Empathy List Archives

MO

Morris Odell

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 12:26 AM

Bravo, Rob. I thought I was the lone voice crying in the wilderness in

support of watches.

My "beater" is an Omega Seamaster that goes everywhere and does everything

all the time. My others tend to sit in their rocker boxes and seldom get
worn.

This was a very interesting thread. I have worn a watch for the last 50+
years and feel that something is missing without one. Even though my
professional activities (to say nothing of hobby pursuits) mean I have to
take it off from time to time I won't be without one. Looking at the time of
a mobile phone or computer just isn't the same and you can't trust wall
clocks you have no control over. There's nothing like the gesture of pushing
up a sleeve to see it or the ability to glance at it surreptitiously during
boring meetings :-) My current quotidian timepiece is a Longines quartz
with an analog dial and a date window. It keeps very accurate time and the
crystal is remarkably scratch resistant. I have a Forbes nixie watch too for
appropriately nerdy occasions and an assortment of cheapies for travel.

I was in the amazing clock museum in the Beijing Forbidden City recently.
Has anyone else seen that? It houses an incredible collection of 18th and
19th century extreme high end clocks, from the collections of successive
emperors. They are of course all mechanical ( or water powered) and some are
of amazing complexity. One had a little automaton of a man sitting at a desk
writing down the time! I also saw my first Congreve clock while I was over
there. I am tempted to try and make a version of one if I ever get a year or
three to spare...

Cheers,

Morris

> Bravo, Rob. I thought I was the lone voice crying in the wilderness in support of watches. >My "beater" is an Omega Seamaster that goes everywhere and does everything all the time. My others tend to sit in their rocker boxes and seldom get worn. This was a very interesting thread. I have worn a watch for the last 50+ years and feel that something is missing without one. Even though my professional activities (to say nothing of hobby pursuits) mean I have to take it off from time to time I won't be without one. Looking at the time of a mobile phone or computer just isn't the same and you can't trust wall clocks you have no control over. There's nothing like the gesture of pushing up a sleeve to see it or the ability to glance at it surreptitiously during boring meetings :-) My current quotidian timepiece is a Longines quartz with an analog dial and a date window. It keeps very accurate time and the crystal is remarkably scratch resistant. I have a Forbes nixie watch too for appropriately nerdy occasions and an assortment of cheapies for travel. I was in the amazing clock museum in the Beijing Forbidden City recently. Has anyone else seen that? It houses an incredible collection of 18th and 19th century extreme high end clocks, from the collections of successive emperors. They are of course all mechanical ( or water powered) and some are of amazing complexity. One had a little automaton of a man sitting at a desk writing down the time! I also saw my first Congreve clock while I was over there. I am tempted to try and make a version of one if I ever get a year or three to spare... Cheers, Morris

CF

Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 1:59 AM

In the late 60s I had an inexpensive wristwatch with a
cheap leather or plastic wristband. I did not want the
enhanced conductivity if a metal band when working
with vacuum tube circuits.

Where I worked the only clock visible had been rigged
to go backwards. But it did keep good time, which is
more than I could say for my wristwatch. So I would
check my watch, then get a vernier reading off the wall
clock.

Naturally I bought an Intel Microma when it became
readily affordable. I learned about time from that.....

I was riding on a bus to the airport, realizing I should have
been on a previous bus. The only activity possible at the
time was estimating the probability of making my flight.
At that point I had a revelation - the bit about the big hand
and the little hand and visualizing subtended angles. So
I had to do the math. No big deal, I didn't have anything
better to do sitting in that bus.

Over the years I've developed mental short cuts so I don't
mess the hands. One learns how to do it much as one
learns bicycle riding, skiing, or Morse code.

I have one of those bass ackwards clocks on the wall of my
home office, complete with Tektronix IDD logo. For completeness,
the numbers are labeled in binary.

Some years ago the dyslexic daughter of a neighbor happened
upon that clock and called out the time instantly. Most folks
have to think about it for a while before they can read the time
on that clock.

