Does Pete77 have an answer for everything?

[jradosh]

Sausages in a Yorkshire Pudding. Go on, admit it. You're no wiser now than you were a minute ago ;)
Dumber even. All the blood's rushing from my brain to my stomach. :)

Sounds a bit like "pigs in a blanket"... sort of. :p

[Agatha Mystery]

What it says on the tin. It's the Anglo-French connection. ;)

Yes, it may say toad-in-the-hole on the tin, but what does that mean? Is someone canning frog legs?

[cwaring]

Sort of, but not really :) PIAB are sausages wrapped in a small bit of bacon. Well TITH is sausages in a large Yorkshire Pudding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pudding) which, according to that page are like what you call a "popover".

Ahh... gotta love Wiki.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_in_the_hole

[Agatha Mystery]

Sausages in a Yorkshire Pudding. Go on, admit it. You're no wiser now than you were a minute ago ;)
Sounds like a euphamism. :p

[jradosh]

Sort of, but not really :) PIAB are sausages wrapped in a small bit of bacon. To me, pigs in a blanket is this...

http://www2.edu.dhc.co.jp/moablog/archives/img/moablog041105.jpg

Hot dog or sausage wrapped in a dough and baked. :up:


edit: Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_a_blanket)

[cwaring]

Sounds like a euphamism. :p
Oy!... and also.... ewww :D

[Agatha Mystery]

Sort of, but not really :) PIAB are sausages wrapped in a small bit of bacon. Well TITH is sausages in a large Yorkshire Pudding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pudding) which, according to that page are like what you call a "popover".

Ahh... gotta love Wiki.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_in_the_hole
I'm sure there are many of us around here who don't know what a popover is, either. :D


So, you eat that out of a tin? Looks like it would be a bit soggy.

[cwaring]

To me, pigs in a blanket is this... Hot dog or sausage wrapped in a dough and baked. :up:[/url]
We're both right ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_blankets

So, you eat that out of a tin? Looks like it would be a bit soggy.
No, not personally. Only every freshly made. You can buy them "ready made" in Supermarkets, but not in tins.

[Agatha Mystery]

Oy!... and also.... ewww :D
Nooooo. Pigs in a Blanket (with dough) are wonderful. Sometimes, sausages wrapped in pancakes are also called Pigs in a Blanket.

My preference is to sue small smoked sausages (Lil' Smokies) wrapped in flaky dough, witha small bit of cheese (usually American) inside the dough. Yum.

[Agatha Mystery]

We're both right ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_blankets


No, not personally. Only every freshly made. You can buy them "ready made" in Supermarkets, but not in tins.
You're the one who said tin. Thbbbbbtht. :p

[cwaring]

You're the one who said tin. Thbbbbbtht. :p
Nope. Wasn't me :)

Nooooo.
My comment was re your comment about it being a euphamism :)

Pigs in a Blanket (with dough) are wonderful.
They do sound nice.

[Pete77]

Seems I desubscribed just in time.

Can we retitle this the "American Tivo users will try to rack up the post score by any means whether fair or foul" thread.

[jradosh]

Seems I desubscribed just in time.

Can we retitle this the "American Tivo users will try to rack up the post score by any means whether fair or foul" thread.
Hey, I resent that!!! :mad:

(I don't own a TiVo) ;) :p :D


Oh, and I'm just making new friends. If that pushes up my post count, so be it.

I don't know how you say it over there, but in the US we say "lighten up" or "chill out". I shouldn't hurt you if we chat with your neighbors, right? :)

[Pete77]

I shouldn't hurt you if we chat with your neighbors, right? :)
Speaking from past experience in the field of neighbourly relations that is not something I should like to count on at all.

[Pete77]

(I don't own a TiVo) ;) :p :D

That would figure.

Just a web chataholic who likes a busy web forum.

[eddyj]

Just a web chataholic who likes a busy web forum.
I resemble that remark!

[jradosh]

That would figure.

Just a web chataholic who likes a busy web forum.
I owned a TiVo for many years until fiber optic service became available in my area (Verizon FiOS). They have many HDTV channels and also provide a DVR (albiet not as nice as my old TiVo... I sure miss it).

Oh, and I have great neighbors. One couple is coming over for dinner tonight as a matter of fact. So when I say I'm being "neighborly", I mean it in a good way. :)

[cwaring]

I will say that this thread is now more suited to our non-Tivo are (General Chat) in the same way that your "WATY" thread is not in your own main Tivo forum :)

[Joules1111]

I will say that this thread is now more suited to our non-Tivo are (General Chat) in the same way that your "WATY" thread is not in your own main Tivo forum :)
But even your "General Chat" forum seems very technology based to me. Perhaps you guys need to nag the admin. for your very own "Happy Hour" forum. :)

[cwaring]

It comes and goes. It just so happens that in the last few days those particular threads have been resurrected :)

However, just to stay on-topic, I am now thinking that I'll take my chocolate muffin and a drink of orange juice upstairs and watch something on my Tivo.

Here's tonight's choices:

ER "Jigsaw"
NCIS "Under Covers"
Out of Practice "The Wedding"
NCIS "Honor Code"
The Dresden Files "Birds of a Feather" (Pilot)

or the first two eps in the second and final season of "Life On Mars".

Oh, I might just fire-up the lappy so I can keep up with this thread too :)

[Pete77]

or the first two eps in the second and final season of "Life On Mars".

Where would you have got the second episode from bearing in mind that they have only broadcast the first episode in the Second Season so far? :confused:

From one of those BitTorrent sites perhaps or if not it must be a typo I assume? ;)

[Nero2]

Okay, quick update the Toad-in-the-Hole was very tasty, served up with sugar-snaps and garden peas. Not very exiciting I admit, but in an attempt to engage with our American overlords.

For reference, Toad-in-the-Hole:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_in_the_hole

[cwaring]

Where would you have got the second episode from bearing in mind that they have only broadcast the first episode in the Second Season so far? :confused:

From one of those BitTorrent sites perhaps or if not it must be a typo I assume? ;)

No typo. BBC4 are now one week ahead. I don't steal stuff :)

[Agatha Mystery]

Seems I desubscribed just in time.

Can we retitle this the "American Tivo users will try to rack up the post score by any means whether fair or foul" thread.
It has nothing to do with increasing post count. I couldn't care less about mine. We're just chatty people. We were enjoying getting to know our British TiVo counterparts. Apparently, you're the cranky one. I'll make note of that for future reference.

[Pete77]

It has nothing to do with increasing post count. I couldn't care less about mine.

And you say that even with a current post count score of 11,427 ;) :p

[jradosh]

And you say that even with a current post count score of 11,427 ;) :p
It's kind of hard to post without increasing the post count. ;)

Serious question... have you visited the Happy Hour forum? If you have, surely you're aware that many of us on the forum are friends. We love visiting with each other online every day, and even visiting with each other in person a few times a year.

I even had a mini-meet at my house once. Can you imagine 30-40 'strangers' coming to your house for a party? We can!

That's where it comes from... friendship and sharing stories/experiences. Not post count "score" (interesting use of the word ;) )

[eddyj]

And you say that even with a current post count score of 11,427 ;) :p
You do not get this high by padding your post count. You get here by enjoying the interaction with others. Many of us (including Agatha and myself) often go to meets with other people from the board, often traveling very far (I just went to NY last week for one of these...about 1200 miles to spend a weekend with my friends from the board.

To us, this is a meeting place, to hang out with our friends. Yeah, we sometimes talk about TiVos too. :)

[Agatha Mystery]

And you say that even with a current post count score of 11,427 ;) :p
Yes, but my post count per day is 6 something and yours is 7 something. That means you post more than I do. :D

[Pete77]

Yes, but my post count per day is 6 something and yours is 7 something. That means you post more than I do. :D

At least I post about Tivos though? ;) :eek:

[Joules1111]

At least I post about Tivos though? ;) :eek:
So being one-dimensional is considered a good thing in your country? :p

(Geez, Pete77, you just can't quit us, can you?)

[YCantAngieRead]

It has nothing to do with increasing post count. I couldn't care less about mine. We're just chatty people. We were enjoying getting to know our British TiVo counterparts. Apparently, you're the cranky one. I'll make note of that for future reference.
I'm rather embarrassed by my post count, and would be VERY pleased if I could just reset the whole darned thing. I don't like it at all.

[Pete77]

So being one-dimensional is considered a good thing in your country? :p

(Geez, Pete77, you just can't quit us, can you?)

If we had female members as nice as you Joules that I might want to meet with in person perhaps I could diversify the subject matter I post about.

I'm not sure how rewarding a meeting in person with most of my fellow UK male Tivo geeks would actually prove to be though. :eek:

[Agatha Mystery]

If we had female members as nice as you Joules that I might want to meet with in person perhaps I could diversify the subject matter I post about.

I'm not sure how rewarding a meeting in person with most of my fellow UK male Tivo geeks would actually prove to be though. :eek:
So I'm not nice?


I guess I should show more cleavage. :p


Why wouldn't meeting UK male TiVo geeks be rewarding? It's always rewarding making new friends. Remember, we're geeks as well. I'm a geek/nerd. I also happen to make explosives and propellant for a living. Which just makes me a dangerous geek. :eek:

[Joules1111]

If we had female members as nice as you Joules that I might want to meet with in person perhaps I could diversify the subject matter I post about.
Are you sure there aren't nice UK girlies on TCF? I'm half tempted to overstep boundaries again and start a thread about this in your general chat forum. :D Might end up making some love matches over there!

I'm not sure how rewarding a meeting in person with most of my fellow UK male Tivo geeks would actually prove to be though. :eek:
Friends are friends. And, who knows, maybe the guy you discuss TiVo with on here has a cute sister. Not sure were you all live, but if there are a handful of you in one city perhaps a monthly lunch would be cool. :up:

[Pete77]

I guess I should show more cleavage. :p

I tend to be a sucker for that kind of thing. Although Joules does look a rather likeably cheeky kind of girl too.

I also happen to make explosives and propellant for a living. Which just makes me a dangerous geek.

I'd be careful about making that kind of post on an internet forum these days if I were you. Having those guys with the caps breaking down one's door at 3am can be just so disruptive to one's beauty sleep. ;) :eek:

[Pete77]

I'm rather embarrassed by my post count, and would be VERY pleased if I could just reset the whole darned thing. I don't like it at all.

Quitting the habit altogether would probably be the better solution though. :p

[Pete77]

Friends are friends. And, who knows, maybe the guy you discuss TiVo with on here has a cute sister. Not sure were you all live, but if there are a handful of you in one city perhaps a monthly lunch would be cool. :up:

All of us in the UK must live within live within 600 miles of each other and most within no more than 200 miles of each other. We have no excuse really other than our own basic lack of geekish sociability.

Only seen three UK women make a post on the forum in my whole time here. No regular Tivocommunity females at all sadly. :o

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Seems I desubscribed just in time.

Can we retitle this the "American Tivo users will try to rack up the post score by any means whether fair or foul" thread.
I knew he couldnt leave it alone for 2 minutes!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D

[Agatha Mystery]

I tend to be a sucker for that kind of thing. Although Joules does look a rather likeably cheeky kind of girl too.



I'd be careful about making that kind of post on an internet forum these days if I were you. Having those guys with the caps breaking down one's door at 3am can be just so disruptive to one's beauty sleep. ;) :eek:
Oh, I've many a post about that on internet forums. I work FOR the government. I make what they tell me to. Odds are, they aren't going to break down my door for doing what they tell me to.

That's not to say that I haven't had a 3 a.m. phone call, but that's because of a fire alarm going off on a building that has explosives in it and the fire department wants to know what to do. :D

[Pete77]

I knew he couldnt leave it alone for 2 minutes!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D

Well I just couldn't resist taking a look and I found making another post resubscribed me automatically due to my member profile settings.............................

[eddyj]

I'd be careful about making that kind of post on an internet forum these days if I were you. Having those guys with the caps breaking down one's door at 3am can be just so disruptive to one's beauty sleep. ;) :eek:
Unless you work for a goventment contractor, like she does.

And I will tell you both of these ladies are quite nice, smart, likable, and geeky. What else could you want? That is why I am happy to say they are both my friends.

And going back to the meeting people from the board, Joules met her husband at a TiVo meet, and got married during the yearly Con. :)

[Agatha Mystery]

All of us in the UK must live within live within 600 miles of each other and most within no more than 200 miles of each other. We have no excuse really other than our own basic lack of geekish sociability.
So? That's not excuse enough? Drink, have fun, be merry, make Mary, etc. :p


Besides, I am attracted to nerdy guys. I find I like them much more than the buff dudes. Besides, the nerdy guys don't look at me funny when I tell them that I have the TARDIS as my ringtone. :D

[Pete77]

I work FOR the government. I make what they tell me to. Odds are, they aren't going to break down my door for doing what they tell me to.

That's not to say that I haven't had a 3 a.m. phone call, but that's because of a fire alarm going off on a building that has explosives in it and the fire department wants to know what to do. :D

You mean you work for the CIA or the US military then. :eek:

I guess the rest of us had better worry about what you can work out about us by hacking the posts we make. :p

[Agatha Mystery]

Unless you work for a goventment contractor, like she does.

And I will tell you both of these ladies are quite nice, smart, likable, and geeky. What else could you want? That is why I am happy to say they are both my friends.

And going back to the meeting people from the board, Joules met her husband at a TiVo meet, and got married during the yearly Con. :)
Not even a contractor, but the government itself. Department of the Navy is my employer.

I have made some wonderful friends through TCF. I've stayed at their homes. I'd invite them to mine, but as I live in the middle of nowhere due to said job (and it's the middle of the desert, so it gets really really hot around here), but no one would come.

[cwaring]

Are you sure there aren't nice UK girlies on TCF? I'm half tempted to overstep boundaries again and start a thread about this in your general chat forum. :D Might end up making some love matches over there!
Count me in. Would love a US penpal (or more;)) :)

I guess I should show more cleavage. :p
I'm saying nothing :eek: :o

Besides, the nerdy guys don't look at me funny when I tell them that I have the TARDIS as my ringtone. :D
I have that CTU ring-tone from "24" as mine ;)

You'll note that I'm making all my replies in one post!

[Pete77]

Besides, the nerdy guys don't look at me funny when I tell them that I have the TARDIS as my ringtone. :D

Did you ever also watch any episodes of our UK sci fi series "Blakes Seven" or "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Two of my all time favourites.

[firerose818]

Count me in for the TCF love crowd. I met my boyfriend (who I moved to Atlanta to live with) through TCF meets. :)

[Joules1111]

Only seen three UK women make a post on the forum in my whole time here. No regular Tivocommunity females at all sadly. :oBut how can you be certain? If they don't have an avatar and they have a non-gender specific user name its hard to tell. Like Ninny (nyny523). Showed up at a New York City meet and everyone was shocked that she was a very girly-girl. :) And a sweetheart, to boot.

And going back to the meeting people from the board, Joules met her husband at a TiVo meet, and got married during the yearly Con. :)
Yes, I did. And I could not be happier. I guess this makes me the biggest geek of all. :o

[Agatha Mystery]

You mean you work for the CIA or the US military then. :eek:

I guess the rest of us had better worry about what you can work out about us by hacking the posts we make. :p
Nope. Not a hacker. But I can blow up your house. :eek:


When I was flying to London a year ago, the airlines were inspecting my passport and discussing the whole luggage thing. I asked them what would happen if my bags tested positive for explosives. I wondered if they would call me back from the gate, or would they just refuse to let me on the plane. The ticket agent told me not to joke about such matters. I told him it wasn't a joke, as it has happened before. It's one of the side affects from my job. He wasn't sure what would happen. Fortunately, I passed. :p

[Joules1111]

I guess I should show more cleavage. :p
Leave my cleavage out of this. :p It's not like you don't have plenty to work with yourself.

[Pete77]

Count me in for the TCF love crowd. I met my boyfriend (who I moved to Atlanta to live with) through TCF meets. :)

Your avatar specs and eyes do look rather sexy firerose.

But you Americans, even the geeky ones, find it just so much easier to form relationships. Us British geeks are capable of a whole new level of introversion.

[Agatha Mystery]

Did you ever also watch any episodes of our UK sci fi series "Blakes Seven" or "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Two of my all time favourites.
Nope. Not yet. I have watched all of the episodes of Red Dwarf.

[Agatha Mystery]

Leave my cleavage out of this. :p It's not like you don't have plenty to work with yourself.
Oh, I'm not denying the power of cleavage. I'm just saying that maybe I should show mine off. Apparently, I'm now a DDD. :eek:

[cwaring]

You should get "Hitch-Hikers..." ASAP. Not the newer, film version either; though I didn't think it was that bad.
http://www.amazon.com/Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-Peter-Jones/dp/B00005YUNJ/

[Pete77]

But how can you be certain? If they don't have an avatar and they have a non-gender specific user name its hard to tell. Like Ninny (nyny523). Showed up at a New York City meet and everyone was shocked that she was a very girly-girl. :) And a sweetheart, to boot.

