Podcasts about mendip hills

  GB2RS News Sunday, the 6th of April 2025   The news headlines: Last chance to submit your question ahead of Saturday's RSGB AGM Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI has been appointed as RSGB Maker Champion Reduced exam slots over Easter weekend The RSGB 2025 AGM is taking place at 10 am next Saturday, the 12th of April. The Society is encouraging RSGB members to take the time to vote for the two resolutions that need your approval. During the AGM, Board members will be answering your questions. Whether your question is about the RSGB, the Board, any of the RSGB services or even the future of amateur radio, your contribution to the discussion is important. Priority is given to questions submitted live by Zoom or by the Society's web form, so get in touch now rather than waiting for the live chat option on the day. The Zoom question deadline is 9 am on Monday, the 7th of April, and the deadline for submitting a written question is when voting ends at 0900 on Thursday, the 10th of April. Following the formal business of the AGM, the RSGB is delighted that RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM will be sharing his review of 2024. There will also be announcements of trophies and awards, the construction competition results, as well as a presentation about the Society's strategy, which will be led by Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX. There will be contributions from Board Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML; Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB; and Bob Beebe, GU4YOX who at that point will be the new RSGB President. Make sure you don't miss out by putting the date in your diary now. Go to rsgb.org/agm  to find further information. The RSGB is pleased to announce that Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI has been appointed as the RSGB Maker Champion. In his role, Tom will assist the RSGB to take amateur radio to new audiences in the hackspace and makerspace communities. Tom will also investigate opportunities to encourage crossover in both directions, offering new areas of experimentation to more traditional license holders. If you have any ideas you'd like to discuss with Tom or would like to congratulate him on his appointment, please email him via maker.champion@rsgb.org.uk A reminder that the RSGB remote invigilation team will be taking a break over the Easter weekend. You will be able to book to take an exam on Friday, the 18th and Saturday, the 19th of April; however, no exam slots will be available on Sunday, the 20th or Monda,y the 21st of April. Exam bookings will resume as normal after that. The next webinar in the RSGB's Tonight@8 series will be live tomorrow, Monday the 7th of April. Nick Wood, M0NTV will show you how to use a regular glue stick housing in a rather novel way to form the basis of a variable tuning inductor in a homemade 40m receiver. Nick has a lifelong fascination with radio and electronics, and an insatiable curiosity to discover how things work. His passion is for designing and building his own radio equipment, particularly SSB transceivers, and he has just completed his sixth. Visit rsgb.org/webinars  to find out more. Join the presentation live on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. The GB3WR VHF Repeater, located on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, was switched back on at 12:30 pm on the 16th of March 2025. The Group is delighted to report that it is working as well as before. It covers a wide area of the South West, and the Bristol Channel area. Amateur stations are regularly heard from the south of the Midlands, South Wales and as far south as Swanage and Basingstoke to the east. The Mendip Repeater Group would like to express its thanks for the generosity of all who have made it possible to put GB3WR back on the air. Find out more via gb3wr.uk One of the GB2RS newsreaders is retiring from reading the news ahead of his upcoming 101st birthday this Saturday, the 12th of April. Peter Valentine, G0NQZ from Eastbourne, remains an active radio amateur and operates daily, as well as taking part in regular nets such as ISWL and RAOTA. The Society would like to thank Peter for his dedication to GB2RS and wishes him a very happy 101st birthday! Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club QRP Convention is taking place on Saturday, the 12th of April at Digby Hall in Sherborne. Doors open at 9.30 am. The convention will include traders, bring and buy, club stalls and a café. For more information, please visit the club's website via yeovil-arc.com The Holsworthy ARC Spring Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday, the 13th of April at the Holsworthy Livestock Market, New Market Road, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7FA. There will be traders and a bring-and-buy. Catering will be available. Doors open to traders from 8 am and to the public from 10 am. Entry costs £3 per person. The venue has disabled access. Also taking place on Sunday, the 13th of April, is the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Exhibition, or NARSA for short. It is also known as the Blackpool Rally. The event will take place at Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. For further details, please go to narsa.org.uk  or contact Dave, M0OBW, on 07720 656542, or via email using dwilson@btinternet.com Now the Special Event news The Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society, also known as RAFARS, has started its popular Airfields On The Air event. RAF Stations are active this weekend as well as on the 12th and 13th of April. More information can be found via rafars.org/rafaota The Polish Amateur Radio Union is celebrating 95 years since its founding, as well as the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union. To mark the occasion, ten special event stations will be active between the 11th and the 25th of April. Full details of the event, as well as available awards, can be found via Hamaward.cloud Now the DX news The Toshiba Fuchu Amateur Radio Club, JA1YVT, is celebrating its 60th anniversary and, as part of the celebration, team members are staging a DXpedition to the Ogasawara Islands. They will be QRV as JA1YVT/JD1 until Thursday, the 10th of April. The operating schedule, frequencies and QSL information are available via QRZ.com DA1DX, DK9IP, DM6EE and DL8LAS will be active from Anegada Island in the British Virgin Islands as VP2VI from the 10th to the 27th of April. Full details via QRZ.com Now the contest news The FT4 International Activity Day started at 12:00 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 12:00 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of April. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. The SP DX Contest started at 1500 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 1500 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of April. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code. Today, Sunday the 6th of April, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, Sunday the 6th of April, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000UTC to 1400UTC and from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, FT4, JS8, RTTY and PSK on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number, and your Worked All Britain square. Club and multi-operator stations can only score points in one of the two operating periods. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 17th of April. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website. On Monday, the 7th of April, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 13:30 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. Also on Monday, the 7th of April, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1330 to 1500 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. On Monday, the 7th of April, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday, the 8th of April, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday, the 8th of April, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 9th of April, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday, the 9th of April, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Thursday, the 10th of April, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 3rd of April 2025 We had a week of mixed solar conditions, but it ended with an SFI of 182 and a Kp of 3.67 on Thursday, the 3rd of April.   The geomagnetic field declined to quieter levels following a prolonged period of active, Kp4 conditions earlier on Wednesday due to solar wind enhancements. This impacted propagation, with the critical frequency struggling to get much above 7 MHz on Wednesday. Compare this with the following day, when the critical frequency hit 10.4MHz by 0830 UTC. Nevertheless, there was DX to be worked on Wednesday with FT8 allowing signals from Australia, Japan, Indonesia, China, and Surinam to get into the UK on 21MHz. The solar proton flux was also high on Tuesday, the 1st of April, affecting signals passing through the polar regions, but this had declined by Thursday and was heading back to normal levels. This was due to a large CME observed off the east limb of the Sun on Frida,y the 28th of March. If it had been Earth-directed, we may have seen a massive aurora. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the 175-185 region. A Kp of six was forecast for yesterday, Saturday the 5th of April, followed by a further period of unsettled geomagnetic conditions due to an enhanced solar wind. If this is the case, we may not get more settled conditions until the 14th to the 16th of April. Nevertheless, this remains a good time for North-South HF paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and UK to South America. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The old forecasting maxim that the ‘longer a high lasts, the longer it will last' is built upon the presence of blocked upper air weather patterns. When the jet stream gets so distorted into a high-amplitude north/south wave, its lateral movement, from west to east, becomes very slow. On the upper air charts, this takes the shape of the Greek letter omega, and this is the current set-up. It means that the weather associated with it also lasts a long time. In this case, it's the high pressure and its spell of fine weather that is likely to last for the whole of the coming week. The position of the high will change, though, starting over the North Sea and ending over the UK and the nearby Atlantic. This means that Tropo will be the mode of choice for the coming period, which includes the 70cm UK Activity Contest on Tuesday and the 6m UK Activity Contest on Thursday. Rain scatter is unlikely during this extended period of dry weather. The meteor scatter options are still mainly driven by random meteors for the coming period into next week, but the next important shower, the Lyrids, peaks on the 22nd of April. The auroral alerts continue to come through, raising interest. As usual, the clue will be fluttery-sounding signals on the bands, particularly noticeable on CW, but they can also be pronounced on speech transmissions. Monitor the Kp index for values above Kp5. There have been a few trans-equatorial openings to Southern Africa on 50MHz digital modes for the fortunate few who live in the extreme south and southwest of the UK, but it did extend up to Cambridgeshire and Suffolk briefly on some days last week. The long drought of Sporadic-E will soon be over, but we're still in the realms of very isolated events for 10m and 6m, which will be short-lasting. The jet stream, which can be a good clue as to potential locations, suggests looking to Scandinavia, the Baltic and northern Europe. EME path losses are falling again, but Moon declination has been at its highest this weekend, so we have long Moon windows. 144MHz sky noise is low throughout the coming week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Welcome to this episode of "Retirement Rebel: Life After 60." I'm Siobhan Daniels, and today I'm thrilled to delve into a conversation that embodies the spirit of adventurous living and redefining life post-retirement. If you're like me, interested in unearthing stories that challenge the typical narratives around ageing, you're in the right place.Our journey today begins by meeting the fabulous Sian Davis, who embraces the moniker "Old Bird in a Boat." From the moment I met Sian at an adventure festival and heard her enthusiasm about becoming the oldest woman to row around mainland UK, I knew her story was one our listeners would love. This episode is about breaking down stereotypes and celebrating those who defy traditional expectations—exactly the kind of content that ignites a spark in our Retirement Rebel community.During our chat, Sian shares her personal history, growing up with an adventurous spirit in the countryside, and how this laid the foundation for her later challenges, including being one of only six women over 60 to have rowed the Atlantic. Her story is a testament to living with vigour and embracing who you are, rather than conforming to how society might expect you to slow down with age. For those of us keen on adventure and self-discovery, Sian's tale will resonate deeply.Lastly, as we explore Sian's experiences outside of boating, we celebrate the notion of exploring new hobbies and macho pursuits—like motorcycling—in later life. With her fleet of motorbikes, including a Harley and a Triumph Thunderbird, Sian's passion for riding serves as an empowering reminder that life after 60 can be filled with the thrills of youthful exploration. These themes speak to our shared belief in ageing positively and the idea that retirement is not an ending but a beginning to refire and pursue passions with an unyielding sense of adventure.Thank you for joining us as we uncover stories that remind us of the boundless possibilities available in our retirement years.Key Points:00:51 - Redefining Ageing with Alex Rotas Reflecting on last week's conversation with Alex Rotas, I discuss the ageist language surrounding "looking younger" and how both Alex and I believe in embracing and documenting an active and healthy ageing process.02:23 - Meeting Sian Davies Sian joins the conversation, and I'm thrilled to introduce her to our listeners. As an advocate for positive ageing, Sian shares her pride in her achievements and emphasises the importance of reclaiming the narrative around being "old."03:36 - Sian's Adventurous Childhood Sian takes us back to her childhood in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, where her adventurous spirit began. Growing up isolated in the countryside, she found joy in creating her own adventures and exploring nature.04:40 - Balancing Career and Caring Roles Sian talks about her journey into a career in sport and leisure, focusing on getting older people active. Her life took a turn as she became a carer for her parents, illustrating the common experience of balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities.08:09 - The Cost of Caring Sian shares how her role as a carer impacted her personal and adventurous pursuits, describing the frustration of having to put her life on hold and the isolation that many carers, especially women, often experience.12:57 - Discovering Gig Rowing A pivotal moment for Sian was discovering Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing. She describes the thrill of being on the water and encourages other women to engage in this inclusive and competitive sport that welcomes all ages.17:41 - Overcoming Physical Challenges Sian recounts her experience of having a herniated disc and how, during recovery, she became inspired by women adventurers like Ros Savage, leading her to pursue...

