Word Link Discussions

Winterknight
Winterknight
Joined: 4 Jun 05
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I don't know that they are

I don't know that they are hilarious. To me they represent the history of measurements and how they became the standards in various professions before rigid standards were defined.

And it also shows that with a minor spelling change the mile has been with us for 2000 years. 1000 (mille) steps = mile

UK shoe sizes are still in barleycorns.

Scrooge McDuck
Scrooge McDuck
Joined: 2 May 07
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Hmmm, I should have put it

Hmmm, I should have put it less harshly. The measurement system that you grow up with as a child, what you learn from your parents and at school, is of course the most natural thing in the world. In (cont.) Europe, and especially in the countless small German states, we had at least 50 different mile measurements in the past. You never know what exactly "mile" means. And even the great-grandparents don't remember it because it was abolished more than 150 years ago. So it amazes me (that's what I wanted to say) how conversion factors are remembered, how one learns them, especially when deriving area and volume measurements, and how all the generations of schoolchildren were able to cope with them. For me, that is unbelievable. And yes, we also use non-metric shoe sizes, without knowing anything about them, have never managed to go without inch measurements on wheels, tires, rims or any type of tubing. The topic has traits of a religious dispute, so I'd better be quiet now.... ;-).

Winterknight
Winterknight
Joined: 4 Jun 05
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Even in the 70's when I was

Even in the 70's when I was in Krefeld, I could buy various things in imperial sizes like 8*4 sheets of plywood or vegetables in the market in English sounding 'pfunds'.

mikey
mikey
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We all seem to have watched

We all seem to have watched alot of movies as alot of the words used are movie names or things that happen in movies

mikey
mikey
Joined: 22 Jan 05
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The word I replied to was

The word I replied to was "Archaeologist" and I put "Degree"

My son already has a Bachelors Degree in Archaeology and is going to receive his Masters Degree in May 2023. As parents his mom and I are super excited as he's doing this all on his own with his own money as well!!! He says he tired of doing grunt work and people with Masters Degrees, in the US anyway, get to sit in the office and tell people where to go do the grunt work and then analyze what they find which is alot more fun. He's been digging, for 6 weeks every Summer, for YEARS at the American Indian Camp of Sacagawea, it's 99% volunteer work, and even went to Sweden to work on a real Viking ship that's at least still partially buried and their camp. He's in his mid 30's now and is looking to sorta settle down some as well.

mikey

Scrooge McDuck
Scrooge McDuck
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Liquor (bottle) bag - a

Liquor (bottle) bag - a solution to a problem that isn't one? In my country it is only usual for gifts (bottles of wine): elegantly colorfully printed - otherwise unknown; yet no one drinks alcohol on the streets in public. Okay, some guys especially from the soccer fan community drink beer, but it's considered inappropriate by others. In the summertime of course... beer gardens are cultural heritage.
Scrooge McDuck
Scrooge McDuck
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... Eric Clapton's song "Blue

... Eric Clapton's song "Blue Eyes Blue"   ... thought about that Elton John song too...

RandyC
RandyC
Joined: 18 Jan 05
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tractor tipping - see movie

tractor tipping - see movie Cars 2

Seti Classic Final Total: 11446 WU.

Winterknight
Winterknight
Joined: 4 Jun 05
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Jimmy

Jinkei
Jinkei
Joined: 28 Aug 10
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Custodian > Screw I'm not a

Custodian > Screw

I'm not a native English speaker, so I am probably missing the point. Were you thinking of a ship called Custodian here?

E pluribus unum

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