Make sure the card is ‘fast’ enough for the camera, i.e. what class it is. We used to have a Panasonic point’n’shoot that would stop recording HD video after about 20 seconds, turned out that it couldn’t write to the card fast enough. I seem to recall that it used its internal memory as much as possible to buffer it, and then stopped. A faster SD card sorted out the problem.

Funny old thing, selling second-hand cars!

When we moved overseas we sold our car on Autotrader. Agreed a price (£3,000) via email and on the phone with a guy from Bradford. We were in Harpenden (Hertfordshire).

I’d been very honest about the various scuffs and other stuff that might have been used to knock the price down. Mechanically it was sound. Anyway, the guy drove down from Bradford with two mates, I let him have a test drive, he had a nosey under the bonnet but I suspect it was more for show than anything else. Then he announced that he was happy with it, but he’d only brought £2,700 with him. I just said “Ah well, never mind. Have a safe trip back.”

He decided a quick whip-round was in order, and lo and behold his mates both happened to have £150 each about their persons.

I guess if you don’t ask, you don’t get, but buying second-hand cars seems to bring out the chancer in some people.

This.

If I’ve got time to sit around and feed the fire I’ll just start with a fire-lighter (made from compressed sawdust) and small kindling, and add progressively bigger kindling until there’s enough heat to get a small-medium lump of split wood going. Playing with fire is always satisfying :D

Most days I use the “top down” method though. Start with two smallish bits of split log on the ash bed. Each one is maybe 5 x 10 cm in cross section (not that they’re regular shapes, but about the same cross-sectional area as a 5 x 10 cm rectangle, give or take), and ideally something soft like pine or wattle that gets going easily.

Then I’ll add a layer or two of smaller bits at 90 degrees, starting a lattice a bit like teasel’s kindling video up there ^. These will be maybe half the cross-section of the bottom layer. Then another lattice layer or two using small kindling – finger-size stuff really, usually pine plank offcuts from local wood yards that I’ve split myself.

I normally then add a fire-lighter (I’m with mikewsmith, we don’t have any newspaper and packaging paper/card is generally quite hard to keep alight. Maybe it’s a southern hemisphere thing) and a couple of bits of small kindling on top.

You can add more medium and small layers so that the top of the pile is right at the top of the firebox.

You just light the fire-lighter, close the door, set the draw to maximum and walk away. The kindling burns fast and hot right at the top of the firebox, which does two things: it generates a load of heat quickly which rises up the flue, starting a solid draw and pulling in lots of lovely oxygen for the fire; and as the flame is right at the top of the firebox it also directly heats the top plate which helps to maintain a good draw while the flue is still cold.

The embers then drop down through the lattice and ignite the next layer down, fanned by the healthy draw, and Robert’s yer mother’s brother. Ten to fifteen minutes later the bottom layer should be well away, ready for some bigger stuff to be added on top.

Once you’ve got the hang of it and (more importantly) you have your wood supply split into appropriate sizes, it takes maybe 30 seconds to build and light, then you don’t have to do anything else until it’s ready for the big stuff to be added.

jimjam – Member
learning how to aim is something only experience will teach you.
Focus on a point and swing, the axe/maul will hit that point.

This. Much like the advice to cyclists and motorcyclists – if you are trying to avoid hitting something, don’t look at it, as you will inevitably end up heading directly towards whatever you are focussed on… so when using the maul keep focussed on the point you want to hit, and keep your eyes open. Clearly eye protection is necessary as big, high-speed splinters are inevitable, occasionally towards your face.

?

On the other hand, He’s a two/almost three-year-old. If you’re really bothered about it you could just explain to him that they’ve got none left of the pink one, and ask which of the other two he wants.

I speak from experience of having a just-turned-three boy whose favourite colour is pink. Although tbh we didn’t have this particular dilemma as between the six LBSs in town they didn’t have any pink bikes in his size when we got him his bike for his 3rd birthday (ended up with a Giant Animator, but I think that was a mistake and we’ll be moving to a 14″ pretty soon).

I think I’d be happy buying him a pink bike if he decided he wanted one, thinking sort of along sten1’s point of view – except perhaps teaching him to deal with mickey-taking without violence (at least, not initially)…

Quality stuff – his line of banter reminds me of the honey Badger:

A few years back the DSC (dynamic stability control) and ABS warning lights came on in our Ford Territory, and both stopped working. I checked the fuses for those features, both fine. That was the extent of my auto-electrical expertise so into the garage it went. Turns out we’d blown a brake light!

