Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you

rjsterry

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

First languages. Is my first language Italian or English? I started speaking in Italian, got here at the age of two and had to learn English. My English is like that of a reasonably literate native, my Italian has gaping holes in it and is clearly not as good as my English. so, is your first language the one you are best at or the first one chronologically?
I've always assumed the one you are most fluent in, speak most often. so am I right in saying English is my first language? It would be confusing if not.

I would have said English, but a quick google tells me that it is Italian. First relates to chronology rather than preference. Also, note mother tongue is synonymous with first language - obviously needs to keep up with times and realise that fathers can speak to babies too.

You're not going to start complaining about the John Lewis advert, I hope.

I'd assumed it was mother-tongue as in the one you were born into rather than literally the one you learnt from your mother. Similar to 'mother church'.

briantrumpet

I want to do something with pupils and BSL (learn a signed Twelve Days of Christmas), and discovered that another member of staff's first language was sign language, as both her parents are deaf (she isn't). That must be interesting, if she still thinks primarily in gesture. Not sure if swearing in (B)SL would have the same pain-reducing effect as vocal swearing. Must ask.

Stevo_666

veronese68 said:

First languages. Is my first language Italian or English? I started speaking in Italian, got here at the age of two and had to learn English. My English is like that of a reasonably literate native, my Italian has gaping holes in it and is clearly not as good as my English. so, is your first language the one you are best at or the first one chronologically?
I've always assumed the one you are most fluent in, speak most often. so am I right in saying English is my first language? It would be confusing if not.

I think your first language is English as you don't wave your arms around when you talk

veronese68

Stevo_666 said:

veronese68 said:

First languages. Is my first language Italian or English? I started speaking in Italian, got here at the age of two and had to learn English. My English is like that of a reasonably literate native, my Italian has gaping holes in it and is clearly not as good as my English. so, is your first language the one you are best at or the first one chronologically?
I've always assumed the one you are most fluent in, speak most often. so am I right in saying English is my first language? It would be confusing if not.

I think your first language is English as you don't wave your arms around when you talk

I do if I speak Italian 🤣🤘🤙🤏

veronese68

So my mother tongue and first language would be Italian, as my mother is the Italian parent, yet English is my primary language. Quite counterintuitive.

photonic69

photonic69 said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67382388

That's one hell of a roaming charge!!!
Bet his kid was using it to play online games whilst on hols.

Not far wrong. Sons watching the footy apparently!!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67437534

First.Aspect

photonic69 said:

photonic69 said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67382388

That's one hell of a roaming charge!!!
Bet his kid was using it to play online games whilst on hols.

Not far wrong. Sons watching the footy apparently!!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67437534

Positive proof that they really DO think we are all stupid.

rick_chasey

Have definitely worked with people who have ran up those size of bills when travelling with work. Can believe it.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

Have definitely worked with people who have ran up those size of bills when travelling with work. Can believe it.

Size of bill, yes. Objects inflated and games played therewith, not so much.

orraloon

Oh look, with the kowtowing BBC R2 news headlining, it's a dead cat.

Meanwhile: where's Spaffer's phone? Where's "baroness" Michelle Mone(y money money)'s trousered £100m+ via mates' contracts for useless C19 PPE? Is little Hattie Mancock's pub landlord still enjoying his mega-bung?

orraloon

Booking some tickets for train travel. From A to B then change to get to C.

A to C = 21.55 return
A to B then B to C = 16.20 return.

Eh? Seems a hefty premium to have one ticket rather than 2.

TheBigBean

orraloon said:

Booking some tickets for train travel. From A to B then change to get to C.

A to C = 21.55 return
A to B then B to C = 16.20 return.

Eh? Seems a hefty premium to have one ticket rather than 2.

It's called split ticketing. Your train needs to stop at B though.

veronese68

orraloon said:

Booking some tickets for train travel. From A to B then change to get to C.

A to C = 21.55 return
A to B then B to C = 16.20 return.

Eh? Seems a hefty premium to have one ticket rather than 2.

Took the train from Norbiton to Gatwick for a trip to a wedding some years back, buying one way tickets was cheaper than buying returns. Met some other friends at Clapham Junction that lived near there, they often got the train to Norbiton so knew the prices. Buying tickets to Clapham then another ticket to Gatwick would have been cheaper still. So buying 4 tickets is cheaper than buying 2 tickets which is cheaper than buying 1 ticket. Really makes no sense to me.

veronese68

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

pblakeney

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

I'm guessing that the drivers should be familiar with the controls.

veronese68

pblakeney said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

I'm guessing that the drivers should be familiar with the controls.

Very much so, it just got me thinking about what mad things they are. I'm sure in the circumstances mentioned in the news thread the tank was driven intentionally.

