Bad beat/Moaning/Venting thread - Wordle Gummidge

[Wombatman]

Wouldn't like to be sweating a CR7 goal scorer bet.

[limpwhacker]

Wouldn't like to be sweating a CR7 goal scorer bet.

He never touched it he knows he didn't. Glory hunting Ponce.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Fourth year in a row ordering the Google Photo Book. Essentially you select photos from the year, can add little captions etc, turn it into a nice hardcover book, and it becomes your 'the memory of the year' album. Think its a lovely idea. Was looking back at the first one from four years ago and the kids were tiny. Indeed there's a decent chance that they become increasingly tinged with sadness as the years go by, as you look back, or indeed as you look at the transition. Yeah, scratch that, its a woeful idea.

[Raoul Duke III]

South Korea, Indonesia, and now welcoming Malaysia to the group, in terms of Asian countries making the transition to democracy successfully too. Its nearly inevitable that China will follow also. Probably why there is the rise of protests over time there, as people realise things don't have to be controlled.

The hope, of course, is that like South Korea, Indonesia (partially), and Malaysia, the transition will be peaceful. Essentially gradually introducing more and more democratic-like behaviour, before the big 'election' moment. Not sure the reappointment of Xi is all that great in that context, he doesn't seem to have many big ideas.

China is becoming more authoritarian and bellicose under Xi, not less. Which kinda blows your hot take out of the water really.

[Solksjaer!]

He never touched it he knows he didn't. Glory hunting Ponce.

If it was Maradona he gets the goal as his Aura would have touched it. Id say Ronaldo felt the breeze and thought his hair brushed it. Not contesting the 'ponce' point.

[Raoul Duke III]

Quote of the Day:

I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.

(Charlemagne)

[Solksjaer!]

Quote of the Day:



(Charlemagne)

And dutch to my bike .

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

China is becoming more authoritarian and bellicose under Xi, not less. Which kinda blows your hot take out of the water really.

The idea that as countries become richer they tend to transition to democracy is not a 'hot take', its an entire field of comparative politics research called modernization theory. Albeit, like all research, quite a debated idea. But Xi does indeed seem like an impediment. I think he's their first leader since Mao who didn't spend at least some significant time abroad, so doesn't seem to have that broader perspective of their previous leaders who were edging in the right direction.

[Raoul Duke III]

The idea that as countries become richer they tend to transition to democracy is not a 'hot take', its an entire field of comparative politics research called modernization theory. Albeit, like all research, quite a debated idea. But Xi does indeed seem like an impediment. I think he's their first leader since Mao who didn't spend at least some significant time abroad, so doesn't seem to have that broader perspective of their previous leaders who were edging in the right direction.

Not sure you can describe an untrammeled dictator as an 'impediment'. He's doing exactly what Putin did, seizing and concentrating power while at the same time vastly increasing the machinery of repression.

[Murdrum]

The New York Times podcasts (well the daily anyway) are almost unlistenable because of the affected way the presenters talk- maybe it’s a wider podcast thing but it’s ultra tilting

I have listened to a couple but I’d agree they’re not great.

FP, FA & Economist all produce good content imo.
In light of RD3 & Hitch conversation, a recently released series on Xi which is quite good and this on Africa, S1 on Infrastructure & S2 on Climate.

[hotspur]

Quote of the Day:



(Charlemagne)

A friend watching the Brazil - Switzerland game earlier messaged a complaint to me about how boring the Swiss team is with "Switzerland are just Poland with better haircuts."

[Strewelpeter]

Just caught a few minutes of what looks like a hagiography of Sean Quinn on RTE

WTaF They just got through a ten minute section on him going to war with CRH and the only mention of source of funds was that he owned the fucking Cat and Cage

[Strewelpeter]

"He built his business through a combination of guts, gravel, granite and genius..."

GTFO

[Cuchulainn1]

Just caught a few minutes of what looks like a hagiography of Sean Quinn on RTE

WTaF They just got through a ten minute section on him going to war with CRH and the only mention of source of funds was that he owned the fucking Cat and Cage

I'd say he is getting set up for a big fall in Wednesday night.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Just up in the attic to look at the solar. We're generating 7 kwh a day even in winter. It was 15 kwh a day during June-October. So probably works out at an average of 4,000 kwh during the whole year.

Units are currently 40c, so that's an average of about €1,500 return during the year if you use all the units rather than sell them back to the grid (which we were during the summer) at half that price. We also get hot water from that, which is a free addition.

Big thing we'll do next is get a new car charger that only charges the car off excess solar kwh, so that will act almost as a battery (batteries themselves are woeful value at the moment - a few grand), then we'll be driving around for free during six months of the year and getting the full €1,500 return.

