View Full Version : Tell Me Something............Anything!
OK, thread title is “tell me something …….anything”
Pigmy’s post above regarding “…desperate for a dump” reminded me about a story my grandad told me:
WW2, blackout, living in terraced housing with shared “privy” - gets home in dark, desperate for a dump he shot straight in to the privy, dropped his trousers and sat on the lap of the wife of a neighbour.
Never did tell me whether he did the business :)
OK, thread title is “tell me something …….anything”
Pigmy’s post above regarding “…desperate for a dump” reminded me about a story my grandad told me:
WW2, blackout, living in terraced housing with shared “privy” - gets home in dark, desperate for a dump he shot straight in to the privy, dropped his trousers and sat on the lap of the wife of a neighbour.
Never did tell me whether he did the business :)
Well that did make me laugh! One hopes he was able to contain himself, apologise and wait.
Pigmy Pony
17-04-2024, 11:26
OK, thread title is “tell me something …….anything”
Pigmy’s post above regarding “…desperate for a dump” reminded me about a story my grandad told me:
WW2, blackout, living in terraced housing with shared “privy” - gets home in dark, desperate for a dump he shot straight in to the privy, dropped his trousers and sat on the lap of the wife of a neighbour.
Never did tell me whether he did the business :)
I'd like to think he did :D We have it so easy with modern indoor plumbing.
Grandads were the best for toilet humour. Two of my grandad's favourites:
One night he woke up with a desperate urge for a poo (turned out to be diarrhoea), and as he was climbing over my grandma he did a fart. And my grandma's face looked like it was covered in freckles :spew:
Then there was a moment of reflection: "After my cack (his words) this morning, I looked in the toilet and saw it was the shape of a question mark. And it got me thinking..."
He also used to say that his and my grandma's false teeth had to be kept in separate glasses at night, as they used to fight and the noise kept them awake. Not sure I believed that one.
I recognise the layout from the outside view. Walking through the front door you'll have a small wc and washbasin to the right, and a long narrow hallway leading to lounge on the left, stairs on the right and dining kitchen at the end. Probably.
A music lover's guide to house buying:
https://www.farrellheyworth.co.uk/resources/Web/Images/Cache/23/01/85/Front_800x600.jpg
Wrong. Doors apart means lounges adjoining.
https://mr0.homeflow-assets.co.uk/files/photo/image/35852/1893/652x/FUD240175_01.jpg
Correct. Doors together means lounges apart. And having a downstairs bog next to the front door can be handy if you get home desperate for a dump :)
Many homes had to be rebuilt after the war and the country was almost bankrupt, so new builds had to be designed to save costs. When it came to semi-detached houses, they were designed to have the two dwellings be mirror imaged with the entrances adjacent to one another, rather than at opposite ends of the building.
This was done so the two dwellings could share the electricity cable feeding them from the street. Copper was expensive, so this arrangement would halve the cost. Similarly the ring main was devised to save cable cost over the radial system that had been used before.
I'd like to think he did :D We have it so easy with modern indoor plumbing.
Grandads were the best for toilet humour. Two of my grandad's favourites:
One night he woke up with a desperate urge for a poo (turned out to be diarrhoea), and as he was climbing over my grandma he did a fart. And my grandma's face looked like it was covered in freckles :spew:
Then there was a moment of reflection: "After my cack (his words) this morning, I looked in the toilet and saw it was the shape of a question mark. And it got me thinking..."
He also used to say that his and my grandma's false teeth had to be kept in separate glasses at night, as they used to fight and the noise kept them awake. Not sure I believed that one.
God, I loved my grandad - wish that I had been old enough/he had lived longer so that he could have told me more.
I remember him taking me to see “return of the magnificent 7” (he loved cowboy films), on the way he took out his false teeth and snapped them at a couple of girls who were walking towards us.
Pigmy Pony
17-04-2024, 12:17
Many homes had to be rebuilt after the war and the country was almost bankrupt, so new builds had to be designed to save costs. When it came to semi-detached houses, they were designed to have the two dwellings be mirror imaged with the entrances adjacent to one another, rather than at opposite ends of the building.
This was done so the two dwellings could share the electricity cable feeding them from the street. Copper was expensive, so this arrangement would halve the cost. Similarly the ring main was devised to save cable cost over the radial system that had been used before.
Ah I didn't know that, makes complete sense.
Something else to consider, regarding the semi in pic 1 (1930s pre-war), also Victorian and Edwardian semis in general: The chimneys could be put next to each other, and the living rooms would also be better insulated from the cold outside. This isn't something I've been told, it's just a theory.
Ah I didn't know that, makes complete sense.
Something else to consider, regarding the semi in pic 1 (1930s pre-war), also Victorian and Edwardian semis in general: The chimneys could be put next to each other, and the living rooms would also be better insulated from the cold outside. This isn't something I've been told, it's just a theory.
Again, it all makes sense, and that the idea was continued for new-builds.
former council estate near where I used to work had some houses with doors together and some with doors apart, even though it was all built at the same time (1950s).
former council estate near where I used to work had some houses with doors together and some with doors apart, even though it was all built at the same time (1950s).
Is the power to these houses supplied by overhead cables?
Is the power to these houses supplied by overhead cables?
No, I'm pretty sure it isn't.
Oh well, it must be "the exception that proves the rule".
Pigmy Pony
30-04-2024, 12:57
Had some interesting customers over the years, but how about this one?
https://i0.wp.com/philharmonicwinds.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Tim-Reynish-Resident-Guest-Conductor1.jpg?resize=1024%2C640&ssl=1
He and his wife have provided me with work for many years now. Really nice people. I was there this morning, drinking their coffee and eating all of their bourbon biscuits.
Timothy is now 86, but still keeping busy. Munich next month, and Singapore in June I believe. Long may it continue :)
Mikeandvan
04-05-2024, 23:00
In my new flat now, at 925 pm its cheap for Brighton. I got lucky here, bang In the centre of town , well the Hove part of Brighton, a classic regency building, basement flat, loving it so far. Can't believe I spent 2 yrs out in the sticks. Beach is a few minutes walk, or 30 minutes with my poor arthritic pooch. No more buses for me, god I fucking hate buses. Neighbours are quiet, only one adjoining property, the flat above, next door is a business. Roads a bit noisy but might try my hand at some cheap double glazing. Put up 2 kitchen shelves yesterday, only took me 5 hrs, my mate says they look OK, but I'm not so sure, he assures me they're fine, and the issue is my low shelf esteem.
Good news there Mike.
Around here you would have to pay ~ £1,600 a month for a flat like yours.
Pigmy Pony
05-05-2024, 11:26
In my new flat now, at 925 pm its cheap for Brighton. I got lucky here, bang In the centre of town , well the Hove part of Brighton, a classic regency building, basement flat, loving it so far. Can't believe I spent 2 yrs out in the sticks. Beach is a few minutes walk, or 30 minutes with my poor arthritic pooch. No more buses for me, god I fucking hate buses. Neighbours are quiet, only one adjoining property, the flat above, next door is a business. Roads a bit noisy but might try my hand at some cheap double glazing. Put up 2 kitchen shelves yesterday, only took me 5 hrs, my mate says they look OK, but I'm not so sure, he assures me they're fine, and the issue is my low shelf esteem.
Listen to your mate Mike and give yourself a break. There will always be times when we can be a bit hard on ourselves, be sure to balance it by giving yourself some credit when something works out right :)
Depending upon how old your window(s) might be, another option could be to change the existing double glazed units to lami/tuff mix, ie toughened glass inner pane and laminated glass outer pane. Very good at reducing sound transmission, and gives more security too. Or even go for triple-glaze. Whichever, avoid 'Cloudy to Clear' glass replacement firm, their prices take the piss. Find a local one-man-band tradesman.
Listen to your mate Mike and give yourself a break. There will always be times when we can be a bit hard on ourselves, be sure to balance it by giving yourself some credit when something works out right :)
Depending upon how old your window(s) might be, another option could be to change the existing double glazed units to lami/tuff mix, ie toughened glass inner pane and laminated glass outer pane. Very good at reducing sound transmission, and gives more security too. Or even go for triple-glaze. Whichever, avoid 'Cloudy to Clear' glass replacement firm, their prices take the piss. Find a local one-man-band tradesman.
It's a rented flat so that's putting better windows into someone else's house at your own expense. Okay so you get the benefit while you live there but it still jars with me a bit.
I have decorated some of the rentals I lived in but that wasn't expensive. And they really needed it!
It's a rented flat so that's putting better windows into someone else's house at your own expense. Okay so you get the benefit while you live there but it still jars with me a bit.
I have decorated some of the rentals I lived in but that wasn't expensive. And they really needed it!
My thoughts exactly - though when I rented bedsits as a student I would bill the landlord with the decoration costs (usually just a couple of tins of paint or emulsion), and more often than not they would pay. :D
Pigmy Pony
05-05-2024, 15:46
Our landlord is not too much of a tightwad, so through cooperation we all do ok - We pay for decorating and carpeting the house and for lawn treatments, because we need it doing when it needs doing, and not just some cheapshit 'good enough' solutions.
When it came to building the fences and roofline, I did the work and the landlord paid for the materials. I don't mind that, it means we end up getting what we want to live with and the landlord gets a bargain. The Rock Door at the back of the house was a thousand quid door, but I got it for free and just gave up half a day of my time, so I let him have that. And when it came to re-roofing the garage, I gave him a price that undercut the other two quotes, and still made a decent wage out of it :)
Bottom line is me and Anita know that we will not have things the way we like if the landlord had to pay for it all.
Mikeandvan
05-05-2024, 16:56
Listen to your mate Mike and give yourself a break. There will always be times when we can be a bit hard on ourselves, be sure to balance it by giving yourself some credit when something works out right :)
Depending upon how old your window(s) might be, another option could be to change the existing double glazed units to lami/tuff mix, ie toughened glass inner pane and laminated glass outer pane. Very good at reducing sound transmission, and gives more security too. Or even go for triple-glaze. Whichever, avoid 'Cloudy to Clear' glass replacement firm, their prices take the piss. Find a local one-man-band tradesman.
'Shelf esteem'.
I didn't want to replace the windows only put some cheap and easy form of double glazing up as the noise from cars is a but much up to about 8pm. Saw some cheap ones on the Internet, plastic I think, but I have blinds anyway so will hardly see them.
Mikeandvan
05-05-2024, 17:01
It's a rented flat so that's putting better windows into someone else's house at your own expense. Okay so you get the benefit while you live there but it still jars with me a bit.
I have decorated some of the rentals I lived in but that wasn't expensive. And they really needed it!
I've already spent 200 notes on putting up shelving, as there's absolutely no bloody storage.
Mikeandvan
05-05-2024, 17:02
Good news there Mike.
Around here you would have to pay ~ £1,600 a month for a flat like yours.
In Essex? I guess you're near the London end, I lived in South Woodford around 2005.
No in London, Camden to be exact.
Mikeandvan
05-05-2024, 21:31
No in London, Camden to be exact.
Oh the epicentre of youth culture! Spent many a Sunday there as a young man.
Arthur Scargill is in town here today to make a speech. Have to say I thought he died years ago.
Arthur Scargill is in town here today to make a speech. Have to say I thought he died years ago.
I thought so too, but apparently still kicking at 86. 40th anniversary of the miners strikes I see.
Pigmy Pony
18-05-2024, 07:38
Arthur Scargill is in town here today to make a speech. Have to say I thought he died years ago.
You might be confusing him with Brian Clough. Wouldn't make any difference anyway - If Arthur had something to say he wouldn't let a little thing like death stop him.
You might be confusing him with Brian Clough.
Or that bloke off of 'Wheeltappers And Shunters.'
Pigmy Pony
18-05-2024, 09:22
"Order at the back..."
https://scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/44681519_1905835822799357_8657267142191742976_n.jp g?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=pev6ZXp7suIQ7kNvgEuS3e0&_nc_oc=Adidqusk2i_sFhGYG4LyA99w4mqYbqH3bfmJ0FbqtYd 2GBxsocvFw98SS_SWDu2Kwg23qcw9fO1DRwKZZS_SRUPo&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-2.xx&oh=00_AYAj_UHYAICwO8MM7IVpNSsgnLDwpX2x85iFZV0NWYhA Nw&oe=666FFED1
Mikeandvan
04-06-2024, 23:35
Nuclear apocalypse getting closer people, next few weeks gonna be interesting. Russian state TV really is fucking barmy, they casually talk about how many nukes it would take to destroy certain cities!!
Pigmy Pony
05-06-2024, 06:16
Nuclear apocalypse getting closer people, next few weeks gonna be interesting. Russian state TV really is fucking barmy, they casually talk about how many nukes it would take to destroy certain cities!!
All said for our benefit, they know the world is watching. They're almost as good at sabre-rattling as they are at lying. As a rule of thumb always believe the opposite of what they say and you'll be pretty close to the truth.
Mikeandvan
05-06-2024, 12:08
All said for our benefit, they know the world is watching. They're almost as good at sabre-rattling as they are at lying. As a rule of thumb always believe the opposite of what they say and you'll be pretty close to the truth.
Em, I'm not sure what to believe, they come across as completely unhinged. One thing though, the US would have given Ukraine long range missiles a long time ago if it wasn't aware of the dangers of escalation, and now I believe they are saying that they still cannot use them on targets inside Russia, but they can use the shorter range weapons. Other Nato states though are saying they can use the long range missiles inside Russia, so it'll be Europe that gets some return fire before the US does.
Pigmy Pony
17-06-2024, 11:18
https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2024/06/boy-13-charged-with-fulwood-lollipop-man-attack/
Time to come down hard on these scumbags, by any means necessary. And if they get hurt in the process, tough titty.
https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2024/06/boy-13-charged-with-fulwood-lollipop-man-attack/
Time to come down hard on these scumbags, by any means necessary. And if they get hurt in the process, tough titty.
First offence - birching, cheap and quick. Second offence they get dropped on a island like in 'Lord Of The Flies' and fend for themselves.
Drop them army rations by helicopter. Monitor the whole thing from geostationary satellite, sell the TV rights worldwide, pays for itself.
Pigmy Pony
17-06-2024, 20:00
First offence - birching, cheap and quick. Second offence they get dropped on a island like in 'Lord Of The Flies' and fend for themselves.
Drop them army rations by helicopter. Monitor the whole thing from geostationary satellite, sell the TV rights worldwide, pays for itself.
Perfect :) I knew I could count on you for a reasonable, appropriate and commercially viable solution.
Perfect :) I knew I could count on you for a reasonable, appropriate and commercially viable solution.
I'm hoping to have Netflix attached to the project by the end of the month.
This is just the best thread on a hi-fi forum ever:
'Chirp In Speak':
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/chirp-in-speak/by_member?username=tubebuffer
This is just the best thread on a hi-fi forum ever:
'Chirp In Speak':
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/chirp-in-speak/by_member?username=tubebuffer
Fantastic! [emoji23]
Was all of that genuine? :eek: The guy's writings are worse than that of a typical 8 year old! :doh:
Was all of that genuine? :eek: The guy's writings are worse than that of a typical 8 year old! :doh:
The thing is that it doesn't matter whether he's taking the piss or not, it's still genius either way.
''I try put on gangster rap and pop to try shake it death but cricket tough little bugger. Any idea no shop vac and rather not take apart. Any music cricket no like? Even try Adele and still stay''
A friend of mine was convinced death watch beetles had got into one of his Cambridge R50 transmission line speakers - he even phoned up Rentakil to ask them how he could get rid of them.