You could be right but most of the UK regulars have given away enough about their lifestyles over time for us to be sure that they are guys.

[eddyj]

Not even a contractor, but the government itself. Department of the Navy is my employer.
All this time I thought you worked for a contractor that did exclusively Navy contracts. Which is silly, since I know Inigo has a red passport, so I know he is a gov employee. :o

[Pete77]

You should get "Hitch-Hikers..." ASAP. Not the newer, film version either; though I didn't think it was that bad.

Not seen the film yet myself but watched and listened to the recent BBC re-runs (and new radio episodes) in addition to seeing them at the time. I suppose I could get it online if I could ever get to grips with where one finds all this free Bit Torrent stuff that is supposed to be so readily available? :o

Did you see the re-run of "The Flipside of Dominic Hyde" last year. A truly brilliant program. I wish they still made more stuff like that.

I wasn't at all impressed with Torchwood sadly, which seemed a very unimaginative and predictable kind of a series. Most of the new Dr Whos have been great though, although its a shame Christopher Ecclestone didn't do a second series. Having picked David Tennant to replace him then in this day and age he ought to have been able to use his Scottish accent as the Doctor, especially after Christopher Tennant got away with an Up North accent.

[Pete77]

Not even a contractor, but the government itself. Department of the Navy is my employer.

Do you have anything to do with that NCIS lot? I don't suppose the tv series is anything like the real thing though.

[eddyj]

Do you have anything to do with that NCIS lot? I don't suppose the tv series is anything like the real thing though.
Only if she murders her co-workers. :p

[Agatha Mystery]

Do you have anything to do with that NCIS lot? I don't suppose the tv series is anything like the real thing though.
I did have an interview with a guy from NCIS when some chemicals disappeared on transport from our base to a treatment facility.


But, no, I don't deal with the NCIS guys (there is an office here, though). The only time that there is any interaction with them is when they have to do security clearance investigations.

[TCM2007]

At least I post about Tivos though? ;) :eek:

Sometimes!

[Raisltin Majere]

What's NCIS?

[Pete77]

I guess I should show more cleavage. :p

None of us guys is going to stop you if you want to I feel sure. ;) :p

[Pete77]

What's NCIS?

Go to Tivoweb.

Then Search by Title.

Type NCIS into the Search box.

And find.

Episode Title Reveille
Episode Description The terrorist Bete Noir, returns with a plan to attack the president. Gibbs and his team follow the clues to reveal his identity and find Kate, who has been kidnapped.
Episode Number
Duration 0:55
Original Air Date Tue 25th May 2004
Actors Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum, Pauley Perrette, Sasha Alexander
Guest Stars Alan Dale, Gerry Becker, Joe Spano, Gary Grubbs, Steve Bridges, Richard Anthony Crenna, Gerald Downey, Michael Adler, Michael Maize, Pancho Demmings, Gerald McCulloch, Gregory Itzin, Lawrence Pressman, Dane Northcutt, Dwayne Macopsen
Directors Donald P. Bellisario
Producers Donald P. Bellisario, Chas. Floyd Johnson, John Tinker, Mark Horowitz
Writers Donald P. Bellisario
Genres Action Adventure, Crime, Drama
Bits R
Type Series
Channel 105 FIVE
Showing Date Sat 17th Feb 20:10

Try grabbing an episode. Its rather a good series and I don't go for that many other similar US type programs.

[Pete77]

But, no, I don't deal with the NCIS guys (there is an office here, though). The only time that there is any interaction with them is when they have to do security clearance investigations.

Do you ever watch the tv series NCIS though.

And do you own a Tivo by the way? ;) :p

[Pete77]

Sometimes!

If you can't beat them then join them as the old saying goes.......................

[Agatha Mystery]

Do you ever watch the tv series NCIS though.

And do you own a Tivo by the way? ;) :p
I think I've seen one episode of NCIS. And I own a DirecTiVo.

[Raisltin Majere]

Go to Tivoweb.

Then Search by Title.

Type NCIS into the Search box.

And find.



Try grabbing an episode. Its rather a good series and I don't go for that many other similar US type programs.

Sounds a bit like 24 (I think, I've never seen that either).

What series is it on at the moment? Will it be easy to get into if I haven't seen previous series/episodes

[cwaring]

Sounds a bit like 24 (I think, I've never seen that either).
It's nothing like 24! It's actually a spin-off from JAG. FX are just showing Season 3 on week-nights and five are showing the same season weekly. S4 is on FX from April. I like the show.

[Raisltin Majere]

It's nothing like 24! It's actually a spin-off from JAG. FX are just showing Season 3 on week-nights and five are showing the same season weekly. S4 is on FX from April. I like the show.

lol, never heard of JAG either. This could go on forever :D

Looks like there's one on in half hour, I'll give it a try

[Pete77]

What series is it on at the moment? Will it be easy to get into if I haven't seen previous series/episodes

I don't know which series its on to be honest. I've only seen a few episodes and it isn't a must watch for me but I quite like a few of the characters, including the crazy young goth female phorensic pathologist.

I tried 24 and hated it. Not my kind of thing at all in the same way that I thought I would like Lost when I heard the trailers for it but also found I absolutely hated it.

[cwaring]

Looks like there's one on in half hour, I'll give it a try
It's just your typical US TV drama. It passes and hour :D

.. including the crazy young goth female phorensic pathologist.
Pauly P. She's gorgeous as Abby (and not bad as herself ;))

[Pete77]

It's just your typical US TV drama. It passes and hour :D


Pauly P. She's gorgeous as Abby (and not bad as herself ;))

Its more stylish and slicker than most of them and it makes a few amusing in jokes about the state of the US government.

Plus other drama series don't have Abby.

The gorgeousness is more her personality than her looks really.

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Unlucky for you guys, I got my avatar to work!

[YCantAngieRead]

Quitting the habit altogether would probably be the better solution though. :p
Well, sure, there is that. But it would get awfully lonesome in this big ol' house during the day if I did. :)

[Agatha Mystery]

Unlucky for you guys, I got my avatar to work!
I kinda like it. All pensive and such. :D

[TCM2007]

It's just your typical US TV drama. It passes and hour :D


44 minutes with a TiVo. :)

[firerose818]

Very nice avatar, Paul! :up:

[cwaring]

44 minutes with a TiVo. :)
Sounds about right. 42 mins for the actual programme and 2 for FF through ads and other sundry stuff; replays, rew's etc. :)

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Very nice avatar, Paul! :up:
Awww Ta very much...

[ColinYounger]

Afternoon all.

Not wishing to give the impression I'm obsessed, BUT.... :)

My quest for crane information continues, but information I've found so far is lacking. There's the suggestion that a 'truck like crane' is used to build up the tower crane. But that doesn't explain the REALLY tall ones. They must be put there with fairy dust or something.

There's a tall one about 20 mins from me, but I bet if I went and asked, I'd be escorted away and sectioned. :)

Damn cranes!

[Noddy Holder]

Hey Pete, I'm a she. ;)
LOL that explains it :D

[ColinYounger]

Oh - and how do our new friends imbed an image in a post? (as opposed to link\attach).

[Noddy Holder]

Yeah, we know, we're ok with it. :p :)

If its ok with you it is with me :p :D ;)

[Noddy Holder]

My town's sister city is Runnymede. Any of you blokes near there? Say "hello" to my town's sister for me :D

Hi Im close, runnymede is a district not a town though

[ColinYounger]

Linking back to where I left off yesterday,

it may say toad-in-the-hole on the tin, but what does that mean?'What it says on the tin' means that the thing being referred to should be taken literally. So,

'What does the sliding door do?'
'It does what it says on the tin'

Means that the door slides.

Is someone canning frog legs?

No - I was trying to be funny. Glad it worked. :o

[Pete77]

Hi Im close, runnymede is a district not a town though

More like a hamlet but definitely a place on the River Thames you can identify.

Look out for King John's crown. ;)

[ColinYounger]

Apparently, you're the cranky one.

Pshwffft!

^ Sound of mineral water squirting through nose.

