Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, brianusa said:

There's been a minor freeing up here, if you have had both vacs you can now eat in restaurants with other twin vacs, non masked inside a restaurant.  Otherwise everything else remains.  Its a start so see how it goes!

     Brian.

 

Things are happening here in a rush right now.

 

The state and federal governments  if anything have leaned on the side of over-caution which in contrast to some other parts of the civilised world has been met with a  pretty high level of  support from the population and a  low rate of non-compliance or protesting,  but now that we've had several weeks of no local cases things are opening up -  like spring even though its actually autumn here. 

 

  Pretty much everything is back to normal unless you rely on overseas tourists,  students or travel for your livelihood. The  only day to day indication that there is anything abnormal is the requirement to wear masks on public transport. 

 

House prices have risen  for some reason despite predictions of doom due to immigration being halted.  Regional areas have seen big price increases in real estate too as citybound workers realise that they can work pretty much fulltime from home and so can live further than commuting distance from their workplace. 

 

The ANZAC day march and the Sydney Easter Show are back on, and there was even the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras last weekend, though it was held at the SCG rather than the traditional  march down Oxford Street.

 

Of course it only takes one slip up and we are all back under emergency lock and key for five days but with the  vaccine rollout even that is becoming less likely. 

 

Vaccine rollout has commenced, it took longer to start here because we had the luxury of being able to go through the whole red-tape bureaucrat routine rather than rush through emergency clearances, and despite Italy and the EU  blocking our vaccine shipments we are on track to rollout our locally produced version of the ZA vaccine to here and the South Pacific over the next couple of weeks. 

 

And I haven't needed to buy pasta or toilet paper for almost 12 months.

 

Hopefully as the warmer weather arrives  and the vaccine rollout makes a difference , similar happy things will start to happen in the UK too in the near future.

Edited March 9, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[Gwiwer]

30 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

You have been encouraging the squirrels with your planting so far. 

If we had more faunal diversity they might be out-competed.  Foxes migrate and we must be about due to receive them back after having had very few in the past couple of years.  They'll cut the squirrel numbers.  And this time they won't get into our bins - we gained wheelie bins recently to replace the easy-access ones the foxes loved.  

[polybear]

3 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Cake tin, what cake tin? And I didn't know bears ate bread pudding. 

 

No cake tin?  That's serious.  As for Bread Pudding, Bear hasn't had that for years, but is quite happy to end that drought given the opportunity.  With custard on....

 

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

NHN was OIC Wallpaper in our old gaff, and what a task it was with 10 foot ceilings, thankfully this one is paint only, which leaves it to Mrs NHN as I'm not allowed to paint, I make a mess apparently. Shame....

 

 

 

Bear's Uncle Psycho (yes, he really was known as that - it suited him) was also banned from decorating - and pretty much anything else for that matter, which suited him down to the ground.

A couple of U.P's examples:

 

At the top of an outside ladder, painting some woodwork - the window was open and the can of paint was on the inside window cill.  The can got knocked over - down the inside bedroom wall (just decorated) and thru' the gaps in the floorboards, making it's way thru' the ceiling and down the newly decorated living room wall and curtains.....

 

Or:

 

In the back garden, stirring an old tin of gloss black paint for using on the gutters.  He stirred thru' the rusty bottom on the tin.  So he picks the tin up and is running round the garden with it, shouting "What'll I do, what'll I do?"  Result?  A very nice modern artwork in gloss black all over the garden...

 

42 minutes ago, brianusa said:

There's been a minor freeing up here, if you have had both vacs you can now eat in restaurants with other twin vacs, non masked inside a restaurant.  Otherwise everything else remains.  Its a start so see how it goes!

     Brian.

 

So is there some form of Vac Passport in the States?

[simontaylor484]

I think i could write a book with what went on at the council but i think folk wouldn't believe it though its true.

 

A further example

 

A sofa was left outside the only tower block in Knottingley a team of gardeners passed and ripped it virtually to pieces to see if any cash was left down the sides they then put it on the back of their van as fly tipping. 

