Dear Bill, I have interspersed some remarks.
on 2004-05-31 23.21, MightyChimp at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > ----- 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. On the relatively rare occasions that I have heard the expression, 'the whole nine yards', I have been inclined to ask, 'When you say 'whole nine yards', do you mean square yards or cubic yards?' � leave the opposition in confusion, I say! > 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. I had heard this expression as 'the whole kit and kaboodle'. As always, Michael Quinion is most erudite on this issue. See: <http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-who2.htm > >> >> 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. A translation to 'a five metre pole' would more or less fit the historical reality, as five metres converts to 16 feet 4 27/32 inches and this isn't far away from the old rod, pole, or perch at 15 feet 6 inches. > 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. Retelling this story about stripes, as galons, helps to denigrate the word gallons, and I'm all for spreading this story more widely. By the way, wouldn't a 'ten-gallon hat' have a capacity fairly close to 10 litres? >> 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. Advertisers have known, and used, this trick for quite a while. >> >> 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 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >> >> >
