Fast Reg

I'm aware that the AAR has set a convention for multiple unit equipment and connections that ensures each pin is used to connect the same systems together via the jumper cable.

What I'm wondering, quite simply, is what level of compatibility this offers for multiple unit operation between different types of unit? Could a 50 year old unit work perfectly normally in multiple with a brand new design would the systems connected together not be compatible in spite of being correctly connected?

Thanks

I don't get to ride my wife's bike very often, but she's been unable to these past few months because she's had an operation. So a couple of weeks ago I went for a spin to make sure the battery is properly charged.

While I was riding I noticed that the front brake lever felt much stiffer than I remember with much more resistance. It was almost as if someone had driven a wooden peg behind the lever. Also all the power in the brake had gone to the extent that most of the stopping was done on the back brake. In fact, even if I pulled the lever in really hard I couldn't get the front wheel anywhere near locked up.

I got the bike checked over by the mechanic who serviced it last and he couldn't find any problems. He checked the caliper was floating on the sliders correctly and even changed the pads, but it has made no difference. Before I take it back again I wondered if anyone had any ideas what the problem might actually be. I really don't want my wife riding the thing in it's present condition because I don't consider it to be safe enough.

Thanks in advance.

I have always had a bit of a hankering after the old Land Rovers but, not being mechanically minded, I have always been a little put off. The thing is that I now have more money than when I was at Uni and so I'm now in a position to make my dream happen.

However, what I would love to know from experienced owners is just how practical a Series III is as an everyday car. I don't go off-roading but do occasionally make long trips along the motorways. I'm still no more mechanically minded than I was before and so always trust my car to the professionals when it comes to repairs and servicing. My car history to date has always been modern road cars with all the mod-cons, so I know I would be in for a culture shock. I can't justify one as a second car, so I need to be certain that it's going to be right for me as my main car.

I just love these rugged old cars and think that they are really cool. Should I let my heart rule my head? All help and counsel will be gratefully received.

Just before Christmas I put out a nut feeder in my back garden to help the poor little critters through the winter and to give us some interest and enjoyment. We normally get sparrows, **** and finches coming through anyway and taking advantage of the thick privet hedge around our garden. However, the feeder has now been out there for about 3 weeks and shows no sign that it has been visited.

Now I know that birds don't have a mental image of a bird feeder and spend their day flying around looking for something that matches this image. So how do birds discover feeders when they are put out? What can I do to attract our local bird population to ours?

I have a friend I chat to on Windows Messenger. She has somehow worked out a way to appear offline and yet still hold a conversation. If I click "Appear Offline", Messenger wants to close down all open chat windows and won't let me open any new ones.

How does she do it...? I need to know.

This is probably just a little rant. Apologies in advance.

I've noticed a few times that someone will ask a question that requires a factual answer when really all they want is to have their viewpoint reinforced.

For example, someone might ask if it a certain activity is illegal because they have a friend that is doing this activity and they want them to stop. So a heap of people will say "yes, that's definately illegal" without bothering to do any research or cite any sources, while one or two others might actually go away, do some digging, find out the CORRECT answer and provide copious links to sources. When it comes time to close the question, the answer picked as the best one invariably is one of those that reinforces the asker's viewpoint rather than the one that actually answers the question.

Why do people do this? Isn't it devaluing Yahoo! Answers potential as a knowledge base? Isn't it bad enough that we have the howling inaccuracies on Wikipedia without diluting the internet further with half-truths and misunderstandings?

This is a question I've been thinking about lots. I live in the UK where the speed limit for the motorway network is 70mph. I often get into discussions where people say that this should be raised because the safety features on modern cars have improved so much. My objection to this is that the crucial component in every car (the nut that holds the steering wheel) is not up to the job.

There is no requirement in the UK for drivers to take any form of advanced training such as skid control or motorway training (though such courses are available), and no requirement for regular retesting and recertification. A person can pass their test at 17 and go out and drive anywhere at the wheel of any car and not come to the notice of the authorities unless they are caught committing a traffic offence. My own view is that this is not a sensible situation and the entire driver licencing system requires a complete overhaul.

What do you think?

I have to say firstly that, as a train driver myself (admittedly in the UK and not the US), my overriding emotion is one of sadness that a colleague, someone who does the same job I do, has lost his life. No matter what the causes of the accident turn out to be, no driver books on with the intention of having an incident and certainly not of losing his or her life. I can only hope that the investigation into the accident does not take the easy route of simply blaming the driver who can no longer speak for himself.

The other emotion I feel is one of disappointment that so many ghouls and conspiracy theorists have set out their stalls already and tried to make this terrible accident fit their pet theories. It may be that, like the Moorgate crash of 1975, we will never know precisely what happened, but the NTSB are the experts and should be allowed to conduct their investigation. But until they do so and publish at least some kind of preliminary report, all discussion, either here or in the media or elsewhere, is pure conjecture.

However, as a UK-based rail professional, I'm intrigued to know what lessons the US rail industry is likely to draw from this accident. The UK rail industry has already been through the pain of this following the crashes at Southall and Ladbrooke Grove but has not had a train collision directly attributed to a signal passed at danger for almost 9 years. Will the US rail industry follow it's UK counterpart or take some other path?

I have an ongoing problem with other people's dogs leaving me little presents on my front lawn. I've put up notices asking owners to be more considerate and stop their dogs from messing, but they are being ignored. Quite honestly, I'm getting very tired of clearing up after them.

As the owner(s) are unwilling to prevent their dog(s) from going wherever they will, is there a surefire way and humane way of discouraging the dogs themselves from going on my lawn? I know that it is a pet dog as there are no strays regularly around here and it is not the work of a fox as it happens during the day rather than overnight.

Help me please...!!!

Hi Guys,

Further to the question about whether you'd drop the brake before hitting something or "wait for the clang", a couple of you said that dropping the brake would risk a derailment. I was curious to know why this would be.

As a driver myself, this strikes me as a very unsafe method of working. I would be very nervous about taking out any train if there was a risk this might happen. I would want to know that I can give it the lot safely and without the risk of a wreck.

What are your thoughts and experiences?