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 prefer fairly deep darkness and my bedroom is at times despite no curtains (it is not closely overlooked). I don't like it so dark I cannot focus on something if I awake, but nights where I live are rarely so dark I cannot see the sky as a pair of ... moreI prefer fairly deep darkness and my bedroom is at times despite no curtains (it is not closely overlooked). I don't like it so dark I cannot focus on something if I awake, but nights where I live are rarely so dark I cannot see the sky as a pair of very slightly lighter rectangles. Heavy overcast glows slightly yellow by reflected street-light.There is also a very faint bluish glow from a clock/radio next to the bed, facing somewhat away from me.Facing South though, the room does catch the moonlight! less
Could you not just turn off everything off at the mains socket when not using it, except perhaps the router - or even that too? Or at least turn the things to face away from your bed if their lights are a nuisance.Though they are not i... moreCould you not just turn off everything off at the mains socket when not using it, except perhaps the router - or even that too? Or at least turn the things to face away from your bed if their lights are a nuisance.Though they are not in my bedroom, my PC and printers are fed from a 4-way socket board plugged into one of a twin switched socket, the router PSU is alone in the other; so I can leave the router on as apparently advised but close the computer and turn off the supply to it and everything else. I also turn off my portable radios' leads at the mains since discovering their alleged On/Off switches are on the wrong side of the internal power-supply units. less
My watch dial is luminescent, though the effect does not last very long. It is a bit odd sometimes to see it half-bright and half-dull, where my cuff has partially covered the dial otherwise open to the light.
"All of... " One assumes from that, one normally has lots and they could be anywhere around the home.Doesn't long to count mine. I have no television, even singularly.I've a small DVD player I've barely used. Does that count? I had hoped it would run... more"All of... " One assumes from that, one normally has lots and they could be anywhere around the home.Doesn't long to count mine. I have no television, even singularly.I've a small DVD player I've barely used. Does that count? I had hoped it would run a CD-based, pdf-format operating-manual for a particularly difficult piece of software I am trying to learn, but it won't. I'd wanted to display the manual on the DVD screen alongside the PC running the software, so both were visible together. Radios though.... Kitchen, front room, bedroom, shed. Plus a DAB radio I won in a raffle several years ago, and have never used - I took one look at the instructions and could not be bothered with something as complicated as that to do nothing my FM sets don't do far more simply and unlike DAB, punctually. And also unused, a "Mikomi CD Radio Cassette Recorder" it says it is on the half-opened packaging. less
Shouldn't that be the other way round?
I thought "bug" is American slang for any small invertebrate with legs, be it an insect, spider, woodlouse, mite or other.
Any Ba'hais here to confirm or correct?I suspect what they mean is striving for an altruist form of governance that places serving the community as a whole for the community above serving it to meet political theories, parties and leaders. In any cas... moreAny Ba'hais here to confirm or correct?I suspect what they mean is striving for an altruist form of governance that places serving the community as a whole for the community above serving it to meet political theories, parties and leaders. In any case the Islamic view generally is that it's God's law that matters and worldly governments are only administrators - in nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia it is the clerics who hold the real power behind the ministers.I suppose all the others there can't complain though about any government, if they don't vote. less
Well, it doesn't make sense, does it?If you believe God gave us our powerful brains it would indeed be logical and indeed respectful to assume God means us to use them, and to use them well and for good or at least not for bad.Whether we do, and how we do... moreWell, it doesn't make sense, does it?If you believe God gave us our powerful brains it would indeed be logical and indeed respectful to assume God means us to use them, and to use them well and for good or at least not for bad.Whether we do, and how we do, is another matter though... One apparently left to our own choice.
There is a difference between "precision" and "accuracy" but I forget what it is; although they are used loosely as synonyms.It is important to me when it needs to be - catching a bus, meeting a medical or other appointment, wanting to listen to a s... moreThere is a difference between "precision" and "accuracy" but I forget what it is; although they are used loosely as synonyms.It is important to me when it needs to be - catching a bus, meeting a medical or other appointment, wanting to listen to a specific radio programme.Otherwise... errr, no. Five minutes here or there is of no real account to me, most of the time.I do like that restaurant's honesty though, and I'm pleased it's flourishing after all the delays! :-)
No because it does not say human life-span in ideal conditions over 100 years, but "global average life expectancy", and that is a different thing. All its says is that in 1900 a vastly larger proportion of the world's population died in their 30s&nb... moreNo because it does not say human life-span in ideal conditions over 100 years, but "global average life expectancy", and that is a different thing. All its says is that in 1900 a vastly larger proportion of the world's population died in their 30s or 40s; mainly from poverty, war, natural disasters, disease and famine. Far fewer natural diseases could be cured then; and fatal or debilitating industrial diseases and accidents were far more common at the time. Nevertheless many people staggered on into their 70s and 80s, and more, even in 1900. They might have been existing more than living, but at least were still alive.Mean life-span itself for healthy people in reasonably good conditions certainly has increased over the century, but by no means doubled. All organisms seem to have definite mean life-spans assuming conditions allow them to reach their natural end, and our species is no exception, notwithstanding ours is fairly widely defined, and we doing our best to prolong it medic... less
I don't know if there is any sort of numerical link but the 'Herald of Free Enterprise' ferry disaster was a spur for the UK to develop a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter to cover such crimes by negligence.I forget when it happened -1980s I think - b... moreI don't know if there is any sort of numerical link but the 'Herald of Free Enterprise' ferry disaster was a spur for the UK to develop a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter to cover such crimes by negligence.I forget when it happened -1980s I think - but in that incident the ferry left the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, bound for an English port, before the car deck's bow door was properly closed. As the ship picked up speed it "swallowed" its own bow wave, flooding the car deck which was only just above the water-line, and causing the ship to capsize with a very high loss of life. The case revolved on the bridge officers taking the ship out of harbour without first ensuring the door was fully shut. Under Corporate Manslaughter law, the directors can now be held responsible even if nowhere near the scene, if it was shown they not taken all reasonable steps as the law would say, to make sure the operating equipment and staff had all necessary precautions, protections and trainin... less
It was reported, though without location name or the word "murder", on the BBC News today. The report said these hornets have a powerful sting, prey on other bees, and described this nest as the "first found in the USA".Yes, it is very likely more will be found.
Oh yes, I can see why apart from party loyalty you don't like Donald Trump especially. I don't believe for one moment his claims that he does not know the nature of some of the extremist groups who support him.
I honestly have no idea. The Internet helps these ideas spread rapidly but that does not explain why so many people are attracted to them.Although the USA has a lot of noisy Far-Right extremists, it is not alone. Similarly hard-line views and movemen... moreI honestly have no idea. The Internet helps these ideas spread rapidly but that does not explain why so many people are attracted to them.Although the USA has a lot of noisy Far-Right extremists, it is not alone. Similarly hard-line views and movements are rising in European countries, a few helped by national leaders but most without any support from mainstream politicians. In fact one reason may be disillusionment with mainstream politics. Two others are a feeling of powerlessness against the real or perceived actions and aims of the European Union, and several years of large-scale immigration escaping wars, famines or poverty in the Middle East and Africa.A few of the worst groups in Britain have been declared illegal, not for their opinions as such but for inciting violence and hatred. less
Thank you for explaining it. I had no idea it had such a nasty history!The worst of it is not the 18-19C racism which was largely based on a mixture of ignorance and arrogance, but that such attitudes still exist now.