Cost of install was €6,200 after grant. Its the bargain of the century.

*if* you have the cash, which is clearly not a given, then solar is a slam-dunk in Dublin at least.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Used a massive 12,000 kwh last year, due to brutal insulation and the disastrous decision to install electric radiators.

My sense is we'll use about 7,000 kwh this coming year due to the new windows, door, attic foam insulation, better heating management. Plus charging the car.

The hope is that when the external insulation is finally installed that should fall to around 4,000 kwh, even with needing to be less of a nazi on house heating. So it would be more-or-less cancelled out by the solar.

A long journey to get there though.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

UK census stats:

Some 46.2% said they were Christian, down from 59.3% in 2011.

Of Londoners 36.8% identify as White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British - down from 44.9%

Its a rather diverse society.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Just caught a few minutes of what looks like a hagiography of Sean Quinn on RTE

WTaF They just got through a ten minute section on him going to war with CRH and the only mention of source of funds was that he owned the fucking Cat and Cage

In a completely defamation-free question unrelated to the above - is the perception that some hypothetical person called, say, Cean Kuinn, was a funding front for a militia organisation?

[6starpool]

Used a massive 12,000 kwh last year, due to brutal insulation and the disastrous decision to install electric radiators.

My sense is we'll use about 7,000 kwh this coming year due to the new windows, door, attic foam insulation, better heating management. Plus charging the car.

The hope is that when the external insulation is finally installed that should fall to around 4,000 kwh, even with needing to be less of a nazi on house heating. So it would be more-or-less cancelled out by the solar.

A long journey to get there though.

For comparison purposes, we used about 5,100 kwh in the last 12 months, which includes heating, but we don't have solar. We have no gas/oil. It is an A rated house (supposedly) and I suspect we could be using less if we tried more. I've been WFH all that time too, and the missus here as well on a career break.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

For comparison purposes, we used about 5,100 kwh in the last 12 months, which includes heating, but we don't have solar. We have no gas/oil. It is an A rated house (supposedly) and I suspect we could be using less if we tried more. I've been WFH all that time too, and the missus here as well on a career break.

Do you have an electric car - or that's just regular house usage? Suggests that even with the insulation we won't get down anywhere near 4,000 with the car. Maybe a net 3,000 kwh with the car and the solar. No gas/oil here either. Do you have a heat pump?

[6starpool]

Do you have an electric car - or that's just regular house usage? Suggests that even with the insulation we won't get down anywhere near 4,000 with the car. Maybe a net 3,000 kwh with the car and the solar. No gas/oil here either. Do you have a heat pump?

No electric car, yes to heat pump. Our heating system, even after over 5 years is still a mystery to me though. At times in the summer (and not outlier cold day) the radiators may be warm at times. This means that I'm sure it is on at times when we don't need it on. We have far too many appliances on standby at night too generally I'd say if we wanted to get proper nazi like about usage.

[Solksjaer!]

Been quite a pleasant winter so far lets hope the north wind dont blow . A snow deluge might just finish off the UK.

[hotspur]

A source told NBC News that Mr Fuentes is advising West on his potential presidential bid.
The dinner reportedly became heated after West suggested Mr Trump should be his running mate in 2024.

Lol

[zuutroy]

Been quite a pleasant winter so far lets hope the north wind dont blow . A snow deluge might just finish off the UK.

Proper winter coming at the weekend. Looking like the mercury won't be tipping 10 degrees again for quite a while.

[Emmet]

Installed one of these this month - https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-em-...tomation-1#143

No need for a smart meter and the awful tarriffs that they expose you to (that I am unable to turn back from now).

The 120A CT clamp goes over your mains power in on your consumer unit, the 50A CT over any large users (car charger / heat pump / electric shower if you have any) and you get full Live power readings down both channels. Am actually considering buying a second to get even further granularity of usage.

Power off at the main fuse before installing obviously!

Screenshot 2022-11-29 12.54.47.png

We're an A2/A3 house, with heat pump and electric car. House+car will be ~ 7200kWh this year (car about 1800 of that I think).

Hitchhiker's Guide To... as before - you'll need > 1.4kW of excess to get trickle into the car - it's not just the kWh that you created that will magically appear in the car if plugged in during the day. (1 kW of excess for 5000 hours = 5k kWh but zero of that would make it into the car for example). Car obviously needs to be parked at home during sunshine generating hours too. So if your solar panels generate 2.2 kW of power at an instance during a sunny day, but your house base load is 900W / someone switches on the dishwasher, you're snookered for car juice.