He probably had been smoking too much "whacky baccy" and was hallucinating, as the 'problem' disappeared the next :rolleyes:
Pigmy Pony
19-06-2024, 06:27
A friend of mine was convinced death watch beetles had got into one of his Cambridge R50 transmission line speakers - he even phoned up Rentakil to ask them how he could get rid of them.
He probably had been smoking too much "whacky baccy" and was hallucinating, as the 'problem' disappeared the next :rolleyes:
https://youtu.be/S9E5uWQraSw?t=7
:eek: Well that was an education! And sounds like something makers of uber-expensive speakers might use in demonstrations.
Yeah it does a bit.
Add some breathy female vocal and a shit-ton of artificial reverb and you're off to the races.
Pigmy Pony
23-06-2024, 06:31
Another ten minutes and that's me out the door - a couple of pick ups then we're off to the NW Audio Show at Cranage. Yay! Free admission, pricey food and drink, plenty of unaffordable kit, and this year will include a record fair I'm told :) so pasting the wallet may be unavoidable.
Pigmy Pony
29-06-2024, 08:59
Serves me right for not growing old gracefully and being aware of my limitations - yesterday we moved and raised a 9 metre long girder with the help of 5 warm bodies and two genies. I just couldn't resist seeing if I could lift one end of this 480kg lump (about 1060lb in old money). I couldn't. And now my left shoulder has been waking me all night and is still giving me grief. I wonder if I'll ever learn?
That's the equivalent of a 37 stone weight: or three well built human beings. :eek: No wonder your shoulder hurts - think yourself lucky you didn’t cause more damage to yourself.
NOW will you learn? :doh:
Pigmy Pony
29-06-2024, 11:04
That's the equivalent of a 37 stone weight: or three well built human beings. :eek: No wonder your shoulder hurts - think yourself lucky you didn’t cause more damage to yourself.
NOW will you learn? :doh:
:D Of course I will - the trouble is that even though I learn something every day, I have to re-learn it again the next day :doh:
Every time you learn something new it pushes old stuff out of your head.
Pigmy Pony
29-06-2024, 11:16
Every time you learn something new it pushes old stuff out of your head.
Yeah it's a case of one out, one in. Just a bit annoying when becoming aware of reality show cack like "Love Island" pushes out memories I'd rather keep :(
Why do they plant trees so close together? Do they not realise that they grow?
They planted loads of them round here in the late 1980s and early 90s to try and soften the crumbling post-industrial Victorian look of the place.
When they were saplings you didn't notice but 40 years on they're massive and jammed in like sardines.
What kind of trees are they? Usually councils will choose trees that can cope with exhaust pollution and will position them so the roots do not mutually interfere with each other, or interfere with neighbouring walls and pavements.
What kind of trees are they? Usually councils will choose trees that can cope with exhaust pollution and will position them so the roots do not mutually interfere with each other, or interfere with neighbouring walls and pavements.
All sorts - I don't really know about trees. The ones I am referring to are all planted on what were empty patches of land where houses or works had been demolished in the dim and distant.
They could have spread them out more, plenty of space to do that. Instead they planted them in clumps, so you've got what are now massive trees jammed right together where the branches are totally interlocked.
Pigmy Pony
29-06-2024, 17:55
They've done a lot of tree planting round Preston over the last 40 or 50 years, lining the new roads to make the place greener and less 'built up' looking. And they undoubtedly help insulate the new-build houses from traffic noise.
But they also have been planted too densely, and I think they're suffocating each other. As I've said before, most have their trunks covered in ivy, which imo marks the end for those trees.
Trees in good health should last at least a hundred years or so, but for many of the places that have been planted in Preston I remember what it was like before - so in my lifetime they've gone from saplings to nearly full size and dead. And they're not fast-growing conifers either. I feel that the problem (apart from traffic pollution) is that they were all planted at the same time, and are competing for the same bit of land and patch of sunlight. Whereas in the natural world the trees that get there first thrive while latecomers don't.
In the natural world they grow optimal distance from each other I suppose.
Ironically on the sites where they just left it and didn't landscape, they grow properly. Only thing is every 10 years or so for no good reason I can see, they come in and chop them all down and bulldoze it all flat.
Then 2 years later it's a jungle again.
Just come in from a hard day's work to watch The Sweeny and it's the wanking Tour De France instead.
Says it's The Sweeny in the listings. Wouldn't mind but it's not even in France and they're not even showing any racing just moronic punditry and interviews - 'Yes, I pedalled really fast and I won.'
All the schedules are buggered by the Euros, Wimbledon, and for one night only, the UK general election.
Fortunately BBC4 are showing a couple of good films.
All the schedules are buggered by the Euros, Wimbledon, and for one night only, the UK general election.
Fortunately BBC4 are showing a couple of good films.
They're all on the main channels and I never watch them anyway as it's wall to wall crap, so it's no loss to me. Although I have watched some of the footy.
Just annoying that they have to put the TDF on one of the few channels that usually shows proper telly when there's no shortage of other channels they could use instead.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9r3lr2l4zxo
Mikeandvan
19-07-2024, 20:01
As well as my cd player my laptop packed in, but Currys gave me all the cost of it back even though its over 5 yrs old, all part of their insurance which they no longer offer, lol, I dropped my last one about 3 times and they fixed it no questions asked, and now they refunded its original cost, funny they no longer offer that 'all risk' insurance though!! Anyway, got 300 back for the old one, and took out 500 credit and got myself some whizz band 2-in-1 laptop, you fold it over and it becomes a touchy screeny thing, you can tell I'm use about 1% if its potential!! Feels nice anyway. just dreading that first drop.
Rush2112
26-07-2024, 07:26
As well as my cd player my laptop packed in, but Currys gave me all the cost of it back even though its over 5 yrs old, all part of their insurance which they no longer offer, lol, I dropped my last one about 3 times and they fixed it no questions asked, and now they refunded its original cost, funny they no longer offer that 'all risk' insurance though!! Anyway, got 300 back for the old one, and took out 500 credit and got myself some whizz band 2-in-1 laptop, you fold it over and it becomes a touchy screeny thing, you can tell I'm use about 1% if its potential!! Feels nice anyway. just dreading that first drop.
Hi Mike, I bought a Targus laptop bag and document brief case with a lifetime guarantee from Curry’s in the 90’s, they replaced it five times when the carrying handle became detached ! They stopped stocking it and I didn’t bother the 6th time trying to find a stockist as I reckoned I had more than my moneys worth!!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Pigmy Pony
26-07-2024, 07:36
Hearing nice things being said about Currys, it's just weird. I've bought all sorts from them over the years, but can't really comment as I've not had anything faulty.
Last time I was in Curry's was 2007. I bought a telly. Sony. It's still going, gave it to a mate when I 'upgraded' - his son has it in his bedroom.
Pigmy Pony
26-07-2024, 08:29
I bought a 32" widescreen Sony from Currys in about 2004. At the time they were about £800, this one was refurbed and cost us £280. Ran for years with no issues. It was massive, fortunately we had an Escort cabriolet and could chuck it in the back like you would with a skip.
I bought a 32" widescreen Sony from Currys in about 2004. At the time they were about £800, this one was refurbed and cost us £280. Ran for years with no issues. It was massive, fortunately we had an Escort cabriolet and could chuck it in the back like you would with a skip.
I had a 32'' Philips widescreen with built in amps for surround sound. Weighed as much as the moon. I gave it to one of the girls at work who had just moved house after divorce and had no money and no telly. When she switched it on for the first time it tripped the electrics. Oops. No modern circuit breaker at my place so I'd had no problem.
Pigmy Pony
26-07-2024, 08:50
I had a 32'' Philips widescreen with built in amps for surround sound. Weighed as much as the moon. I gave it to one of the girls at work who had just moved house after divorce and had no money and no telly. When she switched it on for the first time it tripped the electrics. Oops. No modern circuit breaker at my place so I'd had no problem.
Last time I commented on electrical shenanigans I got shouted at. So I'll just say I hope she disconnected it from the mains and resolved the issue by employing a qualified electrician without delay :o
Mikeandvan
27-07-2024, 18:22
Hi Mike, I bought a Targus laptop bag and document brief case with a lifetime guarantee from Curry’s in the 90’s, they replaced it five times when the carrying handle became detached ! They stopped stocking it and I didn’t bother the 6th time trying to find a stockist as I reckoned I had more than my moneys worth!!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
LOL. a lifetime guarantee with a bag!! I wonder what their profit margins are like? Like I said they seemed to have learned and no longer offer the accidential damage insurance, not on laptops anyway.
Mikeandvan
27-07-2024, 18:23
Curry's great, apart from the clueless assistants, similar to DIY stores, they seem to employ school leavers, they may as well employ dogs wondering around the store.
HMV are also staffed by clueless assistants, who only seem to know the price of any purchase; which of course is already marked on the item and contained within the barcode! :doh:
Yesterday I received notification of my car insurance which is due for renewal next month. I was shocked to see it had increased by nearly 30% over what I paid last year.
Some would probably grumble, shrug their shoulders and pay up. Not me! I know insurance companies exploite older members so as to offer attractive rates for new and younger customers, so I did what I always do and phoned the company to ask why the quote was so high.
I was given the usual sob story that costs of parts and labour had increased significantly. I was told the average increase across the board was 68%, with an unspoken hint that I should be grateful for my 29% increase! I was having none of that and politely asked if "something could be done about it" (with an unspoken hint that I could always go elsewhere).
I also thought it would be a good idea to increase my mileage cover. The person I was talking to was working from home and there was a problem with the computer system that would not allow her to update my details, but she would call me in the morning with a renewed quote.
Result - the new quote is almost £100 lower and has increased cover. Every time I get a new quote I have to go through the same rigmarole and with the same result: a cheaper revised quote.
Don't talk to me about car insurance companies. Have to deal with them at work. Their whole business model is about getting money for nothing.
Had to contact one this afternoon. No way to speak to anyone on the 'phone. You have to go on the chatbot which of course only knows the answers you already know. So you have to wait for a person to come on the chat. First one couldn't help so transfers me to another one. They all have unpronounceable names which tells you something.
All I wanted was an e-mail to send an invoice to and their business address to put on the invoice. That took half an hour and I still didn't get the address so I'll just put on whatever is on Companies House. I guarantee though they'll send the invoice back saying the address is wrong.
Pigmy Pony
30-07-2024, 17:28
Sounds like it worked out in the end Barry, just a shame you have to go through all the faff though. Anita has absolutely no loyalty when it comes to renewing cover, and considers a few hours shopping elsewhere worthwhile when it means saving £100 or so.
I do find it annoying that they work this way - if they can afford to knock a hundred quid off they should do that in the first place. I'd be tempted to tell them to stick their new quote where the sun don't shine, but really these insurers are all the same.
Pigmy Pony
04-08-2024, 21:11
WTF is that post in the 'Welcome' sub forum? For God's sake don't open it :eek:
Pigmy Pony
04-08-2024, 21:52
WTF is that post in the 'Welcome' sub forum? For God's sake don't open it :eek:
Seems to be gone now.
WTF is that post in the 'Welcome' sub forum? For God's sake don't open it :eek:
The post has been deleted and the poster banned.
FYI, we have had worse initial postings, which have also been promptly dealt with.
Pigmy Pony
04-08-2024, 22:14
The post has been deleted and the poster banned.
FYI, we have had worse initial postings, which have also been promptly dealt with.
At the time I wasn't sure anyone who could deal with it was around, so I just wanted to warn folk off - you hear about bad things happening to people who open strange e-mails, texts etc.
There have been an increasing number of these spam merchants of late.
We are trying to find out how they are getting in and bypassing the normal vetting process.
Pigmy Pony
09-08-2024, 13:58
Every time I go on Ebay I'm plagued with ads like this. How do they know my belly needs help? This has been going on for weeks, totally unsolicited. It's starting to get on my wick.
https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/sadbundle/$csp%3Der3$/17240196576966606848/300x600.png
A few months ago I was inundated with pics of posters available to buy via Ebay of ladies showing all their bits. Making me look like a right perv :(
Pigmy Pony
09-08-2024, 14:07
Here's another. What's going on?
https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/sadbundle/$csp%3Der3$/14117127840872792064/MB_25634_24992_300_600.gif
I think if you open these ads, even if you go no further and delete them as spam and block the sender, the 'system' remembers and continues to send you similar spam but from a supposedly different sender.
The best thing to do is just to ignore them and eventually they will stop.
If you're on Windows set your Firewall to 'strict' - or something similar, I can't recall what it's actually named but it's the third of the three options.
Pigmy Pony
09-08-2024, 18:09
If you're on Windows set your Firewall to 'strict' - or something similar, I can't recall what it's actually named but it's the third of the three options.
Cheers Mart, but I have no idea what you just said :doh: so I'll go with Barry's advice and ignore it - I am very good at ignoring things :)
Cheers Mart, but I have no idea what you just said :doh: so I'll go with Barry's advice and ignore it - I am very good at ignoring things :)
was going to say it was easy and give you a guide but just spent ten minutes looking for it and I can't find it.
Mikeandvan
10-08-2024, 20:17
Me n doggo lovely day in Hastings, wish I could move here, sick of Brighton, another town fallen to the grunts.
Pigmy Pony
11-08-2024, 11:55
Average house price in Hastings £256,000 compared to £420,000 for Brighton. And these prices will surely be reflected in the rental market. That's a big difference and a no brainer, unless of course there's something about Brighton you can't live without.
Average house price in Hastings £256,000 compared to £420,000 for Brighton. And these prices will surely be reflected in the rental market. That's a big difference and a no brainer, unless of course there's something about Brighton you can't live without.
Small flats look to be around £1200/month!
You can still buy houses round by me for £75K, at £1200/month you'd pay the mortgage off in 6 years.
Pigmy Pony
11-08-2024, 13:19
Small flats look to be around £1200/month!
You can still buy houses round by me for £75K, at £1200/month you'd pay the mortgage off in 6 years.
I trust your residents association will have a vetting process for potential new neighbours, you don't want any old riff raff.
Pigmy Pony
11-08-2024, 13:23
It looks like renting or buying in a coastal town comes at a higher cost. Don't know why, most of these places are rough as a badger's arse, unless you can pay north of £1m.
I trust your residents association will have a vetting process for potential new neighbours, you don't want any old riff raff.
It's very quiet right now as all the students are away for the summer. Practically living on university campus these days.
Mikeandvan
11-08-2024, 21:28
Average house price in Hastings £256,000 compared to £420,000 for Brighton. And these prices will surely be reflected in the rental market. That's a big difference and a no brainer, unless of course there's something about Brighton you can't live without.
It must all the beautiful transwomen that reside here.
Mikeandvan
11-08-2024, 21:34
It looks like renting or buying in a coastal town comes at a higher cost. Don't know why, most of these places are rough as a badger's arse, unless you can pay north of £1m.
Alas Hastings is just as full of crackheads as Brighton, these fuckers have absolutely zero sympathy from me, if I was mayor I'd clear this goddam town of the whole lot of them, now there's a game , 'Fantasy Mayor', hehe.
That advert where the bloke is worrying all day about his dog being in the vet, and when they bring it out it's blatantly obvious that the animal has never clapped eyes on him before in its life.
Must have seen it ten times and right now I can't recall in the slightest what it is they're advertising.
Great job there boys.
