tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.comments2024-03-08T09:51:10.142+00:00Broad Oak MagazineUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9639125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-17287548074949704692024-02-24T02:48:34.133+00:002024-02-24T02:48:34.133+00:00I have problems with my own self hosted blog. Inte...I have problems with my own self hosted blog. Internet protocols have changed. One day everything was fine the next day my blog puts up alerts on some platforms (including my own) that it is a dangerous place to visit.<br /><br />In addition to that the latest microsoft update on my computer has stopped me clicking on links in legitimate emails. Well it hasn't stopped me clicking on them but the links take me to a Microsoft page to log in rather than to the page I want to see!!!<br /><br />Grrr!!!CherryPiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11788084724907992076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-91320193879944664852024-02-18T19:00:21.451+00:002024-02-18T19:00:21.451+00:00JD comments:
Yes Blogger is acting oddly. In the ...JD comments:<br /><br />Yes Blogger is acting oddly. In the last couple of weeks I have found that I cannot access the comments; there is instead a message telling me to clear cache and cookies and 'help' is offered via 'my' google account. Perhaps they are not acting 'oddly' at all as I first thought. I saw a comment somewhere (I think it was on TCW) saying Google was trying to take over the internet. Needing a google account to read comments sounds like an attempt to do just that.They have already scewed up YouTube with a complete absence of recommendations on the home page, but not yet on the actual video page, they still have recommendations in the right hand side bar.<br /><br />And there is also the mess that is now Google maps. It is plastered with adverts which leap out as you move the cursor across. In some places it is almost impossible to see the map itself.<br /><br />Why? It's Hutber's Law, that's why!" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutber%27s_lawSackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-90504778966286333282024-01-01T02:14:31.882+00:002024-01-01T02:14:31.882+00:00Always fun to watch.
Happy New Year to you and ev...Always fun to watch.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you and everyone who follows 'Broad Oak Magazine'.CherryPiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11788084724907992076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-19505529370673450052023-12-18T02:22:41.968+00:002023-12-18T02:22:41.968+00:00Who could resist trying a wine with such an intere...Who could resist trying a wine with such an interesting name :-)<br /><br />Hencote which is local to us produces a lovely Rose (non sparkling) wine. Sadly it is not available in their shop.CherryPiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11788084724907992076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-1971179265599134352023-11-16T15:01:33.348+00:002023-11-16T15:01:33.348+00:00Yes. 'It can't happen here,' as the Mo...Yes. 'It can't happen here,' as the Mothers of Invention sang ironically.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-20722436060743182652023-11-16T07:15:17.447+00:002023-11-16T07:15:17.447+00:00@W:I suppose I shouldn't mention the Scots Nat...@W:I suppose I shouldn't mention the Scots Nats?Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-17341953659134179992023-11-15T23:11:54.695+00:002023-11-15T23:11:54.695+00:00British values are like water to a fish. We are un...British values are like water to a fish. We are unaware of them as they surround us until they are gone; then we perish.Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820269114208456064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-66757070206866687632023-11-15T23:09:55.186+00:002023-11-15T23:09:55.186+00:00It's not just the Catalans (although they are ...It's not just the Catalans (although they are the worst), Spain is littered with regions eager to assert their independence without a hope of ever making it economically viable. All cheered on by the meddling EU of course. My wife (who is Spanish, if you remember) is certain that this is simply because they are painfully thick.<br /><br />Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820269114208456064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-42646370267491794812023-11-10T12:16:44.986+00:002023-11-10T12:16:44.986+00:00That really is an essay that would score A* at A-l...That really is an essay that would score A* at A-level, and be perfectly passable for a first-year undergraduate. As Sackers says, it offers a great list of starting-points. <br /><br />I reckon there's many a competent historian that wouldn't come up with all 8 of those headings in twenty seconds - even if they would given twenty minutes or so.<br /><br />Of course, it doesn't answer the question ...Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-52153043746869274762023-11-09T16:21:35.777+00:002023-11-09T16:21:35.777+00:00@Sackerson - the Tsar threw out many serfs, includ...@Sackerson - the Tsar threw out many serfs, including lots of Jews, and the Germans were thrown out of the cottages that they had lived in for generations. The Germans built Akron, Milwaukee and many other places, and also brought some extreme Christian practices with them.<br /><br />From every account that I have read, the reigns of the Tsars were worse than Stalin later. The descriptions remind me of modern-day Saudi Arabia, where the populace is controlled by the religious police.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-10285020680857268362023-11-09T07:38:46.463+00:002023-11-09T07:38:46.463+00:00Please say more.Please say more.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-16734762582818758292023-11-07T16:55:18.267+00:002023-11-07T16:55:18.267+00:00@P - the mass migration of Russian Jews and German...@P - the mass migration of Russian Jews and Germans to the US was the direct result of the mechanization of farms in Europe. The revolutions were happening regardless.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-20273047135763431782023-11-07T06:07:50.816+00:002023-11-07T06:07:50.816+00:00@P: '...a large part of WWI was the collapse o...@P: '...a large part of WWI was the collapse of the great empires and the serfdom in them./ A price worth paying? Including revolutionary Communism in many countries?<br /><br />In Britaim we were evolving towards a welfare state anyway, and would have been able to do much more if war had not pretty much bankrupted us. We ended up doing it thirty years later but on the ruins of a country.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-45252532829570291982023-11-07T00:40:24.275+00:002023-11-07T00:40:24.275+00:00Three quick thoughts:
What would stop Japan from ...Three quick thoughts:<br /><br />What would stop Japan from trying to take over the Far East?<br /><br />As for Russia, I suspect that was a lost cause.<br /><br />From my limited perspective, a large part of WWI was the collapse of the great empires and the serfdom in them.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-45188340886072812772023-11-06T19:38:47.094+00:002023-11-06T19:38:47.094+00:00Yes, unreliable but offers good starting-points.Yes, unreliable but offers good starting-points.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-16199952675967203832023-11-06T15:48:12.586+00:002023-11-06T15:48:12.586+00:00There is nothing there that a human couldn't p...There is nothing there that a human couldn't put together but it is impressive how quickly ChatGPT can respond to a request like this with something concise and worth reading, at least as an introductory speculation. <br /><br />I've come across untrue claims made by AI systems, but it is still impressive technology. It is no surprise that many people are uneasy about it becoming even more impressive. A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-73981317807177697592023-10-29T20:39:29.394+00:002023-10-29T20:39:29.394+00:00In my 45 years in the US, I noticed that most peop...In my 45 years in the US, I noticed that most people do not actually listen to conversations. Rather, they listen to a single thing and begin their response.<br /><br />It's one of the reasons why puns are and double entendres are not popular.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-76099550055413943632023-10-25T11:36:29.699+01:002023-10-25T11:36:29.699+01:00Funny how the US supports (1) and opposes (2) when...Funny how the US supports (1) and opposes (2) when their atrocious behaviour is so similar. Now Biden wants $105 billion to continue the fun.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-30593335394286072332023-10-25T03:37:21.038+01:002023-10-25T03:37:21.038+01:00Hi Sack
Who are the Both and the Niether fighers?...Hi Sack<br /><br />Who are the Both and the Niether fighers? Never heard of them.Jim in San Marcoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435296419912935381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-65061298551507854672023-08-28T16:19:21.792+01:002023-08-28T16:19:21.792+01:00Pretty much the same thing, since the models are n...Pretty much the same thing, since the models are never exact.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-74079012306315801022023-08-28T09:59:40.947+01:002023-08-28T09:59:40.947+01:00Modelled.Modelled.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-24183521729012007392023-08-27T17:30:11.871+01:002023-08-27T17:30:11.871+01:00And guess what?
If you look at the climate scienc...And guess what?<br /><br />If you look at the climate science scientific literature, all of these causes, and the sizes of their effects, are approximated.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-86725097768807032172023-08-14T18:45:49.798+01:002023-08-14T18:45:49.798+01:00[a] wood pellets produce as much CO2 as coal.
Mo...[a] <i>wood pellets produce as much CO2 as coal. </i><br /><br />More, actually, per unit of electricity produce. And more than twice as much as gas (methane) - which is the relevant comparator in the UK, because here it would without doubt have been gas that would have been used if (heavily-subsidised) Drax et al hadn't been generating. The whole Drax thing is outrageous.<br /><br />[b] <i>Some say it also produces more airborne toxins as well</i><br /><br />It certainly does but, to be fair, Drax at least has fixed this by removing most of the particulates from their emissions<br /><br />The <b>tidal</b> thing is interesting, since the attractions seem so great & obvious. But ...<br /><br />As regards tidal barrages / lagoons & the like (utilising the range of tidal rise and fall), at the end of the day it's a combination of physics & geography. However much denser water is than air, the flow rates are still very slow indeed - power in any flow-based system is proportional to the cube of the speed of whatever is flowing through it - and you just can't use very long turbine blades to compensate. So you end up needing expensive, highly-geared turbines (prone to sea water degradation), and you get very peaky output - a world away from nice, even electricity production. And there are very few places in the world (the UK has most of them) with really good tidal ranges. And there's no real opportunity for great tech breakthroughs, or economies of scale: because the technology is already simple, but all the installations would need to be customized to the precise locational features. Then there's the silt ... and the impact on the local flora & fauna & other environmental aspects...<br /><br />In theory, tidal or just uni-directional undersea current systems could overcome at least the peakiness and some of the environmental problems. But the flows are still slow, and salt water still corrodes. <br /><br />(Some of the above comes from the helpful responses to a call I made on C@W readers to resolve my own puzzlement on tidal - http://www.cityunslicker.co.uk/2023/02/tidal-truths.html )<br /><br />Incidentally, whatever the physics-textbook aspects, in terms of hard empirical experience no bugger has managed to make tidal work despite well over a decade of trying around coastal Wales - the most propitious location on the planet - with several different designs being tried, & loads of £££ being spent, both private and public Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-29463158322310573212023-08-10T17:04:47.420+01:002023-08-10T17:04:47.420+01:00It is soon going to get a lot worse, with places l...It is soon going to get a lot worse, with places like Texas and Florida rewriting the school curriculum to produce fake history and science.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-64420458602469661802023-08-07T10:38:58.050+01:002023-08-07T10:38:58.050+01:00'JD' comments:
"If you drive a car, ...'JD' comments:<br /><br />"If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,<br />If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet."<br />https://www.thebeatles.com/taxman<br /><br />Khan heard George Harrison's song and thought 'what a good idea!'<br /><br />Part one is now in progress; time for the second part?Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.com