Re: Pre-Show Release for RISCOSbits

[David Higton]

In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
<in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:

> Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less than
> three pounds

Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?

David

[charles]

In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,

It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

[Chris Hughes]

In message <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>

Have you not heard mate, metric is on its way out, we are going imperial
again! Now we are not in the EU, we are going back to real
measurements!!!! :-( God help the poor kids and probably teachers, who do
not know anything but metric.

I think it was our Brexit negotiator Lord Frost who say we might go back
to pounds, shillings and pence again as well in due course - madness,
total madness. :-(


--
Chris Hughes

[charles]

In article <598204...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,
Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <f3e00382...@mytarbis.plus.com>,

> False nonsense.

But we can't go back to "Imperial". That's about the Empire & slavery, etc.
It was suggested that even Imperial College might have to change its name.
Metric College doesn't have quite the same gravitas

[Alan Calder BT]

In article <598204...@sick-of-spam.invalid>, Bob Latham
<b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <f3e00382...@mytarbis.plus.com>, Chris Hughes
> <li...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:

> False nonsense.

Which bit are you calling 'false nonsense', Bob? The Moggs/Frost daft
burblings or the description of said burblings?

Alan

--
Alan Calder, Milton Keynes, UK.

[Nick Roberts]

In message <f3e00382...@mytarbis.plus.com>

Chris Hughes <li...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:

> In message <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>
> David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
>
> > In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
> > <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:
>
> >> Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less than
> >> three pounds
>
> > Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?
>
> Have you not heard mate, metric is on its way out, we are going
> imperial again! Now we are not in the EU, we are going back to real
> measurements!!!! :-( God help the poor kids and probably teachers,
> who do not know anything but metric.

And god help all the scientists and engineers who would need to operate
using SI in their professional life and Imperial at all other times.

> I think it was our Brexit negotiator Lord Frost who say we might go
> back to pounds, shillings and pence again as well in due course -
> madness, total madness. :-(

I regret the loss of the light-year-acre. It's quite a convenient
metric for measuring the volume of planets (from recollection, most
planets end up in the 0.1-20 lya range).

--
Nick Roberts tigger @ orpheusinternet.co.uk

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which
can be adequately explained by stupidity.

[Stuart]

In article <59820f...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,
Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> There is no serious suggestion that we abandon metric in favour of a
> previous measurement structure. However, if a business thinks that
> their customers would like to purchase by the yard, pint, ounce or
> whatever there is no intention or need to prevent them doing so.

Well I'm Bloomin glad I can still buy a pint in my local pub!

I see the chancellor is reducing the duty on good Ale too.

--
Stuart Winsor

Tools With A Mission
sending tools across the world
http://www.twam.co.uk/

[Stuart]

In article <5981feaf...@candehope.me.uk>,

charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
> In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
> David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
> > In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
> > <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:

> > > Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less than
> > > three pounds

> > Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?

> > David

> It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?

I guess the majority of us RO users are entirely familiar with the
imperial system and many still use it!

[David Higton]

In message <59821ac5...@argonet.co.uk>

Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <5981feaf...@candehope.me.uk>,
> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
> > In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
> > David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
> > > In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
> > > <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:
>
> > > > Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less than
> > > > three pounds
>
> > > Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?
>
> > > David
>
> > It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?
>
> I guess the majority of us RO users are entirely familiar with the imperial
> system and many still use it!

Hmm. I abandoned the Imperial system somewhere around 1975, IIRC.

Years earlier, I had grown up with Imperial, then learned the CGS and
MKS systems (as they were called at the time) at school. It was
abundantly clear by them that metric (in whichever set of units) was
easier and clearer, so, as an adult, I made the switch completely.

David

[charles]

In article <4ca11f8259.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>, David Higton

<da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
> In message <59821ac5...@argonet.co.uk> Stuart
> <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> > In article <5981feaf...@candehope.me.uk>, charles
> > <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
> > > In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>, David Higton
> > > <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
> > > > In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
> > > > <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:
> >
> > > > > Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less
> > > > > than three pounds
> >
> > > > Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?
> >
> > > > David
> >
> > > It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?
> >
> > I guess the majority of us RO users are entirely familiar with the
> > imperial system and many still use it!

