About Me:
Single, over-60, SW England resident, with fairly wide range of interests & musical tastes - but I'd be no good in a pub quiz 'cos I know very little about TV, gadgets called i-something, competitive sports, many entertainments & "so-called celebrities!
Was on EP, but left it long before it closed. Won't touch Facebook & its ilk.
"Adult" themes: quite broad-minded, like nudity but not pornography. Against cruelty, and consider spanking as a game for consenting adults only.
I don't think we will. Even if we do I doubt it would harm us. Anyway, Which "Plastic", of what type, in what form?The plastics that end up eaten in the sea are tiny breakdown fragments from ones that can decompose, or are the "micro-beads" used in toilet... moreI don't think we will. Even if we do I doubt it would harm us. Anyway, Which "Plastic", of what type, in what form?The plastics that end up eaten in the sea are tiny breakdown fragments from ones that can decompose, or are the "micro-beads" used in toiletries. These are swallowed by planktonic creatures such as diatoms, animals tiny enough for the particles to obstruct their own digestive systems. Kill them off and that removes a vast source of food for larger fish.We have to be careful though is debating anything environmental, to think it through. Sticking here though to "plastics"....First, ignore the most rabid campaigners - the louder and more clichéd they are, the less I believe they have any scientific or engineering knowledge. I should add I have no connection with the plastics manufacturers or the refuse- and scrap -trades, but a mixture of varied employment and general scientific interest has given me a fairly broad wealth of general technical knowledge and the scientific cur... less
Well, obviously we won't destroy the planet, nor will we destroy all life on it, but I'm afraid you're right about greed and selfishness.Our species is its own worst enemy.
Given the rising threats around the world of hostile governments disrupting public services and utilities via the Internet, when are such services going to start really protecting themselves? How? It can only mean relying on the Internet far less, and bre... moreGiven the rising threats around the world of hostile governments disrupting public services and utilities via the Internet, when are such services going to start really protecting themselves? How? It can only mean relying on the Internet far less, and breaking the stranglehold on the Internet held by just a few huge monopolies whose enforced standardising makes life far easier for the attackers.For the most critical parts of the system, this could mean for example dedicated telephone-lines, non-"standard" computer operating-systems; high-level encryption with re-set frequently but irregularly; robust automatic switching to manual or semi-manual control; much more off-line working. These on top of the safeguards we already know - software that traps unwanted programme files, users avoiding unsolicited links and suspicious e-messages, etc; organisations' IT departments monitoring Internet use and traffic.Also a return to more judicious use of facsimile or letter-post (n... less
At least you still have piped water, even if it sometimes falls below standard....One of the News programmes on BBC Radio Four yesterday reported on that Southern Indian city (I'm not sure of its name) now so short of water that an entire train of water-t... moreAt least you still have piped water, even if it sometimes falls below standard....One of the News programmes on BBC Radio Four yesterday reported on that Southern Indian city (I'm not sure of its name) now so short of water that an entire train of water-tank wagons has been sent to it, adding to the water already being taken in by road. The town's four reservoirs are now nearly dry.
You paint a terrifying prospect, and it's threat that can only be avoided by enough honest Americans becoming politicians, or voting only for politicians who do put the country and its citizens before their own ends. That and the law authorities investiga... moreYou paint a terrifying prospect, and it's threat that can only be avoided by enough honest Americans becoming politicians, or voting only for politicians who do put the country and its citizens before their own ends. That and the law authorities investigating and coming down hard on anyone rigging elections, at least within the USA - they'd have no powers overseas.Putin's government is known to have tried to interfere with many countries, too. As far as I know it's only one to interfere directly in a presidential election though, because as you say, Putin wants powers favourable to him. Most of the others seem to attack IT systems instead because their main aim is to weaken the countries they attack. Some of these attacks might have been tests of the weapons, ahead of any outright "warfare".There have also been massive attacks on businesses like airlines and hotel chains, to steal customers' details, but I think they are far more likely to be by criminals wanting to steal money than by hostile gov... less
Well, don't you have a Presidential Election again next year? Chance to boot him out, but presumably that depends on the calibre of those standing against him, and whether he still has all that support he had in the former industrial States.I don't know a... moreWell, don't you have a Presidential Election again next year? Chance to boot him out, but presumably that depends on the calibre of those standing against him, and whether he still has all that support he had in the former industrial States.I don't know anything about Hilary Clinton, but I have the impression many Americans saw her or Trump as a least-worse choice or purely Party loyalty to many Americans at the time, when now you do need a best-of-good choice as well as sincere Party opinion.Mentioned in a brief summary of the day's Press on the radio this morning, one newspaper - I didn't catch which - remarked that Trump has little respect for foreign diplomats generally. (Unless, I suppose, they publicly support him, when their real responsibility is to tell their own governments honestly, what the host government is like.)I think the last straw or at least one of them, for the UK's Ambassador was Boris Johnson's lack of any support for him. I know Donald Trump regards Johnson warmly, but I ho... less
I'd go further if the water is soapy or salty: but it's somewhat non-intuitive advice. Remove the battery immediately, as you say; then rinse the opened device in distilled or de-ionised water thoroughly before drying it. It's still a gamble, and won... moreI'd go further if the water is soapy or salty: but it's somewhat non-intuitive advice. Remove the battery immediately, as you say; then rinse the opened device in distilled or de-ionised water thoroughly before drying it. It's still a gamble, and won't guarantee the phone has not been ruined anyway, but if merely dried the residual salts are likely to cause a lot of corrosion later as they absorb atmospheric moisture.
Yes - most of my calls are land-line, sharing my broadband service - though not on a faux-antique instrument like that in the heading!I have a portable 'phone too but it spends more time switched off than on, it's not a stupidly-named "smart"-phone, ... moreYes - most of my calls are land-line, sharing my broadband service - though not on a faux-antique instrument like that in the heading!I have a portable 'phone too but it spends more time switched off than on, it's not a stupidly-named "smart"-phone, and it carries all I need of it: voice calls and short texts.
You were probably lucky - much more than a few seconds might well be too much for it. My first ' phone expired through damp penetrating it and ruining the display, as well as any other damage that may have occurred. And that was from water soaki... moreYou were probably lucky - much more than a few seconds might well be too much for it. My first ' phone expired through damp penetrating it and ruining the display, as well as any other damage that may have occurred. And that was from water soaking through clothing, not submersion.
It seems common to social media sites that they assume once a member or subscriber, thou shalt not leave; though a reputable one should not stop you.If a paid-for site it may be even harder, especially where such sites use an intermediary payment co... moreIt seems common to social media sites that they assume once a member or subscriber, thou shalt not leave; though a reputable one should not stop you.If a paid-for site it may be even harder, especially where such sites use an intermediary payment company. Whilst that has privacy and security advantages, it makes stopping the account more difficult.*If nothing else you should be able to at least edit any profile you have placed on it, replacing all the information with a simple "I am no longer a member", or even just blank. Delete anything else you can. If there are members with whom you are "friends" to the extent of wanting to keep in touch, you might be willing and able to use Private Messages to establish an ordinary e-post or telephone exchange. 'I fear costly up-front fees or open-ended "subscriptions" may eventually become normal for ALL major web-sites and services, including ones whose monopoly powers and commercial support by advertising, have led us to take them for ... less
There was a genuine information-seeking Q & A site called Answers -dot-com.It may still be alive, but you can no longer post anything on it.It had many classifications - hobbies and sports, music, vehicle-maintenance, animals, mathematics, the sciences, e... moreThere was a genuine information-seeking Q & A site called Answers -dot-com.It may still be alive, but you can no longer post anything on it.It had many classifications - hobbies and sports, music, vehicle-maintenance, animals, mathematics, the sciences, etc. Generally it was very good though did attract two or three rather undesirable posts. They were typically: - Answers beyond the respondent's own knowledge, so wrong, but misleading anyone genuinely not knowing. - Answers (and occasionally questions) that were merely stupid or even obscene - probably from dim-witted children or immature adults. - Children trying to cheat in their homework, usually in "Math" (Maths, to me!) which was also Arithmetic. They expected the end answers, not as I would offer, an explanation to help them understand how to solve such question themselves. - Adult who were either complicit in that cheating by giving the answer instead of explaining the method; or who made ... less
"Make America Great Again!"Hmmm. I'd thought it was Trump's own campaign slogan, but recently learnt that no, it was used by a political faction or minor party in the 1930s. I forget what it was called, but among other things its policies were d... more"Make America Great Again!"Hmmm. I'd thought it was Trump's own campaign slogan, but recently learnt that no, it was used by a political faction or minor party in the 1930s. I forget what it was called, but among other things its policies were deeply nationalist and isolationist.Whether Trump knew this history I have no idea. He might have coined the sentence independently, thinking it was original.
I think Mooney is right, but further, one thing authoritarians of any political or religious dogma fear and try to suppress or warp generally, is objective, balanced knowledge. An educated populace capable of thinking and analysing individually, is p... moreI think Mooney is right, but further, one thing authoritarians of any political or religious dogma fear and try to suppress or warp generally, is objective, balanced knowledge. An educated populace capable of thinking and analysing individually, is potentially dangerous to them.
" he attacked Obama for playing golf "
This from a man who made a lot of money buying and ruining land of landscape / scientific importance abroad..... by building golf-courses on them.
