tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948023765578016712024-03-19T04:41:43.854+00:00The whole damn worldPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.comBlogger1014125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-13886897534469844872019-01-06T18:56:00.002+00:002019-01-06T19:27:37.202+00:00It's the end of The World as we know itAnd I feel fine.<br />
<br />
This is my last post here.<br />
<br />
Because I've started to include mature content that sometimes pertains to people close to me, I've set up a new blog under a different account.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Bye bye.<br />
<br />
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-33660356616216263342019-01-01T01:54:00.000+00:002019-01-01T01:54:36.132+00:00Did you know...?Vets are allowed to carry out medical procedures on people, but doctors are not allowed to carry out medical procedures on animals.<br />
<br />
True.<br />
<br />
The reason for this is because people can consent to recieving treatment from a vet, but animals cannot give consent to recieving treatment from a doctor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-65780084934253647242018-12-29T01:58:00.002+00:002018-12-29T02:42:51.886+00:00Fungus FaceWhen I was very small, we had a neighbour that had a beard. Most people had sidies and longish hair, and wore brown and orange clothing to match the wallpaper, but this neighbour had a beard. My Dad nicknamed him "Fungus Face"<br />
<br />
We lived in a small village in North Wales, where everyone knew each other, and I would regularly visit other people. I was a cute little kid and no trouble.<br />
<br />
At some point though, I visited the guy with the beard, and asked him "Is your name Fungus Face?"<br />
<br />
Later I reported to my parents that his name wasn't Fungus Face at all. It was Percy Norward. OK It wasn't, and the guy might not still be alive, but I've changed it anyway. We met them years later at the Liverpool Garden Festival. Fungus Face, if you're still alive, and happen to read this, I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault. (I looked online. He died at some point. His ex wife died too. They had a son who shared his fathers name. He lives in North Wales and is a musician)<br />
<br />
And now I'm old enough to shave, but beards sit uncomfortably on my face. I get so far with them, then they get itchy and full of soup, and I shave them off again. Poor old Michael Finnegan Beginnegan.<br />
<br />
This time, I really let it grow out. Finally though, it got too much, and I de-fuzzed.<br />
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Gandalf</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSN6GCLc21o/XCbTnrygXmI/AAAAAAAADoA/eBBlXoC9iIwrIJXp5uzY20Amq5iGSAlbgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSN6GCLc21o/XCbTnrygXmI/AAAAAAAADoA/eBBlXoC9iIwrIJXp5uzY20Amq5iGSAlbgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1892.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lemmy</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfdwmIFwmmM/XCbTnoU9H9I/AAAAAAAADoI/NwV0QbETWWQRySGe2Glh6-S-bUef6nv6gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfdwmIFwmmM/XCbTnoU9H9I/AAAAAAAADoI/NwV0QbETWWQRySGe2Glh6-S-bUef6nv6gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1894.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Walter White or Ned Flanders</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2yVP9XMKtw/XCbTovCJdcI/AAAAAAAADoM/LEEmMbz9FmoCiMCRipgmlb4s_NJSnkUZwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2yVP9XMKtw/XCbTovCJdcI/AAAAAAAADoM/LEEmMbz9FmoCiMCRipgmlb4s_NJSnkUZwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1896.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Hitler or Ron Mael</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyaBWskPCwU/XCbTolZvmVI/AAAAAAAADoQ/gUIx4phTp3c3DqHjhYjv0vjSICnY-GwawCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyaBWskPCwU/XCbTolZvmVI/AAAAAAAADoQ/gUIx4phTp3c3DqHjhYjv0vjSICnY-GwawCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1898.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just plain old me</div>
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-5120087834341067352018-12-22T18:57:00.001+00:002018-12-22T18:59:05.506+00:00Miles and miles.The guy that trained me to be an instructor posts occasionally on facebook. I like him a lot, but I don't think we have a lot in common politically. He posted an article pointing out that Brexit means we can form trade agreements with anyone. I thought of replying (but didn't) that he should stop giving lessons to people near Wigan because then he'll be free to take on pupils from Basingstoke and Aberdeen.<br />
<br />
