what I have learned today.

[Kim]

I had a (halogen) head torch that used them that I think last got used in about 1998.

More surprisingly, I noticed they were still for sale in some shop or other relatively recently.

I'm pretty sure the original Petzl head torches had one of those batteries. My younger brother had one, I seem to remember him constantly whingeing about not being able to get replacement batteries in any location close to where you would like to be using the thing! I had one of the Petzl Max head torches, a bit bigger and heavier, but at least it used 3 x AA *or* 3 x AAA batteries, available from any corner shop/garage/off licence/etc...

Now I'm pondering an xkcd-style chart of battery specialisation vs annoyingness...

[mark]

I had a (halogen) head torch that used them that I think last got used in about 1998.

More surprisingly, I noticed they were still for sale in some shop or other relatively recently.

I'm pretty sure the original Petzl head torches had one of those batteries. My younger brother had one, I seem to remember him constantly whingeing about not being able to get replacement batteries in any location close to where you would like to be using the thing! I had one of the Petzl Max head torches, a bit bigger and heavier, but at least it used 3 x AA *or* 3 x AAA batteries, available from any corner shop/garage/off licence/etc...

I remember seeing them for sale in French supermarkets, so I'm guessing they were pretty widely used in France at one time. Finding those batteries in the US was not easy, the only sources seemed to be the better stocked climbing shops.

Modern headlamps are wonderful, and they keep getting better.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I was saying to someone on Monday, as we rode home from the pub, LEDs are the best thing to happen to cycling this century. And perhaps to climbing too!

[T42]

The USSR had built the atom bomb (1949), the hydrogen bomb (1953), put a man into orbit (1961) and become the first nation to fly a supersonic airliner (1968) before they built their first toilet-paper factory (1969).

[Basil]

Fantastic fact, Mr T. 

[TheLurker]

Now I'm pondering an xkcd-style chart of battery specialisation vs annoyingness...

Ever Ready B122s & B121s.  My dad's old multimeter is perfectly servicable apart from needing a B122 which is was, "Specially designed for hearing aids, photoflash and electronic equipment." Twenty one and a half volts? 

[Kim]

Now I'm pondering an xkcd-style chart of battery specialisation vs annoyingness...

Ever Ready B122s & B121s.  My dad's old multimeter is perfectly servicable apart from needing a B122 which is was, "Specially designed for hearing aids, photoflash and electronic equipment." Twenty one and a half volts?

And you can forget about there being any enterprising deaf kids with a suitable box aid who'll sell you the battery to make room for contraband...

[MattH]

Twenty one and a half volts?

Twenty two and a half volts. Which makes far more sense.

[ian]

Yes, but in imperial units, 22.5 volts = 1 tinglefinger.

[MattH]

Sadly the terminals are on opposite sides of the battery, so whilst you could use it tinglefingers, you couldn't use it to tonguejolt, the approved way of checking for life in PP3 battery.

[TheLurker]

Yes, but in imperial units, 22.5 volts = 1 tinglefinger.

... tonguejolt ...

I'm nicking those and will shamelessly pass them off as my own invention. 

[Cudzoziemiec]

The USSR had built the atom bomb (1949), the hydrogen bomb (1953), put a man into orbit (1961) and become the first nation to fly a supersonic airliner (1968) before they built their first toilet-paper factory (1969).

A situation an American wrote about:
https://youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4

[Salvatore]

The USSR had built the atom bomb (1949), the hydrogen bomb (1953), put a man into orbit (1961) and become the first nation to fly a supersonic airliner (1968) before they built their first toilet-paper factory (1969).

Pravda was first published in 1912.

[T42]

The USSR had built the atom bomb (1949), the hydrogen bomb (1953), put a man into orbit (1961) and become the first nation to fly a supersonic airliner (1968) before they built their first toilet-paper factory (1969).

A situation an American wrote about:
https://youtu.be/goh2x_G0ct4

I got it here: https://youtu.be/ZU1f47SC_A8

How they killed 16 admirals at one go - or rather, how they killed themselves.

[Mr Larrington]

In Soviet Union is wise to kill sixteen admirals from time to time, to encourage Tupolev Design Bureau ~ Voltaire

[T42]

The pilot was a bloke called Ilyushin...

♫ Want to buy some Ilyushins?
Slightly used, just like new...

[Salvatore]

I was shocked to learn that the autumn crocus isn't a crocus.

It reminds me of when I was in Patagonia. There's a tree/shrub which looks like a beech tree (fagus), so it was included in the fagaceae family. When it was discovered that it was genetically distinct from other trees of that family, a new family was created whose members are called nothafagus (not-a-fagus), Nothofagus antarctica being the one you'll most likely come across in southern Chile. The most southerly tree on earth is a nothafagus.

[robgul]

Car body filler (the stuff that's a putty you mix with a drop of hardener) works a treat for filling large-ish holes in walls, and repairing damaged wooden furniture.  Dries hard in about 15 minutes and can be sanded smooth after about an hour.

Seems like the YT furniture flippers love it - trade name there is Bondo!

[Mrs Pingu]

Car body filler (the stuff that's a putty you mix with a drop of hardener) works a treat for filling large-ish holes in walls, and repairing damaged wooden furniture.  Dries hard in about 15 minutes and can be sanded smooth after about an hour.

Seems like the YT furniture flippers love it - trade name there is Bondo!

In a very similar vein I used copious amounts of knifing putty (Holts Cataloy, comes in a tube, no mixing req'd) to fill in the many dings and holey paint in the skirting boards at the old Pingu Towers. Worked a treat.

[Mr Larrington]

During the 1965 Leyton by-election campaign, Denis Healey prevented a stage invasion by noted fash shitbag Colin Jordan with a bunch of fives

[Ruthie]

During the 1965 Leyton by-election campaign, Denis Healey prevented a stage invasion by noted fash shitbag Colin Jordan with a bunch of fives

Is that the Colin Jordan depicted on Ridley Road on BBC1?

[robgul]

During the 1965 Leyton by-election campaign, Denis Healey prevented a stage invasion by noted fash shitbag Colin Jordan with a bunch of fives

Is that the Colin Jordan depicted on Ridley Road on BBC1?

The very same - I lived not far away at the time and can remember the incident (I was about 2 years short of being able to vote - it was 21 then) . . .  and quite a lot of other stuff that Jordan was involved in.

[rogerzilla]

You can buy new 4-speed shifters from Sturmey-Archer!

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-shifters/4-speed-sturmey-archer-sls40t-thumb-shifter/

[Mr Larrington]

During the 1965 Leyton by-election campaign, Denis Healey prevented a stage invasion by noted fash shitbag Colin Jordan with a bunch of fives

Is that the Colin Jordan depicted on Ridley Road on BBC1?

The very same.

[Mr Larrington]

Great BRITAIN is not only the most successful nation in Olympic Tug of War but also the reigning champions.  Hurrah!  Hurrah for BRITAIN!