Early Risers.

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

It is perhaps the most confusing of the SI (sorry, metric) units. 

The calorie is not an SI unit. Neither is the Calorie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie

[Ozexpatriate]

4 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

The calorie is not an SI unit. Neither is the Calorie

Agreed, hence my initial correction. Probably better had I just deleted the original text. I typed it, quickly realized it was wrong and used the strikethrough.

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by Ozexpatriate

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

kcal is better spelled as Calorie, with a capital C to distinguish it from the cgs lower case calorie.

 

It is perhaps the most confusing of the SI (sorry, metric) units. 

 

SI mks of course uses joules, avoiding all that cgs confusion.

 

EDIT

In the brave new Britain, perhaps there will be an adoption of BTUs for food labelling, so as to avoid confusion and foreign Euro-units?

 

1 BTU ≈ 1.055 kJ ≈ 0.252 kcal (Calories)

 

I was surprised that BTU's are still used in the USA for things like lovo coa eg BTU's per pound. I did wonder how many people over there knew that the B stood for British.   Mind you I find quite a lotbof things here in France in Imperial sizes, particularly pipe fittings for swimming pools.

 

Jamie

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

I was surprised that BTU's are still used in the USA.

Of course it is. Americans love Imperial Units and won't let go. It's one of many ironies living here, that they celebrate "independence" from things British - except of course for all the weights and measures, the language, the shared history, the shared legal standards rooted in English common law, etc, etc. (There's probably more interest in the British royal family here than in Britain.)

 

Of course many of the units use the same term but actually measure a slightly different quantity - like fluid ounces, pints, gallons and the ton (2,000 lbs unlike the "long ton" of 2,240 lbs).

 

Australia went fully metric in 1974. I was in primary school at the time and we were taught both Imperial and metric weights and measures simultaneously. (We didn't do the more obscure Imperial measures like firkins and hogsheads.) Australia quit Imperial Units "cold turkey" and everything changed rapidly - including highway signs (there were of course stragglers that were missed and hung around for a while), petrol pumps* and food packaging. The biggest complaints were from sports fans - horse races were called in metres instead of furlongs and the 25 yard line became the 22 in Rugby.)

 

* Often cited in the US as a big "unfunded mandate" cost in switching from Imperial to metric. This might have had some meaning 50 years ago, but with modern electronic equipment it would cost relatively little to switch pumps to litres today.

 

One of the weird interactions in the electronics world is that IC packaging and circuit board design and manufacturing continue to be based on fractions of an inch, whereas the IC design is, of course, all metric. This can create some serious problems in design databases depending on what fundamental units the design system uses for minimum resolution.

 

Then, famously the Mars Climate Orbiter.

Quote

An investigation attributed the failure to a measurement mismatch between two software systems: metric units by NASA and US Customary (imperial or "English") units by spacecraft builder Lockheed Martin.

 

[Tony_S]

52 minutes ago, brianusa said:

1:50 PST and RMW is acting up - worst its ever been!  Select topic and something else entirely shows up.  Slow - its hard to remember when it wasn't.  One really has to be a masochist to go through all this to find messages that certainly don't cheer one up, most are sad and refer only to those involved.  Surely a close friend is a better confidante than someone you don't know, perhaps thousands of miles away.  Luckily, be selective and there is still a lot of interesting content to be found and its the only game in town!

   Brian.

I found this to be a rather unpleasant and utterly selfish post. People share happy news and sad news. Some of the people both near and thousands of miles away have been very kind to me. I am sure there are other threads where you don’t have to be bothered by illness and family loss. 

[laurenceb]

Night awl. ps Tony, very true

[BSW01]

BTU = British Thermal Unit

[polybear]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

 Nephew (who we think the world of) just told us their marriage is over - Mrs off with someone else - two kids under 3. Pah doesn't quite cover it. And here was us thinking 2022 might be a less sh!t year.

 

Just off to kick something inanimate.

 

 

"Someone else's" Nuts would be a good start.  Numerous times.....

 

Sorry to hear that NHN.....SBT's as always 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

I was surprised that BTU's are still used in the USA

Having just run an errand I quickly looked at the equipment in the garage. A sticker estimating the operating cost for my water heater is based on the Therm (equal to 100,000 BTUs).

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[BoD]

2 hours ago, brianusa said:

1:50 PST and RMW is acting up - worst its ever been!  Select topic and something else entirely shows up.  Slow - its hard to remember when it wasn't.  One really has to be a masochist to go through all this to find messages that certainly don't cheer one up, most are sad and refer only to those involved.  Surely a close friend is a better confidante than someone you don't know, perhaps thousands of miles away.  Luckily, be selective and there is still a lot of interesting content to be found and its the only game in town!

   Brian.

ERs has been many things to many people from the very early days of  RMweb.

 

I  am sorry if I have upset people with my sad and cheerless posts.  I won’t post again in the hope that ERs becomes more interesting again.

 

 

[BR60103]

When the metric system was being pushed by the Canadian government, there was major resistance from the gas station industry.  Then there was an almost overnight switch to litres when the price per gallon went over $1.00 and they would have had to cut another hole in the gas pumps for the extra digit.  That happened anyway when the price went over $1 per litre.

