Tafaner66
@tafaner.bsky.social
Recovering cyberutopian.
LIKES: MUSIC (I play flutes, 7-string nylon guitar, and sing dreadfully); also LANGUAGES (En, Fr, Cat, Es) and the Great Outdoors - as long as it's not raining.
DISLIKES: Mud
LIKES: MUSIC (I play flutes, 7-string nylon guitar, and sing dreadfully); also LANGUAGES (En, Fr, Cat, Es) and the Great Outdoors - as long as it's not raining.
DISLIKES: Mud
Reposted by Tafaner66
If your old hi-fi dies, it's probably the electrolytic capacitors. These are needed to get big capacitance in small volumes, but their lifetimes (esp at high temperatures) are shockingly low, sometimes only 1000 hours! Aluminium Polymer seems to be one answer. I just needed one - but had to buy 50🙁
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 AM
If your old hi-fi dies, it's probably the electrolytic capacitors. These are needed to get big capacitance in small volumes, but their lifetimes (esp at high temperatures) are shockingly low, sometimes only 1000 hours! Aluminium Polymer seems to be one answer. I just needed one - but had to buy 50🙁
A tiny Catalan grammar thing. This Manuel de Pedrolo short story has lots of examples of LLUR, the possessive "their", which in modern Catalan has largely given way to SEU.
But LLUR is still popular in the North, because it matches the French LEUR and the Occitan LOR.
(OK, I'll see myself out🙁)
But LLUR is still popular in the North, because it matches the French LEUR and the Occitan LOR.
(OK, I'll see myself out🙁)
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
A tiny Catalan grammar thing. This Manuel de Pedrolo short story has lots of examples of LLUR, the possessive "their", which in modern Catalan has largely given way to SEU.
But LLUR is still popular in the North, because it matches the French LEUR and the Occitan LOR.
(OK, I'll see myself out🙁)
But LLUR is still popular in the North, because it matches the French LEUR and the Occitan LOR.
(OK, I'll see myself out🙁)
This might be another of those big differences between UK and USA ("2 countries divided by a common language"). In UK, AIUI, your pension is safe almost regardless of what you do - protected against creditors, governments and adverse court judgements. It's deferred income - and it's your by right.
Transgender members of the US Air Force are now SUING Trump and Hegseth for unlawfully revoking their retirement pensions and benefits.
Transgender veterans sue military for denying retirement benefits
Air Force and Space Force service members claim the military is revoking the pensions and health care previously granted to them.
www.msnbc.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
This might be another of those big differences between UK and USA ("2 countries divided by a common language"). In UK, AIUI, your pension is safe almost regardless of what you do - protected against creditors, governments and adverse court judgements. It's deferred income - and it's your by right.
Actually, I've always been shocked by Bitcoin costs. The "proof of work" idea, although clever in its day, is energy expensive. A next block clearance can cost you ... an entire US dollar 🤔
Eric Trump: "You can send $500 million worth of bitcoin on a Sunday night at 11pm while having a glass of wine with your wife for virtually zero fees."
November 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Actually, I've always been shocked by Bitcoin costs. The "proof of work" idea, although clever in its day, is energy expensive. A next block clearance can cost you ... an entire US dollar 🤔
Is this normal? By the time you've carried the baguette back home, it's significantly shorter? 🤔
November 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Is this normal? By the time you've carried the baguette back home, it's significantly shorter? 🤔
Aurora Borealis over Gavatxia tonight ? 🙂
Probablement no li interessarà a ningú, però ahir hi va haver una tempesta solar molt forta, o sigui que aquest vespre és possible que es vegin aurores boreals tipus SAR a latituds baixes, com a Catalunya.
Si teniu poca contaminació lumínica i un cel net, aprofiteu. Mireu cap al nord.
Si teniu poca contaminació lumínica i un cel net, aprofiteu. Mireu cap al nord.
November 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Aurora Borealis over Gavatxia tonight ? 🙂
La Jonquera is a strange town. Right on the French border, it attracts hoards of shoppers by day - and 'supermarket brothel' customers by night. But behind the brash strap mall, the Wild West, there's a quiet little village with kids playing in the river - and gems like this museum. Una preciositat.
The excellent Museu del Exili to the Republican exile in La Jonquera near French border is the only museum I know with a motto. From King Leah “Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here” which via Catalan into more modern English could be "When freedom is far from here. That is exile"
November 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
La Jonquera is a strange town. Right on the French border, it attracts hoards of shoppers by day - and 'supermarket brothel' customers by night. But behind the brash strap mall, the Wild West, there's a quiet little village with kids playing in the river - and gems like this museum. Una preciositat.
"..the only man to be posthumously hanged, drawn and quartered".
OK, maybe so, but I fancy Pope Formosus comes a close 2nd? Already dead and buried, he had the indignity of his body being dug up, put on trial, convicted, buried again, then dug up again and thrown into the River Tiber. Harsh 🤔
OK, maybe so, but I fancy Pope Formosus comes a close 2nd? Already dead and buried, he had the indignity of his body being dug up, put on trial, convicted, buried again, then dug up again and thrown into the River Tiber. Harsh 🤔
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM
"..the only man to be posthumously hanged, drawn and quartered".
OK, maybe so, but I fancy Pope Formosus comes a close 2nd? Already dead and buried, he had the indignity of his body being dug up, put on trial, convicted, buried again, then dug up again and thrown into the River Tiber. Harsh 🤔
OK, maybe so, but I fancy Pope Formosus comes a close 2nd? Already dead and buried, he had the indignity of his body being dug up, put on trial, convicted, buried again, then dug up again and thrown into the River Tiber. Harsh 🤔
Reposted by Tafaner66
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
I have a cunning plan for returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece. A plan that doesn't require UK government approval 🤔
Ancient Roman-era marble statues taken in audacious museum theft
Ancient Roman-era marble statues taken in audacious museum theft
Ancient Roman-era marble statues taken in audacious museum theft
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I have a cunning plan for returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece. A plan that doesn't require UK government approval 🤔
We have a cracked sewage line and tree roots have got in. It's under a public roadway, so I can't repair it myself and Veolia won't fix it - just clear it whenever we report it blocked. So I dose it with copper sulphate every 4 months, at night for dramatic effect (and cos toilets/sinks are quiet) 🙄
November 11, 2025 at 7:53 AM
We have a cracked sewage line and tree roots have got in. It's under a public roadway, so I can't repair it myself and Veolia won't fix it - just clear it whenever we report it blocked. So I dose it with copper sulphate every 4 months, at night for dramatic effect (and cos toilets/sinks are quiet) 🙄
Reposted by Tafaner66
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
The BBC belongs to all of us, and it is under attack as never before. The government must defend it from its enemies, within and without, says Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
Why is everyone so hard on our Donald dozing off in public? The way I see it, when he's asleep, all his key attributes (intelligence, awareness, sensitivity, likeability..) actually improve. Shouldn't we encourage this, not criticise it ? 🤔
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Why is everyone so hard on our Donald dozing off in public? The way I see it, when he's asleep, all his key attributes (intelligence, awareness, sensitivity, likeability..) actually improve. Shouldn't we encourage this, not criticise it ? 🤔
BBC politics has been skewed for years by authoritarian conservatism at the top (Tim Davie, Richard Sharp, Robbie Gibb). "Question Time" stinks of false balance and Nigel Farage is everywhere. So how weird that Tim Davie gets ousted for not being conservative enough! Serendipity? 🤔
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage
Davie tells staff departure was “my own decision” but it comes with the BBC preparing to apologise for the way it edited a Trump speech
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and the head of BBC News have resigned after a former adviser to the corporation accused it of “serious and systemic” bias in its coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights.
In a shock move, Davie said his depature was his own, but comes with the BBC preparing to apologise for the way the broadcaster edited a Donald Trump speech. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
BBC politics has been skewed for years by authoritarian conservatism at the top (Tim Davie, Richard Sharp, Robbie Gibb). "Question Time" stinks of false balance and Nigel Farage is everywhere. So how weird that Tim Davie gets ousted for not being conservative enough! Serendipity? 🤔
As the only one in our area with a 3D printer and modelling capability, I get some very strange requests. This one is for a children's kitchen! The battery-powered tap is a standard unit, but comes without a surface-mount fitting. So I modelled and printed a friction-fit base for it in flexible TPU.
November 9, 2025 at 12:11 PM
As the only one in our area with a 3D printer and modelling capability, I get some very strange requests. This one is for a children's kitchen! The battery-powered tap is a standard unit, but comes without a surface-mount fitting. So I modelled and printed a friction-fit base for it in flexible TPU.
Reposted by Tafaner66
Having somehow destroyed my Ebike controller, I now need a new one. To be road-legal in Europe, this has to be max 250W. Trouble is they cost EUR ~100, while the double-strength 500W ones are on sale at EUR 42. "So that's why, your honour. Am I free to go?". Anyway, the motor label still says 250w
November 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Having somehow destroyed my Ebike controller, I now need a new one. To be road-legal in Europe, this has to be max 250W. Trouble is they cost EUR ~100, while the double-strength 500W ones are on sale at EUR 42. "So that's why, your honour. Am I free to go?". Anyway, the motor label still says 250w
The BBC are still there. " To inform, Educate and ... Radicalize"
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
The BBC are still there. " To inform, Educate and ... Radicalize"
Early days, but it's clear that Trump's populism is deeply unpopular and will only prevail if he ends elections entirely.
