Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Martin (Admin) on February 15, 2009, 09:28:19 pm
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Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections....
( The story of the giant Airbus A280 )
Talk about dumbing down!!!!! >:-o
Is this what it takes to get the public to take an interest in engineering theses days?!?!?.... sigh! :((
Plus I hate Hammond anyway! <*<
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You sound a bit down, Martin :((
Try this to cheer you up
www.virtualmec.com/ (http://www.virtualmec.com/)
Nothing like the real thing ....... %)
Danny
PS Better not ask if anyone else in the household has "views" on Hammond ....... :o {-)
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At least he's trying, trouble is in this country anyone & everyone can call themselves an engineer and as such the very name itself in not held in very high regard not like in the Victorian era when these clever men were public hero's. We are not like the Germans or French where you still have to serve a full apprenticeship and you are then highly regarded, here you pay the dosh and go an a quickee course and get a certificate for just turning up.
I think it also stems form the early days of steam power in the Royal Navy, when the upper echelons looked down on and did not know where to place and rank the new breed of qualified men that were needed to operate the then new machinery, within the existing hierarchy structure, most of whom came from working class backgrounds.
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I quite like the wee man, but didn't think the programme worthy of him. Perhaps it should have gone out earlier, say about 4pm for the chilldren, as I can't believe that anyone over the age of 6 hasn't worked out winglets and shock absorbers for themselves. Wupert H-D is best at that sort of thing anyway - but I did quite like Paxo and the Victorians. Now there's proper engineering!
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"I can't believe that anyone over the age of 6 hasn't worked out winglets and shock absorbers for themselves".
Never underestimate the sheer stupidity of most people!
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Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections....
Talk about dumbing down!!!!! >:-o
Is this what it takes to get the public to take an interest in engineering theses days?!?!?.... sigh! :((
Plus I hate Hammond anyway! <*<
I don't think it was made exclusively for a British audience, Martin (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean, say no more, squire).............and I'd rather sit through a year of Hammond than ten seconds of Cl*rks*n. At least James May has the grace to get legless and take the michael out of the preposterous Oswald Clark.
Paxman was surprisingly watchable. It was long past time he did something more constructive than just sneering at students and haranguing politicians.
TobyK - I assume you meant Adam H-D; the man whose TV appearances for HM Revenue and Customs were so pathetic that they hired Moira Stuart for this season - apparently she is more threatening! I'd have done 'em for beer money <*<
.......and I hadn't even worked out Twiglets by the time I was six...........or even fifty six :o
FLJ (O all right - I'll finish my cocoa and go off to bed)
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"I can't believe that anyone over the age of 6 hasn't worked out winglets and shock absorbers for themselves".
Never underestimate the sheer stupidity of most people!
OK I know shock absorbers come from Kick Fit. I don't know what they do, but I know they always tell me I need them. %)
but I have been to my KFC here in China and they don't have winglets, neither does Micky D. {:-{
Perhaps they are just for the UK market. <:(
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OK TT, what are the Chinese KFC & McDonalds specialities?
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TobyK - I assume you meant Adam H-D
Adam is Rupert's son. And on a (more on topic) sailing note (but a less-on topic real sailing note) Rupert arranged the autobiography of Arthur Ransome, among his other publishing/writing work.
Pointless fact #3423
Andy
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"I can't believe that anyone over the age of 6 hasn't worked out winglets and shock absorbers for themselves".
Since most people call dampers shock absorbers I can well believe most adults don't know what they are......
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take the michael out of the preposterous Oswald Clark.
His real name is Robin BTW.... fact gained by actually watching the programme.
LB
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His real name is Robin BTW.... fact gained by actually watching the programme.
LB
Is that a Beer Fact, a Wine Fact or a Robin BTW Fact? Probably changed his surname because "BTW" is a swine to pronounce, but how you get to "Oz" from "Robin" is anyone's guess.
FLJ
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I probably did mean Adam - the man who demonstrated atmospheric power by collapsing a beer can. May has done some good programmes. Clarkson is a pita, but an entertaining pita.
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hi there - going back to the original thread, does anyone remember James Burke from the programme 'Tomorrow's World' can you remember he did a short series - it might have been in the 1980's - it was called 'Connections'. From what I can remember of this programme, it used to be very enjoyable and informative. I wonder if they are trying to revamp this style of programme but using Richard Hammond as a presenter.
