UK plan to launch rival to EU sat-nav system.
ATNotts
Yes I should have added women (I have altered that in the post ) and your observation re the language is unfortunately quite true. In our office we use German and English commonly but we have (I just checked with HR) 9 other languages spoken by our staff at fluent technical level. As you say we have around 51% German staff and all have a good if not excellent knowledge of English with some having even a slight English dialect from when they were in UK !
Cheers or should I say Prost !
Mr Mac
Yes I should have added women (I have altered that in the post ) and your observation re the language is unfortunately quite true. In our office we use German and English commonly but we have (I just checked with HR) 9 other languages spoken by our staff at fluent technical level. As you say we have around 51% German staff and all have a good if not excellent knowledge of English with some having even a slight English dialect from when they were in UK !
Cheers or should I say Prost !
Mr Mac
Zum Wohl!
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No idea about other european countries, however, in most german states to get A levels you need to have two foreign languages in the mix. German, however, is optional 
English is usually a given, the second language can be usually chosen dependent on staff available, although sometimes schools in a city pool pupils into one course for the more rare languages, like russian or mandarin.
English is usually a given, the second language can be usually chosen dependent on staff available, although sometimes schools in a city pool pupils into one course for the more rare languages, like russian or mandarin.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
excellent knowledge of English with some having even a slight English dialect from when they were in UK !
Mr Mac
Mr Mac
Finally a French waiter in Biarritz, immaculate English that 'e 'ad learnt in 'alifax. 😀
PS, met a young man from Singapore, also immaculate and idiomatic English. Until two years previous he had had no English at all. It can be done.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
No good at languages at all.
6 years French at school and then, many years later, I lived in Paris for two years, but working in an English speaking multinational environment. Result? Pidgin French which I have mostly lost.
Later lived in Spain for 3.5 years, again working in an English speaking environment. More determined this time I took Spanish evening classes 5 days a week for 6 months. Similar result at the end, pidgin Spanish which I have mostly lost - worse, I now mix up by French and Spanish vocabulary.
Always good with numbers and STEM subjects, absolutely terrible with names. People think I’m joking for not remembering their names after knowing them for years. I think it’s that whole left-right brain thing.
6 years French at school and then, many years later, I lived in Paris for two years, but working in an English speaking multinational environment. Result? Pidgin French which I have mostly lost.
Later lived in Spain for 3.5 years, again working in an English speaking environment. More determined this time I took Spanish evening classes 5 days a week for 6 months. Similar result at the end, pidgin Spanish which I have mostly lost - worse, I now mix up by French and Spanish vocabulary.
Always good with numbers and STEM subjects, absolutely terrible with names. People think I’m joking for not remembering their names after knowing them for years. I think it’s that whole left-right brain thing.
Always good with numbers and STEM subjects, absolutely terrible with names. People think I’m joking for not remembering their names after knowing them for years. I think it’s that whole left-right brain thing.
Also to some degree a technology thing. I used to keep tens, probably towards one hundred phone numbers in my head; then along comes the mobile phone. Now I can't remember my daughter's numbers - don't need to because they're on my bl***y phone! Tech will slowly turn us into brainless morons, if we allow it to.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
No, couldn't remember names when I was a Flt/Sqn Cdr back in my 20/30s. had to have a wall of photos and go over it almost daily and still got by lots of times by avoiding using names most of the time.
At the same time they tried out new test papers on me because I had the reputation of knowing all the manuals and ODMs back to front and usually got a 100%.
At the same time they tried out new test papers on me because I had the reputation of knowing all the manuals and ODMs back to front and usually got a 100%.
UK plan to launch rival to EU sat-nav system.
I bet they wished that they had stuck with Blue Streak now! Still dashed unsporting of those foreign Johnnies saying we can't use their system after we leave the EU.
Any one want to start a book on how much it will cost, I reckon five billion tops is a bit optimistic. Still at least we can get the Kiwis to launch the satellites, keep it in the Common wealth and all that eh! :roll eyes:
I bet they wished that they had stuck with Blue Streak now! Still dashed unsporting of those foreign Johnnies saying we can't use their system after we leave the EU.
Any one want to start a book on how much it will cost, I reckon five billion tops is a bit optimistic. Still at least we can get the Kiwis to launch the satellites, keep it in the Common wealth and all that eh! :roll eyes:
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No idea about other european countries, however, in most german states to get A levels you need to have two foreign languages in the mix. German, however, is optional
English is usually a given, the second language can be usually chosen dependent on staff available, although sometimes schools in a city pool pupils into one course for the more rare languages, like russian or mandarin.