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If our species had not appeared? An interesting question. I don't know if anyone has considered that. If all others had existed then it's possible the Neanderthals would be "top" primate now. This was a very close brother species that lived for ... moreIf our species had not appeared? An interesting question. I don't know if anyone has considered that. If all others had existed then it's possible the Neanderthals would be "top" primate now. This was a very close brother species that lived for a time alongside us. For a while they were thought simply to be a race of humans but were later identified as a distinct hominid (human-type species). No-one knows quite why they died out but they are attracting a lot more respect than in the past, thanks to new archaeological evidence. One idea was an inability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.It's thought H. Neanderthalis and Sapiensis interbred, thanks to common genetic traits. By normal justice assuming guilt unless proven otherwise, it's unfair to assume the cartoon image of violence and rape, rather than willing consort. They may have seen each other simply as people of slightly different appearance, and possibly the Neanderthals were simply interbred out of ... less
Individual genera and species of the mammals at least seem to have a typical life of about 3 million years.Which suggests we've more than 2 000 000 years to go yet, as Homo Sapiensis. In theory. provided we don't wipe ourselves out one way or another firs... moreIndividual genera and species of the mammals at least seem to have a typical life of about 3 million years.Which suggests we've more than 2 000 000 years to go yet, as Homo Sapiensis. In theory. provided we don't wipe ourselves out one way or another first; or some natural change doesn't do that for us. Evolution itself is probably limitless, or rather endless, for as long as Earth can support life, but entire classes of organisms come and go throughout geological time. That does not necessarily mean there will come life biologically more highly "advanced" than us, though. It could happen - a "new" Hominid - but it does not seem automatically so. Different yes, but organisms seem to develop variety more than basic physiology or ability, partly to suit changes in the conditions they live in. less
I suspect if you believe it haunted and go there expecting to be afraid of something, you will be alarmed by something that's unexpected to you but in reality really very "ordinary" - a sudden noise, a wisp of mist or a chilly draught perhaps.I ... moreI suspect if you believe it haunted and go there expecting to be afraid of something, you will be alarmed by something that's unexpected to you but in reality really very "ordinary" - a sudden noise, a wisp of mist or a chilly draught perhaps.I thought that house in Amityville has been investigated objectively and the only strange thing about it was an unpleasant goo on a basement wall, that proved to be crude oil seeping from the surrounding rock. I think the house still exists, occupied normally although after all the fuss resulting from the film, the owners removed those "eye" windows from the gable wall to deter the freak-show types. If anything really did odd genuinely did occur there, it was centred on or due to one or two of the residents, not the building. The Tower of London certainly has a right to be haunted - if there are such things as ghosts. It was built as a fort but used as combined garrison and prison for centuries, and was scene of a lot of horrible torture and a ... less
I think it's probably a genuine mistake. Either President Kim does not understand Western titles fully, or his words were mis-translated."Your "Excellency" refers to an Ambassador, NOT a Monarch, who in modern monarchies is "Your MAJESTY... moreI think it's probably a genuine mistake. Either President Kim does not understand Western titles fully, or his words were mis-translated."Your "Excellency" refers to an Ambassador, NOT a Monarch, who in modern monarchies is "Your MAJESTY". Kim inadvertently demoted your President, not exalted him to Kingship!'(I think I'm right that Korea uses the same convention as China, that the family name - Kim in this case - precedes the individual's name.)
Thank you! Well it's nearly Tuesday here so I'll wish you a Happy Tuesday.The old slang word for the TV here was "goggle box", but I have not heard if for many years. I think it referred to viewers just watching indiscriminately because it's on, rather th... moreThank you! Well it's nearly Tuesday here so I'll wish you a Happy Tuesday.The old slang word for the TV here was "goggle box", but I have not heard if for many years. I think it referred to viewers just watching indiscriminately because it's on, rather than the people in the programmes.
LOL!Well, that definition of "Boob" is American, though in Britain we sometimes say someone has "boobed" if he or she has made a mess of something.But I'm afraid also over here, a "Boob Tube" is/was never the television, but a fashionable upper garme... moreLOL!Well, that definition of "Boob" is American, though in Britain we sometimes say someone has "boobed" if he or she has made a mess of something.But I'm afraid also over here, a "Boob Tube" is/was never the television, but a fashionable upper garment for young women.....
I don't have an answering machine, though I don't know what the message recording says (I've never tried ringing my own phone to find out!).My car beeps if I open the door with the lights still on - which is very useful. It has saved me from a flat batter... moreI don't have an answering machine, though I don't know what the message recording says (I've never tried ringing my own phone to find out!).My car beeps if I open the door with the lights still on - which is very useful. It has saved me from a flat battery a few times.Other than that, no, and I would not want anything beyond things like that warning beep! My microwave does ping at minute intervals after it's finished cooking, until I open the door, and I use this as the "Stand for 1 minute" timer.I don't want or need gadgets like Aleksa or whatever. (Is that the right spelling?), and I can't be doing with all this "smart home" twaddle the gadget sellers keep reckoning we'll "all" have. I am perfectly capable of setting the central-heating boiler clock or a time-switch. less
That's the definition of a "desert": it has less than a certain mean amount of precipitation a year. I can't remember the actual figure, but it counts snow as well as rain, and cold or hot deserts. The Antarctic is a desert: its blizzards are powder snow ... moreThat's the definition of a "desert": it has less than a certain mean amount of precipitation a year. I can't remember the actual figure, but it counts snow as well as rain, and cold or hot deserts. The Antarctic is a desert: its blizzards are powder snow being blown about like hot deserts' sand-storms. If it starts having new snow frequently, that would be worrying.The hot deserts do have rain now and then, in short, violent storms that sometimes create brief flash-floods.
Tinfoil hats? Whatever next? :-)You can only examine what's happening in a brain by attaching electrodes to the head, or using a hospital scanner; even if it was possible to "read" thoughts they only be the thoughts thought at the time of measuring.As for... moreTinfoil hats? Whatever next? :-)You can only examine what's happening in a brain by attaching electrodes to the head, or using a hospital scanner; even if it was possible to "read" thoughts they only be the thoughts thought at the time of measuring.As for Trump and God's Law, I can't begin to imagine what conversation there'd be between St. Peter (is it? The one at the Pearly Gates anyway) and His Nibs. "Tell me, Donald, do you consider you acted in the spirit of the Founding Fathers' hopes?""Founding Fathers? Fake noos! Fake noos. Tell God I was the Founder! Me and my uncle, Samuel." less
Same as me then, your neighbour.Yes, I do exercise as recommended. it would be self-defeating not to do so.How long they last must depend a great deal on the patient, but I think the suggest 10 years at least. They are probably improving all the time.Afte... moreSame as me then, your neighbour.Yes, I do exercise as recommended. it would be self-defeating not to do so.How long they last must depend a great deal on the patient, but I think the suggest 10 years at least. They are probably improving all the time.After last year's operation I had a brief thrombosis scare, but an ultrasound scan showed I was clear. There was an American nurse in the scanner room, I think an exchange-scheme student, as the scanner operator explained various parts of the image to her. Afterwards she said that in America, or her part of it anyway, "they" make you watch an operation first to help you decide. I assume a video, but I don't think I'd want to see it! It is a bit alarming though, being just sedated and under an epidural anaesthetic, and behind a curtain, because though you can't see or feel anything you can hear all the engineering going on! For the first knee I was so sedated I was actually unconscious. They prefer not to give a full anaesthetic for a knee (or hip?) replacement ... less
Castor oil was one of those things people used to believe did you good, but its only medicinal use would be as a laxative (it irritates the intestines).Otherwise it's best kept as a lubricant in vintage 2-stroke engines! The thing... moreCastor oil was one of those things people used to believe did you good, but its only medicinal use would be as a laxative (it irritates the intestines).Otherwise it's best kept as a lubricant in vintage 2-stroke engines! The things I had when very young were a vitamin-fortified fruit syrup called Minadex, and a sweet malt-extract preparation called Virol - a name like that suggests a type of bearing grease and indeed it rather looked like it. I do not know if these are still made, but they were very tasty! less
Brain acitivity tracing only shows what part of the brain is active at a time, and though that relates to particular functions it doesn't show what we are thinking or feeling. I don't know if those functions will ever really be understood.
I did - I had one knee replaced last year and am now recovering from the other.The pain was not constant, and usually not ever so severe, but it made my knees very stiff and I could not walk properly, without a very pronounced rolling limp.
Yes - the Iranian President's words reported on the News here only a couple of minutes ago, and translated as "mentally deranged", but the insult seems to have been aimed at the US Government generally, not specifically Mr. Trump.
I found some basic figures. The wavelength of a bat call at, say, 120kHz, is about 0.3mm. And it's not "radar" but equivalent to sonar.Spider silk seems typically to be around 0.004 mm diameter, so in very round figures approaching one-hundredth of t... moreI found some basic figures. The wavelength of a bat call at, say, 120kHz, is about 0.3mm. And it's not "radar" but equivalent to sonar.Spider silk seems typically to be around 0.004 mm diameter, so in very round figures approaching one-hundredth of the call's wavelength, To detect anything, the wavelength has to be significantly larger than the target's width, so on those figures a bat will not locate a single spider silk, though it might obtain echoes from a dense web. You can see this effect with wind-blown ripples on a pond, with a wavelength of a couple of inches or so. They pass thin plant stems without change, but if they hit something wide like a rock or tree-trunk sticking out of the water, are reflected or refracted by it. Wavelength decreases as frequency increases, but so does range, so even if the bat could call at sufficiently high pitch to detect a spider thread, the call would have an extremely short range.'Military radar performance is not very likely something you'll find easily, ... less
Oh Dear. I'm sorry if I've offended you.I do not regard the word "senile" as perjorative at all - to me, it just means "old", the opposite of "juvenile". It became attached to "dementia" to describe medical conditions that occur much more commonly in the ... moreOh Dear. I'm sorry if I've offended you.I do not regard the word "senile" as perjorative at all - to me, it just means "old", the opposite of "juvenile". It became attached to "dementia" to describe medical conditions that occur much more commonly in the elderly, as your mother's doctor had done.Unfortunately far too many people cannot or will not understand that, and mis-use "senile" on its own to mean "demented", but all too often do so in an insulting way even about anyone merely a bit eccentric or forgetful. That's why it's fallen out of serious use. Nothing to do with my "group", whoever they may be, either, but general use.'Senile is by no means the only word to fall foul of ignorance. You mention "gay" - its slang meaning for homosexual was apparently coined by homosexual night-club types in New York; but everyone has to follow suit. Why? What you call a "cell" phone - from "cellular", describing their networks - is called "mobile" in Britain, but it's not mobile at all. It's port... less
Thank you Rosie!I am afraid international politics is far more complicated and difficult than it often seems. There is not one ball in any one court, but many balls all over the place, all in play at once. As for who are the brightest leaders, I hate... moreThank you Rosie!I am afraid international politics is far more complicated and difficult than it often seems. There is not one ball in any one court, but many balls all over the place, all in play at once. As for who are the brightest leaders, I hate to say. Most of them are very intelligent people but they are pushing their own or their countries' interests above all, and we never really know who has the real power behind many of them.I wonder if we will ever know the truth behind that stopped air attack. This is the second time Trump has backtracked on something affecting other countries, in a couple of weeks, so whether he is beginning to learn something about international affairs, or his advisors are becoming discreetly stronger, is anyone's guess.'It has occurred to me that Britain and the other signatories still maintaining the nuclear-power deal with Iran ought say to the Iranians, "We are still in that deal, we are not threatening to attack you. We suspect you in the attacks on ... less
It means then that Websters has adopted the popular idea of what "senile" means, though I think most people do decline with advanced age without actually being so ill they need a lot of high-level care.I have not seen or heard the two words together ... moreIt means then that Websters has adopted the popular idea of what "senile" means, though I think most people do decline with advanced age without actually being so ill they need a lot of high-level care.I have not seen or heard the two words together in any serious medical context for many years; possibly because "senile" has now become rather perjorative or at least insensitive.My two friends are only in their 60s. I don't know their life expectancies, but I think MS can eventually be fatal while dementia shortens life. I tried to find out so I understood it better, but the sources I found all worked on dementia sufferers being old enough to be naturally near the end anyway so I was unable to gain a clear idea of what happens. Awful illnesses, anyway. My friend's Alzheimer's has destroyed his speech, so he can barely enunciate two or three words together and clearly. The rest is all scrambled. less
Many fly species actually have good eye-sight, and very rapidly-acting sight at that. They do not use "radar" - but neither do bats, who augment sight by echo-location. I have noticed it tends not to be the larger insects like bluebottles that are ca... moreMany fly species actually have good eye-sight, and very rapidly-acting sight at that. They do not use "radar" - but neither do bats, who augment sight by echo-location. I have noticed it tends not to be the larger insects like bluebottles that are caught, but much smaller flies; so perhaps their eyesight is much less sensitive. Anyway, I don't suppose the flies really know the threads are dangerous!Spiders' threads are very thin, so might not be visible against the background until too late. They may also be too thin to reflect bats' calls, as well: I could probably work that possibility out but would need to find the relevant figures. 'As for your beloved President, I understand you had only two candidates and neither were particularly impressive, so perhaps people voted partly on their own dogma and partly on "least-worse". I know he was particularly popular in former industrial States, for promising high employment again. I don't know how well he has performed on that,... less
I'd say China, but not militarily if it can get its way without warfare - which would hurt it as badly as it hurts others.Iran and its backers are a threat to stability in the Middle East, but Israel's not far behind and the running fight between the Pale... moreI'd say China, but not militarily if it can get its way without warfare - which would hurt it as badly as it hurts others.Iran and its backers are a threat to stability in the Middle East, but Israel's not far behind and the running fight between the Palestinian and Israel governments and their supporters, is a major cause of much of the Middle Eastern instability. Remember, "Israel" was foisted by the UN onto the region in the wake of what the Nazis had done to the Jews in 1930s-40s Europe; and the UK was a leading partner in forming Israel both from having born much of the brunt of defeating Hitler, and as Palestine was Arabic but British-controlled territory. Until then, most of the residents and representing between them all of the three major religions invented in that Holy Land had co-existed fairly well. Groups like ISIS exploit a nasty mix of territorial and sectarian ambitions, while the fighting in the Yemen is equally exploited by larger, extern... less
Only... The flies are not "willing" victims. They stumble into the web without realising it's there or will trap them. It's an ambush.Voters ARE willing because they read or hear the candidates' words and political histories and choose according to them a... moreOnly... The flies are not "willing" victims. They stumble into the web without realising it's there or will trap them. It's an ambush.Voters ARE willing because they read or hear the candidates' words and political histories and choose according to them and to their own political beliefs.