There's a small country across the pond whose PM admired and emulated Trump. It led to the destruction of his party. Republicans might sensibly ask themselves a few questions.
There's a small country across the pond whose PM admired and emulated Trump. It led to the destruction of his party. Republicans might sensibly ask themselves a few questions.
What we know, 12:10am
[Now in 2 parts]
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG
—Dems flip ≈13 seats in VA House
—Dems defend NJ-Gov + Assembly
—Dems win NJ+VA trifectas
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
—Krasner & Bragg win
[Now in 2 parts]
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG
—Dems flip ≈13 seats in VA House
—Dems defend NJ-Gov + Assembly
—Dems win NJ+VA trifectas
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
—Krasner & Bragg win
November 5, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Early days, but it's clear that Trump's populism is deeply unpopular and will only prevail if he ends elections entirely.
There's a small country across the pond whose PM admired and emulated Trump. It led to the destruction of his party. Republicans might sensibly ask themselves a few questions.
There's a small country across the pond whose PM admired and emulated Trump. It led to the destruction of his party. Republicans might sensibly ask themselves a few questions.
It's not just loyalty to Bluesky. X is an absolute sewer. Audience numbers are still significant, but engagement is low and anything sensible drowns in the noise. You're not even reaching a representative demographic. Worse, official bodies that continue using it label themselves - as dinosaurs.
Very poor from the government: it won't review suitability of X for its communications, and insists on keeping secret its previous review.
October 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
It's not just loyalty to Bluesky. X is an absolute sewer. Audience numbers are still significant, but engagement is low and anything sensible drowns in the noise. You're not even reaching a representative demographic. Worse, official bodies that continue using it label themselves - as dinosaurs.
By the pricking of my thumbs...
Dunno why, but I have a premonition that something bad is going to happen tonight. Something involving small children knocking at the door and demanding protection money 🤔
Dunno why, but I have a premonition that something bad is going to happen tonight. Something involving small children knocking at the door and demanding protection money 🤔
October 31, 2025 at 10:57 AM
By the pricking of my thumbs...
Dunno why, but I have a premonition that something bad is going to happen tonight. Something involving small children knocking at the door and demanding protection money 🤔
Dunno why, but I have a premonition that something bad is going to happen tonight. Something involving small children knocking at the door and demanding protection money 🤔
Last year, the Tory government made unfunded cuts to NI, seeing they would not be re-elected and that the consequences would land on their successors. Labour could have reversed these on day 1 and laid the blame where it belonged. But they didn't. So now it will be their fault. Politically inept!
Rachel Reeves ‘considering 2p increase to income tax’
The chancellor is facing the prospect of increasing taxes on 26 November as she looks to balance the books
www.independent.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Last year, the Tory government made unfunded cuts to NI, seeing they would not be re-elected and that the consequences would land on their successors. Labour could have reversed these on day 1 and laid the blame where it belonged. But they didn't. So now it will be their fault. Politically inept!
Doubtless Lisa will get her benefits reinstated, but this kind of 'shoot first ask questions later' crackdown, so typical of the 3rd world, isn't just incompetent, it's a deliberate attempt to save money. HMRC know they will face no real sanction, so they do it. And they will do it again.
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip
A woman who booked a flight from London to Oslo but never checked in or travelled has had her child benefit stopped by the UK government. Tax authorities told her their records showed she had emigrated.
Lisa Morris-Almond is one of thousands of people who have had their child benefit frozen as part of a botched crackdown on benefit fraud. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Doubtless Lisa will get her benefits reinstated, but this kind of 'shoot first ask questions later' crackdown, so typical of the 3rd world, isn't just incompetent, it's a deliberate attempt to save money. HMRC know they will face no real sanction, so they do it. And they will do it again.
Finally, setting off on a much delayed e-bike tour. Starting with an AVE from Vilafant to Calatayud. My luggage weighs a ton because I'm carrying parts of my cycling mate's kit, including his battery (as well as my own). Just hoping the X-ray guys are fast asleep, as they usually are 🤫
October 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Finally, setting off on a much delayed e-bike tour. Starting with an AVE from Vilafant to Calatayud. My luggage weighs a ton because I'm carrying parts of my cycling mate's kit, including his battery (as well as my own). Just hoping the X-ray guys are fast asleep, as they usually are 🤫