Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[celtic]

What was the internet like in the middle of nowhere? (think it would be a struggle to enjoy paradise with no internet).

Ha, I'm guessing he will says its a million times better with no Internet.

[Supernova]

That's due to the circular (ish) nature of its orbit, Tom. I'm only guessing now, but a little bit of it might be due to the earth rotating underneath it too, so to speak.

Did you watch it to its denouement? Did you see how it dimmed from bright white down to orange then red before finally disappearing? That's because it was passing from the day-lit side of the earth into the earth's shadow. The reddening is due to dust in the atmosphere - think red sky at night.

You can only see it during the hours around dusk or dawn because in daylight its hidden in the glare of the sun and in the middle of the night its already in the earth's shadow when it passes over us.

You can see when it's going to be visible here - http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&Session=kebgfbefappbjklhepfopobi. To make it as accurate as possible you'd need to register and enter accurate latitude & longitude for your own position.

Boshi would be proud of me I like space, me - I'm an Apollo boy.

You can also register for an email alert. Simply go to spot the station - the link is http://www.spotthestation.nasa.gov pop in your postcode and you'll get an email alert on the day it's due to fly over. I received these two yesterday, brief and to the point with the time, height and direction:

Time: Mon Aug 12 9:23 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: WSW, Disappears: E

Time: Mon Aug 12/11:00 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 57 degrees, Appears: W, Disappears: SE

So last night it flew over my area twice. Amazing, around the world in 97 minutes.

[tikay]

"Concrete" Tony, your sensible thoughts are required!

Do you believe animal fat would leave enough "slippery" residue on a road surface that it would require resurfacing? Seems unbelievable to me. I know the fire service use something call "slicks" to clear up oil spills. There must be a product out there to remove the slippery element of any residue left?

I am going to contest the claim, any thoughts on good arguments? (they had applied sand fwiw)

Morning Guy.

Sorry for the delay in replying. I think the question has been answered by others now.

My reply would have been "highly unlikely". But the Highways Agency are strange people, & they have no concerns as to spending other peoples money.

Animal fat would surely dissolve within a short period, with the action of weather & traffic.

Incidentally, the surface was macadam, which can be a difficult surface in certain circumstances, especially excessive heat. Had the surface been concrete, of course, these problems would not occur.

>concrete, as the kids might phrase it.

[Doobs]

What was the internet like in the middle of nowhere? (think it would be a struggle to enjoy paradise with no internet).

Ha, I'm guessing he will says its a million times better with no Internet.

The Internet was pretty terrible where I was the other week and it wasn't nearly as remote.  Some bastard had put big mounds of earth everywhere. 

Really made me aware of how much I check various results on my smart phone.  You want the result from the 2.40 at Goodwood.  Phone says "wait until 7pm sir".   I am sure it wasn't that long ago when I'd sometimes have to wait until the next day's newspaper. 

[tikay]

What was the internet like in the middle of nowhere? (think it would be a struggle to enjoy paradise with no internet).

Ha, I'm guessing he will says its a million times better with no Internet.

The Internet was pretty terrible where I was the other week and it wasn't nearly as remote.  Some bastard had put big mounds of earth everywhere.  
Really made me aware of how much I check various results on my smart phone.  You want the result from the 2.40 at Goodwood.  Phone says "wait until 7pm sir".   I am sure it wasn't that long ago when I'd sometimes have to wait until the next day's newspaper.  

I believe the technical term is "hills".

[tikay]

Do you want to buy it Tikay?

Ha!

I believe it was in fact sold, for around £275,000.

It remains in use as a holiday cottage though, (sleeps 5 or 6), in late October it can be rented for around £700 per week.

It is actually a little dismal internally, but externally, it is Heaven. Otters & dolphins can be seen in that Loch, from the lounge window, & in the wooded hill behind, eagles & various other birds of prey can be seen regularly.

There is a village shop - "Shiel Petrol Station" I think - 3 miles distant, & some proper shops in Kyle of Lochalsh, some 20 miles away.

It has a wood-burning open fire, so it costs a few bob keeping a stock of logs at hand.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

About this book you're writing tikay.

I hope you have a backup, and a backup-backup, and a few other backups stored away just in case.

I know of many computer disaster stories where people have lost books, complete photo collections of their children growing up, you name it people have lost it.

