Kilometres vs. MPH
08-05-07 | 07:25 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Small town America with lots of good roads
Bikes: More than I really should own.
I remember reading about a very young Confederate general who, after the War of Northern Aggression, repatriated and worked his way up through the Army ranks all the way to general. He led some forces in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Everytime his forces drove the enemy back, He'd yell out "We got those damn Yankees on the run!", much to the chagrin of his Yankee soldiers.
The soldier you mention was Joseph Wheeler, who became a brilliant 20 something year old Major General of cavalry in the Armies of Tennessee (CSA) and pretty much gave as good as he got from Sherman and the Union army in the south.
At the outbreak of the Spanish American War he was serving in Congress, as a representative from Alabama. After the declaration of war, Pres. McKinley had him call at the White House and asked him if he was willing, and if he felt able at age 62, to serve in a command position. It has been surmised that McKinley made the offer to Wheeler in order to take another step toward reconciliation of the Union. Similar offers were made to other prominent former Confederate soldiers. Wheeler accepted, and was given a commission as Major General, second in command of American forces in Cuba, subordinate to Gen. Shafter. Wheeler proved to be tough as rawhide.
General Shafter, who was not a bicyclist at 300 pounds, was laid low by heat prostration for part of the Cuban campaign and Wheeler became the general, commanding. Wheeler's remark was reportedly made during the assault on the Caney blockhouse.
Wheeler would later be buried in a blue uniform at Arlington, one of only a handful of former Confederates buried there.
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Last edited by Monoborracho; 08-06-07 at 02:37 PM.
08-06-07 | 02:08 PM
#27
Time for a change.
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Actually they do. A stone is around 14 pounds. This is OK, but the measurement is not accurate enough so someone may say "I weigh 10 3/4 stone". If I was in charge I would modify this to boulders, rocks and pebbles where 4 pebbles=1 rock, 4 rocks=1 boulder and 4 boulders=1 stone. The same flaw exists with temp measurement in celsius. 28 deg C. is much warmer than 26 but it doesn't sound like much.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
08-06-07 | 03:09 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 309
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From: N.E.Ohio
We do use stones over here and 1 stone is 14 of our English pounds. I say that reservedly as I know that a US gallon is different to our UK Gallon. Then on Drink Bottles- You are talking about volume and you suddenly throw in Weight to it.(24 oz bottle) Now is that 24 of your US ounces or is there a direct equivalent to a bottle measured in Cubic Centimetres-Or Milli-Litres or are you converting to The mentic system where 1 litre of water weighs 1 kilogram. I give up. But 1 litre of your US liquid- may be different to the European Litre. I weigh 10stone 10 lbs on a good day and that is 150 of our good and solid Imperial lbs. It is somewhere near the 70 kilogramme mark but what either of those convert to in your US ozs I don't really know. Or care.