> Hmm. I abandoned the Imperial system somewhere around 1975, IIRC.

> Years earlier, I had grown up with Imperial, then learned the CGS and MKS
> systems (as they were called at the time) at school. It was abundantly
> clear by them that metric (in whichever set of units) was easier and
> clearer, so, as an adult, I made the switch completely.

It's interesting to consider that electrical measurements have always been
made using a metric system.

[druck]

On 27/10/2021 14:33, charles wrote:
> In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
> David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
>> In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
>> <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:
>
>>> Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly less than
>>> three pounds
>
>> Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?
>

> It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?

If it's good enough for the minister for the Victorian era, it's good
enough for me.

---druck

[Russell Hafter News]

In article <c1ec0c82...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>,

Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> > Have you not heard mate, metric is on its way out, we
> > are going imperial again! Now we are not in the EU, we
> > are going back to real measurements!!!! :-( God help
> > the poor kids and probably teachers, who do not know
> > anything but metric.

> And god help all the scientists and engineers who would
> need to operate using SI in their professional life and
> Imperial at all other times.

Back in the early 1990s when I was still teaching, a 12 year
old girl asked how to change the margins on a document. I
talked her through the process and she asked why the default
setting was 2.54cm. I explained that 2.54cm = 1 inch. Her
response: "What is an inch?" I suspect that I found an old
ruler...

My niece is an architect, first degree at Sheffield, but
then decided to do a masters at Syracuse NY (copying her
mother).
She got the shock of her life when she discovered that she
was supposed to work in 1/32 of an inch, rather than mm.

Even in the mid-1970s, chemists in the USA used all metric.
Problems only arose when buying bulk liquids - no one could
supply a litre of anything, because no one made bottles that
size. Chemical catalogues sold in 946ml bottles + 1 US
quart.

--
Russell
Russell Hafter
E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
Need a hotel? <http://www.hrs.com/?client=en__blue&customerId=416873103>
Friendly web hosting <https://www.xencentrichosting.uk/billing/aff.php?aff=7>

[John]

In article <5982217c...@candehope.me.uk>, charles

<cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:

> It's interesting to consider that electrical measurements
> have always been made using a metric system.

Not quite, Charles. That's only true in recent times. I
used to have a copy of the Admiralty Handbook of Wireless
Telegraphy and I recall that capacitance was measured in
jars.

My school physics text books used to measure magnetic
phenomena using gilberts, örsteds and lines.

John

--
John
new...@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk

[Adrian Crafer]

In message <59820f...@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> In article <59820749cda...@btinternet.com>,

> There is no serious suggestion that we abandon metric in favour of a
> previous measurement structure. However, if a business thinks that
> their customers would like to purchase by the yard, pint, ounce or
> whatever there is no intention or need to prevent them doing so.

> Bob.

I manufacture equipment that was originally designed in the 1920s and in
some cases even earlier. I have to certify to one of my customers that the
equipment is made to the originals specifications. This means I use feet
and inches, Whitworth Bolts and BA bolts, the later ironically were
devised as metric, but normally always expressed in the nearest imperial
unit. The customer a big organisation claims it now does everything in
metric, which it doesn't. The British Standards that apply, have never
been metricated, and so are considered obsolete for that reason, but still
have to be used to facilitate replacement equipment working with earlier
equipment.

Adrain

--


acr...@orpheusmail.co.uk

[Chris Newman]

In article <59822411...@russellhafter.me.invalid>,

Russell Hafter News <see...@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:
> In article <c1ec0c82...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>,
> Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> > > Have you not heard mate, metric is on its way out, we
> > > are going imperial again! Now we are not in the EU, we
> > > are going back to real measurements!!!! :-( God help
> > > the poor kids and probably teachers, who do not know
> > > anything but metric.

> > And god help all the scientists and engineers who would
> > need to operate using SI in their professional life and
> > Imperial at all other times.

