The Measure of Man

chained_bear commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Day-am! This list rocks! You're going to have to stop that soon, or all my favorite lists will be yours, and that ain't fair.

November 6, 2007

sionnach commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I've always had a soft spot for Scoville units, which measure the heat of peppers. Not to mention the svedberg, the millisiemens (which would be one thousandth of a mho), and the kilderkin.

Then there are the more frivolous units:

16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling

1000 grams of wet socks: 1 literhosen

1 unit of suspense in a detective story = 1 whod unit

and the ever-popular millihelen and millipicture.

November 6, 2007

john commented on the list the-measure-of-man

This list does rock. It's kind of bullpucky, (I had some minutes in New York that felt like they lasted at least seven or eight minutes), but there's the New York Minute.

November 7, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions, all! John, I believe Johnny Carson once defined New York Minute as the time between when the traffic light turns green and the guy behind you starts honking his horn. Always liked that, since Philadelphia is much the same (although that unit of measure has a less lilting name). :-)

Sionnach, have you made a list of frivolous units of measure? If so, where is it? If not, where is it?

November 7, 2007

kad commented on the list the-measure-of-man

It's not arcane, but one of my favorite units of measure is the Sverdrup. In oceanography, it's a measure of the volume of water transported by a current in a given amount of time.

November 7, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, kad--it's arcane enough for me! :-)

November 7, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list the-measure-of-man

"Sionnach, have you made a list of frivolous units of measure? If so, where is it? If not, where is it?"

HA HA HA HA!!! Yes, sionnach, I'm another eager Wordie waiting to see one!

November 7, 2007

sionnach commented on the list the-measure-of-man

c_b : your wish is my command. It's called "frivolous units of measurement".

Enjoy!

Apparently I don't know how to link to lists.

November 7, 2007

skipvia commented on the list the-measure-of-man

See, this is why I love Wordie. I learn so much more than the meager amount I contribute. Thanks, reesetee. This is wonderful.

November 7, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, skipvia--but don't sell yourself short. You're a veritable encyclopedia of information. :-)

Sionnach, here's the link to your frivolous units of measurement list.

November 7, 2007

palooka commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I agree with the others - great list!

November 7, 2007

trivet commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Glad to see you have my favorite unit of measurement, the scruple! Did you make a list like this once before, reesetee?

November 7, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Yes, I had a shorter list of relatively common measurements (weight only), and I folded it into this one. Good eye, trivet!

November 7, 2007

rocksinmypockets commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I know it's been said, but, wow, this is a great list!

November 8, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, rocks (and palooka too)! Oh, and by the way, trivet, I left out bottle measurements because your list speaks for itself. :-)

November 8, 2007

skipvia commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Hey reesetee--I think I have one for your list. See chain.

November 11, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Great, skipvia--thanks for the suggestion. I love this stuff!

November 11, 2007

michaelchang commented on the list the-measure-of-man

dear reesetee, i am officially in love with your list the measure of man and i really would love to combine it with some of my etchings, it will make a great piece of art... uh ehh, staring at my toes can i?

December 20, 2007

bilby commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I'll have another for you soon, with a nice Steven King citation and all. For today how about hands which are the measure of equine quadrupeds?

December 20, 2007

michaelchang commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Heres a few measures which are a bit boring but very literally are an obscure measure of man: Light flyweight, Featherweight, Super flyweight, Cruiserweight, Super featherweight, Mini flyweight (is that a bananaflyweight?) and what kind of bird delivers a super feather?

December 20, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Bilby, hand is a good one--added. (After all, finger is already on the list.) MC, thank you for your kind words. I'm not sure what the words on this list would have to do with your etchings, but since I don't own them, you're welcome to them! Sounds like an interesting project, too.

I think I'll steer clear of the boxing weights, however, since they're fairly standard compared to most of the measures on the list. :-)

December 20, 2007

michaelchang commented on the list the-measure-of-man

reesetee, thank you, you are both brilliant, generous and kind, if you get curious to, then you can visit www.michaelchang.dk to check out my art stuff. I up date the site regularly and there's a few phobias painted on plastic their as well.

December 20, 2007

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Will do. :-)

December 21, 2007

bilby commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I listed eln but seeing as I don't have access to a good dictionary of ye olden lingo I can't really verify it.

January 2, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, b--I found information in the online OED. Will post on the word page.

January 2, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Have a look at the multi-talented mil. Also the luminous cd.

October 23, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, bilby!

October 23, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-measure-of-man

gilbert.

October 28, 2008

sionnach commented on the list the-measure-of-man

There's the stimp. Besides being a measure of the speed of a green in golf, it's also a computer virus, so be careful.

October 28, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I'll be very cautious. Thanks to both of you. :-)

October 29, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-measure-of-man

How here's a funny one: ha!

November 4, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Ha! Ha!

I never realized laughing could be so...astronomical.

November 4, 2008

mollusque commented on the list the-measure-of-man

How about sleever?

November 4, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Nice one--thanks!

November 5, 2008

madmouth commented on the list the-measure-of-man

I'm surprised the ell wasn't mentioned.

April 17, 2009

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

It's here, but disguised as eln.

April 18, 2009

chained_bear commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Cubit? Passus? Stadia?

April 18, 2009

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Good ones--thanks! How could I have forgotten cubit?

April 18, 2009

john commented on the list the-measure-of-man

How about today's word of the day?

January 6, 2011

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

The CD&C has this to say about heap: "In some places a heap of limestone was formerly 4¾ cubic yards."

January 30, 2012

yarb commented on the list the-measure-of-man

That vague "in some places" paired with the precise "formerly 4¾ cubic yards" is classic Century!

January 30, 2012

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Chopin is a measure and a man!

*tries to calm down*

*can't*

July 16, 2012

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Oh! Oh! Chopin is also a woman!

*swoons*

July 16, 2012

fbharjo commented on the list the-measure-of-man

But Chopin is still a half pint and that helps heaps (in some quarters) i.e. sorites paradox and heaps of oranges -- fatal indigestion for elephants!

* Joseph Wood Krutch, author of The Measure of Man, where are you when we need you?*

July 16, 2012

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

A pipe is a "wine cask having a capacity of 126 gallons or 2 hogsheads (478 liters)."

August 13, 2012

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

unguis

January 25, 2013

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Added. Thanks, ruzuzu!

January 30, 2013

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

aam

February 6, 2013

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Added! Or should I say, "Aaded!"?

February 6, 2013

fbharjo commented on the list the-measure-of-man

toise?!

fathom?!

February 10, 2013

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Added. Thanks, fbharjo!

February 10, 2013

ry commented on the list the-measure-of-man

curba, degree-day, dichas

March 18, 2014

reesetee commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Thanks, ry! Great suggestions. :-)

March 31, 2014

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

candy

June 25, 2014

Durvin commented on the list the-measure-of-man

Beardsecond: the length a beard grows in a second.

December 12, 2014

ruzuzu commented on the list the-measure-of-man

kishon

February 17, 2017