fWotD Episode 2747: Mells War Memorial Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 11 November 2024 is Mells War Memorial.Mells War Memorial is a First World War memorial by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the village of Mells in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, south-western England. Unveiled in 1921, the memorial is one of multiple buildings and structures Lutyens designed in Mells. His friendship with two prominent families in the area, the Horners and the Asquiths, led to a series of commissions; among his other works in the village are memorials to two sons—one from each family—killed in the war. Lutyens toured the village with local dignitaries in search of a suitable site for the war memorial, after which he was prompted to remark "all their young men were killed".The memorial takes the form of a marble column topped by a sculpture of Saint George slaying a dragon, an image Lutyens used on two other public war memorials. At the base of the column, the names of the village's war dead are inscribed on stone panels. The memorial is flanked by identical rubble walls in local stone, on top of which grows a yew hedge. Low stone benches protrude from the walls to allow wreaths to be laid. Additional panels were fixed to the wall after the Second World War to commemorate that conflict. The memorial was unveiled on 26 June 1921 by Brigadier-General Arthur Asquith, whose brother is among those commemorated on it. It is a grade II* listed building and since 2015 has been part of a national collection of Lutyens' war memorials.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:47 UTC on Monday, 11 November 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Mells War Memorial on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Aria.

Gardener and landscape designer Sean Anthony Pritchard takes Patrick O'Donnell through his garden gate and into his Somerset cottage in the Mendip Hills. From the crimson red of his grandfather's sweet peas, to the green of his years travelling the London underground on the district line, he shares colours that connect the different chapters of his life. And he takes Paddy into his glorious rose garden to show him the blush apricot rose petals he makes potpourri with. Learn about the colours featured in each episode hereSee the colours of Sean's life hereFollow Sean on Instagram hereFollow us on Instagram here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jules Mittra, the founder of In and Beyond Bath, discusses travel in the West Country of England with a focus on Bath and the Cotswolds. He emphasizes the importance of thoughtful travel and experiencing the off-the-beaten-path gems of the region. Jules offers personalized tours for small groups, allowing for meaningful connections and engagement. He aims to make the tours more than just sightseeing by sharing the stories and significance behind the places visited. The conversation also touches on the cultural encounters and personal growth that can come from travel, as well as the exciting events and attractions in Bath and the surrounding area. The conversation explores the historic attractions and natural beauty of the Bath and Cotswolds region, as well as cultural differences between the UK and the US. Jules Mittra highlights the prehistoric sites, burial mounds, and stone circles in the area, emphasizing the rich prehistory and stunning landscapes. He also discusses the southern Cotswolds, which are less well-known but equally beautiful. Jules mentions the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, and Wells as must-visit places in the region. He also talks about the relaxed and communal atmosphere in the UK compared to the US, as well as the filming locations in Bath and the surrounding areas, including those featured in Bridgerton. Finally, Jules shares his favorite places outside of Bath and the Cotswolds, which are Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills. Links In and Beyond Bath Visit Bath Cotswolds Tourism Takeaways Thoughtful travel involves experiencing the off-the-beaten-path gems of a region. Personalized tours for small groups allow for meaningful connections and engagement. Travel can lead to cultural encounters and personal growth. Bath and the West Country of England offer a wide range of exciting events and attractions. The Bath and Cotswolds region is rich in prehistoric sites, burial mounds, and stone circles, offering a glimpse into the area's prehistory and stunning landscapes. The southern Cotswolds, although less well-known, are equally beautiful and offer a different experience from the more popular northern Cotswolds. Other must-visit places in the region include the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, and Wells. The UK has a more relaxed and communal atmosphere compared to the US, with a stronger