Dumb Britain

[Lrd]

SMART card - (what is this???)

I think that's the OAP concessionary pass for the buses, or any local council issued smart card for the libraries etc etc.

 

[Nym]

Aha, Thats in my notes somewhere, True Power/Apparent power isnt it? which using trig you can express as Cos(theta)

Ideally you want it to be as close to 1 as possible, and can use capacitor or inductor banks to make theta = 0 (Ie no phase change)


Is this used any way in rolling stock power systems?

Normally at the moment am expressing it at a pure ratio leading or lagging.

And yes, very much so in rolling stock, there were a lot in 87101 being the first thyristor controlled unit, used a lot of power electronics. (Lecture tomorrow and Friday with someone who worked on 87101's systems)

 

[Schnellzug]

I'll give you that

I was about to post on here for a different reason, but then I saw that! Anyway, some git is playing that "Do they know..." Christmas song nearby. It's 40 days away yet! Turn it off!!!!!

EDIT: Actually, I think it might have just been on the radio somewhere. That's even worse hock:

In case you can't guess, for charity or not, I do not like that song!

Oh, they're doing that in a well known chain of Coffe shops named after the Spanish for coast. the other day it was All i want for Christmas is You, although mercifully not the Mariah Carey version. In fact, it was relatively bearable.



Oh, an DTKIC is the greatest song ever.

 

[Eagle]

The other day it was All I Want for Christmas Is You, although mercifully not the Mariah Carey version.

I wasn't aware there was another version... being as Carey wrote the song in the first place.

 

[Schnellzug]

SMART card - (what is this???)
.

it's a small two-seater car manufactured by Mercdes Benz, although how you'd get one in your carry-on luggage is a questionable matter.
I can't help wondering what the reaction might be if you offered them a Firearm certificate, mind.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I wasn't aware there was another version... being as Carey wrote the song in the first place.

i think it was one of those sounding-vaguely-like-the-original-artist cover versions that they play for copyright reasons.

 

[starrymarkb]

I get so many at work (a Public Transport Timetable info call centre) Some highlights include...

How do I cross tram lines?

Someone is robbing a bus with a gun, what are you going to do about it?!

Why can't I use a bus pass in France?

Others include the mother claiming her son couldn't cross roads, the lady who took that call thought it best to ask the age (unoccompanied minors and all) and was shocked at the reply "22"

Why doesn't the bus stop nearer the shops inside the shopping centre?

(said by someone going to a shopping centre with the bus stop right outside the entrance to the building)

 

[Mojo]

I travelled to Jersey on Flybe last year presenting my driving license. The full list of accepted ID, from their website:

A valid passport
An expired passport (domestic flights only up to two years after expiry)
Valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
Valid photographic driving licence
Valid armed forces identity card
Valid police warrant card/badge
Valid airport employees security identity pass
A child on parent’ s passport is an acceptable form of ID
CitizenCard
Valid photographic firearm certificate
Valid Government-issued identity card
SMART card
Electoral identity card
Photographic disabled badge
NUS card photographic (National Union of Students)
Photographic university/college ID card
Company ID card of nationally recognised company (photographic)
Council issued bus pass (senior citizens only)
Pension book (the only acceptable form of non-photographic identification)
Young Scot card

 

[Schnellzug]

The real ironic thing is, what difference would any of those make to, I presume is the intention, Preventing Terrorism, since, according to the official explanation, the 9/11 Hijackers all got on the planes under their real names, and even (allegedly) had their Passports with them.

 

[Kernowfem]

Docotors receptionist to me back in 2002 while i was on crutches learning to use my prosthetic leg....lovely lady, very chatty: Oh dear love, what you been doing, breaking your leg. Me: No, sadly ive had to have it amputated: Rec: Oooh lovey thats not good, still i see people with legs missing in here some days, it could have been worse!

Que two other very embarrassed desk staff and a purple GP. It did make laugh so much, she really cheered up a crappy day!!



However i confess when my brother joined the navy, i was only 14. He was going on a submarine, and i did ask him if it had windows.....i know, i know, rediculous!

 

[Seacook]

easyJet accept the following for domestic flights:
A valid passport - an expired passport can be used up to a maximum of two years after expiry
Valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
Valid photographic driving licence
Valid armed forces identity card
Valid police warrant card/badge
Valid airport employees security identity pass
A child on parent' s passport is an acceptable form of ID
CitizenCard
Valid photographic firearm certificate
Valid Government-issued identity card
SMART card - (what is this???)
Electoral identity card

I don't have any of these. No internal flights for me, then. I shall have to stick with trains.

 

[Nym]

Armed forces id card, yes
Airport staff id card, yes
Passport, yes still have
Driving licence, yup still have
Firearms licence, soon
Warrant card, not any more
University id card, several,
How many times can i fly with flyBE?

 

[ainsworth74]

However i confess when my brother joined the navy, i was only 14. He was going on a submarine, and i did ask him if it had windows.....i know, i know, rediculous!

Not necessarily as depending on which navy he joined there could well have been windows as seen here

 

[43021HST]

Despite the name of the thread I find American tourists to be the doppiest so and so's out there. My favourite was when I was at Windsor castle and an American walks by saying "Why did they build the castle under a flight path" durrrrrrrrrrrr.

I also love it when they ask for directions on the tube the questions are so daft like: "What do the coloured lines on this tube map mean?" or "Can you get to Stevenage on the Piccadilly line?"