> Back in the early 1990s when I was still teaching, a 12 year
> old girl asked how to change the margins on a document. I
> talked her through the process and she asked why the default
> setting was 2.54cm. I explained that 2.54cm = 1 inch. Her
> response: "What is an inch?" I suspect that I found an old
> ruler...

Is called doudecimal when based on 12? 12 was useful in times gone past
as it was easily divisible by 2,3,4 & 6.

There are still those about who refer to the metric system as Napoleon's
Revenge although it was devised before he came on the scene.

--
Chris Newman

[Steve Fryatt]

On 27 Oct, Bob Latham wrote in message
<59820f...@sick-of-spam.invalid>:

> In article <59820749cda...@btinternet.com>,
> Alan Calder BT <alanca...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>

> > Which bit are you calling 'false nonsense', Bob? The Moggs/Frost daft
> > burblings or the description of said burblings?
>

> There is no serious suggestion that we abandon metric in favour of a
> previous measurement structure.

That depends on what you mean by "serious". It was included in Ian Duncan
Smith's "Brexit Opportunities" policy paper from the Cabinet Office. Then
again, maybe you mean that IDS isn't a serious politician?

Though if policy paper on "Brexit Opportunities" is having to include
unserious suggestions in order to pad itself out to just four A4 pages, then
that in itself is also quite telling...

> However, if a business thinks that their customers would like to purchase
> by the yard, pint, ounce or whatever there is no intention or need to
> prevent them doing so.

And as there never has been any such restriction[1] outside of the fevered
imaginations of the Brexiteers, it's just another "Blue Passport" issue[2].

1. The sale must be in metric, but there's nothing to stop items being
measured or packaged in imperial quantities in parallel. A wander down the
dairy isle of your local supermarket would show you this very quickly, as
the milk cartons in my fridge appear to contain 1.136 litres for some
unfathomable reason. I also buy plywood in sheets measuring 1220 x 2440 mm,
because apparently that has got some deeper meaning.

2. Something that could have been fixed perfectly will whilst still in the
EU.

--
Steve Fryatt - Leeds, England

http://www.stevefryatt.org.uk/

[Dave]

In article <mpro.r1nppk02...@stevefryatt.org.uk>,
Steve Fryatt <ne...@stevefryatt.org.uk> wrote:
[Snippy]

> I also buy plywood in sheets measuring 1220 x 2440 mm,
> because apparently that has got some deeper meaning.

Most, (Though not all) of my working life was in Building Construction and
Maintenance, and the above noted was often a discussion point between us
oldies and the younger workers.

It's a perception thing, a minds eye thing... And it's kind of palpable.

An 8' x 4' sheet of board has a visiospatial reality in my mind, and even
though I know intellectually 2440mm x 1220mm is the same measurement, it
doesn't have a visiospatial reality registered.

Similarly a 4" x 2" (Sawn or prepared) timber has a visiospatial reality
in my mind, but a 100 x 50mm does not.

Again, a 10' length of 4 x 2 has a reality, but a 3.050 Metre length does
not.

Obviously from the time of metrication until I retired I used metric
measurements, but the core perceptions of dimensions in my head were and
still are in imperial.

That all might appear a bit strange, it even looks strange to me when
written down, but from past discussions it did appear to be the case
generally in construction.

Old plumbers still referring to pipe sizes as three quarter inch copper
pipe, and bags of cement were 1 Cwt not 50.8 Kg.

Dave


Chuckle... Even to this day, when reading a building plan it's hard to
visualise the room size Dims without doing an imperial conversion... :-)

D.

--

Dave Triffid

[druck]

On 27/10/2021 22:51, Chris Newman wrote:
> There are still those about who refer to the metric system as Napoleon's
> Revenge although it was devised before he came on the scene.

That and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Luckily the sensible parts of the world still pass sword arm to sword arm.

---druck

[John Williams (News)]

In article <598267...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,

Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> > still pass sword arm to sword arm.

