Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Laxie]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

[RED-DOG]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

[bobAlike]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

It's called the off switch Tom.

[RED-DOG]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

It's called the off switch Tom.

That's actually quite profound Andrew.

[bobAlike]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

It's called the off switch Tom.

That's actually quite profound Andrew.

This digital life we live does get me down some days, it's the kids I feel sorry for.

[MANTIS01]

Yeah, I feel sorry for the kids in this digital age too. Must be tough having to choose between playstation and x-box, what blu-ray to watch on their home cinema, or which exotic porn site to visit next. When I was a kid I had a skateboard, a Mr. Frosty, and an old copy of Razzle. Sure is tough for kids these days.

[RED-DOG]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists. 

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt! 

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

It's called the off switch Tom.

That's actually quite profound Andrew.

This digital life we live does get me down some days, it's the kids I feel sorry for.

I know what you mean, but I have to say that on balance, and used properly, it's a good thing.

I spend countless hours learning about stuff that interests me, and finding out that I'm interested things I didn't even know were interesting. This morning over breakfast, I learned what a metre of 16mm square / 2mm thick mild steel tubing weighs, then I read Laxies sig line and spent half an hour googling Hugh Hefner.

When I'm out during the day, I male little mental notes about things I want to google when I get home. It's like having the world's most comprehensive library, video, photograph and map collection in the world, right there in your own home.

When I was a kid we would sometimes get an odd volume from an encyclopaedia in the tats, and I would read it from cover to cover, learning amazing facts about things beginning with the letter 'R'.

I love the internet to bits, but only when it's used to enhance real life, not replace it.

[pokerfan]

Will a trunking end cap do ?

16x16 is a standard size, probably only available in white though.

Wickes stock them.

[RED-DOG]

Yeah, I feel sorry for the kids in this digital age too. Must be tough having to choose between playstation and x-box, what blu-ray to watch on their home cinema, or which exotic porn site to visit next. When I was a kid I had a skateboard, a Mr. Frosty, and an old copy of Razzle. Sure is tough for kids these days.

You had a skateboatd, a Mr Frosty and a copy of Razzle you jammy bastard?

I had one roller skate, an icicle from the rain spout in winter, and a glimpse of Bridget Wilson's blue serge knickers when she came down the slide.  

[bobAlike]

I did a quick search for you, but was coming up with the same problem...only online stockists.  

In google maps - search Hardware shops Leicester.  It won't tell you who has them in stock, but it'll give you the contact details of all the shops in the area.  Pain in the backside, but you'd then have to ring them until you find one who stocks what you're looking for.

Good luck in your hunt!  

I want a computer with a 'Real Life' button.

It's called the off switch Tom.

That's actually quite profound Andrew.

This digital life we live does get me down some days, it's the kids I feel sorry for.

I know what you mean, but I have to say that on balance, and used properly, it's a good thing.

I spend countless hours learning about stuff that interests me, and finding out that I'm interested things I didn't even know were interesting. This morning over breakfast, I learned what a metre of 16mm square / 2mm thick mild steel tubing weighs, then I read Laxies sig line and spent half an hour googling Hugh Hefner.

When I'm out during the day, I male little mental notes about things I want to google when I get home. It's like having the world's most comprehensive library, video, photograph and map collection in the world, right there in your own home.

When I was a kid we would sometimes get an odd volume from an encyclopaedia in the tats, and I would read it from cover to cover, learning amazing facts about things beginning with the letter 'R'.

I love the internet to bits, but only when it's used to enhance real life, not replace it.

"Used properly"  "enhance real life" You've hit the nail on the head there Tom. The issue is when it's used as a substitute. I hate to think what life will be like in 200 years.

[RED-DOG]

Will a trunking end cap do ?

16x16 is a standard size, probably only available in white though.

Wickes stock them.

Nah.

It has to be black and it has to fit really securely. it's to prevent the tubing, which is becoming support legs, from marking the floor.