I suppose the gangs make it fairly clear what side they support, but I can see them intimidating voters from both sides. I am surprised they are allowed to do that.We don't register voters' affiliations here. We register eligibility to vote, but... moreI suppose the gangs make it fairly clear what side they support, but I can see them intimidating voters from both sides. I am surprised they are allowed to do that.We don't register voters' affiliations here. We register eligibility to vote, but are not asked to declare party support. Nor do the supervisors in the polling-stations know for whom we vote. We are sent a formal invitation to vote, by name and address, and it also tells us the location of the polling-station, ,which is usually a church hall, school or similar hired for the day. We go in, give our name and if necessary address to the clerk who marks the electoral roll accordingly and hands us the ballot slip itself. We mark our chosen candidate in a small booth so no-one else can see it, fold it in half so hiding the vote and put that in the ballot-box. The boxes are collected and counting begins in a suitable, reasonably local venue, on the same night. I think in my town they use, or... less
You can be confident of the national / international standards; and of the national agencies responsible for weights and measures. I think most countries have such departments; and ultimately they work to appropriate levels of precisi... moreYou can be confident of the national / international standards; and of the national agencies responsible for weights and measures. I think most countries have such departments; and ultimately they work to appropriate levels of precision based on internationally-agreed units. The USA is now almost the only country, and is the only major one, not using Metric measures for everyday trading. Nevertheless, whether Imperial or Metric your local weights and measures need still conform to the ANSI standards whose reference units will be those accepted internationally. That does recognise that America changed the "sizes" of some units into their own versions; but if and when the USA does go all-Metric it would not be allowed to invent its own "sizes" of metres, etc.So for example if I buy 10 gallons of petrol in Los Angeles they will be 10 US Gallons not 10 UK Gallons; but if bought the fuel in New York I would be confident it is still 10 US Gallons within a very small tolerance.&... less
All units still need defining, including those you list. The ISO might not physically hold the standard objects but they have defined those which are, and how they are defined, in the Systeme Internationale it developed. I turned to my Physics text-book:T... moreAll units still need defining, including those you list. The ISO might not physically hold the standard objects but they have defined those which are, and how they are defined, in the Systeme Internationale it developed. I turned to my Physics text-book:The International Prototype kilogramme is as you say, a piece of metal, and is kept in Paris. After all, the Metric System was invented in France - hence the spellings.Otherwise, the Metre is based on the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in one second.The Second is based on the behaviour of the atom of Caesium 133.I suspect they had to find natural phenomena that matched the long-established metre and second closely enough to then be used in turn as the definitions!There are only 4 other basic SI units, apart from the angle units Radian and Steradian. Those rest are the ampere, kelvin, mole and candela. My book does not state their definitions. All other units are compounds derived from just those 7 - even the Volt, as it is a unit of force. less
Having had to go through that rigmarole only an hour or so ago to purchase something...Very often the "Captcha" test is not at the start, but practically at the end of the whole process and not always expected; so after all that logging-in and subsequent&... moreHaving had to go through that rigmarole only an hour or so ago to purchase something...Very often the "Captcha" test is not at the start, but practically at the end of the whole process and not always expected; so after all that logging-in and subsequent work it would halt you there and waste whatever you were doing to that point. In fact it did catch me out by returning me to the address-details form. The site is all-English, for an English retailer, until you reach that point. My mistake was entering my address as I normally would, but I missed the effect of the home-address form having not been modified from its American template. So I had to edit my entries, select again, tick the little square again then work out what "cross-ways" are - the first attempt had asked about traffic-lights just visible in the distance. The effect? British addresses are number-street-town-county-postcode-(nation if applicable). This one gives number-street-town-nation-postcode-... less
I've worked in organisations that like Element's, needed to have their test and measuring equipment calibrated against national standards. It is a bit of a chain process though, in order to give that traceability.Nowadays the ultimate definitions of measu... moreI've worked in organisations that like Element's, needed to have their test and measuring equipment calibrated against national standards. It is a bit of a chain process though, in order to give that traceability.Nowadays the ultimate definitions of measurement units are maintained by the International Standards Organisation, of which virtually all countries in the world are either full members or associates - I forget the proper terms for those.
That might be true in Qanons' native USA, but I am afraid it has been spreading its poison to other countries, suitably tweaked by its followers there to match their own politics.Some of them in the UK call it things like "Save Our Children" to try to dis... moreThat might be true in Qanons' native USA, but I am afraid it has been spreading its poison to other countries, suitably tweaked by its followers there to match their own politics.Some of them in the UK call it things like "Save Our Children" to try to disguise its origins and attract the gullible.
What puzzles me is how they can know how you vote. I understand you have the option of using postal voting or polling-stations (I'm not sure what is their American term).Presumably though, if you use a polling-station you still vote in private and no... moreWhat puzzles me is how they can know how you vote. I understand you have the option of using postal voting or polling-stations (I'm not sure what is their American term).Presumably though, if you use a polling-station you still vote in private and no-one else sees what you have entered on the ballot slip? I realise it would be very frightening to have to pass a bunch of armed thugs loitering outside the building, but how can they know your voting choice unless you tell them - and even then they cannot know if you told them the truth or a lie? less
I don't think there is any connection between intelligence and morality. All that happens is that amoral people with a high IQ can do more damage or carry out more difficult crimes, than those of lower IQ. If you consider the deliberate cyber attacks... moreI don't think there is any connection between intelligence and morality. All that happens is that amoral people with a high IQ can do more damage or carry out more difficult crimes, than those of lower IQ. If you consider the deliberate cyber attacks by hostile nations, you realise most of that can only be carried out by people with considerable computing knowledge. The UK's security authorities have not only tracked a lot of that to the Russian military intelligence agency, but found the Russians were even making some of their attacks appear to have originated in China or North Korea! Similarly with fraud gangs. Bank robberies are very rare nowadays, and the modern equivalent is all on-line, which is not only safer for the thief but is so technical it can only be carried out by highly-intelligent people.If traitors are stupid enough to hand over secrets, they are stupid only in not thinking through the consequences of their actions. Their "stupidity" is of morality and trust, not of&nb... less
Fear. A very good point. I think you are right, certainly among those who own private arsenals or powerful rifles. Not all, perhaps, but a good many of them.As for what frightens them, well, there might be many things. Each other, perhaps. Some appea... moreFear. A very good point. I think you are right, certainly among those who own private arsenals or powerful rifles. Not all, perhaps, but a good many of them.As for what frightens them, well, there might be many things. Each other, perhaps. Some appear to be frightened some "unconstitutional" hard-line government might develop, so they need arm themselves to resist it; but that's probably only a minority of the gun owners.