[ColinYounger]

"Hitch-Hikers..."Ahhh - HHGTTG, I love it. I have the complete radio series on CD, the radio scripts book (with insights from DA) as well as all the books (which are in an awful condition from being over-read).

I'm just introducing my boys to it's joys via the radio series. They think it's great so far (we've just met Benji mouse, etc).

General question: who's your favourite HHGTTG character?

(translation for the US lurkers - "who's your favorite HHGTTG character?")

[eddyj]

Oh - and how do our new friends imbed an image in a post? (as opposed to link\attach).
The image must be hosted on a web site, then use IMG tags for it.

So this, minus the spaces inside the brackets, gets you the pic below.
[ IMG ]http://tivo.eddyj.net/tivo/license.jpg[ /IMG ]

http://tivo.eddyj.net/tivo/license.jpg

There is also a button in the reply screen (mountain) that lets you insert the URL.

[ColinYounger]

Kewl - thanks Eddy!

<insert amusing comment here>

[Noddy Holder]

Yep.

I have family that came over with the Puritans in 1630 (with John Winthrop on the Arabella), and I am a member of the Choctaw Indian tribe. I'm actually Choctaw and Cherokee, but you can only register with one tribe.

So, I'm mostly 'white', but I have an olive cast to my skin, even in winter. :p

Sorry but you sound fantastic

[ColinYounger]

often go to meets with other people from the board, often traveling very farYears ago I was very active on CompuServe as part of 'TeamOz' (long story). I was 'efriends' with a guy from the Bay area, A guy from NJ and a guy from Berlin.

We met in London one year - I was closest (obviously), but the Bay guy couldn't make it. We had a great time seeing for real what each other looked like. We even had T-Shirts made so we could recognise each other. :)

Great times, and I'm still in contact with the Bay guy, but not as often as I'd like.

[eddyj]

Sorry but you sound fantastic
She is.

[eddyj]

Years ago I was very active on CompuServe as part of 'TeamOz' (long story). I was 'efriends' with a guy from the Bay area, A guy from NJ and a guy from Berlin.

We met in London one year - I was closest (obviously), but the Bay guy couldn't make it. We had a great time seeing for real what each other looked like. We even had T-Shirts made so we could recognise each other. :)

Great times, and I'm still in contact with the Bay guy, but not as often as I'd like.
In the past year or so, I have been to meets in Las Vegas, Charleston, Dallas, Boston, Orlando, Miami (that one was at my house), NY, and Washington DC. And there are many who go to more than I do. :o

[ColinYounger]

Eddy - wow! You win. :)

Would you have travelled to those places WITHOUT the influence of efriends?

[firerose818]

In the past year or so, I have been to meets in Las Vegas, Charleston, Dallas, Boston, Orlando, Miami (that one was at my house), NY, and Washington DC. And there are many who go to more than I do. :o

My TCF trips have included Atlanta (before I lived here), Orlando, Las Vegas, Boston, and Miami. I run into Eddy at these things a lot! :p :D

[Pete77]

My TCF trips have included Atlanta (before I lived here), Orlando, Las Vegas, Boston, and Miami. I run into Eddy at these things a lot! :p :D

You obviously need to suggest your first ever get together in jolly old London town. Easy to get to from most parts of the USA. ;)

[cwaring]

My quest for crane information continues...
It's all explained in an edition of "How They Do It" or whatever it's called on the Discovery Channel.

General question: who's your favourite HHGTTG character?
Gotta be Marvin ;):D

[ColinYounger]

HHGTTG: I like Zaphod (at least I find myself accidentally quoting him most), but I have an affection for Slartibartfast. I like the way he's so world(s) weary.

The radio scripts (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-Radio-Scripts/dp/0330435108) are a must for any fan. I've got v.1, though. <smug>

[ColinYounger]

It's all explained in an edition of "How They Do It"Awww, come on! If you've watched the program you could at least tell me!

<mutter>

[Pete77]

HHGTTG: I like Zaphod (at least I find myself accidentally quoting him most), but I have an affection for Slartibartfast. I like the way he's so world(s) weary.

My hero is Marvin the Paranoid Android.

"Here I am brain the size of a planet and all you want me to do is................."

I also liked Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Slartibartfast, Trillian and Zaphod too, each for their various brilliant characterisations of these different personality types.

I'm still in the habit of telling call centre workers I become particularly annoyed with what Douglas Adams would have been inclined to do with them (i.e. put them all on the B Ark on a crash course to Golgafrincham). Strangely they often suggest they are going to "release the call" (Day 3 of the Call Centre Worker Training Course) at that point.

[ColinYounger]

Pete - it doesn't surprise me that you manage to irritate people working at call centres. :p :D

Marvin: Would you like me to stick my head in a bucket? I can do that if you want.
FX: sounds of bucket and bubbles
Trillian: What's going on?
Zaphod: Oh nothing, he just phoned to wash his head at us

[ColinYounger]

A search via tivoweb shows a show called "How Do They Do It?". Nothing about cranes listed. <grump>

Ah well. Today's fun is over. Time to go cook - home made spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread today.

[Pete77]

Pete - it doesn't surprise me that you manage to irritate people working at call centres. :p :D

To be fair its more that they annoy me with their total contempt for actually ever resolving the issue that the customer had rung about in the first place.

Releasing the call is their usual method of dealing with any eventuality not covered by their standard script.

[cwaring]

A search via tivoweb shows a show called "How Do They Do It?". Nothing about cranes listed. <grump>

That's the one.

Awww, come on! If you've watched the program you could at least tell me!
:)

I would if I could remember. I do seem to recall something about them being 'self-building' and it being done in blocks, but it was some time ago and wasn't something I deemed worthy of committing to memory.

Edit: Look what I found...

DOCUMENTARY: How Do They Do It?
On: Discovery
Date: Wednesday 21st February 2007 (starting in 3 days)
Time: 14:00 to 15:00 (1 hour long)
The extraordinary hidden story behind fireworks, cranes, water, golf balls and contact lenses.

Excerpt taken from DigiGuide (http://www.getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=1495) - the world's best TV guide. Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.

Incidently, wrt HHGTTG and the new film version. Am I going mad or was that the original Marvin robot stood in the queue?

[TCM2007]

Re: cranes. The very tall ones are have a set of hydraunlic rams in then. These can lift the top section of the crane up by several metres. the crane itself is then used to put a new tower section in place - voila, the crane inches upwards.

[Agatha Mystery]

as far as the cranes go, they use a crane to build a crane. After that, the crane kind of builds itself, using hydraulics to add another portion. Google High Rise Cranes and you'll find more information.

So, if I start HHGTTG, should I start with books, radio, or TV series?

Sorry but you sound fantastic

I am. :D

In the past year or so, I have been to meets in Las Vegas, Charleston, Dallas, Boston, Orlando, Miami (that one was at my house), NY, and Washington DC. And there are many who go to more than I do. :o

I haven't been to as many in the past year. I went to Vegas the last 3 years and played around with the gang. I went to Kansas City a couple of summers ago and met several others. I've met up with friends in NYC, and one has come out here for a visit (I live in the Mojave Desert in California). My spouse has gone to Washington DC on business and met some, as well as Alabama and met another. When we go out of state, we try to meet up with TiVo people and hang out. We usually have a good time.

You obviously need to suggest your first ever get together in jolly old London town. Easy to get to from most parts of the USA. ;)

I went to London town. Since ya'll weren't hanging out with us elsewhere, no one wanted to meet us. Instead, we had to invade over here. That's like Americans, right?

Oh, and I've decided that November is a perfect time to sightsee in London. We had great weather (chilly, but not really damp - only misted rain on us one night), and no lines to go see anything. We ended up there over Remembrance Day weekend, so we did have a bit of a crowd at the Winston Churchill museum.

Pshwffft!

^ Sound of mineral water squirting through nose.

You have to be careful with that. It has a tendency to sting. Do I owe you a new monitor or a new keyboard now? :D

[TCM2007]

So, if I start HHGTTG, should I start with books, radio, or TV series?



Radio, or failing that books.

the TV and film have their moments, but the original is best.

[ColinYounger]

any eventuality not covered by their standard script.Pete - you've obviously never had anything to do with a call centre. The voice you hear on the end of the phone is a person. I'm generalising here, but that person with real feelings and desires only gets told what they can and cannot say, and also they only have a modicum of training. They get paid s**t wages. Turnover is huge.

In short - from a company point of view - they're cattle.

What makes you think that getting argumentative with someone will get you anywhere? The fact that you're getting cut off (which is a serious thing for them to do) tells me that you're probably being abusive.