> LOL. Never thought of it like that before. :-)

Much better would be hand-shaking-arm to hand-shaking-arm, no weapons
involved!

Typical Rees-Mogg outdated attitudes.

Oh, it was DeeJay! Ah well...

John

[Stuart]

In article <59826b90...@tiscali.co.uk>,

John Williams (News) <UCE...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> > > still pass sword arm to sword arm.

> > LOL. Never thought of it like that before. :-)

> Much better would be hand-shaking-arm to hand-shaking-arm, no weapons
> involved!

Surely these days it is Elbow nudging to Elbow nudging ? :)

Anyway the sword-arm version is generally considered to be the origin of
driving on the left.

[Chris Newman]

In article <59827d33...@argonet.co.uk>,

Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <59826b90...@tiscali.co.uk>,
> John Williams (News) <UCE...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> > > > still pass sword arm to sword arm.

> > > LOL. Never thought of it like that before. :-)

> > Much better would be hand-shaking-arm to hand-shaking-arm, no weapons
> > involved!

> Surely these days it is Elbow nudging to Elbow nudging ? :)

> Anyway the sword-arm version is generally considered to be the origin of
> driving on the left.

Ah! Perhaps it's different for cross-bows & guns. Technology moves on ;-)

--
Chris Newman

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <59820f...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,

Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> There is no serious suggestion that we abandon metric in favour of a

> previous measurement structure. However, if a business thinks that

> their customers would like to purchase by the yard, pint, ounce or
> whatever there is no intention or need to prevent them doing so.

Quite. Most businesses will be happy to confuse their customers in any way
they can to prevent easy comparison on prices. Think energy prices with a
cost per unit + daily standing charge. And so on.

--
*Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.*

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <sldm32$eqt$2...@dont-email.me>,

But not on London Transport. ;-)

--
*Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy.

[Nick Roberts]

In message <4ca11f8259.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>

David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

> In message <59821ac5...@argonet.co.uk>
> Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <5981feaf...@candehope.me.uk>,
> > charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
> > > In article <c10ffb8159.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
> > > David Higton <da...@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:
> > > > In message <ap.fcda165981.a...@argonet.co.uk>
> > > > <in...@riscosbits.co.uk> allowed someone to write:
> >
> > > > > Measuring 12.1in x 8.2in x 0.5in and weighing significantly
> > > > > less than three pounds
> >
> > > > Good grief. Don't you give measurements in the metric system?
> >
> > > > David
> >
> > > It's a British Computer - perhaps endorsed by a certain Rees-Mog?
> >
> > I guess the majority of us RO users are entirely familiar with the
> > imperial system and many still use it!
>
> Hmm. I abandoned the Imperial system somewhere around 1975, IIRC.
>
> Years earlier, I had grown up with Imperial, then learned the CGS and
> MKS systems (as they were called at the time) at school. It was
> abundantly clear by them that metric (in whichever set of units) was
> easier and clearer, so, as an adult, I made the switch completely.

One oddity - I have no problem with measuring (route) distances in Km
rather than miles, but I still think in terms of miles per hour for
speeds. Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage
or speedometers to KPH.

[Stuart]

In article <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>,

Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:
> Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage
> or speedometers to KPH.

And I hope it stays that way!

[druck]

You might want to give it a moments thought.

---druck

[David Higton]

In message <59829774...@argonet.co.uk>

Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>,
> Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:
> > Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage or
> > speedometers to KPH.
>
> And I hope it stays that way!

And I'd like it to change to km/kph.

But I don't expect it to happen in the near future, because of the mass
stupity that is Brexit.

David

[Dave]

In article <5982e4...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,

Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <59826b90...@tiscali.co.uk>,
> John Williams (News) <UCE...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

> > Typical Rees-Mogg outdated attitudes.

> Well I rather like the man. He has some principles I admire and
> listening to him speak is a pleasure for me. Sorry to be so outdated
> and out of touch but I'm sure I'm not alone.

> Bob.

Indeed, I agree with the sentiment...

