WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

One of the stand-out days of my life was when I bought the last three maps to make up my full house of the OS 1:50000 first series, there are 204 in the set.
The deathly hush in Westminster and Brussels.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18798
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tizer »

I ordered those maps on Friday by free delivery and they arrived yesterday, Monday. Packed in a very sturdy flat, cardboard box, a benefit of buying from a specialist in maps!

I agree with this and it's about time to. One of those obvious things that should have been done long ago to prevent wastage of water and is becoming all the more necessary with climate change...
`Water meters should be compulsory, say MPs' LINK
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
plaques
Donor
Posts: 8094
Joined: 23 May 2013, 22:09

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by plaques »

Water wastage quoted as _"At the moment three billion litres are lost every day, enough to fill over 1,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools". This shouldn't be a problem at the rate the leisure centres and swimming pools are closing.
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18798
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tizer »

Journalists are always using Olympic-sized swimming pools, London buses, the size of Wales etc. They spout the mantra that this helps the reader to understand the magnitude of whatever they're reporting but I wonder if people really do find it useful? I don't! :smile: Also they don't follow the rule used by scientist - always choose the most appropriate units. So three billion litres of water a day would be better expressed as three thousand tonnes (or tons, there isn't much difference between ton and tonne). When they report a food recall it will be something like `2000 kg of meat recalled' when it would be better to write 2 tons.
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
chinatyke
Donor
Posts: 3831
Joined: 21 Apr 2012, 13:14
Location: Pingguo, Guangxi, China

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by chinatyke »

Tizer wrote: 09 Oct 2018, 09:39 So three billion litres of water a day would be better expressed as three thousand tonnes (or tons, there isn't much difference between ton and tonne).
... or 3 million tonnes! Or 100,000 road tanker loads! It's an awful lot of waste water.

My opinion is that journalists are not too bright, particularly those who write for The Daily Mail and similar rags.
User avatar
Tripps
VIP Member
Posts: 8714
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 14:56

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tripps »

I think 'Olympic sized pools' is a fairly well recognised popular measure of liquid volume these days. I'm comfortable with it. Similarly ground area is measured in football pitches, and height in Nelson's Columns or (and this will have to stop after Brexit) Eiffel Towers. The 'London Bus' may be used for either height or length. For smaller amounts the 'tad' (metric or Imperial), is quite useful. :laugh5:
Born to be mild
Sapere Aude
Ego Lego
Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18798
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tizer »

Or instead of a tad what about a smidgeon - if that's how it's spelt?

China, thanks for the correction, I register the billion rather than million. Some years ago the word billion suddenly seemed to be replacing million and the words are so close that sometimes we don't notice the difference. I wish we'd chosen a word for thousand million that was very different from million - any suggestions, anyone?

I found a web site with colourful topographic maps...Barlick area

Image
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
chinatyke
Donor
Posts: 3831
Joined: 21 Apr 2012, 13:14
Location: Pingguo, Guangxi, China

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by chinatyke »

That's a nice map, it clearly shows the Ribble, Aire and Wharfe valleys.

When I was at school a billion was 1012 but now it is 109.
A trillion is now 1012.
Wikipedia has some information here.

The alternative word for billion (109) is milliard but this sounds confusing too and I've never heard it used.
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

Whatever the measurement it is too much! It's the dividends they are paying out that is the real scandal. That should be published monthly.
The fact that a trace of blood in my pee could/might possibly/perhaps be an early indication of a problem in my bladder so they are sending me for a battery of tests.... Deep Joy! Only good thing is that they are guaranteed to happen inside 14 days under the new targets. I feel fine but better safe than sorry.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
chinatyke
Donor
Posts: 3831
Joined: 21 Apr 2012, 13:14
Location: Pingguo, Guangxi, China

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by chinatyke »

How topics disappear! Anything can happen behind The Great Wall of OGFB. It isn't just in China!

Only being facetious as usual. :biggrin2:
User avatar
Pluggy
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2048
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:13
Location: Barnoldswick
Contact:

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Pluggy »

When it comes to a population of 60 million ish, a million quid is next to nothing (< 2p per head) a billion isn't exactly eye watering at < £20 per head , a trillion is less than life changing at < £20,000 per head.
Pluggy's Home Monitor : http://pluggy.duckdns.org
User avatar
Tripps
VIP Member
Posts: 8714
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 14:56

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tripps »

Time for another look at this I think. :smile:

What does a trillion dollars look like?
Born to be mild
Sapere Aude
Ego Lego
Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

Funny thing is that the bigger the number the less impact it has on me. The 'experts' sound totally confident but on the evidence of how they manage our money they have no more idea than us armchair accountants, so I don't trust them.....
Tiz, Toghill recommends getting the two sheets of the BGS 1;650000 solid survey of the British Isles but it appears to be out of print. Any ideas?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Wendyf
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 9415
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:26
Location: Lower Burnt Hill, looking out over Barlick

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Wendyf »

If it's geological mapping you are looking for this website is excellent.