Oh, I know what you mean about evasive answers. Sometimes, people use words like "It depends" to give them thinking time, or because the answer actually is a lot less straightforward than it might seem; but if the respondent does not know he or she s... moreOh, I know what you mean about evasive answers. Sometimes, people use words like "It depends" to give them thinking time, or because the answer actually is a lot less straightforward than it might seem; but if the respondent does not know he or she should be honest and admit it. No-one knows everything!I think the restrictions in Paris are a lot tighter than in London, and I heard on the News this evening that Brussels at least has re-imposed a 4-week lockdown; but London itself has not gone that far. Some areas around it have done so, locally, though.Also Wales' own government has announced a 2-week lockdown to start on Friday, under which only essential shops can open, employed people must work at home if possible (the Government does recognise that many can't); and perhaps hardest, everyone is to stay at home! I am not sure just how strict or operable that last clause is. Under the first, national lock-down in the UK, we were allowed out alone or with other members of our own households for exercise such... less
Beyond your country's febrile politics, it is not as simple as that. Hostile powers seek out whoever is likely to be the most useful for the particular attack.If they are trying to turn someone working for example in military research or a major financial... moreBeyond your country's febrile politics, it is not as simple as that. Hostile powers seek out whoever is likely to be the most useful for the particular attack.If they are trying to turn someone working for example in military research or a major financial institution, that individual is one with the appropriate knowledge; so will be highly intelligent and highly educated to have gained such employment in the first place. The security agency responsible will therefore look for exploitable weaknesses other than in learning or IQ, such as a sexual indiscretion, gambling debts or some grudge held. These days too, quite possibly use of unhealthy or even illegal Internet sites. If though they are trying to sow fear and division generally, e.g. by false Facebook accounts, they have two choices. They know many will see through their lies, but if they win over even just 1 in a 1000, that is a lot of people nation-wide. The hostile power's account-creators are like fraud g... less
And probably very inaccurately at that.I suppose the gun is an object of fascination, ego or kudos for some owners, so they must have as many as they can.
Thank you very much for your compliments, Rosie!Oh yes, we know you love to find questions on all sorts of things.Interesting that you mention rainbows as symbols because in this Year Of The Pandemic the rainbow has acquired a new place in Britain. When t... moreThank you very much for your compliments, Rosie!Oh yes, we know you love to find questions on all sorts of things.Interesting that you mention rainbows as symbols because in this Year Of The Pandemic the rainbow has acquired a new place in Britain. When the disease really hit home, the Government's early responses included urging us all to "Protect The NHS!" (National Health Service), over fears of hospitals being over-run and of course the dangers to their staff. This spawned an outpouring of public thanks to the service, with ten weeks of a weekly few minutes' of people coming out of their homes to applaud. It also inspired many people to put home-made signs in their front-room windows, with mottoes like "Thank-you NHS" over brightly-coloured rainbows. A lot of the signs looked as if drawn by children, and probably were. Why rainbows though? I have no idea. It has no obvious link to its diversity use, and I don't recall seeing or hearing any explanation.+++I was on Experience Project ... less
You are closer to knowing what "medium" means than you say- it is a rather vague word but does mean roughly the middle of a range.Using it in cooking is even more vague because it depends on the skill or ideas of the cook; but somewhere half-way... moreYou are closer to knowing what "medium" means than you say- it is a rather vague word but does mean roughly the middle of a range.Using it in cooking is even more vague because it depends on the skill or ideas of the cook; but somewhere half-way from rare to "well-done" is about right. I don't think statisticians use the word. Their nearest terms are probably "mean", "average" and "median", all closely defined and giving different aspects of ranges of things; but I don't know those definitions.How an adjective like "interesting" is used - or misused - colloquially depends very much on context; and the speaker might mean it literally, as a gentle put-down or as perhaps a euphemism such as "It was an interesting experience" for one that was actually awful or terrifying. Colloquial meanings can be a minefield, especially in text messages where you do not have the instant emotional links normal in face-to-face conversation. less
Yes, I have heard the newsreel a few times. The poor reporter was reduced to tears by seeing the disaster happening in front of him. Am I right thinking a few survived by jumping out, though badly injured in the fall?That era also saw the similar los... moreYes, I have heard the newsreel a few times. The poor reporter was reduced to tears by seeing the disaster happening in front of him. Am I right thinking a few survived by jumping out, though badly injured in the fall?That era also saw the similar loss of the British airship R101, which crashed-landed and burst into flames in France on its maiden voyage to India. No-one survived. By a terrible irony its passengers included the Government big-wigs who had forced its construction and testing to be rushed, and insisted on changes to the specifications for political reasons, to show a government can be just as good as the aeronautical industry itself at building such things. They wanted R101 in service before its fully-commercial R100 sister-ship, which did fly safely in service until the two disasters so destroyed public confidence in airships that no-one wanted to travel in them.====The "lead balloon" context may differ across the Atlantic. In use in Britain I have always heard it to refer not... less
Thank you for that additional information. It is known that the airship's German operators were very thorough with fire precautions, so lightning or static discharge are certainly feasible.
The saying "going down like a lead balloon" already existed and was not a reference to either the Hindenburg or the R101 disasters.I have no idea what inspired the band to call themselves "Led Zeppelin", and to use the photo of the blazing Hindenburg ... moreThe saying "going down like a lead balloon" already existed and was not a reference to either the Hindenburg or the R101 disasters.I have no idea what inspired the band to call themselves "Led Zeppelin", and to use the photo of the blazing Hindenburg on the second LP sleeve; but it certainly didn't do them any harm musically and commercially.+++I don't think the cause of the disaster was ever determined but I have seen the full news-reel, starting a few minutes before the fire broke out. Usually we see only the fire, but it is obvious from the earlier part that the airship was going out of control in the last mile or so to the mooring-mast. It was pitching wildly, and the crew were discharging a lot of the ballast water in their efforts to control it. I think it's safe to assume that pitching was due to it losing buoyancy and trim by a massive leak of hydrogen; and eventually some of that gas found its way to some unknown source of ignition. less
I would hope I don't do that knowingly to anyone just to be awkward, but like anyone I do sometimes I ask about something and other person genuinely does not know.I might ask it of myself though, as a sort of thinking aid when I am trying to make sense of... moreI would hope I don't do that knowingly to anyone just to be awkward, but like anyone I do sometimes I ask about something and other person genuinely does not know.I might ask it of myself though, as a sort of thinking aid when I am trying to make sense of something - or to come to terms with not understanding it.
I thought a constitution is supposed to be clear and unambiguous so its meanings are obvious, but leaves room for later amending and for writing rules that support it.I have not read the USA's Constitution but I expect it complies with those qualitie... moreI thought a constitution is supposed to be clear and unambiguous so its meanings are obvious, but leaves room for later amending and for writing rules that support it.I have not read the USA's Constitution but I expect it complies with those qualities. I can't understand though how anyone can place a certain interpretation on it based on it omitting things its authors could never had experienced or envisaged!I am not sure what's happening in London as a whole but I don't think anywhere in Britain is under a full lock-down as we had back in March and April. Instead we have a lot of tighter local restrictions that affect certain things like bars and restaurants, and these being local are leading to peculiar difficulties and a great deal of confusion.It's hardly helped by the UK Government not even knowing what the simple word "Medium" means! (It produced three classifications of risk of infection rate: Very High, High and Medium. Errr, I am no statistician but even I know that can't be right!... less
Is there any limit to the notion of an "~ist"?I don't suppose these "~ists" thought that the Founding Fathers could not possibly have considered health and social-security systems simply because such systems did not exist, anywhere, in thei... moreIs there any limit to the notion of an "~ist"?I don't suppose these "~ists" thought that the Founding Fathers could not possibly have considered health and social-security systems simply because such systems did not exist, anywhere, in their own time!
