Absolutely Anything Else

fidobsa wrote:

anns wrote:

I respect all religions and peoples individual beliefs.

Religion: The most effective way to incite hatred ever devised by mankind.

I thought the most effective way to incite hatred ever devised by mankind was to say you liked pineapple on your pizza.

Being a heathen, I like pineapple on my pizza. Oh.... the hatred that pours forth from others after my confession....

But seriously most any institution, aside from pizza toppings, such as religion, political parties**, even nation states, are all compartments that can be enabled to breed and enforce tribalism.

But such issues need not, by definition, be so entwined, and can be separated of course, if people would only actually take the time to do so. In that, as one example, I rather like what the Hungarian philosopher Béla Hamvas said, which I can not quote directly, so will paraphrase (hopefully accurately): True faith in God lays beyond religion.

** I agree with George Washington there.

klsallee wrote:

....

I thought the most effective way to incite hatred ever devised by mankind was to say you liked pineapple on your pizza.

Being a heathen, I like pineapple on my pizza. Oh.... the hatred that pours forth from others after my confession....

But seriously most any institution, aside from pizza toppings, such as religion, political parties**, even nation states, are all compartments that can be enabled to breed and enforce tribalism.

.....

What is it with not liking pineapple on pizza?  I like it too. Seems perfectly normal. I watched a US comedy show called The Good Place.  In that show, part of the hell torture is pizza with pineapple and  frozen yoghurt on tap. Never had frozen yoghurt myself.    Seems like someone trying to make a thing out of nothing.  Like people trying to make a thing out of red hair or freckles. But I actually kinda like it 

I will however, draw the line at wearing white socks with sandals or Speedos over 40.

When I was much younger (about 12'ish), my Mum used to make something called "Hawaiian Cheese Dreams".   I don't know if she made it up or read it in a book.   I'll have to ask her. It's easy to do:

Get a couple of slices of toast, put a slice of ham on each, pineapple ring, slice of cheese - in that order.  the ham at the bottom, pineapple in the middle, the cheese at the top.  No cheating with a different order - hell and damnation will be upon you otherwise.

The microwave 2 mins or even better grill until the cheese bubbles/browns a bit.

Serve with tomato ketchup on the side or something like a spicy Caribbean type sauce.

Serves one.

fluffy2560 wrote:

What is it with not liking pineapple on pizza?  I like it too. Seems perfectly normal.

Wonderful! Let's start a tribe. Those who like pineapple on their pizza. And everyone else who are just wrong.

Looks like 6 more weeks of winter.

http://www.groundhog.org/

Given how the weather was warm and clear..... till today.... maybe the rodent has some credibility.

klsallee wrote:

Looks like 6 more weeks of winter.

http://www.groundhog.org/

Given how the weather was warm and clear..... till today.... maybe the rodent has some credibility.

I just saw that report on Deutsche Welle TV.   That Punxsutawney Phil, tut-tut, he knows more than we know.

BTW, Groundhog Day links into the pagan Imbolc posted previously.  Almost a segue.

Pineapple on pizza? Don't you have to eat pork mince on groundhog day?

fidobsa wrote:

Pineapple on pizza? Don't you have to eat pork mince on groundhog day?

Why wait?

Just eat it anytime!

fidobsa wrote:

Don't you have to eat pork mince on groundhog day?

I thought you were suppose to eat groundhog on groundhog day.

klsallee wrote:

fidobsa wrote:

Don't you have to eat pork mince on groundhog day?

I thought you were suppose to eat groundhog on groundhog day.

Poor Phil. 

I'd have thought eating rodents was frowned upon in HU and elsewhere.

Exception would be South America. The Capybara is popular there. If anyone is peckish and up for burglary/kidnapping, I seem to remember there are some in Szekesfehervar zoo.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Poor Phil.

Are all groundhogs named "Phil"? That would get really confusing at the yearly groundhog convention.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I'd have thought eating rodents was frowned upon in HU and elsewhere.

Clearly, from the name "groundhog", it is a "hog". Ergo, it can not be a rodent. All those objective facts showing, without doubt, it is a rodent are just "fake news" trying to convince all groundhog eating folks they are not eating pork (even if it does taste like chicken). 

fluffy2560 wrote:

Exception would be South America.

