Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 4]

[RizzoTheRat]

Shakermaker said:

popeyewhite said:

Very possibly. I wonder how smart fish are though.

No such thing as "a fish" though, so varied are they in their DNA and genetic make up - some might be much smarter than others

They do seem pretty smart on the podcast though.

[anonymous-user]

What is the USA 41k system, as watching Shark Tank people cash it out, and why couldn't it work over here?

[NoVetec]

Thesprucegoose said:

What is the USA 41k system, as watching Shark Tank people cash it out, and why couldn't it work over here?

Think broadly the 401k isn't too dissimilar to our PPSs. Although I assume there are a ton of small print/caveats/disclaimers for all.

I remember one thing about the 401ks - you can use funds in them to start up a business.

[FiF]

Hairy Bikers, how many bikes do they own? Clearly it's probable that when they're touring wherever on locally registered bikes these are loaned to or hired by the production company.

In UK though? The same or?

And why do they put up with all the stupid dressing up pratting about sequences, because on the telly?

[48k]

FiF said:

And why do they put up with all the stupid dressing up pratting about sequences, because on the telly?

Neither are chefs they're both from a theatre / TV background. IIRC one was a makup artist. Plus I think they just like having a laugh.

[Doofus]

FiF said:

And why do they put up with all the stupid dressing up pratting about sequences, because on the telly?

No, no. They do this for fun, and it's just fortunate the cameras, and the sound man, and the director and the key grip and the catering truck and the stuntmen are all there at the time.

[FiF]

48k said:

FiF said:

And why do they put up with all the stupid dressing up pratting about sequences, because on the telly?

Neither are chefs they're both from a theatre / TV background. IIRC one was a makup artist. Plus I think they just like having a laugh.

Fair enough, I suppose it's not as bad as Lucy Worsley dressing up in costume and simpering about subjects where her academic expertise, when you examine the detail, is in somewhat different areas.

[Swampy1982]

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

[V8mate]

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

[kowalski655]

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Yet the other day when going down the M74 the distances to Gretna & Carlisle obviously reduced, but the gap between them varied from 8,to 10,to 9 miles(IIRC)

[Jonboy_t]

kowalski655 said:

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Yet the other day when going down the M74 the distances to Gretna & Carlisle obviously reduced, but the gap between them varied from 8,to 10,to 9 miles(IIRC)

I’m pretty sure it is traditionally based on the distance to the cities main post office. Don’t know where I heard that, could have been a dream, but I’m pretty sure there’s some truth in it. Sort of...

[gazzarose]

kowalski655 said:

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Yet the other day when going down the M74 the distances to Gretna & Carlisle obviously reduced, but the gap between them varied from 8,to 10,to 9 miles(IIRC)

Funny thing I was giggling to myself whilst driving eastbound just after J30 on the M4 and passsed a sign that said "Newport 9miles", 200 yards later was a sign saying "Welcome to Newport", so I like you questioned where they actually measure it to.

[The Mad Monk]

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Not the memorial to Queen Eleanor - Eleanor's Cross - at Charing Cross?

[talksthetorque]

I thought it was Trafalgar Square.

[DocJock]

Jonboy_t said:

kowalski655 said:

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Yet the other day when going down the M74 the distances to Gretna & Carlisle obviously reduced, but the gap between them varied from 8,to 10,to 9 miles(IIRC)

I’m pretty sure it is traditionally based on the distance to the cities main post office. Don’t know where I heard that, could have been a dream, but I’m pretty sure there’s some truth in it. Sort of...

I'm pretty sure that you are correct.

[Frank7]

talksthetorque said:

I thought it was Trafalgar Square.

Charles 1 statue is in Trafalgar Square, looking west down Whitehall, Eleanor’s Cross is in the forecourt of Charing Cross Station, some 90-100 metres from the statue.
Distances to London are alleged to be to Charing Cross, these points are on top of each other around Trafalgar Square.

[The Mad Monk]

Wikipedia says it's Charlie 1's statue at Charing Cross

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

But what do they know?

[The Mad Monk]

Frank7 said:

Charles 1 statue is in Trafalgar Square, looking west down Whitehall,

How so, when Whitehall runs North/South?

[Dr Jekyll]

The Mad Monk said:

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Not the memorial to Queen Eleanor - Eleanor's Cross - at Charing Cross?

I think Eleanor's cross was originally where King Charles statue is now.

[anonymous-user]

DocJock said:

Jonboy_t said:

kowalski655 said:

V8mate said:

Swampy1982 said:

When a motorway sign says "xx miles to *city*"

Where to they measure that to? the edge or the centre of the destination?

It'll be a fixed point in each location.
London, for example, is measured to the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Yet the other day when going down the M74 the distances to Gretna & Carlisle obviously reduced, but the gap between them varied from 8,to 10,to 9 miles(IIRC)

I’m pretty sure it is traditionally based on the distance to the cities main post office. Don’t know where I heard that, could have been a dream, but I’m pretty sure there’s some truth in it. Sort of...

I'm pretty sure that you are correct.

Close, I think. My understanding it is historically the distance to the church, first and foremost. If a village or town doesn't have a church (not very likely) then I think the default is a post office or rail station or public square. There is no current specific guidance on distances but that is how we have traditionally done it.

Many signs still show the same distances from when the signs were first erected and will likely not take in to account new bypasses, link roads, rat-runs etc. There is a sign near me that gives 9 miles to the "Town centre", but it's actually only 7 miles - but the 9 mile sign has been there since the road opened in the 1930s, and every time it is replaced, it is replaced like-for-like.