"scott" <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:
> > In the UK, aren't speeds in KPH, but signs in miles?
>
> No both are in miles, but most cars sold in the UK have km/hr on the
> dashboard too, incase you feel like taking your car over to a neighboring
> country.  Funnily enough, neighboring countries usually *only* have km/hr,
> so if you decide to drive in the UK you have to work out the mph as you go
> along :-)
>
> Working out the MPG is hard yes, when I lived in the UK I used to write the
> amount of litres and miles down each time I filled up.  Every so often I
> would take the list indoors and figure out the MPGs with a
> computer/calculator.  Working out the litres/100km fuel economy is much
> simpler, and you can do it qutie accurately in your head whilst driving
> without needing any conversion factors!

The conversion factor is about 4 ½
That is 1 m/l = 4.5 mpg, more accurately 4.546.
1 K/l = 2.82 mpg

Stephen

Post a reply to this message

> The conversion factor is about 4 ½
> That is 1 m/l = 4.5 mpg, more accurately 4.546.
> 1 K/l = 2.82 mpg

Yeh I guess it's just another conversion factor to remember, anyway, even 
cheaper cars calculate the show the fuel economy in whatever unit you want 
nowadays :-)  For me, I just try to get as many kms as possible before 
refilling, I think my record is 850km now!

Post a reply to this message

"scott" <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:
> > The conversion factor is about 4 ½
> > That is 1 m/l = 4.5 mpg, more accurately 4.546.
> > 1 K/l = 2.82 mpg
>
> Yeh I guess it's just another conversion factor to remember, anyway, even
> cheaper cars calculate the show the fuel economy in whatever unit you want
> nowadays :-)  For me, I just try to get as many kms as possible before
> refilling, I think my record is 850km now!

Well my car is about 12 years old and all it does is drive, albeit at about 30
mpg. I’ll be buying a new one as soon as I can because the automatic
transmission doesn’t get into top gear until I red line it. I hired one last
week to travel to and from Wales and got upgraded to a Saab. I could get used
to these new features like mpg, avg speed, how far the remaining fuel will
last, cruise control etc.

Stephen

Post a reply to this message

"scott" <sco### [at] scottcom> a écrit dans le message de news: 
48f59731$1@news.povray.org...
>> In the UK, aren't speeds in KPH, but signs in miles?
>
> No both are in miles, but most cars sold in the UK have km/hr on the 
> dashboard too, incase you feel like taking your car over to a neighboring 
> country.  Funnily enough, neighboring countries usually *only* have km/hr, 
> so if you decide to drive in the UK you have to work out the mph as you go 
> along :-)
>
That's not too hard roughly one and a half the miles to get km ad add an 
extra tenth if you want to get closer.
That's useful for distances but for speed, one learns fast because there are 
few different values
luckily hours are as long in UK and continent :-)
What is more tricky is converting hPa in PSI when you want to check tyres 
pressure.

Marc

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:55:35 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 15 Oct 2008 00:22:08 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
> 
>>Your gallons are bigger than ours.  That's how you manage 55 MPG in your
>>cars.  ;-)
>>
>>
> Not in my car I don't :)

Well, you know what I mean.  I was initially surprised by the mileage the 
car we drove got until I realised why that was. ;-)

>>> Only if you're innumerate :P
>>
>>You forget that America is the land of the innumerate. ;-)
> 
> The young here are not much better. But then I was brought up before
> calculators were affordable. In fact they were not allowed in exams.
> Today's kids look aghast if you offer the correct money in a shop. Sad!

I actually look for situations to exercise my mind in that way - doing 
what should be simple math without starting bc or using a calculator.

I wonder how many others do that?

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:25:48 -0500, Mueen Nawaz wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> In the UK, aren't speeds in KPH, but signs in miles?  It's been a few
>> years, but I wanted to say that that was the other odd thing about
>> driving over there.  Maybe I'm remembering wrong.
> 
> 	My understanding was that it's meant to be a temporary problem, 
not
> lasting more than a generation. Imperial units usage was common there
> until recently, and is still common when it comes to miles. The hope was
> that the new generation will be more comfortable with km. No idea if
> that's the case.
> 
> 	I believe (others can correct me if I'm wrong), almost all signs 
there
> are in both miles and kilometers.