Point being, Brexit will not be good for the environment. It's best of course, if you want to buy a cucumber, to get one that's been grown locally, but to get a cucumber, in December, it's either going to come from a heated greenhouse in the UK, or more likely, some southern European nation like Spain or Greece. If the post brexit world means we get it from New Zealand or Chile, well that's not really going to help us reduce our carbon emissions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-44130399440283006342018-12-21T00:05:00.000+00:002018-12-22T20:41:54.393+00:00Quaking in their boots!Last time Tottenham Hotspur came to Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers held them to a 2-2 draw. OK, they fluked a 4-0 win in the replay, but their third goal was a mile offside, and it came at an important psychological moment, right before half time.<br />
<br />
But this time round, they don't have Gascoigne.<br />
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_______________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
And Tranmere are going to win.<br />
<br />
Yes, you read it right. I predict a win, for League Two play off hopefuls, Tranmere Rovers, against a team of Premier League internationals.<br />
<br />
Every time a defender takes the ball from the toe of Harry Kane, they win. Every time James Norwood forces a save from the Spurs keeper, they win. Every time some trickery on the wing sends a Tranmere winger on a run to the by-line, they win. I'm not sure Lloris would have kept this one out either...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxsUSh4lM40dM-6G4vGjGLigu1H77g798jYCityoX-5ZVHbKG2QpahQR1bVPkrD6DUfOVEtYQumL3CXV2LORA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Oh, and the money from a packed ground, and BTSport is a win too :)<br />
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Seriously though, I went to both legs back in 1989. Gascoigne, whatever demons he has, was one hell of a player. Watching him dribbling through the Tranmere midfield, leaving them befuddled in his wake, you couldn't help but feel a kind of awe. I don't remember much else about it, except the atmosphere was brilliant, both home and away. I swore we outsang the Tottenham fans at White Hart Lane. The TV coverage belied my recollection.<br />
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-13450968155820709392018-12-10T20:33:00.003+00:002018-12-10T20:33:59.558+00:00How long would it take Voyager 2 to stop?According to the Highway Code, stopping distances are as follows.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="4" frame="VOID" rules="NONE">
<colgroup><col width="155"></col><col width="150"></col><col width="165"></col><col width="86"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17" width="155">Thinking Distance (feet)</td>
<td align="CENTER" width="150">Braking Distance (feet)</td>
<td align="CENTER" width="165">Overall Stopping Distance</td>
<td align="CENTER" width="86">Ratio</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">(Speed in MPH)</td>
<td align="CENTER">(speed x ratio)</td>
<td align="CENTER">(TD + BD)</td>
<td align="CENTER"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">10</td>
<td align="CENTER">5</td>
<td align="CENTER">15</td>
<td align="CENTER">0.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">20</td>
<td align="CENTER">20</td>
<td align="CENTER">40</td>
<td align="CENTER">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">30</td>
<td align="CENTER">45</td>
<td align="CENTER">75</td>
<td align="CENTER">1.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">40</td>
<td align="CENTER">80</td>
<td align="CENTER">120</td>
<td align="CENTER">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">50</td>
<td align="CENTER">125</td>
<td align="CENTER">175</td>
<td align="CENTER">2.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">60</td>
<td align="CENTER">180</td>
<td align="CENTER">240</td>
<td align="CENTER">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">70</td>
<td align="CENTER">245</td>
<td align="CENTER">315</td>
<td align="CENTER">3.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">80</td>
<td align="CENTER">320</td>
<td align="CENTER">400</td>
<td align="CENTER">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">90</td>
<td align="CENTER">405</td>
<td align="CENTER">495</td>
<td align="CENTER">4.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="CENTER" height="17">100</td>
<td align="CENTER">500</td>
<td align="CENTER">600</td>
<td align="CENTER">5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
These figures were arrived at through research carried out by the government in the 1930's. A car would be driven. A signal would be given and at that precise moment, a blob of paint was fired onto the road beneath the car. After a short interval, the driver would react, and start the process of stopping the car. As soon as the brake was pressed, another blob of paint was fired. Then finally, a third blob was fired at the point where the car finally stopped. Repeat at different speeds... It loosely fitted the pattern shown above, and was adopted as the accepted figures. Modern brakes, tyres and suspension, as well as such things as anti lock brakes mean that the braking distances are much shorter, but they've kept the original figures presumably so that it includes a safety margin. So when you hear the police say "It would have taken this vehicle the length of two football pitches to stop" they're using this formula. It's also velocity squared divided by 20 by the way.<br />