But unfortunately he has a rather noticeable flaw, he needed to either
have a vasectomy or purchase more rubber ware in the past... :-/

Dave

Part of saving The Naked Ape, and saving the planet, have fewer children.

D.

[Stuart]

In article <5982e4...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,
Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> In article <9b66a78259.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,

> That's me stupid and unrepentant. Thanks for that.

And you're not alone.

[Tim Hill]

In article <59828a5...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)

<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <sldm32$eqt$2...@dont-email.me>, druck <ne...@druck.org.uk>
> wrote:
> > On 27/10/2021 22:51, Chris Newman wrote:
> > > There are still those about who refer to the metric system as
> > > Napoleon's Revenge although it was devised before he came on the
> > > scene.

> > That and driving on the wrong side of the road.

> > Luckily the sensible parts of the world still pass sword arm to sword
> > arm.

> But not on London Transport. ;-)

You keep right on TFL escalators and stairs so that 90% of the population
can hold the handrail with their dominant hand.

[Russell Hafter News]

In article <59829774...@argonet.co.uk>, Stuart

<Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> In article
> <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>, Nick
> Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> > Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed
> > signage or speedometers to KPH.

Every car I have had since 1979 at least has had an anologue
speedometer in both miles and km per hour. An essential
piece of equipment for those of us who drive in other
countries.

Must be much harder for those from elsewhere whose
speedometers are in km/hr only.

> And I hope it stays that way!

Why? What is the advantage to using units of measurement
that 90% of the world do not understand?

[Alan Calder BT]

In article <59837a07...@russellhafter.me.invalid>,

Russell Hafter News <see...@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:

> In article <59829774...@argonet.co.uk>, Stuart
> <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> > In article
> > <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>, Nick
> > Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> > > Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed
> > > signage or speedometers to KPH.

> Every car I have had since 1979 at least has had an anologue
> speedometer in both miles and km per hour. An essential
> piece of equipment for those of us who drive in other
> countries.

> Must be much harder for those from elsewhere whose
> speedometers are in km/hr only.

> > And I hope it stays that way!

> Why? What is the advantage to using units of measurement
> that 90% of the world do not understand?

Intriguingly, given the recent Brexiteer trumpetings about trade deals with
New Zealand and Australia (deals only marginally worse than those done with
the EU), both these nations use solely metric road measurements and
displays. Motor vehicles sold new in Australia must have K/ph speedometer
markings - not sure of the situation in NZ but I imagine its the same.
Both countries continue driving on the left though that can be a bit of a
variable matter in outback areas in Australia, New Zealanders tend to be
better behaved in my experience.

Alan

--
Alan Calder, Milton Keynes, UK.

[Matthew Phillips]

In message <598303...@invalid.org.uk>

on 29 Oct 2021 Tim Hill wrote:

> You keep right on TFL escalators and stairs so that 90% of the population
> can hold the handrail with their dominant hand.

If the escalator had been invented ten years ago, we'd be keeping left so
that 90% of the population could hold the handrail while using their phone
with their dominant hand.

--
Matthew Phillips
Durham

[Dave]

In article <a1be92835...@sinenomine.co.uk>,

Oh, Oh! just luvit, so appropriate, it brought a smile to my face and a
tear of joy to my eye, and believe it or not, though it's true, my left
eye.

Excellent...

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

[Stuart]

In article <a1be92835...@sinenomine.co.uk>,
Matthew Phillips <spam...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

ROTFL

I nearly fell off my chair.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <598303...@invalid.org.uk>,

I've heard this one before. But in your home, most staircases have only a
rail on one side. Escalators have them both sides. Stairs on stations etc
either one way, or a rail in the middle. And how does the city gent
carrying a briefcase decide? ;-)

--
*There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works *

[charles]

In article <5984029...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)

<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <598303...@invalid.org.uk>, Tim Hill <t...@invalid.org.uk>
> wrote:
> > In article <59828a5...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
> > <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > > In article <sldm32$eqt$2...@dont-email.me>, druck <ne...@druck.org.uk>
> > > wrote:
> > > > On 27/10/2021 22:51, Chris Newman wrote:
> > > > > There are still those about who refer to the metric system as
> > > > > Napoleon's Revenge although it was devised before he came on the
> > > > > scene.

