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Post by hireton on Aug 14, 2022 19:26:28 GMT
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Post by davwel on Aug 14, 2022 19:33:46 GMT
leftmercian:
This checking on the Met Office 7-day forecasts for weather in individual villages and towns can become a big job. On Friday we were passing through 10 or 12 places that the Met Office would be giving details for - so for us, much better to have a map with isotherms like broadcasters used to show.
These maps were also very helpful for showing where frosts would develop and damage our tatties in May. Earthing-up needlessly is annoying.
But our dumbed-down media think they mainly serve towns or densely populated areas.
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alurqa
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Post by alurqa on Aug 14, 2022 20:23:01 GMT
Were you there Sir? In the room Sir?-ooh. ooh ! Did she want it Sir ? - You in the room Sir ? Suit you Sir -ooh ooh ! Cleanest post I've read here for ages. :-)
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 20:24:02 GMT
The real point is that none of us give toss about your analysis of other people’s private sex lives - either Gordon Brown’s, your sister’s or anyone else’s. I suspect that if news had emerged in early 1975 that Thatcher had been involved in affairs such as now associated with Truss , her leadership bid to oust Heath would have been scuppered. That would have implied that quite a few do care. Ditto May in 2016. grahamThough I have some sympathy with your views and think that everyone's moral position deserves respect (provided they have one!), and I do agree is that the general moral standards have changed, not necessarily for the better. Also, I think most posters would agree that moral turpitude can be taken too far, as with our current PM. But all this speculation about which previous PMs might or might not have had affairs or what might have happened 50 years ago if certain circumstances occurred is getting ridiculous.
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alurqa
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Post by alurqa on Aug 14, 2022 20:31:27 GMT
Yes, but after you have played a few times switching things on and off to see how much power usage changes, you start to think, 'so what'? Like, you arent going to switch off the telly because you now know how much power it uses. Quite. You know an electric fire or oven, or toaster, etc is going to use a lot, and if you know the wattage you can work it out exactly. So use those sparingly -- only fill the kettle with what you need for instance. That's why I compute the average over a week. Then you get a better view of your usage. You can plan behaviour changes (games with the kettle, shorter showers, 'if it's brown, flush it down, if it's yellow let it mellow', etc) and see how much you can reduce your usage week after week. I've done this for years -- for something so boring it can be quite fun. As I said, I'm a smart meter reader even though I haven't got a smart meter. I don't need one!
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 20:33:05 GMT
Are you seriously suggesting that decades ago almost nobody adhered to 'chastity before marriage.?Even in the 1950s? No . I was suggesting you might enjoy this :- www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-r28Mx0quMI had a similar experience about 50 years ago, though not quite so extreme. I went to buy a suit in a little tailor's shop. My pal was with me and the assistant was so over-the-top camp that my mate had to go outside the shop and I could hear him guffawing for minutes on end. I grabbed the first suit I could (which turned out to be miles too big), paid and legged it. 🤣
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 20:38:39 GMT
leftmercian: This checking on the Met Office 7-day forecasts for weather in individual villages and towns can become a big job. On Friday we were passing through 10 or 12 places that the Met Office would be giving details for - so for us, much better to have a map with isotherms like broadcasters used to show. These maps were also very helpful for showing where frosts would develop and damage our tatties in May. Earthing-up needlessly is annoying. But our dumbed-down media think they mainly serve towns or densely populated areas. Surely you'd only need the forecast for your destination unless a hurricane or something is in the offing? Anyway, as an experiment I just tried "Met office north-east Scotland" and it gave a pretty decent report, so it's good for wider areas too. No harm in trying it out!
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 20:41:27 GMT
alurqaI've got a first generation smart meter which doesn't work for gas with my new supplier, but it does give usage over a week, a month etc. The latest ones are probably better still.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2022 20:53:03 GMT
Yes, but after you have played a few times switching things on and off to see how much power usage changes, you start to think, 'so what'? Like, you arent going to switch off the telly because you now know how much power it uses. Quite. You know an electric fire or oven, or toaster, etc is going to use a lot, and if you know the wattage you can work it out exactly. So use those sparingly -- only fill the kettle with what you need for instance. Thats exactly what I do. Water every time.
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Post by jen on Aug 14, 2022 20:53:09 GMT
I had a similar experience about 50 years ago, though not quite so extreme. I went to buy a suit in a little tailor's shop. My pal was with me and the assistant was so over-the-top camp that my mate had to go outside the shop and I could hear him guffawing for minutes on end. I grabbed the first suit I could (which turned out to be miles too big), paid and legged it. 🤣 Doesn't surprise me at all. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" In future, I will refer to you as Queen Gertrude.
