mercuryg

It very possibly does, although I'm not that well versed in the physics of it all. It's worth adding that, while it is often said many of Tesla's discoveries are still classified, this is rather an exaggeration, brought about by his unconventional methods of working and the usual 'chinese whispers' that follow such a brilliant man's death. His ultimate aim was in fact to find a way of transmittin electricity wirelessly.

"Merc,I get an error server code,not found ,on trying to open that link." Strange, so do I now! I certainly agree that the powers that be keep certain things hidden from us, but the invisible ship story is one that is simply too far beyond for me. The paradox I was talking about re: invisibility is not related to magnetism, but to the concept of invisibility itself. For something to become invisible light must pass through it. We must be able to see what is on the other side of the ship, for example, or there would simply be a void, which would make it obvious. if light passes through it, it must also pass through those on board. As our sight relies on light reflecting off the very clever bits in our eyes, if light were to pass through us, we would be blind.

"using very high strength magnetic fields,to bend light rays,during the war,and succeeded in making a ship become invisible for a few seconds." Ah, the legendary Philadelphia Experiment! Widely dismissed as a hoax; I have no doubt whatsoever that the use of magnetic fields in warfare has been investigated (and perhaps even carried out) but the very notion of making a ship disappear surely strikes you as a little far-fetched? It would also raise all manner of associated paradox that come with the prospect of invisibility, especially that concerning those rendered invisible also being rendered, by nature, blind. An interesting story, nevertheless, but one that you can readily fined explanations for in many places (not least here: http://www.rense.com/ufo/philahoax.htm) Nature and refraction is interesting also, and may well be the root cause of many so called supernatural phenomena. "Who knows if Alien species could do the same for long-haul flights....?" Indeed, it's a possibility. A curious thing about UFO sightings where beings have been allegedly witnesses is the description of them as bipedal and similar in overall make-up to us. Given that the most populous creatures on the planet do not exhibit this physical appearance, surely the chances are our alien visitor friends would be considerably different in appearance? Also, if they are supposed to be coming here surreptitiously - and trying their best not to be noticed - why do they arrive with their craft lit up like Christmas trees? Your nieces sighting intrigues me, and there is one thing - the whirring sound, the light hum - that leads me to believe she may have seen an electric-motor powered drone. How big was the craft, any idea?

I would rather see local residents obey yellow lines. They are there for good reason.

Sounds like an interesting place. I'm taking in the Newark Air Museum next trip to Lincs.

"The hospital quacks routinely prescribed Mackeson to their anemic patients" I was diagnosed as a chronic anemic a number of years ago (yeah, I know, there's not much right with me) and my doctor, half jokingly, advised I drink Guinness.....

Yeah, I don't think they want money for this one, but they're not having my details!

Interesting stuff Malcolm! Can we reinstate Choppington Station too please?

I enjoy my stays at the sister's country pile in Lincs, and can see precisely where pilgrim is coming from regards the financial issues. Her house, which is beautiful, in a gorgeous parkland setting and historically very interesting (see my post in the 'Merlins!' thread for the latest updates!) will keep the local builders, plumbers, electricians and craftsmen in work for as long as it stands! My major gripe with the location (just a few miles from Horncastle) is the sheer inability to get anywhere; I'm not one for shops, although of course they are needed once in a while, so I didn't think it would bother me, but the bus service in this rural setting is pretty much non-existent. Put simply, you need a car to get anywhere. The plus side is waking up and drawing the curtains to look down beautiful ancient perfectly planted avenues of trees on two sides, a reminder of when the house was something more grand and socially important. No Aga, I'm afraid, but you can't have it all!

Happens to us all Tony! 3G wrote: 'I've also linked you to a Financial Times page...' perhaps, like myself, Tony doesn't want to give his details out in order to read the page.

Very true, Smudge, very true indeed!

Great sketch HPW, thanks. 'Boomerang' craft such as that depicted appear to be one of the most common UFO sightings of the past few years, and even the lighting and sound described and pictured correspond with others I have seen reported. This suggests to me not that aliens are now flying boomerangs shaped craft rather than the previously ubiquitous saucers and triangles, but that someone, somewhere, is testing secret military hardware of this ilk. The future of military aircraft lies in highly agile, pilot-less craft, some examples of which are already flying test programmes; did you say where your niece was when she saw this, in terms of where in the country? Interesting stuff indeed! One other thing: it's always intrigued me as to why aliens would travel thousands of light years to get here, then hover aroun a little, and fly away.

Maggie, you're absolutely right, but I don't think looking to the past is the answer. A lot has changed, especially in the way people live their lives nowadays, since small towns like this one were thriving. The past is another country, etc....As for the railway, I'd like very much to see it reinstated, but would it really draw enough use? I'd like to think so, but am not so sure. As for pilgrim's question "And why is Cowpen road such an abomination??" Well, apart from being the road to hell, it's pretty much the only in/out route into the county's most populous town, unless you choose (as I do) to take the round-about route via South Beach.I have been told that, during rush hour, it is the busiest road in the county (although am not sure this is altogether true). There was a plan, I believe, to bridge the river from where the power station stood or thereabouts.

Also, found this among the trees in the front garden, all alone next to a now non-existent exit driveway (another relic from the war); I love it, and would gladly bring it home and put it in my house!

Wilma, one thing that really annoys me about this site (and others, before the floodgates open) is that it requests that I use American English on many occasions. I read the report on the school, and find it rather curious. I'm not deeply involved but I have a niece there and she's doing just fine. Of course, improvement should always be sought, but from talking to parents of children at the school I must say a good few of them are rather baffled by such a damning report.

"When kids go to uni they still need aquired levels A level results Maths & English wha t does ukip want discrimination on what field kids want to. Do with there careers Mmm seems like been told what's appropriate to there obnoxious standards.." Tony, my good man, had you perhaps imbibed a few when you wrote this?

I've owned no fewer than seven Mini's, loved them all. My two favourites were 'DLG' which was army surplus; the military had ordered a batch for getting from a to b on major camps but cancelled them, hence I owned a rare khaki green mini with vinyl roof. The other was Wendell, a 1275GT with a bored and stroked 1430cc Downton engine - any of you know anything about 'hot' mini's will understand - which looked like a total wreck, yet would p*** on your fastest hot hatch away from the lights. Wish I still had it.

"Arguments about all main roads not bringing people to our town apply equally to Blyth , Ashington and Morpeth. Even Cramlington!" Not really,Maggie; Cramlington is two minutes off the Spine Road, Asda is on the Spine Road, the Blyth out of town shopping centres are two minutes down Cowpen Road (which I will freely admit is a horrible road for traffic), Morpeth is just off the A1, and so on.I'll give you Ashington. To get to Bedlington you have to really WANT to come here, or need to. That's what we need to think about. Investment is great, we need it, but in what, precisely? I simply don't see retail as ever being the answer, and clearly neither do the major retailers, which is something else we should take note of.

The problem with this article is that 90% of people are going to read the title and p*** themselves laughing, and won't read it because they think it's 'that' Gordon Brown. A competent sub-ed would have left the name out of the title....still, interesting read.

The link requires me to give my details 3G, and I don't want more spa, so could you briefly explain the min wage thing?

And here's me thinking you were after a midget with masonry skills! I'll ask around for you.

Ah OK, I have no idea, I'll wait and see what our resident Kipper says!

"Not even gonna bite........." But now is the best time Malcolm, seeing as you won't get hairs in your sandwich anymore!

"NF is a totally straight and committed guy" Do you know him personally, or is that assurance based upon the same knowledge we all have of him? "what about the minimum wage" Now I'm intrigued, Tony; what about it?

"...regulations state that herring cant be landed on the north east coast so they all come from out our waters but have to be landed in Scandinavia and the shipped back here..." Seriously?