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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: greypoint on August 24, 2009, 07:51:18 AM

Title: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on August 24, 2009, 07:51:18 AM
The thread for those things that make you go whaaaat???????????????

First one of course has to be those highly paid media experts who thought it was a good idea to unleash a half baked,faulty photo site onto a beta testing group of over 100,000 :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 24, 2009, 04:21:25 PM
And then got P.O'd when everyone didn't blow smoke up their collective butts.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jimthetrain on August 24, 2009, 04:42:11 PM
This was a while ago but still relevant to the thread. ;)
Bought some double strength sugar by mistake and found on the reciept that it was exactly double the price of the ordinary stuff. ::) I mean what's the point in making it in the first place. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 28, 2009, 12:52:34 AM
People, who while trying to sell cameras or lenses online, post blurry photos of said camera or lenses.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on August 28, 2009, 01:20:29 AM
Quote from: jimthetrain on August 24, 2009, 04:42:11 PM
This was a while ago but still relevant to the thread. ;)
Bought some double strength sugar by mistake and found on the reciept that it was exactly double the price of the ordinary stuff. ::) I mean what's the point in making it in the first place. :doh:

Saving the planet by reducing transport costs and fuel usage :)   I know, no one likes a smart arse  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on August 29, 2009, 06:42:48 PM
Picked up an old copy of the Sun at work, it accidently fell open on page 3 & I found myself thinking about how fake the eyes & face looked due to over processing instead of looking at the overall picture!!!!
Am I getting old, gay or too engrossed in my hobby?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Damon on August 29, 2009, 06:49:12 PM
Are you saying you only looked at the face & eyes? ;D :D :2funny: :tup: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on August 29, 2009, 07:04:37 PM
Not likely! but I did have to give myself a mental kick up the backside, thinking what a sad so and so I have become.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Spiritflier on August 30, 2009, 05:01:26 PM
Walking along Aberystwyth Prom earlier today to find a load of Welsh line-dancers going at it hammer and tongs (cowboy hats and leather boots)... Country and Western songs don't quite sound the same sung in Welsh!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on August 30, 2009, 07:55:09 PM
we have muntjack deer in the field opposite us, question is how did they get there  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on August 30, 2009, 08:10:07 PM
apparently there are some in the park up the road from me also and rumour spread that someone had a panther as an exotic pet and its escaped and living wild in the area  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on August 30, 2009, 08:23:47 PM
Quote from: irv_b on August 30, 2009, 08:10:07 PM
apparently there are some in the park up the road from me also and rumour spread that someone had a panther as an exotic pet and its escaped and living wild in the area  :o

Theres always a panther loose somewhere lol

I heard that the deer have spread all over the midlands, i just thought my neighbour was mad when she said she saw 2 of them in the fields
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 09, 2009, 10:15:58 PM
They're releasing the entire Beatles catalogue again - remastered - just how many times can you sell one piece of recorded music to the same people??
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 09, 2009, 10:27:35 PM
Quote from: greypoint on September 09, 2009, 10:15:58 PM
They're releasing the entire Beatles catalogue again - remastered - just how many times can you sell one piece of recorded music to the same people??

As often as possible to make loads of lolly!  :2funny: :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 09, 2009, 11:52:36 PM
Quote from: greypoint on September 09, 2009, 10:15:58 PM
They're releasing the entire Beatles catalogue again - remastered - just how many times can you sell one piece of recorded music to the same people??

My local radio DJ, who happens to be a rather famous guitarist in his own right here, says that the remastered box set is worth buying. He claims that the technology used today far outstrips the old remastering and these recordings are phenominal. Not a beatle fan so could care less. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 10, 2009, 06:52:26 AM
But I rather like listening to music that's of a particular period and sounds like it - a nostalgia thing I suppose. Does Paul McCartney get a cut? I suppose he need his fortune topping up after his divorce :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: minky_monkey on September 10, 2009, 11:57:22 PM
Women.....

  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 11, 2009, 02:11:39 AM
oooooh, brave man.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 11, 2009, 08:20:59 AM
 :P :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 15, 2009, 11:01:14 PM
Reading on PR that Flake was nearly arrested by the police, and nearly had her camera seized.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Peter Jackson on September 15, 2009, 11:13:38 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 15, 2009, 11:01:14 PM
Reading on PR that Flake was nearly arrested by the police, and nearly had her camera seized.  ::)

Why  ???.........presumably for attempting to impersonate a photographer  ;) :)

My apologies, it's been a long day.....It's OK, I'll get my own coat  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 15, 2009, 11:25:22 PM
Quote from: Peter Jackson on September 15, 2009, 11:13:38 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 15, 2009, 11:01:14 PM
Reading on PR that Flake was nearly arrested by the police, and nearly had her camera seized.  ::)

Why  ???.........presumably for attempting to impersonate a photographer  ;) :)

My apologies, it's been a long day.....It's OK, I'll get my own coat  :-[
:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 17, 2009, 07:51:24 AM
The Attorney General who helped draft the law against employing illegal immigrants, has been employing one for 6 months. Now, as ignorance of the employees status is apparantly not an excuse, will she face prosecution or, as expected, will excuses be made and accepted :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 18, 2009, 07:38:40 AM
Quote from: minky_monkey on September 10, 2009, 11:57:22 PM
Women.....

 ;D

...and girls. ::)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8260716.stm

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 18, 2009, 08:09:28 AM
Interesting.  I went to an all boys school (probably explains a lot) but the way we were "encouraged" to do PE was "go to PE".  I mean of course it was backed with threats of physical violence but unless you wanted to take the whole day off then I don't think people seriously considered not doing it.

I guess it was the same way we were "encouraged" to do maths and English.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 18, 2009, 08:10:52 AM
Mmmm - don't think we'd have got much in the way of hair straighteners if we refused to do PE in the far off days when I was at school ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 18, 2009, 08:47:01 AM
All boys school myself, as you say Jonathon may explain a lot!

Every boy in the school was entered in the annual boxing tournament, the only excuse was a note from a parent, and who could face the humiliation of that? I've seen more re-enactions of that Charlie Chaplin film where he's in the ring with a bruiser than I care to mention.
Don't know about hair straighteners, I could have done with a nose straightener a few times. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 18, 2009, 12:35:47 PM
Our PE teacher, an ex- Gosforth Rugby Union player, spent PE / Games lessons in the staff room supping coffee whilst we went on cross country runs. A few of us found a way to avoid the run was to stop off in a shed (used primarily as a manure dump) and play cards until the rest came back from the run and join in for the last bit. When we got caught - was it the smell I wonder - our punishment was to each don a set of boxing gloves and take the teacher on. I was 4ft 10 then and it was a short bout before I was spitting out blood through a burst lip. As I strode off to go home and report him I did get something of an apology but it would not happen now. Mind you if I had got home and told my mum and dad would have backed him up!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 18, 2009, 02:44:30 PM
When I was in school there was girl in class who was allergic to everything under the sun, had to carry one of those epipens and that was back before anyone knew what they were and for. Even she didn't get out of PE. I blame Dr. Spock for all this crap. While I think that the use of corporal punishment in those days was a bit overdone, we've gone too far the other way.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 18, 2009, 06:48:49 PM
Just came back from a bit of shopping, while I was in the one store I heard this little old ladie explaining to the clerk how she was just out of hospital and needed to get this instant cereal mix. She explained how she instructed hubby to go get it while she was laid up and he, of course, had purchased the wrong item. Then I leave the store and just outside I see this little old man sitting in a car waiting and I can just tell by the look on his face that he's still recovering from a tongue lashing.  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 24, 2009, 12:47:01 PM
Have just read in the local paper two items - the first being the stretch of road I have to walk down to reach my riverside walk has officially been named amongst the most dangerous stretches of road in the county. Number 11 I think. The second being planning permission being sought for the allotments which are on the other side of the brook which runs behind my neighbours house - initially for 31 dwellings including a block of flats which will provide a 'focal point' and overlook our gardens - but they believe there's scope for 60. There looks about room for 10! There's no access at present which means knocking down a house on the road that leads directly to that most dangerous stretch and is already coping with far more traffic than it can with a lot more homes already in the pipeline. Now where I live is technically a flood plain although improvements have meant it's been about 25 years since there were problems, but these allotments provide a soakaway for rain and if there are any problems it won't be them that get them but those of us who are lower down. I'm beginning to despair. I thought at least when I bought my bungalow that everywhere around it that could be developed had been. Just above these allotments they're clearing an old factory site which will no doubt have a couple of hundred 'luxury apartments' - and of course they don't need to provide open space because they're next door to the park - it'll be standing room only in the summer months!!
Talk about don't fence me in >:(  It's not as though we're not doing our bit - there's around 3.500 new homes to be built when they finally get round to starting the western development area. Oh, and if course, there's more applications going in for 5,000 at the top end of town - heavily opposed - again the infrastructure just can't cope. Just hope the Tories are true to their word [well you can hope!] - they're advising councils to be careful about planning permissions in the next few months as they might be revoked.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 24, 2009, 02:56:26 PM
Blimey, where's everyone going to work? I lived in Rushden for about 10 years back in the 60-70's and it was never a hive of industry with the boot and shoe trade shrinking by the month. Mind you it seemed that there were giant warehouse complexes mushrooming all over the place, I suppose they need manpower all the time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 24, 2009, 03:17:42 PM
They're promoting Wellingborough with posters on the London underground as a commuter town :o You should read some of the descriptions in the bumf they give out when they're trying to shift some of the flats no-one wants. There are already some houses nearby that were completed nearly 3 years ago and have never been lived in - the only occupied flats are those allocated to social housing. But, as you say, plenty of warehouses for the eastern Europeans to work in - not enough schools, overcrowded roads and one hospital 8 miles away struggling to cope with the massive expansion of three towns and surrounding villages. Our local MP was told we must just build the houses and the facilities and new roads will surely follow.Thanks Two Jags!! >:( South Northants is still nice in many areas - but that makes it pricey. At least the recession has slowed things down a bit - and the developers are trying to wriggle out of some of their obligations re infrastructure. Our wonderful new town centre plans have had to be downgraded too - bit of a dump now...has been for some time. Where I am is quite pleasant being tucked away in a cul de sac...until they build behind us that is :o :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on September 25, 2009, 08:42:38 AM
 ???  Have they removed the redirect over at at PR?  The old DC mag link no longer takes me to PR.  Seems a bit soon, or is it just me.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 25, 2009, 09:15:05 AM
no - not just you!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 25, 2009, 06:21:23 PM
Hmmm - when DCMag was sending out it's exclusive invites to members to join photoradar I never received a single email...now, in spite of unchecking the box as I don't want to receive receive their monthly newsletter etc. ....I've had two! :doh: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on September 26, 2009, 07:51:30 AM
Quote from: greypoint on September 25, 2009, 06:21:23 PM
Hmmm - when DCMag was sending out it's exclusive invites to members to join photoradar I never received a single email...now, in spite of unchecking the box as I don't want to receive receive their monthly newsletter etc. ....I've had two! :doh: :doh:

:2funny: :2funny: You just have to laugh at it all sometimes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on September 26, 2009, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: admin on September 25, 2009, 08:42:38 AM
???  Have they removed the redirect over at at PR?  The old DC mag link no longer takes me to PR.  Seems a bit soon, or is it just me.  ;)

It still directs me to it PR, don't see why don't think i'll use it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on September 26, 2009, 10:21:06 PM
The Labour Party conference is about to kick off and we were blessed with perfect timing.
Police are every where taping everything up to satisfy themselves it has been checked and doesn't contain any Semtex.
Just waiting to see all the compartments to my camera get taped up until next week when the party has left town again.

WE even have detectors on the prom this year - a new one even for me.
I'm gonna try for some shots of all the security stuff in place - it's just amazing...

Oh how the party goers are gonna suffer this week with the PM sleeping right next to their favourite night clubs!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 26, 2009, 11:05:42 PM
But surely they're so popular everywhere no-one would want to harm them :doh: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on September 26, 2009, 11:14:37 PM
Well the tories escaped Brighton and that led to Thatcher punishing every working class man woman and child in the country afterwards
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 26, 2009, 11:26:50 PM
Mmm...not sure the two things were related ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 27, 2009, 01:36:15 AM
Just seen this on AOL.  ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6018173/Squirrel-is-surprise-star-of-holiday-photo.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on September 27, 2009, 11:47:01 AM
is that doing the rounds again?
I seem to recall a couple of the tabloids using this theme to modify some of the more famous pictures like the Moon Landing of '69 or England winning the World Cup in '66 etc.

Great story though.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 29, 2009, 07:04:05 PM
A certain photo mag, whose web site died recently, keeps sending me email reminding me of the pending closing date for their photographer of the year contest. So I decided as a lark to see what the categories were again. Click on a link and it goes nowhere.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 29, 2009, 09:41:57 PM
The weather people gave the long-range forecast for Winter today, and suggest it's going to be warmer than usual! So take this as a warning to get loads of logs for your fires, plenty of woollies, sheepskin coat and anything else you need to keep warm. It's going to be Arctic weather based on their summer forecast for barbecue weather!  :2funny: :2funny: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 30, 2009, 08:46:45 AM
The old adage 'if you're not a socialist when you are under 40, you haven't got a heart, and if you're still one after that age you haven't got a head' has always been a bit of a puzzle to me. Is it because after 40 you suddenly become materialistic and self serving or are the scales suddenly lifted from your eyes and you understand the meaning of cynicism?

The reason for the above is that today I read that that well respected and pillar of the journalistic world the Sun has decided how we should all vote in the forthcoming and long overdue General Election. This will strike fear into the supporters of Labour and perhaps bang the final nail into the already prepared and awaiting coffin. The Tories will be hard at the canapes and Bollinger, and all those blue rinsed elderly ladies will be letting their gardeners have an extra cuppa and perhaps two Bourbons with it as well. Don't forget these are the people that wouldn't let a Sun reader within a million miles of their comfy domains.

Is that they expect those that take the miserable rag have no minds of their own? What a jaundiced view of the electorate, but unfortunately true.

How's that for a rant first thing. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on September 30, 2009, 09:07:00 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 30, 2009, 08:46:45 AM
The reason for the above is that today I read that that well respected and pillar of the journalistic world the Sun has decided how we should all vote in the forthcoming and long overdue General Election. This will strike fear into the supporters of Labour and perhaps bang the final nail into the already prepared and awaiting coffin.

The Scum (Sun, sorry am a Liverpool fan) flip flops around depending on what Mr Murdoch wants anyway. Don't forget the headline in 92 (I think) "if Labour win the election will the last person to leave the country turn the lights out" followed by "IT's the Sun wot won it!"

What worries me far more is the way the BNP are lurking around the sink estates of South Yorks tell the workshy, lazy, feckless and procreating masses that all their problems are the fault of non-white european, blacks, Asians and Gays... USE YOUR VOTE PEOPLE! As a wise person once said "all that evil needs is for the good to do nothing!"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on September 30, 2009, 09:08:14 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 30, 2009, 08:46:45 AM
The old adage 'if you're not a socialist when you are under 40, you haven't got a heart, and if you're still one after that age you haven't got a head' has always been a bit of a puzzle to me. Is it because after 40 you suddenly become materialistic and self serving or are the scales suddenly lifted from your eyes and you understand the meaning of cynicism?
It's usually because before you turn 40, you haven't accumulated much and don't appreciate how much effort and work (for the normal person that is, not the hereditary wealthy) goes into accumulating it. After 40(ish) you have spent more than half your life working to get where you are and don't want to just give it away...others should have to work just like you did, hence the lack of middle aged socialists - they're the ones that have to pay for the policies.

The under 40's that are "socialists" are usually so because they can see the obvious benefits for themselves, and lack of implications/costs for themselves. They genuinely believe that they are being altruistic by being socialists, but in reality, they are thinking of themselves - the basic human survival instinct. Ok, there might be one that really walks the walk and talks the talk, but most don't. Just look at students - mostly socialist because they live on hand outs and haven't yet encountered the joy of realising that from January to July everything they earn goes to the taxman, everything they earn after that they can keep, providing they shovel over an additional 17% when they buy things.

QuoteIs that they expect those that take the miserable rag have no minds of their own? What a jaundiced view of the electorate, but unfortunately true.
Sadly, the average Sun reader (and most of the populace, btw) is incapable of rational or critical contemplation of the information they're fed. It's hard to think for oneself and much more interesting to fill one's head full of useless football statistics and what KPrice et al are up to than what might be of more use to them, such as why the politicians are doing what they are and why are they spinning it a specific way, and what is in it for them, and who will benefit the most. And so they prefer to be told what to do and when, which explains why religions are so popular - faith is easier to follow than thinking for yourself.

QuoteHow's that for a rant first thing. >:(
Not bad, I'd give it a 6 out of 10. Not really indignant enough in tone. Keep working on it! Try on a Monday morning, sets the scene better.  ;)

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 30, 2009, 09:10:17 AM
Ooh - not a good idea to discuss politics ::) I think the Socialist thing is more a case that by 40 you probably realise that, because people are'nt all motivated by a feeling of goodwill and fair shares for all [sadly], Socialism will never work. Power to the people usuallys ends up with power to a ruling elite or a single despot- nothing changes just those in power. I think that divide between Labour and Tory in the old terms of unionist/worker versus employer/toff is way in the past  - Nulab have been more right wing and controlling in some ways than Maggie would ever have dared. The one good thing about the coming election is that so many sitting MPs will be standing down due to iffy allowances etc. and you hever know we might get a few more honest ones - we can but hope.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 30, 2009, 09:12:53 AM
Now I'm off to blue rinse my hair in readiness... :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 30, 2009, 09:37:04 AM
It did cross my mind that the Sun's stance would harden the socialist vote in Liverpool.
Weren't they awful last night! :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on September 30, 2009, 10:12:53 AM
Whilst Socialism is nothing more than a pipedream the concept is a really good idea... I mean, imagine the cameras we would be using by now if we all worked together instead of against each other all the time.... Constantly reinventing stuff instead of refining...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 30, 2009, 03:58:38 PM
On-line tech forums. ::) I'm having an issue with my HP 7150 printer. And yes I was having an issue with my Epson which is why I switched to the HP. Anyway, I tried to do a print job of 25 copies of a poster. The printer dutifully print 4 and then stopped. No matter the number of copies requested it prints 4 and stops. No error messages etc. So after unsuccessful tinkering I went on line and posted queries, regarding DOT4_001 port and HP 7150 printer problem. So I have discovered that numerous people have posted queries about these two subjects. No one seems to answer them. I even joined a Printer Tech forum only to discover that there are dozens of unanswered posts about these things. Why start a forum claiming to address all printer issues and not ever answer peoples questions. A simple we don't know would be better than none. And I'm still no closer to an answer, so if anyone here knows it, feel free to tell me.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 30, 2009, 04:09:00 PM
I find the comments on Socialism bemusing. Here in North America, that saying translates as 'if you're not a LIBERAL before you are 40 you have no heart etc....' Socialism is a very dirty word on this continent. Unfortunately, both here in Canada and in the U.S., the 'liberals' control the Universities and most of the media. You will never hear a public admission that socialism is a failed philosophy. Neither will they admit they're socialists at heart.  ;)I have watched the same socialist experiments getting repeated over and over with failed outcomes, over and over.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 30, 2009, 11:00:42 PM
Quote from: spinner on September 30, 2009, 03:58:38 PM
On-line tech forums. ::) I'm having an issue with my HP 7150 printer. And yes I was having an issue with my Epson which is why I switched to the HP. Anyway, I tried to do a print job of 25 copies of a poster. The printer dutifully print 4 and then stopped. No matter the number of copies requested it prints 4 and stops. No error messages etc. So after unsuccessful tinkering I went on line and posted queries, regarding DOT4_001 port and HP 7150 printer problem. So I have discovered that numerous people have posted queries about these two subjects. No one seems to answer them. I even joined a Printer Tech forum only to discover that there are dozens of unanswered posts about these things. Why start a forum claiming to address all printer issues and not ever answer peoples questions. A simple we don't know would be better than none. And I'm still no closer to an answer, so if anyone here knows it, feel free to tell me.
Could it be a lack of memory in the printer that is causing the problem, as some printer drivers sent the print 25 times rather than once.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 01, 2009, 01:18:08 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 30, 2009, 11:00:42 PM

Could it be a lack of memory in the printer that is causing the problem, as some printer drivers sent the print 25 times rather than once.  :o

That is my suspicion OB, but I'd like one of these self proclaimed experts to confirm it. Even HP's own forum has had the questions posted and no real clear answer provided.

I know the Internet is rife with misinformation as well, so I wonder what's worse.

I went through the opposite a few weeks back when I posted a query on a Linux forum. That time I got a lot of giberish back. Like they thought I was a complete novice,
which should have been clear that I wasn't when I framed my question. One diamond in the crowd gave me the right answer and I thanked him for it whilst letting the others
know I thought they were complete twits.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 01, 2009, 10:11:50 AM
So I finally get a response from one of the moderators "Do you still have the disk for this printer?". I can see where this is going, of course it doesn't answer the question I posted.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 01, 2009, 11:57:21 PM
Just seen this on AOL news.  ::)

Town Hall bosses are to unveil their latest initiative for tax payers - a sex guide for the over-50s.
Older people in Manchester, many of them grandparents, will get dating and bedroom tips thanks to the illustrated booklet, running to more than 40 pages, from bureaucrats at the city council.
Top tips for more mature lovers include watching a "sexy movie", reading erotic books, trying new sex positions and vacuum pumps and Viagra to combat impotency in men

Perhaps that's why Flake hasn't been on here - to busy!  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on October 02, 2009, 12:28:24 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 01, 2009, 11:57:21 PM
Just seen this on AOL news.  ::)

Town Hall bosses are to unveil their latest initiative for tax payers - a sex guide for the over-50s.
Older people in Manchester, many of them grandparents, will get dating and bedroom tips thanks to the illustrated booklet, running to more than 40 pages, from bureaucrats at the city council.
Top tips for more mature lovers include watching a "sexy movie", reading erotic books, trying new sex positions and vacuum pumps and Viagra to combat impotency in men

Perhaps that's why Flake hasn't been on here - to busy!  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:  :legit:

Joke I heard about the subject today was......... " My wife said she would read it when her headache gets better ".......... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 06:40:59 AM
Good to see they're not wasting taxpayers money then! Funny how councils can find money for rubbish like that when cuts are about to cause job losses and loss of services ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 08:12:57 AM
Has it been translated into 14 or so different laguages as well?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 02, 2009, 08:36:56 AM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 08:12:57 AM
Has it been translated into 14 or so different laguages as well?

I'm guessing it's mostly pictures.......
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 12:13:26 PM
Not bemused, not angry just a lttle sorry that there are vindictive people in this world. I knew if they had a chance they would get their revenge for the p*ss taking.

Reply to an email asking if PRadar would put our forthcoming exhibition in their news section.


Hi Alan,

We've had a short discussion on this and we've got the feeling that a promotion of your exhibition would look somewhat odd as you don't currently have any images in your gallery for us to reference to.

Obviously, we'd be only too keen to publicise our members displaying their work in exhibitions and so on, and normally what we would do in this situation is to refer the reader back to the gallery so they can see what kind of images they can expect to see at an exhibition - as you don't have any, to a member who doesn't know you it would look a bit odd that we're talking about a member who doesn't seem to be actively using our site.

I hope you can understand our position on this, and if you have any questions please do let me know.

Thanks,

Amy


Amy,

Not at all surprised at the unfortunate and I feel somewhat vindictive stance you have taken. Not having posted any images on your galleries is a decision I have taken because of the T&C's.
If you wanted to reference to my work and Phil Drake's, another one of your site members by the way, you could point to our respective web sites.

As someone who has made a total of 85 posts on the Forums I suppose that is also not active enough for you. Never mind we'll have to make do with the other sites and magazines that have decided to run with it.

Should make some interesting reading for all the old DCM participants.

Regards...Abers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 12:26:44 PM
Er...does that mean they only promote exhibitions by those who use their galleries? No telling people about a Cartier Bresson exhibition then....and what about the recent entry promoting something by Martin Parr...is he a fervent poster in the PR galleries??? As you have a website address in your signature why would anyone need to be unaware of the type of photography? The forum over there is dying on its feet. A few people trying desperately to drum up interest but it's still full of glitches which go unrepaired and any query about making  this better/more user friendly are met  with 'we're looking into it'. Can't think why people want to upload loads of photos there...no-one looks at them apparantly!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 02, 2009, 12:29:10 PM
Wow.

Shocks me but doesn't surprise me.

I don't think Daniel Beltrá has any pics in their rights-grabbery gallery either but they are certainly promoting his exhibition at Kew (http://www.photoradar.com/news/story/interactive-rainforest-exhibition).  Rightly so, because it looks amazing and would be of genuine interest to anybody in the area who likes great photography.  But, you know.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 02, 2009, 01:05:25 PM
Amazing response and testament to how that site is struggling now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: happypaddler on October 02, 2009, 02:28:51 PM
I think Amy is great - her responses always cheer me up as they are most often not answering a question, attempting to side step something and failing, or a reply with a bizarre very left field, and on occasion incorrect answer.

I can in this case understand her response and reasoning - but as its being held in a very public place, with (I'm guessing - having read about Abers previous exhibitions) other photographers - surly it does not matter if someone is a member of the site or not (be that active or otherwise). A small mention in the correct section, advertising a worthwhile exhibition is surly good for the promotion of photography to its members. If the manager of the location in which the exhibition is being held sent out a press release, would they mention it then?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 04:04:20 PM
Just a question. Am I right in thinking that you have to be a member of CC to be able to read and contrtibute to the forum here, if so is Amy a member?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 04:46:22 PM
you can read stuff when you're not logged in - you show on the front page as a guest. I assume you need to be a me,ber to post.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 04:58:50 PM
So that's how she knew I'd posted her email on here!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 06:12:30 PM
Have you been banned?? There could be a prize for the first to get an actual ban!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 06:26:30 PM
Quote from: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 06:12:30 PM
Have you been banned?? There could be a prize for the first to get an actual ban!

Not that I'm aware. I've posted the announcement on the B+W thread that is on their Forum, whether it stays there is another matter. I don't think Amy could be so petty. Could you Amy? ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 02, 2009, 06:38:54 PM
I think the people who still actually use the site might not be impressed if it was removed ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 02, 2009, 07:34:34 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 04:04:20 PM
Just a question. Am I right in thinking that you have to be a member of CC to be able to read and contrtibute to the forum here, if so is Amy a member?

Alan, like Sue said, anyone can view and read the posts, but they can't post until registered and signed in.  This is the norm for most forums.  Amy is not a member as far as I'm aware.  Doubt they would peruse this site to be honest.  ???

We can however make certain threads viewable to people who are signed in only,  if that's ever needed.  ;) 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 08:07:59 PM
Don't be too sure about that Mick. She emailed me about five minutes after I posted her response to me pointing out that I shouldn't copy her email 'to another site as in Future's small print it forbids that'.

Keeping up with opposition I think, or just paranoia. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 02, 2009, 09:02:08 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2009, 08:07:59 PM
Don't be too sure about that Mick. She emailed me about five minutes after I posted her response to me pointing out that I shouldn't copy her email 'to another site as in Future's small print it forbids that'.

Keeping up with opposition I think, or just paranoia. ::)

If she sent you a email to your private email address, then that is outside the PR website therefore, T&C on PR wouldn't apply.  ;D

Most commerical emails state those terms at the bottom, but it's never been tested in court.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 03, 2009, 09:46:13 AM
Um, OK, 2 things.

1. Like a lot of things this is probably my fault.  I happened to mention on Twitter that I was bemused by PR's attitude to an established photographer's exhibition.  No names and certainly no links but a guilty conscience could have easily made somebody come here looking for the story.  Sorry.

2. Those disclaimers on e-mails are, I have it on good authority, total bollocks.  Claiming T&Cs is even more ridiculous.  If I send you a letter then I'm pretty sure you are at liberty to put it on a noticeboard outside your house for people to see.  That's exactly what this is.  But electronically.  The internet is pretty much about free speech.

I'm still totally bemused by their attitude and their increasing desperation to keep things hidden.  I guess it's their site and they can do what they want with it.

BTW, Hi Amy - how are things?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 03, 2009, 10:04:01 AM
No apologies needed Jonathan. I was just a little peeved at their attitude and wanted to stamp my foot a bit.
Thanks for the comments on the B+W announcement Sue and Oldboy you rascals ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 03, 2009, 10:11:10 AM
Quote from: ABERS on October 03, 2009, 10:04:01 AM

No apologies needed Jonathan.


Absolutely.  It's their loss IMO ;) 

By the way Alan, I've added the info to the news ticker, and the calendar for the 31st of October.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 03, 2009, 12:13:45 PM
Quote from: admin on October 03, 2009, 10:11:10 AM
Quote from: ABERS on October 03, 2009, 10:04:01 AM

No apologies needed Jonathan.


Absolutely.  It's their loss IMO ;) 

By the way Alan, I've added the info to the news ticker, and the calendar for the 31st of October.

Now that's what I call an administrator (take note Amy).

Thanks for that Mick, much appreciated. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on October 03, 2009, 12:38:08 PM
Saddened by this mean-spirited approach, but like most others I am not much surprised. Their loss, I think.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 03, 2009, 02:14:17 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 03, 2009, 10:04:01 AM
No apologies needed Jonathan. I was just a little peeved at their attitude and wanted to stamp my foot a bit.
Thanks for the comments on the B+W announcement Sue and Oldboy you rascals ;D

They need rubbing up the wrong way!  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 03, 2009, 06:03:54 PM
As I suspected, after several days I get the standard response after admitting I still have the disk. Delete the printer profile and use the disk to reinstall everything. Why do they assume because you're asking a question you are a complete moron. And still, no one has actually provided an answer to the question I asked. Why no " sorry we really don't know"?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 07, 2009, 10:19:57 PM
Why do some people, when building their own website, refer to themselves in the third person?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 07, 2009, 10:34:57 PM
Quote from: greypoint on October 07, 2009, 10:19:57 PM
Why do some people, when building their own website, refer to themselves in the third person?

Well perhaps it's her :o

By the way we've just added a new gallery on our website, we thought you might like to see a few IR's. To paraphrase that bloke on the Fast Show, 'This week I R mostly bin doing IR's.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 08, 2009, 05:05:44 AM
Didn't get round to booking my train ticket to London till last night - and the 6am advanced ticket wasn't available - so I tried to book the 6:20 to be told there were no seats! So I've had to get the 5:40!

Which reminds me I must go!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on October 08, 2009, 05:59:20 PM
Women




End of.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on October 08, 2009, 07:23:41 PM
WBMT My co....We have no first aider, no first aid kit, no working fire alarm, no "HS at work" poster and to top it all a leaking roof....are they spending money on that......no but they are going to spend the thick end of £10 000 (yep 10grand) on a "voice recorder system" to record all our phone calls  :P.....priorities what are those :doh:.........
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on October 08, 2009, 07:51:37 PM
Quote from: krennon on October 08, 2009, 07:23:41 PM
WBMT My co....We have no first aider, no first aid kit, no working fire alarm, no "HS at work" poster and to top it all a leaking roof....are they spending money on that......no but they are going to spend the thick end of £10 000 (yep 10grand) on a "voice recorder system" to record all our phone calls  :P.....priorities what are those :doh:.........

Surely there are rules on H&S, our place is the opposite health & safety rules the place along with following ISO standards, actual production is irrelevant as long as all the paperwork is in order. One of our guys was seen doing an "unsafe act" the other day & it was hinted that our supervision was not up to scratch - 2 of us supervising 20+ blokes on 3 different shift patterns 24-7????
As much much as it is for our benefit I still think it is more driven by fear of US style law suits.  
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on October 08, 2009, 07:56:25 PM
Oh yes Bones there are all sorts of rules and regs, I have e-mails I sent to my boss over a year ago on the subject and I'm still waiting for a response.....hence now looking for another job....got anything going? full ccl, 20+ years exp in customer service, can drive a reach fork lift, warehouse/stores exp....quick learner.....live in Surbiton in Surrey.... ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on October 08, 2009, 08:24:12 PM
There is always something but the commute to Suffolk may put you off, especially when you consider the wage!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 08, 2009, 11:22:42 PM
Google streetview has finally come to my neighbourhood. From the pics it looks like they were here in the early spring. Sorry I missed seeing them. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on October 09, 2009, 07:36:04 PM



Still women




End of.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 09, 2009, 08:41:12 PM
As we all wait with bated breath for the launch of Windows 7, an R&D bod at Microsoft has leaked they are working on Windows 8 and 9.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 09, 2009, 09:10:45 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 09, 2009, 08:41:12 PM
As we all wait with bated breath for the launch of Windows 7, an R&D bod at Microsoft has leaked they are working on Windows 8 and 9.  :o

They're slowly demonstrating their ability to count up to 10, methinks.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on October 11, 2009, 02:13:06 PM
Can someone driect me to where i can post pics? like we did on dcmag, the pic of the day, post your best? or do they not exist on this site?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 11, 2009, 02:19:10 PM
Quote from: CML-1591 on October 11, 2009, 02:13:06 PM
Can someone driect me to where i can post pics? like we did on dcmag, the pic of the day, post your best? or do they not exist on this site?

Sure Craig, we have one here in the General Photography section. Photo of the day or edit of the day (http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=339.0)

Hope that's what you were looking for.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on October 11, 2009, 02:27:32 PM
Quote from: admin on October 11, 2009, 02:19:10 PM
Quote from: CML-1591 on October 11, 2009, 02:13:06 PM
Can someone driect me to where i can post pics? like we did on dcmag, the pic of the day, post your best? or do they not exist on this site?

Sure Craig, we have one here in the General Photography section. Photo of the day or edit of the day (http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=339.0)

Hope that's what you were looking for.  ;)

Yep, that will do nicely, cheers
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 12, 2009, 01:11:36 PM
Woke up to an iced over bird bath, won't be long now. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 16, 2009, 04:29:27 PM
Mmmmmm... Makes you wonder. ::)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8310572.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on October 16, 2009, 06:04:24 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 12, 2009, 01:11:36 PM
Woke up to an iced over bird bath, won't be long now. ::)

Its like mid summer here, 28c..  I was taking some sun at the beach this afternoon after a grueling 30 minutes taking pics of a house being built  :2funny:  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 16, 2009, 08:02:53 PM
Quote from: oRGie on October 16, 2009, 06:04:24 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 12, 2009, 01:11:36 PM
Woke up to an iced over bird bath, won't be long now. ::)

Its like mid summer here, 28c..  I was taking some sun at the beach this afternoon after a grueling 30 minutes taking pics of a house being built  :2funny:  :legit:

One of my co-workers said he'd heard there was a possiblilty of snow on the weekend.  :'( I haven't seen it myself.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 16, 2009, 08:59:15 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 16, 2009, 08:02:53 PM
Quote from: oRGie on October 16, 2009, 06:04:24 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 12, 2009, 01:11:36 PM
Woke up to an iced over bird bath, won't be long now. ::)

Its like mid summer here, 28c..  I was taking some sun at the beach this afternoon after a grueling 30 minutes taking pics of a house being built  :2funny:  :legit:

One of my co-workers said he'd heard there was a possiblilty of snow on the weekend.  :'( I haven't seen it myself.  :o

We've got frost for the weekend.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on October 16, 2009, 09:25:06 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 16, 2009, 04:29:27 PM
Mmmmmm... Makes you wonder. ::)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8310572.stm

Yup and who is paying for this c0ck up ? us mugs
Why the hell was this not picked up before the plane left the UK. Typical of this shower of shoite we call a government.
And whilst I'm on a rant, how come I get 2 threatening letters demanding 55 quid for over payment on tax credits ? yet these clowns are fleecing us all with their expenses and can choose not to be accountable or responsible to pay back thousands
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on October 21, 2009, 04:12:26 PM
Wbmt?

I updated my weblog, for the first time in at least two months... and nearly ran out of stuff to say. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 21, 2009, 09:14:35 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on October 21, 2009, 04:12:26 PM
Wbmt?

I updated my weblog, for the first time in at least two months... and nearly ran out of stuff to say. :(

Least it was only nearly!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2009, 10:19:14 AM
I entered a competition run by a local bank. Didn't win or place, but hey, it's always worth a try and you never know.

Now there were some very good entries, but  . . .

Have a look at this http://www.whyilovefrance.com/ - hit the 'click to see the winners' text. But make sure you are sitting down first. And you don't have a cup of coffee close to your mouth that you might choke on or spit onto the keyboard/screen with the shock.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on October 22, 2009, 02:31:07 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on October 22, 2009, 10:19:14 AM
I entered a competition run by a local bank. Didn't win or place, but hey, it's always worth a try and you never know.

Now there were some very good entries, but  . . .

Have a look at this http://www.whyilovefrance.com/ - hit the 'click to see the winners' text. But make sure you are sitting down first. And you don't have a cup of coffee close to your mouth that you might choke on or spit onto the keyboard/screen with the shock.

The first one was quite appealing in a cutesy way but the other 2 are awful, dont see the relevance to france in the 3rd one.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2009, 02:49:36 PM
It was always going to be a lottery . .  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on October 22, 2009, 02:58:33 PM
It clearly shows that any competition is as good as the judges. It certainly bemused me.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on October 25, 2009, 04:29:25 PM
OK, this may not strike an amusing chord with some but...

Today saw the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association run a 10k marathon to raise money.
After standing around what i thought was the finish line (or route according to the signs) i struggled to get any pictures.

Lack of Estate Agents or Lack of Charity towards Estate Agents?

Any one in the vicinity please feel free to put me right!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 28, 2009, 10:17:01 PM
A letter in the local paper from someone bemused. The council in Corby a few miles up the road from here have sorted out the insurance needed to allow pedalos to once more be available on the town's boating lake. They also need to make sure the extra activity and boating won't have a detrimental effect on and disturb the wildlife, the swans, cygnets and ducks etc. ...that done, to celebrate, they'll have a large firework display at the lake......which will presumably scatter all the wildlife........ :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on October 29, 2009, 09:10:17 AM
Quote from: picsfor on October 25, 2009, 04:29:25 PM
Lack of Estate Agents or Lack of Charity towards Estate Agents?

Any one in the vicinity please feel free to put me right!

Having just bought a house all I can suggest is that it was to keep them fit enough to runaway from vendors and and vendees! I'd have thought they got enough exercise pushing their luck!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on October 29, 2009, 09:49:50 AM
@ Howard - was the competition one of these things where anyone with an e-mail address can vote ? I entered a couple of comps run by Pixum.de but soon realised that the winners either had a trillion freebee mail addis or lots of relatives. After a completely out of focus picture of a Jack Russel won, I think the theme was Autumn, I gave up  :legit:
Joined DCM/CC/flickr instead :) I don't win here either, but at least the competition is excellent  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 29, 2009, 10:24:31 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on October 29, 2009, 09:49:50 AM
@ Howard - was the competition one of these things where anyone with an e-mail address can vote ? I entered a couple of comps run by Pixum.de but soon realised that the winners either had a trillion freebee mail addis or lots of relatives. After a completely out of focus picture of a Jack Russel won, I think the theme was Autumn, I gave up  :legit:
Joined DCM/CC/flickr instead :) I don't win here either, but at least the competition is excellent  ;)

It wasn't a public vote thing - The judges were three bank employees. Judging by the winners I say they were the part time cleaner, one of the computers and the office cat.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on October 29, 2009, 11:19:16 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on October 29, 2009, 10:24:31 AM

It wasn't a public vote thing - The judges were three bank employees. Judging by the winners I say they were the part time cleaner, one of the computers and the office cat.

or all related to one another  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on October 29, 2009, 04:08:24 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on October 29, 2009, 10:24:31 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on October 29, 2009, 09:49:50 AM
@ Howard - was the competition one of these things where anyone with an e-mail address can vote ? I entered a couple of comps run by Pixum.de but soon realised that the winners either had a trillion freebee mail addis or lots of relatives. After a completely out of focus picture of a Jack Russel won, I think the theme was Autumn, I gave up  :legit:
Joined DCM/CC/flickr instead :) I don't win here either, but at least the competition is excellent  ;)

It wasn't a public vote thing - The judges were three bank employees. Judging by the winners I say they were the part time cleaner, one of the computers and the office cat.

Whoever it was, they were certainly taking the p!@s. Judging by the first photo/video, maybe it was a competition for who can do the worst photoshop work!

Nick
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 29, 2009, 09:18:15 PM
Great laugh H - your`s must have been really bad to get beaten by those  ;) :D

Amazing isn`t it why did they bother? 1,2 and 3 all appalling. I mean did 1 take all elements of theirs?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 29, 2009, 10:06:10 PM
Absolutely right jinky, I really need to pull my socks up and no mistale  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on November 01, 2009, 03:49:05 PM
My husband just got back from Japan - he was in Nagoya.
Yesterday evening he was in a restaurant which served all kinds of pork.

Including :

Diaphragm
Uterus
Rectum
Bloodvessel
Large intestine
Throat gristle

Bon appetit !
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 01, 2009, 04:05:48 PM
Quote from: Sarasocke on November 01, 2009, 03:49:05 PM
My husband just got back from Japan - he was in Nagoya.
Yesterday evening he was in a restaurant which served all kinds of pork.

Including :

Diaphragm
Uterus
Rectum
Bloodvessel
Large intestine
Throat gristle

Bon appetit !


  Or sausages as their known over here! :2funny:
                          Graham.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on November 01, 2009, 09:01:09 PM
One of my colleagues where I used to work had been on a business trip to China. He told us about one of the items on the menu "pig's bottom". Must be similar to "rectum".

The mind boggles.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on November 05, 2009, 08:17:03 PM
So.. when did original 'top 5' camera makers resort to advertising on the telly? :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on November 08, 2009, 08:53:43 PM
How much  :D

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sandisk-64gb-600x-udma-extreme-pro-compact-flash/p1033565
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 08, 2009, 09:02:42 PM
Quote from: oRGie on November 08, 2009, 08:53:43 PM
How much  :D

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sandisk-64gb-600x-udma-extreme-pro-compact-flash/p1033565
I paid £200 for two 2gb IV Sandisk when they first came out, so that look good value.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 08, 2009, 09:18:56 PM
bloomin' 'eck - I begrudge paying more than a tenner for a memory card these days ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 08, 2009, 10:40:47 PM
half a new lens, or a second flash gun...

i'll make do with my 2 x 4gb ultra IV's and a couple of 2gb ultra III's for absolute reserves
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on November 09, 2009, 01:05:35 AM
The mind boggles.
And I bet all that money spent improves the photography ten fold eh ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 09, 2009, 05:17:09 AM
Never give up hope!  ::)

A Volkswagen van stolen 35 years ago in Washington state has been found in a shipping container bound for The Netherlands.
Reports in the Spokesman-Review newspaper revealed customs officers found the 1965 van when they opened a shipping container at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport.
They checked the vehicle identification number and discovered it was listed as stolen.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 09, 2009, 06:32:43 AM
And what's more, the VW Van is probably worth more today then when it was purchased (or stolen)  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on November 09, 2009, 05:00:59 PM
A conversation between the manageress and some alleged regular customers, overheard in the shop today..:

"We like your shop, we hope you don't close down or nothing."
'That's nice. Are you coming to our late-night opening thing on Thursday? We'll be having some sort of deals on all day as well, you know?'
"Oh no, no, we don't like coming here too often."

... wtf? ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 09, 2009, 06:11:55 PM
Out early this morning and on the hill at 06:30am to catch the sunrise as it poked through the fog/mist. Alas, clouds came across and blocked the sun and the fog/mist remained until about 09:30. I couldn't see the clouds due to the fog, but could see the moon until the clouds covered it at 08:00am.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on November 14, 2009, 06:33:05 PM

Very amusing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TM3GbxaNLI&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TM3GbxaNLI&feature=player_embedded#)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 14, 2009, 09:39:21 PM
excellent - i've had the clip from when he first performed that at the montreaux rose festival, but that version is soooo much funnier.

Thanks for posting the link.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on November 18, 2009, 12:14:28 PM
A friend in England sent me a link to this article:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/8352729.stm I take it that one shouldn't place too much belief in the European (especially the French) view that the British are very reserved?  :-* :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 18, 2009, 01:31:48 PM
Looks like another example of how pathetic and whiny some Brits have become: the sound level was 47db. My db meter's lowest setting is 60db +/- 10db. Whispering at it from a meter away produces a reading of about 55db (A weighting).

I think what is really going on here is the fact that she got laid 'almost every night' and for hours on end. I think it's called jealousy. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 19, 2009, 09:24:41 AM
If you want to photograph some old tree stumps then head to Trafalgar Square to see the Ghost Trees. See below.  :2funny:

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2009/11/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-trees.php
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 19, 2009, 09:02:48 PM
WBMT?

Having the sun roof on my landrover decide to explode into a thousand peices whilst I was on the motorway at about 60mph.

Was a hell of a bang - and scattered glass everywhere. Glad the kids weren't in the car at the time as I'm not sure what would have happened to them!  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 19, 2009, 10:23:30 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 19, 2009, 09:24:41 AM
If you want to photograph some old tree stumps then head to Trafalgar Square to see the Ghost Trees. See below.  :2funny:

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2009/11/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-trees.php

yep - used the 50mm on them on tuesday - impressive stuff...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 20, 2009, 11:15:57 AM
Quote from: anglefire on November 19, 2009, 09:02:48 PM
WBMT?

Having the sun roof on my landrover decide to explode into a thousand peices whilst I was on the motorway at about 60mph.

Was a hell of a bang - and scattered glass everywhere. Glad the kids weren't in the car at the time as I'm not sure what would have happened to them!  :-\

Oh, I know that feeling, only in my case it was a case of frozen soda. I thought I'd been shot at. I think I lost control for a second, thankfully no one else was around me.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 21, 2009, 08:17:36 AM
      Why is it that as soon as I start to type I forget how to spell! >:(
      I don't mean big words like "peridisconobulation" but things like "Author" and  "people"!
      Do you think perhaps (I just had to look that up!) it's a "man thing"!
                     Graham.  :)

And why do I use so many exclamation marks!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 21, 2009, 08:35:45 AM
I think an exclamation mark is the equivalent of waving your hands about!!!!! :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 21, 2009, 08:42:53 AM
Quote from: greypoint on November 21, 2009, 08:35:45 AM
I think an exclamation mark is the equivalent of waving your hands about!!!!! :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:

      Oh, that'll be it then! I do a lot of that, not physicaly you understand, just in my head!
                           Graham. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 23, 2009, 08:01:57 AM
The commended images in the DCM photograph taken in the past few years competition have been announced and I still feel a little underwhelmed. As usual the UK has just a sprinkling of representatives. I'm a little unclear as to who actually came up with the shortlist as it says editors choice. One of the few positive images in the This is Britain has at least been commended, the others being the usual cliched 'we're all drunken fast food young hoodies'! Perhaps we should start a book on the eventual winner - if it was'nt for the fact no-one from the UK ever wins I'd probably go for the drunken partgoers illustrating the This is Britain category given what the judges seem to be going for this year :-\ ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 23, 2009, 08:15:20 AM
It's to be assumed that the shortlist is the result of the 'team' on DCM deciding which images to present to the final judges with the Editor leading the way, and since the 'team' seems to comprise mostly a younger element then perhaps it's not surprising that the images in the Britain category reflect the world they see and perhaps inhabit. ???

The winner will come from somewhere where the Future organisation is trying to make inroads into that particular area, after all the competition is purely a marketing exercise.

The old cynic genes are working overtime this morning. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 23, 2009, 08:22:41 AM
I worked out the idea of the contest a long time ago. You make it as open and worldwiide as possible, give the incentive of a large prize and encourage thousands of entries so you can call it one of the biggest competitions. You have an on line upload/gallery and allow votes which mean nothing but keep people coming back - this gives a huge number of site visits to please advertisers. You make this voting controversial too - this gives even more site traffic. You then come up with a short list which contains some slightly odd choices or images designed to annoy and of course the lack of UK snappers on the shortlist - this generates some forum traffic [sadly needed]. you then hope for a controversial winner - this will keep the site views up for a bit longer. Then it must die off until next year. Cynical?? Moi?? :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 23, 2009, 02:08:46 PM
I'm still betting it's someone from the far east!  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 23, 2009, 09:56:27 PM
Maybe I should have entered. It could be argued that dependent on which direction you took off in from Bath I'm as Far East as you can get.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 26, 2009, 11:50:06 AM
My work situation, actually it's been bemusing me for weeks. Just after we managed to increase our office staff by 3 extra people our workload appears to have died off by a huge percentage. Now instead of three of us sitting around divying up a meager workload there's six of us sitting around most afternoons twiddling our thumbs. Makes for a really long day.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 26, 2009, 05:07:20 PM
Quote from: spinner on November 26, 2009, 11:50:06 AM
My work situation, actually it's been bemusing me for weeks. Just after we managed to increase our office staff by 3 extra people our workload appears to have died off by a huge percentage. Now instead of three of us sitting around divying up a meager workload there's six of us sitting around most afternoons twiddling our thumbs. Makes for a really long day.  :'(


    Hey Spinner, tell me about it!
                                               Perhaps you could try something like this.
                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp9bYVvQrMQ&feature=related
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 26, 2009, 09:57:39 PM
Or I could just do this!!

http://www.jokeoftheday.com/content/videos/906/Bad_Day_at_the_Office
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 26, 2009, 10:29:16 PM
PRadar. Nuff said.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 27, 2009, 06:25:19 AM
Michael Mann.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8381317.stm

He's spent the best part of a decade trying to erase any trace of the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Warm Period from the climate records (AKA 'The Hockey Stick', see also anything you like under 'Climategate' - the best bit there is Trenberth, leading IPCC author admitting that he hasn't got a clue, actually, about how the climate works, but I digress), and now he claims to have suddenly found the reason he thinks they happened. Seems he finally read something Lindzen has published. And then copied it was inspired to recreate it.

You've got to admire the man's chutzpah.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on November 27, 2009, 09:49:00 PM
Dreamweaver, files can't be managed, pfft.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 02, 2009, 06:14:44 PM
Just read a BBC story about the Department for Energy and Climate Change; the ministries of Truth, Peace and Plenty surely cannot be far behind.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 02, 2009, 08:01:22 PM
Was'nt Mandelson going to be made Minister for Information - very 1984?  No-one was really sure if it was a case of Joseph Goebels or Comical Ali though ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on December 03, 2009, 09:20:42 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on December 02, 2009, 06:14:44 PM
Just read a BBC story about the Department for Energy and Climate Change; the ministries of Truth, Peace and Plenty surely cannot be far behind.

We already have a Ministry for Justice... which makes me think of Judge Dread!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 04, 2009, 12:36:11 AM
Was sitting in front of my office computer at lunch somewhat bored and started to peruse my rather long list of bookmarks built up over many bored lunches, when I cam apon the old DCM one. Clicked it out of curiosity and of course it took me to PR. Still bored I went to the forums and what do I find? A certain, pompous, nasty, blowhard is still there, still pompous and nasty and still defending himself under the guise of offering honest criticism. I guess for him it never gets old.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 04, 2009, 06:31:32 AM
Quote from: spinner on December 04, 2009, 12:36:11 AM
A certain, pompous, nasty, blowhard is still there, still pompous and nasty and still defending himself under the guise of offering honest criticism. I guess for him it never gets old.  ;D
And was he still awarding every ones picture just 1 star?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 04, 2009, 10:24:51 AM
The thread that caught my eye had him whining that he planned to 1 star a POTD but knew he'd be attacked so gave it 2. Magnanimous to a fault.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 04, 2009, 01:37:35 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 04, 2009, 12:36:11 AM
Was sitting in front of my office computer at lunch somewhat bored and started to peruse my rather long list of bookmarks built up over many bored lunches, when I cam apon the old DCM one. Clicked it out of curiosity and of course it took me to PR. Still bored I went to the forums and what do I find? A certain, pompous, nasty, blowhard is still there, still pompous and nasty and still defending himself under the guise of offering honest criticism. I guess for him it never gets old.  ;D

He hasn't changed, as he had a go at me a couple of times.  >:(

In another thread, which asks for advice about which DSLR to buy, he claims you don't need a DSLR just a compact!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on December 04, 2009, 07:16:47 PM
Haven't been on that site for a month or so...just can't be bothered right now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 04, 2009, 07:40:51 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 04, 2009, 07:16:47 PM
Haven't been on that site for a month or so...just can't be bothered right now.

Not enough stars?  :2funny: :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 04, 2009, 08:34:53 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 04, 2009, 07:16:47 PM
Haven't been on that site for a month or so...just can't be bothered right now.

I keep looking in, but I really don't know why. Its rubbish! :spam:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on December 04, 2009, 10:20:50 PM
I haven't looked for a long time and really have no desire to ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 04, 2009, 10:48:16 PM
The 850 billion pounds bailout for the banks is going to cost each of us in this country £14,000 so, you better start saving now!  >:( :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on December 05, 2009, 06:34:47 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 04, 2009, 10:48:16 PM
The 850 billion pounds bailout for the banks is going to cost each of us in this country £14,000 so, you better start saving now!  >:( :'(

WE could have kick started the economy if they had given us £14,000 each... new lens, new bike etc
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on December 05, 2009, 10:53:00 PM
Quote from: magicrhodes on December 05, 2009, 06:34:47 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 04, 2009, 10:48:16 PM
The 850 billion pounds bailout for the banks is going to cost each of us in this country £14,000 so, you better start saving now!  >:( :'(

WE could have kick started the economy if they had given us £14,000 each... new lens, new bike etc

here here  :tup: :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 09, 2009, 08:35:50 PM
Just watched a programme called Hop. Skip and Jump on the BBC Iplayer about British children at play from the early 1900s through to the early 1960s. How did we ever survive?? The bit about collecting German incendiary bombs the day after a night of air raids during WW2 was interesting! Worth a look for those who remember the days before kids were driven everywhere and health and safety took over - I think it's called survival of the fittest :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on December 09, 2009, 09:16:52 PM
I saw the program last night it brought back memories of by brother and I playing in the street in the 60s on our home made ( Trollys ) or carts made from old pram wheels & scrap wood.
Lots of fun and lots of bumps and scrapes but no one cared you were a sissy if you ran home to mum everytime you scraped your knee or elbow or worse in fact I would have been in more touble for scraping the toes of my shoes............ :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 10, 2009, 06:18:42 AM
Just received a 'special offer' from Adobe. I can buy Elements 8 and Premier Elements for £79.92, or if I would rather, I can buy an upgrade licence for £94.07.

Pretty standard Adobe logic there.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on December 10, 2009, 09:22:47 AM
Quote from: greypoint on December 09, 2009, 08:35:50 PM
I think it's called survival of the fittest :2funny:

May I direct you to the Darwin Awards which I think have been made into a TV show called "1000 ways to die!"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 11, 2009, 04:09:48 PM
On the school run this afternoon I overtook a relatively slow moving old Renault 21 that was weaving about a bit. As I glanced over at the driver I saw the reason - he was reading (if that's the right word) a girlie mag, which he had opened across the steering wheel.

Good grief.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 11, 2009, 04:38:24 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on December 11, 2009, 04:09:48 PM
Good grief.

I suspect the drivers words were more along the lines of 'Good Read'   ::)
I could descend into further innuendo but this is a responsible site...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 11, 2009, 04:48:42 PM
A common local gaff i'm told - but it doesn't make it any better.
We visited the Devils Dyke today for a spot of lunch and because we enjoy the view (as per my posted picture today entitled 'The Downs').
It sits at the top of the South Downs and provides a spectacular view whilst eating.
As we sat waiting for the food, sipping a drink - my wife says "Where's that pub we sometimes go to at the bottom of the hill?"
Innocently i replied, pointing with my finger, "That's Fulking down there..." - to which the surrounding area of tourists all gasped at my outburst.  :-[ :-[ :-[
It took me several seconds to realise my gaff - 'Fulking' is the name of the village in which the pub my wife was referring to is located!

Oh to be back in Suffolk - no silly names there!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 11, 2009, 08:01:30 PM
Quote from: picsfor on December 11, 2009, 04:48:42 PM
A common local gaff i'm told - but it doesn't make it any better.
We visited the Devils Dyke today for a spot of lunch and because we enjoy the view (as per my posted picture today entitled 'The Downs').
It sits at the top of the South Downs and provides a spectacular view whilst eating.
As we sat waiting for the food, sipping a drink - my wife says "Where's that pub we sometimes go to at the bottom of the hill?"
Innocently i replied, pointing with my finger, "That's Fulking down there..." - to which the surrounding area of tourists all gasped at my outburst.  :-[ :-[ :-[
It took me several seconds to realise my gaff - 'Fulking' is the name of the village in which the pub my wife was referring to is located!

Oh to be back in Suffolk - no silly names there!

Bet you felt a right Fulking idiot. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 12, 2009, 09:05:20 AM
without a doubt.
The tittering off the waiting staff didn't help - nor did the party of oriental tourists amazed at my  'apparent outburst'
Pictures of 'Fulking Village' will follow!

Nearly as bad as when i was in Brussels with a colleague driving around looking for our hotel.
"Where are we?" says my colleague, and he looked over for an answer and said (before i could answer) said "What's up?"
"Kunts Wet" i replied in my best Suffolk drawl.

A heated conversation ensued until i was able to explain that "Kunts Wet" was the part of Belgium where are hotel was located!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 12, 2009, 12:09:28 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235194/BBCs-secret-league-talent-reveals-bosses-REALLY-think-highly-paid-stars.html

When you look at this list and think how much they get paid and how many [for me anyway!] have the 'quick must switch off factor' is'nt the state of factual TV depressing?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 13, 2009, 09:02:19 PM
A neighbour, who works as a jobbing gardener found a 35mm Pentax in a client's shed. The client didn't want it, so neighbour tries to sell it to me. It's damaged and has one of Pentax's worst ever lenses on it. He looked quite crestfallen when I told him it was worthless. Bless.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 13, 2009, 10:21:51 PM
The downside to being known to family and friends as a "photographer" ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on December 14, 2009, 12:18:32 AM
Quote from: spinner on December 13, 2009, 10:21:51 PM
The downside to being known to family and friends as a "photographer" ::)

WHY ?    I have spent most of my life in the electrical trade and have for the last few years spinned myself into the photographic industry whether it be working as a football photographer, Weddings, Portraits or selling my own Landscapes in Galleries and Markets. My extended family still see me as a Electrician ( nothing wrong with that is a great trade to be in )  but they think photography is my hobby and I will allways do something on the cheap. Then again when they need a electrical job doing the same applies. Anyway the quote is " Knowledge is power "  which is why they have come to you, so you dictate, not them and price accordingly............. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 14, 2009, 07:23:51 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 14, 2009, 12:18:32 AM
Quote from: spinner on December 13, 2009, 10:21:51 PM
The downside to being known to family and friends as a "photographer" ::)

WHY ?  


Well if they are family and friends it's sometimes hard to tell them stuff they bring you is rubbish. I'm not good at sugar coating. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on December 20, 2009, 10:41:28 AM

Cooked breakfast, boiled egg slightly underdone...ah ha  :idea:! the microwave!


BOOM!!! :doh: ;D

It wasn't such a matter as egg all over my face, but nicely distributed throughout the microwave.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on December 20, 2009, 11:48:34 AM
Quote from: hevans on December 20, 2009, 10:41:28 AM

Cooked breakfast, boiled egg slightly underdone...ah ha  :idea:! the microwave!


BOOM!!! :doh: ;D

It wasn't such a matter as egg all over my face, but nicely distributed throughout the microwave.  :D

Men !  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on December 20, 2009, 12:35:02 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 20, 2009, 10:41:28 AM

Cooked breakfast, boiled egg slightly underdone...ah ha  :idea:! the microwave!


BOOM!!! :doh: ;D

It wasn't such a matter as egg all over my face, but nicely distributed throughout the microwave.  :D

Chestnuts do a pretty good job too.  :s:D:  If you forget to stab them first.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 20, 2009, 02:41:52 PM
Quote from: Sarasocke on December 20, 2009, 11:48:34 AM
Quote from: hevans on December 20, 2009, 10:41:28 AM

Cooked breakfast, boiled egg slightly underdone...ah ha  :idea:! the microwave!


BOOM!!! :doh: ;D

It wasn't such a matter as egg all over my face, but nicely distributed throughout the microwave.  :D

Men !  :legit:

And a scientist to boot!  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on December 20, 2009, 06:26:06 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 20, 2009, 10:41:28 AM

Cooked breakfast, boiled egg slightly underdone...ah ha  :idea:! the microwave!


BOOM!!! :doh: ;D

It wasn't such a matter as egg all over my face, but nicely distributed throughout the microwave.  :D
Funnily enough one of my kids did this a while back and didnt clean up. My wife went mad on him :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 20, 2009, 09:38:15 PM
Try scrambled eggs in the microwave - fantastic.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 20, 2009, 09:45:06 PM
Beat you all - my Dad had a microwave over 35 years ago and I did that trick then! :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on December 22, 2009, 09:14:09 AM
I put a musical mug in the microwave... lots of sparks and I suddenly remember that the music bit is made of metal. It was never musical again and the bottom of it had turned spherical!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 23, 2009, 08:20:08 PM
Coming down the M1 from Sheffield this afternoon/evening - and the dash lights flickered - and then I noticed the head lamps were doing the same!

Pull off to the hard shoulder and worked out that the side lights would work, but as soon as I switched to main, they went out. Luckily I'd got a meter in the car and some bits of wire, tools etc and took apart the steering column to take the switch out. Switch is knackered, so bodged it together to get the lights back on. Now I need a screw driver to turn the lights on/off!

Oh well, its a Landrover!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on December 23, 2009, 08:32:05 PM
They allways get you home :)  quarter lights on mine have sprung a leak  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on December 26, 2009, 08:48:00 PM
Why my dad keeps asking 'why do you want a 8 GB card for?'  :-\, anything actually wrong in that...?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Malcolm1938 on December 26, 2009, 09:01:05 PM
Quote from: CML-1591 on December 26, 2009, 08:48:00 PM
why do you want a 8 GB card for?

I open the little door on my camera less often - making the camera last longer.

I can shoot more Raw+jpg files without needing to change the card.

It puts me one up on those who only have a 4gb card

The Girls think an 8gb card is sexy

Need I go on... there must be a thousand good reasons for having one

Oh and it's what I wanted....

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on December 26, 2009, 09:36:59 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 14, 2009, 12:18:32 AM
" Knowledge is power "

Sponsored by Power Gen?


Quote from: CannOffice on December 26, 2009, 09:01:05 PM
Quote from: CML-1591 on December 26, 2009, 08:48:00 PM
why do you want a 8 GB card for?

I open the little door on my camera less often - making the camera last longer.

I can shoot more Raw+jpg files without needing to change the card.

It puts me one up on those who only have a 4gb card

The Girls think an 8gb card is sexy

Need I go on... there must be a thousand good reasons for having one

Oh and it's what I wanted....



precisely  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 28, 2009, 07:55:30 PM
Seeing Carol's Foods of the homeland picture. I've visited all the area shops that specialize in imported British Fare looking for mushroom ketchup. Needed it for a recipe for a dish for Christmas. Couldn't find it anywhere so of course I improvised. I'm bemused by fact that I couldn't find it yet according to web pages with mushroom ketchup recipes it's very popular in Britain and has been some 400 yrs. Is it?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 28, 2009, 08:04:07 PM
it was probably very popular 400 years ago.

Today Kethup comes in 2 varieties - Heinz and Tomato  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jimthetrain on December 28, 2009, 08:13:08 PM
There are so many varieties of ketchup now, there probably wasn't mush room left on the shelf. :2funny: :2funny: :legit:

Time I went to bed. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 28, 2009, 08:50:26 PM
Never heard of mushroom Ketchup.
Thought it was a bit of a wind-up at first
Just done a quick google on it and as a result will give it a go. It looks  tasty
RR
Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Malcolm1938 on December 28, 2009, 08:50:50 PM
Quote from: jimthetrain on December 28, 2009, 08:13:08 PM
There are so many varieties of ketchup now, there probably wasn't mush room left on the shelf. :2funny: :2funny: :legit:

Time I went to bed. :D

Good Night !!!

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 28, 2009, 09:52:06 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 28, 2009, 08:50:26 PM
Never heard of mushroom Ketchup.
Thought it was a bit of a wind-up at first
Just done a quick google on it and as a result will give it a go. It looks  tasty
RR
Alf

No Alf, no wind up, YOU can buy it in commercial form. "Geo Watkins mushroom Ketchup". Don't know if it's worth my while to import it though.

http://www.britsuperstore.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.britsuperstore.com%2findex.html&WD=mushroom%20ketchup&SHOP=%20&PREVQUERY=SS%3dmushroom%2bketchup%26PR%3d-1%26TB%3dA%26SHOP%3d%20&PN=Geo_Watkins.html%23a1914#a1914
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 28, 2009, 10:17:08 PM
But the simple fact is - it is not popular today in Britain.

I hadn't even heard of it until you mentioned it and i used to be a manager at a Supermarket!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 29, 2009, 02:23:06 AM
Quote from: picsfor on December 28, 2009, 10:17:08 PM
But the simple fact is - it is not popular today in Britain.

I hadn't even heard of it until you mentioned it and i used to be a manager at a Supermarket!!!

it's making a resurrgence, you heard it here first!! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 29, 2009, 09:07:48 AM
"Mushroom Ketchup, its the future"
Brian Potter, pheonix nights 2005.

or was that Garlic Bread ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 29, 2009, 10:55:59 AM
Hearing that St James`s Park had been hijacked by Somali pirates - I thought it was that useless bugger in charge of Sports Direct that was doing all the damage!! ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 01, 2010, 05:06:18 PM
Looking at nikon rumours and Thom Hogan's site - could Nikon really be thinking of replacing the D90 with a model that, like the other sub D300s Nikons lacks in body AF motor capability? D80s and D90s will certainly hold their value if that's the case.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 02, 2010, 12:44:10 PM
Quote from: greypoint on January 01, 2010, 05:06:18 PM
Looking at nikon rumours and Thom Hogan's site - could Nikon really be thinking of replacing the D90 with a model that, like the other sub D300s Nikons lacks in body AF motor capability? D80s and D90s will certainly hold their value if that's the case.

That's why I kept my D50, I still grab it half the time when I go out.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on January 05, 2010, 06:21:26 PM
Watching uk news I see the goverment is offering a £400 rebait to the lucky few to replace boilers, apparently they cost £2000 to £2500 !!  whaaat.. boilers here cost between 300 euros and 1100 for a really fancy central heating boiler/contoller that controls solar heated tanks and hot water systems..  someones making a mint...

ed: and, you only find out if you qualify for the rebait after you have the new boiler installed.. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 05, 2010, 07:10:21 PM
it's not called 'rip off Britain' for nothing!  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 05, 2010, 08:35:05 PM
Quote from: oRGie on January 05, 2010, 06:21:26 PM
Watching uk news I see the goverment is offering a £400 rebait to the lucky few to replace boilers, apparently they cost £2000 to £2500 !!  whaaat.. boilers here cost between 300 euros and 1100 for a really fancy central heating boiler/contoller that controls solar heated tanks and hot water systems..  someones making a mint...

ed: and, you only find out if you qualify for the rebait after you have the new boiler installed.. 

We had our boiler replaced a few years ago, together with a new hot water cylinder and bath and shower fitted and that all came to less that £2500 (Though we did buy the bath separately)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 09, 2010, 07:52:43 PM
The three men in the news who walked on a frozen lake and the ice gave way! These weren't young lads but aged over forty and none of them could swim. Two died and one was rescued. Whilst at Swan pool yesterday saw a chap with his children and wife. He took a sledge onto the ice whilst his family watched. Also, seen footprints on the lake in Dartmouth Park and someone had written a message on the snow covering the ice! Will people never learn!  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on January 10, 2010, 10:37:11 AM
WHO IS THE ODD MAN OUT - and more importantly - WHY??

1. Lord Stevenson: former chairman, HBOS

2. Sir Fred Goodwin: former chief executive, RBS

3. Andy Hornby: former chief executive, HBOS

4. Sir Tom McKillop: former chairman, RBS

5. John McFall MP: chairman of Treasury Select Committee

6. Alastair Darling: Chancellor of the Exchequer

7. Gordon Brown: Prime Minister and former Chancellor

8. Sir Terry Wogan: presenter of Radio 2's Breakfast Show

You're probably thinking Terry Wogan.............

And you're right.

However, the reason may surprise you...........


Terry Wogan is the only one out of this motley crew who actually
holds any formal banking qualification.

This is True! You could not make it up!!

Great!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 10, 2010, 11:24:54 AM
Doesn't that just sum up the state of this country!

We seem to be run by people who think they know, as opposed to people who actually know!

Not saying jobs for the boys comes to mind much at all!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 10, 2010, 12:27:20 PM
And when anyone queries the wages and bonusses they get, we're told you have to pay a lot to get the best people. And having paid for the 'best people' they screw up big time and walk away with their golden handshake.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 10, 2010, 03:17:27 PM
Clearly the UK can't afford the best - so we might as well do what Vince Cables suggests - let the boys standing in the wings have a go.
they have every thing to prove and every thing to lose!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 10, 2010, 04:01:29 PM
Seems to me that Western nations have replaced their feudal aristocracies with a new breed of aristocrats with their sense of entitlement based on something besides birthright. Even in places like Canada and the U.S. where we never had feudal aristocracies.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 10, 2010, 04:10:54 PM
That's because we're all busy demanding our rights with out being prepared to observe the duties that go with those rights.
I'd hate to think that jobsworths and lawyers were to blame of this.

I blame all the no win no fee legal practices. There's a woman British TV who keeps slipping over whilst entering the office on an almost daily basis. She must be worth a fortune in successful claims against the stupid employer who never seems to learn!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 11, 2010, 06:59:08 AM
A mixture of bemusement, amazement and respect really. It's been snowing in our region now for 72 consecutive hours and the depth of snow in places is unbelievable. And yet the children, clad in their brightly coloured rucksacks as is the way in Germany, somehow manage to fight their way to school. Their resilience and determination is outstanding (including their teachers obviously) and this has motivated me not to cancel my flight to Berlin in a couple of hours which I had considered doing. Right then - must fly (no pun intended)  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 11, 2010, 07:52:07 AM
Funny - my wife and i were arguing about the same thing.
Having spent 20 years of her life in Germany her mindset is still very much of the German way.

When the snow fell i was ordered out to clear the path. When i had just finished the path in our garden and gone in for a tea, i was berated for not doing the public path in front of our garden.
My response - in Germany it may be a requirement to clear said public path and even road - in the UK, if i clear the path badly and some one slips over on it - i can be sued.
As i said earlier - Criminals Charter! We used to do the public path and drive ways etc when i was a kid - but not any more.
Again - the no win no fee lawyers are to blame of this madness - that and the H&S jobsworths.

I do so dearly miss those more innocent days gone by. Even the troubles in N.I. look good compared with the troubles of today!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 11, 2010, 07:52:44 AM
I blame all the no win no fee legal practices. There's a woman British TV who keeps slipping over whilst entering the office on an almost daily basis. She must be worth a fortune in successful claims against the stupid employer who never seems to learn!

I love the way they justify their ambulance chasing on those ads now by saying "but now they`ve solved the problem of ....  box plastic wrappings etc   as if they have doen a good deed :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 11, 2010, 08:18:00 AM
Just wondering if they have the same selection process, by parents, of schools in other countries. Or do they normally just go to the nearest? Where they use the state system. When I was at junior school [ok, that's a very long time ago!] that seemed to be the case. Now everyone has choice and some children seem to travel miles rather than gojng to their local school. I suppose it carries on into adult life too - far fewer people seem to live within walking, or short bus ride, of their place of work. I live about 60 miles from London but we're now prime commuter belt!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on January 11, 2010, 10:48:35 AM
In some states in America you have 24hrs after it has stopped snowing to clear your bit of the sidewalk. Otherwise you are charrged for its clearance. This should be adopted here.

It is annoying how many people sit inside complaining about the council when they could do the work on their own!!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 11, 2010, 11:04:09 AM
Yes - I've cleared that path outside my place so I can at least walk safely for a small bit - unfortunately some prat has parked a car blocking said path so I'll have to walk onto the still icy road ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 11, 2010, 11:37:08 AM
Quote from: magicrhodes on January 11, 2010, 10:48:35 AM
In some states in America you have 24hrs after it has stopped snowing to clear your bit of the sidewalk. Otherwise you are charrged for its clearance. This should be adopted here.

It is annoying how many people sit inside complaining about the council when they could do the work on their own!!!!
Notwithstanding the truly absurd advice - yes, on dreaded H&S grounds - from local authorities for individuals and companies not to clear snow and ice unless they have PLI...  I seem to spend most days wondering how much more absurd this country can get with its H&S culture and paranoia, but every day the lunatics take charge that little bit more!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 11, 2010, 02:42:58 PM
I've said it before and i'll say it again - the Carry On Team would do a better job of running this country.
I spotted carry on at your Convenience on the other week and had a watch - honestly if you'd just had Andrew Marr from the BBC offering an opinion you would have thought it was a documentary on our government!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 11, 2010, 04:01:03 PM
The "new" Ford Fusion Hybrid has just won best car in some US back slapping competition.

This is largely because of its awesome environmental claims - it does an astonishing 41 miles to the gallon!!!! (on paper).  To be strict that's an EPA estimated of 41 mpg in the city, 36 on the "highway".  On our combined figures that would be more like 38 or 39.  It uses cutting edge technology and a (massively polluting to manufacture) NiMH battery to achieve this astonishing feat.  At least 8 mpg better than any other car in its class in America.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

My Skoda is just over 3 years old but was cutting edge when I bought it.  So the tech is roughly 3 years older than the Ford Fusion.  It doesn't have a massive NiMH battery - it runs on diesel with a particulate filter.  It could also run on chip fat.  It averages about 45 mpg in the real world.  (Official figures 48.2 mpg on combined).

Now the US gallon is smaller than the UK one.  A quick bit of maths says that in the US, on paper my Skoda would do a shade under 41 mpg (40.13 since you ask).  There are more economical models and the Octavia is a lot bigger than the Fusion.

So what's going on?

I reckon hybrids should be at least 50% more efficient than pure fossil fuels to make it worth all the complicated tech and manufacture of the batteries.  But in fact they are less efficient.  For example the Passat "Blue Motion" is a similar size to the Fusion and about as new.  The Blue Motion is just a bit of spin - it's a turbo diesel tuned for efficiency.  The estate does 54.3 mpg (45 m per US gallon).  10% better than the super green Fusion.

Is it that Ford aren't really trying?  Or that they would rather put loads of whizzy tech in a car to make it look more efficient than actually, you know, make it more efficient?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 11, 2010, 04:08:02 PM
How cynical Jonathan!

American's not entering the spirit of saving the planet? Clearly not enough profit in it for the corporates yet!  ::)

On a slightly different note - how goes the snow in Canterbury? A few of us had planned to trip over there for some pictures this week but...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 11, 2010, 04:28:58 PM
If I was cynical then I'd suggest the reason Ford want to sell you a 40mpg hybrid is so they can sell you a 60 mpg hybrid in 2 years.....

Still plenty of snow on the ground - pretty slushy.  None falling.  It will all be gone by about Thursday.

When you coming over?  I'm in London most of the week....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 11, 2010, 04:30:34 PM
Jonathan, my Octavia TDi estate is 9 years old and I cannot remember the last time it returned less than 55mpg. My idiotic Suzuki jeep does over 40mpg, and even my old Corvette C5 (Predator tuned, over 400bhp) will do over 30mpg on a steady 85mph run up the motorways to blighty on the odd occasions I make the trip.

Hybrid technology is definitely going to end up in the bin of history. Even the new Pious, sorry Prius, can't beat my old Skoda for economy and I have added advantage that I don't have to pay out several thousands every few years to replace the battery pack.

If the Chinese are not lying and they really have cracked the iron based battery nut then maybe electric vehicles will be a large part of the future. But, pray tell, where will the electricity come from?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 11, 2010, 05:08:13 PM
Had this conversation with a friend in the US on many occasions.  Obviously an equivalency between vehicles between the UK/US is difficult (my Fusion certainly aint the same as the US model of the same name), but if you go to Nissan ranges, a small MPV in the US returns around 30mpg, wheras here for a similar model (admittedly with a smaller engine) you'd be looking at 45-50mpg.  The manufacturers clearly have the engine and engine/fuel management technology to roll out more economical cars, so the question is why isn't that technology made available in the US market  - could it be down to their low fuel costs not creating a demand and supply situation for such?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on January 11, 2010, 06:17:44 PM
£449.99 for a teleconverter  :o :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 11, 2010, 07:25:39 PM
I was saddened, although not surprised, to read of yet more of the Met Office's fiddling of climate records. The winter that we are all shivering through up here in the northern hemisphere is already definitely, according to them, one of the mildest winters ever* seen.

How do they reach this preposterous conclusion? Simple. In determining the average seasonal temperature they take only fifteen data points (out of the 90 plus any sensible person looking for an average or median from 90 plus days' data would use - and then you'd use the max and mins, making 180 data points). Not only do they only take 15 data points, but they only take the warmest outliers. Winter includes November, November was warm, so all the data points used to determine the warmth or otherwise of the whole winter are based on the November data points. For those of you who don't know, this is just about as precisely opposite to the approach you would normally take to establish a meaningful average or median - you ditch the outliers, and keep everything else - as you can get.

It's so absurd you probably couldn't make it up.

This would explain why summers of continuous flooding are described as drier than normal for example. They just take the fifteen days when it might not have rained and extrapolate from that the conclusion that it didn't rain at all. Utterly delusional and would be hilarious were it not for the fact that governments throughout the world are planning to sabotage their own economies and standard of living for their citizens based on pseudo scientific drivel like this.

*BTW 'since records began' in Met Office speak means 'since 1971' or the long version, 'since we decided that 1971 was a bit nippy and we can prove global warming if we take that as the base point'.

I honestly have trouble even imagining that there is an AGW proponent out there who could tell the truth even if their very lives depended on it.

Part of an ongoing series of occasional rants here and there . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 11, 2010, 07:32:38 PM
strange they need to do it that way - given the Met Office has one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, computer in the country.
Their data processing is second to none in this country.

However, i'm glad i don't listen to only the Met Office. I like to listen to a few other people and here a few other scientists give their view first.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 11, 2010, 07:45:39 PM
One problem is that the Yanks don't like Diesel. Even a lot of their trucks run on petrol!

As for the Ford using NiMh - not good - Li-ions are much more efficient apparently.

And according to a friend of mine who has built several electric cars, they are the future. Not hybrids, not hydrogen, but batteries.

My first Audi (An A4 from 2000) averaged 47mpg, my 1st A6, 44mpg and my second 37mpg. All diesel, the latter being automatic.

Petrol is powerful, but not efficient (At the moment - I'm sure it will get a bit better, but is seen as about 95% developed), diesel is seen as a dirty fuel (Especially over the pond), but is probably only 80 or 85% developed (I.e. more efficiency is still possible). But it gives off particulate, which is cancerous.

Oh, and if you want to know why not hydrogen, then there are a couple of reasons.

1. Its pretty explosive.
2. Conversion of water to hydrogen is about 50-60% efficient.
3. Conversion of hydrogen to energy is about 50-60% efficient.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 11, 2010, 08:05:40 PM
Quote from: anglefire on January 11, 2010, 07:45:39 PM
But it gives off particulate, which is cancerous.

So....for the car the holiday and the boat......why aren't particulate filters mandatory on all diesels?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 11, 2010, 08:20:25 PM
Good question. A lot of cars are fitted with them - but why its not legal I've no idea - everything else seems to be!

Its always seemed to me to be a very weak argument against diesels. That and Clarkson doesn't like diesels! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 11, 2010, 09:33:20 PM
Quote from: anglefire on January 11, 2010, 08:20:25 PM
Good question. A lot of cars are fitted with them - but why its not legal I've no idea -

Do you really need to ask that question - the answers pretty obvious - it's money in the bank for the government of your choosing. Example: three years ago here in Germany they introduced a new environmental policy (Umweltgesetzgebung). On the outskirts of an increasing number of towns and cities you will be presented with a sign - Umwelt Zone - with three discs; red, green and yellow. Your car has to have displayed one of these coloured discs in order to enter the town/city boundary. Recently, Berlin and somewhere else (can't remember where exactly now) removed the red disc so that now only vehicles displaying green or yellow are allowed to enter the town or city. By 2012 so they say, only a green disc will be displayed on the signs so if your vehicle doesn't have a more modern exhaust system (Cat 4 or 5 over here) you won't be able to enter the town or city. The discs cost 8 Euros and are compulsory - yes, even for foreign vehicles.

So where does the bemused aspect fit into this? Well if you drive a 4-year old Golf IV TDI (to give but one example) it will already be fitted with a Cat 4 satisfying exhaust system by the manufacturer and will automatically be given a *green* disc - no inspection required. Wonderful you say - an environmentally friendly car. Well no. Only the later Golf IV's have a particle filter fitted and because of this, and because one is considered not Umwelt friendly the penalty is an extra thirty or so Euros on the annual road tax. It costs between 500 - 700 Euros for your *average* car to be retro fitted with a particle filter so doing the maths one can see that you would need to drive this Golf for approx 16 years to make the retro fit worthwhile - if even then. You can imagine for yourself how many diesel cars have had the particle filter retro fitted - not many and is an area of conflict between the ADAC (our RAC) and the Chancellor. Not as many Euros are entering the big collection box as had been budgeted for.

This is typical for Germany I'm sad to say. On the surface wanting to be seen as *green* but the reality of the entire exercise is simply to generate income for the Chancellor. I personally would have no objection at all if the Government were to say that *all diesel cars MUST have a particle filter fitted* but that would be going up against the motor industry and considering that 60% of all German jobs are related in some way to the production of motor vehicles you can see that that would be a non starter. After all, that's where most of the tax originates. See - it all comes down to money in the end.

Going to bed now - it's been an exhausting day. But first,  :beer: No, non of that black stuff - a real beer.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 11, 2010, 09:39:45 PM
Quote from: anglefire on January 11, 2010, 07:45:39 PM
One problem is that the Yanks don't like Diesel. Even a lot of their trucks run on petrol!

Oh, and if you want to know why not hydrogen, then there are a couple of reasons.

1. Its pretty explosive.
2. Conversion of water to hydrogen is about 50-60% efficient.
3. Conversion of hydrogen to energy is about 50-60% efficient.


Define, trucks. If you include vehicles such as mine, a Ford Pickup used mostly for personal use, then yes a lot run on gas. If you're talking commercial I doubt you'll find any that don't run on diesel.

It's not popular in north america because Gasoline is cheap by any standard. I thought about switching from a gasoline engined Ford pickup to a diesel powered pickup because I'd planned on installing a Camper back and touring North America when I retired. I sought opinions from truck owners on a Ford pickup Forum. Most people, the vast majority, pointed out to me that at current gas prices I would have to drive a lot of miles and keep the truck for a lot of years to see any substantial savings. Never having priced European models of vehicles I have no idea how things work but as an example, that self same pickup truck sees a whopping price increase of between $15000 and $20000 on the final price if you substituted a diesel over a gasoline engine. At an average of $2.75 per U.S. gallon that's about 7500 gallons of gas that could be purchased for that cost of the engine.

As for Hydrogen, there is no infastructure in place to dispense it and the cost of setting up and infrastructure is excessive.  It's similar to the Ethanol idiocy, they've taken away huge portions of food producing acreage to grow corn for Ethanol production, but that production is operating at a loss because from what I understand the energy produced from ethanol doesn't come close to gasoline but they can't actually sell it for what it cost to manufacture. No one would switch if they did.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 12, 2010, 06:37:23 AM
Forseti, we have a similar system here in France, except that we only have a 'green' sticker. And restrictions only apply if there is a pollution warning.

Two thing make this a bit silly from here in the countryside - 1, we never get a high pollution day, and 2, even my V8 has got one. Go figure.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 12, 2010, 07:33:44 AM
Quote from: spinner on January 11, 2010, 09:39:45 PM
Define, trucks. If you include vehicles such as mine, a Ford Pickup used mostly for personal use, then yes a lot run on gas. If you're talking commercial I doubt you'll find any that don't run on diesel.

It's not popular in north america because Gasoline is cheap by any standard. I thought about switching from a gasoline engined Ford pickup to a diesel powered pickup because I'd planned on installing a Camper back and touring North America when I retired. I sought opinions from truck owners on a Ford pickup Forum. Most people, the vast majority, pointed out to me that at current gas prices I would have to drive a lot of miles and keep the truck for a lot of years to see any substantial savings. Never having priced European models of vehicles I have no idea how things work but as an example, that self same pickup truck sees a whopping price increase of between $15000 and $20000 on the final price if you substituted a diesel over a gasoline engine. At an average of $2.75 per U.S. gallon that's about 7500 gallons of gas that could be purchased for that cost of the engine.

As for Hydrogen, there is no infastructure in place to dispense it and the cost of setting up and infrastructure is excessive.  It's similar to the Ethanol idiocy, they've taken away huge portions of food producing acreage to grow corn for Ethanol production, but that production is operating at a loss because from what I understand the energy produced from ethanol doesn't come close to gasoline but they can't actually sell it for what it cost to manufacture. No one would switch if they did.

Ok, I stand corrected wrt trucks  :tup:

As for hydrogen, you are correct, though I think in California they have a trial running, with hydrogen dispensed from petrol forecourts.

Ethanol has about 34% less energy than petrol. Pure ethanol engines can run at higher compression ratios that balance out the loss of energy - but most is blended with petrol, so the advantage is lost.  As for cost, your petrol is about 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of ours!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 12, 2010, 09:09:55 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on January 11, 2010, 04:28:58 PM
If I was cynical then I'd suggest the reason Ford want to sell you a 40mpg hybrid is so they can sell you a 60 mpg hybrid in 2 years.....

Still plenty of snow on the ground - pretty slushy.  None falling.  It will all be gone by about Thursday.

When you coming over?  I'm in London most of the week....

The plan was for Wednesday and we'd be coming from Eastbourne (me being the only one not from Eastbourne). But of course the train service from Eastbourne to Ashford is as fickle as a Eurostar entering the Channel Tunnel in cold weather! Gone by Thursday could make good for Wednesday, now for that train service! (As train drivers we don't have to pay for our travel  :tup: - hence the reliance on the trains)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 12, 2010, 02:11:13 PM
Took the car in for its first M.O.T today, and whilst sitting in the waiting room, I heard the following telephone conversation four times.

"Hello Mr/Mrs **** it's *** the service manager at ********. The winscreen wiper problem that you brought your car in for can't be fixed at the moment. The motor is a component part of the linkage, and we have to replace the whole unit. How much? £365 all up! That's not just all the bad news I'm afraid, unfortunately there are no replacement units available in the UK until supplies reach us after February 10th! What caused it? Trying to clear the windscreen whilst the wiper blades were frozen solid to the windscreen, thus burning out the motor".

Just a warning so to try and avoid receiving such a 'phone call.

PS. All the unfortunate motorists were offered a courtesy car F.O.C.until the matter was resolved.

PPS. The car passed its M.O.T. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 12, 2010, 04:21:20 PM
Mmm - I've been having the same phone conversation with a lot of customers recently.  It was, almost entirely, due to people clearing the front screen and making sure the wipers were free but not being as careful with the rear. Only difference being they were all repaired by changing a couple of fuses. One of our customers was told he needed a new wiper motor when he went into a local garage whilst he was out of the area but fortunately he knew from previous experience that might not be the case.... ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 12, 2010, 04:27:51 PM
Glad to hear the car passed it's MOT Alan.
As for the other numpties? Are we really that dumbed down nowadays?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 12, 2010, 06:27:02 PM
Was looking for an online review of a Tamron lens. The only one I could find was in Spanish. I used Google's built in translator and started to read. I was interested to find 'His body is somewhat paunchy', '  The   pupil of 20.5 mm.  topped this evil, ' and my all time favorite 'The rings have a size of the kite and right striatum, a touch chewy without being sticky' . I do so love a chewy lens. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 12, 2010, 09:56:51 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 12, 2010, 02:11:13 PM
Took the car in for its first M.O.T today, and whilst sitting in the waiting room, I heard the following telephone conversation four times.

"Hello Mr/Mrs **** it's *** the service manager at ********. The winscreen wiper problem that you brought your car in for can't be fixed at the moment. The motor is a component part of the linkage, and we have to replace the whole unit. How much? £365 all up! That's not just all the bad news I'm afraid, unfortunately there are no replacement units available in the UK until supplies reach us after February 10th! What caused it? Trying to clear the windscreen whilst the wiper blades were frozen solid to the windscreen, thus burning out the motor".

Just a warning so to try and avoid receiving such a 'phone call.

PS. All the unfortunate motorists were offered a courtesy car F.O.C.until the matter was resolved.

PPS. The car passed its M.O.T. :tup:


What kind of cars are these and where were they made? Brazil? I come from the land of the ice and snow, where the midnight sun makes the hotsprings blow. It's also where ice storms are common and I can tell you that in the 40 yrs. I've been driving I've frozen my fair share of wipers to the window. I've never done it, seen it or heard of it. Worse case scenario for me was at least once every winter wifey would pop the reciprocating arms off the wiper motor and I had to pop them back on again. That was a Brazilian made VW. I think Sue has alluded to it being a scam, certainly sounds like one to me.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 13, 2010, 07:06:46 AM
Well, if you have a car where you burn out the wiper motor if you turn on on your wipers when they're stuck I'd certainly think it was a bit of a design fault - is'nt that what fuses are for? 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 08:25:54 AM
I should have mentioned that the car make in question is Citroen. The dealer is a main dealer and I've always found them to be straight and up front, so no question of a scam. Whenever I've tried to use the screen wash and the water in is frozen the appropriate fuse blows.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 13, 2010, 11:06:41 AM
Quote from: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 08:25:54 AM
I should have mentioned that the car make in question is Citroen.


Ah a Citroen, say no more.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2010, 11:11:34 AM
I've been struggling the past week or so with the organising of my images.

So, after much thinking this morning - it appears i have to sit down and work through a new structure on how to arrange my images.
Importing them is fine - they just go into a "To Process" folder and stay there until they have been deleted or processed.

It's the "Processed" folder that is getting muddled.
Images for family and friends, images for CC & Flickr, and now i'm working on my own web site with Clikpic which uses a different file size requirement from CC (or Flickr).
Then of course there is a need for pictures for print, just for family and holiday memories, and i have started uploading images to Stock Image libraries which in themselves all have different requirements, some like Alamy work on file size, others work on camera make and model. It just seems to be never ending!

I'm just so glad i'm not a full time pro - or would that make life easier?  ???

Glad i've got a bit of time to try and work this out, because boy is it confusing the hell out of me! Almost like the Met Office trying to predict a warm or cold winter!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 13, 2010, 12:38:18 PM
Sounds like you need to put the brakes on for a while Andrew. Have you considered buying the DAM book with the link here giving you the table of contents: http://www.thedambook.com/pages/contents.html because if you don't get to grips with a respectable workflow now it can only get worse over time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2010, 12:44:47 PM
Thanks for that - i think i'll have to get me a copy.

I thought i'd managed to get hold of this when i set about learning how to maximise Lightroom. Sadly, Lightroom is only half the answer!
Oh well - i'll keep as i am for the short time for the postman to fight his way through the snow to deliver said book.  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 13, 2010, 12:46:54 PM
When this poxy government is trying to force disabled people to search for work, how come Anjem Choudary, who I believe is a qualified solicitor and appears to be fit, seems able to live on benefits? How about a bit of workfair for him and his ludicrous followers?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on January 13, 2010, 12:47:16 PM
I think you (not you personelly pics) can over-complicate things easilly. I use a very simple file system, just using windows explorer and folders. I create a dated folder each time I download pics from my camera, I keep all the originals worth keeping in there and when I PP the shots I keep the original psd there too and any other versions of the pics for various uses. I keep a gallery folder, just 1 with all the pics I use for web, friends etc etc and by that file name I can go directly to the folder with the original if I need to output something with a particular size or for print etc.

For back up, when I donwload to my pc from memory cards, the dated folder goes into a folder called "next back up", when I back up the folder to my ehd's it then gets moved to the internal photo drive with all the others.

If I re-edit a shot I create another folder, same date as original folder in the back up folder and it gets folded into the original folder when backed up.

I used to manage a system called "the media warehouse" for virgin artists, photos and music masters, production parts, merchandising images, biogs etc and we learnt that keeping things as simple as possible is the key to dealing with vast amounts of data.

If I was to use one of the many cataloging systems, I would only do that for the gallery folder, from there its then very simple to find the original shot to edit or resize for whatever output.

KISS  :tup:  :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 12:51:40 PM
I'm not saying my system is faultless, but it seems you are overcomplicating the issue Andrew.
I use L/room 2 and CS3 and always shoot in RAW

I have a file on my C drive called Sony. Each time I load the day's take I create a sub file within it with that day's date as the title (date, month, year), so I have a chronological list of work. This is copied to an EHD as back up, as is the resultant list that can be found then in Bridge.

This is where I now use the L/R catalogue and keyword facility. Import the file into L/R and assign the images (drag and drop) to whatever catalogue is applicable and apply the relevant Key words.

If I've been say, to Speakers and Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden on the same trip and have images from all of them, the resultant images are placed into the appropriate catalogue.
You can make a catalogue for each of the sections that you mention, Flickr images, CC, Friends and family etc. etc.

You haven't at this stage done any post prod work on any of the images.

Once I have completed that post prod work within L/Room and am satisfied with it I export the image back to its original file, with whatever title I choose for it and back up to that file to the EHD. So at this stage I have a finished copy in L/R, a finished copy on my C drive and a copy on an EHD.

I always print nowadays from L/R, I find it easier and convenient to do so with the all facilities it has.
Any file I want to put on Clickpic, I work on in L/room, export it to its original folder/file, with ClPic in the title. When |I find it in the original file I re-size in CS3 ( 72 DPI, 600 pixels along the longest side) and save a copy within that file, or move it to a specifically named Clickpic folder.

I said originally that you seem to overcomplicated things, but perhaps my method is as complicated! ::)

Since I only take about 2000 images a year it doesn't get too cluttered, I can imagine the work involved if like some photographers they take that amount on one outing. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2010, 01:27:26 PM
I think the responses given highlight the problem.
Maybe the problem is my photography is changing - what I'm photographing, how I'm photographing it, what I'm doing with the pictures once captured.

My work flow had been organised rather like a database - a simple MS Access database. But i think what i am doing has some how evolved beyond that.
This time last year i could not have imagined doing Speakers Corner or understand that whole aspect of street photography.
My kit cameras then (30D & 40D) did not produce files suitable for stock agencies unless you undertook a reasonable amount of processing (often an hour at a time per image).
The 5D MkII outputs images of up to 120mb in 8bit tiff/ 30mb jpg. No work required - even Alamy which is notoriously fickle in what it accepts rarely challenges what comes straight out of the camera.
I was involved with DCM and had just signed up for Flickr. Hadn't touched Clikpic.
I now do CC, join in various groups within Flickr including one of the 365 Challenges, have signed up to Clikpic (which in itself is a whole learning curve) and signed up for an OCA Course.
I didn't understand L/R let alone use it. My whole process revolved around catalouging in Bridge and processing in CS4. Now L/R is all i use - it seems to be all I need.

I think it is fair to say i have my work cut out. But i must find a system to work with and i think Forseti's book may well point me in the right direction.
My last group trip out to London resulted in some 400 images taken between 10:00 and 21:30. I could have taken more  but i ran out of memory card space and that was after going through and deleting images as i went along to allow me to keep going. A 21mp FF sensor can really eat up CF memory card space and i only have 10gb of it!

Oh yes - and it this point i haven't even considered submitting for LRPS! 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 13, 2010, 01:40:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 12:51:40 PM

This is where I now use the L/R catalogue and keyword facility. Import the file into L/R and assign the images (drag and drop) to whatever catalogue  is applicable and apply the relevant Key words.

If I've been say, to Speakers and Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden on the same trip and have images from all of them, the resultant images are placed into the appropriate catalogue.
You can make a catalogue for each of the sections that you mention, Flickr images, CC, Friends and family etc. etc.

Don't you think that by using multiple catalogues this in a way sort of nullifies the reason for using a DAM application like Lightroom in the first place. Using multiple catalogues is akin to using multiple folders in which case Bridge would do the job equally as well especially considering it comes free with Photoshop and which you are already using.

Wouldn't it be far easier just to create separate 'Collections' within the Library for images posted to Flickr, CC, PR and the like, after all that's it's primary purpose.

Each to his/her workflow of course but imho having multiple catalogues for the things that you describe is only creating more work. It's ok for wedding photographers and the like because once the event is over, prints dealt with etc the need to access the separate catalogue is pretty infrequent I would have thought. However, for regularly accessed folders like those already mentioned it means going backwards and forwards to different catalogues on a regular basis. This is not to mention of course the need to backup up multiple catalogues, the creation of multiple cache and preview files. No, the advantages far out-way the advantages as I see it but...........each to his/her own in the end - whatever works I guess.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on January 13, 2010, 01:44:06 PM
For me the main reason I just use windows folders is future compatability, all that work now, will it still be usable in 5 years!  will you want to migrate to a better cataloging system etc... KISS :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2010, 02:03:34 PM
Now now children - group hug :beer:

It is clear that like our tastes in photography, how we process and manage our pictures vary enormously.
So far as evolving technology is concerned - i often read that the next version of Windows will be the last and the standard file format will change.

If, in 2003 when i bought my first digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 5700), i knew what i know now, i'm sure i would have done things much differently.
Just over a year ago i was considering the Nikon D3 and D700 because there amazing low light abilities because at that time Canon still didn't seem  to realise the enormous whole they'd dug themselves into.
I was still using a Windows based PC for my computing and photography was something i done in my spare time when computing allowed room for it.
Now i'm using a Mac and have no desire to use Windows any more (even though i have Windows 7 on my only PC laptop) and finally think i've found the digital replacement for the Canon A1 in my 5DMkII.

Technology is advancing at such a rate that the science of Star Trek has its own documentaries detailing what from Captain Kirk's Star Trek is now fact.
When i punched my first card for the first ever program i wrote in 1977, if some one had told me i would own a mobile phone with more processing power than the Space Shuttle i would have laughed.

The trick is to remember that technology is their to serve US - and not for us to be slaves to IT!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 02:15:41 PM
Quote from: Forseti on January 13, 2010, 01:40:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 12:51:40 PM

This is where I now use the L/R catalogue and keyword facility. Import the file into L/R and assign the images (drag and drop) to whatever catalogue  is applicable and apply the relevant Key words.

If I've been say, to Speakers and Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden on the same trip and have images from all of them, the resultant images are placed into the appropriate catalogue.
You can make a catalogue for each of the sections that you mention, Flickr images, CC, Friends and family etc. etc.

Don't you think that by using multiple catalogues this in a way sort of nullifies the reason for using a DAM application like Lightroom in the first place. Using multiple catalogues is akin to using multiple folders in which case Bridge would do the job equally as well especially considering it comes free with Photoshop and which you are already using.

Wouldn't it be far easier just to create separate 'Collections' within the Library for images posted to Flickr, CC, PR and the like, after all that's it's primary purpose.



Sorry I should have said 'collections' rather than catalogues. So L/room is a DAM application, that's something I never knew, and I don't know what a DAM application is either. If it works OK, I am not the slightest bit interested in how.

Why is time always of the essence, I can see it if you are a pro earning a living from photography. Andrew says he considers an hours processing reasonable I would consider an hour just about the time it takes me to decide what I want the finished image to look like and then another couple or so to arrive at what I think is somewhere near that. Leave it for a few days and go back to it and refine what you've done.

There are no deadlines on Flickr, CC or any other forum that I'm aware of, except if you enter their competitions where the image has to be taken between certain dates and posted by another certain date. That's why I gave up entering such competitions. I usually ended up with a finished article that on reflection could have been better.

Take your time be ultra critical of your work, you can always delete it from L/room. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2010, 03:03:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 13, 2010, 02:15:41 PM
Andrew says he considers an hours processing

That figure was the general figure needed to take an image from an 8mp to 10mp camera an up size it to meet the 48mb tiff rule that many stock agencies refer to. Allowing for upscaling, sharpening, viewing at 100-200% for any dust spots or similar then saving as a tiff of required size after which you re-save as a jpg again re-checking quality etc. before submitting only to get it refused for being 'to softly focused - not sharp enough' etc.

It in know way reflects how long i spend on an actual image. I have been known to spend a day all told playing with an image, others i can literally output directly from the camera. Often, i can spend an hour just playing with sliders in L/R for different effects using the reset photo menu option to start from scratch. It's so easy to experiment with LR i some times think i over do it. The one i posted of your taking the picture on the Speakers Corner meet involved the better part of 3 or 4 visits and half a day just to get to that point. Come and eat your dinner whilst it is still hot got mentioned once or twice  ::)

And i suppose we come back to that very point again. Maybe my photography is evolving. What i want from it may be evolving. Maybe what i consider acceptable or good is evolving.
Maybe that is part of the fun of photography - that we are not stuck in one little pigeon hole. We can elect to  stay in that one pigeon hole - but we are not stuck with it.
Then you have the benefit of sites like this where you can get so much help and encouragement - and even get to meet other photographers and spend some time in their company taking pictures.

It is a great and interesting past time, or profession, that allows you the freedom to 'be you'.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 13, 2010, 09:27:59 PM
Spotted two cars today been driven where the driver had cleared snow from a small area in front of the driver position, whilst leaving the passager side covered in three inches of snow. Both drivers had not removed snow from their side or back windows either!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on January 14, 2010, 11:04:46 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 13, 2010, 09:27:59 PM
Spotted two cars today been driven where the driver had cleared snow from a small area in front of the driver position, whilst leaving the passager side covered in three inches of snow. Both drivers had not removed snow from their side or back windows either!  :o
Annoys me no end!!! Even when people clean windows only and leave 3 inches of snow on boot and roof. When they get going and snow/ice flies of the car into the car behind.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Rick Wilks on January 14, 2010, 11:46:33 AM
When i went to Edinburgh last week a car covered in snow had to brake hard at some traffic lights and all the snow on his roof slid down onto his windscreen, he tried to use his wipers but there was far to much snow it to work, he had to get out the car and clear it all by hand :2funny:

It takes 5 mins with a sweeping brush and you have to wait for the inside of your screen to clear anyway.. Idiots the lot of them.!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 14, 2010, 11:47:12 AM
i was too busy photographing a half naked man running in the biting freezing snow to worry about snow on the roof  8) :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 15, 2010, 10:32:35 PM
Went to a trade show at Novotel Hammersmith today, organised under the auspices of SWWP, I think that's the right letter combination :-\.

I was amazed at the number of stands that seemed to be selling/promoting wedding albums, I should think about 50% of those that were there.

I have to say it was really busy with a large attendance, and the air was full of bullsh*t. Not much in the way of camera manufacturers, as far as I could see just Canon and Nikon and plenty of stands selling the usual array of gadgets.
If you are thinking of going this weekend I think you will be disappointed.

P.S. Why do people attend these types of events with cameras slung around their necks??
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 16, 2010, 07:54:54 AM
Quote from: ABERS on January 15, 2010, 10:32:35 PM
P.S. Why do people attend these types of events with cameras slung around their necks??

To photograph the naked men?  Or the girl in PVC?

Yeah it was a weird show.  Especially because of the incredibly low profile kept by the largest wedding album manufacturer.  Also spotted a large number of "learn how to be a professional photographer" stands.

At least the presentation of the competition winners was better than last year - even if the content was rather similar.......
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 01:53:16 PM
I had a day out with a fellow driver from Eastbourne. As part of the day we popped into Park Cameras to get him his new Sigma 10-20 mm wide angle lens and a new tripod (Manfrotto 055B  Pro X with 3 way 808 head for the technically inquisitive).

As i waited for him to haggle his best price etc i wandered round to the Canon section and was some what amused to notice there was nothing there that i really had a need for. I was actually happy with the the kit i have got.
What's wrong with me? A shop full of toys and i did not have an impetuous urge to break out the credit card  :-\ ??? :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 19, 2010, 02:19:05 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 01:53:16 PM
........ i wandered round to the Canon section and was some what amused to notice there was nothing there that i really had a need for. What's wrong with me?

Nothing. Somebody in the family obviously knows you very well but more importantly, what you get up to on your *boys* days out. They forewarned Park Cameras to remove from display anything bright, shiny and new. It obviously had the desired effect.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 04:21:20 PM
And there was me thinking i'd reached a level of happiness with my kit  :-\
 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 19, 2010, 04:42:28 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 04:21:20 PM
And there was me thinking i'd reached a level of happiness with my kit  :-\
 

Don't worry, it' just a passing phase. You'll soon be back to normal. The next version of the 5D ought to lead to a speedy recovery.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 19, 2010, 04:47:44 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 01:53:16 PM
What's wrong with me? A shop full of toys and i did not have an impetuous urge to break out the credit card  :-\ ??? :(
I occasionally have periods like that, I think it's all part of the process. The important thing is to try not to let it worry you too much!
       Try browsing the Warehouse Express site or somewhere similar. I find that gets me back on the straight and narrow.
                        Graham. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 19, 2010, 04:49:58 PM
  Hells teeth Howard! That's twice today you've beaten me to the post!
                  Graham. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 19, 2010, 05:05:37 PM
What bemused me today - eBay buyers. I've just sold my used 40D with the buyer paying me 9 Euros less than he could have purchased the same camera new via Amazon. No doubt to be got even cheaper somewhere else. There's another 40D that is only 200 Euros less than the new price but that still has 18 or so hours to go on the auction so maybe that seller will realise even more than the new price. Is eBay fever a curable disease I wonder as I think some people just get carried away with the whole thing?  Heaven only knows what they would be like at a live auction. Still, mustn't complain - now what was that new lens I wanted again?  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 19, 2010, 05:08:51 PM
Today's lesson:  a 40 inch light cube is bigger than you think.  I mean, it's 40 inches high for a start.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 05:10:01 PM
If you keep the dosh from the 40D and sell you 100mm f2.8 macro for twice what you paid for it - you could get the new 100mm macro L and have some change.
And that would have IS to overcome the shaking caused by you laughing at how much you'd sold your kit for  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 19, 2010, 05:14:47 PM
Sorry Graham.

I'm sort of in hyper drive mode at the moment after a run in with government control on my PC.

Good Mrs T is a primary school teacher. She teaches English, unsurprisingly. One of the things she teaches is basic shop etiquette - like how much is this apple? It's 50p, etc. In the course of these lessons she uses cut out monochrome photocopies of English money so the children get more involved. Well today she asked me to reprint the sheet she uses so she could do a new bunch of photocopies. I decided to redo the notes because they weren't very clear.

That's when the trouble started. First off my new Epson all-in-one cheapy for the office tells me that scanning banknotes is prohibited and throws a wobbler. No problem, I used an older scanner without the restrictions in the software, although by this time I am fuming. The the Epson decides that printing DTP documents with monochrome pictures of banknotes in them is also not the sort of thing a honest person should be up to, so it refuses to print. Not only has it done that but the Epson software (which I was already feeling pretty negative about because it's started appearing all over my system) appears to have nobbled the drivers for my Canon printers and subverted my DTP and DAM software to its way of thinking because nothing will print the d*mned sheet.

Still, being a resourceful chap I booted the PC up in Ubuntu and printed it using a Canon. After first explaining to Epson very politely that they could stick their printer where the sun doesn't shine.

Anyone want to buy a hardly used Epson all in one. Only been thrown out of one upstairs window just the once . .  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 05:20:14 PM
But what i find interesting is how it identified the subject as money?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 19, 2010, 05:31:33 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 05:20:14 PM
But what i find interesting is how it identified the subject as money?

Photoshop can recognise bank notes from most major world currencies.

And I know you're gonna try that.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 05:42:53 PM
No - i don't have a need nor the software.
But i will assume for the sake of it that LR2 will also recognise money from around the world.

I've still got a picture of the day to get. Need to get put now its dark to get my picture  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 19, 2010, 06:01:17 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on January 19, 2010, 05:31:33 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 19, 2010, 05:20:14 PM
But what i find interesting is how it identified the subject as money?

Photoshop can recognise bank notes from most major world currencies.

And I know you're gonna try that.
There are a great many patents worldwide on counterfeit protection of banknotes, passports, certificates etc.  Mind you, I still recall the total embarrassment on the faces of reps from a major OEM a few years back when they tried to demonstrate that their MFP wouldn't copy banknotes - obviously the then £20 note wasn't in its database  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 19, 2010, 06:27:34 PM
That's interesting and revealing.

I had a stiff note from some government office when I set up a picture, and had it accepted and published for a competition with 'Power' as the subject. Power equates to money and vice versa so I included some bank notes within the image, very naughty I was told and could have been prosecuted if the official had been of that mind. I blamed the magazine for publishing it. :o

This was back in the eighties. Couldn't do it now. Well yes I suppose plastic could replace money, it has everywhere else. 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 19, 2010, 07:06:54 PM
All I can say is that I didn't have this problem before I installed the Epson . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 19, 2010, 08:23:05 PM
I don't know if its still true, but at one time in the UK you were not allowed to clearly display/depict bank notes on TV or in papers etc (and why pictures of notes have 'specimen' watermarked across them) in case a criminal copied the banknote - obviously said criminal would not have the intelligence to copy a banknote that may have been in their wallet  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on January 20, 2010, 09:42:53 AM
Had a look at a well known magazine today. In the Outdoor Technique section is a gem.
' by using his feet to move position, Ben reframed his shot '
I've been struggling with that one for ages  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 20, 2010, 09:55:20 AM
Quote from: deetus on January 20, 2010, 09:42:53 AM
Had a look at a well known magazine today. In the Outdoor Technique section is a gem.
' by using his feet to move position, Ben reframed his shot '
I've been struggling with that one for ages  :legit:

So how have you re-positioned yourself in the past? Levitation - or is that only reserved for your comments  ;D :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on January 20, 2010, 10:17:12 AM
Quote from: picsfor on January 20, 2010, 09:55:20 AM
Quote from: deetus on January 20, 2010, 09:42:53 AM
Had a look at a well known magazine today. In the Outdoor Technique section is a gem.
' by using his feet to move position, Ben reframed his shot '
I've been struggling with that one for ages  :legit:

So how have you re-positioned yourself in the past? Levitation - or is that only reserved for your comments  ;D :2funny:

Lol, the one I'm waiting for is " in order to take the photo you must squeeze the shutter button "  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 21, 2010, 12:21:36 PM
Having been challenged takign photos at our German Market by over zealous security staff for having " a pro type camera" with no permit and there "being lots of kids about"  :o I decided to go official and make formal complaints through my local councillors. I`ve had lots of red tape type bureuacratic talk from Legal Section of the Council that basically says grey areas re; Human Rights and privacy matters but states that on the Civic square phtographs may be taken as long as for personal use and not causing nuisance or annoyance. Open and shut for me then. I now have a meeting today with the Principal Events Officer to find out what they instruct their stewards and why they stop lawful activity. All well and good. Crazy thing is I used to work with (and against some of these people in my previous role. Soem of them should be taking the opportunity of giving me a good kicking given some of the scrapes they got in with me but are avoiding me at all costs and sending in their underlings who usually have not a clue. At the same time I have had 2 emails in from other parts of the Council - one for Bands in The Park thanking Flickr members for taking / donating shots of summer concert season and crediting photographers for their contributions in city publicity and theother from Muesums sevice saying they are about to stop requesting photo releases to be signed in most of their sites and change rules to allow images to go on Flickr and such. ::) All this in days of joined up "One Council" approaches aiming to get departments to all pull together. My meeting is at the Ice Cube - outdoor skatign rink with kids on. Tempted to test them by taking a few shots as i go in but given that Securit tried to stop me last year I`ll take them another day. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 21, 2010, 02:54:02 PM
what - you mean they have red tape in Germany for use by the bureaucrats?  :2funny: ;D :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 22, 2010, 09:36:13 AM
I see in this week's AP there is a pro-photographers rights demo in London tomorrow - is anyone going?  I guess it'll be OK as long as you don't try to take photos of the event  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 22, 2010, 09:54:02 AM
i made enquiries but as i'm not a pro - i thought i'd give it a miss in case i got done for inciting a riot - sorry protest.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on January 22, 2010, 04:33:37 PM
Why the hell are PhotoRadar following me on Twitter, pfft.

I did not sign up on the site, can't they take a hint? Prob got my email from when I signed on DCMAG
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on January 23, 2010, 02:00:04 PM
Probably old news, but I saw this on the MI5 site. If the link doesn't open have a look on the site. I have copied part of it below.

Important: Section 43 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so in exercise of the powers conferred by section 43.
A police officer can only stop and search a person they reasonably suspect to be a terrorist under this power.


Photography and counter-terrorism
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: John Doyle2 on January 23, 2010, 10:39:14 PM
More on todays protest in Trafalgar Square!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8476318.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 24, 2010, 08:06:47 AM
The real joke is that Google maps and street view somewhat make the taking of pictures for terrorist purposes somewhat reduntant. (Well, I would have thought, not being a terrorist I'm not sure what they would want to see in a picture!  :P)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 24, 2010, 11:32:13 AM
Quote from: anglefire on January 24, 2010, 08:06:47 AM
The real joke is that Google maps and street view somewhat make the taking of pictures for terrorist purposes somewhat reduntant. (Well, I would have thought, not being a terrorist I'm not sure what they would want to see in a picture!  :P)

That was one of my points and Google gives three hundred sixty degree view, so why risk drawing attention by taking pictures.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 24, 2010, 03:35:29 PM
Actually WBM yesterday evening - looking at some old family photos from the mid-late 60s and realizing how far cameras and photography have evolved (I as going to say developed), and wondering how/why people used to bother taking family snapshots at all back then. 
I can't recall the make of my father's (120) camera, but I know it only had a dial to set the film speed (which would have been incredibly slow by today's ISO standards), and an aperture selector for sunny or cloudy - the youngsters here will never believe it... 
These days we comment about merits of viewfinders, or complain about the lack of them on so many modern compacts, but looking back at these snaps the optical viewfinders back then must have been poor, and seemed to bear little relevance to the view thru the wide-ish angle lens; if the subject was centre of frame, it was so far away to be difficult to discern who or what was being photographed, and if any effort was made to get closer to the subject it was then invariably part or nearly all out of frame!  I can't remember if the camera had any means to alter focus or if it was fixed focus - either way 95+% of the photos were fuzzy or blurred!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on January 25, 2010, 01:13:57 PM
Visited a well known supermarket and noticed that they had Tropicana Orange Juice for sale at £1.66, or 3 for £5.00.
Well they do say that every little helps  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 25, 2010, 01:15:46 PM
Quote from: deetus on January 25, 2010, 01:13:57 PM
Visited a well known supermarket and noticed that they had Tropicana Orange Juice for sale at £1.66, or 3 for £5.00.
Well they do say that every little helps  ::)

Well, no one said who it helps!  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 25, 2010, 01:48:58 PM
Interesting. The French (as always) have a unique approach to retailing. Mulit-packs are almost without exception more expensive than the same number of items purchased separately, and they have a wonderful sense of humour (at least that's what I think it is) when it comes to the winter sales:

(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-JtHKUucUqs/S12f3uq423I/AAAAAAAAF_c/FL1QzzHt7lo/Pipeline%20bargain%202.jpg)

and

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-JtHKUucUqs/S12f6_uIwAI/AAAAAAAAF_g/PZ4CJQMf-Gw/s576/Mirror%20bargain.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 25, 2010, 09:23:52 PM
Quote from: deetus on January 25, 2010, 01:13:57 PM
Visited a well known supermarket and noticed that they had Tropicana Orange Juice for sale at £1.66, or 3 for £5.00.
Well they do say that every little helps  ::)

Yesterday paper had exampes like Cumberland Sausages £1 or 2 for £3 and Corned beef ready meal at £1.50 or 3 for £5.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Darren1978 on January 26, 2010, 09:48:35 AM
What Bemused Me Today??

Well, it was yesterday actually, but thats a small issue!  My laptop has suddenly decided it wants to throw a bit of a tantrum for know apparent reason.  Switched it off Sunday night and it was working fine.  Switch it on again on Monday when I got home from work and it throws up an error message..

"Application has generated an exception that could not be handled.

Process ID = 0x844 (2116), Thread ID = 0x848 (2120)

Click OK to terminate the application
click CANCEL to debug application"

Whatever option I choose I then get the following error message

"Registered JIT de-bugger is not available. An attempt to launch a JIT de-bu gger with the following command resulted in an error code of 9x2 (2).

cordbg.exe !a 0x844

Click on Retry to have the process wait while attaching a de-bu gger manually
Click on Cancel to abort the JIT debug request."

It still does nothing.

The laptop works fine, except for the fact I cannot connect to the internet!  I've tried repairing the connection, reinstalling the Sky broadband software...I get nothing.  It won't even dipslay any wireless networks  :(  My iPhone and PS3 all connect fine.

Why?  Why, does IT/technology do this?  Nothing, and I mean nothing was done to the laptop from when I switched it off on Sunday to switching in on again on Monday!  Arrrrggggghhhhhh  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 26, 2010, 12:03:52 PM
Try doing a restore as this usually fixes the problem. You could also look in the event log to see what application is causing the problem.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Darren1978 on January 26, 2010, 12:17:38 PM
System restore sounds a bit serious and I'd probably make a mess of things  :D

And 'Event Log'?  Where would I find that??  I know nothing about computers or the terminology used ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oRGie on January 26, 2010, 01:30:26 PM
Darren, did a google and found this info about .net framwork problems after this error

"registered JIT debugger is not available.
an attempt to launch a JIT debugger with the following command resulted
in an error code of 0x2(2).

have a read below or check the microsoft knowledge base to update the .net framwork, that may be simpler ;)

Based on my experience, this can be caused by a corrupted installation of
the .NET Framework 1.1. Manually removing the .NET Framework (steps in
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=320112 should suffice) then using
best-practice techniques to reinstall it (selective startup using
MSCONFIG.EXE including only the Windows Installer service) should allow the
installation of .NET framework to succeed without error.

Best-practice reinstallation steps are:

**If you're on a Novell Network proceed with caution... you will need the
local Administrator account to successfully log on to the machine. If you
proceed without knowing the local administrator's password, you will lock
yourself out of your machine**

1. Download and extract the contents of attached MSCONFIG.ZIP (msconfig.exe)
2. Run it to launch the System Configuration Utility
3. Under the General tab, choose Diagnostic Startup
4. Under the Services tab, find and add a check to Windows Installer
5. Click Apply then Close
6. Reboot when prompted

NOTE: the settings in the System Configuration Utility will persist from
boot up to boot up. To get back to a normal startup, you must choose
"Normal Startup" in the utility and reboot. Failing to do so will result
in an inability to ¡®see?network resources, which can include your internet
connection.

7. Once rebooted, go to Start | Run... type "%temp%" then click OK to get
into your Temp directory
8. Delete all contents of %temp%
9. Run the program dotnetfx.exe which can be found in the DotNetFramework
folder on the WCU CD or in the WCU\DotNetFramework folder if you're using
the DVD... this will manually kick off the Framework installation.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on January 26, 2010, 04:10:48 PM
A "debugger" sounds like sometyhing you should be sent to public school with...  :D :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 26, 2010, 06:22:38 PM
Quote from: magicrhodes on January 26, 2010, 04:10:48 PM
A "debugger" sounds like sometyhing you should be sent to public school with...  :D :legit:

No, that's a Old Bugger!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 26, 2010, 06:37:01 PM
Quote from: Darren1978 on January 26, 2010, 12:17:38 PM
System restore sounds a bit serious and I'd probably make a mess of things  :D

And 'Event Log'?  Where would I find that??  I know nothing about computers or the terminology used ;)
Click Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools and click on Event Viewer  in the right-hand pane. When the window opens, click on Applications and move down the list until you find the error. Click on the error and it will show details about what caused it.

As to restore, click Start, Control Panel and click on Backup & Restore. When the window opens click on Use System Restore, at the bottom of the screen and it will restore your system to the point before the error occurred. Usually this is all that's required and reboot after it's done should mean this error doesn't appear again.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 27, 2010, 07:20:56 AM
.....Jobcentre refuses advert which stipulates 'reliable' person wanted on the grounds it might hold them open to being sued for discrimination against unreliable people......... :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on January 27, 2010, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: greypoint on January 27, 2010, 07:20:56 AM
.....Jobcentre refuses advert which stipulates 'reliable' person wanted on the grounds it might hold them open to being sued for discrimination against unreliable people......... :doh:
The world's gone mad - well at least Britain. What happens if you want someone with, say, experience with Microsoft Office, would that be turned down on the same grounds?   ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 27, 2010, 11:43:52 AM
Quote from: greypoint on January 27, 2010, 07:20:56 AM
.....Jobcentre refuses advert which stipulates 'reliable' person wanted on the grounds it might hold them open to being sued for discrimination against unreliable people......... :doh:

They might be reliably unreliable!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 29, 2010, 08:14:33 AM
....the ipad.....what's it for? apart from making money from those 'must have the latest gadget brigade'....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 29, 2010, 08:51:12 AM
...and those strangely ridiculous clingy garments that cyclists wear trying to look like Le Tour participants. What's wrong with cycle clips, can you still buy those? ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 08:57:19 AM
Quote from: greypoint on January 29, 2010, 08:14:33 AM
....the ipad.....what's it for? apart from making money from those 'must have the latest gadget brigade'....

Best summary I saw was "to do everything you can with a laptop.  Except anything to do with work."

And yes.  Of course I'm getting one.  I followed the Keynote blow by blow and was happy when I thought they were going to be $999/£999.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 29, 2010, 09:30:12 AM
 . . or more than one thing at a time, or view any website that uses flash or java, and loads of other things. Like remembering stuff - 16gb standard. It's a joke.

Yet another serious case of style over substance for the fanbois.

The Register reckons it'll be so popular they'll bring out a pocket sized version optimised for voice with a cheap camera and call it iPhone or something. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 10:38:10 AM
Yeah it's hard to understand how Apple could make just so many stupid decisions.  I bet they don't reckon to sell more than about a dozen.

As Matthew Lynn, a Bloomberg news columnist, said in a article shortly after the original iPhone's introduction:

"Apple will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won't make a long-term mark on the industry."

How right he was.

/sarcasm

Like it or not the iPad just changed the game.

Goodbye Kindle.  Goodbye Sony reader (whose name I never found out).  Goodbye any netbook costing over £300.  Goodbye portable DVD players.  Goodbye printed portfolios for any people in the creative industry.  Goodbye (to a terrifying extent) lots of printed magazines and even books.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 29, 2010, 10:46:50 AM
OK - I don't even own a mobile phone let alone an iphone, but someone I work with has one and I can see what a neat bit of equipment it is for those who like that sort of thing.  But the ipad just does'nt look right somehow - too big for a pocket and it sort of looks hard to hold and an odd concept physically - why not just a small netbook - they even sell an optional keyboard. No USB?
Perhaps it'e a case of waiting for the mk 2 version.
Oh well - something else to keep your entire life on and wait for it to be nicked :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on January 29, 2010, 10:57:39 AM
Search The Onion's view on it plus their view on "the new stupid piece of dump that Sony make"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 29, 2010, 10:59:12 AM
I'm clearly not in the demographic for this - I don't even have a mobile 'phone, I simply have no use for one.

Jonathan they will sell them by the bucketload, no doubt. They're very pretty and very easy to use (so I have read). It's not goodbye kindle any more than kindle was goodbye books, it's just something else to spend money on to do the same things you already quite happily do another way. It hasn't changed the game any more than the iPhone did (despite what you might think the other mobile manufacturers still outsell Apple by an order of magnitude).

Personally I think you'd have to be a pretty serious fashion victim to spend, well let's be honest, £800 plus for one that is more than a pretty toy, when you can buy a decently specified laptop for half the money.

That said, I guarantee that my best friend will have already bought one . . he does get so defensive about his arsenal of Apple devices.  :D

Forgot to mention it also about the 10th tablet device to have been announced this year, but Apple are nothing if not superb marketeers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: magicrhodes on January 29, 2010, 11:10:36 AM
I like tech stuff but with the way society is going you are unlikely to be mugged for your paperback... but sat there with a Kindle or iSlate etc???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 29, 2010, 11:13:56 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on January 29, 2010, 10:59:12 AM
but Apple are nothing if not superb marketeers.


Yes you've got to hand it to Apple and in particular Steve Jobs, between them they could sell snow to the Eskimos.  :2funny: They've successfully managed to convince millions of people that life just wouldn't be the same without being seen with one of their devices and that they actually need them. Businesses by the tens of thousands would collapse overnight or at the minimum that business would be lost if they were not able to have internet access whilst on the move, a mobile phone to keep them in 24/7 contact and and and. It certainly makes one wonder how life was before all these gadgets hit our streets. Of course most of it is down to the 'fan boy' attitude and that one is somehow less of a person without owning, and most importantly, being seen with an Apple device. Well done Steve Jobs but don't count on me as being one of the gullible.  :legit:

This is worth a read: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8486701.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2010, 11:24:46 AM
My Asus R2H ultra mobile is the same as the Ipad but with USB connectors, and I've had that for nearly two years.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 11:37:52 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 29, 2010, 11:24:46 AM
My Asus R2H ultra mobile is the same as the Ipad but with USB connectors, and I've had that for nearly two years.  :tup:

No it's not.  Because Apple didn't make it ;)

Quote from: Tringle WP on January 29, 2010, 10:59:12 AM
It's not goodbye kindle any more than kindle was goodbye books

OK.  So I can buy a Kindle for $489* and glory in its 16 shades of grey to read books.  Or spend an extra 10 bucks and get a device that lets me read books.  Watch movies.  Look at photos.  Work on speadsheets (say what?).  Play games.  Use Google maps.  Run thousands of 3rd party apps.  Back up my photos.  Edit my photos.  Impress the girls.  Surf the web.  Read the New York Times (yeah that looked like a pretty poor app...).  Play music and generally show off how cool I am.

I can't imagine the Kindle being on sale in its current form in 58 days.


----
* Due to a frankly bizarre piece of marketing Amazon only sell Kindles in the US.  They will allow you to import one though you must pay shipping, VAT and handling fees.  And several of the features don't work.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 29, 2010, 12:18:32 PM
I think Jonathan you may have misunderstood the meaning of 'cool'  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 29, 2010, 04:53:12 PM
      Reminds me of a recent Mitchell & Webb sketch about the new "i-Reckon" ....it uploads random thoughts and ideas direct to your brain and saves you having to think yourself!
                        Now I could find a use for one of those.
                                       Graham. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2010, 05:12:38 PM
Quote from: Graham on January 29, 2010, 04:53:12 PM
      Reminds me of a recent Mitchell & Webb sketch about the new "i-Reckon" ....it uploads random thoughts and ideas direct to your brain and saves you having to think yourself!
                        Now I could find a use for one of those.
                                       Graham. ;D

Yes, but you have to use the backdoor to plug it in!  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on January 29, 2010, 05:19:42 PM
Why do Applephiles think that 'cool' is a useful function or feature  :legit:
Still, I've just been online to register my interest for an i-dontwantone
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2010, 05:22:45 PM
Quote from: Nemesis on January 29, 2010, 05:19:42 PM
Why do Applephiles think that 'cool' is a useful function or feature  :legit:


With an OP like Apple's got it needs to be flash to sell it!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 05:52:36 PM
Quote from: Nemesis on January 29, 2010, 05:19:42 PM
Why do Applephiles think that 'cool' is a useful function or feature  :legit:

Why does practically no other manufacturer believe it is?

Story from computing several years ago....a company had rebranded and colour coded everything.  Accounts were green (carpet, chairs etc), sales blue etc.  They contacted their computer vendor and asked for computers with colour coded cases since anything else would look silly.  The vendor thought this was hilarious and sent them a box of poster paints.  That's how they lost a multi million pound client......

Think about this one for a minute.  At Mr Damen Lovegrove's shopping emporium I can buy a leather portfolio made by Plastic Sandwich (http://www.lovegroveconsulting.com/10x8_portfolios.aspx).  They are beyond gorgeous.  For a 10X8 portfolio + case and embossing I can expect to pay about £250 plus top quality printing and delivery.  Let's say £300.  Photographers are flocking to buy them because when clients handle them they go "wow".

Or they could buy an iPad for a "little" more (I suspect UK price will be £349 but a straight conversion puts it at £249).  Build 20 different folios for different clients, shuffle them around and have hundreds of pics to talk about if things go well (a folio generally holds about 20 and that's a good number to pitch with).

Sure I could do all of that today on an Asus netbook costing £249.  But I'm just as likely to do that as I am to hand them some inkjets in a plastic bag.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 29, 2010, 06:57:43 PM
Jonathan, you don't have to justify yourself. If you want one, buy it. Just buy it for honest reasons. Ooooh shiny sparkly new should do it. Don't pretend is is some great step change in technology, because it isn't. Believe me I've been through the whole early adopter thing. I'm just bored by it now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 07:09:04 PM
Nothing like a reasoned debate is there......
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 29, 2010, 10:06:24 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 05:52:36 PM
Quote from: Nemesis on January 29, 2010, 05:19:42 PM
Why do Applephiles think that 'cool' is a useful function or feature  :legit:


Or they could buy an iPad for a "little" more (I suspect UK price will be £349 but a straight conversion puts it at £249).  Build 20 different folios for different clients, shuffle them around and have hundreds of pics to talk about if things go well (a folio generally holds about 20 and that's a good number to pitch with).



Well I must admit, for this one reason and this one only you may have sold me on this thing.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: chris@seary.com on January 30, 2010, 12:23:18 AM
Well, the FCC is gonna hold you up from buying one:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/

Here's a good write up:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/187962/apples_ipad_mistakes.html

No multi-tasking? Wot?

So, basically, the iPhone has been put on a rack and stretched out a bit.

Apple really are the homeopathy of computing...... Style, appearance, no substance and propagated like a cult.

I'm absolutely staggered. I've read loads of posts on the net from people saying they're buying one as soon as possible. All the non-techie press are raving about how great it is. All the sites that are technically savvie are slagging it off.

Will this sell loads? Well, Alan Sugar thought that the iPod would fail. Obviously, it plays MP3 files. But then so does my mobile phone. But the iPod doesn't make calls, play games, send texts, have a camera, alarms, an organiser.....   So the iPod must be cheap as chips, right? Just like the Apple Mac, which is an Intel based PC running a stripped down, butchered version of BSD Unix (which is free). That's as cheap as chips as well, yeah?

My eyes are rolling while I write this.   ::)

I'm thinking of some story about the emperor and his new clothes.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 30, 2010, 01:01:38 AM
I think you will find its more of a blown up iTouch rather than an iPhone!

A lot are making a big deal about multi-tasking. I really wonder why. No really, think about it. Email will work in the background as will some of the basic Apple apps such as alarms and such, 3rd party apps (As far as I can tell and based on the iPhone) don't - but when do you actually do more than 1 thing at once? Truely, I mean, yes you may have a couple of things open, but actually using them?

Mind you, not that I can see me buying one anytime soon. The guessed UK price is 1/2 of a 100mm f/2.8 IS L Macro lens!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 30, 2010, 02:32:25 AM
Quote from: chris@seary.com on January 30, 2010, 12:23:18 AM
Well, the FCC is gonna hold you up from buying one:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/



Being Canadian, I don't expect to see it here for at least a year in any event.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on January 30, 2010, 08:21:44 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on January 29, 2010, 07:09:04 PM
Nothing like a reasoned debate is there......

And you can't apply logic to religeous topics, which is generally what any apple thread degenerates into.

I won't buy an ipad, because i can't see a situation that i am regularly in that would make it more useful than the effort of carrying it around. Now if it fit snuggly in a pocket...

What it does do is raise the "style" bar for the competitors in the field.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 30, 2010, 08:37:52 AM
So the only real reason for buying one is as a presentation tool to best show off a portfolio. For that reason I can understand it could be a good investment for business use - apart from that.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on January 30, 2010, 09:28:20 AM
C'mon folks. It is all about brand power. The kids nowadays are brought up with it, they don't know any better. They wear trainers to go shopping, but it has to be fashionable Nike, Adidas etc. So if you are a student or teenager, nothing will be more fashionable to show up your friends than getting one of those Apple i-something out of a bag. Rather than a netbook or laptop. And Apple knows and works hard for this. I bought an i-phone for my son last week, and tried about 5 shops on the highstreet. Every one told me that the i-phone is the one to have, and is outselling all other phones at the mo.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 30, 2010, 12:07:21 PM
You are right, kids can be complete label mabels with all the attendant mediocrity that follows.

As for 'phones, the stats tell a rather different story: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=985912

Apple sold 4m units, Nokia sold just shy of 100m units. Apple aren't even separately listed in overall sales, and only sell about a quarter as many 'smart' phones as Nokia.

I wonder which 'phone has the biggest margin for the retailers in your high street?

And I can really see clients be impressed looking at images with finger prints all over them. But that's a criticism of all touch screen devices, not this one specifically. Can you imaging trying to drive your car by dabbing your fingerprints all over the windscreen - you wouldn't be able to see where you were going after a few minutes. That and the blindingly obvious fact that pressing a screen with your fingers is a waste of both your fingers and an excuse not to have a more practical interface. Like the optional extra keyboard, for example  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 30, 2010, 01:25:13 PM
...and if they found some way of attaching the optional; keyboard - say with a couple of hinges at the bottom.........then you could close it up to protect the screen.....er..hang on..... :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 31, 2010, 08:30:49 AM
Enough of all this chat about technological bling, what bemused me today was the video on Pradar showing the recent jamboree in Trafalgar Square protesting at the perceived harassment of photographers by the boys in blue.

At one stage I had intended to go thinking there may be some interesting pictures to be had, but after giving it some thought common sense prevailed . Why would I want to take pictures of photographers taking pictures of other photographers? I might get involved in lengthy discussions about pixels, bokehs, full frames and the latest ND multifaceted filters and have my day completely ruined. :o

Watching the video, yes there was the usual attention seeking idiot prancing around, the one in the mask features in most of the demonstrations that I have pictures of over the past 18 months.

More than that however it was the interviews that took me back to the demonstration in Hyde Park in 1988 when Muslims from all over the UK gathered to protest about Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses.  

Like the people in Trafalgar Square the Muslims back in the 80's were protesting against something that they had only experienced via the media, nobody I spoke to in Hyde Park had even read the Satanic Verses, and it was obvious those in Trafalgar Square had no experience of this police harassment. One woman talked of arrests, I stand to be corrected but I think not one photographer has been arrested for taking pictures in a public place.

Let the police get on with their job of keeping us safe from the extremists and if it inconveniences us now and again so be it.

When the next atrocity perpetrated by murderous extremists occurs there will be the same people protesting that the police weren't up to the job.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 31, 2010, 08:51:49 AM
"When the next atrocity perpetrated by murderous extremists occurs there will be the same people protesting that the police weren't up to the job."

That would be because they were too busy harassing innocent citizens to notice . . . and for a whole host of non policing related reasons too.

And there have been arrests. One police force, I forget which, has had to pay compensation for unlawful arrest. There have been many other cases. You might not look threatening to a jobsworth Alan, but even poor old jinky has been victimised.

"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out."

Martin Neimoller. 1946

and then of course there is:

"The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible reductions. In this way the people will not see those rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be reversed" - Adolf Hitler
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 31, 2010, 09:51:02 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on January 31, 2010, 08:51:49 AM

That would be because they were too busy harassing innocent citizens to notice . . . and for a whole host of non policing related reasons too.


Maybe it's because they are vigilant that we haven't had one recently.

No arrests that are for taking a picture in public I'm glad to say, maybe for not moving on when asked to do so.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on January 31, 2010, 07:05:37 PM
Now this should be right up Jonathans street.  :2funny: :2funny:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Ms%20Piggy.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Ms%20Piggy.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 31, 2010, 07:14:33 PM
Pork with Apple - perfect combination.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on February 01, 2010, 11:28:00 AM
It appears that Herr Hitler isn't too impressed with the iPad either.  :legit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 01, 2010, 12:03:30 PM
You can't help thinking that an awful lot of royalties are due the actors in that scene.
Is it is the most parodied sketch ever?

Although you know what the footage is like - as soon as you start to read the sub titles, you start laughing.
Thank god you can't get it on an iPad  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 02, 2010, 12:48:10 PM
OK, what amused me today?

My Skin Tag - source of soooo much pain and discomfort and the cause of a reduction in mobility and missing Sundays Butterfly trip has apparently had the audacity to just fall off!  >:(

Can you believe that, not so much as a by your leave or with your leave - just upped and fell off. No idea when, where, how or why!

Oh well, best make arrangements to go and see the Butterfly's tomorrow! About time they got shot with a decent Canon  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on February 03, 2010, 09:59:24 AM
Herman Van Rompuy - President of the European Council.
Jose Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission
Jose Luis Rodriguez - President in Office during Spain's six-month presidency of the EU (also the Spanish prime minister).

Our local news reports that the US president Barack Obama has called off a visit to a joint summit meeting scheduled for May in Madrid because of uncertainty of who he should be shaking hands with. One Brussels diplomat is reported as saying: "The US simply don't know who they're meant to be dealing with.  They thought the Lisbon treaty was meant to solve all these problems." PJ Crowley, the US assistant secretary of state, voiced the uncertainty in Washington over who runs the EU.

Sounds as though I'm not the only one bemused/confused - no wonder Europe is in a mess. Answers on a postcard please, preferably to Barack Obama.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 03, 2010, 11:55:24 AM
Quote from: Forseti on February 03, 2010, 09:59:24 AM
Herman Van Rompuy - President of the European Council.
Jose Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission
Jose Luis Rodriguez - President in Office during Spain's six-month presidency of the EU (also the Spanish prime minister).

Our local news reports that the US president Barack Obama has called off a visit to a joint summit meeting scheduled for May in Madrid because of uncertainty of who he should be shaking hands with. One Brussels diplomat is reported as saying: "The US simply don't know who they're meant to be dealing with.  They thought the Lisbon treaty was meant to solve all these problems." PJ Crowley, the US assistant secretary of state, voiced the uncertainty in Washington over who runs the EU.

Sounds as though I'm not the only one bemused/confused - no wonder Europe is in a mess. Answers on a postcard please, preferably to Barack Obama.


I doubt you would fit all the names on a postcard!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 03, 2010, 12:27:14 PM
Not that you ought to feel just a little bit paranoid:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/03/police_anpr/

So, they have thousands of cameras taking pictures of you every day, but you can only take pictures of them if you can run fast enough . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 04, 2010, 07:53:14 AM
Now a precedent has been set, I must try this when I next get a parking ticket.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8497365.stm

Although saying Jesus Christ has never really worked in the past I'll try invoking the help of Mohhamed next time! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on February 04, 2010, 08:15:39 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 04, 2010, 07:53:14 AM
Now a precedent has been set, I must try this when I next get a parking ticket.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8497365.stm

Although saying Jesus Christ has never really worked in the past I'll try invoking the help of Mohhamed next time! ::)

I wouldn't expect anything less from a prat like her.

Nick
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 04, 2010, 08:54:26 AM
Given that the judge is a leading light in Opus Dei, expressing your devotion to the Virgin Mary might work even better.

Meanwhile, more legal insanity:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8497433.stm

Just goes to show how much judges know about music. Or anything, come to that. The flute part could have been just about anything (and only one small phrase, repeated a few times,  is actually similar to the refrain in the Kookaburra song) - it had nothing to do with why the song was worldwide hit. I'll take a wild stab that it might have had something to do with the lyrics.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 04, 2010, 10:55:57 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 04, 2010, 07:53:14 AM
Now a precedent has been set, I must try this when I next get a parking ticket.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8497365.stm

Although saying Jesus Christ has never really worked in the past I'll try invoking the help of Mohhamed next time! ::)

What am I missing here, rather, what is she missing? Every Islamist suicide bomber is religious, fanatically so, that's how they can ignite the bomb, their belief in heaven.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Nemesis on February 04, 2010, 03:35:07 PM
A sign in a discount shoe outlet "Buy one get one free" - call me old fashioned, but that used to be known as a pair of shoes  ;)

Mind you, I am looking forward to Saturday, a local nurseries are having a "pot sale" - I'm sure its illegal, but...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 04, 2010, 06:36:21 PM
Here's the Daily Mash view of the Cherie Blair judgement:

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/war/bin-laden-deserves-a-hefty-fine%2c-says-cherie-blair-201002042438/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on February 04, 2010, 10:05:53 PM
Been shooting in a studio in London all week. (Out at 5:30 am - home at 8:00 pm kind of thing...)

Turned my 'puter on for the first time since Sunday.  I have 279 unread emails.  Those are the ones that made it through the elaborate spam filters I run.  So tomorrow I'll need to read them all.....

Plus I probably got a load of spam.  I get about 5K per month.

Triffic.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 07:50:22 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on February 04, 2010, 10:05:53 PM
I have 279 unread emails. Plus I probably got a load of spam.  I get about 5K per month.

the price of being popular  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 05, 2010, 08:00:36 AM
Quote from: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 07:50:22 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on February 04, 2010, 10:05:53 PM
I have 279 unread emails. Plus I probably got a load of spam.  I get about 5K per month.

the price of being popular  :tup:

Yes the Viagra merchants have been very active of late! I wonder why they pick on me. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on February 05, 2010, 08:19:41 AM
Yes the Viagra merchants have been very active of late! I wonder why they pick on me.

I have had a very nice email from a charming Nigerian chappie. He has offerered me a large sum of money if I will assist him with a small financial problem. it looks as though all of my money troubles will soon be over!  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on February 05, 2010, 08:21:15 AM
My viagra spam seems to have drooped a little of late.
They now feel the need to bombard me with messages about parcel tracking at UPS
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on February 05, 2010, 08:27:39 AM
The best bit is that I actually did some work for Pfizers just before Christmas.  I've had to edit my spam rules so that I can get emails from their accounts department.

Oh and as if email wasn't enough apparently I now have to get my head round Facebook to keep in touch with the models etc I've been working with....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 09:02:24 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on February 05, 2010, 08:27:39 AM
Oh and as if email wasn't enough apparently I now have to get my head round Facebook to keep in touch with the models etc I've been working with....

You have my complete sympathy on that one. I won't touch it with a barge pole. I've had several e-mails from friends and family inviting me to sign up and become a "face book friend".
MySpace, Twitter, Facebook - can't stand any of them. Refuse to engage in any of them and up until recently they were all blocked sites at fire wall level.
Sadly, step daught being a DJ uses My Space has a point of promotion so i've had to unlock that one...

Some times i think it's just easier to close port 80 altogether  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on February 05, 2010, 09:37:01 AM
Quote from: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 09:02:24 AM


Sadly, step daught being a DJ uses My Space has a point of promotion so i've had to unlock that one...



In that case, you forgot  MyDjSpace (http://www.mydjspace.net/)  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 10:37:52 AM
Please - don't. we've had this site mentioned and i gave them a choice as to which one was gonna be accessible.

Needless to say - it's another battle i don't need to fight again!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 07:21:05 PM
OK, popped down to Southampton today for a change of photographic scenery.
Whilst out i got a phone call off family asking how things were going.
Innocently i said "wrong kind of sunlight" referring to the extremities in lighting it was causing by way of shadows etc.

"Only a train driver would come up with that as the reason for taking rubbish pictures!" was the reply chortling down the phone...
:-X :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on February 05, 2010, 10:53:00 PM
Oh what a pity! I could have joined you in that"wrong kind of sunlight" today as I was working in s**********  (sorry cant say that word being a Pompey supporter) I went on into Portsmouth were the sun was better when I had finished and took some shots :2funny: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on February 06, 2010, 01:16:07 PM
Quote from: picsfor on February 05, 2010, 09:02:24 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on February 05, 2010, 08:27:39 AM
Oh and as if email wasn't enough apparently I now have to get my head round Facebook to keep in touch with the models etc I've been working with....

You have my complete sympathy on that one. I won't touch it with a barge pole. I've had several e-mails from friends and family inviting me to sign up and become a "face book friend".
MySpace, Twitter, Facebook - can't stand any of them. Refuse to engage in any of them and up until recently they were all blocked sites at fire wall level.
Sadly, step daught being a DJ uses My Space has a point of promotion so i've had to unlock that one...

Some times i think it's just easier to close port 80 altogether  :tup:

At uni we have kind of been forced to join twitter, thanks to our lecturer Jonathan Worth (he did an article in Photo Pro last issue or one before on social media and such). Being a teen I already have a facebook and myspace account lol  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 11, 2010, 06:49:41 PM
Highly pleased and somewhat annoyed, leading to bemusement.

When I was a lad it was the ambition of every boy to represent your school at whatever sport that took your fancy, and you were supported by your fellow schoolmates, parents and above all teachers and especially the headmaster.

I went to see my youngest grandson play soccer for his school 1st. eleven, the local comprehensive, in the schools area semi-final. It took place after school hours with a K.O at 15.45 so no excuse for a poor turnout of supporters. O.K. it was cold and there weren't many brass monkeys in the crowd. In fact the only one there was me. Not one single member of staff turned out to see the lads, in what for them was an extremely important match.

The P.E teacher turned up to referee the match, other than that no-one! We are told that teachers are extremly busy and so overworked that they have no time for such activities, especially if there are disconsolate losers who musn't be made to feel inadequate. :'(

What's going on in our schools? Are they too busy planning the next inset day, whatever that is? ::)

By the way we won and are in the final in March! :tup: :beer: :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on February 11, 2010, 07:23:28 PM
Well done to your Grandson and his team... wish them well for the Final.... :tup:    As for teachers someone once said  " Those who can, do and those who can't teach "  wish I new who said it....No offence to any teachers out there by the way !... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on February 11, 2010, 07:37:56 PM
Quote from: Dave on February 11, 2010, 07:23:28 PM
As for teachers someone once said  " Those who can, do and those who can't teach "  wish I new who said it.

Take your pick (or so the teacher saysl):  :2funny:

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach education." -- Nicolas Martin
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach gym." -- Woody Allen
An early quote of similar meaning comes from George Bernard Shaw in "Maxims for Revolutionists" in Man and Superman (1903).

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on February 11, 2010, 07:53:17 PM
I like the Woody Allen quote....... :2funny:... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on February 12, 2010, 07:06:54 AM
When my eldest grandson was 8 years old, he played in his first football match for his school. He told me, " I scored today grandad, my teacher said that I was the best player on our team". "That's great news" I replied, "Did you win"?
"No" he said, "We got beat 19-1.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on February 12, 2010, 07:13:05 PM
Quote from: Dave on February 11, 2010, 07:53:17 PM
I like the Woody Allen quote....... :2funny:... :legit:

It is all so in the film 'School of Rock' - well thats where I heard it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 13, 2010, 05:59:05 AM
It`s oh so different in secondary education now Abers - don`t know about primary. My teacher wife is rarely home before 6, has at least 3 days work to do "on holiday" next week - including one day in school and spends at least 5-7 hours working everu weekend and a minimum of 1.5 hours Monday to thursday evenings after school. She rarely gets a ,lunch break with a head of department that gets round limits on maximum of supposedly 2 evening meetings a week by calling extra at lunch!
The sooner she leaves the better - makes me feel guilty when I tell her what bad light I have had all day for my photography ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 13, 2010, 07:22:00 AM
Quote from: jinky on February 13, 2010, 05:59:05 AM
It`s oh so different in secondary education now Abers - don`t know about primary. My teacher wife is rarely home before 6, has at least 3 days work to do "on holiday" next week - including one day in school and spends at least 5-7 hours working everu weekend and a minimum of 1.5 hours Monday to thursday evenings after school. She rarely gets a ,lunch break with a head of department that gets round limits on maximum of supposedly 2 evening meetings a week by calling extra at lunch!
The sooner she leaves the better - makes me feel guilty when I tell her what bad light I have had all day for my photography ;)
Hey Jinky. Tell me about it!
                                          My wifes the same, I don't know how she does it.
                                                Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 14, 2010, 01:49:40 PM
     (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/web_DSC9735.jpg)


        Well. As you can see from the view from my bedroom window, Derby now has a fully functioning helipad at it's new hospital.
               Today we had a visitor to our door inviting us to sign a petition complaining about the noise of the helicopters landing in what, despite the new hospital, is still a residential area.
               One of the good ladys point's was that there had been up to six landings a day!
               Now let me say right now that both myself and my wife have full time jobs, and since the ambulance in the sky dos'nt land after dark it causes us little disturbance.
               I explained this to the lady, and futher that six landings meant six less jobs for the countries funeral parlours! I then sugested that perhaps she should try and look a little more positivley on the situation. I, for example, on hearing that there was now a major A&E department less than half a mile from my front door, went straight out and bourght that circular saw I had been promising myself!
               Sadly she was unable to see my point and seemed to be saying that the badly injured occupants of the helicopter should have the decency to die by the roadside rather than interupt her enjoyment of the Emerdale omnibus edition!
               I could see my points were not getting through and took the only option open to me... I felled her with a left hook!....That may not actually be true but it was certainly in my mind >:(
                                    Thank you . I feel better for that!...... Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 14, 2010, 03:46:04 PM
Ah the blissfullness that comes from self imposed ignorance, or in otherwords, people who are so stupid, they don't recognize they are. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on February 14, 2010, 04:21:14 PM
England's crap performance against Italy.
Nick :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 14, 2010, 06:33:03 PM
Does anyone else see a smiley face on that helicopter... looks like a giant cartoon bug ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on February 14, 2010, 06:42:49 PM
Quote from: greypoint on February 14, 2010, 06:33:03 PM
Does anyone else see a smiley face on that helicopter... looks like a giant cartoon bug ::)

Yes indeed. The fact of it being a helicopter escaped me altogether at the beginning. Wonder what's on the door when it's closed - a big pair of lips perhaps.. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 14, 2010, 06:51:35 PM
It's the snub nose that makes it for me! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 14, 2010, 11:24:46 PM
    I did'nt see it when I took the picture, but it screams at you on the screen! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 17, 2010, 11:47:54 PM
After all the talk about warmer winters it now appears that Spring is going to be later, by about a month, this year, but when it does come it's going to be a burst of colours. I noticed the Snowdrops were late but the Bluebells, which put out foliage for a month or so before the flowers, has started to appear.  ;D

Don't know if anyone else has noticed but in Sandwell Valley a lot of molehills have appeared. I assume it's because the ground is still very wet, and had been for the last three months. At a rough guess it must be in excess of two hundred.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 18, 2010, 01:43:15 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on February 17, 2010, 11:47:54 PM

Don't know if anyone else has noticed but in Sandwell Valley a lot of molehills have appeared. I assume it's because the ground is still very wet, and had been for the last three months. At a rough guess it must be in excess of two hundred.  :o

Enough for a mountain? :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 19, 2010, 08:54:34 AM
Receiving an email telling me that someone had posted a comment on my rarely used and recently updated blog. I don't mind or care what reactions I get from what I say or feel, that I suppose is par for the course. But why Oh why does the person not have the guts to put their name to what they say or feel and post their comment anonymously?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 19, 2010, 09:27:42 AM
Hmm - the style looks vaguely familiar ???   Yes, there were differing and dogmatic opinions on the old DCMag site - but at least there were opinions and arguments and banter [for those with a sense of humour that is]. Strangely sterile now apart from the odd spat in the only thriving part, the competition thread.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 19, 2010, 11:52:32 AM
At least you warned them in the title. But you're right if they're going to trash you they should have the stones to identify themselves.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 19, 2010, 02:39:45 PM
The Weather forecasters who can't seem to get anything right. Yesterday at 13:30 they said it would snow until 20:00 hours, then at 18:55 until 22:00. Went to bed at 00:45 and it was still snowing like the clappers. They also said it would -2 by 08:00 and icy. Left the house at 06:15 to catch the sunrise, but we didn't have one as it was overcast and the snow was melting. The sun broke through at 08:50 and increased the melting rate.  :(

Due to the rain, sleet and wet snow yesterday and the damp conditions today had my 70-200mm F2.8 VR mist up inside. Changed to the 24-70mm F2.8 but then the camera misted up inside as well.  ::)

Misted-up lens:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4370599438_7bedb917dc.jpg?v=0) (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4370599438_7bedb917dc_b.jpg)

Misted-up Camera
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4370599442_42e3c1786b.jpg?v=0) (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4370599442_42e3c1786b_b.jpg)

Click for bigger size.
Need to dry them out now.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 20, 2010, 11:16:29 AM
Just heard about a new website where infomation on people using social networking sites like Twitter, FaceBook, Foursquare and Buzz is posted. It called PleaseRobMe.com. It appears that some insurance companies will add 10% to your policy if you use these sites and others may refuse to payout, if you are careless in posting details about when you may be away from home.  :o

Remember that details that you post on the web can be traced using your sign-on name, and by using this people could build up a picture of your assets, findout where you live and when you might be away.  :-X
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on February 22, 2010, 08:31:50 AM
OK this one's weird.

I've been working on a new website (aren't I always?).  Yesterday I put some content on it and bizarrely this morning I got an email from some random person who had found it.

I checked analytics and saw the key words they used which are very saturated keywords and thought "wow, I'm ranking for those already????".

Nope, I checked, I'm not in the first 200 sites for those keywords.

Some people have a lot of time to spend on Google......
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on February 22, 2010, 09:40:24 AM
Jonathan - that's quite encouraging,maybe someone might find my new site  :2funny:

I was bemused this morning when reading a new novel over my morning tea. A character in the book was labeled as an "elderly chap" after being described as "going on for 60, maybe more"

Now where did I put my stick ......  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 23, 2010, 11:33:46 AM
I in a constant struggle to keep my blood sugar under control. Mostly my bad habits. For reasons I don't quite understand it spikes overnight and so the Dr.'s got me on Insulin shots at bed time. I took my usual dose last night but woke in the morning with the shakes a sign of low sugar, very unusual for me. I tested and it registered as what the experts say is the absolute perfect range. Yet here I sit shaking like a leaf.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on February 23, 2010, 04:57:52 PM
Sarasocke - I've just had a birthday. One card reads "Growing OLD is inevitable, growing UP is optional. It has a photograph of a white haired lady, cardigan and handbag, playing hopskotch wile two similar ladies, with walking sticks, sit on a park bench applauding her. It's a lovely photo!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 23, 2010, 10:55:25 PM
According to the lastest research, people are at their grumpiest around forty years of age and happiest at seventy-four.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on February 26, 2010, 09:19:33 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on February 23, 2010, 10:55:25 PM
According to the lastest research, people are at their grumpiest around forty years of age and happiest at seventy-four.  ;D

I think I might be about 20 years out on this survey and the wife would certainly agree. Looking on the bright side, I should be happiest when I'm 94. Can't wait.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 26, 2010, 11:21:02 AM
Just heard that Batman beat Superman in the comics sale!  :o Both sold for over a million dollars, and the person who sold the Batman comic brought it for 100 dollars in the 1960's.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 26, 2010, 01:24:04 PM
The company given 1.3 million to sell the north Northants area as a place for people from London and the overcrowded south east to move to, have decided to re-name it - so it seems I now live in North Londonshire....not sure whether to laugh or cry :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on February 26, 2010, 04:38:52 PM
Is that anywhere near where Middlesex used to be?
Only in England could you have a valid postal address for somewhere that doesn't exist and a viable cricket team that has no one to represent.

And this is without the political boundaries that put your living room in one county or parish and your front door in another parish or county just to try and bias the voting results.

Oh yes, and apparently i'm a racist - according to the recent reports from "old New Labour" that said people who grew up without meeting refugees or immigrants are racist.
Up until the 80's even the government didn't know where Ipswich was let alone visit it.
Refugees was what my daughter called a certain pop group and immigrants were a type of insect.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 01, 2010, 07:58:20 AM
Those damn Europeans poking their bloody noses in again! >:( I'm all for choice but I don't want it rammed down my throat!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8537763.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 01, 2010, 08:30:09 AM
Interesting Alan,

So exactly how many of the other twelve browsers had you heard of, or tried?

This was about M$ exploiting its monopoly position. The case that led to the imposition of choice was indeed from a European company - Opera have been the instigators of this change and have been lobbying hard for a long time to get it done.

More power to them I say (as a committed long term Opera user)  ;)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 01, 2010, 08:49:05 AM
I've heard of about four of the others, due to information/discussion on the site here and elsewhere.
Tried none of them because what I have works perfectly well as far as I'm concerned and as a non-techno person, if it works leave it.
I think it's a bit sad that manufacturers/service providers resort to the courts because their products are outsold by competitors. I can't ever remember seeing an advert or promotion by any of those providers extolling the benefits/advantages of their product.

I expect the M/S position is that like me, most users have not the slightest idea how things work and are not the slightest bit interested anyway, as long as they do.

It will be interesting to see how many people change. All I've got to do is figure out how to stay as I am when the choice is presented to me!

Isn't a monopoly 100% of the market?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 01, 2010, 09:13:35 AM
I take it you've never heard of Netscape Navigator then Alan?

Marvelous browser that done what it was supposed to. M$ couldn't beat it fairly because version 1,2 & 3 of IE were sooo bad that non one would touch them.
Then with V4 they also made it part of Windows and insisted people have to use it to comply with M$ web standards.
Navigator died shortly after.

And that is how M$ have been carrying out business for over a decade. Anything M$ can't match or improve upon results in M$ introducing their own standard for that software and forcing others to comply witohut giving them all of the info needed to compete on an even playing field. M$ Java, MS SQL are other areas M$ have acted in a similar manner to name but a few.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 01, 2010, 09:28:20 AM
Sounds like a go-ahead business that M$ :tup:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 01, 2010, 10:15:12 AM
Yep - sure is hence for quite a while Mr Gates was the wealthiest man going. I wonder if can remember when he counted his wealth in terms of tens of billions?

Thank god they never got their mits into photography otherwise we'd have a package called M$ Develop which would occasionally lose pictures from your catalogue, refuse to accept the advice of a colour profiler resulting in the introduction of an M$ Color Profiler which would demand we accept black was white as a solution to it not working properly. Oh yes - mustn't forget the best part. We would only be able to edit pictures with tools that they had got to be almost reliable - the heal tool would put a picture of a plaster (band aid) over the affected area and the crop tool would be called guillotine and require us to place our picture under the virtual cutting tool and then operating it.
Images not printing out properly would be the norm and we would have a price scale based on how successfully we got the image to print out. And all of this would require Tb's of hard drive space because M$ have never created files that contain only the necessary information. Why have a tidy file when you can bloat its size to something extraordinary...
And they would probably have developed a close deal with one or two camera manufacturers and forced them to adopt an M$ standard until they could produce their own imaging device or they bought one of the 2 partners out and killed the other one.

And of course your gallery would be full of white and black toned images containing shades of red, green and blue  ;D  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 01, 2010, 11:11:53 AM
I take it that's pure supposition Andrew?
What am I missing that's wrong with Internet Explorer?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 01, 2010, 11:48:51 AM
Alan,

Internet Explorer is like most MS products. It is built on a flawed development process of either buying in a product by buying out the company and getting his programmers to "make it work with MS stuff"
or developing stuff using MS developing tools - which only meet MS standards which MS create because their developing tools fail to match the global standards.

It's a bit like checking your spelling. As far as Bill Gates is concerned the only true English is US English - so us "Brits" must adapt to the US English because the Americans can't cope with British English.
Why do you think hackers always target IE for security bugs?
Not because they're so big and deserve to be hit. No - it's because it's so easy.
Such sloppy coding and a culture of denial has allowed people to do all sorts of things. It becomes a bit of a game now.
Every thing is built around the Visual Basic, Visual J and Visual C platforms which inherently are all the same thing - non standard development languages that MS tried to force through with bully boy tactics to get accepted as the de-facto standards.

As i've said, Bill Gates has done some marvelous things in creating agreed standards but he has produced some fairly shoddy software to to accompany those standards as well.
His short cuts and tactics are slowly coming home to roost -but by the time MS sort out the problem it is likely that Linux and Apple will have taken the center ground because they stuck with tried, tested and approved standards!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 01, 2010, 12:11:16 PM
I'm a PC and I........

I upgraded to Windows 7 on the machines my wife and daughter use, I'm not sorry about it good deal for the money. However I purposely built a machine to run Ubuntu Studio and it's great. No issues, but I'm a bit of a techie. I'd recommend it to computer savvy users but it's not for mom and pop yet. Very close though. But I digress, I've tried a few Linux Distros over the years and most of them tend to come bundled with Firefox, why no hoopla over that?

And, sorry Andrew, if MS was so bad why does it have over 90% of the market. I've a co-worker who has a computer business of the side and he tells me there are just as many Mac horror stories but no one wants to talk about it. He reckons people who pay big money for a Mac don't want to admit they might have been hosed.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 01, 2010, 12:22:45 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 01, 2010, 12:11:16 PM
And, sorry Andrew, if MS was so bad why does it have over 90% of the market. I've a co-worker who has a computer business of the side and he tells me there are just as many Mac horror stories but no one wants to talk about it. He reckons people who pay big money for a Mac don't want to admit they might have been hosed.  :o

Don't start that one again  :D

Andrew, M$ do have a brilliantly compact way of storing lossless images - it's called HD Photo and writes files a fraction of the size of tifs - you can get a M$ plugin for the various photoshops that enable them to use the format (Serif Photoplus comes with it built in) - personally I can't understand how the tif format can survive against this better alternative, yet it does . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 01, 2010, 01:25:40 PM
A lot will have been put off by the fact that it is M$ - and more by the fact that it is not TIFF/PSD or Jpeg.

Whether now that it is accepted by the Joint Photographics Experts Group and called Jpeg XR - it will become more used, only time will tell. But I suspect that unless it is adopted by Adobe and thats not likely.

And, who's heard of Jpeg 2000, let alone used it?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Forseti on March 01, 2010, 04:41:58 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 01, 2010, 07:58:20 AM
Those damn Europeans poking their bloody noses in again! >:( I'm all for choice but I don't want it rammed down my throat!


I am in full agreement with you on this one. The tech savvy amongst PC users will already be aware of the alternative browsers available, and for the non tech savvy PC users - well that's their own fault.  :2funny: In all seriousness though, I would have thought that an addition to the labelling of the packaging would have quite easily sufficed in this regard, and cheaper - you know, that long list on the outside of the box detailing the specs etc. A little note stating that the bundle includes Internet Explorer but alternative browsers are available free for download blah blah should have been more than enough to satisfy the bureaucrats but no, thanks to their inept meddling, I'm now going to have an additional bit of software installed on my machine with an icon on the task bar advising that other browsers are available and that I shall have repeatedly to click NO to. I'm reminded of little people sitting behind very big empty desks having a need to dream up some other bureaucratic nonsense in an attempt to justify their miserable existence. Without siding with M$ here, but why is it that Apple don't come in for this continual scrutiny?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 01, 2010, 07:18:53 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 01, 2010, 12:11:16 PM
And, sorry Andrew, if MS was so bad why does it have over 90% of the market. I've a co-worker who has a computer business of the side and he tells me there are just as many Mac horror stories but no one wants to talk about it. He reckons people who pay big money for a Mac don't want to admit they might have been hosed.  :o

When i worked in I.T. Support i used to go and visit Microsoft on a fairly regular basis at the Reading (Berkshire UK) HQ and get to mix with all the other keen bods.
Oh i was a complete geek in those days, probably even a hacker in the original sense of the word, and the one thing that came across was the reason MS has so much of the market is because of the tactics it used to get MS Office and MS Windows on to all computers and into businesses. Oh yes - we all signed up to get our MSCE's and encourage companies to become MS Partners - yes it was good for our wages and good for our companies accounts.

Also, the creation of the famous bug entitled "an MS bug" came into being - a problem caused by the sloppy coding that went into their products or that they were just not skilled enough to understand.
This became evident when they couldn't get Windows 2K to work and ended up releasing a stripped down version with a nice new front end and the bits they could get to work.
XP was very much what 2K should have been but without the great features MS promised and with another new front end and some more of the features that they had been able to get to work.

Horror stories with Macs? Of course there will be. My favourite computer of all time was the Amiga and i heard of horror stories on that - but an Amiga 500+ could still multi task in a way that MS could only dram of in those days and comfortably out process a Pentium 1 PC. It required less processor, memory and hard drive and was far better at scientific research than the PC struggles to be today. Frightening.

I've played with MS since the DOS days on a 286 (DOS 3 or 4 i think). Underneath Windows 7 is nothing that far removed from those DOS days apart from a prettier interface and the ability to handle modern hardware with greater automation.

Oh, and if i had invented Windows 7 - Apple and Linux would have been history and even fond memories of my Amiga would have disappeared.
I stand by my view - MS does a good job badly.
Apple does a job according to "Jobs" way. And the horror stories are still happening with the new 27inch iMac - something to do with QC - so i'm not completely sold out to Apple.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on March 01, 2010, 07:41:59 PM
My university building got broken into over the weekend. (YAY day off, sort of) but it has less security cameras than my secondary school  :o. Building has loads of tech and just the offices got broken into
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 11, 2010, 07:25:37 AM
Struggling with your photography, or anything else for that matter? Become world famous for snapping celebs like any old photographer can do, take a million images (there must be one or two good ones in there somewhere) and all your worries can be over in an instance. :o

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8557088.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 11, 2010, 11:13:44 AM
The cult of celebrity will forgive anything.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 11, 2010, 12:38:54 PM
I wonder if they'd do me a loan to allow me to go and photograph all the things i'd like to photograph?
I'm sure i could bring it in for under a million and i'd be prepared to travel the world to exhibit my works of pixel.
What's more they'd even get some money back at the end!

Yes i'd get the celebs travelling up and down to London from the Sussex coast on our trains - i'd even travel to get pics of such major celebs such as Sir Paul riding his bike along the sea front and paying the £30 fine for doing so or the Krankies appearing at Worthing Pier. It can take ages to get to Worthing from Brighton via Sompting if you time it wrong. I'd even go as far as Eastbourne to get pictures of  Paul Daniels entertaining the retired. Yep, the trains can get quite packed to Eastbourne.

Ah well - we can dream!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 11, 2010, 04:10:46 PM
Quote from: picsfor on March 11, 2010, 12:38:54 PM

I'm sure i could bring it in for under a million and i'd be prepared to travel the world to exhibit my works of pixel.
What's more they'd even get some money back at the end!



There's a saying, something like 'if you owe the bank a million they own you, if you owe the bank a billion, you own them!' . Think big!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 11, 2010, 04:30:09 PM
My university building got broken into over the weekend. (YAY day off, sort of) but it has less security cameras than my secondary school  . Building has loads of 5D mark II's, D700's, iMacs, big ass television studio style cameras, video cameras you can take out in calumet hard-cases and I think only the offices got trashed... Craig

If you can just give me the postcode for my sat nav and advise on access for transits I`ll be down soon ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 11, 2010, 06:40:24 PM
Take care jinky, you're turning into a hardened criminal. It must be all the run ins you've had with the law recently.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 12, 2010, 04:32:04 PM
Not the law - just the jobsworths and security goons. Reckon I`m ready for real thing now  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on March 14, 2010, 12:59:20 PM
What's just bemused me?

Windows...! I can't use my Logitech webcam as it was meant to be used, as I loose my wireless network connection.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on March 14, 2010, 01:22:34 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on March 14, 2010, 12:59:20 PM
What's just bemused me?

Windows...! I can't use my Logitech webcam as it was meant to be used, as I loose my wireless network connection.
... and it's also knocked my sound out.
*sigh*
Time for a(nother) reboot. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 16, 2010, 10:33:08 AM
I won the British Lottery, again! Twice this time.  :tup:

I mean really, are there still people out there falling for this crap? Funny how the 'information highway' hasn't done much for reducing gullibility.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 16, 2010, 06:27:41 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 16, 2010, 10:33:08 AM
I won the British Lottery, again! Twice this time.  :tup:


And without buying a ticket!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 16, 2010, 06:53:06 PM
My wife had a letter from Hong Kong telling her she was in line for a windfall, as she was the last in a long line of Abercrombies that went to the colony from way back in the early 1900's.

Puzzling thing was she has only been an Abercrombie since 1959! :o

Is she not telling me something ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 16, 2010, 07:18:01 PM
Maybe that's the windfall - blown over by the amazing news  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 21, 2010, 06:49:15 PM
Our cat has been sneezing for the past couple of days. So I looked up cat 'flu on the web. It says one of the symptoms is that your cat may seem lethargic . . good grief it's a cat; how could you tell?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on March 21, 2010, 07:09:27 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 21, 2010, 06:49:15 PM
Our cat has been sneezing for the past couple of days. So I looked up cat 'flu on the web. It says one of the symptoms is that your cat may seem lethargic . . good grief it's a cat; how could you tell?

Get a water pistol and give the moggy a few squirts. You will soon see how lethargic it is
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 21, 2010, 07:38:14 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on March 21, 2010, 07:09:27 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 21, 2010, 06:49:15 PM
Our cat has been sneezing for the past couple of days. So I looked up cat 'flu on the web. It says one of the symptoms is that your cat may seem lethargic . . good grief it's a cat; how could you tell?

Get a water pistol and give the moggy a few squirts. You will soon see how lethargic it is

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on March 21, 2010, 10:21:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on March 21, 2010, 07:38:14 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on March 21, 2010, 07:09:27 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 21, 2010, 06:49:15 PM
Our cat has been sneezing for the past couple of days. So I looked up cat 'flu on the web. It says one of the symptoms is that your cat may seem lethargic . . good grief it's a cat; how could you tell?

Get a water pistol and give the moggy a few squirts. You will soon see how lethargic it is

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 22, 2010, 07:11:42 PM
Having read all the pro's and cons re browsers, this caught my eye just now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8580716.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 23, 2010, 02:41:02 AM
People on tech sites who decide that they must post a 'helpful' response to your query and it is clearly obvious from their post that they didn't read yours at all. I've quit more tech forums because the alleged 'experts' turn out to know little or no more than I do.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on March 25, 2010, 12:07:33 PM
Below is an extract from a statement made by the accused in a murder case yesterday. Has the world gone mad, or is it just me?


'It's just hit him square on the head. It hit his left cheek first and he's gone down. I saw his eyes were open, I thought he was looking at me so I got scared.
'I stamped on his head a couple of times. Then I realised what I was doing. It's not normally I do that.'  

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1260371/I-bullied-face-Angel-Delight-says-man-murdered-doctor-mugging-near-Buckingham-Palace.html#ixzz0jBmsqUsR
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 25, 2010, 02:16:18 PM
No, not you. The madmen have always been out there, we just get more news now from all over.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 25, 2010, 03:27:21 PM
A chap on a bike who said, "I've just seen a Skylark", and then waived his arm about indicating the direction he had come.

1] You've seen a Skylark but why tell me?

2] By waiving your arm about how is that susposed to tell me from what direction?

Needless to say I didn't see it.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 25, 2010, 05:30:42 PM
I understand your disappointment, I loved those old Buicks  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 27, 2010, 08:35:03 AM
Not so much bemused, more intrigued.
I hadn't realised the R.A. Summer Exhibition considered photographic work for display.
see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8590006.stm

Third picture in. Mind you there always has to be a slight twist in the tail,'Water from the quarry'! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on March 27, 2010, 11:51:23 AM
Just looked at the forecast for next week - wednesday - light snow!  :o :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on March 27, 2010, 01:14:23 PM
Apologies in advance for a longer than usual post.

My downstairs neighbours just told me that some water was coming into their flat from mine, into an area below my bathroom. B****r, I thought, and went down to take a look. Water wasn't pouring in, but clearly had trickled down from time to time so that their was a black line on their ceiling and water stains (they're foreign and just seem to have put up with it for a while before speaking to me). Bad enough in terms of hassle, but then the lady told me that there were other damp patches in the flat and showed me round. I'm reeling a bit now from what I saw. Some rooms had big patches with black mould all over them. You could smell the damp in the air as soon as you went into the parent's bedroom (the children sleep in the only damp-free room). The damp seemed to be coming from below as well as from the ceiling.

Now I'm seriously worried. I'm shocked that this family are living in these conditions  >:(. I'm worried that the damp could come up to my flat over time and damage it, or destroy the fabric of the building. My few meetings with the owner of this flat haven't been very positive. You can get an idea of the sort of person she is by the fact that she rents a flat out in that state. I fear trouble ahead on a number of fronts.

I've got a plumber coming tomorrow morning to assess the problem. Waiting to hear from the owner of the bottom flat. Think I'll go out for a long walk to take my mind off things... :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on March 27, 2010, 02:25:55 PM
The condition of your house sounds awful, is the property very old? If you get no satisfaction from your landlord/landlady, I suggest that you contact your local Environmental health department. They should be able to assist you.

I hope that the problem is rectified speedily.

John.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 27, 2010, 03:54:33 PM
Sounds like something you could do without. I wish you all the best with getting the damp problems sorted.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 27, 2010, 04:05:57 PM
Oh dear Eileen - hope all gets sorted out Ok.Couple of times I have had plumbers in they have found it difficult to pin the problem down. Had all my huge MDF style flooring boards carved up last time looking for a leak and it ended up it was the tiling in the en suite shower cubicle - builders had not put big enough spaces and grouting in and it had built up underneath and leaked through ceiling below 10 feet away from the cause!!!!
Good luck!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 27, 2010, 06:31:08 PM
A past girl friend had a emersion installed with a big boiler for the hot water. The pipe which they connected incase of overflow, ended in the middle of the bathroom above the kitching. When it went faulty, water soaked the ceiling and we had just redecorated it.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on March 28, 2010, 12:40:34 PM
Thanks all for your kind comments. The plumber traced the leak quite quickly - worm sealing in a corning of the bath, through which water was leaking when the shower was used. I'm going to get someone in to re-seal the whole area.

I'm also going to get a damp-proofing company to assess my flat. The plumber thought that I should not be adversely affected by the damp below but I want to be sure.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 28, 2010, 01:26:13 PM
Eileen,

sorry to hear of your woes, especially if you're dealing with a rogue land lord/ lady down stairs.
Sadly, all so typical of the modern age. The more regulations there seem to be to control land lords, the less they seem to do...

Hope it all gets sorted out without too much grief  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 29, 2010, 09:54:29 AM
Whilst out yesterday in Sandwell Valley, spotted what I thought was a small bird like a Wren, flying over the Ice House pool catching flies. Tried to get a picture but it was too fast and all over the place in directions. When I got home checked my shots which were rubbish, as I couldn't get focus on it, but at least one confirmed it was a Bat. The funny part was, whilst talking about it with some chaps there, I did say it's flight was like a Bats.  ;)

Don't know if anyone else has noticed, but there seems to be a explosion of flies in the last three days. On Saturday when I went by the river, on the way to the RSPB reserve, there were millions of them.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Al Birmingham on March 29, 2010, 01:00:47 PM
Took my car to a Ford dealer in Swindon today, it needed a new pulley tensioner. They promised to have the work done by lunchtime.
An hour later they rang me, "We've diagnosed the fault, it's a pulley tensioner"
"I told you that when I dropped it off".
"It will cost £450"
"It's under warranty"
"We'll call you back".
A while later they did call... "Warranty company will only pay for the broken part, so you still have to pay £330"
"What for?"
"The other part we want to change"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing, we have a policy of always changing both tensioners just in case"
"So you want to change a part that has nothing wrong with it?"
"Yes"
"You may not do any work on my car, I'll come and collect it and take it somewhere less likely to steal from me"

Rang another Ford dealer, they were astonished and assured me they only change broken bits. Car is booked in with them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 29, 2010, 04:53:55 PM
     Come on Al, you've got to admire their cheek!
           And I'm prepared to bet that they were going to replace it with another "Non-broken" part they swapped on another car.
                            Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on March 29, 2010, 06:09:55 PM
Hmm - well having worked in the motor trade for longer than I care to think about, I can see both sides. Often there are jobs which are labour intensive and if you're spending a load in labour costs to have a job done it's often worth replacing a worn but still working part while you're in there. For example, when replacing cam belt/tensioners we ask if the customer wants the water pump [exchange unit so quite cheap] changing at the same time - we've had a couple of cases in the past where the water pump went a few months after cam belt replacement and there was another 3 or 4 hours labour to pay for. We advise - the customer decides - then whatever happens in the future they can't say we did'nt give them the facts! Bottom line is, the customer is the one who pays and the customer is the one who makes the decision - we're  not all rip off merchants ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 29, 2010, 07:37:11 PM
Quote from: Al Birmingham on March 29, 2010, 01:00:47 PM
"So you want to change a part that has nothing wrong with it?"
"Yes"
"You may not do any work on my car, I'll come and collect it and take it somewhere less likely to steal from me"
Rang another Ford dealer, they were astonished and assured me they only change broken bits. Car is booked in with them.

You should also drop a line to Ford and the local Trading Standards. That is a breach of the dealership mandate as well as a trading regulation. Can't remember which one but they definitely need pulling up or having their dealership taken away. It is that sort of thing that is giving the motor industry a bad name.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 29, 2010, 07:42:35 PM
After a days shopping in Eastbourne, my wife and i headed back to the car and past a Jessops.
She merrily leads me in and points to a 7D and says "is that what you'd like for a second body?"
Thinking my luck was in i politely said yes and waited for permission to purchase.
"Do you think they'll have them in stock for Christmas?" she said as she turned round and walked out leaving me trailing in the dust...  :-\
Why?  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Al Birmingham on March 30, 2010, 12:47:59 PM
Quote from: greypoint on March 29, 2010, 06:09:55 PM
Hmm - well having worked in the motor trade for longer than I care to think about, I can see both sides. Often there are jobs which are labour intensive and if you're spending a load in labour costs to have a job done it's often worth replacing a worn but still working part while you're in there. For example, when replacing cam belt/tensioners we ask if the customer wants the water pump [exchange unit so quite cheap] changing at the same time - we've had a couple of cases in the past where the water pump went a few months after cam belt replacement and there was another 3 or 4 hours labour to pay for. We advise - the customer decides - then whatever happens in the future they can't say we did'nt give them the facts! Bottom line is, the customer is the one who pays and the customer is the one who makes the decision - we're  not all rip off merchants ::)

If the car wasn't under warranty and only 3 years old such an offer would make perfect sense, as would replacing both tensioners. However, if the other tensioner fails a couple of months later (or, indeed, the water pump) then they too will be covered by the warranty so expecting me to pay for them to be replaced early is unacceptable.
I know that not all dealerships are rip off merchants, I usually head for the smaller outfits who will thrive or die by the reputations. This was a big dealership and I won't be making that mistake again.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on March 30, 2010, 04:08:27 PM
Well this morning I completed my last shift after 33.5 years of employment due to site closure
Left school on on the Friday and started work the following Monday.

So, what is bemusing me ??
I am on 3 months job search and 12 weeks notice with full pay, which takes me to October
therefore I am not unemployed as such, yet I have no job.

Strange feeling.

RR
Alf

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on March 30, 2010, 07:19:45 PM
doesthat mean you'll have all summertime to look for a nice photo job  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on April 02, 2010, 07:50:50 AM
Well it was yesterday actually.

Nikon sent me a lovely diary.  Obviously the first quarter is for notes about things I've already done.

Cue jokes about how Canon would have got it to me sooner but slightly blurred and Sony would have printed a diary with 600 days in it but which was incompatible with all pens apart from Sony ones.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 02, 2010, 08:52:49 AM
   Well at least Nikon send me my calenders on time! ;D
                 Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 06, 2010, 12:32:04 PM
Just got back from North Carolina suffering the worst allergy attack I can ever remember having. Got caught off guard because allergy season doesn't start here in Canada for at least another two months. Never seen it's like, after 4 days at my friends house in Charlotte our car was covered in a coating of yellow dust. It was so bad I stopped trying to take photographs my eyes were so blurry and watery I couldn't focus on the eye piece. I'd taken about 20 shots in a local park and every one turned out blurred. When we got home yesterday I went on a U.S. weather site I use whenever I go visit south and discovered Charlotte is the 3rd worst city in the States for allergies.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 06, 2010, 06:07:20 PM
Quote from: spinner on April 06, 2010, 12:32:04 PM
Just got back from North Carolina suffering the worst allergy attack I can ever remember having. Got caught off guard because allergy season doesn't start here in Canada for at least another two months. Never seen it's like, after 4 days at my friends house in Charlotte our car was covered in a coating of yellow dust. It was so bad I stopped trying to take photographs my eyes were so blurry and watery I couldn't focus on the eye piece. I'd taken about 20 shots in a local park and every one turned out blurred. When we got home yesterday I went on a U.S. weather site I use whenever I go visit south and discovered Charlotte is the 3rd worst city in the States for allergies.  :'(

           And more, much more than this. You did it your way!
                    Ol' red eyes!

Get well soon. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Al Birmingham on April 12, 2010, 02:56:33 PM
Quote from: Al Birmingham on March 30, 2010, 12:47:59 PM
Quote from: greypoint on March 29, 2010, 06:09:55 PM
Hmm - well having worked in the motor trade for longer than I care to think about, I can see both sides. Often there are jobs which are labour intensive and if you're spending a load in labour costs to have a job done it's often worth replacing a worn but still working part while you're in there. For example, when replacing cam belt/tensioners we ask if the customer wants the water pump [exchange unit so quite cheap] changing at the same time - we've had a couple of cases in the past where the water pump went a few months after cam belt replacement and there was another 3 or 4 hours labour to pay for. We advise - the customer decides - then whatever happens in the future they can't say we did'nt give them the facts! Bottom line is, the customer is the one who pays and the customer is the one who makes the decision - we're  not all rip off merchants ::)

If the car wasn't under warranty and only 3 years old such an offer would make perfect sense, as would replacing both tensioners. However, if the other tensioner fails a couple of months later (or, indeed, the water pump) then they too will be covered by the warranty so expecting me to pay for them to be replaced early is unacceptable.
I know that not all dealerships are rip off merchants, I usually head for the smaller outfits who will thrive or die by the reputations. This was a big dealership and I won't be making that mistake again.

Funny old thing, I dropped the car into a local Ford dealer this week, a small outfit. Both tensioners are being replaced under the warranty now! As I said before, small dealerships are the way forward.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 13, 2010, 12:04:17 PM
Spent about 2 1/2  hrs. at a friends house last night trying to get her internet up and running on a brand new PC she'd purchased. I'd previously instructed her just to plug all the wires she had, into the new PC like they'd been on the old one. The old one was still there and plugged in so I thought it's simple just swap from one to other. When I tried to log on the web it wouldn't connect and it was suspected the passwords had been changed and not remembered. She called her provider and got a help centre in some spanish country, I think Mexico. The tech guy spent a good hour trying to take us back through the procedures I'd already done a few times before we called. I told them all we need was a password reset but he kept insisting on going through the install a dozen times.
After an hour the tech in Mexico decided her modem was broken since he could see it from his end but we couldn't connect. After he arranged to have a new one shipped to my friend and hung up I looked at the modem for the umpteenth time and when checked to see if the cables were seated properly I came to the realization that some how my friend had plugged a phone cable into the ethernet jack and when I replaced it with the ethernet cable, of course, it worked. I come home and explain to my wife why, what I thought was a ten minute job, took 2 hrs. She responds with, Isn't checking the cables Tech 101? :-[ :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 13, 2010, 12:35:34 PM
Amusing story - especially as i've done similar several times. Though my son-in-law gets the award for the last time when i was allowed to look smug.
Daughter rang up to say he had played with the computer and now it wouldn't work.
2 hours drive and battling the M25 in rush hour, i walks in with rucksack full of Discs, hard drive and tools - takes one look inside the case and plugs the hard drive power cable back in. Voila  :dance:
I made a quick exit stage left to the other daughters to avoid being caught up in the domestic that followed   :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 15, 2010, 02:12:30 AM
More on the saga of my friend and her computer. She asks me to take the old one home and try and recover their photos and I agree. I pull the harddrive and  plug it into a linux box I play around with. I recover the photos and burn to a disc. I then nuke the hard drive to wipe her personal data.
Now back in March I'd spent  the better part of a week of evenings trying to rid this machine of viruses etc. I thought I'd succeded but a month later the daughter tells her the machine is done. She dutifully goes out and buys the new machine to the tune of several hundred dollars. My curiosity gets the better of me and after I nuke the hard drive I test it. Passes with flying colours. I then put a repair disk into the DVD and boot up the old machine. I run a series of mobo tests and that passes. Long story short, I've installed Ubuntu on her machine. As I write I'm transfering 54gigs of music from my main PC to an external hard drive hooked up to her machine, while streaming music and surfing the web and everything's is running just fine. I think daughter downloaded a bunch of virus again and conned mommy into a new machine.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 15, 2010, 12:02:47 PM
All UK airports are closed due to the ash clouds from Iceland. We are all Doomed! Doomed!  :'(

New research suggests we get colder winters due to the sun been quite at present!!!!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 15, 2010, 02:27:55 PM
On the plus side they are also predicting some spectacular sunsets in the next few days
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on April 15, 2010, 03:03:53 PM

Sweden is closing its airspace tonight, and Schiphol (NL) will be shutting down as of 19:00.

Glad I'm not flying anywhere in the next few days (except for a trip to Guildford on Sunday night).

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on April 15, 2010, 03:48:38 PM
I am off to Paris for a long weekend tomorrow with Eurostar. I bet my tickets are worth a few pennies more to some people.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 15, 2010, 08:56:03 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on April 15, 2010, 02:27:55 PM
On the plus side they are also predicting some spectacular sunsets in the next few days

Yes, and I stayed out until gone six tonight, but the grey clouds didn't clear, like they promised at 13:30 today!  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 16, 2010, 09:15:09 AM
Quote from: Simple on April 15, 2010, 03:48:38 PM
I am off to Paris for a long weekend tomorrow with Eurostar. I bet my tickets are worth a few pennies more to some people.

No because it'll be the wrong kind of Volcanic Ash  :tup:

But i hope you get there all the same
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 17, 2010, 02:24:47 PM
Local weather forecast. It's been forecast to be colder today than it's been during the work week. Wifey asks me to check the forecast for today. I pull up the weather site and it tells me it's cold and rainy outside. From where I'm sitting I can see out to my back garden and I see sun beaming down and blues skies, but apparently it's actually raining.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 20, 2010, 04:42:02 PM
Ok - irony time.

Enjoying a walk up at Devils Dyke again today when i noticed that the hang gliders were out.
And guess who was piloting them?
The Brazilian Hang Gliding Club - yes really.You couldn't make it up.

Not a plane any where in the sky to get them home - but gliders a plenty if only the thermals would hold up.
One fellow walker by noted some of them even had sleeping bags slung under the glider - clearly expecting along trip  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 21, 2010, 07:32:29 PM
More Irony.

I've spent the day at Kew Gardens as i do occasionally, enjoying the sunshine, the roar of landing planes ( :tup:), a chance to photograph a variety of flora and fauna, try my luck in the sky walk - usual stuff.

And guess what i got the most photographs of?

Marine Life in the fish tanks  ;D :2funny:

Yep, due to the cold and long winter as predicted by the Groundhog, the flowers etc are all still merrily enjoying the protection of the ground!
Looks like i'll have to go again in a few weeks...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sandy on April 21, 2010, 08:57:30 PM
I think even the blubells are late this year.

Sandy
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 21, 2010, 09:15:09 PM
I thought I'd seen a UFO today!  :o

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4541020199_5a2e33ae6c.jpg?v=0) (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4541020199_5a2e33ae6c_b.jpg)

Click for bigger size.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 21, 2010, 09:23:55 PM
Yeah, i saw the same UFO at Kew  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on April 21, 2010, 09:45:20 PM
To quote an expert on the subject: I've got no idea what it is, but it's not a UFO !
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: happypaddler on April 21, 2010, 10:27:28 PM
I was at home on Monday to find 2 lads attempting to break in and burgle my house. The fled after breaking the window, which set off an alarm, as well as seeing me shouting at them from my office window on the next floor up. Anyway, what bemused (if that is actually the right word) me today is the poor investigating police officer from the burglary squad. As a DC she seemed not to be aware of various alarm sensors, such as the motion sensors we have on our doors - which went off as soon as the window was smashed (the police force in my area is renowned for being disjointed in its workflows). It was all the more annoying for her (not knowing advisory officers are handing these sort of things out (as well as smart water)) was the fact that her own house was burgled and her husbands car stolen in the process. Hopefully things will get sorted quickly for them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 22, 2010, 02:20:52 AM
I know I've mentioned in the past that I run Ubuntu linux on a system, trying to wean off of MS. I installed the lastest version on an old system a friend was tossing out. Having issues with it, so been visiting the Ubuntu Forums regularly. What's bemused me is the activity on that forum. Messages are being posted in the General help section at a rate of one every few minutes. The question I posted 4 hrs. ago is now 4 pages back. I'm surprised any of them get answered.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 24, 2010, 08:22:44 AM
The Photo Call!

Having watched some of the election coverage on TV I'm wondering why at these so called press conferences so many photographers turn up to take pictures of the event, when to me they all follow the same procedure and the line up of protagonists are all the same as the last one. How many pictures of the three wise monkeys do you need.

I suppose there is always the possibility of some major gaffe occurring or hopefully one of them losing it completely but what a bore for the photographers involved. The down side of the perceived 'glamorous' side of being a 'pro I suppose.

I wonder what percentage of the pictures taken actually get used in any shape or form?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 24, 2010, 11:23:10 AM
Quote from: ABERS on April 24, 2010, 08:22:44 AM
The Photo Call!


I suppose there is always the possibility of some major gaffe occurring or hopefully one of them losing it completely but what a bore for the photographers involved.



Alan, I think you've hi the nail squarely on the head, I think they go there and take a million rapid fire shots in the hope that one of them will catch a flicker of an expression that makes the candidate look, demonic, loonie or like a drooling idiot so they can throw it up later when or if the candidate makes a comment that matches. I've often seen these poses and wondered, now how was the photog able to catch that fine expression, when I read your comment the light came on!! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 25, 2010, 09:45:56 AM
Watch your camera gear as you never know when a thief will strike!  :'(

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on April 25, 2010, 11:20:05 PM
My son's team played the Middlesex cup final today and unfortunately lost.....by 1 point. This is their 4th cup final in as many years and we thought this was going to be the one. I left him and his mates at the club house drinking copious amounts of alcohol.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on April 26, 2010, 07:40:38 AM
Put my Defender on Ebay last night - and within minutes had about 3 questions, including offers of cash for a sale - with the best will in the world, when its only just got on, who is going to take up that offer - unless its silly money - and it wasn't - well not in a good way anyway!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on April 26, 2010, 09:50:01 AM
I don't often do this but this was such a clear example that I have a short rant on wedding photographers for you...

It's widely accepted that the last thing any bride wants to see on her wedding day is another bride.  They may be wearing the same dress!  Even if they aren't then there's a natural temptation to compare and  the bride absolutely has to look the best on her wedding day.  On the rare occasions I've worked at a venue where there was more than one wedding I've been careful to make sure that our paths don't cross.  It's a little rude and pretty heartless to even think of letting them see each other.

It ain't hard - quick chat with the venue about locations and times and you're fine.

So on Friday, I was shooting bridal fashion on location at a hotel.  We knew there was a wedding going on and were given clear instructions on where to be and when.  No worries.  We even took the short straw by choosing to shoot in full sun in the early afternoon (hey a 'blad an lighting crew can cope with that)  ;)

I was somewhat surprised then to see the photographer from the wedding lead b&g down the avenue towards us with some kind of Canon with on camera flash and no clear plan for dealing with the horrific sun.

I'm not going to comment on "his" bride.  But we had
1. amazing model from a top London agency
2. styling team including fashion editor of a top end magazine, award winning make up artists and 2 hairdressers who style for celebs
3. An unreleased dress from a designer's 2011 collection that's going to blow people away when they see it
4. BTS video crew
5. Lighting team and bald guy with sunburn with a h-u-g-e camera

Seriously, why would you bring your clients into that scene?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 26, 2010, 11:15:53 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on April 26, 2010, 09:50:01 AM

Seriously, why would you bring your clients into that scene?

Perhaps he wasn't a 'pro, I suppose even the most modest of wedding photographers have to start somewhere. Let's hope the poor bloke wasn't overawed by it all. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 27, 2010, 07:27:39 AM
Maybe the photographer was all they could afford after spending out on the rest of the wedding?
Could've been 'a friend' doing a favour or getting experience.

Either way, the 'wedding tog' certainly let down their B&G by not knowing there was some sunburned bald guy with a huge camera lurking around the hotel - with a few accessories of course.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on April 28, 2010, 09:08:12 AM
Receiving this text message yesterday :-

"Our records indicate you may be entitled to 3750 pounds for the accident you had. To claim for free reply with YES to this msg"

What accident's this then ?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 28, 2010, 09:28:33 AM
It might the one your about to have
if
it was sent using the  "predictive" text function.  :2funny:

I'll get me coat.  :legit:

Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on April 28, 2010, 09:43:58 AM
Thanks Alf, I think i'll stay in bed for a few weeks then, how many accidents can you have in bed. Please don't answer that.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on April 28, 2010, 10:25:46 AM
Quote from: deetus on April 28, 2010, 09:43:58 AM
Thanks Alf, I think i'll stay in bed for a few weeks then, how many accidents can you have in bed. Please don't answer that.  :)

A friend of mine dislocated his knee in bed. Worst of all, he was alone at the time, and asleep.

(His leg fell between the bed and the wall, then he rolled over and woke up very quickly).

H.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 28, 2010, 07:14:08 PM
The following set of pictures detail the events of my afternoon at work - and explains to suffering Sussex Commuters why their trains were all delayed or canceled!

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Picsfor_20100428_CP-1002.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Picsfor_20100428_CP-1002.jpg)

Yes - that really is a man performing a 'hand stand on a signal gantry'

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Picsfor_20100428_CP-1005.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Picsfor_20100428_CP-1005.jpg)

As he tried to re-position himself for greater effect, a policeman spotted a chance and managed to grab him. This shows just how difficult it was to subdue a determined man in such a confined space. I will be honest, and admit that those of us watching wondered how many people the gantry was designed to support  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Picsfor_20100428_CP-1023.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Picsfor_20100428_CP-1023.jpg)

Having been subdued, then came the question of getting him down. Thankfully, Horsham Fire Brigade had just finished polishing up their nice platform and demonstrated how versatile it was. Not sure they've ever trained for quite this scenario - but it provided an entertaining end to what was an interesting incident.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 28, 2010, 07:20:27 PM
Well done on the action shots picsfor.  :tup:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sandy on April 29, 2010, 08:55:08 PM
Story telling photos, at my club we have a competition called people at work and I have never got a decent photo to enter.

Sandy
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 29, 2010, 09:05:43 PM
Quote from: Sandy on April 29, 2010, 08:55:08 PM
Story telling photos, at my club we have a competition called people at work and I have never got a decent photo to enter.

Sandy

It's hard to get a decent photo when nobody is working!  :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 29, 2010, 11:55:42 PM
Sitting at the TV noticing there's two political shows on, one Canadian and one American and watching the American one even though the politics have no impact on me, because the Canadian one is so banal and boring.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on April 30, 2010, 07:48:04 AM
Well, I half watched the BBC's version of the debate last night - and then listened to the comments afterwards and wondered if the I'd watched the same program as everyone else!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 30, 2010, 08:11:41 AM
All i've seen for this election was Gordon Browns bigot gaff on the news and a bit of last nights Question Time.

I want to vote for "None of the Above"  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 30, 2010, 08:20:36 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 28, 2010, 07:20:27 PM
Well done on the action shots picsfor.  :tup:



Thanks Oldboy.
I was rather lucky the company's media office have given me the ok to use the camera at work because the Police were busy chasing down any one with a camera or phone in the vicinity - concerned that if the man thought he was being filmed he might be spurred on to greater things. As it was i had to shoot from inside a waiting room to appease them.

My only regret was - was did i take the camera out with a 17-40 bolted onto the front instead of the 24-105 that i normally use?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 30, 2010, 08:25:27 AM
Noticing that the government with infinite wisdom and a small degree of largess has increased my state pension this month by £7.20 whilst at the same time increased the income tax on my occupational pension by £7.60 ???

Anyone got the email address of Mr Abramovich's accountant? ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 30, 2010, 08:35:39 AM
Quote from: anglefire on April 30, 2010, 07:48:04 AM
Well, I half watched the BBC's version of the debate last night - and then listened to the comments afterwards and wondered if the I'd watched the same program as everyone else!

Got to agree with you Mark. I thought Cameron came across as a complete clueless tw@t, failing to answer any questions at all. Yet the polls all have him as winning the whole thing.
Maybe its me who is clueless
RR
Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on April 30, 2010, 09:39:46 AM
What is that phrase?
"Style over Substance?"  ???

I suspect Gordon will never recover from the Bigot gate affair - but i still do not expect to see a clear majority...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on April 30, 2010, 10:14:00 AM
Quote from: picsfor on April 30, 2010, 09:39:46 AM
I suspect Gordon will never recover from the Bigot gate affair

C'mon, seriously, are we all pretending it's a shock that politicians say one thing in public and another in private?  I mean seriously?

I'd love to see a breakdown of the "debate" where they scored points for ANSWERING THE QUESTION and lost points for repeating something they had already said more than say twice.  All would be on massively minus points.

My review:  Clegg presented the best though it turns out his repeated figures were nonsense (shame Cameron had no clue).  Brown and Cameron tried to beat each other up with varying amounts of success and seemed to forget (maybe on purpose) that there was a 3rd person there.  After 90 mins of rhetoric I have no clear idea what any of the people or parties think on any of the major issues.  Which may well have been their plan.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 30, 2010, 01:52:35 PM
Quote from: ABERS on April 30, 2010, 08:25:27 AM
Noticing that the government with infinite wisdom and a small degree of largess has increased my state pension this month by £7.20 whilst at the same time increased the income tax on my occupational pension by £7.60 ???

Anyone got the email address of Mr Abramovich's accountant? ::)

Gov't = Legitimized thievery.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 05, 2010, 08:20:18 PM
I picked up a book on designing Decks, looking for a little inspiration. Some gorgeous stuff that I can't afford. I'm leafing through these glossy photos when I come across this one wide angle shot of a truly spaceous deck, there in the middle of the shot is a cat. A cat you say, so what? People who own decks own cats. Only thing, the cat's a complete blur, obviously streaking through the shot as it's taken. This is big name publisher of such books, I'm bemused some proofreader missed it.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on May 06, 2010, 07:19:13 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on April 30, 2010, 10:14:00 AM
Quote from: picsfor on April 30, 2010, 09:39:46 AM
I suspect Gordon will never recover from the Bigot gate affair
C'mon, seriously, are we all pretending it's a shock that politicians say one thing in public and another in private?  I mean seriously?

It's not the doing it - it's the getting caught. You'll notice the other leaders didn't take up the baton over this incident too much - something along the lines of throwing stones in green houses...

We all suspected the MP's were screwing the taxpayer and mostly in it for their own benefits - but having rubbed in our faces and to what extent we were being abused just smacked in the face.

I'm voting with Brewster (as portrayed by Richard Prior) - "vote none of the above"  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 27, 2010, 11:14:16 AM
Not today, but over the weekend, which was a Holiday here. Spent the weekend at In-laws cottage, in north central Ontario. On the monday, grabbed camera and hopped into the Jeep and went sightseeing. Drove around for about 3 hrs. in an area known as the Haliburton Highlands. I was looking for wildlife, as I'd seen moose and black bear in that area a couple of years previous. Saw nothing. Get back to the cottage and there's deer standing around the end of the drive. All the wildlife I did see over the weekend was withing a mile of the cottage. And all the roads that I thought would be quite backwater places were busy enough that I couldn't really slow down to enjoy the views (there's very few places to stop).  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 04, 2010, 10:29:34 AM
Dunno whether this makes me feel good or bad so I guess I'm bemused....

A week or so ago I went to shoot a catwalk show for a magazine.  There's really nothing to catwalk - either use a monopod or ignore the screaming pain in your shoulder (I didn't use a pod....) while holding the same position for 20 - 30 minutes, try not to hit anybody with your lens, track the models and shoot.  Simples.

Anyway, my pics will be on the editor's desk this morning.  At the same time that they will receive an email from the PR agency supplying full res pictures for print use from the "official" photoghaer who was stood 2 feet from me with the same camera.

The magazine were apparently unaware that they would receive free pics when they hired me.

Mind you, everyone who has seen both tells me mine are way better.  But they probably tell the other guy that too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 04, 2010, 11:19:54 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 04, 2010, 10:29:34 AM
Anyway, my pics will be on the editor's desk this morning.  At the same time that they will receive an email from the PR agency supplying full res pictures for print use from the "official" photoghaer who was stood 2 feet from me with the same camera.

The magazine were apparently unaware that they would receive free pics when they hired me.
I tend to think in terms of glass half full so my take is like this Jonathan...

which means:
1. They didn't do their home work which is not your fault
2. They get to see your pictures compared to the 'official togs' pictures and if yours follow your usual quality and style you will be getting some work in the near future...  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 04, 2010, 12:48:14 PM
But with most mags it will go "hmm, free or good......" :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 09, 2010, 09:42:05 AM
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Digital_Photo001.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/Digital_Photo001.jpg)

This came with the post. Thought i'd achieved a bit of success until i opened it  :doh:

Nice prezzie - makes me smile and looks great in the mess room in front of the other aspiring photographers  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 09, 2010, 02:50:57 PM
Shame it's got his photo inside otherwise you could have fooled them.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 10, 2010, 07:43:20 AM
Just noticed this on 'that other site'!

http://www.photoradar.com/get-our-free-photo-of-the-day-widget-for-your-website

I'm a little hazy, about most things I must admit, but offering contributors images for inclusion on your website seems like a bit of a cheek. If you post on PRadar is this part of the T&C's?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 10, 2010, 07:54:58 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 10, 2010, 07:43:20 AM
If you post on PRadar is this part of the T&C's?

Yep.

QuoteWith respect to Content you upload, post or otherwise transmit to the Website that consists of images and photographs, you grant Future and its group companies a non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual, world-wide licence to use, modify, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such Content: (i) on and through the Website and Website Service, including associated newsletters; and (ii) to promote the Website.

A lawyer would choke on their cornflakes at that use of "and".  Most people would read that as "on the website to promote the website".  It actually says "on the website and anywhere else we feel like if we think it will make us look good".  Haven't looked at their widget but I'm guessing it's an RSS feed with hyperlink back to their site.  So yes, they are displaying your image to promote their website and that's absolutely allowed in the T&Cs.  Whether it should be or not is a different matter....

But it comes back to the argument "oh, we'd never do that" - then why have you assigned yourself the right to do that?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 10, 2010, 04:45:00 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 10, 2010, 07:54:58 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 10, 2010, 07:43:20 AM
If you post on PRadar is this part of the T&C's?

Yep.

QuoteWith respect to Content you upload, post or otherwise transmit to the Website that consists of images and photographs, you grant Future and its group companies a non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual, world-wide licence to use, modify, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such Content: (i) on and through the Website and Website Service, including associated newsletters; and (ii) to promote the Website.

A lawyer would choke on their cornflakes at that use of "and".  Most people would read that as "on the website to promote the website".  It actually says "on the website and anywhere else we feel like if we think it will make us look good".  Haven't looked at their widget but I'm guessing it's an RSS feed with hyperlink back to their site.  So yes, they are displaying your image to promote their website and that's absolutely allowed in the T&Cs.  Whether it should be or not is a different matter....

But it comes back to the argument "oh, we'd never do that" - then why have you assigned yourself the right to do that?


       Listen guys. You know me, I'm a simple bloke with simple needs.....Why would a photographer want to display someone elses pictures on their site?
                                                 Graham.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on June 11, 2010, 07:50:08 AM
There are a few shots on my website that weren't taken by me - but they were OF me when I was doing some off-roading.

But I wouldn't put anyone elses up (Family excepted)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on June 14, 2010, 06:30:42 PM
Just found this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/find/newsLetter/Mother-of-All-L-Lenses.jsp and reminded the kids its nearly fathers day!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 14, 2010, 06:54:53 PM
Quote from: bones615 on June 14, 2010, 06:30:42 PM
Just found this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/find/newsLetter/Mother-of-All-L-Lenses.jsp and reminded the kids its nearly fathers day!!!

See this for longest lens  :o http://blog.warehouseexpress.com/top-10-outrageous-lenses/

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on June 14, 2010, 07:07:39 PM
Put me down for the sigma 200-500 f2.8 when i win the lottery.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 18, 2010, 02:03:53 PM
Going to the supermarket and walking with a limp and my right foot and leg feeling somewhat heavy. Got a bit worried until I got back to the car and found I'd got odd shoes on. :o

A lightweight shoe on the left and a heavyweight thicksoled walking shoe on the right. Just like a pair in the cupboard at home :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on June 18, 2010, 07:39:12 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 18, 2010, 02:03:53 PM
Going to the supermarket and walking with a limp and my right foot and leg feeling somewhat heavy. Got a bit worried until I got back to the car and found I'd got odd shoes on. :o

A lightweight shoe on the left and a heavyweight thicksoled walking shoe on the right. Just like a pair in the cupboard at home :-[

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on June 18, 2010, 07:44:26 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 18, 2010, 02:03:53 PM

A lightweight shoe on the left and a heavyweight thicksoled walking shoe on the right. Just like a pair in the cupboard at home :-[

I often have socks like that, but not yet gone to that extreme.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 19, 2010, 08:35:04 AM
And just as i was telling some one that you was a man  ???who was well clued up on things...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 24, 2010, 07:50:45 AM
Now the dust has settled and the ramifications of the budget have sunk in somewhat, I'm reminded of a section of Mel Brook's film 'A History of The World Part 1'. In it the senators in ancient Rome are discussing the poor and ways of alleviating their plight. The discussion goes on for several days with all sorts of possible solutions being put forward, but in the end their considered opinion is announced by the senior senator,

"F***k the poor"!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2010, 09:03:01 AM
After three years of rotten spring/summers we are getting some nice warm weather. And we know it must be good because North West Utilities has just applied for a hosepipe ban, and is seeking permission to use waters from the lake district.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 24, 2010, 11:57:38 AM
That'll be because of the exceptionally dry winter you've just had, which is, of course, a result of global warming, and nothing to do with the lousy, badly managed infrastructure at all.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2010, 06:10:08 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on June 24, 2010, 11:57:38 AM
That'll be because of the exceptionally dry winter you've just had, which is, of course, a result of global warming, and nothing to do with the lousy, badly managed infrastructure at all.

Up until the end of February the ground was very muddy and resulted in hundreds of Molehills appearing, as they cleaned out their flooded tunnels.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 24, 2010, 06:31:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 24, 2010, 09:03:01 AM
After three years of rotten spring/summers we are getting some nice warm weather. And we know it must be good because North West Utilities has just applied for a hosepipe ban, and is seeking permission to use waters from the lake district.  :o

Always makes me smile this one - a water shortage in the north west, like where the Lake District is  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 24, 2010, 06:44:07 PM
Quote from: picsfor on June 24, 2010, 06:31:26 PM
Always makes me smile this one - a water shortage in the north west, like where the Lake District is  :2funny:

If I remember Geography O-level correctly most of the drinking water in the Lake District gets piped to Manchester....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on June 24, 2010, 07:41:14 PM
Correct, Thirlmere was built for that purpose.
When I was there early this week all the streams and rivers were very low so no point in any waterfall shots.... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 26, 2010, 04:54:44 PM
Trying to get the back garden ready for a birthday party tomorrow (granma's 80th). The forecast was cloudy until around 5 pm with a chance of isolated 'showers'. It's coming on noon here and been pouring rain since 10 am.   :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 27, 2010, 12:01:30 AM
And it continued to pour rain until about 4 pm. $^&^((*%$$$ forcasters.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 27, 2010, 08:12:23 AM
I know us oldies get a little muddled now and again ???

Taken from a report by Saga on the retirement age being compulsory.

Most commonly, people said they wanted to work past retirement age to earn money - 61% - followed by 59% who wanted to keep their mind active, while 50% said it was for enjoyment.

Isn't that 150% ;) I KNOW I know, it's 50% of those asked. That last 50% must already be in their dotage  ::). Retirement is to be highly recommended. I've suffered it for 11 years and I'm still not fed up with it. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 27, 2010, 11:02:53 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 27, 2010, 08:12:23 AM

Isn't that 150% ;)

Try again . . .  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 07, 2010, 11:50:40 PM
Local weather forecast says it's 86 F outside, but I've just come in off my back deck where my wall mounted thermometer has the temp. closer to 100 F. I knew it was a heat trap but wow. :P :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 08, 2010, 01:17:41 AM
Quote from: spinner on July 07, 2010, 11:50:40 PM
Local weather forecast says it's 86 F outside, but I've just come in off my back deck where my wall mounted thermometer has the temp. closer to 100 F. I knew it was a heat trap but wow. :P :P

Nothing new. Our local forecast has told us it's cloudy this morning, but if she turned round and looked out of the window, which is in the background, it was a clear blue sky like that by us.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 08, 2010, 09:25:01 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10531419.stm

Blimey I'm off to Norfolk for a few days on Monday. The last sentence worries me ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on July 08, 2010, 11:30:38 AM
No need to worry Alan. All the waves are diverted into the Fens in Cambridgeshire so you'll be OK in Norfolk.

That said, as a person from Suffolk, i would be concerned about how much the folk from Norfolk have evolved since the last wave that came in  :tup: :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on July 08, 2010, 04:55:10 PM
Quote from: picsfor on July 08, 2010, 11:30:38 AM


That said, as a person from Suffolk, i would be concerned about how much the folk from Norfolk have evolved since the last wave that came in  :tup: :2funny: :legit:


As a Norwich boy living in Suffolk I still get a lot of questions about weather or not I have webbed feet, think its jealousy as the only good thing to come out of Ipswich is the A140 (road to Norwich).  ;D

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 09, 2010, 04:10:20 PM
I dunno if bemused is the right word, it's been record heat here for last 4 or 5 days. I been out in my garden to water my plants, twice a day. I've sadly, watched the petals dropping off my flowers in increasing numbers. It's raining right now, but the rain feels like warm shower not sure it'll help.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on July 15, 2010, 04:30:59 PM
Not sure if this is bemusement or annoyance

Got to be the thickest female in the country if not the world
have a listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhPjY3X6rs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhPjY3X6rs)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 15, 2010, 04:57:34 PM
    I'm afraid I could get quite "Right Wing" listening to folks like that.
    Don't let stupid people breed, put something in the water, anything, just stop the cycle!
    I may have to come back and delete this post in a while but that's how I feel. If I offend anyone I oppologise.
                    Graham. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on July 15, 2010, 05:02:13 PM
Quote from: Graham on July 15, 2010, 04:57:34 PM
    I'm afraid I could get quite "Right Wing" listening to folks like that.
    Don't let stupid people breed, put something in the water, anything, just stop the cycle!
    I may have to come back and delete this post in a while but that's how I feel. If I offend anyone I oppologise.
                    Graham. >:(
Agree 100% with you mate.
She and her fellow ghouls should be sterilised asap
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 15, 2010, 06:08:07 PM
I was struck by the fact that he kept calling her stupid and she blithely continued on with her statements (which I have to admit I couldn't understand most of due to her accent).

I remember when I was a young man, there was an opinion piece writer for the local right wing paper who was always going on about sterilization of criminals and welfare recipients. I thought at the time the man's opinions were horrific. A lifetime later I've changed my view.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 15, 2010, 08:23:11 PM
I'm amazed by the facebook page and the thousands who agreed with her!  :doh:

It's been removed now.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on July 15, 2010, 08:42:45 PM
Never been keen on facebook but I know it has a plus side for lots of people... Maybe they should introduce a intelligence test before joining..... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 15, 2010, 09:59:11 PM
And stop all the idiots from exposing themselves? Safer to know they're out there.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 16, 2010, 08:52:02 AM
Am I the only person horrified that the British Government attempted to censor this page?

No, I don't think Moat is a hero.  His random targeting of people is as close to evil as I hope to come across.
No, I don't think Waynetta Slob (or whatever her real name is) has 2 braincells to rub together.
No, I don't approve of the 30,000 people who "liked" the page.

But Ms Slob lives in Britain.  She has the right to say more or less what she likes.  Facebook is a US website where they are pretty keen on their first amendment rights (and that's possibly why FB refused the ridiculous request from the UK).

I'm just as disgusted that our government tried to remove the page as I would be if they tried to pull the YouTube page that reveals her to be a ridiculous halfwit.  The fact that I disagree with what she says doesn't make censorship of it right.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 16, 2010, 10:27:39 AM
Can't get the volume at work however guessing this is to do Moat.

I agree with Johnathan
Moat was not a hero at all the only hero in my mind is the poor coppper he blinded when he shot him, the resilience and determination not to let this ruin his life is incredible.
Mrs Slob lives in Britain and has the right to say what she likes...."I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it" this is the price of free speech..
I have no sympathy for Moat the man at all, I do however have some sympathy for the situation he found himself in and particuarly if the alleged pleas for help from psychiatrists were true and not acted on. This is not to say he deserves sympathy he was a cold blooded killer..
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 16, 2010, 01:02:27 PM
        Well. I agree with both Jonathan and Keith , of course the page should'nt be censored and she has the perfect right to express herself in any way she sees fit. And if the Moat chap needed and asked for help then he should have recieved it.
       My reaction to the video is probably based on the fact that she seems strangley familiar to me. Perhaps it's because my wife has to work with (In the course of trying to educate their children.) folks of a remarkedly similar outlook, attittude and appearance.
                                                           Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on July 21, 2010, 05:40:00 PM
What's puzzled me, just now..?

My wireless network adapter, after a couple of years good service, has decided it's had enough of my USB hub. The hub works fine, everything else works off it... just my wireless adapter's not playing with it anymore.

Plug the adapter in to a USB2 expansion card, the adapter works fine.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on July 21, 2010, 06:05:30 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on July 21, 2010, 05:40:00 PM
What's puzzled me, just now..?

My wireless network adapter, after a couple of years good service, has decided it's had enough of my USB hub. The hub works fine, everything else works off it... just my wireless adapter's not playing with it anymore.

Plug the adapter in to a USB2 expansion card, the adapter works fine.  ???
Er... anyone heard of having to reboot a USB hub??

That's a first for me! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 21, 2010, 06:24:15 PM
Ah...no. But maybe I shoulda and tossed out a perfectly good one instead. Hmmm :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 21, 2010, 07:11:07 PM
Quote from: Dave on July 15, 2010, 08:42:45 PM
Never been keen on facebook but I know it has a plus side for lots of people... Maybe they should introduce a intelligence test before joining..... :legit:

It's just past the 500 million members that's one tenth of the world's population.  ???

And no! I'm not one of them.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 22, 2010, 05:16:58 PM
Was driving through, what I believe you guys call an 'industrial estate'(?), when I chance upon this young girl riding her bike. Odd, thinks I, but no matter. Continuing on I come across Granny riding her bike, a half mile or so further along, a boy about 10 riding his. Now to put this in perspective, the city I live in is new as cities go about 35 yrs. old. With the exception of the small town cores that amalgamated into the city, the rest was designed in the 60's with lots of thought given to parks. In fact, most of our park system is interlinked with paved pathways so you can walk/run/ride from one park to another without crossing a city road. You go over them or under them. So no risk from errant traffic, I got to wonder why Granny and the kids aren't using them.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on July 24, 2010, 03:17:06 PM
What's bemused me?

Bluddy DSLR's.

After sadly ruling out getting an Epson R-1D (uncommon, and not very cheap secondhand either), I settled for a second hand Canon 5D. I'm now having second thoughts on this, after DMT mentioning stuff about shutter lifespans and actuations.

Time for another rethink. Canon 40D, p'raps... at least it'll give me an extra few £'s to play with.

Curse my affinity for *mechanical* (read "fix it yourself") cameras.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on July 25, 2010, 08:51:24 AM
The 5D has a better shutter lifespan than your 350D.

There was an issue with bits dropping off - but that was mainly in high temperature/humidity regions.

Mines got about 30K clicks on it. Been out in all weathers and apart from a few scratches is good as new.

But they do attract the dust bunnies. More than the 350D.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on July 25, 2010, 09:15:09 AM
As Mark says - the 5D was known for collecting dust - but at least it is still of the mechanical sensor stuff where it is easy to clean.
Shutter actuations i was given to understand was about designed to be about 100k - the 5D MkII is rated at 140k.
In either case you've really got to be going something to use up that amount of pictures taken.

Laws of diminishing returns would indicate that if you were able to squeeze that many "tried for" pictures into a few years you would produce enough pictures to generate sufficient revenue to cover the cost of replacement.

40D i've had and loved - up until i got a 5D MkII. Smashing camera - sad to see it go but it was never gonna get used again once i'd played with the 5D MkII - but then we are talkng about a completely different price range and specs etc.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 25, 2010, 04:38:37 PM
Canons are getting a bit of rep for not lasting long. Probably largely undeserved, although yesterday evening at a party having pinched my host's 40D to take a few pictures I got as far as taking the first one before 'Error 05' popped up on the screen. Luckily after I turned it off and on again the error cleared, but I was panicking there for a minute . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on July 25, 2010, 05:28:50 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on July 25, 2010, 04:38:37 PM
Canons are getting a bit of rep for not lasting long. Probably largely undeserved, although yesterday evening at a party having pinched my host's 40D to take a few pictures I got as far as taking the first one before 'Error 05' popped up on the screen. Luckily after I turned it off and on again the error cleared, but I was panicking there for a minute . .
My 350D has given me a couple of errors, but that's only with the horrible Canon 75-300 lens that had some dirt on the contacts once.

All in all, I've almost settled for a 50D.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on July 25, 2010, 06:43:40 PM
And miss out on full frame goodleness? :lol:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 25, 2010, 07:18:08 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on July 25, 2010, 05:28:50 PM

All in all, I've almost settled for a 50D.

   Dave mate.
                     You do know that with the M9, Leica appear to have built a digital camera worthy of the name!
                                     Just a thought. :-\
                                                   Graham. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on July 25, 2010, 09:25:02 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on July 25, 2010, 05:28:50 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on July 25, 2010, 04:38:37 PM
Canons are getting a bit of rep for not lasting long. Probably largely undeserved, although yesterday evening at a party having pinched my host's 40D to take a few pictures I got as far as taking the first one before 'Error 05' popped up on the screen. Luckily after I turned it off and on again the error cleared, but I was panicking there for a minute . .
My 350D has given me a couple of errors, but that's only with the horrible Canon 75-300 lens that had some dirt on the contacts once.

All in all, I've almost settled for a 50D.

Shame you couldn't stretch to a 7D - amazing piece of kit for its money. You only have to speak to those who have one - almost no bad words to be said (except from Nikon owners  :D)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on July 25, 2010, 11:21:02 PM
Quote from: anglefire on July 25, 2010, 06:43:40 PM
And miss out on full frame goodleness? :lol:
I've got a couple (*cough*) of film cameras for that, to be honest. :)
Quote from: Graham on July 25, 2010, 07:18:08 PM
Dave mate.
You do know that with the M9, Leica appear to have built a digital camera worthy of the name!
Just a thought. :-\
Graham. :D
Hmm.... the older M8.2's costing £4,000+ second hand... nah. It's only a name now, nothing else. :)
Quote from: picsfor on July 25, 2010, 09:25:02 PM
Shame you couldn't stretch to a 7D - amazing piece of kit for its money. You only have to speak to those who have one - almost no bad words to be said (except from Nikon owners  :D)
I've just had a look at the specs of a 7D, and there's nearly nothing that makes me want one. 100% viewfinder coverage... that's it.

But, as the 40D and 50D do 95%, I can cope. :)

See, I can afford the 5D, but I'd loose the "all in one" zoom (simply because of the lens mounts). And if I did get the 5D, there'd be the nagging thought of shutter lifespans.  The way I see it is it's a win-win situation, regardless of what options I go for. It's swings and roundabouts though... both options have drawbacks and benefits, and each one plays off against the other.

There again, I could go for just the lens, and blow the body money on a rather nice Leica M2 with a 5cm Summicron. ;)

Dilemas... decisions... and... stuff.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 27, 2010, 02:14:47 PM
Spent the better part of Sunday evening taking a bunch of flower shots, about 30 of them, and running them through Genuine Fractals to crop them and add Gallery Wrap borders. The light bulb went on this morning, I'd cropped them 12" x 12" and set the wrap for 2" making them 14"x14" print size, which doesn't conform to any canvas size and regardless won't work on my Printer that can only print a max of 13"x 19",  duh.  :-[ :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on July 28, 2010, 08:53:56 AM
WHO NEEDS CAR BOOT SALES?
News > Entertainment > Fine Arts
Ka-Ching! Ansel Adams Photos Found At Garage Sale Worth $200 Million

By Kathy Ehrich Dowd | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:17 PM ET

A $45 purchase uncovers sought-after photos from the artist's early career.

Attention all aspiring yard salesmen: be really careful what you put up for sale.

Why?

That dusty old box from the attic just might contain treasures worth millions. Just ask LA-based Rick Norsigian, who bought two boxes at a yard sale for a mere $45 10 years ago, only to eventually discover they contained prized glass negatives from Ansel Adams. Approximate value? $200 million.

Aside from the staggering monetary value of the find, the pics are practically priceless to art historians who study the famed nature photographer. According to David W. Streets, the appraiser and art dealer who will unveil the photographs at his Beverly Hills gallery on Tuesday, the photos were taken between 1919 and the early 1930s — well before Adams became a household name — and demonstrate how the artist honed his craft. The photos include shots of the Yosemite landscape and San Francisco landmarks.

"It truly is a missing link of Ansel Adams and history and his career," Streets told CNN.

So how exactly did Norsigian come upon such a windfall? As with many great finds, quite randomly. The yard sale buff happened upon a sale in southern California in 2000 and became intrigued by two boxes he was told came from a warehouse salvage in Los Angeles in the 1940s.

Upon closer examination, Norsigian became intrigued by the plates that were individually wrapped in newspaper inside crumbling manila envelopes. He spent the resulting years trying to prove the worth of his find, and several experts back him up.

"I have sent people to prison for the rest of their lives for far less evidence than I have seen in this case," said evidence and burden of proof expert Manny Medrano, who was hired by Norsigian to help authenticate the pics. "In my view, those photographs were done by Ansel Adams."

Experts believe Adams might have lost track of the photos while teaching a photography course in Pasadena in the 1940s. The envelopes protecting the photo slides appear to contain notations from Virginia Adams, Ansel's wife, say handwriting experts. And several of the photo slides are almost identical to more well-known Adams prints, which millions have admired for decades.

This whole unbelievable tale just goes to show that the old adage is true, with a twist: one man's trash can turn out to be everyone's treasure.




???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on July 28, 2010, 09:46:17 PM
The AF on the 7D is streets ahead of the 50D.

But if you don't need it for action etc, then probably not worth the etc.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on July 28, 2010, 10:29:17 PM
If one ND4 reduces by 3 stops, why does adding another not make it 6 stops  :-\  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on July 29, 2010, 07:44:42 AM
Quote from: rksmith51 on July 28, 2010, 10:29:17 PM
If one ND4 reduces by 3 stops, why does adding another not make it 6 stops  :-\  :legit:

Because each stop is twice/half as much light as the one on either side? So if you add one more filter you double its effect, adding one stop. Two more would add another, and so on.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 30, 2010, 01:43:56 PM
Just booked a wedding.  For, err, Sunday.  43 hours from now.  (That's a new record for me BTW)

It's a Sikh wedding with only about 300 people there.  There will be 2 teams of photographers plus probably 3 videographers all covering proceedings.  Plus, err, me.  I've been hired to give a "creative spin" on the day.  Haven't met anybody from either family and haven't spoken to either bride or groom.  I don't even know their names....

This could be interesting.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on July 30, 2010, 04:36:58 PM
Quote from: Eileen on July 29, 2010, 07:44:42 AM
Quote from: rksmith51 on July 28, 2010, 10:29:17 PM
If one ND4 reduces by 3 stops, why does adding another not make it 6 stops  :-\  :legit:

Because each stop is twice/half as much light as the one on either side? So if you add one more filter you double its effect, adding one stop. Two more would add another, and so on.

Now your just messing with my head  :D , I'm a simple chap so must go and find some simpler way  to visualise that, but thanks for trying tohelp.

Bob.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 30, 2010, 05:06:47 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 30, 2010, 01:43:56 PM
Just booked a wedding.  For, err, Sunday.  43 hours from now.  (That's a new record for me BTW)

It's a Sikh wedding with only about 300 people there.  There will be 2 teams of photographers plus probably 3 videographers all covering proceedings.  Plus, err, me.  I've been hired to give a "creative spin" on the day.  Haven't met anybody from either family and haven't spoken to either bride or groom.  I don't even know their names....

This could be interesting.

        Sounds like the ideal gig to me. Seems like you've been employed to go and have fun! :tup:
                                         Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 30, 2010, 10:11:18 PM
Some of you may remember a couple of months ago or so I posted about getting a call purporting to be from Microsoft telling me my computer was infected with a virus.....a telephone version of a 419 scam.....Well today at work it got more ridiculous.....We got a fax version of a 419 allegedly from the son of the ousted ruler of an African nation, apparently he has 60 million USD that is currently locked away in a bank account somewhere and he wanted our company bank account details to be able to transfer the money into and of course we as a company would get a hefty slice of the 60million USD......incredible really....I mean do people really fall for this crap.....if they do then more fool them.....

If you get a phone call e-mail or fax requesting assistance from someone to help unlock an unimaginable sum of money then ignore it 'cos it's a scam and it's  :spam:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 30, 2010, 11:30:20 PM
Quote from: krennon on July 30, 2010, 10:11:18 PM
I mean do people really fall for this crap.

Sadly they do, as greed clouds common sense.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on July 30, 2010, 11:37:47 PM
According to my in box this month I am self employed and doing a roaring trade selling little blue pills  >:(   :spam:

I'm getting emails from myself telling me so, and even offering to sell some of the blue pills to myself  :doh: :doh:

Hope the wife and tax man dont find out  :2funny:

RR
Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on July 31, 2010, 12:09:37 PM
The old saying, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is" is so much more relevant these days, I'm amazed at some of the stories\methods the schemers invent and so sad for the few that fall prey to their bogus deals.

Thanks for reminding us Krennon.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 09, 2010, 04:32:47 PM
Read an article in yesterday's Observer, apparently photographic Self Portraits are making a come back, with photographers trying to portray their inner selves and conceptualise how they view things as far as they are concerned. Well at least that's what I think it said, it contained so much Bullsh*t about self expression etc.

Haven't we on all the forums we contribute to jumped the gun here. Don't we call them Avatars? 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 09, 2010, 05:01:08 PM
  your absolutly right Alan.
                                      When I took my "SP" I was trying to conceptualise my inner feelings towards photography and life in general.
                                                                               Graham. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 05:46:20 PM
Mines just a picture of me!

On another forum I frequent, its a picture of my car :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 09, 2010, 06:17:28 PM
Quote from: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 05:46:20 PM
Mines just a picture of me!

On another forum I frequent, its a picture of my car :)

Ah yes, a bad case of schiz-car-phrenia! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on August 09, 2010, 07:17:26 PM
What's bemused me?

Adobe and their bloody format lock. CS3 won't recognise Canon 50D RAW files... so I'll have to update to CS...whatever. Yet, CS3 is the best version that will install on my PC... I can't install any newer.

Sure, Lightroom 3 will load the files, but that runs like treacle on my aging 2GHz processor. I click a function, then sit back and watch the ensuing slideshow. Lightroom 3 is confusing enough, without having to sit and wait for it to respond.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on August 09, 2010, 07:34:14 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on August 09, 2010, 07:17:26 PM
Adobe and their bloody format lock. CS3 won't recognise Canon 50D RAW files...

Um, you know that's actually Canon's fault, right?  There's absolutely no reason for them to change the format for the 50D and yet they (and Nikon) always do.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 07:40:54 PM
Either get the standalone Adobe converter to DNG, and then import that into CS3 - or use Breezesystems Downloader Pro, and use the option that converts to DNG as it imports the raw files. http://www.breezesys.com/products.htm

The latter will cost $30 - and you will still need the latest DNG converter - but it does save a step.

And is Windows only.

I've used Downloaded pro for years and find it works for me!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 07:42:34 PM
Oh, Jonathan, I'm sure that Canon/Nikon/Whom ever, will tell you that there is a difference with the latest model.

And it had to be changed because they added feature X,Y or Z. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on August 09, 2010, 08:16:13 PM
Quote from: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 07:42:34 PM
Oh, Jonathan, I'm sure that Canon/Nikon/Whom ever, will tell you that there is a difference with the latest model.

And it had to be changed because they added feature X,Y or Z. :)

Not if they used an extensible format.  Create a proper file format and "old" software could read the file adequately and new software could get the best out of it.  That's pretty much how XML works.  And DNG ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on August 09, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
Quote from: Hybridphotog on August 09, 2010, 07:17:26 PM
What's bemused me?

Adobe and their bloody format lock. CS3 won't recognise Canon 50D RAW files... so I'll have to update to CS...whatever. Yet, CS3 is the best version that will install on my PC... I can't install any newer.


It says Camera Raw 4.6 supports the 50D and CS3.  Doesn't it work Dave?   :'(

Camera Raw 4.6 update
This version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original Camera Raw plug-in that was installed with Adobe Creative Suite 3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 software

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4040

Anyway, what's wrong with Eos Utility and  DPP that came with your camera?  It's improved a lot over the years, and all I use now. ;)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 09, 2010, 10:15:36 PM
Quote from: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 07:42:34 PM

And it had to be changed because they added feature X,Y or Z. :)

All Raw formats are only a version of Tiff files which, can be read by any image program. I know the Nikon D3 can output images as a Tiff file and X,Y or Z don't make any difference to that. I think it's just a way to screw more money out of the consumer, nothing more or less.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 10:31:42 PM
Oldboy, I don't disagree - but in the case of Canon, you can get the latest version of their raw converter for free, so it is not Canon that is trying to screw any more cash out of the consumer!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on August 09, 2010, 10:38:36 PM
Quote from: admin on August 09, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
It says Camera Raw 4.6 supports the 50D and CS3.  Doesn't it work Dave?   :'(
I guess I was using an older version of Camera Raw... I can open the new files in CS3 now. Thanks for pointing that out. :)

Shame that Windows XP won't show any preview thumbnails for the new CR2's though.
Quote from: admin on August 09, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
Anyway, what's wrong with Eos Utility and  DPP that came with your camera?  It's improved a lot over the years, and all I use now. ;)
Nothing, I guess... I just have a dislike for using software that comes with equipment, unless there's nothing else available.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on August 10, 2010, 09:01:29 AM
Quote from: anglefire on August 09, 2010, 10:31:42 PM
Oldboy, I don't disagree - but in the case of Canon, you can get the latest version of their raw converter for free, so it is not Canon that is trying to screw any more cash out of the consumer!

Yes, have to agree with you there. And oddly enough - the stuff Canon give away for free is more than enough to get most people by if they have an aversion to spending money or don't have a need to do anything with their pictures but tidy them up (crop, red eye, dust spot removal etc...)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 09:58:39 AM
How do I miss out words in some of my replies  :-[, half my sentences hardly make any sense.

Bob.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 10, 2010, 10:27:26 AM
Quote from: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 09:58:39 AM
How do I miss out words in some of my replies  :-[, half my sentences hardly make any sense.

Bob.

      I don't have to miss out words not to make sense!  :2funny:
                                     Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 10:54:51 AM


      I don't have to miss out words not to make sense!  :2funny:
                                     Graham.
[/quote]

Oh I type those kind of replies too Graham, but mainly the ones with missing w....  :legit:

Bob.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 10, 2010, 07:55:50 PM
Quote from: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 10:54:51 AM


      I don't have to miss out words not to make sense!  :2funny:
                                     Graham.

Oh I type those kind of replies too Graham, but mainly the ones with missing w....  :legit:

Bob.
[/quote]

  I do tend to get my mucking foords wuddled though!
                     Graham. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 08:08:30 PM
Quote from: Graham on August 10, 2010, 07:55:50 PM
Quote from: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 10:54:51 AM


      I don't have to miss out words not to make sense!  :2funny:
                                     Graham.

Oh I type those kind of replies too Graham, but mainly the ones with missing w....  :legit:

Bob.

  I do tend to get my mucking foords wuddled though!
                     Graham. :2funny:
[/quote]

:2funny: Ok you win, lets stop now before we get banned.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 11, 2010, 08:29:06 AM
Quote from: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 08:08:30 PM
Quote from: Graham on August 10, 2010, 07:55:50 PM
Quote from: rksmith51 on August 10, 2010, 10:54:51 AM


      I don't have to miss out words not to make sense!  :2funny:
                                     Graham.

Oh I type those kind of replies too Graham, but mainly the ones with missing w....  :legit:

Bob.

Deal! :tup:
  I do tend to get my mucking foords wuddled though!
                     Graham. :2funny:

:2funny: Ok you win, lets stop now before we get banned.  ;D
[/quote]
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 11, 2010, 01:46:10 PM
I was Googling for online woodwork plans to make my own stepped frames for my canvas prints. My query was quite specific in asking for 'stepped frames for canvas prints'. Not only did I not get any hits back but some of the things that were listed were just terrible advice. Just confirms what they say about being careful what you take off the internet.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on August 11, 2010, 03:54:37 PM
What's bemused and baffled me for the past two days?

My new PC.

Building it, that was fun. Solving the odd graphical glitches that's plagued the thing, that's been a headache.

It looks like I'm going to be returning either the graphics card or the motherboard. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 12, 2010, 09:15:50 AM
Poor little dears!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10936888

I can remember being torn away from my home for two years going to strange places where people spoke with a strange accent (Hednesford, Chippenham and Germany), and I hadn't done anything wrong! :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 12, 2010, 11:57:56 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 12, 2010, 09:15:50 AM
Poor little dears!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10936888

I can remember being torn away from my home for two years going to strange places where people spoke with a strange accent (Hednesford, Chippenham and Germany), and I hadn't done anything wrong! :o

Isn't that the same as been sent to a boarding school, and aren't those people running the country now.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 12, 2010, 12:17:00 PM
Watching the breakfast news the other day and a woman was been interviewed when a caption appeared saying she was an actor! What is wrong with actress! Does this mean a female becomes male and woman becomes man? She becomes he and her becomes him! If we are trying to become gender nonspecific then shouldn't we do away with two sets of toilets and put human on the door?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on August 12, 2010, 12:47:26 PM
Damn straight.  Why don't we have doctress?  And tax inspectress?  And soldieress?  And firewoman?  Not to mention woman police constable (which actually had slightly more point).  And photographeress?

I mean apart from the fact it's pointless, illogical and demeaning......

Just one of the arguments is that it allows employers to pay different amounts since actor and actress are different jobs.

BTW you know some offices do just have one set of toilets, right?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on August 12, 2010, 01:23:33 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on August 12, 2010, 12:47:26 PM
BTW you know some offices do just have one set of toilets, right?

Yeah, but they're urinals...

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 12, 2010, 03:02:25 PM
I'll have what he's on! 8)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10949569

It must be the I-O-W air. ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 12, 2010, 03:39:16 PM
Sounds like age discrimination to me. Bet if it was a couple of 20 somethings nobody bat an eye. Speaking of which, isn't Britain home to that rather infamous activity called 'dogging'? :-[ Does this not fit?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 12, 2010, 06:24:07 PM
WBTD? Been trolling the internet looking for plans/how to's on making floating frames for my canvas prints. Since I discovered no one makes frames to accommodate a 12"x18" print, should have done some research before printing and mounting the canvas. Anyway I come across this YouTube video, that, from it's title is just what I'm looking for. Turns out it's a woman, all dolled up for the camera, cutting frames in the back of a Pro Framing store so she's got these real fancy, job specific machines to cut the mitres and router connecting pin locations. I did a fair bit of woodworking in my youth and have an appreciation for the cost of tools. I figure the machines she's referencing so casually cost a few grand each. Like that would go over at home, "honey I'm going to fork out a few grand for a pair of machines that take up space and will only be used occasionally."  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hybridphotog on August 12, 2010, 10:49:13 PM
What's bemused me?

Viewing some previously edited photos with this new 21.5" TFT monitor (1920x1080). I thought the photos were perfectly acceptable, using my old 19" CRT. Now I see digital noise. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 13, 2010, 08:01:36 AM
Just been reading a sales pitch for prints. "the pictures are digitally hand printed", what does that mean? The paper is fed into the printer by hand, or they are not the product of some printing house where perhaps the paper is fed in mechanically.

Still it has a certain ring to it, perhaps a little better than I print them myself. :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 13, 2010, 09:13:46 PM
Bought a 1 TB external drive to swap all my MP3's that I have saved on CD's and DVD's to. Didn't realize how tedious it would be, or how many duplicates I made of songs.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 16, 2010, 08:52:24 AM
According to the news today, Hay bales are been stolen from farms. This is due to a shortage of hay, because of the hard winter and very dry spring and summer. Hay is grass, so the next time you mow your lawn it could be worth money!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on August 16, 2010, 07:52:49 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 16, 2010, 08:52:24 AM
According to the news today, Hay bales are been stolen from farms. This is due to a shortage of hay, because of the hard winter and very dry spring and summer. Hay is grass, so the next time you mow your lawn it could be worth money!  :P

OB if you are volunteering to come and mow our lawn you can keep the grass ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 17, 2010, 08:38:50 AM
Having cursed many a MAMIL on a Sunday morning on my way to the kid's football and chuckled at the astute marketing men's ability to make someone look utterly ridiculous on two wheels whilst relieving them of large amounts of wonga, I nearly spilt my morning cuppa when I read this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

Classic!

It then leads you to think about the same thing as far as photography is concerned. C.an there be out there MAMACES, Middle Aged Men With Camera Envy, MAMAPEPS, Midle Aged Men And Photographic Equipment Posing Syndrome, MAMALL's Middle Aged Men And Large Lenses.

I'm afraid I don't fit into any of these categorisations, I'm well past middle age :(

I'm more of a SOSNUT, Silly Old Sod Not Understanding Technology. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on August 17, 2010, 09:49:47 AM
yes, i did read the article as i was putting on my lycra - then quietly put them away in the draw and tried to act my age.

Thing is Alan - you're gonna start a GAGGLE (gormless and goofy gags lampooning everything) of "tags" covering all sorts of scenarios.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 17, 2010, 08:24:55 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 17, 2010, 08:38:50 AM
Having cursed many a MAMIL on a Sunday morning on my way to the kid's football and chuckled at the astute marketing men's ability to make someone look utterly ridiculous on two wheels whilst relieving them of large amounts of wonga, I nearly spilt my morning cuppa when I read this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

Classic!


I've seen plenty in Sandwell Valley.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on August 18, 2010, 09:20:24 AM
The state of this country.
I've been searching for work for a number of months now in the engineering field and am registered with an online engineering website.
Today they send me an email with details on how to become a financial advisor.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 18, 2010, 03:00:57 PM
Quote from: deetus on August 18, 2010, 09:20:24 AM
The state of this country.
I've been searching for work for a number of months now in the engineering field and am registered with an online engineering website.
Today they send me an email with details on how to become a financial advisor.  ???

The might explain the world economic crisis then... ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 18, 2010, 03:05:03 PM
Perhaps they thought you might be able to engineer the sales of a few policies and endowments. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 18, 2010, 05:43:27 PM
   Went for a longish walk today and as usual took my GPS device.
   Just checked it and it says I coverd a distance of 62 miles with a top speed of 57.8 MPH!
   It's just possible that I may have left it switched on for the train journey home. :D
                    Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 18, 2010, 06:45:40 PM
I hope you have all done your duty and visited
http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/
and submitted your ideas and then you won't be able to say "Well they didn't ask me", which of course it is designed to preclude.

:idea:Please no requests appertaining to somewhere the sun don't shine.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 20, 2010, 03:21:11 AM
Had to see the doctor today. While waiting in the lobby I picked up a well thumbed  copy of Wired magazine. First thing that struck me as odd was an article about President Clinton in the present tense. Looking at the magazine's date I saw it was the Nov '96 edition. Was struck by the number of adds from companies that no longer exist. Ads for PC's - a 200 mhz pentium, with 32 megs of ram and a whopping (their word) 230 meg hardrive, for $5,600.00. An ad for Kodak FILM! Articles about the future of computing that were way off.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 20, 2010, 10:43:02 AM
Could your PC/Mac handle the files from this camera?

When completed in 2015, the 8.4-metre telescope will regularly sweep the entire visible sky in three nights with a 3.2-gigapixel camera, capturing short-lived phenomena ranging from fast-moving near-Earth asteroids to the flashes of supernovae in distant galaxies.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on August 20, 2010, 04:04:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 18, 2010, 03:05:03 PM
Perhaps they thought you might be able to engineer the sales of a few policies and endowments. :legit:

Nice one Alan  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 20, 2010, 06:48:05 PM
Getting in to see a dentist today, the only one registered with the NHS in our town, after three days of trying to get some attention to a tooth where the filling has fallen out and what remained had crumbled somewhat. Not painful all the time only when I bite on something and the stump in question comes into play. Then it's a couple of minutes before I can get down off the ceiling :doh:

Anyway he says it's got to come out, can't do it today because I only had an emergency appointment to explore the trouble.

I have a choice, pay him £200 and he'll take it out tomorrow or wait for his next free NHS appointment and then he'll do it. That appointment is on Sept.1st.

So I point out he must have a free space tomorrow otherwise he wouldn't be able to offer to take it out for £200.
"Ah well", he says, " I don't do NHS work on a Saturday".

So being of a somewhat awkward disposition and seeing that he thinks that he has got me over a barrel I've decided to live on paracetamol for the next ten days. Bo**ocks if I'm going to put £200 in his pocket. Mind you it's going to cost £45 as it is on the NHS. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 20, 2010, 09:35:26 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 20, 2010, 06:48:05 PM
Getting in to see a dentist today, the only one registered with the NHS in our town, after three days of trying to get some attention to a tooth where the filling has fallen out and what remained had crumbled somewhat. Not painful all the time only when I bite on something and the stump in question comes into play. Then it's a couple of minutes before I can get down off the ceiling :doh:

Anyway he says it's got to come out, can't do it today because I only had an emergency appointment to explore the trouble.

I have a choice, pay him £200 and he'll take it out tomorrow or wait for his next free NHS appointment and then he'll do it. That appointment is on Sept.1st.

So I point out he must have a free space tomorrow otherwise he wouldn't be able to offer to take it out for £200.
"Ah well", he says, " I don't do NHS work on a Saturday".

So being of a somewhat awkward disposition and seeing that he thinks that he has got me over a barrel I've decided to live on paracetamol for the next ten days. Bo**ocks if I'm going to put £200 in his pocket. Mind you it's going to cost £45 as it is on the NHS. :o

That's the trouble with dentists, they've got you by the molars!  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 23, 2010, 10:40:56 PM
Got a nice flashy email from Adobe, (wouldn't expect anything less) telling me if I buy CS5 Premium today they'll ship it for FREE!. Do they honestly think, saving me $20 will entice me into buying $1800 worth of software?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 24, 2010, 08:25:53 AM
So that's the reason :o :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11067028

Perhaps if we stopped calling politicians, politicians then they might give up lying!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 24, 2010, 09:48:46 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 24, 2010, 08:25:53 AM
So that's the reason :o :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11067028

Perhaps if we stopped calling politicians, politicians then they might give up lying!

I though we called politicians scumbags on a good day!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on August 24, 2010, 06:08:16 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 24, 2010, 08:25:53 AM
So that's the reason :o :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11067028

Perhaps if we stopped calling politicians, politicians then they might give up lying!

No, they work to the system they created that allows them to be creative with what they mean.
Take the expenses scandal - read the linked story and try not to smile. You couldn't make it up...

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/838763-mp-told-to-claim-six-times-as-much
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 24, 2010, 07:21:30 PM
Quote from: picsfor on August 24, 2010, 06:08:16 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 24, 2010, 08:25:53 AM
So that's the reason :o :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11067028

Perhaps if we stopped calling politicians, politicians then they might give up lying!

No, they work to the system they created that allows them to be creative with what they mean.
Take the expenses scandal - read the linked story and try not to smile. You couldn't make it up...

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/838763-mp-told-to-claim-six-times-as-much

Add to the fact that every Prime Minister get £100,000 a year as expenses when they have left office.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 25, 2010, 02:23:08 AM
Quote from: picsfor on August 24, 2010, 06:08:16 PM


http://www.metro.co.uk/news/838763-mp-told-to-claim-six-times-as-much

We had a similar situation here, with a City Councilor being criticized by fellow councilors for buying things for his office with his own money and not using any of his allotted expense account.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 25, 2010, 10:55:22 PM
It had to happen sometime!  :o

It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but scientists have created "dry water".
The substance resembles powdered sugar and is expected to make a big commercial splash.
Each particle of dry water contains a water droplet surrounded by a sandy silica coating. In fact, 95% of dry water is "wet" water.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 26, 2010, 05:47:43 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 25, 2010, 10:55:22 PM
It had to happen sometime!  :o

It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but scientists have created "dry water".
The substance resembles powdered sugar and is expected to make a big commercial splash.
Each particle of dry water contains a water droplet surrounded by a sandy silica coating. In fact, 95% of dry water is "wet" water.  :doh:

           Brilliant idea! Just stock up untill there's a drought and then just dilute it with...Oh hang on...forget that.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 26, 2010, 08:54:29 AM
Quote from: Graham on August 26, 2010, 05:47:43 AM
           Brilliant idea! Just stock up untill there's a drought and then just dilute it with...Oh hang on...forget that.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on August 26, 2010, 10:14:37 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 25, 2010, 10:55:22 PM
In fact, 95% of dry water is "wet" water.  :doh:

Sweat then?  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 26, 2010, 03:29:48 PM
I've been having ongoing issues with a company in Alpine Utah. Guy took my camera and money and promised an IR conversion. That was 6 months ago. Was very chatty email wise up until he got my money. Since then he won't respond to my inquiries. Filed a complaint with the UTAH Better Business bureau. Today they sent an email saying they're closing the file because he won't respond to them either. So I went and Googled Alpine Utah. Their local police don't have a web site, so I went to the Town's web site where I found a message from their Mayor dated fall 2007. I guess I won't get satisfaction from this Mickey Mouse operation.   ???>:( :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 27, 2010, 08:05:03 AM
Read this yesterday...

'The papers they read were filled with vague and alarming accounts of the quantities of foreign merchandise imported into this country, the enormous number of aliens constantly arriving and their destitute conditions, how they lived, the crimes they committed, and the injury they did to British trade. These were the seeds which, cunningly sown in their minds, caused to grow up within them a bitter undiscriminating hatred of foreigners.'

.... in a book that I've been promising myself to read for ages, 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'  by Robert Tressell. It describes the attitudes of a group of workers, painters and decorators, and their conversations during their lunch break.

Written in 1906!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on August 27, 2010, 08:47:26 AM
in a book that I've been promising myself to read for ages, 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'  by Robert Tressell. It describes the attitudes of a group of workers, painters and decorators, and their conversations during their lunch break.

Written in 1906!

.......................................

I first read the R T Ps over 50 years ago, and I have read it a number of times since, One of my favourite quotes was when the "Hero" Barrington  stated, " If this government  could remove all of the oxygen from the atmosphere,  store it in giant gasometers and issue us all with back packs and charge us to breathe. They would".  I think that we are heading that way. (Grin)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 27, 2010, 01:27:21 PM
I watched a repeat of Yes Prime Minister Yesterday. It is just so relevant today, you have to laugh, else you'd cry.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 27, 2010, 07:45:34 PM
After the furore of the woman dumping the cat in the bin, here the cat gets his revenge.  :2funny: :2funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYyI51a463E&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on August 28, 2010, 10:39:22 AM
Quote from: anglefire on August 27, 2010, 01:27:21 PM
I watched a repeat of Yes Prime Minister Yesterday. It is just so relevant today, you have to laugh, else you'd cry.  :D

That show never stops being relevant. It's repeated in Whitehall every business day (there are about 12 per year at the current count) regardless of the state of government.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 01, 2010, 10:48:40 AM
Last night really.
Balloon Flights for pressies! My wonderful daughters bought me one for my birthday in July. I booked the first available flight in the North near me last night - 7 weeks after getting the pressie. I read of people making 10-11 attempts to fly so was smug when I got the go ahead when dealing a lengthy premium rate phone number to confirm in the afternoon. Turned up on site - blue skies and barely a breath of wind. Thought it odd he set up towards the woods at the bottom of the field rather than top end but he`s the expert. With 7 others I helped unfurl the shoot, tether the basket and start to inflate with the fan getting the heavy job of being the two man anchor to hold balloon steady when the burner was set off. Waited and nothing happened. After an hour of preparation the pilot decided to advise and incredulous group that it was too dangerous to fly as such wind as there was (not enough to blow a grass blade on dropping one!) would take us into a nearby tree before the burner took us high enough. So on one of the stillest days in Yorkshire I have seen for months no go and next available booking is 18th October before their season ends in early November. We then had to spend an hour packing up said balloon and lifting it and the basket into the truck. As a watching mate said the basic idea would not have got through Dragon`s Den.
"So your business is to charge everyone £100, get them to unpack / lift and inflate the balloon, maybe - maybe not get a flight after following travel advice and getting to the site and then another hour`s hard labour packing up go away. You`ll also charge premium rate calls for information on flight plans which are not to be relied on and have interminable speech and options. In his words " I`m out - it will never take off"  :)

Ah well - might get some pics in October. The good thing is that I have leaned not to take my D700 with me next time.  was amazed that in this age of scientificwonders  would be hanging in a glorified wicker picnic basket with a piece of thin black rubber for padding and two rope handholds to grab with instruction to lay my camera on the floor as we prepared to land.It`s the compact or the back up D80 next time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on September 01, 2010, 11:53:51 AM
Paul, I had a similar experience trying to get a flight in a tiger moth, traveling from Edinburgh to yourkshire twice only to be let down, I got a refund in the end.
I feel your frustration mate  ::)

Bob
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on September 01, 2010, 04:20:23 PM
I don't think I like the 5D Mrk II LCD
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on September 01, 2010, 06:44:08 PM
I was given a balloon flight for my 60th birthday and flew locally (Scotland) at the third booking. I agree cancellations are frustrating (and on my first attempt conditions also appeared perfect). But it is well worth it, the experience is magic. Don't spend all the air time on photography (though you'll be tempted to take hundreds of shots) but enjoy the peace and quiet of the flight for its own sake.

I had a second trip, this time while on holiday in Egypt. There must have been at least 30 balloons flying every morning from that one site, doing two trips each before conditions got too rough. Magic again all the same.

For landing I recommend you put your camera in a well padded case with the strap round your neck and one arm so it can't swing far. Not loose on the floor.  You can't take photos of the actual bump, your head should be below the top of the basket at the time.

Enjoy the trip when it comes.  Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 01, 2010, 10:31:39 PM
Quote from: jinky on September 01, 2010, 10:48:40 AM
Last night really.
Balloon Flights for pressies! My wonderful daughters bought me one for my birthday in July. I booked the first available flight in the North near me last night - 7 weeks after getting the pressie. I read of people making 10-11 attempts to fly so was smug when I got the go ahead when dealing a lengthy premium rate phone number to confirm in the afternoon. Turned up on site - blue skies and barely a breath of wind. Thought it odd he set up towards the woods at the bottom of the field rather than top end but he`s the expert. With 7 others I helped unfurl the shoot, tether the basket and start to inflate with the fan getting the heavy job of being the two man anchor to hold balloon steady when the burner was set off. Waited and nothing happened. After an hour of preparation the pilot decided to advise and incredulous group that it was too dangerous to fly as such wind as there was (not enough to blow a grass blade on dropping one!) would take us into a nearby tree before the burner took us high enough. So on one of the stillest days in Yorkshire I have seen for months no go and next available booking is 18th October before their season ends in early November. We then had to spend an hour packing up said balloon and lifting it and the basket into the truck. As a watching mate said the basic idea would not have got through Dragon`s Den.
"So your business is to charge everyone £100, get them to unpack / lift and inflate the balloon, maybe - maybe not get a flight after following travel advice and getting to the site and then another hour`s hard labour packing up go away. You`ll also charge premium rate calls for information on flight plans which are not to be relied on and have interminable speech and options. In his words " I`m out - it will never take off"  :)

Ah well - might get some pics in October. The good thing is that I have leaned not to take my D700 with me next time.  was amazed that in this age of scientificwonders  would be hanging in a glorified wicker picnic basket with a piece of thin black rubber for padding and two rope handholds to grab with instruction to lay my camera on the floor as we prepared to land.It`s the compact or the back up D80 next time.

Sounds like breach of contract to me. I think you should sue him for out of pocket expenses plus the cost of the flight.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 02, 2010, 07:11:50 AM
I`ll just have to be patient. They have a cover all  - "pilot makes ultimate decision" and will no doubt come up with technical reasons why they could not fly. Just annoying to see another balloon and 2 parachutes up there as we drove home. I`d only driven 30 minues up the road but some had come over from Liverpool and Manchester with whole family in tow. I have to have 8 flights cancelled on me that I have tried to book within a year before I get 75% of the money back according to terms. I want to do it so will be patient but just cannot see us getting a more wind free  night there and am reluctant to travel further afield given this experience.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 02, 2010, 07:39:57 AM
What a shambles - I hope next flight gets off the ground for you.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 02, 2010, 07:40:52 AM
Wow.  With those kinds of getouts I'm surprised they even bother buying a balloon.

"Nah you've tried 8 times to book a flight but we still don't have a balloon so we only get 25% of your money...."

FWIW I must have seen a dozen balloons in the sky yesterday on a trip to Sussex.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 02, 2010, 09:36:42 AM
Quote from: jinky on September 02, 2010, 07:11:50 AM
I`ll just have to be patient. They have a cover all  - "pilot makes ultimate decision" and will no doubt come up with technical reasons why they could not fly. Just annoying to see another balloon and 2 parachutes up there as we drove home. I`d only driven 30 minues up the road but some had come over from Liverpool and Manchester with whole family in tow. I have to have 8 flights cancelled on me that I have tried to book within a year before I get 75% of the money back according to terms. I want to do it so will be patient but just cannot see us getting a more wind free  night there and am reluctant to travel further afield given this experience.

I think those terms and conditions are unfair, and a court would consider it so as well. Speak to your local trading standards or CAB.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on September 03, 2010, 04:20:09 PM
Sarah Kennedy is leaving Radio 2. I was reading the article when i came upon this section...

"In 2007, meanwhile, Radio 2 apologised after she said had almost run over a black pedestrian because she could not see him in the dark."

Honestly - i've not made it up! If you find it hard to believe, check it out... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11178849
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 03, 2010, 06:58:51 PM
That's nothing. When my best mate was working as a traffic cop there was a lorry driver, at night,  who ran over a woman in an orange top and white skirt, and he didn't stop because he thought he'd hit a traffic cone.

They only closed the road for 18 hours . . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on September 03, 2010, 09:06:26 PM
I'm not surprised Sarah is going - she has not been happy since the WonderKind Chris Evans took the slot from 7am.

And she is ill a lot.

I like her I must admit, but then the standin whilst she is off at the moment is good too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 05, 2010, 02:14:21 PM
How to become famous for more than 15 minutes!

Repitition!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11191964
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 14, 2010, 10:19:17 AM
THIS (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/09/first-sale-doctrine/)

Hardly worth laying out the cash for anything any more - especially if music and films follow down this invidious path.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 14, 2010, 11:10:50 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on September 14, 2010, 10:19:17 AM
THIS (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/09/first-sale-doctrine/)

Hardly worth laying out the cash for anything any more - especially if music and films follow down this invidious path.

If you read the terms of software licenses, it states that you only have the right to use it, but you don't own it.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 14, 2010, 12:06:21 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 14, 2010, 11:10:50 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on September 14, 2010, 10:19:17 AM
THIS (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/09/first-sale-doctrine/)

Hardly worth laying out the cash for anything any more - especially if music and films follow down this invidious path.

If you read the terms of software licenses, it states that you only have the right to use it, but you don't own it.  ;D

And, excluding the Chinese & Russians, they wonder why there's so much software piracy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 15, 2010, 11:20:21 PM
As I've posted before, I've retired. My wife and some others are of the belief that I'd be having second thoughts and generally feeling anxious about it. I'm not, couldn't give rat's a** about the old job. However, I've just learned that my Jeep is shot, the frame is rotten, and I have to scrap her. I'm broken hearted, I loved that little truck.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: CML-1591 on September 16, 2010, 02:18:59 AM
urgh should probably sleep at this time...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 17, 2010, 06:23:44 PM
Why, when the Pope is speaking on TV and I close my eyes, can I see Herr Flick from 'Allo 'Allo? :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 23, 2010, 06:41:35 PM
Looking at a photostream on Flickr and discovered the photographer had listed over 12,000+ other people as contacts ???

Can you imagine looking through your  contacts' recent uploads ::).

Looking at his profile to see what sort of person would want that many contacts it was an amazing mixture of bull and self promotion that I think I've ever read, well nearly! ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 24, 2010, 11:53:08 AM
Having a conversation with a relative comparing where our elder relatives are now and where we're going to be in the future. He's trying to convince his wife that they/we don't have that many 'good' years left. That its time to travel and otherwise enjoy life before it passes us by. All this on the day my eldest turned 31. I really feel old.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on September 24, 2010, 12:38:24 PM
Yes, spend the kids' inheritance while you still can.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 24, 2010, 03:22:43 PM
Quote from: SimonW on September 24, 2010, 12:38:24 PM
Yes, spend the kids' inheritance while you still can.

Or before they spend it on what you would have done. Wine, women and song!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 04:20:17 PM
I put a casting call out for a shoot I'm doing.  It's a client that's paying me to shoot all their new frocks so of course it's paid work for one or two models.  I've cut it down to a "short" list and am doing a casting/test shoot next week for about a dozen models.  This gives us a chance to work together and gives the client a chance to review their pictures (not a retouched portfolio)

Since it's paid work (and times are hard) and it's a chance to wear pretty frocks I had about 80 applicants.  So what bemused me?

1. Of those 80, only 2 complied with all the "rules" for application (contact via email with rate and experience - you wouldn't believe how many ways there are to get that wrong)

2. I invited the shortlisted models to the casting.  One said she was very happy to come to the studio and meet me but I wasn't allowed to take any pictures.  Like, you know, a test shoot.  All of a sudden she fell off the list.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on September 24, 2010, 04:26:34 PM
Her loss then
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 24, 2010, 05:50:48 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 04:20:17 PM
I invited the shortlisted models to the casting.  One said she was very happy to come to the studio and meet me but I wasn't allowed to take any pictures.  Like, you know, a test shoot.  All of a sudden she fell off the list.

She obviously has a crystal ball and knows she's going to be the next Lady Gaga or whatever and doesn't want you profiting from her image at that future date! What else can it be?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 24, 2010, 05:57:29 PM
      I seem to remember when asked the difference between a model and a supermodel, someone said (Crudely but acurately.)

      It's a bit like the difference between Tampax and SuperTampax......one costs more money and is a lot thicker!
                                                   Graham. :-[ :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 06:54:51 PM
Quote from: spinner on September 24, 2010, 05:50:48 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 04:20:17 PM
I invited the shortlisted models to the casting.  One said she was very happy to come to the studio and meet me but I wasn't allowed to take any pictures.  Like, you know, a test shoot.  All of a sudden she fell off the list.

She obviously has a crystal ball and knows she's going to be the next Lady Gaga or whatever and doesn't want you profiting from her image at that future date! What else can it be?

To be fair.....it's not impossible that a "photographer" would come up with a story about a paid shoot and then go "ah but you'll have to do a free test shoot first".  And that's about the least dodgy spin I can put on it.

I guess I'm more bemused that there are 78 ways to get 3 things wrong in an application :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 29, 2010, 03:13:42 PM
Went to a meeting for an artist group I belong to. Was informed that our new web site was up and running. I am bemused by the fact that I and another photog are not on it, because neither of us submitted our work or bio. All most simultaneously we replied.."What web site?" "No we didn't get the email."  Coincidence?  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 29, 2010, 07:26:17 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 06:54:51 PM

I guess I'm more bemused that there are 78 ways to get 3 things wrong in an application :)

We are talking about models not rocket scientists!  :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 29, 2010, 10:12:10 PM
Do you think he should be carpeted for this?  :doh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpaLmIIzJC8&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 29, 2010, 10:40:05 PM
No way will he ever get airborne. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 29, 2010, 10:52:57 PM
New guards for the commonwealth games!  :doh:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3156472/Monkeys-to-guard-athletes.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 30, 2010, 09:33:33 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 29, 2010, 07:26:17 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 24, 2010, 06:54:51 PM

I guess I'm more bemused that there are 78 ways to get 3 things wrong in an application :)

We are talking about models not rocket scientists!  :2funny: :legit:

Um, most of them have degrees...... :)

Anyway quick snap - http://peoplebyryan.com/photoblog/kayla-karen-white
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 30, 2010, 06:44:58 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 30, 2010, 09:33:33 AM

Um, most of them have degrees...... :)


Media studies perhaps?  :dance:

Great shot.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 04, 2010, 09:15:33 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 27, 2010, 08:05:03 AM
.... in a book that I've been promising myself to read for ages, 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'  by Robert Tressell. It describes the attitudes of a group of workers, painters and decorators, and their conversations during their lunch break.

Thanks for the tip, I've been reading it in spare moments over the last month. Very intriguing book.

Ta.
Hugh
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 05, 2010, 09:30:03 PM
Watch this!  :tup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXKaAzEJrk&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 07, 2010, 09:33:39 PM
My car is still in the garage having an oil leak on the gearbox sorted. This will be day 3 - if you don't include the 3 days it was in last time for 3 replacement wheel bearings and supposedly the gearbox.

It's all under warranty, so I'm not overly fussed at the moment - I want it all sorted before it runs out next year, but it just takes so much time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 08, 2010, 10:57:13 AM
Quote from: anglefire on October 07, 2010, 09:33:39 PM
My car is still in the garage having an oil leak on the gearbox sorted. This will be day 3 - if you don't include the 3 days it was in last time for 3 replacement wheel bearings and supposedly the gearbox.

It's all under warranty, so I'm not overly fussed at the moment - I want it all sorted before it runs out next year, but it just takes so much time.

You are either a nation of extremely patient people, or this is normal? The only time I ever had to leave a vehicle for more than a day was when I had to have my Jeep's ECU replaced. The part was in a warehouse in Vancouver some 2000 miles away. Even parts for my German vehicles are warehoused somewhere within an hours drive.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 08, 2010, 04:56:03 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 05, 2010, 09:30:03 PM
Watch this!  :tup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXKaAzEJrk&feature=player_embedded
Thanks for that Oldboy! I've passed it around a bit.
                          Graham. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 08, 2010, 06:20:03 PM
You need to look at the WAMT thread now  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 08, 2010, 11:28:10 PM
Quote from: Graham on October 08, 2010, 04:56:03 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 05, 2010, 09:30:03 PM
Watch this!  :tup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXKaAzEJrk&feature=player_embedded
Thanks for that Oldboy! I've passed it around a bit.
                          Graham. :tup:

Thanks Graham, just surprised no one else has commented ot it.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 12, 2010, 05:09:57 PM
I bid on a Yashica J camera on EBAY for parts and won. It just arrived today from Australia. It apparently doesn't work, shutter won't fire and the cold shoe on top was reattached with a hot glue gun it looks like, other than that though, it looks miles better than my Yashica that I'd planned to fix up. It might be easier to fix this one, than mine if I could find a manual online.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 13, 2010, 12:26:19 PM
In the continuing saga of fixing my Rangefinder, I joined this YashicaForum where I posted a query on how I might free up the seized focus ring. I go back a few hours later to see if anyone's responded to discover my post isn't up. Thinking I flubbed something the first time I do the post again to discover all posting needs to be reviewed by Admin first. It's a camera specific forum and I'm posting in the Maintenance and Repair thread. What are they worried about? Surely they have spam filters if that's it.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on October 13, 2010, 09:58:06 PM
Just been informed by comment on another forum that the horizon on the picture below is 0.3 degree out.... :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 13, 2010, 10:23:02 PM
And that 0.3 makes all the difference.





Not.