[Solksjaer!]

Proper winter coming at the weekend. Looking like the mercury won't be tipping 10 degrees again for quite a while.

White Christmas yey.

[Solksjaer!]

Lol

West to toast .

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Installed one of these this month - https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-em-...tomation-1#143

No need for a smart meter and the awful tarriffs that they expose you to (that I am unable to turn back from now).

The 120A CT clamp goes over your mains power in on your consumer unit, the 50A CT over any large users (car charger / heat pump / electric shower if you have any) and you get full Live power readings down both channels. Am actually considering buying a second to get even further granularity of usage.

Power off at the main fuse before installing obviously!

Screenshot 2022-11-29 12.54.47.png

We're an A2/A3 house, with heat pump and electric car. House+car will be ~ 7200kWh this year (car about 1800 of that I think).

Hitchhiker's Guide To... as before - you'll need > 1.4kW of excess to get trickle into the car - it's not just the kWh that you created that will magically appear in the car if plugged in during the day. (1 kW of excess for 5000 hours = 5k kWh but zero of that would make it into the car for example). Car obviously needs to be parked at home during sunshine generating hours too. So if your solar panels generate 2.2 kW of power at an instance during a sunny day, but your house base load is 900W / someone switches on the dishwasher, you're snookered for car juice.

Thanks!

I have the memory of a ... something.

Ah, didn't know that. In our case it might still make sense as:

1. We didn't claim a grant for the initial charger, so the switch to the solar charger will be heavily grant subsidised
2. The car is at home during the day, nearly every day
3. For summer the excess during daylight hours could easily be 5-10kW

But, wait, for clarification - do you mean it needs to be 1.4kW excess an hour, or that's per day?

[Murdrum]

I recall deciding the last time to wait on pulling the trigger on solar panels until Emmett tells me what I need.

Happy to continue along that path. I do remember you mentioning that you’re excluded from the grant given the date of the build which feels very arbitrary

[Emmet]

Watt vs Watt Hour - https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/de...s%20per%20hour.

You may produce 1kW of excess power at any moment in time, if you do for one minute, then you will have generated 1/60 kWh.

The car chargers need 1.4kW (and some of them have a higher requirement!) of excess power from Solar to be able to start charging. So if at a moment in time your house is using 500W, and the sun really pings brightly and your panels (let me guess 8 panels @ 330Wp (peak production) ~ 2.6 kWp ) completely max out, then you will be generating 2.1kW of excess power.

If that 'moment' lasts for 1 hour, then your car will be able to take it all for that hour, meaning your car now has 2.1 kWh more in the battery than it did an hour ago.

The excess is "instanteous" - not per hour / per day etc. Only when there is >1.4kW (not watt hour) of power available will the car start charging. As above, you could produce over 10 hours 13kWh of excess energy, however not one unit of that would enter the car if it was a consistent 1.3kW of excess power over that time.

[Tar.Aldarion]

I recall deciding the last time to wait on pulling the trigger on solar panels until Emmett tells me what I need.

Happy to continue along that path. I do remember you mentioning that you’re excluded from the grant given the date of the build which feels very arbitrary

Just checked that out and house is too new to get the grant, lol? No solar panels so.

[Keane]

Just checked that out and house is too new to get the grant, lol? No solar panels so.

I'm in the same boat as the house I'm buying is one someone I know has been building in fits and starts for several years, but the grant definition is that the house must be occupied in 2021 as defined by ESB connection. A bit of a pain in the neck, maybe they'll extend it in future.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

I'm in the same boat as the house I'm buying is one someone I know has been building in fits and starts for several years, but the grant definition is that the house must be occupied in 2021 as defined by ESB connection. A bit of a pain in the neck, maybe they'll extend it in future.

Seems like a really obvious way to boost installations, given the likelihood of new home owners wanting solars.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Watt vs Watt Hour - https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/de...s%20per%20hour.

You may produce 1kW of excess power at any moment in time, if you do for one minute, then you will have generated 1/60 kWh.

The car chargers need 1.4kW (and some of them have a higher requirement!) of excess power from Solar to be able to start charging. So if at a moment in time your house is using 500W, and the sun really pings brightly and your panels (let me guess 8 panels @ 330Wp (peak production) ~ 2.6 kWp ) completely max out, then you will be generating 2.1kW of excess power.

If that 'moment' lasts for 1 hour, then your car will be able to take it all for that hour, meaning your car now has 2.1 kWh more in the battery than it did an hour ago.

The excess is "instanteous" - not per hour / per day etc. Only when there is >1.4kW (not watt hour) of power available will the car start charging. As above, you could produce over 10 hours 13kWh of excess energy, however not one unit of that would enter the car if it was a consistent 1.3kW of excess power over that time.

Thanks! That actually does explain it.

Its a 3.95KW installation, so maybe gives a bit more wiggle-room.

[Denny Crane]

Interesting about the solar. Was curious if there would be any juice.

The idea that as countries become richer they tend to transition to democracy is not a 'hot take', its an entire field of comparative politics research called modernization theory. Albeit, like all research, quite a debated idea. But Xi does indeed seem like an impediment. I think he's their first leader since Mao who didn't spend at least some significant time abroad, so doesn't seem to have that broader perspective of their previous leaders who were edging in the right direction.

Just focusing on one part of the equation.

I think their Confucian background is more important than their GDP.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Interesting about the solar. Was curious if there would be any juice.


Just focusing on one part of the equation.

I think their Confucian background is more important than their GDP.

Could be. Or more generally that more individualistic societies tend towards democracy. Decent article here on the idea, which seems well-informed. I suppose I was just noting that it wasn't a 'hot take' that GDP growth tends to lead to greater democratization, but rather a whole stream of serious research

[thechamp87]

Looking for someone to deal a home game (in Foxrock) on Saturday 10th if anyone is interested or knows someone I could contact. Approx ~5 hours and happy to overpay on the hourly.

HJ introduced a great dealer last time but he’s unavailable.

Thanks in advance.

[Raoul Duke III]

Was hoping for some proper dismembering of opponents in Iran-USA but sadly the players seem to be all on the same side, politically speaking.

[Raoul Duke III]

Could be. Or more generally that more individualistic societies tend towards democracy. Decent article here on the idea, which seems well-informed. I suppose I was just noting that it wasn't a 'hot take' that GDP growth tends to lead to greater democratization, but rather a whole stream of serious research

It seems a bit of an optimistic theory to me. If you look at the countries whose GDP per capita grew the most in the 25 years to 2017, they are: Equatorial Guinea

• China
• Myanmar
• Iraq
• Vietnam
• Cabo Verde
• Bhutan
• Laos
• India
• Albania
• Sri Lanka
• Ireland

Not much in the way of empirical support there, except ourselves of course. Even India has backslid somewhat. Vietnam is probably better.

[MysteryGuest]

Should be a national bounty placed on pit bulls- run a few over get some cash etc
forced sterilisation for the owners if they complain- seriously how are they legal in any form
would genuinely poison one if someone in my neighbourhood got one

[Wombatman]

In case you have anyone in third level, this needs to be applied for by tomorrow.

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/f20ab-bud...-2022-to-2023/

[dinekes]

Should be a national bounty placed on pit bulls- run a few over get some cash etc
forced sterilisation for the owners if they complain- seriously how are they legal in any form
would genuinely poison one if someone in my neighbourhood got one

Like a gun you can pet (Bill Burr)
Yeah, horrific injuries to that kid according to the article.

So many fuckwit owners who simply won't leash their dog...ah sure he's harmless etc until it's too late....he never bit anyone before And it's definitely a certain type of owner that go for pit bulls and Rotties etc. Mate of mine was telling me about his smaller family dog that these big dogs would run up to in the park and the howya owner would be calling out "ah shure he's grand won't bodder ye at all..sure he's only playin" ...so he bought a hurley and they started leashing their dogs right quick

Young kids especially vulnerable to nasty injury obviously ..face level to sharp teeth.

Fond of dogs myself but too many owners are stupid about them.

[Degag]

Looking for someone to deal a home game (in Foxrock) on Saturday 10th if anyone is interested or knows someone I could contact. Approx ~5 hours and happy to overpay on the hourly.

HJ introduced a great dealer last time but he’s unavailable.

Thanks in advance.

On the subject of poker, what is the go to brand of decent cards these days? We play a few home games and Copag was always our go-to. But the last couple of times we've played i've noticed they get marked far easier than i remember so wondering if the quality has dipped?

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

In the Chinese class last night and we were all chatting in basic, but actual, Chinese sentences. Some progress from ten weeks ago when we didn't know a single word. Amazing really the human capacity to adapt to new languages.

Eldest kid has made the awful choice to pick German over Spanish as her second (third) language in school and I find I innately remember nearly everything about the language. All the words, all the sentence structures. Like it was just sitting there in the back of the head waiting to pop out 25 years after finishing learning it. What other past learning is stuck in the back of our heads? Same with Irish for the youngest, a bit.

