Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you

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  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,308
    Special constables are still a thing. Indeed #1 daughter starts next month as one, a year after being accepted, due to the C-word thing restrictions on life. Her grandad was a polisman...
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    I had an uncle who was a policeman back in the day. Back in the day the bonus scheme was pretty good, I think.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,702
    briantrumpet said:

    I'm sure they'd do policing with volunteers if they could get enough, and who weren't either incompetent or corrupt. Special Constables were a thing... not sure if they are any more.

    Yep, still a thing. There's been a lot of fuss recently in the media because Rod Stewart's wife has recently qualified and started shifts.
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    My two year old hugged a special constable the other day. It was the Village Day (think village fete) and the police had a car there, plus officer and special constable, giving kids a chance to sit in the car and put the siren on. Boy was lining up for a go, but didn't like the siren as it was too loud. Eventually it was all too much, burst into tears and ran to the special who was crouching down and flung his arms round him. The special was both surprised and pleased. Let boy wear his hat and high vest.
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  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
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  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,935
    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?

    You do get forestry plantations.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?

    There is a connection but I think that is more functional.

    I believe a plantation is bigger than a farm and has housing for the workers who work the land but don't own it.

    So there is the obvious colonial aspect there, and I think nowadays you can't really tease apart the two, but I think that's where it comes from.
    _
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,640
    Farm worker used to live on the farmer’s estate in the provided houses. Tend to be called steadings these days and are overpriced.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
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  • JimD666
    JimD666 Posts: 2,293
    According to Wikipedia (take that as you wish), Plantation is more a farm for cash crops rather than food crops. Date back to Roman times originally.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,643
    pblakeney said:

    Tend to be called steadings these days and are overpriced.

    Lol,

    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 21,000
    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
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  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,702
    Batteries in a remote control used to last years but now only last a few months. I assume the batteries are getting better rather than worse so what is it about remote controls now that drains batteries so quickly or is it simply we use them a lot more browsing menus?
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,643
    It takes ages to sift through all the dross on TV. Remember, there used to only be a few channels.
    The solution is to not watch any TV (bar the cycling).

    My OH owns the remote anyway. I have to book an appt. to get use of it.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    It'll be the Victorians again. Coming up with different collective nouns for plants, to make it easier to identify less educated dinner guests.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    pinno said:

    It takes ages to sift through all the dross on TV. Remember, there used to only be a few channels.
    The solution is to not watch any TV (bar the cycling).

    My OH owns the remote anyway. I have to book an appt. to get use of it.

    They are universal so just buy another one, if you use it surreptitiously it can be very amusing
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    elbowloh said:

    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Bzzt. Olive groves.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    First.Aspect said:

    elbowloh said:

    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Bzzt. Olive groves.
    This is precisely what the Victorians had in mind. We are all giggling at you now, fully expecting you to pick up the wrong fork next.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    First.Aspect said:

    First.Aspect said:

    elbowloh said:

    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Bzzt. Olive groves.
    This is precisely what the Victorians had in mind. We are all giggling at you now, fully expecting you to pick up the wrong fork next.
    wrong account?
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    First.Aspect said:

    elbowloh said:

    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Bzzt. Olive groves.
    That's just the exception that proves the rule. Particularly when olives aren't grown in the UK, unlike say apples. I'm guessing some posh fecker just decided on grove because it sounded fancier. ;)
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    Tall....
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  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,643
    ^ ****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    pinno said:

    ^ ****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****

    Have you not seen the trivial Venn diagram, between annoying, intriguing and amusing?
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 21,000
    Lemon groves too. How many exceptions do we need to 'prove the rule'?
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,845
    George Groves?
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 21,000
    elbowloh said:

    First.Aspect said:

    elbowloh said:

    briantrumpet said:

    elbowloh said:

    Again, another random thought whilst driving and for some reason was thinking about sugar and how its made and I wondered, why are things like sugar, coffee, tea grown on "plantations" rather than "farms". You don't hear of "potato plantations" for example.

    What's the difference, is it possible purely the colonial/slavery aspect of it?


    I had a similar thought about orchards and groves, but didn't come to any conclusion. Nothing to do with colonial/slavery though.
    A grove is a small group of tress. An orchard is an intentionally planted group of trees, specifically for food.
    Bzzt. Olive groves.
    That's just the exception that proves the rule. Particularly when olives aren't grown in the UK, unlike say apples. I'm guessing some posh fecker just decided on grove because it sounded fancier. ;)

    Actually, reading between the lines, the 'foreign' suggestion might be relevant, given that the OED definition suggests that groves are particularly planted for shade. How often do we really need shade in the UK?

    Anyway, it's a word with a long history.

    A small wood; a group of trees affording shade or forming avenues or walks, occurring naturally or planted for a special purpose.
    Groves were commonly planted by heathen peoples in honour of deities to serve as places of worship or for the reception of images. Cf. 2a.
    889 Grant in Birch Cartul. Sax. II. 199 Heo hæbbe ða wudu-raeddenne in ðæm wuda ðe ða ceorlas brucaþ & ec ic hire lete to þæt ceorla graf.
    [1249–52 Visit. Ch. belong. St. Paul's Cathedr. (Camden) 13 Tenentes de ecclesia de Heubrege. Johannes Gobbe j acra et reddit vj đ..Johannes ad portam j parvam grovam et reddit iiij đ sed grova destructa est.]
    a1250 Owl & Nightingale 380 He..hupth and stard suthe cove, And secheth pathes to the grove.


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  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,097
    I assumed plantations usually had things that would be called plants, so not apple trees or most crops.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,643
    First.Aspect said:

    pinno said:

    ^ ****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****

    Have you not seen the trivial Venn diagram, between annoying, intriguing and amusing?
    Does the Venn diagram cover the correlation between the misuse of the exception but not the rule and Elbow's post above ^?
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    TheBigBean said:

    I assumed plantations usually had things that would be called plants, so not apple trees or most crops.

    Are mental vegetables plants?
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,517
    pinno said:

    First.Aspect said:

    pinno said:

    ^ ****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****THREAD CROSS OVER ALERT****

    Have you not seen the trivial Venn diagram, between annoying, intriguing and amusing?
    Does the Venn diagram cover the correlation between the misuse of the exception but not the rule and Elbow's post above ^?
    It is one of the three trivials, yes.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    https://www.litter-robot.com/uk/litter-robot-iii-open-air-with-connect.html/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Conversion_Acq_LR_View+Content+Creative+Testing_JUL_UK_Acq_LR_Cats+Lovers+INT_INT&fbclid=IwAR1XH62qtn6LonDzInLgVB3U6coY3CleNDYy5_37ab0QJxkb8OgBnOwOb4k

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