An informal group blog featuring posts on a wide variety of subjects by a crew of authors in several different countries. Just sit back, have some fun, and maybe learn something.
If you've got any tips or suggestions, feel free to email us at TizonasWeblog at gmail.com, and one of us will get back to you.
Today marks a truly great achievement. The scale of engineering carried out to rescue these miners is amazing.
First the original drilling to find the men. Modern drilling can be extremely accurate in drilling hundreds of meters to hit precise locations underground. One of the keys to being accurate is not to “rush”. Drills that are pushed to hard tend to deviate from their intended paths, sometimes by dozens of meters . The rescue team managed to pin down the location quickly, brilliant.
The second point about the drilling. The rescue borehole has achieved incredible speed and accuracy, the normal pace of drilling for a machine of this type is a few dozen meters a day at best, I can only assume the ground/rock where they are working isnt particularly tough going..
The installation of the reinforcing steel casing did have an element of risk, that’s where a bend of a few degrees in the shaft could have caused a jam, to drill that deep that straight is incredible.
I hope the blokes being rescued are able to become wealthy from their story, at least wealthy enough not to return to mining.
The blokes involved in the rescue will have a story for the grandkids, theres talk of on of the ministers involved using the rescue to mount a possible presidential bid.
I can only compare the rescue to this one, carried out back in 1907, when a trapped miner was rescued from a flooded mine by a hard hat diver. An American future president was also involved.
Stumbled across this site funnily enough whilst looking for a pic of the Japanese emperor.
NNDB is an intelligence aggregator that tracks the activities of people we have determined to be noteworthy, both living and dead. Superficially, it seems much like a “Who’s Who” where a noted person’s curriculum vitae is available (the usual information such as date of birth, a biography, and other essential facts.)
But it mostly exists to document the connections between people, many of which are not always obvious. A person’s otherwise inexplicable behavior is often understood by examining the crowd that person has been associating with.
Bookmarked.
UPDATE
Still a cool site. Check out the ‘map’ of W. But then check out the map of Obama. No connection to Bill Ayers, ACORN, or Jeremiah Wight.
Hmmm.
Just people who hail from Chicago might suspect a different take, from what I’ve heard.
UPDATE II
Obama link revised. I clicked on his advisors map last night (hey, I’m new to the site). W link amended, too. I clicked on his ranch hands map. Main point still stands, though. Bush’s map is very detailed. Obama’s leaves out those very obvious suspects.
The original links are here and here… still worth a look.
So it’s break time, and as such, I pop onto one of the many computers to check the blogs. This computer is unique. All the desktop icons are pink. The mirror next to the computer is pink, as is the pencil sharpener and stapler. A few other items are pink, too. The mouse icon is Winnie the Pooh.
bingbing: Whose compuer is this? Ms Jo’s? All the desktop icons are pink.
bing’s co-teacher: No. That’s Ms Song’s. She’s a virgin.
Oh.
Time to close this blog, perhaps… at least on this particular PC.
Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy. I’m not from New York. I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City , so I don’t think I’m overreaching at all.
Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 100 – 150. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 150,000 won’t get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?
Here are my questions specifically:
– Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms
-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won’t hurt my feelings
-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I’m 25)?
– Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I’ve seen really ‘plain jane’ boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I’ve seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What’s the story there?
– Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows – lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
– How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY
Please hold your insults – I’m putting myself out there in an honest way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I’m being up front about it. I wouldn’t be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn’t able to match them – in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.
THE ANSWER
Dear Pers-:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I’m not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here’s how I see it.
Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here’s why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here’s the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won’t be getting any more beautiful!
So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you’re 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!
So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn’t make good business sense to “buy you” (which is what you’re asking) so I’d rather lease. In case you think I’m being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It’s as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.
Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as “articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful” as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard tobelieve that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn’t found you, if not only for a tryout.
By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn’t need to have this difficult conversation.
With all that said, I must say you’re going about it the right way. Classic “pump and dump.”
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.
Thank Goodness The Wizard of WOZ sent me this after my recent trip to Australia and back. I can’t verify the authenticity, but who cares?
Actual exchanges between pilots and control towers.
Tower: “Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o’clock, 6 miles!”
Delta 351: “Give us another hint! We have digital watches!”
Tower: “TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees.”
TWA 2341: “Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?”
Tower: “Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?”
From an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff queue: “I’m f…ing bored!”
Ground Traffic Control: “Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!”
Unknown aircraft: “I said I was f…ing bored, not f…ing stupid!”
O’Hare Approach Control to a 747: “United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock, three miles, Eastbound.”
United 329: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this…I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.”
A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last known position?”
Student: “When I was number one for takeoff.”
A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower noted:
“American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport.”
A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following:
Lufthansa (in German): “Ground, what is our start clearance time?”
Ground (in English): “If you want an answer you must speak in English.”
Lufthansa (in English): “I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany . Why must I speak English?”
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): “Because you lost the bloody war!”
Tower: “Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7”
Eastern 702: “Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way,after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway.”
Tower: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7. Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?”
Continental 635: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern… we’ve already notified our caterers.”
One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee. Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said, “What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?”
The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger: “I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I’ll have enough parts for another one.”
The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: ” Frankfurt , Speedbird 206! clear of active runway.”
Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.”
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”
Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.”
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?”
Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, — And I didn’t land.”
While taxiing at London’s Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727..
An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: “US Air 2771, where the hell are you going? I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it’s difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!”
Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: “God! Now you’ve screwed everything up! It’ll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don’t move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the humbled crew responded.
Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind.. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high. Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking:”Wasn’t I married to you once?”
I should be so cocky. The flight out of Narita had to return to base. Air-conditioning problem they reckoned. Next day, heard anecdotal claims flames were seen coming from one on the engines during takeoff the night before.
Well I finally managed to purchase a small jar of the new vegemite.
My thoughts? It’ll sell well because it’s not as…. pungent… as real vegemite.
Vegemite is not a taste that’s readily acquired, so anything that can grab a market is probably what they’re after with this new taste sensation.
Sure, it’s got a different texture on the tongue, and it tastes a bit cheesy, but it’s still vegemite.
The Godmother’s boy will eat it on toast or muffins rather than real vegemite, and Magilla’s been known to eat it on toast, but I prefer the original.
The idea with vegemite is to get them while they’re young, and they’re yours for life. I’m proof of that, as are probably 99.98% of the vegemite eaters you know. The rest are flukes.
Anyway, kids love vegemite and cheese sangas – I did as a kid – so these should sell well in the child cuisine market. How the product will survive the transition when the kids grow up is something we’ll see down the track, I guess.
Personally, I don’t like it. I grew out of vegemite and cheese yonks ago.
Oh, and it’s been christened “cheesymite” here.
I can’t call it a condimental disaster, but it is a catchy phrase if I do say so.
You thought cigarettes were getting expensive in Australia? Well, that ain’t nothing compared to what they’re charging in the States. Talk about Obi raising taxes!
Oh dear. I guess I don’t need to worry about Gen Y any more.
Pensioners torture financial adviser
Yahoo!7 June 24, 2009, 4:40 pm
A financial adviser has barely escaped with his life after being beaten and held hostage for four days by a gang of old-age pensioners.
American James Amburn was beaten until his ribs broke, burnt with cigarettes and hit with a Zimmer frame by the gang of five pensioners furious that he’d lost their £2 million ($4.1 million) savings.
Living in Germany, Mr Amburn was ambushed as he left a cafe and driven in the boot of an Audi to a house, where he was dumped in a cellar.
“I was jumped from the rear and struck,” he told UK tabloid The Sun.
“Then they bound me like a mummy with masking tape. It took them quite a while because they ran out of breath.”
In four days, the pensioners fed him just two bowls of soup, burned him with cigarettes and threatened to kill him “again and again”, angry that he had invested their money in a failed Florida property scheme.
He escaped once but was recaptured and beaten until his ribs broke.
Mr Amburn was eventually rescued after convincing his captors to let him fax a Swiss bank in an attempt to get their money.
He left a note for police at the bottom of the fax and armed cops stormed the house in Bavaria on Saturday.
The “Furious Five” as they have been dubbed, face 15-year sentences for hostage-taking and torture.
At the end of this month, the adult students will be participating in an English contest whereby they’ll perform a short skit or song. One class decided to perform a traditional Korean folktale called Hungbu and Nolbu. The students ripped a script off the Net which, after first glance, I offered to modernize. Yes please, teacher. Please modernize for us.
Looking at it now (a few hours later), there’s a few bits that could use some further editing, but anyway, bingbing presents a traditional Korean folktale adapted for the modern era. Read the rest of this entry »
Yep. I want them all changed, apart from sit and sat. My Way would sound so much better if only Sinatra had spat it out. It’s ridiculous using present tense as past tense there. Same goes with shit. And shitted makes it not sound like a swear word anymore. What’s the point? Has to be shat… unlike hurt. Hurted just sounds uncomfortable.
And especially, when it comes to fit, I really don’t think fitted cuts it. Example: once I was fat, now I’m fit.
Referring to the “whitish” the bit in the middle, reading from top to bottom, it reads as “bang bang cock cock”, or perhaps more accurately as “bung bung cock cock” (when Koreans write Korean words in English, “a” always has an “uh” sound). The question is, what the devil does it really mean?
Incidentally, the large blue word on the top right, coupled with the yellow letters, would read as “moon ho”.
UPDATE
My better half has just informed me that “bang bang gock gock” means “every place and corner of the country”. So there you go. Class dismissed.
I was having a chat to the old man yesterday about the direction politics was going.
Eventually I said “Well why not run 2 opt in types of Australia, one where the government takes 80% of your income but mothers you, and one where they take 25% and leave you the f*ck alone”
My old man didn’t miss a beat and said, “I think we already do that, just the percentages are reversed”….
Till the pips squeak!
Got me thinking though, many people hate having to chose for themselves, even basic things like phone services, internet carrier, bill paying etc.
Why not let the government manage the lives of those to weak or unwilling to look after themselves, but charge them a tax rate for the assistance?
Meanwhile at the other end can be the “no fee no service” people, those who want minimal government interference, but also deny them access to government services? (beyond the policing/legal varieties). I think it would be a wonderful experiment in governance.
The comparison between a “cradle to grave welfare” 80% tax regime and a “don’t tread on me” 25% tax regime would pretty quickly show up the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and might lead to more realistic government policies.
And just for reference, Im on the 25% leave me alone side…
The Tizona Group 
