Cruisers Forum
 


Closed Thread
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 02-07-2009, 19:28   #16
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New Orleans
Boat: Nomoboat -- yay Gustav ;)
Posts: 248
Send a message via AIM to drew.ward
Actually it's not just quick and easy expediency.

There is an actual reason many US cities use elevated lines versus underground utilities.

Houses and building lots in the US tend to be much larger than their European counterparts. This makes neighborhoods bigger and means that utilities have to span a much further distance to serve the same number of customers.

When you take this to a city-wide level the grid for an American city is exponentially larger than that of a comparably populated European one. (I say American, but I could just as easily say in the Americas as housing in Mexico or many other places looks pretty much identical in structure to that in any US or Canadian neighborhood).

When you send a signal through a wire a certain amount of that signal is leaked out and lost to the surroundings. Whether it be electricity, cable, data, or phone, as the distance increases, the amount of signal dispersed to the surrounding environment increases. In elevated lines, the air itself acts as an insulator to signal loss.

Because the earth is a natural ground (actually THE natural ground) its proximity to wires actually exacerbates signal loss quite a bit so that underground utilities are only practical on short runs.

In many densely populated places like New Orleans of New York you will find underground utilities, but you will also find huge ventilation grates in the streets to vent the substations. The actual main runs of the wires are from those with the general areas being served with trunk service from larger elevated lines somewhere.

It's not a matter of doing something on the cheap because it's quick and easy, it's a matter or one technology not being practical in one situation where in another place the opposing technology is he most ideal..

(oh yeah one foreigner thing that's funny...foreigners being the mindset that because somethings done a certain way 'back home' that that's the best way to do it!) couldn't help myself lol
__________________

drew.ward is offline  
Old 02-07-2009, 21:39   #17
always in motion is the future
 
s/v Jedi's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 18,864
Drew,

it would go off topic to go into that... but wait, this is the off topic forum, isn't it? ;-)

I think you should have a closer look at European power distribution; it's proven to work quite well. We also have cities where the rich live with large houses and building lots; we even have medieval castles etc. Instead of air insulation with bare wires hanging in the air, modern materials are used instead. Also, while air is a good insulator, that property is sharply reduced when rain, mist, snow, ice or fallen trees come into the picture.

Further, losses are minimized by using a higher voltage; most devices use 230 or 240V instead of 110-120. Houses receive 3-phase 380V power.

Another big difference is that the power consumption per capita is much less than in the US. Think of 40% less. Less power transfer means less power loss.

Having spend time in both countries I can tell that outages in Holland are a fraction of the US figure. I do agree it costs much more though.

Other differences: all facilities are distributed underground: telephone, cable-TV, propane (almost every house gets propane in Holland), water, power, hot water for heating (in cities, waste heat from industry) and more and more fiber optics.

We also have: special bicycle lanes everywhere, diesel and propane (LPG) at virtually every gas station, de-clawing cats is considered cruel, dikes that work, real Dutch apple pie, real real-mayonnaise, hormone free meat, dogs that don't wear clothes, even more strict and stupid rules on anti-fouling (like no copper, wall paint works better), same lame politicians, same low IQ police officers, more seconds tv in between the commercials, FM radios with 0.05 MHz steps instead of 0.2 MHz, more cow and pig **** that anyone can imagine (we export it), warehouses full of real butter that we practically give away for free while it's expensive to buy in the shops, salvation army that sell the clothes they collect to farmers who use it for land filling and buy Rols Royces from the profits, no car industry, 2nd highest tax pressure in the world (only topped by Sweden I think), political assesinations, military in Afganistan, a Queen, a buffer zone with France and so on.

The biggest difference however is that Holland is full. Too much people. The only place you can't see a building around you is in the toilet with the light off ;-)

ciao!
Nick.
s/v Jedi is offline  
Old 02-07-2009, 22:40   #18
Registered User
 
martinworswick's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: southern denmark
Boat: naver 29
Posts: 190
Quote:
Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey View Post

1) In Jersey (and at least parts of the UK) if a car flashes it's lights at you it means "'I've seen you and it's ok to cross the road - by foot or by car - and I will slow down and could even stop if needed". In Thailand if a vehicle does the same it means "I am coming through. as fast as I can. Stopping?? Hahaha! Buddha is me mate". A couple of spots in Bangkok where it is fun to watch the Tourists learn this
you don't have to go as far as thailand for the 'i'm coming through" light flashing trick, they do that in france also.

another "good" thing the french do is to flash their lights when travelling in the opposite direction as you to warn of police speed checks- the motoring poulation keeping themselves under control i suppose
martinworswick is offline  
Old 02-07-2009, 22:42   #19
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Boat: VandeStadt IOR 40' - Insatiable
Posts: 2,317
Images: 91
Not knowing the difference between a Donkey and a Crapaud...
Weyalan is offline  
Old 02-07-2009, 23:29   #20
Registered User
 
Zanshin's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Jeanneau 57
Posts: 2,269
Images: 2
Actually, flashing lights in Germany means "get out of my way" and if the cops see you do it you can get a ticket and a couple of points off your license.