And make sure you store backups in multiple locations, email a copy to yourself on Hotmail, GMail, Sky, have a copy on a USB memory stick, etc etc.

Good point Aaron.

I have it saved on a memory stick, & have three hard copies printed out, one of which sits with my solocitor, who has the dual role of checking it for legal issues (therein sit a few problems) & keeping a copy safe. I'm not sure it will ever be published (assuming I finish it), but we shall see.  It won't be published whilst I'm working next door, thats for sure, but there is no knowing when that may end - it could be several years, or tomorrow morning. Take the unders.

[Doobs]

What was the internet like in the middle of nowhere? (think it would be a struggle to enjoy paradise with no internet).

Ha, I'm guessing he will says its a million times better with no Internet.

The Internet was pretty terrible where I was the other week and it wasn't nearly as remote.  Some bastard had put big mounds of earth everywhere.  
Really made me aware of how much I check various results on my smart phone.  You want the result from the 2.40 at Goodwood.  Phone says "wait until 7pm sir".   I am sure it wasn't that long ago when I'd sometimes have to wait until the next day's newspaper.  

I believe the technical term is "hills".

Don't know what they were, but life would be improved by a mobile phone mast on top of each of them!  

[outragous76]

"Concrete" Tony, your sensible thoughts are required!

Do you believe animal fat would leave enough "slippery" residue on a road surface that it would require resurfacing? Seems unbelievable to me. I know the fire service use something call "slicks" to clear up oil spills. There must be a product out there to remove the slippery element of any residue left?

I am going to contest the claim, any thoughts on good arguments? (they had applied sand fwiw)

Morning Guy.

Sorry for the delay in replying. I think the question has been answered by others now.

My reply would have been "highly unlikely". But the Highways Agency are strange people, & they have no concerns as to spending other peoples money.

Animal fat would surely dissolve within a short period, with the action of weather & traffic.

Incidentally, the surface was macadam, which can be a difficult surface in certain circumstances, especially excessive heat. Had the surface been concrete, of course, these problems would not occur.

>concrete, as the kids might phrase it.

Thanks, some incredibly  helpful people read this diary

As for the bolded bit, im quite proud to add, until they get an email from me!

Teaching yourself a new skillset as an adult is fairly tough. Furthermore, teaching yourself without others assistance and creating your own niche in an industry outside of your own profession is very satisfying. Winning new clients as a 1 man band, when your desired clients are the UKs leading insurers however, is very tough! 

[TightEnd]

An Abandoned Soviet battlecruiser off the coast of Norway

from @AbandonedPics (some quite astonishing photos of places abandoned by humanity)

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

What was the internet like in the middle of nowhere? (think it would be a struggle to enjoy paradise with no internet).

I'll come to that shortly........quite a story, really, my struggle with internet addiction.

[tikay]

I know you're not really into space stuff and we're busy playing a PLO8 SnG right now but tonight at 21:24 (for 6 minutes) and at 23:00 (for 4 minutes) the International Space Station will fly overhead at 17,000 MPH. 

It's well worth going outside and looking up if you've never seen it before.

It's pretty hard to miss on a clear night as it'll be the really bright thing going from West to East (quickly).

I looked for it, but never saw anything, except 'planes taking off from Heathrow, which, to be perfectly honest, & not wishing to sound ungrateful, I found infinitely more interersting.

At that time of night, all the long-hauls to South Africa take off, it's weird how the time differences impact upon Heathrow arrivals & departures.  Early in the morning, starting at about 0530am, the long-hauls arriving are mostly from North America, especially New York. Gets them into London in time to spend an extra day I suppose.   

[Doobs]

I know you're not really into space stuff and we're busy playing a PLO8 SnG right now but tonight at 21:24 (for 6 minutes) and at 23:00 (for 4 minutes) the International Space Station will fly overhead at 17,000 MPH. 

It's well worth going outside and looking up if you've never seen it before.

It's pretty hard to miss on a clear night as it'll be the really bright thing going from West to East (quickly).

I looked for it, but never saw anything, except 'planes taking off from Heathrow, which, to be perfectly honest, & not wishing to sound ungrateful, I found infinitely more interersting.

At that time of night, all the long-hauls to South Africa take off, it's weird how the time differences impact upon Heathrow arrivals & departures.  Early in the morning, starting at about 0530am, the long-hauls arriving are mostly from North America, especially New York. Gets them into London in time to spend an extra day I suppose.   

