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[OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one!

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  [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-01 11:16 +0100
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-07-01 12:30 +0200
      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-01 21:26 +1000
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-01 12:49 +0000
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-01 16:43 +0100
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2026-07-01 17:43 +0100
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 06:11 +0100
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-02 11:51 +0100
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 22:57 +1000
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 16:49 +0200
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-03 09:19 +1000
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-03 16:13 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-01 19:31 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-01 22:52 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-07-01 21:08 +0000
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-01 23:13 +0200
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-02 12:47 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-07-02 08:16 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-02 06:35 +0000
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 09:09 +0200
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 12:49 +0200
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> - 2026-07-02 14:33 +0100
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-02 14:41 +0000
                            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> - 2026-07-02 15:58 +0100
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2026-07-03 09:26 +0100
                                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 17:36 +1000
                                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 10:57 +0200
                                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-06 04:37 +0200
                            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-03 09:43 +1000
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-03 11:15 +0000
                            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! HVS <office@REMOVETHISwhhvs.co.uk> - 2026-07-06 10:54 +0100
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Charles Hope <clh@candehope.me.uk> - 2026-07-06 11:00 +0000
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 16:12 +0200
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 17:33 +0200
                            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 19:21 +0200
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 23:26 +0200
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-04 11:38 +0200
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-04 12:52 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 08:26 +0100
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:33 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:50 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 14:33 +1000
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-07-02 08:23 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-02 12:47 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 12:56 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 23:09 +1000
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-02 15:06 +0100
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-03 09:57 +1000
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 11:48 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 09:58 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-07-02 10:22 +0000
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-02 12:04 +0100
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:35 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-02 09:39 +0200
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-01 16:46 +0100
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-01 13:51 -0700
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 09:58 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-03 14:28 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-03 17:47 -0700
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-03 17:48 -0700
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-03 17:50 -0700
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-07-01 13:55 +0100
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-01 17:06 +0200
      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-01 17:15 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-01 19:20 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 06:11 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-01 19:19 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-01 23:10 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 09:30 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 17:50 +1000
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:00 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:43 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-02 12:34 -0700
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-07-02 20:52 +0000
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-02 22:17 +0100
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:33 +0100
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 16:27 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 17:19 +0100
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-03 10:07 +1000
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-02 19:16 +0100
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-07-02 18:37 +0000
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-02 22:24 +0100
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2026-07-03 09:41 +0100
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 11:48 +0200
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-07-03 11:08 +0100
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Charles Hope <clh@candehope.me.uk> - 2026-07-03 11:45 +0000
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 15:58 +0200
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 15:58 +0200
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-07-03 16:06 +0100
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net> - 2026-07-04 19:00 +0100
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-05 05:45 +0100
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 06:56 +0200
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 18:05 +1000
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net> - 2026-07-05 11:30 +0100
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-05 20:32 +0100
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net> - 2026-07-05 20:58 +0100
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 23:26 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 17:59 +1000
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 11:01 +0200
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-05 10:45 +0100
                        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 12:27 +0200
                          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 20:59 +1000
                            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 15:27 +0200
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 15:47 +0200
                              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-06 06:32 +0100
                                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-06 07:54 +0200
                                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-06 07:54 +0100
                                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-06 09:59 +0200
                    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net> - 2026-07-05 12:21 +0100
                      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-06 08:53 +1000
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 09:58 +0200
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 09:24 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 17:55 +1000
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-02 16:29 +0200
      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 10:24 +1000
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:56 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-02 12:47 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-03 08:51 +0200
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:44 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 18:07 +1000
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 11:16 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-03 15:12 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-07-03 14:29 +0100
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-03 16:08 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-03 20:57 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-03 19:10 +0000
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-03 20:50 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:01 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-07-05 19:05 +0000
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-06 06:24 +0200
                  Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-06 06:27 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> - 2026-07-05 20:27 +0100
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-04 06:50 +0200
      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-02 12:47 +0200
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 13:54 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 14:33 +0100
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-02 16:54 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> - 2026-07-02 17:45 +0200
                Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-03 16:21 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 11:16 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-03 11:16 +0200
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-03 16:20 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-05 08:33 +0200
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-01 19:13 +0100
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:45 +0200
    Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-03 11:52 +0800
      Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-03 07:15 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-03 07:49 +0100
        Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-03 16:22 +0200
          Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-04 06:38 +0100
            Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-07-04 21:37 +0200
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-05 13:13 +0800
              Re: [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one! Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-05 06:34 +0100

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#1145961 — [OT] Don't blink or you'll miss one!