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 21:00:32 GMT
jen Well I suppose that's progress. 😁
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Aug 14, 2022 21:15:14 GMT
As the Tories continue to find imaginative ways to disenfranchise sections of the population, surely the infidelity index is worth exploring?
www.illicitencounters.com/map/standalone/?page=ranking&paginate=1
Of course, whether the infidelity prone should get more or fewer [1] votes would depend on the degree of prigishness enjoyed by Downing St.
Should Altrincham (5.75% of the population having affairs) have greater or less [1] political influence than Bolton (0.35% of the population having affairs)?
[1] "Fewer" and "less" are included for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English. In Scots (as in most languages), there is no such distinction.
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Aug 14, 2022 21:25:00 GMT
As I said, I'm a smart meter reader even though I haven't got a smart meter. I don't need one! yes, but what I mean is some people who are interested dont need a smart meter to do this, and others who are not interested wont be any more interested simply because they do have a smart meter.
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 14, 2022 21:26:03 GMT
As the Tories continue to find imaginative ways to disenfranchise sections of the population, surely the infidelity index is worth exploring?
www.illicitencounters.com/map/standalone/?page=ranking&paginate=1
Of course, whether the infidelity prone should get more or fewer [1] votes would depend on the degree of prigishness enjoyed by Downing St.
Should Altrincham (5.75% of the population having affairs) have greater or less [1] political influence than Bolton (0.35% of the population having affairs)?
[1] "Fewer" and "less" are included for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English. In Scots (as in most languages), there is no such distinction. Altrincham and Bolton are only 14 miles apart - there has to be some sort of opportunity there? P.s. Since I have never been able to detect any worthwhile difference between fewer and less despite fervent efforts, from now on I am embracing my inner Scottish-ness.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2022 21:26:32 GMT
As the Tories continue to find imaginative ways to disenfranchise sections of the population, surely the infidelity index is worth exploring?
www.illicitencounters.com/map/standalone/?page=ranking&paginate=1
Of course, whether the infidelity prone should get more or fewer [1] votes would depend on the degree of prigishness enjoyed by Downing St.
Should Altrincham (5.75% of the population having affairs) have greater or less [1] political influence than Bolton (0.35% of the population having affairs)?
[1] "Fewer" and "less" are included for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English. In Scots (as in most languages), there is no such distinction. I’m curious as to who they own up to?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2022 21:28:12 GMT
As the Tories continue to find imaginative ways to disenfranchise sections of the population, surely the infidelity index is worth exploring?
www.illicitencounters.com/map/standalone/?page=ranking&paginate=1
Of course, whether the infidelity prone should get more or fewer [1] votes would depend on the degree of prigishness enjoyed by Downing St.
Should Altrincham (5.75% of the population having affairs) have greater or less [1] political influence than Bolton (0.35% of the population having affairs)?
[1] "Fewer" and "less" are included for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English. In Scots (as in most languages), there is no such distinction. Altrincham and Bolton are only 14 miles apart - there has to be some sort of opportunity there? P.s. Since I have never been able to detect any worthwhile difference between fewer and less despite fervent efforts, from now on I am embracing my inner Scottish-ness. No offence but I couldn’t care fewer PJ.
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 14, 2022 21:30:49 GMT
Altrincham and Bolton are only 14 miles apart - there has to be some sort of opportunity there? P.s. Since I have never been able to detect any worthwhile difference between fewer and less despite fervent efforts, from now on I am embracing my inner Scottish-ness. No offence but I couldn’t care fewer PJ. In that case you are getting less and fewer likes from me.
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Post by alec on Aug 14, 2022 21:36:59 GMT
@various - re energy usage of appliances: for less than £15 you can buy good quality power consumption monitors that allow you to plug in an appliance on a three pin plug and measure the peak and total consumption. Most of them will also show the mains voltage, which can be handy as well, although you need to go a fair bit more expensive if you want to measure anything more than instantaneous voltage.
The voltage issue may be useful to some households, particularly in remoter areas (but not exclusively). The UK grid has a growing problem of periodic excess voltage, where the mains voltage exceeds the statutory maximum (253 volts). When this happens, certain appliances can be damaged, but if this occurs for a longer time period your bills will be higher. So if you can show that the district network operator is running your supply at too high a voltage you can demand that they rectify the problem. This is much more common than people assume.
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Aug 14, 2022 21:51:05 GMT
It may be that Truss has fewer/less brain cells than would normally be considered appropriate for a functioning human being.
