Category: learning curve

Cow signs

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Yep. A Mastodon thread of “Beware of Cattle” signs from around Europe, rated for… I dunno… “artistic impression” (and a bit more?)?

Sure, why not?

Useful for your Geoguessr experience, as well.

It’s interesting that there are so many different variations on what is a very simple message. In many ways, it’s like the Stockholm Metro and New Mexico Rail Runner post I did last week. I mean, we all see any of these and we know what we are being warned about, so they do their job, just like the air vents and the door closing noises, but there are stylised images, detailed images, horns, no horns, udders, no udders, even some cows that actually look quite unwell.

…and then there’s Poland’s effort.

You’ll have to click through on the link above to look at that one: I’d hate to spoil the surprise. But I was instantly thinking 1960s Hanna-Barbera background art. And yes, that might sound terribly niche, but as soon as you see it, you’ll know…

Using a 108 Year Old World War 1 Lens

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One of those Youtube videos that makes you stop and think. I initially watched it because I was interested in the technical aspects of attaching a 108 year old lens to a modern digital camera, but actually that bit was overlooked almost completely, and I was drawn instead by the history, the storytelling and the powerful images that they managed to create in the video.

Absolutely worth 5 minutes and 20 seconds of your day.

Not much more to add to this – the video itself does most of the talking – but I will say that while there are many places on Youtube that are horrifically puerile and unsophisticated, I’m (thankfully) finding more and more channels with great ideas, telling interesting stories, and with really high quality production values. And because of these discoveries, I’m learning more, I’m enjoying the site far more, and I’m using it more too.

Is this finally the thing they call “growing up”?!?

Admyt hiccup

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Heading into the V&A today to smash MARBLE, Hinthunt‘s latest escape room, (<20% success rate in the 8 weeks it’s been open), we overcame the initial challenge of actually getting to the room to escape from, despite the horrific traffuck on the way into town. Buoyed by this early success, I confidently drove up to the car park barrier and waited for Admyt to do its thing.

But nothing happened. Eek.

However, I did immediately get an email telling me that nothing had happened, and also explaining how to sort the situation out:

So even though it didn’t recognise my number plate, it also clearly did recognise my number plate enough for it to send me an email saying that it didn’t recognise my number plate.

And yes, attached to the side of the ticket machine was an admyt QR code, which clearly circumnavigates the need for full on recognition of your number plate.

All’s well that ends well, then. And this did end well.

A reminder that you can get the app on Apple here, or Google here. Then use this code:

TRE162273

to get R10 off your first parking bill. And look like a superstar as you sweep into car parks nationwide.

(Oh, and yes, we nailed the escape room with almost 10 minutes to spare… Dangerous Rodney Dream Team Massive.)

Invited back

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Just a quick note to say that I am delighted to have been invited to help out with the school tour to Robben Island again this year. I must be fooling someone doing something right.

Let’s celebrate with a quota photo from the prison museum there:

Looking forward to more amazing learning and bonding experiences, and yes… maybe another traditional solo run around the island in the misty, murky early morning hours.

The Kopp–Etchells Effect

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I’d never heard of it either. But now I have.

It’s the light produced when dust or sand particles strike the abrasive hard edge of a helicopter rotor blade: an example of a pyrophoric effect. And it’s quite spectacular:

Like sparks from a grindstone:

When a speck of metal is chipped off the rotor, it is heated by rapid oxidation. This occurs because its freshly exposed surface reacts with oxygen to produce heat. If the particle is sufficiently small, then its mass is small compared to its surface area, and so heat is generated faster than it can be dissipated. This causes the particle to become so hot that it reaches its ignition temperature. At that point, the metal continues to burn freely.

Add a dark background and some long exposure, and you can get some amazing images:

Named for two soldiers killed in Afghanistan, the phenomenon might be nice to look at, but can cause problems in the field. Erosion of the rotor blades is a serious issue, and the light produced can not only affect pilots’ night vision, but can also alert the enemy to the exact location of a helicopter or base.