Try mellow. Understand their position.

Empathy is what you need to grease the wheels of call centre staff.

[ColinYounger]

It has a tendency to stingYup. It's only saved for on-target stuff that cuts to the quick. ;) I'm thankful it wasn't carbonated (US: gassed?)Do I owe you a new monitor or a new keyboard now?I've learnt to turn away from them.

You owe me a cat instead. :D

[ColinYounger]

Agatha - what TCM2007 said. Get the radio series on CD.

Bizarrely, I can't find it on Amazon.com!

The Horror! The Horror!

[ColinYounger]

Re: cranes.

Thanks everyone - crane building itself sounds even better than I thought (easily pleased). Must watch the show Carl mentioned.

Boy bathtime over. Time for my nosh. Morrows.

[cwaring]

Empathy is what you need to grease the wheels of call centre staff.
I can only agree completey with these sentiments. I am, and always have been, poite and courteous to any call-centre staff I speak to.

Something about catching more flys with honey than vinegar :)

[eddyj]

Eddy - wow! You win. :)

Would you have travelled to those places WITHOUT the influence of efriends?
These were all pretty much ones that I went to just for the meet, except for DC. Although I do make a point of searching out the locals when I travel for business (e.g. to Pittsburgh, which I left off the original list). :)

[Agatha Mystery]

Agatha - what TCM2007 said. Get the radio series on CD.

Bizarrely, I can't find it on Amazon.com!

The Horror! The Horror!
That's okay. If there are only 4 series (seasons), I know people who have them. I'll snag it from them.

[Agatha Mystery]

Yup. It's only saved for on-target stuff that cuts to the quick. ;) I'm thankful it wasn't carbonated (US: gassed?)I've learnt to turn away from them.

You owe me a cat instead. :D
Carbonated is correct.

Poor kitty. :( Make sure you rub the kitty until it purrs. :p (boy, I love double entendres :D)

[Pete77]

Pete - you've obviously never had anything to do with a call centre. The voice you hear on the end of the phone is a person. I'm generalising here, but that person with real feelings and desires only gets told what they can and cannot say, and also they only have a modicum of training. They get paid s**t wages. Turnover is huge.

The main problem is the call centre system I agree as this constitutes a huge and appalling factory system where even people with initiative are not allowed to use it. Although to be fair anyone with too much initiative would almost certainly be fired or promoted out of the call centre before long. The only exception are students who do it part time to get extra money so are bright yet can take the hard grind short term for only 20 hours a week or whatever.

I actually always complement call centre staff who treat me like a human being and are themselves a human being. Its the ones that behave like zombies, have no people skills and take the attitude that they are only following orders (however mindless the orders they may be) that drive me crazy. So while the call centre system is admittedly bad the whole situation is made infinitely worse by those call crunching workers there who make no effort to be helpful to customers and demonstrate in their attitude that they really couldn't care care less if they have happy customers or not. That situation is usually much worse when the worker is in India and doesn't understand the cultural context of any comments one makes. And/or it seems to be actively encouraged and/or entirely natural for them in many (but not all) Indian call centres for their workers not to show any opinions or emotion at all towards their customers.

When I get a call centre worker who treats me like a human being I'm fine but when I get the ones who clearly hate their jobs and thus all their customers and takes out that hated with their job on customers that is when things start to go down hill rapidly. And they always have the upper hand as they always know precisely who you are and your address and phone number (and they refuse to speak to you unless you go through all this identification even if you only have a simple generic query not relating to the details of your account) but to you the customer they are only a person who has given you at best their first name and often have hundreds of other colleagues and usually can't be traced at all or complained about if they mistreat you the customer.

Am I the only person to find the whole call centre factory system an unacceptable method of dealing with customers? I believe there shouldn't be huge dedicated faceless customer service factory departments and each section in a company like billing, sales, marketing etc should have their own customer service team that are not full time and who rotate through other real non customer service jobs in the department so are much more likely to understand the bigger picture. Now surely that would lead to a much more human and less frustrating method of dealing with customers?

[mikerr]

The original hitchhikers radio series on CD:
http://www.amazon.com/Hitch-Hikers-Guide-Galaxy-Primary-Collection/dp/0563477881

I have to confess to having started with all the books, and then TV ..but haven't actually heard any of the radio series.

So I've just ordered the CDs to make up for it !

[cwaring]

Its the ones that behave like zombies, have no people skills and take the attitude that they are only following orders (however mindless the orders they may be) that drive me crazy.
I find it odd that I have never come across any call-centre staff like that. Maybe I'm not calling enough of them :)

[Raisltin Majere]

I find it odd that I have never come across any call-centre staff like that. Maybe I'm not calling enough of them :)

Agreed.

But I think Pete would describe anybody who doesn't agree with him in such a way.

[TCM2007]

Carbonated is correct.

Poor kitty. :( Make sure you rub the kitty until it purrs. :p (boy, I love double entendres :D)


Noooo! It's like a boy's boarding school here. You flirt with them and there could be a hormone explosion!

[Pete77]

I have to confess to having started with all the books, and then TV ..but haven't actually heard any of the radio series.

The radio series came first of course and the tv series followed it. But in the way of these things far more people have seen the tv version.

[TCM2007]

I've never "seen" the radio version. :p

The order is radio -> books -> TV -> more radio -> movie

[Pete77]

I've never "seen" the radio version. :p

The order is radio -> books -> TV -> more radio -> movie

I had a feeling the radio series came before the books but didn't take the trouble to research it further.

Too lazy I'm afraid to ever complete one of the books when I had already heard the radio shows and watched the tv programs. The new radio episodes that preceded the recent tv re-run were quite enjoyable. I meant to get to see the movie but then it didn't happen. I have a feeling though that I won't like the movie due to the change of personnel involved.

There was some inspirational casting in the tv series.

[Agatha Mystery]

Noooo! It's like a boy's boarding school here. You flirt with them and there could be a hormone explosion!
But you see....for me...that's fun. :D



I'm such a shameless flirt. :p

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Incidently, wrt HHGTTG and the new film version. Am I going mad or was that the original Marvin robot stood in the queue?
Yep your quite right, there was also an appearance by the original Arthur Dent too.
Me I enjoyed the Radio series, the TV version was hopeless, the film ... well ... it was OK as a 'stand-alone' piece, which it had to be...

Favorite Bit... The Plastic Cup & Belgium - what a hoot

[Agatha Mystery]

Well, I now have the radio version of HHGTTG.

Primary phase is first, right?

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Well, I now have the radio version of HHGTTG.

Primary phase is first, right? Yup, or 'Fit The First'

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Dang ! You're up late.. its nearly midnight for you !!

[Agatha Mystery]

Dang ! You're up late.. its nearly midnight for you !!

Yep. Isn't it 8 a.m. there? You are up early. :D

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Yep. Isn't it 8 a.m. there? You are up early. :D
8am early! Hell No. I've had a sleep-in this morning. Usually, I am awake a 5:30am on a week day. (I need a change of job!)

[Agatha Mystery]

8am early! Hell No. I've had a sleep-in this morning. Usually, I am awake a 5:30am on a week day. (I need a change of job!)
Sounds like me. I have to get up at 5 (usually hit the snooze until 5:15). I try to be in the office by 6:45. It used to be earlier, but my son has a tendency to drag his feet. I still sleep in past 8 when I can. This morning was 9:30. However, my son woke me up at 6 to play with one of the new games he got for his birthday on Friday. I told him that he can't wake me up to play a game, then rolled over and went back to sleep.

What do you do? What kind of job makes you wake up that early?

[PaulWilkinsUK]

What do you do? What kind of job makes you wake up that early?
I work at the Honda car plant here in the UK as an IT Project Manager (and anything else IT related or so it seems). We have a fixed shift system there and my shift starts at 8am. The car plant is about 40 miles from my house.

[PaulWilkinsUK]

Is that possible ?? :confused:

[Pete77]

But you see....for me...that's fun. :D

I'm such a shameless flirt. :p

I've made a note of that. :p

For guys who are falling over one another to have conversations with attractive looking 20 and 30 something American women you've clearly come to the right place. :D

As I've said previously either flirting or any other regularly posting form of UK base female Tivo owner/user has yet to make herself known in this place. I very much doubt that any UK based female member of Tivocommunity has made more than 20 posts in the forum in total....................