What a pathetic thing to say!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on October 13, 2010, 11:33:49 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 13, 2010, 09:58:06 PM
Just been informed by comment on another forum that the horizon on the picture below is 0.3 degree out.... :knuppel2:
Oh yes, I can see it. ::) :-\
How sad.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 14, 2010, 02:22:47 AM
I'm gobsmacked! It certainly is. where's your sense of........

What kind of idiot would be that picky?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 14, 2010, 02:29:33 AM
In my haste to be smugly cutting edge I upgraded my Ubuntu system to 10.10 and promptly killed my wireless connections. Now I'm reinstalling 9.04 and trying to upgrade back to 10.04. Of course a Google inquiry has found dozens and dozens of similar complaints. Seems 10.10 isn't up to scratch in the wireless dept. it's apparently hit and miss.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 14, 2010, 06:24:32 AM
Quote from: Dave on October 13, 2010, 09:58:06 PM
Just been informed by comment on another forum that the horizon on the picture below is 0.3 degree out.... :knuppel2:

And so it is. But the main thing wrong with it is that you have failed to correct for the curvature of the earth. What are you like, eh?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on October 14, 2010, 08:23:44 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on October 14, 2010, 06:24:32 AM
Quote from: Dave on October 13, 2010, 09:58:06 PM
Just been informed by comment on another forum that the horizon on the picture below is 0.3 degree out.... :knuppel2:

And so it is. But the main thing wrong with it is that you have failed to correct for the curvature of the earth. What are you like, eh?

Which forum ?
I have around a 100 seascapes I would like them to look at and measure the horizons.  :uglystupid2: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 14, 2010, 11:25:35 AM
No it`s 0.28 degrees out I`d say Dave - great shot.

Of course what I have learned elsewhere is that you should have gone more off and stated it was a Dutch Angle - which evidently is the technical term for the tilted shots we all see. I find more and more of my shots are ditch angle when I look at them but some very subtly so  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on October 14, 2010, 07:26:22 PM
The forum is "worldphotographyforum" which to be honest is not very good.. :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 16, 2010, 06:42:50 PM
This http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/offbeat/condom-in-burger-case-settled-14977969.html gives a whole new meaning to the term Big Whopper!  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Just Dave on October 16, 2010, 10:41:25 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 13, 2010, 09:58:06 PM
Just been informed by comment on another forum that the horizon on the picture below is 0.3 degree out.... :knuppel2:

Shame on you Dave, dont know how you missed that, :2funny: Flippin fools
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 06, 2010, 08:26:07 PM
What, honestly, is the point of airport security?

Nice try. (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/05/international_flight_imposter/)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 08, 2010, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on November 06, 2010, 08:26:07 PM
What, honestly, is the point of airport security?

Nice try. (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/05/international_flight_imposter/)

Tell me about it, it appears one of my wife's medications contains nitroglycerin. When we went to fly out last week to Miami the TSA found 'explosive' residue on her hands. Nobody asked her if she takes medication for her heart, they just treated her like a potential terrorist, made her strip off her coat and sweater and frisked her all in public view, then they went through her carry on luggage. She hates flying, has to take tranq's to get by and this just put her in a tizzy before we even got on the plane.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 08, 2010, 04:32:09 PM
You can only work in airport security if you are too pathologically misanthropic to get a job as a traffic warden or tax inspector  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 10, 2010, 02:08:45 PM
The results of the Taylor Wessing portrait competition announced on the BBc news website and in BJP.

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1895182/david-chancellor-wins-taylor-wessing-photographic-portrait-prize

It's a strange world we live in sometimes. I'm not too sure if the editor of the BJP is damning the results with faint praise here.

'Though derided by many for its perceived preference for po-faced artiness and its obsession with images of sullen teenagers, the prize provides a unique barometer of contemporary portraiture and our changing attitudes towards representation," writes Simon Bainbridge, BJP's editor, in the magazine's November issue

It's nice of the BBC, on their piece on the results, to spare us the ridiculous and somewhat obscene by cropping the lady sitting outside her house devoid of her knickers. The BJP has no qualms in showing it in all it's glory, the picture I mean.  ;).

Didn't there used to be joke about keeping flies out of the house? :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 10, 2010, 03:13:48 PM
Well I like the first prize picture, Lamprou's picture, on the other hand, quite a long way the wrong side of tacky and pointless IMHO. The trouble is, I think I know which one is going to be remembered.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 10, 2010, 04:25:48 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on November 10, 2010, 03:13:48 PM
Well I like the first prize picture, Lamprou's picture, on the other hand, quite a long way the wrong side of tacky and pointless IMHO. The trouble is, I think I know which one is going to be remembered.

Yes, in nightmares no doubt. That is as unphotogenic a subject as I can ever imagine.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 10, 2010, 04:50:12 PM
  Well, I find both front page pics a bit obscene in their own sweet way.
                                 Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 10, 2010, 06:31:06 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2010, 02:08:45 PM
Didn't there used to be joke about keeping flies out of the house? :legit:

My father, when he was in the army and before been sent abroad, was given a lecture on VD by the medical officer who finished with these wise words, 'Remember flies spread diseases, so keep yours shut!  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 17, 2010, 04:56:06 PM
      The picture editor of the Derby Evening Telegraph requested that I send in some of my Motorhead pics before midnight on the evening of the show, so I did just that.
      I got this comment back via email.
                   
               "thanks Graham
nice pics
I will ask our entertainment people if they can squeeze one in - with your name on it of course - BUT I am not sure at this stage whether they will run anything as it happened already last night...
will email you to let you know ;O)
Very Best
Victoria :O)

       So. If you want to get a pic in the paper make sure you get it on the editors desk before the event actually happens!
                                       Graham.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on November 17, 2010, 06:08:28 PM
Taylor Wessing Portraits shots - my god they are both rubbish to me. I obviously know nothing. The first seems too tightly cropped, totally uncomvincing as a hunter set up and subject to a little distortion. The 2nd would sit better as a Reader`s Wives snapshot and to be honest looking at the small pic I thought she had a todger!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 17, 2010, 06:29:40 PM
Those are the headline shocker shots.

I went to the exhibition yesterday and it was just wonderful - some very very good portraits indeed.  Personally I wouldn't have picked any of the top 3 - IMO there were much stronger images.

But the readers wives one did exactly what the organisers intended.  I saw 2 very posh ladies look at it and say to each other "that's disgusting!" and then they spent a fair while studying it so they could be properly disgusted.

Oh and out of interest I did a quick count - more naked men than women in the exhibition.  But you'd never guess that from the publicity.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on November 19, 2010, 03:40:27 PM
I dont know if I am bemused or shocked, caliper seal kit for my motorcycle. Basically 8 x 1 inch diameter rubber bands £46  :o :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 20, 2010, 03:23:21 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 19, 2010, 03:40:27 PM
I dont know if I am bemused or shocked, caliper seal kit for my motorcycle. Basically 8 x 1 inch diameter rubber bands £46  :o :o

You're bemused, because you're shocked? :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 20, 2010, 03:36:27 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 19, 2010, 03:40:27 PM
I dont know if I am bemused or shocked, caliper seal kit for my motorcycle. Basically 8 x 1 inch diameter rubber bands £46  :o :o

 Is'nt there a hydraulic supplies company anywere near you? I'll bet you can get a box of 200 for a quarter of the price. ;)
                         Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on November 20, 2010, 03:40:18 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 19, 2010, 03:40:27 PM
I dont know if I am bemused or shocked, caliper seal kit for my motorcycle. Basically 8 x 1 inch diameter rubber bands £46  :o :o

Spose they've got you by the short and curlies, not being able to get the seals elsewhere.  I'm assuming they were genuine, and not pattern ones for that price?   Sometimes cheaper to get hold of a second hand calliper.  No guarantee how long that one will last though.

By the way, what bike have you got?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on November 20, 2010, 05:17:54 PM
I prefer to buy genuine, pretty much guaranteed fit. Could have got them for 1/3 the price off Ebay but ive been caught out before when I bought some drop links for the car & all 4 rubbers perished within 12 months. Hopefully I have fixed the front brakes, they where binding on & with the icy weather coming it had to be done. @Mick - its a tired looking 600 Bandit.

Heres a pic of the expensive spares with an 8mm spanner for scale.



Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 20, 2010, 06:29:45 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 20, 2010, 05:17:54 PM
I prefer to buy genuine, pretty much guaranteed fit. Could have got them for 1/3 the price off Ebay but ive been caught out before when I bought some drop links for the car & all 4 rubbers perished within 12 months. Hopefully I have fixed the front brakes, they where binding on & with the icy weather coming it had to be done. @Mick - its a tired looking 600 Bandit.

Heres a pic of the expensive spares with an 8mm spanner for scale.





Since the picture isn't 3D I won't say with 100%, but those look like o-rings to me. I have to agree with Graham, a Hydraulic supply would probably been a better and cheaper source.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on November 20, 2010, 06:51:49 PM
The pic does not show it very well but they are actually square section & the smaller one (dust seal) is has ribs on its inner face where it touches the piston. On the up side the front brakes have had a good service, copper grease almost every where, new fluid & even had the master cylinder off to check flow both ways before reading on the net that these seals get hard with age and cause binding.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 23, 2010, 12:29:35 PM
I was playing around with the Faces part of iPhoto. The things it "recognized" as a face. Heineken beer sign outside a pub, two sets of car wheels, a coat of arms. Two really blurry photos of who knows what. It pulled in the face of a garden gnome and more interestingly the face out of a framed photograph on my mantle. I'm seeing all sorts of faces from people I have no clue to, who must be in the background of shots.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 23, 2010, 01:37:41 PM
maybe it was "iNebriated"  :D

But on another note - i was amused to be told that my mobile phone network is cancelling all of my contracts because they can no longer supply me with a service at my new abode.
This apparently is the result of them switching off the 2G signal and our phones not being able to find the 3G signal.

Amazing - this is the technology that had far greater redundancy than 2G with signal coverage and degradation - and yet is far worse where we will.
Suspect a bit of scrimping is going on with the infrastructure...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 23, 2010, 01:44:41 PM
Quote from: picsfor on November 23, 2010, 01:37:41 PM
maybe it was "iNebriated"  :D

Apparently spare tires on Jeeps look like faces and apparently I done a lot of photography where there was a jeep somewhere in the background.

Quote from: picsfor on November 23, 2010, 01:37:41 PM

Amazing - this is the technology that had far greater redundancy than 2G with signal coverage and degradation - and yet is far worse where we will.
Suspect a bit of scrimping is going on with the infrastructure...


Now that I think of it, there were no bean counters in the Star Trek universe. Explains why there technology was so amazing!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 24, 2010, 12:44:07 PM
I remember reading a report a couple of weeks back that said Spam was down, but Malware was on the rise. Guess the spammers took that as some kind of challenge because I've gone from 3 or 4 a day to 10 to 12 in the last week.  :o>:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Skhilled on November 24, 2010, 03:36:10 PM
During the holidays, malware/trojans, etc. always rises...especially for websites. I've spent a few Christmas morns over the years helping others to get rid of it on their sites or help guard against it. :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 24, 2010, 05:06:51 PM
Quote from: spinner on November 24, 2010, 12:44:07 PM
I remember reading a report a couple of weeks back that said Spam was down, but Malware was on the rise. Guess the spammers took that as some kind of challenge because I've gone from 3 or 4 a day to 10 to 12 in the last week.  :o>:(

3 or 4 a day?  I get about 200 a day.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 24, 2010, 07:11:08 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on November 24, 2010, 05:06:51 PM
Quote from: spinner on November 24, 2010, 12:44:07 PM
I remember reading a report a couple of weeks back that said Spam was down, but Malware was on the rise. Guess the spammers took that as some kind of challenge because I've gone from 3 or 4 a day to 10 to 12 in the last week.  :o>:(

3 or 4 a day?  I get about 200 a day.....

Oops, didn't know a good thing when I had it.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 24, 2010, 07:16:25 PM
My spam has gone down - between 10 and 30 a day are trapped at my host, and another 5 or 6 a day. Used to be 100 a day being trapped and another 20 or so by Outlook.

Worse I had was over 1000 a day  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 24, 2010, 07:36:37 PM
Quote from: anglefire on November 24, 2010, 07:16:25 PM
My spam has gone down - between 10 and 30 a day are trapped at my host, and another 5 or 6 a day. Used to be 100 a day being trapped and another 20 or so by Outlook.

Worse I had was over 1000 a day  >:(

I'm unlucky if I get one a month.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 26, 2010, 09:26:00 PM
Bernard Matthews died today. I wonder if he'll be stuffed before roasting.  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on November 26, 2010, 10:22:59 PM
He will be cremated at gas mark 6 for 4 hrs
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 26, 2010, 11:35:00 PM
   I find these comments realy tastless!.....A bit like his products I supose! :2funny:
                          Graham. :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 26, 2010, 11:51:11 PM
Quote from: Graham on November 26, 2010, 11:35:00 PM
   I find these comments realy tastless!.....A bit like his products I supose! :2funny:
                          Graham. :knuppel2:

It was a bit of a turkey twizzler then?  :2funny: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 06:58:28 PM
Just heard a report on the ITV news about a woman who phoned 999 because her snowman was stolen - more on the 10'clock news apparently  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 03, 2010, 07:55:53 PM
Quote from: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 06:58:28 PM
Just heard a report on the ITV news about a woman who phoned 999 because her snowman was stolen - more on the 10'clock news apparently  :(

This one: http://news.aol.co.uk/uk-news/story/women-calls-999-over-snowman-theft/1438060  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 08:02:23 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 03, 2010, 07:55:53 PM
Quote from: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 06:58:28 PM
Just heard a report on the ITV news about a woman who phoned 999 because her snowman was stolen - more on the 10'clock news apparently  :(

This one: http://news.aol.co.uk/uk-news/story/women-calls-999-over-snowman-theft/1438060  :uglystupid2:
I only hope it is and there isn't two people that stupid in this country  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 04, 2010, 06:22:57 AM
Quote from: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 08:02:23 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 03, 2010, 07:55:53 PM
Quote from: irv_b on December 03, 2010, 06:58:28 PM
Just heard a report on the ITV news about a woman who phoned 999 because her snowman was stolen - more on the 10'clock news apparently  :(

This one: http://news.aol.co.uk/uk-news/story/women-calls-999-over-snowman-theft/1438060  :uglystupid2:
I only hope it is and there isn't two people that stupid in this country  :o
I'm going to have one of those "I'm not judgmental, but." moments.
            Read the quotes from the lady and see if you get the same image as me!
                             Graham. :uglystupid2: :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 04, 2010, 08:44:13 AM
Oxygen theif springs to mind
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 06, 2010, 12:41:31 PM
I don't know if this has been a popular DIY reno in Britain, but here in N.A. hard wood flooring has been. I don't think I'm exaggerating that there's been millions of renos done. I've done my whole house now. What's bemused me? Googled for projects/jobs I could do with the left over wood. I got 3 hits, 3! One of the suggestions was to burn it. I'm thinking there's millions of people like me, staring at a pile of leftover hardwood flooring going "there must be something I can use it for".
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on December 06, 2010, 05:40:51 PM
"there must be something I can use it for".

Yep there is, cut it to make frames for your photos, what better way to cut down on the cost of framing some prints....get them into local galleries as framed prints, nice xmas prezzies for friends and family.....if any of the planks are big enough make some nice little (or big) boxes again for gifts....I am of course assuming that you are talking about proper hardwood flooring i.e. left over planks etc and not what us brits call hard flooring which is MDF/Fibreboard/Chipboard which is then "laminated) (not sure what you call it in Canada) we have real hardwood flooring as well but over here it costs a bomb....

WBMT driving along the M4 Westbound just came over the Chiswick Flyover heading towards Heston and up ahead was the old flashing blue lights....some numpty on a MOPED with L Plates driving on the motorway the boys in blue had pulled him over and I am guessing after lots of talking to and fines/points etc they would then have had to escort him off the motorway......what an I D I O T  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 06, 2010, 06:05:14 PM
WBMT?

driving along the M25 on the section littered with variable speed limits.

Speed limits set at 40mph, with other signs interspersed saying "Fog - Slow Down"

If they think 40mph is too fast, why not just drop the speed d limit instead of confusing us - we are after all only ordinary road users!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 07, 2010, 11:14:41 AM
Quote from: krennon on December 06, 2010, 05:40:51 PM
"there must be something I can use it for".

Yep there is, cut it to make frames for your photos, what better way to cut down on the cost of framing some prints....get them into local galleries as framed prints, nice xmas prezzies for friends and family.....if any of the planks are big enough make some nice little (or big) boxes again for gifts....I am of course assuming that you are talking about proper hardwood flooring i.e. left over planks etc and not what us brits call hard flooring which is MDF/Fibreboard/Chipboard which is then "laminated) (not sure what you call it in Canada) we have real hardwood flooring as well but over here it costs a bomb....

Yes, it is indeed real hardwood 3/4 in. and no, doesn't cost a bomb. I live in the land of endless forests afterall (well not where I live specifically). Picture frames, there's an idea.  ;D  I'll have to find a routing pattern for the daddo steps. And we have the other it's called a laminated 'floating' floor here. Popular for flooring in basements.

Quote from: krennon on December 06, 2010, 05:40:51 PMWBMT driving along the M4 Westbound just came over the Chiswick Flyover heading towards Heston and up ahead was the old flashing blue lights....some numpty on a MOPED with L Plates driving on the motorway the boys in blue had pulled him over and I am guessing after lots of talking to and fines/points etc they would then have had to escort him off the motorway......what an I D I O T  :o

And  had somebody come along in say, tractor trailer and run over his sorry a** it'd be the poor truck driver being blamed.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 07, 2010, 11:19:53 AM
Quote from: picsfor on December 06, 2010, 06:05:14 PM


Speed limits set at 40mph, with other signs interspersed saying "Fog - Slow Down"



They are posted for the lowest common denominator amoung us, like the aforementioned Moped operator.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 07, 2010, 06:27:45 PM
WBMT?  You guys are getting pounded with snow. North, East and West of me is getting pounded with snow. I'm looking at what the Weather people like to call a 'trace'. A dusting really. It's just so odd to watch the TV reports.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 07, 2010, 06:56:05 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 07, 2010, 06:27:45 PM
WBMT?  You guys are getting pounded with snow. North, East and West of me is getting pounded with snow. I'm looking at what the Weather people like to call a 'trace'. A dusting really. It's just so odd to watch the TV reports.

Ah! Now we know where it came from!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 07, 2010, 07:34:34 PM
Here's a video to make you smile.  :2funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBLt6Kd9EY&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 07, 2010, 09:41:55 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 07, 2010, 07:34:34 PM
Here's a video to make you smile.  :2funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBLt6Kd9EY&feature=player_embedded

That's just down the street from where I grew up.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on December 07, 2010, 10:28:52 PM
Poor things. I'm glad the clip showed it ending well. (It did make me smile.)

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 08, 2010, 05:15:13 AM
  Bless 'em! :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 10, 2010, 06:20:02 PM
I've started getting Oriental (Chinese?) spam. I mean, even with nicknames used my name is in Western Alphabet and I think, recognizeably Anglo. What a waste of bits and Bytes. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 10, 2010, 09:06:59 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 10, 2010, 06:20:02 PM
I've started getting Oriental (Chinese?) spam. I mean, even with nicknames used my name is in Western Alphabet and I think, recognizeably Anglo. What a waste of bits and Bytes. :(

Is that classed as a takeaway?  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on December 17, 2010, 04:49:13 PM
WBMT...
Walked into Kingston at lunchtime.....haven't done it for a while, we have one of the recently refurbished Jessops in Kingston, the refurb seemed to consist of cutting the shop in half from a double unit to a single unit and having the staff standing around like members of the public so you're not sure if they are staff or customers.....and hey presto what has opened in the other unit next door that used to be part of Jessops.....
A JACOBS bang slam next door to the point that Jessops have put a sign in the window saying if you can find the same product cheaper within a 10 mile radius they will price match......Had a look in the Jacobs window and although I am a Sony user I was drooling somewhat at the Canon 500mm lens Jacobs had although at over £5000 that's an expensive piece of glass (looked like a mini rocket launcher as they had it on a tripod and angled up at about 45dg) Never used Jacobs so don't know what they're like but will have a look at some point just to check them out....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 17, 2010, 06:07:40 PM
I brought lots of camera stuff from Jacobs including D200 and D3 plus various lenses.

The local weather forecast on the BBC. On Thursday evening she warned for heavy snow on Saturday, this morning it's we aren't expecting heavy snow on Saturday but we're not sure, so the weather warning remains in place!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 18, 2010, 07:37:40 AM
     The Jacobs in Derby is like one of those old fashiond sweets shops...full of tempting stuff. Also the staff there know their stuff.
     Only problem for me is that they no longer do part exchange and so in the last 12 months or so they've lost out on about £5,500 worth of my business.
     I went to the local LCE who do part exchange  and so.....Well, you get the picture.
                                       Graham. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 20, 2010, 10:36:51 PM
You know things are bad when this happens!  :slol:

http://news.aol.co.uk/weird-news/story/heavy-snow-stops-santas-sleigh/1473912
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 21, 2010, 10:34:24 AM
Why is Huhne going to build 10,000 more useless wind turbines?

Just looked at the UK grid data and see that wind is currently producing 17mw (out of 54476mw demand), or because it is so little, effectively 0.0% of demand. Nuclear and coal are running flat out. This is because stationary anticyclones are not at all uncommon in the coldest of weather when demand reaches its peak. So not only will you chaps have to pay for another 10,000 white elephants, but you'll also have to pay for some real power stations, which you will have to keep running all of the time for when the wind stops blowing.

If you want a laugh (or a cry) look HERE (http://"http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm")

We have some turbines here in France, but thankfully there are not very many and they are little more than a sop for the watermelons. 85% of our electricity comes from nuclear (and indeed some 1.5% of yours is coming from French nukes as I write).



Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 21, 2010, 07:52:06 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on December 21, 2010, 10:34:24 AM
85% of our electricity comes from nuclear (and indeed some 1.5% of yours is coming from French nukes as I write).


We were world leaders in Nuclear and developed the fast breeder reactors, but due to the lack of foresite by different governments who failed to invest in it, we now rely on the rest of the world to supply our power. Even worse, these same governments sold off all out utilities companies for short term gains.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on December 22, 2010, 08:42:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 21, 2010, 07:52:06 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on December 21, 2010, 10:34:24 AM
85% of our electricity comes from nuclear (and indeed some 1.5% of yours is coming from French nukes as I write).


We were world leaders in Nuclear and developed the fast breeder reactors, but due to the lack of foresite by different governments who failed to invest in it, we now rely on the rest of the world to supply our power. Even worse, these same governments sold off all out utilities companies for short term gains.  >:(

It was the inevitable link between nuclear power and nuclear weaponry that put the political kibosh on the power production. Too many uneducated radicalised students that couldn't think beyond their own utopian teletubbie land. That and people are generally more afraid of nuclear power than any other form. I think it has to do with its invisibility - you can't sense radiation is there at all without additional equipment, while noxious fumes and the steady hum of windmills are readily discerned by the average person. Oddly, more radioactive substance has been added to the atmosphere by carbon based production (coal principally) than all the nuclear power plants combined (including Chernobyl and 3 mile island).

The strength of nuclear is providing a steady and large source of power. The amount of power cannot be quickly adapted to counter spikes, such as the East Enders brew up, whereas gas turbines and hydroelectric can be ramped up to counter short term demand increases.

The final mix of power sources has to take in a variety of production methods - providing both reliable massive steady capacity production and short term peak production. But I tend to agree with the views on wind power: generally ineffectual unless you are in a remote location and your needs are not critical. The energy density of wind is not terribly high.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 23, 2010, 07:26:19 PM
This woman attempts to clear the ice from underneath her front wheels – not realising it's the rear wheels which drive the 1 Series.

Getting more and more frustrated, the lady decides to stick her automatic BMW in 'drive' and get out and push it herself, hoping to jump back into the moving vehicle and head off on her delayed journey.

But she fails to straighten up the car's wheels and as the BMW picks up momentum it veers off – crashing into a neighbour's house.  :uglystupid2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6yX70Ce9VY&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 23, 2010, 08:20:15 PM
On similar lines.
Spot the error

(http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/13062/wrong.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 23, 2010, 08:29:09 PM
Snow chains on the front wheels instead of the back.  :uglystupid2:

Do I win a prize?  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 23, 2010, 11:27:16 PM
   Appropriate number plate! :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 28, 2010, 08:52:14 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12082853

They obviously don't include wheely bin collecting in their calculations, or pothole counts or road gritting, or the pratts that live at No.13!
Still apart from that it's not a bad place. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 07, 2011, 02:30:47 AM
WBMT? Coming to the sudden realization that my mouse and internet browser have take the place of the TV and remote.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 07, 2011, 07:41:12 AM
Quote from: spinner on January 07, 2011, 02:30:47 AM
WBMT? Coming to the sudden realization that my mouse and internet browser have take the place of the TV and remote.
Know what you mean Spin!

                      http://3630245502958321368-a-1802744773732722657-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/sjlewisprojects/Home/the-ascent-of-man/image001.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7crXwQIcBhY_MoaBJO7Wr3X0AptVLnmTreUAI1NWjhXOcHgxr7gsFERYhNwa0sT2Q9zmeuVWHAWDzJl_pHnk4kF4y7otwKquiBo0sSti5QhSA7OV3tHmLMV1u6BWMOkXP5ihfB5Pt5hWqQQbxFURv1hs2Wx2BgIEXWPJvUGUazgH4JOKnZNl4UM5ormur1acWzaLUGnqCAkVamvs_pg9nPoFVUOz-PcgsSMuGoBg7Lk1jGbxRlA%3D&attredirects=0

    Sorry! Long link to a cartoon.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 10, 2011, 06:17:49 PM
Eggs.

Battery hen eggs, to be precise.

Saw on the news that the 'because of an EU directive' British supermarkets will not be allowed to sell eggs produced by battery hens from 2012.

I'll cut a complicated lecture on EU Directives short: The UK is the ONLY country in the EU to impose such a ban. But somehow this decision by the UK government is the EU's fault.

Now it is a given that the EU bureaucracy annoys everyone in Europe who isn't on the payroll, but blaming the EU for the dictatorial tendencies of UK government is a bit rich. But only to be expected, alas.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 10, 2011, 06:41:25 PM
Sorry Howard, don't know where you got this info.

A piece on Countryfile yesterday will explain it. Have a look at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xjzqt/Countryfile_09_01_2011/

It's about halfway into the programme. It's all about a EU directive on new cage dimensions apparently which is already being implemented in the UK so that we can continue to enjoy our breakfast chukkies and soldiers.

Where the misunderstanding may have occurred is an egg farmer saying we should not allow eggs to be imported into the UK unless they have been produced under the new regulations. Knowing the peasant farmers of Europe and their propensity to ignore such regulations, I'm not sure he's right!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 10, 2011, 07:14:24 PM
  I have absolutley no evidence to support this, but I think you'll find that the UK is the ONLY country in the EU to take a blind bit of notice of what the EU says!
                                        Graham. :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 11, 2011, 08:01:12 AM
I think the French dream up the laws, the EU ratifies them, the UK implements them and everyone else ignores them if its going to cost them money and moan if the UK doesn't comply.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 11, 2011, 08:15:44 AM
Quote from: anglefire on January 11, 2011, 08:01:12 AM
I think the French dream up the laws, the EU ratifies them, the UK implements them and everyone else ignores them if its going to cost them money and moan if the UK doesn't comply.

It was ever thus. Those weasly foreign johnnies have a lot to be answer for. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on January 11, 2011, 09:08:09 AM
Personally I would like to see a ban on eggs from caged hens regardless of which country they are layed in...the sooner the govnt's around the world ban caged and barn eggs the better....We only ever buy free range or organic eggs and wherever possible buy products that only have free range egg in, M&S are leading the way on this, I see Tesco are now beginning to promote pasta made with F.R. Egg. Any major push though needs to come from one of the big 4 saying they will only use F R Egg in all their products......my twopenneth worth.....

WBMT the idiot at the traffic lights texting on his mobile phone not realising that the cop car behind him was watching every move YAY 3 points and a £60.00 fine coming his way... :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 16, 2011, 11:30:41 AM
In this country if you avoid road tax/tolls you get a small fine, but other countries take a different view.  :'(

The brother of a farmer sentenced to life in prison in central China for evading road tolls has turned himself in to police, an official said, in a case that triggered a massive public outcry over the heavy punishment.

A court in Henan province sentenced farmer Shi Jianfeng to life imprisonment last month for fraud for avoiding road tolls that added up to more than 3.68 million yuan (£352,000).

But the court announced a retrial on Friday after news of the verdict triggered an uproar among Chinese.

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter RSS On Saturday night, Shi's younger brother Shi Junfeng went to the public security bureau of Wuliang township in Henan to say his elder brother had taken the blame for him, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

A duty officer at the security bureau confirmed Shi Junfeng had turned himself in but said he did not know the details of the case.

Shi Junfeng said he had offered bribes to officials following his brother's detention and was promised that he would be released soon, Xinhua reported, citing police head Wang Xucan.

Shi, the farmer, was convicted of mounting fake military license plates on his two trucks to avoid paying tolls more than 2,300 times between May 2008 and January 2009 while he ran a business transporting gravel.

Military vehicles do not have to pay road tolls. In addition to the life prison sentence, he was fined two million yuan (£191,000).

Chinese internet users argued in online postings and commentaries that shorter sentences were given out for the more serious crimes of rape and murder.

The public outrage was so loud that the Pingdingshan Municipal Intermediate People's Court held a news conference to announce the retrial, with a court official saying the verdict may change because the defendant indicated he had accomplices, Xinhua said.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 20, 2011, 03:08:54 PM
Strange goings on in the natural world. There has been a flock of American robins zipping back and forth behind my house for the past few days, they will rest in one or two of the maple trees for a few minutes and then zip back and forth again. Why is this strange? American Robins don't winter here. They are usually gone by Dec. and don't come back until Apr. They eat bugs, worms and berries and there are none about. When they are here in summer they're pretty solitary birds, unless mating.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 20, 2011, 07:29:47 PM
Quote from: spinner on January 20, 2011, 03:08:54 PM
Strange goings on in the natural world. There has been a flock of American robins zipping back and forth behind my house for the past few days, they will rest in one or two of the maple trees for a few minutes and then zip back and forth again. Why is this strange? American Robins don't winter here. They are usually gone by Dec. and don't come back until Apr. They eat bugs, worms and berries and there are none about. When they are here in summer they're pretty solitary birds, unless mating.

The day after our big freeze ended, I saw a Caterpillar descend from a holly bush, so although you might not see them, there are insects around. If the Robins stay around, then there must be a food source they are using. In winter months with trees bear of leaves, they will flock together for protection.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 21, 2011, 01:58:07 PM
There ya go! An explanation that makes sense.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 21, 2011, 06:22:43 PM
I spent 3 hrs. driving around the Niagara Escarpment yesterday looking for one of these. With no luck. And look out my window this morning and there's one in my back garden.


(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10013/normal_hawk_0618.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=8739)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 21, 2011, 08:18:02 PM
Isn't it always the same. I missed a Kestrel today and he was only eight foot away.  :uglystupid2:

Cracking shot Spinner and well caught.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 10, 2011, 02:50:55 PM
Now I think I've head it all until I spotted this on AOL today.  :uglystupid2:

After "the wrong kind of snow" and "leaves on the line", train travellers have been given a new reason for delays - dew on the tracks.

Given the mildness of the weather and the fact that autumn is months away, London-bound commuters on services run by the Southern train company were surprised to hear that their journeys were being delayed by "poor railhead conditions" on Wednesday.

A Southern spokeswoman later explained: "This is a railhead phenomenon that happens at this time of the year". "Dew gets on the tracks and makes conditions difficult."

The problem led to delays for some early-morning commuters from the Uckfield area of Sussex, while services from Godstone and Tonbridge in Kent were also affected.

Can you believe it?  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 10, 2011, 07:14:13 PM
You can't fight these extreme weather conditions . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 11, 2011, 05:27:15 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on February 10, 2011, 07:14:13 PM
You can't fight these extreme weather conditions . .
Know what you mean Howard.
                I cycle to work and yesterday the breeze ruffled my hair and made me look foolish. I tell you, I nearly turned round and went home!
                                        Graham. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 11, 2011, 10:04:03 AM
Quote from: Graham on February 11, 2011, 05:27:15 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on February 10, 2011, 07:14:13 PM
You can't fight these extreme weather conditions . .
Know what you mean Howard.
                I cycle to work and yesterday the breeze ruffled my hair and made me look foolish. I tell you, I nearly turned round and went home!
                                        Graham. :D

Use a hairnet!  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Skhilled on February 13, 2011, 08:16:12 PM
LOL!

Quote from: spinner on January 21, 2011, 06:22:43 PM
I spent 3 hrs. driving around the Niagara Escarpment yesterday looking for one of these. With no luck. And look out my window this morning and there's one in my back garden.


(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10013/normal_hawk_0618.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=8739)

Nice! I just keep missing the one in my back alley. Now that there's snow everywhere. I can see the blood splatters and feathers lying about from its morning meals. But still keep missing it. LOL At least, I've got the time narrowed down. Unfortunately, I tend to not be looking at that time for one reason or another.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 16, 2011, 08:01:49 AM
The prices of Olympic tickets! :o
Since the Olympic site is near the city, are the prices aligned to bankers' earnings? ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 16, 2011, 09:51:10 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 16, 2011, 08:01:49 AM
The prices of Olympic tickets! :o
Since the Olympic site is near the city, are the prices aligned to bankers' earnings? ;)

Not a problem for them, as they will get free tickets via corporate hospitality!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on February 16, 2011, 10:18:05 AM
Wondering if I'm going to have to pay to get into Richmond Park, or down the river in Kingston/Richmond/Walton/Weybridge way for the cycling....these are all public areas and are around where I live....therefore I shouldn't be charged for wanting to go there, I've already paid for the use of these areas in my council tax and been charged for the Olympics in my council tax at the rate of a mars bar a week as well and I have ZERO interest in the olympics, especially as a football club is going to be taking over the stadium which in my opinion should not be happening the stadium should be for athletics and maybe concerts etc as per the original legacy we have enough football stadiums in this country as it is....if it wouldn't be a danger to the wildlife I'd be tempted to put a load of carpet tacks all along the cycle route....bah humbug to the Olympics.....AND BREATHE, RANT OVER
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 18, 2011, 08:45:25 PM
For just over three weeks our Merc has been misfiring, running like petrol was getting into the engine in blobs and developing so little power it would barely get up the hill on the way to town.

Today it went in for a diagnostic check. You guessed - it started first time and ran like new all the way to the dealership. I get the results back tomorrow, but I bet they didn't find anything. And that on Monday when I start it it'll barely move under it's own steam.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 19, 2011, 01:22:08 PM
Well, they only charged €121.68 for plugging it into their diagnostic machine. B*st*rds. And then they came up with 'an intermittent ECU/MAF fault' which I could have told them. Diagnosis, replace the lot, only €1,400. See previous one word sentence for my thoughts on that.

Luckily the ECU/MAF is repairable (not by Mercedes I hasten to add, who will only sell you a new one)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on February 19, 2011, 01:48:53 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on February 19, 2011, 01:22:08 PM
Luckily the ECU/MAF is repairable (not by Mercedes I hasten to add, who will only sell you a new one)

Be very wary of cheap airflow meters, replaced mine recently and was given 2 options £50 or £100. The guy in the shop told me to buy the cheap one only if i was selling in the next fortnight! I read up on the net and he was being honest. The car (diesel) was extremely slow & sluggish, pulled the plug off the MAF and it came back to life proving this was the problem, It was sluggish all the time though not intermittent.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 19, 2011, 02:13:07 PM
Ah the joy of Mercedes - you can't just change the MAF on mine, you have to change the ECU with it, as it is built in and inaccessible without it being fully dismantled. I'm not buying a MAF, but having the original unit rebuilt.

The same warning you have given applies to oxygen sensors too ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 02, 2011, 12:22:06 AM
The Met office confirmed that February was the second dullest on record.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 09:05:45 AM
...and the forecast for the next 5 days in this neck of the woods shows no glimmer of sun either! What's going on? Yet we have bluebells flowering in the garden!
I think it's the coalition that's to blame! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on March 02, 2011, 09:15:35 AM
And we've got daffs round where we are...sure the forecast this morning though said there would be a chance of sun showing through later....at least for the South of London/Surrey/Hants...shall wait and see though, will only take a slight wind change and we won't get anything at all.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 02, 2011, 10:25:43 AM
Watch this film.  :tup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 11:32:01 AM
Thanks for Oldboy, wonderful.
In those days it would seem to be that the business to be in was Hats, nobody in the whole sequence was without a hat that I could spot!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on March 02, 2011, 12:44:22 PM
It was superb, love the way everything just mingled together and although there were a couple of close calls nobody got hit..amazingly....
Is that what it was really like back then OB & Abers?... ;D :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 02, 2011, 12:46:21 PM
It's cloudy, with sunny breaks and very windy here. It's on the freeze mark and forecast to get colder throughout the day with a drop to -8 by afternoon. I can't expect to seen flowers for another 2 months.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 02:54:16 PM
Quote from: krennon on March 02, 2011, 12:44:22 PM
It was superb, love the way everything just mingled together and although there were a couple of close calls nobody got hit..amazingly....
Is that what it was really like back then OB & Abers?... ;D :legit:

Pretty much so, although if I remember correctly there were a good few penny-fathings on the street! I always got the little wheel at the back caught in the tram tracks. No bikes of any description in this film. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 02, 2011, 05:07:44 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 02:54:16 PM
No bikes of any description in this film. :tup:

          Apart from the one 17 seconds in, overtaking the tram, no lights, no helmet!
          I think it's safe to say Alan, with observation like that, you would'nt last 5 seconds on a bike on todays roads! :knuppel2:
          Lovely bit of film, organised chaos and no road rage.
                       Graham. :tup:
 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 06:17:39 PM
Quote from: Graham on March 02, 2011, 05:07:44 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 02:54:16 PM
No bikes of any description in this film. :tup:

          Apart from the one 17 seconds in, overtaking the tram, no lights, no helmet!
          I think it's safe to say Alan, with observation like that, you would'nt last 5 seconds on a bike on todays roads! :knuppel2:
          Lovely bit of film, organised chaos and no road rage.
                       Graham. :tup:


Quite right Graham, I hung up my clips ages ago, and I couldn't wear a bunch of bananas on my head for love nor money! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 02, 2011, 06:29:24 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 06:17:39 PM
Quote from: Graham on March 02, 2011, 05:07:44 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 02, 2011, 02:54:16 PM
No bikes of any description in this film. :tup:

          Apart from the one 17 seconds in, overtaking the tram, no lights, no helmet!
          I think it's safe to say Alan, with observation like that, you would'nt last 5 seconds on a bike on todays roads! :knuppel2:
          Lovely bit of film, organised chaos and no road rage.
                       Graham. :tup:


Quite right Graham, I hung up my clips ages ago, and I couldn't wear a bunch of bananas on my head for love nor money! ::)

          I know what you mean about the helmet thing.
          Iv'e been cycling to work for 15 years now and never had an accident (Seen hundreds ;D). A couple of weeks ago I got the feeling that my luck could'nt hold out much longer and I now wear a helmet.
          It's a bit like when we were told we had to wear seat belts by law. I would'nt think of riding without a helmet now, just as I would'nt drive without a seat belt.
                                   Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 18, 2011, 09:06:07 AM
Epic fail.  :2funny:

http://www.guandongenterprisesltd.com/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 18, 2011, 03:59:15 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on March 18, 2011, 09:06:07 AM
Epic fail.  :2funny:

http://www.guandongenterprisesltd.com/
Get yours now! They'er going to be worth a fortune. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 18, 2011, 04:22:33 PM
   :2funny: This is priceless, but what were you doing looking for royal wedding memorabilia?  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 18, 2011, 07:21:50 PM
Hope no-one tells them before they go in to production - I want one ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 18, 2011, 08:15:46 PM
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 18, 2011, 04:22:33 PM
   :2funny: This is priceless, but what were you doing looking for royal wedding memorabilia?  :D

I wasn't. It was posted on AOL.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 22, 2011, 08:42:59 AM
As some of you may have noticed, I'm rather partial to a bit of Black and White, photographically speaking, although the whiskey is quite acceptable.

So when I got this month's B+W magazine with the deatails of their 2011 POTY competition, the old noddle started to think about what I might stand a chance with. That's until I got to the bit about Entry Fees. Now over at Pradar there has been the rumblings of discontent that would make the Libya affair look like a walk in the park, since they decided to charge a tenner to enter.

Whilst it's early days yet I think perhaps the B+W mag affair will far surpass that and I'm sure it will be raised at the U.N. along the same lines with all sorts of resolutions calling for the editor to be hunted down and blown to bits by a cruise missile at least.

Why. Because if you decide to enter the B+W POTY section, comprising 3 related prints and each of the other 8 categories you will need to shell out a mind boggling £48. :doh:

Have magazines decided that selling subscriptions as a source of revenue is to be abandoned and charging for competition entries a better way of making a profit :-\

Have a look
ttp://www.bpoty.com
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 22, 2011, 12:57:20 PM
Ah, but for you Alan it's not so much a gamble as an investment . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 25, 2011, 01:58:28 AM
I know I'm looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, but, I downloaded the new "free" version of Serif's Photo Plus. I'm bemused by the fact that it won't save my RAW files in any format other than their Spp format. What good is that? No printing service will be able to print from it.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 25, 2011, 07:44:06 AM
Simon,

I think you need to go File / Export, instead of File / Save as.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 26, 2011, 09:50:16 AM
So it does, I see it actually gives the option of viewing it in 4 different formats so you can choose, but I don't really see the point. I don't know how it works in the U.K. but here JPG is the only format I can submit to a printer.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 26, 2011, 10:09:37 AM
Serif does have a habit of changing stuff from the normal way of doing things.  Why, I haven't a clue.

To be honest using the "save as" command would have been my first route, but they love the word export, and tend to use it on most of their software.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 26, 2011, 10:16:50 AM
I guess they need to do something substantially different from P.S. to prevent some copyright infringement I guess. Otherwise it looks a lot like CS5. But it's free and I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 26, 2011, 10:18:20 AM
Quote from: admin on March 26, 2011, 10:09:37 AM
Serif does have a habit of changing stuff from the normal way of doing things.  Why, I haven't a clue.

To be honest using the "save as" command would have been my first route, but they love the word export, and tend to use it on most of their software.

Might be something to do with the commerical pinting world, as QuarkXpress also use export.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 26, 2011, 01:51:31 PM
    What bemused me yesterday.
                   I was reading the lable on my jar of Marmite (It was one of those sort of days.) and I noticed that it was "100% vegetarian."
                   As apposed to what exactly?  97.2% vegetarian...Did they used to have a big vat of the stuff bubbleing away and chuck a dead cows head in just to help things along a bit.
                                         Graham. :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 26, 2011, 08:20:25 PM
With Serif you chose file>export optimiser and then chose the file format from the drop down box. I have the full version of X4 and it has loads of options. Make sure you don't use the lossless jpg option though, hardly anything else understands it. Very useful for editing something and going back to it later.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 27, 2011, 02:42:33 AM
Did a day trip down to Buffalo NY. Got a terrific deal on SD cards. 4 Gig for $10 so I bought 3. Got hone and discovered my D50 can't handle anything over 2 Gig. :o :'( My daughter is now the proud owner of 12 Gigs of storage as her Fujifilm does handle them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on March 28, 2011, 11:10:40 AM
Bathroom tap sprung a leak, flexible tap connector, why? its been there for years. My biggest problem was getting parts of my self into and under the stupid little cabinet SWMBO took a fancy to when we last did the bathroom. So the dilemma is do i go on a diet or buy a bigger cabinet next time.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 28, 2011, 08:01:55 PM
Quote from: bones615 on March 28, 2011, 11:10:40 AM
Bathroom tap sprung a leak, flexible tap connector, why? its been there for years. My biggest problem was getting parts of my self into and under the stupid little cabinet SWMBO took a fancy to when we last did the bathroom. So the dilemma is do i go on a diet or buy a bigger cabinet next time.

Simon

Neither! Get her to fix it.  ::)  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on March 30, 2011, 07:42:17 PM
I just got asked to be guest speaker at a camera club.  Apparently they have 4 speakers per year - last one was Mark Cleghorn.  I'm pretty sure we disagree about a couple of things.... :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 31, 2011, 01:01:26 PM
I won`t fall for the signature trick twice Jonathan - or will I :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on March 31, 2011, 09:14:59 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on March 30, 2011, 07:42:17 PM

Well your signature is rather a cool way to welcome a newbie Jonathan - Maybe I will be doing some building work to clear the studio floor tomorrow  8) :2funny:

  :idea: Does it mean I do not have to introduce myself  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 31, 2011, 11:39:28 PM
Welcome to the site beauxreflets.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on April 01, 2011, 12:28:33 AM
Quote from: beauxreflets on March 31, 2011, 09:14:59 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on March 30, 2011, 07:42:17 PM

Well your signature is rather a cool way to welcome a newbie Jonathan - Maybe I will be doing some building work to clear the studio floor tomorrow  8) :2funny:

  :idea: Does it mean I do not have to introduce myself  ;)

Hi beauxreflets, and welcome to CC.   :tup:  Any questions about finding your way around the site, just shout.  ;)

And please don't get freaked out by Johnathan's signature, it says the same to all of us who read it. ;)  It's just a little bit of bbcode [you] used in our signatures, which echo's the name of the person reading it.  See here,  http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=1868.0
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 01, 2011, 05:36:44 AM
Hi beauxreflets and welcome. You`ll find this site a bit more informative and mature than some we know  ;)
I know I`ll be spending more time here now. Some great photographers and loads of knowledge and expertise around here and the weekly comp if you want to give it a go.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 01, 2011, 08:36:03 AM
Welcome Andy.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on April 01, 2011, 09:44:07 AM
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 26, 2011, 08:20:25 PM
With Serif you chose file>export optimiser and then chose the file format from the drop down box. I have the full version of X4 and it has loads of options. Make sure you don't use the lossless jpg option though, hardly anything else understands it. Very useful for editing something and going back to it later.

Howard, I've just ordered x4, got their customer loyalty email offering it to me for £29 so I took them up on it.  Actually the offer expired on Sunday, and I rang them on the following Wednesday to see if I could still get the offer.  Ended up being offered PhotoPlus X4 and PagePlus X5 both with free carriage, free PanoramaPlus, a free pack of photo paper, and printed manuals, for £59.  As I use both programs that's a absolute bargain IMO.  Can't ever see Adobe doing this kind of thing.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 01, 2011, 11:43:18 AM
Can't ever see Adobe selling anything at all for that price.

I've sent you a PM Mick.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 01, 2011, 03:04:34 PM
iMac issues. Have had a couple which I posted on MacForums. I thought them bizarre and so it would appear they were as no one has ever replied to them. Lots of views but no answers. I'm so used to posting an MS query and getting dozens of responses it's a bit maddening.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 06, 2011, 01:37:20 PM
So petrol is dear. Someone has just informed me that printer ink works out at £5,200 a gallon. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on April 06, 2011, 02:49:39 PM
and probably doesn't get you very many prints either not that petrol gets you good quality prints either  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 06, 2011, 08:49:54 PM
Quote from: krennon on April 06, 2011, 02:49:39 PM
and probably doesn't get you very many prints either not that petrol gets you good quality prints either  ???

Yes, but it helps with the bad shots, as they burn faster.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on April 07, 2011, 07:30:55 AM
Beer isn't exactly cheap per gallon either - not that I know what the price is, as I haven't bought one in the pub for ages.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 10, 2011, 02:39:32 PM
It's been a week now, since I posted my iMac question and still no answer. I decided to run my own username and discovered since getting the Mac, I have posted about 8 queries on issues I'd had. 4 of the 8 have never been replied to. I'm wondering if I bought a Jinxed machine.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 10, 2011, 02:44:06 PM
2nd thing that has bemused me today, seeing all the posted flower and insect photos. It's still all gray and brown here. Right now ( almost 10 am.) it's a thick overcast to the point I have to have lights on instead of enjoying sunshine.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 20, 2011, 08:04:02 AM
It's payback time with a vengeance. Just read that PR man and sometime PM man Cameron has ennobled some 117 people in the past year. He shouldn't have made all those silly off the cuff promises on his climb up the greasy pole, because apparently this has made the House of Lords a somewhat overcrowded and a difficult place to work in. The queue to register expenses is becoming quite rowdy and unmanageable and spaces to doze off on the benches are at a premium.

They're not all 'yes men' as is usually the case, he's been looking out for NO men in the run up to the AV referendum!

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on April 21, 2011, 03:59:43 PM
This did
Hope it works

(http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=587.0;attach=988;image)



It doesn't So will have to work on it. Sorry
Wll it does work it's an animation but it won't work in the post :'(

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 21, 2011, 05:00:03 PM
Isn',t this just poetic Justice

PERTH - An SAS trooper collecting toys for children was stabbed when he helped
stop a suspected shoplifter in east Perth .

The 'Toys-R-Us' Store Manager told 'The West Australian' that a man was seen on
surveillance cameras last Friday putting a laptop under his jacket at the store.

When confronted, the man became irate, knocked down an employee, pulled a knife
and ran toward the door.
Outside were four SAS Troopers collecting toys for the "Toys For Tots" program.

Smith said the Troopers stopped the man, but he stabbed one of them, in the back.
The cut did not appear to be severe.

The suspect was transported by ambulance to the Royal Perth Hospital with two
broken arms, a broken leg, possible broken ribs, multiple contusions and assorted
lacerations including a broken nose and jaw...

Injuries he apparently sustained when he tripped whilst trying to run after the stabbing.

One of the Troopers said, "He was a clumsy B A S T A R D."

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on April 22, 2011, 12:04:11 PM
PhotoRadar sent me a "VIP" email.

It leads with a lovely image advertising their tutorials for aspiring wedding pros.

For the life of me I can't figure out what the reflector is doing.  I must need one of their courses.

(http://homepage.mac.com/jonathan_ryan/filechute/reflector.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on April 22, 2011, 02:14:13 PM
He is trying to hide his shirt with it... ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on April 22, 2011, 03:05:17 PM
Perhaps it's a spot the unusual shadows compelation  :tup:  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on April 22, 2011, 04:49:04 PM
To me, it looks like he's throwing light back into the shadows/faces. Should he therefore be further to the right and have a bigger reflector?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 22, 2011, 05:09:06 PM
Perhaps he reflecting black light!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on April 22, 2011, 05:40:39 PM
Quote from: nickt on April 22, 2011, 04:49:04 PM
To me, it looks like he's throwing light back into the shadows/faces. Should he therefore be further to the right and have a bigger reflector?

But there is no extra light in the faces......

Reflectors work like stationary tennis rackets.  Light comes in, hits them and bounces off at the opposite angle it came in at.  They also throw back (far) less than 100% of the light that hits them.

The reflector is pretty much perpendicular to the light (you can see the sun pretty clearly from the shadows) which means it will skip off and vanish to picture right.  And there really won't be much of it.  Considerably less light will be hitting it than the back of the "groom's" head and only a portion will get reflected in the wrong direction.  If it were working, you'd see a shimmery light on their faces.

There's a theory on Twitter that this is part of an article about bouncing a flash into a reflector which is something I've done many times but.....

1. There's no flash or trigger on either of the cameras
2. You can roughly see where it would throw the light from the reflector shadow (caused by the BTS guy's on camera flash).  That's mainly into the pillar (this could vary a bit depending on striking angle.  But not enough ;) )

It's a nicely set up shot that some muppet has put a guy in an ugly shirt with a reflector in.  It annoys me that this will be used to teach people about "using a reflector to add catchlights" when that's total nonsense.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 22, 2011, 06:34:41 PM
 That shirt would create one hell of a colour cast!
                   Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 22, 2011, 06:46:35 PM
Aside from Dave's astute observation about shirt concealment the reflector could also be:
1. To give the assistant a sense of self worth by getting him to do something he thinks is helpful or
2. Give the bride a reflection so that she can fine tune her pout or
3. He is actually nothing to do with the photographer and the face of the disk he is holding is covered in velcro so that he can catch the tennis ball being throw at him by the other player just out of shot.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on April 22, 2011, 08:46:38 PM
Or perhaps it's a  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on April 22, 2011, 09:16:15 PM
I think he's singing ' Hey Mr Tambourine man. I have lost my wedding bells '
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on April 22, 2011, 11:53:22 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on April 22, 2011, 05:40:39 PM
Quote from: nickt on April 22, 2011, 04:49:04 PM
To me, it looks like he's throwing light back into the shadows/faces. Should he therefore be further to the right and have a bigger reflector?

But there is no extra light in the faces......

Reflectors work like stationary tennis rackets.  Light comes in, hits them and bounces off at the opposite angle it came in at.  They also throw back (far) less than 100% of the light that hits them.

The reflector is pretty much perpendicular to the light (you can see the sun pretty clearly from the shadows) which means it will skip off and vanish to picture right.  And there really won't be much of it.  Considerably less light will be hitting it than the back of the "groom's" head and only a portion will get reflected in the wrong direction.  If it were working, you'd see a shimmery light on their faces.

There's a theory on Twitter that this is part of an article about bouncing a flash into a reflector which is something I've done many times but.....

1. There's no flash or trigger on either of the cameras
2. You can roughly see where it would throw the light from the reflector shadow (caused by the BTS guy's on camera flash).  That's mainly into the pillar (this could vary a bit depending on striking angle.  But not enough ;) )

It's a nicely set up shot that some muppet has put a guy in an ugly shirt with a reflector in.  It annoys me that this will be used to teach people about "using a reflector to add catchlights" when that's total nonsense.
So if he was further to the right, would there not be some fill light reflected back to the bride and groom? Looking at the shadow of the B&G, the sun is to the left and would bounce back to them if he was further to the right.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on April 26, 2011, 08:16:42 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on April 22, 2011, 12:04:11 PM
It leads with a lovely image advertising their tutorials for aspiring wedding pros.

For the life of me I can't figure out what the reflector is doing.  I must need one of their courses.

I'm wondering just how much of the B&G can be seen from the camera. Looks like they might need a smidge of gravitational lensing from the stone pillar to be seen by the camera.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 26, 2011, 02:47:50 PM
Recession! What recession!  :o

In Birmingham today and noticed the Jessops's shop has been refitted inside and out.  :dance:

Frontage.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5657737332_7a31392a04.jpg?v=0) (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5657737332_7a31392a04_b.jpg)

Inside.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5657737340_2367aa6a4e.jpg?v=0) (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5657737340_2367aa6a4e_b.jpg)

Click image for bigger size.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on April 26, 2011, 03:25:13 PM
It does not look very busy OB  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 26, 2011, 06:56:08 PM
No, it appears there where more staff than customers, but it was taken at 11:00am today, after the bank holidays.  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 26, 2011, 07:22:27 PM
Hope they've had the staffs' brains refitted!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on April 27, 2011, 08:44:34 AM
The staff at Jessops has brains???????? :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on April 27, 2011, 09:20:47 AM
They probably do  :dance: Lots of companies and organisations cannot be Rsed to train their staff properly  :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 14, 2011, 07:19:02 AM
Reading the news on the BBC website I was more amused that bemused.
The juxtaposition of two headlines.

UK Woman Beheaded in Tenerife.        Hacking Payout For Sienna Miller.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 17, 2011, 10:35:31 AM
Why do salespeople  " Just happen to be in the area "
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on May 17, 2011, 01:45:29 PM
Because they are stalking vunerable holders of the purse strings  :2funny:  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 17, 2011, 06:14:57 PM
Sort of a local news event - the fact that Nicolas Sarkozy still hasn't made any comment about the arrest of Dominic Strauss-Kahn in New York. Probably still hasn't stopped running around the Elysêe Palace doing cartwheels and laughing his head off, pausing only to shout 'get in!' at various intervals.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on May 18, 2011, 05:14:32 PM
Advertising various room attendant positions across the country at the moment from Birmingham to Plymouth and across Surrey and Sussex as well...had LOADS of CV's come in and at least the last 8 I have looked at, people have listed photography as either one of their interests or one of their "qualifications" and a couple claim they do photography in their spare time to earn some extra money.....where did I go wrong???  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 19, 2011, 11:22:17 PM
It's common sense that if a dog chases a Swan into the pond, and you are holding the lead - then let go else, you end up in the water.  :uglystupid2:

Oops!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/5738248588_c2e1f91583_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/5738248588_c2e1f91583_b.jpg)


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5738248592_bf95d0b65c_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5738248592_bf95d0b65c_b.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5738248600_770e511616_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5738248600_770e511616_b.jpg)

Click each picture for bigger size.


Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 20, 2011, 08:19:25 AM
lol oldboy - great capture. Bet she felt silly! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 20, 2011, 08:49:54 AM
WBMT.
Entered four prints for consideration for The 2011 London Salon. Three I considered stood a reasonable chance of success and the fourth was really a bit of a 'make-weight'.

Guess which one was accepted :o. Funny old game photography. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on May 20, 2011, 08:53:49 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 19, 2011, 11:22:17 PM
It's common sense that if a dog chases a Swan into the pond, and you are holding the lead - then let go else, you end up in the water.  :uglystupid2:

Oops!!!


Brilliant Oldboy.
I bet you wish you'd had the video switched on, you could be £250 better off now.  I wonder what Harry Hill would have come up with to say about it  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on May 20, 2011, 10:30:33 AM
Quote from: krennon on May 18, 2011, 05:14:32 PM
Advertising various room attendant positions across the country at the moment from Birmingham to Plymouth and across Surrey and Sussex as well...had LOADS of CV's come in and at least the last 8 I have looked at, people have listed photography as either one of their interests or one of their "qualifications" and a couple claim they do photography in their spare time to earn some extra money.....where did I go wrong???  ::)
Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "room attendant" ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 20, 2011, 04:54:25 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on May 20, 2011, 10:30:33 AM
Quote from: krennon on May 18, 2011, 05:14:32 PM
Advertising various room attendant positions across the country at the moment from Birmingham to Plymouth and across Surrey and Sussex as well...had LOADS of CV's come in and at least the last 8 I have looked at, people have listed photography as either one of their interests or one of their "qualifications" and a couple claim they do photography in their spare time to earn some extra money.....where did I go wrong???  ::)
Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "room attendant" ?

   I wonderd that!   Would the room in question be a lavatory perchance?
                                 Graham. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 03, 2011, 09:47:31 AM
So I've been buying a bunch of ultra light kit for my trek in Peru (who knew that a pair of jeans could weight more than a lens....?).

Big bundle came yesterday from an online store that was having a sale :D.  Bunch of T shirts, some dry bags and a first aid kit came to a shade under a kilo.  However the parcel weighed over 2 kilos.  The tags on the shirts telling me how light they were and the plastic bags they were in weighed more than the kit itself....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 03, 2011, 11:05:44 AM
Having been so called removed from the registration system (as requested) on a certain site many are familiar with - I still get notification of threads coming through my inbox.  :uglystupid2:. They certainly need to get something sorted out there, as that simply confirms I made the right move.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on June 03, 2011, 11:38:40 AM

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "room attendant" ?
[/quote]

Ah sorry I somehow missed this post.....so sorry for late reply, a room attendant in Ye Olde Englishe is a chambermaid but as that is considered not very pc now we have to use new fangled terminology.
A room attendant basically cleans a hotel room (yes including the bathroom and toilet) for mimimum wage not much thanks and damn hard work....

Jonathan funny how that works out I ordered a couple of A3 prints from DSC Colour Labs a few weeks ago and the postage was more than the 2 prints (of course if I'd ordered more prints then it would have been less on the postage which is weird when you think about it)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 04, 2011, 08:49:49 AM
My gob has never been so smacked when I read the attached.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13641709

What is going on? I know there are many fat cats getting fatter via the Olympics, but now the 'counselling fraternity' is getting a share of the cake. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on June 04, 2011, 09:02:33 AM
I can understand if you've been out in Afganistan for a few months or you've been a prisoner of war, you might require this type of counselling, but walking around Britian with a torch? This beggars belief!! I wonder if our soldiers actually get any counselling.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 05, 2011, 07:31:58 AM
My Pentax 55-300 which previously went WHRRRRRRRRRRRR CLUNK when you focussed now goes WHRARER...WHARER..WHRARER...CLUNK [YES IT IS THAT LOUD ::) ].......should I be worried??  :knuppel2: :P
.....probably stick to the 70-200 today...don't wan't to frighten the dogs...... :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 05, 2011, 08:18:11 AM
More trip shopping bemusement.

1. I bought a really cheap nylon belt off eBay.  It was about 7 quid and it has a zip running along it you can stuff money in.  Cheap product, unknown seller.  Second time I tried it I pulled the zip tab off (so I now actually have money stuck in there - I'll have to cut it out).  I emailed the seller.  Instant apology and next day I received a replacement.  Unknown seller with very cheap product on the dodgiest site in the world = great service.

2. I bought a really expensive pair of trousers from Craghoppers.  They are designed by (don't laugh) Bear Grylls.  Mainly they are tough and protect against leishmaniasis.  They cost an eye watering £75 (Google up leishmaniasis if you think that's not worth it).  First pair: laughably small and the button holes hadn't been cut at all so even if they fitted they are faulty.  Second pair (ordered a size larger - their sizing is definitely wrong): button broke after 2 days (due to reinforcement it's not possible to replace this button....).  Third pair: button holes too small for buttons and had to be cut to even make them work, I've already heard some stitching go.  Each time the CS at Craghoppers is the same "well if you want to send them back we can take a look and maybe get another pair to you within 10 days or so....".  So I've actually paid nearly £200 to them for 3 pairs of trousers and am waiting for a refund on 2 and holding my breath on the third.  Big company with expensive products = terrible QC and lousy service.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on June 05, 2011, 09:25:38 AM
Leishmaniasis sounds very nasty indeed. I'm very glad I don't need protection from that in this part of the world.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 05, 2011, 10:21:09 AM
     Jonathan. You know the bit where you said "They are designed by (don't laugh) Bear Grylls. "?
     I'm afraid I laughed a bit, sorry.
     You lucky they were'nt fashioned out of banana leaves and tied around the waist with a dead snake!
                                     Graham.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 05, 2011, 11:15:30 AM
Quote from: Graham on June 05, 2011, 10:21:09 AM
     Jonathan. You know the bit where you said "They are designed by (don't laugh) Bear Grylls. "?
     I'm afraid I laughed a bit, sorry.

Right, that's you off my Christmas card list..... :D

In better news, just done my first test pack of my trekking pack (srsly, my luggage is complicated....).

Pack + sleeping bag + clothes + waterproofs + warm jacket + spare shoes + 2 cameras and tripod come to 10.5 kilos.  There's half a kilo of junk plus 2 kilos of water to add but I may sneak in under 13 kilos total.  Which is TBH a relief.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 05, 2011, 11:41:48 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 05, 2011, 11:15:30 AM

Pack + sleeping bag + clothes + waterproofs + warm jacket + spare shoes + 2 cameras and tripod come to 10.5 kilos.  There's half a kilo of junk plus 2 kilos of water to add but I may sneak in under 13 kilos total.  Which is TBH a relief.

What, no lenses!  :o

You could take my 400mm F2.8 plus tripod which weighs 12 kilos.  :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 05, 2011, 12:19:58 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 05, 2011, 11:41:48 AM

What, no lenses!  :o

50 and a 20.  Plus the P7000 in case I need a tele.  I'd hoped to squeeze the 105 in as well (I'll have it in Peru) but sadly it's too heavy. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 06, 2011, 04:54:10 PM
  I bought a new cycle the other week. :dance:   ( Sorry cyclist haters. :knuppel2:)
  Anyway. How did Amazon get to hear about it? They keep suggesting that I may like to buy the latest Lance Armstrong biog. etc. (Goes straight to spam.)
  Have they seen my Visa bill, or been snooping around my garage?
                     Graham. :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 06, 2011, 05:34:59 PM
Did you look for a new bike on Amazon before buying elsewhere?

I accidentally bought a new bike a couple of months ago, spent my 'get a new lens' savings on it. Well, it just looked so nice and my old bike is the best part of 20 years old  :)

But I bought it from a shop and Amazon don't know about it. At least they didn't until I posted this . .  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 06, 2011, 05:41:21 PM
  Bought from local bike shop, and Amazon only know of my whereabouts because of wifey!
                    Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 06, 2011, 07:38:48 PM
So that great democrat Vince Cable wants to impose some sort of minimum level of voting within unions to achieve his goal of stopping strikes then!
If we had a minimum level of poll of say 50% for national elections we would all have to manage without politicians - might not be such a bad idea after all  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 07, 2011, 12:01:41 AM
Quote from: jinky on June 06, 2011, 07:38:48 PM
So that great democrat Vince Cable wants to impose some sort of minimum level of voting within unions to achieve his goal of stopping strikes then!
If we had a minimum level of poll of say 50% for national elections we would all have to manage without politicians - might not be such a bad idea after all  :tup:

That's no good, as the old lot would remain in power saying no one voted them out!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 09, 2011, 09:24:20 AM
The camera never lies? I wanted to check the shutter count on my Pentax K-X  so looked up the exif data using Irfanview. Scrolling down it showed the picture was taken with a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 HSM - strange thing is....I sold my 70-200mm a couple of months before I bought the K-X  :o :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 09, 2011, 04:08:03 PM
I was part of an event shoot last weekend, and my battery info tells me i took 2759 pics over the 2 days.

Most running around the outsides of the football pitch trying to catch the little bu**ars up to get the good shots  :-[

And for the geeks, that was with 62% of the 2 batteries installed in the grip...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on June 09, 2011, 10:09:12 PM
My MkIII has taken over 4000 shots on a single charge - I have heard of togs getting 6000! :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 10, 2011, 02:34:07 PM
Mark, the MkIII has a much better battery than a 5DII - the 1D series (and Nikon D3 series) are known for the incredible battery lives.
The 5DII is also known for good battery life, but with 2 of them... Still running on that charge...

On a different tack - i've been digitising a work colleagues Wedding Pics from the old 6x6 negs (sighs as he remembers the good old days).
How on earth did togs make money from such rubbish?  :doh:

The digital age has really raised the game for weddings and other similar types of shoots.

Wedding comprised a grand total of 60 shots and out of those, probably only 3 would be keepers by current standards, and before any one jumps in and says rubbish tog - these are typical of what you could expect in the film era. Remember, no screen on the back of the camera with which to review the pics taken - you had to wait until you got back home and got them developed. Oh, ad no Photoshop, Lightroom or Aperture to recover them with...

I just wonder how many of todays wedding togs would still do Weddings and Portraits under such conditions?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 10, 2011, 10:59:09 PM
It annoyed me at the time, but I was out of town and not on the 'net. Now it's just bemused me. Last Sat. evening, my son, daughter and self went on a walking tour of an historical Jail in Ottawa. Took my Sony with me with flash attached. Had made a point of putting new batteries in it before leaving home. Of course, damn thing wouldn't work not the built in or the attached.  Got some really grainy shots at 3200 iso. Was miffed. Next day went to the Nature museum, same camera, flash still attached (wasn't going to fiddle with it until I got home again). As a lark I decided to give the flash another try and wonder of wonders it worked. My wife has come up with the only plausible explanation, the ghost in the old Jail didn't want their pictures taken.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 11, 2011, 11:12:42 PM
Just got back from a few days in Dorset. I always thought that London parking was a ripoff but they ain't got anything to learn from those old Dorset boys. Get a field with access to a beach and you're made for life. ::)

All those old folks' homes that are threatened with closure seem to have emptied their clientele in Bournemouth. We're no spring chickens, but I reckon we brought the average age down by at least 15 years whilst we were there.

Did have one moment of concern. Got up early and drove into Bournemouth town centre to try and capture a bit of faded grandeur around the pier. Walked under the pier and bumped into the Bournemouth Breakfast Club starting their day with large bottles of cheap cider and cans of beer. I thought they might be a group of Albanian asylum seekers dropped off a passing Albanian freighter during the night, but the smell that emanated from them convinced me they hadn't been anywhere water for some time.
They looked at me, I looked at them and noticed the string tethering a large dog tightened and looked somewhat skimpy, so I bade them the rest of a good day and beat a hasty retreat. :legit:
So if you visit Bournemouth pier make sure it's when there are plenty of folk around.
Had a nice relaxing time though. :tup: :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 12, 2011, 07:56:56 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 11, 2011, 11:12:42 PM
All those old folks' homes that are threatened with closure seem to have emptied their clientele in Bournemouth. We're no spring chickens, but I reckon we brought the average age down by at least 15 years whilst we were there.


      I know what you mean.
      I had cause to go to Eastbourne last year.....Bloody ramps everywear! And all the shop windows were bifocal. (Though I may have imagined that bit.).
                      Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 12, 2011, 09:43:54 AM
It's just a few days to the longest day and they had snow in Wales yesterday!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 12, 2011, 09:52:17 AM
On May 30th we held a dog show for our charity at the local country park - it rained all day...after 2 weeks with only the odd shower it's now raining persistently again.....another charity is holding a fun dog show and rally at the same country park today  ::)
On the plus side I saw the forecast and had an hour and a half out along the river first thing this morning in beautiful sunshine  :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 12, 2011, 06:17:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 12, 2011, 09:43:54 AM
It's just a few days to the longest day and they had snow in Wales yesterday!  :o

Shhhussh, don't tell any Americans, they'll turn up in July looking for Igloos, like they do here.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 12, 2011, 07:03:39 PM
Alan,

Bournemouth is not the best place, drive a bit further to Weymouth, and the Wrinklies have their own high street and set of shops, leaving the other high street for the less retired  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on June 12, 2011, 11:28:10 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 12, 2011, 09:43:54 AM
It's just a few days to the longest day and they had snow in Wales yesterday!  :o

In mid-March I discarded my winter woolies in the heatwave. By the start of April I had put them back on - and I'm STILL wearing them. It has been cold, wet and downright miserable ever since - and the forcast is more of the same. No snow though.......
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 13, 2011, 08:09:40 AM
Quote from: spinner on June 12, 2011, 06:17:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 12, 2011, 09:43:54 AM
It's just a few days to the longest day and they had snow in Wales yesterday!  :o

Shhhussh, don't tell any Americans, they'll turn up in July looking for Igloos, like they do here.  :legit:

I bet you give them the cold shoulder! :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 13, 2011, 08:15:33 AM
After being out in the rain for much of yesterday I was walking round the park with my dog thinking how nice it would be to get home, have a hot bath and sit down by the fire with a nice hot dinner....then I remembered it was 'flaming June' not November!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 13, 2011, 08:25:01 AM
Had the heating on for a couple of hours yesterday. It really goes against the grain doing so in June >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on June 13, 2011, 09:37:35 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 05, 2011, 08:18:11 AM
2. I bought a really expensive pair of trousers from Craghoppers.  They are designed by (don't laugh) Bear Grylls. 

Sympathise with the Craghoppers QC (I've found they're not as good as they were).................. until I saw Bear Grylls!  ;)

You want to get some Yaks for your trip - makes carrying stuff way easier (and what we had for our Everest Basecamp trek)   ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 13, 2011, 09:17:11 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 13, 2011, 08:25:01 AM
Had the heating on for a couple of hours yesterday. It really goes against the grain doing so in June >:(

According to my wife, that's what sweaters are for. Forgetting of course that they're all packed away for summer.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on June 14, 2011, 07:55:26 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 13, 2011, 08:25:01 AM
Had the heating on for a couple of hours yesterday. It really goes against the grain doing so in June >:(

Ours hasn't been off at all yet this year. Except maybe the thermostat cut out a couple of times in mid-March.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on June 15, 2011, 07:52:23 AM
Turned ours off ages ago - so Simon, what temperature is your house!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 17, 2011, 12:37:08 PM
WBMT?. I posted here before about it, over a year ago, sent my KM 5D to a company in UTAH U.S.A. for an IR conversion. Paid up front. Didn't hear back for weeks. Started sending emails that were never responded to (he'd been quite chatty in the run up to sending the camera off). So this morning, out of the blue, I get notice from the U.S. Postal Service that the camera is on it's way back. I'm only bemused because I have no idea of the work's been done properly or even if it works. If you Google the company, Spencer's Camera & Photo, you can find several horror stories about it's customer service. By a very strange coincidence, it's my birthday so I'd love for this to be an unexpected gift (one I paid for mind). But until I have the camera in my hand, functioning, this story is bemusing only.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 17, 2011, 01:07:46 PM
Damn, I just remembered, the Canadian Postal service is on strike. The package will sit at the border for who knows how long.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 17, 2011, 04:26:08 PM
Little bit of a money spinner! :o

http://www.masterphotographyawards.co.uk/payment.php
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 18, 2011, 12:49:06 AM
Ha, just watched some U.S. news. Their postal service isn't even going to process packages mailed to Canada until our postal strike is resolved.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 19, 2011, 09:34:30 PM
I thought I saw Long John Silver today but on closer inspection, it was a girl with a Parrot on her shoulder.  :2funny: :2funny:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/5850250602_4d5341f8b9.jpg?v=0) (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/5850250602_4d5341f8b9_b.jpg)

Click for bigger size.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on June 19, 2011, 09:40:39 PM
Looks like it had been on the other girls shoulder as well!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 19, 2011, 09:43:44 PM
Quote from: bones615 on June 19, 2011, 09:40:39 PM
Looks like it had been on the other girls shoulder as well!!

I'm almost sure these are the two girls who, I photographed with cages on their backs containing Parrots.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 20, 2011, 06:34:23 AM
Yesterday actually.

2nd 'invincible' Mac I'd seen packed up within the space of a week. The first was at the doctor's office where the screen on his Macbook had failed, the second at a neighbour's where airport on her iMac had decided to stop working - at least the latter was easy to fix once I found out using my lappie that the wifi was still OK. I only had to hit it with a hammer ;)

And I got a nice bottle of wine for my ten minutes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 20, 2011, 08:42:15 AM
Watched Countryfile last night featuring the Surrey Hills and regions adjacent. The 'Wildlife Photography' piece for the Countryfile Calender was quite amusing. Living just a mile from Bushey Park where it was based, and often using the park as a cut through, the only 'wildlife' I've noticed are motorists shouting and waving at one another queuing to get out of the park at either entrance/exit, or almost coming to blows in the parking areas when somebody nips into a vacant space that someone else had an eye on.
All the deer and ducks and assorted water fowl seem to be terribly well behaved and are quite amenable to having their pictures taken.

The only dangerous fauna are the Royal Parks Police who craftily secret themselves behind trees with speed guns, at the ready for the errant motorist exceeding the 20mph speed limit. Quite an annoying species but a nice little earner for her Maj I believe. >:(  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on June 20, 2011, 09:09:04 AM
Whilst I am desperate for a Job....I had to draw the line at this one especially as there has been 40 applicants for it...

"Bounty Casual Photographer - Part-time - Kingston
Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey Salary Commission only Sector Customer Service - Other Customer ServiceJob Type Part timeDate 07 Jun Applications 40Job ref no 20239338Duration Maternity Cover More jobs like this More jobs from this recruiterEmail this job to a friendEmail me jobs like thisAre you looking for some flexible part-time work, are immediately available and interested in dealing with new mums and babies in hospital?  If so, please read on...

Bounty is based in over 300 hospitals around the UK, distributing free Bounty packs to new mums on the maternity wards and offering to capture their newborns first moments in a beautiful photo portrait.

We currently have an opportunity for a Casual Photographer at the Kingston Hospital, covering sickness and holiday in the team.

As maternity wards provide care for women during pregnancy and childbirth as well as for newborn infants, this role would ideally suit a person who can relate to the experience of giving birth. You will have an eye for detail, a conscientious approach and be looking for a role within a rewarding environment. You must be able to understand and be sensitive to the environment you are working in and be confident working around newborn babies.

All we ask for is previous experience within a customer service or sales/promotions environment, good computer skills, storage to stock Bounty Packs and the ability to get to the hospital.

Bounty (UK) Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer.

Due to the volume of responses we receive, we will only be contacting suitable applicants. If you have not heard from us within 21 days, please assume you have not been successful"

And note that NOWHERE does it mention any capability with a camera not even "Must be interested in photography" or on the All we ask" section...
and commission only I don't think so....it costs about £16 million punds a day to park at the hospital....think I'll give this one a miss....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 20, 2011, 06:47:58 PM
Quote from: krennon on June 20, 2011, 09:09:04 AM
"this role would ideally suit a person who can relate to the experience of giving birth."
"Bounty (UK) Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer."


             Mmm!  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 20, 2011, 07:46:58 PM
Didn't spot that Graham - excellent.

Apply for the job, and when you don't get it, sue the beggars - that's as clear a case of implied sexual discrimination as you can get.

At least the award from the tribunal will pay for a holiday.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on June 21, 2011, 06:53:33 PM
This is what bemused me today, although I am registered with totaljobs and I have applied for a couple of positions through them I haven't applied for this one so why they are saying "Thank you for the interest to our offer" I don't know and is that really badly worded or is that just me?
To me there is something REALLY DODGY about this, what do you guys and gals think? I can't seem to find anything online about fair trade inc....and obviously they are nothing to do with Fairtrade (ethical pay for growers in "developing worlds" such as coffee, sugar, cocoa etc) read the wage offer it seems to good to be true which in the words of That's Life and Watchdog "if it seems to good to be true then it probably is".....so don't think I'll be replying to this one somehow....

Good day!

Thank you for the interest to our offer!

Our company currently seeking Customer Service Representative to join our team.

Employee Type: Part-Time Employee

The major duty of the incumbent is to promptly receive and process stockbrokers payments to further transfer them applying specified method. Please inquire for detailed work scheme.

Requirements:
- Expert skill in managing payments and transfers between our company and clients.
- Knowledge of basic payment systems.
- Ability to schedule working hours effectively.
- Availability of spare time (3-4 hours per day).
- Advanced user ability to operate computer and to use Internet and e-mail.
- Legal age.

Payment basis: During the trial period you will be paid 1500 GBP per month. You will also be keeping 5% commission as bonus from every payment received from a client.
With the current volume of clients on average your overall income will add up to 3000 GBP per month. After the trial period your base salary will go up to 2000 GBP per month, plus 8% commission (11% for financial agents with corporate bank account).

Benefits:
- Flexible work schedule.
- Possibility to combine the job with primary employment.
- Free training course.

If you would like to apply to this vacancy and inquire more detailed information, please reply email to our Customer Service Representatives Manager.

Thank you!

Lyn Fair Trade Inc.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 21, 2011, 07:38:32 PM
Quote from: krennon on June 20, 2011, 09:09:04 AM
Whilst I am desperate for a Job....I had to draw the line at this one especially as there has been 40 applicants for it...

"Bounty Casual Photographer - Part-time - Kingston

I worked for Bounty for a while.  They actually headhunted me and a girl from Tunbridge Wells to cover all of Kent (and bits of Sussex and Essex) for nursery photography.  We had to go to their "training" course.  It was an utter joke.  Most of the other people there (who had actually applied) were totally clueless.  In fact most had just rolled off photography courses and hardly knew which way up to hold a camera.

The 2 of us skived off, drank free coffee and asked tricky questions about VAT while everyone else asked "err how do I make those big lights go flash?".  Then we carved up Kent between us.  Crap pay but I got (1) a CRB check (2) a list of disgruntled nurseries (3) paid to learn how to photograph babies (4) a massive portfolio

If you want to get into perinatal/baby photography that would actually be a good start.  As long as it doesn't stop you doing anything useful.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on June 21, 2011, 10:13:54 PM
Jonathan thanks for the info, I suppose it is something to consider to build up a portfolio in a way I hadn't thought of and I can actually get a bus pretty much door to door which a/ cuts out petrol money b/ cuts out parking fees..will definately consider it if nothing comes my way soon just curious about how come the ad doesn't mention any actual photographic capability at all....

Think I may have found Fair Trade Inc....looks highly dodgy to me see below....(one day I'll get round to trying that HERE thing that y'all do)

http://www.fairtradeincorp.com/careers.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 22, 2011, 07:07:08 AM
Quote from: krennon on June 21, 2011, 10:13:54 PM
Jonathan thanks for the info, I suppose it is something to consider to build up a portfolio in a way I hadn't thought of and I can actually get a bus pretty much door to door which a/ cuts out petrol money b/ cuts out parking fees..will definately consider it if nothing comes my way soon just curious about how come the ad doesn't mention any actual photographic capability at all....

Think I may have found Fair Trade Inc....looks highly dodgy to me see below....(one day I'll get round to trying that HERE thing that y'all do)

http://www.fairtradeincorp.com/careers.html

    Just had a look at that link keith.
    It it "dodgy"?...no idea.
    Looks very cheap, full of nonsence management buzz words (some of them I actually laughed at!).
    I copy and pasted some of their client list into Google. Everyone I tried came up with "Did you mean", and offerd an alternative spelling (Of a company that probably exists?).
    In most cases the first listing was Fair Trade themselves.
             All the best with the search, but I would be trying more traditional routes.
                          Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 22, 2011, 07:09:16 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 20, 2011, 07:46:58 PM
Didn't spot that Graham - excellent.

Apply for the job, and when you don't get it, sue the beggars - that's as clear a case of implied sexual discrimination as you can get.

At least the award from the tribunal will pay for a holiday.

No implied sexism there for me H  ???
I can relate to the experience of giving birth having been at both of our productions. One of the most painful experiences ever the first one - first my wife threw an orange at me , hitting me very hard, for listening to the football on the radio I had taken in to entertain her in the long wait. Then even more painful as she struggled with a few tummy pains she inadvertently grabbed my chest for support catching my left  nipple in an excruciating pinching hold that brought the tears to my eyes. She was oblivious to my agony because of her own mild discomfort and it seemed to go on forever.If I stated the above in interviews I am sure they could not discount the experience  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on June 22, 2011, 07:27:06 AM
Graham I have no intention of applying to Fair Trade for a position it seems a bit to dodgy and wasn't even a job I applied for I've checked my outbox for my jobsearch to produce to the jobcentre tomorrow when I go to sign on and this company definately isn't on my applied for list, think they just plucked my details from Totaljobs as I've got my CV as Open to all on there.....

Jinky.......that somehow reminds me of the scene in FRIENDS when "Rachel" is giving birth and she headbutts "Ross" and "Ross" then says "You have no idea how much this hurts".....

But really "Then even more painful as she struggled with a few tummy pains" a few "tummy pains" boy I hope she never reads that, otherwise I can see your other nipple going the same way as the first....that or she might aim a little further south.... and the chances of her suffering any more "tummy pains" will be seriously diminished......;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on June 22, 2011, 08:08:44 AM
Interesting whois result for fairtradeincorp.com, it points to privacyprotect.org, which is in Australia.

Quote
PRIVACYPROTECT.ORG is providing privacy protection services to this domain name                                                          to
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a whois of the IP number resolved by www.fairtradeincorp.com returns gigenet.com, (probably their provider) which is in Illinois, USA.

Of course none of this makes it dodgy, but makes me suspicious.

That and the contact page provides an address in Mumbai.

Best of luck with the job search.

Oh, and my wife had a caesarian for both kids. She got the morphine epidural and the post partum depression, I got the pain. Swings and roundabouts.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 22, 2011, 08:27:00 AM
Quote from: krennon on June 22, 2011, 07:27:06 AM
Graham I have no intention of applying to Fair Trade for a position it seems a bit to dodgy and wasn't even a job I applied for I've checked my outbox for my jobsearch to produce to the jobcentre tomorrow when I go to sign on and this company definately isn't on my applied for list, think they just plucked my details from Totaljobs as I've got my CV as Open to all on there.....

Jinky.......that somehow reminds me of the scene in FRIENDS when "Rachel" is giving birth and she headbutts "Ross" and "Ross" then says "You have no idea how much this hurts".....

But really "Then even more painful as she struggled with a few tummy pains" a few "tummy pains" boy I hope she never reads that, otherwise I can see your other nipple going the same way as the first....that or she might aim a little further south.... and the chances of her suffering any more "tummy pains" will be seriously diminished......;)

:) It was all a little tongue in cheek - this story always comes out when the pains of childbirth are discussed and I always refer to her "few tummy pains" in comparison to my agony  ;). She knows I am kidding and know the reality. Any more tummy pains would come as a great shock at this time and I would want to put Jackson Brodie( cracking Case Histories TV series)  on the case as my share of the pain after our second was the cruellest cut of all!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 23, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
A recent new tele advert for a handwash pump that dispenses handwash without you touching it. The USP is that handwash pumps are crawling with bacteria and germs due to the fact that people with dirty hands depress the pump mechanism, so if you depress the pump your hands will be invaded by all these nasties, with this gizmo you don't have to touch it.

But aren't you going to wash your hands anyway, that's why you're there in the first place. ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 23, 2011, 12:28:57 PM
 :doh: :doh: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: rksmith51 on June 23, 2011, 03:34:45 PM
Yep, you press the top, and you have left more bugs on top for the next person to collect. I know what you are getting at but if you have a germ phobia these things are great  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on June 23, 2011, 03:57:42 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 23, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
But aren't you going to wash your hands anyway, that's why you're there in the first place. ???

I'd rather have an automatic door opener so I don't have to touch the handle that all those before me have touched after neglecting to wash their hands. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 23, 2011, 04:10:06 PM
I'm quite amenable to any filthy money that comes my way.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 23, 2011, 04:56:00 PM
yeah, more acceptable than that laundered stuff  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:53:27 PM
Quote from: picsfor on June 23, 2011, 04:56:00 PM
yeah, more acceptable than that laundered stuff  :2funny:

:2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:54:32 PM
Quote from: hevans on June 23, 2011, 03:57:42 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 23, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
But aren't you going to wash your hands anyway, that's why you're there in the first place. ???

I'd rather have an automatic door opener so I don't have to touch the handle that all those before me have touched after neglecting to wash their hands. :doh:

I often think of that when leaving.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:58:55 PM
Well yesterday really. I was down on the canal towpath reaching over a fence to take a picture, when a gust of wind blew my hat off and into the canal. I bent down and got it back, but it was mostly soaked with dirty canal water, so had to throw it into a skip and buy a new one.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on June 24, 2011, 06:48:26 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:58:55 PM
Well yesterday really. I was down on the canal towpath reaching over a fence to take a picture, when a gust of wind blew my hat off and into the canal. I bent down and got it back, but it was mostly soaked with dirty canal water, so had to throw it into a skip and buy a new one.  :'(

wouldn't this story come under the guise of 'oldhat"  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 08:28:19 AM
Quote from: picsfor on June 24, 2011, 06:48:26 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:58:55 PM
Well yesterday really. I was down on the canal towpath reaching over a fence to take a picture, when a gust of wind blew my hat off and into the canal. I bent down and got it back, but it was mostly soaked with dirty canal water, so had to throw it into a skip and buy a new one.  :'(

wouldn't this story come under the guise of 'oldhat"  :2funny: :2funny:

More like Mad Hatter without the teaparty!  :2funny: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 24, 2011, 01:45:31 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 08:28:19 AM
Quote from: picsfor on June 24, 2011, 06:48:26 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:58:55 PM
Well yesterday really. I was down on the canal towpath reaching over a fence to take a picture, when a gust of wind blew my hat off and into the canal. I bent down and got it back, but it was mostly soaked with dirty canal water, so had to throw it into a skip and buy a new one.  :'(

wouldn't this story come under the guise of 'oldhat"  :2funny: :2funny:

More like Mad Hatter without the teaparty!  :2funny: ;D

Clearly it wasnt a legendary Tilley that could be washed up, even after eaten and pooped out by an elephant, what's a little canal water!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 24, 2011, 02:08:40 PM
I have a Tilley hat - worth everyone of the excessive number of pennies it cost me in the dim and distant past. Many imitations, but none as good.

Mine's a bit stained now - motor oil won't come out. Whatever.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 02:48:45 PM
Quote from: spinner on June 24, 2011, 01:45:31 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 08:28:19 AM
Quote from: picsfor on June 24, 2011, 06:48:26 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 23, 2011, 07:58:55 PM
Well yesterday really. I was down on the canal towpath reaching over a fence to take a picture, when a gust of wind blew my hat off and into the canal. I bent down and got it back, but it was mostly soaked with dirty canal water, so had to throw it into a skip and buy a new one.  :'(

wouldn't this story come under the guise of 'oldhat"  :2funny: :2funny:

More like Mad Hatter without the teaparty!  :2funny: ;D

Clearly it wasnt a legendary Tilley that could be washed up, even after eaten and pooped out by an elephant, what's a little canal water!  :legit:

I had nowhere to put it so into the skip it went.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 02:49:40 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 24, 2011, 02:08:40 PM
I have a Tilley hat - worth everyone of the excessive number of pennies it cost me in the dim and distant past. Many imitations, but none as good.

Mine's a bit stained now - motor oil won't come out. Whatever.

Why would you put motor oil on your hat!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 24, 2011, 04:45:19 PM
Why not?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 24, 2011, 09:26:23 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 24, 2011, 04:45:19 PM
Why not?

Well, they invented Brylcreem for that!  ??? :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Skhilled on June 25, 2011, 06:03:05 AM
OMG! I haven't even heard of Brylcreem in ages!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 25, 2011, 09:48:09 AM
Quote from: Skhilled on June 25, 2011, 06:03:05 AM
OMG! I haven't even heard of Brylcreem in ages!  :2funny:

It still around in the shops.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 25, 2011, 12:29:05 PM
It's been raining this morning. Just heard on the local news weather forecast that it was unexpected!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on June 28, 2011, 07:46:17 AM
Apparently DCMag did a comparison between Canon and Nikon and found they were.......roughly equal......amazing  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2011, 08:46:55 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 25, 2011, 12:29:05 PM
It's been raining this morning. Just heard on the local news weather forecast that it was unexpected!  :uglystupid2:

I don't think the heatwave helped  :2funny:  Bit like an India summer here yesterday  :beer: and refreshingly cooler this morning.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 28, 2011, 08:49:55 AM
Quote from: beauxreflets on June 28, 2011, 08:46:55 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 25, 2011, 12:29:05 PM
It's been raining this morning. Just heard on the local news weather forecast that it was unexpected!  :uglystupid2:

I don't think the heatwave helped  :2funny:  Bit like an India summer here yesterday  :beer: and refreshingly cooler this morning.  :dance:

Waiting for some rain now - it's a bit overcast, but I still have a  portable ac unit running in the study, as well as ever window in the house open.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2011, 08:58:37 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 28, 2011, 08:49:55 AM
Quote from: beauxreflets on June 28, 2011, 08:46:55 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 25, 2011, 12:29:05 PM
It's been raining this morning. Just heard on the local news weather forecast that it was unexpected!  :uglystupid2:

I don't think the heatwave helped  :2funny:  Bit like an India summer here yesterday  :beer: and refreshingly cooler this morning.  :dance:

Waiting for some rain now - it's a bit overcast, but I still have a  portable ac unit running in the study, as well as ever window in the house open.

I quite like the warm weather with my Parkinson's as it ups the vitamin D, but then I tend to do less work when its hot, and alas butterflies do not like the rain  :-\ at least you have a pool - ours popped a year or two ago  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 28, 2011, 11:01:14 AM
They seek him here, they seek him there..... :-\
Popped in to PRADAR to see what was going on and it would appear that the elusive Marcus Hawkins has not put in an appearance since early May.

My last post on the PR forum was to ask him a question back on 8th May which I notice is still unanswered.

Forum the same old same old with people editing other people's work without a bye your leave. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2011, 12:03:11 PM
I'm bemused it remains populated  :2funny: and popping back in after such a long time I still wonder why  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 29, 2011, 07:08:35 PM
As an ardent England soccer fan, and like all such, I've had to put up with disappointments and frustration for many a year. The current form gives no reason to be optimistic and reading this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13957893.stm

I'm wondering what is going on! :doh:

Mind you it is FIFA, so perhaps a few well placed wads of £50's may have done the trick! :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 29, 2011, 08:40:15 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 29, 2011, 07:08:35 PM
As an ardent England soccer fan, and like all such, I've had to put up with disappointments and frustration for many a year. The current form gives no reason to be optimistic and reading this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13957893.stm

I'm wondering what is going on! :doh:

Mind you it is FIFA, so perhaps a few well placed wads of £50's may have done the trick! :tup:

It's compensation for not winning the bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.... :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 03, 2011, 05:06:31 PM
The Tour de France. What's that all about? I know it's a race that lasts a couple of weeks around La Belle France, but you don't necessarily have to be front to win, or so it seems. Can Howard or Beaureflex enlighten us? ???
It is mildly more exciting than tennis since some of them fall off from time to time. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on July 03, 2011, 05:12:44 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 03, 2011, 05:06:31 PM

It is mildly more exciting than tennis since some of them fall off from time to time. :legit:

Actually just watched the men final and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it, not being a liker of tennis  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 03, 2011, 06:00:43 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 03, 2011, 05:06:31 PM
The Tour de France. What's that all about? I know it's a race that lasts a couple of weeks around La Belle France, but you don't necessarily have to be front to win, or so it seems. Can Howard or Beaureflex enlighten us? ???
It is mildly more exciting than tennis since some of them fall off from time to time. :legit:

Note really sure Alan; I think it has something to do with who can take the most drugs and not die before the finish.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 03, 2011, 08:00:34 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on July 03, 2011, 06:00:43 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 03, 2011, 05:06:31 PM
The Tour de France. What's that all about? I know it's a race that lasts a couple of weeks around La Belle France, but you don't necessarily have to be front to win, or so it seems. Can Howard or Beaureflex enlighten us? ???
It is mildly more exciting than tennis since some of them fall off from time to time. :legit:

Note really sure Alan; I think it has something to do with who can take the most drugs and not die before the finish.

Nor I. something like the milk race I think, endurance race with daily login times totted up perhaps  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 05, 2011, 04:34:26 PM
Watching CUSTOMS UK On SKY 1 earlier, they "blanked" one of the customs officers faces so she couldn't be identified unfortunately what they negelcted to do was blank her reflection from the car window that she was putting a suspected drug smuggler into she was easily identifiable from the reflection as it was as clear as a mirror...... :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 09, 2011, 08:44:26 AM
I didn't know until today that the singer Kenny Rogers was a 'phenomenal' photographer. Well that's what it says on his photographic web site!
http://kennyrogers.biz/photography.html
When you look through his portfolio his landscapes are quite reasonable, about the same as an average club photographer.

How would you let your PR man describe your photography? Or are you apt to blush easily? :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 09, 2011, 09:01:20 AM
Quote from: ABERS on July 09, 2011, 08:44:26 AM

How would you let your PR man describe your photography? Or are you apt to blush easily? :-[

The best photographer in the world, if I was paying him!  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 10, 2011, 08:32:46 AM
Doing my usual stint at our re-homing centre yesterday [walked/played with 10 dogs in five hours - somewhat tiring!] - I'm always amazed by the some of the people who come looking for a dog. If you had a tiny child/children would you seriously want to take on a dog from a rescue centre when its previous history was unknown? Would you really want to take on a dog that could have all sorts of problems when you have a baby that will be crawling shortly? Like the other responsible rescue centres locally we explain that its not a good idea,we don't have any suitable dogs and try to persuade them to wait until the child is a little older and then possibly the best idea would be a puppy, but we know they can go to the other side of the county to where most of the strays are taken and take their pick - no questions asked.  Gets you down a bit at times when you have to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong and they phone you up desperate to offload the dog they got on a whim elsewhere after it nips the child  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 10, 2011, 10:39:46 PM
Following on from my other post about letting go of the lead when your dog decides to chase the Swan into the water. Today we had the reverse, if your dog wants to go for a swim make sure, before letting him off the lead, that he will come back to you when you call. This chap's dog was pulling on the lead to get into the water, so he let him enter the water with the lead on but after a few minutes decided to let him off the lead. The dog, a collie, decided to chase the Ducks all around the pool. The chap called him but he wouldn't come back, so he ran to the other side of the island still calling and trying to attract him with a stick, but the dog ignored him. He had no choice but to strip down and swim out to retrive the dog, the photo shows him returning with the dog intow.  :uglystupid2:

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5923177399_59e132c7ec.jpg?v=0) (http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5923177399_59e132c7ec_b.jpg)

Click for full size.

After some sunshine this morning it became dull again today, hence why it looks so dark in the picture.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on July 11, 2011, 07:51:51 PM
^^^^ he looks royally pee'd off  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on July 12, 2011, 06:26:06 PM
I think Jonathan's now been replaced by technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKpxd8hzOcQ&hd=1

:D

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 12, 2011, 09:01:01 PM
More despairing than bemused. I'm on my hols, but borrowed some bandwith to upload this:

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5930840025_df59844021.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hinfrance/5930840025/)

Is there really no hope?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 12, 2011, 09:51:05 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance - travelling a bit on July 12, 2011, 09:01:01 PM
More despairing than bemused. I'm on my hols, but borrowed some bandwith to upload this:

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5930840025_df59844021.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hinfrance/5930840025/)

Is there really no hope?

Are you in foreign parts H  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Skhilled on July 23, 2011, 10:30:26 AM
Quote from: ABERS on July 09, 2011, 08:44:26 AM
I didn't know until today that the singer Kenny Rogers was a 'phenomenal' photographer. Well that's what it says on his photographic web site!
http://kennyrogers.biz/photography.html
When you look through his portfolio his landscapes are quite reasonable, about the same as an average club photographer.

So was Sammy Davis, Jr. ;)

Quote from: hevans on July 12, 2011, 06:26:06 PM
I think Jonathan's now been replaced by technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKpxd8hzOcQ&hd=1

:D



Now that's impressive! Looks like something my son would do...but not as elaborate.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 23, 2011, 03:43:59 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on July 03, 2011, 08:00:34 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on July 03, 2011, 06:00:43 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 03, 2011, 05:06:31 PM
The Tour de France. What's that all about? I know it's a race that lasts a couple of weeks around La Belle France, but you don't necessarily have to be front to win, or so it seems. Can Howard or Beaureflex enlighten us? ???
It is mildly more exciting than tennis since some of them fall off from time to time. :legit:

Note really sure Alan; I think it has something to do with who can take the most drugs and not die before the finish.

I'm relieved it has not taken hold in Britain yet. In my native Holland, you can't get away from it during 'the season.' Sooooo tedious.
Nor I. something like the milk race I think, endurance race with daily login times totted up perhaps  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 24, 2011, 08:38:42 PM
Loads of Swifts around today.  :tup:

Shame they where in the middle of Swan pool or flying very high.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 25, 2011, 04:29:27 PM
Just logged into PRADAR to vote for a picture in their weekly comp. 'Red Shoes' is the title, well worth a punt :tup: Ladbrookes have it at a very favourable shade of odds 8)

Whilst there I noticed someone has been banned, apparently for the second time, for asking what seems to me a perfectly reasonable question. In fact I've been asking the same thing for a few months now!

As someone who knows nothing about these things, how can they trace the person concerned? Do they employ ex workers from News International? :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on July 25, 2011, 04:36:46 PM
They just ban the IP or a range of IP. The IP is visible to them and the mods but not to us plebs.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 25, 2011, 04:44:16 PM
I'm sure there must be more, but I can only think of 3 banned members - it does'nt sound sarcastic or bombastic enough to be 'Gil' ...could be 'Flake', but again it does'nt sound quite.. well sort of quite..if you see what I mean. Does'nt sound like Stan - and anyway, unless they found him recently, he's still posting occasionally having picked a name that put most people off the scent! As to the comments...well they certainly don't like it it them  :2funny: :dance: :dance:
Pretty sad forum for one with so many members - still a few helpful folk but ,weekly competition apart, not much to make you log on  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 25, 2011, 05:39:21 PM
TeeHee.

For the record....it's not me (I've never technically been banned and if I had I probs wouldn't find it hard to get back in).

It would be courageous (and stupid) to ban an IP address.  For example the one I'm using right now locates somewhere in Maidstone (20 odd miles from here) and "belongs" to O2.  Tomorrow I'll have a different address and somebody else will have this one.  In theory a forum could find out who I was via IP address but they would need help from O2 (or rather evidence that I'd committed a real world offence).  In fact they probably trace via cookies etc on the machine.  I had some issues with somebody stalking my blog the other day - my web s/w could track them across the 4 IP addresses they used :)  I also had somebody attempt to download my entire site the other day - I'll be keeping a note of their address just in case ;)

WBMT?

Checked the forecast for my holiday.  On Friday I'll land in Lima.  It will be a comfortable 19 - 21 degrees.  T shirt weather for most Brits.  Maybe a pullover for evenings.  On Sunday I'll pop down to the jungle.  It will be around 35 degrees and pretty humid.  I've been in colder saunas.  Daytime dress code is "total cover up".  Really - there are lots of things that you don't want to see enough bare flesh to bite.  Then I'll be going to Cuzco where it will be maybe 17-18 degrees in the daytime though will feel cooler due to altitude - defo fleece weather.  Then climb another mile vertically to spend a couple of nights camping at a possible -2 - -5.  Try packing for that.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 25, 2011, 08:49:52 PM
I like the suggestion that said banned member could be Abers.....and there was me thinking his internet know how was on the same level as mine ...click on and hope for the best  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 25, 2011, 10:36:24 PM
Quote from: greypoint on July 25, 2011, 08:49:52 PM
I like the suggestion that said banned member could be Abers.....and there was me thinking his internet know how was on the same level as mine ...click on and hope for the best  :D

Blimey, fame at last. :dance: Nobody told me. :o

Sue, I'm embarrassed to admit I had to Google 'ISP' since I had no idea what it was, but I'm pleased to know I've got one, and I shall sleep all the better for it.
As Frank Spencer used to say, "Every day in every way........." :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on July 25, 2011, 11:24:31 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 25, 2011, 05:39:21 PM
It would be courageous (and stupid) to ban an IP address.  For example the one I'm using right now locates somewhere in Maidstone (20 odd miles from here) and "belongs" to O2.  Tomorrow I'll have a different address and somebody else will have this one.  In theory a forum could find out who I was via IP address but they would need help from O2 (or rather evidence that I'd committed a real world offence). 

Been there, had that done to me - start point was the desperately insecure chief Mod who couldn't take criticism (however positive - but she was too thick to see it for what it was). And no, it wasn't in the public forum but the private Mod forum! Went downhill from there!  ::)

Quote from: Jonathan on July 25, 2011, 05:39:21 PM
WBMT?

Checked the forecast for my holiday.  On Friday I'll land in Lima.  It will be a comfortable 19 - 21 degrees.  T shirt weather for most Brits.  Maybe a pullover for evenings.  On Sunday I'll pop down to the jungle.  It will be around 35 degrees and pretty humid.  I've been in colder saunas.  Daytime dress code is "total cover up".  Really - there are lots of things that you don't want to see enough bare flesh to bite.  Then I'll be going to Cuzco where it will be maybe 17-18 degrees in the daytime though will feel cooler due to altitude - defo fleece weather.  Then climb another mile vertically to spend a couple of nights camping at a possible -2 - -5.  Try packing for that.....

I'm jealous! Did Everest Basecamp a few years ago (thankfully out of season so it was quiet on the trails) - went down with AMS and brought back a cute parasite (Giardia) but had a fantastic time (no, really, it was so worth it!). Apparently, according to some documentary we flew in/out of "the most dangerous airfield in the world". Don't know about that but we did all have to clear the runway of snow on the return - not a shovel to be found so all the trekkers used upsidedown baggage carts to scrape the runway of the foot of snow. Only took a few hours (it's not a big runway!).

Have a good time!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on July 26, 2011, 12:01:03 AM
I'm guessing at some point the admins will ban themselves, if they continue to ban via ip alone. 

What gets me is the amount of members with no email address, and as much as we ask the team how, or why, they never respond.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 26, 2011, 05:29:40 AM
Quote from: admin on July 26, 2011, 12:01:03 AM
I'm guessing at some point the admins will ban themselves, if they continue to ban via ip alone. 

What gets me is the amount of members with no email address, and as much as we ask the team how, or why, they never respond.
It's no good.
    I'm going to have to go over and see what the hells going on!  >:(
                     Graham. ;)




I'm back. Seems to be a case of "Move along now, nothing to see here."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 26, 2011, 07:49:10 AM
Quote from: Markulous on July 25, 2011, 11:24:31 PM
Don't know about that but we did all have to clear the runway of snow on the return - not a shovel to be found so all the trekkers used upsidedown baggage carts to scrape the runway of the foot of snow. Only took a few hours (it's not a big runway!).

Wow.  Hope that doesn't happen to me.  Although Puerto Maldonado is pretty much in the middle of nowhere apparently we're landing an A320 there.  Wouldn't want to have to lear the runway for that....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 08:35:00 AM
It's Reinardina's round

Haven't quite got used to your sense of humour. I'm a quick learner though, I'll catch up soon enough.

So, it's my round ...   and I haven't got much to say at the moment. Was going out to try and catch a 'Summertime' picture. It was summer here yesterday, but of course I was 'house bound' with household chores. Now it's grey an colourless again.  Which will mean bland skies, and I haven't yet mastered the technique to replace them. Must find a 'down to earth subject' to avoid sky!

I see the PR site is still a sore point with a lot of you. I've had my bad experiences there, and I cringe at times when I read the exchanges between my two ... don't know what to call them, whether they're favourites because they can be amusing, if you have the right sort of humour, or totally annoying, when the humour has run dry for the day.

One is asking for advice on redecorating her loo (Off topic discussion) and I 'hurt her feelings' by suggesting she only put on the thread to amuse us. Hmmm apparently she was serious! (The topic 'header' was: 'Not for the boys!!!!' or something similar. In bold typeface!)

But, that aside, I still have some good friends there, and I'm determined to win the competition before I'm ninety! (PLug Plug!)
And now that I have 'found' you, I have a place where I can hide, if it becomes too awful.

Guess what? It has just started to rain! It might have to be a typical English, wet, summertime picture!

And last but not least, can the spellchecker be adjusted? It keeps suggesting I am/should be Bernardina, but I'm sure I'm not! (I was promised I did not have to change my name on this site!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on July 26, 2011, 08:58:49 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 08:35:00 AM
It's Reinardina's round

Haven't quite got used to your sense of humour. I'm a quick learner though, I'll catch up soon enough.


This thread might help you.  http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=1868.0

Jonathan has made use of a bit of code that's all.  [size=10pt]It's [you]'s round[/size]  The you tag just echos out the name of who ever reads the post, so when I look at it, it says, "It's Admin's round"   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 26, 2011, 09:16:41 AM
Jonathan

Have a fantastic trip (I really am envious) re  "Daytime dress code is "total cover up".  Really - there are lots of things that you don't want to see enough bare flesh to bite"  When my brother went to Peru lat year he took a tub of marmite with him, he reckoned it helped to keep some of the nasties off him as there is something in marmite they don't like, and he just had about 4 cream crackers (nice and light to carry) with marmite spread on them every morning....might be worth a shot if you eat marmite....

As for PRADAR I can't remember the last time I went on there, I couldn't even remember my log in, username or password now got sick of all the snide comments an downright bitchiness....so I am on two forums now this one and dyxum which is for all things SONY/KONICA MINOLTA etc and I am on AP's forum as well but never really go there...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 26, 2011, 10:05:30 AM
"The growth of the UK economy slowed in the second quarter, with GDP growing by 0.2%, partly as a result of the royal wedding. "

So the upbeat atmosphere and an extra day holiday bonus makes people spend less and creates a downer in the economy?! - Perhaps the economy would have been even slower, given the reliance on oil prices and the effects following the earthquake knocking Japanese trading and of course previous recessionary aspect.

So sad to see the 'blame throwing attitude' still haunts, when the economic down turn is more likely the continuing knock on effect of organisations trading debts for profit (-x+will always=-)  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on July 26, 2011, 10:06:36 AM
Well not actually today but on Sunday.

Woke up Sunday morning and the other half said she'd go down and make a coffee (well tea for me cannot stand coffee), she went to the bedroom door, pushed down the handle, pulled the door, door will not open!!  me- yeah right, stop messing around and open the door, her – no seriously I cannot open the door.  So up I get try the door and NO it will not open............................... :o

So stuck in the bedroom, no tools, no phone, no keys – eeeekkkk anyway after a lot of messing about I manage to retract the (what is that bit called that goes into the strike plate to keep the door closed) thingy enough to get the door open with a pair of nail scissors.

Later after taking the door mechanism to bits I found the bit that operates the thingy (see above) had broken.  We now no longer have the bedroom door closed at night!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 26, 2011, 10:09:33 AM
Quote from: michaelb104 on July 26, 2011, 10:06:36 AM
Well not actually today but on Sunday.

Woke up Sunday morning and the other half said she'd go down and make a coffee (well tea for me cannot stand coffee), she went to the bedroom door, pushed down the handle, pulled the door, door will not open!!  me- yeah right, stop messing around and open the door, her – no seriously I cannot open the door.  So up I get try the door and NO it will not open............................... :o

So stuck in the bedroom, no tools, no phone, no keys – eeeekkkk anyway after a lot of messing about I manage to retract the (what is that bit called that goes into the strike plate to keep the door closed) thingy enough to get the door open with a pair of nail scissors.

Later after taking the door mechanism to bits I found the bit that operates the thingy (see above) had broken.  We now no longer have the bedroom door closed at night!!

I would change the mechanism, just in case the cat moves the slipper  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on July 26, 2011, 11:45:57 AM
Quote from: beauxreflets on July 26, 2011, 10:09:33 AM
Quote from: michaelb104 on July 26, 2011, 10:06:36 AM
Well not actually today but on Sunday.

Woke up Sunday morning and the other half said she'd go down and make a coffee (well tea for me cannot stand coffee), she went to the bedroom door, pushed down the handle, pulled the door, door will not open!!  me- yeah right, stop messing around and open the door, her – no seriously I cannot open the door.  So up I get try the door and NO it will not open............................... :o

So stuck in the bedroom, no tools, no phone, no keys – eeeekkkk anyway after a lot of messing about I manage to retract the (what is that bit called that goes into the strike plate to keep the door closed) thingy enough to get the door open with a pair of nail scissors.

Later after taking the door mechanism to bits I found the bit that operates the thingy (see above) had broken.  We now no longer have the bedroom door closed at night!!

I would change the mechanism, just in case the cat moves the slipper  :2funny:

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 26, 2011, 11:47:06 AM
Quote from: beauxreflets on July 26, 2011, 10:05:30 AM
"The growth of the UK economy slowed in the second quarter, with GDP growing by 0.2%, partly as a result of the royal wedding. "

So the upbeat atmosphere and an extra day holiday bonus makes people spend less and creates a downer in the economy?! - Perhaps the economy would have been even slower, given the reliance on oil prices and the effects following the earthquake knocking Japanese trading and of course previous recessionary aspect.

So sad to see the 'blame throwing attitude' still haunts, when the economic down turn is more likely the continuing knock on effect of organisations trading debts for profit (-x+will always=-)  :legit:

It's schoolboy economics 1.02 Andy. The UK has negative interest rates (inflation 4.5%, base rate 0.5%, real interest rate -4%), and that means one thing and one thing only - stagflation. Osborne is a moron. I have no idea what the MPC are thinking; I can only assume that sufficient political pressure has been placed on them that they have abandoned all that they know. Interest rates must always be positive for an economy to prosper, ideally roughly 2x inflation. But matching inflation would be a good place to start.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 26, 2011, 12:15:36 PM
Quote from: krennon on July 26, 2011, 09:16:41 AM
Have a fantastic trip (I really am envious) re  "Daytime dress code is "total cover up".  Really - there are lots of things that you don't want to see enough bare flesh to bite"  When my brother went to Peru lat year he took a tub of marmite with him, he reckoned it helped to keep some of the nasties off him as there is something in marmite they don't like, and he just had about 4 cream crackers (nice and light to carry) with marmite spread on them every morning....might be worth a shot if you eat marmite....

Thanks.  I'm pretty sure I've heard that about Marmite.  Sadly the Telegraph says it isn't true :(  But since I love it I'm prepared to risk it.  Along with DEET and clothes impregnated with Permerthrin, natch.

Quote from: beauxreflets on July 26, 2011, 10:05:30 AM
"The growth of the UK economy slowed in the second quarter, with GDP growing by 0.2%, partly as a result of the royal wedding. "

I don't know much about economics, but I know about the law of unintended consequences.  Yep, the Royal Wedding was supposed to buoy the public mood and make us all spend our way out of recession (this is actually the traditional reason for Royal Weddings).  Unfortunately, with a day's holiday coinciding with a bunch of others lots of people took a week off work and spent their way out of recession in other countries....  We also lost a lot of productivity that week - I bet it destroyed a few small businesses.

For another law of unintended consequences (aka how can the treasury possibly be that stupid).....tuition fees at universities were supposed to relieve the public purse from paying for degrees.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that.  Uni charges student, student borrows money, government underwrites loan.  Since some students will default and the majority will never pay off the full amount you have to make an allowance for this cost plus the UK treasury effectively funds a lot of the interest.  So....unis were allowed to charge up to £9K a year and lots and lots decided that this would be quite a nice idea.  I forget the figures but I believe it's somewhere in the billions that the UK has to borrow to pay for this wheeze.  It might have been cheaper to carry on paying for the places directly.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 26, 2011, 01:34:01 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 25, 2011, 10:36:24 PM
Quote from: greypoint on July 25, 2011, 08:49:52 PM
I like the suggestion that said banned member could be Abers.....and there was me thinking his internet know how was on the same level as mine ...click on and hope for the best  :D

Blimey, fame at last. :dance: Nobody told me. :o

Sue, I'm embarrassed to admit I had to Google 'ISP' since I had no idea what it was, but I'm pleased to know I've got one, and I shall sleep all the better for it.
As Frank Spencer used to say, "Every day in every way........." :tup:

I'm really impressed - you're obviously going for the outright ban now  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 26, 2011, 01:49:39 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 26, 2011, 12:15:36 PM
Quote from: krennon on July 26, 2011, 09:16:41 AM
Have a fantastic trip (I really am envious) re  "Daytime dress code is "total cover up".  Really - there are lots of things that you don't want to see enough bare flesh to bite"  When my brother went to Peru lat year he took a tub of marmite with him, he reckoned it helped to keep some of the nasties off him as there is something in marmite they don't like, and he just had about 4 cream crackers (nice and light to carry) with marmite spread on them every morning....might be worth a shot if you eat marmite....

Thanks.  I'm pretty sure I've heard that about Marmite.  Sadly the Telegraph says it isn't true :(  But since I love it I'm prepared to risk it.  Along with DEET and clothes impregnated with Permerthrin, natch.

Quote from: beauxreflets on July 26, 2011, 10:05:30 AM
"The growth of the UK economy slowed in the second quarter, with GDP growing by 0.2%, partly as a result of the royal wedding. "

I don't know much about economics, but I know about the law of unintended consequences.  Yep, the Royal Wedding was supposed to buoy the public mood and make us all spend our way out of recession (this is actually the traditional reason for Royal Weddings).  Unfortunately, with a day's holiday coinciding with a bunch of others lots of people took a week off work and spent their way out of recession in other countries....  We also lost a lot of productivity that week - I bet it destroyed a few small businesses.

For another law of unintended consequences (aka how can the treasury possibly be that stupid).....tuition fees at universities were supposed to relieve the public purse from paying for degrees.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that.  Uni charges student, student borrows money, government underwrites loan.  Since some students will default and the majority will never pay off the full amount you have to make an allowance for this cost plus the UK treasury effectively funds a lot of the interest.  So....unis were allowed to charge up to £9K a year and lots and lots decided that this would be quite a nice idea.  I forget the figures but I believe it's somewhere in the billions that the UK has to borrow to pay for this wheeze.  It might have been cheaper to carry on paying for the places directly.

I can understand glitches in productivity on such events having run staffed small businesses, and those that close on that back are likely to have eventually closed unless time had offered a turn in fortune. The event was publicised in advance which will have helped many businesses plan ahead; Wimbledon week can often effect productivity too, and I guess it is hard to foretell how any match, game will end.

I'm no economist either, but I understand repayment, profit and loss; as too, like a pension crisis the ability to pass headaches on to the next generations.

Hope you have a good trip. A drop of Whisky in your water may well work as well as Marmite  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 04:34:31 PM
Quote from: admin on July 26, 2011, 08:58:49 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 08:35:00 AM
It's Reinardina's round

Haven't quite got used to your sense of humour. I'm a quick learner though, I'll catch up soon enough.


This thread might help you.  http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?topic=1868.0

Jonathan has made use of a bit of code that's all.  [size=10pt]It's [you]'s round[/size]  The you tag just echos out the name of who ever reads the post, so when I look at it, it says, "It's Admin's round"

Thanks Admin for the explanation. Glad I know now. Thought it was a bit early in the morning to start buying rounds.

Can you do anything about the spell checker? Add Reinardina to the 'recognised words/names'? It seems to think I should be called Bernardina.

And erm ... I haven't worked out your name yet. Care to share?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on July 26, 2011, 05:30:03 PM
  Hi Bernie...( :2funny:)....His names Mick and he's a very nice man.
                 Graham. :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 26, 2011, 07:12:50 PM
Quote from: Graham on July 26, 2011, 05:30:03 PM
  Hi Bernie...( :2funny:)....His names Mick and he's a very nice man.
                 Graham. :dance:

Not when he's working on lawnmowers!  :o  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on July 26, 2011, 10:04:32 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 04:34:31 PM

Can you do anything about the spell checker? Add Reinardina to the 'recognised words/names'? It seems to think I should be called Bernardina.


Done.  :tup:  ( I hope).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 10:48:15 PM
Thanks Graham, Oldboy and Admin Mick.

Actually, Bernie does not sound too bad, does it? But I can't change now of course, after having Reinardina entered in the 'approved list.'

Can someone explain how to get a multiple quote in a message? That's another thing I haven't worked out yet.

I went out 'shooting' this morning, to catch some 'Summertime' photos for the competition. The rain had stopped in time, but I've tried to avoid including the sky. Just in case. Came home with loads of pictures (trying out burst mode) and there should be at least two or three suitable ones. Tourist season is definitely underway!

Just did a spell check and my name was not flash up! Thanks Mick, it works!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on July 26, 2011, 11:09:12 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on July 26, 2011, 10:48:15 PM

Can someone explain how to get a multiple quote in a message? That's another thing I haven't worked out yet.


OK, to multi quote, all you need to do is, either hit the quote button for the first post you want to quote, then if you scroll down below the message box, you'll see the other posts below it.  Next to each one is a "Insert quote" button.  Put your cursor where you want the next quote to appear, and use one of those "Insert quote" buttons.  Repeat as required.  ;)

You can always test this in a new reply, and click the preview button to see if it works.  If you want to keep the post hit post, if you were just testing, then hit the back button on your browser, or another link on the site to back out of it.

Hope this helps
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 26, 2011, 11:14:55 PM
Quote from: admin on July 26, 2011, 11:09:12 PM

OK, to multi quote, all you need to do is, either hit the quote button for the first post you want to quote, then if you scroll down below the message box, you'll see the other posts below it.  Next to each one is a "Insert quote" button.  Put your cursor where you want the next quote to appear, and use one of those "Insert quote" buttons.  Repeat as required.  ;)

You can always test this in a new reply, and click the preview button to see if it works.  If you want to keep the post hit post, if you were just testing, then hit the back button on your browser, or another link on the site to back out of it.

Hope this helps

Now, I didn't know that!  :uglystupid2:

I always used wordpad or notepad for more than one quote!  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on July 27, 2011, 12:58:09 AM
I can't cope with one quote let alone multi

I can't read period ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 27, 2011, 07:36:39 AM
Do you find what is said here is typical?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/14297897.stm

My grandchildren are all sports mad, all playing for teams at various levels in football, and hardly ever off the local public golf courses in the summer. However I can't recall any of them, or their mates, discussing the Olympics to any great extent. The eldest however did apply for tickets and has been lucky enough to get two for the day of the 200m men's final, the mens 800m final and the triple jump final. He's beginning to realise that perhaps it was a wise investment :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 27, 2011, 08:08:38 AM
I'm sure that sport, and the interest levels in it in this country, revolves around things like football, rugby, golf, cricket etc. for the majority of people  - and that includes youngsters. If a child is good at running or swimming then they might well become an enthusiastic participant but I can't see too many simply deciding that watching the triple jump is as exciting as seeing how their favourite football team performs. Still, must'nt knock it, it has given Seb Coe a chance to earn a lot of money and provided jobs for lots of eastern european workers  :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 27, 2011, 08:34:52 AM
My Father in Law is already very excited about the Olympics and has basically told us he wants to come up and stay with us for the duration of the games......He is insisting I could get some "great shots" of the cyclists in Richmond Park or coming through Kingston, etc and what he would really like to do is go up to Box Hill to watch the cycling.....
I'm trying to explain without causing an argument that I have ZERO interest in the Olympics, I resent the fact that Richmond Park will be closed in all probability to "Joe Public", the road race is going to cause complete and utter traffic chaos around Kingston/Richmond/Esher/Molesey none of which have particularly good "Alternative Routes" around or through them as the town planners way back when closed off/Dead Ended/One Wayed so many roads it was unreal....And my point is that I keep trying to explain to him is yes I could get some great shots of the cyclists in Richmond Park, but the only thing I really like shooting in Richmond Park is the Deer...I have no interest particularly in shooting the cycling....if I win a bit of money on the lottery before it starts next year, I'm leaving the country for 2 months......my in laws can have the house to themselves  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on July 27, 2011, 08:52:04 AM
And i believe Boxhill is already on a waiting list for access because the route is going through protected countryside.

Don't envy you that one Keith...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on July 27, 2011, 09:46:09 AM
Got to ask, is it just young people that are not interested?  Not living in London myself it will have no effect on me other than it's going to be on TV for at least the next 13 months  :(

And another thing why is the BBC so London centric, this morning on the BBC news they were on about a nationwide coverage of charging stations for electric cars stretching to Scotland.  They then very kindly showed a map of where they would be, lots inside and around the M25 and then a line that looked like it went up the M40 and then up the M6 to Scotland, so no coverage in the Midlands, East Midlands or North East, so of course nationwide coverage  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 27, 2011, 10:58:14 AM
Don't forget Keith that they're having a practise race on Aug 14th this year. Our road will be closed that morning, so will all those that you mention in your post.
Just to remind you, Box Hill is a ticketed area.

Although the race is free to watch elsewhere along the route I can't get too excited about a large group of Lycra clad cyclists in funny shaped hats that will be gone by in about a minute! We get enough of them around here every weekend anyway. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 27, 2011, 11:05:20 AM
Only about 250 electric cars have been sold to private individuals in the UK since the £5000 subsidy was introduced. It's a reasonable bet that most of those would have been sold to luvvies and the like, and almost all of them in London.

There is to my way of thinking only one electric car on the market that is of any practical use, the Chevrolet Volt (Vauxhall Ampera (http://www.vauxhall-ampera.co.uk/index.php/eng/home) in the UK). But although this will run for most people most of the time on battery, because it has a petrol engine driving a generator for longer journeys I don't think it qualifies for the full subsidy, and anyway it'll be killed off soon because GM can't shift their stock - they're vastly more expensive than an equivalent internal combustion engined vehicle so Americans aren't buying them in significant numbers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on July 27, 2011, 12:17:21 PM
I never applied for Olympics tickets (for one thing I don't have a Visa card) but I'm sick of the whining already.

It's here.  It's happening.  Why can't we get behind it?  Plenty of time to moan about it if it fails.  You don't win anything by assuming you're going to lose.

I for one want to see the first ever games with the Blade Runner giving the athletes with legs a run for their money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/14212248.stm
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on July 27, 2011, 12:25:07 PM
I hope it's a major success with huge numbers of people glued to their TV sets - it takes place during the summer so the more people stuck indoors watching TV the fewer out and about cluttering up the places I go to for a nice peaceful walk  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on July 27, 2011, 01:36:07 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on July 27, 2011, 12:17:21 PM
I never applied for Olympics tickets (for one thing I don't have a Visa card) but I'm sick of the whining already.

It's here.  It's happening.  Why can't we get behind it?  Plenty of time to moan about it if it fails.  You don't win anything by assuming you're going to lose.

I for one want to see the first ever games with the Blade Runner giving the athletes with legs a run for their money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/14212248.stm

I hope the games are a success too, and who knows they might even give the UK economy the boost it needs  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 29, 2011, 09:00:28 AM
I think I'll jump on the bandwagon! All you sports photographers here's an offer you can't refuse, (well perhaps you can  ::)).

Your own secure personal parking place 200 yards from the Olympic cycling action, on both the road race and the time trial days, with refreshments thrown in as an optional extra! Three places available @ £100, £150 with refreshments, (a cuppa tea and a slice of cake).
Camera battery charging points available F.O.C. when the refreshment option is taken. A free picture of Seb Coe with every booking!

First come first serve.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on July 29, 2011, 10:12:42 AM
Quote from: ABERS on July 29, 2011, 09:00:28 AM
I think I'll jump on the bandwagon! All you sports photographers here's an offer you can't refuse, (well perhaps you can  ::)).

Your own secure personal parking place 200 yards from the Olympic cycling action, on both the road race and the time trial days, with refreshments thrown in as an optional extra! Three places available @ £100, £150 with refreshments, (a cuppa tea and a slice of cake).
Camera battery charging points available F.O.C. when the refreshment option is taken. A free picture of Seb Coe with every booking!

First come first serve.


I would not be supprised if someone took up your offer considering the daft money people pay to camp on some ones lawn at Wimbledon or the use of their parking space. But are you near a bend in the road which will give better action images or even potential accidents.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 29, 2011, 11:47:01 AM
Got it all sussed out. There's a large roundabout to be negotiated just near our junction.

P.S. Only one place left! ;)

PPS Does anyone have access to one of those 'Stinger' gizmos the cops use. Should make for a good shot. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on July 29, 2011, 01:27:23 PM
And I'll put up the same offer as Abers but I'm a little further away about 2 miles, however excellent transport links to Kingston (direct bus route) refreshment options (well I can make you up a flask of tea or coffee), possible room to let as well p.o.a. and subject to my in-laws not being here, and if necessary use of p.c. to back up your files on to disk, use of elements 7 available as well.....tempting I actually wonder if we could let the whole house for the 6 weeks????.....mmm food for thought.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 29, 2011, 04:15:19 PM
Quote from: krennon on July 27, 2011, 08:34:52 AM.if I win a bit of money on the lottery before it starts next year, I'm leaving the country for 2 months......my in laws can have the house to themselves  :tup:

Can't you swap houses with your in laws for the duration? Or is this impractical? (or is it unpractical?)

Neither my husband, nor I are interested in the Olympics. We're also hoping to win enough to get away, but where do you go? It'll probably get worldwide coverage. Anyone any idea?

We once hired a motorcruiser in the Highlands, and had extremely bad TV reception on Loch Ness. If it is still the same in that area, it might be the solution.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 03, 2011, 08:44:17 AM
Sound like 'Eee when I were a lad' ;)

Looking for some information on the web I stumbled across the house I was born in and spent the first 10 years of my life some ?+?!! years ago.
Then it was a small mid-terraced two up two down farm worker's cottage with no running water, with a well serving the four cottages in the terrace, hence a row of old fashioned bucket toilets across the yard served our natural functions. Electric lighting was wired into the two downstairs rooms and only one bedroom, no gas, all cooking was done on a beautiful coal fired cast iron range in the front room, and a Primus stove was in the scullery for a quickly boiled kettle. The strange anomaly was that it had a huge back garden, so plenty of fresh veggies throughout the year!

Rent for this back in the thirties was 5 shillings a week, and I remember once my Dad told me we were nearly chucked out when he got behind with the rent! :-[

The information I stumbled across today was that the house next door has been valued at £254k with a rental potential of £945 pcm.

To be fair all services are connected and it has a bathroom!

No wonder I feel a certain empathy when I look at James Ravillious' book, An English Eye.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 03, 2011, 09:26:36 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 03, 2011, 08:44:17 AM
Rent for this back in the thirties was 5 shillings a week, and I remember once my Dad told me we were nearly chucked out when he got behind with the rent! :-[

The information I stumbled across today was that the house next door has been valued at £254k with a rental potential of £945 pcm.


It increased in price after you left!  :2funny: :2funny: :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 05, 2011, 03:53:03 PM
According to a poll by IPSO MORI 71% of UK residents think there are too many immigrants in the country.

Apparently the other 29% are immigrants!  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 05, 2011, 04:36:18 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 05, 2011, 03:53:03 PM
According to a poll by IPSO MORI 71% of UK residents think there are too many immigrants in the country.

Apparently the other 29% are immigrants!  ;)

I'm an immigrant! When I married my (English) husband in 1984, he needed  to  get something called a 'no impediment to marrying an alien.' And worse, I still hold my Dutch nationality!

It's funny though, when you talk to second and third generation immigrants (who probably hold British passports), they're all sounding off against the new wave of immigrants.

I personally have no problems with immigrants who 'fit in, ' either here, or in my native Holland. Problems occur when 'they' try to change the habits, laws and customs of their host country, to turn it into a second ... whatever country they came from.

Immigrant children should be 'thrown in, at the deep end,' and attend English (and only English) speaking schools. Children adapt extremely fast, and should not normally have problems. Once the language is in place, it is easier to be accepted and to be found acceptable.

(Personal opinion only!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 06, 2011, 08:27:57 AM
With the might dollar downgraded from triple AAA's and the markets in freefall, we are all doomed.  :'(

On the brighter side, today is the happiest day of the year. It's August, a Saturday and between 18:00 to 19:00 should be the blissful hour.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on August 07, 2011, 07:55:22 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 05, 2011, 04:36:18 PM
I'm an immigrant! When I married my (English) husband in 1984, he needed  to  get something called a 'no impediment to marrying an alien.' And worse, I still hold my Dutch nationality!
As did I to marry in NL. Had to go to the Vreemelingendienst, despite having the verblijfsvergunning for years. The Wife (to be at the time) had to swear we weren't getting married for visa purposes. All very bureaucratic and tedious.

Quote
I personally have no problems with immigrants who 'fit in, ' either here, or in my native Holland. Problems occur when 'they' try to change the habits, laws and customs of their host country, to turn it into a second ... whatever country they came from.

My problems come from the incessant lecturing here about fitting in. The kids go to the local school, speak better cloggie than English :'(, celebrate the 5th Dec as well as Christmas (although we've been told off numerous times about celebrating Christmas as the presents for the kids apparently cause problems for the other households where the Christmas gift giving tradition isn't followed).

I don't see why I should become Dutch, as I'm proud to be English. I don't expect the natives to change their own traditions, but I do expect them to respect mine. It all comes down to tolerance and mutual respect...something that is very much in short supply since the rise of Geert Wijlders.

Oh, and I'd dearly love them to import some mountains or hills to make this landscape interesting.  ;)

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on August 11, 2011, 09:56:12 AM
Looter hauled before the magistrates for theft... sentenced to one days imprisonment...already served the one day in custody...walks out of court....that'll teach them to run riot  :dance: :dance: :dance: :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2:

.....must make the police disheartened!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on August 11, 2011, 06:27:52 PM
Quote from: greypoint on August 11, 2011, 09:56:12 AM
Looter hauled before the magistrates for theft... sentenced to one days imprisonment...already served the one day in custody...walks out of court....that'll teach them to run riot  :dance: :dance: :dance: :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2:

.....must make the police disheartened!

Ridiculous isn't it..  Wonder how much that process cost from start to finish.   I believe there's now over a thousand people been arrested now, so a lot of them will face the same sort of non punishment.   

(full wrath of the law, my ar$e).   :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 11, 2011, 06:56:45 PM
Quote from: greypoint on August 11, 2011, 09:56:12 AM
Looter hauled before the magistrates for theft... sentenced to one days imprisonment...already served the one day in custody...walks out of court....that'll teach them to run riot  :dance: :dance: :dance: :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2:

.....must make the police disheartened!

Wow, sounds like Canada.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 11, 2011, 11:17:20 PM
It's my last day at work tomorrow and start a weeks garden leave - but looks like I'll have to work at least monday to complete some jobs.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 16, 2011, 12:32:07 PM
Apparently the Olympic Cycle Road Race Trial went OK on Sunday, leaving total chaos in its wake traffic wise.
Had to make an 8 mile detour to watch a local football match, whereas on a normal Sunday the trip would have been just 2 miles! >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 16, 2011, 01:25:51 PM
You're not the only one to be inconvenienced Alan. Some friends of our had to make huge traffic clogged detours for the whole weekend just to get in and out of their little town.

The way things are going I think we might have to open an overspill camp site to accommodate all of our English friends desperate to escape the hell of the Olympics  :o.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on August 16, 2011, 03:48:51 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 16, 2011, 01:25:51 PM
You're not the only one to be inconvenienced Alan. Some friends of our had to make huge traffic clogged detours for the whole weekend just to get in and out of their little town.

The way things are going I think we might have to open an overspill camp site to accommodate all of our English friends desperate to escape the hell of the Olympics  :o.


Another plus point for living up north   :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 16, 2011, 04:22:33 PM
Now I know we're doomed! >:(
Watched a police conference on the lunchtime news and on the backing boards behind the spokesman amongst other symbols was the exhortation to 'Follow Us on Twitter and Facebook'.
And there was Teresa May spouting out this morning about 'better use of police time'. What a farce! :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 16, 2011, 04:44:18 PM
Quote from: hevans on August 07, 2011, 07:55:22 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 05, 2011, 04:36:18 PM
I'm an immigrant! When I married my (English) husband in 1984, he needed  to  get something called a 'no impediment to marrying an alien.' And worse, I still hold my Dutch nationality!
As did I to marry in NL. Had to go to the Vreemelingendienst, despite having the verblijfsvergunning for years. The Wife (to be at the time) had to swear we weren't getting married for visa purposes. All very bureaucratic and tedious.

Quote
I personally have no problems with immigrants who 'fit in, ' either here, or in my native Holland. Problems occur when 'they' try to change the habits, laws and customs of their host country, to turn it into a second ... whatever country they came from.

My problems come from the incessant lecturing here about fitting in. The kids go to the local school, speak better cloggie than English :'(, celebrate the 5th Dec as well as Christmas (although we've been told off numerous times about celebrating Christmas as the presents for the kids apparently cause problems for the other households where the Christmas gift giving tradition isn't followed).

I don't see why I should become Dutch, as I'm proud to be English. I don't expect the natives to change their own traditions, but I do expect them to respect mine. It all comes down to tolerance and mutual respect...something that is very much in short supply since the rise of Geert Wijlders.

Oh, and I'd dearly love them to import some mountains or hills to make this landscape interesting.  ;)

H.

Only 'caught' this today!

I thought the Dutch were more and more giving presents at Christmas? Or is that only the adults? I've been out of the country for more than 25 years and am a bit out of touch. Your kids are lucky to have both 'Sinterklaas' and Christmas presents.

Didn't realise we ( the Dutch) were becoming intolerant towards English people. A friend of mine was married to an Englishman and I don't think he ever had any problems. Must admit though, that I don't know much about Geert Wilders and his influence. When I'm visiting Holland, politics is hardly ever on the agenda.

Of course you don't have to become Dutch if you don't want to. I'm not becoming English for the same reason: proud to be Dutch, in my case. Added advantage for a woman is, that as a Dutch citizen, I remain myself, ie keep my own (maiden) name for official purposes, like passport etc. In England I am officially Mrs Husbands Name, my old self has totally disappeared.

I thought we had arranged the landscape quite nicely, and very practical. Mostly flat, to make it easy to get around on your bicycle and the hills, arranged round the edges. Zuid Limburg and towards the German border.
Mountains we don't really offer, apart from the ones that used to be molehills!  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 17, 2011, 01:38:53 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 16, 2011, 04:44:18 PM

Of course you don't have to become Dutch if you don't want to. I'm not becoming English for the same reason: proud to be Dutch, in my case. Added advantage for a woman is, that as a Dutch citizen, I remain myself, ie keep my own (maiden) name for official purposes, like passport etc. In England I am officially Mrs Husbands Name, my old self has totally disappeared.


Please don't take this as a personal attack, I'm Scottish by birth, I'm very proud of my Scot's heritage (as you could see by my recent uploads). But I'm a proud Canadian now. I took my Cdn citizenship the very first moment I could, as a legal adult. I don't understand why people immigrate to other countries and then retain their citizenship.

And I can't abide people in Canada who identify themselves as, Italian, or Croatian etc. who were born here (Canada) and likely never set foot outside of the country.

I enjoy annoying my children by pointing out to them that I'm Canadian by choice, unlike them. At the same time I am extremely proud of the fact my kids can trace their Canadian ancestry back to United Empire Loyalists (people who fled the U.S. after the revolution). My kids can trace their ancestry in the colonies back to the 1700's.

Sorry for the rant, nothing personal.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 17, 2011, 08:00:55 AM
I'd become a French citizen if it weren't for the paperwork  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 17, 2011, 08:05:44 AM
Strange how different people view things in different ways. I'm fiercely English and I can trace my English roots back to 1765, but I have a Scottish surname, and where my 1765 ancestors came from is a mystery, they just suddenly appear in the local parish records at that date. Am I a seventh generation Scot? Is it something in my genes that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I hear a pipe and drum band in full flow?

I'm a bit confused however because the same thing happens when I listen to the theme tune from Zorba the Greek! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 17, 2011, 08:18:52 AM
Quote from: spinner on August 17, 2011, 01:38:53 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 16, 2011, 04:44:18 PM

Of course you don't have to become Dutch if you don't want to. I'm not becoming English for the same reason: proud to be Dutch, in my case. Added advantage for a woman is, that as a Dutch citizen, I remain myself, ie keep my own (maiden) name for official purposes, like passport etc. In England I am officially Mrs Husbands Name, my old self has totally disappeared.


Please don't take this as a personal attack, I'm Scottish by birth, I'm very proud of my Scot's heritage (as you could see by my recent uploads). But I'm a proud Canadian now. I took my Cdn citizenship the very first moment I could, as a legal adult. I don't understand why people immigrate to other countries and then retain their citizenship.

And I can't abide people in Canada who identify themselves as, Italian, or Croatian etc. who were born here (Canada) and likely never set foot outside of the country.

I enjoy annoying my children by pointing out to them that I'm Canadian by choice, unlike them. At the same time I am extremely proud of the fact my kids can trace their Canadian ancestry back to United Empire Loyalists (people who fled the U.S. after the revolution). My kids can trace their ancestry in the colonies back to the 1700's.

Sorry for the rant, nothing personal.  :)

No offence taken!

With Holland and England near neighbours, and my very regular visits to the Netherlands, I have felt at home in both countries.
I did not consciously 'emigrate' from the Netherlands, for the reasons people normally apply for emi/immigration: I simply followed my brand new husband to his place of birth/work etc.
Hope I haven't opened a large can of worms now!

Alan, I have no connections to Scotland whatsoever, but I love pipe and drumbands. Always have done, while everyone I ever knew hates the sound!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 17, 2011, 08:19:07 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 17, 2011, 08:05:44 AM
Is it something in my genes that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I hear a pipe and drum band in full flow?

I'm a bit confused however because the same thing happens when I listen to the theme tune from Zorba the Greek! ???

:2funny:

With my ancestors, I concider myself a European on account of the English, Irish, French mix in genes -   :D :beer: oops well it looks like a guiness and  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on August 17, 2011, 08:23:08 AM
odd is'nt it. As far as I can trace back I'm English and English folk music always seems like my real music [yes it does exist!] - but I really get that same feeling when I hear the pipes.  :dance:  Perhaps it's imagining how the enemy must have felt on a still quiet morning before a battle when the Scots army began to play  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on August 17, 2011, 09:03:38 AM
I'm very English but have Scottish roots and I believe I'm even allowed to wear one of the tartans (not sure which one, must ask my dad) but the pipes just don't do it for me.....

My dad has traced our ancestors back to 1736(ish) and our families slow movement from the north down the country to now the youngest generation living in Portsmouth, if the family keeps moving south with each generation it will be France here we come!!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 17, 2011, 09:48:07 AM
Quote from: michaelb104 on August 17, 2011, 09:03:38 AM
I'm very English but have Scottish roots and I believe I'm even allowed to wear one of the tartans (not sure which one, must ask my dad) but the pipes just don't do it for me.....

My dad has traced our ancestors back to 1736(ish) and our families slow movement from the north down the country to now the youngest generation living in Portsmouth, if the family keeps moving south with each generation it will be France here we come!!  :legit:


Then North Africa . .  eventually you'll circumnavigate the Greenwich Meridian and end up back where you started.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 21, 2011, 08:22:25 AM
Noticed in the supermarket on Friday that they were selling Ostrich eggs! Beautifully packaged and priced at somewhere about £25 each! Has anyone tried one of these.

I estimate you would need at least 2 loaves to provide enough soldiers for a decent 1 hour egg. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 21, 2011, 10:43:22 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 21, 2011, 08:22:25 AM
Noticed in the supermarket on Friday that they were selling Ostrich eggs! Beautifully packaged and priced at somewhere about £25 each! Has anyone tried one of these.

I estimate you would need at least 2 loaves to provide enough soldiers for a decent 1 hour egg. ::)
Apparently they take from 50 mins to an hour to soft boil, I would imagine that by the time the centre is soft boiled, the outside would be like rubber!
      I would whisk it for omlettes given the opportunity. I do have an empty shell from a local (ish) ostrich farm for decoration and looking at it, if you had to crack
it, you'd be advised to go to the garage rather than the kitchen!
      Waitrose presumably?
                      Graham. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 21, 2011, 11:02:27 AM
Quote from: Graham on August 21, 2011, 10:43:22 AM
           Waitrose presumably?
                      Graham. :tup:
Where else is there! 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 21, 2011, 11:20:12 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 21, 2011, 08:22:25 AM
Noticed in the supermarket on Friday that they were selling Ostrich eggs! Beautifully packaged and priced at somewhere about £25 each! Has anyone tried one of these.

I estimate you would need at least 2 loaves to provide enough soldiers for a decent 1 hour egg. ::)

Expensive dish; A fine masonary drill, plenty of puff and the meal will probably satisfy the expended energy in preparation.  :-[  :tup:  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 28, 2011, 02:18:43 PM
I was playing around with my iPad camera yesterday, took some self portraits of me enjoy a nice glass of Glenfiddich. Anyway, I emailed them to some friends and family and got a report back they were upside down. Have done a Google (DuckDuckGo actually) and discovered the question, "why?" posted several times. I hit the 6th web site before someone actually answered the question, one post has been unanswered for over 4 mths. 6 web sites before someone actually answered the question in detail. One response was, oh try a 3rd party app. Not sure what would annoy me most, not getting an answer or getting an answer that had very little to do with my question.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 28, 2011, 07:07:42 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 28, 2011, 02:18:43 PM
I was playing around with my iPad camera yesterday, took some self portraits of me enjoy a nice glass of Glenfiddich.

My favorite tipple of choice.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 30, 2011, 10:45:41 PM
Those nice marketing people from Sony!
Got home to find an invite to the launch of their new A77 and NEX7 at their offices at Weybridge. Not being too far from my home I thought it would be a good way to spend half a day, so I clicked to order a ticket, only to find that they were £150 each. :o

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 31, 2011, 06:53:31 PM
Sounds like a bargain Alan, you probably get canapés and everything.

My bemusement today was the discovery that our kitchen scales have been under reading by anything up to 20% - they're not consistent, but that seems to be the average.

This goes a long towards explaining many recent baking disasters including heavy bread, flat cakes and soggy gypsy tart, to name but three.

Further bemusement ensued when I suggest to SWMBO that perhaps we ought to buy some new scales; alas, it appears that if the aforementioned SWMBO has spent the morning shopping for new shoes then a request for €10 for a tool that we use nearly every day is apparently beyond the pale.

But I'm working on it . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on September 01, 2011, 09:01:42 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 31, 2011, 06:53:31 PM
My bemusement today was the discovery that our kitchen scales have been under reading by anything up to 20% - they're not consistent, but that seems to be the average.

This goes a long towards explaining many recent baking disasters including heavy bread, flat cakes and soggy gypsy tart, to name but three.

Further bemusement ensued when I suggest to SWMBO that perhaps we ought to buy some new scales; alas, it appears that if the aforementioned SWMBO has spent the morning shopping for new shoes then a request for €10 for a tool that we use nearly every day is apparently beyond the pale.

But I'm working on it . . .

Sounds like you need to weigh your various options.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 01, 2011, 09:07:03 AM
Quote from: hevans on September 01, 2011, 09:01:42 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 31, 2011, 06:53:31 PM
My bemusement today was the discovery that our kitchen scales have been under reading by anything up to 20% - they're not consistent, but that seems to be the average.

This goes a long towards explaining many recent baking disasters including heavy bread, flat cakes and soggy gypsy tart, to name but three.

Further bemusement ensued when I suggest to SWMBO that perhaps we ought to buy some new scales; alas, it appears that if the aforementioned SWMBO has spent the morning shopping for new shoes then a request for €10 for a tool that we use nearly every day is apparently beyond the pale.

But I'm working on it . . .

Sounds like you need to weigh your various options.

   Would Mr Evans kindly leave the stage!  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 01, 2011, 10:52:13 AM
What a silver tongued devil I am  :P

Just ordered a new set of scales  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 01, 2011, 10:59:25 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 01, 2011, 10:52:13 AM
What a silver tongued devil I am  :P

Just ordered a new set of scales  :dance:

  I don't know Howard, somtimes you just don't care do you!
                              Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 01, 2011, 11:21:14 AM
It gets better ;) ordered a new rucksack at the same time  :tup: :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 01, 2011, 11:45:07 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 01, 2011, 11:21:14 AM
It gets better ;) ordered a new rucksack at the same time  :tup: :dance: :dance:
That'll be handy for when she throws you out....You won't be  :dance: then will you!
                             Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 01, 2011, 01:18:08 PM
I'll get my coat . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 01, 2011, 03:13:12 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 30, 2011, 10:45:41 PM
Those nice marketing people from Sony!
Got home to find an invite to the launch of their new A77 and NEX7 at their offices at Weybridge. Not being too far from my home I thought it would be a good way to spend half a day, so I clicked to order a ticket, only to find that they were £150 each. :o

Perhaps they've realized the DSLR market is saturated and this is the new money making scheme. Instead of buying the new cameras you just pay big money to look at them.  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 01, 2011, 05:43:58 PM
Having seen some of my work when my daughter linked them to my website her firm asked me for a quote for some corporate headshots. Gave a price for 4 hours work where I felt I`d allowed at least 25% more time than I needed but said that if we overran due to staff being delayed in meetings etc I`d stay on for a set hourly rate. They got back to me and asked for a day rate which I was happy to give and threw in a sweetener of a little introductory discount and reduced charge for mileage as I would be visiting my daughter at same time. Hear nothing then this major international insurance company contact me through the 21 year old student summer placement guy saying I had been undercut by a local photographer specialising in corporate headshots but they liked my work and might ask me to do some in Bristol etc. My daughter had already warned me that after asking for and getting a move with better prospects the guy in charge was unhappy and likely to take it out on me ("Sorry Dad"). So she moves on to another section and today sends me a copy of her headshot done by said prfessional specialist and what do I see? Badly composed shot, f2.8 used but either re-composed or was off as it is out of focus on her eyes, badly lit with huge shadows under her nose /lip caused by what looks like a bare flash front left and yet two other lights used too. seems they were done. She asked my opinion so I agve her a list and sent my contact details for next time. Never ceases to amaze me how this insurance giant gives large budgets to inexperienced staff who often don`t know what they are looking for or what they should get. Shows it`s often luck more than ability that gets the job though - maybe there is still hope for me  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 01, 2011, 10:02:43 PM
Quote from: jinky on September 01, 2011, 05:43:58 PM
Hear nothing then this major international insurance company contact me through the 21 year old student summer placement guy saying I had been undercut by a local photographer specialising in corporate headshots but they liked my work and might ask me to do some in Bristol etc.

Hope you replied that your rates guarantee a proper job!  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 01, 2011, 10:56:54 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 01, 2011, 10:02:43 PM
Quote from: jinky on September 01, 2011, 05:43:58 PM
Hear nothing then this major international insurance company contact me through the 21 year old student summer placement guy saying I had been undercut by a local photographer specialising in corporate headshots but they liked my work and might ask me to do some in Bristol etc.

Hope you replied that your rates guarantee a proper job!  ;D

How bad do you need the money? My reply would be, my prices have gone up to cover you jerking me around the last time.  >:( But that's just me.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 02, 2011, 04:52:09 AM
Might well be the response Spinner as I`ll be charging expenses if they come back. Stupid thing is they`d have got the job done cheap with my first quote and they asked fore the higher quote then rejected  ???. Having asked my views on the shot my daughter has emailed back saying she thought that I`d comment on the shadows / out of focus elements and has sent my coments on to the project leader - oops!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 02, 2011, 05:23:40 PM
WBMT? Daughter lives with us. She was getting ready to head out for a job interview and decided to print off her resume. Her printers not working so we tried to email from her computer upstairs to mine downstairs. She uses Gmail and I use Hotmail. She emailed it at 11:13 am, it didn't arrive until 12:19 pm. just over an hour. I wonder where it's been routed through China maybe?  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 02, 2011, 06:54:46 PM
Intriguing delay, but begs the question, why didn't you network the printer? Our printers are in the study, but my daughter's PC and the lappie can both use them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 02, 2011, 08:23:06 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 02, 2011, 06:54:46 PM
Intriguing delay, but begs the question, why didn't you network the printer? Our printers are in the study, but my daughter's PC and the lappie can both use them.

We mistakenly thought email would be quicker
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 04, 2011, 04:09:36 PM
Quote from: spinner on September 02, 2011, 08:23:06 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 02, 2011, 06:54:46 PM
Intriguing delay, but begs the question, why didn't you network the printer? Our printers are in the study, but my daughter's PC and the lappie can both use them.

We mistakenly thought email would be quicker

Oh and I've had problems trying to network this particular printer with my Mac so I'm not sure where the issue lies, she needed it printed right away and I didn't want to muck about.
Of course, when I have time to muck about, I forget. :( Just like right now, I logged on to the web to check something out, the idea had come to me standing in my kitchen, but the time I got here to my Den, fired up the machine and logged in I've forgotten why I came. :'( :'(
Now I'm surfing through familiar sites hoping my memory will kick in.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 13, 2011, 11:22:38 PM
You must be joking :o
Just read that to renovate and move Roald Dahl's hut, which is apparently still in the bottom of his garden in Bucks,
will cost £500,000 and it will cost a further £500,000 to install it in some museum. ???

Why don't they just buy him a new one. :legit:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 14, 2011, 12:27:38 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 13, 2011, 11:22:38 PM
You must be joking :o
Just read that to renovate and move Roald Dahl's hut, which is apparently still in the bottom of his garden in Bucks,
will cost £500,000 and it will cost a further £500,000 to install it in some museum. ???

Why don't they just buy him a new one. :legit:

Not much use to him as he died in 1990.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 14, 2011, 06:58:57 AM
Yes I know that Oldboy, but it would make a nice mausoleum. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 14, 2011, 07:54:12 AM
The numbers look deeply suspicious.

I suggested on Twitter that a man with a van would probably do it for 60 quid cash.  I was told that due to the fragile nature of some of the objects it must be treated like an archaeological site.  Unless wages have gone up significantly, £500,000 would pay a team of 20 archaeologists for a year.  Plus student volunteers.  Despite what you see on that irritating program with Baldrick most archaeologists seem to get by with a small trowel and a wheelbarrow so materials costs won't be high.

Oh look, I'm starting to agree with the Telegraph.  Which is worrying.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8760530/Do-it-yourself-outcry-over-Roald-Dahls-shed.html

Mind you, I never knew Sophie Dahl was married to Jamie Cullum.  I can quite see why the family needs handouts.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 14, 2011, 10:13:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 14, 2011, 06:58:57 AM
Yes I know that Oldboy, but it would make a nice mausoleum. :doh:

:2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 14, 2011, 10:14:41 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 14, 2011, 07:54:12 AM

Oh look, I'm starting to agree with the Telegraph.  Which is worrying.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8760530/Do-it-yourself-outcry-over-Roald-Dahls-shed.html


It's an age thing.  :o ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on September 14, 2011, 10:31:18 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 13, 2011, 11:22:38 PM
You must be joking :o
Just read that to renovate and move Roald Dahl's hut, which is apparently still in the bottom of his garden in Bucks,
will cost £500,000 and it will cost a further £500,000 to install it in some museum. ???


I won't be shedding any tears over this.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 14, 2011, 06:47:54 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 14, 2011, 07:54:12 AM

Mind you, I never knew Sophie Dahl was married to Jamie Cullum. 

    Now look Jonathan, we've been on this site a good few years now, and I like like to think  that we've all got to know each other a little.
    And then you come here, trying to make out that you don't subscribe to "OK" magazine!?
                     Words fail me. >:(

      Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 14, 2011, 07:13:42 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 14, 2011, 07:54:12 AM
Mind you, I never knew Sophie Dahl was married to Jamie Cullum

Is that the bloke who tries to be a cross between Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and fails miserably >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 14, 2011, 07:52:52 PM
Quote from: hevans on September 14, 2011, 10:31:18 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 13, 2011, 11:22:38 PM
You must be joking :o
Just read that to renovate and move Roald Dahl's hut, which is apparently still in the bottom of his garden in Bucks,
will cost £500,000 and it will cost a further £500,000 to install it in some museum. ???


I won't be shedding any tears over this.

H.

Too subtle H.  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 15, 2011, 08:19:31 AM
The camera 'fanboy' thingy  :-\  Last autumn I bought a Pentax K-5 and it has been the best camera body I've used. But the body is only half the story and the lack of a fast focusing quiet 300mm zoom - in fact the lack of any long fast focusing zoom that did'nt weigh a ton finally made me regretfully decide to move back to Nikon before the K-5 became valueless. So I bought a D7000 with Tamron 70-300 vc usd and a used 28-75 f2.8 for low light. To cut a long story short - after three weeks of general frustration, I found the 70-300 needed to be set at -15 on the af fine tune to get in focus results and the 28-75 was still a bit iffy at -20. An old 28-105 f2.8 proved to need similar attention. Now, to me, that's a camera issue. It also had times when it refused to lock focus at all - on easy subjects, good light, single point, single shot af. So it's gone back. This sort of thing makes you search the internet for those with the same issues - wow - what a can of worms  ::) On dpreview there is so much vitriol aimed at those who dare to say there are some faulty D7000s out there it's come down to people quoting the bible and actual threats! There are lots who claim there are no af issues with some cameras but it's simply user error and being too thick to realise this camera has a superior advanced af system. Now, to me, any camera that has af should af - in the simplest modes it should be point, focus, shoot. There are those who say it's perfectly acceptable to have to fine tune all your lenses to such a great degree - live with it. Hmm - having spent £850 on a camera I sort of expect it to work properly from the start - fine tuning should be just that - fine tuning.  Why do some people have this strange affliction whereby they seem to have this undying loyalty to a camera brand and can stand no criticism of it?!
Oh well - waiting for them to refund the money for my D7000 - unless they too swear there's nothing wrong with it  :knuppel2:  Took delivery of a D90 - and guess what....it focuses like you'd expect...as did all my previous Nikons.  ::) :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 15, 2011, 09:31:26 AM
Yeah but to be fair, most people on DPR are quite quite mad.

I remember the guy who bought 8 cameras none of which would focus properly....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 15, 2011, 10:17:03 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 15, 2011, 09:31:26 AM
Yeah but to be fair, most people on DPR are quite quite mad.

I remember the guy who bought 8 cameras none of which would focus properly....

Yes - I'd never actually post anything on there [although I did join in the Fuji SLR forum which was pretty civilised] - it can make interesting reading though.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 15, 2011, 12:54:04 PM
Sorry to hear you ditched the K5. I'm blissfully happy with mine, but then I don't ever find the need for a long lens. I haven't noticed any slow to focus issues either; if something is moving too fast for the K5 to focus on it's usually moving too fast for me to keep it in the frame anyway.

Also sorry to hear that you've had issues with the new Nikon.

That said, my neighbour the wildlife photographer is always complaining about how rubbish the autofocus is on his Canons with long lenses (400mm+) - he focuses manually most of the time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 15, 2011, 01:40:11 PM
I think the K-5 was the best camera I've used - that and the D300s. The af was certainly better than the K20D and with something like the Tamron 70-300 would no doubt have remained my camera of choice. I've had the opportunity to shoot the local flyball teams as well as agility, and those collies really fly! Trying to capture them with the Pentax 55-300 was a bit difficult and trying to get candid shots with that noisy af was even more difficult! It was'nt too bad with the 70-200 Tamron which is quite nippy in Pentax compared with Nikon fit - but 200mm was a bit limiting and the lens a bit heavy as a walkaround. It's the combination of a lightweight fast focusing 300mm zoom on a camera with good continuous af that I find most useful. Other than that the K-5 itself is brilliant and I'd recommend it to anyone - unless they mainly photograph action possibly! Leaving aside the af problems, the D7000 did'nt knock me out as a major improvement to the excellent D90, which is a camera that just seems to work [might need a touch of -3/-7 on the exp.compensation button].
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on September 15, 2011, 03:40:50 PM
Sue, Several people I know have returned the D7000 with the same complaint. Definitely an issue there. The D90 is still the camera to go for if the D300s is above budget.
Hinfrance, I know quite a few Nature Photographers that have the same complaint and would opt for Nikon if they would do the same thing again. I have been told that using the dedicated AF button at the back of the
Canon camera, rather than the halfway pressing of the shutter button, will give quicker and more reliable results, but it is a matter of getting used to that way of shooting.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 15, 2011, 03:50:53 PM
Glad it was'nt just me!  :D I'd have liked a D300s again but not a new one at the price they still are - if I see a nice. low use one going cheap though..... The man at W/E said the D700 has disappeared and is now impossible to get so it looks like the new model people are waiting for will probably be a D700 replacement rather than D300s one. I suppose to some degree if the D7000 was as good as it's supposed to be a D300s replacement would'nt be necessary. I'm just happy to have a camera that I can rely on again  ::) Nice results from the D7000 but I think the K-5 shots were a bit better colourwise - some rather odd skin tones on some of the D7000 pictures :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 16, 2011, 10:43:14 PM
The Gadget show on channel five tonight featured gadgets experiences, and one of them was been photographed like Paparazzi do to celebrities. The cost is around £160 a go. I see a business opportunity for members here!  8) ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 20, 2011, 03:41:14 PM
After the rubbish summer here's what the Autumn and Winter have to offer!  :doh:

Weather experts are warning Brits - and the transport networks - to prepare for another year of Arctic temperatures and snow, which could start as early as October.

The gloomy winter forecast has been predicted by Exacta Weather, with forecaster James Madden telling the Daily Express: 'As we head towards winter, I expect to see the first signs of some moderate to heavy snowfalls as early as October or November in certain parts of the UK.

'I expect December, January, and February to experience below-average temperatures, with the heaviest snowfalls occurring within the time frame of November to ­January across many parts of the UK.'

Mr Madden also predicted 'prolonged periods of extreme cold and snow from the Arctic', and said that Scotland and the North should prepare for the worst of it.

Forecasters at Netweather predict 'widespread snowfall' by November, while the Met Office said the beginning of October would see lower-than-average night temps, creating overnight frosts.

Weather Services International also said October, November and December would see temperatures around two degrees lower than average.

All the signs point towards a 'big freeze' similar to last year, when the run-up to Christmas saw heavy snowfall of up to 30 inches causing chaos on the transport networks, with airports being brought to a standstill - a problem that cost the economy around £13 billion, according to the Express.

The news follows Britain being hit by Hurricane Katia just last month - the worst storm the UK has seen for 15 years with winds of up to 80mph leaving damage of around £100 million.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on September 20, 2011, 03:57:46 PM
1. There's no mileage in "weather will be pretty much standard for the time of year" so the extreme stories always get "reported".

2. Is this the same panel of experts that said we were going to have the hottest summer for years and that last winter would be milder than normal?

3. Scotland and the North to be colder than the rest of the country?  In Winter?  For real?  Yeah, I remember that from geography O level.

4. Up to 30 inches of snow?  So that would include 29.8 inches?  And also zero inches?

5. "The news follows Britain being hit by Hurricane Katia just last month".  Follows as in "happens after".  Yep, things wok like that.  Autumn weather happens and then people start discussing what winter will be like.

6. No, Britain was not hit by Hurricane Katia.  We were hit by post tropical cyclone Katia.  It had lost a LOT of its energy by the time it got here - as hurricanes tend to.  Hurricanes feed off warm water and the Atlantic is pretty famous for not being warm in autumn.  There were a couple of hurricane force gusts but that's very very different from a hurricane.

In other news....it's lazy journalist season again.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 20, 2011, 04:01:47 PM
If this is as accurate as the forecasts I've been checking all summer to see what the weather will be like when we're at an event...prepare for a mild winter ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 20, 2011, 04:05:23 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 20, 2011, 03:57:46 PM
In other news....it's lazy journalist season again.....

You have been warned.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 20, 2011, 04:17:35 PM
How many kids can you get in your van?  :doh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMzwZ4FTgFs&feature=player_embedded#!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on September 24, 2011, 01:39:08 PM
WBMT - New mower has no throttle? In the unlikely event i feel energetic I cant make it go any faster.
Its also got an annoying dead mans handle, so if i stop to empty the box/pick up stones the engine cuts out. Health and safety i suppose, Ive tied it in position with a pretty bow so i can carry on without interuption.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on September 24, 2011, 01:52:02 PM
Frankly, I don't care what the weather will be - chances are that despite having a 4x4, other muppets will try and get out in inappropriate vehicles and equipment and block the roads anyway.

I just want the weather to be ok on the night/morning of 21/22 October so that I can get to the Tunnel and off to the Pyrenees for the week.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 25, 2011, 01:45:04 AM
Quote from: bones615 on September 24, 2011, 01:39:08 PM
WBMT - New mower has no throttle? In the unlikely event i feel energetic I cant make it go any faster.
Its also got an annoying dead mans handle, so if i stop to empty the box/pick up stones the engine cuts out. Health and safety i suppose, Ive tied it in position with a pretty bow so i can carry on without interuption.

Simon

When did you last buy a lawnmower? I don't remember owning one without that deadman's lever. I switched to gas powered in the mid 80's
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 25, 2011, 07:59:04 AM
Bypassing the safety features is surely the first thing to do to any piece of machinery . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on September 25, 2011, 08:19:35 AM
Quote from: spinner on September 25, 2011, 01:45:04 AM
Quote from: bones615 on September 24, 2011, 01:39:08 PM
WBMT - New mower has no throttle? In the unlikely event i feel energetic I cant make it go any faster.
Its also got an annoying dead mans handle, so if i stop to empty the box/pick up stones the engine cuts out. Health and safety i suppose, Ive tied it in position with a pretty bow so i can carry on without interuption.

Simon

When did you last buy a lawnmower? I don't remember owning one without that deadman's lever. I switched to gas powered in the mid 80's

Probably mid eighties, they built them to last in the good old days!! I had an old petrol cylinder mower that didnt have one & more recently a rechargable electric rotary that had the handle but it didnt need restarting, more of an on/off switch.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 25, 2011, 12:02:57 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 25, 2011, 07:59:04 AM
Bypassing the safety features is surely the first thing to do to any piece of machinery . .

  Well obviously! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 26, 2011, 03:03:48 PM
Why can't things be left alone? >:(

My email system provider has told me with great delight that they've upgraded the system. All I can see that is different is that everything that was there is still there but somewhere else, so I'll have to spend the next few months getting used to it.

And why would I want to 'Follow us on Faece Book' when I can contact anyone I want to on Email and vice-versa? I get enough inane chatter nowadays on the TV without actively seeking out the sad Eleanor Rigbby's on what I believe are called social networks?

One bit of good news is that GCSE students are to be marked on spelling, grammar and punctuation. That'll make a few teachers quake in their boots!

Just run this through the spellcheck before I post it. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 26, 2011, 06:14:45 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on September 20, 2011, 03:57:46 PM
1. There's no mileage in "weather will be pretty much standard for the time of year" so the extreme stories always get "reported".

2. Is this the same panel of experts that said we were going to have the hottest summer for years and that last winter would be milder than normal?

3. Scotland and the North to be colder than the rest of the country?  In Winter?  For real?  Yeah, I remember that from geography O level.

4. Up to 30 inches of snow?  So that would include 29.8 inches?  And also zero inches?

5. "The news follows Britain being hit by Hurricane Katia just last month".  Follows as in "happens after".  Yep, things wok like that.  Autumn weather happens and then people start discussing what winter will be like.

6. No, Britain was not hit by Hurricane Katia.  We were hit by post tropical cyclone Katia.  It had lost a LOT of its energy by the time it got here - as hurricanes tend to.  Hurricanes feed off warm water and the Atlantic is pretty famous for not being warm in autumn.  There were a couple of hurricane force gusts but that's very very different from a hurricane.

In other news....it's lazy journalist season again.....

Quote from: greypoint on September 20, 2011, 04:01:47 PM
If this is as accurate as the forecasts I've been checking all summer to see what the weather will be like when we're at an event...prepare for a mild winter ;D

From Net Weather:
Following a lot of stories in the media this week, we felt it would be useful to clarify the situation with regard to snow this October and November.

At this point in time the Netweather long range forecast (which was updated earlier this week) is pointing toward temperatures in October being close to or perhaps slightly below average, with November currently forecast to be cooler than average.

Typically October will bring some snow to the hills and mountains of northern Britain but rarely does it bring any low level or widespread snowfall, with the forecast being for temperatures to be close to average, at this stage there is no reason to suggest that anything out of the ordinary is likely, and any forecasts of widespread snow during October have not been made by Netweather.

Into November, snowfall is less rare and recent years have shown that even lower levels can see snow - particularly later in the month. With the current forecast showing the potential for temperatures to be below normal, this could indicate the increased risk of more widespread snow - but at this range there is no way to accurately predict whether this may be the case and should it occur, when it may happen.

Netweather's long range forecasts are updated once a month and look purely at climatic features - such as whether or not a month is likely to be warmer or colder than average or whether it is likely to be wetter or drier than average. From this it's possible to derive some conclusions as to whether a particular weather type (such as snow) is more or less likely but it's only at much shorter range that specific day to day conditions can be forecast with confidence.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on September 27, 2011, 08:27:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 26, 2011, 03:03:48 PM
Why can't things be left alone? >:(

My email system provider has told me with great delight that they've upgraded the system. All I can see that is different is that everything that was there is still there but somewhere else, so I'll have to spend the next few months getting used to it.

And why would I want to 'Follow us on Faece Book' when I can contact anyone I want to on Email and vice-versa? I get enough inane chatter nowadays on the TV without actively seeking out the sad Eleanor Rigbby's on what I believe are called social networks?

One bit of good news is that GCSE students are to be marked on spelling, grammar and punctuation. That'll make a few teachers quake in their boots!

Just run this through the spellcheck before I post it. :legit:


I assume you're not with talktalk then - no $%£"* email access again on tiscali accounts and they've taken off the online contact it seems - they suggest you email if you have a problem....if I could *&^&£$% email I would'nt have a problem!! :knuppel2:
  :knuppel2:  Fortunately I can contact the people I need to email via facebook messaging - so it does have its uses  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 28, 2011, 11:01:48 PM
Surrey CC Highways Dept.

We've got more potholes than the surface of the moon and we're told there isn't any money in the kitty to fill them in, except for the Olympic Cycle road race route for next year's shindig.

Eight libraries are to close unless volunteers come forward to man them.

What happens today? Workmen invade our road and pull up all the perfectly serviceable lamposts and replace them with new ones :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on September 28, 2011, 11:43:09 PM
Quote from: ABERS on September 28, 2011, 11:01:48 PM
Surrey CC Highways Dept.

We've got more potholes than the surface of the moon and we're told there isn't any money in the kitty to fill them in, except for the Olympic Cycle road race route for next year's shindig.

Eight libraries are to close unless volunteers come forward to man them.

What happens today? Workmen invade our road and pull up all the perfectly serviceable lamposts and replace them with new ones :o


Same thing happens up here. A gang of County Council workers turned up and resurfaced the pavements that were also perfectly serviceable and ignored the potholes in the road inches away... :knuppel2:  Potholes throughout the country which were a result of last years severe weather have yet to be repaired and now we are heading for winter again so by this time next year our roads will be equal to those of a third world nation.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 29, 2011, 06:17:39 AM
I'm sure this is some kind of universal truth.

The main road through town is like a tank testing ground - lumps and bumps everywhere. Seriously needs redoing.

Last weekend we went to visit a friend who live just outside a small village pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Yet from where the 'c' road branches off of the 'b' road it has been resurfaced for about 6 kms. And it was fine anyway.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on September 29, 2011, 08:43:07 AM
That is what happens when Departments are not working together. :D  - Chits and signed Contracts with 'costs for failure to honour' and the public is left like mushrooms growing in the dark. Happens almost everywhere in 'developed' countries  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on September 29, 2011, 04:55:23 PM
Can't remember whether I've told this before (but it bears retelling). Strange rattle in car so when I went to garage to meet OH who was having an MOT done on hers, asked garage to take a look (what can I say? She was late so had the time! Wimmin!). Just as well they checked as a big chunk of main spring had fractured off (hence the rattle) with the remainder, now with no restraint, threatening to boing up through the wing! So we can't go in my car - but they lend me one of theirs and with my cheery "Her car won't fail, so we'll be back later". Fateful words as my mobile rang - she had exactly the same problem in the same spot - fractured main spring!

As an afterword to this story - her car started making suspension squeak type noises a couple weeks later. Seems the Citroen 3rd party springs are a POS - so we sprung (sorry!) for the manufacturers' version at twice the price. Glad to say mine was an original VW part in the first place!

As the garage said: roads are so poor that suspension faults are common. Glad to say my current alloys aren't too bad - had a Cooper S which leaked air from one tyre - slight distortion of the wheel (from pothole) had distorted the usually circular wheel allowing air to continually leak out - tyre had to be glued on (as it was still brand new!). Glad to say I got rid soon after (the long list of faults was growing tiresome - closest I'll ever come to having a BMW and it was too close!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on September 30, 2011, 09:43:52 AM
WBMT - motorcycle oil pressure + me being an idiot. Gave the bike a service,  oiled the mating surfaces for new oil filter, wound it on, started engine, revved engine, gave it some more and covered the garage in oil. Some how the rubber from the old filter had stuck to the bike so the new filter had wound against it and not sealed properly. My fault i should have looked properly rather than just felt the smooth surface, pretty impressive pressure/ spray though, and I will always have the stain on the wall to remind me to check next time.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 30, 2011, 08:18:12 PM
Quote from: bones615 on September 30, 2011, 09:43:52 AM
WBMT - motorcycle oil pressure + me being an idiot. Gave the bike a service,  oiled the mating surfaces for new oil filter, wound it on, started engine, revved engine, gave it some more and covered the garage in oil. Some how the rubber from the old filter had stuck to the bike so the new filter had wound against it and not sealed properly. My fault i should have looked properly rather than just felt the smooth surface, pretty impressive pressure/ spray though, and I will always have the stain on the wall to remind me to check next time.

Simon

Just thrown some paint on the wall and you will have an oil painting... :uglystupid2:  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 30, 2011, 08:20:12 PM
I hardly get any Spam and in the last twelve months only received about three. Today I got 14!!!!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 02, 2011, 12:11:46 PM
  The good Mrs G dragged me off to one of those car boot things this morning.

             How do people manage to accumulate such a mass of useless junk in the first place? It was like a festival of bad taste!
                          Graham. :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2011, 02:21:42 PM
Whilst reading about the 'Cuts' protest march in Manchester that the Asst. Chief Constable Tweeted a statement on the police force Twitter site.

How can he or his force be taken seriously?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 02, 2011, 02:50:37 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2011, 02:21:42 PM
Whilst reading about the 'Cuts' protest march in Manchester that the Asst. Chief Constable Tweeted a statement on the police force Twitter site.

How can he or his force be taken seriously?

I guess its just another 'street' in the Internet neighbourhood  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 02, 2011, 03:59:05 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2011, 02:21:42 PM
Whilst reading about the 'Cuts' protest march in Manchester that the Asst. Chief Constable Tweeted a statement on the police force Twitter site.

How can he or his force be taken seriously?

No doubt some young hip, P.R. guru talked them into it. I'm sure if celebs are doing it, it must be ok.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 02, 2011, 04:50:27 PM
Quote from: Graham on October 02, 2011, 12:11:46 PM
  The good Mrs G dragged me off to one of those car boot things this morning.

             How do people manage to accumulate such a mass of useless junk in the first place? It was like a festival of bad taste!
                          Graham. :uglystupid2:

Did you buy lots of stuff then?  :uglystupid2: :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 03, 2011, 03:13:20 PM
Also, you can now join us on Twitter.  http://twitter.com/#!/CameraCraniums

OH NO.  :'(  It's all downhill from here. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 03, 2011, 03:22:41 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 03, 2011, 03:13:20 PM
Also, you can now join us on Twitter.  http://twitter.com/#!/CameraCraniums

OH NO.  :'(  It's all downhill from here. :legit:

Don't Panic, it's purely for promotion purposes.  And I'm not going to farcebook.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on October 03, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
Someone suggested I should join twitter " purely for promotional purposes" and now I noticed I have Camera Craniums following me.
To be honest I hardly ever go there, I think I have 5 followers / watchers or whatever they are. They include Mick who does my large format printing, two photographers in the USA, Steve Bedder & Mick here at Craniums.

I must be missing something on the promotional side of it all but I am not bothered. I tweeted today to see if anything happens. Maybe I should start my own social network called "Barking" then we can all bark at each other.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 03, 2011, 04:24:16 PM
 :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 03, 2011, 05:16:27 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 03, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I must be missing something on the promotional side of it all but I am not bothered. I tweeted today to see if anything happens. Maybe I should start my own social network called "Barking" then we can all bark at each other.

Dunno.  Just had a meeting with a lovely couple getting married in Spring.  They found me on Twitter and booked me for their photography.  It's brought me more work per £ invested than most advertising ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 03, 2011, 06:45:45 PM
A Belgian.

On a slight incline.

Reverse parking his people carrier into a small space.

By pushing it with the door pillar and then jumping into it to grab the hand brake before it hit the car behind. Probably before it hit the car behind. It might well have hit the car behind a bit.

Good grief.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 03, 2011, 07:20:47 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 03, 2011, 05:16:27 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 03, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I must be missing something on the promotional side of it all but I am not bothered. I tweeted today to see if anything happens. Maybe I should start my own social network called "Barking" then we can all bark at each other.

Dunno.  Just had a meeting with a lovely couple getting married in Spring.  They found me on Twitter and booked me for their photography.  It's brought me more work per £ invested than most advertising ;)

Do you get the feeling you're being followed all the time.   :)  CameraCraniums is now following you, too.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 03, 2011, 08:26:48 PM
Quote from: admin on October 03, 2011, 07:20:47 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 03, 2011, 05:16:27 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 03, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I must be missing something on the promotional side of it all but I am not bothered. I tweeted today to see if anything happens. Maybe I should start my own social network called "Barking" then we can all bark at each other.

Dunno.  Just had a meeting with a lovely couple getting married in Spring.  They found me on Twitter and booked me for their photography.  It's brought me more work per £ invested than most advertising ;)

Do you get the feeling you're being followed all the time.   :)  CameraCraniums is now following you, too.  :D

Isn't that called stalking?  :o :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 05, 2011, 09:16:29 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 03, 2011, 05:16:27 PM
Quote from: Dave on October 03, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I must be missing something on the promotional side of it all but I am not bothered. I tweeted today to see if anything happens. Maybe I should start my own social network called "Barking" then we can all bark at each other.

Dunno.  Just had a meeting with a lovely couple getting married in Spring.  They found me on Twitter and booked me for their photography.  It's brought me more work per £ invested than most advertising ;)

Must admit Jonathan, that this twitter stuff confuses the heck out of me.  Must be a age thing. lol..  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on October 05, 2011, 09:21:39 AM
Facebook gets me about 10% of my business without any effort. Never thought about Twitter, I thought that was for intellectuals only.LOL
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 05, 2011, 09:25:02 AM
Quote from: Simple on October 05, 2011, 09:21:39 AM

Never thought about Twitter, I thought that was for intellectuals only.LOL


That might be where I'm going wrong then. lol..  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on October 05, 2011, 10:00:08 AM
Quote from: admin on October 05, 2011, 09:25:02 AM
Quote from: Simple on October 05, 2011, 09:21:39 AM

Never thought about Twitter, I thought that was for intellectuals only.LOL


That might be where I'm going wrong then. lol..  :uglystupid2:

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 05, 2011, 10:01:17 AM
Twitter  looks like gobbledegook to me - all that hashtag stuff  :doh:  Facebook has been great [mostly] for our charity as a way of getting news around quickly and putting details of events etc on line and photos of dogs needing homes. We did have a bit of a problem earlier in the year when we had an incident with a dog and faced a barrage of uninformed comments - I'm quite good at reasoned replies and debate however!  :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 05, 2011, 10:20:13 AM
Quote from: greypoint on October 05, 2011, 10:01:17 AM
I'm quite good at reasoned replies and debate however!  :dance: :dance:

Is that with or without the F word?  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 05, 2011, 11:06:40 AM
I find rising above the level of the 'textspeak' generation gives me a slight feeling of superiority  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 05, 2011, 04:31:21 PM
Notice in the gym changing rooms "Due to unforseen circumstances there is impartial lighting in the shower area". That was good for me - it meant it shone on the wicked as well as the rightous. Though only 7.30 am the receptionist wearily reported I was the 4th person to point out their error.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 05, 2011, 11:00:10 PM
Driving around in the 'country' looking for photo opportunities and coming to the realization that electric and cable wires are everywhere! >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 06, 2011, 08:24:56 AM
I always thought that was the 'charm' of North American landscapes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 06, 2011, 09:24:37 AM
WBMT?

The collective iWailing and iMouring of the iFans.

Jobs's death is a personal tragedy for him, and his family. For the ifanboys, it is not; get on with your lives people. The world hasn't changed and Jobs did not do nearly as much to change your life as many other unsung heroes (Bernards-Lee, Torvaldes, Andresseen, Babbage, Kilby, Turing, Logie-Baird, Edison, Watt, etc.).

All Jobs did was to provide the world with pretty little devices. GUI interfaces existed long before the Mac, tablets existed long before the iPad, PDA/Phone combinations existed long before the iphone. All he did was package them into a pretty product and force the world to use iTunes.

And for info on his personal side, read: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mac/commentary/cultofmac/2006/01/70072

What is it about society where people feel the need for a collective mourning for someone they've never met. It's like they're looking for a reason to mourn, or are they driven by exactly what Jobs railed against: being a sheep and following the crowd.

It can't be denied that Jobs was creative, driven and built a very large empire. But I doubt this was for altruistic reasons, it was probably for the selfish reason that he found it fun. He was also standing on the shoulders of much bigger and greater giants.

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 09:54:08 AM
He was 56.

And all the money and cool toys in the world couldn't stop cancer killing him.

We're all scared.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 06, 2011, 09:57:01 AM
Quote from: hevans on October 06, 2011, 09:24:37 AM
WBMT?

The collective iWailing and iMouring of the iFans.
H.

Be fair H, thay have lost their God!  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 06, 2011, 10:14:50 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 09:54:08 AM
He was 56.

Yea, 56 is young, but he outlived Mozart (35), Diana (25), Hendrix (27), Winehouse (27).  and many many children. In those 56 years, he had a very good innings. Much more so than the vast majority of us on the planet.

Quote
And all the money and cool toys in the world couldn't stop cancer killing him.

We're all scared.

So, the collective mourning is a manifestation of the realisation that our existence is ephemeral? Or: we've all got to die sometime, but don't want to be reminded of it?

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 06, 2011, 10:45:55 AM
I`m with you there Hevans - good god I`m fed up of hearing about his massive contribution to culture and Britain - and flowers being left outside the store!!!!!
Sad for his family and friends - no more than a footnote to the rest of us other than the cult followers of Apple.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 10:47:37 AM
Quote from: hevans on October 06, 2011, 10:14:50 AM
So, the collective mourning is a manifestation of the realisation that our existence is ephemeral? Or: we've all got to die sometime, but don't want to be reminded of it?

Partly.

One of the definitions of charisma is that you can make people feel a connection with you even if you've never met them.  He certainly had that.

Interesting you mention Diana.  By comparison today's outpourings of grief from the uninvolved are very restrained indeed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 06, 2011, 11:16:57 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 10:47:37 AM
Quote from: hevans on October 06, 2011, 10:14:50 AM
So, the collective mourning is a manifestation of the realisation that our existence is ephemeral? Or: we've all got to die sometime, but don't want to be reminded of it?

Partly.

One of the definitions of charisma is that you can make people feel a connection with you even if you've never met them.  He certainly had that.

I think it has to do with people needing to feel connected, and those connections define our own importance, as we are social animals (well, most of you are). It's like autograph hunters - why on Earth would a scrap of paper with someone's scrawl be valuable? It's because it provides a personal connection to someone famous and it's hoped that some of the fame will rub off on the owner...sort of riding the coat tails. "Hey, look, I've got Mark Knopfler's signature1!, don't you wish you were me!".

With public mourning, it's largely a herd thing: getting connected to the famous guy, with the self perceived importance of the connection amplified by the significance of the personal loss. AKA: it's all about me!

Obviously, there's a difference between this and someone showing respect for the achievements of the deceased.

Actually, it's manifest in pretty much every occasion. How many wedding parties have a participant that isn't the bride or groom that needs to express their importance via connection to the happy couple? Mother of the bride, best friend?

Quote
Interesting you mention Diana.  By comparison today's outpourings of grief from the uninvolved are very restrained indeed.
True...but she was a larger icon than SJ.

1 actually, I haven't. the only signature I have is Douglas Adams's, on a copy of the HHGTTG radio script. And I'm happy to leave it at that.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 12:08:39 PM
Quote from: hevans on October 06, 2011, 11:16:57 AM
With public mourning, it's largely a herd thing: getting connected to the famous guy, with the self perceived importance of the connection amplified by the significance of the personal loss. AKA: it's all about me!

Yeah - it's 'slebs they get to "comment" on deaths that always bugs me.  Who knew that Baron Sugar and Steve Jobs were so fundamentally similar at heart?

I see Stephen Fry is declining to comment.  Which almost makes up for the disappointment of his new program on words.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on October 06, 2011, 12:15:30 PM
Sadly, although I'm sure I must have heard his name mentioned, I would'nt have had the slightest idea who he was until I heard all the outpourings this morning.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 06, 2011, 12:26:06 PM
Well, I understand the points of view here.

I think Mr Job's early demise is very sad for his family and friends, and very probably for many of his employees and associates. I don't get the wailing mob; I see that the world has lost one it's greatest ever salesmen - even Wozniak said that he was a marketeer.

Hugh - you didn't mention Norman Borlaug. Terrible oversight ;) And wasn't Logie-Baird a bit of a failure? - the guy who made TV was Philo Farnsworth.

I think one of Job's heroes must be H L Mencken - 'Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the (American) public.'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: John Doyle2 on October 06, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Thought provoking! Or bemusing!
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/tlg/2613342389.html
http://groozi.com/2010/03/12/score-this-photog-1-cheapskate-0/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 06, 2011, 01:14:43 PM
Quote from: John Doyle2 on October 06, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Thought provoking! Or bemusing!
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/tlg/2613342389.html
http://groozi.com/2010/03/12/score-this-photog-1-cheapskate-0/

Marvellous isn't it. A similar message was posted on our club website.

"An email has been received from someone who has just started up a small catering company, working from home, in Isleworth. This person is unable to afford the fees charged by a professional photographer and is looking for an amateur, trainee or student to take 8 - 10 photographs that he can put on his website.

Should anyone be interested in taking this on, please contact Richard Perry whose details are as follows:"


I wonder if he would undertake to feed a few pensioners because they couldn't afford a decent meal!

PS Whilst I'm on, what's a sleb?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 06, 2011, 01:22:06 PM
Alan, you ought to do it for 8-10 slap up meals you can put in our tummy :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on October 06, 2011, 03:00:28 PM
Quote from: John Doyle2 on October 06, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Thought provoking! Or bemusing!
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/tlg/2613342389.html
http://groozi.com/2010/03/12/score-this-photog-1-cheapskate-0/


Excellent! Although isn't this effect the same Doctors and Lawyers have complained about for years at parties: the free consultation?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 06, 2011, 03:01:01 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on October 06, 2011, 09:54:08 AM
He was 56.

And all the money and cool toys in the world couldn't stop cancer killing him.

We're all scared.

That's the part that struck me, 56. I always thought he was older than me. But, that's where the shock ends. He was a huckster of the highest order and he had vision, not one I buy into particularly.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 06, 2011, 04:49:50 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 06, 2011, 01:14:43 PM
PS Whilst I'm on, what's a sleb?  ???

   It's short for "Celeb". Which in turn is short for "Celebrity".  Particularly the "Rent a Celebrity" type.
                            Yours, in dictionary corner, Graham. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 09, 2011, 10:18:48 AM
Another warning of harsh winter weather issued.  :o

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/forecaster-predicts-brutal-uk-winter-weather-for-2011-2012/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 09, 2011, 11:59:38 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 09, 2011, 10:18:48 AM
Another warning of harsh winter weather issued.  :o

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/forecaster-predicts-brutal-uk-winter-weather-for-2011-2012/

The extinction protocol, that sounds uplifting. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on October 09, 2011, 04:28:01 PM
Quote from: hevans on October 06, 2011, 03:00:28 PM
Quote from: John Doyle2 on October 06, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Thought provoking! Or bemusing!
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/tlg/2613342389.html
http://groozi.com/2010/03/12/score-this-photog-1-cheapskate-0/


Excellent! Although isn't this effect the same Doctors and Lawyers have complained about for years at parties: the free consultation?

Try telling people you are a plumber!!! especially if you have a mutual friend they think you will do it for next to nothing -I don't do homers now!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 12, 2011, 05:24:11 PM
WBTD? My daft self. Had to run out to another town. Thinking I might take the scenic route home I grabbed my camera and a memory card. Only I didn't put the card in the camera. On the way home I find a couple of interesting spots and start to take photos, only to realize no card in the camera. Oh how stupid I think to myself and drive off. A couple miles down the road, I remember my neck strap has little card holder pockets, which have cards in them don't they! :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 12, 2011, 06:36:46 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 12, 2011, 05:24:11 PM
WBTD? My daft self. Had to run out to another town. Thinking I might take the scenic route home I grabbed my camera and a memory card. Only I didn't put the card in the camera. On the way home I find a couple of interesting spots and start to take photos, only to realize no card in the camera. Oh how stupid I think to myself and drive off. A couple miles down the road, I remember my neck strap has little card holder pockets, which have cards in them don't they! :'(

It's an age thing!  :doh:

On my camera I have it set to lock if no card is inserted and I can't take a picture.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on October 12, 2011, 06:39:07 PM
We once travelled an hour to Potteric Carr for the Dragonflies to discover that OH had failed to put my camera in the car (OK, I should've checked - had my camera bag with all my lenses!). She had hers and did offer to share! 2 hours later we joined the group we were meeting - got some OK shots too!  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 14, 2011, 12:59:46 PM
WBMT - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15302813 - The headline! Surely it costs the taxpayer at the end of the day. In my mind incorrectly 'misadvertantly promoting an apparent destinction?' only fuels the mind of those who think such disruption in behaviour is to their benefit or profit and street cred.

Thoughtful journalism ?, bright editing?  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 01:19:32 PM
WBMT ?
I can not find the front lens cap for my 1 yr old Siggy 50-500.
Why bemused? I cant remember ever having it. :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
The Instruction manual diagrams do not show a lens cap yet the diagram on the box does  ???
Hmmm :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 18, 2011, 05:37:33 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 01:19:32 PM
WBMT ?
I can not find the front lens cap for my 1 yr old Siggy 50-500.
Why bemused? I cant remember ever having it. :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
The Instruction manual diagrams do not show a lens cap yet the diagram on the box does  ???
Hmmm :doh:

Should have come with one Alf.  Mine came as below,

50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Lens Hood
Fitted Padded Case
Front and Rear Caps
Instruction Manual
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 18, 2011, 07:13:26 PM
Quote from: admin on October 18, 2011, 05:37:33 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 01:19:32 PM
WBMT ?
I can not find the front lens cap for my 1 yr old Siggy 50-500.
Why bemused? I cant remember ever having it. :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
The Instruction manual diagrams do not show a lens cap yet the diagram on the box does  ???
Hmmm :doh:

Should have come with one Alf.  Mine came as below,

50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Lens Hood
Fitted Padded Case
Front and Rear Caps
Instruction Manual

And mine.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on October 18, 2011, 07:15:34 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 18, 2011, 07:13:26 PM
Quote from: admin on October 18, 2011, 05:37:33 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 01:19:32 PM
WBMT ?
I can not find the front lens cap for my 1 yr old Siggy 50-500.
Why bemused? I cant remember ever having it. :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
The Instruction manual diagrams do not show a lens cap yet the diagram on the box does  ???
Hmmm :doh:

Should have come with one Alf.  Mine came as below,

50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Lens Hood
Fitted Padded Case
Front and Rear Caps
Instruction Manual

And mine.  :tup:

And mine. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 07:33:52 PM
I must have either lost it or it did not come in the box. I have the APS-C hood adapter and also the step down ring for adding a 85mm filter if rqd, plus the padded case, tripod mount ring andshoulder strap, but thats it.
Looks like hand in pocket time again
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 18, 2011, 09:32:31 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on October 18, 2011, 07:33:52 PM
I must have either lost it or it did not come in the box. I have the APS-C hood adapter and also the step down ring for adding a 85mm filter if rqd, plus the padded case, tripod mount ring andshoulder strap, but thats it.
Looks like hand in pocket time again

Have a look in the bottom of the box, as it can come lose and fall out if not fitted correctly.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on October 18, 2011, 10:29:18 PM
Get a bunch of lens caps fron China via eBay - personally I prefer the centre pinch caps anyway and they're as cheap as chips  ;)

I tend to go out on a commission and swap lenses around, taking lens caps off and putting them in odd pockets - at the end of the day I might not find all the ones I started with, so use the spares in my camera bag. When I get home and sort stuff out I repatriate all the re-found lens caps to the camera bag!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 19, 2011, 08:35:19 AM
Have to admit that I rarely use lens caps, or dust caps as they are properly known, on account of the fact that when you put one on a lens and then take it off, even immediately, the front element (or in my case UV filter) is always covered in dust.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on October 19, 2011, 08:59:22 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 19, 2011, 08:35:19 AM
Have to admit that I rarely use lens caps, or dust caps as they are properly known, on account of the fact that when you put one on a lens and then take it off, even immediately, the front element (or in my case UV filter) is always covered in dust.
I only use them when the lens is in the bag, just in case there is anything rattling about in there whilst on the move like spare batteries etc.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 20, 2011, 03:40:49 PM
Watching BBC news this a.m. there was a piece on the centennial of Scott's disastrous attempt to reach the South Pole. Included in the piece was a bloke with a double-barrelled name whose job description was given as 'Adventurer'.

Being somewhat taken by the possibilities that this sort of job might offer, I've just got back from the Job Centre where I went to see what was available in this line of employment. Strangely enough in these times of rising unemployment they couldn't help, apart from suggesting the position of  Electricity and Gas Meter Reader, which they assured me was becoming more adventurous by the day. :o

Which whilst on the subject of unemployment, the Rab C Nesbitt show last week had within it a classic.

Rab and his mate Jamie Cotter had been called to the Job Centre to explain their reasons for being amongst the long term employed.

They were interviewed by a black, blind Muslim lady in a wheelchair who pointed out that despite all her disadvantages she'd landed a job in the public sector. Rab quite rightly pointed out that it was easy for her to do so, since she 'ticked all the  boxes'.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 26, 2011, 08:18:55 AM
Looking at recent posts I notice each one has the words 'Share This' at the bottom. When you click on this a row of symbols pop up, which I assume will transfer the post to some site or other for other people, i.e. non CC members, to read.

If this is the case, is there any way I can delete it from my posts, since any post I make is for CC members only, not for the world at large. I certainly don't want to get mixed up with Faecebook or Twitter or any other such site.  >:(

P.S. Here it is again!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 26, 2011, 08:35:08 AM
Alan, sorry, didn't want to upset you, that wasn't my intension to do so.  So for now I've turned the social buttons off until I can find a better solution.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 26, 2011, 09:18:15 AM
Mick, please, no need to apoligise. If other members want it, please continue with it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 26, 2011, 09:33:45 AM
Alan, it's a bit of a balancing act tbh, I'm not going to risk losing faithful members like yourself, but on the other hand I need to try and drive traffic to the site, or it will die a long and painful death, lol..
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 26, 2011, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: admin on October 26, 2011, 09:33:45 AM
Alan, it's a bit of a balancing act tbh, I'm not going to risk losing faithful members like yourself, but on the other hand I need to try and drive traffic to the site, or it will die a long and painful death, lol..

Is there a CC group on Flickr that can be utilised to encourage more traffic ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 26, 2011, 11:06:02 AM
For what it's worth I've just added a CC link on my website.

I suppose it's possible to add CC as part of your signature on any other web related activity you take part in?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 26, 2011, 11:30:51 AM
I have popped in CC links on both my blog (which is occasionly updated as and when I am of the mind to post something) and a few shots on Flickr
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on October 26, 2011, 12:18:40 PM
Don't worry about it - it's just old age!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 26, 2011, 07:35:45 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 26, 2011, 11:06:02 AM
For what it's worth I've just added a CC link on my website.

I suppose it's possible to add CC as part of your signature on any other web related activity you take part in?

Thanks Alan, that's much appreciated.  Every little helps as they say.  ;)  :tup:

Quote from: beauxreflets on October 26, 2011, 11:30:51 AM
I have popped in CC links on both my blog (which is occasionly updated as and when I am of the mind to post something) and a few shots on Flickr

Thanks Andy.  :tup:   I'll a have look into the Flickr groups thing too.   Not really used it before to be honest, but it does seem quite popular.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on October 27, 2011, 10:17:05 PM
WBMT - 2 different people on consecutive days in my taxi.

Day 1 - young woman pays for her £4.50 fare with a £20 note, i give her change of £15.50, she asks why i've given her all that money because she'd only given me a £5 note. She was highly delighted when i showed her the £20 note.

Day 2 - old guy pays for his £3.50 fare with a £5 note - you know whats coming next - i give him change of £1.50, he asks me where the rest of his change is because he gave me a £20 note. The £5 note was still on my knee but he insisted it was a £20 note that he'd given me and said he'd report me to the police. I offered to drive him to the police station but he declined.  Apparently he's tried it with the other drivers at our firm.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 31, 2011, 10:41:21 AM
It appears the goverment know something we don't?

Health secretary Andrew Lansley will unveil the country's first Cold Weather Plan on Tuesday and he is expected to announce that the Army will be put on standby to help keep roads, rail and airports open if we have another harsh winter.

As weather experts predict another harsh winter, there are fears that we could experience travel chaos on a scale similar to last year. There are also warnings that thousands more pensioners could die as fuel bills rise.

Department of Health officials said that is is "entirely possible" that the Army would be called in if we experience another winter as cold as last year.

If we experience massive snowfall again, the Army could help to keep transport links open, clear roads and ensure that hospitals are able to stay open.


:o  :P :P

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on October 31, 2011, 11:08:57 AM
I'm glad to say that they're also talking about paying the farmers to clear the roads. They actually do that anyway around here (clear snow) but it'll be good that they get back to paying them to do it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 01, 2011, 08:46:30 AM
All the furore over the protesters outside St. Paul's. Went up there on Saturday to have a gander and see what photographic possibilities there were. All very low key. An encampment of small tents which could easily be fitted on half a football pitch, mostly tethered to the ground by bags of gravel.

All populated by the usual suspects. The professional protesters wearing the required uniform, jelly-bag woolly hats covering white man's dreadlocks, multicoloured woolly jumpers, Rohan trousers and heavy soled walking boots, the younger ones sporting wispy beards making them look like Shaggy. A liberal sprinkling of young middle class males dressed as city gents wearing the now ubiquitous Guy Fawkes masks which appeared a couple of years or so ago at demos, and all of them just standing around not actually doing very much. There was some strange smelling smoke emanating from one tent I peered into. The occupant seemed very laid back and waved at me quite happily!

I fail to understand why vicars and the suchlike keep resigning over the matter.

So photographically it's a bit of a damp squib. Mind you if they call in the bulldozers and the heavy mob to evict them there might one or two snaps worth taking. ;)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 01, 2011, 09:04:34 AM
This whole thing bemuses me slightly - the premise seems to be that capitalism, greedy bankers etc. is bad. Fair enough, no-one surely, other than those that have their snouts in the various troughs, would disagree that over the past few years those at the top end have seen their incomes rise in an often obscene manner. Not only huge payoffs and bonuses for success but also for failures. As always 'it's the rich what gets the pleasure and the poor what gets the blame'. They do seem a bit short on answers though. There was a discussion on 5Live last weekend between a protester and someone equally bemused as to what their aims were. The lady protester said they were forming a new type of consensus politics where everything was discussed and agreed on rather than argued over. She could'nt really come up with any answers though. When pressed she said they were having great success with agreeing things but did'nt want to say what they had actually agreed on. When pressed still further she explained that their first big decision was what to do with the donations they had been given for the cause. After a week of talking it over they had decided to open an account with the Co-op Bank. ::)  :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 01, 2011, 05:31:41 PM
Quote from: greypoint on November 01, 2011, 09:04:34 AM
This whole thing bemuses me slightly - the premise seems to be that capitalism, greedy bankers etc. is bad. Fair enough, no-one surely, other than those that have their snouts in the various troughs, would disagree that over the past few years those at the top end have seen their incomes rise in an often obscene manner. Not only huge payoffs and bonuses for success but also for failures. As always 'it's the rich what gets the pleasure and the poor what gets the blame'. They do seem a bit short on answers though. There was a discussion on 5Live last weekend between a protester and someone equally bemused as to what their aims were. The lady protester said they were forming a new type of consensus politics where everything was discussed and agreed on rather than argued over. She could'nt really come up with any answers though. When pressed she said they were having great success with agreeing things but did'nt want to say what they had actually agreed on. When pressed still further she explained that their first big decision was what to do with the donations they had been given for the cause. After a week of talking it over they had decided to open an account with the Co-op Bank. ::)  :dance: :dance:

Come on Sue, the Co-op is very ethnic.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 01, 2011, 06:57:00 PM
Well I suppose she could have given us all a big surprise and said they'd decided to subscribe to The Guardian  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 02, 2011, 08:14:17 AM
Apologies to Monty Python and the Popular Front For The Liberation of Palestine.

"Just tell me Brothers, what did the capitalists ever do for us?"

Answers on a postcard please.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cj9IR7jimv0/Tq6VurT7GoI/AAAAAAAAAR0/779mTcz7E1E/s640/AGENDA+for+REFORM.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 03, 2011, 04:50:06 PM
Warning to those of you who use ATM's.  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElJQJZtY8WI
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on November 03, 2011, 05:19:17 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 03, 2011, 04:50:06 PM
Warning to those of you who use ATM's.  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElJQJZtY8WI

Ooh - be careful in the storing of megabytes   ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 03, 2011, 07:05:21 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on November 03, 2011, 05:19:17 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 03, 2011, 04:50:06 PM
Warning to those of you who use ATM's.  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElJQJZtY8WI

Ooh - be careful in the storing of megabytes   ;D
;D

OldBoy. Your spending to much time on YouTube!
                       Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 03, 2011, 10:57:32 PM
Quote from: Graham on November 03, 2011, 07:05:21 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on November 03, 2011, 05:19:17 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 03, 2011, 04:50:06 PM
Warning to those of you who use ATM's.  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElJQJZtY8WI

Ooh - be careful in the storing of megabytes   ;D
;D

OldBoy. Your spending to much time on YouTube!
                       Graham. :)

No, it was posted on AOL.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 07, 2011, 08:36:29 AM
A full page advert in the weekend press, (T..Mobile) which I found a little confusing.

Free iPhone 3GS for just £15.32 a month.  :o

Will British Gas will soon be saying Free Gas Meter for £85 a month.

Sack the copywriter!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 07, 2011, 04:53:28 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 07, 2011, 08:36:29 AM
A full page advert in the weekend press, (T..Mobile) which I found a little confusing.

Free iPhone 3GS for just £15.32 a month.  :o

Will British Gas will soon be saying Free Gas Meter for £85 a month.

Sack the copywriter!

  I put £15.00 on my 'phone when I bought it oh about three years ago, I just checked and Iv'e still got £10.36 left. I recharge it more than I talk through it!
                                     Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 07, 2011, 06:39:57 PM
You'd think they'd have the decency to pay you interest on the balance. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 07, 2011, 07:35:28 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 07, 2011, 06:39:57 PM
You'd think they'd have the decency to pay you interest on the balance. ;)

  Well I'm not sure, but I think it's made of Bakelite.
                  Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 08, 2011, 08:21:49 AM
Reading this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15551818

Photographically what can I buy that's 'British'.  :-\

Can't even get HP sauce from Brum anymore! >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 08, 2011, 08:32:27 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 08, 2011, 08:21:49 AM
Reading this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15551818

Photographically what can I buy that's 'British'.  :-\

Can't even get HP sauce from Brum anymore! >:(

You can buy HP sauce in Brum but it's not made here any more.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 08, 2011, 08:57:45 AM
That's what I meant Oldboy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 08, 2011, 09:34:19 AM
The site of the old HP factory has been developed for East End Foods, which supplies Asian stores.  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on November 08, 2011, 05:54:20 PM
Just heard a business expert from Leeds Uni on the radio saying that Italy do not need to make cuts as they can afford their current spending - they just cannot afford the rates charged on monies they need to service their massive debt. ??? Isn`t that like me saying I don`t need to cutback because I can afford my food, rent etc - just cannot afford my direct debits, credit cards etc ( Actually I am more smug than Italy as I have no debts at all just now - not even a mortgage - maybe I should be running Italy as the perks seem good for the President).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 08, 2011, 08:35:24 PM
It's not the debt but the interest which is the killer. 300 billion is due to be repaid early next year, and if they can't raise the money they will be in default thereby, increasing the interest rate charged on all the debt.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on November 09, 2011, 12:22:16 AM
If you can't pay your debts, then the nasty bailiff man takes all your stuff.... Now Greece can't pay its debts, do we get a few of its Islands..?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 09, 2011, 07:41:41 AM
You might need them for security - the UK's debts are almost 3 times GDP, right up there with Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and yep you guessed it, Greece.

And France and Germany are not far behind. The difference is Greece has virtually no income other than from tourism, whereas all the others do have manufacturing and service industries.

The main problem is the European countries cannot afford their pension liabilities, especially the Civil Service ones. Standby for lots more strikes as reality bites and governments try to balance the books.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 09, 2011, 05:26:02 PM
  Iv'e just got in from work to find a stack of emails from the BBC and the agent of one of the bands I photographed recently.
  Aunty Beeb wants to use several pics on iplayer to promote a concert they have comeing up.
  The agent managed to get them to credit me on iplayer but they wanted Hi Res copies (For the web?) and rights to use them across all platforms in perpetuity ie For ever and ever amen.
   Much as I would love to see my pics on the BBC I reluctantly declined their kind offer of no payment whatsoever.
   What annoys me is that I feel as though Iv'e let the agent down who granted me permission to photograph in the first place.
                   Graham. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on November 09, 2011, 05:43:16 PM
Quote from: Graham on November 09, 2011, 05:26:02 PM
  Iv'e just got in from work to find a stack of emails from the BBC and the agent of one of the bands I photographed recently.
  Aunty Beeb wants to use several pics on iplayer to promote a concert they have comeing up.
  The agent managed to get them to credit me on iplayer but they wanted Hi Res copies (For the web?) and rights to use them across all platforms in perpetuity ie For ever and ever amen.
   Much as I would love to see my pics on the BBC I reluctantly declined their kind offer of no payment whatsoever.
   What annoys me is that I feel as though Iv'e let the agent down who granted me permission to photograph in the first place.
                   Graham. >:(

Would the agent work for the BBC for nothing ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 09, 2011, 05:51:06 PM
Quote from: Graham on November 09, 2011, 05:26:02 PM
  Iv'e just got in from work to find a stack of emails from the BBC and the agent of one of the bands I photographed recently.
  Aunty Beeb wants to use several pics on iplayer to promote a concert they have comeing up.
  The agent managed to get them to credit me on iplayer but they wanted Hi Res copies (For the web?) and rights to use them across all platforms in perpetuity ie For ever and ever amen.
   Much as I would love to see my pics on the BBC I reluctantly declined their kind offer of no payment whatsoever.
   What annoys me is that I feel as though Iv'e let the agent down who granted me permission to photograph in the first place.
                   Graham. >:(

It's a bit arkward to say the least. Why do certain companies expect free photos when the photographer has laid out thousands of pounds on cameras and lenses.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 09, 2011, 06:22:30 PM
  The agent as just mailed me back and is most understanding about my decision (Which I'm sure will rock the BBC to It's very core!).
  I would'nt mind if it was for once only publication, but oh no, we want high ressolution copies and the right to do pretty much as we wish for no credit and for free.
  That's the last time I watch "Strictly" and no mistake!
                      Graham. >:( :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on November 09, 2011, 08:03:41 PM
It seems so unreal regarding photographs   ::) - When they paid all expenses for use of 'on set' furniture I made and ferried to and from their studios (and my sister in-law who is on the production team of Strictly will be upset if their viewing figures drop).

Stick to your decision , business is business :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 09, 2011, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Graham on November 09, 2011, 06:22:30 PM
  That's the last time I watch "Strictly" and no mistake!
                      Graham. >:( :knuppel2:

Well some good has come out of it then :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on November 10, 2011, 07:34:38 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:

Nice snap! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 07:50:01 AM
Quote from: jinky on November 10, 2011, 07:34:38 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:

Nice snap! ???

Maybe so.  I never comment on the TW until I've seen the pictures for real.  The web isn't a great medium for viewing the subtleties of medium format film.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 08:12:19 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 07:50:01 AM
Quote from: jinky on November 10, 2011, 07:34:38 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:

Nice snap! ???

Maybe so.  I never comment on the TW until I've seen the pictures for real.  The web isn't a great medium for viewing the subtleties of medium format film.


So it's possible to take a snapshot with a medium format?  Be interesting to know your opinion when the subtleties are revealed.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on November 10, 2011, 08:13:28 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:

Was that not the same girl that was in the winning photo last year but then she was sat on a horse with a sheep or deer laid across it??    ;)   :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 08:45:07 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 08:12:19 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 07:50:01 AM
Quote from: jinky on November 10, 2011, 07:34:38 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
.....and the winner is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15636808

:doh:

Nice snap! ???

Maybe so.  I never comment on the TW until I've seen the pictures for real.  The web isn't a great medium for viewing the subtleties of medium format film.


So it's possible to take a snapshot with a medium format?  Be interesting to know your opinion when the subtleties are revealed.  ;)

Well I just shot my wife's portrait with medium format.  I have it on a 20 inch portrait monitor and it looks pretty nice.  I suspect it would look even better printed nicely at a larger size.  She uses it as her LinkedIn avatar and yes, at 50px it's a nice snapshot.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on November 10, 2011, 09:00:03 AM

Don't be so harsh. Technically, the lighting and tones on the winning shot are very very good. If it was achieved with natural light with no exceptional efforts as used for studio lighting, then it's very well done. Her hair and the fur are quite complementary. If it was done on film as well with little or no photoshopping, then it's even more technically accomplished. The convergence of the background lines to the head show an attention to background detail, with the background lights providing a halo effect. Then there's the moment - just getting the eye contact and the expression with only three slides.

Of those seen via the BBC link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14929248), either it or the artist top the list. The parents in the bedroom smacks too much of Martin Parr, with whom I'm not overly enamoured. And the other two aren't anything particularly special.

H.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on November 10, 2011, 09:02:04 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 08:45:07 AM

Well I just shot my wife's portrait with medium format.  I have it on a 20 inch portrait monitor and it looks pretty nice.  I suspect it would look even better printed nicely at a larger size.  She uses it as her LinkedIn avatar and yes, at 50px it's a nice snapshot.

I didn't know you were married, never really thought about it, though.

Who did the photos at your wedding? :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DaveB on November 10, 2011, 09:43:54 AM
All sounds too much like people are trying too hard to find something to like about an average shot. A "Well the judges must be seeing something that we're not quite seeing here" attitude. No, I personally have seen a lot better but those obviously didn't bother with this comp. So with 'You've got to be in it to win it' in mind I say well done on the win. But I'm not impressed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 10:22:47 AM
I think what DaveB is saying, don't blame Ms Woodward for winning, applaud the fact that she had the nous and nerve to enter the comp with such a mundane shot.

What rankles most people is the fact that if they had taken this picture, they would out of courtesy offered a copy to the subject and then have forgotten completely about it, let alone consider entering it in a competition!

Still it gives us something to talk about and the organisers some press and PR.  ;)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on November 10, 2011, 11:15:17 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 10, 2011, 10:22:47 AM
I think what DaveB is saying, don't blame Ms Woodward for winning, applaud the fact that she had the nous and nerve to enter the comp with such a mundane shot.

A life lesson for us all: who dares, wins!

With all seriousness, I'd very much enjoy a selection of examples and explanations that are considered better. Of the five I've seen in the competition, I would consider the Cavia to be a reasonable selection above the others. Whether there were others entered that I might consider better I can't say. Have I seen other examples outside of the competition that I consider better? Yes, but not many.

And, is there any portraiture that isn't mundane? I've yet to see many examples, with the possible exception of Erwin Olaf, and Sally Mann. But in their cases, the person in the photo is not the subject of the photo, rather more of a prop that sets the scene and so perhaps not strictly portraiture.

I think this is a different situation from the Turner prize, where the constant question arises, "Yes...but is it art?". Portraiture is a pretty well hammered out and specified theme, and achieving anything that is new, unusual or really stands head and shoulders above the rest is probably not going to be seen more than once every 20-30 years. So, yes, the photo might be mundane, but that's because the genre is.

H.

BTW: specifications like "mundane", "better"  are subjective adjectives and will vary wildly from person to person. There are no absolutes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 10, 2011, 01:50:11 PM
Quote from: hevans on November 10, 2011, 09:02:04 AM
Who did the photos at your wedding? :)

Dunno.  Some bloke with a Nikon and a roll of Kodak Gold.

Even at web res, that image has the kind of tones I associate with MF.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 11, 2011, 04:32:07 PM
Curiouser and curiouser.  ???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15689652
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 11, 2011, 04:44:50 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 11, 2011, 04:32:07 PM
Curiouser and curiouser.  ???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15689652

  Right click......Save picture as......open in PS.......Send to printer.
  Jobs a goodun, mines a pint!
                     Graham. :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on November 11, 2011, 06:47:50 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 11, 2011, 04:32:07 PM
Curiouser and curiouser.  ???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15689652

On this, we see eye to eye. I can only guess that it's worth the price because the horizon is level??

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 11, 2011, 06:57:37 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 11, 2011, 04:32:07 PM
Curiouser and curiouser.  ???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15689652

I like the quote: Christie's said the viewer was "not invited to consider a specific place along the river, but rather an almost 'platonic' ideal of the body of water as it navigates the landscape".

I think platitude might have been more apt!  :uglystupid2:

Quote from: Graham on November 11, 2011, 04:44:50 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 11, 2011, 04:32:07 PM
Curiouser and curiouser.  ???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15689652

  Right click......Save picture as......open in PS.......Send to printer.
  Jobs a goodun, mines a pint!
                     Graham. :beer:

I wonder if the BBC will retain the rights to this picture for ever and ever?  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 12, 2011, 08:12:27 AM
Clocks, time etc ...

Just placed my first shout ever, at 06.45 or thereabouts, according to the site, while my pc tells me it's 08.08 AM.

Am I losing it? Did it really take me that long to go from the shout to this bit of the forum?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 12, 2011, 08:22:02 AM
Now come on, don't be too harsh. When you realise the print is about 9 feet wide, you really are getting a lot of picture for your money. 

I have a sneaking suspicion that I've seen this on the PR forum sometime in the past with the author saying that on a recent trip along the Rhine he took several pictures and went on to ask for some constructive critique, he obviously got some.

Or, it might have been chosen as POTD!  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 14, 2011, 09:16:25 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEH4Yum4nN4&feature=youtu.be

Go on, have a laugh with this French Advert - translation not required.   :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 16, 2011, 06:00:09 PM
I was at my local big box hardware store getting some hinges, looking around while in the check out line I noticed this fellow with a miserable look on his face and an arm full of Christmas lights.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 16, 2011, 07:34:59 PM
Quote from: spinner on November 16, 2011, 06:00:09 PM
I was at my local big box hardware store getting some hinges, looking around while in the check out line I noticed this fellow with a miserable look on his face and an arm full of Christmas lights.

Perhaps he need plugging in!  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 16, 2011, 10:28:19 PM
Perhaps fame has come at last. Will you feature in the exhibition.   :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15756616
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 17, 2011, 06:01:00 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 16, 2011, 10:28:19 PM
Perhaps fame has come at last. Will you feature in the exhibition.   :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15756616

  Looks a bit like my old darkroom. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 08:27:46 AM
I finally finished putting together a 48 page magazine for our local shelter yesterday afternoon.
It was to go to an online printer, the local ones are just too expensive. I wanted to pay (some 2,600€ - we're getting 3,500 copies) and found there was a 2% surcharge on using my VISA. Fortunately I hadn't yet loaded the data (just short of 1000 MB) otherwise I would have been really annoyed.
Went to another online printer who doesn't charge for payment credit card, in fact they gave us 5% discount for including their logo somewhere in the magazine. As we have other advertisements (which pays for the printing), that was absolutely no problem at all  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 17, 2011, 09:06:37 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 08:27:46 AM
I finally finished putting together a 48 page magazine for our local shelter yesterday afternoon.
It was to go to an online printer, the local ones are just too expensive. I wanted to pay (some 2,600€ - we're getting 3,500 copies) and found there was a 2% surcharge on using my VISA. Fortunately I hadn't yet loaded the data (just short of 1000 MB) otherwise I would have been really annoyed.
Went to another online printer who doesn't charge for payment credit card, in fact they gave us 5% discount for including their logo somewhere in the magazine. As we have other advertisements (which pays for the printing), that was absolutely no problem at all  :tup:

Well done Carol.  :tup:

Some firms over here even charge over 5% for debit cards never mind credit cards.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 09:11:00 AM
An I've just heard from the printers that apart from some photos everything is OK! We have some stories sent in by dog owners complete with photos. Some of the photos are sooooo bad it gives me goose pimples. But still it's a magazine from a dog shelter, so who cares ...  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 17, 2011, 09:40:08 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 09:11:00 AM
An I've just heard from the printers that apart from some photos everything is OK! We have some stories sent in by dog owners complete with photos. Some of the photos are sooooo bad it gives me goose pimples. But still it's a magazine from a dog shelter, so who cares ...  :D

I stopped doing things using other people's photos because I spent so much time trying to get them at least slightly less blurry! I managed to get enough stuff to print 8 pages for our autumn/winter newsletter so I'm envious you had enough for 48 pages!! :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 17, 2011, 10:55:11 AM
Need my eyes tested. Obviously. I'm the only driver on the road who can't see through fog . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 11:18:42 AM
Quote from: greypoint on November 17, 2011, 09:40:08 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 09:11:00 AM
An I've just heard from the printers that apart from some photos everything is OK! We have some stories sent in by dog owners complete with photos. Some of the photos are sooooo bad it gives me goose pimples. But still it's a magazine from a dog shelter, so who cares ...  :D

I stopped doing things using other people's photos because I spent so much time trying to get them at least slightly less blurry! I managed to get enough stuff to print 8 pages for our autumn/winter newsletter so I'm envious you had enough for 48 pages!! :D

I don't mind so much for the magazine, Sue. What I don't do is collages or whatever with other peoples photos. However ... one lot was so bad that I went along and took a batch myself. The owner then ordered photos and cards from me worth about 200€!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on November 17, 2011, 04:56:23 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 17, 2011, 09:06:37 AM
Quote from: Sarasocke on November 17, 2011, 08:27:46 AM
I finally finished putting together a 48 page magazine for our local shelter yesterday afternoon.
It was to go to an online printer, the local ones are just too expensive. I wanted to pay (some 2,600€ - we're getting 3,500 copies) and found there was a 2% surcharge on using my VISA. Fortunately I hadn't yet loaded the data (just short of 1000 MB) otherwise I would have been really annoyed.
Went to another online printer who doesn't charge for payment credit card, in fact they gave us 5% discount for including their logo somewhere in the magazine. As we have other advertisements (which pays for the printing), that was absolutely no problem at all  :tup:

Well done Carol.  :tup:

Some firms over here even charge over 5% for debit cards never mind credit cards.  >:(

A Streamline merchant writes......Streamline charge me for every card I accept in addition to monthly fees.  For Amex the fees get ridiculous (I've paid over £50 in fees for one transaction).  Would you like me to pass those charges on to all my clients - or just the ones that use credit cards?

Somebody has to pay it and it can never be me (because any costs I absorb will effectively get passed on to everyone).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 17, 2011, 06:52:52 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on November 17, 2011, 10:55:11 AM
Need my eyes tested. Obviously. I'm the only driver on the road who can't see through fog . .

You're not Superman then, as he has X-ray vision!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 17, 2011, 09:46:24 PM
Bulb blew in the fridge the other day (Monday) - took it out, all black, fridge still cold. Note to self, buy new bulb.

Come home get up Wednesday morning, open the fridge, funny smell, take out milk - doesn't feel right - bit warm. Check the plug (In cupboard next to the fridge, and SWMBO when packing the shopping on the Monday, must have knocked the switch - turned switch on, put the bulb back in and worked fine.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 23, 2011, 03:35:39 PM
Quote from: anglefire on November 17, 2011, 09:46:24 PM
Bulb blew in the fridge the other day (Monday) - took it out, all black, fridge still cold. Note to self, buy new bulb.

Come home get up Wednesday morning, open the fridge, funny smell, take out milk - doesn't feel right - bit warm. Check the plug (In cupboard next to the fridge, and SWMBO when packing the shopping on the Monday, must have knocked the switch - turned switch on, put the bulb back in and worked fine.  :doh:

Had a similar experience last week, pulled out a beer and it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. Unfortunately it wasn't a switch, fridge is done. Freezer bit worked great. Upside was, our local electric has a deal on, they'll take an old 'working' fridge away for free. Thank goodness for the freezer part.  :)

So, that's my fridge died, my plumbing leaked behind the wall....bad things come in threes?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 23, 2011, 04:54:50 PM
Quote from: spinner on November 23, 2011, 03:35:39 PM
Quote from: anglefire on November 17, 2011, 09:46:24 PM
Bulb blew in the fridge the other day (Monday) - took it out, all black, fridge still cold. Note to self, buy new bulb.

Come home get up Wednesday morning, open the fridge, funny smell, take out milk - doesn't feel right - bit warm. Check the plug (In cupboard next to the fridge, and SWMBO when packing the shopping on the Monday, must have knocked the switch - turned switch on, put the bulb back in and worked fine.  :doh:

Had a similar experience last week, pulled out a beer and it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. Unfortunately it wasn't a switch, fridge is done. Freezer bit worked great. Upside was, our local electric has a deal on, they'll take an old 'working' fridge away for free. Thank goodness for the freezer part.  :)

So, that's my fridge died, my plumbing leaked behind the wall....bad things come in threes?

  Would it be insensitive of us to run a book on what your third thing will be? :legit:
                 Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on November 25, 2011, 08:11:38 AM
I was looking up the exif data on some pictures I took last winter with my K-5 to do some low light comparisons. According to the info the pictures were taken with a Sigma 10-20mm....a lens I have never owned  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on November 25, 2011, 07:02:59 PM
WBMT
Kitchen shopping, last week we had the man round from B&Q  - £4500 units only (flat pack, kitchen only 11x9) including his 50% off deal which i thought was pricey until we went to wickes who started at £14k reduced to £6200 for a flat pack kitchen, he very generously offered us a half price electrolux washing machine at £450, £900 starting price????. They must think I was born yesterday.
For a little less than B&Q I can get made up units delivered from a company we found on the net, cant find any bad reviews so they are looking favourite at the moment.

Forgive my not very manly interest in kitchens but I get a new camera out of it - if theres any money left.


Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 25, 2011, 07:24:50 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 25, 2011, 07:02:59 PM
WBMT
Kitchen shopping, last week we had the man round from B&Q  - £4500 units only (flat pack, kitchen only 11x9) including his 50% off deal which i thought was pricey until we went to wickes who started at £14k reduced to £6200 for a flat pack kitchen, he very generously offered us a half price electrolux washing machine at £450, £900 starting price????. They must think I was born yesterday.
For a little less than B&Q I can get made up units delivered from a company we found on the net, cant find any bad reviews so they are looking favourite at the moment.

Forgive my not very manly interest in kitchens but I get a new camera out of it - if theres any money left.


Simon

Interesting. We are in desperate need of a new kitchen; we are 'just' waiting for my mother's house in Holland to be sold. Ha ha!
By the time we have reduced the price far enough to sell it, the kitchens, even flatpack, will be so expensive we won't be able to afford them!

Has anyone tried local tradesmen? Carpenters. joiners etc? To 'knock something up,' or whatever the expression is.

That's one of the areas I want to look into, but not before the house is sold.
Thank goodness, we only have a tiny kitchen.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 26, 2011, 12:34:21 PM
I finally succumbed to the purchase of a smartphone. My faithful 12 year old Nokia finally started to behave erratically so I had to get a replacement.

Not being made of money, and frankly finding the Jesus Phone and its imitators rather too garish, large and expensive for my tastes, I found an Acer Liquid Mini in the supermarket for £110. So I got it.

Initial thoughts are that it works OK as a 'phone, the camera is rubbish, not that I care, and that it in no way is as usable as a mobile device as my old PDA running Windows Mobile.  The reasons for this opinion are principally that the touch screen cannot be operated with a stylus, there are no word processing, spreadsheet or database functions* built in (other than 'contacts'), but mostly the fact that Google have aped Apple's idiotic *rse over elbow method for scrolling pages from top to bottom. I'll explain.

When you read a book, and perhaps you chose to mark the position of the line you are on with your finger, should you then move to the line below you move your finger down the page; relative to you the content on the page moves upwards. On the smartphone you have to move your finger upwards to scroll down the page. Idiotic, and, of course, not only completely opposite to the way you move your hand relative to a solid object like a book or newspaper, but also opposite to the way that the scroll bars on your 'real' computer work.

*yeah, I know I can get them from Android market, but I'm lazy. And it doesn't solve the stylus issue.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on November 26, 2011, 09:00:47 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 25, 2011, 07:02:59 PM
WBMT
Kitchen shopping, last week we had the man round from B&Q  - £4500 units only (flat pack, kitchen only 11x9) including his 50% off deal which i thought was pricey until we went to wickes who started at £14k reduced to £6200 for a flat pack kitchen, he very generously offered us a half price electrolux washing machine at £450, £900 starting price????. They must think I was born yesterday.
For a little less than B&Q I can get made up units delivered from a company we found on the net, cant find any bad reviews so they are looking favourite at the moment.

Forgive my not very manly interest in kitchens but I get a new camera out of it - if theres any money left.


Simon

Yep, my daughter is doing the same thing. They quoted her £2500 - and she said "OK, let me get some more quotes". 3 days later, they rang back with a Black Friday offer of £1500 in a once in a life time deal. She responded with - "if you drop to £1000 you'll have a once in a lifetime acceptance". the phone went dead!
My daughter makes me so proud at times like that  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on November 26, 2011, 09:28:20 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on November 25, 2011, 07:24:50 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 25, 2011, 07:02:59 PM
WBMT
Kitchen shopping, last week we had the man round from B&Q  - £4500 units only (flat pack, kitchen only 11x9) including his 50% off deal which i thought was pricey until we went to wickes who started at £14k reduced to £6200 for a flat pack kitchen, he very generously offered us a half price electrolux washing machine at £450, £900 starting price????. They must think I was born yesterday.
For a little less than B&Q I can get made up units delivered from a company we found on the net, cant find any bad reviews so they are looking favourite at the moment.

Forgive my not very manly interest in kitchens but I get a new camera out of it - if theres any money left.


Simon

Interesting. We are in desperate need of a new kitchen; we are 'just' waiting for my mother's house in Holland to be sold. Ha ha!
By the time we have reduced the price far enough to sell it, the kitchens, even flatpack, will be so expensive we won't be able to afford them!

Has anyone tried local tradesmen? Carpenters. joiners etc? To 'knock something up,' or whatever the expression is.

That's one of the areas I want to look into, but not before the house is sold.
Thank goodness, we only have a tiny kitchen.
IKEA kitchens aren't bad.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on November 26, 2011, 10:10:54 PM
Do you have a Howdens near you? Just had mine fitted and bought my gear from them and used a local kitchen fitter to do the work.
Howdens dont strictly sell to the public but will have numbers for independent fitters who can have the order added to their accounts. They will also come and do your design and pricing FOC
Well pleased with the gear I bought and no hard sell.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on November 26, 2011, 11:19:17 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on November 26, 2011, 10:10:54 PM
Do you have a Howdens near you? Just had mine fitted and bought my gear from them and used a local kitchen fitter to do the work.
Howdens dont strictly sell to the public but will have numbers for independent fitters who can have the order added to their accounts. They will also come and do your design and pricing FOC
Well pleased with the gear I bought and no hard sell.

Yes we have & a friend with an account, but nothing in there takes the bosses fancy.
Its really frustrating because I know what i want but most places want you to see thier planner/salesperson before you can get a price & I cant be doing with all the BS. Its not going to happen until after christmas so plenty of time to shop around.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 01, 2011, 06:50:41 PM
Watch this and how would you react.  :2funny: :2funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=g6OaSzoSpHE
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 01, 2011, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: bones615 on November 26, 2011, 11:19:17 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on November 26, 2011, 10:10:54 PM
Do you have a Howdens near you? Just had mine fitted and bought my gear from them and used a local kitchen fitter to do the work.
Howdens dont strictly sell to the public but will have numbers for independent fitters who can have the order added to their accounts. They will also come and do your design and pricing FOC
Well pleased with the gear I bought and no hard sell.

Yes we have & a friend with an account, but nothing in there takes the bosses fancy.
Its really frustrating because I know what i want but most places want you to see thier planner/salesperson before you can get a price & I cant be doing with all the BS. Its not going to happen until after christmas so plenty of time to shop around.

Simon

I'll probably have to wait a few years, the way things are going!
Thank goodness hubby thinks the kitchen is 'functional,' and not in immediate danger of falling apart!

Oldboy, I have no problems with tattooed bikers. Don't see many of them, but I have been called 'love' by some of them, and that broke down their possibly threatening appearance! They may have been softened up, by my adoring glances at some of those bikes!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 01, 2011, 08:47:38 PM
Fancy a new camera?

http://jonaspfeil.de/ballcamera
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 08, 2011, 01:57:50 PM
Are photographers especially prone to paranoia?

Reading that DSLR cameras were banned on the recent tours of the abandoned tube station at the Aldwych a whole load of hoo-haa broken out about the London Transport Museum's actions.

If anyone would have read the reasoning behind this they would have realised that the decision was taken for a good reason. http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events/events-calendar/367-events-aldwych-underground-station

O.K. it could have been written differently. Note photography was not forbidden so you needed a compact or a phone camera.

PRadar picked up on this and without understanding the full facts the usual suspects swung into action.

By the way if you want to take pictures on underground stations there are another 270 for you to choose from! :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 08, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 08, 2011, 01:57:50 PM
Are photographers especially prone to paranoia?

Reading that DSLR cameras were banned on the recent tours of the abandoned tube station at the Aldwych a whole load of hoo-haa broken out about the London Transport Museum's actions.

If anyone would have read the reasoning behind this they would have realised that the decision was taken for a good reason. http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events/events-calendar/367-events-aldwych-underground-station

O.K. it could have been written differently. Note photography was not forbidden so you needed a compact or a phone camera.

PRadar picked up on this and without understanding the full facts the usual suspects swung into action.

By the way if you want to take pictures on underground stations there are another 270 for you to choose from! :tup:
Fair enough that they set whatever rules they like on their property. I always see the point with tripods but not this equating all slrs with pro bodies. I can understand total bans - just not this selective stuff. I still have issues with Leeds City Council and their similar attitude towards photography on a public square hosting our annual German Christmas market staffed almost entirely by Brits and Poles. Still in that case I choose to ignore the rules and wait to be challenged. Has not happened this year yet
PS I did not comment over there as I rarely visit nowadays.Might play the POTY game though
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 08, 2011, 03:35:28 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 08, 2011, 01:57:50 PM
Are photographers especially prone to paranoia?

Reading that DSLR cameras were banned on the recent tours of the abandoned tube station at the Aldwych a whole load of hoo-haa broken out about the London Transport Museum's actions.

If anyone would have read the reasoning behind this they would have realised that the decision was taken for a good reason. http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events/events-calendar/367-events-aldwych-underground-station

O.K. it could have been written differently. Note photography was not forbidden so you needed a compact or a phone camera.

PRadar picked up on this and without understanding the full facts the usual suspects swung into action.

By the way if you want to take pictures on underground stations there are another 270 for you to choose from! :tup:

That explains a lot and the reason for my comment over there. In that case I agree with the restrictions.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 08, 2011, 03:39:25 PM
Quote from: jinky on December 08, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
I still have issues with Leeds City Council and their similar attitude towards photography on a public square hosting our annual German Christmas market staffed almost entirely by Brits and Poles. Still in that case I choose to ignore the rules and wait to be challenged. Has not happened this year yet

I wonder under what bylaw they can enforce it? Don't have any problems like that in Brum.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 08, 2011, 04:28:29 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 08, 2011, 03:39:25 PM
Quote from: jinky on December 08, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
I still have issues with Leeds City Council and their similar attitude towards photography on a public square hosting our annual German Christmas market staffed almost entirely by Brits and Poles. Still in that case I choose to ignore the rules and wait to be challenged. Has not happened this year yet

I wonder under what bylaw they can enforce it? Don't have any problems like that in Brum.  ;D

basically they successfully removed the public right of way over the squate when they rebuilt it and called it Millenium Square for all the people of Leeds using govt and local govt funding. They run events using council tax funding and offically have a policy of peopel being able to take photographs if they apply for a permit in advance and undertake to get consent forms for all adults / parents oif under 18s that are recognisable in any image before you can publish images anywhere. In practice only DSLR users have been challenged - whether with tripods or not- whilst the only sign on site says that "professional type" cameras are not allowed in the beer tent. A couple of years back I tackled it head on with the support of my local councillor and leader of the council who had been unaware of the policy. Events officer refused to back off and insisted on the issues standing for "health and safety and child protection concerns" as I " would not want shooting pictures of my wife through the windows whilst she was getting dressed" !!! Amazing logic. Ultimately they said I do the permits / release forms or if I continued to shoot I would be challenged and asked to stop. I declared a policy of non-cooperation and civil disobedience and have regularly shot any event on Millenium Sq I fancy, arranging group shoots with Leeds flcikr members on occasion. Never been stopped since - even when the vents officer saw me shooting a St Patricks Day event and I asked him what he was going to do with me. He replied " Do what you want" - so I took that as approval. Others have been challenged / stopped by security. I find if you are polite, ask stall holders, respond to people asking not to be in the shot all is well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 08, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
There's a Christmas market in Southampton, where I have been taking photographs. With my bridge camera, so not a dslr. No problems whatsoever.

Are photographers paranoid? I don't really know, but ...

On Tuesday I happened to be with a local photographer, when we spotted something building up. Police. fire engine, ambulance, the lot. Of course we went to have a look and there was a real drama going on. Some poor man had doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. To show he was serious he even lit a cigarette.

We both took several shots, till a policeman came over and asked us to stop or the images would be taken 'in evidence.' I obediently switched off my camera, as I felt it wasn't quite right to photograph something like that.

My companion however, who only had his point and shoot camera with him, and not his dslr, kept taking photos, only not so opnely.

While I thought the policeman asked us politely to stop, in my companion's opinion, he threatened us with taking our cameras in evidence.

I am 'just a housewife with a camera,' while he is a photographer. Would that explain the difference in reaction?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 08, 2011, 08:37:30 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 08, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
There's a Christmas market in Southampton, where I have been taking photographs. With my bridge camera, so not a dslr. No problems whatsoever.

Are photographers paranoid? I don't really know, but ...

On Tuesday I happened to be with a local photographer, when we spotted something building up. Police. fire engine, ambulance, the lot. Of course we went to have a look and there was a real drama going on. Some poor man had doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. To show he was serious he even lit a cigarette.

We both took several shots, till a policeman came over and asked us to stop or the images would be taken 'in evidence.' I obediently switched off my camera, as I felt it wasn't quite right to photograph something like that.

My companion however, who only had his point and shoot camera with him, and not his dslr, kept taking photos, only not so opnely.

While I thought the policeman asked us politely to stop, in my companion's opinion, he threatened us with taking our cameras in evidence.

I am 'just a housewife with a camera,' while he is a photographer. Would that explain the difference in reaction?

That raises an interesting point R; Was the policeman just using the quick fire 'trained response' to make a point without inviting a long discussion, upon evaluating the situation or the fairness in taking pictures of folk in their private desperate frames of mind in public places.

I guess the thought of obtaining a signed model release would hold me back a bit from focusing in on the upset man. And I would hate the thought of the chap reacting the wrong way on seeing a camera pointed directly his way.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on December 08, 2011, 10:56:33 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on December 08, 2011, 08:37:30 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 08, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
There's a Christmas market in Southampton, where I have been taking photographs. With my bridge camera, so not a dslr. No problems whatsoever.

Are photographers paranoid? I don't really know, but ...

On Tuesday I happened to be with a local photographer, when we spotted something building up. Police. fire engine, ambulance, the lot. Of course we went to have a look and there was a real drama going on. Some poor man had doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. To show he was serious he even lit a cigarette.

We both took several shots, till a policeman came over and asked us to stop or the images would be taken 'in evidence.' I obediently switched off my camera, as I felt it wasn't quite right to photograph something like that.

My companion however, who only had his point and shoot camera with him, and not his dslr, kept taking photos, only not so opnely.

While I thought the policeman asked us politely to stop, in my companion's opinion, he threatened us with taking our cameras in evidence.

I am 'just a housewife with a camera,' while he is a photographer. Would that explain the difference in reaction?

That raises an interesting point R; Was the policeman just using the quick fire 'trained response' to make a point without inviting a long discussion, upon evaluating the situation or the fairness in taking pictures of folk in their private desperate frames of mind in public places.

I guess the thought of obtaining a signed model release would hold me back a bit from focusing in on the upset man. And I would hate the thought of the chap reacting the wrong way on seeing a camera pointed directly his way.


I still have connections with the local press from my sports photography days and still cover the odd incident & accident for them. Most recently I photographed two RTA's for them. No blood and gore just the general chaos that had been created. To date I have had no problems with the Police but Security Guard types are another matter.

With your particular incident the Policeman may not have been technically correct assuming the suicidal man was on public property but I would like to think he had the unfortunate man's best interests at heart.

Personally I would not have photographed him in his obvious mental state but had he purposely set himself up as a threat to the general public for some ridiculous religious or political reason and was no longer a threat to anyone but himself then I would of had my camera focused on him to the end assuming I was not forcefully stopped.

On a lighter note I was once outside a building in Preston with another photographer and two Police Officers awaiting the arrival of Princess Ann. A few moments before she arrived we were instructed by a plain clothes Officer as to what we could and could not photograph one of which was her getting out of the car. It was only after she had arrived and gone into the building that we realised her car had stopped directly opposite the ' Old Dog' Pub.     Apologies to those who have heard me tell that tale before.... :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 09, 2011, 01:07:12 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 08, 2011, 08:07:25 PM

On Tuesday I happened to be with a local photographer, when we spotted something building up. Police. fire engine, ambulance, the lot. Of course we went to have a look and there was a real drama going on. Some poor man had doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. To show he was serious he even lit a cigarette.


I wouldn't take any photos in that situation, as the man was distressed and the taking of photos might have made it worse. I try to respect the privacy of anyone in a public place. One time I photographed some young people throwing snowballs at each other. On seeing me a couple of them approached me and said they were all under sixteen, but I pointed out they were in a public place so wasn't breaking any laws. O then said if they wanted I would delete the images from the card, which they requested and I deleted the photos. I could have swapped the card as they walked off and recovered them at home, but I didn't as that would have been unfair.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 09, 2011, 07:59:06 AM
Had I been on my own, I would not even have stopped to look. Now I did however. Everyone was at a 'safe' distance and there were quite a few people standing around. Teenagers filming it on their mobiles and builders evacuated from their place of work just next to the victim. All with their own opinion on how best to handle the situation. There was a large number of 'emergency personnel' present as well of course.

I'm still trying to work out what I can and can't do, photography wise, but 'breaking news' photography of this kind, is something I definitely would not want to do.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on December 09, 2011, 08:15:13 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 09, 2011, 07:59:06 AM
Teenagers filming it on their mobiles and builders evacuated from their place of work just next to the victim.

And therein lies the problem for the authorities as much as the photographer, point a dslr at an incident & the police will be there telling you, you can't take photos. Be a teenager/young adult and point your mobile & film whatever is ocurring and they don't bat an eyelid...fwiw those of you who remember my Tower Block Fire pictures when I was taking those shots one of the coppers who looked like he was only just out of short trousers thought I was a press photograpgher 'cos I had my dslr, and nearly let me through the cordon to get closer, it was only when I thought if he asks to see my press card I'm buggered that I told him I wasn't press....the look on his face priceless....he still let me get fairly close though  :tup:
Also let's not forget after the riots in August the police were asking for images from "bystanders" who had taken photos so they could use them to help identify those who decided that smashing up peoples business's and homes was a good idea....the authorities can't have it both ways
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 09, 2011, 08:19:46 AM
I think one thing seems clear in these sort of circumstances - the restrictions that apply to photographers, whether self restricting or by others, do not apply to those, especially the young it seems, who will photograph or video anything and everything on their phones and upload it to youtube. I suspect if the man in question had set fire to himself there would have been video clips available for all to see.  Fortunately the quality is usually dire  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 09, 2011, 09:27:48 AM
Each incident depends on circumstances. Taking photos of a house fire, a car crash or people committing a crime is withing my rules, no problem. I wouldn't take a picture of injured people at a car crash wouldn't be because, I wouldn't be respecting their privacy. In the case of a crime, those people would have stepped outside the law and therefore, shouldn't expect their privacy to be respected.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 09, 2011, 11:19:54 AM
I`d never have a issue with situations like the man and petrol - just would not shoot it. My only problems have been with ill advised security staff. My one funny story with the police was when I was taking shots of a demo once - some ludicrous ENP demo against HMV selling black music :doh:. After gettin g shots of the SWP and other demo shots I walked back to the car to come across a n officer deploying another 50 or so coppers from an underground car park nearby. being PCSOs as well as usual police they were all shapes and sizes and he was getting them prepared to close off a road. Asked them all to form a line across the road which they did - hokey kokey style all grasping each others waist! As I shaped up to take a shot - delayed by laughter at the shapes and sizes - he came over to me and asked me not to shoot. About to object he said " I know you can but please don`t make me look any more of a tosser than this lot are making me look right now - where do we get them from?". Laughing with him I agreed not to though regretted it after as it would have been a great shot. Just could not stop laughing at a lass about 5ft gripping the waist of another bloke 6 ft 4 in the middle of the row. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 09, 2011, 12:53:41 PM
I have to say, every time I read one of these threads I am absolutely befuddled. This stuff just doesn't happen here. I walk around anywhere I want with a camera, never even get a second look. I was at the Grand Opening of my daughter's new Starbucks last night taking photos of the store and the crowd (for strictly family reasons) no one looked at me let alone objected. Is it just England? I know there's members who live on the continent in various places. Does this go on in Holland or Germany or France?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on December 09, 2011, 02:37:34 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 09, 2011, 12:53:41 PM
Does this go on in Holland or Germany or France?

My own experience has been in the US at an outlet shopping centre (not mall, one of those places with the car park in the centre and the shops around the outside). I was waiting for the Wife to finish getting rid of money and so decided to take the time with my son to take some shots of him at one of the small islands of trees in the middle of the car park. Within a few minutes a security guard popped over to inform me that photography on the site was prohibited and curious to know what I was shooting. When I said, "My son", he seemed more relaxed. He informed me that the restrictions are to prevent people from shooting the architecture and the shop signs/logos, principally so they are not then posted in a bad light on the interweb. When I then informed him that neither the architecture nor the shop fronts were of sufficient artistic merit to be worthy of consideration, then he laughed and cycled off.

So, it happens in the land of the Free(*) as well.

As far as flatland, I haven't yet had troubles. Although I rarely go anywhere where photography might be an issue. But there are have a go heroes security guards in every country. Odd occupation, where the standard for an individual is "more than my job's worth mate" to avoid taking action, it's the opposite attitude for these puffed up egos with a torch.

Although I have been stopped by the police in combat gear fatigues during the Kermis (fair) when walking my bike home with a friend and enjoying the feeble remains (two gulps?) of a small glass of urine recyc (heineken) and instructed to pour it out. It did take a gaggle of 7 police officers to enforce this demand...or at least this is how many initially came over to intimidate us. My cloggie friend was particularly offended by the attitude of the politie.

(*) Not to be confused with the land of the Free-eh?  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on December 09, 2011, 04:44:20 PM
Only happened once to me here in Germany, but then I don't spend much time in the city. It was a shopping centre which afforded a good view over "Mainhatten" (the bank skyscrapers in Frankfurt) from the top floor. Going up the escalator I was intrigued by the geometric design as I looked up, within seconds a large sunburned gentlemen in a black uniform informed me in broken German that I and my DSLR should leave the building. To make sure I did, he escorted me off the premises. I must say, I felt a bit daft.

To solve the problem of carrying the big black thing around in town and being too "shy" to point it at anything, I've bought myself a Panasonic system camera - very small and bright red. No-one would take me seriously with that! I hope anyway  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 09, 2011, 06:41:51 PM
Got collard by a copper at Greenham Common back in the '80's. He was particularly miserable being on duty in November in freezing conditions. He marched me back to my car, searched it and then asked for my driving licence. He immediately noticed and commented that it had been my birthday the previous day, looked at me for a moment and then told me to bugger-off. I complied with his orders immediately.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 09, 2011, 07:40:10 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 09, 2011, 02:37:34 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 09, 2011, 12:53:41 PM
Does this go on in Holland or Germany or France?

My own experience has been in the US at an outlet shopping centre (not mall, one of those places with the car park in the centre and the shops around the outside). I was waiting for the Wife to finish getting rid of money and so decided to take the time with my son to take some shots of him at one of the small islands of trees in the middle of the car park. Within a few minutes a security guard popped over to inform me that photography on the site was prohibited and curious to know what I was shooting. When I said, "My son", he seemed more relaxed. He informed me that the restrictions are to prevent people from shooting the architecture and the shop signs/logos, principally so they are not then posted in a bad light on the interweb. When I then informed him that neither the architecture nor the shop fronts were of sufficient artistic merit to be worthy of consideration, then he laughed and cycled off.

So, it happens in the land of the Free(*) as well.

As far as flatland, I haven't yet had troubles. Although I rarely go anywhere where photography might be an issue. But there are have a go heroes security guards in every country. Odd occupation, where the standard for an individual is "more than my job's worth mate" to avoid taking action, it's the opposite attitude for these puffed up egos with a torch.

Although I have been stopped by the police in combat gear fatigues during the Kermis (fair) when walking my bike home with a friend and enjoying the feeble remains (two gulps?) of a small glass of urine recyc (heineken) and instructed to pour it out. It did take a gaggle of 7 police officers to enforce this demand...or at least this is how many initially came over to intimidate us. My cloggie friend was particularly offended by the attitude of the politie.

(*) Not to be confused with the land of the Free-eh?  ;)

Ah, ok, give you that one. Knowing that private businesses are touchy about that stuff I don't go forth to the malls with camera in hand. It is one of those things I just know about, without really knowing why I know. But on a public thoroughfare or park I don't even think twice. Plus as you pointed out, there is nothing of architectural significance to photograph in those places.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 12, 2011, 12:43:48 PM
I decided to try and repurpose and old PC on the weekend ( a bunch of old PC parts actually) and installed Linux Mint. I was browsing through a web site that has all kinds of interesting Linux software for Ubuntu, (Mint being a fork) and came across Luminesence(?) a program for HDR work.
I realized, it was all the rage a couple of years back but now I don't see anything about it. Or is it just not popular here on CC. I don't frequent PR or other sites, has HDR died?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 12, 2011, 01:33:49 PM
No it's not died, but the increasing dynamic ranges of recent cameras have given it a good kicking.

If you look at competitions for landscape photography there is still a lot of it about.

I still have Photomatix and Dynamic Photo installed on my PC, but they only see rare use, and more often than not only for single file processing. That said, I do often use a tiny tad of Topaz Adjust.

A while back you used to Lucis applied to everything, but that seems much less popular these days too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 13, 2011, 01:52:34 PM
LHC: Higgs boson 'may have been glimpsed'

Breaking news from the BBC!!

If you happen to spot it Mr Higgs would like to know, as he is very worried about its condition and he needs it for next Saturday's match.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 13, 2011, 08:56:59 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 12, 2011, 01:33:49 PM
No it's not died, but the increasing dynamic ranges of recent cameras have given it a good kicking.

If you look at competitions for landscape photography there is still a lot of it about.

I still have Photomatix and Dynamic Photo installed on my PC, but they only see rare use, and more often than not only for single file processing. That said, I do often use a tiny tad of Topaz Adjust.

A while back you used to Lucis applied to everything, but that seems much less popular these days too.

By funny coincidence I just got my newest edition of Outdoor Photographer Canada and low and behold there's an article, 6 steps to photorealistic HDR.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 14, 2011, 05:09:46 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember.

   I do seem to recall you saying that we were all a bunch of wasters (I think that was the term.) and that you hoped never to see or hear from us again.

   It must have been removed.
                          As ever.  Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 14, 2011, 05:53:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven. :-[

Shucks, you mean you were ill when you commented on my photo - Ouch  :2funny:
I'm glad you are feeling better sir.

:tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 14, 2011, 06:05:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.


That's what you get for standing on street corners waiting to waylay people.  :doh:

Glad you are better now.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on December 14, 2011, 06:38:28 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven. :-[

Alan if you had grown it before the POTY and entered one of your portraits under the name of C. Chan, it would bound to have won ;D :legit:
Glad to hear you're feeling better!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 14, 2011, 06:51:06 PM
...I wondered about that post he made inviting everyone to an evening with Martin Parr........ :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 14, 2011, 06:54:03 PM
Camera not fast enough to catch the action?

How about one of these?

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/12/fastest-ever-camera-captures-l.html   :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 14, 2011, 07:47:19 PM
Quote from: greypoint on December 14, 2011, 06:51:06 PM
...I wondered about that post he made inviting everyone to an evening with Martin Parr........ :dance: :dance:
Ouch!...And I thought I had a sharpe tongue! :tup: :beer: :knuppel2: :dance: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on December 14, 2011, 09:15:17 PM
Quote from: greypoint on December 14, 2011, 06:51:06 PM
...I wondered about that post he made inviting everyone to an evening with Martin Parr........ :dance: :dance:

:2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 14, 2011, 10:05:29 PM
Quote from: hevans on December 14, 2011, 09:15:17 PM
Quote from: greypoint on December 14, 2011, 06:51:06 PM
...I wondered about that post he made inviting everyone to an evening with Martin Parr........ :dance: :dance:

:2funny: :2funny:

Now come on, I might get grumpy but never vindictive! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 15, 2011, 02:40:20 PM
As long as you're well again that's the important part.

The world be be less colourful without you   ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Geoff I on December 15, 2011, 10:30:18 PM
I believe Michael Jackson owned all of the copyright's of the Beatles collection, now he is no longer with us someone wants to make as much money as possible.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 19, 2011, 08:04:38 PM
It appears that PR is dead, as the link I have just took me to DCW.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 19, 2011, 10:34:55 PM
The demise of N' Korea's leader and the reactions of the populace to his death has well prepared us for the sights and the gnashing of teeth throughout GB when Thatcher pops her clogs! :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on December 19, 2011, 10:44:14 PM
Only 4 people using the X-Mas theme.

Bah Humbug.   :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 19, 2011, 10:55:49 PM
Quote from: admin on December 19, 2011, 10:44:14 PM
Only 4 people using the X-Mas theme.

Bah Humbug.   :beer:

What's that Mick?

Yours
Ebenezer. ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 19, 2011, 11:02:34 PM
Sorry - I'm too prostrated with grief over the ' dear leader' to bother about Christmas  :-[ :-[ :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 19, 2011, 11:21:53 PM
Quote from: admin on December 19, 2011, 10:44:14 PM
Only 4 people using the X-Mas theme.

Bah Humbug.   :beer:

OK, just switched it on to please you.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 19, 2011, 11:24:31 PM
Quote from: greypoint on December 19, 2011, 11:02:34 PM
Sorry - I'm too prostrated with grief over the ' dear leader' to bother about Christmas  :-[ :-[ :dance:

Noticed he had a heart attack on the train, and I thought our train ticket prices were bad!  :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 20, 2011, 08:10:00 AM
OK Santa, I've changed over. It's quite pretty, isn't it?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 20, 2011, 08:19:25 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 19, 2011, 10:34:55 PM
The demise of N' Korea's leader and the reactions of the populace to his death has well prepared us for the sights and the gnashing of teeth throughout GB when Thatcher pops her clogs! :o

. .  but, of course, compared to the parties when Blair goes it'll be nothing . . !*

*assuming the Grim Reaper can raise the cash to cover his appearance fee.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 20, 2011, 08:35:30 PM
Quote from: admin on December 19, 2011, 10:44:14 PM
Only 4 people using the X-Mas theme.

Bah Humbug.   :beer:

I found it :)

We've got a choice of two Xmas themes on DPG  :tup: :spam:  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Geoff I on December 21, 2011, 02:19:02 PM
I break up today for the Christmas break I find it very amusing no work for 13 days.  :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 21, 2011, 06:08:11 PM
WBTD? It's mild, foggy and raining here in my corner of the Great White North. Still Great, Still North, not so white. Unseasonably mild I believe is the term. Why does it bemuse me? Brought back the only memory I have of Clydebank when I was a child.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on December 21, 2011, 08:21:53 PM
They come in three's. Wife called to say she had a flat 15 miles away & could i ring the RAC. I said don't worry i'll leave off early to come and rescue you. Got to within 200yrds and my bike died. Rung off the wheel wrench trying to fix the car & had to call the RAC for 2 breakdowns. Car fixed quickly, bike has fried the electrics somewhere and had to come home on a tow truck. Lastly, best part of 4 hrs at the roadside & my lighter ran out of gas.

On the up side I got my moneys worth out of the RAC who were very good but strangely sent 2 vans, one for each breakdown.

Wonder if i will be allowed to spend this weekend tinkering in the garage?

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 22, 2011, 10:00:33 PM
Watching the Skaters at Lightwoods Park, Bearwood today.  :P

Going....
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6556039087_c71c13370e_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6556039087_c71c13370e_b.jpg)

Going.....
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6556039099_864a997198_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6556039099_864a997198_b.jpg)

....Gone.  :-[
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6556039165_33b6504d08_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6556039165_33b6504d08_b.jpg)

Click for bigger sizes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 23, 2011, 08:58:41 AM
Visited the new PR forum site to see what had been changed. Apart from the fact it's now blue and the word spacing is wider, I can't see much different.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on December 23, 2011, 09:11:43 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 23, 2011, 08:58:41 AM
Visited the new PR forum site to see what had been changed. Apart from the fact it's now blue and the word spacing is wider, I can't see much different.

Alan, quite a bit has changed actually, but not sure if it's for the better TBH.  On the plus side they now have navigation from the main menu, which was missing from the old one.  But the gallery is even more of a nightmare.  Looks like each user sets up a category(s) to use as their own albums, but there's permissions that allow others to post in your albums, this is set to allow by default.  Unless they sort this soon it's going to turn into a right mess.  ::)  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 23, 2011, 12:40:34 PM
I only ever posted one pic after the change over from DCM as I found the gallery a bit clunky, but if this is what PR future holds for galleries changing them up every couple of years and loosing everything in the doing, I won't be posting any to the new site.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 25, 2011, 12:03:38 AM
There are times when you just have to wonder that there are people lacking in the most basic common sense who manage to actually function. Facebook offers a marketplace for the buying and selling of all sorts of things including puppies. This has attracted a band of scammers, I assume from overseas judging by their English skills. They typically pick currently popular and often expensive breeds and advertise them at very low prices - a Pug would normally be no less than £800ish a French Bulldog £1000 plus - the scammers have them for under £200. The 'breeder' when emailed will tell you they are on the Isle of Skye or some other far flung part of the UK and the puppy will have to be couriered to you - after you've paid of course. There are people who scan these ads and write SCAM in large letters under them and other warnings but days after they have done this there are still idiots asking 'do you have any of these puppies left?' 'how can I buy one?' leaving their phone numbers for contact by the 'seller' . I suppose it's true there's one born every minute!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 25, 2011, 12:08:38 AM
Quote from: greypoint on December 25, 2011, 12:03:38 AM
There are times when you just have to wonder that there are people lacking in the most basic common sense who manage to actually function. Facebook offers a marketplace for the buying and selling of all sorts of things including puppies. This has attracted a band of scammers, I assume from overseas judging by their English skills. They typically pick currently popular and often expensive breeds and advertise them at very low prices - a Pug would normally be no less than £800ish a French Bulldog £1000 plus - the scammers have them for under £200. The 'breeder' when emailed will tell you they are on the Isle of Skye or some other far flung part of the UK and the puppy will have to be couriered to you - after you've paid of course. There are people who scan these ads and write SCAM in large letters under them and other warnings but days after they have done this there are still idiots asking 'do you have any of these puppies left?' 'how can I buy one?' leaving their phone numbers for contact by the 'seller' . I suppose it's true there's one born every minute!  :uglystupid2:

A Bulldog for under £200?  :o Have you still got the contact details?  :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Geoff I on December 25, 2011, 09:32:05 PM
Thought I got our Yorkshire terrier for a bargain at £400, but to courier a dog I just can not imagine it in a Royal mail parcel.

On another note is Facebook not policed?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on December 25, 2011, 10:09:52 PM
I think the policing on facebook does'nt work well on any level. 

http://apps.facebook.com/marketplace/sale/pet/dog/-/-/gbr:en:lnd:london/+country/?cm_mmc=adparlor_pd-_-adparlor-_-dogs-_-dogs

they don 't even bother to stick to the same address - but still there are people seemingly idiotic enough to reply!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on December 26, 2011, 02:26:43 PM
WBMT? Technology...

A short while ago we got a Blu-Ray player, and for Xmas i got the complete collection of Harry Potter films - i don't care, say what you want  :knuppel2: :knuppel2:

Anyway, today i finally got round to watching the first one as shown on Blu Ray on full HD, and comparing it with how it looked at the cinema, expecting a really great picture.

I got a really great picture, but what i got was just how good HD on Blu Ray actually is.

The special effects look almost cardboard-ish compared with when i saw the film on its release at the cinema.
My best comparison would be like those episodes of Doctor Who with John Pertwee as the Doctor, in the 70's, and then watching them side by side with an episode of Dr Who with David Tennant or Matt Smith as the doctor.

I'm gonna say something i never thought i'd get to say but...

I think i'm getting old when i'm impressed that technology has adanced sooooooo much in just a decade  :-X :-X
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 12:27:28 AM
I bought the wife the DVD box set of HP for xmas.
Went to test it and found that they had sent me the blu ray version, but we don't have a blu ray player :-[
Ive been thinking of buying one for a while then wifey says " lets get a blu ray player instead of sending the box set back. my treat" ;D

"Go on then" I replied ;) ;) so off she pooped to to the retail park and got a Panasonic half price in the sales :tup:
Agreed the quality difference is amazing so tomorrow its a web browse for some bargains on films etc ;D ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 27, 2011, 01:40:59 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 12:27:28 AM
I bought the wife the DVD box set of HP for xmas.
Went to test it and found that they had sent me the blu ray version, but we don't have a blu ray player :-[
Ive been thinking of buying one for a while then wifey says " lets get a blu ray player instead of sending the box set back. my treat" ;D

"Go on then" I replied ;) ;) so off she pooped to to the retail park and got a Panasonic half price in the sales :tup:
Agreed the quality difference is amazing so tomorrow its a web browse for some bargains on films etc ;D ;D

Maybe it's because it's HP? Or a box set? I got Cowyboys & Aliens for Christmas & it's got a BluRay, a regular DVD and a "digital " copy to play on my iPad. All in one box.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 27, 2011, 04:51:34 AM
The contrast between the number of shoppers on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day is shown in these two photographs. Christmas Eve only a few shoppers about and not many with bags. Boxing Day it was packed and most had bags of shopping. What I find strange is most of the stores had the same prices before Christmas, and some like Millets, had bigger discounts two weeks before Christmas than they did Boxing Day.  :doh:

Christmas Eve New Street, Birmingham.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6579448165_2d7b431ac1_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6579448165_2d7b431ac1_b.jpg)

Boxing Day New Street, Birmingham.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6579448171_df8d4d036e_z.jpg?v=0) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6579448171_df8d4d036e_b.jpg)

Click for bigger size.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 09:20:03 AM
Quote from: spinner on December 27, 2011, 01:40:59 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 12:27:28 AM
I bought the wife the DVD box set of HP for xmas.
Went to test it and found that they had sent me the blu ray version, but we don't have a blu ray player :-[
Ive been thinking of buying one for a while then wifey says " lets get a blu ray player instead of sending the box set back. my treat" ;D

"Go on then" I replied ;) ;) so off she pooped to to the retail park and got a Panasonic half price in the sales :tup:
Agreed the quality difference is amazing so tomorrow its a web browse for some bargains on films etc ;D ;D

Maybe it's because it's HP? Or a box set? I got Cowyboys & Aliens for Christmas & it's got a BluRay, a regular DVD and a "digital " copy to play on my iPad. All in one box.
I may have confused you a little Spin.
HP = Harry Potter
All the disks in the box are Blu ray
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Lepach on December 28, 2011, 08:15:41 AM
I have just been studying the POTY three finalists images again. As has been said," Each one could win it", but I'm happy with my choice. Would anyone go to the bother to get other people to vote for it? Or worse, use some  electronic underhand method of getting their image accepted as the winner is beyond me.
How could you possibly live with that? :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 28, 2011, 09:10:38 AM
Quote from: Lepach on December 28, 2011, 08:15:41 AM
I have just been studying the POTY three finalists images again. As has been said," Each one could win it", but I'm happy with my choice. Would anyone go to the bother to get other people to vote for it? Or worse, use some  electronic underhand method of getting their image accepted as the winner is beyond me.
How could you possibly live with that? :(
We could'nt, so we don't. It's not how we were raised.
             Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Eileen on December 28, 2011, 09:38:23 AM
My gas boiler has been playing up for weeks - cutting out so there is no hot water or heating for a period, then coming on again when it feels like it. Made an appointment last week for B Gas engineer to come today. Of course, since I got back from Chiristmas trip last night it has behaved well and engineer couldn't replicate the fault today, whatever he tried. Not sure whether to be happy it is working OK for now, or fed up because I know it will start to play up again, probably at a time when it isn't easy for me to be at home.  :-\ Oh well, at least I am warm and comfortable, which is better than many can say just now!  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 28, 2011, 04:14:30 PM
Went to order a new washing machine this morning on a site advertising free delivery on such items. When we got to the checkout page there was a whacking extra charge for delivery. Retracing our steps we found that there was an almost invisible asterisk next to the main banner - finding the additional text, not an easy task, it was found to read 'on items displaying a free delivery sign'. Guess what, no machine with a price of less than €500 had free delivery.

It's enough to make you buy a machine locally. Which we shall probably do now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 28, 2011, 07:44:22 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 09:20:03 AM
Quote from: spinner on December 27, 2011, 01:40:59 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 27, 2011, 12:27:28 AM
I bought the wife the DVD box set of HP for xmas.
Went to test it and found that they had sent me the blu ray version, but we don't have a blu ray player :-[
Ive been thinking of buying one for a while then wifey says " lets get a blu ray player instead of sending the box set back. my treat" ;D

"Go on then" I replied ;) ;) so off she pooped to to the retail park and got a Panasonic half price in the sales :tup:
Agreed the quality difference is amazing so tomorrow its a web browse for some bargains on films etc ;D ;D

Maybe it's because it's HP? Or a box set? I got Cowyboys & Aliens for Christmas & it's got a BluRay, a regular DVD and a "digital " copy to play on my iPad. All in one box.
I may have confused you a little Spin.
HP = Harry Potter
All the disks in the box are Blu ray

Not to worry, I knew was Harry, wifey and daughter are HP crazy. (I did briefly think Hewlett Packard but settled on Harry). Maybe be the way they're marketed here, but I just checked. Wife's copy of Deathly Hallows PT.1 is BluRay + DVD + Digital copy, 3 discs inside.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 28, 2011, 11:18:43 PM
Having to go back to work tomorrow - at around 1pm - which is good, but finishing at between 11 and 12pm, which is not so good :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 29, 2011, 08:19:54 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 28, 2011, 04:14:30 PM
Went to order a new washing machine this morning on a site advertising free delivery on such items. When we got to the checkout page there was a whacking extra charge for delivery. Retracing our steps we found that there was an almost invisible asterisk next to the main banner - finding the additional text, not an easy task, it was found to read 'on items displaying a free delivery sign'. Guess what, no machine with a price of less than €500 had free delivery.

It's enough to make you buy a machine locally. Which we shall probably do now.

Is there anything resembling John Lewis in your part of the world?
We buy everything there (all 'machinery'), to great satisfaction.

In the past I bought two laptops, and in both cases I got £100 back a month later, because they had reduced their own prices. The 'never knowingly undersold' policy lasted, I think, for three months. The only thing you have to do, is keep an eye on the price.

I believe delivery is still free too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 29, 2011, 09:03:16 AM
No Re, there is nothing like John Lewis in La Belle. Consumer rights are rather in the dark ages - you have to really watch out for the catches in any offers - and there are always catches.

The last thing I bought from John Lewis cost me about £50 more than everyone else was selling it for, but they had it in stock. I thought the 'never knowingly undersold' thing was a joke, because I have never got anything from them that was a bargain, although their service is always good, so I didn't mind. Perhaps I should have paid more attention.

As for the washing machine, we'll wait for the sales in a few week's time to see what we can get locally. And a fridge. And several hundred €s worth of repairs to the lawnmower. And the car is nearly on its last legs too. We'll be spending a lot this year, but all on necessities.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on December 29, 2011, 07:14:33 PM
Getting a quote for contents insurance today. 

First thing I was asked was, what do I estimate the value of our contents, gave them a figure without really thinking about it, and they refused to insure me because in their words, "We would be over quoting you"  they have a minimum limit of £50.000, so if your contents is worth less than that they won't insure you.

So have Direct line lost the plot, or am I missing something??

Anyway, they lost a sale, because I rang another company (who have a higher limit £70.000, gave them the same info and am now insured.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 29, 2011, 07:57:15 PM
Don't know anything about insurance Mick, so I can't comment.

Know a fair bit about John Lewis though, and may be able to give some advice.

In my experience, their slogan does not mean they have the lowest prices. They do however match the lower price of a rival within three months of putchase. I believe it now has to be a High Street rival, within a certain area, but I'm not sure; internet rivals are not 'valid.' (Sorry don't know how to say this, but you get my drift.)

So it is up to you, the purchaser, to keep an eye on the prices, and go back to them with proof and you'll get your money back.

It was easy for me and my laptops, as they were reduced in the sale in the same shop where I bought them. Just had to show the till slip and point at their reduced counterpart and hey presto.

And you can't fault JL for service!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 29, 2011, 10:59:12 PM
Don't all rush to get one of these: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/blackberry/8982847/Harrods-to-offer-1275-Porsche-BlackBerry.html You know you want one.  :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 30, 2011, 07:24:18 AM
I`ve been cut off from the Internet forever it seems. First my in-laws come for Christmas and take my computer room over for a week - my wife seems to think it is a spare bedroom??? The when I log back on on departure  I find I have a "fair" wifi signal - the best I usually get in that room but no programme will open. Firing up my old sony pc which I rarely use but which my wi-fi connections run through I find I once more have to change the channel to get my reception restore. Every 6 moths or so my signal l seems to drop out and I have to change from channel 5 to 9 and back. Whys should this be? Technology ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 30, 2011, 12:00:56 PM
Quote from: jinky on December 30, 2011, 07:24:18 AM
I`ve been cut off from the Internet forever it seems. First my in-laws come for Christmas and take my computer room over for a week - my wife seems to think it is a spare bedroom??? The when I log back on on departure  I find I have a "fair" wifi signal - the best I usually get in that room but no programme will open. Firing up my old sony pc which I rarely use but which my wi-fi connections run through I find I once more have to change the channel to get my reception restore. Every 6 moths or so my signal l seems to drop out and I have to change from channel 5 to 9 and back. Whys should this be? Technology ???

  "Spare Room"!...... "Spare Room"!!.....It's the international comunication facillity and nothing less.
                  Graham.  :knuppel2:  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 30, 2011, 01:53:09 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 30, 2011, 12:00:56 PM

  "Spare Room"!...... "Spare Room"!!.....It's the international comunication facillity and nothing less.
                  Graham.  :knuppel2:  :tup:

Mine is known as The Orifice due to its untidy nature! :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 30, 2011, 03:35:11 PM
Mine is my daughter's room, which I 'invaded' with my laptop when she left for university. It is also called the office, simply because it has a small wall mounted desk. (Still full of daughter's stuff that I won't touch.) And errr ... it is quite messy as well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 30, 2011, 04:50:10 PM
Perhaps we could have a messiest study/office/spare room competition? I think I might be in with a chance.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 30, 2011, 06:41:12 PM
I think you`d find that my wife would agree with me for once and declare my office the winner without  even needing to see the other contenders. That said I had to muck it out for Christmas so not bad just now. Cannot find anything though  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 30, 2011, 06:57:36 PM
I'm not sure any of you would stand a chance. Daughter left home six years ago and a lot of her stuff is cluttering up our garage. But, there are, of course, always things that have to be kept dry, and they live in large boxes in my office. Three on top of each other, next to the bed.

Everything could go, she said some years ago, but I refuse to touch her university stuff, or even her schoolwork. I only cleared out lots of clothing. And guess what? This Christmas she said she expected to see (at least some of) her stuff in her wardrobe, but it was all mine!

I use the bed as storage space for my camera, chargers, leads etc and my new fedora that doesn't really fit in a wardrobe. Like Jinky (I mean Kinky), I had to clear a lot of stuff as Daughter was coming home on a flying visit, so it looks reasonable now, but it is already building up nicely.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 30, 2011, 07:42:15 PM
You actually keep stuff in boxes? Not on the floor like normal people? That's almost OCD . .  :D

I'll take a picture of my little cubby hole tomorrow morning. That'll learn ya  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 30, 2011, 08:27:35 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 30, 2011, 07:42:15 PM
You actually keep stuff in boxes? Not on the floor like normal people? That's almost OCD . .  :D

I'll take a picture of my little cubby hole tomorrow morning. That'll learn ya  :uglystupid2:

Howard, we only have a two bedroomed apartment. It happens to be a penthouse, with a very generous living area, and an enormous sun terrace, but the office is relatively small, and if we left even more on the floor, we'd be in and out of hospital with broken bones. Once I have my office back the way I like it, with stuff all over the bed etc, I'll try to take a photograph too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 03:58:55 PM
Here you go - the 'study'

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Study-IMGP1635labelled_flickr.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11136&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 31, 2011, 04:02:33 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 03:58:55 PM
Here you go - the 'study'

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Study-IMGP1635labelled_flickr.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11136&fullsize=1)

Looks too tidy to be mine :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 04:06:16 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on December 31, 2011, 04:02:33 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 03:58:55 PM
Here you go - the 'study'

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Study-IMGP1635labelled_flickr.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11136&fullsize=1)

Looks too tidy to be mine :2funny:

Prove it . . .  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 31, 2011, 05:48:56 PM
Done - plenty of dust and cobwebs here too  :2funny:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11049/normal_Office.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11140)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 07:04:08 PM
OK, you win that one. The wonky picture is a particularly nice touch  ;), although, of course, I haven't even got around to putting a picture on the wall at all . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 31, 2011, 07:19:49 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 07:04:08 PM
OK, you win that one. The wonky picture is a particularly nice touch  ;), although, of course, I haven't even got around to putting a picture on the wall at all . . .

I was going to reply "Just trust me "  but then I had not had an idea for the weekly comp  :tup:  :D :2funny:

Just put the piccy straight!  (Looks better already  :2funny: ) 

Funny how things seem to settle on the wonk in older style properties - too many drafts where nothing is plumb :2funny: - When I finally finish the back area of the house I guess my little tempoary side office area can move, and I can have room to use my tablet again. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 01, 2012, 09:14:24 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 31, 2011, 03:58:55 PM
Here you go - the 'study'

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Study-IMGP1635labelled_flickr.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11136&fullsize=1)

  Do you wear a crash helmet at your desk? Or do you just accept that your going to bang your head when you stand up?
                          Graham. ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on January 02, 2012, 12:05:28 PM
Graham have you not noticed the hat H is wearing in his avatar  :o  Maybe his head has a slope to it ;D ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 03, 2012, 09:34:45 AM
I had a hit on my blog yesterday from a site in France that advertises treatment for haemorrhoids. :o

http://traitement-des-hemorroides.fr

Now I could take this one of two ways, :-\

Who do I know in La Belle France who suffers from the Farmers?

Or does my photography when viewed initiate an attack of the Nobbies?

Very irritating, in fact quite a pain up the bum!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on January 03, 2012, 09:41:41 AM
Quote from: ABERS on January 03, 2012, 09:34:45 AM
I had a hit on my blog yesterday from a site in France that advertises treatment for haemorrhoids. :o

http://traitement-des-hemorroides.fr

Now I could take this one of two ways, :-\

Who do I know in La Belle France who suffers from the Farmers?

Or does my photography when viewed initiate an attack of the Nobbies?

Very irritating, in fact quite a pain up the bum!

lol...  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 03, 2012, 12:37:21 PM
Same thing as bemuses or annoys me on a regular basis, using Tech sites to get answers to computer problems and having people post nonsensical or annoying responses. I've decided to set up a Linux box (AGAIN) so see how the current crop of photo apps compare with the usual Windows/Mac versions. I installed Mint but couldn't get it to work with my Windows Network. One response was to get rid of my Windows and switch all to Linux. Unlike here, there doesn't appear to be a facility for smilies, so I don't know if this person is serious or joking.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 05, 2012, 05:14:24 PM
Looking up something on the County Council web site I scrolled down to find this item.....

'Dog fouling - provided by your local council'   ........ so that's where it comes from!! :2funny:
;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 10, 2012, 01:25:15 PM
I was on the TechRadar site last night and happened to scrolled down to the bottom of the page and noticed that in the Future Publishing box they had PhotoRadar listed as an associate site. Out of curiosity I clicked on it and it takes you to the 'new' DCM site. How many weeks has it been and they can't even update their own web sites? :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on January 10, 2012, 04:11:57 PM
Just had a look, if I'm not mistaken, it IS a new DCM site.
Or have clicked on something else? Anyway, it has the new D4 on the front page  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 10, 2012, 04:26:54 PM
I'm looking at the gray rectangle at the very bottom (I'm using Firefox on Mac Snow Leopard) on the right hand side is PhotoRadar, it does go to the new DCM site.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on January 10, 2012, 06:07:33 PM
It takes you to Digital camera world, which was Photoradar, then re-branded. 

Yes, takes them ages to update links etc, the team can't do it, and have to pay someone to do these little jobs.   ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 11, 2012, 05:06:38 PM
It's the whisky I drink.  :o

A man has died after falling into a vat of whisky at a Glenfiddich distillery in Banffshire, Scotland

Father-of-two Brian Ettles fell to his death in the 16ft wooden barrel on Saturday 7 January and drowned in the 50,000 litre tank.

Ettles was found in tank of yeast and water called 'washback.' Washback is whisky in the early stages of its production and the tanks are so large that people have been known to convert the barrels into temporary housing.

The alarm was raised at 10.40pm on Saturday 7 January as a rescue operation to try and save the 46-year-old proved unsuccessful.

The senior distillery worker had worked at the company for over 23 years, and is thought to have committed suicide just a day after his wife Irene Ettles 54th birthday celebrations.

The whisky distillery, a popular tourist spot, has been closed for two days as a mark of respect for Ettles.

A Glenfiddich spokesman said: "We decided to close as a mark of respect for the person who died. Our thoughts go out to his family."

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 12, 2012, 05:48:54 PM
Speaking of DCM, I picked up the December copy yesterday (not sure why it's still on sale). Leafing through I found some articles entitled "Create..blah, blah" Maybe it's just me but I thought, these should be entitled "FAKE blah blah blah" using Photoshop. Which brought me to another thought. Future has a specific publication for Photoshop. Why the over lap? ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 13, 2012, 08:04:36 AM
I see Martin Pratt is at it again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-16503407
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 13, 2012, 04:11:41 PM
Good to see you're singing the praises of your No tog there Alan  :D

So, WBMT? I've takne over managing my pension by transferring it into a SIPPs account.
As part of my portfolio i purchased 20,000 shares in a well known high street UK Bank.
This was part of my 'penny share allocation'  :2funny:

On Monday i might invest in 20,000 shares from another certain well known UK bank - but that might involve a slightly larger outlay- like 2p shares  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on January 15, 2012, 11:11:13 PM
Just looked at the stats for my flickr photostream. Daily views probably average out at 200 to 300ish - the event stuff and all the various dog breeds plus the camera/lens tags bump it up - todays views 10,885  ::) I think someone must have had my 10,000 plus pictures on slideshow all day! :dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Geoff I on January 17, 2012, 12:15:41 AM
Today I received a parcel in the post, last year I bought an Epson printer and filled the online registration in and filled in a questionnaire, for filling in the questionnaire I received an Epson Labelworks LW-300 printer, now that was a pleasant surprise, now what am I going to do with it.... :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on January 21, 2012, 01:59:21 PM
WBMT
Well yesterday
I dropped my work phone in some Yorkshire pudding batter!  :-[
Yes it was an accident! I was trying to do two things at once and talk on the phone while working on a machine in an commercial kitchen when it slipped from being cradled between my shoulder and head and with all the metres and metres of stainless steel worktop to fall on, it goes straight into the batter mix. I fished it out and it worked for an hour or so after I cleaned it up but has given up the ghost since - I wont get too much stick when I report that one on Monday :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 21, 2012, 10:59:21 PM
Quote from: irv_b on January 21, 2012, 01:59:21 PM
WBMT
Well yesterday
I dropped my work phone in some Yorkshire pudding batter!  :-[
Yes it was an accident! I was trying to do two things at once and talk on the phone while working on a machine in an commercial kitchen when it slipped from being cradled between my shoulder and head and with all the metres and metres of stainless steel worktop to fall on, it goes straight into the batter mix. I fished it out and it worked for an hour or so after I cleaned it up but has given up the ghost since - I wont get too much stick when I report that one on Monday :-[

   Is it completely "fritterd"?..... :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 22, 2012, 12:18:39 AM
Quote from: Graham on January 21, 2012, 10:59:21 PM
Quote from: irv_b on January 21, 2012, 01:59:21 PM
WBMT
Well yesterday
I dropped my work phone in some Yorkshire pudding batter!  :-[
Yes it was an accident! I was trying to do two things at once and talk on the phone while working on a machine in an commercial kitchen when it slipped from being cradled between my shoulder and head and with all the metres and metres of stainless steel worktop to fall on, it goes straight into the batter mix. I fished it out and it worked for an hour or so after I cleaned it up but has given up the ghost since - I wont get too much stick when I report that one on Monday :-[

   Is it completely "fritterd"?..... :2funny:

What a half baked answer! :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 22, 2012, 12:25:46 AM
Quote from: spinner on January 22, 2012, 12:18:39 AM
Quote from: Graham on January 21, 2012, 10:59:21 PM
Quote from: irv_b on January 21, 2012, 01:59:21 PM
WBMT
Well yesterday
I dropped my work phone in some Yorkshire pudding batter!  :-[
Yes it was an accident! I was trying to do two things at once and talk on the phone while working on a machine in an commercial kitchen when it slipped from being cradled between my shoulder and head and with all the metres and metres of stainless steel worktop to fall on, it goes straight into the batter mix. I fished it out and it worked for an hour or so after I cleaned it up but has given up the ghost since - I wont get too much stick when I report that one on Monday :-[

   Is it completely "fritterd"?..... :2funny:

What a half baked answer! :o

  Mr Spinner. Over here in the UK it's twenty past midnight, Iv'e just got back from a 9 hour shift photographing local bands, I'm in the proccess of uploading, tagging and backing up the pics, whilst polishing of the very best part of a rather exelent bottle of shiraz. Under the circumstaces i feel my comment was the hight of hillarity!
                  I really must go to bed!
                               Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 22, 2012, 12:33:03 AM
Quote from: Graham on January 21, 2012, 10:59:21 PM
Quote from: irv_b on January 21, 2012, 01:59:21 PM
WBMT
Well yesterday
I dropped my work phone in some Yorkshire pudding batter!  :-[
Yes it was an accident! I was trying to do two things at once and talk on the phone while working on a machine in an commercial kitchen when it slipped from being cradled between my shoulder and head and with all the metres and metres of stainless steel worktop to fall on, it goes straight into the batter mix. I fished it out and it worked for an hour or so after I cleaned it up but has given up the ghost since - I wont get too much stick when I report that one on Monday :-[

   Is it completely "fritterd"?..... :2funny:

:2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: picsfor on January 24, 2012, 04:48:36 PM
WBMT?

Finally gets to visit the local camera club for the first time.
Walks in the door and all over the notice board is stuff about some guy called Alan Abercombie going to do a presentation at the Clacton camera club.

Do i see him on the 9th as well as the 4th?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 24, 2012, 04:51:38 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 24, 2012, 04:48:36 PM
WBMT?

Finally gets to visit the local camera club for the first time.
Walks in the door and all over the notice board is stuff about some guy called Alan Abercombie going to do a presentation at the Clacton camera club.

Do i see him on the 9th as well as the 4th?
Do the first one to listen, and the second to heckle!
                  Graham. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 25, 2012, 08:59:20 AM
Quote from: Graham on January 24, 2012, 04:51:38 PM
Quote from: picsfor on January 24, 2012, 04:48:36 PM
WBMT?

Finally gets to visit the local camera club for the first time.
Walks in the door and all over the notice board is stuff about some guy called Alan Abercombie going to do a presentation at the Clacton camera club.

Do i see him on the 9th as well as the 4th?
Do the first one to listen, and the second to heckle!
                  Graham. :2funny:

My mate Vinny and his two assistants will be on hand to ensure that decorum is maintained and any potential heart attack victims are 'dealt' with!  8)

One of Vinny's assistants in the advert, the dark haired one, has many strings to his bow. Between appearing on TV and the silver screen, he found time to plaster the ceiling of the kitchen extension my daughter had done recently! My son-in-law didn't haggle too much about the price. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on February 02, 2012, 04:15:53 PM
What has bemused me today was:  an E-mail from talk Talk saying I have changed my bank details and woul I update them

Ha ha. I sent a copy of this e-mail to Talk Talk through  My own customer  suport which is actualy  tiscali

now lets see what happens.
Now way would I send  any of my bank details in an e-mail


I had one from Amazon almost identical and sent it to them ,They confirmed it wasn't from them and thanked me for sendi it on and letting them know as they could find out who was sendin them
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 02, 2012, 04:49:58 PM
Quote from: Beryl on February 02, 2012, 04:15:53 PM
What has bemused me today was:  an E-mail from talk Talk saying I have changed my bank details and woul I update them

Ha ha. I sent a copy of this e-mail to Talk Talk through  My own customer  suport which is actualy  tiscali

now lets see what happens.
Now way would I send  any of my bank details in an e-mail


I had one from Amazon almost identical and sent it to them ,They confirmed it wasn't from them and thanked me for sendi it on and letting them know as they could find out who was sendin them

..but this could lead to a beautiful friendship with a man from Nigeria!! :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on February 02, 2012, 08:12:25 PM
Ha ha . Yes ;D

I can't think that it's genuin. I loogged in and then there was a complete account update form wanting my bank number and card number ....................No way. My bank details have not changed at at all

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 03, 2012, 02:19:06 AM
Quote from: Beryl on February 02, 2012, 08:12:25 PM
Ha ha . Yes ;D

I can't think that it's genuin. I loogged in and then there was a complete account update form wanting my bank number and card number ....................No way. My bank details have not changed at at all

That is funny, I got one today from your British Telecomm asking me to update my account details. I flagged it to Hotmail as a Phishing scam.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 03, 2012, 09:14:55 AM
I usually fill them in, using a proxy server and the name Bjorn Yesterday . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on February 03, 2012, 05:49:04 PM
I sent mine  to my sin as and attachment...........He's a ploiceman  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 04, 2012, 02:38:14 PM
I visited Tate Britain on Thursday (the coffee is no longer free! :-[) and took a few pictures of an installation that took my eye.

Just been working on the pictures and realised I had forgotten the name of the artist that created it. So I rang up the information office of the gallery and explained what I wanted, since I couldn't see the artist's name on the Tate web site. "Hang on a minute mate" said the voice on the other end, "I'll see what I can find out". A couple of minutes passed so I coughed loudly as you do to let them know I was still hanging on, and he came back and said " I'm having to Google it as nobody here seems to know who it is that did it"!!!  :o :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 04, 2012, 03:07:09 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 04, 2012, 02:38:14 PM
I visited Tate Britain on Thursday (the coffee is no longer free! :-[) and took a few pictures of an installation that took my eye.

Just been working on the pictures and realised I had forgotten the name of the artist that created it. So I rang up the information office of the gallery and explained what I wanted, since I couldn't see the artist's name on the Tate web site. "Hang on a minute mate" said the voice on the other end, "I'll see what I can find out". A couple of minutes passed so I coughed loudly as you do to let them know I was still hanging on, and he came back and said " I'm having to Google it as nobody here seems to know who it is that did it"!!!  :o :knuppel2:


   Are you sure this "Instillation" was'nt just...you know... a fire extinguisher or somthing?
                 Graham. ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 04, 2012, 05:18:54 PM
Quote from: Graham on February 04, 2012, 03:07:09 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 04, 2012, 02:38:14 PM
I visited Tate Britain on Thursday (the coffee is no longer free! :-[) and took a few pictures of an installation that took my eye.

Just been working on the pictures and realised I had forgotten the name of the artist that created it. So I rang up the information office of the gallery and explained what I wanted, since I couldn't see the artist's name on the Tate web site. "Hang on a minute mate" said the voice on the other end, "I'll see what I can find out". A couple of minutes passed so I coughed loudly as you do to let them know I was still hanging on, and he came back and said " I'm having to Google it as nobody here seems to know who it is that did it"!!!  :o :knuppel2:


   Are you sure this "Instillation" was'nt just...you know... a fire extinguisher or somthing?
                 Graham. ???

It was a stair well over three floors painted in blocks of colour
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_LADY_AT_THE_WINDOW_2.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11327&fullsize=1)

There was one installation much more boring than a fire extinguisher, a 2 metre square picture by someone called Parr! :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 04, 2012, 06:00:05 PM
   

                Parr?  Pah!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: deetus on February 06, 2012, 06:32:37 PM
What bemused me today was the Queens official portrait to celebrate her 60 years on the throne. Now i'm no expert but the composition leaves a lot to be desired, my eyes were drawn to the door frame first, the wood panelling next, the Victoria monument next and then the Queen.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 06, 2012, 06:58:53 PM
Didn't realise it was an installation. I love the whole set up; the colour blocks, the depth, the picture you (ABERS) took of it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 15, 2012, 09:06:20 AM
I was at a discussion group last evening and a chap mentioned he was going on a photographic trip to the Camargue later in the year, to photograph the wild horses there, you know those pictures of a group of white horses galloping through the water, manes flying and spray everywhere.

I mentioned that back in the eighties we spent a couple of weeks on the edge of that area and search as we might there wasn't a wild horse in sight.

He said that was no bother, where he was going they arrange for a group of horses to be corralled in an area where the water was just a few inches/cms deep and when everyone was ready some distance away the horses were let go and driven towards the assembled would-be 'Wildlife' snappers to get their pictures. He said he thought the boring part would be waiting for the horses to be rounded up so they could do it all over again :o

So much for photography in the wild, it's like going on safari to the local zoo!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on February 15, 2012, 09:41:21 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 15, 2012, 09:06:20 AM
So much for photography in the wild, it's like going on safari to the local zoo!

Isn't it all a bit like that? Safaris are, in the main, tours of a particular reserve where "our 5 elephants are over there today" - but then they have been like that for decades. Soon every animal and largish bird will be tagged, named and GPS'd but then all my "wild" birds in the garden are enticed in with food - and if we go 'toggling somewhere it's usually to a spot where there's a hide and wildlife is fed and protected

Personally I dislike wildlife put on display (zoos, etc) and outrageously commercially exploited (Gigrin, etc) but I might still play the hypocrite and visit - and it's all a question of degree at the end of the day
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 15, 2012, 12:09:25 PM
Most of bird shots are taken whilst walking my dog along our very non scenic part of the Nene Way. It's just an area of rough land with some pretty big lakes on it, nothing has been done to attract  birds so the4 ones you see are simply those that choose to fly in. When you actually take the time to look it's amazing how many different birds you can spot and try to photograph. The end results photographically might not be award winning [!] but there's a sense of achievement when you finally manage to get a new and hard to capture bird!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 15, 2012, 12:49:14 PM


    I feel the same about those "Come and take pics of birds of prey." type places.
    An exelent way to hone your skills maybe, but other than that, not for me.
                           Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on February 17, 2012, 08:11:16 AM
Quote from: Markulous on February 15, 2012, 09:41:21 AM
Safaris are, in the main, tours of a particular reserve where "our 5 elephants are over there today" - but then they have been like that for decades. Soon every animal and largish bird will be tagged, named and GPS'd but then all my "wild" birds in the garden are enticed in with food - and if we go 'toggling somewhere it's usually to a spot where there's a hide and wildlife is fed and protected

Some people here know I once spent an instructive week in a van in the Masai Mara with Andy Rouse.  We were watching cheetahs and occasionally they would kill stuff.  Etiquette (and self interest) said that we had to radio all the other vans to bring their tourists in to watch.  Etiquette again says that they can't go any closer to the cheetahs than any van that's there before them so we always had the best view.

After 4 - 5 days of this, one of the guys cornered me in the bar and said "how come every time something happens with those cheetahs you're there first?".  I said "what did you do today?"  He described life "on safari" - up at 8ish for a dip in the pool before it got too hot, leisurely breakfast and morning game drive at about 10:30, back for 12:30 and lunch, siesta, game drive at 3 and then back for cocktails and maybe a nigh drive if they were feeling adventurous.

"That's why then....".  I'd be up at 4, out by 4:30 while it was still dark, drive over to where we saw the cheetahs the night before, hope they were still there (if not then spend a good couple of hours looking for them), spend an hour in the morning light taking portraits then settle down in the van for 5 hours or so, eating leftovers from the day before and hurriedly packed cold food.  About 2 or 3 the cheetahs may start to move and you'd watch them stalk prey.  Often they would fail and wouldn't even run.  Occasionally they would single out an animal and make a run for it.  Then you hang on while the van frantically tries to keep pace.  Cheetahs lose about 60% of the races against prey so the odds are they won't kill.  If they do you get as close as you dare and then call the tourists in.  Either way, you sit in the van until an hour after dark when they are asleep to make sure you can probably find them next day.  Then you head back to the camp to clean the cameras, eat and crack open a beer while idiots accost you in the bar.

I think we both enjoyed out holidays :)

BTW the plan was for Andy to get pictures of cheetahs running.  While I was there he didn't manage it.  He spent a month or so trying.  Apparently you can go to a "reserve"  in the US and hire cheetahs.  For many dollars they will run them at full speed for you a couple of times.  But what's the point?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: greypoint on February 17, 2012, 04:43:14 PM
I suppose the point would be if you had a publication which wanted a picture of cheetahs running for a particular reason/article/book etc. and you were being paid lots of money to get one  ;) I suppose to some degree the same could be said for lots of set up photo shoots if you think about it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on February 20, 2012, 01:22:58 PM
WBMT ?
Just been browsing e-bay to compare HP301 cartridges with other on line sellers and cant believe the amount of empty cartridges that are up for sale on there, and the amount of people actually bidding for them  :o
I normally ship my empties off to a charity or a recycle scheme.
Why is there so much interest in empty carts??
Surely refilling your own aint that popular now is it ?

Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 20, 2012, 01:44:29 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on February 20, 2012, 01:22:58 PM
WBMT ?
Just been browsing e-bay to compare HP301 cartridges with other on line sellers and cant believe the amount of empty cartridges that are up for sale on there, and the amount of people actually bidding for them  :o
I normally ship my empties off to a charity or a recycle scheme.
Why is there so much interest in empty carts??
Surely refilling your own aint that popular now is it ?

Alf

   Re-selling as genuine maybe? >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 23, 2012, 09:04:40 AM
More saddened really, hearing of the death of Frank Carson, a comedian of the old school, someone who had you laughing from beginning to end. I was introduced to him in the late '90's and thanked him for all the enjoyment he had given me over the years, his immediate response was, "Hold tight, hopefully there's many more years to come".

I was at an end of season motorsport dinner and there was a queue of guests booking in at the hotel reception and then Frank came in at the end of the line to book in as well. He immediately started entertaining the queue and had the whole reception in stitches, so much so the receptionists took even longer with each customer. Frank kept his place in the queue as the real gentleman he was.

Another good 'un gone. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 23, 2012, 09:31:47 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 23, 2012, 09:04:40 AM
More saddened really, hearing of the death of Frank Carson, a comedian of the old school, someone who had you laughing from beginning to end. I was introduced to him in the late '90's and thanked him for all the enjoyment he had given me over the years, his immediate response was, "Hold tight, hopefully there's many more years to come".

I was at an end of season motorsport dinner and there was a queue of guests booking in at the hotel reception and then Frank came in at the end of the line to book in as well. He immediately started entertaining the queue and had the whole reception in stitches, so much so the receptionists took even longer with each customer. Frank kept his place in the queue as the real gentleman he was.

Another good 'un gone. :(

Very true.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Soodge on February 23, 2012, 11:15:40 AM
Signatures of certain members of this forum!! (you know who you are!!!!)

:P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 23, 2012, 11:20:54 AM
Quote from: Soodge on February 23, 2012, 11:15:40 AM
Signatures of certain members of this forum!! (you know who you are!!!!)

:P

Ah yes, the personalised signatures...they can be quite off putting at first!
                  Graham.

Welcome to the Sunset Home for the Terminally Bewilderd by the way.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Soodge on February 23, 2012, 02:45:09 PM
Thanks Graham - I'm not actually new to the site. It's just been a very long time since I've posted!! I was something of a regular on the old DCM forum but work etc. yada yada yada!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on February 23, 2012, 06:01:11 PM
Quote from: Soodge on February 23, 2012, 11:15:40 AM
Signatures of certain members of this forum!! (you know who you are!!!!)

:P

dunno what you mean.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 03, 2012, 10:59:37 PM
I'm just wondering what the Surrey Constabulary will comprise when it's put out to private tender?

Will it be manned by all those 'security' people that have been around clamping cars, patrolling shopping centres or those promoted from the rank of Traffic Warden. I wonder what level of competence and commitment will be required of the operatives, will they need to understand that they serve the public not aggravate them, will they be required to have more than a couple of brain cells? For you can be sure the companies that employ them will be looking to pay as little as possible, it could be an answer to the illegal immigrant problem. Employ them and then the police will know where they all are. :legit:

Buy shares in the companies that will be tendering for the contracts, apparently they could be worth up to £3.5 billion over seven years, I'm sure there will be many MP's already on the phone to their brokers. 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on March 04, 2012, 07:59:04 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 03, 2012, 10:59:37 PM
I'm just wondering what the Surrey Constabulary will comprise when it's put out to private tender?

Will it be manned by all those 'security' people that have been around clamping cars, patrolling shopping centres or those promoted from the rank of Traffic Warden. I wonder what level of competence and commitment will be required of the operatives, will they need to understand that they serve the public not aggravate them, will they be required to have more than a couple of brain cells? For you can be sure the companies that employ them will be looking to pay as little as possible, it could be an answer to the illegal immigrant problem. Employ them and then the police will know where they all are. :legit:

Buy shares in the companies that will be tendering for the contracts, apparently they could be worth up to £3.5 billion over seven years, I'm sure there will be many MP's already on the phone to their brokers. 8)


Almost Laughable, if it wasn't such a sad way for the country to go! - More jokers in the deck :o
I am so glad I left good old Blighty when I did.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 04, 2012, 08:09:28 AM
I think you underestimate the politicos Alan, they will already own the tendering companies and be pretty sure who will be getting the contracts.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 07, 2012, 04:18:02 PM
The Darwin Awards announcement and this was number four.  :P

After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on March 08, 2012, 07:49:16 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on March 07, 2012, 04:18:02 PM
The Darwin Awards announcement and this was number four.  :P

After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:

It's like 1997 all over again.......

http://www.snopes.com/medical/asylum/crazybus.asp
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on March 08, 2012, 05:12:00 PM
Looking through the Photography Section on e.bay I came across this  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-My-Car-Cd-/280839428491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item416355998b#ht_500wt_1413
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on March 08, 2012, 06:34:37 PM
Quote from: Dave on March 08, 2012, 05:12:00 PM
Looking through the Photography Section on e.bay I came across this  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-My-Car-Cd-/280839428491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item416355998b#ht_500wt_1413

8 sold as well, (shakes head and tuts)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 08, 2012, 07:49:47 PM
Quote from: Dave on March 08, 2012, 05:12:00 PM
Looking through the Photography Section on e.bay I came across this  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-My-Car-Cd-/280839428491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item416355998b#ht_500wt_1413
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on March 08, 2012, 06:34:37 PM

8 sold as well, (shakes head and tuts)

:uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on March 08, 2012, 09:28:11 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on March 08, 2012, 07:49:47 PM
Quote from: Dave on March 08, 2012, 05:12:00 PM
Looking through the Photography Section on e.bay I came across this  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-My-Car-Cd-/280839428491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item416355998b#ht_500wt_1413
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on March 08, 2012, 06:34:37 PM

8 sold as well, (shakes head and tuts)

:uglystupid2: :uglystupid2:

A fool and his/her money are soon parted  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 07:08:23 AM
I discovered this morning that cats, well our cat at least, cannot see me if I stand still. Result.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 09, 2012, 09:27:29 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 07:08:23 AM
I discovered this morning that cats, well our cat at least, cannot see me if I stand still. Result.

It's not so much that it can't see you, more a case of ignoring you.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 10:02:04 AM
Now that's where you're wrong - he wanted to be let in through the patio doors and was franticly looking all around the room for some sappy human to open the door.

Maybe it's because I was standing in front of the stone fireplace wearing a similar coloured top . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 09, 2012, 12:19:54 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 10:02:04 AM
Now that's where you're wrong - he wanted to be let in through the patio doors and was franticly looking all around the room for some sappy human to open the door.

Maybe it's because I was standing in front of the stone fireplace wearing a similar coloured top . .
Ah no, that's where your wrong. If it was a sunny day and you have glass patio doors, he would only be able to see his own reflection, the swimming pool and the vinyard beyond.
                          Graham.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 04:32:04 PM
I trust you meant "that's where you're wrong ?  Pedant, moi?

Watch this space for catcam tomorrow morning :)

Obviously, I'll have to pretend to be the cat, so big ted will have to pretend to be me for the purposes of the demonstration.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 09, 2012, 05:43:01 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 04:32:04 PM
I trust you meant "that's where you're wrong ?  Pedant, moi?

I can not apologise enough you're absolutley correct of course....I hate it when folks do that.
                   Graham. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 09, 2012, 07:43:22 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 09, 2012, 10:02:04 AM
Now that's where you're wrong - he wanted to be let in through the patio doors and was franticly looking all around the room for some sappy human to open the door.

Maybe it's because I was standing in front of the stone fireplace wearing a similar coloured top . .

Now you didn't say you where inside with the cat outside and glass in between? If you stand back from the window then cats have a job to see you. You can even move, which they notice, but if you stop again then they are not sure it's you. At least it works with all my cats.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on March 09, 2012, 09:11:27 PM
Remember Howard, while you sleep, he is awake! He may want to take his revenge one time! :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 10, 2012, 12:18:52 AM
Quote from: irv_b on March 09, 2012, 09:11:27 PM
Remember Howard, while you sleep, he is awake! He may want to take his revenge one time! :2funny:
Oh thank you Irv. Iv'e been waiting for a chance to post this!




Make sure you have the sound on.
                Graham. :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 10, 2012, 07:00:46 AM
I've seen that clip before - very funny. The only thing that it missed is the cat licking its *rs* and then the rest of it's body before it approached the food machine for the first time.

Now here's the catcam view through the patio windows:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Catcam_P1000517.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=11498&fullsize=1)

Our current cat is the first one I've ever shared space with, but if he is representative of his species he'll definitely be the last. Although it is sooo stupid it can sometimes be funny to watch for a few minutes. But alas the constant *rs* licking, laziness, stupidity, casual cruel violence towards his prey and loyalty that lasts as long as the cat food rather overbalance the scoresheet into the negatives.  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 10, 2012, 12:05:00 PM
  What you want then, is one of these. :)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10195/normal_dcm_DSC1510.jpg)


Oh, and happy birthday/anniversary to whoever. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 10, 2012, 01:49:26 PM
Very thorough examination of the catcam shot there Graham.

The celebration is Mrs H's birthday. Champagne and home made Thai curry tonight - nom nom to the max  :tup:

Puppies are a bit chewy sometimes, it's true. Our last one used to bury ornaments in pillows - what a mess. But he always looked very pleased with himself when he'd done.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 10, 2012, 06:53:55 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 10, 2012, 01:49:26 PM
Puppies are a bit chewy sometimes, it's true.

Shouldn't overcook any meat!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 11, 2012, 12:41:52 PM
Quote from: Graham on March 10, 2012, 12:18:52 AM
Quote from: irv_b on March 09, 2012, 09:11:27 PM
Remember Howard, while you sleep, he is awake! He may want to take his revenge one time! :2funny:
Oh thank you Irv. Iv'e been waiting for a chance to post this!

<iframe width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/w0ffwDYo00Q\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Make sure you have the sound on.
                Graham. :2funny:

Except for the bat, I lived that just last night.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 17, 2012, 06:04:42 PM
Weather forecast: overcast with a possibility of light showers.
Reality: sunny followed by thunderstorms and torrential rain.

Got to love the meteorologists' grasp on the climate.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 18, 2012, 08:43:48 AM
Old habits die hard. When I was gainfully employed, before retirement, weekends off were somewhat few and far between and treasured, in as much as I didn't spend them in bed, but to make them last as long as possible, I used to get up at some unearthly hour. That seems to happen still today!

All this preamble leads me to what this post is all about. With my nice early cuppa I wandered over to the old DCM site, now PRadar, and read a few of the threads on there, one of which is entitled, "Is the Forum on a Downturn?". In amongst the posts is the old chestnut about the lack of comments on pictures.

Why do people yearn for comments on their work, I can understand if they have specifically asked for them or they need a bit of advice. But why this incessant need for their pictures to be commented on? When they are it's usually a two or three word comment comprising something like " Nice shot", "Good Composition", "Well seen", etc. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they are only made by people fishing for a quid pro quo comment on their work.

That's one thing about CC that I like, it's all pretty laid back, people put up their work, people look at it if they feel so inclined they might make a comment, but I don't get the feeling that anybody's miffed if they don't!

If you really need comments the ideal place to go is Flickr, join as many groups as you can, comment on every picture you see in those groups, and the comments on your pictures will come flooding back. They won't actually mean a thing but you'll have lots of them! ;)

Are you a "Comment Junky"?

P.S. I hope Pradar is not on a downturn, it seems to give a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. :tup:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 18, 2012, 09:25:41 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 18, 2012, 08:43:48 AM

That's one thing about CC that I like, it's all pretty laid back, people put up their work, people look at it if they feel so inclined they might make a comment, but I don't get the feeling that anybody's miffed if they don't!


That was the general idea.  I added the facility for people to add comment if they so wish, but nobody is pressured into using it.

I often wonder why people post their images on the internet.  Do they post essentially to get feedback, do they post because they've taken a image their proud of and just want to share it with others.  I would guess it would be the latter on most occasions.   

Bottom line, if you're happy with the image you've taken then that's all that matters, and if not happy with it, then it probably won't make it to the upload stage.

This brings me to:  Why do you take photographs (not you personally Alan lol. )  but anyone?

Edit:  Sorry Alan, I just had to go post on that thread you mentioned  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 19, 2012, 08:34:29 AM
Quote from: admin on March 18, 2012, 09:25:41 AM
   

Bottom line, if you're happy with the image you've taken then that's all that matters, and if not happy with it, then it probably won't make it to the upload stage.



Spot on! :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on March 19, 2012, 11:34:14 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 18, 2012, 08:43:48 AM
Old habits die hard. When I was gainfully employed, before retirement, weekends off were somewhat few and far between and treasured, in as much as I didn't spend them in bed, but to make them last as long as possible, I used to get up at some unearthly hour. That seems to happen still today!

All this preamble leads me to what this post is all about. With my nice early cuppa I wandered over to the old DCM site, now PRadar, and read a few of the threads on there, one of which is entitled, "Is the Forum on a Downturn?". In amongst the posts is the old chestnut about the lack of comments on pictures.

Why do people yearn for comments on their work, I can understand if they have specifically asked for them or they need a bit of advice. But why this incessant need for their pictures to be commented on? When they are it's usually a two or three word comment comprising something like " Nice shot", "Good Composition", "Well seen", etc. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they are only made by people fishing for a quid pro quo comment on their work.

That's one thing about CC that I like, it's all pretty laid back, people put up their work, people look at it if they feel so inclined they might make a comment, but I don't get the feeling that anybody's miffed if they don't!

If you really need comments the ideal place to go is Flickr, join as many groups as you can, comment on every picture you see in those groups, and the comments on your pictures will come flooding back. They won't actually mean a thing but you'll have lots of them! ;)

Are you a "Comment Junky"?

P.S. I hope Pradar is not on a downturn, it seems to give a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. :tup:




I upload pictures to the gallery to hopefully get some feedback good or bad plus others will learn from the comments and suggestions hopefully. If I were just after nice comments I could just show them to my Mum. No need to go to Flickr for that.

I thought the point of the front page was for our pictures. I was led to believe that was what Camera Craniums was about ' Photography'. The same thing applies to the weekly competition. When a theme is set it can get the photographer thinking technically about something they may never had tried before.  >:(    So is Camera Craniums about photography or just another chat forum ?  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 19, 2012, 12:01:38 PM
You have to admit Alan, back in the day DCM was pretty active. The longest thread, the one star wonder etc. By comparison it's pretty tame. I think the posters there may be worried it will go defunct. What was the point of the revamps? To lure in new readers? Seems a bust on that count.

This site is comfortable and relaxed. I personally post shots I'm happy with, not seeking comments (but do, please!) after all I don't know about you, but I've run out of wall space to print and hang.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on March 20, 2012, 09:50:03 AM
Quote from: Dave on March 19, 2012, 11:34:14 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 18, 2012, 08:43:48 AM
Old habits die hard. When I was gainfully employed, before retirement, weekends off were somewhat few and far between and treasured, in as much as I didn't spend them in bed, but to make them last as long as possible, I used to get up at some unearthly hour. That seems to happen still today!

All this preamble leads me to what this post is all about. With my nice early cuppa I wandered over to the old DCM site, now PRadar, and read a few of the threads on there, one of which is entitled, "Is the Forum on a Downturn?". In amongst the posts is the old chestnut about the lack of comments on pictures.

Why do people yearn for comments on their work, I can understand if they have specifically asked for them or they need a bit of advice. But why this incessant need for their pictures to be commented on? When they are it's usually a two or three word comment comprising something like " Nice shot", "Good Composition", "Well seen", etc. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they are only made by people fishing for a quid pro quo comment on their work.

That's one thing about CC that I like, it's all pretty laid back, people put up their work, people look at it if they feel so inclined they might make a comment, but I don't get the feeling that anybody's miffed if they don't!

If you really need comments the ideal place to go is Flickr, join as many groups as you can, comment on every picture you see in those groups, and the comments on your pictures will come flooding back. They won't actually mean a thing but you'll have lots of them! ;)

Are you a "Comment Junky"?

P.S. I hope Pradar is not on a downturn, it seems to give a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. :tup:




I upload pictures to the gallery to hopefully get some feedback good or bad plus others will learn from the comments and suggestions hopefully. If I were just after nice comments I could just show them to my Mum. No need to go to Flickr for that.

I thought the point of the front page was for our pictures. I was led to believe that was what Camera Craniums was about ' Photography'. The same thing applies to the weekly competition. When a theme is set it can get the photographer thinking technically about something they may never had tried before.  >:(    So is Camera Craniums about photography or just another chat forum ?  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on March 20, 2012, 10:22:09 AM
I have to admit that I crave comments on my shots good or bad as that is the way I can improve my work.

Quite often (perhaps in complacent mood) I miss aspects in an image, that a little re editing would suffice to really lift the shot.

Sometimes I think editing is never really finished on some of my better works, so comments are very useful to my development as a photographer. And it has to be said, that often it is easier to see 'a jarring in an image' when the work is not of your own, simply as it is viewed from the outside in, remembering of course that 'that jarring' may indeed be the photographers message as they are trying to speak with their photography.

What happened to that delightful portrait you removed from the Weekly comp Dave as it would have got my vote.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 20, 2012, 08:14:10 PM
It appears you can now scan and print in 3D?  ::)

http://www.dabs.com/products/hp-topshot-laserjet-pro-m275-----printer---copier---scanner-----colour---laser-7XCT.html?utm_source=retention+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email200312&utm_content=i800
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 22, 2012, 01:11:42 PM
Interesting, a bit like millionaires setting the tax rates!  ::)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17472993
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on March 22, 2012, 02:39:33 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 22, 2012, 01:11:42 PM
Interesting, a bit like millionaires setting the tax rates!  ::)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17472993

Totally agree Alan.

I cannot see an easier way of devaluing ones own work or street cred. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 22, 2012, 04:53:47 PM
  Common sense says you don't enter a competition that you've been invited to judge surely, regardless of whether the rules allow it.
                 Graham.


I was tempted to put a  :uglystupid2: in my reply, but I hav'nt heard the arguments for yet.
 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 24, 2012, 10:26:10 PM
Wondering what to photograph over the summer?

Check this out!  :P

http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 31, 2012, 02:16:50 PM
Found the fault on the Corvette. 'Seat Vertical Position Sensor Failure'. Didn't say which seat though. Good grief. Waggled the driver's seat a bit and the code cleared.

My 'Vette is almost 12 years old; if this is the level of complexity in a vehicle of such an age, what must the modern ones be like. Me, I liked Ford Cortinas Mk2 and Mk3. Those I understood. :doh:

Also, got a sharpening kit for the chainsaw. Nice set of files and guages, and no instructions. Bit of googling coming up  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 31, 2012, 06:32:16 PM
My daughter's VW Tiguan (don't know if that's what it's called there) had a sensor that let her know she had low air in her tires. Took us days to figure that one out because it never occurred to us there was such a thing.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 31, 2012, 06:50:56 PM
 Went for a walk with the dog this morning, one of the paths crosses a golf course.
So. What kind of insanity is it that makes these people actually choose to wear those ludicrous trousers?!
                   Graham. :uglystupid2: :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: bones615 on March 31, 2012, 08:16:55 PM
Just bought a 7d and found my sigma flash does not work properly. Just sent sigma an email to see if the firmware can be updated.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: John Doyle2 on April 04, 2012, 01:03:25 PM
From another site!! Worth a look.
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/hammerforum-com
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 04, 2012, 02:43:51 PM
Quote from: John Doyle2 on April 04, 2012, 01:03:25 PM
From another site!! Worth a look.
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/hammerforum-com

Absolutely marvellous. Made my day!

Nobody seems to differentiate between 'The Standard Prime' and 'Extendable Grip Hammers' though. That should ensure a long winded debate amongst hammerafficianados.  :legit:

Love the hammer gun quote at the end!

Thanks for the steer JohnDoyle2.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 04, 2012, 08:16:13 PM
Hammer? Didn't they make horror films.  :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on April 04, 2012, 09:26:44 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 31, 2012, 06:32:16 PM
My daughter's VW Tiguan (don't know if that's what it's called there) had a sensor that let her know she had low air in her tires. Took us days to figure that one out because it never occurred to us there was such a thing.
And do not forget the spare!  It may have one as well, my Highlander does.  My sensor light has been on all winter, I do not put sensors on the winter tires. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 05, 2012, 08:47:44 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 04, 2012, 08:16:13 PM
Hammer? Didn't they make horror films.  :2funny: :2funny:

Laughable ones at that, but nothing as funny as this! :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 09, 2012, 08:53:05 PM
Somehow ended up being one of 8 "artists " chosen to put on an exhibition in a church to be re-developed as yet another Leeds arts centre through their link up with a multi million pound shopping centre next door. Went to the 2nd planning meeting tonight and tried not to laugh too much. Me and a bunch of early 20 somethings. They all talk grandiose plans linking their estranged half sisters with the shopping experience/ talk about showing consumerism as the new religion etc. I say I am not an artist I like to think I am a photographer and am just taking some street shots showing small people struggling to make a living  in a big city. No sponsorship form this big development so we are expected to produce the artwork/ displays ourselves. I find it so hard not to take the leak out of pretentiousness. I have to do a written statement about me the artist - my wife made me delete the first 2 on the grounds of too much sarcasm. I look forward to trying to understand others great works whilst they admire my snaps - or not!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 10, 2012, 06:47:10 AM
 Jinky. It is your duty, as the elder statesman of the group, to stand up and tell them they are all talking &ollo£&$!
                     Graham. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 10, 2012, 08:30:45 AM
Don't worry Jinky, I'm sure the others will be able to explain to you your inner feelings and 'creative motivations' that inspired your work. :o

Nice to be invited though, congratulations. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 10, 2012, 10:20:20 AM
Millionaire tax avoiders 'shock' chancellor.

Well, Well, Well.  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 10, 2012, 05:50:14 PM
Quote from: donoreo on April 04, 2012, 09:26:44 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 31, 2012, 06:32:16 PM
My daughter's VW Tiguan (don't know if that's what it's called there) had a sensor that let her know she had low air in her tires. Took us days to figure that one out because it never occurred to us there was such a thing.
And do not forget the spare!  It may have one as well, my Highlander does.  My sensor light has been on all winter, I do not put sensors on the winter tires.

She bought it from a Chevy dealer and the sales guy was quite up front in telling us he knew absolutely nothing about VW's so he didn't spend any time showing us the features. I didn't know you could put the sensors 'on' anything. Don't have a clue how it works. I guess I should do some reading.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 10, 2012, 06:51:09 PM
Quote from: ABERS on April 10, 2012, 10:20:20 AM
Millionaire tax avoiders 'shock' chancellor.

Well, Well, Well.  :knuppel2:

Only because he could have saved himself a few bob!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on April 11, 2012, 10:49:04 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 10, 2012, 06:51:09 PM
Quote from: ABERS on April 10, 2012, 10:20:20 AM
Millionaire tax avoiders 'shock' chancellor.

Well, Well, Well.  :knuppel2:

Only because he could have saved himself a few bob!  :P

Don't you mean,  save the taxpayers a few bob  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 11, 2012, 06:59:48 PM
This on BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17667891
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 12, 2012, 04:48:43 PM
Listening to Look North whilst away in the Dales for a few days. Robbie Savage bet a Newcastle taxi driver £10 k that Newcastle would not finish in the top 4 this season. To paraphrase an ex - boss of ours I`d love it if we did and he had to pay up. Having said we would not be promoted after beating Derby (who he was hacking for then) he followed that up with us likely to be relegated last season and struggle this. We were, we were not and we have not. If it costs you £10 maybe you should realise you`d be better off as a dancer than a pundit eh Robbie! ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 13, 2012, 12:32:01 AM
Give the lad his due, he did say in yesterdays interview that he will pay up and buy  the guy his cab if they do indeed finish in the top 4.
He wont need to of course. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 13, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
Not much choice had he saying as how he was recorded on radio discussing it and the cabbie has a signed sheet promising to pay the bet. Still makes him a crap pundit though who has always had a grudge against Newcastle. I just hope we cost him dear even if the odds are against us with the run ins we have. :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on April 13, 2012, 08:59:20 PM
Jinky I hope your team does make him pay! I can't stand the bloke as far as I can see he is a know nothing, big gob who got lucky. He wasn't even a good footballer, just a guy on the field who went out to clump other players or wind them up because he wasn't as good and that was the only way he could compete with them!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 13, 2012, 11:09:21 PM
I think I've just installed the 3rd Java update this week for the Mac. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 14, 2012, 10:10:58 PM
Just seen this on the Grey's of Westminister website.  :o

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor
EXCEPTIONAL - NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world's most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors, etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order. 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024, Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups, Picture angle: 220º , Diaphragm: Automatic, Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales, Weight: 5200g, Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange, Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (?), Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60) Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.

MINT- £100000.00
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 15, 2012, 09:19:07 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 14, 2012, 10:10:58 PM
Just seen this on the Grey's of Westminister website.  :o

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor
EXCEPTIONAL - NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world's most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors, etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order. 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024, Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups, Picture angle: 220º , Diaphragm: Automatic, Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales, Weight: 5200g, Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange, Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (?), Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60) Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.

MINT- £100000.00

  Add to basket? :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: John Doyle2 on April 15, 2012, 11:31:41 AM
Yep, those filters are damn expensive! :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 15, 2012, 11:37:42 AM
Quote from: Graham on April 15, 2012, 09:19:07 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 14, 2012, 10:10:58 PM
Just seen this on the Grey's of Westminister website.  :o

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor
EXCEPTIONAL - NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world's most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors, etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order. 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024, Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups, Picture angle: 220º , Diaphragm: Automatic, Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales, Weight: 5200g, Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange, Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (?), Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60) Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.

MINT- £100000.00

  Add to basket? :)
Just pocket  money for Oldboy that.   :tup: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 19, 2012, 05:39:12 PM
This photo: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/day-and-night-in-a-single-photo/  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 19, 2012, 10:37:10 PM
Young David Cameron on the news volunteering to fly Abu Qatarda to Jordan himself. Going by past and recent government ballsups  they'd problably land in Jamaica by mistake!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on April 22, 2012, 04:33:52 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 19, 2012, 05:39:12 PM
This photo: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/day-and-night-in-a-single-photo/  :tup:

That's one cool photo-thanks for sharing !
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 24, 2012, 03:50:56 PM
Was doing a google images search for 'server' wallpaper and among the images returned was one of Selena Gomez. What???
:o :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 27, 2012, 08:51:41 AM
WBMT. Yesterday as a matter of fact.

It's strange that when anyone finds out that you have an interest in photography they insist on latching on to you and showing you streams of pictures of their family, pets, where they went on holiday last year, their mates holding up glasses of beer at someones birthday bash, the risque mooning shot that that rascal Jimmy is prone to and think is hilarious, and most of all sunset and sunrise shots from the back and front bedroom windows.

I attended a funeral of an aged relative of my wife yesterday and at the wake this chap who was her cousin some twice or thrice removed came up to me with his 'phone on which he had a long stream of pictures as listed above and which he insisted I look at, "since I was into photography".

Why is it that as soon as someone has the facility to record an image they suddenly see themselves as the next David Bailey and proceed to bore the pants off everyone, especially those that 'have an interest in photography'.

Not wanting to curb his enthusiasm, or cause a scene at the wake, I made my excuses after twenty or so minutes by pointing out that I had an urgent appointment with my optician for an acupuncture session, which by now, I was really looking forward to, oh! and by the way Uncle Bert was a bit of a photographer too, that's him over there, I'm sure he'll enjoy your portfolio. :)

I'm expecting a phone call from Bert anytime now. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 27, 2012, 05:16:01 PM
    "I had an urgent appointment with my optician for an acupuncture session"

  Thanks Alan, Ive stolen than and am going to claim it as my own!  :tup:


Anyway, WBMT?

    I was photographing a band last night (Blowzabella.), and in the interval in the backstage area*, I, a none French speaking Englishman, had the finer details of the workings of the Hurdy Gurdy explained to me by it's owner, a non English speaking Frenchman.
                            Graham. :doh:



* This is an area reserved for high flying Rock & Rollers such as myself!  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 01, 2012, 08:23:25 PM
How many pixels do you want in your camera?

http://www.space.com/15447-3-2-billion-pixel-camera-telescope-critical.html  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 02, 2012, 05:04:14 PM
Before I look, will it fit in my pocket? :idea:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 02, 2012, 07:34:44 PM
Complete rainbow.  :o

http://english.sina.com/technology/p/2012/0427/462607.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 02, 2012, 07:35:47 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 02, 2012, 05:04:14 PM
Before I look, will it fit in my pocket? :idea:

It depends how big you pocket is!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 03, 2012, 02:32:25 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 02, 2012, 07:35:47 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 02, 2012, 05:04:14 PM
Before I look, will it fit in my pocket? :idea:

It depends how big you pocket is!  :P

Unless the fella standing beside the lens is a lilliputian, I'd go with NO.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on May 04, 2012, 04:03:01 PM
Just had to clear a pigeon off the garden with its head ripped off – uuugggghhhh

What would rip a head off but leave the body intact (the head was nowhere to be found).

PS – sorry if you are eating.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 04, 2012, 04:09:57 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on May 04, 2012, 04:03:01 PM
Just had to clear a pigeon off the garden with its head ripped off – uuugggghhhh

What would rip a head off but leave the body intact (the head was nowhere to be found).

PS – sorry if you are eating.



My Cat   :( :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on May 04, 2012, 04:10:31 PM
Just possibly a cat but usually a fox.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 04, 2012, 06:53:35 PM
Foxes usually carry off and bury their prey if it is not to be immediately consumed. My guess is a domestic cat. They are often cruel and casual killers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on May 04, 2012, 07:17:39 PM
Last year our cat left a headless baby rat at the bottom off the stairs for a certain person to step onto  :doh: early one morning as he was coming down for breakfast - never did find the head!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 04, 2012, 07:24:53 PM
Use to have a cat at the club who killed mice and laid them in a line but without the heads.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 04, 2012, 07:49:44 PM
Friend of mine, used to have a tiger sized cat, that came home with half eaten rabbits that were left in the living room.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 05, 2012, 07:14:30 AM
  A vet once told me that when they bring stuff home alive and release it, its not a present. They are trying to teach you how to hunt. The cat is telling you that you are a lazy b@£t@rd and need to pull your weight around the garden!

            (http://www.jiujitsuforums.com/photos/albums/userpics/10006/untitledjm0.gif)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 05, 2012, 09:14:47 AM
Quote from: Graham on May 05, 2012, 07:14:30 AM

            (http://www.jiujitsuforums.com/photos/albums/userpics/10006/untitledjm0.gif)

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on May 05, 2012, 09:43:48 PM
Realizing how tough street photography is with a film camera and manual focus. I think it's going to have to be f16 with depth of field from here to Mars. That way I'll get something in focus!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 06, 2012, 06:38:48 PM
Drove about 20 kms. out of town last night to get some shots of the 'supermoon' Found a park in the middle of nowhere and set up my tripod. Mounted my D200 with the 50-500 mm sigma and started taking shots. Tried various iso's, f-stops and manual and auto focus.
When I got home I realized I could still see the moon from my back deck and grabbed my Sony A350 stuck a Tokina 400 mm lense and shot some pics hand held.

I think the hand held shots with the Sony turned out better that the tripod mounted Nikon.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 06, 2012, 07:32:42 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 06, 2012, 06:38:48 PM
I think the hand held shots with the Sony turned out better that the tripod mounted Nikon.  :D

D200 isn't good at lowlight photography and tends to be very noisy.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 06, 2012, 10:18:09 PM
Quote from: Dave on May 04, 2012, 04:09:57 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on May 04, 2012, 04:03:01 PM
Just had to clear a pigeon off the garden with its head ripped off – uuugggghhhh

What would rip a head off but leave the body intact (the head was nowhere to be found).

PS – sorry if you are eating.



My Cat   :( :'(


Yesterday our Cat brought home a headless pigeon and left it in our bedroom. My Wife who was obviously upset said ' How could he do that and how did he manage to get himself and the pigeon through the cat flap ? '  I quickly replied, he must of took the head of to make it fit.   ;)  She was not impressed  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 06, 2012, 11:50:31 PM
Quote from: Dave on May 06, 2012, 10:18:09 PM

Yesterday our Cat brought home a headless pigeon and left it in our bedroom. My Wife who was obviously upset said ' How could he do that and how did he manage to get himself and the pigeon through the cat flap ? '  I quickly replied, he must of took the head of to make it fit.   ;)  She was not impressed  :knuppel2:

:2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 07, 2012, 06:22:55 AM
My country of domicile committing administrative suicide by voting in an unreconstructed champagne socialist of the old school as president.

A career politician who has never run anything in his entire life and whose grasp of economics is slightly worse than that of our cat (who is a particularly stupid example from a particularly stupid species).

Sarkozy is a complete toad, but he had the good sense to spend more time and attention on his wife than on the country which meant that France had been spared the worst of the global recession; nothing mucks things up faster than an interfering political class.

Given the choice between the toad and the moron I would have chosen the toad. But as I am disenfranchised until I get joint citizenship I had no say in the matter. No taxation without representation is a phrase that seems kind of relevant here . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on May 07, 2012, 08:31:34 AM
Could be worse H
We have two morons in charge and many a toad waiting in the wings
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 07, 2012, 08:59:39 AM
That's a little unkind about the people who run your adopted country Howard. Perhaps you should rethink about dual nationality, it would seem you would only be multiplying your dissatisfaction and frustration with both national ruling classes. The Poles have the same problem here.

According to the Sunday papers, if Hollande gets in, which he has, the French elite will decamp en masse to the UK. There might be just enough room for them, but I'm sure they will miss all those holidays they enjoy throughout the year. No 'fait le pont ici' old chum.  And don't forget here "we're all in it together", not.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 07, 2012, 09:26:00 AM
I'm sort of upset for the French - as for us, well KERCHING! The Euro has already fallen around 3% since Hollande won, and I'm sure his announcement of a suite of price controls (remind you of anyone?) this morning will do nothing but help increase the value of my sterling pension further.  ;)

As for the wealthy decamping to other parts, I'm sure the real estate agents in London and Zurich are licking their lips; probably the ones in Dublin and Frankfurt too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 07, 2012, 11:42:10 AM
At least he was democratically elected unlike our present government.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 07, 2012, 12:50:59 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 06, 2012, 07:32:42 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 06, 2012, 06:38:48 PM
I think the hand held shots with the Sony turned out better that the tripod mounted Nikon.  :D

D200 isn't good at lowlight photography and tends to be very noisy.  :'(

I have to agree, I decided I'd have another go, last night. Mount the Sony on the tripod etc. It was a beautiful sunny day, clear blue sky very little cloud. Until sunset that is and then it clouded over and I couldn't even see the moon let alone photograph it.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on May 07, 2012, 01:27:30 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 07, 2012, 12:50:59 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 06, 2012, 07:32:42 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 06, 2012, 06:38:48 PM
I think the hand held shots with the Sony turned out better that the tripod mounted Nikon.  :D

D200 isn't good at lowlight photography and tends to be very noisy.  :'(

I have to agree, I decided I'd have another go, last night. Mount the Sony on the tripod etc. It was a beautiful sunny day, clear blue sky very little cloud. Until sunset that is and then it clouded over and I couldn't even see the moon let alone photograph it.  :'(

Spin, I took this old shot handheld with the Sigma 50-500 Had to throw several shots in the bin though, this was the best of the bunch.  Not brilliant, but you get the idea. lol..

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_moon5288.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 07, 2012, 03:28:28 PM
WBMT

This,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17974663

I can't imagine what is wrong with seeing if a child has grasped the fundamentals of grammar and punctuation.

Leaving it to the teachers is a bit suspect. Perhaps it's because the teachers themselves are a little lacking in this area of expertise. :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on May 07, 2012, 10:41:36 PM
As someone who has a couple of kids, all I can say is that they both had to do spellings every week and there was quiet a strong ethos of teaching grammer and the like.

As a rule, the teachers are fine - its the parents that need to be sorted out, half of them don't give a toss and don't help their own children. Hate to say it, but often the deprived areas, inner cities and the like.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 08, 2012, 05:34:14 AM
Quote from: anglefire on May 07, 2012, 10:41:36 PM
As someone who has a couple of kids, all I can say is that they both had to do spellings every week and there was quiet a strong ethos of teaching grammer and the like.

As a rule, the teachers are fine - its the parents that need to be sorted out, half of them don't give a toss and don't help their own children. Hate to say it, but often the deprived areas, inner cities and the like.

  At the school my wife teaches at (Sorry Alan...At which my wife teaches.) it's way more than half!
               Graham. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 08, 2012, 07:27:10 AM
Quote from: anglefire on May 07, 2012, 10:41:36 PM
As someone who has a couple of kids, all I can say is that they both had to do spellings every week and there was quiet a strong ethos of teaching grammer and the like.


Hmmm. I'm not quite sure what "spellings" are, and as for "grammer" there is no such word. Mrs H is also an English teacher; were I to write a sentence like that I doubt I would be allowed in the house.  ;)

The sentiment you express, however, is quite correct. Frank Field, a universally respected politician (one of maybe a few dozen in the entire world), had twice been asked to report on how to deal with bad parenting and the educational consequences: twice he has reported thoughtfully and in depth and twice been ignored. I have formed the view that if Frank Field and Ian Duncan Smith were shut in an office together, given a decent budget and the power to make changes, they could between them make a huge dent in the widespread illiteracy and entitlement culture that pervades the UK and which results in its citizens having one of the poorest social mobility rates in the developed world.

As for teachers . . it seems to me that 95% are good or better, but that they have been undermined for decades by political correctness, an ever increasing burden of largely pointless paperwork, severe restrictions on the techniques they may use to impose discipline, almost capricious changes in curricula, declining expectations, and the inability of the system to get rid of the duff 5% of their colleagues who hold everyone else back.

My goddaughter is primary school teacher in Bristol. She says that you can easily divine two distinct groups in her school. Those where the parents are actively involved, and those where they are not. Luckily the ratio is still roughly 50:50, but she wonders how long it will be before the balance tips towards the neglected group, as even during her short career so far she has remarked upon a significant and obvious decline in the population of the literate pupils who are always to be seen with a book in their possession.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 08, 2012, 10:03:40 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 08, 2012, 07:27:10 AM
As for teachers . . it seems to me that 95% are good or better, but that they have been undermined for decades by political correctness, an ever increasing burden of largely pointless paperwork, severe restrictions on the techniques they may use to impose discipline, almost capricious changes in curricula, declining expectations, and the inability of the system to get rid of the duff 5% of their colleagues who hold everyone else back.


The biggest problem is the MP's who, once they get in power, keep changing the system and making exams easier that even the thickest can pass. Very strange, as most of them went to elitist schools!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 09, 2012, 06:55:17 AM
A link from the Corvette forum showing that private parking is not safe either side of the pond . .

Joyride (http://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/corvetteblogger-queue/%5BVIDEO%5D-Parking-Lot-Owner-Takes-Customer's-Corvette-on-a-61-Mile-Joyride.php?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=). Scroll down and watch the video.

While the cat's away, the mice will play  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 09, 2012, 10:14:15 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 09, 2012, 06:55:17 AM
A link from the Corvette forum showing that private parking is not safe either side of the pond . .

Joyride (http://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/corvetteblogger-queue/%5BVIDEO%5D-Parking-Lot-Owner-Takes-Customer's-Corvette-on-a-61-Mile-Joyride.php?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=). Scroll down and watch the video.

While the cat's away, the mice will play  :o

The BBC's Watchdog did a piece on this a few years ago. In that case cars were damaged, driven all over the place and left in the street instead of secure parking as the owners had payed for.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 09, 2012, 10:44:55 AM
Yes, I saw that programme too - looks like it's the same everywhere.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on May 09, 2012, 12:06:43 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 09, 2012, 10:14:15 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 09, 2012, 06:55:17 AM
A link from the Corvette forum showing that private parking is not safe either side of the pond . .

Joyride (http://www.corvetteforum.com/articles/corvetteblogger-queue/%5BVIDEO%5D-Parking-Lot-Owner-Takes-Customer's-Corvette-on-a-61-Mile-Joyride.php?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=). Scroll down and watch the video.

While the cat's away, the mice will play  :o

The BBC's Watchdog did a piece on this a few years ago. In that case cars were damaged, driven all over the place and left in the street instead of secure parking as the owners had payed for.  >:(
Ferris Beuller's Day Off.  All I have to say :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 12, 2012, 08:40:23 AM
Listen to this phone call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xx7tPqmEwg&feature=share   :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 12, 2012, 09:00:34 AM
That is pretty much priceless. But as she is trying to put out a contract on her teachers it's lucky she is below the age of criminal responsibility :)

What bemused me today? Same as almost every morning. Between our house and town there is a new speed enforcement camera, which I am sure will be causing an accident sometime soon on its own account as most drivers suddenly halve their speed as they approach it. Anyway, that's not the bemusing bit; about half a kilometre before the new enforcement camera there is an advisory panel that flashes up your speed as you approach. Fine you might say, and I would agree, except that this panel uses radar to measure your speed, just like the enforcement camera. It can often been seen displaying a speed reading when there is nothing anywhere near it, and when approached at a constant speed the readings vary wildly.

A few days ago as I drove towards it at about 80kph it first lit up '95kph' then '71kph' and then as I got nearer it finally got it about right, '81kph'. So maybe the people who almost stop passing the enforcement camera have a got a point . . .

That was in the little Mercedes. With the Corvette it consistently under reads. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 12, 2012, 07:35:18 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 12, 2012, 09:00:34 AM
That is pretty much priceless. But as she is trying to put out a contract on her teachers it's lucky she is below the age of criminal responsibility :)

What bemused me today? Same as almost every morning. Between our house and town there is a new speed enforcement camera, which I am sure will be causing an accident sometime soon on its own account as most drivers suddenly halve their speed as they approach it. Anyway, that's not the bemusing bit; about half a kilometre before the new enforcement camera there is an advisory panel that flashes up your speed as you approach. Fine you might say, and I would agree, except that this panel uses radar to measure your speed, just like the enforcement camera. It can often been seen displaying a speed reading when there is nothing anywhere near it, and when approached at a constant speed the readings vary wildly.

A few days ago as I drove towards it at about 80kph it first lit up '95kph' then '71kph' and then as I got nearer it finally got it about right, '81kph'. So maybe the people who almost stop passing the enforcement camera have a got a point . . .

That was in the little Mercedes. With the Corvette it consistently under reads. :tup:

Try painting your car in anti-radar paint.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 12, 2012, 07:41:01 PM
Spent an hour running round the woods in Earlswood today as I kept hearing a Cuckoo, but every time I moved towards his position the sound came from another area. The first Cuckoo I've ever heard.  :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 13, 2012, 06:57:01 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 12, 2012, 07:41:01 PM
Spent an hour running round the woods in Earlswood today as I kept hearing a Cuckoo, but every time I moved towards his position the sound came from another area. The first Cuckoo I've ever heard.  :-*

  Oldboy. they'er very clever those Cuckoos...he was playing with you!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: John Doyle2 on May 14, 2012, 12:07:05 PM
Any one with an old 'Leica'. That, they want to give away?
A prototype Leica camera has sold for 2.16m euros (£1.74m), setting a new world record for a camera. Source BBC.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 14, 2012, 07:40:20 PM
Quote from: Graham on May 13, 2012, 06:57:01 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 12, 2012, 07:41:01 PM
Spent an hour running round the woods in Earlswood today as I kept hearing a Cuckoo, but every time I moved towards his position the sound came from another area. The first Cuckoo I've ever heard.  :-*

  Oldboy. they'er very clever those Cuckoos...he was playing with you!  :2funny:

Not that clever as I went back today and got this.  :2funny:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7197780086_a4b5b8a392_c.jpg?v=0) (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7197780086_97ca8825e4_o.jpg)

Click for bigger size.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 15, 2012, 06:41:56 PM
Well done Oldboy.

WBMT? Francois Hollande and God. God has had two goes at him today; first he soaked the b*gg*r to the skin during his inauguration, and then he hit his aircraft with a lightning strike.

Third time lucky God, third time lucky . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 15, 2012, 09:11:24 PM
Don't know if that was on the news here; if not, my husband will be pleased when I tell him!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 15, 2012, 09:37:56 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 14, 2012, 10:10:58 PM
Just seen this on the Grey's of Westminister website.  :o

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor
EXCEPTIONAL - NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world's most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors, etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order. 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024, Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups, Picture angle: 220º , Diaphragm: Automatic, Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales, Weight: 5200g, Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange, Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (?), Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60) Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.

MINT- £100000.00

Just found a picture of this lens with some information. http://blog.nikonians.org/archives/2012/04/nikkor_extreme.html#more  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 16, 2012, 08:42:30 AM
No wonder you can't get hold of a D800.  :doh:

The two Nikon full-frame cameras, the D800 and the D4, occupy the top two places in the full-frame category. Simple and efficient. Still, be careful: as ever, in this review we are discussing only the D800's RAW-image-based sensor results. We will follow up with DxOMark results for compatible lenses for this camera whose small pixel size promises to be very challenging.

Returning to the sensor, the D800's Overall score is the best that has ever been achieved, and its use case scores are equally impressive:   8)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 16, 2012, 10:54:18 AM
I can't get hold of one because they want more money than I  have. . . :'(

And I don't actually want one anyway, so there you go :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 16, 2012, 11:08:44 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 16, 2012, 08:42:30 AM
No wonder you can't get hold of a D800.  :doh:

The two Nikon full-frame cameras, the D800 and the D4, occupy the top two places in the full-frame category. Simple and efficient. Still, be careful: as ever, in this review we are discussing only the D800's RAW-image-based sensor results. We will follow up with DxOMark results for compatible lenses for this camera whose small pixel size promises to be very challenging.

Returning to the sensor, the D800's Overall score is the best that has ever been achieved, and its use case scores are equally impressive:   8)

Out of interest are they the sensors that Sony produce for Nikon? I seem to remember reading that Sony supply all Nikon's sensors.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 16, 2012, 04:55:59 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 15, 2012, 09:37:56 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 14, 2012, 10:10:58 PM
Just seen this on the Grey's of Westminister website.  :o

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor
EXCEPTIONAL - NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world's most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors, etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order. 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024, Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups, Picture angle: 220º , Diaphragm: Automatic, Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales, Weight: 5200g, Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange, Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (?), Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60) Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.

MINT- £100000.00

Just found a picture of this lens with some information. http://blog.nikonians.org/archives/2012/04/nikkor_extreme.html#more  :o


  It's sold for £100,000.00 to an unknown collector.


(http://blog.nikonians.org/assets_c/2012/04/fisheye-6mm2-thumb-400x608.jpg)

Oldboy?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 16, 2012, 05:12:28 PM
I was going to get it but you cannot get filters for it evidently  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 16, 2012, 05:27:24 PM
Quote from: jinky on May 16, 2012, 05:12:28 PM
I was going to get it but you cannot get filters for it evidently  ;)

  Tupperware do a lens cap for it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 16, 2012, 06:46:53 PM
If only I could afford it. :'(

Think what a wonderful photographer I would be. Would it fit on that Leica that recently sold for a couple of million or so. Then I'd be even better! 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 16, 2012, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 16, 2012, 06:46:53 PM
If only I could afford it. :'(

Think what a wonderful photographer I would be. Would it fit on that Leica that recently sold for a couple of million or so. Then I'd be even better! 8)

Don't you go spreading the idea, that it is the camera that makes the photographer!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 17, 2012, 12:16:46 PM
WBMT  ( Well recently )  A Centurion Tank has been placed next to a roundabout on one of the main roads leading to Leyland.
The Centurion Tank was built in Leyland during and after WW2 and is obviously part of our local history but must be quite a shock to strangers visiting the area.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 17, 2012, 01:47:25 PM
Don't reckon that it's a monument Dave; it's more likely to the British Army's entire ordnance depot the way successive governments have been cutting defence spending.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on May 17, 2012, 03:42:23 PM
It may help keeping potential terrorists away from Leyland... ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 17, 2012, 07:06:42 PM
Quote from: Dave on May 17, 2012, 03:42:23 PM
It may help keeping potential terrorists away from Leyland... ;D

I though it was to keep locals in order!  :knuppel2:  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 21, 2012, 09:59:57 AM
This:  :uglystupid2:

Camera giant Canon is set to inject up to £10 million to prop up retailer Jessops amid fears its turnaround is in danger of stalling, it has been reported.


The Japanese camera maker is expected to step in to help the Leicester-based chain, which operates more than 200 stores and made a loss last year, according to the Sunday Times.


Canon is prepared to pump cash into the chain, which it sees as vital to its future in the UK because customers can test goods before buying.


Jessops, Britain's only specialist nationwide camera retailer, came close to collapse three years ago but was rescued by its main lender HSBC in a controversial debt-for-equity swap that saw it taken off the stock market. The bank took a 50% stake in the business in return for writing off £34 million of loans.


But Jessops fell £12 million into the red last year on sales of £304 million.


The firm, which began life in 1935 when Frank Jessop opened his first shop in Leicester, initially reaped the rewards of the boom in digital cameras.


But it struggled when high street and internet competitors entered the market, forcing a major overhaul of the group in 2007 and a swathe of store closures before the restructuring with HSBC in 2009.


Jessops has since been revamping stores and boosting its online business as part of efforts to get the business back on track.


It has rolled out a completely new format, with a new black store frontage and so-called play tables that allow customers to look at cameras, in a move away from traditional cabinet displays.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on May 21, 2012, 10:10:23 AM
You're surprised that a single camera manufacturer wants to be able to control what cameras are seen on the high street for only £10 million?

Very very shrewd move by them.  It's nice that there will be a shop in most large towns where people can see practically any brand except Nikon.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on May 21, 2012, 10:28:08 AM
Quote from: Jonathan on May 21, 2012, 10:10:23 AM
You're surprised that a single camera manufacturer wants to be able to control what cameras are seen on the high street for only £10 million?

Very very shrewd move by them.  It's nice that there will be a shop in most large towns where people can see practically any brand except Nikon.

If you can't beat them with the product, you will have to beat them on the market! Meanwhile Nikon is expanding into the make-up business.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FKwqiAr&h=WAQEWXUeUAQHzGVgTg-ICWAYAFU73sFZrVlHKmCM8Y4Ykkg&enc=AZPi8Tqwc_R6FepOtXc9z_Ku6FKq-iM5Km_F5lrczF1pJjHiUAKsuAx2HUsZxgYp3rMZGllvIfn7C952zCPxi48i (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FKwqiAr&h=WAQEWXUeUAQHzGVgTg-ICWAYAFU73sFZrVlHKmCM8Y4Ykkg&enc=AZPi8Tqwc_R6FepOtXc9z_Ku6FKq-iM5Km_F5lrczF1pJjHiUAKsuAx2HUsZxgYp3rMZGllvIfn7C952zCPxi48i)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 21, 2012, 10:45:28 AM
This:  :uglystupid2:

http://aolbroadband.welcomescreen.aol.co.uk/video/meet-the-vampire-woman-from-guadalajara/517370119/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 21, 2012, 03:15:43 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 21, 2012, 10:45:28 AM
This:  :uglystupid2:

http://aolbroadband.welcomescreen.aol.co.uk/video/meet-the-vampire-woman-from-guadalajara/517370119/

Mother of 4?????
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 22, 2012, 09:48:16 AM
Just been watching Nick Clod giving his speech and outlining his aspirations on Social Mobility. It basically outlined the fact that most poor kids stand no chance when it comes to going up against rich kids as far as opportunity is concerned, and he and his cronies were going to set up several quangos to address the matter, making sure that social mobility is available to all, especially those with well trousered parents!

When I switched channels I noticed the Jeremy Kyle show was about to start. :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 22, 2012, 10:45:14 AM
Quangos are definitely the answer. There was a quango set up to prove that quangos work - or if there isn't there soon will be.

I went to a (direct grant) grammar school on an assisted place, like about half of my classmates. Education is at the crux of social mobility. The UK has the worst social mobility index in Europe and perhaps the werst edewkashun sistm to. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8170259/Head-teacher-forced-to-apologise-for-error-laden-report.html) Perhaps I should have run that separately through the spell checker.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 11:34:34 AM
Tony Blair's priorities in '97 were 'Education, Education, Education.'

If he had started with the nursery schools and made discipline priority number one, and demand teachers were well educated, well dressed and well behaved, he could have 'worked his way up' to primary and secondary education over the years. We'd be in a much better situation now.

In stead they made clever kids suffer, as being more intelligent than your peers is elitist. And they would make damn sure elitism would be punished and 'bred out' of the population. While educating their own kids privately, or manipulating the system to get them in a good state school.

In almost every other aspect elitism was praised, and the sports and music elite was regularly being entertained at number 10.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 22, 2012, 02:50:32 PM
Social mobility is a state of mind, in fact what does it actually mean? Does it mean the ability to earn a fortune with all the trappings that brings, does it mean the ability to mix with every stratum of life or just being happy?

Like Howard I passed the 'scholarship', later to be called the 11+, back in 1948 and attended a well established grammar school. Whether that made me socially mobile I have no idea, since I still keep in touch with some old friends that were farmed off to the secondary modern.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 03:34:57 PM
I'm not sure what the precise definition is, but as long as every individual can reach the top of his or her abilities, I think you (can) 'create' a happy person. Whether a cabinet maker or a brain surgeon.

Everyone will have to make their own life, but having learnt how to use the necessary tools to get the best performance out of them, will certainly help to make life better.

This day and age a lot of teachers, don't seem to be able to engage their pupils, and make them realise learning is not just fun, but requires a lot of hard work and boring repetitiveness, before it  pays off, in the end.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 22, 2012, 05:50:46 PM
The fall in the Facebook share price. Even faster than I expected.

All together now: Facebook, what's it really worth? Absolutely nothing . .

OK, not quite that little, but pretty close.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 06:02:54 PM
It never appealed to me, does that mean I can spot a lame duck? (Or whatever the expression is.) Even before it's lame?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 22, 2012, 06:10:18 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 03:34:57 PM
I'm not sure what the precise definition is, but as long as every individual can reach the top of his or her abilities, I think you (can) 'create' a happy person. Whether a cabinet maker or a brain surgeon.

Everyone will have to make their own life, but having learnt how to use the necessary tools to get the best performance out of them, will certainly help to make life better.

This day and age a lot of teachers, don't seem to be able to engage their pupils, and make them realise learning is not just fun, but requires a lot of hard work and boring repetitiveness, before it  pays off, in the end.
This day and age teachers don`t get the chance to push hard work and repetitiveness. OFSTED inspectors forget their own teaching practice and expect  teachers to be outstanding and general populace bang on about failing standards and how schools should do everything from instilling right and wrong to delivering high grades consistently no matter what the calibre of pupil. I`m glad my wife got out of it because it was crushing her and her passion for delivering languages amidst changing government initiatives and paperwork/plans over personality and p[positive engagement. Knowing one or two inspectors who were probably the worst teachers I know - delivering appalling stuff in cloistered private education establishments with less than 20 in a class and then judging state school teachers working with 30+ kids in a group of mixed abilities I wonder what happened to their own recollections of teaching delivery. If the money that went into supposedly ensuring standards went to the front line of teaching we might see the improvements people want through smaller classes and more happily engaged students. Same argument as managers in the health service I suppose! My wife`s old school became a trendy new academy against the will of staff and majority of parents on the promise of £500 k of new money. 6 months on none of the departments have seen any new money for needed equipment / books etc because "our debts as a school were bigger than I thought" according to the head. Her shiny brand new sports car standing in the reserved spot suggests she at least saw a salary increase.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 22, 2012, 06:11:16 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 22, 2012, 05:50:46 PM
The fall in the Facebook share price. Even faster than I expected.

All together now: Facebook, what's it really worth? Absolutely nothing . .

OK, not quite that little, but pretty close.
With the stuff I write and put on there the shares should be going through the roof - cannot understand it and regret buying 500,000 now!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 22, 2012, 06:45:29 PM
Quote from: jinky on May 22, 2012, 06:10:18 PM
Her shiny brand new sports car standing in the reserved spot suggests she at least saw a salary increase.

It was ever thus!  >:(

It reminds me of the boards of limited companies, who would suggest to the shareholders, that the offer on the table was the best deal for all. As they stood to receive large cash awards plus a nice job with the takeover company, can we really believe what they say.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 22, 2012, 06:47:22 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 22, 2012, 05:50:46 PM
The fall in the Facebook share price. Even faster than I expected.

All together now: Facebook, what's it really worth? Absolutely nothing . .

OK, not quite that little, but pretty close.


Quote from: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 06:02:54 PM
It never appealed to me, does that mean I can spot a lame duck? (Or whatever the expression is.) Even before it's lame?

It was just hype with no substance!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2012, 07:09:02 PM
Quote from: jinky on May 22, 2012, 06:10:18 PM
This day and age teachers don`t get the chance to push hard work and repetitiveness.

I'd forgotten the red tape, thinking of my own schooldays. Teachers could simply teach in those days, even in large classes. Pupils were well behaved and did as they were told. We were not allowed 'free expression,'  had to do that in our spare time. No one ever questioned it.

And of course we were taught the core subjects, including three foreign languages.
Citizenship, racial awareness, how to use cutlery, social skills, personal hygiene etc etc did not have to be taught by teachers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 24, 2012, 09:42:35 AM
One of THESE (http://images04.olx.fr/ui/2/17/49/31980849_1.jpg) going the wrong way around one of the main roundabouts in town this morning  :knuppel2:. It's a Voiture Sans Permis - a little car you can drive without a licence, usually owned and run by banned drunk drivers or really old rural people who never bothered to get a licence. The French call them yoghurt pots, we call them ant cars. :)

Everyone was very calm, or maybe just gobsmacked; there was no honking or gesturing, just trying to get out of the way  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 24, 2012, 09:56:36 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 24, 2012, 09:42:35 AM
One of THESE (http://images04.olx.fr/ui/2/17/49/31980849_1.jpg) going the wrong way around one of the main roundabouts in town this morning  :knuppel2:. It's a Voiture Sans Permis - a little car you can drive without a licence, usually owned and run by banned drunk drivers or really old rural people who never bothered to get a licence. The French call them yoghurt pots, we call them ant cars. :)

Everyone was very calm, or maybe just gobsmacked; there was no honking or gesturing, just trying to get out of the way  8)

You`ll have to give me driving tips if I end up down your way! I thought the French could handle roundabouts and not always giving way to the right now. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on May 24, 2012, 12:50:12 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 24, 2012, 09:42:35 AM
One of THESE (http://images04.olx.fr/ui/2/17/49/31980849_1.jpg) going the wrong way around one of the main roundabouts in town this morning  :knuppel2:. It's a Voiture Sans Permis - a little car you can drive without a licence, usually owned and run by banned drunk drivers or really old rural people who never bothered to get a licence. The French call them yoghurt pots, we call them ant cars. :)

Everyone was very calm, or maybe just gobsmacked; there was no honking or gesturing, just trying to get out of the way  8)

Perhaps it was driven by a retired Brit with a damp seat (half way round)  :D :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 25, 2012, 06:36:28 AM
Hearing the name 'Harriet Harman' and the word 'culture' in the same sentence.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 25, 2012, 08:08:46 AM
The Scottish Indepedance campaign is launched today. Why don't us Sassenachs get a say. The yes vote would walk it. 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 25, 2012, 09:00:34 AM
Quote from: ABERS on May 25, 2012, 08:08:46 AM
The Scottish Indepedance campaign is launched today. Why don't us Sassenachs get a say. The yes vote would walk it. 8)

As long as we can get rid of all the Scottish descendant MP's in the House of Commons!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 25, 2012, 10:37:16 PM
From New Scientist... :doh:

After overindulging in berries, flocks of cedar waxwings flew drunkenly to their doom. That's the conclusion of a new report in the Journal of Ornithology.

Cedar waxwings have evolved to live on a diet that averages 84 per cent fruit. But those evolutionary innovations backfired on several occasions between 2005 and 2007 when flocks of them died after crashing into windows and fences in broad daylight in the Los Angeles area.

Residents puzzled by the deaths sent the bodies to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in San Bernardino. Necropsies performed by Hailu Kinde and colleagues at the lab showed the birds had been healthy when they gorged on berries from the Brazilian pepper tree, then died from ruptured livers or other traumas caused by the collisions.

Flocking hell

Cedar waxwings have the most fruit-rich diet of all North American birds, and dining on overripe berries can leave them visibly tipsy. Their short intestines can process large volumes of fruit, and their large livers – about 5 per cent of body mass – can break down toxic ethanol before it causes serious damage.

Yet although earlier studies had found isolated birds that had died from collisions when flying drunk, no one had seen whole flocks careen to their doom.

Now Kinde and colleagues report that the downfall of the flocks came from eating too many berries. Lacking a crop – the expandable pouch near the throat used to store food – waxwings stow meals in a distensible oesophagus. "When the fruit stays in the oesophagus, it ferments and produces ethanol," says Kinde.

The waxwings had ingested so many berries that their large livers "could not keep up with the alcohol produced by the fermentation", with ethanol concentration as high as 1000 parts per million. By the time they finished stuffing themselves with berries, they were too drunk to fly safely.

Journal reference: Journal of Ornithology (DOI: 10.1007/s10336-012-0858-7).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 26, 2012, 07:25:17 AM
Many moons ago I used to call on a dried fruit importer that received large cartons of currants and sultanas from lord knows where and repackaged them into the handy packs that you see in the supermarkets.

The empty cartons were flattened and stored in the open ready for disposal. Inevitably there were sultanas and currants still sticking to them which was a source of food for sparrows and starlings that congregated in large numbers to take advantage of the free feast.

In the summer during hot spells the fruit started to smell a bit 'winey' and begin to ferment. It was a source of amusement to see birds that had partaken of the fruit flapping around on the ground trying to take off, obviously completely off their heads.

The local moggies had caught on to what was happening and took advantage of the situation. A bit like muggers taking advantage of drunken revellers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on May 29, 2012, 05:47:07 PM
Just had an email from a recruitment agency asking if I would be interested in a role in Gosport, Hampshire for a 3 to 6 month contract – this is the job that I am currently doing and have been asked to leave at the end of this month because they do not need me anymore  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 29, 2012, 05:51:51 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on May 29, 2012, 05:47:07 PM
Just had an email from a recruitment agency asking if I would be interested in a role in Gosport, Hampshire for a 3 to 6 month contract – this is the job that I am currently doing and have been asked to leave at the end of this month because they do not need me anymore  ???

Very interesting? Perhaps you should say yes to the agency.  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: WillyP on May 30, 2012, 03:59:59 AM
CameraSim simulates a digital SLR camera - SLR Photography Demystified (http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 30, 2012, 03:08:00 PM
Quote from: WillyP on May 30, 2012, 03:59:59 AM
CameraSim simulates a digital SLR camera - SLR Photography Demystified (http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/)

Afraid I don't get the point. I have a camera sim, it's called a DSLR. I can do all the same things and I can take outside.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 30, 2012, 04:56:45 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 30, 2012, 03:08:00 PM
Quote from: WillyP on May 30, 2012, 03:59:59 AM
CameraSim simulates a digital SLR camera - SLR Photography Demystified (http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/)

Afraid I don't get the point. I have a camera sim, it's called a DSLR. I can do all the same things and I can take outside.  ;)

Yes, but can you keep taking pictures of a little girl without been arrested?  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: WillyP on May 30, 2012, 08:38:29 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 30, 2012, 03:08:00 PM
Quote from: WillyP on May 30, 2012, 03:59:59 AM
CameraSim simulates a digital SLR camera - SLR Photography Demystified (http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/)

Afraid I don't get the point. I have a camera sim, it's called a DSLR. I can do all the same things and I can take outside.  ;)

And you get to keep the pictures too.  :uglystupid2: 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 31, 2012, 05:38:38 AM
   It's a good quick learning tool for those wanting to learn the relationship between apertures, shuttertspeeds and ISO, don't you think?
                      Graham. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 31, 2012, 07:47:47 AM
Quote from: michaelb104 on May 29, 2012, 05:47:07 PM
Just had an email from a recruitment agency asking if I would be interested in a role in Gosport, Hampshire for a 3 to 6 month contract – this is the job that I am currently doing and have been asked to leave at the end of this month because they do not need me anymore  ???

Sounds like a prayer answered. Will probably mean (I guess here) another stint in a hotel, but that's better than doing nothing.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 01, 2012, 11:26:33 AM
Quote from: Graham on May 31, 2012, 05:38:38 AM
   It's a good quick learning tool for those wanting to learn the relationship between apertures, shuttertspeeds and ISO, don't you think?
                      Graham. :tup:

In a word? No.

100 yrs ago when we were all stuck with film perhaps. It's a decade or two too late. It's a programming exorcise, a brilliant one, but not competition for real world practice. I feel a rant coming on, so I'll bite my fingers and stop. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 04, 2012, 11:15:27 AM
In spite of 'not going there,' I did enter the comp on the other site, just to make up the numbers. There were only four entries. A very poor show.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 05, 2012, 09:21:28 PM
Just had my annual eye exam. According to the eye doctor I have not glaucoma, yet. Her words. However, my eyesight has improved. Why does this bemuse me? Spent the weekend cottaging trying to photo the local wildlife. 75 % of my shots were blurry crap. They looked sharp in the viewfinder but weren't. Oh, she did say I need reading glasses now???? ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on June 05, 2012, 09:26:05 PM
Quote from: spinner on June 05, 2012, 09:21:28 PM
Just had my annual eye exam. According to the eye doctor I have not glaucoma, yet. Her words. However, my eyesight has improved. Why does this bemuse me? Spent the weekend cottaging trying to photo the local wildlife. 75 % of my shots were blurry crap. They looked sharp in the viewfinder but weren't. Oh, she did say I need reading glasses now???? ???


Think you need to know ' Cottaging ' has a different meaning over here  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 05, 2012, 10:20:51 PM
Quote from: Dave on June 05, 2012, 09:26:05 PM
Quote from: spinner on June 05, 2012, 09:21:28 PM
Just had my annual eye exam. According to the eye doctor I have not glaucoma, yet. Her words. However, my eyesight has improved. Why does this bemuse me? Spent the weekend cottaging trying to photo the local wildlife. 75 % of my shots were blurry crap. They looked sharp in the viewfinder but weren't. Oh, she did say I need reading glasses now???? ???


Think you need to know ' Cottaging ' has a different meaning over here  ;D

:-[ :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 06, 2012, 06:58:42 AM
A lot of my wildlife shots are blurry cr*p as well. That's because of me and my cheap long lenses. But mainly me.

I wonder what cottaging means in Canada?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 06, 2012, 07:37:12 AM
This Joanna Foreigner does not know the meaning either. She'll find out discreetly though, as she fears it might be embarrassing, if she asks for an explanation on line.

She thinks in Cnanada it might mean 'spending time in a second home/cottage.'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 06, 2012, 08:46:34 AM
I expect the Canadians have got it arse about face! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 06, 2012, 08:59:05 AM
You'd think that Kylie Minogue being family would have given us some tickets to the Jubilee concert, wouldn't you.  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 06, 2012, 09:07:49 AM
I always laugh remembering one of the few funny lines in that WI series that had Jennifer Saunder`s in. Having had a friend explain to her it was something else entirely to go "dogging" ,rather than her just being out for a walk in the country with her dogs chasing rabbits, she thanked them for putting her right. "Thank God  you told me that before I go cottaging with friends at the weekend" she said. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 06, 2012, 12:44:23 PM
Quote from: Dave on June 05, 2012, 09:26:05 PM
Quote from: spinner on June 05, 2012, 09:21:28 PM
Just had my annual eye exam. According to the eye doctor I have not glaucoma, yet. Her words. However, my eyesight has improved. Why does this bemuse me? Spent the weekend cottaging trying to photo the local wildlife. 75 % of my shots were blurry crap. They looked sharp in the viewfinder but weren't. Oh, she did say I need reading glasses now???? ???


Think you need to know ' Cottaging ' has a different meaning over here  ;D

Oh, something rude??
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 06, 2012, 12:51:04 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 06, 2012, 06:58:42 AM
A lot of my wildlife shots are blurry cr*p as well. That's because of me and my cheap long lenses. But mainly me.

I wonder what cottaging means in Canada?

It means going and staying at a cottage, as opposed to a hotel, or a friends house and generally involves a domicile that is rough, rustic, secluded or any combination of. No sex please we're Canadian.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 06, 2012, 12:52:22 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on June 06, 2012, 07:37:12 AM
This Joanna Foreigner does not know the meaning either. She'll find out discreetly though, as she fears it might be embarrassing, if she asks for an explanation on line.

She thinks in Cnanada it might mean 'spending time in a second home/cottage.'

Yeah, that!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 06, 2012, 12:58:49 PM
Quote from: jinky on June 06, 2012, 09:07:49 AM
I always laugh remembering one of the few funny lines in that WI series that had Jennifer Saunder`s in. Having had a friend explain to her it was something else entirely to go "dogging" ,rather than her just being out for a walk in the country with her dogs chasing rabbits, she thanked them for putting her right. "Thank God  you told me that before I go cottaging with friends at the weekend" she said. ;D

"dogging" - following someone closely? ??? :-[

Oh you Brits,  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 06, 2012, 03:59:38 PM
I had come across the term 'dogging,' but my vocabulary is now enriched with 'cottaging' as well. The things you learn on a supposedly decent photo site!

'You Brits' indeed! I'm no longer an Innocent Abroad!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 06, 2012, 05:00:09 PM
Ok. If you really want to know, all the details are here.

                          http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cottaging

  Explore the rest of the site at your own risk!................I could spend hours there.

                    Graham. :legit:










                     
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 06, 2012, 05:28:10 PM
Quote from: Graham on June 06, 2012, 05:00:09 PM
Ok. If you really want to know, all the details are here.

                          http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cottaging

  Explore the rest of the site at your own risk!................I could spend hours there.

                    Graham. :legit:

And I thought it was cheesy!  :uglystupid2:










                   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 06, 2012, 05:37:45 PM
Quote from: Graham on June 06, 2012, 05:00:09 PM
Ok. If you really want to know, all the details are here.

                          http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cottaging

  Explore the rest of the site at your own risk!................I could spend hours there.

                    Graham. :legit:










                   

Any 'port' in a storm I guess.  :legit: :legit:

I will never be able to go to a rustic, rural, rough establishment again without thinking of it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on June 06, 2012, 06:12:26 PM
Quote from: Graham on June 06, 2012, 05:00:09 PM
Ok. If you really want to know, all the details are here.

                          http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cottaging

  Explore the rest of the site at your own risk!................I could spend hours there.

                    Graham. :legit:
               
Well, that is different.  The term cottaging does get used a lot here.   To us Canadians a cottage is a second house (large or small) to visit on weekends and vacations.   Americans would call it a cabin.  I will be going to the cottage this weekend myself.     
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 06, 2012, 07:14:15 PM
" "dogging" - following someone closely? ??? :-["

  Err not quite - check it out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogging_(sexual_slang)

So if you are ever staying in a  cottage in the UK with  your dog - watch what you say about what you are doing or you could make new friends you never dreamed of! ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 07, 2012, 08:17:11 AM
Fancy a trip to the Olympics? Why not take the family to the opening and closing ceremonies? Start saving now!


From the BBC website.

"On Friday, further tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and six sports will go on sale.

Ceremony tickets start from £995. Tickets for the other sports - athletics, swimming, football at Wembley, volleyball, table tennis and boxing - range from £20 to £720, across 96 sessions."


:-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 07, 2012, 10:46:52 AM
So glad I'm not in the least interested!

Wished we never 'won' the Olympics; there seems to be no escape.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on June 07, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 07, 2012, 08:17:11 AM
Fancy a trip to the Olympics?


Nope, and I don't fancy it taking over my TV screen for 2 wks either.  >:( Time to catch up on my reading.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 07, 2012, 04:10:49 PM
Quote from: spinner on June 07, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 07, 2012, 08:17:11 AM
Fancy a trip to the Olympics?


Nope, and I don't fancy it taking over my TV screen for 2 wks either.  >:( Time to catch up on my reading.

Couldn't agree more. Luckily I still have 4 books from A Song of Ice and Fire and to get through, not to mention a couple of Jules Verne and a Cormack McCarthy . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 07, 2012, 04:24:48 PM
The whole thing is starting to annoy me already. O2 having to change their name for a bit because BT have the sponsor rights, the world number 1 for GB Taekwondo not being in the team through some selection bias, charging for areas that were stated to be free initially, charging such high prices, lousy ticketing systems and the overall cost when people are losing their jobs and livelihoods daily. In a moment of madness I bought my one cheap ticket to watch some nonentities playing football at my beloved St James` Park in August (no not the Sports Direct Arena! >:() Wish I had not bothered really. No doubt I`l look in on the odd event on TV but guessing i`ll be bored with it all within a day or two.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 07, 2012, 04:54:53 PM
  Have I missed something?...Olympics....Where..when!?  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 08, 2012, 09:24:46 AM
What bemused me, is to see how many views (well ... eight to be precise) my entry for the competition has had.

Is it the title, the 'leggy blonde' bit, or the obvious symbolism?

Any psychiatrists among us?

Edit: It's not my competition entry anymore; I changed my mind.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 08, 2012, 09:44:36 AM
Since I installed the antispammer system about a year ago, it says,

"51362 Spammers blocked up until today"

Hope they were all spammers, lol...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 08, 2012, 11:23:56 AM
A new record set - more than 3 weeks for me to find number 5 camera  spare battery and my case with 4 CF cards I did not need on holiday in Venice. Seems I stash things like these and credit cards etc in safe places when i go on holiday and format my brain before I get back meaning I have no clue where I left them! Damn that secret little zipper compartment on one of my bags I always forget it has! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 08, 2012, 11:31:42 AM
Quote from: jinky on June 08, 2012, 11:23:56 AM
A new record set - more than 3 weeks for me to find number 5 camera  spare battery and my case with 4 CF cards I did not need on holiday in Venice. Seems I stash things like these and credit cards etc in safe places when i go on holiday and format my brain before I get back meaning I have no clue where I left them! Damn that secret little zipper compartment on one of my bags I always forget it has! ::)

You're in good company Paul. Both my husband and my best (male) friend, suffer the same form of memory loss. It hasn't happened to me yet. Or maybe I've forgotten all about it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 08, 2012, 03:03:46 PM
Canon have launched a DSLR with a touchscreen. Presumably it is nose operated  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 08, 2012, 03:31:10 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 08, 2012, 03:03:46 PM
Canon have launched a DSLR with a touchscreen. Presumably it is nose operated  :legit:

Yes I thought that too ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 08, 2012, 07:20:37 PM
My telly is playing up. There seem to be lots overpaid men running randomly around chasing plastic balls on most of the channels for some strange reason.

Is it something to do with the 'lympics?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 08, 2012, 09:38:15 PM
On our recent break, hubby couldn't 'work' the telly. Bliss!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 09, 2012, 10:38:25 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on June 08, 2012, 09:38:15 PM
On our recent break, hubby couldn't 'work' the telly. Bliss!

My wife used to always tell me off for testing  the TV as my first action on arriving in any hotel room. Once we were staying in a standard room at a swanky hotel and I found that the aerial was faulty with wiring loose which I could not fix with my penknife. Mentioned it at reception and whilst we were at dinner they moved us to the best four poster room in the whole hotel that would have been three times the cost and gave us a free bottle of wine with dinner. She never says anything now when I jokingly check the TV works - shame is it has never happened again. have to get the pen knife out I guess  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 09, 2012, 11:08:49 AM
Quote from: jinky on June 09, 2012, 10:38:25 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on June 08, 2012, 09:38:15 PM
On our recent break, hubby couldn't 'work' the telly. Bliss!

My wife used to always tell me off for testing  the TV as my first action on arriving in any hotel room. Once we were staying in a standard room at a swanky hotel and I found that the aerial was faulty with wiring loose which I could not fix with my penknife. Mentioned it at reception and whilst we were at dinner they moved us to the best four poster room in the whole hotel that would have been three times the cost and gave us a free bottle of wine with dinner. She never says anything now when I jokingly check the TV works - shame is it has never happened again. have to get the pen knife out I guess  ;)


We had the same sort of experience once, when we had problems with dinner; cold and greasy plates. It was a THF hotel in Scotland, and we said something about not really looking forward to our next stay in the next town on our itinerary.
When we arrived there the next day, we'd been given the bridal suite!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 10, 2012, 10:39:22 PM
Stuck for idea on how to photograph people?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/blasted-with-air_n_1527161.html?ref=arts
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on June 11, 2012, 07:38:11 PM
They unblocked Flickr and CC this afternoon.  Or the filter is down.  Who knows.   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 13, 2012, 08:35:33 AM
Now that my garden is totally soaked after a couple of weeks of incessant rain, Thames Water are to announce that I can use my hosepipe again!

Give it a week to dry out before I can get on the soil again and I expect the hosepipe ban will be re-introduced.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 13, 2012, 09:53:10 AM
Now that my garden is totally soaked after a couple of weeks of incessant rain, my water company are adamant it's still a drought and I still I can't use my hosepipe!

In case anybody is interested.....that means instead of 4 minutes standing in a greenhouse watering tomatoes every day, I spend 10 minutes standing in the rain filling cans from the overflowing water buts to do the same.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 13, 2012, 11:04:37 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 13, 2012, 09:53:10 AM
Now that my garden is totally soaked after a couple of weeks of incessant rain, my water company are adamant it's still a drought and I still I can't use my hosepipe!

In case anybody is interested.....that means instead of 4 minutes standing in a greenhouse watering tomatoes every day, I spend 10 minutes standing in the rain filling cans from the overflowing water buts to do the same.

I'm surprised a man of your talent hasn't brought one of those pumps, worked by a electric drill, attach to a hose with one end in the waterbutt and the other end spraying over the toms.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on June 14, 2012, 01:16:18 AM
Quote from: donoreo on June 11, 2012, 07:38:11 PM
They unblocked Flickr and CC this afternoon.  Or the filter is down.  Who knows.
Working again :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 14, 2012, 10:26:35 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 13, 2012, 11:04:37 PM
Quote from: Jonathan on June 13, 2012, 09:53:10 AM
Now that my garden is totally soaked after a couple of weeks of incessant rain, my water company are adamant it's still a drought and I still I can't use my hosepipe!

In case anybody is interested.....that means instead of 4 minutes standing in a greenhouse watering tomatoes every day, I spend 10 minutes standing in the rain filling cans from the overflowing water buts to do the same.

I'm surprised a man of your talent hasn't brought one of those pumps, worked by a electric drill, attach to a hose with one end in the waterbutt and the other end spraying over the toms.  :doh:

Far simpler just to wait until dark.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on June 16, 2012, 03:42:12 PM
  I've just bought one of those "BlackBerry" mobile telephone devices (The Bakelite on my old one was starting to crumble.).
  Amongst other wonderful things, I am suposed to be able to conect to the emails on my home PC...Bu&&erd if I can find out how!
              Yours. Bedecked in bemused befuddlement.  Graham.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 16, 2012, 04:35:19 PM
The Blackberry device stores where your PC is located so that you can find which room it is in and go there and see how many emails are on it! I don't know I'm sure! ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on June 16, 2012, 08:12:08 PM
Shameful graham ;)! My wife who is even more of a techno phobe than me worked that one out herself the other day  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 16, 2012, 09:30:40 PM
Quote from: irv_b on June 16, 2012, 08:12:08 PM
Shameful graham ;)! My wife who is even more of a techno phobe than me worked that one out herself the other day  ;D

Yes, but be fair he is also very very old!  :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 17, 2012, 06:46:09 AM
I just use 'cloud' based email so I can access emails on no matter what gizmo thingy happens to be at hand.

On the other hand, I remember the thoughts of a solicitor I used to know who said that emails and faxes (we're going back a ways here) were simply letters delivered by electronic means, and he put them in the same pile as the stuff from the mail. Just because they were electronic did not make them urgent. So pick up your emails when you get home :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 20, 2012, 10:24:26 PM
There was a knock on the door this morning. I opened it to find a young man standing there who said:  "Hello sir,
I'm a Jehovah's Witness .I said "Come in and sit down." I offered him coffee and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
He said, "Buggered if I know, I've never got this far before. :o

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 26, 2012, 11:02:29 AM
Yet another reason to avoid DCM : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/26/techradar_data_breach/

If you use the same password on other sites as you do on DCM, better change it/them just to err on the side of caution.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 26, 2012, 11:15:53 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 26, 2012, 11:02:29 AM
Yet another reason to avoid DCM : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/26/techradar_data_breach/

If you use the same password on other sites as you do on DCM, better change it/them just to err on the side of caution.

I was just reading this on the techradar site.  http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/techradars-registration-database-compromised-1086924

Thanks for the heads up.  ;)

Wonder if the other 32 domains hosted on that server will have problems, or just techradar?

"TechRadar includes a number of old Future Publishing computing magazine forums that were migrated onto the TechRadar forum software a while ago, so if you have received the TechRadar Support alert email, it will be because you have an account with us, whether current or unused. So do please follow the advice outlined in the email and above."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 28, 2012, 09:21:18 AM
The Barclays fine.

I don't understand, at all. The bank (and no doubt others in due course) has been fined for negotiating with other banks the two key interbank lending rates.

Here's what puzzles me: interbank rates are just that, they are rates agreed between the banks themselves. No-one else is involved or has any influence on these rates other than the participating banks. And moreover they do not automatically use these rates in transactions between them, they are simply a starting point for negotiation.

I think what we are seeing here is a grumpy government that doesn't like the fact the one bank told them to take a hike when the bailouts were in full swing.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 28, 2012, 09:50:49 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 28, 2012, 09:21:18 AM
Here's what puzzles me: interbank rates are just that, they are rates agreed between the banks themselves. No-one else is involved or has any influence on these rates other than the participating banks.

Commercial mortgages are often based on LIBOR rather than base.  Plus the dealing rooms etc all work off LIBOR.  They stitched up people who have money - which never ends well ;)

Plus the government get to tax, um I mean "fine", a group of people nobody likes for something nobody understands but that seems like it would be bad.  And dominate the news for the next 2 - 3 cycles.  That's not just win:win it's win:win:win:win.

ETA: on R4 this morning they pointed out that you can't conspire on your own.  So we know that at least one (probably all) other bank is involved.  And everybody hates Bob Diamond.  So much so that they had the boss of RBS on and didn't even mention computers, outsourcing or proper control of financial data.  Which was slightly odd considering the past week.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 28, 2012, 12:35:17 PM
I know what you mean Jonathan.

There are a lot of loans linked to LIBOR and EIBOR too, so the big borrowers would have benefited too.

I just think it's silly to penalise people/companies for trying to make the best of a bad job. When you go to buy a car you don't just walk in and say 'yep I'll pay the full price', you argue a bit to get a better price.

So true about RBS: the tax payer must have had to bail them out last week. The rule of thumb is that a commercial bank can last for three days max if they cannot settle their interbank and BoE positions at the end of the day. And if RBS couldn't process credits that would definitely apply to them.

As for the Beeb not mentioning the RBS situation; it's the Beeb - the Biased Broadcasting Company. Has been for years, alas.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: skellum on June 29, 2012, 09:41:11 AM
Decided to order some more Ram for my studio computer yesterday and ordered it from Scan Computers ( Horwich ) near Chorley which is not very far from us but I did not have the time to get over there so I opted for next day delivery.
This morning just out of interest I checked the tracking service and found that at 23.38 pm it had arrived at Hub 3 Birmingham ( about 100 miles from us ) then arrived at Preston Depot this morning 06.05 am and is now out for delivery.
Just had a text message from the delivery driver to say it will arrive between 14.35 - 15.35.  Could of nipped over to Horwich myself this morning  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on June 29, 2012, 10:40:07 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 28, 2012, 12:35:17 PM
I just think it's silly to penalise people/companies for trying to make the best of a bad job. When you go to buy a car you don't just walk in and say 'yep I'll pay the full price', you argue a bit to get a better price.

Absolutely and this is what annoys me about all this "bank misselling" malarky.  I'm not stupid.  So I have never bought PPI.  Anybody who looks at it closely can tell it's a terrible buy.  But now my bank (i.e. me) has to pay money back to idiots who bought it.  Apparently one person has had £27,000 paid back.  Yes THEY PAID TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS as a premium against losing their job.  What an idiot.

The latest thing is that apparently SMEs that took out finance were sold some "complex products" to hedge against interest rates going up.  (Pretty much insurance against interest rate rises but said to be a lot more complicated so we feel sorry for them not understanding them.)  Well guess what - as the entire western world knew for a moral certainty, interest rates didn't go up, they went down.  A lot. (srsly - how can people borrowing money to run a business not look into these things???).  So now the banks (aka you and I) have to pay them back the money they have spent.

This is almost exactly the same as putting up your insurance premium to pay me back the money I paid in insurance that it turns out I didn't need because I wasn't burgled.  Or the casino refunding me the money I put on black at the roulette table because it actually came up red.

Really, people need to take responsibility for their actions.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 01, 2012, 05:08:40 PM
Ordered some bulk CD cases from a site in California. They're specifically designed to be a desk calendar stand. A box of 100 was $30. They only offered UPS as a shipping option. Took the "cross country by mule" option as it was cheapest. Still cost me $36 to ship a $30 item. Got a call from UPS, before they'll bring it across the border into Canada, I have to pay, brokerage fee and account set up fee and some other fee. It's going to end up costing over $60 in shipping for this $30 package. Contacted customer service, at the CD supplier, told them I don't hold them to account for UPS, BUT if they don't offer U.S. Postal service, I won't be buying from them again. That was a week ago, they never even acknowledged my email. So I guess that decision's been made. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 02, 2012, 08:21:00 AM
Busy, Busy, Busy ::)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18668643

Makes you wonder when he sleeps. I bet the missus never knows when to get the dinner on! :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 04, 2012, 08:19:29 AM
This

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18696886

Bloke down the pub,Charlie Higgs, his missus has two enormous ones, what's all the fuss about?  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 14, 2012, 01:16:00 AM
I was using my wife's lappy tonight, I'd given it to her as a handmedown a couple of years ago. I was trying to find a bookmark for Hotmail when I noticed one for Flickr. I'd completely forgotten I had a Flickr account.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 18, 2012, 07:50:27 AM
Hearing that there were still some 400,000 Olympic tickets unsold I decided to see what was available for the Football tournament at Wembly. All I was offered was the Korea v Gabon match, one of the early rounds, and I could purchase up to 30 tickets. I'm a bit bemused as to why this match isn't a sell-out. ::)

I also looked to see what Handball is, since football seems to be off the agenda. It looks like a game for those that are not very good at football, basketball and netball combined, but gives them an opportunity to run around a smallish indoor pitch scoring at least a goal a minute. In the short film I watched the goalkeepers never made one save and at half time the score was 11-11. The moral being that if you're not too good at the aforementioned games, it looks like Handball is the game for you, providing you can keep count!

P.S. I wonder if you can get sent off for a deliberate foot ball ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sarasocke on July 18, 2012, 08:04:03 AM
It's always interesting to see what games are played in diferent countries. Netball is completely unknown here but handball is a national sport. Actually it's quite a hard and fast game and injuries are common. Looking back to my netball days at school, I can't remember any getting injured, apart from maybe frostbite standing around in the cold, it not being allowed to move if you have the ball. A daft game really to be played outside in winter in the north of England.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on July 20, 2012, 09:39:39 PM
Well what sadddened me really as it is about my football team (Pompey) that have a piece of my heart but is getting less each time I hear about this kind of thing.
It a bit long winded but needs to be read!

Nicked from FOL, a reminder to the myopic ones regarding the effect of the clubs irresponsible attitude to fans.

I saw this on Facebook and thought it worth pasting to here. This shows just how sick football is and makes me believe that the only way we'll be able to hold our heads high in our community again is to liquidate the current club and start again.

"A letter from a Pompey Fan:

Dear Pompey (whatever comany you are this 1/4er)

Your urgent request poped up on my RSS feed calling for CVA 2010 creditors to get in touch, so I felt obliged to contact you, although im not sure why really after the way PFC treats its local community, business partners and sponsors.

( http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/Latest...tors-3538.aspx )

So, you want me to confirm I am satisfied that the club I used to love ruined my life? How about a little background...

I would like to point out that I was a victim in the previous Portsmouth 2010 administration, and as such I no longer run my freelance photography business as a result of the clubs collapse. A few thousand pounds may not mean much in the world of football but to a one man band like myself it is enough to ruin you. I now work in a shop, but at least I managed to keep my mortgage repayments up.

Now, as you are aware us creditors were pushed (I wont go as far as blackmailed) into accepting a CVA which payed a dividend of 20% of the original debt. The payment schedule was over a period of five years, however our first installment was pushed back to 2012. This was never going to solve the problems this administration had placed on my business, as a sole trader I knew it would finish me off either way and as such I simply voted with little care for myself.

Whilst I found it incredibly disturbing and deeply insulting to see the club continuing to sanction player purchases and associated salaries, I understand football and the nature of the beast of remaining competitive so it was something I had to accept, even though I was unable to continue my freelance work with the club.

To see the club go back into administration again this season was simply staggering, and discovering they had racked up more dozens of millions of debt, whilst never getting round to paying mine or any other poor souls from the creditors meetings a penny of our dividend, left me in a state of almost shock.

I am currently receiving correspondence from PKF regarding the 2012 administration (despite having to wind my business up), and I am told the original 2010 CVA debt will now be diluted into a 2012 CVA, and as such the 20% dividend will now be 2% of 20%.

What a generous offer from Mr Chainrai!

As a result my original debt in full will have gone from approximately £3000 to £12, and more importantly without my consent this time round. Not that I really had a say last time round, as Andronikou kept finding more debts to the point he magically produced the 75% he needed to stop HMRC liquidating the club.

That is absolutely scandalous and I cant help but think that if I tried to behave like that, I would be in prison by now!

As I have mentioned, I had to wind my business (and dreams) up so the debts owed to me are irrelevant what ever percentage they finally decide this time round.


So thats my background. Now I will consider your question again, am I in favour of CVA MKI being diluted into CVA MKII without my consent?

Let me highlight the financial consideration again: £3000 * 20% * 2% = £12 (with no consent)

How about you go and choke. You can shove your CVA and stick your proposals on an expensive trip to Gibraltar. My life is in ruins because of your behaviour, I want to see PFC struck right down to the lowest level of the game, only then will I continue to support the club I formerly loved that destroyed everything I had built up.

I sincerely hope you can understand quite how much distress this has cause myself and my family.

Regards

P*** ******

PFC fan 1965 - 2010"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on July 20, 2012, 09:52:34 PM
My old boss was a Pompey fan and my heart bleeds for them all. I have to say that I am almost relieved that Ashley, much as I hate him for the terrible PR gaffs he makes, has thus far saved my club Newcastle from going the same way by modifying the excesses of spending and being lucky with it along the way thanks to a couple of excellent managers and scouts.

I must say in the case above that if a £3k debt was enough to make the guy wind up his business he was obviously on  shaky ground to start with but it does not stop the hurt of losing that amount to a gang of crooks.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on July 26, 2012, 06:40:28 PM
I am now able to access the site from work again.  Due to some changes being made, I can now access CC again. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 02, 2012, 07:21:22 AM
Reading a comment from some bod from the Equestrian world commenting on GB's silver medal success in the three day eventing competition (well done).

He said that he hoped that this would encourage more people to take up the sport.  :o

I'll go on to fleabay to see what horses are up for sale and change my name to Peregrine and then pop off down to Gatcombe Park to join the club. Sound a jolly wheeze to me.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 03, 2012, 05:42:27 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 02, 2012, 07:21:22 AM
Reading a comment from some bod from the Equestrian world commenting on GB's silver medal success in the three day eventing competition (well done).

He said that he hoped that this would encourage more people to take up the sport.  :o

I'll go on to fleabay to see what horses are up for sale and change my name to Peregrine and then pop off down to Gatcombe Park to join the club. Sound a jolly wheeze to me.  :dance:
Yes, I noticed the nice young chap who won the clay shooting gold said much the same thing! He also said he used to be a cricketer, but was'nt very good, so he became a full time shooter.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 03, 2012, 07:51:04 AM
Having seen that Wiggo chap fly past the end of my road last Wednesday, I've a mind to take up this competitive cycling lark. Trouble is I've lost my cycle clips and I can't get the basket off the front of the bike (my wife's).

I guess I'll have to stick to my Free Running down at the Waitrose car park instead, a much better class of competitor there, in the hope that it will eventually become an Olympic sport. I can straddle two trolleys laid on their side already, the ones standing up are a bit of a problem! ::) :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 03, 2012, 02:26:32 PM
Got an email alert for my LloydsTBS account. Did one of you nice people open an account for me? ;D

You would think these idiot spammers would at least limit their emails to geographical areas where people might have such an account.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 03, 2012, 03:40:14 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 03, 2012, 02:26:32 PM
Got an email alert for my LloydsTBS account. Did one of you nice people open an account for me? ;D

You would think these idiot spammers would at least limit their emails to geographical areas where people might have such an account.

Perhaps you opened the account when you were drunk!  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 03, 2012, 04:50:12 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 03, 2012, 03:40:14 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 03, 2012, 02:26:32 PM
Got an email alert for my LloydsTBS account. Did one of you nice people open an account for me? ;D

You would think these idiot spammers would at least limit their emails to geographical areas where people might have such an account.

Perhaps you opened the account when you were drunk!  :2funny:
Could you try and narrow it down a bit Oldboy?  :beer: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 03, 2012, 10:37:21 PM
I had one today from three telling me my account has been frozen and to click on the link.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 04, 2012, 11:39:16 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 03, 2012, 03:40:14 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 03, 2012, 02:26:32 PM
Got an email alert for my LloydsTBS account. Did one of you nice people open an account for me? ;D

You would think these idiot spammers would at least limit their emails to geographical areas where people might have such an account.

Perhaps you opened the account when you were drunk!  :2funny:

That would have to be one heck of a bender, fly round trip to GB and back open an account and not remember any of it.
LloydsTBS doesn't have any branches here that I know of.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 04, 2012, 06:01:36 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 04, 2012, 11:39:16 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 03, 2012, 03:40:14 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 03, 2012, 02:26:32 PM
Got an email alert for my LloydsTBS account. Did one of you nice people open an account for me? ;D

You would think these idiot spammers would at least limit their emails to geographical areas where people might have such an account.

Perhaps you opened the account when you were drunk!  :2funny:

That would have to be one heck of a bender, fly round trip to GB and back open an account and not remember any of it.
LloydsTBS doesn't have any branches here that I know of.  ???

You could have done it online.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 10, 2012, 04:31:46 PM
I decided to fire up the gas BBQ to burn off the fat from the last time we used it.

Suffice it to say that it was a good job I have a number of fire extinguishers about the house.

It'll take a bit of cleaning now, but it's not too badly melted . .  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 10, 2012, 04:36:54 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 10, 2012, 04:31:46 PM
I decided to fire up the gas BBQ to burn off the fat from the last time we used it.

Suffice it to say that it was a good job I have a number of fire extinguishers about the house.

It'll take a bit of cleaning now, but it's not too badly melted . .  :uglystupid2:

Do you always eat fatty food? Or do you rely on the BBQ to melt it off, before it is consumed?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on August 10, 2012, 05:10:57 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 10, 2012, 04:31:46 PM
I decided to fire up the gas BBQ to burn off the fat from the last time we used it.

Suffice it to say that it was a good job I have a number of fire extinguishers about the house.

It'll take a bit of cleaning now, but it's not too badly melted . .  :uglystupid2:

Oh, you mean like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkO269-Ru7k

      Graham.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 10, 2012, 07:10:59 PM
Nah, loads more smoke. I just about managed to avoid setting fire to anything else.   8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 12, 2012, 09:13:09 AM
Must admit it was a couple of weeks ago when it bemused me, so I stopped to take a picture.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7764154532_fb12ceb248_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/)
Suburban Red (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/) by abers (http://www.flickr.com/people/cronjie/), on Flickr

???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 12, 2012, 09:22:42 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 12, 2012, 09:13:09 AM
Must admit it was a couple of weeks ago when it bemused me, so I stopped to take a picture.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7764154532_fb12ceb248_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/)
Suburban Red (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/) by abers (http://www.flickr.com/people/cronjie/), on Flickr

???

Perhaps some folk hoped the Olympians passing by would slow down (while they had a comfortable viewing) or stop for an impromptu interview  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 12, 2012, 05:28:23 PM
Quote from: beauxreflets on August 12, 2012, 09:22:42 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 12, 2012, 09:13:09 AM
Must admit it was a couple of weeks ago when it bemused me, so I stopped to take a picture.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7764154532_fb12ceb248_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/)
Suburban Red (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cronjie/7764154532/) by abers (http://www.flickr.com/people/cronjie/), on Flickr

???

Perhaps some folk hoped the Olympians passing by would slow down (while they had a comfortable viewing) or stop for an impromptu interview  :-\

More likely, so far so good!  :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 13, 2012, 02:50:26 PM
The old, bad things come in 3's. For me, it's been computers. I was trying to salvage an old PC that was my sons, for the 2nd time in 6 months it's reported bad memory, methinks it's the board now. Strippin it for parts. The Hackintosh I was playing around with has somehow wiped the boot sectors on two drives that had working OS's on them (guess I played past it's abilities) and just this morning I fried the power supply on my daughters PC trying to run diagnostics on it. Pulled it out of the enclosure and discovered every air hole was clogged shut with dust. When I opened it up I discovered the heat sink and all the interior fans also clogged with dust. :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 14, 2012, 07:37:50 AM
More at a loss than bemused. How to fill in those hours empty of excitement and pleasure between the Olympics and the Paralympics. :-\

Perhaps I should go out with the camera! Mind you a little voice from the kitchen keeps reminding me the garden could do with a bit of a tidy up, and the car's in a terrible state :( :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 14, 2012, 12:07:58 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 14, 2012, 07:37:50 AM
More at a loss than bemused. How to fill in those hours empty of excitement and pleasure between the Olympics and the Paralympics. :-\

Perhaps I should go out with the camera! Mind you a little voice from the kitchen keeps reminding me the garden could do with a bit of a tidy up, and the car's in a terrible state :( :doh:
Resist!  Resist that voice! 
Yesterday I was not at work, my last day of vacation.  I did not know what to do with myself.  The girls were back to school/daycare so I did not have them to help.   I was struggling between going out for a nice long photo session, riding my bike (taking my camera with me) or doing nothing.   

This morning it is back to work since I checked my lottery tickets and I did not win. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 15, 2012, 09:25:09 AM
Seeing this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19261655 What is it with some folk  :-\  Seems  :uglystupid2: thoughtless when some dear soul may be struggling to stay alive!! And I thought there were Laws against using mobile phones while driving  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jonathan on August 15, 2012, 02:47:14 PM
And here's a story from the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19267414

Fill out the form at the bottom if you have mobile phone pics or video of the crash.  Hypocrisy much?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 18, 2012, 09:14:17 PM
This : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190033/Incredible-shot-US-swimmer-perfectly-shows-phenomenon-surface-tension.html   8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 20, 2012, 12:33:33 PM
WBMT

Reading that the bottom 40% of the population owns just 0.3% of the wealth of the USA. :o

The top 20% own 84% of the wealth :tup: :dance: :beer:  8)

Government of the people, by the people for the people!  Well 20% of them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19284017
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on August 20, 2012, 12:45:45 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7:84 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7:84)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 20, 2012, 05:08:30 PM
Last week I bought two narrow 3m long plastic plumbing pipes to hold my DIY backdrops on to save getting them creased up in a cupboard. Got them at a B&Q in south Leeds - main branch. Asked if they could cut them to 2.5m to fit in the car and be right length and the guy kindly did it in the timber cut section with a handsaw. 5 seconds, grateful customer.

Decided I`d get a 3rd one but went to another B&Q. Same request met with - "We cannot do that the saw is for timber only". Yes I said but at the other B&Q they just used a handsaw - 5 seconds". That`s against H&S rules he says. I complain and whine for a while then he just walks off deciding he has heard enough about inconsistent policy. So pissed off am I with his attitude I talk to a girl on customer service who had a face like a slapped arse before I even got there. he should do it she says and walks off - never to be seen again and me thinking she`s gone to sort it. I push a buzzer , wait 10 minutes and then give up. Back home I write a stroppy email to B&Q hqtrs bemoaning poor service and inconsistencies and today I get this:
Thank you for your e-mail.



Please accept our sincere apologies for the difficulties that you haveexperienced. 

It is B&Q company policy that staff should not cut materials with ahandsaw because of Health and Safety laws.   

Could you please supply the names of the staff at both stores so thatthe appropriate action can be taken by the Store Manager.   

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contactus again.


My reply expresses incredulity that the biggest DIY chain in the country is not able to train an operative to handcut a plastic pipe in 5 seconds to meet a customer need and no I did not give names to get the sensible guy in trouble who helps rather than abuses customers. Unbelievable!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 20, 2012, 08:01:57 PM
If health and safety had been around at the start of the industrial revolution it wouldn't have happen!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 21, 2012, 12:23:51 PM
Did visit to the Royal Botannical Gardens here in beautiful Southern Ontario. My son's down visiting from Ottawa and came with. My membership lets me bring in a guest. Spent about 2 and half hours wandering their Rock Garden section took about a hundred photos.
What bemused me? Probably the best shots I got of the whole day were in the little side garden that bordered the car park on my way back to my vehicle.  :o ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 21, 2012, 02:46:01 PM
We visited the RBG in the spring.   It was before things were in bloom, but the girls enjoyed it. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 21, 2012, 03:39:49 PM
Quote from: donoreo on August 21, 2012, 02:46:01 PM
We visited the RBG in the spring.   It was before things were in bloom, but the girls enjoyed it.

I have a membership, so I try to get down 3 or 4 times a year, but the heat and humidity kept me home most of the summer. I did venture down in early July but the heat had killed off the Iris (which is what I'd gone to see) and the Roses weren't out yet.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on September 03, 2012, 08:32:01 AM
More amused than bemused - Sat outside having breakfast yesterday morning (how posh does that sound, in reality I'd just washed the car and was not allowed in the house in my dirty clothes) anyway as I'm tucking into my muesli a hedgehog just wanders up very close (touching distance) has a sniff around and then troupes off into the flower bed.  It spent the next 30 minutes(ish) just wandering around and then disappears at the bottom of the garden.

I know it shouldn't be out and about in the day time but he/she looked fine and there isn't a lack of food in the garden, you should see the amount of slugs and snails!!

Yep, I should have got some photos  -  see dirty clothes / house!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on September 11, 2012, 11:25:26 PM
Being full of the cold and decideding I would either kill or cure myself by driving in the car with the roof down to our local nature (very loose term) reserve to find one miserable scabby looking swan  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 12, 2012, 08:57:59 AM
Quote from: Karen on September 11, 2012, 11:25:26 PM
Being full of the cold and decideding I would either kill or cure myself by driving in the car with the roof down to our local nature (very loose term) reserve to find one miserable scabby looking swan  :-\

I like to look on the bright side of life!  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on September 12, 2012, 02:49:26 PM
haha well there was and there wasn't one...I was pleased with my shot of the one scabby swan but my colds worse today  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 13, 2012, 12:33:30 AM
Quote from: Karen on September 12, 2012, 02:49:26 PM
haha well there was and there wasn't one...I was pleased with my shot of the one scabby swan but my colds worse today  :D

Hope your cold gets better soon.  :)

This should cheer you up.  :2funny: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202184/The-photobombing-felines-Worldwide-internet-craze-ruining-perfect-picture-isnt-just-humans-cats-animals-action.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 13, 2012, 06:01:37 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 13, 2012, 12:33:30 AM
Quote from: Karen on September 12, 2012, 02:49:26 PM
haha well there was and there wasn't one...I was pleased with my shot of the one scabby swan but my colds worse today  :D

Hope your cold gets better soon.  :)

This should cheer you up.  :2funny: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202184/The-photobombing-felines-Worldwide-internet-craze-ruining-perfect-picture-isnt-just-humans-cats-animals-action.html

    :2funny: indeed!   ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 13, 2012, 10:45:31 PM
Warning - when out with your camera make sure you hold it tight as it might be pinched.  :doh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RArofHji8CU
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on September 14, 2012, 04:08:46 PM
I decided to put the car in the garage as I intended to stay in today...wow that was a good decision as I looked out the window later to see my neighbours large gazebo thingy lying in a crumpled heap in the front garden. it must have blown over the fence. I dragged it into the garage as it was still moving around.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 18, 2012, 08:09:26 AM
Reading this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19622330

How old are you, physically and mentally?

I'm at an age when one is supposed to enter your second childhood and to some extent I think that's a truism. My missus will confirm it! :doh:

:dance: :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 18, 2012, 10:26:04 AM
In answer to your questions in order Alan, too old and not old enough ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 18, 2012, 05:01:41 PM
WooHoo! I've two years before I'm Middle Aged. I am determined to grow old discracefuly ( And I have no intention of trying to improve my spelling.) and I will laugh in the face of authority! :knuppel2:




Mr Admin. Can we have a "Middle Finger" smiley?

                 As Ever.  Graham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 18, 2012, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: Graham on September 18, 2012, 05:01:41 PM
WooHoo! I've two years before I'm Middle Aged. I am determined to grow old discracefuly ( And I have no intention of trying to improve my spelling.) and I will laugh in the face of authority! :knuppel2:






Mr Admin. Can we have a "Middle Finger" smiley?

                 As Ever.  Graham.

Wonderful news! or is it?  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 19, 2012, 05:49:12 AM
Quote from: spinner on September 18, 2012, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: Graham on September 18, 2012, 05:01:41 PM
WooHoo! I've two years before I'm Middle Aged. I am determined to grow old discracefuly ( And I have no intention of trying to improve my spelling.) and I will laugh in the face of authority! :knuppel2:






Mr Admin. Can we have a "Middle Finger" smiley?

                 As Ever.  Graham.

Wonderful news! or is it?  :legit:

  Well yes. I thought I was middle aged 10 years ago! :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 20, 2012, 02:18:51 AM
Supposed to be going up to cottage country for the weekend, NO my UK friends I am not 'cottaging'. Check the long range and it's to be cool and wet. Not 2 weeks ago the environmnental people told us to expect a warmer than normal fall, yet the weather web site has a fortnight forecast where the weather is going to be below the seasonal average for most of those two weeks. These people get paid way too much considering they're about as accurate as your old time Shaman. Maybe even less so.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 20, 2012, 09:24:44 AM
Quote from: spinner on September 20, 2012, 02:18:51 AM
Supposed to be going up to cottage country for the weekend, NO my UK friends I am not 'cottaging'. Check the long range and it's to be cool and wet. Not 2 weeks ago the environmnental people told us to expect a warmer than normal fall, yet the weather web site has a fortnight forecast where the weather is going to be below the seasonal average for most of those two weeks. These people get paid way too much considering they're about as accurate as your old time Shaman. Maybe even less so.  :doh:

We had the same forecast here.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 20, 2012, 11:42:37 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 20, 2012, 09:24:44 AM
Quote from: spinner on September 20, 2012, 02:18:51 AM
Supposed to be going up to cottage country for the weekend, NO my UK friends I am not 'cottaging'. Check the long range and it's to be cool and wet. Not 2 weeks ago the environmnental people told us to expect a warmer than normal fall, yet the weather web site has a fortnight forecast where the weather is going to be below the seasonal average for most of those two weeks. These people get paid way too much considering they're about as accurate as your old time Shaman. Maybe even less so.  :doh:

We had the same forecast here.  :'(

I guess I can plan to put my summer wardrobe away.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 23, 2012, 04:56:41 PM
Quote from: Graham on September 19, 2012, 05:49:12 AM
Quote from: spinner on September 18, 2012, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: Graham on September 18, 2012, 05:01:41 PM
WooHoo! I've two years before I'm Middle Aged. I am determined to grow old discracefuly ( And I have no intention of trying to improve my spelling.) and I will laugh in the face of authority! :knuppel2:






Mr Admin. Can we have a "Middle Finger" smiley?


                 As Ever.  Graham.

Wonderful news! or is it?  :legit:

  Well yes. I thought I was middle aged 10 years ago! :)

I'm determined to live to 100, or die in the attempt. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on September 23, 2012, 06:48:41 PM
Mentally I never grew older than 29. Physically ... well, relatively fit, as I don't drive, and do a lot of walking, and as far as appearance is concerned, let's stick to the old Shakespearean saying, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

Being partially sighted has distinct advantages, as I see only wrinkle free people, myself included, till they come too close. And if they do that, well, they're obviously not bothered about any wrinkles I have, so they're welcome.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 02, 2012, 08:22:51 AM
It's that time of year again when gasps of amazement, puzzlement and horror are usually expressed in equal numbers. It's the 2012 Turner Prize shortlist!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19793480

It's nice to hear an explanation of the entries from 'one who knows', but having been accused of being visually illiterate and non-art trained I still struggle to understand it all. ???

There is an entry that is photographically based, so it should be interesting.

I am determined to visit Tate Britain to experience it in the flesh and see if that makes any difference to my initial scepticism.  :-\

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 02, 2012, 10:15:28 AM
I just watch that Alan. I think my brain turned to foam about 25 seconds in. There ought to be a Turner prize for equivocation and obfuscation. What a load of bull that was. For example, I reckon that that just about every documentary ever made fits the young lady's description of 'art'.

Apart from the pretentious twittering of the 'experts' some of the exhibits seemed worthy of a look. I thought the pretend charcoal citiscapes were intrinsically attractive with no need of the pompous, aureate, and self important descriptive drivel to adorn them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 02, 2012, 05:06:11 PM
 Oh honestly, I really can't be botherd!







Except to say it puts me in a mind of this.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXa5bOoPR4
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 02, 2012, 05:21:43 PM
Quote from: Graham on October 02, 2012, 05:06:11 PM
Oh honestly, I really can't be botherd!







Except to say it puts me in a mind of this.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXa5bOoPR4

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: irv_b on October 02, 2012, 07:42:36 PM
I got an email from a friend alerting me to this bargain(?). Who would ever go around in these time carrying that!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boxed-Photo-Sniper-ZENIT-FS-122-2-Full-kit-Accessories-Photosniper-USSR-300mm-/320982811301?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2456357613173512852%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D160728931910%26
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: nickt on October 02, 2012, 08:03:17 PM
Just the thing for discrete street photogaphy in Central London!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 03, 2012, 08:09:50 AM
It's in superb condition isn't it. Alas the camera in the kit is not one of the classic Zenit bodies.

I used to have one of those sniper lenses, well an earlier version, but it had the rifle stock.

It wasn't that good. But I took a few shots of the Red Arrows at Fairford with it in about 197?.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 05, 2012, 02:17:58 AM
Going out to the country to take photos of the fall colours and coming to realize there are telephone and electric lines EVERYWHERE!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 05, 2012, 08:11:09 AM
Quote from: spinner on October 05, 2012, 02:17:58 AM
Going out to the country to take photos of the fall colours and coming to realize there are telephone and electric lines EVERYWHERE!

I was under the impression that all those overhead cables , and signage, was one of the endearing qualities of North American landscapes! ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 05, 2012, 09:33:45 AM
Quote from: spinner on October 05, 2012, 02:17:58 AM
Going out to the country to take photos of the fall colours and coming to realize there are telephone and electric lines EVERYWHERE!

And they always hang across the best views to ruin any good composition  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 05, 2012, 01:00:24 PM
Quote from: irv_b on October 02, 2012, 07:42:36 PM
I got an email from a friend alerting me to this bargain(?). Who would ever go around in these time carrying that!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boxed-Photo-Sniper-ZENIT-FS-122-2-Full-kit-Accessories-Photosniper-USSR-300mm-/320982811301?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2456357613173512852%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D160728931910%26

Blooming heck! I`d love to see the security staff reactions  in central London / different centres using one of those!! :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 06, 2012, 10:45:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 05, 2012, 08:11:09 AM
Quote from: spinner on October 05, 2012, 02:17:58 AM
Going out to the country to take photos of the fall colours and coming to realize there are telephone and electric lines EVERYWHERE!

I was under the impression that all those overhead cables , and signage, was one of the endearing qualities of North American landscapes! ;)

No, just so ubiquitous as to be invisible UNTIL you process your photo. I guess if you live in the middle of nowhere it's nice to have telephone and electric.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 07, 2012, 09:39:02 AM
Quote from: spinner on October 06, 2012, 10:45:23 PM
No, just so ubiquitous as to be invisible UNTIL you process your photo. I guess if you live in the middle of nowhere it's nice to have telephone and electric.  ::)

I thought the whole point of living there was to get away from people and back to nature?  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 07, 2012, 10:55:43 AM
Got some muck on my sensor. Looks like it might be the size of Belgium. Or maybe a bug . .

Job for this afternoon.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 07, 2012, 03:21:36 PM
Just cleaned it. It wasn't the size of Belgium, it was more like a gas giant. You have to ask how the <redacted> do objects that big get in to such a small space in the first place?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 08, 2012, 08:20:57 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19866004

It's a wonder anybody noticed!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 08, 2012, 08:39:48 AM
Meeeoooow!

But so true :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on October 09, 2012, 10:40:39 AM
 >:( Why can't the postman just come at the same time every day
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 09, 2012, 04:01:02 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 02, 2012, 08:22:51 AM
It's that time of year again when gasps of amazement, puzzlement and horror are usually expressed in equal numbers. It's the 2012 Turner Prize shortlist!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19793480

It's nice to hear an explanation of the entries from 'one who knows', but having been accused of being visually illiterate and non-art trained I still struggle to understand it all. ???

There is an entry that is photographically based, so it should be interesting.

I am determined to visit Tate Britain to experience it in the flesh and see if that makes any difference to my initial scepticism.  :-\

Visited Tate Britain this morning but didn't view the Turner Prize shortlist as I intended. They wanted £11 to have a gander, not on your life! I did see some peculiar exhibits though that left me somewhat bemused. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 25, 2012, 03:46:55 PM
Having to explain to friend who wanted a picture taken of her house for her business cards that the reason the picture only showed the front edge of the roof is because light travels in straight lines . . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 25, 2012, 07:23:00 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 25, 2012, 03:46:55 PM
Having to explain to friend who wanted a picture taken of her house for her business cards that the reason the picture only showed the front edge of the roof is because light travels in straight lines . . . .

Not round a black hole it doesn't!  :o :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 25, 2012, 07:50:09 PM
Not to be too pedantic, but it doesn't travel anywhere in straight lines because it is always pulled slightly by gravity, albeit lots by super massive objects like singularities or larger Americans.

But I think, for the purposes of explaining stuff to an earth bound blond lady, straight lines is as good an explanation as the circumstances require. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on October 26, 2012, 09:00:56 AM
Hey watch the blonde bit  :knuppel2: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 26, 2012, 10:54:56 PM
Quote from: Karen on October 26, 2012, 09:00:56 AM
Hey watch the blonde bit  :knuppel2: ;D

He didn't call her a blond bit.. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 27, 2012, 09:11:01 PM
Did a a shoot this afternoon for the 'blond' of her daughter - it was the daughter's birthday.

What bemused me was that although the pictures were all good, I had to tweak them a tad to warm a few up where the auto white balance hadn't quite got it warm enough, a few bits of lifting shadows - low level stuff. I did this in Lightroom. Then for the hell of it I opened Aftershot Pro and ran them through that. One click and the preset just popped them all out right on the money.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on October 27, 2012, 10:28:56 PM
Went north for a couple of nights away,  hoping to see some snow. No snow north but snow at home,  it had all gone when we got back -  typical............
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 29, 2012, 09:38:38 AM
EU wildlife competition?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2224461/Magic-animal-kingdom-captured-vivid-photo-entries-photographers-took-weeks-snap.html 

There are some cracking shots but others I'm not so sure about?  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 29, 2012, 02:33:34 PM
I'm a little apprehensive about this, knowing the sensibilities of some forum members  ::) , but whilst looking for some adhesive on the Screwfix site, this leapt out at me.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/sticks-like-sh-t-290ml-white/22070?cm_mmc=Email-_-E12W40A2-_-LP-_-EvoStik

They are jolly rude those builder chappies.  :2funny:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 29, 2012, 06:33:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 29, 2012, 02:33:34 PM
I'm a little apprehensive about this, knowing the sensibilities of some forum members  ::) , but whilst looking for some adhesive on the Screwfix site, this leapt out at me.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/sticks-like-sh-t-290ml-white/22070?cm_mmc=Email-_-E12W40A2-_-LP-_-EvoStik

They are jolly rude those builder chappies.  :2funny:

   I remember seeing that at the builders yard when it first came out, The lable wasn't censord then.  ;D


By the way, can't imagine why all the stocks of this popular beverage were taken of the shelfs!  :2funny:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8136067346_feba08ec75_z.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 02, 2012, 08:34:22 AM
At last, by popular vote!  :) From a shortlist of four, chosen by whom ???

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/11/01/grange-prize-winner.html?cmp=rss

How many voted?

I know we have some Canadian friends here, has this gone down a storm over there in the colonies?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 02, 2012, 09:28:34 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 02, 2012, 08:34:22 AM
At last, by popular vote!  :) From a shortlist of four, chosen by whom ???

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/11/01/grange-prize-winner.html?cmp=rss

How many voted?

I know we have some Canadian friends here, has this gone down a storm over there in the colonies?

I personally don't pay attention to the Communist Broadcaster of Canada. They try to hard to be my Social Conscience and I don't
want one.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 13, 2012, 10:05:29 PM
Spotted this on Grey's of Westminster's website.  :o

6mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkor
RAREST NIKON LENS CATEGORY. Focal length: 6mm, Angle of view: 220º, aperture scale: f/5.6 to f/22, Elements/groups: 9/6, filters: L1A (Sky), Y48 & Y52 light and medium yellow), R60 (Red) and XO (orange). First production: January 1969. Our research suggests that serial numbers began with 656001 and that 191 were produced (excluding five prototypes) This example is number 656091. We have never offered one of these for sale and are exceptionally fortunate to have found it. The lens is complete with caps and finder (also with cap).

Yours for only £50,000.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Matthew on November 14, 2012, 10:14:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 13, 2012, 10:05:29 PM
Spotted this on Grey's of Westminster's website.  :o

6mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkor
RAREST NIKON LENS CATEGORY. Focal length: 6mm, Angle of view: 220º, aperture scale: f/5.6 to f/22, Elements/groups: 9/6, filters: L1A (Sky), Y48 & Y52 light and medium yellow), R60 (Red) and XO (orange). First production: January 1969. Our research suggests that serial numbers began with 656001 and that 191 were produced (excluding five prototypes) This example is number 656091. We have never offered one of these for sale and are exceptionally fortunate to have found it. The lens is complete with caps and finder (also with cap).

Yours for only £50,000.  :P

I'll take two.....I take it p&p is free?... ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 15, 2012, 12:06:30 AM
Quote from: highlandscenics on November 14, 2012, 10:14:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 13, 2012, 10:05:29 PM
Spotted this on Grey's of Westminster's website.  :o

6mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkor
RAREST NIKON LENS CATEGORY. Focal length: 6mm, Angle of view: 220º, aperture scale: f/5.6 to f/22, Elements/groups: 9/6, filters: L1A (Sky), Y48 & Y52 light and medium yellow), R60 (Red) and XO (orange). First production: January 1969. Our research suggests that serial numbers began with 656001 and that 191 were produced (excluding five prototypes) This example is number 656091. We have never offered one of these for sale and are exceptionally fortunate to have found it. The lens is complete with caps and finder (also with cap).

Yours for only £50,000.  :P


I'll take two.....I take it p&p is free?... ;D

They had another on on there that they sold for £100,000 but it was two stops faster - F2.8.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 26, 2012, 08:54:02 AM
Baidu?

When I look at the site and scroll down to Dilbert (rapidly becoming the best part of it  :-[ ) on the left there is a list of Users on Line and invariably there is the word Baidu with some 10-15 users alongside it.

When I Google Baidu it comes up with some info about the Chinese stock exchange and financial explanation. Are there some financial Chinese oligarch about to invest/take over CC? ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on November 26, 2012, 09:20:38 AM
QuoteBaidu is the No. 1 search engine in China, controlling 63 percent of China's market share as of January 2010, according to iResearch

QuoteBaidu competes with Google Hong Kong, Yahoo! China, Microsoft's Bing and MSN Messenger, Sina, Sohu's Sogou, Wikipedia, NetEase's Youdao, Tencent's Soso.com and PaiPai, Alibaba's Taobao, TOM Online, Xunlei's Sogou and EachNet.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on November 27, 2012, 12:34:13 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 26, 2012, 08:54:02 AM

When I look at the site and scroll down to Dilbert (rapidly becoming the best part of it  :-[


Alan, I do keep asking for ideas for the site, as I've no idea what to put on the front page.  Any ideas welcome.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on November 27, 2012, 08:15:00 AM
Listening to Joey Barton whining in Scouse " French" on the radio in these interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3U-r8T31Ns

Surely such a deep thinker (in his world) could have managed a bit of French by now - useless thug!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 27, 2012, 11:43:55 AM
Quote from: jinky on November 27, 2012, 08:15:00 AM
Listening to Joey Barton whining in Scouse " French" on the radio in these interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3U-r8T31Ns

Surely such a deep thinker (in his world) could have managed a bit of French by now - useless thug!

  Heard that on Radio4 news this morning. Embarrassing. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 27, 2012, 01:51:33 PM
Je n'ai pas compris.

Moi, je n'aime pas le foot, et donc je ne connais pas ce mec.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 27, 2012, 02:02:05 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on November 27, 2012, 01:51:33 PM
Je n'ai pas compris.

Moi, je n'aime pas le foot, et donc je ne connais pas ce mec.

  If my junior school French dosn't dessert me, I believe your bicycle has just been struck by lightening?!
                           Graham.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 08:46:09 AM
Meeting some old friends over a birthday drink they informed me that I was entitled to a free TV licence, in fact I was entitled to it last year!

Thinking it was a windup I checked and low and behold I am. :dance:

One drawback however, I can't legitimately complain about the rubbish that infests the screen when and if I get it. No more cries of 'nothing but crap on tonight, what do we pay the licence fee for ?'.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 03, 2012, 09:28:22 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 08:46:09 AM
Meeting some old friends over a birthday drink they informed me that I was entitled to a free TV licence, in fact I was entitled to it last year!

Thinking it was a windup I checked and low and behold I am. :dance:

One drawback however, I can't legitimately complain about the rubbish that infests the screen when and if I get it. No more cries of 'nothing but crap on tonight, what do we pay the licence fee for ?'.  >:(

You could always complain about the waste of electric watching this rubbish. I mean, with the increase in prices every year, it will cost you more.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 03, 2012, 10:06:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 08:46:09 AM
Meeting some old friends over a birthday drink they informed me that I was entitled to a free TV licence, in fact I was entitled to it last year!

Thinking it was a windup I checked and low and behold I am. :dance:

One drawback however, I can't legitimately complain about the rubbish that infests the screen when and if I get it. No more cries of 'nothing but crap on tonight, what do we pay the licence fee for ?'.  >:(


   I think you'll also find that being of an age  where you can claim a free tv licence, you are obliged by law to wear fur lined slippers with zips up the front, and be the owner of a tartan shopping trolley! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 01:12:18 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 03, 2012, 10:06:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 08:46:09 AM
Meeting some old friends over a birthday drink they informed me that I was entitled to a free TV licence, in fact I was entitled to it last year!

Thinking it was a windup I checked and low and behold I am. :dance:

One drawback however, I can't legitimately complain about the rubbish that infests the screen when and if I get it. No more cries of 'nothing but crap on tonight, what do we pay the licence fee for ?'.  >:(




   I think you'll also find that being of an age  where you can claim a free tv licence, you are obliged by law to wear fur lined slippers with zips up the front, and be the owner of a tartan shopping trolley! :legit:

So I believe Graham. I must admit I'm leaning towards the Velcro strap over type rather than the zip slipper, much more up to date you know.

I'm being taken to get measured for one of those caps that has a corduroy trim around the edge, you know what I mean, the sort you see Skoda drivers wearing.  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 03, 2012, 02:04:40 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 01:12:18 PM

I'm being taken to get measured for one of those caps that has a corduroy trim around the edge, you know what I mean, the sort you see Skoda drivers wearing.  :legit:

Oi! My hat is of the American baseball type, it's black and has 'Corvettes of Houston' written on the front. And I don't wear it in the Skoda because it has a perfectly serviceable roof, thank you very much  :knuppel2:

I found an old print of my little Rapid:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Skoda_136_Rapide_edit_flickr.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=12871&fullsize=1)

Still brings a smile to my lips thinking about it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 03, 2012, 02:14:44 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 01:12:18 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 03, 2012, 10:06:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 03, 2012, 08:46:09 AM
Meeting some old friends over a birthday drink they informed me that I was entitled to a free TV licence, in fact I was entitled to it last year!

Thinking it was a windup I checked and low and behold I am. :dance:

One drawback however, I can't legitimately complain about the rubbish that infests the screen when and if I get it. No more cries of 'nothing but crap on tonight, what do we pay the licence fee for ?'.  >:(

 
   I think you'll also find that being of an age  where you can claim a free tv licence, you are obliged by law to wear fur lined slippers with zips up the front, and be the owner of a tartan shopping trolley! :legit:

So I believe Graham. I must admit I'm leaning towards the Velcro strap over type rather than the zip slipper, much more up to date you know.

I'm being taken to get measured for one of those caps that has a corduroy trim around the edge, you know what I mean, the sort you see Skoda drivers wearing.  :legit:

I'll have you know that I took one of the back seats out of my skoda (and not to make way for my mobility scooter.) and it was stamped "VW" so there! :P
  However being over 50 I am strugleing to resist the temptation to put a box of tissues on the parcel shelf and a tin of travel sweets in the glovebox.


Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 06, 2012, 08:58:50 AM
It's getting worse, first the Dandy packs up and now Dave Brubeck has cashed in his chips! :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 07, 2012, 08:23:11 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 06, 2012, 08:58:50 AM
It's getting worse, first the Dandy packs up and now Dave Brubeck has cashed in his chips! :(

I never knew the Dandy (my husband does though!), but Dave Brubeck was a firm favourite!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 07, 2012, 10:44:07 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 07, 2012, 08:23:11 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 06, 2012, 08:58:50 AM
It's getting worse, first the Dandy packs up and now Dave Brubeck has cashed in his chips! :(

I never knew the Dandy (my husband does though!), but Dave Brubeck was a firm favourite!

You never heard of Korky the Cat or Desperate Dan!!!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 09, 2012, 07:39:50 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 07, 2012, 10:44:07 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 07, 2012, 08:23:11 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 06, 2012, 08:58:50 AM
It's getting worse, first the Dandy packs up and now Dave Brubeck has cashed in his chips! :(

I never knew the Dandy (my husband does though!), but Dave Brubeck was a firm favourite!

You never heard of Korky the Cat or Desperate Dan!!!  :o

My Gran used to send me the annuals every Christmas. I remember Desperate Dan ;D, but not Korky the cat.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 09, 2012, 07:41:56 PM
Was given an old Brownie Hawkeye, found during the clean out of my in-laws. Still had film in it. Too bad I don't know of anywhere I might get it developed.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 09, 2012, 10:39:44 PM
I have heard of Desperate Dan, and probably other well known figures, but did not know they came from the Dandy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 10, 2012, 09:06:46 AM
The sadness or geekieness of some people ::)

Have a look at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-20627005

Great pictures! Read the comments left by readers. Some poor soul wonders if the soviet tank in the Koudelka picture is a T54 or a T55. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 10, 2012, 12:38:41 PM
It's a T55 ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 10, 2012, 03:30:28 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 10, 2012, 12:38:41 PM
It's a T55 ;)
Yes. I thought that!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 10, 2012, 04:44:46 PM
T54 Mark 3a I would hazard, the Russian invasion took place on Aug.20th '68, the 154 came into service a couple of months later, it would have been earlier but they had trouble with aligning the rear sprocket drives with the compensating track guides.  Anyway that's what the bloke down the pub said. 8)

Apparently it was all sorted out on the Octavia line in the Skoda factory when the Ruskies took over.

So it's a 154 I'm afraid.   ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 10, 2012, 05:20:04 PM
I don't know how you can say that Alan, really, have you not seen the lamp on the front of the turret?  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 21, 2012, 09:06:28 PM
Going through an old box of slides that my dad took back in the early 70's. Miss you dad! But you were one terrible photographer. :)
Example, he took shots in dark rooms no flash. He took scenery shots where he's got a pole or post running through the shot. Don't know where my brother and I got the bug, but it wasn't from him I don't think.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 21, 2012, 11:46:26 PM
Quote from: spinner on December 21, 2012, 09:06:28 PM
He took scenery shots where he's got a pole or post running through the shot.  ;D

Perhaps the posts and poles were the subjects :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 29, 2012, 09:56:14 AM
The sales are on and it's a mad dash to capture that bargain but all might not be as it seems.  :doh:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_DSC_2962_Not_a_Bargain.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=12963&fullsize=1)

I pointed it out to the store staff who corrected it.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 31, 2012, 10:04:56 AM
Storm force?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254881/Mitch-Dobrowner-Spectacular-photos-terrifying-storms-American-West.html

:P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on December 31, 2012, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 31, 2012, 10:04:56 AM
Storm force?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254881/Mitch-Dobrowner-Spectacular-photos-terrifying-storms-American-West.html

:P

Some wonderful shots, thanks for sharing the link OB
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on December 31, 2012, 03:21:37 PM
The way people are buying as if there's gonna be a seige
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 02, 2013, 01:09:08 PM
Finally saved up enough to buy a wide angle lens.

So I've decided to buy a modeling guitar amplifier instead  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on January 02, 2013, 01:36:13 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 02, 2013, 01:09:08 PM
Finally saved up enough to buy a wide angle lens.

So I've decided to buy a modeling guitar amplifier instead  :dance:

Good job the ladies of the house love music H  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 06, 2013, 03:12:06 PM
Photo Manipulation with a smile.  :2funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/12/12/photo-manipulation-out-of-place_n_2283798.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk4%26pLid%3D142406

I love the seventh and fifteenth.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on January 06, 2013, 03:36:29 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 06, 2013, 03:12:06 PM
Photo Manipulation with a smile.  :2funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/12/12/photo-manipulation-out-of-place_n_2283798.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk4%26pLid%3D142406

I love the seventh and fifteenth.  :o

Number seven made me smile  ;D Thanks for sharing OB
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 07, 2013, 08:56:54 AM
Well, it bemuses me in general, rather than just today.

Having become sick to the back teeth of the so called news on the Beeb, with it's relentless celebrity tittle tattle, sport and Greenpeace propoganda, I find I am turning more often to Al Jazeera; it's interesting, global, almost devoid of sport and celebrity items, and most importantly not the Guardianista view of the world.

Very refreshing. And there is always Russia Today to inject a bit of unintentional humour in one's day ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 07, 2013, 09:16:48 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 07, 2013, 08:56:54 AM
Well, it bemuses me in general, rather than just today.

Having become sick to the back teeth of the so called news on the Beeb, with it's relentless celebrity tittle tattle, sport and Greenpeace propoganda, I find I am turning more often to Al Jazeera; it's interesting, global, almost devoid of sport and celebrity items, and most importantly not the Guardianista view of the world.

Very refreshing. And there is always Russia Today to inject a bit of unintentional humour in one's day ;)

The security services are watching you!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on January 07, 2013, 09:42:05 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 07, 2013, 09:16:48 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 07, 2013, 08:56:54 AM
Well, it bemuses me in general, rather than just today.

Having become sick to the back teeth of the so called news on the Beeb, with it's relentless celebrity tittle tattle, sport and Greenpeace propoganda, I find I am turning more often to Al Jazeera; it's interesting, global, almost devoid of sport and celebrity items, and most importantly not the Guardianista view of the world.

Very refreshing. And there is always Russia Today to inject a bit of unintentional humour in one's day ;)

The security services are watching you!  :o

I tend to agree the Beeb is no longer the flagship it used to be Howard.

Which one OB. Seriously, I thought they were all infiltrated and too busy running round in circles ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 07, 2013, 09:46:17 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 07, 2013, 09:16:48 AM

The security services are watching you!  :o

Meh.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 07, 2013, 04:05:50 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on January 07, 2013, 09:42:05 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 07, 2013, 09:16:48 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 07, 2013, 08:56:54 AM
Well, it bemuses me in general, rather than just today.

Having become sick to the back teeth of the so called news on the Beeb, with it's relentless celebrity tittle tattle, sport and Greenpeace propoganda, I find I am turning more often to Al Jazeera; it's interesting, global, almost devoid of sport and celebrity items, and most importantly not the Guardianista view of the world.

Very refreshing. And there is always Russia Today to inject a bit of unintentional humour in one's day ;)

  The security services are watching you!  :o


I tend to agree the Beeb is no longer the flagship it used to be Howard.

Which one OB. Seriously, I thought they were all infiltrated and too busy running round in circles ;)

What annoys me, is when they're banging on about something seemingly unrelated to the news of the day, and finish by saying "And you can see more on this story on tonight's Panorama". So it was just an advert then!  :knuppel2:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 07, 2013, 11:00:13 PM
I hate it when they say that something is going to be announced.

Well, in that case, its not NEWS because it hasn't happened yet. News is by definition, reporting the facts. Something that all media outlets would be wise to remember and is not opinion. No issue with opinion, but it should be a defined as such.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 08, 2013, 08:08:02 AM
Does anyone remember the rather short lived 'Broken News'?

Very Chris Morris in style, I found it hilarious, but I suppose it was too close to the bone to be recommissioned for more than one brief run.

PS, I'd by the boxed set of the only 6 episodes they made, but Amazon want more than £65 for it - bunch of thieves. And the Beeb have discontinued it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 24, 2013, 08:53:30 AM
I usually pop in to CC a couple of times a day to see what if anything is happening or if anything interesting and informative has been posted, I know, I know a bit sad really.   :-[

More and more, there seems very little of anything to do with photography but more and more just general gossip about anything other than the art itself.

Is CC turning into Faecebook?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on January 24, 2013, 09:22:46 AM
I gave up posting pics a while back as there appeared to be a total lack of interest - OK, so they weren't necessarily great but still.....

And photography discussions? Nothing much - as you say, mainly gossip and I get my fill of that on FB

Still get the email notifications, otherwise I wouldn't have seen this - though I do still check the "Show unread posts"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:26:57 AM
I see what you mean Alan, but if it wasn't for the general chat on here it would be completely dead. 

I personally think it's down to a lack of members, and I've just about given up on trying to draw them in.  Currently we have 304 members and looking daily around 27 approx regular visitors.  Not good is it for the time the site's been running.   

Always open to suggestions, but sometimes my coding skills (or should I say lack of) hold me back when it comes to adding new features and content to the site. 

If you view the site Stats http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?action=stats  it'll give you some idea where most things happen around here.  (These stats don't include the gallery).

Hand reaches for the plug.  :-\

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:33:07 AM
Actually while on the subject.  Anyone know what's happened to Jonathan Ryan?  he's not visited since August 17 2012. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 24, 2013, 11:51:52 AM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:33:07 AM
Actually while on the subject.  Anyone know what's happened to Jonathan Ryan?  he's not visited since August 17 2012.

          I think he spends a bit of time on "Talk Photography".

         Iv'e always thought of this site as a place to go when you don't want to be asked "Which macro lens should I buy?" type questions, also, we all seem to be quite content with our own photography and not in need of lots of re-assurance.
         I personally find it very dificult to talk about the "art" of photography, not because I have no appreciation of it, but because talking about it is counter to the ethos of why I take photographs. (Do you see what I mean? How clumsy was that last sentance?).
         

         "I don't just use my camera to take photographs, I use it as something to hide behind and occasionally as somthing to open doors."  G Whitmore
           Discuss.

                    Graham.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on January 24, 2013, 02:51:49 PM
Quote from: Graham on January 24, 2013, 11:51:52 AM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:33:07 AM
Actually while on the subject.  Anyone know what's happened to Jonathan Ryan?  he's not visited since August 17 2012.

         Iv'e always thought of this site as a place to go when you don't want to be asked "Which macro lens should I buy?" type questions, also, we all seem to be quite content with our own photography and not in need of lots of re-assurance.
       
           Discuss.

                    Graham.  ???

How very true and the reason why IMHO that people don't stay long after joining.
I think around 90% of togs on FLIKR  "need" and "seek" that slap on the back critique and they wont get that here.
We had it at the old DCM and it is how most other sites survive with a healthy membership.
Fine if you desire the slappy backy  feedback, but it ain't for me. I would much prefer to be told the -ve and tips on how to improve.

A fave quote of mine is -
Remember, good photography has very little to do with the camera – it's just a recording device – your eyes and brain are what matter most.

 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on January 24, 2013, 02:57:17 PM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:26:57 AM
I see what you mean Alan, but if it wasn't for the general chat on here it would be completely dead. 

I personally think it's down to a lack of members, and I've just about given up on trying to draw them in.  Currently we have 304 members and looking daily around 27 approx regular visitors.  Not good is it for the time the site's been running.   

Always open to suggestions, but sometimes my coding skills (or should I say lack of) hold me back when it comes to adding new features and content to the site. 

Hand reaches for the plug.  :-\

Slap your wrist before your fingers get a grip on the wire Mick.  ;)

:idea: Now you have a facebook CC account , perhaps a competition advertised on there may catch a bit of interest.  :tup:

Three images or a triptych that tells a story  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on January 24, 2013, 04:28:10 PM
Hi Mick,

Sorry, I've been a bit of a lurker for the last few years. still chip in on the odd occasion. Current lifestyle and family don't provide much free time, and opportunity for getting the camera out not frequent.

I confess, I usually read the responses via the forwarded emails and don't log into the site (easier to keep up with the smart phone this way). I do (often) still cast a vote in the weekly competitions.

Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:26:57 AM
I personally think it's down to a lack of members, and I've just about given up on trying to draw them in.  Currently we have 304 members and looking daily around 27 approx regular visitors.  Not good is it for the time the site's been running.

Well...do you want to be screaming into a hall full of people shouting at and trolling each other (vleesbook - a joke for Reinardina), or have a gentle (mostly) group of 27 people that are quite interested in their hobby and supporting each other to improve?

QuoteIf you view the site Stats http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?action=stats  it'll give you some idea where most things happen around here.  (These stats don't include the gallery).
Those statistics are not necessarily representative. The top 10 topics by views: you're comparing three thread that have been in existence for many years with ones that are more ephemeral (weekly competitions, etc.). Maybe the top 10 topics by day?

More interesting are the monthly figures: January 2013: 29 new topics, that's more than 1 per day (not bad for a small group), 363 new posts, also not bad.

Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:26:57 AM
Hand reaches for the plug.  :-\
Please don't!

H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on January 24, 2013, 04:32:03 PM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:33:07 AM
Actually while on the subject.  Anyone know what's happened to Jonathan Ryan?  he's not visited since August 17 2012. 

JR is on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WeddingsByRyan). Not as active as he used to be. Probably just techno-tired with all this virtual living. Everyone's interest waxes and wanes in the on-line world.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 24, 2013, 04:51:33 PM
Whoa!, don't pull the plug Mick!

As Alfono says this site has got it right, it is populated by people who are comfortable with their photography and is not an excercise in mutual backslapping. It also is not peppered with strange expressions like 'togs' and 'glass'  so my toes don't curl like when I visit another site. ;)

We all get someting different from it and we all enjoy it from different angles. so unlike Cameron I'll have the luxury of a bit of cherry picking!  :tup:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 24, 2013, 04:54:45 PM
Quote from: hevans on January 24, 2013, 04:32:03 PM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:33:07 AM
Actually while on the subject.  Anyone know what's happened to Jonathan Ryan?  he's not visited since August 17 2012. 

JR is on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WeddingsByRyan). Not as active as he used to be. Probably just techno-tired with all this virtual living. Everyone's interest waxes and wanes in the on-line world.

J hasn't posted since he made a pejorative remark about Flickr and it was pointed out that he still subscribed to it. Might have upset him. :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 24, 2013, 05:22:03 PM
I must admit I`ve been less active online generally lately. Seem to be more pushing businessy things on facebook than other stuff.Been trying to push myself to do more fun comps though and this one is my favoured place for that, as it is for good sound technical advice when I needed from a knowledgeable group of people. I realised when posting my shot today and mentioning CC on facebook/ flickr I should have put in links but not always smart enough to do it i.e need to be able to put on a highlighted word hyperlink (or whatever it is called). Just learned how to do that with my business page on facebook but lost elsewhere.   @[246759502008823:Photography by Paul Dishman]. if anyone on there wants to like my page.

See I cannot even do that right  ;D

Abd deffo - don`t pull the plug and great work. I`ve seen JR posting on facebook more recently - especially selling / buying gear in a facebook sell/trade group.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 24, 2013, 07:15:06 PM
Quote from: jinky on January 24, 2013, 05:22:03 PM
I must admit I`ve been less active online generally lately. Seem to be more pushing businessy things on facebook than other stuff.Been trying to push myself to do more fun comps though and this one is my favoured place for that, as it is for good sound technical advice when I needed from a knowledgeable group of people. I realised when posting my shot today and mentioning CC on facebook/ flickr I should have put in links but not always smart enough to do it i.e need to be able to put on a highlighted word hyperlink (or whatever it is called). Just learned how to do that with my business page on facebook but lost elsewhere.   @[246759502008823:Photography by Paul Dishman]. if anyone on there wants to like my page.

See I cannot even do that right  ;D

Abd deffo - don`t pull the plug and great work. I`ve seen JR posting on facebook more recently - especially selling / buying gear in a facebook sell/trade group.

Paul for a highlighted link on Flickr use the following 'formula:

First copy the url of the place you want to link.

Then

<a href=(paste url)>(linkword)</a>
Then hit 'save.'
Don't forget the space after the first 'a' and don't copy the brackets around the url and linkword.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 24, 2013, 07:17:20 PM
With all the sham marriages going on, perhaps he is too busy.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 24, 2013, 07:29:57 PM
A personal joke for me! Thanks hevans.

I regularly post my entries for the comp here on Flickr, I mention CC, but hardly ever put a link in. I will try to do better in future!
If only I could think of something for this week's competition!

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 24, 2013, 10:19:46 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 24, 2013, 07:29:57 PM
If only I could think of something for this week's competition!

Think shops like old sweet shops or even antique shops like ye old curiosity shop.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 25, 2013, 07:35:56 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 24, 2013, 10:19:46 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 24, 2013, 07:29:57 PM
If only I could think of something for this week's competition!

Think shops like old sweet shops or even antique shops like ye old curiosity shop.  :tup:

I was thinking along those lines, but ... (there's always one, isn't there?). We used to have a little road full of small, dusty antique shops. The area was redeveloped, which killed off the small shops, and I haven't found yet, where they are hiding now.
Also, the only old fashioned sweet shop I knew, is now a modern news agent.

Still thinking though, and still hunting for suitable premises.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 25, 2013, 09:37:25 AM
I was going to go for the Little Shop Of Horrors and then I remembered 1) It's not Dickens and 2) we don't an Apple Store  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 25, 2013, 09:48:20 AM
I was going to do Bleak House but when I went looking for the one in mind it had been pulled down to make room for a huge new one. They must be selling again!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 25, 2013, 12:17:06 PM
Southampton doesn't have many old houses, as it was flattened during the war. A lot of the ones that were left, have since been demolished to make way for 'luxury apartments.' Ha!

Not giving up yet though.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 25, 2013, 07:39:59 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 25, 2013, 12:17:06 PM
Southampton doesn't have many old houses, as it was flattened during the war. A lot of the ones that were left, have since been demolished to make way for 'luxury apartments.' Ha!

Not giving up yet though.


Novels


The Pickwick Papers (1836–1837) ·
Oliver Twist (1837–1839) ·
Nicholas Nickleby (1838–1839) ·
The Old Curiosity Shop (1840–1841) ·
Barnaby Rudge (1840–1841) ·
Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–1844) ·
Dombey and Son (1846–1848) ·
David Copperfield (1849–1850) ·
Bleak House (1852–1853) ·
Hard Times (1854) ·
Little Dorrit (1855–1857) ·
A Tale of Two Cities (1859) ·
Great Expectations (1860–1861) ·
Our Mutual Friend (1864–1865) ·
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished) (1870)









Christmas books


A Christmas Carol (1843) ·
The Chimes (1844) ·
The Cricket on the Hearth (1845) ·
The Battle of Life (1846) ·
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (1848)






Short stories


The Lamplighter (1838) ·
A Child's Dream of a Star (1850) ·
Captain Murderer ·
The Long Voyage (1853) ·
The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices (1857) (with Wilkie Collins) ·
Hunted Down (1859) ·
The Signal-Man (1866) ·
George Silverman's Explanation (1868) ·
Holiday Romance (1868)






Christmas
short stories


A Christmas Tree (1850) ·
What Christmas is, as We Grow Older (1851) ·
The Poor Relation's Story (1852) ·
The Child's Story (1852) ·
The Schoolboy's Story (1853) ·
Nobody's Story (1853) ·
Going into Society (1858) ·
Somebody's Luggage (1862) ·
Mrs Lirriper's Lodgings (1863) ·
Mrs Lirriper's Legacy (1864) ·
Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions (1865)






Short story
collections


Sketches by Boz (1837–1839) ·
The Mudfog Papers (1837–1838) ·
Master Humphrey's Clock (1840–1841) ·
Boots at the Holly-tree Inn: And Other Stories (1858) ·
Reprinted Pieces (1861)






Non-fiction


Sunday Under Three Heads (1836) ·
American Notes (1842) ·
Pictures from Italy (1846) ·
The Life of Our Lord (1846, published in 1934) ·
A Child's History of England (1851–1853) ·
The Uncommercial Traveller (1860–1869)






Poetry & plays


The Village Coquettes (play, 1836) ·
The Fine Old English Gentleman (poetry, 1841) ·
The Frozen Deep (play, 1866) (with Wilkie Collins) ·
No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts (play, 1867) (with Wilkie Collins)






Journalism


The Examiner (1808–1886) ·
Monthly Magazine (1833–1835) ·
Morning Chronicle (1834–1836) ·
Evening Chronicle (1835) ·
Bentley's Miscellany (1836–1838) ·
Master Humphrey's Clock (1840–1841) ·
The Pic-Nic Papers (1841) ·
Daily News (1846) ·
Household Words (1850–1859) ·
All the Year Round (1858–1870)






Collaborations


Household Words: The Seven Poor Travellers (1854) (with Wilkie Collins, Adelaide Proctor, George Sala and Eliza Linton) · The Holly-tree Inn (1855) (with Wilkie Collins, William Howitt, Harriet Parr, and Adelaide Procter) · The Wreck of the Golden Mary (1856) (with Wilkie Collins, Adelaide Proctor, Harriet Parr, Percy Fitzgerald and Rev. James White) · The Perils of Certain English Prisoners (1857) (with Wilkie Collins) · A House to Let (1858) (with Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Procter) All the Year Round: The Haunted House (1859) (with Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, Adelaide Procter, George Sala, and Hesba Stretton) · A Message from the Sea (1860) (with Wilkie Collins, Robert Buchanan, Charles Allston Collins, Amelia Edwards, and Harriet Parr) · Tom Tiddler's Ground (1861) (with Wilkie Collins, John Harwood, Charles Allston Collins, and Amelia Edwards) · The Trial for Murder (1865) (with Charles Allston Collins) · Mugby Junction (1866) (with Andrew Halliday, Charles Allston Collins, Hesba Stretton and Amelia Edwards) · No Thoroughfare (1867) (with Wilkie Collins)





Articles & essays


A Visit to Newgate (1836) ·
Epitaph of Charles Irving Thornton (1842) ·
In Memoriam W. M. Thackeray (1850) ·
A Coal Miner's Evidence (1850) ·
Frauds on the Fairies (1853) ·
The Lost Arctic Voyagers (1854)

The above is a list of Dickens's works so you should find something there.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 25, 2013, 07:59:15 PM
You can have too much of a good thing OB!
Got quite a few of these at home. Actually took a photograph of 'Bleak House,' but think it's a bit too easy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 25, 2013, 08:23:06 PM
'Here's one I did earlier.'

Not really what I'm after, but the idea I had, meant a trip into the outdoors, and somehow I never got round to it. Well, two more days, so we'll see.

Bleak House:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Dickens_0931_enh_res.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13101)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: krennon on January 31, 2013, 07:22:26 PM
WBMT...this hot off the bbc press http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21285587 Jessops brand sold to Peter Jones (he of Dragons Den fame)..could we see this iconic store reopen??? (I know the report says not but you never know even if it just becomes a interweb store like woolies has)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 01, 2013, 09:18:31 AM
A discussion about the forthcoming American Superbowl lead to the question how long is the match.

The match time is 60 minutes, but lasts on average 3 hours! :o The amazing statistic to come out of this was that the ball, in all that time, was in play for only an average of 11-12 minutes for the whole match. Whether you are a defensive or attacking player, you will only get 6 minutes play time.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html

I remember going to a promotional match way back and leaving after a couple of hours. I didn't realise then I had missed another hour of the event, or perhaps 3 more minutes of action! ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 01, 2013, 07:42:12 PM
Conversation, I overheard today between two 'college' students, or rather a monologue, as it was only the girl who spoke: "I try to get in on Wednesdays, but I'm never there before eleven o'clock ... what with getting up and getting motivated and all that ..."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 02, 2013, 12:30:26 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 01, 2013, 09:18:31 AM
A discussion about the forthcoming American Superbowl lead to the question how long is the match.

The match time is 60 minutes, but lasts on average 3 hours! :o The amazing statistic to come out of this was that the ball, in all that time, was in play for only an average of 11-12 minutes for the whole match. Whether you are a defensive or attacking player, you will only get 6 minutes play time.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html

I remember going to a promotional match way back and leaving after a couple of hours. I didn't realise then I had missed another hour of the event, or perhaps 3 more minutes of action! ???
OH yes, quite silly.  There is also a "2 minute warning" that stops play.   That last 2 minutes can take 20 minutes to play out if both teams use time outs and put the ball out of play.   Here is a good one: If a play is in motion and time runs out, the play continues until the ball is "down" (tackled, scores, out of bounds).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 02, 2013, 01:13:03 AM
Taking pictures without using your hands.  :doh:

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/2241024/snap-happy-google-grabs-9500-panorama-images-of-grand-canyon   :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 08, 2013, 10:04:46 PM
Quote from: Mick on January 24, 2013, 09:26:57 AM
I see what you mean Alan, but if it wasn't for the general chat on here it would be completely dead. 

I personally think it's down to a lack of members, and I've just about given up on trying to draw them in.  Currently we have 304 members and looking daily around 27 approx regular visitors.  Not good is it for the time the site's been running.   

Always open to suggestions, but sometimes my coding skills (or should I say lack of) hold me back when it comes to adding new features and content to the site. 

If you view the site Stats http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?action=stats  it'll give you some idea where most things happen around here.  (These stats don't include the gallery).

Hand reaches for the plug.  :-\



Just noticed this post via another thread.

I don't frequent here very often, but I've noticed it is quieter on here than it has been - but to be fair DigitalPhotogroup is pretty much dead.

Not sure why, can't all be mobile phones, but I think faceache has a lot to do with it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 08, 2013, 10:48:09 PM
Quote from: anglefire on February 08, 2013, 10:04:46 PM
faceache.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 10, 2013, 08:51:50 AM
I got a wonderfully obvious phishing spam telling me my non existent Nat West account was 'locked' with a very helpful link I could use to re-enter my details. I was tempted to sign in as Bjorn Esterdy, but even though I have disabled Java I was wary of what else might be on the page, so by the time I had stopped laughing I had already binned the email.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 10, 2013, 09:28:21 AM
I get loads of them - and several from gaming sites that I've never been on telling me that I'm trying to sell my account.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 10, 2013, 05:43:12 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 10, 2013, 08:51:50 AM
I got a wonderfully obvious phishing spam telling me my non existent Nat West account was 'locked' with a very helpful link I could use to re-enter my details. I was tempted to sign in as Bjorn Esterdy, but even though I have disabled Java I was wary of what else might be on the page, so by the time I had stopped laughing I had already binned the email.

Should have forwarded it to Nat West so they can investigate. Not all people would know it was a fake email.  >:(

Still have Java active on my PC.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 11, 2013, 12:07:26 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on February 10, 2013, 05:43:12 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 10, 2013, 08:51:50 AM
I got a wonderfully obvious phishing spam telling me my non existent Nat West account was 'locked' with a very helpful link I could use to re-enter my details. I was tempted to sign in as Bjorn Esterdy, but even though I have disabled Java I was wary of what else might be on the page, so by the time I had stopped laughing I had already binned the email.

Should have forwarded it to Nat West so they can investigate. Not all people would know it was a fake email.  >:(

Still have Java active on my PC.  ;D

I've had similar thoughts in the past, only to discover these companies don't have listings or links for their security people (can't speak to Nat West specifically). I'm left with the distinct impression they don't care and don't want us bothering them about it.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 11, 2013, 12:11:12 PM
Quote from: anglefire on February 08, 2013, 10:04:46 PM

Just noticed this post via another thread.

I don't frequent here very often, but I've noticed it is quieter on here than it has been - but to be fair DigitalPhotogroup is pretty much dead.

Not sure why, can't all be mobile phones, but I think faceache has a lot to do with it.

I was reading on the weekend that even they, faceache, are dying. The next new thing must be just around the corner.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 13, 2013, 02:31:05 PM
Is dumbfounded the same as bemused? My 9 yr. old snowblower finally snapped a drive belt during the last storm cleanup. So yesterday I went to the biggest parts place in my area armed with my model number etc. (it's a Sears machine and this place was recommended by the Sears hardware guy). I walk up to the counter to hear a conversation with the parts guy talking to a customer, I pickup from the conversation, parts guy is not the friendliest or most helpful person around. Now it's my turn, and I pull out my note with the numbers.
He says that's no good the parts list is on Microfiche, it's not in the computer bring me the belt and I'll measure it. WTF?  :o How much harder is it to look up microfiche, it was the only thing available for years. Needless to say I didn't go back. It'll take a week but I've ordered the parts from the manufacturer. No snow in the forecast anyway.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 14, 2013, 07:10:57 PM
We have an acquaintance. Let's just say she's Polish, because she is. Just before Christmas she was pulled over for drink driving. I don't know what her blood alcohol was, but suffice it to say that it was at a level that leads to mandatory vehicle confiscation. Luckily for her the Gendarmes must have been feeling festive because they let her keep the car and agreed that she could 'phone someone sober to drive her home. They took her licence, obviously. She was banned for 3 months, which is rather lenient IMHO. Now, here in La Belle, after such a ban you have to get a blood test and pass a psychometric test to get your licence back; it's not automatic.

Now if I were in this situation I would regard that as a bit of a result; but no, in her mind this is racial prejudice. She 'phoned yesterday to say that she was lodging complaints with anyone who would listen, and probably quite a few agencies that won't.

So what bemused me is that the consequences for getting nicked out of your box at the wheel of a car is someone else's fault and racism. Sheesh!

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 14, 2013, 07:58:44 PM
Drink driving seems to be not at all unusual in Poland. A habit they export to other EU countries.
I hope she'll get the book thrown at her!

Mind you, forty years ago, drink driving was very common in Holland, and I think England too.
The Poles just haven't caught up yet.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 14, 2013, 11:06:18 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 13, 2013, 02:31:05 PM
It'll take a week but I've ordered the parts from the manufacturer. No snow in the forecast anyway.

Pleasant surprise, the parts just got delivered an hour ago.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 14, 2013, 11:11:46 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 14, 2013, 07:10:57 PM
We have an acquaintance. Let's just say she's Polish, because she is. Just before Christmas she was pulled over for drink driving. I don't know what her blood alcohol was, but suffice it to say that it was at a level that leads to mandatory vehicle confiscation. Luckily for her the Gendarmes must have been feeling festive because they let her keep the car and agreed that she could 'phone someone sober to drive her home. They took her licence, obviously. She was banned for 3 months, which is rather lenient IMHO. Now, here in La Belle, after such a ban you have to get a blood test and pass a psychometric test to get your licence back; it's not automatic.

Now if I were in this situation I would regard that as a bit of a result; but no, in her mind this is racial prejudice. She 'phoned yesterday to say that she was lodging complaints with anyone who would listen, and probably quite a few agencies that won't.

So what bemused me is that the consequences for getting nicked out of your box at the wheel of a car is someone else's fault and racism. Sheesh!

Many years ago I had the misfortune to oversee an investigation into a 5 person fatality on one of our major highways. The culprit driver was a Polish "gentleman" who walked away unhurt. He was extremely intoxicated. His fine Polish wife showed up at the scene hoping to take him home. She was, wait for it.....extremely intoxicated. It seems to be a cultural norm no matter where they end up living.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 15, 2013, 09:46:52 AM
Well, Spinner it was not her first time dealing with the boys in blue - a few years ago there was a bit of an incident.

I sent a brief summary to one of my best friends who just happened to have been a traffic plod in one of his earlier careers.

Here are a few pictures, and HERE (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6309792/Agony_redacted.rtf) is the little missive I sent to my friend.

Note from the 'c' picture that she had already clobbered the roundabout under construction, as the gouges in the tarmac indicate that her offside tyre was already defalted before she hit the next kerb and took off.

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_a.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13199&fullsize=1)

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_b.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13200&fullsize=1)

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_c.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13201&fullsize=1)

It wasn't fun at the time. I need my sleep.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 15, 2013, 02:50:28 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 14, 2013, 11:06:18 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 13, 2013, 02:31:05 PM
It'll take a week but I've ordered the parts from the manufacturer. No snow in the forecast anyway.

Pleasant surprise, the parts just got delivered an hour ago.  :)
It will not snow the rest of the winter now.  Thanks!   :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 15, 2013, 09:17:12 PM
Quote from: donoreo on February 15, 2013, 02:50:28 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 14, 2013, 11:06:18 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 13, 2013, 02:31:05 PM
It'll take a week but I've ordered the parts from the manufacturer. No snow in the forecast anyway.

Pleasant surprise, the parts just got delivered an hour ago.  :)
It will not snow the rest of the winter now.  Thanks!   :tup:

that's my secret hope as well. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 15, 2013, 09:24:34 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 15, 2013, 09:46:52 AM
Well, Spinner it was not her first time dealing with the boys in blue - a few years ago there was a bit of an incident.

I sent a brief summary to one of my best friends who just happened to have been a traffic plod in one of his earlier careers.

Here are a few pictures, and HERE (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6309792/Agony_redacted.rtf) is the little missive I sent to my friend.

Note from the 'c' picture that she had already clobbered the roundabout under construction, as the gouges in the tarmac indicate that her offside tyre was already defalted before she hit the next kerb and took off.

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_a.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13199&fullsize=1)

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_b.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13200&fullsize=1)

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10146/normal_Shorry_Oshiffer_c.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13201&fullsize=1)

It wasn't fun at the time. I need my sleep.

At the risk of sounding cold blooded she should be taken out and shot. I have no tolerance for drunks, having had several in my family. The story I told brought back memories I rather wished were gone.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 16, 2013, 08:04:58 AM
A bit lenient Spinner - being forced to ride a bicycle wearing a discount shop track suit for the rest of her life would be more appropriate - it would hurt her far more.

She was actually quite glad she trashed the VW; VW is not the kind of car someone as stylish as her ought to be driving, I'm sure you understand. The insurance money wasn't enough for a BMW, so she bought an Audi instead. And then hit a deer a few months later, driving too fast down country lanes. She was also stopped for overtaking on a solid white line through a village travelling at nearly twice the limit. She got away with that one too by flashing her Polish licence - too much paperwork for plod. But now she is well and truly on the system, and they'll be stopping her a lot from now on.

I quite agree that she (and others like her) should never be allowed to get behind the wheel of a car, but then I am not the law.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: craftysnapper on February 16, 2013, 08:44:36 AM
Another numpty driver on forge mill lane, this happens that many times on this road will they ever learn!

(http://www.pbase.com/paulsilkphotography/image/148804614.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 16, 2013, 01:37:40 PM
Quote from: craftysnapper on February 16, 2013, 08:44:36 AM
Another numpty driver on forge mill lane, this happens that many times on this road will they ever learn!

(http://www.pbase.com/paulsilkphotography/image/148804614.jpg)

Far too many people think they're Jeremy Clarkson, when they're not. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 16, 2013, 01:52:27 PM
Quote from: spinner on February 16, 2013, 01:37:40 PM
Quote from: craftysnapper on February 16, 2013, 08:44:36 AM
Another numpty driver on forge mill lane, this happens that many times on this road will they ever learn!

(http://www.pbase.com/paulsilkphotography/image/148804614.jpg)

Far too many people think they're Jeremy Clarkson, when they're not. ::)
Psssst, I am the Stig :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 19, 2013, 08:08:38 AM
Found one of these in my Fish Fingers yesterday.  ::)


http://www.enchantedlearning.com/sgifs/Seahorse_bw.GIF
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 19, 2013, 01:21:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 19, 2013, 08:08:38 AM
Found one of these in my Fish Fingers yesterday.  ::)


http://www.enchantedlearning.com/sgifs/Seahorse_bw.GIF

               :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 25, 2013, 06:16:37 PM
THIS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284175/Should-gone-Specsavers-Moment-driver-crashes-car-opticians-window.html)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on February 25, 2013, 06:40:22 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 25, 2013, 06:16:37 PM
THIS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284175/Should-gone-Specsavers-Moment-driver-crashes-car-opticians-window.html)

  You've got to laugh! :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 25, 2013, 07:28:08 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 25, 2013, 06:16:37 PM
THIS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284175/Should-gone-Specsavers-Moment-driver-crashes-car-opticians-window.html)
I bet they never saw it coming  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 25, 2013, 10:04:41 PM
Oh dear. You couldn't make it up.
At least no one was injured.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM
The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 05, 2013, 08:22:43 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM
The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(

It was warm and sunny in Brum today.  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 05, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM

The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(


Was like a summers day here in Essex, 11 C.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: michaelb104 on March 06, 2013, 08:13:08 AM
Quote from: Mick on March 05, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM

The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(


Was like a summers day here in Essex, 11 C.  8)

Still foggy and cold  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 06, 2013, 03:00:31 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 06, 2013, 08:13:08 AM
Quote from: Mick on March 05, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM

The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(


Was like a summers day here in Essex, 11 C.  8)

Still foggy and cold  :(
If it makes you feel any better it is -2C and we have lots of snow on the ground. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 06, 2013, 06:32:56 PM
Quote from: donoreo on March 06, 2013, 03:00:31 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 06, 2013, 08:13:08 AM
Quote from: Mick on March 05, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: michaelb104 on March 05, 2013, 02:55:23 PM

The weather woman this morning promised me 12c and sunshine, the temperature has just reached 4c and it is still foggy  >:(


Was like a summers day here in Essex, 11 C.  8)

Still foggy and cold  :(
If it makes you feel any better it is -2C and we have lots of snow on the ground.

We've got snow next week so the Met man's just said.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 11, 2013, 08:41:41 AM
Amused rather than bemused by a report of an event at Sandown Racecourse just down the road from us.

Headline.

Ten Men Held After a Stabbing At Sandown Racecourse.

Police were called to the scene off Portsmouth Road, in Esher, at about 18:15 GMT on Saturday following reports of an altercation in the car park.

The victim, in his 40s, suffered a stab wound to the neck and is in a stable condition   ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 13, 2013, 08:26:38 AM
Given all the strident articles about UK immigration I've seen recently, this little bit of tittle tattle should amuse:

Some of our French friends have just got back from a week in London. They enjoyed themselves (even partook of  warm beer or two), were bemused by adverts for pies everywhere, but had one complaint: there were far too many eastern Europeans strewn about the place. Although both the mother and daughter are fluent in English, they admitted they didn't understand a word many of the baristas and sundry service people were saying to them, because of their thick accents and broken grammar.

I'm getting the impression that UKIP might well end up as a rather significant force in UK politics come the next election.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on March 13, 2013, 05:43:13 PM
This one always gets me;

I go to the dentist, they cause me pain, they take lots of money off me, and when I walk out I say thank you!
Shouldn't the dentist be the one who says thank you?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 13, 2013, 06:32:17 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 13, 2013, 08:26:38 AM
Given all the strident articles about UK immigration I've seen recently, this little bit of tittle tattle should amuse:

Some of our French friends have just got back from a week in London. They enjoyed themselves (even partook of  warm beer or two), were bemused by adverts for pies everywhere, but had one complaint: there were far too many eastern Europeans strewn about the place. Although both the mother and daughter are fluent in English, they admitted they didn't understand a word many of the baristas and sundry service people were saying to them, because of their thick accents and broken grammar.

I'm getting the impression that UKIP might well end up as a rather significant force in UK politics come the next election.

Living on the outskirts of the great multicultural bastion of Canada, Toronto, I see this too. For me it is a source of amusement to attend the local Starbucks and watch a customer of one ethnic group attempting to communicate with the barista who's from a completely different ethnic group, neither of them having a good grasp of English.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 13, 2013, 06:56:08 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on March 13, 2013, 05:43:13 PM
This one always gets me;

I go to the dentist, they cause me pain, they take lots of money off me, and when I walk out I say thank you!
Shouldn't the dentist be the one who says thank you?


My dentist says he wants an Aston Martin. I'm pretty sure he's looking for the cash inside my mouth. I always say a good dentist can see right down your throat to your bank account.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on March 13, 2013, 07:04:08 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 13, 2013, 06:56:08 PM
I always say a good dentist can see right down your throat to your bank account.

That's why mine ignores my fillings and kicks me out after a quick clean n polish  ;) Touching wood  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on March 13, 2013, 08:28:42 PM
I've never seen a poor denist.  ;)
Not that I'm jealous you understand.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 28, 2013, 06:59:28 PM
Quote from: krennon on January 31, 2013, 07:22:26 PM
WBMT...this hot off the bbc press http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21285587 Jessops brand sold to Peter Jones (he of Dragons Den fame)..could we see this iconic store reopen??? (I know the report says not but you never know even if it just becomes a interweb store like woolies has)

Looks like it is coming back Keith.  8)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21964291

http://news.sky.com/story/1070810/tv-dragon-breathes-new-life-into-jessops
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 28, 2013, 07:15:01 PM
Mick, can you explain the p.r.i.c.k/pepperpot mystery?

See the posts in the Chat thread of the weekly (Vibrant Colour) competition.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 28, 2013, 08:56:49 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 28, 2013, 07:15:01 PM
Mick, can you explain the p.r.i.c.k/pepperpot mystery?

See the posts in the Chat thread of the weekly (Vibrant Colour) competition.

:o   :doh:  I do apologise, there was an entry in the word censor, which was added a couple of years ago when we were playing about with it.. 

I've corrected it now.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 29, 2013, 04:27:41 PM
Quote from: Mick on March 28, 2013, 08:56:49 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 28, 2013, 07:15:01 PM
Mick, can you explain the p.r.i.c.k/pepperpot mystery?

See the posts in the Chat thread of the weekly (Vibrant Colour) competition.

:o   :doh:  I do apologise, there was an entry in the word censor, which was added a couple of years ago when we were playing about with it.. 

I've corrected it now.  :tup:

Thanks Mick. Found it quite funny, once I realised what was happening!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 30, 2013, 02:59:02 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 29, 2013, 04:27:41 PM

Thanks Mick. Found it quite funny, once I realised what was happening!


Must admit I did have a little chuckle to myself while reading those posts.  :D  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 30, 2013, 03:49:24 PM
I`d rather be called a pepperpot than a prick though  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 30, 2013, 04:29:44 PM
Quote from: jinky on March 30, 2013, 03:49:24 PM
I`d rather be called a pepperpot than a prick though  :D

So it is working! Hadn't thought of trying it.
I agree that pepperpot sounds a lot better than that other word!

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 11, 2013, 04:18:27 PM
Assembling my Recesky 35mm TLR this afternoon (£7.80 including delivery). Hours of fun. After about two hours, got almost to the end of the build and spied a tiny piece with a couple of slots in it. Hmmm I think to myself, I wonder what that is? So back to the instruction sheet and parts list and yep, you've guessed it, it was about the third piece that should have gone in. So I had to disassemble the whole thing. The good thing was that as I had already had to work out how to put it together once it only took ten minutes to take apart and put together again.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 11, 2013, 07:00:17 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 11, 2013, 04:18:27 PM
Assembling my Recesky 35mm TLR this afternoon (£7.80 including delivery). Hours of fun. After about two hours, got almost to the end of the build and spied a tiny piece with a couple of slots in it. Hmmm I think to myself, I wonder what that is? So back to the instruction sheet and parts list and yep, you've guessed it, it was about the third piece that should have gone in. So I had to disassemble the whole thing. The good thing was that as I had already had to work out how to put it together once it only took ten minutes to take apart and put together again.

You live and learn. I hope.

Hope you have lots of fun with it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 12, 2013, 01:15:26 PM
It's technically Spring, but my back garden has a 1/4 inch of ice coating everything. I nearly slipped and broke my neck walking to my front drive. BUT, I did see (American) Robins a bob, bob, bobbin' along yesterday.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on April 12, 2013, 02:32:13 PM
Quote from: spinner on April 12, 2013, 01:15:26 PM
It's technically Spring, but my back garden has a 1/4 inch of ice coating everything. I nearly slipped and broke my neck walking to my front drive. BUT, I did see (American) Robins a bob, bob, bobbin' along yesterday.  ::)
I saw one on the weekend.  I had no ice at home, but as I came north to work it got colder and hit 0C.  Lots of ice on trees.  It was so windy I could not get a good photo with my iPhone. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 12, 2013, 08:36:44 PM
I feel bad for my son and his wife, they live in Ottawa, they were getting another 10 cm. of ......Snow. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 13, 2013, 08:07:53 AM
Here, central Southern England, the temperature is very slowly creeping up, but it doesn't look like spring yet.
Woke up to blazing sunshine, only to see it disappear before my eyes within ten minutes. It's now grey all over; difficult to determine whether it's mist or distant drizzle.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 04, 2013, 08:33:21 AM
   Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME I look at my watch to check the date,  it's quarter past something o'clock and the minute hand is covering the little box that tells me the date!
   Why does that annoy me so much?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 04, 2013, 08:46:14 AM
Quote from: Graham on May 04, 2013, 08:33:21 AM
   Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME I look at my watch to check the date,  it's quarter past something o'clock and the minute hand is covering the little box that tells me the date!
   Why does that annoy me so much?

As it's happening every time, I suppose the annoyance builds up and up. Till one of these days, you rip off the hands. (And buy a different watch.)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 04, 2013, 08:59:42 AM
Quote from: Graham on May 04, 2013, 08:33:21 AM
   Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME I look at my watch to check the date,  it's quarter past something o'clock and the minute hand is covering the little box that tells me the date!
   Why does that annoy me so much?

Ah! That's because your circadian rhythm is out of synch with the natural clock cycle and needs to be reset.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 15, 2013, 07:58:32 PM
This from New Scientist.  :P

For a less conventional meal, Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation in Austin, Texas, has NASA funding to develop a 3D printer for hot food on deep-space missions. The food powders are UV sterilised, fortified with nutrients and have a shelf life of at least 15 years, says Contractor. His team has so far printed noodles, turkey loaf, basil paste, bread and cake?– though they won't taste their creations until a new, food-only printer is used for the job.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 16, 2013, 08:01:34 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 15, 2013, 07:58:32 PM
This from New Scientist.  :P

For a less conventional meal, Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation in Austin, Texas, has NASA funding to develop a 3D printer for hot food on deep-space missions. The food powders are UV sterilised, fortified with nutrients and have a shelf life of at least 15 years, says Contractor. His team has so far printed noodles, turkey loaf, basil paste, bread and cake?– though they won't taste their creations until a new, food-only printer is used for the job.

Looking forward to future dinner parties!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 16, 2013, 08:23:35 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 16, 2013, 08:01:34 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 15, 2013, 07:58:32 PM
This from New Scientist.  :P

For a less conventional meal, Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation in Austin, Texas, has NASA funding to develop a 3D printer for hot food on deep-space missions. The food powders are UV sterilised, fortified with nutrients and have a shelf life of at least 15 years, says Contractor. His team has so far printed noodles, turkey loaf, basil paste, bread and cake?– though they won't taste their creations until a new, food-only printer is used for the job.

Looking forward to future dinner parties!

  Yes. Looking forward to 'phoning the takeaway with "Fax me a pizza".  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 16, 2013, 05:24:56 PM
Quote from: Graham on May 16, 2013, 08:23:35 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 16, 2013, 08:01:34 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 15, 2013, 07:58:32 PM
This from New Scientist.  :P

For a less conventional meal, Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation in Austin, Texas, has NASA funding to develop a 3D printer for hot food on deep-space missions. The food powders are UV sterilised, fortified with nutrients and have a shelf life of at least 15 years, says Contractor. His team has so far printed noodles, turkey loaf, basil paste, bread and cake?– though they won't taste their creations until a new, food-only printer is used for the job.

Looking forward to future dinner parties!

  Yes. Looking forward to 'phoning the takeaway with "Fax me a pizza".  :dance:

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: alan1572 on May 18, 2013, 06:20:36 PM
Driving into wigan at 6am this morning to see 2 lads barely able to stand up after drinking their way through the night, it bemused me a little as it wasn't me
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on May 18, 2013, 07:47:24 PM
Quote from: alan1572 on May 18, 2013, 06:20:36 PM
Driving into wigan at 6am this morning to see 2 lads barely able to stand up after drinking their way through the night, it bemused me a little as it wasn't me

Ah, we were in Wigan (well, Shevington) early evening before last - but helping look for 3 escapee dogs (broke out of the bathroom window!). Dogs found after a couple of hours and we now know the surrounding area pretty well! ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: alan1572 on May 18, 2013, 08:29:49 PM
Shevy is close enough ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 10, 2013, 07:18:01 PM
Watch this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRAM8MpqIeA&feature=player_embedded   :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 14, 2013, 07:17:32 PM
Our cat, who is a particularly intellectually challenged example of a particularly intellectually challenged species, has a new friend. A magpie. I mean, good grief. The bird sits right next to him giving the odd peck now and then. And he just laps it up.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 14, 2013, 08:40:34 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 14, 2013, 07:17:32 PM
Our cat, who is a particularly intellectually challenged example of a particularly intellectually challenged species, has a new friend. A magpie. I mean, good grief. The bird sits right next to him giving the odd peck now and then. And he just laps it up.

The photographs must be quite amusing Howard :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 14, 2013, 08:52:09 PM
Alas I haven't got a shot yet, and probably won't. Although the cat is placid, the magpie is easily spooked by humans.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 23, 2013, 12:20:51 PM
It's been some 12 weeks since the happy event that lead to me ignoring CC for a while. Perhaps ignoring is the wrong word as I've been looking in to see what's going on and if anything of interest popped up.

Like one or two others that now use the site sporadically, it's been easy to look at CC from the viewpoint of an enquiring visitor and there is very little to excite any passing trade. Nobody talks photography anymore and the main interest seems to be a continual stream of 'competitions' which are supported by just a few of the same people and voted on by a few more. Perhaps it should be called CCC as a new revanp.

It's difficult to put ones finger on what's made this happen, it's much the same on two other sites that I have a look at, so it's not just a problem for CC. Where there's a competition there's life I suppose, a bit like saying it's not quite dead, there is a faint pulse.

I know some time ago Mick and Beaux Reflets asked for ideas to stimulate some growth but that came to naught unfortunately, which is a great shame considering the work they put into CC.

Keep snapping and competing and most of all Keep Happy. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 23, 2013, 01:53:08 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 23, 2013, 12:20:51 PM
It's been some 12 weeks since the happy event that lead to me ignoring CC for a while. Perhaps ignoring is the wrong word as I've been looking in to see what's going on and if anything of interest popped up.

Like one or two others that now use the site sporadically, it's been easy to look at CC from the viewpoint of an enquiring visitor and there is very little to excite any passing trade. Nobody talks photography anymore and the main interest seems to be a continual stream of 'competitions' which are supported by just a few of the same people and voted on by a few more. Perhaps it should be called CCC as a new revanp.

It's difficult to put ones finger on what's made this happen, it's much the same on two other sites that I have a look at, so it's not just a problem for CC. Where there's a competition there's life I suppose, a bit like saying it's not quite dead, there is a faint pulse.

I know some time ago Mick and Beaux Reflets asked for ideas to stimulate some growth but that came to naught unfortunately, which is a great shame considering the work they put into CC.

Keep snapping and competing and most of all Keep Happy. :tup:

Great to hear from you Alan.  It's difficult to know what's happened tbh, I've tried and tried to build up the site over the years, but it's like peeing into the wind quite frankly.  Facebook and twitter and other social sites have taken over, or perhaps there's just too many forums out there to compete with. 

I'm also losing interest in running the site, not because I don't like running it, but because I don't know what direction to move it in.  My coding skills are limited, so there's only a certain amount of features I can add.  I try to give everyone what they want on the site, which is more than some sites do, it's just so frustrating.  We really need more ideas posted in the "Site feedback" board.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on June 23, 2013, 05:11:14 PM
Hi Mick, I can strongly sympathise with you. I'm having just the same problem with one of my sites. The number of onlookers has perhaps gone down slightly, but the number contributing articles and discussion has fallen to only one or two a week - and some of them are asking questions I've no idea how to answer. Is it possible that web sites have had their day? I blame that very antisocial site that's taking over the world.

But of course our hobby (or job) is photography itself rather than writing about it, and I'd really like to have more time for going to places and photographing things, and much less time in front of a PC. Maybe that goes for many of us.

I enjoy looking at the discussions and the shots my virtual friends here have posted. I often find useful advice, and I know that if I ask for help I'll get some useful replies. So I do appreciate the time and effort you put into this site. Thank you very much for running it so well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on June 23, 2013, 07:16:00 PM
Mick, this forum is positively a hive of activity compared to the Digital Photo Group website - its been going downhill for sometime - it does have a sister facebook site, which is fairly active - though anything posted on FB and the like, disappears after a few days, so I really don't know how it can be better.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on June 24, 2013, 08:19:36 AM
Looking at some other forums recently and they seem to have lots of "new" users of Digital Cameras.
This generates loads of "what is, what does" type of discussions and involves a lot of "I know best" types answering said questions.
We don't have this "new" user visitor/membership.
We also do not have the gallery formats of flickr etc where 360 degree comments is encouraged and expected.
A lot of people will use the forum/site where they get the most comments and slaps on the back ignoring the fact that their photography will go nowhere without some form of critique.
Ive said before Mick, you do a great job here and I have scratched me head many a time trying to get ideas how to improve involvement here.
If its giving you headaches and taking up too much time then chuck the towel in mate. Its up to you at the end of the day and I will support and understand your decision.
RR
Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on June 24, 2013, 09:56:30 AM
Hi Mick, I'm afraid that I am one of the guilty parties who doesn't contribute a great deal to this forum, other than to post the odd pic on here from time to time. The reason for that if I am honest is because I am an ancient snapper rather than a keen and able photographer. My technical skills are not brilliant when I compare my pics to some of the excellent pics other members post. That doesn't mean I don't get a lot out of this site, I do. I regularly pop in to look at the latest postings to see what I can learn from the shots. For instance Abers brilliant black and white postings have inspired me to try to take many more photographs in black and white. I look at what others have posted and I then go out and try to emulate them. I also find the kind critique reassuring when I do post a pic. I also tried out another forum and noticed that a few of the criticisms went beyond fair, and were positively savage, which put me off a little bit.


I may not have much to say because quite honestly I sometimes feel a fraud. I have a Panasonic FZ150 camera which doesn't have the whistles and bells of the more expensive DSLRs However I am reasonably happy with a lot of the shots I take, even though I owe a lot of it to post editing out of the camera. Therefore I can't convince myself that I am any good. I don't have "The Eye".


What I am trying to say in a long drawn out way, is that I enjoy and feel comfortable with this forum, and I would hate to see it go :'(.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 24, 2013, 12:02:48 PM
I must admit I am in here and on flickr less than I ever used to be. For me Facebook has taken over a bit - even though I always thought I`d hate it. I guess it is because I can do the social and photography stuff in one place and interact with family and non-photography friends there. That said CC is better than most forums and whilst I`ve tended to stick  to the comps out of habit and sometimes drop in  a less than good effort just to keep up the involvement it is not enough.

One suggestion I`d make and have made before but didn`t act o it when encouraged was to do a critique of comp entries to bring about more discussion of content. If people agree I`m happy to do this from this weeks comp after the results are known. Being me it would be part critique / part humour I`d guess but if welcomed others could add comments or we could have the winner each week given the task of critiquing their also rans.  ;)

I must admit the other really useful thing on here is the wealth of knowledge others have which I have utilised in dealing with PC problems and purchases.

You do a great job Mick - it`s the rest of us who let you down by being too sedentary
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 24, 2013, 02:15:16 PM
I have been a bit quiet lately due to health challenges and a vehicle that constantly requires attention as the deisel system went haywire!! but keep looking in.

I may get an entry uploaded in time for this weeks comp but need to get them off the camera if time allows.

Would love to see more crtique on here as that is the only way I seem to improve my own work.

Happy days - so don't throw in the towel yet Mick  :tup: :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 24, 2013, 03:45:41 PM
I've been a bit out of it for a while really. The weather has been pants and I am putting a fair amount of effort into trying to play guitar a whole lot better than I can at the moment. So that means lots of sore fingers and tinnitus (the ever present reminder of too many years in a rock band) but also a lack of enthusiasm in the photographic department a lot of the time.

As for jinky's idea about the critiques, bring it on - always educational to see through the eyes of others and the occasional joke doesn't do any harm in my book.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 26, 2013, 08:30:27 PM
Car insurance - do they just make it up?
10 days ago I did my renewal and after extensive comparison quotes managed to get my insureer to beat the lowest - reasonably happy if paying too much for an Aygo through having a 22 year old on my policy.
This week I have a few issues with the car and I am prompted to get a good deal on a trade in for a new car faced with needing a new cat, leaking boot, dodgy windows and a mysterious squeaking. The garage predict an insurance reduction , I say a slight increase as it is a bigger engine. The result they want another £350 on top of the £574 paid 10 days ago. They agree that it is extortionate and say go online with us / comparison websites and we`ll probably match the lowest. I go online 10 ndays after the original quote looked the best I could get, same answers and this time - quotes on compare for £424 and with my own insurer for £399 only this time with no voluntary excess so even better deal. I ring them back for explanation and they say rates must have changed - change daily! So now it seems I can cancel my renewed policy, get mos of it back par pro rata cover for 10 days and start a new insurance policy for a bigger engined car for £200 less than I was paying. They`ll deem it continouse cover so my daughter doesn`t lose no claims build up that they offer to named drivers and they are giving me £10 back for spending so long on the phone! Crazy.

Before you ask it`s a Hyundai i10 and no it`s not a cool car but its great as a second car runaround for my daughter to use too. cars are for A-B to me and I have no interest in flashy motors.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 27, 2013, 08:20:23 AM
The i10 is a nice car. That insurance tale is weird though. Probably not as weird as here though.

We decided to semi retire our long serving Octavia and get a 'new' main car. So we bought a 6 year old Mondeo Ghia, which we both really like (another story). Anyway, this left us with the question of what to do with the little Mercedes A Class, now 12 years old, with a number of persistent warning lights on the dashboard and an ECU that refuses to talk to any diagnostic tools. Well we thought, we'll just take it off road and stick it in the space behind the garage because we clearly couldn't sell it in that state and it was a) worth very little anyway, and b) not worth spending any more money on.

Ah, but here's the rub: in France there is no equivalent of SORN. So if you still own the car, you have to continue to insure it, and that insurance must cover it for use on the highway. So the useless pile of tin would cost us just to sit rotting in the garden. The local scrap dealer is a bit choosy and won't take cars more than 10 years old. So we did the only thing we could do, and gave it away. The new owner is as happy as Larry with it. But the lights are still glowing on the dashboard . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 27, 2013, 09:05:46 AM
Strange isn`t it! Re: SORN / insurance off the road I`m currently waiting for the garage to ring back for me to ask them if I can give them my car 2 days early so they can have responsibility for it on their premises until Sat am. This will enable me to cancel my existng insurance within  the 14 days cool off (by 28th June), cancel my insurance and take out a new policy with my same insurers for £510 less than they wanted to charge me before!!!! :uglystupid2:
All done now. Car in their compound on Hyundai insurance and my policy cancelled and new one for the Hyundai starting Saturday. Total saving over what I was initially quoted - £616.40 and now got a policy with no excess - crazy!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 28, 2013, 12:07:15 PM
Changing the front disks and pads on the Mondeo - two bits in the Haynes manual: 1) undo the caliper guide bolts, not mentioning that you need if not a special tool then at least one that is not normally found in a socket set, and 2) the apparently simple instruction 'withdraw the disk from the hub'. I've been hitting the nearside disk with a lump hammer for over an hour and it has moved maybe half a centimetre so far. Argh!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on June 28, 2013, 06:39:42 PM
The good old HBOL (Haynes Book Of Lies) - I really think they've gone downhill since the old days...
I bet the carrier comes off dead easy if its:
a) pulled perfectly straight with a mechanical puller
b) soaked in lube
c) brand spanking new and not coked in umpteen thousand miles of road-crud...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2013, 06:55:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 28, 2013, 12:07:15 PM
Changing the front disks and pads on the Mondeo - two bits in the Haynes manual: 1) undo the caliper guide bolts, not mentioning that you need if not a special tool then at least one that is not normally found in a socket set, and 2) the apparently simple instruction 'withdraw the disk from the hub'. I've been hitting the nearside disk with a lump hammer for over an hour and it has moved maybe half a centimetre so far. Argh!

Try using a wee pin hammer Howard. You often get better results with a small sharp shock than a heavy blow  ;)

But mind your thumbs and string stoppers :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 28, 2013, 07:35:28 PM
Quote from: Paul Montgomery on June 28, 2013, 06:39:42 PM

The good old HBOL (Haynes Book Of Lies) - I really think they've gone downhill since the old days...


Agreed. Mind you, hasn't everything gone downhill these days.  :knuppel2:  Most of the stuff you buy now wouldn't have got BS approved a few years ago. Country has lost the plot IMO.

H, get some penetrating fluid behind it, bash it back on, clean up the hub, wire brush / emery cloth etc. tap it back off again. Swear a lot. Repeat as necessary.   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 28, 2013, 08:59:25 PM
New disks and pads now on. The first one was the hardest, natch. The old disks were simply corroded onto the hubs. Easing oil and violence was the solution. Put the new ones on with copperslide in the probably forlorn hope that changing them after the next 50k miles will be a bit easier. My shoulder is killing me  :'(

Wasn't like this when I changed the disks on the Corvette, they almost fell off. ;)

My favourite phrase in the Haynes manuals is 'with the engine on the bench' . . .  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2013, 10:23:55 PM
Cars - who'd have one !!

I just hate the computerisation brought in to make cars so much better ?  :doh: . Four separate faults registering as a fifth  :knuppel2: (more expensive one which I hope I do not have to get put right as well)  :uglystupid2:

Radiator fan replacement my next job  ::) and hopefully the car may run once more.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 05, 2013, 12:42:34 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on June 28, 2013, 10:23:55 PM
Cars - who'd have one !!

I just hate the computerisation brought in to make cars so much better ?  :doh: . Four separate faults registering as a fifth  :knuppel2: (more expensive one which I hope I do not have to get put right as well)  :uglystupid2:


Radiator fan replacement my next job  ::) and hopefully the car may run once more.

I had a problem with my old jeep a few years back, turned out I needed to replace the whole computer, damn think cost near what the jeep was worth. I'd forgotten they were using computers back then, 1994. What was even more galling, the part had to come from Vancouver and was going to take a week.  :o Why galling? Because both I and the mechanic could walk to Chrysler's main parts warehouse, literally on the other side of the railroad tracks from my mechanic's shop. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on July 05, 2013, 04:33:24 PM
Have you noticed in "post-apocalyptic" movies they always use old cars for the few working?  Yes, one is practical because they can get them cheap for the movie.  Another reason is if they are trying to be "realistic", it will be old pre-computer controlled cars that will be fixable.   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on July 05, 2013, 06:17:36 PM
I know of a few people who've used these when a car computer has packed up:
http://www.megasquirt.info

OK its not the easiest solution, but it could be fun if you like a challenge and it beats paying dealer prices for a box of tricks...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 12, 2013, 12:31:59 PM
I ordered Photoshop Elements 11 From Amazon Canada (9 wouldn't install on Lion). It's going to take 4 days by post to reach me. I live about a mile and a half from their warehouse. (it's across the tracks from the Chrysler warehouse I mentioned in a recent post) ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on July 12, 2013, 03:00:08 PM
That is odd.  I have ordered a lot of things from Amazon and mostly their third party vendors.  The 3-4 days regular shipping never has been, especially from Amazon themselves. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 13, 2013, 01:00:39 AM
Quote from: donoreo on July 12, 2013, 03:00:08 PM
That is odd.  I have ordered a lot of things from Amazon and mostly their third party vendors.  The 3-4 days regular shipping never has been, especially from Amazon themselves.

Better or worse? When I went to pay for the software I discovered my Credit Card on file had expired back in 2007. So I don't remember how it went the last time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 13, 2013, 07:31:20 AM
I order stuff from Amazon US for presents to relatives in Michigan and things always seem to take a week or more to arrive. Things I order from Amazon Europe only take a couple of days to get to me in the Dordogne, sometimes only 36 hours.

I get things from Thomann and from Delta in Germany, and their delivery is always 2 working days. Maybe the postal service is better in the old world? Except for the UK, where some international post doesn't even get sorted for 2 weeks. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on July 13, 2013, 02:38:53 PM
Usually Amazon is faster than predicted for me.   Things shipped from Amazon themselves come from Mississauga and  into Toronto is not far even with Canada Post is delivering! 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 15, 2013, 03:21:17 PM
Quote from: donoreo on July 13, 2013, 02:38:53 PM
Usually Amazon is faster than predicted for me.   Things shipped from Amazon themselves come from Mississauga and  into Toronto is not far even with Canada Post is delivering!

Appears so, it was in this morning's mail. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 15, 2013, 03:24:37 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on July 13, 2013, 07:31:20 AM
Maybe the postal service is better in the old world?

Seems Canada Post is right up there with European mail. We don't get Sat. or Sun. delivery, so technically I got in 3 business days. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on July 15, 2013, 08:20:05 PM
I try to avoid Amazon purchases if I can source elswhere. They have never delivered in less than 7 days.
Same goes for ebuyer.
I while ago I had a lens delivered from Hong Kong quicker than a camera bag from Amazon UK. ???
Also a bit of kit I bought from H arrived within 5 days (france)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on July 16, 2013, 02:38:36 PM
Quote from: spinner on July 15, 2013, 03:24:37 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on July 13, 2013, 07:31:20 AM
Maybe the postal service is better in the old world?

Seems Canada Post is right up there with European mail. We don't get Sat. or Sun. delivery, so technically I got in 3 business days. ;)
Which for regular is not bad.  It might have been one day earlier if you ordered in the morning :) 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 19, 2013, 10:17:02 PM
Took this picture in Stratford-upon-Avon today of the church where Shakespear is buried.

Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon:

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9324103484_7cc67c6721_b.jpg?v=0) (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9324103484_802b8f10ca_o.jpg)

It bemused me because when I went down a couple of weeks ago it was packed for a river festival, unable to take it then for the weekly competition.  ::)

Click for bigger size.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 26, 2013, 03:58:27 PM
Ordered a book from Amazon UK as it's not available in Canada. Got the email to day that it's been "dispatched". Is that Brit Speak for "sent"? :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 26, 2013, 07:13:36 PM
Quote from: spinner on July 26, 2013, 03:58:27 PM
Got the email to day that it's been "dispatched". Is that Brit Speak for "sent"? :legit:

No. It means it's been posted.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 29, 2013, 06:12:53 PM
Noticed in 'Recent Posts' the words Huge Entries, bilmey I thought that'll be a first!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 31, 2013, 09:16:48 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on July 26, 2013, 07:13:36 PM
Quote from: spinner on July 26, 2013, 03:58:27 PM
Got the email to day that it's been "dispatched". Is that Brit Speak for "sent"? :legit:

No. It means it's been posted.  ???

What if they haven't used the post???? ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?


Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:56:06 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.

The strange thing is that pictures that I'd forgotten I'd posted from ages ago are being "viewed" quite often.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on August 26, 2013, 09:08:10 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:56:06 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.

The strange thing is that pictures that I'd forgotten I'd posted from ages ago are being "viewed" quite often.

might be worth a look, I'm used to no one visiting my flickr page!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 26, 2013, 09:37:20 AM
You guys are obviously just much better photographers than I am, no real change in my viewing stats at all.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 09:49:14 AM

Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:56:06 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.

The strange thing is that pictures that I'd forgotten I'd posted from ages ago are being "viewed" quite often.

Yes I noticed that also.
Shots taken when I first got a Digital cam and joined Flickr back in 2007 now have views.
I'm certain no one is actually looking at them and its a "Flickr bug" put in place by them at the last upgrade.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 09:55:21 AM
Indeed, oldies do get a look in at the moment.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on August 26, 2013, 10:26:02 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 09:49:14 AM

Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:56:06 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.

The strange thing is that pictures that I'd forgotten I'd posted from ages ago are being "viewed" quite often.

Yes I noticed that also.
Shots taken when I first got a Digital cam and joined Flickr back in 2007 now have views.
I'm certain no one is actually looking at them and its a "Flickr bug" put in place by them at the last upgrade.

Could be a intentional so called bug I guess.  I know a lot of sites do it to make the place look busy and used.  It tends to bring in more members.   A lot of sites are struggling with facebook and twitter taking over the internet.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 10:34:16 AM
Well it obviates the need that some people have to post their images in scores of groups to get views and join other groups that insist you post 3 or 4 comments before posting your picture.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 26, 2013, 02:05:30 PM
I just looked.  I do not see much of a difference.  Mostly my most recent photos getting a look.  I just caught up finally with my photo of the day project.  I posted a lot over the past weekend. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 03:07:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 10:34:16 AM
Well it obviates the need that some people have to post their images in scores of groups to get views and join other groups that insist you post 3 or 4 comments before posting your picture.

You got me thinking there Abers, so off I went and checked my account.
I'm a member of 49 groups. eeeekkk 49.
I thought it was a dozen or so.
Even being associated to this many groups does not generate a lot of views or comments even though a lot are themed to different subjects.
Will need to some pruning of these groups when I come back from my jollidays.
RR
Alf
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 03:29:21 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 03:07:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 10:34:16 AM
Well it obviates the need that some people have to post their images in scores of groups to get views and join other groups that insist you post 3 or 4 comments before posting your picture.

You got me thinking there Abers, so off I went and checked my account.
I'm a member of 49 groups. eeeekkk 49.
I thought it was a dozen or so.
Even being associated to this many groups does not generate a lot of views or comments even though a lot are themed to different subjects.
Will need to some pruning of these groups when I come back from my jollidays.
RR
Alf

Alf

I'm a member of 13 groups, and I really only post regularly into three, unless I think the picture is appropriate to any of the other 10 i.e. Bert Hardy Lives or Speakers' Corner Etc., and if I look closely I could well live without at least 4 of them.

Sometimes you get an invitation from some bod or other  to post your pic into their group, and I'm usually flattered enough to press the OK button, but that group isn't added to your list.

The other thing that amazes me is when you get a message that someone has added your picture as a 'favourite' and you look at this obviously talented and refined person's photostream you find you have been added to the other 5000 + favourites that he/her has.  ::)

Rum old do.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 03:41:29 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 03:29:21 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on August 26, 2013, 03:07:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 10:34:16 AM
Well it obviates the need that some people have to post their images in scores of groups to get views and join other groups that insist you post 3 or 4 comments before posting your picture.

You got me thinking there Abers, so off I went and checked my account.
I'm a member of 49 groups. eeeekkk 49.
I thought it was a dozen or so.
Even being associated to this many groups does not generate a lot of views or comments even though a lot are themed to different subjects.
Will need to some pruning of these groups when I come back from my jollidays.
RR
Alf

Alf

I'm a member of 13 groups, and I really only post regularly into three, unless I think the picture is appropriate to any of the other 10 i.e. Bert Hardy Lives or Speakers' Corner Etc., and if I look closely I could well live without at least 4 of them.

Sometimes you get an invitation from some bod or other  to post your pic into their group, and I'm usually flattered enough to press the OK button, but that group isn't added to your list.

The other thing that amazes me is when you get a message that someone has added your picture as a 'favourite' and you look at this obviously talented and refined person's photostream you find you have been added to the other 5000 + favourites that he/her has.  ::)

Rum old do.
Aye, the thing is I only get comments from people who I have known for years and are (IMHO) super photographers in their own right. People like Don Tiffney, Donny Campbell (vxisme) and Colin Russell. None of these are in groups I submitt to but I respect their comments and critique.  I now ask myself whats the point in me posting in these groups. Although I do like sharing my shipping shots as they can be useful to others who follow this genre.

On the fave topic, I now block those who fave my shots without a comment unless its one of my known contacts.
I have put a note in my profile explaining why I do this. Its puzzling and annoying why people do this. I'm told they are most likely printing and selling the shots they fave so I also only upload smallish files now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 04:24:59 PM

Some people seem to collect faves, some of my images are lost among thousands of other 'faves.'  I normally just leave them, unless I find they ended up in very peculiar company, often with people who have published no photographs of their own. Those I block, or whatever it's called on Flickr.

If invited to enter a shot in a particular group, I normally oblige after checking the group pool. My recent 'Cow' shot was invited to about five or six groups, all with the same administrator.
When I wanted to check the content of the group pools, I couldn't get 'in' so I declined.

I will never join a group that demands comments; they can have my shots in their pool though, if they want to.

I do not like the comments with all those elaborate graphics! I think some of these are from 'recommend three, post one' type of groups.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 27, 2013, 12:44:58 PM
Two things actually and completely separate. A senior member of the Art group I'm a member of, called an emergency meeting last night. Only 5 out of 16 members showed up. It seems the two members of our little group who offered to take over the running of this years show (after driving away one of the founders ) have done nothing to get set up. We floundered around a bit none of us able to provide some concrete solution. We were at the point where we were on the verge of calling for a cancellation or at least a withdrawl when another member showed up. We are part of a larger organization and he's the president. He's not an artist, more of a manager and his input immediately turned us around. His knowledge and organizational experience was invaluable and he pointed us towards resources we didn't previously know were available. The bemusing part? Without actually saying it, he suggested we pull off a coup, so another emergency meeting is planned.

The other bemusing thing? Sony, after buying up KM's technology to get into the DSLR market seems to be concentrating all their R&D resources in their NEX camera system. Got an email from B&H Photo announcing the have 3 new lenses on offer, all of them for the E Mount Nex system. And a new Nex model. A small ray of hope for A mount aficionados is they've brought out a new A mount model as well. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 30, 2013, 07:32:11 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2013, 08:49:08 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

Most definitely. They're sky-high most of the time.

I read somewhere they're counting them in a different way, something to do with the way they now show new uploads.

Being a cynic, I wonder if most of them are 'phantom views,' to impress advertisers.

A friend has suggested that it's a government initiative to help reduce youth unemployment. He hears that there are thousands of youngsters, all employed on zero hour contracts, to sit all day and trawl through the site looking at pictures, and it's logged as one of their more successful apprenticeship schemes that they so proudly boast of.

The thinking behind it is it helps Flickr, who may be inclined to contribute to party funds, and since unemployed youngsters spend all day watching TV they might as well look at pictures. At 0.00001p a look it's proving quite successful and it's also teaching the youth of today that work is productive as well as stimulating.

As an incentive to take part, the one that exceeds their target by 1 million per cent gets a free ticket to the next edition of the X factor. The thinking here is that having exceeded your target you will be completely brain dead and therefore much more likely to enjoy it.

It also helps keep youth unemployment down around the million mark.

I don't believe a word of it myself. ::)

Now, where's my pills?  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on August 30, 2013, 10:37:26 AM
"As an incentive to take part, the one that exceeds their target by 1 million per cent gets a free ticket to the next edition of the X factor. The thinking here is that having exceeded your target you will be completely brain dead and therefore much more likely to enjoy it."




As an added incentive. Those who exceed 2 million clicks get the opportunity to appear on Supermarket Sweep or the Jeremy Kyle show.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 30, 2013, 08:21:58 PM
Quote from: Cabbyjohn on August 30, 2013, 10:37:26 AM
Supermarket Sweep.  ::)

Is that where Sooty's friend has gone?  :P :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 12, 2013, 08:32:56 AM
Reading this and looking at the mug shots.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24047750

Can you imagine being confronted by these blokes, frightening! Along with a Brummy accent as well ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on September 12, 2013, 08:48:25 AM
Quote from: ABERS on September 12, 2013, 08:32:56 AM
Reading this and looking at the mug shots.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24047750

Can you imagine being confronted by these blokes, frightening! Along with a Brummy accent as well ???

It was in the Daily Mail on-line yesterday. I like the fact they put razor blades in the peaks of their caps, unlike the teddyboys who put theirs in their lapels.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 17, 2013, 09:42:37 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 26, 2013, 08:25:46 AM
Flickr. ???

Has anyone noticed any strange activity on Flickr recently regarding the number of "views" stats.?

I thought that when Flickr had some sort of site maintenance the other day they were addressing the 'views' problem. Not so it seems. Had a look today and yesterday I had 555 views, now considering I've only got 487 pictures on there that's going some! :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on September 20, 2013, 10:46:33 AM
In an email discussion,  with a male friend, about Wellington boots, I kept typing 'willies.' Not once, but every single time.
I think I corrected them all before I sent off the mails, but I was getting seriously worried. Was I really so obsessed? What would Sigmund make of it? Did I need help?

When I realised the 'e' and the 'i' on my keyboard are quite far apart, as I typed the dreaded word again, I knew I definitely did not make a typo that time, but still I was talking about willies.

Did a short test sentence, and realised my Windows 8/IE 10 is the pervert, not me!

Have to find out how to teach it proper English. I suppose it is an American version.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on September 20, 2013, 11:13:21 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on September 20, 2013, 10:46:33 AM
In an email discussion,  with a male friend, about Wellington boots, I kept typing 'willies.' Not once, but every single time.
I think I corrected them all before I sent off the mails, but I was getting seriously worried. Was I really so obsessed? What would Sigmund make of it? Did I need help?

When I realised the 'e' and the 'i' on my keyboard are quite far apart, as I typed the dreaded word again, I knew I definitely did not make a typo that time, but still I was talking about willies.

Did a short test sentence, and realised my Windows 8/IE 10 is the pervert, not me!

Have to find out how to teach it proper English. I suppose it is an American version.

(http://i.imgur.com/dBNKQ.gif)
           
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on September 20, 2013, 11:26:54 AM
Quote from: Graham on September 20, 2013, 11:13:21 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on September 20, 2013, 10:46:33 AM
In an email discussion,  with a male friend, about Wellington boots, I kept typing 'willies.' Not once, but every single time.
I think I corrected them all before I sent off the mails, but I was getting seriously worried. Was I really so obsessed? What would Sigmund make of it? Did I need help?

When I realised the 'e' and the 'i' on my keyboard are quite far apart, as I typed the dreaded word again, I knew I definitely did not make a typo that time, but still I was talking about willies.

Did a short test sentence, and realised my Windows 8/IE 10 is the pervert, not me!

Have to find out how to teach it proper English. I suppose it is an American version.

(http://i.imgur.com/dBNKQ.gif)
         

He's taking the mickey! He doesn't believe me; he's laughing at me!

HELP!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 25, 2013, 07:44:17 AM
Our little town of 65,000 people now has four tattoo parlours. How can there be enough demand to keep four of them going?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on September 25, 2013, 08:45:56 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 25, 2013, 07:44:17 AM
Our little town of 65,000 people now has four tattoo parlours. How can there be enough demand to keep four of them going?

Do you have a French Foreign Legion barracks close by? ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on September 25, 2013, 02:53:49 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on September 25, 2013, 07:44:17 AM
Our little town of 65,000 people now has four tattoo parlours. How can there be enough demand to keep four of them going?
Unfortunately, there probably is.  Personally tattoos creep me out. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on September 25, 2013, 03:42:13 PM
 What would Sigmund make of it? Did I need help?





Talking of Sigmund reminds me of the day the massive IRA bomb went off in Manchester. I was driving my cab and was about 400 yards away from the bomb when it went off. The cab rocked and all around me shop and office windows blew out. Everywhere was covered in dust and debris. Before the dust had settled and once I realised I was still alive I blurted out to myself. "F****** H***  We are going to be busy today"!  What would he have made of me? As it happened myself and a few other drivers in the immediate vicinity loaded our cabs with the injured and ferried them to the nearest  A&E Hospital. Needless to say, free of charge.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on September 26, 2013, 05:45:03 PM
Quote from: Cabbyjohn on September 25, 2013, 03:42:13 PM
What would Sigmund make of it? Did I need help?





Talking of Sigmund reminds me of the day the massive IRA bomb went off in Manchester. I was driving my cab and was about 400 yards away from the bomb when it went off. The cab rocked and all around me shop and office windows blew out. Everywhere was covered in dust and debris. Before the dust had settled and once I realised I was still alive I blurted out to myself. "F****** H***  We are going to be busy today"!  What would he have made of me? As it happened myself and a few other drivers in the immediate vicinity loaded our cabs with the injured and ferried them to the nearest  A&E Hospital. Needless to say, free of charge.

I read this several times, and am not sure what Sigmund would have said. As a woman I cannot really comment on the great man's musings anyway, as it would probably be considered a 'typical' female reaction, not really worth bothering about.

You were lucky, and did your bit to help others who weren't. Who cares what Sigmund would have said? You did right.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 08, 2013, 10:49:30 AM
One of my camera grips has finally come off my D700 - combination of useless eco glue and my sweaty palms.Anyway had the part a while and just needed some rubbing alcohol to remove old adhesive underneath. 1st chemist - £11 for half a litre special order - so much more than I need. 2nd chemist "never heard of it" to which a customer next to me says "You have it`s on these wipes " and holds up a prescription he as. Can I buy them I ask - no says the chemist but you can get them for free if tou register with out needle exchange scheme! :o
The guy next to me then says - "I can put down 10 on my script for him can`t I". So basically  a guy on needle exchange shared his gear for me - nice lad trying to get off it gradually who wished me luck getting the glue off. i`ll let you know how I get on.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on October 08, 2013, 11:55:39 AM
Quote from: jinky on October 08, 2013, 10:49:30 AM
One of my camera grips has finally come off my D700 - combination of useless eco glue and my sweaty palms.Anyway had the part a while and just needed some rubbing alcohol to remove old adhesive underneath. 1st chemist - £11 for half a litre special order - so much more than I need. 2nd chemist "never heard of it" to which a customer next to me says "You have it`s on these wipes " and holds up a prescription he as. Can I buy them I ask - no says the chemist but you can get them for free if tou register with out needle exchange scheme! :o
The guy next to me then says - "I can put down 10 on my script for him can`t I". So basically  a guy on needle exchange shared his gear for me - nice lad trying to get off it gradually who wished me luck getting the glue off. i`ll let you know how I get on.
That much trouble for rubbing alcohol?  It is on the shelf in 500ml or more bottles here.  No more than a couple of $. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 08, 2013, 12:47:29 PM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HAZ-RUBBING-ALCOHOL-70-500ml/dp/B008BZZSDU

I'd never heard surgical spirit called that before  :o

I would use ethanol, less than €1.00 a litre in the supermarket, or if the body is metal perhaps acetone. Or you could try licking it off, as it's eco glue it's bound to be edible ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on October 08, 2013, 01:37:26 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 08, 2013, 12:47:29 PM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HAZ-RUBBING-ALCOHOL-70-500ml/dp/B008BZZSDU

I'd never heard surgical spirit called that before  :o

I would use ethanol, less than €1.00 a litre in the supermarket, or if the body is metal perhaps acetone. Or you could try licking it off, as it's eco glue it's bound to be edible ;)
rubbing alcohol is ethanol or isopropanol.  Acetone would be good if metal, I agree. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 08, 2013, 02:57:43 PM
Nikon say only use isoproponal alcohol and never white spirit. I couldorder half a litre elsewhere but £11! My 10 wipes should be fine with a  bit of  cocktail stick action too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on October 08, 2013, 03:29:50 PM
I was bemused today at my useless, poor attempts at an interview today...this will be the job that got away...GRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 08, 2013, 07:22:45 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on October 08, 2013, 03:29:50 PM
I was bemused today at my useless, poor attempts at an interview today...this will be the job that got away...GRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr

It's when the interview goes like a dream that you don't get the job. You might be surprised.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on October 08, 2013, 08:57:04 PM
Don't want it anyway 'pokes out tongue' lol
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 08, 2013, 09:50:51 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on October 08, 2013, 08:57:04 PM
Don't want it anyway 'pokes out tongue' lol

You mean like this!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on October 09, 2013, 07:54:25 AM
I forgot about those
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 20, 2013, 09:29:41 AM
The Australian bush fires.

Here in La Belle there are bylaws in fire risk areas. In the south, for example, it is illegal to have any trees within either 25 metres or, in higher risk areas, 50 metres, of any buildings. This creates hundreds of mini fire breaks, and when the inevitable forest fires start, as they have done for millennia, they rarely do any damage to life or property. If you plant trees in the prohibited zones the local council turn up with a JCB and rip them out. Where I live bonfires are not permitted for most of the year - smoke attracts Gendarmes like moths to a light. So how come that in the bush fire belts in Australia they have trees, often eucalyptus and full of flammable oils, right up to the sides of houses?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 20, 2013, 09:32:56 AM
In Yorkshire we control bush fires by having copious amounts of rain - why don`t the aussies do that too!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 20, 2013, 06:46:31 PM
Quote from: jinky on October 20, 2013, 09:32:56 AM
In Yorkshire we control bush fires by having copious amounts of rain - why don`t the aussies do that too!

They have Lager instead of rain!  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 22, 2013, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[

Well what`s a man to do - without those heels you`d be nothing H  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 22, 2013, 11:05:06 AM
Quote from: jinky on October 22, 2013, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[

Well what`s a man to do - without those heels you`d be nothing H  ;)

:2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 11:12:56 AM
Quote from: jinky on October 22, 2013, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[

Well what`s a man to do - without those heels you`d be nothing H  ;)

Well, a much shorter nothing at least  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 22, 2013, 11:22:38 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 11:12:56 AM
Quote from: jinky on October 22, 2013, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[

Well what`s a man to do - without those heels you`d be nothing H  ;)

Well, a much shorter nothing at least  :D
:D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on October 22, 2013, 02:28:08 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 10:47:04 AM
I've just discovered that I have more pairs of boots and shoes (mainly the former) than Mrs H.  :o  ::)  :-[
We have the shoe rule in our house.  If shoes come in, shoes must leave.   In the pat year we had to expand this to the jacket and coat rule.  Same: one comes in one must leave. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 03:55:34 PM
I didn't say I had lots of shoes, just that I have more than Mrs H. I have the opposite problem to many husbands - I can lead her to the shops, but I cannot make her buy  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on October 22, 2013, 04:03:02 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 03:55:34 PM
I didn't say I had lots of shoes, just that I have more than Mrs H. I have the opposite problem to many husbands - I can lead her to the shops, but I cannot make her buy  :(

Why is that so sad Howard - or are you like us and often going to shops with an empty purse.  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 22, 2013, 04:17:17 PM
It's sad Andy because we may be walking past a shop and see something she thinks is really lovely, so I'll say 'buy it', and she'll say 'maybe, I'll just look at the other shops first' and then she ends up with nothing. On the plus side she is very economical to run  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on October 24, 2013, 07:17:16 PM
Got an email flyer today from a local Camera Store chain prodding me to order now! New Fuji Fujifilm X-E2. It's a $1000 Cdn. Roughly £600 for a 16 mp camera? So it does HD video, I don't want or need HD video. Why wouldn't you just buy a video camera. Maybe because I can't afford it I find justifying the price hard. But not sure I'd buy it even if I was swimming in cash. ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 25, 2013, 08:43:30 AM
Apparently getting to the boulangerie at 8:30 is far too late to get any croissants - sold out. Well, there's always toast.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on October 25, 2013, 10:25:43 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 25, 2013, 08:43:30 AM
Apparently getting to the boulangerie at 8:30 is far too late to get any croissants - sold out. Well, there's always toast.


   I don't know. You and your fancy Continental breakfasts!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 25, 2013, 11:59:40 AM
Special Friday treat Graham. Breakfast is usually this:


ie, nothing. Unless you count a cup of tea.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 25, 2013, 08:41:55 PM
Quote from: spinner on October 24, 2013, 07:17:16 PM
Got an email flyer today from a local Camera Store chain prodding me to order now! New Fuji Fujifilm X-E2. It's a $1000 Cdn. Roughly £600 for a 16 mp camera? So it does HD video, I don't want or need HD video. Why wouldn't you just buy a video camera. Maybe because I can't afford it I find justifying the price hard. But not sure I'd buy it even if I was swimming in cash. ;D

I thought most cameras now come with HD video. My present one has it, as did my previous one. Never used it though.

But, I have been told by someone who knows about these things (so he says), that the quality of a photo camera video is much better than that of a video camera. He explained it, and it all sounded plausible, but I'm too tired to try to repeat it all.
Apparently they shoot films on DSLR cameras now on a regular basis.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on October 30, 2013, 12:15:26 PM
Indeed they do R. My D7000 has video but never used it. Played around with it in low light levels in prep for the wedding I covered at the weekend. Too grainy and I got much better results using my Sony HX20V. Even better I got my wife, acting as assistant to do it on a monopod and it looks like a nice addition to my dvd slideshow I supply.
What bemused me about the wedding is why a B&G can not just not smile but seemingly scowl all the way down the aisle and the wedding service? Must have been annoyed like me at the Warwickshire registrars. Nice couple of women but quite the strictest rules I have ever shot under - rooted in one spot as instructed behind a pillar making a ring shot impossible! No shooting whilst anyone is talking- celebrant, readers etc and no flash if you can help it! Meant quite the lowest level mof service coverage I have ever got - though the bride and groom understood and were happy with anything I could get. Just pruning down from 1400 + shots to around 4-500 now. It was a 12 hour shoot including photobooth set up so lots to do!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 05, 2013, 07:29:05 AM
This headline caught my eye and somewhat bemused me

'DR Congo claims defeat of M23 rebels'.

Since I use the M23 regularly I had no idea that there was any rebellion taking place and indeed that some medico named Congo had taken on the insurgents along the Surrey/Hampshire borders. Strange what goes on under your nose. ???

Full story here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 05, 2013, 09:43:58 AM
Quote from: ABERS on November 05, 2013, 07:29:05 AM
This headline caught my eye and somewhat bemused me

'DR Congo claims defeat of M23 rebels'.

Since I use the M23 regularly I had no idea that there was any rebellion taking place and indeed that some medico named Congo had taken on the insurgents along the Surrey/Hampshire borders. Strange what goes on under your nose. ???

Full story here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/

They only fight at night which is why you don't see them.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on November 06, 2013, 01:49:11 AM
Just received a junk email from the supposed FBI, the FBI! It claims their cyber terrorism unit has intercepted a fraud and for a fee, sent to Nigeria of all places. I'll get my money back.

Are people really that stupid that they'd fall for this blatant stupidity????
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on November 06, 2013, 02:00:38 AM
Accreditation going on today and for the next 2 days. Everyone running around like headless chooks (chickens to you northerners) pretending they are up to date with mandatory training, fire drills and the like. I'm just hiding in the office, hoping that I don't get asked a question that I have to be honest in reply!!   :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 09, 2013, 10:34:27 AM
Supermarket pricing.

150ml spray paint can €5.85, 400ml €5.05

250g mushrooms €0.99, 500g €1.99 (OK only 1 cent difference, but the principle, the principle people)

2 salmon fillets €2.99, 4 fillets €6.99

Guess they rely on shoppers being a bit thick.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on November 09, 2013, 12:24:40 PM
Since I live in Toronto I guess I must mention our mayor this week :)  He did make international news. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 09, 2013, 02:50:03 PM
Saw an hilarious tweet about that: "Embarrassed crack users in Toronto insist only a tiny minority of them are politicians"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 09, 2013, 04:38:25 PM
  Sounds like my kind of mayor!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 09, 2013, 07:49:12 PM
Quote from: donoreo on November 09, 2013, 12:24:40 PM
Since I live in Toronto I guess I must mention our mayor this week :)  He did make international news.

He did....but didn't know what to say.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on November 09, 2013, 07:54:01 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 09, 2013, 07:49:12 PM
Quote from: donoreo on November 09, 2013, 12:24:40 PM
Since I live in Toronto I guess I must mention our mayor this week :)  He did make international news.

He did....but didn't know what to say.  :D
The funniest was on twitter afterward.  The hashtag #inadrunkenstupor and people making comments on stupid things to do.  Of course none were smoking crack.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 18, 2013, 02:19:16 PM
Just had a phone call from the 'Accident Action Centre." Young male, slightly hesitant voice with an Indian-ish accent (I'm still not very good on accents).
He had been made aware that someone on our number had had an accident. I feigned shock, horror and surprise in equal measure.
"Oh no," I said. "Who is it?"
He seemed surprised and offered the name Morrison. Don't know anyone of that name, so I casually said: "Oh him, he's been dead for fifty years."
"Did you kill him?" he asked.

Strongly denied it, and that confused him even more apparently, as he kept saying: "Oh, I am so sorry."
I had to (gently) remind him, he'd better call someone else.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on November 18, 2013, 02:42:36 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on November 18, 2013, 02:19:16 PM
Just had a phone call from the 'Accident Action Centre." Young male, slightly hesitant voice with an Indian-ish accent (I'm still not very good on accents).
He had been made aware that someone on our number had had an accident. I feigned shock, horror and surprise in equal measure.
"Oh no," I said. "Who is it?"
He seemed surprised and offered the name Morrison. Don't know anyone of that name, so I casually said: "Oh him, he's been dead for fifty years."
"Did you kill him?" he asked.

Strongly denied it, and that confused him even more apparently, as he kept saying: "Oh, I am so sorry."
I had to (gently) remind him, he'd better call someone else.

:2funny: what was he selling?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 18, 2013, 04:06:44 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on November 18, 2013, 02:42:36 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on November 18, 2013, 02:19:16 PM
Just had a phone call from the 'Accident Action Centre." Young male, slightly hesitant voice with an Indian-ish accent (I'm still not very good on accents).
He had been made aware that someone on our number had had an accident. I feigned shock, horror and surprise in equal measure.
"Oh no," I said. "Who is it?"
He seemed surprised and offered the name Morrison. Don't know anyone of that name, so I casually said: "Oh him, he's been dead for fifty years."
"Did you kill him?" he asked.

Strongly denied it, and that confused him even more apparently, as he kept saying: "Oh, I am so sorry."
I had to (gently) remind him, he'd better call someone else.

:2funny: what was he selling?

I never let them get to the selling point, but as he was from the "Accident Action Centre," I suppose he worked for ambulance chasers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on November 18, 2013, 09:29:55 PM
ah yes, the ambulance chasers...

My brother works in one of the emergency services and was involved in an 'incident'
As said, he got a call (from a person in a country west of England) asking how he was in light of his accident.
Brother replied "i died, just waiting to be buried..."
20 seconds later the phone line went dead  :dance:

I'm ow waiting for the opportunity to use it myself  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 19, 2013, 07:46:44 AM
Quote from: Andrew on November 18, 2013, 09:29:55 PM
ah yes, the ambulance chasers...

My brother works in one of the emergency services and was involved in an 'incident'
As said, he got a call (from a person in a country west of England) asking how he was in light of his accident.
Brother replied "i died, just waiting to be buried..."
20 seconds later the phone line went dead  :dance:

I'm ow waiting for the opportunity to use it myself  :2funny:

  Mind if I steal that and claim it as my own?  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on November 19, 2013, 12:38:40 PM
i don't think he patented it - go ahead  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 19, 2013, 03:21:54 PM
If I have time on my hands, I like to lead them along a bit.

I once told one, I just fell down the stairs, in my hurry to answer his call.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on November 20, 2013, 07:16:26 PM
I had my bi-annual check up at the dentist.
Advised since last we met i'd had to change my Oral B eletric tooth brush.
5 minutes later he says "don't know what the tooth brush is doing but stick with it. You need no work, not even a clean. Your gums and teeth are all looking healthier"

But here is the part that amused me....

My new toothbrush is.........

An Oral B eletric toothbrush  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 21, 2013, 08:12:38 AM
That anybody had the idea that this would sell ::)


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25013411

Does anybody buy calenders any more anyway?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 21, 2013, 08:33:42 AM
Yes, we buy a calender every year, from the Sapeurs-Pompiers. There are usually some lovely pictures of the local yoofs' cars upside down in ditches and the odd barn on fire. Our local fire station is staffed entirely by volunteers, and this helps them with little extras like soup.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on November 21, 2013, 04:29:51 PM
Quote from: ABERS on November 21, 2013, 08:12:38 AM
That anybody had the idea that this would sell ::)


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25013411

Does anybody buy calenders any more anyway?

in a word - no! Got me iPhone & iPad to do all that  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 22, 2013, 04:07:52 PM
Attended a talk last evening entitled "Contemporary Photography and Current Trends".

I know I was doomed when the lady, who lectures at a couple of Photographic Colleges and hosts tours around Tate Modern, started with  an image by William Eggleston. By the time coffee break came around we had seen reams of work by 'up and coming' photographers who had taken the photographic art world by storm and were destined to form the backbone of photography in the near future. I'm afraid I can't  tell you any of their names as I was trying to work out what their pictures were all about when it was announced.

I remember that one or two of them produced prints about 8 feet square, which seemed to be to the delight of the speaker and they sold for quite large amounts of wonga. It did cross my mind if they sold because of their content or just by the square foot.

Then coffee break came, always a good time to slide out without anyone noticing. On the way home I realised that all the effort I had made trying to be understanding of other's work was for nothing. My photographic dyslexia and visual ignorance has returned with a vengeance but enforcing the belief that having more fart than art is not as enjoyable as doing what you think best.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 30, 2013, 01:01:44 PM
Internet slow and unable to load French sites this morning. Switched to my UK proxy server, internet super quick and French sites loading just fine. Weird only scratches the surface.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 06, 2013, 10:52:14 AM
Just moved the keyboard on my desk to dust the latter and found a very very small slot headed screw, about 1.5mm long. It's not out of my glasses, and I can find anything else on the desk that might have had a screw that small in it. That'll distract me all day now. At least for the next few minutes anyway.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 14, 2013, 09:08:27 AM
Not today, but earlier in the week.

On the bus, I was sitting next to an extremely well groomed young woman.
She was yapping on her mobile, all the way, telling about four fires, that had occurred at her home. Or maybe her parents home. I think she even said she started them.

"And every time we poured water on, it went 'whoosh!'' (Possible chip pan fire?)

"A fireman explained, that if you put a candle under something, like a curtain, or something, it can can get so hot, it bursts into flames."

A very dangerous family to live close too, and also a very lucky family. (They probably live next door to the fire station.)

Or maybe she suffers from Münchausen syndrome?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 14, 2013, 09:24:39 AM
Went to put breakfast things in the dishwasher today. Looked bad - 6 wine glasses and only one coffee mug. Didn`t even have guests last night. My bad as some seem to say nowadays!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on December 14, 2013, 09:54:19 AM
Yep looking bad. on 2 counts.
Would have took you 2 mins to wash them in a bowl and saved you a quid or so in power etc
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 14, 2013, 10:09:05 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on December 14, 2013, 09:54:19 AM
Yep looking bad. on 2 counts.
Would have took you 2 mins to wash them in a bowl and saved you a quid or so in power etc

I didn`t say I switched it on! Always fill it right up before the switch on. ::) and to quote "Energy Saving Trust estimate that a household that only washes up by hand will pay around £13 a year more on its bills than one where only a dishwasher is used"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 08:43:40 AM
Given my antipathy to cyclists, which has not improved since the Olympics seems to have made the roads of Surrey a Mecca for every wannabee Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky groups every weekend, this caught my eye today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25366998

What a load of guff and could only have been written by a cyclist.

However that's not the reason for this post. Taking the premise of deciding if someone is employable by the way they cycle about the place, could the same be applied to photographers and their approach to their hobby? What sort of job would suit a photographer that enjoys tramping around the countryside laden down with a backpack containing three or four bodies half a dozen or so lenses and a tripod for example? In what department would you employ a photographer that produces the same type of picture week after week?

Answers on a postcard please?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 16, 2013, 11:30:04 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 08:43:40 AM
Given my antipathy to cyclists, which has not improved since the Olympics seems to have made the roads of Surrey a Mecca for every wannabee Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky groups every weekend, this caught my eye today



   Absolutely right Alan. Far better they be in cars getting fat rather than fit and,of course, in a car your only likely to injure someone else through your inattention rather than just yourself!  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 12:08:05 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 16, 2013, 11:30:04 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 08:43:40 AM
Given my antipathy to cyclists, which has not improved since the Olympics seems to have made the roads of Surrey a Mecca for every wannabee Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky groups every weekend, this caught my eye today



   Absolutely right Alan. Far better they be in cars getting fat rather than fit and,of course, in a car your only likely to injure someone else through your inattention rather than just yourself!  :tup:

Not just getting fit but quite often getting flat due to total lack of road etiquette and non-adherance to road discipline. :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 16, 2013, 01:08:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 12:08:05 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 16, 2013, 11:30:04 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 08:43:40 AM
Given my antipathy to cyclists, which has not improved since the Olympics seems to have made the roads of Surrey a Mecca for every wannabee Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky groups every weekend, this caught my eye today



   Absolutely right Alan. Far better they be in cars getting fat rather than fit and,of course, in a car your only likely to injure someone else through your inattention rather than just yourself!  :tup:

Not just getting fit but quite often getting flat due to total lack of road etiquette and non-adherance to road discipline. :tup:

Perhaps it's just where you live Alan. I know London cycle commuting is unlike any other, for example I read lots of comments on Londoncentric cycle forums about "Red Light Jumping", I've never actually seen anyone do that around here (seen loads of cars taking chances though).
   I also hear lots of complaints from cyclists about bad driver attitude, I don't see that either, certainly no more than when I'm driving.
   When I'm cycling I have the same attitude and road sense as when I'm driving and vice versa. I wait in the queue, let traffic out at junctions when I have the opportunity and so on.
   I can't but help regarding blanket criticism of cyclists in the same way as blanket criticism of  photographers being "Pedos and Terrorists" ie mild annoyance and disappointment.
   As I say perhaps you just happen to live in something of a hotspot.  :( but  :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: oggalily on December 16, 2013, 02:57:53 PM
As a Surrey-based cyclist I feel like I should chime in here.  I and all of my cycling friends are careful and conscientious.  Despite this we are regularly barraged with abuse by drivers who speed past well in excess of the speed limit and without giving us enough space (half a car's width according to the Highway Code).  Cyclists who flout the rules are a small minority in my experience.  As for the official statistics, it is most often the driver that is at fault in collisions with cyclists, with factors including inattention, speeding, and alcohol impairment.  More detail is here: http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/cycling/facts-figures.aspx

So I too take exception to the inaccurate stereotype.

I'm sure Alan's comments were tongue-in-cheek, and so as not to end on a sour note, I will have a stab at answering your question.  There are photographers who have good people skills, such as portrait/wedding photographers, who would be good in customer-facing jobs; there are some who are into the gear and have a very technical focus, so I guess they would make good engineers / IT practitioners; and those who appreciate the artistry would do well in other creative endeavours.   As for myself, I like the challenge of working to a brief on the comps, from concept to execution; my wife will attest as I was prancing around with my LED headtorch and a blue gel in the garden last Sunday night emulating moonlight for my comp entry.  Does that make me a problem solver? 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on December 16, 2013, 03:08:56 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 16, 2013, 08:43:40 AM
Given my antipathy to cyclists, which has not improved since the Olympics seems to have made the roads of Surrey a Mecca for every wannabee Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky groups every weekend, this caught my eye today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25366998

What a load of guff and could only have been written by a cyclist.

However that's not the reason for this post. Taking the premise of deciding if someone is employable by the way they cycle about the place, could the same be applied to photographers and their approach to their hobby? What sort of job would suit a photographer that enjoys tramping around the countryside laden down with a backpack containing three or four bodies half a dozen or so lenses and a tripod for example? In what department would you employ a photographer that produces the same type of picture week after week?

Answers on a postcard please?

Hadn't realised that you had antipathy towards cyclists - you've been ok to me  :D
I do agree though that the report is based on getting to the column in by the deadline and getting her pay check for said commision.

London is a place like no other in the UK for cyclists, and it does require a slightly different strategy, one that does involve a "survivial of the fittest" mentality. I've tried it 3 times - never again, I can walk it.

As for using photography as a yard stick for employment prospects, I think that would be worse than cycling. At least cycling has clearly defined rules on which to base a decision - photography, so far as I can see, has a set of arbitary rules that can be ignored on the basis that "it is art" - and art is only as good as the viewers opinion.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 17, 2013, 08:17:56 AM
I was thinking the bloke with that's keen on lugging all his equipment around might be well employed in the loading bay, and the bloke that takes repetitious pictures might do well in accounts.

Those that break or bend the rules are a cert for PR, and those that stick rigidly to the rules are more suited to Personnel, or HR as I believe it's now called.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 17, 2013, 03:20:09 PM
Inflation at 2.1% - don`t make me laugh. Seems to me governments have got increasingly devious at cooking the inflation books! :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 18, 2013, 06:46:35 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.

Did he have a white stick?  :P :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 18, 2013, 06:49:02 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.

You were bemused, he was just bewitched. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 07:22:46 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 18, 2013, 06:49:02 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.

You were bemused, he was just bewitched. ;)

Cursed more likely! Poor chap.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on December 18, 2013, 07:37:17 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.
He wanted to do a little nude posing for you ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 07:44:18 PM
Quote from: donoreo on December 18, 2013, 07:37:17 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.
He wanted to do a little nude posing for you ;)

If only he'd offered; we might have taken him up on it. (I was with a male photographer friend, who, at the time, was shooting a little further away.)

Oh and another amazing thing: I was interviewed at the same venue, by the local rag. And photographed as well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on December 19, 2013, 02:50:27 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 07:44:18 PM
Quote from: donoreo on December 18, 2013, 07:37:17 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.
He wanted to do a little nude posing for you ;)

If only he'd offered; we might have taken him up on it. (I was with a male photographer friend, who, at the time, was shooting a little further away.)

Oh and another amazing thing: I was interviewed at the same venue, by the local rag. And photographed as well.
You must have "had it going on" that day  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 19, 2013, 03:20:09 PM
Quote from: donoreo on December 19, 2013, 02:50:27 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 07:44:18 PM
Quote from: donoreo on December 18, 2013, 07:37:17 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 18, 2013, 05:02:21 PM
Being chatted up by a young (good looking!) chap, my daughter's age!

Saw me taking photos, and used that as a 'lead in,' if that's the right expression.
He wanted to do a little nude posing for you ;)

If only he'd offered; we might have taken him up on it. (I was with a male photographer friend, who, at the time, was shooting a little further away.)

Oh and another amazing thing: I was interviewed at the same venue, by the local rag. And photographed as well.
You must have "had it going on" that day  ;)

Yes, it was all happening at once.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 26, 2013, 08:40:45 AM
Need an arty description of what your work means ?
Look no further...
http://www.artybollocks.com/

My work ...well

My work explores the relationship between new class identities and daytime TV.

With influences as diverse as Munch and Francis Bacon, new insights are distilled from both orderly and random structures.

Ever since I was a student I have been fascinated by the essential unreality of meaning. What starts out as contemplation soon becomes corroded into a tragedy of distress, leaving only a sense of what could have been and the chance of a new synthesis.

As temporal forms become distorted through studious and repetitive practice, the viewer is left with an insight into the darkness of our world.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 26, 2013, 09:07:17 AM
An insight into the darkness ... How revealing.

But a great description.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 26, 2013, 11:41:49 AM
Quote from: jinky on December 26, 2013, 08:40:45 AM
Need an arty description of what your work means ?
Look no further...
http://www.artybollocks.com/

My work ...well

My work explores the relationship between new class identities and daytime TV.

With influences as diverse as Munch and Francis Bacon, new insights are distilled from both orderly and random structures.

Ever since I was a student I have been fascinated by the essential unreality of meaning. What starts out as contemplation soon becomes corroded into a tragedy of distress, leaving only a sense of what could have been and the chance of a new synthesis.

As temporal forms become distorted through studious and repetitive practice, the viewer is left with an insight into the darkness of our world.

How so very true!  :tup:

A great insight into your work Jinky (What does it actually mean?)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 26, 2013, 12:16:33 PM
have guests here for the holidays. It's a small trailer so not a lot of spare space. Normally I'd have been up and hour ago, put on a pot of coffee and done some scrubbing up. But some one's sleeping on the couch near the kitchen, so here I am sitting outside in my Florida room banging away on my ipad. At least it is warm enough to enjoy the outside, in the dark, with helicopters circling over head.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 30, 2013, 07:19:55 AM
As you may know I do the odd wedding here and there to pay for my travels which means I am on a number of facebook wedding groups where brides seek to get people to shoot for nothing if they can. I stick to my prices and thus have only had a couple of bookings from there and should give them up but... I just cannot resist seeing what they are asking for and always "on a budget". Chocolate fountains and the lie are old hat. Now they want fully stocked candy carts (guess where they are from) for kids to get sick on,  giant 3ft sparklers for the shots, goldfish tea light bowls, intricate table layouts / name cards they`ll pay people loads to make, photobooths for a couple of hours costing half what I am charging for 12 hours work - got to be seen to be believed and no matter how little their budget it is they want it all. This morning I look and a new low. "Anyone know if there are any little people in Leeds area?" She asks . A photographer I know asks what she means and she says "I want a dwarf to dress as an elf to hand out sweets and presents to the kids" !!! This photographer replies she`s got a friend with some syndrome who is very short and she`ll get in touch!! Now I try never to comment on the stupidity and crassness in  there for fear of harming business but really. Havig deleted my original comment I settled for a "Gulp!!!". The poster has now asked what I mean by "Gulp" which I think I`ll ignore as the photographer is admin for the group and would probably ban me if I explained but really.Is it just me that finds this crass, exploitative and in very poor taste! :uglystupid2: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 30, 2013, 08:06:49 AM
Absolutely horrible. People have become so rude and amoral, and seem to have lost, what used to be called 'common decency.'

I blame the reality shows, the celebrity world, and the popularity of social media. Everything seems to be about me, me, me and me. Never a thought for anyone outside the very narrow peer group.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 30, 2013, 08:15:07 AM
I agree R - I feel we have gone backwards in the last 5/6 years - almost a backlash to what was perceived as being too PC. I almost feel like replying the gulp is the sound of the "little person" landing face down in the mud in the dwarf throwing  competition she`ll no doubt be having as part of the other entertainment !
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 30, 2013, 08:26:53 AM
Well it might be just you, up to a point. I was reading an interview with Warwick Davis in the Torygraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/10539520/Warwick-Davis-I-was-paid-60-a-day-for-Star-Wars.html) yesterday (might be pay- walled). He runs the leading UK agency for dwarf and short performers. I'm sure he'd have a client to take the booking, but like you Paul, it wouldn't be free ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 30, 2013, 08:30:20 AM
Quote from: jinky on December 30, 2013, 08:15:07 AM
I agree R - I feel we have gone backwards in the last 5/6 years - almost a backlash to what was perceived as being too PC. I almost feel like replying the gulp is the sound of the "little person" landing face down in the mud in the dwarf throwing  competition she`ll no doubt be having as part of the other entertainment !

You'd better keep your head down, if you get business from this group. Just call it an astonished intake of breath, at such an idea. She'll probably interpret it as a clever/bright/original idea, while more sensitive souls will know what you mean.
And as H says, there are small actors, but they won't be cheap, I guess.

Has no one else reacted?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 30, 2013, 09:07:30 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 30, 2013, 08:06:49 AM
Everything seems to be about me, me, me and me. Never a thought for anyone outside the very narrow peer group.

Now I wonder whose divisive policies it was that started people thinking like that?

I suppose we ought to ban Snow White as a pantomime and never watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, however there never seems to be a reluctance for vertically challenged people to take part.  ;)

Weddings seem to be an occasion for outlandish displays of excess rather than a day of simple celebration of happiness. Here endeth the first lesson!! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 30, 2013, 09:13:31 AM
Quote from: ABERS on December 26, 2013, 11:41:49 AM
Quote from: jinky on December 26, 2013, 08:40:45 AM
Need an arty description of what your work means ?
Look no further...
http://www.artybollocks.com/

My work ...well

My work explores the relationship between new class identities and daytime TV.

With influences as diverse as Munch and Francis Bacon, new insights are distilled from both orderly and random structures.

Ever since I was a student I have been fascinated by the essential unreality of meaning. What starts out as contemplation soon becomes corroded into a tragedy of distress, leaving only a sense of what could have been and the chance of a new synthesis.

As temporal forms become distorted through studious and repetitive practice, the viewer is left with an insight into the darkness of our world.

How so very true!  :tup:

A great insight into your work Jinky (What does it actually mean?)

Words are like leaves; and where they most abound,
much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 01, 2014, 12:11:17 PM
So, WAMT?

I've been going through past images as I import them to the 'current' computer, seriously culling most whilst processing and posting the odd one over at 500px.
I made a point that I would not get involved in the 'how to get into the popular collection' of pictures, and my profile even makes such a comment.

So, I was amused to wake up and find a simple picture of the Checkpoint Charlie Tourist Attraction taken a few years ago had reached the 'Popular Collection' of images.
All I had done was cropped the image, desuturated and add grain so the picture looked like a print from a time when the real Checkpoint Charlie existed - and added an ascerbic comment about how it had been turned into a money making tourist attraction.

If ever proof was needed as to what tickles a togs fancy as to what we percieve will tickle a togs fancy - this is a case in hand.

The link to the pic is here: http://500px.com/photo/56419154 - and time to post it onto Twitter for more compliments  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 02, 2014, 03:19:35 PM
Quote from: Andrew on January 01, 2014, 12:11:17 PM
So, WAMT?

I've been going through past images as I import them to the 'current' computer, seriously culling most whilst processing and posting the odd one over at 500px.


Can somebody tell me what 500px is? It seems to be impossible to find out anything about it before signing up, and I don't wish to sign up to something without being aware of the T&Cs, or, in the case, even what it is for and/or does.

Ta.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 02, 2014, 03:35:42 PM
Now found the T&Cs and created an account. Trying to work it out. Can't get anything to upload. Wasted a lot of time typing. Unimpressed so far.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 02, 2014, 06:09:06 PM
I know a lot of people that went to 500px when Flickr went daft. I`m not sure what to do. I`ve cl,eared out a lot of groups on flickr and meant to go back to using that as well but just get turned off by the whole appearance of it. Tell me waht you make of 500px H and I might join you there
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 02, 2014, 07:25:39 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 02, 2014, 03:19:35 PM
Can somebody tell me what 500px is? It seems to be impossible to find out anything about it before signing up, and I don't wish to sign up to something without being aware of the T&Cs, or, in the case, even what it is for and/or does.

