The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

Will stick with HP, but now have the huge dilemma of whether to buy a UK one (with a pound symbol), or get an American one (or from Hong Kong). Might need an early in the year trip to Singapore and/or Hong Kong for a look

Well, seeing as I was brought up using the US keyboard layout, I will do the biased thing and say that you should get one with a US keyboard layout, unless you've been suitably converted.

I don't know the Alt-key combination for the pound symbol off-hand, but if you were in the UK for a while I guess it would come in handy. Also, if you got a job that requires you use other computers, you'd have to get used to dealing with their keyboards, so that could be a driver to get a laptop with a UK keyboard.

Then there are alternatives, e.g. using Windows (or whatever ) you can tell the OS you have a different keyboard layout (I believe there is little to no difference between the US and UK keyboard physically, i.e. the keyboard's keys have the same "layout" but they type different things, if that makes any sense). Then, you either just use that layout and ignore the keys (the nerdy thing to do: see the keyboard with no lettering on the caps), or you can get spare key caps and replace them as you see fit, or you can put sticky labels on top (keyboard would look a bit hodge-podge).

One of my friends when I was studying undergrad used one of the Dvorak keyboard layouts; he'd configure that in Windows settings but he would type with the regular printing on the keyboard caps, i.e. he was typing completely from memory of the positions of the keys (which is what a real touch typist should be able to do anyway).

 

[Keith009]

Nope And still haven't located a trench coat that I like either.

I thought you took a fancy to one of them jackets we saw at Westbourne House.

 

[Mal]

I thought you took a fancy to one of them jackets we saw at Westbourne House.

Haha, true. But the price was fairly steep

BTW, I went out to Bicester Village recently near Oxford (Bicester Village Gift Card ). You would have loved the place. Included a Paul Smith clearance centre and many other good brands.

 

[Nigelinoz]

On my keyboard the pound symbol,£-is Alt+0163.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Looks like the US east coast is getting hit by some bad weather; interesting twitter message from United Airlines.

UnitedAirlines
Flt canceled tomorrow? U may already be rebooked to next avail. B4 u call, go to united.com>Check-in. Tell a friend.

On my keyboard the pound symbol,£-is Alt+0163.

You could always just find what you want; eg £ then I just copy and then paste works well.

 

[Flashback]

Well, flying into BME was very bumpy, the plane was moving left to right but in the end a rather smooth landing considering

 

[Mal]

Well, flying into BME was very bumpy, the plane was moving left to right but in the end a rather smooth landing considering

Hope you're ok. Wind etc appears to be picking up in Broome.

Or are you in Derby now?

 

[Flashback]

Hope you're ok. Wind etc appears to be picking up in Broome.

Or are you in Derby now?

Here's the latest: Tropical Cyclone Track and Threat Map Image - System 1

It's rather windy in Broome currently, a bit wet too. I'm about to go have a shower, get ready etc. then hit the road for Derby. All going well, I'll be back in Broome by 4pm ready for my 6.30pm flight

Maybe I should take my suitcase with me to Derby just in case... although we do have a saying up here, never spend more time than you really have to in Derby!

 

[Mal]

It's rather windy in Broome currently, a bit wet too. I'm about to go have a shower, get ready etc. then hit the road for Derby. All going well, I'll be back in Broome by 4pm ready for my 6.30pm flight

Maybe I should take my suitcase with me to Derby just in case... although we do have a saying up here, never spend more time than you really have to in Derby!

That's a decent drive in a day

Would be a bugga if your flight tonight was canx.

 

[Flashback]

That's a decent drive in a day

Would be a bugga if your flight tonight was canx.

It's only 2 hours each way, maybe 2.5 considering the weather

Don't jinx me!

 

[Mal]

It's only 2 hours each way, maybe 2.5 considering the weather

Don't jinx me!

Well have fun in Derby ! Well, maybe not fun - umm, enjoy the trip?

 

[Flashback]

Well have fun in Derby ! Well, maybe not fun - umm, enjoy the trip?

Why thank you sir! It will be straight in and out for this lil black duck

 

[serfty]

Common sequences I employ:

¢ is 0162
¼ is 0188
½ is 0189
¾ is 0190
€ is 0128
° is 0176
¹ is 0185
² is 0178
³ is 0179

 

[samh004]

Could not believe the outcome of the test match. If you’re going to let teams challenge the umpires, then when a batsman clearly didn’t hit the ball, through all the technology provided for challenges, it shouldn’t be out!

/rant

 

[anat0l]

Could not believe the outcome of the test match. If you’re going to let teams challenge the umpires, then when a batsman clearly didn’t hit the ball, through all the technology provided for challenges, it shouldn’t be out!

/rant

Gee....can't believe that the West Indies lost that one. Unbelievable - are we the country of flukes?

 

[Mal]

Well you could always go Singapore for FT Sin Do 2010.

Well my mind has been in overdrive ticking away as to what to do. The model of laptop I want is soon to be replaced with a new version, but the old one is good enough. Hong Kong has the best mix of price and features, Singapore isn't that special.

I've been to Honkers a couple of months ago, so not really wanting to spend time there again (esp since I'm due there again at end Feb), but think it's time to head back to Singapore.

