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From: alanj@orca.UUCP (Alan Jeddeloh)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.games.trivia
Subject: Re: Measurements
Message-ID: <2137@orca.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Aug-86 12:28:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: orca.2137
Posted: Mon Aug 18 12:28:43 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Aug-86 09:34:10 EDT
References: <740@moscom.UUCP> <354@agrigene.UUCP>
Reply-To: alanj@orca.UUCP (Alan Jeddeloh)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 20
Xref: mnetor net.misc:2561 net.games.trivia:1059

Al right, already!  I'm *sorry*!  I forgot how nit-picky the net it.  My
original point was to note (and speculate on)the historic relationships
between the traditional units of English measure.  These unit were
defined *centuries* before people regularly measured within 1 percent
of anything.  I never claimed an exact, modern relationship -- I'm shy
about 48 pounds right off the top.  We're talking about the days when
an inch was three barley corns laid end-to-end.  

The rule "a pints a pound the world around" is an old, old rule of thumb.
It doubtlessly harkens back to the zenith of the British Empire.  It is
*still* a useful rule for everyday use (in the backward US, at least).
Remembering it allows you to quickly figure in your head how much your
new 500-gallon hot tub weighs and whether you need to brace up the deck,
for example.  (A healthly 2 tons and you may very well have to beef up
the deck!)

	-Alan Jeddeloh
	Tektronix GWD
	Wilsonville, OR
	tektronix!orca!alanj