That advert where the bloke is worrying all day about his dog being in the vet, and when they bring it out it's blatantly obvious that the animal has never clapped eyes on him before in its life.
Must have seen it ten times and right now I can't recall in the slightest what it is they're advertising.
Great job there boys.
It's for vet insurance - obviously.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2024, 06:55
It's for vet insurance - obviously.
Yes, it's for Petplan insurance. That dog clearly has had no acting experience and is unable to hide his discomfort at being made to participate in this web of deceit. Beardy bloke is not his dad and the chap with the dead cat on his head hadn't fixed his leg, which wasn't broken anyway.
What really bugs me about that ad though (and there's another that's just as bad) is that by including Noel "Supervet" Fitzpatrick the implication is that if you buy Petplan insurance that you'll get your pet repaired by him personally.
I can imagine customers phoning Petplan and saying "my cat has been hit by a car - so I'd like your vet Mr. Fitzpatrick to do her a bionic tail like he does on his TV programme". "I'm sorry your plan doesn't cover treatment by specific vets. Amputation is the only option".
Would be difficult for "beardy bloke" to be the dog's father. :lol: And who is Noel Fitzpatrick? :scratch:
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2024, 13:50
He is a veterinary surgeon who takes on really difficult cases which are life-threatening or life-limiting. He has a TV series which follows these cases. I don't watch these programmes, I just know of their existence.
A customer cannot request his services - his company (Fitzpatrick Referrals) has to be referred by another vet.
Bey you're sorry you asked now.
That dog clearly has had no acting experience .
Lassie probably turned the gig down so they had to get in an unknown.
Also the bloke doesn't look like his dog which is another error. Round here, at least, blokes resemble their dog. Or the dog resembles them, not sure exactly which way up that works.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2024, 18:47
These two would have been more suitable, and the bloke looks like he can afford pet insurance.
https://turntable.kagiso.io/images/A_man_and_his_dog_look_like_one_another.width-800.png
But some dogs just can't be fixed, and the owner was unwilling to be filmed.
https://pics.craiyon.com/2023-05-25/ff9b0ee8421b4d60ad3c2ec5109bcdc1.webp
Lawrence001
16-08-2024, 09:46
These two would have been more suitable, and the bloke looks like he can afford pet insurance.
https://turntable.kagiso.io/images/A_man_and_his_dog_look_like_one_another.width-800.png
But some dogs just can't be fixed, and the owner was unwilling to be filmed.
https://pics.craiyon.com/2023-05-25/ff9b0ee8421b4d60ad3c2ec5109bcdc1.webpWhen did beards become a sign of having plenty of money? When I was younger it meant you were homeless or a hippy and/or green party member (and invariably wore sandals).
Sent from my HEY2-W09 using Tapatalk
Pigmy Pony
16-08-2024, 13:09
When did beards become a sign of having plenty of money? When I was younger it meant you were homeless or a hippy and/or green party member (and invariably wore sandals).
Sent from my HEY2-W09 using Tapatalk
They didn't really. But that looks like a statement beard to me, normally sported by blokes who don't give a shit about whether it will keep them from getting a proper job, because they don't need a job. It's attention they seek, not work. I suppose it's possible he's homeless, but his teeth look too well maintained to be hobo-teeth, and his sweater is remarkably free of dog hairs.
WOStantonCS100
22-08-2024, 22:00
"tell me........................anything"
Brothers in arms, my friends across the pond. Nothing but love.
But............... someone over there, specific someones, have been sniffing some serious glue if they think they are going to come across the pond and jail me/us for saying................... anything.
With all due respect, we are many, we are not criminals, we are peacefully trying to live out our lives, listen to some records.......but make no mistake, we are armed to the ********** teeth. Those certain persons need to check themselves.
Enough. Cats in a corner. No longer quiet.
If this is my last post here, so be it. Love my UK brothers and sister. Hope for your country and mine. Enough.
Pigmy Pony
23-08-2024, 05:45
I was wondering too but didn't like to say.
"tell me........................anything"
Brothers in arms, my friends across the pond. Nothing but love.
But............... someone over there, specific someones, have been sniffing some serious glue if they think they are going to come across the pond and jail me/us for saying................... anything.
With all due respect, we are many, we are not criminals, we are peacefully trying to live out our lives, listen to some records.......but make no mistake, we are armed to the ********** teeth. Those certain persons need to check themselves.
Enough. Cats in a corner. No longer quiet.
If this is my last post here, so be it. Love my UK brothers and sister. Hope for your country and mine. Enough.
?????
No need to be cryptic. If something, or someone, is bugging you then spit it out. If the source of your annoyance is here, on AoS, then again tell us what it is so we can sort it out if possible.
?????
No need to be cryptic. If something, or someone, is bugging you then spit it out. If the source of your annoyance is here, on AoS, then again tell us what it is so we can sort it out if possible.
I'm guessing it's something political but since I never watch or read the news I've no idea.
WOStantonCS100
23-08-2024, 18:19
?????
No need to be cryptic. If something, or someone, is bugging you then spit it out. If the source of your annoyance is here, on AoS, then again tell us what it is so we can sort it out if possible.
Not meant to be cryptic at all. Neither do I consider it political at all. I consider it stupid. Either this guy is just "punking" people or he (and/or his handlers) have zero idea what a poop show it would be if they ever tried to enforce any of that nonsense. Some people (as in see below) need to go sit somewhere and listen to more music if the lunacy is reaching all the way to me and mine.
London Metro Police Commissioner Mark Rowley
Pigmy Pony
23-08-2024, 18:35
Not meant to be cryptic at all. Neither do I consider it political at all. I consider it stupid. Either this guy is just "punking" people or he (and/or his handlers) have zero idea what a poop show it would be if they ever tried to enforce any of that nonsense. Some people (as in see below) need to go sit somewhere and listen to more music if the lunacy is reaching all the way to me and mine.
London Metro Police Commissioner Mark Rowley
It still isn't clear what the issue is, Afesteringvinylphile (sorry, I don't know your real name). Is it something the London Metro Police Commissioner has said? Only as far as I know, Mr Rowley doesn't post on here, and probably won't get to read your post.
Found it now:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uk-police-commissioner-threatens-to-extradite-jail-us-citizens-over-online-posts-well-come-after-you/ar-AA1oy4bC?ocid=BingNewsSerp
"We will throw the full force of the law at people. And whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told Sky News.
He doesn't seem to specifically mention America or that he's talking about extradition. He's not really saying anything of any substance in fact.
Plus, as our American friend here says, the whole reason they got the guns in the first place was to keep the king of England out of their faces.
So it's Fox News. Hardly the world's most accurate and unbiased news channel.
WOStantonCS100
24-08-2024, 02:40
Found it now:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uk-police-commissioner-threatens-to-extradite-jail-us-citizens-over-online-posts-well-come-after-you/ar-AA1oy4bC?ocid=BingNewsSerp
"We will throw the full force of the law at people. And whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told Sky News.
He doesn't seem to specifically mention America or that he's talking about extradition. He's not really saying anything of any substance in fact.
Plus, as our American friend here says, the whole reason they got the guns in the first place was to keep the king of England out of their faces.
Cheers
Wise people learn to be respectful of other countries, other cultures. Wiser still find something they can learn from them.
Like the DCS thread... Where some folks' (CEO of DCS) heads are at in 2024 is astonishing in its idiocracy. Threatening people based on a viewpoint they hold is beyond childish whether lawfare of unenforceable criminal penalties. 98% of people I interact with are done with it and are or getting past the point of holding their tongue about it.
I do not know of anyone (here in the US) who thinks, "Hey I'm bored, let's go screw with some Brits!" FFS, this Commissioner should be tossed out on his arse.
We have now put are plans to visit London (a trip I've wanted to make for a decade) on permanent hold. If London has turned into anything like my birthplace (NYC) which is what I hear... that is a trip we will never make, as I could not care less whether I ever step foot back in NYC, such is the chaos and ruination of a once inspiring place.
WOStantonCS100
24-08-2024, 02:44
So it's Fox News. Hardly the world's most accurate and unbiased news channel.
I agree with you, completely. Fox, MSNBC, (heaven help us) CNN, etc. So to that point, if said "news" made it to me, which it did, it did not come to me through any mainstream media.
WOStantonCS100
24-08-2024, 02:55
It still isn't clear what the issue is, Afesteringvinylphile (sorry, I don't know your real name). Is it something the London Metro Police Commissioner has said? Only as far as I know, Mr Rowley doesn't post on here, and probably won't get to read your post.
You can call me Ray, or you can me Jay... or you can call me Fester...
Per the title of the thread, "something...anything", that's what was on my mind.
I admit to some indignance on my part. But, imagine for a moment if you got wind that some nut job in the states, a chief of police from say, New Jersey (Snookieville) said he was prepared to hunt down people in Wales or Staffordshire or Essex or Tokyo even if they spoke out of turn, posted an "incorrect opinion" on AOS. I am willing to bet that would get someone's ire up. Why poke the bear??
Cheers
Wise people learn to be respectful of other countries, other cultures. Wiser still find something they can learn from them.
Like the DCS thread... Where some folks' (CEO of DCS) heads are at in 2024 is astonishing in its idiocracy. Threatening people based on a viewpoint they hold is beyond childish whether lawfare of unenforceable criminal penalties. 98% of people I interact with are done with it and are or getting past the point of holding their tongue about it.
I do not know of anyone (here in the US) who thinks, "Hey I'm bored, let's go screw with some Brits!" FFS, this Commissioner should be tossed out on his arse.
We have now put are plans to visit London (a trip I've wanted to make for a decade) on permanent hold. If London has turned into anything like my birthplace (NYC) which is what I hear... that is a trip we will never make, as I could not care less whether I ever step foot back in NYC, such is the chaos and ruination of a once inspiring place.
In the DCS situation it was their American VP of Marketing who made the lawsuit threat to an Englishman.
He was either sacked or fell on his sword and the CEO has apologised and given compensation. It wasn't the CEO making the threat.
If you've not been to London before it's still worth a visit. Lots to see and do. Yes, we have a few assholes here who want all views they don't agree with supressed, and they're very vocal about it, but that's about it. The vast majority would agree with you about the principles of free speech.
But incitement to violence or racial hatred are criminal offences here and rightly so. Freedom of speech is not the freedom to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre.
WOStantonCS100
24-08-2024, 21:59
In the DCS situation it was their American VP of Marketing who made the lawsuit threat to an Englishman.
He was either sacked or fell on his sword and the CEO has apologised and given compensation. It wasn't the CEO making the threat.
I do not feel sorry for him (the VP).
If you've not been to London before it's still worth a visit. Lots to see and do. Yes, we have a few assholes here who want all views they don't agree with supressed, and they're very vocal about it, but that's about it. The vast majority would agree with you about the principles of free speech.
That is good to know. The vocal minority seems to pride itself on being arrogantly obnoxious.
But incitement to violence or racial hatred are criminal offences here and rightly so. Freedom of speech is not the freedom to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre.
In the states one cannot incite a riot or make death threats for any reason, either. Likewise, I cannot go about town brandishing any of my firearms and I (and my wife) have a conceal carry permit and live in an open carry state; does make for polite society ;). It is not actually the wild, wild west in America. Most of that nonsense is reserved for densely populated, poor, urban centers that are host to a bevy of other criminal activity...and ironically, have the most restrictive (Constitution defiant) firearm restrictions.
Honestly, most US firearm owners aren't concerned about tyranny (not saying they shouldn't be) or "brain-lite" Mark Rowley coming to do our heads in with a rusty spanner as much as it is evening the playing field against an assailant of any race, nationality or creed, typically illegally armed, coming against them.
Mikeandvan
24-08-2024, 22:17
In the DCS situation it was their American VP of Marketing who made the lawsuit threat to an Englishman.
He was either sacked or fell on his sword and the CEO has apologised and given compensation. It wasn't the CEO making the threat.
If you've not been to London before it's still worth a visit. Lots to see and do. Yes, we have a few assholes here who want all views they don't agree with supressed, and they're very vocal about it, but that's about it. The vast majority would agree with you about the principles of free speech.
But incitement to violence or racial hatred are criminal offences here and rightly so. Freedom of speech is not the freedom to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre.
Incitement is easier to prosecute, hatred of any kind less so, and it borders on thought crime. Your idea of racial hated I'm guessing with have a higher threshold than some blue haired Wokes type. Any incursion on free speech really is the most slippery of slopes. The recent example of that 53 yr old woman who posted on Facebook about burning down a mosque, 'with the adults in it', she got 15 months in prison with no previous. I understand the harsh sentences given out during these far right protests are common in periods of civil unrest, fairness goes out the window, and all the authorities are thinking is to bring things back under control, so they come down hard. I understand similar sentences were handed down during the 2011 London riots, though I could not make a peer reviewed like for like comparison, because you know, I'm just a van driver and not an academic. But ok, prosecute her for incitement, that doesn't mean she has to go to prison, what happened to taking into account previous good character, the fact that she was a carer for her husband, etc? Personally I think her remark was ugly, but I don't think it carried any influence, and that jailing her was a bit insane.
For me incitement must be direct, and especially if it forms part of behaviour which borders on terrorism. I only wish the rioters would have made their point peacefully, because we in Europe do have a problem with violence committed by recent arrivals, or the kin thereof. There are actually fuckwits on Twitter who think people like Douglas Murray should be arrested for incitement.
Mikeandvan
24-08-2024, 22:21
Cheers
Wise people learn to be respectful of other countries, other cultures. Wiser still find something they can learn from them.
Like the DCS thread... Where some folks' (CEO of DCS) heads are at in 2024 is astonishing in its idiocracy. Threatening people based on a viewpoint they hold is beyond childish whether lawfare of unenforceable criminal penalties. 98% of people I interact with are done with it and are or getting past the point of holding their tongue about it.
I do not know of anyone (here in the US) who thinks, "Hey I'm bored, let's go screw with some Brits!" FFS, this Commissioner should be tossed out on his arse.
We have now put are plans to visit London (a trip I've wanted to make for a decade) on permanent hold. If London has turned into anything like my birthplace (NYC) which is what I hear... that is a trip we will never make, as I could not care less whether I ever step foot back in NYC, such is the chaos and ruination of a once inspiring place.
We have a new left wing government in the UK, were you aware of that? So that means cracking down on free speech, or as they call it 'hate speech'. We'll probably end up like other states with left wing govts. like Canada, New zealand etc, and soon anyone who questions things like adults changing sex, or whether there's any such thing as a British person, will literally be thrown into prison with no trial.
In the states one cannot incite a riot or make death threats for any reason, either. Likewise, I cannot go about town brandishing any of my firearms and I (and my wife) have a conceal carry permit and live in an open carry state; does make for polite society ;). It is not actually the wild, wild west in America. Most of that nonsense is reserved for densely populated, poor, urban centers that are host to a bevy of other criminal activity...and ironically, have the most restrictive (Constitution defiant) firearm restrictions.
Honestly, most US firearm owners aren't concerned about tyranny (not saying they shouldn't be) or "brain-lite" Mark Rowley coming to do our heads in with a rusty spanner as much as it is evening the playing field against an assailant of any race, nationality or creed, typically illegally armed, coming against them.
Yes I understand that, I've spent a fair amount of time there. If it were legal here I would probably own a weapon.
Incitement is easier to prosecute, hatred of any kind less so, and it borders on thought crime. Your idea of racial hated I'm guessing with have a higher threshold than some blue haired Wokes type. Any incursion on free speech really is the most slippery of slopes. The recent example of that 53 yr old woman who posted on Facebook about burning down a mosque, 'with the adults in it', she got 15 months in prison with no previous.
The crime is incitement to racial hatred, not racial hatred itself, that's an important distinction. You can hate whoever you want to but inciting it is illegal. Not familiar with the case you mention but does seem like a pretty stupid thing to say, maybe prison will give her a chance to grow up a bit?
We have a new left wing government in the UK, were you aware of that? So that means cracking down on free speech, or as they call it 'hate speech'. We'll probably end up like other states with left wing govts. like Canada, New zealand etc, and soon anyone who questions things like adults changing sex, or whether there's any such thing as a British person, will literally be thrown into prison with no trial.
The idea that you can create a 'better society' via legislation is fundamentally flawed, I agree. But that's what happens when you have politicians who are lawyers.
When you have a hammer all problems look like a nail.
Mikeandvan
25-08-2024, 11:36
The crime is incitement to racial hatred, not racial hatred itself, that's an important distinction. You can hate whoever you want to but inciting it is illegal. Not familiar with the case you mention but does seem like a pretty stupid thing to say, maybe prison will give her a chance to grow up a bit?
I was talking about incitement to violence, which I thought was the crime she was prosecuted for. CLearly she's a bit dim, 15 months in chokey is no laughing matter, especially when Labour are meant to be tackling overcrowding in prisons.
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/cheshire-woman-jailed-after-facebook-29739775
I was talking about incitement to violence, which I thought was the crime she was prosecuted for. CLearly she's a bit dim, 15 months in chokey is no laughing matter, especially when Labour are meant to be tackling overcrowding in prisons.
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/cheshire-woman-jailed-after-facebook-29739775
They've already tackled that by the simple solution of letting a load of the current inmates out early.
A bit like Blair's solution for Northern Ireland - just give the terrorists everything they want. Job done.
Look for more 'Gordian Knot' style solutions coming soon.
WOStantonCS100
25-08-2024, 19:01
They've already tackled that by the simple solution of letting a load of the current inmates out early.
A bit like Blair's solution for Northern Ireland - just give the terrorists everything they want. Job done.
Look for more 'Gordian Knot' style solutions coming soon.
Off the present topic... but... I love that you have that Sony controller/processor. Your setup seems so clean/uncluttered and likely sounds pretty **** good. In a secondary system I have an early 2000's(?) era Sony AVR and the internal DAC, though limited to 24/96, is preferable to me over some (not all) modern DACs (liquidity vs. uber detail?). Through experimentation, I found that although, per the manual, Sony does not implicitly say it supports 24/88.2...it actually does quite easily. Even downsampling 24/192 (at the source) and sending it to the Sony DAC sounds very good. I have no idea what chips/implementation Sony was using at the time but I kind of wish standalone Sony DACs were a thing at that time. Maybe they were and I just don't know it.
Off the present topic... but... I love that you have that Sony controller/processor. Your setup seems so clean/uncluttered and likely sounds pretty **** good. In a secondary system I have an early 2000's(?) era Sony AVR and the internal DAC, though limited to 24/96, is preferable to me over some (not all) modern DACs (liquidity vs. uber detail?). Through experimentation, I found that although, per the manual, Sony does not implicitly say it supports 24/88.2...it actually does quite easily. Even downsampling 24/192 (at the source) and sending it to the Sony DAC sounds very good. I have no idea what chips/implementation Sony was using at the time but I kind of wish standalone Sony DACs were a thing at that time. Maybe they were and I just don't know it.
There was a Sony DAC in the late 1980s, high end ofc:
DAS R1 - http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-DAS-R1.html
And the R10 in the 1990s http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-DAS-R10.html
Yes, I love that Sony pre-amp, one of the best things I ever bought and I've had a lot of kit over the years.
I like the look of the R10 (especially if it was available in black), not only for the balanced outputs, but for the BNC digital input (though it is not clear if it is actually a 75 Ohm version).
From memory, I think Marco uses a Sony R1 DAC in his system.
WOStantonCS100
27-08-2024, 01:24
We have a new left wing government in the UK, were you aware of that? So that means cracking down on free speech, or as they call it 'hate speech'. We'll probably end up like other states with left wing govts. like Canada, New zealand etc, and soon anyone who questions things like adults changing sex, or whether there's any such thing as a British person, will literally be thrown into prison with no trial.
The idea that you can create a 'better society' via legislation is fundamentally flawed, I agree. But that's what happens when you have politicians who are lawyers.
When you have a hammer all problems look like a nail.
They've already tackled that by the simple solution of letting a load of the current inmates out early.
A bit like Blair's solution for Northern Ireland - just give the terrorists everything they want. Job done.
Look for more 'Gordian Knot' style solutions coming soon.
None of this is encouraging...
But, heck, I should be used to it, if you consider the massive amount of uselessness paraded as progress going on in my country. :rolleyes:
WOStantonCS100
27-08-2024, 01:31
There was a Sony DAC in the late 1980s, high end ofc:
DAS R1 - http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-DAS-R1.html
And the R10 in the 1990s http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-DAS-R10.html
Yes, I love that Sony pre-amp, one of the best things I ever bought and I've had a lot of kit over the years.
I like the look of the R10 (especially if it was available in black), not only for the balanced outputs, but for the BNC digital input (though it is not clear if it is actually a 75 Ohm version).
From memory, I think Marco uses a Sony R1 DAC in his system.
Great site, thevintageknob; drool cup is always needed.
I love how overbuilt that stuff was/is. I have learned that a lot of great Japanese gear never made it over to the US. I have also often considered getting a 120V to 100V converter... ...and going shopping many times. It is somewhat similar to when I discovered UK and Japanese jazz that was apparently going on at the same time US jazz was happening but we didn't hear about it because (so it seems to me) the powers that be kept us living in a bubble. I digress.
Mikeandvan
27-08-2024, 23:14
None of this is encouraging...
But, heck, I should be used to it, if you consider the massive amount of uselessness paraded as progress going on in my country. :rolleyes:
God help America if the demos are stupid enough to vote Trump in twice.
WOStantonCS100
28-08-2024, 19:13
God help America if the demos are stupid enough to vote Trump in twice.
We made some very wise decisions when Trump was in office. Had we not, the current administration would have bled us near dry
That 'Ring Doorbell' advert where the woman uses the alarm feature to scare a fox off her driveway. What's that all about?
You can see it's already had the bin over and spread the contents across the drive so you're going to have a mess to clean up when you get back regardless. Might as well just let the bloody thing eat what it wants out of it now, there's nothing more to prevent.
Unless she thinks that once it's had its dinner, it's going to break into the house and steal her jewellery.
Mikeandvan
28-08-2024, 19:51
We made some very wise decisions when Trump was in office. Had we not, the current administration would have bled us near dry
You can bet Trump had zero to do with any of those decisions, because he barely has a clue what goes on in the WHite house, not even reading basic memos, he had to have everything explainded to him, and then of course there was the turnover of staff, an absolute embarrassment to the highest office in the land, and the leader of the free world, God help you and us if he gets in again, expect some serious attacks on democracy.
WOStantonCS100
29-08-2024, 14:56
You can bet Trump had zero to do with any of those decisions, because he barely has a clue what goes on in the WHite house, not even reading basic memos, he had to have everything explainded to him, and then of course there was the turnover of staff, an absolute embarrassment to the highest office in the land, and the leader of the free world, God help you and us if he gets in again, expect some serious attacks on democracy.
Here is where we will have to agree to disagree. I live here. I no longer give any credence to mainstream media talking points. I know intimately the difference between life under Trump and life under Biden (not to mention Bush, Obama, etc.). Factually and objectively there is no contest nor comparison. Neither America nor the world will benefit from the unnominated Kamala (if they let her actually run for the general election) or any other thrown in uniparty stand-in.. Cheers.
Mikeandvan
29-08-2024, 19:17
Here is where we will have to agree to disagree. I live here. I no longer give any credence to mainstream media talking points. I know intimately the difference between life under Trump and life under Biden (not to mention Bush, Obama, etc.). Factually and objectively there is no contest nor comparison. Neither America nor the world will benefit from the unnominated Kamala (if they let her actually run for the general election) or any other thrown in uniparty stand-in.. Cheers.
Unnominated? If you care about democracy, then why on earth support Trump, I'm absolutely baffled why Americans can't see him for what he is, a shabby autocrat, I mean how can you still respect him after he told his supporters to march on Capitol hill, and how he contested completely fair election results, his lack of respect for the press. I'd say you're sleepwalking into an autocratic nightmare, but its so blatantly obvious that its screaming into your faces. Honestly its insane that that shabby failed businessman is in the running for the highest office on the planet, Roosevelt is spinning in his grave. It was Trumps maneuvering in the supreme court that meant some states were able to turn back the clock on women's reproductive rights by over half a century. Yet here you are a seemingly intelligent person supporting an absolute slob.
WOStantonCS100
30-08-2024, 02:36
Unnominated? If you care about democracy, then why on earth support Trump, I'm absolutely baffled why Americans can't see him for what he is, a shabby autocrat, I mean how can you still respect him after he told his supporters to march on Capitol hill, and how he contested completely fair election results, his lack of respect for the press. I'd say you're sleepwalking into an autocratic nightmare, but its so blatantly obvious that its screaming into your faces. Honestly its insane that that shabby failed businessman is in the running for the highest office on the planet, Roosevelt is spinning in his grave. It was Trumps maneuvering in the supreme court that meant some states were able to turn back the clock on women's reproductive rights by over half a century. Yet here you are a seemingly intelligent person supporting an absolute slob.
Constitutional Republic; America has never actually been a democracy.
At any rate, where do you think the Civil Rights Movement would be if there was not a march on Washington??? It was a peaceful march to represent where many in the country stood on that particular (indeed, political) issue at that time. The talking point is that the former President did not include the words "peacefully and patriotically". It is a matter of record that he did. You can't incite a riot if you call for peace and patriotism and all claims of insurrection go completely out the window.
The former President is not the only one who then and is now contesting the election results and the results of other primary and presidential elections. Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and many Democrats on the hill contested election results. That is also a matter of record. They did.
Without lowering ourselves to character assassination, let's have an honest look at some things. First note, I have never been a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian or even an Independent. I am simply driven by facts. Now...
There were a host of problems with the last election. There were a host of unconstitutional changes to voting laws prior to said elections. It is no different now with the push to change even more laws (eg. allowing illegal aliens the right to vote, something never before allowed in the history of the country). It is clearly stacking the deck for an administration that does not want to lose power and purposefully opened the border to illegal aliens for that reason. Now, before you assume me to be some sort of racist, my very good friends born in Mexico, who went through the legal process of becoming naturalized citizens are none to happy about that, either. The US is supposed to be a country of law and order. Another friend, a naturalized citizen from Wales, has the same view. There is a process. There has always been a process.
The failed businessman... Let's look at that. First of all, you don't get to live as he lives if you're a failure, financially or otherwise. If that is failure, please let me be as big a failure as he is. I would be set for life. As I mentioned, I was born in NYC. I remember the former President from back in the 80's. No one had a problem with him then, not hip hop "stars", not black people, not politicians, no one. The only people who had a problem with him were foreign investors trying to buy up NYC real estate. To which, he has always been pro America and went about the task of buying up NYC real estate so his beloved city could not be overrun by foreign interests. He earned the vitriol of the "political elite" because in 2016 the people chose him over them.
Women's reproductive rights... For years people clamored for the federal government not to be able to dictate abortion (cause that is what is meant by women's reproductive rights. Let's not be coy). So, this decision was given to the individual states to decide (as in the people who live in each state and seemingly more easily vote in and/or vote out representatives who do not represent them). I do not see the issue. The former president/federal government literally does not have a say in this any more.
Lack of respect for the press... You know, I actually watched the entire video comments the former president made about Charlottesville. Not the edited mainstream version but the one that included a plainly worded denunciation of white supremacy. After that, I had to ask myself some hard questions like, "Why did they truncate his words?", "Why did they continually lie about that?" and "What else have they lied about?" Those questions prompted me to look deeper. "The press" has lost my respect. I do not appreciate being lied to...about anything...as in don't spit on me and tell me it's raining. Zuckerberg just admitted in writing the coercion of FB by the uniparty governing body and other agencies, Musk exposed X (formerly Twitter), on and on it goes and "the press" was/is in lockstep with lying to the public. Even on a local scale, I have caught the press in lie after lie. "The press" has earned mistrust and lack of respect.
Thank you. I do consider myself an intelligent person. That is why I refrain from character assassinations such as "absolute slob", "shabby" or "failed". Rather I prefer to seek out facts such as, "What did said president actually accomplish while in office?", "Did the president actually keep the campaign promises made?", "Was my family and I actually better off during the president's term in office?", "Was the country safer?", "Were we personally safer?", "Was the economy better and cost to live lower?", "Were race relations better?", "Were we engaged in any wars or conflicts?", etc. etc. I could also ask, "What actually is Ms. Harris' record?", "These things she says she will fix, she's still in office, why hasn't/isn't she fixing them now?", "Has my family/the country been better off with her as vice president?", "What actually is her platform?", etc. etc.
I realize some people would prefer not to ask themselves those questions but, I do. And, I did. I continue to.
Mikeandvan
30-08-2024, 21:29
Constitutional Republic; America has never actually been a democracy.
At any rate, where do you think the Civil Rights Movement would be if there was not a march on Washington??? It was a peaceful march to represent where many in the country stood on that particular (indeed, political) issue at that time. The talking point is that the former President did not include the words "peacefully and patriotically". It is a matter of record that he did. You can't incite a riot if you call for peace and patriotism and all claims of insurrection go completely out the window.
The former President is not the only one who then and is now contesting the election results and the results of other primary and presidential elections. Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and many Democrats on the hill contested election results. That is also a matter of record. They did.
Without lowering ourselves to character assassination, let's have an honest look at some things. First note, I have never been a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian or even an Independent. I am simply driven by facts. Now...
There were a host of problems with the last election. There were a host of unconstitutional changes to voting laws prior to said elections. It is no different now with the push to change even more laws (eg. allowing illegal aliens the right to vote, something never before allowed in the history of the country). It is clearly stacking the deck for an administration that does not want to lose power and purposefully opened the border to illegal aliens for that reason. Now, before you assume me to be some sort of racist, my very good friends born in Mexico, who went through the legal process of becoming naturalized citizens are none to happy about that, either. The US is supposed to be a country of law and order. Another friend, a naturalized citizen from Wales, has the same view. There is a process. There has always been a process.
The failed businessman... Let's look at that. First of all, you don't get to live as he lives if you're a failure, financially or otherwise. If that is failure, please let me be as big a failure as he is. I would be set for life. As I mentioned, I was born in NYC. I remember the former President from back in the 80's. No one had a problem with him then, not hip hop "stars", not black people, not politicians, no one. The only people who had a problem with him were foreign investors trying to buy up NYC real estate. To which, he has always been pro America and went about the task of buying up NYC real estate so his beloved city could not be overrun by foreign interests. He earned the vitriol of the "political elite" because in 2016 the people chose him over them.
Women's reproductive rights... For years people clamored for the federal government not to be able to dictate abortion (cause that is what is meant by women's reproductive rights. Let's not be coy). So, this decision was given to the individual states to decide (as in the people who live in each state and seemingly more easily vote in and/or vote out representatives who do not represent them). I do not see the issue. The former president/federal government literally does not have a say in this any more.
