Author Topic: what I have learned today. (Read 861289 times)

Andrij · « **Reply #975 on:** 13 March, 2016, 10:38:35 pm »

red marley · « **Reply #976 on:** 14 March, 2016, 07:41:51 pm »

While I knew about Zipf's law, that presentation is brilliant and well worth a watch. And what I learned today from it was the term Hapax legomenon (a Googlewhack in any given corpus of words).

Canardly · « **Reply #977 on:** 14 March, 2016, 08:34:14 pm »

Ah, we all dance to the piper's tune.

Kim · « **Reply #978 on:** 15 March, 2016, 10:02:34 pm »

That there's a territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark that's been going on since the early 80s. It sounds suspiciously like the underlying reason may be byte overflow, and they're pretty good natured about it. I draw the forum's attention to the name of the Canadian military exercise that hotted up the situation in 2004.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Island

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #979 on:** 18 March, 2016, 09:42:34 am »

That Italian vehicle number plates were sold to motor-ists via the War Wounded Association, or at least they were circa 1960. Credit due to Ham for the appropriate edition of The Observer's Book Of Automobiles (foreword by S. Moss, O.B.E.).

Jurek · « **Reply #980 on:** 23 March, 2016, 05:08:58 pm »

That self-amalgamating tape self-amalgamates immediately, on introduction to its other half.
There is no honeymoon period.
You need it get it right the first time.
Or start the job again, using new tape.

Kim · « **Reply #981 on:** 23 March, 2016, 05:39:19 pm »

Quote from: Jurek on 23 March, 2016, 05:08:58 pm

That self-amalgamating tape self-amalgamates immediately, on introduction to its other half.

Unless there's water involved, of course.

Jurek · « **Reply #982 on:** 23 March, 2016, 06:26:13 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 23 March, 2016, 05:39:19 pm

Quote from: Jurek on 23 March, 2016, 05:08:58 pm
That self-amalgamating tape self-amalgamates immediately, on introduction to its other half.

Unless there's water involved, of course.

Indeed.
I don't think I've ever used it in the water-torn environment for which it was intended.
It is far more useful for Other Things.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #983 on:** 30 March, 2016, 10:08:27 am »

That shoes thrown over telephone wires are not just an urban sport but signify gang territory. Apparently.
http://www.bristol247.com/channel/news-comment/features/investigations/will-it-ever-end-bristol

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #984 on:** 30 March, 2016, 10:53:42 am »

It used to be common outside the pikey-infested hellhole that is the second nearest pub to Larrington Towers but I think in that case was more due to the pikeys' idea of a joke.

Andrij · « **Reply #985 on:** 01 April, 2016, 12:37:13 pm »

[yesterday]

The SETI Institute organises weekly lectures, which it makes available via its website (scroll down for Lectures archive) and its YouTube channel.

If anyone needs me, I'll be busy geeking out on astronomy...

clarion · « **Reply #986 on:** 01 April, 2016, 01:42:29 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 23 March, 2016, 05:39:19 pm

Quote from: Jurek on 23 March, 2016, 05:08:58 pm
That self-amalgamating tape self-amalgamates immediately, on introduction to its other half.

Unless there's water involved, of course.

There's always water involved IME

But I did like to have a roll of 'Smalgy' handy.

Ruthie · « **Reply #987 on:** 18 April, 2016, 12:59:22 pm »

That Archbishop Desmond Tutu is an oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich.

Well I never did.

billplumtree · « **Reply #988 on:** 18 April, 2016, 01:16:51 pm »

That oblate has another meaning, apart from squashed at the poles as in oblate spheroid.

Confused me for a minute, that did.

PaulF · « **Reply #989 on:** 18 April, 2016, 01:19:49 pm »

Byrd's "Diliges Dominum" is a musical palindrome

Torslanda · « **Reply #990 on:** 18 April, 2016, 02:45:06 pm »

Quote from: Ruthie on 18 April, 2016, 12:59:22 pm

That Archbishop Desmond Tutu is an oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich.

Well I never did.

Julian's from Norwich!!!!!!?

?

Jurek · « **Reply #991 on:** 24 April, 2016, 04:53:19 pm »

Angle grinder.
Outdoors.
Rain.
Don't.
Just don't.

Tim Hall · « **Reply #992 on:** 24 April, 2016, 06:32:49 pm »

Quote from: Jurek on 24 April, 2016, 04:53:19 pm

Angle grinder.
Outdoors.
Rain.
Don't.
Just don't.

Oops. RCD?

Canardly · « **Reply #993 on:** 24 April, 2016, 06:36:23 pm »

110v? Any hair left?

Jurek · « **Reply #994 on:** 25 April, 2016, 09:52:24 am »

Quote from: Tim Hall on 24 April, 2016, 06:32:49 pm

Quote from: Jurek on 24 April, 2016, 04:53:19 pm
Angle grinder.
Outdoors.
Rain.
Don't.
Just don't.

Oops. RCD?

RCD is why I am here today

Kim · « **Reply #995 on:** 25 April, 2016, 11:59:59 am »

Quote from: Jurek on 25 April, 2016, 09:52:24 am

RCD is why I am here today

I heartily endorse this product/service.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #996 on:** 25 April, 2016, 02:22:51 pm »

I was saved by a MCB once (not its primary purpose, but it did the job) when I drilled through a stupidly-routed cable. The drill bit must have bridged the wires; it certainly tripped instantly. Mind you, with a double-insulated drill, I probably wouldn't have been shocked unless for some reason I'd grabbed the chuck.

Feanor · « **Reply #997 on:** 25 April, 2016, 05:52:13 pm »

At my former work, we had a non-rcd incident many years ago...

An offshore cabin was in the yard, for maintenance.
It was hooked up to a 3-phase electrical supply with a Commando-type plug, from a 64A supply.
It only used 2 of the phases, to feed a single-phase transformer.
This was working fine.

The person who wired up the plug had wired the 3rd phase to the earth pin.
The entire cabin was floating at 240v above ground potential, on a 64A breaker.

This went un-noticed until someone had at it with an earthed drill.
As soon as the bit got through the paint, there was an almighty BANG.

PaulF · « **Reply #998 on:** 26 April, 2016, 02:44:34 pm »

There is such a thing as a "Solar Powered Meerkat"

Our office manager has just bought one as a present for a friend

T42 · « **Reply #999 on:** 26 April, 2016, 02:59:19 pm »

You can make your own ricotta. Thinking about trying it.

Author Topic: what I have learned today. (Read 861289 times)

red marley