It is frightening to think of some creeping, disabling mental or physical illness taking you over. I have a one friend with Multiple Sclerosis, another with Alzheimer's (or some other form of dementia), and both conditions are physical diseases. I don't l... moreIt is frightening to think of some creeping, disabling mental or physical illness taking you over. I have a one friend with Multiple Sclerosis, another with Alzheimer's (or some other form of dementia), and both conditions are physical diseases. I don't like to think which may be the worse though.By the way, the adjective "senile" is no longer used. It means ONLY and simply "old / elderly" - the same root as "senior" and the opposite of "juvenile" - and although dementia strikes more commonly over the age of 50 or 60, it can occur much earlier in life.I think the problem was that so many people have never been taught to understand words, so tended to use "senile" when they meant "demented" or "dementia"; and it's warped the word for aged into a slang synonym for the disease. X less
"... same continent... same language... " = "socialist". Hmmm. I see.I have the impression Americans think ANY country is "socialist" if a) its Government dares to establish schemes to care for its citizens, and b) it is not part of t... more"... same continent... same language... " = "socialist". Hmmm. I see.I have the impression Americans think ANY country is "socialist" if a) its Government dares to establish schemes to care for its citizens, and b) it is not part of the United States of America! 'Returning to the original subject.... the quality of national electricity supplies....By co-incidence, my ISP's home page this morning carries a report on a joint Anglo-Norwegian electricity-sharing scheme now well under construction, scheduled for completing in 2012. Under it, surplus hydro-electricity generated in Norway will be exported to Britain along a 450-miles long cable under the North Sea. In return, it can carry surplus electricity from British wind-farms in the North Sea to Norway, some of it for a pumped-storage hydro-electric plant.As well as reducing further the UK's use of fossil fuel-sources, such interlinking makes both party's national grids more robust still. The scheme is rated up to 1,400MW - enough, ... less
I would not be surprised about HS2's ownership. I think it has heavy Asian investment too. We have for decades suffered from Governments of both parties who don't want British ownership or investment in anything, and are presently supporting the internati... moreI would not be surprised about HS2's ownership. I think it has heavy Asian investment too. We have for decades suffered from Governments of both parties who don't want British ownership or investment in anything, and are presently supporting the international economic expansion of the People's Republic of China.We (UK) don't have "railroads" We have "railways" - with "railway", not "train", stations. The track, stations, signalling etc are still State-owned under the Network Rail banner but the trains are all leased from suppliers by commercial "Train Operating Companies" of highly variable quality or ability. The UK Government wants all trains to be electric in the next couple of decades. That is not feasible - they've not even managed to settle on a standard, economical design of the overheads, and there are thousands of miles of line not electrified. However, a team from the University of Birmingham and a British rolling-stock company are commencing testing a fuel-cell powered locomotive, with the next s... less
Curious definition of Socialism, the simple principle common to most developed democracies, of looking after your country's citizens by providing services very many could not afford privately.The USA gives an impression of being terrified a... moreCurious definition of Socialism, the simple principle common to most developed democracies, of looking after your country's citizens by providing services very many could not afford privately.The USA gives an impression of being terrified anything that seems the least bit "socialist", i.e. supporting or providing at State level services funded from tax revenues. By chance, yesterday I saw a video about America's railways in which one speaker called Europe "socialist"; showing only he doesn't understand Europe. True, the NHS was established by a left-wing, trades-union funded Labour Government, by the Welsh MP Aneurin Bevan. He based it on existing health-service co-operatives that had been formed in the coal-mining villages of his constituency - I think these were funded by a sort of local, non-commercial health-insurance paid at a rate people could afford, so the doctors were paid without having to charge poor patients big bills for treatment otherwise beyo... less
Oh yes, humanity has always thought itself somehow superior, even without the help of some ancient Hebrew scribe saying so. Our real superiorities are in intellect (though some might wonder that) which does give us some control over our instincts, in our ... moreOh yes, humanity has always thought itself somehow superior, even without the help of some ancient Hebrew scribe saying so. Our real superiorities are in intellect (though some might wonder that) which does give us some control over our instincts, in our speech, possibly emotions, and extremely prehensile of our hands. The other primates can use their hands and fingers quite well, as can some rodents; but not to human levels. I think we have more generally-sensitive eyes too, able to see a very range of colours (unless of course colour-blind); balanced against low light-level sensitivity as we are diurnal animals. The nocturnal animals trade light-gathering power for colour-differentiation. Hearing? Well, some animals can detect higher- or lower- frequency, or softer sounds, than us but hearing is suited to mode of life, and ours comfortable brackets our speech range. Bats work at very high frequencies and can emit calls far more quickly than we could utter single-vowel sounds; and their calls can be much louder... less
Thank you!There has been a service between Bristol & Weymouth sine way back but I see now some of these have extended to Gloucester via Bristol (and I think Cardiff) via Bristol TM; plus others to Swindon via Chippenham.It's route that ought be publi... moreThank you!There has been a service between Bristol & Weymouth sine way back but I see now some of these have extended to Gloucester via Bristol (and I think Cardiff) via Bristol TM; plus others to Swindon via Chippenham.It's route that ought be publicised more because although some of the journeys seem to take longer, it gives a large area of the South-West easy access to Wales and most of England and Scotland without having to cross London. GW is owned by First Group, who also own the London- Weymouth services; behind the coach-side names. At least First is based in the UK. A large chunk of the country's passenger, and most of its goods, services are now run by the German state (behind the DB trading-name); Italy owns some more. I don't know who owns HS2 but when I looked at its web-site last year I noticed none of its Directors were Chartered Engineers: Civil, Mechanical or Electrical. No-one of obvious railway-management background either. There was a Lawyer,... less
I made two return rail trips last year for weekends, from my home in the South of England, to destinations in the North. It was easier for me to travel via Bristol and Leeds, so the necessary changes were on the same stations (via London would have meant ... moreI made two return rail trips last year for weekends, from my home in the South of England, to destinations in the North. It was easier for me to travel via Bristol and Leeds, so the necessary changes were on the same stations (via London would have meant crossing from Waterloo to King's Cross). A very large proportion of the passengers on the Friday out, and Sunday return, were students; but the Friday service was also crowded with commuters around Leeds and the towns on the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle line, when I reached that area in the late afternoon.In fact all the trains I used (two each way for one journey, three for the other) carried people of all ages, the elderly yes but also many young people, families with young children, and so on. No-one in the UK thinks trains - and buses come to that - are just for "old people". Given the choice they act by convenience or preference for the particular journey; and on week-days the country's many rural and suburban railway-station car-... less
????What has "socialism" to do with deigning, building, operating and maintaining a national utility?The UK is not a "Socialist" county" but its electricity generation and supply was initially in the hands of local authorities (councils etc.) and lat... more????What has "socialism" to do with deigning, building, operating and maintaining a national utility?The UK is not a "Socialist" county" but its electricity generation and supply was initially in the hands of local authorities (councils etc.) and later nationalised, and it worked very well. The National Grid is still State-owned but in recent years the supply of electricity has been "privatised" with little control who buys it, so many supposedly British electricity suppliers are really owned by foreign companies and even countries (e.g. EDF, owned by the French state). It still has to operate to very stringent standards, which with most of the network being genuinely a grid with lots of cross-links, help ensure that what power-cuts we have are normally restricted to geographically fairly small areas, and rarely last more than 2 or 3 days. The UK's National Grid is also connected to that of France via cables laid across the English Channel, giving extra flexibility in meeting very high demands; b... less
Goods like that are usually made to be cheaper to replace than repair, though you might find a local domestic-appliances repairer who could mend it at an economical price. You can't repair a microwave oven yourself unless you are reasonably expe... moreGoods like that are usually made to be cheaper to replace than repair, though you might find a local domestic-appliances repairer who could mend it at an economical price. You can't repair a microwave oven yourself unless you are reasonably experienced in fault-finding and repairing electrical and electronic equipment, have the necessary tools and test-instruments, and can obtain the necessary service-manuals and parts. In which case, you would not have asked the question anyway! :-)As for disposal, a lot of suppliers will take the old one when they deliver the new. Otherwise, doesn't your local authority have a proper waste-collection centre that can handle electrical equipment? I don't know what a "dumpster" is, but failed electrical and electronic equipment, like all metals, is salvageable as scrap and should not be merely thrown in the ordinary household rubbish. less
I've bought on-line and have used the suppliers' web-sites if only for information, but these are by my choices; and such purchases are very few and far between. I won't buy on-line by habit.I know what I want and who may stock it, I don't buy something m... moreI've bought on-line and have used the suppliers' web-sites if only for information, but these are by my choices; and such purchases are very few and far between. I won't buy on-line by habit.I know what I want and who may stock it, I don't buy something merely because I saw an advertisement anywhere for it but might remember the advertiser if potentially useful.
