XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: tkoenig@netcologne.de   
      
   On 2026-01-13, Peter Fairbrother  wrote:   
   > On 11/01/2026 22:20, Scott Dorsey wrote:   
   >> In article <10k0qgo$3r1s$1@dont-email.me>, BCFD 36     
   wrote:   
   >>> I have never run across "tons" when talking about cooling. I don't think   
   >>> it is common. I have seen BTUs, CFM at xxx degrees, etc.   
   >>   
   >> It's pretty common for any industrial AC stuff.  Americans also use   
   >> "BTU" when we mean "BTU/hr" which is almost as bad as the whole   
   >> "calories meaning kcal" mess.   
   >   
   > Heh. Got my UK gas bill yesterday, it includes:   
   >   
   > 734.9 kWh - 23.5 gas units at 38.9 calorific value   
   >   
   > In my case (it varies) a "gas unit" is 100 cubic feet (which isn't   
   > stated on the bill);   
      
   That seems to be off, there may be a factor of (10^3)^n somehwere   
   in there.   
      
   > the calorific value is given in MJ/m^3 (which isn't   
   > stated on the bill); plus there is a "correction factor" of about 1.02   
   > (which isn't even mentioned, never mind the exact value used being given   
   > on the bill).   
      
   A correction factor for you not paying enough money, obviously :-)   
      
   > Still, they used to use therms. And maybe ergs, gallons and foot-pounds.   
   > Or Batmans (a real unit, though now obsolete, and unrelated to Mr Wayne).   
   >   
   > Aargh, I just found out they still use therms sometimes.   
   >   
   > dunks head in bucket   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   > Kiloseconds, anyone? 16 min 40 seconds.   
   > Megasecond? 11 days 13 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.   
   > Gigasecond? about 31.7 years (about 'cos leap years etc)   
      
   I recently looked through a presentation by Rob Pike on 10**9   
   seconds of UNIX history.   
      
   > millisecond - too fast for you or me, a young fit cat takes about 20   
   > milliseconds to react   
   > microseconds - timing accuracy of detonations in an atomic bomb   
   > nanoseconds - light travels about a foot (see Grace Hopper)   
      
   You obviosly forgot microfortnight :-)   
      
   And, of course, the FFF unit system, of which the above is a   
   derived unit.  It is at least consistent; velocities are then   
   measured in furlongs per fortnight.   
      
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