Thanks Graham
Interesting indeed. The professor created quite an interesting scenario. A
lot of assumptions about how observant, resourceful and clever folks were
back in those days and what they might be doing when they were not busy
getting themselves fed, clothed, watching the kids, fighting with others and
keeping warm (then again they did not have the television to distract them
;-)
This now to resolve/relate another ancient measure, the cubit, and the
megalithic yard.
From the web:
"Eastman's bible dictionary says there are at least 2 measures for the term
"cubit":
Standard cubit = elbow to end of middle finger (~20").
Lower forearm cubit = elbow to base of the hand (~12").
So if a cubit is a foot then it is possible that the megalithic yard could
be 3 cubits and the cubit (which is easily discovered/derived and very
transportable :-) could also have been used as a measure that would also
possibly explain the commonality to my thinking
The problem with the cubit is that it changes over time. People used to be
of smaller stature.
Is it Friday yet?... ;-)
Cheers,
Joe
In a message dated 4/15/2009 5:31:55 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Louis et al
The history of measurement goes far back in time.
If anyone has the interest go read:
http://www.robertlomas.com/megyard/index.html
I find it a fascinating subject and keep my mind wide open to
alternative considerations.
Graham Naisbitt
Gen3 Systems
On 14 Apr 2009, at 17:06, Louis Hart wrote:
> Joe, et al, If I am correct, the US has been using international
> units officially since 1890. At that time, I believe the Imperial
> units were legally defined in terms of the metric ones. (For
> whatever good that did.)
>
> I largely refuse to use the Imperial units, unless asked, as many
> people, including engineers, often do. My wife is an artist who also
> does framing work (with a lot of help from me). Occasionally, I make
> a mistake and use the legitimate excuse that measuring, adding, etc,
> with the Imperial units most material suppliers provide set me up
> for an error. If I could use International units, chances of an
> error are enormously reduced. When I can start measurements from the
> beginning, on my own terms, I use international units and feel much
> more comfortable. So I see, in a very small way at first hand, some
> of the cost of using an outmoded system of units.
>
> Incidentally, I have to admire the surveyors who, during the French
> Revolution, went all over the country during turbulent times with
> their strange equipment to determine how big a meter was.
>
> Louis Hart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Fjelstad
> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:52 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] European Union Council Directive 80/181/EEC
> (Metric Directive)
>
> This is has been a sore spot for me for some years. Actually, the
> Metric
> Convention was signed in Paris on May 20, 1875 by 17 countries,
> including
> the USA and we continue to move toward its adoption "inch by inch" ;-)
> Actually we have been backsliding and future generation will suffer
> as a result,
> especially the fields of science and engineering. There is a beauty
> and
> logic to the metric system with interrelated units of measurement
> rather than
> disparate and arcane units of ancient origins.
>
> The metric system makes sense where all the others are rooted in
> nonsense.... furlongs per fortnight? And who can fathom the
> fathom? (actually it is
> from the old English "faethem" which means
> outstretched arms hence the length of the outstretched arms now
> taken as 6
> feet but it only applies to depth in water [sigh] )
>
> There is a timeless poem by Sam Walter Foss called The Calf Path
> (http://www.holyjoe.net/poetry/foss3.htm) that is worth reading and
> pondering. This
> is especially the case when one thinks about the increasingly
> outdated
> measurement system we continue to cling to in the states like some
> sort of
> security blanket. Unfortunately, a security blanket won't help when
> your
> sinking into the fathoms as our children will. And so it goes...
>
> Excuse the rant.
>
> Joe
>
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