A former work colleague used to suffer from terrible headaches that were always put down as migraine, until one day her doctor decided to have the problem investigated further and referred her to a specialist. He found she had a brain tumour. Fortunately ... moreA former work colleague used to suffer from terrible headaches that were always put down as migraine, until one day her doctor decided to have the problem investigated further and referred her to a specialist. He found she had a brain tumour. Fortunately it was not malignant, and with it removed she made a full recovery.Science though goes far further than medicine - and the obvious one here of computers and the Internet. Without it we'd have none of the things we take for granted everyday like clean water, electricity, decent homes, mechanised transport and so many materials and products.I don't know Trump's real attitudes towards science but I know he does not understand it. less
Very rarely now. All the services I normally listen to are on FM.I've also tried the on-line BBC Sounds service but had problems logging into it, much more likely from my PC not being compatible with whatever background system the BBC uses (WIN-... moreVery rarely now. All the services I normally listen to are on FM.I've also tried the on-line BBC Sounds service but had problems logging into it, much more likely from my PC not being compatible with whatever background system the BBC uses (WIN-10 based?), than from any fault in the service itself. I have a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio but have not tried using it. I took one look at the operating instructions and decided I could not be bothered with the mind-boggling complexity of setting the thing up, simply to listen to programmes that continue to be transmitted perfectly well on real, frequency-modulated radio waves. DAB is also said to suffer from a strange weakness - it cannot be relied on for time-keeping due to a (variable?) delay between transmission and reception! less
I thought your electioneering might be in there somewhere... I share your concerns at the irresponsible way the crowds at some of them behave.We have seen heavy additional restrictions imposed on several cities in the North of England, due to rising ... moreI thought your electioneering might be in there somewhere... I share your concerns at the irresponsible way the crowds at some of them behave.We have seen heavy additional restrictions imposed on several cities in the North of England, due to rising infection rates, and from a similar cause: crowding. Not for political rallies, but drinking parties.
Yes - I have heard about the election campaigning!I think we develop long-term or even life-long immunity to some diseases but not others, and some of the respiratory ones are among those others. I assume it depends very much on how well and how... moreYes - I have heard about the election campaigning!I think we develop long-term or even life-long immunity to some diseases but not others, and some of the respiratory ones are among those others. I assume it depends very much on how well and how rapidly the specific micro-organism adapts.
What you read might be based on misunderstanding rather than lies. but there would no point in the UK trying to woo Biden because apart from that being bad manners, we can't influence the result of the election anyway. We leave that to Russia....No d... moreWhat you read might be based on misunderstanding rather than lies. but there would no point in the UK trying to woo Biden because apart from that being bad manners, we can't influence the result of the election anyway. We leave that to Russia....No doubt there are many Britons who support one candidate or the other depending on their own political views. There probably are political or commercial interests in the UK who hope one rather than the other Party wins, for whatever reason; and it could be that some of those are the ones a-wooing - but they are not the United Kingdom as a whole. Officially the UK government tries to be neutral over other countries' elections, but I imagine that the people paid to know about such things are making two lots of plans and assessments, such as trade negotiations, to be ready for whichever Party does win. less
It's not the principle of "herd immunity" that is the problem although the idea of it developing quickly in this pandemic seemed to have been dropped early on, but how it's used and misused that's wrong - as by Trump.I don't know what Atlas has ... moreIt's not the principle of "herd immunity" that is the problem although the idea of it developing quickly in this pandemic seemed to have been dropped early on, but how it's used and misused that's wrong - as by Trump.I don't know what Atlas has said about it, but "herd immunity" but it does seem to exist. Perhaps it really needs many years to develop in a population generally. It was reported here that at Trump's rally in Florida, many of his audience were not keeping apart and not covering their faces. When he was ill, one journalist covering it said Trump regards illness as a "weakness"; but we've all known for a long time that he has little or no understanding or appreciation of science. less
Yes - and Holland is tightening its own restrictions (hating doing so), as are cities at least elsewhere in Europe. I think Madrid declared a State of Emergency. We in Britain were thinking we are getting the worst of both the pandemic and the c... moreYes - and Holland is tightening its own restrictions (hating doing so), as are cities at least elsewhere in Europe. I think Madrid declared a State of Emergency. We in Britain were thinking we are getting the worst of both the pandemic and the controls but it seems we are in about the same state as much of Europe. Not exactly comforting but at least we are all in the same boat.The UK government does keep changing the rules, causing a lot of confusion; but has given local authorities the power to add further local controls to the national ones - adding to the confusion as well. The epidemiologists and now the Opposition (in Parliament) are all saying we had not acted strongly enough, or should impose a two-week lockdown etc; but the Government is caught between a vicious little scrap of RNA and trying to keep the country as functional and free as possible. less
It does take a twisted form of courage, indeed, but although suicide missions were used by Japan against US forces in WW2, I can't think of any nation ever deliberately using such tactics against themselves.
Not necessarily true at all.A lot depends on the type of bacteria or virus, and on your own general health and power of immunity. Ones like the Corona virus do have counter-defence mechanisms, or mutate slightly to adapt for their own survival, which... moreNot necessarily true at all.A lot depends on the type of bacteria or virus, and on your own general health and power of immunity. Ones like the Corona virus do have counter-defence mechanisms, or mutate slightly to adapt for their own survival, which is why the strain responsible for the common cold can come back eventually and attack you again. That responsible for SARS-Covid-19 is still enough of a newcomer for us not to know its long-term behaviour; but reported cases of re-infection are still extremely rare, only about 20 world-wide known to the WHO. Whether that is because if you can build up sufficient immunity you are fine, or if it's because the virus will take a year or so to make you ill again, remains to be seen. It's only been around as an identified disease of its own for less than a year; but I imagine it is quite possible people had contracted it without knowing it, or thinking it was some other illness, a lot earlier than we thought; and not just in China, either. less
It did all seem to start well four years ago, though we were a bit surprised when he invited himself on a State Visit! Boris Johnson did send Trump his best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid-19, but that is normal diplomacy flavoured with the person... moreIt did all seem to start well four years ago, though we were a bit surprised when he invited himself on a State Visit! Boris Johnson did send Trump his best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid-19, but that is normal diplomacy flavoured with the personal touch as Johnson himself had had it too.Otherwise, despite the BBC reporting on the election campaigning far more than really necessary, the UK is keeping its counsel and waiting patiently to see who will be President. America's internal politics are America's business, but of course the UK will be concerned with international matters such as trade agreements, and the effects on them depending on your next Government.So the idea that the UK is "wooing" either side, is wrong.Although President Trump has done himself no favours, and he did upset a lot of Britons on his "State Visit" here, we usually manage to separate the nation overall from the leader of the time. Besides, most of the working interactions between governments ... less
Yes, it is strange how these links suddenly appear!I've not been to a drag-race meeting for many years as my interests developed elsewhere, but alongside that I also loved the custom-vehicle scene although I never had the means to build anything mys... moreYes, it is strange how these links suddenly appear!I've not been to a drag-race meeting for many years as my interests developed elsewhere, but alongside that I also loved the custom-vehicle scene although I never had the means to build anything myself.I remember among the souvenir posters at Santa Pod was one showing a crash that happened there, but not by the dragster hitting the barriers or anything. Instead the driver lost control on the start-line and wheelied the thing so violently that it reared up almost vertically and toppled over from one rear wheel. The photo was taken just as it started to fall over sideways.I still have about a dozen UK-published drag-racing magazines from that time (about 1972), reporting on events at Santa Pod and Blackbush Airfield. I went to Blackbush once but it was a bit disappointing because it was still a working airfield so the race organisers had to erect temporary fences a long way from the runway. Santa Pod was dedicated to drag-racing... less
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.
