Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: There is no depression in the spa pool

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  • BenWilson,

    Heh, I used to feel that cycling looked pretty silly (not that that has ever stopped me), but recently I've realized that "Hi-viz is the new Inviz". So long as you're dressed as eyecatchingly brightly as possible, no one takes the slightest notice of you. Not sure why - I think it's the mantle of officialdom that wearing reflective yellow seems to connote. People figure you're just doing your job, rather than actually opting to look like a clown.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Heh, I used to feel that cycling looked pretty silly

    Only since cyclists started dressing like superheroes

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Now that's an idea. They just need a cape, which could be justified as some kind of raincoat. They've already got the whacky helmets and eyewear, the full length underpants, the utility belts, and the intention of saving the world.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    I could get used to having One Million Dollars and a secret underground lair to work on my bike, as opposed to dragging the remains back from a workshop rather than stump up $300 for repairs (this is a $400 bike, so if it had a motor it'd be totaled)...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    $300 bucks? What'd you do, snap the frame?

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • Heather W.,

    (I'm also the one who collects loong words of non-repeating strings of letters in English - go beat 'ambidextrously' - please!)

    Okay islander, I'll play.

    Thanks to Google there is
    CRYPTOGAMIQUES, STYLOGRAPHIQUE and XYLOGRAPHIQUES
    .

    And dear I mention uncopyrightable? (15 letters)

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Completely off topic, but heads up, David Haywood is talking to Kim Hill tomorrow morning.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Thanks to Google

    No that's cheating!

    You probably used scrabblesolver.co.uk when playing online scrabble as well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    I rolled into the workshop with a loose gear cluster on the back. They've diagnosed a broken axle, and now also say I'm going to need new front and rear clusters, a new chain, cranks, gear cabling and a rear wheel just to top it all off.

    I decided it was best to carry home the remains and consider a second opinion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Love that wordplay linger!
    And thanks Heather W. - I really should've got uncopyrightable (but I'm not sure about the other 3: a quick peek in the OED couldnt find them.)
    Right: we now start looking for the 16 letterstring-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Heather W.,

    Thanks to Google
    No that's cheating!
    You probably used scrabblesolver.co.uk when playing online scrabble as well.

    islander probably reads all her many dictionaries so was only trying to level the opportunity.

    No Kyle, I don't play online scrabble so definitely don't (and wouldn't) use scrabblesolver.

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I decided it was best to carry home the remains and consider a second opinion.

    Like a fully operational second hand bike, for which you now have a nice supply of spare parts? After spending the $300, that's all you'll have anyway, minus the spares.

    I have also always wanted an underground lair. But I was never able to find the fabled caves of Mt Albert.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    Pfft. If you've broken the axle, you've broken the axle. Yes, your drivechain is probably stuffed, but as long as it still works OK (shifts alright, chain doesn't snap too often) you can thrash it a bit more. The problem is that as components become significantly worn, they "wear into" the current set up - so, for example, a rather worn chain will still work fine with your chainrings/cassette, but if you swap to a new chain you've got a world of pain. In those cases, yeah, you need to replace the lot at once. But as long as you don't mind that you'll need to replace it all en masse eventually you can probably squeeze some more performance out of it.

    New cranks? Really? Have you snapped one and not noticed until they told you or something?

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Yes it's pretty hard to imagine not noticing a broken crank. It sounds like the broken crank is actually the guy who wants to sting you for $300.

    you can probably squeeze some more performance out of it.

    Heh, a man after my own heart. I recently managed to drive a car with a blown head gasket for over a week before it finally actually karked and started bellowing steam out of the exhaust pipe. It was precisely the time I needed to find a new (second hand) car.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Heather W.,

    Sorry Islander,

    Should have checked they were in real dictionaries.

    Apparently what looking for are isograms. According to Wikipedia there is one with 17 letters - subdermatoglyphic but word not in common use.

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report

  • Islander,

    O cool Heather W!

    Isograms...and 'subdermatoglyphic' added to the list! (I'll keep thinking for a 16 tho - one of the oddities of my game is - I cant check dictionaries until I've thought of the word...)

    I suspect an 18-isogram in English is beyond possibility- but the whole point is to keep on trying eh? (I play this game when I'm in waiting-rooms of one kind or the other.)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    I'm going to hijack this thread to ask for help with my homework.

    Does anyone have any examples of postgraduate research that looks, at first glance, a little spurious? You know - the kind of thing that can get disgruntled taxpayers steamed about the way money gets wasted at universities.

    I can't offer much by way of explanation, save to say that you might actually be helping to save lives by pitching in here...

    All and any links and references most gratefully received, thank you.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • jon_knox,

    Just to clarify am I correct in thinking you want to be pointed as cases where the supposed benefit/aims of the research are dubious, rather than producing (surprisingly) unrepeatable data, or the interpretation in the media thereafter is bung (ie the Ben Goldacre corner of the universe).

    Perhaps the following a bit obscure for you....Coen bros salute clean-coal.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report

  • jon_knox,

    I think this article deals with a bunch of topics, all of which may or may not be relevant background info for your mission.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    Thanks Jon, that's helpful.

    To give a specific example, this is the kind of thing I have in mind.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Nothing to offer, just waiting when the time is right to hear about the saving lives bit.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • jon_knox,

    Oh...that seems much more in line with the Ben Goldacre on "Jennifer Alba has the perfect wiggle".

    I like Ben's final words in the [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/sep/01/1|Guardian on that story.

    These stories do nothing to promote science. They sell products and pay money, misrepresent the notion of doing research, and sell the idea that scientists are irrelevant boffins.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report

  • jon_knox,

    doh

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report

  • paul travers-jones,

    I have to say that of the entire post the thing that stood out for me* was that David referred to his "junk"

    *(boom boom)

    I have to say that of the entire post the thing that stood out for me was also that David referred to his "junk", and I wondered whether it was the same MP with admiring eyes, once with apartment nearby that now attempts to keep a level of 'decorum'.
    But when I publish my thoughts it's just nasty in-u-end-o

    Since Dec 2008 • 4 posts Report

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