Don't blink or you'll miss a speed-limit sign. In France, the award goes 
to the N7 between Lyon and Avignon, which has 120 changes in speed limit 
in 100 miles (and a goodly number of radars to issue tickets too).

Source: JT de France 2 at 20h yesterday:
<https://www.franceinfo.fr/replay-jt/france-2/20-heures/jt-de-20h-du-mardi-30-juin-2026_8053049.html> 
from 17m 15s - in French, of course.

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#1145963

On 01/07/2026 12:16, Hibou wrote:
> Don't blink or you'll miss a speed-limit sign. In France, the award goes
> to the N7 between Lyon and Avignon, which has 120 changes in speed limit
> in 100 miles (and a goodly number of radars to issue tickets too).
> 
> Source: JT de France 2 at 20h yesterday:
> <https://www.franceinfo.fr/replay-jt/france-2/20-heures/jt-de-20h-du-
> mardi-30-juin-2026_8053049.html> from 17m 15s - in French, of course.
> 

The report highlights the N7 in the south of France. However this excess
of Gallic irrationality exists in my part of France too (Grand Est).
Every time I cross the border, the speed signs do their best to confuse
and confound drivers.

(I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty & ten
nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )

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#1145966

On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:

> (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty &
> ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )

I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk of someone
who had moved to another section, so had to field lots of phone calls
for him. Unfortunately, the phone number had several eights and nines in it.

My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm comfortable
with words like "nonante". That meant I had to translate back into
Parisian French when giving phone numbers. Sometimes I hypercorrected,
and came up with "trois vingts" for sixty.

-- 
Peter Moylan       peter@pmoylan.org    http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

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#1145967

Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> posted:

> On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:
> 
> > (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty &
> > ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )
> 
> I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk of someone
> who had moved to another section, so had to field lots of phone calls
> for him. Unfortunately, the phone number had several eights and nines in it.

Ha. You'd love my telephone number, which isn't zero four, four twenties twelve, 
sixty ten eight, zero nine, four twenties six, but resembles that.
> 
> My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm comfortable
> with words like "nonante".

Do you also have "septante" in Belgian French? I never remember. I think 
"octante" and "huitante" only survive in Switzerland.

 That meant I had to translate back into
> Parisian French when giving phone numbers. Sometimes I hypercorrected,
> and came up with "trois vingts" for sixty.
> 


-- 
athel

Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada 

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#1145972

On 2026-07-01, athel.cb  gmail.com wrote:

>
> Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> posted:
>
>> On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:
>> 
>> > (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty &
>> > ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )
>> 
>> I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk of someone
>> who had moved to another section, so had to field lots of phone calls
>> for him. Unfortunately, the phone number had several eights and nines in it.
>
> Ha. You'd love my telephone number, which isn't zero four, four twenties twelve, 
> sixty ten eight, zero nine, four twenties six, but resembles that.
>> 
>> My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm comfortable
>> with words like "nonante".
>
> Do you also have "septante" in Belgian French? I never remember. I think 
> "octante" and "huitante" only survive in Switzerland.

I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
parts).

<https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>


-- 
There's no money in poetry, but there's no poetry in
money either.                       ---Robert Graves

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#1145975

On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100
Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> wrote:

> On 2026-07-01, athel.cb  gmail.com wrote:
> 
> >
> > Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> posted:
> >
> >> On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:
> >> 
> >> > (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty &
> >> > ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )
> >> 
> >> I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk of someone
> >> who had moved to another section, so had to field lots of phone calls
> >> for him. Unfortunately, the phone number had several eights and nines in it.
> >
> > Ha. You'd love my telephone number, which isn't zero four, four twenties twelve, 
> > sixty ten eight, zero nine, four twenties six, but resembles that.
> >> 
> >> My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm comfortable
> >> with words like "nonante".
> >
> > Do you also have "septante" in Belgian French? I never remember. I think 
> > "octante" and "huitante" only survive in Switzerland.
> 
> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
> parts).
> 
> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
> 

What's needed is a national committee to decide what's allowed in French
and what's not. 