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Voyager two is travelling at <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46502820">around 34,000mph</a>. This squared is 1,156,000,000. Divide that by 20 and you get 57,800,000. That's your braking distance in feet. Thinking distance, assuming the stopping would be carried out by a driver with normal capabilities would be a further 34,000 feet for a total overall stopping distance of 57,834,000 feet. That's 10,953 miles. I'm not sure what that is in football pitches.<br />
<br />
This assumes a dry road, obviously. Braking distances can double in very wet
conditions, and it can take up to ten times longer to stop when driving
on ice.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-67590155832135702342018-11-11T16:10:00.001+00:002018-11-11T17:21:02.792+00:00PlaceholderI need to provide evidence to the police, and posting pictures here will create a URL.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAr0IvzVPMw/W-hURlguoFI/AAAAAAAADnk/eV2xEgvUNqgJNp4V8ePtWiJadya9kHiIwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAr0IvzVPMw/W-hURlguoFI/AAAAAAAADnk/eV2xEgvUNqgJNp4V8ePtWiJadya9kHiIwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1825.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0p3wehVn4/W-hURSHaw-I/AAAAAAAADng/Sim-T_AJ0WQIpQeTe5hZKQVuv2LpfGxCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sG0p3wehVn4/W-hURSHaw-I/AAAAAAAADng/Sim-T_AJ0WQIpQeTe5hZKQVuv2LpfGxCACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1827.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-2500605950412313392018-11-04T23:09:00.003+00:002018-11-04T23:23:35.150+00:00The WallThere was a big firework display this evening. It was quite impressive. What I noticed though was that it was creating a lightshow on the wall behind me. So while everyone else was watching the fireworks, I was staring at a wall.<br />
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I video'd it. My phone's camera doesn't perform well on low light settings, and I didn't have time to start looking for anything better, but you get something of the effect. The best bits start at 0 seconds (flickers), about 45 seconds (aurora), about 1m40 (schizoid strobing rectangles), and about 4m30 (ghostly pale stuff).<br />
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-10042619526391203852018-10-29T11:40:00.001+00:002018-10-29T11:40:41.681+00:00"He turned around and he said to me..."Why do they do that? The turning around is redundant. Just say to them. No need to revolve first.<br />
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-12830659362037396562018-10-17T09:34:00.002+01:002018-10-17T09:34:30.595+01:00When "rear end" becomes a verb...Yup. Rear-ended again. First one for a few years, so I suppose I was about due. This one was a at a T junction rather than a roundabout, for a change. The underlying cause is the same. Driver behind looking to see what's coming from the right before the person in front of them has gone.<br />
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Oh and this time, it looks like the woman that smacked into us was uninsured.<br />
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Marvellous.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-50366222700895946672018-10-06T12:44:00.002+01:002018-10-06T12:44:15.910+01:00Losing it...Broke 14 stone last night.<br />
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Will be getting my teeth fixed, and will be joining a gym.<br />
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I'm actually starting to give a shit about myself :)<br />
<br />
There are reasons for this, but I don't have the time or words to go into them right at this moment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-5123093359485001232018-10-01T02:57:00.000+01:002018-10-01T03:14:53.122+01:00A visualisationIf I ever want to get involved in a political discussion, I should take a whiteboard with me. That's how I explain things when I'm working, and using visuals helps both me and my pupils.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's what I was thinking about.<br />
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I was picturing myself at a Labour Party meeting, talking to someone with a cornucopian point of view, and wondering how I would explain why I thought their ideas were wrong. I remember talking Malthus at a Militant meeting way back in the mid or late 80's, and was assured that "We'd have reached the stars by then". I've found it to be a common view: The idea that more affluence for millions and billions of people is a noble goal to strive for. This bounteous Earth, with all it's riches should be a common treasury.<br />
<br />
I agree, but I don't think that means the treasury is infinite. <br />
<br />
So here goes, with diagrams. Why it's all ended up on the right hand side of this post I have no idea.<br />
