Washington's dream
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That was funny.
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
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That was funny.
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
I agree that the Imperial system of weights and measures is silly. Remind me, where did the term "Imperial" come from with respect to that?
Also, until Great Britain and the other 8% of countries that insist on driving on the left side of the road admit they're silly, I'll pretty much dismiss any criticism of the US persistence of using the Imperial system (where'd that come from, again?) of weights and measures.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
I agree that the Imperial system of weights and measures is silly. Remind me, where did the term "Imperial" come from with respect to that?
Also, until Great Britain and the other 8% of countries that insist on driving on the left side of the road admit they're silly, I'll pretty much dismiss any criticism of the US persistence of using the Imperial system (where'd that come from, again?) of weights and measures.
@George-K said in Washington's dream:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
I agree that the Imperial system of weights and measures is silly. Remind me, where did the term "Imperial" come from with respect to that?
Also, until Great Britain and the other 8% of countries that insist on driving on the left side of the road admit they're silly, I'll pretty much dismiss any criticism of the US persistence of using the Imperial system (where'd that come from, again?) of weights and measures.
No, you're not winning the left hand side of the road argument - that's a totally arbitrary choice, unlike non-metric systems which are clearly more difficult to work with. And changing the side of the road that is driven on would be a freaking disaster!
And the British are just as messed up as the US - they use hybrid systems. Hence my comment that I've lived in both.
When I was a kid the Brits had a currency system of 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound. When they decimalised to 100 pence to the pound, lots of people complained that the new system was very confusing, myself included, and I was only 7.
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@George-K said in Washington's dream:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
Sadly, America isn't the only country with totally messed up systems of weights and measures and I've lived in both of them.
I agree that the Imperial system of weights and measures is silly. Remind me, where did the term "Imperial" come from with respect to that?
Also, until Great Britain and the other 8% of countries that insist on driving on the left side of the road admit they're silly, I'll pretty much dismiss any criticism of the US persistence of using the Imperial system (where'd that come from, again?) of weights and measures.
No, you're not winning the left hand side of the road argument - that's a totally arbitrary choice, unlike non-metric systems which are clearly more difficult to work with. And changing the side of the road that is driven on would be a freaking disaster!
And the British are just as messed up as the US - they use hybrid systems. Hence my comment that I've lived in both.
When I was a kid the Brits had a currency system of 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound. When they decimalised to 100 pence to the pound, lots of people complained that the new system was very confusing, myself included, and I was only 7.
@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
When I was a kid the Brits had a currency system of 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound.
I had a friend that tried to explain the system to me. Wasn't there also "sixpence" and "farthings" and other coins like that? LOL
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@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
When I was a kid the Brits had a currency system of 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound.
I had a friend that tried to explain the system to me. Wasn't there also "sixpence" and "farthings" and other coins like that? LOL
@taiwan_girl said in Washington's dream:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Washington's dream:
When I was a kid the Brits had a currency system of 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound.
I had a friend that tried to explain the system to me. Wasn't there also "sixpence" and "farthings" and other coins like that? LOL
If I remember correctly there was a thrupenny bit (worth 3 pence), a shilling, two shilling coins, ha'penny and penny. I think farthings had died out by then.
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dont forget the US had bits, as in two bits= 25 cents, one bit was one eighth of a dollar or 12 and half cents.
also heard in "king of the road"
Trailer's for sale or rent
Rooms to let, 50 cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room (meaning thats the room available for 50 cents, 4 bits)this is a inheritance from the spanish dolar, or real de a ocho, or piece of eight, because it was divided into 8 reales.
and here is a one bit paper note 12.5 cents
and thats enough numismatic information for now -
We would still refer to something costing '10 bob' - i.e. 10 shillings, into the 1980's, long after decimalisation There used to be a 10-bob note, replaced by a 50p piece in 1970.
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dont forget the US had bits, as in two bits= 25 cents, one bit was one eighth of a dollar or 12 and half cents.
also heard in "king of the road"
Trailer's for sale or rent
Rooms to let, 50 cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room (meaning thats the room available for 50 cents, 4 bits)this is a inheritance from the spanish dolar, or real de a ocho, or piece of eight, because it was divided into 8 reales.
and here is a one bit paper note 12.5 cents
and thats enough numismatic information for now@bachophile said in Washington's dream:
dont forget the US had bits, as in two bits= 25 cents, one bit was one eighth of a dollar or 12 and half cents.
Wasn't "bit" a colloquialism rather than an official unit of currency? Sort of like "sawbuck."
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Bitcoin (there’s that word again George) goes down to 1/100 millionth in decimels.
Yes bit was an informal form of 12.5 cents
From a time when the Spanish dollar really was cut up into bits