sense of community and more opportunities for interaction. The Bath and Cotswolds region is a popular filming location, with many historic buildings and picturesque landscapes that have been featured in various films and TV shows, including Bridgerton. Outside of Bath and the Cotswolds, Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills are one of Jules Mittra's favorite places to visit in England, offering medieval charm, stunning countryside, and a vibrant food scene. Sound Bites “It's the small stuff that has the impact.” “Smaller groups allow for meaningful connections.” “American tourists want to connect with culture and history on a deeper level.” “It's rich with prehistory. Landscapes are extraordinarily beautiful.” “You get off the main roads into the kind of back roads, and you are in a whole other world.” “Somerset is one of the most beautiful parts of England, which doesn't get anywhere near the attraction of the Cotswolds.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Thoughtful Travel and In and Beyond Bath

Jules Mittra, the founder of In and Beyond Bath, discusses travel in the West Country of England with a focus on Bath and the Cotswolds. He emphasizes the importance of thoughtful travel and experiencing the off-the-beaten-path gems of the region. Jules offers personalized tours for small groups, allowing for meaningful connections and engagement. He aims to make the tours more than just sightseeing by sharing the stories and significance behind the places visited. The conversation also touches on the cultural encounters and personal growth that can come from travel, as well as the exciting events and attractions in Bath and the surrounding area. The conversation explores the historic attractions and natural beauty of the Bath and Cotswolds region, as well as cultural differences between the UK and the US. Jules Mittra highlights the prehistoric sites, burial mounds, and stone circles in the area, emphasizing the rich prehistory and stunning landscapes. He also discusses the southern Cotswolds, which are less well-known but equally beautiful. Jules mentions the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, and Wells as must-visit places in the region. He also talks about the relaxed and communal atmosphere in the UK compared to the US, as well as the filming locations in Bath and the surrounding areas, including those featured in Bridgerton. Finally, Jules shares his favorite places outside of Bath and the Cotswolds, which are Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills. Links In and Beyond Bath Visit Bath Cotswolds Tourism Takeaways Thoughtful travel involves experiencing the off-the-beaten-path gems of a region. Personalized tours for small groups allow for meaningful connections and engagement. Travel can lead to cultural encounters and personal growth. Bath and the West Country of England offer a wide range of exciting events and attractions. The Bath and Cotswolds region is rich in prehistoric sites, burial mounds, and stone circles, offering a glimpse into the area's prehistory and stunning landscapes. The southern Cotswolds, although less well-known, are equally beautiful and offer a different experience from the more popular northern Cotswolds. Other must-visit places in the region include the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, and Wells. The UK has a more relaxed and communal atmosphere compared to the US, with a stronger sense of community and more opportunities for interaction. The Bath and Cotswolds region is a popular filming location, with many historic buildings and picturesque landscapes that have been featured in various films and TV shows, including Bridgerton. Outside of Bath and the Cotswolds, Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills are one of Jules Mittra's favorite places to visit in England, offering medieval charm, stunning countryside, and a vibrant food scene. Sound Bites “It's the small stuff that has the impact.” “Smaller groups allow for meaningful connections.” “American tourists want to connect with culture and history on a deeper level.” “It's rich with prehistory. Landscapes are extraordinarily beautiful.” “You get off the main roads into the kind of back roads, and you are in a whole other world.” “Somerset is one of the most beautiful parts of England, which doesn't get anywhere near the attraction of the Cotswolds.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Thoughtful Travel and In and Beyond Bath 03:12 Exploring the England We Love: Historical, Cultural, and Landscape Gems 06:20 The Value of Small Group Tours: Creating Meaningful Travel Experiences 33:36 Cultural Contrasts: Anxiety and Community in England 43:09 Bridgerton Filming Locations and Recommendations for Fans 48:52 Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills: A Favorite Place to Visit in England

