richard_smith237

I was never given such a 'test' when I undertook my PADI - although it was obvious I'm a strong swimmer. We did a 'pool practice' with dry side training and a test, then in the pool with the kit and then went on a 4 day live-aboard trip - my First Dive was the 'dive exam'... But there was no 'actual water exam' as the instructor had seen us do everything we were 'theoretically' supposed to be doing in the exam anyway (i.e. taking mask off underwater - getting accurate neutral buoyancy etc). One of the lads on the same dive trip was unable to swim at all, his buddy stayed very close to him and helped him... he did every dive except night dives - he had no issues and enjoyed his trip - but I can see how other non-swimmers might easily panic. Anyway - swimming ability is rather a red-herring in this discussion with regards to the missing girl - Swimming is part of the curriculum in British Education - there are very few people in the UK (below a certain age) who are unable to swim

... Various reasons.. Pacific Islands (i.e Hawaii) are 'hotspot' Island whereby as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over a stationary hotspot in Earth's mantle. Over millions of years, magma from the hotspot erupted, creating a chain of volcanic islands. Yellow Stone is also caused by the same phenomenon. Others are Subduction Zone Volcanoes – Formed when one tectonic plate sinks beneath another, melting and generating magma that erupts (e.g., Ring of Fire volcanoes). Rift Zone Volcanoes – Occur at divergent boundaries where tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge) - Iceland etc. Continental Rift Volcanoes – Formed when landmasses split apart, thinning the crust and allowing magma to escape (e.g., East African Rift).

Its an entertaining discussion in a section of the forum [off the beaten track] specifically set up for such absurdity... I also think it quite important for us to be well aware that we live amongst people who are so flawed of thought that they believe in the utterly absurd regardless of irrefutable evidence. Another 'one' is the completely unfalsifiable theory "Humanity Never Existed" that we [humanity] is just a construct designed by some unknown force, it reliant on solipsism to the extreme - makes for great sci-fi but terrible science, where as flat earth just makes for terrible science, but outstanding trolling !!!

Hope so... but with 'conditions so still' surely she was spotted... and surely she would have identified herself to any authorities so they can account for her... especially as this news will be very widely known locally.

Horrible... But, reportedly the flames were extinguished, so, IF so, she ought not to be missing by now, and they have been able to search the boat, surely ?

WTF is wrong with you ??... when you all you see is confirmation bias to Brit Bash... and that was your only take-away from this story ?? moronic.

You're mixing the laws of Physics with the Laws of Economics - Airliners have no issues carrying larger people... ... It may cost more to do so, but then it cost less to carry smaller people - so that balances out. The only issue becomes when a seatbelt cannot be worn - but there are extensions. Do those who claim 'safety risks' always pay extra for the exit row - I very much doubt so, their sanctimony is just that.. just like the people who state children should not be allowed on flights - just a bunch of grump boomers !

In that case my Wife should get a huge discount, as she's half my weight (makes up for it with baggage though)... So now not only would you see fat people paying more, you'd see athletes penalised too ? See what kind of daft rabbit hole this discussion can enter. If you want to 'economise further' make people 'pee before take off' (or charge for onflight urination: Ryan Air) which seemed ridiculous until we realise ANA did this in 2009. All Nippon Airways (ANA) suggested that passengers use the restroom before boarding as part of an initiative to reduce weight and save fuel costs. The idea was that lighter passengers mean a lighter aircraft, leading to fuel savings. While the exact cost savings depend on multiple factors, such as passenger weight, aircraft type, and flight duration: Estimations are: The average weight of urine per person is around 300-500ml (~0.3-0.5kg). ANA carries about 42 million passengers per year. If every passenger pees before boarding, it could reduce total aircraft weight by 12,600 to 21,000 kg per day (assuming full compliance). Fuel savings are typically 3-5% per 1000 kg of weight reduced. Jet fuel costs around $3 per gallon (~$0.79 per litre), and fuel burn rate varies by aircraft. Rough Calculation: A Boeing 787 burns ~ 0.08 kg of fuel per kg of weight per hour. For a 3-hour flight, the reduction could mean ~3.8 to 6.3 kg of fuel saved per flight. With ~2000 daily ANA flights, that equates to 7,600 to 12,600 kg of fuel saved daily. At $0.79 per litre (~$3 per gallon), this could mean daily savings of $6,000 to $10,000+. Annually, that’s up to $3.65 million in fuel savings.

