Interesting Items...

[SemiRamis]

Power cuts this winter?
Don't suppose the cooling towers will be kept. They've been a part of the local landscape for years. Would be sad to see them go
Photo

The demolition of all those coal powered stations is indicative of the intransigence of these lefties.

See Germany. When the gas dried up from Russia they brought the coal back online pretty sharpish.

The imbecile Milliband just stopped new licences in the North Sea. Say hi to increased fuel prices.

 

[Black Hole]

As arose in another thread:–

UK (Imperial) measures:

1 fl.oz (fluid ounce) = volume occupied by one ounce of water​

1 pt (pint) = 20 fl.oz​

1 gal (gallon) = 8 pt​

∴︎ 1 gallon weighs 160 ounces​

US measures:

1 pt = 16 fl.oz​

1 gal = 8 pt​

∴︎ 1 gallon weighs 128 ounces, but according to the Internet is now legally defined as 231 cubic inches.​

​

By my calculations, 128 fl.oz should be approximately 222 cubic inches. Has the US made the gallon no longer equal to 8 pints?​

UK (Imperial measures):

1 lb (pound weight) = 16 oz (ounces)​

1 st (stone) = 14 lb​

1 cwt (hundredweight) = 8 st = 112 lb​

1 ton = 20 cwt​

∴︎ 1 ton = 2240 lb​

​

1 tonne = 1000 kg ≈︎ 2205 lb, difference from 1 ton 1.6%​

US measures:

1 cwt = 100 lb​

1 ton = 20 cwt​

∴︎ 1 ton = 2000 lb​

​

This seems much simpler and more logical, despite ending up with an "underweight" ton by 11%... and in this case the Americans have it correct! In their system, the "stone" does not exist (which is why they talk about a person's weight in lb and never st.lb). Apparently, the weight of a stone was quite flexible, just being a convenient rock, but in the14th century it got standardised to 14 lb for the purpose of international trade in wool.​

 

[EEPhil]

in this case the Americans have it correct!

If the Americans came up with their system after it was defined by us then they have it wrong. I'll agree it's more logical, but when did logic have anything to do with it? It is what it is!

 

[Black Hole]

If the Americans came up with their system after it was defined by us then they have it wrong. I'll agree it's more logical, but when did logic have anything to do with it? It is what it is!

I would argue with that. Having 1 cwt = 100 lb seems like a clincher, and more likely rooted in history than having 1 cwt = 112 lb.

 

[EEPhil]

By the same token, 12d to 1s, 20s to the £, and the guinea . Decimalisation sorted that one. Solve all our problems, and make most calculations easier, use SI units. (Still can't get used to kph though.)

 

[gomezz]

30cms is a foot (near enough)
A litre of water is a pint and three-quarters
A kilogram is 2.2lbs

Helped being in the 60s the first class in school to be taught both Metric and Imperial systems.

 

[Black Hole]

A kilogram is 2.2lbs

Or in my case, "two and a quarter pounds of jam weigh about a kilogram".

 

[Black Hole]

By the same token, 12d to 1s, 20s to the £, and the guinea . Decimalisation sorted that one. Solve all our problems, and make most calculations easier, use SI units. (Still can't get used to kph though.)

I think you missed the point: HUNDREDweight!

 

[EEPhil]

I think you missed the point: HUNDREDweight!

No. It's defined in British Weights and Measures law (1878). May not make sense, but too late to change it now. And it's part of British tradition. Just change to g/Kg/tonnes - no ambiguity there.

 

[Black Hole]

:sigh: