Possible Coeliacs Should Get Tested
I was diagnosed as a coeliac by both the quick genetic test and the gold standard of endoscopy.
The genetic test is no more painful than any other blood test, but many people are afraid of endoscopy.
I have had four endoscopies.
- Two to check I had coeliac disease.
- One to investigate a problem in my gut with an ultrasound probe, which turned out to be gallstones.
- One to remove the gallstones, by punching a hold in my gut and then inserting and inflating a balloon to force them out.
Only for the last procedure, did I have any form of sedative. I was game, but the surgeon wasn’t!
Note that gallstones are often associated with coeliacs! As are cataracts, which I’ve also had removed from both eyes.
Yesterday in Liverpool, I had chats with two possible coeliacs, one of whom actually had a coeliac mother and the other a gluten-intolerant daughter.
This page on the NHS web site is an overview about Coeliac Disease.
Under Diagnosis Of Coeliac Disease, this is said.
First-degree relatives of people with coeliac disease should be tested.
My three sons didn’t get tested, despite both my late wife and myself insisting after my diagnosis.
Conclusion
If it’s ever suggested you be tested for coeliac disease, you should get tested.
It’s not a big deal these days.
US Offshore Wind Pipeline Blows Past 51 GW, Report Says
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) has released a report on the US offshore wind market, outlining a rapidly growing pipeline of projects across 32 leases totaling 51,377 MW of expected capacity which is enough to power the equivalent of more than 20 million homes.
The American wind market seems to be powering ahead.
If the pattern of offshore oil and gas from the last century, repeats itself, there’s going to be a lot of money made and jobs created.
The report talks of the following.
- 83,000 jobs by 2030.
- $25 billion of economic output.
- Thirty new ships built in domestic shipyards.
Are we geared up for proportionate numbers in the UK?
The Much-Loved Railway Food Carrier Bag
Coming back from Liverpool yesterday on Avanti West Coast, I treated myself to a coffee and a Nakd bar.
I took this picture after I’d cleared away and put all the rubbish in the bag.
These bags seem to be unique to British trains and I’ve never seen one in use on the many foreign trains, I’ve used all over the world.
Yesterday, the train was a Pendolino and I had no trouble carrying my coffee back to my seat, whilst the train tilted.
Were these bags invented by British Rail?
I can never understand, why they are not used by takeaways, as they are ideal for carrying food and drinks without spilling anything and they are much easier to carry and are ideal for collecting up the rubbish to put in a litter bin.
Retired Alaska Airlines Turboprop To Get New life As ‘World’s Largest’ Hydrogen-Powered Plane
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on KUOW.
It’s increasingly looking like, there will be at least a couple of viable hydrogen conversions of current turboprop aircraft to hydrogen.
Ed Sheeran Wins Thinking Out Loud Copyright Case
The title of this post, is the same as that pf this article on the BBC.
This was the sub-heading
Ed Sheeran did not copy Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On when composing Thinking Out Loud, a US court has ruled.
It certainly looks like justice has been done, after a court case urged on, by unscrupulous lawyers, who would probably have got millions of dollars in fees, if they’d won.
It was an example of the American legal system at its worst.
I was probably about fourteen, when I went to a Scout camp on the Verulam Estate near St. Albans. I can remember we walked from East Barnet to St. Albans with the trek cart.
One evening at the camp around a wood fire, a Scoutmaster from another troop, entertained up on his guitar, playing various songs of the day. He showed us how most songs were created using the same chords and rhythm. He also gave us a few pieces of his own.
It was fascinating. But it seems to me that Sheeran has used a similar line and argument in his defence.
I don’t have much respect for American lawyers.
One of the companies, that I helped create was taken over by an American corporation. I can remember at dinner one night with one of their senior managers, some of the best legal jokes and advice being offered.
On the other hand, I would defend one of my ideas in the US Courts, if I had an idea, that someone had stolen. But in that case, I would make sure, I’d got my case correct.
I suspect, it could be a good way to protect an idea.
I have sold two companies and ideas to Americans and one to the Germans. Only one American deal ended up in the Courts and that was one of these opportunistic cases, dreamed up by sharp lawyers, that was thrown out.
The German deal was for several millions and it was interesting, as the Germans were happy to do all the negotiating in the UK, with the contract being wholly written in English law.
Where’s The Bus Stop Code?
In Is Transport for London’s Management Dysfunctional?, I said this.
Perhaps six years ago, I e-mailed TfL to ask, if the five-digit number displayed on the bus-stop, to get details of how long you will wait for the next bus, could be repeated under the shelter, so that if you are waiting in bad weather you can find out the next bus time without venturing outside.
I got a reply saying they’d look into it.
About a year ago, they changed the instructions on the bus stops and the new posters have a space for the installers to put in the stop number.But have I seen one of these spaces with the number in it? Of course not!
Sounds like one department made a worthwhile change and then didn’t inform those, who would carry it out.
TfL is a dysfunctional operation, that needs a thorough overhaul of management. Starting at the top!
I finally got a picture I can use, which shows the empty space in the poster for the number of the bus-stop.
Whilst, I’m about it, how about some other features.
Get Me To A Post Code
If the bus stop number was nnnnn, you might type something like “nnnnn SW1P 3PA” and you would be texted back with something like “Take 141 bus to Northchurch Road”.
Summon The Police
If the bus stop number was nnnnn, you might type something like “nnnnn Police” and they would come to your bus stop.
I Want To Get To The Nearest Station
If the bus stop number was nnnnn, you might type something like “nnnnn Station” and you would be texted back with something like “Take 141 bus to Old Street Station”
I Want To Get To The Nearest Hospital
If the bus stop number was nnnnn, you might type something like “nnnnn Hospital” and you would be texted back with something like “Take 25 bus to Whitechapel Station”
Seabed Power Grid To Link North Sea Wind Turbines
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A vast power grid on the seabed of the central North Sea is being planned as part of a £20bn project to power oil and gas platforms with green electricity.
Points in the article include.
- There could be more than 400 offshore turbines.
- If they were 15 MW turbines, that would be at least 6 GW.
- The plan could involve 10,000 jobs, many of which could be in the supply chain in Scotland.
- The plan is for three connected large sea areas in the central North Sea covering nearly 400 square miles.
- Infrastructure could be in place by 2028.
- Scotland was among the most investable countries in the world for floating wind farms.
- Partners include experienced companies like NOV, Siemens Gamesa, Siemens Energy, DEME and Worley.
- Nearly a third of the world’s current order pipeline for floating wind is destined for Scottish waters.
In Cerulean Winds Is A Different Type Of Wind Energy Company, I said, the project is privately-funded. and will need no government subsidy .
This article on offshoreWIND.biz is entitled Cerulean North Sea Renewables Grid To Power Oil & Gas Platforms With Floating Wind finishes with this paragraph.
Cerulean has agreed on an approach with its industrial partners early to de-risk the project in the same way other large-scale infrastructure developments are initiated, the company said. In total, the three wind farms could contribute over GBP 12 billion GVA to the UK’s economy.
Do you believe in magic money trees?
The Original Cerulean Press Release
This press release on the Cerulean Wind web site, gives more details.
Read it and you might get some measure of the ambition of the company.
Questions And Thoughts
In Cerulean Winds Is A Different Type Of Wind Energy Company, I answer a few questions at the end of the post, and come to this conclusion.
It looks like Cerulean Winds are a very different energy company.
If you have any more questions, put them in the comments and I’ll answer them, as best as I can in the related post.
My First Ride In A Welsh Class 230 Train – 4th May 2023
These pictures show my first ride in a Welsh Class 230 train.
As with the other Class 230 trains, the trains are a tribute to Adrian Shooter’s perseverance.
Bidston Station – 4th May 2023
Bidston station is where I changed for Wrexham.
I look forward to going back to Bidston, when trains run directly to Wrexham on batteries.
Shell Joins VindØ Energy Island Consortium
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Global energy major Shell is joining the VindØ consortium which is aiming to take a leading role in developing and building Denmark’s first energy island.
This paragraph outlines the project.
The island will be able to connect 10 GW of offshore wind to Denmark and other neighboring countries, plus host an innovation zone with potential for large-scale Power-to-X production and energy storage. It would include accommodation and operation and maintenance services from onsite harbour facilities.
It looks spectacular in the visualisation.
The Anonymous Widower 