71

shootin' the shit / Re: UK General Election 2024

« Last post by ToxicBilberry on Yesterday at 10:03:25 am »

Lol you might not be wrong!

Techno-feudalism is a real theory though.

‘ Feudalism refers to the medieval-era social system that dominated Europe. Its basic idea is that peasants (also known as serfs) served their lords through farming and labour and in return, got to live within their kingdom. Technofeudalism is the notion that we serve our big tech overlords (Amazon, Google, Apple and Meta) by handing over data to access their cloud space.

Technofeudalism suggests our preferences are no longer our own, they're manufactured by machine networks — commonly known as the cloud. It's underpinned by the theory that the cloud has created a feedback loop that removes our agency. We train the algorithm to find what we like and then the algorithm trains us to like what it offers.’

72

shootin' the shit / Re: House Buying Beta

« Last post by teestub on Yesterday at 09:56:14 am »

When I spoke to builders a few years ago about a potentially attractively priced underpinned property, they advised not to get involved with a house that has been underpinned on more than one side.

I'm interested in the logic behind this if you know it? 

You’re the engineer, so I’m sure you have a good understanding, but thought I’d read previously that part underpinning to correct differential settlement can lead to a reverse of the situation, where the non underpinned bit starts to settle faster.

73

shootin' the shit / Re: House Buying Beta

« Last post by Tom de Gay on Yesterday at 09:47:53 am »

When I spoke to builders a few years ago about a potentially attractively priced underpinned property, they advised not to get involved with a house that has been underpinned on more than one side.

I'm interested in the logic behind this if you know it? 

Don’t know, sorry! It was in the context of a particular kind of Victorian terrace that they had a lot of experience with.

74

music, art and culture / Re: Books...

« Last post by Rocksteady on Yesterday at 09:12:29 am »

Or, to be fair, any of Meiville's other work that someone would highly recommend!

My favourite one of his was Kraken, this was really good.

Was trying to think of who writes in any way similar, I think Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is the closest I can think of. For some reason I feel that Josiah Bancroft's Senlin Ascends has similarity to Mieville, maybe in the sort of literary style, maybe in the element of alien cityscape.

Re: Chronicles of Thomas Covenant I always struggled with how utterly unlikeable the protagonist is, very difficult to forgive his behaviour. In subject matter Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry is similar. If you like a really horrible protagonist, then grimdark is for you - Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns springs to mind as the highest quality example of the subgenre.

75

shootin' the shit / Re: House Buying Beta

« Last post by Paul B on Yesterday at 09:03:30 am »

Likewise, I've loved the places I've bought but at the end, I had no emotional attachment when moving to the next.

76

music, art and culture / Re: Books...

« Last post by moose on Yesterday at 08:31:06 am »

I thought his last one, Damascus Station, was really good.  I read an interview show with former heads of MI5 and MI6 and one of them said it was the best depiction of running operations in a hostile environment they'd read. Definitely worth a read for anyone who likes lots of "trade craft" in their spy novels.

77

shootin' the shit / Re: House Buying Beta

« Last post by SA Chris on Yesterday at 08:23:16 am »

Since I would rather spend more time climbing and less time arranging for ongoing structural surveys and knotweed treatment I think it's back to the drawing board on house move! Think we will try to rent in the area and suss it out a bit before diving straight back in.

I know you can develop an emotional attachment to a house, but at the end of the day it's just a building, and you donlt want to end up with one that causes you stress and massive expenses. We bid on a few houses when we bought our first and were devastated when we didn't get them (Scottish system and Aberdeen house prices were silly back then), but looking back we got the place we wanted / needed in the end.

78

music, art and culture / Re: Books...

« Last post by TobyD on Yesterday at 08:20:01 am »

Moscow X by David McCloskey is an excellent spy thriller. Recommended if you like those.

79

shootin' the shit / Re: House Buying Beta

« Last post by Paul B on Yesterday at 07:49:04 am »

When I spoke to builders a few years ago about a potentially attractively priced underpinned property, they advised not to get involved with a house that has been underpinned on more than one side.

I'm interested in the logic behind this if you know it? 

80

the log pile / Re: 180k cragx Mill Bridge

« Last post by Paul B on Yesterday at 07:46:20 am »

Tony, next time (as suggested by others), just use this:
https://letmegooglethat.com/

People can then choose whether you're being helpful or passive aggressive.