Model Engineer magazine, originally published with & Electrician... moreModel Engineer magazine, originally published with & Electrician in the title, is as its name implies, for a readership with a lay but reasonably broad grasp of engineering principles and related science.The latest edition (Vol.225 No.4643, 17 July 2020) publishes two extracts from its early-20C predecessor; the first on international affairs, the second on the "Enviroment" as it was not called then.'1) Fulsomely praising the technical inventiveness and ingenuity of what he called the "Chinese race" the editor commented, ".... The prospect of China becoming the workshop of the world is, perhaps, too remote to contemplate, but that China may be someday a formidable competitor in things mechanical is worth a passing thought." The date? 1904. (ref. ME&E Vol.XI No. 179; 29 Sept. 1904.)Particularly prescient for the magazine's modern readers, since most of the small lathes and other machine-tools now sold to model-engineers are made in either Taiwan or the People's Republic... less
Just For Interest. Try it from your existing knowledge. No cheat... moreJust For Interest. Try it from your existing knowledge. No cheating by looking it up! Please: No publishing answers until I have given them in due course, to be fair to anyone else trying seriously to test or extend their own knowledge. 25 Basic Science Questions with an environmental slant, now you have saved the planet and whales, achieved zero-carbon by last Michaelmas, and are walking everywhere with a paper shopping-bag-for-life autographed by Aunty Greta.
No trick questions but some are worded slightly indirectly; most are simple , some obscure; but all are of upper school- or interested lay- level. I am of course aware there are Answermug users with a far deeper, possibly professional, knowledge of these subjects than mine! I would also agree that whatever is or is not happening in the world, we cannot be complacent. World-wide we are heading for very serious difficulties whatever those turn out to be; and as some of these questions suggest, neither the problems nor "ob... less
'Tis the time of year for ghost-stories, real and fictional myst... more'Tis the time of year for ghost-stories, real and fictional mysteries, myths and the like - ancient and right up-to-date. Test your own knowledge with these ten questions, just for fun ! (Hint: not all are "paranormal".1) In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the first manifestation experienced by Ebenezer Scrooge was;
a) Eerie echoes from the cellar, from him slamming his front door,
b) The face of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley,
c) The face of his deceased father.
2) In 1917, two young English girls took photographs of fairies widely acclaimed as genuine by photography experts and others including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Did they?
3) What is so unique about the sea area often called the ‘Bermuda Triangle’, to lead to its reputation?... less
The following are all genuine quotes from a mail-order household... moreThe following are all genuine quotes from a mail-order household gadgets catalogue, dated, "Christmas 2019". The prices are reduced by 20% in that edition, with the full price also given in the booklet, as legally required. See how many flaws you can spot in them, and identify them: none are above school-level physics. One statement is correct but simply a definition, the rest are all dubious to say the least. If you counting, some are repeated from item to item, but I counted around 10 specious statements. 1) and 2) are from the section's introduction.So spend almost £162 and you, your family and your precious electronic equipment will all be safe... won't they? '1) “… noticed your mobile phone gets hot during long calls? The heat is actually thermal radiation… several types of radiation that it emits. …. All … personal electronic devices … emit harmful radiation” '2) The lab-tested shielding membrane built into ... less
Unwanted striking-though of part of message, appearing automatic... moreUnwanted striking-though of part of message, appearing automatically when I press Send: reason and how to remove it, please? (Tried "Help" but that's all artificial FAQs, so no help!)
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?
X less
I prefer fairly deep darkness and my bedroom is at times despite... moreI prefer fairly deep darkness and my bedroom is at times despite no curtains (it is not closely overlooked). I don't like it so dark I cannot focus on something if I awake, but nights where I live are rarely so dark I cannot see the sky as a pair of very slightly lighter rectangles. Heavy overcast glows slightly yellow by reflected street-light.There is also a very faint bluish glow from a clock/radio next to the bed, facing somewhat away from me.Facing South though, the room does catch the moonlight! less
Could you not just turn off everything off at the main... moreCould you not just turn off everything off at the mains socket when not using it, except perhaps the router - or even that too? Or at least turn the things to face away from your bed if their lights are a nuisance.Though they are not in my bedroom, my PC and printers are fed from a 4-way socket board plugged into one of a twin switched socket, the router PSU is alone in the other; so I can leave the router on as apparently advised but close the computer and turn off the supply to it and everything else. I also turn off my portable radios' leads at the mains since discovering their alleged On/Off switches are on the wrong side of the internal power-supply units. less
My watch dial is luminescent, though the effect does not last ve... moreMy watch dial is luminescent, though the effect does not last very long. It is a bit odd sometimes to see it half-bright and half-dull, where my cuff has partially covered the dial otherwise open to the light.
"All of... " One assumes from that, one normally has lots a... more"All of... " One assumes from that, one normally has lots and they could be anywhere around the home.Doesn't long to count mine. I have no television, even singularly.I've a small DVD player I've barely used. Does that count? I had hoped it would run a CD-based, pdf-format operating-manual for a particularly difficult piece of software I am trying to learn, but it won't. I'd wanted to display the manual on the DVD screen alongside the PC running the software, so both were visible together. Radios though.... Kitchen, front room, bedroom, shed. Plus a DAB radio I won in a raffle several years ago, and have never used - I took one look at the instructions and could not be bothered with something as complicated as that to do nothing my FM sets don't do far more simply and unlike DAB, punctually. And also unused, a "Mikomi CD Radio Cassette Recorder" it says it is on the half-opened packaging. less
I've even mended a couple of them. The elastic was only held by ... moreI've even mended a couple of them. The elastic was only held by a dab of glue so I stapled them back on, sharp ends outwards.
Shouldn't that be the other way round?
I thought "bug" is Americ... moreShouldn't that be the other way round?
I thought "bug" is American slang for any small invertebrate with legs, be it an insect, spider, woodlouse, mite or other.
Any Ba'hais here to confirm or correct?I suspect what they mean ... moreAny Ba'hais here to confirm or correct?I suspect what they mean is striving for an altruist form of governance that places serving the community as a whole for the community above serving it to meet political theories, parties and leaders. In any case the Islamic view generally is that it's God's law that matters and worldly governments are only administrators - in nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia it is the clerics who hold the real power behind the ministers.I suppose all the others there can't complain though about any government, if they don't vote. less
Well, it doesn't make sense, does it?If you believe God gave us ... moreWell, it doesn't make sense, does it?If you believe God gave us our powerful brains it would indeed be logical and indeed respectful to assume God means us to use them, and to use them well and for good or at least not for bad.Whether we do, and how we do, is another matter though... One apparently left to our own choice.
There is also a difference between a Radiologist and a Radiograp... moreThere is also a difference between a Radiologist and a Radiographer - the former analyses the latter's photographs.
