Tuesday, 2 October 2012

“Right time” Leccy: I’m in-not: Bangers and £75: Posh ketchup: Bubble trouble: and Abreast of booze.


Not a lot of lack of cold, less solar stuff, minus amounts of atmospheric movement and a deficit of wet stuff at the Castle this morn.

Decided to do some decorating over the next few days, starting with the smallest room and working my way up to bigger stuff, have invested in one of those “super” pad thingies kit which apparently holds eight times the amount of coloured stuff than a brush and will not drip or splash and will be able to get right up to the edges of walls and ceilings without having to ‘cut in’.

 
We shall see.....

 
 

Liquid air can compete with batteries and hydrogen to store excess energy generated from renewables.
IMechE says "wrong-time" electricity generated by wind farms at night can be used to chill air to a cryogenic state at a distant location.
When demand increases, the air can be warmed to drive a turbine.
Engineers say the process to produce "right-time" electricity can achieve an efficiency of up to 70%.
IMechE is holding a conference today to discuss new ideas on how using "cryo-power" can benefit the low-carbon economy.
 
The process follows a number of stages:
"Wrong-time electricity" is used to take in air, remove the CO2 and water vapour (these would freeze otherwise)
The remaining air, mostly nitrogen, is chilled to -190C (-310F) and turns to liquid (changing the state of the air from gas to liquid is what stores the energy)
The liquid air is held in a giant vacuum flask until it is needed
When demand for power rises, the liquid is warmed to ambient temperature. As it vaporizes, it drives a turbine to produce electricity - no combustion is involved
 

Splendiferous, but what will we breathe?

 
 
It turns out that Karren Brady, one of the “celebrity bosses” helping to promote these pensions to the nation's workers via a TV advertising campaign, has recently admitted that she does not invest in pensions herself.

 

 


A Michelin-starred ­restaurant is charging £75 for a plate of bangers and mash.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon’s dish is 839% dearer than the standard £7.99 but comes with a few added extras.
Its signature mash contains black truffles and has almost as much butter as potatoes.
The sausages are from pigs fed on acorns, wild thyme, rosemary and ­mushrooms, then cooked in a vintage wine worth £75 a bottle.
Olivier Limousin, chef at the restaurant in Central London, said: “Working with this quality of ingredients is a dream come true.
"And putting my stamp on sausages and mash is also a delight.
A pared-down version of the dish is available in a £152 taster menu during Potato Week, from October 1 to 7.
The Potato Council said: “This dish gives a gastronomic twist on a meal most of us enjoy once a fortnight at home.
"But of course you don’t need to add expensive truffle to enjoy this classic.
 

Think I’ll stick to me Cumberland and King Edwards....

 
 
 

Heinz has put its trademark Tomato Ketchup into posh pots so it does not look out of place at fancy dinner parties.
It comes as more of us are eating at home rather than splashing out at restaurants.
But it is thought some hosts are too embarrassed to put the sauce on the table as it is not swanky enough.
Now two new upmarket flavours – Balsamic Vinegar, Basil and Oregano, and Roasted Garlic, Thyme and Honey – will be sold in 300g jars for around £1.80.
They will hit the shelves by the end of the month.

Heinz said: “The new jar is bringing a spoonful of panache to dinner tables.

"It’s been made to add excitement to your favourite meals.

 
Bollocks...

  

 

A wall of foam sparked widespread panic among locals as it rushed along a river in southern China.
The mass of soapy suds blanketed the water in Xintang, in China's Guangdong province, leading to evacuations along the banks of the river.
But officials have now said the only threat posed by the foam - thought to have been caused by chemicals washed into the river - was the possibility of 'one or two dead fish' lurking in the bubbles.
The bubbles were created when the chemical was swept over a waterfall, officials said.


Rubbery bubbery?

 
And finally:
 


German Liquor Company G-Spirits has recently released a limited edition line of vodka, rum and whiskey that are poured down the chests of women before being bottled.

And it will only set you back $150 – $180, depending on the spirit.
 

Worth every dollar, pity I don’t drink…

 
That’s it: I’m orf to try out some MP4OX, well you never know...
 

And today’s thought:
Semi retired.
 

Angus

6 comments:

Bernard said...

"Engineers say the process to produce "right-time" electricity can achieve an efficiency of up to 70%."
I'll believe that when I see it.
However, notice the words "up to 70%".
A bit like Tesco saying "huge savings of up to 70%" on a board outside, and when you get in it's only 10%.
Can't fault that - 10% is on its way up to 70% - it just hasn't got there yet!
I think this Winter I'll go back to rubbing two Boy Scouts together to keep warm. :)

A K Haart said...

I reckon that MP4OX stuff may interest a few athletes too. Just in time for the next Olympics.

Angus Dei said...

Just another way to confuse us over the cost of Leccy Bernard the boffin.

Shouldn't you use a boy scout and a flint?

Think I may need it whilst doing the decorating AK.

Bernard said...

“The reason this is mad is because, on its own, the process is less than 25 percent efficient, and since wind farms only average about 25 percent efficiency, we are taking about an overall system capability of around six percent. And when you think that distant wind farms can suffer transmission losses of ten percent or more, the net contribution becomes a negative value.”
I read today.
Ha,ha,ha!
Who's right?
Well, for a start - I never believe anything from the bbc, where I think your snippet came from?
I think it sounds like my first old car - a non starter! :)

CherryPie said...

I think I will stick to the sausages from my local butchers and ordinary mash!

Angus Dei said...

Me too at that price CherryPie:)