Go to the first post in this series In my first two posts about the SI unit prefixes, I described how the system originated in the French Republican metric system of 1795. Part 1 dealt with those original fractional prefixes—deci-, centi- and milli-, designating a tenth, hundredth and thousandth part of the base unit. Part … Continue reading Système International Prefixes: Part 3
Rhins of Galloway: Aldouran Glen
3 kilometres 70 metres of ascent I wouldn’t normally trouble you with such a piddling little pre-lunch stroll. But it’s a pretty place, part of a community project, and (situated as it is in the wilds of the Rhins Peninsula) I suspect it doesn’t get much passing trade. So if you’re in the vicinity of … Continue reading Rhins of Galloway: Aldouran Glen
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Life Imitates Art
An article by Tom Whipple in The Times today (May 12, 2016) reports on a set of powered trousers designed by Panizollo et al. and described in an article published today by the Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation: “A biologically-inspired multi-joint soft exosuit that can reduce the energy cost of loaded walking“. The authors conclude: … Continue reading Life Imitates Art
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Transit of Mercury
Clear skies here, chez Oikofuge, for Monday’s transit of Mercury, the first in almost ten years. Mercury and Venus are the two planets that orbit between Earth and the sun, so they are the only two planets that we can occasionally see passing in front of the sun. If you look at the orbits of … Continue reading Transit of Mercury
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Sidlaws: Denoon Glen
Berry Hillock (NO 372444, 282m [trig. point]) Carlunie Hill (NO 365432, 340m) Ark Hill (NO 357426, 340m) Unnamed Point 328 (NO 359408, 328m) Denoon Law (NO 355444, 210m) Crams Hill (NO 368450, 237m) 17 kilometres 580 metres ascent Denoon Glen is the next glen west from Glen Ogilvie, site of my snowy floundering last week. … Continue reading Sidlaws: Denoon Glen
Système International Prefixes: Part 2
In my previous post about the Système International prefix system, I described how they originated in the French Republican metric system of 1795, which introduced a set of prefixes to designate multiples and fractions of its base units. For instance, the metre was subdivided using prefixes into decimetres, centimetres and millimetres, designating a tenth, hundredth … Continue reading Système International Prefixes: Part 2
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Sidlaws: Glen Ogilvie
Broom Hill (NO 383421, c290m) Gallow Hill (NO 391413, 378m) Ironside Hill (NO 399411, 354m) Craigowl (NO 376399, 455m) 14 kilometres 430m ascent The idea with this one was a ridge-level circuit of Glen Ogilvie—up on to the east side at Broom Hill, over the tops to Craigowl at the head of the glen, and … Continue reading Sidlaws: Glen Ogilvie
Système International Prefixes: Part 1
The Système International d’unités, commonly known in English as the SI units, is a version of the metric system that, in addition to a carefully specified set of measurement units, contains a list of defined prefixes to specify multiples and fractions of its basic units. This set of prefixes has grown eccentrically over the years. … Continue reading Système International Prefixes: Part 1
Kim Stanley Robinson: Green Earth
“You’re suggesting we need a paradigm shift in how science interacts with society.” “Yes I am.” Kim Stanley Robinson has been around for a while, and is probably best known for his Mars trilogy. A lot of his science fiction reflects his own political agenda—strongly environmentalist and anti-capitalist, with a conviction that responsibly applied science … Continue reading Kim Stanley Robinson: Green Earth
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Côte d’Azur (April 2016)
A little blink of sunshine on the Côte d’Azur was much enhanced by the knowledge that, in our absence, Scotland was enduring overcast skies and single-digit temperatures. I was reminded of Iris Murdoch‘s line (nodding to La Rochefoucauld): Some clever writer (probably a Frenchman) has said: It is not enough to succeed; others must fail. … Continue reading Côte d’Azur (April 2016)
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