About Me:
Single, over-60, SW England resident, with fairly wide range of interests & musical tastes - but I'd be no good in a pub quiz 'cos I know very little about TV, gadgets called i-something, competitive sports, many entertainments & "so-called celebrities!
Was on EP, but left it long before it closed. Won't touch Facebook & its ilk.
"Adult" themes: quite broad-minded, like nudity but not pornography. Against cruelty, and consider spanking as a game for consenting adults only.
A review on the radio this morning, of the day's papers, touched... moreA review on the radio this morning, of the day's papers, touched on the tale of a woman who smashed her children's iPhones, with the result that their family became much happier, more cohesive and communicative.It also produced two other, conflicting third-party results; one promoting wanton waste, both sharing a theme of utter childishness and stupidity. One of these results was a (sadly predictable?) barrage of insults and abuse on social media. The other was confessions of similar actions, with some owners admitting to throwing their instruments under vehicle wheels (did they clear up the mess?) or into canals (more litter - a few prosecutions would not come amiss).By all means get rid of the device you felt apparently necessary to own in the first place, but wouldn't it far more constructive to sell it, or at least give it away, than wantonly destroy a costly, perfectly serviceable, instrument someone else could use, and perhaps use rather more sensibly?For the record, I have a basic port... less
Generally I ignore the side-bar ads though I know they pay ... moreGenerally I ignore the side-bar ads though I know they pay for the site. However I couldn't let this go without comment.It was a list of assorted suggested uses for the well-known water-repellent, WD-40, shown by its Material Safety Data Sheet to be a mineral-oil based mixture.As wells as the ingenious and the blindingly obvious ideas, the advertising feature suggested using it as an adjunct to toilet cleaners, and for cleaning shower-heads. In other words, squirt mineral-oils down the drain, despite consistent, highly publicised warnings not to do so at all from chemical manufacturers, regulatory bodies and water companies!Come on AnswerMug, get that nonsense off the site and advise WD-40's manufacturers that some ignorant advertising company is promulgating a highly irresponsible (and in some countries possibly illegal) misuse of their chemicals. less
Such as portable telephones? Bounced into buying a brand new por... moreSuch as portable telephones? Bounced into buying a brand new portable telephone - I need only to make voice calls and text messages, and then briefly and infrequently; I am not one of those teenage girls who spend all day acquiring RSI by tap-tap-tappety-tap on little blocks of plastic. Nor do I believe in walking round supermarkets and into pedestrians by concentrating on shouting at a block of plastic glued to the ear. - I ended up with a nightmarish contraption, an LG something-or-other: the model label is inside, found only by taking the back off and removing the battery.Its text feature is better than the old multi-letter press-buttons, but that's about it....It took me a while to find instructions (see above on identifying it, as I'd lost the packaging), but these revealed the telephone aspect is only peripheral. LG lists it as an application rather than main function.It's also bulky, so less portable than the previous generation, at about twice the area; and surpri... less
I quote from an item on the BT Internet's news service:"Accordin... moreI quote from an item on the BT Internet's news service:"According to NetMarketShare, Windows 7 remains the most popular operating system on PC, with 44.81% of the market share in February 2018. WIndows 10 is slowly increasing but still comes in second with 28.19%. "I do not question the statistics, but does anyone else see the flaw? You will if you are not so taken in by advertising blurb that you fail to realise what is carefully concealed.
A typical board track-game has a single, rigid route of numbered... moreA typical board track-game has a single, rigid route of numbered squares, controlled by die throws, with certain actions given in some squares - e.g. "Snakes & Ladders". One track from start to end even if you must return somewhere, miss a turn or advance N squares, etc. as ordained when landing on those given pointsNow set the game on THREE separate, identically-sized, rectangular boards of 3:2 proportions; EACH marked off into 6 squares by a longitudinal centre-line and two cross-lines at thirds length. Label the boards (for this question on the game's geometry) A, B and C. Label each meeting-point of line and edge, 1 - 6, consistently on all 3 boards so every "port" is unique, A1 to C6.Do that with the individual board in landscape mode; 1 on the left-hand end, number clockwise so the RH end is 4, round to 6 at bottom left. All 3 boards the same apart from identity-letter. The track is drawn on these lines such that when one board is set against the othe... less
I've known MS operating systems since Microsoft-DOS (Disc ... moreI've known MS operating systems since Microsoft-DOS (Disc Operating System) days: I've used DOS, 3.1, 5, NT, XP (I think MS' best), now 7, and have had an unfortunate brush with 10.Also used briefly, a SUN computer giving a half-way house between command-line and windows (not "Windows TM") screens; and my first PC was an Amstrad with CP/M O.S. BTW the windows "graphical user interface" as it was pretentiously called, was IBM's invention, not µSoft's Has MS lost its way with WIN-10 though? -- The home-page of my ISP, BTInternet, always has links to sets of instructions to deal with all sorts of obviously common WIN-10 problems that should be minimal or non-existent if the system was designed, written and tested properly before publication. -- A correspondent on another forum tells me his computer often freezes with the floods of WIN-10 automatic "up-dates" over which the user has no control - to be fair he also said the Internet speed is ver... less
Unless of course you want to buy something!However... Unless&nbs... moreUnless of course you want to buy something!However... Unless the company is Hewlett-Packard and you want to buy their printer cartridges because the blighters have programmed their printers to reject refills and third-party ones. I've tried their sales web-site - it does not work.Definitely though if the printer has suddenly decided to crop randomly, images put into documents; and you'd like the manufacturers' help in putting it right. (This is what inspired me here - I found the HP Printer sites b++++y useless and very patronising, so marked its customer-satisfaction questions one-star only and told 'em so in the 'Comments' box.)Definitely if you wish to solve a service problem with an ISP (BT in my case).Or need help with specialist software that does work, but you can't understand how to use particular features because the officially-written pdf manual doesn't tell you, and the supposed training CD contains curious errors that result in you deleting the exercise it's had yo... less
As a club committee-member preparing for the AGM I took every ca... moreAs a club committee-member preparing for the AGM I took every care to save my Report as a Word document (.doc) so the Secretary and others can collate it with other Officers' Reports. So what did M-Soft do? Only converted it automatically to a b++++y docx image! I can't even edit it, if I wanted to, on my own PC because it's now read-only and in only WordPad. It took me ages to find it because Windows had saved it as a so-called "down-load" even though on the originating PC, and not in my chosen directory and folder. If I want to convert a docx file to a doc format for further editing or collating, I'd have to pay an expensive subscription to Adobe for the converter - I don't trust Adobe anyway because its Flashplayer for a start, never loads properly. Over £30 a month I think, for something I'd need only a few times a year. This was never previously necessary - saved files stayed as you chose, in the folder you chose. It's a scam! less
Answering another question just now, I scrolled down to the ramm... moreAnswering another question just now, I scrolled down to the rammel that infests the bottom of the screen below the AnswerMug window. Among the usual collection of insignificant rhubarb necessary only to fund AM, was this gem I quote as accurately as I can. Below a portrait of a smiling, attractive woman was the caption: "Top Ten Dating Sites In Abbotsbury"Abbotsbury is a village in West Dorset (England), famous for its Swannery; but whether it is the dating capital of Britain, I cannot say.Who the Hell designs these advertisements? less
I'd not heard Breitbart (sounds German) until a guest on today's... moreI'd not heard Breitbart (sounds German) until a guest on today's BBC Radio 3's Private Passions briefly mentioned being viciously attacked by this "outfit" he called it, after he had given a lecture by invitation on the International Law aspects of climate-change, to the UK's Supreme Court.Our Supreme Court is the UK's top appeals court. It is not the same as the US one although misleadingly copying the name, and until recently was The Law Lords, judges also sitting in an advisory capacity in the House of Lords, but separated fairly recently for clearer separation between Parliament and Judiciary. Cases that reach that high, beyond Appeal Court level, may well test the Statute Law as well as the facts of the individual case. Further of course, these lawyers may have to advise Parliament on international law: the UK is a signatory to and active in, an enormous number and range of treaties, organisations and agreements. The guest was the British barrister Philippe Sands, a leading expert o... less
I need to establish if one particular UK agent for a particular ... moreI need to establish if one particular UK agent for a particular software company, is still trading.I tried to e-post to him a simple sales question, but it bounced, and I can't determine if that means the address no longer exists.I need only to ask the software firm itself two basic questions: "Is ...... still one of your UK agents; if so is the e-post address I'd used, current?"You'd think they be pleased to help what might mean another sale, but no... Customers do not matter to the IT trade beyond the purchases. After that you're on your own and if you have problems with the quality of the goods or services, or you need technical advice ... tough.I have tried the publisher's own web-site but it carries no contact details whatsoever. Lots of product ads; but no phone number, no e-mail address, no postal address. Instead, as with so many other IT and telecomms firms, it fobs you off with a list of set technical questions and a supposed "users' forum" (these admit... less
I've had problems with e-posted 'Word' and 'Excel' files being c... moreI've had problems with e-posted 'Word' and 'Excel' files being converted to a strange default file-type signified by an 'x' after the normal suffix. These are locked, un-useable images.I need occasionally to collate reports etc to help me at a club's committee meetings. These arrive as e-post attachments from different people so in a mixture of styles, software editions and files, but I want to put them in one neat style in one document I can print and archive properly. Today I tried to save two, both .pdf files so images unreliable to print, and difficult or impossible to edit, place in or render compatible with, proper documents.However, whatever handles pdf files offers saving them in several other forms including ".doc", even offering British rather than US English, though that would not have mattered there. Only, the "Convert" button merely opens a sales page expecting me to pay £££/month to subscribe to an outfit called Adobe for what should be a basic MS-"Wi... less
Come on someone, put me out of my misery! Well, all right, ... moreCome on someone, put me out of my misery! Well, all right, it's not that dramatic and certainly not serious. I'm just intrigued, in a totally light-hearted way.So:What on Earth is that Sandra & Woo cartoon at the head of the page about?We see a young woman who, to use the correct, modern Claire in the Community lingo, seems to suffer from Acute Species Dysphoria; and her boyfriend, a nut-cake addict who believes he can cast magic spells with ordinary cutlery. I hope the so-called "religious right" don't get him - you know, the supposedly-grown-ups who had severe attacks of the vapours over the children's Harry Potter stories. Go on - I don't get the joke! Does it refer to an American children's game or something?:-)))PS: Claire in the Community: a BBC Radio Four situation-comedy that started as, and still is, a newspaper cartoon strip, about a team of urban social-workers and their own personal problems, sorry, "issues". Claire is the team-leader who prissily spouts all the rig... less
Like many sites this is partly supported by companies placing ad... moreLike many sites this is partly supported by companies placing advertisements in the margins of the Home and other pages. Some are eerily local to you as user: one waffles about " Opticians... " apparently threatened by some technical development in their trade. I saw one regularly on EP, telling me things like "Sarah lives four miles from you" - it was a lie of course, but it opened a dating-site that showed it knew roughly I live, within perhaps 50 miles anyway. The advertising-agencies use your approximate location bought or gleaned from the web-site. One though, advertised a "Simple trick to see if you've ever had PPI" (Payment Protection Insurance, usually for mortgages.) I know I do not, and when I did I was not a victim of a miss-selling racket the banks ran for a while, but I selected it out of curiosity. My security software 'Bulldog' promptly leapt up, snarled at it as dangerous, and blocked it.Possibly, Bulldog is very wary of anything mentioning money on non-https web-sites ev... less
What's happened to the location in the profiles? The profile for... moreWhat's happened to the location in the profiles? The profile form asks for it but it no longer appears on the public information part. Or have I missed something?