[kinboshi]

Finding a lot of things (such as your search) is a lot more difficult on Google these days (since some very large algorithm changes made about 2 years ago).

What Google has done is replaced relevant 'pages' with relevant 'sites' for a search. This isn't actually good for the user.  What they are trying to do it get rid of spammy pages/sites from its results, but in doing so it's thrown the baby out with the bath-water.

For example, if you're looking for a diesel Volkswagen golf in Leicester - your search might bring back half a dozen results from one site (for example Gumtree, AutoTrader, Motors.co.uk) - but the pages it returns aren't necessarily helpful for your specific search.  Google is saying that the site is probably going to have something you're looking for, but not necessarily on the pages it suggests.  Other sites might have a more focused page that matches your exact search, but because they aren't a 'brand' that Google recognises as such, it's far less likely that they will appear on the first page of results (and even less likely that they'll appear at the top of the first page).

Same goes for lots of other things, such as electronic products.  The results are dominated by Amazon, eBay, etc., as the thinking is that these sites will have the product you're looking for, but the page listed in the results might not be the best match to your specific search. 

This has hurt a lot of smaller retailers, and the way Google used to work was more 'democratic' and the smaller guy could compete with the big retailers if they made the effort to appear to be an expert in a particular niche.  Now it's getting a lot harder to rank for these searches.  Of course, Google can do what it likes - it's a business after all and it doesn't 'owe' anything to these businesses who are looking for a 'free' ride.  But as it has a virtual monopoly in the UK search market, its actions have a massive impact on lots of businesses.

It also means it's difficult for Tom to get his ends.

[hector62]

Morning Mr Red.

Not sure if this company is any use to you but they are in Leicester and I reckon they will have what you need, and may have a trade counter you could buy them from.

http://www.rosshandling.co.uk/pdf/RossHandlingTubeFitting.pdf?oo=0

[RED-DOG]

Finding a lot of things (such as your search) is a lot more difficult on Google these days (since some very large algorithm changes made about 2 years ago).

What Google has done is replaced relevant 'pages' with relevant 'sites' for a search. This isn't actually good for the user.  What they are trying to do it get rid of spammy pages/sites from its results, but in doing so it's thrown the baby out with the bath-water.

For example, if you're looking for a diesel Volkswagen golf in Leicester - your search might bring back half a dozen results from one site (for example Gumtree, AutoTrader, Motors.co.uk) - but the pages it returns aren't necessarily helpful for your specific search.  Google is saying that the site is probably going to have something you're looking for, but not necessarily on the pages it suggests.  Other sites might have a more focused page that matches your exact search, but because they aren't a 'brand' that Google recognises as such, it's far less likely that they will appear on the first page of results (and even less likely that they'll appear at the top of the first page).

Same goes for lots of other things, such as electronic products.  The results are dominated by Amazon, eBay, etc., as the thinking is that these sites will have the product you're looking for, but the page listed in the results might not be the best match to your specific search. 

This has hurt a lot of smaller retailers, and the way Google used to work was more 'democratic' and the smaller guy could compete with the big retailers if they made the effort to appear to be an expert in a particular niche.  Now it's getting a lot harder to rank for these searches.  Of course, Google can do what it likes - it's a business after all and it doesn't 'owe' anything to these businesses who are looking for a 'free' ride.  But as it has a virtual monopoly in the UK search market, its actions have a massive impact on lots of businesses.

It also means it's difficult for Tom to get his ends.

That's all new to me Dan, and it's very interesting. No, I mean it, it really is.

I've had this problem before and I've found that by subtly altering my search terms. I can eventually find what I want.

[RED-DOG]

Morning Mr Red.

Not sure if this company is any use to you but they are in Leicester and I reckon they will have what you need, and may have a trade counter you could buy them from.

http://www.rosshandling.co.uk/pdf/RossHandlingTubeFitting.pdf?oo=0

Bingo!

What a great place. They have them in stock, along with fhazands of other interesting items.

Well done Hec.