1

Just Chat! / Re: Try answering these fun questions?

« on: 14/06/2016 12:29:40 »

c) You know that you are coming to a cross road, that could lead either to your death or life depending on which road you take. However, there is a stranger of whom you are allowed just one question, to save your life by establishing road to life. He might be a liar who cannot tell the truth or a man of truth and integrity, you do not know to which of the two you will be talking to.

What would that last and most important question be?

d) Before Mount Everest was discovered what was the highest mountain on earth?

e)If you pass someone in second place in a race,in what place are you now running as?

Alan

C] Where can I get a full English breakfast.

D] Everest

E] 2nd

2

Just Chat! / Re: Why is Hitler still talked about and largely debated?

« on: 14/06/2016 12:18:40 »

I must agree with you Alan, Hitler certainly did steer this world in ways greater than anyone else in his time.

It does seem that history favours the evil. Apart from Herr Hitler, we tend to remember others of his ilk such as Genghis Khan, Pol Pot and Chairman Mao, not to mention other less than salubrious members of the Third Reich.

We seem to have an obsession for 'the dark side'.

What a shame we can't nurture an opposite to the Hitler's of yesteryear.

Who will be next to take up The Crown of Evil? Trump???

3

Just Chat! / Re: Biblical or Art?

« on: 14/06/2016 11:46:25 »

In a way, yes.
Our conception of pretty much all things biblical stems from the conception of God, Eden, Moses, the ark, heaven and hell as interpreted by the classical masters such as Michelangelo, Titian, Caravaggio and Rembrandt. Perhaps we just follow where others lead.

4

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: What happened to the geese?

« on: 19/04/2016 13:04:10 »

Maybe they return via a slightly different route, thus making first landfall further north or south, east or west than the departure route.

5

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Have You Heard Of This Critter?

« on: 19/04/2016 12:47:50 »

Maybe a Mouse Lemur.

6

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 10/03/2016 12:25:14 »

Oh dear!!!

You'd have thought he does enough blowing his own TRUMPET.

Are they called the TRUMPETTES?

7

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 10/03/2016 12:03:36 »

I da ho...nope, not going to elaborate.

U tahling me?

Righty ho!

Lefty rake (out in the garden).

8

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Plant nutrition from peat

« on: 10/03/2016 11:51:27 »

Peat contains little, if any, nutrients or organisms.

It is used as a soil improver, particularly where the soil is heavy and to acidify soil.

Peat based compost is usually around 70% peat + soil and fertiliser. Peat is particularly good at retaining added nutrients.

The problem with using peat, is that it takes 1000's of years for the moss to decompose. A peat bog may add just 1mm of depth per year.

9

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Why do mosquitoes bite more than once in the same place?

« on: 25/02/2016 17:43:22 »

It probably is a mosquito. Only the female feeds on blood when it needs it for its developing eggs. Once gorged it will rest for a few days before biting again.

If disturbed during feeding, it may move on and bite again. If trapped in clothing, it may well bite in the same area again. It is also suggested that the anti-coagulant the mosquito injects may not be entirely successful, so it may move a short distance from one bite site to try again.

10

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Do ants get stuck in shallow water?

« on: 25/02/2016 17:26:41 »

Many small, light insects have the ability to 'walk on water'. Their bodies are so light in relation to the surface area that they do not break the surface tension of water. They can even stand on their legs, due to the microscopic hairs usually used to enable them to walk upside-down, creating a comparatively large surface area.

As Evan wrote, some ants join together to form floating rafts. Some even create floating bridges, enabling the safe passage of ants carrying eggs across water.

The problem for insects walking on water is that they are at the mercy of water flow and/or wind strength and direction. In order to successfully propel themselves in the desired direction, the ant would need to overcome surface tension, but this would result in disaster for the ant. It would drown.

Pond Skaters, on the other hand, can propel themselves across water at phenomenal speeds. At 3 mph for the Pond Skater, we would need to swim at 400 mph to match them, pro rata. This is achieved by the Pond Skater being supported on its two long hind legs and two shorter forelegs, while the two middle legs act as oars with the very tips of the hairs on these two legs just penetrating the water's surface.

11

The Environment / Re: What is the environmental impact of trolley buses?

« on: 12/02/2016 17:13:54 »

That's the whole point of electric transport - separate the pollution from the user. Doesn't get rid of pollution but means you have pollution in one place and congestion in another. A misery shared is a misery doubled.   

Quite so Alan. Electric vehicles will only become 'clean', or at least fuel clean, when the power is generated by clean means.

But getting back to the trolley bus, being an old git, I still remember the LT route 96 from Woolwich to Dartford using trolley buses. Though they had the advantage of running on roadways which could be shared by other vehicles, they suffered from one seemingly insurmountable problem.

The trolley bus had to get its power from overhead cables via long pick-up arms mounted on the roof.


Image - Ben Brooksbank

In order to avoid catastrophic electrocution in the event of an accident, these pick-up arms had to be able to disengage easily from the overhead cables, so as not to drag live cables down on to the bus, or other vehicles, pedestrians etc., in the vicinity.

But if the driver were to stray beyond the parameters of the pick-up arms or there were a sharp jolt, the pick-up arms could disengage mid journey and maybe in the middle of the road, leaving the bus stranded.

Well I remember how, on the old 96, this was a common occurrence, particularly at Welling Corner. Come rain, wind, snow or shine, the poor old bus conductor had to get the long pole out from under the bus and struggle to re-connect the dropped arm.

12

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 16:13:28 »

Oh yes! I'lliois you all with these puns. But don't be a Missouri guts. Enjoy them or ignore them.

13

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 16:08:12 »

It was always said, somewhat discourteously, that The Bee Gees had a mass a chu setts.

14

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 16:02:01 »

Oi! Flori, dah kettle's boiling.

15

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:58:13 »

I received an email telling me I had won that huge US $1.8 lottery, but the connect I cut as soon as I realised it was a wise con sent to fleece me.

16

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:46:59 »

Oh hi! o, the state of those puns. I wouldn't blame you if U tar & feather me.

17

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:42:09 »

I've just realised Da kot ah bought is too short. The wife said it was while we were in the shop, but I just didn't listen to her and didn't bother to look in the mirror. If I had hark an' sas, I wouldn't have bought it.

18

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:34:20 »

chey Anne is a different matter altogether.

Don_1, Why do you mingle with people like Anne?

Wy? Oh mingling is a pastime of mine.

When I want to cal I phone ya.

19

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:28:22 »

Woman as pirate adrift in a sea of snow


Credit: Lori Kenworth.

Dubious editing by Don_1

20

Just Chat! / Re: Punning is hard(ly) work! Is groaning aloud here?

« on: 15/01/2016 15:12:34 »

I wouldn't mind betting that Odyn rather than playing out in the snow is flaked out on a cosy warm cushion.

You were right. He looks adrift.

Despite living on an arable farm, come sun or snow, plough, he wont once he's made himself comfortable.