[PaulWilkinsUK]

I've made a note of that. :p

For guys who are falling over one another to have conversations with attractive looking 20 and 30 something American women you've clearly come to the right place. :D

As I've said previously either flirting or any other regularly posting form of UK base female Tivo owner/user has yet to make herself known in this place. I very much doubt that any UK based female member of Tivocommunity has made more than 20 posts in the forum in total....................
Could that be that any female isnt going to be interested in how big your hard disk is :D

[TCM2007]

I had a feeling the radio series came before the books but didn't take the trouble to research it further.

Too lazy I'm afraid to ever complete one of the books when I had already heard the radio shows and watched the tv programs. The new radio episodes that preceded the recent tv re-run were quite enjoyable. I meant to get to see the movie but then it didn't happen. I have a feeling though that I won't like the movie due to the change of personnel involved.

There was some inspirational casting in the tv series.

The books add a lot of stuff - in fact the recent extra radio programmes were based on the stuff in the books that wasn't in the original series!

Many of the TV cast were the radio cast.

[ColinYounger]

Morning all.

For those wishing to hear the radio series, it's ISBN 0-563-47702-4. It's around $75 on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Hitch-Hikers-Guide-Galaxy/dp/0563477024/sr=11-1/qid=1171793231/ref=sr_11_1/105-7247050-9185255) or £49 on Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-Collectors-Box/dp/0563477024/sr=11-1/qid=1171793335/ref=sr_11_1/203-6967176-8660763)

[ColinYounger]

I haven't listened to the second radio series (the one before the film) - has anyone else? I note Mark Wing-Davey, et al star.

[ColinYounger]

You flirt with them and there could be a hormone explosion!It does make me wonder about what kind of impression is being made. :eek:

[TCM2007]

Dramatisations of the later books, with some updates (no digital watch references!). Not bad, but a bit laboured.

[Pete77]

It does make me wonder about what kind of impression is being made. :eek:

And that from a man with a paper bag over his head in his profile pic ;) :p

[ColinYounger]

I've told you before - the bag is to stop stalkers. :)

[ColinYounger]

5:30am on a week day.Snap! Although I get up early to avoid traffic - I can get into the office by 7am. I get back again between 5 & 6pm (depending on traffic).

That's the price I pay for living by the seaside, beside the sea. The beach is ~300m from my front door. :D

[TCM2007]

The beach is ~300m from my front door. :D

299...298...297...

[blindlemon]

....obviously due to all those PVRs and STBs running 24x7.... :D

[ColinYounger]

Stuart - naahh. Sea defences are good here and we're at the 'top end' of the land mass (water doesn't run uphill). Because of our proximity, any house being sold has to have an environmental report about flood risk, etc. One done for a house down the road a bit in November said the next 'major event' (i.e. a flood) wasn't likely for 60+ years, and that was assuming that sea defences weren't changed and the sea level rose 3m. :o

Having said that, switch those unused lights off. :)

[iankb]

No you don't. I've seen the Queen's house. She lives next door to a gift shop.Actually, I think that she lives over it. If you make too much noise, you'll hear here banging on the floor with her broom. Poor women; needed the income.

[eddyj]

I usually start work around 7:00 AM too. So I have to get up by 6:45 or so. That commute down the stairs to my home office is a killer at that time of the morning! :p

[jradosh]

Morning all. :)

Anyone celebrating (American) President's Day over there? ;)

[Pete77]

Morning all. :)

Anyone celebrating (American) President's Day over there? ;)

What day did you say that was again? :p

I know all about 4th July and Thanksgiving but your Presidents Day doesn't even seem to register on the conscience of us Brits.

[eddyj]

Why should they? Even we don't. Both my wife and I are wokking today. :mad: But the kids are off from school.

[cwaring]

Your stock market's closed too. I wondered why :)

[jradosh]

What day did you say that was again? :p

I know all about 4th July and Thanksgiving but your Presidents Day doesn't even seem to register on the conscience of us Brits.
Years ago we would celebrate George Washington's birthday and Abraham Lincoln's birthday separately. But that was too many days off from work/school for us workaholic 'mericans... so they combined the two into "President's Day".

For me it's an optional day off, and I chose to (pretend to) work today. I'm saving the day off to use this summer when my wife and I head to Turkey (she's from Istanbul) for a few weeks vacation. :D

[AMc]

IIRC Hitchikers Guide began with the radio series with some bits from someone called John Lloyd http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams. Douglas Adams substantially rewrote as a book and then TV series.

The original vision of the Guide itself lives on here - only click if you've got time to spare!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A303346

Crane pictures
http://science.howstuffworks.com/tower-crane4.htm

[Pete77]

Years ago we would celebrate George Washington's birthday and Abraham Lincoln's birthday separately. But that was too many days off from work/school for us workaholic 'mericans... so they combined the two into "President's Day".

The problem in the USA is there are too many of these one day holidays (forgot to mention Labour Day which I'm also vaguely aware of and I think is also a public holiday?) which people have to try and all cram an intense long weekend into using at the same time but not enough serious time off. The fact that you only get 2 weeks paid holiday compared to by law at least 4 weeks paid holiday in the European Union is truly frightening and I believe the more committed American staff member scarcely takes even 1 full week off work during the year. :eek:

For me it's an optional day off, and I chose to (pretend to) work today. I'm saving the day off to use this summer when my wife and I head to Turkey (she's from Istanbul) for a few weeks vacation. :D

Good to hear that you are bucking the USA trend then by actually managing to regularly leave the soil of the 48 contiguous states. How many weeks a year do you manage to take as holiday and are most Americans still totally aghast at the idea of any empoyee in a regular company job who has more than two weeks a year of paid holiday? :down:

[jradosh]

Good to hear that you are bucking the USA trend then by actually managing to regularly leave the soil of the 48 contiguous states. How many weeks a year do you manage to take as holiday and are most Americans still totally aghast at the idea of any empoyee in a regular company job who has more than two weeks a year of paid holiday? :down:
I'm unusual for Americans (but not for TCF members I think) in that I like travelling abroad. In fact I really need to make a point of vacationing more in the US so I can say I've seen it. My parents were in the Army (dad) and the Department of State (mom) so I've been to Army bases and Embassys all over the world. And now with a Turkish wife I'm going to see a lot more :)

I remember travelling in Europe after college. It seemed every train I would get on had a couple from Australia taking a 6 or 8 week holiday. They really know how to relax there! I'm jealous :(

Personally I'm all for a minimum 4-week holiday standard. :up:

[firerose818]

Both my wife and I are wokking today. :mad:

I think Chinese New Year was over the weekend. :D :p

[eddyj]

I think Chinese New Year was over the weekend. :D :p
So that should ALSO have been a holiday. And we did wok, this weekend. :)

[Agatha Mystery]

To be fair, Lincoln's birthday disappeared when Martin Luther King day was designated as a holiday.

I get more than 2 weeks off a year. Currently, it's 3. In another 8 years, I'll get 4 weeks.


As far as Americans not traveling abroad - true, we don't do it that often. However, our country is much larger than England, so it is much easier for Brits to leave their borders than it is for us. I can travel over 2000 miles (3218 Km) and still be in the same country. The only way you are able to do that is to meander around for a couple of days. From my house, I can travel over 3000 miles, and end up in Maine (the furthest state in the North Eastern part of the US). Shoot, you can take the train and be in Paris in something like 4 hours from London. I can drive for 4 hours and still be in the same state!

[Pete77]

I can travel over 2000 miles (3218 Km) and still be in the same country. The only way you are able to do that is to meander around for a couple of days. From my house, I can travel over 3000 miles, and end up in Maine (the furthest state in the North Eastern part of the US). Shoot, you can take the train and be in Paris in something like 4 hours from London. I can drive for 4 hours and still be in the same state!

If you travel across the British Isles from the Isles of Scilly to the northernmost of the Shetland Islands then you are talking a good 800 miles or so and you forget about the overseas posessions we still have thousands of miles away like the Falkland Islands, Pitcairn Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha and of course jolly old Gibraltar plus a few caribbean islands and Berrmuda. Not to mention our Commonwealth countries where our Queen is still their Queen eg Australia, New Zealand and Canada :up:

As to the Eurostar train the quickest journey time from the heart of London to the heart of Paris is now just 2hrs 35 minutes. When the new high speed line from London out to Kent opens in a couple of years time it will be down to just 2 hours door to door :eek: :up:

[TCM2007]

In another 8 years, I'll get 4 weeks.

Yikes; in my company you get 5 weeks from day one. Can't imagine surviving with less!

