Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[celtic]

I blame the Scots. This was pretty much the end of what were once HUGE annual affairs, "The Home Internationals", involving, annually, England, Wales, Scotland, & Northern Ireland, & they were a big deal then. Now, no interest. Hooliganism & drunken behaviour speeded their demise. Sad, really.

Click to see full-size image.

My dad started taking me to football games in 75/76. I cried for hours when he wouldn't take me to that England v Scotland game. I was 4, and just couldn't understand why I had been left at home. Took me two packets of crisps and a bottle of irn bru before I would forgive him. Would have forgiven him quicker if they had nando's back then, obv.

[Longy]

One of THE great world records, Bob Beaman, 1968, setting a mark that was not to be beaten for 23 years.

Mike Powell 1991 World Championships. I really wanted to let it go, but the pedant in me wouldn't, sigh.

Was just thinking about this again and a quick check on wikipedia reveals that Powell record still stands 21 years later.

Even more remarkably Beamon's jump is the still 2nd all time, given the advances in athletic achievement in the last 40 years that is amazing to me.

[kinboshi]

Have you ever measured out the distance these guys jump, and then stood at the start of that measurement and seen how far away they land? It's unbelievable. Do the same with the 18m of the triple jump and it's a similar thing.

[tikay]

Lots of press noise today about cracks in the wings of the mighty A380's.

Unless you are an aircraft geek, the A380 does not sound too interesting, but it is a incredible piece of kit, big - very big - much bigger than a 747, & relatively new to the skies.

They are still quite an "event" to see when they land at Heathrow, & plane-spotters assemble in throngs with their SLR's & associated kit to photograph them. I take no notice, of course, never waste my time watching them come & go..... 

Now, repeated scare stories are emerging of structural cracks in the wings. I don't think it is of any import at all, but the conspiracy theorists are out in force today.

The BBC say "A380 wings to be checked for cracks"....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16649334

Reuters headline the same story in a different way - note their clever use of the word "more". Sounds worse, see?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-airbus-a-idUSTRE80I18G20120120

When airline matters hit the headlines, the best place to go check is PPRuNe (Professional Pilots Rumour Network), & they have a thread about it, of course. Almost every forum on earth is alike, a mixture of comedy & seriouis stuff, & theads attracting trolls & serious stuff alike. Here's the "A380 Cracked Wing" thread on PPRuNe.....

http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/473402-cracks-found-a380-wing-ribs.html

Fascinating stuff. Or not. Sorry, we do A380's, if you want skid marks, go next door.

PS - Go on, admit it - stunning photo that, eh? I'll be taking photos like that soon.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

It's not generally realised, I don't think, just how much aircraft wings flex, but they are designed to do just that. No flex means they would snap, same as with a large bridge, they need to have "give".

Here's a China Airlines 747 Cargo flight coming in to land. Look at the flex of the wings, & the engines "bouncing" - from about 0.30 onwards. Pretty scary.....

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFEs-DatuHs&feature=player_embedded

[Eso Kral]

Just for you Pop's!!

A little bit of Golf (The Albatross) and an Aeroplane!!

Sexy 

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/1976/tikay.jpg[/img]]

[RED-DOG]

with their SLR's & associated kit

I lolled.

[tikay]

with their SLR's & associated kit

I lolled.

Shush. I'm on the photography Forums now, I gotta do the proper speak.

[tikay]

GREAT story in most of today's newspapers, but this one has quite a story behind it, & it has, or will, affect EVERYONE who uses the Internet, & it comes off the back off the SOPA thing, about which Wikipidea staged a one day protest shutdown earlier this week.

So, this geezer runs a site called "megaupload.com", & it is alleged that it operates illeglly, allowing folks to "fileshare". He lizes in New Zealand, apparently in the most expensive residential property, worth $35 million, though he only rents it. He has fleets of luxury cars, the glitzy lifestyle, the women in tow, da de da.

Here's the bare bones of the story.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/21/4203936/police-raid-on-mansion-snares.html

Here's megaupload's wiki page....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaupload

His real name is Kim Schmitz, but he goes by the alias of, wait for it, Kim dotcom.

Bit of a character, is Mr Dotcom, talk about a wrong 'un.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Schmitz

Anyway, Mr Dotcom, & his crew, all got busted by the FBI yesterday, quite a big deal apparently, off the back of the SOPA thing. The newspapers love their cliches, & always say the same thing when the "mastermind" behind a crime or felony gets nabbed- "Mr Big Busted".

