The demise of Radio 6 Music
A concerned listener writes
I notice that today the BBC has decided, in its wisdom, to cut out both BBC 6 Music and BBC Asian Network. I have no knowledge of the latter but am a frequent listener to the former. This is a station which has shown rapid growth since it was started and now commands 500-600,000 listeners which is about 0.5% share. This is small (don’t get me wrong) but given the limited format availability (digital and internet only) this compares very favourably with the likes of BBC Radio 3 (which has just under 1%). Both provide a similar service for niche audiences yet it is 6 Music that is cut rather than 3 (which incidentally cost more per listener). I am not saying it is perfect as a radio station (Craig Charles should be kicked off without a 2nd thought!) but it is putting out good music that is not simon cowell dominated which very few other stations can offer. What can we do to save it? Or should I just accept its fate?
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Diagnosing Concussion
A recent head banger muses, then questions on the subject.
About a week or so ago I fell off my mountain bike and bashed my head. The fall was hard enough to smash my helmet but I was not knocked out or being sick. Strangely it was not too bad for the first 24hrs but from then on, the pain in my head got worse and worse. 48hrs in I contacted a doctor who was unable to see me but could talk on the phone who suggested it was “just” concussion and that if it had not stopped hurting in another 72hrs I should get back in touch. 72hrs later I saw a doctor as the pain had not subsided and was told it was “severe” concussion and that it would take 7-10days to clear. At the 8 day point I met with a doctor again (by chance not by appointment) and they checked me over again and stated that it could take up to 14days to clear and given the severity of the blow suggest I should have gone to hospital at the time. Can Doctors not provide consistent advice with regards time scales and also what is the point of retrospective advice when dealing with a potential life and death situation?
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Get connected
From a consumer
Should I buy a netbook ? If so, which ?
4 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Get connected”
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Making pedestrians cross
A city kid asks
Busy pedestrian crossings can be like a game of British bulldogs at times as two steams of on coming foot traffic try to pass through each other, with neither wanting to give way. Any ideas?
5 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Making pedestrians cross”
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Consultant G Says:
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:45 amA good question. Personally, at present I just stand tall and push people out of the way. Why not install a road junction type approach, with the crossing divided into two halves. This would ensure that the mingling of people too place on the pavement, rather than on the road, and hopefully make it less confrontational.
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Consultant K Says:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:44 pmor maybe just relax and watch as people somehow manage to work it out without really that much hassle.
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February 24th, 2010 at 12:25 pmGet out of my way Consultant K (shove).
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Consultant C Says:
February 25th, 2010 at 12:45 pmAct fast and furious and look dangerous; steam forth, and intimidate the masses. The grockles will fall pathetically around you.
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February 25th, 2010 at 3:08 pmor go for the other extreme - do not look the person in the eye and they will also get out the way - far more sensible than being aggressive to folk!
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When am I too ill to work?
From someone a wee bitty under the weather.
I woke this morning and am not feeling 100% and infact was not feeling too good yesterday either. But I am not really properly ill as I can wander round, am not losing liquids out of either end involuntarily and my brain is good enough to email the CSC. However I am not feeling well. So where is the line in the sand that divides the sick from the healthy?
3 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “When am I too ill to work?”
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February 23rd, 2010 at 12:31 pmSorry to say that this has too many variables with regards what type of illness you have and what kind of job you do. I would suggest that if you answer yes to any of the following questions you should seriously consider not going in or at least informing your co-workers of your illness.
- are you contagious?
- are you going to prologue your illness by working?
- are you going to endanger your own safety or the safety of others?In short, the line in the sand is specific to each case.
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February 24th, 2010 at 12:27 pmI agree with K on this. Remember too that if you feel bad you wil not be as productive either. Stay away from me you horrible snotty people.
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February 25th, 2010 at 12:41 pmJUST GET ON WITH IT AND DO THE JOB! I don’t want to hear any more of your pathetic whimpering.
