See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-2663286 .
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| http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73667000/jpg/_73667988_73667987.jpg |
Tuesday 18 March 2014
Fake coins
Apparently 3% of pound coins in circulation are fakes i.e. forgeries. Next year (2017) a new 12-sided 1 pound coin is to be introduced to all but eliminate fakes. Not sure if the 2 pound coin is being replaced too?
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-2663286 .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-2663286 .
Junk mail
Don't know about you, but I am fed up with junk mail that typically is around 50-80% of the post we get nowadays. I know this is how the Royal Mail bolsters its profits, but what a waste!
In our case it goes straight into the recycling bin and does not even get opened often. If the post was properly nationalised they would not need to deliver this crap. It saddens me to think jobs depend on the delivery of such rubbish. Better these people were employed in something productive actually adding real value to things. This is the sort of work that really adds no value to the lives of decent people. Such worthless work cannot continue for too long into the future. In time all work will add real value.
Although signed up to the Telephone Preference Service it does not seem to stop calls starting in the UK but coming in via foreign numbers. Overall I still think it is a "good idea".
In our case it goes straight into the recycling bin and does not even get opened often. If the post was properly nationalised they would not need to deliver this crap. It saddens me to think jobs depend on the delivery of such rubbish. Better these people were employed in something productive actually adding real value to things. This is the sort of work that really adds no value to the lives of decent people. Such worthless work cannot continue for too long into the future. In time all work will add real value.
Although signed up to the Telephone Preference Service it does not seem to stop calls starting in the UK but coming in via foreign numbers. Overall I still think it is a "good idea".
10m Antenna Effectiveness
One of my hobbies is amateur radio.
Comparing my 10m (28MHz) signals with those of others, I suspect my antenna may be down in effectiveness compared with better optimised systems. My 2W is equivalent to 200mW from the better equipped stations. When fitter (my darn stroke) I may try changing the 10m antenna for something better. A vertical 1/2 wave would be less directional on transmit but might be noisier on receive.
At the present time, my poor state of health is preventing me doing too much outdoors. For example, climbing a ladder is quite out of the question, so I have to live with the antennas I have.
Comparing my 10m (28MHz) signals with those of others, I suspect my antenna may be down in effectiveness compared with better optimised systems. My 2W is equivalent to 200mW from the better equipped stations. When fitter (my darn stroke) I may try changing the 10m antenna for something better. A vertical 1/2 wave would be less directional on transmit but might be noisier on receive.
At the present time, my poor state of health is preventing me doing too much outdoors. For example, climbing a ladder is quite out of the question, so I have to live with the antennas I have.
Bored with routine (stroke)
I am tied to my liquid feed for 7.25hrs a day: food fed directly into my stomach through what they call a peg feed. Luckily I can disconnect this if we go out for a walk but I am in my chair most of the day. Although I now also eat food and drinks by mouth, these don't always go down too well. I am still trying to work out what affects this. Breakfast Weetabix and banana are the best and easiest to eat, maybe because I am less tired?
To be honest, my stroke is getting me down: same routine, still unable to be free of the peg feed and still feeling so giddy and exhausted after the smallest amount of physical exertion - it gets me down. I battle on in the hope of better times ahead.
Normality seems a distant dream: I long to do the things I used to do and to be able to eat and drink as I was once able to.
To be honest, my stroke is getting me down: same routine, still unable to be free of the peg feed and still feeling so giddy and exhausted after the smallest amount of physical exertion - it gets me down. I battle on in the hope of better times ahead.
Normality seems a distant dream: I long to do the things I used to do and to be able to eat and drink as I was once able to.
Monday 17 March 2014
Crimea - Russian?
Until 1954 it WAS part of Russia until the then Russian leader "gave" it to Ukraine, then part of the USSR. Since then it has had special status, is filled with mainly Russian speakers, and is home to the Russian Mediterranean fleet. In many ways it still seems like part of mother Russia.
Why not let Crimea rejoin Russia if that is what its people want?
The case of mainly eastern Ukrainian states is more difficult, but I feel even these should go to Russia if its occupants want this. A western looking Ukraine, mainly Ukrainian speaking, may well be smaller than the nation is currently.
The Ukraine should NOT be an excuse for a new Cold War or even WW3. We sleep-walked into WW1 remember. The Russians are being portrayed as the bullies here and this is not the full truth.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine .
Some Ukrainians have long memories of Soviet domination and starvation back in the bad days of the 1920's. It is easy to see why Ukraine has little trust in Russia today. Russia needs to act in a statesman like way here and not be seen as a big, ignorant bully.
Mercury - planet
According to the latest NASA mission Mercury is shrinking as it continues to cool. There are active chemicals on the surface and ice in craters at the poles.Altogether,this planet nearest our sun, is more interesting than once thought.
Sunday 16 March 2014
Pauline's Swamp - Burwell
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| Pauline's Swamp - Burwell |
See http://www.torrens.org.uk/NatHist/PAWL/Burwell/swamp.html .
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