Post things that you see in your country that you've only seen in your country - thread

In the UK, domestically, we use 240v electricity.
I work in construction in my day job and we use 110v for a lot of things in construction because it's safer, but everywhere else it's 'regular' 240v.

I think it's because we're a people who loves these things

electric kettles

instead of;



This electric kettle looks like my electric kettle, everywhere's got at least one electric kettle in the UK.

They range from £6.00 to £100.00 and my one is getting old (3 years, used like a mule), I need to replace my electric kettle and I want to replace my electric kettle with an electric kettle that's of a similar quality for £60.00 - £70.00 (by the same manufacturer I like too)..

We just call it a Kettle, and putting the kettle on just means putting water in and turning it on for a hot beverage.
But these things are great.

 

Those things exist everywhere except America because Americans don't drink tea. Their whole friggen nation was founded on the rebellion against tea.

 

Oh...

I thought they were just a UK thing.

In America, they don't have 240v so can't power the element in electric kettles without blowing a fuse.

 

http://uk.businessinsider.com/why-americans-dont-use-electric-kettles-stove-top-2015-12

Here's what America has @Ritter

 

That is so 1625.

America is such a Third World country.

 

...
Well...

I can't say it is and I can't say it isn't.

I mean, I haven't been since 2004, so I really can't tell.

In some ways America were a head of Europe, and in others, America were behind, let's just put it like that.

 

Most homes in the US operate on 100-127 volts, whereas the UK and many other countries use between 220 and 240 volts. The lower voltage in the US means that electric kettles would not heat water as quickly as they do in the UK. As a result, they haven't caught on in the US.
[from the link]

 

But if you want to go 1625, how about a hay bail home? They make surprisingly good sense. My ex and I considered building one. My biggest reservation was the resale value - too risky.

They may build these in other countries but I've only seen them in the US so far.

 

Stealth Aircraft [yes, the SR 71 used early stealth technology]

 

Space Shuttle

 

Selfies from Mars

 

Signals from beyond the edge of the solar system.

 

Guess these guys never heard of amps..

 

It is a power delivery issue. A typical circuit in the house is wired for 25 amps. That is determined by the size of the wire. If you run this at 240 Volts instead of 120 Volts, you get twice the power through the same wire. There is no way to beat that at the point of use.

That is why they keep driving up the voltage for long-distance power transmission. I've heard that some lines are now running at 1 million volts.

 

What about if you get big bad wolf insurance?

 

Every country I've been to I've;
Seen BBC news on TV
Befriended a house cat
Seen pigeons.
There's probably more but, these things stick out to me in my mind right now.

 

Old woman gathering entire bags of snails to eat them !

 

Heh, that might help! It just isn't in the mainstream for financing. So I was worried about recovering the value.

Pretty impressive though! Because the hay is stacked so tightly, it qualifies as a 4 hour firewall, IIRC.

Straw bale homes are different. Straw bale houses are known for and have been tested to resist fire by up to three times that of conventional homes.
https://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-fire-resistant-southern-california/

They also have phenomenal insulation and sound damping ratings at a fraction of the cost of traditional homes. And of course hay is a completely renewable and biodegradable product.

That particular structure is more a hybrid. But hay bale homes can be built without any wood frame. And one really cool spin off of the construction methods: The interior walls are movable! You can rearrange your walls at will. How cool is that?!?!

Adobe, stucco, or any waterproof exterior preserves the hay indefinitely.

 

An Asphalt lake - the La Brea Tar Pits



The Crystal Caves

 

Area 51

 

I think tea pots are pretty but I never use them. They are not a mainstay in the family home. I and the majority use tea bags

I'm not sure but I t honk we have 220 outlets for the big stuff...like air compressors and washing machines.

 

How do you keep your horses from eating you out of house and home..... literally?

 

Tell them nay.

 

Put up "No Eating" signs?

 

Or yell, "Hey, do you think we live in a barn?!?!"