 

And I encourage BoD to keep on here.  We can handle it.

 

 

[Darlington_Shed]

2 hours ago, BoD said:

I  am sorry if I have upset people with my sad and cheerless posts

I am a long-time lurker on ERs but feel compelled to post now (partly as a native of Co. Durham exiled dahn sahf these past 40 years). Please - do not walk away from the thread or forum because of a post from someone who is likely extremely frustrated by technical issues with RMweb.

 

We've just come through the worst two years since the end of the last world war, and I dare say we're all irritated, frustrated, annoyed, short-tempered and hacked off. I'd suggest we're all allowed to feel that way but... one of my own resolutions after a couple of months of lockdown was to be less cynical and generally furious about the state of the world. And at that time I found RMweb in general, and ERs in particular. This thread, with its focus on the "trivia" of everyday life has been a constant source of joy and reassurance... a confirmation that life goes on regardless; that we're all in this together.

 

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I know almost nothing about the forbidden subject here; and even less about the 12":1ft-scale prototype, despite growing up in one of the most important centres of said subject - I spent my first college summer break working on the 150th anniversary exhibition of the Darlington-Stockton railway. My mum's family were all coal-miners in Esh Winning; my dad started work as a blacksmith-welder at Easington colliery; my paternal grandparents managed a pub in Sherbourne; my parents spent the majority of my childhood as stewards of working men's clubs in Co. Durham. I have a feeling that we have so much history in common, it saddens me that you might walk away before we have a chance to explore that common history.

 

So, I'm sorry for your loss; but please don't lose more without a really good reason!

[Ozexpatriate]

Am entertained to see the Barty camp playing impromptu cricket (with a racquet bag as the wicket) backstage at the Australian Open.

[chrisf]

A visit to the sorting office yesterday shed no light on the mystery of the blank notification card, save to confirm that there was no record of anything addressed to me awaiting collection.  On the way home something nice happened on the bus.  A fellow passenger remarked on how well my rainbow mask went with my equally rainbow bobble hat.  Although this has happened before, it was particularly welcome on this occasion.

 

Today will be busy.  In late morning I am to undergo my nominally annual diabetes review, which I described yesterday as the reading of the riot act.  This evening I am one of three blind mice!  This is the organiser’s way of saying that three speakers are giving presentations to the HMRS Bletchley Area.  Marketing, eh?

 

Tomorrow evening I hope to have a quick word with someone who knows the other half of the ruptured friendship and may be able to provide some reassurance. 

 

Chris

[iL Dottore]

4 hours ago, BoD said:

…..I  am sorry if I have upset people with my sad and cheerless posts.  I won’t post again in the hope that ERs becomes more interesting again.…

If you don’t post again, Warren, you’ll be facing the full unleashed, unrestrained and implacable wrath of Captain Cynical! Which will not be pleasant, I can assure you.

 

Posting on ER allows one to express thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to express to those nearest and dearest to one (e.g. you may think xxxx’s latest boyfriend is but one ASBO away from career criminality, but you don’t want to upset xxxx who is clearly besotted…..).

There is also the fact that, often, one can feel overwhelmed and even isolated by events, recounting the events on ER not only brings messages of support (always nice), but often a sharing of experiences (“you’re not alone in this, it’ll be hard but you’ll get through…”) and dispassionate advice (“ I would/wouldn’t buy/go to/do X….”). And there’s a lot of informative posts as well (as the recent erudite discussion on calories shows). 

 

Finally, the beauty of reading posts on ER (in addition to those mentioned above) is that you don’t have to read an entire post if you don’t want to - unlike a “real” conversation where you may have to listen to the other person drone on about their favourite bête noire….

Generally, the denizens of ER appreciate the above…

 

So, @BoD, consider yourself duly warned - continue posting or else…

 

iD (on behalf of Captain Cynical)

[iL Dottore]

10 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

…Calories can also be used to describe the amount of energy your body needs to perform physical tasks including:

• breathing
• thinking
• maintaining your heartbeat

Would it be unkind of me to venture the opinion that the second bullet point may not apply for many people?

9 hours ago, polybear said:

Scrooge?  SCROOGE?  Bear just happens to be very financially astute …

I suppose that’s one way of putting it…

9 hours ago, polybear said:

….VSBT's to poor Lucy - and Mr & Mrs iD......

Always appreciated, Bear! 

8 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Only people born before 1960 will have any real experience of working with pounds, shillings and pence.

Not only that, we of a certain vintage will remember farthings as well - still to be found in loose change when I was a wee bairn. 

(puts on pseudo Northern/Yorkshire accent) Guineas? we were too poor to have to do with Guineas - that’s proper posh folks money, that is…

8 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis is back in full voice, Nurofen is about to be taken.

May I suggest a course of retail therapy instead?*

I would prescribe a loading dose of purchasing at least one locomotive and a rake of carriages, followed by a maintenance dose of a minimum of one goods wagon, daily. Online or in-person administration of retail therapy is equally effective. A bolus of a purchase a new piece of kit can be given for flare ups.