 

Sadly some one had left it there whislt they fetched the chairs down they had sold it to someone

[polybear]

5 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Yesterday, the news of the "ideal car" wasn't good.

It was scheduled for servicing as they had seen some issues with the charging circuit - a particular problem you DON'T want for a Hybrid!

Turns out there are more issues/problems that have surfaced, and they're not recommending purchasing that vehicle.

 

 

STOP PRESS!!

 

@Ian Abel discovers an honest Car Dealership......

[sixoh8sixoh]

15 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Morning All,

A trip to the dentist awaits at 09:30  (scheduled for this evening, it was brought forward by a phone call from the dentist’s admin asking if I could come earlier). I tend to be relaxed about dental work and, once the local anaesthetic has been given, will happily drift off to sleep.

 

Yesterday, I spent the evening killing punks and lowlifes in Cyberpunk 2077 - which was infinitely more rewarding than watching an incredibly rich, self-centred couple - living in luxurious splendour - moan about how hard-done-by they are. Whether you are a Royalist or a Roundhead, I think it’s worth remembering that in the UK, the military, the police (correct me if I’m wrong, Jamie) and many other important civil functions swear allegiance to the Crown, not the government: which is a Sword of Damocles hanging over every government’s head. As, in theory at least, the crown can, in extremis, dissolve parliament. An advantage, I would argue, over an elected or appointed head of state. Something to ponder over.

 

I’m wondering if I made a mistake in getting the entry level Fender Tele instead of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50s - which I also tried out. The difference between the two in playability was minimal, with the Squier perhaps having a very slight edge.  Still, once I get the Fender’s set up tweaked, I should be OK. Still, a bit annoying that even a quality brand like Fender still needs a set up “out-of-the-box” (in comparison: the David Gilmour Custom Shop Signature Strat was set up beautifully straight out-of-the-box [mind you, the DG strat cost a lot, lot, more than the entry level tele]). Some guitarists are very scathing about Custom Shop Signature models, but the way I look at it, I know it won’t make me play and sound like DG, but it does allow me to get a vintage quality instrument with great tonewoods etc. at a fraction of the price of what a real vintage guitar would cost.

 

Enjoy the day

iD

 

 

I have an Epiphone Les Paul cherry sunburst, an Epiphone viola bass, a Crafter (who?) electro-acoustic which has been excellent as an acoustic since I snapped the thingummyjig on the battery cover about 10 years ago and a mandolin (couldn’t tell you the make and can’t play the blessed thing either) 
 

2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

500 cases now.  Its out of the box.

Gosh, that’s a fair proportion of the entire population!

 

Evening all from the wilds beyond the Wall. Rumour has it that our Deputy First Minister will face a vote of no confidence tomorrow but looks likely to survive it as the Greens have been persuaded to vote with the Government. 
 

OH is still watching Thirsty and Kill’s Love it or List it and getting more ideas for how to extend the house. 

Dog has decided he doesn’t want to be with us tonight and has set up camp on the cool wooden floor downstairs. Weather broke at about 7pm and it’s now hissing down...

 

Nothing much of interest to report, otherwise!

 

Happy birthday to @jonny777

[Coombe Barton]

... and not much progress on the writing ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/03/09/prof-chris-whittys-concerns/

[Ozexpatriate]

34 minutes ago, polybear said:

So is there some form of Vac Passport in the States?

No.

 

The CDC issued guidance that vaccinated people may gather in homes without masking, or visit with healthy, not-at risk relatives like grand-children.

 

Local authorities determine what the local risk level is. Some states* have abandoned mandating all CoViD-19 precautions. Here, based on case rates, local counties are considered "moderate risk' and limited capacity indoor dining has been reinstated.

 

* Like Texas, where the current, rolling seven-day average, new case rate is almost 5,500 with more than 200 daily deaths.

 

Edited March 9, 2021 by Ozexpatriate

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

The Australian system of preferential voting is (in my opinion) bonkers.

 It has given rise to a specialist voting expert called a "Preference Whisperer" who has the skills to aid political parties in where to direct their preferences so that they can win seats by harvesting preferences  and redirect them along a path that will end up allowing them to win the seat.