--
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R caf@omen.com www.omen.com
Developer of Industrial ZMODEM(Tm) for Embedded Applications
Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software"
10255 NW Old Cornelius Pass Portland OR 97231 503-614-0430

In the late 60s I had an inexpensive wristwatch with a cheap leather or plastic wristband. I did not want the enhanced conductivity if a metal band when working with vacuum tube circuits. Where I worked the only clock visible had been rigged to go backwards. But it did keep good time, which is more than I could say for my wristwatch. So I would check my watch, then get a vernier reading off the wall clock. Naturally I bought an Intel Microma when it became readily affordable. I learned about time from that..... I was riding on a bus to the airport, realizing I should have been on a previous bus. The only activity possible at the time was estimating the probability of making my flight. At that point I had a revelation - the bit about the big hand and the little hand and visualizing subtended angles. So I had to do the math. No big deal, I didn't have anything better to do sitting in that bus. Over the years I've developed mental short cuts so I don't mess the hands. One learns how to do it much as one learns bicycle riding, skiing, or Morse code. I have one of those bass ackwards clocks on the wall of my home office, complete with Tektronix IDD logo. For completeness, the numbers are labeled in binary. Some years ago the dyslexic daughter of a neighbor happened upon that clock and called out the time instantly. Most folks have to think about it for a while before they can read the time on that clock. -- Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R caf@omen.com www.omen.com Developer of Industrial ZMODEM(Tm) for Embedded Applications Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software" 10255 NW Old Cornelius Pass Portland OR 97231 503-614-0430

R

Raj

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 3:18 AM

    I dont wear a watch since 25 years or more. Plenty of clocks around and now will cell phone and other personal devices all have clocks.

    Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a moment to convert it to words!

    My daughter just cannot read a mechanical clock! She get along fine. I had problem with a slide rule but I was saved by the scientific calculator!

Cheers

--
Raj, VU2ZAP
Bangalore, India.

I dont wear a watch since 25 years or more. Plenty of clocks around and now will cell phone and other personal devices all have clocks. Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a moment to convert it to words! My daughter just cannot read a mechanical clock! She get along fine. I had problem with a slide rule but I was saved by the scientific calculator! Cheers -- Raj, VU2ZAP Bangalore, India.

WH

William H. Fite

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 3:54 AM

I've not been to Beijing but the National Palace Museum in Taipei has some
remarkable mechanical clocks, including water clocks. My Significant Other
is Taiwanese and whenever I get smug there is nothing like a visit to the
NPM to remind me that the Chinese were crafting breathtaking objets d'art
and wonderfully functional machines when we arrogant Euro-Americans were
still swinging by our tails from the trees.

On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM, Morris Odell vilgotch@bigpond.net.auwrote:

Bravo, Rob. I thought I was the lone voice crying in the wilderness in

support of watches.

My "beater" is an Omega Seamaster that goes everywhere and does everything

all the time. My others tend to sit in their rocker boxes and seldom get
worn.

This was a very interesting thread. I have worn a watch for the last 50+
years and feel that something is missing without one. Even though my
professional activities (to say nothing of hobby pursuits) mean I have to
take it off from time to time I won't be without one. Looking at the time
of
a mobile phone or computer just isn't the same and you can't trust wall
clocks you have no control over. There's nothing like the gesture of
pushing
up a sleeve to see it or the ability to glance at it surreptitiously during
boring meetings :-) My current quotidian timepiece is a Longines quartz
with an analog dial and a date window. It keeps very accurate time and the
crystal is remarkably scratch resistant. I have a Forbes nixie watch too
for
appropriately nerdy occasions and an assortment of cheapies for travel.

I was in the amazing clock museum in the Beijing Forbidden City recently.
Has anyone else seen that? It houses an incredible collection of 18th and
19th century extreme high end clocks, from the collections of successive
emperors. They are of course all mechanical ( or water powered) and some
are
of amazing complexity. One had a little automaton of a man sitting at a
desk
writing down the time! I also saw my first Congreve clock while I was over
there. I am tempted to try and make a version of one if I ever get a year
or
three to spare...

