A random thread for small things that don't really warrant a thread of their own

[orienteer]

There is a similar situation for car occupants, which I doubt many are aware of. If an airbag goes off while a driver or passenger is wearing an identity tag, very serious chest injuries are likely to result.

[Jasmine]

I assume cycling instructors buy bar-end plugs in bulk, like IT teachers did with mouse balls before female meece became standard.

Commissaires at youth races often do. Riders aren't allowed to race (or ride in BC coaching sessions) without bar end plugs. 

There is a similar situation for car occupants, which I doubt many are aware of. If an airbag goes off while a driver or passenger is wearing an identity tag, very serious chest injuries are likely to result.

This makes our workplace Health & Safety circular every few months to remind people to take their ID passes off when getting in a pool car (presumably no one gives a crap if you hurt yourself in your own car). Personally, I always take mine off as soon as I leave the building so that people I don't know can't either read my name off the tag, or even see who I work for.

[Cudzoziemiec]

There is a similar situation for car occupants, which I doubt many are aware of. If an airbag goes off while a driver or passenger is wearing an identity tag, very serious chest injuries are likely to result.

This makes our workplace Health & Safety circular every few months to remind people to take their ID passes off when getting in a pool car (presumably no one gives a crap if you hurt yourself in your own car).

Can't help thinking they'd get better compliance if they explained the reason. And maybe it would be worth including in the Highway Code and car handbooks and making something driving instructors tell you.

Personally, I always take mine off as soon as I leave the building so that people I don't know can't either read my name off the tag, or even see who I work for.

I always think it's a bit weird when people walk along the street with their name etc on display. I suppose it's just part of 21st century life though, like shouting into a little bit of wire round your neck.

[Ham]

In a meeting today, I was contemplating a scene that must have happened around 25 years ago, somewhere in Ireland (this was playing in my head in a broad Irish brogue):

"Oh yes, he's a bonny baby"
  "To be sure, he is"
"What are we going to call him?"
  "That's a complicated  question. We could try Patrick"
"Bejeezus no, he'll get called Paddy, and they'll think he's thick"
  "Well there must be something we can call him?"
"Well, what's our family name?"
  "that'll be O'Brien"
"Then let's call him Brian!"
   "That's a foin idea to be sure"

[arabella]

Spelt Bryan, surely?

[Ham]

Spelt Bryan, surely?

No.

I refrained from asking if he had a middle initial B ( which would stand for, Boaty? )

[bludger]

The good bike feels really heavy to pedal now. Looking at strava, it's done about 10,500 kms since I bought it, which has included a fair bit of riding on crap roads, off-road (including some cross) and so on. Am I going mad in thinking the BB might need to go? It's an rs500 hollowtech 2. Maybe it's worn out, maybe I'm just losing fitness. Don't have the energy to fettle it in the week... Definitely not the wheels as they're very new

[Wowbagger]

Our choir will be singing in our annual carol service on 21st December. It's in aid of HARP, a local charity supporting the homeless. We will be visited by the mayor, the bishop of Chalmsford, and the Lieutenant of Essex.

Our chairman asked me this evening if I would act as host to the Lieutentant of the County, who it appears is Brenda's representative - after all, you can't expect her to come to Essex so she gets someone else to do her dirty work for her.

I expected it to be some stuffy retired general or other, but it seems that the Lieutentant of Essex looks like this:



It seems that Jennifer Tolhurst (for it is she) is the first woman to have held this position in its almost 500 year history.

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

[Cudzoziemiec]

Local freebie almost-magazine came through the door. It has, of course, a Christmas quiz, which includes the question "Into which body of water do the following rivers flow: a) Danube b) Ganges c) Tiber?" The answer for the last one is given as... the Persian Gulf! 

[ElyDave]

That reminds me of aGoon Show joke, when Caesar invades Britannia

"What's the Tiber?"
" Half past niner"

[Legs]

Local freebie almost-magazine came through the door. It has, of course, a Christmas quiz, which includes the question "Into which body of water do the following rivers flow: a) Danube b) Ganges c) Tiber?" The answer for the last one is given as... the Persian Gulf! 