Ta.
500px is a nice Canadian company (in fact Flickr was too before Yahoo bought them!) that I have applied to several times and never heard back.  Obviously I am not geeky enough to even get an interview with them (these are all IT positions). 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 02, 2014, 07:40:05 PM
Quote from: jinky on January 02, 2014, 06:09:06 PM
I know a lot of people that went to 500px when Flickr went daft. I`m not sure what to do. I`ve cl,eared out a lot of groups on flickr and meant to go back to using that as well but just get turned off by the whole appearance of it. Tell me waht you make of 500px H and I might join you there

Not H, but here is my take on 500px.

It is a bit fidly to get used to, but once you get the hang - it's like any other forum.
It is a Flickr like forum, in that it is designed to show case pictures. Where it has always differed from Flickr, and it's not just me thinks this, is that some how the images seem to look better when viewed on 500px as opposed to when viewed on Flickr - not sure why, sure there is a technical explaination but i'm not really bothered.

Generally speaking, most images are of better quality than what you posted on Flickr - that may be because it is still unspoiled in the same way that Flickr has been.
Pictures really are posted from people all over the world, and not just down the road from where you seem to live, as in Flickr - and the levels of ineraction seem to be of a mainly friendly basis - haven't noticed any trolling, not saying there hasn't been any - just that I haven't spotted any.

I really like the ability to view pictures that have been posted recently and see what's new and what's interesting or maybe showing a new trend etc.

That'll do for now. I'm still learning how to understand it fully, but it suits my purpose far more than Flickr does and as with Flickr of old, you have a paid version or free version.
I use the paid version (i think - gonna have to check now). Mmmm - i'm off in case i've got other stuff wrong  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on January 02, 2014, 07:42:52 PM
I tried it recently when they offered a free membership, uploaded 2 pics and then visited once.
Did not see anything there that really made me want to go back but maybe I didn't look to hard.
Donny Campbell ( vxisme) joined them a while ago so he may be able to comment on its merits if you contact him via pm here or on FLICKR
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 03, 2014, 01:39:36 PM
I'm having another stab at it today. So far it's complete rubbish. It turns out that the pictures it said hadn't uploaded yesterday had uploaded every time I clicked the upload button, so I had 6 copies of the same picture on there. I've logged on six times so far and EVERY time it asks me to 'Create your flow', which I think I have worked out is geek speak for 'say what you're interested in'. EVERY time I create this 'flow' it forgets it. It then has a page about 'curate your flow'. I have no idea at all what the heck that means. There appear to be only 7 options, and you have to choose someone you have probably never heard of (I don't know any of the names) to be a 'curator'. I didn't pick any. Then you go back a page that says 'hey, your flow appears to be empty'. If you think Flickr is annoying, this site takes irritation and user unfriendliness to a new dimension. And this is before you start getting error 503 service unavailable on most of the drop down menus. Utter crud.

There is no immediately obvious way of working out what the site does for free, what it does for money, or how much money they want. I haven't found a single comment on anything so far. There is nothing much to like about the 500px site so far. It might be OK when you get into it (?) but they make it as difficult as possible to get started. I wonder how many people have just given up?

Just discovered that despite the name you need to upload images at least 3000px on the long side, no watermarks, no copyright notices. Thanks for telling me at the outset guys. As you cannot replace photos like you can in Flickr I've got to start again.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 03, 2014, 02:10:37 PM
that sounds like a real pain.  I know someone from my camera club uses 500px and likes it. 

I have stuck with Flickr, I really like the new layout, the old one was old and very, very tired. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 03, 2014, 02:26:47 PM
The one and only thing I don't like about the new Flickr is that you have to type in the command to start a group slide show. I agree with you about the rest it of, it just looks so much better, and for me it's faster too.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 12, 2014, 09:31:59 AM
Luvvies complaining about the cost of childcare! If YOU can't look after YOUR children don't have them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 12, 2014, 11:04:52 AM
Quote from: ABERS on January 12, 2014, 09:31:59 AM
Luvvies complaining about the cost of childcare! If YOU can't look after YOUR children don't have them.

"Here Here" Abers. I`ve a niece banging on about it now and using her semi retired mum to childmind for 2 days and moaning because she will not do a third on her only day off.  Added to that my eldest is wedding planning and just advised all it will be a no child zone - not just for her cousins kids but also her best friends kids. The best friends with younger kids are saying fine - we`ll have a child free day whilst the niece and nephew(who has also used family extensively for childcare) are moaning that weekends are family time and they cannot come without them. Those would be the same kids you are palming off for a "parents only Sunday night" and anytime you get the chance whilst moaning about childcare costs then.  Feel better getting that off my chest - I`m on the edge of going a step too far with family just now but then thinking it says us a few quid if the miserable buggers use the kid thing as an excuse not to come.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 12, 2014, 11:07:37 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 03, 2014, 02:26:47 PM
The one and only thing I don't like about the new Flickr is that you have to type in the command to start a group slide show. I agree with you about the rest it of, it just looks so much better, and for me it's faster too.

I spent an hour last night trying to work out how to post an image into a group comp thread. Turned out the only way I could do it was by turning off the beta version and going back to the other version. Can you share to a flickr group from the beta version?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 12, 2014, 12:19:54 PM
Quote from: jinky on January 12, 2014, 11:07:37 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 03, 2014, 02:26:47 PM
The one and only thing I don't like about the new Flickr is that you have to type in the command to start a group slide show. I agree with you about the rest it of, it just looks so much better, and for me it's faster too.

I spent an hour last night trying to work out how to post an image into a group comp thread. Turned out the only way I could do it was by turning off the beta version and going back to the other version. Can you share to a flickr group from the beta version?

I haven't 'signed up' for the beta version, but the way Flickr is going, we'll probably automatically be 'signed in' shortly.

About bringing up kids, I totally agree, that they need the constant presence of a committed adult. A parent, grand parent or child minder, as long as he/she is committed to the child(ren) and is there for them. And not a succession of child minders/nurseries etc.

Up to the age of about four, a child does not have to be socialised, and the company of the one committed adult is enough. I have learnt this from experience.
Babies and toddlers learn by constantly watching and 'following' us, while we 'chat' to them, explain things, and generally give them our attention. This constant interaction/attention cannot be provided by a nursery, no matter how well staffed.

I have seen gruesome examples with some of the grandchildren of my friends in Holland. Almost without exception, the ones that were 'brought up' in nurseries from a very early age (Oh, but he absolutely loved it there), are now suffering ADHD, and don't do well at school. Often the parents have compensated for their lack of attention with expensive toys etc. These kids had mobiles, computer games etc from a very early age.

The ones that are being brought up by their own parents, seem so much better adjusted, are lovely to meet and generally thrive. They also seem happy to play 'old fashioned' (non electronic) games, and interact with each other.

But ... I am told, every family needs two earners to be able to live in these expensive times.

And not being in that situation, I cannot comment on that.

So, that's my piece for the day. For the rest, I'll stick to short comments, or be silent.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 12, 2014, 01:33:15 PM
I didn`t sign up for the beta version either. It was just there and as I had been on it so little , not liking the look, I have not been near it. Just reduced the number of groups I am in and trying to get used to it but found I could only post when I deselected the beta version with a button down in the corner. Beta looks easy for sharing images with flickr, tumblr, twitter etc - just not in their own groups!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 12, 2014, 03:26:53 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 12, 2014, 09:31:59 AM
Luvvies complaining about the cost of childcare! If YOU can't look after YOUR children don't have them.
They can move to Quebec, $5 per day daycare.  Unless it is the general costs of children (no including your sanity ;) ), then yes.   Same rule applies: if you cannot afford it do not do it.  That applies to everything, not just children. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on January 12, 2014, 06:09:14 PM
I was bemused by my wife's interpretation of a comment I made.

We had just got to our holiday villa and as I looked out of the window there was a wonderful scene. I said, 'I wish I had remembered my wide and lens.' (Totally innocent comment).

My wife was less than impressed as she was just bending over getting something out of the suitcase. She thought my comment was aimed at her!!
:o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 12, 2014, 07:34:04 PM
Well, you will not be touching any of that for a while I imagine :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 12, 2014, 08:25:39 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 12, 2014, 12:19:54 PM
About bringing up kids, I totally agree, that they need the constant presence of a committed adult.

Let's leave it at that shall we? Only people who need to be committed ever get to raise children  :tup: :legit: :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 12, 2014, 08:28:12 PM
Quote from: jinky on January 12, 2014, 01:33:15 PM
I didn`t sign up for the beta version either. It was just there and as I had been on it so little , not liking the look, I have not been near it. Just reduced the number of groups I am in and trying to get used to it but found I could only post when I deselected the beta version with a button down in the corner. Beta looks easy for sharing images with flickr, tumblr, twitter etc - just not in their own groups!  :uglystupid2:

Haven't been on Flickr in months. Don't recognize it. :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 13, 2014, 01:51:27 PM
Went to a local city park here in Largo late yesterday aft. What bemused me was the idea that Im in this semi tropical nature area, in the middle of the city. Look one way it's like a Tarzan movie complete with the soundtrack. Look the other way and there's these big pink apartments.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 13, 2014, 02:32:22 PM
Quote from: spinner on January 12, 2014, 08:28:12 PM
Quote from: jinky on January 12, 2014, 01:33:15 PM
I didn`t sign up for the beta version either. It was just there and as I had been on it so little , not liking the look, I have not been near it. Just reduced the number of groups I am in and trying to get used to it but found I could only post when I deselected the beta version with a button down in the corner. Beta looks easy for sharing images with flickr, tumblr, twitter etc - just not in their own groups!  :uglystupid2:

Haven't been on Flickr in months. Don't recognize it. :'(
They switched last May.  Must have been a while :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 14, 2014, 06:28:39 PM
Workers at our local cable factory have gone on strike - for the right to work more than the mandatory 35 hours a week. We're a bit right wing around these parts, apparently.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 14, 2014, 07:37:13 PM
Craziness! 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 14, 2014, 11:13:53 PM
Quote from: donoreo on January 14, 2014, 07:37:13 PM
Craziness!

They are French after all!  :P :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 15, 2014, 07:34:38 AM
It does seem a bit loopy. But they realise that the socialist law 'protecting' them from working more than 35 hours a week is actually putting all of their jobs at risk as they cannot be competitive even among other European countries, let alone the world. They want to be able to earn more too. They won't be out long, probably just the day, making a point: after all the government is to blame, not the employer. And our government at the moment is absolutely barking  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 15, 2014, 09:41:40 AM
Strange people the froggies. Having spent many many hours in their much loved meetings it was amazing how they adhered strictly to working hours. e.g. One item left on the agenda at 5pm which would take about ten minutes to clear but no that would have to wait until the next day since the working day was up.

Spent many an extra night in Paris for an extra 10-15 minutes work.

Strike at the drop of hat, especially on a Friday, especially the airlines!

Still I suppose you need time to keep the Missus and the bit on the side happy!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 15, 2014, 10:55:53 AM
There seem to be two types of French workers, the clock watchers and the see it through ones. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. Mostly it's the self employed who work all hours, but I'm not so sure that's different in most economies. The civil service is staffed almost entirely by the female of the species, because they get to retire early with full pensions after they have had 3 children. And, of course, the strict working hours suit parenthood as they can always be there to drop off and collect the children from school. So it's swings and roundabouts, as all these things are. I can't remember who said it, but it seems to me to be very true that the world isn't black and white, it's just different shades of grey.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 17, 2014, 10:21:55 PM
Getting an invitation to enter a competition where, if I won, I would get to spend two days in London, just 10 miles up the road! :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 17, 2014, 10:38:48 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 17, 2014, 10:21:55 PM
Getting an invitation to enter a competition where, if I won, I would get to spend two days in London, just 10 miles up the road! :doh:

Yes, but if you didn't win would you have to leave?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 18, 2014, 08:28:12 AM
A young father (not much older than seventeen, if that), sitting on the bus and bending over the pushchair in front of him, showing a lot of back, a builders' bum, and acres of underpants before his trousers 'started.'
One hand waving a toy to amuse his son, the other frantically pulling down his top to cover his rear, over and over again.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on January 18, 2014, 12:29:21 PM
A wonderful description. I can really see this. I wonder if you could have done it justice with a camera.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 18, 2014, 12:45:56 PM
Quote from: SimonW on January 18, 2014, 12:29:21 PM
A wonderful description. I can really see this. I wonder if you could have done it justice with a camera.

I was simply too close. Probably needed a short video anyway.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 18, 2014, 01:57:57 PM
Have to give him credit for amusing the child.   Adults should wear trousers that fit.  Problem with some young adults is they got so used to their trousers being loose and low as teens is that they do not know how they should fit!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 19, 2014, 09:03:58 AM
Quote from: donoreo on January 18, 2014, 01:57:57 PM
Have to give him credit for amusing the child.   Adults should wear trousers that fit.  Problem with some young adults is they got so used to their trousers being loose and low as teens is that they do not know how they should fit!

In this case, the father was not much more than a kid himself. His girlfriend was one of those 'tarted up,' slightly overweight girls that could have been anywhere between fourteen and twenty.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 21, 2014, 10:53:40 AM
Got the old "hello sir it`s Windows ringing about your computer - are you sat at it now by any chance?" routing today. Now I usually like to waste their time and play along with them for a laugh but today after saying "Amazing - how did you know that?" I said "What crap are you going to tell me about my computer?". His answer was short " That you`re a fu***** idiot" he said! :o.   " Not as big a fu***** idiot as you took me for you f****** wa****" I heard myself reply. Don`t usually swear like that but I`d read Abers earlier post and decided to fight fire with fire. He hung up on me then. I think I`ll have to complain to Windows about the attitude and poor customer service training  of their "staff". ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 21, 2014, 11:39:34 AM
Quote from: jinky on January 21, 2014, 10:53:40 AM
Got the old "hello sir it`s Windows ringing about your computer - are you sat at it now by any chance?" routing today. Now I usually like to waste their time and play along with them for a laugh but today after saying "Amazing - how did you know that?" I said "What crap are you going to tell me about my computer?". His answer was short " That you`re a fu***** idiot" he said! :o.   " Not as big a fu***** idiot as you took me for you f****** wa****" I heard myself reply. Don`t usually swear like that but I`d read Abers earlier post and decided to fight fire with fire. He hung up on me then. I think I`ll have to complain to Windows about the attitude and poor customer service training  of their "staff". ;)

I've only had one call from Windows in the last few weeks. Missing them a bit; used to get them at least every other day.

What bemused me today, is to receive an invitation to an exhibition and book launch in Dubai.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on January 21, 2014, 11:57:16 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 21, 2014, 11:39:34 AM
Quote from: jinky on January 21, 2014, 10:53:40 AM
Got the old "hello sir it`s Windows ringing about your computer - are you sat at it now by any chance?" routing today. Now I usually like to waste their time and play along with them for a laugh but today after saying "Amazing - how did you know that?" I said "What crap are you going to tell me about my computer?". His answer was short " That you`re a fu***** idiot" he said! :o.   " Not as big a fu***** idiot as you took me for you f****** wa****" I heard myself reply. Don`t usually swear like that but I`d read Abers earlier post and decided to fight fire with fire. He hung up on me then. I think I`ll have to complain to Windows about the attitude and poor customer service training  of their "staff". ;)

I've only had one call from Windows in the last few weeks. Missing them a bit; used to get them at least every other day.

What bemused me today, is to receive an invitation to an exhibition and book launch in Dubai.

Sounds great!! Is it all expenses paid?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 21, 2014, 02:47:07 PM
I have had the Windows calling guys.  I say "That's very interesting since I have a Mac".  Sometimes I tell them I run Linux and that just confuses them more. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 21, 2014, 04:15:27 PM
I never get them. Or at least I might, but when someone cold calls and asks for me by name I tell them that I am 'his' (ie my) PA and that 'he' is only taking personal calls today. Then they hang up. Mrs H is even quicker, she just says no, and waits for the click.

Like jinky though, it is sometimes great fun to wind them up.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 21, 2014, 05:39:53 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on January 21, 2014, 11:57:16 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 21, 2014, 11:39:34 AM
Quote from: jinky on January 21, 2014, 10:53:40 AM
Got the old "hello sir it`s Windows ringing about your computer - are you sat at it now by any chance?" routing today. Now I usually like to waste their time and play along with them for a laugh but today after saying "Amazing - how did you know that?" I said "What crap are you going to tell me about my computer?". His answer was short " That you`re a fu***** idiot" he said! :o.   " Not as big a fu***** idiot as you took me for you f****** wa****" I heard myself reply. Don`t usually swear like that but I`d read Abers earlier post and decided to fight fire with fire. He hung up on me then. I think I`ll have to complain to Windows about the attitude and poor customer service training  of their "staff". ;)

I've only had one call from Windows in the last few weeks. Missing them a bit; used to get them at least every other day.

What bemused me today, is to receive an invitation to an exhibition and book launch in Dubai.

Sounds great!! Is it all expenses paid?

Sadly no, it is assumed I have the ready cash to go flitting off to exhibitions over there.


About cold callers: I prefer the ambulance chasers, who try to convince me that I, or someone on our phone number they were 'given by the hospital,' has had an accident in the last three years. You can really 'feed' them, which I enjoy if I have nothing better to do.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 22, 2014, 08:05:10 PM
This:

http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2014/01/22/westend_house_attracts_32_bids_sells_for_210000_above_asking.html (http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2014/01/22/westend_house_attracts_32_bids_sells_for_210000_above_asking.html)

The short story: a house sold for $210,000 OVER the asking price.  32 offers were made on it! 

Here is the pretty pictures of the house: http://toursler.com/325-perth/junction-triangle-semi (http://toursler.com/325-perth/junction-triangle-semi)

It is ok, but not awesome. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 24, 2014, 10:37:16 AM
In my inbox this morning was a mail from OnOne offering me Perfect Effects 8 Premium for free. I did purchase a licence for Perfect Effects 7 some time ago, the basic version, but I was naturally suspicious.

So I thought, gift horse, mouth, why not? So I followed the links which all appear to be genuine, virus checked the download, and installed. It is much better than v7, and very Nik looking in certain ways. I'm sure it will be useful and I shall play with it properly in the fullness of time.

I'm still puzzled though, as to how it was that I received this offer. I wonder if the licence will turn out to be for limited time only, to be followed by a 'you really like this, now pay up' message. Still, in the meantime . . perhaps this should be in WMFGT instead? Answers on a postcard, please.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 24, 2014, 02:04:32 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 24, 2014, 10:37:16 AM
In my inbox this morning was a mail from OnOne offering me Perfect Effects 8 Premium for free. I did purchase a licence for Perfect Effects 7 some time ago, the basic version, but I was naturally suspicious.

So I thought, gift horse, mouth, why not? So I followed the links which all appear to be genuine, virus checked the download, and installed. It is much better than v7, and very Nik looking in certain ways. I'm sure it will be useful and I shall play with it properly in the fullness of time.

I'm still puzzled though, as to how it was that I received this offer. I wonder if the licence will turn out to be for limited time only, to be followed by a 'you really like this, now pay up' message. Still, in the meantime . . perhaps this should be in WMFGT instead? Answers on a postcard, please.  ;)

if you check the e-mail address for what it 'really is' as opposed to 'what you see' in your from field - that is the easiest way to check out authenticity.
A spoofed e-mail will actually show up another e-mail address if you check its details, return path etc...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 24, 2014, 02:46:35 PM
Useful hint Andrew - for those who don't know in Thunderbird it is under 'other actions' 'view source'. It did say it was from OnOne ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 24, 2014, 03:33:56 PM
I use both Hotmail and Gmail. Occasionally I like to read 'interesting looking' spam. In Hotmail, you can do that by clicking 'view message source,' and read it without actually opening it.

Is there something similar in Gmail? And if so, where do I find it?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 26, 2014, 03:57:36 PM
Local news reports a knife wielding woman had caused a bit if a fuss in a branch of House of Fraser.
Reports further say she was detained with the help of pepper spray

and i just wondered...

Was this pepper spray available in all good branches of House of Fraser?  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
And should we take any rumours of excessive use of pepper spray with a "pinch of salt?"  :D :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 26, 2014, 11:11:18 PM
Quote from: Andrew on January 26, 2014, 03:57:36 PM
Local news reports a knife wielding woman had caused a bit if a fuss in a branch of House of Fraser.
Reports further say she was detained with the help of pepper spray

and i just wondered...

Was this pepper spray available in all good branches of House of Fraser?  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
And should we take any rumours of excessive use of pepper spray with a "pinch of salt?"  :D :D

The men in white coats are on their way!  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on January 26, 2014, 11:39:41 PM
sadly they don't wear white coats anymore, but they do come incognito with the same purpose  8)
Just don't answer the door!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 27, 2014, 12:26:55 PM
Clearing out a load of old images and came across this tucked away on my HD. My first and only attempt at Paparizzi'

I remember another photographer being somewhat forcibly ushered away by a couple of burly suits after getting quite close to Charley boy and protesting loudly saying "I've helped keep him all my life, surely he won't object to me getting his picture!"  :2funny:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_CHARLES.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15190&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 27, 2014, 05:02:54 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 27, 2014, 12:26:55 PM
Clearing out a load of old images and came across this tucked away on my HD. My first and only attempt at Paparizzi'

I remember another photographer being somewhat forcibly ushered away by a couple of burly suits after getting quite close to Charley boy and protesting loudly saying "I've helped keep him all my life, surely he won't object to me getting his picture!"  :2funny:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_CHARLES.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15190&fullsize=1)

If you can get that close to, what are now called 'celebs,' you should have stuck to it. You'd be filthy rich now!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 27, 2014, 06:34:36 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 27, 2014, 05:02:54 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 27, 2014, 12:26:55 PM
Clearing out a load of old images and came across this tucked away on my HD. My first and only attempt at Paparizzi'

I remember another photographer being somewhat forcibly ushered away by a couple of burly suits after getting quite close to Charley boy and protesting loudly saying "I've helped keep him all my life, surely he won't object to me getting his picture!"  :2funny:

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_CHARLES.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15190&fullsize=1)

If you can get that close to, what are now called 'celebs,' you should have stuck to it. You'd be filthy rich now!

Or have lots of broken cameras.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 29, 2014, 08:34:07 AM
Thoroughly enjoyed this one yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/10598635/Pictures-of-the-day-27-January-2014.html?frame=2803478
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on January 29, 2014, 08:46:17 AM
I really liked this one from the same site/ page Reinardina...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/10583471/Pictures-of-the-day-20-January-2014.html
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 29, 2014, 09:05:36 AM
Quote from: spikeyjen on January 29, 2014, 08:46:17 AM
I really liked this one from the same site/ page Reinardina...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/10583471/Pictures-of-the-day-20-January-2014.html

How could I have missed that one?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2014, 10:35:00 AM
Now go Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547628/Is-cutest-tiger-Cheeky-cub-proves-photographers-dream-poses-camera.html   :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 29, 2014, 12:51:25 PM
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on January 29, 2014, 07:42:29 PM
so glad i've decided not to upload the picture of me in my cycle lycra outfit - Mrs B is still in A&E after nearly 24 hours...  :legit: :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 30, 2014, 07:46:36 AM
Quote from: Andrew on January 29, 2014, 07:42:29 PM
so glad i've decided not to upload the picture of me in my cycle lycra outfit - Mrs B is still in A&E after nearly 24 hours...  :legit: :o

    I will if you will!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 30, 2014, 08:06:37 AM
Careful there may be children or old ladies watching! :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 30, 2014, 09:04:46 AM
There is no excuse for lycra outside of a 1980's heavy metal revival concert, and even then it's kitsch  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 02, 2014, 06:53:30 PM
Since the old currant bun put in an appearance today I decided I'd give the Chinese New Year a whirl. Got to Trafalgar Sq. about 12.45 and have never seen such a crowd. I've attended many events there, demos, remembrances,etc, but never seen it so crowded. Not just in the square but in the streets all around and even in Chinatown it was packed.

Lots of photographers in amongst it all, but the amusing thing were those with back packs and huge long lenses trying to move amongst people that were standing shoulder to shoulder and continually bumping into them whilst attempting to get the odd shot.

All I had was my NEX7 and a pancake lens and it was completely hopeless. ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on February 02, 2014, 08:02:54 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 02, 2014, 06:53:30 PM
Since the old currant bun put in an appearance today I decided I'd give the Chinese New Year a whirl. Got to Trafalgar Sq. about 12.45 and have never seen such a crowd. I've attended many events there, demos, remembrances,etc, but never seen it so crowded. Not just in the square but in the streets all around and even in Chinatown it was packed.

Lots of photographers in amongst it all, but the amusing thing were those with back packs and huge long lenses trying to move amongst people that were standing shoulder to shoulder and continually bumping into them whilst attempting to get the odd shot.

All I had was my NEX7 and a pancake lens and it was completely hopeless. ::)

Yep - know what you mean Alan. I've given up going now - no real 'spirit' any more. Last time i went they had a London Bus 'dressed' up as a dragon trying to recruit people to the Met.
As Mrs B is of Chinese origin, I'll settle with the celebrations of her and her friends of many years.
Yep, they served up burgers made from horse!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 03, 2014, 07:12:48 PM
Weather Forecasters, dependent of who I want to believe, I'm either going to be slightly annoyed come Wed. with 5 cms. to absolutely devastated with 20 cms. Only been home from Fla. 2 wks. and I've had enough. Sympathizes to Don and his family and of course my family. I'm flying back sunday. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 03, 2014, 08:04:20 PM
I shovelled snow 3 times over the weekend after coming back from Mexico.  It was fine.  I see variations of 5 -10 for Toronto but possibly more elsewhere. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 03, 2014, 09:00:36 PM
Snow is better than what we are getting - rain again.  >:( :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 04, 2014, 12:34:35 AM
There are many who would kill for rain right now.  Winter does not bother me so I do not care.   I would never consider retiring to a warm climate.  It would not feel right. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 05, 2014, 08:24:54 PM
Spotted this in Brum today!  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_DSC_5749_Police_Car.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15220&fullsize=1)

Was in Brum today when I spotted this police car with a real Pigs head on the bonnet. There was a chap taking pictures with a camera phone and he carried a box with handles that's used for meat!

This is on the Dail Mail online today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552983/Lunchtime-horror-severed-pigs-head-discovered-police-van-parked-city-centre-spot-just-yards-busy-shopping-centre.html  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on February 11, 2014, 03:15:00 PM
First off - the floods etc - if the weather turns to freezing - will the Somerset Levels become the largest ice rink ever?
Sponsored Bolero to raise money for those hit hardest by the Dancing on Ice people maybe?

Next up - I'm one of those who has pre-registered on of those new gTLD's, and got an e-mail from the company involved asking for feedback on their service and how effective the new domain name had been in raising awareness in my activities profile.

What was amusing was - the domain doesn't get released until next week. When I pointed this out he apologised and said he would look into as he thought I should have been the owner of the domain by now. 5 minutes later he came back and asked why I didn't tell him I was living in the UK - as his e-mail was for American customers only.

I expect you can imagine the 'feedback' I gave him over his gaffe!  :knuppel2: :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on February 11, 2014, 03:20:04 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on February 05, 2014, 08:24:54 PM
Spotted this in Brum today!  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_DSC_5749_Police_Car.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15220&fullsize=1)

Was in Brum today when I spotted this police car with a real Pigs head on the bonnet. There was a chap taking pictures with a camera phone and he carried a box with handles that's used for meat!

This is on the Dail Mail online today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552983/Lunchtime-horror-severed-pigs-head-discovered-police-van-parked-city-centre-spot-just-yards-busy-shopping-centre.html  :o

I wonder if the response would have been the same if they'd put orange or banana 'PEELs' or FUZZy felt on the front?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 11, 2014, 05:23:03 PM
What bemused me? After people chatting in the entry thread for weather and then suddenly finding that there are now 2 chat threads and 1 empty entry thread for the weather comp. As per message you need to put your entry in the new Entry thread  Andrew as Donoreo has split the old entry thread up and named it chat and created new entry thread.
At least I know I set it up right or I`d think I was going mad  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on February 11, 2014, 09:08:24 PM
I was slightly bemused to discover the options I have for my pension. Specifically, the last two: a lump sum and a pension for myself, or a lump sum, a pension for myself and a widow's pension for my wife. Both offer exactly the same pension for me, but the first gives a larger lump sum and a larger widow's pension for my wife than the second (the widow's pension is obligatory, which is why it comes regardless).

I queried why anyone in their right mind would choose the second; they had to work overnight on it before coming up with the answer: actuarial tables; taking us both together, we apparently live longer taken together than we do individually - or something like that.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on February 12, 2014, 07:52:13 PM
sorry for any offence - but that answer can only ellicite the response of "no sh*t"  :uglystupid2:

What is worse, is that some one got paid good money to research that conclusion and then quite a few others got paid to create computer programs to give them that answer.

I have another theory - my 2 daughters should live longer than me if taken collectively!

I wonder if these people actuarially have a life? Or any common sense?  :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 15, 2014, 10:41:09 AM
Aren't Insurance companies grand? The organization I used to work for has a retiree association that has quarterly meetings. At the last meeting i went to they had representatives of our group insurance people there to answer questions. Except that they didn't, or couldn't answer some of the more telling questions. Like for instance why, if the Province of Ont. (and Alberta but I don't live there) allows me to remain out of country for 8 mths and still be covered by our gov't. insurance, does the private top up insurance only allow a 3 month absence? Or, why, after a certain age, does the same top up insurance require me to return home every 60 days?. The answer? Oh, that's someone else's dept. Can't tell you.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 15, 2014, 01:09:41 PM
Simple answer: profit.   :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 24, 2014, 02:26:49 PM
The oldest complaint?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566569/Furious-customer-sends-complaint-Trading-Standards-turned-prostitute-brothel.html   :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 24, 2014, 02:33:46 PM
You just can't get the staff these days . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on February 24, 2014, 03:56:35 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on February 24, 2014, 02:26:49 PM
The oldest complaint?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566569/Furious-customer-sends-complaint-Trading-Standards-turned-prostitute-brothel.html   :-[

And there you have the whole issue of prostitution in nutshell.

Whilst it may be deemed an immoral activity, it has been going on since before the days of the Bible and will continue for as long as people have an urge to satiate.
What I find amazing  is just how much money swaps hand (no pun intended) in that industry and the tax man does not see a penny of it.
I wonder how much tax would be paid if the industry were to  be legalised etc?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 05, 2014, 11:45:09 AM
 Yesterday, my good lady wife took a dozen or so of her kids (she's a junior school teacher.) on a "litter pick" arranged by the school and local council to tidy up the local parks.
One of the kids drags a small rucksack from under a hedge, "something not quite right there" thinks the man from the council "Let's have a look".
Contained what I believe is known as a "Cache" of live ammunition. Presumably placed to be collected later.
I've placed a small wager with my wife that the papers don't get to hear about it.  :-X
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 05, 2014, 12:34:10 PM
Quote from: Graham on March 05, 2014, 11:45:09 AM
Yesterday, my good lady wife took a dozen or so of her kids (she's a junior school teacher.) on a "litter pick" arranged by the school and local council to tidy up the local parks.
One of the kids drags a small rucksack from under a hedge, "something not quite right there" thinks the man from the council "Let's have a look".
Contained what I believe is known as a "Cache" of live ammunition. Presumably placed to be collected later.
I've placed a small wager with my wife that the papers don't get to hear about it.  :-X

Sorry, what are you did you say?  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 05, 2014, 02:36:11 PM
Wow.  You could make sure the papers hear about it. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 05, 2014, 02:55:23 PM
Quote from: donoreo on March 05, 2014, 02:36:11 PM
Wow.  You could make sure the papers hear about it.
Don't think that didn't ocour to me.  ;)
Unfortunately my wife still has to work there and it's the sort of area where the locals keep their ammo in the bushes!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 07, 2014, 08:54:55 PM
Overheard conversation between little girl and her mother:

"Mummy, will you cook pot noodles for tea?"
"Daddy cooks today."
"I hope he cooks MacDonald's."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 08, 2014, 07:37:29 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 07, 2014, 08:54:55 PM
Overheard conversation between little girl and her mother:

"Mummy, will you cook pot noodles for tea?"
"Daddy cooks today."
"I hope he cooks MacDonald's."
:o :'( :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 08, 2014, 08:33:22 AM
Quote from: Graham on March 08, 2014, 07:37:29 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 07, 2014, 08:54:55 PM
Overheard conversation between little girl and her mother:

"Mummy, will you cook pot noodles for tea?"
"Daddy cooks today."
"I hope he cooks MacDonald's."
:o :'( :knuppel2:

I was stunned! Is this 21st century family life?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 08, 2014, 03:03:04 PM
I have asked my wife before what she is making and she says "A phone call" :)  I actually make most evening meals here. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 08, 2014, 05:45:33 PM
Quote from: donoreo on March 08, 2014, 03:03:04 PM
I have asked my wife before what she is making and she says "A phone call" :)  I actually make most evening meals here.

But do you make a 'MacDonald's'?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 08, 2014, 08:58:40 PM
Take out once a week is it.  Usually that would be pizza. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 09, 2014, 10:43:44 PM
A remark by Brian Moore the rugby commentator during the England v Wales match.

England had just scored their second try and the Twickenham crowd were giving "Swing low" a wholehearted rendering and he said "Who said the middle classes couldn't show emotion". Giving credence to the widely held belief that it's a posh boys game. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on March 10, 2014, 07:03:32 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 09, 2014, 10:43:44 PM
A remark by Brian Moore the rugby commentator during the England v Wales match.

England had just scored their second try and the Twickenham crowd were giving "Swing low" a wholehearted rendering and he said "Who said the middle classes couldn't show emotion". Giving credence to the widely held belief that it's a posh boys game. :doh:

  What a strange thing for an experienced commentator to say! :-\
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 10, 2014, 06:52:36 PM
Had to take the p*** out of an ebay seller just then. I bought a pair of Big Apple cuff links for my daughter`s wedding next year as she has a New York theme (don`t tell anyone or I am dead!) Cheap enough for a little joke at £7.99 inc postage but when they came today one has a bubble in the paint and the other has not been pressed properly with a bit of metal extra I`ll need to file off. Also the paint finish looks bloomed and inconsistent. Being a bit of a stickler for QC I emailed saying they had faults and could I return for a replacement postage free. They replied that I could return at cost if I wished for a refund but they had no others and in any case did not consider the products as faulty as I described! I`ve replied saying that as I want then for a private joke I suppose I`ll keep them (despite their faults) but will not keep them as a favourite seller. I`ve also sent some some dictionary definitions of "faulty" and a suggestion to improve their customer service work whilst they await my negative feedback! Unbelievable!

By the way I managed to get an alternative date for the murder mystery date cancelled ( different company / offer at the same hotel in August) and have been sent a refund for my hospital TV adventure I mentioned the other day. All in all a successful Victor Meldrew / consumer rights week ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 10, 2014, 08:03:02 PM
Quote from: jinky on March 10, 2014, 06:52:36 PM

By the way I managed to get an alternative date for the murder mystery date cancelled ( different company / offer at the same hotel in August) and have been sent a refund for my hospital TV adventure I mentioned the other day. All in all a successful Victor Meldrew / consumer rights week ;)

:tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 12, 2014, 07:40:29 AM
This

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts/

Go to 'The Big Picture' and click on reveal to see what lies beyond!

Won't fall into the trap of making the age old remark about being a load of pollocks.(oh dear I have)  :-[

Can you image that greeting you in some room or other in your house. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 12, 2014, 08:24:53 AM
Dear me - smaller version better but still...Reminds me of a basically sad story made the worse by art. A friend of my wife`s over in Epinal in the Vosges of France tragically lost her husband when he committed suicide after being forced to do his 2 years military service some years ago. He left behind a wife and 2 small children ages just 2 and 3. Callous I may be but I could never see how such a selfish act was justified , pacifist or not, when it was military service in peace time. Anyway the worst thing he did was to also leave a huge (half the wall) anti war painting part abstract, part graphic war specific that always reminds me of the hero patient painting a war picture in hospital with the one legged / mutilated patients posing in front of him in the ward. Just as bad as a Pollock!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 12, 2014, 08:44:54 AM
Strange goings on. I sometimes felt a bit depressed doing national service, but not to that extent.  >:(

When I showed my wife the picture she smiled and reminded me of when my father-in-law painted his kitchen. He went all arty and used the old sponge dabbing technique, combining green with a sort of purple colour. That was when I realised that mum in law had quite a colourful and wide vocabulary, gawd bless her.

Perhaps dear old Albert was a repressed Pollock fan. ::) I'm sure I heard him mention his name a few times especially when using a hammer and he hit his thumb. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 16, 2014, 10:42:49 AM
So, if a region of country has a referendum for secession in which only the people resident in the region vote it's considered illegal; unless the region in question is Scotland, in which case it's self determination.

I think I'm getting the hang of international politics.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 16, 2014, 12:18:18 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 16, 2014, 10:42:49 AM
So, if a region of country has a referendum for secession in which only the people resident in the region vote it's considered illegal; unless the region in question is Scotland, in which case it's self determination.

I think I'm getting the hang of international politics.

I wonder if we are going back to medieval times, when, especially on the Continent, there were numerous independent states. Always trying to enlarge their fiefdoms.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 16, 2014, 12:27:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 16, 2014, 10:42:49 AM
So, if a region of country has a referendum for secession in which only the people resident in the region vote it's considered illegal; unless the region in question is Scotland, in which case it's self determination.

I think I'm getting the hang of international politics.

It's not the vote that is the problem, it's what happens when the vote is to secede. You have borders, government etc to sort out. I don't think the world has an issue with Crimea wishing to be independent or autonomous - they would like to have it happen with out Putin telling them how to vote.

And there lies the difference with the Scottish Vote. The outcome may well be independence - but without Cameron/ Clegg/ Miliband telling them how to vote - and being ready to help with the issues of seceding from the UK.

If Hitler had had the nuclear arsenal that Putin has, and operated with Putins strategy of grabbing small chunks at a time, Europe would be a very different place. And we would not have a dispute between Palestine & Isreal!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 16, 2014, 01:37:00 PM
The Crimea was only merged into the Ukraine on 19th February 1954, until then it had been one of the soviet republics in its own right. It had been part of Russia since 1783 when it was annexed by Catherine. More than 65% of the population are ethnic Russians (although according to the press a lot of Ukrainians have left since the Russians rolled in a few weeks ago, thus increasing the already significant Russian majority). The vote to rejoin Russia doesn't have to be subject to any coercion or in any way rigged, it's a foregone conclusion, with a resentment that goes back to the enforced merger with the Ukraine in 1954. The borders are easily established; just what they were 60 years ago, and the government and currency (from Moscow) are already in place.

Yes, Putin may very well enjoy gunboat diplomacy, but the western powers walked right in to this one by legitimising revolution (for the umpteenth time this century, hardly a difficult call for Putin to expect them to continue in the same vein), so it's not hard for Russia to step up and say "what about democracy?" I see that China, with no doubt one eye on Tibet and Xinjiang, abstained on the UN security council vote condemning Russia's recent actions.

So really there are two points. Firstly, there is no significant difference between the Crimean and Scottish ballots, except that as has been pointed out in the case of Scotland there are a whole load of ifs and buts over currency, borders, and EU membership to name but three. My perhaps obscure point about nationalist referenda is that secession affects the country of which the region is a part as a whole; it cannot be desirable or democratic for only one interested set of citizens to be enfranchised to the exclusion of the others. And this is rather more the case with Scotland as the political and economic integration goes back to 1707.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 16, 2014, 02:00:05 PM
The difference with Crimea right now is they are not going to independence, they are voting on joining Russia. 

We have had the same thing with Quebec.  Voted twice and both times voted to stay in the country.  One thing that may be different is that with Quebec both times the question asked on the vote was so vague and unclear that some people voted for it not really understanding what it meant.  Seriously, what the hell is "Sovereignty Association"? 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 16, 2014, 09:31:14 PM
So, as this discussion starts to appreciate the broader points of historical association - at what point do we accept the locals have a claim for getting their land back?

Shouldn't the Tartar really be the ones asked about the Crimea's future?
Should the Aborigines have some say in the outcome of Australia?
Maybe even the native Indians have a call on certain parts of the US (not the peacemeal parks they are given)?

And then of coourse we could come to the Irish question - and the awful deeds of Oliver Cromwell. Or the Spanish impact on South America and Mexico - places already inhabited...

At tthis point, i'm not even going to visit Africa - way too much to sort out in the 'developed' world.

Anyway - the vote is over - the result is roughly what was expected. The Russian forces will shortly be moving in to start building another wall (they're good at that and they do provide tourism and paranoia for those in the vicinity) and then they can start 'protecting' all the others around the Black Sea who know a few words of Russian.  :dance:

Think I'm starting to become a tad flippant - I have doubt that the East and West are as guilty as each other, with Asia, Africa and the Middle East all busy sorting out the mess we left them in!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 17, 2014, 07:41:24 AM
There's the rub Andrew - the chain of causation. I reckon as a rule of thumb you can't go back further than one human lifetime, because there is no-one alive after that who could possibly be held responsible.

Meanwhile, back in Crimea Russia the spinelessness of the rest of the world is all too plain to see. I suppose that even though Ukraine is only 3 countries and a narrow strip of water away the UK tends to look west, not east.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 17, 2014, 09:40:37 AM
The most astonishing claim to justification of land grab is the assertion of some Israelis that God gave the land to Abraham.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 19, 2014, 10:21:36 AM
My facebook newsfeed is currently filling with the latest sheep like  procession of shots of women without make up. They thank their nominator and say they are doing it to "raise awareness of  cancer". No fundraising no mention of what type of cancer. This sort of thing on facebook really annoys me. To me we are all too aware of cancer and whilst I applaud the efforts of many to raise funds to find cures / coping strategies / support such stupid antics do nothing. Much like the necnominations when people were encouraged to drink copious amounts of strange brews in one!

PS H and facebook haters - yes I know you don`t like FB but some of us have little niches there and as  a means of being in touch with some friends / getting the odd photography job  it works OK  for me - mostly!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hevans on March 19, 2014, 03:29:36 PM
Quote from: donoreo on March 16, 2014, 02:00:05 PM
The difference with Crimea right now is they are not going to independence, they are voting on joining Russia. 

We have had the same thing with Quebec.  Voted twice and both times voted to stay in the country.  One thing that may be different is that with Quebec both times the question asked on the vote was so vague and unclear that some people voted for it not really understanding what it meant.  Seriously, what the hell is "Sovereignty Association"? 

The west (and the UK in particular) must be very careful with this matter. If they fail to recognize a majority vote for self determination, it could play very awkwardly with:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 20, 2014, 07:57:30 AM
You forgot Cornwall. For shame.

My amusement this morning came from the cat imitating a fly. It decided it would like to get out on the roof, as it is a lovely sunny day. This it often does by jumping through the dormer window in the study. Only this morning I hadn't opened the window when the cat made its bid for the great outdoors. Cue double thud; one impact with the glass, one impact on the floor. The thing is, it's so stupid it looked dumbfounded, if a cat can have such an expression - or maybe that was just the concussion.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 20, 2014, 08:04:33 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 20, 2014, 07:57:30 AM
You forgot Cornwall. For shame.

My amusement this morning came from the cat imitating a fly. It decided it would like to get out on the roof, as it is a lovely sunny day. This it often does by jumping through the dormer window in the study. Only this morning I hadn't opened the window when the cat made its bid for the great outdoors. Cue double thud; one impact with the glass, one impact on the floor. The thing is, it's so stupid it looked dumbfounded, if a cat can have such an expression - or maybe that was just the concussion.  :2funny:

You're a cruel man H.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 20, 2014, 09:05:16 AM
I didn't do anything to the cat, it did it all by itself.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 20, 2014, 12:21:51 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 20, 2014, 09:05:16 AM
I didn't do anything to the cat, it did it all by itself.

But you found it  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 20, 2014, 12:57:29 PM
You'd have to have a heart of stone not to :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 21, 2014, 07:18:07 PM
Our kitchen has two doors, opposite ends of the kitchen, both leading to the L shaped living area. Cat came in and went to closed door on its way to the living room. It just sat there looking at the closed door. Eventually it went back out through the cat flap. Is there really any creature on god's earth more stupid and pointless than the domestic cat?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 21, 2014, 08:19:10 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 21, 2014, 07:18:07 PM
Our kitchen has two doors, opposite ends of the kitchen, both leading to the L shaped living area. Cat came in and went to closed door on its way to the living room. It just sat there looking at the closed door. Eventually it went back out through the cat flap. Is there really any creature on god's earth more stupid and pointless than the domestic cat?

Whose idea was it to get a stupid and pointless pet? And if not to a/bemuse, why?

Or are you just trying to keep the site running? It's darned quiet at the momnet. I occasionally pop in to see what's going, but there's hardly anyone there.

Where is everyone?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 21, 2014, 08:27:14 PM
 
Quote from: Reinardina on March 21, 2014, 08:19:10 PM

Whose idea was it to get a stupid and pointless pet? And if not to a/bemuse, why?


Not mine  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 21, 2014, 09:11:08 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on March 21, 2014, 08:27:14 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 21, 2014, 08:19:10 PM

Whose idea was it to get a stupid and pointless pet? And if not to a/bemuse, why?


Not mine  :legit:

Are you trying to tell me, you are living with someone, who foisted that thing on you?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 23, 2014, 11:03:36 AM
Had a holiday in the New Forest last week and managed to get out with the camera on three days. Just had a look at what I took. Out of 148 images I have 88 chocolate box pictures of various ponies, 30 pictures of chocolate box images of dilapidated barns, cottages etc. and an assortment of 'lone tree' pictures, plus one that has some promise.

What a waste of time, still the weather was good and I topped up my vitamin D.

Great place for a holiday and chocolate box pictures, if that's your bag. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 23, 2014, 01:38:26 PM
Chocolate box pictures?  I do not understand the reference. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 23, 2014, 01:55:37 PM
It's a colloquialism Don. It means the kind of picture that you would find on an old fashioned chocolate box or biscuit tin lid, often depicting some nostalgic rural scene or pretty Cotswold village. One of my friends lives in a village called Bibury which has had images of it used on countless confectionery packets. Just type Bibury into an image search and you'll see what I mean.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:38:40 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 23, 2014, 11:03:36 AM
Had a holiday in the New Forest last week and managed to get out with the camera on three days. Just had a look at what I took. Out of 148 images I have 88 chocolate box pictures of various ponies, 30 pictures of chocolate box images of dilapidated barns, cottages etc. and an assortment of 'lone tree' pictures, plus one that has some promise.

Mrs B used to live in the New Forest - as much as it had going for it, she always says the same thing:

"no point living there cos you can't move for the bloody tourists taking pictures of barns, ponies and barns - and queueing up for ice cream and blocking the road. Or WORSE STILL - filling up the shops and tea rooms to enjoy a touch of the New Forest culture, and in the process draging all the horse (pony) sh*t in with them"  >:(

As you can tell, she can get quite opinionated by the end of a rant  :2funny:

Bank Holidays were extremely popular with her of course  ;)

Yep, Mrs B enjoyed living in the New Forest - now she lives in Suffolk where we have REAL HORSES and REAL HORSE SH*T :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
She really thought we had advanced enough to use tractors for ploughing! We don't have our own breed of work horse for nothing you know  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:40:29 PM
As for my lack of presence - I'm busy doing my OU studies with an assignment due in tomorrow. Should be good on Tuesday
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 23, 2014, 06:45:36 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:38:40 PM

Mrs B used to live in the New Forest - as much as it had going for it, she always says the same thing:

"no point living there cos you can't move for the bloody tourists taking pictures of barns, ponies and barns - and queueing up for ice cream and blocking the road. Or WORSE STILL - filling up the shops and tea rooms to enjoy a touch of the New Forest culture, and in the process draging all the horse (pony) sh*t in with them"  >:(



The natives seemed friendly enough. Let's put it this way no-one objected to taking ouir money. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 23, 2014, 09:19:49 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 23, 2014, 06:45:36 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:38:40 PM

Mrs B used to live in the New Forest - as much as it had going for it, she always says the same thing:

"no point living there cos you can't move for the bloody tourists taking pictures of barns, ponies and barns - and queueing up for ice cream and blocking the road. Or WORSE STILL - filling up the shops and tea rooms to enjoy a touch of the New Forest culture, and in the process draging all the horse (pony) sh*t in with them"  >:(



The natives seemed friendly enough. Let's put it this way no-one objected to taking ouir money. ;)

There are natives? And you only photographed chocolate boxes and lone trees? No gnarled, weather beaten Verderers?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on March 24, 2014, 10:06:49 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 23, 2014, 06:45:36 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:38:40 PM

Mrs B used to live in the New Forest - as much as it had going for it, she always says the same thing:

"no point living there cos you can't move for the bloody tourists taking pictures of barns, ponies and barns - and queueing up for ice cream and blocking the road. Or WORSE STILL - filling up the shops and tea rooms to enjoy a touch of the New Forest culture, and in the process draging all the horse (pony) sh*t in with them"  >:(


The natives seemed friendly enough. Let's put it this way no-one objected to taking ouir money. ;)

And that's the truth of it - the locals often overlook the fact that the tourist dollar is what keeps most of their shops and tea rooms open.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 24, 2014, 08:52:42 PM
The spell checker on CC is always very amusing.
Just now I used the words 'over-adorned people' in a post, and I was advised to change it to 'overturned people.'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 25, 2014, 04:07:16 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 23, 2014, 04:38:40 PM

Mrs B used to live in the New Forest - as much as it had going for it, she always says the same thing:

"no point living there cos you can't move for the bloody tourists taking pictures of barns, ponies and barns -



Here's one that should annoy her then Andrew 8)

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_Stables_and_Horses_4__281_of_129.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15461&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on March 25, 2014, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 24, 2014, 08:52:42 PM
The spell checker on CC is always very amusing.
Just now I used the words 'over-adorned people' in a post, and I was advised to change it to 'overturned people.'

I know it does, lol..  You can add words to the dictionary yourself though, (I think)

Actually what browser do you use? doesn't it have a built in spell checker?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 25, 2014, 08:30:22 PM
Quote from: Mick on March 25, 2014, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 24, 2014, 08:52:42 PM
The spell checker on CC is always very amusing.
Just now I used the words 'over-adorned people' in a post, and I was advised to change it to 'overturned people.'

I know it does, lol..  You can add words to the dictionary yourself though, (I think)

Actually what browser do you use? doesn't it have a built in spell checker?

I use IE 10 (I think), and it does have a spell checker, but I still double check most posts with the CC spell checker.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 29, 2014, 08:45:42 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 23, 2014, 09:19:49 PM

There are natives? And you only photographed chocolate boxes and lone trees? No gnarled, weather beaten Verderers?

Stumbled across this whilst I was there, Gollum had just dodged behind a tree!  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_Valley_View_281_of_129.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15473&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 29, 2014, 08:52:14 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 29, 2014, 08:45:42 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 23, 2014, 09:19:49 PM

There are natives? And you only photographed chocolate boxes and lone trees? No gnarled, weather beaten Verderers?

Stumbled across this whilst I was there, Gollum had just dodged behind a tree!  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_Valley_View_281_of_129.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=15473&fullsize=1)

That's more like it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on March 30, 2014, 09:10:45 AM
The other day actually. Watching a day time quiz show where two contestants knew more about 'who married who', 'who won some singing contest', 'who was currrently shacked up with who' and other totally irrelevant and peurile facts, but didn't know what 'The Few' referred to in WW11.  ???

My wife had to tell me to moderate my language in case the neighbours were out in their garden! >:(

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 30, 2014, 09:31:47 AM
Quote from: ABERS on March 30, 2014, 09:10:45 AM
The other day actually. Watching a day time quiz show where two contestants knew more about 'who married who', 'who won some singing contest', 'who was currrently shacked up with who' and other totally irrelevant and peurile facts, but didn't know what 'The Few' referred to in WW11.  ???

My wife had to tell me to moderate my language in case the neighbours were out in their garden! >:(

That's typical of a lot of modern yoof, I think. Their whole world seems to consist of celebs, and facts are irrelevant if no celeb is involved.

When I got online just now, it opened on the MSN page with: "Instagrams; celebs eye view of the week." Or something very similar. With selfies of course.

I was going to say "Who cares," but apparently, it is very important we all should know these things.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 30, 2014, 01:22:39 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 30, 2014, 09:10:45 AM
The other day actually. Watching a day time quiz show where two contestants knew more about 'who married who', 'who won some singing contest', 'who was currrently shacked up with who' and other totally irrelevant and peurile facts, but didn't know what 'The Few' referred to in WW11.  ???

My wife had to tell me to moderate my language in case the neighbours were out in their garden! >:(
That is shameful, really.  For them, not you :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 01, 2014, 12:07:45 PM
It's bemusing now but I can see it becoming an annoyance. Watching local Tampa area TV. I'm bemused by the preponderance of adverts for Lawyers. Particularly the ones who "specialize". If you breath air you could be entitled to "substantial " compensation.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 01, 2014, 02:15:39 PM
The saying 'worse than useless', was, I always thought, quite apocryphal. It may however, be applied to our cat with some justification.

Mice have started to attack my Corvette again. This is the car that the cat sits on most of the time, just to annoy me (it does). He has not only failed to catch the little rodents nibbling away at my pride and joy, but as I am not allowed to poison him, and cannot put traps down because he is so stupid he would injure himself on them for certain, I can't catch or kill the little b*st*rds either.

So he really is worse than useless, being the only impediment to the solution. I can guarantee that there will be no more pointless felines in our house after the buzzards get this one.

I think I'll build an owl house, and see if I can get one of the local screech owls to take up residence.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 01, 2014, 04:20:57 PM
You know you`d miss him really if he left your lives H  ;) :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on April 02, 2014, 08:30:33 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 01, 2014, 02:15:39 PM
The saying 'worse than useless', was, I always thought, quite apocryphal. It may however, be applied to our cat with some justification.

Mice have started to attack my Corvette again. This is the car that the cat sits on most of the time, just to annoy me (it does). He has not only failed to catch the little rodents nibbling away at my pride and joy, but as I am not allowed to poison him, and cannot put traps down because he is so stupid he would injure himself on them for certain, I can't catch or kill the little b*st*rds either.

So he really is worse than useless, being the only impediment to the solution. I can guarantee that there will be no more pointless felines in our house after the buzzards get this one.

I think I'll build an owl house, and see if I can get one of the local screech owls to take up residence.

My daughter has just come by a Jack Russel pup you could borrow if you were a bit closer. I can gaurantee 100% success  :tup:

He was let in the garden whilst her chickens were out stretching their legs - and before you could say "Jack Russel" he had beheaded and disembowled the first one and was about to do the same to the second, but before my daughter could finish saying "No" he spotted much more interesting pray in the form of a rat and disposed of that instead.

He now has to be kept well away from the chickens but i think he has cured any rat problem  :knuppel2:

The 2 cats are ok - because he can't climb onto 6ft fence panels where they like to live  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 03, 2014, 12:11:14 AM
Quote from: Andrew on April 02, 2014, 08:30:33 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 01, 2014, 02:15:39 PM
The saying 'worse than useless', was, I always thought, quite apocryphal. It may however, be applied to our cat with some justification.

Mice have started to attack my Corvette again. This is the car that the cat sits on most of the time, just to annoy me (it does). He has not only failed to catch the little rodents nibbling away at my pride and joy, but as I am not allowed to poison him, and cannot put traps down because he is so stupid he would injure himself on them for certain, I can't catch or kill the little b*st*rds either.

So he really is worse than useless, being the only impediment to the solution. I can guarantee that there will be no more pointless felines in our house after the buzzards get this one.

I think I'll build an owl house, and see if I can get one of the local screech owls to take up residence.



The 2 cats are ok - because he can't climb onto 6ft fence panels where they like to live  :doh:

      Yet!   :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 18, 2014, 08:26:38 AM
Whilst sitting stewarding our exhibition, awaiting the arrival of the next busload of visitors  ::),
I thumbed through an old copy of DCM and found out, according to an article inside, that I could become an ace B+W photographer over the course of a weekend if I followed the 'ace' tips and secrets used by the pro's. What a boon these magazines are to the art of photography and what mugs are those that believe what they read in them. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 18, 2014, 09:28:12 AM
Shame you hadn`t got that magazine earlier Abers. Could have saved yourself years of practice!  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 18, 2014, 01:59:10 PM
Quote from: ABERS on April 18, 2014, 08:26:38 AM
Whilst sitting stewarding our exhibition, awaiting the arrival of the next busload of visitors  ::),
I thumbed through an old copy of DCM and found out, according to an article inside, that I could become an ace B+W photographer over the course of a weekend if I followed the 'ace' tips and secrets used by the pro's. What a boon these magazines are to the art of photography and what mugs are those that believe what they read in them. :doh:

AND, if you missed the article in this month's addition of DCM, wait, next month it will be in one of the other mags. Almost word for word.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on April 20, 2014, 12:54:04 PM
Now, I must stress I'm not trying to be racist or anything other form of bigot - but this did make me smile.

Friday evening, I was just approaching Liverpool St station to catch my train home, when I was accosted by a cockney looking lad saying "Ere Guv - do you speak English?"
"Umm, yes" i replied.
"Fank christ for that" he said "I'm trying to find out how to get to some where by foot as there are no buses 'oday on that route. Do you know ow many people I've tried to ask only to 'ave them all look at me like I was a foriegner. ME, a bloody foriegner in me own country, in me own bleeding capital? To be 'onest though Guv, was startin' to feel like one."
"Can you direct me to so and so place (I forget where he wanted, but I gathered he was from Canning Town)"
"Erm - No, Sorry. I'm from Suffolk!"  :2funny: :beer: 8)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on April 20, 2014, 02:02:25 PM
Hmmmm it wasn't Dick Van Dyke was it?  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on April 25, 2014, 08:34:09 PM
This bemuses (and annoys!) me every day;

Why do so many drivers cross the white line when driving around blind bends.
Most days oncoming do this and I can't understand why? :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 25, 2014, 11:55:39 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on April 25, 2014, 08:34:09 PM
This bemuses (and annoys!) me every day;

Why do so many drivers cross the white line when driving around blind bends.
Most days oncoming do this and I can't understand why? :doh:

So they can scare the sh*t out of you!  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on April 26, 2014, 05:56:14 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 25, 2014, 11:55:39 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on April 25, 2014, 08:34:09 PM
This bemuses (and annoys!) me every day;

Why do so many drivers cross the white line when driving around blind bends.
Most days oncoming do this and I can't understand why? :doh:

So they can scare the sh*t out of you!  :o

It works sometimes!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Markulous on April 26, 2014, 09:16:39 AM
Quote from: Jediboy on April 25, 2014, 08:34:09 PM
This bemuses (and annoys!) me every day;

Why do so many drivers cross the white line when driving around blind bends.
Most days oncoming do this and I can't understand why? :doh:

Was slightly surprised by a police car on a 'shout' well over onto our side of the double white line on a blind bend and relatively narrow road, a couple of days ago! But we were in Yorkshire!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 06:37:41 AM
A neighbour received a call from his daughter who is on holiday in France. She had her wallet stolen, with all her cards.
When he finished the call, he said: "it's not the end of the world. She'll learn from this, and be more careful in future."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 30, 2014, 07:04:52 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 06:37:41 AM
A neighbour received a call from his daughter who is on holiday in France. She had her wallet stolen, with all her cards.
When he finished the call, he said: "it's not the end of the world. She'll learn from this, and be more careful in future."

Why did that bemuse you R? healthy survivalist reaction. Assuming she wasn`t hurt and maybe could have learned not to put herself at risk in future if any of her actions had contributed to her unfortunate ordeal.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 07:16:54 AM
Quote from: jinky on April 30, 2014, 07:04:52 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 06:37:41 AM
A neighbour received a call from his daughter who is on holiday in France. She had her wallet stolen, with all her cards.
When he finished the call, he said: "it's not the end of the world. She'll learn from this, and be more careful in future."

Why did that bemuse you R? healthy survivalist reaction. Assuming she wasn`t hurt and maybe could have learned not to put herself at risk in future if any of her actions had contributed to her unfortunate ordeal.

Of course it's a healthy reaction, but being a mother rather than a father, I'd be worried sick if my beautiful daughter was in such a predicament abroad.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 30, 2014, 07:21:54 AM
Yes but money and card loss are nothing when you think of the worst case scenarios that could happen. Of course I`d be worried too as a father but with friends` kids experiences of suffering violence in exotic places the loss of  just money is so much easier to take than personal injury and all you have to do is send them more  ;). Not sure being a mother rather than a father makes any real difference. You can have harder mothers than fathers you know  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 07:38:40 AM
I know. It is only money, as you say, but still ... And I know there are hard mothers, but I am not one of them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 30, 2014, 08:12:29 AM
Naughty parents didn't tell said unfortunate daughter to keep things in several different places. Essential when you are a tourist anywhere - lowlifes always see tourists, even domestic ones, as easy meat.

I keep my wallet on a chain attached to my belt. Not because I am worried about it being stolen, but because I am so easily distracted - I'd left my wallet behind in shops several times. The only time my wallet has been stolen was from a jurers' room when I left it in my briefcase during a hearing.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 30, 2014, 08:21:32 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 30, 2014, 08:12:29 AM
Naughty parents didn't tell said unfortunate daughter to keep things in several different places. Essential when you are a tourist anywhere - lowlifes always see tourists, even domestic ones, as easy meat.

I keep my wallet on a chain attached to my belt. Not because I am worried about it being stolen, but because I am so easily distracted - I'd left my wallet behind in shops several times. The only time my wallet has been stolen was from a jurers' room when I left it in my briefcase during a hearing.

That's easier said than done H. I've told my daughter not to leave her handbag out of her sight, better still 'in hand,' at all times, but all I get is: "Oh Múm!"

When I carry a lot of money, it is in a felt 'wallet' on a cord round my neck. Under my clothes of course.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 30, 2014, 08:46:15 AM
Well, in that case Re she'll learn when everything goes missing one day.

Because I can be so absent minded* I always keep spare stuff for when the inevitable happens  ::)

*No, it's not my age, I've always been like this. Probably.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on April 30, 2014, 11:06:03 AM
Re - mothers and fathers, I understand where you're coming from - but I'm not that carries as much weigh any more.

I know fathers who are much more sensitive to the well being of their daughters than mothers - but I think that's just a distraction from the main discussion.

Daught has lost all her cash abroad - and that she has been targeted has been a bit of a shock and a realisation that worse could have happened. For me though, this is all part of life, and she will learn from it. In years to come, it will doubtless provide an amusing anecdote at a family gathering  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on May 01, 2014, 01:56:18 PM
Last night our mayor, Rob Ford (you may have heard of him now!), was caught on audio ranting in a "drunken stupor", on the weekend a new video of him smoking crack was taken, and there is rumours (this makes me shudder) of a sex video.  So he says he is going to enter rehab.  For alcohol.  He would not smoke crack if he was not drunk.  Right. 
He is also NOT dropping out of the election this fall, he is still running for mayor. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 01, 2014, 03:41:18 PM
Quote from: donoreo on May 01, 2014, 01:56:18 PM
Last night our mayor, Rob Ford (you may have heard of him now!), was caught on audio ranting in a "drunken stupor", on the weekend a new video of him smoking crack was taken, and there is rumours (this makes me shudder) of a sex video.  So he says he is going to enter rehab.  For alcohol.  He would not smoke crack if he was not drunk.  Right. 
He is also NOT dropping out of the election this fall, he is still running for mayor.

Are you trying to say that he Cracks you up?  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on May 01, 2014, 07:36:46 PM
Not sure bemused is the right word - sad is probably more like it.

We have announced the closure, after nearly 10 years, of the Digital Photo Group forum at the end of the year. I.e. when the current contract runs out.

Just no activity from members. Facebook largely being it's downfall IMHO.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 11, 2014, 08:35:48 AM
Reading this on the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26613682

I'm all for the bit at the end.

'But if you took all the money of the 85 richest people and gave it to the poor in a one-off payment, she says, it would only increase each person's wealth by about $500 (£300)'.

It doesn't say where you send your sort code and account number. 8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 08:49:59 AM
If you took all the money of the 85 richest people, they'd be poorer than the poor.

And their wealth normally creates work for lots of people, so if that fell away, the poor, who were given the money of the wealthy, would soon be the 'wealthy.' And could they rescue the new poor, with their £300?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 11, 2014, 08:59:27 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 08:49:59 AM
If you took all the money of the 85 richest people, they'd be poorer than the poor.

And their wealth normally creates work for lots of people,

So that they can go to work to make the wealthy even wealthier.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
Quote from: ABERS on May 11, 2014, 08:59:27 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 08:49:59 AM
If you took all the money of the 85 richest people, they'd be poorer than the poor.

And their wealth normally creates work for lots of people,

So that they can go to work to make the wealthy even wealthier.  :D

And earn a living at the same time.

And wealth is not restricted to old money, or old industries.

Bright sparks (Bill Gates, Richard Branson) have always managed to climb the wealth ladder ( bit of a mixed metaphor here), and young bright sparks are still doing it now. The Internet has created quite a few new millionaires.

If only one of those bright ideas would pop up into my head!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 11, 2014, 11:09:44 AM
Reminds me of an old French joke.

The wealthy Saint Pierre family live in an opulent home in the middle of Paris. Their long serving butler, Gaston, is a lifelong member of the communist party, and an active member of the local organisation. Every Tuesday evening he goes to the local party meeting. He does this without fail for nigh on 20 years. Then one Tuesday evening his employer finds him sitting and reading a newspaper in his quarters. Concerned for his old servant, who is now really a member of the family and a firm friend, despite their political differences, M. Saint Pierre asks him why he isn't at his weekly meeting? Is there something wrong?

Gaston replies: "All of my life I have felt that the uneven distribution of wealth was an affront to egalité, and I have been dedicated to change that would bring about a redistribution of money from the rich to the poor. Last week a guest speaker told us that if this were to take place now every worker in the land would receive FF5000. I resigned in disgust immediately."

"Why did you do that?"

"I have FF25000 saved for my retirement . . "
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 11:52:16 AM
Exactly.

Money has to be earned/made somewhere, before it can be spent, or redistributed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 11, 2014, 03:40:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
And wealth is not restricted to old money, or old industries.


No, that is very true. If you want to make plenty of money become Prime Minister, join America in a war looking for WMD's, (this gives you access to the American speaking circuit), strut about on the world stage and indicate that you are happy to accept lots of filthy lucre. Remind you of anybody?  >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 03:46:12 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 11, 2014, 03:40:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
And wealth is not restricted to old money, or old industries.


No, that is very true. If you want to make plenty of money become Prime Minister, join America in a war looking for WMD's, (this gives you access to the American speaking circuit), strut about on the world stage and indicate that you are happy to accept lots of filthy lucre. Remind you of anybody?  >:( >:( >:(

Another bright spark with a good idea.  You forgot to mention the freebies.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on May 12, 2014, 08:12:40 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 03:46:12 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 11, 2014, 03:40:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
And wealth is not restricted to old money, or old industries.


No, that is very true. If you want to make plenty of money become Prime Minister, join America in a war looking for WMD's, (this gives you access to the American speaking circuit), strut about on the world stage and indicate that you are happy to accept lots of filthy lucre. Remind you of anybody?  >:( >:( >:(

Another bright spark with a good idea.  You forgot to mention the freebies.

And be even happier if you have a wife with the same deplorable standards. >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 08:29:53 AM
..and the more you have the more you want apparently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27356896

I wonder if HMRAC will chase them as hard as they chased me for the £68 I apparently underpaid last year. :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 12, 2014, 01:13:14 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 08:29:53 AM
..and the more you have the more you want apparently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27356896

I wonder if HMRAC will chase them as hard as they chased me for the £68 I apparently underpaid last year. :o

  You'll remember all the fuss over Jimmy Carr's perfectly legal tax affairs last year, where our glorious leader called him immoral in the house.
  The said leader has been conspicuously quiet about Garry Barlow. But then Jimmy Carr isn't a known Tory supporter and doner!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 01:59:57 PM
Quote from: Graham on May 12, 2014, 01:13:14 PM


But then Jimmy Carr isn't a known Tory supporter and doner!

I've always regarded Carr as about as funny as a kebab and the current PM about as oily and greasy as one. So perhaps your spelling mistake was perhaps completely on the button. :legit:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 12, 2014, 08:05:52 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 01:59:57 PM
Quote from: Graham on May 12, 2014, 01:13:14 PM


But then Jimmy Carr isn't a known Tory supporter and doner!

I've always regarded Carr as about as funny as a kebab and the current PM about as oily and greasy as one. So perhaps your spelling mistake was perhaps completely on the button. :legit:

  Should it be double "n"? It just doesn't look right!  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 08:11:57 PM
Donor I believe.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 12, 2014, 09:42:15 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 08:11:57 PM
Donor I believe.

  Thanks Alan.
  I can spell big complicated words (like wheelbarrow) but sometimes struggle with simple ones.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on May 14, 2014, 08:37:32 PM
Quote from: Simple on May 12, 2014, 08:12:40 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 03:46:12 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 11, 2014, 03:40:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 11, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
And wealth is not restricted to old money, or old industries.


No, that is very true. If you want to make plenty of money become Prime Minister, join America in a war looking for WMD's, (this gives you access to the American speaking circuit), strut about on the world stage and indicate that you are happy to accept lots of filthy lucre. Remind you of anybody?  >:( >:( >:(

Another bright spark with a good idea.  You forgot to mention the freebies.

And be even happier if you have a wife with the same deplorable standards. >:(

I'll not have a word said against her. She got me off a train ticket fraud charge by using her excuse for not buying a ticket - and I reminded the court that as her husband made the law of the land, if it was good eonugh for his wife it should be good enough for me  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on May 14, 2014, 08:41:42 PM
Quote from: Graham on May 12, 2014, 01:13:14 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 12, 2014, 08:29:53 AM
..and the more you have the more you want apparently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27356896

I wonder if HMRAC will chase them as hard as they chased me for the £68 I apparently underpaid last year. :o

  You'll remember all the fuss over Jimmy Carr's perfectly legal tax affairs last year, where our glorious leader called him immoral in the house.
  The said leader has been conspicuously quiet about Garry Barlow. But then Jimmy Carr isn't a known Tory supporter and doner!

Our current Prime minister has shown he is a true Tory in that he operates one rule for them, and another rule for the rest. I often wonder why Jim Davidson ever got arrested!
Oh yeah - he stopped donating  :-X
It is the last 20 years of government that have created the ground for the likes of Farage to exist.
Not that the unions are doing much to make things any better.

They're all as bad as each other.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on May 17, 2014, 11:38:37 AM
The thing is Gary Barlow's wasn't illegal either - until it was determined by the courts that it wasn't. It's normal to try and reduce your tax bill - sometimes the accountants try it on with dubious, but arguably legal ways.

Though I think now you can still do the dubious avoidance schemes, but you have to pay the tax first and when agreed it is legal, get the tax back. Makes more sense to me.

As for Jimmy Carr, what he did was perfectly legal. I really don't see what the issue was.

I wonder how many people that are calling for the blood of GB can honestly say that they pay all their taxes, don't do anything for cash, don't over estimate the mileage claims etc etc. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 17, 2014, 11:51:58 AM
What bemused me? Mac OS. I've pretty much switched over to Apple. I use a 27" iMac for my photo work and I picked up a used MacPro to use as a server. Everyone else in my house (4 adults) use MS. so I set up my server to 'serve' both systems. Today I tried to transfer some photo files on the MacPro server to the iMac. Long store short, the files were on an external drive and I ended up having to transfer them to a Win7 machine because the Mac's can't see external drives on each other, but the Win7 can. So, Mac to Win7 then Win 7 to Mac.
:o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on May 17, 2014, 01:35:05 PM
You would still need to share those external drives for the two Mac's to see each other.   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 17, 2014, 06:37:43 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 17, 2014, 11:51:58 AM
So, Mac to Win7 then Win 7 to Mac.
:o

That's the thing about MS it works and does what you want to do.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 18, 2014, 07:36:29 AM
Heard on the radio - "African nations declare war on Procol Harum" - was " A Whiter Shade of Pale" really so bad!  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 18, 2014, 08:01:24 AM
Quote from: jinky on May 18, 2014, 07:36:29 AM
Heard on the radio - "African nations declare war on Procol Harum" - was " A Whiter Shade of Pale" really so bad!  :legit:

It's one of my favourite records.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 18, 2014, 09:49:39 AM
BBQ with friends and the new residents last evening. Apparently the most trying thing about moving into a new neighbourhood is having to find out where to buy good meat and quality fresh vegetables. So very French.

The new chap is a patissier. He told the story of how in his first job out of college, on his first day in the bakery of a large supermarket he made 1200 pain aux raisins. The trouble was that the salt and sugar were in identical bins next to each other and he picked the wrong one . . It was only when customers started returning them in droves that his faux pas came to light. They didn't fire him, but they did label the bins ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 21, 2014, 07:26:19 PM
It transpires that SNCF (French railways) have ordered 341 new locomotives, and deliveries have started. Good news: except that the new locomotives are up to 20cm too wide for some 1300 stations. I bet the internal blame game is quite something.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 12, 2014, 08:04:45 AM
According to our dear leaders, when ISIS are fighting Assad they are the good guys (even though they are as close to evil incarnate as you can get), but when they are invading Iraq they are, well, as close to evil incarnate as you can get*. Politicians, nothing if not discerning and consistent.

*actually, they are.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 12, 2014, 05:51:41 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 12, 2014, 08:04:45 AM
According to our dear leaders, when ISIS are fighting Assad they are the good guys (even though they are as close to evil incarnate as you can get), but when they are invading Iraq they are, well, as close to evil incarnate as you can get*. Politicians, nothing if not discerning and consistent.

*actually, they are.

Yes, but they won't attack the Kurds, as they would wipe the floor with them.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on June 12, 2014, 06:53:17 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 12, 2014, 08:04:45 AM
According to our dear leaders, when ISIS are fighting Assad they are the good guys (even though they are as close to evil incarnate as you can get), but when they are invading Iraq they are, well, as close to evil incarnate as you can get*. Politicians, nothing if not discerning and consistent.

*actually, they are.




It shouldn't last long before it's all sorted amicably. The Middle East Peace Envoy, our very own Mr T. Blair will have them all hugging and kissing each other  before you can say, "Where's your next lucrative speaking engagement Mr B."?   ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Andrew on June 12, 2014, 10:28:57 PM
Quote from: Cabbyjohn on June 12, 2014, 06:53:17 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 12, 2014, 08:04:45 AM
According to our dear leaders, when ISIS are fighting Assad they are the good guys (even though they are as close to evil incarnate as you can get), but when they are invading Iraq they are, well, as close to evil incarnate as you can get*. Politicians, nothing if not discerning and consistent.

*actually, they are.

It shouldn't last long before it's all sorted amicably. The Middle East Peace Envoy, our very own Mr T. Blair will have them all hugging and kissing each other  before you can say, "Where's your next lucrative speaking engagement Mr B."?   ::)

Ah - Mr T. - the Devils Advocate.

I wouldn't give him the time of day, and I certainly wouldn't trust him to tell the truth as it is - only the trith that fits with how we wants things to have been.

If ever I get the time, I suppose I should not hold back and say what I think about him and his wife.

just need to speak to my solicitior to see how much I can say that will be upheld in court  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 13, 2014, 08:14:53 AM


"Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says all English schools should have qualified teachers"    ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on June 13, 2014, 08:19:09 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 13, 2014, 08:14:53 AM


"Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says all English schools should have qualified teachers"    ???

hmm. to me that's more worrying than bemusing.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 13, 2014, 08:33:23 AM
Quote from: Mick on June 13, 2014, 08:19:09 AM
Quote from: ABERS on June 13, 2014, 08:14:53 AM


"Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says all English schools should have qualified teachers"    ???

hmm. to me that's more worrying than bemusing.  ???

Perhaps the Conservative austerity promoted unqualified staff to save the Gov' taxpayer some money  :uglystupid2:  Imigration for Brains will be on the agenda soon  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 13, 2014, 12:57:08 PM
I suspect that by 'qualified' Clegg simply means Guardian subscribers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on June 13, 2014, 01:09:32 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 13, 2014, 12:57:08 PM
I suspect that by 'qualified' Clegg simply means Guardian subscribers.

Apparently Ed Mil' , Clegg and Cameron subscribe, well posed with a free edition of the Sun  :doh: :D :2funny: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 13, 2014, 02:32:22 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 13, 2014, 12:57:08 PM
I suspect that by 'qualified' Clegg simply means Guardian subscribers.

I would hazard a guess he meant that the teacher should be proficient in five or six other languages besides English, which he or she would need for the odd few whose native tongue it was.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 13, 2014, 07:56:08 PM
Quote from: ABERS on June 13, 2014, 02:32:22 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 13, 2014, 12:57:08 PM
I suspect that by 'qualified' Clegg simply means Guardian subscribers.

I would hazard a guess he meant that the teacher should be proficient in five or six other languages besides English, which he or she would need for the odd few whose native tongue it was.

I disagree, I don't think the teachers need English, as the state will pay for an interpreter!  >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on June 15, 2014, 12:25:42 AM
I'm bemused by the fact that it's 0030 and I'm watching football.

I hate football.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 15, 2014, 07:28:06 AM
Quote from: Jediboy on June 15, 2014, 12:25:42 AM
I'm bemused by the fact that it's 0030 and I'm watching football.

I hate football.

I know the feeling - we got home from a show last night and watched the first half while we unwound before hitting the sack. Nothing much happened, so it was quite relaxing ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 15, 2014, 08:01:39 AM
Haven't had the TV on for at least ten days. A friend was quite surprised, as the Dutch team apparently did very well. He watched it, and was raving about van Persie.
I was pleased, but couldn't really care.

I'm going to Holland for three weeks on Thursday, and I fear I will not be able to escape it there. Part of the time, I'm staying with football mad friends.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on June 15, 2014, 02:58:45 PM
My neighbours had their TV outside in the back and a crowd watching the Italy England game.  They back onto the path to the park so they had extra people.  They also did the same thing for part of the hockey playoffs (which thankfully ended this week - season is too long - preseason in Sept, regular season Oct to April, playoffs through June). 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 14, 2014, 10:47:28 AM
People posting incredibly bad photos to their Facebook accounts. A friend is continually posting blurry shots to her page. Another just posted a bunch of shots where a flash should have been used, but wasn't. I can 'see' who's in the shots because I know them.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on July 14, 2014, 11:19:57 AM
Quote from: spinner on July 14, 2014, 10:47:28 AM
People posting incredibly bad photos to their Facebook accounts. A friend is continually posting blurry shots to her page. Another just posted a bunch of shots where a flash should have been used, but wasn't. I can 'see' who's in the shots because I know them.  ;D

I know what you mean Spinner. What gets me is when you see a blurred, poorly composed photo even  adopted as a profile picture getting comments like " Wonderful photo" and I`m there thinking - really! It hurts even more when someone posts phone / poor compact wedding shots before I am allowed to release any official ones from a job and they get similar responses. I`m always happy tp pick out 2/3 of my best efforts and put small one with logo out there to try and make them see photos don`t have to be bad.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on July 14, 2014, 12:59:23 PM
Quote from: jinky on July 14, 2014, 11:19:57 AM
Quote from: spinner on July 14, 2014, 10:47:28 AM
People posting incredibly bad photos to their Facebook accounts. A friend is continually posting blurry shots to her page. Another just posted a bunch of shots where a flash should have been used, but wasn't. I can 'see' who's in the shots because I know them.  ;D

I know what you mean Spinner. What gets me is when you see a blurred, poorly composed photo even  adopted as a profile picture getting comments like " Wonderful photo" and I`m there thinking - really! It hurts even more when someone posts phone / poor compact wedding shots before I am allowed to release any official ones from a job and they get similar responses. I`m always happy tp pick out 2/3 of my best efforts and put small one with logo out there to try and make them see photos don`t have to be bad.

Likewise, I know what you mean. But I think that most people are not interested in photography, and the only thing they do is take snaps on their phones. And invariably these snaps are not very good.
My wife does it occasionally. She doesn't look at technical merit, but rather what the photo has captured - a memory usually. So I guess I can see why people do it. To a degree.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 22, 2014, 09:07:24 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on July 14, 2014, 12:59:23 PM

Likewise, I know what you mean. But I think that most people are not interested in photography, and the only thing they do is take snaps on their phones. And invariably these snaps are not very good.
My wife does it occasionally. She doesn't look at technical merit, but rather what the photo has captured - a memory usually. So I guess I can see why people do it. To a degree.

Ha, I don't think my wife knows she has a camera on her phone.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on July 22, 2014, 09:09:30 PM
What bemused me? Kids today. No wasting time when they want something. On my daughter's 1 month wedding anniversary announces she's 2 months pregnant.  :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on July 23, 2014, 12:04:05 AM
That's quite disciplined nowadays Spinner. I shot a wedding a couple of months back where the bride was 8.5 months pregnant. Managed to do  it as a combined bump shoot but boy was she hormonal! Baby in fact came the next week!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 05, 2014, 08:12:44 PM
Crutches and walking sticks all over town. Spent most of the day in town, and was amazed by the number of people with 'walking aids.' Not only old people, and people with plaster casts, but many a young man and woman, with no visible injury, stumbling about with often two crutches. What is going on?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 05, 2014, 09:30:51 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 05, 2014, 08:12:44 PM
Crutches and walking sticks all over town. Spent most of the day in town, and was amazed by the number of people with 'walking aids.' Not only old people, and people with plaster casts, but many a young man and woman, with no visible injury, stumbling about with often two crutches. What is going on?

It could 'Be a Pirate Day', but they forgot the Parrots!  :P :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 06, 2014, 07:28:08 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 05, 2014, 09:30:51 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 05, 2014, 08:12:44 PM
Crutches and walking sticks all over town. Spent most of the day in town, and was amazed by the number of people with 'walking aids.' Not only old people, and people with plaster casts, but many a young man and woman, with no visible injury, stumbling about with often two crutches. What is going on?

It could 'Be a Pirate Day', but they forgot the Parrots!  :P :legit:

They all had two complete legs.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: kerbside on August 06, 2014, 08:00:07 AM
How many school kids drive cars. Since they have been on holiday getting to work has been a doddle. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 06, 2014, 09:01:26 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 06, 2014, 07:28:08 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 05, 2014, 09:30:51 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 05, 2014, 08:12:44 PM
Crutches and walking sticks all over town. Spent most of the day in town, and was amazed by the number of people with 'walking aids.' Not only old people, and people with plaster casts, but many a young man and woman, with no visible injury, stumbling about with often two crutches. What is going on?

It could 'Be a Pirate Day', but they forgot the Parrots!  :P :legit:

They all had two complete legs.

Pretending to be a pirate doesn't require you to chop off one leg!!!!  :uglystupid2: :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 06, 2014, 12:06:11 PM
Quote from: kerbside on August 06, 2014, 08:00:07 AM
How many school kids drive cars. Since they have been on holiday getting to work has been a doddle. :D
I get that here too.  It is not the students, but parents, teachers, support staff, etc.  There are a lot of people that do not go anywhere when the kids are not in school.  Parents still do, but they may change their schedule since they are not taking the kids to school. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 07, 2014, 12:41:06 PM
It is all about Copyright  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-28674167

Don't monkey around  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 07, 2014, 05:24:04 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on August 07, 2014, 12:41:06 PM
It is all about Copyright  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-28674167

Don't monkey around  ::)

You`ve got to wonder whether if he had but it on a timer delay and it had taken whether legal position would be different - like so many trip wire exposures of animals in the wild. I feel sorry for the monkey myself - he could be knee deep in bananas from the royalties by now if his abilities had been recognised. It does seem unfair on the photographer who left his camera at risk with the monkey to get the image.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 08, 2014, 06:58:59 AM
WBMT. Well yesterday really.

Meeting a nephew after many years and discovering that I'm a great GREAT uncle. :o

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on August 08, 2014, 08:54:19 AM
Thats nice Abers, a special moment. Did you get a camera into his hand before the day was out?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 08, 2014, 09:00:52 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 08, 2014, 06:58:59 AM
WBMT. Well yesterday really.

Meeting a nephew after many years and discovering that I'm a great GREAT uncle. :o

Great moment great great uncle. Congratulations.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 16, 2014, 08:05:34 AM
Check your backgrounds!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28794870
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 16, 2014, 10:26:20 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 16, 2014, 08:05:34 AM
Check your backgrounds!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28794870

And be crazy enough to cleverly add something out of place to gain publicity  :2funny:

And if it goes viral so much the better  :D  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 19, 2014, 11:01:20 AM
I really don`t think they did it on purpose Andy. They have had increasing instances of poor accuracy with props / background detail and had sworn an effort to improve. fell at first fence with promo shoot eh!

WBMT - Photobox. I went to Northern Spain in early June and did an A4 lay flat book of our trip with a credit that I had actually won through an airline photocomp some time back. It was sup[posedly valid for 3 months but Photobox were good enough to keep renewing it and I did it a year late! That said their first effort was poor colour. others noticed less but I highlighted the porrest images and complained. Turned out they had printed the book with automatic enhancement switched on at their end " We find it best for most but obviously with your callibrated monitor work it can take it over the top of what you are seeking". So they agreed to print another and the friends who went went with us bought the first off me for £20 as they could not be bothered to make one. After 3 weeks no sign of the replacement and Photobox accepted it was lost in post and would deliver another with a free upgrade to overnight courier to stop it happening again. They printed that - I find now in France - and sent it by French courier. I use the tracking service to find some time later that they have either taken it to a local post office (without leaving a card or saying which one), could not deliver because of an incomplete address (full address clear on order) or had delivered it successfully - but not to me. I complain  again and Photobox start  to investigate, sending other messages along the way saying how happy they are I now have it. They agreed yesterday to order a 4th copy and do it express service / delivery and give me a £30 cash credit. book was supposedly worth £78. Last night a woman from 6 doors down the street brings it to me. She had  had a card through the door saying she had a parcel to collect at our 2nd nearest post office and when getting there they said have another as it has a post code matching on it but unclear address. She opens it mystified but luckily her husband recognised in one of the images me as that bloke up the road and brings it.  Seems the French couriers deliver it to Parcel Force and pay them to send on. One or other put a new sticker on it covering the address all but the post code and another sticker from parcel force saying "Convenient Delivery". It has two dents in the front cover - another complaint. By this time I am going through whoever does their facebook business page. Customer Service advisors made aware constantly say "Back to you within the day" and fail to come back so my new policy of three attempts through channels then blasting their Facebook page went into action. I got my first refund / statement of intent within a minute of my Facebook page sarcastic entry. The same person has now undertaken to print me a 4th copy, refund my original postage, keep the £30 cash credit in plavce and credit me with another A4 book valid for a year. Longwinded but result!!!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sandy on August 22, 2014, 08:48:28 AM
That sounds quite a story, I would have given up ages ago well done in seeing it though to the end
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 22, 2014, 09:28:12 AM
Great story Paul. It pays to be tenacious. Well done.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 23, 2014, 06:00:28 PM
Now, why do I keep getting emails, telling me I can gain several inches? I'm trying to shed some. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 23, 2014, 10:09:26 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 23, 2014, 06:00:28 PM
Now, why do I keep getting emails, telling me I can gain several inches? I'm trying to shed some.

I think that might be for the male of the species!  :-[ :P :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 24, 2014, 07:04:17 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on August 23, 2014, 10:09:26 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 23, 2014, 06:00:28 PM
Now, why do I keep getting emails, telling me I can gain several inches? I'm trying to shed some.

I think that might be for the male of the species!  :-[ :P :legit:

You think so? Couple of years ago I had constant offers to 'grow' it. Money back guaranteed. Often wondered, how that would work.

It's strange that I get different types of spam on different email addresses. These 'enhancement' ones are limited to one of my Gmail addresses, while all the phishing ones, seem to come to one of my Hotmail addresses.

Others are virtually spam free.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on August 26, 2014, 09:52:38 AM
The fact I took so long to make the decision to swap over to the fuji system and now Im going for my third body I'm enjoying it so much. Definately was a great move :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 26, 2014, 07:18:37 PM
Quote from: Karen on August 26, 2014, 09:52:38 AM
The fact I took so long to make the decision to swap over to the fuji system and now Im going for my third body I'm enjoying it so much. Definately was a great move :tup:

My first compact cameras were Fuji and always love their colours straight from the camera.  :tup: Mind you their commercial business line printers were rubbish.  :uglystupid2: :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on August 27, 2014, 01:10:53 PM
Colours have remained excellent
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 27, 2014, 02:52:23 PM
Quote from: Karen on August 27, 2014, 01:10:53 PM
Colours have remained excellent
One of the cameras I use is a Fuji S5pro and it has been an excellent bit of kit. It can sometimes over saturate the colours a little depending on what settings are used
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 27, 2014, 03:00:43 PM
On another forum one of the more advanced guys (and very, very, detailed oriented) wanted to replace his Canon 450D (2008 tech) with a Fuji XT-1.  He took the Fuji back because it was not as good.  We do not know if he had a dud, but the images he posted (taken raw, converted to jpeg with no extra adjustments) were better from the 450D.  This result surprised a lot of people, including those that already had Fuji's and others that just looked at the specs.  On paper the Fuji should be better. 

He did as equal of a test as possible.  Kits lenses, etc.  He was going on a trip and did not have time to get another one and test it out.  He may do so after he comes back. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Karen on August 27, 2014, 11:36:57 PM
To be honest one of the reasons i went for x-e2 over xt1is the xt1 in my opinion is an ugly looking camera. Ive had no issues with quality of files and never regretted selling my 5dmk3 cameras. I always have the cameras with me now. Can go whole day with them strung over my shoulder without any bother and thats a big plus. The fuji glass is awesome if expensive.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 28, 2014, 06:21:33 PM
Nikon. They issued a list of firmware updates. Of course my good old reliable D50 is not among the models upgraded. All I want Nikon is to be able to use SD cards bigger than 2 GIGs as nobody seems to make them anymore.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 28, 2014, 08:20:35 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 28, 2014, 06:21:33 PM
Nikon. They issued a list of firmware updates. Of course my good old reliable D50 is not among the models upgraded. All I want Nikon is to be able to use SD cards bigger than 2 GIGs as nobody seems to make them anymore.  >:(
Theres plenty of 2gb cards on the net over here mate. Mainly Transcend and Sandisck.
You have just reminded me its about time I gave my D50 a run out. IMHO it gives some great colours and tones compared to my D200
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 29, 2014, 03:09:29 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 28, 2014, 06:21:33 PM
Nikon. They issued a list of firmware updates. Of course my good old reliable D50 is not among the models upgraded. All I want Nikon is to be able to use SD cards bigger than 2 GIGs as nobody seems to make them anymore.  >:(
I just happened to have Amazon open:

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_6?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=2gb+sd+card&sprefix=2gb+SD%2Caps%2C263
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 07:34:53 AM
Playing the dodge the cyclists with no lights and wearing dull clothing game this morning not only in the dark, but with the added difficulty factor of thick fog. Grrrrr.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 01, 2014, 01:16:04 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 07:34:53 AM
Playing the dodge the cyclists with no lights and wearing dull clothing game this morning not only in the dark, but with the added difficulty factor of thick fog. Grrrrr.

You have to dodge them in France?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 02:25:53 PM
'Fraid so Re. The good old days have long gone, and besides they make a mess of your paintwork not to mention the splurge of brains on the windscreen if you don't at least try to avoid them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on October 01, 2014, 02:32:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 02:25:53 PM
'Fraid so Re. The good old days have long gone, and besides they make a mess of your paintwork not to mention the splurge of brains on the windscreen if you don't at least try to avoid them.
Well that is no fun!  Cyclists are worth extra points, even more than joggers!  :) 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 01, 2014, 03:47:15 PM
Quote from: donoreo on October 01, 2014, 02:32:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 02:25:53 PM
'Fraid so Re. The good old days have long gone, and besides they make a mess of your paintwork not to mention the splurge of brains on the windscreen if you don't at least try to avoid them.
Well that is no fun!  Cyclists are worth extra points, even more than joggers!  :)

Brains? And cycling in the dark, without lights and in dark clothing?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 03:55:08 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on October 01, 2014, 03:47:15 PM
Quote from: donoreo on October 01, 2014, 02:32:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 01, 2014, 02:25:53 PM
'Fraid so Re. The good old days have long gone, and besides they make a mess of your paintwork not to mention the splurge of brains on the windscreen if you don't at least try to avoid them.
Well that is no fun!  Cyclists are worth extra points, even more than joggers!  :)

They are relying on their virtuous glow, which alas can only be perceived by other cyclists ;)

Brains? And cycling in the dark, without lights and in dark clothing?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 02, 2014, 11:27:21 PM
A happy couple leaving Birmingham today.

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15236663018_d42c3f1241.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/32099873@N07/15236663018/)
DSC_5612 Tourists (https://www.flickr.com/photos/32099873@N07/15236663018/) by The Real Oldboy (https://www.flickr.com/people/32099873@N07/), on Flickr


And a tourist who isn't happy.

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15236662988_25407399cb.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/32099873@N07/15236662988/)
DSC_5599 Tourist (https://www.flickr.com/photos/32099873@N07/15236662988/) by The Real Oldboy (https://www.flickr.com/people/32099873@N07/), on Flickr

:D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on October 03, 2014, 08:09:39 AM
WONGA..............................
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 03, 2014, 06:49:56 PM
Been around North Norfolk the past few days and was astounded by the amount of 'road kill' we saw. Not on main roads but the country lanes where you can drive for most of the day without seeing more than a dozen or so other vehicles.

Pheasants, rats, hedgehogs, rabbits and foxes all over the place. Are Norfolk animals born with a death wish? :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 03, 2014, 07:02:58 PM
Quote from: ABERS on October 03, 2014, 06:49:56 PM
Are Norfolk animals born with a death wish? :o

No, due to government cuts the Green Cross Code isn't taught to animals any more.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 07, 2014, 10:10:20 PM
So you fancy doing micro-photography then you might need this kit?  :o

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22429892.800-the-first-micromasterpieces-to-wow-the-public.html  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 17, 2014, 04:36:38 PM
Just back from town, where I caught the following snippet from a woman on her mobile: "Don't worry Mum, I will kill them all."
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on October 20, 2014, 08:10:20 AM
More amused than bemused, especially for Bristolians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-29641990

It seems that Bristols are not included! :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 20, 2014, 08:27:01 AM
If only we had thought of it, for our (CC's) front page!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 20, 2014, 09:37:02 AM
Quote from: ABERS on October 20, 2014, 08:10:20 AM
More amused than bemused, especially for Bristolians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-29641990

It seems that Bristols are not included! :legit:

To quote, ""While being photographed with the sculptures participants will be free to pose, sit and engage with the each sculpture in whatever way they like."

The mind boggles!!!  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 27, 2014, 06:23:24 PM
Now had my third text from N Power insisting that I reply to them immediately with my meter reading.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Cabbyjohn on October 28, 2014, 12:23:32 PM


http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/photo-news/mitchell-37381
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 03, 2014, 09:14:50 PM
So you think you are good with photoshop!  :tup:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2818355/Several-new-species-discovered-Artist-creates-hybrid-animals-way-improving-Photoshop-skills.html   :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on November 04, 2014, 07:15:20 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on November 03, 2014, 09:14:50 PM
So you think you are good with photoshop!  :tup:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2818355/Several-new-species-discovered-Artist-creates-hybrid-animals-way-improving-Photoshop-skills.html   :o

  Very good.I was hoping to see a Kangorellipig!  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 04, 2014, 07:35:10 AM
That would be a good challenge for the competition. You'd probably need more time than a week though, especially as all aspects normally need to be 'shot' within a week.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on November 10, 2014, 10:59:46 PM
Very good. Thanx for sharing
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on November 26, 2014, 08:59:20 AM
Quote from the Bradford sage today.

''Drawing is 50,000 years old. You don't give it up just because a photograph comes along."

David Hockney

How true.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 04, 2014, 05:08:58 PM
Supermarket special offer today on shower gel: double 250ml pack for only €4.21.

The only slight problem is that one 250ml bottle is €1.56.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 04, 2014, 07:07:05 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 04, 2014, 05:08:58 PM
Supermarket special offer today on shower gel: double 250ml pack for only €4.21.

The only slight problem is that one 250ml bottle is €1.56.

We get that all the time here.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 08, 2014, 11:41:56 AM
Getting an email telling me that a member is following me. Thinking it is someone of a discerning nature  8) I decided to look look at his photostream and then discover that that I have joined a total of 9,281 other people he is following  :o

Quite a discerning chap!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 08, 2014, 02:44:03 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 08, 2014, 11:41:56 AM
Getting an email telling me that a member is following me. Thinking it is someone of a discerning nature  8) I decided to look look at his photostream and then discover that that I have joined a total of 9,281 other people he is following  :o

Quite a discerning chap!

And I bet he has 43,786 (or more) 'faves.'

I don't know the maximum number of followers one can have, but I once got an extensive mail from a Portuguese photographer, who was bowled over by my photos and desperate to follow me. Sadly he had reached the maximum number of unilateral contacts the site allowed. But, if I made him a contact of mine, he could add me to his list.
I think he had in the tens of thousands contacts. I politely turned him down.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 08, 2014, 02:53:25 PM
WBMT: being interviewed by the local news about Christmas things like spending, shopping, shops and the city's Christmas decorations (non existent). Apart from the fact I hadn't overspent this Christmas (as if I would tell them if I had!), I could only be negative about the rest, so I'll probably end up on the cutting floor.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 09, 2014, 07:23:07 AM
 Whenever, and I mean EVER I look at my watch to check the date It is ALWAYS quarter past something and the little box with the date in is covered by the minute hand!  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 09, 2014, 08:18:47 AM
Quote from: Graham on December 09, 2014, 07:23:07 AM
Whenever, and I mean EVER I look at my watch to check the date It is ALWAYS quarter past something and the little box with the date in is covered by the minute hand!  >:(

We've got Sod's and Murphy's Law, maybe this is Graham's Law?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on December 09, 2014, 08:26:41 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 09, 2014, 08:18:47 AM
Quote from: Graham on December 09, 2014, 07:23:07 AM
Whenever, and I mean EVER I look at my watch to check the date It is ALWAYS quarter past something and the little box with the date in is covered by the minute hand!  >:(

We've got Sod's and Murphy's Law, maybe this is Graham's Law?

maybe you are just becoming a little paranoid... that minute hand is out to get you!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 09, 2014, 09:35:45 AM
Don't worry Graham, it's just the horological equivalent of cupboard suck: the phenomenon whereby any small dropped object is immediately sucked as far as it is possible to get underneath the nearest immovable object.

There is also a phenomenon known as Corvette suck which states that wherever in a car park you leave a Corvette, and for no matter how short a period, when you return there will be a battered white van parked so close to the driver's door that you have to think really really thin to get back in.

And you should never dropped buttered toast, because we all know what happens then. It's OK to drop cats though.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 09, 2014, 10:31:54 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 09, 2014, 09:35:45 AM
Don't worry Graham, it's just the horological equivalent of cupboard suck: the phenomenon whereby any small dropped object is immediately sucked as far as it is possible to get underneath the nearest immovable object.

There is also a phenomenon known as Corvette suck which states that wherever in a car park you leave a Corvette, and for no matter how short a period, when you return there will be a battered white van parked so close to the driver's door that you have to think really really thin to get back in.

And you should never dropped buttered toast, because we all know what happens then. It's OK to drop cats though.

  If you were to tape some buttered toast to a cats back, then drop it from a suitable height, would you get a perpetually spinning cat?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 09, 2014, 12:40:40 PM
Only if you make sure that the toast (with butter) has the same mass as the cat and you drop them from an infinite height.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 09, 2014, 07:32:30 PM
The good news!  ;D

From 12th March Hasselblad are giving away a FREE copy of Adobe Lightroom 4 with every H4D medium format camera purchase.

The bad news!  :'(

The camera costs £34,794!  :o :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on December 10, 2014, 08:38:58 AM
that's funny Oldboy...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 10, 2014, 08:49:57 AM
I find it tragic.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on December 13, 2014, 09:01:36 PM
Gee, for a Hassalblad you'd think they could give you Lightroom 5 at least.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 15, 2014, 12:10:11 PM
Stumbled across a newly opened  Jessops store in Kingston today. It doesn't appear much different to the one that closed in the town whan it all went t***ts up recently.

Smaller but still manned by those irritatingly persistent shop assistants that follow you around and hover on your elbow even when you have told them you're just browsing.

Can't think what Peter Jones the Dragon's Den man hopes to achieve?  ???

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on December 15, 2014, 02:43:02 PM
Profit. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on December 15, 2014, 06:27:22 PM
Do you think so?  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 15, 2014, 07:26:59 PM
So you think you are a dedicated photographer!

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/in-the-heat-of-the-moment/   :P

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on December 15, 2014, 08:10:09 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 15, 2014, 07:26:59 PM
So you think you are a dedicated photographer!

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/in-the-heat-of-the-moment/   :P
Come on. Which of us hasn't?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 15, 2014, 08:17:52 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 15, 2014, 12:10:11 PM
Stumbled across a newly opened  Jessops store in Kingston today. It doesn't appear much different to the one that closed in the town whan it all went t***ts up recently.

Smaller but still manned by those irritatingly persistent shop assistants that follow you around and hover on your elbow even when you have told them you're just browsing.

Can't think what Peter Jones the Dragon's Den man hopes to achieve?  ???

I must admit to having been impressed by the rebranded Jessops. There was a time in Leeds when we had 2 Jessops stores. Anyone with any sense went to the one in the older centre with very knowledgeable staff whilst the other was filled with salesmen. Times got hard and they closed one and lost the stuff - of course they chose the one with knowledgeable staff to close / lose!!! :uglystupid2: From then on Jessops in Leeds became a joke losing any support from serious photographers who used Jacobs and Dales in Leeds instead. As times changed we lost Jessops and 2 other independents as well as Jacobs` leaving only Dales for photography in Leeds - great staff/ expensive . I had no expectations of Jessops when they returned but have been pleasantly surprised to find staff there who know their stuff / leave me alone when I say no thank you and help me when I ask. Great change I`d say - at least in Leeds.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on December 16, 2014, 02:09:53 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 15, 2014, 06:27:22 PM
Do you think so?  ::)
Wild guess. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on December 16, 2014, 09:24:11 PM
Quote from: Graham on December 15, 2014, 08:10:09 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 15, 2014, 07:26:59 PM
So you think you are a dedicated photographer!

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/in-the-heat-of-the-moment/   :P
Come on. Which of us hasn't?

I guess that's one way to get noticed
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 18, 2014, 07:08:30 PM
Not that I need a new camera, but our local supermarket is selling Nikon D3100 with the kit lens for €379, with 50% back on their loyalty card, making the camera €189.50.

Now that's what I call a loss leader.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 04, 2015, 08:57:20 AM
Viewing figures?
Just read this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30657226

I can only assume that everyone had fallen asleep after a prolonged session of eating and drinking and left the TV on, or watched it in order to fall asleep and forget their indigestion.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 04, 2015, 04:24:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 04, 2015, 08:57:20 AM
Viewing figures?
Just read this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30657226

I can only assume that everyone had fallen asleep after a prolonged session of eating and drinking and left the TV on, or watched it in order to fall asleep and forget their indigestion.  :uglystupid2:

Can't believe the programs the BBC put out over the holiday period, soaps, football. F1, world darts, strictly come dancing and that Mrs Brown's Boys rubbish and most of the rest was repeats. The only good program was 'Open All Hours'. Need to ask the question about paying the licence fee. Too many left leaning managers been paid a kings ransome to leave any money for decent programs.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 04, 2015, 07:36:09 PM
Must admit I do like Mrs Browns Boys (Though I've not seen the film, the bits I did see looked dire!) - Open all Hours is ok, but not as good as the original.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 04, 2015, 08:26:52 PM
Mrs B's Boys is deliciously coarse; good old fashioned schoolboy fun. At least previous episodes were. Haven't seen any Christmas TV this time, so can't comment on latest developments.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 05, 2015, 11:27:55 AM
Big difference in TV watching in the UK at Christmas compared to over here.  It is obviously a big TV watching day over there considering all of the new things that are on the 25th.  Very few new shows on Christmas day over here.  Most are showing movie marathons i.e. all of the Harry Potter films, or marathons of shows (one had all Doctor Who from 2005 to current on in a row and then did show the Christmas special on Christmas night).  Generally "Christmas Specials" are not actually on Christmas but before Christmas.   
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on January 13, 2015, 04:23:49 PM
I wonder how much, if any, post processing is allowed in this selfie competition  :2funny:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-30797459
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 13, 2015, 09:57:37 PM
I think they just need a mug shot to compare with the criminal database.  If your on it you don't get the job. :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on January 14, 2015, 10:57:42 PM
Quote from: ABERS on December 15, 2014, 12:10:11 PM
Stumbled across a newly opened  Jessops store in Kingston today. It doesn't appear much different to the one that closed in the town whan it all went t***ts up recently.

Smaller but still manned by those irritatingly persistent shop assistants that follow you around and hover on your elbow even when you have told them you're just browsing.

Can't think what Peter Jones the Dragon's Den man hopes to achieve?  ???

To be honest I found my local Jessops friendly helpful and the staff not at all annoying. Shame it closed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on January 14, 2015, 11:02:05 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on December 15, 2014, 07:26:59 PM
So you think you are a dedicated photographer!

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/in-the-heat-of-the-moment/   :P

I would be there if I could............
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on January 14, 2015, 11:05:12 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 04, 2015, 08:57:20 AM
Viewing figures?
Just read this on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30657226

I can only assume that everyone had fallen asleep after a prolonged session of eating and drinking and left the TV on, or watched it in order to fall asleep and forget their indigestion.  :uglystupid2:

One programme I can't abide
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spikeyjen on January 18, 2015, 11:25:12 PM
this made me laugh....

http://www.buzzfeed.com/simoncrerar/the-most-australian-signs-ever#.xjxVQl4O9
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 19, 2015, 08:05:04 AM
I like 23 - double whammy. I bet there are a lot of dealers who like to know how to grow meth  :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 19, 2015, 08:40:07 AM
Great start to the week! :tup:

Freshly chalked sign outside a viilage pub last year.

"Come in for a good Home Cooked Meal. Chef on holiday this week"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 19, 2015, 11:57:07 AM
Quote from: spikeyjen on January 18, 2015, 11:25:12 PM
this made me laugh....

http://www.buzzfeed.com/simoncrerar/the-most-australian-signs-ever#.xjxVQl4O9
Number 11 is in Toronto.  We do have an Australian guy at work though....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 19, 2015, 01:40:49 PM
My D7000 went for repair and I spent the other day firing off random shots with various lenses determining that they had done a good job. Yesterday I go out for a walk and get back to find I`m less than happy with many of my images and thinking have they sacrificed longer distance focus to get it sharper up close knowing what I said I used it for - weddings etc. Is that even possible? Today I`ve been through all the camera settings amending them and shooting with the lens that was least sharp yesterday and through the window shots look better but.... so tired of pixel peeping.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on January 19, 2015, 02:12:09 PM
Does the D7000 have focus adjustments?  Never mind, I just looked and it does.  You may need to go through the process of adjusting that.  There are many videos and tutorials on doing it. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 19, 2015, 02:15:27 PM
Quote from: donoreo on January 19, 2015, 02:12:09 PM
Does the D7000 have focus adjustments?  Never mind, I just looked and it does.  You may need to go through the process of adjusting that.  There are many videos and tutorials on doing it.

Yes been there - done that before. More testing! My D700 I never adjusted a thing - just magic. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on January 21, 2015, 08:54:30 AM
Still trying to work out how to spend the £34 that I'll save on my gas bill. A whole 9p a day is something to ponder over before making any hasty decisions. Anyway I've got to the end of February before I need worry too much!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 21, 2015, 04:29:30 PM
Quote from: ABERS on January 21, 2015, 08:54:30 AM
Still trying to work out how to spend the £34 that I'll save on my gas bill. A whole 9p a day is something to ponder over before making any hasty decisions. Anyway I've got to the end of February before I need worry too much!  ::)

I'm missing out on this, as I am 'all electric!'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 23, 2015, 01:05:34 AM
Myself. I am here to tell you, unequivocally that the Spot Removal tool will NOT clean the spots off of your computer screen. No way, no how. And it took me several attempts before I realized what I was doing.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 23, 2015, 08:56:57 AM
Quote from: spinner on January 23, 2015, 01:05:34 AM
Myself. I am here to tell you, unequivocally that the Spot Removal tool will NOT clean the spots off of your computer screen. No way, no how. And it took me several attempts before I realized what I was doing.  :uglystupid2:
You're not the first.  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 23, 2015, 10:03:11 AM
Quote from: spinner on January 23, 2015, 01:05:34 AM
Myself. I am here to tell you, unequivocally that the Spot Removal tool will NOT clean the spots off of your computer screen. No way, no how. And it took me several attempts before I realized what I was doing.  :uglystupid2:

If you had a 3D removal tool then that would work!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on January 23, 2015, 12:59:08 PM
I was driving home last night and, on looking through my rear view mirror, was convinced that the it was the Irish pop legend Van Morrison behind me.


Imagine my embarrassment when I remembered that everything in a mirror is reversed and it turned out to be a Morrisons van!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 24, 2015, 09:20:42 AM
Quote from: Graham on January 23, 2015, 12:59:08 PM
I was driving home last night and, on looking through my rear view mirror, was convinced that the it was the Irish pop legend Van Morrison behind me.


Imagine my embarrassment when I remembered that everything in a mirror is reversed and it turned out to be a Morrisons van!

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 28, 2015, 06:55:29 PM
Have just managed to convince Southern Water, that I still live at my address, and have them reinstate my direct debit.

Apparently someone changed his/her address on line, and moved in here. Without me noticing!

All should be well again though, but it just goes to show how 'dangerous' these on line changes can be.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 28, 2015, 09:44:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 28, 2015, 06:55:29 PM
Have just managed to convince Southern Water, that I still live at my address, and have them reinstate my direct debit.

Apparently someone changed his/her address on line, and moved in here. Without me noticing!

All should be well again though, but it just goes to show how 'dangerous' these on line changes can be.

Have you checked the cupboards?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 28, 2015, 10:38:58 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 28, 2015, 09:44:43 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 28, 2015, 06:55:29 PM
Have just managed to convince Southern Water, that I still live at my address, and have them reinstate my direct debit.

Apparently someone changed his/her address on line, and moved in here. Without me noticing!

All should be well again though, but it just goes to show how 'dangerous' these on line changes can be.

Have you checked the cupboards?  ???

Just cleared out three, no one there.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on January 29, 2015, 06:50:17 AM
My hubby spotted 2 men rummaging through the wheelie bins in our lane both on the night before bin collection and the morning of collection. We never put ours out the night before but yesterday he hung on in the morning till the bin wagon was a few doors away.

This rummaging can result in stolen identities and we all need to be careful about shredding stuff. I didn't know if I should have called the police but in the end I didn't.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 29, 2015, 08:09:20 AM
A thin covering of snow on top of a layer of frozen snow and it`s chaos! Tried to get to the gym for early morning session and totally stranded at home because of people driving too fast on slight downhills crashing into other cars coming up the other way. Absolute bedlam. 2 cars facing the wrong way up the hill on the main road that had been gritted and wasn`t bad at all! What do people do???? A little moderation and all would be fine!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2015, 09:28:36 AM
Quote from: DigiDiva on January 29, 2015, 06:50:17 AM
My hubby spotted 2 men rummaging through the wheelie bins in our lane both on the night before bin collection and the morning of collection. We never put ours out the night before but yesterday he hung on in the morning till the bin wagon was a few doors away.

This rummaging can result in stolen identities and we all need to be careful about shredding stuff. I didn't know if I should have called the police but in the end I didn't.

It's likely Romanians as they tend to go through rubbish looking for things to sell. At least they do down here.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 29, 2015, 05:06:35 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on January 29, 2015, 06:50:17 AM
My hubby spotted 2 men rummaging through the wheelie bins in our lane both on the night before bin collection and the morning of collection. We never put ours out the night before but yesterday he hung on in the morning till the bin wagon was a few doors away.

This rummaging can result in stolen identities and we all need to be careful about shredding stuff. I didn't know if I should have called the police but in the end I didn't.

I agree. Got myself a shredder...last Christmas...not the one just past, the other one. I'll have it out of the box one day soon. :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 29, 2015, 05:59:43 PM
Quote from: spinner on January 29, 2015, 05:06:35 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on January 29, 2015, 06:50:17 AM
My hubby spotted 2 men rummaging through the wheelie bins in our lane both on the night before bin collection and the morning of collection. We never put ours out the night before but yesterday he hung on in the morning till the bin wagon was a few doors away.

This rummaging can result in stolen identities and we all need to be careful about shredding stuff. I didn't know if I should have called the police but in the end I didn't.

I agree. Got myself a shredder...last Christmas...not the one just past, the other one. I'll have it out of the box one day soon. :uglystupid2:

If you plug it in it will shred the box!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on January 29, 2015, 08:45:10 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 29, 2015, 05:59:43 PM
Quote from: spinner on January 29, 2015, 05:06:35 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on January 29, 2015, 06:50:17 AM
My hubby spotted 2 men rummaging through the wheelie bins in our lane both on the night before bin collection and the morning of collection. We never put ours out the night before but yesterday he hung on in the morning till the bin wagon was a few doors away.

This rummaging can result in stolen identities and we all need to be careful about shredding stuff. I didn't know if I should have called the police but in the end I didn't.

I agree. Got myself a shredder...last Christmas...not the one just past, the other one. I'll have it out of the box one day soon. :uglystupid2:

If you plug it in it will shred the box!  :P

Oh, right!! :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 09, 2015, 06:35:20 PM
Got up this morning and the electricity was off. No computer, no central heating and the phone seemed to be down as well. Found my mobile and the battery was flat!

Thought, well I'll have a cuppa, no electric kettle of course! Decided to go to golf but the weather turned nasty so that was off the menu. Dead loss!  >:(

Decide to sit with the wife and had a chat for a couple of hours.

She seems like a nice lady.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on February 09, 2015, 07:46:17 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 09, 2015, 06:35:20 PM
Got up this morning and the electricity was off. No computer, no central heating and the phone seemed to be down as well. Found my mobile and the battery was flat!

Thought, well I'll have a cuppa, no electric kettle of course! Decided to go to golf but the weather turned nasty so that was off the menu. Dead loss!  >:(

Decide to sit with the wife and had a chat for a couple of hours.

She seems like a nice lady.

:2funny: :2funny:

And how long have you been together  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 09, 2015, 08:43:18 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 09, 2015, 06:35:20 PM
Got up this morning and the electricity was off. No computer, no central heating and the phone seemed to be down as well. Found my mobile and the battery was flat!

Thought, well I'll have a cuppa, no electric kettle of course! Decided to go to golf but the weather turned nasty so that was off the menu. Dead loss!  >:(

Decide to sit with the wife and had a chat for a couple of hours.

She seems like a nice lady.

Did she remember your name?  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 10, 2015, 08:09:20 AM
Did who remember my name?? ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 10, 2015, 10:19:49 AM
Quote from: ABERS on February 10, 2015, 08:09:20 AM
Did who remember my name?? ???

Whatshername?   :-*
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 11, 2015, 08:51:57 AM
Had a phone call from my cousin's wife last evening to tell that Dave was appearing on a programme called 'Stars in their Eyes', which has apparently been resurrected recently. It's the one where people imitate their favourite artist. The one where they walk off through a dry ice cloud only to reappear as their idol.

My cousin has always been a Big Band fan, Duke Ellington, Count Basey, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and the Herd  etc.

As he walked off into the cloud he turned to the audience and said, "Tonight I'm going to be Glenn Miller".

I could tell by her tone she was a little concerned.

She's still looking for him!  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 11, 2015, 03:17:01 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 11, 2015, 08:51:57 AM
Had a phone call from my cousin's wife last evening to tell that Dave was appearing on a programme called 'Stars in their Eyes', which has apparently been resurrected recently. It's the one where people imitate their favourite artist. The one where they walk off through a dry ice cloud only to reappear as their idol.

My cousin has always been a Big Band fan, Duke Ellington, Count Basey, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and the Herd  etc.

As he walked off into the cloud he turned to the audience and said, "Tonight I'm going to be Glenn Miller".

I could tell by her tone she was a little concerned.

She's still looking for him!  8)
<groan>  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 11, 2015, 05:24:52 PM
Looking at the zone of tuna debris surrounding the cat's food dish, and recalling the recent BBC programme about pets and the information that cat's are very tidy eaters.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 12, 2015, 06:17:02 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 11, 2015, 05:24:52 PM
Looking at the zone of tuna debris surrounding the cat's food dish, and recalling the recent BBC programme about pets and the information that cat's are very tidy eaters.

Don't be too quick to blame YOUR cat. I watched a program a week ago that studied cats in a small village in the south of England. One of the more interesting finds (to me anyway)
was the discovery that if you have a cat door, a neighbour's cat may be coming in and eating the food (and making a mess maybe?). :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 12, 2015, 07:28:28 PM
Oh no, it's definitely our cat. It was during the day time, and anyway our neighbour's cat is an old English sheep dog called Garp. He weighs 60 kilos, but he's not fat, just huge. And very friendly. And way too big to get through the cat flap.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on February 13, 2015, 01:49:25 PM
My better half asked me to sort the fridge in expectation of new groceries being purchased. Apparently we THINK we like pickles, but apparently not enough to finish a jar. 2 large jars of sweet pickles, half full and 4 jars of dill pickles in various stages of fullness, ranging from full, to, only one pickle left.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 15, 2015, 07:46:04 PM
Female logic - "I haven't put it anywhere, I just moved it" when asked where something I had been using went missing . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 16, 2015, 08:33:30 AM
What bemused me? Where does all the time go?

Looking at the date I realise that 60 years ago today I was getting both nervous and excited in equal measure, because tomorrow I was accepting Her Majesty's kind but firm invitation to join her merry men for a couple of years!  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on February 16, 2015, 09:18:20 AM
Explain more........
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 16, 2015, 09:54:47 AM
Quote from: DigiDiva on February 16, 2015, 09:18:20 AM
Explain more........

National service.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on February 16, 2015, 09:57:25 AM
Were you for or against "National Service" when you did your stint Alan?

I wonder what the general overall reaction would be from the youth of today if it was reinstated.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on February 16, 2015, 10:03:08 AM
Abers I didn't realise you were old enough to do national service. I think it should be brought back maybe not for everyone but to try to instill discipline and regime into the lives of some people (male and female) who really contribute nothing to society.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on February 16, 2015, 01:00:22 PM
Quote from: DigiDiva on February 16, 2015, 10:03:08 AM
Abers I didn't realise you were old enough to do national service. I think it should be brought back maybe not for everyone but to try to instill discipline and regime into the lives of some people (male and female) who really contribute nothing to society.
Bermuda still has it, which I just found out.   Some non-British related countries still do as well, like Israel. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on February 16, 2015, 03:56:17 PM
I did my National Service in Holland 40 years ago. I certainly did not look forward to it! Being a country boy it was a big experience for me and was very intimidated by it all. Looking back on that time several years later I believe that it taught me a lot about essential skills in life, such as discipline, respect, cooperation and most important myself. I feel that people who missed out on this experience will find it harder/take longer to grow up. (Although my dearest wife still thinks I am a big child!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on February 16, 2015, 04:57:57 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on February 16, 2015, 09:57:25 AM
Were you for or against "National Service" when you did your stint Alan?

I wonder what the general overall reaction would be from the youth of today if it was reinstated.

It was something one had to do and therefore accepted it. I might have opted out it if that was an option, but in hindsight I realise that by not doing it I would have missed out on an experience that taught me so much, especially about  self discpline and comradeship.

I smile when the current gang of politicians tell us 'We're all in it together'. They are just mouthing a cliche. When you did National Service you quickly knew what that really meant.

A couple of chaps from our village dodged it by their fathers knowing what strings to pull. Didn't Heseltine get out by realising that standing for parliament in a bye election meant he could get out of it? Later on he ended up as Mininster of Defence!  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 17, 2015, 08:01:58 AM
Several of my friends tried to get out of it (in Holland, in the late sixties). I think it was seen as a challenge. No one succeeded though, they all did their bit in the end.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on February 17, 2015, 10:53:47 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on February 17, 2015, 08:01:58 AM
Several of my friends tried to get out of it (in Holland, in the late sixties). I think it was seen as a challenge. No one succeeded though, they all did their bit in the end.
A friend of mine was rather overweight. If you were over 100kg you were not fit for duty! He was eating like mad for a couple of weeks and stuffed himself in the bus to the medical with Mars bars and chocolate. He stood on the scales and the doctor said it was 103kg. With a sigh of relief he stepped off the scales only to hear the doctor say not to worry about it and that he would quickly loose some weight when he was serving. On the way back in the bus he was sick from all the chocolate and the shock.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 17, 2015, 05:05:41 PM
Quote from: Simple on February 17, 2015, 10:53:47 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on February 17, 2015, 08:01:58 AM
Several of my friends tried to get out of it (in Holland, in the late sixties). I think it was seen as a challenge. No one succeeded though, they all did their bit in the end.
A friend of mine was rather overweight. If you were over 100kg you were not fit for duty! He was eating like mad for a couple of weeks and stuffed himself in the bus to the medical with Mars bars and chocolate. He stood on the scales and the doctor said it was 103kg. With a sigh of relief he stepped off the scales only to hear the doctor say not to worry about it and that he would quickly loose some weight when he was serving. On the way back in the bus he was sick from all the chocolate and the shock.

That's funny, as one of my friends was too light. You had to be 50 kg and he was, I think, something like 48 or 49. He was a gymnast, so very fit, but not tall and quite skinny.
When he had to go for his 'herkeuring' (what's that in English?) he thought he'd walk it. He was 49.5 and like your friend, thought he got out of it, but he got the same answer in reverse: he'd put it on soon enough, once serving.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 18, 2015, 12:00:33 PM
Quote from: ABERS on February 16, 2015, 04:57:57 PM
Quote from: Beaux Reflets on February 16, 2015, 09:57:25 AM
Were you for or against "National Service" when you did your stint Alan?

I wonder what the general overall reaction would be from the youth of today if it was reinstated.

It was something one had to do and therefore accepted it. I might have opted out it if that was an option, but in hindsight I realise that by not doing it I would have missed out on an experience that taught me so much, especially about  self discpline and comradeship.

I smile when the current gang of politicians tell us 'We're all in it together'. They are just mouthing a cliche. When you did National Service you quickly knew what that really meant.

A couple of chaps from our village dodged it by their fathers knowing what strings to pull. Didn't Heseltine get out by realising that standing for parliament in a bye election meant he could get out of it? Later on he ended up as Mininster of Defence!  ::)

Yes Heseltine was in the Welsh Guards for all of 9 months before he realised that if he stood for the unwinnable seat of Gower he would get out. They changed the rules later as you did not even have to win the seat at first. Strange he took to wearing flak jackets on every possible occasion as Minister of Defence for the cameras!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 24, 2015, 02:34:50 PM
Had a new batch of extra bright LED spot lights arrive for fitting in the kitchen. Installed them. Couldn't see a darned thing. I did a bit more research and now I know why: lm = cd × ( 2?(1 - cos(º/2)) ).  In easy language the LED lights are rated at 260 lumens, the old halogens at 180 lumens. Slam dunk to the LEDs you might think. What the formula tells you though is that the actual brightness in the area illuminated by each lamp, which we humans tend to perceive on the Candella scale, is rubbish for the LEDs which have a 110 degree light spread and therefore only 90CD, whereas the halogens have a 35 degree spread and a CD of over 600. So the LED spots are less than 20% as bright as the halogens, even though they appear to be extra bright if you read the label.

The LEDs have, of course, gone in the bin and I have ordered a batch of 20 halogens before the EU ban them.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 26, 2015, 06:08:31 PM
The old lights are always the best!
What b.m.t? A year after throwing in a couple of pretty poor efforts to a holiday company  photo comp they write to tell me I've won a £150 John Lewis vouchers for 3rd prize. They liked my other better but it was about showing a company luggage label in shot and I'd photo shopped it on a Cuban car to make them smile rather than a serious entry. As my other was done with a soggy label I'd dropped in the sea before knowing about the comp I'd not expected anything. Goes to show you never know what these judges are looking for as I'd judged it a useless also ran ! :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 26, 2015, 07:03:33 PM
Quote from: jinky on February 26, 2015, 06:08:31 PM
The old lights are always the best!
What b.m.t? A year after throwing in a couple of pretty poor efforts to a holiday company  photo comp they write to tell me I've won a £150 John Lewis vouchers for 3rd prize. They liked my other better but it was about showing a company luggage label in shot and I'd photo shopped it on a Cuban car to make them smile rather than a serious entry. As my other was done with a soggy label I'd dropped in the sea before knowing about the comp I'd not expected anything. Goes to show you never know what these judges are looking for as I'd judged it a useless also ran ! :D

Perhaps my photos will be also ran!  ;)

Well done on 3rd place. Drinks are on Jinky.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on February 26, 2015, 08:43:02 PM
Yeah, not bad at all Jinky. I never ever even made a short list, and only win occasionally in competitions on sites like this.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 13, 2015, 07:35:27 PM
It appears you can't use a tripod on Hampstead Heath!  :uglystupid2:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/12/alan-rusbridger-guardian-editor_n_6856272.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-news&icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl17%7Csec3_lnk6%26pLid%3D336546  ::)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 24, 2015, 09:45:18 AM
Due to my handicap, my eyes pick up some letters of a word, and my brain completes it.

This morning in the paper: "Thieves bundle 38 payphones in sacks.'

The usual double take, and rescan, revealed the payphones were actually pythons.

Sometimes even handicaps can be amusing.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 24, 2015, 09:51:38 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 24, 2015, 09:45:18 AM
Due to my handicap, my eyes pick up some letters of a word, and my brain completes it.

This morning in the paper: "Thieves bundle 38 payphones in sacks.'

The usual double take, and rescan, revealed the payphones were actually pythons.

Sometimes even handicaps can be amusing.

Hope it wasn't the Monty crew?  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on March 24, 2015, 01:40:57 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 24, 2015, 09:45:18 AM
Due to my handicap, my eyes pick up some letters of a word, and my brain completes it.

This morning in the paper: "Thieves bundle 38 payphones in sacks.'

The usual double take, and rescan, revealed the payphones were actually pythons.

Sometimes even handicaps can be amusing.
To be honest, either way that headline is sort of funny :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on March 24, 2015, 01:57:24 PM
Quote from: donoreo on March 24, 2015, 01:40:57 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on March 24, 2015, 09:45:18 AM
Due to my handicap, my eyes pick up some letters of a word, and my brain completes it.

This morning in the paper: "Thieves bundle 38 payphones in sacks.'

The usual double take, and rescan, revealed the payphones were actually pythons.

Sometimes even handicaps can be amusing.
To be honest, either way that headline is sort of funny :)

I found the pythons rather frightening; they were royal pythons, and 'lived' in a flat, not some spacious detached place somewhere.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on March 24, 2015, 07:41:38 PM
Witnessed a bit of road rage in the aftermath of an accident. Looked like a little Asian guy had reversed out into the lane running alongside parking in front of shops. exchanging views a much bigger guy was pushing the one a foot smaller telling him he could not take a photo of him and if he did he would carry out a citizens arrest and  detain him until police arrived. I walked by at first but as he got more aggressive felt I should say something. Told him it wasn`t in fact illegal to take a picture of him on a public street and that if the assault carried on I would be videoing him myself and calling the Police. Bemused by his ignorance / bullying and subsequent string of deletives aimed at me. Amazing how some can turn a prang of metal into a fight! At least my interference had desired effect as they exchanged details ad parted.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on March 25, 2015, 07:35:35 AM
Well done Jinky. So many people would walk away and not help. Some people just can't be told.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 29, 2015, 02:42:38 PM
On a bit of the main road from our village into town the speed limit has been lowered on a slightly sinuous set of curves after the fairly predictable occurrence of yoof driving their cars over the edge of the shallow escarpment with monotonous Friday/Saturday night regularity. The signs went up on Wednesday. This morning there were not one but two yoof-mobiles upside down in ditches on that stretch, metres apart but on opposite sides of the carriageway.

Luckily no-one has hit any of the fairly sparse street furniture yet, landing instead in muddy fields, sometimes the right way up, but usually upside down. The main damage is to bodywork and pride, but you can see why plod thinks it is getting rather tiresome.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 29, 2015, 05:00:00 PM
Was watching the  Brit tv show Wheeler Dealer. The host was talking about a Corvette and made some crack about dodgey American electrics. Why does that bemuse me? Because on this side of the pond it's the opposite, car enthusiasts talk about dodgey Brit electrics.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 29, 2015, 05:28:14 PM
In all fairness the electrics on my Corvette are rather erratic; the error messages being a particular favourite of mine.  'Communication lost with driver seat' has a special and regular place in my heart. Whenever it is started in cold weather it reports, without fail, that the traction control and ABS systems require maintenance.

That said,  it does at least always start.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 11, 2015, 09:02:13 AM
More embarrassed than bemused.

Not having much spare time at the moment due to family commitments, I managed to get a couple of hours last Saturday to do my bit and steward the club's annual exhibition. I found myself co-stewarding with a very 'arty' type lady that insisted on discussing the motivation and inner feelings that made her take photos and looked on the art as a way to express and reveal her reaction to life in general. A couple of hours stretched into eternity. :(

Visitors to the exhibition, if they so desire, are asked to vote for their favourite panel. I mentioned to her it was felt amongst many members that to win this accolade was regarded as a bit of a poisoned chalice, since those voting had little or no idea what made a decent photograph, and most, if not every year, it was awarded to the panel that was made up of local scenes or someone whose work showed little or no creativity.

At Thurday's club evening the results were announced, with this lady's panel taking the honours!  :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 11, 2015, 09:56:52 AM
Quote from: ABERS on April 11, 2015, 09:02:13 AM
More embarrassed than bemused.

Not having much spare time at the moment due to family commitments, I managed to get a couple of hours last Saturday to do my bit and steward the club's annual exhibition. I found myself co-stewarding with a very 'arty' type lady that insisted on discussing the motivation and inner feelings that made her take photos and looked on the art as a way to express and reveal her reaction to life in general. A couple of hours stretched into eternity. :(

Visitors to the exhibition, if they so desire, are asked to vote for their favourite panel. I mentioned to her it was felt amongst many members that to win this accolade was regarded as a bit of a poisoned chalice, since those voting had little or no idea what made a decent photograph, and most, if not every year, it was awarded to the panel that was made up of local scenes or someone whose work showed little or no creativity.

At Thurday's club evening the results were announced, with this lady's panel taking the honours!  :-[


I wonder if she always feels very 'sun risey/sun seetingy,' or probably 'beachy and landscapey,' possibly even 'deery.'

Maybe you should ask visitors to vote for the most interesting/challenging/accomplished panel, or whatever else you can think of.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on April 12, 2015, 07:33:06 AM
Quote from: ABERS on April 11, 2015, 09:02:13 AM
More embarrassed than bemused.

Not having much spare time at the moment due to family commitments, I managed to get a couple of hours last Saturday to do my bit and steward the club's annual exhibition. I found myself co-stewarding with a very 'arty' type lady that insisted on discussing the motivation and inner feelings that made her take photos and looked on the art as a way to express and reveal her reaction to life in general. A couple of hours stretched into eternity. :(

Visitors to the exhibition, if they so desire, are asked to vote for their favourite panel. I mentioned to her it was felt amongst many members that to win this accolade was regarded as a bit of a poisoned chalice, since those voting had little or no idea what made a decent photograph, and most, if not every year, it was awarded to the panel that was made up of local scenes or someone whose work showed little or no creativity.

At Thurday's club evening the results were announced, with this lady's panel taking the honours!  :-[

Alan. When you said  ":-[", did you mean ":2funny:"?  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Sandy on April 12, 2015, 07:44:24 AM
A great story, she might give you a wide berth for a while
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 12, 2015, 08:24:09 AM
Quote from: Graham on April 12, 2015, 07:33:06 AM
Quote from: ABERS on April 11, 2015, 09:02:13 AM
More embarrassed than bemused.

