----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, 2004-05-30 23:56 Subject: [USMA:30014] RE: the metric system and jokes
> In "the whole nine yards," I believe it's a reference to nine cubic yards > (not to linear yards) -- the capacity of one of the standard dumpsters > (skips if you speak British English). Therefore, a conversion to meters > makes no sense. I doubt most people who use this expression know or care to know the history behind it. If were really want to take the FFU out of some expressions, we can use sayings that mean the same thing but with no referance to any measurement units. In this case, we can use the expression "the whole kitten kaboodle". I'm sure other terms are in existance that convey the same message. > > A ten-foot pole has a certain utility that a 10 meter pole (enormously long) > would not have. I guess you could say 3 meter pole (which is very close to > ten feet). However, again, it's a historical thing and it's better to let it > eventually die out than to try to use a metric approximation. Simply state, > the term "three meter pole" doesn't exist in common usage, even in a metric > country. The term 3 m pole sounds to much like hidden FFU to me. Plus 10 m ploe has certain advantages in that it means I wouldn't let something get within 10 m of me. It doesn't have to exist or be real. I don't think people who use these expressions are looking for accuracy either as in the case of the misuse of yards/cubic yards. It is much easier to substitute metre for foot then to do a complete conversion. Another point of inaccuracy in these old sayings in the mis use of the ten gallon hat. People assume it means a gallon of volume and it really refers to the decorations in the form of braids or stripes on the hat as the Spanish word galon (with one l) means a braid or a stripe. > > If you can come up with new expressions that will be memorable, there's some > point to it. A straight conversion (even adjusted to an appropriate > approximation) has no history and won't go anywhere. Say itoften enough and it will. > > Bill Potts, CMS > Roseville, CA > http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Behalf Of MightyChimp > >Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 18:23 > >To: U.S. Metric Association > >Subject: [USMA:30011] RE: the metric system and jokes > > > > > >I got the same feeling when I read it too. I felt he was more upset with > >the "exactness" of conversion that some people seem to do. A thousand yard > >stare could just as well been a 1000 m stare and not lost a hint of the > >meaning. At least he knew that the 1 mile per gallon was the US gallon and > >converted it correctly. He could have assumed it was the old imperial > >gallon and said it was equal to 282 L/100 km. > > > >Funny how 100 m is always converted to 100 yards in the English language > >press but 100 yards becomes 90 m in other languages. > > > >"the whole nine yards." There is and probably never will be a metric > >equivalent of the latter. > > > >What about "the whole 10 m"? > > > >But to say you wouldn't touch something with a 3.05-metre pole - that's a > >whole different league (5.56 kilometres). > > > >I would say a 10 m pole, and I usually do. As for league, I don't think it > >is a length unit in this application but more in tune with a sports league > >or a team. > > > > > >Euric > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Sunday, 2004-05-30 18:34 > >Subject: [USMA:30010] RE: the metric system and jokes > > > > > >> As far as I can see, the writer is merely satirizing the > >compulsive act of > >> conversion. I don't interpret his article as a criticism of metric usage > >as > >> such (just of the use of conversion where it isn't even required). > >> > >> His criticism is of any arbitrary and unnecessary conversion, including > >that > >> of currency. > >> > >> It's obviously silly to convert figures of speech, such as "in for a > >penny, > >> in for a pound" (where, unfortunately, he used the avoirdupois pound, > >rather > >> than the currency) and In time, it will probably die out > >> and be replace with more contemporary expressions. Outside the > >metrication > >> arena, for example, "half a bale shy of a load" (as a description of > >someone > >> who isn't quite with it, mentally) has morphed into things like "a few > >fries > >> short of a Happy Meal." Urban people aren't familiar with bales > >of hay, so > >> are more likely to understand the latter. > >> > >> Bill Potts, CMS > >> Roseville, CA > >> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > >> > >> > >> >-----Original Message----- > >> >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >Behalf Of Paul Trusten > >> >Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 14:37 > >> >To: U.S. Metric Association > >> >Subject: [USMA:30009] the metric system and jokes > >> > > >> > > >> >IMHO, a huge ongoing PR problem with metric in the United States > >> >and also in > >> >metricating countries is its being the butt of jokes, usually having to > >do > >> >with conversion between systems, and not usually involving the > >use of the > >> >metric system alone. Here's a current classic from Australia: > >> > > >> >http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/30/1085855438557.html > >> > > >> >I'd love to hear some discussion about this. I think this is a very > >> >important metric issue! Thanks. > >> > > >> >-- > >> >Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > >> >3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 > >> >Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >
