The problem with going out early was we were then up and about, which meant was naturally drifted towards the pub as we got hungry. So onto the Union Rooms for some food. And the most extraordinary sights. There was Buzz Lightyear, and Woody, and the "big pink thing". There was no obvious reason for them to be there, that early, in broad daylight. They were joined later by Little Bo Peep and I think one of her (or his in this case) sheep. They were all trumped by the man with a beard though. He stood at the bar, and didn't move (apart from for his drink). Despite the assorted minor superheroes and peculiar characters milling all around him. In the end we thought it best to leave for another pub. Things get slightly hazy after that though ;-)

Somewhere on Saturday we'd decided it would be nice to go out Sunday on a trip to Beamish, the open air museum. So Sunday found Janet and I wandering to find the right bus (how did people manage before the internet made finding this out so easy?) and a convoluted lost journey later brought us to the gates of times gone by. We'd both been before (I think everyone from around those parts has) but not for many years, so it was nice to wander round, hopping on and off the trams (just like Croydon!) and poking our noses into the past. Starting out in the pit village with some impressive steam driven machinery, and a baking demonstration where to the great frustration of everyone they can't sell or give away the produce (why we ask you, why?) Onwards to the town, the best known part of Beamish with all the period shops. We did decide they could do with another pub though, the Sun Inn tends to get a little over crowded being the only venue. Not as crowded as the sweet shop, though the trick there seems to be to wait until nearer closing time. It's always nice to see good old Ravensworth Terrace too. I've mentioned that in passing before. Probably the thing which almost amazes me most about Beamish is that they've moved not just little things but entire buildings and streets!

Just down the road from the town is the station and across to the fair. Janet couldn't convince me to go on anything (yes, I'm boring) but seemed to enjoy the carousel (there are photos of that but they're being withheld for the obvious blackmail potential). After all that we decided there wasn't really time left to see the rest---definitely need a full day to see everything---so caught Captain Cream Cake's tram back to the entrance. There we wandered round and round the gift shop about five times, but they definitely have no penguins.

Monday Janet had a dentist appointment which seemed to manage to eat most of the day, until it was time, too early as always, to return south. Never easy parting but a nice weekend. See you soon pixie!

(A few more Beamish pictures can be found here)

I'm pretty sure this Tom Swanson cartoon could be inserted as the abstract to most surface physics PhD theses (actually, I suspect more science theses but I only have experience in the on area---and it shows a vacuum chamber)

The other comic linked to, Cectic, is pretty funny in general too. Go read it!

Recently someone, somewhere, decided to install ticket barriers at Norwood Junction. I've no idea why, given it didn't have them before, but there they appeared one day, boxed off but obviosly ticket barriers. That was a few weeks ago. They've been in actualy operation now for about a week or so (oh, how hazy the memory becomes!). Not only do these machines seem slower than the variety familar from London stations and tubes (normally one removes the ticket and the barrier instantly opens---these have a definite, and annoying, pause), but in this greatly thought out design they seem to have forgotten there are two entrances. So while the main entrance has these barriers in the way, the secondary, single gate entrance doesn't. Obviously they are reluctant to close that entrance, perhaps because they recently repaired the stairs at that side, or because of potential outcry, or because they slight less recently did something to it. That means they have to have people stood there to check tickets. Although the barriers need human supervision when in use (because nothing is 100% reliable), one can't help but wonder if the reduction in fair jumping is paying for the wages of those spending all day checking tickets...

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1. Land Of The Pink Panther
2. But Will I Ever Get Back Down
3. Perhaps Just Lock Me Up
4. If You Want To Stab Prince Charles
5. Firefox³
6. Windows Alarm Program
7. Physicists Get Sex (I Think It Means)
8. Cut!

Was in the north east last weekend and went to Durham with Janet (see pixie, you do get mentioned). Haven't been to Durham in many a year. Still as pretty and quirky as I recall, with at least one tiny pub with a bench down which one would slide if sat on. It seems obligatory to photograph the cathedral above the river. No photos of the nicer trees we found though.

But Will I Ever Get Back Down

I suppose if you travel up and down between London and Newcastle often enough than problems are inevitable. The fact there seemed to be trains all over Newcastle station, and the ones heading north were running pretty late, should have been a clue but still. We were initially delayed a little because our driver was late getting up from the south. As we got closer and closer to York though it became more and more obvious that things were not working. I'm still not entirely clear what the actual problem was (the press seem to have ignored it---presumably because there weren't any editors delayed on the way into work), but basically the route between York and Doncaster was shut (rumour was buckled lines due to, er, something). We sat for a while in the countryside outside York, and then crawled into the station. Where we sat. And sat.

I understand that things were beyond National Express's control but the information forthcoming was woeful. We were told that because we had a diesel train we would probably divert via Leeds. Then left to sit, no staff in sight (I strongly suspect they'd decamped rather than sit on a slowly steaming train). Eventually someone decided that, yes, we'd go via Leeds. Just as soon as we found a driver who knew the way (I believe there's a rule about driver's having to be trained [ha!] on the route they're taking but you'd think they'd have all covered likely diversion routes in case). More waiting later they announced we had a driver and could anyone not travelling get off. Then we sat around some more. Finally we moved off via Leeds, the buffet car promptly running out of all stock, despite having sat at York station for enough time that they could have resupplied a small army. Having stated we wouldn't actually call at Leeds they may have well as given we came to a stop at the station. Then we got to Doncaster, where apparently the information boards claimed we were stopping at Grantham, news to everyone already on the train. So we had to introduce another delay to make an unscheduled stop (they apologised for the late arrival into somewhere we were never meant to be though).

At least after much umming and arring they did manage to produce some late train compensation forms. You don't get cash though, just vouchers for the trains...

Perhaps Just Lock Me Up

Of course I dare not complain too much in case the government decide I'm a terrorist and lock me up, for 42 days, with no charge (I'm a terrorist, but they couldn't possibly charge me with that. Any regular readers will of course realise my total opposition to the entirely ridiculous idea that you should hold someone for 45 days without even having to tell them why in anything but the vaguest of terms (don't forget, 28 was enough). I have indeed been uttering some four letter words but I will still cry out. 45 days makes no sense for a number of reasons. Notably that if it's really designed to deal with multiple mass terror strikes, like 9/11 or the London bombings, ask yourself who are they going to question? The now dead at their own hand cowards? Anyway, why cannot they charge someone and then continue to question? Do they suddenly stop speaking once charged? Of course not, they don't speak in the first place. This law is more about the government's obsessive control than security of a nation which is rapidly becoming unrecognisable in comparison to the one we're supposed to be protecting in the first place. At least this point isn't lost on everyone, though that it takes such grand gestures as resigning to make it says something. However, David Davies must still be applauded for attempting to do something, anything, to say enough is enough (yes, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this isn't a stunt). Hopefully the Lords will follow his lead and throw out this awful piece of legislation.

If You Want To Stab Prince Charles

Talking of security, or pseudo-security, we had a bit of a works outing to see the 20-20 cricket at the Oval last night, Surrey losing to Kent. Apparently the heir to the throne was there too. Not that we saw him (few fancy cars passed outside on way in). I don't know if that meant security was beefed up or if they normally act like this but they did back searches and body searches. Still, with no alcohol allowed in it wasn't until I opened my bag I realised that my hip flask was in it. Not that I need worry, as it went totally unchallenged. So did the penknife in my pocket, or the spare penknife or little multitool in the never even opened side pocket of my bag. Once again (I remember the science museum doing this but can't find the post I thought I'd made) a waste of time and money for an illusion of security, which might actually reduce security as perceived risk goes down when it shouldn't. So, if you want to stab Prince Charles, do it at the cricket.

Firefox³

It's coming, on Tuesday, Firefox 3. Been using the betas and release candidates exclusively for quite a while. It's awesome.

Windows Alarm Program

Talking of software, does anyone know a really good alarm program for Windows? I've been looking for ages. Ability to control from command line a bonus, as is easily running arbitrary programs. Repeat etc., and snooze, self cancelling, etc....

Physicists Get Sex (I Think It Means)

The always great xkcd. So not the purest, but we get sex ;-)

Cut!

I'll leave you with this. I bought some new kitchen scissors the other day, due to mine being ruined by using everywhere but the kitchen. These are the scissors, and the instructions on how to access them!

]]> <p>Tags: <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/trains" rel="tag">trains</a> <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/nxec" rel="tag">nxec</a> <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/government" rel="tag">government</a> <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/Durham" rel="tag">Durham</a> <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/xkcd" rel="tag">xkcd</a> <a href="http://www.norcimo.com/blog/tag/security" rel="tag">security</a> </p> 2008-05-14T21:31:52Z 2008-05-14T21:30:19Z tag:www.norcimo.com,2008:/blog//1.955 2008-05-14T21:30:19Z

1. Why Not About Home
2. Delayed Deja
3. London Bridge Supports Science
4. Hey Ma

Maybe because they've reduced it to this. It's empty, left with it's ghosts. When they build their shiny things, will there be anyone left to view them? Or will they all drifted away with the lost hope those shutters seem to scream? Maybe I'm just bitter because they've also taken The Trafalgar, which was always in my conscience---from long nights an age ago with Gaz to the place I suppose I (at least partly) courted Janet.

Bah, I've spoken about all this before. Just sad to see the rot unchecked. I wonder if people will photo whatever bland sameness goes up as they do what they determine to bring down.

Delayed Deja

I've mentioned that I experience déjà vu and déjà vu of déjà vu but I also get "delayed déjà vu", where I have the feeling of déjà vu about a moment, but only quite some time after that moment has happened. I suppose that may tie into the theory that it has something to do with various parts of the brain catching up with each other, so to speak. Or it might just mean I'm quite strange...

London Bridge Supports Science

At least I presume whoever's in charge must have read my last entry and decided to break the escalators again. So tonight, on the way back from work, approach with my eyes shut (quite tricky with a number of commuters around). It certainly reduced the feeling but I think it was undermined by the fact I still knew I was stepping onto an escalator in a normal manner. We'll see if they've broken science, but fixed moving stairways, by tomorrow morning.

Hey Ma

New James album, Hey Ma. Out now. Favourite tracks after a few listens: Bubbles, Oh My Heart, Semaphore, and definitely Upside.

None of this would really be too interesting but for the fact that one thing that caught my eye was that the momentary jarring seems to be down to an unconscious increase in gate speed on approach to the walkway (and, by extension, escalator). So on the way home tonight, when I approached the still bloody broken escalators, I very deliberately slowed myself down. This did have the effect of reducing the normal broken escalator phenomenon (or, at least, it subjectively felt reduced). More interestingly, it induced the distinct visual hallucination that the escalator was moving downwards towards me (I was heading upwards). It seems that my reduction of my own speed has translated into a perceived reduction in the velocity of the escalator away from me, to the point where that was towards me. This is not any less disorientating than the normal phenomenon.

The question remains what am I going to try tomorrow if the escalators are still broken? Attempting to tackle them backwards seems both dangerous and open to ridicule. However, perhaps twisting at the last moment to board them sideways may change the perception. I'm fairly sure that I tend to step onto escalators with my right foot too, so using the left may have an affect. Experimental science in action!

More: This morning the escalators were still out of action, so I took the opportunity to attempt stepping onto them sideways (twisting as I made the first step). I feel the experiment might have been somewhat contaminated due to the fact that the simple mass of people was reducing the normal approach speed anyway, however, there was still a definite reduction iin the disorientation, although no induced illusions this time (perhaps because I wasn't looking directly at the escalator and couldn't see as much of it, travelling down, anyway). On the way home the escalators were 75% operational and I'm too lazy to walk up the one which was still out of action ;-)

[a] See also J. Neurophysiol. 91 92 (2004) and Exp Brain Res. 174 270 (2006)

There's been cleaning, rubbish wine, and bolognaise where it shouldn't be.

The mill past into the hands of local authorities, being restored and opened to the public in the 1960s. It has since fallen back into decline and neglect however. Now a local group, the Friends of Brixton Windmill, are leading efforts to once again restore this historic structure. With that in mind there are currently a variety of different surveys under way to establish exactly what state the windmill is in and what needs to be done to restore it and make it a focal point for the local community.

I've caught a cold, so probably won't be up watching myself, but it's the last chance to 2010 or something to see a total lunar eclipse, so worth mentioning. Totality begins 03:01 GMT on the 21st and end 03:51. The Moon will likely turn to blood (thanks to light refracted by the Earth's atmosphere). That's all if there isn't too much cloud to see it which, let's face it, there probably will be.

Image blatantly stolen from Shadow & Substance