There is a difference between "precision" and "accuracy" but I f... moreThere is a difference between "precision" and "accuracy" but I forget what it is; although they are used loosely as synonyms.It is important to me when it needs to be - catching a bus, meeting a medical or other appointment, wanting to listen to a specific radio programme.Otherwise... errr, no. Five minutes here or there is of no real account to me, most of the time.I do like that restaurant's honesty though, and I'm pleased it's flourishing after all the delays! :-)
No because it does not say human life-span in ideal conditi... moreNo because it does not say human life-span in ideal conditions over 100 years, but "global average life expectancy", and that is a different thing. All its says is that in 1900 a vastly larger proportion of the world's population died in their 30s or 40s; mainly from poverty, war, natural disasters, disease and famine. Far fewer natural diseases could be cured then; and fatal or debilitating industrial diseases and accidents were far more common at the time. Nevertheless many people staggered on into their 70s and 80s, and more, even in 1900. They might have been existing more than living, but at least were still alive.Mean life-span itself for healthy people in reasonably good conditions certainly has increased over the century, but by no means doubled. All organisms seem to have definite mean life-spans assuming conditions allow them to reach their natural end, and our species is no exception, notwithstanding ours is fairly widely defined, and we doing our best to prolong it medic... less
I don't know if there is any sort of numerical link but the 'Her... moreI don't know if there is any sort of numerical link but the 'Herald of Free Enterprise' ferry disaster was a spur for the UK to develop a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter to cover such crimes by negligence.I forget when it happened -1980s I think - but in that incident the ferry left the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, bound for an English port, before the car deck's bow door was properly closed. As the ship picked up speed it "swallowed" its own bow wave, flooding the car deck which was only just above the water-line, and causing the ship to capsize with a very high loss of life. The case revolved on the bridge officers taking the ship out of harbour without first ensuring the door was fully shut. Under Corporate Manslaughter law, the directors can now be held responsible even if nowhere near the scene, if it was shown they not taken all reasonable steps as the law would say, to make sure the operating equipment and staff had all necessary precautions, protections and trainin... less
It was reported, though without location name or the word "murde... moreIt was reported, though without location name or the word "murder", on the BBC News today. The report said these hornets have a powerful sting, prey on other bees, and described this nest as the "first found in the USA".Yes, it is very likely more will be found.
Oh yes, I can see why apart from party loyalty you don't like Do... moreOh yes, I can see why apart from party loyalty you don't like Donald Trump especially. I don't believe for one moment his claims that he does not know the nature of some of the extremist groups who support him.
I honestly have no idea. The Internet helps these ideas spread r... moreI honestly have no idea. The Internet helps these ideas spread rapidly but that does not explain why so many people are attracted to them.Although the USA has a lot of noisy Far-Right extremists, it is not alone. Similarly hard-line views and movements are rising in European countries, a few helped by national leaders but most without any support from mainstream politicians. In fact one reason may be disillusionment with mainstream politics. Two others are a feeling of powerlessness against the real or perceived actions and aims of the European Union, and several years of large-scale immigration escaping wars, famines or poverty in the Middle East and Africa.A few of the worst groups in Britain have been declared illegal, not for their opinions as such but for inciting violence and hatred. less
Thank you for explaining it. I had no idea it had such a nasty h... moreThank you for explaining it. I had no idea it had such a nasty history!The worst of it is not the 18-19C racism which was largely based on a mixture of ignorance and arrogance, but that such attitudes still exist now.
I suppose the gangs make it fairly clear what side they sup... moreI suppose the gangs make it fairly clear what side they support, but I can see them intimidating voters from both sides. I am surprised they are allowed to do that.We don't register voters' affiliations here. We register eligibility to vote, but are not asked to declare party support. Nor do the supervisors in the polling-stations know for whom we vote. We are sent a formal invitation to vote, by name and address, and it also tells us the location of the polling-station, ,which is usually a church hall, school or similar hired for the day. We go in, give our name and if necessary address to the clerk who marks the electoral roll accordingly and hands us the ballot slip itself. We mark our chosen candidate in a small booth so no-one else can see it, fold it in half so hiding the vote and put that in the ballot-box. The boxes are collected and counting begins in a suitable, reasonably local venue, on the same night. I think in my town they use, or... less
You can be confident of the national / international standards; ... moreYou can be confident of the national / international standards; and of the national agencies responsible for weights and measures. I think most countries have such departments; and ultimately they work to appropriate levels of precision based on internationally-agreed units. The USA is now almost the only country, and is the only major one, not using Metric measures for everyday trading. Nevertheless, whether Imperial or Metric your local weights and measures need still conform to the ANSI standards whose reference units will be those accepted internationally. That does recognise that America changed the "sizes" of some units into their own versions; but if and when the USA does go all-Metric it would not be allowed to invent its own "sizes" of metres, etc.So for example if I buy 10 gallons of petrol in Los Angeles they will be 10 US Gallons not 10 UK Gallons; but if bought the fuel in New York I would be confident it is still 10 US Gallons within a very small tolerance.&... less
All units still need defining, including those you list. The ISO... moreAll units still need defining, including those you list. The ISO might not physically hold the standard objects but they have defined those which are, and how they are defined, in the Systeme Internationale it developed. I turned to my Physics text-book:The International Prototype kilogramme is as you say, a piece of metal, and is kept in Paris. After all, the Metric System was invented in France - hence the spellings.Otherwise, the Metre is based on the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in one second.The Second is based on the behaviour of the atom of Caesium 133.I suspect they had to find natural phenomena that matched the long-established metre and second closely enough to then be used in turn as the definitions!There are only 4 other basic SI units, apart from the angle units Radian and Steradian. Those rest are the ampere, kelvin, mole and candela. My book does not state their definitions. All other units are compounds derived from just those 7 - even the Volt, as it is a unit of force. less
Having had to go through that rigmarole only an hour or so ago t... moreHaving had to go through that rigmarole only an hour or so ago to purchase something...Very often the "Captcha" test is not at the start, but practically at the end of the whole process and not always expected; so after all that logging-in and subsequent work it would halt you there and waste whatever you were doing to that point. In fact it did catch me out by returning me to the address-details form. The site is all-English, for an English retailer, until you reach that point. My mistake was entering my address as I normally would, but I missed the effect of the home-address form having not been modified from its American template. So I had to edit my entries, select again, tick the little square again then work out what "cross-ways" are - the first attempt had asked about traffic-lights just visible in the distance. The effect? British addresses are number-street-town-county-postcode-(nation if applicable). This one gives number-street-town-nation-postcode-... less
I've worked in organisations that like Element's, needed to have... moreI've worked in organisations that like Element's, needed to have their test and measuring equipment calibrated against national standards. It is a bit of a chain process though, in order to give that traceability.Nowadays the ultimate definitions of measurement units are maintained by the International Standards Organisation, of which virtually all countries in the world are either full members or associates - I forget the proper terms for those.
That might be true in Qanons' native USA, but I am afraid it has... moreThat might be true in Qanons' native USA, but I am afraid it has been spreading its poison to other countries, suitably tweaked by its followers there to match their own politics.Some of them in the UK call it things like "Save Our Children" to try to disguise its origins and attract the gullible.
3/5... 0.6... 60%....Err, how? What inspired that question? Were... more3/5... 0.6... 60%....Err, how? What inspired that question? Were you referring to some comment by a politician or the like?