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 21:54:23 GMT
oldnatAren't they? I thought that was the whole point, to get a United Ireland?
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Aug 14, 2022 21:57:46 GMT
oldnat Aren't they? I thought that was the whole point, to get a United Ireland? You may be suffering from an irony deficiency.
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 14, 2022 21:59:54 GMT
oldnat Aren't they? I thought that was the whole point, to get a United Ireland? You may be suffering from an irony deficiency.Perhaps its a cheese wedge. Our Liz is very concerned about cheese.
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Post by mercian on Aug 14, 2022 22:10:06 GMT
oldnat Aren't they? I thought that was the whole point, to get a United Ireland? You may be suffering from an irony deficiency.Sorry, I'm tired. Time to go I think.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2022 22:17:18 GMT
oldnat Aren't they? I thought that was the whole point, to get a United Ireland? You may be suffering from an irony deficiency.I thought only the English did irony? Are you saying that Irish people can do it as well?!?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2022 22:18:46 GMT
No offence but I couldn’t care fewer PJ. In that case you are getting less and fewer likes from me. In that case I do care PJ. Sorry about that.
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Post by robbiealive on Aug 14, 2022 22:32:56 GMT
@ Oldnat. You write "for the benefit of pedants." I think philanthropy of any sort is supposed to be for the benefit of others rather than self-enriching. As for the correct use of fewer and less: I couldn't care fewer.
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Post by robbiealive on Aug 14, 2022 22:37:20 GMT
Ha ha Crofty. You beat me too it.
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Aug 14, 2022 23:05:41 GMT
@ Oldnat. You write "for the benefit of pedants." I think philanthropy of any sort is supposed to be for the benefit of others rather than self-enriching. As for the correct use of fewer and less: I couldn't care fewer. I did write that - but only as part of the explanatory context - "for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English" - ie a particular group of pedants who have oft given their strong views on that particular usage (common in their part of the world, and successfully exported to parts of their linguistic Empire).
Had I simply used "less" in both contexts (as I would when writing for a Scots audience), the choleric response might have seriously damaged the mental and physical well-being of some on here, whose contributions to the site I otherwise admire.
That would have been rather Johnsonian behaviour - from which I desist and choose to prefer the benefits to humanity of not unnecessarily causing upset.
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Post by ptarmigan on Aug 14, 2022 23:26:33 GMT
I've more to say on recent political developments (on holiday at the moment) but just a short note on my experience of smart meters.
I had one installed last year after a bit of badgering from my supplier. To be honest it was a bit of a no brainer for me as I live in a block of flats and my meter is in a genuinely inaccessible position to the extent I was having to get a ladder out to take readings! As such, a smart meter seemed quite an attractive proposition. Only trouble is the in-home display which is meant to provide live readings - supposedly one of the main benefits of smart meters - didn't work as it's too far away from the meter to transmit the readings (I'm on the top floor, the meters are on the ground floor). I don't really regret switching because, as I say, it was a pain in the arse to provide readings beforehand and my supplier now gets them without me having to supply the information, but I do question the rollout if basic problems like this still haven't been adequately addressed.
Fwiw, I have now been sent a new display which I have to call my supplier to activate. Fearing it'll be just as useless as the last, I haven't yet dared, but I suppose I better bite the bullet sooner or later.
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Post by robbiealive on Aug 14, 2022 23:35:13 GMT
@ Oldnat. You write "for the benefit of pedants." I think philanthropy of any sort is supposed to be for the benefit of others rather than self-enriching. As for the correct use of fewer and less: I couldn't care fewer. I did write that - but only as part of the explanatory context - "for the benefit of pedants using the southern forms of English" - ie a particular group of pedants who have oft given their strong views on that particular usage (common in their part of the world, and successfully exported to parts of their linguistic Empire).
Had I simply used "less" in both contexts (as I would when writing for a Scots audience), the choleric response might have seriously damaged the mental and physical well-being of some on here, whose contributions to the site I otherwise admire.
That would have been rather Johnsonian behaviour - from which I desist and choose to prefer the benefits to humanity of not unnecessarily causing upset.Thanks for yr reply. Fortunately I have, or had, plenty of time on my hands, and hence was able to endure the long-windedness, or should I say the proliixty or verboseness of yr reply, although I suspect you exaggerated the likely disintegrating effects of yr hypothetical double-use of "less" on other posters' mental and especially physical health. Anyway to get to the point. I think we should reserve the term Johnsonian to Sam Johnson rather than some fly-by-night politician. This is especially true when talking about language, in the use of which S Johnson was a master while B Johnson is a mere blusterer, a blowhard.
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