335, ES 345, ES 355 etc.)
• Rickenbacker 300 series

as a sidenote, I have to say that having acquired one of each (apart from the Rickenbacker) I found all of the above eminently playable, except for the Gibson SG. However, not playing all of them on a regular basis (and on a strong “recommendation” by the Alpine Angel of Death) I have slimmed down my electric guitar collection to a Les Paul, two Strats (one home-made from a kit project) and a Tele. Interestingly (or least interestingly to fellow guitarist gearheads) I tend to go through phases whereby I tend to play one guitar almost exclusively. Currently my “go-to“ guitar is my Gibson Les Paul Gold Top.

 

Despite having reduced my collection, I still suffer from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and I have been toying with the idea of buying one of these as a test bed for DIY modification and upgrade https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_cst_24t_emerald_flame.htm

 

And on that sort of rock ‘n’ roll note, I bid you a great start to the week!

 

iD

Edited October 25, 2021 by iL Dottore