E-posted notifications. These used to have direct links to AM - ... moreE-posted notifications. These used to have direct links to AM - you still had to sign in but at least the links worked. They no longer work. The most recent was from Just Asking, and reads "Click here to reply / profile / 145." It is not a link, and I have not been able to find the message on Am itself.The message does not tell me how to find "/profile/145". It does not tell me whose profile. Why have those links been cut and why do notifications still carry an instruction to use them?Member IndexThe list is and always was purely random by default, but offered Aphabetical and Recent sorting options. You could find individuals on the Membership list by choosing "Alphabetical", estimating which page number carrying the name, then homing in from there by the page-number arrows. Why have these index options been removed?
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I don't think we will. Even if we do I doubt it would harm us. A... moreI don't think we will. Even if we do I doubt it would harm us. Anyway, Which "Plastic", of what type, in what form?The plastics that end up eaten in the sea are tiny breakdown fragments from ones that can decompose, or are the "micro-beads" used in toiletries. These are swallowed by planktonic creatures such as diatoms, animals tiny enough for the particles to obstruct their own digestive systems. Kill them off and that removes a vast source of food for larger fish.We have to be careful though is debating anything environmental, to think it through. Sticking here though to "plastics"....First, ignore the most rabid campaigners - the louder and more clichéd they are, the less I believe they have any scientific or engineering knowledge. I should add I have no connection with the plastics manufacturers or the refuse- and scrap -trades, but a mixture of varied employment and general scientific interest has given me a fairly broad wealth of general technical knowledge and the scientific cur... less
It was reported on he News here as caused by an electricity sub-... moreIt was reported on he News here as caused by an electricity sub-station transformer catching fire.
Well, obviously we won't destroy the planet, nor will we destroy... moreWell, obviously we won't destroy the planet, nor will we destroy all life on it, but I'm afraid you're right about greed and selfishness.Our species is its own worst enemy.
Given the rising threats around the world of hostile governments... moreGiven the rising threats around the world of hostile governments disrupting public services and utilities via the Internet, when are such services going to start really protecting themselves? How? It can only mean relying on the Internet far less, and breaking the stranglehold on the Internet held by just a few huge monopolies whose enforced standardising makes life far easier for the attackers.For the most critical parts of the system, this could mean for example dedicated telephone-lines, non-"standard" computer operating-systems; high-level encryption with re-set frequently but irregularly; robust automatic switching to manual or semi-manual control; much more off-line working. These on top of the safeguards we already know - software that traps unwanted programme files, users avoiding unsolicited links and suspicious e-messages, etc; organisations' IT departments monitoring Internet use and traffic.Also a return to more judicious use of facsimile or letter-post (n... less
At least you still have piped water, even if it sometimes falls ... moreAt least you still have piped water, even if it sometimes falls below standard....One of the News programmes on BBC Radio Four yesterday reported on that Southern Indian city (I'm not sure of its name) now so short of water that an entire train of water-tank wagons has been sent to it, adding to the water already being taken in by road. The town's four reservoirs are now nearly dry.
Oh yes - whatever our species is doing, Life on Earth generally ... moreOh yes - whatever our species is doing, Life on Earth generally will adapt and recover.
You paint a terrifying prospect, and it's threat that can only b... moreYou paint a terrifying prospect, and it's threat that can only be avoided by enough honest Americans becoming politicians, or voting only for politicians who do put the country and its citizens before their own ends. That and the law authorities investigating and coming down hard on anyone rigging elections, at least within the USA - they'd have no powers overseas.Putin's government is known to have tried to interfere with many countries, too. As far as I know it's only one to interfere directly in a presidential election though, because as you say, Putin wants powers favourable to him. Most of the others seem to attack IT systems instead because their main aim is to weaken the countries they attack. Some of these attacks might have been tests of the weapons, ahead of any outright "warfare".There have also been massive attacks on businesses like airlines and hotel chains, to steal customers' details, but I think they are far more likely to be by criminals wanting to steal money than by hostile gov... less
Well, don't you have a Presidential Election again next year? Ch... moreWell, don't you have a Presidential Election again next year? Chance to boot him out, but presumably that depends on the calibre of those standing against him, and whether he still has all that support he had in the former industrial States.I don't know anything about Hilary Clinton, but I have the impression many Americans saw her or Trump as a least-worse choice or purely Party loyalty to many Americans at the time, when now you do need a best-of-good choice as well as sincere Party opinion.Mentioned in a brief summary of the day's Press on the radio this morning, one newspaper - I didn't catch which - remarked that Trump has little respect for foreign diplomats generally. (Unless, I suppose, they publicly support him, when their real responsibility is to tell their own governments honestly, what the host government is like.)I think the last straw or at least one of them, for the UK's Ambassador was Boris Johnson's lack of any support for him. I know Donald Trump regards Johnson warmly, but I ho... less
This post was edited by Durdle at July 11, 2019 3:00 AM MDT
I'd go further if the water is soapy or salty: but it's somewhat... moreI'd go further if the water is soapy or salty: but it's somewhat non-intuitive advice. Remove the battery immediately, as you say; then rinse the opened device in distilled or de-ionised water thoroughly before drying it. It's still a gamble, and won't guarantee the phone has not been ruined anyway, but if merely dried the residual salts are likely to cause a lot of corrosion later as they absorb atmospheric moisture.
Yes - most of my calls are land-line, sharing my broadband servi... moreYes - most of my calls are land-line, sharing my broadband service - though not on a faux-antique instrument like that in the heading!I have a portable 'phone too but it spends more time switched off than on, it's not a stupidly-named "smart"-phone, and it carries all I need of it: voice calls and short texts.
You were probably lucky - much more than a few seconds... moreYou were probably lucky - much more than a few seconds might well be too much for it. My first ' phone expired through damp penetrating it and ruining the display, as well as any other damage that may have occurred. And that was from water soaking through clothing, not submersion.
It seems common to social media sites that they assume once a me... moreIt seems common to social media sites that they assume once a member or subscriber, thou shalt not leave; though a reputable one should not stop you.If a paid-for site it may be even harder, especially where such sites use an intermediary payment company. Whilst that has privacy and security advantages, it makes stopping the account more difficult.*If nothing else you should be able to at least edit any profile you have placed on it, replacing all the information with a simple "I am no longer a member", or even just blank. Delete anything else you can. If there are members with whom you are "friends" to the extent of wanting to keep in touch, you might be willing and able to use Private Messages to establish an ordinary e-post or telephone exchange. 'I fear costly up-front fees or open-ended "subscriptions" may eventually become normal for ALL major web-sites and services, including ones whose monopoly powers and commercial support by advertising, have led us to take them for ... less
There was a genuine information-seeking Q & A site called Answer... moreThere was a genuine information-seeking Q & A site called Answers -dot-com.It may still be alive, but you can no longer post anything on it.It had many classifications - hobbies and sports, music, vehicle-maintenance, animals, mathematics, the sciences, etc. Generally it was very good though did attract two or three rather undesirable posts. They were typically: - Answers beyond the respondent's own knowledge, so wrong, but misleading anyone genuinely not knowing. - Answers (and occasionally questions) that were merely stupid or even obscene - probably from dim-witted children or immature adults. - Children trying to cheat in their homework, usually in "Math" (Maths, to me!) which was also Arithmetic. They expected the end answers, not as I would offer, an explanation to help them understand how to solve such question themselves. - Adult who were either complicit in that cheating by giving the answer instead of explaining the method; or who made ... less
"Make America Great Again!"Hmmm. I'd thought it was Trump's own ... more"Make America Great Again!"Hmmm. I'd thought it was Trump's own campaign slogan, but recently learnt that no, it was used by a political faction or minor party in the 1930s. I forget what it was called, but among other things its policies were deeply nationalist and isolationist.Whether Trump knew this history I have no idea. He might have coined the sentence independently, thinking it was original.
I think Mooney is right, but further, one thing authoritarians o... moreI think Mooney is right, but further, one thing authoritarians of any political or religious dogma fear and try to suppress or warp generally, is objective, balanced knowledge. An educated populace capable of thinking and analysing individually, is potentially dangerous to them.
" he attacked Obama for playing golf "
This from a man who made ... more" he attacked Obama for playing golf "
This from a man who made a lot of money buying and ruining land of landscape / scientific importance abroad..... by building golf-courses on them.