Rat-on-a-stick (a.k.a. Rat kebab) is enjoyed in lots of places. I understand it tastes like chicken.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Poor Phil.

Are all groundhogs named "Phil"? That would get really confusing at the yearly groundhog convention.

Now you are being difficult.

Not really confusing - given their eyesight problems and recognition of their own shadows, it'c clear they usually work on smell.   Obviously (!) the fellas are Phil and the gals are Phillies.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I'd have thought eating rodents was frowned upon in HU and elsewhere.

Clearly, from the name "groundhog", it is a "hog". Ergo, it can not be a rodent. ....."fake news" trying to convince all groundhog eating folks they are not eating pork (even if it does taste like chicken). 

I thought you knew about wildlife!

I suppose I can draw parallel of groundhogs vs  rodents between certain types of bunnies but that would be just splitting hares.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Now you are being difficult.

Absolutely. It is my "middle" name. That is what the "K" stands for. Diffikult. I can spell it real good as well.

fluffy2560 wrote:

klsallee wrote:

Clearly, from the name "groundhog", it is a "hog". Ergo, it can not be a rodent. ....."fake news" trying to convince all groundhog eating folks they are not eating pork (even if it does taste like chicken). 

I thought you knew about wildlife!

Brilliant!  I applaud you.

With a little subtle editing you turned the content into something else.

You should be writing memos for members of Congress. 

klsallee wrote:

....

With a little subtle editing you turned the content into something else.

You should be writing memos for members of Congress. 

Damn!  I've been rumbled. 

Ok, the jigs up, I'm really Sean Spicer.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I'm going to spend my day researching kitchen appliances and drains so I'm happy to share about that if anyone cares.

Actually, I just redid our entire plumbing. From the sinks and all other drains, out to the new Graf infiltration tunnel for the final water disposal (country side -- no sewage line). Am now a "drain pro". And I wish I wasn't -- plumbing is a surprising pain to get it right.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I'm going to spend my day researching kitchen appliances and drains so I'm happy to share about that if anyone cares.

Actually, I just redid our entire plumbing. From the sinks and all other drains, out to the new Graf infiltration tunnel for the final water disposal (country side -- no sewage line). Am now a "drain pro". And I wish I wasn't -- plumbing is a surprising pain to get it right.

I expect that took a lot more time to find out what's needed here. 

I just spent 2h going to Bauhaus and failing to find what I wanted and having to make rapid decisions an alternate solution.  All I wanted to do was put a water filter on the wall.  Stupidly it didn't come with any brackets.  And for some reason, Bauhaus think taps (as in outside style taps) have to go in a locked cupboard which therefore involves asking an assistant to let me have a rummage through and.....yes....still not find what I wanted.  Mail order rules.

I've had one plumber here who seemed to think that water could flow up hill.  I decided I knew more about gravity than him and said, bugger it, I'll fix it myself.

Idly trawling through today's news, I found this gem, ideal for gossiping about.

This has to be the worst rendition of a national anthem I've heard in a long time. 

I'm only grateful it wasn't God Save The Queen.

Fergie (the Singer) messes up big time

Just a follow up on Free things to do in Hungary.

Not sure how a handicapped person would get around very well here in Hungary.
I know the newer buses and trams are fitted for wheelchairs but using a chair on sidewalks that aren't always even must be a nightmare to use.
Most people are so wrapped up in their own little world they don't move or make way for disabled people.
I have had some experience with that subject.
Having been on crutches here for months , people will walk so close to the crutch and not make way that the disabled person fears that their crutch or cane will be knocked out from under them. I had a overweight younger man kick my cane from under me on the wider part of a sidewalk, seems like he was just being a punk. No amount of words thrown at these un thoughtful people is going to help if your on the ground. The guy had a evil little smile on his ugly face... like "sorry...
We had a HU friend in Ca. who broke his spine and had to use a wheelchair, he wanted to travel back to HU but in the mid 90's it was just too much hassle for him, even if he hired a strong man to lift him up and down stairs etc. it was just too much, He had millions of US dollars but couldn't travel far from home.
My wheelchair bound friend in Vegas visited Italy a decade ago but she was still able to get around then with a walker, had a hard time of it though.
I wouldn't travel either if I was not able to be mobile.
I walk for miles now just because I can walk on my own without a cane or crutches, it's wonderful to recover after a injury.