Today listeners put their questions to would-be MPs in the Bolton West constituency.The hustings is chaired by Nick Robinson.Today held similar sessions in two other seats - Wells & Mendip Hills and Motherwell, Wishaw & Carluke.

Today listeners in Somerset put their questions to would-be MPs in the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency. The hustings is chaired by Justin Webb. Similar sessions are to be held in two other seats adopted by Today for the election - Bolton West and Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke. (Photo: The hustings session. Credit: Oscar Pearson/BBC

This is a linkpost for https://seekingtobejolly.substack.com/p/no-one-in-my-org-puts-money-in-theirEpistemic status: the stories here are all as true as possible from memory, but my memory is so so.An AI made this This is going to be bigIt's late Summer 2017. I am on a walk in the Mendip Hills. It's warm and sunny and the air feels fresh. With me are around 20 other people from the Effective Altruism London community. We've travelled west for a retreat to discuss how to help others more effectively with our donations and careers. As we cross cow field after cow field, I get talking to one of the people from the group I don't know yet. He seems smart, and cheerful. He tells me that he is an AI researcher at Google DeepMind. He explains how he is thinking about how to make sure that any powerful AI system actually does what we want it [...]--- First published: February 16th, 2024 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/dLXdCjxbJMGtDBWTH/no-one-in-my-org-puts-money-in-their-pension Linkpost URL:https://seekingtobejolly.substack.com/p/no-one-in-my-org-puts-money-in-their --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: "No-one in my org puts money in their pension", published by tobyj on February 16, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum. Epistemic status: the stories here are all as true as possible from memory, but my memory is so so. This is going to be big It's late Summer 2017. I am on a walk in the Mendip Hills. It's warm and sunny and the air feels fresh. With me are around 20 other people from the Effective Altruism London community. We've travelled west for a retreat to discuss how to help others more effectively with our donations and careers. As we cross cow field after cow field, I get talking to one of the people from the group I don't know yet. He seems smart, and cheerful. He tells me that he is an AI researcher at Google DeepMind. He explains how he is thinking about how to make sure that any powerful AI system actually does what we want it to. I ask him if we are going to build artificial intelligence that can do anything that a human can do. "Yes, and soon," he says, "And it will be the most important thing that humanity has ever done." I find this surprising. It would be very weird if humanity was on the cusp of the most important world changing invention ever, and so few people were seriously talking about it. I don't really believe him. This is going to be bad It is mid-Summer 2018 and I am cycling around Richmond Park in South West London. It's very hot and I am a little concerned that I am sweating off all my sun cream. After having many other surprising conversations about AI, like the one I had in the Mendips, I have decided to read more about it. I am listening to an audiobook of Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom. As I cycle in loops around the park, I listen to Bostrom describe a world in which we have created superintelligent AI. He seems to think the risk that this will go wrong is very high. He explains how scarily counterintuitive the power of an entity that is vastly more intelligent than a human is. He talks about the concept of "orthogonality"; the idea that there is no intrinsic reason that the intelligence of a system is related to its motivation to do things we want (e.g. not kill us). He talks about how power-seeking is useful for a very wide range of possible goals. He also talks through a long list of ways we might try to avoid it going very wrong. He then spends a lot of time describing why many of these ideas won't work. I wonder if this is all true. It sounds like science fiction, so while I notice some vague discomfort with the ideas, I don't feel that concerned. I am still sweating, and am quite worried about getting sunburnt. It's a long way off though It's still Summer 2018 and I am in an Italian restaurant in West London. I am at an event for people working in policy who want to have more impact. I am talking to two other attendees about AI. Bostrom's arguments have now been swimming around my mind for several weeks. The book's subtitle is "Paths, Dangers, Strategies" and I have increasingly been feeling the weight of the middle one. The danger feels like a storm. It started as vague clouds on the horizon and is now closing in. I am looking for shelter. "I just don't understand how we are going to set policy to manage these things" I explain. I feel confused and a little frightened. No-one seems to have any concrete policy ideas. But my friend chimes in to say that while yeah there's a risk, it's probably pretty small and far away at this point. "Experts thinks it'll take at least 40 more years to get really powerful AI" she explains, "there is plenty of time for us to figure this out". I am not totally reassured, but the clouds retreat a little. This is fine It is late January 2020 and I am at after-work drinks in a pub in Westminster. I am talking to a few colleagues about the news. One of my colleagues, an accomplished government ec...