Outside of the UK you have Fries (French or "Freedom") that should be warm and chips which are cold. In the UK the chips are what others know of as fries and if you want an accompaniement to your lager at the pub you'll have to ask for crisps.
Zanshin is online now  
Old 03-07-2009, 00:40   #21
Registered User
 
Golden Wattle's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Melbourne. OZ.
Boat: Dreaming
Posts: 69
Here in OZ, flashing headlights warns of the Cops ahead or a warning of danger.
However if you are caught by the police, they will fine you & you will lose demerit points.

Cheers
GW
__________________
"He has a Kangaroo loose in the top paddock":
Golden Wattle is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 00:46   #22
Registered User
 
SkiprJohn's Avatar

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
Just sold my TR4A which would handily pass any MG anytime (when it was running) : )
Regards,
JohnL
SkiprJohn is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 00:52   #23
Long Range Cruiser
 
MarkJ's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
Images: 25
In Egypt at night in taxis they drive with the headlights off! The fear they will run the battery down. They only turn them on when they see something in the road!!!!!!


Scary!
__________________
Notes on a Circumnavigation.
OurLifeAtSea.com

Somalia Pirates and our Convoy
MarkJ is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 01:25   #24
Registered User
 
Hampus's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Sweden
Boat: Between boats
Posts: 474
Images: 6
Send a message via MSN to Hampus
In greece they unhook their seatbelts as soon as the speed drops below 30 Mph...
__________________
https://adventureswithsyingeborg.blogspot.com/
On the way back to Sweden.
Hampus is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 02:08   #25
Registered User
 
Zanshin's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Jeanneau 57
Posts: 2,269
Images: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
In Egypt at night in taxis they drive with the headlights off!...
In Japan they turn off the headlights and leave just the running lights on when stopped at traffic lights. This is supposed to make it easier on the eyes for drivers of cars passing and historically was because of weak batteries that would run down when idling. Drivers often forget to turn on their lights when starting, so the common signal is to turn off your lights momentarily (they are so polite in Japan, in Germany you'd blast 'em with 8,000,000 lumens from high-beams & foglights )
Zanshin is online now  
Old 03-07-2009, 02:16   #26
Marine Service Provider

Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,659
Just saw a news article about a foreign animal. Apparently in Aussie they found a pile of Crop Circles are were trying to figure out how they got there. After some investigation they found that the Kangaroos were eating too many poppy flowers, getting stoned and then in a dazed state, bouncing around the place leaving the circles. Now they are calling the Roos, Tippy Skippies


The one thing I don't understand about all this foreign stuff even after all my travelling is why with all the countries, lands, races and so on on this planet of ours, why is it NZ is the only country where everyone doesn't have an accent. I suppose we must be just lucky
GMac is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 02:45   #27
Registered User
 
Golden Wattle's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Melbourne. OZ.
Boat: Dreaming
Posts: 69
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMac View Post
Just saw a news article about a foreign animal. Apparently in Aussie they found a pile of Crop Circles are were trying to figure out how they got there. After some investigation they found that the Kangaroos were eating too many poppy flowers, getting stoned and then in a dazed state, bouncing around the place leaving the circles. Now they are calling the Roos, Tippy Skippies


The one thing I don't understand about all this foreign stuff even after all my travelling is why with all the countries, lands, races and so on on this planet of ours, why is it NZ is the only country where everyone doesn't have an accent. I suppose we must be just lucky
Fushnchups?
Swung bowling?
Hula Hups?
Nope, there's no accent there.

Cheers
GW
__________________
"He has a Kangaroo loose in the top paddock":
Golden Wattle is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 02:48   #28
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,305
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMac View Post
Just saw a news article about a foreign animal. Apparently in Aussie they found a pile of Crop Circles are were trying to figure out how they got there. After some investigation they found that the Kangaroos were eating too many poppy flowers, getting stoned and then in a dazed state, bouncing around the place leaving the circles. Now they are calling the Roos, Tippy Skippies
And just "who" was eating the poppy flowers


And do I get my final gold star with this post?
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 02:49   #29
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,305
YES, I did
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline  
Old 03-07-2009, 04:32   #30
Armchair Bucketeer
 
David_Old_Jersey's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,012
Images: 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weyalan View Post
Not knowing the difference between a Donkey and a Crapaud...
If you kiss a Crapaud* they turn into a Jersey Prince If you kiss a Donkey you have just kissed a Guernsey Ass


* Norman French (the Jersey patois) for Toad
David_Old_Jersey is offline  
Closed Thread

Tags
funny

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FUNNY SIGNAGE GordMay Flotsam & Sailing Miscellany 15 20-12-2018 09:09
Funny Cleats! ssullivan Seamanship & Boat Handling 44 19-08-2009 09:43
Really funny Alan Wheeler Flotsam & Sailing Miscellany 15 16-02-2008 00:26
Things that work and things that don't... svHyLyte Construction, Maintenance & Refit 58 03-11-2006 22:13
A funny. :) ssullivan General Sailing Forum 1 06-01-2006 15:26

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:17.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.