 

I don't know how it works either, but they get paid by multiple micro- parties who can end up winning despite having a tiny first preference vote. For instance the second senator for the  One Nation party in Queensland won the seat  despite gaining under 100 primary votes, due to minor party preferences being redirected the right way and thus snowballing as they got further redirected as the small parties dropped off the count and their preferences were further re-directed.. 

[Erichill16]

On 07/03/2021 at 15:49, New Haven Neil said:

Here's something for our guitar playing music lovers.

 

The toccata from Widor's 5th is well known as one of my favourites preferably played on a Cavaille-Coll pipe organ, but I came across this, and was intrigued!

 

 

Can’t sleep so wandered around  the net and came across ‘toccata in dm’ by the Toy Dolls’ on YouTube, something else for the guitar playing music lovers  of ER. Made me smile, but as you know I can’t do the link.

Anyway, Goodnight 

Robert

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 It has given rise to a specialist voting expert called a "Preference Whisperer" who has the skills to aid political parties in where to direct their preferences so that they can win seats by harvesting preferences  and redirect them along a path that will end up allowing them to win the seat.

With hindsight, and current data analysis capabilities, that seems inevitable.

 

When there was essentially just the "two" (technically three) major parties, preferential voting was slightly more predictable. With the profusion of minor parties like greens and renegade former major party candidates running as independents (to act as power-brokers and offer their vote to the 'highest bidder' in coalition negotiations) preferential voting has truly bad unintended consequences beyond its complexity.

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

Baz

 

Ps H'away the lads! Another win for Sunderland AFC!

[J. S. Bach]

8 hours ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

 ...snip... Just ordered myself a Hatton's 66 too. ...snip...

I am thinking of pre-ordering one myself but none of the color schemes really appeal to me. I was considering "The Flying Dustman" but the color scheme is not what I was expecting (after I saw some photos; plus at that time, I had no idea what "Biffa" is ) and the Freightliner one that I like is the original version, not the "Powerhaul" version. Ah well, I will probably go with the Freightliner one. Removing the buffers and installing KDs on one end is one modification that will be done. Another that I am considering is connecting the two motors with a rod and small flywheel so that both will spin at the same speed.

Edited March 10, 2021 by J. S. Bach
To correct a spelling error.

[monkeysarefun]

11 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

With hindsight, and current data analysis capabilities, that seems inevitable.

 

When there was essentially just the "two" (technically three) major parties, preferential voting was slightly more predictable. With the profusion of minor parties like greens and renegade former major party candidates running as independents (to act as power-brokers and offer their vote to the 'highest bidder' in coalition negotiations) preferential voting has truly bad unintended consequences beyond its complexity.

 

On the other hand, micro-parties have made the ballot paper more entertaining.

 

At various times we have been able to vote for The Aussie Battlers Party, Bullet Train For Australia Party, The Pirate Party Australia Party, Australian Sex Party, Stop The Greens Party, Wikileaks Party, No 5G Party, Love Australia Or Leave Party, Coke In The Bubblers Party, The Deadly Serious Party, Smokers Rights Party and the No Parking Meters Party. 

[pH]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Without devolving into politics, discussions in some states, in the wake of the 2020 federal election to give legislatures oversight over the will of the people, seem to me, contrary to the spirit of a democratic process. 

 

 
You could certainly think that, couldn’t you?

[J. S. Bach]

12 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 ...snip...

Boasting or complaining, Herr Bach?

 ...snip...

Happy Toosday, folks!
iD

Hmmm, I never thought of it that way. I would probably say just making a statement. As an aside, it has the controller board and software drivers. Someday I would like to build a "vintage" type MS-DOS system to get these working.

[jamie92208]

51 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

I think i could write a book with what went on at the council but i think folk wouldn't believe it though its true.

 

A further example

 

A sofa was left outside the only tower block in Knottingley a team of gardeners passed and ripped it virtually to pieces to see if any cash was left down the sides they then put it on the back of their van as fly tipping. 