Epistemic status: the stories here are all as true as possible from memory, but my memory is so so.An AI made this This is going to be big It's late Summer 2017. I am on a walk in the Mendip Hills. It's warm and sunny and the air feels fresh. With me are around 20 other people from the Effective Altruism London community. We've travelled west for a retreat to discuss how to help others more effectively with our donations and careers. As we cross cow field after cow field, I get talking to one of the people from the group I don't know yet. He seems smart, and cheerful. He tells me that he is an AI researcher at Google DeepMind. He explains how he is thinking about how to make sure that any powerful AI system actually does what we want it to. I ask him if [...] ---Outline:(00:16) This is going to be big(01:21) This is going to be bad(02:44) It's a long way off though(03:50) This is fine(05:10) It's probably something else in your life(06:15) No-one in my org puts money in their pension(07:16) Doom-vibes(08:45) Maths might help(10:28) A problem shared is…(12:36) Hope--- First published: February 16th, 2024 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/YScdhSQBhkxpfcF3t/no-one-in-my-org-puts-money-in-their-pension Linkpost URL:https://seekingtobejolly.substack.com/p/no-one-in-my-org-puts-money-in-their --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

In episode 2 of season 16, we're talking about walking, but in the context of a curious new film: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry starring Penelope Wilton and Jim Broadbent – about a man in his 60s who embarks on an unlikely 450 mile pilgrimage across Britain to see a dying friend.Plodcast regular Maria Hodson went to see the film – and meet Penelope and Jim, as well as the original book's author (and writer of the screen play) Rachel Joyce to talk about the project – and their own connections to countryside. Later, Maria and Plodcast host Fergus test the power walking with a trip to the Mendip Hills near Bristol… This is episode 2 of season 16: Get Active in Nature Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February's episode explores the first, tiny shoots of spring - the bulbs are emerging, the frogs are breeding and Lia reminds us it's time to plant chillis. We visit the Isles of Scilly for early narcissi and the Mendip Hills for a rainstorm recorded by Alice Boyd. Zoe Gilbert tells tales of snowdrops and to close, Gwilym Bowen Rhys sings 'Ambell i gân', a song to guard against heartbreak and bad weather. 'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer and author of the Seasonal Almanac, Lia Leendertz. Lia is joined by novelist Zoe Gilbert, composer and sound recordist Alice Boyd and folk musician Gwilym Bowen Rhys. Geoff Bird produces and Catriona Bolt is Ffern's in-house researcher. Each episode, released on the first of every month, is a guide to what to look out for in the month ahead - from the sky above to the land below. Ffern is an organic fragrance maker based in Somerset. You can learn more about Ffern's seasonal eau de parfum at ffern.co To say thank you for tuning in, each month the first 12 listeners who sign up to the Ffern waiting list will receive a box of organic Ffern tea with their first bottle of fragrance. Please follow this link to sign up: ffern.co/podcasttea

The Mendip hills stretch across the landscape south of Bristol and Bath, running from Weston-super-Mare in the west to the Frome valley in the east, with views down across the Somerset Levels. More than seventy square miles are designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, with ancient woodland rising above dramatic gorges. Beneath their beauty, the hills hide an intriguing wartime story. Black Down was one of the "starfish sites", where fires were lit at night as decoys to simulate burning cities and so trick the German planes into dropping their bombs on the countryside instead. Its physical remains can be seen in the landscape to this day. Helen Mark explores the area and learns about its history - both ancient and more modern. Nearby Cheddar Gorge may be more famous, but Helen finds out that Burrington Combe has a fascinating past. It's home to what is believed to be the oldest cemetery in Britain, where human bones were excavated from a cave in the 19th century. Modern radiocarbon dating techniques have shown them to be more than 10,000 years old. The area is also an important haven for wildlife. Helen meets a ranger who is busy building a hibernaculum - an underground hiding place where adders and other creatures can spend the winter. Presented by Helen Mark and produced by Emma Campbell