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The circle is all the resources of the earth. Some of them are finite and non renewable.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ExY7THsl3w8/W7F1kwGiMJI/AAAAAAAADms/98_ZDygLCxUJnDoKlBGdiJ7W0z_Che1fgCLcBGAs/s1600/all.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ExY7THsl3w8/W7F1kwGiMJI/AAAAAAAADms/98_ZDygLCxUJnDoKlBGdiJ7W0z_Che1fgCLcBGAs/s640/all.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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This diagram represents how those resources are shared out.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVBJ0tXsEWE/W7F2h8yHVAI/AAAAAAAADm4/NcbP8_hmd18IpdXUjf5SXlnysb8Og2u6gCLcBGAs/s1600/allfilled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVBJ0tXsEWE/W7F2h8yHVAI/AAAAAAAADm4/NcbP8_hmd18IpdXUjf5SXlnysb8Og2u6gCLcBGAs/s640/allfilled.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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You could say that the blue represents the rich, the red represents the poor, and the yellow represents the resources needed to actually utilise those resources.<br />
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You might believe that the slices of the pie need to be wider or narrower depending on your worldview.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUyCtoYwRns/W7F5-4ka8rI/AAAAAAAADnE/hDhhv9_QTwQmVMbVsKus0OpgS-N67Zl_QCLcBGAs/s1600/innering.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUyCtoYwRns/W7F5-4ka8rI/AAAAAAAADnE/hDhhv9_QTwQmVMbVsKus0OpgS-N67Zl_QCLcBGAs/s640/innering.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The inner ring represents the resources we need. The pyramid of needs becomes a bullseye here. The closer to the centre you get, the more it becomes about survival.<br />
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But the outer circle, which has been expanding over the last few centuries is about to start getting smaller. Marx never saw it coming. Neither did Adam Smith. How could they? When they were writing, those limits were way over the horizon.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-91548053232165486562018-08-21T09:27:00.001+01:002018-08-21T09:48:51.238+01:00Day One...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--dc-wXqAoms/W3vNw2AI7lI/AAAAAAAADmE/5x27oxRLyPossATsvZ4bkmd8l0XjKBWzgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="1600" height="138" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--dc-wXqAoms/W3vNw2AI7lI/AAAAAAAADmE/5x27oxRLyPossATsvZ4bkmd8l0XjKBWzgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1633.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Got on the train at new Brighton. Just before we were due to go, all the
lights went out. The train went nowhere. Eventually, a guard came
through the train explaining that there were children on the line near
grove road, and that the power had been turned off. It took around an
hour for the service to be resumed. So I got to Liverpool crown court at
about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1025519954" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:30</span></span>, about an hour late. No problem. I had phoned the court to explain my situation, and they said that was ok.<br />
<br />
Finding the right entrance took a bit of exploring and several wrong
doors. I was scanned and someone came down and took me up to the jurors
bit of the court. A big concourse filed with chairs and tables. A small
cafe charged too much for food and drink. Toilets, wifi that I can't get
on, and games books and magazines all available . Expenses are
complicated because I am self employed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--h8XHE1dZ6w/W3vOBE4quFI/AAAAAAAADmQ/TXPcfBntuzQVktgItTG438TgIjS2qCz_ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--h8XHE1dZ6w/W3vOBE4quFI/AAAAAAAADmQ/TXPcfBntuzQVktgItTG438TgIjS2qCz_ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1636.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And now I wait. There is a rooftop outdoor area where you can't smoke.
It does not explicitly prohibit vaping though, so I will go outside from
time to time and vape away unless someone tells me not to. You can see
Birkenhead through a gap in the glass walled blocks. There is quite a
lot of construction going on in Liverpool. Cranes punctuate the skyline, their jibs maneuvering girders and buckets of concrete. Window cleaners clean
windows, fearless in their cradles.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa0OS0z4Vaw/W3vOA_Wg9JI/AAAAAAAADmM/MqDMqs6uQcY6Xc-O75VsFxV-QwIUAGoggCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa0OS0z4Vaw/W3vOA_Wg9JI/AAAAAAAADmM/MqDMqs6uQcY6Xc-O75VsFxV-QwIUAGoggCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1641.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's interesting to people watch. People are sat by themselves, plugged
in to some mobile thing or other, or they read. Many wear headphones.
Some people have formed into groups. They talk, laugh. Occasionally
there is an announcement over the speakers. Everyone goes quiet.