Methinks they meant Tigris...

[T42]

Local freebie almost-magazine came through the door. It has, of course, a Christmas quiz, which includes the question "Into which body of water do the following rivers flow: a) Danube b) Ganges c) Tiber?" The answer for the last one is given as... the Persian Gulf! 

Methinks they meant Tigris...

Damned autocorrect.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I'm sure they meant Tigris but whether it was autocorrect or confusion, I'm less sure.

[ElyDave]

Fuses do not always blow - fan heater plug, 13A fuse, Neutral completely melted, and of course plastic body so no earth

[Kim]

Probably because the current didn't exceed the fuse rating.  Similarly, no leakage to trip the RCD.

That looks like a dodgy connection on the neutral terminal, causing the junction to heat up (and probably exacerbate the loose connection by thermal cycling the screw) until the magic smoke escaped.

To prevent this sort of thing, screw terminals should be done up bastard tight, strain reliefs used appropriately (looks fine in this example) and resist the temptation to apply solder to the stripped wire to prevent the strands from fraying.

[ElyDave]

Thanks Kim, this was an off the shelf job, I'll check next time.

[bludger]

The good bike feels really heavy to pedal now. Looking at strava, it's done about 10,500 kms since I bought it, which has included a fair bit of riding on crap roads, off-road (including some cross) and so on. Am I going mad in thinking the BB might need to go? It's an rs500 hollowtech 2. Maybe it's worn out, maybe I'm just losing fitness. Don't have the energy to fettle it in the week... Definitely not the wheels as they're very new

Finally took the whip into the good bike shop. It's not good chaps. Actually looking at the chainrings, they are shark toothed to heck. The chain tool slips straight into the chain, the cassette is worn, the BB is shot, the headset bearings are all over the place, basically every moving part is damaged.

I am mooting going whole hog and paying for an ultegra mechanical groupo to be plonked on, because I want everything done right and in time for a Christmas adventure. I have only myself to blame for the chainrings and cassette but I hope going up 2 rungs on the ladder will yield a more resilient machine. I really do love the feeling of ultegra, I use it on my dad's bike and it's a treat.

I love the bike's frame and forks so while I'd normally think it'd be daft to upgrade a groupo on a bike instead of selling it and buying new, I think this can be justified. I might make a few quid back selling off the stuff that isn't completely done for like the crankset...

[Giraffe]

Thanks Kim, this was an off the shelf job, I'll check next time.

That's the drawback to moulded-on plugs - no way of checking. In the early '80s Barclays had new equipment with moulded plugs and quite a lot were faulty. It's lucky that the plug could freely emit smoke - t'other sort might have done the orange flicker display.

[tiermat]

That's me done with work for this decade.

Roll on Colorado!!!!!

[Kim]

Thanks Kim, this was an off the shelf job, I'll check next time.

That's the drawback to moulded-on plugs - no way of checking.

Indeed.  Though some moulded plugs are clearly dodgy and belong in the bin.  Things to watch out for:

Lack of insulation on the live/neutral pins.
Insulation on the earth pin.
Lack of fuse.
Wrong fuse.
Fuse that looks counterfeit (wrong colour for its rating, not BS marked).
Fuse not in circuit.
Suspicious quality cable.

http://bs1363.fatallyflawed.org.uk/ has some photos...

[T42]

the cassette is worn, the BB is shot, the headset bearings are all over the place, basically every moving part is damaged.

Sounds like my right ankle.

[ElyDave]

this was not actually a moulded plug

[ElyDave]

the cassette is worn, the BB is shot, the headset bearings are all over the place, basically every moving part is damaged.

Sounds like my right ankle.

sounds like my entire body

[T42]

Race you to the cemetery.

[Giraffe]

this was not actually a moulded plug

Yes, I realise that - I should have made clear that it was an aside.