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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.29
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 03:27 pm:   

Been there a week;


mystery
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Hubert (Hubert)
Username: Hubert

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 78.22.224.78
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 04:05 pm:   

They're obviously looking for chthonian entities.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.29
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 06:13 pm:   

Some of my possible answers incorporated here:
http://weirdmonger.blogspot.com/2008/11/heavy-steps-2.html
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Gary Fry (Gary_fry)
Username: Gary_fry

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 82.3.65.135
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 06:19 pm:   

Is it Jesus?
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Gcw (Gcw)
Username: Gcw

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 217.43.119.113
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 06:53 pm:   

The Kon-tiki?

gcw
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Hubert (Hubert)
Username: Hubert

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 78.22.224.78
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 07:06 pm:   

Horrors! It's "The Derelict"! Mould, tons of mould, by gum!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.29
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 10:54 pm:   

The 'pendulum' from 'The Pit and the Pendulum'?
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Huw (Huw)
Username: Huw

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 218.168.180.139
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 10:59 pm:   

My guess - Jason and the Argonauts. ;-)
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Steve Bacon (Stevebacon)
Username: Stevebacon

Registered: 09-2008
Posted From: 90.209.220.3
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 11:13 pm:   

The Flying Dutchman
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Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 69.235.146.197
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 11:48 pm:   

Clearly somebody's pet whale's pooper-scooper.
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Jamie Rosen (Jamie)
Username: Jamie

Registered: 11-2008
Posted From: 192.26.212.72
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 12:35 am:   

A very tiny offshore drilling rig.
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Huw (Huw)
Username: Huw

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 218.168.180.139
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 01:23 am:   

The 'Elizabeth Dane'!
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Huw (Huw)
Username: Huw

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 218.168.180.139
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 01:24 am:   

I bet if you take another picture today, Des, there'll be an ominous fog bank on the horizon...
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Tony (Tony)
Username: Tony

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.129.20.12
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 08:41 am:   

The other week we saw such an odd contraption out at sea, too, off the coast of Whitley Bay. It was very far away and to my eyes looked disturbingly like a little old fairground and street on an island, like a shanty sort of place.
Hey, that's a fucking story!
Yay!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.29
Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 01:48 pm:   

The true explanation included here;
http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/heavy_steps_4.htm
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 06:46 pm:   

Well, the top photo turned out to be the very beginning of the process. (Nov 2008)

Below is the end of the process today (4 Feb 2010).

I thought you'd like to see.

gunfleet
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Clive (Clive)
Username: Clive

Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 81.104.165.168
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 07:01 pm:   

Aww! So the contraption in the top photograph was laying eggs. Thats so sweet!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 07:09 pm:   

Indeed! Tripods.

Incidentally, can anyone tell me why the wind turbines look much bigger when viewed from the bottom of a road leading to the sea front than when viewed from the sea front itself?
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 10:34 pm:   

This exact area of the North Sea was occupied in the Nineteen Sixties by the Pirate Ship Radio Stations - Radio Caroline & Radio London (Big L) - to which I listened regularly at that time.

At night, Johnny Walker often invited cars to flash their headlights from the shore out towards the ship at sea where he was playing records - and he created a code for conversation that way with courting couples!

Radio Caroline had a famous 'Dong Dong' station signal.
With this wind farm we have a different Dong! (Dong being the Company running the Wind Farm).
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Clive (Clive)
Username: Clive

Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 81.104.165.168
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 01:21 pm:   

I love wind farms. Large parts of the Mid-Wales countryside are covered with them and i find them beautifully surreal when driving through the hills. They do remind me of the Teletubbies though but that is no bad thing.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 82.38.75.85
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 01:35 pm:   

That's the funny thing about wind farms. There's HUGE resistance in Yorkshire to building any more of them here, and, in fact, Yorkshire has one of the fewest numbers of wind farms in the country - which is a pity when it's so windy!

People worry about what they look like, spoiling the countryside, etc. Personally, I'm with you Clive - I love them. I find the windmills so relaxing to watch and, despite the fact that I normally dislike modern constructions, I actually love the shape and the look of them. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that about them!

They really should site more up here - on top of the windy Pennines, on the high parts of the moors - but there seems to be no will to do so on the part of the authorities, and strong opposition to doing so from pressure groups worried about what they look like.

