WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Nolic]

Great news from Dan. He has secured a summer placement in a local aero engineering works.... and he gets paid. Had to use a few contacts etc to get them to consider him but he impressed at interview and has done all the hard work himself. Nolic

[Tripps]

Well done Dan. That won't do the CV any harm too.

[PanBiker]

Well done Dan, should be good experience.

[hartley353]

Well done Dan. great news.

[Tizer]

A high flyer!

[PanBiker]

I can't quite get my head around the "bomb detector" scandal that has been dominating the news. I understand that a lot of the bogus devices were sold via bribery but at $5,000 each did no one ever think of testing one for effectiveness or even taking the lid off to see what was inside. Millions of pounds worth of sales, it beggars belief that the scam went on for so long and that they are still being used in Iraq. Sentencing to come, I hope they strip the crook of all his assets and then chuck the key away when he is locked up.

[Stanley]

Comrade, great news but no surprise, he's a very attractive prospect for any firm with sense.
Tiz, Charlie Alexander's drivers used to do that trick regularly at Brough roundabout when they were running fish from Inverness to Billingsgate racing the fish trains.
Ian, Private Eye was covering the bomb detector scam and warning people 18 months ago.

[Tizer]

Ian, the bomb detector is another of those scams that thrives on people's gullibility, like homoeopathy, "MMRA is dangerous" and "climate change doesn't exist". In fact the high price charged for the `detectors' only serves to further convince the gullible - you've only got to look at the ads in the newspapers selling gold coins and the like. The snake oil salesman is alive and thriving in the 21st Century, aided by the Internet and a lack of science education.

[Tardis]

A small update:

Pendle Council will allow you to pay your Council Tax over 12 months, but direct debit, but only on the 1st of every month. I couldn't discover any other flexibility in the scheme

[hartley353]

Ian, the bomb detector is another of those scams that thrives on people's gullibility, like homoeopathy, "MMRA is dangerous" and "climate change doesn't exist". In fact the high price charged for the `detectors' only serves to further convince the gullible - you've only got to look at the ads in the newspapers selling gold coins and the like. The snake oil salesman is alive and thriving in the 21st Century, aided by the Internet and a lack of science education.

Very few people reach maturity in this country without some form of science education, most will have a full and successful life. Some will continue to forge a career in science, the majority of these will have a wasted life with nothing to show for it other than a pension. Even the most respected in their profession will now openly admit that it takes many thousands of them sharing their abilities to make the smallest step.Would I be advised by one, not the least chance.

[Thomo]

I don't do "Quotes" but I believe that what Tizer wrote is correct. Even a basic knowledge of science can be beneficial, improving on this is a matter of choice, yet it can extend a persons ability to comprehend what goes on around us. If a person is deeply religious and accepts the biblical take on how this planet was formed and populated, without giving any credence to an alternative, that's fine, it is after all their choice. Today, the majority of people whilst being regular Church attenders, understand the validity of the scientific argument, yet still hope that all that is promised will indeed take place, this again is a matter of choice, many highly successful scientists have a measure of religion. Science to some is like the "Bogey Man", yet genuine science is based on fact and not just pure supposition. To understand science in any form can for some be difficult, and I believe that it is these people who can become easy targets for someone trying to make a "Fast Buck", the best way to avoid this is to try a bit harder, arm yourself with enough knowledge to become aware that someone is trying to "Rip You Off". There are some that are just too lazy to even try, when something goes wrong, they make the most noise.

[Tizer]

One great and very cheap way to improve our children's education (not to mention our own) is to buy a copy of the Philips Modern School Atlas which you can get for only £8. I've just written about it on this OG thread so forgive me if instead of repeating the info I direct you all to the page with this LINK.

For a good example of a research scientist who has devoted his life to his subject and is now the only person with the knowledge and experience that the government can rely on for deciding about the Severn Barrage, see this OG page: LINK
(Hartley, don't bother looking, you'll only say he's wasted his life.)

[Marilyn]

Speaking of maps (atlas), we were in the travel agents the other day and I always admire their huge map of the world that must be 20 foot x 14 foot. A really magnificent thing. Should be in every school.
I watched a mother lift her son to show him on the map where he had been born.
We have solved many mysteries by wandering in to have a look at their map. ( it has all the modern names for the countries as well as their old names.). It is funny how you can forget where places are...

[Thomo]

I have always loved maps, and have spent many hours looking at them. Looking for places with strange or humorous sounding names was always fun. Top of that list has to be Nempnett Thrubwell in Somerset (Descriptive word for hangover) as in "I feel a bit Nempnett Thrubwell this morning". They are also an ideal alternative to Satnav as they cannot be corrupted by malignant outside forces, know where you are going before you start your journey, or don't go! I have a 5' X 4' map of the World that plots my diverse wanderings at sea, a lot of miles on that one, and some of the destinations were not often found in a travel agents window, ie; Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo, Burma, Malaya, The Philippines, and the Northern Arctic Regions or China. In short, an interest in such things as maps can lead to greater things, as can a basic interest in Science. I have always believed that the best way to success is to start at the bottom, and through hard work, make your way to the top, or as near as is possible in a lifetime. 100 years ago, my family were Quarrymen, lead and coal miners, Farm labourers, textile workers and Sailors, now we have Teachers, Engineers Mechanical and Structural, a wide range of Scientists, Librarians, Press Editors and even a Movie Actor, none of these were injected into the system half way up. A family maxim has always been "Never ask or tell someone to do something that you cannot do yourself". This approach brings respect, something that is thin on the ground today.

[hartley353]

Sorry tizer couldn't resist looking, I have no dispute with the facts as presented to you, just the way they were used. The cost of the project against the benefit do not stack up, the volume of water retained by a barrage would reduce year on year by siltation, dredging would never keep up. the ecological damage would be tremendous plenty of facts already available. This was a lost cause when first muted and should be left as such. Please don't be lazy and ask me for the proof there is so much on this subject available. Society today has a downer on negativity but it is a very useful tool, if you first look for why it won't work and find no problems then you are probably onto a winner. Todays can do ethos usualy leads to a great waste of time and money.

[Nolic]

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION. THE MEN WHO DIED OR WERE WOUNDED ON SWORD BEACH DO NOT DESERVE TO HAVE THE FRENCH ABUSE THEIR SACRIFICE. COLIN

April 8th, 2013, six Normandy tourist offices took the initiative to create the "mythical sector of the landing beaches" relying on actual tourism and tourist operators figureS. Some of the landing beaches and drop zones were not integrated, such as a part of Juno Beach, Sword Beach and the area of the 6th Airborne Division north of Caen.

History tourism has to respect history, not just financial imperatives. Click here to find some more information: http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/petiti ... eaches.htm

Petition against the so-called "mythical sector of the Normandy landing beaches"
http://www.dday-overlord.com
The facts: April 8th, 2013, six Normandy tourist offices took the initiative to create the "mythical sector of the landing beaches" relying on actual tourism and tourist operators figure. Some of the landing beaches and drop zones were not integrated, such as a part of Juno Beach, Sword Beach and the area of the 6th Airborne Division north of Caen.

History tourism has to respect history, not just financial imperatives. Click here to find some more information: http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/petiti ... eaches.htm

[PanBiker]

Signed.

[Stanley]

My attention was drawn to an article (LINK) about the £112 million wasted each year by people throwing cold tea and coffee away instead of reheating it. It's an astonishing figure. What surprised me was the general perception that cold tea was horrible. I don't know whether I am peculiar but all my life I have always had a pot of tea on the go and never bother if it gets cold, cold tea is a very refreshing drink. In America instant cold tea is a very popular summer beverage (but doesn't really taste of tea!). If I really want it hot I pop the pot in the microwave. How many of you throw cold drinks away?

[Marilyn]

I can take an hour to finish a cuppa, so I am used to drinking it cold. It is just something I have always done. Sometimes I start a cup then go for a bath etc, then finish it when I am dressed. Febby is always calling after me that I forgot to finish my tea /coffee. I haven't forgotten at all. I will be back!

[Bodger]

I remember our local neighbours husbands, all miners, they all took a bottle of cold tea, milkless, down to the coalface.

[Stanley]

The bottle of cold tea was standard issue in the harvest field as well.
There's a piece in the BET this morning about a woman who was sent letters by the Council computer stopping her housing benefit and council tax support. The reason given was death! Quite right, she was dead but why not have a protocol on the system that flags up the need for personal attention when death is the reason? Too much trouble?

[Thomo]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but what the heck. There is a map in the gallery this morning "Proposed POW Camp at Corner Cafe, Gisburn" What was the Coronation Hotel was at one time known as the Corner Cafe, Horton Four Lane Ends is just off the map to the left. This was a popular walk destination on Sundays in the 1930s. The Corner Cafe did indeed become a POW Camp and was used for Officers, mostly German, other ranks were in Nissen Huts on the left of the junction of Bracewell lane and the A59.

[Tizer]

As well as the £112 million cost of throwing away cold tea/coffee don't forget the enormous waste of electrical energy and the concomitant CO2 emissions from electric kettles not switching off immediately when the water is hot enough. With about 20 million households in the UK those extra seconds of kilowatts add up!

Hartley, you must forgive me but I'll believe the man who has spent his working life on the biological, chemical and engineering aspects of the Severn Estuary and is recognised as the world expert rather than take your word for whether or not we build a barrage.

Thomo and Maz, I'm with you all the way on the value and pleasure of maps. If I were locked up and allowed only a few books I'd want my Philips Atlas, Collin's English Dictionary and Brewer's Concise Phrase and Fable and I wouldn't mind if they were s/h copies bought, as they so easily are, for a pittance on the Internet. What excuse is there these days for anyone to be ignorant when so much is available for so little? And as for "Nempnett Thrubwell in Somerset", Thomo, I live among such names! Huish Episcopi and Kingsbury Episcopi, Nether Stowey, Sutton Mallet, Bishops Lydeard, Cricket St Thomas, Monkton Heathfield etc etc. I believe many of these names arose 8 or 9 centuries ago when Norman families added their name to the existing local Saxon name (although Nether Stowey and Over Stowey are of course the upper and lower bits of Stowey!).

[Cathy]

I can handle cold coffee, after working in offices for so long it becomes the norm, but not cold tea, it gives me a headache from the tannings which seem to continue to brew. I've noticed that we now have electric kettles which boil to different temperatures, one temp for coffee, one temp for tea etc., I think they have about 5 different temps. At first I thought it was just for people who were 'very particular', but now I can see that it should save some money and energy. Good idea.

[hartley353]

For many years one of my customers has been the Health and Safety Executive, they have tied themselves in knots trying to have a safe policy on hot drinks at work,they would love to have a staff that could survive on cold tea and coffee. Me I start with a hot drink but always finish it tepid to cold.