what I have learned today.

[Andrij]

Today I learned that I need to buy a screwdriver...

For verily I didst buy myself an Elementary Screwdriver No 1 for Christmas

https://tinkerandfix.co.uk/collections/elementary-screwdrivers

And the Lord declared that it was a Very Nice Thing Indeed.
First used in anger yesterday as I want to keep it looking nice. I may revise this policy.

[Mr Larrington]

I know of them, but wouldn't have put the two (three?) together

This ^^^^.  Since the likelihood of there being a Tour Ov France this year are almost zero I shall ask Bethany to be my amanuensis in regard to ***'s famous relatives.

Bethany (10):

Amanuensis?  U dirty fckr!  I ent doin' none ov that!  Well, not yet!

[Cudzoziemiec]

Today I learnt the word contenary. I'm using it now because I'll probably never have another opportunity.

[JennyB]

Today I learnt the word contenary. I'm using it now because I'll probably never have another opportunity.

Do tell. I tried looking it up, but only found cases where it seems a misspelling of something else (catenary, centenary,  contrary, container).

[Cudzoziemiec]

It's a portmanteau of catenary and contact. Electrified railways have a contact wire, that actually delivers the current, suspended from the catenary, but in certain cases where there isn't sufficient headroom for separate wires, the catenary also functions as the contact wire.

Where reinforced insulation cannot be provided, such as at low overbridges, a section of contact wire typically replaces the catenary. This minimises the chance of wire stranding in the event of a flashover. This cable is known as contenary.

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/ocs4rail/download/Overhead-Line-Electrification-for-Railways-4th-edition.pdf
page 53
You'll the soul of the party with language like that.

[spesh]

Or as the Bard of Harvard said, "This may prove useful to you some day, in a bizarre set of circumstances."

[De Sisti]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

[Kim]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

My brother and I once re-routed an ant trail to attempt to spell a rude word using his can of Lynx Nevada.  Unfortunately the ants got fed up and fucked off to where the Lynx wasn't before we finished.

Hair spray is also effective on ants, particularly when ignited.

[ElyDave]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

Turmeric

[Jurek]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

My brother and I once re-routed an ant trail to attempt to spell a rude word using his can of Lynx Nevada.  Unfortunately the ants got fed up and fucked off to where the Lynx wasn't before we finished.

Hair spray is also effective on ants, particularly when ignited.

Roger Moore / James Bond stylee 

[Basil]

Hair spray is also effective on ants, particularly when ignited.

  

[Mrs Pingu]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

I'm not sure why ants would be bothered by acetic & citric acid given they produce formic...

[chrisbainbridge]

I'm not sure why ants would be bothered by acetic & citric acid given they produce formic...

And formic acid has a pleasantly citrus  flavour. Ants are used by Brazilian Indians as a way of flavouring fish

[Kim]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

I'm not sure why ants would be bothered by acetic & citric acid given they produce formic...

AIUI It's about disrupting their "something interesting this way, guys" pheremone trails, rather than repelling them as you might expect to do with a mammal.  I'd expect the citrus oils are more relevant than the acid, until they evaporate.

[ElyDave]

I'm not sure why ants would be bothered by acetic & citric acid given they produce formic...

And formic acid has a pleasantly citrus  flavour. Ants are used by Brazilian Indians as a way of flavouring fish

The Cambridge Gin Company does an Ant Gin, its interesting

[chrisbainbridge]

We tried ants as a fish flavouring when visiting our son in Brazil and they did indeed have a citrus taste whilst being slightly crunchy. Weird

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Some ants are sweet, though I learnt that as a little.
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2018/09/06/these-sweet-australian-ants-are-best-honey-youve-ever-tasted

[andytheflyer]

Who knew?  He's a brilliant and innovative engineer in the motorcycle world, but I didn't know he'd also done this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUak9sqJmnM

[De Sisti]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

Turmeric

Too expensive.

[T42]

Some ants are sweet
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2018/09/06/these-sweet-australian-ants-are-best-honey-youve-ever-tasted

MrsT recounts that as a schoolgirl in Kenya she was once walking to church with others when they saw a large, repulsive bug on the path. They split up to pass either side, whereat a S. African girl just behind emitted a S. African "yeah!!", pounced on the thing and ate it.

[T42]

Meanwhile, I have learned, from the frivol columns of the Graun this morning, that Charlton Heston once played Sir Thomas Moore in a production of A Man For All Seasons that he also directed.  I'm very glad we missed it.

[ElyDave]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

Turmeric

Too expensive.

Depends where you are and where you get it from.  In-law, Leicester, Belgrave Gate etc

[rafletcher]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

Turmeric

Too expensive.

http://www.asiansupermart.co.uk/turmeric-powder

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

It's Thursday.

[De Sisti]

If you have a problem with ants in your house and you've run out of ant powder,
try some Milton Sterilising Fluid. I'm having some success using it from a spray
bottle.


Online suggestions of white vinegar or lemon juice didn't appear to work for me.

Turmeric

Too expensive.

Depends where you are and where you get it from.  In-law, Leicester, Belgrave Gate etc

Ok, what's the price?