Sometimes it's an explanation of something. Occasionally, it's to call a
list of people into court. Everyone listens carefully. My name has not
been called yet.<br />
<br />
Another list of names. Mine is not among them. And again. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRXfddDSSFQ/W3vOxQh8FmI/AAAAAAAADmc/oxevVJ7h3AsdIrGpQP5i_rOpW2Rr1jiEACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRXfddDSSFQ/W3vOxQh8FmI/AAAAAAAADmc/oxevVJ7h3AsdIrGpQP5i_rOpW2Rr1jiEACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
And then it is. Twenty five of us are led up to an empty courtroom. 18
men and 7 women. We are given pens and notepads. There are bibles with
oath cards before us. An usher gives each of us a questionnaire. This
tells us a little about the case, and asks us if we know any of the
people involved. It informs us that the trial is expected to last for
about two weeks, but with an outside chance of a further, third week. It
will involve reading a lot of financial documents.<br />
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A fraud case then. No murders or rapes or anything that will require us
to see pictures of mutilated babies or hear distressing accounts of
screams and sudden appalling silences.<br />
<br />
The twenty five of us are led to another court room. A bewigged judge
thanks us for our attendance. We look at the defendant and he looks at
us. We do not know each other. A couple of us are excused as they have
some connection with the plaintiff. Another because he might have
struggled to understand the complexities of the documentation .<br />
<br />
A court official shuffles the remaining names. I am the second person to
be called. After the twelve seats are filled, a further three names are
called. Reserves. One of us good people and true might break a leg. Everyone but me swears to be a good juror on the bible. I am the sole affirmer. By
now it's about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1025519955" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">one o'clock</span></span> . We adjourn for lunch with instructions to return by <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1025519956" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">2:15</span></span>. <br />
<br />
I am back in the jury concourse , with a belly full of crisps and
sandwich from tesco. More people are talking now. They've had time to
break down barriers. The boredom unites them. They have something in
common to talk about. It is <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1025519957" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">two o'clock</span></span> . Almost time.<br />
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<div class="a3s aXjCH m1655b90df8ae1f00" id=":12t">
<br />
And of the afternoons events, I can't say too much. It was taken up
almost entirely by a monologue from the crown prosecutor setting out its
side of the story. We had big ring binders with all sorts of
documentary evidence in them, and we were directed to particular
sections and pages from time to time. The prosecutor was finished by
around twenty to four, and after the judge had gone through what had
been said, we were free to go. </div>
<div class="a3s aXjCH m1655b90df8ae1f00" id=":12t">
<br /></div>
<div class="a3s aXjCH m1655b90df8ae1f00" id=":12t">
On that basis, without hearing the defence, the bastard is guilty as hell.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-22633792946545953302018-08-13T18:11:00.001+01:002018-08-13T18:14:45.171+01:00JewsCorbyn must be the problem here.<br /><br />I can almost 100% guarantee that should Corbyn be forced to stand down, the issue of anti semitism in the Labour Party will instantly disappear.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-41239117264919702762018-08-07T09:50:00.001+01:002018-08-07T09:50:10.114+01:00The great soup disaster of 2018I should perhaps have taken photographs before they got poured away.<br />
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But that would have told you nothing about the smell, the texture, the mouthfeel.<br />
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There was the one with all the onions.<br />
<br />
Take about 8 medium onions, an entire head of celery, and some chillies. Add some spices and a bit of water. Cook in a big pan for half an hour then blend into soup. I managed to get through about a third of it before it went down the loo. My shit smelled of onions for two days.<br />
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The one with all the fibre was the worst though.<br />
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Take a load of broad beans, and some runner beans. Add some nice delicate asparagus. Cook and blend. The tough fibrous pods become tough fibrous fibres that are difficult to swallow. After extracting enough of them from my mouth to leave a sizeable pile next to my bowl, I gave up and got a tin of Heinz lentil soup from the cupboard instead. Only 186 calories. Cost less than a quid. Other soups turn out to be equally or almost equally low in calories, so instead of further culinary disasters, I shall be having three tins of soup on my 600 calorie days.<br />