I say, we need more wind farms (and other renewable sources of energy)!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 01:48 pm:   

Yes, there are 48 of them out at sea here. 6 rows of seven and one row of six. You can see three of the rows above with a bit of Clacton Pier poking out in front of them (to compare with the original photo that started this thread.)
I have watched them daily sprout up over the last year.
And I've grown to love them.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 82.38.75.85
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 03:52 pm:   

I guess it's the same as electricity pylons and telegraph poles? When they first appeared, people hated them, but now they're just part of the landscape.

Not only that but telegraph poles seem to act as substitute trees for the birds where there aren't so many trees around! There's one just outside our house and the birds congregate there regularly (it's unwise to park cars underneath where they sit though! )

I do wonder about the effects on seabirds of wind farms out at sea. Couldn't the turbines pose a hazard to them, or do the birds avoid them? I'd hate to think of chopped up seagulls.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 04:32 pm:   

That's a point of Caroline. Not thought of that!

I think these wind turbines at sea are for more attractive than those old pylons. Still, pylons are often in the landscape of Horror Stories. But Wind Farms?

Nobody has answered my genuine question yet:
"Can anyone tell me why the wind turbines look much bigger when viewed from the bottom of a road leading to the sea front than when viewed from the sea front itself?"

i.e they look bigger the further away they are.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 82.38.75.85
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 07:06 pm:   

I might be able to help answer that one, Des. I have in front of me a very old introductory psychology textbook which talks about a perceptual process called "size consistency", and has a picture in it showing a "size illusion".

However, my scanner is playing up so I can't post the pic which seems to show the perceptual illusion you're talking about.

I'll have a quick look on the internet to see if I can find it there. It'll be easier if I can just direct you to a link explaining it! But if you try searching terms like "perception", "size consistency", "size illusion", you might find something on it yourself? I've got to go and have something to eat shortly so I'll try to do it later ...
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 82.38.75.85
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 07:10 pm:   

Ah, that took less time than I thought! Try this:
http://www.brisray.com/optill/ovision1.htm

Scroll down past the Bayeaux Tapestry and you'll see what I'm talking about.

OK, now I'll go and have my tea ...
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 07:21 pm:   

I've had a look, Caroline, at your suggestions. Thanks.

But nothing seems to cover this effect.

When looking towards the wind turbines from down the road leading up towards the sea front, they look really large - in fact significantly larger.

When you walk up to the sea front, they then become the size I show in the photograph above and relatively tiny on the horizon. The comparison is not a subtle one. It is a major difference.

Eqaually, in addition, when driving into Clacton from a distance, one begins to glimpse the tops of the blades turning above distant treetops. In this context, they look literally giantesque.

To repeat, on the sea front itself, the turbines become relatively insignificant.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 07:24 pm:   

Caroline,I wrote my last post before I read your previous post. They must have crossed.

I will read that new article with interest. Thanks.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.159.146.233
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 10:06 pm:   

Hmmm, I'm not sure...
But thanks Caroline. Food for thought.
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Ian Alexander Martin (Iam)
Username: Iam

Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 64.180.64.74
Posted on Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 05:17 am:   

We've just had a turbine 'officially opened' here in Metro Vancouver of the top of Grouse Mountain. Chances are you'll see it in the coverage of the Winter Olympics starting a week or so from now.

Lord knows why, but people were screaming about how it'll "destroy the beautiful view of the mountains!" It's hardly blocking anything, and if nothing else it ensures we'll not have to tear the damned mountains down in order to harvest the minerals to heat the cedar cabins and igloos we live in here.

…narrow-minded gits.
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Matt_cowan (Matt_cowan)
Username: Matt_cowan

Registered: 04-2008
Posted From: 68.249.106.207
Posted on Monday, February 08, 2010 - 04:48 am:   

"Horrors! It's "The Derelict"! Mould, tons of mould, by gum!"

I absolutely love that Hodgson story!! One of my all time favorites! :-)
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.236
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:23 pm:   

This probaly disproves the illusion of what I see with my own eyes (regarding my earlier question above) but, for what it's worth:

One set of seven turbines as seen from down the road:
illusion1

Same turbines as seen from the sea front:
illusion2
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Tony (Tony)
Username: Tony

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.156.233.165
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:24 pm:   

They look somewhat the same. And odd, for turbines.
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Tony (Tony)
Username: Tony

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.156.233.165
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:25 pm:   

D'oh! My post rendered nonsense by some glitch in which 'your image here' appeared twice.
:-(
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Protodroid (Protodroid)
Username: Protodroid

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 109.79.153.33
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:29 pm:   

What am I missing Des? Is it that they look smaller with no foreground objects?
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.236
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:31 pm:   

And here's one further up the road:
illusion3
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Protodroid (Protodroid)
Username: Protodroid

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 109.79.153.33
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:32 pm:   

"Incidentally, can anyone tell me why the wind turbines look much bigger when viewed from the bottom of a road leading to the sea front than when viewed from the sea front itself?"