This is where you've pulled the wool over your own eyes. Consular services were never the back-bone of Embassy operations, they were 'part of Embassy operations' which have always prioritised Diplomatic Representation, Trade and Investment Promotion, Security and Defence Collaboration and Cultural and Educational Cooperation... Consular Services for British Nationals, Visa and Immigration and Services were just a part of a whole, never a priority - as I've mentioned a number of times - there is a common misconception that Embassies / missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad, this is not the case. I don't disagree - I really would like to see the British Government increase its levels of assistance for those who find themselves in difficulty while overseas - however, my point (in this thread) has always been, the British Government see their priorities elsewhere (as listed above). Most laymen have no idea of Embassy operations, their only exposure is the consular section and this forms the opinion and common misconceptions - also a sense of 'expectation' we read in this thread.

But none zoonotic... (with the exception or MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1/2). The CCP refused to release the research undertaken at the WIV - this raises suspicion IMO. Genetic material from raccoon dogs was found in environmental samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, where early cases of the virus were linked. The evidence supports the 'possibility' that the virus could have jumped from animals to humans at the market, though it does not conclusively prove the exact origins of the pandemic.

Why... I'm 183cm and 90 kgs (now)... when I was about 20 and playing Rugby I was at least 10-15 kgs heavier... (fit and bulked up)... Should I have paid for two seats ? There are a lot of fit and healthy people who are too large for some of the seats... So this issue isn't just about 'lazy fat people' and fat and jumping on the fat shaming bandwagon...

Do you not find it hugely coincidental that Dr. Shi Zhengli, one of the worlds top virologists and leading expert on Coronaviruses was studying Coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the time ?

One of the worlds top virologists, Dr. Shi Zhengli, was studying Corona Viruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.... IMO, not only is the the 'lab leak' theory plausible, is most likely. I am quite surprised the rest of the world has not pushed China on this, had this been any other less powerful nation the response may have been somewhat different. That said, it is also theorised that the study of Corona Viruses was in part sponsored by the US. Given the knowledge that there were (previously six known human Corona Viruses (listed below) - it would have made sense to study the virus due to the 'recent' outbreaks of MERC's and SARS which had high case fatality rates, but fortunately were less contagious. I suspect studies included synthesising the SARS-Cov-2 Virus because there were great concerns about the potential for a natural outbreak and 'they' (Governments) wanted to get ahead of the game and prepare (i.e. synthesise the virus so they can created vaccines).... ... However, the Lab Leak occurred and their studies of course backfired in a monumental fashion. No significant fatality rate HCoV-229E / HCoV-NL63 / HCoV-OC43 / HCoV-HKU1 4 Viruses that contribute to an estimated 10-30% of common colds. Severe Human Coronaviruses (High Pathogenicity) SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Outbreak: 2002–2004 / CFR: ~9.6% Total Cases: ~8,098 / Deaths: ~774 MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) Outbreak: Ongoing since 2012 / CFR: ~34–35% Total Cases: ~2,600+ / Deaths: ~900+

I did... though I didn't know he was a famous YouTuber / TikToker at the time. We were overseas and somehow ended up chatting and discovered we both lived in Bangkok. He seemed a very decent lad, I was with my son and we engaged in very nice chat, but didn't discuss what we do etc... By chance we bumped into each other later on that day... it was then that my Wife recognised him... and then the discussion about the TikTok and YouTube came out. I believe he's quite successful and popular and I'd wish him the best.

