LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.14 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 14.DEC.2002 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Wim <wkv at home.nl>
Subject: LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.14 (02) [E]

Hi,

Can we please have that translated into soccerfield sizes??  Just to
make it understandable for us Europeans?

Wim.

(wkv at home.nl   wim verdoold zwolle netherlands)

From: Thomas Byro <thbyro at earthlink.net>
Subject: LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.13 (04) [E/Spanish]

Jorge:

There are consequences to living in a country that is next door to one
that
persists in using units of measurement that were designed in the dark
ages.
When I stayed at the Coast Inn of the North in Prince George, British
Columbia, there was a parking lot to the rear with a rather low
overhang.
There was a sensibly sized sign giving the clearance in meters and a
much
larger sign giving the clearance in feet and inches.  The latter
obviously
for the benefit of numbskull Americans who could not cope with the
metric
system.

It is peculiar in this day and age to listen to news broadcasters giving
the
water flow of rivers in terms of acre-feet.  Even stranger to have the
size
of things compared to football fields.  Now here is something that may
resonate with the American public in a way that the metric system
apparently
cannot.  I propose a whole new system of measurement based on the
football
field to replace the metric system.

Tom Byro

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From: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.14 (02) [E]

Tom Byro wrote:

> I propose a whole new system of measurement based on the football
> field to replace the metric system.

Actually, I have always had my own little system to visualize - and explain
to my children - multiples or fractions of a hundred grams, since 100g is
the standard size for a German or Swiss chocolate bar (including Toblerone,
Lindt and Ritter Sport, all of which are also available in the USA). Fifty
grams is an abstract quantity for a child, but "half a chocolate bar" is
something they are very familiar with.

Speaking of vittles: from my years in the States, I am very familiar with
recipes that use the units "teaspoon" and "tablespoon". I have seen them
used in British recipes as well. But, the other day, I had to translate a
British muffin recipe into German where the units were given as "teaspoons"
and "dessert spoons", and that confused me no end. First of all, in Germany,
a dessert spoon is the same as a teaspoon. Also, the recipe called for two
dessert spoons each of sugar and honey, which seemed very little for 300
grams of flour. At the same time, it called for two dessert spoons of baking
soda, in addition to the baking powder already used, which would have been
way too much if it had been tablespoons. Also, salt and spices were measured
in teaspoons.

Unfortunately, I had no time to do some test baking, so I told the customer
that I refused all responsibility for the outcome.

Is there anyone who can clear up this confusion for me? How big a spoon does
it take to eat Spotted Dick??

Regards,
Gabriele Kahn

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