There is fascinating evidence that 5,000 years ago, people living in Britain and Ireland had a deep and meaningful relationship with the underworld seen in the carved chalk, animal bones and human skeletons found at Cranborne Chase in Dorset in a large pit, at the base of which had been sunk a 7-metre-deep shaft. Other examples considered in this Essay include Carrowkeel in County Sligo, the passage tombs in the Boyne Valley in eastern Ireland and the Priddy Circles in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. If prehistoric people regarded the earth as a powerful, animate being that needed to be placated and honoured, perhaps there are lessons here for our own attitudes to the world beneath our feet. Susan Greaney is a New Generation Thinker who works for English Heritage at Stonehenge and who is studying for her PhD at Cardiff University. New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council which selects ten academics each year to turn their research into radio. You can hear her journey to Japan to compare the Jomon civilisations with Stonehenge as a Radio 3 Sunday Feature and there is an exhibition opening at Stonehenge in September https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hgqx Producer: Torquil MacLeod

It's week 3 of International Cave Diving Month and the boys are getting further into Wookey Hole. As the exploration gets deeper inside the cave system of the Mendip Hills, the accidents start to happen. The first fatality occurs in 1949 and Jamesy and Brando take a closer look at that Marriott Accident and what happened when they first brought the Aqualung into Wookey.

This week the boys continue their deep dive into the history of cave diving in Jolly Olde England. From the mid 1930's our mates across the pond began exploring the sumps of Mendip Hills in England and up to this day continue to "push the envelope" in cave diving.

Where better to be spooked than Wookey Hole in the scenic Mendip Hills in the west of England. Music ©Barney & Izzi Hardy 

A resident of Draycott for many years, Martin Grass heads up the Mendip Cave Rescue team as their Chairman. His passion has always been Caving and Geology. The Mendip Hills in Somerset are famous for their unique combination of sandstone and limestone. They are undoubtedly the custodians of countless undiscovered secrets. After visiting Wells museum […] The post 042 Draycott Underground appeared first on Draycott Diaries Village Podcast.

If you are lucky, you live in the South West of England, one of the country's nine official regions, where Stonehenge is located. It is the place of origin of Devon cream teas, cheddar cheese, and Cornish pasties. The population: 5.6 million people. If you are really fortunate, you live in the county of Somerset with its rolling hills and the home of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The population in that county: 560,000. But you've really hit the jackpot if in the county of Somerset, you are a resident of Frome, a town built on the eastern edge of Mendip Hills. Population in Frome: 28,000. The number of lonely? Perhaps zero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are some places that draw people near naturally. In the Mendip Hills of the West Country, a cave includes chambers called Hell's Ladder, Hyena Den, and the Lake of Gloom. The name is not so foreboding. It's a little silly actually. For thousands of years, Wookey Hole and its famous witch have taken hold and not let go. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook (@secret.passages.pod). Get in touch at https://www.secretpassagespodcast.com/. Researched, written, and produced by E.S. Rodenbiker. Cover art by @game.of.pricks.

Where better to be spooked than Wookey Hole in the scenic Mendip Hills in the west of England. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actionpacked)

There is fascinating evidence that 5,000 years ago, people living in Britain and Ireland had a deep and meaningful relationship with the underworld seen in the carved chalk, animal bones and human skeletons found at Cranborne Chase in Dorset in a large pit, at the base of which had been sunk a 7-metre-deep shaft. Other examples considered in this Essay include Carrowkeel in County Sligo, the passage tombs in the Boyne Valley in eastern Ireland and the Priddy Circles in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. If prehistoric people regarded the earth as a powerful, animate being that needed to be placated and honoured, perhaps there are lessons here for our own attitudes to the world beneath our feet. Susan Greaney is a New Generation Thinker who works for English Heritage at Stonehenge and who is studying for her PHD at Cardiff University. New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council which selects ten academics each year to turn their research into radio. You can hear her journey to Japan to compare the Jomon civilisations with Stonehenge as a Radio 3 Sunday Feature https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hgqx Producer: Torquil MacLeod

There is fascinating evidence that 5,000 years ago, people living in Britain and Ireland had a deep and meaningful relationship with the underworld seen in the carved chalk, animal bones and human skeletons found at Cranborne Chase in Dorset in a large pit, at the base of which had been sunk a 7-metre-deep shaft. Other examples considered in this Essay include Carrowkeel in County Sligo, the passage tombs in the Boyne Valley in eastern Ireland and the Priddy Circles in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. If prehistoric people regarded the earth as a powerful, animate being that needed to be placated and honoured, perhaps there are lessons here for our own attitudes to the world beneath our feet. Susan Greaney is a New Generation Thinker who works for English Heritage at Stonehenge and who is studying for her PHD at Cardiff University. New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council which selects ten academics each year to turn their research into radio. You can hear her journey to Japan to compare the Jomon civilisations with Stonehenge as a Radio 3 Sunday Feature https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hgqx Producer: Torquil MacLeod