Genius idea from Ford. Hook up important safety features in the same circuit as high-use consumable parts. When the part fails, the logical thing to do is disable the DSC and ABS…

The same thing happened again a couple of weeks ago, luckily it was a $4 bulb this time and not $50 garage bill for their investigation work.

big yim – Member
If we have loads of Spotify premium users could we create a stw play list? Public play list and we could all add 5 songs. Might discover an old gem or a new band you’d never heard

Wrap your ears around this: STW rock/metal playlist

Has the hospital got wifi? Beg/borrow/steal a tablet or laptop and shout him a Netflix sub while he’s in there. There’s no contract so you can cancel once he’s out.

Should keep him entertained between visitors.

A bike for someone else?[/url]

^ what he said. Try some on in a shop. Put the strap round to the front of the mask, and push the mask against your face. Inhale through your nose, the mask should ‘suck’ to your face, and will stay there without you using your hands, while you turn your head, look down etc. If you can’t maintain the vacuum and it falls off, it doesn’t fit and will likely leak when you’re in the water.

After that, pick one that suits your budget, feels like it has a good viewing angle (i.e. you don’t feel like the frame is taking up too much of the view, is a nice colour, etc.

A box of bits:

Which I will then turn into something resembling this:

So’s I can do this:

8)

In a similar vein… Do you want a low-maintenance home in a relatively stabby-free neighborhood?[/url]

Cougar – Moderator
How much for, if you don’t mind me asking? (I still have that upstairs somewhere.)

About NZ$90, including postage from Germany to NZ. So about 45 quid all up. 30 quid without the postage. There are few on ebay, prices vary. They often go for double that. For me the nostalgia was worth the cost. I suspect I’ll build it once and be over it, but then I’ll give all the bits to my son so it’s all good :D

cranberry – Member
WillH – I think I still have that model in my mum’s loft somewhere – I’d love to dig it out at Christmas time and re-build it.

I’m pretty sure mine is still in my folks’ loft, but they can’t be bothered to go up there searching (it’s insanely full of crap) and my little brother may have nicked it at some point, although he denies it…

I’ve bought myself an original 1980 Lego 8860 Auto Chassis on ebay.

Three-speed transmission, 4 cylinder reciprocating engine, working rear differential, independent rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, and adjustable and reclining seats. Awesome.

Had one for Christmas when I was about 4 or 5, and spent a couple of days building it with my dad :-)

stumpy01 – Member
Do you have to have a premier account to add to the playlist.

Nope, find the song you are after, click on the three dots (options menu) on the right and select add to > The STW metal playlist

Also, who the **** put radiohead on there? I mean, it’s called a metal playlist, and it’s veered swiftly into rock of various genres, but WTF? Get a grip!

Ah, Halestorm. The lovely Lzzy Hale 8) Shame they chicken out into soft rock now and again when they ****ing rock when they put their minds to it.

I’ve added some more Halestorm. And some Devilskin, who are a local band in my neck of the woods. And some Metallica, cos’ you can never have enough Metalllica…

Look up Devilskin though, they’re superb. It’s rare to hear a woman fronting a decent rock outfit (please feel free to educate me if you know of any others… Deap Valley, The Pretty Reckless).

If you want dry feet, avoid neoprene ones. Neoprene is what wetsuits are made of. The clue is in the name. They get wet, and use the layer of water trapped between the neoprene and your skin, which is warmed by your body, to keep you warm. So they can do a good job of keeping your feet warm, IF your feet are warm enough to warm up the water first… If you start with cold feet and then they get wet, then they’ll keep your feet nicely refridgerated.

If you want dry, you’ll need ones with a waterproof (usually rubberised) coating. If you have skinny ankles/calves then you might end up with a leak at the top, though.

While the nay-sayers may have a point, in certain circumstances (small gardens where it would be easy to rake, and no space to blow the leaves to, etc.) for a garden above a certain size the leaf blowers win hands down.

Lester – Member
i think I must be stupid, what good is a leaf ” blower”? Doesn’t it just blow them somewhere else to be picked up?

Generally you’d blow them somewhere you can just leave them. And if you do want to collect them for compost/mulch then you can either blow them into a pile, which makes it a million times easier than picking up leaves that are strewn over a big area, or switch to suck and hoover them all up – most decent blower/vacs will chop the leaves as they suck, which helps to compact them in the collector bag and aids composting.

and when they are soaking wet like they are in my garden I cant imagine them actually moving.