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeolog ... iewer.html
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

Thanks for that Wendy..... I've made a note.
Did you hear the report this morning of the report sent to the police of a bank raid after a member of the public saw all the staff hiding under their desks? Turned out that they were playing hide and seek as part of a bonding exercise! One wonders who is paying for stupid exercises like this......
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

The economy must be in worse shape than I thought.... In an effort to stimulate the economy the conical Xmas emitters are being erected and tested on the lamp standards this morning. Rumours have it that the Co-op is selling Easter eggs also.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18798
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tizer »

Wendy's BGS online map is useful for zooming in on an area and for people on the move but the two folded-paper BGS 1:625000 bedrock maps (North and South Britain) are classics and beautiful as well as functional. For a tenner each plus £2.50 postage they are worth it for the artwork alone. Flat versions are available too for those who prefer to pin them on a wall. But beware - they are big!

The several versions are listed here on the BGS site: BGS 1:625000 bedrock maps . I think Stanley failed to find them because he had 1:650000 instead of 625000, an easy mistake to make. I would suggest the folded North and South at £10 each. Others are available with booklets but I've never seen one of those and can't comment on them. Here are the direct links to the two maps I've suggested: For the North North and for the South South
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

Thanks Tiz, I have ordered them, bugger the expense!
Later..... the payment is confirmed and I am promised delivery within 5 days by post.
See THIS report on falling retail sales. I also noted that GDP growth last month was zero, which is actually a regression. Small black clouds on the horizon.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Wendyf
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 9415
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:26
Location: Lower Burnt Hill, looking out over Barlick

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Wendyf »

We watched "Local Hero" last night, always a treat and one of my all time favourite films. I was struck by how young all the actors looked, Peter Capaldi, Denis Lawson, Jenny Seagrove all looking fresh from school! What really attracted my attention was that it was filmed 35 years ago.....I had to go and lie down.
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18798
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Tizer »

When the Navy boasted a little while ago that one of the new F-35 jets had made its first landing on our new carrier I mentioned that an F-35 had crashed in the US, a loss of $90 million (I now see it was actually $100 million). Now they're all out of action for checks on fuel lines, some of which are `faulty': LINK If that isn't bad enough, the F-35 and other critical US military systems have now been shown to be vulnerable to cyber-attack: LINK
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
Marilyn
VIP Member
Posts: 7776
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 20:29
Location: South Australia

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Marilyn »

Watching "the wedding". Thought the bride looked lovely.
I feel the whole thing rather condensed and rushed. ( is it just me? Even the walk down the aisle seemed quite quick and vows rushed too)
Maybe they were charged by the quarter hour, or possibly Windsor had bookings after?!
No Camilla. Double diary bookings blamed. Gosh...all a bit of very rushed affair!
User avatar
Marilyn
VIP Member
Posts: 7776
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 20:29
Location: South Australia

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Marilyn »

There were some awkward moments when things didn't flow too...
The bride and groom looked quite helpless at these moments. I felt quite stressed for them.
Oh well...job done... They are married! ( but I wouldn't have paid out a fortune for THAT ceremony!!!!) :laugh5:
User avatar
Wendyf
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 9415
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:26
Location: Lower Burnt Hill, looking out over Barlick

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Wendyf »

Wrong time of day for me here in the UK Maz, too much to do on a Friday morning but no doubt I'll catch up with it on the news this evening. :smile:
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

Tiz, and rumours persist that Trump thinks the project is too expensive and is considering pulling the plug.
The wedding cost us at least £2million for security....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 89686
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

Post by Stanley »

The floods in Wales and Scotland, it seems we have been very lucky with storm Karen. I dread to think of the disruption it causes to people's lives.... I feel so sorry for anyone affected and of course they will be in for a shock when they get their next insurance quote. In parts of Wales they have been the worst in living memory, we are getting more and more extreme events......
And of course this is a pinprick compared to overseas events...... Climate change?
Breaking news as I write of 'a rare Atlantic hurricane' striking Portugal with very strong winds. They are calling it hurricane Leslie and it's the first hurricane on record to make landfall there.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Post Reply

Return to “What, Where, When, We, Who, Look & How”