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Messages - shaolin_monkey

#856
General / Re: Things that went over your head...
02 October, 2019, 10:37:48 AM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 02 October, 2019, 10:31:35 AM
I thought the Rule of thumb was about the size of stick that could be used for a beating or servants... no thicker than your thumb.

"The 'rule of thumb' has been said to derive from the belief that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it is was no thicker than his thumb.

In 1782, Judge Sir Francis Buller is reported as having made this legal ruling and in the following year James Gillray published a satirical cartoon attacking Buller and caricaturing him as 'Judge Thumb'. The cartoon shows a man beating a fleeing woman and Buller carrying two bundles of sticks. The caption reads "thumbsticks - for family correction: warranted lawful!""


https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/rule-of-thumb.html

#857
Film & TV / Re: Star Wars Episode IX
01 October, 2019, 12:16:12 PM
Quote from: radiator on 30 September, 2019, 06:30:39 PM

The flashbacks were certainly very odd given that the storytelling in SW has always been very linear - and it's weird that Johnson couldn't come up with a better solution to convey that information.

I actually really liked that part - very Rashomon-esque, and harks back to Lucas's own Kurosawa influence.
#858
General / Re: Things that went over your head...
30 September, 2019, 11:46:43 PM
I got caught out a few years back when describing how a Prince Albert is pierced, by commenting the needle goes in under your helmet and comes out your japs eye. My usual self censorship completely missed that one, but was thankfully highlighted by a member (excuse the pun) of my group instantaneously. It's crazy what vocabulary flies under your own radar sometimes!

The correct term non-racist term is 'urethral orifice'. But all the same, be wary of using it around people who are squeamish of needles and body modifications.
#859
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
28 September, 2019, 12:13:12 PM
So, as I said, I have been very much against nuclear, particularly due to the Fukushima, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Windscale accidents. 

However, the actual mortality rate of this power source is surprisingly low, accidents included, compared to other energy sources. Naturally, the mortality rate for coal tops the list — more here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/


Here's the link to the salt reactor I mentioned. Note it is set out by a company affiliated with the nuclear industry, so bias is assumed.  Interesting, nonetheless:

https://www.moltexenergy.com/stablesaltreactors/


Check out the exec summary on this document (page 15 onwards) which discusses integrating nuclear with renewables to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, and with the targets of the Paris summit in mind.  However, bear in in this document was produced by the nuclear energy industry, so bias is assumed:

http://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/pubs/2019/7299-system-costs.pdf?utm_source=mnb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pressrelease



#860
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
28 September, 2019, 11:57:18 AM
Someone earlier mentioned nuclear, and that one of the issues is the half-life of the nuclear waste.  Interestingly, CO2 in the atmosphere isn't removed from the atmosphere for many thousands of years longer than the half life of nuclear waste, so the argument is that in terms of time and damage to the planet, nuclear is still far superior than fossil fuels for our energy.  I'll see if I can find the article where this was discussed.

I've always been against nuclear as a go to for fossil fuel replacement, but in the short term it may well bolster our y demand while we wean ourselves off fossil fuels and on to renewables.   I've been chatting to a couple of nuclear physicists on Twitter, and all of them have advocated a new type of salt reactor the mechanism of which can avoid meltdowns and similar accidents altogether. One off them supplied me some reading materials on it.  I'll see I can dig them out.

Either way, energy derived fro the burning of oil, regardless of source,  should be completely off the table.
#861
Suggestions / Re: ‘Vote Dave’ tshirt please!
28 September, 2019, 11:43:55 AM
Hurrah! Both of mine arrived okay too!
#862
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
27 September, 2019, 12:38:59 PM
I checked out those podcasts you posted earlier Sharky, and they are excellent, although I'm only halfway through the renewable energy one. However, the facts about how much the cost of creating solar panels has dropped is staggering!

I'm other news, I got my certificate in the science and global impact of climate change - 96%! Pleased with that, though the errors that cost me 100% were idiotic. Me not paying attention to the phrasing basically.

#863
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
24 September, 2019, 05:11:46 PM
That complaint those 15 kids are putting in against five countries:

https://childrenvsclimatecrisis.org/
#864
Off Topic / Re: The Political Thread
24 September, 2019, 03:53:29 PM
Really? I thought it was Trump that was slight of hand?












I'll get my coat.
#865
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
24 September, 2019, 02:52:02 PM
All the emotions yesterday. First Greta's address to the UN Climate Summit attendees, then this.



(GIF may take a sec to load)
#866
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
24 September, 2019, 12:30:46 PM
Great to see Michael E Mann pop up there - thanks Sharky! You need to follow him on Twitter and FB. He's a goddam living legend.

Check out his book too - total eye-opener.

Sample here:

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Madhouse_Effect.html?id=LFVxDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y
#867
Off Topic / Re: It's a bit warm/ wet/ cold outside
23 September, 2019, 08:44:26 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 23 September, 2019, 05:25:58 PM
Well, I'd bet whatever we'll be using for currency in 20 years time that they'll be learning that Greta Thunberg UN Climate Action speech in hedge school.  Watching it felt like witnessing a key moment in history, maybe the very last key moment, with no knowledge of the outcome. Deeply affecting.

I'll accept many criticisms of the specific manifesto(s) of the movement, and caveats about the dangers and abuses of figureheads, but I will happily fight anyone who puts that young woman down. And the bunch of patronising feckers in attendance got exactly what they deserved. This isn't funny. This isn't aspirational. This isn't even manageable. We have to change everything. Now.




I 100% agree. To see the normally calm, thoughtful, logical and considered Greta get so angry, with frustration and desperation, made me want to weep.

#868
Film & TV / Re: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
23 September, 2019, 02:42:31 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 23 September, 2019, 12:21:38 PM
(Today: V, IV, VI, VIII, I, Solo, VII, R1, CW, III, II)[/size]

What, no 'Battle for Endor' or 'Caravan of Courage'? 
#869
Suggestions / Re: ‘Vote Dave’ tshirt please!
23 September, 2019, 08:49:18 AM
Any idea when these are being posted?

Has anyone had theirs yet?
#870
Off Topic / Re: Friday chat - what's happening with you?
22 September, 2019, 01:35:15 PM
Keep at it! You've probably just hit a plateau for the moment. Happens to us all. You'll get there!