B&B28 - Your mum's about as bright as

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38464

kalmar wrote:

Malabar is 25 or something isn't he?

Happy birthday though. Young git.

He's nearly old enough for big school. Only 3 years to go.

Happy birthday, young 'un!

(and Happy Birthday Malc, I think I missed that one)

(and happy birthday, me)

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10078

Grim... wrote:

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Don't fall for this bullshit. Yes potatoes don't cost much but you can't get the same taste from a shop grown potato compared to one fresh from the ground.

"Don't fall for this bullshit, fall for a completely different line of bullshit"

Home-grown stuff tastes ace. Especially tomatoes. Also is satisfying to grow.

I'm looking forward to seeing how my 80 chilli plants of 7 varieties turn out (though I suspect at least 20 aren't going to turn out viable).

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

kalmar wrote:

Generic cheap spuds in the supermarket are "forced" - i.e. they are watered very heavily and continuously to ensure a good size and thin skin. I know this because I live next to an enormous potato farm which supplies Tesco.

Maybe for the generics, but the Asda Extra Special Marabel potatoes are very tasty indeed and cost about £1/kg. That doesn't strike me as a lot of money.

flis · **Joined:** 26th May, 2008 **Posts:** 3333

kalmar wrote:

Malabar is 25 or something isn't he?

Happy birthday though. Young git.

26...Miss Malabar says he cries when she calls him old though, so I wanted in on that action.

(31 is *well* old)

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Not long to go now... :'(

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:12

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Generic cheap spuds in the supermarket are "forced" - i.e. they are watered very heavily and continuously to ensure a good size and thin skin. I know this because I live next to an enormous potato farm which supplies Tesco.

Maybe for the generics, but the Asda Extra Special Marabel potatoes are very tasty indeed and cost about £1/kg. That doesn't strike me as a lot of money.

They are good these spuds. Though I'm all for growing your own as there are thousands and thousands of varietals that don't get grown and certainly aren't available in most supermarkets because of some legislation to do with having to produce a certain tonnage before the MAFF will give you the appropriate license to sell them through normal retail channels. Or something like that.

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:13

flis wrote:

26...Miss Malabar says he cries when she calls him old though, so I wanted in on that action.

I know how you feel malibu stacy.

Happy birthday. Enjoy the emocake.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:14

Thanks guys

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:14

I want to force my spuds into your supermarket.

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:15

Thanks Zardoz.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:19

Happy Birthday Malibu, hope it's emotional

Kern · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:30

Happy Birthday Malabar

GazChap · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:37

Oh, to be 26 again *cries*

Happy birthday, fellow Gaz.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:43

kalmar wrote:

Grim... wrote:

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Don't fall for this bullshit. Yes potatoes don't cost much but you can't get the same taste from a shop grown potato compared to one fresh from the ground.

"Don't fall for this bullshit, fall for a completely different line of bullshit"

I agree with Chinny.
Generic cheap spuds in the supermarket are "forced" - i.e. they are watered very heavily and continuously to ensure a good size and thin skin. I know this because I live next to an enormous potato farm which supplies Tesco.

So buy the expensive ones - they're still cheaper.

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:43

Who cares!? The point is you've grown them yourself.

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:50

Are potatoes really that important?

Kern · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:51

To 19th century Ireland, yes.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:53

kalmar wrote:

Who cares!? The point is you've grown them yourself.

Would you paint your own walls if it cost more than getting a painter in?

Malabelm · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:53

nickachu wrote:

Are potatoes really that important?

Food that has a taste is important, yeah. It's likely more nutritious and certainly more enjoyable.

And thanks for the birthday wishes, chaps. I've still got two days off work, and am now in town having a nice day out with Miss Malabar.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:53

Oh, happy Birthday and shit.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

Old news possibly but I never heard of it before. Inspired by a thought experiment some clever people reckon to have made a vehicle capable of sailing straight downwind quicker than the wind propelling it:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/f ... rthanwind/

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:58

Malabelm wrote:

nickachu wrote:

Are potatoes really that important?

Food that has a taste is important, yeah. It's likely more nutritious and certainly more enjoyable.

And thanks for the birthday wishes, chaps. I've still got two days off work, and am now in town having a nice day out with Miss Malabar.

Cover spuds in butter and cheese.

Done.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

markg wrote:

Old news possibly but I never heard of it before. Inspired by a thought experiment some clever people reckon to have made a vehicle capable of sailing straight downwind quicker than the wind propelling it:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/f ... rthanwind/

But what happens if it's on treadmill with a fan?

KovacsC · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:09

*Fume*

I asked some one to review on of my solutions, he has added comments and buggered up my report template....

Do I copy his comments into my template or try and fix the template he 'amended'.. each will take ages....

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Wait - Malibu is 31? Are we sure he didn't just answer the signup question wrong and is actually 13?

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Wait, no - he's 26. I'm well fucking confused. Happy Birthday, Belm!

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:22

If I transfer money to a my paypal account can I use that to put money into my bank account? It says there's a £5 charge in withdrawals, so that means I can do that right?

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:24

markg wrote:

Old news possibly but I never heard of it before. Inspired by a thought experiment some clever people reckon to have made a vehicle capable of sailing straight downwind quicker than the wind propelling it:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/f ... rthanwind/

Neat-o!

Although, I'm dubious about the "straight downwind" bit. That shouldn't work! Reporter fail.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11843

DavPaz wrote:

WTF did I just play?

http://www.eyezmaze.com/eyezblog_en/blo ... sform.html

That made me sit there sniggering, it is awesome!

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

I can see why people were so sceptical, though. It's still fucking baffling even when you see it done. If it had a clutch or something and you put blocks behind the wheels and faced it into the wind then I guess you should be able to set off forwards, into the breeze, which is amazing.

