> A common misconception is referring to the entire tower as Big Ben, when in fact, that's just the name of the bell. Andrew clarified: "So it's The Great Clock inside the Elizabeth Tower that rings Big Ben."
Technically I guess yeah. The tower that used to be called the "Clock Tower", is now called "Elizabeth Tower" yet it's also true that the de facto nickname for the entire tower is "Big Ben", even though technically that is the name of the bell, not the tower itself.
Big Ben is the bell not the clock.
Is the fact that the name originates from a bell, and that the official name for the tower is different, interesting? Maybe. Is it worth “correcting”? No, for the same reason it’s not worth policing people’s use of “Google” to mean “Alphabet”.
I also reject your premise this is anything similar to referring to Google/Alphabet as interchangeable.
The story of how it was designed and built is full of engineering mischief and process hacking. Very much in the HN spirit. Highly recommended.
Certainly scary enough for Hallowe'en.
Also - those guys are insane. The "safety harness" was a wooden plank chair with some ropes dangling you over the abyss.
If you think that looks dicey, search for the video of when another Blue Peter presenter,John Noakes, cleaned Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square. Note the overhanging wooden ladder and the entire safety equipment was a pair of flared jeans and platform boots!
He also climbed the mast of HMS Ganges which is possibly even more heart stopping.
yawpitch•3mo ago
scrollop•3mo ago