English is usually a given, the second language can be usually chosen dependent on staff available, although sometimes schools in a city pool pupils into one course for the more rare languages, like russian or mandarin.
My PA speaks Russian, though she was born in what was East Germany, and her parents spoke it, so not unsurprising maybe although she was born in 1991 so post wall removal. However her knowledge of English / French /Spanish/ Italian / Arabic is a little more of a challenge for my limited skills ie German and Spanish, but the later is from South America (Chile) so when I worked in Spain in late 80,s I got ribbed about my "old" Spanish. Also in Bavaria, as you may know the accent is some what different to my Northern German accent, again causing some smiles amongst my staff. Mind you I always used to struggle when trying o understand excited Glaswegians when they were speaking English, God knows what other people from overseas do !
Orac
I have the same issue, but I do remember faces, so when meeting a new team or client who I recognise, we play the old 10 questions about careers to find where we last were working together. As my sector is a little like the travelling circus, I am not alone thankfully in this. Mrs Mac who is 10 years younger however, seems to remember everything about the people she works with, including children's names, and even their careers which I would have no hope with, which maybe why she is better at her career than me !!
Cheers
Mr Mac
AT Notts
Except that the '13 Amp' plug is only rated at 10 amps continuous and gets hot at 13.....
three-pin electrical socket system is the safest in the world.
I had a young Kazakh lad working for me back in the naughties. We were having a quiet time and I spotted him reading a Spanish language book.
"Why are you learning Spanish Adil?" says I
"I'm going there on holiday in 6 months, I should be pretty fluent by then and it's rude to arrive in a country without being able to communicate!"
I shut up at that point as my Kazakh was non-existent and my Russian was seriously ropey! He actually was fluent when he left thus adding Spanish to his stock of other languages: Kazakh, Russian, Turkish and English!
"Why are you learning Spanish Adil?" says I
"I'm going there on holiday in 6 months, I should be pretty fluent by then and it's rude to arrive in a country without being able to communicate!"
I shut up at that point as my Kazakh was non-existent and my Russian was seriously ropey! He actually was fluent when he left thus adding Spanish to his stock of other languages: Kazakh, Russian, Turkish and English!
"perhaps that is what the UK should follow, but what do you do with the other circa 40m people !!"
For £400 million (1960 - prices) you could send them to Australia - LOADS of space
For £400 million (1960 - prices) you could send them to Australia - LOADS of space
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Asturias
I thought we had done that sometime ago, and they do not want us anymore, something about wining Poms !!. I have never been down there, but told by those that have to skip Aus, and move straight onto NZ ! Ironically we maybe picking up a contract in NZ which will be a first for us, so I may get to see what all the fuss is about soon.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
I thought we had done that sometime ago, and they do not want us anymore, something about wining Poms !!. I have never been down there, but told by those that have to skip Aus, and move straight onto NZ ! Ironically we maybe picking up a contract in NZ which will be a first for us, so I may get to see what all the fuss is about soon.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...race-6v783gzj2
Britain puts $500m into satellite race
Boris Johnson is poised to secure the $500 million part-purchase of an American satellite operator as the first step in creating Britain’s own sovereign system to rival the EU’s Galileo.
The prime minister and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, signed off the purchase of a 20 per cent stake in OneWeb, an operator of low-earth orbit satellites, last night. Although the government technically is making a bid for the stake, British officials said the transaction was at “a very advanced stage”.
OneWeb, which has its headquarters in Britain, filed for bankruptcy in March partly because of the pandemic. Other states, including China, are believed to have been interested in taking a stake. The firm already has 74 of a planned 650 satellites in orbit and claims to be able to deliver broadband and military and civilian GPS on completion......
Senior ministers were being briefed on the purchase at a special meeting of Cobra last night. It is not yet clear whether the relocation of OneWeb’s satellite manufacturing from Florida to Britain was a condition of the government taking a stake.
Airbus is likely to emerge as supplier of the low-earth satellites in any network, industry sources said. It is unclear when the purchase will be made, but it is understood that Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has been tasked with completing the deal.
The purchase of OneWeb will be intended as a statement that Mr Johnson remains committed to a sovereign system despite the ravages of the pandemic. A well-placed source warned that the purchase was “messy”, however, and may not provide best value for money. An industry expert said: “We probably won’t ever know whether it’s a good deal or not.”
Britain puts $500m into satellite race
Boris Johnson is poised to secure the $500 million part-purchase of an American satellite operator as the first step in creating Britain’s own sovereign system to rival the EU’s Galileo.
The prime minister and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, signed off the purchase of a 20 per cent stake in OneWeb, an operator of low-earth orbit satellites, last night. Although the government technically is making a bid for the stake, British officials said the transaction was at “a very advanced stage”.