The first trains ran on the officially named Cheddar Valley Line after opening in 1869. A branch line providing a vital local link for farmers and growers along the Mendip Hills and on through the moors of the North Somerset Levels. Their trade was destined for the mainline and then on to Bristol, Exeter, London and beyond. While the railway line was a vital economic link for passengers, its function developed for the the transportation of products particularly from local quarrying and agriculture, including a hectic month in high summer when strawberries rushed from the Mendip farms along the line, destined for the rest of the UK. Then in 1963 what is now known as the Strawberry Line story could have ended. Along with many branch lines it was closed under the axe of the Beeching cuts. Over the years, the landscape consumed the track and it all but disappeared from the landscape it once dominated. Then, a few decades ago, local people got together and took it upon themselves to resurrect the line for the benefit of wildlife, for the benefit of local communities and as a green transport route. The Strawberry Line was reborn. Local wildlife expert Chris Sperring MBE walks along the line to offer a glimpse into the function of the Strawberry Line today. It would be easy to go back in time and reflect on the past but this is a story about the future. From slow beginnings slowly the line brought the community along it together with a common purpose that of being part of this linear feature in the landscape. From a national cider producer who has created a permissive path through its orchards, to a cafe managed and run by people with learning disabilities. A local wildlife group manages the track for the benefit of everyone who uses it, as well as for the nature which now finds its home there. And a local heritage centre, run and managed by community volunteers, provides the history of this local line with a national reach. But, as they say, nothing is new and the Strawberry Line is now poised to play another role in a much more ambitious project to connect this least known area of Somerset to a regional, and national, network once again. Producer Andrew Dawes Presenter Chris Sperring MBE

At the end of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, is a town called Frome. It is nine miles from Warminster and thirty miles from Bulford. Today it has a population of 26,000. But 100 years ago it was making a significant contribution to World War One. David Lassman is the author of the book “Frome in the Great War” and has been speaking to Chris Kaye.... #Books #WW1 #BFBS #MilitaryHistory #Frome

Chris Sperring this week joins Dr Fiona Mathews, Senior Lecturer in Mammalian Biology at Exeter University on a quest to unravel the secrets behind one of the most abundant if secretive mammals in the UK – the vole. At nearly 1000 feet above sea level, the Mendip Hills is a hotspot for both field and bank voles and as Chris and Fiona set out to see a vole for themselves it proves much harder than they think. Despite an estimated population of 75 million field voles in the UK these animals lead a precarious and all too brief life. Living for just a few months voles are prolific breeders and populations can fluctuate up to tenfold on a three to four year cycle which can have drastic effects on the species which prey on them including arguably Britain's most loved bird, the barn owl.

Our Bluegrass version of the classic Hymn "Rock of Ages" Fiddle, Guitars, Banjo,  Acoustic Bass, and Mandolin. Time: 2:02,  3/4  Key: G MajorBlessings,www.ShilohWorshipMusic.com© 2012 Shiloh Worship Music COPY FREELY;This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying-Radio play permitted  www.ShilohWorshipMusic.comFrom Wikipedia;"Rock of Ages"  the popular Christian hymn by Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady written in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.The Rock of Ages, Burrington Combe where the Rev. Toplady is reputed to have sheltered from a stormTraditionally, it is held that Rev. Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics on a playing card.The fissure that is believed to have sheltered Toplady is now marked as the "Rock of Ages", both on the rock itself and on some maps, and is also reflected in the name of a nearby tea shop.LyricsRock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee;Let the water and the blood,From Thy wounded side which flowed,Be of sin the double cure,Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my handsCan fulfill Thy law’s demands;Could my zeal no respite know,Could my tears forever flow,All for sin could not atone;Thou must save, and Thou alone.Nothing in my hand I bring,Simply to Thy cross I cling;Naked, come to Thee for dress;Helpless, look to Thee for grace;Foul, I to the fountain fly;Wash me, Savior, or I die.While I draw this fleeting breath,When my eyes shall close in death,When I rise to worlds unknown,And behold Thee on Thy throne,Rock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee. [4]The hymn was a favourite of Prince Albert, who asked it to be played to him on his deathbed, as did Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. It was also played at the funeral of William Ewart Gladstone.[5]In his book Hymns That Have Helped, W. T. Stead reported "when the SS London went down in the Bay of Biscay, 11 January 1866, the last thing which the last man who left the ship heard as the boat pushed off from the doomed vessel was the voices of the passengers singing "Rock of Ages".[5]© 2012 Shiloh Worship Music COPY FREELY;This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying-Radio play permitted  www.ShilohWorshipMusic.com