tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post4023010019318241802..comments2024-03-27T21:30:35.824+00:00Comments on UK Commentators: The Incredible Expanding KiloLabanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12031578024191117985noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-848999096116243102008-04-21T19:44:00.000+00:002008-04-21T19:44:00.000+00:00Because His Welsh accent sounds like a very poor a...Because His Welsh accent sounds like a very poor attempt at Pakistani. And remember that the key to the Empire was getting Scots to do a very good job running it.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-90574570103449492442008-04-21T19:41:00.000+00:002008-04-21T19:41:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-33596663222748847572008-04-21T18:54:00.000+00:002008-04-21T18:54:00.000+00:00First point, it wasn't the French Academy of Scien...First point, it wasn't the French Academy of Sciences. They certainly created an archive Kilogramme over 200 years ago but K - the current international standard and the national copies - including our primary national standard (since the late 19th century) were commissioned by an international convention of which the UK was a member. Though the international body governing the "metric system" remained by courtesy in Paris it has been an international body for over a century - and the director of its Paris bureau is currently a distinguished British metrologist, Dr Andrew Wallard - distinguished in particular for his work on the Iodine stabilised Helium Neon laser used in mise en pratique for the determination of the Metre. <BR/><BR/>The most likely explanations for the relative variations of the masses of the couple of dozen standard kilogrammes - K itself, the secondary standards maintained in Paris and the national copies, are (i) the absorbtion of mercury vapour (lots around in labs - and technicians have fillings too) or (ii) absorbtion of hydrocarbon vapours (eg petrol), when the standards are actually being weighed. Platinum has a capacity for absorbing hydrocarbons and mercury just loves amalgamating with other metals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-1396071618370883942008-04-21T17:46:00.000+00:002008-04-21T17:46:00.000+00:00If God is an Englishman, why does he speak with su...If God is an Englishman, why does he speak with such a stern Scots accent?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-69234475287640673712008-04-21T14:26:00.000+00:002008-04-21T14:26:00.000+00:00Global warming?My theory is that everything in the...Global warming?<BR/>My theory is that everything in the universe is constantly changing weight and this process will only cease when all objects weigh one ounce or multiples thereof. This theory is called Imperial Entropy and neatly reconciles science and religion because God is an Englishman.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-72232456227092377762008-04-21T07:12:00.000+00:002008-04-21T07:12:00.000+00:00That's amazing - never knew it varied.That's amazing - never knew it varied.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.com