Lack of respect for the press... You know, I actually watched the entire video comments the former president made about Charlottesville. Not the edited mainstream version but the one that included a plainly worded denunciation of white supremacy. After that, I had to ask myself some hard questions like, "Why did they truncate his words?", "Why did they continually lie about that?" and "What else have they lied about?" Those questions prompted me to look deeper. "The press" has lost my respect. I do not appreciate being lied to...about anything...as in don't spit on me and tell me it's raining. Zuckerberg just admitted in writing the coercion of FB by the uniparty governing body and other agencies, Musk exposed X (formerly Twitter), on and on it goes and "the press" was/is in lockstep with lying to the public. Even on a local scale, I have caught the press in lie after lie. "The press" has earned mistrust and lack of respect.
Thank you. I do consider myself an intelligent person. That is why I refrain from character assassinations such as "absolute slob", "shabby" or "failed". Rather I prefer to seek out facts such as, "What did said president actually accomplish while in office?", "Did the president actually keep the campaign promises made?", "Was my family and I actually better off during the president's term in office?", "Was the country safer?", "Were we personally safer?", "Was the economy better and cost to live lower?", "Were race relations better?", "Were we engaged in any wars or conflicts?", etc. etc. I could also ask, "What actually is Ms. Harris' record?", "These things she says she will fix, she's still in office, why hasn't/isn't she fixing them now?", "Has my family/the country been better off with her as vice president?", "What actually is her platform?", etc. etc.
I realize some people would prefer not to ask themselves those questions but, I do. And, I did. I continue to.
You raise many points, but I'll deal with just one of them, abortion, or as I 'coyly' put it, reproductive rights, I mean, perhaps you wouldn't see it as coy, if you were a woman, and there was this red faced hypocrite who thinks women can be 'grabbed by the pussy', telling them what to do with their bodies, oops, there's me getting all ad hominin. But yes I believe here that this is a federal matter, and that America as leader of the western world should be pro-choice. I know the US has its federal and state laws, but there must be some cohesive ideology that binds it all together, and that is, that it is part of the modern western world, and that we accept civil rights, which includes racial equality (would you support certain states turning the clock back on that issue? Hell, let's bring back segregation, cos, you know, it's that states democratic right for its people to decide how they live right?). And how many women can you imagine Trump got pregnant and then tidied it all up with a discrete, rich peoples hospital, sexual hypocrite baby disposal service? Oops there's me getting all ad hominin again, I mean how can you not be, with an asshole like Trump. I mean stop me here, but, you actually believe in this guy ???
WOStantonCS100
31-08-2024, 00:48
You raise many points, but I'll deal with just one of them, abortion, or as I 'coyly' put it, reproductive rights, I mean, perhaps you wouldn't see it as coy, if you were a woman, and there was this red faced hypocrite who thinks women can be 'grabbed by the pussy', telling them what to do with their bodies, oops, there's me getting all ad hominin. But yes I believe here that this is a federal matter, and that America as leader of the western world should be pro-choice. I know the US has its federal and state laws, but there must be some cohesive ideology that binds it all together, and that is, that it is part of the modern western world, and that we accept civil rights, which includes racial equality (would you support certain states turning the clock back on that issue? Hell, let's bring back segregation, cos, you know, it's that states democratic right for its people to decide how they live right?).
Imagine, if you will, that you are a US citizen who is firmly planted in one camp or the other; pro-choice or pro-life. Now imagine that "orange man bad" and/or SCOTUS have decided to maintain control over this issue and the side they have chosen is not the side you are on. Imagine yourself pregnant and desiring termination of "the pregnancy". Provided you have also determined yourself to be a law-abiding citizen, likewise determined to have a legal abortion, what now is your only option? Right. Leave the country for the procedure and perhaps permanently. If, as it has been done, it was a state's rights issue, you would possibly have 49 other states you could move to, well realistically, probably 15 or 16...without having to give up your citizenship and the enjoyment of the freedom of speech that affords you the right to continue to campaign for your viewpoint perhaps leading to your desired state changing it's stance on the issue. In this case, the former President and SCOTUS actually just did you a huge favor. I, myself, have lived in 4 different states and remain where I am currently because the state's laws on many issues are conducive to how I prefer to live.
My particular view on abortion is irrelevant, as is the former President's and SCOTUS' now that it is a state issue. The abortion issue is not and will never reach unanimous agreement. So, leaving it a one (federal) decision for all is a massive gamble for everyone. If the President did decide this issue, it would go one way or the other and maybe not the way you want it to. You used the word "autocrat" and yet you want him to be an autocrat in this particular instance. That is nonsensical. And again, if we use that term "democracy", well...there is far more room for that if the residents of any given state choose their state representatives who will represent them where they live.
I am going to have to toss out your pairing the abortion issue to the segregation issue (because there is no such issue). The voices that may be making noise for a return to segregation are miniscule, as in the extreme minority. It is a non sequitur. There is no parity, not even in towns/states where you would think (due to false media claims) such claims would have credibility.
And how many women can you imagine Trump got pregnant and then tidied it all up with a discrete, rich peoples hospital, sexual hypocrite baby disposal service? Oops there's me getting all ad hominin again, I mean how can you not be, with an asshole like Trump. I mean stop me here, but, you actually believe in this guy ???
Now that...was masterful comic relief. :lol: My wife even asked me why I was laughing. But, you are starting to sound like someone who does not have demonstrable facts and thus resorts to name calling. This is why the Harris/Walz campaign is failing. People (only some) forget, the former President...was already the President. He got us into no new wars and stood toe to toe with any other leader of any other country. The economy was far better (ie. cost of living, cost of fuel, cost of food, employment, etc.). He sent more money to HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) than any president before him. Our border was neither overrun by illegal immigrants nor fentanyl and other drugs. His policies were working. His track record is impressive no matter which previous president you stand him next to. Yes, if that's an "asshole" I am voting for the "asshole". :lol: Biden could barely walk and talk (no exaggeration) and got booted from the ticket by his own party and Harris/Walz have no policies (that the former president did not come up with first) and only that same kind of blind vitriol that you seem to be echoing so eloquently. America cannot be successfully run on lies, back-peddling and anger. There must be strength and substance; cult of personality is a distant third. I do not care about mean tweets, offending people with facts or an inability to placate the mentally unstable who feel like identifying as a duck, today. No. the President needs to run the country and run it well.
I am not trying to insult you; however, I do think you owe it to yourself to, perhaps, educate yourself a little bit more on these issues (aside from the mainstream media agenda/talking points). Delve deeper.
I've been feeling a bit subdued of late; being
reminded of my own mortality.
Don't get me wrong - I am in excellent health given my age: still have a full head of hair (albeit grey); all my teeth, apart from a couple of wisdom teeth with my dentist assuring me that my teeth will see me out, and not needing any hip or knee replacement.
So what has brought on this sombre mood? Well it was learning yesterday that the well-regarded and influential audio reviewer Paul Messenger had died earlier this year. I only met him on the one occasion when I went down to the HiFi News offices in Croydon to collect a Breuer pickup arm he had sold me, but I found him to be a very amiable chap and one with whom you could have a decent discussion about all things audio. But the real reason for my sober reflection is that Paul was only a few months younger than me.
I then realised that many of the sensible audio engineers and reviewers seminal in my audio journey are no longer here. What we do have are "influencers" who do no more than fawn over the latest and most expensive items to appear on the market, or talk utter nonsense about fuses, mains plugs etc., arrogantly claiming that one would have to be completely deaf not to hear the difference!
OK rant over - I've got it off my chest, and feel better now.
Pigmy Pony
01-09-2024, 21:56
I've been feeling a bit subdued of late; being
reminded of my own mortality.
Don't get me wrong - I am in excellent health given my age: still have a full head of hair (albeit grey); all my teeth, apart from a couple of wisdom teeth with my dentist assuring me that my teeth will see me out, and not needing any hip or knee replacement.
So what has brought on this sombre mood? Well it was learning yesterday that the well-regarded and influential audio reviewer Paul Messenger had died earlier this year. I only met him on the one occasion when I went down to the HiFi News offices in Croydon to collect a Breuer pickup arm he had sold me, but I found him to be a very amiable chap and one with whom you could have a decent discussion about all things audio. But the real reason for my sober reflection is that Paul was only a few months younger than me.
I then realised that many of the sensible audio engineers and reviewers seminal in my audio journey are no longer here. What we do have are "influencers" who do no more than fawn over the latest and most expensive items to appear on the market, or talk utter nonsense about fuses, mains plugs etc., arrogantly claiming that one would have to be completely deaf not to hear the difference!
OK rant over - I've got it off my chest, and feel better now.
Don't be giving these so-called influencers a moment's thought - it's attention they thrive on, as well as the money that attention brings to them. We just laugh and regard them with the contempt they deserve, they probably won't like that :)
And I've no doubt you, your hair and your teeth will be around for many years to come, you're needed here!
Mikeandvan
01-09-2024, 22:08
Imagine, if you will, that you are a US citizen who is firmly planted in one camp or the other; pro-choice or pro-life. Now imagine that "orange man bad" and/or SCOTUS have decided to maintain control over this issue and the side they have chosen is not the side you are on. Imagine yourself pregnant and desiring termination of "the pregnancy". Provided you have also determined yourself to be a law-abiding citizen, likewise determined to have a legal abortion, what now is your only option? Right. Leave the country for the procedure and perhaps permanently. If, as it has been done, it was a state's rights issue, you would possibly have 49 other states you could move to, well realistically, probably 15 or 16...without having to give up your citizenship and the enjoyment of the freedom of speech that affords you the right to continue to campaign for your viewpoint perhaps leading to your desired state changing it's stance on the issue. In this case, the former President and SCOTUS actually just did you a huge favor. I, myself, have lived in 4 different states and remain where I am currently because the state's laws on many issues are conducive to how I prefer to live.
My particular view on abortion is irrelevant, as is the former President's and SCOTUS' now that it is a state issue. The abortion issue is not and will never reach unanimous agreement. So, leaving it a one (federal) decision for all is a massive gamble for everyone. If the President did decide this issue, it would go one way or the other and maybe not the way you want it to. You used the word "autocrat" and yet you want him to be an autocrat in this particular instance. That is nonsensical. And again, if we use that term "democracy", well...there is far more room for that if the residents of any given state choose their state representatives who will represent them where they live.
I am going to have to toss out your pairing the abortion issue to the segregation issue (because there is no such issue). The voices that may be making noise for a return to segregation are miniscule, as in the extreme minority. It is a non sequitur. There is no parity, not even in towns/states where you would think (due to false media claims) such claims would have credibility.
Now that...was masterful comic relief. :lol: My wife even asked me why I was laughing. But, you are starting to sound like someone who does not have demonstrable facts and thus resorts to name calling. This is why the Harris/Walz campaign is failing. People (only some) forget, the former President...was already the President. He got us into no new wars and stood toe to toe with any other leader of any other country. The economy was far better (ie. cost of living, cost of fuel, cost of food, employment, etc.). He sent more money to HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) than any president before him. Our border was neither overrun by illegal immigrants nor fentanyl and other drugs. His policies were working. His track record is impressive no matter which previous president you stand him next to. Yes, if that's an "asshole" I am voting for the "asshole". :lol: Biden could barely walk and talk (no exaggeration) and got booted from the ticket by his own party and Harris/Walz have no policies (that the former president did not come up with first) and only that same kind of blind vitriol that you seem to be echoing so eloquently. America cannot be successfully run on lies, back-peddling and anger. There must be strength and substance; cult of personality is a distant third. I do not care about mean tweets, offending people with facts or an inability to placate the mentally unstable who feel like identifying as a duck, today. No. the President needs to run the country and run it well.
I am not trying to insult you; however, I do think you owe it to yourself to, perhaps, educate yourself a little bit more on these issues (aside from the mainstream media agenda/talking points). Delve deeper.
i actually find it refreshing to speak to someone who clearly isn't stupid yet who supports Trump, but I'm wondering what's going on there. So are you trying to tell me that my, admittedly ad hominin attack wasn't justified? I mean you actually can't imagine Trump ever having to resort to a 'discrete abortion', the 'grab em by the pussy' line was just fake news right? A man of his stature and wealth (unearned stature IMO). And yes I think that women's reproductive rights should be a federal and not a state issue, a point you didn't address. America decided this half a century ago, now forget about all the central and local decision making, and tell me why you think this shouldn't be a woman's right? This is an overarching view of any modern democracy, but tell me why you disagree? Because without ideology democracy is nothing.
WOStantonCS100
02-09-2024, 20:34
i actually find it refreshing to speak to someone who clearly isn't stupid yet who supports Trump, but I'm wondering what's going on there. So are you trying to tell me that my, admittedly ad hominin attack wasn't justified? I mean you actually can't imagine Trump ever having to resort to a 'discrete abortion', the 'grab em by the pussy' line was just fake news right? A man of his stature and wealth (unearned stature IMO). And yes I think that women's reproductive rights should be a federal and not a state issue, a point you didn't address. America decided this half a century ago, now forget about all the central and local decision making, and tell me why you think this shouldn't be a woman's right? This is an overarching view of any modern democracy, but tell me why you disagree? Because without ideology democracy is nothing.
Hmmm... I do not really support Trump. I support America and the sovereignty thereof because...I am an American citizen. That causes me to look at each candidate and decide who among them most supports the sovereignty of this nation and who most respects our Constitution given that we are a Constitutional Republic. As in, which candidate is protecting my rights. Demonstrably, since the choice like it or not is between Trump and Harris (Harris at this point, anyway), Harris has exemplified an irreverence for our Constitution, our laws and a general respect for the rights (not to mention intelligence) of US citizens. The former President, in comparison, epitomizes the opposite.
Again, you say, unearned stature and wealth. So, ask yourself the question, "How did he become wealthy?" Ask yourself the question, "Prior to ever becoming a Presidential candidate, how did he become notable and what for?" Leaving conjecture and opinion behind, what are the facts? You'll have to go back a lot farther than The Apprentice.
"Was (it) just fake news"......... You tell me. Have you searched out the truth in that matter? Was that what he said verbatim? Or, were the words reordered and taken out of context? Even if they were not, let us again step back and ask ourselves some questions. An oft paraphrased quote goes something like this, "We judge our own character by our best intentions and most noble acts, but we will be judged by our last worst act." I can only speak for myself, that I have indeed said far worse around the water cooler "talking trash" with colleagues and friends full well knowing I was going to go home, just like they, and tow the line with the wife. Should I, you or anyone else be disallowed promotion or opportunity because of it? I am afraid I am not in the cancellation cult, not easily offended and abide not by the confines of the current misguided culture so pervasive in some corners of social media. I have spent too many years chasing critical thinking. If we were standing about Jesus as he wrote sins in the stand, I am certain the same people casting aspersions (shade, as the youth say) on the former President, would be walking away just as guilty or perhaps even more so.
