Page 13 of 67
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:54 am
by weeksy
Lindsey Vonn skier with a bit of the Pedrosas about her..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c4gww3e0z8eo
Impressive!
Lindsey Vonn says she has surprised herself with how well her comeback has gone since returning to ski racing - after being forced to quit through injury almost six years ago.
The 40-year-old retired in February 2019 with knee problems following a glittering career that included Olympic and World Championship golds and 82 World Cup wins.
But after having a titanium knee replacement and being able to ski pain-free again, Vonn decided to give racing another go.
The American finished 14th in her first World Cup race back in December, and came fourth and sixth last weekend in super-G and downhill races in St Anton, Austria.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 1:08 pm
by gremlin
Apparently Hanoi was named as the most polluted city in SE Asia whilst I was out there.
https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/20 ... -city.html
I'd kinda figured that anyway, every time I blew my nose.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:42 am
by Taipan
RTE News wrote:Storm Éowyn will probably be among the “severest storms” that Ireland has ever seen.
The chair of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, Keith Leonard, said Friday’s storm will result in very difficult conditions for everybody and cause serious disruption to transport and significant power outages.
He said schools will be closed and the “ideal” would be for people to work from home.[/storm]
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:44 am
by KungFooBob
Who knew you had to pay to climb Everest, not me!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0jlp3ll88o
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:56 am
by wheelnut
I was quite surprised at the cost to a ship to transit the Panama Canal - about $400k!!
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:05 am
by Count Steer
wheelnut wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:56 am
I was quite surprised at the cost to a ship to transit the Panama Canal - about $400k!!
The largest container ships can burn 400 tonnes of fuel a day, so, if they had to go round....
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:10 am
by wheelnut
Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:05 am
wheelnut wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:56 am
I was quite surprised at the cost to a ship to transit the Panama Canal - about $400k!!
The largest container ships can burn 400 tonnes of fuel a day, so, if they had to go round....
Yep, they are a bit of a captive audience. Every number involving those ships is huge though,
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:21 am
by Count Steer
wheelnut wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:10 am
Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:05 am
wheelnut wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:56 am
I was quite surprised at the cost to a ship to transit the Panama Canal - about $400k!!
The largest container ships can burn 400 tonnes of fuel a day, so, if they had to go round....
Yep, they are a bit of a captive audience. Every number involving those ships is huge though,
It would seem only fair that USA registered ships get a discount though. (I notice that the 'lives lost' was used as an emotive reason, but the lives were almost all not Americans. The money they sank into the project seems reason enough. Surprised that wasn't part of the deal in the handover).
On the stats of shipping - apparently ships moored up at Southampton still produce more NOx that the cities cars!
PS The Merkins also have some strange old rules on shipping. Apparently only American
built ships are allowed to ply their trade directly between American ports. Problem - as I read it, no American yards are building the type of ship needed for it. Result - a diminishing fleet of outdated, expensive to maintain ships chugging between the USA ports increasing the costs of port-to-port transport.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 4:42 pm
by Yorick
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:50 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:21 am
wheelnut wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:10 am
Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 10:05 am
The largest container ships can burn 400 tonnes of fuel a day, so, if they had to go round....
Yep, they are a bit of a captive audience. Every number involving those ships is huge though,
It would seem only fair that USA registered ships get a discount though. (I notice that the 'lives lost' was used as an emotive reason, but the lives were almost all not Americans. The money they sank into the project seems reason enough. Surprised that wasn't part of the deal in the handover).
On the stats of shipping - apparently ships moored up at Southampton still produce more NOx that the cities cars!
PS The Merkins also have some strange old rules on shipping. Apparently only American
built ships are allowed to ply their trade directly between American ports. Problem - as I read it, no American yards are building the type of ship needed for it. Result - a diminishing fleet of outdated, expensive to maintain ships chugging between the USA ports increasing the costs of port-to-port transport.
I never really thought about it until someone told me (my Uncle is a merchant ship captain), but the contents of those enormous container ships can run into the £billions. Makes sense when you think about how big they are really!
Yeah non-US ships can't ply trade between American ports, which is why so many cruise lines do a seemingly random one day stop in Mexico or Canada or something, it's so they're not going directly US->US.
You'll probably have seen in your local news (my Dad in Portsmouth keeps telling me about it) about how Southampton now has shore power for cruise ships to solve the NOx problem. None of them use it though 'cause it's more expensive than keeping their engines on. There'll soon come the day when they're banned from running their engines alongside.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:59 pm
by Count Steer
I'd read about ports inc Soton installing shore-to-ship power - but pricing it at standard UK prices.
Bizarre that we can't supply power cheaper
on environmental or industrial need grounds. Surely they could offer interruptable and off-peak too - so they can at least switch at night.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:12 pm
by wheelnut
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:50 pm
I never really thought about it until someone told me (my Uncle is a merchant ship captain), but the contents of those enormous container ships can run into the £billions. Makes sense when you think about how big they are really!
.
I read somewhere that a big container ship will recoup the cost of its construction after 2 or 3 journeys.
12000 40ft containers at $4000 per container from China to UK soon adds up.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:24 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
And if you think of how many iPhones you can fit in a shipping container, you can see the potentially enormous value of the cargo.
My Uncle on the other hand ships bulk cargo. Coal, Iron Ore and Soy Beans mostly. Not at the same time.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:27 pm
by Yambo
A container full of razor blades will probably be worth more.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:29 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Yambo wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:27 pm
A container full of razor blades will probably be worth more.
Especially with all them shop security tags.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:54 pm
by Skub
Yambo wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:27 pm
A container full of razor blades will probably be worth more.
Pretty sharp.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:12 pm
by Rockburner
Yambo wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:27 pm
A container full of razor blades will probably be worth more.
IIRC micro SD cards are the most valuable product per weight, worth more than gold or other precious metals.
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:16 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Rockburner wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:12 pm
micro SD cards.
Ever noticed how the "D" in "SD" implies it's an optical storage medium, but it err....ain't?
That's cause they came up with the logo for a different Tech, then didn't change the logo when they changed the storage format
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:20 pm
by Horse
Re: In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:43 pm
by Cousin Jack
Now add assorted cosmetic products into the mix. I guarantee they will be well up the list.