Last time I was over there, I remember commenting on it talking to a 
friend as I was driving his car (first time out, always good to drive 
with someone who actually knows - and he had a vested interest, since it 
was his car), and his comment was that it came down to a cost issue - 
replacing perfectly good signs with other perfectly good signs wasn't 
seen as cost-effective.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:09:35 +0200, scott wrote:

>> In the UK, aren't speeds in KPH, but signs in miles?
> 
> No both are in miles, but most cars sold in the UK have km/hr on the
> dashboard too, incase you feel like taking your car over to a
> neighboring country.  Funnily enough, neighboring countries usually
> *only* have km/hr, so if you decide to drive in the UK you have to work
> out the mph as you go along :-)

That's right - but I want to say the kph was on the outside whereas on US 
cars it's on the inside.

> Working out the MPG is hard yes, when I lived in the UK I used to write
> the amount of litres and miles down each time I filled up.  Every so
> often I would take the list indoors and figure out the MPGs with a
> computer/calculator.  Working out the litres/100km fuel economy is much
> simpler, and you can do it qutie accurately in your head whilst driving
> without needing any conversion factors!

More fun in your head is to convert the cost there to US dollars per US 
gallon....

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson wrote:
> Last time I was over there, I remember commenting on it talking to a
> friend as I was driving his car (first time out, always good to drive
> with someone who actually knows - and he had a vested interest, since it
> was his car), and his comment was that it came down to a cost issue -
> replacing perfectly good signs with other perfectly good signs wasn't
> seen as cost-effective.
> 

Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 13:45:13 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:55:35 +0100, Stephen wrote:

>> Not in my car I don't :)
>
>Well, you know what I mean.  I was initially surprised by the mileage the 
>car we drove got until I realised why that was. ;-)
>

Well if you will insist on having 16 fluid ounces to a pint instead of 20 what
can you expect? (BTW for the metric brigade there are 16 ounces in a pound
(weight) and if you have 20 fluid oz in a pint, a pint of water weighs a pound)
[You know it makes sense :)]


>>>> Only if you're innumerate :P
>>>
>>>You forget that America is the land of the innumerate. ;-)
>> 
>> The young here are not much better. But then I was brought up before
>> calculators were affordable. In fact they were not allowed in exams.
>> Today's kids look aghast if you offer the correct money in a shop. Sad!
>
>I actually look for situations to exercise my mind in that way - doing 
>what should be simple math without starting bc or using a calculator.
>
>I wonder how many others do that?
>

Yeah! It keeps your mind muscle fit.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 13:46:38 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>Last time I was over there, I remember commenting on it talking to a 
>friend as I was driving his car (first time out, always good to drive 
>with someone who actually knows - and he had a vested interest, since it 
>was his car), and his comment was that it came down to a cost issue - 
>replacing perfectly good signs with other perfectly good signs wasn't 
>seen as cost-effective.

I have my doubts about that, as our government often re-brand companies costing
millions to design new logos and replace the ones they replaced a couple of
years ago. IIRC it was decided to let all the old codgers die off first as they
were kicking up such a fuss. (If English was good enough for the bible then it's
good enough for me, attitude)
And Wales and parts of Scotland have dual language signs.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 13:47:45 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>That's right - but I want to say the kph was on the outside whereas on US 
>cars it's on the inside.
>

I am contradicting you tonight :P. On my car the kph is on the inside and it is
in red so that it does not distract (I think) this was not helpful to me when I
drove it for 9 months on the continent a few years ago and could not make out
the speed at night.
 

>More fun in your head is to convert the cost there to US dollars per US 
>gallon....

If only the exchange rate would stay the same at the end of a journey as it was
at the beginning :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> I thought that Klicks were a SF term for K/s

I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
  out of hollywood!

Bill

Post a reply to this message

Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Last time I was over there, I remember commenting on it talking to a
>> friend as I was driving his car (first time out, always good to drive
>> with someone who actually knows - and he had a vested interest, since it
>> was his car), and his comment was that it came down to a cost issue -
>> replacing perfectly good signs with other perfectly good signs wasn't
>> seen as cost-effective.
>>
> 
> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)

Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted 
country in the world.

"If a million rednecks drove around in a million pickup trucks with a 
million shotguns, shooting road signs, eventually one of them will 
produce a line of Shakespeare in Braille."

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:01 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>Nicolas Alvarez wrote:

>> 
>> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)
>
>Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted 
>country in the world.
>
>"If a million rednecks drove around in a million pickup trucks with a 
>million shotguns, shooting road signs, eventually one of them will 
>produce a line of Shakespeare in Braille."

LOL
Not to mention CCTV.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:21:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>> I thought that Klicks were a SF term for K/s
>
>I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
>you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
>  out of hollywood!
>

Not Hollywood for me, Robert Heinlein maybe. Same thing, really :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
>> Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> 
>>> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)
>> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted 
>> country in the world.
>>
>> "If a million rednecks drove around in a million pickup trucks with a 
>> million shotguns, shooting road signs, eventually one of them will 
>> produce a line of Shakespeare in Braille."
> 
> LOL
> Not to mention CCTV.

You wouldn't get much Braille on a CCTV camera with a shotgun.

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:21:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
> wrote:
> 
>> Stephen wrote:
>>> I thought that Klicks were a SF term for K/s
>> I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
>> you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
>>  out of hollywood!
>>
> 
> Not Hollywood for me, Robert Heinlein maybe. Same thing, really :)

Of course, you said SF not sci-fi. How remiss of me. Come to think of 
it, Heinlein might have been my first encounter with the klick too!

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:53:46 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>>> Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
>> 
>>>> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)
>>> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted 
>>> country in the world.
>>>
>>> "If a million rednecks drove around in a million pickup trucks with a 
>>> million shotguns, shooting road signs, eventually one of them will 
>>> produce a line of Shakespeare in Braille."
>> 
>> LOL
>> Not to mention CCTV.
>
>You wouldn't get much Braille on a CCTV camera with a shotgun.

How about a bee bee railgun
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:54:57 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:21:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Stephen wrote:
>>>> I thought that Klicks were a SF term for K/s
>>> I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
>>> you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
>>>  out of hollywood!
>>>
>> 
>> Not Hollywood for me, Robert Heinlein maybe. Same thing, really :)
>
>Of course, you said SF not sci-fi. How remiss of me. Come to think of 
>it, Heinlein might have been my first encounter with the klick too!

I think that you need a trip to London for a drink or two ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:53:46 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
> wrote:
> 
>> Stephen wrote:
>>>> Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
>>>>> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)
>>>> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted 
>>>> country in the world.
>>>>
>>>> "If a million rednecks drove around in a million pickup trucks with a 
>>>> million shotguns, shooting road signs, eventually one of them will 
>>>> produce a line of Shakespeare in Braille."
>>> LOL
>>> Not to mention CCTV.
>> You wouldn't get much Braille on a CCTV camera with a shotgun.
> 
> How about a bee bee railgun

I don't think your average redneck would have the patience for that

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:18:27 +0100, Stephen wrote:

>>Well, you know what I mean.  I was initially surprised by the mileage
>>the car we drove got until I realised why that was. ;-)
>>
> Well if you will insist on having 16 fluid ounces to a pint instead of
> 20 what can you expect? (BTW for the metric brigade there are 16 ounces
> in a pound (weight) and if you have 20 fluid oz in a pint, a pint of
> water weighs a pound) [You know it makes sense :)]

Well, hey, it's not my fault alcohol evaporates when transported 
overseas. ;-)

>>>>> Only if you're innumerate :P
>>>>
>>>>You forget that America is the land of the innumerate. ;-)
>>> 
>>> The young here are not much better. But then I was brought up before
>>> calculators were affordable. In fact they were not allowed in exams.
>>> Today's kids look aghast if you offer the correct money in a shop.
>>> Sad!
>>
>>I actually look for situations to exercise my mind in that way - doing
>>what should be simple math without starting bc or using a calculator.
>>
>>I wonder how many others do that?
>>
>>
> Yeah! It keeps your mind muscle fit.

And that's a good thing to do.  The interesting thing is the tie between 
physical fitness and mental agility - some interesting studies done about 
that in alzheimers' patients (my dad was one, so I used to read a lot 
about it - and apparently there is a genetic predisposition for it, so 
I've tried to keep up with the research).

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:07 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> government often re-brand companies

Huh?  Over here, companies may rebrand, but the goverment doesn't do 
that.  (We just give the failing ones money ;-) ).

> enough for the bible then it's good enough for me, attitude) And Wales
> and parts of Scotland have dual language signs.

True, hadn't thought about that.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:55:07 -0300, Nicolas Alvarez wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Last time I was over there, I remember commenting on it talking to a
>> friend as I was driving his car (first time out, always good to drive
>> with someone who actually knows - and he had a vested interest, since
>> it was his car), and his comment was that it came down to a cost issue
>> - replacing perfectly good signs with other perfectly good signs wasn't
>> seen as cost-effective.
>> 
>> 
> Some vandal should destroy the current signs then :)

Get on that, will ya? ;-)

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:01 +0100, Bill Pragnell wrote:

> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted
> country in the world.

Hey, now *that's* certainly true.  I didn't need a GPS to get where I was 
going, and printed directions were no use to us - just knowing the signs 
to look for got us around better than anything. :-)

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:30:34 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 15 Oct 2008 13:47:45 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
> 
>>That's right - but I want to say the kph was on the outside whereas on
>>US cars it's on the inside.
>>
>>
> I am contradicting you tonight :P. 

You are.  Stop it. ;-)

> On my car the kph is on the inside
> and it is in red so that it does not distract (I think) this was not
> helpful to me when I drove it for 9 months on the continent a few years
> ago and could not make out the speed at night.

Ouch.

>>More fun in your head is to convert the cost there to US dollars per US
>>gallon....
> 
> If only the exchange rate would stay the same at the end of a journey as
> it was at the beginning :)

Well, yeah, that would be useful.  It was more stable when we were last 
there.

Still not favourable to us, though.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Bill Pragnell wrote:
> I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
> you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
>  out of hollywood!

Mostly books, really. And I have read a number of SF books involving 
futuristic armies and such, so I suppose that explains it.

Of course, space ships are just like ocean ships, so of course you use 
military terms in space, yes? ;-)

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)

Post a reply to this message

Darren New wrote:
> Bill Pragnell wrote:
>> I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. 
>> That you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF 
>> there is  out of hollywood!
> 
> Mostly books, really. And I have read a number of SF books involving 
> futuristic armies and such, so I suppose that explains it.

Yup, SF vs sci-fi, sorry. Joe Haldeman's a favourite of mine, read any 
of his? The Forever War is a particularly scintillating military-based 
novel.

> Of course, space ships are just like ocean ships, so of course you use 
> military terms in space, yes? ;-)

There's Klingons off the starboard bow, cap'n

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
>>>>> I thought that Klicks were a SF term for K/s
>>>> I think it's military - quicker to say 'klick' than 'kilometre/er'. That 
>>>> you think of SF speaks volumes about how much military-heavy SF there is 
>>>>  out of hollywood!
>>>>
>>> Not Hollywood for me, Robert Heinlein maybe. Same thing, really :)
>> Of course, you said SF not sci-fi. How remiss of me. Come to think of 
>> it, Heinlein might have been my first encounter with the klick too!
> 
> I think that you need a trip to London for a drink or two ;)

LondonPovCon? Anything ever come of BrumPovCon? I'll keep my ears to the 
ground, whichever.

Haha, reminds me of a joke. The Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding across 
the desert, when Tonto stops and puts his head to the dust.
"Buffalo come," he intones.
"That's amazing," says the Lone Ranger, "How can you tell?"
"Ear stuck to ground."

:-)

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 15:52:07 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>Well, hey, it's not my fault alcohol evaporates when transported 
>overseas. ;-)
>

You need to keep the corks damp ;)


>> Yeah! It keeps your mind muscle fit.
>
>And that's a good thing to do.  The interesting thing is the tie between 
>physical fitness and mental agility

It well known that men used to fade away when they stopped working.