What puzzles me is how they can know how you vote. I understand ... moreWhat puzzles me is how they can know how you vote. I understand you have the option of using postal voting or polling-stations (I'm not sure what is their American term).Presumably though, if you use a polling-station you still vote in private and no-one else sees what you have entered on the ballot slip? I realise it would be very frightening to have to pass a bunch of armed thugs loitering outside the building, but how can they know your voting choice unless you tell them - and even then they cannot know if you told them the truth or a lie? less
I don't think there is any connection between intelligence and m... moreI don't think there is any connection between intelligence and morality. All that happens is that amoral people with a high IQ can do more damage or carry out more difficult crimes, than those of lower IQ. If you consider the deliberate cyber attacks by hostile nations, you realise most of that can only be carried out by people with considerable computing knowledge. The UK's security authorities have not only tracked a lot of that to the Russian military intelligence agency, but found the Russians were even making some of their attacks appear to have originated in China or North Korea! Similarly with fraud gangs. Bank robberies are very rare nowadays, and the modern equivalent is all on-line, which is not only safer for the thief but is so technical it can only be carried out by highly-intelligent people.If traitors are stupid enough to hand over secrets, they are stupid only in not thinking through the consequences of their actions. Their "stupidity" is of morality and trust, not of&nb... less
Fear. A very good point. I think you are right, certainly among ... moreFear. A very good point. I think you are right, certainly among those who own private arsenals or powerful rifles. Not all, perhaps, but a good many of them.As for what frightens them, well, there might be many things. Each other, perhaps. Some appear to be frightened some "unconstitutional" hard-line government might develop, so they need arm themselves to resist it; but that's probably only a minority of the gun owners.
Oh, I know what you mean about evasive answers. Sometimes, peopl... moreOh, I know what you mean about evasive answers. Sometimes, people use words like "It depends" to give them thinking time, or because the answer actually is a lot less straightforward than it might seem; but if the respondent does not know he or she should be honest and admit it. No-one knows everything!I think the restrictions in Paris are a lot tighter than in London, and I heard on the News this evening that Brussels at least has re-imposed a 4-week lockdown; but London itself has not gone that far. Some areas around it have done so, locally, though.Also Wales' own government has announced a 2-week lockdown to start on Friday, under which only essential shops can open, employed people must work at home if possible (the Government does recognise that many can't); and perhaps hardest, everyone is to stay at home! I am not sure just how strict or operable that last clause is. Under the first, national lock-down in the UK, we were allowed out alone or with other members of our own households for exercise such... less
Beyond your country's febrile politics, it is not as simple as t... moreBeyond your country's febrile politics, it is not as simple as that. Hostile powers seek out whoever is likely to be the most useful for the particular attack.If they are trying to turn someone working for example in military research or a major financial institution, that individual is one with the appropriate knowledge; so will be highly intelligent and highly educated to have gained such employment in the first place. The security agency responsible will therefore look for exploitable weaknesses other than in learning or IQ, such as a sexual indiscretion, gambling debts or some grudge held. These days too, quite possibly use of unhealthy or even illegal Internet sites. If though they are trying to sow fear and division generally, e.g. by false Facebook accounts, they have two choices. They know many will see through their lies, but if they win over even just 1 in a 1000, that is a lot of people nation-wide. The hostile power's account-creators are like fraud g... less
And probably very inaccurately at that.I suppose the gun is an o... moreAnd probably very inaccurately at that.I suppose the gun is an object of fascination, ego or kudos for some owners, so they must have as many as they can.
Thank you very much for your compliments, Rosie!Oh yes, we know ... moreThank you very much for your compliments, Rosie!Oh yes, we know you love to find questions on all sorts of things.Interesting that you mention rainbows as symbols because in this Year Of The Pandemic the rainbow has acquired a new place in Britain. When the disease really hit home, the Government's early responses included urging us all to "Protect The NHS!" (National Health Service), over fears of hospitals being over-run and of course the dangers to their staff. This spawned an outpouring of public thanks to the service, with ten weeks of a weekly few minutes' of people coming out of their homes to applaud. It also inspired many people to put home-made signs in their front-room windows, with mottoes like "Thank-you NHS" over brightly-coloured rainbows. A lot of the signs looked as if drawn by children, and probably were. Why rainbows though? I have no idea. It has no obvious link to its diversity use, and I don't recall seeing or hearing any explanation.+++I was on Experience Project ... less
You are closer to knowing what "medium" means than you say-... moreYou are closer to knowing what "medium" means than you say- it is a rather vague word but does mean roughly the middle of a range.Using it in cooking is even more vague because it depends on the skill or ideas of the cook; but somewhere half-way from rare to "well-done" is about right. I don't think statisticians use the word. Their nearest terms are probably "mean", "average" and "median", all closely defined and giving different aspects of ranges of things; but I don't know those definitions.How an adjective like "interesting" is used - or misused - colloquially depends very much on context; and the speaker might mean it literally, as a gentle put-down or as perhaps a euphemism such as "It was an interesting experience" for one that was actually awful or terrifying. Colloquial meanings can be a minefield, especially in text messages where you do not have the instant emotional links normal in face-to-face conversation. less
Yes, I have heard the newsreel a few times. The poor reporter wa... moreYes, I have heard the newsreel a few times. The poor reporter was reduced to tears by seeing the disaster happening in front of him. Am I right thinking a few survived by jumping out, though badly injured in the fall?That era also saw the similar loss of the British airship R101, which crashed-landed and burst into flames in France on its maiden voyage to India. No-one survived. By a terrible irony its passengers included the Government big-wigs who had forced its construction and testing to be rushed, and insisted on changes to the specifications for political reasons, to show a government can be just as good as the aeronautical industry itself at building such things. They wanted R101 in service before its fully-commercial R100 sister-ship, which did fly safely in service until the two disasters so destroyed public confidence in airships that no-one wanted to travel in them.====The "lead balloon" context may differ across the Atlantic. In use in Britain I have always heard it to refer not... less
Thank you for that additional information. It is known that the ... moreThank you for that additional information. It is known that the airship's German operators were very thorough with fire precautions, so lightning or static discharge are certainly feasible.
The saying "going down like a lead balloon" already existed and ... moreThe saying "going down like a lead balloon" already existed and was not a reference to either the Hindenburg or the R101 disasters.I have no idea what inspired the band to call themselves "Led Zeppelin", and to use the photo of the blazing Hindenburg on the second LP sleeve; but it certainly didn't do them any harm musically and commercially.+++I don't think the cause of the disaster was ever determined but I have seen the full news-reel, starting a few minutes before the fire broke out. Usually we see only the fire, but it is obvious from the earlier part that the airship was going out of control in the last mile or so to the mooring-mast. It was pitching wildly, and the crew were discharging a lot of the ballast water in their efforts to control it. I think it's safe to assume that pitching was due to it losing buoyancy and trim by a massive leak of hydrogen; and eventually some of that gas found its way to some unknown source of ignition. less
I would hope I don't do that knowingly to anyone just to be awkw... moreI would hope I don't do that knowingly to anyone just to be awkward, but like anyone I do sometimes I ask about something and other person genuinely does not know.I might ask it of myself though, as a sort of thinking aid when I am trying to make sense of something - or to come to terms with not understanding it.