[6starpool]

In the Chinese class last night and we were all chatting in basic, but actual, Chinese sentences. Some progress from ten weeks ago when we didn't know a single word. Amazing really the human capacity to adapt to new languages.

Eldest kid has made the awful choice to pick German over Spanish as her second (third) language in school and I find I innately remember nearly everything about the language. All the words, all the sentence structures. Like it was just sitting there in the back of the head waiting to pop out 25 years after finishing learning it. What other past learning is stuck in the back of our heads? Same with Irish for the youngest, a bit.

Yu li lo mo hi.

[Denny Crane]

Spent 2.5k on Metallica tickets this morning.

The music game has done changed.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

^^^ puppet

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

Yu li lo mo hi.

you're missing the tones.

[Hitchhiker's Guide To...]

jaysus, those fucking qataris.

[DeadParrot]

Off to Brussels for the Xmas market on the 9th Dec for the weekend
Any europhile's here able to give me any tips on where to go /avoid?
Recent riots has me missus wary about the place but I'm assuming it's an outlier given the level of coverage

[zuutroy]

You could ditch Brussels and go out to Leuven, where I used to live instead. They have an Xmas market and it's lovely around there this time of year. Ghent and Bruges are probably also good options. I never had any time for Brussels.

[Solksjaer!]

You could ditch Brussels and go out to Leuven, where I used to live instead. They have an Xmas market and it's lovely around there this time of year. Ghent and Bruges are probably also good options. I never had any time for Brussels.

This.

Pop on a train . Brussels is ok though and the market might be cool. However what Zuutroph said.

[DeadParrot]

You could ditch Brussels and go out to Leuven, where I used to live instead. They have an Xmas market and it's lovely around there this time of year. Ghent and Bruges are probably also good options. I never had any time for Brussels.

Hmmm...
Not a great start...
Hoping for a day in Bruges but also need to be wary that everything seems to close on a Sunday?

[Solksjaer!]

Spent 2.5k on Metallica tickets this morning.

The music game has done changed.

HOW? following them on tour ? Guy i jnow in the US goes to every gig from everyone . Its an obsession. Must be hitting the million spent on it. He'd text me eg , gonna go to a few of Depeche Mode gugs in Europe . WTF. In 2000s we were in Philly and ended up in the Kyber Bar boozing with David Gray . Didnt even know he was in town . Back then I had a ginger beard that started the worldwide hipster beard growing revolution. I was too pretty to hide my face so it had to go.

[Degag]

Spent 2.5k on Metallica tickets this morning.

The music game has done changed.

Ffs. Lars probably not happy he’s only like the worlds 3rd richest drummer.

[Raoul Duke III]

You could ditch Brussels and go out to Leuven, where I used to live instead. They have an Xmas market and it's lovely around there this time of year. Ghent and Bruges are probably also good options. I never had any time for Brussels.

Ghent is superb, like a mini Amsterdam but better.

[Denny Crane]

HOW? following them on tour ? Guy i jnow in the US goes to every gig from everyone . Its an obsession. Must be hitting the million spent on it. He'd text me eg , gonna go to a few of Depeche Mode gugs in Europe . WTF. In 2000s we were in Philly and ended up in the Kyber Bar boozing with David Gray . Didnt even know he was in town . Back then I had a ginger beard that started the worldwide hipster beard growing revolution. I was too pretty to hide my face so it had to go.

Tbf it's a pair of tickets for four shows across two cities, across two years. 8 total.

They're playing two nights in each city, and selling the tickets as pairs, 30 songs no repeats.

And i got pit tickets for centre of the stage for one of the legs

[Raoul Duke III]

• Xmas market obv
• St Catherine area (also central)
• Area directly to the west of Grand Place
• really cool old puppet theatre north of Grand Place (go for a look even if you can't get tickets, kids will like)
• The trail of Tintin themed murals
• Mannekin Pis obv.
• Christmas beer

If you and the mrs are feeling ready to be turbo-ejected into a world of funk, go clubbing in Matonge.

[Raoul Duke III]

Ghent >>>>> Bruges imo

[Solksjaer!]

• Xmas market obv
• St Catherine area (also central)
• Area directly to the west of Grand Place
• really cool old puppet theatre north of Grand Place (go for a look even if you can't get tickets, kids will like)
• The trail of Tintin themed murals
• Mannekin Pis obv.
• Christmas beer

If you and the mrs are feeling ready to be turbo-ejected into a world of funk, go clubbing in Matonge.

Mannekin Pis

I dont get this as an attraction.

i personally love walking around outer city streets when touring . 1st time in a City i walk blisters into my shoes just gaping at the place. You get a real feel for a place walking amongst the locals. Probably best done alone though.