Supermarket Logs

We have three supermarkets next to each other who sell logs within easy distance.  namely ALDI, B&M, and Tesco.  I decided to compare their offering for firewood and do a practical test.

Our Log burner

 

We decided to keep our multi fuel stove for another year and run it on logs.We have been running it on smokless fuel up until now.

Music Balance

We were listening to Boom Radio this morning but we finally had to turn it off.  All we could hear was the rhythm tracks.  The vocals were completely swamped.  Now this is on recordings we had heard many times before so we know how they are supposed to sound.  

I guess the problem is that the DJ, or whoever controls the sound has set his "balance" or "pan" control way off centre.  Accidents happen, but not checking what is being broadcast is just a case of NGAS (Not Giving A Shit).

The US Election

Americans were voting as started to write this.  

Coincidentally this was the day in the UK where we traditionally burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.  The bonfire is usually accompanied by fireworks.

In America, folk who try to overturn an election and march on the Capitol, get invited to stand at the next election. In the UK, Guy Fawkes was hung.

I thought there might be fireworks in the UK and the USA over the next few days.

Which Magazine

I have just cancelled my Which subscription.  I have been a member for around five years,  and have found their reviews fairly useful but they tended to be aimed at higher end products than the ones I buy. (For example:- best buy toaster £77.99) I would probably still be a member if not for the recent episode.

The Future of Artificial Intelligence

The Logical Destiny of AI

Let’s do a little extrapolating from the present to the next few hundred years based on developments over the last few years.

The Exam Results

When I took my GCE “A” levels, a little over 50 years ago I got two B’s and a C. These were good marks. Only the top 1% of candidates got an A, and three or more A’s were very rare. Most Universities required C’s and D’s as entrance requirements with only a few went as high as Bs.

Today (10th August 2021) it was announced that around 45% of students got an A or A* grade.

We must have been really dim back then!

Anyway I wrote this little story about where we might be in 2045 if the grade inflation continues unchecked

The Pooper scooper

Life in a low tax economy

The governments of all colours in the UK seem intent on pursuing or claiming to pursue a low tax economy.So in an ultra low tax economy (as we may have in 2045) how would the central government and the ruling classes manage to maintain their income?
The idea for this little story came from a comment from Terry Wogan –
“the villagers only source of income was taking in each others washing!”

The Ambassador

Truth and Bluff

(Negotiations from a position of weakness)

In recent years I have noticed how political posturing, spin
bias and fake news used to further the ambitions of
those in power have more effect on outcomes than
truth and logic.
What is true and what is bluff?

The Earth in Perspective

Our planet

Usually when the statistics of the earth are described, diagrams are used. Somewhere in the description is the disclaimer “Not to scale”. There is a reason for this, it’s almost impossible to show the relative dimensions on a paper diagram.

Climate - Hitting the Fan

We were warned

“Enjoy life while you can. Because if you’re lucky it’s going to be 20 years before it hits the fan.”

James Ephraim Lovelock CH CBE FRS (26 July 1919 – 26 July 2022)

Open Mic Etiquette

Not be a minute. I’ll just tune up.

Can I have the music stand please. It’s a bit low for me, can you raise it please?

Now what will I sing? I Oh I know. It’s in my book here. Now let me find it. Sorry about this I had it a few minutes ago.

Right, here we go (Strums a chord) Hang on that’s in a different tuning, not be a minute. Has anyone a tuner I could borrow?

(Spends two minutes tuning his guitar)