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<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-71060026100184275402018-07-31T21:52:00.001+01:002018-08-11T00:29:52.482+01:00Like forgetting the clocks went forward, only bigger....Well I just got myself a new car, because I though my old one was due to go back on the 6th of August.<br />
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Nope. 6/9/2018 is the 6th of September, not the 6th of August.<br />
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D'oh. Out of pocket to the tune of one months car lease, and one months extra insurance.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aham4ZYJ4D8/W2DL9Eep4KI/AAAAAAAADl0/b-0Xo5p4yZ0KF5VjmbL0AuOKUDfKvUxSwCLcBGAs/s1600/golf2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aham4ZYJ4D8/W2DL9Eep4KI/AAAAAAAADl0/b-0Xo5p4yZ0KF5VjmbL0AuOKUDfKvUxSwCLcBGAs/s640/golf2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0ZQVzLySmg/W2DL7k77TCI/AAAAAAAADlw/tfkGokAq_kMNF6XuWIOXQ5SkchNwIjJswCLcBGAs/s1600/golf%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0ZQVzLySmg/W2DL7k77TCI/AAAAAAAADlw/tfkGokAq_kMNF6XuWIOXQ5SkchNwIjJswCLcBGAs/s640/golf%2B1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Also several weeks of walking a few hundred yards. Space is limited. One car per flat. <br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-57307425406339847602018-07-30T01:40:00.001+01:002018-07-30T01:59:07.714+01:00Moderation in all thingsYou may notice that I've changed the settings on this blog so that comments are now moderated, and anonymous replies to my post are no longer permitted.<br />
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The reason is that for the past couple of weeks, I've been getting a steady trickle of inane and childish comments. I've just deleted them but they're still happening, so for now, comments will be pre-moderated.<br />
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I have a fairly good idea of who the inane and childish poster is, but since he or she has bravely hidden behind the cloak of anonymity, I can't prove it.<br />
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I think it all stems from an incident last September. I went to Wales with someone, and we climbed a mountain together. Well actually we only climbed a bit of it together. After this trip, I severed my ties, moved on, drew a line under things, and got on with life.<br />
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Here's a series of videos I made during our trip.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEIgqtq3KmKKjXfyA-aUlwCiRc7XRspYEJ78TZ9qb49_-YUywghYeW4jjN4EH4RJNiv8_rwlFjAYMtaZVjMQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4iViAJuUReteDgyuFpSYkO6rqPY84vsbeHa7kiMvdH7pWIR5JYAagrfc8__0V9HL57mF6bcepxRoo2_sjag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8C4J06Z20c8pJVKyEOhjg0fUl0uAioAGCM_Gix9tdNp6ZUsUVpXjG8o2dimHDhv1TxNMs6BiGO5LGie3dGg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />
And at that point, the battery on my phone died. I started walking towards Llanberis, was kindly given a lift by a passing climber, and completed my journey back to the car by taxi. Then I drove us home. Pete, if you happen to read this, I apologise for not keeping the pace you wanted to set, but I did not understand your behaviour at the time, and I still don't now. When I eventually made it back to the car park, and met you there, you talked at length about how you were planning to get to a train station so that you could make your way home. I wonder if at any point you thought about the fact that I had not come down from the mountain. If I'd chosen to behave the same way, I'd have got in my car, and left you at the car park.<br />
<br />
If it is you that's posting abuse on my blog, perhaps as some socially fucked up way of trying to re-establish contact, you're wasting your time. There's good and bad in everyone. You've made me laugh. You've annoyed the shit out of me. The events of last year tipped the scales, and you probably still don't get why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-9270849880641529552018-07-26T16:37:00.000+01:002018-07-26T16:48:41.439+01:00The Five Two DietI found myself tipping the scales at around 15 stone. Before I became an instructor I was more like about 11.5 stone. That's what you get for eating crap and sitting on your arse all day. And when I got home from a long day's seat warming, I'd be too tired to do much.<br />
<br />
But I said to myself, "When I hit 15 stone, I will do something about this."<br />
<br />
There are other reasons too, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm doing the five two diet. You eat normally (or better still, sensibly) five days a week, then limit your calorific intake to around 500-600 calories two days a week. These days should not be consecutive.<br />
<br />
So I started on Tuesday. My next "two" day is tomorrow, so I'm preparing this evening by gathering up the ingredients I will eat tomorrow.<br />
<br />