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If our species had not appeared? An interesting question. I don'... moreIf our species had not appeared? An interesting question. I don't know if anyone has considered that. If all others had existed then it's possible the Neanderthals would be "top" primate now. This was a very close brother species that lived for a time alongside us. For a while they were thought simply to be a race of humans but were later identified as a distinct hominid (human-type species). No-one knows quite why they died out but they are attracting a lot more respect than in the past, thanks to new archaeological evidence. One idea was an inability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.It's thought H. Neanderthalis and Sapiensis interbred, thanks to common genetic traits. By normal justice assuming guilt unless proven otherwise, it's unfair to assume the cartoon image of violence and rape, rather than willing consort. They may have seen each other simply as people of slightly different appearance, and possibly the Neanderthals were simply interbred out of ... less
Individual genera and species of the mammals at least seem to ha... moreIndividual genera and species of the mammals at least seem to have a typical life of about 3 million years.Which suggests we've more than 2 000 000 years to go yet, as Homo Sapiensis. In theory. provided we don't wipe ourselves out one way or another first; or some natural change doesn't do that for us. Evolution itself is probably limitless, or rather endless, for as long as Earth can support life, but entire classes of organisms come and go throughout geological time. That does not necessarily mean there will come life biologically more highly "advanced" than us, though. It could happen - a "new" Hominid - but it does not seem automatically so. Different yes, but organisms seem to develop variety more than basic physiology or ability, partly to suit changes in the conditions they live in. less
I suspect if you believe it haunted and go there expecting to be... moreI suspect if you believe it haunted and go there expecting to be afraid of something, you will be alarmed by something that's unexpected to you but in reality really very "ordinary" - a sudden noise, a wisp of mist or a chilly draught perhaps.I thought that house in Amityville has been investigated objectively and the only strange thing about it was an unpleasant goo on a basement wall, that proved to be crude oil seeping from the surrounding rock. I think the house still exists, occupied normally although after all the fuss resulting from the film, the owners removed those "eye" windows from the gable wall to deter the freak-show types. If anything really did odd genuinely did occur there, it was centred on or due to one or two of the residents, not the building. The Tower of London certainly has a right to be haunted - if there are such things as ghosts. It was built as a fort but used as combined garrison and prison for centuries, and was scene of a lot of horrible torture and a ... less
I think it's probably a genuine mistake. Either President Kim&nb... moreI think it's probably a genuine mistake. Either President Kim does not understand Western titles fully, or his words were mis-translated."Your "Excellency" refers to an Ambassador, NOT a Monarch, who in modern monarchies is "Your MAJESTY". Kim inadvertently demoted your President, not exalted him to Kingship!'(I think I'm right that Korea uses the same convention as China, that the family name - Kim in this case - precedes the individual's name.)
Thank you! Well it's nearly Tuesday here so I'll wish you a Happ... moreThank you! Well it's nearly Tuesday here so I'll wish you a Happy Tuesday.The old slang word for the TV here was "goggle box", but I have not heard if for many years. I think it referred to viewers just watching indiscriminately because it's on, rather than the people in the programmes.
LOL!Well, that definition of "Boob" is American, though in Brita... moreLOL!Well, that definition of "Boob" is American, though in Britain we sometimes say someone has "boobed" if he or she has made a mess of something.But I'm afraid also over here, a "Boob Tube" is/was never the television, but a fashionable upper garment for young women.....
I don't have an answering machine, though I don't know what the ... moreI don't have an answering machine, though I don't know what the message recording says (I've never tried ringing my own phone to find out!).My car beeps if I open the door with the lights still on - which is very useful. It has saved me from a flat battery a few times.Other than that, no, and I would not want anything beyond things like that warning beep! My microwave does ping at minute intervals after it's finished cooking, until I open the door, and I use this as the "Stand for 1 minute" timer.I don't want or need gadgets like Aleksa or whatever. (Is that the right spelling?), and I can't be doing with all this "smart home" twaddle the gadget sellers keep reckoning we'll "all" have. I am perfectly capable of setting the central-heating boiler clock or a time-switch. less
That's the definition of a "desert": it has less than a certain ... moreThat's the definition of a "desert": it has less than a certain mean amount of precipitation a year. I can't remember the actual figure, but it counts snow as well as rain, and cold or hot deserts. The Antarctic is a desert: its blizzards are powder snow being blown about like hot deserts' sand-storms. If it starts having new snow frequently, that would be worrying.The hot deserts do have rain now and then, in short, violent storms that sometimes create brief flash-floods.
Tinfoil hats? Whatever next? :-)You can only examine what's happ... moreTinfoil hats? Whatever next? :-)You can only examine what's happening in a brain by attaching electrodes to the head, or using a hospital scanner; even if it was possible to "read" thoughts they only be the thoughts thought at the time of measuring.As for Trump and God's Law, I can't begin to imagine what conversation there'd be between St. Peter (is it? The one at the Pearly Gates anyway) and His Nibs. "Tell me, Donald, do you consider you acted in the spirit of the Founding Fathers' hopes?""Founding Fathers? Fake noos! Fake noos. Tell God I was the Founder! Me and my uncle, Samuel." less
Same as me then, your neighbour.Yes, I do exercise as recommende... moreSame as me then, your neighbour.Yes, I do exercise as recommended. it would be self-defeating not to do so.How long they last must depend a great deal on the patient, but I think the suggest 10 years at least. They are probably improving all the time.After last year's operation I had a brief thrombosis scare, but an ultrasound scan showed I was clear. There was an American nurse in the scanner room, I think an exchange-scheme student, as the scanner operator explained various parts of the image to her. Afterwards she said that in America, or her part of it anyway, "they" make you watch an operation first to help you decide. I assume a video, but I don't think I'd want to see it! It is a bit alarming though, being just sedated and under an epidural anaesthetic, and behind a curtain, because though you can't see or feel anything you can hear all the engineering going on! For the first knee I was so sedated I was actually unconscious. They prefer not to give a full anaesthetic for a knee (or hip?) replacement ... less
Castor oil was one of those things people used to believe d... moreCastor oil was one of those things people used to believe did you good, but its only medicinal use would be as a laxative (it irritates the intestines).Otherwise it's best kept as a lubricant in vintage 2-stroke engines! The things I had when very young were a vitamin-fortified fruit syrup called Minadex, and a sweet malt-extract preparation called Virol - a name like that suggests a type of bearing grease and indeed it rather looked like it. I do not know if these are still made, but they were very tasty! less
Brain acitivity tracing only shows what part of the brain is act... moreBrain acitivity tracing only shows what part of the brain is active at a time, and though that relates to particular functions it doesn't show what we are thinking or feeling. I don't know if those functions will ever really be understood.
I did - I had one knee replaced last year and am now recovering ... moreI did - I had one knee replaced last year and am now recovering from the other.The pain was not constant, and usually not ever so severe, but it made my knees very stiff and I could not walk properly, without a very pronounced rolling limp.
Yes - the Iranian President's words reported on the News here on... moreYes - the Iranian President's words reported on the News here only a couple of minutes ago, and translated as "mentally deranged", but the insult seems to have been aimed at the US Government generally, not specifically Mr. Trump.
I found some basic figures. The wavelength of a bat call at, say... moreI found some basic figures. The wavelength of a bat call at, say, 120kHz, is about 0.3mm. And it's not "radar" but equivalent to sonar.Spider silk seems typically to be around 0.004 mm diameter, so in very round figures approaching one-hundredth of the call's wavelength, To detect anything, the wavelength has to be significantly larger than the target's width, so on those figures a bat will not locate a single spider silk, though it might obtain echoes from a dense web. You can see this effect with wind-blown ripples on a pond, with a wavelength of a couple of inches or so. They pass thin plant stems without change, but if they hit something wide like a rock or tree-trunk sticking out of the water, are reflected or refracted by it. Wavelength decreases as frequency increases, but so does range, so even if the bat could call at sufficiently high pitch to detect a spider thread, the call would have an extremely short range.'Military radar performance is not very likely something you'll find easily, ... less
Oh Dear. I'm sorry if I've offended you.I do not regard the word... moreOh Dear. I'm sorry if I've offended you.I do not regard the word "senile" as perjorative at all - to me, it just means "old", the opposite of "juvenile". It became attached to "dementia" to describe medical conditions that occur much more commonly in the elderly, as your mother's doctor had done.Unfortunately far too many people cannot or will not understand that, and mis-use "senile" on its own to mean "demented", but all too often do so in an insulting way even about anyone merely a bit eccentric or forgetful. That's why it's fallen out of serious use. Nothing to do with my "group", whoever they may be, either, but general use.'Senile is by no means the only word to fall foul of ignorance. You mention "gay" - its slang meaning for homosexual was apparently coined by homosexual night-club types in New York; but everyone has to follow suit. Why? What you call a "cell" phone - from "cellular", describing their networks - is called "mobile" in Britain, but it's not mobile at all. It's port... less
Thank you Rosie!I am afraid international politics is far more c... moreThank you Rosie!I am afraid international politics is far more complicated and difficult than it often seems. There is not one ball in any one court, but many balls all over the place, all in play at once. As for who are the brightest leaders, I hate to say. Most of them are very intelligent people but they are pushing their own or their countries' interests above all, and we never really know who has the real power behind many of them.I wonder if we will ever know the truth behind that stopped air attack. This is the second time Trump has backtracked on something affecting other countries, in a couple of weeks, so whether he is beginning to learn something about international affairs, or his advisors are becoming discreetly stronger, is anyone's guess.'It has occurred to me that Britain and the other signatories still maintaining the nuclear-power deal with Iran ought say to the Iranians, "We are still in that deal, we are not threatening to attack you. We suspect you in the attacks on ... less
It means then that Websters has adopted the popular idea of what... moreIt means then that Websters has adopted the popular idea of what "senile" means, though I think most people do decline with advanced age without actually being so ill they need a lot of high-level care.I have not seen or heard the two words together in any serious medical context for many years; possibly because "senile" has now become rather perjorative or at least insensitive.My two friends are only in their 60s. I don't know their life expectancies, but I think MS can eventually be fatal while dementia shortens life. I tried to find out so I understood it better, but the sources I found all worked on dementia sufferers being old enough to be naturally near the end anyway so I was unable to gain a clear idea of what happens. Awful illnesses, anyway. My friend's Alzheimer's has destroyed his speech, so he can barely enunciate two or three words together and clearly. The rest is all scrambled. less
Many fly species actually have good eye-sight, and very rapidly-... moreMany fly species actually have good eye-sight, and very rapidly-acting sight at that. They do not use "radar" - but neither do bats, who augment sight by echo-location. I have noticed it tends not to be the larger insects like bluebottles that are caught, but much smaller flies; so perhaps their eyesight is much less sensitive. Anyway, I don't suppose the flies really know the threads are dangerous!Spiders' threads are very thin, so might not be visible against the background until too late. They may also be too thin to reflect bats' calls, as well: I could probably work that possibility out but would need to find the relevant figures. 'As for your beloved President, I understand you had only two candidates and neither were particularly impressive, so perhaps people voted partly on their own dogma and partly on "least-worse". I know he was particularly popular in former industrial States, for promising high employment again. I don't know how well he has performed on that,... less
I'd say China, but not militarily if it can get its way without ... moreI'd say China, but not militarily if it can get its way without warfare - which would hurt it as badly as it hurts others.Iran and its backers are a threat to stability in the Middle East, but Israel's not far behind and the running fight between the Palestinian and Israel governments and their supporters, is a major cause of much of the Middle Eastern instability. Remember, "Israel" was foisted by the UN onto the region in the wake of what the Nazis had done to the Jews in 1930s-40s Europe; and the UK was a leading partner in forming Israel both from having born much of the brunt of defeating Hitler, and as Palestine was Arabic but British-controlled territory. Until then, most of the residents and representing between them all of the three major religions invented in that Holy Land had co-existed fairly well. Groups like ISIS exploit a nasty mix of territorial and sectarian ambitions, while the fighting in the Yemen is equally exploited by larger, extern... less
Only... The flies are not "willing" victims. They stumble into t... moreOnly... The flies are not "willing" victims. They stumble into the web without realising it's there or will trap them. It's an ambush.Voters ARE willing because they read or hear the candidates' words and political histories and choose according to them and to their own political beliefs.
