Comments for musings http://durband.com/blog Mark’s tedious weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on Looftlighter – chocolate teapot by Mark http://durband.com/blog/514/looftlighter-chocolate-teapot.html/comment-page-1#comment-143 Mark Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:17:51 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=514#comment-143 The colder autumn weather is with us once more. We had the chimney swept, and I got out the Looftlighter ready for the new season. Alas the season proved very short-lived. On my first attempt to light a fire, the Looftlighter died. Now it's in the recycling. A good-looking piece of equipment, at a competitive price but it is just not fit for purpose. The colder autumn weather is with us once more. We had the chimney swept, and I got out the Looftlighter ready for the new season.

Alas the season proved very short-lived. On my first attempt to light a fire, the Looftlighter died. Now it’s in the recycling.

A good-looking piece of equipment, at a competitive price but it is just not fit for purpose.

]]> Comment on Doing our bit for the planet by Mark http://durband.com/blog/678/doing-our-bit-for-the-planet.html/comment-page-1#comment-141 Mark Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:59:00 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=678#comment-141 The hall radiator was belting out heat yesterday, so I decided to turn it down. It was then I discovered that the thermostatic radiator valve has been replaced with a fixed cap. You <i>cannot</i> turn it down! I don't beleeeve it!! The hall radiator was belting out heat yesterday, so I decided to turn it down. It was then I discovered that the thermostatic radiator valve has been replaced with a fixed cap. You cannot turn it down!

I don’t beleeeve it!!

]]> Comment on Backstory – diary of a round the world voyage by musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Gibraltar revisited http://durband.com/blog/backstory-diary-of-a-round-the-world-voyage/comment-page-1#comment-140 musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Gibraltar revisited Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:31:22 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?page_id=500#comment-140 [...] view from the top was breathtaking. Immediately below was the harbour where the Orsova must have docked all those years ago. To the north was ‘the rock’ itself with the [...] [...] view from the top was breathtaking. Immediately below was the harbour where the Orsova must have docked all those years ago. To the north was ‘the rock’ itself with the [...]

]]> Comment on Hairy back by musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Gibraltar revisited http://durband.com/blog/333/hairy-back.html/comment-page-1#comment-139 musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Gibraltar revisited Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:10:21 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=333#comment-139 [...] time flies. I returned to Gibraltar today, some 44 years 33 days since my last visit. I was on my way to a university friends reunion in Medina [...] [...] time flies. I returned to Gibraltar today, some 44 years 33 days since my last visit. I was on my way to a university friends reunion in Medina [...]

]]> Comment on In praise of speed cameras by avoid driving ban Scotland http://durband.com/blog/545/in-praise-of-speed-cameras.html/comment-page-1#comment-138 avoid driving ban Scotland Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:27:45 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=545#comment-138 <strong>avoid driving ban Scotland...</strong> Don't just accept a driving ban get advice from specialists As the first road traffic specialist lawyers in Scotland please see this video to realise our service is not just for the rich and famous... avoid driving ban Scotland…

Don’t just accept a driving ban get advice from specialists As the first road traffic specialist lawyers in Scotland please see this video to realise our service is not just for the rich and famous…

]]> Comment on In praise of speed cameras by davieman1406 http://durband.com/blog/545/in-praise-of-speed-cameras.html/comment-page-1#comment-117 davieman1406 Sat, 09 May 2009 15:06:04 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=545#comment-117 An interesting approach that they are taking in Abu Dhabi (UAE) currently... Driving fast is a way of life over there and due to the traffic problems and crazy 5 lane highways the normal folk and the taxi drivers speeding to get their next fare drive at stupid speeds. The government play down the number of accidents and pedestrian deaths but in reality they need to slow down. As a complete contrast to the UK, in Abu Dhabi they have decided that prison is not a good punishment for bad driving so they have reduced the punishment to community service. Also as advertised on Dubai 1 a few weeks ago a crack team of policemen will be covertly watching motorists. Should a motorist be considered to be driving politely and courteously the police will pull them over and give them a 750DH reward! (about £125) - not bad for driving like you are supposed to. Whether it works or not is a different matter but certainly an interesting approach to make roads safer. An interesting approach that they are taking in Abu Dhabi (UAE) currently… Driving fast is a way of life over there and due to the traffic problems and crazy 5 lane highways the normal folk and the taxi drivers speeding to get their next fare drive at stupid speeds. The government play down the number of accidents and pedestrian deaths but in reality they need to slow down.