[eddyj]

Yikes; in my company you get 5 weeks from day one. Can't imagine surviving with less!
No one in my company gets more than 4 weeks (and 9 holidays).

The closest other place that I can drive to is over 8 hours away, since I am in South Florida. :eek:

But I could be in Cuba in less time, if it was allowed (and I had a boat or plane). :)

[Pete77]

But I could be in Cuba in less time, if it was allowed (and I had a boat or plane). :)

Can you still not travel there directly from the USA unless your destination is Guantanomo Bay? :p

People from the UK go there in tens of thousands a month now on direct flights from UK airports on charter holidays sold at very cheap prices.

[Pete77]

Yikes; in my company you get 5 weeks from day one. Can't imagine surviving with less!

Although the EU has mandated four weeks I believe that strictly speaking includes the bank holidays so a nasty employer could offer only about 2 weeks and 2 days on top of those (i.e. 12 normal working days holiday). In practice its hard to find anywhere that offers less than four weeks holiday now, the exception no doubt being a UK Indian or Chinese restaurant, local newsagent or a UK based firm of Polish Builders. ;)

[Pete77]

I remember travelling in Europe after college. It seemed every train I would get on had a couple from Australia taking a 6 or 8 week holiday. They really know how to relax there! I'm jealous :(

Because NZ and Australia are so far away from their ancestoral homelands there really does seem to be a big expectation about spending a year or two working your way round Europe, although its easier for those who have dual British nationality so are entitled to work anywhere in the European Union. But even for those who only have Australian or New Zealand passports we do let them work in the UK for 3 years or something if they are 26 or under or some such thing.

With you American guys as you had to kick us out by force you have got over the whole idea about us being the motherland that you have to make a spirtual pilgrimage back to..............

[eddyj]

Can you still not travel there directly from the USA unless your destination is Guantanomo Bay? :p

People from the UK go there in tens of thousands a month now on direct flights from UK airports on charter holidays sold at very cheap prices.
Nope, it is more restricted than ever, for US citizens. And given that my parents had to flee the Castro regime, I really have little interest in giving them any of my hard earned money by vacationing there.

[Agatha Mystery]

If you travel across the British Isles from the Isles of Scilly to the northernmost of the Shetland Islands then you are talking a good 800 miles or so and you forget about the overseas posessions we still have thousands of miles away like the Falkland Islands, Pitcairn Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha and of course jolly old Gibraltar plus a few caribbean islands and Berrmuda. Not to mention our Commonwealth countries where our Queen is still their Queen eg Australia, New Zealand and Canada :up:

As to the Eurostar train the quickest journey time from the heart of London to the heart of Paris is now just 2hrs 35 minutes. When the new high speed line from London out to Kent opens in a couple of years time it will be down to just 2 hours door to door :eek: :up:
With that, we could go to Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Virgin Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palua, and the Midway Islands.

However, you notice that I didn't say United Kingdom. I'm pretty sure if you travel to any of those particular places, you still consider yourself traveling out of the country. I can get in my car and drive 3000+ miles and still be in the same country. That's my point. It's a bit more difficult to travel outside of our nation. No rail service will take me to multiple countries with a short jaunt.

[TCM2007]

Can you still not travel there directly from the USA unless your destination is Guantanomo Bay? :p



No, "land of the free" does not extend to the freedom to smoke a decent cigar!

[Pete77]

I can get in my car and drive 3000+ miles and still be in the same country. That's my point. It's a bit more difficult to travel outside of our nation. No rail service will take me to multiple countries with a short jaunt.

The furthest you can drive in a fairly straight line by car in the UK without getting a boat or retracing your steps is about 750 miles from Landsend in Cornwall to John O Groats up in Scotland and that's not in a straight line but involves turning a sharp left just after Exeter. I have done Aonach Mor in Scotland to London in one drive and and that was about 540 miles.

I assume you can get a train in California that takes you through to Mexico and perhaps beyond down into Central and South America. Although I never heard of such a train so perhaps those Central American countries never had enough money to build any railways.

The truly scary thing in the USA is the number of Texans living in place like San Antonio who have never ever been to Mexico and/or possibly out of Texas and into another State as well. Now that definitely isn't down to how far it is to go or how much the journey costs them. Of course no doubt we have quite a few such people living on the South Cost of England who have never ever been to France. :o

[Pete77]

No, "land of the free" does not extend to the freedom to smoke a decent cigar! :p :D

[Agatha Mystery]

The furthest you can drive in a fairly straight line by car in the UK without getting a boat or retracing your steps is about 750 miles from Landsend in Cornwall to John O Groats up in Scotland and that's not in a straight line but involves turning a sharp left just after Exeter. I have done Aonach Mor in Scotland to London in one drive and and that was about 540 miles.

I assume you can get a train in California that takes you through to Mexico and perhaps beyond down into Central and South America. Although I never heard of such a train so perhaps those Central American countries never had enough money to build any railways.

The truly scary thing in the USA is the number of Texans living in place like San Antonio who have never ever been to Mexico and/or possibly out of Texas and into another State as well. Now that definitely isn't down to how far it is to go or how much the journey costs them. Of course no doubt we have quite a few such people living on the South Cost of England who have never ever been to France. :o
Train service in the western part of the US is very poor. The trains went in a straight line to get to the west, when the country was young, but they never really populated from there. I looked into taking a train from CA to Oklahoma. I'd have to go north and then back south to make it there. It would have taken me longer to take the train than drive.

I have been to Mexico. Border towns really aren't an interesting place to go to. You want to go further south or near the coasts. At that point, you're dealing with airfare, so the expense of going somewhere increases dramatically.

I have been out of the country twice in my life, and am contemplating making a third trip this May. However, making a trip out of the country usually ends up costing about $1000 or more, per person, just for airfare and hotel. If I go somewhere like London, my meal is twice as much as it would be in the US. Things get very very expensive in a short period of time. Most people just can't afford to do that.

[Agatha Mystery]

No, "land of the free" does not extend to the freedom to smoke a decent cigar!
Yeah, but who wants to?

[Pete77]

Yeah, but who wants to?

A few guys on Wall Street I should have thought. ;)

[jradosh]

A few guys on Wall Street I should have thought. ;)
Don't you know? New York is smoke-free these days.

(well, practically)

[BrianHughes]

... I can get in my car and drive 3000+ miles and still be in the same country. ...

Mindboggling :eek:
As I'm in Ireland, if I pick the right direction I could drive about 200 miles before falling into the sea - most other directions will be considerably less. :)

[AMc]

Of course as a citizen of the EU I can go a heck of a long way and set up home, get a job etc. Not sure what the longest continous journey would be Notionally I don't need my passport but as you need ID cards for a lot of EU states I'd need it.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1138869388884
Looks from a quick google that you could drive from John'o Groats to Ashford and put the car/bike in the tunnel then Calais to the far side of Greece without leaving the EU - might take a while :D

Western Portugal to Northern Estonia looks further though...

Once upon a time the sun never set on the British Empire, but I don't think we should try and get that back :D

[iankb]

Once upon a time the sun never set on the British Empire, but I don't think we should try and get that backPersonally, I think we should reopen our empire to cover all of those non-English-speaking countries, teach them English, and let them go again. It makes it so much easier to travel, and to find somewhere to host your company call-centre.

[eddyj]

Personally, I think we should reopen our empire to cover all of those non-English-speaking countries, teach them English, and let them go again. It makes it so much easier to travel, and to find somewhere to host your company call-centre.
Just teach them correct English. You know, the stuff we speak in the US, without all the funny spellings and extra letters. :p

:D

[TCM2007]

Mindboggling :eek:
As I'm in Ireland, if I pick the right direction I could drive about 200 miles before falling into the sea - most other directions will be considerably less. :)

If you get onto the M25 you can go 3,000 miles in the same country no problem!

[TCM2007]

Western Portugal to Northern Estonia looks further though...



4,586km

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/ItiWGPerformPage?strStartLocid=2141y5710cMzcuMDA4Mw==cLTguOT Q2NTQ=&strDestLocid=21510p5x10cNTkuNDQ0NDk=cMjguMDI4Nzc=&dtmDeparture=20%2F02%2F2007&intOneCountryCheck=true&isAvoidFrontiers=false&intItineraryType=1&isAvoidLNR=false&isAvoidPeage=false&isAvoidVignette=false&isFavoriseAutoroute=false&strVehicle=0&carbCost=1.3&autoConso=6.8&routeConso=5.6&villeConso=6.0&productId=42000&reinit=true

Although that route does dip in to Russia.