Well, the papers got it right for once, here is Mr Big.

 

He has - had - a huge collection of luxury cars, all with sexy number plates. Camel's a big fan, apparently. Here's just one of them, being removed yesterday.



Here is is again. Shy chap, but good foresight, it seems.



Busted!

[smashedagain]

why did Red Dog arrest him?

[tikay]

Now the Dotcom story gets serious, because it might affect any, or all of us.

After Mr Dotcom's arrest, a group called "anonymous", here.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)

....went on the offensive, & activated a "DDOS" - Dedicated Denial Of Service" - attack, & took down - crashed - a whole bunch of major websites, including the USA Department of Justice, Universal Music, & a whole bunch of others.....

 http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/01/anonymous-strikes-back-against-justice-universal-sopa-supportersattack-on-whitehousegov-underway.ars

....and by yesterday afternoon/evening, it had spread to the UK, & many big sites were attacked, including plenty of poker sites. A day earlier, you may recall, Virgin Media had to take their Internet services down, & that in itself spread to many sites, including, briefly, blonde, though that may have been unconnected.

Expect a lot more of this stuff, war has been declared between the authorities, who are trying to get a handle on controlling the internet, & the dissidents.

It's pretty scary, I think, & almost impossible to stop.

More attacks are expected in the next few days. Poker players, of course, won't give a toss. Until it affects them at a crucial moment. And it will.

Is it all just a temporary scare, or is the internet as we know it about to change forever? So many businesses now rely on, & live off, the internet.

Fasten your seat belts.

[tikay]

why did Red Dog arrest him?

Good spot, but Tom is a little larger than that.

[tikay]

I want a hat like this. How neat does that look? A little too raffish maybe?

One of those guys I'd just absolutely LOVE to go for a few pints (cocktails) with, would be phenomenal company I'd imagine.

Him and Paul Merton on HIGNFY are just fantastic. Paul Merton is another one who'd be hilarious company for a few Pear and Apple Martini's
 
Tikay you're on my list of top 10 people to go for a chamomile tea with!

and massive sighs for last night, I was ready with my question, then i got playing online, was losing so played till I got even and by the time that happened it was 1.30 and Stu'd finished, how did he do?

Thanks Dave, & that refers to Stu Rutter's Show on Thursday.

Stu was terrific again, as expected.

I met with him pre-show, he had a few niggling doubts in his mind about his level of analysis, given that he thinks & speaks "Level 5" stuff. I told him to speak exactly as he thinks, as we need someone on 865 who can talk the language that the nosebleed guys understand. Obviously, I can't, so I don't try, & they would not listen to me, anyway, (wisely), & I plan to continue to take care of the recreational guys (I can do that just fine, as well as anyone in fact), & we want him to go for the other end of the spectrum. 

I watched the Show, & he was right on the money again - as expected.

I should make the point that he remains sponsored by Grosvenor/GUKPT, along with Mr Kimber, & I very much hope that continues. Stu's work with us at the moment is for Chanel 865, not Sky Poker.com.

He was telling me that you plan to lead him astray next Thursday or Friday evening in Leeds, with one of your morale-boosting nights out. Don't do it Dave, Stu has a GUKPT to win! 

There were some Press Releases about his work at Channel 865, below. Note "Stu Rutter joins Team Sky Poker" is incorrect, we never used, or intended, those words, that weas artistic licence by a third party.

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2012/01/rutter-joins-sky-poker-analyst-team-7884.htm

http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/poker-pros-news/stuart-rutter-joins-team-sky-poker/13845

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/analyst-stuart-rutter-joins-sky-122900823.html

I think Barry Carter wrote something, too, presumably via Poker Strategy.com, for whom he now plies his trade, along with plenners, but I've not seen it yet.

[tikay]

Which reminds me - Lildave's latest blog is out.

Today, he discusses the Lottery. I kid you not.

http://bit.ly/xn8ZBO

Click that link if you want to support Dave's Blog. Go on then, click it.

[Geo the Sarge]

I watched a replay on 865 last night with Mr Rutter and thought he was very very good. I don't normally rate analysers (sp?) but thought this young man was amongst the best I've listened to.

Geo