Animal is a Ram

1 hour ago, Carl Sagan said:

Reserved a Tesla Model 3 in the showroom this morning. Should get me near the front of the queue for UK deliveries, but I shouldn't think before 2019 at the earliest. Sure it'll be worth the wait!

The big unveil by Elon Musk at 20.30 Pacific time tonight which is 4.30 tomorrow morning UK time. I'll watch if I'm awake...

Have you seen anything of the Model 3 yet?

I work as IT support in a conferencing centre alongside the IT company I work for (boss owns both) - there was a conference run by NW Leics Council where they were extolling the virtues of electric cars. They had a demo Model S hanging around. Gorgeous inside and out. Drives beautifully too.. 

Now where did I leave that spare £60k...

5 minutes ago, EnigmaRam said:

Perfectly justified, all BMW drivers are arses, but same can be said for lorry drivers, cabbies and bus drivers!! ?

you forgot white van men..

I've never really got Superman. He's just a bit too goody goody, same for Captain America.

Team Iron Man all the way for Civil War.

3 hours ago, StivePesley said:

French cars: I've never known anyone who bought a Renault where the gearbox didn't fall to bits after ~5 years. Ramsfan Francophiles please feel free to tell me otherwise!

It took a year for my parents' Renault Scenic to need 3 steering columns, and for even numbered fan speeds to not work..

@RicME85 Unfortunately my budget doesn't quite stretch to the new Qashqai, and I'm not such a fan of the older ones on the inside, but it does have a place on my shortlist..

10 hours ago, Joe. said:

I've a 207, I know you said no French cars, 1.6hdi had it for 3 years & done 40k in it can't fault it get 650miles to a tank of diesel and the tax is £30 cruise control at 80 on the motorway and it sits there comfortably. Had my mum's 62plate golf last week which is also a 1.6tdi and it was shockingly poor

My grandma's always had little Peugeot's through Motability, never caused her any issues. Think it'd be the only French manufacturer I'd possibly consider, but it would be the 307/8, I think. Thanks though!

3 minutes ago, ketteringram said:

For what it's worth..... I Do about 25 - 30,000 miles a year. Vast majority of it on motorway. The last 3 cars I've had, have all been 1.6 diesels. Never had an issue with the engine size. 

Handy to know, thanks. What cars were those?

9 minutes ago, Mostyn6 said:

a lot depends on budget, and also mileage. I do minimum 600 miles a week, so got a strong 2.0l diesel. I had a few hire cars before that, which were nice for whizzing about Derby, but flying down the M1 wasn't too great.

I had a Kia Ceed, which was surprisingly good in the city and on the motorway, also a focus zetec 1.3 which I enjoyed.

Averaging about 200 miles a week, but the nature of the job might mean a slog down to Wales, or Wycombe or up to Carlisle.

I've had my eye on the new shape Ceeds, but questioned whether a 1.6 diesel would be strong enough on the motorways. I'd like to stick with Toyota, but the only diesel Auris is a 1.4, and I don't need as big a car as the Avensis or Verso.

I've a budget of about £8k, so obviously used and not looking that new or low miles.

Can anyone recommend me a car? I've started driving more as part of my job, want something a bit more efficient than my current car. Got a people carrier at the moment, which seems daft considering its me in the car most of the time. Do want some practicality though, being a scout leader..

No such luck for a company car, too young for the insurance.

Ideally a 5dr hatch or smaller saloon, not French (not racist, just bad experience with a family Renault), manual, and probably diesel.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-drinking-beer/?sf22526987=1

Beer is good for you. Especially ales and stouts.

Was it ever in doubt?

Car insurers still see anyone under the age of 25 as a 'young driver' - read reckless boy racer.

I'm 23, no claims/accidents in 5yrs, and still paying over £500 for insurance. 

Stick yourself on the policy, but if your lad is doing more miles in it, he has to be the main driver. At that age, insurance companies will mostly look at what your car is, rather than what's under the bonnet. Cars like Clios/Corsas/Fiestas are in more accidents, so are more expensive to insure. My insurance is cheaper while driving my current car (an '02 1.8 Toyota Corolla Verso, or dadwagon as its come to be known) than an older 1.2 Corsa.

You are indeed correct @LesterRam, my insurance includes 9% IPT. Cheers Mr Osbourne, you ar*e.

16 minutes ago, SaintRam said:

the Last Stand mode on DoW...2? was amazing. Spent far more hours in that than I should have.

And yeah it's being published by Bandai Namco - developed by Behaviour, who are an interesting group, been following them closely ever since I sunk money into it and they seem to be huge fans of 40k, and care a lot about it. I play Killing Floor 2 with the community manager pretty regularly lol

A Total War: 40k would really need to be intergalactic and I'm not sure of the potential for them doing that, the Warhammer one looks good though, I used to have a pretty big fantasy collection.

Be prepared to spend a few more, they're releasing another character - the Necron Overlord - in celebration of the 5 year anniversary of DoW2.

http://www.pcgamer.com/the-necron-overlord-is-coming-to-dawn-of-war-2-retribution/

19 minutes ago, SaintRam said:

On betas and whatnot I am a 'Founder' for Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade - currently in early access on Steam - and the NDA'd server for us to test stuff went up yesterday so I'm looking forward to that. 

I'm so glad that WH40k games didn't go down the swanny with the demise of THQ. Dawn of War was a fantastic series which did the rich lore some justice. I used to play the table top game, still have some of my better painted Chaos Marine models.

Eternal Crusade is a Bandai/Namco game isn't it? Didn't realise they had the rights for 40k, thought they only did past, Mark of Chaos was okay.

Hoping there's a Total War: Warhammer 40k too. I see they're doing the past version, which is looking good. Rome 2 was excellent.

3 hours ago, ladyram said:

The Thing. A John Carpenter classic.

Unlike the rather useless remake.

29 minutes ago, Coconut said:

 

Witcher was far better than Fallout

All that base building stuff, ****.

The confusing weapons system (handpicked short spliced guarded reinforced revolver pistol  vs hardened, chambered, pipe pistol piss pot blaster, both with 24 damage... what the **** is that **** all about? It's confusing as ****, and the meu system is a ******* joke - there's also no reason, once you've done 500 side quests and flirted with you whatever her name is 10 times to give the slightest **** about the main conceit of the overriding story

So, in short, you enjoyed Fallout? Just needed to clear that up.

Just now, Srg said:

Bethesda is another one where due to all the modding etc. you need to be full scale nerd to play on pc.

Not particularly. Vanilla Skyrim + DLCs is fantastic.

Deadpool.

Best Marvel film yet. 10. Straight down my sense of humour - love the 4th wall stuff too. It's not just broken, its bulldozed.

7 minutes ago, froggg said:

Great in trifles, but drink it?

Nah, works better in brownies.

Not the special kind, either

14 minutes ago, Uptherams said:

On the blue light point. Anyone can download a piece of software called f.lux for free.  It mirrors daylight and after two days or so of using it you are completely unaware that you are using it. Blue Light is a huge problem, even for people who don't think it is for them. I recommend everyone uses f.lux immediately. 

Just need something similar for phones...

28 minutes ago, Ewetube said:

Some great tips there, Lester!

Our "person" uses an application that reduces the blue light transmitted by his monitor after a certain time of night and he swears by it to allow him to sleep after working late.

My experience of depression albeit from an outsiders point of view is that there are lots of coping mechanisms that may help to some degree and that by trying them the sufferer is taking control of their depression and reducing the control the depression has over them.

One thing to help combat this is to change as much to white on black - most energy efficient bulbs and monitors output lots of blue light when showing white. Added bonus of saving battery power on devices.

I've never been officially diagnosed, but after studying psychology and reading the diagnostic criteria, there are parts of my life that I look back on and say, yes, I fit those.

Quote

Key symptoms:

persistent sadness or low mood;and/or
loss of interests or pleasure
fatigue or low energy

at least one of these, most days, most of the time for at least 2 weeks

if any of above present, ask about associated symptoms:

disturbed sleep
poor concentration or indecisiveness
low self-confidence
poor or increased appetite
suicidal thoughts or acts
agitation or slowing of movements
guilt or self-blame

the 10 symptoms then define the degree of depression and management is based on the particular degree

not depressed (fewer than four symptoms)
mild depression (four symptoms)
moderate depression (five to six symptoms)
severe depression (seven or more symptoms, with or without psychotic symptoms)

symptoms should be present for a month or more and every symptom should be present for most of every day

 

The above is from ICD-10, which is one of the two main diagnostic manuals for illnesses, both mental and physical. I can't say I ever progressed beyond mild - but I did, and still do, experience most of those symptoms at one time or another.

Personally, never considered suicide - but that's not to say those thoughts didn't appear in the back of my mind, more a case of 'what if?' than 'I will'. It was often the thought of hurting my family and friends that stopped me. It wasn't their fault, they shouldn't suffer. Equally though, that mindset stopped me talking to anyone about it. It's only now in hindsight I can really discuss it.

It'd be the days where I just felt nothing. Not sadness, but just.. empty. Like I was observing the world from afar. Wouldn't matter what I was doing, listening to music, watching football, the things you find pleasure in, just don't reach you. I'd spend a couple of weeks where I'd not get to sleep til 3 or 4am, then be waking up at 6. I wouldn't even be thinking about anything in particular. I wouldn't feel any different though, whether I'd slept 2 hours or 8.

It never goes away though - I'll have the odd week or two where it'll come back, but I usually muddle on through - and I'm in the very fortunate position to live with my girlfriend, who understands why my behaviour changes so drastically every so often. It was hard to start with, the first couple of times she couldn't understand why I'd 'go off her' for that time, I wouldn't speak to her, touch her, some days I couldn't even look her in the eyes, and I just couldn't explain it. After the episode though, I managed to get some clarity, and explain it as best I could. It frustrates the crap out of her that she can't help any more than just being there, but that's all she can do.

From my experience, I don't think you can really treat depression, per se, it's all about how it's managed. If you know someone who suffers, you just have to make sure they know you'll be around irrespective. A lot of the time, its enough to know someone cares. It might well have saved my life.

South stand looked excellent. Followed by the North and East.

I really like that 12th man flag - can't see it from where I am though!

Really hope they stick Skyrim on that list. Clearly Bethesda isn't averse to doing it. That will finally tip the household next gen decision firmly to the Xbone.

I like Blandford Flyer by Badger. Very tasty.

Had a Speckled Hen variant - toffee apple flavoured. That was excellent. Could have drank many pints.. had to settle for half because I was driving..

You are indeed correct, the space shuttle exhibit hadn't long opened when I went. Fun fact, the Blackbird you can just see in the top left, is the one Will Smith plays golf on in I Am Legend.

I didn't go in, much to my regret.