Cheers,

Morris

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

I've not been to Beijing but the National Palace Museum in Taipei has some remarkable mechanical clocks, including water clocks. My Significant Other is Taiwanese and whenever I get smug there is nothing like a visit to the NPM to remind me that the Chinese were crafting breathtaking objets d'art and wonderfully functional machines when we arrogant Euro-Americans were still swinging by our tails from the trees. On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM, Morris Odell <vilgotch@bigpond.net.au>wrote: > > > Bravo, Rob. I thought I was the lone voice crying in the wilderness in > support of watches. > > >My "beater" is an Omega Seamaster that goes everywhere and does everything > all the time. My others tend to sit in their rocker boxes and seldom get > worn. > > This was a very interesting thread. I have worn a watch for the last 50+ > years and feel that something is missing without one. Even though my > professional activities (to say nothing of hobby pursuits) mean I have to > take it off from time to time I won't be without one. Looking at the time > of > a mobile phone or computer just isn't the same and you can't trust wall > clocks you have no control over. There's nothing like the gesture of > pushing > up a sleeve to see it or the ability to glance at it surreptitiously during > boring meetings :-) My current quotidian timepiece is a Longines quartz > with an analog dial and a date window. It keeps very accurate time and the > crystal is remarkably scratch resistant. I have a Forbes nixie watch too > for > appropriately nerdy occasions and an assortment of cheapies for travel. > > I was in the amazing clock museum in the Beijing Forbidden City recently. > Has anyone else seen that? It houses an incredible collection of 18th and > 19th century extreme high end clocks, from the collections of successive > emperors. They are of course all mechanical ( or water powered) and some > are > of amazing complexity. One had a little automaton of a man sitting at a > desk > writing down the time! I also saw my first Congreve clock while I was over > there. I am tempted to try and make a version of one if I ever get a year > or > three to spare... > > Cheers, > > Morris > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. >

DI

David I. Emery

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 4:34 AM

On Sun, Jul 10, 2011 at 08:48:07AM +0530, Raj wrote:

     Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the

clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left
to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a
moment to convert it to words!

I had occasion to observe two generations of extremely

intelligent women in my family as they approached death and began to
seriously lose mental acuity weeks or months before the end - both of
them completely lost the ability to make any sense out of the time on a
digital clock well before they died but were perfectly comfortably able
to read and understand an analog clock with hands and numbers almost to
the end.

Apparently for those who grew up in the analog clock era and

only had analog clocks around when they were little the mental
processing involved in reading and understanding the time from an analog
clock face is deeper and different from the mental processes involved in
dealing with the time in digits... which was a later learned skill and
seems to take more or at least different parts of the brain.

So yes, one's fundamental mental model of the time may well be

deeply enmeshed in the angles of the hands on a clock, rather than the
abstractions of hours and minutes.

I think little children do (or did) learn 3 O'clock as a pattern

of hands on a clock face associated with a particular time of importance
(time to take a nap or whatever) well before the abstractions of
numbers, or hours and the significance of 3 hours after the meridian
mean anything. How children in the digital age learn time is an
interesting question...

--
Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, die@dieconsulting.com DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493
"An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten
'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in
celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."

On Sun, Jul 10, 2011 at 08:48:07AM +0530, Raj wrote: > Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the > clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left > to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a > moment to convert it to words! I had occasion to observe two generations of extremely intelligent women in my family as they approached death and began to seriously lose mental acuity weeks or months before the end - both of them completely lost the ability to make any sense out of the time on a digital clock well before they died but were perfectly comfortably able to read and understand an analog clock with hands and numbers almost to the end. Apparently for those who grew up in the analog clock era and only had analog clocks around when they were little the mental processing involved in reading and understanding the time from an analog clock face is deeper and different from the mental processes involved in dealing with the time in digits... which was a later learned skill and seems to take more or at least different parts of the brain. So yes, one's fundamental mental model of the time may well be deeply enmeshed in the angles of the hands on a clock, rather than the abstractions of hours and minutes. I think little children do (or did) learn 3 O'clock as a pattern of hands on a clock face associated with a particular time of importance (time to take a nap or whatever) well before the abstractions of numbers, or hours and the significance of 3 hours after the meridian mean anything. How children in the digital age learn time is an interesting question... -- Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, die@dieconsulting.com DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493 "An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten 'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."

RD

Robert Darlington

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 5:47 AM

Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it
wasn't $17k I'd consider it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI

Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend
gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father.
Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like
minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment.
Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside.

-Bob

Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it wasn't $17k I'd consider it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father. Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment. Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside. -Bob

RK

Rob Kimberley

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 9:09 AM

I want one!!
Rob K

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of Robert Darlington
Sent: 10 July 2011 6:47 AM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Am I the only Time Nut who doesn't wear a watch?

Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it
wasn't $17k I'd consider it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI

Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend
gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father.
Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like
minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment.
Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside.

-Bob

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

I want one!! Rob K -----Original Message----- From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On Behalf Of Robert Darlington Sent: 10 July 2011 6:47 AM To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Am I the only Time Nut who doesn't wear a watch? Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it wasn't $17k I'd consider it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father. Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment. Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside. -Bob _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.