I have arrived early several times.  The late flights out of Asia get in to Heathrow very early.  Taking those flights you have a much better chance of getting the kids to sleep and you don't lose a day.

[tikay]

I know you're not really into space stuff and we're busy playing a PLO8 SnG right now but tonight at 21:24 (for 6 minutes) and at 23:00 (for 4 minutes) the International Space Station will fly overhead at 17,000 MPH.  

It's well worth going outside and looking up if you've never seen it before.

It's pretty hard to miss on a clear night as it'll be the really bright thing going from West to East (quickly).

Well you were busy for longer than I was......

It is how I spend many of my evenings, playing (relatively) low stakes (£2.25, £5.50 & £11) Double Your Money PLO8. Bowl comps I believe the lads call them.

And I LOVE it. It is utterly relaxing & wholly enjoyable, in every way possible. I see so many folks getting upset at the poker table - "I fu**ing hate Sundays" sort of thing, & it amazes me why they put themselves through all that torture.

PLO8 must have the lowest variance of ANY form of poker, & DYM's, where 6 enter, & 3 get paid (all three get the same, double the stake, minus reg fee), so all in all, you can't get lower variance than that.  

Do I make any money? Do I hell.

Do I lose any? Nope, I've never had to re-deposit once, in 7 years next door.

It's not about winning or losing money as such, it is just relaxing, & fulfils my addiction to the gambling buzz. Albeit nitty style.

And most of all, it brings up the miracles & mysteries of variance.

So, I play a super low variance form of poker, & I think I am reasonably competent. Not good, not bad, just competent. I definitely know a good starting hand from a bad one, & I don't play bad starting hands, unless shoving when short on the bubble. (Because, mostly, I don't expect to get called more than x% of the time, so the hand does not matter THAT much).  Technically, I know all the good starting hands, & the hands to avoid. Hands with combos of 7, 8 & 9, for example, belong in the muck. Pre. Every time.

And I've played three WSOP PLO8 Events, & cashed in two. Lucky, variance, sample size, quality of opponent, yeah yeah yeah, all that. I think I am competent, no more, no less.

What sort of opponent plays £2, £5 & £11 DYM's? Answer that yourself. Folks who just want an hour of fun, mostly. Technically competent? Mostly, no. A lad min-raised into me yesterday from UTG, & I shoved back, setting him all-in, all-in, for the full pot. He had more than enough to fold & still make the money. He called me with 2-7-8-8. Which, as PLO8 hands go, is about as bad as it can get. I would say that was a typical play at that level.

So I should make fortunes, seeing as I know what I'm doing. Or I think I do......

One night a week or two ago, I won 14 out of 15. Impressive, huh?

Two night later I managed the near impossible feat of LOSING 12 out of 13 consecutive games.

How that happen?

The absolute beauty of poker. I think I can play that game OK. I'm pretty sure I am technically better than 90% of them. Would I ever play 2-7-8-8? Not on your bloody nelly.  Would any of these lads cash twice from three in PLO8 WSOP Events? I doubt it.

And there you have poker, & the psychological battle. I think I am better than most of them. In fact, I am sure I am. And yet I can't make any money (or lose any) playing them. (Ignore, for the sake of this, the Reg Fees).

And that is why we should respect ALL our opponents. If I ever say "the idiot called me with...." I'd snap quit poker, I'd be ashamed of myself.

It does not matter, to a degree, how good we are, or think we are. Anyone can enjoy poker, & anyone can win, in the short-term.

I do wish, sometimes, I had the self-confidence of John Black, or the ability of Plinop, but when we sit at a poker table, our character does not change, if we are lacking in confidence, we play & think accordingly.

What an incredibly beautiful game poker is, it has given me so much fun I can't begin to ever tell you.

Phew, not sure where all that came from, but there it is. The mind games.

PS - Oddity. Yesterday afternoon I won nearly £700, after Lord Grumpy suggested I invest £100 on a horse race, & it trotted up.  An hour later, I was sat in a £2.25 DYM, & I was disappointed that I failed to cash, which would have netted me £1.75 gross profit. Go figure.

[neeko]

Think you have an interest in containers and ships - this video is of containers being unloaded from a ship at Rotterdam

http://youtu.be/nk72q801ACw