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:29

markg wrote:

I can see why people were so sceptical, though. It's still fucking baffling even when you see it done. If it had a clutch or something and you put blocks behind the wheels and faced it into the wind then I guess you should be able to set off forwards, into the breeze, which is amazing.

Yes, I believe there's already a yacht with a turbine on it which can do the same thing.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

kalmar wrote:

Although, I'm dubious about the "straight downwind" bit. That shouldn't work! Reporter fail.

That's the whole point of it isn't it?

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:37

markg wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Although, I'm dubious about the "straight downwind" bit. That shouldn't work! Reporter fail.

That's the whole point of it isn't it?

Well I can't see it working unless it's "tacking" across the wind. Haven't seen the video or read the article properly yet though.

But if you think about the "straight downwind" case, the wind that's propelling it obviously runs out once the vehicle speed matches it.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:52

Read the article.

Very interesting btw, Mark. Ta for the link.

Kern · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:52

Anyone been to the Tower of London recently?

On a blog I read, an American has written a letter of complaint about how they're currently displaying suits of armour: in front of a techno-style multi-colour board. I've not been there, but looking at his photos (linked in the article), I'm inclined to agree that it looks a bit 'Saturday Knight Fever'.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

kalmar wrote:

markg wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Although, I'm dubious about the "straight downwind" bit. That shouldn't work! Reporter fail.

That's the whole point of it isn't it?

Well I can't see it working unless it's "tacking" across the wind. Haven't seen the video or read the article properly yet though.

But if you think about the "straight downwind" case, the wind that's propelling it obviously runs out once the vehicle speed matches it.

As you say it's possible to sail a boat downwind faster than the wind by tacking, I think the idea is that the propellor is somehow harnessing those same crosswind effects and transferring them to the wheels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_fa ... n_the_wind

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11843

Am I reading this correctly:
http://www.tethers.com/HiVOLT.html

The way this reads suggests that this wouldn't be a localised modification, but a systematic degrading of the (targeted) Van Allen belt(s). Preliminary analyses indicate that a HiVOLT System can reduce the MeV particle flux in the inner electron belt to 1% of its natural levels within about two months. WTF?

devilman · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:57

nickachu wrote:

If I transfer money to a my paypal account can I use that to put money into my bank account? It says there's a £5 charge in withdrawals, so that means I can do that right?

Yes, and there's no fee if it's over £50 if I remember rightly. Takes about 3-4 days for the money to reach my account when I've done it in the past.

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 13:57

devilman wrote:

nickachu wrote:

If I transfer money to a my paypal account can I use that to put money into my bank account? It says there's a £5 charge in withdrawals, so that means I can do that right?

Yes, and there's no fee if it's over £50 if I remember rightly. Takes about 3-4 days for the money to reach my account.

That works better than the 25quid fee for international bank transfers. Ta!

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:31

Whatever it is I'm doing, it's 400times better than being a scientist.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:34

MaliA wrote:

Whatever it is I'm doing, it's 400times better than being a scientist.

Except for, perhaps, being Brian Cox, as I like his radio program on R4. He sounds like a clever, thoughtful man.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:34

MaliA wrote:

Whatever it is I'm doing, it's 400times better than being a scientist.

Except for, perhaps, being Brian Cox, as I like his radio program on R4. He sounds like a clever, thoughtful man.

Except for the fact he does physics. Which makes him untrustworthy.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:36

And chemistry isn't a real science, either. That's just mixing stuff together.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:39

So you just like his voice and hair?

Malabelm · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:45

Zardoz wrote:

So you just like his voice and hair?

*Perks up*

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:50

markg wrote:

As you say it's possible to sail a boat downwind faster than the wind by tacking, I think the idea is that the propellor is somehow harnessing those same crosswind effects and transferring them to the wheels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_fa ... n_the_wind

Ah bloody hell! I get it now.
It's not crosswinds, it's just the "gain" of the prop plus the positive feedback caused by the drivetrain.

Brilliant, thanks for the link.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Bobbyaro wrote:

Am I reading this correctly:
http://www.tethers.com/HiVOLT.html

The way this reads suggests that this wouldn't be a localised modification, but a systematic degrading of the (targeted) Van Allen belt(s). Preliminary analyses indicate that a HiVOLT System can reduce the MeV particle flux in the inner electron belt to 1% of its natural levels within about two months. WTF?

What the fuck are you talking about?

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

I think the upper bit of my brain kind of gets how that works, but some lower down, sub concious section is yelling "THAT CAN'T HAPPEN! DO NOT WANT!"

kalmar · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 14:54

Squirt wrote:

I think the upper bit of my brain kind of gets how that works, but some lower down, sub concious section is yelling "THAT CAN'T HAPPEN! DO NOT WANT!"

It must be spooky as hell to pilot. DO WANT.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

kalmar wrote:

DO WANT.

We can recreate it more cheaply with a shopping cart. We tie Craster to the back and just keep dropping live hand grenades behind him.

flis · **Joined:** 26th May, 2008 **Posts:** 3333

MaliA wrote:

Except for, perhaps, being Brian Cox, as I like his radio program on R4. He sounds like a clever, thoughtful man.

He is truly acebest. I heard that he looked like markg. He also looks slightly gay and his voice is camp northern, as opposed to monkey northern (there are only 2 types of male northern accent, Northern Monkey and Northern Camp). Obviously, I still totally would. Wait, he's 43!? He shares moisturiser with Malabar, clearly.

Be Excellent To Each Other

B&B28 - Your mum's about as bright as
Kalmar's favorite light bulb

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Be Excellent To Each Other

B&B28 - Your mum's about as bright as Kalmar's favorite light bulb

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B&B28 - Your mum's about as bright as
Kalmar's favorite light bulb