Bill

Here is an old groaner, but as I have nothing Toulouse.. "THE HIGH PRICE OF GAS IN FRANCE A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre. After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van. However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error. He replied, "Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings, I had no Monet To buy Degas To make the Van Gogh." ...

Not really As a user they Microsoft do not tell you what they are doing. They just do it and it and it was a big one. Trying to find out what actually is going on is something I no longer do. But the computer stopped and restarted and then did so over and over again. And just when I thought it might be done and I logged in - Well it had another go. And then of course it no longer did what it was supposed to do and connect to the internet. And as the only way of getting any help is to go online - You see it was a catch 22 situation. You may have started this thread but you don't own it. So perhaps you ought to stop deciding for others what contributes to this debate and does not? We are not all techno-whiz-kids like your good-self..

Well the new big super deluxe upgrade from Windows Ten was installed today, whether I wanted it or not. (pause to scream!!!!) After a very harassing time Finally all is back to normal. Windows Ten has a thing about connecting to the internet. If it can find a way to destroy, hide, disable other wise damage any internet settings on one's computer it will do so. The program for resetting the internet connections is a sorry mess - It was probably programmed by the Lizard King himself - It is without a doubt a fake, it does nothing but spin its wheels like a car stuck in mud. I do firmly believe that Windows Ten is on a mission from some dark Sith Overlord, that has taken over Redmond, to utterly and mercilessly eradicate the mental well-being and emotional stability of the entire human race..

And not only that the Sturmabteilung went into the cigarette business.. Which in the end, because of their sales tactics, got them into a whole load of hot water with the party.. Probably because someone high up did not smoke and because it was making the brown-shirts rich. In fact it might well have been a contributing factor to the demise of Ernst Röhm.. Their advertising was typically pretty grim.. And probably caused some well known high-up person in the Party to blow a gasket, When he saw his revered symbol being used to promote, of all things, smoking! . . . And some of their brands lacked any imagination And this was their premium product! When the S.A, started destroying Reemtsma's considerable cigarette business, Herr Reemtsma paid a visit to the fixer in chief - Goering. He paid a few million marks to a charity of Goering's choosing.. And the problem miraculously went away.. Things were never quite the same, in more ways than one, for the S.A. after that.. Did they produce an ashtray to help promote their second lethal product? Yes they did.. It was made out of brass and either chrome or nickel plated.. Around the rim It carried the names of the four cigarette brands they produced .. Sturm, Trommler, neue Front and Alarm.. Hardly names to be associated with a quiet relaxing smoke..!

Taking you at your word, I thought i would take a slightly different tack. With the ashtrays and the camels come a whole load of ephemera.. From advertising to tin cans that provide some essential background and lend some depth to the ashtray collection.. So here is the other side.. One of my favourite cigarette advertisements, some may see why. The same artist, Hans Rudi Ernst had previously come up with this gem urging all to smoke before getting out of bed in the morning.. Not forgetting to have another before getting dressed.. And one hopes she was not smoking one of these.. But one of these.. And then in the 20's the German advertisers got heavily into Art Deco So all in all there is a secret side to our German friends that is both colourful and adventurous that sometimes gets hidden.. When we mistakenly stereotype another race, we can miss out on its richness and even its rightness. What can you say when someone builds a cigarette factory like this right by the Elbe in Dresden.. An what's more to like when a railway track passes right in front of it..

How about collecting ashtrays..? Not any old ashtrays but those that advertise cigarettes? Out of this my favourite country is Germany and the time, between the wars.. Here is a small sample of a collection of over 500.. and did I mention Camels.. If you actually are mad enough to want to see more - do ask!

In Canada Summer is but a minor inconvenience between Winters..

Big moan... Rogue One - pardon the pun - was complete waste of space.. Clearly the Director and screen writer, whoever they were, had zero comprehension of the Star Wars universe.. (Plus the fact that neither seemed able to write or direct..) Having got that beef out of the way.. Also - The local Cineplex is way too dirty for humans to use.. And as I value my hearing IMAX is no longer a tenable venue.. (Even with ear plugs in place..) Modern Cinema has got a lot going for it so I am ever hopeful that one day someone will actually rediscover the art of producing an interesting and exciting movie.. And showing it.. Until then... Grumbles and moans over .. However.. Thank you for all for the amazing diversity of views - They remind me very much of the population of a Star Wars movie.. How would Yoda view it? What would Darth Vader have to say? The Emperors Judgement? Did Luke like it? The Wookie vote? Would they have trashed the cinema? Did Han Solo even bother to watch it? How would it play on Tatooine?... I am looking forward to seeing this movie when it hits Netflix. But I suspect until someone can rebuild the Star Wars ethos and philosophy, find a director and actors with sufficient gravitas to pull it off and travel more deeply into the territory, this will simply be another bust. They had an opportunity to develop an immortal series with the "Empire Strikes Back" and since then it has all faded to grey... These people have no vision..!!!

True but some of us just had to have an H class having waited for nigh on 55 years - The fact that the livery is all wrong for our modeled era is but a minor inconvenience.. Rather like summer in Canada - a minor inconvenience to be found between successive winters..

Well here in Canada in the midst of the Christmas mail the BR green Gate Stock plus a Hornby H class tank miraculously arrived today on a Sunday. Canada post does pull out all the stops at this time of year. The report is that both the Gate Stock and H class are working very well through points and across the differently scaled Tillig 009/HO crossover.. They are a delight to watch and the H Class slow motion starting and stopping is realistic. Nice.. I was going to hold them back until Christmas day, but why play tomorrow with what you can play with today? So I'm suitably impressed with DJ models and Kernow and almost with Hornby - who after the continuing T9 fiasco, are beginning to slowly worm their way back into my good books.,.

My best advice "Replace the Points" - unless you intend not to buy/build any more rolling stock.. Even so, good working points are essential to running a model railway. And the confidence that will bring should improve your model rail operating satisfaction, and enjoyment..

A two foot wide shelf that went around my dedicated office space at a comfortable standing height - and voila an office that rocks with a 12' by 12' layout.. Fait accompli as it required no discussion or permission to construct.. Sadly we moved and other layouts have never quite had the same magic - it was the best.. Somethings can only be done once, it would seem.. Downside.. All the negative comments that arise from the presence of a model train in a house.. Upside.. A visiting nurse who simply loved it!

Perhaps they are some over enthusiastic young volunteers for a preservation railway off to do some track realignment?

Having sympathy for the afflicted is another option - so perhaps one can use the 'Friendly supportive' button for that purpose? ..

Now politicians are whats left over after you have filled all the other available jobs. So it stands to reason they are the dimmest bulbs available. And as military logistics are far too much for their minuscule minds to appreciate They will easily miss the strategic essential of not putting all your military eggs in one basket.. The military has always needed surplus operating capacity. It is a necessary part of having an effective fighting force. So closing Devonport or cutting battalion strength, etc., makes absolutely no sense at all. It leaves England vulnerable, which in this day and age is not a good idea.

This should provide simply hours of harmless fun! https://www.ebay.de/itm/Vintage-Plastic-Kibri-HO-Hotel-Over-Antique-Shop-Cigarette-Advertising/332448711372?hash=item4d677cc2cc:g:ypMAAOSw8GxZjwtj The surprise is in the images..

Right from the start I always wanted to model an alternative version of Guildford station complete with its great variance of railway routes - So Birdcage coaches are a must as they were used on the Horsham line. Preferably in green, but if all that's going is carmine or whatever shade of red it is meant to be - then so be it. I hope they do BR(S) green later.. It would fit better. So I am glad they are now here - Hours of fun await.. Meanwhile since the project was announced to reproduce these coaches, it now seems years ago, I have moved and no longer have the space to create the layout these coaches need.. Now these coaches may well not have been the specific type that saw service on that line. But they look more like the right coaches than say a Maunsell whatever.. So they'll do the job for me! Can I now die happy?.. Not quite, there are still a few small things missing. For example those essential EMUs, you know the Bulleid 4 coach suburbans for the Leatherhead line and the 4COR Nelson's? Is anyone out there listening?

Yup - Just received a notification from Hat-tons that EXE won't arrive until next Year.. January-March.. Ayie Caramba! So I shall go back into a blissful hibernation. Invest the money and hope it earns enough interest to pay for any price increase.. . . . (Luckily I do have some motive power borrowed from a Welsh slate railway that can pull the L&B coaches around the track..)

How about some birds? Here's a few that might work Kookaburra Silvereye Lorikeet Willie Wagtail Cockatoo Wattlebird .. They'd look good on a 787 complete with their pictures..

Hey that's not griping - That is speculative irony!

If they are still in China and Heljan has yet to sign off on them then they might arrive at earliest say, by June? If we are very lucky..

Well I got the same sad email from Hatton's with an unspecified date in April indicated.. So it seems that although this announcement might probably good news for many a members liquidity.. It is not so good news for my and probably many other enthusiasts' modeling aspirations.. I was really hoping for a quiet time dreaming of an eternal summer in the days of yore Whilst watching 'Exe' as it wardled its merry way around the 009 loop.. Ah! Guess we'll all just have to wait some more... Whilst whatever is holding things up gets fixed.. We could even pass our time playing the game of guess why they've been delayed.. My money is on, "the container fell overboard and they are currently trying to fish it out.." scenario.. Rather than..

I Received a notice from a well known Liverpool supplier-source that indicated Clan Line was due in tomorrow (14th March) - according to their source in Hornby-land - So - Good things very soon it would seem!

And now for the grand finale - as this will probably be my last post concerning Windows Ten.. Microsoft - with the Windows 10 upgrade path and its so called tech support 'technicians' have finally killed my computer.. RIP Goliath - We had some good times... I used to love computing - but Microsoft has finally managed to ruin the fun.. What is sad is no more Internet explorer.. Its the only browser that worked for me on eBay.. With edge - it is load pause - play some ads - then let you go on..........eventually Windows ten, it would seem, actively tries to slow down Firefox to make it fizzle fox.. And I have yet to master the dark occult secrets of chrome.. So if anyone knows how to get explorer to work on a dedicated Windows ten platform? ( tried to install it and thought I had succeeded but when I rebooted - it had vanished..)

Hello! More views from the Windows Ten trenches... (its WW1 all over again - a battle of wills and wits, Me versus Microsoft..) It would seem that Windows Ten is no longer content with allowing me to ignore its wishes to update me.. It has now resorted to executive action.. I stupidly left my computer running whilst I slept - that was last night... And this morning? The black screen with the whirling balls of death were there to greet me.. How did that happen? It seems Windows Ten has ESP and knows when you aren't there and sneaks in and has another go at doing what by now has to be just about impossible on my machine - Updating to the next iteration of Windows Ten.. So it was back to the double switch on and off routine to get it to go back - as it euphemistically puts it - "To an earlier version of windows".. Now Microsoft bills its product as "productivity Enhancing" - But I fail to see what is either productive or enhancing about a product that behaves as this one does...