Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you

ddraver

The absolute stone cold epic timing...l

https://news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-tests-positive-for-covid-buckingham-palace-says-12626242

I'm now wavering on the whole Diana conspiracy too 🤔

orraloon

^ He caught it in a Pizza Express in Woking.

pinno

pblakeney said:

We'll be fried before then.

That's what I said.

pinno

We have 'evolved'?
No we haven't.
We have evolved in terms of the accumulation of knowledge, and in terms of scientific, medical and engineering advancement.
We have bodies like Amnesty international, the UN and NATO but wars, famine and atrocities still occur. We have developed nuclear weapons capable of obliterating the planet and most life. We pollute and abuse the natural world and are using up finite resources unsustainably. Commercialism, trade and nation's GDP still triumphs over climate change.

Hunter/gatherer humans lived far more in harmony with the environment.

focuszing723

If a comet, asteroid hits Earth, it could be toast. If Humanity evolves enough, we could change their course (Bruce Wills Stylely) to continue the planet's existence and everything on it.

Does the Universe care about Earths existence? We are the only ones that do and are evolving enough to do something about it. Well, apart from the UFO/UAP possible observers?

focuszing723

I don't mean "Die Hard" although that mentality would be good with regard to impending doom.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Why are a load of riders from abroad suddenly all joining and posting rides on local Strava clubs in Southampton (probably applies to other local clubs too)?

I joined them mainly for some ride route inspiration, but now they are getting flooded with riders from the likes of India and Brazil posting rides based in India and Brazil etc.

Borderline intrigue/annoy.

pblakeney

Something to ponder.

focuszing723

Consciousness is pretty incredible. To be able to think, make $h1t n stuff.

morstar

Why on a very empty motorway, some people drive 20 yards/18metres/ 1/13th furlong behind another vehicle.

First.Aspect

morstar said:

Why on a very empty motorway, some people drive 20 yards/18metres/ 1/13th furlong behind another vehicle.

Where is this empty motorway of which you speak?

morstar

First.Aspect said:

morstar said:

Why on a very empty motorway, some people drive 20 yards/18metres/ 1/13th furlong behind another vehicle.

Where is this empty motorway of which you speak?

😛
Won’t be by now. That’s for sure. 7:30 this morning M61.

Pross

morstar said:

Why on a very empty motorway, some people drive 20 yards/18metres/ 1/13th furlong behind another vehicle.

And presumably both in lane 2 even though lane 1 was empty?

morstar

Pross said:

morstar said:

Why on a very empty motorway, some people drive 20 yards/18metres/ 1/13th furlong behind another vehicle.

And presumably both in lane 2 even though lane 1 was empty?

You were there then!

morstar

Another thing that intrigues me about motorway driving.

I’m very dull these days and slap the speed limiter on and accelerate up to it pretty much everywhere I drive. A few mph over the limit to allow for the safety factor built into speedometers and a bit of wiggle room on top.

Sometimes I will be one of the slowest vehicles on the motorway and others I will be one of the fastest. Rarely am I just keeping up with the flow. There really is no clear pattern to when it is which.

First.Aspect

The answer to the original question is adaptive cruise control.

Morstar what is the "safe" non speeding speeding speed for motorways these days?

morstar

First.Aspect said:

The answer to the original question is adaptive cruise control.

Morstar what is the "safe" non speeding speeding speed for motorways these days?

Who knows? In an average speed camera section, somebody will inevitably blast though way faster than the limit which always has me wondering, 'in the know' or 'clueless'?

I work on my speedo being 2mph shy at 70mph. Most traffic enforcement stuff I've read suggests +10% + 2mph or sometimes +4mph. I don't trouble the upper limits as part of some data collection exercise though. 50mph roadwork sections with average speed cameras have been consistently fine at 55mph on the dial (so I'm told).

I may be aware of an individual who blissfully travelled at a comfortable speed for the vehicle for a good 20 years or so without penalty. I may look back on that persons driving these days and wonder were they just lucky or was that just the times? I can't imagine anybody getting away with that sort of thing for that long these days.

pinno

morstar said:

First.Aspect said:

The answer to the original question is adaptive cruise control.

Morstar what is the "safe" non speeding speeding speed for motorways these days?

Who knows? In an average speed camera section, somebody will inevitably blast though way faster than the limit which always has me wondering, 'in the know' or 'clueless'?

I work on my speedo being 2mph shy at 70mph. Most traffic enforcement stuff I've read suggests +10% + 2mph or sometimes +4mph. I don't trouble the upper limits as part of some data collection exercise though. 50mph roadwork sections with average speed cameras have been consistently fine at 55mph on the dial (so I'm told).

I may be aware of an individual who blissfully travelled at a comfortable speed for the vehicle for a good 20 years or so without penalty. I may look back on that persons driving these days and wonder were they just lucky or was that just the times? I can't imagine anybody getting away with that sort of thing for that long these days.

I have
Never been caught through an average camera section - they're pretty poor at it.
Was caught doing 50.. get this, on the M77 through road works at 6am. The roadwork speed was 40. 'Speed limit to protect road workers' signs, except there wasn't a single bloody road worker.
Caught at 37 in a truck (just past Coughton Court, Warwickshire) in a 30 for 7.5 ton + trucks but this was not made clear through signage.

Went passed cops at 39 mph in a 30 in my old porker and wasn't stopped. In fact, they drooped the speed gun just to gawp at the car going by.

Got stopped in the 911 after overtaking a long line of traffic on the Creetown bypass (A77) who were crawling behind the mandatory 40 for trucks at ooh, in excess of 120mph
This unmarked BMW followed me for some 15 miles and then... blue light in the grill came on.
I though "oh sh*t".
He said that he 'clocked me but after overtaking, went back to the legal speed, drove courteously and didn't tail gate but keep the speed down please'. That was it, no fine, no points.

Was running late some years ago trying to get my then GF to Glasgow airport and got flashed no less than 4 times jumping red lights (at 4am) and winced every time it happened and I didn't get a single ticket.

My conclusion is that if you habitually speed, you will be caught - it's just a matter of time. I don't habitually speed and the technology (radar, speed cameras etc) aren't very efficient.

pblakeney

First.Aspect said:

The answer to the original question is adaptive cruise control.

Morstar what is the "safe" non speeding speeding speed for motorways these days?

I was told by a traffic cop that they wouldn’t pull over anyone at 77 or below. This was at least 10 years ago though.
As per Pinno above, actual traffic cops assess situations rather than little Hitlers that have been given a speed gun.

Pross

I couple of times I've passed speed vans recently and looked at my speedo to see I was about 5mph over the limit. The most recent one I saw well in advance but felt I was within the limit, looked down and saw I was at around 38 so expected a ticket. However, checking against GPS speed when I have satnav on and my speedo seems to be around 3-4mph slower than reality. 10% + 2mph used to be the ACPO guidance I think.

pinno

Pross said:

I couple of times I've passed speed vans recently and looked at my speedo to see I was about 5mph over the limit. The most recent one I saw well in advance but felt I was within the limit, looked down and saw I was at around 38 so expected a ticket. However, checking against GPS speed when I have satnav on and my speedo seems to be around 3-4mph slower than reality. 10% + 2mph used to be the ACPO guidance I think.

You can safely say 11%. That's what the nutcase motorbike riders tell me.

monkimark

The specs average speed cameras used to all be front facing so bikers could ignore them, not sure if that is still the case as I have seen some that definitely look like they're aimed the rear plate.

Years ago I did 'Bikesafe', a day of motorbike training run by police bikers. We were split into groups by experience and went out with one copper taking each pair.
I was with a guy on a liveried BMW and half way through the day we were riding along a NSL at decent lick when a black GSXR overtook us like were standing still, I fully expected to see the blue lights go on and the guy to get pulled over, until the other two bikes passed us and I realised the GSXR was an unmarked police bike, taking out the more experienced riders.

Pross

The BBC's obsession with Celeste. I know music is subjective so try not to dismiss any music as rubbish just because it isn't my taste but her voice actually makes me grind my teeth and I can hardly understand a word she says. Am I missing something?

focuszing723

I wonder if the Queen is happy about her gaff being lit up like a Christmas Tree? She's 96! I bet she just wants to get off for a well deserved kip, bloody Diana Ross warbling outside.

rick_chasey

focuszing723 said:

I wonder if the Queen is happy about her gaff being lit up like a Christmas Tree? She's 96! I bet she just wants to get off for a well deserved kip, bloody Diana Ross warbling outside.

Boring boring but a) I don’t think she’s staying there at the moment and b) I’m sure the millions, the palaces etc softens the blow.

Pross

She's in Windsor. Bloody typical wealthy Londoner disappearing off to a second home in the country and making it impossible for locals to buy houses. Surprised she hasn't got a pad in Padstow or Salcombe as well.

verylonglegs

Who could blame her for taking one look at that line up and deciding to call in sick?

focuszing723

b) doesn't worry me, she's been an asset via tourism. I like her, she stayed out of politics to the best of her ability and has done a good job representing the UK.

She will be missed, I just hope Charles can rein in his politics and follow his Mother's good example.

rjsterry

Windsor is very much the first home by about 700 years. Buckingham Palace is the second home and second hand.

focuszing723

a) Look, I saw the curtains shuffle and her head in the window when Rod was singing.