Not having much spare time at the moment due to family commitments, I managed to get a couple of hours last Saturday to do my bit and steward the club's annual exhibition. I found myself co-stewarding with a very 'arty' type lady that insisted on discussing the motivation and inner feelings that made her take photos and looked on the art as a way to express and reveal her reaction to life in general. A couple of hours stretched into eternity. :(

Visitors to the exhibition, if they so desire, are asked to vote for their favourite panel. I mentioned to her it was felt amongst many members that to win this accolade was regarded as a bit of a poisoned chalice, since those voting had little or no idea what made a decent photograph, and most, if not every year, it was awarded to the panel that was made up of local scenes or someone whose work showed little or no creativity.

At Thurday's club evening the results were announced, with this lady's panel taking the honours!  :-[

Alan. When you said  ":-[", did you mean ":2funny:"?  ;)

Well I did really Graham, but you know me, too much of a gentleman. She'll talk to me one day and then I'll congratulate her.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 22, 2015, 12:26:22 PM
I bought a new bulb for my study yesterday. The old fashioned tungsten ones I used to have are not longer legal - so I had to spend about 30x as much on an LED one.

So how come the packet says it'll last 15 years, but it's only guaranteed for 3? My guess is it'll last about 3 years one week.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on April 24, 2015, 08:00:45 AM
Went to the Docs yesterday, at their request, for an annual check up. I keep away from doctors as much as I can and not having had a check up for three or four years I thought I'd better show willing in case they struck me off the register.

Sitting in the waiting room I appeared to be the only person not either texting or playing games on their 'phones. Bye the bye my name came up on the screen asking me to report to Dr Dave's room.

Mmmm I thought, " is this the new face of the NHS", wondering what sort of friendly chap Dave would be. :)

On knocking and entering I was, to my surprise, facing a large Asian lady in a sari and thick pebble glasses who invited me to sit down.

Apparently Dave is pronounced DARVEY! :-[

P.S. I am apparently fit for service having had all the necessary poking and prodding needed. I was ready to leave in a hurry if the old rubber gloves made an appearance. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on April 25, 2015, 03:41:19 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 22, 2015, 12:26:22 PM
I bought a new bulb for my study yesterday. The old fashioned tungsten ones I used to have are not longer legal - so I had to spend about 30x as much on an LED one.

So how come the packet says it'll last 15 years, but it's only guaranteed for 3? My guess is it'll last about 3 years one week.

It appears that tungsten bulbs are only illegal for domestic use. If you can find a suitable supplier, they can be bought 'for industrial use only'. Fortunately, it appears my light fittings accept industrial bulbs  :idea:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 04, 2015, 08:06:15 AM
My grandaughter has recently landed the job of pastry chef at Hampton Court and had a strange experience on the second round of her interviews. She had been asked to prepare two desserts for presentation and to bring them for assessment early the next day.

Promptly at 8 a.m. she was making her way to the kitchens in a somewhat deserted corridor when she felt that someone was behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and lo and behold she was being followed by Henry VIII in full regalia. As she looked he muttered a gruff "G'd Morning" and turned down a side corridor.

What she didn't know of course was that there were several school trips planned for the day where the children met the Tudors!

She had a coffee with Cardinal Wolsey the other day!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 04, 2015, 08:23:55 AM
As long as she`s not called Catherine she should have been OK  ;)
Quote from: ABERS on May 04, 2015, 08:06:15 AM
My grandaughter has recently landed the job of pastry chef at Hampton Court and had a strange experience on the second round of her interviews. She had been asked to prepare two desserts for presentation and to bring them for assessment early the next day.

Promptly at 8 a.m. she was making her way to the kitchens in a somewhat deserted corridor when she felt that someone was behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and lo and behold she was being followed by Henry VIII in full regalia. As she looked he muttered a gruff "G'd Morning" and turned down a side corridor.

What she didn't know of course was that there were several school trips planned for the day where the children met the Tudors!

She had a coffee with Cardinal Wolsey the other day!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 04, 2015, 08:57:51 AM
Quote from: ABERS on May 04, 2015, 08:06:15 AM
My grandaughter has recently landed the job of pastry chef at Hampton Court and had a strange experience on the second round of her interviews. She had been asked to prepare two desserts for presentation and to bring them for assessment early the next day.

Promptly at 8 a.m. she was making her way to the kitchens in a somewhat deserted corridor when she felt that someone was behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and lo and behold she was being followed by Henry VIII in full regalia. As she looked he muttered a gruff "G'd Morning" and turned down a side corridor.

What she didn't know of course was that there were several school trips planned for the day where the children met the Tudors!

She had a coffee with Cardinal Wolsey the other day!

Must be fascinating to work there! Does she work 'behind the scenes,' or is she 'on display,' and possibly in period costume?

A friend and I spent an afternoon at Hampton Court recently, but missed the Cardinal and Henry VIII as they 'appear' in the morning.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 04, 2015, 02:44:36 PM
Behind the scenes. If you eat a pastry or cake when you visit, either an ordinary visitor or attending a wedding she will have made it.

Next time you visit R get in touch, we only live about a mile from the gates. I'll treat you to a cake (or two).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 04, 2015, 03:22:13 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 04, 2015, 02:44:36 PM
Behind the scenes. If you eat a pastry or cake when you visit, either an ordinary visitor or attending a wedding she will have made it.

Next time you visit R get in touch, we only live about a mile from the gates. I'll treat you to a cake (or two).

We did have tea, but did not touch any cakes. for 'health' (weight) reasons.

And thank you for the invitation, I'll remember it if/when I visit again.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 05, 2015, 04:00:27 PM
Spotted a novel number plate today.

N4DAO

Displayed thus

                              N4DA
                                 O

Anyone with a smattering of Spanish should appreciate it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on May 05, 2015, 05:13:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 05, 2015, 04:00:27 PM
Spotted a novel number plate today.

N4DAO

Displayed thus

                              N4DA
                                 O

Anyone with a smattering of Spanish should appreciate it.

All personal number plates look the same to me and spell the word
TVVAT
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on May 05, 2015, 05:33:46 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on May 05, 2015, 05:13:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 05, 2015, 04:00:27 PM
Spotted a novel number plate today.

N4DAO

Displayed thus

                              N4DA
                                 O

Anyone with a smattering of Spanish should appreciate it.

All personal number plates look the same to me and spell the word
TVVAT


Took me a moment or two there Abers. :). I`m with you AF re: personalised plates  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Graham on May 06, 2015, 07:14:57 AM
Quote from: jinky on May 05, 2015, 05:33:46 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on May 05, 2015, 05:13:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 05, 2015, 04:00:27 PM
Spotted a novel number plate today.

N4DAO

Displayed thus

                              N4DA
                                 O

Anyone with a smattering of Spanish should appreciate it.

All personal number plates look the same to me and spell the word
TVVAT


Took me a moment or two there Abers. :). I`m with you AF re: personalised plates  ;)
Saw this one on the back of a Porche the other day.
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag463/graham98/20150314_121255_zps4eypzxqd.jpg)

Smacks just a little bit of desperation.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 06, 2015, 07:17:39 AM
I feel that whoever thought this plate up was a little more cute than the normal run of the mill " look at me" merchant, like the one Graham just posted.

Number plates have served many a purpose on long journies with two bored kids in the back. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 06, 2015, 07:24:10 AM
The best one (most personal) I've ever seen, and in my own neighbourhood, was DAV10S.
David being my husband's name, it immediately rang a bell.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on May 06, 2015, 07:32:40 AM
Like the messages that are sometimes scrawled in the muck and dust on the side or rear of vans. A bit of an old chestnut from way back but still my favourite

Make Love Not War -See driver for details.

Driving to work at Ealing Common a van pulls up by the side of me. R J Singh, Builder and Decorator. You've tried the Cowboys, Now Try the Indians.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 06, 2015, 05:19:23 PM
Quote from: ABERS on May 06, 2015, 07:32:40 AM
Like the messages that are sometimes scrawled in the muck and dust on the side or rear of vans. A bit of an old chestnut from way back but still my favourite

Make Love Not War -See driver for details.

Driving to work at Ealing Common a van pulls up by the side of me. R J Singh, Builder and Decorator. You've tried the Cowboys, Now Try the Indians.

Great sense of humour! In both cases.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on May 16, 2015, 08:36:35 PM
I do have a personal plate on my car - made up of my initials and a number which pre-dates when the model was available and the word MUD.

Well, it is on a Land Rover Discovery. :uglystupid2:

It was also quite cheap  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 16, 2015, 09:09:47 PM
I have had a couple. One was on  the car when I bought it. The other was the Corvette series number followed by my  initials. These are the only two registration numbers I've had that I can remember: I have only a vague idea of my current registration.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 21, 2015, 02:11:51 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 16, 2015, 09:09:47 PM
I have had a couple. One was on  the car when I bought it. The other was the Corvette series number followed by my  initials. These are the only two registration numbers I've had that I can remember: I have only a vague idea of my current registration.

That's interesting. Here in the colonies, or in my little corner, Ontario, you own your number plate and it stays with you until it's worn out. Personalized plates are an extra cost over and above the license fee. So if we own a personal plate here we're the ones guilty of being TWATs. No blaming on previous owner.  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 21, 2015, 02:16:17 PM
Woke up this morning and got myself a coffee. Went to check my emails and discovered my Windows 7 machine had seized control of my iMac's bluetooth keyboard and mouse.  Now the iMac sits idle with no controls.

Oh yeah, these two machines have been sitting side by side for over two yrs. Poltergeist?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 21, 2015, 05:22:07 PM
Sounds scary.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 21, 2015, 07:13:30 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 21, 2015, 05:22:07 PM
Sounds scary.

Yeah, seriously, my daughter is convinced that my mother is haunting our house. So does my wife.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 21, 2015, 08:50:56 PM
Quote from: spinner on May 21, 2015, 07:13:30 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on May 21, 2015, 05:22:07 PM
Sounds scary.

Yeah, seriously, my daughter is convinced that my mother is haunting our house. So does my wife.  ::)

Quite possible, but was she an IT expert?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 22, 2015, 08:16:29 AM
Went to the 24 hour petrol station this morning to get some fuel for my garden machinery. Tapped in my card number - wrong code - did it again - wrong code. Onset of Alzheimer's? No, the pumps have new touch screen number pads. I have a problem with touch screens - ghost touches, caused by the fact that my family have unusually strong EM fields  (new wavers call this 'auras' because they're quite mad). So I am going to have to start carrying a capacitive screen pen around with me. Using a pen is the only way I can navigate on screen with my e-reader, although using my Galaxy tablet with my fingers is generally not too bad.

My grandfather's EM field was so strong that he could not wear even anti-magnetic wrist watches - they all stopped.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on May 22, 2015, 11:26:27 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 22, 2015, 08:16:29 AM
Went to the 24 hour petrol station this morning to get some fuel for my garden machinery. Tapped in my card number - wrong code - did it again - wrong code. Onset of Alzheimer's? No, the pumps have new touch screen number pads. I have a problem with touch screens - ghost touches, caused by the fact that my family have unusually strong EM fields  (new wavers call this 'auras' because they're quite mad). So I am going to have to start carrying a capacitive screen pen around with me. Using a pen is the only way I can navigate on screen with my e-reader, although using my Galaxy tablet with my fingers is generally not too bad.

My grandfather's EM field was so strong that he could not wear even anti-magnetic wrist watches - they all stopped.

An x girlfriend of mine had an EM that made some watches go in reverse so she had an excuse for being late  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2015, 12:29:08 PM
The things you learn here! I knew of EM fields, but did not realise people had them too. And the consequences.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 22, 2015, 06:54:22 PM
All animal life generates faint EM fields. Deep ocean predators appear to use it to detect prey, as do, allegedly, some sharks.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 22, 2015, 09:17:04 PM
You'd better be careful then, when you go swimming.

What bemused me in an Oxfam charity shop, was the extensive collection of pint glasses, obviously originating from pubs.
Would I commit the crime of handling stolen goods, if I bought some?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on May 23, 2015, 03:31:00 PM
Maybe  not there may be a legitimate reason for them being there - our local pub has just disposed of a large number of pint glasses to make way for new stock. They were 'branded' ones and the brewery has brought out a new line.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 23, 2015, 05:36:05 PM
This was a collection of different 'brands.'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 23, 2015, 07:15:49 PM
In the pub trade when you buy new glasses they are not counted as an asset, rather they are written off, as many will be broken within a few months.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 25, 2015, 02:28:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 23, 2015, 07:15:49 PM
In the pub trade when you buy new glasses they are not counted as an asset, rather they are written off, as many will be broken within a few months.  :o

When I read this, without the context of Reinardina's posts, I thought you were talking about eye glasses  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on May 25, 2015, 08:12:10 AM
Quote from: spinner on May 25, 2015, 02:28:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 23, 2015, 07:15:49 PM
In the pub trade when you buy new glasses they are not counted as an asset, rather they are written off, as many will be broken within a few months.  :o

When I read this, without the context of Reinardina's posts, I thought you were talking about eye glasses  :2funny:

I did say, "In the pub trade".  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on May 25, 2015, 03:09:24 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 25, 2015, 08:12:10 AM
Quote from: spinner on May 25, 2015, 02:28:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 23, 2015, 07:15:49 PM
In the pub trade when you buy new glasses they are not counted as an asset, rather they are written off, as many will be broken within a few months.  :o

When I read this, without the context of Reinardina's posts, I thought you were talking about eye glasses  :2funny:

I did say, "In the pub trade".  :P

Doesn't the 'pub trade' covers everything?
How often don't you hear, someone has bought something (usually well below value), 'off someone in the pub'?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 26, 2015, 12:41:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 25, 2015, 08:12:10 AM
Quote from: spinner on May 25, 2015, 02:28:48 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on May 23, 2015, 07:15:49 PM
In the pub trade when you buy new glasses they are not counted as an asset, rather they are written off, as many will be broken within a few months.  :o

When I read this, without the context of Reinardina's posts, I thought you were talking about eye glasses  :2funny:

I did say, "In the pub trade".  :P

Yes, and I pictured the bar keeper being punched by irate customers regularly.  :beer: :beer: :beer:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 01, 2015, 10:32:37 PM
I was out taking photos today in the hot weather when my camera showed no top screen details. Swapped to a fresh battery and within a few minutes this battery showed it was nearly empty?  The camera body was very hot due to the hot sun and can only conclude that this drained the battery very quickly. I've heard about this happening in very cold weather but never the reverse? Has anyone had this problem before?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on July 03, 2015, 10:44:58 PM
Is it a Nikon....................

Seriously, no I've not heard of that Oldboy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on July 04, 2015, 12:21:37 AM
You can find proof positive for any idea on t'internet; but on the question of heat draining batteries, these links might have some degree (pun intended) of truth:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/ (http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 04, 2015, 08:42:55 AM
Quote from: StephenBatey on July 04, 2015, 12:21:37 AM
You can find proof positive for any idea on t'internet; but on the question of heat draining batteries, these links might have some degree (pun intended) of truth:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/ (http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/)

Thanks for posting that.  Quote from the first link posted may have the clue.

"Battery experts say their No. 1 problem is heat. Too much warmth causes the battery to drain faster. John Wozniak, a technologist at Hewlett-Packard responsible for testing batteries, had some advice for the owner of a battery-powered device: "You don't want to leave it sitting on the front seat of a car. It's like the care and feeding of the baby. Don't leave it in the car with the window rolled up."

It appears the battery drained quickly due to the heat, and in a feedback loop, the draining battery heats the camera thus, draining the battery more.  I put the camera in my bag and went home. After I got home I took the camera out of the bag and it was still very hot. Removed battery and left the camera to cool down. Recharged both batteries and they appear to be OK. Used camera yesterday and it appears OK. I'm lucky really as that much heat/energy could have fried the circuits.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 04, 2015, 09:14:47 AM
I should add that I only use Nikon batteries and didn't leave the camera in the sun, unless you include hanging round my neck whilst I walked around.  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 17, 2015, 09:06:11 AM
Just installed a 1tb SSD in my desktop. The performance rating of the PC has improved from 5.9 (which as the speed rating of the old HDD) to 7.3, which is the speed rating of the new SSD. Everything else is still 7.7 to 7.9.

So while it boots a lot faster, it really doesn't 'go' much more quickly when it is up and running.

So sort of worth it, even though in the process the drive letter of my data partition was re-allocated and consequently I have had to rebuild plugin location links and such like. Oh, and my installation of Studio One now tells me that the licence is 'not valid for this computer'.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 17, 2015, 06:24:24 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on July 04, 2015, 08:42:55 AM
Quote from: StephenBatey on July 04, 2015, 12:21:37 AM
You can find proof positive for any idea on t'internet; but on the question of heat draining batteries, these links might have some degree (pun intended) of truth:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/technology/personaltech/01basics.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/ (http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-common-misconceptions-about-mobile-device-batteries/)

Thanks for posting that.  Quote from the first link posted may have the clue.

"Battery experts say their No. 1 problem is heat. Too much warmth causes the battery to drain faster. John Wozniak, a technologist at Hewlett-Packard responsible for testing batteries, had some advice for the owner of a battery-powered device: "You don't want to leave it sitting on the front seat of a car. It's like the care and feeding of the baby. Don't leave it in the car with the window rolled up."

It appears the battery drained quickly due to the heat, and in a feedback loop, the draining battery heats the camera thus, draining the battery more.  I put the camera in my bag and went home. After I got home I took the camera out of the bag and it was still very hot. Removed battery and left the camera to cool down. Recharged both batteries and they appear to be OK. Used camera yesterday and it appears OK. I'm lucky really as that much heat/energy could have fried the circuits.  :o

good to know
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on August 18, 2015, 02:39:28 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 17, 2015, 09:06:11 AM
Just installed a 1tb SSD in my desktop. The performance rating of the PC has improved from 5.9 (which as the speed rating of the old HDD) to 7.3, which is the speed rating of the new SSD. Everything else is still 7.7 to 7.9.

So while it boots a lot faster, it really doesn't 'go' much more quickly when it is up and running.

So sort of worth it, even though in the process the drive letter of my data partition was re-allocated and consequently I have had to rebuild plugin location links and such like. Oh, and my installation of Studio One now tells me that the licence is 'not valid for this computer'.

Google "enable SSD trim Windows"  if an older version trim may not be enabled and doing so will speed things up. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 18, 2015, 06:26:26 PM
Don, trim is enabled.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 18, 2015, 08:34:32 PM
Received a email from HP saying I could upgrade to Windows 10!  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hssutton on August 18, 2015, 10:12:45 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 18, 2015, 06:26:26 PM
Don, trim is enabled.
I found SSD were not quite up to all the blurb, a slight increase in boot-up that's all. So I removed my OS from SSD and used it as a scratch disk for Photoshop where it works quite well.

Harry
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 19, 2015, 07:18:52 AM
There is definitely a performance gain, so I'll be keeping it where it is. Since it is now the C drive it will be being used by PS as its swap disk anyway.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 21, 2015, 12:01:38 AM
Had a email from alamy which contained the following:

Win some great prizes and get your images exhibited at theprintspace gallery in London with the latest Photocrowd contest.


Photocrowd is a great community site for photographers and regularly hosts contests with prizes from a variety of top brands.

The theme for this contest is 'Straight lines' and all submissions will be judged by Stuart Freedman, author of the new book 'The Palaces of Memory'.

Prizes include;


  •   Coverage in Digital Camera magazine's 'Hot Shots' pages
 
  •   A Lowepro Pro Runner BP 350 AW II backpack

 
  •   A 12 month, 100% commission contract for new images on Alamy
 
  •   Your winning images included in a 2-week exhibition at theprintspace gallery in London, starting 17th September 2015

So, that's how you get into Hot Shots now!  :o


Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: David Blandford on August 23, 2015, 10:41:38 AM
Getting Elements 13 yesterday for my Birthday and discovering I need to go back to the beginning to learn how to use it ! Only to find its raining today and I now have all day to play with it ! :) :beer: :) :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 23, 2015, 04:58:01 PM
Quote from: New Forest Man on August 23, 2015, 10:41:38 AM
Only to find its raining today and I now have all day to play with it ! :) :beer: :) :legit:

I got soaked today! Should have put on my waterproofs!  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 26, 2015, 07:58:51 AM
My very severely cropped, high ISO, low quality picture of my new kitchen tiles, went to Explore on Flickr, and had so far, well over 10.000 views, and over a hundred people 'faved' it. Can you credit it?

'Explore' is all about 'interestingness' but how interesting are wall tiles?

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Louise_maroon_field_tile_cr_2_st.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=17839&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 26, 2015, 08:29:31 AM
Don't think I've had 10,000 views on flickr cumulatively over the past seven years or so.

OK, just checked. Apparently I have about a quarter of million views all tolled, which is still rather pants . . my most viewed photo is less than 10,000, and that's been on the site for years.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 26, 2015, 01:44:40 PM
I have had photos 'Explored' in the past, but two, three years ago, that meant 300 to 500 views. Now it is in the thousands.

I regularly have a look at the Explore photos, but only click on the ones that appeal to me. There seem to be people, who look at all of them, as you see the same names cropping up in the comments.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 30, 2015, 07:46:20 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2015, 07:58:51 AM
My very severely cropped, high ISO, low quality picture of my new kitchen tiles, went to Explore on Flickr, and had so far, well over 10.000 views, and over a hundred people 'faved' it. Can you credit it?

'Explore' is all about 'interestingness' but how interesting are wall tiles?

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Louise_maroon_field_tile_cr_2_st.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=17839&fullsize=1)

Oh, its the mugs, has to be the mugs.  :dance:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 30, 2015, 08:39:10 PM
Quote from: spinner on August 30, 2015, 07:46:20 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 26, 2015, 07:58:51 AM
My very severely cropped, high ISO, low quality picture of my new kitchen tiles, went to Explore on Flickr, and had so far, well over 10.000 views, and over a hundred people 'faved' it. Can you credit it?

'Explore' is all about 'interestingness' but how interesting are wall tiles?

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Louise_maroon_field_tile_cr_2_st.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=17839&fullsize=1)

Oh, its the mugs, has to be the mugs.  :dance:

Now that is something I never even thought about. I've had them for over three decades, so I don't really 'see' them anymore. You could well be right. They must be interesting to a computer somehow.
(Well over 12.500 views by now.)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 31, 2015, 08:54:48 AM
Yesterday I installed W10 on to my HDD, no problems whatsoever. Even Cubase  is running well on it.

Yesterday afternoon I tried to do the same with my SSD. The "Get Windows 10" dialogue sticks the 10 second™ preparation window with "Working on it" displayed for, well forever. So I got the download installation tool from the MS site. The process then started. After an hour and a bit of download and then another hour and a bit of installation it stopped with an error message and reverted to W7.

Having another go this morning, but if that fails too then I'll just clone the HDD to the SSD. I've got disk images of both drives, just in case.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on September 18, 2015, 08:50:51 PM
This morning in Vienna: a little old lady slowly walking along the pavement, dragging a dog collar on a lead.
Ten yards behind her, a small, old dog, slowly following.

Before it had registered properly, someone had pointed it out to her, and dog and owner were reunited.

Such a funny sight, sadly no camera handy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on September 20, 2015, 07:53:31 PM
H,

Just a note of caution. During my painful Windows 7 to 10 experience I discovered that one cannot roll back from 10 to 7 more than once. So if you got back to 7 successfully best ensure the problem is resolved before you try again.

Simon
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 21, 2015, 07:44:07 AM
It's OK Simon, it just wouldn't do it automatically from the W10 widget. Downloading it from Microsoft and running the install manually ran like clockwork.

The only issue I have had is that occasionally waking up from sleep mode causes a BSOD on account of a slow response from the graphics card memory - but this only happens if I have the Cubase e-Licencer plugged into a USB port at the time - so it's something to do with the dongle, not W10 or the graphics card per se. As there is an automatic reboot and my boot time is now around 20 seconds this is not much of an problem.

Reinstalling all the effing software licences for the music software, all of of it mega tied down to motherboard and OS, was a pain in the posterior, but hey ho . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on September 21, 2015, 04:32:55 PM
I think I may have posted my Win 10 issues on an older PC. Ran like an old dog. Read how there's all sorts of complaints on Reddit about it being a resource hog. Tried all suggestions and no improvement. Then the penny dropped. Ran Memtest. Sure enough got bad memory stick/sticks. :-[
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 14, 2015, 01:32:16 PM
One of the old florescent tubes in the basement packed up. Off I trot to the shops for a new one. In the lighting rack alongside the replacement tube I am looking for (a 38w one) there is, for just under 5 times the price, a new LED replacement lamp. It promises just over half an extra lifetime of use compared to the old style florescent tube and will use just over half of the amount of electricity, at 20w. Then I decided to read the small print, because in my experience the drawback with LED lighting is that, well, they are not that bright. And there it was. The light output from the LED was 1700 lumen. The light output from the old tube is 3380 lumen. So I would need two of the LED tubes to get the same light, an extra light fitting, pay 10 times the price and use the same amount of power. I passed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 31, 2015, 09:07:19 AM
Yesterday a friend and neighbour 'phoned (from her land line). She explained that she had decided to upgrade from her Samsung Galaxy to an iPhone 6, because the former, and I quote, couldn't receive photos (whatever that means - its memory was probably full, so she'll get the same problem with the iPhone eventually, possibly, see the following). So she trotted off to the Orange shop, surrendered the Galaxy and got her brand spanking new iPhone. Which worked for less than 8 hours before freezing completely. She asks me if I know what to do to get it working. I have no idea, since my recommended maintenance regime for Apple products consists of placing the offending article in a suitable Pyrex dish and then topping it up with a nice strong acid until the problem has gone away. I didn't suggest that though, as she wouldn't have been able to get a replacement for an acidic solution of metals and ecthed glass. We'll see how it goes. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 31, 2015, 10:18:59 AM
Took my D800 into Calumet photography store as I couldn't access any menu or even zoom in on pictures. Couldn't even clean the sensor since July when the problem first started. While handling the camera presses the lock image button and the menus appear! So, for three months whilst using the camera almost every day, it seems I didn't touch this button? The lady who was serving me said it appears to be sticky button. Sticky keys I've heard of but sticky buttons never! It's now gone for repairs.  :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 29, 2015, 05:33:50 PM
Rural Austria: the bus stops for a few minutes, because it's early.
Young man speaks to the driver, gets out, crosses the road and uses the nearest tree to relieve himself. With his back to the bus, but in full view. Very relieved young man re-boards the bus, and we're on our way again.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 12, 2016, 05:07:32 PM
My father-in-law has done it again. First he sold his complete wreck of a Porsche for loads of money. Today he announces he has bought a throw away junker: a 2005 Range Rover Vogue SE, two owners, 70,000 miles, full history, just serviced and with four new tyres. £1500. Good grief. The last owner only used it when his Mercedes was being serviced.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 12, 2016, 05:18:50 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 12, 2016, 05:07:32 PM
My father-in-law has done it again. First he sold his complete wreck of a Porsche for loads of money. Today he announces he has bought a throw away junker: a 2005 Range Rover Vogue SE, two owners, 70,000 miles, full history, just serviced and with four new tyres. £1500. Good grief. The last owner only used it when his Mercedes was being serviced.

Sounds too good to be true, and maybe it is?

You know what they say about old cars with low mileage: too many short journeys from cold starts. But maybe that isn't true of Range Rovers, or the previous owner only did a few long trips?

Anyway, he seems to have the golden touch.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 13, 2016, 07:59:56 AM
For this tank it was the second of your two possibilities, along with periods of inactivity - the chap who owned it is an acquaintance. FIL doesn't do many miles either, but as he lives a twenty minute drive from the nearest town the vehicle will get properly warmed through every time he uses it. It should last a long while.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on January 13, 2016, 10:25:39 AM
I used to have one of those Range Rovers when I lived in Oman. Would not like to pay for the petrol over here in the UK and if anything goes wrong it becomes a very expensive car. Makes you feel like you own the road driving one though!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 13, 2016, 11:09:16 AM
He did say it was just a 'junker'. If/when it breaks, he'll just scrap it. The fuel cost is irrelevant to him - he does less than 50 miles a week.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 18, 2016, 02:28:27 PM
Daughter is teaching English at two schools in two Austrian villages at the moment. This morning the snow was thigh deep (or is it thigh high?), but the pavements had been cleared so she could walk to school, without any problems.

In England, this would have been a 'snow day,' probably becoming a 'snow week.'

(Yes, yes, I know, England never really has snow, so they are nor prepared and it is too expensive to be prepared all the time, for something that never happens.)



Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 18, 2016, 03:08:13 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on January 18, 2016, 02:28:27 PM
Daughter is teaching English at two schools in two Austrian villages at the moment. This morning the snow was thigh deep (or is it thigh high?), but the pavements had been cleared so she could walk to school, without any problems.

In England, this would have been a 'snow day,' probably becoming a 'snow week.'

(Yes, yes, I know, England never really has snow, so they are nor prepared and it is too expensive to be prepared all the time, for something that never happens.)

Answered your own bemusement there Reinardina. TBH I can have no complaints re: road / pavement work in Leeds over rthe last few years. So far as I can see when it has all too rarely snowed the gritters etc have been out and I don`t recall being delayed / prevented from getting anywhere in years. If we had worse weather as you say budgets / gear and planning change.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on January 18, 2016, 05:18:56 PM
When I took this photograph:
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Snowball_fight_9_res.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=18436&fullsize=1)
no one could get to work or school, yet everyone could get to the local Common.

It was one happy playing field, and fun was had by all. Except by those, who ultimately had to pay for all the missed hours of work and education.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on January 19, 2016, 11:03:57 PM
A few days ago when we had a frost, the local paper recorded that 4 cars skidded at the same place on the A23; the first one was still there as the others skidded; the last one was fatal. The paper questioned why the road wasn't gritted - but it probably wasn't obvious that it needed it until it was too late.

When we have snow down here in Hove, the buses aren't able to travel north of the main east-west road through Hove/Brighton as the out of centre roads aren't usually gritted until the thaw sets in (or so it seems) and we have to walk on the icy pavements. Councils are clearly variable, but ours uses all means possible to discourage cars so this may be part of the policy. The A23 was the responsibility of the county council of course, not the city one.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 27, 2016, 12:57:26 PM
Installed W10 on Mrs H's laptop. It boots 4 times faster, the screen actually looks quite good with the new graphics driver, the WiFi now works all of the time instead of just when it's in the mood. There is one glitch with the start menu, which she never used anyway. What does she think? "I don't like it". Sheesh.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 27, 2016, 08:07:48 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on January 27, 2016, 12:57:26 PM
Installed W10 on Mrs H's laptop. It boots 4 times faster, the screen actually looks quite good with the new graphics driver, the WiFi now works all of the time instead of just when it's in the mood. There is one glitch with the start menu, which she never used anyway. What does she think? "I don't like it". Sheesh.

I agree with Mrs H's, why can't it look like Windows XP. Just downloaded Office Professional and trying to use Word but everything has changed. When you select save it takes you to another screen - why? When you do a copy and paste it keeps it highlighted as well as anything you type after it unless you select text only in the drop-down menu - again why?  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 27, 2016, 08:17:48 PM
Don't use Office, and haven't since I retired (my employer had it). We use Libre Office and Serif software for all our office type of work. Mrs H is a teacher and uses Serif's PagePlus for just about everything. That works exactly the same way under W10, only faster.

The start menu glitch, BTW, was caused by an outdated VPN driver.

I think she's coming around to the idea . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 28, 2016, 08:50:58 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 27, 2016, 08:07:48 PM
When you do a copy and paste it keeps it highlighted as well as anything you type after it unless you select text only in the drop-down menu - again why?  ???

Not noticed that myself and I use word and excel all the time, both work and home. Office 2010 at home and possible the same version at work (I can't remember!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 28, 2016, 09:48:23 PM
Quote from: anglefire on January 28, 2016, 08:50:58 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 27, 2016, 08:07:48 PM
When you do a copy and paste it keeps it highlighted as well as anything you type after it unless you select text only in the drop-down menu - again why?  ???

Not noticed that myself and I use word and excel all the time, both work and home. Office 2010 at home and possible the same version at work (I can't remember!)

It's Office 2016.   ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 31, 2016, 06:58:06 PM
Ah!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 20, 2016, 02:58:08 PM
Came home to Canada from Florida. Get to spend time with my Granddaughter which makes the return worthwhile, but getting used to cold, grey, colourless surroundings is a bit of a shock. Why am I bemused? The run up the highway was greeted with sunny, blue skies and reasonable temps right up to the border, then cross into Canada and wow. Now I know why Americans think we live in a perpetual Winter.  :'(

If I'm going to do any photography I'll need to think Black and White.  ::)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 23, 2016, 05:30:07 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 20, 2016, 02:58:08 PM
Came home to Canada from Florida. Get to spend time with my Granddaughter which makes the return worthwhile, but getting used to cold, grey, colourless surroundings is a bit of a shock. Why am I bemused? The run up the highway was greeted with sunny, blue skies and reasonable temps right up to the border, then cross into Canada and wow. Now I know why Americans think we live in a perpetual Winter.  :'(

If I'm going to do any photography I'll need to think Black and White.  ::)

So its not just the UK that has grey sky's then?  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on March 25, 2016, 02:57:59 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on March 23, 2016, 05:30:07 PM
Quote from: spinner on March 20, 2016, 02:58:08 PM
Came home to Canada from Florida. Get to spend time with my Granddaughter which makes the return worthwhile, but getting used to cold, grey, colourless surroundings is a bit of a shock. Why am I bemused? The run up the highway was greeted with sunny, blue skies and reasonable temps right up to the border, then cross into Canada and wow. Now I know why Americans think we live in a perpetual Winter.  :'(

If I'm going to do any photography I'll need to think Black and White.  ::)

So its not just the UK that has grey sky's then?  >:(

OB, the change of weather after crossing the border was dramatic. Been home a week now and while I am enjoying time with my Granddaughter, my mood has shifted horribly. S.A.D. is real IMHO and I've got it.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 25, 2016, 04:18:20 PM
The weather isn't much better here in south west France. It's been one of the coldest and wettest Marches that we've ever seen. When I was laying the terrace around the pool in mid March 2003 it was 28C in the shade and I was working under an awning to keep a little cooler. This year we still have the heating on and a fire in the hearth most evenings.

Meanwhile I just received one of the most obvious phishing emails I have ever seen, allegedly from Amazon, on an email address I don't have associated with an Amazon account. I replied asking for 3 bitcoins to cover my expenses.  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on March 27, 2016, 10:39:28 AM
Just renewing daughter's passport. Only one of the four photo examples on the ukgov website shown as 'accepted' actually conform to the rules they quote directly above them. Governments eh?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 29, 2016, 09:38:12 PM
Last passport I did for me and the wife, I took the pictures, but got the pictures printed professionally - cos that is what the website says to do.

Mine was "Ok" but the wifes was awful, didn't fit the criteria , so I printed it at home, sent it off and had no issues at all.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 04, 2016, 10:54:15 AM
A friend has given me 6 SD cards to try to recover the deleted pictures. They are the cards his daughter took on her 'trip of a lifetime' through several South American countries. Oh dear. She should perhaps have spent a few minutes learning how her Olympus tough camera worked. She had the image size set a lot of the time to what I suspect is the smallest one possible, 624x416, and has no concept of the idea that autofocus might have some lag - almost everything is out of focus. Add to that her complaint that the battery life was rubbish (she claimed she was pressing the shutter release more than 500 times a day, so it's not surprising that she quickly exhausted her batteries). Perhaps if she had bothered to read the camera manual she wouldn't have formatted all of the cards 'by mistake'. I can understand doing it to one card, but all of them? Sheesh.

So far I've managed to get about 1000 shots from two 32gb cards - but the cards were mostly empty. And all of the files have the date stamp superimposed on them.

Forgot to mention, 2 of the SD cards weren't cards at all, they are micro SD adapters. I wonder why there is nothing on those?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 04, 2016, 01:48:09 PM
A hard lesson! Let's hope someone else took some photos as well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 04, 2016, 05:29:36 PM
A friend bought a new smartphone, on line. It's given up the ghost within the first week, and guess what? He had to phone the company!
He's just left, after using my land line.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 04, 2016, 06:32:32 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 04, 2016, 10:54:15 AM
A friend has given me 6 SD cards to try to recover the deleted pictures. They are the cards his daughter took on her 'trip of a lifetime' through several South American countries. Oh dear. She should perhaps have spent a few minutes learning how her Olympus tough camera worked. She had the image size set a lot of the time to what I suspect is the smallest one possible, 624x416, and has no concept of the idea that autofocus might have some lag - almost everything is out of focus. Add to that her complaint that the battery life was rubbish (she claimed she was pressing the shutter release more than 500 times a day, so it's not surprising that she quickly exhausted her batteries). Perhaps if she had bothered to read the camera manual she wouldn't have formatted all of the cards 'by mistake'. I can understand doing it to one card, but all of them? Sheesh.

So far I've managed to get about 1000 shots from two 32gb cards - but the cards were mostly empty. And all of the files have the date stamp superimposed on them.

Forgot to mention, 2 of the SD cards weren't cards at all, they are micro SD adapters. I wonder why there is nothing on those?

Oh dear - I guess the age of "anyone can shoot digital" does bypass the odd one or two!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on April 06, 2016, 02:13:46 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 04, 2016, 10:54:15 AM
A friend has given me 6 SD cards to try to recover the deleted pictures. They are the cards his daughter took on her 'trip of a lifetime' through several South American countries. Oh dear. She should perhaps have spent a few minutes learning how her Olympus tough camera worked. She had the image size set a lot of the time to what I suspect is the smallest one possible, 624x416, and has no concept of the idea that autofocus might have some lag - almost everything is out of focus. Add to that her complaint that the battery life was rubbish (she claimed she was pressing the shutter release more than 500 times a day, so it's not surprising that she quickly exhausted her batteries). Perhaps if she had bothered to read the camera manual she wouldn't have formatted all of the cards 'by mistake'. I can understand doing it to one card, but all of them? Sheesh.

So far I've managed to get about 1000 shots from two 32gb cards - but the cards were mostly empty. And all of the files have the date stamp superimposed on them.

Forgot to mention, 2 of the SD cards weren't cards at all, they are micro SD adapters. I wonder why there is nothing on those?
I think you need to get her camera and change a few settings then tell her to RTFM.  The fine manual will have the info she needs.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 06, 2016, 02:53:37 PM
Finished the recovery process now. Got just under 6000 stills and about 100 video clips from the 'real' SD cards. The good news is that I got daddy to cough for the latest version of File Scavenger (I previously had 3.2, now I've got 5.2). I had to use pukka software because the free utilities just didn't find very much. Of the free ones Recuva was the best, but only found a small percentage of the files that File Scavenger did.

So all in all not too shabby.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 06, 2016, 04:03:37 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 06, 2016, 02:53:37 PM
Finished the recovery process now. Got just under 6000 stills and about 100 video clips from the 'real' SD cards. The good news is that I got daddy to cough for the latest version of File Scavenger (I previously had 3.2, now I've got 5.2). I had to use pukka software because the free utilities just didn't find very much. Of the free ones Recuva was the best, but only found a small percentage of the files that File Scavenger did.

So all in all not too shabby.

You`ve done well - would have cost them a lot to go somewhere to get them recovered. Hope the shots are worth the trouble!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 07, 2016, 07:47:36 AM
Yes, I reckon I was a bargain.

It really is quite eye opening how much more effective File Scavenger (http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm?source=googleFS&gclid=CjwKEAjw55K4BRC53L6x9pyDzl4SJAD_21V1iuhk83kBNIzyRplQGtmU4xanKMH6nHEYwNpI9GBr0hoCdnnw_wcB) is than the free utilities. On one card, for example, Pandora found 2 jpgs, and Recuva found 3. File Scavenger found 1251 jpgs and .mov clips.

I also ran Ease US's offering (http://www.easeus.com/data-recovery-software/) in trial mode. That was within a gnat's whisker of File Scavenger. Tip for the Ease US utility: run the trial and then uninstall it - their website will then offer the software at half price for a limited time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 13, 2016, 04:37:06 PM
Email from a nice, good looking, young contractor, asking me to 'bare with him.'
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: donoreo on April 15, 2016, 02:22:15 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on April 13, 2016, 04:37:06 PM
Email from a nice, good looking, young contractor, asking me to 'bare with him.'

So go ahead.  Get a bearskin rug as well.  Then teach him the difference :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 15, 2016, 05:32:50 PM
Quote from: donoreo on April 15, 2016, 02:22:15 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on April 13, 2016, 04:37:06 PM
Email from a nice, good looking, young contractor, asking me to 'bare with him.'

So go ahead.  Get a bearskin rug as well.  Then teach him the difference :)

He'd run a mile.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 15, 2016, 06:25:34 PM
Run faster!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 15, 2016, 09:33:21 PM
 :2funny:

I'm not that desperate.

Don't want to scare him to death; he's a very skilled and trustworthy tradesman. I may need him again.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 20, 2016, 11:10:08 PM
Adobe, and their, IMHO, over cautious security precautions. Just upgrade my Elements 12 to 14. For some reason 12 had gotten buggy and I had to reinstall it a couple of times to get it to work.  Anyway I went to Adobe, logged in with my account information and proceeded to purchase and download the upgrade. Long story short,it's a 4 step process to get t installed and running. Took a good half hour.

Oh and initially I tried to do all this using Safari on my Mac and it wouldn't proceed to 'checkout'. Same issue with Firefox.  Finally got it to work using Waterfox, which is a fork of Firefox.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 21, 2016, 08:15:03 AM
Software licencing is getting utterly ridiculous in many cases. Some companies that use online authorisation get it just about right. Most of my software is music related. Presonus, IK Mulitmedia and XLN get it to work relatively painlessly, although there is a lot of copying and pasting of licence keys involved initially. Steinberg requires a USB key (dongle), but at least they provide the key - the idea is that the software can be used on any machine the key is plugged in to. Useful if you are peripatetic, but a pain in the posterior if not. The worst are the companies that use Pace iLok. This is another USB key, but you have to buy it yourself, around £40. And download proprietary software, which usually fails to start so nothing works until it has been manually fired up in Task Manager.  Yes I got caught - I bought a plugin that mentioned the iLok USB system in the small print. The very small print. The culprits include Avid Protools, Lexicon, and Softube. B*st*rds.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 21, 2016, 08:31:51 AM
Adobe were hacked a couple of years ago and thousands of user/subscriber details were stolen (including mine)  >:(
I guess they have been tightening things up a little but not very well hence your experiences.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 21, 2016, 08:53:55 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 21, 2016, 08:15:03 AM
Software licencing is getting utterly ridiculous in many cases. Some companies that use online authorisation get it just about right. Most of my software is music related. Presonus, IK Mulitmedia and XLN get it to work relatively painlessly, although there is a lot of copying and pasting of licence keys involved initially. Steinberg requires a USB key (dongle), but at least they provide the key - the idea is that the software can be used on any machine the key is plugged in to. Useful if you are peripatetic, but a pain in the posterior if not. The worst are the companies that use Pace iLok. This is another USB key, but you have to buy it yourself, around £40. And download proprietary software, which usually fails to start so nothing works until it has been manually fired up in Task Manager.  Yes I got caught - I bought a plugin that mentioned the iLok USB system in the small print. The very small print. The culprits include Avid Protools, Lexicon, and Softube. B*st*rds.

I'm familiar with the dongle approach. Did a very brief stint in Computer Forensics. The main software required you to purchase a $4000 USD dongle to work.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on April 21, 2016, 05:51:50 PM
WBMT ?
Not just today, FLICKR.
Once again I have blocked someone on FLICKR who has faved one of my shots.
When I looked at their profile they had in excess of 450,000 shots faved and only 30 something in their own gallery.
What on earth do they do with all these shots? I can guess as a lot of people on my blocked list describe themselves as "graphic artists" and the like.
It really annoys me  :knuppel2: :knuppel2:
Rant over
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on April 23, 2016, 04:50:31 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on April 21, 2016, 05:51:50 PM
WBMT ?
Not just today, FLICKR.
Once again I have blocked someone on FLICKR who has faved one of my shots.
When I looked at their profile they had in excess of 450,000 shots faved and only 30 something in their own gallery.
What on earth do they do with all these shots? I can guess as a lot of people on my blocked list describe themselves as "graphic artists" and the like.
It really annoys me  :knuppel2: :knuppel2:
Rant over

I forget I have a FLICKR account until a post like this pops up. :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on April 25, 2016, 12:20:37 PM
AOL broadband which is now owned by TalkTalk. Haven't had home broadband since 20th March. All my contact is with people in India who don't understand English. I quote, "I've had no Broadband at home since 20th March. Phoned help number many times, received a new modem but still no broadband. Phoned BT who checked my line and said it was OK. Phoned help again to be told that it's a problem with my telephone line and to contact BT. I'm sorry but my broadband contract is with you, so it is you who should chase it up not me. If I haven't been reconnected by Friday 29th April I will cancel the contract with yourselves and look for another provider. I also expect a refund, as I'm paying for a service that I can't use. Also, I have Microsoft Office based in the cloud that I can't used due to lack of broadband". As I used the word cancel I was transferred to the cancel department! Both of the agents said they had read what I had written but it appears they didn't comprehend what I said! Words fail me. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 25, 2016, 04:45:06 PM
I wondered where you were oldboy. Scandalous service!  Give 'em he'll!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 25, 2016, 06:15:27 PM
I too was wondering what had happened to you.

I have never heard a positive comment on/about Talk Talk.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 25, 2016, 07:36:56 PM
Hope it gets fixed soon.

You have to wonder what it is about telecoms companies. Mine sent me a new SIM card as they were changing carriers. The old card de-activated, and the new one would not activate for more than a week - luckily I don't use it much, but imagine if you had a business to run?

We've just bought our daughter her first smart 'phone. We ordered her new SIM card form Virgin Mobile, it duly arrived with instructions to visit the website to activate the line. Said website has a field for the contract reference, which in this case was a letter followed by 8 digits. The field mask will only accept numerical values: so the line cannot be activated. Two emails and 5 days later, no response and still no line.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on May 18, 2016, 02:01:04 PM
I had to visit our local Royal Mail sorting office to collect a parcel today. I brought along all the required proofs of identity as well as the card notification. I was surprised to discover that because whoever left the card had only filled in the address and not my name, the office required proof of address even though my name was on both the parcel and the computer screen...

Whether they would have let me have it if I had proof of address and wasn't the designated recipient, I don't know.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on May 25, 2016, 08:23:50 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on April 25, 2016, 06:15:27 PM
I too was wondering what had happened to you.

I have never heard a positive comment on/about Talk Talk.

Well you have now

I have been with Tiscali TalkTalk for many years and can't say a thing untoward about them. They chat line is helpful and over all I wouldn't swap them for any of the others.

TalkTalk Highly recommended
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 25, 2016, 09:53:48 AM
And yet there is still no sign of Oldboy . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hssutton on May 25, 2016, 02:14:38 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on April 25, 2016, 12:20:37 PM
AOL broadband which is now owned by TalkTalk. Haven't had home broadband since 20th March. All my contact is with people in India who don't understand English. I quote, "I've had no Broadband at home since 20th March. Phoned help number many times, received a new modem but still no broadband. Phoned BT who checked my line and said it was OK. Phoned help again to be told that it's a problem with my telephone line and to contact BT. I'm sorry but my broadband contract is with you, so it is you who should chase it up not me. If I haven't been reconnected by Friday 29th April I will cancel the contract with yourselves and look for another provider. I also expect a refund, as I'm paying for a service that I can't use. Also, I have Microsoft Office based in the cloud that I can't used due to lack of broadband". As I used the word cancel I was transferred to the cancel department! Both of the agents said they had read what I had written but it appears they didn't comprehend what I said! Words fail me.

I'm on TalkTalk and I'm quite happy, but they were 4 days late in the change over, in my case this was not a problem as I was able to continue with the BT service. My son who has just moved house who is also with TalkTalk had a problem getting connected, after two weeks without broadband he complained and they arranged for one of their engineers to call. However the same morning his broadband started working, so he called TalkTalk. The conversation went like this " hi my broadband started working this morning" their reply was "if you want to cancel the visit you will be charged" my sons reply. "in that case I will keep the appointment" The engineer called and check that everything was OK. Then spent probably half  hour chatting to both of us. He told us it was a common problem with TalkTalk not making the connection. or not dealing with BT to get the change over.. In my case and also my sons case we complained by email and received pretty good service
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: hssutton on May 27, 2016, 08:10:09 PM
I downloaded Picturesque today, it's an amazing program as it sorts out all your photos and rejects the poor ones. This program is going to save me a great deal of time. Today I photographed 20 flowers and it rejected all of them :) Can watch football now as I've no photos to edit.

Harry
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on May 29, 2016, 03:18:41 AM
Decided that I would rip all my CD's to Lossless audio. Amazed myself with the amount of music I own. Found CD's I have played in decades. Much to Wifey's discontent, been sitting in my basement listening to it for hours.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on May 29, 2016, 09:24:58 AM
Excellent!

For us it was another Saturday, another thunderstorm, another power outage. And it was a generator on 2 pumps (around 8000 litres per hour) just to keep the water out of the garage - which already has two large drains in front of it.

The cat was scared witness too, following us around mewing constantly. A real scaredy cat.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 04, 2016, 10:38:48 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on May 29, 2016, 09:24:58 AM
Excellent!

For us it was another Saturday, another thunderstorm, another power outage. And it was a generator on 2 pumps (around 8000 litres per hour) just to keep the water out of the garage - which already has two large drains in front of it.

The cat was scared witness too, following us around mewing constantly. A real scaredy cat.
Was he just a scared witness or was he witless too  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 05, 2016, 08:01:16 AM
He has just the one wit; even that deserted him ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 07, 2016, 09:56:52 AM
Found my cat on the lawn yesterday surrounded by magpies and absolutely terrified. Mind you I wouldn't take on those big buggers!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 07, 2016, 12:45:40 PM
Our maggies and cat seem to be on good terms, one of the magpies even comes to the door and squawks until the cat comes out. Cat then ventures out (if he's in the mood/awake) whereupon he lies down gently swishing his tail while the magpie plays chase with it.

It's the jays that are always mobbing the cat. Nasty beggars, jays.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on June 07, 2016, 01:25:46 PM
Working in the garden yesterday, accompanied  by the two resident Robins, I noticed one of them settled on the fence above a bush and began chirping away and bobbing up and down in time with it, I'd  never seen such behaviour  before.

This carried on for some time and when I walked over to have a look, next door's tabby sprang out from under the bush and scooted down the garden. 1-0 to the Robin. 😆
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 07, 2016, 05:04:33 PM
I know the mob call of the black bird, but have never seen a robin, trying to warn its young, or trying to distract a cat.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on June 07, 2016, 07:52:08 PM
Quote from: jinky on June 07, 2016, 09:56:52 AM
Found my cat on the lawn yesterday surrounded by magpies and absolutely terrified. Mind you I wouldn't take on those big buggers!
Hate magpies, horrible nest robbing sods.
Had a few in my air gun sights over the years. :knuppel2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 08, 2016, 07:40:37 AM
Beg to differ Alf. Magpies are beautiful and intelligent. They are most certainly not the most predatory of birds (see 'jays' above for example), and certainly don't kill as many chicks as domestic cats which decimate the local small fauna, and not for food, just for the hell of it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on June 08, 2016, 07:51:18 PM
The Urban Magpie population has increased significantly where I live. Nearly as many Mags as the flying rat wood pigeons that eat anything and everything.
On a daily basis I see them robbing nests.
wonder what they taste like  :knuppel2: ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 09, 2016, 08:53:51 AM
You've obviously got a problem with them where you are. Here things seem to be in better balance.

IMHO the Wildlife and Countryside act giving blanket protection to just about everything was a classic example of the law of unintended consequences. People had grown used to the over abundance of song birds which had unnaturally arisen as a result of the hunting of predators, including birds of prey. Now the birds of prey and other predators are back, and that with a huge increase in the cat population has significantly reduce the populations of song birds. You can't have everything.

This year our regularly returning pair of redstarts were killed by blue tits. Then the cat killed the blue tits. Isn't nature wonderful?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 15, 2016, 11:36:21 AM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on June 08, 2016, 07:51:18 PM
The Urban Magpie population has increased significantly where I live. Nearly as many Mags as the flying rat wood pigeons that eat anything and everything.
On a daily basis I see them robbing nests.
wonder what they taste like  :knuppel2: ;D

Magpies are a menace and mob the small birds. You need to encourage Goshawks and they like tucking into a Magpie or two.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 10, 2016, 10:29:38 AM
Talking of birds eating birds how fresh do you like your bird meat?

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10216/normal_Poutrymen.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=19269&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on July 10, 2016, 10:40:45 AM
Quote from: ABERS on July 10, 2016, 10:29:38 AM
Talking of birds eating birds how fresh do you like your bird meat?
Yes nothing quite like a French market for fresh food! I once plucked and gutted a couple of pheasants to eat after a friends` brother had shot them and brought them to our student abode many years ago. After cooking the experience was further marred by having a piece of shot in virtually every biteful of this tiny bird. I vowed then and there never to  pluck and gut another bird!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 10, 2016, 12:46:01 PM
No lead shot here, you just have to wring their necks. :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 13, 2016, 09:57:58 AM
Want to capture all the action then you need a fast camera?  :o

A new approach to high-speed photography could help capture the clearest-ever footage of light pulses, explosions or neurons firing in the brain, according to a team of ultrafast camera developers. The technique involves shooting 100 billion frames per second in a single exposure without an external light source. That means, for example, there would be no need to set off multiple explosions just to gather enough data to create a video reconstructing exactly how chemicals react to create the blast.

If that's not fast enough for you then try this one!  :o

Keisuke Goda, a University of Tokyo physical chemistry professor and part of a group of researchers who in 2014 built a "sequentially timed all-optical mapping photography" camera that can snap pictures at 4.4 trillion frames per second.  :tup:

You might need more memory....... :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 24, 2016, 08:48:10 AM
Over a morning cuppa had a look at the club's Web site. A walk had been organised around London W2 last Thursday,  some 14 people went on it and a good time was had by all, with visits to various hostelries being a frequent  high spot.

I'm not a one for wandering around the town and country with groups of like minded enthusiasts  since there is a tendency for most of them to come back with similar  pictures.

What bemused me however was the fact that one member has already posted 43 pictures taken on the day.  43 totally boring images that makes you wonder if the photographer has really thought out if any of them are worthy of a second look, or, if any of them could do with a little enhancement post taking.

We all know photography means different things to different people, and rushing around snapping at everything in view is one of them, but boring the pants off people surely isn't  another.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 24, 2016, 12:00:42 PM
Quote from: ABERS on July 24, 2016, 08:48:10 AM
Over a morning cuppa had a look at the club's Web site. A walk had been organised around London W2 last Thursday,  some 14 people went on it and a good time was had by all, with visits to various hostelries being a frequent  high spot.

I'm not a one for wandering around the town and country with groups of like minded enthusiasts  since there is a tendency for most of them to come back with similar  pictures.

What bemused me however was the fact that one member has already posted 43 pictures taken on the day.  43 totally boring images that makes you wonder if the photographer has really thought out if any of them are worthy of a second look, or, if any of them could do with a little enhancement post taking.

We all know photography means different things to different people, and rushing around snapping at everything in view is one of them, but boring the pants off people surely isn't  another.

Maybe said member is new to photography, and is totally amazed he/she managed to capture, what he/she encountered? Without too much experience, and no knowledge of composition, let alone editing?

I see photos appearing in the gallery here, that must be the work of someone like that, starting out in photography, uploading lots of similar photos.

I recognise myself, in my early photography days here.  I was ever so proud of my first shots, and it was only after I started reading about photography and joined DCM, that I realised how and where improvements were necessary.

Uploading only the best, of a series of amazing, but similar, shots was something I had trouble with at first.

Still not there, and still learning.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on July 25, 2016, 06:19:11 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on July 13, 2016, 09:57:58 AM
Want to capture all the action then you need a fast camera?  :o

A new approach to high-speed photography could help capture the clearest-ever footage of light pulses, explosions or neurons firing in the brain, according to a team of ultrafast camera developers. The technique involves shooting 100 billion frames per second in a single exposure without an external light source. That means, for example, there would be no need to set off multiple explosions just to gather enough data to create a video reconstructing exactly how chemicals react to create the blast.

If that's not fast enough for you then try this one!  :o

Keisuke Goda, a University of Tokyo physical chemistry professor and part of a group of researchers who in 2014 built a "sequentially timed all-optical mapping photography" camera that can snap pictures at 4.4 trillion frames per second.  :tup:

You might need more memory....... :P

Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snSIRJ2brEk
Capturing light propagation..
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 25, 2016, 08:34:05 PM
Yes. The only problem is you capture the event before it happens!!!!  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on July 26, 2016, 09:21:10 AM
It's  that time of year again when for the sake of a few hundred lycra  clad  nuisances we are all restricted to where we can go on Sunday. The roads are closed for the day to allow the London Bike Ride to pass through.

No by your leave or what do you think, the Surrey CC  just put up notices saying the roads are closed and parked cars will be towed away.
My granddaughter cannot get to work and my daughter and her team of district nurses cannot visit their patients, some of receiving palliative  care, some needing several visits on a 'normal' day.

Why this event cannot be organised in areas that are not heavily  populated  is beyond me, North Yorkshire Moors,  Dartmoor,  spring to mind.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on July 26, 2016, 02:48:32 PM
Somewhere in the middle of the North Sea would be ideal.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on July 27, 2016, 10:48:28 PM
Went for some sunset images at the beach in Sunderland  and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Grown women and men running around with their mobiles likes idiots shouting Pokemon names and things like 'I got it's, 'I caught it' and 'take my picture'. For heavens sake........GET A BLOODY GRIP ON REALITY! There must have been over 30 adults. Is it just me that thinks they are ridiculous?

Then again, keeps them outa trouble I suppose.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 28, 2016, 08:00:17 AM
Quote from: DigiDiva on July 27, 2016, 10:48:28 PM
Went for some sunset images at the beach in Sunderland  and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Grown women and men running around with their mobiles likes idiots shouting Pokemon names and things like 'I got it's, 'I caught it' and 'take my picture'. For heavens sake........GET A BLOODY GRIP ON REALITY! There must have been over 30 adults. Is it just me that thinks they are ridiculous?

Then again, keeps them outa trouble I suppose.

This post amused/bemused me, for several reasons.

First of all, I thought Sunderland is on the East coast, so isn't it better suited for sun rises? Haven't been  been on an Eastern sea shore for decades, so I don't know what a sunset does to the general 'lighting.' It may still be interesting/beautiful.

Didn't realise, the Pokémon game was so addictive to adults as well as kids/adolescents.

It may keep them fit, as they are running around all the time, but, from what I have read over the past few weeks, it does not keep them out of trouble. The emergency services have been out several times, to rescue Pokémon hunters, who got themselves into trouble.

And last but not least, as you were there with your camera, I hope you shot them, so please show us!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on July 28, 2016, 12:24:45 PM
I didn't photograph them - I was too embarrased for them. Yes we are east cost, but the sky all aound gets the pinks and oranges. As the sun drops too, it reflects off the top of the lighthouse. I didn't get home till late (I called for chips, you can't go to the coast and not have chips) so it was too late to download them. Will have a play tonight and see if there are any decent ones.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on July 29, 2016, 10:13:13 AM
Yes - shot many a sunset on the east coast myself- we do still see the sun rise and go Reinardina  ;). Just a matter of where you perch yourself and the lay of the land / sun.

As for Pokemon it`s just crazy! see so many groups of adults  wandering around town with their phones up and  people who really should know better at their age talking on Facebook about how it is a way of socialising ! For God`s sake! What`s wrong with talking to others without looking for make believe  little creatures that don`t exist?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on July 29, 2016, 01:37:53 PM
I do not mind this Pokémon craze. I think a lot of people will get run over or get hurt. It is Natural Selection at its best.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on July 29, 2016, 04:45:12 PM
I read in the paper today, that a man managed to catch all 143 characters (the 142 you apparently can catch in Britain, plus an American one). He lost  lost 2 stone in the process.

So the game should be available on the NHS, to counteract obesity.

And yes, lots of them will get hurt in the process, so Elfin Safety probably would not allow it.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 30, 2016, 07:45:30 AM
Quote from: Simple on July 29, 2016, 01:37:53 PM
I do not mind this Pokémon craze. I think a lot of people will get run over or get hurt. It is Natural Selection at its best.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: DigiDiva on July 30, 2016, 09:54:03 AM
Quote from: Simple on July 29, 2016, 01:37:53 PM
I do not mind this Pokémon craze. I think a lot of people will get run over or get hurt. It is Natural Selection at its best.

Haha that's harsh
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: eysha on August 06, 2016, 05:59:51 PM
It has been a very long time since I last visited this site so today this site bemused me - a lot.  I have totally forgotten how to use this site so spent ages looking around it and still lost. I do find it a bemusing site.
Anyway, I finally took the plunge and bought a second-hand Canon 60D so was looking for information/instruction etcetera but where to go is bemusing.
Hi to anyone who might remember me but it has been so long I doubt anyone will.
Off to rest the bemused head, lol.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 06, 2016, 08:07:23 PM
Quote from: eysha on August 06, 2016, 05:59:51 PM
It has been a very long time since I last visited this site so today this site bemused me - a lot.  I have totally forgotten how to use this site so spent ages looking around it and still lost. I do find it a bemusing site.
Anyway, I finally took the plunge and bought a second-hand Canon 60D so was looking for information/instruction etcetera but where to go is bemusing.
Hi to anyone who might remember me but it has been so long I doubt anyone will.
Off to rest the bemused head, lol.
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 06, 2016, 09:00:28 PM
Quote from: jinky on August 06, 2016, 08:07:23 PM
Quote from: eysha on August 06, 2016, 05:59:51 PM
It has been a very long time since I last visited this site so today this site bemused me - a lot.  I have totally forgotten how to use this site so spent ages looking around it and still lost. I do find it a bemusing site.
Anyway, I finally took the plunge and bought a second-hand Canon 60D so was looking for information/instruction etcetera but where to go is bemusing.
Hi to anyone who might remember me but it has been so long I doubt anyone will.
Off to rest the bemused head, lol.
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;)

I too find this post bemusing. Is there really so much difference, between your Canon 60D and the Nikon D40 you bought two years ago, that you have to look for instruction? But if so, Mr Google is always very helpful.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 07, 2016, 08:18:21 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 06, 2016, 09:00:28 PM
Quote from: jinky on August 06, 2016, 08:07:23 PM
Quote from: eysha on August 06, 2016, 05:59:51 PM
It has been a very long time since I last visited this site so today this site bemused me - a lot.  I have totally forgotten how to use this site so spent ages looking around it and still lost. I do find it a bemusing site.
Anyway, I finally took the plunge and bought a second-hand Canon 60D so was looking for information/instruction etcetera but where to go is bemusing.
Hi to anyone who might remember me but it has been so long I doubt anyone will.
Off to rest the bemused head, lol.
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;)

I too find this post bemusing. Is there really so much difference, between your Canon 60D and the Nikon D40 you bought two years ago, that you have to look for instruction? But if so, Mr Google is always very helpful.

Come on R - don`t put returning members off! Actually Canon do everything the wrong way round to a Nikon user so it can be confusing picking one up. Of course any new camera takes getting used to and a period of learning. I know that I barely use my LX100 to it`s maximum potential as it enthuses me so little that I have failed to look into an online manual and use stuiff like shots drawn for a 4k video and the like which it does.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 07, 2016, 09:05:35 AM
Quote from: jinky on August 07, 2016, 08:18:21 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on August 06, 2016, 09:00:28 PM
Quote from: jinky on August 06, 2016, 08:07:23 PM
Quote from: eysha on August 06, 2016, 05:59:51 PM
It has been a very long time since I last visited this site so today this site bemused me - a lot.  I have totally forgotten how to use this site so spent ages looking around it and still lost. I do find it a bemusing site.
Anyway, I finally took the plunge and bought a second-hand Canon 60D so was looking for information/instruction etcetera but where to go is bemusing.
Hi to anyone who might remember me but it has been so long I doubt anyone will.
Off to rest the bemused head, lol.
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;)

I too find this post bemusing. Is there really so much difference, between your Canon 60D and the Nikon D40 you bought two years ago, that you have to look for instruction? But if so, Mr Google is always very helpful.

Come on R - don`t put returning members off! Actually Canon do everything the wrong way round to a Nikon user so it can be confusing picking one up. Of course any new camera takes getting used to and a period of learning. I know that I barely use my LX100 to it`s maximum potential as it enthuses me so little that I have failed to look into an online manual and use stuiff like shots drawn for a 4k video and the like which it does.

Apologies if I put eysha off. I know cameras differ; when I started to use my Sony bridge again, after almost two years, it took some getting used to. Things were quite different, but the basics are the same, and it took me no more than half a day, if that.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 07, 2016, 09:39:37 AM
Don't  most cameras have the same facilities, but with the relevant buttons in different positions on the body or menus  perhaps named differently?

As long as you know how to use the three interlinked variables surely it is simple to acquaint  yourself where the appropriate  buttons are.

There are a host of facilities that are available in today's cameras, 90% of which are never used, well not by me. So don't  be bemused, just find out where the basics are and plough on.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 07, 2016, 10:11:24 AM
Quote from: ABERS on August 07, 2016, 09:39:37 AM
Don't  most cameras have the same facilities, but with the relevant buttons in different positions on the body or menus  perhaps named differently?

As long as you know how to use the three interlinked variables surely it is simple to acquaint  yourself where the appropriate  buttons are.

There are a host of facilities that are available in today's cameras, 90% of which are never used, well not by me. So don't  be bemused, just find out where the basics are and plough on.

Yes I`m the same hence my LX100 comments re underusing what it has. I know when I pick up a canon the simple thing of zooing the rong with with a zoom lens throws me first of. Yes the basic 3 variables are always the crux of it but it`s amazing how many modern cameras make manual control of those variables ever more complex and hidden away in menu buttons.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: eysha on August 07, 2016, 10:52:11 AM
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;) Thanks Jinky, I remember you too and several others. I met Digi Diva here and we are still in contact. probably won't post anything now though.

I thought this was a place to come back to to get advice since it was two years ago (2014)  that I bought the Nikon D40 which Reinardina apparently remembers. I didn't keep it long at all and didn't get another DSLR until a couple of weeks ago and it is quite different to my little Panny camera but as R said (quote) ' Mr Google is always so very helpful'. Thanks R, perhaps you are right, I will go and see.
Thanks for the warm welcome back R, as prickly as ever, lol.
Best wishes to all.
E. 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 07, 2016, 11:03:25 AM
Quote from: eysha on August 07, 2016, 10:52:11 AM
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;) Thanks Jinky, I remember you too and several others. I met Digi Diva here and we are still in contact. probably won't post anything now though.

I thought this was a place to come back to to get advice since it was two years ago (2014)  that I bought the Nikon D40 which Reinardina apparently remembers. I didn't keep it long at all and didn't get another DSLR until a couple of weeks ago and it is quite different to my little Panny camera but as R said (quote) ' Mr Google is always so very helpful'. Thanks R, perhaps you are right, I will go and see.
Thanks for the warm welcome back R, as prickly as ever, lol.
Best wishes to all.
E.

And so we lose another potential user thinking about returning. Seems like anyone new trying to get in here over the last couple of years vanishes as quickly as they drop in due to a careless comment. I know that we often don`t mean it the way we write it as I`ve done it myself on more than one occasion in an email or a post but we need to be more encouraging or accept that this place will be no more than some sort of private sanctuary for a handful of regulars.

If you`re looking in in interest to see responses to your post Eysha I`m happy to offer whatever pearls I am capable of if you message me. I`m useless re: physical aspects of a Canon and cannot understand why they mount their zooms the wrong way round ( ;D) but happy to pass on / answer any general stuff I can.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on August 07, 2016, 12:30:29 PM
Quote from: jinky on August 07, 2016, 11:03:25 AM
Quote from: eysha on August 07, 2016, 10:52:11 AM
I remember you Eysha. You`ll have to show us some pics with your new toy - enjoy  ;) Thanks Jinky, I remember you too and several others. I met Digi Diva here and we are still in contact. probably won't post anything now though.

I thought this was a place to come back to to get advice since it was two years ago (2014)  that I bought the Nikon D40 which Reinardina apparently remembers. I didn't keep it long at all and didn't get another DSLR until a couple of weeks ago and it is quite different to my little Panny camera but as R said (quote) ' Mr Google is always so very helpful'. Thanks R, perhaps you are right, I will go and see.
Thanks for the warm welcome back R, as prickly as ever, lol.
Best wishes to all.
E.

And so we lose another potential user thinking about returning. Seems like anyone new trying to get in here over the last couple of years vanishes as quickly as they drop in due tio a careless comment. I know that we often don`t mean it the way we wruite it as I`ve doen it myself on more than one occasion in an email or a post but we need to be more encouraging or accept that this place will be no more than some sort of private sanctuary for a handful of regulars.

If you`re looking in in interest to see responses to your post Eysha I`m happy to offer whatever pearls I am capable of if you message me. I`m useless re: physical aspects of a Canon and cannot understand why they mount their zooms the wrong way round ( ;D) but happy to pass on / answer any general stuff I can.

Pretty sure we need to do a bit of a restructure here in the forum.  It would be nice if we could encourage new photographers and offer help and advice where possible, in fact that is how it should work.  Maybe we need to add or edit some of the boards to suite this better. (suggestions welcome). http://cameracraniums.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0

@eysha Please take it from me you're as welcome to come here and ask questions whether they be beginner to advanced, I'm sure someone will offer some help.  Please don't be put off so easily and hang in here, I'm sure none of the comments were intentionally "prickly".  ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 07, 2016, 01:55:10 PM
I've already apologised for putting eysha off, so won't do it again.

Eysha, if you want advice/instruction, just ask a straightforward question, about something that puzzles you, or several questions about several aspects, that bemuse you.

How can anyone give advice/instruction, if they do not know what it is, you want to know?

To get used to the camera, I would set it to the 'all singing, all dancing' mode and shoot. You're bound to get good shots if you hold the camera steady and keep an eye on the  composition, which for you, as an artist will not be difficult. (Yes, I've got a good memory.)

Give it a go, and slowly try out other settings. If you get stuck just ask, giving specific information on what you are doing, and what you are trying to achieve.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 10, 2016, 12:42:11 PM
Chatting with a French estate agent yesterday who reported that since Brexit she had sold 3 times as many properties to UK buyers as this time last year. I'd have thought the lower value of sterling and uncertainty would have had the opposite effect. Nowt as strange as folk. Maybe it was Dick Strawbridge's recent TV appearance?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 10, 2016, 02:38:03 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 10, 2016, 12:42:11 PM
Chatting with a French estate agent yesterday who reported that since Brexit she had sold 3 times as many properties to UK buyers as this time last year. I'd have thought the lower value of sterling and uncertainty would have had the opposite effect. Nowt as strange as folk. Maybe it was Dick Strawbridge's recent TV appearance?

Getting out while the goings good springs to mind Howard...........Brexit will certainly not be as good as the Brexiteers dream it will be - More likely the reverse and another Referendum may be called upon to drop the GBP for the Euro  :o  (Afterall, in a Global market, quantity easing cannot go on and on without causing more woes to return - and as sure as bees like honey the immigration problem will keep on growing).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 10, 2016, 07:16:00 PM
Having spent a few days in France recently I'm not surprised property is selling to the Brits, it's  so incredibly  cheap, I was tempted myself on one occasion., I nearly booked a viewing.

My hosts bought their place about seven years ago and are struggling  to get anywhere near what they paid, they are trying to get back to Blighty asap.

The EU is doomed as an undertaking and as for swapping the pound  for the euro, what is this year's  vintage like?  Sounds as if it's  pretty potent.  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on August 10, 2016, 09:23:37 PM
Quote from: ABERS on August 10, 2016, 07:16:00 PM

The EU is doomed as an undertaking and as for swapping the pound  for the euro, what is this year's  vintage like?  Sounds as if it's  pretty potent.  :D

You are right the wine is very good  :)   while the pound still appears to be on an overall decending slope   :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 10, 2016, 11:32:35 PM
The EU will fail. Sometime, perhaps not for a few years, but it will fail. Or it will if they keep on adding basket case countries to the portfolio and expect the remaining half dozen countries to bale them out.

France is in a mess, so is Italy, Spain and Portugal. And they are the stable countries. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 11, 2016, 08:21:29 AM
It's a pity Alan that your friends find themselves in such a situation. It seems to me that many expat Brits forget all of the things they would normally consider when buying abroad, principally 'location, location, location'.

Our house is, according to the agents and looking at the local property market, worth 250% more than it was when we bought it (in € terms, rather more in £). We were lucky in our timing to a large extent. And the village we left in Worcestershire has seen prices rise by no more than 10%, and in some cases - the little estate of 5 bed executive houses - prices have fallen. In short if we were minded to return from whence we came we could do so easily and stick a decent 6 figure sum in the bank for a rainy day. It's down to location: hilltop location, secluded but only 10 minutes from an airport with more than a dozen flights to the UK and the Netherlands every day, access to the best performing school in the Dordogne, and yes, that fantastic local brew :) Oh, and much faster internet than rural UK.

You're right about the EU Mark, it certainly cannot go on as it is. There are strong and growing movements throughout the northern members for either significant change or break up of the political union. The Euro is probably living on borrowed time. France's finances are indeed a mess, not unlike a certain island nation just to the north: national debt just shy of 96% (UK 89%) and both increasing at a stupid rate. Our governments are mortgaging our children's futures. Obama's administration in the US has borrowed almost as much money as all the governments before it put together, national debt is now over $19 trillion with Hilary promising more of the same (105% of GDP, makes France look sensible, not). In short, all of the old western economies are up the creek without a paddle to some extent, all of us are living beyond our means, and one day it will have to stop. That won't be pleasant.

And I still don't get why more Brits are buying here when it gets more expensive in £ terms every day. ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on August 11, 2016, 10:59:14 AM
How long have you been in France H? Seems a low increase on your old English place but I guess we`ve been through some falls. Of course price is all irrelevant except when crossing countries as you sell in the Uk you buy in the Uk and you take your chances. Our house  has gone up something like 310 % over the last 18 years  (at least until the supposed next crash)  but I wory more about how my youngest will ever to be able to afford to buy or even rent! I hate the way a roof over yuour head has become a retirement nest egg / space for property developers and helped price young people out of the market rather than a basic need.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 11, 2016, 11:05:25 AM
They're  not stranded in France H,  they still have their house in the UK quietly  appreciating in value.

You're  quite  right  about  location,  where they have their  property in France  is somewhat isolated. O.K  if you're into interminal  vineyards  and sunflower  fields, ideal, but a little boring if you're not.  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on August 11, 2016, 11:53:34 AM
That's the thing about property markets, some areas do significantly better than others. From trawling about through the web it looks like bog standard rural house prices haven't changed much in the past 15 years, but urban areas have exploded in value. The BoE has to keep interest rates low to make the government debt serviceable, the downside of that being that house prices rocket as bricks and mortar become a store of value rather than principally somewhere to live. As you say Paul, it's now so daft in some places it's difficult to see how it can work for our children. I was reading the other day that the 'affordable' one bedroom starter homes in the Olympic Park at Stratford were 'from £470,000'. This in an area where the average wage is £19,000. So there won't be any locals buying them.

As for prices in central London or Paris . . .
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 11, 2016, 09:07:08 PM
When the 'Buy to Let' rules changed, developers (at least here in Southampton) started to build 'luxury apartments,' that were snapped up by investors.

A lot of them are shoddily built, though often look attractive, too small to live in permanently (no storage space for ironing board or vacuum cleaner), and only suitable for people who do not bring their own furniture. In short, they are only suitable for short time (furnished) letting.

And as investment property, too expensive for first time buyers.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 12, 2016, 09:55:24 AM
Never been one  for giving up but if I was a youngster in today's  situation I might consider it. Even renting, in this area, is way beyond  most unless the bank of mum and dad is flushed with the wherewithal, and once again in this area there seems to be a few of those.

Unless there is the possibility of a hefty gift or bequest most youngsters are trapped.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on August 13, 2016, 08:22:11 AM
What bemused me, and annoyed me a little too, is the fact that Google, of its own accord, has created a folder (called 'label' these days), in one of my Gmail accounts called 'Categories'.

I had spotted it, but never bothered to look in it, as it was not 'one of mine.' Till a couple of days ago ...

Loads of emails from two sites I had subscribed to (I thought I had done something wrong, with the filling in of the form, and therefore had not received any), loads of 'updates' on two other sites, one of which I am interested in, one of which I'd happily do without.

Google obviously decided, some of my 'social' and 'promotions' emails should be classified as 'Categories. But only, in one of the five Gmail addresses I currently use.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: spinner on August 16, 2016, 11:36:41 PM
Just checked two different weather forecast sites. While both list the current temp. in my town as 77F, one is claiming a wind chill makes it feel like 73F while the other claims the humidity makes it feel like 88F. I'm currently hiding in my basement where it's cool, but I can feel a real temperature change just walking up to ground level. I'm going with the 88F feel.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: ABERS on August 18, 2016, 11:14:05 AM
I know I have a surname that you don't  come across every day but buying something online my patience was sorely tried yesterday.

Asked to spell it by a lady who seemed somewhat distant we had a couple of goes before she got it right. A later question asked for my surname again, "could you spell that Please?  Biting my lip I complied.

Next came the payment. "What is the name on the Card? " Yes you've  guessed it. How do you spell That?...... :doh: :doh: :doh:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 23, 2016, 01:08:00 PM
Apart from the usual 20-1 ratio of cyclists without/with lights this morning, a few days ago we were in a smallish town we had not been to before and in need of lunch. I opened Google maps on the 'phone and went to the 'local' restaurant recommendations. The nearest one, according to Google, was a 20minute drive away in another town. Well, this being France and every town, nay even village, having at least one restaurant or bistro we headed for the main square. Where we found not one, but two open restaurants. We chose the one with the most occupied tables and had a super meal thank you very much.

So much for the web.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on September 25, 2016, 06:08:22 PM
Not sure if bemused is the right word or not - but yesterday went to a wedding and had been asked to take some pictures of the guests - only if I didn't mind (Which I don't!) - they did have a pro tog for the wedding and actually till quite late - not a problem, I kept out of her way as much as I could so she could do her job without another tog getting in the way!

Anyway the bemused bit -is that I'd borrowed my BIL 70-200 F2.8 IS L lens and I'd forgotten how nice it renders the background to a creamy blur!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 01, 2016, 02:07:15 PM
Bit frantic here this afternoon - one of my daughter's besties (hate that word) had the misfortune to see a significant part of her house go up in smoke during the early hours, so we are arranging to have her stay for the foreseeable. Her father is in Bucharest on business, and her mother is staying with the house to sort out the emergency repairs and insurance claim.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 01, 2016, 05:41:54 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 01, 2016, 02:07:15 PM
Bit frantic here this afternoon - one of my daughter's besties (hate that word) had the misfortune to see a significant part of her house go up in smoke during the early hours, so we are arranging to have her stay for the foreseeable. Her father is in Bucharest on business, and her mother is staying with the house to sort out the emergency repairs and insurance claim.

That's very good of you.  :tup:

Hope you told her she will have to clean the house every day!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 01, 2016, 08:19:44 PM
Now there's a thought :) Luckily she is very good company, witty and dry. She speaks 4 languages fluently - French, English, Italian and her native Romanian. They're a lovely family of clever kind hardworking people, the house fire has been awful for them. Added to which the insurance company doesn't seem to have any adequate weekend response. It was the firemen and local major who sorted out the immediate aftermath, securing the house etc.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 02, 2016, 08:10:38 AM
Big cheer for fire brigade and mayor. And for immigrants sticking together, and helping each other out!   ;) :tup:

How many languages are compulsory taught at school in France?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 02, 2016, 11:24:47 AM
Their mayor was excellent.

As for languages in French schools, just 2 are compulsory, French and English. My daughter is also studying German, Latin and Mandarin, off to Frankfurt in the next school break to stay with a German friend. I'm quite envious, I've never visited there.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 02, 2016, 02:58:37 PM
Good for her! Does she have any idea, what she'll want to do 'when she grows up'?

Maybe you can arrange an exchange with a German family somewhere? A type of 'house swap' for a fortnight.

Friends of mine used to do that in the seventies, they swapped their home in rural Nuenen (where Vincent van Gogh originated), with something near the beach. It was cheap, and it meant their cat was taken care of at the same time.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 09, 2016, 09:11:51 AM
My Windows 10 calendar, now gives weather expectations for the day. Today it is going to be sunny (correct) and 26 C, which I very much doubt.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 09, 2016, 01:04:13 PM
Does it know where you are? Might be based on your IP address, and that could quite possibly be anywhere.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 09, 2016, 05:29:25 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on October 09, 2016, 01:04:13 PM
Does it know where you are? Might be based on your IP address, and that could quite possibly be anywhere.

I don't like to disclose my location, so it does not know where I am. I am with BT, so I would have expected my IP address to be in Britain somewhere, but I don't really know.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on October 09, 2016, 06:33:39 PM
If I try BT I get a call centre in India........... Might be the same for Windows?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 09, 2016, 07:30:12 PM
Could well be. It's nice to know it is 26C somewhere, wherever that somewhere is.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 09, 2016, 09:37:50 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on October 09, 2016, 07:30:12 PM
Could well be. It's nice to know it is 26C somewhere, wherever that somewhere is.

It's your local weather as it's linked to your post code, which you supplied when you signed up to your ISP.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 10, 2016, 07:33:59 AM
That's an interesting idea Oldboy. My Windows weather this morning is from London. My VPN is not running, and my post code has me something like 650 miles further south . . it probably defaults to that as my system language in GB English. It is customisable though - I have six locations saved in the favourites, places where we have friends and family. I just changed the default to where I live.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 10, 2016, 09:08:55 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on October 09, 2016, 09:37:50 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on October 09, 2016, 07:30:12 PM
Could well be. It's nice to know it is 26C somewhere, wherever that somewhere is.

It's your local weather as it's linked to your post code, which you supplied when you signed up to your ISP.  :)

Interesting. For today ("Columbus Day"), it says 9 C, which is probably right for this moment, as it is still early, but for tomorrow and the rest of the week it is 28/26, which I cannot believe.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 10, 2016, 08:47:10 PM
Well, last week I was on a hill when it started to hail (And thunder and lightening) so was around freezing - and the next day was in the 20's - to be fair one was at 8300ft and the other by the sea  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 18, 2016, 09:58:46 AM
Received an email this morning, which started: Google morning Reinardina.

Have the tech giants really taken over the world? In 'my' time, we had 'Jingle Jangle' mornings, which I much enjoyed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on October 19, 2016, 02:17:08 PM
That was perhaps useful advice. I tried to Google "morning" and found some quite interesting suggestions.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on October 19, 2016, 05:37:14 PM
I never saw it as a request or command! Tried it though, and was not all that impressed with the 'mornings' I found.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Mick on October 23, 2016, 09:36:13 AM
How is Nescafe Original still called Nescafe Original when they've changed it?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 24, 2016, 02:33:03 PM
Daughter is in Germany at the moment, holidaying with her pen-friend. She 'phoned last evening and reported that she had just been down the motorway at 180kph. Mrs H asked her if she was frightened. Oh no, she replied, it was fun! Like father, like daughter :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 29, 2016, 01:43:39 PM
180kph is not that fast for Germany. I remember sitting at 110mph (So about the same speed) and was getting past by all sorts of cars - including a VW Polo :)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on November 25, 2016, 01:43:31 PM
Text outside Baptist church in Flintshire:

Honk if you love Jesus: text while driving if you want to meet him.

The Rev Bob Marshall, is facing council action, as it is considered advertising.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beaux Reflets on November 25, 2016, 02:26:59 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on November 25, 2016, 01:43:31 PM
Text outside Baptist church in Flintshire:

Honk if you love Jesus: text while driving if you want to meet him.

The Rev Bob Marshall, is facing council action, as it is considered advertising.

While I see the   :D  twist play in words; Rev Marshall appears to be making an assumption that all those reading his notice will be thinking in exactly the same way as he is (which is not necessarily the case).  Encouraging text messaging while one is driving is :uglystupid2: full stop!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 25, 2016, 05:39:27 PM
Quote from: Reinardina on November 25, 2016, 01:43:31 PM
Text outside Baptist church in Flintshire:

Honk if you love Jesus: text while driving if you want to meet him.

The Rev Bob Marshall, is facing council action, as it is considered advertising.

How can that be considered advertising? I bet it's a labour council.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 26, 2016, 03:35:29 PM
Most churches have boards outside advertising then. Seems a bit extreme in my view (As an atheist)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 27, 2016, 11:06:02 PM
People moaning about Lewis Hamilton driving "slowly" to get cars behind in the mix with Nico Rosberg with the hope that they overtake. And then Nico moaning that he could go faster - well, there is one easy way of doing that, and that is to pass Lewis - I never saw him even attempt it.
And then the team ordering Lewis to speed up - bad form.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on November 28, 2016, 06:04:28 PM
I thought his response was good (paraphrasing) "I'm leading the race, I don't need to go any faster"...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 28, 2016, 09:01:21 PM
And all the "Experts" back at base thought Vettel could catch them and pass Nico (which was Lewis's plan of course!) and Lewis himself and hence not get a Win for them - which would never have happened he had so much pace in reserve.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on December 04, 2016, 11:31:05 PM
Yesterday I ordered "The Canal Trip" from the BBC store. I had assumed (never assume anything!) that it would be a physical DVD, but after paying I found I had to download it. No problem, I thought. Until I tried. It's only possible to download using a special BBC Win10 App, which had to be installed first. I tried just downloading, but no joy - it had to be a Win10 app presumably on a Win10 computer. So I applied for a refund instantly, as the terms and conditions allowed. Today I got a couple of emails confirming that I had been refunded, so no big deal (or story). However, given the nature of the "problem" I'd had to report (the site only has a "Contact Us" box for refunds) I was surprised by the wording of the email. Bemused and amused in equal measure. I quote:


Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to the BBC Store Team. I am delighted to provide my assistance with your query today, regarding your recent purchase of 'All Aboard! The Canal Trip'.

It's great to see you showing an interest in the BBC Store and the brilliant content we have available. Rest assured, I will provide all the information you need within this email.

I can confirm that I have processed a full refund for your excellent purchase. An email confirmation will be with you within 24 hours, to advise you that your refund was successful on our system. Please allow up to 10 working days for the funds to return to your account.

For any future queries there are many helpful articles on our help and support page which can be found here: 
https://help.store.bbc.com/s/

Simply search for your query and read through our suggestions. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please feel free to get back in contact with us, we are always happy to help at the BBC Store.

Kind regards,


I now know what people mean when they talk about "BBC English"  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 05, 2016, 08:06:02 AM
Makes me want to laugh and cry in equal measures! Worthy of a comic sketch.

And ten working days, for the funds to return to your account?

It is obviously a standard email, 'adapted' to your query. And then some ...

The Store Team must consist of robots who cannot read an email, only react to certain words.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 05, 2016, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 05, 2016, 08:06:02 AM

The Store Team must consist of robots who cannot read an email, only react to certain words.

The BBC has moved to Media City in Manchester. They never learned to read Queen's English there!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: northenderdave on December 05, 2016, 11:15:31 AM
No need to have a go at us Northerners over this. A lot of the BBC staff at Media City are from London & Birmingham.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 05, 2016, 01:32:33 PM
It's just the BBC, 'reaching out' to all of us, in the most positive way they can think of. Rich, flowery words that hardly make sense, but float in the air like weed smoke.

Too scared anyone will take offence, if they use straightforward language.

I'm sure a northerner would have sent a proper email.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 05, 2016, 02:10:10 PM
It's one of modernity's diseases: the urge to make a short sentence long by juxtaposing unrelated words and meaningless platitudes. A hearty dash of insincerity often completes the imbroglio.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on December 05, 2016, 05:05:28 PM
The nearest to this style of BBC English I'd come across before is that used by a jolly nice Nigerian* laywer who used to keep emailing me wanting to share in $25,000,000 dollars. The phraseology was so very similar. The email just made so very clear that "they" weren't actually replying to me, other than by cobbling together a set of stock answers.

* Other nationalities are availble, and were represented  ;D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Paul Montgomery on December 05, 2016, 07:46:25 PM
I've heard of a few companies experimenting with AI to reply to emails. That looks like one of them...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 06, 2016, 08:08:46 AM
What is AI?

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 06, 2016, 08:24:22 AM
Quote from: Reinardina on December 06, 2016, 08:08:46 AM
What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence R
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on December 06, 2016, 12:30:08 PM
Thanks Paul.
Very artificial, and not too intelligent then.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on December 06, 2016, 12:57:01 PM
It's often been said that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity...
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 06, 2016, 10:38:18 PM
This Black Headed Gull appears to be swimming but it is dead. Had to check it twice but it didn't move in over one hour.  :(

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_DSC_6838_Black-headed_Gull~0.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=20045&fullsize=1)

I wonder if it will still be there tomorrow?  :(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on December 08, 2016, 06:36:15 PM
What bemused me today was the Co op bank sending me an E-mail asking me to retrieve my account , Which they had locked for security reasons 

I'm certainly not stupid  and I don't have an account with them.

I had to clear my cookies and history after as I had clicked on the link to see what they wanted me to do   

they asked for my sort code  account number or credit card number. Ha ha ha
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on December 08, 2016, 07:05:03 PM
Be careful about clicking on links contained in spurious emails. I never do, but the reason for suggesting caution is that my anti-virus program gave me a pop up warning this week about an html file in an email that had just come in. I regularly see the signs of removed zip files in emails, but this is the first in a while that was html related.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 08, 2016, 09:57:38 PM
Quote from: Beryl on December 08, 2016, 06:36:15 PM
What bemused me today was the Co op bank sending me an E-mail asking me to retrieve my account , Which they had locked for security reasons 

I'm certainly not stupid  and I don't have an account with them.

I had to clear my cookies and history after as I had clicked on the link to see what they wanted me to do   

they asked for my sort code  account number or credit card number. Ha ha ha

Quote from: StephenBatey on December 08, 2016, 07:05:03 PM
Be careful about clicking on links contained in spurious emails. I never do, but the reason for suggesting caution is that my anti-virus program gave me a pop up warning this week about an html file in an email that had just come in. I regularly see the signs of removed zip files in emails, but this is the first in a while that was html related.

Never click or open an email that you don't recognize or know who it's from. Click or opening any email could run code which you don't see running but could load all sorts of nasties on your computer. I just click the report spam button and then delete it from my mail.  8)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on December 08, 2016, 11:22:24 PM
Yes you are right.
At first thought it was to do with my  loyalty card and was gong to ask them why, until I clicked on  "Click here to retrieve account" I cleared all the cookies and history.
My son is an IT consultant he told me about the codes when you click on a link and gathering info.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on December 09, 2016, 12:46:54 AM
It's more than just cookies that's the issue. If you click on a link and open a page in a web browser, unless it's a very basic text only site, you're going to be executing html code on your computer. Html code, just like any other, can load a virus. Some browsers block sites known to be infected; some "big names" have been hacked and infected in the past. I never click on a link in an email unless I'm certain that I not only know the person it purports to come from, but am sure that they would send such an email as well. I often get emails supposedly from people I know which consist of a simple message like "Hi Stephen, you might be interested in this link". I know the people well enough to know that they would never send such an email, and it gets deleted.

I've used a basic Windows 3.1 email program for years (since I had to switch from a better OS/2 one when OS/2 was discontinued). It fails to respond to html code and shows everything text only, which is safe. The downside is that some people send htlm mail, so I get "From" appearing as ?utf-8?B?QnJpZ2h0b24gJiBIb3ZlIENpdHkgQ291bmNpbA==?= with a subject of ?utf-8?B?QnVzIHBhc3MgcmVuZXdhbCBhcHBsaWNhdGlvbiA=?= (actual example, using copy and paste of From and Subject of an email from Brighton Council about my bus pass renewal). This obscurity is a price worth paying for me, knowing that plain text doesn't actually result in anything being executed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Beryl on December 09, 2016, 07:39:49 AM
Yes. You are right. My son explained it all to me. I didn't know about the links and the things that can happen when you click on them. Luckily I don't do any online banking and keep all my passes  else where. It's amazing what hackers can do.
This page just asked for you sort code account number or a credit card number. Bit of a give away.
My niece's mum fell for it and was taken for £550.
My eldest son is a policeman. The first time I had a scam was a phone call telling me I had a virus. I said "|No I haven't" my so said "Now you have just told him you have a computer" :uglystupid2:
You have to be so careful.
Thanks for the advice Stephen and Oldboy :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on December 17, 2016, 01:02:10 PM
Been out this morning braving the crowds of bovine eyed Christmas shoppers. Normally I go into town early to catch the shops when they open, surgical strike, but Mrs H wanted to come with me today and getting a woman to move her *rse is a struggle at the best of times; first thing on a Saturday morning is not the best of times. So we were late, and hit the immutable mass of wandering vacuity and dull wit that characterises this time of year especially. Aargh!

And none of the shops had any ducks.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 17, 2016, 05:07:41 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on December 17, 2016, 01:02:10 PM

And none of the shops had any ducks.

Take some bread to the local pond and you should find plenty!  :P
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: chris2pher on February 02, 2017, 10:36:56 PM
My very first dslr (canon 700d) that I've had a month fell off my tripod onto hard floor. Most of it works apart from in manual and press the shutter and the mirror goes up, but it doesn't fall until I press the shutter again. Majorly pissed off. Will this be expensive to fix?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 15, 2017, 09:08:33 PM
I'm saying this here and not in either the annoyed or happy threads, because I don't know how I feel.

I've actually received the money for my Discovery that I technically sold at the end of January - but had to fix a couple of things before it went - one was a split (at the join) exhaust which took about 1/2 hour to sort and no cost - the other a self inflicted mistake that cost the thick end of £500 :(

Came to to the transfer online tonight - and the service is only available 7am to 7pm  :(

So I am annoyed I can't actually do the "paperwork" and happy that it is sold to someone that will use it properly and bemused that I don't know if I'm happy or sad.

It's the longest I've owned a car, except for a Rover P6 3500S, but that only did about 2000miles in 20years. I've done some 174000 in the 7 years I've owned the Disco - and driven all bar about 4or5k of them - the rest being a mate of mine on off road trips.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 16, 2017, 08:00:22 PM
The universe was created by a quantum fluctuation of the vacuum according to the scientists, also called a false vacuum which could collapse at any moment. Is this pixelated building precede the collapse of the vacuum?  :o

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_DSC_6224_New_Building.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=20457&fullsize=1)

 
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 07, 2017, 08:50:02 AM
When I woke up this morning my allegedly 'radio controlled' alarm clock displayed 14:43, 24th March. Presumably it must have been hacked by the Russians, as they are responsible for everything that goes wrong with computery things.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 08, 2017, 12:04:07 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on June 07, 2017, 08:50:02 AM
When I woke up this morning my allegedly 'radio controlled' alarm clock displayed 14:43, 24th March. Presumably it must have been hacked by the Russians, as they are responsible for everything that goes wrong with computery things.

How do you know a computer is at fault?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on June 08, 2017, 02:14:59 PM
You mean you think it might have been THEM interfering with the radio signal from Germany? Mmm, better reinforce the tinfoil hat.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 08, 2017, 04:51:10 PM
Or it could be correct, and you haven't realised you've lost all sense of time.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Simple on June 09, 2017, 09:22:09 AM
I do not know how old your clock is, but the millennium bug might have finally arrived.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 09, 2017, 06:00:17 PM
Quote from: Simple on June 09, 2017, 09:22:09 AM
I do not know how old your clock is, but the millennium bug might have finally arrived.

:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 11, 2017, 10:22:56 AM
Serious dating site for hetero males, and lesbians only?

(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11140/normal_Find_a_woman_0311_CC_Dating_Site.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=20834&fullsize=1)

Where did they get the 'Real Female Profiles'?

(Sorry, I have never mastered a screenshot)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on June 22, 2017, 08:57:28 AM
"Actor who played baby Oscar in Ghostbusters ..." (Fox news)

It's a sad story, about a young man committing suicide, but I could not help wondering how an actor manages to play a baby.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 28, 2017, 11:41:47 AM
Reading a storm warning on Net Weather today and it started with the below paragraph?

A slow-moving and increasingly negatively-tilted long-wave upper trough will overspread much of western Europe, including the UK, within this upper trough an upper vortex will slide east across the UK.  ???
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 28, 2017, 08:07:17 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on June 28, 2017, 11:41:47 AM
Reading a storm warning on Net Weather today and it started with the below paragraph?

A slow-moving and increasingly negatively-tilted long-wave upper trough will overspread much of western Europe, including the UK, within this upper trough an upper vortex will slide east across the UK.  ???

= It's going to leak it down
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on August 29, 2017, 11:10:50 PM
I just made one of my infrequent visits to the Amateur Photographer site, and took the quiz designed to show how well you know you're (sic) photographic history. For some reason, the first question I was presented with was the first question in the photography general knowledge quiz http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/photo-news/quiz-well-know-youre-photography-history-109543 (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/photo-news/quiz-well-know-youre-photography-history-109543). I found the possible answers bewildering...

What might you do with a quick release plate?

Put it in front of your lens
Attach it to the bottom of your camera
Nikon
Canon


Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on August 31, 2017, 12:36:55 PM
Did you get a 7/7 then ? ;)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on September 01, 2017, 05:19:24 PM
5 out of 7 if I remember correctly. :legit:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on September 01, 2017, 07:01:15 PM
 :) Welldone
4/7 for me   :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on September 01, 2017, 10:17:04 PM
From memory, the questions revolved more around equipment than photography; and at least half of my answers were (at best, informed) guesses. I'm not up on modern equipment; once I arrived at a camera and lenses etc. that met my needs I stopped reading reviews etc.

I don't know what half the modern acronyms on lenses mean, and still have trouble remembering (actually, I don't remember at all!) whether in Nikon's world FX means Full Frame and hence DX is Demi Frame, or whether DX means Double Frame (which in APS terms makes it about full frame) and therefore FX means something else that I can't even guess at...

I expected photographic history to revolve around things like date of first photograph; inventor of dry plates; first colour photographs; first night photos; etc. etc. I should have known better.  :'(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on September 02, 2017, 07:52:52 AM
I got 6/7, because I made a bad guess about AP magazine's age. Hey ho. I knew the rest though, no guessing involved.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on September 02, 2017, 09:10:49 AM
Same as you with same error H
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 21, 2017, 01:31:36 AM
Somebody took this photo but nobody knows who?

https://www.livescience.com/60729-frog-swallowing-snake-photo.html

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on October 21, 2017, 07:38:27 AM
That's quite a photo Oldboy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 21, 2017, 10:39:54 AM
Interesting shot - wish I'd have taken it - but would never claim a shot was mine if it wasn't!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 29, 2017, 09:49:10 PM
Another bird shot of a rare vulture which I don't think is special?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5029097/Photographer-captures-ultra-rare-vulture-Spain.html

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 30, 2017, 01:28:59 PM
Picture itself is far from special. IMHO. But like a lot of things - rarity makes it better
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on October 31, 2017, 04:35:08 PM
After not being used for a fortnight my drone decided that it would only turn right. In fact turning right was all it was prepared to do, apart from up and down, and the down part was a sudden thump into the ground on 'auto land'. It's rather erratic, or should that be eccentric ?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 01, 2018, 03:58:49 PM
Had an email of a cousin in Canada who complained about the cold. Check the BBC forecast for North America and they have Ottawa and Winnipeg with a temperature of 0' degrees Fahrenheit!  :o :o :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 23, 2018, 12:30:45 PM
My own stupidity and assumptions about how the world works - specifically in relation to camera batteries. I took my TG-4 out with me this morning on the school run, thinking to get some shots of the river in flood as the light came up.

But the camera wouldn't turn on. Flat battery I assumed and replaced the dead battery with the spare, making sure in the gloom that I fitted it the same way as the one that I had just removed. Camera as lifeless as a not at all alive thing. Gave up. When I got home, and into some light, I discovered that the batteries for the TG-4 will fit into the camera either way around, and the wrong way was the way that the first battery had been put in. All my other cameras, and just about everything else I can think of that uses proprietary batteries has them handed, so they can only go in one way.

Live and learn I suppose.  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on January 23, 2018, 10:00:38 PM
That does sound like unusual H.

I can't charge my batteries at the moment because I have lost my charger. Who loses a battery charger??
I'm blaming the kids!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 19, 2018, 07:45:47 AM
Insulting commercial.

Caught a commercial for a scented fabric conditioner recently.

Punch line: "Is it your perfume, or your fabric conditioner?"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 19, 2018, 12:38:50 PM
Yes, I've seen that one. Why waste money on expensive perfume? Just put yourself through a quick wash cycle . .

What bemused me - the good news, the camera wasn't on it; bad news, my drone went on an adventure all on its own. Controls were ignored and neither the 'return to home' nor auto return to home out of range or with low battery operated. It was in GPS mode with 14 satellites locked. No idea where it's gone. Last seen heading south east at, according to the remote control display, 55 metres up and 8 metres per second.

Time for a new better drone - got to tell SWMBO that more money will be spent. That won't go down well.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Reinardina on April 19, 2018, 02:36:05 PM
Sorry about the drone. It's scary these things can more or less do what they want, go wherever their fancy takes them. No chance of getting it back?

I'm not sure about whole families smelling of fabric conditioner. It will overpower any individual scent, put a whole industry out of business, thus depriving the less well heeled of the chance to own a real designer product.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 19, 2018, 05:01:10 PM
The drone was a £100 starter model, and it is safe to say quality control was not a watchword at the factory where it was made. It has always been inconsistently erratic, it just excelled itself today! 

The good news from my point of view is that I know that I can fly a drone properly: I've also been flying my friend's Mavic Pro - that does what it's told :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on April 19, 2018, 11:14:25 PM
An extract from an email:

Hi Stephen, you have a parcel coming today.
Scheduled Delivery Date: Thursday, 19/04/2018
Estimated Delivery Time: End Of Day

Well, the parcel arrived (developing tank and reel for 10x8 film). And it did indeed arrive on the date specified. What I did (falsely) expect was that the third line contained different and additional information to that on the first two. The parcel arrived at mid day, and when I queried it, I was told that "End Of Day" means "before the end of the delivery day". It was fortunate that I was there to answer the door, as a few minutes earlier and I would have missed it, being under the false assumption that "end of day" meant - at the very least - late afternoon. The ways of UPS are mysterious indeed.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 20, 2018, 07:23:16 AM
My UPS guy (always stuff from Thomann :) ) is 100% reliable - always gets here just after lunch and always greets me with a cheery hello.

Glad you got your stuff!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on April 20, 2018, 05:37:40 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on April 19, 2018, 05:01:10 PM
The drone was a £100 starter model, and it is safe to say quality control was not a watchword at the factory where it was made. It has always been inconsistently erratic, it just excelled itself today! 

The good news from my point of view is that I know that I can fly a drone properly: I've also been flying my friend's Mavic Pro - that does what it's told :)


Sorry to hear about your drone H. What a pain!
I have been doing a bit of research into drones as you know and it certainly seems that the newer ones have more reliable tech and don't suffer from these issues quite as often.
Update for me - decided on a drone, found it at a good price but then it went out of stock so waiting now.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on April 20, 2018, 06:47:38 PM
Sorry about your drone H. Is no-one worried about potential stiffening of laws re: drones. When I looked into it for weddings I was advised very strongly by Police about where i could fly it and the added issues of a licence for commercial ie paid work . Once I found that many of the venues I`d expect to use them at banned them I gave up. Seems we are moving ever closer to licences / training in UK - only one near miss event with a plane away I reckon given the issues arising locally here. Neew rules from spring seem to say keep your drone under 250 grammes or you need a competency test and registration - currently 20kg so seems a big fall. Is that heavy or not? Half a pack of pasta it seems. This sort of thing put me off looking into it any further http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/uk-drone-laws-2018-3146402 (http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/uk-drone-laws-2018-3146402) a nd yet I see evidence of drones breaking all of these rules / laws every time I look at facebook / Youtube.

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 20, 2018, 09:34:48 PM
Yeah, depends where you are. In the US any drone over 250 grams (even a Spark) has to be registered, and DJ I drones are electronically ring fenced. The rules in the UK are actually less onerous than the ones here, but I have no problems with the French ones - they aren't legally enforceable as yet, but they are sensible, and no-one other than a reckless idiot would ignore them. Like don't fly within 5kms of an airport. I can see no harm in registration and formal training to be honest. I'm lucky in that there really isn't anything that I can hit, other than trees 😀 My next drone is going to be a lot more sophisticated, that's for certain. The biggest issue is how much a decent drone costs!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 20, 2018, 09:38:12 PM
So Chris, what drone are you waiting for?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on April 21, 2018, 04:24:46 AM
A Yuneec Typhoon Q500. It is available elsewhere but for about £150
More than I found it for. Happy to wait for it to come back into stock.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on April 21, 2018, 12:35:12 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on April 21, 2018, 04:24:46 AM
A Yuneec Typhoon Q500. It is available elsewhere but for about £150
More than I found it for. Happy to wait for it to come back into stock.

Nice well specified drone. If you are planning on getting it from Banggood, Gearbest  or similar don't forget about import duty :)

I've pretty much decided to go for a Mavic Air - dependent upon my phone being compatible. If not then the Xiaomi.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on July 16, 2018, 12:21:53 AM
A few weeks back, ACDSee 2.4 which I've been using for years (about 20, to go by the copyright of the program) ceased to work on Win10. It would display photos happily, but hung as soon as I swtiched to thumbnails - it appeared to be unable to read the directory structure. The latest version of ACDSee (10) I have, and it does work, but it has a cluttered interface and too many features for my day to day use. I eventually found that version 3.1 worked on Win10. Then a week or so ago, it also failed to work. Photos displayed fine, thumbnails no problem, but immediate hang if I tried to move or copy photos. And even worse, TaskManager couldn't just remove the one offending hung instance, but all open ACDSee windows went. Cue a move back to Win7 where everything works.

The I came across an article in a magazine that called my attention to a free Microsoft download of Win10 together with a full development environment in a format that allowed its installation into a virtual machine. I'd already got VirtualBox on my Win10 system, so I installed it on Win7 (same computer, two boot disks and a boot manager to make easy switching) to try it. A few minutes ago, I got the whimsical idea of trying ACDSee 2.4 on the Win10 Enterprise edition running on VirtualBox. It worked...

So what's the difference between Win10 Professional and Win10 Enterprise running on the same hardware that means that one runs the program and the other doesn't? N.B this is a rhetorical question!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on July 16, 2018, 09:01:57 AM
Quote from: StephenBatey on July 16, 2018, 12:21:53 AM

So what's the difference between Win10 Professional and Win10 Enterprise running on the same hardware that means that one runs the program and the other doesn't? N.B this is a rhetorical question!

Captain Kirk runs the Enterprise!  :P :doh:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on July 16, 2018, 10:31:29 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on July 16, 2018, 09:01:57 AM

Captain Kirk runs the Enterprise!  :P :doh:

Very true. I should have realised it at once.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on July 23, 2018, 11:04:43 PM
And Win10 again....

I just allowed the dreaded major update ("This will take some time; we suggest you go away and read War and Peace as a warm up before reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall, and finish by mastering a new language"). It did reboot several times; the percentage completed did go backwards (seriously!) but eventually I got my new improved Windows booted. Just a half dozen of so screens to plough through declining new features, and there I was at the desktop.

Try File Explorer - lot's of unwanted items at the top under my computer. No problem, it's happened before and I have a registry script to fix it. Not fully this time - one left. Go away and find what to change in the registry and everythings back to normal. Then I tried the next test of something that Win10 updates have messed up before - selecting more than 15 files and hitting enter to open them all. And this is where what started as a "What irritated you today" moves to "bemused".

The easiest way to get multiple files to open simultaneously was to go to a photos directory. I selected 16 files; Windows XP apparently had no limit, but in Win 7 and above Microsoft put in a maximum number of 15, on the grounds that users might not realise the consequences of opening a lot of files at once; they did assume that users would however realise the consequences of deleting hundreds of files at once, and put no limit on that. Bless them, they did also explain what to add to the registry to restore the status quo. So, 16 files selected; I hit enter. What happens? Do I get only the first 15 opening? Do I get nothing happening? No. ONE OF THE PHOTOS BECOMES MY DESKTOP BACKGROUND!

Much searching to correct this. Opinions vary on how to stop it; some say that the option is in the "Power" options; others (including Microsoft by way of a Windows red message) tell me that I need to change the disability options to get my plain colour background back. Eventually I do.

After the registry fix everything is back to normal, but before that my tests showed that up to 4 files selected opened OK, and between 4 and 15 only 4 opened.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on October 12, 2018, 07:25:43 PM
Need a fast camera then try this: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6270295/Worlds-fastest-camera-capture-images-10-trillion-frames-second-unveiled.html  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 01, 2018, 06:07:22 PM
Flickr has just committed suicide.

Will be $50 a year or a limit of 1000 pictures.

I reckon most won't pay that much and the free offering is just insulting. Goodbye Flickr, it's been fun. Sort of.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on November 01, 2018, 07:02:32 PM
I used Flickr for a while, but didn't stick with it. You'd like to think that they know what they are doing, time will tell I guess. What you've just said means I definatleywont go back.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on November 01, 2018, 07:04:03 PM
Just been onto Photomatix to edit some photos, and its saying I need to order the licence!! But I have already purchased it so am annoyed that it now won't work fro me. Don't want to buy it again.  >:(
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on November 02, 2018, 07:09:17 PM
And its back to normal today, working quite nicely.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on November 03, 2018, 10:27:58 AM
Quote from: Hinfrance on November 01, 2018, 06:07:22 PM
Flickr has just committed suicide.

Will be $50 a year or a limit of 1000 pictures.

I reckon most won't pay that much and the free offering is just insulting. Goodbye Flickr, it's been fun. Sort of.

I`ve rarely been on using my free membership of late anyway so won`t miss it. Shame.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Alfonso_Frisk on November 03, 2018, 01:43:55 PM
I have a pro account which is $24.99 and going up to $49.99 >:(
I only have 1500 shots at reduced sizes in there and are a member of many a group.
But I ain't renewing in Feb 09. There is nothing new or useful to me to justify the doubling of subs.
I will go to a free account which has a 1000 shot max limit.
Some over there have tens of thousands of full res shots uploaded using the site as a free storage, they must be crazy, and they are the ones most angry.

Its been on its arse over there for a few years now. No community as such and very buggy.
I can see it being dead within 12 months
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on November 03, 2018, 01:58:10 PM
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on November 03, 2018, 01:43:55 PM
I have a pro account which is $24.99 and going up to $49.99 >:(
I only have 1500 shots at reduced sizes in there and are a member of many a group.
But I ain't renewing in Feb 09. There is nothing new or useful to me to justify the doubling of subs.
I will go to a free account which has a 1000 shot max limit.
Some over there have tens of thousands of full res shots uploaded using the site as a free storage, they must be crazy, and they are the ones most angry.

Its been on its arse over there for a few years now. No community as such and very buggy.
I can see it being dead within 12 months

Just so, I won't be renewing my pro account when it expires either.

I can understand them wanting to limit the free account bits, but doubling the pro fee is insane - they should have reduced it to get more of the freeloaders into payment schemes.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on November 03, 2018, 07:48:34 PM
I used to use flickr quite a bit until I found out some members were copying other peoples images and claiming it as their own.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 06, 2018, 11:31:54 AM
Fancy a job photographing a family on holiday then read this: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6466675/Family-hiring-photographer-travel-world-80k-salary.html  :o
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on December 06, 2018, 01:42:51 PM
Wow. What a job. I'm looking for a change of career but not sure I'm what they are after.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on January 26, 2019, 11:42:09 AM
Today is "Big Garden Birdwatch" day. I had hoped at least a few of our birds would have returned since the sparrowhawk's visit. Sure enough, two sparrows and a bluetit were hiding in the honeysuckle. Then this arrived:

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_9790Rs_Sparrowhawk.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22921&fullsize=1)
(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_9794Rs_Sparrowhawk.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22922&fullsize=1)

It chased and caught one of our birds, the other rapidly disappeared in the opposite direction. I can't decide whether I should be pleased to see the sparrowhawk again or very sad for our birds.

Simon

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: SimonW on January 27, 2019, 01:54:10 PM
Sparrowhawk dived on a sparrow. Chased and caught it - too far away for another photo.

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10222/normal_KS2_9787Rs_Sparrowhawk.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=22929&fullsize=1)

I know it's blurred but I rather liked this action shot.

Simon

(Wanted to upload it yesterday with the others but the site suddenly developed a problem).
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on February 06, 2019, 03:20:29 PM
Had an email from 500px advising that they had sold a licence for one of my pictures - grand total of $22.06. There were about 20 pages of IRS forms to fill in, including them wanting my French tax account number. Smelling a very large and quite probably mephitic can of worms about to be opened, I have asked them to donate they payment to charity.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 06, 2019, 04:05:53 PM
Quote from: Hinfrance on February 06, 2019, 03:20:29 PM
Had an email from 500px advising that they had sold a licence for one of my pictures - grand total of $22.06. There were about 20 pages of IRS forms to fill in, including them wanting my French tax account number. Smelling a very large and quite probably mephitic can of worms about to be opened, I have asked them to donate they payment to charity.  :)

For the sake of $22 probably a wise move.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 07, 2019, 09:44:53 PM
This should make you smile! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6677469/Mongoose-pup-makes-comic-attempt-playing-dead-confronted-huge-bird.html

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 01, 2019, 12:45:16 PM
Actually a couple of days ago.

A Robin came into our back garden so I grabbed the camera (After putting the big lens on) and it flew off.
But it came back and I managed to grab a couple of shots.

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10190/normal_Birds-1.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=23037&fullsize=1)

But I had forgotten to reset the settings from taking some shots the other day with the flash gun.

And hence the shutter speed was a little low! Considering this was hand held, I didn't think it was too bad!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Kerry Holt on March 01, 2019, 04:28:36 PM
Quote from: anglefire on March 01, 2019, 12:45:16 PM
Actually a couple of days ago.

A Robin came into our back garden so I grabbed the camera (After putting the big lens on) and it flew off.
But it came back and I managed to grab a couple of shots.

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10190/normal_Birds-1.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=23037&fullsize=1)

But I had forgotten to reset the settings from taking some shots the other day with the flash gun

And hence the shutter speed was a little low! Considering this was hand held, I didn't think it was too bad!

I'd say that's a good shot too for hand held👌🏻👍🏻
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 01, 2019, 05:43:40 PM
Thanks Kerry, but its not as sharp as I would have liked - the reduction in size for here does mask it a little!

But it is a cracking lens - absolutely love it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on March 01, 2019, 11:17:33 PM
You should be pleased with that. For hand held its really good.
I've been caught out many times by grabbing my camera quickly and forgetting to change the settings.  :doh:

Just out of interest, how often do we get an image as sharp as we would like?
I often look at my photos thinking this. I find than manual focus helps, but rarely can I say that I'm 100% happy.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 02, 2019, 07:40:17 AM
I would say I mostly get good sharp images - the ones that I keep anyway (I say keep, process, I rarely delete even the one a bit off - I really must do so as I have several Tb of stuff that I could reduce by at least half - time.....)

I rarely manual focus - only when on a tripod if at all as I find the AF on the 1Dx very good - the Dx if you put auto ISO on (Which I do 99% of the time) tries to get the shutter speed to at least 1/focal length if in Av mode. does mean the ISO can go pretty high at times 25600 is remarkably usable if the subject is the right one.

A friend of mine (Unfortunately he died a couple of years ago of complications during his cancer treatment) used to be able to manually focus stooping falcons - and could ID pretty much any bird when I couldn't even see it! In fact he rarely used any of the auto features of the camera- except the 1Dx he bought - but that was mostly because his eyes were giving out before another op he had so sort his vision out.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on March 05, 2019, 08:05:08 PM
This might impress anglefire:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6772805/Photographer-climbs-700ft-Welsh-mountain-snap-picture-airman-staring-camera.html

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on March 05, 2019, 10:05:42 PM
Yes that will be Cad West/East or the Bwlch (Or similar) - The UK forces are currently "banned" from flying through at the moment due to some comments by someone (Couldn't make it up!)

I've been there once - and bugger all came through - until we came down. I have meant to go back, but time has been lacking!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on October 29, 2019, 10:04:25 PM
London yesterday - left the house at 5:30am got home at 6:45pm
London today - left the house at 5:30am got home at 7:45pm
Going to london tomorrow - will leave home at 5:30am and will get back about 12:15pm as I am taking my youngest on a Uni visit to Nottingham.

All by train apart from the 10-15minute drive to the station - so I also work on the train for a couple of hours.

So, I've worked far too many hours already this week - and only get paid for 40. Not that I'm taking any holiday tomorrow.....
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on November 03, 2019, 06:47:13 PM
That is the main thing that puts me off working in London. Too much travel.
Enjoy some downtime!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on November 03, 2019, 06:48:36 PM
Totally bemused today. Took some photos on my new camera, uploaded them onto the computer and now can't find them anywhere. They seem to be saving in a different format to my other camera, and its driving me a little bit mad. (No doubt this is operator error!!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 06, 2019, 09:47:13 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on November 03, 2019, 06:47:13 PM
That is the main thing that puts me off working in London. Too much travel.
Enjoy some downtime!

Been twice this week too - Monday and today - back home 7 on Monday and 8 today. Tomorrow is Swindon - only a 90minute drive and Friday Castle Cary - about 2 1/2 hours each way. Deep Joy.

And then London Monday & Tuesday and the week after 7 days in London - but I've booked an apartment rather than hotels so at least I can relax a bit in the evening.

Hopefully after the first week of December it will be a bit quieter.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on November 15, 2020, 12:52:19 PM
My Mum had a letter from the Land Registry confirming receipt of my Dad's death certificate a few days ago. All good.

She then got two letters yesterday from them, the one was to her and was just confirming that she had asked for the transfer of ownership. Again, all good.

The second letter from them, was actually to Dad - though she never noticed until after opening it. And it was asking him to confirm the transfer. Bit difficult as he is a pile of ashes in an Urn!

Mum was going to ring them and fire in a round of F's - but I said I would do it instead to save her getting upset again!

It will probably be an automatic system, but still.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 23, 2020, 09:59:04 PM
Bloody Squirel!

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10190/normal_IMG_0722.jpg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=23929&fullsize=1)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 24, 2020, 10:23:12 AM
He`s really going for it  :2funny:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on December 26, 2020, 10:55:13 AM
Yesterday actually!

Got pinged by the Covid App to self isolate until the 29th December. Working back that is a contact date of last Friday (18th) and apart from a run up and down the motorway to the mother in laws - have been no where. The day before I worked at home and didn't go out, the day after I went to town to the shops - but saw no one for more than a few minutes and not close- and masked up anyway!

So hopefully will not be a problem!

As it happens, a couple of months ago, I know I've been in the same room as someone who had covid not long afterwards and didn't catch it (I was wearing a face visor as was he)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on December 26, 2020, 03:59:11 PM
My daughter had 3 calls on her  answer machine telling her to self isolate because of a contact and they were puzzled. then the next day they had another call saying to disregard - wrong number!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on December 26, 2020, 08:29:11 PM
Quote from: jinky on December 26, 2020, 03:59:11 PM
My daughter had 3 calls on her  answer machine telling her to self isolate because of a contact and they were puzzled. then the next day they had another call saying to disregard - wrong number!

Well what do you expect, as the person running text and trace is Dido "TalkTalk Data Breach" Harding in charge of Contact Tracing, should you be worried? I would be.  >:(

She resigned from Talk Talk and walked away with £2,000,000. Not bad for abject failure and refused to take any responsibility.  >:(

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 10, 2021, 02:03:40 PM
In a dilemna today. Just got out my Nikon stuff for the first time in over 8 months I`d say. Did a few shots to  check out shutter counts and then put everything to WEX for an estimate fore trade in. I know they`ll probably trim it a little but came out at £2400 which would more than pay for the only other Fuji lens I`d want and a better camera body than at present. very sad to see a figure of £222 against my D700 with 60,000 activations so far that knocks my Fuji into the park quality wise at every level. Trouble is it`s all a bit too heavy for me now and is useless in a cupboard. I`d like to sell it for better prices but don`t trust ebay and facebook sales other than within a local Leeds group where i`ve asked about interest. Hold on to it any longer and the bodies at least will be worthless. bear in mind that when I stopped trading and bought all this gear back from my business at the levels advised by the tax office I only paid £700 for the lot and I am quids in. What have you all doe with old gear? Do you keep it to admire and never use knowing it`s worth more than you`d get or have you got rid?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 10, 2021, 03:05:30 PM
I can relate to this Jinky.

I still have an old D300 that hasn't been touched for a long long time. I did consider selling it but at the time was going to be lucky to get about £200 for it, so I dedcided to keep it in a box in a cupboard. Gathering dust.

I still have my D800 too that I am encouraging my son to use. I have used it a few times too so won't be selling that.

I guess that second hand and a few years old try just aren't worth much. Shame as your D700 would be a great camera for someone.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 10, 2021, 03:06:34 PM
Just out of interest, what other Nikon gear are you selling?
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 10, 2021, 04:41:15 PM
More lenses than I realised I had! Nikon 24-70, Nikon 35 1:2D, Nikon 50 1:1.4D, Nikon 50 1:1.8D, Nikon 85 1:1.8D, Sigma 70-200 1:2.8 11, Sigma 2x teleconverter to go with it, Nikon AFS VR 70-300 (the better one), Nikon 16-35 f4 ED N, Sigma Macro 105 1:2.8, 2 x SB800`s and an SB600 Flash guns. Then the D700 and D80 cameras
Quite a clear out if I go for it as my wife says I should!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 10, 2021, 07:49:36 PM
I still have my 350D - not been used that I can think of for about 8years.
I did px my 1dMk3 when I bought the 1Dxmk3 last year - almost cried at the amount I got for it - a few hundred :(
I have kept my 1Dx - but that's only been used once or twice in the last 9months or so - but I want to keep it as second body.
I do have a EFs-60mm f2.8 macro lens - which is stunning - which I aught to sell. Probably worth a reasonable amount.
Apathy. Time. You name it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 11, 2021, 10:07:43 AM
I've still got my Nikon D200 and still use it now and again. If I sold it I'd be lucky to get fifty pounds. It been used in very heavy rain on many occasions and never had a problem. I gave my D70 away with the 18-70mm lens. If you can get a D200 just do it as you can use in any weather conditions.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 12, 2021, 07:58:08 AM
Impressive line up of kit there Jinky. Good lick with whatever  you choose to do with it all.
It seems that we struggle to part with older kit, well I certainly do.
Not so much sentimental. But maybe a little, but more the fact that it is just not worth much.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on February 12, 2021, 09:40:43 PM
Quote from: Jediboy on February 12, 2021, 07:58:08 AM
Impressive line up of kit there Jinky. Good lick with whatever  you choose to do with it all.
It seems that we struggle to part with older kit, well I certainly do.
Not so much sentimental. But maybe a little, but more the fact that it is just not worth much.

I think he want to flog it not lick it?  :hehe:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Jediboy on February 12, 2021, 10:45:32 PM
You say that Oldboy, but have you ever licked your kit? It's really delicious.
Don't knock it till you've tried it!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 13, 2021, 11:30:23 AM
Taking a shot of a sparrow through the patio window and not bothering with noise reduction because it was pretty clean - even though it was shot at ISO8000!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 13, 2021, 12:41:27 PM
This one.

(https://www.mark.colston-online.co.uk/Garden%20and%20Local%20Walks/slides/IMG_2288.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 15, 2021, 05:27:38 PM
How is it that I can find the original boxes for every bit of Nikon gear  I  bought new but seem to have misplaced all the boxes for my Fuji gear bought a year ago. End of a Nikon era for me. All boxed up and ready to go to Wex for final assessment and payment. Based on my descriptions they are willing to pay me £2450 for gear worth much more but having found little interest with ready cash at the local level I`m cutting my losses. Hopefully they won`t knock too much more off it or I`ll be asking them to send it all back. Decided to go for cash rather than trade in against lenses I can now live without given what I do with my photography these days. Just a little bit worried about all this gear going with a parcel Force courier but Wex assure me it is insured so I have to trust them. I`ll let you know how I get on but better that sort of money to me than it lie in a cupboard for years unused I guess. On the plus side I claimed the costs of it all when I set up in my wedding photography and had it offset against my profits and then I paid peanuts to buy it back for personal use at the end of my part time brief career so really I have to tell myself that i am in profit!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 15, 2021, 10:14:04 PM
When I PX'd my 70-200F4 L lens in for a 70-200F2.8L IS at WEX - I got top dollar for it - in fact it "cost" me about £70. To be fair the price of Canon gear did go up by a factor of about 2x one year so that "helped"
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 16, 2021, 06:52:51 AM
Quote from: anglefire on February 15, 2021, 10:14:04 PM
When I PX'd my 70-200F4 L lens in for a 70-200F2.8L IS at WEX - I got top dollar for it - in fact it "cost" me about £70. To be fair the price of Canon gear did go up by a factor of about 2x one year so that "helped"

Yes I`ve been lucky once or twice when lenses went up. I sold a flashgun last year for more than it cost me somehow to a local guy desperate to have it too. I think the problem now is that mirrorless cameras are driving DSLR prices down. In many ways I`m left with a kit now that is not as good  as what I`m selling but for 98% of what I shoot it`s enough.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on February 16, 2021, 08:13:45 AM
A friend of mine has gone the Fuji route from being a Canon gal - one reason being the gear was getting too heavy and she has retired from professional photography as well as Canon sunnyside up her off when they wouldn't do anything when a battery in her camera went bad. Blamed her for incorrect use and getting the body wet. Which was bull.
I've benefited though as I bought her 300mm f2.8L at a reasonable price - and more importantly with known provenance!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on February 16, 2021, 09:27:12 AM
Yes Fuji for me too and I love it. Stopped shooting raw in all but really challenging lighting situations as I just love the jpeg recipes I`ve tweaked straight out of camera. Spend next to no time editing these days
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on June 15, 2021, 04:29:51 PM
Bemused is a little strong but a friend of my wife`s asked me to judge their village photo competition on the theme of "Our Village". Got the first 14 or so photos sent to me (all ahead of the supposed start date of the comp but never mind and it makes me appreciate how much work people put into meeting the theme on here for our comps. I`ve a whole series (from schoolkids ) of mainly blurry pics of trees and plants and three of a group of sheep in varying weather conditions with questionable white balance. I knew it was a mistake to agree to "judge " them. The first that seems to show  village life  would seem to have the best chance!  :D
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on June 15, 2021, 09:48:02 PM
Quote from: jinky on June 15, 2021, 04:29:51 PM
Bemused is a little strong but a friend of my wife`s asked me to judge their village photo competition on the theme of "Our Village".   :D

You're on a hiding to nothing, as no matter who you choose, everyone else will think you are blind to not see that there effort was the best, even if it is out of focus and doesn't fit the theme.  :wtf:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on June 19, 2021, 06:49:20 PM
Went to Wollaton Hall and Deer park this morning - spotted a deer in the woods - fenced off as its a preservation area - and saw a young Deer - snapped a few off - then realised I'd left the camera set on 1/1000" - and was a bit dark. So the camera hit ISO51200. And is remarkable ok after a bit of noise reduction in LR.

(https://www.mark.colston-online.co.uk/Days%20Out/Wollaston%20Park/slides/IMG_3536.jpg)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on August 13, 2021, 01:03:50 AM
Not a bad shot after all.  :tup:

Some times you read a article's title and wonder why you didn't think of that?

'Layer Hall effect in a 2D topological axion antiferromagnet'

It means better batteries.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 13, 2021, 08:28:58 AM
More yesterday (Again!)

Went to site where they like you to have a lateral flow test at least once a week - but the two a week I do at home aren't good enough - and they don't do them on a Friday which is my usual site day. But I had to go in yesterday briefly for a job I'm involved in.

So did the job and then the test place was open so popped in and had a test. They took all the details and the chap entered it on his phone - dunno why I have an account and it would have taken me about 2 seconds. Anyway.

Walked out and was going back to collect my bits and bobs to have my daughter ring to say that she had been advised by her work to get a PCR because she has a cold - but she doesn't have any of the official symptoms but after a call to 119 got one arranged.

Which means we have to isolate - at least until Monday when the rules change when we don't as we have been double jabbed (So has the one daughter BTW - the other one is due her second next Saturday - which could be an issue.....)

And yesterday I had the results of my antibody test to say I haven't had covid (Or not the last 6 months anyway!)

Typical!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on August 13, 2021, 08:33:37 PM
And the test was negative - so she has gone to work this afternoon on the late shift rather than the planned night shift that she was due on last night and tonight.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: StephenBatey on January 04, 2022, 04:03:08 PM
Went shopping and bought some Persil (amongst other things). It's a washing detergent, in case you don't know, and carries the slogan "Dirt Is Good" which seems to me to be counter intuitive on a cleaning product.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 05, 2022, 12:16:21 AM
Quote from: StephenBatey on January 04, 2022, 04:03:08 PM
Went shopping and bought some Persil (amongst other things). It's a washing detergent, in case you don't know, and carries the slogan "Dirt Is Good" which seems to me to be counter intuitive on a cleaning product.

Not really if you think about it. If there was no dirt then you wouldn't buy the product so, for them, dirt is good.  :)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 05, 2022, 03:16:07 PM
Finally went to the gym physio I should have gone to months ago. Been struggling with a torn calf muscle since late August that i rest and then seems to go tight or tear again after a week or two of working ok. After waiting 2 days for the promised GP "ring back within the hour" they referred me to physio but said it could be 8-10 weeks before I hear anything and then it would be physio by phone initially! Decided on a member discounted private session where I go for a swim. Guy stood me up and without asking my history asked if I had had problems with big toe bones.Dr told me I had gout a couple of times I said a few months back - "No, you`ve got fallen arches and arthritis in both big toe joints. Any professional should see that". Have you had problems with achilles heel and knee in the same leg. "Yes tore my achilles a year back but it settled down and no anterior cruciate ligament in my knee". Turns out my achilles is twice as thick as it should be and not stretching thus the calf is tearing everytime I put stress on it. he found 5 different tears in my calf and a couple of bits of healed scar tissue with a very painful sports massage. So it`s light exercise fort 6 weeks, weekly sports massage and two lots of exercises 4 times a day. Now how would an NHS physio find that in a telephone call / assessment? Should have gone there months ago as it`s n too expensive and I get back half of what I pay through a hospital fund scheme I`m in.
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 05, 2022, 06:58:09 PM
It's great when you go to a doctor who knows his subject inside out. Hopefully he will give you the correct treatment and, you will be better than you have been for years.  :tup:
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: jinky on January 05, 2022, 10:28:54 PM
Quote from: Oldboy on January 05, 2022, 06:58:09 PM
It's great when you go to a doctor who knows his subject inside out. Hopefully he will give you the correct treatment and, you will be better than you have been for years.  :tup:

Yes in this case though it was a physio. He works with Leeds Rhinos and Otley RC and couldn`t believe that I`d been getting physio by phone for another issue!
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Hinfrance on January 06, 2022, 08:17:40 AM
Glad to hear you've got a treatment plan in place. Good luck. :tup:

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 06, 2022, 05:17:31 PM
Firstly, good to hear you are getting sorted out Jinky - easy to be critical of yourself in hindsight!

What has bemused me today (Well sort of today) - Had solar panels and battery storage installed just before Christmas - and its been one of the worst December months for photon capture for at least 10 years (According to a friend of mine who has had his for that time!)
Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: Oldboy on January 11, 2023, 03:32:10 PM
My brother sent me the photo below from his phone.

(https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10149/normal_Big_Birds.jpeg) (https://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=24477&fullsize=1)

Title: Re: What bemused you today?
Post by: anglefire on January 14, 2023, 08:56:27 AM
Quote from: anglefire on January 06, 2022, 05:17:31 PM
Firstly, good to hear you are getting sorted out Jinky - easy to be critical of yourself in hindsight!

What has bemused me today (Well sort of today) - Had solar panels and battery storage installed just before Christmas - and its been one of the worst December months for photon capture for at least 10 years (According to a friend of mine who has had his for that time!)

Well by bill was halved last year - so not bemused.