On "women's reproductive rights", I did address that. I just do not believe you were or are willing to accept the answer. If true democracy is one person/one vote...then America, as a whole, is pro-life. (...so much for an overarching view of any modern democracy...) That is a fact that folks who are pro-choice simply cannot get on with. How is it that democracy is of the utmost importance until it disagrees with your ideology? So, in fact, what you want is not democracy, at all. What you actually want is for everyone to bow down to your particular viewpoint. That...is not going to happen anywhere on the globe. It is akin to this, the anarchist does not truly want anarchy because that person knows that would be a grave threat to their own wants and desires...when the wants and desires of another anarchist conflict with their own. At that point, it is survival of the fittest; the stronger person subjugating the weaker. No amount of mental gymnastics will render that untrue. Again, the job of POTUS is far greater than that one issue. Democrats and Republicans both, have long pushed for "one issue" elections in hopes that the public at large could easily be steered by that one factor. That does not benefit the country, only people seeking a quick road to gain or maintain political power. The more astute among us simply are not submitting to that.
It is the Labor Day holiday here is the US and it is time for me to (continue to) enjoy the day with family and friends. I appreciate the civility of the discussion. It is up to you to accept/understand/research the answers I have supplied to the questions you asked of me. It is probably time to let others have airtime in this thread. As always, I look forward to your other posts throughout the forum. Cheers!
Mikeandvan
03-09-2024, 20:00
Hmmm... I do not really support Trump. I support America and the sovereignty thereof because...I am an American citizen. That causes me to look at each candidate and decide who among them most supports the sovereignty of this nation and who most respects our Constitution given that we are a Constitutional Republic. As in, which candidate is protecting my rights. Demonstrably, since the choice like it or not is between Trump and Harris (Harris at this point, anyway), Harris has exemplified an irreverence for our Constitution, our laws and a general respect for the rights (not to mention intelligence) of US citizens. The former President, in comparison, epitomizes the opposite.
Again, you say, unearned stature and wealth. So, ask yourself the question, "How did he become wealthy?" Ask yourself the question, "Prior to ever becoming a Presidential candidate, how did he become notable and what for?" Leaving conjecture and opinion behind, what are the facts? You'll have to go back a lot farther than The Apprentice.
"Was (it) just fake news"......... You tell me. Have you searched out the truth in that matter? Was that what he said verbatim? Or, were the words reordered and taken out of context? Even if they were not, let us again step back and ask ourselves some questions. An oft paraphrased quote goes something like this, "We judge our own character by our best intentions and most noble acts, but we will be judged by our last worst act." I can only speak for myself, that I have indeed said far worse around the water cooler "talking trash" with colleagues and friends full well knowing I was going to go home, just like they, and tow the line with the wife. Should I, you or anyone else be disallowed promotion or opportunity because of it? I am afraid I am not in the cancellation cult, not easily offended and abide not by the confines of the current misguided culture so pervasive in some corners of social media. I have spent too many years chasing critical thinking. If we were standing about Jesus as he wrote sins in the stand, I am certain the same people casting aspersions (shade, as the youth say) on the former President, would be walking away just as guilty or perhaps even more so.
On "women's reproductive rights", I did address that. I just do not believe you were or are willing to accept the answer. If true democracy is one person/one vote...then America, as a whole, is pro-life. (...so much for an overarching view of any modern democracy...) That is a fact that folks who are pro-choice simply cannot get on with. How is it that democracy is of the utmost importance until it disagrees with your ideology? So, in fact, what you want is not democracy, at all. What you actually want is for everyone to bow down to your particular viewpoint. That...is not going to happen anywhere on the globe. It is akin to this, the anarchist does not truly want anarchy because that person knows that would be a grave threat to their own wants and desires...when the wants and desires of another anarchist conflict with their own. At that point, it is survival of the fittest; the stronger person subjugating the weaker. No amount of mental gymnastics will render that untrue. Again, the job of POTUS is far greater than that one issue. Democrats and Republicans both, have long pushed for "one issue" elections in hopes that the public at large could easily be steered by that one factor. That does not benefit the country, only people seeking a quick road to gain or maintain political power. The more astute among us simply are not submitting to that.
It is the Labor Day holiday here is the US and it is time for me to (continue to) enjoy the day with family and friends. I appreciate the civility of the discussion. It is up to you to accept/understand/research the answers I have supplied to the questions you asked of me. It is probably time to let others have airtime in this thread. As always, I look forward to your other posts throughout the forum. Cheers!
I'm not sure the majority of Americans are pro life actually, you'll have to drum up some solid evidence for that. TBH I'm stunned that you put any faith in Trump regarding the constitution, this is the man who called the 2020 election results fake, I'm wondering where you're getting your information from, obviously not the 'fake media' right? And that you think he embodies the qualities needed of a the highest office in the land, if not the world, what planet are you on? Are you not aware that he was barely able to carry out the office of president? There are books about it, the constant hiring and firing of staff, his reluctance to read memos or prospective bills, his racist campaign against Obama (that he wasn't US born). But you say you don't support him? Does that mean you would vote for him or not? Because if its a case of anyone but the democrats, then you may regret that, Trump has said some very worrying things, least of all his complete lack of respect for elections, the very bedrock of democracy. Oh and he was a rich kid right? And then a failed businessman, then a stupid TV celebrity, and a friend of Putin.
His campaign manager - Paul Manafort - was also the campaign manager for Putin puppet Yanukovych, the corrupt president of Ukraine, who was ousted by his people in 2014. Trumps links to Russia are questionable at best. Russian bots spread disinformation across social media in support of Trump, because of the chaos they knew he would bring to America. This may sound one sided, and I am no supporter of Woke culture or cancel culture, so I know the reasons for disenchantment with the mainstream political process - aka 'populism' affects Europe as well as the US, but people like Trump are not the answer, and can bring about rapid destabilisation .
Pigmy Pony
03-09-2024, 21:40
I would like someone to go up to our new Home Secretary and say "Hey Yvette, where are we on the tackling people-smuggling gangs thing?"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8lklkxx5no
Maybe the money for it disappeared into that £22 billion "black hole" ;)
I'm not sure the majority of Americans are pro life actually, you'll have to drum up some solid evidence for that. TBH I'm stunned that you put any faith in Trump regarding the constitution, this is the man who called the 2020 election results fake, I'm wondering where you're getting your information from, obviously not the 'fake media' right? And that you think he embodies the qualities needed of a the highest office in the land, if not the world, what planet are you on? Are you not aware that he was barely able to carry out the office of president? There are books about it, the constant hiring and firing of staff, his reluctance to read memos or prospective bills, his racist campaign against Obama (that he wasn't US born). But you say you don't support him? Does that mean you would vote for him or not? Because if its a case of anyone but the democrats, then you may regret that, Trump has said some very worrying things, least of all his complete lack of respect for elections, the very bedrock of democracy. Oh and he was a rich kid right? And then a failed businessman, then a stupid TV celebrity, and a friend of Putin.
His campaign manager - Paul Manafort - was also the campaign manager for Putin puppet Yanukovych, the corrupt president of Ukraine, who was ousted by his people in 2014. Trumps links to Russia are questionable at best. Russian bots spread disinformation across social media in support of Trump, because of the chaos they knew he would bring to America. This may sound one sided, and I am no supporter of Woke culture or cancel culture, so I know the reasons for disenchantment with the mainstream political process - aka 'populism' affects Europe as well as the US, but people like Trump are not the answer, and can bring about rapid destabilisation .
Are you forgetting that Trump was already president for 4 years and...absolutely nothing happened?
Now if he gets in again he'll somehow bring the world to an end? The office of President is pretty much impotent if his party does not control the congress and senate. Which it didn't and won't.
Obama had 8 years and what did he manage? Not a lot. Fuss about nothing.
Mikeandvan
04-09-2024, 21:36
Are you forgetting that Trump was already president for 4 years and...absolutely nothing happened?
Now if he gets in again he'll somehow bring the world to an end? The office of President is pretty much impotent if his party does not control the congress and senate. Which it didn't and won't.
Obama had 8 years and what did he manage? Not a lot. Fuss about nothing.
Nothing happened, well he couldn't be arsed to read any of the daily presidential memos, so I'm not surprised, as well as the monthly turnover of white house staff, because they didn't survive his 'your fired' bullshit, he thinks its one big reality TV program. Apart from that we've seen the damage that a rogue president can do to the US system of govt., with his election of those right wing supreme court judges, and the effect it had on women's reproductive rights, putting the clock back 50 yrs. He says the 2020 election was stolen, he told his supporters to march on Capitol hill, are you still not picking up on these dictatorial tendencies?? If he gets elected a second time, just think what he'll try to get away with, that doesn't mean of course that if he is elected that I hope those things come true, just to say I told you so! But they are a serious danger at the moment, with the state of US and how divided it is, remember the people there have guns!
Nothing happened, well he couldn't be arsed to read any of the daily presidential memos, so I'm not surprised, as well as the monthly turnover of white house staff, because they didn't survive his 'your fired' bullshit, he thinks its one big reality TV program. Apart from that we've seen the damage that a rogue president can do to the US system of govt., with his election of those right wing supreme court judges, and the effect it had on women's reproductive rights, putting the clock back 50 yrs. He says the 2020 election was stolen, he told his supporters to march on Capitol hill, are you still not picking up on these dictatorial tendencies?? If he gets elected a second time, just think what he'll try to get away with, that doesn't mean of course that if he is elected that I hope those things come true, just to say I told you so! But they are a serious danger at the moment, with the state of US and how divided it is, remember the people there have guns!
To become a dictator he would need the support of the military, I can't see that happening ever.
Not as many people there have guns as you might think, and in any case isn't that an obstacle to dictatorship not an aid?
I'm guessing you've never been to the U.S?
Mikeandvan
05-09-2024, 07:13
To become a dictator he would need the support of the military, I can't see that happening ever.
Not as many people there have guns as you might think, and in any case isn't that an obstacle to dictatorship not an aid?
I'm guessing you've never been to the U.S?
Really? The military that assassinated its own president? America is a country of extremes, ripe for a military dictatorship as it's ever been. Again, these are things I hope do not materialise, but they are real dangers, besides all that, why would anyone vote for this fucking clown?
Really? The military that assassinated its own president? America is a country of extremes, ripe for a military dictatorship as it's ever been. Again, these are things I hope do not materialise, but they are real dangers, besides all that, why would anyone vote for this fucking clown?
Which US President was assassinated by the US military? None that I know of. JFK was assassinated by an ex-marine, but that is not the same thing.
I can't recall a president being assassinated by the military either.
Ironically, assassinating people is one of the few things the U.S President can actually do. But not in America.
Mikeandvan
05-09-2024, 19:13
Which US President was assassinated by the US military? None that I know of. JFK was assassinated by an ex-marine, but that is not the same thing.
Well, the 'CIA within the CIA'.
Pigmy Pony
11-09-2024, 13:44
Good grief. Who said Americans can't do comedy?
https://youtu.be/lHycpIhnFcU?t=40
I watched most of this televised debate - I really don't know who came out on top, but Donald was definitely the funnier of the two :)
If he was a fictional character in a T.V show people would say he wasn't believable.
Mikeandvan
12-09-2024, 22:10
**** me, anyone know about this? It's ****ing nuts!! Mossad had prior knowledge of 9/11 yet didn't warn America!!
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12768362.five-israelis-were-seen-filming-as-jet-liners-ploughed-into-the-twin-towers-on-september-11-2001/
Mikeandvan
14-09-2024, 20:24
Ignore the above conspiracy theory, its since been debunked as a loadofoldbollocks, but it does seem we're closer to being fried to death, as Britain takes the brave leap into the unknown. Slava Ukraine!
Pigmy Pony
14-09-2024, 21:00
Ignore the above conspiracy theory, its since been debunked as a loadofoldbollocks, but it does seem we're closer to being fried to death, as Britain takes the brave leap into the unknown. Slava Ukraine!
Picture the scene, 1,000 years from now. The air is finally good enough for the bunker-bound descendants of Putin and his cronies to venture outside for a kickabout. Only trouble is, the football has been deflated for more than 980 years now and nobody thought to pack a bicycle pump. What's worse, the factories that used to make them have been reduced to piles of ash.
I like to think that common sense will prevail - don't underestimate the power of football :)
Mikeandvan
16-09-2024, 08:44
If Putin's not bluffing, the UK will be the first to find out. Damn our govt.!!
Pigmy Pony
16-09-2024, 15:31
If Putin's not bluffing, the UK will be the first to find out. Damn our govt.!!
Well that will come as a shock - us Brits are used to queuing.
We had a power cut last night at 21:00 which lasted until 00:30 this morning. Haven’t had a power cut for years now, and it was a totally new phenomenon for my partner; who comes from a country where power cuts can last for a month and who had never experienced such in the UK. It was probably an accident such as an underground cable being severed, which it was why it took so long for the power to be restored.
When I came downstairs this morning to make breakfast I was surprised to find my PC had switched itself on, and my CDP telling me that there was "no CD loaded".
Pigmy Pony
18-09-2024, 13:40
We had a power cut last night at 21:00 which lasted until 00:30 this morning. Haven’t had a power cut for years now, and it was a totally new phenomenon for my partner; who comes from a country where power cuts can last for a month and who had never experienced such in the UK. It was probably an accident such as an underground cable being severed, which it was why it took so long for the power to be restored.
When I came downstairs this morning to make breakfast I was surprised to find my PC had switched itself on, and my CDP telling me that there was "no CD loaded".
Hmm, that's AI for you - getting on your good side by doing things for you without being asked, then next thing it'll use deadly force to keep you from switching it off :eek: If it ever says "You can call me HAL", run away!
Much of my audio system is designed to be left in standby mode when not in use, thus I can understand why when my CDP 'woke up' without a disc in it the display told me of the fact. But the PC is switched off when not used, so I can't really understand how when the power was restored it switched itself on. Spooky!
Pigmy Pony
18-09-2024, 20:19
But when you switch off your computer, are you shutting it off at the mains, or just the on/off switch? Because even when "off" there will still be power at the input will there not? That could well be the difference... in a similar way to whenever my Sky box acts up - simply turning it off doesn't fix it, I unplug it and then plug it back in after a minute, my theory being that this minute of no power makes it forget it had a fault.
Off course I may well be mistaken, it's happened before.
You could be on to something there Steve. I 'switch off' my PC by selecting "Shut down and switch off" without actually switching off at the wall socket.
Conversely, I switch on the machine using the switch on the front of the tower and then log on with user name and password etc.
Mikeandvan
19-09-2024, 21:13
I told you all there'd be nuclear war, and now Labour want us to be the first to receive one of Poo-tins early Xmas crackers, what a fucking state of affairs. Run to the hills!! Or better still go to the continent where there not all suicidal fucking morons!!
Pigmy Pony
19-09-2024, 21:45
I told you all there'd be nuclear war, and now Labour want us to be the first to receive one of Poo-tins early Xmas crackers, what a fucking state of affairs. Run to the hills!! Or better still go to the continent where there not all suicidal fucking morons!!
I'm not saying this to make light of your concerns Mike, but I'm not going to let worries about something that may or may not happen affect the here and now for me. That won't change a thing.
Lets all just enjoy life while we can still live it - importantly we can still enjoy our music, well not you Mike, what with the poorly Sugden :( Getting that fettled should have your attention rather than any sabre-rattling by that shitbag Putin.
Mikeandvan
20-09-2024, 19:27
I'm not saying this to make light of your concerns Mike, but I'm not going to let worries about something that may or may not happen affect the here and now for me. That won't change a thing.
Lets all just enjoy life while we can still live it - importantly we can still enjoy our music, well not you Mike, what with the poorly Sugden :( Getting that fettled should have your attention rather than any sabre-rattling by that shitbag Putin.
'Shall I get my amp fixed, or run to the hills'?
'Shall I get my amp fixed, or run to the hills'?
You've got no proper hills down south.
Pigmy Pony
20-09-2024, 21:43
'Shall I get my amp fixed, or run to the hills'?
Well if you run to the hills in Yorkshire you might come across the Sugden factory, which could be handy :)
Mikeandvan
21-09-2024, 20:50
Just got a dehumidifier, used it for a few days now, it fills up overnight!! Amazing things though, how the hell do they work?
Pigmy Pony
22-09-2024, 09:43
Well my guess (which has next to no scientific basis) is that air is drawn into the unit, where it comes into contact with a cold (refrigerated) surface and the moisture in that air condenses and drops into a container.
They are great for rooms which might be prone to dampness (maybe basement flats and rooms which are occupied much of the time and with inadequate ventilation.) They can be bought quite cheaply, the more expensive ones generally run quieter and with a bigger capacity.
Mikeandvan
22-09-2024, 10:25
Well my guess (which has next to no scientific basis) is that air is drawn into the unit, where it comes into contact with a cold (refrigerated) surface and the moisture in that air condenses and drops into a container.
They are great for rooms which might be prone to dampness (maybe basement flats and rooms which are occupied much of the time and with inadequate ventilation.) They can be bought quite cheaply, the more expensive ones generally run quieter and with a bigger capacity.
Sounds obvious now you've explained it, I paid £200 for mine, its brilliant, last night filled up again, there's no mold on the walls of my flat, but obviously there is a lot of dampness present. Probably because of its weird lay out and shite extraction (almost non existent) system
Pigmy Pony
22-09-2024, 10:44
£200 is certainly not at the cheap end, should be a good 'un. But even if it was a bit noisy it doesn't have to be a problem - just run it during the night with doors closed (they should be closed anyway).
For several years we had one in the bathroom which we ran whenever we had a shower. Zero condensation on the mirrors, it worked perfectly. But electrical safety deems mains-powered devices unsafe in bathrooms, so eventually we had a good quality extractor fitted. Wasn't cheap, and still isn't as effective as the old dehumidifier.
Pigmy Pony
22-09-2024, 10:52
One other thing Mike (apologies if you already know this), as warm air holds moisture better than cold air - which is why visibility on a cold winter's day is better than in summer - the dehumidifier will work better in a warm room than a cold unheated one.
Sounds obvious now you've explained it, I paid £200 for mine, its brilliant, last night filled up again, there's no mold on the walls of my flat, but obviously there is a lot of dampness present. Probably because of its weird lay out and shite extraction (almost non existent) system
I got a big one for my kitchen, took a lot of water out of it first couple of weeks, these days not so much. I think it dried out the whole place. So you might find the same.
I mentioned the other day that we had a power cut, which was only restored in the small hours of the morning. When I came downstairs to make breakfast, I noticed that my (venerable, nay ancient) PC, which whilst 'shut down' is still plugged into the mains, had 'woken up'. I thought little of it and shut it down again.
Yesterday evening I fired it up and after a long time found the PC had become a time machine: the calendar displayed the date to be 7 September 2003 and the time was about an hour ahead of the correct time! Even worse, it would not connect me to this august Forum: displaying a notice that Firefox regarded AoS to not be sufficiently secure, and a possible pathway for virus or data theft.
Now when it come to "all things computer" I'm a complete numpty - but I wasn't going to give up. I fiddled around with the Google settings for the calander and clock, and manage to correct them. A message from Firefox then popped up inviting me to update to the latest version. I followed the instructions, and mirabile dictu everything is now back to normal.
But, there were two more messages to tell me that Microsoft no longer support Vista, and Firefox updated will no longer work with Vista. Methinks it's time to ditch it all and buy a modern laptop. (The trouble is I have a lot of Word files and hundreds of images which I would like to transfer, but don't know how, or if, it can be done.)
Pigmy Pony
25-09-2024, 14:49
I can sympathise - I too am a techno-numpty, and even worse, I'm not willing to learn. Fortunately Anita has the gumption and patience to keep us afloat with all things computer.
I'm sure your files can all be transferred quite easily - depending where you were to buy a laptop from, perhaps you could persuade the sellers to transfer the files from your old PC to a CD or pen drive, which could then be put into your laptop. Always a way, you just have to find someone willing to do it for you :)
I have to get a new laptop next year as mine won't update to Windows 11
There's a computer place round the corner so I'll just get them to do it. They charge a fee but rather pay that then spend hours messing about. Nothing worse than fighting with a computer.
Just dug out my "granddaughter's" unused laptop. It's an HP with a 15.5" screen; apart from that I have no idea of its performance.
Anyway, I'm using it now to talk to you. My next task is to see if I can 'cut and paste' images.
It's embarrassing: I have a PhD in theoretical physics; spent thirty years working in one of the largest commercial research laboratories in the UK, reaching the position of Principle Research Scientist, yet when it comes to computers I'm a complete numpty. Even my partner can do things with her smart phone that leave me baffled. If I could work out how to cut and paste with my smart phone I would use it solely to post on AoS.
Just dug out my "granddaughter's" unused laptop. It's an HP with a 15.5" screen; apart from that I have no idea of its performance.
Anyway, I'm using it now to talk to you. My next task is to see if I can 'cut and paste' images.
It's embarrassing: I have a PhD in theoretical physics; spent thirty years working in one of the largest commercial research laboratories in the UK, reaching the position of Principle Research Scientist, yet when it comes to computers I'm a complete numpty. Even my partner can do things with her smart phone that leave me baffled. If I could work out how to cut and paste with my smart phone I would use it solely to post on AoS.
In the 80s I was programming games for the ZX Spectrum. Then did COBOL and machine code.
Now I have to ask 'young people' in the office how to change the colours on my spreadsheet tabs. (It's a right click. I think.)
Mikeandvan
25-09-2024, 22:02
I just used the website Fiverr to fix a bug on my website, it was done in minutes, £30, outstanding value. I tried fixing it myself and it was so bloody difficult! Also I recommend the laptop I just bought myself if Barry shopping around - Lenovo Yoga 7i, about £800, sturdy build, lighting fast, holds a long charge, good sound/graphics.
Pigmy Pony
26-09-2024, 07:09
Mike's laptop sounds like a good 'un, but rather more than I was prepared to spend. I changed my laptop 18 months ago and got one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Chromebook-15a-na0005na-Pentium-Processor/dp/B0D481YWC5/ref=sr_1_5?crid=164R4CEGWH0BF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3poGWHyi0zMyuFmkOWJMvpxjrIJ5RBerv abQLITOz-eGeXk7xJCOSYuffjCWfkaxGNH0b8XVV1aOpaOAemh3FQoUhVz-K_x8oO_9PPFG-LooDastZBE82w2PrLWIwe7UOZDZuPpvMYAMBwBKvspckxoJaZO T0aHtiyx757L2hIcoBHOTeq0XLxIKXsa9m_gPp9um30JtU1Psc xAdOoUsBj9lRE7F4S_D2dF0d4-he3I.w4cORQU_smFIEwV39iBAS8t7XWjauN-u3pr8uapsfkA&dib_tag=se&keywords=hp+chromebook+intel+pentium+silver&qid=1727333759&sprefix=hp+chromebook+intel+pentium+silver%2Caps%2 C136&sr=8-5
Does everything I need it to do, and a decent size screen. I get about 8-10 hours on the battery, I just leave it on charge when not in use.
Mikeandvan
26-09-2024, 21:32
Mike's laptop sounds like a good 'un, but rather more than I was prepared to spend. I changed my laptop 18 months ago and got one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Chromebook-15a-na0005na-Pentium-Processor/dp/B0D481YWC5/ref=sr_1_5?crid=164R4CEGWH0BF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3poGWHyi0zMyuFmkOWJMvpxjrIJ5RBerv abQLITOz-eGeXk7xJCOSYuffjCWfkaxGNH0b8XVV1aOpaOAemh3FQoUhVz-K_x8oO_9PPFG-LooDastZBE82w2PrLWIwe7UOZDZuPpvMYAMBwBKvspckxoJaZO T0aHtiyx757L2hIcoBHOTeq0XLxIKXsa9m_gPp9um30JtU1Psc xAdOoUsBj9lRE7F4S_D2dF0d4-he3I.w4cORQU_smFIEwV39iBAS8t7XWjauN-u3pr8uapsfkA&dib_tag=se&keywords=hp+chromebook+intel+pentium+silver&qid=1727333759&sprefix=hp+chromebook+intel+pentium+silver%2Caps%2 C136&sr=8-5
Does everything I need it to do, and a decent size screen. I get about 8-10 hours on the battery, I just leave it on charge when not in use.
I could afford it cos of the refund I got on the original price of my old laptop, in their crazy insurance scheme which they no longer offer!!
Pigmy Pony
26-09-2024, 22:20
I could afford it cos of the refund I got on the original price of my old laptop, in their crazy insurance scheme which they no longer offer!!
Yeah, you were lucky with that one. Schemes that actually benefit customers tend not to stick around long, bad for business I suppose.
Mikeandvan
02-10-2024, 19:45
Gonna get the popcorn in for the Mullahs vs the Joos big showdown. But will Russia back Iran? ? ? Remember the narrative of 'Threads' was that it all started with the US and the Soviets fighting a proxy war in Iran.
Gonna get the popcorn in for the Mullahs vs the Joos big showdown. But will Russia back Iran? ? ? Remember the narrative of 'Threads' was that it all started with the US and the Soviets fighting a proxy war in Iran.
The only thing I remember about 'Threads' was the traffic warden with the SLR.
Mikeandvan
07-10-2024, 20:26
So when are Israel gonna hit back, I wanna see fireworks!!
As a Quad enthusiast my current post count is auspicious: 33,303.
:lol:
Another auspicious post number:
33,306*
to be followed by
33,405
34,303*
34,306*
34,405*
34,606*
44,303*
44,405
44,510*
44,520
44,521*
44,522*
then a jump to
66,606
which I doubt I will exceed.
(Quad combinations marked with an asterisk have not been heard by me.)
Pigmy Pony
16-10-2024, 12:07
i don't foresee my post numbers throwing up anything of note anytime soon.
Mikeandvan
16-10-2024, 22:14
Hate to be a downer but
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2024/10/12/us_highly_vulnerable_to_nuclear_first_strike_10647 07.html
Pigmy Pony
17-10-2024, 05:56
Hate to be a downer but
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2024/10/12/us_highly_vulnerable_to_nuclear_first_strike_10647 07.html
Had a quick read through - sounds a bit worrying (but then it's supposed to, the author won't make much money from writing articles saying we're doing ok), but I was heartened by seeing the text interspersed with adverts for Roseland sofas :) I'm inclined to think that Russia's air defence won't be much cop either.
Sorry if I'm sounding a bit flippant Mike, it's the way I deal with doom - in the words of the famous philosopher Bobby McFerin, Don't worry, be happy, fix Suggie :)
I won't read anything that requires you to sign up! Regardless of the authority of the source and the author's credentials, just looking at these links leads to being inundated with unwanted emails. I can get dozens of spam and junk emails and messages every day which I have to delete.
Mikeandvan
17-10-2024, 19:07
Had a quick read through - sounds a bit worrying (but then it's supposed to, the author won't make much money from writing articles saying we're doing ok), but I was heartened by seeing the text interspersed with adverts for Roseland sofas :) I'm inclined to think that Russia's air defence won't be much cop either.
Sorry if I'm sounding a bit flippant Mike, it's the way I deal with doom - in the words of the famous philosopher Bobby McFerin, Don't worry, be happy, fix Suggie :)
We're doomed, dooooomed I tell you.
Unusual milkman behaviour.
Left 4 empties out Sunday night. Monday morning he hadn't taken any of them but must have been as he left me a new pint.
Next delivery was this morning. This time no fresh milk at all but he has been since he's taken 3 of the 5 empties I left.
Not leaving any fresh is not a mystery since I told them if you don't have any proper milk left don't be leaving that skimmed crap and still charging me. But the thing with not taking the empties I just don't get.
I gave up with having fresh milk left by the milkman years ago. Despite my leaving notes to say "No milk today Thank you", a fresh pint of milk was always left which I couldn't use. Spoke to the dairy several times about it, but there was no real improvement, so sadly I had to cancel the contract.
Pigmy Pony
17-10-2024, 20:29
Unusual milkman behaviour.
Left 4 empties out Sunday night. Monday morning he hadn't taken any of them but must have been as he left me a new pint.
Next delivery was this morning. This time no fresh milk at all but he has been since he's taken 3 of the 5 empties I left.
Not leaving any fresh is not a mystery since I told them if you don't have any proper milk left don't be leaving that skimmed crap and still charging me. But the thing with not taking the empties I just don't get.
Maybe your milkman went to the same school as me - we do find life rather complicated at times, and are easily confused.
I gave up with having fresh milk left by the milkman years ago. Despite my leaving notes to say "No milk today Thank you", a fresh pint of milk was always left which I couldn't use. Spoke to the dairy several times about it, but there was no real improvement, so sadly I had to cancel the contract.
These days if you don't want a delivery you just go on their website and untick a box.
I could just buy milk from the shop I pass every day on the way home, and it's cheaper, but I like the nostalgic aspect.
Plus the milkman is the only person I get a Christmas card off.
Pigmy Pony
20-10-2024, 07:45
Spot the mistake with this er, thing being sold through Amazon:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k0NkzRV0L._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX480_SY360_.jpg
We've become used to chancers cashing in on the 'vinyl revival', but to do it without even a basic understanding of how a record player works just takes the piss :(
It's for record enthusiasts who live in the southern hemisphere. :lol:
Not sure having about ten records can be classed as hoarding.
I'd need about 20 of those things and I've hardly got any records compared to a lot of people I know.
That's a left-handed deck btw, a bit like a left handed spanner.
Mikeandvan
20-10-2024, 21:42
I wonder what will happen after the big fire comes, what power axis will the world split into? The UK for instance might he gammons vs non binaries.
Pigmy Pony
20-10-2024, 21:59
I wonder what will happen after the big fire comes, what power axis will the world split into? The UK for instance might he gammons vs non binaries.
Sorry Mike, maybe I'm being a bit thick, but there's no part of that sentence that makes sense to me :doh:
Pigmy Pony
21-10-2024, 13:29
I went for a flu and covid jab this morning (I wasn't going to bother, but Anita kept on at me to have it done). I think that just leaves a shingles vaccination, but looking at the blurb on the NHS website I really can't tell if I'm eligible. It's really confusing, see what you think:
People eligible:
Those who turn 65 on or after 1st September 2023
Those aged 70 to 79
Now I turned 65 before 1st Sept 2023, but I'm not 70 to 79 either. So what is it with those of us between 66 and 69? Are we already immune?
I went for a flu and covid jab this morning (I wasn't going to bother, but Anita kept on at me to have it done). I think that just leaves a shingles vaccination, but looking at the blurb on the NHS website I really can't tell if I'm eligible. It's really confusing, see what you think:
People eligible:
Those who turn 65 on or after 1st September 2023
Those aged 70 to 79
Now I turned 65 before 1st Sept 2023, but I'm not 70 to 79 either. So what is it with those of us between 66 and 69? Are we already immune?
No, we’re the subject of NHS age discrimination!
Pigmy Pony
21-10-2024, 14:46
No, we’re the subject of NHS age discrimination!
They'll come to regret that decision, we're the future :)
I think I 'm due for all of those boosters in November.
Steve, did you catch chicken pox as a child? If you didn't, then you don't really need a shingles jab.
I think I 'm due for all of those boosters in November.
Steve, did you catch chicken pox as a child? If you didn't, then you don't really need a shingles jab.
You can still get shingles, as I understand it. Possibly it depends on how bad you had chicken pox.
Shingles is highly contagious, so if you come into contact with a sufferer then you could pick it up.
With those who had chicken pox as a child, the virus afterwards lies dormant in the spinal column, and can become reactivated as shingles in later life. If you are run down, come into contact with someone who is ill, or have suffered physical trauma,the chance of reactivation is higher.
Pigmy Pony
21-10-2024, 19:24
I think I 'm due for all of those boosters in November.
Steve, did you catch chicken pox as a child? If you didn't, then you don't really need a shingles jab.
Yes I did, I was quite young, maybe six or seven, but I do remember it. Or rather I remember the pink stuff that my mum painted all over the spots.
But wouldn't you agree the NHS' eligibility criteria make no sense?
Pigmy Pony
21-10-2024, 19:41
One of my favourite people, comedian Bob Mortimer got shingles last year, and it wiped him out so badly he could barely stand, let alone walk. He completely lost the use of one of his legs and while filming his fishing programme with Paul Whitehouse they got him around in a wheelchair. And his leg still isn't 100%. He said the experience was worse than his heart failure and subsequent bypass in 2015.
I've just talked myself into enquiring about the jab.
Yes I did, I was quite young, maybe six or seven, but I do remember it. Or rather I remember the pink stuff that my mum painted all over the spots.
But wouldn't you agree the NHS' eligibility criteria make no sense?
I agree it makes no sense. I think what they were trying to say is anyone over 65 is eligible.
Someone might have cut and paste it from some other announcement and then changed it a bit - but not enough.
Pigmy Pony
21-10-2024, 20:10
I agree it makes no sense. I think what they were trying to say is anyone over 65 is eligible.
Someone might have cut and paste it from some other announcement and then changed it a bit - but not enough.
So simple Mart - to the point and unambiguous. You know they'd never give you a job in the NHS.
It will always be the dream.
Yes I did, I was quite young, maybe six or seven, but I do remember it. Or rather I remember the pink stuff that my mum painted all over the spots.
But wouldn't you agree the NHS' eligibility criteria make no sense?
Ah yes - calamine lotion.
And get yourself the jab. Shingles is very unpleasant. I had it in my late forties; it affected one side of my face, and because it can cause blindness in the eye, I was prescribed some very powerful (and expensive) medication which I had to take several times a day at regular intervals.
Fortunately it did the trick, but it was an unpleasant week I wouldn't wish on anyone.
My son got shingles around this time last year, only 11 at the time, and very rare in youngsters. The doc said it was stress, which would have been him going up to high school with no one he knew. I had no clue it could be caused by stress, but it was a very nasty couple of weeks for him.
Not my business to advise you Steve on getting the jab, but helping to make your choice informed. :)
Well, if it is a clerical error, it’s about time they sorted it out because all the treatment centres are giving it to everyone over 65 except those, like me and PP who are currently excluded. I’ve wasted my time at my surgery arguing that the rules are either wrong or discriminatory.
They have no power to override the direction and can give no explanation why some ages are being excluded. How do you raise this problem with the people who have the power to correct or explain such an exclusion?
Mikeandvan
17-11-2024, 19:21
Biden's parting gift to the world - nuclear holocaust.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/17/politics/biden-authorizes-ukraine-missiles-russian-targets/index.html
Lawrence001
17-11-2024, 21:14
Or giving the Ukrainians the chance to get some territory back before Trump forces an armistice on them.
Sent from my PCT-L29 using Tapatalk
My breakfast this morning would cost a crypto-currency trader €3.2 million.
Pigmy Pony
22-11-2024, 22:39
My breakfast this morning would cost a crypto-currency trader €3.2 million.
That's the thing with these billionaires, they're completely out of touch with food prices. Though thinking about it, the bulk of the value might not lay with the bananas (instructions on how to periodically replace the banana were included in the sale) but in the duct tape - I have approximately £80m worth on a roll in the van. Which only cost me 3 quid at the car boot sale.
Well I have five more which I'm willing to sell for a mere £1 million. Cheap at half the price!
Pigmy Pony
23-11-2024, 07:36
Well I have five more which I'm willing to sell for a mere £1 million. Cheap at half the price!
Just check you have adequate insurance cover - I predict there will be a lot of forgeries coming onto the market, and the required materials have to come from somewhere.
I bought two rolls of duct tape last weekend, a quid each.
That was from the shop formerly known as 'Woolworths.'
I don't often go in there but I probably should as they sell all sorts of stuff very cheap. It's a bit like what you would imagine a shop would look like 30 years after a holocaust, when society is just getting back on its feet.
The lighting is poor and flickers, and everything from the shelves to the checkout kiosk looks like it was built from scrap. There's big marks on the floor where the original Woolworths shelving used to be and stock is just everywhere rather than having an aisle dedicated to each type of goods.
There's always a big queue for the checkout, so they're obviously doing some business, but it's a bizarre experience.
Pigmy Pony
23-11-2024, 12:43
I bought two rolls of duct tape last weekend, a quid each.
That was from the shop formerly known as 'Woolworths.'
I don't often go in there but I probably should as they sell all sorts of stuff very cheap. It's a bit like what you would imagine a shop would look like 30 years after a holocaust, when society is just getting back on its feet.
The lighting is poor and flickers, and everything from the shelves to the checkout kiosk looks like it was built from scrap. There's big marks on the floor where the original Woolworths shelving used to be and stock is just everywhere rather than having an aisle dedicated to each type of goods.
There's always a big queue for the checkout, so they're obviously doing some business, but it's a bizarre experience.
I can picture it - shelves stocked with what was left after the looters had made off with the good stuff.
The cut-price promotions in Aldi are a bit like that: all jumbled up in the centre isle with no order, or even continuation once an item has sold out. :doh:
Mikeandvan
02-12-2024, 21:50
I drink about once a week now, always on sundays, but I'm practically incapacitated on mondays, next to useless. Does anyone else have an alternative to getting pissed?
Pigmy Pony
02-12-2024, 22:04
I drink about once a week now, always on sundays, but I'm practically incapacitated on mondays, next to useless. Does anyone else have an alternative to getting pissed?
Sobriety :) There are several other alternatives, none of them legal, so... sobriety it is.
Mikeandvan
05-12-2024, 11:35
Yikes!!!!
Most popular name for baby boys in the UK 2023
Muhammad. +0.
Noah. +0.
Theo. +0.
Leo. +0.
Oliver. +0.
Arthur. +5.
Jack. -1.
Freddie. +2.
WOStantonCS100
11-12-2024, 23:38
It is perfectly acceptable to appreciate/enjoy the [music] whilst simultaneously rejecting the message and/or culture.
Been having wi-fi issues for a while, so Sky have sent me a new router. All fine and dandy, except the network name and password are new, too. Figured not really a great issue, until I checked and we have 45 devices connected to the network! I think I’ll be changing the name and password on the new one to match the old one!
Amazon tell me they’ve delivered a package today, and kindly sent me a photo of it in front of someone else’s front door…. Apparently they can’t do anything about it for 48 hours in case someone else in the house has picked them up, or until I’ve checked with my neighbours. The door is a plain white UPVC one, so no clue there. Luckily it’s just light bulbs, so no drama but wouldn’t have been ideal if it was a Christmas present.
Amazon tell me they’ve delivered a package today, and kindly sent me a photo of it in front of someone else’s front door…. Apparently they can’t do anything about it for 48 hours in case someone else in the house has picked them up, or until I’ve checked with my neighbours. The door is a plain white UPVC one, so no clue there. Luckily it’s just light bulbs, so no drama but wouldn’t have been ideal if it was a Christmas present.
I had a package coming to work, said 'delivered' but I'd not had it so checked the photo and it just showed a featureless brick wall. Helpful!
Found it in the end along with some other parcels and about 3 days worth of post in the side reception area. At least 30 staff must have walked past it several times each.
Classic example of a 'SEPF'* in action.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_else%27s_problem
Pigmy Pony
24-12-2024, 14:44
Just been over to Wigan to drop off some Christmas presents at Anita's son's house, where his partner has had a 20 foot inflatable Father Christmas in the front garden. Light coming into the lounge is almost completely blocked by Santa's arse. Not very festive. Same as this:
https://media.diy.com/is/image/KingfisherDigital/giant-20ft-6m-outdoor-inflatable-lit-christmas-santa-with-raised-arm-28-leds~5056589183257_01c_MP?$MOB_PREV$&$width=1200&$height=1200
Just been over to Wigan to drop off some Christmas presents at Anita's son's house, where his partner has had a 20 foot inflatable Father Christmas in the front garden. Light coming into the lounge is almost completely blocked by Santa's arse. Not very festive. Same as this:
https://media.diy.com/is/image/KingfisherDigital/giant-20ft-6m-outdoor-inflatable-lit-christmas-santa-with-raised-arm-28-leds~5056589183257_01c_MP?$MOB_PREV$&$width=1200&$height=1200
You've got to admire the sheer insanity of it though.
Pigmy Pony
26-12-2024, 12:23
You've got to admire the sheer insanity of it though.
Which would be ok if the insanity stopped there. But really it's just another symptom of her Facebook/Tik Tok mentality which Anita's son might have to put up with while hoping that science might eventually find a cure.
Hope your Liverpool break went well, and you're not too disappointed with the lack of posts on here in your absence. I know you said you like to save 'em up. What does your family think of your new speakers? I assume you showed them pictures). Or are you the only one that bothers with that sort of thing?
Which would be ok if the insanity stopped there. But really it's just another symptom of her Facebook/Tik Tok mentality which Anita's son might have to put up with while hoping that science might eventually find a cure.
Hope your Liverpool break went well, and you're not too disappointed with the lack of posts on here in your absence. I know you said you like to save 'em up. What does your family think of your new speakers? I assume you showed them pictures). Or are you the only one that bothers with that sort of thing?
No I didn't bother showing them pictures. One of my brothers is vaguely interested, but he wasn't there.
He'd dropping by me tomorrow en route to Liverpool so he'll see them then. He's the one who has a 'garden room' that's better than my house, and I know he wants to put some serious speakers in there.
But he's married with children so I doubt he'd be allowed to spend that much money.
Pigmy Pony
26-12-2024, 13:44
No I didn't bother showing them pictures. One of my brothers is vaguely interested, but he wasn't there.
He'd dropping by me tomorrow en route to Liverpool so he'll see them then. He's the one who has a 'garden room' that's better than my house, and I know he wants to put some serious speakers in there.
But he's married with children so I doubt he'd be allowed to spend that much money.
No, it'll just end up filled with oversize toys when mum and dad are sick of stumbling over them. Anyway, serious speakers and all that glass won't be a winning combination, I mean where would you start with room treatment?
Pigmy Pony
26-12-2024, 13:59
Just started on a six-pack of Walnut Whips - either they have become another victim of "Shrinkflation" or my hands have got bigger. I think I'll join Barry in his boycotting of Nestle products. Right after I've finished this pack :)
Just started on a six-pack of Walnut Whips - either they have become another victim of "Shrinkflation" or my hands have got bigger. I think I'll join Barry in his boycotting of Nestle products. Right after I've finished this pack :)
Had two massive platefuls for Christmas dinner as there was a ton of it and no-one else wanted much. And a chocolate cake for afters which no-one else wanted either, so I eat all that too over the course of the evening.
Only found out later there was a tub of cream to go with it. Oh well.
Going to be digesting for several days I think.
Pigmy Pony
26-12-2024, 17:14
We went to Anita's son's place for Christmas dinner. After a starter of prawn cocktail (which I surprised myself by actually liking), The main course was MASSIVE. I got more than anyone else because I have an undeserved reputation for being a greedy pig. And I was the only one to finish it all.
Dessert was either fruit cocktail trifle, Christmas pud with cream or lemon meringue. I'd jokingly said last week that I'll have all three - and that's what I got. Still managed to finish it all (helped with a few glasses of wine (don't ask what I'm really not that cultured).
I really couldn't face my usual cornflakes at suppertime so I went to bed hungry.
I did go in an Aldi for the first time ever while I was in Liverpool.
It's built on the same spot where I signed on for the first time back in 1988.
I looked, but there's no commemorative plaque.
Ironically, the Aldi was advertising for staff.
Had two massive platefuls for Christmas dinner as there was a ton of it and no-one else wanted much. And a chocolate cake for afters which no-one else wanted either, so I eat all that too over the course of the evening.
Only found out later there was a tub of cream to go with it. Oh well.
Going to be digesting for several days I think.
Have you ever watched this guy
https://www.youtube.com/@Beardmeatsfood
Your Christmas Day feasting could make you a direct competitor!:lol:
Have you ever watched this guy
https://www.youtube.com/@Beardmeatsfood
Your Christmas Day feasting could make you a direct competitor!:lol:
lol seen him before yes. Last time I was in Las Vegas I put on half a stone in two weeks.
Usually I don't eat so much but for some reason on Christmas day it was just like dropping food into a bottomless pit. I'd already had first and second breakfasts too.
Mikeandvan
01-01-2025, 13:26
Didn't have a drop of drink over the festive season, nor for 3 weeks now, me and drink have ended our relationship I think. Just stayed in and built my new website, read about Iran and America, and watched John Carpenters 'The Fog' last night, such a great film.
Pigmy Pony
01-01-2025, 17:23
New website Mike, what's that about?
Mikeandvan
01-01-2025, 17:26
New website Mike, what's that about?
Just another removals website, I badly need more work.
Mikeandvan
01-01-2025, 17:31
Here it is, what do you think? I think it looks quite smooth.
https://brightonremoval.co.uk
Pigmy Pony
01-01-2025, 17:50
Well if that doesn't bring in more work I don't know what will. Your website looks the dog's danglies, and I really like your company logo. Rates look pretty reasonable too. Good luck with it all mate :)
When you mentioned building a website on New Year's Eve I pictured you at your laptop with a large glass of something potent to hand composing something like "Ten good reasons for Brighton residents to stay at home on New Year's Eve" or something similarly catchy :D
Mikeandvan
01-01-2025, 18:26
Thanks all, I only added the content though, I paid some guy in Bengal to build the site. If anyone needs anything done IT wise I highly recommend the Fiverr website. I paid £130 for it, I tipped though because I was stretching the guy's patience with my endless queries. Funny thing is one of my associates says his partner used to build websites, claiming she was UK based, and she'd farm the work out to India or wherever! A suspicion I always held about these 'UK based' website builders!! Fiverr has done for them.
Luckily one of the guys who works for me now and again is a professional model, that's him smiling in the drivers seat, I'm the lanky one!
Mikeandvan
01-01-2025, 18:28
Well if that doesn't bring in more work I don't know what will. Your website looks the dog's danglies, and I really like your company logo. Rates look pretty reasonable too. Good luck with it all mate :)
When you mentioned building a website on New Year's Eve I pictured you at your laptop with a large glass of something potent to hand composing something like "Ten good reasons for Brighton residents to stay at home on New Year's Eve" or something similarly catchy :D
I 'created' the logo myself!! Yeh it's just brighton removal with two colons, genius!!
Looks good Mike , I will pass on your details to anyone local who asks
just to promote my step daughters new business also in Brighton here is her site
https://chloesclipsandtrips.co.uk/
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.