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Infiltrator

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Everything posted by Infiltrator

  1. Story now gaining momentum, on the BBC news and Shetland news has an updated story. Someone killing 27 new born lambs and their ewes in one night is certainly what I'd term 'unstable' - and not someone who should have access to a firearm.
  2. Based on your reply you're now top of the suspects list Rabbits are vermin and can be legally shot - as long as you have the landowners permission. I'm no lawyer but shooting sheep owned by someone else on their land without their permission is probably not legal - unless someone mistook the sheep for rabbits - and that'd be a difficult defence methinks.
  3. Bit baffling how this isn't a bigger news story? Surely anyone responsible for shooting over 100 sheep must be considered unstable - and they have access to a firearm and seemingly plenty ammunition.
  4. Presumably there's a similar statement in the credits saying that all the accents are fictitious? Once you ignore the accents, the locations and the storyline it's not bad....hang on, what does that leave... I do actually quite like it, I do think it could be more realistic, but the camera work is excellent and as always any publicity is good.
  5. Thistle airways to the rescue...perhaps? Loganair reliability being discussed on this forum; http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/568567-loganair-sf34-rotterdam-hydraulic-failure.html Be careful how much you read into some of the posts, the egos and politics on PPRUNE make Shetlink look like a well balanced friendly forum...
  6. Worst driving I saw in 20 years commuting up and down the kames was a local who should've known better - she was a local doctors wife...she passed us in a leisurely overtaking maneuvere on the outside of a blind bend. I was lucky enough never to witness an accident, but did come upon the aftermath of a number of fatal accidents in that time - pretty sobering.
  7. I suspect there's good reason why all these companies are based outside the UK, their practices are probably illegal for companies operating within the UK. I wonder who's behind the companies that receive the containers loaded with the mass mail and then pass them onward into the Royal Mail system? From my understanding, once posted into the Royal Mail system they are then obliged to deliver the mail by law (restricted items excepted). I've seen plenty of this type of mail and it's pretty easy to identify. All the posties are asked to do is to report if they believe an address is being deliberately targeted. Colin - a mail shot to all addresses wouldn't work, you underestimate the devious and intensive nature of the scammers and the folk being targeted struggle to remember their date of birth from day to day. Have a look at the 'Think Jessica' website - it might seem a bit Daily Mail headline, but it's astonishing how widespread the issue really is, and because of the nature of the issue I believe most of the folk who lose money never report it because they realise they've been done over. Maybe we need to enlist the help of the scambaiters - I posted this before in 2008... https://thescambaiter.com/forum/index.php/topic/17878-anus-laptops-the-martins-cole-saga-complete/
  8. ^ What is new is that the mail scammers are now deliberately targeting the elderly and the infirm knowing full-well the individuals in many cases are easy targets, where they may be suffering dementia, have lost the grasp of the true value of money and have no one to turn to, or just don't want to admit to needing help. The mailing is the start, if they then get a phone number the hard sell bully tactics can become relentless. Why is it that when the Post Office and the trading standards start a new initiative to assist real people who need help with a genuine growing problem there seems to be folk on here that just think there's a hidden agenda?
  9. ^Try engaging your brain before posting a rant. 10 seconds on Google finds this. http://www.royalmailgroup.com/media/press-releases/royal-mail-and-trading-standards-launch-new-joint-initiative-tackle-scam-mail This is a major issue for the elderly and infirm and costs them tens of millions each year, you clearly have no idea of how this affects people and how the post office are trying very hard to help with their hands tied behind their backs. Little wonder this place is turning into a wasteland with attitude like yours.
