Post something Weird or Random

[Boogs]

View attachment 139034

Could this be where the expression "Saved his bacon" comes from?

 

[NDR2]

 

[Rachie]

Sigh, not sure why they do they are doing this. They don't make like they used to.

I got my cooker in about 2012 a Canon gas cooker. I posted about my gas cooker at the end of last year. It got turned of. At the end it got switched back on for a proper check when facing replacement. They tested it rigoursly. In the end what happened is that my hobs were only lighting half full and I used them and put them on for heat and things and never realised that gas could come out of the unlit portion of the ring. It was blocked and things. They was all replaced and the new replacements emit the gas flame evenly. Ok, I was told though if I needed a replacement cooker itself they don't make them like they used to. It is a shame. Now I couldn't get a ring with two two bigger hobs they only do one and it is much more expensive. See for yourself the pictures.

Also, I used to have this really sturdy air dryer in my bathroom where I don't even remember where I got it from but that thing was so reinforced there was no chance it being broken. I had it for years. I wish I could still get it but I threw it out and asked for a replacement this Christmas a gift a bigger one. That seemed to be a mistake for the one I recieved lasted about all of three weeks has broken already and returned Ok, it wasn't the most expensive. However, I have been eyeing up some online and the seem weak and not strong at the joints compared to one I had. That one I seems like it could be going for much dinero now for the strength, oh dear what I do, shame. Adding what I recieved for Christmas.

 

[Nitro]

 

[Rachie]

Lol, I am beginning to sweat it now, my brother asked me for a replacement clothes hanger. I have found nothing. It is quite painful now. What do you do in these situations. I am really regretting it now. I would not like that downgrade for my hobs. They say autistics is not liking change, it certainly not helpful turning out half as good or less. Sometimes I can go on a search. It seems I just get anything and now face changing it three times a year or more, perhaps. Ebay I need to look and Gumtree as older seems to be better, sorry to say.

lol just edited, just ran to my kitchen to start cleaning my cooker it to look after it, make it last longer or something you know.

 

[Rachie]

Chuckles, put a time on it in the end. Had to go to with something, brainwave that website aimed at older people. Look there less likely to be selling something that will snap easily. Decided to go with it and chance it. Worth a try.
3-Tier Concertina Airer

Ticked.

 

[Boogs]

Sigh, not sure why they do they are doing this. They don't make like they used to.

It's called Built-in Obsolescence and has been a founding of commerce for well over a century (read up about Edison and his cohorts, who scammed the public by deliberately setting how long a light bulb would last to a low and agreed on level (with all the bulb manufacturers) for no reason than it made them vast amounts of profit in exchange for shoddy goods.

This is now probably 95% of what's available to buy, in some way or another. mainly because a company that sells proper designed and built goods will not make as much money and ultimately be beaten by those who use this scam.
Sadly it's almost universal now, so much of what we buy is trash, and it contributes to pollution massively too.
Ah, human's, what are they good for apart from exploiting each other? Makes me happy to be alien!

 

[Shevek]

It's called Built-in Obsolescence and has been a founding of commerce for well over a century (read up about Edison and his cohorts, who scammed the public by deliberately setting how long a light bulb would last to a low and agreed on level (with all the bulb manufacturers) for no reason than it made them vast amounts of profit in exchange for shoddy goods.

This is now probably 95% of what's available to buy, in some way or another. mainly because a company that sells proper designed and built goods will not make as much money and ultimately be beaten by those who use this scam.
Sadly it's almost universal now, so much of what we buy is trash, and it contributes to pollution massively too.
Ah, human's, what are they good for apart from exploiting each other? Makes me happy to be alien!

You are generally correct, but your example is wrong. The longer an incandescent light bulb lasts, the less light it gives per watt. The standard bulbs were a good compromise for overall expense. You could always buy long-life bulbs to use in difficult to change locations.

 

[Boogs]

Maybe I read incorrectly (or bad source) but I read a long time ago that for domestic light bulb production they deliberately and illegally (anti-monopoly laws) conspired to set standards and prices at the most profitable level for themselves when electric bulbs went into commercial production, which of course required customers bought as many as possible and prevented competition from establishing a correct (fair) price.
I doubt this would have applied to non-standard domestic products due to the different requirements and relatively smaller markets (long life and specialist bulbs).

But I could be wrong about the example, to be honest I took it on trust because the evidence seems to agree with it being a pretty standard part of business for a long time now. Obviously there are some specialist areas where you can pay for a properly constructed item built to last a lifetime or more (e.g. professional tools), but the trend seems much more the other way with large companies struggling to compete any other way. It's even created new industries like the $10 fashion outfit that's worn once then thrown out because that's all it's good for.
Sorry for ranting, unsustainable profiteering based on waste makes me sick!

 

[Rachie]

Thanks Boogs, you have come with a good explaination. It is strange how it is not universal like a microwave I would say they have been stable or improved generally. I have come up against before but I cannot remember quite what it was for.

I went with another airer in the end as my brother had not placed the order yet. I ended up getting a Good Housekeeping one that was half price.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8203919

 

[Shevek]

Maybe I read incorrectly (or bad source) but I read a long time ago that for domestic light bulb production they deliberately and illegally (anti-monopoly laws) conspired to set standards and prices at the most profitable level for themselves when electric bulbs went into commercial production, which of course required customers bought as many as possible and prevented competition from establishing a correct (fair) price.
I doubt this would have applied to non-standard domestic products due to the different requirements and relatively smaller markets (long life and specialist bulbs).

