Archive for March, 2009
A time for..
On looking at the BBC news someone asks
In the UK we now have a new oldest man. It is clear we are all living longer but is this a good thing for the planet and also for those who are really just dying more slowly?
4 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “A time for..”
Provide common sense...
Can I sharpen electric lawn mower blades
A new convert to gardening asks
My lawn mower manufacturer (Flymo) urges me to replace the blade on my lawn mower frequently. The blade is a fairly industrial piece of metal. Can I sharpen it with a file and use it again rather than pay moderate amounts for a new blade?
One pearl of wisdom on “Can I sharpen electric lawn mower blades”
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Consultant G Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 9:18 amNot sure about flymos due to the way they work, but certainly old barrel lawn mowers, and heavy rotating blade lawn mowers can by sharpened by hand. It is cheeper and ‘greener’ too. Why not phone up a lawn mower repair service and ask them for advice, then do it yourself.
Or, do it yourself, and if it does not work, buy a new one - you have lost nothing.
Provide common sense...
Fair pay for tradesmen?
A questioning sort asks
I have just had my gas hob connected by a CORGI registered plumber. All he had to do was connect the hob to the pipe 40 cm away. He was a nice chap, but he couldn’t talk and work at the same time, and repeatedly went off to his van for miscellaneous objects. Now, I don’t think he was trying to rip me off, and I would get him back to do more work, but in total he did 10 minutes of actual work in a 40 minute period for which he charged £35.
Would it be acceptable to pay only for the work done and not for the chatting and walking back and forwards?
2 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Fair pay for tradesmen?”
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Consultant K Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 11:13 amNo.
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A time and motion person Says:
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 amYou could pay them with a tool box so that they only need one trip to the van to gather the equipment they need and then one trip back
Provide common sense...
Great idea for a top pop tune?
A budding pop tart asks
I’ve got an idea for a pop song, but my lyrics are remarkably weak. So far all I have is
“I can’t speak French, so I’ll let the funky music do the talking”
I appreciate that these words are very poor and mean nothing. Does this matter? Will the general pop buying populace swallow my low quality work and make me a quick buck or do I need to put some effort in?
One pearl of wisdom on “Great idea for a top pop tune?”
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March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 amThis is bland, banal and pointless rubbish. Tempting to try to be humorous and suggest Eurovision song contest etc, but to be honest it is utter rubbish. Go listen to some Wedding Present.
Provide common sense...
Sanded down nails
A home renovation enthusiast asks
I’ve just had my old pine doors dipped and stripped. Prior to finishing with liquid beeswax I have been smoothing them with fine sandpaper. My over-enthusiasm for the job has led to me sanding down my finger nails too. It hurts. I’ve still 4.5 doors to do. Can you advise a better way to do this? I use the flexible shape of my fingers to get into the intricate mouldings.
2 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Sanded down nails”
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March 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 pmmasking tape your fingers! Simple
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A home renovation enthusiast Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 3:18 pmAs unlikely as it may seem, this wacky sounding idea really works. You guys are great - you have all the answers! Thank you.
Provide common sense...
Cheap Alcohol?
A Scottish parliamentarian asks
If we are going to have a minimum price for alcohol who should get the price difference?
3 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Cheap Alcohol?”
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Consultant G Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pmAnother good question. The government is the clear and obvious answer. However, if the government really thought the price increase wouls stop people buying cheap alcohol then they would not be asking for the money anyway, because no one will be buying it according to them.
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March 5th, 2009 at 5:06 pmAh, but surely it will just be a case of the shop or the manufacturer claiming that the price just happens to be exactly the min? Therefore it would be very difficult for the govt to claim it.
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Consultant G Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pmAh, but the question was who should get the money, not who will get the money.
Provide common sense...
Static shock from dressing gown
A painful problem after a comfortable experience
I was recently gifted some new bedroom attire in the form of a dressing gown. It is of the man-made, extremely soft fleece variety and is very comfortable next to the skin with none of the harshness that cotton can have. I enjoy wearing it immensely, however when I take it off I frequently get electric shocks from the static build up. These are normally a minor inconvenience, nothing to a hardy gentleman of my nature, however if I am naked underneath I get a shock right on the end of my John Thomas. This I find less tolerable.
How may I alleviate this problem?
2 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Static shock from dressing gown”
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March 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 amTouching the bare metal of a radiator pipe is the perceived wisdom to rid yourself of static build-up before touching sensitive electrical components. Perhaps this might benefit your sensitive component?
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March 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pmHmm, you could attach a length of wire to the back of the dressing gown, allowing it to earth as you walk around.
I recently got a cotton one as a present - it is great and does not build static.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Knock ‘em on the head! Tech-no, Tech-no, Tech-no prisoners!
But seriously folks, many of these oldies have either their brains or their bodies, rarely both and that can’t be much fun. Let them down gently. Send the kids to the Far East.
Compulsory death is perhaps one step too far, but if they want to go voluntarily save them the trip to die Schwiez and make euthanasia legal elsewhere.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:29 pm
People are the scourge of the world. Dreadful bunch really. With less of them dying, there is less for me to eat. Oh, and they consume more of the worlds valuable resources. Dreadful.
Bring ‘em on.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:34 am
Home renovation is sometimes very expensive but it is worth the expense to beautify your home.;;”
June 29th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Thanks Brian. Are you perhaps trying to sell us something?