> > > > That and driving on the wrong side of the road.

> > > > Luckily the sensible parts of the world still pass sword arm to
> > > > sword arm.

> > > But not on London Transport. ;-)

> > You keep right on TFL escalators and stairs so that 90% of the
> > population can hold the handrail with their dominant hand.

> I've heard this one before. But in your home, most staircases have only a
> rail on one side. Escalators have them both sides. Stairs on stations etc
> either one way, or a rail in the middle. And how does the city gent
> carrying a briefcase decide? ;-)

you don't need to be a city gent to carry a briefcase. Mine held lunchtime
sandwiches and a library book to read on the train.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

[Russell Hafter News]

In article <59837d367ba...@btinternet.com>,

Alan Calder BT <alanca...@btinternet.com> wrote:

> > Why? What is the advantage to using units of measurement
> > that 90% of the world do not understand?

> Intriguingly, given the recent Brexiteer trumpetings about
> trade deals with New Zealand and Australia (deals only
> marginally worse than those done with the EU), both these
> nations use solely metric road measurements and displays.

Ireland too has km distance signs.

Last time I drove across the border from Derry to Donegal
the only clue that I had done so was the numeric increase in
distances.

> Motor vehicles sold new in Australia must have K/ph
> speedometer markings - not sure of the situation in NZ but
> I imagine its the same. Both countries continue driving on
> the left though that can be a bit of a variable matter in
> outback areas in Australia,

Same here in parts of Cumbria. As so many of the roads are
barely wide enough for one car, some of the locals seem to
think that when they get onto a main road with a white line
down the middle, they are supposed to straddle that line
with their car.
:-)

[Tim Hill]

In article <5984871f...@russellhafter.me.invalid>, Russell Hafter
News <see...@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:

[Snip]

> Same here in parts of Cumbria. As so many of the roads are barely wide
> enough for one car, some of the locals seem to think that when they get
> onto a main road with a white line down the middle, they are supposed
> to straddle that line with their car.
> :-)

That's 100% legal so long as the white line isn't solid and you move over
to pass oncoming traffic on the left. The minor roads with lines here are
often better navigated on the crown of the road thanks to the crumbling
of road margins.

[Tim Hill]

In article <598406f4...@candehope.me.uk>, charles

<cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
> In article <5984029...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
> <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > In article <598303...@invalid.org.uk>, Tim Hill
> > <t...@invalid.org.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

> > > You keep right on TFL escalators and stairs so that 90% of the
> > > population can hold the handrail with their dominant hand.

> > I've heard this one before. But in your home, most staircases have
> > only a rail on one side. Escalators have them both sides. Stairs on
> > stations etc either one way, or a rail in the middle. And how does
> > the city gent carrying a briefcase decide? ;-)

> you don't need to be a city gent to carry a briefcase. Mine held
> lunchtime sandwiches and a library book to read on the train.

There has been a experiment which proved that more passengers can be
carried if they do away with 'stand on the right' and stop people using
the left lane as an express lane.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/16/the-tube-at-a-standstill-why-tfl-stopped-people-walking-up-the-escalators

[John Rickman]

In message <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>

Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> One oddity - I have no problem with measuring (route) distances in Km
> rather than miles, but I still think in terms of miles per hour for
> speeds. Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage
> or speedometers to KPH.

The only problem with kilometres is the way the word is usually pronounced
now-a-days.
I can understand Americans saying killom-eter, but a kilo-metre is not an
odometer, a tachometer, speedometer, milometer, nor any other instrument
for measuring things.

As an aside the allotment plots in Gaydon village are measured in
fractions of an acre using rods.

John

--
John Rickman

[charles]

In article <f959db8...@rickman.argonet..co.uk>, John Rickman

I went round RAF Gaydon fro scholl in the mid 1950s.