When I try to look stuff up online, it seems mainly to tell me how many calories I would need to gain, maintain or lose weight, but doesn't really allow me to input a food and a weight and to find out how many calories that contains. I'm sure there are such sites and apps out there but I haven't come across one yet.<br />
<br />
Instead, I am looking at what ingredients I have, asking the internet about these specific foods, and collating the results on this post, so that I have an easy reference.<br />
<br />
Per 100g Calories<br />
<br />
Carrot 41.35<br />
Onion 40.00<br />
Mushroom 22.00<br />
Beetroot 46.64<br />
Celery 16.01<br />
Hot Chilli 40.00<br />
Potato 77.00<br />
Capsicum 40.00<br />
<br />
That's what I have at the moment, although I might get some more things this evening after I finish teaching. Weigh out stuff so that it adds up to 600 calories, chop it up and throw it in a pan with some water for half an hour then whizz it into soup with a whizzer. Then tomorrow whenever I feel like eating, I will have a bowl of the stuff, reheated. When it's gone it's gone.<br />
<br />
I wonder if hot food contains more calories than cold food?<br />
<br />
Answer: Yes, but only to a negligible degree. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-3954592162958833042018-07-19T23:06:00.001+01:002018-07-19T23:06:23.742+01:00Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now? (Video Version)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SECVGN4Bsgg" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-81951612642876230142018-06-24T22:10:00.000+01:002018-06-24T22:10:25.353+01:00Jury ServiceA letter came. I have been selected for jury service in August.<br />
<br />
Should be interesting.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-54424201223457143472018-06-19T01:53:00.001+01:002018-06-19T01:53:01.970+01:00Backgammon and the world cup (and probably lots of other things as well)There is something called the FIBS rating.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bkgm.com/articles/McCool/ratings.html">http://www.bkgm.com/articles/McCool/ratings.html</a><br />
<br />
It's a weighted ratings system. A player with a low rating will see their rating rise higher if they beat a player with a high rating than they would if they won a match against a low rated player. There are other factors too. The main one being the match length. Winning a match played over a series of games, with the winner being the first to amass 21 points would yield a bigger ratings gain for the winner than a match against the same opponent that was played over 1 or 3 points.<br />
<br />
Backgammon is more like poker than chess. It's not about pure skill. There is an element of luck too. A good player will beat a bad one most of the time, especially over a series of games. Yet perfect play will sometimes be confounded by mediocrity combined with luck. It's all about probabilities, and making the optimal play, so that you maximise your own chances of a useful throw of the dice, while doing your best to minimise your opponents options.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, of course, your opponent is trying to do the same thing to you.<br />
<br />
Once you reach a certain level, and can play the best possible move every time (which no human ever does, although computers increasingly can) if you meet an opponent that is equally skilled, it becomes a matter of luck.<br />
<br />
The human factor dictates style. For example, if an attacking option and a defensive option both present themselves, each offering some balancing factors of risk and/or reward, one player might choose the aggressive play, while another might make more conservative choices. Each may prevail. That's the game.<br />
<br />
Watching England play against Tunisia last night, I couldn't help feel that against a better team, (and if it had been chess, rather than backgammon, England would prabably have won 4 or 5 - 1 )given the same luck, they would have struggled.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-25247058783155519032018-06-10T23:35:00.001+01:002018-06-10T23:35:28.520+01:00Song for me<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G3lJwyQ_2Qg" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-74271458317955915392018-06-07T00:37:00.001+01:002018-06-07T00:39:57.614+01:003 lettersOne of the things I have been thinking about is "What combination of three letters has the most permutations?"<br />
<br />
For any group of three letters, there are six different combinations. For example...<br />
<br />
ABC<br />
ACB<br />
BAC<br />
BCA<br />
CAB<br />
CBA<br />
<br />
That's just an example, and it yields just one legitimate English word, CAB, unless BAC is also a word.<br />
<br />
I've not found a group that makes words in any order.<br />
<br />
Or five.<br />
<br />
I've found one that makes four:<br />
<br />
SAP - ASP - SPA - PAS (the last word is a dance step closely derived from French but it's in the dictionary) <br />
<br />
Here are some that make three:<br />
<br />
APT - PAT - TAP<br />
ART - TAR - RAT<br />
TOP - POT - OPT<br />
ERE - REE - ERE<br />
ERA - EAR - ARE<br />
<br />