  10. For anyone plagued by regular scam mail this is good news - I was aware the training was planned, good to see the initiative is now underway. http://www.shetnews.co.uk/newsbites/10342-scam-mail-training My elderly father has been targeted by some of these companies, and once one starts other similar companies soon follow. From what I've seen the worst offenders are Belgium or Southern Ireland based, outside of the UK, but seemingly the EU are powerless to stop these crooks. The Royal Mail are powerless to stop delivering this mail as it arrives in containers into the UK and as its then posted inside the UK the post office must make the delivery. I'd also recommend the BT 'reject anonymous callers' service, costs £5 a month but has stopped 95% of cold calls. Downside is that anyone trying to call you from inside a private network (e.g. SIC maybe?) might not get through as their number is seen as anonymous. You can also buy a BT phone with call barring facilities with no monthly cost, but this requires you to maintain a list of numbers that can be accepted.
  11. ^ I remember January 93 very well, I remember struggling out the sooth road after a squad meeting thinking when in gods name will this wind stop - think it was 27 days of force 9 or above, there again the weather played a large part in dispersing the oil from the braer. I remember a BA ATP landing a day or so after the braer grounding in atrocious conditions packed with journalists on only one engine - that must've been fun - not BAE's greatest moment the ATP......doubled up nicely for ploughing furrows at the side of the airstrip though.
  12. I was there today at the height of the wind, the wind direction was straight through the skip shed and it was like a wind tunnel, almost impossible to keep your feet let alone trying to open the door or boot of the car to dump stuff - were I in charge I'd have closed it - but I'm a southern softie nowadays.
  13. Fitted 32m2 a year ago to out kitchen/dining room - maintain? Just sweep up and wash. Strangely we fitted it over a real oak floor, we knocked the wall down between the 2 rooms only to be left with a gap between the 2 floors, but there was also a step of about 15mm in height and the boards didn't line up so there was no simple way to keep the oak floor. We do have a couple of small dents in the floor that were caused by metal feet on a dining chair, other than that it copes well with family life incl dogs and cats. Might be worth looking at the new quik step stuff, similar idea but slots together rather than glueing it down - only released in uk last sept so too late for us.
  14. For sale, never even knew it existed, fascinating property, good for anyone looking for real peace and quiet. Good to see it was modernised in the 60's with the building of an outside toilet Can't be many such houses in this condition and as isolated as this, is there? http://www.d-s-r.co.uk/property/historic-house-54-acres-at-binna-ness.htm
  15. What a warm welcome this thread has become, this couple are planning to move to shetland and the focus of the thread has become folks experiences with irresponsible dog owners who have nothing to do with this couple, as a born a bred shetlander I'm appalled at some of the above replies - given this might be their first contact with folk from the isles.
  16. I'll complete the survey over the weekend, a couple of comments though - feel free to ignore though. Are you not approaching this with a preconceived view? Should the question not have been 'what effect' rather than has the industry had a negative effect? Secondly, it'd be interesting to see a comparison of results between shetland and Orkney, the industry and council approach between the two was very different. The Flotta development was much more self contained, whereas in shetland the development impact was spread over the whole island from Unst to sumburgh and most areas in between. I visited Orkney in the 70's, 80's and 90's and was surprised how little had changed, the impact in shetland over the same period was dramatic in comparison.