At least (I think, ICBW,) the English speaking nations have got numbers up
to nine hundred and ninety million, nine hundred thousand, nine hundred
and ninety nine sorted out.

-- 
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

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#1146003

Le 01/07/2026 à 17:43, Kerr-Mudd, John a écrit :
> 
> At least (I think, ICBW,) the English speaking nations have got numbers up
> to nine hundred and ninety million, nine hundred thousand, nine hundred
> and ninety nine sorted out.


Including Hobbits. Bilbo celebrated his eleventy-first birthday.

And before there were Hobbits:
<https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=eleventy&year_start=1800&year_end=2022&corpus=en&smoothing=3>

'Eleventy' usually means 'lots of', and occasionally '110' (OED).

"We calculate about eleven hundred and eleventy-eleven [carriages]" - 
'Bell's Life in London', 1841.

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#1146022

On 2026-07-01, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:

> On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100
> Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2026-07-01, athel.cb  gmail.com wrote:
>> 
>> >
>> > Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> posted:
>> >
>> >> On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> > (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four twenty &
>> >> > ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )
>> >> 
>> >> I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk of someone
>> >> who had moved to another section, so had to field lots of phone calls
>> >> for him. Unfortunately, the phone number had several eights and nines in it.
>> >
>> > Ha. You'd love my telephone number, which isn't zero four, four twenties twelve, 
>> > sixty ten eight, zero nine, four twenties six, but resembles that.
>> >> 
>> >> My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm comfortable
>> >> with words like "nonante".
>> >
>> > Do you also have "septante" in Belgian French? I never remember. I think 
>> > "octante" and "huitante" only survive in Switzerland.
>> 
>> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
>> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
>> parts).
>> 
>> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
>> 
>
> What's needed is a national committee to decide what's allowed in French
> and what's not. 

France (at least) has one already --- do you mean an international
committee?



-- 
A drug is not bad. A drug is a chemical compound. The problem comes in
when people who take drugs treat them like a license to behave like an
asshole.                                                ---Frank Zappa

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#1146034

On 02/07/26 20:51, Adam Funk wrote:
> On 2026-07-01, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100 Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2026-07-01, athel.cb  gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> posted:
>>>>
>>>>> On 01/07/26 20:30, occam wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> (I dismiss it as the signage of a peoples who think 'four
>>>>>> twenty & ten nine" is a rational way of saying '99'. )
>>>>>
>>>>> I once worked for three months in Paris. I occupied the desk
>>>>> of someone who had moved to another section, so had to field
>>>>> lots of phone calls for him. Unfortunately, the phone number
>>>>> had several eights and nines in it.
>>>>
>>>> Ha. You'd love my telephone number, which isn't zero four, four
>>>> twenties twelve, sixty ten eight, zero nine, four twenties six,
>>>> but resembles that.
>>>>>
>>>>> My French is heavily influenced by Belgian French, so I'm
>>>>> comfortable with words like "nonante".
>>>>
>>>> Do you also have "septante" in Belgian French? I never
>>>> remember. I think "octante" and "huitante" only survive in
>>>> Switzerland.
>>>
>>> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but
>>> Wikipedia says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian
>>> (in some parts).
>>>
>>> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
>>>
>>
>> What's needed is a national committee to decide what's allowed in
>> French and what's not.
>
> France (at least) has one already --- do you mean an international
> committee?

The central control in France is one of the reasons for the survival of
archaic forms like quatre-vingts. Belgium and Switzerland, and some
other places, are more open to the correction of ancient infelicities.

-- 
Peter Moylan       peter@pmoylan.org    http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

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#1146046

On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:57:42 +1000, Peter Moylan wrote:

> The central control in France is one of the reasons for the survival of
> archaic forms like quatre-vingts. Belgium and Switzerland, and some
> other places, are more open to the correction of ancient infelicities.

I always thought 'nonante' was archaic, but you're saying it's the other
way around? As I've said: Flemish schools in Belgium teach us
'quatre-vingt', but we're made aware of 'nonante' etc.

Now I wonder what schools in Wallonia are teaching.

-- 
s|b

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#1146079

On 03/07/26 00:49, s|b wrote:
> On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:57:42 +1000, Peter Moylan wrote:
>
>> The central control in France is one of the reasons for the
>> survival of archaic forms like quatre-vingts. Belgium and
>> Switzerland, and some other places, are more open to the
>> correction of ancient infelicities.
>
> I always thought 'nonante' was archaic, but you're saying it's the
> other way around? As I've said: Flemish schools in Belgium teach us
> 'quatre-vingt', but we're made aware of 'nonante' etc.
>
> Now I wonder what schools in Wallonia are teaching.

According to the Wikipedia article on Belgian French, septante and
nonante used to be common in France, but died out after the 16th
century. (But were retained in Belgium and Switzerland.) Huitante is the
one that survives in Swiss French but not in Belgian French.)

Contrary to what I said above, I guess that Belgian French is actually
more conservative than French French. For example, it retains vowel
distinctions that are dying out in much of France.

I've heard that Flemish schools try to teach ABN (standard Dutch) in
preference to local dialects. Perhaps the schools in Wallony are trying
to teach the French of France; I don't know. I gather than Walloon, as a
language, is pretty much dead.

-- 
Peter Moylan       peter@pmoylan.org    http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

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#1146139

On Fri, 3 Jul 2026 09:19:45 +1000, Peter Moylan wrote:

> According to the Wikipedia article on Belgian French, septante and
> nonante used to be common in France, but died out after the 16th
> century. (But were retained in Belgium and Switzerland.) Huitante is the
> one that survives in Swiss French but not in Belgian French.)

I can't remember huitante, but I (vaguely) remember being told about
septante and nonante used in Wallonia.

> Contrary to what I said above, I guess that Belgian French is actually
> more conservative than French French. For example, it retains vowel
> distinctions that are dying out in much of France.
> 
> I've heard that Flemish schools try to teach ABN (standard Dutch) in
> preference to local dialects. Perhaps the schools in Wallony are trying
> to teach the French of France; I don't know. I gather than Walloon, as a
> language, is pretty much dead.

They don't say ABN (Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlands) anymore. I thought it
now was AN (Algemeen Nederlands), but I just learned they changed it to
Standaardnederlands.

It's what we are taught in Flanders, but it's not what (most of us) we
speak. I'm guessing it's similar in Wallonia: France's French taught in
schools, but not how people speak.

-- 
s|b

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#1145977

On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100, Adam Funk wrote:

> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
> parts).
> 
> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>

I've never heard of 'octante'. In Flemish schools we are taught
'quartre-vingt'. I remember a teacher telling us about 'nonante' and
forbidding us to use it. I believe they still use it in Wallonia.

-- 
s|b

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#1145983

Op 1/07/2026 om 19:31 schreef s|b:
> On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100, Adam Funk wrote:
> 
>> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
>> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
>> parts).
>>
>> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
> 
> I've never heard of 'octante'. In Flemish schools we are taught
> 'quartre-vingt'. I remember a teacher telling us about 'nonante' and
> forbidding us to use it. I believe they still use it in Wallonia.

Septante, quatre-vingt, nonante are standard in Belgian French.

Go try to write down dictated numbers containing soixante-dix-huit and 
quatre-vingt-dix-neuf. I love to confuse the French with 
septante-dix-six and nonante-dix-onze.

-- 
guido wugi

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#1145984

In article <1123ulp$24ri1$1@dont-email.me>, wugi  <wugi@brol.invalid> wrote:
>nonante-dix-onze.

"Un decante-un" in the Lord of the Rings.

-- Richard

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#1145986

Op 1/07/2026 om 23:08 schreef Richard Tobin:
> In article <1123ulp$24ri1$1@dont-email.me>, wugi  <wugi@brol.invalid> wrote:
>> nonante-dix-onze.
> 
> "Un decante-un" in the Lord of the Rings.
> 
> -- Richard

Elfendertig (eleven-and-thirty), not?

-- 
guido wugi

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#1146019

wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> wrote:

> Op 1/07/2026 om 23:08 schreef Richard Tobin:
> > In article <1123ulp$24ri1$1@dont-email.me>, wugi  <wugi@brol.invalid> wrote:
> >> nonante-dix-onze.
> > 
> > "Un decante-un" in the Lord of the Rings.
> > 
> > -- Richard
> 
> Elfendertig (eleven-and-thirty), not?

That's Dutch, that is Frisian.
The state/province of Friesland has eleven towns, and thirty villages.
[1]

The Dutch Republic, in its heyday, was run by the Estates General,
so by the parliament.
Delegates to it did not have a mandate to vote on new issues.
When something new came up they had to go back for consultation.
So the Frisians to their 11 towns and 30 villages.

'Op zijn elfendertigst' became proverbial for endless delaying tactics,

Jan

[1] Once famous for the 'Elfstedentocht', a individual race on states
pasing by them all, of > 200 km.
A century ago it could be held perhaps every other year. The last one
was in 1997, and it is unlikely that it will ever be held again.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfstedentocht>

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#1146005

On 01/07/2026 22:52, wugi wrote:
> Op 1/07/2026 om 19:31 schreef s|b:
>> On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100, Adam Funk wrote:
>>
>>> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
>>> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
>>> parts).
>>>
>>> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
>>
>> I've never heard of 'octante'. In Flemish schools we are taught
>> 'quartre-vingt'. I remember a teacher telling us about 'nonante' and
>> forbidding us to use it. I believe they still use it in Wallonia.
> 
> Septante, quatre-vingt, nonante are standard in Belgian French.
> 
> Go try to write down dictated numbers containing soixante-dix-huit and
> quatre-vingt-dix-neuf. I love to confuse the French with septante-dix-
> six and nonante-dix-onze.
> 

You may be joking, however I recall a conversation I overheard in Paris
between two 'trendies'. One said he was "vingt-douze ans". I guessed he
was unhappy not being in his twenties any more.

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#1146007

occam <occam@nowhere.nix> posted:

> On 01/07/2026 22:52, wugi wrote:
> > Op 1/07/2026 om 19:31 schreef s|b:
> >> On Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:43:21 +0100, Adam Funk wrote:
> >>
> >>> I thought "huitante" was Belgian & "octante" was Swiss, but Wikipedia
> >>> says "huitante" is Swiss & "octante" used to be Belgian (in some
> >>> parts).
> >>>
> >>> <https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_(nombre)#Linguistique>
> >>
> >> I've never heard of 'octante'. In Flemish schools we are taught
> >> 'quartre-vingt'. I remember a teacher telling us about 'nonante' and
> >> forbidding us to use it. I believe they still use it in Wallonia.
> > 
> > Septante, quatre-vingt, nonante are standard in Belgian French.
> > 
> > Go try to write down dictated numbers containing soixante-dix-huit and
> > quatre-vingt-dix-neuf. I love to confuse the French with septante-dix-
> > six and nonante-dix-onze.
> > 
> 
> You may be joking, however I recall a conversation I overheard in Paris
> between two 'trendies'. One said he was "vingt-douze ans". I guessed he
> was unhappy not being in his twenties any more.

Our usual source of information about all things Danish has been very silent
in his discussion. I seem to recall that Danish is more extreme than French
in counting by twenties.


-- 
athel

Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada 

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#1146008

Den 02.07.2026 kl. 08.35 skrev athel.cb@gmail.com:

> Our usual source of information about all things Danish has been very silent
> in his discussion. I seem to recall that Danish is more extreme than French
> in counting by twenties.

I've made this page which explains the origin of our slightly weird numbers:

   	https://tools.lundhansen.dk/Danish_numbers.html

-- 
Bertel, Kolt, Danmark

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