TheBigBean

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

veronese68

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

Yes, I think you're right. I'm probably overthinking, Ukrainian countryside has less to hit than the Kingston one-way system as well.

surrey_commuter

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

don't forget that every video clip out of Ukraine has been authorised by the Govt so it is best to view each with a dose of salt

rjsterry

surrey_commuter said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

don't forget that every video clip out of Ukraine has been authorised by the Govt so it is best to view each with a dose of salt

Intrigued how you can possibly know this is accurate.

TheBigBean

veronese68 said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

Yes, I think you're right. I'm probably overthinking, Ukrainian countryside has less to hit than the Kingston one-way system as well.

Lower probability of finding a vacant tank available for driving on Kingston high street though.

Pross

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

Yes, I think you're right. I'm probably overthinking, Ukrainian countryside has less to hit than the Kingston one-way system as well.

Lower probability of finding a vacant tank available for driving on Kingston high street though.

Even less chance of finding a parking space

JimD666

Pross said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

Yes, I think you're right. I'm probably overthinking, Ukrainian countryside has less to hit than the Kingston one-way system as well.

Lower probability of finding a vacant tank available for driving on Kingston high street though.

Even less chance of finding a parking space

You're driving a tank. Getting a parking space really isn't going to be an issue. Cars are rather squishy when you drop 50+ tonnes on top of them

briantrumpet

JimD666 said:

Pross said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

Yes, I think you're right. I'm probably overthinking, Ukrainian countryside has less to hit than the Kingston one-way system as well.

Lower probability of finding a vacant tank available for driving on Kingston high street though.

Even less chance of finding a parking space

You're driving a tank. Getting a parking space really isn't going to be an issue. Cars are rather squishy when you drop 50+ tonnes on top of them

I can never resist...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GfTaIGCOBs

surrey_commuter

rjsterry said:

surrey_commuter said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

don't forget that every video clip out of Ukraine has been authorised by the Govt so it is best to view each with a dose of salt

Intrigued how you can possibly know this is accurate.

I thought it was a well known fact.

Anybody interviewed has a balaclava and goes by a call sign so they can't be identified, would seem strange to go to those lengths and then allow anybody to upload video that can be geo located

pinno

surrey_commuter said:

rjsterry said:

surrey_commuter said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

don't forget that every video clip out of Ukraine has been authorised by the Govt so it is best to view each with a dose of salt

Intrigued how you can possibly know this is accurate.

I thought it was a well known fact.

Anybody interviewed has a balaclava and goes by a call sign so they can't be identified, would seem strange to go to those lengths and then allow anybody to upload video that can be geo located

A quick Google suggests not:

https://gadgetstouse.com/blog/2021/01/16/remove-location-data-from-photos-videos-android-ios-stop-camera-from-saving-gps-tags/

rjsterry

surrey_commuter said:

rjsterry said:

surrey_commuter said:

TheBigBean said:

veronese68 said:

Copied this from the serious thread as it really doesn't belong there, but it made me think.

TheBigBean said:

It's not that hard to avoid driving a tank into a hospital.

I have never driven a tank, but if I was to do so I bet I'd end up driving it into the one thing I was trying not to hit. Between lack of visibility and strange controls they must take quite a bit of getting used to. Do modern tanks have more normal controls than a pair of levers?

Didn't a load of Ukrainian farmers start driving ones the Russians abandoned? Most farmers have better than average machinery skills and maybe the Russian kit is simple.

don't forget that every video clip out of Ukraine has been authorised by the Govt so it is best to view each with a dose of salt

Intrigued how you can possibly know this is accurate.

I thought it was a well known fact.

Anybody interviewed has a balaclava and goes by a call sign so they can't be identified, would seem strange to go to those lengths and then allow anybody to upload video that can be geo located

So roughly the same level of security as Cake Stop. Think about the logistics of such a thing and you'll realise it can't be true.

orraloon

Not trivial on site but... muppet on radio news whining 'nobody told us about high tides'. FFS. Buy / live near an eroding coastline if you choose, but be adult about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67529551

pblakeney

orraloon said:

Not trivial on site but... muppet on radio news whining 'nobody told us about high tides'. FFS. Buy / live near an eroding coastline if you choose, but be adult about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67529551

Reminds me of a sign shared somewhere that was on the fence round a racecourse.
I can't remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of -

You chose to buy a house in an estate developed next door to a racecourse.
Take your noise complaints and f*** off!

briantrumpet

pblakeney said:

orraloon said:

Not trivial on site but... muppet on radio news whining 'nobody told us about high tides'. FFS. Buy / live near an eroding coastline if you choose, but be adult about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67529551

Reminds me of a sign shared somewhere that was on the fence round a racecourse.
I can't remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of -

You chose to buy a house in an estate developed next door to a racecourse.
Take your noise complaints and f*** off!

Sadly all too often noise complaints like that have won the day, like people who buy houses next to church towers with bells and farms with cockerels.