 

*retail therapy is most effective, although the experts are divided as to the mode of action: is it via the release of endorphins and enkephalins mediated by pleasurable purchases, or by the reduction of stress on the joints by lightening the wallet (or both)?

[grandadbob]

Another plea here Warren for you to carry on posting whatever you feel like.  Totally agree with Tony and others about the support that most people here give in sad or troubled times and have benefitted from it myself.  As Flavio has said it is sometimes, nay often, easier to unburden yourself to people far removed from the problem.

[pH]

25 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

May I suggest a course of retail therapy instead?*

I would prescribe a loading dose of purchasing at least one locomotive and a rake of carriages, followed by a maintenance dose of a minimum of one goods wagon, daily. Online or in-person administration of retail therapy is equally effective. A bolus of a purchase a new piece of kit can be given for flare ups.

 

*retail therapy is most effective, although the experts are divided as to the mode of action: is it via the release of endorphins and enkephalins mediated by pleasurable purchases, or by the reduction of stress on the joints by lightening the wallet (or both)?

 

12 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

May I suggest a course of retail therapy instead?*

I would prescribe a loading dose of purchasing at least one locomotive and a rake of carriages, followed by a maintenance dose of a minimum of one goods wagon, daily. Online or in-person administration of retail therapy is equally effective. A bolus of a purchase a new piece of kit can be given for flare ups.

 

*retail therapy is most effective, although the experts are divided as to the mode of action: is it via the release of endorphins and enkephalins mediated by pleasurable purchases, or by the reduction of stress on the joints by lightening the wallet (or both)?

And when Captain Cynical tells you twice, you better pay attention!!!

[NGT6 1315]

Moaning awl. A rather unsettling string of dreams marked this past night, which I personally am taking as a hint on just how much pent-up worries there seem to remain.

 

2 hours ago, Darlington_Shed said:

We've just come through the worst two years since the end of the last world war, and I dare say we're all irritated, frustrated, annoyed, short-tempered and hacked off. I'd suggest we're all allowed to feel that way but... one of my own resolutions after a couple of months of lockdown was to be less cynical and generally furious about the state of the world. And at that time I found RMweb in general, and ERs in particular. This thread, with its focus on the "trivia" of everyday life has been a constant source of joy and reassurance... a confirmation that life goes on regardless; that we're all in this together.

 

Which brings me to this observation that seems highly accurate and to which I can't really add anything. I suppose that the frustrations in my case are strongly related to having been witness to just too many examples of evidently not caring a muroid rodent's intercourse about the well-being of others and adhering to zany conspiracy theorists (to offer one of my favourite quotes from District 9) instead, and also to being in a line of work which didn't allow me to isolate from third parties to the extent that I'd have preferred. Leaving out the project assignment in autumn which allowed me to work remotely for much oif the time, which I thought was a blessing!

 

Given how much I agree with DS's posting, I am all the more saddened how frequently I found my energy to be lacking even for simply browsing here and saying hi in recent months, in light of how much I obviously needed to be in touch with people who've been together in this in their own ways.

 

But I guess that's enough rumination for one message. Just need to caffeinate a bit more in order to be up to speed for the road trip to the heart of Brandenburg later!

 

Ta, folks…

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Walkabout to continue today.

 

Sometimes "life is a bitch" as they say. ERs helps to solve the odd problem or three, set minds at rest, provides support where needed.

 

Long may it continue!

 

Welcome on Board Darlington Shed! Seems like you have experience of the best County in the world.with BoD and Two Sugars from the Land of the Prince Bishops as well as you and me.. we could just end up talking all yacker like!

 

Staysafe!

 

Baz 

Drivelling on a walkabout.....

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Hope Tiger is ok as I don’t think he’s reported in since visiting the hospital about his eyes.

Flavio, I hope you get Lucy sorted.

 

Not much of a day here. 
Better leave it fo now. Something wrong with iPad .  Or website. Characters not registering as I type, quite a time lag.

goodnight,

Robert

 

WRITTEN LAST NIGHT BUT ONLY JUST APPEARED ON HERE. (8.45)

Edited January 26, 2022 by Erichill16
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[TheQ]

Mooring awl Inner Temple hare..

It seems the initial 5 hours sleep is a settled thing what happens after that is variable. Last night i fell asleep an hour early so woke an hour early, then looong awake followed by 2 hours sleep.

 

Traffic is definitely on the increase as many start WFW instead of WFH. This morning, however, I had a different problem, a 44 ton artic parked in a single track road, hazards on, he was alongside a mud passing place with lots of potholes, no problem today as I was in the landrover, those coming along in normal cars might not like it though.

I suspect he's waiting for a big pile of sugar beet further down the lane to be ready  to load, I passed 4 other such lorries heading in that direction further on,  on the main road.

 

It looks like the major system will be handed to me shortly, but there's a new test procedure, so I'm waiting for the boss to come in to show me what it is, Meantime there 24 current shunts to do, having shipped the 2nd Temperature meter just before end of shift yesterday.

It's 22.98C in here at 26.04% humidity or so I've just recorded on the first Shunts records. 

 

Time to do the second shunt.