The idea that celestial bodies, such as stars or planets, could have a sonoluminescent nature is intriguing but also speculative. Celestial bodies, as we understand them scientifically, are primarily powered by nuclear fusion (in the case of stars) or various forms of energy depending on their composition and structure. The light we see from stars is a result of nuclear reactions in their cores, producing enormous amounts of energy that travel through space as electromagnetic radiation, rather than being generated by sound waves or mechanical processes like sonoluminescence. As for the depiction of celestial bodies by organizations like NASA, the visual representations we see, especially in public media, are often colored or adjusted to enhance certain features. The true colours of celestial bodies can be much more varied and are sometimes not visible to the human eye because of the range of electromagnetic radiation (including ultraviolet or infrared) that they emit. What we see in typical images might be a rendering that highlights particular aspects of a celestial body for better scientific interpretation. With this in mind - I believe it quite possible that sonoluminescence may exist - we have a very poor 'distant view' of the universe. This understanding of distant celestial bodies and the potential that some of them may have a sonoluminescent nature presents a far more viable possibility given the lack of understanding compared to our understanding of the Earth in regards to the 'flat earth' vs 'Oblate Spheroid' discussion, which as far as I'm concerned is unequivocally proven and any discussion (i.e. this thread) is merely entertaining but preposterous.

Until it passes beyond the horizon !

It's already proven - nothing more needs to be proven just to keep 'flat earthers' happy....

haha... good spot on the typo - gave me a good chuckle too !!!

Yet this very article (thread) regards the demands of consular services because the consular section(s) are under serviced.. Why is that ? - because Embassies do not exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad - they have 'other' priorities (listed).

Why would the water flow down the hole ? what force attracts it ?... why is the underside a mystery ? can't we get there ? IF we can fly, what is the barrier that prevents us 'going on the other side' ?

If mass were not attracted to mass (gravity) why would water 'want' to flow down the hole in the first place ? what attracts it ? - would the water not float off into space ?

I completely agree - Its strange how there are those who I have never met, yet their every comment, and slightest of inputs to any thread presents such a void of any redeeming quality I've learned to utterly despise them - then as equally as my dislike for them surfaces, I'm doing something else and have forgotten them until I read another comment of theirs ! Perhaps a necessity for a handful of posters who express extreme delusion. Agreed... A change of scenery, nature is particularly cathartic... I find great peace and serenity in the mountains.

I know it's somewhat of an oxymoron considering the subject, but we have to at least try and keep this somewhat 'intelligent' lest we go down the rabbit-hole of complete absurdity. So... given your question... If the Earth were flat and had a hole, ignoring temperatures and all the other physical science - for the sake of discussion only.... water would initially pour through due to gravity. However, with equal gravitational forces pulling from all directions, the water would start to pool and form a hemispherical shape around the hole. This would occur because gravity would act symmetrically, pulling water equally from all sides towards the centre of mass... Now imagine that all the 'hard stuff' rocks, the earths mantle, the core is either molten or *plastic... those same symmetrical gravitational forces naturally pulls matter into the most stable, energy-efficient form due to equal attraction in all directions. This self-rounding process is why celestial bodies above a certain mass, including planets, naturally form spherical shapes, the earth is no different. (*in the deformation sense, not petrochemical - That I need to highlight this is a testament to the staggering level of ignorance I'm presenting an argument against here).

Actually - thats exactly what refraction 'over water' can do... Key Principles of Refraction Over Water Light Bending Due to Temperature Gradients The atmosphere is not uniform; its density changes with altitude. Over water, air near the surface is often cooler than the air above (especially in warm conditions). This creates a temperature gradient. Light bends towards the denser (cooler) air, which means it curves downward, allowing us to see objects that would normally be below the geometric horizon. Superior Mirage Effect When the air near the surface is cooler than the air above, light rays bend downward, making distant objects appear higher than they actually are. This is called a superior mirage, and it can make ships, landmasses, or even celestial bodies (like the sun) visible when they should be geometrically below the horizon. Looming A specific type of refraction where objects below the horizon appear lifted up. This occurs when the temperature gradient is strong, and light follows a curved path, making the object visible despite being "hidden" by the Earth's curvature. Ducting & Fata Morgana In extreme cases, strong temperature inversions (where warm air sits above cool air) can trap light in a curved path, creating a "ducting" effect. This can make objects appear stretched, distorted, or even duplicated. Real-World Examples Ships appearing to "float" above the horizon. The sun setting later than expected. Distant islands becoming visible in conditions of strong refraction. This diagram below illustrates how refraction can make an object below the horizon visible. The curved light path (in orange) bends due to atmospheric refraction, allowing the observer to see the object that would normally be hidden.

As short sighted as the 20% VAT addition to private schools. This government seems to take every policy step in the opposite direction of 'sense'.