So what's the compromise? A GBP 775 fare on Cathay, with stopovers both ways in Hong Kong (first stop to check what is available, and perhaps buy, 2nd stop to buy if I need to ).

Something like:
13 Jan CX252 LHR 11:30 HKG 07:05 +1 0 24:15 744 eTicket Economy Save (V)
14 Jan CX711 HKG 16:00 SIN 19:45 0 777 eTicket Economy Save (V)
19 Jan CX714 SIN 11:25 HKG 15:10 0 25:35 777 eTicket Economy Save (V)
19 Jan CX251 HKG 23:55 LHR 05:00 +1 0 744 eTicket Economy Save (V)

There's a ~6 day min on that ticket, so that could slot nicely into SIN Do (and can be shifted around a little if required).

Two birds, One stone. And really that fare isn't too bad, earning 120sc's.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Well my mind has been in overdrive ticking away as to what to do. The model of laptop I want is soon to be replaced with a new version, but the old one is good enough. Hong Kong has the best mix of price and features, Singapore isn't that special.

I've been to Honkers a couple of months ago, so not really wanting to spend time there again (esp since I'm due there again at end Feb), but think it's time to head back to Singapore.

So what's the compromise? A GBP 775 fare on Cathay, with stopovers both ways in Hong Kong (first stop to check what is available, and perhaps buy, 2nd stop to buy if I need to ).

Two birds, One stone. And really that fare isn't too bad, earning 120sc's.

GBP 775 to me doesn't sound that cheap, as you need to add accom. :-|

I think I have about 3 people I am trying to convince they should go to Sin Do 2010, Even if no extras go it should be a good trip as there is a heap of people I know already going.

Now that I am home; my next trip planning is to the NYC in June 2010 for FT BRT 10.

My current thinking is this:
BNE-SYD QF
SYD-HNL JQ *class
HNL-LAX AA KUP
LAX-DFW AA KUP
DFW-DTW AA KUP
DTW-LGA DL DC9S
LGA-DTW DL DC9S
DTW-SFO ?
SFO-LAX VX (Virgin America)
LAX-BNE VA V Australia

Trying to kill a few birds in one stone.

JQ * class for the SCs and to have a look at Hawaii for a day or 2.
AA KUPs for the SCs I am hoping for Gold by July 31.
DTW mainly for the DC9S as Delta will retire the DC9-30 and DC9-40s by the end of Oct 2010 and will not be painted in Delta colours.
DFW to do a quick visit to some relatives
VX to try another Virgin branded airline
VA to try another Virgin branded airline, and hoping to get a good one way PE or business class fare out of the USA.

Problems:
Cost: Delta doesn't like selling one ways cheaply, I don't need to visit DTW more than once.
Cost: HNL to US East on AA KUP is about $1,500
Cost: BNE-NYC is about $1,500 all those segments are going to add up.
Cost: Accom at NYC mega $$$
Cost: V Australia doesn't like selling one ways in business cheaply but for half the price I can buy a one way business and one way PE for about half the dollars. :shock:
Time: I am going to need 2 weeks to do this properly.
My credit card is still in a state of shock from Europe and NZ (Europe is work but I am still really paying for it)

 

[tuapekastar]

Could not believe the outcome of the test match. If you’re going to let teams challenge the umpires, then when a batsman clearly didn’t hit the ball, through all the technology provided for challenges, it shouldn’t be out!

/rant

I was out (so to speak) and missed seeing this. However from my understanding (having read some commentary re the dismissal/referral):

1. The on-field umpire gave the batsman out
2. The batsman exercised his right to refer the decision to off-field technology
3. The off-field technology was unable to conclusively 'prove' that he did NOT hit it...hence
4. The on-field umpire's decision stands

My understanding is that the off-field technology must be able to clearly disprove the on-field decision in order for a challenge to be upheld.

The relevant clause from the ICC regulations regarding referrals appears to be:

If despite the available technology, the third umpire is unable to answer with a high degree of confidence a particular question posed by the on-field umpire, then he should report that the replays are ‘inconclusive’. The third umpire should not give answers conveying likelihoods or probabilities.​

So the original decision stands...and that's the way it should be.

 

[drron]

Test match,what test match?Too busy watching Concorde 79 on 7/2.Wow what pilots-outmanouevred an armed drone,dodged 4 missiles,pulled out of dive at last second and landed without brakes.:shock:Then next sector survive an explosive decompression and landed it on a ski run in the Alps!How true to life.

 

[samh004]

My understanding is that the off-field technology must be able to clearly disprove the on-field decision in order for a challenge to be upheld.

So the original decision stands...and that's the way it should be.

So they slowed down the footage and the ball didn’t seem to move as it went past the edge of the bat. The mic in the wicket didn’t register a noise, as happens often when the ball flies past, or the bat hits pads. And the hot spot technology showed nothing glowing anywhere on the bat, and the bat turned as he played the shot, so you’d see a hot spot if he’d hit it.

I don’t understand how those 3 things don’t disprove the on-field decision. But it was Billy, and he’s always making decisions in favour of Australia.