[John Rickman]

In message <598addad...@candehope.me.uk>

charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:

> In article <f959db8...@rickman.argonet..co.uk>, John Rickman
> <ric...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk> Nick Roberts
>> <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

>>> One oddity - I have no problem with measuring (route) distances in Km
>>> rather than miles, but I still think in terms of miles per hour for
>>> speeds. Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage
>>> or speedometers to KPH.

>> The only problem with kilometres is the way the word is usually
>> pronounced now-a-days. I can understand Americans saying killom-eter,
>> but a kilo-metre is not an odometer, a tachometer, speedometer,
>> milometer, nor any other instrument for measuring things.

>> As an aside the allotment plots in Gaydon village are measured in
>> fractions of an acre using rods.

> I went round RAF Gaydon fro scholl in the mid 1950s.

You may have seen these then
http://www.gaydon.org.uk/photos/oldpix/raf.jpg

John
--
John Rickman

[charles]

In article <5ddae28...@rickman.argonet..co.uk>,

John Rickman <ric...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <598addad...@candehope.me.uk>
> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:

> > In article <f959db8...@rickman.argonet..co.uk>, John Rickman
> > <ric...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> >> In message <be8f9382...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk> Nick Roberts
> >> <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> >>> One oddity - I have no problem with measuring (route) distances in Km
> >>> rather than miles, but I still think in terms of miles per hour for
> >>> speeds. Despite going decimal, the UK never changed road speed signage
> >>> or speedometers to KPH.

> >> The only problem with kilometres is the way the word is usually
> >> pronounced now-a-days. I can understand Americans saying killom-eter,
> >> but a kilo-metre is not an odometer, a tachometer, speedometer,
> >> milometer, nor any other instrument for measuring things.

> >> As an aside the allotment plots in Gaydon village are measured in
> >> fractions of an acre using rods.

> > I went round RAF Gaydon fro scholl in the mid 1950s.

> You may have seen these then
> http://www.gaydon.org.uk/photos/oldpix/raf.jpg

> John

Not in that quantity, but we went inside one and into a Vulcan flight
simulator

[charles]

In article <598b3b...@sick-of-spam.invalid>, Bob Latham
<b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <598ae7e8...@candehope.me.uk>, charles

> I have vague memories of my father (ex RAF) taking me somewhere probably
> Gaydon where we watched a V bomber scramble. As I say vague. I would have
> been very young at the time and I would guess early 60s. My memory says
> all 3 V bombers took part including my then favourite the 'Victor' with
> its ink pen nose.

> Bob.

RAF Gaydon was a training base, where pilots (in particular) converted from
propellor driven machines to jets, It was not a Bomber base.

[charles]

In article <598b4e...@sick-of-spam.invalid>,
Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <598b45db...@candehope.me.uk>,

> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:

> > RAF Gaydon was a training base, where pilots (in particular)
> > converted from propellor driven machines to jets, It was not a
> > Bomber base.

> So if I didn't see the scramble there, where might I have been?

most of the operational airfields weer on the eastern side of the country

> It was a day out, so not too far from the midlands I wouldn't have
> thought.

> I think it was battle of Britain day does that make sense?

Anything might have happened then,

[David Higton]

In message <598b4e...@sick-of-spam.invalid>

Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> In article <598b45db...@candehope.me.uk>,
> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
>

> > RAF Gaydon was a training base, where pilots (in particular) converted
> > from propellor driven machines to jets, It was not a Bomber base.
>

> So if I didn't see the scramble there, where might I have been?
>

> It was a day out, so not too far from the midlands I wouldn't have thought.
>
> I think it was battle of Britain day does that make sense?

Yes. I remember going to several of those in my childhood. I also
remember Vulcans scrambling - one of the showpieces of each BoB day.

In my case it was probably RAF Finningley and RAF Scampton.

Imagine the security implications of thousands of members of the public
on an operational RAF base today!