I thought a constitution is supposed to be clear and unambiguous... moreI thought a constitution is supposed to be clear and unambiguous so its meanings are obvious, but leaves room for later amending and for writing rules that support it.I have not read the USA's Constitution but I expect it complies with those qualities. I can't understand though how anyone can place a certain interpretation on it based on it omitting things its authors could never had experienced or envisaged!I am not sure what's happening in London as a whole but I don't think anywhere in Britain is under a full lock-down as we had back in March and April. Instead we have a lot of tighter local restrictions that affect certain things like bars and restaurants, and these being local are leading to peculiar difficulties and a great deal of confusion.It's hardly helped by the UK Government not even knowing what the simple word "Medium" means! (It produced three classifications of risk of infection rate: Very High, High and Medium. Errr, I am no statistician but even I know that can't be right!... less
Is there any limit to the notion of an "~ist"?I don't suppose th... moreIs there any limit to the notion of an "~ist"?I don't suppose these "~ists" thought that the Founding Fathers could not possibly have considered health and social-security systems simply because such systems did not exist, anywhere, in their own time!
A former work colleague used to suffer from terrible headaches t... moreA former work colleague used to suffer from terrible headaches that were always put down as migraine, until one day her doctor decided to have the problem investigated further and referred her to a specialist. He found she had a brain tumour. Fortunately it was not malignant, and with it removed she made a full recovery.Science though goes far further than medicine - and the obvious one here of computers and the Internet. Without it we'd have none of the things we take for granted everyday like clean water, electricity, decent homes, mechanised transport and so many materials and products.I don't know Trump's real attitudes towards science but I know he does not understand it. less
Very rarely now. All the services I normally listen to are on FM... moreVery rarely now. All the services I normally listen to are on FM.I've also tried the on-line BBC Sounds service but had problems logging into it, much more likely from my PC not being compatible with whatever background system the BBC uses (WIN-10 based?), than from any fault in the service itself. I have a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio but have not tried using it. I took one look at the operating instructions and decided I could not be bothered with the mind-boggling complexity of setting the thing up, simply to listen to programmes that continue to be transmitted perfectly well on real, frequency-modulated radio waves. DAB is also said to suffer from a strange weakness - it cannot be relied on for time-keeping due to a (variable?) delay between transmission and reception! less
I thought your electioneering might be in there somewhere... I s... moreI thought your electioneering might be in there somewhere... I share your concerns at the irresponsible way the crowds at some of them behave.We have seen heavy additional restrictions imposed on several cities in the North of England, due to rising infection rates, and from a similar cause: crowding. Not for political rallies, but drinking parties.
Yes - I have heard about the election campaigning!I think we dev... moreYes - I have heard about the election campaigning!I think we develop long-term or even life-long immunity to some diseases but not others, and some of the respiratory ones are among those others. I assume it depends very much on how well and how rapidly the specific micro-organism adapts.
What you read might be based on misunderstanding rather than lie... moreWhat you read might be based on misunderstanding rather than lies. but there would no point in the UK trying to woo Biden because apart from that being bad manners, we can't influence the result of the election anyway. We leave that to Russia....No doubt there are many Britons who support one candidate or the other depending on their own political views. There probably are political or commercial interests in the UK who hope one rather than the other Party wins, for whatever reason; and it could be that some of those are the ones a-wooing - but they are not the United Kingdom as a whole. Officially the UK government tries to be neutral over other countries' elections, but I imagine that the people paid to know about such things are making two lots of plans and assessments, such as trade negotiations, to be ready for whichever Party does win. less
It's not the principle of "herd immunity" that is the problem al... moreIt's not the principle of "herd immunity" that is the problem although the idea of it developing quickly in this pandemic seemed to have been dropped early on, but how it's used and misused that's wrong - as by Trump.I don't know what Atlas has said about it, but "herd immunity" but it does seem to exist. Perhaps it really needs many years to develop in a population generally. It was reported here that at Trump's rally in Florida, many of his audience were not keeping apart and not covering their faces. When he was ill, one journalist covering it said Trump regards illness as a "weakness"; but we've all known for a long time that he has little or no understanding or appreciation of science. less
Yes - and Holland is tightening its own restrictions (hatin... moreYes - and Holland is tightening its own restrictions (hating doing so), as are cities at least elsewhere in Europe. I think Madrid declared a State of Emergency. We in Britain were thinking we are getting the worst of both the pandemic and the controls but it seems we are in about the same state as much of Europe. Not exactly comforting but at least we are all in the same boat.The UK government does keep changing the rules, causing a lot of confusion; but has given local authorities the power to add further local controls to the national ones - adding to the confusion as well. The epidemiologists and now the Opposition (in Parliament) are all saying we had not acted strongly enough, or should impose a two-week lockdown etc; but the Government is caught between a vicious little scrap of RNA and trying to keep the country as functional and free as possible. less
It does take a twisted form of courage, indeed, but although sui... moreIt does take a twisted form of courage, indeed, but although suicide missions were used by Japan against US forces in WW2, I can't think of any nation ever deliberately using such tactics against themselves.
Not necessarily true at all.A lot depends on the type of bacteri... moreNot necessarily true at all.A lot depends on the type of bacteria or virus, and on your own general health and power of immunity. Ones like the Corona virus do have counter-defence mechanisms, or mutate slightly to adapt for their own survival, which is why the strain responsible for the common cold can come back eventually and attack you again. That responsible for SARS-Covid-19 is still enough of a newcomer for us not to know its long-term behaviour; but reported cases of re-infection are still extremely rare, only about 20 world-wide known to the WHO. Whether that is because if you can build up sufficient immunity you are fine, or if it's because the virus will take a year or so to make you ill again, remains to be seen. It's only been around as an identified disease of its own for less than a year; but I imagine it is quite possible people had contracted it without knowing it, or thinking it was some other illness, a lot earlier than we thought; and not just in China, either. less
This post was edited by Durdle at October 13, 2020 2:49 PM MDT
It did all seem to start well four years ago, though we were a b... moreIt did all seem to start well four years ago, though we were a bit surprised when he invited himself on a State Visit! Boris Johnson did send Trump his best wishes for a speedy recovery from Covid-19, but that is normal diplomacy flavoured with the personal touch as Johnson himself had had it too.Otherwise, despite the BBC reporting on the election campaigning far more than really necessary, the UK is keeping its counsel and waiting patiently to see who will be President. America's internal politics are America's business, but of course the UK will be concerned with international matters such as trade agreements, and the effects on them depending on your next Government.So the idea that the UK is "wooing" either side, is wrong.Although President Trump has done himself no favours, and he did upset a lot of Britons on his "State Visit" here, we usually manage to separate the nation overall from the leader of the time. Besides, most of the working interactions between governments ... less
This post was edited by Durdle at October 13, 2020 2:28 PM MDT
Yes, it is strange how these links suddenly appear!I've not been... moreYes, it is strange how these links suddenly appear!I've not been to a drag-race meeting for many years as my interests developed elsewhere, but alongside that I also loved the custom-vehicle scene although I never had the means to build anything myself.I remember among the souvenir posters at Santa Pod was one showing a crash that happened there, but not by the dragster hitting the barriers or anything. Instead the driver lost control on the start-line and wheelied the thing so violently that it reared up almost vertically and toppled over from one rear wheel. The photo was taken just as it started to fall over sideways.I still have about a dozen UK-published drag-racing magazines from that time (about 1972), reporting on events at Santa Pod and Blackbush Airfield. I went to Blackbush once but it was a bit disappointing because it was still a working airfield so the race organisers had to erect temporary fences a long way from the runway. Santa Pod was dedicated to drag-racing... less
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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