As a complete contrast to the UK, in Abu Dhabi they have decided that prison is not a good punishment for bad driving so they have reduced the punishment to community service. Also as advertised on Dubai 1 a few weeks ago a crack team of policemen will be covertly watching motorists. Should a motorist be considered to be driving politely and courteously the police will pull them over and give them a 750DH reward! (about £125) – not bad for driving like you are supposed to. Whether it works or not is a different matter but certainly an interesting approach to make roads safer.

]]> Comment on Looftlighter – chocolate teapot by looftlighter http://durband.com/blog/514/looftlighter-chocolate-teapot.html/comment-page-1#comment-113 looftlighter Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:52:11 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=514#comment-113 Hi Mark! I am Richard Looft, inventor of the LOOFTLIGHTER. I know what you mean about the aluminium, but I´ll try to explain why things are as they are. First we made the LOOFTLIGHTER with the aluminium protection (as it has now). We tried to instruct that you have to pull it away when sparks appear. After a while, we got some faulty lighters, due to the heat. As you write, the aluminium melts at 660 Celsius, so we changed the outer tube (the one with holes) to stainless steel instead. But then we noticed that when someone held it too long into the glow, it got glowing red, and got really dangerous (if you touched something it started a fire!). So I decided to change it back to the aluminium, because it is better that the Looftlighter get´s damaged instead of people or property. Hope you see my point. Please come back to me if you have questions! Best wishes Richard Hi Mark!

I am Richard Looft, inventor of the LOOFTLIGHTER. I know what you mean about the aluminium, but I´ll try to explain why things are as they are. First we made the LOOFTLIGHTER with the aluminium protection (as it has now). We tried to instruct that you have to pull it away when sparks appear. After a while, we got some faulty lighters, due to the heat. As you write, the aluminium melts at 660 Celsius, so we changed the outer tube (the one with holes) to stainless steel instead. But then we noticed that when someone held it too long into the glow, it got glowing red, and got really dangerous (if you touched something it started a fire!). So I decided to change it back to the aluminium, because it is better that the Looftlighter get´s damaged instead of people or property.

Hope you see my point. Please come back to me if you have questions!

Best wishes

Richard

]]> Comment on Goodbye-eee! by musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Connected wirelessleee http://durband.com/blog/286/goodbye-eee.html/comment-page-1#comment-108 musings Mark's tedious weblog » Blog Archive » Connected wirelessleee Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:46:13 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=286#comment-108 [...] wireless connection problems are (almost) over. The folks at Asus offered all manner of laborious solutions to the notorious [...] [...] wireless connection problems are (almost) over. The folks at Asus offered all manner of laborious solutions to the notorious [...]

]]> Comment on More surveillance please, we’re British by Mark http://durband.com/blog/214/more-surveillance-please-were-british.html/comment-page-1#comment-97 Mark Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:27:23 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=214#comment-97 A Manchester professional services representative group called pro.manchester (made up of over 280 member firms in sectors such as accountantcy, banking, legal and construction) has decided to keep secret the results of a ballot of members on congestion charging. They had previously said they would publish the results, but now even those who voted are being denied this information. Meanwhile, the <a href="http://www.gmmgroup.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Greater Manchester Momentum Group</a> rightly continues campaigning for the rejection of the current congestion charging proposals. In December 2008, all Greater Manchester residents will be asked to vote in a public referendum. In the meantime, residents and businesses can <a href="http://www.gmfuturetransport.co.uk/consultation/response/" target ="_blank" rel="nofollow">have their say online</a>. A Manchester professional services representative group called pro.manchester (made up of over 280 member firms in sectors such as accountantcy, banking, legal and construction) has decided to keep secret the results of a ballot of members on congestion charging. They had previously said they would publish the results, but now even those who voted are being denied this information.

Meanwhile, the Greater Manchester Momentum Group rightly continues campaigning for the rejection of the current congestion charging proposals.

In December 2008, all Greater Manchester residents will be asked to vote in a public referendum. In the meantime, residents and businesses can have their say online.

]]> Comment on Give up your rights – just in case by Mark http://durband.com/blog/206/give-up-your-rights-just-in-case.html/comment-page-1#comment-96 Mark Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:07:44 +0000 http://www.durband.com/blog/?p=206#comment-96 An essay by David Edgar describing how kneejerk legislation changes the climate of opinion: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/22/terrorism.uksecurity?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront"target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This muddled terror law limits free speech and wrecks innocent lives</a> An essay by David Edgar describing how kneejerk legislation changes the climate of opinion: This muddled terror law limits free speech and wrecks innocent lives

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