David

[Nick Roberts]

In message <598b3b...@sick-of-spam.invalid>

Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> I have vague memories of my father (ex RAF) taking me somewhere
> probably Gaydon where we watched a V bomber scramble. As I say vague.
> I would have been very young at the time and I would guess early 60s.
> My memory says all 3 V bombers took part including my then favourite
> the 'Victor' with its ink pen nose.

Not quite so long, but still last century, I went to the air show at
Farnborough. One of the more impressive demos was a Vulcan doing a low
level fly by. Anyone who had a active db metre probably had to replace
it - I'm not sure the're designed to handle that much noise 8-)

[charles]

In article <7b5c5e8c...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>,

Nick Roberts <tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <598b3b...@sick-of-spam.invalid>
> Bob Latham <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> > I have vague memories of my father (ex RAF) taking me somewhere
> > probably Gaydon where we watched a V bomber scramble. As I say vague.
> > I would have been very young at the time and I would guess early 60s.
> > My memory says all 3 V bombers took part including my then favourite
> > the 'Victor' with its ink pen nose.

> Not quite so long, but still last century, I went to the air show at
> Farnborough. One of the more impressive demos was a Vulcan doing a low
> level fly by. Anyone who had a active db metre probably had to replace
> it - I'm not sure the're designed to handle that much noise 8-)

The only year I went to the Farnborough Air Show, the RAF aerobatic team
were flying Lightnings. They took off vertically togther just about level
with our viewpoint. A bit more noise from 18 (or possibly 24) Avons on
reheat than from 4 Olympus

[Tim Hill]

In article <7b5c5e8c...@bc63.orpheusinternet.co.uk>, Nick Roberts
<tig...@orpheusinternet.co.uk> wrote:

> In message <598b3b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> Bob Latham
> <b...@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

> > I have vague memories of my father (ex RAF) taking me somewhere
> > probably Gaydon where we watched a V bomber scramble. As I say vague.
> > I would have been very young at the time and I would guess early 60s.
> > My memory says all 3 V bombers took part including my then favourite
> > the 'Victor' with its ink pen nose.

> Not quite so long, but still last century, I went to the air show at
> Farnborough. One of the more impressive demos was a Vulcan doing a low
> level fly by. Anyone who had a active db metre probably had to replace
> it - I'm not sure the're designed to handle that much noise 8-)

There doesn't seem to have been a Vulcan bomber at the 1970s Farnborough
show I had transferred from Super8 to digital. Chinooks, Harriers, SkyVAN
and The Red Arrows are there though. https://youtu.be/_Sp-keOM31Q

[charles]

In article <598ccf...@invalid.org.uk>,

probaby in 1977, I has a Vulcan pass overhead at a very low altitude. it
had just banked to avoid hitting a red/white Decca Navigator mast. Scary.

[Steve Drain]

Just to play one-up, I saw a Vulcan with a Concorde engine strapped to
its belly at Farnborough in probably 1966. Now that _was_ noisy. ;-)

[charles]

In article <sn5e82$138n$1...@gioia.aioe.org>, Steve Drain <st...@kappa.me.uk>
wrote:

and, before that, there was the Lancaster with a Vulcan engine underneath.
Seen from School, There wasa n EE test airfield a short distance away

[John]

In article <sn5e82$138n$1...@gioia.aioe.org>, Steve Drain
<st...@kappa.me.uk> wrote:

> Just to play one-up, I saw a Vulcan with a Concorde
> engine strapped to its belly at Farnborough in probably
> 1966. Now that _was_ noisy. ;-)

I saw that one too, but at Filton - not Farnborough. And it
was 1966 when I was just approaching my twentieth.

It took off after a ridiculously short run and climbed away
to a thousand feet or so. At about a mile away it turned
through 180 and returned in a shallow dive. It couldn't
have had the throttles wide open on all 5 engines or else
the wings would have come off! However, when it reached the
runway, at about 50', it *did* open up the throttles.

I was stood about 100' from the centre-line and, for just a
few seconds was in that blissful state when all the senses
are saturated and consumed by the immense physicality of
the beast.

Sex? Ha! Just a pale imitation. ;-))

John

--
John
new...@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk