[Tiste Simeon]

The bad thing about that Maark is someone having to go into Wakefield but good news otherwise!

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Putin fired six more of his 'unstoppable' hypersonic missiles at Kyiv... and the PATRIOT system stopped them all.

Quote

Ukraine said it shot down 18 Russian missiles targeting Kyiv [...] including six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. [...] missile attack was "exceptional in its density."

Ukraine Says It Shot Down 6 Hypersonic Missiles in Attack on Kyiv (businessinsider.com)

It's stopped seven out of seven now.

Putin's ability to blackmail other countries with the threat of hypersonic missiles may have just diminished considerably.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 16 May 2023 - 01:27 PM

[Maark Abbott]

Tiste Simeon, on 16 May 2023 - 07:28 AM, said:

The bad thing about that Maark is someone having to go into Wakefield but good news otherwise!

I mean it could be worse, I live in Barno. All we have here is post-industrial decline and sadness.

That said, Wakefield city centre was amazingly depressing. Like a really shit Scunthorpe but with no seaside.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Maark Abbott, on 17 May 2023 - 06:15 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 16 May 2023 - 07:28 AM, said:

The bad thing about that Maark is someone having to go into Wakefield but good news otherwise!

I mean it could be worse, I live in Barno. All we have here is post-industrial decline and sadness.

That said, Wakefield city centre was amazingly depressing. Like a really shit Scunthorpe but with no seaside.

Agreed. And like so many other northern industrial towns, it could be improved if it had money spent on it.

Having said that, I lived on the outskirts of Wakefield before moving in with Mr Not a Blacksmith and enjoyed my time there, and the house we're buying is in a village between Wakefield and Rothwell. The reality is though we'll use Leeds when we need a city centre - which whilst annoyingly busy, is much nicer.

[Tiste Simeon]

I get it, I lived in Oldham for a number of years. Most of the money went to Manchester, though the teams did help with things and they had started to make things a bit better in the centre at least when I left.

I worked in Blackburn which was worse.

[worry]

Yah, me nan lives in Ol' Billywickham and eats her chips with "soot and vinegar", she says. "Leastways it means some folks are still a-workin." Well that's nan for ya. Big hearted.

[Abyss]

I forget, which of these places did Charlie Stross wipe out with an army of Necro-Elves?

[QuickTidal]

worry, on 17 May 2023 - 09:25 AM, said:

Yah, me nan lives in Ol' Billywickham and eats her chips with "soot and vinegar", she says. "Leastways it means some folks are still a-workin." Well that's nan for ya. Big hearted.

Every now and again Worry NAILS the execution on a joke. This was NOTE perfect and I LOLed at work and people looked at me strangely.

[Maark Abbott]

Band is doing a mini tour in November with Ephemera - Rotherham, Shipley and Halifax, and then I think we have a headline gig the week afterward. Should be good!

[worry]

QuickTidal, on 17 May 2023 - 01:58 PM, said:

worry, on 17 May 2023 - 09:25 AM, said:

Yah, me nan lives in Ol' Billywickham and eats her chips with "soot and vinegar", she says. "Leastways it means some folks are still a-workin." Well that's nan for ya. Big hearted.

Every now and again Worry NAILS the execution on a joke. This was NOTE perfect and I LOLed at work and people looked at me strangely.

Lol Tiste sent me a voice recording of his impression of this. If only y'all could hear it.

[Tiste Simeon]

worry, on 19 May 2023 - 08:53 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 17 May 2023 - 01:58 PM, said:

worry, on 17 May 2023 - 09:25 AM, said:

Yah, me nan lives in Ol' Billywickham and eats her chips with "soot and vinegar", she says. "Leastways it means some folks are still a-workin." Well that's nan for ya. Big hearted.

Every now and again Worry NAILS the execution on a joke. This was NOTE perfect and I LOLed at work and people looked at me strangely.

Lol Tiste sent me a voice recording of his impression of this. If only y'all could hear it.

I got some of the wording wrong, my apologies.

[worry]

That's fine, I can't understand all that UK gibberish anyway.

[Mentalist]

Abyss, on 17 May 2023 - 01:42 PM, said:

I forget, which of these places did Charlie Stross wipe out with an army of Necro-Elves?

Leeds, iirc

Making me happy: on my way to the cottage for long weekend. 3.5 days of getting hammered and chilling with good people ahead.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 19 May 2023 - 09:30 AM, said:

worry, on 19 May 2023 - 08:53 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 17 May 2023 - 01:58 PM, said:

worry, on 17 May 2023 - 09:25 AM, said:

Yah, me nan lives in Ol' Billywickham and eats her chips with "soot and vinegar", she says. "Leastways it means some folks are still a-workin." Well that's nan for ya. Big hearted.

Every now and again Worry NAILS the execution on a joke. This was NOTE perfect and I LOLed at work and people looked at me strangely.

Lol Tiste sent me a voice recording of his impression of this. If only y'all could hear it.

I got some of the wording wrong, my apologies.

Also in receipt of Tiste's voice recordings over the weekend. Definitely made me smile!

[Mezla PigDog]

Last night I woke up following a terrifying nightmare. I was too scared to get out of bed when I woke up.

