Off Topic Thread 3.0

irishbucsfan · 31-05-2017 06:24PM

Silverback is smaller BUT it's far better conditioned. It'll probably come on stronger in the later rounds.

mfceiling · 31-05-2017 06:43PM

Silverback can reach weights of 200 odd kilos and stand 6 feet tall. Grizzly can weigh in at 500 kilos and touch 8 feet.

Like Mike Tyson in his prime taking on Paddy Barnes...

CatFromHue · 31-05-2017 07:05PM

what if you put the gorilla on a weights and protein scheme?

do bears even lift bra??

pickarooney · 31-05-2017 08:51PM

Get a Kodiak in there if you want to do some real damage.

mfceiling · 31-05-2017 10:05PM

I'm willing to bet on the grizzly.

Does anyone have access to a zoo or private wild animal collection? Asking for a friend.

DGRulz · 01-06-2017 09:33AM

So I'm on the bus this morning and I notice people that usually get off at my stop are getting off at Amien St/Connolly Station. I look ahead and see a backlog off traffic so I look at AA Roadwatch and see that they're reporting an incident at Custom House Quay and onlookers are causes further delays, "Oh no" I think to myself "Someones probably jumped in". I eventually get into work and see this on RTÉ's site.

Man arrested after boat stolen and taken up Liffey

pickarooney · 01-06-2017 02:18PM

How do hailstones form at 30 degrees Celsius?

Buer · 01-06-2017 02:24PM

pickarooney wrote: »

How do hailstones form at 30 degrees Celsius?

I would imagine it's not 30C up where they're forming.

If it is, that Paris Accord is going to look pretty smug in the future.

pickarooney · 04-06-2017 08:01AM

This net neutrality business -will it only affect American consumers? I can't see Europeans accepting something so restrictive.

04-06-2017 09:15AM

pickarooney wrote: »

This net neutrality business -will it only affect American consumers? I can't see Europeans accepting something so restrictive.

If the government turned around tomorrow and said "we are taking away road neutrality" and all of a sudden only certain types of cars are cars with paid 'extra's' can use motorways it would be seen as a national outrage.

Worse, it would not stop there, in a few years time you'd be getting offered "buy early and get the 'use any exit' package".

Net Neutrality means that the companies who provide access and storage online can start classifying parts of the internet and bring in new pricing structures. People *will* start paying more.

Worse again, they can effectively censor access to parts of the internet through throttling (slowing) and price burying which has massive freedom of speech implications.

As much of the online media we consume in Ireland comes from the US it is inevitable that we'd be impacted by it and if successful in the US Id be certain the UK would follow suit as its right up the Tories ally,

Right now I cant see the rest of Europe going for it as the media would be all over them and the tech industry here which employs 100's of thousands would go nuts.

The fact that its even being seriously discussed in the US just shows how hopelessly screwed they are over there. It really has turned into an awful country where laws that are massively anti-society are getting open support.

pickarooney · 04-06-2017 09:51AM

It relies on all the ISPs colluding, right? With internet providers soon being able to offer services to customers anywhere in Europe, it would just take one ISP to hold out and take all the customers from the others by not throttling access... or have I completely misunderstood it?

I know the EU rules forbid ISPs from doing it currently but in a theoretical situation where they upped and reversed that situation...

DGRulz · 04-06-2017 10:10AM

It's already started to happen here with Meteor allowing unlimited data access to Social Media sites. It sounds like a perk to get people in but it's the start of a very slippery slope.

04-06-2017 10:13AM

pickarooney wrote: »

It relies on all the ISPs colluding, right? With internet providers soon being able to offer services to customers anywhere in Europe, it would just take one ISP to hold out and take all the customers from the others by not throttling access... or have I completely misunderstood it?

I know the EU rules forbid ISPs from doing it currently but in a theoretical situation where they upped and reversed that situation...

One of the great things about the EU is that its hard to lobby and bully on issues like this due to the diversity of member states so Id be surprised to see it happen.

Abusing the free internet in the absence of net neutrality would be very achievable without collusion but dangerously effective with it.

Also remember that there are significant restrictions in setting up an ISP anywhere and one only needs to look at the insurance industry to see how acceptable collusion is these days.

CMOTDibbler · 04-06-2017 10:21AM

pickarooney wrote: »

It relies on all the ISPs colluding, right? With internet providers soon being able to offer services to customers anywhere in Europe, it would just take one ISP to hold out and take all the customers from the others by not throttling access... or have I completely misunderstood it?

I know the EU rules forbid ISPs from doing it currently but in a theoretical situation where they upped and reversed that situation...

Well it would depend on each ISP. The whole idea of net neutrality is that there's effectively no restriction on what you can see between one ISP and another. But if it's dropped, you'd have certain ISPs throttling the bandwidth on competitor's offerings on their network. For example, PayPal could be effectively blocked by an ISP who would be trying to promote their own payment system.

It would be chaos. Think about hosting companies who are tied to ISPs throttling access to sites hosted by rival hosting companies.

I'm not sure if it would affect our access to US sites. The further away you are from the source, the more routes are available. A bit like water finding the quickest way out, so also routing from one country to another. It's the people closest to the 'throttling' provider who would be most affected as they would have no alternative routes available to them.

Erik Shin · 05-06-2017 07:57PM

Former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote collapsed and died at a training session for his Chinese club today....only 30 years old

wp_rathead · 05-06-2017 08:01PM

Sad to hear - Not a football fan but I remember watching his last minute goal against Arsenal in a pub, it was insane

thomond2006 · 05-06-2017 09:10PM

I just finished House of Cards.

I think I'm out. It's too all over the place and the deaths at/near the end of the season could be seen coming. I can't get my head around Doug as a character as this stage and very little has changed with Frank or Claire.

05-06-2017 10:03PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

I just finished House of Cards.
I think I'm out. It's too all over the place and the deaths at/near the end of the season could be seen coming. I can't get my head around Doug as a character as this stage and very little has changed with Frank or Claire.

I thought it was entertaining but average.

07-06-2017 06:31PM

Hoping some of the local Kiwis will see this...

Is 4 weeks enough to see most of NZ? and is February a good time to go?

CatFromHue · 07-06-2017 06:43PM

I'm not a local but Feb is a good time as the schools will have started up so the tourist trails and spots will be less busy and the weather will still be lovely.

As for the 4 weeks it's like asking how long is a piece of string. You can certainly do a lot in that time but it also depends on what you actually want to do too.

07-06-2017 07:08PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

I'm not a local but Feb is a good time as the schools will have started up so the tourist trails and spots will be less busy and the weather will still be lovely.

As for the 4 weeks it's like asking how long is a piece of string. You can certainly do a lot in that time but it also depends on what you actually want to do too.

I've actually been before, 6 weeks during the world cup. the whole trip was focused around getting to games. this would be a bit different. just starting on a plan now. places like Paihia, Russell, Coromandel, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. and any national parks in between.
lots to plan

CatFromHue · 07-06-2017 07:26PM

Good stuff so, you'll be able to figure out your plan.

I dunno how fit you are but you should try and fit in a few hikes. There's plenty of half or one day ones which are really good, or even places where you can go which you can easily do some one dayers like Arthurs Pass.

February is when I travelled the North Island and yeah the weather was great. We didn't really have a plan and were making it up as we went along so we were moving fairly slowly.

What I would say is if you do think you're stuck for time is that I wouldn't bother too much with North of the Bay of Islands. Between the Bay and the Coromandel you'll have plenty of beach time.

07-06-2017 08:04PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Good stuff so, you'll be able to figure out your plan.

I dunno how fit you are but you should try and fit in a few hikes. There's plenty of half or one day ones which are really good, or even places where you can go which you can easily do some one dayers like Arthurs Pass.

February is when I travelled the North Island and yeah the weather was great. We didn't really have a plan and were making it up as we went along so we were moving fairly slowly.

What I would say is if you do think you're stuck for time is that I wouldn't bother too much with North of the Bay of Islands. Between the Bay and the Coromandel you'll have plenty of beach time.

hikes are definitely on the agenda. didn't get many done the last time. Any other suggestions?

Yeah_Right · 07-06-2017 08:40PM

Kailani Dirty Teenager wrote: »

I've actually been before, 6 weeks during the world cup. the whole trip was focused around getting to games. this would be a bit different. just starting on a plan now. places like Paihia, Russell, Coromandel, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. and any national parks in between.
lots to plan

February is a perfect time to travel to NZ. Are you driving around or flying?

The Far North and the Coromandel are brilliant at that time of year. Just stay away from the locally grown greenery or you might be stuck there for years.
Do a day trip from Paihia to Cape Reihanga and 90 Mile beach. In Auckland, do a wine tour of Waiheke Island and go check out Piha Beach.
Will you have time to get to the Hawkes Bay or Taranaki? Great spots for hiking, seafood and surfing.
Skip Wellington and ChCh. They are boring and full of assholes

If you're driving then spend some time in Nelson/Marlborough. Drive down the west coast of the South Island (amazing) and go to Milford Sound.
Most of all, chill out and enjoy yourself.

wp_rathead · 07-06-2017 09:04PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

I just finished House of Cards.
I think I'm out. It's too all over the place and the deaths at/near the end of the season could be seen coming. I can't get my head around Doug as a character as this stage and very little has changed with Frank or Claire.

Just finished it there

slow start (couldn't remember how season 4 had ended so was bit confused) but I enjoyed the last 3 or 4 episodes even though seemed bit all over the place -
I was hoping it would be Doug would dying rather than Le Anne. Also would have rathered to seen bit more of Conway, seemed to finish that story line abruptly

swiwi_ · 07-06-2017 10:00PM

Kailani Dirty Teenager wrote: »

Hoping some of the local Kiwis will see this...

Is 4 weeks enough to see most of NZ? and is February a good time to go?

Yes and yes to your questions. NZ is a fantastic place in which to see the country by driving around. There are a heap of shingle back roads which can be amazing, but obviously slow you down. On a down note, never ever leave valuables in a car, petty break-ins can be quite common, even more so if you hire a camper-van, which screams tourist.

Opinions vary from one kiwi to another, but IMO the West Coast of the South Island, the South Island central lakes, and either a drive around the east coast or else Coromandel are the not-to-be-missed areas. I have a soft spot for Hawke's Bay too.

Plenty of hikes, including a number of "great walks" which take about 5 days.

The best one day walk is the Tongariro Crossing, nothing remotely similar in Ireland.

Buer · 08-06-2017 08:30AM

swiwi_ wrote: »

The best one day walk is the Tongariro Crossing, nothing remotely similar in Ireland.

Wholeheartedly endorse this one. Did it in 12 inches of snow and blue skies in November. Amazing views and really is only about 4 or 5 hours all in all, if I recall correctly.

Coromandel is beautiful as are Milford/Marlborough Sounds. Honestly, never going to be too far from something fairly spectacular once you get outside the cities.

08-06-2017 10:11AM

Thanks for the info, lads. Lots of planning to be done!

irishbucsfan · 08-06-2017 10:13AM

Don't bother going all the way down there. Go to meath or something, its quite exotic

08-06-2017 10:30AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Don't bother going all the way down there. Go to meath or something, its quite exotic

it was NZ or Tayto Park. been agonizing of this decision for months don't make it harder

Off Topic Thread 3.0

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