It would be easier if I included acronyms. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-6413538022194469162018-05-23T12:51:00.001+01:002018-05-23T12:51:43.299+01:00Your money or your lifeI call this the highwayman fallacy.<br />
<br />
"Or" is a logical signifier.<br />
<br />
To take the highwayman's words literally, you can either give him the money, or he will kill you, but leave you with the money.<br />
<br />
So it should really be "Your money, or your money AND your life.<br />
<br />
Just sayin'<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294802376557801671.post-69401758483359949662018-05-09T11:44:00.000+01:002018-05-20T00:28:07.416+01:00Living on an island...When you look at Wirral, it's basically a rectangle, and that's how people tend to think of it. But it's a bit more complicated than that. Wallasey, on the top right corner, is almost cut off from the rest of it by the system of docks that run from the River Mersey through Birkenhead and up towards the Irish Sea. There are only 5 roads in and out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6lT_XL47zc/WvLL3RnHbMI/AAAAAAAADkI/A7a6m-a68TwhgnM4TLJFIJXQz7-NUfh7gCLcBGAs/s1600/wallasey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1440" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6lT_XL47zc/WvLL3RnHbMI/AAAAAAAADkI/A7a6m-a68TwhgnM4TLJFIJXQz7-NUfh7gCLcBGAs/s640/wallasey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Road 1. Leasowe Road, takes traffic from the North Coast of Wirral, Moreton, Leasowe, Meols, Hoylake, West Kirby into Wallasey Village.<br />
<br />
Road 2. This takes traffic from the North of Birkenhead, with a lot of the stuff carried by road 1, and any traffic from the M53 into Wallasey.<br />
<br />
Roads 3,4 and 5 all take traffic across bridges over the docks. 3 takes some of the M53's traffic and North Birkenhead. 4 takes stuff from the middle of Birkenhead. 5 Takes central Birkenhead, and anything coming up the A41 from Eastern Wirral - Tranmere, Bromborough, Rock Ferry, Bebington, etc.<br />
<br />
Between 3 and 5, the docklands are being prepared for redevelopment. They have big plans for this area, which has been pretty much unused for the last couple of decades.<br />
<br />
So they've been replacing the bridge over road 5. What should have taken a few months has now taken well over a year, and they're still not done. So all the traffic that would normally go through road 5 is being funneled through the other routes, mainly road 4. At rush hour, all of these routes become gridlocked. I'd like to humbly suggest that putting some kind of temporary structure in place, like a pontoon or something, might have been useful. When this work is finished, they will be replacing the bridge over road 4.<br />
<br />
Over the last couple of weeks, there have been roadworks causing long delays on road 2. (They're putting traffic lights in) For the last couple of days, a burst water main caused the closure of road 3.<br />
<br />
I shall leave it to your imagination as to the effects. Road 3 has now reopened, but not everyone knows about this, so people are still avoiding it.<br />
<br />
The bridges themselves, taking roads 4 and 5 across the docks, are quite interesting. They're single leaf bascule bridges with a curved rack intersecting a flat stretch of pinion on the side of the roadway. The leaf is balanced by a counterweight, which means the bridge needs relatively little energy to move.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8GXPeNFYGQ/WvNRPMEw4dI/AAAAAAAADkY/B7bjlzAdNR42-CBGgrZAh_5sMc_UbL7GQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tower_Road_Lift_Bridge%252C_Birkenhead_Docks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8GXPeNFYGQ/WvNRPMEw4dI/AAAAAAAADkY/B7bjlzAdNR42-CBGgrZAh_5sMc_UbL7GQCLcBGAs/s640/Tower_Road_Lift_Bridge%252C_Birkenhead_Docks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Picture credit: <span class="mw-mmv-source-author"><span class="mw-mmv-author"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rept0n1x" title="User:Rept0n1x">Rept0n1x</a></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="mw-mmv-source-author">The bridges date from the 1930's, and both the Tower Road (Road 5) and Duke Street (Road 4) will be replaced by something that involves hydraulics and pistons and what have you. There will be one left, spanning two unused sections of dock. I'm glad about that. This type (known as a rolling bascule) is actually quite rare. They're a part of our industrial heritage, and have allowed ships and cars (and trains) to traverse the docks for close to a century. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving lessons</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">North Wirral</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">learn to drive</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Hoylake</a><span style="background-color: white;">? </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">driving instructor</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://www.paulsharpdriving.co.uk/" style="background-color: white;">Birkenhead</a><span style="background-color: white;">?</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07477727620596783913noreply@blogger.com0