Why is it that only 3 nations on this earth still use the imperial system of measurement? Not meaning to consider them any less important, but for the sake of this discussion I'll allow Liberia and Burma some latitude.
As far as the USA however, I'll allow none. The country which is the heart of the worlds financial system - so much so that the GFC was triggered by failures in the US. The country who landed men on the moon in 1969 using a computer with 32 KILOBYTES and programmed in Hex. This country, responsible for some of the worlds most modern technological and medical advances. This country STILL uses that outdated method of measurement.
Are they scared to let their citizens learn something new? Are they worried that the incumbent political party will be ousted if they try to force a change? Can you imaging the Republican party 2 years from now having a non-Metric platform. "Vote for us and we won't make you use that new-fangled system. Hell, what sort of word is Kill-o-meter anyway. I want to tell someone that it's a hunnered degrees, not 37.8 degrees Celsius."
Excuse the yokel diatribe but it makes me mad. I'm a US citizen who's lived in Australia since 1973 and have been through the major "Conversion" of road signs (1974 onward ) and packaged measures (1977 onward). My daughter wouldn't know a mile, pound or ounce from Walter Cronkite or Opie Taylor
Metrication is a generational change......... from the time it is generally implemented, it takes 30 years to effect total change.
Yes, there are 70 and 80 year old people who still say they are 5' 10" tall. They still need to drive 5 miles to the store. The kids born in the 90's though KNOW they are 170cm tall; they KNOW it's 10 kilometres to the store.
As long as the US continues to use the old system of measurements, no matter what their achievements, the world will continue to snigger behind their backs evert time they hear these archaic forms on TV and Movies.
Bob
Friday, March 12, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
The word "Nuclear" is not a simile to 'Satan'
OK then......
1/. A light water nuclear reactor is used to generate power. - good
2/. A heavy water nuclear reactor is used to create weapons-grade Plutonium. - bad
"Light Water" = H2O
"Heavy Water" = 2H2O also known as deuterium oxide.
A light-water reactor is basically a 'kettle'. Really simply, the nuclear rods are put into a tank of water. This creates steam from the boiling water. The steam goes down a pipe and heats water in another tank to, again, create steam. This steam spins a turbine which, in turn, spins a generator to make electricity. The water in the first tank, which had direct contact with the fuel rods, is radioactive. The water in the second tank is not, as it has no direct contact with the radioactive fuel rods or the radioactive steam.
The trick with generating nuclear power in Australia is not being stupid enough to 'build your own'. GE Nuclear is one of a few companies which supply reactors 'off-the-shelf'. Their ESBWR is a generation III reactor and is one of their most advanced. Google "GE Nuclear" and look it up yourself.
If the Australian government decides to go nuclear for power generation, I'm all for it as long as they put in their order to one of major off-the-shelf suppliers.
If they then decide to build it ourselves, I'll be the first one making the 'No Nukes' signs. Some of the signs will also say "Remember MYKI" or "Remember the Sea Sprite helicopter".
Something this important, better not be built by the lowest bidder. Better to have a GE or Westinghouse badge on it.
Bob
1/. A light water nuclear reactor is used to generate power. - good
2/. A heavy water nuclear reactor is used to create weapons-grade Plutonium. - bad
"Light Water" = H2O
"Heavy Water" = 2H2O also known as deuterium oxide.
A light-water reactor is basically a 'kettle'. Really simply, the nuclear rods are put into a tank of water. This creates steam from the boiling water. The steam goes down a pipe and heats water in another tank to, again, create steam. This steam spins a turbine which, in turn, spins a generator to make electricity. The water in the first tank, which had direct contact with the fuel rods, is radioactive. The water in the second tank is not, as it has no direct contact with the radioactive fuel rods or the radioactive steam.
The trick with generating nuclear power in Australia is not being stupid enough to 'build your own'. GE Nuclear is one of a few companies which supply reactors 'off-the-shelf'. Their ESBWR is a generation III reactor and is one of their most advanced. Google "GE Nuclear" and look it up yourself.
If the Australian government decides to go nuclear for power generation, I'm all for it as long as they put in their order to one of major off-the-shelf suppliers.
If they then decide to build it ourselves, I'll be the first one making the 'No Nukes' signs. Some of the signs will also say "Remember MYKI" or "Remember the Sea Sprite helicopter".
Something this important, better not be built by the lowest bidder. Better to have a GE or Westinghouse badge on it.
Bob
Sunday, March 7, 2010
82nd Academy Awards
It's suprising. The amount of time, technology and expertise put together to produce this show is incredible. Sets to lighting to staging......looks brilliant. Why however, could they not get the audio feed right! We couldn't hear the front-announcing half of the time even though it was announced in the theatre. The sound mix during the production numbers was sloppy. In one case, the music was still being played over the top of 2 presenters trying to give an award! I have no doubt it will be 'fixed' before the delayed telecast...... but it doesn't say a lot for the people on the desk responsible for the outgoing feed during the live show. Very messy.
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