The Off Topic Topic

[The Larch]

The smog in China is so bad that people are actually buying bottled air from Canada

http://www.techinsider.io/canadian-startup-sells-canned-air-china-2015-12

Mel Brooks was a visionary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiabeNR_q0U

[Brazen]

Sparkly and croc.

What I went with.

[Josquius]

I was only on holiday 2 1/2 weeks but it seems so much has changed.

- The buildings opposite me that have been covered in scaffolding since I moved in a year ago...suddenly have no scaffolding.
- The train schedule which has been consistent for as long as I remember has suddenly changed by a few minutes for each train.
- The train I took to go home was all shiny and new.
- So damn dark in the morning.

[Razgovory]

Damn my brother in law-is-stupid.  He hasn't paid his water bill for an entire year.

[Admiral Yi]

Damn my brother in law-is-stupid.  He hasn't paid his water bill for an entire year.

Maybe Canada will give him water.

[Razgovory]

Damn my brother in law-is-stupid.  He hasn't paid his water bill for an entire year.

Maybe Canada will give him water.

My sister was given the bill which she passed on to my dad who is not happy.  My brother-in-law has moved out but doesn't want to get a divorce.  No need to get lawyers involved, now my sister is being presented with all of his bills.  The fact that she hasn't gotten lawyer and separated from him yet doesn't speak well of her intellect.  Frankly, this is why kneecapping was invented.

[Admiral Yi]

My sister was given the bill which she passed on to my dad who is not happy.  My brother-in-law has moved out but doesn't want to get a divorce.  No need to get lawyers involved, now my sister is being presented with all of his bills.  The fact that she hasn't gotten lawyer and separated from him yet doesn't speak well of her intellect.  Frankly, this is why kneecapping was invented.

It still wouldn't hurt to ask.

[Grey Fox]

How much is the bill?

[Ed Anger]

As part of Christmas, I bought all the kids lightsabers. I bought one for myself in case the little shits turn on me.

[katmai]

[Barrister]

As part of Christmas, I bought all the kids lightsabers. I bought one for myself in case the little shits turn on me.

I bought our boys light Sabres for Christmas.

[Duque de Bragança]

Crossroad of the world gets high-speed train, at last!
Links to Madrid and to France through Barcelona so quite a detour from the shorter Basque route.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/spain-opens-olmedo-zamora-high-speed-line.html?channel=523

RENFE started commercial service in the Olmedo - Zamora section of the Madrid - Galicia high - speed line on December 17 with a single return service which will cut travel time for the 232km Madrid - Zamora trip by 22 minutes to 1h 33min.

Existing Madrid - Galicia Alvia trains will continue to use the conventional line until the end of the winter holiday season in January, when these services will transfer to the new line.

The line is also used by a new Madrid - Salamanca Alvia service, which uses both the Madrid - Olmedo - Medina standard-gauge line, and the Iberian-gauge Medina - Salamanca route, which has been electrified for this purpose. Three return Alvia services will operate each day via this route, reducing the journey time by an hour compared with the more direct (but much slower) Madrid - Avila - Salamanca conventional line, which is only partially electrified.

The Olmedo - Zamora high-speed line is 98.6km long with double-track on the first and last 21.6km and 9.2km stretches. The entire line is designed for double-track, although the 68.2km central section has only a single track with one passing loop.

Like the Valladolid - Palencia - León line, which opened on September 30, the new line enters commercial service without ETCS as the interoperable system is still being installed. The Spanish Asfa ATP system, widely deployed on the Spanish high-speed network as a backup, will be used in the interim and the maximum speed will therefore be restricted to 200km/h.

Civil works included a total of 15 viaducts, the longest being the 874m bridge over the Trabancos river (874m), although the line does not have any tunnels.

The Olmedo - Zamora line opened to traffic just one day after tickets went on sale, and was not officially inaugurated as the Spanish Law bans such ceremonies in the run-up to a general election, which is due to take place on December 20.

[Zanza]

Berlin had 5000 political protest marches this year.

[mongers]

Berlin had 5000 political protest marches this year.

That's 5000/0 better than none.

[The Brain]

Using IRA funds is a great way to start a boutique vineyard.

Afternoon TV is weirding out on me.