I was on the planet from the movie Aliens. It was before Ripley and the marines arrive and I was myself but happened to be there with the colonists as the aliens started to attack. I knew what was happening given I have seen all the movies so was just shitting myself in a mixture of terror and trying to persuade their leader what we needed to do.

Their leader was Steve Martin.

Needless to say Steve Martin is not equipped to lead a terraforming settlement being attacked by xenomorphs. I woke with my heart absolutely hammering. I've had an adrenalin come down all day.

[Cause]

Mezla PigDog, on 23 May 2023 - 07:49 PM, said:

Last night I woke up following a terrifying nightmare. I was too scared to get out of bed when I woke up.

I was on the planet from the movie Aliens. It was before Ripley and the marines arrive and I was myself but happened to be there with the colonists as the aliens started to attack. I knew what was happening given I have seen all the movies so was just shitting myself in a mixture of terror and trying to persuade their leader what we needed to do.

Their leader was Steve Martin.

Needless to say Steve Martin is not equipped to lead a terraforming settlement being attacked by xenomorphs. I woke with my heart absolutely hammering. I've had an adrenalin come down all day.

This is the most epic dream ever!

[Tsundoku]

Mezla PigDog, on 23 May 2023 - 07:49 PM, said:

Last night I woke up following a terrifying nightmare. I was too scared to get out of bed when I woke up.

I was on the planet from the movie Aliens. It was before Ripley and the marines arrive and I was myself but happened to be there with the colonists as the aliens started to attack. I knew what was happening given I have seen all the movies so was just shitting myself in a mixture of terror and trying to persuade their leader what we needed to do.

Their leader was Steve Martin.

Needless to say Steve Martin is not equipped to lead a terraforming settlement being attacked by xenomorphs. I woke with my heart absolutely hammering. I've had an adrenalin come down all day.

Maybe lay off the 5 balloon glasses of brandy and the "Three Amigos" rewatches before bedtime?

[Abyss]

Mezla PigDog, on 23 May 2023 - 07:49 PM, said:

Last night I woke up following a terrifying nightmare. I was too scared to get out of bed when I woke up.

I was on the planet from the movie Aliens. It was before Ripley and the marines arrive and I was myself but happened to be there with the colonists as the aliens started to attack. I knew what was happening given I have seen all the movies so was just shitting myself in a mixture of terror and trying to persuade their leader what we needed to do.

Their leader was Steve Martin.

Needless to say Steve Martin is not equipped to lead a terraforming settlement being attacked by xenomorphs. I woke with my heart absolutely hammering. I've had an adrenalin come down all day.

I would have complete faith in Steve Martin in these circumstances.
He is the hero those colonists need, want, and deserve.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Quote

Scientists have invented a device that can continuously generate electricity from thin air, offering a glimpse of a possible sustainable energy source that can be made of almost any material and runs on the ambient humidity that surrounds all of us[...]

If you've ever seen a bolt of lightning streak across the sky, you've already had a sneak peek of the untapped power that is hidden in ambient air.
[...]

[...] homes, factories, and perhaps whole cities might be powered by the electricity that is concealed in the air.

[...] practically any material could become an Air-gen device provided it was perforated with tiny holes measuring 100 nanometers or fewer[...]

[...] "Importantly, since air humidity is ubiquitous and continuous 24/7, Air-gen can be deployed almost anywhere for continuous energy harvesting [...]

air is diffusive and filled in the entire vertical space, which means that we can stack many layers of air-gen devices [...] more space efficient" than other power sources [...] "[...] can be engineered into varied form factors and neatly blend into the environment (even without one's notice)" versus the example of "a solar panel that exclusively takes up space."

Scientists Working to Generate Electricity From Thin Air Make Breakthrough (vice.com)

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 24 May 2023 - 01:59 PM

[Cause]

Azath Vitr (D, on 24 May 2023 - 01:58 PM, said:

Quote

Scientists have invented a device that can continuously generate electricity from thin air, offering a glimpse of a possible sustainable energy source that can be made of almost any material and runs on the ambient humidity that surrounds all of us[...]

If you've ever seen a bolt of lightning streak across the sky, you've already had a sneak peek of the untapped power that is hidden in ambient air.
[...]

[...] homes, factories, and perhaps whole cities might be powered by the electricity that is concealed in the air.

[...] practically any material could become an Air-gen device provided it was perforated with tiny holes measuring 100 nanometers or fewer[...]

[...] "Importantly, since air humidity is ubiquitous and continuous 24/7, Air-gen can be deployed almost anywhere for continuous energy harvesting [...]

air is diffusive and filled in the entire vertical space, which means that we can stack many layers of air-gen devices [...] more space efficient" than other power sources [...] "[...] can be engineered into varied form factors and neatly blend into the environment (even without one's notice)" versus the example of "a solar panel that exclusively takes up space."

Scientists Working to Generate Electricity From Thin Air Make Breakthrough (vice.com)

Without knowing more I would guess this has the hallmarks of vaporware. Science that sounds great and may indeed work on the small scale but cant in reality be scaled up to realistic numbers.

Hope I am wrong but doubt it.