SR

Steve Rooke

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 9:27 AM

You'd need one for both wrists and learn to look at the time on
alternate watches or you'll end up with lop sided upper arm muscle
growth. Who needs dumbbells when you can work out just by looking at
the time :)

I wonder what the average time for the novelty to wear out is on one of these.

Steve
PS. Well, it is time related.

On 10 July 2011 17:47, Robert Darlington rdarlington@gmail.com wrote:

Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it
wasn't $17k I'd consider it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI

Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend
gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father.
Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like
minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment.
Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside.

-Bob

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

--
Steve Rooke - ZL3TUV & G8KVD
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

Einstein

You'd need one for both wrists and learn to look at the time on alternate watches or you'll end up with lop sided upper arm muscle growth. Who needs dumbbells when you can work out just by looking at the time :) I wonder what the average time for the novelty to wear out is on one of these. Steve PS. Well, it is time related. On 10 July 2011 17:47, Robert Darlington <rdarlington@gmail.com> wrote: > Okay guys, I saw a very strange timepiece when I was out shopping. If it > wasn't $17k I'd consider it: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwJCzetTCI > > Interesting concept, looks good. On a side note, earlier today a friend > gave me an Accutron 214 from 1965 that previously belonged to his father. > Cool stuff. It needs servicing and cleaning as I can see what looks like > minor corrosion inside while looking into the battery compartment. > Greenish flaky stuff on the brass inside. > > -Bob > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > -- Steve Rooke - ZL3TUV & G8KVD The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. - Einstein

JH

Javier Herrero

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 10:04 AM

My car has an interior look similar to this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg/800px-Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg

Time ago, I pick a young engineer (quite digitally oriented, may I say)
to go somewhere. He saw the three gauges in the central console (oil
pressure, analog clock, and battery), pointed to the center one (the
clock) and asked me: "and what does this one measures?"

I was quite surprised by the question... :)

Regards,

Javier

El 10/07/2011 05:18, Raj escribió:

      I dont wear a watch since 25 years or more. Plenty of clocks around and now will cell phone and other personal devices all have clocks.

      Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a moment to convert it to words!

      My daughter just cannot read a mechanical clock! She get along fine. I had problem with a slide rule but I was saved by the scientific calculator!

Cheers

My car has an interior look similar to this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg/800px-Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg Time ago, I pick a young engineer (quite digitally oriented, may I say) to go somewhere. He saw the three gauges in the central console (oil pressure, analog clock, and battery), pointed to the center one (the clock) and asked me: "and what does this one measures?" I was quite surprised by the question... :) Regards, Javier El 10/07/2011 05:18, Raj escribió: > I dont wear a watch since 25 years or more. Plenty of clocks around and now will cell phone and other personal devices all have clocks. > > Analog generation *know* the time from the position of the clock hands. By the position of the hands you know how many minutes left to an appointment etc. IF you ask them the time then it will take a moment to convert it to words! > > My daughter just cannot read a mechanical clock! She get along fine. I had problem with a slide rule but I was saved by the scientific calculator! > > Cheers >

W

WB6BNQ

Sun, Jul 10, 2011 10:14 AM

I got to tell ya Javier,

I am deeply troubled by this report.

Bill....WB6BNQ

Javier Herrero wrote:

My car has an interior look similar to this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg/800px-Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg

Time ago, I pick a young engineer (quite digitally oriented, may I say)
to go somewhere. He saw the three gauges in the central console (oil
pressure, analog clock, and battery), pointed to the center one (the
clock) and asked me: "and what does this one measures?"

I was quite surprised by the question... :)

Regards,

Javier

I got to tell ya Javier, I am deeply troubled by this report. Bill....WB6BNQ Javier Herrero wrote: > My car has an interior look similar to this: > http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg/800px-Jaguar_XKR_Convertible_interior.jpg > > Time ago, I pick a young engineer (quite digitally oriented, may I say) > to go somewhere. He saw the three gauges in the central console (oil > pressure, analog clock, and battery), pointed to the center one (the > clock) and asked me: "and what does this one measures?" > > I was quite surprised by the question... :) > > Regards, > > Javier >

time-nuts@lists.febo.com

Re: [time-nuts] Am I the only Time Nut who doesn't wear a watch?