 

Sadly some one had left it there whislt they fetched the chairs down they had sold it to someone

That's the Knottingley I used to love policing so much.  However there was a most fabulous sarni shop next to a bridge over the canal, sort of behind the nick.  Their hot pork sarnis were to die for.

 

Jamie

Edited March 9, 2021 by jamie92208

[Winslow Boy]

11 minutes ago, J. S. Bach said:

I am thinking of pre-ordering one myself but none of the color schemes really appeal to me. I was considering "The Flying Dustman" but the color scheme is not what I was expecting (after I saw some photos plus I have no ides what "Biffa" is ) and the Freightliner one that I like is the original version, not the "Powerhaul" version. Ah well, I will probably go with the Freightliner one. Removing the buffers and installing KDs one one end is one modification that will be done. Another that I am considering is connecting the two motors with a rod and small flywheel so that both will spin at the same speed.

Biffa is a commercial company that deals with the disposal of residential & commercial waste (trash to you).

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Time seems to have run away again but at least I know where it went. Over an hour sorting out my will and nearly as long talking to my sister. Not only have I started the process re. my will I am setting up a lasting power of attorney. Which means that if I am no longer in a position to manage my affairs I have designated someone to hold power of attorney, in my case my sister and my niece if my sister is unable to take it on. Its not cheap, about ten times the price of doing the will but a lot cheaper than if for some reason you can't manage your affairs and someone has to step in for you. Also you can choose the person to manage your affairs. Its split into two parts, property & finance and health & welfare which are self explanitary.

[BSW01]

21 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

Biffa is a commercial company that deals with the disposal of residential & commercial waste (trash to you).

I used to work with someone with the nickname Biffa, it stood for

Big

Ignorant 

F***er

From

Atherton 

[andyram]

Good evening all and a happy birthday to @jonny777.  
 

There has been plenty of talk about last night’s two hour waste of air time. However I can thank Harry Hewitt and Meghan for one thing - the removal of one of the biggest self centred, monumental egos ever to darken the television screens. I think I heard the sound of Jeremy Clarkson’s  and Sir Alan Sugar’s uncontrolled laughter from here. I am sure Piers the p****’s absence from the screens will be short term and someone will pick him up. Until then good riddance.

 

 Meanwhile, today was spent clearing more of the marking in between catching up on some household tidying. In the afternoon some orders were deposited at the Post Office and I had a pleasant drive out to a village on the Derbyshire / Leicestershire border to deliver another order.

 Tomorrow there is an exciting box of goodies on its way containing a “Steady Aim” for the “Cock O’ The North” who will be trying to be a “Sun Catcher”.

 

Stay safe.

 

Andy

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[simontaylor484]

10 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

I used to work with someone with the nickname Biffa, it stood for

Big

Ignorant 

F***er

From

Atherton 

Brian Cowan when he was Irish foreign minister was known as BIFFO

Big Ignorant Fella from offally please note I am using the polite version.

 

[The Stationmaster]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

No.

 

The CDC issued guidance that vaccinated people may gather in homes without masking, or visit with healthy, not-at risk relatives like grand-children.

 

Local authorities determine what the local risk level is. Some states* have abandoned mandating all CoViD-19 precautions. Here, based on case rates, local counties are considered "moderate risk' and limited capacity indoor dining has been reinstated.

 

* Like Texas, where the current, rolling seven-day average, new case rate is almost 5,500 with more than 200 daily deaths.

 

First define 'vaccinated'.  As both the Pfizer and Oxford AZ vaccines require two shots to be properly effective (to their particular level of effectiveness). there is still a massive shortfall in the number of 'vaccinated' people in Britain.  Up to 08 March 19,199,203 people in England had received their first dose of vaccine but only 821,121, had actually been fully vaccinated - i.e. only that small number had been given their second dose of the vaccine.   The rate of injecting the second doses lags well behind the rate of injecting the initial doses and unless somebody has some serious thoughts about hw they are going to achieve things I can't see that changing.

 

and after only one dose all the social distancing etc rules still apply (except in the case of the brain dead who suddenly think they have become immune).