  17. A blast from the past - I might have posted it before. Regarding ATP reliability, the following should just about cover it. Undaunted by technical realities, the design team at British Aerospace has announced plans for the ATP-XL, promising more noise, reduced payload, a lower cruise speed, and increased pilot workload. We spoke to Fred, a former British Rail boilermaker, and now Chief Project Engineer. Fred was responsible for developing many original and creative design flaws in the service of his former employer, and will be incorporating these in the new ATP-XL technology under a licensing agreement. Fred reassured ATP pilots, however, that all fundamental design flaws of the original model had been retained. Further good news is that the XL version is available as a retrofit. Among the new measures is that of locking the ailerons in the central position, following airborne and simulator tests which showed that whilst pilots of average strength were able to achieve up to 30 degrees of control wheel deflection, this produced no appreciable variation in the net flight path of the aircraft. Thus the removal of costly and unnecessary linkages has been possible, and the rudder has been nominated as the primary directional control. In keeping with this new philosophy, but to retain commonality for crews transitioning to the XL, additional resistance to foot pressure has been built in to the rudder bias system to prevent over-controlling in gusty conditions (defined as those in which wind velocity exceeds 3 knots). An outstanding feature of ATP technology has always been the adaptation of the PW100 engine, which mounted in any other aircraft in the free world is known for its low vibration levels. The ATP adaptations cause it to shake and batter the airframe, gradually crystallising the main spar, lock the port maingear after retraction, desynchronise the accompanying engine, and simulate the sound of fifty skeletons fornicating in an aluminium dustbin. BAe will not disclose the technology they applied in preserving this effect in the XL but Fred assures us it will be perpetrated in later models and sees it as a strong selling point. "After all, the Concorde makes a lot of noise" he said, "and look how fast that goes." However design documents clandestinely recovered from the BAe shredder have solved a question that has puzzled aerodynamicists and pilots for many years... how does the ATP actually fly ?? These documents disclose that it is actually noise which causes the ATP to fly - the vibration set up by the engines, and amplified by the airframe, in turn causes the air molecules above the wing to oscillate at atomic frequency, reducing their density and creating lift. This can be demonstrated by sudden closure of the throttles, which causes the aircraft to fall from the sky. As a result, lift is proportional to noise, rather than speed. Fred was at pains to point out that during the take-off phase, the previous equation is not applicable as the net take-off flight path is completely proportional to the willpower of the flightdeck, cabin crew and passengers combined. "Any single person not willing the aircraft to become airborne could cause a major accident," he commented. In the driver's cab (as Fred describes it) ergonomic measures will ensure that long-term ATP pilots' deafness does not cause in-flight dozing. Orthopaedic surgeons have designed a cockpit layout and seat to maximise backache, en-route insomnia, chronic irritability and terminal (post-flight) lethargy. Redesigned "bullworker" elastic aileron cables, now disconnected from the control surfaces, increase pilot workload and fitness. Special noise retention cabin lining is an innovation on the XL, and it is hoped in later models to develop cabin noise to a level which will enable pilots to relate ear-pain directly to engine power, eliminating the need for engine instruments altogether. We were offered an opportunity to fly the XL at British Aerospace's development facility, adjacent to the BritRail tearooms at Little Chortling. (The flight was originally to have been conducted at the Prestwick plant but aircraft of BAe design are now prohibited from operating in Scottish airspace during avalanche season). For our mission profile, the XL was loaded with Benbecula passengers for a standard 100 nm trip with BritRail reserves, carrying three pilots (all Captains, due to crew shortages) and 68+40 passengers (all from the same family) to maximise discomfort. Passenger loading is unchanged, the normal 'prop rotating in wind of 5 knots, due to slack groundstaff failing to secure it' syndrome, inflicting serious lacerations on 71% of boarding passengers, and there was the usual confusion in selecting a seat appropriate to the nearest emergency exit. The facility for the clothing of embarking passengers to remove oil slicks from engine cowls during loading has been thoughtfully retained. Start-up is standard, and taxiing, as in the standard ATP is accomplished by brute force. Takeoff calculations called for a 250-decibel power setting, and the rotation force for the (neutral) C of G was calculated at 180 ft/lbs. of backpressure. Initial warning of an engine failure during takeoff is provided by a reduction in vibration of the flight instrument panel. Complete seizure of one engine is indicated by the momentary illusion that the engines have suddenly and inexplicably become synchronised. Otherwise, identification of the failed engine is achieved by comparing