> - some interesting studies done about 
>that in alzheimers' patients (my dad was one, so I used to read a lot 
>about it - and apparently there is a genetic predisposition for it, so 
>I've tried to keep up with the research).

Scary! It is one of my fears that I'll end up talking to the fairies when I'm
old.
Well talking out loud :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:01 +0100, Bill Pragnell wrote:
> 
>> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively signposted
>> country in the world.
> 
> Hey, now *that's* certainly true.  I didn't need a GPS to get where I was 
> going, and printed directions were no use to us - just knowing the signs 
> to look for got us around better than anything. :-)

I don't use them either, although that's partly because most models are 
still more expensive than my car(!). But you're right, the signs aren't 
just numerous, they're incredibly helpful, especially the way road 
numbers are specified. :-)

Post a reply to this message

On 15-Oct-08 7:50, Stephen wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:13:05 +0200, andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> 
>>> Whether you think it's logical or not is your call.
>> indeed, and I think it is totally nonsense. It may be true for some 
>> class of carpenters. Mainly for those with no relevant education and no 
>> skills in carpentry. Either the lowest ranking on the job or the 
>> manager. 
> 
> That sounds a bit like snobbery to me.

Why? I have seen quite a few skillful carpenters and constructors (or 
whatever their job description is in English) in mechanical workshops 
and I have simply never seen any indication that any size was more 
special to them than others. So I think it is logical to assume that 
anyone who thinks 40 is more basic than 33 is forcing himself to think 
in numbers in stead of in materials.
Which is of course also a generalization from my own experience. I am an 
extremely bad carpenter and that is one of the major reasons. Which 
raises another interesting question: can you be snobbish towards yourself?

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 15:53:26 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:07 +0100, Stephen wrote:
>
>> government often re-brand companies
>
>Huh?  Over here, companies may rebrand, but the goverment doesn't do 
>that.  (We just give the failing ones money ;-) ).
>

In living memory, the GPO (General Post Office) turned into the PO then Royal
Mail and BT (British Telecom) which split off its mobile (cell) arm to O2 all
changes needed rebranding. The telephone system changed its numbering so all
companies had to reprint their headed papers and adverts. (London went from 01
to 071 for inner London and 081 for outer London then to 0171 and 0181 now it is
0207 and 0208) 

>> enough for the bible then it's good enough for me, attitude) And Wales
>> and parts of Scotland have dual language signs.
>
>True, hadn't thought about that.
>

And why should you?
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 15 Oct 2008 15:56:07 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:30:34 +0100, Stephen wrote:
>

>> I am contradicting you tonight :P. 
>
>You are.  Stop it. ;-)
>

OK
(If you stop being wrong :)

>> On my car the kph is on the inside
>> and it is in red so that it does not distract (I think) this was not
>> helpful to me when I drove it for 9 months on the continent a few years
>> ago and could not make out the speed at night.
>
>Ouch.
>

No worries my wife can tell the speed blindfolded (Only half joking)

>>>More fun in your head is to convert the cost there to US dollars per US
>>>gallon....
>> 
>> If only the exchange rate would stay the same at the end of a journey as
>> it was at the beginning :)
>
>Well, yeah, that would be useful.  It was more stable when we were last 
>there.
>
>Still not favourable to us, though.
>
It works for us :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 15-Oct-08 1:08, Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Darren New wrote:
>> Oh, my observation is that in the US, odometers (distance measures in
>> the dashboard) read in tenths of miles, permanent signs are in halves
>> and quarters of miles (as in, "next exit 2 1/2 miles") and temporary
>> signs are in thousands of feet (as in "road construction 2000 feet").
> 
> What the F***

hmm, newsgroup rules here strongly discourage using such words. I know 
it is simply writing out loud WTF, but that is also on the edge of what 
can be allowed here and might stand for something different.

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:20:23 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>
>LondonPovCon? Anything ever come of BrumPovCon? I'll keep my ears to the 
>ground, whichever.
>

No, it was more scary than Beirut in the 60's <ducks and runs>
I might be coming "Op North" for a while Warrington/Manchester and been talking
to Steve (St) about an Op North PovCon. Either that or a København/ Malmö
PovCon. 

>Haha, reminds me of a joke. The Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding across 
>the desert, when Tonto stops and puts his head to the dust.
>"Buffalo come," he intones.
>"That's amazing," says the Lone Ranger, "How can you tell?"
>"Ear stuck to ground."
>
>:-)

Reminds me of a joke. "What do you mean "we" white man?
PC rules :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:16:22 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>
>Of course, space ships are just like ocean ships, so of course you use 
>military terms in space, yes? ;-)

Yes, unless its British space ships then its just like public school (or so they
tell me).
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:16:03 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>
>Yup, SF vs sci-fi, sorry. Joe Haldeman's a favourite of mine, read any 
>of his? The Forever War is a particularly scintillating military-based 
>novel.
>

Me too

>> Of course, space ships are just like ocean ships, so of course you use 
>> military terms in space, yes? ;-)
>
>There's Klingons off the starboard bow, cap'n

It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead. 

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:46:35 +0200, andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:

>> That sounds a bit like snobbery to me.
>
>Why? I have seen quite a few skillful carpenters and constructors (or 
>whatever their job description is in English) in mechanical workshops 
>and I have simply never seen any indication that any size was more 
>special to them than others. So I think it is logical to assume that 
>anyone who thinks 40 is more basic than 33 is forcing himself to think 
>in numbers in stead of in materials.

I think that this is a cultural thing and I am guilty of being British.
Engineers and artisans are looked down on in the UK (but not on the Continent)
Reading it with British eyes it sounded to me as if you were being condescending
to "those with no relevant education and no skills in carpentry"  Anyway it is
(IMO) with what you are brought up with.

>Which is of course also a generalization from my own experience. I am an 
>extremely bad carpenter and that is one of the major reasons. Which 
>raises another interesting question: can you be snobbish towards yourself?

Oh yes and there is inverted snobery as well :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:17:04 +0100, Stephen <mcavoysAT@aolDOTcom> wrote:

>Anyway it is
>(IMO) with what you are brought up with.

Depends on what you are brought up with. 
(My fingers are having a nervous breakdown. I'm using a Nordic keyboard mapped
to a UK one and my touch typing is not too good)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:51:51 +0200, andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:

>> 
>> What the F***
>
>hmm, newsgroup rules here strongly discourage using such words. I know 
>it is simply writing out loud WTF, but that is also on the edge of what 
>can be allowed here and might stand for something different.

Oh! That's what WTF means I thought it stood for When To F…

:-)

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:25:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>
>I don't use them either, although that's partly because most models are 
>still more expensive than my car(!). 

Mine too! 

>But you're right, the signs aren't 
>just numerous, they're incredibly helpful, especially the way road 
>numbers are specified. :-)

Except for Cardiff. There are so many roundabouts and the signs are in both
English and Welsh I had to buy one because I was getting dizzy.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On 15-Oct-08 23:17, Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:46:35 +0200, andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> 
>>> That sounds a bit like snobbery to me.
>> Why? I have seen quite a few skillful carpenters and constructors (or 
>> whatever their job description is in English) in mechanical workshops 
>> and I have simply never seen any indication that any size was more 
>> special to them than others. So I think it is logical to assume that 
>> anyone who thinks 40 is more basic than 33 is forcing himself to think 
>> in numbers in stead of in materials.
> 
> I think that this is a cultural thing and I am guilty of being British.
> Engineers and artisans are looked down on in the UK (but not on the Continent)

But at least we can agree on the managers, I hope.

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Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:25:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
> wrote:
> 
>> I don't use them either, although that's partly because most models are 
>> still more expensive than my car(!). 
> 
> Mine too! 
> 
>> But you're right, the signs aren't 
>> just numerous, they're incredibly helpful, especially the way road 
>> numbers are specified. :-)
> 
> Except for Cardiff. There are so many roundabouts and the signs are in both
> English and Welsh I had to buy one because I was getting dizzy.

Lucky there was a GPS shop in the middle of a roundabout or you might 
still be there.

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
>> LondonPovCon? Anything ever come of BrumPovCon? I'll keep my ears to the 
>> ground, whichever.
>>
> 
> No, it was more scary than Beirut in the 60's <ducks and runs>

I'll bring my railgun.

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:58:51 +0200, andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:

>
>But at least we can agree on the managers, I hope.

In my experience, yes.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:58:28 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
wrote:

>
>Lucky there was a GPS shop in the middle of a roundabout or you might 
>still be there.

Tell me about it!
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:16:03 +0100, Bill Pragnell <bil### [at] hotmailcom>
> wrote:
> 
>> Yup, SF vs sci-fi, sorry. Joe Haldeman's a favourite of mine, read any 
>> of his? The Forever War is a particularly scintillating military-based 
>> novel.
>>
> 
> Me too
> 
>>> Of course, space ships are just like ocean ships, so of course you use 
>>> military terms in space, yes? ;-)
>> There's Klingons off the starboard bow, cap'n
> 
> It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
> it's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead. 
> 
Star Trekking across the Universe
Always going forward 'cos we can't find reverse

John

-- 
"Eppur si muove" - Galileo Galilei

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:34:35 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 15 Oct 2008 15:52:07 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
> 
>>Well, hey, it's not my fault alcohol evaporates when transported
>>overseas. ;-)
>>
>>
> You need to keep the corks damp ;)

I think you'll find it's someone on your side of the pond that needed to 
do that. ;-)

>>> Yeah! It keeps your mind muscle fit.
>>
>>And that's a good thing to do.  The interesting thing is the tie between
>>physical fitness and mental agility
> 
> It well known that men used to fade away when they stopped working.

Yep.  But interesting even with my dad to see the change in his mental 
agility from before going for a walk and afterwards.

>> - some interesting studies done about
>>that in alzheimers' patients (my dad was one, so I used to read a lot
>>about it - and apparently there is a genetic predisposition for it, so
>>I've tried to keep up with the research).
> 
> Scary! It is one of my fears that I'll end up talking to the fairies
> when I'm old.
> Well talking out loud :)

Heh, I do that *now*. ;)

Jim

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:46:52 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 15 Oct 2008 15:53:26 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:07 +0100, Stephen wrote:
>>
>>> government often re-brand companies
>>
>>Huh?  Over here, companies may rebrand, but the goverment doesn't do
>>that.  (We just give the failing ones money ;-) ).
>>
>>
> In living memory, the GPO (General Post Office) turned into the PO then
> Royal Mail and BT (British Telecom) which split off its mobile (cell)
> arm to O2 all changes needed rebranding. The telephone system changed
> its numbering so all companies had to reprint their headed papers and
> adverts. (London went from 01 to 071 for inner London and 081 for outer
> London then to 0171 and 0181 now it is 0207 and 0208)

Ah, *government* businesses, not businesses in general. ;-)

>>> enough for the bible then it's good enough for me, attitude) And Wales
>>> and parts of Scotland have dual language signs.
>>
>>True, hadn't thought about that.
>>
>>
> And why should you?

Because I have friends in Scotland and Wales as well - have been to 
Scotland but not Wales...Come to think, don't know that the guy from 
Wales is there any more.  Now I wonder where he did end up.

Jim

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On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:25:30 +0100, Bill Pragnell wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:25:01 +0100, Bill Pragnell wrote:
>> 
>>> Haha, not a hope, we're the most thoroughly nay exhaustively
>>> signposted country in the world.
>> 
>> Hey, now *that's* certainly true.  I didn't need a GPS to get where I
>> was going, and printed directions were no use to us - just knowing the
>> signs to look for got us around better than anything. :-)
> 
> I don't use them either, although that's partly because most models are
> still more expensive than my car(!). But you're right, the signs aren't
> just numerous, they're incredibly helpful, especially the way road
> numbers are specified. :-)

Yeah - the first couple times out I printed directions from 
maps.google.co.uk and got hopelessly lost.  I learned quickly that if I 
took those directions and just identified the next marker I needed to 
look for, it was a LOT easier to get around.

It is fairly counterintuitive to me that a map is a hinderance, but I 
can't argue with the results. ;-)

Jim

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