OneWeb, which has its headquarters in Britain, filed for bankruptcy in March partly because of the pandemic. Other states, including China, are believed to have been interested in taking a stake. The firm already has 74 of a planned 650 satellites in orbit and claims to be able to deliver broadband and military and civilian GPS on completion......
Senior ministers were being briefed on the purchase at a special meeting of Cobra last night. It is not yet clear whether the relocation of OneWeb’s satellite manufacturing from Florida to Britain was a condition of the government taking a stake.
Airbus is likely to emerge as supplier of the low-earth satellites in any network, industry sources said. It is unclear when the purchase will be made, but it is understood that Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has been tasked with completing the deal.
The purchase of OneWeb will be intended as a statement that Mr Johnson remains committed to a sovereign system despite the ravages of the pandemic. A well-placed source warned that the purchase was “messy”, however, and may not provide best value for money. An industry expert said: “We probably won’t ever know whether it’s a good deal or not.”
For £400 million (1960 - prices) you could send them to Australia - LOADS of space
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...race-6v783gzj2
Britain puts $500m into satellite race
Boris Johnson is poised to secure the $500 million part-purchase of an American satellite operator as the first step in creating Britain’s own sovereign system to rival the EU’s Galileo.
The prime minister and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, signed off the purchase of a 20 per cent stake in OneWeb, an operator of low-earth orbit satellites, last night. Although the government technically is making a bid for the stake, British officials said the transaction was at “a very advanced stage”.
OneWeb, which has its headquarters in Britain, filed for bankruptcy in March partly because of the pandemic. Other states, including China, are believed to have been interested in taking a stake. The firm already has 74 of a planned 650 satellites in orbit and claims to be able to deliver broadband and military and civilian GPS on completion......
Senior ministers were being briefed on the purchase at a special meeting of Cobra last night. It is not yet clear whether the relocation of OneWeb’s satellite manufacturing from Florida to Britain was a condition of the government taking a stake.
Airbus is likely to emerge as supplier of the low-earth satellites in any network, industry sources said. It is unclear when the purchase will be made, but it is understood that Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has been tasked with completing the deal.
The purchase of OneWeb will be intended as a statement that Mr Johnson remains committed to a sovereign system despite the ravages of the pandemic. A well-placed source warned that the purchase was “messy”, however, and may not provide best value for money. An industry expert said: “We probably won’t ever know whether it’s a good deal or not.”
Britain puts $500m into satellite race
Boris Johnson is poised to secure the $500 million part-purchase of an American satellite operator as the first step in creating Britain’s own sovereign system to rival the EU’s Galileo.
The prime minister and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, signed off the purchase of a 20 per cent stake in OneWeb, an operator of low-earth orbit satellites, last night. Although the government technically is making a bid for the stake, British officials said the transaction was at “a very advanced stage”.
OneWeb, which has its headquarters in Britain, filed for bankruptcy in March partly because of the pandemic. Other states, including China, are believed to have been interested in taking a stake. The firm already has 74 of a planned 650 satellites in orbit and claims to be able to deliver broadband and military and civilian GPS on completion......
Senior ministers were being briefed on the purchase at a special meeting of Cobra last night. It is not yet clear whether the relocation of OneWeb’s satellite manufacturing from Florida to Britain was a condition of the government taking a stake.
Airbus is likely to emerge as supplier of the low-earth satellites in any network, industry sources said. It is unclear when the purchase will be made, but it is understood that Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has been tasked with completing the deal.
The purchase of OneWeb will be intended as a statement that Mr Johnson remains committed to a sovereign system despite the ravages of the pandemic. A well-placed source warned that the purchase was “messy”, however, and may not provide best value for money. An industry expert said: “We probably won’t ever know whether it’s a good deal or not.”
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Sallyann 1234
Not sure if it is just me, but $500m seems a little cheap, its the price of 3-4 secondary schools, or one medium sized hospital in the UK.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
Not sure if it is just me, but $500m seems a little cheap, its the price of 3-4 secondary schools, or one medium sized hospital in the UK.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
Another larger investment would be needed to complete the project as the planned communications network.
To change the system to operate on the same principles as existing GNSS would require complete replacement of all hardware both in space and on the ground, so not a wise investment from that point of view.
But I recall that when the OneWeb system was originally promoted there was a suggestion that it could have a secondary function as a positioning system. I haven't taken the trouble to read up on the theory of this - it will be on the web somewhere - but it would be totally incompatible with existing receivers and of unproven accuracy. If Boris has bought into OneWeb in the expectation of making such use of it I hope he taken much expert advice.