the vibration levels of the windows on either side of the cabin. (Relative passenger pallor has been found to be an unreliable guide on many ATP routes because of ethnic consideration). Shortly after takeoff the XL's chief test pilot, Capt. Bloggs, demonstrated the extent to whch modern aeronautical design has left the ATP untouched; he simulated pilot incapacitation by slumping forward onto the control column, simultaneously applying full right rudder and bleeding from the ears. Whilst initially noting nothing out of the ordinary, on discovery that Capt. Bloggs actually was incapacitated, the crew of the XL discovered that, like its predecessor, it demonstrated total control rigidity and continued undisturbed. Power was then reduced to 249 decibels for cruise, and we carried out some comparisons of actual flight performance with graph predictions. At 5000 ft and ISA, we achieved a vibration amplitude of 500 CPS and 240 decibels, for a fuel flow of 700kgs/hr making the ATP-XL the most efficient converter of fuel to noise after the Titan rocket. Exploring the Constant noise/Variable noise concepts, we found that in a VNE dive, vibration reached its design maximum at 1000 CPS, at which point the limiting factor is the emulsification of human tissue. The catatonic condition of long-term ATP pilots is attributed to this syndrome, which commences in the cerebral cortex and spreads outwards. We asked Capt. Bloggs what he considered the outstanding features of the XL. He cupped his hand behind his ear and shouted "Whazzat?" We returned to British Aerospace, convinced that the XL model retains the marque's most memorable features, whilst showing some significant and worthwhile regressions. BAe are not, however, resting on their laurels. Plans are already advanced for the HS748-XL and noise tunnel testing has commenced. The basis of preliminary design and performance specifications is that lift increases as the square of the noise, and as the principle of acoustic lift is further developed, a later five-engined vertical take-off model is also a possibility.
  18. Here's the detail of the last January storms that these storms are being compared to. Not as bad as jan 93, but bad enough. The storms in late December 91 and Hogmanay 91 were frightening. http://www.landforms.eu/shetland/wind%20extremes.htm
  19. Sums up UKIP nicely that... This is quite good as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=V1LpHODOgjM
  20. The whole northmavine area has a lot of interesting history, the museum is an excellent place to start. My mums family were from Stenness just next to Eshaness.
  21. Given the prolonged stormy conditions, Well done to northlink in throwing away the timetable and basically sailing when they can. I see on AIS the Hrossey managed a 10 hour trip from Lerwick to aberdeen on Thursday followed by a 5 hour turnaround. And before the 'XYZ would sail every night'/fuel saving/crew change brigade turn up, you've said it all above so save your index finger. Given the crap conditions just now they seem to be trying their best and it must be pretty uncomfortable for the crew as well.
  22. I thought the lorry issue had been resolved by everyone using buses nowadays, certainly last time I took part we'd given up our artic/container for a heated bus... Is this not just a dawning realisation by the committe about changing society and their overall responsibility of the entire event? Gone are the days of Nazi uniforms or Jimmy Saville, or anything else that could offend someone by it being taken out of context. It's also no longer acceptable to allow excessive drunkenness, and given DLT's current problems it looks like any sort lecherous behaivour could end you up in court. Any bad news that ends up in the media related to the event will end up with the media looking for someone to blame, and that'll probably be the comittee whether they feel responsible or not.
  23. How about some of the keyboard skippers on here contacting northlink and asking them why they didn't sail on Saturday? Rather than just spouting the usual XYZ would've sailed. If you strongly feel northlink aren't providing the service they should be - do something about it....no-one on here will do anything about it.
  24. Do you really need a desktop? We junked ours last year after we'd had one for 13 or so years, never miss it, got the corner of the dining room back again. Now use laptops instead.
  25. 30 years ago I had a modified sports coupe that was forever attracting the attention of the police, one Lerwick carnival Saturday the policeman from whalsay was in Lerwick helping boost the number of local police. As soon as I drove past him he spotted the car and promptly stopped us, after inspecting the car and noting some of the non standard parts, he lectured me on how the mods could make the car unstable at speed in corners as they hadn't designed by the manufacturer - I told him the lights on the top of his police car would have the safe effect as they weren't designed by the manufacturer of the car. Needless to say he went ballistic...gave me two weeks to return the suspension to standard. I ignored him, he went back to whalsay and that was the end of that.. Was I a boy racer? - in some folks opinions quite probably, as above, I'd rather call myself an enthusiast. Knocking on 50 shortly, I may have matured in my behaviors, but I've still got a 330bhp subaru for fun, being a petrolhead is an addiction.
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