It is frightening to think of some creeping, disabling mental or... moreIt is frightening to think of some creeping, disabling mental or physical illness taking you over. I have a one friend with Multiple Sclerosis, another with Alzheimer's (or some other form of dementia), and both conditions are physical diseases. I don't like to think which may be the worse though.By the way, the adjective "senile" is no longer used. It means ONLY and simply "old / elderly" - the same root as "senior" and the opposite of "juvenile" - and although dementia strikes more commonly over the age of 50 or 60, it can occur much earlier in life.I think the problem was that so many people have never been taught to understand words, so tended to use "senile" when they meant "demented" or "dementia"; and it's warped the word for aged into a slang synonym for the disease. X less
"... same continent... same language... " = "socialist". H... more"... same continent... same language... " = "socialist". Hmmm. I see.I have the impression Americans think ANY country is "socialist" if a) its Government dares to establish schemes to care for its citizens, and b) it is not part of the United States of America! 'Returning to the original subject.... the quality of national electricity supplies....By co-incidence, my ISP's home page this morning carries a report on a joint Anglo-Norwegian electricity-sharing scheme now well under construction, scheduled for completing in 2012. Under it, surplus hydro-electricity generated in Norway will be exported to Britain along a 450-miles long cable under the North Sea. In return, it can carry surplus electricity from British wind-farms in the North Sea to Norway, some of it for a pumped-storage hydro-electric plant.As well as reducing further the UK's use of fossil fuel-sources, such interlinking makes both party's national grids more robust still. The scheme is rated up to 1,400MW - enough, ... less
I would not be surprised about HS2's ownership. I think it has h... moreI would not be surprised about HS2's ownership. I think it has heavy Asian investment too. We have for decades suffered from Governments of both parties who don't want British ownership or investment in anything, and are presently supporting the international economic expansion of the People's Republic of China.We (UK) don't have "railroads" We have "railways" - with "railway", not "train", stations. The track, stations, signalling etc are still State-owned under the Network Rail banner but the trains are all leased from suppliers by commercial "Train Operating Companies" of highly variable quality or ability. The UK Government wants all trains to be electric in the next couple of decades. That is not feasible - they've not even managed to settle on a standard, economical design of the overheads, and there are thousands of miles of line not electrified. However, a team from the University of Birmingham and a British rolling-stock company are commencing testing a fuel-cell powered locomotive, with the next s... less
Curious definition of Socialism, the simple principle commo... moreCurious definition of Socialism, the simple principle common to most developed democracies, of looking after your country's citizens by providing services very many could not afford privately.The USA gives an impression of being terrified anything that seems the least bit "socialist", i.e. supporting or providing at State level services funded from tax revenues. By chance, yesterday I saw a video about America's railways in which one speaker called Europe "socialist"; showing only he doesn't understand Europe. True, the NHS was established by a left-wing, trades-union funded Labour Government, by the Welsh MP Aneurin Bevan. He based it on existing health-service co-operatives that had been formed in the coal-mining villages of his constituency - I think these were funded by a sort of local, non-commercial health-insurance paid at a rate people could afford, so the doctors were paid without having to charge poor patients big bills for treatment otherwise beyo... less
Oh yes, humanity has always thought itself somehow superior, eve... moreOh yes, humanity has always thought itself somehow superior, even without the help of some ancient Hebrew scribe saying so. Our real superiorities are in intellect (though some might wonder that) which does give us some control over our instincts, in our speech, possibly emotions, and extremely prehensile of our hands. The other primates can use their hands and fingers quite well, as can some rodents; but not to human levels. I think we have more generally-sensitive eyes too, able to see a very range of colours (unless of course colour-blind); balanced against low light-level sensitivity as we are diurnal animals. The nocturnal animals trade light-gathering power for colour-differentiation. Hearing? Well, some animals can detect higher- or lower- frequency, or softer sounds, than us but hearing is suited to mode of life, and ours comfortable brackets our speech range. Bats work at very high frequencies and can emit calls far more quickly than we could utter single-vowel sounds; and their calls can be much louder... less
Thank you!There has been a service between Bristol & Weymouth si... moreThank you!There has been a service between Bristol & Weymouth sine way back but I see now some of these have extended to Gloucester via Bristol (and I think Cardiff) via Bristol TM; plus others to Swindon via Chippenham.It's route that ought be publicised more because although some of the journeys seem to take longer, it gives a large area of the South-West easy access to Wales and most of England and Scotland without having to cross London. GW is owned by First Group, who also own the London- Weymouth services; behind the coach-side names. At least First is based in the UK. A large chunk of the country's passenger, and most of its goods, services are now run by the German state (behind the DB trading-name); Italy owns some more. I don't know who owns HS2 but when I looked at its web-site last year I noticed none of its Directors were Chartered Engineers: Civil, Mechanical or Electrical. No-one of obvious railway-management background either. There was a Lawyer,... less
I made two return rail trips last year for weekends, from my hom... moreI made two return rail trips last year for weekends, from my home in the South of England, to destinations in the North. It was easier for me to travel via Bristol and Leeds, so the necessary changes were on the same stations (via London would have meant crossing from Waterloo to King's Cross). A very large proportion of the passengers on the Friday out, and Sunday return, were students; but the Friday service was also crowded with commuters around Leeds and the towns on the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle line, when I reached that area in the late afternoon.In fact all the trains I used (two each way for one journey, three for the other) carried people of all ages, the elderly yes but also many young people, families with young children, and so on. No-one in the UK thinks trains - and buses come to that - are just for "old people". Given the choice they act by convenience or preference for the particular journey; and on week-days the country's many rural and suburban railway-station car-... less
????What has "socialism" to do with deigning, building, operatin... more????What has "socialism" to do with deigning, building, operating and maintaining a national utility?The UK is not a "Socialist" county" but its electricity generation and supply was initially in the hands of local authorities (councils etc.) and later nationalised, and it worked very well. The National Grid is still State-owned but in recent years the supply of electricity has been "privatised" with little control who buys it, so many supposedly British electricity suppliers are really owned by foreign companies and even countries (e.g. EDF, owned by the French state). It still has to operate to very stringent standards, which with most of the network being genuinely a grid with lots of cross-links, help ensure that what power-cuts we have are normally restricted to geographically fairly small areas, and rarely last more than 2 or 3 days. The UK's National Grid is also connected to that of France via cables laid across the English Channel, giving extra flexibility in meeting very high demands; b... less
Goods like that are usually made to be cheaper to replace than r... moreGoods like that are usually made to be cheaper to replace than repair, though you might find a local domestic-appliances repairer who could mend it at an economical price. You can't repair a microwave oven yourself unless you are reasonably experienced in fault-finding and repairing electrical and electronic equipment, have the necessary tools and test-instruments, and can obtain the necessary service-manuals and parts. In which case, you would not have asked the question anyway! :-)As for disposal, a lot of suppliers will take the old one when they deliver the new. Otherwise, doesn't your local authority have a proper waste-collection centre that can handle electrical equipment? I don't know what a "dumpster" is, but failed electrical and electronic equipment, like all metals, is salvageable as scrap and should not be merely thrown in the ordinary household rubbish. less
I've bought on-line and have used the suppliers' web-sites if on... moreI've bought on-line and have used the suppliers' web-sites if only for information, but these are by my choices; and such purchases are very few and far between. I won't buy on-line by habit.I know what I want and who may stock it, I don't buy something merely because I saw an advertisement anywhere for it but might remember the advertiser if potentially useful.
StrictChristianParenting
Why does correcting have to be by violence? And if that's a quote, no, I don't accept the say-so of unknown Late Bronze Age tribal elders!
September 1, 2016
tate99
Greetings Tate99 from a fellow Briton (S> Dorset) and nudist!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
July 29, 2016
MistyGoddess
Welcome to AM - and to a goodly number of us interested in spanking whether we advocate or oppose it in reality or think it best kept as a game for consenting adults!
Best Wishes,
Durdle
(also in UK)
July 29, 2016
timothy in London
Thank you for the compliment, Timothys Knickers. I should say I am not a full cross-dresser but like occasionally to wear a nightdress or miniskirt, at home only. Much of the time, if warm enough, I like to be nude or nearly so.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
May 17, 2016
Capes
Hello Capes.
Welcome to Answer Mug!
Durdle here: 64 nearly, also a Briton (in Dorset), here similarly.
My profile groups list gives you some idea of me but I am happy to chat on many other topics too if they interest me and I feel I know enough about the topic. I will add that despite the implications I don't like the idea of spanking children, especially with any weapon, but feel the traditional spanking has a place for adults, as long as it's consensual!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
July 30, 2016
VPLUK
I don't even try to look convincing - I don't cross-dress often and than only partly, in the home. liking the feel of the garments. Sometimes sleep in a nightie.
July 29, 2016
Marc
Not so much a comment as a question, Marc. I am uneasy to say the least about spanking children but what of adults feeling they need similar punishments in a therapeutic way?
July 29, 2016
harbourboy
Hi Harbourboy.
Welcome... come on then, elucidate on your specialist subjects!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
July 30, 2016
Steve Tomms
Hello Steve.
UK too - Dorset in fact. And like to be nude or, occasionally, in panties.
As for human behaviour - yes, I agree it is fascinating... and bewildering at times, frustrating at others, but never the same twice!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
September 16, 2016
Uncle UK
Welcome to AM, Dominic, as one of the rather few fellow-Britons on here (I live in South of England). I am not sure about the spanking of children, though I've nothing against adults being spanked if they wish, erotically or as therapeutic punishment.
Regards,
Durdle.
September 6, 2016
NudiSuzie
Hello NudieSuzie.
Thankyou - would love to be your friend!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
August 31, 2016
Tawser22
What's your take on adult, consensual, spanking?
September 9, 2016
RB1954
May I ask, what is your take on adult, consensual spanking, e.g. in a "DD" relationship or as a sort of punitive therapy?
September 9, 2016
harry
Hello Harry.
Greetings from Dorset!
Lubrication by Beer - definitely. Naturism - Oh yes. Spanking - well, I don't support genuine CP but have been fascinated by it since boyhood, and later by the adult-fun variety.
Chatting - I can be chatty!
Best Wishes,
Durdle
July 28, 2016
french_delph
Hello French_Delph.
I don't favour spanking children but if it must be done I think it must be by hand only, and only enough to make the point. Am interested in spanking generally and think it has a place for adults who feel they need a little discipline and punishment.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
July 30, 2016
fatherfigure
I'm probably of similar age to you then, my fascination with spanking goes back to boyhood but no I don't think the world would be better for beating children! And yet...
Adult, consensual spanking - fine, and it's odd that now I feel I ought receive the occasional, belated spanking, firm hand not weapon, I did not receive and would not have wanted in boyhood, for immature failings I believe originated at that time!
Best Wishes,
Durdle
July 29, 2016
Legion
Hi Legion!
I reckon your Miss Hamilton might have done me some good! (Doubtless others too!)
Cheers,
Durdle
July 30, 2016
Michael
18 and 20. Adults, with the full choice of protection from assault by law.
September 1, 2016
Stonehenge43
Hello Stonehenge.
Welcome! I'm 64 and an ex-EP user but left it when parts of it started to become really sleazy or stupid. My profile gives a fir idea but I'm happy to chat about a wide range of subjects in which I am interested or can give reasonably knowledgeable facts or opinions.
You mention Adultmug. I know what you mean. I ignore the worst, some of which I find unpleasant, but do dip into some of the other threads on it. I'm slightly bi and interested in nudity and adult-consensual spanking, so am not quite a shrinking violet.
I did make one or two penfriendships (e-mail) from EP but they've fizzled out, thanks to losses in house moves, changes of computer and perhaps laziness by me!
How about you? Your interests, music etc?
Best Wishes,
Durdle. (after Durdle Door).
July 30, 2016
Eva amirhom
A sad story, Eva. Yes, you were wrong to do what you did but you have realised that, not everyone in the world will hate you, and I hope you will find forgiveness and happiness.
Durdle.
July 29, 2016
Stonehenge43
I would be very happy to chat about whatever we find of mutual interest, but I can't send a private message unless I add you as a friend first. may I do so, please?
regards,
Durdle
September 9, 2016
sjf47
welcome to AM and its Naturist section!
AM Male, 63 and live in Dorset.
Cheers,
Durdle
July 28, 2016
Pofan1201
That's not "spanking" , that's whipping, and cruel! What effect did it have on you in adult life?
August 14, 2016
Pofan1201
Hi Pofan.
Interesting: many people who admit they were beaten severely as children become adults either wanting to give or receive similar in games between consenting adults, or are turned off spanking and CP entirely.
You evidently became sexually submissive, but were you aroused by either the whipping or the submission at the time or in remembering it later?
Sorry, I'm not quite clear by what you mean as a "switcher" - switching between what?
I appreciate bare bottoms including my own as well, but unfortunately mine has aged with me and is now a bit soft and sagging.
Regards,
Durdle
August 15, 2016
Pofan1201
Thank you very much Pofan. Would love to be friends with you!
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
August 15, 2016
Elshara Silverheart
Thank you for the compliment Elashara. I'm not sure what it means, but please do tell me what in particular influenced you.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
June 9, 2016
sp4sp4
Hello Sp4sp4. I too was on EP, though I left it well before it folded. "Drawn too deeply." I know the feeling. I think I was tempted too far into some EP fora, so am becoming fairly selective on what I view on here and chosen "stop following" on some already. Is this why you've not listed any groups? You have a point, using private e-mails.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
September 16, 2016
Stuart
Hi Stuart. Thank you very much for your greetings, and have mine to you!
I oppose real CP but have been interested in spanking since boyhood, and have enjoyed quite a few gentle, erotic, spanking games.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
September 16, 2016
Aaron
I couldn't agree more about being naked, Aaron!
Joanne1966
Love to be in a night-dress or nude. I like Sharon1717's comment too!
September 9, 2016
Sophronius Pupoid
Thank you very much for your comment! Sophronius.
Yes, my nickname is from Durdle Door. One of my sisters held her wedding-reception at Pennsylvania Castle, well before it reverted to a private house. The new owners have hosted garden fetes there though.
'Moonfleet' was one of our set books at school, and I remember the passage about the two leading characters escaping from Ringstead (I can't remember if that name was used in the book) by using a very steep cliff path. That path, or an equivalent, exists, up White Nothe, some 400 feet high, and someone showed it me a few years ago. I was glad to have climbed it, but I found it frightening and would not care to try it again!
The normal path from the car-park to that area of beach is gentler and not at all exposed.
I suppose I'm nearly local! Our family moved to Weymouth in 1959, when I was 7, when Dad's work was moved.
September 22, 2016
Nudistdad
Hello and Welcome, Nudistdad.
I'm single but not a father (seem to be collecting quite a tribe of first and grand nephews & nieces though!); but like you enjoy being nude around the home. There is a naturist beach not far from me, and I used to visit it fairly often, but I have leg problems now that make the long, steep path to it a bit too much. Can still be undressed at home, as I am now, though!
Best Wishes,
Durdle
August 14, 2016
Donny
I oppose using CP on children - especially the sort of gratuitous violence with assorted weapons described on the site - but what is your take on adult-only, consensual spanking, be it erotic, for some sort of punitive therapy or stress-relieving, curiosity or indeed to reprise personal or vicarious past experiences?
Regards,
Durdle.
September 9, 2016
caned4doz
Hello Caned4doz.
Overlapping (!) interests. I'm not as educated as you. Don't smoke, but do drink (moderately) and not religious. Am interested in science and have a wide range of musical tastes though can't play an instrument. Fitness more by walking and manual work and play than by speed!
I too am interested in discipline and do have regressive tendencies and sometimes feel I ought to be spanked for my immature faults.
July 29, 2016
caned4doz
Hello Caned4Dozen.
Thank you for the Friend request - certainly! This site is confusing - I've not managed to work out how the Friends and Messages parts work!
Anyway I think this part is public. For example I can see the messages between you and Forever shorts, on this page. AM does not seem to have a private-message system, at least not obviously so. All it does it let you separate individual conversations from the forum section.
I will say I oppose genuine CP - some of the accounts on this site are of frankly appalling cruelty. Yet it was seeing one or two real instances at school, and finding descriptions and images in history-books, that nurtured my interest.
The regressive streak I said I have surfaced really quite recently, in my 50s I think, although I had experimented with self-spanking since "discovering" it in my teens - when no doubt I had a rather more smackable bottom than now, had the right circumstances to introduce me to spanking fun, come along!
August 1, 2016
caned4doz
I advocate discipline - a system of behaviour - but not in its euphemistic malapropism for corporal punishment of children. However I believe for a consenting adult, there need be no bar beyond sensible, individual boundaries to being spanked ( or slippered or caned) appropriately in a therapeutic or punitive sense, as well obviously as purely erotically. In the last situation it might even be a foreplay activity. Similarly, some adults find release in being under regressive discipline, with or without physical punishment.
(Discipline and punishment are NOT synonyms: the latter is for wilful breaking of the former.)
September 7, 2016
Cravingyourtouch
Welcome Cravingyourtouch.
Mot only the women of the household who would benefit from a little suitable discipline at times!
Regards,
Durdle
(in Dorset)
July 29, 2016
spanko28
Do you like adult (consensual) spanking too?
September 9, 2016
NaughtyNicola
About You: sexiest lingerie a gurl can find - indeed, and very nice too!
September 1, 2016
NaughtyNicola
A pleasure Nicola - and I like your profile picture too!
September 7, 2016
NaughtyNicola
Not a full cross-dresser myself and I've few femme clothes, but I like to sleep in a nightie now and then, or wear something at least like a loose-fitting miniskirt. Love to be nude, too! The long-legged lass in that Timothy's Knickers pic fg5 you've commented on, looks as if she's about to be spanked!
September 7, 2016
Killkenny11
That's two of us from Dorset , then, Kilkenny!
Welcome to AnswerMug!
Cheers,
Durdle - and I won't need to explain my inspiration for that nick-name.
July 29, 2016
SJS
Hello SJS
I'm uneasy about the idea of spanking children - discipline yes, punishment or at least a reprimand if they break that discipline yes, but need it be physical punishment? If it does I would hope it be by hand only, not weapons as some parents seem to think clever, and only enough to make the point. What of adult, consensual spanking though! I can see that as therapeutic or stress-relief, and eminently suitable for someone who is of middle-age upwards but rather immature or regressive.
Regards,
Durdle
(Dorset - as the nickname may have suggested!)
July 30, 2016
tonyparker1
Hello Tonyparker1
Thank you for the invitation.
I too was on EP but abandoned it a few years ago. I'm a little older at nearly 64, also short and slim, well, nearly slim. Slightly bi, and enjoy being nude though knee troubles limit my excursions such as to an unofficial naturist beach not far from my South Dorset home. Also interested in spanking fun.
Various interests and fair range of musical tastes.
Best Wishes,
Durdle
(my nickname is from a feature on the Dorset coast.)
July 29, 2016
tonyparker1
Hello Tonyparker.
I thought I'd left a message but it doesn't appear here so perhaps I didn't.
Anyway your Profile Information describes me too, almost exactly - I am 64, and with a slight tummy.
I live in S.Dorset - hence my nick-name (from famous coastal feature).
Welcome to AM!
Best Wishes,
Durdle
July 30, 2016
softlywaking
Thank you for the compliment, Softlywaking.
Regards,
Durdle.
June 14, 2016
missspanking
Welcome to AmswerMug, Missspanking.
No shortage of people here interested in spanking, whether approving or not of beating children, or are like me, approving only of adult consensual spanking.
Best Wishes,
Durdle
July 29, 2016
2Pink1s
Thank you for that brief private chat this afternoon. It was unexpected and I enjoyed it though I don't really understand how to use it.
Best Wishes,
Durdle.
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