Off soon to do a free haircut on my husband...
Still think a barter system would be a useful thing to have, people with skills helping others.

fluffy2560 wrote:

But while on the subject, what do you do for low-cost leisure with disabled or people with less mobility in Budapest?

Agree with what Marilyn said. Basically, sadly, not a lot of options. In the USA we have ADA (American with Disabilities Act) that makes equal access, and thus inclusion for the disabled. Which I agree with. Nothing quite like that here.

Just a sad side note about being disabled.
My friend in Vegas has had some sort of odd nerve issue that lead to one operation to another which did her in. New knee, tendon operations, not even sure what was the real cause of her issues.
For the longest time it was thought to be MS but it's not.
Now it's more like damage from so many operations.
She is otherwise a physically beautiful women, always has been. Long red hair to her waist, which must be a nightmare for her husband to help keep up with.
She used to ski, be on the track team and climb mountains, now mostly in her chair all the time.
Can use a walker a tiny bit but only in her home.
Never saw a person so able though, cooking, baking, lifting hot pots of boiling water, scared me to death seeing her move around the kitchn in her chair.
Anyways, she hates going out too  much these days, she said people look at her like they are going to ,"catch" something from her, that's probably one of the worst things about being in a chair, people think they can catch it.

Well that's all a bit disheartening.

Mainly I was putting the question out there for my elderly parents who want to come here in for a few days (obviously when the weather is better).  My mother has a serious heart condition and can walk about 20m without stopping.  She's also half blind and nearly completely deaf.   My father is very mobile for his age but a bit wobbly and partially deaf.   I think I'm going to have to only take them places which can be reached by car or a very short walk.  They can of course bring a wheelchair with them on the plane.  My mother has an electric scooter but she cannot see well enough to drive it now.   

I've told them to come with a minder and my sister has volunteered to guide them through the airport etc.  But they will of course get assistance by the airline as they are obliged to provide that. 

Such a shame as my parents were majorly adventurous when they were younger and traveled and lived all over the world and of course survived WW2.  Rather different now.

A short family visit with your aid should be a wonderful experience for them.
A few days with help is not going to be impossible.
You might just have to help here and there with stairs if you go around the city.
So many steps everywhere.
Living here long term and being disabled might be a issue but a week or two with help sounds really nice.
Yes, we all have done things in our past that these days seem like a lifetime ago.
Don't think I am up for hitching a ride from LA to SF with one friend and 4 cents between us.
Used to think one didn't need any money at all to have fun, still feel that way but within limits, not many people going to pick up a hitch hiker these days.
My husband hitched in 1976 from LA to Montreal Canada. Can't vision him ever doing that again either.
Have a great family visit, your kids will really love showing off their home country to their grandparents.

I was looking up a older post on starting a walking group in Budapest.
Can't seem to find the link.
Was wondering if it ever took off or not.
I plan on walking today from Blaha Luzsa to the US embassy and back again. Rain is the best time for a city walk I believe.
Walked once again from Deli station to Keliti station on Monday.
Also was a wet rainy walk.
3 of these power walks per week should be enough walking about the city until better weather.
Just wondered if anyone has done the walking group or not yet.
Good idea though to have a extra transport ticket on hand just in case one gives up half way through the walk.
My niece contacted me about her coming over to London in a couple of weeks for business.
She wanted me to come over as her treat and spend time with her between meetings for her job.
Lots of walking there i would think.
Not going over though, can't always count on my knees .
Would rather show her around Budapest, hope she can find a few free days to pop over here.
It might be too strange for the two of us to get lost in London as neither of us as been there before...
Funny how years ago I would of swam over just to see the place, these days not so interested.

klsallee wrote:

Actually, I just redid our entire plumbing. From the sinks and all other drains, out to the new Graf infiltration tunnel for the final water disposal (country side -- no sewage line). Am now a "drain pro". And I wish I wasn't -- plumbing is a surprising pain to get it right.

I also redid my entire plumbing, plus put in central heating, a couple of years ago. I have always done my own plumbing so I thought I was OK at soldering and most of the other skills needed. I have always had a blind spot when it came to threaded joints with PTFE tape, if anything is going to leak it is usually such joints, especially in cases where a fitting needs to end up pointing in a certain direction. It seems your joint is doomed if you overshoot and have to loosen it to get the correct orientation or alignment.

For water supply and central heating pipes I have used Hep2O push fit plastic as much as possible but near the boiler I used copper, in 28, 22 and 15mm. The only fittings available for copper in this part of the world are end feed solder ones, so that's what I used. The system worked fine for about a year but then some of the 28mm soldered joints started leaking. I have now had several attempts to fix the leaks but I fail every time. I initially was trying to clean up the old fittings and re-solder but later tried cutting out a section of pipework and using new pipe and fittings. I blamed the lead free solder and the flux, which was the sort containing powdered solder. I ordered flux from UK and used lead / tin solder but it was still no good. Latest plan is to get compression fittings from UK and eliminate the soldered joints but that is proving to be difficult. Every time I try to order stuff online, something goes wrong, either my debit card gets rejected or my address is in the wrong format for the software!

I have rigged up a small woodburning stove in the bedroom and have been just heating the one room. In the recent cold snap this resulted in frozen pipes but I was only without water for a few days.

fidobsa wrote:

.....The system worked fine for about a year but then some of the 28mm soldered joints started leaking. I have now had several attempts to fix the leaks but I fail every time. I initially was trying to clean up the old fittings and re-solder but later tried cutting out a section of pipework and using new pipe and fittings. I blamed the lead free solder and the flux, which was the sort containing powdered solder. I ordered flux from UK and used lead / tin solder but it was still no good. Latest plan is to get compression fittings from UK and eliminate the soldered joints but that is proving to be difficult. ...

I suspect your fitting is leaking because of the flux.  What I've found is that the joint seems to be made but actually it's the flux that's holding it together and there are gaps plugged with the flux.  After a time, the flux dissolves away, the gaps exposed and the leak appears. 

I was not good with my soldered joints until I discovered the way to make a decent joint is to use Yorkshire copper fittings complete with solder ring.  Also you need really decent flux and wire wool and quality lead free solder and a wet rag.   I got mine from Screwfix for copper but I had to find a specialist flux for other metals.

I deburr the pipe end, clean it with the wire wool (brillo pad will do but not wet, best without any additives or soap,  emery will also do), then give it a once over with a smearing of flux using an old toothbrush.  Using the Yorkshire fittings, stick the clean pipe ends, stick them in and then play on the heat around the joint until the joint fills with solder by capillary action.  If it's not running properly, play the torch around the joint as the solder will flow to the heat and complete the joint.  If it fails it's knackered and it has to be started again (damp rag can get off molten solder).

And finally use the damp rag to wipe off the joint and therefore make it look cleaner and to remove any excess flux that might be hanging off in drips.  It's a lot easier to get off when it's hot and still soft.   

I've also use brazing (hard soldering - silver soldering in fact) on brass fittings or steel where welding is not easy.  It's pretty good and super strong but the fluxed rods are pricey.  But steel or iron to copper joins are no problem at all.  Obviously not for use on copper although you can get copper rods as well but I've never managed to make them work.

To melt the rods, it needs Mapp gas or oxy-acetylene and a super hot colour (800 C, cherry red glow).  Ordinary blowtorch (butane etc) will never get hot enough.

fidobsa wrote:

I have always had a blind spot when it came to threaded joints with PTFE tape, if anything is going to leak it is usually such joints

Same here. If any joint will leak, that is it. If your joint is designed to last the life of the structure, then using a thread locking compound is better.

Otherwise, regarding copper -- I can solder it. Done it okay. But it really takes the correct tools, torch, etc. All of which I left in the USA when I moved here. Dreaded having to buy or even rent it all here. So I first went with PVC. That was "okay" but not ideal. The final plumbing used PEX. That is a dream. So easy. The fittings are very expensive, but it takes minutes to install, thus so much time is saved it is totally worth it. Wish I used PEX from the start here. But when I started my plumbing project --- 15 years ago --- it was not available here. So today I have a bit of a mix of pipe types. Meh.... Whatever. Very eclectic. But it is my house, I can do what I want, don't care if pipe types do not match. But, and thus, then need for Teflon tape between the different pipe systems using brass connectors. But it all works now, so good enough -- I won't be going back and changing anything unless it fails.

klsallee wrote:

.... But, and thus, then need for Teflon tape between the different pipe systems using brass connectors. But it all works now, so good enough -- I won't be going back and changing anything unless it fails.

I forgot to say, rather than using PTFE (Teflon), one can try to use horsehair or hemp* with a pipe sealant/goo you smooth on before putting the joint together. It actually works nicely so I prefer to use it instead of PTFE -  I think it's a lot cheaper. 

For steel pipes joints, welding with gas or brazing  which is more survivable for frozen pipes than copper or possibly plastic.

*no, not that type of hemp which is used for other kinds of joints!

I think in my case, part of the problem is that the joints are close to the insulating foam on the indirect cylinder so I am trying to keep the blowlamp flame away from that foam. This is why I think the compression fittings would be best in this case. I have also ordered fittings from Screwfix in the past but that is one of the sites that no longer work for me. My UK money is in a Clydesdale bank account which seems to get rejected for some reason.

Edit: I tried to give a link to a photo on Facebook but it didn't work. It is pathetic that this site does not allow image uploads.

fidobsa wrote:

I think in my case, part of the problem is that the joints are close to the insulating foam on the indirect cylinder so I am trying to keep the blowlamp flame away from that foam. This is why I think the compression fittings would be best in this case. I have also ordered fittings from Screwfix in the past but that is one of the sites that no longer work for me. My UK money is in a Clydesdale bank account which seems to get rejected for some reason.

Edit: I tried to give a link to a photo on Facebook but it didn't work. It is pathetic that this site does not allow image uploads.

You could stick a cut out sheet of metal over the bit on the cylinder so you can heat it up without destroying the foam. Or use a Mapp gas blow torch so it's more accurately applied as the flame can be much thinner (and hotter).  But I am sure you already thought of those things.

You can upload images but only by link to somewhere else.  You can get a free account at Dropbox using any old name you like and using a "spam" e-mail address, upload the picture, then make the picture public as a link and insert in here.   

I expect these folks here don't want to pay for storage nor link to something like Facebook as it's a competitor.  And of course, other  online storages are possible too - One Drive etc.

fidobsa wrote:

Edit: I tried to give a link to a photo on Facebook but it didn't work. It is pathetic that this site does not allow image uploads.

Facebook images can be linked and viewed here. But the image (and that probably means the user's account) has to be public. and I suspect, but not sure, that it needs to be in an album.  At least, public image in albums work with the below method:

In the album, right click with your mouse on the image, select "copy image location" (the location will be very long, starting with something such as "scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/"), then in the comment editor here, select the "image" toolbar icon, and paste in the image location you copied.
Preview your post to verify the image is visible.

klsallee wrote:

In the album, right click with your mouse on the image, select "copy image location" (the location will be very long, starting with something such as "scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/"), then in the comment editor here, select the "image" toolbar icon, and paste in the image location you copied.
Preview your post to verify the image is visible.

OK, I will experiment.

fidobsa wrote:

....OK, I will experiment....]

See your problem.

I reckon scrape off some of the insulation, do the joint and use some spray on urethane foam to insulate it again - same stuff they use for gluing in windows.  The amount you'd lose scraping would be minimal.  Even if it burnt off it wouldn't really matter (but don't breathe the fumes). You could always box it in and use Rockwool pieces afterwards to give it a bit more of an insulation blanket.

I don't think I've ever seen one of those tanks here.  They use those great big electric heater cylinders normally for hot water and gas for the room heating/central heating.

fidobsa wrote:

OK, I will experiment.

Looks like it worked.

Your copper pipe joint soldering is pretty good. Better than mine.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't think I've ever seen one of those tanks here.  They use those great big electric heater cylinders normally for hot water and gas for the room heating/central heating.

That certainly is an interesting tank.

We got a new Ariston water heater. It is actually a space saver rectangular shape (and installed horizontally to save even more space):

http://www.ariston.com/ww/Electric_wate … s_evo_plus

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't think I've ever seen one of those tanks here.  They use those great big electric heater cylinders normally for hot water and gas for the room heating/central heating.

That certainly is an interesting tank.

Unfortunately I had to make a bit of a study of these things when we were reconstructing this place.

The pipes on the left are for a coil inside the tank - inlet and return.  They come from the boiler/pump which circulates around the tank to the heat the water inside - obviously the tap water and the boiler water do not interact!   The top pipe is the hot water supply to the taps and the lower one on the right is the inlet for cold water.  The switch on the right is for an electric heater element  for when the boiler is off - say during the summer.   There's usually an electric valve as well so you can still heat water using gas even if the central heating is off.  It's a very typical British system.

Our system here is made by Bosch and does both the central heating and the water.  During the summer, we just turn the heating function off.   The boiler has an insulated 40L water tank inside which it keeps warm.  if you turn on the tap, the hot water is supplied from the tank and if the temperature drops because of outflow of hot/inflow of cold, it automatically tops it up again to the set temperature. 40L is more than enough for 1 shower and it can keep up with sufficient output to warm the tank and supply the taps.

I was thinking of solar panels as I may have mentioned but the water tank is absolutely huge with two coils inside - one for the panels and one for the other method (gas or whatever).  So I decided, no solar water heating.  But I've heard it's pretty good from others. I think I'll keep thinking about electric panels instead.

Your Ariston wall tank looks very posh.  I'm a sucker for control panels especially if they have flashing lights and indicators and dials.  I blame too much Star Trek.

Time to pop open some bubbly and forget about plumbing problems...
Wow, don't even know what I am looking at, as they say ignorance  is bliss... Good luck with all of that stuff...

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't think I've ever seen one of those tanks here.  They use those great big electric heater cylinders normally for hot water and gas for the room heating/central heating.

No,  I've never seen them either so I brought that with me from UK last time I took the car there. I wanted that system, to act as a safety heat sink in the event of pump failure or an electricity cut. The cylinder is positioned above the boiler water jacket height, so it will thermo-syphon. There is a motorised valve which selects central heating above a certain boiler temperature but reverts to hot water when not energised (i.e. in the event of an electricity cut).

Fuel lines, experiment, Jerry Rigged .. and bubbly, now that would be something to really experience.
Looks a bit "dangerous" to me but then again, opening up the hood of a car freaks me out.
I used to know how to change a tire, change the oil, jump start a manual transmission.
Not so sure these day I can even steer straight, just kidding.
Hope nothing blows or explodes , I have no idea what this photo is actually showing or what's up with it.
Sort of reminds me of the time my stick shit handle feel off my VW bug, my husband was able to Jerry Rig it with a coat hanger...

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Time to pop open some bubbly and forget about plumbing problems...
Wow, don't even know what I am looking at, as they say ignorance  is bliss... Good luck with all of that stuff...

I did think you might wonder what was going on. 

Sometimes I wish I didn't know what that stuff was. I'm fixer around here for so much stuff.   I've just spent 45 minutes trying to fix a window.   I haven't opened that one for months and suddenly it's decided it doesn't want to close after we opened it to clean it.   

Now the weather has changed, it's time for all those jobs that piled up to be done.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Your Ariston wall tank looks very posh.  I'm a sucker for control panels especially if they have flashing lights and indicators and dials.  I blame too much Star Trek.

The neon blue lights certainly were a major sales point, and did help me decide to get it.

And, yes, I admit it being posh was the other major reason (and being able to turn it sideways since we have limited space and that really helped). I grew up with water heaters in closets or basements. Here so many seem "so there" in the living space. Living space is more limited, even for us. I tried to find a place to hide a water heater, but it just did not work without losing a lot of good living space. So, decided, if I have to see it, I might as well have it make a statement and look good doing so. 

Not the only thing in the house like that.