The Thread Of Randomness

[Chrill]

Oooh that's never a fun one. I've done something a wee bit similar once, which was embarrassing after priding myself on my driving skill for years. I hit a pillar in a garage driving out. I was not reversing, I was not avoiding another driver, I was just not paying enough attention and turned too early hitting the pillar with the rear left of the car. Hey, that deductible was low so it ended up being a not-too-costly mistake.

[Redirect Left]

I hit a pillar in a garage driving out.

Honestly, I always avoid parking in one of the big multistorey concrete jungle car parks we have too many of here. Just because I know every corner i miss-guess, or if i slip on the accelerate when reversing even slightly, its an instant meeting with concrete that physics will be happy to resolve in a manner I won't enjoy. Like, oh no. So many opportunities for concrete in my face. Even worse is when you have the down ramp and if you misjudge that even slightly, your front or your side is going to get concrete'd thoroughly.

I did notice what i actually hit on the transit as I went past it earlier today in the daylight (on the bus for... obvious reasons), there is a black coloured circle protruding from the rear of the van on the side. Which naturally, darkness (was 3am time of accident), black circular bit you can't easily spot. That is probably what I collided with, and why the van has no sign of damage. I went back to the dashcam footage, like half a second before impact, I still was barely able to see it on a still frame. Very irritated it is not bright yellow, given it protrudes from the vehicle. So whilst I was very close (too close, i know), and given there's no damage to the van, and all the damage to my car is in one line. I collided with that, so to me i was (probably!) correct in saying i got the distance correct in driving, just cutting it -way- too fine on the line.
I asked a friend and apparently the pole on the van is likely a metal pole that is for a magnet in the door, so when they meet the door sticks there. Explains how it did my car right in without being damaged itself if its metal

[vear]

I had my first-ever claim as recently as in 2023. It was among the dumbest of reasons: someone stole my car's catalytic converter overnight (and I thought these sort of things wasn't happening anymore...). While the insurance did cover everyting, my scoring has deteriorated so much that it's a struggle to find a new policy at a reasonable price. Took me a couple of hours yesterday until I managed to find one not costing an arm and a leg.

All in all, it was an incentive to move to a flat that does have its private garage. Feeling safer now.

[Chrill]

So this is the Last.FM listening charts for the Talking Heads song "Burning Down the House". Did something happen in early January, perhaps in the Los Angeles region?

[Redirect Left]

Did something happen in early January, perhaps in the Los Angeles region?

Nothing comes to mind.

Except this achievement i got on Duolingo yesterday. Personally, I would probably have silently awarded that in the background without drawing attention to it at present, given some potentially ongoing events. I've heard the Amazon is constantly having forest fires, so that seems an insensitive achievement.

[JohnFranklin523]

I just want to ask about a crazy question:

Who has ever gone from Penzance to Wick by trains?

I answered my question being the craziest guy - I completed it, and in 24 hours! In short:

2025-04-01 1515 Penzance -- Wick 1504 2025-04-02

For more, see here.

[orudge]

Nice! Sounds like a fun trip!

Out of interest, I wondered if it'd be possible to get from Penzance Airport to Wick Airport. Technically, yes, but the route would be rather convoluted:



You currently can't do it in one day, you'd need to do:

Land's End to St Mary's: 11:00 -> 11:20 perhaps, Isles of Scilly Skybus
St Mary's to Newquay: 12:40 -> 13:10, Isles of Scilly Skybus
(twiddle your thumbs for 21 hours or so)
Newquay - Manchester - Aberdeen: 10:25 -> 13:45, Loganair
Aberdeen - Wick: 15:30 - 16:10, Eastern Airways

This would likely have been easier in the past, perhaps even in a single day - something like Land’s End - St Mary’s - Exeter - Edinburgh - Wick would have been possible, but Edinburgh to Wick flights stopped in 2020.

[rbos86]

I'm going to see Iron Maiden live in concert, in Arnhem - The Netherlands.
First and maybe last time, I don't know. Nevermind.

I'm going to Maiden!

[Chrill]

I'm going to see Iron Maiden live in concert, in Arnhem - The Netherlands.
First and maybe last time, I don't know. Nevermind.

I'm going to Maiden!

Awesome! I'll be seeing them this summer too, in Stockholm. It will be my third, and likely final, time.

I'm also seeing all these this summer/fall:
Oasis (in London)
The Offspring
The Libertines
Madness
Accept
Sepultura
Kim Wilde
Smashing Pumpkins
Manic Street Preachers
Robbie Williams

All in separate concerts in the Stockholm area, except Oasis of course. There is an amusement park in Stockholm, and they have a stage fit for up to 15,000 so they often book "semi-big" bands. You can buy free entry all summer, including all concerts, for something like $35-40. Of the above, only Offspring, Iron Maiden, and Robbie Williams are not playing there.

[rbos86]

Nice list of good music/bands!
Some great names amongst them!