Clearly you’re not imagining a powerful enough blower! Mine’s a cheapo Homelite brand but even that will lift compacted leaf/stick/fruit matter from the drive where it’s been repeatedly squashed by vehicle tyres, then dried in the sun, and added to and driven on for a period of weeks. Wet leaves are no bother, it’ll even move yard-long branches (1/2 inch thick) dropped from the redwood trees, which have big heavy bunches of leafy/needly bits at the end.

Do your research on vibration. All of them will claim to have vibration damping handles, or some such gubbins, but all brands are not created equal. Half an hour of 2-stroke vibration through your hand isn’t too pleasant (but still preferable to the equivalent amount of raking up leaves…)

woody2000 – Member
Or it’s the wrong colour undies.

Had that this morning. Son has just turned 3 (two days ago) and declared, on getting dressed as usual:
“NO, I no need undies, I big boy now”
“Everyone needs undies, I wear undies, mum wears undies, Abbie and Oli* wear undies. Babies wear nappies, big kids wear undies”
“No, I big boy now, no need undies”
Cue a couple of minutes of unsuccessfully tryng to wrestle undies onto him. Screams, scratching, snot bubbles, the works.
“How about you wear these football undies and I’ll kick your bottom and pretend it’s a football**”
“No, want my monkey undies”
“These ones?” (selecting undies with monkeys on the front)
“yep” (all smiles, like the previous tantrum had never happened…)
Just got to grin and bear it some days…

*kids of the daycare nanny
** he has a pair of undies in a geodesic football pattern, when he wears them he finds it hilarious if I pretend he’s a football and kick him…

I got an invite from Google a few weeks ago from Google. About a week before that I just emailed them, at the address in DezB’s post above, saying “Hi, Inbox looks really interesting, please can I have an invite?” or words to that effect. Did the trick.

She’s well read in psychology and kids’ literature

I know bobbins about psychology but I’m very well-read in children’s literature. Where is the Green Sheep?, That’s not my Snowman, The Gruffalo’s Child etc. etc…

On a more serious note, we started to go down the same route as you, when our son was two-and-a-bit. He was ill and coughing himself awake several times a night, waking us both up and meaning one of us had to traipse through to his room and comfort him back to sleep. In the end we got fed up and brought him into our bed just to save us from having to get up each time. About a week later we realised that even though he was mostly over the illness, this was the start of a very slippery slope, and no-one was getting any sleep, so we just put him back in his bed and did as you suggest – let him cry for a bit and then settled him.

But no, mum won’t let his brain be wired badly by leaving him screaming, causing irreversible damage to his future prospects.

This being STW, I’m assuming you’ve requested peer-reviewed sources for this type of assertion? :D

Also, you say that she’s well-read in this that and the other – I initially took that to mean ‘qualified’, but do you mean she’s just read a bunch of trendy parenting manuals?

Why not suggest a trial*? You’d tried the ‘sleeping in your bed’ approach, and the result is that no-one’s getting any sleep, it’s putting a strain on the relationship, the sprog is picking up on the bad vibes and is therefore being unsettled at night, and round and round you go.

How about suggesting that for a week or two you try your method, to see if it works. You could even compromise and go in to comfort him as soon as he starts crying rather than waiting – but in his own bed, not yours.

*I don’t mean try to drown her, and if she survives burn her for being a witch.

When I was about 14 I got a holiday job in a local frozen food manufacturing factory. I spent a morning on a production line: one pleb puts foil trays into holes on a conveyor, three rows wide. It slides along under a row of nozzles which squeezed out ‘meat’ of unspecified origin, some sort of gloopy mince. My job was to use the back of a spoon to spread the brown blob around the bottom of the foil tray, then it moved on. You got about a second per tray, it was moving pretty quickly. Then it went under another set of nozzles which put white paste (allegedly mashed potato) on, and another spotty yoof ran a fork over the top to make it look home-made (apparently).

I managed until lunchtime then just went home, I decided I’d rather have no money than do that all holiday.

Dog Soldiers
Kick-Ass
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
The Big Lebowski – if you’ve already seen it, watch it again.
Fargo

Make sure your time values are formatted correctly – they’ll essentially be fractions of a day, with a full day being 1, and 1 second being equal to 1/86,400.

Then plot as a scatter chart, double click on the time axis and tick the “Logarithmic scale” box. Then, while still in the axis format dialogue, select ‘number’, and put in a custom format which is just the letter s. This will display the values on the time axis in seconds. I don’t think you can do it so that the seconds are in seconds, minutes in minutes and hours in hours, all values have to be the same units.

My wife makes a chilli paste and freezes it in thin layers in sandwich bags. That way it keeps for yonks, you just open the bag, slide the chilli out, cut a bit off using scissors or a knife (you can break some off with your fingers but have to remember to wash your hands well after…) and chuck it in whatever you’re cooking. It really retains the flavour as well as the heat of the chillies.

From memory, you put a big handful of chillies in the blender with a couple of peeled garlic cloves and a spoonful of cider vinegar.

Then, and this is really important, take the blender outside, and plug it in using an extension cord.

Whizz it up until there are no big bits left, pour into sandwich bags, seal them with as little air in as possible, and lay flat in the freezer. The layer of chilli paste should be around 3-4 mm thick.

If you try to blend it in the house, your house will fill with capsaicin vapour and you will have to leave quickly, and in pain. You will not be able to re-enter the house for quite some time – or you can, but you need to have your eyes closed and be holding your breath while you fumble your way round opening windows… if you left the blender running when you ran screaming from the house, then you’re stuffed.

I haven’t looked at DSLRs in quite a few years, so can’t offer advice on any particular models/deals, but some general advice… most modern DSLRs are more than capable of doing anything a novice/amateur photographer wants to do. I have a Nikon D80 which must be 8 years old, and is pretty average by today’s standards, but still I rarely get limited by what it can or can’t do.

If all your wife has ever used is a compact or phone camera, then pretty much any DSLR will be more than capable of doing great things, and give your wife tons of scope to improve her skills before she reaches the limit of the camera.

As for Canon vs the rest, it’s a very partisan world out there, but don’t get too hung up on which brand you get – any of the big names will get you a good bit of kit.

One thing that was useful to me when buying the D80 – get out there and test some cameras out. While they’re all the same basic size and shape, there are differences. One of the reasons I got the D80 was that while it had the same features as a couple of others I was looking at, it just felt right in my hands. A similar specced Canon felt way too small, and on one other (Sony?) the shutter release just felt like it was in a bit of an awkward position for my index finger.

Aged 16 or so riding pillion on a mate’s 1000cc bike, never having been on a bike before. He was doing up to 120mph, and never touched the brakes, just dropped it down through the gears to slow down. That was pretty hairy.

Then hiring a moped in Phuket, about 17 years later, with that pillion ride being my only motorbike experience, ever. I managed a steady, controlled pull away from the hire place, got to the end of the road, slowed down. Checked both ways, nothing coming, start to turn right… except I somehow twisted the throttle too much as I was cornering, and as I was accelerating rapidly leaving my intended trajectory I panicked and just kept adding more throttle! Came very close to ploughing straight into the nearby shop window but managed to hit the brakes and get it under control.

When we moved to NZ we got a Subaru Legacy (4WD), I thought I’d take it down a gravel road to test it out… going round a steady left bend I dabbed the accelerator to try to start drifting (had no idea if that was how to do it, just sort of made it up as I went along). Cue big fishtail down the next 100m or so, no idea how I didn’t end up in a field, and very lucky that nothing was coming the other way.

lemonysam – Member
I’m going to nominate standing on a large slug in your bare feet. It’s the slight unyielding bounce that does it.
A good nomination but having done the same (in the dark) to a large frog I’ll up it to that.

I’ll see your frog and raise you a massive rat. Back when all this were just fields, and I had a paper round, I delivered to a mate’s house. He had the biggest cat I’ve ever seen. I swear it was half panther. It used to leave dead stuff on his drive, and one day I stepped on a massive dead rat. I could feel its bones crunch individually, can still feel/imagine it to this day.

Or, I once stepped on an upturned drawing pin, in bare feet. The point stuck in my heel. No pain at all, but I could feel the metal scraping on my heel bone as it went in.

And then I had to pull it out, which was the same but worse…

molgrips – Member
I can give her another anecdote – my phone on my bedside table does not affect me. So that completely disproves it.. doesn’t it..?

That reminds me of a quote I nicked off twitter: “The plural of anecdote is not data.”

…chipboard drawers…

I’d like to say they’re finest English oak. If only they weren’t from some furniture outlet in Luton. Oh the shame! :oops:

Sounds like a bargain (all of the above). Here in NZ it was about $450 (£225) for my last filling. It’s $150 (£75) ish just for a check-up.