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Domestic Wind Turbines
A rural living reader asks
I live in a village and have a reasonable sized garden and am considering getting a wind turbine. What issues should I consider other than my neighbours?
4 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Domestic Wind Turbines”
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Agent B Says:
February 4th, 2010 at 3:33 pmWhat is “reasonable sized?” Do you, for instance, have a woodland walk?
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February 4th, 2010 at 3:58 pmI think “Agent B” has a very valid point on this one. Domestic wind turbines are defined as anything upto 500KW which is actually something very very large! But first let us address the basics! Wind Turbines will generate energy but in reality the first thing you should be considering how much energy you are using currently that you don’t have to (switching off, insulation and the like) as this is far better use of money!
Now turbines come in all shapes and sizes and to give specific advice is impossible without looking at the site, considering the average speed, location of nearest substation and how much you can afford to spend. Size is important as the larger the turbine is, the quicker the payback is likely to be (as a general rule). Anything less than 1KW is unlikely to pay back in its lifetime and so unless you are off mains is a waste of money. It is about the 5KW mark that payback becomes reasonable and 15KW when you can expect payback in 5 or less years (assuming you are in it for the money). Now I am sure the google ads round here will give you a range of people to talk to but based on the return on investment figures I would definitely make sure Hannevind and Vergnet turbines are considered (this is based on standard figures for cost of turbine vs power curve). But as I said at the start, it is very site specific and so get talking to experts!
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A commoner Says:
February 11th, 2010 at 11:41 pmWell this is all very helpful advice Consultant K, and these Hannevind and Vergnet turbines sound just the job. I am having trouble finding a UK supplier though. Would you happen to know who can supply them, and whether the supplier happens to be based in the Perthshire area?
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February 23rd, 2010 at 12:42 pmI would suggest if you are having trouble finding a UK reseller of either of these turbines, you are not looking very hard. Hannevind have a list on their website for each UK region while Vergnet have a long list of UK based resellers.
Also, I would suggest looking at the energy saving trust website for more general information and the decc (department for energy and climate change) for wind speed data before contacting a reseller.
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Broken Hair Clippers
We have to ask why folk ask - but they do.
I have owned a pair of hair clippers for over 15years now but sadly they have now come to the end of their life. In this time I have cut many folks hair for them and earned a pint here and there. How should I fund a replacement pair and how should I dispose of the old pair? Thank you
One pearl of wisdom on “Broken Hair Clippers”
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January 28th, 2010 at 4:51 pmDispose of them appropriately. If electrical you cannot put them in landfill. I suspect consultant K will be able to offer a load of impartial advice on this
As for funding the new pair. just buy them with money. The grateful masses may buy you more pints in the future to make up this value. It is worth it.Busy clippers, hair dresser on fire…..
February 24th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
No. Much as I hate to agree with that man at apple but netbooks just are poor cousins of PCs. I have no doubt that Jobs would want us all to buy an iPad or whatever but I would suggest just getting a small cheapish laptop. for about 350 you can pick up a reasonable little acer or similar.
If you do go for a netbook remember that you prob will not be able to play most pc games, will have limited versions of word or excel and other limitations.
February 25th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
But I only want it to write basic word documents, e-mail and web surfing. I do not want it to do anything else. If I did want a proper laptop I would get one of these:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/alist/value-laptop
In an ideal world I would get this thing of joy:
http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air?mco=MTM3NDc2MzE
It has to be small and easily transportable you see.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Netbooks are not good anything. Why would you buy one? Get a clever phone, or a stylish and functional tablet device.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Thanks Steve, but I disagree - netbooks are fine for basic tasks and typing documents etc. The processing power is where top end machines were a few years ago, so no problem doing basic tasks. They have the advantage over clever phones as they have a clear key board for typing on - something smart phones do not have. Price wise they are similar too.
They are not an iPad though. Can I have one free to test out ?