They're abstract shapes which coudl be almost any size at a distance. But once you see a small car in front of them you know they're objectively big.

Or

They're space/time distortion machines

or

They're propellers to move the Earth further from the Sun.

or, as Gary said

They are a Jesus.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.236
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:33 pm:   

Yes, they actually look *much* smaller with no foreground objects - much smaller than he photos show, in fact. It must be me :-)
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Tony (Tony)
Username: Tony

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.156.233.165
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:36 pm:   

No - it happens with the moon. When it's near the ground it looks vast.
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Protodroid (Protodroid)
Username: Protodroid

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 109.79.153.33
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 05:01 pm:   

You can blot the moon out with the tip of your index finger extended to arm's length. It's just half a degree across.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.236
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 05:13 pm:   

I think they're fanblade fables!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 82.38.75.85
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 06:35 pm:   

Hmmm, I still reckon my "size consistency" theory above is the answer to that one, Des. What we need is another psychologist like Gary to come along and be arbitrator here. What do you reckon, Gary - am I right? Is it the perceptual process of size consistency?
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Coral (Coral)
Username: Coral

Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 90.216.127.4
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 08:47 pm:   

Wot's the other thing, then? The thing that isn't a wind turbine, to the right on the "same turbines seen from the seafront" photo?
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 86.157.25.236
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 09:23 pm:   

Coral, that other thing is this, I reckon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2009/03/18/gunfleet_sands_windfarm_f eature.shtml
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Coral (Coral)
Username: Coral

Registered: 10-2008
Posted From: 90.216.127.4
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 04:19 pm:   

Ah! A substation. I did wonder how they worked.
Could the difference in size be something to do with the curvature(sp?) of the horizon when you are actually next to the sea,as opposed to looking from land. The view at sea is different on the eyes, and it does cause optical illusions.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 217.43.29.197
Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 06:04 pm:   

Possible cover image for NULL IMMORTALIS based on the above windfarm:
http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/basis_for_null_immortalis_book_cover.htm
It would be nice if at least one story refers to it.
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Steve Bacon (Stevebacon)
Username: Stevebacon

Registered: 09-2008
Posted From: 90.204.111.236
Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 11:04 pm:   

I find structures like that terrifying. It's the same with oil rigs. Scary as hell.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 217.43.29.197
Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2010 - 05:26 pm:   

hey, Steve, some more sea trees here:
http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/the_sea_trees.htm
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Tony (Tony)
Username: Tony

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.131.110.123
Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2010 - 06:12 pm:   

I might be going up in a wind turbine soon, if my son lets me go along to his nature club with him. Want some pics of it, des? There'll be a little window to look out of.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 06-2008
Posted From: 217.43.29.197
Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2010 - 06:18 pm:   

Pics will be wonderful.
Here are my sea trees altogether:
http://www.ligotti.net/showthread.php?t=3968
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 81.131.175.213
Posted on Friday, December 09, 2011 - 07:46 pm:   

rtt
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Mick Curtis (Mick)
Username: Mick

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 86.176.254.46
Posted on Friday, December 09, 2011 - 10:12 pm:   

Yep, saw that in the news today. Scary stuff.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.140.213.156
Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 11:58 am:   

Just to keep you up to date on this whole thread. There are now (in addition to the original close-up forty-two) thousands, it seems, of wind turbines further out to sea here where I live, having been built without me noticing. You can't see them very well from this photo I took this morning but they are there.
a1a
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Hubert (Hubert)
Username: Hubert

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 178.118.77.194
Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 12:15 pm:   

They are in fact propellers to mitigate the effects of the earth's slowing rotation.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.140.213.156
Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 12:10 pm:   

Below, in the distance, is the turbine-building crane contraption (seen for the first time at the very top of this thread in 2008) that has been brought to land becuase of today's approaching storm. This is taken from the Pier and to the right of the crane you can just see a Martello Tower from the war.

a6a

Below are some more images I took today:

a3a

a4a

a5a
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.140.213.156
Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 - 09:59 am:   

This morning's Autumn walk. Sorry it's a bit blurred. The wind was blowing around my ipad as I used it to take this photo.
You can just see the crane-tower beyond the pier, sheltering from the storm.

a7a
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.232.244.38
Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 - 12:10 pm:   

Blimey, Des, you've got blue skies! I don't think I've seen one of those for a few days!

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