To be honest he is a good presenter for Top Gear but I'm not sure if he is cut out for this style of programme - James May may have been the better one?
aye
john
bluebird
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Quite naturally those of us that are Engineers will think the Richard Hammond programme rather basic but if this is what it takes to get Joe Public and even more important todays kids interested then it gets my full support.
What really upsets me is the fact that having spent most of my working life involved with Motor Vehicle and Aerospace Industries and worked with brilliant Engineers who earn less in a year than some thicko who can kick a football earns in a week.
Steve
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I think the clue to the level of the programme was in the title - Richard Hammonds Engineering Connections.
The BBC hates science and felt the need to attach a celeb to anything that is even half way sciency. Personally though I enjoyed the show. OK so it's a bit light but them if you view it as entertainment rather than education then it's better than nothing. Very obviously made to be sold abroad though. Look at all those recaps to fit around commercial breaks. I say get Tomorrows world back and put Michael Rod & Judith Han back in charge !
Phil
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Phil, Who? Pete M
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A much better program was Paxman's The Victorians!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hsr7s/The_Victorians_Painting_the_Town/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hsr7s/The_Victorians_Painting_the_Town/)
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I say get Tomorrows world back and put Michael Rod & Judith Han back in charge !
Ha! - young upstarts - Raymond Baxter's the kiddy :-)) {-)
Danny
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Tomorows world rocked in the 70's , but the BBC do have a science program on i think its called connect or something like that dealing with modern and new gadgets .
One of my favorite programs was "trains, planes and automobiles " with Robbie Coltrane fantastic and a wealth of info for the steam enthusiast/novice.
daz
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Where I live I only have to pay a paltry £7.00 per annum for my TV licence. On the strength of that, I guess I can't really whinge too much while the Beeb are paying the likes of Jonathon Ross millions in salary. But as to saying that they hate science I think is maybe a tad wrong. I mean, if it weren't for them airing Rough Science on channel 2, then I'd never have got to see the delicious Kate Humble. And neither can I whinge too much over the fact that they went on to partner her with that appropriately-named dweeb, Bill Oddie.
So, if my seven quid means I have to watch some dwarf presenting a piece on the airbus A280, then it sure beats paying the full-wack licence fee just to watch all them gay faggots such as Graham Norton and Dale Winton and their ilk doing their best to kill off British television.
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Tomorrows world rocked in the 70's , but the BBC do have a science program on i think its called connect or something like that dealing with modern and new gadgets .
One of my favorite programs was "trains, planes and automobiles " with Robbie Coltrane fantastic and a wealth of info for the steam enthusiast/novice.
daz
I's called "Click" and is part of the BBC News behemoth (See it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4970000/newsid_4977500/4977542.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4970000/newsid_4977500/4977542.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1)
If you think engineering connections was bad, just try watching it when you know even a little about technology. If you do you'll be screaming at the telly as it exhibits the usual BBC "regurgitate a press release rather than get off your ar*e and do some intelligent reporting" techniques.
I agree about Planes, Trains... It helps to have a writer/presenter who understands the stuff he is talking about and has a genuine enthusiasm for the subject.
Phil
Phil
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"Trains, planes and automobiles, with Robbie Coltrane fantastic" - Agreed!
Raymond Baxter and William Woolard - Ah, those were the days........... Why have I still not got a jet pack?!!?! >:-o
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Industrial Revelations on sky with Mark Williams I thought was very good, you could see he understood and enjoyed what he was talking about, but the new series will have that Pratt Rory McGrath's , so there goes another good series .
Proteus
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PMK,
I could not let slip that you have to have a license to watch TV,
why it sounds as if your tele is no better than ours, we pay nothing
and get nothing, but at least we don't pay to watch the same krap....
Roy
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pneumatician, whats even worse is said thicko's get paid thousands, and on the face of it, do'nt play very good football!!
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PMK,
I could not let slip that you have to have a license to watch TV,
Hi, Roy.
Yep - we still have to own a licence to watch TV legally here. It runs at somewhere around £140.00 each year, which might sound a lot, but every once in a while you do get see a real gem. On the other hand we are mostly inundated with hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of mindless drivel imported from Hollywood. This is the reason why designers of TV sets include an OFF button.
To get back to the original thread, the dwarf I spoke of in the previous post is none other than one Richard Hammond. I guess it's fair to say that he's of good education, but his ego is bigger than his stature, and seems to be about as popular as a fart in a space suit.
Take care down there.
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To get back to the original thread, the dwarf I spoke of in the previous post is none other than one Richard Hammond. I guess it's fair to say that he's of good education, but his ego is bigger than his stature, and seems to be about as popular as a fart in a space suit.
He's making hay while the sun shines. Since crashing a jetcar the BBC can't get enough of him so he's doing everything he can and raking in the cash. If someone offered me that sort of money you can bet none of my modelling projects would get finished while I became richer than most countries !
From reading articles in classic car mags he seems like a nice guy. I understand he is very popular with the ladeeze too but confess he does nothing for me.
Phil
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Hear,Hear ok2
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R H (hamster) was a very good radio presenter :-))
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Quite funny actually. When he bent his rocket car, and was in hospital, evey one was up in the air; Ah Poor Hamster, Hope he's ok, bla bla bla yak yak bla.
Now he's just a tool that evey one like to take a swing at.
I for one think he's OK. Quite often you could see that he was openly extracting the urine in a way nowone else could get away with.
Not seen the program you are butchering, maybee in a coulpe of years it will get air time over here.
(TV license!!! the next nearest thing to legal robbery, We dont have them here any more; We have a media licence, You can imagin the joy i have had when subsequent to buying a new mobil phone and a new laptop, I got a nice letter saying cough up £200 for your licence!!)
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Now he's just a tool that evey one like to take a swing at.
You know, on reflection, I think you could be right. I guess it's all too easy to jump on the bandwagon and mock the man, rather than just appreciate it for what it is. After all, even though he looks as uncomfortable as a fish out of water when he's wearing engineering overalls, there is no denying that his programmes are still pretty entertaining to watch. And, to his credit, he does at least give the sense that he has done his homework on the subjects he talks of.
Maybe we're all just jealous of the dude because his job is a whole load more interesting than most of ours.
I almost feel guilty now for calling him a dwarf.
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Well I'm still jealous of his ability to make women go weak at the knees -
I have to use a baseball bat <*< {-) {-)
Danny
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"I have to use a baseball bat."
Hehee! {-)
Yep - the old Neanderthal approach is usually a sure-fire winner. OTOH, you could try using a guitar. (And I don't mean you should biff them over the bonce with it.)
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..... I hate Hammond anyway! <*<
Why does he now look like a homeless person on the current Morrisons adverts?!?
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Best engineering programmes ever on TV?- Fred Dibnah's series- informantive, explained the most complex joinery, stonemasonry and engineering in terms that everyone could understand and enjoyed watching, why? Because he loved what he was talking about, and what's more he knew what he was talking about- if he said that when the stonemasons who built Ely cathedral had solved a problem a certain way because he'd had the same problem you knew he wasn't making it up or quoting from a book or someone else- usually backed up by the proof of said claim in his yard in front of Betsy gently steaming in his hand-made sheds in his garden.
If ever there was a person who summed up British engineering excellence and the triumph of function over form it was 'our Fred'.
RIP Fred, good job your not around to see these poor imitations of informative 'engineering' programmes that we get pushed upon us.
To be fair, Hamster strikes me as a genuine guy and I admire him for what he's done in his career- as for his hair, well there is no excuse for that- maybe he will start wearing a flat cap too...?
Greg
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I met the "Hamster" about 7 or 8 years ago ... He's not a bad little chap and at least he tries to present things in a slightly off beat humorous way that makes the program worth watching and still gets the fact's across and unlike some presenters who don't know the difference between a Bobstay and a Martingale... at least he doze his homework ... so far I haven't seen any glaring mistakes unlike the Hollywood "Documentary's" on at the present time that don't know the difference between a Lancaster and a Liberator Bomber and have shown HMS Barham capsizing and blowing up as everything from Bismarck to to a Tanker in an Atlantic convoy >:-o >>:-( <*<....One could go on for ever ... IT WOULD be interesting to find out how much input HAMMOND has regarding the material used {:-{
Freebooter
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What gives with all this "dwarf" business? What actually is wrong / funny /deserving of thickheaded ridicule with being about 5'6" or 5'7"? We of that height have as much option as those freaks that gro to 6'6" or more. And I'll bet that there are more people on this forum in the mid 5' range than there are 6' or over. Or perhaps you haven't yet grown up enough to realise people are people no matter how short or tall they are. BY.