 

[Rugd1022]

Docotors receptionist to me back in 2002 while i was on crutches learning to use my prosthetic leg....lovely lady, very chatty: Oh dear love, what you been doing, breaking your leg. Me: No, sadly ive had to have it amputated: Rec: Oooh lovey thats not good, still i see people with legs missing in here some days, it could have been worse!

Que two other very embarrassed desk staff and a purple GP. It did make laugh so much, she really cheered up a crappy day!!



However i confess when my brother joined the navy, i was only 14. He was going on a submarine, and i did ask him if it had windows.....i know, i know, rediculous!

Yellow submarines have windows!

My eldest sister once asked me "how do you actually drive your train then, does it have a steering wheel?". She was deadly serious...:roll:

 

[table38]

This one has a steering wheel

http://uklo.co/v/dmu/dmucab.jpg.html

 

[Schnellzug]

Yellow submarines have windows!

My eldest sister once asked me "how do you actually drive your train then, does it have a steering wheel?". She was deadly serious...:roll:

Some do...

 

[Oswyntail]

.....
I also love it when they ask for directions on the tube the questions are so daft like: "What do the coloured lines on this tube map mean?"

Well, actually, IIRC, it doesn't explain anywhere that the lines are separate entities.If you are not used to the convention used, the maps don't make obvious sense

..... "Can you get to Stevenage on the Piccadilly line?"

Well, yes and no. The question might well be expanded to "I am here at Baron's Court. Is the Piccadilly Line my best option for heading towards Stevenage, understanding that I might have to change somewhere?"
There is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer.

 

[table38]

From the desk of a pedant...

There is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer.

I'd nominate the sort of question like "are you going?" when someone puts their coat on

My old boss used to ask stupid questions in meetings just to justify his existence. In meetings with more senior staff then him, at the end when they asked "has anyone any questions" and all we wanted to do was get out of their fast, he always asked something like "could you just go over xyz again" which really meant "look at me, I'm asking a question"

Also the old Police Squad (Peter Lupus) / Airplane (Leslie Neilson) stuff was pretty stupid, like:

• I have a question
• What is it?
• It's an an interrogative statement designed to elicit a response

 

[Rugd1022]

Some do...

Sorry, no knowledge... I don't sign those...!

 

[Lrd]

I'd nominate the sort of question like "are you going?" when someone puts their coat on

They might be cold...

 

[class156]

Passport or EU government Identity Card only for Ryanair. No driving license. However, they don't have any UK domestic flights anymore.

Ryanair still do flights from Prestwick to Stanstead.

 

[WestCoast]

Ryanair still do flights from Prestwick to Stanstead.

The route no longer operates.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't have any of these. No internal flights for me, then. I shall have to stick with trains.

I have always thought it's quite important to have some sort of photographic ID. A CitizenCard is easy and cheap (£15) to obtain.

 

[causton]

I have always thought it's quite important to have some sort of photographic ID. A CitizenCard is easy and cheap (£15) to obtain.

Yes, I have one of those - it's good for seperating the wheat from the chaff in regards of people that are trained well/remember their training! "Never seen this ID before," said the guy in the Co-op. There was a picture of it right behind him on an A3 poster saying "Police Advice - Acceptable Photo ID"

Also gives discounts! Not too sure about whether any of them are any good but something's better than nothing!

 

[Railguy220]

"Oh no thanks - I don't like fruit. Do you have a banana?"

Bananas are technically a herb.

 

[43021HST]

Some do...

Hate to mention the obvious but that looks like the hand brake you get on the old DMUs and locos.

 

[Schnellzug]

Hate to mention the obvious but that looks like the hand brake you get on the old DMUs and locos.

Does, doesn't it; it's a DB class 218.

 

[Ivo]

In line with the thread, it's pedant time!

Ryanair still do flights from Prestwick to Stanstead.

Grrr

(Sorry class156, but it's a very common point on here!)

--------------------

Another one is if you go into a take-away and spell out exactly what you need, even writing it down - and still they ask if you want this, that or the other. If you hgave a burger bar or similar, they will almost always ask if you want cheese, for example, even if you deliberately mention beforehand that you don't want it - and half the time they will still give it to you! :roll:

 

[curly42]

Doncaster station:

Me - "A black coffee please"

Person behind counter - "Milk and sugar ?"

 

[atomicdanny]

I'm sure the most common for anyone that has worked in a supermarket (or most likely anywhere! ). I had this a lot when i worked for Netto and Sainsbury when in uniform!

"Do you work here"

I usually replied, nope I just like to where this uniform for fun!

(then there are those that call Tomatoes Vegetables though, that is annoying!)

 

[causton]

Working in retail, I could give *so many* of these...

"Headphones built inside the coat? How does that work - must be pretty complicated" - actually no, they've just shoved some headphones in the middle before sewing the 2 halves together...
"Do you do gift cards?" (I am standing to the side of a 1x2 metre sign saying "GIFT CARDS NOW AVAILABLE")
"No refunds? Where does it say that then?" (points to back of receipt, sign in front of till, sign behind till) Not saying that I particularly like the 'no refunds' rule!
On the bus home: "Can I get a ticket to xyz?" "Single or return?" "Well I want to go there... and then back again" "So a return" "Erm I think so"
Also, the amount of men who bring up ladies' jeans (with a bright pink label and the numbered size (e.g. 8, 10 etc) rather than the men's sizes (e.g. S, M, L)) and ask how the sizing works - "is this my size".