[Pete77]

If you get onto the M25 you can go 3,000 miles in the same country no problem!

But i doubt your sanity would still be intact after 25 or so complete circuits of the said motorway. :eek:

[BrianHughes]

Personally, I think we should reopen our empire to cover all of those non-English-speaking countries, teach them English, and let them go again. It makes it so much easier to travel, and to find somewhere to host your company call-centre.

Just don't teach them anything like cricket, rugby, soccer etc. Once they've learnt the rules (it takes a few years) they'll come back and beat the stuffing out of you :D

[Pete77]

I see I had second most posts on the whole Tivocommunity forum yesterday (Sunday 25th Feb) with 53 for the day but I was still pipped for top spot by the notorious Gregor who made 58 posts yesterday and now has 22,328 posts on the forum in total, severely dwarfing my mere 1,774 posts.

Perhaps its time to quit the habit before things get as far out of hand as they clearly already have done for Gregor. ;) :p

See www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=298288

[eddyj]

Perhaps its time to quit the habit before things get as far out of hand as they clearly already have done for Gregor. ;) :p
You think you can quit? That must be some of that British humour that is being talked about in another thread! :D

[cwaring]

I see I had second most posts on the whole Tivocommunity forum yesterday (Sunday 25th Feb)
Good grief! I made #15 :eek: Now that's scary :p:D

[Pete77]

Good grief! I made #15 :eek: Now that's scary :p:D

And don't forget you are in Rank Position 154 in the All Time posters list with 4,635 posts compared to me only being at Rank Position 434 with 1774 posts. ;) :p

At this rate it won't be long before you overtake iankb and its a dead cert that you will overtake sanderton in the end given the mysterious cessation in posting by the said former very active forum member. If you keep at it Carl you might even one day overhaul our top all time UK poster Robert_S and his 9,906 posts (he also doesn't seem to have made any post at all for over 6 months) but I doubt you will ever catch jsmeeker and his current 38,859 posts. :eek:

I see you are also in position no 2 on Page 4 of the all time posters league (select sort by # and then click on the Posts column) so it won't be long at all before you join iankb on Page 3. :up:

[eddyj]

but I doubt you will ever catch jsmeeker and his current 38,859 posts. :eek:
NOBODY will ever catch smeek!

[Pete77]

NOBODY will ever catch smeek!

That Gregor fellow sure is trying hard though. ;)

[cwaring]

Thanks for that, Pete. I had no idea :)

...and its a dead cert that you will overtake sanderton in the end given the mysterious cessation in posting by the said former very active forum member...

As has already been explained to you in this very thread. sanderton is now TCM2007, which explains the cessation of his postings in his previous identity. So, although I may very-well beat his original number of postings, he'll still be somewhat ahead of me :)

/me goes off to check myself out in the rankings :D

[Pete77]

As has already been explained to you in this very thread. sanderton is now TCM2007, which explains the cessation of his postings in his previous identity. So, although I may very-well beat his original number of postings, he'll still be somewhat ahead of me :)

Shhhhhhssssshhhhhhh. He doesn't want anyone to know who he really is. Especially not any online identity thieves or bank account hackers.

If his former forum member name was the same name as some of his other shall we say more secure and valuable user names in real life then I really think he would have been much better off changing those financially related user names to something totally arbitrary and unkown to the world at large while keeping his old forum ID going.

Instead he now apparently hopes that by stopping posting under this old forum ID hackers will some how not notice the 5,000+ posts he has already made under that old insecure forum id, which Google unfortunately turns up links for all over the shop.....

[iankb]

What you may not realise is that, a few years ago, David Bott accidentally reset the posting counts when upgrading the forum software. So people like Robert_S, Sanderton and myself all lost several thousand. That really hit those people who posted a lot in the early days. Well it would of, if they cared about such trivial things (sniff :o ).

[cwaring]

I remember that too :)

[Rob Nespor Bellis]

What you may not realise is that, a few years ago, David Bott accidentally reset the posting counts when upgrading the forum software. So people like Robert_S, Sanderton and myself all lost several thousand. That really hit those people who posted a lot in the early days. Well it would of, if they cared about such trivial things (sniff :o ).

Me too, I just haven't been as active since.

[Pete77]

Me too, I just haven't been as active since.

Perhaps you are now more actively involved in using Windows Media Centre Edition (MCE) and XBox etc rather than using Tivo for most of your television viewing?

[BrianHughes]

Me too, I just haven't been as active since.

Gratuitous "me too" post :D I just keep an eye on the forum these days rather than much active posting.

[TCM2007]

Shhhhhhssssshhhhhhh. He doesn't want anyone to know who he really is. Especially not any online identity thieves or bank account hackers.

If his former forum member name was the same name as some of his other shall we say more secure and valuable user names in real life then I really think he would have been much better off changing those financially related user names to something totally arbitrary and unkown to the world at large while keeping his old forum ID going.

Instead he now apparently hopes that by stopping posting under this old forum ID hackers will some how not notice the 5,000+ posts he has already made under that old insecure forum id, which Google unfortunately turns up links for all over the shop.....

It's not designed to stop determined snoops, but changing user names occasionally, especially when you use the same one in several places, just seems good practice. If that user name is not posting "live" it's much less likely that someone will decide to try to trace it down.

Obviously my online banking etc user name has nothing in common with any of the forum aliases!

[BrianHughes]

...
Obviously my online banking etc user name has nothing in common with any of the forum aliases!

Darn, I was sure 2007 was your bank pin. :D

[Pete77]

It's not designed to stop determined snoops, but changing user names occasionally, especially when you use the same one in several places, just seems good practice. If that user name is not posting "live" it's much less likely that someone will decide to try to trace it down.

Obviously my online banking etc user name has nothing in common with any of the forum aliases!

I generally don't use a real name any more for internet forums because whenever I did so in the past I would always regret it when I got to hear about my mother or sister having come across the posts. Also more paranoid employers might be inclined to run checks via Google etc, although not having now worked in a full time 5 day a week job for over 3 years now I suspect that I'm pretty much unemployable anyway in the mindset of most of these large faceless and paranoid corporations.

I don't mind people in this forum knowing I have made nearly 2,000 posts but some of my friends or relatives might become alarmed if they knew I had made so many posts. They might also then start harping on about their favourite topic - the virtuous nature of all those who do a 5 day a week job................

[Raisltin Majere]

I suspect that I'm pretty much unemployable anyway in the mindset of most of these large faceless and paranoid corporations.




Nobody's unemployable.

[cwaring]

..lthough not having now worked in a full time 5 day a week job for over 3 years now I suspect that I'm pretty much unemployable anyway in the mindset of most of these large faceless and paranoid corporations.
Hey! Don't forget I'm long-term unemployed too :)

Nobody's unemployable.
I would hope so, but it does seem that way sometimes :(

[PJO1966]

Hey! Don't forget I'm long-term unemployed too :)


I would hope so, but it does seem that way sometimes :(

+1000.

The last steady job I had ended 10/21//2005. I worked a couple of brief jobs last year. I have yet to earn a paycheck this year.

[jradosh]

I was 1.5 years between jobs. The first few months were fun, but it wore thin very quickly.

[Pete77]

I was 1.5 years between jobs. The first few months were fun, but it wore thin very quickly.

The main snag is that the only way to be long term between jobs is to really cut down the amount of money you spend. So then you start saying that you won't be joining your friends for that major "we have made it statement" (or rather they have "made it") meal they have arranged at a restaurant likely to cost you 150USD (75GBP) for the evening.

But then again there are so many disadvantages for working for someone else in most regular office jobs that its almost worth taking the cut in living standard.

Are any of you guys familiar with the website www.whywork.org otherwise known as CLAWS: Creating Livable Alternatives to Wage Slavery?

[Agatha Mystery]

Radio, or failing that books.

the TV and film have their moments, but the original is best.
Okay. I just finished the Primary Phase, and am beginning the Secondary Phase. I think they changed voices for Beeblebrox, and it's annoying me.

I was informed that Trillian (the IM software) was named for the character, so I already knew that. I wasn't aware that babelfish was from HHGTTG, though.

[ColinYounger]

Mark Wing-Davey played Zaphod in primary and secondary, but whether he voiced it differently I can't tell you. Primary\Secondary were recorded at different times, so it could be like Homer's voice between early Simpsons and now - voicing has to be done so the voice survives. :)