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... not, it's 'him', I just don't like, as a presenter.... what a condescending get!
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What gives with all this "dwarf" business? What actually is wrong / funny /deserving of thickheaded ridicule with being about 5'6" or 5'7"? We of that height have as much option as those freaks that gro to 6'6" or more. And I'll bet that there are more people on this forum in the mid 5' range than there are 6' or over. Or perhaps you haven't yet grown up enough to realise people are people no matter how short or tall they are. BY.
Well said :-))
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More to the point, what gives with all the so-called "what gives" street-talk jive? It's bad enough being labeled a dwarf and suchlike, but seemingly perfectly okay to describe lanky people as freaks.
Kettles and pots, for sure.
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Don't think 'lanky' people were mentioned-
...We of that height have as much option as those freaks that gro to 6'6" or more.
Anyone that is taller than a doorway is fairly unusual wouldn't you say?
Greg
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What actually is wrong / funny /deserving of thickheaded ridicule with being about 5'6" or 5'7"?
Apparently about the same as being >15 stone. I've been "portly" for most of my life but I've got used to rolling with the punches. If you let it get to you then you end up being bitter and twisted as well as small/fat/tall/skinny/ugly/four-eyed/nerdy etc etc.
I can't think of many folk I know who aren't potential victims of some or other "-ist" faction, but damn few of 'em whinge about it on Internet forums.
FLJ
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There is nothing wrong with being short fat and ugly.
I am 34 years old, 5' 10" (short......ish) I currently weigh a tad under 18 stone (big/fat) and ugly, I am a tighthead prop for our local rugby team and have been since I was 18 years old (I promise not to post a mug shot of me here)
Strange thing is I have never been called fat, or anything else for that matter by anybody, to my face................ Can't think why!!!!! <*< <*<
Andrew
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Strange thing is I have never been called fat,
That's probably because you're not fat. Most all of the rugby-playing blokes around our way are roughly around the same height and build as yourself. Big but not fat. Put it this way, if you were fat you wouldn't be able to run a round a rugby field anyway. So you can't be fat. Fat is like people who live in Texas and eat McD's all day long.
FLJ is wacking on about being portly, but you stouter blokes just don't know how lucky you are.
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What gives with all this "dwarf" business? What actually is wrong / funny /deserving of thickheaded ridicule with being about 5'6" or 5'7"? We of that height have as much option as those freaks that gro to 6'6" or more. And I'll bet that there are more people on this forum in the mid 5' range than there are 6' or over. Or perhaps you haven't yet grown up enough to realise people are people no matter how short or tall they are. BY.
Oooh, SMS?
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...er I think we'll draw a line there.
Richard Hammond, Love him or loath him, you still can get him off my TV quick enough! :P
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Not to keep banging on about that idiot affable Hammond... well OK if you insist.
Is anyone watching Quest on Freeview/digital TV?
Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf) in Massive Speed, Massive Machines & Massive Engines:
Great programs this week program was about Warships - how do you wake them go faster?
http://www.questtv.co.uk/TV_Listings/02/04/2010 (http://www.questtv.co.uk/TV_Listings/02/04/2010)
http://www.ovguide.com/tv/chris_barrie_s_massive_speed.htm (http://www.ovguide.com/tv/chris_barrie_s_massive_speed.htm)
Great programs this week program was about Warships - how do you make them go faster?
& Jonny Smith (Fifth Gear) in Industrial Junkies
http://www.questtv.co.uk/programmes/industrial-junkie
... both of whom convey a depth of understanding, experience & passion for the subject matter.
Also on Quest, the fantastic, Mighty Ships,
http://www.questtv.co.uk/programmes/mighty-ships (http://www.questtv.co.uk/programmes/mighty-ships)
Two excellent programs this week, M/V Fairplayer, world most powerful heavy lift ship & HDMS Absalon
.... whereas I get the feeling Hammond would quite happy reading the script for a flower show, taking the money and running.
- then again, given half-a-chance, so would I! O0
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They should put that bloody hamster in his wheel and roll him of the highest mountain along with Clarkson and bring back perpetual motion at least that program covered some design classics .Maybe I'm just jealous of the hugh salaries for little value they get paid bit like bankers >:-o >:-o.Theres always the on /off button more time for the toys :-)
regards Frazer