But I could be wrong about the example, to be honest I took it on trust because the evidence seems to agree with it being a pretty standard part of business for a long time now. Obviously there are some specialist areas where you can pay for a properly constructed item built to last a lifetime or more (e.g. professional tools), but the trend seems much more the other way with large companies struggling to compete any other way. It's even created new industries like the $10 fashion outfit that's worn once then thrown out because that's all it's good for.
Sorry for ranting, unsustainable profiteering based on waste makes me sick!

The "light bulb scam" is well suited for getting non-engineers riled up, so it is a persistent meme. To me, one of the worst ways we are victimized is in using vehicles that have less than 50% payload. We are paying enormous sums to go everywhere with tons of steel that only support our images and fears. We have also known for decades how to design buildings that don't need fuel for temperature regulation. It costs about 10% more up front, and so it is an excellent investment - but for the owner, not for the banks. Now, we are installing solar panels by the acre, but they don't double as roofing material, which they easily could.

 

[Forest Cat]

@Outdated, this is just what Australia needed. More giant deadly spiders.

Super-sized funnel-web spider discovered in Newcastle

 

[Outdated]

@Outdated, this is just what Australia needed. More giant deadly spiders.

Super-sized funnel-web spider discovered in Newcastle

Much more venomous than the others too.

The thing is, they've always been there. Only about 1/3 of our wildlife is properly documented. Every time a zoologist discovers something new locals show them several other subspecies of the same critters and give local names for them. 100 years ago the world had a real fascination for discovering new animals and plants but by the time Australia had started being properly opened up they were over it and no one cares any more. Until it kills someone anyway.

 

[Forest Cat]

Much more venomous than the others too.

Of course it is. It had to be. It's Australia.

The thing is, they've always been there. Only about 1/3 of our wildlife is properly documented.

I can only imagine the horror waiting to be discovered. I have said for a long time that somewhere in Australia, there is a colony of venomous carnivore koalas. I'm sure of it.

 

[Outdated]

I can only imagine the horror waiting to be discovered. I have said for a long time that somewhere in Australia, there is a colony of venomous carnivore koalas. I'm sure of it.

They're called Drop Bears. They have really hard bum cheeks and they sit in the tree just waiting for someone to walk underneath, then they drop on the person's head knocking them out or killing them. Then they eat.

 

[Boogs]

Thanks Boogs, you have come with a good explaination. It is strange how it is not universal like a microwave I would say they have been stable or improved generally. I have come up against before but I cannot remember quite what it was for.

I went with another airer in the end as my brother had not placed the order yet. I ended up getting a Good Housekeeping one that was half price.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8203919

Well, as @Shevek has pointed out, I was not completely accurate about the light bulbs, but I'm pretty confident this worsening compulsive consumerism many people seem to engage with so readily (I suspect as a diversion from all the things wrong in our world) and this ever so wasteful production of such poor quality goods just to present a cheaper price, that ends up more expensive and contributes to landfill and other even worse pollution is a downhill direction.
I'd rather buy something twice the price that'll last five times longer and work much better for that time, but I'm an old fashioned grump who's only happy when I've something to complaint about - luckily there's lot's to complain about!

The "light bulb scam" is well suited for getting non-engineers riled up, so it is a persistent meme. To me, one of the worst ways we are victimized is in using vehicles that have less than 50% payload. We are paying enormous sums to go everywhere with tons of steel that only support our images and fears. We have also known for decades how to design buildings that don't need fuel for temperature regulation. It costs about 10% more up front, and so it is an excellent investment - but for the owner, not for the banks. Now, we are installing solar panels by the acre, but they don't double as roofing material, which they easily could.

Well I have to admit it was compellingly presented (I'm not an electrical engineer, more experienced in chemistry and computing) and also it was many years ago and I wasn't as well educated or as critical then. Thanks for the heads up!
But yeah, the concept of making (more) profit through wasteful processes is just one of the things accelerating our problems globally, not just the actual waste and pollution, but also the effect I believe it's had on many people that we've almost come to relish this sort of thing, such as the recent trend of cheap fake fashion items worn a few times then binned, at the expense of the workers who make them for a pittance and treated awfully.

Again, I'd rather pay the fair whack and know the money's going to the people who did the work. Shopping is so easy now than people sometimes buy things online almost as entertainment. There are simply too many people in the world for us all to have everything we want, and no fair distribution system.

Now, we are installing solar panels by the acre, but they don't double as roofing material, which they easily could.

But that would save money! How could you suggest such a thing! I'm shocked and stunned!! The very thought of it!!! (actually, I wouldn't be surprised if one could design solar roofing panels that could be cheaper to repair than a tradition tiled or slate roof. I'm waiting for solar paint myself, just slap it on any surface that's suitable and connect an electrode at each end! I'd say that's worth a Nobel prize, even if it isn't really possible! ).

 

[Boogs]

They're called Drop Bears. They have really hard bum cheeks and they sit in the tree just waiting for someone to walk underneath, then they drop on the person's head knocking them out or killing them. Then they eat.

View attachment 139102

Think I'll stick with lizards! Far safer.

 

[VictorR]

 

[maycontainthunder]

 

[maycontainthunder]